My Mom had an amazing green thumb. She could plant a popsicle stick and get it to bloom (well, almost)! After my Mom passed away I went thru her garden and took clippings of some of the plants that she had and planted them around my house. Such as hostas, hydrangeas, forsynthias (yellow bells) and some that I don't know what they are.
I have one behind my house that right now is absolutely GORGEOUS and I don't know what it is called. I think it must be related to Crepe Myrtle, which I absolutely adore. I am posting some pictures to see if any of you guys can tell me what it is. It blooms once a year, which is right now and when the blooms shed it looks like it has snowed underneath it. The trunk of it sheds pretty much all summer. Take a look and see if you can identify it for me.

Just Ramblin'

   Weight loss is slow but steady.  I am down 99.1 as of this morning. Last week-end, we got out and worked really hard in our yards.  I started at 11:00am raking and Crystal joined me at 12:00.  I raked for 6 hours and I used muscles that I haven't used in years.  I hadn't been able to work in the yard like that in years.  I loved it until I weighed the next morning and I was "UP" 2 lbs. . What's up with that!!  It took me a week to lose those 2 lbs. plus 1.  I think from now on I'm just going to be the forman and sit in my swing and watch everybody else work. (just kidding ) 

   I know,  or I hope, I was building muscles!!

 

   This evening before Church, Danny and I left the house a little early and went by Home Depot and he bought me a new pair of garden gloves, a new garden rake, little hand shovel and little hand claw, some mosquito candles, mosquito spray and some weed killer for my patio.  I don't kill dandelions, I love those. I love to blow them and watch the little parachute men fly across the yard to make more dandelions . We were also in search of a couple folding chairs that we need to take to my brother-in-laws 50th birthday party so we'll have a place to sit.  We can also use them going to some of those Nifty Over Fifty get-togethers.  There were none to be found at Home Depot.

   Danny said that Drug Stores always seem to advertise having them all the time so we stopped at Walgreens to see if they did but NOPE.  I did get me 6 sugar-free chocolate Easter bunnies for 90% off.  YIPEE!!!  I stuck 5 in the freezer. Danny also got him some new well needed sun glasses. We then drove on down to Big Lots and we asked the manager if they had any folding chairs.  Well, he led us right to them and they had 3 so we bought 2 of them and they are really nice and only $16.99 each. GO BIG LOTS!!!

  By the time we got to Church I was all hot and sweatie!  Church was awesome!!  Music is AMAZING!!!  Can't wait for the 4th of July fireworks at Kingwood.  They are always the BEST!!

   After church we made a trip to Wal-Mart in Alabaster for a few more items.  By the time we leave there Danny  is totally frazzled. He's not a shopper plus he was having nose problems.  I picked him up some sinus medicine and when we got home I told him to take it by mouth or else.  He minded me and took it!  He's a good boy!!  

   I recon that was enough to bore you guys with for awhile. Until next time.

 

    

"THANKS" Crystal!!!

How do you guys like my new look? Crystal did it for me. She also did Staci's blog & Baby blog. As well as Sarah's blog.

"AWESOME" job Crystal. "THANKS"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things you may or may-not know about me!

1. I collect TEAPOTS!
2. I love anything with CHERRIES!! (preferably with a black background)
3. I have been sewing since I was 12 years old. That means 32 years experience!
4. I became a Christian on April 25th, 1980.
5. I really really really want to try some black caviar!!
6. I eat bananas wrapped in bologna! YUMMO
7. I want a HOT PINK HUMMER 2!! (any color will do though)
8. I love BIG purses/tote bags.
9. I wear a size 12 shoe!
10. I have a collection of Aunt Jemima.
11. My Christmas Tree Ornaments and decorations are mostly all MICE!! SO CUTE!!
12. I hate UNDERWEAR!! (I didn't say that I don't wear it)

Now, tell me 12 things about you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY "D"!!!

HAPPY 30th TO THE BEST SON-IN-LAW IN THE WORLD!!!

SHOPPING!!!

