November 27, 2010 - Msg 81812: I just heard from a old friend of me that your mother pass away on Nov 14, so prayer the UTTERBACK in your prayer tonight.

TOM

November 27, 2010 - Msg 81813:
I sure will TOM, so sorry to hear.
Good sweep!
Hi to all porchsters.
MDC
November 27, 2010 - Msg 81814:
Hello porch family....wife and I had a great day out today. It was so nice. Now I'm home with my little buddy Jake laying in my lap looking at the Christmas tree lights, drinking eggnog with my wife wrapping gifts. God is so good!

Tom....prayers for your friend...I'm sorry to hear that.

You all have a good night. Got a concert tomorrow so I may not get to check in.
Love and prayers for all my porch family!
-REV.


November 27, 2010 - Msg 81815: Good Evening Porch!

I'm a bit late, but Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I've missed all of my dear porch friends! I am still in a cast and not spending much time at my desktop computer. If it cannot be completed from my phone it doesn't get done! Anyhoo, thank you all for the birthday wishes. I really appreciate them all! It has been a wonderful day. Tomorrow we are going to Biltmore as my birthday present from my honey. Y'all have a good rest of the weekend. I promise to check in when I am able. I get my cast off next week so hopefully I will be able to be more mobile and sit at the computer more without my foot feeling like it's going to burst. Take care now, ya hear!
Blessings to you and yours,
~Lucy
November 28, 2010 - Msg 81816: Well Hello Rev and Lucy!..prayers Tom...well will try to keep the Church and for that matter all the lights on...gona catch some preaching on the tube...right around freezing here in Ga..got to get my tree and crosses up soon...got them out of the barn and some repair work done on them...ok...let me get started here at work...Boo lets all meet at I-Hop ...well shucks I cant leave work...just put it on my tab.....Have A Great Sunday....SPOT
November 28, 2010 - Msg 81817: Prayers for your friend, TOM.

Wow, Rev, that sounds like a perfect evening. Reminds me of the other night when Erin and I were sitting in my big, comfy chair watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving...there I was holding my little girl, and my cat with a nice fire going in the fireplace. I told Erin, "This is the life, isn't it?". Nothing like those simple pleasures in life.

Let us know how it went yesterday, Ro. I have no doubt the turkey and dressing turned out great. I like that idea of your's about cooking the dressing around the turkey. I'll bet it never gets too dried out that way.

Hey there Lucy. Hope your foot heals quickly...good to hear from you here on the porch.

Yesterday my neice Amy's mom was visiting from Austin and she came over to help me with the decorating inside the house. She is a talented decorator and did things in here that I never could have done myself. It is beautiful! It looks like Santa lives here. :-) Lots of green garland with white lights and red bows...some little red poinsettias here and there..shiny red and gold balls...really lovely. She also took my light up houses and placed them in the book cases and made it look like they were on hills covered with snow. She also decorated the top of the piano with the nativity scene and lights and garland. I am taking lots of pictures to send to Ro. Hey, lets do that again..remember the year we sent pictures of some of our christmas decorations to Ro??

Bruce wrapped the front porch rails and pillars with lighted garland and put a big red bow on each pillar and I put a big green wreath with a red bow on the front door and hung four smaller wreaths on each of the four window on the front porch. Really simple but pretty. So, all I have to do now is decorate the tree and hang a little more lighted garland and i'm done already! We had to do everything early because we already have a party here next weekend for Bruce's sunday school class...and the holidays begin and are off with a mad dash!

Ya'll have a terrific Sunday.

Boo
November 28, 2010 - Msg 81818: Good afternoon, porch! Sounds like Christmas has arrived on the porch, and don't you just love it? Please do feel free to send me your Christmas pictures - I love to see how everyone decorates, and we already have a Christmas album, I believe. If not, I'll make one. I know we have some Christmas pictures from years past.

Boo, you refer to doing things "early" - it seems late to me! I like to have my tree up and everything done at least by Thanksgiving, and this year my tree hasn't even made it to the living room yet. David was going to bring it out before he left last night, but I stopped him. I've got things I need to do before I get to that, and I didn't want that big old thing standing in the middle of the room yet. Besides, I may have to get a new one. It will depend upon how the lights behave. They've been on that tree for sixteen years, and last year there was one string that went out and I couldn't bring it back on. I know I'll have to replace it this year, and there may be more. I've about decided that it might be easier to just start all over. I've got the lights (remember, Boo?), so it's now a matter of finding a tree I like, and that may be no small task. So, we'll see. Maybe when Dave brings the tree out, all that will need replacing will be that one string. I hope so!

Things are looking good outside. Four of my timers have disappeared - probably walked away. They were in a bin near the front of the garage, and I've had other small things disappear from the garage in the past. So, gotta get more timers before I can finish, but Dave and Brittney have done the hard part. I just need to scatter twinkles and install the timers. Dave has everything powered, I just need to put a timer in between. Thanks to Ted's placement of power sources out there, there is only one extension crossing the grass in the front, and one in the back. All the lights, even the deer, are in flower islands and have their own power source right there. Eddie will be grateful when he comes to mow in a couple of weeks.

Now, I have some wonderful leftovers to revel in for lunch. I'd love to have a fire in the fireplace to enjoy while I eat, and watch a Christmas movie on TV, but alas, it's 63 degrees here, and a fire would be a bit much. We had the a/c on for a while yesterday afternoon!

