on the mountain top

 I wish I could bottle up the feeling I have when my family is all together and we are laughing and having a good time.

 I would take a big, deep breath of it everyday.  It would smell of good food. The sound of laughter would escape every time the lid was lifted and the bottle would feel warm, a good, comforting warm.

I tried to savor every second we were all together.  It was all too short for me.

I am so thankful for Carl and all he does so our party is always ongoing. He even bought me a fun party shirt to wear.  I am thankful for pictures.  I am thankful to God for all He has given us.  I am thankful He invented family.

My brother, Charles and his wife, Frances, were not able to be with us and they were sorely missed.

I hope you had lots of mountain top time this holiday season.  Happy New Year from the Funroes!

I see Barbie, blue eggs...

I love all the memories that Christmas decorations remind us of

Thoughts from John Piper and Scotty Smith!

These encouraged me today.  I hope they do the same for you!

December 26

How do you feel today?

Christmas Day!

Christmas sights.

This is a very different Christmas for us. We will celebrate with family next week. We went to church and now are enjoying lots of Christmas movies. An American Carol is on now!

Merry Christmas!

Ann Voskamp rocks!

I love the way Ann Voskamp makes me think.  10 things to do on Christmas Day  got me to thinking.  We hope to spend some time outside, light a few candles (I know those who know me are saying- you plan to light candles), have a few folks over and go spend time with our church family worshipping.

Merry Christmas Eve!

What do you plan to read in 2012?

Have you started to say... Next year I'll do such and such?
Or my other favorite is ...I don't plan to do that again til next year...like ironing or paying bills etc

I am starting my reading list for 2012 and I love doing things like that because I love the clean slate, the newness, all the possibilities!

If you are ready to start your To Be Read List you will find good suggestions at this blog.

Where were you a year ago?

Hard to believe it has been a year?!?  Happy Anniversary John and Marisa!

A few of my favorite things...

Hey Kaitlin!  make me this please!!!

you all may enjoy it too.  I think I might even be able to make it

I love Christmas crafts, well, I love Christmas trees, lights, cookies, presents, nativities, music... you know I think I can safely say, I like all things Christmas.

Pour it over warm biscuit with butter, nothing better!

I love the blog Southern Plate by Christy Johnson.  I have never met the woman but I love her.  She is so cheerful on Face Book, she was so gracious when she was on with Paula Deen cooking and her tweets are cute. Plus everything I have cooked from her cookbook has been wonderful.

Today when you click on her link you will get her recipe for chocolate gravy.  I will be making it this year.  Yum Yum!

Books to read

Have you made your New Year's Resolutions yet?  Do you have reading on that list?  Here is a really cool blog  that will inspire you.  I haven't decided which challenge I plan to pursue but I'll let you know.

Do you like to bake?

So I have been baking.  I usually make a list of all I want to bake and then I go through all the recipes to see if we have all the ingredients that we will need to bake.  After I have my list I go shopping.  Since I like to bake, I normally keep 'usual' baking goods around so that means that when I am shopping I don't hesitate to grab an extra pound of butter or bag of chocolate chips.  Well.. it seems this year I have been grabbing parchment paper, really.  Parchment paper!  What do I plan to do with this?  I know that I can line my cookie sheets with parchment paper but 7 boxes of it???  How many cookies do I think I plan to make??

KimT and Andrew I think I need a parchment paper intervention!

If any of you see me at Walmart or Kroger and I have parchment paper in my basket, you have my permission to just take it out and walk away.  I may protest but I will realize that you have my best interest at heart.

I am practicing now, Just say No to parchment paper, Just say No to parchment paper, Just say No to parchment paper...

Are you glad?

I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord!

Do you believe Yoda?

This article really made me think as I ponder my New Year's Resolutions.   Are you trying?

Around our house at the holidays

 I love Christmas trees!!!  Here is some of my collection before they were put around our house.

These are new this year!

                                                       

 These are on my desk

 This is not a tree but it is a new, fun addition to our Christmas decorations.  It is a remote control for the lights on our deck.  So I can lay in bed and turn the lights on in the morning before my feet hit the ground.  And at night the last thing I do is turn the lights off after I have enjoyed them in the darkness.

