celebrate ~ new years eve style

Just getting started!

Granddaddy got these super big neon sparklers.

Harry lights up a pink one.

David and Erika renew their vows.

Arch spells the first letter of his last name.

We all had party hats!

Gus says Happy 2016 to everybody!

My Lu Blue says Happy New Year too.

Wishing everyone a

Happy New Year!

grace got married today

I wish I could have been there!

My sister's first child Grace

married her best friend,

Ivan today at the 

Mission Inn

in

Riverside, California.

All of our best wishes and prayers go out to both of them

for a most blessed and happy marriage.

It was very hard being here

when all of that wonderfulness was going on there.

So thankful for pictures and texts

and the very modern way that we communicate now.

I love falling in love,

weddings,

and happily ever afters.

God bless you both Grace & Ivan!

mark ~ my hero

We had a hot Christmas!

Lizards have not gone away like they usually do this time of year.

They are kinda half alive ~ half dormant.

They shouldn't be out and about,

but the very warm days have them confused.

I will preface this post with that bit of information.

We were late getting our tree this year

because of all the fallings

and when we did,

we left it outside for a few days,

leaning up against the house.

We even gave it a few dousings with the hose to moisten it up

before we brought it inside.

Decorating it was a process...

the grand kids helped.

There was a lot of "up close and personal" time with the tree for me...

 I was in and out, under, and way up top.

It turned out perfect,

and then the beautifully wrapped presents

finished it off.

We enjoyed it so much shining brightly there in the corner.

On Christmas Day it was lit before the sun came up.

We gathered around it,

took presents from under it,

and just relished in its beauty.

Christmas Day afternoon we gathered back

around the tree after our naps.

Someone,

I forget who,

mentioned that there was a LIZARD in my 

CHRISTMAS TREE

that had been removed and set free by my

son in law Mark Hollingsworth.

At first I thought they were kidding me,

but they weren't.

Mark, sitting next to the tree,

noticed the LIZARD

lanquishng on the branch, 

listlessly watching

the goings on.

Mark....very quietly,

not making a big deal at all, 

captured the mini-dinosaur and set him free.

Immediately I began to wonder...

how many more are in there?

What will I do 

if they come out and are all over the house?

This is my worst nightmare come true, 

and to think,

 I was all over that tree

and I didn't know "he" was there,

watching me and laughing his head off.

Thank you Mark!

You are my hero!

christmas day with the family

Sausage & egg casserole with

Erika's delicious homemade sweet bread.

Lu Blue and Harry Potter.

Gus got an R2D2 backpack.

Jake reading his 

Lego Mini-figure encyclopedia.

Eli opening his first gift.

This picture was taken WAY before the crack of dawn

on Christmas morning.

Lucy's new big girl bike has a

Georgia tag.

Lu riding followed closely by Arch

in his brand new Star Wars boots.

Grandaddy got a gift from the official

Duke University Book Store.

Grammy got a KitchenAid Mixer.

So glad...

never had one like this.

Gus opening his gift from Jake and Eli.

\\

David is always a gift in and of himself.

Christmas was....

beautiful,

 filled with love,

a bit chaotic,

trash generating,

delicious,

tiring,

loud,

amazing.

Very thankful for a time to celebrate together.

Warm, sweet memories remain.

Visited with Frankie yesterday afternoon.

He is doing very well.

Was nice to see him home,

in his chair by the fireplace,

with his family,

for Christmas.

God has truly blessed us all!!

twas the night before christmas....

...there was a star in the house,

an angel descending,

some shepherds about.

six little children at the foot of the tree,

dissolving into laughter as quick as can be.

And just before bedtime,

in front of my eyes,

a vision of Christmas pajamas

materialized.

Just a short little peek at our Christmas Eve night!!!

"for unto you is born this day.....

It has been a crazy, wonderful Christmas!

In spite of

 3 falls

 and an open heart surgery scare,

we have had a magical

3 day 

Christmas marathon

of laughter, feasts, gift giving, and love.

So thankful for the grace of God to all of us!

I hope that each of you have been blessed as well.

"For there is born to you this day

 in the city of David, 

a Savior 

who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:10

We rejoice today and worship

this Gift 

that was given on that night so long ago.

There was no greater gift ever given!

My prayer for all of you who read is this...

that God will draw you to Himself,

that He will open you heart to receive His truth,

and that you will know Him.

Our babies are growing up,

but the message they bring never changes.

merry christmas everybody

May the knowledge that 

JESUS

came to the earth 

to do the will of His Father

on our behalf

make your Christmas filled with

Joy & Peace

in the understanding of that

Truth!

Again,

Merry Christmas 2015

seeing hearts again

This one is on my tree.....

front and center.

It is made of buttons.

Every time I see this heart,

 I am reminded of how much God loves us...

enough to send His son into the world

to die on the cross,

to shed His blood,

to reconcile us back to Him.

Christmas is the baby in the manger.

It is God becoming man and paying the price

for our sin nature,

Now that is the perfect example of love!

