oh, yea, baby, I am done!!!!! Time to relax!!!

This girl is done, finished.... christmas shopping!!!!!!! I have never ever ever finished my shopping this early. I am so psyched!!!!! But there is a reason. Starting tomorrow, i have one free night without anything going on. I am dead serious. It is crazy. All next week we will be doing something with Pathway of Light. Which if you are in the Madisonville area, please stop and walk through the life of Christ. It is amazing. Then we have programs, bunco, parties and on it goes. We are traveling to Dallas to spend the weekend at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine. we are riding the Polar Express Train. and then off to Athens the next. But surprisingly we will be home for Santa on Christmas day. I have already ordered my christmas cards and hopefully will be in the mail this week. Usually I am stressing out about pictures and what the kids should wear but i knew i didn't have the time. Sweet Lacy Blakely took the best pictures of our family. So now it is off to wrap and bake and oh, go to wal-mart a thousand times to make sure i didn't forget anything.

This is just one of the great shots Lacey took of my kiddos. It sure gets me in the holiday mood.

Ah, the wonderful ritual of making the turkey.  Matt and I searched the internet, asked veteran turkey makers, and read several texts on making the perfect turkey.  First we brined the turkey.  Then we marinated the turkey with butter and fresh herbs. And last we got up at 5:30 to bake the blessed bird.  And I have to say, it was delish!!!!!  Clayton and Carson helped make the cranberry relish wednesday.  Yes, I gave them knives, but they were champs.  It was a great day and having most of our family there was wonderful.  My sis-in-law made the best salad from Southern living.  It had blue-cheese cakes crumbled into the salad.  I ate that first, before the stuffing.   I am now putting up my fall fun and getting down the christmas goodies.  I hope I can enjoy December.  It all seems to go so fast.  It is my wish that you all have a slow and enjoyable holiday season.  Remember to savor every moment.  

Thankful

When one takes their life most of us wonder how their could be no hope in that person's life.  

I have never felt hopeless.  Why, because I am so blessed to have a supporting family,

supportive friends, and a God that promises He will never leave or forsake me.  

Even in my darkest moments ( and believe me, there have been some ugly dark times) I know 

that there is someone who I can talk to.  

This is why having a church family is so important.  This is why having christian friends are vital.  

This is why having a christian husband is my most prized possesion.  

I never want anyone I know  to ever feel helpless or hopeless.  I hope through tragedy we can all learn to watch out for people who feel life is no longer worth it.   I ask for forgiveness that I didn't reach out. That I didn't show that God has a purpose for everyone.  God had blessed me and I know i don't deserve it.  But because I am a child of God I receive his blessings and here are some of them. My family holding hands before thanksgiving dinner. Each person telling what they are thankful for.  Truly a perfect moment.  

Oh, and pics of the turkey will come later!!!!

TROTTING FOR A TURKEY

This is a very important day in the life of a student at Madisonville Intermediate

the TURKEY TROT.

Kids line up to run a mile for a turkey.( I'll just stand in line thank you very much)

Now Clayton had no illusions of grandeur for the race. He told me that morning that I should

just prepare myself to buy our Thanksgiving Turkey. You see we are not big runners

in my family. We are more hikers than runners. We love to walk and hike, we just don't care how long it takes us to get to our destination.

But Clayton did give a great effort as did all the students.

Carson got out of school to watch brother run. He decided that running for a bird was stupid.

He has such wisdom!!!!

High fives for Me!!!!!!!!

I did it. I finally passed my P&C licensing exam. I didn't realize how hard it is to
learn anything after 30. But with the Lord whispering in my ear that I could do it, I passed.
So, anyone need any insurance????? Har, Har!!!
I have totally been out of the loop here in Madisonville, so please post me
any latest news that has been happening.
There are a couple of things I learned about taking a test after 30:
My bladder doesn't hold as much liquid as it used to.
Sitting on my tush for 8 hours is harder that it used to be.
Things get really blurry on a dry-erase board after hour number 5.
Getting up at 5:00 am everymorning is for the birds and Lacy!!! (love ya)
There is still that one know-it-all in every class.
And i didn't realize how much I missed my diet-coke in stressful situation!!!
And most important... THANK GOD FOR COFFEE!!!!!!!

Random Thoughts By Alice

I have been tagged again to disclose some random things in my life. Since most of my thoughts are random, this shouldn't be too hard. Search my older post for the first 7 things about me!!This is the next 7. I have decided that I am a very random person. Oh well!!!!!!!!

