Christmas in Branson

We left the 24th to go to Branson, we rented a cabin, it was a four bedroom, four bath, 3000 sq. ft, with a huge screened in porch, had two family rooms, which was great, it was iceberg cold in Branson! But only snowed one night and nothing stuck on streets which was great, because we were on top of a mountain, and would of for sure been stuck!

 

This was it in the dark:) Steve and I got there the 24th, then Hannah and Alicia and their families came the 25th, then Sean and his family came the 27th.  We played games, ate, I cooked so much food, we had a Honey baked Ham for Christmas lunch, with all the trimmings, then a Brisket, Larry cooked for us in LA, with all the trimmings, then Sarah did duck breast, I made fudge for Alicia:) made cookies for all,  loved cooking, the kitchen and family room were together:)

Playing games

 

 

 

Two of the bedrooms had big jacuzzi tubs, so all took advantage of those, I think all four girls at one time:)    we were going to Zip line but it was so cold we decided to wait, guess I will do that with Connie:)    We just had a good ole family time, cousins played so good together,

 Something that is very important to Steve and I is closeness of our family, we make it a priority to have times when who ever can be with us come and have family time, it will keep the cousins close, give them fond memories and it keeps brother's and sister's close and all the spouses close, we love, hug, laugh, pray, cry if needed and play, eat for sure:) get frustrated at all the noise, get by our selves when need be, lay all piled up in the bed together, but most of all take time out to be friends, family and know how much we love each other.  Life is always so busy with work, and hectic schedules we do not take the time daily or weekly, so it is a priority to provide this time for our children, who ever can,  comes, who can't come is really missed, next family vacation time is in August, as far as I know:) In Florida.  If things slow down enough for me I will do family lunch on one Sunday every two months or so, just have to play it by ear:) Last night there it snow and we went to the Dixie Stampede,

I love our Christmas gift to our children, we enjoyed it immensely!

 

Today Miss April is 22 years young:) She has shopped till she dropped,  we are on our way home and she is fast asleep!  I dread unloading the car :(  Tomorrow we go to Mississippi with Hannah and Mark, meeting my friend Sherry and Steve's sister Pat and husband Donald to spend New Year's with them and some other friends.   Before I do I am showing property in the am:) Then on Jan. 2nd gotta get it in Real Estate, I have not even set my goals for 2013, did make the ones I had for 2012:) except I did not get Christmas cards out by the 5th., I always send calendars and they did not come in till the 23rd, NOT GOOD! But I will send them out in January! Now for some snooze time while my sweetie drives me home!  Love to all and to all a wonderful 2013!





Averitt/Rogers Christmas 2012

 

Christmas Averitt/Rogers

Mark and Hannah

Jimmy and Erma, Brie

As I have been anticipating this family time, I knew I would miss mother, and I did, but this was such a wonderful day, it started with Journey Church with all my babies except Sean and Sarah and Cole and Anna.  Alex had preached on the coming of Christ, it has kept me focused on the inportane of this time of year:)  God has so blessed my end of year in Real Estate, I am so so thankful for all He has done for me and my family.  After church we went to Carino's,

 had to sit at three different tables, but it all worked out perfect, then home to get ready for our family Christmas, this am was little hetic getting all nine of us baths and getting to church on time, yes, I was late:) but it worked out fine casue they started late:) So the girls, Victoria and Alexandria came back with me, got it all back to normal, put Baby Luke and April down for a nap, April has to work all night tonight, then the family began coming about 2:30ish, we had such a fun time, the kids laughed, reminisce on childhood memories, the grand babies loved playing with each other, we draw names between the children, so they get their gift from daddygrand and I,  the person who drew their names, I had them all sit down and tell me what this time of year was all about, I am so proud to say they all know and understand its about the birth of Jesus and we give gifts to celebrate His birth, just as the wise men did:)  They sang some Christmas carols, so cute, all my grand babies can be actors and actresses, they are animated, and will sing, dance, in public, I love it, they sounded so good too!! Most of all I am thankful they have parents who instill in them the importance of Christmas as we did them:)   My brother and his wife Erma, their grand daughter Brie came, I love it when they can come too!!

 he looks so much like my daddy:)

 

 

My sister came by for awhile, they had the Smith family Christmas this evening.

