Gifts of Grace

Toy Drive for East Plano

Amy of Living Locurto started a mission project at our church that I am very excited about.

The goal is to collect 800 new toys! Wow! I am 100% optimistic this can be achieved but we can't do it alone.

Click here to read the details, the 3 simple instructions, and how you can help.

Here is an excerpt from her post:

"I started by asking around for something my MOPS (Mother’s of Preschoolers) group could do to help needy families in our community. I was then introduced to Pastor Roy Frady, of Willow Creek Fellowship of Plano, who serves mostly an underprivileged, multicultural congregation. From talking with Pastor Frady, I realized this community was in dire need of help. Along with needing food and clothing, he told me many of the children got nothing for Christmas last year, but small things the church handed out. I couldn’t believe families living only 15 minutes from me couldn’t afford to buy their kids ONE toy, when I have an ENTIRE playroom overflowing with them!

Amazingly, Pastor Frady has come up with ways to provide this community with food, clothing and school supplies. Well, then by golly… I wanted our MOPS group to provide them with toys!!!"

The deadline is Nov. 30 and toys should be mailed to the address given on her blog or to my home address and I will get them to the church.

On a personal note, if you know me, you know I LOVE to wrap presents . I have volunteered to help wrap any of the toys received that are unwrapped. This may be my golden opportunity to live out my dream! I have always wanted to get a job at the mall during Christmas to wrap presents. This project may just scratch that itch!

American History...........Awesome!!

Now for the first order of business, what kind of dog will the girls get?
I can't wait to find out!

Food Feature on College Game Day

Rio Grande Chili

I love this chili recipe! It's the BEST! Once I tried it, I haven't made another. I got it back in the day when I played Bunco.

As with all my College Game Day Saturdays, I had this timed perfectly with my first bite at the 7pm kick off between Texas and Texas Tech. What a treat!



















Ingredients:
2 lb. Ground Beef
1 Onion, chopped
2 1/2 Tbsp Chili Powder
2 1/2 Tbsp Paprika
2 tsp Cumin
4 small cans (5.5 oz) Tomato Juice (or 2 large cans)
2 cans Tomato Sauce
Ground Red Pepper - use sparingly to taste

Beans: I am a big fan of the pinto bean and I love to add them to my chili. Click here for that recipe. Depending on who will be eating my chili determines if I add them. I usually have a big pot of beans cooking along side the big pot of chili, then I add some of the beans before simmering. If I am not sure if the crowd is a fan of beans, I leave them separate and serve the chili, beans, cheese and fritos buffet style.



















Brown ground beef & onions.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Bring to boil, then simmer covered for 30 minutes - 1 hour.
You can add water for desired thickness. I usually don't add any.
Serve with fritos or cheese.



















Chili KV Style - with beans & fritos, no cheese

Good Luck! I hope you like this recipe!

# 7 Texas Tech defeats # 1 Texas

Move over Buddy Holly.......the Texas Tech Red Raiders have now put Lubbock, TX on the map.

History was made yesterday with the final second defeat of the # 1 team in the nation. With guns blazin', ESPN's College Game Day came to town for the first time in the school's history.

Most definitely the biggest and most anticipated game of the weekend, the phone calls, e-mails and text messages were flying among my friends and family. As with all other Saturdays, our entire day is scheduled around the big game, and yesterday was no different.















As a Texas fan, a loss hurts, but I would rather lose to Texas Tech than most other teams. Now the eyes of Texas - and the rest of the nation - are on Texas Tech.

12 Days of Halloween

Day 1

Day 1 Feature: Costumes

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We have counted down from 12 and today is the grand finale in the 12 Days of Halloween. I saved the best for last - costumes & trick-or-treating.

Halloween is like my Superbowl. From the moment I wake up to the second I fall asleep, I get so excited about seeing people dressed up and especially those who act the part. My jaw and stomach hurt from laughing so hard today.

I am still collecting pictures and will be updating this post throughout the weekend so check back.

FRIENDS in COSTUME

Brody & Kavan (bill & tracey's boys)

Taylor & Braeden (john & samone's kiddos)

Rusty & Heather (kevin & wendy's children)

Natalie as Batgirl (dia & george's daughter)

The Packers Fans
Matt & Kristin with their cheerleader daughters Caroline & Laura

3 month old Aiden's first halloween - he is so adorable!! (adriana & eric's baby)

Hunter, Summer, Derek & Benson the dog
(nephew, niece, brother)

Sheri & Summer
After they got all the way to the end of the street, the Disney Princess had to be carried home because her feet hurt from wearing high heels. Tell me about it Summer.....beauty is painful! You're learning at a young age.

# 10 - the next Vince Young
Hook 'Em Horns
Ethan (ginny & fred's son)
"Texas....Fight!"
Reagan as a UT cheerleader (ginny & fred's daughter)

Braeden & Taylor at a 50s Sock Hop at school (on the 50th day of school)
1st grade & 3rd grade

TRICK-OR-TREAT

If you trick-or-treated at my house, you were greeted by me dressed as a witch. Roxy & I sat out on my front porch with 80s rock playing in the background and passed out approximately 550 pieces of candy! The picture below doesn't show it, but I only used background light and didn't use the porch light. It made for a creepy silhouette. Roxy was often mistaken as a cat until they got up close.

Check out some of the trick-or-treaters who came to my house........

candy corn witch-
I love her stripped socks with the polka dotted bows

Injured Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitzki -
I hope this isn't a sign of things to come this season

flower child and a healthy Dirk Nowitzki

complete cuteness

Redneck -
he used an ice chest as his candy bucket -
he was very proud of his "I love Nascar" tatoo -
I got a big laugh when he walked up!!

who wants to bet she takes ballet? very pretty

very sweet little girls

adolescence

COSTUME CONTEST at WORK

payroll prisoners & life is a picnic

Father Brian (remember him from my 40th b-day party??)

joker & renaissance
the joker was my favorite costume

joker & madea

Dia - one of the judges

witch & wizard

5 Finalists:
wizard, joker, madea, joe the cleaner, maid

And the Winner is........

Joe the Cleaner - 1st place
she could have easily been mistaken as a real janitor with all the sweeping and wiping she did throughout the contest; she never stopped playing the role; she passed out business cards and cleaned the CEO's shoes; all done with an attitude; hilarious!!!

Madea - 2nd place
apparently there is a movie I need to see because I didn't know Madea; she had a gun, a cirarette, a big purse and an attitude; I laughed so hard!!; the crowd went wild when she acted the part

Thanks to everyone for visiting my blog for the 12 Days of Halloween.

And just like that......POOF......the witch disappeared

til next year.

12 Days of Halloween

Day 2

Day 2 Feature: Lawns & Porches

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been snapping pictures as I walk or drive by homes that have beautiful, unique, cute, colorful or scary Lawns & Porches.

Which one do you like best?

country charm

spiderweb entrance

fall color on steps (simple but unique)

spiders crawling on balcony

harvest colors

friendly witch

ghost friends

fall display in circular drive

pumpkins & potato plants

ghost hanging from chandelier (look closely)

vivid yellow

spiderweb on wrought iron door (looks like orange light behind door)

chainsaw massacre

I think these guys are friends

Be sure to leave a comment telling us your favorite!