Speaking of those leftovers, I hear them calling me. This is my favorite part of a holiday meal - the leftovers. I enjoy them more than I do the main meal. I've always loved leftovers, and Dale did too. Lucky me!

Hey, want to hear a "can you top this" story? I think I now know just how rude a person can actually be. My nephew and his prissy little wife had dinner with my brother and SIL. My SIL had prepared the turkey the way my family always has - the way I described earlier. When they sat down to eat, Miss Priss looked at the turkey and said, "You cooked the stuffing WITH the turkey? Then I can't eat it, and Michael, I'd rather you didn't either. Too much danger of cross-contamination." So hen-pecked Mike didn't touch it, and neither did she. I think she gets a big old RUDE for that. If she didn't want to eat the turkey, that's fine, that's her right. But she could have kept her pouty little mouth shut, even maybe fib a little and say "turkey isn't my favorite thing" or some such, but to imply that my SIL's food might poison her was RUDE! Of course, this is only one incident in a long line of insults dealt out by that little twit. She's very lucky that she has my SIL for a MIL, and not me. I'd have cleaned her hateful little clock a long time ago, and would have included her cowed-down husband in the cleaning. Imagine a man letting his wife insult his mother like that! I have been so blessed with both of my DILs. They're great, they love my sons, and they're so very good to me. I cherish them both.

Well, I'm off to visit Leftover Land - the fridge in the garage! Goodies await! Blessings, friends. --Romeena
November 28, 2010 - Msg 81819:
Hello porch family....just got in from my concert. We had a huge crowd and a wonderful time.

Ro....sounds like your nephew needs a "backbone" implant. Yes I agree that was very rude!

Well just wanted to check in real quick. I'm pretty tired so I'm gonna grab something to eat and relax a little.

Love and prayers!
-REV.
November 28, 2010 - Msg 81820: This is neat :) ~C.
November 29, 2010 - Msg 81821: I like to visit "Leftover Land," too, Roo. :-) Cold turkey is the best!

Well, what your nephew's wife did was very uncalled for. For one thing, if she was concerned about the dressing, skip it, shut up and just eat the turkey. Sounds like she is very lacking in manners. It must have been hard for you to keep quiet and not smash her face in the dressing or throw a handful of cranberry relish at her....hehe...kidding, of course. Next time something like that happens at a family gathering, might want to take your nephew aside and ask him to drop his pants, that you are a nurse and would like to examine him for missing testicles. ;-)

Been trying to get all the lights on this Christmas tree and I give up for now. I have already used about 600 lights and I am not even half finished! I'm going to bed. Goodnight.

Boo
November 29, 2010 - Msg 81822:
Welcome "~C". Join right in!
Anyone have the e-mail addresses for ASA and AUH20?? I'm concerned because they didnt even check in for Thanksgiving. Time for an APB.
BOO- my my! Ok, slowly back away from the pants. ha I know that the screening has everyone on edge, but really! (:
Let's not let the reason for the season get
to the back burner.
Boo- your home sounds lovely. I will send Ro a pic of my new decorations.
REV- glad you got the hotsauce and surprise!
Go easy at first! ha Thanks for the FB note too.
Hey to Spot and all!
Love,
MDC
November 29, 2010 - Msg 81823: Morning Gang...Get-up,Get-up!..40ish here in Ga..at work today till 2pm...hey Boo,Romeena,Possum,Sterling,Tom,MDC,Rev and all...storms here tomorrow..well let me get started here...but first the breakfast menu: 3 eggs yer way,thick sliced bacon,sausage pattys,flap jacks,hashbrowns with cheese,grits,bisquits and gravy, milk,juice and coffee...its Monday better eat good.....SPOT
November 29, 2010 - Msg 81824: Morning SPOT. thanks for the breakfast..I'm gonna need it today.

You know, mdc, I was thinking about Asa this morning and was going to put out an APB. Seems like so many missing from the porch these days.

Better finish the coffee and get moving.

Boo
November 29, 2010 - Msg 81825: Mornin' Y'all. Would like to ask for prayers for my Mama. She is in a hospital. That's really all I know.Information is not forthcoming and if you know my "story" you can read between the lines and figure out why. I'm sure there are "interloper eyes" monitoring what I am posting on the Porch. Y'all remember that has happened before.Hope they see this: Greater is He who is in me ,than he who is in the world! Well.. nobody can stop PRAYER! Please keep mama in yours. Thank you,friends.
*******************
possum under a rock
November 29, 2010 - Msg 81826: Morning porch family, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a restful week end. I am at work today and hoping to get my brain back in the work mode. Thought I would stop my and swing in my rocker in a effort to avoid work a little longer. :)

A bit chilly in Northeast Tn this morning. 32 degrees and frosty. Supposed to warm up and rain this afternoon and rain again tomorrow.

Ro, that young lady needs a lesson in manners! and son does your nephew. I agree with you, what nerve!

Possum, prayers for you Mom. SPOT, thanks for that breakfast, should carry my right up till lunch time. Where we eatin'?

We put our Christmas tress up over the weekend. My kids and I had a great time decorating it and listening to Christmas music. We sat last night and talked about all the history on the tree with the ornaments we have collected, they have made and have been given to us over the years. It made me kinda sad but also blessed as well.

better get busy. Ya'll have a blessed day, prayers all around.

