Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone. We hope you have a party to attend tonight and that you will be safe. Fun Pictures to follow from our party tonight.

Christmas Day

Earl, Patty, Cynthia, Alex, Spencer, Christopher, Lorie, Jamie, Momma, Daddy, Kynn

Some Holiday Fun

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Pretty Patty

Our neice, Patty, has recently graduated from East Carolina and will soon begin her career in nursing. We are so proud of her and I would like to brag on her just a little. Patty is as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside. She does not know a stranger and is kind to all she meets. On top of all of that, she is one smart cookie!! Over the Thanksgiving holidays the two of us went shopping and I had a great time. (As you know, I don't have a girl to shop with) :) Congratuations Patty. May God bless you as you begin this new chapter of your life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Spencer's camera

This is what walks in the woods at 7:24 PM at night.
And, this is what walks in the woods at 2:20 AM in the morning. Mr. Coyote.

Happy Birthday to.............

ME

Congratulations Jamie!

Zhuowei Yin Chapter

National Honor Society

Induction Ceremony

A.C. Flora High School

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

8:45 a.m.

We are very proud of Jamie.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's the weekend

Ahhhh. It is the weekend. I am off work until Jan. 5th. Much to do between now and Christmas. I am off to shop. Kynn and Spencer are hunting. Christopher is raking a yard. (Getting some spending money. Smart kid!) Jamie is sleeping. Alex is going to a wrestling tournament. Daisy is just hanging out. Have a great weekend everyone.

Kitty's saying for the day!

Kitty had this to say on her blog.

Don't get your tinsel in a tangle. Jesus is the reason for the season.

So, there you have it. Don't get tangled up today.

Exam week

During college exam week, we send Christopher a survival box with all his favorite junk food and since Spencer lives in town, we cook dinner for him and deliver it to his apartment. Marlene went with us to deliver the "goods" which was seafood gumbo, rice, and dessert. (Spencer's request). Below are a few pictures from our visit. Fall semister 2008 is over. My how time flies by. We are so proud of both of our college men!!!

Ayusa Christmas Party

The Foreign Exchange Program had their Christmas Party last weekend. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Christmas Movies

Christmas Movies recommended by Dave Boehi

How about a good Christmas movie. Turn on the air conditioner, (so it will really feel like winter) get your favorite blanket, make some hot chocolate and grab the Christmas cookies. Enjoy!!!

So here is a short list of my favorite Christmas films, in alphabetical order. Each are highly recommended for an evening by the fire with your spouse and your family. Most are on television regularly in December, and many are available on DVD.

A Christmas Carol. There are many versions of this movie, and everyone has their favorite. Many swear by the 1951 film starring Alistair Sim. Yesterday a coworker said her favorite was The Muppet Christmas Carol. I am partial to the 1984 version with George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. But no matter what version I view, I never get tired of seeing Scrooge wake up on Christmas morning with the realization that he’s been given a second chance. My colleague Bob Lepine points out that this story is a picture of the gospel—a man is on the road to destruction when he is visited by “spirits” who point out his past, present and future, and this leads to repentance and transformation.

A Season for Miracles. This Hallmark Hall of Fame production tells the story of a single woman trying to provide a home for the children of her imprisoned sister. While on the run from authorities, her car breaks down in a small town, and while waiting for repairs she and the children begin to make a home there as Christmas approaches. The movie combines romance with some strong statements about the importance of stability, community, and forgiveness.

The Bishop’s Wife. This 1947 classic stars Cary Grant as Dudley, an angel who appears when a bishop (David Niven) prays for God’s help to build a cathedral. Dudley quickly discerns that the bishop is so focused on his work that he’s losing sight of other priorities—including his marriage to Julia (Loretta Young). I also like the remake, The Preacher’s Wife, with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.

The Gathering. In this 1977 television movie, Ed Asner plays a selfish, domineering man who has estranged himself from his wife (Maureen Stapleton) and most of his children. When he learns he has terminal cancer, he tries to bring everyone together for one last Christmas. This is my all-time favorite Christmas movie, but unfortunately it has not been released on DVD, and it apparently hasn’t been shown on television for years. Old VHS copies can be found online.

It’s a Wonderful Life. Many people not only regard this classic with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed as their favorite holiday movie, but also as their favorite film, period. I was surprised to see that it appears on many lists of “most romantic movies,” until I remembered it has several of the most romantic scenes you’ll find anywhere.

Little Lord Fauntleroy. A poor American boy living with his widowed mother learns he is the heir to his English grandfather’s title and estate. He moves to England to become Lord Fauntleroy and learn about his responsibilities before the old man dies. The grandfather lives in isolation and bitterness in his massive home, and won’t allow his daughter-in-law to live with them. But the boy’s enthusiasm and compassion begin to win him over. This is a great story from Frances Hodgson Burnett, who also wrote The Secret Garden and A Little Princess. I like the 1980 television film with Ricky Schroeder and Alec Guinness, but it is not yet on DVD and is rarely shown on television. A 1935 version is available.

Honorable mention: Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, The Note, and White Christmas.

Let us know if you can recommend any other good movies for the holidays.

Not I, But Christ

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved and exalted; Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard; not I, but Christ, in every look and action; not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

Author unknown

Brigadeiro- A Brazilian Dessert

On Sat. night, we will all go to the Foreign Exchange Christmas Party. Each student was asked to bring a food from his or her country. Alex chose Brigadeiro. As he was making the brigadeiro, he told us that he was remembering the times that he has made this dessert with his grandmother, mom, great aunt, and Leda. I can say, it is yummy!!!


Essa noite eu estava fazendo brigadeiros para a festa dos estudantes de intercambio que vai ser no Sabado e eu lembrei as vezes que minha mae, minha avó, minha tia-avó, e Leda antes das festas preparando os brigadeiros e enrolando eles no granulado e conversando e se divertindo. Minha parte preferida é quando eu ia na cozinha enquanto elas preparavam e pegava um brigadeiro e comia, e minha mãe dizendo para mim:

" Pare de comer brigadeiros senaum não vai sobrar pra festa!"

(The above is a note that Alex wrote for his family).

How Cool Is This????

Spencer has recently purchased a trail camera. This is a camera that hunters place out in the woods to capture pictures of wild life. It has a motion sensor and snaps the picture when the prize comes into view. These are just a few of his pictures that were recently captured.