Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's the last day of 2008! Where has the year gone? There are so many things I'm thankful for this year:

1. First of all, I'm thankful for salvation through Jesus Christ and my personal relationship with Him! My life would mean nothing if not for my hope I have in Jesus!

2. I'm thankful for good health...both for me and my family.

3. I'm thankful for modern medicine! Neal is a walking miracle right now!

4. I'm thankful for friends. I am blessed with many friends...some old, some new.

5. I'm thankful for my brothers! Even though we live far away, we're just a phone call away or a thought away. Even though they are much older than me (LOL) we always have lots to talk about! I always thought I wanted a sister, but I wouldn't trade my two brothers for anything in the world!

6. I'm thankful for my church! We are so blessed to be involved in a good church. Our church family was so instrumental in ministering to us during Neal's surgery and aftermath. What a blessing it is to be involved in a good church!

7. I'm thankful for my on-line friends. I've met many people "online" and a few of those are now "in real life" friends. Thank you for your friendship!

There are so many things I'm thankful for this year, and those are just a few.

This morning I went to breakfast with my best friend, Tammy. She and I have been best friends since 1982! We went to high school together in Ohio and then moved here together to go to college. We met local boys and got married, and now live about 3 miles apart. What a blessing!

Last night we got together with our good friends Bill and Colleen (and their girls). We've known Bill and Colleen for over 20 years. Our friendship has been very sweet through the years. We both have two children, and we were both pregnant at the same time -- twice! Thank God for old friends!

Tonight we are gathering with our friends the Gordons. We met the Gordons a little over four years ago. We quickly became friends and camping buddies! We have homeschooling in common and lots of other things. Even though we've only known each other for a relatively short time, we feel very close to them and are deeply thankful for their friendship! Thank God for new friends!

I pray that all who read this will be blessed with a happy and healthy 2009! Happiness does not always have the same face...sometimes it's obvious and sometimes we have to dig deeper to find it. True happiness can only be found through a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that if you do not know Him personally, that 2009 will be the year that you make that decision! If you want to know more about how to receive Christ as your Savior, click here.

Happy New Year!

Teresa

The Weekend Before Christmas...

and all through the house, lots of creatures are stirring...except for the mouse.

Okay, I don't know where that came from, but I'm going to leave it. ;o)

On Thursday I went and got my haircut. I love my new hairdresser. My friend Tammy recommended her and she is awesome! She likes to take chances and do different things...and she's inexpensive! She doesn't wash my hair (which is fine with me), but she spritzes it with water and then cuts it, and then she styles it. She's quick too. I'm usually out in under 30 minutes. She only charges $12.00! I think that is quite a deal. So the pictures in my earlier post are of my new haircut. I've fixed it myself now, and although it doesn't look as good, I still like it.

Thursday night I went to Neal's work Christmas dinner. I had a yummy steak dinner, baked potato and marinated mushrooms. Neal and I split Tiramisu for dessert.

Last night we went to see lights at a nearby Elks Home. They have over 60,000 lights on display with lots of different things like the nativity, santa and his sleigh, etc. I made homemade pizza rolls and we had a picnic supper! It was lots of fun.

Today my friend Tammy and I went shopping and out to dinner. I finished up my Christmas shopping and just have to work on a project I'm doing. Hopefully I'll get it done by Christmas!

Well, that's what's going on around here! Now we're going to watch Wall-E (is that how you spell it?).

Have a good night!

Photo Shoot

Neal and I had a Christmas dinner to go to last night, so Beth took a bunch of pictures of her Daddy and I before we left. We had fun, and she did a great job!

More Shadow People

For those of you who have been reading my blog the last few months, you've seen our shadow people make appearances at Myrtle Beach, an amusement park and various other places. This time they followed us to Colonial Williamsburg!

We were done shopping, but the shadow people were lagging behind.

I think they spent some money, too!

Here they are standing at the stocks.

Oh no! Her head is stuck!


Mom found these people on the side of a house.

Okay, I know I'm weird...but we have lots of fun taking pictures of our shadows! It's the little things...ya know?

Colonial Williamsburg

Two weeks ago today, my Mom and I went to Williamsburg, VA. We did this last year and had so much fun that we decided to do it again! We left Friday morning and arrived in Colonial Williamsburg three hours later. All of these pictures were taken there. I took a ton of pictures, but these were the ones I thought I'd share.

