Great Valentine Gifts from Cherry Moon Farms

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Click on the above link to see this great group of gifts.

Love Gifts From Grandkids

Love the little gifts my grandkids give me.  This one is from Dustin.  Love them all.

A Shout Out to Cindy

One of my favorite foods in the whole world is....drum roll please....KALE!  Yep, that's right, kale!  Sometimes it is hard to find really pretty fresh kale.  All my family knows how much I love it so today Cindy saw some really nice kale in the grocery store and bought me a bunch.  When she dropped it by after picking up Lindsay from school (I live right by the schools), I was very excited.  Thank you Cindy for my delicious dinner!

Funny story and it is true.  When Chad became old enough to get a job, they were opening a new Chick-Fil-A in Grapevine.  I allowed him to work there since they gave him Wednesday nights off for church and they were closed on Sundays.  One day the owner sent him to the store to get some fresh kale for their displays.  The owner, wanting to make sure Chad knew what to buy, was really explaining it to him.  Chad told him that he knew what it was and that he loved it and ate it all the time.  The owner actually thought Chad was being a smart-aleck and that one didn't eat kale.  The next time we had it, Chad took some to his boss who refused to even taste it!  I wonder if Chad ever told him so what, his mom doesn't eat chicken!

Cindy being goofy somewhere in Spain.

Mam-mam, Dustin, and Lauren

Looking forward to when the wildflowers will be blooming again and that made me think of this picture which is one of my favorites.  Mom loved the early Spring wildflowers and getting pictures of the grandkids in them.  We had just warned Dustin not to smash the flowers so he is holding his foot up.  Mom loved her great-grandchildren and they loved her.  They still miss her.  Samantha feels like she knew Mam-mam because she has heard the other kids talk so much about her.

Clearance Set of Calphalon Pans and Lid

If you need a good set a pans, here is a great buy.  This set is regular priced at $340.00 now clearance priced for $99.95  If you are interested in checking out this good buy, click on the Cooking.com link in the right hand column of this blog for further information.  I believe they are also offering free shipping on orders over $79 right now.

Features:

• Slide Nonstick 10-in. Omelette Pan
• Sear Nonstick 3-qt. Saute Pan
• Tempered glass lid fits both pans
• Heavy-gauge hard anodized aluminum for quick and even heat
• Dishwasher safe
• Oven safe to 500 degrees
 

VB Tourney

I have been waiting all week to get the results of Lindsay's volleyball tournament last weekend.  Still no results.  I decided this didn't make sense so I asked deeper questions.  Well, silly me.  There were 85 teams in the tourney.  They were playing for postions in moving on to tourneys in Dallas and Houston.  So I guess eventually we will know how they did.  This grandma is old fashioned.  When you play in a tourney, you should have a ranking and it shouldn't take forever to get it!  No wonder my grandkids think I'm old fashion.  I really am!

Another Look Back

Samantha, two or three years ago, with Hannah in costume after a play in which we watched Hannah perform.  Samantha was so impressed that her "cousin"/friend was part of the cast.  Oh my, Cindy, how she loved her "silver sparkly shoes" Aunt Cindy gave her!

Carlos, Isabell, Steffinee, and Samantha

The latest picture of Chad's gang.  This was taken this past Saturday, January 19.

Carlos, Isabell, Steffinee, and Samantha

 

ONE OF THE CLOSEOUTS AT COOKING.COM

The holidays may be over but who says you can't still enjoy that yummy gingerbread taste?  I know Dustin loves anything gingerbread and hates it when they pull it from the shelves after Christmas. This 16-oz Gingerbread Pancake & Waffle Mix is one of the good closeout buys at Cooking.com  Click on the link on the right to check out all the excellent closeout prices.

16-oz Special Price $5.99

TWO OF MY FAVORITE GIRLS WITH THEIR FRIENDS

Lauren on the left and Sarah in the middle along with a group of their church friends.

So proud of these girls and will really miss them when they go off to college next year.  Thankfully both of them will be somewhat close to home.  Lauren will be at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.  That's just a couple hours away.  Sarah will be at OU, the University of Oklahoma, which is probably about 3 or so hours away.  Love you girls!

What is This?

It looks like to me some aliens invaded my daughter's upstairs game room this past weekend.  Could be I recognize one of them, maybe, maybe not.  Lauren, where are you hiding?  Maybe you were the photographer?  Great group of Christian girls having some fun!

