Frightful Weather

Remember that holiday song, "Oh the weather outside is frightful..."? Well, the weather here is pretty darn frightful! All weekend long the temperatures have hovered around the forties. There was even snow on Thanksgiving in my hometown! We weren't there (we were at my grandparents' house) but according to the television there was 4-6 inches of the white stuff. I love that! What I'm not loving is all the wet and cold weather that followed me home today. It is currently 40 and the rain hasn't let up all afternoon. Now I know what you Northern readers are thinking...what a wimp. True, but remember that I'm from Texas! I say that like it explains so much.

Anyway, I had big plans of getting home early in the afternoon and getting a jump start on getting my Christmas decorations up. Unfortunately, I've pushed that back until tomorrow. Getting to sleep last night was a chore and staying that way was even harder. Plus, the wet weather has brought on a runny nose and sore throat. When I got home I crawled under the heavy covers and took a nice long nap. I'm still excited about getting my tree put up and decorations out, but I think I'll just start fresh tomorrow.

Thanksgiving was great! The food was plentiful and delicious. I even snagged a Glad container of dressing to bring home! But, of course it wouldn't be a holiday without a little misadventure in the kitchen. In my family, my Mimi, Mom, and I are the only ones that like sweet potatoes. I volunteered to get them ready for the oven. I know how to smash and stir in ingredients. I just wasn't too sure about the recipe. I added some of this and some of that and covered them with mini marshmallows. Sounds fine right? Something terrible happened in the oven. When we pulled them out, the marshmallows were a little too brown and the potatoes were a horrible sludge brownish black. Not wanting to write them off completely, I tried them. The tasted great, but boy were they terrible to look at! My Mimi said, "Steffany your potatoes look like heck!" and that was the nicest thing that was said! I'm still puzzled by what went so wrong, but even if they weren't the most eye catching thing on the table at least they tasted okay!

I hope that everyone had a Thanksgiving that was just as wonderful as mine turned out to be!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The holiday has officially started! I'm very much looking forward to going and visiting with family. After sleeping late, making my famous pineapple pepper cheese ball (seriously y'all...it's wonderful!), and packing I'm heading out. Everyone on my mom's side of the family will be there for the holiday. That is pretty amazing that all of us can still get together and bond over food and multiple games of hand and foot. When I talked to my mom this weekend, she told me to be sure and bring some of those plastic leftover containers. I love that!

Sounds crazy I know, but leftover containers mean that there will be leftovers. I'm hoping for extra dressing. In our family, dressing is an art. Those dried mini squares that come in a box are not dressing. Like I said, dressing is an art. I wonder if it is a Southern thing? Anyway, dressing is what I'm hoping to bring home! Even if there isn't any left, there will still be a bunch of leftovers to choose from. Now I know this will sound twisted, but I love that we're going to have leftovers. I love that we know we're going to have leftovers.

Those leftovers mean that we didn't have just enough. It means that we had more than enough. A lot of families out there don't have enough...food, time, love. Just today one of my little kids at school told me that her lights went off last night and wouldn't come back on. Then she told me that her daddy said they were going to have to start sleeping at her grandmother's house. My heart broke for her and her family. I've been really blessed in my life. I try very hard not to take that for granted, but it is stories like that which really cause me to stop and count each and every blessing in my life. Even the small ones.

So, to all my friends (the here-in-the-real-world ones and the blog sphere ones) I hope you have many many leftovers this holiday!

With A Thankful Heart

It is hard to believe, but there are only six school days left before the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm happy about that fact because first, it's a holiday and second, I'll get to spend several days with my family, and third, cornbread dressing and cranberry sauce. Also, I put up all the Christmas decorations that weekend too. It is hard for me to keep that excitement to a minimum! Anyway, since Thanksgiving is literally around the corner, I thought I'd take some time and reflect on some of the many things I'm thankful for in my life.

Family
I love my family...every last nutty one of them! Being an only child, I've always been close to my parents. Every memory I have of them is wrapped up in love. As I've gotten older I've come to appreciate more and more the wings my parents gave me. I know that my parents will support me (though not always the decision I'm making) and love me no matter what. That kind of love and support has allowed me to grow and find my own place in the world. For that I'll always be thankful. I know I don't say it enough, but I feel it all the same. I love my family!

Friends
This is a pretty corny saying, but friends really are the family you choose for yourself. (And y'all know how I feel about family!) I've always made friends easily. Along the way, I've discovered that those friendships most precious to me require the most work. That work has resulted in many long lasting friendships. I'm lucky to still have friendships with girls I met in Brownies in the first grade. I've also learned to appreciate the different aspects of friendships. There are those friendships made the "old fashion" way (like those from school or with co-workers) and then there are you guys...the "new fashion" way! If friends really are the family you pick for yourself then I've done some pretty darn good pickin'!

