Drink Fancy Coffee Drinks ... Check

Well, wouldn't know it ...

The first item checked off my

was the next to the last thing on it ...

drink fancy coffee drinks

The DIL & I each enjoyed a

Pumpkin Spice Latte @ Starbucks,

venti, nonfat, with whipped cream ...

pure Autumn deliciousness!

And yes, I always get the whipped cream

even though I get the nonfat 'cause

well, a gal's got to cut back somewhere,

right? ;)

One down.

Fifteen to go.

Becky & I enjoying my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season
& her first one ever!  (My eyes are so weird & wide open for dramatic effect &
because Pumpkin Spice lattes make me soooooo happy! ;)



Happy Fall Y'all!

Myself, the grandgirlies & anyone else intested in participating

will spend Autumn 2011 checking off items on

"The Fall Bucket List"

Exciting huh?

Well, I sure think so and

I'm VERY excited!

I'm be sure to keep you updated on all the fun

'cause it's gonna be great ...

So my friends,

 I leave you with these words ...

Happy Fall Y'all!



A decade ago ...

I'm certain that if you ask any American

what they were doing the moment they heard the

news of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001

they could tell you exactly.

I can actually give you an account of what I did

the entire day ...

I'll spare you the details because I feel

certain you have your own account of the day that changed Americans forever.

It's the only time in my adult life I went to bed afraid.

The skies were eerily quiet.

As I lay there, I remember praying quietly for America

and the for safety of loved ones scattered across the country,

most of them in or near major Metropolitan areas.

Not that you could tell anything was wrong by my surroundings.

I live in a small community in rural Appalachia so it appeared

as though all was right in the world.

Of course the events of the morning had proven differently.

Today I honor the memory of those killed on that day

and I pray for the hearts of those who experienced loss of ...

a loved one,

a friend,

 a neighbor,

 a co-worker,

 an aquaintance.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7)

That is my prayer for you because,

even a decade later,

it's hard to understand.

Isn't it?

I think so.

September 11, 2001.

It taught me something.

God is in control.

He is in control

even when,

no,

 especially when

 everything in us and

surrounding us

appears to be

spiraling out of control.

"But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God,

 that I may declare all thy works" (Psalms 73:28)



50 .... Fifty ....

Fifty ...

25 x 2 ... (ouch!)

Yep, August 31, 2011,

it came & went

and (guess what)

I wanted to dig a hole in the backyard, crawl in it and cry

I survived!

(and I managed to do it

with a smile on my face all day most of the day).

It's a day I'm not likely to forget ...

 for a few reasons.

I saw my fourth grandbaby via ultrasound.

I already knew this precious blessing was on the way,

but seeing him up there on the big screen

(in the safest place he'll ever be - his momma's womb)

made me feel happy & reminded me of the magnificence of God ...

how mindful He is of our needs, longings and

yes, even our shortcomings, mistakes, frailities,

and oh His mercies ...

I so appreciate them ...

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22,23)

"Hi Nana! See you in April!"

(BTW, I'm referring to 'him' as a him because I believe that's what 'he' is

and Nana is ready for some blue! :)

My momma is another reason the day will be forever etched in my mind.

I could tell she was a little tender about my 50th birthday and

I understand it. My goodness, when your oldest child turns 50 that's gotta do

something to a momma's heart, doesn't it? Yep, I think so ...

I really didn't want to do anything in celebration of the day but

because I knew that wouldn't be tolerated I decided to make my own

celebratory dinner. What a great idea! Why hadn't I thought of it earlier?

Maybe because I'm OLD! 

I'd begin my 50th year of life by giving! Brilliant!

So a family fave was on the menu ...

yep, I made chicken enchiladas!

My family loves them & they're easy enough to make in mass quantities

(which is necessary because that is how they are consumed! ;)

I also made carrot cake (from scratch) with homemade cream cheese icing...

(my all-time favorite in the whole world!)

So, as you may have already guessed,

the family, my family,

they are the reason I'll remember this day fondly.

While they weren't all here with me (sniff, sniff)

the hubs,

my oldest son,

my sweet Kylie Jo ...

weren't here and if they had been I feel certain you wouldn't have been able to wipe the smile off my face :)

But it was still a very good day.

A day to think about & look back on my life and

see His hand actively leading and guiding me ...

Blessing me sometimes in spite of myself ...

So, my family came in celebration of all things 'Kimberly' ...

they came because of what they mean to me

and because of what I mean to them ...

It doesn't get any better than that.

Em, Anna & Cait ... precious giggling girlies ...

(so happy there was cake & a reason to party!)

'Abby Cadabby' ... the new girl ...

my momma and my daddy ...

my youngest son & the (preggo) DIL ...

my brother & my SIL and

my Pastor & his wife, who I lovingly refer to as Sis. Pastor,

were all here ...

(Em & Anna made me cupcakes)

I received countless phone calls,

a few text messages,

> 100 'happy birthday' wishes on Facebook,

an e-mail from my Sailor son (who was underway)

and even a couple of cards via 'snail mail' ....

So I stand corrected ...

50

fifty

25 x 2

it wasn't so bad

it was a good day :)

I promise will try not to complain about my age for another ten days years ...

and with said I'll 'quote' King David ... cause I simply couldn't resist ...

"Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until

I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come"

(Psalm 71:18)

(BTW, regardless how old I get I will NEVER be grey! ;)