The Great Indoor Campout

Jordan received a tent for Christmas this year and has been eager to get it out and open it up. Because of the winter storms that have blown through GA this week, we've been cooped up way too long. Brian decided this was a good opportunity to open the tent and set it up inside. We have an area large enough to set up the tent upstairs, so that is what Brian proceeded to do. Jordan was soooo excited- he could hardly stand it. After he brought everything he owned inside the tent, he and Brian had a "campout" and slept in the tent. Brian thought he wouldn't last through the night, but to everyone's surprise, he made it. You couldn't wipe the grin off his face. Now, he's waiting for the sun to come out and planning a real outdoor campout when the weather warms up! Smores anyone?

From the Office of the President

The Passing of the Gavel from Past President-Meg Usrey

Yes, it's official. I am the president of something- nothing important, but none the less, something. This week I officially became president of the Junior Service League of Americus. First let me say that the JSL of Americus is not one of those snooty social clubs. We actually SERVE our community. We have to give at least 60 hours each year in service to various needs in our area. It has been a great opportunity for me to feel like I am making a difference. It also allows my children to see me serving. I hope I am setting an example for them that they can follow.

This week we had our Board meeting and general meeting. The board meeting on Tuesday was to tie the loose ends of last year and to start afresh with a new board for this year. The nerve-wracking part of it all was that I was in charge. Watch out world! Our general meeting was relatively short and many expressed their thanks for this. Needless to say, I am excited about the upcoming year with the JSL and the many opportunities that are waiting.

2011 Board of Directors

Yum Yum Sticky Buns

Jordan is our resident chef. He loves to cook and help in the kitchen. During the month of December, his school taught the students how to make cinnamon rolls on their school news show. He brought home the recipe and has been eager to try them at home ever since then. This morning, he and I made the cinnamon rolls. They were fairly easy consisting only of a crescent roll covered with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. After rolling up the entire crescent roll and slicing it into 1 inch slices, we placed it in the oven to bake. Mimi helped make a simple icing out of powdered sugar, milk and cornstarch. When they came out of the oven, they were warm and gooey-just the way we like them. The cinnamon rolls were delicious, and Jordan was so proud of himself. I am sure this is one recipe we will be baking often. It was very easy, had only a few ingredients and was very tasty!

Happy New Year-Happy New Blog!

Well, not really a new blog, just a new start on an old blog. Last year, I intended to get this started back up, but wasn't very successful. I am going to give it another try this year.

2011 started rather quietly for us this year. Brian and I spent New Year's Eve at the Junior Service League Dance where I was officially sworn in as president of the JSL. What an exciting and nerve wracking night. We had a great time at the dance. The food was excellent and the band was fantastic. Brian had a ball dancing the night away. Jen and Travis were able to come and join us and that helped make the night that much more memorable.

New Year's Day we ate lunch with Brian's parents and then went to Nana and Papaw's to play with the cousins. After spending the entire afternoon putting together a ridicously hard UGA puzzle, we headed home in the drizzling rain. It was a rather quiet New Year's day, but the kind I most prefer. After all the holiday activity, it was nice to have no where we had to go or anything we had to do.

Here's hoping this New Year is filled with fun and exciting family time spent together!

Where has the month gone?

Well, as you can see, I am not doing so well keeping up with my resolution to blog more frequently. No excuses, just life. We are very busy and when we have a few quiet moments at home, I don't think to blog. As for my other resolutions, I am doing all right. I am finding myself spending more quality moments with the kids. I am trying to do better about living in the moment with them, thinking ahead to the future helps in this area. One day they will be gone. Anna is ten and therefore, over half way towards independence. I think of so much I want to teach her, how I want to mold her and time is passing so quickly. I have been exercising more, but not at the rate I would like to. I need to spend more time in the word and that is my goal for the week. I am glad I am a work in progress and God doesn't expect perfection. I have so far to go in my goals and aspirations, but I know God has a plan and purpose and towards that goal I press!

New Year's Resolutions

Each year, like millions of other people, I make a few new resolutions for the New Year. I hesitate to make them, because just like everyone else, I have a hard time sticking to them in the busyness of life. I have good intentions, but intentions get you no where. However, I think that if I can make these resolutions habits even if they only last a few months, at least my life will be better for a few months! So without further ado, here are my resolutions for the new year:

1. Take time to enjoy my children. I realized that by the end of this decade, my oldest will be twenty, and Jordan will be sixteen. It is important that I make the most of each day to mold and shape them into the godly characters I want them to be. I am vowing to spend more QUALITY time with them. Not time spent saying "clean your room"or time in the same room with them while we all do something different, but real moments together. I plan to spend more time playing games, reading books, and fostering real conversations with them. I know in our busy lives this will be hard, but I figure if I can just take 15 minutes of individual time with them each day, this will really make a difference. Who knows? Maybe they'll enjoy the time with their mom so much they will actually seek out me for more time together. There's always hope right?
2. Exercise more often. I know-this one I make each year, but this year I really want to do something about my weight and my health in general. Now that we are living with Brian's parents, and there is a treadmill upstairs where we are staying I have NO excuse. I must do something different in this department.
3. Spend more quality time in the Word of God. Enough said.
4. Practice saying NO! I inherited this problem from my father, but I have got to make a change here. I have so many opportunities presented to do this or that, but I must begin to prioritize and only take on that which is most important. This is where I struggle- choosing between what's good and what's God's best for me. Perhaps more time in the Word will help me discern these things.

Well, I think that is enough to tackle for now. We'll check back on these resolutions in a few months, and see how I am doing. Feel free to keep me accountable and ask me how I am doing. I could use an accountability partner!

Turning over A New Leaf

Yes, I know most of you will never see this post because you've stopped coming to our site. I have not been journaled in quite a long time. I had some computer issues, got out of the habit, and then with our chaotic life, blogging was the one iron I pulled from the fire. I have made a New Year's Resolution to do better. I do think it helps to keep distant family and friends informed, as well as it serves as a great family scrapbook to help preserve memories my overloaded brain can't seem to hold. I am going to try to do better this year. I am not making any promises, only an assurance that I will do my best. So if you are the one person I think might actually read this, stay tuned. There's more to come!