I am thankful for . . .

. . . my salvation, God's blessings including my family, my friends, my health and so much more!!
It was amazing having my children, their spouses and grandchildren home for a few days. I enjoyed visiting, eating, playing games, eating, shopping, eating, watching movies, eating, checking out Clark Griswald's house with all of the lights and watching a football game or two. While we had everyone at home, Britni wanted to do some family photos for Christmas cards so we decided to do pictures of the whole gang. I took a few (about 400) of Britni's family and then I called my sweet sister, Ann to come out and take our whole family. I thought they turned out pretty good for a couple of amateurs. We went down the road from our house to do some where the trees cover the road and we waited until it was a little too dark but I thought they turned out pretty good anyway.

Of course it it fun taking pictures of 2 of my favorite subjects.

Kylie was my assistant and it took all of us sometimes to keep the princess focused!

We watched the Aggies play but sadly the score did not turn out like we wanted!! :(

And then all too quickly the vacation ended and they had to go back home to school and jobs.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!!

All My Children

No, not the soap opera!! :) All my children are home. Britni, Chandler and Rainey got here about 6 or so and Steven and Kylie made a little after 11. Chuck has to work tomorrow so he will be here sometime in the afternoon. I plan on relaxing and enjoying this special time with my family!! I have truly been blessed with a wonderful husband of 28 years, wonderful, healthy children and grandchildren and wonderful sons-in-law who love my daughters!!

Happy Thanksgiving and may God bless you during this holiday season.

Nonna's Giveaway

My friend over at Nonna's News is having a Christmas Giveaway. She has a fun blog so check her out and enter the giveaway.

Baby Girl is 23!!

Our baby girl is 23 years old today. Wow- the time has passed too quickly. We are so proud of you, Kylie and we hope you have a wonderful birthday. We love you so much!!! (Which reminds me of a song - "I Saw God Today" by George Strait)


This past weekend we went down for a surprise visit. Kylie has been studying hard and doing clinicals and had been down in the dumps so I checked it out with Steven and decided to surprise her since we wouldn't get to see her on her actual birthday. I think she was glad to see us and needed the little bit of distraction. Kylie had been wanting to see this exhibit at the museum called Body Worlds. It is actual human bodies that people have donated to science and they have been preserved through a process called plastination. It was really awesome to see all of the muscles, bones, blood vessels, etc that make up our body.




After that we went to Olive Garden for an early birthday dinner. Then we went back to their apartment and watched a couple of movies before going to bed. We enjoyed our time with Kylie and Steven and wish it could have been longer.

Happy Birthday, Precious Girl!!

Things I've Done...

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you HAVE done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (Texas) lol
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Family Reunion

This past weekend we had the annual Rainey Family Reunion. There are only 3 of A. C. and Beulah's (my grandparents) children left.


We always have a good time visiting and sharing memories. Except this year wasn't so much fun because Kylie and Steven (and others) didn't get to come. :(
The younger ones always get up a game of football or the little ones enjoy rolling down the big hill. The food is always soooo good.















Then for fun and to raise money to pay rent on the building or buy the paper products, etc for the next year we have an auction of homemade (and sometimes not homemade) items. My brother is a big cut up and he entertains with his auctioneering.



Until next year. . .