You Just Never Know

Last night we went to visit these 2 little guys!
Our youngest Grandsons!
We had a very good time and then came home.
 

We hadn't been home long when our daughter, Mandy called and told us that
Dusty's( her husband, our Sil) brother had been killed in a tragic car accident.
He was only 19 years old.
So sad.



Nobody could be prepared to hear this about your baby brother.
Dusty had to identify his brother and also break the news to his mother.
What started out being a perfect night ended up with this heartbreaking news.
Dusty shared with us his little brothers last text to him today.
So sad.
You just never know...
*******************
This is what our daughter put on facebook.
I thought her words were perfect.
We are so thankful that our daughter and son in law know the Lord
as they walk this lonely journey.

Tonight has held an unimaginable event as Dusty's little brother was killed in a car accident. At 19, Kenny had became a sweet boy with a promising future. He admired Dusty greatly and loved Davis whole-heartedly! I ask you all to pray for strength for Dusty, healing and peace for the family, and Christ-like blessings to come out of this sad day! Thank you to everyone who has been praying and please continue.

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6 - 7

Please keep this little family of ours in your prayers.

A Little About Me

I haven't been the best blogger in a while! That is for sure! But my friend Connie gave me an award! I told her that I am not a very interesting person but agreed to answer her questions!  Thank you Connie! Here goes:

1. When did you start blogging and what inspired you to blog?
This is an easy question.  When I first discovered blogs, I found Connie's blog and fell in love with her blogging style, her quilting, her knitting, and her music.  She is the inspiration behind me starting my blog.  When I visit her, I felt like I was really sitting on her couch just visiting an old friend.  I actually didn't think of me blogging first but thought of my Mom. I called her and told her that I thought it would be a wonderful gift to us (her children and grandchildren) and she said she would start one if I did. And that was the beginning of my blog! I LOVE blogging!


2. How did you learn to quilt?
 I watched my Granny quilt the old fashioned way. It was her passion.  She wanted to sell them but sold very few until I introduced them on my blog and sold all her quilts. She was so happy. Granny is gone now. I miss her terribly.  I am thinking of revisiting some of my visits with her on my blog.

3. Do you enjoy cooking?
  Oh I LOVE cooking! It is my passion! I am an old fashion cook but my "sweet hunter" sure loves it!  I am wanting to branch out and do some new recipes this year.  My favorite thing to do is cook for my family! When we all get together, all my girls bring a dish or 2. They are very good cooks!

4. What is your favorite travel memory?
  I have never traveled anywhere but Florida, Gatlinburg Tennessee, Helen Ga., Blairsville, etc.  Just places around here. I am not one that really likes to stay in motels. When I do, I bring a bed bug cover that goes on the mattress and usually bring my own sheets.  But for 2 years we leased a little shack in the woods in Sparta Ga.. It sat on 100 acres of hunting land.  We fixed it up with our own bed and had a little home away from home. I LOVED that! I miss it! We are hoping to get another place one day. It was like camping out but with heat and air and my own king size bed!

5. City or country?
 I'm a country girl at heart but just bought a house in the city! I've always had a garden and we've always had land. But at this point in our life, we just wanted less work.  We will still have a garden, just on a smaller scale.

6. What is your favorite TV program or series?
 I love Lucy! The Waltons! Little House on the Prairie! Dallas! Everybody Loves Raymond! King of queens!

7. Did you have a part-time job while you were in high school?
 Yes, my first job was at Cracker Barrel as a waitress! My best friend in high school, Cindy and I thought we were the stuff!  We were so proud of our tips!!!

8. How old were you when you learned to knit?
Well, I haven't learned yet. I have bought a kit and have been watching you tube videos but knitting is on my bucket list!

9. Tea, coffee, or neither?
 Tea!!! I wish I liked coffee but I don't. I love to smell it.

10. Do you enjoy watching sports?
  Not normally but if it is something like the Super Bowl, the world series or something like that, I love it! Or if the score is close, I love that! My "sweet hunter" was a football player in high school and he doesn't even watch much of it. He loves DIY or HGTV or hunting shows. 

11. Do you belong to a mini-group?
 I did attend a crocheting class at the senior center here in our town for a while. I am actually planning on starting back next week! I LOVED it when I went. A good friend of mine is the teacher which made it much more comfortable for me.

