3 Sweetest Words a Parent Can Hear 

Christmas is approaching, Black Friday is here, Cyber Monday is coming and our minds are in a tizzy.  “What can I get ______ for Christmas”?  We ask and get the answer “Whatever you want to get me will be fine”.  Not much help to this parent and grandparent.  Please give suggestions AND sizes.  

However, I have some suggestions for the children and grandchildren of many parents, including me.  But you know suggestions can be taken or left behind, you choose. I do wish my bunch would at least read this.  

The 3 words we want to hear are “I love you” either by text, phone, message or in a card. This is the BEST present we can ever be given not only at Christmas but all during the year for you are very important to us.  Remember, we raised you and you are special.  Calling on a holiday is very much appreciated and loved.  It’s also FREE and takes just a little bit of  effort but is beyond measure to our ears and heart.  Try it, you will like it for we will return the message with all our heart. 

Gifts are great but think about it - we have more than we need or want and  are wondering how do I get rid of some of this “stuff”?  Many of us are downsizing or in my case, if it has to be dusted, it is going in a box or Goodwill.  Dusting “stuff” is not my thing!  Instead of giving us something, try taking something you would like to have to your house. I would rather give it to you now than when I die and you are wondering what can I do with all this stuff?  

That china, silver, crystal, linens, or other stuff that sits in a cabinet or drawer should be used now.  Many of us are overloaded with things we inherited or collected but never use.  I have found that “chinet” makes a good plate, bowl and salad plate that does not have to be washed and I can sit with all of you and enjoy the day and not be in the kitchen washing dishes.  At my age, I would rather be with you than cleaning and washing dishes.  

Ask your parents if you can have some of that stuff that is sitting in a cabinet and not being used.  More than likely will help you pack it and take it to your car and heave a sigh of relief.  Parents, why not put some of that “stuff” out on a table and ask your children to take some of it home.  It will be either now or after you are gone and they have to do something with it and are overwhelmed.  

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord and should not be a time of getting and giving stuff.  A meal together where everyone contributes a dish or 2 or eating out at a favorite restaurant can be the beginning of a new tradition.  Why not barbecue rather than turkey and dressing?  Tradition is different for each family so establish your own.  

If cleaning the house for weeks, polishing silver, washing the fine china and crystal, laundering the linens, and buying expensive gifts is what your family likes, go for it.  But if you want to simplify that is OK also.  It is your family and what they like. 

My family is scattered all over the United States and have been for many years and I do not get bent out of shape when they don’t all come for holidays.  That phone call with the words “Hi mama, or Mawmaw, I love you” is the best gift I can get.  It is priceless and does not have to be dusted.  (Can you tell I don’t like to dust?) I love for them to come but if they can’t, just let me know you love me and facetime, phone call, or video messaging are almost as good. Life is so different now with many families scattered everywhere so our traditions have to be different.  

Think about what you can give of yourself, not what you can buy.  A meal from a favorite restaurant, a cleaning service for a day, pictures of the family in print, donation to a favorite charity or the church, a vacation to the beach, pictures the children have drawn for their grandparents, a day of fishing at the lake or pond, and the list goes on and on.  It is not how much it costs but how much heart is included.  

I love each of my children, grandchildren, great- grands, brother, and all our extended family and all I want for Christmas is your love and a message telling me.  Give my gift to the children and just love me.  

Take it or leave it, these are my thoughts today and I wish each of you a blessed Christmas.  Let us all celebrate the birth of our Savior and not the giving of stuff.  Love ya’ll

Just me  

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

Nativity Scene in a Carmelite Convent in Israel 

Merry CHRISTmas, Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays and other expressions are used during this time when we are celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Many people have not a clue what Christians are celebrating during this time of the year but could know if they would believe that this child was the Son of God.  

This scripture tells us: Luke 2  11” Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Hallelujahs should be echoing throughout the entire world as we praise God the Father for loving us so much He put a plan in action at the beginning of time to redeem us from our sins and give us eternal life with Him but also to give us a life full of His love here on earth. 

