Here's what happening today

We are enjoying our day today. Bob and I both have the day off and I was woken to the smell of bacon cooking. Bob made us omelette's for breakfast and they were really good. Andy said he woke up feeling like he went AWOL! He's not quite used to being home on leave. Their project for today is to get Andy's truck to run so he can use it. It required a $12 part so it would start - a solenoid? (probably spelled wrong) . Here they are replacing it and now it is working again. I am making some last minute goodies. We have a family party tonight and so these have to be finished. If you want a few quick and easy things to make, here are the recipes.
Candy Cane Crunch
1 pkg white chocolate bark or candy coating
24 hard peppermint candies or 16 small candy canes
Place candy in plastic bag and crush with rolling pin. Sift and separate larger pieces.
Melt white chocolate. Stir in small pieces of candy. Pour our onto cookie sheet that is covered with parchment paper or waxed paper. Sprinkle larger pieces of candy on top. Cool and break into small pieces.

Pretzel Candy
Hanover snaps pretzels
Hershey Hugs
M & M's
Set out pretzels on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Set a hug on top of each pretzel. Place in 300 degree oven for 3 minutes. Take an M & M and place on top of hug, pressing down into center. Cool in frig until set.

In the meantime my Dad stopped by to check up on Andy. He had to see him again before Christmas. I'm off to do some more baking and cleaning. Enjoy your day!

I'll be home for Christmas!

The words to that song have been a lot more meaningful to me this year. I have been blessed to always have all my family around me, and never had to think about being separated from any of them. This year I have been so excited that Andy was coming home for Christmas and thought of him each time I heard that song. I am now one happy Mom - my son is home. Here's a few pictures from the happy event. His plane was about 30 minutes late coming in. Here's part of the group, anxiously waiting his arrival. Can you believe my camera wasn't ready when he came down the concourse, so I don't have a picture of that. I can tell you that he was greeted with cheers and applause. Here he is greeting my Dad.
Here he is with his cousin Nick. There were lots of hugs and happy tears! A few people in the airport stopped him and thanked him for his service to the country.

We all went to the Old Country Buffet afterward. Here you see Andy with Halle and Shaelyn.

Can you see how happy Andy is in this picture - the Old Country Bee wanted his picture taken with Andy too!

Here is the whole family together again.

Heather, Mari, Andy, Bob, Laura, Aaron

As you are together with your families this season, say a special prayer for the soldiers who aren't able to be home for Christmas and their families who are missing them.

A precious moment!

I just had to share about something that just happened to me at the grocery store. The carry out girl was helping load my groceries into my van. She asked - "Will you see all your kids on Christmas?" I said "Yes - as a matter of fact my son is coming home this afternoon". She asked where he was coming from and I told here he was in the army. She stopped loading groceries and asked what his name was and asked what she could pray for him. She then said "Tell Andy that my name is Autumn and I have Downs Syndrome so I work at the store. Tell him I will pray for him." I thought that was so sweet and a good lesson for us. How often do I ask a stranger how I can pray for them and tell them I will? Not often enough.