It’s been awhile

 December 28, 2024

Back in September of this year, I learned about insulin resistance on a personal level. The way it started, I read a book called “Good Energy” by Dr. Casey Means. I downloaded all my previous labs, and despite my physician, not doing his job and informing me that I was in the beginning stages of insulin resistance. I found this out by comparing my labs to the scale in the book. This was very eye-opening. I begin my journey of researching the information from the book. What I found was that a ketogenic or carnivore diet was the best treatment for insulin resistance to reverse it. By September 28, I had put together a plan of attack and started with the ketogenic diet. I found it near impossible to keep my carbohydrates less than 20 g per day so I just went full on the carnivore until I can figure this out.

So what has been going on between 2017 and now.  So in 2018/2019 I started on a ketogenic diet. I had lost down to 150 pounds in total. During this time I had fallen and broke my ankle during the summer and was pretty much chair bound, except for therapy for three months. My doctor did not like the ketogenic diet after doing it for almost a year. He said that my cholesterol and LDL was too high and he wanted me to go on statins and change to a plant-based diet. I declined the statin but took his advice and changed to a vegan way of life.

So the end of 2019, I embarked on the plant base diet, which was a challenge for me. However, I stuck with it 2019 to 2022. I gained back up to 192 pounds. I gained tons of inflammation in my body. I gained skin problems such as delayed wound healing, my mouth was always breaking out with ulcers, and I started having sciatic nerve pain and pain in my thigh & muscles in my right thigh. One of the things I did discover during this process was medicinal herbs and their benefit. So I started doing herbal classes and research on the different herbs, and I tried multiple herbal remedies for the inflammation, wound issues, muscle pains, and oral ulcers. I found out that my problems was not needing an herbal remedy, but cleaning up my toxic body, which brings us to this year.

2023 brought a lot of confusion. started researching vitamin deficiencies related to vegan lifestyle and started trying to do a more Mediterranean diet, adding back chicken and eggs. I also started baking sourdough bread and making fermented foods no matter what I did nothing helped with the pain and inflammation that I was experiencing. 

2024 started my journey of research of what kind of diet that I need to be on to not only address my symptoms, but my generalized health because I was not feeling well. I started reading books about my symptoms and found Dr. Casey means book called Good Energy. This brings us to date.

See my labs from May 2023 below.

Hgba1c 5.7%, triglycerides 206, HDL 50, LDL 154, fasting glucose 93, total cholesterol 242. These labs are on a post vegan/Mediterranean diet.

I joined an organization called LEVELS. They sent me a continuous glucose monitor, and I purchased some specific labs that they recommended. See labs below from September 25, 2024.

Hgba1c 5.9%, fasting insulin 14.5,triglycerides 113, ApoB 142, uric acid 5.9

The advice that I received was to do some lifestyle changes such as cut out all process and ultra processed foods, Lower carbohydrate intake,Improve sleep quality, and exercise.

After being on the ketogenic/carnivore diet for five weeks, I had my annual doctors visit. He drew a few labs when I told him I was back on my ketogenic diet and had lost 10 pounds.

Following labs from Dec 6, 2024

Triglycerides 135, LDL 241, HDL 42, fasting glucose 71,total cholesterol 308.

Of course my doctor wanted me to go back on statins and was not an approval of my ketogenic/carnivore lifestyle. He was not concerned about the previous labs from 2023, insulin resistant, or September 2024 labs except for LDL and total cholesterol. I am in the pursuit of a functional medicine physician at this time that will walk with me on this journey without throwing pills at me and the standard American diet. I am due for lab work next week and will post another update.

2019 review

2019 in Review

Personal/Church: I can't believe how God is using all of us at Summer Hill to make a difference in the lives of others. Jesus is amazing. God is our loving father. He leads us by His Holy Spirit. There is no way any of this is happening without Him. Our youth ministers are faithful and true and have a passion for the children they serve. Our members are free to serve God in whatever way He leads them. Our men are growing in faith and stepping up to lead their homes and our church in the way of the Lord. I am so amazed how God uses common everyday people to serve Him so that other can know Him.