Now, to complete the award rules, I'll try to list the eleven random things about myself! Some of these may be things I've written about myself long ago on previous blogs.

1. I am a procrastinator.  I can't help it. I just am.

2. I don't like clutter.  I don't mind an unmade bed every once in a while but most days it is made.

3. I am a wannabe.  I see all these things that I want to do or make but I just keep looking and looking, and not doing much of it. 

4. I can do anything if someone shows me how! It may take me a while but I love a challenge.

5.  I am not a shopper! If I go shopping, I know what I want and get out of the store.

6. I am very frugal.

7. I LOVE home! It is my priority.

8. My only goal in life was to be a good wife, a good mother, and a good grandmother. I never wanted to be anything else. That is the highest calling ever.

9. I love being with my family.  I love it when it is noisy and busy with all my kids and grandchildren.  Don't get me wrong...I love my quiet time too.

10. In 34 years of marriage I can honestly say my only complaint about my husband is he doesn't straighten up the hand towel after using it!  He is a perfectionist. I am not. He says his only complaint about me is that I have a problem closing the cabinet doors all the way in the kitchen!! lol We are funny!

11. I am so glad that I am not what I used to be. I am not what I want to be but I am not what I used to be thanks to my Lord! I am so thankful that I know, that I know, that I know.

I leave you with a picture of me and my high school best friend, Cindy. We actually got to visit this week. She lives out of town so we don't see each other often.  

It was so nice to see her. We sat and talked for a long time. 
We also visited another classmate that is in a rehab facility.



Special Things!

When Mom got out of her first surgery,
 I was able to show her this beautiful card!

My sweet blogging friend, Becky made this and sent it to my Mother!

Look at all this beautiful detail!

Thank you, Becky  from the bottom of my heart!
Mom loved it and so did I!

When Mom was at my house, I tried to keep her busy doing things
that would keep her mind busy. My daughter and Grandchildren
brought her puzzles to do.

My best friend, Vicki came over and refreshed Mom's memory
on crocheting. My grandmother had taught Mom when she was a little girl
but Mom said she never pursued it. When Vicki showed her a few stitches
Mom picked it right up.  Vicki also brought us potato soup and her famous cornbread!
It was delicious! Thank you Vicki for your time and the food!
*****
My Sweet Mother in Law came and brought Mom some books!
And my sister in law brought Mom a wonderful delicious chocolate pie
Thank you both!

I tried to keep Mom busy as much as she was capable of doing.
I taught her how to do some chicken scratch embroidery.
I took her to Walmart to get some exercise.
I took her to a park and let her walk some.
We took her to a mexican restaurant to eat out.
All my children and grandchildren came to see her.
Some of my children wanted to see her for her birthday so we all pulled together
and made this wonderful dinner for her.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
Now she's at home and very happy and doing well!
You know there is no place like HOME SWEET HOME!
Thank you all for your prayers, emails, gifts and visits!
And thank you to all that offered to bring food and visit.
It meant a lot to me!

Saturday!

Sorry it has been a few days. Mom is doing really good.
She is still in Rehab but is scheduled to be leaving there
and coming to my house for a couple of weeks on Saturday!
She is so excited! I am too!
She has really done amazing with what all she has went through!
She showed me how she can stand alone in this picture but she is not suppose to be
doing that yet.  Home health care will send someone out to do rehab here at my house.
They will also check her vitals and blood work.  She has not seen my house except on my blog
since we moved in. Thank you for all the prayers. Please keep praying for her.
**********************
I also have an unspoken request.
Please help me pray.

One Day At A Time

Mom has come a long way since I have updated you. Today I curled her hair and told her to go look

in the mirror and see if it looked ok.

All of the sudden, I realized she was not holding on to anything!

Go Mom!

Mom has a long way to go but she has really done so good! I am so much like my Mom. Me & drugs don't do well. Mom can't handle them either. I am mean when I have had to have them. Mom is just kind of depressed. I know it is not fun for her but I really think she is doing great. She has not turned down any therapy at all. She is the strongest person I know. She doesn't see that though.  If that had been me, and going through what she has went through, I would be the biggest baby!

I gave her this verse tonight:

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Please keep praying for her!

 She told me to tell you all,  thank you for the prayers, but please don't stop praying!

