GO SHOPPING!!!

 

And, so the Thanksgiving Weekend comes to a close.  It’s been a sweet one for the Owens’.

On Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving…..of course, I told you, Joy was in charge of the feast….

It was wonderful, as we knew it would be, and we all enjoyed it!

Sweet Tara came bringing John Thomas, who is into everything and talking a mile a minute!  So precious!

And we were all joined by our friend Danielle and her fiance, Zach.  It was great to have them with us, as well.

After lunch…Joy cleaned the kitchen…and we set about decorating Pop’s house for Christmas.  That was the part I was in charge of…lest you think I was a slackard and just let everyone else do the work!  And, as you see here…I managed to put my whole self into the job…

This is not finished, by the way…but I pretty well was by the time I did this cute little trick two times!!!

While we ladies, including Suzanne and Tara worked…Tommy tried to keep John Thomas corralled…

 

And, Don tried his best to entertain Levi….

Lori came in a little later she had to work at the hospital today…  She helped Joy divide the food that was left…

I struggled to get one picture with Sweet Levi….  Isn’t his shirt cute?  His Lulu made it for him…:-)

But all he wanted was his Mama…

And all Pop wanted was another piece of pumpkin pie!

As you can see…after the fiasco with John Thomas and Levi (last post) we didn’t even try any more posed pictures.

Posed or not…the family was together and these pictures show us working together…all doing our part…(Ian got the things out of the attic…Adam will put them back…Will was hunting  a deer for another feast)…having fun just being together.  All the things a family is supposed to do.  What a blessed day!

AND—HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET DAUGHTER IN LOVE!  WHAT A BLESSING YOU ARE TO US ALL!  I LOVE YOU, MY DEAR!

AND, THEN…on Friday evening, Ian announced that he was cooking a meal for us.  He snagged Adam to help him and they went to the grocery store and the butcher shop…they got all the ingredients they needed…and came home to begin the creations.  He informed us we were having Roast Pork Loin stuffed with Rosemary, Bacon and Onion…..Spoon Bread…..Pear Crostata and Apple Crostata.  And, cook it, he did.  Yelling to Adam and Alex to ‘stir’ or ‘turn the heat down’ and to Don to ‘hurry up and grate that cheese’.  And, my only contribution was to set the table and fix the glasses of tea.  Why, friends, we could have been eating in the fanciest restaurant in Anytown, USA.  It was delicious!  He did a wonderful job at preparing all three.  Just look at these……..(and that was no store bought dough, either)

 

What was left…

 

And this was all that was left of the roast pork…

I know you are not used to seeing pics of good food on my blog…but, this was too good not to share!

On Saturday, Ian and Adam did computer work.  While Suzanne was out he called and asked her to cook some hamburgers.  She adds ‘magical ingredients’ when she mixes up her hamburgers and they are so good.  Of course, WE didn’t get to sample them this time!  🙂

Sunday was a sweet time at church, and Ian headed out to Birmingham early.  This is Monday and Joy and Pop have gone to Birmingham for his first check up since his eye surgery.

Life is full of blessings for us, but we were so sad that Alex could not be with us on Thanksgiving, but he was able to get up for a while to help Ian with his feast.  Alex’s health continues to be a matter of prayer for us, and we are content with the fact that God’s hears our prayers.  He continues to give us all strength…and we are ever hopeful that we will discover help for him at some point in time.  God is good…all the time.

Now…let the countdown to Christmas begin!

 

                                                   THANKSGIVING DAY……2011

   THE SECOND THANKSGIVING FOR JOHN THOMAS……THE FIRST FOR LEVI…..THE FIRST AS COUSINS

Looks like they’re ready…..let’s give this a try!

 

 

Good first try…now, how about looking at the camera….

 

 

Levi, no tickling…SMILE!

 

 

NOW…that’s better…

 

 

Hey, boy’s would it be asking too much for you to focus on me…and SMILE!

 

 

Uh, Oh!  This doesn’t seem to be going well….

 

 

AAAAAAAAnd…they’re off!

 

 

“I don’t want to smile any more!”

 

 

“No.  I’m NOT coming back out!”

 

And…such ends our attempts at a cute Thanksgiving photo….Maybe they’ll be more cooperative at Christmas…

Yeah, right!

Hope your day was full of hugs and laughs and memories…both remembered and newly made!