Children/Grandchildren: Saylor Jane (AKA SaySay and Sadie by her brother and sister) celebrated her 1 year birthday. She was surrounded by friends and family. Lawson has developed into a young man. He is 15 and is driving now with his learners permit. He is creating beats for Christian rappers he even has his own youtube channel LGBeats and SoundCloud "Lil Chico", He has changed sports to Basketball. He is on jr varsity team at his high school. He is very good at everything he does. Bailey likes to play volley ball. She makes bracelets and video clips that are so cute. Both are very involved in their church, missions, and camp. Braylen is now 9 years old. She plays soccer, piano, she is learning to sew, she speaks latin, she is very organized in her thought processes and does not mind being in charge at all. Judson is now 5 and such a sweet and content boy. He is very thoughtful and loving. He plays soccer. He was accepted to Westminster and is in kindergarten. He is learning so much. I can't believe how blessed I am to be allowed to grandmother these precious children.
Work: I celebrated 5 years at Amedisys Hospice this December. They gave me a party and some decorations for my cabin on the lake.
Personal: I continued strictly on Keto Diet but could not loose under 172# and started gaining again Back up to 177#. I went to my doctor and he was happy with my progress and even though my lab work looked better he was still concerned with total cholesterol and LDL levels. He again wanted me to start statin drug but again I declined. He suggested that I choose more whole food fats instead of processed foods. I had already removed processed foods and sugars so I stopped adding fat such as butter, lard, and cheeses and used olives, avocado and coconut oil instead. In October my son, Allen and his wife asked me to watch "fork over knives" documentary on netflix. I connected with this. I then started to eat whole food plant based foods. I lost 6 pounds by the end of the year. I have realized that the past is just that The PAST. I live in the PRESENT. and I am looking forward to the future by faith in the promises that Jesus gave me. My life is abundant just as he promised. My niece, Krystal has visited several times this year. It has been nice to see her. I went to visit all my brothers at least 1 time each this year. That does not sound like much but from nothing to one is something. My last weight this year 172#.

Years in Review 2016, 2017 and 2018

2016
Home/Church: Tim and I have grown closer together and we have learned how to let each other be who we are. We no longer try to change each other or control each other. we literally live and let live. Our trust bond is strengthening. I learned in Alanon that I can learn to trust again. When myself and another person's actions line up with their words then I can trust.

Summer Hill called Tim to be their Senior Pastor beginning Jan 1st this year.  So many good things happening. Phillip and Billy were ordained as Deacons. tragically we lost Billy later on in the year. The mental health center stopped taking addicts so that ministry ran its course. Tim suggested and we have been inviting Farm Ministries to our church and are getting to know them.

Tim and I was given gift certificates for the Grand Ole Opry Hotel and we took the opportunity to take Tim's Mother, Ruth to The Grand Ole Opry Show and stay in the Gaylord Hotel. She was amazed.

Tim celebrated 5 years clean and sober this year. His Sponsor, Ricky and a few others from his NA meetings and New Day Ministries (the church that supported us through the hard times) came to celebrate at Summer Hill with us. God is so good! Our church started a food ministry  to feed the community. We purchased a cabin on lay lake as a retreat for family and friends. Tim bought me a paddle boat the grand kids and I had a good time using it.


Children/Grandchildren: Time is flying by. The Children are proving that they are able to care for themselves and their family very well. Our role as grandparents is wonderful. The grandchildren are growing and developing interest in all areas of life. Lawson is now 12 years old. He is still playing baseball and football, Bailey is dancing & playing basket ball.One day they wanted to spend the night with us. We usually plan a fun day but we had bean to stick and had help coming to help us. the kids said they would help and they did... until they got hot.  Braylen age 6 is learning gymnastics and Judson age 2 is into all things Dinosaurs. I ate lunch at school with all 3 grandchildren this year and was able to go to several programs. The grandchildren are active in church. Singing in choir and programs. I am so proud of them. Even Judson is singing "Pharo Pharo let my people go". They are so cute. all of the grandchildren love music. We spent a lot of time at the lake this summer.
Work: Hospice on Call has been good for me. They have added Triage nurses to answer calls for us. now all I do is go when I am dispatched to a patients home. I have rediscovered what nursing is. I absolutely feel that this is the perfect place for me in my life at this time.  I work with a lot of people I have worked with in the past and have a good working relationship with. I have had opportunity to make amends to some that I was not so nice to when I was in management role. I am beginning to understand that when I get off of the path God has for me it not only affects me but others. However, when I realize this and am willing to confess it and get back on His path then my life gets back on track. It does come with work and being teachable. Thanks to the Lord he is merciful and covers me with his grace and love.
Personal: I am at a standstill with weight loss and I am struggling with what direction to go. Alanon group has transitioned to a grip session. I have been calling into phone meetings and online meetings. I decided to have permanent makeup procedure. Eye Liner and Lip Staining. The eyes did well. The lips did not take due to a fever blister outbreak after the procedure. Krystal and her son's and grandson came and spent sometime with us at the lake this summer. It was good to see them again.