Hannah got me these foot shoes you wear as you prop your feet up, you heat them in microwave and then put them on your feet, they feel so so so good!!

 

 

Steve and I got the house back straight, and he is sitting asleep in his chair:) I am waiting ot hear the news then off to bed, I have appointment for Real Estate in and and then we are off to Branson for a Branson Christmas Vacation, I am so ready for that!! It will be such fun family time, we will celebrate April turning 22 at Joe's crab shack!! Miss April did move in yesterday, she has her closet ready and room still looks like mother but I am sure she will add her touch to it!  I sure miss my mama, but know she is a part of everything  from Heaven:) Just wish I could hug on her one more time, Kay had a video of her last year holding her snowman, saying Merry Christmas to all!  I loved it, but sure do miss her. 

Guess what????/ It is suppose to snow on Christmas, so I got the kids all sleds, I sure hope it does ! I am hoping it does in Branson!  One year we got snowed in there, for another week, so much fun:) Guess we will just have to see what happens!  Well its the ending of 2012, its been a hard year, put my Cali dog to sleep, she is the little back weenie dog, 18 years old, the other is Dually McGill my grand dog:) he is good.  Then mother's brother past away with cancer, then mother passed away in Sept., but God has been faithful to pick me up and set my feet firmly in Him, I have been so blessed with so much worked, Steve and I as you know worked night and day Oct., November, so busy in December, I never got my Christmas cards out:((( but I do have my yearly calendars, I will get them out asap! If you do not receive one and want one, let me know, I will get it to you!  Ready for bed, will be waiting on snow.......Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Baby its gotta get cold outside for some snow:) Hugs and good night, Merry Christmas to you and to all a good night!

 

 

My Grand Babies, so blessed, thank you Lord!

 

UGH!! No pics of Mawmaw!

 

My mamaw, Steve and Roy:)  Connie sent me a pic:)

 

 

 

Oysters at Don's

Shopping, Larry driving us around to get out at shoppes:)  I gave Larry my pkgs, and got more money from Steve:)

Connie and I

 

Finished my week out last week and got several deals closed, having my best year yet, will close over ten million this year, most of it done since Oct. 1st., why I have been so busy.  We left Tuesday 18th to go to Baton Rouge to see Connie and Maw maw and family.  Connie made some yummy Gumbo, coconut pie and chocolate pie, pralines,fudge,divinity,potato salad the first night I ate all of what I stated:)  Maw maw and Roy came over and ate too! I have not seen Maw maw in a year, when we brought mother to LA last year the first of December. Left out the next morning to shop,  we went to Don's for lunch, had me some oysters and they were yummy!   The onion rings were too good too. We shopped at Cabella and the out let mall, got a few gifts and me a red sweater and black shirt:) We went home and played dominions and beat Steve and Larry all three games! Then went to eat at a little house, not sure the name but it was a real neat place, had delicious food, came home went to bed, tired, real full:) Larry and Connie feed us very well, I am so sure I have gained bout ten pounds while there, when they come and see us, I will get them back:) Thursday we got up went to breakfast at a mom and pop dinner, it was so good too, went to Tony's seafood place to get my brother some shrimp, they are having a Seafood Christmas, I would make my self sick on seafood if that place was near me! Got home and Maw maw and Roy came over, played Rook, Steve and Maw maw and Connie and Roy played.  I learned:) Larry brought some fillets and grilled them, so tender, I had some more gumbo too! Larry had a friend smoke me two brisket for our family Christmas!  He and Connie totally go out of their way to take care of everything!  It was so good for me to  be with them, made me feel closer to mother, felt her there with us, we talked and laughed, cried on things she said and did:) Good memories!  Connie is always cheerful and laughing, just a upbeat person, love being with her! I have made it a point these past two years to be around more family, first it was for mother, now it is for me:)  Connie is more like my sister then my aunt, I am very thankful for her in  my life.  Got to see Mr. Gavin who you pray for, he is doing good, eye is still in tack, just can not see but eye ball still there:) keep praying for him, it will be a year this New Year's.  I cannot believe I did not take more pics of our trip, I do not even have one of Maw maw, maybe Connie had one and I can snag it:)  On the way home we finished up our Christmas shopping:)
Closed two loans today and have three more to close before years end:)) April moves home Saturday, which is tomorrow:)  then we have Averitt/Rogers Christmas Sunday and then Monday off to Branson, promise to take pics, I need Santa to bring me a new camera!!! Guess I better start being a good girl.   Still driving home then I am off and running!  Merry Christmas to all!!

