Saturday, December 31, 2011

New Years Eve!

I worked all day with my husband on our new house. I had to do half the instillation of the hurricane braces resulting in a huge blister on on index finger, but like Bobby said, I have a sense on accomplishment. Don't I love how that feels. :) We cleaned up all the mess around there and are now ready for windows and electrical and roof! All the next things for this new year!
Now I'm waiting for Bobby to come in for supper. Then get ready for the dance. Not sure how long we'll stay, but it'll be good to go and see everyone. I can't believe that 2012 is almost here. Boy, how the time flies. Hope you all have a great eve and have a great start of the new year! Be blessed!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

On the 12th day of Christmas...

On my 12th day of Christmas...
We had  our family Christmas today. It was wonderful! So great to be home with family! We looked up the 12 days of Christmas and the meaning behind it. My sister and Bobby were like, "Why would you get your true love 9 ladies dancing?" That's like getting dancing girls. Ha... now it makes sense!


You're all familiar with the Christmas song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" I think. To most it's a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music. But it had a quite serious purpose when it was written.
It is a good deal more than just a repetitious melody with pretty phrases and a list of strange gifts.
Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, were prohibited from ANY practice of their faith by law - private OR public. It was a crime to BE a Catholic.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" was written in England as one of the "catechism songs" to help young Catholics learn the tenets of their faith - a memory aid, when to be caught with anything in *writing* indicating adherence to the Catholic faith could not only get you imprisoned, it could get you hanged, or shortened by a head - or hanged, drawn and quartered, a rather peculiar and ghastly punishment I'm not aware was ever practiced anywhere else. Hanging, drawing and quartering involved hanging a person by the neck until they had almost, but not quite, suffocated to death; then the party was taken down from the gallows, and disembowelled while still alive; and while the entrails were still lying on the street, where the executioners stomped all over them, the victim was tied to four large farm horses, and literally torn into five parts - one to each limb and the remaining torso.
The songs gifts are hidden meanings to the teachings of the faith. The "true love" mentioned in the song doesn't refer to an earthly suitor, it refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge which feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so..."
The other symbols mean the following:
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Well, that sums up my 12 days of Christmas. Everyone have a very Merry Christmas!!

Friday, December 23, 2011

On the 11th day of Christmas...

On my 11th day of Christmas...

Bobby and I got up and at it this morning with a big list to get done before we headed home for the holidays. We had to put the locks and door knobs in so the doors stay closed for the supposed snow a coming. Got that done then went out to see what was wrong with the water. Turns out that it was only the electricity was out. Thank you Lord that was an easy fix. We had a nice Christmas surprise, a new baby calf! She's so cute. Then we loaded up the bad cow and brought her to the barn to live with Momma Cow. She will make her way to the sale next week. Finally got home, ate lunch, showered, then packed and hit the road. Mom had all her amazing treats and eats. Good to be home for sure. And work on a puzzle. Tomorrow is Christmas in the Fullagar household. Stockings, breakfast, gifts, dinner... the whole nine yards. Guess I better get to bed so Santa can come.
Merry Christmas everyone!

10 Lords a leaping
9 Ladies dancing
8 Maids a milking
7 Swans a swimming,
6 Geese a Laying,
5 GOLDEN RINGS...
4 Calling birds,
3 French Hens,
2 Turtle Doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!






Thursday, December 22, 2011

On my 10th day of Christmas...

On the 10th day of Christmas....
I got off work early, came home and started finishing up my projects for Christmas! I made another batch of cookies (snowball cookies), homemade laundry detergent (flop), recovered the ottoman (looks good), got the girls stocking stuffers wrapped, looked at my house that is all framed!!, and went with Bobby to go capture our escape artist. One of cows keeps getting out and so we were going to bring her to the pens, but when we got over there it was faulty approaching dark and found out the water isn't working. All I want for Christmas is some peace. So, before we get a break we need to fix water and put door knobs on my new house so they stay closed over the holiday! That pretty much sums up my 10th day of Christmas! Except that we're watching Charlie Brown, I want a dog for Christmas! So cute!
My scripture is...
Psalms 139:14
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well!"
I love this scripture because it is a great reminder that God knows what he's doing! I wasn't a mistake. Even though I feel like Rudolph sometimes. I love the fact that His works are wonderful, too! instead of second guessing why things happen, trust that it's all in God's plan! I do know this cause I am richly blessed! That is not my doings, but Gods! I love that guy!
9 Ladies dancing,
8 maids a milking, 7 swans a swimming,
6 geeses a laying,
5 GOLDEN RINGS,
4 calling birds
3 French hens,
2 turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

On the 9th day of Christmas...

On the 9th day of Christmas...

Made sugar cookies! I must say that they are to die for. I had made a batch that I have found of pinterest (not naming and names) that looked good, so i thought I'd try it. Sorry Mom! Those are gone now and I wanted to make another batch to put frosting on, but this time I searched trough all my recipes to find my Mom's and I'm so glad I did. I made myself sick off of the dough, but it was worth it! Yummy! I don't know if it's laziness or simplicity, but I only made Christmas Trees and Candy Canes. I'm going to make some icing to go on them tonight. I was too tired last night and had to make supper and all that jazz!

