AN ANGEL NAMED CATHIE

Angels come in all types and sizes.

One of ours showed up at our home yesterday!!!

Mickey and I returned home from The King's Kitchen yesterday, which was the first Tuesday in a couple of weeks we were back in the Kitchen due to Mickey's Dr. appointments and tests, to this ~~~~~~~

Neighbor, friend and angel extra-ordinare, Cathie Hogate, decorating our ENTIRE front yard for Christmas.  This is the exact position we found her in, decorating the mail box.  I have to add, this was one of the coldest, nippiest days we've had so far this winter.

This lovely arrangement in one of my flower containers. 

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Christmas wreath sitting on the front porch.

She wasn't finished yet and added a great big bow!

Have you ever had your tree trunk decorated?  Neither had I---but now I have!!

The wreath in place on the front door - with our Angel, and her sweet, precious smile.  

By now I have to tell you the tears are beginning to flow in my eyes.  I cannot tell you how very touched I was with this act of love and kindness from a dear friend and a breast cancer survivor.  

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This is not the first time Angel Cathie has shown up --- Last week, after Mickey had his pet scan David, Cathie's husband, had knocked on our door and came in carrying this adorable little basket filled with rice-krispy treats and chocolate mints, a get well card, and a medical magazine with one article highlighted and marked for Mickey to read. 

This gift basket hanging on the left side of the porch.  The little tag, folded like an envelope, reads Mickey's Mail. 

Cathie, who use to do all the decorations at our church, Coweta Assembly of God and in the beginning of The King's Kitchen, before she began her cancer battle, had been on one of the delivery route teams, 

grew some BIG Angel wings 

and brightened Christmas 2014 greatly for us.

Thank You Cathie and may God bless you greatly in the New Year - 2015.  

Thank you Cathie and David for being God's light and our dear friends. 

NUTCRACKERS

Jacque was not able to make the Florida Christmas trip in 2013, due to her work schedule.  Uncle Jerry brought not only Jacque's Christmas gift, for our exchange, but a BIG box for us to bring home to her.  As soon as we arrived home on the 29th we immediately went to her home in Broken Arrow to give her the surprise.

Uncle Jerry sent her ALL these lovely nutcrackers.

3 big 

5 medium

2 small

10 total

Needless to say, she was thrilled with this show of love.  

These had belonged to Jerry & his wife Sunnie and had been boxed up for the past 8 years. 

You can see the massive collection she already has...

including the three we just gave her at her birthday dinner on December 20th.

 on the bookshelf

 on the mantle

 on the plant stand

Another shot of the plant stand showing the 3 Halloween Nutcrackers she purchased in October, plus the BIGGEST Nutcracker which was our gift to her Christmas of 2012. 

Jacque called me yesterday to share that Benny had brought home a new bookcase to display them on all year-round.  How sweet. 

Collections are fun things!

Christmas 2013 #4 - BIRTHDAY

What a Christmas - Birthday 2013 was!!!

I have, over the years, had many people say how horrible it must be to celebrate my birthday on Christmas.  I have never found that to be true from my parents and early childhood and growing up, to my marriage, my husband and my children making it very special .  

Christmas presents have been opened and now it is time for me to open my birthday gifts.  David, the host for this grand 4 day Florida visit, wanted me to open his and Karin's gift first.  And, besides it was the BIG sack I'd been wondering what was in it.

My brand new Dell Optiplex 760, with Windows 7 Professional software, keyboard & mouse.  Look at that grin....David is as pleased & happy as I am. 

Next came the beautiful worded card from Marc, and since I always cry when reading them they HAD to get a picture of my ugly cry face!

Opening Marc's gift.  A beautiful silver bracelet with turquoise and other beads from Kairos 10.  "Kairos" means "the appointed time in the purpose of God."

The card accompanying it read "Your purchase provides a life-saving mosquito net to a family in Africa to protect them from the spread of malaria.  Each piece is handcrafted by native African women with beads from various native regions.  Through a unique partnership with these women, they receive sustainable income to provide for their families."

Photo's out of order but nothing would do but David set up my new computer!!

For me to sit down, log on and check my fb!!!

The silly birthday card from Mickey that said "You're the greatest" and then "sang", very loudly about me being a rock star, etc.!!!  We were ALL laughing hard.  Notice Marc's bracelet on my arm. 

Liz Taylor's White Diamonds Perfume, my favorite from Jacque.

 This says it all!!  I am loved by this family and they show it to me in every way possible, not just gifts and materially, but in their actions.

Silver 24" chain was my birthday gift from Mickey.

Three new Pandora charms to add to my wonderful bracelet this family gave me for my 75th birthday last year.  

Shiny ruby & crystal orb is from Mickey for Christmas. 

Blue orb with hearts is from Aric.