Volleyball Tourney Update

Just had a text from Rodney.  The tourney in Austin continues today.  Lindsay's team just won their first game this morning 25-17.  He said he didn't remember all the stats from yesterday but they did well.  Go Lindsay Girl! 

Our girl in action.

Our Volleyball Girl

As mentioned on the earlier post today, Lindsay is playing in a state volleyball tournament in Austin today.  She is currently in a match as I type this.  She won her earlier match 2 out of 3!  She is one of the best middle school players in the state in this grandma's opinion.  And frankly, her record backs me on that one.  GO LINDSAY!

Our girl in action!

D & T

D & T is grandma shorthand for Dustin and Tucker.  Lindsay is playing in a big Texas state volleyball tourney so she and Rodney are in Austin this weekend.  Cindy and Lauren are hosting a retreat for Lauren's small group in her youth group at church.  So Tucker got to come over to be spoiled by Dustin.  He loves these little trips to spend time with Dustin.

Tucker loves laying his head on Dustin's warm fuzzy sleep pants.  However, in this picture he was really wanting to chase the squirrels he was watching through the window in the door!

Yes!

Yes! Sunshine, temperature in the 60s, no school.  What a perfect January day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE

Today we celebrate Steve's 66th birthday. Three years ago we wondered if he would see this day. Thanks to God and good doctors, he is reasonably healthy today. For someone with dementia and COPD, he is doing quite well.  Happy Birthday, Steve!

Here he is last October with Samantha on her birthday!

Four Of My Favorite Girls

I have 8 favorite girls who call me Grandma Linda.  This is a picture of 4 of them.  Sarah posted these pictures last night and I took them from her facebook page.  What memories!  These girls are all teenagers now with Sarah and Lauren being high school seniors.  I look at these darling pictures and wonder where did the time go!  Sarah will graduate from Southlake Carroll High School this year and be off to the University of Oklahoma where she got a track scholarship.  Lauren will graduate from Grapevine High School and be off to Baylor University on scholarship.  So proud of all four of these girls.  Thank you God for sending these precious girls into my life!

 Obviously one one of their many water loving vacations.  This may have been their whale-watching vacation since they are all dressed in their warm clothes.  Sarah, Lauren, Hannah, and Lindsay.

At Grapevine Lake on a hot Texas day.  Hannah & Sarah Cory, Lauren & Lindsay Hart.

Winter Storm Hits Us

To all my Hoosier family and friends, don't laugh.  We awoke to a "winter storm"!  I took some pictures to show you what a real winter storm looks like!  My neighborhood was full of people out taking pictures.  We got a "thunder" snow.  That is when it snows and thunders at the same time!  I just wanted to give you Hoosiers a good laugh this morning!

The view out my front door.

 

The view out my dining room window.  As you can see, the driveway is clear.  Business as usual across the street at GHS in the background.

Our backyard.  Love the grass sticking out of the snow.

Samantha Doing Her Bible Study and Devotional

Since Chad and Mary had guards this past weekend, Samantha was with us Friday night until late yesterday afternoon.  I got her a daily devotional for Christmas and so far she is taking it very seriously.  Yesterday I caught her as she was doing her Bible study and devotional on her bed.  I got a couple of cute pictures before she caught me at it.

 

Steve is This Week's Birthday Boy!

We start off each new year with a bunch of family birthdays.  This week the birthdays are Steve's and nephew Tyler's.  I don't have a picture of Tyler but will feature Steve this week.  On Thursday the 17th he will become the old man.  I enjoy calling him that from January until May when I catch up with him!  Here is a picture of him with Lindsay and Lauren on his birthday last year.

Steffinee is 14 Today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SPECIAL GIRL, STEFFINEE JO WILSON!  14?  How did you get there so fast?  Papaw, Grandma, Dustin, Samantha, and the rest of your Texas family wish you a very happy birthday!  Here is a picture of Daddy's girl on his lap!

For those who wonder why she is my special girl, there is a good reason.  When each of my grandchildren were infants/toddlers, I tagged them with a special name from grandma.  Dustin is My Buddy, Lauren is Grandma's Angel, Lindsay is Grandma's Ladybug, Steffinee is My Special Girl - because she lives so far away and I see her so seldom, and Samantha is my Baby Girl.  Yes, Carlos and Isabell are missing from the list.  They came into my life later and missed the early years naming process.

COUSIN STEVE

My cousin Steve Hawkins had some very major heart surgery yesterday in Indianapolis.  Thanks to all who have prayed for him.  He has been living in the hospital on chemo for sometime to prepare for the surgery.  The doctors said his situation was very serious and were worried about losing him.  I am pleased to report that last night he was able to talk and the doctors felt he was doing better than expected.  Since the surgery took longer than expected, that was very good to hear.  Please continue to pray for him as his condition is still critical.  He is a minister and believes stongly in the power of prayer so I know he appreciates all the prayers being said for him.

