Thanksgiving in the Country

Wow, what a weekend! I think I am going to need this whole week to get my house back in order. Does anyone else feel that way after Thanksgiving? Joking aside, I think this is one of my favorite holidays because it is centered around family and thankfulness. For Thanksgiving we have combination of relatives from mine and John's family. Many times we also have a few friends in the mix. Usually me or my mom cooks the turkey and dressing and everyone else brings a dish or two of their own. Would you believe that even though it is not coordinated, we have never had two people bring the same dish? This year my aunt brought the turkey and my mom made the dressing. (I didn't know what to do with myself.) I just love the casual atmosphere of our gathering. There is nothing like country living!

Thanksgiving in the country always includes...



...lots of family in the kitchen.



...plenty of food!



...a mandolin?



...a banjo?



...lots of beautiful music!



...cowgirl boots.



...and some very happy listeners.



And after the crowd leaves and the men head out to the deer stands, I spend a little time getting started on my Christmas decorating.

I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with as much love, food, and entertainment as mine. Now, lets all get ready for Christmas!

Days of Thankfulness!

I just wanted to take a moment to explain to everyone why I have dropped the ball, so to speak, on my days of thankfulness. It seems that over the weekend I was so busy enjoying the people that I am thankful for so much that I didn't have time to blog at all. My youngest daughter celebrated her 13th birthday with a bonfire party Saturday and My mom celebrated her birthday with a dinner at my house last night. All of that combined with getting the house ready for about twenty guests tomorrow has my head all a spin. I did want to take a moment to say how thankful I am for all of my new blogging friends. I feel so blessed to have friends from all over the world with whom I have so much in common. Many of you have come to feel like family to me. I have even received my first gift (a giveaway prize) from a fellow blogger (thanks Den). I would share pictures of my goodies, but my camera card is full. I have to run out tonight to get another. I'll post soon about how I used all of my Christmas goodies from Denise. In the mean time, hop on over to her blog and check it out. You will be glad that you did.

I would like to wish all of my wonderful blogging friends a very happy, and blessed Thanksgiving! In His Love, Carla

Thank God for Beautiful Music

Today, as I was thinking of all of the things that I am thankful for, music came to my mind. I am thankful for the blessing of music in my home. John and I both have a love for music, although our tastes sometimes differs. This love has been instilled into both of our girls, who have their own musical preferences. Thankfully, we all accept each other's opinions and tastes and enjoy many different melodies in our home.



Although Carson takes lessons in bluegrass, she prefers country.



Catie prefers to play the piano and enjoys more alternative styles of music.



Even though she enjoys the alternative style, she does manage to play a few classical tunes for her mom.



John loves all kinds of music, but the tunes he loves the best are the ones that Catie and Carson play for him.

I can't imagine a single day without some kind of music drifting through the air in our home. Do you enjoy playing music in your home, or do you prefer quietness?

Thank God For My Mom and Dad

During this week of thankfulness I must stop to thank God for my wonderful parents. Growing up we did not have a lot of money, however, we had enough love to last throughout eternity. My mom and dad have always been my biggest supporters in all that I have done. My mom always looks for the best in others and never says an unkind word about anyone. My dad is the quiet type who is always the first to lend a hand when someone is in need. I am fortunate to live close enough to spend a lot of time with them. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with such great examples.



They are still a cute couple, don't you think?

Thankful for The Creator and His Creation

As the next few days pass by and I take the time to think about all of the things that I am thankful for, I can't let another moment pass without thanking my God, my Lord and Savior, the Creator of all things. Without him there would be no reason to be thankful. His creation alone should produce a heart full of thankfulness. I am especially grateful for His precious son who died for my sins.



I try not to let a single day pass without taking in the beauty of His creation.



I see Him in the beautiful fall colors...



...and in the reflection of the still waters...



...and in the beauty of the skies...



...especially the beauty of the skies.

For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the love, which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Over and around us lies
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise!

Thankfulness

As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, I find myself becoming increasingly busy readying my house for the friends and family that will be coming over to celebrate. I have created a master list with many chores that need to be completed in order for my house to be ready to host this much anticipated event.

It would be very easy to get all caught up in the many preparations and forget about why we celebrate this blessed day in the first place, so I've decided to make sure that doesn't happen. Between now and next Thursday I am going to post something that I am thankful for each day. It is my hope that this will serve as a reminder to me to slow down and remember to be thankful during this season.

Today I want to thank the Lord for giving me such a wonderful husband and two precious daughters to cherish in this life. I don't know what I would do without them. They give me so much joy each day. I am blessed!



Who are you thankful for today?

Blooming Friday.....Camellias and Tiny Loropetalum Blooms

I was looking at some of the blooming Friday posts and decided that it was time for me to participate. I took my camera out this morning and found several plants in my yard blooming, but nothing looked as beautiful as the fall blooming camellias. I added them to my landscape several years ago and have not been disappointed. I hope you enjoy the blooms.


This camellia is actually climbing the side of my house that is seen first from the drive.


Although it is full of buds, the only ones that are opened are hiding near the wall at the bottom of the plant. I guess they are shy.


See....no visible blooms yet!


I believe that this little bee was hiding from his friends.


Speaking of hiding....do you use plants in your landscape to hide unsightly things?


I just had to sneak in this picture of the loropetalum bloom. It is tiny, but beautiful.


Camellias are one of the South's best plants.


Don't you agree?

Hope you enjoyed the Friday blooms! Have a blessed weekend!

Proud Mama Moments

Those of you who have children know the feeling...the feeling that you get inside when your child does something special. That feeling that just grows and grows until you feel as though you are going to bust wide open. You know the one that I am talking about. Well, over the past few weeks I have had several of those moments.

My oldest daughter, Catie, received her first set of SAT scores. Wow!! She has worked so hard in her studies and is finally seeing the results of all of that hard work. I joked with her and said that she is definitely the perfect combination of me and her daddy....if you add both of our scores together, ours might be as good as hers. I am so proud of her accomplishments. Can you tell?

My youngest daughter, Carson, is the exact opposite of her sister. Although she is smart too, she only tolerates her lessons. She would much rather spend her time practicing her music. This weekend she was able to enjoy her moment to shine. She was invited to sing a thirty minute set of songs at our local fire department's annual BBQ.



Doesn't she look cute on stage?



I think one of the things that made the event so special was the support that her friends and family gave her....especially her big sister who was hiding behind the poster on the left. She got a group of friends together to make posters to support her little sister. Isn't that a moment that should make me proud?



Although Carson was battling a cold, nerves, and very cold temperatures, she performed like a star.



When she finished the set, I asked her if she was glad that it was over. She just grinned from ear to ear and said, "No, Mom, I'm ready to do it again."

I think what amazes me the most about my children is how incredibly unique they are. God has given them each very different personalities and talents. I pray every day that they will use these gifts to glorify Him. Although I am proud of their big accomplishments, it's the little things that make me swell with pride...the moments when I see them show the love of God to each other and those around them. Isn't that what really matters in the long run?

Feel free to hop on over to this proud mama's youtube channel to see some of the show!

Rainy Day

We are finally getting some much needed rain! It has been unusually hot and dry this fall here in North Carolina, so days like today are a welcome sight. The rain is also bringing in some cooler temperatures. I think our temperatures are supposed to stay in the fifties over the next few days.




It sounds like perfect weather for cleaning out some closets! What do you like to do on cool, rainy days???