Sterling Silver Palm Tree is from Jessica 

(To represent this Christmas 2013 in Florida)

Yes, my 76th Birthday is "1" to remember.

Christmas 2013 - #3 - HOMEWARD BOUND

December 26th and last day - Family time of fun and sharing,  David took Marc to the beach where he surfs which is north of Vero Beach. Mickey & Jerry walked the 1/2 block from the house to the beach several times.  Marc, David & Jerry all went to the putting green to hit balls and for Uncle Jerry to give them tips on golfing, since the boys are just now getting into the game for real.

 We took 2 cars and drove to the main beach strip for breakfast.  Mickey & I chose to go in David's new car as he showed off all the bells and whistles and we enjoyed the ride and the sights.  

 This is the 1,000 piece puzzle I purchased for Karin & I to put together while the guys did their thing.  Here we have just gotten the pieces all turned over.  You can see the table cloth and center pieces all push back to make room for this project. 

 We did not start working on it until about 3 that afternoon.  This is how far we'd gotten at bedtime.

 Our progress by bedtime on 2nd day.

 Karin putting in a piece as we are nearing the end.

 FINISHED!!  I think Karin is going to seal it and hang it on the wall since they have little on the walls yet in this new big home, after the small condo in San Fran. I started out working on the Yellow portion and Karin started out working on the Blue Clock the first day but the next day, and until we finished it we found ourselves changing chairs and focus quite a bit. 

 Son David, Granddaughter Oksana, Grandson Aric & Son Marc.

We were so sorry that Daughter Jacque and Granddaughter Jessica did not get to go and had to celebrate together in Tulsa.

 6 of our wonderful family of 8

 Good-byes to Dad.

The weather while in Florida had been warm and sunny on the first day, but was cool, and overcast on the other 2 days.  This was a disappointment to us as the guys wanted to see David surf and they also wanted to go to the Putting range more....but this time was all about family and it did not disappoint in the least.

December 27th - Due to the delay and road construction near Memphis Marc routed us on a different more Southern route for our return trip.  We took 3 days returning, instead of the 2 days coming, so it would be a little easier travel time. Started out at 7.10 a.m. and headed out toward Tampa and the Gulf area.  By 7:17 we were in heavy rain again!!  It was an uneventful day of heavy highway driving starting on the Florida Turnpike and then Interstate 75 and Interstate 10 until we reached Crestview, FL about 500 miles.  We arrived at our Hampton Inn about 3 o'clock and just relaxed, watched TV and went out for dinner. 

Marc looked up restaurants on his smart phone as we wanted to have a nice leisurely dinner at a nice place.     

Johnny O' Quigley's, 

An Irish Pub fit the bill - especially with a waiter named Doyle.

Sorry for the dark pictures but this place was jam packed with really neat deco and antiques and interesting things hanging and displayed every where.

Marc & Aric waiting for our meal to be served

Back to the motel, watched TV, relaxed and were asleep by 10 p.m. 

December 28th - We once again rose early.  Had a nice breakfast at the motel and hit the road at 7:17 a.m.  We entered Alabama at 9:05 a.m. and once again found ourselves in POURING rain.  By 10:20 when we got into Mississippi it was still pouring.  After leaving Vicksburg and crossing the Mississippi River we entered Louisiana at 2:25 p.m. and it was finally dry!!!!

The drive through Louisiana was scenic, as we worked our way Northward, and enjoyable as we went through a quaint little town called Mer Rouge, then Bastroup. At 4:08 p.m. we crossed into Arkansas.  When Marc called for reservations at The Hampton Inn they were booked up so our reservation in Pinebluff was at the Holiday Inn Express.  After another long day and ride we were all tired, and had snacked along the way at gas fill-ups, so we opted to stay in our room and not go out for dinner. 

December 29th - Since we only had 325 miles until home we slept in late and took our time getting downstairs for breakfast.  We were Oklahoma bound by 9:35 a.m.   Mickey & I were home by 2:30.  Marc & Aric had to stop by Jacque's and pick up Sasha, their dog, and deliver Christmas gifts so they did not arrive home until about 3:45.

It was a hard 2 days going, a wonderful 4 days in Florida and celebrating a special family Christmas, and 3 days returning.
It's always fun to go, but there's NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

A great family Christmas to be remembered!

Christmas 2013 - #2 DAVID & FLORIDA

We drew names for Christmas this year.  Each person drew 2 names for a $25 gift.  That way everyone had 2 gifts to open.  It was Marc's idea and it turned out great.

Plaid - Susan

Snowman - Aric

Blue Snowflakes - Karin

Santa - Marc 

Snowman - Oksana

Snowman - Mickey

Mouse - Jerry

This is how we started off our Christmas gift exchange.  I bought each of us a pair of Christmas socks.  You can see 2 people cheated and had them over their shoes:  Marc & Jerry

The little packages the socks were in.

