Realty Mania

I get myself into the most uncomfortable pickles...

For instance, there is a couple we go to church with who, as a team, appraise and list houses. When we fist realized that we'd have to sell the house, I approached her and asked some questions, one of them being, "Would you and your husband mind coming by our house and telling us what all we'll have to do to sell it?" Sure she said, we'll talk about it later, all will be well. A couple of weeks later, I was talking w/ another lady that I consider a mentor (also from church) about the move, selling the house, etc. When I told her who I'd semi-asked to list it I got this look like Daddy used to give me when he thought (or knew) I was fibbing / telling a whopper ~ one eyebrow cocked up and a look that says, "Well, if you think that's the best thing, but you may want to change your mind... NOW!" She said, "Can I give you some advice? I know people who have used them before and afterwards wished they hadn't, if I was to sell my home there'd only be one person in the county I'd ask." That person just happens to be the man who has built our neighborhood and sold every house in it (all 13 of them, plus 2 more that are being started as I type). So, I talk the situation over w/ Brandon and we decide that asking Mr. Neighborhood Builder would be in our best interest since he is obviously very familiar w/ things and b/c Mr. & Mrs. Couple from Church don't exactly have the best track record, four children under the age of 9, a farm, an Amish Toy / Nick Nack Store, and he's getting into industrial equipment sales, and the real topper was that she gave me a listing of houses similar to ours and what they had sold for and the papers weren't neat, orderly and they reeked of some ungodly smell (need I say anything about my insane sense of pregnant woman smell and my anal retentiveness towards things being neat and orderly?). She had called on Saturday to tell us that they could come and look at the house and give us their rundown of things and Brandon told her we'd also talked to Mr. Neighborhood Man and that we'd more than likely go w/ him b/c of the reasons above (his positive reasons, not their negative ones). Anyway, I feel bad about the whole situation w/ Mr. & Mrs. Church Couple, BUT I"m easing into the whole Mr. Neighborhood idea...

He came by this morning, looked around the house, complimented me on the decor and paint (and suggested that we have crown molding put up where I'd lovingly hit the ceiling w/ the rollers ~ which I wanted to do but Brandon didn't ~ SCORE!), and then told us he'd list it for almost $10,000 more than we paid for it 2 years ago to date and that he'd do it for 5%, as opposed to the usual 6% that realtors ask (although, if another realtor sells it he'll have to get 6% to split w/ them). It's the largest home in the neighborhood (not a mansion at only 1550 sq. ft. but still...), and has a better floor plan and nicer cabinets than the others, plus there is a spring on the property and it's one of the biggest lots (a whole acre, we're not talkin' Tara here folks). After a quick calculation in my head I realized that if we sell the house for that amount (or realistically a couple thousand less) that we'll actually make a few thousand dollars off of it when we were just hoping to come out even. Things are looking up. We're waiting for word from the Murray sell to decide if we'll put it on the market in a couple of weeks or wait until the end of February (Mr. Neighborhood has had several people asking about the houses being built and really thinks it will sell w/in 3 months ~ the longest any of the houses have been on the market). So, night Brandon and I are heading to Lowes and Home Depot (which just opened in Florence, it's about the most exciting news to come out of there lately) to pick out crown molding and buy some paint for the pretend nursery. I'm going to call a couple of home repair guys on Wednesday and get the ball rolling. Feels like it's going to be a pretty good experience.

Today is my sister's 31st birthday. We had a surprise get-together for her last night at Toot's in the 'Boro. She was really excited and thrilled that we'd thought to do that for her. Today for her actual present (I got her a monogramed bracelet yesterday) I asked her to be w/ B and me in the delivery room. She started gushing and crying (while at work in the front office of a pediatric center mind you) and said, "OHHH, I'd LOVE to. I was sure you'd ask me to, I was just waiting for you to think it over. You're the best sister ever!! This has made my whole week." Yep, I'm good. Happy Birthday Netty Nu!!!



OK, it's been an exhausting day and I'm heading to my incredibly neat, clean organized living room to nap on the couch for a couple of hours. After which I'll watch a class that I missed last week, take a quiz, get supper ready, finish a load of laundry, and go to two home improvement stores w/ my husband. All in a good day's work.

Tootles.

Uber-cleaning-wowman-on-a-mission

This whole selling the house thing isn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. I keep a pretty neat, clean house on most occasions and it's not like I have anyone here other than the hubby to clean up after, but holy crap I've never realized how much dust there is in this place! It's rediculous and I think it'll be the bain of my existance until we've sold the little place. Sniff, sniff ~ our first house going to some other family... I hope to never live in another place w/ white carpet ~ it's just horrific!

