Awkward & Awesome Friday

--Awkward--

--I decided to be bold this week and try something new. I got side-bangs. Yes, yes, all those rumors you have heard are true, they were cut slightly too short. When they were cut and my jaw literally dropped when I saw myself in the mirror. I guess that is what I get for trying something new. Yay me. Although, I have been reassured by those around me they aren't bad and thankfully its not the whole part of the bangs that was cut too short. One section just needs to grow about a finger width, hopefully that section grows fast. I really don't want to be the dorky one in the family Christmas picture this year, even though I am pretty sure I fill that role every year. I might even transition into full-on bangs, *gasp*, I look very, very different. You've been warned. {Actually, Mom and I were at the store today and she said she almost didn't recognize me, and that's just with the side bangs.}

I think that probably tops any other awkward moments for the week. Rambling over, moving on.....

--Awesome--

--The Christmas Cantata for church is coming along, still needs work, but it's going to be great!

--Christmas decorations, music, and movies are now being enjoyed in our household

--Day off today

--We are going to see the 'Nutcracker' next weekend. 'uber excited!
--Unexpected phone call from a cousin/friend

I shall leave you with this.....

The kids are loving this app on my phone, they can insert their little heads and dance along with 'The Wiggles'. They pretty much think it's the best thing since goldfish was invented.

So tell me....{Granny B.-- Part 1}

My Granny {Mom's mom} is about as southern as a 'southern Granny' gets! Granny spent many of her years in Arkansas and she has the accent to go along with it. :) She makes a mean biscuits and gravy {chocolate gravy too!!} and has that classic southern hospitality. I love her to pieces and am so thankful for her sweet, loving spirit.

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1. Where were you born?

I was born at Murray Arkansas/Shiloh. In a two room Log cabin my daddy built on his Homestead :-)

2. What did you and your siblings do for fun?

We made our own fun. Climbing trees, ball games, lots of outside games, running base, stink base, antaover, etc...

3. What did your parents do for a living?

My parents did many things for a living. They had a farm we grew most of our food. When we needed cash dad {and sometimes Mom} would take a crosscut saw and they would cut a load of stave Bolts or Hickory splits. Then, they would get someone to haul it off for him. We started going to Missouri to pick cotton in the fall. Sometimes we would go and pick strawberries! Times were hard, but we were happy!!!!

4. What was your mother like?

Mom was a very easy going person. As we grew up I never heard her say she loved any of us, but we knew she did. She tanned our hide when we needed it with a little, keen switch. It really did sting :-) Mom worked hard in the fields and inside. She canned everything she could get her hands on, so we would have food to eat through the winter!!!!

5. Did your family have any special traditions around the holidays?

We had a great Christmas. We always got candy, an apple, and an orange in our sock! Which was GREAT :-)

6. What's your legal name?

Vera is my legal name, but my Mom named me Pearlie Mae. Penny (midwife) sent it in {on the birth certificate} as Vera Mae. We didn't know until Daddy went into the navy when I was 10 years old. So everyone kept using the same name they used all my life!

7. When did you got your first job? Where was it at?

Working in a mail order house at National Belahess in Kansas city, Missouri. I worked all my life when I was big enough to hoe corn or pull weeds.

8. When did you accept Christ?

I got saved at age 29. The happiest day of my life. Wish I had done it a lot sooner. I haven't regretted it a day!!!
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Isn't it funny that when my granny was a little girl, an apple and orange in her Christmas stocking were something SO special! It definitely shows how blessed we are today!

Part 2 coming soon!



Maybe it's just us

It's funny how many pictures we have to take, just to get ONE good one! This family has a hard time keeping a 'normal happy face' when its picture time. :)

Finally!

Best.Thanksgiving.Game.Ever

I don't know about the rest of you, but we had a great Thanksgiving! {The only thing missing was my brother and his wife...*sad face*}

Kali saw a game online this week that claimed to be 'The Best Thanksgiving Game'. After reading what it was all about we decided to give it a try this Thanksgiving!

Here is where we got the idea >>>> The Best Thanksgiving Game

Basically, you divide up into two teams and the 'host' reads off 'The Tallest', so from your team you pick who you think would fit that description the best. The 'host' then announces that the chosen ones are competing to see who has 'The Tallest...THUMB'! It's a great ice-breaker game and gets everyone laughing! {BTW, this doesn't have to be a game just for Thanksgiving, it would be great for a dinner party too!}

Here are some of my favorites from yesterday....

The Tallest....THUMB!

The Longest.....STARE IN A STARING CONTEST!

The Farthest.....MAKE A PAPER AIRPLANE AND SEE WHO'S FLIES THE FARTHEST!

The Longest.....WHO CAN BALANCE ON ONE FOOT THE LONGEST!

