When depression hits home....Don't answer the door~!

The past year has been one of great loss for our family. My husbands sister lost her home on Christmas Day to an explosion. Then their Grand Mother passed away. Shortly after she passed away her brother (their uncle) passed away also.

Followed by all of that drama. My beloved Pastor passed away also. When we got through all of this. My oldest daughter had emergency surgery and we ended up baby sitting for our two grandsons ages 2 and one six weeks old.

We thought things... more

Get out that barbecue, prep all the hamburgers and hot dogs. Grab some paper plates and a good blanket and let's have a celebration. Don't forget the watermelon!

Get out under the deep blue sky and soak up some sunshine. Buy up some fireworks. Get the kids some sparklers and someone mind the lighter.

It is time to make lots of noise and hear lots of laughter.

It's time to Celebrate FREEDOM....!

We are living in the land of the free, the home of the brave and the desire for liberty is all around us. Say a prayer... more

I bet everyone of us knows a "Grumpy Bear" when we see one. They huff and puff and growl their way through the day. Nothing seems to go their way.

They never take time to say a kind word to anyone. They just grumble under their breath and let their presence be known.

You do not have to ask if they like what you are doing because the scowl on their face says it all. There just is no way of pleasing that bear.

Our Family owns one from time to time. If he is not eating, sleeping or watching T. V. he is grumbling about something.... more

It is that time of year again. School is out and every where you look there is a Graduation Party going on in full swing.

After attending several this year myself. I found myself reorganizing and thinking of better ways to get it all done and allow the "Proud Parents" more time to relax and party.

To keep the party on budget. It might be smart to shop at Gordens Food Service or any bulk food place you may have in town. Things like Potatoe Salad, Macorroni Salad and Cole Slaw can be purchased already made and ready to serve. All you have to do is pour it into a tin pan and... more

From time to time we all need those warm fuzzy feelings. The ones that say to our heart "I belong right here." This is especially true of our children.

We spend so much of our time telling our children to do this or that during the day. It sometimes just becomes routine. Just as they need to learn those things we teach them. They also need to learn that they are very important to us and that our family is blessed to have each other.

I don't think anything can say it as well as warm hugs and snuggle time. When reading a book. Snuggled under the covers and all relaxed. Or sitting... more

This is the perfect time of year to m ake what we call "Strawberry Chills." It has been one of my favorite things to make in the summer time for years now.

You take 2 quarts of fresh strawberries. Wash them and cut them into bite size pieces. *Save several for decorating the top of the desert).

Add a little bit of sugar and shake them up in a zip lock bag. Place them into the refridgerator to chill. While you begin the next step.

Take one large package of Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix and add one cup and one half of cold milk. Whip until you have a smooth thick pudding mixture.

Take one 16oz. tub of whipped cream and stir in 4 oz of sour cream. Combine... more

Making plans for summer family activities would seem like an easy plan for most families.

However in adoptive families it sometimes turns out to be more stress than fun. Most kids love to swim. But for the few who are terrified of water. A day at the pool for the family can be full of "freak out" moments.

There is nothing like trying to get a child to put on a swim suit when they are screaming in horror at just the thought of water sports.

Here we are at a public wave pool and my friend and I are trying to keep our tribe of... more

Have you ever walked into some ones home and just felt so welcome and happy to be there? Or stopped at some ones home and felt like it was an intrusion just to knock upon their door?

Well just like our emotions help to influence what we do. I belive it also takes a roll in how we express ourselves through decor and the atmosphere around us.

Each person takes a roll in becoming a family and the complete family imparts their nature into the atmosphere of the home.

When I visit one of my friends homes. I get the... more

I used to love Yard Sales. But as the kids have gotten older and the house has filled up. I had no need for more of anything. So my spirit for the perfect buy was not inspired any more by a Yard Sale sign.

This year the dreaded Yard Sale sign is in my yard for the Memorial Day weekend. We have been digging through toys and attic space. Finding treasures that no one plays with any more and have even forgotten were there. Putting price tags on them and setting them inside the yard sale boxes.

Some things were difficult to put in those... more

We have a family game that we play when everyone is bored or when a few of us are setting around and we have nothing much to do.

We call it the "Vacation" Game. One of us chooses a place for us to go on vacation. Then the game begins.

I say.......We are going on vacation to Florida and we are going to take a.........

The next person repeats what I said and adds what way of transportation we are going to take then adds another part to the story such as........

We are going to take a plane there....When we get to Florida we will stay at .........

And the next person repeats all of the story so far and adds the name of the place we are staying and... more