My Blogiversary

Forgot to write about it on the exact date, but I've been blogging since 12.27.2007.

Christmas 2008

We had a really nice Christmas. Adam and I had to work Christmas Eve, so we didn't go to any parties. I spent all evening cooking and preparing for Christmas dinner though. Christmas morning Dallas woke up bright and early as usual and opened his gifts. I did some more cooking and then got ready. We went over to Amanda, Ken, and Eden's house to eat dinner with them. I made my first turkey this year. I also made dressing, giblet gravy (my Mema gave me these 2 recipies) and baked 2 homemade sweet potato pies! Yummy! The story behind the turkey: The last time I spoke with my mother was the weekend before she passed away. Our whole conversation was pretty much about how to cook a turkey. Funny huh?! So this year, in honor of her I made my first one and I followed her directions just like she told me. Turned out pretty, don't you think?



After dinner Amanda and her family came back to our house to watch Wall-E on our new TV (Adam and my gift from Santa!) That is such a cute show! Here are a couple of more pics of Dallas opening gifts :)



Dallas said, "Monster trucks are cool and awesome!"


Dallas really likes his new Tag reading system (would recommend this for all little ones!)


What little boy doesn't like cars?!

A year older

Yesterday I turned 31. I thought I'd feel kind of lousy since losing my mom, but I had such a GREAT day! I mean, I did have my teary-eyed moments, but I got a TON of emails, cards, texts, and phone calls. I felt so loved. Thank you everyone! I went shopping in the morning, found an awesome sale at The Loft, bought a pair of jeans and got a sweater for free. Free is always good! Went to Dallas' Christmas party at his school, only worked 1/2 a day in the afternoon, went to Olive Garden for dinner with Adam, Dallas, Ken, Amanda, and little Eden, and Adam bought me a pink iHome for my iPod. Here are some pics from Dinner



Me and Adam



Me and D Bear



Me and Amanda



My pretty gift from Adam

Wish Me a Merry Christmas!

I am SO tired of hearing, "Happy Holidays" "Holiday Dinner" "Holiday Party" "Holiday Cards" "Holiday Tree!!" This is so ridiculous!!!!!! It's a Christmas Dinner, Christmas Party, Christmas Card, Christmas Tree...Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some people are so worried about offending others by saying Christmas, but what about me and other Christians that are offended when everything is labeled holiday? All of my ranting has been prompted by receiving numerous emails from my job with this labeling on everything. Don't get me wrong, holiday is great word, but start calling things what they are! Who's with me??!!!

“For behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
So to everyone reading this blog...Merry CHRISTmas!! He is the reason for the season.

Check out this website:
http://www.wmamc.com/

My Mother's Memorial Service

This weekend was emotionally difficult, but overall the service for my mother was really lovely. I don't think it could have turned out any better. Adam, Dallas, and I left Sat. morning and made it to Orange at about 12 o'clock. Lacey (my sister), my Aunt Brinda (my mom's sister), and I set everything up as soon as we got there, and the service began at 1 o'clock. Most of my family was there and a few friend's of my mom. I do have to brag on a couple of my really great friends, Kristy and Grace. They drove down from Waco to be with me. I'm so thankful for those girls!! Grace took all the pictures during the service, thanks girl! After the service we all went to my Mema's house and ate dinner. Just talking and spending time together. It was nice. We went to my sister's house before we left and spent some time with her and Gabby and Jared/my neice and nephew. Lacey gave me a lot of pictures that Mama had of me when I was a little girl 5 years and younger. There is one in particular of me on my 3rd Birthday smiling at my mom while she is smiling at me and holding my Snow White birthday cake. I saw that picture and just could not stop crying. I miss her so much. I read at her eulogy. "Whenever I get unbearable sad, i just remember she is with the Lord and she is at peace, but I can still feel her, I can still hear her, and she'll forever be in my heart." Here are a few pictures from Sat: (Sorry, all the picutres have the wrong date stamped on them. I need to fix that on my camera).