1. I love James Bond. Everyone of them. Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Roger Moore, Daniel Craig. I can't think of the other Bond, I didn't like him very much. And I have seen all the Bond movies. ( I'd love to be a Bond Girl in my imaginary life)

2. I love love love Sushi. Very hard to get good sushi around Madisonville.

3. I have not had a Diet Coke in 5 days. for those who know me well, get off the floor, It is true. I am off diet coke and any sweetener( except the sugar-free sweetener in my coffee). This has been very hard for me!!!!! Sonic unsweet tea has been my drink of choice!!!!!

4. My favorite Book in the Bible is Roman 8. Freedom in Christ. Love it!!!!

5. I have severe migraines. Hate those things.

6. I have said this before, if I could live on the beach, i would. I love the sand and sound and everything about it.

7. My walk to Emmaus changed my life. I wish I could send everyone I love to a walk. If you don't know what Walk to Emmaus is, then post me and I will tell you all about it.

VOTE FOR JOHN McMAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Turkey day at My House!?!?!

Oh, holy granola!!!

I will hopefully be having all the fam at my home for Thanksgiving. Do you know what

this means?? Cooking the hallowed bird. This is major important stuff at our house,

speaking of stuffing... I've never cooked it before. YIKES!!!

So, to anyone who reads this blog. I am reaching out through modern technology for some

major advice,recipes, help.... You know ... any great tips from you guys.

I have visions of the perfectly decorated table...

Everyone in cute sweaters

Children playing outside in the snow, just kidding, I live in Texas. (hopefully we can put away the plastic pool)Har Har.

Please send any advice so that my dreams don't turn into some crazy movie( Christmas Vacation)

And yes, I am a month early. But how much fun will this be to stress over for 29 days!!!!!!!

Going All Fallish at my house

In honor of some of my favorite blog sites, I am showing off my very limited talents of decorating. I know I have made some major decor faux-pas, but this is all I can do.

The stars were copied from Kimba at www.asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com She is totally my hero!!!! They will later become teacher gifts. Shh....don't tell.

The pumpkin was from my terrific mom-in-my heart( hate the term in-law!!!!)

Now she is the decorating diva. her store Larrison Creek has some yummy things for the holidays and stuff just for girlie girls.

Well critic all you want but just say nice things to my face, remember, I'm still hurting from my fight with the you know whats!!!!!!

Yep, those little suckers can burn ya!!

I know this is pretty gross, but yes, I have second degree burns on four of my fingers, from a pop-tart (brown sugar flavor).

So, the little-ity, bitty warning label on the side is correct.. these little suckers can burn ya if your toaster is 18 years old and your settings no longer works and you can feed a family of four with the crust in the bottom tray.

I am trying to come up with another reason on how I burned my little fingers. If you have another story that I can tell people, post them, because I am tired of getting the..are you kidding me, a pop-tart, girl what did you do, light it on fire? look.

Or this.. did you burn it on the icing or the filling? ....

Help and sympathy are needed, because i am tired of the laughter!!!!!!!!!

You won't believe this

If you look back a couple of blogs, you will read the praises of Ugly Mug Coffee.

Well..... Monday I received an email from the founder of Ugly Mug thanking me for the kind

words. In appreciation they wanted to send me free coffee.

Now, believe me, I was sceptical. No one sends me free stuff, just because.

But Lo and Behold

A package arrived at my office, via, UPS, from Ugly Mug.

Inside were, not one, but two bags, "Saving Grace" blend and

"hazelnut" blend. but wait...... they also sent the kiddos a can of hot chocolate.

CREME BRULEE

Are you believing this???? For real!!!!!!! But I'm not done. He sent my Brother a box.

YES, I'm not lying!!!!!

Enclosed was the sweetest card "Let's make Texas Ugly" again from Mark the Founder

LOVE IT!!!

For any of you crazy Moms who are involved in any way with your kids PTO's, they

have fundraiser opportunities for schools. Now I am a big fan of TUBs of cookie dough

(YUK) But what better to go with a warm cookie than hot chocolate and coffee.

So, I am letting you all know what a great company these cool people are.

They are eco-friendly. They are involved in several wonderful organizations that

help third world countries. TOO COOL

Mark, the founder, personally sent me the box with a handwritten letter. (I still

adore handwriten anything) I told him if I wasn't happily married.....well, you know what

I said. Anyhoo, go to the website and visit. Tell them I sent you!!!!

Next time I will be singing the praises of the new Suburban!!!!! Watch what I get in

the mail!!!!!

Missing my camera!!!!

I have been lost for a month and a half without my camera. Hubby had to take it on the road with him. So now my memory card has 500 pics of damaged roofs, missing siding, or fallen fences. I know that I will soon be reunited with my baby( and my husband!!!) But till then, I have to go way back into my files for pics. I did run across this one.

