The Lord provided the perfect weather for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day here in Texas.  It was a beautiful, quite cool day.  We have had more fall colors this year than I remember in a long time.  I don't know if it was the drought, the latter rains, or both that gave us all these reds, oranges, and yellows, but whatever it was, this Autumn has been wonderful!

The first picture is an area on the way from Dannye's to Mama's.  I had to try to catch the beauty, even though I am NOT a photographer, and I had Dannye's two dogs in the car with me.  (We are dog-sitting while Dan is in Florida with Pam and Will.)  I always think of Emily when I see these beautiful trees.  That is one thing she longed for while she was here - Fall colors.  We don't have near the colors I've seen in places like Vermont, Colorado, and other northern places, but this year they are amazing.

This is a pasture near our home.  These colorful red trees are just scattered around in the pasture, with more green and yellow trees around the edges.  The pictures don't do it justice, but I just wanted to show a little glimpse of my drive to and from work each day.

Same pasture, just a little further up the road.  The sun was setting, and really glowing across the field.  Again, not great photography - just an attempt to show a beautiful piece of God's creation.

The night before Thanksgiving I was up until 3:00 a.m. baking for the next day!  I really enjoyed it, though.  It was all quiet in the house except for my favorite HGTV programs playing quietly in the den while I chopped, blended, and baked in the kitchen.  It was great!

Thursday morning, I was able to sleep in because our dinner was scheduled for 7:00 that night due to Kenny's work hours.  I really thought I would take loads of photos as the day went on, but got so busy that I really didn't have time.  Bill was working outside all day, and with my main photographer in Florida, no photos of prep time.

Karla (and family) came around noon, and the work began.  Karla is the turkey/dressing part of this Thanksgiving team, and she got it prepared and into the roaster while I got Mama and Daddy settled.  We needed snack-y foods since dinner was going to be so late, so we got all that ready, too.  One thing I have been doing since I have been "forced" to be in charge of Thanksgiving is more decorating and actually setting a pretty table.  I have been collecting harvest/Thanksgiving decorations over the years, and Mama has as well.  It was nice to have such a collection to choose from! 

After all the food preparations were well in hand, I went to shower and change while Amy and Karla decorated the table.  My goal for the last two years has been to have the whole family at one table.  At Mama's, that isn't possible with her kitchen setup, so we have moved out her small round table, set up two folding tables pushed together and covered as one.  These tables are also moved up against the bar for a bit more room.  Anyway, Amy and Karla did a beautiful job with all the stuff we had available. 

 
I found this beautiful votive holder this year and bought it for Mama. 

Table runners, glitter covered leaves, bronze napkin rings, orange tapers, and more pretties!

Mama and Daddy seated first. 

Here's the whole bunch of us except Bill, who is taking the picture.  Michael was watching the Texas vs. Texas A&M game while we all got settled and served our food. 

The place cards had bits of information about the first Thanksgiving with a question to answer about your own thankfulness.  We went around the table and answered our questions and talked about many things the cards brought to mind. 

I love getting Mama and Daddy talking about the things these questions prod from their minds.  It can be so difficult since Daddy can't hear well and really doesn't have a good attention span anymore, so often interrupts when others are speaking.  Mama simply can't get her words out well - sometimes not at all!  But it is so good to hear what is in their minds and on their hearts. 

I also love hearing from Kenny and Missy.  They are both talkers, but they mostly talk about happenings, not feelings.  Missy talks about animals, riding her horse, her computer, and events in her life, while Kenny, if he talks at all, usually speaks of his work at Wal-Mart, the games he's playing on his computer, or the latest book he is reading.  We hear about their feelings once a year when Nonnie forces it out of them at Thanksgiving!  They are so sweet about it, and really try to participate.  It's nice to know what goes on in their hearts!

Karla is another surprise when sharing.  Karla is a chatterer like most Allens, but again, her conversations are usually about events in her life, not about her feelings.  When she shares, though, I am always touched by what she says.  This year I was reminded that my sister in law has spent 21 years miles away from her family to be here with her husband and his family; that she has now lost her Daddy, whom she loved and admired so much and that she feels his loss deeply as we pass through these holidays.

Michael, Amy, Dave, Bill and I also shared answers to our questions, and it was really nice to slow down a minute to truly reflect on the reason for this holiday, and the One to whom we owe such a great debt of gratitude!  Indeed, we have so very much to be thankful for!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and made lots of memories to treasure in your hearts.  I told Daddy and Mama that I am truly thankful for this time with them, and I can honestly say I wouldn't have it any other way!

God bless your day!