End rant. Must get back to making the house look like something out of Southern Living... and probably nap a bit early today. Got any good house selling tips?

Good.

Today was a good, fulfilling day. I had fried green tomatoes with my husband, a good laugh, a phone call from my big brother and actually made it through the day without napping. It's a good life!

Yesterday I was a bit hormonal and somewhat insensitive. Remember when I said that Gran wasn't in the greatest of moods? I didn't realize (for the first time in 15 years!) that is was the anniversary of my mom's death~ she's been in Paradise for 15 years. It hit me around 6:00 last night and a huge guilt wave just washed over me. I was so absorbed in my own life that I didn't even take the time to be a little sad. I cried buckets later, more for missing mom and feeling guilty than for what the day actually stood for. It sucks that I lost my mother, but other people never had the chance to know either of their parents or even family members ~ for the family I have and had I am eternally grateful, flaws and all. All I feel that I can do is to remember the good times, wear at least SPF 30 (her illness started out as skin cancer), and go on with life. My grandmother on the other hand is very much the opposite in many ways, but oh well. Live and learn, huh?

Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday are going to be cleaning frenzy days. I'm even getting a girl that I go to church w/ to come and help do things that I really shouldn't be doing (such as climbing on top of the counters to dust the crystal stuff we got as wedding gifts). A real estate agent is coming in Monday morning to walk through the house and begin the selling process. I haven't been too stressed out about all this stuff until today. This is where my over achiever, anal retentive side comes in. Everything has to be perfect before he gets here and I'm feeling quite a bit of pressure (even guilt over not having any crown molding up or the pretend nursery painted). We're just hoping to break even on the house sale; we'll be lucky to do that after the realtors fee is taken out. Deep healing breaths and a good nights sleep and I'll be raring to go tomorrow. It's another day...

Tootles.

Inconsiderate, Rude, Or Just Plain True?

I have a situation for you bog family. And as usual, the drama in my life concerns non other than the infamous grandmother. Earlier I was on my weekly call to Gran who wasn't in the greatest of moods. After hearing about every sick and dead person in Warren county she asked me how I've been feeling and then later in the conversation asked the inevitable, "Well, how much weight have you gained?" As a side / background note on my grandmother, she's not concerned per say w/ a pregnant woman's health, she simply needs something to gossip about to her friends. I learned this VERY quickly w/ my sister's pregnancies. Lynette never told Gran what I said, which was, "Well it's not really any of your business. That's between me and my doctor and if I want you to know, then I'll tell you." I'm not one to beat around the bush about things, esp. w/ Gran and so I almost always tell her exactly what I think or feel about any given situation ~ esp. about me, my siblings, our spouses or children. She was pretty shocked that I said that (needless to say my hormones began kicking in pretty quickly) and replied, "Well, you just come out 'n say what ya mean don ch ya? I guess it itten any of my business." Neither of us got huffy and she laughed at me being me, but good Lord ~ why do people feel the need to know such things??!?!!

A word of advice to my readers. Don't ask that question and if you see me anytime during this or any forthcoming pregnancies be sure to tell me how glowing and very non-pregnant I look and that I couldn't be more than 5 or 6 weeks along. K? :)

So I leave it up to you, did I seem inconsiderate, rude, or just plain true in my reply AND was Gran inconsiderate or rude in asking???

As far as names for the baby(s) go SG let the cat out of the bag.... Raisin Hale and Goada Hale are my two favorite girl names, but now we're gonna have to go and find something else and keep it as a surprise until the baby comes out kicking and screaming. (Brandon's convinced that it'll come out and ask immediately to be cleaned up ~ just a little issues w/ gross stuff that I may have that may carry over to our poor child ~ bless her heart!)

It's my nap time. 'Night.

Krispy Kreme, Kraft, Kool-Aid, & Bad Baby Names

The cravings have begun... it's all about what I see really. If I see someone on TV eating I have to have that, ahh the power of visual persuation. For the most part though, I just want mac n' cheese (the imitation Kraft kind w/ the skinny noodles, not the real stuff), any kind of Krispy Kreme doughnut, and Kool-Aid (cherry, grape, or hawaiian punch). Brandon makes at least one trip to Kroger every other day b/c I never want what was on "the list". It's pretty fun!

Now on to the third rendition of "Bad Baby Names". I tried to post this twice over the weekend, but was unsuccessful each time. Here are the current "bad baby names" that Brandon and I have heard over the years...

