A few of my favorite things... part 2

One of my favorite things to do is travel!! I would rather spend money on going places and seeing things than on things around the house, etc.

A few of my favorite places from 2010:

We were able to travel to Colorado this summer with family and friends. It was a great experience. We hiked and picnicked at many beautiful places! The weather was wonderful and you can't beat the scenery.





We also enjoyed a trip to Cozumel to celebrate my 40th birthday with friends. It was so much fun! Lots of laughs! I love the beach and turquoise water!





We did our annual trip to a river and this year we went to New Braunfels with the family. New Braunfels is one of my all time favorite places. I grew up going to New Braunfels every summer so I have so many wonderful memories there! It is also the reason I love floating beautiful rivers!





A weekend that I look forward to each year is our annual ladies retreat. It is such a great weekend to worship and fellowship with other women. We laugh, cry, and have so much fun. One of my favorite things is the amazing race we have each year. We didn't win this year, maybe next year...



Meeting with my small group is another one of my favorite things. I love getting together, discussing the Bible, and just having fun together. Most of our group has been together for years and enjoy doing life together.

And as you already know, one of my favorite things is my friends!!! I have the best ones a girl could ever hope for!







Something new we started doing this year that I hope to continue is to visit Yepez Vineyard. Several of us would meet out there for wine, music, and fellowship. It is beautiful and so relaxing!



Now you know some of my favorite things in my life. I hope you are able to enjoy many favorite things in your life as well. I know I look forward to adding many more favorite things in 2011!!

A few of my favorite things... part 1

I've enjoyed doing my thankful Thursday blog this year! It has helped me stay focused on being thankful especially during challenging times. This week I'm thankful for all the same things as last week in addition to being thankful for all this time off! I have really needed it!!! I love no schedule, relaxing, hanging out with Keith, and my kids! It really is one of my favorite things in my life. I LOVE being a wife and mom! It doesn't get any better!!!

Hanging out with Keith is something I look forward to whether it is relaxing at home, going out on a date, or traveling. It is such a blessing to be married to your best friend!



Watching my children participate in activities is definitely one of my favorite things. I love, love, love cheering them on in their sports and watching them in action! They make me smile!





Here are a few favorite scriptures that I have meditated on this year:

Matthew 22:37
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Proverbs 3:5-7

⁵^A)">(A) Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and^B)">(B) do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶In all your ways^C)">(C) acknowledge him,
and he^D)">(D) will make straight your paths.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

I have enjoyed being a part of book club over the past couple of years. I love reading so this has been a perfect pairing for me: reading and socializing about it!!! Here are some of my favorite picks from the year:











My most favorite thing of all: FAMILY!!










I'm so blessed that we all live near each other and get to spend so much time together. I can't imagine this journey without them!

One goal accomplished!!

Today I completed my reading plan of reading the Bible in a year!! The past few years I have had that as a goal, but can never make it the whole way through the old testament. I love reading through the new testament, but the old testament is always a challenge. This year my small group committed to reading through the Bible this year and I was determined to finish and I DID!!! What an accomplishment it is!! I'm so excited and proud of myself. We used this website for study material and the reading plan:

www.oneyearbibleonline.com

You can even read the passages online on this website. I would recommend it for anyone interested in reading through the Bible in a year. This is the version I read:



Now I'm debating what plan to use next! I will let you know.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!

What a blessing of a holiday I've enjoyed!! I've been able to spend the last 19 days straight with my family and although many of the first days were so challenging, it has been a wonderful Christmas season! We spent days at each others houses visiting, eating, and sharing favorite memories! On Christmas Eve we attended church service with family at Second Baptist and then we went to Prodigal Church with the rest of my family, including my dad! There we sang some of my favorite Christmas songs and heard a message to remind us the importance of the life God has given us!!

This is us on Christmas Eve celebrating with family and friends...




My wonderful in laws with their grand kids.



My fabulous sisters!!




My brother in law and sister in law and their cutie, Chase.



Santa visited...



My precious daddy...sweetest man I know.



Reece looking for the pickle so he could open the first present. He found it!!



He got the bike he wanted.



Ashlyn passing out presents.



Another fabulous Christmas, come and gone. One thing I've learned over the last few weeks is to savor every moment and that is what I intend to continue doing!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and made special memories!!

Thankful Thursday!

I am extremely thankful on this day for so many people in my life! I try to be grateful for those around me on a regular basis and on most of my previous post my "items" are very similar, but over the past few weeks it has magnified to be of all the blessings God has given me!!

