abc.

I saw this fun questionnaire while visiting And Sew It Goes and thought I would play along.  How about you do the same and we will all discover something new about each other!

A - Age:  is in the mind of the beholder (smile)
B - Bed size:  king
C - Chore you hate:  cleaning the bathroom
D - Dog's name:   Bear
E - Essential start of the day item:  coffee and spoken "good mornings"
F - Favorite color:  red
G - Gold or Silver:  hair?!
H - Height:  tall enough to reach but too short to see what is on the top of the fridge
I - Instruments you play:  washing machine, sewing machine, computer ... snicker
J - Job: homemaker
K - Kids:  are treasures from the Lord (even on those days when they are being stinkers)
L - Living arrangements:  country living
M - Music you love:  contemporary Christian, smooth jazz, some of the old 70's, 80's, 90's
N - Nicknames:  Trish
O - Overnight stay at hospital:  sounds like a vacation ... hee hee hee
P - Pet Peeve:  chewing with mouth open ... ewe!
Q - Quote from a movie: oh gosh, too many, our family quotes movies on a regular basis
R - Right handed or left:  right
S - Siblings:  2 step and 1 half
T - Time you wake up:  between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. (hence the need for coffee)
U - Underwear: mandatory
V - Vegetable you dislike: I pretty much love all fruits and vegetables
W - Workout Style: walking mainly
X - X-rays you've had:  just the basic routine ... teeth
Y - Yummy food you make:  enchiladas
Z - The best place to visit:  Northern California (Marin County mainly-my Aunt's house) ... HOME

Ok ... now it's your turn.  Be sure and let me know when you post and I will drop by! 

q and a

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
wrapping paper with real ribbon

2. Real tree or artificial?
we have an artificial but I love the smell of real

3. When do you put up the tree?
right after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take down the tree?
usually New Years Day
(personally, I would like it down Dec. 26th)

5. Do you like egg nog?
Hello! Love it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child.
-there are two-
1.as funny as this may seem, my stocking was always a favorite
there were little goodies plus one apple and one orange
we were allowed to go through our stocking while my parents woke up
we had to wait to open the presents until we were all there
2.Donny and Marie barbie dolls

7. Hardest person to buy for.
my husband - he doesn't want anything for Christmas
he isn't a scrooge - he just isn't a big gift kind of person

8. Easiest person to buy for.
Katie - I have never had to worry about what we should get for her.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, more than one. Each has a special meaning, because of when we purchased it or who purchased it for us. My very favorite is a little country looking one of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. It is sweet and simple.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail!
Usually I have pictures of our children to send and this is the 2nd year
(in a row)
that I have dropped the ball on it.
Very frustrating to me!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received.
Orders from the Coast Guard that took Woody away for the holidays (in 1994).
Katie and I made the best of it, we bought our very own little tree that we decorated.
But it just wasn't the same with out him!

12. Favorite Christmas movie.
"It's A Wonderful Life" hands down ...
but I just saw "Elf" the other night and laughed so much!
That would be right up there with "The Santa Clause" (our family movie)!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Oh boy ... I used to be so much better about getting shopping done way before the holidays. Not anymore ... seems the closer we get, the more I need to do. Plus making gifts tends to take me closer to Dec. 25th!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not that I can remember.
And no, that doesn't mean I am pleading innocence.
I just think it is tacky to do so!
Now, Christmas bags and boxes is a totally different story!
I have recycled the real nice ones,
I usually throw out the battered ones ... that someone else recycled for my gift.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas.
a ham dinner
then the next day have ham and eggs for breakfast
yum

16. Lights on the tree?
yes, white lights

17. Travel or stay home for Christmas?
on the actual day ... stay home for sure
we usually do our running around ahead of the 25th

18. Open the presents Christmas eve or morning?
Morning ... although I have two pretty good negotiators that have yet to give up
asking for "just one" present to be opened Christmas eve.

Thanks Lois for a fun little game!
If anyone posts answers to your own questions, let me know!
I will come for a visit.

Who Am I?

I am a daughter of The King.

I am not confrontational. However my daughter says that I am not afraid to fight if I need to (I hope that is a good thing!).

I know how to french braid my own hair.

I think I want a part time job.

I don't think I realized how much I would miss Dad after his death last year.
It is overwhelming at times.

I want to experience a day spa.

I have an obsession with analyzing people.
I love to watch them and learn what makes them tick.

I like getting older.

I dislike seeing a man without a shirt. No joke - the thought sends shivers up my neck.

