'Tis the Season

So 'tis the season and a time that we can chose to be all stressed out with shopping, baking, decorating, year end duties at work, and even taxes(yuck)...OR we can chose to CELEBRATE the real reason for the season and that is the birth of Jesus, our Savior and soon coming King and the true example of selflessness and GIVING!

I must admit the past few weeks in my work & at Sandy Creek Farms have been VERY stressful and busy (the reason my poor blog has been neglected)...which then lends itself to tiredness and crabbiness :(

I decided on my way home from work tonight, after a very long day, that I am NOT going to let all this "busy-ness" stop me from CELEBRATING and being a cheerful giver! I want to continue the spirit of thankfulness from November as I am very blessed with family, friends, health, and a job!!

So I thought I would share a few pics from around my house with you that make me happy and I hope they will make you smile as well! (Remember I do not have a fancy camera nor am I a skilled photographer)

This Nativity atop my piano is a reminder of what Christmas is all about... made by my bro-in-law for us many years ago.

My tree which I love! Sorry I cut off the Angels' head in the pic...shes bumping the ceiling anyways...ha ha

GREETINGS

from my front door

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...hubs painted my brick whilst I was in Charleston, SC...isn't he the best?...it was a lovely hideous pink color...now waiting for that monstrous wood burner to be removed so I can add a lovely screen and again start using the open fire.

Please stop by for a visit and when you hang your keys by the door you will be greeted by my ANGEL!...she was given to me last Christmas by my dear friend Candi who is watching this Christmas from her new home in Heaven...oh how we miss her, but we know she is in GREAT HANDS and we will see her soon!!

I already have the table set....JUST FOR YOU!!

I love decorating for Christmas, even small things like tassels on your cabinet doors are happy!

and lastly the two things I wish for all of you, my family & friends....!!!!

xo

Jerri

A Romantic Carriage Ride for Two...errr Three!!

Some of you know that Ash & I made a little trip down to Charleston, SC this past week/weekend to do a little wedding planning...and Kirk too, who flew down on Thursday.

Just a few notes then on to the fun things...the pics!...but don't get too excited "cause I don't got no fancy camera"...(sorry just a little hillbilly humor there)


*On Wednesday when we were driving down we got stuck on Fancy Gap mountain in Virginia (no detour out) where it took us 2 hours to go 7 short miles...ugh

*The weather in Charleston was cold and rainy up until we left to go to Savannah, GA on Friday evening...it was warmer in St. Charles, IL than in Charleston...go figure :)

We got a few items taken care of and most importantly were able to do them in person with Liz Demos, our most awesome wedding planner & her cute, talented, & VERY organized assistant, Meg.



Meg, Liz & Claire from Magnolia Plantation

First of three cupcake tastings & a sneek peak of Rehearsal Dinner locale

When we finished up with "business" on Friday we headed down to Savannah for our third cupcake tasting session and to just be tourists for a day...which was the best part...relaxing and enjoying the beautiful scenery and weather!

And who wouldn't want to buy cupcakes from here homemade by Miss Cheryl herself...they were by far the best of the three sets we tasted...and she is just as sweet as her "treats" ! This girl has happy hour at her place where they serve up shots of her yummy icing!!!

Corner booth at Back In the Day Bakery

Of course we visited here....and isn't that a "yummy" wall of Christmas stuff! A scrumptious dinner and then our time in Savannah concluded with our faithful guide "Cricket" taking us "3" on a most awesome carriage tour of the city!

In case you're interested, "Cricket" is a blue Weimaraner who loves to run in the "forest"...
or so says her German owner! :)

Let Me Introduce You

Well it seems I have been a bit too busy for blogging lately...doing what, I am not sure, but anyways taking the time for a quickie post tonight. Even though I am not posting, I have been keeping up with all of you :)

In case you haven't met them, let me take this opportunity to introduce you to the ones who mean the most to me!

To my left is my Number One...some of you refer to your as hubs, but I affectionately call mine Trick. :)

This photo was taken by Nate when he & his Dad went fishing in Wisconsin for his Senior trip. Oh and by the way, this man is always happy!! Yes, I did say always! Sometimes, I don't even realize how really blessed I am!!!

Some of you already know my first born Ash, what an awesome daughter she is! Beautiful inside and out!...and with her is my sweet son-in-law to be Kirk, who is also such a great young man! (I know it seems I am bragging but thats what we Mom's do best)...I love to read and see what your children are up to as well, so please do share!!! Miss Ash graduated from UC in 3 short years and then went to WVU where she graduated her Masters in August and is now making her own way in the world as an employee of the Federal Government! Yay!! Kirk graduates with his Industrial Engineering Degree in May, just in time for the big Wedding and then he, too will be kicked off of the Parental Payroll program!...ha ha

This is my handsome and talented "baby" Nate!...who is probably too much like his mother for his own good. I can't wait to see what great things he is able to accomplish in his life. He is a runner, avid fly fisher, photographer, and most importantly a college student studying to teach high school and coach.

