I'm pretty sure Santa is not going to stop at our house this year. Mrs. Ushka-Claus is not in the Christmas HO-HO-HO spirit. Of course, she gets this way around the holidays. Elves, toys, gifts, money, decisions, decorations, lights, cooking...okay, NO cooking, but so much pressure from the world's demands!

She WILL hang the three lighted ornaments from the tree outside to honor her faith in the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That is what this time of year is about...thankfulness for the Gift of salvation.

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A PRAYER OF THANKS 
Max Lucado

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to earth as a baby so many years ago.  Thank you that He paid the punishment for my sins by dying on the cross.  And thank you that He rose again to prove that death was truly defeated. I place my trust in You to be my Savior. Guide me through the dark times of my life and give me courage to live for You.  Amen

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Mrs. Ushka-Claus is keeping it simple to keep her sanity...just sayin'!!!

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Came across this sweet picture of Adam, my brother's grandson, and Nanny being Christmas Bingo leaders, from 2008. Such a sweet little Santa helper!

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Fresh Find: This sewing machine has a vintage look. Pretty cool!

I think I was about 6 or so years old when I got this wedding gown as a gift for Christmas. I remember getting this thing I asked for. It was a special gift.

My mother's robe was a winter white with pink roses on it. This robe is one I kept from my mother's things. I always remember her wearing it on Christmas morning. My memories of my mother (father and grandparents, too) are a special gift.

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"And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:11

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I would say that my salvation is my most cherished gift. What gift are we offering God this season of our Savior's birth?

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Fresh Find: Like these short boots.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. We have had our lunch. We so appreciate the Elk's Restaurant allowing us to dine with them.

I heard a statement this week. A house full of love has elastic walls. I wish I had grown up with this type of atmosphere and created it myself. I am my mother ;o)

Another thought that occurred to me is if you can't sing and you can't cook...just what is your purpose? I decided that I can do both, just not well. It is my goal to cook a turkey one day :O) I have never enjoyed that experience. Can I get a mini-turkey...dark meat only? 

Some of my dear friends are serving the homeless in Dallas. I can't wait to hear their story.

I'm going out to see where God leads my eyes to see. I am always amazed at the beauty he shows me. 

We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for about an hour and a half. I guess you have to be there to really enjoy it! ;o)

Football and football...so maybe a movie???

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Why yes, we can be creative on Thanksgiving. Loving the arts expressed through the grand-sisters!

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Fresh Find: I love this cheese grater and shredder. I love anything wood!

Why do we give thanks? I read somewhere that if we were to say a one word prayer that one word should be "thank-you."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ... give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I love Psalm 95:2-3 ... Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 says, For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,  because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Psalm 28:7 ... The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

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Why I give thanks...

1. acceptance: John 3:16  (For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.)

2. serving: Galatians 5:13-14 (You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.")

3. sharing: Acts 22:15 (You will be a witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.)

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Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

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Fresh Find: I like this cookie cutter. Would be fun to use with children at Eastertime.

Our parents graves are now marked. No one called. No one let us know...even though they assured me they would. I decided to drive by and check since it was several weeks after the amount of time they required. Sure enough...

This picture shows my mother's family markers behind theirs.

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My mother would not be happy that there was dirt left on the corners. I'll get that cleaned up ASAP mother. No worries! :O)

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Deuteronomy 31:6 ... Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

I am marked for Him. Even though I am alone in so many ways...I'm never alone.

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Fresh Find: How simple and beautiful this shelf system is!

I really don't have a creative side but I like to play like I do. I know creative people...so, when I say that I don't have it...I understand I don't.

As much as I say that I don't like numbers, it is in everything balancing that I find peace. I'm a black and white person, not much gray here. I like organization and like to know that my ducks are in a row. So, you can understand why attempting to let my creative genes try and escape is a challenge. LOL

I am currently working on a little self portrait, although it does not look one bit like me...except for her hair color. I'm just creating because I want to. I will be interested to see how this "masterpiece" turns out ;o)

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I am God's masterpiece. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

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Fresh Find: What a wonderful gift idea. Love this personalized bamboo cutting board.

I have created a tradition of communing with God in a special way each time it snows here. I walk through the Running Water Draw and the Country Club grounds and God blesses me so much during our quite, still, cold, warm love walks.

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His love endures forever!

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Bear legs or brrr legs! This tree always reminds me of furry legs and feet...or maybe brrr-y legs today!

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Jesus is the bridge that takes allows us forgiveness and eternal life...joy filled!

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The fall Irises are frozen. What beauty they brought this season of our lives.

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Amazing colors that just pop against the white snow!

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Stay warm, be blessed! Other pictures from my walk are on my Facebook page.

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Fresh Find: I really enjoy fingerless gloves. 

We made a flying trip...okay so it wasn't flying because of the weather. It was turtle pace on the way to see Miss A's holiday ballet performance. We came home early because of the weather reports. They better be correct cause we gave up a full day with the grand-sisters to get home safely. Better safe than sorry so... We are blessed to have had what time we did :O)

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Miss A after her performance as a firefly in "A Gift for Emma" performed by the Denton City Contemporary Ballet. It was an AMAZING performance. We enjoyed it so much. "A Gift for Emma" is the story of a young orphan girl who has only one dream - that one day she will be able to dance.

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Chris Koehl from So You Think You Can Dance was a special guest. He CAN dance. The backdrops were beautiful. The costumes were perfect. The music was fun. It was just such a refreshing breath of dance choreography and talent.

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Love these girls!!!

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Fresh Find: Funny shark slippers!

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As I push the button this morning to start the washing machine I am reminded from this picture of my grandmother, Lucy May Etter, that it was once not so easy to wash clothes. Feeling thankful!

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Fresh Find: Love this simple high chair!!!

Blueprints are a design plan. If you have ever watched a house being built, or a building, you have seen the design plan. The plan gives direction to create the structure to a standard. This is a page of the historical blueprints for the Skaggs Building in Plainview, Texas.

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I'm reading a book titled, Providence. In it the question is asked:

Do you see God's blueprints for your life? He's building something wonderful, so wonderful that just watching it come together satisfies. We can have our plans but they are nowhere near as spectacular as what God is doing!

God created us; he knows what he is doing. He has the plan. He gives us a firm foundation through Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 29:11 we find; For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

We can have our plans. We can make choices that are not in his blueprint for our lives, too. If they are our choices, they aren't his. Time and time again I have seen God at work in the lives of many that I am blessed to pray for. It is always a process for me to accept that, it is what it is, according to my limited earthly brain. God knows the plan though, he has the blueprint for the perfect end result. It is about glorifying God and drawing others to him.

Watching things come together for his purpose is difficult for us to understand, see, or comprehend, but when he does open our eyes to it...it is spectacular!!!

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Fresh Find: I kind of like this bar stool. I wish I did not need 4 of the crazy things :O)