Finally my Review

I had planned to do a review awhile back for a product from CSN Stores. I was so lucky to do a review for all of you, by picking a product of my choice.

I had a hard time picking what I wanted... I finally picked the Rachael Ray 4.25 quart Covered Casserole. I did pick the chocolate brown one. Click here to see it.

The very first time I used it, I made chicken enchilada casserole in it. Something that normally sticks very bad in my normal pan that I use to cook this dish. I would normally use a glass baking dish.

Look for yourself, it did not stick? It just scooped up and was the easiest to clean of any other casserole dish I have ever used!!!! It has become my new favorite baking dish.

I now use it several times a week and it has the easiest clean up.

I can't wait to add more of the Rachael Ray casserole dishes to my list. So do check out these great dishes on the CSN Store site, as they have great prices.

Hugs and Blessings,

Daddy and Lil E Race Chat

Lil E was busy trying not to go to bed last night, and so she decided to chat it up with daddy about his race car and it’s paint job.

Here’s a few of her ideas

Let’s paint fish tails all over the car!

Painting hearts all over the race and rainbows too.

She wants gold sparkles to make it look so clean!

Needless to say I promised her we would put a heart on the side and list his Lil Pit Crew Sweeties inside the heart. And for the fish tails, I think we will do the Christian Fish on the back. Now for the gold sparkles, we aren’t doing gold. But we will have some silver. Hope she will be happy with it, just like I really hope, it turns out the way we want, so Daddy and I are happy too!!!

And for money to pay for all the race car work, according to her, we just go to the bank with real nice and good manners, and they just give you the money! If it was only that easy! I guess though, being as they see me always being so sweet and using good manners, and getting money, it only makes sense for it to work that way. I just love the pure innocence of children!!!!!

Hugs and Blessings,

Good Bye 2010 ..... Hello 2011

We said Good bye to 2010 at home with a few buddies from James' work. Some of our closest friends weren't able to make it, but that is ok. We had a good time! And it was nice for all of us. We had finger foods, and played games and just enjoyed being here.

Then we had a very easy start to 2011, despite me being sick. I have been under the weather. Went to the Doc on Friday, the last day of 2010, and I have ear infection in both ears, a throat infection, and upper resp infection. It was a nice calm easy day around here. We did cook our traditional New Years dinner, Ham, black eyed peas, cole slaw, scalloped potatoes (this varies on the type of potatoes), rolls, and deviled eggs. And James made a one pan cake! YUMMY!!!

But as I reflect back on the year of 2010, there was some good points and things, but it was over all a very HARD, ROUGH, and not so good year!!!! The worst year I have ever had in many ways! It was just unbelievable at the ugliness, illness, pain, anger, and everything else I could mention here! It was full of heart ache. Happy moments were over shadowed by some kind of negative! It was horrible! But in the end of it, a few really good things did happy... (Stay tuned to see those)..... So with all that I am really looking forward to 2011!

Our 2010

Started on Jan 1 with me being sick and stuck in bed.

Jan was full of trapped out days, due to weather, for Daddy!

We finally had Lil K’s 2^nd Birthday party, a bit late.

Mommy burned her eyes with a flash fire at the fire place.

We did get lots of days to play in the snow and ice.

Feb, back home (North Texas), saw record snow! Over a foot! It was beautiful!

March we saw Lil K’s adoption!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So thankful Mom and Dad were able to be with us!

April, For the first time in 2 years hubby and I had a date without kiddos! WOW! And he took me to see Bret Michaels! AWESOME!

Was spent with progression of my pseudo tumor cerebri. Now we were seeing passing out spells and much more. Not a good thing.

April ended bringing me several recruits for my Scentsy Team!!!! Woot Woot!!!!

May comes along, and it was ER trips, huge knot on the back of my head, no more driving far distances, if much at all. Tons of new really yuck health stuff.

May was our family reunion, again a trip to the ER!

June more medical drama!

A trip home because my sister was fighting for her life!

But then it didn’t stop there, now Lil K is in the ER, being admitted to the hospital, and surgery!

Father’s Day we weren’t even with Daddy. We were still away with my family.

July was filled with mini trips while we had company, so glad Patti and the boys visited us!

Another round of ER and doctor trips to now have Neuralgia in my head!

