Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

As noted before, we had our family at our new home this year hence the picture of our group! As we were not able to send out Christmas cards to all of our many friends, please accept our invitation to come visit us! Our door is always open and we would love to spend time with you! We again say thanks to each one that was a part of the building of our new home (whether by prayer, financial or hands-on) -- we love it and enjoy showing it off so come on by!!!!!!

Pics from Thanksgiving visit

Did I mention that it was the big BAMA vs War Eagle weekend and Uncle Nate bought a "Big Al" cake for the War Eagle fans to EAT ... poor Daddy Barron ... but he had the last laugh as Alabama whooped Auburn in the big game!!

Thanksgiving

Wow, seems like forever since I added anything to the blog. Guess life has been moving at a faster pace or nothing much going on??!!

Thanksgiving has come and gone but wanted to share some pictures of the great time we had with our family. Except for Mom and Dad having problems finding the house, things went without a hitch. Elizabeth and family picked up Nate at Birmingham airport on their way to the house (but managed to find time to stop and eat at Chipotle first).

Leaving Mom and Dad at home to rest after their "lost" ordeal, we enjoyed dinner at Carltons Italian Restaurant. A good time was had by all but unfortunately the news of the attacks in India was on the large screen.

The best fun of the day was getting the GRAND TOUR of the HONEY BARN. Phillip and Nancy Garrison were kind enough to open up the store and give the kids (young and old) an educational presentation about gathering honey -- and then let us spend some money in their store. Mom chose a beeswax nativity while I bought a turkey candle - Caleb picked it out!

Thanksgiving morning Daddy Barron prepared grits and eggs for the hungry crew and then dinner preparation began (although the girls had helped me fix Watergate salad the night before). Our feast consisted of: spiral baked ham, turkey and dressing, Sister Schubert rolls, watergate salad, cranberry salad, broccoli /rice/cheese casserole (known as green rice at our home), deviled eggs, corn on the cob, green beans, sweet potato casserole with pecan pie and Italian Creme Cake for dessert. (Thanks to Sandy for the cake and dressing) The big surprise was David losing a tooth while eating his corn!! Sandy and Chris and new fiance Jenn came out and visited with us after dinner.

Although Eliz/Chris/Nate and I tried staying up so we could go shopping early on Black Friday, by 3:00 I had decided that nothing was that important. So after Mom/Dad and Chris departed for Phenix City, Elizabeth, Nate and I went shopping for my flatscreen TV -- Daddy Barron was a trooper and watched the four kids. We had to go to two Best Buy stores to find it - a 40 inch Toshiba - but we did and got it on sale!!! (Thanks Mary Nan!!!) It took several of us to get the mounting unit on the wall (and a trip to Radio Shack to get the right size) and then the TV, but it was done!! The kids were fascinated with Nate climbing in the attic and talking to us through the wall/ceiling!!!

Elizabeth, Abigail, Julia and Grandma Jan did some Christmas shopping and window looking on Saturday morning, a quick lunch back at the house, and then we all piled in the van to take Nate to the airport. Stopped at Target on the way home as Cullman only has Walmart.

Sunday morning Elizabeth was my special speaker for "Lottie Moon Mission Moment" at church as she shared about her friends Joy and Kendall Helgren who are serving with the IMB in Zambia and Mozambique. She did a great job!!! Caleb was asked by Pastor Roger to sing his new song ("The Chipmunk Song") for everyone and he did a Super job!! The next days went quickly and Wednesday morning the grandkids and Elizabeth departed for their house!!

What a great time of celebration!! We so enjoyed having everyone at our new home and they were so complimentary about it!!

Grass Trees Straw

Barron has been busy with landscaping: grass, trees, straw -- not to mention our work in the backyard to make a space for the kids to play Robin Hood under the trees by the creek. Wonder if we can find a tree swing to hang ....

Thanks to Blake Lindsey (our contractor) for the housewarming gift of a storm door for the front -- now I can really enjoy that wonderful view -especially the sunset! Beautiful!!!!