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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” gives us the reason for this season.  God’s great love for us and his desire to have a personal relationship with each of us.  A relationship which begins the minute we accept Jesus as our Saviour and Lord of our life and  lasts for eternity.  

His birth was overshadowed by the cross for He came into this world knowing that he would die a horrible death on the cross to complete the plan.  He willingly gave up his throne in heaven for a time to pay debt for my sins and yours.  This great love cannot be comprehended by us on this side of heaven but as we walk each day with our Lord, read His words, commune with Him through prayer and sit at His feet and listen to Him, we grow to be more like Him.  

As His daughter, I am blessed beyond measure for I know that for now and eternity I will be His child. This is why I say “Merry CHRISTmas” and celebrate this season with joy.  Will you join me?  Read John 3:16 again and believe that He died for you, acknowledge Him as the Son of God, repent of your sins, pray for forgiveness.  Ask Him to become Lord of your life and you will have a new life.  Pray to God the Father and tell Him of your decision. Email me if you want more information or talk to a Christian friend or a minister of God. 

Merry Christmas and may God bless you 

Golgotha 

What Can I Give Jesus This Christmas?

John 3:16

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.

The word “Christmas” begins with "Christ": the virgin-born Christ child, our Savior. This baby, born in the little town of Bethlehem. was not merely a beloved baby born of Mary, but the only Son of God. By God’s immeasurable grace, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born into this world as a baby yet He never ceased to be God.

Dr. Billy Graham in a devotional thought said: “Jesus Christ in His infinite love did not begin when He was born in a stable and laid in a manger; He left Heaven’s best to come to this world to be the Savior of mankind. He was offered as a free gift. God’s gift to the world was despised and rejected 2,000 years ago.” He came freely knowing that He would suffer persecution and ultimately death on the cross.

In the life of every person who has rejected Him since that time, there has been and will be, an emptiness that cannot be filled with anything this world has to offer. Only when we accept the free gift of eternal life through Christ can we know the true meaning of Christmas, the forgiveness of sin, and life everlasting. Those that don't know Jesus as Savior can only celebrate a holiday made frantic with gift buying, decorating the house, partying, and trying to fill the emptiness in their lives with more “stuff”.

What do you ask a child this time of year? “What is Santa going to bring you?” “Have you told Santa what you want for Christmas?” Then after Christmas the question is, “What did you get for Christmas?” We ask our spouses, “What do you want for Christmas?” or try to find something they don’t already have or want. After the big day we often put these gifts up never to use them or return them for some other stuff we think we want. The questions seem to follow the theme of “What do you want?”

Lists are made, remade, revised and we run around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to buy everything we think everyone wants. Too much food is cooked, eaten and thrown away. Travel is a madhouse as we travel to shop, visit family and friends, or try to find an escape from it all.

Why do we do all this buying more stuff, cook and eat too much, travel to far places? What are we giving that will last and be meaningful in the future?

What do we give Jesus who gave His all? He gave up his heavenly home to come to earth, his throne to live as a carpenter and wandering teacher, left His father who loved him dearly to be persecuted, despised, beaten and crucified. Did not have a home to call his own, possessed one robe, and depended on the graciousness of friends to have a place to sleep.

God gave His all for us. By giving Him our all this Christmas, we will be giving Him all he desires from us. He wants our love, obedience and fellowship. He created us to be His children to honor and praise Him and he pursues us and never gives up that we will accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

How can we give our all? One way is to give His message to all around us so that they can receive the Gift of God – salvation. Our church gives us wonderful opportunities to give to others for Jesus told us that to give to others is like giving to Him if we do it in His name for His glory, not ours.

What have we given this Christmas to God? Have we shared with those who have less than we do? Do we remember those who are grieving, sick, lonely or depressed? It is not too late and remember that the spirit of sharing and giving doesn’t end on December 25.

Have a blessed and giving Christmas.

