Another loss

My dad's youngest brother, Samuel Claude Meadows, passed away early yesterday morning, surrounded by his family who loved him so so much.  I just know he was greeted by my grandparents, my daddy, my Uncle Kent, Aunt Marlene, and Aunt Imogene when he crossed over!

This picture represents my Uncle Sam well!  His family was most important to him.  My dad was from a tiny town just across the border in Louisiana, about a two hour drive from where we lived.  Growing up we would go over at least once a month, maybe more (seemed like more cause the drive from Lufkin to Jasper always seems sooooo long) and we spent the most time with my Uncle Sam's family because he has two girls the same age as my sister and me.  My Aunt Lana had the sweetest disposition and put up with what had to be constant intrusions into her home when family came to stay.  Big barbeque weekends and play time were great memories I carry from growing up with all my cousins - and family was very very important to my daddy.  Uncle Sam was his youngest brother but to me they seemed the most similar.  Maybe because we all went to church together, or they resembled each other.  And family was very important to him as well.

Every time one of my dad's siblings died it was a loss, because it was also (to me) another piece of him gone.  This one has been hard because I know how hard it will be on his girls, and on his wife.  I am just praying for peace and comfort for all of them, for his grandkids, and his sons-in-law (who I know he treated like his own), and family and friends.  Such is life, but it doesn't mean it's easy.  Thank Heavens we have hope in Christ and we know someday we will all be together again!!

Farmhouse Love

So I've loved "farmhouses" as long as I can remember.  LONG before it was a thing and the most popular designs.  I was born and raised in Texas but I'm a first generation Texan who comes from a long line of Southern tradition families.  Old houses and farmhouse appealed to me long before I knew that was a "style".  My grandmother's house in Louisiana had free standing cabinets and lots of enamelware and metal knobs.  My great-grandparents lived in a big old house on a farm in Tennessee.  I remember making their favorite banana split cake in what seemed like a HUGE farmhouse kitchen.  Every house had iron beds and those good old heavy quilts to sleep under.  I love the smell of real old wood and the thought of memories made in those homes.  The look and feel of those homes and the lives lived in them has always appealed to me.  Then along came HGTV's Fixer Upper and now the popularity of farmhouse style has exploded!

My hubby isn't the "fixer upper" type so we will probably never buy a 100 year old house like I want.  However farmhouse decor is readily available and at great prices.  The Target Bullseye playground is loaded up with items - most are $5 or less!!!  I normally resist going with the crowd, but I've held out long enough.  We've been in our home for 10 years and I haven't really ever made it fully my style in any way.  Time to incorporate something I already loved into my home - even if everyone else is doing it. 

I love the paint colors in my house but I think it's time for a change.  So I'm currently on the hunt for the perfect shade of white/blue/cream that will work.  Sherwin Williams has some awesome colors and I know it's a great product.  I have a few furniture pieces I just want to work over with some paint as well.  Two years ago I didn't even know what Rae Dunn was but I have a few pieces now that I love.  I'm working those in with my old dishes and china that were thrifted and inherited and I love it all!  So stick with me - it will be a long project in the making.  Especially with Wade out of commission with his elbow/shoulder surgeries and limited funds for awhile.  But I'm determined to finally make this home MINE in some way. 

Here's my first start - I found this cute stand at Hobby Lobby (and 50% off!!!) and all the little items in it came from Target, Hobby Lobby, Dollar Tree (and TJ Maxx for Rae).  Pretty cute for start and very inexpensive to boot.  And yes - I do have Irish heritage!

Here's to being inspired and making it yours - even if it IS a slow process!

Holidays are Past

The surprise party was a success!  Wade had NO idea - it was a lot of fun!  We enjoyed his friends and the caramel cake our girls made was SO good!

We did family Christmas the week before since all the kids were scattering.  It was different this year, but good.  For actual Christmas we had a quiet 4 day weekend at home, then had to go back to Houston for the post-op check on Wade's elbow.  It's healing nicely.  He got a fancy brace "like JJ WATT's" and we go back at the end of January.  Once he heals the elbow they will redo his shoulder.  It will NOT be fun.

