Happy New Year's Eve!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year's eve. Enjoy your festivities, however you choose to celebrate. 

See you in the new year!!!

Oh! I almost forgot. I have a contest planned for tomorrow to celebrate my blog's one year birthday! Be sure to come back!

I know, I know!!!

I haven't blogged in a long time! I know! I've been away from internet access for a very long time. I will try to catch you up on things.  

1. The funeral was the Friday before Christmas. It was a nice service.

2. My dad got engaged.

3. Mom, Richard, and I went bowling. 

4. I went to a Christmas party with dad and his friends. We played dirty santa and I got two University of Alabama ornaments. Roll Tide!

5. Mom and I sang the Chipmunk Christmas song at church the Sunday before Christmas. We gave out hula hoops. 

6. Sunday, I went to Ella Grace's bday party. Happy 2nd Bday!

7. Monday, I met Beth and Amanda and their kids for lunch at the Mexican restaurant.

8. Visited with Amanda Monday after lunch.

9. Tuesday, I got four new tires and 1 new rim. Merry Christmas to my car.

10. Christmas Eve, we had snack foods at mom's house with her husband's family. Good thing we are not Jewish cuz all we had was pork, pork, and more pork. It was delicious.

11. Christmas, I went to dad's friends' house for lunch. It was so good. 

12. Christmas night, I went to visit with Ryan's family. We had seafood. It was good getting to see everyone again and I even met more family members. 

13. Friday, mom and I went to Walmart to buy Christmas stuff 1/2 off. I bought a purple Christmas tree. Super fun!

14. We drove to Baba's after the Walmart trip.

15. Friday night, we had Christmas with mom's side of the family. It was great. 

16. We went to Christmas City (miles and miles of lights and Christmas scenes.). They have a little village with shops, food, and even a train ride. I got us a group rate for the train ride and everyone got to ride for 1/2 price. Sometimes, all you gotta do is ask. 

17. I bought a new Bama koozie at Christmas City. It is houndstooth with an embroidered 'A'.

18. Saturday, we went to Walmart again because mom's tire blew on the way to Christmas City. She decided to buy 4 new tires. 

19. I went all over town trying to find ammunition for my gun.

20. Bought ammunition. 

21. Went to Pa's and fired my gun.

22. Gun rubbed blister on my thumb.

23. Went to Ms. Evelyn's for dinner.

24. Fell in love with "Pedro", a mini chihuahua. I so want one now.

25. Sunday, I drove home. 

Now you are all caught up on my vacay. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. 

Arrangements

Visitation is at 10 a.m. tomorrow with the funeral following at 11 a.m.  Dad wanted it on Saturday, but the funeral home could not do it then.  So Dad decided to do it on Friday.  

Thank you to all my friends who have sent emails and text messages.  I appreciate all your prayers and thoughts.  

UPDATE #3

First of all, I would like to thank all of you who for your prayers and concern. 

I just received a call from my Dad.  Granny passed away this morning around 2:30.

I am going home today and will be home through Christmas.  Dad wants to have everything arranged so we can have the funeral on Saturday.  

Thanks again for your prayers.    

UPDATE #2

My dad called me today and told me Granny was awake (she had been out for several days).  I got to talk to her for a few minutes.  She tried to talk back but only grunts were coming out.  But she could hear me and understand me.  My mom told me that Granny's organs are starting to shut down.  I just can't believe this is really happening.  

I am packing tonight so I can go home tomorrow morning.  I just don't think I can drive down tonight.  It's dark, I'm crying, and it's raining.  Not a good combination.  I need to spend some time packing because I have a lot of National Board stuff to do while on Christmas break.  I don't want to leave anything I need to work on that.  

    

Update

My Granny is still hanging on.  Now they don't know how long it will be.  They were so certain she wouldn't last through Monday night.  She's still the same as Monday.  Every time a hospice nurse comes in, they comment she won't make it through the hour they will be there, but she still keeps hanging on.  I talked to Dad this morning and he told me to go to work and that he would keep me posted throughout the day.  

I am so torn about what to do.  I know I need to go home, but I just don't want my last memory of my Granny to be of her dying.  I can not sit and watch her die.  That's what I would be doing if I went home right now.  My dad is surrounded by his aunts and uncles and his girlfriend.  He is not alone.  I have substitutes on "stand-by" and they will come in as soon as I need them.  Right now, I think the best thing for me to do is go to work.  I hope it is the right decision. 

Once again

I come to you with a request for prayer.  My grandmother is not doing well and the doctors do not expect her to make it through the night.  I am asking that you pray for:

1.  comfort - my Granny has been in a lot of pain and she just needs to rest and not hurt during this time

2. peace - for my family.  

This is a hard time for all involved, but especially my brother, who is stationed in Alaska and can not get home during this time.  Please pray for him. 

Keep my dad in your prayers, as well.  He is my granny's only living child.  So, he is having to do everything and make all the decisions about her care.  I know this is hard for him, and he kept comforting me while we were talking on the phone.  I pray God will grant him strength, peace, and the wisdom to do what is best for Granny.     

As you may recall, my program was rescheduled for tomorrow night.  This is a job requirement that I can not put off on someone else.  Literally, there is no one else who can conduct this program.  I wrote over half the songs for it.  They are still on notebook paper with my notes all over it.  So, I will be here until I finish the program.  Then depending on how late it is, I may drive to my parents or I may leave on Wednesday.  

Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you.   

Who knew?

Who knew it would take all day to wrap gifts?!  I started wrapping at 4:30 p.m. and I am just now finishing at 9:00 p.m.  I did have to take a break to glaze my rum cake but that didn't take too long.  Wow!  Wrapping really takes a while.  