This was one of our first stops. It was a little garden and a place where the workers made wreaths, table toppers, etc. This cute little fireplace was by the entrance and we warmed up before we headed on down the street.

This is a view of one side of the street. I love these houses and how they decorate at Christmastime.

Here's a shop where a couple of the "Colonial people" were outside. You can see the firewood stacked up...now just imagine the smell of wood smoke and you'll know what we were smelling.

Here are some of the decorations.

A Colonial Woman staying warm.

There were several horse and buggies traveling along the streets.

Another "Colonial Woman" walking across a lawn.

Do you see the apple in the wall? There were recessed areas about every 1 1/2 feet on this house. They alternated red and green apples along the front of the house.


The Governor's Mansion

I love this candle holder. Maybe I should try this with one of Neal's Granny Smith apples!

Another decorated door.

Mom and I had lots of fun looking at the decorations and going in the shops. After we finished here, we went shopping and out to dinner. We ate at a nice steak house, which was unfortunately too expensive! We didn't want to walk out, so we ordered the cheapest thing on the menu. My meal ended up being better than Mom's, but we wished we had chosen a different restaurant! Live and learn!

On Saturday we spent the day at the outlet stores. That was lots of fun! I did a bit of Christmas shopping and Mom bought me a new purse from Aigner for Christmas.

Advent

Our Advent Candles and the book I use that tells about Advent (and many other wonderful Christmas traditions)

Neal reading the Bible during our family devotions.

Our Advent Hershey's Kiss calendar chain. Starting on December 1st we give Beth and Ben a candy Kiss each day.

Before they get their candy kiss, they have to give one of us a real kiss.

When I'm doing it, this is my favorite part. I think Daddy enjoys it, too!

Here's a close up of the chain. It's fun and easy to create, and makes for some great memories!

Happenings in the Hive

Our neighbors have chickens, and although they usually stay in their own yard, sometimes they wander into ours!

6:00 am...the day after Thanksgiving! Ben's first time hunting.

Mighty hunters are ready to go get meat!

Neal's Dad gave Neal and his sister Janet tickets to a Virginia Tech football game a couple of weeks ago. It was really cold and there was even snow on the ground. See all the orange? If you look close, you might even see a Hokie bird!

Touchdown! I was on the phone with Neal when the fireworks went off. It was loud even on the phone!

Tech wins! (Sorry Duke...)

Beth's 14th birthday! Beth had her party a month early this year, so we had our family come over for dinner. I made Beth's favorite: Mexican! In this picture is Neal's Dad, Neal's sister Jessica, and Neal.

Beth and her Mamaw (my mom)

Beth and Grandma and Grandpa

Beth being "gangsta" in her new jacket and sunglasses.

Aunt Janet being a friendly gangsta

Aunt Jessica being a bug (she said the sunglasses make her look like a bug!)

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Dec 1

Please visit The Simple Woman's Daybook on Mondays, to learn more and find links to other ladies who are participating.

For Today...

Outside my window...naked trees

I am thinking...that I'm glad our Christmas tree is up and decorated!

From the learning rooms...along with our "book learning" today, our kids have been working on their housekeeping skills! :o)

I am thankful for...my warm home and the smell of soup cooking on the stove.

From the kitchen...Turkey Vegetable Soup

I am wearing...blue sweatpants and a Navy t-shirt.

I am reading...my Bible and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

I am hoping...that the weather is nice this weekend when Mom and I go to Colonial Williamsburg.

I am creating...a mess! (putting up Christmas decorations)

I am hearing...music from my daughter's blog.

Around the house...cleaning up after decorating, laundry, need to write Christmas cards...today I made soup, wrote out bills (and hand delivered one), did school with the kids, caught up on my blogs, visited briefly with my best friend.

One of my favorite things...listening to Christmas music.

A few plans for the rest of the week...tomorrow is a Ladies Night Out and cookie exchange, Wednesday is church and shopping, Thursday is piano and shopping, Friday and Saturday will be spent in Williamsburg with my Mom (our 2nd annual Mother/Daughter Christmas shopping trip)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...



Memories from our weekend away at the cabin.

Booked for the Holidays

I am so excited about the book Linda (at Mocha with Linda) is giving away this week! I love Amish fiction books, and this is one written by a new (to me) author! The title is "Plain Perfect" by Beth Wiseman.

If you'd like a chance to win this book, click on the Booked for the Holidays button in the sidebar and enter the contest. The deadline is this Wednesday - Dec 3 - at noon.