My five year old niece, Alexis, was asked what all she got for Christmas. Her reply was "I don't know." My sister-in-law said, she can't remember what she did five minutes ago to which Alexis replied, "I have short term memory loss." I think I almost broke a rib when I heard that! Out of the mouth of babes...
One of my goals for the future is to put together a couple of scrapbooks that will show generations to come what our life is like and what Brandon and I were like growing up. Being the third of four children, I don't have a baby book that is filled out. Instead there is a clipping from my first hair cut and some dates written on the lid of my first milestones (walking, talking, tying shoes, snapping fingers, etc.) My goal is to be able to tell stories and flip through these scrapbook pages, not open a random drawer and go from one decade to the next trying to remember what was happening at the time. Got any good, low cost places on where to start this journey?
This past weekend I had quite a bit of trouble falling asleep. I went to the couch in my parents' sunroom and picked up a book that was on the end table. It was Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, which I read until 5:00 a.m. Brandon and I certainly fit the "average" mold he refers to time and time again. We're sitting down as soon as he gets his payplan for the year and attacking like gazelles! The tenative plan is to be debt free within a year ~ snowballs will soon start rolling in the Hale house.
Tidings of Joy... and avalanches! :)
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Without this, we'd have no hope...
Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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Luke 23
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
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Luke 24
6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
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I hope you all take the opportunity to reflect on the wonderful gift, for without this, we'd have no hope...
Tidings of Joy... and a very Merry Christmas to you all!
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Happy Birthday Dede!
On this day in 1964, Daneela Renee Walden came into the world. In 1993, she married my dad and took Jonathan and me as her children to love, spoil, laugh, and cry with.
One of my best / worst memories was before she and dad were married. One July day Dad and Jonathan were gone (to a car show, I think) and Dede with her brand new car (a Buick something or other) and I went driving. Let me make that more clear, she was in the passenger seat and a 14 year-old freshman-to-be was driving. We took all the back roads and everything was fine and dandy for the first hour or so. Then, on the way home, I took a 90 degree curve on a little country road a bit too quickly, slammed on the brakes, tried to correct the direction of the car and ended up flipping it into a ditch where it rested on the driver's side. Yep, at 14, I had my first of several car wrecks! We were wearing our seat belts and by the grace of God neither of us was injured other than some bruises. A man and his teenage grandson were behind us and stopped to make sure we were ok. The grandson climbed up onto the car (with his left leg in a cast from above his knee to his toes) and pulled us both out. I ran about a tenth of a mile to one of my best friends' houses to call Daddy, a friend with a wrecker, and then the police (someone else had to take over the whole talking part after the first ring to Dad's cell phone ~ a big, burly black one that came with it's own carrying case and battery about the size of two large print Bibles stacked together). Needless to say, we were both a bit shaken. If you read the police report, I was a passenger and Dede was the driver... uh huh, she took the hit and I didn't drive again for a l-o-n-g t-i-m-e! Just an example of what a mom is willing to do for her child.
Enough nostalgia for the day. Dede, I hope your 40th is wonderful. I love you and am so thankful that you are in our lives. Happiest of happy birthdays! :)
One of my best / worst memories was before she and dad were married. One July day Dad and Jonathan were gone (to a car show, I think) and Dede with her brand new car (a Buick something or other) and I went driving. Let me make that more clear, she was in the passenger seat and a 14 year-old freshman-to-be was driving. We took all the back roads and everything was fine and dandy for the first hour or so. Then, on the way home, I took a 90 degree curve on a little country road a bit too quickly, slammed on the brakes, tried to correct the direction of the car and ended up flipping it into a ditch where it rested on the driver's side. Yep, at 14, I had my first of several car wrecks! We were wearing our seat belts and by the grace of God neither of us was injured other than some bruises. A man and his teenage grandson were behind us and stopped to make sure we were ok. The grandson climbed up onto the car (with his left leg in a cast from above his knee to his toes) and pulled us both out. I ran about a tenth of a mile to one of my best friends' houses to call Daddy, a friend with a wrecker, and then the police (someone else had to take over the whole talking part after the first ring to Dad's cell phone ~ a big, burly black one that came with it's own carrying case and battery about the size of two large print Bibles stacked together). Needless to say, we were both a bit shaken. If you read the police report, I was a passenger and Dede was the driver... uh huh, she took the hit and I didn't drive again for a l-o-n-g t-i-m-e! Just an example of what a mom is willing to do for her child.
Enough nostalgia for the day. Dede, I hope your 40th is wonderful. I love you and am so thankful that you are in our lives. Happiest of happy birthdays! :)
Monday, December 20, 2004
No funkus among us...
