Long Distance Information get me Memphis, Tennessee!

December 28

After a restful night in Nashville, we packed up and headed to Memphis. On the way-at Exit 143 we stopped off at Loretta Lynn’s Kitchen for a country buffet. It was delicious and blew my thoughts of starting my cleaning eating plan today out the window…maybe tomorrow? Who goes on a diet, or new eating plan, while on vacation?

With Uncle Brody's help, Cam traded in his fedora for a cowboy hat.

I mean...

             who goes to Nashville and doesn't wear a

Cowboy hat?

Cassidy and Cam highly recommend that the next time you

are on Highway 66 heading toward Memphis....

Stop by and give Loretta's Kitchen a try!

Clancy's ready to head to Memphis....and so am I!

We arrived at our destination…down at the end of Lonely Street on Elvis Presley Blvd…It’s Heartbreak Hotel! I love the décor. I love the desk clerks dressed in black. I love everything about the Heartbreak Hotel. The Christmas tree is still up and of course everything is still Christmas here. Elvis fans know that Elvis kept Christmas Decorations up at Graceland until after his birthday on January 8.

Across the street is Graceland…all lit up and the nativity scene in front of the mansion. It is the same nativity that Elvis placed there for 20 years while he lived at Graceland. Christmas was one of his favorite times of year at Graceland and when you look at the property, you can understand why.

We went to dinner at Marlowe’s. A family-owned Barbeque place on Elvis Presley Blvd. It is one of our favorite locations to dine at when we come to Memphis. Usually  you meet or at least see someone who knew Elvis at Marlowe’s. It is a favorite hangout of some of his acquaintances. We have met an author Sandy Picone who wrote the book “Growing Up on Elvis, Elvis, Elvis” and we saw a guy that knew Elvis and the West cousins. His mom and one of the West Boys mom’s owned a daycare together back in the day. You can also find Elvis collectible items in their gift store. This summer I found a book written by Vester Presley (Elvis’ uncle) and it is autographed!

While staying at the Heartbreak Hotel, you must dine at Marlowe's. It is a family-owned barbecue restaurant where some of Elvis' old aquaintances still hang out!

Just pick up the pink fuzzy phone in the lobby...wait til someone answers and tell them what time to pick you up in the pink limo!!!

                  Yeah I think Brody is on girl overload...but wait til he tastes the ribs at Marlowes...

He Be Smilin'

Cam highly recommends the baked potato.....

We worked really hard trying to keep Cam awake so he would sleep well tonight. We hope to check out the Gibson Guitar Factory and Sun Studios tomorrow if the weather will cooperate. It’s pretty cold here. 

Christmas Vacation!!!!

 December 27, 2013...

Today we left for Nashville. We had originally planned for Eddie, Clancy, Cassidy, Cade, Cam, Brody and myself to make the trip. It was our Christmas present to the kids to spend time together in a fun and exciting place. Of course things never go as planned, Eddie felt like he couldn’t leave his responsibilities at home and work. Cade, who hasn’t taken a vacation in three years, had to stay in town because the other investigators were out of town hunting down with the flu. Sooooo it ended up being me, my three babies (they will always be my babies) and my smallest baby-Cam! A little disappointed that everyone wasn’t able to make it, but excited to be going, we loaded up and headed to Nashville.

After an enjoyable lunch at the Hard Rock Café, we toured downtown and then headed to the Days Inn 

to give Cam a little time to unwind and empty out our car.

We found the famous Blue Bird Café. It is in a tiny strip mall with very little parking, so we just took a picture and headed to check out the lights at the Grand Ole Opry House and Opry Mills. Cam loved the Merry-go-round at the mills. He tried to climb out of Clancy’s lap and crawl to the Merry-go-round! Lolli and C rode with him, one of us on each side. He held on for dear life and his eyes were as big as saucers. He loved it!

Back to the Days Inn for a good nights rest. Tomorrow we will head to Graceland. I hope I can sleep!!!!!

CHRISTmas....Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Welcome to Mudd Manor...

Wanted to share a few Christmas memories.

Come in and join me :)

Mantle in our Living Room decorated with a vintage feel....

Our foyer was taken over with poinsettias this year....

Uncle Todd (aka my little brother) helping Cam open presents at our parent's house....

Cam enjoyed his first Christmas! My parents (His Nana and Papa) got him this wagon and he had fun getting rides around the living room.

This was our Annual Christmas Breakfast at my daughter's house with Cam and "C" taking time out for a mug shot!

 Christmas began on Monday night with a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee to spend time with our son Brody. His Grandparents, Parents, Sisters, his nephew Cam, and Aunt and Uncle made the trip across the Dragon to spend the perfect Christmas with our boy!

 Cam was so excited about his first Christmas! He has so many family members that are so inlove with that beautiful smile! We love him so!

 Monday morning Cam and "C" getting ready to head to Knoxville and see Uncle Brody!

Can't go to Knoxville and not eat at the Red Lobster! Clancy and Brody smile....

Cousins at Mamaws...Clancy, Kate and Elizabeth! Beautiful girls.....

Of course Santa had cookies and milk at Lolli and Pops!

Kitchen Tree and Mantel...

This year I finally did it! I had an Elvis tree in my Elvis room. I even decorated the window to look like Gracelands! I love the Elvis theme going on in here. Leaving the 27th of December for another trip to Heartbreak Hotel...down at the end of Lonely Street across from Graceland! Merry Christmas Phillips' Family!

