Thursday, December 27, 2012


December 27, 2012

     This has been a very lovely Christmas. Christmas Eve day was quiet in the morning but the afternoon was very busy. Dorean, Amanda, McKenzie, Colton and I went to one of the malls and walked for what seemed like miles. We did some last minute shopping because there were some good bargains. We went to Panera’s for bagels and cream cheese’ Yummmmmmm! Then four very tired ladies went home.

     By the time I got home I needed to start on our traditional Oyster Stew supper. I made a crock pot full of stew and fried up 4 pints of oysters. I decided to try to duplicate the French fries we had eaten at The Hurricane restaurant Sunday. I put frozen fried on a sheet and put melted butter, finely chopped garlic and parmesan cheese on them then put them in the oven. They went over in a big way. We ate 2 pans of them. I will definitely be serving them again.

The tradition goes that we can’t open presents until we have cleaned up after dinner. That is always the fastest clean-up you have ever seen. When that was done we had a great time   opening our gifts. We draw names so there is one gift for everyone.  Of course the little ones got more. McKenzie was on cloud nine all evening and Colton was not impressed.

     Christmas Day was full of family and food. We had “Santa” for the two little ones. Once again Colton was not impresses. He and McKenzie get to have two “Santas,” one at their house and one at our house. We have been “Santa” for many, many years and I love it.

    Everyone was here for an early lunch except Deanna’s family, she was having Matt’s     family over to her house for Dinner. We ate early because Tim had to go to work at Disney.

The afternoon was filled with family still having fun and some of us ladies went to see “Les Mis.” It was good and very well done. I had watched one last week made in 1935. Some things   were different but the story remained true to the original.

     We usually have pumpkin pancakes for breakfast on Christmas Day but we decided to try something new so when we got home from the movie we fried bacon and made our pumpkin pancakes. They are soooooooooooo good!

     Yesterday was what I call a coming down from the mountain top kind of day. I always feel a little “down” after these big days with the family and I miss them when they are all gone. But today begins the “moving on” of life.

     This is our 54th wedding anniversary and our daughters are going to take us out to one of our favorite restaurants, Bone Fish Grill. It will be a great night!

     I will say good-by to you all. I’ll get back to you soon.

     God bless you all.

     Mary Margaret

The big “C” in me is Christ enabling me to deal with the little “c” cancer.”

Remember to E-mail me

angel8mmj@gmail.com

 

Sunday, December 23, 2012


December 23, 2012
     Today has been such a wonderful day that I must take the time to tell you about it.
     It started with church this morning. Every seat was filled. I don’t think there was one empty seat. If any more had come in we would have had to move to the larger auditorium. That was a blessing in its self. There were people from all over the US. It is always a blessing to meet Christians from so many different places. We are alike in that we love the same Lord and enjoy praising Him in song and prayer together. The music was outstanding also. Donna sang “Breath of Heaven” and she and Daniel sang “Little Child.” Almost everyone was shedding tears, I know I was, and at one point everyone was clapping. It is such a meaningful song and they do it very well.
     We had canceled Bible Study for tonight. So we came home and changed clothes. Donna and Daniel picked us up and we picked up David and Hannah then drove to D & D’s little lake house in Tavares. They have a cute little house on the lake with a dock for their boat. It needs some work and they do a little at a time on it. We took the boat out and it was very cold. We were bundled up like we were going to the Arctic Circle. First we went to a wonderful restaurant called Hurricanes. They had Santa and Mrs. Santa there and we had a good time talking to them. The food was very good.
     We set out again in the boat to go down the channel which was a beautiful ride. There are cypress trees on both sides that bend over the water and the trees are full of all kinds of birds which Daniel identified every one of them for us. It was a lovely ride, kind of like being a Disney. We were going very slow so it wasn’t very cold at all. We got back to the lake in time to see a beautiful sunset. We just sat and watched it for awhile. What a beautiful site!
     We got back to the cabin at about dark and lit up the fire it that David had built. Donna had all the stuff we needed to make Smores but I love burnt marshmallows so I ate a whole bunch of them. It was warm and peaceful around the fire. Watching the flames and talking was so much fun. We finally   decided we had to end the beautiful day and return home and back to our real lives.
     The really good news is that we will do it again next week on Monday and take the boat out to the middle of the lake and watch the fireworks of 3 different cities. We are hoping Dorean and her family will be able to join us.
     God has given me a beautiful Sunday to keep in my memory bank. Being with my kids is doing anything or nothing is always a treat for me.
     Last Wednesday night Dorean took  Donna and me out to Disney to see the Candlelight    Processional. It is a big production they have every Christmas. They bring in celebrities in to read the Christmas story and they have a choir of about 400. Some of them are Disney singers and the majority of them is made up of choirs from the area high schools. Alfie Woodard was the celebrity for the night. She did a beautiful job and the music was amazing. It is surprising to see something so spiritual at Disney. The story was from the Bible and the music was carols that we all sing in church at    Christmas. Before the processional we stopped in the German pavilion and got caramel popcorn make from Werther’s caramel. Tooooooooooo good!
     This is the end of a wonderful day. I enjoyed it to the fullest.
Love to all and Merry Christmas.
Mary Margaret
The big “C” in me is Christ enabling me to deal with the little “c” cancer.”
Remember to E-mail me

