Last Christmas

This is what looking for the perfect Christmas tree was like last year, we all picked our favorite tree but dad's tree won out. After all he was doing all the work so he got to pick.

And cut! And to answer your question yes the tree did fall on him before the boys decided to help. Oviously I had to hold the camera, you know document the occasion.
Saturday we will load the four of us and the dog in the jeep and head out to find the perfect tree for this year. We will bring it home and decorate it while enjoying a cup of hot cocoa with a dollop of Reddi Wip floating in it. Snow is in the forcast so of course we will have the fresh snowflakes to add to the five or six inches we already have. Snow on the ground while searching for a christmas tree, what a concept, as you can see in the picture very little snow last year. The last to or three years its been brown and dirty for our family tree hunting day, so I am really looking forward saturday....

City at night

I know, I know not another sunset picture, what can I say, I love sunsets!

Sin posse!

Above: The Landover Baptist Sin Posse (1938) "Local Demon Busters Division A." Front row from left: Henny Binn Davidson Jr., Dan Carver, Deacon Bill Maxum, Officer Eddie (The Breeze) Bruckner Back row: Chief Manny Tack (Father of the late Georgia Sue Gaines), Rev. Sam Kidwell, Dr. Orson Pickering (seen through the rear window securing firearms in the trunk)

*About: The Landover Baptist Sin Posse had 12 divisions, the most successful of which was "Demon Busters Division A," seen above. The sin posse worked much like a volunteer fire department. The only difference was that instead of putting out earthly fires, they put out fires that originated in Hell. Local residents would call the Demon Busters whenever suspicious activity was afoot. Division A would respond and be on the scene within 15 minutes. Sinners would flee in horror when they heard the sound of the posse's limousine coming around the corner. If the posse arrived and people were still sinning, they would try to disperse the crowd by using physical force. All members carried wooden baseball bats. They would club sinners over the head until they heard either a confession of Christ or a promise to attend church. Firearms were used in some cases. The Landover Baptist Sin Posse stopped smokers, gamblers, drunkards, loiterers, Catholics, uppity colored folks, harlots, young girls in lewd attire, boys engaged in questionable horseplay, male flower shop owners, musicians, artists, know-it-all lawyers, lispers, and sissies, for nearly 50 years. When the Landover Baptist Church got its own state funded born again Baptist police force in 1947, there was no longer a need to have a sin posse.

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Found this article the other day while helping our youngest do an assignment for his catechism class. The assignment was to check out other forms of religion and find out how there views differ from ours on matters like baptism and sin. This is something from the Baptist church that we came across and got a good laugh. Not sure if this is true or just something to get a good laugh over but we thought it seemed like a good idea. Don't you think we could all use a good beating over the head every now and again, I know I could. And I know a few people I would love to see get beat over the head. I'm not a violent person I just know the effects of sin, so I quess if gettin walloped a good one tell you cry out to the Lord is what it takes then I'm all for it. Wallop away I say. To bad the group got dispersed....

Anna gives thanks

Thank you for my savior who died for me.
Thank you for my family and friends who love me.
Thank you for the miracles you've shown me.
Thank you for the beauty that surrounds me.
Thank you for the home you've provided for me.
Thank you for the life you've given me.
Lord I thank Thee!

All a glow

I took this picture last week just before the sun dipped down below the horizon. I was out by the road near our house snappin pictures as cars were driving by at a high rate of speed. I got a few strange looks. They were probably wondering why this crazy lady was taken pictures next to a busy road in her jammy bottoms....So worth it though, such a beautiful sunset I just couldn't pass it up......

Can I come in?

The neighbor cat James Bond yes thats his name we just call him James, wanting to come in or perhaps wanting my two to come out. I get this look everyday from him he realy knews how to pull at the heart strings, if he didn't belong to someone already I would have a 4th cat in my house for sure...

Where did all the years go?

I spent several hours today touring our community college with our son T.J. who's a senior in high school. I've celebrated 18 birthdays with him and for the first time I seen him as a man and not a child. It seems like just yesterday we were playing at the park, going on adventures and reading bedtime stories. Now were getting info on graduation gowns and invitations and checking out college opportunities. I remember the day we brought him home from the hospital a little 5 lbs. 8 oz. bundle of joy, I had just turned 19 two days before and thought I had a lifetime to love and care for him and plan his future. Now the future that seemed so far away is here and I'm not ready for it. Touring the college today really put things in perspective, he's not my little boy anymore, he's grown up and ready to spread his wings and make his way in the world and its my job as a parent to guide him in that direction ~the open door to the big world~ but I'm not ready to let go. I was told when the kids were younger to "cherish the time you have with them cause they grow up so fast", truer words could not have been spoken, the past 18 years have flown by in an instant. One minute your holding this little baby your very heart itself in your arms and the next minute your helping him plan for the future he'll have away from you. I wish I had a rewind button I could keep rewinding back to when they were little and never really have to let go. Is it selfish to want just a little more time with your kids? I know the Lord kept Eric and I close to our hometown all these years for many reasons but one being that we have many options for colleges and trade schools within driving distance of our home, so T.J. can live at home and go to college. So he can have his independence and still have that security of being able to save money and not have to worry about bills. Is it wrong to want to give your child the tools to make it on their own and not just push them out the door. Is it wrong as a parent to want that extra time with them to say the goodnites and give hugs and guide them just that little extra bit so that when they do walk out your door their really ready. I know it will be hectic for him with college and work but at least he's home. I'm so glad he chose a school close to home. Not sure what me, his brother or the animals would have done if he would have chose to go off to school, brute force I quess.....

Colors of Fall

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

It's your birthday, Mom.
So I will raise a cheer.
For without you, wonderous woman,
I would not be here.

Yes, I owe it all to you, Mom.
From the time that I was small,
You encouraged me in everything,
And tried not to let me fall.

Throughout my life your caring,
Brightened each and every minute.
You loved me and enriched my life,
And I'm so glad to have you in it!

poem by: Karl Fuchs

APPLE MANIA!

I got a load of apples given to me and not wanting them to go to waste I went on a jelly/jam making rampage, I made 7 batches and still have a ton, can only eat so many a day, quess my next project will be breads, pies, and crunches made with apples. I love apples but after this I am really questioning Why I said "sure I'll take whatever apples you don't want". I have apples coming out of my butt, SERIOULY, loaded with all that fiber apples are just as affective as prunes and X-lax........