These are the flowers from my sister her 2 kids and me and Dallas



This was the entrance to the chapel. Isn't the canvas beautiful?!



My Aunt Brinda lighting a candle.



Myself, Lacey, my Mema, Aunt Brinda, Uncle Ronnie, and Uncle Jack all lit a candle in honor of my mom




Me and Lacey giving my mom's eulogy



After the service we we all went outside and had a ballon release



Me, Grace, and Kristy after the service








Everyone enjoying dinner at my Mema's after the memorial



Aunt Brinda and Me



Dallas catching a ride with Cousin Bruce on his new Harley!



Gabs, Jared, and D



Lacey and Me

Sprucing up the Place

This week has been rather busy, but found time on Wed. to start decorating for Christmas. I love this time of year! Here are a few pictures of our home. I have one more picture to add, every year we've taken a picture of Dallas putting on the star, I accidently put it on my camera instead of the memory card, will post it later.




Our Christmas Nativity, I like it because it's a bit on the Shaby Chic side.



The stockings were hung....



Our tree




I like Christmas, because it makes my house look fuller and more cozy!



This is our table, I made the wreath around the candle holder.

This and That

First of all, those reading this blog regularly are some of my closest friends. Wanted to tell everyone how thankful I am for your love and support of me after losing my mom. It has meant so much to recieve your cards and phone calls. thank you.

We had a good Thanksgiving. Adam had to work so Dallas and I drove to Gilmer to my moms brother's house. He and all of his family were there, my mom's sister/my aunt Brinda and her family were there too. So it was good being with everyone again for the day. Of couse the food was delicious. Not sure why, but fortunately all of the women in my family are GREAT cooks! We had a great feast. Spent time laughing and talking....it was rather refreshing. My aunt surprised me of a canvas she had made from a picture of my mom. I've decided to hang it above my piano.

I had a really relaxing 4 day weekend. Didn't do much black Friday shopping, but did take Dallas to the movies to see Bolt. We had fun. He seemed to like it. Adam worked Friday also, but Friday evening until Sunday we were just together all weekend. It was nice and much needed.

This weekend we are going to Orange for my mom's memorial. Everything is pretty much organized, just needing to finish up my mom's eulogy that my sister and I will read together. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Here are a few pictures:


Me opening the canvas of my mom


My Uncle Jack and Jessica


Dallas and Uncle Don


Me with Baby Kyla, she was born Oct 21st


All of the Yummy Food!


Dallas and Hayley/thought it was a cute picture


Dallas just relaxing and watching TV


Dallas taking a nap in his halloween costume :)

My Mother

My mother, Linda Lee Hansen, passed away late last week. She wanted to be cremated, so we are having a memorial for her on December 6th in Orange, Texas. My tears seem to be coming in waves, but at this moment and most of today I have felt better. A little less teary-eyed. I have felt so much love and support by everyone. Thank you.

Just having some fun

Here are a couple of short videos of Dallas being, well....Dallas. Enjoy!

Everyone has an opinion

Well, have to be honest in saying, I'm very disappointed about the choice for president the next 4 years!
Let me begin by saying that my opinion on this has nothing to do with the color of his skin. I think it is GREAT that a black man is in office. Unfortunately though, many only voted for him because he is black. Which is a HORRIBLE reason to vote for someone. If people would educate themselves on his voting record they'd see a very amoral agenda. They'd see that although he calls himself on a Christian on the big things he doesn't act like it at all! Gay marriage, abortion..the list goes on. They are not Biblical standards, they are post-modernism to the highest I've ever seen. Very upsetting to watch.
Not sure how to end this post, just needing to remind myself that despite my feelings, God calls me to pray for the soon-to-be president. That is my responsiblity as a Christian.

