November-December Blessings

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. Madison and I helped the FCA group package and deliver meals to those in our community who needed help to have a Thanksgiving meal. It was a very rewarding experience. In the afternoon, our family traveled out to the farm where mom was preparing a feast. Since she was serving her meal as dinner, that gave us time to enjoy the horses. We trailrode for an hour or so. It was so peaceful and fun.

The day after Thanksgiving, we traveled down to McMinnville to have dinner with Randy's mom & Charlie. Before stuffing ourselves again, Madison, Aunt Vicki & I spent three hours trying on pageant dresses. The next day, we took Randy along and he helped Madison make the final decision...you'll see how things turned out later in this post!

On Saturday, we met Aunt Vicki, Zac and Jayben in Cookeville for ANOTHER dinner! And the neatest thing happened. On our way there, our friends Michael, Brandi and kiddos Caleb and Delilah (used to live here in Monticell0) phoned us. They were on their way back to their home in Alabama and were near Cookeville...so they joined us for dinner too. It was a great time!

And before the whole Thanksgiving holiday was over, we also got to spend some time with our friends/cousins the Yates'. Although there are no pictures, I always enjoy the small amounts of time I get to spend with my "sisterly friend" and her family! Family & Friends are the best blessings!

Early in December, McKenzie & McKayla made their debut in the school drama production. They were "the best" little actresses in the whole play! They knew every line they were supposed to say and often had to help their fellow cast members along. I think there may be some acting in their futures!

The first week of December also brought a big-little surprise to McKayla. All she asked for for Christmas was a puppy...so here is Benji and McKayla literally-at first sight!

He weighed in at 8 weeks old at 2.4 pounds. They tell us he will "top out" at about 8-9. He is a "Yorkie-Poo". Supposedly easy to train due to the poodle genetics....we'll see.

December has been crammed full of activity! There have been Christmas parades, Christmas plays, Christmas contatas, snowdays, the SAT test, the ACT test, Governor's Scholar Applications and beauty pageants....AND IT'S NOT OVER YET!

Yes, we have a winner. Madison was crowned Miss Wayne County Area Outstanding Teen last Saturday night! Although this was her first pageant since she was three years old, she made us very, very proud.

As I sign off for now, I leave you with one last photo...this time...of me. I have always joked about having less of myself in some areas (thighs), more of myself in some areas (you can guess) and I have come to the conclusion that those things cost too much for the surgeon to fix...so I've resorted to changing what I can...yes....there's less hair....I figure it balances things out a little better...ha, ha! The girls like it and amazingly, so far, so do I. Don't know how I'll feel come "ponytail" time! I truly wish all of you the merriest of Christmases and the most blessed new year. Don't forget to thank God for sending his son, for giving his life as a sacrafice and then raising him again...all for us. If you haven't heard it yet...find the Christmas song by the group Downhere called How Many Kings. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! I love you all......Kim