God's Miracle Baby!

What a precious miracle this little girl is! To see Kelly and Scott holding Harper today brought tears to my eyes as I thanked God for all the answered prayers that have gone up in Harper's behalf. Isn't she beautiful?

Please go to Kelly's blog to see the rest of the pictures. I was so thrilled to see Kelly and Scott holding their sweet baby girl. They have waited so long to hold her since she was born. Both parents were just beaming with pride and joy!

Please continue to pray for complete healing for Harper, so that she can go home with her parents and be introduced to Dawson. I know this was a jubilant day in Oklahoma. Praise God!

Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!!!!!!

Harper Opened Her Beautiful Eyes Today!!!

Harper opened her eyes today! Praise God!!! Isn't that the most beautiful sight? God is so good and I know that Kelly and Scott are so thrilled. What an incredible day for them! Hopefully they will get to hold their precious miracle very soon! This little girl has touched so many lives. From the ones whose faith has been greatly increased, to the ones who have come to know the Lord for the first time after hearing her story. Harper's family is pretty amazing too. Their faith is so strong and the way they have shown this faith to others has been a true testimony to their love for the Lord. I have loved reading Kelly's Dad's blog and also her Mother's. They are a very special family! Wouldn't we all love to meet them one day?

I can't wait to see the picture of Kelly holding Harper! I hope that will be real soon.

Thanks to my Blogger Friend Kat!

Thanks Kat for that sweet comment about me on your blog post! Let me tell you gals a bit about the story. On Sunday, Kat posted that she had had a bad day. Things just weren't going her way. Hey, we all have days like that, don't we? She talked about how complete strangers that she met during the course of her day had said some nice things to her that changed her day and made her smile!

I commented to her and told her how sorry I was that she had had a bad day and then proceded to tell her about a very special saying that I have right above my computer that I look at every day to encourage me.


It says: OUR LIVES ARE THE ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE WILL EVER READ!


Don't you just love that saying? It inspires me everyday!!! It is so important to treat others as we would want them to treat us and to be the light of Christ to those around us. We never know who is watching us and could be uplifted by something we say to them or just as simple as a SMILE to a complete stranger.I have found it so meaningful to share comments with others in the blog world and to have them do the same to me. I am so amazed at the love we as individuals have for one another. It is the love of Christ shining through us all. I am blessed each day to awake and face a new day.


Kat, I was so thrilled to see that you loved that saying as much as I do and that you wanted to share it with your blog readers! If I can figure out how to do it, I am going to put it on my sidebar for my readers to see each day, just as I see it above my computer. Hopefully it will bless others too! I have had an awesome Monday and I hope all of you have too. God is so good!

PS I've got black and brown font colors going on at the same time. Sorry, I can't fix it. You all know my challenges with the computer. It makes your reading more interesting. Ha! Sometimes my computer has a mind of it's own. Oh well, I tried!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!!!

(Sweet, Sassy & Always Classy)

Happy 20th

I Love You!

Today is Adelaide's birthday and we are going up to visit her at college to celebrate her big day. I can't believe that she is 20!

The years have really flown by.

She requested a Red Velvet Cake. We are eating lunch out with special friends and we will be joined by family members for dinner.

It will be a wonderful day of celebrating the birthday girl and making her feel so special. She is an amazing young lady!

She always has a beautiful smile, a sweet spirit, BIG blue eyes, a caring heart for others and a love for life. She also loves the Lord!

Adelaide,as you start out on your journey into being 20, here's hoping that the next decade is truly amazing for you. I wish you all the best!!

You are an incredible daughter and I am blessed to be your Mom and your best friend!!!

Love & blessings, MOM

Another Great Giveaway!! I Almost Forgot to Tell You!

My forgetfulness is setting in and I almost forgot to let you know about this marvelous giveaway. Check out http://monogrammedteacher.blogspot.com
She is a teacher and we have enjoyed sharing teacher stories.
If you go to her blog and mention that I sent you, you will be entered into a drawing for this adorable post. She is also wanting to build up her followers, so add your name to her list of followers.
Monogrammed Teacher is from Georgia and she LOVES all things SOUTHERN. You'll enjoy her, she is so sweet!

