Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

The new year prompts most of us to make promises and resolutions and pronouncements of better eating, more exercise, etc. I have been sucked into that machine more times than I care to number. Good intentions are just that....good. But, they do not always stick. Guilty.

So, this year, knowing that I desperately need to make major changes in order to enjoy more new years, I have decided to take a different approach. Sure, I would like to lose weight and move more and look better and feel healthy. So, I could announce that I am going to go on a diet and that I am going to train for a 5K. You would encourage me and I would try very hard. I might succeed and I might not. It's happened enough times over the years.

My new approach isn't going to be a revelation to anyone but me. Are you ready for it? I am going to convince myself that Food is Fuel. I have been thinking about it for several days and realize that I see food as so much more than that. All of my life food has been joy, happiness, good times, sadness, comfort, a stress reliever............you name it. If the emotion has a name, I have a food for it!

I am the person who knows her "fuel gage" is sitting closer to full than empty but pulls up to the pump anyway.

I don't do that with my car. I fill it up and run it out. I don't keep going back to the station just to top it off. I wait until I NEED to fuel up. Wow! What a concept. I told you it wasn't profound....well, maybe it is for me. It has taken me 55 years to believe that food is a tool not a crutch.

I am going to work on changing the way I look at food and what it does for me. Today I repeated my new mantra a few (dozen) times whenever I thought about grabbing a snack or a soda. "Food is fuel"- do I need fuel right now or just a walk around the office because I am bored and tired? I know it's just one day, but for today it WORKED for me.

So, I am going to try to only pull up to the

when I really do need FUEL. It's okay with me if you ask me about this.

Christmas 2011

Indulge me a little. We had a wonderful Christmas in the Fletcher household this year. There is nothing better than time with family. Here is a glimpse into our "wonderful life".

I love this picture of my girls. They were enjoying themselves or enjoying making fun of the photographer: DAD!

Aaron and his baby sister.

Blankets made by Aunt Debe and her friend Rita. They were a big hit.

Aaron and Jami

The kids in front of our "ghetto fireplace" as Izaac referred to it.

Izaac and his pal.

Another photo of the girls on the porch.

The original Fletcher five.

Ready for dinner.

And now, some shots of my tree which was decorated by Launi Stokes. She did a great job. I love all the colors she added to the tree.

I hope that your family enjoyed the season as much as we did. I totally forgot to take pictures of the ornament/scripture activity we did before Christmas Eve dinner but this is where I got the idea.

Great Joy!

I hope you are taking the time this season to enjoy the JOY! After all, wasn't that the message?

"Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

As the days countdown to Christmas it seems that a lot of people lose their joy. I see it at work and around town-people are weary, stressed, sad, anything but experiencing GREAT JOY! Why is that? Why, as we draw closer to the day we commemorate our Saviour's birth, do we become less and less joyous?

Years ago I decided to enjoy the Christmas season not dread it. And, I think that is the key-it's a decision. Only you can determine what Christmas will be for you. This year, determine that you will accept the message of joy and let it be the mark of your celebration.

A Perfect Fall Day

We had such a wonderful day. It wasn't spectacular in any way, just good. We didn't have to be anywhere this morning so we could sleep in. I got up at 3:30 and Dennis got up at 5:00! I just woke up and had a bit of a headache so I got up, took meds and laid down on the love seat in the living room. I couldn't sleep so I fixed a wonderful cup of coffee, grabbed a quilt and read. Then Dennis got up. He searched for something on television and then turned it off and napped in the recliner. We spent the next 3-4 hours like that. He napped a little, I read a little and napped some myself. It was heaven-no schedule, no rushing to be anywhere.

After Katie got up (10:30-she has no trouble sleeping in) Dennis and I took a trip to Walmart. It was so much fun just to be together and talk and enjoy the time. Then it was back home to put steaks in the frig to marinate and potatoes in the oven to bake for dinner later.

The weather was perfect-we had the doors and windows open to let in the fresh air. Dennis watched football. I read. Katie watched movies.

Dennis grilled steaks that turned out as well as any I have had anywhere. The potatoes were just right. Another component to our perfect fall day!

Vacuuming and folding three baskets of laundry filled some of the time but it was rewarding to have it done. Dennis is always a big help around the house. He really makes a better housewife than me!

