Easter on a Cold Day

Although it was a cold day in Middle Tennessee on Sunday, we still had 571 people in the Easter service.  Our normal attendance hovers around 300, so this was exciting for sure.  Chairs had to be put into the foyer hall to accommodate everyone.  Walter and I sang in the musical "Arise, My Love".  We had practiced for weeks and the actual performance was moving, even to the choir members.  When the man portraying Jesus walked though the crowd, several of us were wiping tears away and trying to keep on singing as well.  Our church family is so very close to us.  We were united in the emotion of the morning.

After Sunday school, we came home to finish the details of providing an Easter dinner for our family.  They had all attended their churches and gathered at our house afterwards.  We made a 12 pound glazed ham and peach cobbler as well as several vegetables and a fruit bowl.  The girls all made dishes and we filled our plates nicely.

The rest of this post is picture heavy.  Due to the cold weather, every thing we did was inside the house.  My daughter, Patricia, has told me several times that the egg hunt inside the house instead of outside was her favorite of her childhood.



Chris Smiles as He Heads to the Buffet

Keith's New Beard is Filling in Nicely

Nola and Brandy Show Off Their Easter Outfits

Robyn Has a New Necklace

Brandy and I Share a Fun Moment

View of the Adult Table

Alijah Gets to Set Next to the Grandchildren Table

Grandchildren Table - Seven in All

Due to the cold and wet weather, we decided to hunt the Easter eggs upstairs in the bonus room.

Where are the Eggs?

The Pool Table Serves as an Egg Counting Station

Colin Opens His Eggs

Chris, Chandler and Austin Inspect the Eggs

Tracy Helps Brandon Sort Through His Eggs

Nola Shows Grandpoppie the Dollar from Her Egg

Chandler in a Favorite T-Shirt

Austin with Blur Nola Racing By, Cindy in Background

After the grandchildren emptied their eggs of the candy and money, they sent the adults downstairs so they could hide the eggs for us.   They found some harder places to hide the eggs for us.  A couple of grandchildren brought me eggs for my basket, (you know who you are).  I guess they had pity on me or thought I was too slow.  I don't know but it felt wonderful to have them love me in that way.

Then we all gathered in the bonus room for stories, pool games and air hockey games.  I played with Kash and Nola.  They were perfect competitors and had very good sportsmanship.  We played until one of us had three pucks in the table.  Then we changed out players.

Kash Plays Air Hockey with His Cousin (Grandpoppie Loves That Suit) 

Colin Blocked a Puck

After everyone left, I realized that Walter took all the pictures this day, therefore we have no pictures of him.  Sorry!

As with all times together, we were left with too much food.  Who can eat that much ham?  We will eat a few meals and then freeze the leftover ham for later meals.   Thankfully both of us were raised to enjoy leftover ham cooked with pinto beans.  With it we add cornbread and it takes us back to flavors of our childhood.

I had a great time.  I believe the family enjoyed their time with us on this cold day.  Maybe one of them will think back and say this was a favorite Easter for them when we hid the eggs inside.

God is Good!

WMU Conference

Recently I attended the Tennessee WMU Conference held in Gatlinburg, which is held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I have attended each year for about four years now.  I love the encouragement and refreshment that I receive.  We get to meet home and foreign missionaries and hear their stories and experiences.  The speakers are first rate.  This year 1,400 plus women attended.

A View of the Sunday Morning Worship Service

I was tired going into this trip and ended up sleeping in the back seat of the car for about half the way there.  My friends, Juanice and Billie, went with me and Linda and Barbara joined us there.  We take in as many conferences as we can and also the worship services held in the evening. 


Juanice and Billie Wait for the Evening Service to Begin

On Saturday afternoon we had a break between conferences and the evening service.  My sister Jean, and her husband, Edd, met me at our motel and took me into Pigeon Forge for dinner.  Due to heavy traffic, we spent most of that time in the van. We had a good visit, ate dinner at the Golden Corral, and then drove back into Gatlinburg.  It was a very hurried visit but I was glad to have the three hours together and they got me back to the convention center just in time for the evening worship service.

Here are some pictures that we did in the van. 


