"It's the Holiday season..."

November 30, 2011: I am thankful that December is here come a few hours. Even though this might be the busiest time of year, I like to try to take it all in. I like to enjoy the time with my family and friends. I love the advent season. Two of my favorite books are "The handmaid and the Carpenter" and Two from Galilee." After reading these two books, I really felt like I knew Mary and Joseph. That I was placed in that time. When the movie "The Nativity Story" came out, I was captured by it. I get that overwhelming feeling of joy, happiness, gratitude when I think that God sent his son to this world to save us from our sins. That this plain, simple girl was chosen to bring Jesus to millions of people. Yes, I love the decorations, lights, trees, family time, giving of gifts, but I am most thankful for the nativity.

Electronic love

November 29, 2011: I'm so thankful for technology and electronics. It is so nice and a luxury that I try not to take for granted to have an iphone that is so useful at times :)
I can remember when my mom only had one of these in our car for emergencies:

Now I have one of the "smartest" phones there is:

I remember when we had one of these:

Now we have one of these and these:

I am very thankful for the electronics in the running world as well!

I remember having one of these:

And now I have one of these and I LOVE IT:

What are some of your favorite electronics?

Because it is still November...

November 28th, 2011: I'm thankful for the sweet little children that I teach and the fun thanksgiving activities we got to do the week before Thanksgiving break. Here are some of them!

The thankful turkey craft that we did for centerpieces for our school's Thanksgiving feast.

 The pilgrims invaded our cabin!

He forgot to put the hair up closer to the hat..oh well, he looks cute with those thick sideburns :)

Happy Monday, Y'all!

Happy Thanksgiving (a few days late)

November 24, 2011: I'm thankful for so many things today. I'm thankful for all the things I've posted. I'm thankful that I get to spend this Thanksgiving with my parents, brothers, and hubby's parents, sister in law and brother in law.

I also am thankful for these yummy recipes that I put together Wednesday night to have on Thanksgiving!

Crock pot scalloped potatoes

2lb. frozen southern style hash browns. (cube ones)
1 stick butter melted and mix in hash browns
1/2 c. chopped onions
2 c. cheddar cheese
1 pint sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 tsp salt and pepper
mix well
2 c. crushed cornflake crumbs and 1/2 c. melted butter. Mix
Pour over potatoes.
Cook 350 degrees for 55 min or Crock pot High for 4

Sweet Potato Casserole

Oven temperature: 350  Time: 1 hour
1- 40 oz sweet potatoes (drained)
1 stick of butter
1 tablespoon of vanilla
2 tablespoons of sugar

Mix all ingredients above with mixer on low until textured like mashed potatoes. Put in 9x13 greased dish. 
Topping:
1 cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup of flour
1 cup of chopped pecans
1/3 cup for melted butter

(Mix well with spoon until all moist then put on top of potatoes)

Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

1-prepared graham cracker pie crust
1-8 oz. pkg. Philadelphia cream cheese
1-8 oz. container Cool Whip
1-15 oz. can Pumpkin
1 cup and 1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar
2-4 serving size boxes of instant vanilla pudding
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger if desired.

Mix with electric mixer until creamy:
Softened cream cheese
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar
Fold in 1 1/2 cups of cool whip
Spread on bottom of pie crust

Mix with wire whisk (will be thick):
Pudding mix
spices
1 cup milk
pumpkin

Spread over cream cheese mixture
Chill for at least 2 hours
 Top with remaining cool whip if desired.

Some pictures from our Thanksgiving day:

November 25, 2011: I'm thankful to get to spend some time with my momma shopping today. We got a lot of great deals and didn't leave our house until 10 am :) I'm not big on lines and crazy people. We also got to go to Arrington Vineyards to see the beautiful views!

November 26, 2011: I'm thankful for unseasonably warm November days! It was 73 in Nashvegas today!

November 27, 2011: I'm thankful for one more day of break until I have to go back to school.

Taking care of my sick hubby today. Pray he feels better soon!

Thanksgiving Eve

November 23, 2011: I'm thankful for the yummy recipes I'm following tonight to prepare for tomorrow!
You'll have to wait until tomorrow for the recipes and pictures :)

Happy Thanksgiving, almost! :)

Blog friend

November 22, 2011: I'm thankful for all the people I've virtually met through blogging. I am very thankful that I started blogging in January of 2010 to track my half-marathon training on my old blog. It is still there and I love to look back on it from time to time, so if you are a new reader and would love to see my progress through my first couple half-marathons, check out half marathon trainee :) I started this blog that use to be titled "My life in Pictures" around February of 2010. I changed the website and name to Teach.Run.Love  this past spring and love that I have a one stop shop for blogging. I love to still write about my runs, I try to write fun things I find about teaching or things that I've done in my classroom, but mostly I write about day to day life and things I love!

I'm so thankful for all your sweet comments and that you read/follow my blog! I sometimes don't do a very good job of commenting but I do read your blogs!

Today was a great day, I got to run outside (for a mile) then I chickened out because it looked like it was going to storm, so I finished on the treadmill. BORING! I cleaned a bit, got ready and my MIL and I went shopping in Murfreesboro! SIL joined us this evening and then I'm finally home, enjoying a movie with the hubby!

One of my most favorite movies! And I've actually been to Serendipity 3 in NYC!

Happy Tuesday, Y'all!

Thanksgiving week

I'm so sorry I've been slacking on the posts every day. I haven't been at my computer until now and have been posting on my iphone. That is not optimal using blogger.com on the iphone. They need to make an app. Anyways...
November 20, 2011: I'm thankful for family dinners. Whether it is after church on a Sunday afternoon with just me, Derek, Kenzi and Josh, or with friends who are practially our family. Whether we are visiting family in WV or OH. Or my favorite, (which will happen in a few short days) have a family Thanksgiving feast with both mine and hubby's families. All together, not having to split up time with each family at their designated homes. Together is my favorite!

November 21, 2011: I'm thankful that I get a whole week off for Thanksgiving this year. It is a much needed time of relaxation and if only I could sleep in a bit, but it's raining this morning and will probably rain all day, so it will be a great day to get some chores done, maybe a little grocery shopping, and a lot of relaxing!

Have a blessed Monday!