The holiday season begins

Family time, Friend time, cooking time both indoors and out, holiday decorating, fall fun.... let The Season begin.


This is the first lunch gathering of East Grand Baptist Church Youth alumni. I have known some of these people since I was a toddler. Our next lunch will hopefully draw a few more of our dear friends. East Grand is on East Grand Avenue across from Tennyson park very close to Fair Park. The area has changed over the years and East Grand was sold and the congregation moved to another location or left and found other churches. When I was little I thought that East Grand was one of the most beautiful buildings ever. I loved walking down the aisle in that sanctuary.

The time spent growing up at East Grand through my school years was some of the best years ever.

Our NGHS first breakfast gathering in November was so much fun. The next gathering in December will have some extra fun surprises and donations to The Good Samaritan food bank in Garland. May as well do some good while we have fun.


yes, even after all these years, they still know it's all about me!







We move on to the Family portion of November with the Kneggs family Thanksgiving gathering. We all know that when grandkids/great grandkids come along the center of attention moves to their cuteness.



I think there were nearly 30 at Chris and Debbie's for lunch. Ray and I both have great families and we are very, very lucky.





We finished the afternoon with a little song from the boys.


A new tradition we have decided to start on Thanksgiving eve will be Tree decorating with the grandkids and Thanksgiving morning watching the Parade and outside Christmas light install.

it was so cute having just the lower 1/4 of the tree decorated.


The next morning I think the boys had the most fun playing in the leaves.




Then we moved on to have lunch at son Clay and wife Amanda's home. Their first Thanksgiving hosting was a great success. Turkey excellant, dressing awesome, all the sides and desserts, yummy. I'm not sure what this face was or what the issue was. This is why my kid cracks me up.

OK, THEN after sleeping off the turkey drowsiness off to Rattlesnake Ranch for some time with good friends and a 10 year olds birthday present that was awesome.
this is the most awesome present for a 10 year old. don't you wish you had his parents wen you were growing up?
We spent 3 days outside, cooking over a fire, frying a turkey for the first time, sleeping in a tent,(with an electric blanket!),doing some manual labor, and just hangin.


my husband is a man of many many talents.



We got home and 3 days later it was snowing. SO glad it waited until after the weekend for this cold front to come in. Can't say it would have been such a good time at 34 degrees.



And it's only December 2nd.

I was born in the wrong city or,

My week in Nashville.

I have so many pictures from this week but I don't have my card transfer thingy to download them onto my computer till I get home tomorrow night.

I did work this week. I really did! Promise! BUT, I made the most of being in Music City USA. I was worried that there really wouldn't be much going on here this week since the CMA's were last week and Thanksgiving is next week and all the Christmas season festivities would kick off next week. I was resourceful though and had plenty to do.

Monday night I connected with some old Garland/Sachse TX friends who now live here. Larry is Editor of Country Music Weekly and his wife, Peggy owns a retail shop just south of town. Larry called after I got checked in to my hotel and asked if I would be interested in attending a benefit for the Rob Bironas Charities
http://www.robbironas.net/charities.aspx


and oh by the way, Jamey Johnson will be making an appearance... Jamey Johnson, just last week won at the CMA's for Song of the Year for his song, "In Color". Song of the year is awarded to the songwriter(s). Jamey is a little different. Looks like a mountain man but is a very sweet guy. I talked to him a couple of times through the evening and seems to be a little in awe of all the attention and spotlight.
Two other songwriters took the stage as well. Dallas Davidson and Wynn Varble.

Wynn is on the right. His latest biggest hit is the song he wrote for Brad Paisley, "Waitin on a Woman". Dallas Davidson has writen hit songs for Brooks and Dunn, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban.

This is Larry and Peggy Holden. Larry is Editor of Country Music Weekly but used to live here in Sachse Texas.

....tired now, to be continued....

The Blahs

From Merriam-Webster:
a feeling of boredom, lethargy, or general dissatisfaction.

Well No Kidding.

I stayed home today. I barely slept a full two hours at a time last night. I slept an hour, was awake for two, slept another hour, was awake an hour.... Makes for a very unhappy redhead in the morning. I need my sleep and I require a LOT of sleep. Eight hours solid is best. And, commonly known about me; I love to sleep and I love my bed. So long story short, I was not a happy camper this morning.

What's worse going to work and being tired and frustrated or staying home to work and being tired, frustrated and bored all at the same time. I forced myself to stay awake all day, no napping so I would be sure and sleep tonight. The longer the day has gone on the grumpier this girl has gotten. Fair warning to no one in particular. Too much time today to think about major repairs and fixes needed around here, thinking about the holidays being right around the corner, etc....

OK. I'm done venting... we'll maybe.

Friendship

Sometimes I think about friends that remain and friends and friendships that have come and gone. There are those friends who are true and simple friends everyday. There are the friendships that you thought were true but for one reason or another that friendship slipped away but you treasure the time it was relevant.
There are the friendships that meant a lot to you but went away and leave you wondering what happened. Did I do something wrong, hurtful? Was it my fault? With this situation you have to come to a realization in your own heart that, Yes you did do something and try to fix it. OR, you make peace with the fact that there was nothing you did personally but the fact that people approach friendship differently. Some search for lifelong friends and others have friends just for a short time and then dispose or recycle. Plain and simple.


Promise Never To Untie
by Hope
The tender words are spoken
Each body and soul bared
Told secrets over endless days
Often doing more than dared




New world beyond my door
With intrigued and intensity
Now we have shared our hearts
A bond now made it permanently






Facing our days made easier
Despite any type of weather
Each other's heart felt deeply
Both happy we stuck together




It took us little time and effort
The bonding as strong as glue
I now promise never to untie
The strings I have tied with you




The understanding of each other
Breaths to take, we breathe the air
As the relationship interchanges
Knowing our loving hearts are there


Now we are never left on the outside
Lovingly enter each others domain
Smiling. laughing and forever teasing
But forever friends we then became

I want

I want to be her when I grow up, I can't help it.