New Year's was also a 4 day weekend and we did nothing! I enjoyed it immensely!  We laid around and watched a LOT of college football.  YAY for an LSU WIN!  I got all the Christmas decorations down and now getting ready for Valentine's.  Target's Bullseye Playground is my newest obsession!  I need to stay out of there for real!!!!  And if I could just find a couple of Rae Dunn Valentine's pieces I'd be happy.

We started a new Bible app on Jan. 1 - it's called ReadScripture.  It's designed to read through the Bible in one year.  So far I like it a lot.  There is a reading, a cool video, then a related verse to read and meditate.  So far we are both on track with it (yes I realize this is only Jan 4!!!)

Wade and I both got back on Keto Jan. 1 as well.  We were ready to stop eating junk and I already feel better.  I'm so glad to know I only gained 2 POUNDS the entire holiday season.  I was down 32 so that's a net loss of 30.  New goal is to lose 20 by March 1.  That's slow for me but I want to lose it slow, acclimate, and keep it off.  That will only leave 40 to final goal weight!  With my big 5-0 coming up this year I intend to reach these goals!!

Well things are about to ramp up again - the kids start basketball, school will be back in session, and all the stuff that goes with the Spring kicks off.  Here's to a blessed, happy 2019 for all of you!!!

December update

Once again, it's been a busy time!

Wade and I celebrated 26 years of marriage the day before Thanksgiving, then on Thanksgiving Day had lunch with Morgan, my mom, my sister and my nephew.  The other kids were all working or out of town.  It was a nice weekend.  We got all of our Christmas decorations up and done!

Wade will be having surgery tomorrow to repair a torn tricep tendon on his elbow.  We've been trying to get this done for a year now!  I'll be glad to have it done.  Once that heals he will have another shoulder repair, then hopefully be good as new and ready to get back to work.  He has a big birthday coming up in 2 weeks so I hope he feels good enough for the surprise party we are planning!

Christmas will be different this year - Meg and the kids will travel to be with Jacob working out of state, and Caleb will be working.  So it will just be us and Morgan and whatever family gets together.  Hopefully everyone will have a safe, fun holiday season!  I'm looking forward to a couple of days off and some relaxation time.

Merry Christmas and Happy HollyDays!

FALL update

So just a quick update.  I haven't posted since July!  But we do stay busy with work and family stuff.  Y'all know how much I LOVE summer and I hate to see it end :(   But this fall hasn't been too bad.  Just really really rainy and only cooling off in the last couple of weeks.  This time last year I had taken a fun trip to California and then a trip to Minnesota in October.  Autumn there is amazing!  This is a pic I took of leaves on the ground.  Beautiful colors!

Wade is still waiting for approval to have surgery in Houston on his shoulder - the surgery in March wasn't done correctly it appears.  His bicep tendon hasn't healed properly and they didn't even fix his tricep tendon.  So hopefully that is going to happen soon and get him some relief and let the healing begin.  I know he is ready to get back to a semi-normal life.

In August we got to take a trip to New Mexico for my BFF's son's wedding.  It was a FUN trip.  It's gorgeous out there - in the mountains north of Santa Fe.  It was a sweet, pretty ceremony and we had some great girl time (we flew out together a few days before the hubbies drove out).  

Wade and I are basically empty nesters now!  Caleb got a travel trailer and took it out west for work.  He and Taelor took their doggos Cooper and Deuce.  It's just me and Wade and Nova left at home.  It's a new, very different season but I'm ready for the adventure.  The kids are doing well - the grandkids are growing like crazy and Morgan is getting healthier every day and doing well in college.

We lost both our furry cat children in the last couple of months.  Sully passed at the end of August and Tiger just two weeks after. 

They were 17 years old and I honestly can barely remember a time without them.  It was a very sad time.  Lots of changes lately.

I am looking forward to fall and the holidays - time spent with family and friends.  Here's hoping for a great end to 2018 and a WAAAAAAY better 2019!!!  