I hate when those large worms ate my tomato plants last year.
They will be chicken food if they come back again this year!
(I am putting seven dust on my plants just as soon as they are in the dirt.)

I dream every single night.

I fear that harm will come to our children.

I am annoyed when I forget clothes in the washer over night.

I crave my husband's fried chicken pieces. They taste so good!

I usually read my Bible in bed at night before I go to sleep.

I search for the best prices on everything.

I hide love notes for my family to find.

I wonder why things happen. I know the Lord has a purpose and is viewing a much larger picture. I just can't help but be very curious about why things happen.

I regret not letting my love for the color red to come out sooner.

I love taking care of my family.

I can be perfectly content spending time alone.

I can't live without coffee.

I try to always speak with a gentle voice and spirit.

I enjoy working in our yard.

I don't care that my hair is turning gray. My son reminds me that it shows all my wisdom - bless his heart!

I always open windows in our home when the weather permits.

I never want to live in Alaska. EVER!

I'd rather be outdoors than indoors.

I rely on myself probably more than I should.

I believe in salvation - only through Christ.

I dance in the privacy of my own home - a lot!

I sing all of the time.

I argue only when it is my very last option.

I write lists - lots and lots of lists.

I win at Speed only when I play against Woody.

I lose at Chess when I play against Nathan. He is just too stinkin' smart for me!

I wish I had the talent/ability to communicate my thoughts better.

I listen to the rain, the birds singing, my children laughing.

I don't understand why Bear runs off like he does.

I'm scared of masks, snakes, alligators.

I forget things that are not written down.

I am happy when our family is spending time enjoying one another's company.

Now the question is ...

Who are you??

* C *

Ginger at Embrace Life! has tagged me with the letter C. The rules for this fun game is that I need to come up with 10 things I love that start with the letter C. Piece of cake right?! Not quite. Maybe it was because I had not finished my first of two cups of coffee, but I really had to think about this one. Thanks to the help of my sweet daughter, who reads me like a book, I have 10 items to list. I thought it would be fun to mix things up a little and add pictures like I did in this post.

Ok, let's begin ...

1. Christ - my Savior, my Heavenly Father, my Best Friend! I love Jesus Christ!

2. Cats - more specifically, my cats. All three of them. Each cat I have ever owned has had it's own unique personality. Thomas is a real snuggle bug, Elizabeth is a princess and Easter is a gentle giant.




3. Coffee - but not just any coffee. My husband's coffee! Woody makes the very best coffee and even brings my cup to me in the morning!



4. Candles - Fresh Cut Roses is the scent in my home, it is perfect for Spring!



5. Cabinets - I absolutely love order! A place for everything and everything in it's place is a motto I live by. Open shelving drives me nuts! My laundry room has three open wall shelves and I would love to replace them with an armoire!



6. Cottages - nothing speaks to my homemaker's heart, like a cottage. We live in a decent sized house, but in a perfect world, I would have a cottage with a white picket fence and sunny rooms!



7. Cotton - next to smells, touch is my strongest sense. I only buy cotton fabrics for my clothes and bedding. I love how it feels!

8. Clearance - Ok, my middle name should be some form of this word! I am a super picky person when it comes to what I spend my hard earned money on, so clearance is my kindest shopping friend!

9. Collecting plates - especially white and cream! I have a number of toile, Spode (and the like), and florals.



10. Cleaning - Out of all the isles in the grocery store, the cleaning isle is my favorite! I love to clean! Mop, vacuum, dust, organize, you name it! Even ironing! I love to clean!

When I Am Not Blogging

*special note - I forgot to tag three others (see I told you...below...one cup of coffee in the morning just doesn't do it for me! Here are my 3 tags The Happy Homebody, Nest to Keep, & Calamity Jane's Cottage.*


My day ... in between blogging (Thank You Ruby Red Slippers for including me in this fun tag!)

Morning

My alarm goes off at 6 ... on most days I obey the alarm and get out of bed ... on colder days ... I linger.

I get up, grab one of two robes ... today is the long fleece robe! Throw my hair up.

Head to the kitchen for my cup of coffee. While three cats dance around my feet.

(This morning we have a house full of boys, Nathan had a birthday sleep over and they all slept outside in the tent! Can you say, "burr?")

Start one load of laundry, tell Katie good bye as she heads for the school bus, chat with Nathan as he stumbles out of his room, waking up and heading for his shower. Don't you just love what your children look like when they first wake up?

