I'm Drawing a Blank!!!

For the life of me, I couldn't come up with a good title for this post, hence, the one I ended up with. Guess it's just one of those days...

Sandy Toes at Shell in My Pocket gave me this wonderful award. Sandy Toes, I think you're a real "keeper" and I appreciate you choosing me as the recipient of this special award! She's such a fantastic blogger with some of the best crafting ideas you'll see anywhere...show her some bloggy love!

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who much choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Oh, boy, here's the hard part (the choosing AND the typing!). I'm going to pass this award on to:

1. Lindsay-The Cross-Stitch House
2. Farm Chick Paula-The Fraker Farm
3. Domestic Diva-Domestic Diva.. Not!
4. Denise-Shortybears Place
5. Betty-Keeper of the Skies Wife
6. Shanda-Front Porches-Sweet Tea and Aprons
7. Ruby Red Slippers-Lions, Tigers, and Boys, Oh My!
8. Diane-A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words

Now, here's something that's a lot of fun! Betty over at Keeper of the Skies Wife gave me the letter "C" so I could play along with the game that's going around. The game is simple. Leave a comment either here or at Betty's blog that you want to play along, and we'll send you a random letter. Then make a list of your ten favorite things, beginning with your assigned letter. That's it!

Here's what I came up with using the letter "C"...

1. Christ-He's what this wonderful season of Christmas is all about! Without Christ, there would be no Christmas! I was saved and baptized at the age of 15 and my life has never been the same since. Through all the ups and downs in my life, He has been my one constant.
2. Chocolate-I, especially, love the dark variety. Herhey's Nuggets with almonds are my all-time favorite. I tell myself that they're "heart healthy" everytime I pop one in my mouth. Yeah, sure!
3. Children-I love being around kids of all ages, but I really love babies and toddlers. It's so fun to see the world through their eyes. I can hardly wait to become a grandma one day...I'm going to spoil my grandbabies rotten!
4. Chinese Food-I love Moo Goo Gai Pan and Hunan Chicken, not to mention fried rice! I'm telling you, I could eat my weight in that stuff!
5. Cheerios-They have been my "breakfast of champions" since I was a kid. I still eat them every morning...Honey Nut Cheerios are the best!
Oh, this is starting to get tough!!!
6. Cruises-I've been on four of them and they are the best family vacations ever! I'd still like to cruise Hawaii...I can dream, can't I?
7. Charleston, SC-I love that city with all the historic homes and Spanish moss...so pretty! It's, also, where my hubby went to college...The Citadel. It's fun to go back for a campus visit and hear all his stories come to life. He does get a bit carried away, sometimes!
8. Cleaning-Yes, you heard me...I love to clean house and reap the rewards of having everything look and smell nice, if only for a little while.
9. Cotton Candy-I don't get it very often, at all, so when I do, it's a real treat!!
10. Cashmere Mist-One of favorite fragrances...it's by Donna Karan. It's a light floral scent and I love it!

So, if you want to play along, just leave me a comment (or Betty!) and one of us will send you your letter.

Enjoy your weekend, my friends...only 19 days 'til Christmas!!!

It's a MIRACLE!!...and Some Ideas to Share

Yes, it's a miracle...I'm not kidding! Sunday, after church, I announced to the girls that we were heading out to take our annual Christmas pictures. First of all, let me say that it was a COLD and WINDY day! Not a good combination for what we were about to embark on.

Needless to say, I was expecting to hear the usual..."Aw, Mom...do we have to?" I mean, I was prepared to do everything I could to convince them to do it just for me. Shockingly enough, I didn't have to take it to that extreme and they piled into the car and off we went to find the perfect picture-taking spot. There was no complaining, no questioning...and no arguing! Pure heaven, I tell you!! I was in total bliss!

We drove to a little town about 15 miles from where we live where there's a State Park. It had a lake running through the middle of all these different hiking trails and campgrounds. However, it was too cold to get too close to the water. We were all chilled to the bone as it was! So, we took most of our pictures in the woods. Here's a few shots that we ended up with. They aren't the ones we'll be using, but they're some of our favorites. It's just one more thing I can scratch off my list off my "to do" list! Hip, hip, hooray!!!