Happy Birthday Brother-in-Law

Today is my brother-in-law's birthday.  If any of you Hoosiers see him out and about today, be sure to wish Ed Hargis a happy birthday.  If he were here he could have a piece of this tasty sugar-free cake since he is also a diabetic.

Cousins

Our birthday girl shown here in the visor, with her sister and cousins in 2011 at Graceland.  She loves vacations with her cousins.  And they love vacations with her.

Our Special Birthday Girl

As I have mentioned previously, this is Miss Steffinee Jo Wilson's birthday week.  We have never spent a birthday with her as she lives out of state but we always try to make up for it when we see her.  One of our previous birthday celebrations with her is shown below.  I love this picture and the look on her face.  Hope you are having a good week, Steffie girl.  Love you and can't believe you will be 14-years-old this week!

Happy Birthday Week, Steffinee!

Wishing a Happy Birthday Week to our 3rd oldest granddaughter Steffinee Jo Wilson.  She lives in Oklahoma so we don't get to see her as often as the others but we make up for it when we do.  Love you beautiful girl and hope you have a very special week!

Celebrating her 10th birthday four years ago.

(Ignore the date on the picture. Not sure how it got on there!)

Samantha and Church

I am so proud of Samantha who is 8-years-old.  Tomorrow our church is starting on a 21-day fast and 40 days of studying The Word.  Below I have copied a post our pastor put on the church facebook page today and my response to him about Samantha.  She is so sweet and sincere in her Christian walk.

Jeff Strickland

Praying for each and everyone of you! So excited for what God is going to do in 2013, our corporate fast and 40 days in the Word! It all starts tomorrow!!!

Like · · · 7 minutes ago near Hurst

 

• Linda Sowders Wilson Chad & Mary are out of town and Samantha is here with us. Last night I told her I bought her some turkey for sandwiches. She said, "Good, but I have to eat it tomorrow. I'm going to do the fast." She also brought her devotional she got for Christmas and her Bible so we could do her devotionals because we are supposed to be studying The Word. She has 2 Bibles here but she insisted on bringing the one she had been using at home. I think you've been getting across to her!

  

  
  

   

Lauren and Her Friend Abby at BU

Our beautiful granddaughter Lauren and her friend Abby during one of their sessions at Baylor University.

Thank You God!

I am so relieved that my colonoscopy is over and the report was good.  I think this is the first time in 20 years I have gotten a totally good report from my gastroenterologist.  Only 1 polyp which looked benign, less diverticuli than usual and the resection has healed so well he said he probably wouldn't have noticed it if he wasn't looking for it.  Last time it was red and inflamed.  So he told me to go and have a very healthy new year!  I can't tell you what a relief that was.  Believe me, colon cancer is not something you want to deal with.  So good news only 3 days into the new year!  Thank you God for your blessings and thanks to my family and friends for all the prayers!

Another Silver Lining

Even though 2013 is not off to a good start for me, I do have another silver lining behind the clouds.  The Surgi-Center told me today that my procedure is covered 100%.  I guess you really can find something good in everything.  My copay was supposed to be $150.00 but since this is a cancer screening, 100% coverage.  So I will start the new year being thankful for the little things/blessings in my life!

Another blessing - Christy's restaurant was robbed again last night - now that is not a blessing.  But this is the third time and thank God she wasn't there any of those times.  Don't know too many details on this one yet, she's been busy and I haven't bugged her today.  She did say the police told her they are still having a string of robberies on that commercial stretch of road.  Unbelievable!  Her company installed new security cameras last month and they did say they got pictures of the robbers this time.  Please continue to pray for her safety.  This mother doesn't like armed robbies at her daughter's place of business!

Silver Lining Behind the Clouds

I guess it's true what they say about a silver lining behind every cloud.  My doctor's office has been bugging me for a few months now to have a procedure that I dread so bad.  I have put it off twice but the last time they called they let me know he was very serious about this so I let them schedule it.  I hate doing this and even worse, in my opinion, is having to spend money on it!  Friday my insurance company called to tell me that since this is a cancer screening my anesthesiology would be covered at 100% instead of me having to pay the usual copay/deductible.  So I am looking at that as the silver lining behind this cloud over the first week of the new year!  I hate starting a new year with anything medical!