Happy 4-0 Christy!

Hope you've had a great 40th Birthday!

Please go here to read 40 great stories

Christy's sister shared earlier today :)

Blessings today and always,
Kaye

Philemon 1:4

Congratulations Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations Tiffany at A Moment Cherished

for winning the engraved tile give-a-way

at Kelly's Korner last week!

Tiffany chose a tile to give to her

in-laws for a Christmas gift.

Thanks Tiffany for entering and I hope

your in-laws l.o.v.e. their gift!

And many sincere thanks to Kelly

for hosting the giveaway.

The response was overwhelming and

I appreciate everyone who entered

so very much.

Blessings today and always,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

HP Touchsmart Computer GIveaways!

Please go here and here and here and here and here

for your chance(s) to WIN a great NEW HP computer!

Winners will be announced on December 24th!

Happy Holidays,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

O Christmas Tree-Handprint Style

Memories of Christmas 2008
Last year Brandi at Brandi and Boys shared

one of her favorite pieces of Christmas 'artwork' on her blog

and when I saw it I knew I wanted to 'try' to get the

family involved to try doing this using our hand prints.

So last year on Christmas Eve the girls

brought enough canvasses

and paint so each of us could have our own

"Hand Prints Christmas Tree"

to treasure.

Ours started with the Grandparent's hand prints

at the bottom, then each of the kids and their

spouses hand prints, and last & least each of

the grandchildren's precious hand prints!

Thanks so very much Brandi for sharing this

wonderful idea on your blog.

I love our 'hand made' tree and will treasure it always.

Blessings today and every day,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

Facing The Giants-Jason McLeod

Last week in Prentiss, Mississippi

Jason McLeod of

Facing the Giants and Fireproof

fame spoke at their annual Youth Rally.

My brother, his wife Stephanie and

their daughter Anna

were thrilled to spend a lot of time

with this special young man who impacted

hundreds of youth in their area.

I asked Korky to find out from Jason what Scripture

meant the most to him and we got more than that;

his autograph along with the Scripture that holds

a lot of meaning in his life.

The tile above will be shipped to him tomorrow,

along with a special thank-you for speaking

HIS truths in Prentiss and

to so many people across the Country.

I feel as though Jefferson Davis County

will never be the same after hearing this very

inspiring young man preach

and spending quality time with him.

We also discussed sending something to his

parents, so the tile above

will be sent along with his gift.

If you haven't seen these movies,

please take the time to do so.

Jason is mostly recognized for 'the death crawl'

in Facing the Giants

and was a volunteer fire fighter in Fireproof.

...and rumor has it that Jason enjoyed great

'home style' cookin' at The Country Fisherman

in Prentiss....and famous Bar-B-Q at Letha's

in Hattiesburg.

I told my brother while he

was here for the Thanksgiving holidays that if

I didn't love him so much I'd be jealous of those

two outstanding meals Jason was treated to.

Blessings today and always,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

Thankful...

Mary Katherine made us a new "Thankful Tree"

this year and everyone was happy to write

what they were thankful for on individual leaves.

This leaf tells part of the story...

showing names of family members

we are very thankful for...

Jack IV was VERY thankful Aunt Stephanie let him

play with her I-Touch. He LOVED drinking milk

from it:) His smile says it all....too cute!

3 Jacks and Ali rode Segway's

while the weather was so nice..
..Jackpaw took Jack IV for several rides...

...Korky and Jack IV drinking together from

the I-Touch drinks...

....Ali & Jack IV with their Mom making sure

he didn't fall from the wagon!

So very much to be thankful for...

but this year more than ever

I was so very thankful for everything

HE has provided for our family...

food, a roof over our heads

& a healthy family.

Praying your family had a wonderfully blessed

Thanksgiving.

Blessings today and always,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

Cowboys & Indians

A sweet lady from Alabama mailed me pencil

drawings to engrave on tiles last week.

Above is a collage of some of them after they were

scanned, engraved and ready for shipment.

Hopefully she'll be very pleased with how

her drawings engraved.

"Creator God, teach me to see the

beautiful things that are obscured

in life's deep shadows."

-The heart of a Father

Mike Nappa & Dr. Norm Wakefield

Blessings today and always,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

Remembering Dickinson State Softball Players

Remembering Kyrstin, Ashley and Afton.

Please go here to read about their Memorial Service

and please go here to read a very informative

blog post regarding Emergency Escape Hammers.

Praying for these young ladies teammates,

their Coaching Staff, and the entire

Dickinson State University staff & student body.

Also praying for each family and the loved

ones & friends affected by the loss of their loved ones.

Blessings, prayers and peace of mind to

each and every individual who have been

affected by this tragedy.