Saturday is the day for a phone call from my sister Rhonda. We laughed and talked and enjoyed our time. Then it was time to start getting things ready for Sunday dinner-making a dessert, peeling potatoes and cutting up chicken. I like to have as much done as possible for Sunday lunch so we can eat soon after church. This is the weekend the kids come over and I can't wait to spend some time with them all.

Everyone is in bed now except me. You might be reading this and think "this is her idea of a perfect day?" Well, yes it is. I love days where the little things remind me that they are indeed the BIG things! I hope you have many days like mine.

Mini NG-ette

This weekend was a special treat. My sisters and I had a little get together at Rhonda's NEW house!

It was great that we were able to find a weekend that worked for all of us. We arrived Friday and the fun began. Rhonda had little gifts each day for us. I received bath stuff, a new bracelet and a silicone baking mat. I can't wait to use the mat on my next baking project. She had prepared a fantastic meal of ham, rice, carrots, homemade bread, and pineapple cheese salad. And, she topped our fantastic meal off with her to-die-for rice pudding. We were spoiled rotten. We had to take a little run to Target because I forgot my clothes! Yes, that's right.........my clothes. I had shoes, jammies and underwear but left my clothes hanging in my closet. I was glad for an excuse to go to Target. Why? Well, every Target trip ends with a stop at the Starbucks. Then, it was back to her house for a fun LATE evening of girl talk. Saturday morning was a real treat. Our cousins Sheri and Paula joined us for breakfast-eggs, bacon, Morning Glory muffins and more pineapple cheese salad. And, if I remember correctly, FOUR pots of coffee. Our little breakfast lasted for almost five hours! We sat around the table, we stood around the bar and back to the table. It was wonderful. We have such great memories to share. After we said goodbye to the girls we were off to shop for wall art for a couple of spots in the new house. That was fun. Well, for us, maybe not for the clerks who helped us. We found something for the wall in her bedroom and for a wall in the bathroom. I even got started on my Christmas shopping. We had Ted's for dinner then rolled ourselves out to the parking lot. Full tummies didn't keep us from stopping at Starbucks, though. Rhonda and I tried the Salted Caramel Mocha Latte. So yummy. We spent Saturday night sharing with one another about things that the Lord is teaching us or taking us through right now. We had the sweetest fellowship during this time. I am so blessed to have such great best friends. It was another late night for us which included a crazy round of snacks after 11pm! Shhhh....don't tell. Sunday morning dawned too soon.......the day to leave one another. We sat outside on her beautiful patio and drank coffee and talked. We packed up and drove over to Interurban for brunch. It was delicious. Those last precious minutes were savored until we had to get in our separate cars, Hugs, tears and wishes for safety and we were on the road. I am so glad that we will be together again in just five weeks for Thanksgiving!

A Fine Line

You would think that after thirty plus years of being a parent I would know what I'm doing. Well, throw that idea out the window.

One of the hardest aspects of this parent/child dynamic is walking the tightrope of caution and protection vs. paranoia and neurosis. I know our desire to remind our daughter of the rules everytime she is going someplace new or crowded or big stems from a deep compulsion to protect her and keep her safe. More often than not,though,we are projecting a spirit of fear onto her.

I struggle with wanting her to be strong and adventurous and independent all while longing to hold her close and keep her from any hurt or harm. I fall off this tightrope more times than I make it across to the other side.

My conclusion: if I approach this in my own strength and wisdom I might as well be working without a net! I am so glad that when I fall it is into His arms. May I teach my three children by example that He is always there and we need not fear.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

One Thousand Gifts 101-115

101. Friends like Justin and Loretta who hosted tonight's fellowship-great food, awesome music and good conversation.


102 The beautiful fall weather.

103. My grandsons.....they are smart and funny and handsome.

104. My silly family and lazy Sunday afternoons.


105. Reminders of how much my friends mean to me-a card, a hug, a text.

106. Holidays from work and routine.

107. That there are only 79 days until Fin and Feather with my family!


108. Seeing prayers answered already in our Moms in Touch group.

109. The power of technology to spread prayer concerns around the world in minutes.

110. Good start to a new school year for Katie.


111. God's hand of protection.

112. The new baby in our family-Eliot Mark Thomas.


113. Tazo tea.....my favorite: Zen

114. All the people who invest in my children's lives.

115. People who care and act and want no credit for their actions.