alphabet soup...a b c's of me!

saw this on another blog, thought it could be fun.

{A} Age: 54. can't believe it, don't feel that old, but oh well...it is what it is.

{B} Bed size: king. no other way to sleep. i don't like to be touched when i'm snoozing...sorry larry.

{C} Chore you hate: taking out the trash. mopping our floors...thankfully larry does it for me most of the time. :)

{D} Dogs?: none. our lab, bj, died about a year ago. miss him. not so much that i am ready for my backyard to be destroyed again.

{E} Essential start to your day: coffee and then a shower and then more coffee.

{F} Favorite color: blue

{G} Gold or silver: silver now, though my wedding ring is gold.

{H} Height: 5'2" and eyes of blue!

{I} Instruments you play: none.

{J} Job title: part-time stay at home wife/honey/mom. part-time helper for larry and zach's companies. basically, i help where ever and when ever i am needed.

{K} Kids: two grown. zach, 31 and ashley 28. four grands, 6,4,3 and 18 months

{L} Live: abilene, texas

{M} Mom's name: to me, mom. to my children it was, nanny. my name to my kids, mom. my name to grands. honey

{N} Nicknames: mk, used to be called punkin by my dad.

{O} Overnight hospital stays: babies '79 & '82. thyroid and hysterectomy surgeries.

{P} Pet peeve: being late. rude drivers...maybe that is why they are rude...because they are running late. :)

{Q} Quote: Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10. easier said than done sometimes, but i am trying to listen.

{R} Right or left handed: right.

{S} Siblings: one brother, three years OLDer than me. love you bro.

{T} Time you wake up: 6:00ish, but on occasion when i can stretch it to 7, i feel spoiled.

{U} Underwear: yes. (seriously? why is that a question?)

{V} Vegetable you dislike: i love all veggies

{W} What makes you run late: ha, since that is my pet peeve i try not to let that happen, though having longer hair takes so much more time to get ready!

{X} X-rays you've had done: back, dental, foot, back, ribs. wow, i should be glowing!

{Y} Yummy food you make: larry is in love with my newest attempts at pizza

{Z} Zoo, favorite animal: i am going with monkeys and the adorable baby lion cubs we have right now at our zoo.

A-Ashley Jo Knight Snow

Ashley, our second child came into our lives on October 6, 1982. We were delighted. It felt perfect, God had blessed us with a son and a daughter. Ashley entered the world with big blue eyes and auburn hair which became auburn curls. From a very young age, she followed her brother around and they quickly became big buddies. Zach was protective and loving with Ashley and she adored him, wanting to do everything he did. So, it was no surprise she asked her brother to perform her wedding.  As a child Ashley loved to work puzzles, read, color and play school. So, again it was no surprise when she decided to become a teacher.  Ashley was always involved in something, from gymnastics to drama lessons. She was our social butterfly from a young age. She loved school and finished her senior year by being the Abilene High Mascot. She entered ACU, with so many dreams and anxious to meet all the new freshman! God was so good to her, blessing her with so many wonderful Christian friends. We were blessed to have them in our home on Sundays for lunch and it was a great way for us to get to know her new friends, the people she played with and more importantly prayed with.  It has been so fun to see this group stay close and connected. During her last semester at ACU, she made the decision to move home. Her roommates had all graduated and since Ashley would be doing her student teaching she wouldn't have a lot of time for a job, so she moved home after working the summer at First Colony Church of Christ in SugarLand as an intern. It was such a sweet time for us! During this time, Ashley met a new neighbor (who her dad and brother had already gotten to know...and improved of!) who had moved in with some college guys across the street from us to work on his Masters at ACU. His name was David Snow and he took her out on their first date in early December. After her graduation from ACU, Ashley and I took an amazing trip to New York City! Those are memories I will NEVER forget, we had such a wonderful time together. After graduation, the trip to NYC and Christmas, Ashley decided though she didn't have a job yet, she would drive over to Fort Worth and see if she could find a little apartment and a job! She had been told by the Fort Worth hiring agent, to be ready because a job would come up. It was so obvious God had a plan. She drove over, found a sweet little garage apartment with a precious landlord and within a few days while we were still moving her in, she got a job and started a few days later! It was a fun and crazy time! She lived by herself and was really enjoying her freedom! David and Ashley continued to talk, David would drive over to take her out and things went from "He is a sweet friend" to falling in love with this guy. We had the pleasure of being in Abilene with David, so we could see very quickly how he felt! By the end of the school year, David proposed and we began to plan a wedding for October. Planning the wedding was such a fun experience, Ashley was such an easy going bride and we had so much fun working on things together. We had prayed for David for a long time, we just had no idea he would move him in across the street from us...pretty convenient! Ashley and David live in the Mansfield area and it has been so fun to watch this sweet couple begin their life together. God has given Ashley so many talents and it is so fun to see her developing those and using so many of them to make a really adorable home for them. She, like her Mom, loves to decorate! 