Happy Birthday April Rebecca!!!

My little April and her best friends since fourth grade had a Birthday weekend, decided on planning a night for them at the Casino, I thought if they were going to go I had rather them all go with me!

Molly, Alex, Brooke, April

 

I knew right off this may make for a long night, started with about 20 pounds of crab legs, for real twenty or more:) 

They ate so many the people around them were amazed at how much they ate!

Next stop was to check out the slot machines, they did not last long on these, Molly was the big winner with her twenty dollars, she won 154.00 dollars!  They learned real quick, the casino wins the money:0

 

 They had a great Country and Western Band, they sang Happy Birthday to Miss April, matter of fact the girls had the whole place watching them! I know that caught you by surprise!

 

 

This is my NO, NO, NO having to put up the stop signs!  This is for the men who wanted to dance with my ladies:)

 

 April and I and the girls danced the night away,

 

We actually did dance on the dance floor, I even made it through two straight dances, Johnny Be Good and Blue Suede Shoes, but we brought the house down with Margarita Ville!  Then the girls called the HOGS:)  It was a safe place to have fun, we had a great time,  finally at one am, got them some food to take to room and they watched a movie till four am! 

 

Big TV!

Jacuzzi tub, you can lay down in and float!

 door on left is connecting room:)

 had me some room service, for breakfast!

 

 

Could not take pics of  their bath and bed room, because the girls had ALL their things every where, but the room was so nice!

 

As soon as we got to the room, I talked a bit and was so ready for bed!  They all had sandwiches, breakfast foods, fruit, etc., ate again!  I normally go to bed early, usually do not dance all night:)  I do love to dance, sing, and we did all that will I was wore out:)  Did not want to leave my beauties in the Casino without me:)

 

I was out! I loved hearing the giggles, memories, fun stories, and laugh, laugh, laugh at us all!

 

I realize, some my wonder why in the world would I go there with my daughter, its how I roll, How I rolled with all my babies,  I will go where they go, have fun with them, be there for them, I had rather be with them! We all had a blast, Miss April will be 22 December 29th!  Much rather her be dancing with me and her BFF'S any day of the week!  Now I think I am be ready for some Zumba that Brooke is about to start teaching! Our family has many memories with these ladies in them! I am so very proud of these girls, they have come along way, but remain close  friends with each other! 

 

Happy Birthday April!! I love you!  Mother

 

 

Not as good as I once was........

This morning woke up and had all this on my mind,  I am not as good as I once was, but good once as I ever was, now I know the song is talking about other things, but I am reflecting on my life as a young bride, young mother and now.  I always have kept a clean home, when you come in, it is inviting and orderly and clean, a place for everything.  BUT if you go to my closet or get in my pots and pans, kitchen drawers they are not in any order and if put in order I will get them out of order in time.

Thought on how when I was young I could have the house totally clean and done by 8:30am, the children all had their chores to help, now it is easier to keep clean but takes me more time, I can do part one day, part the next, but my home is still inviting and clean.  I always have my floors clean in case one of my grand babies is crawling, have my windows clean because if they are clean the whole house looks clean:)  BUT the drawers, closets, pots and pans were still in clutter.

In 1976 God saved me, I was asleep and He spoke to me, at the time I had so much going on, a mother of three, ready for divorce,  very troubled inside, out side looked good but internally was a train wreck. I got up from my sleep and got our Family Bible mother had given us.