Jaquarius ~ He was born in January & is an aquarius. (Memphis radio station)
Pepsi Nicola ~ Wonder what her mom craved? (also Memphis radio station)
Holly Dae ~ A girl I knew growing up who, along w/ her twin brother Luke, was born on Christmas Day.
Holly Bush ~ Another girl I knew in Manchester.
Bedelya ~ This was on "A Baby Story" the other day and I just couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor child, esp. the first time her librarian reads "Amelia Bedilia" to the class!
Dren ~ Yet another guy from Manchester ~ that's n-e-r-d spelled backwards, and rather fitting for the boy.

That's the news for today! Please feel free to add to the list, so I know what NOT to name my children.

Tidings of Joy... and GREAT baby names! :)

This is what we know. No more, no less...

<>Crazy rumors are flying around this place (even from an elder's wife ~ not her best quality). What we do know is that the plant will (hopefully) be open until all obligations are filled, which should put us into the summer. However, there is no guarntee of anything (even us staying if it continues to operate at a slower pace). Brandon is sitting down w/ a team of GE guys in a couple of weeks (while at a "training" in Epcot that the wives were un-intvited to ~ don't get me started!) and we'll know (again, hopefully) more about it then; I also hope to have a more concrete timeline. The following article is from today's Tennessean. Surprisingly, I'm rather calm about the whole situation. I had a much funnier "Bad Baby Names" blog, but apparently blogger was experiencing technical difficulties so it will have to wait for another day.

Key parts of a Friday, Jan. 21, letter to Murray Inc. employees from Alan Shaw, president and CEO of the lawnmower maker, about the company's impending sale and likely closure of its Lawrenceburg plant sometime in 2006.

Dear Murray Employee:

''As I am sure most of you have seen in The Tennessean, today is an important day in the Murray bankruptcy process. All parties involved are working diligently towards filing a final Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) today, and things are looking positive at this time. Even though we don't have a final decision to announce right now, there are additional details in the APA that are appropriate for us to share with you at this time.

''Under the APA proposed by Briggs & Stratton, they will acquire certain assets of Murray with an effective purchase date in February. At this time, Briggs & Stratton does not have the capacity to absorb the manufacturing processes of Murray. Therefore, effective immediately following the closing date of the asset sale, Murray would enter into a Transition Supply Agreement (TSA) with Briggs & Stratton to ensure orderly supply of product. In order to fulfill the terms of the TSA, Murray Inc. will continue to operate the company and manufacture product exclusively for Briggs & Stratton for up to 18 months. During this transition period, Briggs will begin to relocate selected products and product lines to other manufacturing facilities. As a result, employee reductions will be necessary to correspond to changes in production and operating needs.

''If we are unable to successfully negotiate an APA, the banks will immediately force Murray into an orderly liquidation. Although certain employees will be retained in order to assist in closing the facilities, the majority of employees would cease employment with Murray within a week. We will fulfill our obligations under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (''WARN'') by continuing anticipated base pay for terminated employees through February 28, 2005. …

''I realize that the news that Murray may only continue for 18 months is disappointing to all of us. All along our goal has been to steer Murray towards a buyer that would invest in Murray and allow it to grow. In the absence of this type of sale, our aim was to secure a purchase that would prolong Murray for as long as possible to allow employees an opportunity to plan for a future outside of Murray. All of you have demonstrated an admirable work ethic in recent months, and I am proud of the effort each of you has put forth in an effort to complete a sale of the company. We will continue to communicate details as they become available.''

Sincerely,

Alan Shaw

President and CEO

It's the little things...

I just returned home from the Ladies Bible Class and a wonderfully fattening lunch at the Chinese Buffet w/ my dear hubby to see that the sweet irises I transplanted from one of my friend's "menopause gardens" are popping up ~ spring will soon be in the air, according to the irises anyway.

Today is the hearing for Murray's future (or so it seems to be, the lack there of). The only company that put in a bid was Briggs & Stratton, but only for the equipment, no real estate or workers. Even if the plant were to stay open we'd more than likely be heading to KY b/c they use Nalco chemicals as opposed to GE. Lots going on. Does anything ever settle down?

