Christmas presents

We aren't mean parents, I promise... We just take advantage of an opportunity when given one. Today I was blessed. A local church asked if they could help us with Christmas this year. Being that we are VERY tight this year I readily agreed. I got to go pick up their presents today. I almost cried. Mineral Springs Baptist Church in Jemison were wonderful to my family this year. They even gave me and my husband some stuff. One thing that I can write about... (my oldest daughter reads my blog pretty regularly) is we got Clue. The funny thing is we just bought Clue, and gave it to the kids. So all night long, we were holed up in our room, and one at a time wrapped presents were being handed out the door, to be put under the tree. At the end of the night, the kids were begging us to let them open just one present. With a glint in his eye, Q said, "I know a present they could open..." I knew exactly what he was thinking, so I said "What ever Daddy thinks." So Q directed them to one certain present. They tore into it, only to shout "Daddy! Yall are mean!", when they saw the Clue box! It was funny.

About that time Matt came home from his drama team Christmas party. As they were going off to bed I heard Nana ask him about his party. The conversation went something like this...

Nana said "Was there anything dirty there?"

"Like what?" Matt said."Dirty underwear of something?"

" Yeah," Nana said, "Why is it called 'Dirty Santa'?"

LOL

Green Couch Night

On the left there is my late Granny Jones... She had a large green couch that had a hide-a-bed in it. When I was little, anytime, like Christmas, or for whatever reason we would spend the night there, often our Aunt Teannie, and cousin Terry were there too. She lived in a little three bedroom 12 wide trailer. There was one bedroom built on, so who ever slept on the couch, in the front room, and in the built on, were all about 10 ft from each other. We would lay there at night when we were supposed to be going to sleep, and talk. It is one of my fondest memories of Granny Jones, and her house. Now that she is gone, I cherish it.

Last year my sister and I decided for our mom's birthday, we would have a spend the night party. So, we each got sitters (husbands... grin) and went back "home" for the night. It is the house I grew up in, and Shannon lived there from the time she was four. It was the first time in 18 years we had both been home for a night. It was so much fun we decided to make it a tradition. This year, we were about to go to sleep, and we were laying in the living room talking, and it reminded me of Granny Jones house, so I started calling it Green Couch Night, in Granny Jones' memory.

DaNella

Haircut

Before...
After...

My husband is still not happy with me... But Oh well. He will get used to me... I wanted something different.

The really cool thing is how I got the hair cut. After my final final, I sold my text books. Since I had some business to do in Clanton, I was gonna see if I could get a haircut. I had heard that a friend of mine from a long time ago worked at this certain salon. So I went there.

The name of the salon was Miracles it is in Clanton, on Highway 31. The name of my friend is Christy Wilson Woods.

She and I became friends when we were 4 or 5. We were best friends up until we were 11 or 12, then we went our separate ways. I even named my first daughter, Christeonnah after her, and all the other Christies in my life. Her favorite thing to do was convince me fallacies were true... LOL I remember her telling me that being mature meant acting silly and irresponsible. I remember thinking that was not right, but Christy said it, so it must be true. lol I hung on her every word, and she knew it... Too funny. Now they are happy memories. We were like sisters.

Long story short, when she finished cutting my hair, I said "What do I owe you?" and she said "Nothing. Merry Christmas!"

Thank you Christy!

Rudloph

Look this is my beautiful Deck/ front porch my Darling Hubby built... He is so good.

Lol, LOL!!! Tonight at the Celebrate recovery Christmas party, during praise and worship, Michael called all the children up to sing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Yeah well not exactly praise and worship...

When they started singing it, I started cringing... Why? My children have developed this awful habit. Where you are supposed to say Ho Ho Ho ( u know, the fill in's "Santa Came to say...Ho Ho Ho") they say "In his underwear!" I was silently praying, "God please don't let them say it !!!! When we got to that part, Matt was good, and Nana was good, and Anny Yelled, YELLED... "IN HIS UNDERWEAR!!!" lol the whole place died laughing... It was funny. I had to laugh.