Met my parents half way, so they could keep the girls while I was away! They wanted this time, and I needed them. Who would know it was my very last time to see my mom in a happy healthy normal way! Would I have let them head home so soon? Would I have ever stopped hugging her?

A trip to Denver for Scentsy National Convention, but spent some of that time sick.

Aug started out, so so! Nothing to exciting either way really, until what?

The doctors tell me that they think I have cancer! NO NO NO!

Sept starts with insurance drama! CT scans aren’t approved and surgery is postponed.

Sept 7, Mom called and said I have a headache and I am going to bed. I always love you, baby girl!!!!

Sept 8, she was horrible sick! Rushed to the ER and what? Being put in ICU.

Sept 9, she was put on life support! What a horrible trip to get there!!!! It took me way to long to get the hospital to my Momma!!!!!

Sept 11, Lil E's birthday, spent at the hospital! But she did get to see Mamaw!

James gets that the news that our location is shutting down, and we have to transfer again! We did pray for the location and home of our choice! We asked God for his favor in this!

I was a total wreck during this time and I almost lost myself in many ways!

Sept 20, We turned life support off and Momma passed on. I layed in her arms until her last breaths.

Sept 23, we laid her to rest. Forever in our hearts! We love you, Momma/ Mamaw!

Sept 26, we headed home after being there so long. I cried all the way home, especially when it was times for momma to call.

Sept 27, back to life and how do I do this????

I threw myself into house hunting!! Hopeing this would help me.

Oct 2, we got the call, my brother in law was in critical condition, and having seizures lasting over 5 minutes. They found his brain tumor.

Oct 8, my brother in law’s surgery and my surgery.

My mass in the neck was NOTHING major, just a cyst! God proved he was still in charge, not what the doctors thought!

Best news comes that my brother in laws tumor was NOT Cancer!!! Praise God!!!!!!!

Oct 16 my niece got married! A big happy moment for our family!!! Just was the first super special moment without Momma. So hard.

Missed Halloween trick or treating because our stupid town changed it. The girls were so disappointed.

Nov~ ended what I thought was a real and special friendship! But learned the hard way, it wasn’t! And by far that I had been played!!!!

Nov, went to help with the garage sale so Dad could downsize. Watching Mom’s stuff go was bitter sweet. She would be happy it was going to help others, but hard to see it all going too.

Thanksgiving, we stayed home, and had our friends over. It was nice.

Lil K's birthday! My Baby isn't a baby anymore!

Dec, On our 11 years anniversary. And we found our house for us to move to!!! Yeah!!!

OH slow down, not going to all go GREAT, truck troubles, RC Engine issues, and issues around the house!

Dec, filled with lots of special memories and activities getting ready for Christmas, such as baking, bow making, crafts, watching movies, enjoying Christmas Lights, and much more together as a family!

Mom’s headstone arrived and was set up the 21^st!

Busy packing and was sick. What a way to end the year.

In all this, I have been reunited with a few people from my past!

And in it all a dear friend and I reconciled after being a part for nearly 2 years over something so stupid and trivial!!! Both too stubborn to realize what we had until we thought it was gone. So thankful that God brought us back! And that he reunited me with some other important people!

That’s just a highlight of the 2010 year! So to say the least, I am ready for 2010 to be over!

On to 2011, I have great expectations and I’m ready to see it here!!! I’m excited for what is coming our way!

What’s coming in 2011 ~

I am excited for our Move! Our new home awaits! And I can’t wait to decorate it up and make it all awesome for us. It’s going to have a lot of cowgirl stuff. I can’t wait.

To work on being the best mom, wife, daughter, and friend, that I can be!!!

Growing a closer relationship with God!

Finding us a new Home Church, after moving!

To taking our homeschool to another level!

Getting Healthy! To feeling well! Once and for all!!!!

James starts racing!!!!

Helping with the Local Racers Crisis Fund fundraiser!

Growing my Scentsy Team!!!

Attending National Convention!!!

Renewing our Wedding Vows!!!!!

Enjoying my life as a mommy and wife, being as positive as I can be!

There you have it, the reason I am glad to see 2010 end and some of what I am looking forward to in 2011! I really know that 2011 is going to be filled with greatness and many more blessings than I can imagine!!! I am really looking forward to all the great things coming up for all of our family!!!! Lots of fun and more great special moments and memories head for us!