I have hated shopping for years. Well, I'm slowly beginning to enjoy shopping again. Kinda/sorta!! I am now able to find clothes that fit and even TOO BIG for me in department stores. YIPEE!!!!!!
Crystal and I went to the Galleria the other day for me to invest in some bras and for her to return some items. We did some shopping and we both hit the jack pot. She's has already posted her treasures on her blog (I would link it here but I don't know how). I found me a pair of beautiful black jeans on the clearance rack marked down from $59.50 to $6.99 and then they had 40% off that so they cost me $4.19!! YES!!!!!!!
Then Crystal found me two really cute bras on the clearance marked down from $34.00 each to $3.99 each. That is the only time I'll buy something is when it is on sale or on clearance. I'm major FRUGAL!!!

I have been wanted to try Pare Minerals Make-up for years, but was afraid to order it for fear I wouldn't be able to wear it. I have very sensitive skin and I haven't been able to find any make-up in years that I can wear without it irritating my skin.
I saw a ad in our Pelham News where there is a little boutique called Rose Petals that sales make-up that compares to Bare Minerals. We went by there on the way to the mall for me to try it on and wear it thru the day to see if it irritated me before I bought it.
I went in and had the make-up applied and wore it to the mall and it never bothered me. We went back and I bought the items I needed to start with and I love it. It's called Simply Karen and it is identical to Bare Minerals. I am so excited.
I had a very successful and exciting week.

My new favorite thing!

I discovered something really good today: EDAMAME (soybean in pods).
If you love boiled peanuts, you'll love edamame. They are awesome. I had been told my several people and thru research that soy is a awesome source of protein. I have found the roasted, salted soynuts and I have tried tofu and I really like them both. I hadn't been able to find the edamame till last week at Wal-Mart in the frozen food section. All you do is thaw them out or defrost them in the mic and pop the pods open and eat the bean. They taste like really good boiled peanuts. I LOVE them!! Give them a try. They are already to eat. No cooking and they make a great snack, high in protein. YUMMO!!!

Easter 1953

This is my Dad holding me and my cousin, Steve Travors! His Mom is my Dad's sister, Florence.
I'm 18 months old here and I was probably not too sure footed on the ground and decided to sit a spell. Either that or Steve pushed me down.

Easter 1969

The picture on top is Renee and I after we came home from Church, we were enjoying a good ole' ham samich! Yum-Yum!! Don't you guys just love my outfit and my doo-rag? The picture on the bottom was of Diane, Kelly Allen (their little neighbor friend) and Renee, all dressed up in their Easter finery. Dont' ya'll love their bufont hair-do's? I fixed their hair.

Easter Memories!

This is probably one of my most favorite pictures of Daddy. This is Easter Sunday 1957. His outfit is in pink & gray. The pants are a light gray, pale pink shirt, gray socks and the tie is black with a pale pink stripe down the front. SHARP!!!!!!!!!!! He is sitting in my Aunt Emma & Uncle Pete's house on 8th Ave. South, B'ham, right across the street from the park.

What a Surprise!!

Last night Crystal and I were on-line and she IM'd me and said that our cousin was on Rick & Bubba. It was my cousin, Scott Ferguson. He is known as Scott the Techman! They said that he has been with them since the very beginning. Scott's Dad, Wayne, and I are first cousins. Scott played the organ at my and Danny's wedding. So cool!! I guess you can tell we haven't seen or talked to each other in a WHILE, huh!!!

Happy 90th Birthday, Aunt Gladys!!

This is Danny's three Aunts. They are his Dad's sisters. From left to right is: Aunt Gladys age 90 today, Aunt Ike age 85 and Aunt Mary age 86. The fourth sister, Blanche, passed away last year at the age of 91. The Culver's have long longevity. I think they look amazing.



Danny and I spent today in Clanton at his Aunt Gladys' 90th Birthday Celebration. They had it at her house and boy was it packed. They have got to be the sweetest people I have ever met.
These sweet ladies have always treated me as part of the family. I wish my-mother-in law had been just half as sweet as they are.

My New House-guests!!

The top picture is Harriet and the bottom picture is Auzzie. He is a much prettier bird than she is. His head is shaped different and his eyes are much bigger. He also has that beautiful blue above his beak which is how the boys are marked to where hers is the brown color. Other than that they pretty much have the same colors.