I usually do some cleaning or bread baking right about now. Both perhaps.
I take down what I plan on cooking for dinner, to defrost.

Head for the shower with my second cup of coffee! Can't leave that out! Bad things happen on only one cup of coffee!

Every day is a new adventure! If I am planning to go to town or run errands, I dress the part. If I am going to mow the lawn, the shower gets put on hold (not the coffee), I wear a hat and play clothes - then the mowing lasts for an hour or more!

Nathan's homeschool day begins at 8:30. We have been tackling Science first lately.

Lunch

Nathan and I stop what we are doing and eat. Either sandwiches or left overs are warmed up. We hang out. Lately he has been reading books to me. I love when my children read to me. Even at their age!! Another thing that Nathan and I like doing is play his WII. I have been learning how to race him on Mario Cart. He is a pro ... I am still working on driving around the corners with out shooting off the side!

Afternoon

Another load of laundry! I tell my husband that laundry is "Job Security" for me!
Back to school - if I am doing yard work, I will finish it up and shower.
Otherwise, I may do some cleaning (I am always cleaning!), making jewelry, sewing, or painting.
Katie is coming home from school, so we hang out and chat about her day.
Cooking dinner is next on my usual list! :o)

Evening

When Woody comes in from work, we all eat dinner together. Every night. We all talk together about what ever subject comes up and then the kids do kitchen cleaning while Woody and I hang out for a little while. Some nights we sit on the porch and chat and snuggle. Some nights we walk or hang out on the couch. Other times we jump on our computers that are practically side by side. It really just depends. Coffee dates usually happen now (decaf). :o)
On Wednesday nights I take the kids to church. I have been sitting in on a missions group of young ladies (they are too much fun).

Later in the evening

Showers are being taken, laundry folded (that had not been already) and our home settles down for the night.
Prayers are prayed, kisses are given, and to sleep we go. :o)
*Friday Night Pizza & Movies*
Every Friday night we eat pizza and watch a movie as a family!

SATURDAY

I wake up when my body decides it is time ... my sweet husband brings me my cup of coffee.
HAVE I TOLD YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE SATURDAYS?

Either Katie or Woody are cooking pancakes and sausage ... mmm ... it smells so good!

After showers ... this is a great time for tasks, hobbies or shopping. Since Katie is attending the high school, Saturdays are usually the window we have for any shopping we need to do for her.


Sunday

Morning ritual consists of coffee, showers, dressed, banana and yogurt, grab my Sunday school material while heading out the door (I teach 3,4,5,6th graders) and go to church!

After we eat lunch, naps (adults), wake up, get ready for Bible Study (Beth Moore ~ The Psalms of Assent), and church ... off we go (Nathan and I ~ Katie is getting her assignments done plus getting ready for school the next day. Woody is usually working on a project of sorts.)

Showers, talking, playing, reading, all at the same time! :o) We usually congregate in Nathan's room! All of us!

Then to bed to start all over again!

Now ... If you are still with me ... kuddos to you! We live a pretty simple life! Some might call it boring, but we are happy - and isn't that what matters? :o)

Thank You Hayley!

Hayley at The Handmade Housewife blessed me with a sweet award! Thank you Hayley!

What an honor to receive this award from someone as talented as Hayley!! I am hoping that some of her creativity will rub off on me! Hayley has the cutest key chains on her Etsy page, sews beautifully (you HAVE to see her placemat pillows), makes darling tassels, and also is re-doing a dresser (which I can not wait to see). Not to mention, on a bigger scale, Hayley did a whole room make-over! It turned out super!!

I am to list 6 things that make me happy ... here they are ...

1. pumpkin spice latte from Starbuck's in the fall
2. pizza/movie night with my family
3. crunchy peanut butter & apricot jelly sandwiches
4. decorating my home
5. having special dates with either my husband, my daughter, or my son
6. pleasant smelling candles, burning

Now I am to list 6 of my favorite crafting bloggers ... they are in no particular order ... each one is such a precious blog that I try to daily keep up with

1. Bonnie at Calamity Jane's Cottage
2. Angie at The Happy Homebody
3. Ruby Red Slippers
4. Jenni at Nest To Keep
5. New Every Morning
6. Notes From A Cottage Industry

I am tagged ... again

I told you I was not very good at playing tag ... I am it again! Smile! If anyone reads this and wants to play along, just let me know!! Katie at Blessed By 3 Miracles is who tagged me.

Six random things about me ... I thought I could dig up some of my past for this one!