Big Maude

November 29, 2010 - Msg 81827: Morning porch family, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a restful week end. I am at work today and hoping to get my brain back in the work mode. Thought I would stop my and swing in my rocker in a effort to avoid work a little longer. :)

A bit chilly in Northeast Tn this morning. 32 degrees and frosty. Supposed to warm up and rain this afternoon and rain again tomorrow.

Ro, that young lady needs a lesson in manners! and son does your nephew. I agree with you, what nerve!

Possum, prayers for you Mom. SPOT, thanks for that breakfast, should carry my right up till lunch time. Where we eatin'?

We put our Christmas tress up over the weekend. My kids and I had a great time decorating it and listening to Christmas music. We sat last night and talked about all the history on the tree with the ornaments we have collected, they have made and have been given to us over the years. It made me kinda sad but also blessed as well.

better get busy. Ya'll have a blessed day, prayers all around.

Big Maude

November 29, 2010 - Msg 81828:
Morning porch family....a cold start this morning here in SC.

Spot....enjoyed breakfast....good way to start the day.

Possum.....praying for your mom. Keep us posted.

Well I've got to get busy cleaning out all my "stuff" from the motorhome. They are starting the work on it tomorrow.

Love and prayers!
-REV.


November 29, 2010 - Msg 81829:
Possum -prayers for your mom for sure!
May the whole "situation" work out. God bless you.
Big Maude, good to see you!
Prayers for REhab tonight also.
MDC
November 29, 2010 - Msg 81830: Good morning, porch! Barely, it's 11:59, but that still qualifies.

Stick around, ~C at 81820. We always have spare rockers and the porch expands to make room. Not only is Floyd a great barber and a friend, but he's a pretty imaginative architect as well.

I'm missing so many of our friends. Sure do wish they'd come back home. The porch is just so much more fun when everyone is here and conversation is lively - kind of like when all the kids come home for a holiday.

To clarify - I wasn't present when my nephew's wife made her hateful little remark. It took place in my brother's home on Thanksgiving Day, and I was home sleeping at the time, having worked the night before. It's a good thing, because I would not have been able to be silent. It's very unlikely that I'll ever be present at the same time they are. My nephew doesn't like me, which doesn't bother me at all. Here's why:

While he and Miss Congeniality were still just engaged, I attended his younger brother's high school graduation. They sat apart from my brother and SIL and me. Afterward, we met in the foyer, and my SIL reached to give Miss C a quick hug. The girl pushed her away, turned her head aside and said "Not now, I don't think I could handle it." My SIL looked like she had been slapped, and began to cry. She did manage to ask her "What is wrong? What have I done?" The response was typical of Miss C - "Oh, I'm sure you don't even know, and it's okay, I'll get over it, but for now, just please don't touch me." Drama, mystery, high emotion - her favorite things. Nephew only said "Mom, just leave her alone. It will be okay." Well, I caught my nephew on the parking lot when he went to get the car for the princess, and I read him the riot act. I told him he'd better think carefully before marrying her, that she's rude and shrewish and has a wide mean streak, could even be called cruel. I warned him that after they married, she would treat him the same way. Then I strongly questioned his manhood, to stand there and let the girl embarrass his mother like that, especially in front of other family members. I told him that no matter what she had done or said, it should have been taken up privately, if at all, and that she's still his mother, regardless. You know - "honor thy father and thy mother, etc." Both he and the princess behave as though they're the only ones in the world who have a line to God, and are extremely judgmental toward everyone else, (they have refused to enter my David's house because they spotted a bottle of wine in a cabinet) so I figured a little scripture quoted back to him couldn't hurt. He didn't answer me, just looked over my shoulder at some distant point. I didn't wait for an answer either, just told him he'd do well to think carefully about his future and whether he wants to spend it beneath her thumb, watching her insult people, especially his family. Then I walked away and left him standing there. I could tell you many other stories of her abominable behavior and his failure to stand up to her, but it's not important. There is a word that describes her very well, which I will not use, and obviously, he's spineless. Oh well - that's their problem. I'm grateful, as I said, for my sons and their wives - none of that nonsense around here.

Well, guess I'll go play in the leftovers again. My favorite thing! Blessings! --Romeena
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81831: Sounds like a wonderful evening Maude. I had a similar experience yesterday when I ran into an old VCR tape that had home movies of some past chrismases when sean was a baby. So touching to watch and couldn't help but shed a few tears. Some of the family has since passed or left and seeing Sean so little was sad. You can never get those babies back...you can only hope for grandkids! hehe.

Wow Ro, after reading that the turkey comment seems mild for nephew's wife. Does she get along better with your SIL now? Must be really tough for her. It would be interesting to know about the girl's background...how she was raised, etc. What kind of church do they attend? I am always trying to figure difficult people out but I probably make too many excuses for them. Some people just have a selfish, cruel streak.