We really have been so blessed! Our children love God, love their mates and love family time! Ashley and I have always had a great relationship, but it just gets better and better. Now we share recipes, decorating ideas, enjoy making things for our homes, etc. We always laugh at ourselves because we often say the same thing at the same time or we will pick up the very same item when shopping! My mother was my best girlfriend, really. I loved hanging out with her and we never ran out of things to talk about. I feel like Ashley and I have that same kind of relationship. We always have fun and never run out of things to talk about either! We have been so blessed to have several road trips through the years and we love the time it allows us to talk and occasionally we stop talking and bust out singing at the top of our lungs! She has such a sensitive heart, always looks for the good in others and inspires me daily! I can't wait to see her as a mother, because I have a feeling that she will be as good of a Mom as Zach is a dad! She has had so much fun being an aunt to Zach's three little boys and she loves her kids at school, even when they aren't very lovable! I didn't think when I was a young mother that being a mother could be anymore fun that it was...but I have found every age is more and more fun! I am SO thankful to God for giving me the gift of my children. They have been such a delight to my heart and I love them both dearly! 

So, my alphabet started with one child and ended with the other with lots of sweet grandkids and a precious husband sprinkled through the middle. I hope that my ABC's has given you a glimpse into what makes me smile and what delights my heart!

B-Blue

I love the color BLUE, always have and I am guessing I always will. Some of my favorite blues:

BLUE eyes-on my children and grandchildren

BLUE kitchen-I love cooking in it! It makes me smile!

In "Sound of Music" there is a song titled "My Favorite Things". When I was in the sixth grade, I sang a solo of that song for a music program at Lee Elementary. I will never forget my mom made me the cutest "white dress with a BLUE satin sash". 

BLUE clothes- I used to have a lot more, until Ashley pointed out once my closet was full of blue clothes, so I have incorporated some other colors into my wardrobe!

BLUE fiesta ware-though I also love the red and yellow! 

BLUE skies up against Colorado mountains and aspen trees

The list could go on and on, but I will leave one more thing I love that is BLUE...and that would be the good old USA flag!!! 

C-Clayton Grant Knight

Our second grandson! What a sweetie! Clayton Grant Knight joined our family on June 12, 2006! What a joyous occasion, though I think all the family will agree quite a busy time! Larry made the decision to go on a 8 week mission trip to Zambia, only to realize that he would be gone when our second grandson was born. It was a hard thing for Larry to be gone, but he was sweetly encouraged by Zach and Meg to go! We were able to send an email to a missionary who then got word to Larry once Clay had entered the world! Clay was around 7 weeks old when Larry saw him for the first time but they had no trouble bonding! Clay is our "snuggle bunny". He is so loving! He loves animals, we think he may be a Vet someday! He has no trouble keeping up with Owen and they are such sweet buddies. He is precious with Will, such a sweet big brother! We love watching the boys interact and also seeing what interests they each are developing. Clay has huge blue eyes that melt my heart! We love you Clay! 

D-David Whitfield Snow

Another answer to prayers. As with Zach, when Ashley was born we began to pray for her mate and we still marvel at the way God brought David in to our lives! David moved in across the street from us when Ashley was in her senior year of college. He had graduated with A&M and had come to ACU to get his masters. Larry, Zach and David met, became friends, and would often stand out in the front yard and talk about hunting, fishing, etc. Larry once mentioned to Ashley, that she should meet the guy across the street! Little did we know, that a few months later they would meet, start hanging out, running together (yes, David even started running to be in her company!) and then went out on a date right before she graduated. She moved shortly after that to Fort Worth and began teaching, but that didn't stop David. He made LOTS of trips to Fort Worth to take her out and it wasn't long until we realized these two were falling in love. David is a wonderful husband to Ashley and a great addition to this crazy family! He is everything we prayed for in a spouse for Ashley and we couldn't ask for a better son-in-law! Owen and Clay think that Uncle Da-da is so cool! Thank you David for loving our daughter, for encouraging her as she teaches, for helping her in her walk with God, for making her laugh and for giving her such a great and loving second family. (Thank you for even giving Ashley the "jump of her life" when you surprised her with a sky-diving jump as an early wedding gift. Though I think you had two dads that were a little nervous, your bride-to-be was thrilled!)

