Christmas is...

Christmas is...
1. A TIME OF SHARING - Read John 3:1-21
2. A TIME OF MEMORIES - Read Luke 1:68-79
3. A TIME FOR GREETINGS - Read Luke 1:39-55
4. A TIME FOR CHARITY - Read Matthew 25:31-40
5. A TIME FOR VISITING - Read Romans 15:1-7
6. A TIME OF HOPE - Read John 14:1-6
7. A TIME OF FAITH - Read Isaiah 55:6-11
8. A TIME OF PROMISE - Read Galatians 3:23-4:7
9. A TIME FOR CANDLES - Read John 11-14
10. A TIME FOR MUSIC - Read Psalm 150
11. A TIME FOR BEING IN TOUCH - Read John 15:1-11
12. A TIME OF RUSHING - Read Luke 10:38-42
13. A TIME FOR SINGING - Read Colossians 3:12-17
14. A TIME FOR FAMILY - Read Luke 1:5-80
15. A TIME FOR DECORATIONS - Read Psalm 118:19-29
16. A TIME FOR BAKING - Read John 6:32-40
17. A TIME FOR LOVE - Read 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
18. A TIME OF SOLITUDE - Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
19. A TIME FOR REMEMBERING - Read Isaiah 25:6-9
20. A TIME OF PEACE - Read Matthew 11:25-30
21. A HOLIDAY - Read Hebrews 4:9-16
22. A TIME TO GIVE THANKS - Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
23. A TIME OF BLESSING - Read Ephesians 3:14-21
24. A TIME FOR GIFTS - Read Ephesians 2:4-10
25. A time to remember God is with us. - Read Luke 2:1-20

25 Fun things To Do Before Christmas...

 This time of the year, there is just so many fun things to do with the kids.  Here are a few things our family enjoys doing before Christmas.

1.Decorate a Christmas tree

2.Take lots of pictures or have pics made

3.Listen to & sing all the Christmas songs

4.Send Christmas cards to family & friends

5.Make cookies

6.Decorate a gingerbread house

7.Drink hot chocolate (Don't forget the marshmallows or whip cream topping)

8.Toast marshmallows in the fire & make smores

9.Drink egg nog

10.Watch Christmas movies

11. Watch a Christmas play & maybe take part in one

12.Go to a Christmas parade

13.Go to the mall and see Santa

14.Set up a nativity scene

15.Set up a Christmas village

16.Read a Christmas book together (The Christmas story right out of the Bible is the best story of all to read)

17. Go shopping

18.Wrap gifts

19.Go caroling door to door (our church does this)

20.Adopt a Christmas child(ren) (Our church does this every year)

21.Make baskets for the shut-in's(our church also does this)

22.Make crafts or decorations (could be used as gifts)

23.Have breakfast with Santa

24.Ride around and look at the Christmas light displays

25.Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus

These are a few of our favoites.

What are some of the things your family takes part in

 and enjoys this time of the year?

Christmas Memories

A Christmas slideshow of my kids from way back when they all still believed in Santa Claus,they couldn't go to sleep on Christmas Eve nomatter how hard they tried, and they all still played with toys. Christmas has always been a very special time for our family. I have loved making wonderful memories with my kids. These pictures are precious to me.
(Roll mouse across the pictures and it will tell you who is who)

Still painting...

We are still painting the den. I don't know if we are going to get this done before Monday. I got a little wild with color and went with moss green. It's almost the same as the color above. I hope we will like it when it's done. Our den has been white ever since we lived here. I really wanted to see if I could give it a different look, since white walls did not look good with our new cream colored couch. I still can't believe I allowed my Hubby to buy a cream colored couch. Did he forget we have kids living here???? Did I forget too??? LOL
Anyhow, I am worried that I may be up all night long,because I can't add another coat until the first coat dries. So here I set:) Please paint dry.I really need to get my den finished.

Oh How I Love You...

I was looking on my desktop and saw this picture that a friend of ours took of my girls and it made me smile:) I love my girls (my boys too). I am so blessed to be their mom.

Just passing time post...

I have nothing really exciting to share. Today we are painting our den,which has turned out to be a bigger job than first expected. We decided to stipple our ceiling instead of just painting it and that has been no fun. Ashley has been helping me, so at least I'm not doing it alone. It is just so time consuming and the den is just so big and has so much wood work that the we must paint very slow, so that it doesn't mess up the dark wood. I told the kids that we can't decorate for Christmas until the painting is done. I was going to go get Bailey and Shelbi today to take them to get pics made with Santa,but with the painting, I figured it would be easier to reschedule that for another day.

