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. 

Friday's Letters

Hello weekend! I see you peeping around the corner... don't worry, I'll get you soon!

Dear Flu - you are ruining everyone's happiness around here.  First you attacked my b-i-l, which made sweet niece very unhappy since she was banned from the house. She REALLY missed her Daddy.  Then you attack the babysitter, but only after Macy was already there for the day. Oops. That visit was cut short. So how about packing your bags and moving on outta here, ok?

Dear Christmas - I'm almost ready for you.  Almost. I need to get two more gifts and do a lot of wrapping to be totally ready.  And make lots of cookies, which starts tonight! Hopefully Sweet Niece #1 will be able to help me this weekend.

Dear God - You really answered prayers for my family this week.  Dad continues to be bladder cancer free, based on his test this week - THANK YOU! and other blessings I am so very thankful for... Thank you, Lord.

Dear Book of Job - you are killing me.  Man, I just ache with sadness reading this book! I'm doubling up on my reading, trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel.  One thing I did learn, however, is more often than not, the best thing you can do to be a good friend is to listen and pray.  "O that you would be completely silent, and that it would become your wisdom!" Job 13:5  As Charles Stanley writes, "Very often - more frequently that we know - our best counsel and most helpful advice is to say precisely nothing.  'Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, his is considered prudent.' Proverbs 17:28 "

Dear friend - Thank you for my surprise at my desk this week!!! I called in Monday so I could go to the doctor and hopefully get some meds (I did, but they are so powerful they scare the dickens out of me, so I won't take them anymore!) - as I ran by the office to get packages, I discovered this SUPER COOL SCARF on my desk! Whoa... you rock for this! Thank you Thank you Thank you! (and thanks to photo programs that hide the spots on my two front teeth. Awesome!)

Dear Prayer Peeps - anyone that is a praying person, our church seems to have been hit with sickness and sadness lately.  I've also had personal prayer requests that a few of you know about. So Prayer Peeps, please pray for my personal family and church family, if you don't mind. God will understand your intent  :)  Thank you.

Well folks, I hope you have a festive weekend of family and friend fun.  Hopefully I'll take more pics this coming week to make these posts more exciting! :)

Saturday letters

Y'all know it's always something .... Today it was confirmed my brother-in-law has the flu. And my sister thinks she may be getting it, too. Baby Sweet Niece is with my parents knight for a "slumber party."  She's cried all day wanting her daddy. At one point I was crying with her because she was so pitiful. So yes, I've lost my marbles.

But let's look at my Friday Letters before I bawl again. :). 

Dear Ellie Bellie, you are a sweetie and I enjoyed seeing you last week or was it last weekend? Either way, you brighten my day! Why is your aunt Donna letting you grow up on us??? 

Dear friends in general, I'm so thankful for you and glad I'm able to spend some time wih you. Dinner with Sara (above), lunch with Corree, run in wih Martha Jean and Kathy, dinner with Donna and Ellie, devotionals with Paulene, letters from Raynore and Melissa is week after next! Loving it!!

Dear Sharon, I love Macy's scarf and hat. And she loves the baby doll blanket! And once the elf is found, he'll enjoy his scarf! 

Sweet niece #2, seeing your excitement for Christmas is adorable. Granted you've said you are asking Santa for corn on the cob, a puppy, an a hug. If that don't melt his heart, he's not the real Santa. Sweet Niece #1: be ready for a seriously packed weekend next week! Gear up and get excited!! 

Dear Paulene, we have got to get back on track with Job. We must get through this book! 

Ok folks,  wiped out and ready to see sleep. I hope your weekends are going great!  Night! 

Friday's Letters

Happy happy joy joy - It's Friday! I took yesterday and today off and have thoroughly enjoyed my down time :) and I got good news at the cardiologist today woop woop!! Visited with a friend, spent way too much money in Hobby Lobby... Life is good! So y'all pull up your chairs and let's dive into Friday's Letters! 

Sweet Nieces, y'all are so adorably cute. :) exhausting and a handful-both of you!!! But I love y'all very much and I'm so proud of you! 

Baby Sweet Niece, I get to spend more time with you because you are here full time. This week you've been super sweet and loving and challenging. We've read books, played blocks, princesses, fought over picking up, experienced how stubborn you can be... Oh my. But you are such blessing. 

Dear brother and sister-in-law, thank you for inviting me over for supper!  It was great to just kick back and catch up. And the dogs were great entertainment. :)

Dear Dunkin Donuts, thank you thank you thank you for pumpkin pie donuts. That us all. 

Dear Lord, you have answered prayers, blessed and always loved. You know these private prayers that weigh heavily. Please continue providing strength and comfort. 

Y'all, I'm so happy most of my shopping is behind me. I'm wanting to visit Santa with Macy, see Christmas lights, send cards and dive into this in-depth study of Christmas in Sunday school. Very excited. :) :) :)  I hope your weekend is a good one! *salute!*

Friday's Letters

Good Morning, Friends! It's actually Saturday, six something in the morning, and I realized I didn't post my letters for the week. Bad Bethie. I was so excited to see Shrek the Musical with friends that I completely forgot. Heck, I was so excited to see friends because I haven't seen anyone outside of work and family for about a month?? Crazy. Anyway, shall we start?