I am feeling much better. I guess I just needed a few days to wallow in Mae-ness and be a pessimistic, granny-grumps, pain-in-the-derriere. It feels good to be past the blahs.
Yesterday my dad's side of the family celebrated Christmas at his grandmother's, Mrs. Mattie Jane Tenpenny's (is that the cutest name in the world for a 90 year old 4'8'' woman or what??!!). It's really nice and very non-stressful. There are so many of us that no gifts are exchanged (Ma Penny, as we call her, gives out some $$$ to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren ~ I can't even name everyone!) and we all just sit around, nibble on some fantastic food, and chat away. It's a lot of fun to visit with family and then say good bye after a couple of hours of picking on everyone.
I just got a call from Brandon, apparently his work Christmas party is going to be a Valentines weekend trip for the co-workers and their wives to Tampa ~ for FREE! Last year we all went to Cancun, but had to pay half (that was such a fun trip and worth every penny!). I love the perks of his job! I've never been to Tampa, and February is usually so cold and rainy in TN ~ it'll be a BLAST!
Speaking of blasts, the weather has changed to BUURRR-UH cold. It was 9 degrees last night, after being almost 50 just Saturday. Daddy always says, "If you don't like the weather in Tennessee, just hang around for a couple of days and it'll change." Hello? No kidding! It's supposed to be back up in the 50's on Tuesday and then snow on Thursday. Craziness I tell ya.
Hope your Christmas week is off to a wonderful start.... cold or not.
Tidings of Joy!
Yesterday my dad's side of the family celebrated Christmas at his grandmother's, Mrs. Mattie Jane Tenpenny's (is that the cutest name in the world for a 90 year old 4'8'' woman or what??!!). It's really nice and very non-stressful. There are so many of us that no gifts are exchanged (Ma Penny, as we call her, gives out some $$$ to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren ~ I can't even name everyone!) and we all just sit around, nibble on some fantastic food, and chat away. It's a lot of fun to visit with family and then say good bye after a couple of hours of picking on everyone.
I just got a call from Brandon, apparently his work Christmas party is going to be a Valentines weekend trip for the co-workers and their wives to Tampa ~ for FREE! Last year we all went to Cancun, but had to pay half (that was such a fun trip and worth every penny!). I love the perks of his job! I've never been to Tampa, and February is usually so cold and rainy in TN ~ it'll be a BLAST!
Speaking of blasts, the weather has changed to BUURRR-UH cold. It was 9 degrees last night, after being almost 50 just Saturday. Daddy always says, "If you don't like the weather in Tennessee, just hang around for a couple of days and it'll change." Hello? No kidding! It's supposed to be back up in the 50's on Tuesday and then snow on Thursday. Craziness I tell ya.
Hope your Christmas week is off to a wonderful start.... cold or not.
Tidings of Joy!
Friday, December 17, 2004
In a funk
I've never been like this before. It's an oddly pesssimistic, negative, whiney, nausous, tired, irritable, everyone go away and please don't slam the door and make the chandeliers rattle, just plain bah humbug mood. It's not fun, for me, Brandon or anyone else I may be around. Yesterday I hid it pretty well I guess. I took Gran to the doctor to have her hot pink cast taken off and to finish up her Christmas shopping. It took a lot of tounge bitting, but I think I did pretty well. I'm just ready for it to leave and never return.
On to happier things. My two youngest nieces turned 5 and 2 last week. Alexis was 5 on 12/9, and Halle was 2 on 12/10 (see the pictures above). Happy growing girls! I love you both to pieces!
Brandon and I talked with his boss, Brad, last week about the possible move to Bowling Green. He can pay to move us, but not buy the house. We'll know in late January whether the plant is staying open or shutting down. It's up to the bankruptcy judge who is supposed to decided what will be best for the community. (FYI Briggs and Stratton just put in a $150 Million dollar bid ~ 25 Mill. more than Murray was worth before the bankruptcy.) There's no telling what will happen. I think we'll be moving ~ I almost hope so b/c I can't find a job here to save my life. I'm sure my chances would be better in a larger town. Selling the house wouldn't be a big deal. The last few that have been built in our small neighborhood have sold before construction was finished.
The Christmas cards sitting in the floor are mocking me, I guess it's time to kick them out of the house. Happy freakin' holidays.
On to happier things. My two youngest nieces turned 5 and 2 last week. Alexis was 5 on 12/9, and Halle was 2 on 12/10 (see the pictures above). Happy growing girls! I love you both to pieces!
