Snowy South.

They were saying this could be a mega storm and, although not a MEGA storm, it was bad enough.  It seems in the South we get less snow and more ice, which was true for this event, as well. I'm actually listening to a truck that sounds like its stuck in the snow/ice outside. *sigh* He'll probably end up knocking on my door - I seem to attract this kind of thing.

So this has been sitting in drafts forever. Bad Bethie. Macy loved the chance to be in snow. Child loves the white stuff. As mentioned, however, it's more ice than snow. She tried to make a snow angel but didn't have enough weight to break through the top layer of ice ;) 

I'm off to post this almost a month late :) 

Sloppy Joe? Or Manwich?

This weekend we didn't work (hooray!!) so I cooked, cleaned, washed, and rested. One of the meals I made was Sloppy Joes! I love sloppy joes hower, this seemed to be spiced tomato sauce in a can. No chunks. No lumps. So is this Manwich? What's the difference? Who knows. But it's pretty tasty and I'll be enjoying it in a few minutes. Even if it is chunkless. 

Four days, folks, and we'll be down one more election. Whew. Looking forward to it. Really looking forward to March when both of these are behind us! Hooray! 

Let me tell you about this sweet girl. She is very smart and very sensitive. Since my aunt Linda recently passed, she's been on edge. Very emotional but sweet. She gasped on the way home from church and said, "Aunt Linda is in heaven! She's going to miss Valentine's Day!" Well, today she "wrote" a letter to my grandmother in heaven (mom's mom) that let her know MawMaw was doing fine. So precious. 

We realize she has a unique personality. Maybe it's because her vision is so lacking? I know that sounds totally unrelated-I don't know. But please pray for her. Her eye situation is much more serious than I realized.  

We had our fair share of RAIN and then, we had a little snow and ice. (I swear, we always gotta have ice!). 

I got a serious hair whacking and I like it pretty good. Getting the weight off and the layers let my curls play! The top layer is really straight so chopping it short solved that problem! 

Ok this isn't my dog but seriously- isn't this hilarious!?! I thought so, too!! Hahahahah 

So on a more serious more, a few people I follow on Instagram have really been hitting it out of the park lately. One is a preacher and one just a very faithful lady. 

A few things that stand out: 

God sometimes uses adversity in our lives to help us focus on Him in a new way. 

God overcomes any seemingly impossible situation. His servants aren't always the most qualified. 

When walking through the valley, it's best to not do too much talking. You'll feel different soon  some things need only be spoken to Jesus - Christine Caine.   

Ok I'm off to get ready for work (this is another half finished post I'm wrapping up I the wee hours this morning). Have a great weekend!

Sweating into December

Hello - when did it become normal to have mid-70's weather in December!?! Heaven help it's hot here in SC. No wonder we are all sick. Sheesh.

Are you done Christmas shopping? If you are, please lie to me and tell me you aren't. I have no idea when I'll fit it all in. Tomorrow I'm starting my day at UrgentCare  for the third time, trying to battle this sinus, coughing, ear ache thing. Finished my antibiotics and steroids for the beginnings of pneumonia. But I'm thinking it didn't get the job done. Ugh. With something every night this week, I'm trying to juggle it all and not get sicker :)

I'm very excited for one event this week - the church sew-a-thon to make NICU isolette covers! One lay in the church - very dear family friend- hand sewed a cover and gave it to us on Sunday. It's already at the hospital in use. They were so excited! I have three more that need to get up there, too.  Imagine your baby being in the hospital during the Christmas holidays and someone brings a beautiful cover for your baby for no other reason than your baby is loved. I pray these covers not only help the babies but God uses them to touch the very hearts of their parents.  

See the flap turned over? It covers the ends. The black fabric makes it dark in the isolette and the quilting muffles noise, to help recreate the womb. 

I had to make one funky! 

Wow that is wrinkly!! Flannel doesn't like To stay crisp. 

Anyway, I'm excited to see where it leads. You know I'll keep you posted. 

How are our twins doing? One is home from the hospital and over 6 lbs.!! One is still there and he's over 5 lbs. So thankful for every success. Little miracles. Little fighters!! I can't tell you how excited I am for my brother and sister-in-law. They are going to be such wonderful parents. This is their hopes and dreams coming true. 

One of the floor quilts before I sewed it all together. 

I did gift the floor quilts at the shower on my mom's side. I saw one of them in a picture being used. Hooray! 

Random pics time: Macy and I made cupcakes :) 

And we had a slumber party! 

Me and the boss' dog, Bentley. 

