Prayer Requests

Just wanted to take a minute to lift a few families up in prayer. First, Amber and I had to go to a funeral today for one of her classmate's mom. His name is Austin Wooten and his mom passed away on December 20th after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 46. Second, one of my high school classmate's husband is battling lung cancer. His name is Shane Richardson and he has never smoked. He is 38 with 3 young kids. Finally, little 2 year old Nicholas Holbert is going home from the hospital today. He goes to church with my parents. Seven weeks ago he wandered away from home and fell in a lake. He has a long road ahead and they are still not sure of all the damage, but he is going home today after doctors said he wouldn't make it.

Please take a moment to lift these familes up in prayer during this Christmas season!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Elf Update

I have been meaning to have daily updates on the elves, but it just hasn't happened. So, I will just do one big update on all of the things they have been doing. They finally came on December 14th. Erin was pretty sure they forgot to come this year, but I will only allow them to be here for about 10 days. That is all I can handle!!! Some of the things they have done that I did not get pictures of include: (1) going "fishing" for Erin's fish with a frying pan and seasonings close by (2) building a tower of soda cans after a Christmas party we had (3) spending the night with a friend and making "snow angels" out of sugar (4) playing Christmas games on the computer (5) watching Christmas movies all night.

Here are a couple of things I did get pictures of:
Making "Cold Chocolate" (instead of Hot Chocolate):

Dexter has been very concerned about all of this mischief!

Taping the door up from Erin's room to the kitchen:

So, things have not gotten too out of control this year! I am happy to say that they will only be here for 2 more nights!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

The Christmas Tree!!

I got a new tree this year!! I have wanted a huge tree since we moved in this house that has 12 foot ceilings. I finally got one after Christmas last year! It is 9 feet tall, prelit, and I LOVE IT!!

Here are 2 new ornaments I got this year:

I'm really keeping things simple this year and trying not to get stressed out!! I didn't get out all of my decorations or send out any Christmas cards this year!!! Maybe next year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

From the Una Church of Christ Cookbook....

I LOVE Potato Soup. When I got home this evening, I found a Bacon and Potato Soup recipe in my Una Church of Christ cookbook. It was sooo yummy and pretty simple. I thought I would share it for those that share my love of potato soup!

Bacon and Potato Soup

8 slices of bacon, fried crisp (I used more because my philosophy is-you can never have too much bacon!)
1 c. onions, chopped
2-3 c. cubed potatoes
1 c. water
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 3/4 c. milk
4 oz. sour cream
1/2 t. salt
pepper to taste
2 T. fresh parsley (I didn't have any, so I just left this out)
bacon fat


In bacon fat, saute onions 2 to 3 minutes. Drain. Add onions, potatoes, and water in a pot. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Stir in soup, sour cream, and crumbled bacon. Add milk, salt, pepper, and parsley. Heat to serving temperature. Do not boil. Garnish with cheese. Serves 4.

For those moms short on time or unprepared for dinnertime, you could use bacon bits and precut onions and this would be a super quick dinner.  Thank you to Linda Smith. I have no idea who you are, but you have a delicious soup recipe!!

Snow!!

Look! We had a blizzard!!! The Colorado Whitings' have nothin' on the Alabama Whitings'!!! ;-)

I got bundled up to go get my bread and by the time I got to the grocery store, all the snow had melted!! Maybe I will be more prepared for my next blizzard!!!

Crazy Week!!!

It has been one crazy week! I have had 2 basketball games to work concessions for!! I just wanted to update those who haven't heard yet--Amber was elected to Homecoming Court for the middle school!! She is super excited!! She is going to be escorted by a close friend Alan Anderson.

Also, Stuart has started a really cool blog. The address is:
songsandscriptures.blogspot.com


It is pretty awesome, so check it out!

Something Old and Something New

I started decorating for Christmas last night. I can only do a little at a time, so it takes me about a week to get it done. It is just too overwhelming to pull everything out at once. I thought I would show you my two favorite Christmas decorations that I have. Both have already made it to their home for the next 5 weeks.

This is my oldest decoration. It is a ceramic tree that my mom made when I was a young girl. It was always my favorite! The lights blink on it and it is mesmerizing!!!

Here is my favorite, newest decoration. I just got it at a cute little shop in Clinton, MS over Thanksgiving.

Hope everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit!!! I know I am!!!!!

Thanksgiving!!

Of course I have to have a post of Thanksgiving! I have been so blessed. Just counting my earthly blessings, I am very thankful for my wonderful husband. Stuart has an incredible heart for God. He is such a strong leader and is a wonderful teacher for the girls. I love him very much and can not imagine being without him.

I am thankful for Amber Grace. She is such a beautiful and smart young lady. Her love of the Lord and knowledge of the Bible is amazing!