Memories of Nene

Last week was a sad one - the passing of my dad's oldest living sibling and his only living sister.  My aunt, Marlene Meadows Archer, was one of a kind.  Her grandkids called her Nene - probably because they couldn't pronounce Marlene.   She was the family historian.  The one who remembered everything - right up to the end.  She was 85 years old and even though her body was rebelling her mind (she called it her "members") never left her.

My granny passed away when I was only 9 1/2 years old.  I remember that night clearly because it was the first time I ever remember hearing my quiet, sweet daddy holler or cry.  When the call came he cried out loudly, and I didn't know why but I knew it wasn't good.  He loved his mama!  I remember that Aunt Marlene tried to take her place best she could to keep all the family together.  Her home became the new gathering spot.  She loved her brothers oh so much, and she loved all her nieces and nephews too.  She remembered our birthdays, our spouses' names, our kids' names - all of it.  She lived just across the river in Texas until she and her husband retired to Toledo Bend.  We would visit there too, right on the lake.  When he passed away she moved back to the home place in Louisiana.  She had a gorgeous yard with old plantings that I never was brave enough to dig up (I do NOT have a green thumb!) 

My grandparents had 6 children, but their oldest girl (my namesake, Mae Imogene) died before she turned 3.  In fact, my Granny would have been pregnant with Aunt Marlene when she passed.  I can't imagine.  After Aunt Marlene, my Uncle Kent, then my Daddy, then my Uncle Curtis were all born within 5 years of each other.  Uncle Sam was the youngest; born seven years after my Dad.  My daddy was the first sibling who lived to adulthood to pass away, in 2006.  After the funeral in Lufkin Aunt Marlene's son John did the escort to Louisiana and conducted a service there for the family who wasn't able to make the trip to East Texas.   Once the burial was over, we all gathered yet again at Aunt Marlene's home.  She told stories as only she could, and even though we were heartbroken we laughed and laughed at the tales she told of our Daddy, uncles, cousins and their friends when they were young.  Many of those stories we had heard, but some we hadn't.  She had a warm, often loud voice, and had that Louisiana accent we didn't get here in East Texas.  

Last year I took my mom over to visit Daddy's gravesite and we went to see Aunt Marlene in the nursing home where she had gone to stay a few years before.  She wasn't doing well physically but she was the same Aunt Marlene!  Telling stories and laughing, even though she was in pain and having a hard time breathing well.  I wish we had gone more.  I wish I had recorded her telling those stories.  Even though two of my uncles are left with us, her passing was like losing a link to my Daddy no one else had.  

I will miss you Nene !

KETO update

I just wanted to do a little health/Keto update.  Wade was having some really high blood sugar readings earlier in the spring, so we decided to do something.  I had been researching Keto and following a local FB group to get as much info as I could for a few months and I felt like that was the best way to go initially.  We decided to start the day after Easter.  We took out all sugar and as many carbs as possible - we try to eat 25 g or less (20 for me) each day. 

Right away we both noticed no heartburn and less bloating.  Within two weeks Wade had cut out his injectable insulin and was only taking half of his Metformin dosage.  Within a month he wasn't taking any Metformin at all.  He still monitors his blood sugar readings daily and all is normal.

As of today, Wade is down at least 32 pounds (probably more, but we didn't weigh on the same scales from the beginning).  I didn't weigh before we started, so my first weigh in was two weeks after we started.  I'm down 24 pounds!  Wade hasn't been able to work out yet due to his shoulder surgery and the elbow surgery he will be having soon, but about 3 weeks ago I started trying to go at least 2 days a week.  Sometimes I get in 4 days, and I will work on making that more regular in the days to come.  This summer has been kind of crazy so we are readjusting our routines.

We have gotten tons of info from our local FB group, Keto AF (And Fasting) and a youtube channel/website called Keto Connect.  Lots of recipes, great support, and lots of helpful information.  I don't know that we could have gotten started without all of that.  I was overwhelmed and confused in the beginning, but now I realize it isn't really that hard LOL.  