My Passport
I love pulling that little blue book out of the desk drawer and knowing that there are all sorts of possibilities there. I know the travel bug was partially passed from my parents, but they'd laugh at that! They loved to take day trips...no plan no certain destination in mind. I'd grab my pillow, a book, and music and grudgingly get in the backseat. Who would have thought that girl would grow up to want to explore everything in the world?! It is only fair to say that I still hate that "by the seat of your pants" kind of travel, but the going, seeing, and doing runs deep in my veins. For that sense of exploration, I'm grateful!

That Flaky Boss
In the short years that I've been part of the working set, I've only had two bosses that were major flakes. Don't get me wrong...you can love that flake but working for her is the pits. I'm not sure I'd use love to describe my current one, but I'm thankful for her all the same. Some days I can't see it, but I'm learning patience and perfecting the art of working with others. I've discovered that I'm not perfect (well which I already knew) but no one else is either. I'm sure somewhere down the road I'll appreciate the easy boss because I've learned to deal in a mature manner with the one that isn't so easy. The whole give and take is a growing thing for me. And growing is always a good thing, right?!

This 1970s Mobile Home
When I thought about my "first place" I never exactly envisioned this place. It's had its share of fixer upper moments but that has caused me to appreciate all the days when nothing goes wrong. And well all those times when wild life comes in for a visit have taught me that I can handle killing my own bugs. I don't like it and I still wish my daddy was close enough to yell for, but at least I don't scream and want to jump on the nearest piece of furniture. I've had a lot of good memories in this old place. I know I'll take them all with me when I moved to that place I have been envisioning!

The Crush
Oh the crush...if he only knew, right?! I enjoy that little something that happens when I think about him. It's still sweet and good. Anyway, though he probably doesn't have a clue I'm thankful for him. He helps me remember that you never know the possibilities that life will toss at you. Sometimes you just have to be brave and decide something is worth the effort...even if in the end it isn't how you thought it would be. Self, be brave!

Sudden Link
I know I know...y'all are rolling your eyes. Only I would be thankful for the cable company right?! Sometimes you just have to be thankful for the simple pleasures. Curling up on my bed or the love seat and watching something on TV is one of my favorite simple pleasures. Comfy pajamas, Sonic commercials, and the remote...what isn't to be thankful for?!

The list could go on for a very long time. I've been truly and well blessed in my life. So, I'm looking forward to this time of year with a thankful heart. A very thankful heart!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving dinner was good...great actually.

Family time was good...great actually.

This year our family has had a lot of losses and we might even look back and say that this year was one of the hardest ones we've seen in a while. This Thanksgiving I don't want to lose sight of the fact that while this year has brought it's own share of heartaches this has been a good year...a great year actually.

I don't want to lose sight of the great blessings that came my way this year because I focus on the bad things that came along too. Those things are big, hard, personal, but I can't forget the good things too.

It seems to be a thin line and some days I stray to the negative but most days...I'm grateful for the blessings. That is what Thanksgiving is all about right? Remembering everything and being grateful for it all.

The Holiday Madness Is Here!!!!

Life is good today! It's crisp and cool outside. The leaves around me are turning and falling to the ground. They aren't as colorful as I've seen before, but I still enjoy the sight. But most of all...it's the beginning of my favorite holiday season. Christmas is my favorite holiday, but I love the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday combo. I've already seen commercials on tv getting everyone in the holiday mood. It's here...the craziness that comes from getting started on shopping, the parties being planned, a turkey to buy (or shoot if you're into that), the family time, and of course the food. This is the one time of the year that I don't fret about losing pounds but just maintaining the ones I have...lol.

The school district where I work is out for the entire week of Thanksgiving so that means I get to head home when school lets out that Friday. I'm so excited! I haven't been home since I moved (July) and I'm curious to see how things have changed...if they've changed. I'm counting down the days...only 14 left to go. That's two weeks!!!

I love this time of year because for me it's all about family. I love getting together with my family (every last nutty one) and celebrating what is truly important to us. This year is going to be different because both of my great grandmothers have passed away this Fall. These passings have really made me realize just how precious my time with family is. Especially now that I live so far away and don't see them as often. I truly have many blessings which to be thankful for and this year I'll be doing an extra close counting of them.

Anyway, I hope that the joy that comes with the holidays starts to uncurl in you and that you enjoy every moment of it!

Below is just a Thanksgiving funny.

Things you can only say at Thanksgiving

1. Talk about huge breasts!

2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.

3. It's Cool Whip time!

4. If I don't undo my pants, I'll burst!

5. Whew, that's a terrific spread!

6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.

7. Are you ready for seconds yet?

8. It's a little dry, do you still want to eat it?

9. Just wait your turn, you'll get some!

10. Don't play with your meat.

11. Just spread the legs open and stuff it in.

12. Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?

13. I didn't expect everyone to come at once!

14. You still have a little bit on your chin.

15. How long will it take after you stick it in?

16. You'll know it's ready when it pops up.

17. Wow, I didn't think I could handle all of that!

18. That's the biggest one I've ever seen!

19. How long do I beat it before it's ready?