Oh, I almost forgot, the contest ends at 10:00pm on Friday, January 23rd, so hurry and enter. You might win. Good luck!! Don't you just love all these wonderful giveaways. It's just like Christmas again!

Great New Giveaway!!!

Guess what ladies? Monogram Chick is giving away an ADORABLE and very PREPPY travel mug to introduce the newest mug pattern AQUA POLKA. Is it cute or what?

Get on over to her blog http://monogramchick.blogspot.com/ and let her know that I sent you. If you win, we both win!!! There are lots of other great things on her site.

You have until WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27th to register. Good luck!

Have a wonderful day!

My Blog Awards!!!

Several weeks ago, after starting my blog, my sweet daughter (Sweet, Sassy and Always Classy) gave me 2 awards. Wasn't that so nice of her? She is the greatest!!! My other daughter (Adventures of a Southern Newlywed) is pretty amazing too!!!

I have the awards posted on my sidebar. At the time I did not have enough blogger friends to pass the awards on, so I decided to wait until I had a larger following.


Guess what? Now I have received a friendship award from Confessions of a Semi-"Slacker" Mom. http://barbourbunch.blogspot.com Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You were so sweet to remember me. Since I have been blogging for almost a month (I can't believe it), I have lots of wonderful, new friends that I can choose from to pass on these awards. I promise to pass them along very soon.

This blogging world is so addictive and I love meeting new friends, sharing ideas and learning from all of you. To those of you who do not have your own blog, I would encourage you to do so. It is so much fun!!! I am no expert, but I am learning along the way and loving every minute of it. Don't worry about making mistakes. Just laugh at yourself and move on!

I have been very busy this week getting my gifts bought for the Pink Swap that I am participating in that was organized by Kappa Prep http://kappaprep.blogspot.com/. I have also been getting ready for my youngest daughter's 20th birthday this Saturday!!! Plus, all the million other things that go on around here during the week.

I was so thrilled to receive the wonderful news about Harper today. Check out Kelly's blog for more information. That little girl is such a miracle and her Mom is amazing. I can't believe that Harper will be one week old on Friday!!

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend doing lots of fun things! I am thrilled to be spending my weekend with my daughter and celebrating her 20th birthday. She won't be a teenager anymore. It just seems like she was born yesterday!

Thanks again to Sweet, Sassy and Always Classy and Confessions of a Semi-"Slacker Mom for my 3 awards. I feel so blessed to have been picked!

Goodbye W....Hello Obama

I didn't vote for Obama, but I feel that as a nation we must respect him as our 44th President as he is sworn in today. This is a very historical day and I look forward to watching the inauguration .

A fond goodbye to George W today. I wish him well and I hope Dallas will welcome he and Laura with open arms. Enjoy your retirement!!!

Prayers Are Being Answered for Harper!

Isn't Harper a beautiful baby? And she is such a fighter. Praise God that prayers are being answered and Harper is on the road to recovery, although still critical. The Stamps family continues to be uplifted in prayer and they are seeing a little bit of improvement in Harper each day. Please keep the prayers coming for Harper and all her family during this difficult time.

You can read more about Harper's progress on Kelly's blog http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/
or her Dad's bloghttp://fbcflippin.blogspot.com. There are some other wonderful pictures and stories about Harper and all the people who have poured out their hearts and their love towards this precious family.

In the few days since this little girl has been born, she has touched so many lives! God is working through this family in miraculous ways. Many people's faith will be strengthened as a result of Harper and there will be others who will come to know the Lord through her story. Harper is an amazing little girl! Harper has blessed so many of us in her short life so far and we have not even met her. Please continue to pray for Harper, Kelly and Scott!

Update on Baby Harper!!!