E-Easter

I love Easter. One reason is after the house is decorated for Fall and then Christmas, it is fun to have another excuse to decorate and about the time Easter rolls around, I am ready to brighten things up! I love the colors of the eggs, sweet little bunnies and chicks but what really makes my heart sing is these three little blue-eyed boys! As you can see, it is also very hard to get three little guys under the age of three to look at the camera at the same time!

F-Fly-fishing

Fly-fishing! Yahoo! As I write this, we are in Colorado on a camping and fly-fishing trip. I am pretty new at this sport, I have one trip under my waders but Larry is my little "guide, pro and partner" in this adventure! How can you not enjoy a sport that plants you right in the middle of God's amazing country? With mountains, pine trees, aspens and the sound of rushing mountain streams...it has all my senses on overload! I am not sure what it is, but when I am in in this scenery I feel so close to God. He really is an amazing artist and I am loving it! Last year, in July, we came to this same spot and absolutely loved it, so we are back to veg, hike, fish and just have some time together! Except this time we are seeing this beautiful spot in the fall! Do we have to go home? My only wish is that the aspens had hit their prime. We are probably about one week early, so it is hard to leave before they burst into color but I guess we will just have to come back again next year and see if we can catch it! We drove up to Platoro Lake and saw some color, which was breathtaking. I love fall and I love this country. We had great fun today, Larry caught a beautiful brown trout! It was so much fun to watch him snag it. It was a perfect ending to a perfect trip!

G-Gingerbread Houses

Traditions are a big thing in our house, especially traditions relating to holidays. Some of our traditions are old, passed down from our grandparents and parents but others have been started by Larry and I for our kids. We started a new one this past Christmas and it was a big hit! We had a Gingerbread house contest between the three couples! I knew it would be fun, but I didn't think about how competitive it would be! Zach and Meg were a team, David and Ashley were a team then Larry and I had some very good help from our two grandsons to complete our team. Meg had found some really great gingerbread kits at Wal-Mart, which not only took a lot of the work out of it but also it started us all with the exact same "blueprint". But from that point on, everyone took it to a completely different level. I have never seen so much creativity at one table! There was a lot of laughter and whispers as we planned and built our houses. I am hearing there are already plans being drawn up in people's minds about their next years houses! Let the games begin!!!

H-Honey

Honey...that's me! That's what my grandkids call me. I actually LOVE it. It has been an easy word for them to pronounce. It pretty much melts my heart each time I hear Owen or Clay say it. Zach and Meg picked it out before Owen was born. My only desire was not to be "Granny, Grandmother or Grandma". Nothing wrong with those names, but they just didn't feel right. I like Honey...I love it when I hear a little guy enter our house and a sweet little "Honey, where are you???" Doesn't get much better than that. I love every part of being a grandmother, but reading to them is at the top of my list! Here we are enjoying a few books before bedtime a few weeks ago when we had the pleasure of keeping all three of the boys overnight! What fun!

 

I-Ice Cream

Ice cream and I go way back. I can't say it is my favorite dessert, but I will hardly ever resist a bowl when offered. But, my very favorite is HOMEMADE ICE CREAM. I don't know if it is the taste or all the memories attached. I can remember when I was a little girl, my dad making ice cream in our back yard and it was my job to sit on top of the towel which sat on top of the ice so Dad could crank the ice cream, yes, I am telling my age now! We didn't have an electric ice cream maker till I was much older. When Larry and I married, we registered for an ice cream maker, that is how much we love making the special cream! So, I thought I would share one of my favorite recipes. This was given to me by my sister-in-law, Pat, many many years ago. I have to admit through the years, I have tweaked it some but it is creamy and delicious so before it's winter, you might want to crank you out some!