Recent News

Recent changes in my life: new job and new vehicle (well, new to me). I work as an Administrative Assistant for Chugach-Alaska Corp subsidiary known as Chugach Government Services Inc. Who would have thought in 1990 when we were in Anchorage Alaska on my first BFC trip that I would work for a corporation headquartered in Anchorage?? Certainly not me!!

The trip to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville is 42 miles (one way) if I take the cut-through over the moutains -- the more scenic route! If I take interstate 65 and then 565, it is 60 miles. So my Chevy Venture had almost 150,000 miles and this seemed to be the right time to change cars. My new Dodge Grand Caravan was a program car and only had 30k miles on it. Love the automatic side doors and the stow-and-go of the seats for hauling stuff, plus the well in the back to sit your bags of grocery so they don't slip and slide and spill everywhere.

Barron's cousin, Donald Judkins and his wife, Becky, came over for homemade chili and hot dogs last Sunday. It was such fun to show off the house - and they were very complimentary about everything.

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving in our new home. Mom and Dad are driving up on Wednesday, and Elizabeth, Chris and kids will pick Nate up at Birmingham airport for us on Wednesday about 12:30. We'll have time to show off the house and visit and then start the food prep for Thanksgiving meal. Some of Barron's family plan to stop by and spend some time with us over the long weekend too. It's so good to be closer to family!!!!!!!!!

We wish each of you a very safe and happy Thanksgiving!!!

Robin Hood lives!!

Just had to share picture of the grandkids in their Halloween finery (for those who don't have time to go to Elizabeth's blog). In case you don't recognize the participants: (left to right) Caleb as Little John, Julia is Maid Marian with Abigail as her Lady in Waiting, and David as Robin Hood!

Halloween and Fall Festivals!!

Spring Arbor had a great turnout for its first annual Cowboy Carnival. We had the Firing Range. Pin the tail on the Pony, Shave the Goat (be sure and ask David Bright, Melvyn Hunter, Adam Nelson, and Wesley Alldredge about this), the Cakewalk - always a big hit and Milinda was great as the MC, Slop the Pig, Duck Pond, Barrel Race, Bye Bye Crow, Fishing Hole and War Paint, not to mention hot dogs, chips and drinks. All in all a great night of fun and fellowship!! It is exciting to be part of a church that wants to reach its community for Christ!!!!

Landscape Day

Mark Vincent came over today and helped Barron get started on the yard so he could put out grass seed and fertilizer. They stayed at it for h-o-u-r-s ... Mark, thanks much. Providing lunch was the least we could do!!! You and your family (and your leadership at Spring Arbor)mean so much to us!!!

Mark Pelletier aka Uncle Mark

Mark was in fine form on Saturday roughhousing with the kids - or rather, letting them roughhouse on him!! Here are a few pics of the event ...

Fun in Phenix City

We had a great time being with family this past weekend. Here are pictures of the kids learning to climb the trees in Grandma Esther's front yard. Enjoy! Can you find Robin Hood alias Caleb in the tree? Our family showered us with some housewarming gifts after Sunday dinner too -- now when folks come to visit there will be new sheets and towels for them -- so come visit!!!

At your request - Indoor pictures

I am getting requests for pictures of the inside of the house, but I really wanted to wait until boxes were emptied, pictures on wall, office set up, a little more TLC .. but I am giving in to the pressure and posting a few! My camera isn't the best for this, but hope you will get the idea that we are making progress! (Still haven't decided on a flat screen for over the mantel, so for now we are using the one we had in Texas.)

We are looking forward to a visit from Willie and Dena Evans this Thursday. They will be stopping by on their way home to Texas after a BFC 2009 pre-meet in Dunlap, TN. The guest room is ready for company so we hope they will stay over with us. (Of course Barron will have to be the host as I will be finally working at my new job in Huntsville.)