Thanks for those prayers, MDC. I am taking off a few weeks from the rehab but will go back the Monday before Christmas to have a little party with them. I have a couple of other people onboard who can go in my place in the meanwhile. I just need a little break. I have been going for four years and while its hard not to and I miss them, I think I will benefit from a few weeks off. I was planning to go yesterday and then found out that it was my SIL's birthday (the one who lives with me). I cooked her dinner and baked her a cake and gave her a new purse. She had been carrying the present one for 6 years. She wasn't even going to say anything about it being her birthday because she has very low self esteem and has a hard time letting anyone bless her....guess it was from living with the man that eventually left her for another woman. He was a real charmer (sarcasm).

Good luck with the motor home, REV.

Prayers for your mom, Possum.

I need to finish the coffee and get Erin to school. THEN keep putting lights on that tree! I have never had the experience of working on a tree for days (like Ro) and I hope its worth it. So fae I have put on about 1500 lights and I am just over halfway finished. I am wiring them to the individual branches like the pros do and it is beautiful. Of course the kids are getting pretty anxious to put the ornaments on.

Boo
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81832: BTW, Ro, speaking of leftovers...we just didn't get enough turkey so I bought another, smaller one to cook this week. More turkey sandwiches!

Boo
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81833: Oh and I forgot to say (concerning putting the lights on the tree)...I am covered in tree sap like Clark Griswold (maybe the mentioning of Clark will bring Asa around...he loves that movie). :-)

Boo
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81834: CHRISTMAS MOVIE QUOTE-ATHON!:

"Burt!..My lip's bleedin'!!"

Boo
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81835: Good morning all and thank you so much for the prayers.
We do know that Mama is coming home today.

I have to be particular with what I post here in regards to family matters. "Eyes",you know. Might get threatened with another "slander lawsuit". Enough said.

Please keep the prayers going. Thank you friends!

Christmas quotes???

" Miss Mamie.. Miss Emily.. we got to have some gas!"

November 30, 2010 - Msg 81836: Forgot to sign up there. Y'all know it was me!
*************
possum u.a.r.
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81837:
Morning porch family.....misty rain here this morning.

Possum....continued prayers!

Boo....my wife bought several turkeys also. She cooks them, debones it and puts it up in the freezer to use later.

Also Boo....since I'm not a "movie person", the only CHRISTMAS MOVIE QUOTE that I know is:
"Ho Ho Ho"....lol

You all have a blessed day and shine HIS light on someone!
Love and prayers
-REV.
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81838:
"Mary, you want the moon? I'll throw a lasso around it."
REV-a darn good woman you got there. Does she field dress a moose too? haha
I am sending RO some photos today of my new Christmas scene.
It is meant to be thought-provoking.
Have a good day all!
MDC
"He's a grade A, Number One NUT!" (:
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81839: this one holiyday can just pass me by.

TOM

November 30, 2010 - Msg 81840:
MDC.....did you get my message that I sent to you? On your package that you sent, it had two different addresses. Could you send me your mailing address? Just send it as a private message on facebook or my email. Thanks!
And no can't get her to field dress a moose yet..lol

Tom...just hang out here with your porch family during the holidays. We'll just spend it all together.

Love and prayers!
-REV.
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81841: Good grief, Boo! You mean you're going to all that work on a live tree? My tree has 2150 lights on it, but it's artificial, and therefore reusable. You're waaay more enterprising than I am.

On the subject of turkey - cooking those two extra thighs in with my whole turkey really worked out well. I still have dark meat among the leftovers, and that never happens! I think for Christmas I may put four in there. My old black enamel-ware roaster is huge, so there's room.

Tom, Christmas won't pass you by, not if you invite it into your heart. God loves you, and so do we.

MDC, I got the pictures, have saved them to my computer and as soon as I leave the porch I'll be putting them in the album. Folks, they're wonderful! You're going to love them. A lot of thought and no doubt a lot of prayer, as well as a tremendous amount of work has gone into this. It's great! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

Well, I worked last night, slept much of the day, and am now all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, will probably be awake half the night, at least. One of the hazards of working night shift. Guess I'll heat up a plate of leftovers, go to the Hallmark channel and watch some Christmas movies.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena

"Zuzu's petals! Zuzu's petals!"
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81842: OK, the pictures are in the album, and I now realize that you won't be able to read most of what's written on the letters, and that's what gives the deeper meaning to it all. I can read it on the pictures MDC sent me, as they display full-page in the email. So, here goes:

C -- Creation
H -- History
R -- Redeeming prophecies
I -- Israel
S --
T -- The Cross
M -- Miracle Rising
A -- Ascension
S -- Holy Spirit

If there is something written on the S, I can't see it. However, nothing is really needed. I think everyone will fill in their own - Star, Stable, Son. I imagine that was MDC's intent, especially with the prominent Star. Am I right?

It's really beautiful, and thank you again for sharing it with us. I'll bet it draws a lot of attention every evening, when the lights come on. I hope people get the message.

Blessings! --Romeena
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81843: For those who might not know, or remember - the album can be found at Romeena dot my photo album dot com. Once there, find the sub-album "Christmas in Mayberry" - (white Christmas tree on the cover) and click on that. MDC's latest pictures are on page 3, at the end. I left them there so they'd be easier to locate. Later I'll move them up into the album with his other pictures.

I'm sure everyone knows this, but you can double-click on any picture and it will enlarge for you. Then double-click it again and it will advance to the next picture, or you can use the "next" button. Enjoy!

--Romeena
November 30, 2010 - Msg 81844:
WOW....MDC...I'm impressed. Looks great and a great witness.