Pictures are from 1st Baptist Church Adel, GA

Christmas is For Children

 Good evening and come in the house out of the "blustery" wind, as Pooh would say.  It has been awhile since I wrote but I was on a "hiatus" as I read on another blog but that is just a fancy word for lazy, too busy, nothing to say, tired, or procrastinator - just take you pick or choose all.  I was a tad busy, tired, nothing to say, and procrastinated about sitting down and writing.  I plan to be back on a regular schedule for I have several good recipes and some crafting to share with you.  So come on in and let me brag about our great-grandchildren and introduce you to our new family member.

The new member is the cat above or rather the kitten. She is a stray which appeared at our son's house several weeks ago and they have several so we decided we could add another cat to our household.  Our other cat, Bumper, is about 15 years old and is getting quite feeble, losing his eyesight and we know he won't be with us too much longer. This was our excuse for adopting "Sweets."

Another reason we like her so much is that our first cat was a beautiful gray cat who lived for many years but had to be put to sleep a couple of years ago.  We have become "cat people" and didn't want Bumper to be alone and we didn't want a time when we didn't have one so Sweets is now our new family member.

She adopted this shoebox when I put it on the floor and likes to sit in it and sometimes sleep in it.  At night, she sleeps at the foot of our bed on my feet and gets a little perturbed when I move her.  The funny thing is that  when she gets out our bigger cat gets in and folds himself into a pretzel to lie down in it.  I put another box next to it but this one seems to be the favorite.



In this picture she is watching TV and will sit and wait for us to turn it on.  Not sure what she thinks she is seeing but she likes to watch whatever it is.  Kinda strange to see a kitten sitting in front of the TV.

Our Christmas was very special this year for we had our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with us.  Of course the great-grands were the most fun and made it extra special.

This is Josie, the youngest member of our family.  Here she is dressed to match the toy for she is very fashion conscious and has to pick out her clothes and bows and prefers dresses and BIG bows. As her mother said, in Texas they like big hair but Josie prefers big bows.  Give her a tutu and she is in heaven and loves to twirl and dance with it on.  Of course her MawMaw -me - has made her several.  Going to be interesting when she gets to be a teenager.

This is our big boy, Noah.  He likes to play a caped avenger and this is the super cape I made from the back of a t shirt.  It is a super easy project and I will post it for you sometimes but basically it is the back of the shirt with the neckline left on to slip over the head.  Noah thought it was just right and enjoyed the super powers it gave him.

She is pretty even with a dirty face for who could resist those great big blue eyes and those tousled curls.  The biggest problem with the curls is that she hates to have her hair washed. To voice her objection, she has learned to be a real "Southern Belle" for she can throw a magnificent "hissy fit" which is necessary if you are to get your way.

She even likes to dress up to play on the trailer.

This shirt says it all for sometimes she can worry her older brother but he loves her "all the world's full" as he is illustrating.

Mawmaw's muffins were good down to the dough.

Give a toddler a pile of dirt and they can play for hours.

Noah was King of Hill but Josie was surely the princess in waiting to get up there and take it away from him.

The wide-eyed wonder of a three year old.

They did share the hot tub with their parents and had a ball in the "swimming pool."

Trying to catch a big fish.

Josie and her new stove - thanks to Nana and G Paw

Noah and his new wheels also thanks to grandparents. 

As you can see we had had great time with our family and especially the children for they make the holidays fun and memorable. 

I sure hate they live in Colorado for I miss them.  Family is so wonderful!!

Be careful going home and come back to see me.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Deer in Headlights

Good morning, ya'll and come on in the house for a hot cup of coffee and sit a spell. It is cold outside but above freezing so I can deal with that. As you know I dislike cold weather except for the fact the peach trees need a certain number of cold days to have good peaches. I think they may have reached that number so we can go back to South GA warm weather so I can come out of hibernation.

It has been so cold we had to pick our grapefruit and some of the oranges early but I squeezed some for juice, added splenda and it is really good. We have the red grapefruit and the juice orange and mixed together it is delicious. I enjoy having our own citrus for the first time and we plan to plant some more. Our lemon tree had about a dozen lemons and they were so pretty and full of juice. Living in the south definitely has big perks.