 

I do not like confessions.  Well…those that I have to make, anyway.  And, occasionally I have to.  Yes.  I tend to get excited and go rip-roaring through life, and sometimes that is not a good thing.  I frequently find myself having to back pedal.  Not fun.

But, my DH is usually just the opposite.  Ambling slowly through life is more his style.  And, that gives him a chance to correct things as he goes along, or sidestep them all together.  And, that is probably a much better way of living than mine…but…it is what it is.

HOWEVER…there are times when he will lose his mind…temporarily, of course…and go on a rip and a tear.  In sharp contrast to the ones that I go on…his usually only last a minute or so.  What sets him off is usually something that is out of place, or some perceived ‘stack of mess’…which is, in all actuality, NOT.  It is usually a  ‘stack of things that I want to get to when I have time’.  I don’t ‘stack’ junk…just the things that are worthy of my time.  DH, unfortunately, has quite a different idea of ‘junk’ than I.  And, therein lies the reason for this post.

I have on my island/counter/hub of activity station a large wooden box.  Inside are my candles, and salt and pepper, and other things that we frequently need here.  And, so, knowing his bent to pitch what he considers junk…I put a small stack of papers and catalogs inside so they would be safe from his hands.  Imagine, then, how I must have felt when I walked into the kitchen this morning to go through my stack of goodies while I savored my pop-tarts…and my stack was gone.  GONE, I tell you—–nowhere to be seen.  In times past I have sometimes been able to rescue portions of other ‘discarded by him goodies’ from atop the garbage can.  But, his latest lapse was last night….while he was gathering the trash……to put in the big trash cans to take to the street…for garbage pick-up today since Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, which is our usual garbage day.  So, there was no rescue going to take place.  There was no getting back what he had thoughtlessly swept into the trash.  [Well, actually, he didn’t ‘sweep’ it…he had to make a conscious decision to pick it up and discard it.  Which in my book is much, much worse.]  So, here is CONFESSION #1——I don’t actually remember what all was in the stack…so I cannot be specific in my fussing.  I do know that I had some important coupons, and a magazine, and a catalog that I was going to order something for our  sweet little grandson on his very first Christmas and which now he will never have and it’s all his fault.  DH’s fault…all his.

So, what was I going to do while I sat and ate?  I realize that some of you dear readers do not find it necessary to do two things at once, but I function so much better when I do.  Even though it doesn’t make sense, I feel the need to do something else while eating if there is no one to talk to.  And, there wasn’t at 5:30 this morning.  Looking around the kitchen and the den, I didn’t spy anything that grabbed my attention.  There was only one small devotional book lying on the ledge of the  box.   And, so, here is CONFESSION #2——-I didn’t really want to read the devotional book. I had more important things to read.  Not proud of that.

But, I did pick it up.  And now I can tell you, that that is what I was intended to read this morning.  It is what I needed to read.  And, this is the blessing I wish to share with you.  There was an article there entitled The Miracle of Food.  What a blessing.  I have never thought of food in quite the way that this author does.  The article consists of an interview with Alton Brown, who is host of several cooking shows and winner of numerous awards for his culinary talent.  I offer you the link, and hope that you have the chance to read this before the big day tomorrow.  But, even if it is after…the thoughts contained herein are so worth your time.  Read it here…The Miracle of Food, A Conversation with Alton Brown.  Go, read it now…and come back.  I have something else to tell you, but you won’t understand it unless you have read the article.  So, GO, I’ll wait for you.

And, now to CONFESSION #3——–I am NOT the one with the gift of service in our family.  That person would be my sister, Joy.  Quoting from the article…”Cooking is an act of service, an act of hospitality……No one will cook as well for you as someone who loves you and cares for you.  That’s the food that nourishes above all, because of how and why it was produced.  And, so cooking for our families, eating with our families—that is powerful stuff.”  Joy is in charge of Thanksgiving for our family.  She has planned it…she is cooking it…she will set it all up at Pop’s house…and she has already told me- she will do all the cleaning up.  That is a gift of service.