With the help of Jill, Hillary, Lacy, and Rishanne, We had a great time celebrating my B-Day at Abuelos and helping me shop for my cruise !!!!!-They were my fashion police( think- What Not To Wear) I bought this dress for my Cruise in August. It was a steal for $25 at Dillards. Yes-way!!!! I am not kidding. The wrap was curtesy of Rishanne. It was perfect and it hid my arms( my worst feature-besides my thighs.) I had to throw in this pic of Hubby. That's where he wanted to stay the whole cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the midnight buffet with lots of Chocolate and jazzy fruit.

You know, we really did have a good time, despite all the dissappointments along the way. ( I'll never see Cozamel)

And, we got to eat fish tacos at my favorite restaurant in Galveston before Hurricane Ike. I don't know what happened to Shrimp and Stuff, but I can't imagine it not being there. It was a landmark in my food obsessed mind.

Looking back, I can appreciate just the time Hubby and I got to spend together, now that he has been away for over a month. God has a way of putting things into perspective.

Wild Nights at Bunco

Bunco was too much fun at Lacy's in August. We decided to take a group pic. the first(if i blog it correctly) is normal, but look at the second. Someone suggested to everybody to "close your eyes and open them real wide". It is hilarious. We are crazy girls!!!!! They said it made your eyes bright. I think we look like we are trying not to look drunk!!! We aren't drunk, by the way!!! But anyho, I think i have the most beautiful friends ever. And can you believe they are more gorgeous on the inside? How lucky am I !!!!! I can see Christ in each of them. I see great moms or great friends or great wives, can't you see it too?

Yes you are seeing double, I just don't know how to erase the small picture from my blog.

A PRAYER FOR SARAH PALIN

Tonight our Vice Presidential candidates will be debating at Washington University in Missouri. All eyes will be on Sarah Palin. Most will be watching for her to make a mistake. Some will be wishing for her to fall on her face tonight. The media will discet everything she says to find a way to make her look ignorant.

I am asking for you to pray for Her today. While you are in your car or in the bathroom, just take a moment to pray for the debate moderators, the audience, and for Sarah Palin that God will shoulder her tonight. Lift her and her family up in your prayers tonight. While you are at it pray for our government bailout. It's not pretty but we need something. While you are at it just pray for our country.

My New Favorite Obsession

During our Hurricane Ike experience, I spent the week with my awesome parents in Athens. PawPaw took us to the zoo. It was McKenna's first trip to the Caldwell Zoo. We went to the park. We were so blessed to have a place with electricity. And then it happened....We had dinner at my brother Philip and his wife Tyna's house and here is where i tasted my new obsession.

UGLY MUG COFFEE.

Oh, sweet heaven. Thank you God for creating these lovely people who created UGLY MUG coffee. They deserve extra jewels in their crowns!!!! First, the name is too funky and cute and the package is a hoot!!!! But the taste is divine!!!!!!!! I usually have to jazz (thanks Kyley) my coffee up with sweet and low and sugar-free creamer. Sweet and low and Splenda( i just realized this, thank God I am finished baby-making!!!) My bro and sis-in-law had neither so I drank it naked. It was to die for.

Of course, she got this on a trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama so I am on a mission to find it here. Of course I haven't been able to look for it anywhere because I am doing triple duty until my Baby comes home, but I promise I will not quit till it is found!! I have been dreaming of a hot mug with my cute Anita Renfro mug for a week now!!! So, to my sweet friends if you are at a specialty gift shop or someplace really cool, look for this coffee. I will be eternally in your service, I will babysit, dogsit, housesit, clean your feet, whatever!!! Then we will sit in our mansions and drink coffee like the queens we are!!!!

LifeWay Giveaway

All Access is giving away this new Kay Arthur study. Just click here http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/womenallaccess/ Sounds like a great book. This is a great christian women's site. Hope you enjoy.

Ready for Fall

I love fall. Everything about it; the weather, clothes you wear in the fall are so much more body friendly. In other words, they cover more!!! I love the fall festivals and pumpkins and apples and decorations. Here are some great sites to get you in the mood for fall.

Sweet nothings

Grandin Road

nesting place

a soft place to land

for the love of my home

These are just a few of my favs to go and get inspired. As many of you know, i am not crafty but I can look!!!!