Auzzie and Harriet have come to live with me. I went to the store on Wednesday to buy them new treats and supplies for their cages and I spent several hours yesterday cleaning and rearranging their cages. Auzzie is such a HOOTE!! He cracks me up. Always busy and always talking. He has a huge vocabulary. Harriet doesn't talk, she just chirps a little and sits around mostly. She will play a little but Auzzie is just about never still or quiet! Last night when I was covering them up to go nite-nite Auzzie said, "Hey Crystal!! Wha' chu doin?" He's such a HAM!! I am really enjoying them.

BORED

We have Dish TV and yesterday I upgraded it to the 180 channels from the 120 and today I can't find a thing that interest me on there. Go figure; 180 channels and nothing worth watching. SHISH!!!
So here I am blogging that I'm bored while listening to my scanner and there's nothing exciting happening on there either. Wish I had the scanner programmed the night Crystal and I were playing spies to the neighbors.

Warm Weather PLEASE!!!

I have always been a lover of WINTER!! I love to wear winter clothes. I've always said that in the winter I can add more clothes on to get warm to where in the summer I can't take enough off in order to get cool.
Well, I think all that has changed since I've lost 91 lbs. of insulation. I have been about to freeze this winter and it hasn't really been all that cold. My nose, hands and feet stay cold. I will wear 2-3 pairs of socks at a time. BRRRRRRRRR!!!
I am longing to sit outside on the front porch in my swing and read, but it has been too cool and breezy. It's beautiful and sunny but just a little too cool to sit very long. Never thought I would ever see the day when I wished for warm weather, but I AM!!!

Surgery Update!!

Last Tuesday I had to be at Shelby Medical Surgery Center at 10:30am for them to take blood, do a ekg, and get me prepped for surgery on my hernia. It was probably 11:00 before they called me back and about 12:15 they took be to the holding room where they give you this cute little designer hat, put in your IV and get you started on some of the meds. I was there till about 2:45. While in there I got to talking to one of my doctor's (Dr. Stahl's) attending nurses and she said that sometime when they are playing music in the OR, he will start singing. I thought that was so funny because to me he doesn't seem to have that kind of personality. She told me to tell him to sing for me, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. So when I got into surgery she met him at the door and told him I had a request and he came in singing to me. LOL. Never had a singing surgeon before. Then another one of the male assistants started singing (he was better than Stahl's) and the anestheologist said that he could sing too. I told him to just go ahead and put me to sleep and that they needed to buy Dr. Stahl's a bucket with a lid on it to carry his tune in. He quickly informed me that he was a lot better surgeon than singer and I said that I was glad to hear that.
The next thing I know I'm in recovery being woke up out of a awesome sleep. They finally got me to my room around 5:30, I think.
I have always had good treatment and service at Shelby but this time was the best by far. I spent the night on second floor in a private room, I was released around 2:00pm on Wednesday and I don't think that I was ever in that room a whole hour without a nurse coming in to check on me. Anytime I buzzed the desk, my nurse was right there. All very nice and friendly. Couldn't have asked for better care.
Now, this surgery was a lot more painful than my gastric by-pass. OUCH!! I have to walk around literally carrying my belly around in my hands. GET THE VISUAL!!!!!!!! LOLOL!! Man, it hurts to cough, sneeze (double OUCH), sit, stand, walk, etc, etc, etc........................
The hernia is right above my belly button at my waist and was the size of a golf ball. They went in laproscopically and patched it with a piece of mesh that is stitched to the lining of my belly and the stitches come all the way thru skin to the outside of my belly. Everytime I move it pulls. It's getting a little better than it was. I go Tuesday for him to check it out. I think I'll LIVE!!! I'm now down 88 lbs. They told me that he wants me to lose 130 the first year, so I have 42 lbs. to go in 6 months. AWESOME!! I believe that I will have it all off by this time next year.

Another surgery!!!

I went to my surgeon today for my 6 month check-up and to get my B12 shot. While there I had him check a hernia that I have and the places where I think I have found two more.
The one that we have known about since before my gastric-bypass is right above my belly-button and I have to sometimes push it back in. He was pretty concerned about that one so I am going into Shelby Medical Center, Tuesday morning and he will go in laproscopically and take a look to see if there are others and then decide if he can patch them lapro or if they have to open me up.. I will be spending one night unless it gets complicated, BUT it's NOT!!!
The one that I have to push could perforate and that would call for emergency surgery and could get really messy. DON'T want that, so we decided to go ahead now and not take any chances. Keep me in your prayers!!!! They DO work!!
GOD IS SO GOOD!!!