Taken Just to Prove That Jean and I Were Together

Jean's Hair is Growing In Again

Traffic is Moving Around Us in Pigeon Forge

Edd Waves Without Taking His Eyes Off the Road

Edd - Just Outside the Convention Center When He Dropped Me Off

We just bought a new camera the day before the trip so I did not have time to practice all the features available to me.  I knew that we would not be able to stop for taking good pictures so I snapped a few quick shots.  The quality is not very good but it does document the trip.

On Sunday we got a few more shots back at the WMU Conference.

Me, Juanice, & Billie on Saturday Morning (Time on Picture is Off by 12 Hours)

Practicing With the New Camera in the Room

Billie at Breakfast

I was tired going into this trip and we stayed so busy that I slept in the back seat for about half of the way home.  Do you notice a pattern here?

I had a good time with the family and the ladies at the conference.  I was also glad to get back home to Walter and my usual routines.

God is good!

Nephew John-Philip Visits

This past week we hosted our nephew, John-Philip, as he moved from Las Vegas to Pennsylvania. He is a singer and entertainer.  After his Las Vegas contract was over, he packed his worldly goods up and drove through Amarillo and into Tennessee to visit his Tennessee grandmother and us on his way to Pennsylvania.  He is moving to Pennsylvania because he is on contract through 2013 with The American Music Theatre.   He has earned rolls in two musicals that he will headline in between now and the Christmas season.

His original plan was to spend one night in Amarillo, one night outside Memphis and one night with us.  By the time he reached our house, he was so tired that he crashed for about four hours until Walter came home.

He woke then and we went to Murfreesboro to pick up his grandmother, who he calls Gran.  The four of us drove over to Pei Wei for supper and a short visit.  John-Philip wanted no more time with his hands on the wheel.  I understood.

We reached home and the night was spent with Walter and him going through old pictures and the retelling of family stories and history.  I think they even played some games on the Wii.  I retired upstairs for bed and they stayed up late.  I drifted to sleep with the sounds of laughter coming from downstairs.

John-Philip Texting a Friend

The following day, John-Philip decided to stay over one more night.  I was glad.  It has been a long time since any young people have slept over.  It was good to have a lively person living among us again, if only for a short time.  He spent the day with Gran seeing other family members and them doing his wash together.  What a nice grandmother!


John-Philip and Walter Pose Before Supper

He returned home in the early evening and we set about to prepare supper.  We decided to make homemade pizzas.  Everyone worked over the crusts until each was satisfied with the results.  We spent lots of time at the supper table catching up with each other.

Smiling John-Philip and Me

Catching Up on Facebook

Ever the Entertainer-Funny Smile

He left out early on Friday.  A friend in Murfreesboro was making him a big ole country breakfast to send him off full.  Hurray!  I drove out of the driveway just behind him.  I was headed to the three-day weekend WMU Conference held in Gatlinburg.

A full week of fun and remembrance - God is Good!

Alijah's 2nd Birthday Party

Our youngest grandchild turned two back in February.  We had a small family get together for his birthday.  I was having so much fun that I didn't get pictures that documented the party entirely.  But here are some that turned out clear and properly focused.

Colin and Alijah at the Piano

I always love it when I see the grandchildren "playing" the piano.  Maybe one of them will someday really want to study and practice on our piano.

Alijah Smiles Prior to the Candle Lighting

We had balloons and banners for Alijah.  His mother, Robyn, made him a cake with chocolate icing.

The Sippy Cup is Still His Friend

He loved his cake and I have spared him the sight of all the chocolate that ended up on his face.  When he is into his teens, I think he will thank me for that!

Robyn Concentrates on Placing the Candles

Alijah's mother put all kinds of candles and decorations on his cake.  It was so tasty too.

A Potty Chair with Sounds

He got lots of gifts suitable for a two year old boy.  I mean who doesn't want a potty chair that make sounds when you use it?

Grandpoppie Starts the Box Opening of the Desk & Easel

We got him a combination desk and easel.  That should be fun and useful for a few years.

Colin Bolts from the Chair

Okay, not a very good picture.  Why won't grandchildren wait to move until you get the camera focused?  Robyn's friend, Cindy, waits patiently in the background.

