What a Year!

As 2009 comes to an end I am reflecting over the amazing ride it has been. There have been ups and downs but like always the ups weigh out.

By far the most amazing part was on January 26Th when Henry Patrick Miller graced our lives and changed them forever. This year we have seen Cameron develop into such a little man. He loves being a big brother. He has embraced Kindergarten with an amazing yearn to learn more and more each day. Mr. Miller continues with the Big Green Tractor company and closes the year as "Employee of the Month". Congratulations sweetie, you deserve it! As for me I have had the time of my live on this roller coaster we call life. I am a SAHM and loving it, sewing and cooking and most of all writing again. It is amazing what you can do with this book of life if you just take the time and look for the simple pleasures that it has to offer.

Starting tomorrow we are joining the cause for "Change" www.hipmountainmamablog.com , check it out and see what you and your family can change for the environment. Instead of a resolution think of it as a change. One change, one month at a time. I will share our change with you all tomorrow.

As our time here in Valdosta and 2009 comes to an end, I want to Thank all of you for your continued support. Here is to a great 2010 and many Warm Wishes and Blessing for your New Year!

A taste of Southern Hospitality

During my years with Starbucks I had the pleasure of working for a gentleman that I am proud to call my friend and mentor still to this day. Mike showed me so much about being a Manager and now that we have both left the "BUX" we have kept in touch and are still friends. I have also had the pleasure of getting to know his amazing wife, Susie and 2 beautiful children, Mikey and Madeline. Mike now is the Banquet Manager for the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. When I told him we were coming through on our way to Valdosta and asked if they could meet for dinner he said he could do one better and asked us to stay at the Resort. We had never been and it was worth the splurge.

This Resort is amazing. It is 5 acres under one roof and has over 11,000 species of plants in there. Of course Mr. Miller was loving that. Mike took us on a great tour and Cameron and Maddie did great together. Susie and I decided that in 20 years we could defiantly be in laws.

This is what we saw when we drove in.


I think this is the biggest tree I have ever seen. Mike said people line up for hours just to get pictures in front of it.


Junior Mint in front of the Poinsettia Tree. Cameron didn't want his picture taken.

They had an amazing outdoor Nativity. There was an audio that re told the story.

The lights continuously rotate in the hotel. I loved how the staff and everyone you met said "Merry Christmas" and not just "Happy Holidays"!

Thank you Mike, Susie and the Gaylord Opryland Resort for a taste of true Southern Hospitality and a bit of the Christmas Spirit.

Christmas PJ's

We have a tradition at Green Acres with Christmas Jammie's. This tradition started with my family when I was a little girl. Every Christmas Eve we would go to Church and when we came home we got to open one present. This present was always new PJ's for Christmas morning. After we would open the presents my Dad would read the "The Night Before Christmas" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". We would then leave our cookies and milk for Santa and of course carrots for the reindeer and then off to bed we were sent. Now as a parent I understand why you want your precious little ones to be fast asleep.

This year was a little different for us. First, being away from home and secondly the Church service didn't start until 10pm. The Deacon and Pops serve at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Valdosta, Georgia. It is a darling church, very warm and welcoming. We started the evening with our traditional dinner of heavy snack foods and wine while the Deacon and Cameron opened the last window on the Advent calendar. We had the boys open their PJ's before Mass and that way they could wear them to church. This is customary at St. Barnabas on Christmas Eve. We went to church and Henry did great, he stayed awake through the whole Mass. Cameron didn't like the trumpets so much so Mr. Miller and him stayed out in the vestibule for the majority of the service and then migrated to the Urban Farm Truck where Cameron fell fast asleep. I checked on them after Communion and there they were with the windows down and Mr. Miller was listening to his new Buffett CD. Of course it was 65 and beautiful out, far better than the blizzard conditions at home.

The church hosts a lovely reception after and we took the kids home and put them to bed so Santa could get to work. It was a great Christmas Eve and the PJ's they were darling. Don't you think?