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!

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Fun birthday celebration at Lone Star Steakhouse for Jacque's birthday.

 The honoree

 Dad Mickey, Mom Susan & Daughter Jacque

 Nephew Aric & Brother Marc

 Jacque reading her Birthday card with Benny listening

 Her gift from us, new very soft p'j's and bright red slippers

 5 Nutcrackers to add to her collection from dad & mom

Regular nutcracker

Elvis Presley nutcracker

Cowboy nutcracker

& 2 tiny little nutcrackers

Benny's gift to her was an X-Box.

Marc's gift was the Tiger Wood Golf Game

NOW Jacque will be able to join in with David, Marc & Mickey in playing Golf together from their individual living rooms and locations.

Jacque has played a few times on Mickey's when she's been her visiting.

What an added blessing this is going to be for all 4 of them.

The birthday girls special desert

fresh peaches with ice cream and warm sugar doughnuts

She shared with us!!

Delicious steaks and a great waitress and service.

A great, joyous, fun family time

just sad she isn't going with us tomorrow to her brother David's in Florida for Christmas.  She was unable to due to her job as a pharmacy tech at Walgreens.  Maybe another time.  

Happy Birthday Jacque!!!

You are loved very much. 

OUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER - JACQUE

Our beautiful, sensitive, lovely daughter Jacque is celebrating her birthday on Sunday the 22nd.  Since we are leaving tomorrow to spend Christmas with our son David in Florida 

 We will be taking our gifts to Lone Star Steak house tonight

 where this group - Benny - Susan - Mickey - Aric - Marc - Jacque 

will be celebrating her BIRTHDAY.

(this picture is from Mother's Day)

I thought it would be fun to show a few past pictures of Jacque

 2nd Birthday - sister Suzette's 3rd - they were only 1 year and 9 days apart in age and VERY close.

 First grade

 High school

 2007 with her daddy clowning it up in her new home she had just purchased.

 This past year and the new to her car she had just purchased and driven over to the house that night to show us

 Her birthday lunch last year for her & I and then went for manicures and pedicures

 Last Christmas (2012) with the nutcracker we bought her.

Daughter Jessica & I and all of us wearing the Santa Hats Jacque brought everyone!

 Brother Marc & Jacque 

Even though there is 14 1/2 years difference in their ages these 2 are VERY close and Marc is very supportive and helpful to Jacque

Me and my beautiful Jacque this past summer.

We are so sad that Jacque & Jessica were not able to go with us to Florida this Christmas but they will be very much in our hearts.

You are so loved Jacque!!!!!

FAMILY BLESSINGS

God is so good to us and our family.  Our daughter was recently in a collision, not her fault - a man ran the light.  She totaled her car and broke her foot.  She of course could not drive for many weeks, due to the broken foot so did not have a need to replace the car.

The Dr. finally released her to drive.  Her dad took her car shopping on Friday the 4th.   Then Marc took her the afternoon of the 5th and they located a car.  She went back that evening when Benny got off at 5.

She called us about 8 and said, "I'm coming out to show you my new car!"  

 Hugging her 2012 Nissan Sentra with only 18,000 miles and new car warranty and a very good price.

A shot of the back - It was night and dark so the pictures aren't the greatest.

Romans 8:28 in action - "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."  The Message 

Then the very next day our son, David, who lives in California had talked to his employers about moving out of California (he has a job where he travels all the time) because housing is so high there he knew he could never buy a home.  He was expecting it to take about a month for him to even hear back on it.  Two days later, his boss contacted him, "David you can move anywhere in the US you want to as long as you are close to an airport."

Psalm 21:2 "You gave him exactly what he wanted; you didn't hold back." The message

Yes, our God not only blesses Mickey & I but also extends those blessings to our children and grand-children.  

Thank you Jesus for blessing us, by blessing our children.

CHRISTMAS 2012 HAPPENINGS #1

December is always a very busy month for us - It always began with celebrating Suzette's birthday on the 13th.  Then Jacque's on the 22nd & granddaughter, Jessica, on the 23rd, and mine on the 25th.

It has been our custom, over the last # of years. for us "girls" to have lunch out and then go get manicure & pedicures.  This year was a little sad because, first we did not have Suzette with us, second Jessica went to Dallas for a football game, and Oksana was not with us this year. 

SO----I picked up Jacque for lunch but had not told her I had also made appointments for our manicures & pedicures.  When she got in the car I told her about the appointments.  She looked at me like--what???  "Mom, you know I can't get a pedicure with my broken foot!!"  Oopps!!!!  That had not even registered with me so she has a "raincheck" for those when her right foot is completely healed.

Off to lunch we went at The Apple Barrel and when they found out it was her birthday she was served this complimentary nice big piece of cheesecake with strawberries.  We had a wonderful visit and talk and of course shed some tears over it just being the 2 of us - sob-sob.

My gift to her, was a pair of sterling silver conch style earrings with black onyx stones in the center.  forgot to get a picture) I had bought these for her while in Santa Fe in September and I told her these were to go with the sterling silver conch belt I have that will be hers someday.  