Learning everyday....

Lessons learned the week before CHRISTmas 2013…..

As I look back over the past week I wonder how did I possibly make it through the week? I ask you one question-Why do we push ourselves so far and so hard that we become so exhausted and so mindless that we are no earthly good to anyone?

That would have to describe last week for me. I am totally exhausted and I still have so much to do. Being a teacher at Robbinsville Middle School has so many rewards, I think we have about 180 students….so I will start with 180 rewards J Our kids are such a joy. The week before Christmas, we really spend most of our time just trying to keep the kids from consuming too many sweets and keeping them in their classrooms. They are excited about getting out for Christmas break. They are excited about dressing in ugly Christmas sweaters, wearing jingle bells and elf costumes, Mr. Knott dressing up like Frosty the Snowman, Mr. Luther in antlers, playing games in class instead of the usual assignments, and mostly…they are excited about Winter Formal.

Wednesday night we had dressed rehearsal for our CHRISTmas Play at Church, and it went off well…I won’t say without a hitch, but I think we will be ready come Sunday night. The kids have worked really hard and they are doing a musical, lots of talented kids singing and the true meaning of CHRISTmas! Can’t wait! This year my grandson Cam (8 months) will be a donkey in the manger scene which makes the play extra special.

Thursday morning, our RMS Office Manager and myself prepared our Annual Staff Breakfast complete with gravy, biscuits, sausage, bacon and eggs!

Thursday night, our seniors had to present their oral presentation to a panel of judges from the community for their final grade in their three part senior project. Clancy, being a senior, had to present hers. I always judge the presentations, so I was there to give her moral support! I was placed in the classroom that judged the food presentations since I teach family and consumer sciences…what a tough job! The first student presented us with homemade chocolate chip cheesecake and homemade yeast rolls! Next we were challenged to decide which barbeque sauce was best…of course the smoked barbeque was placed on a bun and we were given three regional sauces to taste! Then we were given a break to GO EAT A CATERED DINNER! I’m serious! After our dinner break, we had two more presentations…which included an orange cupcake and four individual sized cakes that were decorated by the student! What a night! The food was wonderful, but I have to say of all the years I have judged presentations, this group of students really had their presentations together! And….Clancy made a 6 (the highest grade you can make) on her presentation!

Then came Friday, we got out early and everyone began getting ready for the Winter Formal! Of course Mrs. Phillips is a chaperone! The kids had so much fun and I always enjoy watching them dance and play around. You remember Middle School ...

Lessons I have learned this week

            This week my school held a Project Unify Christmas Challenge Wreath Contest. Each first period was asked to create a homemade wreath that promoted unity and acceptance. Promoting our belief that all students are unique and special.

            The Martha Stewart Wannabe in me decided to let each student in my first period class decorate a gingerbread man and then make a wreath from the gingerbread men for our door showing our differences and similarities and unified together on our wreath. The idea was awesome. I was excited. My students were excited as well.

            Baking the cookies was the easiest part. I baked them myself because it takes so long to let 21 students bake a cookie in a one kitchen classroom.

            The next task was allowing each student to decorate their own cookie. The kids were excited and we had lots of different looking cookies-which was what we were hoping for.

            Next I cut a ring from cardboard and after the cookie decorations dried, I hot glued cookies to the ring. This took time and many many glue sticks to complete.

            We were pleased with the final product. I asked some of my artistic first period students to cover my door with green bulletin board paper. Of course this task was a challenge when students began cutting around the door knob and window, so the results were less than perfect-which was perfect for our theme”unique”.

            We decided to embrace our challenge and placed bandaids on the imperfect door patches and continued our theme. We wrote “We’re not perfect but we are all special” and each student wrote their name on the door. We were proud of our wreath.

            We did not win, but we had fun and we have a neat door to remind us that we worked together and made something we are proud of-not perfect-not a winner, but as special as each student the door represented!

I was reminded this week of how important it is to hold our tongue and control our temper when we get upset with someone we love. This is the time of year when it is easy to become stressed or overwhelmed by our to do lists......

This week I saw someone I love more than words could express hurt by unnecessary words that I know were not meant. BUT they were said and they hurt. Words cannot be undone. When they leave our mouths they go into the atmosphere and what I have found, unfortunately from experience, is that they never completely die. They are always lurking behind the corner, under the couch, or in the cabinets and they return. Long after we have forgotten what we said and forgiven our friend, they are still out there waiting for a chance to strike. Satan knows he can use them so he stores them up and opens that can of hurt, anger, jealousy or disgust and he will use it whenever and wherever he can! Let's rob him of some of that ammunition this year and learn to hold our tongues!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!!!

1 John 1:1-5
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all!

He is light in a world of darkness...May you see His light shining brightly in the lives of the saved by grace!

Thankful Thanksgiving filled with Love and Blessings!

Thanksgiving was amazing! Maybe the best I have ever experienced. My husband, my children, my grandson, my parents, my brother and sister and my son-in-law and his family all together to enjoy the blessing of God! We missed my husband's mom and sister and family-they traveled to Florida to be with some of our other family members, but it was such a wonderful holiday filled with snow, food, shopping, games, movies and just being together with as a family :)

Clancy, Brody, Cassidy and Cam......