My Florida little boys are here...

snug in their bunk beds,

sleeping on their brand new

Avengers sheets,

reading by the clip on lights that granddaddy got for them.

As I left the room I reminded them...

Tomorrow is

Christmas Eve, Eve.

There is absolutely nothing like the love of grandchildren.

i think i'll make Christmas

a couple of reports.....

That picture up there is me, today.

First outing since the second fall.

I am doing so well.

Off of the pain meds and feeling pretty good.

On the right side of my face

you can see what is left of the black eye.

There on the top of my cheek

and over my eye is the scar  

from the first fall.

Bubba took me out to lunch.

Nice treat.

Frankie is out of the hospital.

He and Sally are staying with Lindsey

 until he sees the doctor one more time,

and then they will head for home

just in time for Christmas.

This is a time of thanksgiving.....

a time of miracles,

second chances.

It is a time for rejoicing because Christ has come.

Can't wait for our family to get here

so that we can celebrate this good news together.

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift

II Corinthians 9:15

ps...to all you friends and my daughter out there,

I hear you about the flip flops.

No more climbing ladders with floppy shoes on my feet. :)

ladders

Yep...

I fell again.

This time I was on the six foot ladder

putting lights into the greenery on top of our hutch.

Yesterday...just after noon...home alone.

This was a zig-zag fall.

Losing my footing,

I bounced back and forth for a while

before I hit the floor....

Christmas lights and greenery on top of me.

Lying flat on the kitchen hardwood,

wedged between the island and the Viking,....

after regaining my breath,

I made an assessment.

hmmmm....I seem to be fine!

Ahead of me scattered on the floor

 was a sea of broken pottery,

greenery,

Christmas lights,

my flip-flops,

and various ceramic figures

broken in half.

I couldn't even look at all of my much loved decorations.

The one thing I do remember

is seeing the hutch rocking back and forth as I fell.

It had not hesitated to spew most of its contents on the floor.

How it did not topple over is beside me.

I got up and walked to the bedroom...

laid myself out on the bed,

and waited for Bubba to get home.

A couple of hours later we were headed into town,

in a rainstorm, back to the ER.

Of everything, my back (left side) hurt the most.

We decided to go do the X-Ray thing again.

Exactly four hours later,

we were on our way home.

(See results above)

Nothing was broken,

no brain bleeds,

not as much blood as before even.

Slightly embarrassed,

greatly sore,

but held up by some really good pain pills,

I went to bed

thanking Him again and again.

 It could have been so much worse.

Before we left, my sweet husband cleaned up the mess

of broken cherished items...

I couldn't even look.

He sweetly said,

its not as bad as you think it is.

He had salvaged what he could,

and tried to put Humpty back together again.

He did a good job!

This has been a month of sorrows and pain but,

In everything God has blessed

the outcomes.

Somehow these times of our lives draw us closer to Him.

Christmas is not about glitter and gold,

it is about that tiny little baby

who grew up to be the Savior of the world.

To God be ALL the glory,

great & wonderful things

He has done!

Frankie

He and his family were at Disney last week,

celebrating Lindsey's birthday,

enjoying his favorite little spot on the earth,

riding the boats, 

feasting,

enjoying it all through the eyes of Cameron and 

sweet little Charlotte.

He was having some pains,

but they would subside.

He kept on going in the true tradition of an

O'Quinn man.

Early Saturday morning there was no more waiting.

He knew immediately that the fun was over.

The hospital was waiting for him,

welcomed him in,

and told him...

"You will be staying here for a while."

Frankie had a heart attack...

He would need by-pass surgery and he would need it very soon.

As my friend said to me...

"Oh Wow, Cathy....

Frankie,

your baby brother

who I remember from 35th street."

Yes, that would be the one!

Yesterday...

It was very hard to wait,

knowing what he was going through.

My brother had told Bubba the night before,

"If my heart doesn't start back beating,

well.... I'll just go on to be with Jesus.

The faith was there for all of us,

but it is still very hard until you hear.

Sally called late in the afternoon.

The doctor say he had done so well.

He came through...

God granted his heart new life.

This morning he was up in his chair drinking some water.

God's amazing grace to my sweet brother,

a gentle soul who is always there for us.

Get well soon!!!

Get home for Christmas!

We'll save the gifts until you feel like partying!!

I love you!!!

ps...I just talked to him!

Doctor is calling him a miracle.

He sounds so good.

our florida boys

Jake and Eli

all dressed up for their Christmas program

 last week at school.

Notice Jake's bowtie...

It has whales with candy canes wrapped around them.

I love these boys who are

8 & 10.

My tree is almost finished.

I always think...

 "this one is the most beautiful tree I have ever done."

Its the bows and gold bead garland

that send it over the edge for me.

Thankful tonight for the good report Bubba got at the doctor today.

all clear now from the fall...everything looks good.

For that longed for yet unexpected

 answer to prayer.

For the beauty of the 

Christmas story.

For that tiny little baby in the manger

who grew up to be our 

Savior.

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift."

