.
These lighthouses are Olivia's and ended this year as well. She's so sad because the girl loves a lighthouse. She started collecting these in 1997
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The end of an era
We have 9 scwillion lighted ornaments on our tree. These 12 churches are Caitlin's collection and ended this year. She's been collecting these since 1998.
.
These lighthouses are Olivia's and ended this year as well. She's so sad because the girl loves a lighthouse. She started collecting these in 1997
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These lighthouses are Olivia's and ended this year as well. She's so sad because the girl loves a lighthouse. She started collecting these in 1997
Walker Christmas' through the years
Well here are the 6 most angelic children that you just ever saw. Who could believe that any of these kids could push someone off the bed and knock their front teeth out (Becky), take Dale down the street in his stroller and leave him coming home empty handed (Frank & Becky), knock Dale over in his crib, (Frank & Becky), beat on the bathroom door so many times it now has a permanent dent it it (Dale), wrestled in the floor EVERY SINGLE COMMERCIAL BREAK until whatever TV show we were watching came back on (Frank & Dale), numbered the panels in the den with a compass (Melanie), opened an entire case of soap and throw it in the bathtub (UMMM not sure who that was), sat at the table with Big Frank for an hour after supper because she refused to say excuse me (UMMM again not sure who), stole the last popsicle from Lisa causing me to chase her down and somehow she fell and cracked her head open on the bench in the den needing stitches (Carrie)
All of these first pictures were taken at 212 in Corsicana. Billie June did lots of shopping at Kelso's and Bessie made many if not all of these outfits for the girls.
This is me with my cousin Cathy at 212
I still have this dress.
Carrie
And I've already discussed this picture and the glee I have hoping Carrie will eat the glass ball.
In the background is the vinyl couch we poked holes in with pencils. The bench in front of the window is in BJ's room right now. And clearly you can tell which icicles Frank put on the tree and which ones were clumped by any and all of the rest of us. But look how precious these 3 little girls are harmoniously reading The Night Before Christmas while waiting patiently for Christmas morning. It just gives me goose bumps how precious it all "looks." That's one skimpy little nighty I got going on here.
And I don't care what Billie June says it's RIDICULOUS what she did to our hair when we were young.
All of these first pictures were taken at 212 in Corsicana. Billie June did lots of shopping at Kelso's and Bessie made many if not all of these outfits for the girls.
This is me with my cousin Cathy at 212
I still have this dress.
Carrie
And I've already discussed this picture and the glee I have hoping Carrie will eat the glass ball.
In the background is the vinyl couch we poked holes in with pencils. The bench in front of the window is in BJ's room right now. And clearly you can tell which icicles Frank put on the tree and which ones were clumped by any and all of the rest of us. But look how precious these 3 little girls are harmoniously reading The Night Before Christmas while waiting patiently for Christmas morning. It just gives me goose bumps how precious it all "looks." That's one skimpy little nighty I got going on here.
And I don't care what Billie June says it's RIDICULOUS what she did to our hair when we were young.
A wrap up and on to the next...
November 27, 2009
It was a busy day and I'm tired so I'll not be here long. Christmas trees were bought and placed in their spot to be a guest in our house for the next month. I hope we have the merriest Christmas we've ever had. I suspect good things are around the corner no matter what I see with my mind’s eye.
Love Actually, the clean version, is an excellent movie and we enjoyed it this evening. Still no presents are bought and it makes my stomach a little squishy but I'll make it through no matter what. Tomorrow will come and bring wonderful things for us all. I'm waiting with great expectation.
God is faithful and true and lovely and worthy and I'm grateful for all He's given me and my family. If there's ever any doubt, then I need to pay more attention to the people He's surrounded me with because we have more fun in a few days than many people ever have in a lifetime. So I'm off to bed to try to sleep my worries away and await tomorrow with great anticipation.
November 28, 2009
Well Thanksgiving's over and just as I suspected, a great time was had by all. Turkey and dressing were fabulous and "the sides" as Olivia called them were delicious as well. But because there was so much cooking and visiting going on, it was impossible to post much of anything but I'm hoping to do better this week. This takes a substantial amount of time, lots more than I ever thought it would. But I'm not complaining because I enjoy it quite a bit.