Brandon and I talked with his boss, Brad, last week about the possible move to Bowling Green. He can pay to move us, but not buy the house. We'll know in late January whether the plant is staying open or shutting down. It's up to the bankruptcy judge who is supposed to decided what will be best for the community. (FYI Briggs and Stratton just put in a $150 Million dollar bid ~ 25 Mill. more than Murray was worth before the bankruptcy.) There's no telling what will happen. I think we'll be moving ~ I almost hope so b/c I can't find a job here to save my life. I'm sure my chances would be better in a larger town. Selling the house wouldn't be a big deal. The last few that have been built in our small neighborhood have sold before construction was finished.
The Christmas cards sitting in the floor are mocking me, I guess it's time to kick them out of the house. Happy freakin' holidays.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Today my life is sad...
Not sad as in full of sorrow, pain, or loss, but sad as in ~ having no desire to move, function, or be sociable. In fact, I didn't even speak today until 1:30 when I called to check on Brandon. He usually calls me by 10:30 just to harass me. When I didn't hear from him by lunch time (he always comes home, which helps break up the monotony of my day) I was sure that he'd been abducted on his way to work, taken hostage and was being held for tons of $$$. Why was this pertinent information not on the news? Why hadn't an eyewitness called to inform me of his immediate danger? Why hadn't I gotten a phone call from his abductors?!! Well, because he was in a meeting until 2:00 that's why. Hmmm, ok, so we don't live in a highly dangerous place, it's a bit out of the ordinary for things such as 30 year old men being abducted, but still, it could happen.
As I type, my living room floor is covered with presents and packaging which have yet to be united as one and honeymoon under the tree. I just can't get motivated to wrap anything. I'm perfectly content to let it stay in the floor until we have to leave for Manchester next week.
Want to know how a gal can make an A in a graduate class and still only have a 2.0 gpa for the semester? It's called dropping a class and taking an incomplete in another. Yeah, Mae great streak your on with the gpa, keep up the lousy work.
I have somewhere b/t 50 and 60 Christmas cards ready to send out, but b/c my middle name is "Anal retentive" I can't send them out until I have matching holiday stamps and return address labels. At the rate I'm going, it'll be Easter before they reach their individual destinations.
Bah humbug.
As I type, my living room floor is covered with presents and packaging which have yet to be united as one and honeymoon under the tree. I just can't get motivated to wrap anything. I'm perfectly content to let it stay in the floor until we have to leave for Manchester next week.
Want to know how a gal can make an A in a graduate class and still only have a 2.0 gpa for the semester? It's called dropping a class and taking an incomplete in another. Yeah, Mae great streak your on with the gpa, keep up the lousy work.
I have somewhere b/t 50 and 60 Christmas cards ready to send out, but b/c my middle name is "Anal retentive" I can't send them out until I have matching holiday stamps and return address labels. At the rate I'm going, it'll be Easter before they reach their individual destinations.
Bah humbug.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Thursday, December 09, 2004
On this day in 1949...
My sweet momma, Nancy Elaine Morgan, was welcomed into the world by her parents, Ernest and Gladys, and her brother Terry. She was born in middle Tennessee and raised in Warren county. She had dear friends who love her to this day, she was a cheerleader and a member of the 4H club, she showed prize winning cattle and during the summers worked at an Easter Seals camp with physically and mentally handicapped teens. She had a laugh that was incredibly beautiful. I remember being little and wanting to hear her laugh, see her throw her head back so far that I could see the fillings in the back of her mouth. No matter the situation, she could always make me smile. Her motto was "always keep a smile on your face." She loved with all of her heart, made the smallest things seem like the biggest adventures, and served God to the best of her ability. She loved each of her four children and her husband with all of her being. Her life was cut short ~ only 40 years old when she lost her battle with cancer. We were all so young ~ Jay 18, Lynette 15, me 11, Jonathan 7, and Daddy 34.
I sometimes wonder what she would say to me and about me if she were still here. Or, if my life would be any different than it is now. Would my relationship with my parents be better? Would we all live within a block of each other and have Sunday dinner together? Would she be proud of the different lives all four of us lead? Would she be the kind of grandmother that couldn't stay away from her grandbabies? I bet she'd be the person who pulls an entire scrap book out to show pictures to everyone who's around. Would she call me everyday just to say "I love you"? Would she drive 100 miles just to help me bake something? Or pick out an outfit for an interview?
