Thanksgiving 2009

What a wonderful week off I had! Last weekend my mom and sister came to town- a nice treat since we didn't get to do Thanksgiving with my family. We shopped, ate and saw New Moon. I spent the rest of my week relaxing and preparing for Turkey Day. This year we celebrated with the Ferguson's in Dallas- Dillon and I made chex mix, sausage balls and a pumpkin pie. I only got a couple of pictures but a good time was had- the weather was sunny so while the food cooked, everyone congregated out front and played washer pit (I hadnt heard of this until I married Dillon, its a fun game!). Here are a few snapshots of the week:

And here is the recipe I use for Sausage Balls, one of my favorite greasy treats

*3 cups Bisquick

*1 lb. Jimmy Dean sausage

*1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese grated

Mix it all together, shape into small balls and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes~

Marriage Questionaire

I was tagged to this by my elementary best friend Aimee Claire- thought it would be good blogging material~

1. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time? At a college outreach event- Dillon knew my older sister.
2. What is your spouse's full name? Dillon Ehren Ferguson (cool spelling huh)
3. Do you have any house pets: Polly and Penny!
4. Do you own a house or rent: Rent- but we did own a home for 2 years and the monthly payment was cheaper than our current rental
5. Do you live in the country or city: City
6. What is one of your favorite activities together: Taking walks
7. Do you have a favorite vacation spot: Anywhere! We like to travel
8. When did you first kiss? Before he left for Spain
9. What church do you attend? Grace Presbyterian
10. Where were you married? Westminster, Lubbock TX- a special place since that is where we met.
11. What town is your current address at? Dallas
12. Do you work or stay at home: School Nurse
13. Where did you go on your honeymoon: Dominican Republic
14.What was the funniest gift you gave when dating? I gave him a hermit crab for his birthday one year and he was really annoyed
15. Who asked who out? He did- the first week we met
16. How old are each of you? 24
17.Where do you each work or go to school? Dillon is going to seminary, I work for Carrolton ISD
18. Did you go to the same school? Yep Texas Tech
19. Are you from the same home town? No- only 1 1/2 hrs apart though
20. Who is smarter? Dillon overall- although we got about the same SAT score
21. Who is more sensitive? Me.Dillon is truly one of the most stable people I know.
22.Where do you eat out most as a couple? In Dumas it was always Chica Blanca's Mexican, here in Dallas we are always trying some place new.
24.Who has the craziest exes? Neither
25. Who has the worse temper? Hmm. We both have short tempers when we are stressed- probably me.
26. Who does the cooking? Always me unless we are grilling
27. Who is more social? Dillon- loves people!
28. Who is the neat-freak? Both- Dillon is more obsessive about it but I have to have things organized too or I start to feel overwhelmed
29. Who is more stubborn? Me
30. Who hogs the bed? Dillon
31. Who wakes up earlier? Most days me, on Wednesdays he does
32. Where was your first date? Barn Dance
33.Who had more boyfriends/girlfriends? Probably about even, not many for either of us
34. Do you get flowers often? About once or twice a year
35. How do you spend the holidays? With family!
36. How long did it take to get serious? We were friends for about 7 months before dating.
37. Who eats more? Dillon usually
38. Who does the laundry? Always me
39. Who’s better with the computer? Dillon

I tag Emily and Jessica!

Thankful

I am very joyful today! God's promises in his word are coming to life before me. His ways are higher and better, and when I embrace the road He has put me on, it becomes a perfect path. When difficulties come, His faithfulness becomes the only thing that remains and I see that I am OK with that. He has revealed the following verse to me this week- first in our Sunday message, then again in an email from a co-worker, and then this morning the verse/flashcard fell out of a book I was reading. It is appropriate for this week~

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
-Phil. 4:6

Coming up are lots of things to be joyful for-

*Family coming in town this weekend
*Dillons last weekend class
*New Moon!
*Thanksgiving break (a whole WEEK)

And looking back at the past few weeks here are things I am thankful for-

*Being calm in the stressful work situation (a student had a seizure yesterday)
*Family Worship/my encouraging husband
*The perfect housing opportunity (details to come...)
*Family, friends, church and the ways God has orchestrated timing to enjoy all of them.


Sidenote and picture: One of our families favorite traditions has been Thanksgiving in the Texas Hill Country- my grandparents used to live on a small farm in Marble Falls, on Black Friday we would go in to Fredricksburg for eating/shopping, and that night we would always stop in Johnson City for their courthouse lighting and fair- SO many good memories over the years. This year we will all be doing seperate things- obviously we miss Katie, she is celebrating in Jordan with friends. Dillon and I will be staying in Dallas, and the rest of my family is going to Ruidoso. I think we are all at peace about the situation, knowing that we will all be together in a month but I will miss this great tradition!




This is one of our favorite stores in Fr-burg.





Carriage ride around Johnson City (Dillon hates this picture but I think he is still cute!)






On the "farm" at Gran and Grandaddy's (2006

Family!

Last weekend was my Pawpaw's 80th Birthday celebration in Midland. Nearly everyone from my mom's side of the family came in town- good times were had visiting and catching up, scrapbooking for Pawpaw's album, and enjoying good food and company. Enjoy a peek at the festivities~

Do you have a favorite or cherished memory that you go to in your mind on stressful days? When I'm overwhelmed I tend to just dream of being at home on the couch with a blanket and fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies....actually that always is my hearts desire but that is besides the point! Today I came across a photo that triggered something in my soul- a place that holds special meaning because of a family vacation there many years ago...about 16 to be exact, and so today I am dreaming of the Smoky Mountains.

Our family took really awesome trips growing up-we still do in fact. A family vacation would not be complete unless at least 20 hours were spent driving to our destination, with at least 1 disaster for memories sake.

I remember driving through Tennesee for the first time and my parents tricked us into thinking we were about to pass Dolly Partons car and we all were screaming with excitement. We saw lots of bears on that trip. We camped right by a flowing river and I remember catching tadpoles and later riding down on innertubes. We had fun at Dollyworld and Pigeon Forge where we found one of my favorite Christmas ornaments that is still hung on our tree every year. One day it rained and flooded our tent and I remember my mom cried. We gathered around the fire at night to hear my dad tell his classic ghost story about when he was a little boy growing up and his friend disappeared. We hiked up to a waterfall and I fell and cut open my knee and still have the scar today. Remembering these moments leads me to be so thankful for the family I am blessed with, the moments we have shared together over the years, and reminds me that these are the things in life that matter- being with people, enjoying God beauty, making memories.