All about the Holidays....

The Spears Family

Laff, Liz, Emily & Susan

Susan, Granny Spears and Emily

My stocking ... I sure hope Liz had washed this sock!

 The Gingerbread tree in the dining room

Norman Sr., Penny and Norman Jr.

Granny Spears and Callie

Penny and Chris

It's just me again, , , ,

What have I been doing, where have I been, what's going on?   I have been working, I have been thinking about you, and you and you.  I have been to work, to church, home and not much anywhere else.  I was going to Columbus,OH this weekend to visit dear niece Pam following her surgery this past Monday but since there is snow in the forecast I will stay in Tennessee for just snow showers.  Nieces, oh my,  my youngest niece turned 27 today! (I was just a child when she was born, my sister is much older than me).  Happy Birthday Sissy Bug!  I love you.   Susan and Emily are spending a few days as Nashville tourists!!! How fun. 
Me.  I am blessed.  I have wonderful family and friends.  I have a job that I truly do enjoy, perfect-no, but I do enjoy my job.  I work with some wonderful people.  I attend a wonderful, loving church that makes me sad when I miss a service for some reason. 
I am back in a cast for achilles tendinitis -- return to the doctor Jan 4 for another cast or a boot for an additional 4 weeks.  Anything to prevent surgery. 
Mailed Kyle and Garrett's presents to Ohio today, cost as much to mail them as the gifts!! But Pam will not be able to travel by Christmas. 

Until next time......If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it,
If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it. 
He sends you flowers every spring and a surprise every morning.
When you want to talk, He'll listen. 
He could live anywhere in the universe and He chose your heart. 
and that Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem?
Face it friend,
He's crazy about you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Not again . . . .

I have to type/write because I have no voice... AGAIN!  At least this time I feel fine, just no voice. When I woke up Monday morning my voice stayed asleep.  Some people think that is great, but some just keep asking me things, and you certainly can't go through the drive thru when they cannot hear you.... I need to be heard.  I have to sound better by Sunday because I told Mrs. Barbara that I would teach the Toddler class for her at church and right now the sound that comes out would probably scare them. 

Lots of holiday lights can be seen around town, the mall is busier than usual, traffic is horrible (worse than usual) which means --- it is the Holiday Season.  I love the decorations but the only thing I have at my house is a wreath on the front door.  I love to decorate, but dislike taking it down and packing it away.  I have not even started using my snowman dishes that I usually start use from November through March.  I gues I am just lazy this year --- well, when you can't talk it changes a lot of things. 

Until next time . . . . . .You cannot give away kindness, it always comes back. 

The day before . . .

Thanksgiving.   The day to eat lots of turkey and the fixins, but most of all, and most importantly --- Be thankful for what you have and even what you don't have (some things are better not said).  If you are reading this -- you have sight.  And I must say a computer, certainly not at the top of my list to be thankful for.  I thought about listing things I am thankful for but blog sites will probably only allow so much and your eyes can only read so much at one time.  But I am thankful for so much .....and maybe this is just about the amount of one rose petal (icing) off the cake ...

1. That I have a loving Father that does exactly that, loves me no matter what
2. That I live in a free country
3. FAMILY and friends
4. That I have a job that I truly like and enjoy
5. I am never left out in the cold -- I have what I need to sustain life  - house, water, clothes, etc

Well, you know the routine.... the first thing I do every morning when I am waking up and even before I open my eyes is to thank the Lord for another night and beginning another day. 

I am THANKFUL.  

The only negative thing for me about Thanksgiving is it makes me miss my Daddy even more.   He loved Thanksgiving,  his favorite holiday, even better than his birthday.  No gifts, no pretense.  Just togetherness with family.   This one is for you Daddy. 

Until next time . . . . . God always gives to those who leave the choice with him. 

Monday Musings (after a superific Sunday --thats super and terrific)

Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because He lives he holds the future
And life is worth living, just because He lives. 

Until next time .......just beacause

Suddenly Saturday

Susan on the tracks . . .     :)

a view from Mrs. Spears front yard

I love FALL.  It is my favorite time of the year.  Always has been, probably always will be.  I could stay on the go all the time in the Fall, not just to see the change of colors, just the gentleness of everything and everybody.  The nip in the air, the quiteness of the busy summer, the colors, everything. 

Water Valley Overlook on the Trace

Defeated Creek Road in Hickman County

Liz --one Saturday we drove down the Trace..

Until next time . . . . . .Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.   
Psalm 77:11-12  I will remember the works of the Lord --- I will remember thy wonders of old . .. .

Monday Musings

A great weekend. . . . Saturday Liz and I went to see Barbara's new house ---absolutely wonderful. The view, well if you have ever been to the Water Valley Overlook on the Trace, this view is ever bit as beautiful. I told her I want to be there when it snows - but not to have to go up / down the driveway. Then on to the quilt shop for some fabric. Back to Liz's then to Happy Hour at Sonic, and ---are you ready --- we vacuumed both our vehicles!
Sunday --- wonderful service at church, great Bible class and then to Spring Hill to meet Laff, Emily and Susan for lunch (Liz was in Murfreesboro for a reading meeting). The only problem here --- I was (still am) so hoarse I could hardly talk. The downside of the day was getting the phone call that Aunt LouElla was in the hospital, age 88 and things are not looking good.
Monday -- went to work, still couldn't talk, but I am tired of this sicky, yucky feeling going on for two weeks--soooo I finally went to the doctor -- viral and bacterial, throat and vocal cords very red. Go home and see how you feel tomorrow..Ugh! I missed work last Wednesday with a fever, and actually I do not like to miss work (when I am sick!)

