Happy Birthday, Walt!

Today is my sweet husband's birthday!

I can hardly believe that this is his 34th birthday that we have celebrated together!

Walt, I hope that your special day is as special as YOU are to me! 
May God grant you the deepest desires of your heart this year.

I love you very much and look forward to celebrating the next 34 birthdays with you!

Praying God's richest blessings on you today and throughout this year!  

May this be your BEST year YET!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY!

MiMi Gets A Makeover

MiMi's Making Meals got a makeover yesterday from my very-talented daughter, Faith at A Design of Faith Blog Designs! I have known since I recently started back blogging that I wanted to update AT LEAST my photographs, since they were several years old, but  after someone that was new to my blog last week said, ..."Now..the pictures at the top of your blog are not YOU, are they?"... I KNEW it was time!

My blog designer, Faith, is just so busy... designing other blogs, working full-time outside the home and working with the youth of our church...I hated to ask her to change it. I was originally hoping that all she would have to do was to update my photos, but since my old blog design was on an old computer of hers that she did not have access to anymore, she had to completely redesign it.

She asked me several times what kind of design, colors, etc. that I wanted and I told her that I totally trusted whatever she picked out for me because she is SO talented in this area --- she has such an eye for design! She said that it needed to be wider anyway and after seeing her new design I TOTALLY agree!   I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Thank you so much, Faith, for not only giving MiMi's Making Meals a complete makeover, but also for the recent redesign of MiMi's Making Memories! You've helped to motivate me to jump back into blogging...that I have missed SO much!

If you have a minute....hop over to MiMi's Making Meals and let me know what you think!

"Girls DAY Out!

Several days ago I sent both of my daughters a text and asked them if they would like to join me Friday after work for a quick lunch and then on to the nail salon for a manicure and pedicure.  I had been blessed with 2 Gift Certificates to the same salon and I decided to share them with my 2 sweet girls!

We all got off from work around 1:00 p.m., so we decided to meet up at M@es for some Naked Burritos and  Taco Salads before our 1:45 p.m. appointments. After lunch, we walked a few doors down to the nail salon where I had previously made our appointments.

Since Grace was scheduled for a manicure AND a pedicure, she was the first one to be taken back for her appointment.

Faith was still busy trying to make her final decision on the perfect nail color before it was her turn to be seen. She only wanted a manicure since she had just gotten a pedicure last week and the nail tech had CUT her toe and it still had not healed! OUCH!!

Finally, I got to join Grace for an awesome hot foot bath, scrub and pedicure. I had forgotten just how good a pedicure feels! I could get used to THIS!

As an added bonus, the massage chairs were awesome in this salon.  It was massaging up and down my entire body.  I felt like I had to be  college graduate to operate the remote control, though!  Every time I thought I had the power off...it would start back up with all sorts of gyrations! LOL

Faith got a hand and arm massage prior to her nails getting polished.  I must say that I LOVE this part of a manicure service, but for some strange reason...I have an allergic response to something they use and it causes my skin on my hands to peel off and be very painful for a few days following my massage, so I decided to just stick with the pedicure only this time.

By this time Grace had moved on to the drying cycle....

And very soon she was joined by her sister, Faith...

I had SO much fun spending time with my two sweet girls...we laughed so much and it was just fun to get a little pampering to start the weekend off right!

After the "Mani and Pedi" appointment, Grace and I headed to our next appointment....

Grace had her first fitting for her wedding gown.  We looked at shoes, jewelry, etc., but still have not made any final decisions.  Hopefully, she will make a decision about which shoes within the next month so that she can have her dress hemmed at the next fitting appointment.  April is going to be here BEFORE WE KNOW IT!  Her dress is so beautiful and just "looks like her"!  I know that she is going to be such a beautiful bride!

There are so many details yet to be decided....I'm starting to "panic" just a little as it's been a LONG time since I planned a wedding, but I know that very soon everything will start falling into place.

After we were done there, we headed to Jos. A. Banks to look at suits for the men in the wedding and finally home after a LONG, but fun day!

I spent the rest of the evening in my "jammies" with my hubby and this handsome fella"! ( :

Bringin' in the New Year...Southern Style, YAWL !