 

Friday, December 14, 2012


December 14, 2012
     It has been awhile since I have posted anything. I have been resting my brain a bit. Today I can’t resist pouring out my heart. This morning a shooter went into an elementary school and killed 20 children and 7 adults. I can’t help the tears that flow from my eyes as I think of the parents and families that have lost those dear to them. What kind of Christmas will be celebrated in those homes?
     What is happening to our country? This type of thing is happening much too often. Churches, movie     theaters, malls, schools, there isn’t a safe place for us and our children. This is what happens when a people turn away from God, the nation becomes Godless and their hearts and minds are controlled by Satan. This   nation had denied the God that was the basis for its foundation. This is a frightening time for us all. Children all over this nation are going to be afraid to go to school on Monday. This shouldn’t be happening to a nation that says we are “one nation, under God” as part of our pledge. The truth is that we are no longer “under God”. As a people we have taken ourselves from under the protection and will of God. We can expect nothing more than what we are getting.
     God is the only perfect good in this universe. The less there is of Him the less good there is in the universe. When we deny Him His rightful place among us we are lessening the good within us. Those of us that know God must increase our prayers, we must reflect the goodness of God to those around us.
     I recently got a book of prayers and devotions of the Puritans. This little book has blessed me in an amazing way. As I began reading it I thought I wanted to write some of them in my blog. I soon realized that I actually wanted to put almost everyone of them in my blog. I’m going to give you a sample of one here.
Author of all existence, source of all blessedness,
I adore thee for making me capable of knowing thee,
for giving me reason and conscience, for leading me to desire thee;
I praise thee for the revelation of thyself in the gospel,                                                                           for thy heart as a dwelling place of pity, for thy thoughts of peace towards me,  
for thy patience and thy graciousness,      
for the vastness of thy mercy.
     Thou hast moved my conscience to know                                                                                              the guilty can be pardoned, the unholy sanctified, the poor enriched.
May I be always amongst those who not only hear thee but know thee, who walk with and rejoice in thee, who take thee at thy word and find life there.
Keep me always longing
for a present salvation in Holy Spirit comforts and rejoicings,
for spiritual graces and blessings,
for help to value my duties as well as my privileges.
May I cherish simplicity and godly sincerity of character.
Help me to be in reality before thee as an appearance I am before men,                                      
to be religious before I profess religion, to leave the world before I enter the church,                           to set my affections on things above, to shun forbidden follies and vanities,
to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of  grace, to be prepared to ear evil as well as to do good.
O God, make me worthy of this calling,
that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me and I in him.
     There is a line that blew my mind. “I adore thee for making me capable of knowing thee.” Isn’t that amazing? We would not even be capable of knowing Him if He didn’t give us that ability. I am constantly learning more of what He is doing in us, through us and for us.
     All I can say now is, “Help us Lord, we are nothing without You.”
     Love to all,
     Mary Margaret