The Good Stuff ~ 12/2/2021

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~Noodle Making!  My Mom and Laken have a tradition of making homemade noodles for Thanksgiving.  Laken is very set on keeping traditions and would have been very upset without her noodles :)

~My Mighty Hunter!  Saturday, Deer Season came in here in Pennsylvania.  The hubby finally had some time to go for a "walk" in the woods Monday and soon came home with his bounty, an 8 point buck.  I won't add any pictures in honor of those who have sensibilities regarding hunting and the like but I will say that the hubby was a bit pleased with himself :)

~A Sale!  Saturday evening I couldn't stand it any longer and HAD to get out of the house!  I went to Ollies to see if they had anything good (which they didn't).  Then I went right down the plaza to Joann Fabrics.  I wandered around feeling the fabric but what I ended up buying was some yarn for my next crochet project.  The best part is that it was 60% off!

~Our Christmas Tree!  Monday afternoon Kaylee and Shawn came over (along with Dahlia) and we decorated our little Christmas Tree.  It was bitter sweet because the ornaments that we've collected over the years for Kaylee went into a box to be taken to her house and put on her very first tree as a married woman.  I wonder how they'll keep Dahlia out of the tree???!! :)

~Laken's Ornament!  Speaking of the ornament tradition, we gave Laken her 2021 Christmas Ornament when we decorated the tree.  We got her a globe ornament!  It is a bit of a running family joke because Laken didn't think there were any countries on the back of the globe.  She thought it was all water for the longest time.  We were going to get her an actual globe for Christmas, but when we saw this ornament we knew we had to get it for her :)

~December Bible Reading!  I'm so excited that it is December!  I'm also excited that today I turned the page in my Read the Bible Through in a Year to December 1st!  My Aunt, Mom and I have been reading together and meeting to discuss what we've read mostly once a week.  Each milestone, we've celebrated.  Only 30 more days to go and we'll be starting a new reading plan :)

What has you thankful/smiling/exited this week?  Tell me all the good stuff! 

Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 12/12/19

 

Here are some things that made me smile this week:

 

 

~Oranges and Cookies!  The hubby told me that when he was young they always got oranges at Christmas.  We have mandarin oranges on a regular basis but he doesn't like them so when I went to the grocery store I bought him some naval oranges as a surprise.  I also made a cookie that he requested:  Reese's Pieces Cookies!  They are super yummy :)

~Disney+ !  The hubby also decided that for his Christmas present he wanted a PS4.  The PS4 also comes with the Disney+ App.  As a surprise for the family, I went online and purchased a subscription for the Disney+!  The first thing I watched was The Sound of Music but the hubby and girls have been watching Star Wars Rebels :)

~Winter 2020 Project #1!  I finally decided to use the yarn that I bought for my first Winter Project to make a Granny Square Afghan for my daughter's boyfriend's Mom.  Her name is Linda so I'm calling it "Linda's Prayer Blanket".  I'm not sure if I'll have it done in time for Christmas but I'm giving it a go :)

~Christmas Tree(s)!  We put a tiny table top tree up in the Family Room for the girls to put their ornaments on.  It is so cute!  We also went out to a tree farm on the top of a mountain to get the real Christmas Tree for downstairs.  It was freezing and muddy and snowing and so much fun :)

~Harvester's Christmas Party!  Tuesday evening we had our Church Ladies Group (the Harvester Class) Christmas Party.  Each month on the second Tuesday we have a potluck, devotion and meeting.  However, in December, we treat ourselves to a meal out and exchange gifts.  This year we picked a steak house to make reservations for our party.  The food was good.  The company was good. And did I mention presents?!?!?   :)

What made you smile this week? 

Colletta

Thankful Thursday ~ 12/13/18

 

 

~We went to a new-to-us Christmas Tree Farm on Saturday.  We had a great time!  There was a gift shop by the parking lot but to get to the trees we got to take a wagon ride up on the hill.  There were rows and rows and hills and hills of Christmas trees to pick from.  To make it even more festive, the temperature was only around 25F.  But...there were blankets on the wagon to snuggle under :)

~The girls got some Blue-Raspberry Kettle Corn at the Christmas Tree Farm.  It was yummy :)  Luckily, they got two bags of it so we could all share :)


~As if we hadn't been out in the cold enough Saturday, that evening was our little town's Christmas parade.  Kaylee is in the Community Band so we stood outside and waited and waited and waited for the parade.  Finally, it started and we got to see the band and the Santa float.  But it was freezing!!!!


