Zizzie Happenings

This year God has blessed us exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think. One of many blessings this year was paying off the truck. Yesterday Mike made the last payment on our truck. Praise the Lord after a little over a year of paying on the truck, I am happy to announce we are now DEBT FREE! We do still have our mortgage but Lord willing one day we will be able to say we have paid that off as well. Thank you God for the many blessings!

As Christmas comes to an end, it's time for me to look at how I did on my goals for 2009 and meditate on what God wants me to focus on next year. In looking at my 2009 goals, I realize that I have much room for improvement. Family Goals: Read through the Bible as a couple - we were on track for a long time but the last quarter of the year we got side tracked. Participate in the walk to support Whispering Hope Crisis Pregnancy Center - unfortunately this year the date of the walk didn't work out for us. Homemaking Goals: Bake homemade wheat bread more often - this will be much easier to accomplish in 2010 with the bread maker Mike bought for me. Plant at least 2 fruit or nut trees in our yard - we planted about 6 blueberry plants and 20 raspberry plants. Complete one special deep cleaning/organizing project a month - we did some deep cleaning projects but not one a month. Financial Goals: Open a Roth IRA for me and Mike - Completed Put at least $250 in each of our IRAs - We ...

I am so thankful Mike planned for us to come to SC to spend 2 weeks with my family. The timing was perfect because it allowed me to be here for my Dad's procedures at the hospital. I was able to help Mom pass the time at the hospital while we waited for the results to the procedures. Praise the Lord everything looked good! Of course when we all get together, one thing we always do is play Hand and Foot. Rachel is watching intently as we play and soon she will learn everyone's techniques and be able to beat us all. We got a surprise Christmas Eve... my Aunt Judy came to spend some time with us... it was such a wonderful surprise. She brings such joy to the family and we all love her so much! Christmas Eve special drink was this ice cream float that was rather unique. You can read more about that on my Christmas Eve & Day blog post . I just had to share this picture with y'all...Rachel is just growing up so fast, it is amazing how much she has changed even since Thanksg...

Tradition (if all schedules allow) is to eat Christmas Eve at my brother and SIL's house. This year she had these cute little napkin rings on each plate. Mike thought they were cute too so he decided to wear his...he is always making me smile :-) Rosalyn (my SIL) served some very unique drinks. They were floats made of vanilla ice cream, sprite, candy cane and sprinkles. Doesn't this drink just look like the most Christmasy thing ever! Aunt Judy surprised us all by coming to spend Christmas with us. We all love her so much! Mom made these delicious sticky buns that we enjoyed Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Yummy! Once Mike made plans for us to come for Christmas, I wanted to make something special to use on the table as a decoration. These mittens were perfect...they were quick to make, and they worked out great. Time for presents... This griddle will be great for Mom's Brown Sugar Pancakes. Every gift Michael started opening he thought was a Wii Dad got book...

Go check out more DPP photos on View From The Prairie Box .

Go check out more DPP photos on View From The Prairie Box .

Mike and I flew to Port St Lucie Thursday to spend some time with his Mom, Sister, BIL, niece and nephew. We hadn't been down to visit for several years so this was a much overdue trip. Just sharing some fabulous pictures from the trip. Such a sweet family! Mike is showing Roger how to use his iPhone... Mike's favorite ice cream... 5 scoop Reese's Pieces sundae at Friendly's Daddy's little girl Fun with Uncle Michael Casey Nothing more important than family! Mommy and her kiddos! We enjoyed lots of Friendly's while visiting...yummy!~ Celebrating Christmas a little early while we were all together... Isn't he the cutest thing in the world? I am talking about Mike, of course. Cleo First and last picture you will see of me holding Dunkin (the bunny)... after this picture, I started sneezing, coughing and my eyes puffed up and turned all red... I never realized I was allergic to bunnies... at least this kind of bunny Three generations Dozer The Princ...

Go check out more DPP photos on View From The Prairie Box .

Go check out more DPP photos on View From The Prairie Box .

Had to post this today because yesterday Mike and I surprised my family by driving to SC and dropped in for the holidays! What are the holidays without family? It is unfortunate that Kathy and Paul can't be here but maybe next year it will work out! Go check out more DPP photos on View From The Prairie Box .