Happy Thanksgiving 2009

I am almost ready and the family is on their way...




Mercy there is so much to be thankful for and all of you already know that I am especially thankful for anyone I have blogged about this year, for they are Lolli's ongoing heart felt loves.

But part of me today is thinking about some other people that I also love. I am pretty sure they will not have a feast as my family is having today. Oh Lord, how grateful I am for the experiences and the mission teams I had the priviledge of going with in Equador 2008 and Costa Rica 2009. I am so thankful for the people and children there that have touched my life as they did.

Photos from Knox's Baptism

Knox was baptized this past Sunday and it was a special day. He wore the family heirloom gown that my mother made in 1950 and it has been worn by 3 generations in our family now. I am so blessed that my daughter in law wanted Knox to wear it. My son also wore the gown at age 4 months too.
I have some really good pictures from our day together but I do regret not getting many of each individual that came either. It is hard to get pictures in a church and at a restaurant but here are the ones that turned out fairly well.
Three generations who wore this gown with Regan before the service.
Regan, her mother "RiRi" and Knox
a proud Lolli and Knox


Pastor Aaron Fleming was Lee's pastor growing up from ages 2 - 12! It was sweet that he could perform the service for Knox.

The little girls had a big time running circles around everyone in the restaurant!
I was in my element with these 3 darlings
Annie loves a party too!
Lee showing Knox his first little Bible while Aunt Breezy has some Knox time
I love these next 2 pictures of Daddy with Knox

I finally got Pops in a good picture but I should have gotten him with Lily Kate- she runs straight for him everytime we see her!
So sorry for all the pictures of myself here but those are really the best ones I have of Knox too and this day was his special day.

My Motto

I'm thankful for so many things this week but I want to post here how thankful I am for my friends. Jack and I have made so many nice friends through our church, covering all age ranges. While I was in New Orleans last week, my very special friend, Mrs. Dorothy passed away to be with her Savior. I missed her funeral but I did not miss the opportunity to say goodbye and spend time with her during her last several years here on earth. She shared my love for the grandbabies with me and always appreciated the brief visits when I took the kids by to see her. I know from my working days, that all older people love holding a baby. It is pure joy to share that blessing with others when I do have the babies visiting with me. A special friendship bonded between Mrs Dorothy and me. I am sure she is holding someone's little lamb in heaven right now.

She and I had a great time going to our mexican dominoe game times together and I cherish the conversations we had in the car going and coming.
I have always said it is better to spend time with someone while they are alive than to finally show up at their funeral. That's my motto and I am sticking to it. The only way to have a friend is to be a friend. That's my other motto and I'm sticking to it! You have got to have friends. It is the sweetest part of life,... besides having grandchildren :)

So this weekend we had some couples from church whom we have grown especially fond of over to play mex dominoes with. I snapped a picture of my dessert I served just before they arrived and then time went by having too much fun and I forgot to take any pictures of everyone. But I do have some pictures from previous times together of each of them just to share their faces with you.
Professor Plumb and his Peggy!
Professor Turnquist and his Peggy!
Madge and Jim Burton (Madge and I have been on mission trips together)

This is a pumpkin/gingerbread trifle that I got from Paula Deen's website. It is easy, friends.
Try out an easy new recipe on your very good friends. (They will love it.) That's my last motto for today and I'm sticking to it!

Special pictures on the trip

Well, I always take pictures wherever I go and even though it makes some people irritated when I persist, later on they are usually glad to have it on record. It's like a good book to me when I get to look back through the photos of the journey.


Noni's sweet cat, Libbie Loo


"basketball yard art"
Noni's pet turtle who lives in the courtyard fountain
breakfast in the courtyard was extra nice and tasty too!
these 3 sisters can not resist a Christmas Shop..it is in our blood :)
It was fun for me to help and watch my brothers pick out presents for their wives. Hey, sister in laws, if yall don't like what you got, it is all my fault!

Little did I know when I took this picture of Noni's courtyard statue that later on in our trip, there would be another special statue picture to remember this trip by...
Keep in mind that our Daddy is 90 years old, a retired Urologist and usually very serious minded as you view this one. I did not have to pay any of them to pose for me either! They all three did it on their own accord :) What was even funnier than seeing them do this was the little old lady who came up to me right after this and asked "was this some new art in the park?"!!!
Zoom in by clicking on the picture and have yourself a good laugh!

That's all folks. I shall be grinning from ear to ear forever about this trip. It's not everyone or everyday that one gets to take a trip with their 90 year old father on his birthday. I am very blessed!

Familiar Landmarks in New Orleans

Besides Commander's Palace, we went to two more very familiar landmarks in The Big Easy.
Tim had connections to Galatoire's on Bourbon Street and it was quite the experience for us. You had to have someone stand in line for hours just to get you in for a 12 noon lunch.
We all loved the trout almondine that they are famous for but the noise level was not conducive for us to talk as a group. It was packed with people and everyone talked at thir highest volume level.

Later that day we walked to Café De Mondé and devoured their delicious beignets.

I think this will be one of my favorite memories of the trip. Everyone was so relaxed and listening to the music of the streets gave us the atmosphere that only Café De Mondé in New Orleans can offer.

Mercy me, we had some good food and fun times together on this trip!