The Last Day of the Year

On December 31, 2012December 31, 2012 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life, FAMILY28 Comments

Hey, hey, hey! We have a birthday in da’ house!

Today is my dear, sweet husband’s special day. Did you hear that?

What? You thought it was New Year’s Eve?

Heavens no! All the celebrating is for Jason’s birthday! Isn’t that cool?

I don’t blame all the celebrators. I’d celebrate too (even if it wasn’t his birthday..ha).

He is probably the easiest man I have ever met. He doesn’t get emotional. Doesn’t complain (much…). Loves his mother. Loves his girls (including the fur pets). He puts up with me. HA!

He cooks, cleans, and takes care of the bills. Most of the time, he lets me sleep in and gets up to feed the dogs in the morning.

And I am not sure how, but he has the most amazing patience with an all-girl (and one boy dog) household.

He is super smart (far smarter than I could ever comprehend). I couldn’t even spell comprehend. Spell check just corrected me. Thanks spellcheck. My point is…..I bet Jason could spell it without being checked. Heh.

A Christian man raised in the Methodist Church. He is more reverent, than Bible banging. He is humble, thoughtful, and does not push blame on anyone, for anything. He accepts fully any failings completely on his own. But of course, I don’t think he fails.

I think he teaches us a lot about what it is to be a man of his word. Loyal, loving, and pure of heart.

Aren’t you glad you are celebrating for him today?

The last day of the year, we sing Happy Birthday to this incredible man, we dearly love.

Molly hung this banner early in the morning before he woke up. She found the materials: tape, construction paper, scissors, and notebook paper. She stood on a chair to hang it above the doorway to the kitchen. A very perfect place.

She wrote name tags on all the chairs, and his chair says, “Birthday Boy!” She is so funny….I wonder where she gets her thoughtfulness from? Hmmmmm…

Since the eight-year old decorated the house and had all the name tags in place, we prepare to party.

No, I didn’t make these. And I promise you, he thanks me for that…

Dad & Daughter sing a duet playing Rockband.

Sydney photo bombs my take of her boyfriend, Brandon, playing drums.

The Birthday boy is cooking up some of his famous chicken wings between sets, and we are enjoying his special day.

The last day of the year and the first day of his thirty-eighth year.

I decided today was a day of grace, love, and reflection for this wonderful man.

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Reflective graces – thank you for this day. My husband's day of birth. The last day of the year. #winter #lake #reflection #life #yearend #beauty #scenery #nature #instadaily #igdaily #instagood #photooftheday #picoftheday #instamood #igers #bestoftheday #love #iphonephotography #iphoneonly #iphonesia

A post shared by Angelia Hardy (@angeliahardy1010) on Dec 31, 2012 at 3:17pm PST

We embrace, and honor him always.

Happy Birthday Jason!

Merry Christmas 2012

On December 24, 2012 By AngeliaIn FAMILY, Timeless Treasures38 Comments

I can’t believe Christmas is here already. This is the alternate year where we have the little girls Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. It is such a blast to see all the excitement. It is also the first time in about five years that Sydney is home for Christmas. Normally, she goes to her Dad’s in Mississippi. But guess what? Her Dad moved back to Texas. Squeee!

This year, we are doing the Christmas tradition that I grew up with. That is the one where you open ALL the presents under the tree on Christmas EVE (today!). Then, Christmas morning Santa brings the “big” gift with more presents. The girls seem a little concerned. I think it must feel a little like cheating to open the presents Christmas Eve. But this is how I grew up and Sydney grew up, and honestly, it makes the most sense. The girls will be going to their Mom’s at Noon Christmas Day until the New Year’s Eve. This way gives them a little more time to play.

I have tons of photos and Christmas(y) things to post about, but I simply ran out of time this month. Too busy going, doing, and working.

So, I have decided to post my favorite photos in a slide show for you.

(Click on any image to enlarge and display)

Christmas visit with my mom and her Chihuahua Tiny.

Our four furry festive pets.

Our Christmas 2012 Family photo.

My three girls.

Sydney – my daughter from my 1st marriage.

My oldest step-daughter.

My youngest step-daughter.

Christmas photo shoot. -by Angelia

This is my favorite photo. My wonderful husband and precious girls!

Another family shot by tripod remote.