I guess you can tell from the picture I have something to say about deer in headlights so here goes. Christmas shopping was completed on Friday of last week and it was fun to watch the men trying to please wives, girlfriends and other females in their lives. It reminded me of deer caught in headlights and being struck helpless.

Bath and Body was a madhouse as women, men, teens and various and sundry other people searched for just the right scent to buy. I solved my problem by stepping outside the store, calling our daughter and asking. Now she knows what she is getting but it solved the problem of the wrong scent and she won't have to swap it. After all we all have our favorites and nothing else will do.

As I was standing in front of the one I wanted a bewildered and totally clueless young man came to stand by me. He was searching the shelves with his glazed eyes and a nice young lady who works in the store asked him if he needed help. He looked like he had been handed a reprieve from being hit by a semi and said YES. He sounded so relieved I felt plumb sorry for him.

He said he needed midnight something. Of course the clerk knew exactly what he wanted and said shower gel, body lotion or perfume. Whoa Nellie, here came the headlights again for he had no idea what any of that would be and the clerk took pity and suggested the body lotion for every woman needs that. Again came the sigh of relief and the eyes returned to normal as he took the bottle in his sweating hands until he saw the price and then the glaze returned and I thought he was going to faint. I am sure he had no idea what we women pay to be soft and smell good.

Taking the bottle to the cashier and blinking a couple of times, he pulled out his wallet and paid for the bottle and when asked if he wanted to be put on the mailing list looked like he had been hit by the truck and bolted from the store. Bless his heart, he was being a good boy friend but this was beyond his experiences in life.

As I looked around the store, I saw other husbands, boy friends, sons and fathers trying to look comfortable and cool but failing miserably. Their female companions would spray a little of something on their wrist, shove it under their nose and say what about this? You could see that glazed look of the deer come into their eyes and hear them want to say, "Who cares? Can I escape now?" They would patiently zone out into their masculine world and try to look interested but looking like the deer about to be run over by the truck. Bless their hearts.

The Hallmark store was not much better but men seemed a little more comfortable picking out a card for their lovely damsel. The territory was a little more familiar to them but still a little daunting and when men are "daunted", they tend to become all hands and feet and clumsy so you have to watch out for them. One man stood there for about 20 minutes trying to find a card for some woman in his life and I selected 5 cards while he was still reading every card in that section and I left him standing there as I left.

You could almost hear his thoughts: "Should I go mushy and sound like an idiot or should I go funny and be put out of the house or maybe go big and have music when she opens it and score some extra points?" I am pretty sure he read every card in the wife section before he chose one and I sure hope he got a good one or the truck with lights is going to get him.

I don't have to worry for my sweet husband always selects wonderful cards which say exactly what his heart feels and what I want to hear. This is talent beyond price for any man for a card can either break or make a relationship so you men get some help if you need it or cultivate the talent of card selection.

Victoria's Secret is always a hoot for most of the men just stand outside the door and admire the display while their wives are shopping for just the right underthings. Can't you just read their minds as they look at the display: "I hope she gets that red one with just a little wisp of nothing" or "Boy the black one is cool" or maybe he is thinking "Why can't she look like that in that little bitty string of lace?" Man you better keep these thoughts to yourself and play like she looks just like that winged, fake lady in the window or you will not only look like a deer caught in headlights but be one.

Shopping for most men is a bewildering experience and I feel sorry for them and always try to help if I can. Ladies just tell you husbands what you want - color and size, buy it yourself and wrap it and put it under the tree, leave enough hints they can't get it wrong or be joyful with whatever they choose. Leaving broad hints is the method I use or when he asks what I want I tell him.

Now ya'll have a Merry Christmas, and yes I said CHRISTmas, please help out your man before the truck lights become the truck and runs right on over him.

