Happy Birthday Lela!

Happy Birthday Lela!


We are all so glad you were born.
We love you!
Glad to have a photo of you, Jay.


He was actually here the Sunday before Christmas, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day and this is the first photo I have of him this holiday season!!!!!! Got him on the last celebration of the season. You've got to hold a baby to be in my photos.

It's back to Birmingham and her last semester of internship for Laurie and back to work for everyone else (except me - we start back next Monday! ). It has been great but I'm ready for more of a routine.

Once again Happy New Year. I hope it is the best yet for all.

Be sure to read below and give me some feedback!

What I learned in 2008!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!

What did you learn in 2008? This is a question I saw on a blog this morning that really interested me because I ( surprisingly) HAVE learned so much this year............ I think my one and only fear about retiring was the possibility of not continuing to learn. The fear of not using my brain, as "they " say... use it or lose it! .............But................... I have learned!

Of course I bought my laptop with VISTA that I learned to use.

Then I learned to write a blog. Well, first I learned what a blog was and how to find one to read!

I learned to use the beast! In fact I just learned again this week. I really can't take a break because I forget everything. So I am still learning but I managed to make some fun outfits for the babies.

I learned that changes come whether you want them or not and can be great learning and growing experiences.

Spiritually? I'm thinking about that.

What did you learn in 2008? Tell me.....................

Scenes From Christmas Day 08

Scenes from our Christmas Day!

Christmas 2008

OH!!!......What a wonderful holiday season .........................................
.............................................and the very best Christmas ever!

I probably say that every year, but................................................
I really believe this Christmas has been the best yet!


The babies surely renewed the magic of the season for all of our family........

............and I know their enjoyment will only increase.


All of us desire to keep the magic.............


......................and to help the little ones understand and appreciate all that His birth means to us.

To always keep the birth of Christ as the center of Christmas. To help them know the joy of giving as well as receiving.

Isn't that what we all long to do......

( a neighbor's very kid-friendly Christmas display)

to remember the meaning of Christmas, to pause and reflect on the Greatest Gift,

share that Gift with those who do not know Him, then to celebrate that Gift with our family and friends in a meaningful way.

We really made that effort and I think our efforts paid off with a more peaceful season.



It has always been our family tradition to participate in communion on Christmas Eve, both with my family growing up then with my children. This year Jimmy, Laurie, and I attended the Candlelight Christmas Eve service at our church, but Leslie and Jason could not attend since they were spending Christmas Eve with Jason's family. Both of them really wanted to participate in the tradition so......... we had a service Christmas morning. We took time Christmas morning to acknowledge and celebrate the birth, life, and resurrection of our Savior.....



We each read a passage from God's Word, prayed for those who are hurting, broken, and lost,then we celebrated Christmas Communion.


I decided early Christmas morning that I would make unleavened bread to use for our communion. I looked on the Internet to make sure my bread would be somewhat authentic, mixed the ingredients, poured it into my cast iron skillet and baked it to a beautiful golden brown. As I removed the "pita like" cake to cool, I enjoyed the wonderful, rich and surprisingly sweet aroma. Then I moved on to make our Christmas breakfast. Jason had asked for "boy-bread" but I didn't realize that he wanted us to make it together so that he too could make the bread my granddaddy (a non cook) called "boy-bread" because he always said, "Even boys could it make it." ( I did not say that, Granddaddy said that. I know boys can cook!) Anyway.... I mixed the flour, milk, and oil in a bowl then as I poured the batter into my cast iron skillet to bake I noticed that it was unusually yellow. I glance at the buttermilk that I had used (just because I had some for another recipe) and .......................... it was Jimmy's eggnog. And....... Yes!........ I also made the unleavened bread with the same eggnog.

A special, sweet unleavened bread for our Christmas Communion. I think we really have a new tradition that is unique to our family.

More picture soon!! We have tons of them.

Merry Christmas!

My Town!

I love my town. I have lived here for almost 29 years. I would say this is home.

We have the best Court House........................

We also have a great downtown.................... I love our downtown.
Here are some of my favorite places.......................


Cheese and Feed.........................the best camel rider around.....................


Styles Unlimited, where my friend Gloria cuts my hair..... that's all ...... just a cut! I know.....I'm cheap about that!


Some great shops that I frequent...........decked out for Christmas............


..........................and across Main Street.....this is a great new shop in a very old, wonderfully restored theater.



................our friend Sid's Antique store..................................



But here is one of our best treasures.................................


.......our Christmas lights, a long time Moultrie tradition........... I love our lights! We are known for this canopy of lights...


and our turtle pond..( photo is too poor to see. I'll try again later.) .....





and one other treasure that is part of one of my earliest memories.




I was raised in Douglas, but we visited the Atlanta Zoo often enough during my childhood that I knew Willie B, the GORILLA!; I knew my way around the monkey house; and I knew what to expect when the mommie elephants washed their little ones. (They liked to wash you too!) And..........I remembered visiting the elephant grave yard....... but only once. I often wondered about that grave yard and wondered why I only saw it once.





Then, when David and Nancy were getting married, I came to Moultrie for my bridesmaid's dress.............. and.......................... passing a little church......................................







I SAW IT! ................Do you see it the cemetery?.......




The elephant! ......................A six foot tall elephant. The one from my memory!

It is over the grave of a circus owner who died in 1950..........


....... Daddy had brought us to see the landmark when I was a very young girl and lived in Barney.

Now I pass this elephant almost every day. Many days several times. We live in the same town. We love our town!