I’m wishing each and everyone of you a terrific and blessed 2011!! May all you wish for come, and may your year be filled with greatness!!!!

Hugs and Blessings,

Our Christmas Crafts

Most years I am a bit more with it, than I have been this year. Honestly, I left life get in my way! Some of missing momma, some being sick, some the packing and upcoming move! Either way, before we knew it, was time to get busy! We make or decorate ornaments each year. So we had to get them done for this year too!

The girls and I colored and glittered ornaments together!


Above is Lil E's, and below is Lil K's!

Here's a couple of pictures of them hard at work! It was all fun though!

Then we got busy making these super cute Santa pots! Oh my word, they are just precious!!!!!

The girls had so much fun!!!!

I left them, just the way they did them! And let me tell you, Lil K was so excited, when adding the white to the top, as she realized the white and red made pink! She would scream, Look I make it pink!!! Over and over and over! She was so proud of that pink! And so is this mom!!!

I kept the 1st one each girl did, and I will set them out every year!

There's one all finished! Aren't they just too precious! We filled some with our crock pot candy, a couple with some Scentsy, and there we had some great little gifts to share! We put a poinsettia in momma's to take out to the cemetary, to put at her grave! I just love how they turned out! And I think each person that received one did too!!!

Hugs and Blessings,

Our Christmas, with lots of pictures

We started our Christmas a few days early with crafts and baking! We decorated ornaments, made a Christmas chain, painted Santa pots, and did a little baking.

Our every so yummy Crock Pot Candy! It was so so yummy! And it makes a lot and is great for gifts!

While we were busy baking and crafting, Papa & Granny 's Christmas package arrived! It was full of lots of goodies! Even a pan of homemade peanut butter fudge by Papa!

Then we headed out on Thursday mid afternoon to get to Grandaddy's. We had planned to go that night when James got home from work, but he was canceled and so we headed out before any bad weather could get in our way. And this would give us more time with Grandaddy too.

On Christmas Eve it was a rainy messy day! But we did take momma/ Mamaw her Santa pot and poinsettia that we got her! So very thankful that her Headstone arrived and set up 3 days earlier! It's pure beautiful!!!!

Here's my Christmas Angels! They are by GREATEST Blessings! And they were in Red and Green wings too!!!!

We just spent the day hanging out with Grandaddy. Then Nana and Uncle Doyle came over for dinner with us. It was great to see them! Then Grandaddy took us to see the Christmas Lights! If you are in the area and can go, you should check out Christmas Park! It's in Athens, and it's by far the BEST drive through we have ever been too! We have visited there for years now! And it's a bit of everything and something for everyone! You won't be disappointed.

Here's a few pics taken with the cell phone...

I had mixed feelings about going, as Momma really loved going with us all on Christmas Eve out there. I just wasn't sure. But then the girls made it beyond perfect! They squelled and screeched, and carried on! It was beyond awesome!!! And they made it worth while for all of us! It was lots of smiles from all of us.

After the lights we enjoyed some ice cream at Grandaddy's, before heading to bed, so Santa could come.

This is a very special ornament a friend made us out of mom's fabric. She is working more for each person in the family. But she had Dad's and us 3 girls each one finished. They are beyond beautiful and so very special for us!!! Dad set his by this beautiful Scentsy warmer on his bar! I couldn't help but share it with everyone.

Oh wow, it's glowing so beautiful! And little gifts are under the tree for each girl from Santa with a note, saying you have a big surprise at your house!

The gifts may have been little, but they were just as excited!!!!! Lil E was in love with her pet kitty!

My little reindeer, all ready to go be with all our family for our Christmas on Christmas Day!

At our family's Christmas, we have lots of fun! It's chaotic and hectic, but fun! It's great to see everyone and be with everyone too! We keep it simple, and do finger foods and sandwiches with a ever so yummy ham, and this year chicken salad, instead of turkey! And they were both so good! Plus way to much other stuff. We made my meatballs, and fiesta ranch dip and chips, cookies and crock pot candy. There was lots of goodies, including a Happy Birthday Jesus cake!!

We draw names for the grown ups, but still buy for the little kids. This year, I just had to do something for everyone. So I found a Christmas in Heaven poem, and of all the ones I had found, I decided this one just was like Momma, so I printed it and framed it for each family. They all loved them, I do believe. I sure hope so.