Thought you might like my favorite barbecue sauce for meatballs and cocktail sausage or eat like soup :)


Cranberry-barbeque Sauce for Meatballs or Cocktail Sausage
Ingredients
1 16-ounce can whole cranberries, cranberry sauce
1 cup  barbecue sauce
1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
½ cup dried cranberries

Directions
1. In a blender combine cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce.
2. Pulse until blended but cranberries are still slightly chunky
3. Cover and cook in crock post on low-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours.
4. Serve with your favorite meatballs or cocktail sausage
5. Options: Add red pepper flakes to taste

Be careful going home and stay warm.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Christmas

Front Yard Pond

Good evening on a cold January day from South Georgia. I'm about to make a pot of coffee, put a fire in the fireplace, finish watching the Cotton Bowl and probably take a nap. If you would like come on by and take a nap with us. The picture above is our front yard pond and this is the view from my desk where I write my blog. It is beautiful with the sun glinting off the ripples. I enjoy the beauty that God so graciously blesses us with each day and I plan to enjoy the fish we are putting in it soon. Fried bream, hushpuppies and slaw is a meal fit for a Georgia Peach and her man.

As you know, we spent Christmas in Camden at the home place and I did not have time to put up a Christmas tree so this was our substitute. There are several great, big cedar trees growing in the woods by the yard and these are some branches I cut and put in a pretty pitcher. The nandina berries are from the front yard and added a touch of color to a rustic, country, Christmas arrangement. Because we were all adults, it didn't really matter we didn't have a traditional tree and this lovely arrangement did just fine. I love the smell of cedar and miss it over here in South Georgia for there are not many around here. Maybe I will transplant one from Alabama and see if it will grow in this South Georgia sand.


Our Christmas celebration was rather a lazy affair this year with our children, grandson and granddog. As you can see from the picture of Precious, we relaxed a lot. She had found some of my yellow yarn and played until she was just plumb worn out. This is what you call "total relaxation."
Of course Roy had his book, which he always has and read at least one book while we were home. When I married this man he had read very few books ,if any, and only those assigned in school. If he could find the illustrated comic book of the assignment he read that. After we were married a few years and I always have 1 or more books to read, he kinda got the habit and now he is like me - if you have only one book left to read you panic and go buy some more or go to the library. Don't tell me you can't teach an old dog new tricks although he wasn't that old when we got married.

I spent a good bit of time crocheting an afghan. I took the granny squares Mama had crocheted years ago and all the yarn I found in the house and put it all together for a most colorful afghan. The blocks are in the center and I just crocheted borders around them using several kinds of stitches. I used single and double crochet, some half-double crochet and whatever other stitch I felt like as I went along. It turned out pretty well and that is the one behind Roy's back on the chair.

We came home on Tuesday and we go through a small town called Brundidge, AL. It is right below Troy and this is a building they have redone and use it for a little theater, I think. The windows have been painted to look like drapes and scenes you would find in a home. It has always fascinated me for it is on a corner and if you have to stop for the traffic light you can look at it. I like the name too for "We Piddle Around" just fits Roy and me these days. You would almost swear those are real drapes but take my word for it, they are painted on the window.

Down the road again is our theme song these days and this was a lovely stretch of road between Greenville, AL and Troy, Al and was perfect for me to try out my camera. Even in the winter the South is beautiful and we love it.

That's about it for today and the coffee is ready and the chili is waiting to be warmed up. We had chili and fried cornbread for lupper (lunch and supper) and it sure was good. It will also be good tomorrow for lunch after church.

Ya'll have a good afternoon and come back to see us sometimes.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

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Lakepoint Lodge - Eufaula AL

Good morning, come on in to the "Net Porch and have a cup of coffee. It is not cold, cold outside but cold and damp which makes it most uncomfortable. Where is my sunshine and warm weather? Maybe the picture above will give you a clue. This is the lodge at Alabama Lakepoint state park and they were putting up the Christmas tree. It was not quite December but almost and this means cold will now enter my life for a season.