French Vanilla Homemade Ice Cream

2 boxes of Vanilla Junket (usually located in the rock salt, ice cream supplies area)

1 cup sugar

1 carton half and half

1 carton french vanilla liquid Coffeemate creamer

1 pint of whipping cream

5 eggs

Milk

Mix eggs, sugar, Junket together and then add half and half, whipping cream and Coffeemate creamer. Pour into canister and then fill to line with milk. Freeze and eat!

(If I am making chocolate, I use the chocolate Junket and subsitute Coffeemate Cream with more 1/2 and 1/2 or Whip cream or use a different flavor coffeemate...be creative!)

Also, when making the vanilla recipe you can also add crushed Butterfinger candy bars, etc. 

J-Jesus

I am very blessed. I was blessed to not only be raised in a loving church but by parents who showed me Jesus in so many ways. Many of our family vacations involved us going to Colorado and holding a Mission VBS. I have some of the sweetest memories of those days. My mother always taught the 3rd graders at our church, for as long as I can remember. She was the teacher everyone wanted, because she did amazing things in her classroom.  She always let me "help" her get her lesson ready, make handwork, etc. It made me feel so big! I was blessed with so many good examples then and now. I have a wonderful husband, children and grandchildren that ALL love Jesus. My favorite thing right now is finding ways to talk about Jesus and God to Owen, Clay and Will. They have such a simple faith. Children really do remind us of all that is good in this world. Thanks to all who have shown me Jesus' love. I hope I can give to others the same gift I have so richly received! 

K-Kitchen

Favorite room in my house...my kitchen! After years of planning, Larry and I finally built the kitchen of my dreams. I love everything about it, but the thing I love the most is when the WHOLE family is in there together, cooking, snacking, eating, washing dishes, it doesn't really matter what we are doing, I just love to hear the chatter of our family visiting and sharing life. Of course the aroma of something wonderful cooking doesn't hurt anything either! We love to entertain and God has been so good to us that sharing this home and food cooked in the kitchen just seems like very very small way to give back to Him. I love that our grandsons know exactly where the cookie jar is, love to help "bake" and the conversations that happen during those times are priceless. Thank you Larry for making the "heart of our home" so beautiful! 

L-Larry

The Love of my Life, Larry.

We were high school sweethearts! He is my soul mate. He is and has always been such a great hubby. He loves me, supports me, spoils me, comforts me, makes me laugh and encourages me. He is not only a great husband, but an amazing father and granddaddy or "Bud" as the boys refer to him. He has a heart of gold and will go out of way to help others. We love doing home projects together, cooking together, camping together and as of a year ago, we can add fly-fishing to our list of things we enjoy doing together. Larry patiently taught me how to fly fish last summer while on vacation in Colorado and we are now counting the days till we can go again! He really is such a blessing from God. God knew exactly what kind of man I needed! There are so many things we still want to do together...mostly traveling but it really doesn't matter what or where we are...I am just so blessed to have him by my side! Love you babe!!!

M-Meagan Anne Knight

From the time Zach was born, we began to pray for his future spouse. God gave us everything we asked for and SO much more. Meg is such a precious addition to our family. She joined our family in 2000 and is a complete joy! It is amazing how she just "fits"! After they married, they moved to College Station for Zach to finish his college career at A&M. She worked and was so supportive of Zach while he finished his education. We love her for the commitment she has to their marriage.  She also is an incredible mom to our grandsons. She is such a patient mother, is so creative and makes it look easy! She has so many talents...sewing, cooking, baking, singing, scrapbooking, but above all these she is a Godly, sweet precious daughter in law whom we love dearly! It is so fun to see her and Zach as parents and also see them make time for one another! Thank you Meg for all you do to add so much joy to this family! We love you!

N- Nanny

Nanny to my kids, Mom to me. Fadine Baker Williams was and is still my greatest hero. I lost my Mom 8 years ago to cancer. I have a hole in my heart that can never be filled. As hard as it was to give her up, God really guided me through it. I've never known a greater woman. She was such an amazing woman of God. She lived her life for Him, in every way. What an example! There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of her, wish to share something with her, show her something or mostly get advice and wisdom! She was ALWAYS there for me. She taught me so much in life and she taught me so much about how to die gracefully. She was not only an amazing mom but a precious wife and Nanny. She was always interested in whatever we were doing. She was a wonderful cook, seamstress, homemaker, Bible School teacher, mentor to not only the younger women but always was helping the elderly at our church. She never quit learning and was one mean Scrabble, Trivia Pursuit and crossword puzzle player! Up until the very end mom was teaching me, guiding me and providing wonderful memories to get me through. It is my greatest prayer that I will be half the woman my mom was to not only my husband, children and grandchildren but everyone around me! 