As you may have figured out by now, ANY special occasion revolves around food here in the South.  New Year's Day is NO exception!

Yesterday morning, I had the sweetest treat from my husband!  I came out of the shower and, as he does MOST mornings, he delivered my fresh cup of coffee to me to drink while I dried my hair. That in itself would have been enough, but after I finished getting ready, he told me breakfast was ready and I came into the kitchen to this DELICIOUS goodness....

He had brought the new year in the night before preparing this traditional Breakfast Casserole with sausage, eggs, bread and cheese that we typically have every CHRISTmas morning, and boy was it yummy!  He was so proud of his culinary skills....the first thing he said to me was, "Take a picture!"... I said, "Really?" and he said, "Why not?...You take a picture of everything else!" HA!

So, be on the lookout...in addition to having  MiMi's Making Meals, we may soon be having Poppa's Making Meals, too! 

After we finished with our breakfast I began preparing our traditional New Year's Day meal.  For those of you who don't know....us Southerners have a tradition of eating black-eyed peas, cornbread, "greens" (collards, kale, turnips, spinach, etc.) and some type of pork on New Year's Day. This variety of foods are said to bring good luck and increase the odds that the new year will be a great one. 

The black-eyed peas are thought to look like coins so people consume them with financial rewards in mind. The hog, and therefore the meat from the hog, is thought to symbolize wealth and prosperity. The "greens" are also considered to bring good luck because their leaves look like folded paper currency.  It's widely believed that the more "greens" one consumes, the larger one's fortune for the next year.

My family joined us at lunch to partake of all this Southern goodness.... Marinated and Baked Pork Chops, Turnip Greens, Southern Buttermilk Cornbread, Black-eyed Peas with chopped onions and Chow-Chow.  Chow Chow is a relish that is a staple on  many Southern dining tables and is typically served with pinto beans and cornbread, or anything else you want to put it on. It's a mixture of sweet and spicy that really "perks up" the taste of about anything you add it to. It is something my soon-to-be son-in-law has discovered that he absolutely LOVES!

We also came to the realization in this new year, that not only does little Miss E no longer need a booster seat to reach the table, but she no longer needs a small little plate!  Girlfriend has really started eating so well!  

So....from now on she gets a BIG dinner plate just like the rest of us Southerners!  Oh..and a big ole' glass of Sweet Iced Tea....YAWL!

Wishing you much health wealth and prosperity in 2011 -

Happy New Year from my family to yours!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOTHER !!

Today, New Years Day, is my sweet mother's 79th birthday! 

I wish that I was able to spend the day celebrating with her on her special day, but, fortunately, I was able to visit with her a couple of weeks ago when she came up for a visit. We had a great time playing games together, laughing and just enjoying each other's company. I even got her on Facebook where she can keep up with all of our family on a daily basis!

Mother, thank you for all the sacrifices that you made for me growing up and the unconditional love that you always showed to me. I am so grateful for the values that you instilled in me, even as a young child.

I love you very much and pray God's richest blessings on you in 2011!  May He grant you the desires of your heart!

December 2010 with her Great-Granddaughter

HAPPY 79th BIRTHDAY, MOTHER!

NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY

For quite some time now I have wanted to visit the Billy Graham Library. When I heard that they were having a special "Christmas At The Billy Graham Library", I knew that I wanted to go while the grounds were all decorated for Christmas. So...last night, Walt, Grace, Emma and I piled into the car and headed south for the Christmas experience at the library.

We picked one of the most crowded nights of the year so far, so after parking, we caught a shuttle that carried us to the library. Emma was very excited about the shuttle ride!

As we came off of the shuttle we saw Billy Graham's Birthplace all lit up for the holidays. This is the actual home place where he lived just a few miles from its current location, from about age 9 until he left for college. The home has been restored using about 80% original materials. Billy's father built the house in the 1920's for about $9000.00!

It was so neat for me to walk through and see so many similarities to the fixtures and furnishings of my grandparents house. I even saw a set of porcelain figurines that were identical to some that my grandmother had.

During Billy's childhood, the Graham family owned a dairy and so the building is barn-shaped with a huge cross-shaped opening. It is absolutely breathtaking in the darkness with the Christmas lights.

There was a live nativity.