So our Christmas lights....all 9 million of them, are now on our tree and that's all that's been accomplished; so I'll try to forgo my nap and decorate the inside and outside tomorrow.....sigh....it's a daunting task but I think we can do it. Emma will traverse the rooftop in order to put our icicles on and Olivia and I will be her flunkies.....it's a process. But one that we endure every year because Olivia and I are not roof dwellers but Emma is quite nimble when working up there. I hope the work goes quite quick.
This afternoon, Lydia, Olivia and I picked up 17 gallons of pecans. It was quite delightful. We came home and started shelling them and we've only made a small dent, but, we've discovered that Addy prefers them shelled while Dottie's country self just eats the whole thing shell and all. You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl. When we finish this job, we'll have enough pecans to last for a long long time. I am very excited about this. I'm easily pleased.
Also, the first holiday movie's been watched and we're on to the next. Holiday Inn, with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, is the greatest holiday movie of all time. We'll follow up with many more, some of which include, White Christmas, Scrooge, Christmas Vacation, It's a Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause, Home Alone.....and I'll keep my fingers crossed for the worst movie of all time.....A Very Brady Christmas. It's the best worst movie. It's so bad...but I can barely stand it til it comes on. Maybe tomorrow......if I'm blessed.
The first picture of this year's winner for the Herrock Christmas tree.
It's not cat pissy at all in fact it smells quite yummy.
And with Holiday Inn on the TV, it's the perfect holiday pic.
It's Dottie's first Christmas with us.
It's gonna be a great and fun filled Christmas.
And to all a good night.
It was a busy day and I'm tired so I'll not be here long. Christmas trees were bought and placed in their spot to be a guest in our house for the next month. I hope we have the merriest Christmas we've ever had. I suspect good things are around the corner no matter what I see with my mind’s eye.
Love Actually, the clean version, is an excellent movie and we enjoyed it this evening. Still no presents are bought and it makes my stomach a little squishy but I'll make it through no matter what. Tomorrow will come and bring wonderful things for us all. I'm waiting with great expectation.
God is faithful and true and lovely and worthy and I'm grateful for all He's given me and my family. If there's ever any doubt, then I need to pay more attention to the people He's surrounded me with because we have more fun in a few days than many people ever have in a lifetime. So I'm off to bed to try to sleep my worries away and await tomorrow with great anticipation.
November 28, 2009
Well Thanksgiving's over and just as I suspected, a great time was had by all. Turkey and dressing were fabulous and "the sides" as Olivia called them were delicious as well. But because there was so much cooking and visiting going on, it was impossible to post much of anything but I'm hoping to do better this week. This takes a substantial amount of time, lots more than I ever thought it would. But I'm not complaining because I enjoy it quite a bit.
So our Christmas lights....all 9 million of them, are now on our tree and that's all that's been accomplished; so I'll try to forgo my nap and decorate the inside and outside tomorrow.....sigh....it's a daunting task but I think we can do it. Emma will traverse the rooftop in order to put our icicles on and Olivia and I will be her flunkies.....it's a process. But one that we endure every year because Olivia and I are not roof dwellers but Emma is quite nimble when working up there. I hope the work goes quite quick.
This afternoon, Lydia, Olivia and I picked up 17 gallons of pecans. It was quite delightful. We came home and started shelling them and we've only made a small dent, but, we've discovered that Addy prefers them shelled while Dottie's country self just eats the whole thing shell and all. You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl. When we finish this job, we'll have enough pecans to last for a long long time. I am very excited about this. I'm easily pleased.
Also, the first holiday movie's been watched and we're on to the next. Holiday Inn, with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby, is the greatest holiday movie of all time. We'll follow up with many more, some of which include, White Christmas, Scrooge, Christmas Vacation, It's a Wonderful Life, The Santa Clause, Home Alone.....and I'll keep my fingers crossed for the worst movie of all time.....A Very Brady Christmas. It's the best worst movie. It's so bad...but I can barely stand it til it comes on. Maybe tomorrow......if I'm blessed.
The first picture of this year's winner for the Herrock Christmas tree.
It's not cat pissy at all in fact it smells quite yummy.
And with Holiday Inn on the TV, it's the perfect holiday pic.
It's Dottie's first Christmas with us.
It's gonna be a great and fun filled Christmas.