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven’s Stars reflecting on the snow

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas Songs that y’all hold so dear

But the sound of music can’t compare with the Christmas Choir, up here

I have no word to tell you of the Joy their voices bring

For it is beyond description to hear the Angels sing

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I can’t tell you of the splendor or the peace here in this place

I’ll ask him to lift your spirit, as I tell him of your love

So then pray for one another, as you lift your eyes above

Please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing

For I am spending Christmas in Heaven,

and I’m walking with the King.

I love y’all always, and am forever proud of you!

Love,

Mamaw

Tommie Lee Bryant

1944-2010

It was really a special day! Even though it was so hard without Momma, and we all missed her so very much, we knew she was smiling down on us! And still as big a part of our family, maybe even more so now! I had a horrible drive to Dad's on the 23rd, it was the first time to go to his new place, and knowing it was Christmas with Momma, it was nearly too much for me to take in! But I got through! I had help from the most beautiful Angel ever! She sure is my strength!!!

After being with everyone, we went back by Grandaddy's before we headed home. It was really hard to leave him. But we knew we needed to get back home. I had a horrible time saying bye, and the girls didn't want to leave either. Nor did James! But we did and we headed home Christmas Day afternoon!

All four of us on Grandaddy's porch.

We got home, just before midnight and the girls had their surprise and stockings waiting! They were so excited! And it really makes me happy to see them so excited about the small stuff in their stockings!!!! Oh my, Lik K was beyond excited for each thing she pulled out! She loved her make up. But the sweetest moment of all was they had some scripture candy (like smarties), when she pulled one out of her stocking, she explained, "This is from Mamaw, she loves us so much!!!" I just cried and cried! We do something from Santa every year that is to honor Jesus, for it is his birthday that we are celebrating!!! And then my sweetie pie just knew that was so something her Mamaw would have given them too!!! Just proof, she is forever with us!

They enjoyed playing with the new surprises before we headed to bed!

Then it was up on the 26th to have Christmas at our house! Daddy made us pancakes, regular and blue berry! YUMMY! And then we opened gifts! It was a day full of fun and family!!!! Just being together and watching the girls, made it near perfect!

Our tree with packages! And so you know, they are single layered, because we can not smash bows! I use large boxes, and we don't stack anything up because bows can not be smashed! (Thank you Momma! I'm so glad that I'm just like you with this! Just like gifts under my tree, must have a bow! Even if they are gifts from Grandparents or others, I add a bow!)

Our Christmas morning (yes the day after) pictures in our pj's by the tree!

The girls were so excited and had fun playing with their new toys!!!

That afternoon we decided to go on to town, so we could go by the store and get what we needed. So that is what we did.

On our way to the store, we stopped at the park, and took a few pictures!

The girls in Santa's sleigh, and my angels with some Christmas angels!

We made our trip to store, and then back by the park to see it all lit up! It was really pretty, but more important it was a wonderful day with us!

Even though I had a lot of sadness because I was missing Momma so much, it was a great Christmas filled with love, fun, and family! Just the way it is suppose to me!

Hope you and yours had a great Christmas too!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and your family from our family. May your Christmas be filled with lots of love, family, friends, joy, and happiness!



Hugs and Blessing

The GREATEST gifts

Have they been good or bad? Did they make the nice or naughty list?


wow, lik K sure wasn't finding her name on this sheet! hehehehe She was told to work really hard to insure a spot on the nice list. Now she says "I nice".

In reality, they are my greatest blessings here on Earth. The best gifts I ever got! They are my babies and they totally changed my world! For the better!!! But know what is even greater? It's a baby, a baby boy, and he was born in a stable. He is a King and his parents on earth are Mary and Joseph! He was sent to save and change the world for us! God gave the world his son, born a sweet baby boy, who lived a good life and died on the Cross for our sins! Glory be to God for our Savior Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Morn! He is still alive, and because of him, we can have the most awesome and abundant life full of grace, mercy, hope, faith, and love! This is why we celebrate Christmas! The real reason for the Season!!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Hugs and Blessings

The real reason we have Christmas

May we use this video as a reminder of the real reason we celebrate Christmas each year!!

God bless you and yours! Merry Christmas!!!!

Hugs and Blessings,