When church let out, Chris and I stopped by one of the tables in the vestibule and picked up some information about "Gift of Hope". Our church is having a two-week initiative, beginning Nov. 30th, that's all about sharing the hope we have in Christ with those around us. Here are a few ideas that were outlined in the pamphlet. They're things that anyone can do this time of year to make a difference in the lives of others:

1. Fast Food Friends: Pay the fast food bill of the car behind you in the drive through of a fast-food restaurant. Ask the cashier to give that car a "Gift of Hope" card and tell them their meal is paid for. Abby loves this idea...we definitely plan to do it!
2. Provide cookies to the local police and fire departments.
3. Provide breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and juice for commercial construction sites around the church community.
4. Visit and minister to residents and staff of a local nursing home. Deliver homemade cards to them.
5. Minister to the homeless by preparing a meal, providing canned goods and dry food items, socks, towels, t-shirts, sweats, and a Bible.
6. Host a Christmas gathering in your home for your neighbors. Gatherings include seasonal refreshments, sharing of Christmas traditions, and a short talk on the meaning of Christmas.

I think these are all wonderful ideas, don't you? After all, isn't giving in the spirit of love what Christmas is all about?

Oh, and if you haven't already done so, be sure to scroll down and enter my giveaway! I'll choose a winner today around 4:45 PM EST...I forgot that I have to attend Brittany's cross country banquet at 5:00 PM. I'll post the winner as soon as I can! Enjoy your day!!

My Bucket List

I'm sure many of you have seen the movie, "Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It's a good movie that makes you think about your life and what you would want to do if you had only a short time left to live. My blogging friend, Liz, started her own "bucket list", so thought I'd do the same.

First of all, let me say that I think it's so easy for any of us to walk through life thinking that we're immortal and we have forever on earth to live. Well, life as we know it will come to an end for all of us, sooner or later. As the saying goes, "We're not getting out of here alive!"

Now, if I found out that I had only 6 months to a year left to live, here are a few things I would like to do:

1. I would write heartfelt handwritten letters (no e-mail!) to my closest family members and friends telling them exactly how much they've meant to me over the years.

2. I'd make videos for my husband and daughters telling them how much I love them and how they've impacted my life. I would encourage them to find comfort in knowing that I'm in a better place. I'd remind them that, one day, we'd be reunited, again.

3. I would take a trip to Ireland with my family. It's one place in the world I've always wanted to visit.

4. I'd share my faith with as many people as I possibly could.

5. I'd eat chocolate anytime and every time I pleased with absolutely no guilt! Calories...fat grams...who'd care???

6. I would travel with my family to New York City to see an actual Broadway production. If I were really lucky, maybe someone would allow me to just stand on the stage for a few minutes to soak it all in . If I were even luckier than that, maybe I'd get the opportunity to sing, "Seasons of Love" from the musical Rent. Man, what I'd give!! I wouldn't even care if I got laughed right off the stage!

7. I'd take my girls to Disney World and ride any and every ride they asked me to (yes, even roller coasters!) without saying I was too chicken.

8. I'd smother my husband and girls with hugs and kisses. I wouldn't let a single moment slip by without saying, "I love you".

9. I would seize every second to have fun and to not worry about what others might think.

10. I'd spend much less energy and time wishing for things I didn't have, and more on being thankful for those I did.

11. I'd take lots pictures of my family and I together so they would have those to cling to when I'm no longer around.

12. I would definitely want to see the ocean one last time. Just to stare out into it's vastness has always brought me immense peace.

13. I would stop sweating the "small stuff"...things that don't really matter in the whole scheme of life.

14. I'd go white water rafting down the Colorado River!

I could probably go on and on, but I think these are some of the things at the top of my list.
So, what would you do and how would you live if you found out you had only a short time left? Maybe we should all ask ourselves the question..."Why are we waiting?...seize the day!"