We made it home

What a great games yesterday!!!!! It came down to the wire, but WVU pulled out to beat the Tarheels!!! I had told my dad that if WVU didn't win, I wasn't going to go to another one of their games. We have went to see them numerous times and they usually lose. Of course I am a UVA Cav. fan, but WVU is my second choice. We reached Charlotte at about 11 am, but didn't actually get to our seats until 12:45. The traffic was awful. Dad got short winded walking so I was worried. We took three vehicles for the eight of us. It was dad, myself, Ben, Tracey, Jimmy, Chris, Kevin, and Junior. We had a great time!!! I was so happy for my family to see the Mountaineers win and get to sing "Almost Heaven" by John Denver. The drive home was a little difficult. It took 5 and 1/2 hours to get back when it usually takes 2 1/2. We are all wore out, but it was worth it. Go Mountaineers!

Bowl Bound

In a few hours we are headed to Charlotte, NC to watch WVU play UNC in the Meineke Car Care Bowl at 1 pm. Go Mountianers!!

Christmas- Christmas Day -Part 3

These are some pictures from Christmas Day. We started the day of with reading Luke Chapter 2 and prayer. Then Tracey, Ben and I talked about what we could offer to Jesus this Christmas. Starting the day off like this made it seem the best Christmas ever!!! Then we opened gifts. We did not buy much this year. It was more of things we needed. We did get a new tv for the living room and Ben's room. They are flat screens so they take up less room, plus they are energy efficient!!! What a way to go into 2009- getting greenier!!! We went to my parents around noon and ate dinner and exchanged gifts. My whole family was there. We came home and crashed. I watched Ben play a video game and we had a few visitors. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!!

Christmas-Christmas Eve -Part Two

This year we hosted a small dinner for Christmas Eve. My parents and youngest brother came by. We had lots of good food. At 6 we watched a little of the Midnight Mass on TV. I am not catholic, but I always enjoy watching the mass on Christmas eve. At 7 we headed to Christmas Eve service at the new church we have been attending. I am shocked by how many churches in our area did not have a Christmas Eve service. Any way my parents went to the service also and it was awesome. It was called "The Christmas Offering". The pastor asked if we had put Jesus on our list of people to give presents too. He asked what were we offering Jesus this Christmas!! It was great. Here are some pictures from that.

Christmas-The Most Wonderful Time of the Year-Part One

This year we decided to make our decorations simple. I was really wanting to do "a laura ingles" type so we could spend more time on the meaning of Christmas. We put up our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving so we can enjoy the weeks after with out rushing around.

Tawney Christmas Dinner

On Saturday we headed to Giles for The Tawney's Christmas dinner. It was a great time to see everyone, share a meal and have some good clean fun. There are new additions to the family with more on the way next year. Praise God for family.




This is how we felt after eating way to much!!


The kids had a blast with so many things to do and with so many uncles to play with.


This is a group of the cousins in the family. Mine son is the tall one in the back.


This is Tracey's siblings minus one.



Ben was having fun on this as was everyone else.

We all had a blast. Thanks Linda for hosting this.

Winter Wonderland

Last weekend we took my dad to see his mom in WVA. When we got to Fayetteville, they had 5 inches of snow. Since we are not going to have snow this Christmas, I thought I would share some pictures from the snow we saw.

Christmas-This is what our family celebrates

Thanksgiving Day

This is how the whole family looked after eating Thanksgiving Dinner at my house. My brother Jimmy doesn't even know I snapped this one. We had my whole family over including my youngest brother, my brother and his wife and two kids, my mom, dad, and of course Tracey, Ben , and myself. We had a great time and planned our Black Friday shopping trip. We did run to Kmart on Thanksgiving. We have done that since Ben was born. Found a few sales then headed home to eat leftovers.

It was a blessed day and I am thankful for my whole family!

Coupon Saving and more

My friend Melissa introduced me to a new website: www.moneysavingmom.com
It is great!!!!!! These ladies really know how to save big bucks. Check it out!

