The Howell Blessings

This evening, even though Dave is still up, it is quiet in the house.  Dave is re-loading software onto his computer after his hard drive was replaced. I have finally stopped working while simultaneously watching TV and checking Facebook, and now I am sitting quietly on the couch with the fireplace burning and the smell of candle fragrance wafting in the air.  This day was nothing special. As a matter of fact, I wasted too much time today and didn't get accomplished what I wanted to.  But tonight, sitting here peacefully in the quiet, I am thankful. These 30 Days of Thanks are almost up, and although I don't think hardly anyone has read these posts, it has been good for me to get quiet each night and reflect on what I am thankful for.  God has blessed me in so many ways.  The obvious, of course is easy, I have a house and can afford food for my table. I have a husband of almost 30 years whom I love more now than the day I married him.  I have two adu...

Today was a good day. It started off early this morning while chatting with a friend online. She told me of a client that raved about a candy and cookie buffet that I put together at their wedding and how they wanted to write me a note of appreciation. Later this morning I was at my clients house for a de-clutter appointment and she was in better health and better spirits than she had been in a while. We made good progress together and left with a prayer and tears in our eyes.  This evening I received a Partylite order (which is like Christmas to me!) and got that sorted for the guests. I didn't have to cook for supper as we had yummy left-overs from last nights Turkey soup. Then later this evening someone said they wanted to book a show from me!   THEN, I discovered a new musical group called Il Volo, a group of teenage tenors from Italy with heavenly voices.   This whole evening I was listening to Christmas music and bringing up Christmas decor and finalizing...

Today I started taking down the autumn decor and began cleaning and preparing to put up the Christmas decor.  Not that long ago, this phase of my seasonal decorating used to drive Dave nuts! Today he took it all in stride, knowing that the Christmas "stuff" would soon be brought up and temporarily the house will be in shambles with boxes everywhere. But in the end our house looks festive and we can relax and enjoy it for a few weeks until it's time to take it all down again.  We are both looking forward to our son and his family coming when we can both get our hands on our grand-daughter.......ohhhhh, she's so cute! In the meantime, I am already thinking about what tablescape I want to create for the Christmas holidays, so I just may have to try a few out on you and let you pick which one makes it for our family get-together table.  Stay tuned for pictures and I hope you comment to tell me which one's you like.  I'm open for suggestions!! This evening I...

Every year since I've been married, I have shopped for everyone in our families  except for myself, pretty much by myself.  In the past 5 or so years Dave has taken over shopping for his parents and of course me. This year, without even asking him, he is taking the initiative to start shopping for our kids and their spouses. I am amazed and thankful that 1. he's shopping before it's even December, and 2. He's actively involved in making the choices for gifts.  I think I'll keep him around.... I am thankful for my husband.

Post thanksgiving... I am seriously thankful that the scales only moved a few notches.

Today is the day that 14 of us gathered around my brother's table to share a meal that made us all hurt, but still want more.  I love Thanksgiving.Yes, I love all the foods that I can indulge in and not feel guilty because it's only once a year, but most of all I love the family and friends that gather together with much talk, jesting and laughter. The babies are underfoot, folks are in each other's way and EVERYONE hovers in the kitchen until finally the food is pronounced "ready" and we all sit down to eat.Then afterwards when none of us can move, we all just sit together and savor each other's presence. I am thankful to be blessed to have bountiful food, a warm house to live in and family and friends close by. Warm fuzzy feelings....priceless.

I know it has been quite a while since I shared a tablescape. Some of you have gently hinted it was time for another one.  Since I quit work in April my life has been nothing less than random as I have tried to figure out how to get things done and start a new business. I've had not much success in either department. And believe it or not, I (who always has a table on) went months without a tablescape on my table. It wasn't that I didn't get pictures, I had instead papers and a computer on the dining table...something I NEVER do! So, after a certain well placed comment from a certain southern friend whom I miss terribly, and another southern friend who I've never ever met face to face and a few other sweetly dropped hints from other out of state friends (you know who you are ladies) I realized I actually have folks who wait to see what I come up with next.  So thank you ladies for the kick in the pants.  I promise to begin tablescaping once again. I'll tr...