My new favorite scripture:

Isaiah 58:9 You will call, and the Lord will answer; you cry for help and He will say: "HERE AM I."

THEN & NOW

March 1, 1986
March 1, 2006


Crystal and Daniel took these two photos and had them enlarged and done in this color (I can't remember what it's called. Sorry Crystal), framed them and they presented them to us tonight. We LOVE them. THANKS Crystal and Daniel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"THE LOVE OF MY LIFE"

Wednesday, March 1st, will be my and Danny's 20th Wedding Anniversary!!

My New Shoes!!

Crystal was requested to post her new shoes. Well, I was jealous so I decided to post mine as well. Crystal found them for me. Thanks Crystal!! You did good!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!!!!!!

NIFTY-NIFTY-NIFTY!!! LOOKS WHO'S FIFTY!!!!!!!!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH"

Monday, February 20, 2006

Last May I had surgery on my neck. I had a ruptured disk and they went in thru the back and just shaved off the piece that was giving me problems. Before I had the surgery the disk was pinching nerves that ran thru my left arm and into my left hand causing my thumb, index and middle fingers to go numb. I tried going to the chiropractor before to see if that would help, but it didn't because I think I had waited too long to seek treatment and ended up having surgery. The Surgeon told me that there was no guarantee that it wouldn't happen on the other side. WELL, it has!! My right arm is doing exactly as the left arm did. The surgeon also told me that if they had to go back in to get the rest that they would have to go in thru the front, instead of thru the back of the neck like they did in May, and take out the whole disk and fuse those two vertebrae together. I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE!!!!
I decided to try the chiropractic approach again and this time I am attacking it sooner so I don't already have nerve damage yet. I went Tuesday for my first adjustment and I went today for my second, BUT............. before I had the adjustment I made an appoinment with the Massage Therapist and I had my very first massage.
I WAS IN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! With it being my first time, I just went for the 30 minute back massage. OH MY GOSH!! I am hooked. I am going to start next month having a one hour massage once a month along with a monthly adjustment. I am PRAYING that this is going to fix things for me. I don't want anymore surgeries for a long time if ever again!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL!!!!

BEING OVER 50 IS SO MUCH FUN!!!

SWEETHEARTS
Danny and I went to the 50's Plus Valentine Dinner at church Saturday night and we had a BLAST!!! You get 50 of us OVER the HILLers together and you can't help but have fun. It was a potluck and I made chocolate dipped strawberries and they were a hit. I made 80 of them and Danny ate 10 before we left the house. There was some major good cookin' there. After we ate we played The Newlywed Game. Danny and I were in the second set and we WON 1st prize. YEA!!!!!! A box of chocolate hazelnut creme-filled hearts. I ate one and Danny will finish them off.

AWESOME BOOK!!!!

Beth Burnett turned me onto this Author. She is an amazing writer. This is an awesome book. I read it in two days and I never read that fast. Major page turner. I went right into another one by her. If you like Christian Fiction, than by all means give it a try. I give it 5 STARS!!!

Update!!

I am down 83 lbs.

You are a Believer

You believe in God and your chosen religion. Whether you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu.. Your convictions are strong and unwavering. You think your religion is the one true way, for everyone.

What's Your Religious Philosophy?

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Snickers

Nutty and gooey - you always satisfy.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

You Are a Rainbow

Breathtaking and rare You are totally enchanting and intriguing But you usually don't stick around long! You are best known for: your beauty Your dominant state: seducing

What Type of Weather Are You?

CONGRATULATIONS JAMIE!!!!!!

A great big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Jamie Morrison Baymer for having her song, "WRAP ME IN MERCY", (she wrote) for one of the top ten finalists for 2006 Song of The Year by the GMA (Gospel Music Association)!! She will be going along with her group, 'el, to the competition to perform her song solo. YOU GO GIRL!!!

FINALLY!!!