2017
Home/Church. Tim and I are settling in to our new and improved relationship with each other. Tim has started a Friends and Family Support group in the fellowship hall on Thursday nights. It is a place for anyone in the community to come in and discuss their issues. It is a meeting where the anomity of each individual is protected.  This meeting has proven to be needed. It also helps Tim and I to maintain our recovery. Our relationship with Farm Ministry continues to develop. Food Ministry every 3rd Saturday is growing. People in the community are realizing that God and we care for them. Bro Leon Batchelor came to run a revival for us again. There was an out pouring of the Holy Spirit that was refreshing to our souls. Tim and I went to camp meeting in Daytona Florida. It was different than anything we have ever attended. Our Children's program at Summer hill is starting to grow. We had a children's Christmas program this year.
Children/Grandchildren: Our Grandchildren are the light of our world. They make our life rich. I totally understand how God feels about us in how I feel about our Children and Grandchildren. We took another trip to WDW with Allen's Family and then finished the trip with a 3 day Disney Cruise. This was a great trip. We choose to fly to orlando this time and it was so much better than driving all day. Disney cruise was so much better than Carnival. Lawson is now a teenager He turned 13 He is still into sports. Bailey is 10 she is now trying interpretive dance at mcbc and basketball at school. We spent time at Highpoint with Lawson and Bailey. We swam and had a few trips to the local donut shop this summer. We also went to mcwane center with all 4 of them. Bailey and Braylen sang a special together at revival services. Braylen is cheerleader at Chelsea elementary. She was accepted to WestMinster private school and will be attending this fall.

Work: Work is good. I have learned to be content with whatever comes up. We have had several big changes at work over the past 24 months but I have handled it better than in the past. Still see a need for growth in my behavior when under stress however. God will help me as long as I am willing to change. We started tearing down the old ElGringo Restaurant in order to build our new Lakeside Stone Building.
Personal: I gained almost every pound back that I lost last year. I am back up to 192#. I have decided that I have a behavior problem. I definitely have a strange relationship with food. I looked into going to Magnolia Creek. They are an eating disorder organization but they require on campus 24/7 for the first couple of weeks. I can not commit to that at this point in my life. I reached out to several counselors online in search of one that deals with food coping issues.Until I find the right one I will continue with my bible study on contentment, loneliness, and boredom. I started going to Ruth's apartment for bible study with some of the ladies in the complex. I found a counselor and started going every 2 weeks to work on my issues.

2018
Home/Church We added a health screening to our food pantry on the 3rd saturday of every month. We thought it might help people to identify their health needs and connect them to known resources. We did this several times this year. we were able to help some but most were not interested. We discontinued the program due to lack of interest. Food ministry is doing well.we are learning to recognize when a ministry is working and when we missed it. its ok to stop something that is not productive. We have been sent Youth ministers. God will always provide our needs. The young people almost out number the adults.  We had our first Women conference at Summerhill. Robbie Batchelor was our special speaker. Her husband is Leon Batchelor who we have been in revival with for a couple of years.
Children/Grandchildren WDW cruise Feb with Allen's family. Braylen and Judson helped their mom and dad announce the arrival of their baby sometime in September. This summer I took all 4 of the grandchildren to Desoto caverns. They had a great time. Tim was able to meet us for lunch and spend the last half of the day with us. Lawson is 14 and growing into a young man. He and Bailey is 11. they have been on several mission trips and church camps. Braylen now 8 and Judson now 4 are discovering the world. Braylen loves nature and science, gymnastic, cheerleader, piano, soccer, she is learning Latin. Judson is also into soccer. they both love going to WDW with their mom and dad. We all went to the beach for a family trip during summer break. It was a lot of fun. Saylor Jane Green was Born on September 18th at 1243. She is a beautiful baby girl. She looks like her sister and brother.
Work: Still have the best job in the world. Sandy works the opposite 7 as I do. We had open house at the new Lakeside Stone property after 15 years of being in business I can say that God has more than blessed this business. Saylor Jane was born September 18th. Welcome to our family sweet girl!
Personal: I continued with counseling until we agreed I had a grip on how to change effectively now that I have been able to let the past go I can start working toward the future while living in the present. I changed doctors because mine moved into birmingham. I chose a local MD in March. I did started keto diet May 2018 at the suggestion of my coworkers who were starting. I attended weekly support meetings with them. My starting weight 212#. VBS was in August so we had a kickoff party last day of July. I fell and broke my ankle in 3 places. This was a difficult time but I was able to use the skills I had learned from recovery and recent counseling to help me through this time.I totally leaned on God and he sent several people to help me. It was amazing to see how God works through people. I was able to stay positive and stayed on my keto diet as well. I healed very well.  when I returned to my doctor he was ok with me being on keto for now but he wanted to to start on cholesterol meds due to my cholesterol numbers. Even though they were better than earlier in the year they were not where he wanted them to be. I choose not to start the cholesterol lowering meds due to the side effects. By the end of the year I had lost 32 pounds. 180#