The cold makes my joints ache and my feet cold but it is necessary for the peach trees to have peaches. This is my favorite fruit and we live in peach country down here in South Georgia but the trees have to have so many "cold hours" for the trees to have fruit. If we have too much warm weather they will bloom too early and the crop will be light meaning higher prices and not many peaches. This would be a shame for I do love those fresh from the tree, juice dripping, ripe peaches. If cold is needed for me to have this, then let it be cold for a few days.

We are entering a new season of Christmases for us. This will be the first Christmas in our lifetimes we have not had at least one parent with us to celebrate Christmas. Last year my daddy was still with us but he went Home to his Heavenly Father in June to spend the remainder of his eternity with the saints who have gone before. It will not be a mournful time for us because we know all our parents are with the Lord and we will celebrate the wonderful memories they gave us at holiday times.

This now means that Roy and I are the oldest living members of our immediate families and are supposed to be the wise ones. It is a new season in our lives and because our lives are marked by the Seasons of Life, we welcome it and the joys and responsibilities of being the patriarch and matriarch of our families. So listen up family, we are the Wise Ones and now you can break out in laughter. We will do our best to be the wisdom of the group but hang in there for this is a new era for us.

Part of our family will be celebrating Christmas in the home where my family grew up in Camden, Alabama. The home place is still there and is pretty much like mama and daddy left it. Now don't you young ones get the idea I am going to decorate everything with a flat surface or hang something on it if it stands still for five minutes like mama did. She decorated EVERYTHING with red, green, gold and silver and the whole house would look like Christmas.

When we were children the tree would be a cedar tree cut from a friend's farm and be about 10 feet tall. It would have to have some of it cut off to fit in the house but it had to touch the ceiling or we weren't satisfied. The limbs would be loaded with decorations we had bought or made for mama kept all of our hand-made ornaments and hung them each year and the tackiness didn't matter. She and daddy took a lot of pride in their children's "artistic" abilities. We would always look for the ones we had made and point them out to each other.

The smells of cedar and fruitcake would fill the house along with all the cookies, cakes and pies baked by mama. If we could have bottled those wonderful aromas and kept them to open each year about this time it would be great but we have those memories and the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg can recreate them in our minds in a flash. Mama would bake for weeks on end getting ready for Christmas parties and gifts of homemade goodies for friends. I don't think I ever went in that house until mama got sick that there were not some homemade goodies to eat. She was a fantastic cook and loved to do it.

My niece the other day said now that she had her tree up it smelled like Christmas. Now I have gone the artificial tree route but I always bring in some fresh pine boughs to get that wonderful aroma of Christmas. There is no spray, candle or potpourri that smells as good as a cedar, spruce or pine branches or trees. We don't have much cedar over here in South Georgia so I have to use pine and that reminds me I need to go outside to the woods and cut some.

Yes, Christmas will be different this year for the house is empty most of the time but it sits ready for us to walk in and begin our new era of life. I will put up some of mama's decorations, bake some cookies or a cake to smell up the house with goodness and cut some greenery to add the fresh smell of pine. The big tree will not be put up but a small one will stand on a table top and the hustle and bustle of our family will not be as loud but if we stand still and listen we may be able to hear mama and daddy laughing up in heaven for those two enjoyed Christmas.

New seasons in our lives are interesting and I look forward to each day left to us. The Bible tells us that our days are numbered and in those days are seasons from birth to death and now we are in a new one. The challenges are many as we cope with "old age" but the joys far outnumber the challenges. We have each other, the children, the grandchildren, the great grandchild and one on the way to enjoy. Then there is our marvelous extended families which will be increasing by 2 in the coming year and maybe more, you just can't ever tell.

Love is abundant in our family and our memories we have made and those we will make are full of love for each other and that is what Christmas is all about. We also have a passionate love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we anticipate celebrating His arrival here on earth for a time. So, family and friends, look with anticipation to a season of music, worship and fellowship with family and friends and may your memories be sweet and your love abound to each other

Nuff said

The Georgia Peach

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