I have been stuck on 76 lbs. for the last week and a half. I even started riding my bike and using my Cross-bow!! I love it.
As of this morning I am down 77.4 lbs. Sure it gets a little disouraging but my body knows best. It has to catch up. I feel amazing. I eat very healthy and I take my vitamins religiously!!
Since I have cut out my carbs, I crave fresh oranges!! I have also learned thru this that the California oranges are sweeter, juicier and have a thinner peel than the Florida oranges. YUMMY!! My mouth is watering right now for one. I have also developed a mojor love for celery, especially with peanut butter on it.

"GOD"

I've started reading the Bible thru again but I always have a problem being able to just read it thru without studying it. I love the footnotes and I can start off trying to just read thru and I will wind up in a different book, chapter and verse before I know it.
This is a footnote that I have highlighted in my Bible and I read it alot. I think it is so awesome that I wanted to share it with you all.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
(footnote): GOD, Eternal- The first verse of the Bible simply presents us with God. The rest of the Bible is an expansion on the theme of who God is, what He is like, and what He is doing. God has no beginning-He is eternal; He is without beginning and without ending. He brings about the beginning of all else through His power as Creator. The eternity of God is difficult for the human mind to understand since we are so rooted in time. Eternity is not simply unlimited time, forever extending backwards and forwards. Eternity is another dimension of existence and belongs solely to God. Time itself is a creation of God. Time is the experience of a succession ofevents and experiences for a created being. God existed in the dimension of eternity when He had not created time. As eternal, God stands above time just as He stands above matter and persons whom He also has created. But He may also choose to interact with persons or things within time. In this passage, we see the beginning of all things, but not the beginning of God, for He was already living when time came into being. If God had a beginning, He too would be a creature, and we would want to worship the one who brought Him into existence. We human creatures cannot explain the existence of God. His existence will always be a mystery to the human mind.

I've been tagged!!!

I've been tagged by Crystal, so here are FIVE of my pet peeves. I could probably put down 105, but I won't!!!

1. I hate to go to buy groceries and the people are'n't trained to bag your groceries before they stick them up there to do so. I watch them like a HAWK!! You do not bag chicken with anything other than chicken. Don't bag my perishables with non perishables. Don't bag toiletries and cleaning items with food items. GGRRRRR!!

2. I can't stand to see people eat with their mouth open or make smacking sounds while eating. I want to smack them NASTY!!!

3. I really can't stand BODY ODOR! There is no excuse for anyone to have body odor unless they've been working in the heat and have been sweating for hours. Good deodorant soap and water and deodorant/anti perspirant is not expensive.

4. This is a BIG one!! UNDISCIPLINED children! People, your children are a reflection of you. If they are undisciplined, it is YOUR doing or not doing! Wake-up and stop living in denial!!

5. When I get a phone call from someone or I am calling them back by their request and they can't and don't talk to you because they are talking to somoene else in the room with them. If you don't have time to give me your undivided attention, DON'T BOTHER!! I tag Deb Acton, Daniel , Dana and Cori!!

GOD IS SO STINKIN' AWESOME!!!!

God is so awesome! You never know when or how He will have you ministers to others.
As many of you know, I am a seamstress and have been sewing for 40+ years. Now I only do few alterations and repairs for a Cleaners in Pelham. I can't sit at my machine for very long because of my knees. Well anyway, God sent me a project.
Mahammad (the little guy who owns the cleaners) called me and said that he had some work for me. When I get there to get the work, it was 4 blanket throws, that look like fake leather-suede with the fake sheepskin on the back. There are two buckskin and two chocolate colored. So Mahammad told me that the customer wanted me to stitch them together to make them bigger. With there being two different colors we both took it that he wanted the two of the same color stitched together and come out with two large throws instead of four small ones. Three days after I took them back he calls me to tell me he has more work for me. Crystal is with me because we are on our way to Wally World and so we stop by the Cleaners on the way. Mahammad comes out with the throws and said that the customer wanted me to take all four throws to make one big one. He then said, " They are going on the floor for the DIRTY Girls to dance on." I said "WHAT!". Mahammad said, "In Birmingham, at the Furnace! The DIRTY Girls are going to dance on it." Crystal said, "You mean the Strippers?" Mahammad said," yes."
My first thought was of disgust, then just as soon as that thought entered another pushed it aside of, WOW!!! What a time to minister! God wanted me to do this job and pray over it. I felt so PRIVILEDGED!!! God gave this to me. Crystal and I were excited about it. I can't remember when it came to me, if it was while we were at Wal-Mart or when but God showed me this throw/rug at the alter of our church having hands layed on it and alot of people praying over it. I get chill bumps thinking about it now. I called Mark Sims at home that evening and shared this with him and he said, "Hey! I'm with ya! Yes, bring it to church Sunday night and we'll do just that!"
I got it all put together and while I'm sewing I'm praying over it and I can vision the girls that will be stripping on this throw/rug and I can see conviction on them. Tonight I took it to church with me and after service Mark called all the MC's up on the alter (I guess about 70 or more of them) and he shared the story about this thing to them and they were pumped. I saw their eyes pop and they were ready for war-fare!! He rolled it up and they passed it over their heads like you would a person at a concert and they all got to touch it and pray for it as it passed up over them and then back down again. GOD is so stinkin' AWESOME!!!!! I know, that I know, that I know, that GOD is going to use this Item for His good!! WOW!!!!!!
Lord, I also ask you that not only for the girls that will be dancing on this rug to be touched by you but for every person that LAYS AN EYE on this rug to be put under conviction and they follow that conviction either to You or back to You! I pray that there are going to be many salvations come from this. Maybe even the Furnace get closed down also. God, You have a plan and only You know Your plan. I pray that Your WILL be done thru this. Thank you Father for allowing me to be a part of this! MY GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!!!!!