Thanks Ro for posting for us to see.

Love and prayers!
-REV.
December 01, 2010 - Msg 81845:
Thanks Rev and RO...yes, I left off the "S" on purpose. Savior, Star, etc as you mentioned.
Remember the old commercial "You can take Salem out of the country, but..." Same principle.
The rays (Jesus) reach thru all of time from creation to this age of the Holy Spirit. The JOY represents the rapture or Heaven! Spell it all out and ya got "Christmas Joy!"This old catholic is goin' up with the rest of you folks! ha The Lord just lays these on my heart. Enlarge it, use it in Sunday school, spread the Word!
REV, I did get your message, and actually answered it on FB. hmmmm 2 addresses? Ah, one was on that "other" piece of paper! Use the one on the envelope. Will that work?? That's my work address, then the CD wont sit in my mailbox all day.
Prayers,
MDC

December 01, 2010 - Msg 81846: Hi All.
Who order all this cold,rain and now?
All this rain that we had may the creek over ranand flooging.
So I 'm going hate all of this from now to Speing
git here!

TOM :(
December 01, 2010 - Msg 81847: We have a good lawyer that is going to get us part way out of the mess. I meet with him on Monday to get started. Please continue to pray for us. And I appreciate those that are already doing so.

Boo - we put up our tree on Saturday. We trudged over a couple of hills and found the perfect one. Casey even trudged with the cast and crutches. He wasn't going to miss it! We always go out and hunt for our trees. Every Thanksgiving weekend. We had an artificial tree for one year. And one year, I had to go to a lot and buy the tree because Anthony had leg surgery. We paid $15 for the tree. It was about 8 feet tall but we had to cut it down some to get the star on top. I think I have about 400 lights on mine.

My Christmas movie quote, "Eat Santa, Eat. . .WE don't want a skinny Santa!"

hm
December 01, 2010 - Msg 81848:
Good Morning Porch!
HM- you got 'em mucho prayers from me. Sounds like at least there is light at the end of the tunnel.
TOM- There is an old 1970s saying, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Same in your situation. Try to make the best of it. There may be an agency that can help you sandbag against flooding etc. Have Gizmo and others make some calls now to help you before any problems arise. just a thought my friend. Prepare as much as you can.
Hey to PH, STERLING, ASA, AUH2O, NEW NEIGHBOR,
HAZEL, POSSUM, SPOT AND ALL! (:
Love,
MDC
December 01, 2010 - Msg 81849: Good morning, porch! MDC, what a great idea, to enlarge the photos and share them. My SS class would enjoy them. For that matter, I can just forward the email you sent (removing your personal information, of course) because they show up full screen which is larger than I could print them. Those pictures will bless some hearts, I have no doubt.

Tom, what's the worst flooding you've ever had from the creek? Has it actually come up into the house? Have you contacted anyone at the city offices to see if there's anything they can do? Maybe it would help to get the neighbors organized and approach the city as a group. There's strength in numbers, as they say.

Well, I'm going to eat a bite, then go put out some more twinkles, then a nap and off to work tonight. I'll come home in the morning with just enough time to shower and change clothes, then be at the church by 8:45, to go with our JOY group (there will be 53 of us) down to a place near Waco. It's a huge old restored ranch home that will be decorated to the hilt, and we'll have a lovely "tea room style" lunch there, maybe shop a bit in their gift room, then come home. We went there about three years ago, and everyone enjoyed it, so thought we'd try it again. I guess I'll just sleep on the bus on the way down. After that, I don't work again until next Monday, so maybe I can get my tree up over the weekend.

My precious granddaughter called last night, and she's coming Sunday or Monday, to spend a WEEK with me! As the Lord has blessed me, while I do work Monday night, I don't work again until the following Saturday, so will have the whole week to spend with her. I'm so excited! She's such a precious girl, and it will be a joy to have her here. We'll shop a little, make cookies, talk and laugh, wrap presents, watch Christmas movies, and just generally have a wonderful time. I can hardly wait! I've often said that it's so nice when your children finally grow up, become adults, and turn into real people, people that you actually like! Well, the same thing is true of grandchildren. She's almost thirty now, married (in my back yard, if you remember), a very responsible person, an officer at the bank where she works, is working on a degree online, and is a strong Christian. I'm so proud of her.

Well, away I go. Time's a-wastin'! Blessings to you all. --Romeena
December 01, 2010 - Msg 81850:
Hello porch family...gonna be cold here tonight in SC.

MDC...that sounds good....will take care of it. Thanks!

Ro....I'm sure you and your granddaughter will have a great time. And so glad you will be off during that time. She sounds like a real sweetheart.

HM....continued prayers!

Tom...stay warm buddy...it will be spring before you know it.

Spot.....the big SEC game this weekend. GO GAMEC@CKS.

You all have a good night and a blessed day tomorrow!
Love and prayers
-REV.
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81851: Hey, that's great about your granddaugter Ro! Is she the girl who leaves near me? Sounds like you two are going to have a great time together. :-)

HM, good luck with your situation..prayers continue. I think it is so great that you get to cut down your own tree...when you were talking about Casey going I was thinking of the Christmas Vacation movie with Clark Griswold when they go to the tree farm to cut down their tree and Clark makes the family trudge through snow for a long time until he finds the perfect, humongous tree. As the family is standing there, gazing at it, he asks his young daughter Audrey what she thinks of it and Clark's wife says, "Clark, her eyes are frozen". hehe too funny.