Dear hay ride, so ok, you didn't have hay, a tractor, or a trailer, but to a two year old the back of a truck is just as good. Well keep calling you hay ride, because you make baby niece happy. Not sure truck ride would be as amazing to her ...

Dear Baby Gates, you are a total cutie and such a sweetie!  Snuggled into my mama-your great aunt- and totally made her day. Then you woke up and took a bottle from Macy! Ok the two of you stole my heart. 

Dear Mama, you are so good with Little Miss. She learns so much from you because you are willing to take time and teach her. And I know it adds to your work to have a toddler in the kitchen, tossing flour in the air as she says, "It's snowing!!!"  You are the best grandma ever. 

Dear Ellie Bellie, I have missed you! I haven't seen you in a month of Sundays! You did so well in the play - I think you like the movie. We'll have to see if we can find it. Because I think you missed the part about Fiona becoming an ogre ... It was a little too late for you :) ZZZZzzzz...

Dear Limestone Theater Dept and Gaffney Little Theater, Bravo! Wonderful job! Enjoyed it thoroughly - very cool scenery - great singing and performing. Looking forward to the next one! 

Dear God, You are so good. Thank you for the friends you've given to me, the family you've made me part of and for the support you surround me with. You know there are prayer requests on the table- for family and friends. You see the situations, You know the plan and You will provide what is needed. Please help us all have greater faith in You. 

Well friends, I suppose I should get moving and start my day. Mom and I are shopping, tying to start on Christmas :)  I hope you have a beautiful weekend and come back to visit soon! 

Friday's Letters

Dear toner cartridge, yes I know you tricked my short coworker into thinking you were secure on the top shelf. I know you waited for me to come in and peruse the paper selection so you could knock me unconscious. You almost succeeded. You gave me a serious headache. Now let's see if you give me two black eyes, as well.

Dear Autumn, I'm so thankful you are here. I love your sunrises and sunsets. Your colors make me oh so happy. And seeing the sun set on my way home from work totally rocks.

Dear Facebook, deleting your app from my phone has freed up so much space for more sweet nieces photos. No regrets. 

Dear Election, I'm so happy you are over and certified! Seeing everyone's sticker photos made you a little easier to endure, because people voting is what is all about. Wait, what do you mean we have a January election!??!? Argh!

Dear Sweet Niece #2, you've had us worried, little girl. Four doctor visits in three weeks is a little extreme. Seeing thi smile tonight made me so happy - hopefully it means you are feeling more like yourself.

Dear Sweet Niece #1, the stomach bug?? Heaven help, I hope you are recovering. My heart broke a bit for you when you were unable to try out for basketball. Hopefully another sport will work out. 

Dear tree farm, I got a little excited when I saw your sign this morning!!! It's beginning to look like Christmas!!!! Yay yay yay yay yay!!!

Tomorrow is a great pottery show so I'm heading there. Then I promised Macy she could come over and jump on my bed. So now I must sleep so I can prepare for hyper little miss! ;)

Letters on a Monday

I think this makes 22 days of work in a row, so don't be surprised if this is a rambling typo-filled mess :)

Dear Autumn, I'm glad you are finally here. I'm not crazy about your cold temps but so far I'm still chillin' in flip flops. Even as I scrape ice off the windshield... 

Dear Sweet Nieces, it made me so very happy to see y'all for all of 15 minutes this week. You were both still half asleep but so adorably cute! I love you both much!!!

Dear Sweet niece #2, going trick-or-treating with you was so much fun!!! You were so excited to be around other kids that you didn't really care about the candy. :) 

Ok y'all I'm falling asleep you know I won't been around here for a while long. Get out and vote!!! 

(I actually typed this up late last night and fell asleep before I could post it. Oops!)

Friday!!!!

Friday is a little less exciting when you have to work alllll day on Saturday. But it's still Friday!!! So here goes my letters.

Dear sweet niece #2:  I loved playing with you on the playground and seeing how brave you are. However, seeing your little crumpled up self in a teal heap on the ground under the play set broke my heart. You are quite big enough to exit the play set via monkey bars... Heaven help. And now you have a bad virus causing you high fevers. Please get well soon :(

Dear Walmart - please remain stocked up on all candy and chocolate, Advil, Tylenol and Cokes. As I was making my list for what WORK needed from you, I ended up with a list asking for Needs, Mini Oreos, a bacon egg and cheese biscuit and a gallon of tea. Can we say stressed much? 

Dear evil cold, I've battled you for a week. No, I'm not amused you are morphing into a sneezing runny nose pattern. I'm ready for you to be over. 

Dear God, this trip through Ezra has been great with Paulene. I totally give You the credit for my stress level being as low as it is. Starting off with a discussion via text about Your word in the morning, then reading the Bible at night is a good combo for me. 

Sweet Niece #1:  four years ago!!! This is the night before your daddy married my sister. I'm sure you were nervous and concerned but I think you have settled in to our family just right. You even look like our family! :) you are a blessing to us and we love you so very much. (Gosh you were little- now you are almost six feet tall!!) 

Dear Paulene, you were sent by God to help me through this election! :) very thankful! So glad to have your friendship.  And this in my Timehop made me SMILE!

Folks, I'm tired tired tired. :) I'm heading home, enjoying a hot bath and tv before crashing and coming back tomorrow.  Have a wonderful weekend, and hug someone you love.