~Later that night while trying to get warmed up, the hubby and I watched my very favorite Christmas movie, "White Christmas"!  After I warmed up a bit I decided to work on the Christmas gift I'm making while we finished the movie.  It was a wonderful day :)


~I finally had a day where I was able to check off all 5 items on my "5 to Thrive" checklist!  I actually got a workout in and was able to mark that off the list :)

What are you thankful for today?

 

Colletta



Wordless Wednesday ~ 12/12/18

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Colletta



Tea Time ~ Christmas Trees and Concerts ~ 12/16/16

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate or your favorite drink
while I share a few things that made me smile this week :)

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~We went for our Christmas tree on Saturday!  You can read all about it HERE :)

 

 

~My Mom decorated the mantle!  Isn't it gorgeous??  :)

 

 

~Last night was Kaylee's Christmas Concert!  She wore her red dress and looked and sounded beautiful :)

 

 

~I got a shot of Kaylee and her boyfriend, Shawn!  He plays the tenor sax and is such a good kid :)

 

 

 

 ~We have 65 participants signed up to be a PenPal for 2017 so far!  Sign ups will be open until December 19th.  I hope you'll join in! :)  Click HERE for more information.

 What made you smile this week?

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

Linking up with Friendship Friday, Friday Fragments, Five on Friday, Show Off Friday, Awesome Life,  Friday Favorites , High Five for Friday , Diary of a Real Housewife and Love Made My Home , Friday's Fave Five. Life in Leggings, Fresh Friday Finds, Weekend Wind Down.

 

Family Time ~ The Christmas Tree ~ 12/13/16

 

 Saturday we went to our local Christmas Tree Farm to pick out our Christmas tree according to our tradition.  The Tree Farm has everything decorated to the nines.  It is a really cute place to visit.

 

 

We searched and searched and searched for the perfect tree.  It was soooo very cold and windy and snowy but that just made it all the more fun!

 

 

Finally, we decided on "the one".



The hubby set about to cutting it down.  It was quite the feat with lots of pokey pine needles close to the ground.

While Daddy was working away, the girls decided to go play with the miniature ponies.  They both adore animals.  I'm sure it was their favorite part of the excursion.

Finally, we got the tree home and set up in the base.  Here is a picture after the decorations were on the tree.  I wish I could capture the true ambiance of the lights glowing and the smell of the pine for you!

So, how about you?  Do you go out and cut a tree down, buy one from a lot or put of an artificial tree?  I'd like to know :)

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P.S.

I'd love for you to join in the 2017 PenPal sign-ups here on my blog.

For more information, please click HERE, the picture below or see the top right sidebar :)

Please leave a comment with a link so I can return the visit!

Linking up Totally Terrific Tuesdauy,  Titus 2sdays, Unite, Share Your Stuff, Treasure Box, Do Tell Tuesday and Titus 2 Tuesday, Hearth and Soul, A Spirit of Simplicity,  Tuesdays with a Twist  , Inspire Me , Tuesday Talk.

Coffee Date ~ 1/11/13

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're having a good week.

~It is probably a good thing that this Coffee Date is virtual.  I have a sick kid at home today :(  I wouldn't want to spread the germs and I guess I probably shouldn't leave her here alone to suffer by herself.  Just kidding.  I would never do that!

~I just cannot get motivated today!  It is rainy and dreary and I may or may not have stayed up too late last night reading.  I'm reading "The Tutor's Daughter" by Julie Klassen.  I posted a Dream Cast of who I would pick to play the parts of the characters.  You can see that HERE.  I showed great self-control by stopping at pg. 270 not staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish the book.  It is so good!  I've loved all Julie Klassen's books.  Have you ever read one of her books?  Do you have an author that you absolutely love?

~I shared yesterday about my struggles with depression and anxiety.  I was so moved by one of the commenters.  She has just recently been diagnosed with depression and is just starting to learn how to cope. I really feel like God lead me to write about this topic yesterday.  I'm doing well and would otherwise not have mentioned it but I just felt the need to share about this issue with my new readers.  It is a hard topic to write about but it is a part of my life so I feel that it should be a part of my blog also.

~Speaking of new readers:  I hit 1000 followers this week and actually went over and above and now have 1027 blog followers.  WHAT!?!  I can't believe it!