Yesterday, I had a great time shopping with my mom & my girls. I really didn't buy that much. I came home and actually got fussed at by my Hubby for not buying more....that was a first and a surprise. I just can't decide what I want to buy for the ones on my list. We have decided to keep it more simple this year and just buy for the kids. We usually buy for all of our relatives (the ones we see throughout the year) and for my DC kids, foster kids & their families. I just love to give. However, I just do toooooo much every year and we end up paying for it after the Holidays. So this year, we are paying cash for everything(except for what has to be ordered online) that way when Christmas is over we don't have a credit card to payoff....which will be nice.

It's just a cool 51 ,but sunny day here and actually quieter than normal. Little Z is sleeping away in his little pac-n-play and the music is on 98 playing Christmas music. Despite the mess from painting, it has been a great day so far. I hope you are having a great day too. I guess I should get off now and take Ashley's place for a while. I bet her arms are as tired as mine.

What a wonderful day...

Today has been wonderful. We celebrated Thanksgiving at my Mom's. We had a great time. My mom is doing amazing. She is feeling so much better and doing great. She was all smiles today, something I haven't seen in a very long time. I was going through our family albums and looking at pics from our past few holidays and mom looked really bad. A friend of my mom's wrote me and said that they had saw my mom and they said she looked really bad and they asked was she okay. She has had a ruff few years, but she's turned around now!!!!!! She is a new person. Praise be to God!!!! He answered my prayers.

Nanny made it to mom's this year too!!!! She really looked good. I was actually surprised at how good she looked. She said she didn't feel great, but she was okay. That's better than bad. She has decided not to take dialysis after all. It's tough for us to accept ,but it is her wishes. She said she didn't want to get up three times a week and have to go set for four hours. She is a home body and she hates getting out. She usually only leaves her house to go to the doctor or if it's a holiday she may or may not come to mom's. She is funny about getting out. I think maybe because she falls easily and she doesn't trust herself. She just wants to be home. Without dialysis her time is limited,but even with dialysis her time will be limited. So for now she says no to it. Only God knows when our time is up and when He is ready He calls us home. Nanny wasn't suppose to still be here according to her doctors, but she is a strong lady and a walking miracle. God answers prayers. Nanny accepted Jesus as her saviour last year, after thinking she was saved most of her life, so if she gets called home she will be ready to go. However, I don't want to give her up. I love her so much. She has been the best grandmother in the world. When God chose my Nanny to be my grandmother, He gave me the best He had. She taught me alot and I hope I can be just as good a grandmother to my angel baby Brookelyn Shae.

Most of my kids were there today and I sure was happy to see them. I was hoping we could get a family picture made, but we took no pictures at all. Yes, you heard that right:(  I didn't drive everyone nuts taken their pics this time. I know I'm going to regret it...I already do. I thought to myself, what if this is Nanny's last Thanksgiving with us? But I know I shouldn't think like that, but I do.

Over all, it's been a really sweet day. We all enjoyed ourselves and we all ate great. I even decided to make a last minute desert that turned out really good. It was called strawberry cheescake cupcakes, but it really wasn't like cupcakes ,because it didn't have cake mix. I'll try to post the recipe for you all. It was really simple and yummy.

Tomorrow, we have a Mother and Daughter shopping trip planned. Mom, Ashley, Katie, and Me are going to do a little Christmas shopping. It was my Mom's idea. Yes, you heard it right:) My Mom wants to go shopping because she feels good this year.  I'm excited about it. I can't wait to spend the day with them. I guess I should get off now... Little Z is more fussy tonight than normal. I think he is just worn out from being passed around all day. He sure liked cuddling with Nanny on the big comfy chair and he was just as content as he could be at mom's:) Nanny is just like me about babies. She LOVES babies. We are a baby family. Maybe that's why I had so many...hmmm lol

Goodnight & sweet dreams,

From Our House To Yours...

Dear Friends & Family,

I just wanted to take this time to wish you and your

family a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I hope this year that you will find yourself

surrounded by the ones that

 mean the most to you.

I pray that you take a moment to reflect

on all that you have to be thankful for,

and will then take the time to thank God

for His blessings both big & small.

May you all have a

happy & safe Thanksgiving.

God bless you everyone,

The Howell Family

It's almost that time of the year again!!!!

