A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AT OUR HOUSE

Christmas 2010 was one of the nicest yet!!!!

We went lighter on all the Christmas decorating this year. We put up no outside lights or the Santa climbing up the roof or the Manger scene. Inside, we had it looking festive and nice, but did not drag our everything as usual. The shopping for gifts did not seem so hectic. I used a lot of gift bags, which made the wrapping easier. I wrapped as I purchased and avoided the rush at the end. It was just plain calmer.

The table settings for the 11 of us.

Mickey & I made these little snowmen for each place setting. They did not stand up to well so we ended up placing them in the center of each plate. Thanks to Oklahoma Granny for the idea.

I fixed a Mexican Christmas meal this year consisting of 3 Cheese Chicken Enchilada's, 30 with green & 10 with red chili - a large pot of Pasole - a large pot of Pinto Beans. Jacque & Bennie brought a case of red & white Sparkling Grape Juice and Deann (our official family dessert maker - YEAH) brought a yummy Rum Cake and a plate of Chocolate Peanut candy.

THE FAMILY

Father/Grandfather - Mickey, Granddaughter #1 - Jessica, 2nd Daughter - Jacque, 1st Daughter - Suzette.

Suzette - Dave - Bennie

2nd Son - Marc (youngest child still "acting up"!!) with Wife - Deann.

#1 Grandson - Aric, 2nd Granddaughter - Oksana.
Me, in tears as usual, as I read the touching, sweet Birthday cards from my son Marc and husband Mickey.

The 4 December birthday girls in our BELIEVE shirts (my gift to us) and our FAMILY FIGHTS TOGETHER necklaces, Jessica's gift to us.

I had made Prayer Shawls for each the family.

Jacque, with her turquoise shawl.

Marc with his variegated green and Deann with her variegated blue.

Oksana with her variegated purple.

Suzette's solid red Prayer Shawl was given to her on September 28th when we got her cancer diagnosis. I had been making these, starting in March, for the kids for Christmas........BUT God knew I would need this red one in September.

David was given his solid blue Prayer Shawl when he flew in to be with us October 17th-24th.

Due to the above happenings Jessica's did not get finished on time :o( !!!!!!

So she didn't get to "unwrap" her Prayer Shawl, but was shown it in this stage!!!

I'm working diligently to get it finished.

Because it was so touching and because my blog is a history for my children and grandchildren, after we are gone, I am quoting the words of Marc's wonderful birthday card to me.

"Mom, Yours was the first face I ever saw, the first hands I ever felt, the first voice I ever heard, and the first love I ever knew. I feel that love still. I hope you feel mine. Happy Birthday - Love, Marc"

CHRIST-mas - A Paraphrase of I Corinthins 13

A paraphrase of I Corinthians 13

Author Unknown

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust,

but giving the gift of LOVE will endure.

Merry CHRIST-mas

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACQUE

Today, December 22, 2010, is our second daughters birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - JACQUELINE RENEE

better known as JACQUE

On the occasion of your double nickle I wanted to give you this birthday gift.

New born December 22, 1955

1956 - Infant

1963 - First Grade

1958

1959

1973 - 17 years old

1983

2008

Jacque is a loving DAUGHTER to Mickey & I, loving SISTER to sister Suzette & brothers, David & Marc, loving AUNT to niece Oksana & nephew Aric and loving MOTHER to her only child, Jessica Renee.

Jacque has been through a lot. She lost virtually EVERYTHING in 2005 in Katrina Hurricane. Moved here with us a month later, was hired immediately as a Pharmacy Tech and is still employed there, & purchased a home on July 24, 2007.



WE LOVE YOU, JACQUE

You may be #2 in birth order, but ALL of you 4 are #1 in our hearts and minds.

The KING'S KITCHEN CHRISTMAS BLESSING

Yesterday was our normal King's Kitchen delivery of a hot meal to the 52 shut-ins we currently serve each and every Tuesday.

But today, being the Christmas delivery, was an extra special delivery. One of the joys for Mickey & I in heading up this ministry is ALL the support that we have not only from the ones who faithfully serve week after week, but the general support we get from the Church body. That is what today's post is all about.

FIRST, the single adult class made hand-made book marks & hand-made personalized Christmas cards for each of the 52 recipients. These were given to them with today's meal.

SECOND, one of the families in our church, The Humphries, fixed turkeys for Thanksgiving at the church this year and invited any within our Body who wanted to bring a side dish and a dessert to join them. They ended up with quite a few people attending. Just like Jesus did with the loaves and fishes they ended up with lots of left overs. They called us, as they were preparing to clean up the kitchen that day and asked if The King's Kitchen would like the left overs. We were delighted as Mickey said "yes" very quickly!!! Then to our amazement they proceeded to prepare and seal up 32 meals for us!!!! Yes, loaves & fishes just like in the Bible. Since we deliver a hot meal each Tuesday we came upon the idea to add 20 more prepared TV dinners and in addition to their hot meal today each person received a frozen meal which they can heat-up and eat as they like and want.

