signed, sealed, delivered...

With a thump on the doorstep, his dream has come true...
And the grin on his face made my heart leap and laugh.

It turns out, by winning this contest, Eric will receive a package every month... right from Honey Baked Ham. But it isn't always ham... which makes me happy! This month? Prime Rib. And it was... delicious.

Again... thank you for being such dedicated friends and voting for his contest entry. You have made his year. Seriously.

some housekeeping...

I love my house... and I love when it is clean and there is nothing to do but lounge on the couch and admire it. But that doesn't happen very often. I am not shy about admitting it... which is why my dear friend Suz gave me this for my birthday...

Can't read it?
Bad HouseKeeping Fairy
Nature abhors a vaccuum and so do I.
I actually don't mind vacuuming... it is just picking up the stuff on the floor to vacuum! But I kind of love the flip side of the keychain best. It says...
Live each day as if it was your last... which is why I have no clean laundry! Who wants to spend the last day of their life doing laundry?

So... the ham. I just cannot believe how many people were supporting Eric on his Honey Baked Ham for a Year quest. Thank you. So many people have told me I voted every day! But apparently he didn't win. Not even an honorable mention! But I just wanted to thank you for voting. It meant the world to me!

And now... for the winner of the Jesus Calling Devotional by Sarah Young. Congratulations to Ruby Red Slippers from Lions, Tigers & Boys Oh My! Have you ever popped on over to her blog? Her three beautiful boys keep her on her sparkly red toes. It is always a pleasure to visit her... for a movie, a recipe or a craft... or just a bit of her heart!
So...if you didn't win? I would highly recommend seeking this book out. The devotions are short reads and with a couple bible verses. Short, easy... and a huge blessing to your heart.

Okay... one more thing, or two! I recently received two bloggy awards from two great people! So, thank you. The first one is from Michelle at Graceful. (Check her blog out! Words of wisdom & beautiful photos!) And she thought of me when she passed out this gratitude award. The second is from Cassie at In Amazing Graceland. (Check out her blog, too! She has dogs and a super husband, as well as a beautiful heart!) This superior scribbling award has more rules than I could practically bear to read, but I am honored that she scooted it my way! I am not typically a rule breaker... but I think I am going to break away from them... just a bit.

The Gratitude award goes to...

Jenn at Randolph Six. She makes me smile! And her kiddos are beautiful!

Kelli at Joy. I smile there, too... and her littlest reminds me of Laura.

Dawn at Good Life. Our lives are eerily similar!

Richella at Imparting Grace. I love her heart and her honesty.

And I'm sending the Superior Scribbling award to...

Elizabeth at Boy Crazy. She is always looking for the clarity... and she helps me see it!

Erin at Together for Good. I love to laugh with her and her goofy sweet kids! And her faith in the down times inspires me.

Michelle at Graceful. She makes me really think. And she wrote a book!

Jo at Mylestones. Her photos of Maine bring me back to New England and her words are often a song to my heart.

And, since it is Martin Luther King Day, I will share this quote from him that made me smile...
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

And thank you... for all of the sweet things you wrote about my birthday girl.  She had a fantastic day and was so exhausted by the end of it that she headed to bed just after 7pm. 

like he needs more ham...

I cannot imagine more ham than was already in our fridge last week... but here we go, trying for more! Well... not we. He. Eric has entered his photo into a contest... for Honey Baked Ham for a year! If you have the heart to help him... would you please vote? You can vote once a day from now until January 8th.
Here is the link...
Honey Baked Ham Contest
His entry is called CCSO Estates Shift Christmas Dinner.

I could say you are the best... but I think you already know...

i think he might have a problem...

This is the view from my refrigerator door.
Do you know what each of those bags contain? How about a closer look...

I think it is official. My husband has a problem. Does anyone have the phone number for HoneyBaked Ham Intervention?

Seriously? It is his absolute favorite. While he loves all things HAM, just the thought of a HoneyBaked Ham has him over the edge... and drooling on the floor. He has been known to send those HoneyBaked Ham people e-mails. You should... Why can't you... I would love it if you... Yeah. I'm sure they love it. Now that I think about it, they might even have his photo up on the wall at headquarters... as in beware of the stalker. I actually haven't heard one of their singing ads this year... unless you count my kids singing it from memory. I'm Dreaming of a Hammmmm Christmas or Ham-ham-ham, Ham-ham-ham, Ham Ham All the Way... I have searched for recordings of the jingles, but to no avail... If you have them, please send them. I would be the Christmas Ham Hero!

Okay, confession time. All of those hams in our fridge? We are storing them for the cops. Eric graciously volunteered to plan a Christmas meal for each shift in his district with funds from their soda kitty. And you know when you volunteer you get to pick! So this week... the men & women who work to protect us will be dining on "the most perfect meal for any, I mean EVERY occasion." (Yes, a direct quote from my husband!)

And the best part? I don't have to eat a single one! (At one time HAM was on my list.)