Macy and a swing of cousins at the family Christmas get together this weekend. Crazy hot weather.

My stray kittens that hang out on my porch. And I feed them. Which I'm not sure If that allows them to be called strays anymore?

Macy and me after Thanksgiving. :) I hate the black circles, wow! But I've been sick a while.

We have seen blessings, y'all. The baby boys- what a huge blessing!! Katie has seen some pretty big challenges but she said she feels The Lord carrying her through it. Mom is down with a bad knee but the wheels are moving quicker than anticipated. MRI was Friday and we get results Wednesday. My job has been very understanding of days off for myself and to help the family juggle appointments. My classes (trainings) that I've been teaching are getting great feedback. So thankful! Lots of good. 

Ok I've totally rambled on about nothing and everything. I'm hoping you are doing well, that your heart is in the right place to welcome Christmas (I'm still working in this), and you know the love of God, greater than anything we can comprehend. 

Thanks for listening :)  Off to bed - night! 

Countdown to Thanksgiving

It's Monday morning, crazy early. Another sleepless morning so another blog post!

Life is rocking along. I think we've had so many things happen we are pre-programmed to expect the worst. But seriously, we are doing ok! So thankful. 

Speaking of thankful, I started back listing things I was thankful for each day because I needed to focus on the blessings instead of the bad. I've done pretty good. Here are a few: 

Clay met Katie and I at the hospital so we could visit with the boys. I'm crazy about them. And they are continuing to grow - Liam is over 4 pounds and Kellan is over 3! Please keep them in your prayers. 

Macy's glasses are working! She had an eye exam and her vision is improving. So thankful - so so so thankful!! 

The beautiful fall around here. I have really enjoyed the colors and crisp air. Most of the leaves are gone so when you do find a tree with brilliant colors it's a treat. 

I've taken several days off from work to play with Macy, work on the house, sew, shop for fabric, etc. It was very needed. 

Mom made isolette covers for the twins and the need for more was very apparent. The ladies at church have really taken to this project and want to have folks meet at the church and sew up several to donate to the NICU! I'm so excited! And I have finished my first one. 

The backing is dark to block light. I used prequilted fabric to avoid using batting but the quilting helps muffle noise. The outside is cute to brighten up mommy and daddy's visit :)  I pray God blesses this project and makes it successful. It will greatly impact families in the NICU. 

As I'm flipping through my journal, I'm reading back over the verses I wrote down :

James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

Psalm 30:12 That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Oh Lord my God; I will give thanks to You forever. 

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to The Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. 

Good stuff. 

Ok photo time. 

My siblings and I at the hospitail visiting the boys. My brother - the new Daddy!

Macy and I made cookies! She surprised me with how well she did in the kitchen. So much fun!

AH made the basketball team! Number 33 - we are ready to cheer her on!  Go girl, get out there and hustle!

Macy and the Salvation Army Red Kettle. The volunteer let her ring the bell afterwards. Gotta teach them young about giving back!

In case I don't post again until after Thanksgiving- y'all have a great holiday and truly take time to give thanks!  <3

Heaven Help.

No really. After the weekend we've put in here on the hill, I'm hoping God's plan is to turn this around and pour on some sunshine. Literally and figuratively.

Thursday, I taught my morning class but knew I wasn't feeling right. It ended at noon and by 12:30 I knew - I had to go home and it had to be now. I have never left with another class on the way but I had no choice. I fell asleep driving home, scared the stuffings out of me!, and the minute I walked in the door I was sick sick sick. All day. Half the night. Fever. Chills. Sweats. Sick. Sick. Sick. 

My back, oh my gosh it hurt. I thought it had to be a kidney infection. Went to urgent care when they opened on Friday morning but no one could explain my back. Today, sickness is over and my back still hurts. Sucks. 

Dad was sick last night, same symptoms as me with body aches thrown in. 102 fever. ER visit this morning at 9 am. Left at 2 pm with "it must be a viral thing."  Got home and it really kicked in like I had. Except Dad is almost 70 so it's hitting him harder. 

Yeah I'm taking off tomorrow to rest up a little more and make sure I don't pass this to everyone in the office with an election coming up. They seem to appreciate it ;)

The babies seem to be doing well for their size. I tell you, I adore the sweet boys and could watch them for hours. They are so incredibly perfectly formed. I often think of God's craftsmanship as He knitted them in the womb. So amazing. I love to see them stretch and wiggle and wave and blow bubbles. When Kellan yawned, it absolutely delighted me. I pray both boys will make it through and become fierce warriors in God's army. I feel like they have big plans ahead of them. I don't share pictures to respect my brother and sister-in-laws privacy. I feel that is right. You'll just hve to take my word on it that they are HANDSOME. 

