Painting up the place

Brandon and Brittany's new house....a lot of money
Grandma Carol with paintbrush in hand.....priceless (hopefully)!




Kids' bathroom Kavian and Spongebob



Calvin and Patrick

Baby Braylyn's room-

Can we help, Grandma?

Kitty(named Jason, of course) in the barn, puppy named Gus-

Round bales and cows in the pasture

A little corn-

Grandpa Mason has black ones!

We love our John Deeres!

What little boys have a room like this?

I am happy I had the time over Christmas vacation

and I am blessed with this talent of mine-

I am tired-I am happy I am done.

Hope you like your rooms! Love, Grandma

Remember Me

Grandma Elaine with all of her great grandchildren


Every grandchild and every great grandchild
proudly holding their memory tractor.

Our Christmas party was pushed back a week by the snow and ice and frigid temps and the drifting that had several families blocked in for a couple of days. We had our party Sunday; Pizza Ranch treat from Grandma Elaine, playing at the County Fair, and then back to Larchwood for MORE to eat and gift exchange. It was the first Christmas without George...Husband, father, father-in-law, grandpa, and great-grandpa.....Look at the legacy he has left behind. Every child, every grandchild and every great grandchild, even the 2 great grandchildren yet to be born, were handed a piece of George's collection of tractors. Most of his tractors were Olivers, and we were shocked to realize that he had that many of them in his collection. They were each placed in a protective baggy, and were given a number. Each child who was to receive one, drew a number and that was the prize they would receive. Those tractors will always have a special spot in the homes of these children, but an even more special spot....down deep in the heart....a spot reserved for the memory of a very special man, Grandpa George.

Remember me...
by FallenAngel
Remember me with a smile
And that's how I'll remember you
Remember me making life worthwhile
Even if it's hard to do
Remember me strong and wise
And that's how I'll remember you
Remember me with laughs not cries
Even if your feeling blue

What a Riot!!!!

Thanks to Brandon and Brittany for opening up their new home for our Christmas celebration, and what a celebration it was. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this HAS to be at least a million!

Lots of room to play-

Grandpa reads the directions-

Lots of "butt shots".

and mug shots....

Tyler and Grandma Elaine

I got a "butt shot" too!

Brittany looks a LOT more relaxed than I do!

That Gingerbread kit wasn't as easy as the box indicated!!!

One day of babysitting, everyone fed, lots of diaper changes, Patrick and Spongebob finished, all three napping at the same time.....priceless!

Grandma Carol, have paintbrush will travel!

Party like a rock star!

You gotta feel the music, Mom!

Guitar Hero Rookie!

I got my first shiner, Grandma!

Funny Face, I love you-

Is this how you hold this?

Ready for T- ball!

Now, who could not see how many blessings I have received on Christmas and always? From our house to yours, enjoy the moments God has given you and we wish you a wonderful new year! I have heard it said that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing with you....except your family!

Silent Night

I was moved to tears at church on Christmas Eve. Silent Night was the song that finally did me in. I was sitting alone all during the service, friends and families all around me, me up and down, up and down, singing this song, that song, this group, that group.....not really realizing I was so all alone until that song. I was standing in a crowd, in the dark, yet all alone lifting my light for all the world to see. Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin Mother and child.......Mother and child.....Mother and child. The love I feel for my Mother, the love I feel for my children and grandchildren.....it is amazing. The love that Mother felt for her child on that cold winter's night so very long ago must have been just as amazing, or even more so, when you take into consideration the awe of her conception! When I look at songs on YouTube, the blessed birth, photos of a beautiful mother and child , often morph into the horrible scenes of the crucifiction. They go hand in hand....blessed birth....crucifiction, death, pain, sorrow....all so that we could live eternally in a place that is beyond all imagination.....As I sang (or could not sing)Silent Night, I was so amazed at the very beautiful service I had just witnessed, at the gifts I have been given, the gift of life, the gift of renewed health, the gift of song, the gift of my family, the gift of my children and my grandchildren, and wonderful friends. Thanks for the hug, Marilyn. We have such a beautiful church.....the lights, the candles, the music...I stood in complete awe and cried at the beauty I was witnessing and realizing that my Dad and my Mom and George and all those loved ones who have gone before us, are in the presence of that beauty, indescribable beauty and songs of the angels all the time! What wonderful gifts we have been given, and what wonderful gifts are awaiting us. Mom had lost her singing voice on this earth, but I told her to go! Sing! Be whole and sing in the angel chorus. I told her to save a spot for me beside her. She always looked out for her children and I know she still is.... Love you forever Mom!

http://thursdaythirteen.com/

Wordless Wednesday- Amazing!!!!

"Here with Us" sung by Joy Williams. A dark video, but powerful if you stick with it! Beautiful song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om5-95_Byjo&feature=related

Winter Has Arrived

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21, 2008 at 7:04 AM EST and 12:04 UT (Universal Time). It is here people!!!!!!

A year ago in Montana-too cold to play in the stuff today!

All of these photos were taken last year during a trip to a football game in Carroll, Montana. They had an ice storm the day before, so they had tried to plow most of the ice off the field, but it was still tough! They had chipped the ice off the bleacher seats, but we were wading in ice chips throughout the game.