Having just finished lunch, I appear to be at least 3 1/2 months along, maybe 4. It's so funny how my tummy grows after just eating or drinking. This morning's Lawrenceburg newspaper headline reads "Beached Whale Spotted in Lawrence County." Who'd a thunk it, huh?! Everything is fun and as long as I can make fun of myself I'll be ok, though I now somewhat understand the thought process behind ladies with bulemia. I ordered my first maternity outfit yesterday. (If you buy it online you don't have to see any of the perky cute little mommy's-to-be trying on things in an XS.) Looks like I'll get to decorate 2 nurseries. Brandon is getting kicked out of his office and we're making it up to be the pretend nursery to help the house sell. I think that people seeing that as a third bedroom will be better than seeing it as an office. Exciting stuff, I'm going to head to Florence sometime tomorrow and try to pick out a neutral paint color (probably something in a green or yellow). Got any vibes on the sex or #? Place your bids and we'll see who comes the closest!

Must get to class and be a good steward of my time.

Have you read Mike's blog today? Isn't it wonderful how God answers prayers and the family that this has created? So magnificent.

Tidings of Joy... and blooming spring flowers. :)


Thank you SOOO MUCH Stephanie!! The book is so funny ~ it made my day! :)

Do any of you have good ladies retreat games? I volunteered to lead us in game time ~ any ideas other than Spades, Rook, Phase 10, or Spoons? Help me please ~ my mind has gone blank in the game area!!!

So, I'm looking for a person or people who are interested in bladder donations...

Anyone? Anyone? Maybe a cow bladder? Or a hippo's? I'm not picky, I just need something to get me through at least one episode of Regis & Kelly and maybe a two hour nap. I've always been a heavy beverage consumer and a small bladder person, but this puts a whole new spin on things! The peeing has begun and I don't think the rainy season in Guatemala even comes close to producing as much liquid as I have in the past two days! 64 oz. of water and 24 oz. of milk, plus a sip or two of Brandon's Sprite = well, Niagara Falls. TMI? Sorry.

Thank you all SO MUCH for the good wishes and prayers. We are both incredibly excited about things, and a bit nervous too. To answer some of your questions....

YES ~ we are definitely going to try to find out the sex of the baby (I"m hoping for twins, but my sister is feeling triplets ~ she's not exactly Madame Cleo so we'll just take what the rad-tech tells us!) As I said before, we get to have an early ultasound in a month. We'll hear the heartbeat and see the little bambino(s) on the screen. I'm going to record it and if I can find a way to post it on the internet then you can enjoy seeing it as well.

No ~ I'm not planning on turning this into a pregnancy blog. BUT since that seems to be consuming my life right now... well, even the best made plans go awry, eh?

The bankruptcy court hearing for Murray is next week (the 19th) that's when we'll find out what will happen (supposedly). The whole town is on pins and needles waiting for one judges decision. I still think we'll end up in KY... and probably about two months before the birth ~ that's just how my life works. At least we'll have movers to take care of everything. I bet if I milk it the right way, I can even get them to put stuff up for me! :)

Ron (my f-i-l) is going through his stem cell replacement this week. He and Hilda are staying at the Hope House in Nashville (across from Vanderbilt Hospital) for the next month or so. I'm sure that a lot of our time will be spent there to help Hilda's stress level and to keep Ron's spirits up. Hopefully this will keep him in remission. Prayers on their behalf are GREATLY appreciated.

Once again the bladder is calling, but not exactly tenderly!

Tidings of Joy... and seriously, if you've got an extra bladder around I REALLY could use it! :)

Busting at the seams (in more ways than one)...

I have this habit of doing things that I swear I'll never do... such as telling the world that I'm pregnant before I am through the first trimester. Read that again, and again, and one more time and then SCREAM, JUMP UP & DOWN, & SHOUT HALLULAH TO THE LORD ~ WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just got home from the doctor and am officially 7 weeks and 6 days and the due date is August 23. I think that just on the basis that this child (or possible children ~ we'll know on Feb. 8) has 1/2 of my genetic makeup that it will be late coming into the world. Brandon and I are so excited (although I'm quite a bit more verbal than he is about it ~ surprising I know.) I have already picked out furniture and colors and all the cutsie little things that go along w/ that at Babies-R-Us. Now, we just need to win a couple million dollars to pay for it all! :)

Seriously, we are both so incredibly thankful to God, our OB/GYN, and the medicine that made me so crazy for so long. A precious gift is growing inside of me... it feels and sounds so odd. My best friends right noware the couch, my pillows, and fruit flavored Tums (I only like the orange and pink ones ~ yellow and green make me gag). My doctor gave me What to Expect When You're Expecting so I have quite a bit of reading to do for that, along with my homework for class. Hope your day is as happy as ours.

Tidings of Joy... and additions to the family! :)

Back to reality?