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

On Saturday we took a trip back in time to ride a unique and old steam engine train on the Texas State Railroad. http://www.winwaed.com/rail/texas/state_railroad.shtml We drove to Rusk (only 30 or so minutes from us) to catch the 11 o'clock train to Palestine. The trip lasted about 1 1/2 hours one way. The car we were in was built in the 1920's, and the weather was nice so it made the trip very comfotable. While aboard, we met a sherrif and a cowboy. We had a layover at the park where we ate lunch, looked in the gift shop and watched a cowboy gunshow. We headed back on the train for another relaxing ride back to Rusk. There is a Polar Express ride in the winter, I'm hoping to bring Dallas back to that one too. It was fun, if you're ever in the mood for a train ride this is definately a trip worth taking.

Can you find what's wrong in this picture?

I opened the fridge this morning and noticed something isn't quite right. Can you find it? I have my suspicions who put it there too. How about you?

Plastic Sandwich Bags

A bit of a random post and perhaps I'm giving too much spiritual application to this, but the Lord has graciously been reminding me over the last couple of weeks of His great truth - and tonight showed me again. "But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt 6:33)
This evening Amanda called me and asked if I would bake some cookies to give to the evacuees from Beaumont staying at the YMCA. I thought it was a very sweet things to do and of course said yes.
I always pack D a lunch for school and completely ran out of sandwich bags the day before yesterday, and of course only remember to buy them when I'm packing his lunch which is typically about 20 minutes before we have to leave to take him to school. Well, today I didn't have any left and was thinking of creative ways to store his food, all the mean while trying to keep a mental note to buy the baggies during my next trip to the store. (Keep tracking with me, I have point).
I went to Amanda's house to pick up the cookie dough she bought, and she had the idea to put 2 cookies each in a plastic baggie. She had plenty left over after we wrapped each cookie and gave me a huge handful to keep for myself. So my point you ask....God knows what we need - Even if it's little lunch bags for my son's lunch. God gave me opportunity to be about His business and in the mean time already had a little gift in store for me too. Going to bed tonight in awe of God's grace and goodness. Thank you, Lord.

9:30 PM August 27, 2008


Dallas: Mommy I have to go potty.

Mommy: Okay, go. Then get back in bed.

Dallas: Okay!

Mommy hears some running down the hall. Several minutes later no noise of pitter patter feet or rustleing in under the covers in his room

Mommy walks into the bathroom, jaw drops...

Dallas: But you know mommy there were ants in the sink

Mommy sees almost the WHOLE tube of toothpaste all in and around the sink.

Mommy: D! Okay, lets wash your hands and get you in bed, I'll clean up.

(I still don't know if he actually ever went to the potty). I couldn't be mad, he was just helping me with my endless effort of killing ants that randomly appear in our house :)

Nothing much

I've not posted in a while, but there's not a lot to say. Dallas started back to school today, We're both working and staying busy, just living life....
We leave for our Disney Trip on Aug 30th. I'm sure I'll have a TON to write about then and lots of pics to post!

A Few Pics from the past 4 years

4 Years Old

Today, July 31st, is my baby's 4th birthday. He's grown up so much and he's brought so much joy to our lives. We're very thankful and blessed to have Dallas as our son. Here are a few pics and videos of him throughout the years.

Count Down

Only 30 more days until we leave for Disney World! We're so excited!

Dx

The TMF Clinic called me yesterday and I found out that Dallas had salmonella poisioning! He's been taking the antibiotics though, and he is doing a lot better now. Thanks for your prayers!

Dallas' 4th Birthday Pary

Dallas had his 4th Birthday on Sat at the Putt Putt place. Unfortunately he was a sick, and we ended up taking him to the ER on Sunday morning, per the request of the pediatric on-call nurse. Results concluded that he had a bacterial infection, and is now on antibiotics and doing a TON better. I say all that to say he's not his usual bright and cheery self in most of the pics. He still had fun, but not very energetic.

Here are a few pics...

Mommy and The Birthday Boy

Daddy and Dallas

Papaw, Dallas, and Gigi

The First Round of Putt Putt

Happy Birthday to You...

Driving the Car

Opening Gifts: Dallas, Eden, and Skylar

All of Dallas' friends: Caleb, Devon, Eden, and Skylar