Thanksgiving is over and not only was it a day to be thankful, but I am thankful for how it went.  In this cold but sunny day, I am so grateful with how the Lord answered my prayers and calmed some odd family dynamics.

I awoke between 7-7:30a.m. and got a batch of fresh herb bread dough going and then prepared and set the turkey to baking.  As my family woke and after they had quick breakfasts of cereal, I set them to working!  lol  All the last-minute dusting, sweeping and toilet cleaning for my mom's inspection - er, uh - I mean, everyone's comfort and enjoyment!    

But we had a great day.  Some friends of ours who have to drive past our home to have their Thanksgiving at some relative's who live 1/2 hour past us came and visited us for about an hour.  I enjoy talking to friends while I cook, it makes the time go faster and more pleasant.  Just after they left, the first of our guests for the rest of the day arrived - a friend of our 2 dd's who has a new baby and our family (and another family from our church) are ministering/mentoring her, and other friend came, too.  Just after they arrived, my family - mom, brother and his girlfriend - came.  I have to say that - THANKFULLY - my brother was on very good behavior and only one quick little attempt at an opposing politcal comment was made but I told him that I didn't want to have those conversations today and (wow!) that was it.  PTL!! 

We had so much wonderful food - truly a feast:  I made the turkey, the obligatory green bean casserole, salad, homemade herb bread, cheesecake, veggies w/my homemade dill dip (better then store-bought, if I do say so myself!  lol), cheese tray and homemade punch.  My mom brought the stuffing, cornbread, mashed potatoes w/sour cream, chives and cheese (!), red velvet cake (homemade!), home-grown corn and sweet potatoes, while my brother brought shrimp and cocktail sauce.  It seems like I'm missing something, but believe me, we DID NOT lack anything good! 

I would also like to tell you all that I am thankful for all of you who take the time to read, to comment and to leave messages and/or e-mail me.  I praise the Lord for the miracle of the internet and the fun of blogs that have brought us together and the friendships made.  You have made such a precious, comforable nest in my heart.

Blessings to you all...

Kim Wolf<><

I am very thankful today for many things. 

I have a roof over my head.  I have heat in this cold New England winter climate.

I have a table full of God's bounty, and I celebrate this harvest.

My family is whole and healthy.  That is HUGE.  I know so many broken families, and quite a few with major health issues.  My family is my biggest blessing.

There are two cars in my driveway, both paid for.

I will be able to buy my children a few Christmas gifts this year.

I live in the free-est country in the world.

I have Jesus Christ in my heart and my life as my Lord and Savior!

I also have a lot going on that would merit complaining, but it's not worth the space for the words.   It's in the Lord's hands.  He remains in control.  I heard something the other day that stuck with me, and IS worth the space for the words: 

There is no such thing as "trust" if we know all the answers!

and...

If we only focus on what God is not doing, we will miss what He is doing.

I wish a happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you all!

Here a few cute Thanksgiving funnies my mom sent me.

Have a blessed day, mj

Thanksgiving is a day to see and share Gods blessing with others.   I love when we sit down to dinner and we each share what we are thankful for, it is such a humbling experience.  I love to hear what others have to say.

For us girls it is a double blessing hubby/daddy cooks dinner!!   Hubby is a awesome cook!!!  I just love my/our day off!!  We do the dishes for him.   I just love hubby's cooking.  He is the one who taught me how to cook.

This year we will be having over my mother-in-law, her hubby my step-father-in-law, hubby's cousin, grandma, and maybe my father-in-law.    This will be grandma's last Thanksgiving.   We all think she is holding on to see this day.  Grandma is looking forward to her grandson cooking her dinner.  Grandma is getting worse every day. She will not be here on earth much longer.

I pray that you all have a blessed day tomorrow.  Please enjoy each other.  Do not let every day trouble be there.  Let it go and enjoy Gods love. 

God Bless you all, mj

Off and on something comes up about my modeling days and some of you will contact me by message or e-mail and ask about it.  I modeled from the time that I was 9 until - literally - days before I married at 25.  I also doubled as a make-up artist from 19 to around 32.  I know...if you know me now you'd think that was impossible!  lol  I often say that I'm rebelling as I've given up the suits and 4" heels for jeans and Burkenstocks!    And I'm MUCH happier now!!

But, I thought I'd share a few of my portfolio pics with you...

This is from my very first portfolio shot in 1969 at age 10.  I had done a couple of runway shows before I even had a portfolio.  I was with this agency until I was 16.

Different agency. This was from 1977, age 18, taken in Downtown Dayton, Ohio.  I always loved location shots and doing commercials.  I really enjoyed the switch on a 'formal' look by going w/a tux instead of a long gown.  I wish I could find a still of the "Arby's Days"...I used to do local Arby's commercials.