Rudolph decoration in my house.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. Youngest step-daughter lost both front teeth just in time for Christmas.

My beautiful and sweet Mom-in-law with the Church Santa.

My niece with one of the Church pups at St. Matthews.

Molly at the Church program.

Bridget at the Church program.

Christmas pup Candy at the Church program.

The St. Matthews reindeer sing at Church.

St. Matthews United Methodist Church.

Snowman taking a bath. This was in a window display in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Window display for a jewelry store in Hot Springs.

If you ask any of my kids, they would agree! This was tricky as these lights were blinking to music.

Part of a fountain display in downtown Hot Springs with the wreaths in the background.

Tree lights with green fountain in the background in Hot Springs.

Tree lights blurred with fountain.

Statue in downtown Hot Springs with star in the background.

Star on one of the buildings in downtown Hot Springs.

These are from our Christmas card shoot, St. Matthews children’s program, visit with my Mom in Oklahoma, and Hot Springs, Arkansas. All taken this month.

I’ve been busy!

Now, I need to clear a few memory cards to prepare for Christmas.

I just wanted to wish each and every one of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. I know I don’t do well with the awards, links, and ping-backs. But I promise, I am deeply grateful for every one. I hope you know how much I appreciate you all. This year hasn’t been easy for me, and you have brightened it in more ways than you know.

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Mom’s Easy Lasagna Recipe

On January 9, 2012 By AngeliaIn FAMILY, Temptation station15 Comments

It’s been a while since I posted about cooking with Mom. I still have TONS of recipes, and hopefully, more future cooking time with her.

If you don’t know me, let me just say…..cooking is not my thing. Burning is my thing. Spilling is my thing. Sloshing stuff on the stove is my thing….but cooking? Not so much. Your welcome.

However my second Mom, Jason’s Mom, is an amazing cook and a very wonderful person inside and out. Being with her is like getting a great big HUG. You leave feeling loved and like you are a better person from just being around her.

Jason loves to cook. Sydney loves to cook. Mom loves to cook.

Guess who watches, takes pictures, and eats?

That’s me! I love to do all three of those things. And I love Italian food, especially anything pasta-related. Spaghetti is the #1 on my favorite foods list. If you can make a mean spaghetti, I will love you forever.

And this lasagna? Definitely a top ten.

Click on the photo to enlarge.

I wasn’t there for the mixing.

Happily, I was there for the final product.

So do follow the directions, and you will end up with this……

Steaming hot lasagna….

We had this lasagna for dinner tonight. It was DELICIOUS. I am really glad I married a man that cooks (thanks to a mom that taught him). You can only eat TV dinners for so long.

What’s your favorite food?

Little Arthur & The Gang

On November 18, 2011 By AngeliaIn FAMILY5 Comments

As the youngest of four, I was the baby of the family. I had to move fast to keep up with my brothers and sister, if I didn’t, I might get left behind (actually that happened at a grocery store).

We were country kids that played in the fields, and walked a mile to the quickie mart. Mom demanded respect, manners, and kindness to animals, but most of all – don’t ever embarrass her.

I had to endure nicknames as a child. I think Brat was my first one, but my second, Little Arthur. It kinda stuck. Don’t ask, I have no idea.

My brothers christened me with that name when we were out in the yard playing fumble football. You know….the game where whoever grabs the ball gets tackled? Yeah, I never had the ball. If I did……I fumbled. Heh.

My sister is the oldest- back row. My oldest brother is on the left, and then my other brother on the other end. His daughter stands next to him. And Mom in the middle.

Mom – mother of four kids about 9 years apart. She had us all in her twenties. Phew! I get tired just thinking about that.

This picture was taken last month during a visit to Oklahoma. It was the first time we have all been together in a year (and last year was only because of my wedding).

It’s really hard to get everyone in the same town, which is why we don’t have many pictures as adults.

My sister lives in Houston. I’m in Dallas. One brother is in Tulsa, and the other is the only sibling that stayed in our hometown. We all work full-time and have kids to keep up with.

I had to capture this rare gathering for my mom. Unfortunately, I forgot my tripod. The camera was a little helter skelter on the picnic table – just barely hanging on.

But we got it.

From left to right – Jay, Little Arthur, Mom, Deedy, Laney, and Lonnie.