We approached this as a total lifestyle change in our way of eating, so we plan on staying on this until we reach our goal weights and then maintain.  

Here's to healthier days ahead!!!

Eat Cake. Be Brave

Eat Cake. Be Brave - that's a new book that I was selected to prescreen and talk about.  The author, Melissa Radke, is from my hometown and she is REALLY funny!  I mean, I've actually seen her in real life you know?  Her kids go to school with my grands and she does these funny Facebook videos - she's hilarious and she's REAL. 

So when I saw she was writing a book and looking for people to read and hype it up, didn't take me long to sign up!  I finally got to sit down and start reading it last night and I could. not. put. it. down!  I finally did - because I had to get up and go back to work today...but it was really that good.  Of course it's cool that I know some of the places and people she references, but more than that it was the real and raw emotion she talks about.  Yes it's hilarious, like her, but she puts herself out there and opens up with real things that happened in her life, and many of them are not funny at all. 

I'll finish it up tonight - but I promise if you read this book you will see yourself in there.  You will empathize and hate the mean girls and realize we all go through the same stuff.  It's also a wake up call to BE BRAVE.  That is hard for me - but by this book I am inspired!

Go check out her Facebook page @MelissaRadkeStretchMarks.  Watch her videos.  Pre-order your copy.  and BE BRAVE!

#EatCakeBeBrave #ecbb #melissaradke

New Beginnings

Today, Adrian graduated from Kindergarten.  It took me back to when Emalyn graduated, and their Mama graduated from Kindergarten.  All those sweet little faces, with such a bright future ahead of them.  So much promise.  

It also reminded me that it's never too late to start again.  We've all had some pretty big struggles these last few years.  Family issues, family separation, change, medical issues...it's been a rough few years.  About 6 weeks ago Wade had a blood sugar reading of 400 - it really scared him and woke us up!  We started keto and so far we are doing great.  Our goal is 1 year and then maintaining this way of eating for years.  He's already down 21 pounds!!!  My loss is slower but it just feels so GOOD to get a new beginning and feel some hope for positive change.  

So no matter where you are today - if things aren't going your way - make a change.  Start over.  It's never too late.  Get some hope and use your promise - just my inspirational thought for the day!!!

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TIME TO RESTART

I know - I haven't posted in forever!  Between work, kids, family  -  blogging is low on my list.  We've had a lot going on.  Trying to get healthy, keto dieting, work, surgeries....I'll get us all caught up this week!  Stay tuned....

Summertime

So of course I haven't been keeping up with my posts!  But hey, it's summer, sun's out, life is good.

The kids moved back in with us (Meg and her bunch) on July 1 so it's been fun times with our babies!!!  I love them being with us every day.  They have the big back yard, a trampoline, and a little pool to play in, so we've been really enjoying them.  Meg's cooking is awesome to look forward to every day!

The rains finally stopped.  So now Texas summer is in full swing - probably will be 100 degrees today.  We've had a few beach trips, and the last one was a LOT of fun.  Saw pink flamingos,  caught a stingray and a shark (both went back in the water), and saw LOTS of dolphins.  The kids had a good time.

We've been attending Carpenter's Way here in town, and really like the messages each Sunday.  He's in Romans now, and it's just really speaking to me.  Especially in light of recent events in our country, I have to say it is so relevant (isn't God ALWAYS relevant)?

The hubby is hoping to make a change soon, maybe go back to school, so he can get into a different line of work that doesn't kill him physically.  Two back surgeries in your twenties is not conducive to physical work the rest of your life!  Prayers are appreciated for direction!!!

Got my workout routine going again - actually doing well for about a month now.  Tracking it all on myfitnesspal.com - which is a great tool - and hoping to make some healthy changes.  Meg ordered the Whole30 book and I think it will help us all.

Won't be long til everyone's back in school and getting ready for football.  I know I'll miss my summertime, but Caleb's Senior Year should be exciting!

'Til next time...