This was a fun headshot taken around 1980, age 21.  I actually had a MONSTEROUS stack perm and calmed it down for the day's work!    At this point I was also teaching at this particular agency part-time, working the Clinique counter at a dept. store full-time and trying to have a social life.  I made myself sick and was hospitalized shortly after this was taken.  That's when my modeling started to take a back seat ... my agency was NOT amused.  I wasn't there that much longer and ended up going free-lance, which actually paid more anyway.  So it worked out in the end. 

Well, there's the show.  It certainly seems like looking at a movie of another person's life now, and, in many ways, it is.  I wasn't a Christian until I was 23 and the Lord is SO gracious, forgiving and good to me!  I went through a broken engagement from an atheist, became a Christian in 1982 and married my wonderful Christian husband in 1984.  I am undeserving and grateful!

 As a side note...the last time I modeled were the last 2 months before we married, in 1984, in a wedding series that traveled to about 10 different stores.  The wedding gown I had picked out for our own wedding happened to be in the show and the coordinators let me wear it in the shows in one of my sets!!  My sweet Ty, when he would take me to some of the shows, knew which "bride's maids" walked out before me in the set when I wore my gown and he would lower his head and look at the floor until that set was over so that he wouldn't see me in my gown until I walked down OUR isle.  Wasn't that sweet?  He said that whenever I walked out in that gown the audience would ooo and ahhh and it was a terrible temptation to look.  lol 

So, there you have it.  Hope you enjoyed the journey.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

I found a great deal on a few Christmas gifts.   The coupon mom sent an e-mail out to people about a dinner deal.   The deal was you had to pick out as many restaurants as you would like and buy gift certificates to.  The normal price is $10.00 for a $25.00 certificate.  But the sale price was $2.00 for a $25.00 certificate.  So it ended up that I paid $24.00 for $300.00 worth of gift certificates.  What a deal.   We got them for a nice steak house.

We think it is a nice gift.  We got 2 for Michelle and Gill cost $4.00 for $50.00.   We got 2 for my husbands brother and his wife cost $4.00 for $50.00 .   We got 2 for my sister and her husband cost is $4.00 for $50.00.  We got 1 for our 4-H horse leader as a thank you for all her help, cost is $2.00 for $25.00.  And we have 1 left for $25.00 that cost $2.00.

You guys might want to look into this site of the coupon moms.  We think it is a nice gift to give.   What parents does not like a nice dinner out for free????  And what a deal.  Today we all are trying to save money and still have a nice Christmas.  We did that for a few people.   We need to keep our eyes open to great deals that the family we love.

God Bless, mj

What is wrong with some people??  I am talking about this comment left by someone.

you need to call Gill and his parents yourself. Why are you leaving it up to your DD. Is the man who did this your ex husband? God I hope not!!! How could mother let this happen?

Here is what I have  to say.

1. Is Michelle is a big girl and able to make her own choices.  If she wants to lie more to Gill and his family , so be it.  We all know when you lie too much you can not keep up with them all.  And when they all find out how much will they trust her?    That is why I am leaving it up to her.  If she does some thing stupid to the babies safety we will step in.

2. Yes, he is my ex-husband.  I had to marry him to keep Michelle.  My parents would not let me other wise.  We were separated when she was 1 year old.

3.  How could a mom let that happen??  What the heck kind of comment was that??  It was the California courts that failed her.  The molestation happened when she was on a court ordered visit.  So how was I letting it happen ??  When we found out the police did nothing, the courts did nothing!  I had to take Michelle and My newborn daughter Shayna into hiding until the courts did some thing. My husband spent over a half million dollars over 13 years to keep her safe.  I was in court for 13 years trying to keep her away from him and his family who kidnapped her 5 times.  I did not let this happen to her, I fought my butt off for her!!!  For 13 years I fought. I can not controlled what he did on his visits before he lost them.  As neither could any mom who's ex-husband has visitation with their child.  He had his visitation for almost 3 years before he molested her.   The courts failed to protect her, not me.  He was found guilty of molesting her ,nothing ever happened to him.  His mother was found guilty of kidnapping again nothing.  We could not even redo the restraining order because his mother did not physically harm her( no cuts, broken bones and such), she just mentally harmed her. 

For you who ever you are left such a rude comment. How dare you judge me with out knowing the facts.  I gave just a few now.  If you want to take it out on some one why not the courts??  They did not protect my daughter nor are they protecting the others he is around by NOT having him register as a sex offender. 

Take it up with them!! No me a mom who fought as hard as she could to protect her daughter.  I started in court in 1990, I was done in court in 2003 and half million dollars lighter to boot.

I feel that people should not be able leave anonymous comments.  Sorry for my normal readers if I seem rude , I am just mad. 

Sorry just venting, mj

Let's have a happy Thanksgiving week sale!!!!  When you buy one book, email me and I will send you your choice of a second book for FREE!

Don't you just love FREE?!?

http://candyfoote.com/

Here is our sweet little fella.  He's 3 days in this pic.

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window...Cold, gloomy rain.  But it's quiet and comforting all at the same time.  Makes home seem all the more cozy and warm.