Check out some of his photography here http://ncrphotography.wordpress.com/

This is "Dub" our spoiled rotten 10 yr old Boxer/Lab(see photo as to how he owns our leather couch) who also gets me up at least once, if not two or three times in the night!! Sweet "hubs" just can't seem to hear him. Does any of this sound familar, like when they also couldn't hear the baby? hmmmm I see a pattern.

Sorry about the poor photo...he kind of blends in with the couch...ha ha

And last but not least, this is "Button" who is very soft and furry but leaves her very soft white fur everywhere all over my house...ugh! Thank God for lint brushes!!

Hope you enjoyed meeting the members of my family(if you didn't know them already) as much I enjoy getting to meet each of yours!

PS I remember now why I do not have time to blog because I can never seem to get this thing to look like I want, but hope you enjoy anyway!

xo

I'm Back

Well after what seems like a long time away from BlogLand I am back...whew aren't you glad? {smiles}

If anyone has been following you know that my sweet friend and daughters' mother-in-law to be was battling breast cancer and she finally WON her fight last Thursday when she passed on to eternity and a body that is no longer broken! We that are left behind can hardly imagine what it is going to be like without her!! Please bear with me for a minute as I honor her by saying that she went through more than I could even begin to tell you over the last 15 years battling this disease and NEVER complained!!!! Please keep her hubby, 3 sons, and sweet young daughter in your prayers as the hard part for them is yet to come.

Wedding planning definitely got put on hold but we are looking forward to more happier times and know that her spirit will be there with us!! The only thing new on this front is we signed with our photographer and you need to check out her amazing work here. We are looking forward to meeting up with Liz next month and getting a lot of things done!

Gotta run for now and do some interviewing for new employees at the FARM but hopefully I can get back to regular posting!

Much love~

Watching & Waiting

Watching for my sweet baby boy to come in the door for a long weekend visit...he hasn't been home in a few weeks as he's been traveling around the country doing this....anxious for him to come home as he hasn't been feeling well for a bit now...I think a trip to the doctor may be in order :( while he's home for Fall Break!

That's us last weekend in Greensboro...was a little bit(well, alot) rainy...but he ran awesome anyways!

Waiting for my sweet baby girl to also have a long weekend with us...her first paid holiday! :) Aren't these two of the cutest Mountaineers you have ever seen? Congrats Mr. R on your induction into the Engineering Honor Society!

Watching as my dear, brave, & sweet friend continues to wage war against cancer! Waiting for my sweet Savior to heal her broken body according to His will! Please continue to pray for her, her husband, & children!

Words from In the Waiting by Greg Long(Listen on my Playlist)

Pain

The gift nobody longs for, still it comes, And somehow leaves us stronger, When it's gone away

Pray

I try and pray for Your will to be done, But I confess it's never fast enough for me, It seems the hardest part is waiting on You

When what I really want, Is just to see Your hand move

(Chorus) I want a peace beyond my understanding I want to feel it fall like rain

In the middle of my hurting ,I want to feel Your arms as they surround me, And let me know that it's okay

To be here in this place, Resting in the peace that only comes In the waiting

So Its Official

Well most of you already knew that the engagement of these two darlings was official, but just in case you didn't....NOW YOU DO! Sweet photos by my talented son (if I do say so myself )...smiles! Check out his work here!









This would be the ring that made it official! (this pic doesn't do it justice-Nate was just trying to get the heart shadow)
















The contracts have been signed and the check has been mailed so Ash & I can "officially" announce we have secured the most amazing and talented Wedding Planner in the South...Liz Demos! Liz has a shop in Savannah and her work has been featured in Country Living, Savannah Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens & others! We cannot wait to see what kind of magical evening she will create for Ash & Kirk at the beautiful Magnolia Plantation. Check out this image from a wedding she recently did!






You can see more @ Liz's Flickr site!








So far we have the location, THE dress, working on finalizing contract with the photographer, the wedding party, and now we have "the" wedding planner! We will be meeting her in Charleston in November for some details, tastings, etc. As soon as we have a story board, I am sure she will let us share it as well! It's a Vintage theme, of course, with some beautiful colors including Ash's favorite pink peonies.























Oh and by the way, we will be using these so cute sea-blue Ball Mason jars that I have already purchased. Please stay tuned for many more fun and exciting details!