And to all a good night.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
A lovely memory
A few weeks ago, I was driving home from the staff meeting at church and as I was passing First United Methodist, their church bells were playing hymns. I pulled into the parking lot and rolled down the windows and sat and listened for a while. As I was sitting across from the bayou, looking off into the water, there were leaves slowly drifting through the air on a soft breeze. As they silently fluttered to the ground, I was completely enchanted. It was such a lovely picture that I caught only in my mind’s eye. Over the years of my life there are other moments like these that I have tucked away in my heart only for me to remember. Many of them would mean nothing to anyone else, but for me, they are precious and I consider them a gift from God. I will never forget the beautiful sights and sounds of this lovely fall day. It was delightful.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Be thankful
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always;
17 pray continually;
18 give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I am thankful for all you have done for me Lord.
16 Be joyful always;
17 pray continually;
18 give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I am thankful for all you have done for me Lord.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Turkey day is tomorrow
The accomplishment for the day has been to make one chocolate pie, one coconut pie, one pecan pie....almost done, and a pumpkin bar new to our repertoire. The jury is still out on that since I have not tasted it yet. The girls are working on their snow village and it is looking like it’s gonna be the size of a neighborhood. Becky and Keith are in route and there is much left to do before a successful Thanksgiving will be accomplished but I am confident it will all be excellent.
And a Happy Thanksgiving will be had by us all.
John has gotten the Christmas decorations out of the attic and the games have begun. Thirty days til Christmas and I have not bought the first present and I am not stressed at all. We will be scaling back this year because we don't need one stinking thing. Even when I ask anyone what they want, they can't verbalize one thing. They are totally against library books checked out for them for Christmas which I think was a brilliant idea. Great minds are never appreciated. A remembrance of last year's confections that adorned my table.
And a Happy Thanksgiving will be had by us all.
John has gotten the Christmas decorations out of the attic and the games have begun. Thirty days til Christmas and I have not bought the first present and I am not stressed at all. We will be scaling back this year because we don't need one stinking thing. Even when I ask anyone what they want, they can't verbalize one thing. They are totally against library books checked out for them for Christmas which I think was a brilliant idea. Great minds are never appreciated. A remembrance of last year's confections that adorned my table.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Colossians 3:12-17
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Thanksgivings past
1996
1994
1992
Some observations: in the last photo, don't know who took it, but Austin and Billie June are completely out of the picture and Gran is close to being eliminated as well. Bessie has the exact same expression on her face in each photo...clearly the emotion is joy. Olivia in the first picture just amuses me. She has what John would call "the big eye"
But whether the pictures were stellar or just so so, the Thanksgivings were pretty wonderful and never to be the same again with so many of our people having graduated.
1994
1992
Some observations: in the last photo, don't know who took it, but Austin and Billie June are completely out of the picture and Gran is close to being eliminated as well. Bessie has the exact same expression on her face in each photo...clearly the emotion is joy. Olivia in the first picture just amuses me. She has what John would call "the big eye"
But whether the pictures were stellar or just so so, the Thanksgivings were pretty wonderful and never to be the same again with so many of our people having graduated.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Turner Santa pics....much less disturbing than ours
I would call this disco Santa because the backdrop looks like it was left over from a prom.
Lindsey looks a bit distressed....possibly because she is looking at her mother who just gave her to the strange man and is much too young to understand the whole Santa bringing me presents concept yet.
This picture however is disturbing on many levels.
Santa has fallen asleep on the job with a baby on his lap.
And nothing says Christmas like a huge over sized ladder back chair.
Once again Lindsey by herself but looking cute.
Austin is unaccounted for.
This photo I would call discount Santa.
It could be the wall they use for mug shots as well.
Where are all the decorations?
They couldn't even paint a swath of green or red somewhere?
Come on all he had to work with was a tiny maroon chair.
This is just sad.
Finally Lindsey had to share the spotlight with her sibs.
Lindsey looks a bit distressed....possibly because she is looking at her mother who just gave her to the strange man and is much too young to understand the whole Santa bringing me presents concept yet.
This picture however is disturbing on many levels.
Santa has fallen asleep on the job with a baby on his lap.
And nothing says Christmas like a huge over sized ladder back chair.
Once again Lindsey by herself but looking cute.
Austin is unaccounted for.
This photo I would call discount Santa.
It could be the wall they use for mug shots as well.
Where are all the decorations?
They couldn't even paint a swath of green or red somewhere?
Come on all he had to work with was a tiny maroon chair.
This is just sad.
Finally Lindsey had to share the spotlight with her sibs.
And everyone looks cute but is it too
much to ask to center the picture?
The decorations have increased since the last photo
but I'm not so sure I would go so far as to call
them an improvement.
Carlie is clearly indifferent about the whole Santa thing.