Here is the before pile of presents (notice Winston in the back looking on)...

And here is the finished pile of wrapped presents (notice Winston looking on from his bed)....

Who is this?

Last night, I went to Ashley's to her "Trim the Tree" party.  She invited her friends over for "big girl" drinks, snacks, and to decorate her tree.  I am so doing this next year!  The tree was decorated in less than ten minutes!  I don't even have my tree up this year, let alone decorated.  We had a great time visiting and decorating.  

While at Ashley's, I received a text message from a number I did not know.  The text read, "Hey is this tiff".  Well, as you know, this is Tiff, but I don't know who that person is, so I replied, "Who is this?"  To which I get a reply "Is this Tiffany (insert last name)".  Ok, you're freaking me out now...  Again, I reply, "Who is this?"  Then I get a name, Mike, and that he found my name and number in his coat pocket.  He had not worn the coat since last year.  Now good friends, I am not in the habit of giving my number out to random people.  In fact, I never give my number out, so therefore, I would remember this person, right?  I did not remember this person, so I must not have given him my number....  How did he get it and who is he?  Unfortunately, he doesn't remember me or how he got my number (obviously, he's never met me.  I am not easily forgotten).  No help there.  So we're texting back and forth to figure out how we know each other.  He sends me a pic to jog my memory.  I do not know this person!  Never seen him in my life.  So I ask him what he does, thinking he might have gotten my number through work.  He told me maintenance and then asked my what I did.  I replied, teach.  He then sent me a message saying he thought he knew how he got my number.  His mom is the mail lady at one of my schools.  I vaguely remember the secretary saying something about the mail lady wanting my number for her son because she thought I was cute.  I thought "yeah, whatever".  I never thought I would hear from him and I didn't until over a year later.  Crazy, huh?  So, ladies at the party, the mystery is solved.  Case closed. 

I have gotten almost all of my shopping done.  None of it is wrapped :(  

Today, I am baking a rum cake for the school Christmas Party.  Yea for the teachers!

Rescheduled!

Ugh!  My program was rescheduled for next Tuesday night!!!  I am so upset.  I wanted to get it over with!  

So, now I have another 5 days to look forward to my program :(

Good news though.  We don't have to go to work until 9:30 am tomorrow.  

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow - NOT!

I have my final program tonight and the forecast calls for snow!  No way!!!!  I want this over!  Don't snow.  Snow tomorrow.  Snow over night, but don't snow today!  Let me finish this last program.....

Pray for NO SNOW!!!!!

No shopping for me

So, I did not finish early enough to go shopping :(  I DID get to sleep late though.  

I had more to get done than I thought I did.  I still have a few things to finish tomorrow before the program.  Right now I just finished making some flower clips for my hair.  I think they are cute!  I also need to find something to wear tomorrow night.  After last night, I know I DON'T need to wear long sleeves to conduct.  I was so flipping hot last night!  So, I'm going to find a plain shirt to wear with my hula skirt and lei.  Maybe I'll get some cute pics to post for you.  

Well, I gotta go find something to wear.  

Good night!

Two down, One to go

Tonight was number 2 of Christmas Programs.  I now have one more on Thursday night.  Tomorrow I am taking a sick day so I can go work on the stage.  I know, I know.  That's ridiculous.  But it's the only way I can get it done.  I am sleeping late and then going in to do the stage.  Hopefully, I can get it done quickly and then I can go Christmas shopping before church choir rehearsal.  That is my plan.  We'll see if I succeed....

I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!  

Good night!

One down, Two to go

Today started the week of Christmas Programs.  I have three this week.  The five year old church choir program was tonight.  Tuesday is K - 2 at one school and Thursday is K - 5 at the other school.  Friday, I collapse.  

Today, the church had the Kirking of the Tartans.  One of our members is the president of the local Scottish society (I think) and he got to have the Kirking at his church.  So, the society came and got blessed.  We had a professional bagpiper.  He was great.  The sanctuary choir sang at both services today.

After the second service, I went to Wolf's house for lunch.  He cooked for me AGAIN!  This makes two times in a week.  How sweet.  Today was hamburger steak, gravy, black-eye peas and homemade mashed potatoes.  Super yummy.  And he doesn't just slop it on the plate (like I would).  He makes it look like it could have been served in a restaurant.  Thanks for cooking again.  I had a great time!

Christmas at the Castle was awesome again this year.  I decided to wear jeans, boots, red tank, black sweater.  Now, you couldn't see anything but the boots and the bottom of my jeans because I NEVER took my jacket off.  Oh and I had a scarf and gloves.  It was FREEZING!  Below freezing, actually.  Thank god for outdoor heaters and firepits.  I did have one letdown.  Raven did not perform this year :(  She is my fave performer.  It truly is a shame that she wasn't there.    

Off to bed for me.  Good night, everyone.  Have a great week!       

Christmas at the Castle

The Christmas party of the season is tonight!  WooHoo!

I have no idea what I am gonna wear.  What do you wear to a party where most of the attendees are homosexual men?  On one hand, they are not looking to see what you have on (well they are not looking at me at all, right?).  They probably couldn't care less.  On the other hand, you will be compared to all these men and what they are wearing.  Such a dilemma.  I better hit the closet.

Right now, I am watching the SEC Championship kick-off.  

Roll Tide!

Have a great night.

Oh, we have a new reader.  I will call him Maximus Wolf for right now.  Welcome, Mr. Wolf.  I hope you enjoy the blog.