Short and Sweet

Well this last month has been insane.  End of school for both kids, finals, moving the middle kid to a new apartment...yet through it all I feel the faith growing and getting stronger.

Are things perfect?  Nope.  Are they better?  Yes.  We've had record-breaking rains here in Texas, with heartbreaking losses of life.  But this week the sun has returned, and I hope it stays out a while!  That'll mean work for the hubby and the boy.  

So keep hanging in there.  Keep praying.  Keep looking UP to God and learning to focus on HIM, not your problems. 

Mucking along

Do you ever feel like you're just mucking along?  Like something HAS to change, but you're stuck?  I know God is always working - and if we let Him He can do amazing things - but I have to admit to being a bit stuck lately.  I trust Him, I really do.  I just feel like I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing.  I hope it's be still and wait - because that's all I know to do at this point.

Life is full of disappointments.  Sometimes they are the result of our own doings.  Sometimes they just happen.  We have had some lately - but I know God uses all things for good.  He will turn this into something good so that we can profess His blessings and abundance out of it.  I hold fast to that promise.

New beginnings every day

Sunrise at Crystal Beach

I've been a Christian my whole life, even when I didn't act like one.  I know that there is so much I still need to learn, and every day is a new beginning and a new realization.  These past few weeks have brought such an awareness that it's not ME that does ANYTHING.  It is only God through me.  So I want to listen, I want to know what HE wants me to do, and I want to let HIM come through.  On my own I can't do anything at all.  NOTHING.  If you know me, you know what a hard concept that is to grasp.  My love language is acts of service.  If I can't do anything for you, I feel useless.  So God has really been speaking to me about this.  There is nothing I can do!!!  I have to let HIM do it.  It's been surprisingly easier than I thought it would be.  I still have my moments.  I still struggle with thoughts of what I can do and how I can work this out.  Then I hear Him say STOP IT.  I GOT THIS.

I've been reading quite a bit and it seems almost everything is directed to what I am dealing with right now - the fear, letting go of it, financial struggles, unknown futures - and it is so comforting to know that God sends me exactly what I need to read/hear.  Lysa TerKeurst with Proverbs 31 Ministries is awesome.  She speaks right to me at every level.  I read this yesterday and it is so applicable to what I am dealing with, so I wanted to share:

Some days I struggle with trusting God. I want Him to do something specific and I'm get concerned He won't or not soon enough. I'm not great at waiting. I get scared. I get tired. I get worried. I want to take control but when I push for what I want, and it's not God's best, I always end up with regret.

So, I'm praying these words with a heart that wants to trust. With a heart that knows the center of His will is the safest place for me to be: Lord, I choose to trust You will give me what I need, when I need it.‪

So powerful!  So true!  Don't we all do this?  It's the reason our lives end up in a mess.  I don't want to be a mess anymore.  I want God to work through me and show the world what He is capable of.   We went to Promise Church on Sunday and the message was from Amos 3:3 - how two cannot walk together unless they are in agreement.  We must be in agreement with God in order to maintain our walk with Him.   I'm so thankful I am finally figuring out what that means in my life.

Let Go and Let God

I've heard this saying many times...but I'm a control freak.  How can I just trust someone to take care of this?  I take care of EVERYTHING!  

But that's exactly what God has been telling me these past couple of weeks...and for once in my life...after FORTY-FIVE years...I hear it.  And I'm listening.

And these past two weeks I have had miracles.  

It is so hard for me to let go of anything - but God has truly been saying to me, BE STILL.  STOP WORRYING.  STOP TRYING TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO.  And I'm trusting Him.  He has never failed me yet.

I know He doesn't mean sit around and do nothing, but He also doesn't want me running around like a chicken and making rash decisions.  That's how I got in this place - by forgetting that HE knows what's best and trusting Him to do it.  

Today I am thankful for the reminder and the ability to trust Him completely.

Falling off the Wagon

It's a phrase most people associate with alcoholics.  But it can apply to so many other things...exercise, diet, attitude, faith.

I did it with my blog.  I got busy and didn't keep up.