II Corinthians 9:15

odds & ends

The fall....

This is the text that Lu sent out to

 David, Erika, and Bubba

 when I fell.

We were all real proud of her quick thinking.

I am getting better,

but still have a very sore left hand.

My black eye is dissipating...

moving down my face and becoming less and less visible.

Ribs still sore.

Hard to get up and down.

All the people in church this morning who saw my fall

were very impressed with my progress.

Lucy, Harry, Gus and Archie

helped me decorate our Christmas tree yesterday.

Harry was allowed on the ladder

to hang some of the ornaments,

then all of the others had a turn as well.

No catastrophe!!

I am still working on it tonight.

My perfectionist tendencies make this a tedious job for me.

The tree is real...

it smells great,

I love it!

Lu and her friend 

were designing leggings for a contest to

raise money for cancer research.

We both decided that I would look great in these.

I choose the skinny leg side for myself.

I let Lu have full creativity last night in

setting the table.

She mixed and matched all of my 

Christmas dinnerware, glasses, and napkins

and came up with what I think is 

a stunning display of talent.

I am teaching her how to throw an amazing dinner party.

I found the wooden candle holders

at the Goodwill while foraging with Amanda one day.

Got to get back to the tree.

It takes me forever,

We are late getting it up this year,

(because of my fall)

but it is worth all the effort...

a true masterpiece

made more beautiful by the little hands of my

grand babies.

get air with a friend

This was supposed to happen last Friday,

the day before Lucy's birthday.

Because of my untimely fall,

going to "Get Air"

was cancelled 

until Grammy regained her senses and quit bleeding.

Today, one week late,

I picked these two up after school,

took them to Chick -Fil-A for an awesome lunch,

and then off we went

 to the newest rage in Savannah.

"Get Air"

 is a huge expanse 

in the old Sam's building on Highway 17S.

The floor is covered with trampolines.

slides,

 obstacle courses,

basketball goals,

and those big plastic balls

that you bonk together in.

Lucy had a bit of a hard time standing up in hers.

But, she had no trouble at all bouncing as high as the sky,

or making a basket.

this makes making a basket so much easier.

Friends make jumping even more fun

when they do it together.

I want to take the boy grandchildren now...

They will love it!

Ten year old girls are so much fun.

You definitely keep me young,

Lucy Blue!

eli in the snow....

This is one of my favorite pictures of Eli,

 back when he was a baby,

back when he lived in Virginia where it snows

once in a while.

Everything about this picture makes me smile.....

His rosy cheeks,

those eyes,

the knit hat that my mother gave him,

the red coat,

the sprinkled snow.

Thankful today for the grace of God

that carries us through the hard times of life,

that brings remembrances to mind of happy times and places.

That reminds us that God is our

 Maker,

Creator,

Sustainer,

 Friend.

That He has written a book

that tells us

"Everything we need to know

pertaining to life and godliness."

That sent His own Son,

"God very God,"

to reconcile us back to Himself

and to provide for our eternity.

This season, 

amid all of the rants to the contrary,

let us proclaim the 

"Goodness of our God in the land of the living."

Praise to that little baby in the manger.

Praise to the risen Lord that

"Sits at the right hand of God

constantly praying for us."

me too ( this was written last Friday morning)

Last night was a big night for Lucy and Archie.

They were singing with their friends

at Independent Presbyterian Church 

in beautiful downtown

Savannah, Ga.

After dinner at Johnny Harris,

(the children looked so adorable all dressed up

in their Christmas finery)

off we went to start our Christmas Season with song.

Hurrying in with Lu,

I got my foot caught up in a metal tree fence,

(they are around all of the trees in

downtown Savannah)

dove headfirst into the brick sidewalk,

and was soon surrounded

by everybody that I know in Savannah.

Knocked cuckoo

and bleeding profusely from a laceration on my head,

almost like a scene from a disaster area,

 they all sprang into action.

Someone ran in and got me a chair...

someone else found towels

and applied pressure until the bleeding stopped,

another took their warm coat 

and covered my, by that time, shaking body.

Then,

Just like that,

they formed a circle and had a conference...

Yes they decided, 

we need to call an ambulance

 and have her checked out at the hospital.

So,

never making it in to sing and drink hot chocolate,

they loaded me up instead

and took me on a long, bumpy ride to

Candler General.

My injuries were minor...

They glued my head wound back together,

(I will have a scar).

The took xrays of my ribs and my hand,

an MRI of my hard head,

gave me two percocet

 and a tetnus shot.

My angel last night was a guy named Brandon

who works in the ER at Memorial.

He stayed with me until I left in the ambulance.

One thing is for sure...

we will track him down 

and give him and his sweet wife

a gift card to where ever they had planned to dine last night.

Couldn't let Bubba get ahead of me.

Today?

I am sore,

I have a nasty black eye,

a sprained thumb,

and bruised ribs,

but once again God was faithful.

It could have been so much worse.

I am resting and healing

 and decorating my house for Christmas.

I curled my hair and took this selfie!!

*"Momentary light affliction."