I also made some Texas Turtles for my Grandma, even though the boys will probably eat them all tonight!
I call them Texas turtles because the pretzels are Texas shaped!

My Scripture for the day comes from...

1 John 1:3-4
"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete."

There are several things about this passage that jump out at me. First, it says, "We proclaim" to others. Have I been proclaiming what I've heard? I think that we get so caught up in our day to day and hustle and bustle of Christmas that we forget to have joy and forget 'proclaim" that joy! Secondly, this season, Christmas, is about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Instead of me worrying about getting everything done and filling my life with all this stuff that I should be making time for fellowship with my Jesus! I want to spend the rest of this Christmas season with Him!


8 Maids a Milking,
7 Swans a Swimming,
6 Geese a Laying, 
5 GOLDEN RINGS...
4 Calling Birds,
3 French Hens,
2 Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The 8th day of Christmas...

On the 8th day of Christmas....

I'm making message blocks for a Christmas present...















They should have the roof joists up today!!! So, be looking for a framed house pic! It is so cool to look and see something that we've been planning for so long come together. It looks like a house now!!


My scripture for today is....
Hebrews 1:2-3
"... but in these days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."

I love when it says, "the Son is the RADIANCE of God's GLORY!!" I look at Jesus and all he has done for me, even in my sin, and I'm in awe. I definitely think the radiant is a great word to describe Jesus. I want to enjoy his radiant glory.
7 Swans a Swimming,
6 Geese a Laying,
5 GOLDEN RINGS...
4 Calling Birds,
3 French Hens,
2 Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Monday, December 19, 2011

On the 7th day of Christmas...

On the seventh day of Christmas....

Well, I cannot believe that it is already the seventh day of Christmas... that means only 5 more days! Time sure flies. I woke up this morning to the rain... No complaining from me for sure. Then about 6:30 am our electricity went out (surprise surprise) so I lit candles throughout the house and enjoyed the morning. If all santa brought me was rain this year I would be so blessed and happy!





























Another important note... the framers got here last night and are framing my house, right now!!! Cannot wait to go see the progress after work!

Scripture of the day...
 Matthew 2:1-2
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi form the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Can you imagine the journey they had? I'm sure they were like 3 kids at Christmas...they couldn't wait for it to get here!

6 Geese a laying,
5 GOLDEN RINGS...
4 Calling Birds, 
3 French Hens, 
2 Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Sunday, December 18, 2011

On the sixth day of Christmas...

On my 6th day of Christmas I.... 
Picked up some mistletoe off the side of the road.. 

Mistletoe

Then Bobby and I celebrated our Christmas together... 
Crawfish bisque, corn bread and gift exchange

I had to rearrange my cabinet so I could fit in all in

He surprised me so BIG and got me more fiesta then I'll ever need.




My scripture of the day.. 

Wholesome Thinking 
2 Peter 3:11-12 
"...what kind of people ought you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed it's coming." 

This is random, I know, but I think that we get caught up in fire insurance that we do not challenge ourselves in how we live. Jesus came not only to save us, but as an example of how we ought to live. Not during Christmas, but year 'round. 

5 golden rings.... 
4 calling birds, 
3 French hens,
2 turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree!

On the 5th day of Christmas...

On the 5th day of Christmas...
I went dancing in Anson with the family

(a picture will be coming soon)


Scripture of the day.... 

Proverbs 17:22 
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." 

Remember, this is a season of Joy! We have a choice daily to be happy and cheerful! 

4 calling birds, 
 3 French hens, 
2 turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree!

Friday, December 16, 2011

On the 4th day of Christmas....

On the fourth day of Christmas......





All the fun Christmas joy in the Court House Lawn


The new addition... PIG


My Scrpiture......

1 John 4:7
" Dear friends, let us love one another, love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

3 French Hens,
2 Turtle Doves,
And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Thursday, December 15, 2011

On the 3rd day of Christmas...

On the third day of Christmas....

Office Meeting, County Court, County Christmas, 4-H Christmas Party, Zumba.....

1st... Office meeting where we exchanged gifts! I got cute frame and some cheese and wine. It is nice to feel such a part of that office, 2 weeks in. Court was not too interesting, but I'm sort-a facsinated with court, so I enjoyed it! The county Christmas party was so yummy. Catered by a guy in San Angelo! Delishious! My kinda of Texas meal, mashed taters, corn, smoked turkey, sausage, roll and of course dessert,cheesecake! Then the 4-H party was fun. I just kinda stuck my head in and watched a little. Then when they went caroling we started zumba! It was really good and did 20 minutes of non stop kick boxing... Which I guess isn't really Zumba, but we like to switch it up! Good day. Got tons done, but so ready for the weekend!
My Christmas Tree!


