2016 - the Year in Review

2016 has been a good year.  They're all good years.  But 2016 has been especially  so!

The year began with a nice big snow storm (big for this area), and y'all know I love some snow!  We also celebrated the grandbaby's 4th birthday.

February brought us an ice storm - which I do NOT love as much as snow, Valentine's Day, and...

The Panthers went to the Super Bowl!!  Sure... they lost to the Broncos.  But, I was just happy to see my cats in the Big Game.

As spring arrived in March, the female offspring and I enjoyed a "girl's day out" at the Biltmore Estate.

The Man of the House and I also took the grandbaby to his first circus.   He loved the clown acts.  But, I think his favorite part was the popcorn and cotton candy.

April was a quiet month for us.  Which was good, since it allowed us to rest up for the whirlwind of activity in May and June!

The male offspring turned 18 and graduated from high school.  I felt appropriately  old.

The Man of the House and I made our first ever visit to New York.  The trip started out shaky as I spent the first full day laid up in the hotel with which was most likely food poisoning.  Fortunately things improved from that point.

I am completely infatuated with New York and hope to visit again soon!

In August we made our way south one Saturday to visit the Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Wofford College.  Another first for the grandbaby!

At the end of August and first of September we journeyed even further.  The Man of the House and I visited Tokyo, Japan!  It was the trip if a lifetime.  There aren't enough words to describe how exciting the entire experience was.

We spent a few September weekend evenings at Antler Hill Village on the Biltmore Estate listening to live music.

October brought the Man of the House's birthday, which was a quiet event.  The following weekend he and I went to see Styx in concert.

November opened with taking the grandbaby to see the big tree brought in to start the "Christmas at Biltmore" season.  This is something I have wanted ro do for some time and this was the year to finally check it off my list!

I celebrated  another birthday. The Man of the House and I marked 24 years of marriage. A good month, indeed!

As you know, once Thanksgiving arrives the rest of the year speeds past in a blur.  This year was no exception.  

The female offspring completed her degree in computer engineering and is eager to begin the next season of her life.  That makes two of us!

2016 was a fun filled and exciting year.  It makes me smile to look back on it.  It also makes me look forward to what 2017 has in store for us!!

A Naughty Little Elf

Y'all may be familiar with the phenomenon known as the "Elf on the Shelf".

A couple of years ago, one of these little creatures began to visit our home during the Christmas season.  He was named "Pie" by the grandbaby.

Pie keeps us on our toes every year.  This year was no exception...

Elf Under Glass

He brought an "Elf on the Shelf" gingerbread house kit

Just hanging out...

A bubble bath... of mini marshmallows

Relaxing with a cup of cocoa

Going bananas

Playing Xbox

All wrapped up

Enjoying some Christmas Pez

Keeping track of the Christmas countdown

Trying on the grandbaby's  R2D2 slipper

Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!!

December

It's that time of year again.  Things can get a little (a lot?) busy.  My life is no exception.

There's the usual hustle and bustle of shopping, gifts to wrap,  parties to attend, etc.  This year my Etsy shop is keeping me on my toes.  I can't - and won't - complain about that! However, it has caused me to have to put a few other things on the back burner.

In an effort to maintain some kind of balance, I'm be taking a break from the blog until around the first of the year.

I wish each of you a joyous Christmas.  I pray that you experience the peace of God's unconditional love.  And that you know you are loved and cherished.

I look forwarded to sharing 2017 with you!

Twenty Four

Twenty four years ago today I became the Mrs to this Mr...

It's been twenty four years of ups and downs.  Laughter and tears. New jobs and layoffs.  Kids and grandkids born and family members lost.  Family vacations. Anniversary trips.  Business trips.  House remodels.  New cars and ones that left us stranded on the side of the road.

Most importantly it's been twenty four years of love.

And I am excited to see what the next twenty four years and beyond holds in store for us!

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: November 16

Today I Am Thankful For:
Playing pretend with the grandkid that he is an elephant
Cardinals at the birdfeeder
Keeping dinner simple
The cat playing like a kitten

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: November 14 and 15

I Am Thankful For:
Making (slow) progress
Going to bed early
Reasons to wish my sister lived closer
Receiving this text message:

New recipes to try
Realizing our anniversary is in less than a week

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: November 12 and 13

I Am Thankful For:
A successful pre-black Friday promotion
Homemade pecan pie
Watching old "Cheers" episodes with the Man of the House
The perfect hiding spot

Peppermint mocha is back

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: November 9, 10, and 11

I Am Thankful For:
Time with my sister
Watching "The Crown" with my niece
Dark chocolate covered raisins
The funniest comment about deer I have ever heard
Peace and quiet
Afternoon tea
The female offspring had an interview

What I Want Them To Know

I have seen many parents giving voice to concerns over what they should tell their children today.  I see my own mostly grown offspring expressing disbelief and anxiety.  And I myself have wondered what the future holds for our nation.  This is what I want my children to know:

I can't explain the results of the election to you.  Or any other election, for that matter.  Every person who voted had his or her own reasons for choosing the candidate they did.  I don't know most of them.  I don't know their lives, their situations, or why they think the way they do.

I know you are confused.  You may also feel fear.  You may feel disillusioned.  You may be angry.  That's ok.  Feel what you feel.  Feel free to express that in a constructive and respectful way.  But do not allow yourself to be overcome by it!

The election may be over, but now is the time to make an even more important decision.  You must choose how it will affect you.  Will you become bitter and disillusioned and give up?  Will you let the momentum build and sweep away everything you dreamed for your future?  Will you roll over and play dead?  Or will you let it make you stronger and more determined to work for what you believe?  The choice is yours.

I see people talking about moving to Canada.  Are we really ready to give up on our home?  To run from the challenge?  Or do we take a stand?  Continue to try to make a difference where ever and when ever you can.

You may feel insignificant.  You may feel outnumbered.  You may think there's nothing you can do.  Believe me when I tell you that one determined person can change the world.

You know what is right and what is wrong.  You know to treat people with respect and kindness.  Just because someone else calls names, belittles and demeans others, or participates in "locker room talk" does not make it ok or mean we must follow that example.  Jesus told us to Love each other.  He didn't say to only be kind to those who have the same opinions as us.  In fact He said the exact opposite!

We can let the divisiveness continue to grow and tear our country apart even further.  Or we can decide to work with what we have been given and look to how we might make the best of things.  We must try to find some kind of middle ground where we can meet, while also continuing to stand up for what we believe is important.

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: November 7 & 8

Today I Am Thankful For:
Sleepy grandkid
Family
New glasses
Peppermint patties
Exercising my right to vote

Dad's surgery went well
Vegetarian chili

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: November 6

Today I Am Thankful For:
My house already smells like the holidays

The Man of the House doing some SERIOUS cleaning
My beautiful birthday cake

(made by my talented daughter!)

Panthers win 2 in a row

More birthday surprises

Sunday Inspiration: Promises Kept

30 Days of Gratitude & Thanksgiving: November 5

Today I Am Thankful For:
Waking up early
Enjoying the pre-dawn quiet with a cup of coffee and my Bible
Lunch with the Man of the House
New ankle boots
The grandkid "making Cpa feel better"

(Little C is the one who is sick, but is petting his C-pa's head to make him feel better)