Today, we are home, and stranded here, at the mercy of the plows. We have been stuck before, when the kids were small. We always had enough food, enough blankets, and usually just sat in the living room, one of the warmer rooms, and watched movie after movie. This doing nothing is really tiring! I made it through one movie, made a couple of necklaces, finished my Christmas cards, wrapped all the gifts, cleaned some cupboards and drawers, made pretzels dipped in almond bark, ate too many of course, had a lot of coffee, did up all the dishes, unthawed the dishwasher, scrapbooked a little, checked up on some of my favorite blogs, and spent a great deal of time on the phone. We had planned to have the Childress Christmas today. The phone lines were hopping as calls were made to change plans once, twice, three times, ending in a cancellation. We could not have gotten out, Dave's Mom was trapped in town too. We live on a gravel road, so are at the mercy of the plows to the North and the South. Those of you who are wishing for a white Christmas, I think you can stop wishing...it is here. If I have to Choose Joy today, I would choose to be grateful that my family is home, safe and well. I am very thankful for furnaces and running water. When I was a kid.....no, really, we had only wood heat, and wood cookstoves , and we had to pump our water. The pump was in a shed attached to the house. We called it the porch, but it was not heated, and held lots of firewood and this pump. Beneath the floor, the pump was wrapped up and there was a trouble light suspended in the attempt to prevent freezing. Sometimes, it froze anyway, and we would have to melt snow to get hot water to thaw out the pump. I am grateful for those days....yes I am, but thankful that those days are over as well. We are well. It is supposed to be 20 below zero tonight with 40 below zero wind chills. We are home and we are well. For this, I Choose Joy today!

Winter’s Embrace
When winter blows its cold breath everywhere,

And throws a chill white blanket on the ground,

The sun makes sparkling diamonds on the snow,

And trees with icy diadems are crowned.
It’s time to snuggle in for winter fun

In cozy places, maybe by a fire.

A good book and some cocoa feel just right,

In flannels, sweaters, winter’s warm attire.
Winter’s gloom is comforting somehow,

As life retreats from its rushed and frantic pace.

We’re ready now to stay indoors awhile,

As we settle into winter’s calm embrace.
By Joanna Fuchs

Friends

Mike and Nancy, Christmas 2006


They spent a lot of time at the water, mostly fishing, sometimes just spending time.


Don't you just love when friends stop by for a visit? I was at school, so did not have a crumb or a cup to offer, but it was nice to see my friend Mike again. We have shared some sorrows and joys this past year, and even shed a few tears on our own ends of the keyboard. Mike recently gave our school a large selection of fiction books to help meet the needs of our high school students. Nancy loved, loved, loved to read and tried to get the students interested in reading and always wished she could provide the kids with some of the good books she had read over the years. Mike and his family purchased these books in honor and memory of Nancy Garry, his wife, who passed away July 1, 2007. Nancy was once my teacher and always my friend. I miss her very much. School is not the same without her smiling face and her willingness to help us with her positive look at our complaints, or our computer problems. Nancy took care of me a lot when I was going through some major grieving, and I will always remember her concern, compassion and love towards me. There are times in your life when someone special enters your heart, and sickness, sadness, and death can not separate them from you. Don Piper wrote in his book '90 Minutes in Heaven' after a death experience, '...Everything I experienced was like a first-class buffet for the senses. I had never felt such powerful embraces or feasted my eyes on such beauty... Never, even in my happiest moments, had I ever felt so fully alive... I felt loved - more loved than ever before in my life...'. These words give us hope and comfort at that glimpse of God's future for us all. God gave us friends for always. Gone from our sight just for now, but we WILL see you again. Love you always Nancy!

Why GOD Gave Us Friends

GOD knew that everyone needs
Companionship and cheer,
He knew that people need someone
Whose thoughts are always near.

He knew they need someone kind
To lend a helping hand.
Someone to gladly take the time
To care and understand.

GOD knew that we all need someone
To share each happy day,
To be a source of courage
When troubles come our way.

Someone to be true to us,
Whether near or far apart.
Someone whose love we'll always
Hold and treasure in our hearts.

That's Why GOD Gave Us Friends!

Update: Brad Garry, Nancy's oldest son, has found my blog. Check out their family site listed under my sites of interest: http://thegarrychronicles.blogspot.com/

Thursday Thirteen

13 of my favorite treasures around the house-
To see more "Thursday Thirteen" entries, select this site: http://thursdaythirteen.com/


A favorite cherub I decorate for the holidays-


A gift to Mom, "regifted" back to me-
I will treasure it always-


A picture I loved and now I own-


My favorite Willow Tree-


Mom's pin cushion and 3 little tiny photos of my
kids when they were small. LOVE IT!


Favorite photo of Mom-
love my scrapbooks-love my memories


Mom gave me Dad's dresser-


Grandbaby Braylyn-


Great grandma Nichols got to meet the twins-
Born at 2 lbs. 3 oz and 2 lbs. 14 oz. - Home after 13 weeks-
She passed away a few days later. Really love
my scrapbooks-really love my memories-


Look how big they are Grandma! Has it been 4 years?
Kavian and Calvin-


Daughter Marissa loves to edit photos!
Love her photos- Love her to the moon and back!


Nothing like the feeling of watching your child,
hand in hand with 3 other strong young men, captains of the team-


And oh, I do love my coffee!!!

Thanks for visiting- Can you name 13 things on Thursday? Recipes, traditions, ornaments, photos, Christmas lists, sayings, gripes, friends.....the sky's the limit!!!