We are all still in prayer for Baby Harper, but after reading Kelly's blog:http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/ and her Dad's blog: http://fbcflippin.blogspot.com/, it sounds like things may not be as bad as earlier thought. She is still critical, but they ended up transporting her to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A recent update from Kelly states that Harper is not on the list for the ECMO machine, because she is making good progress. Praise God!!!
They say that her heart is strong, but she has pneumonia, due to a fluid build-up in her lungs. I feel sure that God has Harper where she needs to be and that the doctors and nurses there will provide the best possible care for her.

We need to be prayer warriors for Harper and for all of her family at this time and lift them up in prayer. Kelly's parents are taking her to Tulsa today to be with her precious Harper. I know this trip will be hard for her after just having gone through childbirth.

I know that God is an awesome God and he is the great physician. He knows the master plan for Harper's life and she is in His hands right now. I pray that the doctors and nurses will have the wisdom they need to treat Harper and that she will receive complete healing from God and will be home with her parents soon.

It is so incredible to me that all of us in the blog world have grown to love Kelly in following her pregnancy and that now we can share this burden with her and can PRAY for her during this time. I have shed so many tears for Kelly, Scott and Harper and I don't even know them. God is good and he will get them through this time in their lives. I am a cancer survivor and so is my daughter, so I KNOW the power of prayer!!!

Urgent Prayers For Baby Harper!!!!

Kelly just sent out an urgent update in her blog asking for prayers for baby Harper, who was born tonight at 7:03pm, January 16, 2009. She is in very critical condition and is going to be transported to Arkansas Children's Hospital. Kelly said that the NICU doctor did not give them a very favorable report.

Kelly said that they had 30,000 hits on their blog today, so she is now asking for 30,000 prayers for Harper. Please pray as you have never prayed before, for this precious little girl. She is in God's hands and he has the master plan for her life. Please keep Kelly, Scott, Harper and both sets of grandparents in your prayers too.

I am praying for God's angels to put their wings around Harper and lift her up and for God to heal her.

Scott and his parents are driving up the Children's hospital tonight and Kelly and her parents will go up there tomorrow as soon as she can be released from the hospital. Pray for safe travels for all involved and for a peace to surround them during this heartbreaking time in their lives.

Kelly's Baby is Here!!!

Harper Brown Stamps was born at 7:03pm on January, 16, 2009!!! Welcome Harper! I think the whole blog world has followed your birth. Proud parents are Kelly and Scott. Kelly's blog is:http://www.kellyskornerblog.com Harper weighed 9 pounds 12 ounces. WOW!!! Way to go Kelly!

Please be in prayer for Kelly, as well as Harper. Harper was having trouble breathing and had to be taken to the NICU. Kelly had a hard delivery and lost a lot of blood, plus is having trouble with her blood pressure. Those of us in the blog world who have been following Kelly during her pregnancy all feel like we know her as a sister. She is a precious woman of Christ and has so wanted this baby girl. Kelly's Father is a minister. They are such a sweet family!

I know this has been a very long and hard day for all of Kelly's family. Please keep all of them in your prayers as we anxiously await the news of how Kelly and baby Harper are doing. Plus, we are all so excited to see baby Harper!!

Waiting for Kelly's Baby!!

I am anxiously awaiting the birth of my blogger friend, Kelly's baby today. Her name is Harper.
I think the whole blogging world is waiting on this precious baby to come too. And guess what? Kelly, her Mom and her Dad all have laptops at the hospital and they are updating us every few hours. Isn't that amazing?
I feel like I am waiting on my own grandbaby to be born. It is so much fun meeting new blogger friends; sharing stories, recipes, praying for each other, etc. I am hooked!!!
I also heard from my Pink Swap partner today and I was so thrilled to get an email from her. She is so precious and I have loved getting to know her through her blog:http://shabbyprincess.blogspot.com
I am having so much fun learning about her and buying her swap gifts. She is not feeling well, so I am praying that she feels better soon. She has a doctor's appointment, but if she feels much worse, may end up going to the emergency room. Please pray that she will find out what is making her feel so bad.
In case you have never visited Kelly's blog, please visit her at: http://kellyskornerblog.com
Harper will be making her debut this afternoon! I can't wait!!!!
Take care, stay warm and have a blessed day. TGIF!!!