I did it with my faith.  Some crappy things happened.  People did horrible things.  Major life changes happened.  We both changed jobs.  I couldn't deal.  I just tuned out.

I did it with my health.  I had started eating right and exercising.  Then I took a break...which turned into 4 months of not working out and eating things I don't even want to think about.

I did it with finances.  I thought I had it all together...then it all blew up.

This blog was always just a "Hey family here's what's going on" kind of blog.  I didn't get too deep or pour out too many feelings.  After all, that opens you up to ridicule and exposes your vulnerabilities, and I didn't really advertise it.  But this week I've hopped back on the wagon and I'm changing things up.  For real.   I apologize in advance for the lengthy thoughts I'm about to post!

What better time than the Easter season to think about renewal?  This year, it really really got to me.  On several levels.

My dad died on April 4.  Nine years ago.  I can't even believe he's gone sometimes, and it certainly doesn't feel like NINE years have passed.  But this is a hard time of year - and this year it just happened to fall on the day before Easter.  And the day AFTER we celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus.  Yes, celebrate.  As horrifying as it was, we know it had to happen so he could ARISE on Resurrection Sunday.  So for me it was an emotional three days.  There were happy times - the kids were all here, and everyone is healthy.  We went to a cool new church (Promise Church) and then had dinner with all the kids and my mom, who spent Sunday afternoon with us as well.  We had good long conversations with my Uncle Mark.  There were sad moments - we watched a couple of movies like God's Not Dead and King of Kings, and just the horror of what Jesus endured...it's overwhelming.  The fact that he did it for ME is almost incomprehensible.  However, the JOY that comes from knowing with certainty that I will spend eternity in Heaven with both my earthly father and my heavenly father surpasses all the rest.  And that was a true revelation for me this Easter weekend.  I've known it my whole life, but it was so REAL to me this year.  And it still is.  It has moved me to reclaim my faith and hope in Jesus.  Is life perfect?  No.  Are we still broke?  Oh yes.  But God has moved way bigger mountains than this before.  And I am SO thankful for those promises, and for the multitude of blessings in our lives.  My children and grandchildren are all healthy, and smart, and gorgeous.  They struggle, as we all do, with different things, but there is a God that is so much bigger than all of this.  I have tried to hold control for so long - it was the most freeing thing in the world to just give it over to Him.  At last!  

So this week, I started over.  I'm a work in process, but at least I'm back on the wagon, heading down the right path.  

so a New Year begins...

I realize I failed to post through the holidays. You see, the holidays are very hard for me, in a normal year. Especially these years since 2006, when my dad passed away, it just seems like there is such a large hole in our gatherings! Of course, I love my family, and we need to hold together what is left, but it is always a struggle for me. Winter period is hard for me - I have diagnosed myself with SAD, and I am not a winterperson, so it's like I'm just waiting for summer to roll around again! Then the disruption of our schedules, the added stress of financial outlay and business of the holidays just does me in every year.

This year was complicated by the fact that hubby had shoulder surgery a few days before Christmas, and I didn't get a day off work for Christmas (other than mynormal weekend off), and it was the first Christmas I've spent without one of my kids here or the expectation that I'd be seeing them shortly. Combine all of that with my loathing of the commercialization of the holiday and other family issues, and it was just HARD!

But enough of my pity party! The new year is off to a pretty good start. Hubby is healing up nicely, Caleb's ball team is playing well, Morgan is about to kick off golf, and we are all beginning a new healthy regimen. My friend, Pam, told me about this cool website, SPARKPEOPLE.com, and I'm going to try it out. I'd been praying for a simple way to get some good, healthy meal plans, and this site gives me that, helps me track towards my goal, and gives me a weekly shopping list as well. Maybe I can manage this!!!!

Our 7th grade A-team MS Tournament Champions!!!!

I'm also in Wk 9 of my latest round of college classes, so once these finals are done I start the next round, and one more and I have earned that Associates Degree at last!!!!! In June I will begin the Bachelors, and hopefully will have it completed in about 2 1/2 years. Marketing Degree, here I come, FINALLY!!!! Hopefully, there will actually be some jobs left in this country when I get it...