Kaye

Psalm 46:10

KK's Zucchini Casserole

Excited to join in with

Kelly's Korner "Show us your life"

Thanksgiving recipe exchange.

I try each Thanksgiving to cook things my

Mom and Grandmother once cooked for us.

For the life of me I don't know how they did what they did,

so many things to choose from for Thanksgiving Lunch,

then so many wonderful desserts.

We have a "Traditional Thanksgiving Meal"

including Turkey & Dressing, but I have learned to

start way ahead of time with casseroles and desserts

by freezing these starting in October each year.

Then on Thanksgiving Day I don't end up 'cooking'

all day but just bake and serve

and enjoy being with family.

Christy is kind to bring one of her

Dad's favorites each year,

Deviled Eggs, but other than that I try

my best to 'be like Mom & Grandma' and do the rest myself.

I am so very thankful for the traditions they started and

thankful they allowed me in the kitchen while growing up,

watching and listening to their 'tried and true' baking secrets.

So thankful for 'family' and so thankful Thanksgiving is

right around the corner so I can

see loved ones I haven't seen in a while.

Hope you enjoy the recipes shared this week at

Kelly's Korner

and hope you'll give this recipe a try, it is delicious!

Zucchini Casserole

8-10 Zucchini washed, ends removed

and quartered

Boil in water until tender and drain

In a small saucepan melt:

1 stick Margarine

8 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Remove from heat & add

8 oz. Sour Cream

Stir until well blended.

Butter Casserole Dish, place zucchini in dish.

Pour cheese mixture over zucchini.

Top with crushed Town House Crackers

Top with Salt & Pepper To Taste

Bake at 350 F 30 Minutes

Enjoy!!!

Another Thanksgiving Tradition

started by Mary Katherine

last year was her making a

"Thankful Tree" and

bringing it on Thanksgiving Day so

each of us could write on

a 'leaf' cut with Fall colored construction paper.

The Thankful Tree was a

branch cut off of a real tree and placed

in a metal pail then secured with rocks.

During the entire day of Thanksgiving when we

would think of something we were thankful for,

we'd write on a leaf and place it on the tree.

By the end of the day the tree was covered in

messages of "Thankfulness".

I saved ours and will use it again this year and

we can reflect on things we were thankful for this

special time last year.

I look forward to adding

'thankful' notes to the tree this year!

------------

"Ourselves also, which have the first fruits

of the Spirit." -Romans 8:23

But the first fruits were not the harvest,

and the works of the Spirit in us at this moment,

are not the consummation - the perfection is yet to come.

We must not boast that we have attained,

and so reckon the wave-sheaf to be all the produce

of the year: we must hunger and thirst after

righteousness, and pant for the day of

full redemption. Dear reader, this day open

your heart wide, and God will fill it.

Groan within yourself for higher

degrees of consecration,

and your Lord will grant them to you,

for He is able to do exceeding abundantly above

what we ask, or even think.

November 6 - Daily Help - Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon

-----------

.....remembering Grandmother-1987

with much love, admiration and gratitude...

-----------

Have a wonderfully blessed weekend,

Kaye

Matthew 21:22

Happy Halloween!

Missing this little Cowgirl & Cowboy...

but hoping they have a great holiday weekend...

& wishing everyone a very

safe & happy Halloween!

Hope you and yours have a wonderfully

blessed & safe weekend,

K

Matthew 21:22

Whatsoever things are:

true - noble - just - pure - lovely

of good report - of any virtue

anything praiseworthy...

Meditate on these.

-Phil. 4:8

Happy 6th Birthday Zachary!

Seems like only yesterday you entered the world..... ...now a BIG 6 year old...playing football!

Hope you have a wonderfully blessed day.

We are so thankful you were born!

Love,

Jackpaw & KK

Philemon 1:4

Happy Birthday Mary Katherine!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Have FUN & enjoy your special day!
Love,
Kaye
Philemon 1:4

I've been jotting down 32 things that I feel make

you very special in our lives. Here goes...

1. Your love for Jesus
2. Your love & respect for your husband
3. Your love for your precious boys; thanks for 'yielding' to them when they decide KK needs to see them:)
   
4. Your love for your family
5. Your love for your friends
6. Your quick wit and humor
7. You are trusting and trustworthy
8. Your determination to stay in shape as we are proud of the 5K medals you've won. I feel as though there will be many more to come..keep up the great work!
   
9. We agree to disagree-you say 'carmel', I say 'caramel'...
10. Thanks for starting a blog for me (after Brandon suggested it:)
11. Thanks for sharing ideas for new products
12. Thanks for forgiveness that I'm not 'text' savvy
    
13. You took me for my first pedi this year, yes you gave me a hard time for wearing the wrong shoes, but oh well!
    
14. Thanks for your forgiveness for the 'old timey' step-monster I am
15. Loved sharing baby mode x2, even though we DID NOT master eat, sleep & REST!
16. Loved sharing 'wedding mode'!
    