Update On Mom

Bless her little heart! She has been through it. They finally got her to walk down the hall about 60 ft. with the help of 2 techs & a walker yesterday. She was pitiful but once she was up she did pretty good. We were so proud of her!

Fast Forward to this morning! I walked in this morning and she had the best attitude and was so happy.  They were moving her to rehab!

Then they did an ultrasound of her legs and found 2 blood clots! She cried.  It is so scary. I cannot imagine what she felt.  So then they come and and tell us that they will be doing surgery to put a filter in to keep the clots from going to her lungs. They told us they would do surgery tonight.  Well, we waited and waited and finally someone came and said they changed their minds and they would be treating her with bed rest and blood thinners. The one thing that she doesn't need to do with the back surgeries she had is to lay but she has no choice!

Please Please keep her in your prayers!

Roller Coaster

Update on my Mom:

Today has been a trip! Whew!

First of all we were up getting ready at 5 a.m.

 when Mom text and says they are taking  her earlier to surgery

than they had planned. They told Mom that she would be gone before

we could get there. But when we got there she was still in her room.

I sure was glad. Mom had a good attitude about the surgery when we got there.

She said she got her mind on the Lord and she had a peace about it.

 Then they came in and said that she needed 2 units of blood!

I said, "Are you sure you have the right patient"? They said yes.

I just didn't understand since we haven't heard anything about that.

Mom got very upset as anyone would.

Then they came to get her. She had tears in her eyes as they took her.

They called us every hour and updated us which made us feel better.

BUT

She didn't come back for 7 hours!!!!

They said that they had a hard time waking her up.

When she came back, she was pitiful.

But thank the Lord, as she began to wake up, we could see our Mama was coming back.

She has talked non stop which is weird for her!

She got to eat some jello and drink some tea.

That is the first food she has had in 5 days!

She has a hard road ahead of her but she is strong and she will do it.

She says to tell you all please don't stop praying for her.

From our family........Thank you!

Things Can Change Fast

This morning I was hearing Mom's soft little laugh as
we watched "I Love Lucy" in her hospital room.
She held her hand over her stomach where she had the
first back surgery.
Her laugh made me smile.
****************
THEN...... the surgeon came in!
He explained that the surgery he had planned
in the morning would have been an hour long but
when he looked at the MRI he saw some other things that
need to be done.  He said she could chance it and go home after
a short surgery and see how her pain is or he could go ahead
and do what all that needs to be done and not have to take the chance
that it wouldn't work. He said if he did it all, it would be a 4 hour surgery!
Mom's happy face turned in to a very sad face.
He explained if he did the short surgery and she went home and had pain,
she would have to have a third surgery.
She told him that he could make that call in the morning.
Once he walked out I saw Mom with tears in her eyes.
It broke my heart. She is a very strong woman and I know she will be ok.
(I, on the other hand, am not! I would be balling!)
So I tell you all of this, to ask you all to please continue to pray for my Mother.
I will update you tomorrow on her progress.
Thank you all.....AGAIN!
 

The View

This is the view from Mom's hospital room.

Can you see the place where the helicoptors land

when they have to bring someone in?

I think Life Force is what it is called.

So far we haven't saw any come in, thank goodness!

Mom is doing amazingly well!

We know where our help comes from!

Thank you so much for the prayers.

Prayers do work.

She still has a long road ahead but we are so thankful.

Her second surgery is now scheduled for Friday so

continue to pray!

Just wanted to update you all!

Thank you so much!

My Mom

PLEASE keep my Sweet Mom in your prayers.
She will be having her first back surgery in the morning and
the second one will be on Thursday!
Thank you all!
Update in Mom:
Prayers are working. They told us all the bad things to expect like a tube down her throat  and all the pain. They also said she would be in ICU until her next surgery. Her pain level is good. She had no tube down her throat, she was put straight in a regular room!  They told us that her next surgery will be on Friday so please continue to keep her in your prayers. Thank you all so much!

Our Kitchen: AFTER

My kitchen sink

Looking in to the old dining room which is part of my kitchen now.
Excuse the plants that are in totes and laundry baskets. Haven't found a place for them yet!
Under the t.v., where the sewing cabinet is will eventually be a gas fireplace.