My Prayers are With You

I am writing from my parents house in Athens, Tx. with such a heavy heart for so many people. I hope that my friends in the Houston area are safe. Sada, I have been thinking about you and BJ. I know he is so busy right now. I just can't get my mind off of the precious little beach town of Crystal Beach. If you search down on my other blogs, you will see how beautiful this beach front was. Now it is totally destroyed. We had such a wonderful vacati0n there in July. We ate at Steve's Landing. We shopped for our groceries at the Big Store. We went to the little Church of Christ there and met some amazing people. These places are gone and I can't help but wonder where these special people are. I kept repeating the 23rd Psalms last night. I know that God is watching over all of us. If you can read this please leave a post and let me know you are all ok. I love you and can't wait till we can all be together drinking coffee, watching our kids play together, planning ways to help Ike victims. The Lord is MY Shepherd, I shall not want!!!

Getting Braver?(is that a word?)

I have been broadening my crafty horizons lately

I recently painted my pantry door with chalkboard paint.

Clayton and I had the best time. I was inspired after a rowdy night of

Bunco to go do something outside my little box!!

The kids love it. I get to write love notes, reminders, check-list,

flowers, rainbows, happy birthday, and scribbles from McKenna.

I am blossoming into a little crafter!! Watch out you refabers and

decorators, I'm coming after you!!

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

O.K. here goes. I am not a writer, hence the degree in public speaking, but I have been led by the Spirit to write my heart today. Many of my friends know that I struggle with migraines almost weekly sometimes. I take medicine daily to prevent the migraines, but the side-effects are so bizzare ( numbness in my face and hands, terrible nightmares) I have meds to help when I have a migraine, but it knocks me out. Hard to run a house of three hoodlums when you are dead asleep. There has been tremendous stress I have laid upon our household lately and that doesn't help with the head at all. I feel like half a wife, half a mom, half a friend, half a faithful servant. So, where do I go from here. I GO UP!!!!!!!!!

Sunday night Matt and I laid in bed an prayed together. We prayed over everything. EVERYTHING. I felt the weights lifting as Matt spoke to God. I felt God's arms rocking me to my first full nights sleep in over 2 weeks. No headache for three days now. Why? I decided not to play doctor. I decided not to be the head decision maker in my house. I gave that job to our heavenly father. I decided to pray.

So many of my friends are suffering physically and I truly believe that Satan is using stress to compound our sufferings. Satan knows that when we are stressed we cannot effectively be who we want to be. Stress is killing me and I can see it. I am rebuking stress and satan in the name of my heavenly father. I am rebuking stress in my friends lives in the the name of our father.

Please read all of Romans 8 and 12 while you are at it. Nothing can seperate us from our Father and we are more than conquerors and overcomers in this life through the blood of Jesus. Through Christ we can overcome our fears and stress.

I feel better already.

I've Been Tagged- again

I'm still not sure what I need to be doing with all this tagging stuff. Sounds pretty difficult to me. So I don't embarrass myself, I believe I am suppossed to tell 7 strange things about myself and then tag other people right? Ok, here goes.



1. I was a music theater major in college. I thought I was going to be the next Barbara Streisand. I love to sing, but don't really make that public knowledge.



2. I have a horrible fear of my children getting run over by a lawn mower. Anxiety triples in the spring and summer months. I love the first frost!!!


3. I was also a dance major for a semester at SHSU. I can even do the catapiller.



4. I can stand on my head for long periods of time. My kids love it. This is the only reason they think I'm cool.



5. If I could live at the beach, I would. I am my happiest watching my kids play in sand or trying to catch a wave on a buggy board.



6. I have this insane fear of disappointing people. It is sometimes very hard to deal with.



7. I love love love my wonderful friends. I think I have the best and I would love to have more. the more the merrier has always been my motto.

AND I DON'T TOUCH LOOSE TEETH!!!!!!!

Ok there it is. Hope you all still love me. As for tagging other people well, Rishanne, Michelle, Denise S. Sheree, Boo!!! You are tagged.

Catching Up on Our Summer

As most of you know, i don't get a lot of computer time unless I am in the office helping Matt. So I am going to catch up on my summer. I love the beach and have been blessed to visit some georgous beaches in the South. Sarasota beach in Florida is by far the most beautiful. I have vacationed in the Emerald Coast of Florida's panhandle several times and the water is so amazing. So when Matt told us we couldn't afford the gas to go to Inlet beach this year I was devestated. Then my sister -in - law found out about a great beach house in Crystal Beach in Galveston. Still, I was not looking forward to going to Galveston. We have gone so many times and it just can't compare to Florida. Sounds sorta snobby, doesn't it. Well I have to say I was put in my place. We had the best time with Jim, Janice, Matt's brothers and their familes. Here are some reasons why. The beach house was so amazing. Everything was pottery barn perfect. The seashell chandellier was sooo cool. The fenced in porch was great for BBQs and smore's making. The kids all had a blast. The water was so perfect. All in all it was just a great weekend for all of us.