A Fabulous Christmas

This Christmas was so much fun and the Lord truly blessed us with a wonderful celebration of his birth.  Brian and I really enjoyed our families and friends this year and our house was just filled with so much love and happiness which is what it is all about.  Our favorite gifts were my new thumpin' Kenwood car stereo with Ipod connection, an Apple Ipad, Wii games, clothes, jewelry and Ryan got a really nice PA System so now we can sing and be heard around here :)  We are all just big kids.  We wrapped up the festivities by taking Brian's parents to see the movie True Grit which was a GREAT movie and then Saturday night we had a house full of our closest friends from near and far we had a blast!!!  Sunday we woke to more snow!!!  I love it and can't believe for once we are having a white Christmas in Tennessee.  It's the first I can remember in years.  I know people say they are glad to see Christmas be over but I'm not.  I believe that if you are celebrating it in the right way, that is giving all of the glory to God and rejoicing for his birth, that you will experience the true meaning of Christmas and therefore enjoy all that this very special holiday has to offer.  I can see this in all of the smiles from everyone in the pictures posted here.  Look how happy all of us are.  Thank you Jesus!

More Pre-Christmas Fun

This past weekend was so much fun with Little Noah staying at our house.  We had a Pre-Christmas weekend with him.  I gave him a big helicopter & more blocks from Santa and we played and played all night into the next morning.  Saturday afternoon we went to the Christmas Parade where Noah collected all kinds of candy and waved to Santa.  This Monday morning we awoke to a winter wonderland of snow and after a brief attempt to get out we decided against it and stayed at the house.

Christmas Party fun with a BAD SANTA!!!

We had an absolute blast this weekend at my husband's annual company Christmas party with our buddies and a very naughty Santa Claus.  The food and refreshments were amazing, and the DJ was fabulous & everyone at our table were having way too much fun.  The lighting and everything about the ballroom was perfect.  I look forward to this every year and I must say this year was the best party yet!!!  Just sharing some pictures from our AWESOME night one I will definately never forget :) P.S. just a side note Amber and I both ended up getting our dresses at Dress Barn...you have to love that store...It's one of my FAVES so props to them for the fun, comfortable, festive dresses that we wore.

 Me & Amber

 Lee & Me

 Missy & Hubby

 Me, Naughty Santa & My Sweet Hubby

 Bad Santa & Amber :)

 Amber & Joyce with Santa

 Lee, Santa & Brian

 Santa is very bad with Lee

 Amber & Lee Cutest Couple I know

 Look it's a European Man Purse...Haa

 Me, Santa & Brian

 Brian & I at our house

 I love this man

 Me showin' some leg :)

My two favorite guys!!!

Pitbull at our local Flea Market

Had to share this story because I can hardly believe what I have heard and it infuriates me.  A friend of ours was visiting a local flea market over the weekend with his 7 year old son.  As they were walking through the young boy evidentally came up on some puppies that were being sold there.  All of a sudden the momma dog which happened to be a pit bull lunged at him out from under the table that was there and attacked this young boy for no apparent reason.  The dog ripped his pants and bit him on the leg & thigh.  Our friend tended to his son, tried to calm him down and checked over his wounds, by the time he looked up to try to find the owner of this dog the woman had taken the dog and run off.  Our friend quickly called 911 and luckily there were some paramedics already there and they checked on the boy while the father contaced the local police.  When the local police arrived they basically advised our friend that there wasn't anything they could do.  When our friend asked the officer, "What if this dog had chewed his face off or something?  or What if the dog has rabies?" and the officer got rude with him and said, "We are not in the what if game, we are dealing with the facts here and the fact is that we can't do anything sir."  These police officers are always giving out parking tickets in the parking lot every weekend but are now saying they can't handle situations like this.  Another officer advised our friend to contact another Sheriff's dept which happens to be in another county, and then was told by that county Sheriff to contact another county Sheriff.  The facts are that the original officers who responded had jurisdiction at this particular flea market yet they wouldn't help this man and his son.  On his own our friend was able to find out information on the woman and the dog from people that were there at the scene.  When the woman was contacted about the dog first she didn't have the dog, then later said it was her dog, when asked if the dog had it's current shots she said yes that she administered them herself, when asked for proof she said she bought the vaccine at a local store, when our friend called that store he was told that they do not sell the rabies vaccine there.  This dog should have been quarantined and watched for 2 weeks but now the dog is no where to be found.  Now our friend's young son will have to take shots for rabies which when all is said and done the treatments will end up costing our friend $9000.  He finally contacted a lawyer yesterday and was told that he would take the case and not to worry or try to make contact with anyone else regarding the matter. 