Years in review 2013, 2014, and 2015
2013

Home/Church life: Our Church (New Day Ministries) has walked with us during our recovery. ALANON has helped me a lot. I have worked as a service representative and attended several district and regional meetings. Tim and I are learning to work our separate programs and our marriage in recovery.  Tim celebrated 2 years clean and sober. Tim and I ministered to addicts that were in detox facilities. Tim is speaking at church again. Friends at church are helping with ministry with addicts in detox facilities (Lovelady center and Cheha Mental Health Center).

Work: I left my Job at the nursing home after 1 year. I learned so much about end of life care, different family dynamics, Isolation and the choices that lead people into a life of loneliness. I watched at a distance as people came and went. Some had families still in contact for different reasons. Some was visited often by family that had a desire to care for them but not the ability. I experienced people that were conflicted about how they should care for someone that was great to them in their life. Other conflicts were the opposite; how do you care for someone that did not care for you and shirked their responsibilities toward you. I watched as people struggled with these very real issues. I watched residence go through feelings of being thrown away, other who was happy to be cared for in a better situation than they came from. and yet others still wanted to go home (where ever that was) every day even when their residence and people were long gone.   I know that God placed me there to show me about life and how my choices today affect my life and the life of those I have love, relationships, and responsibility for.  I realized that the Lord is working on me to not involve myself into others business but in a management job it is my responsibility to do so. I felt if I was going to grow in the direction I felt the Lord I was leading me then I needed to be completely out of the managerial world. I started work at Shelby in Nov. 2013 as a medical surgical floor nurse at the end of the year.

 My sister JoAnn, Krystal and me. Joann's can only babble now. We were trying to get her to smile. 

Personal: I started developing friendships with ladies at church. I learned from going to recovery meetings and counseling that I can resolve the conflicts and bad choices of yesteryear. I can make amends as the Lord places them before me. 2013 was still a time of change, discovery and self improvement with Holy Spirits guidance.

Children/Grandchildren: Our Children are amazing. They actually don't need me any more. That was a hard pill to swallow. However, They are growing in the way of the Lord and very capable of taking care of themselves. Being a grandparent has fulfilled the lost of children. God is so good in His infinite wisdom he gives us Grandchildren: Lawson, Bailey, and Braylen are growing. I was privileged to attend their school and day care programs.  Lawson is playing baseball and on the honor roll at school. Bailey is learning dance at knoll wood and had her first dance recital. Girl events are new experiences for us it was funny watching and learning about bringing flower to give to the dancers afterward.  Braylen is attending Mother's day out and is excited about her mom expecting her brother in April of 2014.  Braylen has named her brother everything from "Pine cone" to "Banana". So cute.

