Purple Christmas?!?

I so want a purple Christmas tree and decorations this year.  It would drive Mr. C crazy! So I better stick with my same old same decorations.  Then maybe I can put a minuture purple Christmas tree on the fireplace in the bedroom next year.  So I could still have my way..lol

Beautiful purple Christmas trees!  W

Christmas bucket list

I normally do not make up a Christmas bucket list but I felt like I needed one so hopefully I can mark off some of the items I want to do

Put up Christmas tree and decorations

Listen to Christmas music

Make candy and truffles
     Aaron likes to help with rum balls
     Trevor likes the Oreo balls

Bake some gifts for church family

Make a gluten free treat for Ms. Shirley
       But I will go full gluten for everything else I bake..just because I can..

Go see Christmas lights.
        Would love to go to Chickasha Oklahoma for their light display.

Be kind and not grumpy!
          I don't like being grumpy...but when I get to that point it tells me I have way too much on my plate.  So I need to remember to prioritize my list.

Read a couple of Christmas  novels

Movie night with favorite Christmas treats.

Get family picture taken

Go caroling with church

Make a Christmas craft

Donate a new toy

Give some non perishables for a needy family
          Doing this thru church

I really think my list is doable this year.  I want to do mason jar spa kits for a few special ladies. I also thought about using mason jars for men some hot chocolate mix.   I would decorate the jars with Christmas colors.
     

Happy Thanksgiving

Blake's 25th Birthday

I can't believe my oldest son turns 25 years old today!  He has to work today but tonight Jessica and Logan and Blake are going to La Fiesta Mexican restaurant.  My step mom Karen Sue came, my brother Lonnie and his girlfriend Becky and her son Houston,  So it was really nice to catch up with everyone.

Just seems like yesterday I was holding this baby boy in my arms.  I really need to find some cute baby photos of the boys and post on here. Which would cause all three of them to have a stroke if they knew. Lol! 

Happy Birthday Blake!! .

Alisha and cheer team!

Tonight was the pep rally for Cameron University Aggies. They were announcing the men and women's basketball players. Also the cheer and dance teams.  Had free food and drinks.  Looked like they had enough pizza for a huge army.  They also gave away lots of great gifts.  I seen several people I knew.  It was a great time for everyone.  Well...except Mr. C about had a series of small heart attacks every time they threw Alisha up in the air.  Scares him to death!

I had no ideal that Cameron University did anything like this.  So am very honored that Alisha invited me and her dad to come over and see what it was all about.

Postcrossing

Let me talk about Postcrossing.com or a minute today.    I have been a member for 2,698 days which is 7 years now.  My stats are low only because I tend to forget about this awesome site.  For the ones who doesn't know about Postcrossing it is where you send and receive postcards from different countries.  Some members will do direct swaps with you as well.  I have sent and received 194 postcards as of today.  I had 3 postcards in my mailbox today.  One from Hil from France, Macy sent one from Tokyo Japan and one from USA Riley sent it to me.
 

  

Tokyo Japan

When I seen my stats it  makes me want to send more postcards off.  Right now I can have 12 postcards traveling.  Unfortunately I have started to run low on postcards and only have 4 traveling.  Is there anyone else who belongs to Postcrossing? If so what are your thoughts on it?

France

Everyone have a great day.  Karen

Snail mail

I haven't been writing very many letters lately so am glad that I got these four letters wrote.  Just wished  that I had got a few more wrote.   I need to get back to making some cool envelopes made.  I believe the handmade envelopes are so much cuter than plain Jane envelopes.  I always get so excited when I see a cute homemade envelope in my mailbox.

My cruise!

I could never get tired of this view from the ship.  The water is so blue.  I'm always daydreaming about my next cruise.

This is at the main dining room.. Stacey and Dennis Cooper, Turtle Taylor, me, Kathy Calhoun and Tony Wright.  Julie was taking our photo.. This was one of the best parts of the trip.

This trip was great.  This is just a few of the highlights of the trip.

Liberty cruise ship

                                                             Karen, Julie and Tony

  

Tony & Julie and Stacy and Dennis 

This was on our formal night in the Main Dining Room.  I love the they color matched each other.  Going with this group was so much fun.  I hope to stay friends with Stacy and Dennis.  They all live over at Lawton Okla so it's hard for me to make time and join them when they are hanging out.  

I really enjoyed being on the Liberty

Compared to last year this cruise was hands down the best!  Seemed like everyone was having a great time.  The workers was extremely nice and helpful.  Loved Marvin he was with the bar staff.  In fact we are Facebook friends! Which is super cool.      

I felt like the food was much better this trip. Entertainment was out of the world.  Loved the shows. I went to several game shows that Frankie hosted.  Loved Frankie as a cruise director.  He has energy and a great personality.  

 Stacy & Dennis, Turtle, me and Kathy and Tony. Julie took the photo.

 Me, Julie and Kathy!

Cruising with a group of people is the only way to go! I really enjoyed eating in the Main dining room so we could talk about how our day went.  

This was a perfect cruise! 

The Wrights wedding

 Julie and Tony

Kathy Kayla Shirley and me.

Julie and Tony got married on the beach at Galveston Texas September 4 2016.  I was so happy to get invited to such a wonderful event.  I've known Julie since middle school.  No matter what we have stayed in touch with each other.  

The wedding was awesome! Loved that her brother Jerome was the pastor for this beautiful and special occasion. 

Being in Galveston makes my heart happy.  I can feel the tension go out of my neck when I see the Gulf of Mexico.   

Aaron's 21st Birthday!