I am just beside myself and disgusted by the way this small town police department dropped the ball here and let this woman and her dog walk away scott free and the way they were rude and unhelpful to our friend and his son.  Also the owner of the flea market was rude when our friend contacted her to let her know about the incident and to tell her that there are dangerous dogs on the property.  So beware if you visit your local flea market.  There may be dangerous animals there that can and will attack you or your kids.  Don't assume you are safe or that the athorities in the immediate jurisdiction will help you because evidentally they don't have to.  Just makes me sick!

A Peeping Tom???? Really?????

My sister called me this morning to advise me on how no one in her house slept last night because evidentally they have discovered they have a peeping tom in their neighborhood.  I mean seriously...some idiot was dumb enough to go into their backyard, where there is a very large dog and go up onto the back deck and peek into my neice's window.  She had recently been having trouble with her blinds and wasn't able to fix them so when she went into the room last night and noticed a face in her window she immediately shoved pillows in the window to obscure the view and then she told my sister.  My sister went into to the TV room to tell my Brother in Law and when he went outside the dummy was still there and took off running.  Fortunate for the peeper he was able to out run Ed, who then got into his truck and drove around the area in search of the perp.  So what do you to if you discover you have a peeping tom?  I suggest investing in a trail camera one that hunters use to scout for deer.  We have a Wildgame camera at my house and it uses infrared technology to video or take pictures at night time.  The animal or peeper will never know it is there.  Get the evidence together and then Call The Cops!!!

Noah's 1st Program

So proud of little Noah...he had his first school program today. Watch his debut as Squanto!!!

Ryan Kendrick Rocks

So Proud of My Son & My Niece!!!

What a special weekend!! I have never been so proud of two teenagers in my entire life.  Both of whom have faced tremendous struggles and are overcoming them with grace and dignity.  My niece Taylor invited me to her ROTC meet on Saturday and I have to say I had no idea what it was about.  I was amazed by the discipline of these amazing young people.  They went through their drills with such detail and intense precision.  I am so proud of her for joining this program and sticking with it.  My hope for Taylor is that she will follow her dream of joining the military and furthering her education.

On Sunday I was so excited because Law & Grace our Sheriff's musical group were paying a visit to our church.  I had heard them before and was blown away by their amazing sound and how all of the members were law enforcement officers who are dedicated to using their music to bring people to know the Lord Jesus Christ.  On this night I was so proud once again because the Sheriff extended an invitation to my son Ryan to perform a song with them.  Ryan gladly accepted and joined the officers on stage for an instrumental performance of Amazing Grace.  I was once again in awe at the obstacles a teen can overcome and how GREAT God is!  I am so proud of my son and my niece Taylor.  Bravo kids!!!

The Season for Being Thankful

Life has been full of interesting twists and turns and changes for me over the past few months. I have not felt this good in a long time and since it's almost Thanksgiving time again I felt it would be a great time to reflect on the things I am thankful for.

God has blessed me in so many ways and I feel like I have been awakened recently. I am happy to report that my son Ryan is doing very well and I couldn't be happier for him. He is moving in the right direction and no doubt this is due to so many who have been praying and supporting him. He has a lot to be thankful for believe me! He has given me a few wrinkles and gray hairs (which I dye blonde of course) but I wouldn't trade him for anything. I am thankful for the son God has given me and the lessons he continues to teach us everyday.

Brian and I of course are still enjoying wedded biss after over 20 years together :) I am so thankful to the Lord for sending him into my life. I feel like the luckiest girl to have him as my husband and best friend. I feel sorry for those who are married to players who don't value their marriage like my husband does. I am thankful that my hubby isn't at work, at school or in the neighborhood looking for other female relationships like some guys I know of. I am thankful that I can trust in my marriage. I am greatful for a happy home.

My Mom's diabetes is under control and my sister is doing great with her job and promotion another thing to be thankful for. Our family's Fall Festival for the church was a huge success this year, tons of fun as well as our church revival. I am thankful for the wonderful vacation trips we got to take this year.  We had a blast in Wears Valley camping, in Savannah, and in the Outer Banks (OBX) which was an absolutely gorgeous beach vacation.  I got two promotions at work this year and our company is staying very busy which is definitely a blessing in these economic times. I love my job!!

I am thankful that the Lord has guided me in a different direction this year when it comes to my friends. He saw fit to lead me away from a friendship that wasn't good for me and has led me toward some wonderful new friends as well as back to some older ones. My new situation is so much more positive, and has made me realize what kind of friends I need to be around.

I am thankful not only for my relatives, my family but also so very thankful for my church family. I know without a doubt that the Lord is working within this AWESOME group of souls. They are such caring, God loving people and truly hold special places in my heart.

I could go on and on and on with how I am blessed but I will end here for now with a little poem for your reading enjoyment. I hope everyone enjoys a safe & happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Day will soon be here
It comes around but once a year
If I could only have my way,
We'd have Thanksgiving every day!