2014
Home/Church life: Friends at church went with us to Joyce Meyers conference at the BJCC.  Which lead to the ladies at church planning and attend a Love Conference in St Louis, Missouri. We had a great time in the Lord together. Tim is beginning to have more opportunities to speak and teach the bible at church. We still attend recovery meetings and reach out to help addicts and families of addicts.
Children/Grandchildren: Grandchildren are absolutely the gift of life here on earth! Mickey& Sandy and Allen & Jennifer are wonderful parents. They are leading their family by God's Path. They are active in their church family. I am so very proud of how they run their homes.
Lawson turned 10 Sept 27th and continued to develop his Baseball skills. Bailey turned 7 Nov 16th and loves to  dance. Braylen turned 4 years old April 13th and we welcomed Judson Allen Green into the world on April 25th. I was able to attend Grandparents day breakfast with Lawson and Bailey at Fayetteville. Several programs at school and daycare this year. God is wonderful to allow us to be in their lives.
Work life is hard. I have never been drawn to floor nursing because it is a lot of running and no time to spend with the patients and families. However, even though it was physically taxing it was just what I needed in order to grow mentally and spiritually. I worked 3-12 hour day shifts a week and every 3rd weekend. This allowed me time to continue to work on myself. I learned how to take it easy on myself. I turned loose of other's problems and the need to be "in the know" about other's lives. I worked almost a year at Shelby and then felt lead in the direction of some other type nursing. I applied for mental health, home health, hospice, and dialysis. I originally applied to cancer center but declined the interview due to my personal conflicts with the concept of chemotherapy. I interviewed for the others and was offered a job at dialysis and hospice. After much prayer and reflection of my personal and spiritual goals in life I decide on hospice care.  I started this job in December. I was so scared at the thought of going into strangers homes in the middle of the night but I was comforted by Joyce Meyers' saying "Just do it afraid". I know that this is the career path that God has called me to. I am definitely caring for people in their own homes now. I just love how God walks us through the stages of life and how much stronger we grow when I am walking on His path for my life and not my own. Tim was diagnosed with diabetes type 2. Many changes to come.
Personal:  I started going to the hair salon, nail salon, and massage therapy and focused a little more on self care.  I am at my heaviest weight ever at 212#. Since I am still searching for health and fitness. I started Dr Phil's 20/20 diet. bought the book, downloaded the app. cleaned out the cabinets and made space for my healthy food because Tim does not choose to change his way of eating.  I started volunteering at Resources for Women, a place girls can go when they find themself pregnant and are in a valley of decisions. I learned to do pregnancy sonar grams for detection of fetus and heart beat. Due to a change at the center we were never enacted into service, however.
2015

Home/Church Tim and I are still involved in our church and community activities. We went on our anniversary cruise in March and it was crazy. Spring break for a lot of colleges and I think all of them were on our cruise. We found out we were invisible. It was amazing. The college kids would walk through us, step on us, break line in front of us, nudge us out of the hot tub and the waiters ignored us because we were not drinking alcohol. It was quite the revelation. We had a good time with it. But we decided that we might need to try a cruise line that caters to older adults next trip.  Tim has been invited to several different church's to give his testimony of his recovery from addiction. We took a trip with Trish and Brian to Fort Walton Beach. Our friendship is developing with them. We are so blessed to have these friends. Ended the year with church Christmas party at Oak Grove Community center. Tim was called to be the interim pastor at Summer Hill Baptist Church in October.
Children/Grandchildren: Great year with the Kiddos.
Mickey and Sandy are continuing to minister at Marble City. Sandy is working night shift at Russell Hospital. Allen and Jennifer invited all of us to go on a family trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando Fl. We had a great time and was able to use what we have learned the past few year in recovery how to cope and respect others and their boundaries as well as set healthy boundaries around our selves. We started off the week trying to do everything together and found that with such age span differences and different desired paces that we should do Disney on our own during the day and meet up together at the evening meal and share our experiences. This worked much better for us all. I think my best day was the day I kept the kids at the pool.  Judson's first birthday this year, Braylen 5 and will be starting kindergarden at chelsea elementary this fall, Bailey is 8 and Lawson is 11 Lawson is pitching and playing 2nd base He started playing football as well. They moved into their newly remodeled home after tirelessly working on it this year. I made the grandchildren a Ancestry book of our family and gifted each of them a quilt that one of their grandmothers or great grand mothers pieced and quilted. I made a picture of each quilt for their book and wrote who made the quilt. I updated our ancestry in an online source and printed 4 generations. the link  for our family tree is at

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/pt/RSVP.aspx?dat=ODU3ODcxNTQ7OzAzOWQ0ODU2LTAwMDYtMDAwMC0wMDAwLTAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDsyMDIwMDExNjE3NDg1MDsx&mac=pvB1LDU7UKZSa3O5uPCLxw==


My Mother in Law, Ruth, decided this year she was going to sell her house and move. She approached Mickey and Sandy about her desire to sell to them if they wanted it. They did. She sold it to them and asked me to help her downsize from 4 bedroom home to a 2 bedroom apartment. She and I worked on this for a couple of months. She donated everything she did not want to the church for yard sale. She and I went shopping for furniture for her apartment.  We moved her into her new apartment in July. Ruth health is declining and I have been taking her to her doctor appointments every month and shopping for her groceries.