RECIPES

I promised to send 2 recipes that I made earlier this week and I got busy yesterday and did not get to send them out. Sorry!!!

The first recipe is for a delicious lemon pie. It is similar to a chess pie. I love it and whenever I take it places, I get real good reviews on it!! It is a wonderful Southern Comfort food to me and is especially yummy with real whipped cream on top. I got the recipe from my sweet Mom, who also loves to cook.

Lemon Pie

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 eggs

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

6 tablespoons lemon juice (about 3 lemons, depending on their size)

1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 frozen 9-inch deep dish pie shell

-Heat oven to 350 degrees. Position oven rack in lower third of oven.

-Stir together sugar and flour in a bowl. Add to eggs in another bowl and beat

until light in color and slightly thickened (with electric mixer), about 3 minutes.*

-Stir in lemon rind, lemon juice, butter, vanilla and almond extract. Pour into pie shell (it has to be deep dish). Place pie on a baking sheet.

- Bake in lower third of 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until filling is set and lightly browned.

-Transfer the pie to a wire rack to cool.

-Serve with whipped cream on top

*Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Don't overbeat. I just set my oven timer to do this.

I hope you like this pie. It is one of my all time favorites, because I love anything lemon and it is real refreshing and tart! Enjoy!!!

This second recipe is for all you chocolate lovers out there, me included! It is a very easy cake recipe that you make with a cake mix. One thing nice about this cake is that it does not have an icing and it makes a great cake to travel with, because of that.

Inside Out Cake

1 box Devil's Food cake mix

1 (4 oz.) package of instant chocolate pudding

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups milk

1 (12 oz.) package of semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

Mix all ingredients by hand and pour into a greased and floured Bundt or tube pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes.

Let cool and then turn out of pan.

I hope you will enjoy these recipes. As you can see, I LOVE sweets!!! I especially love to bake and I am always the one to volunteer to bring a dessert to Bible study or to a meeting,etc. I buy flour and sugar at Costco in 25 pound bags and keep it stored in large plastic cans in my basement, so I always have plenty of flour and sugar to cook with.

I view my cooking as my ministry to others. I share my talent and love of cooking with others through the food I make. If I am stressed, I can get in the kitchen and cook and it is relaxing to me.

I get my love of cooking from my Mom, who is 84 years old. Mom still loves to cook and she delights in fixing wonderful meals for our family. Both of my Grandmothers were wonderful cooks as well.

Although I like to fix more current recipes (pastas & stir fries) and things that are healthy, I am a Southern home-style cook at heart and I still love to make the comfort foods that we Southerners love: mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie, country style steak, biscuits, meatloaf, etc.

With my girls gone, it is frustrating to cook for just the two of us. Plus, my husband doesn't like sweets. Can you believe that? I told him that in my next life, I am going to marry a man who loves sweets. His Mother was a diabetic, so they never had sweets. My Mom made homemade sweets every day and I was used to that growing up. Pies, cakes, cobblers, cookies, etc.

Sweets are definitely my downfall and my love. Give me a piece of pie or cake or a cookie any day!!! I have been known to order a meal out at a restaurant based on what I am going to get for dessert afterwards!!

Take care and have a wonderful day!

My Nest Is Empty Again (And a Mess!!!)

I got back home last night after spending the weekend with Sweet Sassy and Always Classy trying to help her get settled back into her apartment after having been home for a month. It was so much fun helping her get unpacked and get ready to start the new semester. She wanted to get totally organized and get a lot of things cleaned out that she didn't need. I came home with my trunk full.

We had a great time getting her organized and we also ate out at some really good places. We wanted to go see Bride Wars, but we just didn't have time. When I left there on Sunday afternoon the apartment could have been photographed for Southern Living. It looked adorable and so girly. Lots of PINK!!!! If you look on her blog, you can see some of the cute new things that she bought at Target to put in her apartment to update her preppy look. Don't we all just love Target? I had to contain myself while shopping there today. I go in to pick up a prescription and come out with half the store if I'm not careful.

