A New Space for a New Season

 Each year, around the first of January, I print out the previous year's blog book....I have a collection of 16 of them stacked in our bookcase in the great room where my children and husband sporadically enjoy taking walks down memory lane in the words and photos collected there.  The company that I used for ages has gone out of business and I have continually struggled to find someone who can print them.  

This space has most definitely not been forgotten...it's been a constant thought of how to get 2024 from the internet and onto paper.  And it's been a season for change in so many other ways as well.  

So, until I figure that out and know exactly how to proceed...I wanted to at the very least link the platform where I share my soul and dare to dream about something that has been 22 years on the back burner- authoring a children's picture book.  

For now, I can be found here...https://mercymeadowmama.substack.com/

As well as in my weekly email newsletter The Palmetto Pulse...www.thepalmettopulse.com

What a blessing this space has been...and I am hopeful will one day be again...but for now...please find me there...

{Boys Go Bowling}

For a fun surprise, the boys took off to Florida for a few days to see the Gamecocks play in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando! 

On the way down, they stopped near Savannah and played a round of golf where a friend of Bubba's works. 

 Then they drove on down to Orlando and made it in time for bed. 

Breakfast of champions! 

Bowl time! 

The Gamecocks did not take the win but the game was quite heated with Illinois and definitely worth the trip! They had such a great time! 

They got up early New Years Day and headed home making it back in time for a traditional NY dinner of pork chops, collards, black eyed peas and cornbread.  There's nothing in this world like having every seat filled at the table.  What a perfect way to kick off 2025!  

{The In-between Week}

This could be the best week of the whole holiday season...slow days to soak in time together is always our favorite! 

Lots of legos to build by the girls!

and the not so slow part was that I photographed a wedding...and took a handsome assistant with me, too! 

AJ was itching to use one of the press on nails that Bubba got her so we started with the lavender one...

And lots of late nights staying up watching movies or football or anything really! 

And occasionally getting some work done...but always while enjoying the tree! 

NYE was just a girls night at home and we enjoyed two nights of girls only movies...the first night we watched Barbie and on NYE we watched Wicked.  

Look at those sweet little heads cuddling up! 

We had an early New Years countdown and toast with sparkling punch.  And then we stayed up until way past midnight! ha! 

The best NYE with my girlie girls! 

{Christmas Day: Part Two}

Around 4, Grandaddy, Mimi, Aunt JC, JJ and Jayne came over.  We did some snacking and some playing and some present opening. 

Sweet girls! 

Grandaddy and Mimi with the grands

Afterwards, we got back to our games and wrapped that up with some new ones that surprised the kids...

The Oreo Challenge had each kid rolling a cookie into a cup without their knowing what was in the cup and then having to eat it.  Last man standing got their pick of gift cards. 

AJ struggled with the rolling part but she got the hang of it. 

AG was not a fan of it but refused to give up. 

Bubba kept landing in the mustard.  And it was eventually just too much. 

And Bear got about all of them but his favorite was the chocolate milk. 

Last game we played was head, shoulders, knees, gift!  I kept them squatting for a while and whoever got the gift first when I called it won! We went several rounds on this one.  

Then, Bubba headed back to his apartment since he had to work the next morning.  These goodbyes are never easy for any of us.  We cherish the moments we have and can't wait to be together again.  It was such a sweet, sweet Christmas. God is so very kind. 

{Christmas Day: Part One}

It's a Christmas miracle!  Everyone slept somewhat in and we didn't even get up and going until nearly 9:30.  It was lovely! 

Cinnamon rolls are warming in the oven and it's time for our Christmas reading from Luke 2 and our final Advent reading in Jotham's Journey. 

Dad read for us first out of the scriptures and then I read the last Advent passage. 

We did Mom and Dad gifts first and then sibling gifts. 

AJ has been asking for roller skates and boy was she excited! 

She is going to love this! 

Panda got a Yoto player to listen to books and finally have an alarm clock, too! 

Bear got some fancy Ariat boots!  And a phone number...but he has to be driving to get the phone. 

Bubba got a new iPhone 16 Pro! 

AG loved her Moana sticker book from Luke. 

And AJ is obsessed with her press on finger nails from Bubba! 

Bear got Bubba the funniest best brother mug with Trump on it.  Bub read it in a Trump voice and cracked us all up! 

New warm jackets for the girls, too. 

Here she goes...

Then, we had the most lovely relaxing rest of the morning and middle of the day.  The boys quickly claimed my new heated blanket from Scott. 

While the girls got to crafting with their designer doll sheets. 

Scott smoked a prime rib and it may have been the best thing he's ever put on that grill! 

Luke took advantage of everyone else resting and sat down to the charcuterie all by himself!  He ate nearly all of that red pepper jelly and cream cheese, too. 

Naptime for these two...

He's awake and I finally get to test out the heated blanket. 

Time to get ready for the evening!