Yeah, I got a hair cut... you aren't seeing things. Let me know what you think, I like it...

My husband.

14 years ago this may...
Have I mentioned lately how much I love my husband? He is so totally awesome! He knew I had a hard day today, I had an Art History final at 10:30 am, and then an Algebra final tonight from 4-6. When I got home, he took me by the hand, swept me past 4 loud rambunctious kids, all yelling " Mommy's home!," straight to our bedroom, where there were candles lit a around the tub. The water was running, and all that was left to do was for me to climb in... I love my Hubby!

Lead Poisoning... yeah.

Just a quick funny note, I am in the middle of finals at college... I am knee deep in Art History.... Yeash...

Anyway, we have a digital thermometer. Since I worked in a daycare for so long, I got used to using it under the arm. It was just easier. So I still take temps under the arm... unless I am using my ear thermometer... but that is a whole nother blog. So my story was, with all of the recalls on toys lately, Tymothie (7)came to me the other day and said..."If we put the thermometer in our mouth will we get lead poisoning?" I thought he meant because it has a metal tip on it... No, he had just realized it was made in China... lol

Christmas cards...

Somebody pass the milkshake... A long time ago, a wonderful couple from Lakeland Fl, Susan and Larry Hilla taught me and Q that when something bad happens you go out and get a milkshake and celebrate how God is gonna fix this one. We got a Christmas card today... It wouldn't' be Christmas without cards right?? Well I am afraid we get this one most every year. From Alabama power... Saying we need to pay our bill... Lol seams like we are always having our power threatened around Christmas time... Oh well, we called them and worked out a deal. No use crying over it, may as well laugh, and enjoy life... It will get better one day.

Praise The Lord! I had my last class for this semester today... I still have the exams to go, but the classes are over... I am so glad. This has been a really hard semester, I took a class I didn't have to take because I didn't check with an advisor before I made my schedule... and well I have paid for it...

All of our money had to go to rent this week, so we had no money to buy groceries... I was kinda worried, but I prayed, and God hooked me up with a food bank. It is so funny, how God even works in things like that. They gave me a turkey, Q has been really wanting to cook one "his way" lol For thanksgiving, Mom and I overruled him, and we had a smoked turkey. He pouted for 2 days... ok not really, only to me. Now God has given him another one.. So, I think we are having thanksgiving again this week lol. I have to make some dressing.

No one really responded about the food posts, so I just decided to cut it out. I am still trying to cut back, and watch what I eat.I hope soon to get some sort of exercise paraphernalia...

Christmas!!

I love Christmas time. I love my Christmas tree! Every one of my ornaments has a story behind it. Here are a few. I collect nativities, so a friend of mine saw this nativity ornament and bought it for me.

Another dear friend, Kathy, from Fl. gave me this snow flake. I am a snow flake fanatic. I love them, they are so pretty!! When I went over to Kathy's house one year at Christmas, I saw this ornament hanging on her tree, and I exclaimed over it. "Oh! I love this! it is so pretty!" so she took it off of the tree and gave it to me.

Another tradition we have is we try to buy a ornament for every family member each year. As you can see, this one says Mom and Dad, and 2004 Q and I usually try to get one that show us together, like this one...

I just love this one, we look so in love!!!

I love my Que!

Love you too,

DaNella

Confession time...

The food is taking up tooo much space in my blog. So, let me know what you think, I'll put up another poll.

Should I keep posting my food every day, or is it boring you to death. You can also leave a comment, or email me at Godlyspice@yahoo.com .

In the mean time...

1. a Mt Dew (see a trend here?) a 3 musketeer, and a serving size bag of bugles


2. a double cheese burger (Mc D's) and Dr P


3. Taco stuff. only one helping, and a small one at that... with a Mt Dew


4. another Mt Dew while working on home work.

It has helped me to think about what I eat more, but it has confirmed what I knew, I already don't really over eat. (couldn't prove that by my waist line)

Love ya!