I am thankful for Erin Gale. She is a beautiful and creative young lady who has an incredible sense of humor!!

I am thankful for wonderful parents who instilled in me a love for God. I am thankful that they were able to pay for a college education for me and gave me a hard work ethic. Although mine doesn't hold a candle to theirs!!

I am thankful for great in-laws who raised a wonderful man for me to marry and have never made me feel like I was not good enough for their boy.

I am thankful for close friends who make me laugh so hard and make my life interesting!

Many, many blessings in my life! I love them all!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

Vicksburg, Mississippi

It was a beautiful day in Mississippi today. We drove through Vicksburg to see the "Siege of Vicksburg". All of these pictures were taken by Erin. She is working on her next 4-H project--photography!

Me and Amber in front of a line of cannons:

The cemetery has the distinction of having the largest number of Civil War graves of any national cemetery in the United States. There are 17,000 Union soldiers buried there, but there are no Confederate soldiers.

The small markers are graves of unknown soldiers. There are only about 5,000 known soldiers buried here.


The U.S.S. Cairo:

This ship was sunk in the Yazoo River in 1862. The ship was located after many years and finally lifted from its watery grave and reassembled in 1964. You can actually walk on it. Very cool!

One of the many memorials throughout the tour:

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! After the tour today, I am reminded of all the sacrifices that were made to make our country what it is today. For that I am very thankful!!

Award Winning Swine!

"Smart Swine Stan" won 2nd prize in the 4H Piggy Bank Pagent. We are so proud to have an award winning swine!!

Yummy Soup!

I went to Olive Garden a couple of weeks ago to celebrate a friend's birthday. I ordered the Pasta Fagioli Soup, which I love! I remembered as I was eating it that I had a recipe for it. A few days after I ate there, Stuart met a friend at Olive Garden and ordered the same thing. He came home and said "Didn't you use to have a recipe for that?" So, I took that as a sign to dig out the recipe. I cooked it tonight. It is super easy and delicious!!

Pasta Fagioli Soup


1.5 pounds ground beef
1 c. onion-chopped
1 c. celery-diced
1 c. carrots-slivered
1- 24 oz. can chopped tomatoes
1- 15.5 oz. can dark red kidney beans (drained)
1- 15.5 oz. can light red kidney beans (drained)
3- 14.5 oz. cans beef broth
2 T. Oregano
1 t. pepper
3 T. parsley, chopped
2 t. tobasco (exclude for milder taste) (I just used 1 t.)
1 jar 24-28 oz spaghetti sauce (I use a different brand than the kind I use for spaghetti)
8 oz. macaroni shells


Saute the beef in a large pot. When the beef is about browned, put in celery, onion, carrot and tomatoes and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Add all of the other ingredients and let simmer until the celery and carrots are tender. At least 1 hour. Makes 5 quarts (You might need to add a bit of water as it cooks).

Enjoy!!

Sunday Afternoon Project

Erin had to make a pig bank for 4H. She called it "Smart Swine".

I think he turned out really cute. The only thing that I did was help with the hot glue. She came up with the idea and the "how-to". She is such a creative little girl!!

Veterans Day

Erin was out of school today, so the two of us went to the Veterans Day Parade. I was not thrilled about going, but it passes one block from my office and it was a beautiful day, so we did go. It is not an extremely exciting parade, but I am always glad I went once it is over. And hey, who doesn't love a parade?

Anyway, everytime I am at the Veterans Day Parade, I get this lump in my throat and my heart is so proud that I feel like it might bust! It is amazing. It happens everytime!! The sights of the men and women of our military marching with the cadence being called out, the vehicle with those who have received the Purple Heart, the vehicle with the WWII vets....I get a little teary-eyed recalling the sacrifice that has been made and is made everyday, so that my youngest daughter and I can sit there with no fear and honor these brave individuals. Trust me...I want them on that wall....I need them on that wall!  So, for all of those who have served, are serving, and will serve......Thank You!!!!

HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

We went to a Halloween party tonight. Me, Stu, Amber, and Leanna were a 4 count pack of Crayola Crayons. We were the winners of the family costume contest. We won a $50 gift card to Red Lobster!! Not bad for something thrown together the night before!

Erin and her friend Callie were dressed as a witch and a devil:

We bobbed for apples, went on a hayride, and made s'mores.

The night was a lot of fun, but almost ended on a very sour note. While driving home, someone ran a red light. Thanks to the incredible reflexes and driving abilities of Stu, we avoided a major collision!!!!

School Fun

Erin's class put on a play at school today. Her and her friend were Carpetbaggers.  They had to dress like men because that is who the part was written for.  Of course, (and I am not being biased) she was the best.  Just ask Grammie! :-)

After the play, they painted pumpkins.