Christmas has now come and gone. I have turned another year older and a new year approaches. Although thirty is quickly becoming blurred in the distance, I hope that the remainder of my thirties will be as exciting and memorable as the first few years. I honestly think that the best is yet to come. Therefore I am encouraged, excited and very hopeful about a new year.


It has been a blast seeing old friends and visiting with my family. I am pretty sure that I am a little more plump after eating all the good food, especially the homemade chocolate birthday cake that I have come to anticipate every year. This year I had three assistants to help me blow out my candles. I certainly hope they are still around if I live to see 90. Anyway, a little extra spit never hurt anyone. We are all family, right? It was fun watching the kids open their presents.
It was even more fun watching them have a blast digging in the dirt while a house full of new toys was only a few feet away. My favorite gift this year, besides being home, my Billy Joel's greatest hits CD. Look out Lionel, you have competition. We have now given my brother the "number one dad" title as he helped Laurel sew a pretty pink purse out of yarn and foam. Mom and dad thought it would be a great idea to buy the boys these huge (I mean huge) remote controlled trucks. I think the adults had more fun than the kids, but it scared Mason and he ran every time it cranked up. I had my trunk open getting something out of it which turned out to be a great hiding place from the "shruck".


My mom, dad, aunt and I began cleaning out my grandfather and grandmother's house. I was a little sad because it reinforced reality that both of my grandparents were gone. We laughed a lot though as we were reminded of great memories. It almost felt like an invasion of privacy as we went through every little piece of paper, box, bag, clothes, etc. I couldn't help but smile at all of the clippings. My grandmother clipped out everything from recipes, to home remedies, to advice columns. She jotted random notes down, prayer requests, dates, phone numbers and addresses. I found medical terms, definitions and abbreviations from where my grandmother was studying to be a nurse technician. We found old letters, hair nets...lots of hair nets, pantie hose and girdles. Clothes, jewelry, handkerchiefs, hats, blankets and the "purry" perfume. The latter was a little unexpected but made us all laugh. No I would not expect to find anything that my grandparents would have been ashamed of. They were both God fearing people who lived as wonderful examples of what a Christian should be. It did prompt a thought in my head. If I suddenly departed this earth and my family was left to rummage through my things would they learn something about me they never knew? Would they view my belongings as garbage or charitable donations? Would they know what things I cherished and valued? Would they find anything that would shock them? Would they keep anything or simply just throw it away? Something to think about, huh? Perhaps we should live life and keep our households in such order that if someone had to come behind us and clean out our houses after we die, we would not be ashamed of what they would find.



Met up with old roommates from PRCC and USM, along with other friends Monday night and had a great time catching up on old times. My friend Stephenie dropped by the house in Prentiss on her way to Hattiesburg and it was great to finally visit with her after several years. Headed to Montgomery to ring in the New Year with Seana. I will definitely be sure to eat my black eyed peas and cabbage...I wouldn't shun luck or money. Hope everyone has a great New Year. Don't forget to look for blessings and little miracles that occur every day around us!

"There's no place like home"

So, I have finished my assignment in Pinehurst, NC. As I pulled away from my condo early Saturday morning Lynard serenaded me with Sweet Home Alabama. I smiled hearing "carry me home to see my kin." I thought I would be a little more sad leaving but surprisingly I wasn't. The hardest part was leaving the great friends that I made while living there. I was fortunate to have worked with a great group of people, which made the assignment bearable.



My drive was uneventful, thank goodness. No, I didn't have the pleasure of viewing the inside of the Ruby Tuesday's fridge with about 30 other strangers as a tornado passed over our heads. I did laugh as I passed and saw the sign though. I stopped in Charlotte for a visit and brunch with my friend Amy. Next, it was Montgomery, AL to stay with my friend Seana. We had some Mexican food and then had fun crashing her brother's Christmas party. Okay, so we were invited. After going to church with Seana and her family, I continued south to Mobile. I went to my storage and unloaded all the things that I would not need. I think I heard my car give a sigh of relief when I removed the heavy stuff. I met up with my friend Wendy and we headed to the Bass Pro shop to get some final gifts. Okay, this store is huge and has a little bit of everything. It made me want to become an outdoor sportsman. I do have my eye on a kayak...of course then I will need a rack on my car. After leaving the madness we went to have some Thai food at one of our favorite restaurants and met up with our friend Jon. The next day was spent running errands, followed by lunch at Callahan's with Dewayne, Wendy, and Jon. I still say they make the best hamburgers.



