Thinking . . .

I know my posts have been far and few in between lately. I was thinking about deleting my blog but I don't want to lose everything I have on here about my dad and his accident and then passing onto glory. So until I can get everything off of this blog and saved into another file on my computer I will leave this blog up but I probably will not be posting anymore to it.
The reason I started this blog was so my family could keep up with us and see pictures of the kids and our everyday happenings. It served us well up until now.
Now, most of my family and John's family has Facebook now and we have been communicating so much more on that website. It has been so much fun and is more interactive since we can instant message one another.
So if you have a Facebook and would like to be friends, just send a friend request to me and we can keep in touch that way. Of course you can always email me! If you need my email address it is lenfestey5@aol.com. Come join us at www.facebook.com . . . . that would be so much fun!
God Bless!

Today . . .

Today would have been my parents 43rd wedding anniversary. I miss him so much.

Christmas Decorations

We just put simple lights up outside. The ones on the porch are from my dad. He gave them to me the Christmas before he passed away. There is a wooden snowman on the porch that lights up that my mother-in-law gave me a few years ago too.

This is the first time we have had a fireplace. It is fun hanging the stockings from the mantel! I love my skinny little pencil tree. It has served us well through the years. It is decorated with snowmen. I can't get enough snowmen. Although I dislike snow . . .weird I know.

Here is our dining room. I put a small tree in there as well. The tablecloth I got at a thrift store for $1. I love it! On top of the curio cabinet is a doll collection my mother use to always put out. She gave it to me about 3 years ago. I really love it!

Isn't it adorable? I think of my mother every time I look at it. I love you mom!

My sweetie and me

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had our pictures done for our new church directory. I love the one of the children. Time sure flies . . . .they are becoming so grown.

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Honesty Pays Off!

Wow, what a shopping experience the boys and I had today. We are having pictures done tomorrow for our church directory so I needed to buy the boys a long sleeved black shirt for our picture. So we went to Beall's and found just what we needed (really cheap too!). While we were there, Nicholas happened upon a $100 bill on the floor and went to Johnathan and said, "Look what I found!" Johnathan, took it from Nicholas and said "Nick, where did you get this? We have to give it back!" Johnathan then looked up and saw a young man pacing nervously around the store so Johnathan asked him if he had lost some money and he said yes! So Johnathan gave him the $100 and the guy asked where he found it so Nick took him to the rack of dresses where he found it and the man was happy to find the other $600 under the rack that his wife or girlfriend had lost while browsing for dresses! I had no idea all of this had happened so when this man I did not know came up and handed Johnathan a $100 bill and told him to keep it I was like "WHAT??" After I found out what had happened I told the man that the boys could not accept this money, and he said he wanted them to have it because they could have kept it all but was honest and returned the money. I told him that we wouldn't expect the boys to keep money that didn't belong to them that we teach them to be honest. He said "well honestly deserves reward so I want them to keep it". The guy walked away and we stood there dumb founded. Although Nicholas had a big 'ol smile on his face! I stlil can't believe it happened!

My favorite pic!

Vacation 2008

Vacation pics

It's good to be home!

We are home from Celebration and Vacation. I will write more tomorrow. We just got in and everyone went to bed already. We can't believe Orlando is so far away from us and we are still in the same state.
What a great time we had! It was so fun having the Smith Girls join us on vacation. We made lasting memories . . . . . .God is SO kind! Here is our day at Disney we enjoyed together. What a great day this was!
More to come after much needed rest! Love to all!

Celebration & Vacation!

We are so excited to be able to attend Celebration North Florida this week and see many of our friends gather at Camp Kulaqua in High Springs, FL from other Sovereign Grace churches in Florida.
Then it's off to one of our favorite places to relax and enjoy a week with no schedule! Ahh . . .we can't wait!
Thank you Memee for letting us stay once again in your beautiful timeshare. Wish you could have joined us! We love you!

A lovely day indeed!

Some precious friends that live in Texas (whom use to live in Orlando when we did) were vacationing in Destin this week. Since John had today off and we leave Wednesday for our church camp then vacation, we were happy to get to go over today and visit with them. Dave and Mary Beth are such an awesome couple. We are so thankful we got to know them while in Orlando. Pictured with them is their precious granddaughter Jordyn.
Since we were right there at the beach, we decided to pack our dinner and have a picnic while we were there. It was such a beautiful night. The weather couldn't be more perfect!
After the beach we ended up catching up with some friends from church at the soccer field and got to watch their daughter play in a game. It was a full, fun-filled day. All a blessing from the Lord. We love living here!

5 Hour Beef Stew

This recipe was so delicious that I wanted to share it with you! I had company coming over at 1 p.m. on Sunday after church so was able to prepare this the night before and put it in the fridge and then put it in the oven Sunday morning at 8 a.m.. When we got home, dinner was ready, and all enjoyed it!