We also had a great visit with Diane (Wilkins) and hubby Karl yesterday. Diane was so sweet to loan us her house while we were building this one. Her sister Elaine came with them and we just had a good time catching up on the latest with their families. The siblings had plans to get together for dinner so we joined them: Butch and Barbara (from Huntsville), Elaine with hubby Chris (who helped me get internet service) and son Bobby (Cullman), Diane and Karl (Ocean Springs, MS), and Barron and I. Uncle Jim (their Dad's brother), Sandy (Barron's sister) and Larry (her husband) came by the restaurant to visit for a while.

Elizabeth, Chris and the kids are in Panama City at the BEACH and were joined today by their Texas friends, Amy and Jeremy Hudson and kids, Grant and Molly. You will have to check out their blog to see what they are up to (www.maymemos.blogspot.com) This is also the week that my parent's have a timeshare at Ocean Towers in Panama City so the kids will go over there to use the heated pool. Seems my brother, Kevin with his wife, Cheryl and daughter Sarah joined Mom and Dad for a few days, so Sarah and the grandkids spent Saturday together at the beach. My sister, Cathy and her hubby are relaxing a few days in Panama City as well. I heard that my sister Karen (and husband Steve live in Panama City) invited some of the gang over to her house last night to watch the Auburn game (so sorry they lost to Arkansas!).

We are IN!

Thanks to so many friends and family members for their invaluable help in not only getting us moved into the house over the weekend but helping unpack boxes and making beds! I hope I don't leave out anyone, but I want to list folks by name:
Relatives: Sandy (Barron's sister), Rex Johnson (cousin), Cory Wilkins (nephew)
Spring Arbor: Roger Hood, Wesley Alldredge, his friend Cecil (glad he is electrician as well as great truck packer), Lance Boyd and son Truman, Vonda and Melvyn Hunter

The MOVE would not have happened without their HOURS of HARD WORK. We still have boxes yet to be unpacked but all the necessities are in place.

I have to mention Rex Helms for his non-ending efforts in getting our surround system (and Direct TV) installed and all those speakers and equipment.

Nate arrived last night and we kept him busy putting in dimmer switches, moving furniture, installing subwoofer - and just enjoying having him here for a short while. He was able to hitch a ride with one of his suppliers who makes a bi-weekly trip to Atlanta, we met them in Birmingham - and will do a turn around tonight!

Once we have some rain, the landscaping can begin so we'll keep posting pictures! Please stay in touch!

Life in the Fast Lane

Tomorrow is the BIG Day -- we move into our new house. While I worked from home on my new job because the office "modular" building is not yet ready for occupancy, Barron started moving lots of things from our temp house. The house looks spectacular and we had to make big decisions like "which drawer do we use for the utensils?"

We are thankful for the many new friends and family who have said they will come and help us get settled. Since I am working from home for a few days, I am thankful that we don't have to be out of our temp house on any certain day so I can have internet service until our ISP provider can move the antenna to the new location!

Thanks to each and everyone who had a part in us building our house and getting moved in!! We love you! Thanks, Lord, for taking care of us in "God's Country". Now to fill up that jacuzzi tub and enjoy a good soak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Texas Visit

This has been a fantastic visit. Air travel was uneventful which was a blessing. Mary Nan treated me royally, as did my other host family, Debbie and Mike Murray. Unfortunately, Mike was sick on Friday night/Saturday and Debbie had bad reaction to heat and giving blood, but they recovered quickly and we had a great visit. Saturday night Betty and Wayne Reinert had me to their house for a time of fellowship and catching up.

It was such fun to show up at Sunday School and surprise everyone, and then they surprised me with an engraved "Sweet Home Alabama" photo album!! And a wonderful card signed by each of them -- thanks much to a great class that we miss so much! Nate came to church and then took me out for lunch at a new place and we just enjoyed our time together (we also went window shopping at BestBuy). Kitty (and Larry) hosted me this afternoon and we just had time sharing with each other.

Heard from my new lady boss and downloaded employee forms that I will fill out and give to her on Tuesday! Looking forward to this new experience!! I fly back home on Monday afternoon!

Thanks everyone who had even a small part in making this truly a weekend to remember! Now looking forward to moving into that new house this coming weekend!!!!!!!!! If you are in the neighborhood, feel free to come help move furniture and help us set up house!