Well I finally finished the tree last night and my feet are sore from standing on that confounded ladder for so long. It is a glorious tree, though, with over 2000 white twinkle lights on it. The kids and I started hanging the ornaments on it last night but too late to finish. We had our annual greening service at church last night and it was such a sweet time with church family. Different groups in the church participate by doing different things like lighting the candles, lighting the wreathes and tree, bringing in the poinsettias and placing them at the altar...all while the congregation sings christmas carols. The room is dark except for the candles and white lights. Lovely!...and very touching. After the decorations were done, the children gathered around a manger in the front of the church while a sweet lady in our church read the Christmas story to them. I think must of us shed a tear or two. I was thinking of years past, as I have shared this annual celebration with my church family and I was so thankful. God has been so good to us. I still have my parents alive on this earth, my children are well and safe, I have a loving husband, and a loving porch family, so many friends and loved ones. My heart just overflows! I love this time of year. :-)

Loved the Christmas display, MDC...!

Better go get Erin up and going.

Love to All,
Boo
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81852: Morning porch, cold here on my end of the porch, right frosty. working today and supposed to be a long day for me. I will be off tomorrow for a road trip with my best girfriend for Christmas shopping and then to Dollywood for the Christmas lights, music and shows. Should be home by 9pm or so. Looking forward to a day away from things. My work has been pretty stressful lately. My job is not physically hard but sometimes very mentally draining and this has been one of those weeks!.

Breakfast will be at I HOP my treat. come early and drink coffee read the paper and take it easy, slow down. What's your hurry.

Have a blessed day. Prayers all around.
Big Maude
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81853: Hi All.
Boy this porch and rowm is becoming a GOSE city.
Everyone gad mover on to fb now,

TOM

December 02, 2010 - Msg 81854:
Morning porch family

Maude...have fun at Dollywood with your friend. It's so nice there this time of year.

Boo....I'm sure the tree is glorious. Sit back and enjoy it and rest those feet now.

I'll be leaving out in the morning for my weekend concerts in Jacksonville, FL so I may not be back on till Monday.
You all behave and know that I'm praying for you all!
Love and prayers
-REV.
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81855:
Boo- and it must be really special being the first Christmas in your new home! How about a photo of the tree for us to see?
I also thought of you and your Goodyear albums when I heard a Karen Carpenter song yesterday.
Big Maude, do you live near Dollywood? I always wanted to see it. Does dolly perform there?
Anyone see the wonderful Christmas show on PBS last night? Celtic Thunder. Great! I sure miss all those like Andy Williams etc.
REV- prayers for a good concert.
God bless our troops. My nephew was deployed last month, please keep Jason in your prayers.
Thx, MDC
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81856:
Oh, I forgot to tell you all that i recently did an internet study of Psalm 91 !
Folks, this is one wonderful, powerful prayer straight from God's word, concerning His protection. I urge you to read it with all your heart, "plead" it over yourself and your family.
Well, soapbox sliding back under the porch.
Also, ole Pappabear says a big Hiddy Ho to you all!
MDC
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81857: Afternoon porch, just running by for a minute. I needed a Mayberry break!

MDC: I actually live about 90 minutes or so from Dollywood. Dolly is usually there about 2x a season (March-Dec)and performs for the season opening. Christmas is so pretty there, millions of lights and Christmas decorations as well as the Christmas musicals. There are a couple of the shows that have Christian themes to them as well as the Natavity Story. I have seen them every year for many years now but still enjoy and get filled with the Christmas spirit each time.

Well better get back to work. have a blessed afternoon.

Big Maude
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81858: Heu Maude,possum,Rev and all the gang...gosh been so busy around the dog house...new living room set was delivered today...looks good...50 in plasma....fixing the old dog house up....ok....make me a plate of left overs please.....back to work....SPOT
December 02, 2010 - Msg 81859: Wow, MDC, thanks for sharing that about Psalm 91..I needed the reminder. I made the mistake of watching some show on the history channel today about the hidden bible codes and they were saying something about the world ending in 2012, as well as the Mayan Calander. It got me kind of depressed until I remembered who is really in control! Why should I pay any heed to the prophecies of the Mayan's when my bible says only God knows the day. It is easy to fall into fear when you listen to things like that so I try to avoid it but I had a brain glitch or something this morning! I do want to encourage you who are believers to step up the prayers and strengthen your faith because I think that closer we get to 2012, the more afraid people will get and they will need us to be full of faith to know how to help them.

Have a great time, Maude. Wish I was going, too!!

MDC, I have been listening to the Goodyear Christmas records while working on my tree this week. Neato.