It's almost Thanksgiving!

How do you spend your Thanksgiving day?

This year will be different for us since my mom-in-law decided to have her dinner last weekend. It's going to make my Thanksgiving a little easier since we won't be cooking for and attending two dinners in one day. Thanks Linda!

We will be going to my mom's this year. I'm really looking forward to getting together with my mom's side of the family. We have a little family on my mom's side,but we always have a great time together.

I love Thanksgiving. My mom has always made it special for us,just like nanny always did when she was able. Mama plans the day ...from the perfect meal right down to the napkins she chooses each year.

I'm also excited about having all my kids together. Maybe we can get a group/family picture together.

The guys always take to the living room to watch the TV on Thanksgiving. The girls always gather in the dining room/living room to go through the sales papers to plan our yearly mother/daughter shopping trip.

I'm also looking forward to meeting my little brother's girlfriend. Yes, you heard that right. Bryan has finally settled down!!!! Yay!!!! It has taken him long enough. He is 30 now and he isn't getting any younger...lol Maybe this is the one that will be that missing piece in his life.

As always, we will be thinking about and missing my brother Robby. This was his favorite time of the year and he always loved getting together at mama's. However,I know he's spending his Thanksgiving with Jesus this year:)

I'm also excited to share my day with Brookelyn Shae. This will be her very first Thanksgiving. I hope to get lots of pictures of her with her great and great-great grandparents tomorrow.

It will also be baby Z's first Thanksgiving and I plan to dress him up for his special day and take lots of pics of him to put in his lifebook. He is such a special little blessing to our family.

I think it's going to be a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I am just over flowing. I have so much to be thankful for this year.

God has been way to good to us.

Thank you Lord for your blessings on me.

On The Menu

Turkey

Dressing & gravy

Corn

Turnip greens

Green beans

Baby red potatoes

Veggies & dip

Potato salad

Pies/ cobbler

Deviled eggs

Rolls

All about the babies post...

Just wanted to do an update on the babies...

Little Brookelyn Shae has two more teeth which makes 4 in all. She has three on the bottom now and one on top ...with one more right behind it. She is walking everywhere and trying to talk too. She has added a few new words to her vocabulary...her new fav is "no"...I can't imagine why...lol She is a busy little baby that doesn't like to sleep and is in to everything...just like her mommy was when she was a baby. She is always smiling and always happy. She loves to dance and she loves to be silly. She tries to do anything you do. You can pretend to laugh and she will laugh too. You can sneeze and she does it too. She is a little girl with big personality.

Little man "Baby Z" is doing great. He is a smiley little boy who pretty much sleeps (except at night), eats, and smiles. He follows you with his eyes now, so he loves watching the kids run around. He is taking 4 oz of milk from his bottle now and he eats often. He's a little piggy that loves his food and he is getting chubby:) We have no idea what his future holds or how long he will be with us ,but we sure are enjoying this sweet baby boy.

Little Shelbi "Jelly Bean" as you know is home now. She is doing great!!!!! I went and got her on Sunday and took her to church with us. She is crawling everywhere and jabbering up a storm now. She has four teeth (2 on top and 2 on bottom). She weighs 14 pounds now and is nine months old. So she is growing like a weed. She is a sweetie for sure and we miss her being here more than you can even imagine. But, we love being able to see her & get her.Well, that's it for the babies for now.

Please continue to keep us and the fosters (new & old) in your prayers.

(((Hugs)) and blessings,

Sandy

Our Thanksgiving With Hubby's Mom...

Due to the fact that our family is growing by leaps and bounds, my mom-in-law decided to have her Thanksgiving dinner with her kids & family early so that everyone could come. We all gathered at her house on Saturday and we had a GREAT time!

Below- Brookelyn with her mommy & daddy.

Below- Bailey, Brookelyn, and Ashley with Hubby's mom.

Below- Brookelyn loves her Uncle Jon(my oldest son),

Picture#2(top right) is my oldest and youngest daughters(Anna & Ashley)

(Bottom left) My MIL & my girls, and (bottom right) is three of my girls.

Anna, Ashley, and Katie

Below- The group pic (bottom left) is my MIL with her granddaughters.

and (on the right) is my girls being their normal "goofy" selves...that's why I love them so much.

They always make me smile.

Below- Ashley & Bailey

Pic #2 on top right is me with two of my babies.

Bottom- (Top right) My hubby is always babysitting Bailey's dolls...lol

(Bottom left) My son-in-law Corey and right is my lil man "Jacob" and his daddy watching football like always.