1. In 1977, Henry Winkler (Fonzie) came to my hometown to film the movie "Heroes".

My step-mom kept us kids out of school, so we could go down town and get a glimpse of him! It was so exciting!!

2. The shorter man in the picture (in the middle) with JFK being sworn in, is Jimmy, he is holding the Bible that President Kennedy has his hand on as he takes his oath.

Jimmy is our family friend and has been for many years. My great grandpa built a beautiful brick path in Jimmy and his wives yard, and they still reside across the street from my beloved Aunt. Jimmy is a very sweet man!!

3. I walked 20 miles in the 6th grade, as part of March Of Dimes, so that I could see John Snyder from the Dukes of Hazzard.


When the helicopter landed (that John was in) I was near the stage that he walked across and he looked right at me!!

4. When I eat a frozen burrito, it has to have mustard on the side.

5. All three of my children were born on a Friday - unplanned!

6. My first grandchild is due to be born only 3 days before my 40th birthday!

My daughter Valerie and her fiance Matt - the young parents to be!

Seven

New Every Morning has a fun post called Seven. Come and join the fun!

Seven Things I Love
1. Jesus
2. my family
3. bath time (candles lit, usually some treat, and quiet)
4. a clean home
5. nice people
6. my perfume (Body by Victoria)
7. my bed

Seven Pet Peeves
1. people chewing with their mouth open - especially if they are talking
2. unflushed toilets
3. when someone does not do what they said they would do
4. not being able to fall asleep (in less than 3 minutes, my husband is asleep)
5. not being able to find pants that fit (I am short)
6. forgetting to put washed clothes into the drier
7. getting soap in my eyes

Seven Things I Can't Do
1. lie
2. speak another language
3. do a cartwheel
4. swim
5. eat crawfish
6. shoot an animal (lots of hunters around here)
7. pass up a stray animal, especially if they come to my home

Seven Things I Can Do
1. bake bread
2. see the best in others (that has a dark side too)
3. organize
4. budget
5. plan healthy meals (and cook of course)
6. navigate the computer and internet
7. drive somewhere once and know my way (good sense of direction)

Seven Characteristics I Want To Have
1. a clean heart
2. selflessness
3. humility
4. excellence in all I do
5. joy-no matter what the situation
6. being more assertive
7. peace that passes all understanding

Seven Things I Can't Live Without
1. my bible
2. my toothbrush
3. a haircut every 6 weeks
4. music
5. sweatpants in the winter (only around my home)
6. fabric softener
7. clean underwear (TMI-TMI-TMI!)

Seven Things You Might Hear Me Say
1. "Are you kidding me?"
2. "Ask Dad."
3. "Glorious."
4. "Holy Cow!"
5. "Oh man!"
6. "Good grief!"
7. "Hello?!"

Ok - now it is your turn!!

a game of tag

I was tagged by Angie at The Happy Homebody to list 6 random things about myself and then tag 6 others to do the same.
I was never very good at tag as a child, it always took me the longest to catch anyone, so this will be great fun!

Ok ... one ... two ... three ... not it! Smile!

1. I love to organize and even organize places in my head. I'm kinda like the Rain Man only with organizing rather than numbers ... smile!
2. I love to clean my home. No kidding, it gives me great satisfaction to bring order and cleanliness.
3. I hate public bathrooms. Just the thought makes me cringe.
4. I could own 10 white shirts and still justify buying one more. Funny thing ... I am wearing a white shirt with jeans and sandals right now.
5. I could live outdoors ... weather permitting ... when I was a child I never wanted to be indoors. My husband calls me his "nature girl."
6. One of my favorite past times is people watching. My favorite location is the airport, but will settle for a coffee house with plenty of traffic!

The 6 people that I am tagging are Kim at Fruitful Spirit, Hayley at The Handmade Housewife, Nicole at Crafting Happens, Kara at Inspired Kara, Katie at Harrington House, and Melissa at The Crazy Daisy.

I can't wait to read everyone's random thoughts!!!

one hundred things.

Katie at Three Blondes and a Redhead has inspired me to take some time to ponder what makes me happy. I am so glad that I found her blog!! She is such a delight!