Today was my daughter's first day back in class for the semester, so I hope the day went well. I will call her tomorrow and get an update. My other daughter, Adventures of a Southern Newlywed is enjoying her second week on her new job.

Needless to say, my nest is empty again after the holidays and I am missing my girls so much already. Holly was sad today too. It will take me a few days to get back into the groove after having everyone here for the holidays, but I try to stay really busy and the week goes by before I know it.

My big project here at home now is going through all the rooms to organize and de-clutter the whole house. I guess I am getting that nesting instinct that is generally reserved for pregnant women (but that is not my problem)! Every year after Christmas I get the urge to clean out and get everything organized. I do my spring cleaning in the winter and then by the time spring gets here, I am ready to get outside!!! I plan to take one room at a time or the whole project is overwhelming. Wish me luck.

I also have some Christmas things that still need to be put away. With going out of town this past weekend, I got behind on putting up the Christmas things. I have over 25 large storage bins of Christmas things that I put out every year. My house is filled with Christmas in every room. I collect Santas and they are everywhere. I also have Christmas trees in almost every room. I love Christmas and decorating for it!!! But it is a job getting it all packed away. I just take my time and that way it is not so tiring.

I baked a delicious lemon pie today to share with my Bible Study group and it is always a hit. I will share the recipe with you all tomorrow. I also made a chocolate cake today that is called "Inside Outside Cake". It is delicous too, for those of us who love chocolate. I am sharing that cake tomorrow with the ladies at my pre-school to enjoy during our staff meeting. I will post that recipe too. It is quick and easy and uses a cake mix that you doctor up with other things. It is great for traveling, because it doesn't have a frosting on it.

Take care sweet BF's and have an awesome week! Our weather is cold here this week, so stay warm wherever you are!

Thanks For Tagging Me!

Preppy 101 (http://southernandpreppy.blogspot.com/) tagged me with a fun little game.



Here are the rules:

1) Grab the nearest book

2) Open to page 56

3) Find the 5th sentence

4) Post the text of the next 2 - 5 sentences, along with these rules

5) Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual book. Pick the closest!

6) Tag 5 other people to do the same!



I LOVE Nicholas Sparks, so I am reading his newest book, The Lucky One. If you have never read any of his books, you are missing out. Nicholas lives in NC too, so his love stories have cities in our state in them. I especially love the movie "The Notebook". That is a favorite of mine!!!!!



Here is my excerpt from the book:



That was enought to placate Gramps. It seemed like he's spent half his life placating Gramps. But he had no choice in the matter. Even though he didn't particularly like Gramps - Gramps was a devout Southern Baptist who went to church every Sunday and thought that drinking and dancing were sins, which always struck Clayton as ridiculous - he knew what Gramps expected of him.....

I tagged the following awesome BF's:

1) Adventures of a Southern Newlywed http://preppynewlywed.blogspot.com/
2) Diary of a Southern Belle http://savannahsouthernbelle.blogspot.com/
3) Confessions of a Semi-"Slacker" Mom http://barbourbunch.blogspot.com/
4) Kentucky Mama http://elizabeth-kentuckymama.blogspot.com/
5) His Doorkeeper http://hisdoorkeeper.blogspot.com/

Have fun with the game!!!

I put pictures up on the posting page and I can't get them to move out of the order that I put them in. Sorry, but that is my technological ADD setting in. Where are my girls when I need their help? You'll just have to look at them in this order. The first picture was taken of our Chihuahua Holly when she took a trip to the beach with her good friend, Daizy. Don't you just love the matching sundresses? Holly and Daizy had a great time at Myrtle Beach! I wish I was there now soaking up the sun and riding on an inner tube in the Lazy River.

Look at our sweet Holly!!! She belongs to my youngest daughter, in fact, Adelaide got her from Santa one year for Christmas. That is why Holly has a Christmas name. She is 9 years old and will turn 10 in October. She weighs 6 pounds! This is a picture of Holly this past year celebrating her birthday. I bought her a cookie shaped like a bone with Happy Birthday on it. I had to break it up for her to eat it, but she loved it!!