Uncle Chris and Cousin Austin Watch the Gift Opening

Alijah's gifts filled their car.  We enjoyed having the group of friends, children and grandchildren in our home.  Walter & I washed up the dishes and then treated ourselves to an outing.  We went to MTSU for the last home game of both the men and women's basketball teams.

The summary of our Saturday:  Alijah had a fun birthday event and we had a good, full day.

God is good.

Partial Retirement - His First Friday Off

Walter has decided to partially retire.  Since turning 62 this January,  he has signed up for Social Security and his first check is to arrive in March.  He negotiated with his employer for one day off each week.  Most of the time this will be on Fridays.  However if something comes up and he needs another day off, he can swap out the Friday for another week day that week.  Sweet!

This past Friday was his first day off.  He slept in a little but not for long as I had arranged for a Pei Wei luncheon date with two friends of ours who work about 45 minutes from the house.  What better way for him to get used to the four day work week than being with friends and NOT having to watch the time or leave in a hurry?  Our friends had to watch and leave on their schedule, not ours.

We had a wonderful visit with each other albeit fast paced.  I think Walter and I will enjoy many more leisurely focused Fridays now.  I look forward to the increased time we may have together.

Plates Bought at Goodwill for $9.00

Salad or Dessert Plates with Bleeding Hearts

Plates with Pansies

On the way home we stopped in for a look at the Goodwill store in the area.  Walter found two nice dress shirts and I found some Easter decorations and a set of butterfly and plants decorated plates and dessert plates.  They are StudioNova in the Garden Blooms pattern.  As Spring arrives, I will use these to lighten up the table.

If I could afford it, I would set the table with a different set of dishes every time we eat.  This, of course, is not possible or affordable but Goodwill makes it seem like you have a large variety to fill your cabinets anyway.  I hope Walter doesn't think we will be shopping like this every Friday.

That night we went to the Primitive Quartet concert held at Middle Tennessee Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.  We love to attend Southern Gospel concerts.  This one did not disappoint.  The church was filled with people worshipping and praising and filled with spirit.

On the way home, we stopped in for a Taco Bell fast food snack.

Is there a way to have too much fun?  I don't think so.  This was a FULL day for us.  God is good!

Valentines Banquet

Church Auditorium with Decorated Tables

I am on the kitchen committee for the year and for this event the chairman asked me to do the table centerpieces.  I used mirrored tiles with white candles in clear glass candle holders.



Twenty Tables Were Set Out

I took a Valentines' garland and cut it in sizes to fit snugly around the candle holders and used the hot glue gun to attach the ends.  Each piece of garland was 15 inches which gave plenty of flexibility for getting them on and off of the candle holders.



Serving Table for Pork Tenderloin and Vegetables

The menu was Pork Tenderloin, Green Salad, Mashed Potatoes with Carrots, Green Peas with Pearl Onions, Raspberry Applesauce, Red Velvet Cake and Chocolate Pie.



We Take a Minute to Enjoy the Centerpieces Before Guests Arrive

Walter and I took a minute to have a picture made of us before the attendees started arriving.  Roses were laid in each of the women's places.  A few rose petals tossed on the tables completed the decorations.

We had a great meal and a nice musical program afterwards.   I have no pictures of this but one of the singers imitated Elvis and three young ladies ran to the stage and threw rose petals at him.  Hilarious!

God is good.


Music at MTSU

A few days ago, Walter and I went to Middle Tennessee State University to hear the Tennessee Valley Winds concert at the T. Earl Hinton Recital Hall there.  This was about the third concert we have been to for this group.  A real estate agent, Jane who used to work for Walter when he had his own agency, Tony who worked with Walter in manufacturing for several years and Matt who was one of my co-workers are in the orchestra.  They are each excellent musicians.

Tony Smiles Prior to the Performance

We enjoyed the performance and got to have a short visit with them afterwards.  I loved what the conductor said to the young people in attendance that night.  He said that learning to both appreciate and play music is something that will last for a lifetime of enjoyment.  His example of that was the age composition of the Tennessee Valley Winds.  Their ages ranged from 15 to 85!


Matt with His Bassoon

Both Walter and I love this kind of music.  The program included a medley of religious music and ended with a John Philip Sousa march.  The crowd gave a nice standing ovation in appreciation to the musicians.


I Chatted with Matt after the Show