 

This is my other table on the other side of the kitchen. 
When I get all the chairs for the farm table I will be able to seat 12 people in my kitchen.

I LOVE this cabinet. It is in the rock and is huge.
It has lots of space for everthing!

This is my island.  Did I tell you that I did all the cabinets myself?

When I told Sweet Hunter that I wanted to do them, he of course said, no.
He was worried about my shoulder (got rotator cuff problems) but I wanted
to do them and I did!

Remember the oven unit was in the wall that we removed?
The old refrigerator was sitting where the oven is now.
Then we put the refrigerator right next to it.
I LOVE my refrigerator!

See my lights? I will show you close up pictures in another post.
A friend of mine had these in her house and she decided to sell them.
So guess what?  I got them!!!

See the little shelf on the right side? That is where the cabinets
were in the wall that we took out. Anyway, when they installed my granite,
it hung over about 3 or 4 inches and I didn't like it so I told my carpenter
about it and I came in one day and he had built these shelves. They were
perfect to finish it out.

The hardwood floor is all throughout the house.
I think it is beautiful.  My Sweet Hunter is a carpet salesman and
we don't have any carpet in our house!!!
Well, that is my kitchen for now.
I have lots more planned for it but so far I LOVE it!
If you missed the BEFORE pictures you can go Here!
***************
Update on Mom:
We spent the day Monday getting all her pretesting for surgery
over with.  She has to be at the hospital at 5 a.m. and her first surgery
will be at 8 am. next Tuesday.  I will keep you all updated. Please continue to pray for her.
Her name is Alice.  Will you please call out her name in your prayers?
Thank you all!
A special thank you to my friend, Becky for posting a special post for me and Mom!
Click on her name and it will take you to her blog!
We have never met but have become the best of friends over the years.
2013 is gonna change that though. We already have made plans to meet!!!
 

My Farm Table

O.K. "Crazy me" decided I wanted an old farm table instead of
the typical dining room table. I found this one and fell in love.
This is the way it looked in the store.

Sweet Hunter went to pick it up and I could tell by the look on his face,
that he was thinking.......oh no! But I had a vision AGAIN!
Everyone that saw it either hated or loved it!
 

I went to Home Depot and bought 3 "common boards".
Then my carpenter screwed it right on the table top and
added some trim. I had already sanded the base of the table.

I took Minwax Javabean stain and rubbed all over the table.

On the base I used an off white paint and mixed it with a clear glaze
to distress it. I used 1 part paint to 4 parts glaze.

Then I polyurethaned the top 3 times sanding in between each coat!
What ya think???
I am in love!
Sweet Hunter loves it too!!
I actually have had a couple of people want to buy it
but Sweet Hunter says "NO.........it's perfect!"
But "crazy me" is ready to do another one!!!
So much fun!

 

Our "New To Us" House

The Kitchen Before

This is the kitchen before we started on it.
Can you see that other room?
That is the dining room.

 

When we first saw the house, we both said the good thing was that we
would not have to tear any walls down. 
BUT....

That didn't last long!!! The more I looked at the kitchen and the dining room,
the more I felt like I needed to tear that wall with the oven out!

On the other side of the cabinets with the oven in it (that is gone now),
was a closet made with special shelves just for china!
I don't have any china! So the closet came down too!

When I first suggested the wall to come down, sweet hunter wasn't too thrilled
about the idea. Here he is wondering if I did the right thing.



BUT, when he came in and saw the wall down, he LOVED it!
Look at the 3 windows that were in the dining room and
are now in my kitchen.



 

This is a picture of the other side of the island (opposite of the dining room)!
It has a breakfast nook so that is going to enable me to have 2 tables in my kitchen!
I had a vision and I am loving it!

This is the oven that was in the kitchen!
It was a very nice outdated oven that is gone now!

I just had to show you this!
This is the trash compactor that was in the house!
Pretty cool, huh?
It's gone now too.
*****************************
We got all moved over the holidays and are getting settled in now!
We are pooped!  But I can't wait to show you what we have done with the house!
I LOVE it!
More pictures coming soon!
**********
Update on my Mom:
Mom will be having 2 major surgeries on her back.
She is still unable to function as she normally did.
Her surgeries are scheduled for January 15 & January 17th.
These are very major surgeries.
Please keep her in your prayers.