I don't know why Momma was taken away, it's in the file of questions to ask when I meet Jesus. I do know that the time I had with her was wonderful and full of so many precious memories... especially singing DollyParton, Judds, and K.T. Oslin songs in our old brown Oldsmobile. Or days when she'd been shopping for us and had our outfits laid out on or beds when we came home from school. You could always tell she was excited about the things she bought for us. Putting cashews in a Dr. Pepper, eating popcorn cuddled up on the couch under a warm blanket watching the ABC Sunday night movie, making the best chocolate oatmeal cookies on the face of the earth, cooking pancakes on a huge griddle on Saturday mornings w/ each of us having a special size... so many beautiful little moments that I am incredibly thankful to have.
Happy 55th birthday Momma. Good night, sweet dreams, I love you...
I sometimes wonder what she would say to me and about me if she were still here. Or, if my life would be any different than it is now. Would my relationship with my parents be better? Would we all live within a block of each other and have Sunday dinner together? Would she be proud of the different lives all four of us lead? Would she be the kind of grandmother that couldn't stay away from her grandbabies? I bet she'd be the person who pulls an entire scrap book out to show pictures to everyone who's around. Would she call me everyday just to say "I love you"? Would she drive 100 miles just to help me bake something? Or pick out an outfit for an interview?
I don't know why Momma was taken away, it's in the file of questions to ask when I meet Jesus. I do know that the time I had with her was wonderful and full of so many precious memories... especially singing DollyParton, Judds, and K.T. Oslin songs in our old brown Oldsmobile. Or days when she'd been shopping for us and had our outfits laid out on or beds when we came home from school. You could always tell she was excited about the things she bought for us. Putting cashews in a Dr. Pepper, eating popcorn cuddled up on the couch under a warm blanket watching the ABC Sunday night movie, making the best chocolate oatmeal cookies on the face of the earth, cooking pancakes on a huge griddle on Saturday mornings w/ each of us having a special size... so many beautiful little moments that I am incredibly thankful to have.
Happy 55th birthday Momma. Good night, sweet dreams, I love you...
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Lasts
I'm grateful this week for the lasts that I am experiencing.
Last night was my last night of class at Freed. I went with mixed emotions. For all of the religious differences b/t FHU and other c of C schools, it's really a great place filled with people who love Christ and want to share that with others. I will miss the fantastic professors I've had in the past six months (has it really only been that long?) and the camaraderie of the people who all want to help others as a counselor. BUT, I am excited about the amount of $$$ we will be able to put into a baby account, and the time I'll have to put into my marriage, my relationship w/ God, my church, and my family. It feels good.
Today is my last progesterone check and this marked our last month on Provera and Clomid. I can not express the relief I feel from knowing that I won't have to live my life according to a 28 day calendar any more!!! For the first time in six months (again, only that long?) I'll just be Mae, not Mae on all kinds of wacky drugs (the legal kind of course!). It too feels good.
With that said, I'm off to Columbia for that last vile of blood to be drawn, I think this calls for a celebratory chocolate chip cookie dough blizzard from the DQ (or in L'burg speak, the Day-ree Quh-ween)!
Tidings of Joy... and a happy week of lasts! :)
Last night was my last night of class at Freed. I went with mixed emotions. For all of the religious differences b/t FHU and other c of C schools, it's really a great place filled with people who love Christ and want to share that with others. I will miss the fantastic professors I've had in the past six months (has it really only been that long?) and the camaraderie of the people who all want to help others as a counselor. BUT, I am excited about the amount of $$$ we will be able to put into a baby account, and the time I'll have to put into my marriage, my relationship w/ God, my church, and my family. It feels good.
Today is my last progesterone check and this marked our last month on Provera and Clomid. I can not express the relief I feel from knowing that I won't have to live my life according to a 28 day calendar any more!!! For the first time in six months (again, only that long?) I'll just be Mae, not Mae on all kinds of wacky drugs (the legal kind of course!). It too feels good.
With that said, I'm off to Columbia for that last vile of blood to be drawn, I think this calls for a celebratory chocolate chip cookie dough blizzard from the DQ (or in L'burg speak, the Day-ree Quh-ween)!
Tidings of Joy... and a happy week of lasts! :)
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Having a moment
On Saturday nights after the Suze Orman show goes off, I make a trip to the closet to pick out church clothes for both Brandon and myself. I usually have to iron at least two or three pieces of clothing, make sure that our outfits look nice, and that we match to a degree. Tonight I just can't do it. It's one of those "nothing in my closet works anymore" "I just wore that last week" "I need a new wardrobe" nights, which sucks, b/c it just means I'll have to do everything in the morning. Oh well ~ here's to procrastinating until tomorrow!