Things will be better......I know it will

One Word Wednesday

Sorry, a day late...... I got tagged and if you are reading this --- you are tagged!


1. Where is your cell phone? on my desk
2. Your hair? messy
3. Your mother? heaven
4. Your father? heaven
5. Your favorite food? BBQ
6. Your dream last night? weird
7. Your favorite drink? water
8. Your dream/goal? heaven
9. What room are you in? office
10. Your hobby? sewing
11. Your fear? cancer
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
13. Where were you last night? bed
14. Something that you aren’t? outgoing
15. Muffins? apple
16. Wish list item? travel
17. Where did you grow up? Tennessee
18. Last thing you did? work
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pets? none
22. Friends? many
23. Your life? blessed
24. Your mood? headache
25. Missing someone? family
26. Vehicle? Corolla
27. Something you’re not wearing? earrings
28. Your favorite store? Dillards
29. Your favorite color? brown
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? last night
32. Your best friend? sister
33. One place that I go to over and over? Liz's
34. One person who emails me regularly? Dianne
35. Favorite place to eat? Logans

are my answers honest? yes

Reading frenzy.....

Okay I started reading Right Next Door, by Debbie Macomber, very good. Then Donna had her book club Monday night and on my desk Tuesday morning was The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, very good also. I have never understood why people try reading two books at the same time, (although Dianne is reading three right now) but I started The Help yesterday at lunch and read on it last night while I was downstairs. When I went upstairs for bed I read some of Right Next Door. I can do this -- an upstairs nighttime book and a downstairs/lunch time book! Except I forgot to bring it with me today. They are soooooo different it is easy to keep them apart ---
I really get into my books and movies. I guess that is one of the things I dislike about myself -- they all seem real to me. Oh well.....

Until next time . . . . . You are not old unless you get wrinkles in your heart.

Subtle Saturday

Saturday, Oct 24th...The day started with brunch and Ladie's Day at church. Leading Ladies was the theme...the speaker was awesome and the decorations by some of the SH ladies was unbelieveable. The fellowship with these sisters is always uplifting and refreshing.

In the afternoon I met Liz and we drove down Natchez Trace.....so pretty. I did learn that if you are going to walk down to Jackson Falls you need on good shoes which I did not have! I made it back and will have pictures posted later. It was good to spend an afternoon with her --- Laff was watching the ALA/UT game and Emily and Susan went to see Steel Magnolias.

It was a good day....

NYC - Day 4 --Part 2 and final

The original wooden escalators at Macy's. Cool!

The Rockette dolls at Macy's Grill in the store

It all happened here - - - -

"MIRACLE ON 34th STREET"

We had a wonderful time and it ended much too soon... I do want to return to NYC, the first time is so overwhelming....so much more to see, more to do.

Until next time . . . . .to have a friend you must be one.

NYC - Day 4 Part 1

We got up at 6:15, hailed a cab and went to the Brooklyn Bridge.
We walked from the Manhattan side to Brooklyn and back to Manhattan. We had planned on doing this at night, but just ran out of time--- the sunrise in the morning was awesome. Our next trip we will make sure we do it at night.


Me on the Brooklyn Bridge!

Sunrise over the Manhattan Bridge

The mid way point of the Brooklyn Bridge

view of Manhattan from the bridge

Statue of Liberty........

Back to the hotel for showers and shopping. . . . . .

NYC - day 3 -- part 2

CENTRAL PARK

Boathouse Restuarant in Central Park

Bow Bridge

Fountain at Central Park

Joyce and Dianne waited the Boathouse while I walked through trying to find Bow Bridge and I finally did. I want to go back to CP and cover another part of it.

New York, day 3, part 1

Sunday, October 11, 2009 --- our plans since we decided to go to NY was to attend St. Paul's Chapel on Sunday morning. St. Paul's is a very special place of worship and I cannot describe in words the feeling you get at this place. It is small, but oh so big.

First of all, after his inauguration (in NY at that time) George Washingon went to St. Paul's for the service. They still have his "box" there. Second, and perhaps what makes the quiteness, the peacefulness (is that a word) of this chapel --- St. Paul's is located directly across the street from Ground Zero.

On 9-11-2001 not one window was shattered, cracked or moved!!! It became the place where the firemen, policemen and other rescue workers would go to rest. Like I said, this is a little history of St. Paul's, but the feeling of being there is ...........

The side of the chapel . . .

a sign showing some of the debris in the yard after 9-11 --papers, soot, ashes, computers, monitors (click on picture). . . . . . .

The front (or back) yard is filled with old tombstones but this one is close to the entrance ...

"They are in Peace"

. .a memorial of badges..... . . .. in honor of . . . . .

. .organ in the balcony. . . .

. . a cot that the rescuers would rest on. . . .
(it was a cot, not a twin bed and they had many of them in the church during the rescue efforts) . . .

. . .the front (or the back) that faces Ground Zero . . .

. . . .Ground Zero .

The service that day was wonderful and just the peace and respect and . . . . .. . ..

Come back later for details on brunch and the afternoon activities.

Until later . . . . . .For God so loved the world. . . .

New York City

These are some random pictures from New York. I have found I love to photograph architecture and things like that. Of course I never know how the pictures will turn out, but I love doing it.

The Plaza Hotel

Brooklyn Bridge

Washington Square

Rockefeller Center

St. Patrick's Cathedral

to be continued . . . . . . .