Then I took her shopping at Bass Pro, since she had a little more Christmas shopping to finish and of course can't drive!!

I OWE YOU ONE manicure & pedicure Jacque :o) 

 This is our wonderful friend, Ronnie, and his youngest grandson, Cody, all dressed up like Santa Clause with the bread and sweet rolls he had just picked up from Pan*era Bread for The King's Kitchen, after school tutoring program, and to distribute where needed.  What a blessing each week to our church and others.

 This was Marc, with his dirty Santa Christmas gift from his work party.  He assured, or would it be warned, everyone this lovely item will make a return visit at the 2012 Christmas party!!!

Every year our church has Missionary Christmas.  We "adopt" a special Missionary family to come and we have a party and bless their socks off with gifts. This year was Wednesday, December 19th.

 The tree laden with gifts

 The Mission Family Elizabeth & Brad Ward (on each end) and Denise & Teddy Wyatt (our Church members who head up this project in the cente)r.  The Wards also have 3 children, Luke, Jacob & Felisha who were present but not in this picture.  The Wards will soon be going to Chili as Missionaries.

 Our small group Real Christianity collected enough money to purchase this iPod for them as our gift to them. 

Last, but not least, on Tuesday night, December 18th the WOW Woman Bible Study celebrated with a little Christmas Party and a dirty Santa gift exchange.

(left to right) Cindy W, Christina, Kathy, Susan, Jeanne, Phyllis, Glenda, Jennifer, Sandra & Connie.

It was a fun evening, away from our studies, to eat too much and have a really good time.  I love these woman.  They bless me each and every Tuesday evening with their presence. 

LIFE IS.......BUSY

About 6 weeks ago the Lord prompted me to go to our Pastor Steve and offer to volunteer 1 day a week helping in the church office.  He was delighted and said he'd run it by the Office Manager, Melody,

and if it was okay with Melody he would then present it to the Church Deacon Board for approval.  It was okay with Melody and the Deacon Board did approve me.  I have worked the last 4 weeks.  The first 2 weeks I worked on Wednesday and the past 2 weeks on Monday.  I will be helping each Monday.

The King's Kitchen is still running smoothly.  We have been blessed with such a dependable, faithful group of kitchen help and 5 delivery teams of 2 that help us week after week.  We have now been operating this program, of sending a meal each and every Tuesday to shut-ins, for past year and 8 months.  Pictured is a salad we delivered to them recently.  Of course we also always have milk, bread of some kind, and a dessert. 

I am still hosting a Bible Study every Tuesday night in our home of 12-13 woman.  I'll try and post a separate post about this in the near future.   

My favorite Bible Teacher, Perry Stone, was in Tulsa at a conference September 9th - through 11th.  We went to hear him Friday evening at 7 pm - then Saturday we watched the streaming video for both the 10 & 5 services - then were able to attend on Sunday evening at 6.  What a blessing to hear him in person.  We had only seen him in person one evening 2 years ago at a conference in Arkasas.  We were NOT disappointed!!!!

Our daughter, Jacque, and granddaughter, Jessica, participated in the Race for the Cure last Saturday, September 17th in honor of Jacque's sister and Jessica's aunt, Suzette.  They asked me to join them but I felt that was a little too much for me :o)  I am SOOO proud of them for doing this.  They were joined by 3 of Jessica's friends.  Jessica & Jacque are the 2 on the left.

Yes, our lives are very busy & very full. 

To answer Ginger's question about my working 1 day a week in the church office - No, this is not a paid position - I volunteered.

A GIFT from one of my GIFTS

My four children and 3 grandchildren are undoubtedly the biggest gifts my Lord & Savior has given me.  I cherish each and everyone of them with my whole heart.  The thing I find the most captivating is how very different and individual they each are!!!  God, in His wisdom, knew just what children and grandchildren I needed to make my life what He intended, and intends, it to be.

I began walking daily on July 7th and walked each and every day for 65 days until September 9th.  I began by walking .4 mile then increased it little by little until I was walking 1 mile a day and then up to 1.5 miles per day.  It was so hot that I would leave just as the sun rose each morning around 5:55 and watched as the days grew shorter and then I was leaving at 7:05 a.m.

My kids and my husband were all so proud of me doing this.  It was a blessed time for me as I walked and prayed each morning.  I have never been a tennis shoe wearing and so was just walking in a pair of black loafers.

NOW to the title of this post:  One of my GIFTS, daughter Jacque, called to tell me she was so proud of my walking each day and she had bought me a GIFT - a pair of tennis shoes!!!

They fit perfectly and I love them.  I never would have gotten them for myself because I wouldn't have known where to begin, or what to get!!!

Even though I've been unable to walk the last 12 days I truly hope to get back on schedule to walking each and every day and it will be even nicer and easier in this GIFT from my GIFT, Jacque.

Thanks sweetheart - I love you.

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I participated in Alphabet in August in the hopes of getting disciplined to blogging each day - well it didn't work :o)  Here it is the 21st and this in only my 5th blog for September and 2 of those were finished up Alphabet!!

A LOT has been going on and I have much to share and will attempt to catch up.

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.