More pics of our family.

I am VERY blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law who is good to me and good to my kids. My kids LOVE their grandmother dearly. I'm glad they are close to her. I have always been close to my grandmother and I think the relationship between a grandparent and grandchild is one of the most precious relationships of all. I even realized that even more when God blessed me with Brookelyn Shae. Kids need their grandparents and grandparents need their grandbabies.

Thank you Lord for Grandparents...they are a blessing.

Hubby's 1st buck of the season...

Hubby got an 8 pointer on 11/18/10.

He drug Jacob (bed head & all) out of bed to get a picture with him...lol

But Jacob didn't mind.

I think he was just as excited as his daddy.

Brookelyn's 10 month pics...

I couldn't decide which one to share,

so I'm sharing them all:)

Well, all the ones I liked best.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful

 for this precious little girl.

She has been such a blessing

and has brought so much joy to our lives.

We love you so much Brookelyn Shae.

Love,

Paw Paw & MeMe

Steadfastness of Purpose

Don't base your attitude on how things are. Choose your attitude so that it supports and expresses the way you wish to be.
Events and circumstances swirl around you in a constant state of flux and confusion. Yet those things you perceive and experience do not define who you are.
You are more than the fleeting situations and occurrences in your world. Living within you are the steady values, purposes, intentions and dreams that transcend all the ups and downs playing out around you.
Let your feelings be guided and inspired by the best that's inside you. Don't let those feelings be tossed in every direction by whatever happens to come your way.
There is no end to the number of distractions wanting to pull you away from your purpose. Yet there is no good reason to give in to any of those distractions, for each one will soon pass on by.
Live with a steadfastness of positive purpose. Who you truly are, is always much stronger than whatever you might be going through.
-- Ralph Marston

A Family Prayer

Dear God,
For our family we ask your love and care in the days and years ahead. We pray for the strength to work hard and to do our best. It's not always easy to get up early only to face a world that is often cruel and harsh . Somedays are easy ,but others are tough. Give us the strength to live one day at a time and to face whatever comes our way.
We pray for health of each of our family members. You know our bodies better than we do. Every ache and every pain, every sickness, is a concern to you. Therefore we ask that you keep watch over our bodies, because you are our Great Physician.
We ask for guidance in all the decisions we must make in the days ahead, the big decisions, and even the little daily ones. We acknowledge that without direction our lives become meaningless, wrapped up in selfishness, and heading nowhere. Lead us where you want us to go.
Let us be friends with our neighbors. Especially give us patience when it seems our feelings are ignored and our rights infringed. In every dispute,let us be willing to be fair, and even take less when we feel we deserve more. And give us a spirit of humility that we might offer help and comfort when we see others in need.
For the students in this family, we pray the hours and days will be filled with the energy they need and a joy for learning. Provide the intelligence that my children will need to carry them through life.
Give us time to play together, to have fun, to laugh. For we know that your dwelling place is a place of joy and laughter. Let us experience in this family a little bit of Heaven on earth.
Finally, increase our bonds of love so that we might bear witness to your love in our community. Give us the desire to offer hospitality at every opportunity and throughout all our days. May this family learn to worship better and better, seeing all you have so graciously given us. In Jesus name I pray. ~Amen

Good Morning!

It's a new morning in Howellville. As I look out my dining room window, I see what looks like a rainy and gloomy day ahead. However, I know it's up to me how I look at it. So instead, I've chosen to dwell on the beautiful masterpiece of colors that God has created outside my window. Each leaf on every tree is colored just for me to see and enjoy. Thank you Lord for a good morning and a beautiful day.

Dear God,

Good morning! We greet you with our morning faces. We arise sometimes grumpy, sometimes smiling, sometimes prepared, sometimes behind. However, may we start this day off right by turning to you first in prayer. Bless us today Lord and use us for your service.

In Jesus name we pray. ~Amen

Always With Us...

Bay Bay came & spent the weekend with us and we all enjoyed her so much. Despite the tummy bug (she ended up with it too) we still had a great time together. It's always hard for her & us when Sunday comes and it's time to take her home, but this time we asked to keep her until Monday and her daddy let us.
After she left, I got to cleaning up and noticed the art work she made me and hung all by herself for uncle Brent & me to see. Then I found her babies all lined in a row. Even when she is not here, her stuff is(everywhere), and I can't help but smile & think of her.