Wind Storm

We were hit Friday night with a horrible wind storm.  Quite frankly I pray that I never see stronger winds in my lifetime.  We lost power and toughed it out that night.  Checked on Meghan and very thankful that they have power.  Emily lost power but was at a friend's apt. who has limited power.  Hubby went to work and I headed to Wal-Mart to get water and ice.  I was able to spend some time with my dear friend and her daughter.  We went to Lynchburg and ended up at the mall for lunch and was joined by Emily:)  Its always so good to see, in person, that your family is ok.  Was invited to the Morrison Mansion for the afternoon.  Such a wonderful time.   Very thankful that we suffered no damage to our home or cars. 
So thankful that hubby's friend invited us to his home in Concord.  Unfortunately, it looks like the power will not be restored until the 7th.
Looking forward to being back to the 'norm'.
Thanks for stopping by:)
Willa Jean

My Man

I am so thankful for my hubby!  We have been marred for 31 years and I truly love him more today than when we said "I do".  God blessed us far more than we deserve!  He is a great provider and some people even think he's a saint:) 
So thankful to be his brown-eyed girl!

Mrs. Barry Coates :)

CAS FTL#196

Here's my card for the FTL #196 over at the http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com/
My card uses Josie Bowlin DP punched with a 1" square punch, CTMH sentiment stamped with SU Night of Navy ink.
This card is already on its way to a special person.
Thanks for stopping by:)

Willa Jean

My Mom

My mom departed her earthly home 2 years ago today.  She was diagnosed with angio sarcoma (sp?) on June 11 and lived 9 days!  Whirlwind, shock, head spinning....yes...and there are many more adjectives to describe those 9 days.  The  main word that comes to my mind is 'grace'...God's grace! 
Oh, do I ever miss her...many, many long telephone conversations.  My mom's love for her family was so strong and in fact sometimes even 'choking'...because you were never an adult you were always her 'child'.  My mom was not perfect but she was forgiven.  She may have made choices to hold onto things from the past....Praise Him who does not...they are washed away.  Do you hold onto past things?  I know I sure do...you know what that hold does it can make you doubt yourself..your inabilities...your shortfalls. 
My Jesus forgives 70 x 70.  Where would I be if He didn't?  We are human and we hurt.  We want to change things that we cannot.  So thankful that the way to Jesus is not based on living up to man's standards. He chose me!  I am so unworthy...but He knew this..
Mom, I sure do miss you!  It has been a bittersweet 2 years.  We took care of dad and he missed you so much! He loved spending time with his family and friends, but boy did he talk about you a lot and oh, was that tough. 
Thank you Lord for my mom

Your daughter!

Childhood Friend

Wanted to share this very simple card that I have made for a sweet family!  This family has been the victim of cancer.  My childhood friend, Kelli Lamp Fraley, was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor around the holidays of 2011.  She if fighting this cancer with prayers!  I have been blessed to be able to connect with her and visit her.  Please keep this precious famly in your prayers!
Thanks,

Willa Jean Coates

Card Challenge 39/356

This card is for the sketch challenge at http://365cards.blogspot.com/. Pretty self-explanatory:) Products used: Marina Mist SU DP, MS Punch, MME DP, Sentiment Stamp from K & Company, Real Red Stamp Pad SU.
Thanks for looking:)
Willa Jean

Card Challenge 40/356

This challenge is #40 to make a card talking about 'chatting with a friend' (#40). These challeges can be found http://365cards.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for stopping by:)

Willa Jean

Getting Healthy

Where have I been? The last two weeks, I have been focusing on getting healthy. My track record is not very good so I am quite hesitant to even discuss this on my blog. Anyways, I have been keeping a food journal and using my old Weight Watcher's books and have been walking 2 miles/day. Have tried 4 miles for 2 days, but it was way tooo much for me to start out with. I did not do the weigh/measure b4, but have seen improvements (yeah).

So, here's to another week of improving my health.

Have a great week!

Willa Jean

Friendship

When I saw this 'kite' stamp set from SU, I knew I had to have it. There are things in our life that reminds us of certain things...be it friendship, loved ones, etc. Well, this card that I made is going to a special friend of mine. We worked together at Temple for many years and every March she would decorate her door with kites that the 3 year olds would color. Of course, it had to have a title:) My friend is very quick-witted and wanted to say, "Go, fly a kite"! Well, she just couldn't put that up there...hence my card to her:)

I sure do miss you, Ruthie! We def. have to get together and maybe 'fly a kite'!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a gorgeous day:)

Willa Jean

Baked Spaghetti

That is what we are having at the Coates Castle for supper:)
Not entirely sure as to why I am extremely tired today:( Feel like I can hardly move...
Praying for a better day tomorrow:)
Enjoy your evening with your family!
Thanks for stopping by the Castle:)
Willa Jean
http://www.life-as-a-lofthouse.blogspot.com/2011/11/baked-spaghetti.html

Brownie Roll-Ups

It's been a great Saturday! Cleaned this a.m., then went to a jewelry party with Emily, picked up Chinese for supper and made some Brownie Roll-ups for dessert for tomorrow.