Monday night at 9:00 my time at Freed-Hardeman University will come to an end. I am really looking forward to starting classes at Southern Christian. The classes I am taking have already been filmed and are archived, so technically I could take one whole week and do an entire class. I don't plan on doing that, but it's a nice idea! I do however, plan on hitting things hard and getting ahead while I'm motivated, that way when the lovely spring weather starts to creep in, I won't get panicky and behind with school. Yep, that's the plan ~ ask me in April how well I've stuck to it...
Things with Brandon's job seem to be heading in a Bluegrass state direction. The big company that is currently looking to buy Murray is Briggs and Stratton. Murray owed them $40 million before they claimed bankruptcy last month. According to the Tennessean, Briggs and Stratton is considering buying parts of Murray for liquidation, not moving into the plant. Buh-by Lawrenceburg ~ this place is going to be a ghost town when that plant shuts down, and an incredibly poor one at that. I am doing pretty well with the thought of moving north. In many ways, I am ready to be in a town that has a mall, movie theater, Target and Starbucks all in one place. Plus, we've been checking Bowling Green out on the internet and from what I gather it's not that big of a city (think smaller than Memphis, lower crime rate, less chance of being attacked by a hoodlum who wants your faux Vuitton purse). It's only about an hour north of Nashville, so we'll still be pretty close to home, it'll all be good. And the real estate seems to be attainable, especially if we get the good moving package that includes GE buying our house if it doesn't sell after a few months.
I'm pooped and the clothes aren't going to iron themselves, so this tired gal is gonna hit the sack. I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend and have a relaxing and Spirit filled Sunday (along with the rest of the week).
Tidings of Joy... and ironed clothes! :)
Monday night at 9:00 my time at Freed-Hardeman University will come to an end. I am really looking forward to starting classes at Southern Christian. The classes I am taking have already been filmed and are archived, so technically I could take one whole week and do an entire class. I don't plan on doing that, but it's a nice idea! I do however, plan on hitting things hard and getting ahead while I'm motivated, that way when the lovely spring weather starts to creep in, I won't get panicky and behind with school. Yep, that's the plan ~ ask me in April how well I've stuck to it...
Things with Brandon's job seem to be heading in a Bluegrass state direction. The big company that is currently looking to buy Murray is Briggs and Stratton. Murray owed them $40 million before they claimed bankruptcy last month. According to the Tennessean, Briggs and Stratton is considering buying parts of Murray for liquidation, not moving into the plant. Buh-by Lawrenceburg ~ this place is going to be a ghost town when that plant shuts down, and an incredibly poor one at that. I am doing pretty well with the thought of moving north. In many ways, I am ready to be in a town that has a mall, movie theater, Target and Starbucks all in one place. Plus, we've been checking Bowling Green out on the internet and from what I gather it's not that big of a city (think smaller than Memphis, lower crime rate, less chance of being attacked by a hoodlum who wants your faux Vuitton purse). It's only about an hour north of Nashville, so we'll still be pretty close to home, it'll all be good. And the real estate seems to be attainable, especially if we get the good moving package that includes GE buying our house if it doesn't sell after a few months.
I'm pooped and the clothes aren't going to iron themselves, so this tired gal is gonna hit the sack. I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend and have a relaxing and Spirit filled Sunday (along with the rest of the week).
Tidings of Joy... and ironed clothes! :)
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
On this day in 1978...
At 5:39 p.m. I came into the world weighing in at 8 lbs. 1 oz., 21 inches long, and a week and a half later than expected. My parents named me Mae Anne (which according to my mother should never be considered seperate names, even though my first name is Mae and my middle name is Anne, she'd pass out if she knew there were more people who shortened my name then there are people who don't!) for several great grand mothers ~ everyone in our family is named after someone, I'm just named for several different someones.
Now, it's twenty-six years later. I have to say that I've accomplished quite a bit in those 26 years, with even more goals to reach in the years to come. I'm not looking forward to being in my late 20's (my friend Vette and I decided that your aren't technically in your late 20's until 28, so we've got a couple of years left to go yet!) but I am looking forward to seeing what my future has in store. It's a great day to be alive, and an even better one to celebrate being loved and having a wonderful family (blood relatives, Christian family, and blog family).
Tidings of Joy... and celebrating life!
Now, it's twenty-six years later. I have to say that I've accomplished quite a bit in those 26 years, with even more goals to reach in the years to come. I'm not looking forward to being in my late 20's (my friend Vette and I decided that your aren't technically in your late 20's until 28, so we've got a couple of years left to go yet!) but I am looking forward to seeing what my future has in store. It's a great day to be alive, and an even better one to celebrate being loved and having a wonderful family (blood relatives, Christian family, and blog family).
Tidings of Joy... and celebrating life!
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