100 Things That Make Me Happy ~ In No Particular Order

1. Olive Garden's stuffed chicken marsala
2. words of affirmation from my husband and children
3. change to go thrifting with
4. visits with Aunt Kathy
5. watching people - layovers in the airport are my favorite
6. reading out loud with Katie and Nathan
7. having our needs met
8. warm house on a cold day
9. memories of my grandparents
10. blogging
11. painting our home
12. Sunday naps
13. being able to open all the windows in our home
14. mowing the lawn
15. being pregnant
16. living in the country
17. our chickens - they are silly
18. a good haircut
19. sitting on the porch with my family during a storm
20. my dog's soft floppy ears
21. holding hands with Woody
22. sweaters
23. the beaches of Northern California
24. blowing bubbles with my gum and having contests to see who blows the biggest bubble - with my children
25. organizing
26. routine
27. new school supplies
28. being able to walk to the nearest coffee house
29. pumpkins
30. the smell of book stores
31. white twinkle lights
32. new socks
33. peace amongst my children
34. quilts
35. the Bible
36. forgiveness
37. our cats
38. sleepovers with Katie or Nathan
39. successfully accomplishing a goal
40. seeing God at work
41. nurturing children
42. fabric softener
43. Shaw's Fish House
44. watching my son become a young man
45. finding clothes that fit
46. a good night's sleep
47. my husband's fried chicken
48. watching my children succeed
49. babies
50. the rabbits in our yard playing
51. resting in the Lord during difficult times
52. taking care of my family
53. old family movies
54. gingham
55. popcorn at the theatre
56. candles
57. laughter
58. my children's birthdays
59. questionnaires
60. random acts of kindness
61. listening to older women in church sing
62. serving others
63. a sense of purpose
64. knowing how well my step-mom cared for my dad while he was dying ( May 25 2008)
65. listening to the wisdom of older people
66. simplicity
67. airplanes - from crop dusters to the Blue Angels - I love to fly!!
68. meeting nice people
69. Katie's baking
70. kittens
71. puppies
72. watching birds hatch
73. growing old
74. home grown veggies
75. full tank of gas
76. rocking chairs
77. when someone purchases my jewelry
78. floating in the pool with my children
79. when new friends become old friends
80. notes from my children
81. personal jokes between Woody and I
82. fall - my favorite season
82. bonfires
83. finding money I did not know I had
84. our Friday Pizza/Movie Night
85. seeing my children loving the Lord
86. a new skirt
87. the smell of Fresh Cut Roses - Yankee candle
88. having a church home
89. reading Oswald Chambers
90. walking barefoot on the beach
91. finding shells on the beach
92. a clean truck
93. sitting in the yard eating pecans from our trees
94. flowers
95. gardening
96. classical music
97. packages in the mail
98. hearing the Lord speak to me
99. old hymns
100. dusk

tag. I'm it.

How fun this will be! I have been tagged by Darlene, with a few questions. A little secret, I love questionnaires! Even the ones at the doctor's office! :o) I don't know why I just like them. My husband and I took a personality analysis and I just loved it!
Well, here goes.


1. Where have you traveled?
I was born and raised in Marin/Sonoma County, in N.CA. So anywhere in that vicinity are places I have tromped around in and loved! I have been all over the west coast line. I especially liked my trips to Carmel, Monterey, Tahoe, my rocky cliff beaches, and  Mt. Tamalpias. My daughter and I flew to Hawaii while my husband was in the Coast Guard and on a Carribean patrol (during the time the Haitians were being taken back).
Eight years ago our family moved to Northern Florida about 20 minutes from the beach. I especially liked our trips to Pensacola, St. Augustine and Savannah, Georgia.
We live in Mississippi now and so far our explorations have been limited.

2. Where would you like to live?

Pretty much right where I am. I have a couple places in N.CA that are exceptionally close to my heart, but since leaving, those places are way out of our price range to ever consider returning to.

3. What is your decorating style?

Goodness ... I think I am still growing and changing in that way. I especially like an uncluttered country style. I like shabby chic, but not for everything. I like gingham, floral, checks, polka dots, and re-purposed items.

4. How many times have you been married?

My husband and I have only been married once. We have been married for 16 years.

5. Favorite color?

The easiest way for me to answer this question, is by stating my least favorite color and that would be purple.

6. What is your proudest accomplishment?

Overcoming fear. That is more a work in progress ... but when you can look backwards and see progress ... that is huge! :o) God is so good.

7. What would we be absolutely shocked to learn about you?

The better you get to know me, the more you will realize that I don't do anything shocking. I like my simple life just like it is. Smile! I will trade the shocking for the silly though, as an exception to this question. I was reading blogs for quite some time before I started my own. So after I had an idea about what I might want to one day blog about, I would write it out and save it. It was like I was blogging ... with out actually blogging. :o)