 I read this scripture Romans 10:9-10

This was the beginning of a whole new life for me, God began to clean the clutter in my life up, so my inside could be in order.  This past three years when I began a twelve step program, that I thought was for drug addicts, God began a work in me, my outside looked good on the outside, thought I had worked on the inside, but the Lord began to show me clutter that I did not need on the inside, bitterness, resentments, hurt, habits and hang ups,  as I worked through the 12 steps the Lord was able to declutter my heart:)  This morning I was thinking of all this and realized in the natural this has happened too, my closets are in shape, (for me) my drawers are good, nothing falls out of the cabinets when I open them, I use to say open at your own risk.:)  So in saying all this it is to let you know God is faithful to continue the good work He has started in you, I am thankful He does not leave us cluttered, even though it is painful to look at a lot of things that have cause hurt, but He is faithful to heal and allow forgiveness to us so we can give it to others.  Forgiveness is a whole nother story:)

Someone ask me a year or so ago if I had forgiven a situation in my life, I said yes, he said I do not think you have, because if you have then you will never hold it against them, and they are totally released,you would be around them and be ok,  at one time I would of said that is right, but I have learned in life that I do forgive but have set boundaries up not to be in that situation again, with that said, here is what I mean, If you let me keep your child or grand child, and when you picked them up you noticed that their bottom was totally bruised, you ask me about it, I said, well I had to spank them all day long to obey me, I was breaking their will.  Would you forgive me?  Would you let me keep your child again? This actually happened to me when Sean was little, 2 years old:( AT the time I was such a victim that I did nothing, today would be a different story! Did I forgive, yes, did they ever keep hm again, NO.............not because of unforgivness but because I drew a line in what I believed was best for my child and family, had nothing to do with forgiveness. So that is my stand on forgiveness........how I got here from where I started I do not know, just free writing:)
 I never want to have unforgiveness in my life because I have learned it only hurts me. Plus I have been forgiven so much, how could I not forgive?  But by the Grace of God I go.

To get back to I am not as good as I once was,  I cannot do it all like I use to, takes me longer, barley can do it sometimes, but it is much easier without all the clutter in my life!  I have heard what you see it in the natural, it is in the spiritual too, I believe that......just look at your life, see what God is doing in you and you will find traces of that in your life!  For we walk by the spirit laying aside these fleshly desires we have, in which one day we will realize the only thing important thing in this eternal life is what we do in the Spirit of God, those things will have value, I am not there yet, I still get caught up in today, worrying, striving, fearing being nervous, saying here I am God trying to trust, help me to know and trust in all you have for me today!  God has ALWAYS been faithful, not always in ways I have liked but He has always come though for me, since that very day I gave him my messed up cluttered life.  Hugs!

One other thing, It bugs me when spell check my word is not a word:) I like my words, now my spelling is a whole new story!!

Fun ending to my day!

Well today was fast and furious, had sales meeting, our last one of the year, had 100 offers and 26 listings in the company:)  Next week is our Christmas party/brunch.  Then got most of my work done, misplaced earnest money check so pray I find it tomorrow:) Then what I had waited to do all week, come to Jill and Alex's to baby sit the girls, such fun!  They are right on schedule, Amelia told me she wanted pasta for dinner and she would help cook it:) She did!  Sydney had her baby food ugh! peas, spinach and pears......she loved it:) then we had play time, then baths, Sydney gets hers in the sink so I do not bend over the tub:) Amelia got hers in tub with blue water ( bath color deals) and then played some more, Amelia had a Nativity book, you do each night, so tonight was on Joseph, we read about him and she put him in the manger scene, then bottle and rocking, snuggling time with Sydney, she went to sleep, fussed a little but not much, then went to bed with Amelia rubbed her face and she was out:)

You would think I would be tired,  but I love the feeling I get when I do this, it reminds me of when mine were little,  it is just  a mothering feeling I cannot describe, I just know it is full filling to this Nana:)  Not that I can do it full time, for sure love my life right now with Steve, but enjoy this part of it too:)

teething ring in her mouth

Mill's gingerbread house she did with her mother and daddy

looks like Alex here

 