So, the things I am most thankful for:

I am so thankful for the last few weeks God gave me with my mom!! I had time to love on her and remind her how much she meant to me and to tell her I love her over and over again!! I'm also thankful for the moment God gave me as our family surrounded mom as she left this earth. I'll never forget it!

I am so thankful for my wonderful dad!! He is the most caring, kind, compassionate, servant that I know. He took wonderful care of mom with no complaints, but gratitude the whole time. I only hope I can apply some of what he has taught me!!

For my sweet husband that I can not say enough about. What a blessing! I never had to ask him to do anything. He took over and handled things and did things for us before we would even think about it. He never left my side, he encouraged me, listened to me, and did more than I could have asked for!

My brother and sisters are incredible!! We've laughed and cried and told some great stories. I am thankful I have them to walk with on this journey!!

My extended family: there can't be a better one out there! : ) I am so thankful that we are so close and that they show up, hang out, laugh and talk, and support us!! I am especially thankful for my brother in law through this time! He was so helpful with everything!!

I am so thankful for my best friends! They stood in the hall and listened to me. They cried with me, hugged on me, brought in more food and drinks than even my family could consume! They showed up to help me when I felt like I was falling apart. What a huge blessing they are in my life!!

I am so thankful for all my friends that sent kind thoughts through texts, emails, cards, and in person. I am thankful for my friends that showed up for the visitation and funeral. I was overwhelmed by the love we were shown by everyone. It meant more than I can ever put into words.

I am especially thankful for all the prayers for our family! I felt them and know that God is getting us through this whole process.

A few people told us after the visitation that it sounded like a party was going on! I like that! We were celebrating a wonderful life!!!

Some holiday cooking going on...

Tonight I am making potato soup- easy and looks good. I'll let you know:

6 baked potatoes, cooled
2 cans chicken broth
4 TBS sour cream
Pepper, bacon bits, shredded cheese, green onions

Peel potatoes. Cut in cubes. Place 1/2 of the potatoes in a blender, add broth, and blend until smooth. Pour into sauce pan, stir in sour cream, pepper, and remaining potatoes. Cook over low heat until heated. (don't boil) Garnish with cheese, bacon, and gr. onions.

We just finished making some White Chocolate Trash! Maybe there will be some to share with friends after we all keep walking by "sampling" some.


Thursday night- I'm cooking Chicken Enchiladas, Spanish rice, and black beans



Christmas Eve- For breakfast I am making a new breakfast casserole:
16 oz. pork sausage
12 eggs
1 can cr. of mushroom
1 1/2 cup milk
4.5 oz sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup shredded cheese
32 oz hash browns

Cook sausage. Drain. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 pan. In large bowl, beat eggs, cream of mushroom, and milk. Stir in sausage and mushrooms. Mix in hashbrowns. Bake in pan for 45 - 50 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and cook 10 more minutes.

Christmas Eve is one of our FAVORITE nights as a family! After Candlelight service, we have a huge celebration at my neice's house with family and friends. Santa even comes to visit!



On the menu for the night is brisket, potato salad, pinto beans, creamy corn casserole, green beans, rolls, and loads of desserts, chips and dip. YUM!!!! This is different from our usual Mexican fiesta, but I have a feeling we will LOVE this meal just as much! My nephew and dad will be smoking the brisket all day and I know this will good for my Dad. He hasn't had very much time the past few years to do that kind of thing, so I'm excited for him to be more involved!





One recipe I'm over is: Corn Casserole

Lg bag of frozen corn. Heat in skillet with 16 oz. cream cheese. Add diced ham, 4 oz. chopped jalepenos (drained) 1/2 beer, and I add about a cup of cheese. Mix well. Put in 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Top with cheese and bake until melted. It is delicious!!

I'll update Christmas cooking later.

I Love you Mom!

My sweet momma went home to be with the Lord on December 11, 2010. All the family was there with her as she took her last breath. It is a time I will always remember. The last few days with her were filled with reminders of how much we loved her and gratitude for all she has given each of us during our life. I'm thankful for that time we were given. This whole experience has been somewhat surreal. I keep thinking, "Did this all really happen?" It is somewhat of a fog. Mom had battled with Parkinson's disease for many years and we knew the end was drawing near. As prepared as we thought we were, we really weren't. It is never easy to say good bye. I'm so blessed with great friends and family to help me through this challenging time. I am so thankful for the years I had with mom and the legacy she left behind to each of us. I look forward to seeing her beautiful face again and holding her precious hand!!