PS Please keep Mr. R, his family, and especially his sweet Momma in your prayers! This link to an amazing song, which I hope you will listen to, is dedicated to her!! I love you CAN!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTr8mB--sZw&feature=PlayList&p=1A2B1C84DAE6E2A0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=32

Quickie Random Post

I am sitting in my office, supposed to be doing work for here, because I am SO behind since taking up blogging!...but you decide what is more fun! :) Luckily I cook dinner and care for the "boss" so he lets me work at my own pace. I also need to hurry because tonight is GREY's night!!! I am excited!

First item of business is to tell you about an awesome giveaway over @ Lola B's...that Kasey never ceases to amaze me...and I have said it before that you won't find a more genuine, generous, life-loving girlie!...who just happens to have amazing taste and a beautiful family and and and and.....this could take a while! Seriously...see cute pics of her in my earlier posts.

Second item on the agenda is I am supposed to be getting ready to go watch these sweet things run this weekend in Greensboro but instead I am "busy" blogging!

L is Nate and R is Chelsea

Third item is to show you what my handsome men were up to this weekend while Ash & I were at the Country Living Fair...they also lead such a rough life!!! :) Check out their weekend and some amazing photography here @ NCR Photography.

Gotta Run!! Until next time....

Blogger Award

So I received this from my sweet daughter, Ash today! Thanks, honey!

The Honest Scrap Award

The rules are listed below.
*Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
*Share "10 honest things" about myself.
*Present this award to 7 other people whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
*Tell those 7 people they've been awarded the HONEST SCRAP AWARD.

1) I am thankful that Jesus is my Savior, unworthy as I may be, and that my husband, daughter, and son know him personally as well!

2)I LOVE LOVE LOVE KIDS!..First of all my own! and particularly teenagers...I have always gotten along well with them and have surrogate parented many strays who still call me "Mom".

One of my best Mother's Days ever was when I came home from Church on a Mother's Day Sunday and sticking in my door was the sweetest card ever from one of my "adoptees", who was only about 16 or 17 at the time, and it read To My Other Mother...he is 24 now and still comes to see me when he is in town!

3)My calling is life is Oncology Nursing and Hospice. Although I am currently in Rehab Sales & Marketing I know what my true passion is. It is so heartbreaking to lose a patient, but there is no joy like when I recently saw a patient from about 10 yrs ago and she is healthy & thriving and because of her illness, her husband (they were only married 3 months when she was diagnosed) is now about to graduate nursing school!! I have also made some wonderful lifetime friends!

4)I am several pounds overweight and stress about it all the time! I am trying to learn to just enjoy being healthy and to be thankful for who God made me to be.

5)Sort of copying from my best friend and daughter, but I have been married to the love of my life for almost 24 years! I know that I need to be kinder and more appreciative, as he is one of the kindest, sweetest, hardworking men I know and I am very blessed!!!

6)Ugh...hate to admit it, but I am a nail biter...alway have been...always will be! Maybe this is why I lost my appendix in my very early twenties! Yuck!

7) I play the piano and sing but I am not good at all! Oh how I wish I was!

8) I love horses! I grew up riding them, gave lessons, etc. My dream life would be to own a horse farm with a bunch of delinquent teenagers, who no one else wanted, to help me there! :)

9) I have been through a lot of tragedy in my life, such as losing my only brother in a drowning accident when I was just 18 and he was 21, and losing my step dad(only dad, I knew...see below) to cancer while I was in Nursing school and several other things BUT I AM A SURVIVOR SO PLEASE DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR ME!... BECAUSE I HAVE AN AWESOME LIFE, AM SO BLESSED AND VERY THANKFUL!!!

10) Lastly, I am named after my father, Jerry, who was killed by a drunk driver while my Mom was still pregnant for me! I am very intolerant of drinking and driving!

and sorry I also have 11) Even though Ash's upcoming wedding is so very sad due to the illness of his mother...I am excited for them and can't wait to have a son-in-law and lots of little grand babies...second favorites to teenagers! :)

I present my 7 awards to the following:

Nate @ NCR Photography-my talented and sweet baby who made me an "empty nester" this year :(

The Macs-my first Blog that I followed and one of the most inspiring that I have ever read

Kasey-What can I say? How can you not just love this girl and her zest for life!!!and her family is just too darn adorable

Tara-so sweet and so honest!

Paige-what an awesome story and how lovely she and her family are!

Meg-one of the first few blogs I started to follow, very creative and inspiring!

Jeanne-how incredibly talented is this cute, engergetic, homeschooling Mom!

And sorry I can't just stop @ 7!...(I also have a thing with rules!!)

Tracey-my newest Blog friend!

Jen-what can you say about such a beautiful and talented mother of 9!

Lissa-very beautiful and honestly inspiring!

Uninspired

On the L is Tracey and on the right is Kara looking very lovely!