I am very concerned for my sister Kay, she had a heart attack a month ago and had two stints put in, she now has blood in her urine and her Kidney Dr. suspects he has a bleeding tumor in her Kidney, she does a CT scan and more test this Thursday, always scares me, Jimmy had kidney cancer, at one time they told me I did, turned out it was a cyst, and we watch it, last report I am all good to go, so I am praying for Kay, I do not know how much more she can endure at this time, with the loss of mother, a heart attack, and now this, so please pray with me for her complete healing.  She said she was not depressed, just wants to be able to do what she loves this time of year and does not feel well enough to do it:(    Today Steve and I went to Cracker Barrel to eat lunch before coming to Jill's, there was a mother, grandmother and daughter, the daughter and mother was on each side of the grand mother, and the sweet grand mother could barley walk, I got the door for them, tuned up started crying, I wanted so bad to take the grandmothers arm and help, watched them put her in the car, they had forgot her walker and you could tell she was exhausted, I said enjoy her while you can, I remember taking mother out last Christmas, then was all tuned up trying not to cry when Steve walks out, he says What is wrong??? I can not even tell him tyring not to cry, finally get in the car and can tell him, I just really missed mother right then, never know when something triggers a sweet memory:)  I sure do miss her but sure know she is so much better off.  I took memory test tonight , I always wonder could I have Alzheimer's, half the time I cannot remember things, but then it is usually when I have so many different things going, well I was glad to know I scored real high on my memory:)) made me feel much better, it was a neat test too. Well best get to sleep in case miss Sydney decides to wake early...............hugs and nite

 

 

No Surprises:)

 

‎"Do not be surprised by the fiery attacks on your mind. When you struggle to find Me and to live in My Peace, don't let discouragement set in. You are engaged in massive warfare, spiritually speaking. The evil one abhors your closeness to Me, and his demonic underlings are determined to destroy our intimacy. When you find yourself in the thick of battle, call upon My Name: "Jesus, help me!" At that instant, the battle becomes Mine; your role is simply to trust Me as I fight for you. My name, properly used, has unlimited Power to bless and protect. (Jesus Calling)

 

 

For this I am so thankful!  This was a reading on my FB this am from a friend, I love looking at all the encouragement on FB.  Please keep Gavin in your prayers, bless his heart, his conformer came out and he had to have surgery to replace it in his eye, he has been though so much with all this,  his mother Tiffany suffers with migraines, so pray for her too, my heart is heavy for them this morning.

 

All is ok on the Averitt front, I have a slower week I think, you never know what the day will hold in Real Estate one call changes it all, like two weeks ago when I got a call from a investor, he has since made 66 offers and I have listed one of his investments properties, all of the offers may or may not work out but we will push forward! I have listed two new homes last week and closed four:) Thought I would be crazy and was half way all week:) 

 

I have Christmas up in my home and Love to just sit and look at it all, listen to the Christmas music, I must be getting way more sentimental:)  On Saturday I had a melt down, just total pitched a fit inside me, and some slipped out side of me, I had received a bill from the nursing home Friday, in which is not really a major deal, but this time it made me so angry, I had frustrations  already in work getting deals done and being so busy, I was exhausted, so when I got the bill I just sat it down,  then I got up the next morning just so angry, I cried over stupid real estate things, then thought its been years since real estate made me cry, what is wrong with me, then I got that bill and I have a journal I have kept of mother's care in the nursing home, in which I had met with Administrator but never showed her this, it has all the pics and proof to support what I was saying, I just took that bill and said call mother's attorney and here is what I think of this bill and enclosed that eight page letter, to say the least it could have got DHS in there, Elder abuse and other people who regulate Nursing Homes, but I was so angry I felt at the time they are the reason she is dead, then I realized I am in the anger part of my grief so I was just angry! I guess its ok they get the letter nothing I can do now, I still feel the same way but the anger is better, I will take some time with a friend to express how I feel and get it out, blogging helps me too.   Saturday am I had listing appointment then Steve's family Christmas which was so fun, just what I needed a lot of laughs, then a House warming to a neat young man I sold a home to, reminds me of why I love my work!  I can still feel the anger, so I know I got to give it to the Lord and I know God has the timing He calls you home, but I still have some strong feelings inside towards NH:((( wish I didn't, BUT I am not going to let it steal my peace, of course Alex preached the perfect msg, for me Sunday, I was to have Journey Kids but Victoria and Alexandria did them, when Pastor Kevin prayed he said God had just the people here today to hear the msg, :) YES He did!  It helped me to know who my enemy is:)  Hugs and love to all!

 

Biff and Steve

 Steve Perry, Alicia and Alexandria

 The clan, Steve, Judy, Pat, Dottie, Biff

The Survivor's :) me, Ann, Donald