 This is now referred to as our monkey tree.  It is on top of the fridge along side of a bottle brush tree that my mother had on the top of her fridge.

Another grouping of trees that is on the dining room table.  My friend, Sandy made this arrangement.  She used another new tree I got this year from my fellow kitchen worker, Barbara.  It is the taller green tree.  Many of these red ornaments were used last year to decorate the tables at John and Marisa's rehearsal dinner tables!


I am savoring being able to look and enjoy all our decorations this season. 

If Plan A doesn't work, you have 25 other letters!

Andrew found a book a few years ago called Second Choice by Viv Thomas.  The book talks about what do you do when life throws you a curve ball.  I highly recommend this book.


Here is an article about the when you are on plan B.  Read and ponder.  Has your life taken a route you weren't planning?

Do you know what happened 70 years ago today?

This is a map of some of the damage done 70 years ago today at Pearl Harbor.  23 years ago today I read a book to Andrew about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and that book awakened his love of history.

I will honor today by watching the movie Tora Tora Tora and thanking God for all those who gave their lives for my freedom.

Carl works with wonderful people!

Kaitlin getting a lesson on how to spread masa

 Carl has a co worker, Angelica, who is from San Antonio, TX.  She grew up in a large family and every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas they would set aside a day to make home tamales.   When she and her husband moved to our city she missed her home made tamales.  So she started the tradition here in 2007.  Since her large family isn't here they invite friends, family and coworkers and we all become family.  Carl, Kaitlin, Robert and I got to participate this year.  What a wonderful experience!

In 2007 they made 26 dozen, in 2008- 42, in 2009- 72, 2010- 91 and in 2011- drum roll please-----1222 total or 101 dozen!

Robert spreading masa

 On the table above from left to right is a bowl of chicken, a bowl of masa, corn husks ready for masa, corn husks with masa and Carl getting more masa to add to another husk.

First you add masa to a husk then meat is added and it is folded and put in a pan.

Nicki, who is seated to Kaitlin's left, could add masa to a husk with one sweep of a spreader.  It was like a ballet move.

  

At the table about five folks at putting masa on a husk while three take that same husk and add meat to it.

 These folks step in to hand more meat, pull up sleeves, get water for the folks at the table, wash dishes, and laugh at all the jokes.

 After a large metal pan is full of tamales then Angelica takes them and steams them on the stove.

our wonderful hostess!

pots with tamale steaming, sauce and meat is cooking

 Tamales are made in rounds, somewhat.  When a pan of meat is ready then the tamale making begins and that round ends when that meat has all be used.  At the end of every round, you bring all your utensils to the sink and they get washed.  You also wash your hands and rest.

 Here are Keith and Barbara.  Keith has very clean hands and he is ready for his turn at making tamales.

Keith took this very artistic picture of Barbara and me!

Kaitlin and Angelica at the snack table.  I was glad Angelica got to sit down for a minute because she was in constant motion the rest of the time.


We all had such a laughing good time.  We came home with some wonderful tamales.  We look forward to the laughing good time next year.  Thank you Angelica for such a wonderful tradition!!!

One of my favorite decorations

This was my mama's.  This angel is usually in a different spot every year.  This year she is in the den.  A wonderful reminder of holidays past at my mama's.

Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away

I am realizing more and more that the holidays are not happy for everyone.  Here is a great article about our great hope!

Ponder this verse today-

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.  Isaiah 35:10:

Table for 12

 I am blest to be a part of a wonderful church!  The ladies in the church are truly my friends.  One activity that we do to promote fellowship is called Table for 4.  4 ladies meet once a month for 4 months.  I love doing this and I have had the best time with all my groups.  This time around I am in a group with Ashley, Jill and Sandy.  They are all 'includers'- meaning that they feel like instead of just us four, let's add some more!!!!  Sandy had the first meeting at her house and included others.  Here is our picture with the pumpkins we painted.  Also in our group is Sandy's daughter, Abbey.