[I disdain cooking.  It never goes right when I do.  Someone always complains about this or that…and rightfully so.  My mom was a wonderful cook…and my Mother-in-love was a wonderful cook…and my sister is a wonderful cook…and my daughter-in-love is a wonderful cook.  And, I think that is plenty of wonderful cooks in any family!!!  Seriously, I can cook, but I have never enjoyed it.  And, now we have a gas stove which shoots fire at me everytime I turn it on and an oven with so many buttons and pings and dings and sounds it makes you nigh unto crazy just trying to preheat it!]  But, back to Joy…

And, this is not the only area she gives of herself.  She watches over all the members of her family with love and care and understanding.  She serves our church by sharing her musical talents as our church pianist, and she loves and cares for so many of the older members of our church.  She keeps in close contact with so many of them, and especially those who were friends with Mom.  And, she is the major ‘go to person’ for Pop.  She shoulders most of the load in doing things for him and with him.  I cannot tell you what all she does, and she would be upset with me if I did.  I am so often tied up with Alex and my own health issues, but Joy is always there.  I thank her and love her for all she does for us our family.  You have heard me say before how my boys love her.  And, she, them.  We, as the Townsend/Owens/ McKibben family are blessed beyond measure to have her as ours.

To end, CONFESSION #4—–I am still upset about my ‘stuff’ that DH threw away… guess I’ll just have to start a new stack!

Thanksgiving—-it has come to be thought of as most about the food…and that is important.  And, it’s not such a bad thing really.  Because it serves as a reason for our families to get together…to eat together…to laugh together…to recall blessings together…to pray together.

May God bless you and yours with health, happiness, and peace……and lots of laughter!

 

 

Yesterday I started writing a post to report on Pop (he’s doing great!) and showing some pictures of that sweet and precious Baby Levi.

 

 

That was about all there was to report on…it had been kinda of a ‘slow news week’ around here.  Not that I was complaining, mind you…just reporting the facts.  And, I know that there’s the old saying about ‘knock on wood’ that is appropriate at such times so as to ward off any bad luck.  If you believe in that sort of thing.  I don’t.  Therefore, I didn’t.  Knock on wood, that is.  But, perhaps I should rethink that considering the events of today.  Hold on…I’ve got some reporting to do now…if my fingers will hold up!

FRIDAY:   Last week I asked Adam if he would take Finn to the Vet for me because he needed his shots and his annual checkup.  He is just hard for me to manage, with his jumping and pulling.  Adam said he would be happy to and he called yesterday and planned to take him.  But things happened and he got busy and couldn’t.  So, I told him I would make an appointment for Friday…which I did.  And, all was going as planned.  Life is good.

 

Today (Friday) Adam came to get Finn and took him to the vet.  About 2 hours later, I called to see what was going on, since it usually doesn’t take that long.  He said they had gotten behind and said for him to leave Finn and they would call him when he was finished.  “Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll get him and bring him home as soon as they call.”  Life…still good.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I have been in ‘bad back’ mode.   I finally took some stronger pain meds about midnight Thursday.  I slept then, and till about 9 this morning.  My back was feeling better, but I planned to take some muscle relaxers today and keep heat on it.  So, I did not plan to leave the house at all…all day long.  And, in Tonjaville that means that I am in comfy, baggy pants, the biggest t-shirt that I can find and no make up….and that I may or may not have on upper body underwear.  Today, it so happens, I did. And, why I feel the need to share all the intimate details of my life with the blogosphere…I just don’t know. Except, I tell you everything else, so why not. And, it was to my advantage today that it so happened I was totally clothed.  Life is comfortable!

After I talked to Adam, I lay back down, until the phone woke me up…and everything broke loose…

RING-RING

ADAM…”mom, can you go get Finn?  I have to go pick up Levi from Suzanne at Circuit City and get him home.  I have a client to meet with at 5.”  [Suzanne and her Mom were going to Kid’s Market, a yearly sale of used baby and children’s clothes and toys and paraphernalia…sold so cheap you can get a whole wardrobe for $20!]

TONJA…(in her dishevelled state) ” sure.  Or, why don’t you get Finn and I will go and get Levi and bring him back to the house.  We’ll just meet up here”.  [See, I knew I could get Levi and bring him home and not have to get out of my car and be seen by anyone other that Levi’s other Grandmother, Mary.

RING-RING

SUZANNE…”Thanks for helping me out Mrs. Tonja, Call Mother and let her know where you are parked to get Levi.  But, don’t leave till I get there cause I have to smother my little boy with kisses because I haven’t seen him since this morning!”

TONJA...”no problem, Babe.”

I arrive in the parking lot and parked in a conspicuous space and soon Mary came and we switched Levi from one grandmother’s car to the other.  We sat and visited, and  talked about how blessed we were to have Levi and what a terrific baby he is, and how fortunate he is to have such wonderful grandparents! 😀  Life is sweet!