I finally started my drive to Mississippi but not before stopping to visit with my friend, Heather in Hattiesburg. She was in town from Virginia with her family. It was nice to visit with her and meet her children. Finally, I arrived home and to good home cooking. I can't wait for the holidays and seeing more of my friends and family. Hard to believe I am about to turn another year older. Mom was right...the older you get, the faster it goes. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.

Pull Out the Ruby Reds and Start Clicking

Just as the geese that frequently woke me early in the morning as they hit the pond have flown further south for the winter, I will follow their lead and head south as well. The count down has begun. I have one week of work left and then I head home!! I have grown to enjoy my nice little condo on the golf course, although I never swung a club myself. My sidewalk is always swept and the lawn is cut with precision and well manicured. There is always an endless supply of men walking and driving their golf carts right along my balcony (granted some of them look one step away from a hip replacement). I have even helped a few of them locate their golf balls that were hit a little off course. I don't even get bothered any more when I get stuck behind a golf cart and I find it amusing that there are stop lights for golf cart crossing. Pretty much, this town is one big, or several, golf courses surrounded by homes. Yes, I will miss this place.

There is no doubt that God may have placed me here initially for one reason, but I am certain it was to help me discover a few things. I am reminded of two quotes. One says -Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. The other states -You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this. I can take the next thing that comes along."

So what's next. Of course I don't know. When have I ever had a solid plan? My hope is to find an assignment locally near my family and then find a permanent job near Mobile. Who knows where I will end up. One thing is for sure though...it will be the south!

For these things I am thankful...

I just returned from home and I can't wait to go back. It was wonderful seeing my family for Thanksgiving. When we are all there, it is total chaos and very noisy. You know how your ears ring after you leave a concert because it was so loud...that's how it was after all the kids left. I wouldn't have it any other way though. Our newest addition to the family, Cole Baby (as Mason referred to him), has grown so much since I last saw him 4 months ago. I tried my culinary skills and baked a new recipe, Pumpkin Rum Pie. Mom agreed to buy all of the ingredients except for the rum. It turned out pretty good with only two attempts needed to make Praline Pecans for the topping. My sister baked a pumpkin cheesecake pie and mom baked her ever famous pecan pie. We had our first official Richmond bake off. I think mom won by default since she is the head chef of our family.


My nephews had a blast helping me make a pie crust and a mini pumpkin pie. I let them play with the left over dough and it kept them entertained for hours. They rolled it out and used cookie cutters over and over again. They were especially proud of their very own pie. We all enjoyed wonderful food and fellowship. It was easy to remember that I had a lot to be thankful for. I got to visit with some old friends who were in town and even had a girl that I was on the dance team with in junior college sitting behind me on one of my flights. It is a small world indeed.

The count down has begun. Three weeks left to go. Although I went into this assignment not enjoying the job, I am leaving with a different opinion. I will miss my co-workers that I have grown to respect and now consider great friends. That is one thing about traveling that never gets old...meeting new people. I hate that I started tennis and guitar lessons so late in this assignment. I am having a blast doing both and I am reminded of all the things that I truly enjoy and have neglected for the past few months. I am currently learning and hope to be able to play Alabama's Anthem..."Sweet Home Alabama" on my guitar by the time I return home.



Can't wait to visit with everyone soon. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!



I am including my newest recipe. Give it a try.

PUMPKIN RUM PIE

1 (9-inch) premade pie shell
1 (15 oz.) can unsweetened pumpkin puree
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided
1/3 cup sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons of ground ginger
pinch ground cloves
pinch ground nutmeg
pinch salt
2 tablespoons dark rum
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1/4 cup Praline Pecans, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Partially bake the pie shell, according to the package directions. In large bowl using electric mixer, whisk pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, melted butter, 1 1/2 cup heavy cream, sour cream, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, salt, rum, and vanilla. Pour into pie shell. Bake for 10 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees. Continue baking for 35-45 minutes. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate until ready to serve.
With the whisk attachment of an electric mixer, whip the remaining cup of heavy cream on high speed until the cream starts to froth. Gradually add the confectioner's sugar and whip on high until the cream stands in peaks. Either spoon or pipe the whipped cream around the edges of the pie and garnish with Praline Pecans.

PRALINE PECANS
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a small skillet melt the butter and sugar over medium heat. Add the pecans, stirring until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour onto aluminum foil. When the pecans are cool, crumble into small pieces an sprinkle on top of the whipped cream.