~Does anyone else still have their Christmas tree up?  We do but only because we have been so busy and haven't taken the time to take it down.  It is looking very sad and droopy.  Pretty soon the ornaments are going to slide off as well as all the pine needles.  This is a must-do for the weekend.

~Here's some eye candy of my nephew, Dexi Doo, having a little snack of mashed potatoes in his walker.  (Look at the big boy feeding himself.)  He had his 9 month check-up this past week and is in the 100th percentile for his height and weight.  The pediatrician thinks he's going to be a football player :)  And he is walking like a pro already!  At 9 months!  My girls didn't start walking until around 13 months.  Gush, gush, gush.  I love him so much!

~I'm off to either wash the dishes or snuggle on my bed and finish my book.  I'm not telling which one...

So, how was your week?  Any big plans for the weekend?

Cover Crush ~ A Carol for Christmas ~ 12/15/12

Cover Crush is a new meme over at On The Shelf where beautiful and eye-catching covers are spotlighted! Any cover can be showcased whether it be old or new, read or still sitting in your TBR stack.

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My Cover Crush this week is:

Never underestimate the true spirit of Christmas ...Carol Burke was born to sing. It was the life she had always dreamed of. There was only one thing she loved more, one person for whom she would willingly sacrifice her dreams: Jonathan Burke. Married against their parents' wishes, both are determined to make a life together despite the hardships. Jonathan works hard at his father's department store, leaving Carol alone in their tiny apartment. But long hours turn into late nights, thanks to Jonathan's insatiable desire to prove himself to his father ... even at the expense of the one he loves best.Into the midst of an increasingly empty marriage comes an unexpected chance for Carol to sing again. Is this the opportunity of a lifetime, or a time for her to let go and trust her future to God? Carol knows one thing: she longs most of all to share her first Christmas with Jonathan, creating their own memories and traditions and breathing new life into their marriage.Then a broken promise leaves her wondering. Can anything, anyone--even God--heal her crumbling hopes? The answer comes when Carol finds herself face-to-face with the true spirit of Christmas ...

What I Love About It:

The colors on this cover are gorgeous!  We're going to be decorating our Christmas tree today, and this definitely put me in the spirit.  I can't wait to look at each one of our ornaments and think of all the memories they bring to mind.

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What are your thoughts on the cover of this book?

Coffee Date ~ 12/14/12

Won't you come meet Alissa (above), me and the girls for a coffee date,

or in my case, hot chocolate with whipped cream or maybe a chai tea?

Hello, everyone!  I hope you're having a good week.  Here some highlights from mine:

~We got our Christmas tree last Sunday!  It is all set up in the base and ready to be decorate tomorrow!  It has been so hard for the girls to be patient this week.  Doug has been on 2nd shift and I wanted to wait until we could all be together to decorate it.  It is a tradition that I didn't want to break.

~Kaylee had her first Jr. High Basketball scrimmage yesterday.  Our girls won!  It was shaky in the beginning but after they got warmed up they started hitting the plays.

~Kaylee had another first this week and I need your advice on how to handle it.  She overhead someone talking about her in the locker room.  sigh....  She was so upset and cried the whole way home from practice.  Granted, we only live across town but seeing my baby upset because her feeling were hurt killed me!  I'm so proud about how she's handled it.  She decided to just let it go and she's been so mature.  My baby is such a sweet girl.

~Doug gave me my Christmas present early!  He got me a Family Ring with all our birthstones and our names engraved by each one.  Love it!

~I have one more order to ship out today and then I'm on VACATION!!!!!  I do have a few small gifts I still want to make but other than that it will be all about getting our home ready for Christmas, baking, Christmas programs and just relaxing!  Whoohoo!

~Speaking of baking, Laken has been begging to make gingerbread men/women this year.  I got a kit that has all the cutters and decorations already in it.  I can't wait to make them with the girls!  "Not my gumdrop buttons!"  I can't resist!





~OK, so for our Coffee Date we're supposed to list 3 things we wish we had known sooner or could tell our younger self.  I'm sure there are many, many more that I could list but here are 3:

1.  Get help for PPD/PPA much sooner and don't worry about what others say about it.

2.  Stay fit!  Don't let yourself get into the "shape" you are now and have to dig your way out.

3.  Never, ever, ever doubt God's love and faithfulness.

So, how was your week?