My middle son is growing up so fast! He is already 21 years old.  Makes this moma feel very old right about now.  We will go out to eat and enjoy being with the family.  Am so proud of the man he is becoming.  He is growing up and maturing. 

He was so cute when he was a baby! Aaron hated to get his picture taken so for him to be smiling is a small miracle for sure.

 

Making up my mind...grape salad or pinwheels?

So for  two weeks I have been wondering what I was going to take to our Mission Rally for church.  I had lots of ideals but none seemed like great ideals.  Everyone was suppose to stay with finger foods or so I thought.  Just because it's so darn hot (100 degrees).  I was going back and forth between grape salad or pinwheels.  Last night at church I seen the sign up sheet and then I was confused because lots of food on it that isn't what I considered to be finger foods.   Then this morning I looked for easy grape recipes and that's when I said to myself yep grape salad it will be.  There are several recipes for this but went with the one that had cool whip in it.  I love cool whip!
Eeveryone at church loved it! Win Win for me.

Logan 4th of July

Logan is sure growing up fast. I love how cute this photo turned out.

I love July 4 th!  I normally go to parade and down to the park to see art and crafts and the different vendors.  It's always a lot of fun.  My step mom only lives a few blocks from the park. So we always go up there to visit with everyone who stops by to say hello.  Great times.

Our small hometown really goes all out for July 4th.  So many people plan their school and family reunions around Marlow!s July celebration.  Going down to the park is fun with lots of visiting.

Going on a cruise!

Only 106 days till my next cruise! I am super excited.  Will leave out of Galveston Sept 5 th and return Sat 10th.  Will be returning to Cozumel and Progreso.  Yes I am anxious for it to be here.  I am not quite ready but getting close.

So far I have paid port parking
Made reservations at hotel for night before.
Put some money on my account on cruise ship.
Bought a huge piece of luggage.
Been buying a few clothes for trip. ( I also will utilize my SIL's closet)
Have my cruise folder ready with my Birth Certificate in it.

Things I still need to do!!

Change oil in car
Get with My cruise roomie and give her booking number and details to hotel.  (She is driving in from Alabama)
Finish making payments for trip
Buy a new book, pair of sunglasses, blingy flip flops, pair of high heels.

So I was dreaming Mr.C would go with me but he shot that ideal down.  At first my feelings was hurt but then I got over it.  In all honesty he would have hated every second of it.  Going with someone who loves cruising will be a blast.  In fact she is at plantium level.  So I will be getting her free perks as well. Win win situation.

Oh and guess what?  My long friend and her husband is going on this cruise and several couples that they know.  Looking forward to this cruise.

49th Birthday!

I can't believe today is my birthday! Where does time do? Why do I have all this gray hair along with body aches and pains? I don't remember any one telling me that life only got harder each year... Trust and believe I am feeling each and every year creep up on me.  Looking back I wish I hadn't let myself go..here I am overweight and out of shape.  I couldn't run very far if my life depended on it. Exercise is a option but doesn't that require you getting off the sofa and be pro active?  I am not happy with who I am but hopefully I will start doing some self awareness and get out of this funk I am in.  I enjoy walking the track but have no one who wants to go with me.  So therefor I do not venture into town to the school!s track.  I'd feel better if I pulled some weight off...I need to make a plan and work on it everyday.  

Feeling ill

For the last two days I have been feeling under the weather.  I have slept a lot just trying to get better. I would have liked to have wrote a letter or two but sure didn't feel up to putting pen to paper.  I do have a long letter started to Dee.  I just need to wrap it up and get it in the mail.

In 7 days I turn 49 years old!! Wow it has been a miracle that I have made it this far.  This year I believe I will just let it pass by with out any fuss.  Although I did tell Jessica that next year I wouldn't mind a big ole 50 th bash. Told her because she is the hostess to have! She is so creative.  Blake and her sure make a great couple.

Jessica and Blake

April Showers

Today we have been in a Tornado watch all day.  I have been biting my nails all day.   With the Oklahoma weather one never knows if the tornadoes will come close to us. It’s very important that we stay weather aware on the days they call for severe weather days. Hope the storm bypasses us.

So here I am it's been forever since I have made a blog post.  I have missed talking to ya'll.  I have been busy with real life.  Working two jobs from 9 or 10 am till 9 pm.   My regular job at the flower shop and then in evenings I am sitting with Ms. Shirley.  I do a little housework and such.  It has made my life much easier with the extra money coming in.

I am way behind on letters.  So am trying to get caught back up.  My mail pile is about to topple over.  It's almost to the point of making me feel overwhelmed.  I am glad most of my pen pals are so understanding.  I want to get back to making cute envelopes as well.

I am starting two journal swaps.  One is for a month and the other is for 2 months or so.  The longer journal swap is with someone I consider my friend.  We have been exchanging journals for several years now.. It has been fun to watch her girls grow up.  Working in the journals is my creative outlet.

I am going to try to get back to blogging more often.  I have missed my blog.

New Years resolutions

Jessica Logan and Blake

Happy New Year! 

I've decided that I'm really not going to work on New Year resolutions this year.  Some things I plan on focusing on will be for me to be a better person. To love my family and to be a better partner, mother, sister, aunt, and great aunt and friend.

A few things I hope to accomplish is more handwritten letters to family members. 

Don't text and drive.. 

Work on getting organized

Save money for a vacation 

Keep things simple

Stay far away from drama

Live love and laugh

Find a new hobby

Did you notice I didn't put anything about losing weight, or eating better or no drinks..  Only because

what is the point in listing them when I know I should be watching what I eat and drink.  

What kind of New Years resolutions do you think is important to you?