17. Love sharing our old music favorites; Amy Grant, Chicago...to name a few
18. Love sharing our addiction to Rainbath
    
19. Love sharing lives....have we ever finished a 'talk'?
    
20. So thankful you moved back 'home'
    
21. Thankful you share new recipes
22. Thankful for your Presidency of FEMA during our desperate time of need
23. Thankful for what you've done to help restore belongings, especially treasured photographs.
24. Proud of your hard work and dedication in helping start and continuing The Cancer Crusade. WOW you girls have done a GREAT JOB!
25. Thanks for bringing sweet tea from time to time from Herschel's or Chicken Express...LOVE IT!
26. Thanks for surprising me with 'piccolos' or that is what we called 'fried pickles' back in the day. Appreciate you thinking of me with a sweet (sour) surprise along with a kind note. Made. My. Day.
27. Thanks for stopping by (for no reason really)...but your keen sense of knowing I was struggling through a BAD day...just to be here.
    
28. Thanks for introducing me to Prada perfume, still L.O.V.E. it!
29. Thanks for being there with us during loss.
30. Thanks for introducing me to an IPOD..still LOVE it, along with all of the music you loaded on it for me!
31. Thanks for telling me what you'd really like to have one day; your blog published into a book, so I could see a smile on your face when you opened your gifts! Love sharing 'joy' with you.
32. Thanks for buying me cool gifts; so cool that you have to try them out before wrapping them to give them to me!:)

HIS word...

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NIV

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:37 NIV

New Personalized Coffee Mugs

Coming to our website soon...

..in black...

..in blue...

...& in red!

These wonderful square personalized
Coffee Mugs can be engraved
per your instructions....
...on one or both sides!

Thanks for stopping by and have
a wonderfully blessed day,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

Engrave your name here...

Thanks so much to sweet Kelly for hosting
websites and blogs featuring products
made at home this weekend.
I look forward to looking at what
many wonderfully talented women create at home.

I've pulled some sample photos off of our
website to show various ways to
commemorate the birth of a special
newborn in your life.

All of the samples shown are 8" x 8"
Porcelain tiles engraved with
birth information of some very special children.

We can customize any size tile offered to
say what you'd like.
We also engrave on leather, acrylic & wood.

Please stop by to create "your" own special keepsake.
We look forward to hearing from you for your
holiday and any and all special occasion needs.

"The only limit is "your" imagination!"

Click here to visit our website.

Thanks again and have a wonderfully
blessed weekend.

Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

Happy Day!

Wishing a very Happy 6th Anniversary to
Bret & Christy
and a very Happy Birthday to two
very special family members;
Happy 94th to my mother-in-law
and Happy 22nd to our nephew Ben.

Hope everyone has a wonderfully
blessed Lord's Day.
Blessings always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

Great Chocolate Cake

Thanks Rhoda for hosting this great recipe exchange.

Cake Ingredients:
1 stick margarine
1 cup sugar
4 eggs, stir in 1 at a time
tsp. vanilla
1 cup plain flour
tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
1 16 Ounce can Hershey Chocolate Syrup

Cake Instructions:
Mix above ingredients and pour in greased and floured 9" x 13" pan.
Bake at 350F for 30 minutes

Icing Instructions:
1 stick margarine
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup evaporated milk
Bring to boil for 3 minutes
Remove from heat
Add 1/2 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 tsp. vanilla
Stir until chocolate chips have melted

Pour icing over warm cake. Enjoy!

Cake will keep refrigerated for a long time!
Cut and warm individual pieces for a few seconds in the microwave to enjoy this cake warm. Yummy!

Have a SWEET weekend,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

P. S. Thanks to K. C. for sharing this delicious recipe with me (again)!

Olive Dip Recipe

This recipe was shared with me by Mary Katherine.
It is a recipe she got from her Mother-in-law a few
years ago. I always try to have this on hand
when company's coming!

Olive Dip
2 Packages Softened Cream Cheese
1 10 Ounce Jar Salad Olives Drained
2 Tablespoons Mayo Dashes of Tabasco to taste
(the more the better in my humble opinion!)
Mix with electric mixer. Keep refrigerated.
Serve with Frito Scoops...Enjoy!!!

Thanks for visiting and
have a wonderfully blessed day,
Kaye

"With everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,"
says the Lord your Redeemer.
Isaiah 54:8 NIV

Happy 9th Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Brandon and Mary Katherine!

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Love,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

A Cutie and Some Cuties!

Trent's very own creation of what he calls
a flower; 6 chicken rings & catchup,
that's all it takes to make this little one
a cute and happy camper!