I know this is blurry but- mom and I ran into the Princesses at the children's hospital. Another recorded a message to Macy but it's on moms phone. She is going to freak out! And we get a pic of mom with these princesses, too ;) so gla there are groups that do this for the kids. 

I know this is a rambling mess. I feel like a rambling mess. If anyone has the solution to just feeling totally overwhelmed, please share. I could use it. 

Sleepless in SC

Ugh. It's almost 4:00 am and I've been awake since 2:00. Of course, today kicks off a crazy busy time at work where my long hours start and here I am, wide awake and feeling kinda sick. Probably from lack of sleep! I think I'm getting too old for this job - the crazy hours kick my butt.

Last week I enjoyed lunch with Macy at preschool. She'd asked me if I could see her at school a few weeks before. I knew if I didn't go now, it would be awhile before I'd be able to take off work again. 

In celebration of Grandparents' Day, they were invited to lunch with the grand kids, so MawMaw was meeting us there, too. When she sees me she says, "Bethie! Where's MawMaw?" Oh well, she and MawMaw are besties. ;) 

She was so afraid of the tire bridge. But she conquered it! And was so proud of herself! We were very proud, too. 

Did I mention my 40th birthday was in September? Oh yeah, FORTY!!! (Pumpkin donuts. Ohhhh yeah)

Someone decided to decorate my mailbox and roll my yard... Wonder who? I still have streamers in the bushes...the ROSE BUSHES. So yeah those decorations maybe be staying. 

What a sunrise!! So beautiful! It's been a while since I've seen one so I really soaked up this one.

Maybe I should do this blogging in the middle of the night more often - I passed out with the phone on my chest! woop woop! It's Monday, ya'll, go have a wonderful week.  :)

Rain Rain, Go Away

We are about to wash away here, it's rained so much! I'm one of those people seriously impacted by the weather and I'm just saying- something has got to give...and soon. We have been under flood warnings and tornado warnings - I'm ready for some sunshine. Not 100 degree temps, just some sun!

Mom said Macy wasn't scared during yesterday's storms, thunder and torrential downpours. Looked up and said, "MawMaw, your flowers are growing!" Haha drowning is more like it but I'm glad she wasn't afraid. 

This was Sunday. Macy gave her froggie rain boots a workout stomping in all the mud puddles. You know I've mentioned how close we all live. Well, I'm at Mom's house and at the end of the driveway, my house is to the left and Katie's is to the right. Yes, I moved three times and never left the driveway. :)

MawMaw and PawPaw have Macy an early birthday present. She calls it her playground and moved her little slide next to the swingset. Then her sandbox had to be moved, too. She was so excited she couldn't stick with just one thing, she would swing, then slide, then glide, the slide, then swing! 

I have a video of her at the top of the slide, she would tell us to cheer for her ad we would. Then she yells, "Louder!!!"  And we would. And when she reached the bottom of the slide she stomped her foot, jumped up and yelled, "Yahoo!!" Hilarious!!!!

Y'all I don't have new pics of AH - she is having a tough time right now. Her grandmother, who she lives beside, has been give months to live. I can't imagine how tough it is on the whole family, but to a 13-year-old, it must be even tougher to grasp and understand. Please pray for her grandmother but for the entire family and medical personnel, too. 

As for me, it's time to get ready for work. Y'all have a great week!! 

A wee catch up

Where on earth have I been? Who knows. No where exciting, that's for sure. But I'm here now! Yippie!!

I'm in the South and the South got hit with snow and ice. In my neck of the woods It was ICE. Macy was happy to play in it anyway. I wasn't as happy to drive in it... 

I made it into work, however, it was a tense drive. Halfway there it looked much better, thank heavens. Now the ice is gone but we the having insane cold temps for this area. This better severely dent the bug population this summer. 

I finally finished this piece of paint your own pottery. No clue how it will look once it's fired. Hopefully I'll pick it up this weekend, while I paint another with my Sweet Niece #1 as she turns 13! What!?!? 13! How did this happen!?! But it's true, she'll be 13 soon. Heaven help. 

I had wanted to finish this before her birthday but I don't see that happening. It's very busy - probably not the best choices in fabric but I think she'll like it. Or I hope she will. 

Ugh. I better go get a faucet dripping since it's already 13 degrees outside. Sigh. Y'all stay warm!!! 

