I won! I won!

So, I got home from work tonight and everyone was asleep (where most people are at midnight on a Sunday night!). And me, being me, I grabbed the laptop and decided to check out some blogs. I couldn't believe my eyes when I realized that I was the winner of this awesome little Gooseberry Patch Christmas cookbook from Pat over at Nonna's News! I mean, people, I don't win things! But I did! I won it! I can't wait to get it and whip up some yumminess for Christmas!

She made the announcement in such a cute way. She made a video of her little granddaughter, Avery drawing the winner out of a little Christmas bowl. Oh, and the cutest part was that Avery actually let her stuffed Minnie Mouse do the actual drawing. I was so engrossed in watching the cuteness of Avery that I forgot that my name was actually in that little bowl. So when Pat said my name I was beyond shocked. Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know that people actually do win these giveaways and it's tons of fun.

I'm going to pay it forward and come up with my own little giveaway here soon. I think I'll hit my craft room and come up with something. Stay tuned.

And Pat, thanks a million. I will so enjoy cooking from this great little cookbook.

And Cindi, if lightning should strike twice and I win that gorgeous little angel, she's coming to your house!

Too many to count...

(There is a short video at the bottom, don't miss it! )

I'm speaking of blessings. I simply have too many to count. We have not had the best of times in regards to my husband's business for the past several years. There are many times when I feel like throwing up my hands and giving up. But then I look around and see all the blessings and realize that I am rich beyond measure. It's the people in our lives that matter, not the things. And when it comes to people, I'm truly blessed. I have both of my parents living and happy. I have wonderful brothers and a sister and their families. And then the icing on my cake are my wonderful children. I know my children aren't any more wonderful than yours, but their mine and they are my reasons for breathing. Children truly are the most wonderful treasures. And then, of course, (just in case it escaped any one's notice LOL), we were all blessed with our little Brooks this year. He makes up for any lack we may think we have around here. So fresh from heaven, so very loved and wanted.

I have to work a double tomorrow so I won't get to spend the day with my family, but that's okay. I have Thanksgiving every day just knowing that these wonderful people are in my life. I also console myself with the fact that the patients I will take care of tomorrow don't want to be there either. And so, I will try to make their Thanksgiving a little brighter since they have to spend it being sick. Blessings are everywhere if we look for them.

But....today...I got to keep Brooks! I shot a minute long video of him playing and 'talking'! So, I just had to share it with you all. Can you believe he is soon going to be 4 months old!? It seems like yesterday we were praying for his existence. And now here he is, a gift to us all. We are so very rich in all the ways that count.

I wish you all a wonderful day of Thanksgiving every day of your lives. The blessings are everywhere if only we take the time to look.

More Giveaways. Because they're FUN!

Cindi from Wishing for My Turn posted about the giveaway she found for this little beauty on her blog. Now really, who wouldn't want this little angel in their home this Christmas?

Harvest Moon Primatives is where you go to sign up for her

Then, she told us about this Gooseberry Patch Cookbook giveaway. I just bought some of these little cookbooks for my girls for Christmas gifts and they are awesome. I've been using some of the recipes from them (shhhh, don't tell them!). I'm sure this one is just as wonderful as the ones that I have and I bet you'd love it. If so, head on over and enter the giveaway at Nonna's News.

I sooo heart this little scale!

Vintage Junky

I am working on a plan in my head for redoing my kitchen sometime soon and I have been browsing some decorating blogs for inspiration. While reading through a very neat blog tonight called Vintage Junky I almost jumped out of my chair when I got to the bottom of her post and saw this little gem. Would you look at the words on the face of that scale!!! OLD KENTUCKY HOME!! Helloooo! There is my inspiration. I absolutely love this little scale. Is it not the cutest thing??? And she is giving it away!


Anyway, even though I want to win it, I want you all to have a chance to win it too, not to mention you'll get yourself introduced to a very cool blog. So head on over there and feast your eyes on some inspiration.

I really am alive!

I know, I know! I'm such a bad blogger! I never seem to be able to get anything posted here anymore. My life is certainly not boring, it's just that I run out of energy!! I am going to try to do better. But in the meantime, I'll leave you this adorable new picture of Brooks. That's better than anything I would write anyway! I know that I am biased where he is concerned, but I tell you truly that this is the best baby in the world! He is so easy to take care of. Mr. Laid back!! He smiles constantly and only cries when he's hungry. He looks so much like his mother and thankfully he inherited her disposition as well. I used to say that she was the best baby in the world. It's kind of like having her all over again. We are all enjoying him and looking forward to watching him grow up. I knew that I was going to love him like crazy but I had no idea how wonderful it was going to be to be a grandmother. I. mean. really!

I watch him while Sarah Kate works on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I was kind of worried about how I was going to do that after working double shifts on Tuesday and Thursday nights but he is such a dream baby that it's working out fine. I pick him up on my way home from work in the mornings and when we get home he goes down for a 3-4 hour nap. He wakes up, takes a bottle, plays with me for about an hour and then he's falling asleep again! I get another 1 to 2 hour nap and then we're up and ready to go. I'm loving every single minute of it and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Brooks' Bad Manners

Sarah just posted this video on Brooks' site and I just had to share it. The little hat was made for him by one of the doctor's that Sarah works for. The grandmother who taught hin this trick is not me!! But I wish I had!

I was just informed that you needed a password to view this video. It's bbrooks

Click here to view this video

The New Mr & Mrs.

First of all I must say that the wedding was absolutely beautiful and everything went off without a hitch. They were both so happy and the fact that they are very much in love couldn't be missed.

I have loved Amber like my own for a long time now. Patrick married the perfect girl for him and I couldn't be happier with his choice. Because of how I feel about Amber I really didn't expect to have the feeling and emotions that I experienced in the lead up to and during the actual wedding. Now matter how practically I tried to talk myself out of feeling what I was feeling, the thought simply wouldn't go away. I was losing my son. Now, I know I haven't really lost him. He's a self-professed mama's boy (aren't most boys?), and we have a very close relationship. I know that I will continue to see him very often and that the love he has for Amber is a completely different kind of love from the love he has for me. One doesn't push the other away any more than one child being born takes love away from the other children. I know all of this and yet I had several emotional moments (don't worry, I kept them to myself!). I am so proud of the man he's grown to be and the way he lives his life. He has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever known and I am so grateful that I am the one God chose to be his mother. When Patrick loves you you know it. He's the first one to help out a friend or anyone in need. His compassion for other's is often witnessed running down his cheeks. He's the champion of the underdog and every child's best friend. I've never met an old lady who didn't love him.

Patrick is every one's "go to guy".

Patrick is love personified.

Patrick has married a wonderful girl and we love her.

Patrick's mother misses him.

*****************************

These pictures were taken by a friend, when we get the professional pictures back I will share them, I'm sure they'll be much better than these snapshots. But for now you at least get a little idea.

I love this picture! Look at what is going on between Patrick and Austin. I didn't catch this as it was happening but someone told me about it. Apparently right before Patrick and Amber turned around to face everyone after they'd been pronounced man and wife, Austin reached over to give Patrick a fist bump. Then, when they turned around Patrick turned his palm up kind of behind his back and Austin "gave him five". I can't wait to see it on the video. Candid things are sooo awesome

We took the opportunity to have a picture of our immediate family taken with everyone all spiffed up! (Jimmy and Austin shared Best Man duties) Both Sarah and Emily served as bridesmaids. Benny was a groomsman as well.

The happy couple are now on their honeymoon cruise and we can't wait to see them when they get home next Sunday.