Getting better and better

As some of you know, I got the opportunity to fly out to Fort Worth and visit friends in Willow Park and former co-workers/bosses at BNSF. So I won't post any pictures, but wanted to update you on the house. Appliances are in, light fixtures and plugs are in (took lots of light bulbs), plumbing is working (YEA!!) and I remembered to take some toilet paper over there. The pendant lights look especially nice, in fact I thank everyone who helped me in the process. Tile man was working on kitchen backsplash on oven wall and will be finishing up the tub backsplash in the master. So much work was getting done this week! Barron will be setting up his shop while I am out of town. I am also starting my new job on Tuesday, so keep us in your prayers. MOVE DATE is Saturday, Oct 4 -- anyone in the area who wants to help is WELCOME!! Barron plans to move some items on Friday too.

Thanks to everyone who was a part of our house project. It is simply beautiful. Can't wait to see the landscaping accomplished!!

Faucets, Faucets and More

So glad the plumbers were at work today! Electrician comes tomorrow to put up all those lights and all those outlets - and get the appliances in. William is back to finish closets and a little trimwork. Getting closer to move in date of October 4!

Great Day!

What a wonderful day we had today. Started off the day by heading to the new house to finish installing window blinds (unfortunately no other workers were there!). Saw a lot of activity at our neighbor's place (Philip & Nancy Garrison) and had to find out what was going on. Seems David and Philip and their families were making cane/sorghum syrup similar to the way they had helped their Dad in years past. They had already pressed the cane and the juice was cooking. Had the pleasure of meeting more of the Garrison family: Jeanette and Hanley (our new across-the-street neighbors), and David, Martha and son Caleb. David is Minister of Music at nearby Welcome Baptist Church. Came home for lunch, did some laundry, and decided we had to go back and check on the syrup making. They had poured up one batch and more was cooking!

We got a return phone call from Tim and Jan Sexton that they were home and we could come over. Several weeks ago we had visited with them at Jack's and started talking genealogy. I got some basic information from the two of them and spent several evenings doing research on the computer. So we took some of the information I had printed for them and showed them how they could do further research courtesy of the internet and Ancestry.com. Jan's Mom stopped by and Barron was able to talk about his Scott/Haynes relatives with her. Then Jan invited us to stay for taco soup and burritos and we are glad we accepted that invitation. Had opportunity to get to know their children too.

Hurried home to make peach cobbler for the Scott Reunion tomorrow! (will add fried okra and fried chicken to that) Did I mention that we had rain last night and it was a nice cool day today? Know the syrup guys were so glad of that!! Thank you Lord for a wonderful day!!!!!!

Kitchen Countertops

Don't they look lovely?? You might notice that the small cabinet to the right of the refrigerator is missing its top -- we don't know why! Maybe it just didn't get on the truck. But the two pieces they cut out for the sink they made into cutting boards (so now we have something to take with us to the shop so we can pick out the backsplash tile! Just thought that the cutting boards were such a good idea! Plumber is to come in tomorrow - yea!!! I'll be glad to have indoor plumbing! Looks like moving date will be October 4 (since I will be in Texas next weekend!).

While we were away ... lots of work!

Pictures in order: sink cabinet, refrigerator cabinet (note chair rail now added in dining room), trash bin/lazy susan cabinet, two pictures of kitchen bar, and the guest bath countertop.

Cabinets arrive!!!

Aren't they BEAUTIFUL!!!! Pictures in order: master tub, master bath, kitchen/pantry, laundry room. (The laundry unit was so long it couldn't go around the corner of the hallway so they took out the two window panes and passed it through from the front yard. This is Meredith and her Dad James!)

Shutters and New Windows - Complete Look!

Work is moving fast ahead and we are so ready!! Shutters were put on today and the windows swapped out. Shane (and his helpers) is working on the tile in the shower! Check out the fancy tile border in the shower which will also be the tub backsplash! Hopefully cabinets will be installed tomorrow!