I received my first e-mail about the new classes I'll begin this coming week at Southern Christian ~ expected graduations date 12/07. Why in Sam Goozle did I go to grad school? Can someone please tell me? Oh yeah, I remember ~ it's was the whole "I have a degree that I don't want to / can't utilize in this small town where I have NO political pull and student loans that I don't want to pay back for a while. Easiest solution? Go back to school!" It's all clearly back. If any of you have taken a class through SCU on-line I'd be more than happy to hear any pointers and tid bits of knowledge you may posses.

The past couple of days I've been in Huntsville visiting my friend Vette (a blog snooper, but not a commentor). We went w/ "The Group" (several 20 something single C of C folks) to Applebee's and then to see White Noise. It was sold out by the time we finished dinner so we decided to watch Darkness instead of waiting until the midnight showing (I'd've never been able to keep my eyes open for a midnight movie ~ you can officially call me old!) Other than Children of the Corn, I don't think there is a single horror flick that the two of us have laughed at so much. Oh my goodness ~ tears running down the face funny! It's a European film that I'm still not sure of the purpose ~ Good Times!

Soon after I walked in the door I got a call from my sis-in-law. Jonathan is in Talledega this weekend for some high testosterone thing, so Karen's having a girl's night out at her place. More fun!

Must finish up a bit of laundry and share a meal w/ the hubby before I get back on the road.

Tidings of Joy... & fun times w/ friends & family!

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

Let's take a journey in our minds back the late, great '80s. That's right my friends, let us revisit that fantastic movie with Wynona Rider "Beetlejuice". Today, Wednesday, January 5, 2005, I am legally Mae Anne McCullough Hale. That's right folks, I have been married for 3 years, 7 months, and 3 days... and I JUST changed my name. In order to do so, Brandon and I had to take a little lunch time trip to the Social Security Administration where a VERY SERIOUS "officer" asked Brandon to peacefully remove his "weapon" (a knife he uses for work) and return it to the vehicle. While we were waiting for our number to come up, the scene in BJ where he's waiting in a room with a million other creatures and his number is fifteen million away from the one that is currently being waited on popped into my mind ~ SO FUNNY ~ I was cracking up!!! There were 3 people in front of us and it took close to an hour, but you can all relax, and Brandon and I can now e-file. All that and not one shrunken head in the group! :)

Tidings of Joy... and the SSA, bless their hearts!

Brain mush

I don't know what it is, but my mind refuses to concentrate on one thing for more than 15 minutes ~ it's like the left over dirty snow 3 days after the roads have cleared up - just gray, cold, dirty and a reminder of what used to be. Now for some over-achievers, you may be able to accomplish quite a bit in 15 minutes. Me? I'm doing good if I can decided what to narrow down the decisions to in 30... sad.

So, I've been trying to think of reasons for this whole "mushiness" thing. Here's what I've come up with so far...

1. The weather. HELLO! I'm in Tennessee in January and it's been over 60 degrees for the past week ~ what the crap?

2. The time of year. After the hustle-bustle of the holidays getting back into a routine seems so plain... almost like I'm missing out on something.

3. A lack of drugs and caffeine in my system. I was on so many different hormone altering drugs for such a long time and on top of that, I've given up caffeine cold turkey... could be on to something here.

4. It's just all in my head (no pun intended). I could be completely normal and just think that things are altered, but probably not.

That's 'bout it for now. I've done good to get this much out, tired, need a nap; the couch, down blanket and feather pillow are all softly coaxing me to sweet rest.

Tidings of Joy.... and an end to the brain mush! :)

Happy 2005!!!

Brandon and I rang in the new year with lots of gusto! We met one of my best friends, Tricia, and her husband, Brad, at the Outback in Murfreesboro. I had a FABULOUS dinner of some Alaskan King Crab Legs and then fell asleep on the couch at 11:30. Brandon tried to wake me up to see the ball drop ~ completely unsuccessful in that area! Today we're just taking it easy and cleaning out things, kind of pre-prepping the house to get it ready to sell. All kinds of exciting adventures, huh?

Happy New Year blog family... I have no doubt it will be full of many blessings! :)

While I'm sitting in my messy but comfy guest room, others in India and Asia aren't so lucky, safe, or blessed. Please keep those affected by the tsunami in your thoughts and prayers and try to help them out of such a horrific situation. "But to the poor o Lord, you are a refuge from the storm. To the needy in distress, you are a shelter from the rain and heat." Isa. 25:4

"I have short term memory loss."

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! :)

Without this, we'd have no hope...

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

¹In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³And everyone went to his own town to register.

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

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

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!

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! :)

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!

Happy 2nd birthday Halle! 

Happy 5th birthday Alexis! 

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.