The Quickest.....TO BALANCE 5 DICE ON THE END OF A TONGUE DEPRESSOR HELD IN YOUR MOUTH!

We also played a 'Minute to Win It' game, where you try and stack a bunch of cups in less than a minute...with ONE hand! {We put the time limit down to 45 seconds because 1 minute was actually too much time!}

{If you must know, yes, my arms can be invisible and go through walls.}

Counting my Blessings

-- Blessed with a great/loving family and a fabulous new addition this year--

--Blessed with a wonderful/encouraging church family--

--Blessed to be Julian's nanny--

{His Thanksgiving turkey}

--Blessed with my favorite holiday beverages :) --

--Blessed to live in such a beautiful town {especially when it snows}--

"Blessed

be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

Ephesians 1:3

Fun in the snow

We happily received about 4-5 inches of snow on Sunday night! Yesterday {and today}, Kali and I enjoyed taking our kids out to play in the snow! We were all having lots of fun! :)

I am soo blessed to care for this little guy. {Whose eyes are covered..haha}

We brought out our river rafting tube {as a little make-shift sled} and the kids loved it!

So tell me....{Grandma W.-- Part 2}

If you missed Part 1, you will definitely want to go back and read it! >>>>>  So tell me...{Grandma W.-- Part 1}

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9. How did you and Grandpa meet?

Grandpa and I met at a Community Dance at the old Sekiu School House. Grandpa was the Deputy Sheriff out at Sekiu/Clallam Bay Area. Grandpa would sit in with the band quite often when he wasn't called out to settle a fight etc.... He usually played either the guitar or Saxophone. I had recently arrived back home from Seattle Business College. Grandpa had a young cousin staying with him for a while. He said he told his cousin Monroe, "See that girl standing over there? That is the girl I am going to marry". I hadn't even met him yet! Later in the evening and after several dances and talking, he asked me who I came with. I told him...a girl friend. He then asked me if he could take me home...I was a little hesitant but being young and naive I thought that should be pretty safe since he was the Deputy Sheriff. That was the beginning of a 6 month courtship. One evening, he brought me home while we were sitting in the car in our yard, he reached into his glove box and brought out a little box with 2 rings in it and asked me if I would marry him. I was totally surprised!! Wasn't sure what to say. Finally said I thought maybe I was too young to get married!! He convinced me I wasn't ...so I told him he needed to ask my Dad, which he did a couple days later. My Dad liked him and gave his consent! We then had an engagement party announcement. To make the announcement we put our cat in a paper bag and tied a ribbon around his neck with an engagement announcement (letting the cat out of the bag). That was on my 19th birthday Nov. 4th 1949. We were married the following Feb18th 1950.

10. What was your wedding like?

We had a quite large wedding. We were married in Port Angeles at the Lutheran Church. Almost all of Sekiu/Clallam Bay were there (smaller towns at that time). Our reception was in the Elks hall. I had a Maid of Honor (my Sis), 3 bridesmaids, a flower girl. Grandpa had 4 relatives for his attendants. We sneaked out during the reception as Grandpa's Best man got word that some of my mischievous uncles were going to kidnap me! We honeymooned for a week in a Port Angeles Motel!

11. When did you receive Christ?

I was baptized a Catholic when I was about 6 yrs. old but didn't really feel that was enough. At age 34 I went to the altar at the First Church of God and there asked for my sins to be forgiven and asked Jesus into my heart!! What a weight was lifted! I was so at peace :)

12. What was it like to have 7 kids?

A very busy time, but most enjoyable!! :) Just took everything day to day and made the best of everything and time we had.

13. Any funny stories from when your kids were little?

Can't think of anything much right now. Cute....Your dad and Joe had a thriving business...They built a little stand and picked cherries from the black republican tree and sold them at their stand. I think about the only customers were an older couple that lived on Glass Rd.  Boys thought that was pretty good  for a short time anyway!!

14. What was dad like as a child?

He was such a cute little guy!! Well behaved, but felt sorry for him as he was growing up. He had a brother 5 yrs. older and a brother 5 yrs. younger. Poor Jeff was stuck in the middle. The older one was always not wanting him in his room and playing with his stuff...so would fight with him. Then, Jeff being 5 yrs. older than Joe kind of passed the issues off to Joe. Not a very good timing between them when they were young.

15. What was your favorite TV show?

We didn't have TV until after we were married and Marcy was just a baby. We enjoyed the commercials a lot. Didn't watch much TV until later when I think the Walton's and Little House on the Prairie were our favorites.

16. Any advice you would like to give to my generation of young adults?

Most importantly, always keep God in your life. Dream your dreams but remember that true happiness comes from the simpler things in life and not on the expensive things.

