It's Official...

Tis The Season To Be Jolly, Fa-la-la-la-la, La-la-la-la.

Finally, I can decorate! Although Wal-Mart, and other retail stores put Christmas decorations up and out, before Halloween, I observe the Thanksgiving rule. And it's on!

Tonight, the children and I will drag the tree and decorations downstairs, and our tree trimming, and hall decking will commence. I've visited several shops, and got some really good ideas. We're adding a few more decorations to the tree, and the house. I'm even considering adding a second tree.

While visiting various shops, I learned about decorating with mesh. It's beautiful on tree's, the fireplace, over doors, just about anywhere you can put garland. Most important, it's inexpensive! A 10-ft roll is about $10.

I absolutely must have the SMELL of Christmas in my house! It's a cinnamony slash piney kind of fragrance. It's hard to describe, but if you smell it... you'll know. Walking into one of the shops I visited recently, the smell of Christmas, hit me in the face, (that's actually the name). Immediately, I knew I had to have it! Their potpourri is outrageously pricey. Now I'm on the hunt for a less expensive potpourri, candle, or oil.

It's going to take us a week to decorate. No, it's not that I plan to do THAT much decorating. But, I do plan to do more than usual, and I don't want to scare Mr. Husband. Too much at one time might send him in to holiday shock. A little bit at a time, and he'll be okay, and he'll not wonder just how much I've spent.

How do you plan to decorate for the holidays?

My Thanksgiving Pies

Another 40s First!

My very first pecan pie! Actually there were two. The other was missing almost ALL of the pie.

My husband had the first taste, only minutes out of the oven. He gave me a Hi-5. My daughter got the next piece, and my Dad had a thin slice, (just in case it wasn't good). Daddy gave me "the nod," when he asked for a second, larger piece.

My family can be harsh when it comes to their picky tastes.

Usually, for family gatherings, they look for me to make a punch bowl cake. Not this year. I wanted to try my hand at pecan pies. Although they liked my pies very well, (there was NONE left), they missed the punch bowl cake.

No, I didn't use an old family secret recipe. I used the recipe from the package of pecans:

3 eggs
1 c. sugar
1 c. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. pecan halves
2 (9 in) unbaked or frozen pie crusts (not deep dish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat eggs, sugar, syrup, butter and vanilla until well blended. Stir in pecans. Pour into pie crusts. Bake pie on a cookie sheet 50-55 minutes or until a knife into the center of pie comes out clean. Let cool. Serve at room temperature.

As simple as that!

I Am Grateful

In a couple of days, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Before I get bogged down with cooking, eating, and enjoying my family, I want to reflect on what I am most thankful for this year.

There is a Gospel song by Hezekiah Walker that expresses exactly how I feel at this time. And it says...

I am grateful for the things that You have done
Yes, I'm grateful for the victories we've won
I could go on, and on, and on
About Your works
Because I'm grateful, so grateful
Just to praise you Lord

Flowing from my heart
Are the issues of my heart...
It's gratefulness

This year I am most thankful, and grateful for the lives of my dad, and brother. Dec. 30, they were both shot at point blank range, while being good Samaritans. A really bad day, turned into one of those, "Look at God," kind of year. And for that, I am truly grateful.

Going My Way?

Friday, school was out early for my three girls. Baby-girl is a car rider all the time, and the 12, and 13-year-old's ride the bus unless they have basketball practice. It was Friday, and there was no practice.

Breaking my neck to get to Baby-girls school, I received a text message from 13-year middle daughter, "School's out now."

I text her back one word, "BUS."

A Great Investment

I have three children who are currently playing sports. My son and his football team are in the play-offs, and both middle daughters are playing basketball for two different schools.

Last week 13-year-old middle daughter had two basketball games. Monday, night it cost $20, and an additional $20 for Thursday, night. Friday, it cost our family $30 to attend my son's game.

This week: Monday, 12-year-old middle daughter had a game at 4p.m., it cost $6 for Mr. Husband and I. At 6:30 p.m. the same evening, 13-year-old middle daughter's game cost five of us $20. And this is not the end of the week, or games. Thirteen year-old middle daughter has another game tonight, and tomorrow my son has a football game. Whew!

In the past two weeks, not including what we're going to pay tonight, we've paid $96 to see our kids play basketball, and football. This doesn't include all of the previous football, and soft ball game admissions, tournament fees, and all the stuff that goes along with it like gas, food, shoes, t-shirts... you understand.

I didn't consider the cost of my children being so athletically inclined, until now. When I started to add things up, I was stunned! They're not just good athletes, they're good students, and the investment we're making in our kids is priceless. I wouldn't change a thing!

I remember the days my mother would pull up, honk her horn, and we'd run out, heading to some practice, lesson, game, or meeting. Now, I'm doing the same with my children. And they will do the same with theirs, I'm holding them to it!

I do have one question. Can we put all of that on our taxes?