Some of the gifts I got!



My Scripture of the day...

Luke 2:13
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
      'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those whom his favor rests'."


2 turtle doves
and a partridge in a pear tree...

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

On the 2nd day of Christmas...

On the second day of Christmas...



Hot Cocoa Mix I made for the Office Party tomorrow!




On the 2nd day of Christmas my scripture is...

Luke 2:10
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people..."

I don't want to forget the "good news" and the reason we even celebrate CHRISTmas. We should have great joy and not stress of all the other things we bring to the holiday. This is a time to be so joyous and celebrating Jesus' birthday!!






And a partridge in a pear tree!!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

On the 1st day of Christmas...

I'm going to start a 12 days of Christmas... 

On the 1st day of Christmas I....
Made Snow Ball Cookies!





















On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me....
Christmas Dinner brought home by my true love!




















On the 1st day of Christmas my scripture is...

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This goes along with what I was saying yesterday, but I forgot to add it. I think that so many times I get into the 'pattern of this world' and stop thinking.. I just do what everybody else is doing. I want to daily transform and renew my mind to God's perfect will! This is definitely a daily struggle.

Enjoy the day and live with God's purpose!!
 

Monday, December 12, 2011

Light Bulb!

So, I had a wonderful, but lonely weekend. My husband, Bobby, went duck hunting in Oklahoma so I got to get a bunch of stuff done around the house. Ate lunch with a friend yesterday that was so refreshing. I got to really challenge myself in the way I'm behaving. I've been saying that I'm tired of the 'rut' and that I don't want to become stale. But how?? Part of that is fellowship. Keeping in contact with other believers and be open about life. Also, what I fill my life with. It is so easy to start being of the world since I live in the world. I know that I get sucked into doing all the things that the world is saying to do, wear, how to act, ect.... Well, if I'm not realizing what is going on, then I'm doing exactly what I don't want to do. Becoming stale.
For the past few months I've let things slip. My language, the shows and movies I watch, the behavior I have toward others and other things as well. My friend (the one I had lunch with) was sharing with me things she's had to face and that she has a choice everyday to have the right attitude. I think when someone outside my immediate life shares things I'm more receptive. My husband TELLING me to get a better attitude doesn't help my attitutde at all. But thats beside the point. So, I've decided that I'm going to make an effort everyday to remember that I have a choice to be happy, energetic, caring, loving, forgiving, slow to anger,... and the list could go on.
Another thing that I'm going to focus on in my life, while I'm examining it and all, is that I'm going to set my sights on God's standards and not my own. I think that so many times I've compared myself to someone else and justified my actions through someone else's instead of through what I'm called to by God. Doing this I will be doing what God wants me to, not falling short of His standards because I wasn't looking at His plan.
A big struggle in my life recently, among others, is my actions. I tend to react off of my opinion or feelings instead of love. Love is such an amazing thing. Love sent us a savior to die us. Love is patient and kind, it is not envious and doesn't boast and is not proud. Love respects others and is not selfish, it is not easily angered and keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perserveres. Love never fails. (1 COR 13:4-8) So, when I think about responding in love I've got a lot to consider. Love is not an opinion, but a truth. God is Love! In responding in love, I need to react the way God would react. Not scoff or mock someone, not to think less of them or even lower my standard for them, but to simply love unconditionally.
All these things are not new to me, but they are definatly something that I've thought about lately and am going to strive to achieve. With Gods help all things are possible. Even changing this lil sinner!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A peek into my life!

Well, here goes nothing!
A little about me. My husband and I have been married for 2 years now. Time sure flies. I can't imagine not being married or my life without Bobby! He is my pair for sure. It's cool how we complement each other so much. Life would be so much more difficult if we didn't have the same goals in life, too! We have normal jobs that pay the bills, but our real passion is ranching. We have just relocated our cows out to west Texas! God willing, we will be able to keep them and flourish with them here.
I work for the county. I am aid to the couty/district clerk and our county judge. I also am the secretary for our county extension agent. Never a dull moment, for sure! It sounds like a lot, but for our little county it works fabulous! I know God directed us to this little community. He always knows best. When I first moved out here with Bobby, I wasn't as thrilled as I am now. Its not all sunshine and roses, but with time this place grows on you and the people do, too! This is defiantly home for us!
Bobby works for a farmer, now, and loves his job. He gets to do a variety of different activities everyday. God has really blessed us both with jobs that challenge our minds. He has learned how to do mechanizing, building, pull a windmill, lay rock, plumb, and everything in between. On the side Bobby does some forge work. He invested in a forge a couple years back and now build stuff for me (a beautiful chandelier), he's working on some spurs, hooks, branding irons, ect.... He is so talented.
That sums up most of our life. Except our dogs, Junior and Ace, who are our children. We would lack for intertainment without them. They are so smart and so ornery! I will post more later, and make my blog prettier as time goes on.
God Bless!!
Mandiemcilroy