And inside was a beautiful, huge Christmas tree with lots of handmade wooden crosses and rustic ornaments. We took advantage of someone offering to take a group photo in front of the tree.

Inside, they have the Graham Brothers Dairy Bar, where you can purchase salads, ice cream, and sandwiches; as well as, coffee and hot apple cider.

Here are Grace and Emma waiting on Poppa to bring us some coffee and cider.

Emma and me waiting in the Dairy Bar for our treats!

And after we were done eating, we turned our "eating" booth into a little "Photo Booth" and took some pictures of everyone.

I couldn't resist a picture of Miss Emma in front of the gorgeous poinsettias. They were almost as tall as she was!

And before heading out, we decided to stop for one more photo op in front of that gorgeous Christmas tree.

There was so much to see and do, but we decided that we would need to go back for a visit without a certain little "munchkin" with us. The tour itself takes about an hour and a half and we were afraid that might have been just a little too much to ask of a 4 year old!

The grounds must be beautiful in the daylight, but they were absolutely MAGICAL all decked out for Christmas!

I'll Be There

With the death of the "King of Pop" this past week, the news has been full of stories about the life of this very talented, but obviously troubled man. It got me to thinking, though, about all of the "hit" songs he had and some of my fondest memories of Michael Jackson were when he was a part of the Jackson 5. That cute little boy with the high-pitched voice.

The one song of Jackson's that really sticks out in my mind is "I'll Be There". I can still remember being at the county fair with 3 of my very best friends in the early 70's, when that song was being played over the loud speaker system throughout the fairgrounds. To this day, when I hear this song, it conjures up fond memories of fresh-cooked corn dogs and french fries sprinkled with salt and vinegar!

You may recall that the chorus went something like this:

Don't you know, baby, yeah
I'll be there, I'll be there, just call my name, I'll be there

(Just look over your shoulders, honey )
I'll be there, I'll be there, whenever you need me, I'll be there

As I was reminiscing about those days some 25+ years ago and the lyrics to that song, God began to take me in a different direction with my thoughts. As a wife and mother like so many of you, I feel like I am pulled in so many directions. Many days I feel overwhelmed by all the tasks that I need to accomplish that day. I do laundry, answer phone calls and emails, pay bills, shop for groceries, make dinner, clean house AND work a full-time job OUTSIDE the home. 

I am a serious list maker and I LOVE the feeling of being able to cross off something on my to-do-list when I have completed it. As I have confessed to you before, I have even been known to write down something on my list AFTER I have already completed it, just so I could mark it off the list! That's pretty bad, huh?

Sometimes in an effort to multi-task and be able to cross off more things on my list, I find that I do not give the proper amount of attention to my family members. When my little granddaughter is asking me question number 200 in the last 30 minutes, I find that I am not really listening to her, but rather preoccupied about what I need to accomplish that night before bedtime. Or, when my husband is telling me about his day, my mind is thinking about what I am going to fix for dinner or my day at work and I'm not really listening.

God reminded me that I need to be there for my family - to give love and attention to my family members - not just try to check things off of my never-ending task list.  I need to learn to prioritize and realize that it is OK for some things to wait. 

Lord, I want to be there for my family. When my husband comes in the house at the end of his day, help me to get off the computer or phone and give him my undivided attention. When I pick up my granddaughter from daycare, help me to give her my full attention as she recounts all of the "events" of her day. When one of my children call and I am in the middle of cooking dinner, help me, Lord, to stop what I'm doing and listen to their concerns.

I want my family to know that I'll Be There for them!

"She looks well to the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband, also, and he praises her"

Proverbs 31:27-28

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

How Sweet Is This?

Last evening, I was in the house paying bills and my husband was outside pressure-washing the driveway.

 

After a few minutes he opened up the back door and said, "Honey, look out the dining room window." 

This is what I saw......

After 31 years of marriage, how sweet is that?

Remembering An Awesome Night Of Praise & Worship

On January 25th of this year, my daughter, Faith, and I hopped in the car after church Sunday morning and headed for Atlanta for an awesome night of Praise and Worship with Travis Cottrell at First Baptist Church of Woodstock .

It was exciting enough to be able to participate in a LIVE recording with Travis Cottrell, but one of my all-time heroes in the faith was also going to be there -- Beth Moore!