5 Hour Beef Stew

6-8 potatoes cubed
4 stalks celery chopped
5-6 carrots chopped
2 medium onions chopped
3 lbs. beef for stew (I used a roast and cut it up since I bought it BOGO free!)
3 T. Dry Tapioca
2 T. sugar
S&P
1 - 12 oz. V8 Juice (I used hot and spicy)

Layer potatoes, celery, carrots, onion in a crock or deep pan. Sprinkle dry tapioca, sugar, salt and pepper over top. Place cubed beef pieces on top and pour V8 juice on top. Cover with lid and place in oven at 250 degrees for 5 hours . . .no peeking! This is one yummy dish!

The Dancey Dancers - what a name!

Here is the group of high schoolers who are taking dance together. I think Johnathan looks a lot like his Grandpa Dale (from his high school years) in this photo. Cassie is in the front middle. She looks just like her momma!

Swing Dancing

Johnathan and his cousin Cassie get to have fun taking swing dance lessons twice a month. There is a family in our church whos older children are teaching the classes. It is such a fun way for them all to have good fellowship and time together. The parents clear out their living room for this event . . .how sweet of them! Johnathan is enjoying it!

Friday Funnies

This made me laugh out loud! I got this from the Girl Talk Blog

September 26, 2008
Friday Funnies
Rebecca sent us this week's Friday Funny which is sure to make you laugh.

A friend of mine has four little kids and lives across the street from a school. She was busy with the youngest child last week when she got a call from the school secretary - "Do you know where your children are?" She admitted she had lost track of two. The secretary informed her that they were on the playground of the school, after crossing the street themselves. My friend apologized, and said she'd be right over to get them. "Well," the secretary hesitated, "we don't really mind them playing here. But they're naked."

Oh the CVS deals keep coming!

Iron Man Movie
4 bottles of Tide
Fusion Razor
Dawn Dishsoap
Covergirl Foundation
Covergirl Powder
Covergirl Eyeliner
2 Crunch Bars

I paid out of my own pocket only $8.93 for ALL of this you see pictured. OH YEAH!

Just us . . .

Enjoying a beautiful day doing school outside. It's sunny, breezy and only 81 degrees! I am so happy it is fall!

Kmart Special

So Kmart in our area was having double coupons for this week only. Joy, Lyntte and I went to Niceville together to see what bargins we could bring home. My total was $138 and I paid $35! I love it! Here is what I got:
3 - 25.4 ozs. Pert Plus
1 - 13.5 ozs. Pert Plus
2 - 23.7 ozs. Herbal Essences Shampoo
2 - 23.7 ozs. Herbal Essences Conditioner
1- 13 oz. Pantene Pro-V brunette expressions shampoo
1 -13 oz. Pantene Pro-V brunette expressions conditioner
1 - 3.5 oz. Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Frizz Control
1 - 15.2 ozs.Olay botanical fusion body wash
4 - Adidas anti-perspirant deodorant
2 - Sure anti-perspirant deodorant
1 - 6 oz. Colgate toothpaste
1 - 3 pack Venus disposable razors
2 - Advil PM 20 caplets
1 - Tylenol extra strength rapid release
2 - Lysol toilet bowl cleaner
2 - Lysol disinfecting wipes
2 - Nesquik choc. syrup
4 - Easy Mac cups
2 - 64 oz. Juicy Juice
2 - Trident gum
1 - Trident Xtra Care gum

Boiler Up . . .choo choo!

Pics of the "office"

This is the dining room but we do not dine in here. John is kind to share his "office" with my grandmother's dishes and the buffet.

I love antiques!

A sweet friend of mine came over one day and brought me this lamp that had been in her family for years. She gave it to me! I just love it! And I had the perfect place for it too!

Thanks Jennifer . . . .I love it!

Awe . . .cooler weather!

It has been so nice here for the past three days. The highs have been in the 80's and there has been a nice breeze too. We are enjoying our screened in patio very much!

Kristen decided to do her spelling outside today.
We are so happy fall weather is finally here! It sure makes me miss Indiana though!

Our living room

Yummy!

The Smith girls came over and made us dinner last night. It was so yummy!
It was all weight watcher friendly food.
Here is the stuffed rolled up chicken before they baked it. I didn't get a picture of it after it was done. We scarfed it up!
Here they are making apple turnovers . . . . boy were they good!
Thank you Lynette, Chrissie and Cassie for all you do for us. We love having you here living life with us. You guys are such a blessing to many! I love you!

Backyard Fun!

Kristen and Abi had matching skirts and leggings on. Cuties!
Nicholas playing football with some little guys . . . .how sweet are they?
Our back patio . . . we have already put this to good use! We love it!
Daddy and Kristen (I think they were spying on the neighbors! HA)
Those boys love their basketball goal! And how cool that they have their own "court" to play on. God is so kind! I am so happy that they can play basketball again.

Our school room - YAY!

One of my favorite rooms of our house is our school room. It is so nice to have a room just for school, crafts, and projects. The best part . . . . the double doors off the foyer close so no one has to see our mess! YAY! We start school on Monday . . . .how exciting!