My sympathy, love and prayers go out to the Murphy Family and to The Living Word Church in Pelham with the loss of their husband, father and Pastor: Truitt Murphy. He passed away this morning of a heart attack.

Mercy got a new big-girl hair-cut!! She won't be 3 till March 30th but she looks so grown here.
She's watching "Dancing With The Stars" so she had to put on her fancy dress (Snow White) and dance also.

Two Fun Filled Nights!!

The last two evenings have been so much fun.
Last night, Deb Acton, her daughter, Traci and Traci's two little girls came over and along with Crystal and Daniel we set out for a full evening of playing games and just plain being silly. We didn't break up till 4:00am Friday morning. We need to do this again!!
Then tonight Maria Atchison and Micheal Young along with Crystal and Daniel came over to eat my famous (and Maria's favorite) stuffed peppers. YUMMO!!! After we got our bellies full we settled into a video from their first year in Master's Commission 1995-96. It was hilarious. I don't know how many of you remember the human video, "Chain-saw Jesus", which was only performed once at a Kingwood football game half-time. So stinkin funny.
We all laughed so hard and had a awesome time. I was a MC Mom for 6 years but this was by far my favorite year. Like Maria and Micheal said, 'it was a little depressing watching it because it was one of the best years of their life', and that was 10 years ago and so much has happened since then in all their lives. They are such awesome young people and I LOVE them very much.
My highlight of the video was being able to see and hear Crystal sing 'Come As You Are'! Brings a lump in my throat and my heart swells. I am so proud of you Crystal!! I hope and pray that God is going to use you and your voice for His Glory again SOON!!!
Micheal and Maria, you guys made my night. I love you so very much. Thanks for such a wonderful evening!!

Weight Loss Update!!

Having the Gastric By-pass was the best thing I have ever done for myself except receiving Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior!!!
Food is no longer a god or idol to me. What a mountain to be moved off of me.
This may not be for everybody, but it was surely for me and it took God to show me that!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!

As of this morning, I have lost 72 lbs!!!


I feel amazing. I am slowly getting my life back.

God is so Good!!!!

I'm Sad!!

It usually doesn't bother me and usually am glad to get it over-with, but this year I am like Crystal; I just hated the thought of taking my Christmas Tree and all my decorations down this year. We had a great Christmas this year and I was not ready to see it come to an end! I have to wait another whole year to be able to get it out again.
We'll have to see who gets theirs up first next year. Who's in for a contest to see?

I wish you all an Amazingly Blessed 2006!

"HAPPY NEW YEAR"

New Year's Resolution!!

I don't normally make a New Year's Resolution. This year I decided to make one and hopefully stick to it. I want to learn to speak Spanish. I love learning new things and am going to try to do this on my own.
What is your New Year's Resolution?

Our Christmas Trip!!