 So when the second one was at my house I knew what my mission was- include, include, include.  The other ladies did this too.  We each invited folks!  So we had a table for 8!  Did we have fun or what???

 Cheryl, Stephanie, Kaitlin and Mandy joined our dinner party and added so much.  We made turkeys out of pretty scrapbook paper.

Don't you like the features on my camera that does three shots with the self timer?


This month is an ornament exchange.  Ashley's in charge.  Would you like to join us???  We'd love to have you!!  Just ask one of us when and where.  Hope to see you there!

Christmas tree

I love Christmas tree lights!

My Christmas view

My beautiful view is even better with my Christmas lights!

First Sunday in Advent

I recently read- not sure where and that makes me sad- that there is great significance in the unlit candles on the advent wreath too. They represent the darkness of this world. As we prepare our hearts this Advent, we thank Him for the light we have and beseech Him for those still in darkness.

I hope we sing this today!

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Hymn Lyrics

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Breakfast of Champions

My day after Thanksgiving breakfast!

Thanksgiving Prayer

Scotty Smith prayer for Thanksgiving

My favorite line

So rise up in us, O living water, unto eternal life. Artesian springs of grace, come forth with such compelling and propelling force that our thanks will overflow the banks of our hearts—like a tsunami of worship and redemption. 

Thank you God, Pilgrims and A Lincoln

Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day

October 3, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.  To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.  In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.  Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.  Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.  They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people.  I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.   And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

A. Lincoln

Thanksgiving Eve thoughts

Thoughts from Joseph

1000 gifts app for your Iphone

Are you a grandfather?

 On November 9th John and Marisa found out that they are having a boy.  Atticus Thomas should join us in March.  We all knew, somewhat the the baby would be a boy.  In Carl's family he is one of six children, one daughter and five sons. Each son had a son first and Carl's sister had a daughter first.  Every family has only one daughter except one.  There are 15 grandchildren-10 grandsons and 5 granddaughters.  As the great-grands are appearing, the males are out numbered 3-2 now but Atticus will make it even, but each firstborn great grand has been a boy.

I was excited, Carl was Carl.

Marisa had a blue onesie in the bag for us to see.

I almost made my facebook status on Wednesday "Today I find out if I will be a grandmother or a grandfather"  but a few weeks ago when Andrew got on my account and ranked my children some folks thought that that was really me.  Really, Really?!?  So I refrained incase that would rock their world or they would try to explain it to me but any way... a grandfather it is  :-)

Do you see needs?

...make a meal for someone, write a thank you or two or three to folks who do things that make your life better- from the garbage man to the piano player at church-the note just needs to say thanks and why you are thankful, make a booklist for a shut in, then get the books they like for them from the library,  pay for the person behind you in the drive through at Starbucks, babysitting, tithing, getting to Sunday School early and helping set up the chairs, take time to speak to folks you usually brush past, let someone get in front of you in the grocery line, make bookmarks for all your friends that read... 

 I could list here a million ways for us to give this Thanksgiving month and some would spur you on and we all need that.  But what we really need is Situational Awareness.  Our hearts and eyes need to be so in-tuned with what is going on around us that the needs of others are so apparent to us that we can't help but be aware of them.  When you are really in-tuned with the needs of others sometime that is a very heart heavy place to be.  I also believe that a need doesn't always mean a call, we need to be discerning, but it would be better to err on the side of giving too much than not enough.

Pray today that the eyes of your heart will be open to see all the needs around you and also for the wisdom to know which ones you are to meet.

Today is the half way point in this month.  I have seen several blogs that are participating in a 30 days of giving challenge, it's not too late for us to start.  Just do two a day!


...give someone who is late to church your hymnal so they don't have to take the time to look it up, let someone in front of you in traffic, smile at all those you see today, rake your neighbors leaves, pick up all the trash on your street, get the email address of a missionary and ask them what they did today and tell them about your life, do another family members chores for the day-without telling them...

Fall Beauty

Kaitlin and I ran some errands recently and she brought my camera.  I love fall.