Meghan and her family will be coming over after church tomorrow. We are so excited to see everyone. I try to make a special dessert for the gr-kids and found these super neat idea to make brownies into roll-ups using marshmallow creme (or peanut butter or nutella). I have left some in the pan so the gr-kids can make their own...they love doing stuff like that!

http://cookiesandcups.com/brownie-roll-ups/

Have some things to do b4 its time to call it a day!

Have a great night!

Willa Jean

Tomatoe Soup and its not even Wednesday!

While I was growing up, every Wednesday we had grilled cheese and tomatoe soup! Never gave it a thought, just ate what was in front of me.

Fast forward to a history of 31 + years of married life and living in this world, I have found that EVERY Wednesday it is grilled cheese & tomatoe soup day--somewhere! While I worked at TCS, on Wednesdays guess what they served...you're right....gc & ts (LOL)

Most people would not think this is that big of a deal, but I've been told that I am not like most people:) I know for a fact that I NEVER fixed my girls gc & ts together let alone on Wednesday (HA)

My mom truly believed she scarred me for life...which of course all this talk about gc & ts is and will remain a family joke.

SO, hubby and I are having home-made Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup for supper but no gc:) Now, why would I be serving this, you might ask. Well, there is a new addiction in my life called 'pinterest' and this recipe looked 'heavenly' so I just had to try it!

My mom would be proud of me for having the ts tonight!

Have a great Friday night!

Willa Jean

Thanks a Bunch!

Just dropping in to say thanks! Have you been thanked lately for some thing you have done? Everyone likes to be appreciated:) So, this is to you!

Have a great day!

Willa Jean

Friday's Surprise

For my hubby, I made him one of his favorite pies---Lemon Meringue:) He was quite surprised and thankful!

His mom use to make meringue pies and one of the cousin's has asked her, "Aunt May, what is on top of that pie?" She answered, "horse slobbers!" Pretty sure the cousin did not partake of any of that pie on that day (LOL)

Needless to say, when hubby saw it, he said, 'horse slobbers!' Not sure if Martha Stewart would warrant that as a compliment, but I will take it:)

We miss his mom very much!

Have a great evening!

Willa Jean

Who do you know?

There are so many people that I know that are hurting. Do you know anyone? These hurts could come from a myriad of things that come into life: financial stress, job issues, family dynamics, friendships, medical diagnosis, etc.

My prayer list encompasses many that are dealing with health issues: be it recovering from surgery, awaiting chemo/radiation treatments, upcoming dr. appts., etc.

I want to fix them all but, of course, cannot do so. So, I turn to the Great Comforter who can handle all needs for everyone.

Do you know that Comforter?

Please contact me with any questions.

Until tomorrow,

Willa Jean

Organization/Procrastination

Organizing is the word for this beautiful day! Do you have stuff on your closet shelves that do not pertain to your closet? YES! YES! YES! Hence the pic that is for today:) There is a tote that I have marked "Easter" that was in the storage side of our downstairs...for a long time. Well, said tote and others were moved to our shed. Justification would be that now I have to go all the way to the shed to put said items into the RIGHT tote....man, that is just too much work(HA)! While looking at the items this a.m., the thot also came that, 'what's the use, I will need them next month'. Do you see a pattern here? PROCRASTINATION!!!!!

What would you do?

Making a change..said, I! I'm walking down the stairs all the way to the shed, finding the "Easter" tote and bringing it to the house..wait it doesn't stop there...it will not stop there! I will bring said items downstairs and put them into that blasted tote! It will remain downstairs until next month.

Now, what will I ever find to put on those empty shelves?

Have a great day! And organize something (LOL); seriously.

Willa Jean

New Year for the old blog!

Trying to resurrect the old blog here...My dear friends know what kind of year 2011 was for my family. If you are new to my blog, let me reminisce for a few minutes. On February 24, 2011, we welcomed in our 2nd grandson/5th grandchild, William Chesterton Morrison! What a very pensive boy he has been....the personality = to his oldest sister, Charity:) We are definitely blessed.

2011 continued to bring many regular monthly visits with my dad and we cherished them greatly. In June, he came to live with us while my sister-in-law was recuperating from a knee replacement. My dad was 85 and we could see him gradually slowing down more. To make this story move rapidly, he suffered a minor stroke in mid July---2 months in 2 different nursing homes, 2 different hospitalizations and then back to my brother's home for him to live out his days. I am so thankful that God allowed me to be of service to my Randy, Susan and my dad. I was able to be with him for 5 weeks until he passed into the arms of precious Savior on Nov. 16. How I miss my dad! Everyone liked him. Never met a stranger. He has been reunited with his wife of 61 years. He is able to see Jesus face to face...My heart aches for that day!

Enter 2012! To be honest, I've been trying to find my niche since dad passed.. When you care for a loved one they encompass your thots 24/7. Now, my thoughts are precious memories! Memories we laugh at and yes, even cry.

Thot it was time to get back to blogging. Looking forward to sharing pics of my crafts...and yes, even our precious family too:)

Thanks for stopping by and hope you continue to do so!

Willa Jean

PS Felt it befitting to put a pic of my dad on here! Miss him greatly!