The Day After

Just finished lunch in the dining room alone.  It was not a sad time for me but a blessed time as I remember only yesterday, Christmas, it was filled with some of the people I love most.  As usually Mark was at this end of the table with me sitting on his left and our son, Luke, was at the other end of the table.  This tradition began years ago when he was just a small boy. Lillie Catherine was residing from her high chair between Luke and Sarah Beth having a great time eating but always delighting us with her smiles, laughter and of course lots of talk.  Big CHANGE from last year!  Uncle Charley joined us again this year from Lee's Summit, 87 years and still driving.  A true blessing having him join us.  Our Sarah Beth and David were here as always adding joy and love to the celebration.  We count ourselves blessed to have Kindel with us this year and are looking forward to many more years of celebration as a part of our clan.  NOW here's the added blessing to it all, if it could get any better, we will be having TWO new grandchildren in 2014! I can hardly wait.  Sarah Beth and David are expecting a girl, Rose Elizabeth (Rosie), on March 10th but she will probably be here the end of February according to her doctor.  Luke and Kindel are expecting a little boy on March 22nd.  As of now he doesn't have a name but Mark immediately started calling him "Little Dude".  We called Luke "Dude" when he was a boy and still do! So you see, "How can I look at the empty dining room and feel sad when God has blessed us with so much and He in His goodness continues to load us down everyday with gifts of love and blessing?"  Just can't be sad but instead look forward to many other times of celebrating as a family.  MY CUP TRULY DOES RUN OVER AND OVER AND OVER!  Merry Christmas and God bless.
     

Christmas Memories

Who doesn't have a Christmas memory some good some bad.  I always reflect on the ones that remind me of family and friends.  They bring a smile to my face and sometimes a little tug to my heart remembering those who have left us.  One of my favorites is when my Mom, Grandma and Aunt Rosemary would get together and bake for Christmas.  They spent days making sure each house had plenty of goodies baked for the holidays.  I remember a cake they would make that would have to sit in the refrigerator for at least two weeks before it was ready to eat.  Then there was candy.  Hard candy, chocolate candy, candy with fruit in it and on and on and on.  Oh not to forget the special recipes from each house that no one but the person making it knew the exact recipe.  They would pass them on to one another but leave out an ingredient or change a measurement.  Yep, it's a southern thing. When ask about it the answer was the same "Well, I just don't know I gave you the exact recipe I use".  I'm sure some of these great recipes went to the grave or they got so old they didn't know the truth about the ingredients themselves.  I guess they are entitled.  I am working on a cookbook making sure all of my recipes are written out and with side notes of what works and what doesn't.  I want my children and grandchildren to be able to make my Chicken and Dumplings, Creole food, Mexican dishes and all the others and remember the times we all sat around the table enjoying the food, fellowship and the love that went into preparing it.  After all how many people do you hear talk about what great times they had over carry out at the family table. Merry Christmas from our home to yours and go the extra mile in preparing that holiday meal.  You will be glad to have the memory and so will everyone else.
 

What does it mean?

What does the word Pinterest mean to you?  For one thing it is not even a word.  It continues to come up as misspelled in the spell check.  But if you break it down you're looking at pin or interest, in short Pinterest.  Everyone seems to know this little red word.  It took me awhile to get an account but as usual my daughter got me started.  Now I think she is wondering if it was a mistake.  The one thing about it there is no use being in denial about being on Pinterest because there are my dozens of pins.  Like shopping? You can shop until your heart is content without spending a penny.  You can like something this week and delete it next week wondering what was I thinking when I pinned that!  You need a recipe look no further Pinterest has it. I tell myself this is a waste of time but I always return to Pin what Interest me. There are so many categories to look at you could go on and on.  Well, all I got to say is "Try it you will like it".  
 

Love You More

This pillow sits on our bed usually on one side or the other.  It travels from one side of the bed to the other during the day and evening.  I put it on Mark's pillow and he moves it back to my side.  It started a few years back when I said to Mark, "I love you".  He immediately said to me "I love you more".   Every since then he always answers with "I love you more" to my I love you.   I have learned I cannot say I love you more and get the last word so I started to answer with "I am glad you do".  Now the pillow travels back and forth sending a message of I LOVE YOU MORE to each other.

My Preacher Man

Yep that's him, my Preacher Man with one of his favorite birthday presents Kenneth Copeland teaching tapes.  Notice the black hair?  Well, that's what the 80"s looked like.  Looks like he worked at Target with the red pullover and khaki pants.  You know it was what it was.  I thought he looked quite dapper.  Of course he is mine and I was the one who dressed him that way.  Ha Ha! interpreted lol.  Things change trends, hair color, clothing, etc. but one thing for sure that never changes is the Word of God.  Thank God he spent those early Christian years filling himself with the Word listening, reading and speaking.  Today our family as well as many others have received help in time of trouble, blessings, healings and encouragement because he took the time everyday to learn about the things of God and to grow in them in his own personal life.  Loved you then, love you now, always have, always will.  Your Rose

Growing Up in the Bootheel of Missouri

That's my Preacher Man standing in a cotton field not far from the home I grew up in.  When I was in grade school at RIII Elementary School which my Daddy built, we went to summer school and were out in the fall for cotton picking season.  At that time cotton was still picked by hand.  Yep sack on the back!  The kids were out of school for the picking season to help harvest the cotton on the farm.  Once you've picked cotton you never forget it. Hard work starting early in the morning while there is still some dew on the cotton.  The extra moisture caused the cotton to weigh in heavier and therefore you got paid more.  The cotton was weighed and you were paid so much per pound you picked.  As time progressed the farmer went to machinery for harvesting the cotton.  Each cotton bowl is loaded with seed.  The seed for the following year is set aside at the gin where the cotton is cleaned before it is baled and sent down or up the Mississippi River.  Days gone by but never forgotten...there is no fun like playing in a trailer full of cotton at the end of the day! 

Look Who's Looking!

Yep! our newest Christmas visitor showed up a little late.  He refused to come around Thanksgiving after hearing Putnam/Laughlin families were a little "under the weather".  Not to mention the weather was just to warm for a guy like him.  Lillie and I after much thought gave him a great name.  Chillie after the little snowman on Doc McStuffin her favorite and only TV show she watches.  He now presides over all our meals taken in the breakfast room.  Hmmm funny calling it a breakfast room when we eat all our meals there except on holidays when we take them in the formal dining room.  He also looks over my Preacher Man's shoulder as he sits at the kitchen table and prepares his delicious messages he serves at our church services at Victory!  I never have been able to get him into an office or designated place of study and preparation.  It's always been the kitchen table and guess it always will be.  Oh by the way Jacksons that table you now sit at has had many, many messages come to life at it...enjoy and be very blessed....