Thanksgiving Blessings

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!! Below is a little history on the first Thanksgiving:




The First Thanksgiving

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. This harvest meal has become a symbol of cooperation and interaction between English colonists and Native Americans. Although this feast is considered by many to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, it was actually in keeping with a long tradition of celebrating the harvest and giving thanks for a successful bounty of crops. Native American groups throughout the Americas, including the Pueblo, Cherokee, Creek and many others organized harvest festivals, ceremonial dances, and other celebrations of thanks for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America.

Historians have also recorded other ceremonies of thanks among European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Berkeley Plantation, Virginia. At this site near the Charles River in December of 1619, a group of British settlers led by Captain John Woodlief knelt in prayer and pledged "Thanksgiving" to God for their healthy arrival after a long voyage across the Atlantic. This event has been acknowledged by some scholars and writers as the official first Thanksgiving among European settlers on record. Whether at Plymouth, Berkeley Plantation, or throughout the Americas, celebrations of thanks have held great meaning and importance over time. The legacy of thanks, and particularly of the feast, have survived the centuries as people throughout the United States gather family, friends, and enormous amounts of food for their yearly Thanksgiving meal.

Ben is 17

Well Ben is 17!!!!! It is hard to believe he has grown so fast. The pictures aren't great. We are having some camera issues, but still Happy Birthday Ben. The past 17 years I have been blessed with a wonderful son. Love you Buddy!!

Sunday at Carolina

On Sunday, as an early birthday present , Ben traveled to Charlotte, NC with my youngest brother, Chris. They went to see the Carolina Panthers play the Detroit Lions. This is the first NFL game Ben has ever been to. They left around 8:15 am. I was a little nervous because Fancy Gap was supposed to get some snow as they passed through, but bless God, it was clear. They had a great time but were a little cold. Their seats ended up being in the shade so they didn't get to feel that 55 degree NC sun. I want to thank my brother for taking Ben and I am glad they had a great and safe time.

Thank You

Comments & Myspace layouts

I wanted to say thanks to my christian friends out there. Melissa, thanks for being a great witness for Christ-you make a big difference. I am glad to be able to work with you and am glad to have found a true friend in you. Shirley, thanks for all the great years at the "cancer center". You have always made me feel special. Jill- your just crazy and I am so glad we know each other. Sylvia-no matter what you have always been there for me and have been a true friend. It is awesome knowing that people can find good christian friend's that love Christ for real!! Thanks for all you have done for me and my family. Lyn- we have been friends for 12 years. Can you believe it has been that long?? Words cannot express what a difference knowing you has made in my life. You have shown me so much and I appreciate your wisdom. God is moving in your life daily and it is great.

You all do not know what you mean to me and I want to say thanks!!! Can't wait to go to Wytheville for 'girls niteout' Four Christmases is going to be so funny!!! Only 2 more weeks!!

I am Proud to be an American

America is a great country and it gave me great pride to see the multitudes of people who came out to exercise one of the greatest rights we have. VOTING. As a woman I wanted to be sure to vote since we were not allowed until the 1920's with the 19th Amendment. I hope we have shown the world that we care about our great nation and by getting out and voting we take responsibility in sharing the burden of the broken world. As a christian myself, I know that with God's help I can be better and do better in my everyday actions. On Jan 20, 2009 we have a clean slate and I hope my brother's and sister's we are able to show the world that we do care here in America. Not just for ourselves, but for everyone.

Lots of things

I have attached many pictures we have taken since my last post. We have been very busy with many things. I will recap the past month. Ben did not get to finish cross country due to getting sick right after the concussion. He is better for right now. Dad had surgery this month and is doing good. We went to visit the Amish again. You can see the how beautiful it is in Giles CO. Tracey and I went with the church to see "Fireproof" and it was awesome. We really enjoyed spending time with the new people we have met. They really love the Lord. The next night I went out to my monthly "girls night out" Melissa, Jill, Nancy, and myself had dinner at Panera. Whenever we go there we stay at least 2 hrs talking and laughing and of course eating. We decided to go to a movie and we saw "Night of Rodanthe", the new Richard Gere movie. Well it was ok, but the ending was terrible. I was disappointed. Tracey and I did a craft show and it was ok, people really weren't very friendly. Of course Halloween was last night and we sat out a few things. Today Tracey went hunting and got a 5 point deer. So as of right now I think we are up to date.