Carlie is clearly indifferent about the whole Santa thing.
But she certainly wins the day with this picture.
She may be whispering to Lindsey about bolting from the frame.
Lindsey looks a little concerned for her baby sis and
Austin is just saying, "Hey I'm back here!"
Maggie has that deer in the headlights thing working hands down.
And Santa's thoughts, "I am completely overworked and underpaid."
Forced old family photos are some of the very best entertainment.
There are so many things wrong with these pictures
In honor of the coming season, I thought I would share the following photos. If anyone would like me to post your family Santa pics, please get them to me.
Let's just take them one at a time shall we?
Photo Number 1
Emma looks completely weirded out and quite disgusted and her bright pink pants start just below her chin.
I have no idea where Olivia is except that I feel certain she freaked and refused to sit on the lap of the strange man.
Caitlin's bright pink pants look like there may be an inner tube inflated around her waist. And she is trying to keep her hands away from the strange man.
Santa looks a little disgusted also. Emma probably just told him, "I'll kick you!"
And the look on her face may be her thinking about her timeline for the said kicking.
On to photo number 2.
Carmen is so over the whole Santa thing.
Emma this year looks like she may have had an overdose of Benadryl....the wonder drug for parents. And if she did in fact kick this Santa the year before, he may have insisted on a little "totty" of Benadryl before this little girl came back.
Nina and Slade look pretty satisfied.
Caitlin sort of looks airbrushed in and zoned out.
Olivia is clearly unhappy with finally making it into the photo with the strange man but is tolerating it for exactly 7 seconds before she bolts.
Owen's face speaks for itself.
Suzie has a similar copy of this same photo and in it Owen is screaming his head off and reaching for someone off camera. I remember taking forever trying to decide which one I wanted to keep because they were both so very priceless.
Santa may very well be the same man as before...I'm not sure but he is definitely at the back of the bus.
Photo number 3
I obviously threatened enough before we arrived for the photo shoot because I'm actually pretty satisfied with this picture.
Emma obviously had done some "face time" in the mirror and was ready this year.
Clearly Olivia has warmed up to the big guy since she has finally figured out, "Oh he brings me stuff to my house."
Caitlin genuinely looks happy to be in a mall in Dallas again. There is probably some foreshadowing here.
Other than Owen rocking the little Lord Fauntleroy look I am pleased.
Santa was obviously not kicked by Emma........yet.
Photo numer 4
Again I'm pretty pleased with this effort.
Owen obviously got the haircut he so desperately needed.
And they all seem rested and happy. Clearly no Benadryl was used on the children in the taking of this photo, unless this time it looks like Santa has been nipping at the Benadryl.....or something a little stronger perhaps......
And he may be Santa number 3 as well.
I've got some pretty adorable kids if I do say so myself.
Let's just take them one at a time shall we?
Photo Number 1
Emma looks completely weirded out and quite disgusted and her bright pink pants start just below her chin.
I have no idea where Olivia is except that I feel certain she freaked and refused to sit on the lap of the strange man.
Caitlin's bright pink pants look like there may be an inner tube inflated around her waist. And she is trying to keep her hands away from the strange man.
Santa looks a little disgusted also. Emma probably just told him, "I'll kick you!"
And the look on her face may be her thinking about her timeline for the said kicking.
On to photo number 2.
Carmen is so over the whole Santa thing.
Emma this year looks like she may have had an overdose of Benadryl....the wonder drug for parents. And if she did in fact kick this Santa the year before, he may have insisted on a little "totty" of Benadryl before this little girl came back.
Nina and Slade look pretty satisfied.
Caitlin sort of looks airbrushed in and zoned out.
Olivia is clearly unhappy with finally making it into the photo with the strange man but is tolerating it for exactly 7 seconds before she bolts.
Owen's face speaks for itself.
Suzie has a similar copy of this same photo and in it Owen is screaming his head off and reaching for someone off camera. I remember taking forever trying to decide which one I wanted to keep because they were both so very priceless.
Santa may very well be the same man as before...I'm not sure but he is definitely at the back of the bus.
Photo number 3
I obviously threatened enough before we arrived for the photo shoot because I'm actually pretty satisfied with this picture.
Emma obviously had done some "face time" in the mirror and was ready this year.
Clearly Olivia has warmed up to the big guy since she has finally figured out, "Oh he brings me stuff to my house."