Did you notice her collar? It is Vera Bradley. My girls and I love anything Vera Bradley . It is blue, my favorite color.

Here is the little Princess posing for the camera. In the background is a quilt that my daughter made for her senior project in high school. Isn't it cute? She did the best job on it and has loved using it at her apartment in college. It is a fun, happy quilt and has hearts appliqued on it!

Here are Adelaide and Holly in the car getting ready for a drive to see the Christmas lights. Notice that Holly is wearing her red angora Christmas sweater and it has a pearl necklace attached (you can see it a little bit). Isn't that cute? Even our dog loves pearls!! Holly loves to ride in the car and will ride with me when I am running errands. She loves to go by the bank, because she knows that my teller will give her a "treat". Holly loves treats. She barks at me when I am in the kitchen, because she wants me to give her a treat.

Now that I am an empty nester, Holly has become my buddy. She is my 3rd daughter! She loves to sleep with me at night and hide under the covers to stay warm. She has more clothes than you can imagine and she loves to be dressed up. She even has a silk party dress that she wore to Lauren's graduation party. She was the hit of the party that night. I talk to her just like she is a person and she loves me unconditionally.

Aren't dogs just the best? Speaking of which, have you seen the movie Marley & Me? It was wonderful, but so sad. Take your Kleenex if you go see it. For anyone who has ever had a dog (or a pet for that matter), you absolutely must see this movie. It was so good.

I hope you enjoyed some of my pictures of Holly. She is a sweetheart and has been a blessing to me since my girls are not at home full-time any more. My oldest daughter is married and my youngest daughter is away at college. I love you Holly!!

Semi-Slacker Mom's 100th Post Giveaway!!!

Here is the post from Semi-slacker Mom's blog about her giveaway:

Over the past several months, blogging has become my new favorite past time. It's a great release for me & very therapeutic. I have "met" so many wonderful ladies (& Jay) through reading their blogs. I so enjoy reading what's going on in their lives & seeing pictures of their wonderful families. And clothes, and shoes, and places they shop, and how they decorate their homes (loved all the Christmas shots), I could go on & on but ya'll know.So, to kick off 2009 & celebrate my 100th post (& to keep my resolution to be a better blogger) I'm hosting a FABULOUS giveaway.
I'm going to giveaway a subscription to my favorite magazine, next to People of course, Southern Lady. Even if you are not from the South, you would love this magazine! It is so preppy & has wonderful recipes, fabulous entertaining ideas & creative decorating tips.
I'm also giving away a copy of the book that inspired the title of my blog. Confessions of a Slacker Mom. I'm not as bad as Muffy, so that's why I'm a Semi- Slacker Mom.
And the bestest part is, if I get lots of comments & new followers, that will make so happy that I may just make the winner a goodie box full of some of my favorite things!!! Are ya'll as excited as me???
Here's how to enter Semi-Slacker Mom's Fabulous 100th Post Giveaway:
1. Comment me on this post for 1 entry.
2. Post about my giveaway for 2 more entries. (let me know when you post, please)
3. Add yourself to my 'Followers' gadget or tell me you already follow for 3 more entries. Please tell me in your comment!!!
I'll end the giveaway on Friday, January 9th & pick the winner on the 1oth. Good luck!
Now call or email all your friends & fellow bloggers & help me celebrate my 100th post! I like a BIG party!
Happy, Happy 2009!
Posted by Semi-Slacker

Now get busy and check out her blog http://barbourbunch.blogspot.com
You'll love reading it and you can register for prizes while you are there.

The Bachelor!!!!!!!!!!

My daughter and I are so excited about watching the Bachelor tonight that we can't stand it!!! We fell in love with Jason last year on the Bachelorette and were so upset when Deanna dumped him for Jessie. We emailed the program and asked for Jason to be the Bachelor this season and guess what? They picked him for this new season. Isn't that awesome? I guess a million other people emailed them too.