DaNella

Sweet Gum Leaves and Acorns

All of nature reflects the nature of God. I love nature. I am absolutely obsessed with sweet gum leaves, they have such a pretty shape, and turn such pretty colors. God is so creative... lol Yeah, my husband wasn't surprised either... I picked up a acorn the other day, and showed it to him, I wanted him to see all of the lovely little stripes. So, I pointed them out, and said earnestly "God did it!" lol he looked at me like DUH! But to me it is really neat. If He cares enough to take the time to paint stripes on acorns, surely he cares for you.

lol God is good. I know He is in control, and I know He has a plan. He has not forgotten me. I may not see where he is, or what he is doing, but I trust him. I know he will see me through, no matter what happens.

So, if you are going through a hard time, something that is discouraging you, don't give up. God Has A Plan!

Love to all,

DaNella

This is becoming a food blog...

Ok, today...

1. 1. Um a Mt dew and a piece of breakfast pizza for breakfast... and then I had to drive to Clanton, past Cakes and Candy...


2. 2. Not good but I only ate a chess square, and a half a piece of peanut butter chocolate cake.


3. 3. Then I had some taco helper for supper. with a Dr Pepper.


4. 4. And, Mom and I got a whopper Jr... later.

Yeash I am not eating a lot, but I am not loosing... I am not active enough, I know that, but when do I have the time? I am just gonna have to make time some how.

Mom and I went to a work from home seminar tonight. It was legit, and pretty good, but to do the program, you have to pay $3000.00 to get a certificate to be a medical transcriptionist.

I simply can't afford that right now... I need to get paid to work from home now...

Well btw, update on the hamster. Itsy seems to be adjusting to life as a solo hamster. We never found Bitsy. We haven't started smelling her yet, so hopefully she escaped into the woods behind us. On a crazy note, to get Nana back for naming her bunny, Bunny Stew, I taught Anny a little song...

Little Bunny Stew is hopping thru the Forrest scooping up the Bitsy to bop her on the head!

ah the joys of children...

Love ya, DaNella

It's Sunday

What a wonderful way to start the day!!! My children made me breakfast in bed!! Wasn't that sweet.The really good thing is they are old enough that we could actually eat it! They made us pancakes. It was nice.

Then we got up and got ready for church... We had a good service, Pastor Mark talked about peace. The peace that passes all understanding. A timely message indeed.

I need lots of prayer this week, next week is midterms. I can do it!!! That is what I tell myself.

The kids were playing in the leaves today... this is a moment where Anny saw a butterfly in the clouds... I love this. Thank God for kids...
Ok, ok confession time.

1. For breakfast, I had a pancake (in bed) with a cup of milk.



2. At church I had a cream cheese pastry, with a Dr Pepper



3. For lunch, a hamburger and some fries. with Dr Pepper



4. then for supper, some cheese peanut butter crackers, and Dr Pepper



5. also a piece of white chocolate.

Not too bad... I am still trying. My goal is to loose 70 lbs... I know that sounds like a lot, but that will only take me down to 160, 135 is supposed to be "ideal" weight for my height. So I think 160 is reasonable.




Peace out.... DaNella

Confession time...

Ok confession time... today I ate...

1. One pancake and 2 scrambled eggs
2. a doughnut
3. a dew... and another...and another... and another... and a root beer (wrestling match all day today, I got thirsty.)
4. small bowl of veg soup and cornbread
5. 10 Mandarin orange slices
6. a fourth of a grilled cheese and a small bag of chips

That's all not too much, maybe toooo many soft drinks...It did help me to think about what I ate, because I knew I'd have to write it down...

Matt and Tymothie had wrestling matches today... Tym won his first one, and should have one the second, but got beat by the score keeper, and lost his third. Matt lost both of his and came in third place... lol

Hi Melinda, thanks for reading... Yall don't forget to click on the adds, if they interest you, I get paid per click... It hasn't paid anything yet, but I figured it was worth a try.

Love to all!