Top is my sweet Ash after a long day & night of Friends & Fun at the Country Living Fair!

Bottom...clockwise R to L-Kasey in her adorable $$ Anthro shoes (notice both of her feet made the pic)...Ash in her $$ VS boots, Tracey in her lovely $$ Anthro shoes and me in my...mmm...ShoeShow bargain kicks :)

I have been wanting to post some pics from the Country Living Fair, albeit the few that I have, since my memory card was full and Ash forgot her camera...but we have been sailing in rough waters since we arrived safely back at home. We received heartbreaking news when my friend and Ash's m-i-l to be was sent home with Hospice today. Although we knew it was a possibility, there are no words to describe the hurt and the pain especially for her husband and children. Please pray for their peace in the midst of this terrible storm and that Ash & Mr. R can still find the joy in their upcoming wedding...so sorry that I am the UNINSPIRED downer at the moment, but I find comfort in knowing that I can share with you and that you understand!

It didn't help the Bridesmaid dresses arrived today and were supposed to be a lovely Rosette color...but are instead, indeed, a very Barney purple. Luckily even though they were supposed to be non-returnable, Ann Taylor was very gracious and is allowing us to send them back. Yay for great customer service!!!

Kasey and sweet McKell...Darcy, from McMaster & Storm's daughter, in their "tooth fairy" skirts purchased at the Country Living Fair from The Vintage Barn.

That's All!

I Will Sing

Lord You seem so far away
A million miles or more it feels today
And though I haven’t lost my faith
I must confess right now
That it’s hard for me to pray
But I don’t know what to say
And I don’t know where to start
But as You give the grace
With all that’s in my heart
I will sing
I will praise
Even in my darkest hour
Through the sorrow and the pain
I will sing
I will praise
Lift my hands to honor You
Because Your Word is true
I will sing
Lord it’s hard for me to see
All the thoughts and plans You have for me
But I will put my trust in You
Knowing that You died to set me free
But I don’t know what to say
And I don’t know where to start
But as You give the grace
With all that’s in my heart
I will sing
I will praise
Even in my darkest hour
Through the sorrow and the pain
I will sing
I will praise
Lift my hands to honor You
Because Your Word is true
I will sing
Don Moen


I could hardly make it through this song at church this morning for a couple of reasons:
(1) My heart is overflowing with thankfulness for all the blessings that I am allowed to enjoy...such as time spent with my family, the beautiful weather, and health...just to name a few.
(2) My heart is very heavy with the burden I carry for my friend who is sick, and I want her to be able to know that as the song says, BECAUSE YOUR WORD IS TRUE, that she can still sing, knowing with peaceful assurance that she will be made whole again!..maybe not how, or when, or where we want, but He does a plan for her life!

Sometimes we think we have it so bad for whatever reasons, but if we will just invest our time and energy into someone else who is struggling, our own problems seem to fade and our lives are so much richer!

Go out and SING this week my friends!

In the Beginning

In the beginning when God created the Heaven and Earth it was a shapeless, chaotic mass...which is where my attempt at blogging begins. It took me some time to decide on a name that wasn't already being used so FINDING THEIR WINGS will be my attempt to fill up some of the time and space in my heart and home now that I am an "empty nester"... and learn to let go...trusting God and his love and guidance to help my precious children make their own way in the world! It might even be a bit fun and exciting as I help to plan the late Spring wedding of my one and only daughter!
In the beginning my daughter and best friend, EmersynLane, introduced me to a couple of new worlds...blogging and Etsy which we both fell in love with immediately! I must tell you that the first blog I followed was The Macs and the story of sweet Cora which led me to find many other blogs that I enjoy.
After attending last years Country Living Fair we discovered Lola B's and were recently afforded the pleasure of meeting the sweet and generous Kasey and some of her friends in person! When I told my friends & family here at home that we were traveling many miles/hours to meet one of our "blog friends" I got some interesting comments such as "what if she is a ___________?"...you fill in the blank. (smiles) Not to my surprise she was just as lovely as I had thought!!..and I can't wait to meet up with her and the gals again soon at this years CL Fair!
I have found many friends here in "Blogland" that cause me to feel happy, inspired, sad, empathetic, etc. I hope that my musings on here will also cause someone to smile or say... AH HA!...I am not the only one!...or to possibly spare or share someone else's hurt or pain!
I am just learning how to blog so please be patient with me as I try to link, post photos, etc.... feel free to share the "easy" way to do something (such as creating a hyperlink) which I am not sure I have done sucessfully tonight, or to let me know if I have done something I should not!
Lastly for those of you who pray and believe I covet your prayers for my friend and daughter's future MIL as she fights a VALIANT war against yet another return of the ugly monster, breast cancer! Stay tuned....here we go!