Work: I love my job! Hospice triage/on call nurse. I say often I have the best job in the world. I have had some very busy weeks where I thought the nights and weekend would never end but every time I was needed when I got there and I was able to help. I know I am currently working within my calling.
Personal: I continued on my new way of eating Dr Phil 20/20 diet (yes even while in Disney). I lost 50# in total before the end of the year. My doctor is not in agreement with this way of eating because it is so restrictive (only can eat 20 foods). He however does not have any alternative for me except to eat in moderation and do exercise program.  Not sure what I need to do. In December I tried Whole 30 in an attempt to eat correctly. I am still working on my recovery. Due to my evening work schedule every other week I am missing a lot of alanon meetings.
in November I had to fly to South Dakota due to my sister having a brain bleed. She passed away after a week. I was glad I made the trip to be with my niece, Krystal. It was a difficult time for us all.

Christmas 2012: this is what life is about

It has been 11 months since I posted to this blog.  It is nice to have a support group to hear and listen to me. 2011 held a lot of personal stripping away of old baggage and connecting to who I really am.  2012 has been composed of a lot of listening to God and waiting.  There has been a lot of opportunities presented to me this year. Some I reverted back to my old patterns of behavior. However, several opportunites presented that I actually sit back and waited on God to direct my path.  Guess what?  His way left me feeling at peace, even if it went against what I wanted to do.  The peace of God does surpass my understanding.

This year I was able to let go of a lot of control.  I have been able to sit back and let others do what they wanted to do even if I felt it was to their detrement.  I have been "telling Jesus on them" which is my middle child syndrome way of saying I've been praying for them.  I have stayed away from a lot of gossip sessions even though I really wanted to put my 2 cents worth in.  Which would have hurt someone eventually.  These actions did isolate me from my old acquaintences.

January I joined Weight Watchers and started working on my overweight issues.  I worked the first few steps on my WW blog on WW blogsite. I was overcome with a lot of cares of life and did not accomplish my ultmate goal.  However, I did make a 30 pound decrease in weight this year.  In the last 4 months I put back on 10 pounds because I did not continue in this recovery process.  Sooooo, I will be restarting in January.

God has moved me to a new job. I know nothing about the rules and regulations of this job. I am finding that He has placed in me the HOPE of walking by faith and not by sight. Our pastor had each of us to place on our Church's Christmas Tree something that means something to us. I placed a pair of glasses on the tree to represent that God is teaching me to walk by faith and not by sight.  My God is a God of second chances.

About 20 years ago I felt that God had put a desire in my heart that one day I would work for Him taking care of the Elderly in their home.  Well, it is not exactly what I thought but God has once again suprized me by walking me one step closer to fulfilling this desire.  I have 50 residents that I am learing to care for in their home.  MY GOD IS AMAZING!  This path is not easy and I have had a few days of tears, confusion, and many days of felling overwhelmed.  However, at the end of everyday I am so very thankful that he has trusted me with these lives.  My prayer today is that I will not let him or them down.

THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS LIFE AND THANK YOU FOR NOT GIVING UP ON ME.

I love getting together with my family.  It is moments like this that makes my heart sing.

Happy New Year 2012 from The Green's

This is going to be a great year.  I am learning to take it easy and not try to control every little thing. I am resolving to not force solutions and to allow God to be God. If he needs my help he will let me know. I thank God for my life and my family. I pray He keeps working on me.  I still need a lot of work. But I am learning to be content and be joyful.  The Bible says "The joy of the Lord is my strength" I am resolving to be joyful and not let situations feed me.

Christmas 2011

Our immediate family Christmas get together was today.  Ironically, if my parent's were alive they would be celebrating their 62 wedding anniversary today. Dad would have bought her the traditional chocolate covered cherries and we would have heard the story again of how they met and married. Live goes by fast and tkes a lot of twist and turns along the way.

I wanted a Family portrait of our ever extending family before time gets away from us.  Brooke Vandiver agreed to help me with this dream and she made it a reality.  I can not wait to get the pictures back so I can print and post them.  She will never know how much I appreciate her for this.

 We gathered at Allen and Jennifers home, took pictures out side.  Jennifer found a family pose that was adorable so Brooke took the idea and ran with it. The grandbabies were adorable.

We then went in to a wonder pot of Taco soup that Jennifer prepared.  Tim bought a Ham and rolls.  We thanked Our Lord and Savior for Life, Love and food then ate together.  It was delightful. The children played for a little while together and the boys played music.  we girls talked for a while and got caught up on each other's lives. 

After a while we sit around and Allen gave out the gifts. We opened and thanked each other then returned to playing, talking, and playing instruments and singing. It was a  wonderful time of loving each other.