O-Owen Austin Knight

Owen Austin Knight is our first grandson, who is a three and half years old. Some days when we are playing, I feel like I am with my own son, Zach. He not only looks like his daddy did, but he talks like him and has so many of the same mannerisms. He too is totally entertained with a rope (see Letter Z if this doesn't make sense!) and he already knows how to use most tools. He has outgrown plastic tools...he wants the real thing! He is a "worker-man". He loves to be outdoors and loves to go fishing! He is a very good brother to Clay and Will. We see his little personality developing, he loves to joke with us, and is very tender and concerned about others. He keeps us in stitches with his little vocabulary, which is growing each day with such big words. Our prayer for Owen, Clay and Will is and will always be that they will become great men of God. We look forward to seeing what all God has in store for them!

P-Phil

Phil, is my one and only sibling. He and his wife live near Hamby, and worship in Clyde where he serves as an elder. He is a fireman for the Abilene Fire Department. He is three years older than me and for as long as I can remember I have looked up to him. He has always been a good brother, protective, supportive and one that all I have to do is call and he will be there. He is so talented but the thing that gives me the greatest joy is watching him as a father and husband. He is an amazing dad. He has two sons and one daughter-in-law and a very precious wife named Carolyn. He and Carolyn are so supportive and such great parents! Our grandson, Owen, things "Uncle Phil" is the coolest! He always plays ball with him! Anyone who plays ball is really cool in Owen's book. Phil is pretty cool in my book too! Love you bro!

Q-Quilt

As a wedding gift, my grandmother made me a quilt. Not just any quilt, it was made from all the fabrics my mom had used to make me dresses throughout my life. I loved it. Each time I looked at it, memories would flood my mind. When Ashley was a little girl, she used to love to look at that quilt and question me on what the outfit looked like for each of the fabrics in the quilt. So, when she was headed off to college, it just seemed fitting to do her a similar quilt. The only problem was...I am not a quilter! I wish so much I could say I love sewing, but it makes me nervous! Thanks to a good friend, Pam Trice, who helped me find a SIMPLE pattern for the quilt top. Each square was either a fabric from a outfit that my Mom and I had made for Ashley or it was fabrics from curtains in her nursery or bedroom fabrics growing up. It was a simple pattern, so the quilt top went together quickly. I wrapped it up and gave it to her at her High School graduation, with plans of finishing it that summer in time for her to use on her dorm room bed. Well...it didn't happen. Somehow, I just kept putting it off. It became a joke as Ashley finished college, thankfully she didn't freeze to death without it! However, with help from Pam once again, I am proud to say the quilt is finished! No one was more surprised than Ashley, when I gave it to her! It is a great weight to throw over your lap while watching TV or grading papers! It is now at Ashley's house. Someday, maybe she will have a little one that will want to lay beside her in bed and reminisce about all the fun fabric...just as we did! 

R-Red Bike

There is just something fun about redoing something old! This bike has been leaning up against the shop for a number of years. I decided to give it a fresh coat of red paint, tie on a wire basket full of flowers and park it in one of our flower beds in the backyard. Some might say, I should have put new tires on it and hit the pavement...but I much prefer the relaxed feel I get when I look out my window and see the touch of whimsy that bike gives our yard!

S-Sound of Music

Okay, call me "old school" but my ALL time favorite movie will remain "The Sound of Music"! Those hills are still alive for me! I can't really remember how old I was when my Mom and I went to see it at Westwood Theater on North 1st, but I can tell you exactly where we sat, etc. I was in love with it from the second it started. I cannot even begin to count the number of times I have seen it, but I am sure hundreds of times. I remember how delighted I was as a young mother, when it came on TV one day right after Christmas and we had just gotten our first VHS recorder! I taped it and watched it ALOT with Zach and Ashley. Just ask them, I used to sing and dance right along with Julie. We all knew most of the script but the kids could probably tell you all the commericals...which are hilarious! I don't actually watch the "taped version" anymore as my kids sweetly bought me my very own copy FREE of commercials several years ago! Maybe someday I will go to Salzburg, Austria and run across that same mountain top singing at the top of my lungs! Anyone want to go with me???