...and slowly but surely the baby doves are

beginning to take 'color' to become the
beautiful birds we know they'll be within
a couple of more weeks.

Blessings today and every day,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself
and God our Father,
who loved us and by his grace gave us
eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you
in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV

And more exciting beginnings

Katie's first day at "Big" School was yesterday
and Trace started the 4th Grade!

...and Zachary started Kindergarten...
his favorite part was "recess":)...

...and Trent started back to Brain Gym
last week....

Jack IV went back to Miss Janet's and I'm
certain he's missing his sister Ali being there
with him!

School IS in full swing once again.
Praying for all of these children to have
a great 2009-2010 school year.

Love them all,
KK

And whatever you do or say,
let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus,
all the while giving thanks through Him
to God the Father.
Colossians 3:17 NLT

Giveaway On Pass It On Baby!

Please go here to enter 'your story' and a chance to win!

And this is also a great opportunity
to learn more about a wonderful 'giving' organization.

Praying Heather & Elizabeth are blessed
for all they are doing to help those in need.

And please go here for a chance or multiple
chances to win
a wonderful monogrammed rug during
"Our Creative Life's" Anniversary Celebration!

Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
Mark 12:30 NLT

It's never too early...

To get started on your Christmas shopping

as in the case of a lady who called one day
this week to get her order in, yes in AUGUST!

And please come back soon as there are several
giveaways in the works!
One here, one here & one here!

A prayer for today:
Bless our absent friends and loved ones,
and keep them in Thy holy will.
Remember in mercy the tempted and tried
and afflicted ones,
and sustain them by Thy grace.
Bless those in authority in our State
and nation with wisdom to know and
strength to do Thy will.
Sustain those who labor for the establishment
of Thy Kingdom at home and abroad,
and hasten the time when men may know
and obey Thee.
For Jesus' sake. Amen.
August 21 - God's Minute
-Rev. Howard A. Kramer, Cleveland, Ohio

Have a wonderfully blessed weekend,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

"You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your Holy habitation."
Exodus 15:13 NKJV

Ali Grace goes to school

Hard to believe but true..
Ali Grace started Kindergarten yesterday!
Major 'cuteness' I'd say and yes I'm a
'little' prejudiced:)

...and here she is with her Mom.
Holly said Ali had a GREAT day
then crashed in the car on the way
home. I'm sure these 'new' hours will
take a lot of getting accustomed to.

And since she and her younger brother
have always attended day-care
together, they'll miss each other dearly.

Praying all 3 of the Grands who'll be
attending "BIG" school for the first
time this year will have wonderful
experiences, meet lots of great
new friends and learn by leaps and bounds!

Hope to have 1st day of school pictures
of Zachary and Katie on Monday.
They both seem extremely excited
about going to 'BIG' school.
But their Moms...not so much.

Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

I will instruct you and teach you in
the way you should go.
Psalm 32:8

Thankful you were born!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful Dad...

Grandson...

...and 'little boy' (at heart)!

I am very thankful you asked me to marry
your Dad many, many moons ago
so we could have the relationship
we've had throughout the years.

I'm very proud of the kind, genuine young man
you've become.

Hope you have a wonderfully blessed day.
You deserve ONLY the very best!
Love,
KK

The Lord is my light and my salvation-
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life-
of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 NIV

For the birds!

Last night we were thrilled for yet another
baby dove to hatch...

..and knew it wouldn't be long before
another would soon grace us with its presence...

..then first thing this morning we welcomed
another beautiful baby into this world...

...therefore it was time for naming the babies!

MK asked me to hurry and email her a picture
since she is on a long road trip with her two rambunctious
boys and she needed a new 'topic' to keep them
distracted/entertained, etc., instead of the normal,
'Are we there yet?' being said over and over.

So I immediately told her to tell the boys we need names
for the baby doves and below are Zachary and Trent's
suggestions so far....

Toot and Puddle (off of a Cartoon)

Pretty and Please

Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Dee and Dum for short

Hope and Hope (from Trent)

Gentleness and Kindness (Gent and Kind for short)

BB and Pellet (as in bullets)

Big Momma and BoBo (birds off of Fox and Hound)

Z said, "That's ebuff because
you will have a hard time choosing."

Well done, and I will have to think about these as well
as give a lot of thought to Zachary's last comment....

I immediately wrote MK back and told her to keep
name suggestions coming.
Hopefully by the time they
send me every other name in the book,
they'll have made it to their destination
safe and sound.

Kids can think of and say the darnedest things:)

Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22

Cancer Cannot...

To encourage anyone facing this fierce disease,
please keep the above things in mind and
read Isaiah 41:10 which will be
a constant reminder to "Fear not..."
Blessings today and always,
Kaye

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for He founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2 NIV