RING—RING

ADAM…”Mom, I need you to come on home right now because Finn jumped up and hit the door and it slammed shut and my keys were in the car and I have called a locksmith to come and open the car and I need to use your car to get to my house to meet with the bride and then I will come back and get Levi and leave your car and get mine.”

TONJA…”you do not have any spare keys?”

I see no need to share his response to that query.  I told him I was on my way.  I put the sweet baby in the car seat and headed toward home.  Life is messy!

“Do everything without grumbling or complaining.” Phillipians 2:14

RING-RING

SUZANNE…”Mrs. Tonja, Adam has locked his keys…”

TONJA…”I know…I’m on my way.  Tell Adam not to call a locksmith…it’s so expensive…let his Dad try to help him get it open.”

SUZANNE…”I can not get him to answer his phone.  I have called and called.  OK Bye”

RING-RING

ADAM…”Mom, this is what we are going to do.  The locksmith is coming and when you get here, I will take your car home and go meet my client and then come back and pick up Levi.”

TONJA…”Sounds fine.  I’ll be there in 5 minutes.”

I made it home and got Levi out of the car and inside.  And, after I changed his diaper, I said, “Levi, let’s go rock and chill out a little.”  I could tell Levi liked that idea…I know these things.  I asked Alex to wait for the locksmith to get here.  And, Adam left in my car. Sometimes, Life works out well!

Then Alex came down the hall with Finn close behind.

ALEX..”Mom, look at his face.  Something is wrong with his face.  Mom, LOOK!”

And with Levi on my hip, I looked down and sweet Finn looked like a Shar-pei.  You know those big wrinkly dogs?  And, he is a rat terrier.  His face was huge!  His eyes were almost swollen shut.  I was worried that, even though he was breathing fine at the time, it might not last.  And, while I know very well how to do CPR on an adult…I am just not up to date on canine CPR!”

I handed Levi off to Alex and headed to the phone.  The vets office said to come right on back in.

OK.  So I got the leash, and headed out the door and there was Adam’s car and the doors were still locked.  I realized quickly that I was not going anywhere.  Life is unpredictable!

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not

in despair…”2 Corinthians 4:8,9

RING-RING

ALEX..”Adam this is Alex.  Finn is having an allergic reaction to something and his face is getting bigger and bigger and his eyes are nearly closed and he needs to go to the vet and we don’t have a car.  When is the locksmith coming?”

ADAM… “they should be there any minute.”

And, they were.  Alex told them we had a dog in distress and the man said get your dog and I will have this opened before you get back and he did.  I fixed a bottle for the baby,  and told Alex what to do with Levi and headed out with Finn.

We made it to the vet before they closed and they called him a ‘shar-pei’ also.  The vet said he was allergic either to the flu shot or the rabies vaccine.  They gave him 2 shots and said he should be better by tomorrow.

[FYI:  I was still in those ‘comfy clothes’ I put on this morning.  (See why I’m glad I had on all my underpinnings?)  I have not been afforded the time to comb my hair or apply make up.  I’m a frightful mess.]

Adam came in while I was still at the vet.  He was so worried about Finn, he called his client and rescheduled. He has a tender heart for animals…well, except deer, of course.  (You know deer season starts about now. I’d rather not talk about it.)

The vets then gave Finn 2 shots to counteract whatever gave him ‘Shar Pei face’.  We got him home, and there was Alex giving Levi a bottle. He was obviously still hungry so I sat down then, and fed him his food.   And breathed.  Life is exhausting!

“Let us be concerned with one another in order to promote love and good deeds.”  Hebrews 10:24

A baby and a Mama and a Daddy and a Lulu, an Uncle and a dog...all doing the crazy dance of life on this late November day.  Working together, changing directions as needed, to get all taken care of...seeing to it that all were well and happy and safe and sound.  Isn't that what a family is supposed to do?  What a blessing to be a part of one who loves each other...

…Loves each other enough NOT to say, “YOU LOCKED THE KEYS IN THE CAR?”…even though one may have thought it.

…Loves each other enough NOT to say, “YOU FED HIM HIS BOTTLE AND FOOD AT 5:30?…Gee, thanks, now he’ll be up all night!”

…Loves each other enough NOT to say. “$65.00!  $65 TO UNLOCK YOUR CAR!”  (Oh, wait, I think I did hear that one!)  Said in love, of course.

LIFE IS GOOD!  And, all is well.

"I'm afraid my family tree is full of nuts!

But, don't tell them I said so."  Levi