Caitlin genuinely looks happy to be in a mall in Dallas again. There is probably some foreshadowing here.
Other than Owen rocking the little Lord Fauntleroy look I am pleased.
Santa was obviously not kicked by Emma........yet.
Photo numer 4
Again I'm pretty pleased with this effort.
Owen obviously got the haircut he so desperately needed.
And they all seem rested and happy. Clearly no Benadryl was used on the children in the taking of this photo, unless this time it looks like Santa has been nipping at the Benadryl.....or something a little stronger perhaps......
And he may be Santa number 3 as well.
I've got some pretty adorable kids if I do say so myself.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Mary Margaret Walker
Her name was Mary but everyone called her Mollie. She was born in Ft. Worth, Texas on September 2, 1902 and was the oldest of 6 children of James Gibson and Margaret Jane Garvin Walker. She went to Kerens High School and then to business school in Waco, Texas and she was planning on becoming a nun until her father died in 1924 when she then had to go to work to help support the family. She worked as an auditor for Navarro County for many years and worked in the Navarro county courthouse in Corsicana, Texas.
She was tiny and kind and considerate and caring and I honestly never remember her saying a bad word about anyone. She never married but had many nieces and nephews that she loved as her own. She had a pink gingham dress that I adored and I will never forget her wearing; it was my all time favorite. She was fun and funny and when she came to visit, she always had Juicy Fruit gum in her purse and I remember being so excited about receiving a piece from her.
One time when I was little, she and I made a cake from scratch and forgot to put baking soda in it and it weighed about 20 pounds and tasted terrible. She felt so bad about it and I remember trying to eat it but it was so very bad it was impossible to consume. She never thought she was much of a cook but she could make a mean pot of spaghetti and meatballs. She loved Dr. Pepper and she called it pepper and she would go to a place in Corsicana to buy her DP in small bottles that came in a wooden box. I found that enchanting.
I can still remember what she smelled like and although I can’t describe it; it was heavenly. When I was little I loved to play in her closet and clomp around in her shoes and carry her purses and play “apartment” upstairs at 212. And although that house scared the bageezez out of me, I loved to explore every nook and cranny of it. One time (one of many times) Melanie and I talked her into taking us up to the attic and we found this big wooden quilt box that looked like it had dead bodies in it and for a short period of time we were concerned that she and Nina had a very terrible secret. Of course, we later found out that the “dead bodies” were rolled up quilts, covered with other quilts, and that neither of our aunts were murderers. We were very relieved. We had very active imaginations.
I was named after her but I’m not sure I’ve ever had her demeanor. Mollie is also named after her as well. She made her mark on the hearts of many people and when she graduated to heaven on June 15, 1990 at the age of 87, she left a hole in our family that really no one could fill. I still miss her. She was a delight.
She was tiny and kind and considerate and caring and I honestly never remember her saying a bad word about anyone. She never married but had many nieces and nephews that she loved as her own. She had a pink gingham dress that I adored and I will never forget her wearing; it was my all time favorite. She was fun and funny and when she came to visit, she always had Juicy Fruit gum in her purse and I remember being so excited about receiving a piece from her.
One time when I was little, she and I made a cake from scratch and forgot to put baking soda in it and it weighed about 20 pounds and tasted terrible. She felt so bad about it and I remember trying to eat it but it was so very bad it was impossible to consume. She never thought she was much of a cook but she could make a mean pot of spaghetti and meatballs. She loved Dr. Pepper and she called it pepper and she would go to a place in Corsicana to buy her DP in small bottles that came in a wooden box. I found that enchanting.
I can still remember what she smelled like and although I can’t describe it; it was heavenly. When I was little I loved to play in her closet and clomp around in her shoes and carry her purses and play “apartment” upstairs at 212. And although that house scared the bageezez out of me, I loved to explore every nook and cranny of it. One time (one of many times) Melanie and I talked her into taking us up to the attic and we found this big wooden quilt box that looked like it had dead bodies in it and for a short period of time we were concerned that she and Nina had a very terrible secret. Of course, we later found out that the “dead bodies” were rolled up quilts, covered with other quilts, and that neither of our aunts were murderers. We were very relieved. We had very active imaginations.
I was named after her but I’m not sure I’ve ever had her demeanor. Mollie is also named after her as well. She made her mark on the hearts of many people and when she graduated to heaven on June 15, 1990 at the age of 87, she left a hole in our family that really no one could fill. I still miss her. She was a delight.
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