Boo


December 03, 2010 - Msg 81860:
COME OUT, COME OUT WHERE EVER YOU ARE!!! (:
I'll put out an old kids game to find our porch folks!
Ro has a visitor, Rev is singing, etc, so I'll just
say Good Day to all. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
MDC
December 03, 2010 - Msg 81861: Hi All.
Boy is it cold out there so I 'm going to stay in door brrrrrrr

TOM

December 03, 2010 - Msg 81862: And possum has been sick! ( in reference to MDC's message 81820)
I have a lot of catching up to do around here, once my head quits spinning.
Hope everyone is staying well- love to all!
*******************
possum under a rock
December 03, 2010 - Msg 81863:
Possum dear, did you ever go for some antibiotics?
Hope you are back in the swing real soon.
MDC
December 03, 2010 - Msg 81864: I received a question on Nov 23 from : hm #81778.
I answered the question Nov 23 # 81781 to; Hm.
Does anyone know if " hm" received this response ? Thank you
IMAGINEER
December 04, 2010 - Msg 81865: Mornin' friends. Its going to be an 80 degree day here in south texas...bah humbug...what I wouldn't give to see some snow this time of year. I haven't been to colorado to play in the snow in way too long.

Hope you are well soon, Possum.

Busy weekend around here. I threw the Youth Christmas party yesterday and it went well. It was a progressive dinner but we only went to two homes to give the kids more time to have a gift exchange at the last house. There were 20 kids and 6 adults present and I made a huge pan of my famous lasagna. Our first stop was at an older couple's house who are just the nicest people, and we ate our meal there and then went to another, larger home for desserts and gift exchange. Interestingly, the first home we went to we kind of small but very cozy and homey..I loved it there. The second home was the home of a wealthy couple and it was a massive, very expensive place, with high end furniture, etc. but it was kind of cold and lacked the homey, inviting feeling. I was thinking that I would be much happier in the smaller, cozy home. I think sometimes big and fancy feels less Christmasy. Anyway, it was fun and the kids enjoyed it. Tonight I host Bruce's sunday school party here at the house. It will be very informal and probably only about 10 people who are all good friends, so no pressure. I am just going to make soup (beef-veggie and baked potato soup) and sandwiches. The others will bring the dessert.

P;ease remember my nuclear stress test on tuesday. I would really hate to have to have any other procedure done this close to christmas. Thanks.

Talk to you all later.

Boo
December 04, 2010 - Msg 81866: By the way...wanted to say a big THANKS to Floyd for keeping the porch up and running.

Boo
December 04, 2010 - Msg 81867: Hi All.
Will look like winter here to sray
all this cold.
Will the water ging down in the creek
thank goodn.
Will it look like we are losting more and more of the porch to thenew chat room that come a lone?
Working on gitting the card out, uesding the old list too!
HIS HELPING HAND
When life becomes a burden
And nothing seems worthwhile,
I ask the Lord to help me
To walk the extra mile.
No problems are too great for Him,
No worries are too small.
He never truns away from me,
He alway solves them all.
His helping hands are outstretched
To guide me on my way
And make my life more beautiful
With the dawning of each day.

TOM :)
December 04, 2010 - Msg 81868:
Just a quick "howdy" from the road down in Jacksonville, FL.
Love and prayers!
-REV.
December 04, 2010 - Msg 81869: And a "howdy" and a "God bless you" to you, REV. I pray your concerts reach their mark, and many hearts are pointed to the real "reason for the Season" right now. May God bring you home safely, and give you a joyous Christmas there with your two best girls, and little Jake.

Well, yesterday was a total "surprise day." David came to get my tree out of its "hibernation closet" and set it up for me. It's just too big and awkward for me to carry, so he always sets it up for me. When we unwrapped it, we were both shocked at how yellowed it had become. You can see from the pictures in the album that it's a solid white tree. It started yellowing several years ago (it's 16 or 17 years old) but was a lot worse this year. We plugged in the lights and the yellow pretty much disappears when the lights are on, but unfortunately several strings of the lights were out. I brought a couple of them on with my little fix-it gun, but at least two more just would not respond. One had been repaired last year after the tree was decorated, by wiring a new plug onto it, as the old plug had literally begun to melt. Not safe! David stood there and surveyed the scene, then said, "Mom, you're not going to struggle again this year with those dangerous old lights on that yellowed tree. Come on, we'll find you a new one." Ha! Good luck with that, I thought to myself. I've been looking, and there aren't that many white trees out there. Well, Mr. Internet got on my computer, and in five minutes had located a store over in Plano. He called them, they said they had white trees, so he said "Get in the car, we're going to get you a tree." Still doubtful, with visions of dense, tight little trees that can only be decorated around the outside, I got in the car. We went to a place called Noel Christmas Store, and it's a wonderland. Not terribly big, about half the size of my house, but they have absolutely beautiful inventory, and wonder of wonders, they had my tree. It's in open layers, so I can decorate right in to the trunk. It's almost identical to my old tree, maybe just a tiny smidge smaller. It was pre-wired with all white twinkle lights. I figured I could add several strings of colored lights, and it would be beautiful.

So David took me to lunch, we went back and picked up the tree and brought it home. It's so pretty. Brittney and the boys came over, and she and I started putting colored lights on. It just didn't look right. The mix of lights didn't work, so we took off the colored string we had started with, and put on several more strings of white lights, which I happened to have. It's gorgeous! My ornaments just pop against that snow-white tree and the white (clear) lights. Brittney hung in there with me, and we got all the ornaments on, Dave got the tree back into the corner where it just lights up the whole room. All I have to do today is put the stuff beneath the tree (I have a snowman village, which even includes a nativity made up of snow figures), then clean up the room and put out all the little "sit-arounds" as my mom called them. My big Nativity will go on the credenza in the dining room, and I may wait until Amanda gets here and let her do that. She loves to do things like that, just like her mother. Yes, Boo, she's the one who lives near you. She was my "only" granddaughter, until Edwin entered Heather's life, and brought his lovely Julia with him. So now I have two granddaughters.