Hopefully the kids will be coming over to visit in the next couple of months. My Em is getting so big! I know she will be the most wonderful big sister!!!!

That's it for now. Life is busy, busy, busy, but I wouldn't change a thing (okay, maybe have my babies closer to me!) I am determined to make 2011 the best year yet!!!

It's almost here...

Christmas Day!!! This is my favorite time of the year!!! I love Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus, and all that entails.

But I must say, this has been a hard year for me. I really haven't been in the "spirit" much. I am thankful for all I have, don't get me wrong, but work has been stressful, lots of stuff going on, really busy schedules, and stress over shopping & money - it's hard to get all excited! Plus, hubby is having shoulder surgery tomorrow, and I think I'm more worried than he is! Add in that I don't get a day off (other than the weekends) and it just doesn't seem like it's worth all the stress!!!!

However, we went to church yesterday, and the Pastor reminded us that there are a lot of lonely people out there who could use some attention! That is what Jesus did - He showed God's love to people every day, not just at the Christmas season! My goal is to remember that in the coming years: to pay attention, try to show a little of Christ's love, and forgive and move on. Life is too precious and too short to waste it!

To all of you who are my family, friends, customers, acquaintances, or readers... have a very

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Wishing you blessings,

Holly

What a month...

it's been!  We got to go visit Meg, Jacob, and Em for Thanksgiving!  That was nice.  My auntie came down from ATL while we were there too, so it was a good visit.  We've been so busy...basketball is in full swing!  Caleb had an awesome game tonight!!  We pulled it out by 2 in a really tight game.  Now they have to get ready for a tough tournament this weekend against some 4A and 5A schools.

The Christmas tree is up, but that's about it!  After our long weekend away, we've been going every day.  I've hosted a couple of parties (Arbonne & Premier) so I think this week I can breathe again and get the Christmas decorating done.  It IS my favorite time of year - I just LOVE the gift of Jesus Christ, and all the meaning and symbolism that goes with it.  And of course, when your name is Holly, how can you NOT love Christmas, right?!?!  Happy HollyDays and all that!!!!

Willow House is going well - doing some fundraisers and taking orders for Christmas.  There are such great sales going on, it really does sell itself!!!!  I love doing "parties with a purpose" as well!!!  Our Class of 2012 and Class of 2016 are both raising money for future projects, so the more the merrier!!!

I'll be checking back in soon...Wade is scheduled for shoulder surgery on Dec. 21, the day after his birthday, so hopefully all will go well and they can clean it up without too much invasion.  The holidays will be a little slow due to this, but we are planning one big New Year's Eve party this year!!  I can't wait!!!!

Till then...

Fall is here...

maybe? Finally?  We have had a few cool weather days, but then it warms right back up!  It's hard to believe Thanksgiving Day is one week away!!! 

Next week I will be headed out to see Meg, Jacob & Em!!!  Mom is driving, Morgan & I are going, and my sis & nephew.  I can not wait!!!!!  I do believe they are excited as well :)  Wade has to work, so Caleb is staying with him so they can hunt, of course.  My wonderful friend Jo-Anne will feed them Thanksgiving dinner, so I have no guilt.

Last weekend was the bomb!  I headed down to H-town to visit my BFF, and she had tickets to the Nutcracker Market!  It was so cool - it almost got me in the holiday spirit.  I got a few gifts purchased, and we had a great time, but we were exhausted at the end of the day.  I'm sure we missed a few booths.

Tonight I am headed over to the oldest town in Texas with another good friend for the Holiday in the Pines market Junior League puts on every year.  I'm excited about that as well!

Caleb played his first Jr. High basketball game on Monday night.  It was so cool to see my boy out there in a maroon & white uniform!  He did great!  I'm looking forward to this season.

Well, I'm off to do some work and hopefully get some Christmas shopping done tonight.
Have an awesome Thanksgiving!  and remember to be thankful for everything you have, and even some of the things you don't!