"Mercy and Zoey Be-Be"
Danny and I left at midnight on Thursday before Christmas headed for Greenwood, South Carolina. They are 1 hour ahead of us so we got to Greenwood around 6:30am their time and we made a quick stop at Wal-Mart for a few things before going to Keith and Lindy's.
We got to their house right at 7:00am. and just as we got there Mercy was waking up. She's so GORGEOUS!! She just gets more beautiful everytime I see her. Do I sound like a proud Nanna or what!!! She saw me and come running to me with those little arms up saying, "HEY NANNA"!! When she gives you a hug, she squeezes real hard. I LOVE IT!!! Then it was Pappa's turn. Same treatment and Danny just BEAMS with PRIDE!!!
We start the morning off with some biscuits that we bought at Hardee's on the way. It was a long day. With no sleep and Pappa having to help Santa put together a swing/slide that Mercy requested from Santa, it was still a fun day just being with them.
Saturday, Lindy, Mercy and I went to Wal-Mart to exchange something that we had purchased for Mercy and headed home to cook our Christmas dinner. We ate it on Christmas Eve since we were leaving Christmas Day to head back home. (We decided to travel at the times that we did to avoid the Atlanta traffic and we did good.) Lindy did an awesome job on dinner. It was delicious.
Mercy made Santa some cookies to set out by the fireplace and we watched Santa being tracked on the news. What fun to see the magic of Christmas thru the eyes of these little ones. Makes me wish I was a kid again. I appreciate my parents for allowing me to experience the wonder and magic of Santa. We all know the True Reason for Christmas is the Birth of our Savior and Santa is the spirit of giving. So much fun!!!
In the evenings, Keith would build a fire in their fireplace and we turn the lights out and watch movies. So cozy.
Christmas morning we got up at 6:30 and woke Mercy up to receive her Santa and to also open all her presents she received for everyone else. She was so excited she didn't know what to play with. She finally got tired of opening them and Keith finished them off.
When she was here for Thanksgiving, Lindy had taken one of Keith's tube socks and filled it with rice to use as a neck pillow for Mercy if she fell asleep in the car. To also help entertain her while driving, she gave her some markers to let her draw on it. Well, this rice sack became her be-be!! She waged that thing everywhere. I took it and drew it a face and tied a bow on the end that was to be the top of the head. I made her a blanket and took a tomato basket and made a pillow to fit the bottom and glued some ruffle aroung the top to make it a bed. That became her favorite toy. Well, in seeing how she loved this Be-Be, I decided she needed a doll for Christmas. I bought a soft-bodied doll that came with an extra outfit, bottle and passie. I made her a diaper bag and a couple cloth diapers. I then bought her a little stroller for the Baby. Her Granna (Pam) buys her a Madam Alexander Doll with a cloth body and Blanket with a baby carrier. (Neither of us knew the other was doing this).
Lindy said that after Pam gave her the new baby she wouldn't play with it. She wanted Zoey, the name she chose for the rice bag Be-Be. I gave her the baby we bought and all the accessories and she loves the stroller, diaper bag, bottle and passie but she uses all this with Zoey, the rice baby. It is so cute. I told them we should have just bought a huge bag of rice and a bag of tube socks and made her a family of Be-Be's. I just hope Zoey doesn't wind up in the bath tub someday.
After we exchanged gifts, we all got ready and went to Church. After church we went out to eat at the only restaurant open on Christmas Day, IHOP, and it was packed out. From there we went back to the house packed up and headed home. It was so hard leaving them. We got home around 8:00 pm and Crystal and Daniel came over for us to exchange our gifts with each other and Danny and I to open ours from Santa as well. We all got what we wanted and needed. It was a Great Christmas.

Your Nail Polish Color is Purple

How you're unique: You are artistic and expressive Why your style rocks: You pay special attention to color and fabrics What this color says about you: "I'm creative and know how to take care of myself"

What Color Nail Polish Best Fits You?

DOWN 64+ LBS.!!

These two pics were made the day of surgery.

These two pics were made today. 14 weeks and 64 lbs later.

I SEE HO-HO-HO!!!!!

Mercy and Keith made the front page of their hometown newspaper. The caption reads: Two-year-old Mercy Culver is "wowed" by Santa Claus from the top of Dad's, Keith Culver, shoulder.

Your Elf Name Is...

Flakey Blinking Bum

What's Your Elf Name?