A couple of weekends ago we attended the Annual Herzog Harvest Festival.  The Herzogs are dear friends of ours.  We raised our children together, went to church together, home educated together, and simply had a blast together.  The Harvest Festival is the brainstorm of their eldest son and his precious wife.  The invite anyone & everyone to come, bring a pot of chili and a pie for the Pie Contest, and enjoy a time of fellowship.  There is always a bonfire, hay bales for jumping and playing on, a nice dirt pile for the kids to play in, and a hayride.  This year I didn't get to stay long, but Bill and Dan stayed a good while and got some nice pictures.  Oh, and Dannye Reigh got 2nd place for her Blueberry-Cherry Pie!

Our precious host family, Stephen and Christina with their youngest daughter, Elaina.  They have 5 children aged 4 down to 6 months or so (the youngest is a son, James).  This is the first year they have not announced a pregnancy in the 6 years they have held the Festival!

Our dear friends Jesse, Melody, Katie (my Kakie), and Bethany.  Mel and Kate have been Dannye and Pamela's best friends for more than half their lives!

 
My very precious friend, Terri.  She is the mom of the kids pictured above.  There are 8 kids in this family, but Dannye never caught them all together at the same time!

Mel and her lovey, Conrad

Josh and his family - another dear, long time friend of our family.

 
My wonderful nephew, Michael.  I don't know where his wife is - they are rarely apart if they don't have to be!

My lovey - Bill

And yours truly - with my mouth open as usual!

This is the only picture I found with Dannye in it - she is so beautiful!

 Our dear, dear friends, George and Nancy Herzog.  They have been more than just friends to our family - they are our mentors!  We are so blessed to have them in our lives!   

Well, I will have other pics to show soon.  We just received photos from a second photographer at Pamela's wedding, and some of the pics are just too precious to keep to ourselves! 

God bless your day!

Well, another Monday has begun, and I'm just as tired as I was last Monday.  It's my fault completely, though.  Last night I just didn't feel like going to bed.  I stayed up and watched 3 movies until close to 2:00 a.m. (Two were on at the same time, and since I'd seen both before, I just flipped back and forth during commercials.)  Don't tell me how dumb I am - I know, I know!  Oh, and Bill told me that when I came to bed, so I REALLY know I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.  He did say he understood, though, when I told him I just didn't feel like getting up out of the chair and getting ready for bed.  I don't do that often anymore, but I used to more than just occasionally! 

Yesterday was a wonderful day at church.  Dan and I sang a beautiful song called "My Heart is Filled With Thankfulness", written by Keith Getty.  One of our dear friends announced their daughter's engagement, and the couple, joined by their siblings, sang a wonderful song before Pastor's sermon.  And he really preached it, too!  I was convicted and blessed by turn!

When Dannye and I were preparing to sing for church, I emailed the young lady referred to above (Tara) and asked if she could play for us.  I knew her fella was going to be in town - even suspected the special occasion for which he was here - so I wasn't sure Tara would be able to fit us in.  I didn't hear from her all week, but the song is fairly simple, so I hoped she could just pick it up and play it. 

When she got to church sporting a beautiful new engagement ring, I figured she would be too "la-la" to play for us, but she agreed to help us out.  We went to the piano to practice before church, and she suddenly asked, "Would you let my future father-in-law play it for you?  He's the best pianist in the world!"  (You'd have to know our precious Tara to understand how she can make even mopping the floor sound like the most exciting, pleasurable event in one's day, so I was a little nervous about agreeing, but I did.)  Tara was close to right though - Mr. C was AMAZING!!!!!  Evidently he is a music minister.  He helped our choir during afternoon practice for our Christmas special, and he also arranged the beautiful song his three sons sang at the end of the morning service.  He truly is gifted, and Tara is going to have a blast learning from him, as she is greatly gifted herself!

After morning worship, lunch, and choir practice, the Petty family left in two cars since I needed to get home while Bill and Dannye went to do a photo shoot of my sister's grandkids.  It went so well for them, and I can't wait to show you some of the pics.

Mama and Daddy were well when I got home.  Mama has really been tired lately, and I'm not sure what to do about that.  We are in the process of buying a "Sit and Be Fit" DVD to try to build her up some.  I hope she will cooperate, and that it will help her.  She was enjoying Molly when I came in yesterday.  She sure loves that dog!

 Dad had been watching football all day.  He roots for the Texans and Colts to win, and for the Cowboys to lose.  The Texans have a bye week, but the Colts won and the Cowboys lost, so he went to bed happy! 

I'm a little sad today.  My sweet hubby is heading to the deer lease with his Cuz some time today.  He may even be gone when I get home from work.  I'm trying not to let it get me down.  He really enjoys doing things with Mike, and they will be at the deer lease alone most of the week.  Mike & Bill will both be shooting: Mike with his gun, and Bill with his Nikon. Both of them will have a wonderful respite,  but I will miss Bill profoundly.  I may have to pull out my Scarlett O'Hara attitude, and "...think about it tomorrow."  That way I can just miss him one day at a time, and not think about the whole week without him!

I'm ready to go home now, so I will post this and shut down my computer for the afternoon.  I hope you all have a good one!

God bless your day!