OKAY - now back to the first of this story....

Marc loading (cramming!) all our stuff: bags, gifts, pillows, etc. into the trunk of his Cadillac as we prepared to depart at 5:30 a.m. December 21st. 

It was a 1328 mile journey from Owasso, OK to Vero Beach, FL.  We knew it was going to be a long 2 day drive when we began planning this way back in October. We had no idea what the weather would be:  turns out we had ice covering the streets, trees, grass, everything in Owasso and Coweta but it was clear and barely misting.  The mist did not last long and turned quickly into hard rain.  It kept raining harder and HARDER.  Shortly before we got to West Memphis, AR the traffic came to an absolute stop.  They were doing road work (Arkansas is always doing road work!!) and we were not surprised at having what we thought was a brief halt.  Over the next 1 1/2 hours we were at total stops or b-a-r-e-l-y moving.  Not in our game plan but no one (at least in our car) got upset as we crept along.  Marc had made reservations at the Hampton Inn in Oxford, AL.  We had anticipated a 10 hour drive time but we arrived at 7:12 p.m. 13 hours 45 minutes later (actually 12 hours due to the time change.)  Checked in and headed to Arby's to get a quick bite before coming back to the motel and literally ALL asleep by 9:30 p.m.  A wonderful, even though hard day.  The HEAVY rain did not abate the entire day and we were praying for no rain tomorrow.  

December 22nd:  Up early and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at the Hampton and hit the road by 7:00 a.m. for our final journey into Vero Beach.  Guess what??? we awoke to rain and Marc had to drive the final 10 hours again in HEAVY rain, but not quite as hard as yesterday.  Lots and lots of traffic on both days and the heavy downpours did not make it an easy task for Marc but he handled it superbly. 
    

Arrived at about 6:30 p.m. and greeted by our hosts, Karin & son David.

December 24th - The bro's inspecting David's new 2013 Ford Edge with all it's bells and whistles!  The day was spent doing some last minute shopping and I picked up a 1,000 piece puzzle for Karin and I to work.  The guys spent time playing golf on the X-Box TOGETHER in person.  An easy, laid back day awaiting the arrival of Oksana.  Marc left at 4:30 p.m. to pick her up from her 6:30 arrival in Ordando.

Aric & Oksana getting their first look at the Atlantic Ocean and Vero Beach. With David living in San Fransicso, before moving here in July, both of them have seen the Pacific Ocean several times.

Brother & sister walking on the beach, as dad Marc watched, above left.

Marc watching his 2 wonderful children from above on the Board Walk

Two of my favorite people in the whole world giving this trip, visit and Christmas the thumbs up.  Notice Aric never did shed his shoes!!

(beach pictures were actually out of order and were after the Christmas morning festivities)

A family tradition I started many years ago, when the kids were all young and at home, was to make a Cherry Go-Round Yeast Pastry for Christmas breakfast.  I knew I wouldn't be able to do that this year but prior to leaving I saw a sort-of similar Cherry pastry (made with crescent rolls!) so I picked up the ingredients the day before when we were out and about.

Mama's traditional (well close) Christmas breakfast treat.

The table setting, black tablecloth and lovely blue-gray dishes.  Karin had a pretty center display on the table but we had removed it the day before to work our puzzle on this table.  Our almost done puzzle in under this tablecloth!!  We had to cover the table each night, weighing it down with many books to keep the cats from destroying our masterpiece!  The guys said it wouldn't work, but it did.

WONDERFUL dinner prepared by Karin:  Baked spiral ham, delicious mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, yams with marshmallows, corn, mac & cheese and rolls.  We ALL pigged out.  Key Lime and Apple Crumb pies for dessert.  

Marc after opening his gift of the GREEN Detroit Red Wing Hockey team cap he requested.  Also a bolo strap to hang a bolo in his car that he has had for years and the strap broke.

I didn't take pictures of other gifts because there were a lot of gift cards, don't make for good pictures.  Books:  this family loves to read!! 
Jerry: Charles Krauthammer-Things That Matter and Bill O'Reilly-Killing Jesus; 
Marc: Charles Krauthammer-Things That Matter. 
Oksana: Dave Ramsey-Total Money Makeover
David: golf balls 
 Karin: special body lotions from The Body Shop
Mickey: Khkai trousers 
Aric:  Video game play card
Susan: I'm going to tell about mine on a separate blog tomorrow about my birthday 

Oksana and Uncle Jerry who drove his motor home all the way from Clarksville, TN to join us.  Such a blessing.

Oksana with one of the 2 cats

Oksana with the other cat - Karin is going, right after the 1st to the Human Society to adopt a 3rd kit tie.

I will do the 3rd Christmas post tomorrow about our puzzle fun and our return trip home.