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My Grandparents were married for 55 years before my Grandpa passed away in 2005. Such a great testament of God's plan on how a marriage should be!

Thanks so much, Grandma W! I was so fun to hear all the answers!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

I stand upon the Rock!

The results are out and the votes have been tallied.

Presidential election certainly didn't go as we hoped and prayed for, but nonetheless the results are not completely surprising.

Locally speaking, Washington became one of the first states to legalize marijuana and voted in the right for same-sex marriages. Booo

I voted. I prayed. I did my part.

Yet, many people are depressed/angry today. Why?

Our world is not perfect. There IS sin in the world.

Is that a big surprise to us?

Here is the awesome part of this ALL..

God never changes.

God is still on the throne.

God has not forgotten His children.

God can never ever be 'voted' out of office.

End.of.story.

Instead of being upset and angry today, choose to praise God. Thank Him that He has it all under control in His mighty and capable hands.

This video has several songs on it, but the one I really want you all to listen to is the first one, "What Never Changes."

        

If the sun were to fall,

If the oceans were to dry,

If the mountains were to crumble,

I wouldn't bat an eye.

'Cause I stand upon the Rock,

He's the Rock of all the ages,

No matter what may come,

The storm around me rages,

I STAND UPON WHAT NEVER CHANGES!

Don't waste your vote!

I don't understand why some Christians are not voting today, or even choosing to vote for a 3rd party. 

You're wasting your vote!!

I am certainly NOT endorsing Obama here.

And no, Romney is not ideal either.

Yet, isn't voting for a 3rd party or not voting at all pointless?

Romney stands for marriage between a man and woman--biblical.

Romney stands for the preservation of life inside the womb--biblical.

Obama stands for NONE of these.

Just on those things alone, isn't the choice clear?!

Here is a post by my brother's Pastor that is a good read on the matter >>>>>>  Foolish Not to Vote as a Christian!   

There is still time....hit the polls!

So tell me....{Grandma W.-- Part 1}

 Have we ever considered the fact that grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, etc... had lives before we were born? They have stories, wisdom, parts of history that can be shared with us, if only we ask.

This brings me to a new mini series that I've decided to start. "So tell me...", I have asked several questions to my grandma's and they are so sweet enough to give me answers to those questions.  

Today, I am starting off the series with 'Part 1' {of two parts} of my Grandma W {Dad's mom} questions and answers. I couldn't help but smile as I read all the stories of her childhood, love, and faith. I hope you all enjoy this series as much as I am enjoying sharing it with you!

Grandma W is one of the sweetest, most genuine people you will meet. She is always so willing to serve others, even with 7 kids and many more grand kids {and great-grand kids!} she still has so much patience and love. I am so blessed to have her in my life! Did I mention she is a fabulous cook?! :)

1. Where were you born?

I was born in a little 2 bed room house converted into a small hospital. It was located about a half mile down Burnt Mountain Rd. between Sappho and Clallam Bay.

2. What is one of your favorite childhood memories?

One of my favorite childhood memories was going on picnics at the favorite swimming hole by the lake with my Dad, Mom, and Sis. Also at the Ocean Beach .. playing in the sand and playing in the waves that broke on the shore. My Dad built a big raft on a smaller Lake. He just left it there as it was quite large. He made it out of old logs & etc. We would pack up a picnic lunch and spend the afternoon out on the raft. Daddy loved to fish so we would take our home made poles and some string and fish with him :) It was always a fun afternoon.

3. What did your parents do for a living?

My Dad worked in the logging industry mostly. He and his brother had their own logging business. My Dad operated the bulldozer most of the time. They also went in together and bought a General Store in Sekiu. They didn't work in it but my Mom, another Lady and my Sis worked in it.

4. What was it like for your family during The Depression?

I was pretty young but remember my Dad having a hard time getting enough work. At our house in Beaver we didn't have a inside toilet. We had an outhouse and used an old Sears Roebuck catalog for toilet paper!

5. What did you do for fun as a teenager?

We roller skated on the sidewalk and on the edge of the highway (not much traffic there then), played in the woods by our house, climbed trees. When we moved from Beaver to Sekiu, we played on the beach just in front of our house and also made camps in the woods.

6. How old were you when you got your first job? And where was it at?

I was 16 when I got my first job outside of home. It was at the Sekiu General Store as a clerk. The Store was owned by my Dad and his brother.

7. Did you have any holiday traditions growing up?

All of the Konopaski family would go to Port Angeles. One of the Uncles had a large house where we all gathered for the holiday meals and opening gifts at Christmas time.

8. Are their any family recipes that were passed down to you?

Yes.... I think one of the favorites was my Mom's Best Oatmeal Cookies

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Part 2 coming soon!

The next part includes the story behind my grandpa and grandma meeting...very cute! :)