to grandma's house we go!

- cooking with grandma.

- the two traditional thanksgiving details: mini fork and grandma's mac and cheese.

- chocolate pie. mmmmmmmmmmmm.

- pretty leaves everywhere.


after spending last thanksgiving in the hospital and eating at braums for dinner, being at grandma's house this year had so much more meaning. it meant that she is here with us after surviving a massive heart attack and quintuple bypass surgery. walking into her house and seeing her standing at the oven was a beautiful sight. we had a great thanksgiving, complete with all the food, family, and football. my grandma also has a treadmill, which was in use most of the day. i am so blessed, and it's all because of my Heavenly Father. He blesses me even when i don't deserve it. i will be eternally grateful for His love for me.

from hater to celebrator.

you know those people who are adamant about waiting to decorate, celebrate, and sing Christmas songs until after thanksgiving? they roll their eyes at any sight of tinsel, light, or tree. any sign of holly jolly-ness before turkey day warrants a look so lethal that the grinch would be scared?

well... i was one of them. yes, i was a Christmas-before-thanksgiving hater.

but something has changed this year. i have found myself singing Christmas songs, wearing cute penguin earrings with santa hats, and decorating -- all BEFORE thanksgiving.

what is wrong with me? why the sudden change from hater to celebrator?
maybe i am changing. maybe i just want to. maybe because there isn't a law that says "pre-Christmas celebrations are prohibited. all violators will be prosecuted."

for whatever reason, i will embrace it.
bring on the turkey, chocolate pie and mashed 'taters with nativities, Christmas lights, and carols.

like the morning fog.

 
"how do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? 

your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone."

[james 4:14] 

a dense fog covered the earth like a blanket of snow this morning. a fog so thick, my mama would say you could cut it with a knife. visibility was limited; i had to slow down just to see the stoplights.

as i made my way to work, the fog reminded me of an ever-present state in my life: worry. i couldn't see the path i was taking because of the fog, yet i knew in a matter of just one hour, i would be able to see clearly again. worry is like the fog; it clouds our mind, judgement, and faith, when we know good and well that God is in the midst of the struggle, right beside us.   

why do i worry? worry is nothing more than putting my trust and faith in that which i am concerned about instead of trusting that God will work everything out for my good. when i look back at my life and remember all the things i've worried myself sick over, i see that God worked it out. maybe not my way, but His way, which is infinitely better for me than anything this world has to offer.

life is so short... but a breath. like the morning fog.
yet i choose to spend some days worried about the little things. i choose to believe the same ol' lies that the enemy throws my way. i choose to trust in my fleeting circumstances instead of the constant Almighty.

but i'm tired of the fog.

so today... i choose to surrender. i lay my worries and concerns at the foot of the cross, trusting that God will provide, protect, and prevail.

turkey cupcakes.

i cannot fathom that thanksgiving is this week! time is flyin'.
i wanted to share these adorable cupcakes i made a couple years ago.
this is a fun way to let the kids participate in the thanksgiving food prep.

directions:
bake and frost the cupcakes as directed.
use candy corn for the beak, feathers, and feet.
for the head, i used candy corn pumpkins, but anything round will do.
for the eyes, i used those little icing tubes.

over the weekend.

5 activities:
- mama and i had the funnest little shopping trip.
- i found my childhood books. oh, the memories.
- the winter oreos are out now! my tummy was so happy.
- mama and i ate at chick-fil-a. it was her first time, and she loved it.
- i made a pinterest craft for the second week in a row. i know, it's craziness, man.

4 lessons:
- they make those size stickers tiny and clear so people like me will walk around with them on all day.
- God's plan for my life is so much better than anything i could dream in my mind because He is Lord of my life.
- sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is pray for them.
- walmart has the cutest jeans. this is major news to me. i paid $20 and $7 for jeans. it blows my mind.

3 things i'm thankful for:
- having great childhood memories. a great childhood in general. i feel so incredibly blessed.
- friendly cashiers. i love the conversations. they always brighten my day.
- weekend mornings. coffee, Jesus in the am, and jammies = a happy heart.

2 things i'm currently diggin':
- Christmas decorations. i have always been the person who rolls her eyes at people who decorate before thanksgiving, but this year, i can't help but smile. i'm so excited to decorate this weekend!
- i discovered the awesomeness that is tj maxx. i bought a pair of snow boots that i have been wanting for weeks. i realize oklahoma rarely gets snow, but when they are half of the original price, you don't let that deal pass you by. 

1 thing i read:
"God's plan for your life far exceeds the circumstances of your day." source.

bugle cornucopias.

i was browsing pinterest the other day when i came across these adorable bugle cornucopia treat bags from cookies and cups. she even gave a free printable! i immediately knew i wanted to make them for my sunday school class.

are they not the cutest thing?! this was an easy, fun, and inexpensive project.

 i started blogging HERE now! make sure to follow along!

tidbits of life.

rainy day = wellies.

i made my tomato soup again. so good.

pretty nature.

my pinterest project inspired from this pin.

new sweater and a caramel mocha.

oklahoma sunset.

a leaf i found in the pasture. thought it was cool, so i hung it on my wall.

gorgeous scenery on the drive to stillwater.

happy birthday, grandma gracie.

today is the birthday of the woman who passed on her love of photography to me.
the woman who loved Jesus with every fiber of her being and made it known to everyone she met.
the woman who is my hero: my grandma gracie.

this picture encompasses my grandma to a T. first of all, that pink nail polish. there was always nail polish on the table. then there are all of the magnets on her fridge. she would let us kids play with them and tell us the stories behind where they came from. next are the animals/dolls on top of the fridge and on the wall. she made all of those. she was always crocheting some quirky animal. and finally, her sitting there holding a pillow she made. classic grandma gracie. notice the purple flowers. (now you know who i get it from)

today would have been her 82nd birthday.
she has been celebrating her birthdays in heaven for quite some time now.

wasn't my grandma a betty? (if you can name that movie, give yourself ten cool points)

everything reminds me of her:
the color purple -- it was her favorite, as is mine.
crocheting -- she was always making something.
hot rolls and dunkaroos -- she made awesome rolls and always had dunkaroos for me and dustin.
church -- everytime i walk by her sunday school class, i smile.
my daddy -- he has her kindness and knowledge of the bible.
and angels -- because she is one.

i miss her so much. memories flood my mind every time i walk on the soil where her house stood. the smell of her house. her sewing machine with fabric and thread, always making something for someone. her dog, shorty. riding our bikes on her sidewalk. i was so young. i had no idea that years later, i would give anything to just talk to her. to get her advice--her words of wisdom.

she made a difference in everyone's lives. just ask the people who knew her. they have story after story of something funny she did or said. her favorite comeback line when someone did something wrong was,
"but their mama loves them."

 this is written on the wall of her old sunday school classroom. 

i am so thankful for the impact she had on my life, her faith, and her love for Jesus.