A Chilly Friday's Letters

I'm Southern. I'm not made for cold weather - and I'm definitely not made for 12 degree weather. I so hate cold weather!! But it does usually give us beautifully clear nights with the sky filled with brilliant stars.

Let's dive into the week's letters!

Dear Downton, I'm soooo happy you are back! I missed you - your characters, your drama, your amazing clothes!  Like an old friend, I'm glad you are back! 

Dear Macy, it's been quite a roller coaster ride. Your dad's surgery, your sickness, your mama's sickness, two weeks staying at MawMaw and PawPaws... It's been a rough ride but tonight, you go back home!! Hooray! 

Dear B-I-L: so thankful this surgery is behind you, you are home from the hospital, the staples are out- so thankful! Lots of people have kept you in their prayers - God is Good! 

Dear cold weather: you can totally pack it up and move on with it now. 

Dear Lord, thank you. Thank you for all you have done for my family these past two weeks. Thank you for being with dear friends in difficult times. Your love is beyond my comprehension. Please help me find Your purpose for me. 

So many are sick right now. Y'all please take care of each other out there. I'm hoping to goodness I can avoid it. Let's get moving. Tomorrow is a massive clean up in my house! Then setting up the new sewing machine!! Woop! Y'all have a great weekend!

2014 Wrap Up

2015 has already been quite eventful, and I haven't even had the chance to wrap up 2014 yet! So let's do that before 2015 totally overtakes me and I just blow off the 2014 wrap up all together.

January - It seems I started doing a photo a day in January.  Here is the first post. I'm not sure how long this lasted - I guess we'll find out as I move through the year.  I kinda hate I quit because it's great to look back and see what you were doing on a day by day basis!

February - February brought snow to the South.  Yes, we kinda lose our freakin' minds when it snows because we don't see too much of the fluffy white stuff around here.  So photos galore and happy children playing in the snow is the theme of this Photo Challenge Wednesday.

March - I was pretty darn happy in March.  The ice and snow melted and Spring slowly started to emerge.  Lots of fun photos of pretty sunsets and flowers and all things nature. And sweet niece voting! See more here from one of my Photo Challenge Wednesdays!

April - I love otters, did you know that? I think otters rock! I also love Spring, flowers, mild/warm temperatures, and cuteness on babies. :)  April I only posted three times - all three Photo Challenge Wednesdays, which I find impressive.  Check one out here.
























May - Spring time photo shoot with the chappies!  Sweet niece #1 is a perfect princess to pose for photos. She is really photogenic, too.  Sweet Niece #2 ... well it's a bit harder.  You can check out some of the pics here. Just looking back over May, I can see how work was pushing me under without a breath, trying to drown me!

June - Things got ugly in June.  June was sickness for me and about 8 doctor visits?  June was sickness and emergency surgery for my sister, too, which was obviously stressful.  And an election, which is what my job is all about.  Read some here, which was written before we realized she would have surgery.  It also shows photos of my house all cleaned up!, thanks to the goodness of my mom and sister. But there was a lot of good in June, too, as this post shows. Painting party being one of them!

July - Let's finish up the medical drama, including mom getting shingles, in this first post.  You'll also get fighter niece! HI-YA! And then, because I know no one wants all that drama, I shared fun photos of both kids and great scripture verses.  

August - Ahhh... August.  With August came EDISTO.  (Or Edislow as it's called).  Man, if we all didn't need a break to soak up salt water mist and melt into warm sandy beach.  Yes, Edisto is good, and you can see how good here and here. I also got crazy crafty with my LOVE canvas here and the office-grown pumpkin, fru-frued up for the fall holidays, which is featured here. :) 

September - It's my birth month! But during an election season - yeah, it's not as much fun.  But I got Downton Abbey so WHOOPIE!  Also took Baby Sweet Niece to a pumpkin patch - loads of fun! Check it out here! 

October - Man I love autumn and the beautiful leaves of the season.  Love it.  Enjoy lots of it here. And a stroll down a Friday's Letters Lane here. 

November - This is a very excited Ellie! She's part of this Friday's Letter! Along with Shrek, Sunsets, Macy baking cookies, ... all kinds of funness.  And one little Thanksgiving blog with no photos here. 

December - Obviously, the Election is over bc I finally caught up on Halloween and Thanksgiving here!  A new kitten appeared in this post "Run Faster, Catch Up With Life!"

And I think I will end it there.  Of course there were dozens of posts outside of those highlighted here, but eh, that's the past! Onward to the future! :) And to the first post of 2015! :)  Thanks for joining me on the journey.