We had a crew of 13 today, plus 3 children. Sorry I didn't get each and everyone of them in these pictures. With the hustle & bustle that goes on when the trays are being filled, and then sealed, and ALL the items being placed into the 2 coolers each of the 5 teams use for the delivery, and today adding the Christmas cards, bookmarks and extra frozen meal, it got a little hectic. I did good to think and grab my camera and get these two shots!!!

Most of these people I have already introduced to you in past posts about this special operation but I had to take this picture because the beautiful lady at the sealing machine is our new Pastor's wife, Michele. She is a grade school teacher and is off this week for Christmas break and came down to fill in one slot on a delivery team of one of our men, Jimmy, who was home ill today. Since Jimmy also doubles for us by running the sealing machine Mickey asked Michele to fill in there for us also. What a trooper she is and what joy to have Michele be part of the operation today.

The menu today was: turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, hot roll, butter, 1% milk and a dessert of either red velvet cake, chocolate cake or chocolate cookies.

A complete Christmas Dinner, a smiling face to deliver it, a sweet greeting, a prayer shared and joy in the hearts of those who are blessed to serve in this way.

And yes, being we are in Oklahoma, the first meal in January - January 3rd - will be black-eyed peas and cornbread!!!

FAMILY FIGHTS TOGETHER

Granddaughter Jessica's birthday present to me her grandmother, her mom Jacque, her Aunt Suzette and to herself for our 2010 December birthdays was this:

beautiful silver feather and cancer awareness ribbon neckless:

Along with the accompanying description: the feather represents "going beyond boundaries" and "getting above it all"; the white (silver) represents "wholeness" & "completion";and the cancer awareness ribbon is a symbol everyone now recognizes.

Best of all it represents a FAMILY FIGHTING TOGETHER-what this family is doing

for

OUR SUZETTE

A wife, daughter, sister, aunt and sister-in-love to us and we are standing together........

not in luck (which we do not believe in)

but in FAITH.

Speaking of the righteous..."He will have no fear of bad news;

his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

His heart is secure, he will have no fear,

in the end he will triumph on his foes.

Psalm 112:6 - 8

This is the verse we were given to stand on September 28th and we "having done all

STAND".

CELEBRATING THE GIRLS DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Since December is such a busy month anyway last year and this year "the girls" of our family decided to make a "girls only" celebration and outting for the 4 of us who have December birthdays.

Mom & Grandma Susan - December 25th - 73 years young!
First Granddaughter - Jessica - December 23rd - 25 years old.
Second Daughter - Jacque - December 22nd - 55 years old.
First Daughter - Suzette - December 13th - 56 years old.

I am so proud to share a December birthday with my 2 daughters, and my first granddaughter and my Lord and Savior!!!! Grandma Susan and first granddaughter Jessica. The shirt I am wearing is one I gave each of the birthday girls and it says "BELIEVE". Yes, we believe and are standing in Faith for Suzette's TOTAL and complete healing.

Suzette and Jacque with 2nd Granddaughter Oksana.

Deann and Suzette. Deann is our newest family member and became our Daughter-in-love on February 13th of this year when she married our younger son, Marc. Deann, and her three sons, are a wonderful, fun, vivacious addition to our family.

We had a lovely, relaxed, fun time of eatting, gift exchanging and sharing at The Oli*ve Gar*den. They gave us a lovely round table in a quiet room and corner (such a treat on the last week-end of Christmas shopping) and a very patient and good server.
I love and am very proud of ALL my girls!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my girls!!!!

Today, December 13th, is my first daughter, Suzette, birthday.

December 22nd is my 2nd daughter, Jacque, birthday.

One year and 9 days daughter, Jacque, was born. I was 12 days from being 17 years old when Suzette was born - and 2 days from being 18 years old when Jacque was born.

As I began going through the old pictures (35mm slides in those days!!!) I began to realize how everything they did was always the TWO of them. I use to say, "It was like having twins the hard way."

Jacque 2 years old, Suzette 3 years old. Yes, we always had a joint birthday between the two dates.

They were 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 when Mickey & I married. Yes, I dressed them alike most of the time. These precious dresses were made for them by their Grandmother Errett.

I have no idea what? they were doing here, but you can see they were very intense about it. Maybe putting on gloves for church.

Playing dress-up at Grandma's with grandma's hats, purses, and clothes.

Suzette was 9 1/2 and Jacque 8 1/2 when their first brother, David, was born. They are 10 - 6 months - & 9 here.

Ready for a dance recital they were in at ages 11 & 10.

Easter 1965. I was 28, Suzette - 11 - Jacque 10 & David 1.

A Sunday morning 1965. We had just bought our first home in Tulsa and this was taken in front of a wall that came out from the garage.

With my father, their Grandpa Errett. This shows that first Tulsa home.

Jacque 1969 - 8th grade.

They were 15 1/2 and 16 1/2 when their second brother, Marc, was born.

Christmas 1970 - Mickey 38 - Susan 33 - Suzette 16 - Jacque 15 - David 6 - Marc 1

Cowgirl Suzette 1977

HAPPY - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my TWO wonderful daughters. You are loved more than word can say and actions express.....but the heart KNOWS!!