Jason is so adorable and he has the cutest little boy. We want him to find the woman of his dreams!! In a recent issue of People magazine, Jason says in the interview that he found his love on the program and he is engaged now. Isn't that exciting? I can't wait to see the gals tonight and try to figure out which one he chooses.

I have been cooking all afternoon getting ready for tonight. My daughter, Adelaide, has invited some girlfriends over for dinner and then we are going to watch the Bachelor from 8 till 10pm. I can't wait!!!

For dinner I fixed meatballs and marinara sauce and we are also having a tossed salad, bread and a yummy chocolate fudge cake for dessert. Come on and join us!

My oldest daughter had to spend the night with us last night in order to be closer to the city where she had to report for her new job, so I am going to send her home with some dinner tonight too. I thought that would help her out, after being at work today. This is her first day at her new job, but she just had to report to their home office today to get her computer and some training. Tomorrow, she will go to the office in her hometown where she lives.

I guess I better get back to my dinner and straightening up a bit to get ready for tonight. Have a blessed day and enjoy the Bachelor, if you watch it tonight.

PS I saw on a preview where Deanna comes back to the show tonight and admits that she made a mistake!!! I read where she and Jessie had broken up. Too bad Deanna, you blew it last year when you didn't pick Jason. She had her chance and she didn't know a good thing when she had him.

Here are my 2 girls at Lauren's graduation!

Lauren received her Master's degree in Accounting and will be working at a public accounting firm, starting January 5th. We are so proud of you Lauren.

Here are Lauren and Adelaide with my dear friend Sherian. She is like my girls "other Mother". Without her help, I would have never pulled off Lauren's graduation party. Thanks so much Sherian, you're the greatest!!!

Doesn't the table look beautiful!!! I had so much fun fixing the food and Sherian helped me set up the table and get everything just perfect. We got lots of good reviews on the food.

Our menu included: Grilled beef tenderloin
roasted shrimp w/cocktail sauce
grilled lemon chicken kabobs w/satay dip
mini crab cakes w/remoulade sauce
bruschetta on toasted French rounds
baked dill havarti cheese in pastry
crudite & dip
spinach and artichoke dip
cheese wafers

Here is my favorite part of the party, the dessert table!!! We had a chocolate fountain with pound cake and fruit for dipping. Sherian made hand made chocolates: chocolate covered cherries, coconut and peanut butter balls and millionaires. We also had 2 kinds of Christmas cookies. The chocolate fountain was a hit.

Lauren's graduation day on December 18th was a very special day for our family. The ceremony was at 10:00 am that morning and lasted for 3 hours! We went to lunch afterwards with all our family and had a great time celebrating and being together. We had the party that night at our home for about 40 people. My house was all decorated for Christmas and looked very festive. We had a wonderful time with family and friends! It was certainly Lauren's special day and we were so very proud of her and all that she has accomplished.

Best of luck at your new job on Monday. We love you!!!

Hello Blog World!!!

I am embarking on a new adventure with starting my own blog. I have been so fascinated with my older daughter's blog (Adventures of a Southern Newlywed) and all the fun she has had with it and most recently with my younger daughter's blog (Sweet, Sassy and Always Classy), that I decided that it was time to get in on the action and start my own blog! With help from my youngest daughter, here we go!

I love spending time on the computer reading other people's blogs and I want to get in on the fun too. I am a bit challenged when it comes to using the computer, so I'm sure I will need some help along the way. But it will be exciting learning how to operate in the blog world and making new blogger friends.

I am excited to start off the year 2009 with my own blog. I am not liking my new life as an empty nester and what better way to fill up my free time than with my new blog. I love to cook, so I plan to have recipes for you to try that I have enjoyed making in my own home. I especially love to bake and I am known for my desserts. I take and share desserts with all my Bible study groups each week. My friends call my dessert making my ministry to others.

I love quilting, so I will look forward to sharing pictures of some of the quilts I have made. I have also tried my hand at about every kind of craft under the sun, so I am always looking for new and fun things to make for gifts and for my home.

I feel as if 2009 is going to be an awesome year! It has already gotten off to a good start for me.
I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you and sharing ideas with each other.
Have a wonderful day.