We had made plans to meet up with one of our sweet blogging friends that we had never had the privilege of meeting in person -- none other than JennaBabe! 

It was an awesome night of worship and one I will never forget.

On Tuesday of this past week, the LIVE recording from that amazing night was released on ITunes and in the stores.  Those of us that were there that night were able to pre-order the CDs and DVDs -- and mine came in the mail yesterday! As I looked at the CD cover and began to listen to the very first song, "To The King", I was taken back to all the emotion and excitement of that incredible evening with thousands of people praising the Lord. It was like a tiny glimpse into what Heaven is going to be like!

If you ask me what are my favorite songs from the recording, that is a tough one because, honestly, they are all so good, but if I had to say, they would probably be - "My Inheritance", "Praise the King"(with Cindy Morgan), "Mercy Seat", and "Do It Lord".

I have not stopped listening to it!  I fell asleep listening to it last night and I woke up to it this morning.  I just have to say, if you haven't already purchased this CD, it is a must-have!  

It will lead you to the throne of worship, sweet friends!

One Year Blogaversary

"MiMi's Making Memories" is ONE YEAR OLD today! 

On May 29, 2008, what began as an attempt to establish a Google account so that I could leave a comment on my daughter's blog, turned into "MiMi's Making Memories". As Faith designed my blog for me, I had no idea what I was doing, what I would ever have to write about and more importantly, who would possibly be interested in reading it! I just thought it would be a good way for me to "journal" about those I love most -- my precious family.

I had NO idea the impact that blogging would soon have on my life. I began blogging and in the process I "met" and fell in love with some of the most wonderful women  - and literally from all over the country! (And even a few from other parts of the world!)  Over the past year, I have been blessed with the opportunity to meet some of you "in person", and what a treat that was!

My prayer for my blog on that Thursday in May still remains the same:

"I have no idea whether I have anything to say that would be of any value to anyone else, but I would hope that having  been married for 30 years and raising 3 children would definitely have taught me some valuable lessons in life.  I know that the Lord sometimes allows us to go through things in life so that we can be a help to someone else going through similar things.  I pray that the life lessons He has taught me, and IS teaching me, will be an encouragement to others."

I am so blessed to call so many of you my friends.  You really are so important to me!  I look forward to reading your blogs, as well as, reading your precious comments that you leave on my posts.  Many days, the Lord has used so many of your sweet words to encourage me in such a mighty way!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and for all of your thoughtful comments.  Thank you, also, for "enduring" all the pictures of my kids, grandchildren and "grand-dogs"!  Thank you for just being "YOU"!

I look forward to another year of blogging and hopefully meeting many more of you "in person"! 

May God richly bless each and EVERY one of you! I love you, my sweet friends!

Mother's Day 2009

I had the most wonderful Mother's Day! I was blessed to have all of my children in church with me on Sunday! Even after all these years, there's just something so special about being in God's House together!

The 3 of them got together and planned barbecue and all the fix-ins for lunch and we had so much fun.  After lunch a few of them "scattered" and took naps while Chad, Josh and I watched the National Geographic Channel.

Josh, me, Grace and Faith

Josh, me, Grace, Walt, Faith And Miss E

(I am so sorry that my son-in-law was not included in this picture, but he insisted on being the photographer.)

I had to include THIS picture because it is so hilarious to me!

And, NO, Josh is not holding a giant stuffed animal! That's his "baby", Turk, his Labradoodle! He's getting HUGE, isn't he? (He reminds me of "Alf" -- if any of you remember who he is. Or maybe Mr. Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street -- if he only had a trunk!) lol

I am so proud of my family and I love them all so very much! God has truly blessed me with an awesome family. I can think of nothing better than having them all together in church and then spending the day at my house! 

Thanks for making it a wonderful day, guys!

Tip Toe Through The Tulips

The tulips in our neighborhood are just beautiful this year.  Miss E spent the day with MiMi and Poppa on Friday because her daycare was closed for Good Friday.

I had to walk downtown to pick up something at a local store and I decided to pull E for a ride in her wagon.

 I couldn't resist a photo shoot in the tulip patch.

 

How beautiful are these flowers, and, well....

You already know how I feel about this little "flower" in the middle!