Poor David - no good deed goes unpunished, I guess. He worked so hard all day, helping me with my tree situation, and when he went to leave last night, his Tahoe wouldn't start. He knows from an earlier experience this week that it's the starter, just needs to be replaced. Well, at midnight, that's difficult to arrange, so he just took my car and went home. Brittney had left about 15 minutes earlier. Now he has to come back to Irving today and deal with getting that big old car fixed. I think he and Jerry will just put a new starter in it themselves. Dave isn't a mechanic, but he thinks he can figure it out. My money is on him!

So that's my story of my surprising day, and I now have a new "Christmas tree hunt" story. I also have the most beautiful little Maltese dog ornament, which Dave found in the Noel store, and bought for me. It looks just like the Plum! God has blessed me with the best, most generous and caring kids in the world, and I'm grateful. Blessings! --Romeena
December 04, 2010 - Msg 81870: Well good luck in todays SEC game Rev!...go SC!..well at work tonight and FOOTBALL on the tube...been busy around the old dog house doing some fixing up...got to get my tree up!..that will be Monday...hey Tom,Romeena,Possum I hope you feel better...hey Lucy,ky,MDC,Boo and all....gona go read the archives....tonight will be Pizza and Hot wings and celery sticks and carrots!...Ranch dressing!...all different kinds of pizza and soda!....prayers! SPOT
December 04, 2010 - Msg 81871: Hello all from Alabama...I'm new to this site but a friend gave it to me because they know how much I love Andy Griffith and his TV show. I hope to get to know some of you.
Be safe.........LIN :o)

December 05, 2010 - Msg 81872: Welcome, LIN. We're happy to have you, visitors are always welcome, and we hopeyou'll stay and become a regular. The porch looks a bit empty right now, since many of our numbers have decided to try Facebook, but those of us who remain on the porch are hoping everyone will come home soon, back to Mayberry and the porch. We have a lovely family atmosphere here, and you are most welcome to join us. Blessings! --Romeena
December 05, 2010 - Msg 81873: Welcome LIN, Maybe all the facebook people will one day soon,
realize how much their information will be used by others and return soon. Look at the security MESS the government has now, by have to OUT THERE ................IMAGINEER
December 05, 2010 - Msg 81874: TOM, don't send my christmas card yet because you porbably have my old address. Maybe Romeena wouldn't mind sending you my new one. I will email it to her again in case she missed it. If anyone else has a new address, please let us know.

Intersting point, imagineer. I am not much of a facebook user anymore...just too busy and if I am limited on time, I come here. I think alot of folks who spend hours on facebook get hooked on the games. I am not a game person and never would even think of playing computer games. Its too hard for me to sit still in front of a computer for more than a little while. I have seen my SIL sit in front of this computer for hours playing some sort of bingo game on facebook and I don't know how she does it. Having two kids at home, I think I am conditioned to be be doing something most of the time. I hardly even read anymore, which is a pity. I get up at 5 or 6am even on weekends...just wake up and can't sleep, so by 10pm I am ready to go to sleep and can't stay awake to read.

Welcome to the porch, LIN. I hope you will come back and like it here. :0)

Great news about the tree, RO!! I'll bet its beautiful. This is the first year that I have used only white twinkle lights on my tree and, although I kind of miss the colored ones, it is so pretty and like you said, it lights up the room and makes the ornaments more visible. I have lots of red and gold ornaments and some ornaments that I have had for many years...some I have bought on trips to Fredricksburg at the Christmas Store, some from Colorado...and assortment of memories. I am going to have to slow down long enough to get Bruce to help me get some of these pictures loaded and send some to you for the album Ro. I owe you all..keep forgetting!

Well, better get ready for preachin'

Boo
December 05, 2010 - Msg 81875: Congrats Auburn on the SEC championship..welcome LIN! Im SPOT Goobers talking dog and not far from you in Georgia!..Hey Romeena,Boo,Rev be safe on the road...hey Tom,MDC,Possum and all...hey I am back at work now and kinda hungry...any leftovers?..Maude?...well let me get started ..Cold here around freezing...ok...back in just a bit....SPOT
December 05, 2010 - Msg 81876: Good evening porch, hope everyone has had a restful week end. COLD here on my end of the porch. snowing now. been a dreary windy kinda day.

We had a great day in Dollywood Friday. NIce sunny weather and not too cold.

Welcome LIN. Big Maude here. I am one of SPOT's assistant cooks on the porch. My speciality is SLAW! We have it with most lunch and dinner meals.

Dinner menu tonight will be: roasted chicken, SLAW, green beans, potato salad, broccoli,corn
rice, rolls. apple cobbler for dessert.
Sending you a plate SPOT!

Better get busy. My husband and son just came home from a 3 day hunting trip and brought home a big load of laundry. They will wash their hunting clothes, but I'll do the rest!

Romeena can you please e mail me the Christmas card list. I have misplaced it somehow.
I surely would appreciate it.

Prayers and blessings to all.

Big Maude

Back to work tomorrow so I will check in from there. Have a blessed day.