O Happy Day!!

It was a day to celebrate Kate and Jack having made their decisions to take their stand and take the plunge!

Jack and the tailgate of a pickup truck had an unfortunate meeting.

So glad his eye wasn't injured.

There is always a bit of a wait before something good.

Ready to go!

Amy's family

and we stayed for the luau following the service. Food, fun and fellowship for all.

Lots of watermelon

and face painting.

Spring Things!

It is the first mild day of March:

Each minute sweeter than before 

The redbreast sings from the tall larch

That stands beside our door.  

–William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

A friend posted the above little poem this morning on Facebook which brought to my mind the scripture from the Song of Songs. 

"Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. 

The flowers are springing up, 

the season of singing birds has come, 

and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. 

The fig trees are forming young fruit, 

and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.

Song of Songs 2:11-14a (NLT)

These white fluffy Bartlett Pear trees are everywhere.

Heart Shaped Daffodil cluster 

The pee-oh-nies are popping up out of the ground and

I am hoping they will look like this again this year.

Spring has pretty much sprung in our area, but I realize it isn't officially here and our northern friends are still in winter. I heard the doves calling each other this morning and they have come back to redecorate their nest under our deck.

Last year, the lawn men pulled our Carolina Jasmine off the fence and threw it into the field behind us. So glad to see it say hello to us and welcome Spring from its new location among the weeds.

Our hot tub stopped working at the end of last summer, so I decided the repairs could wait until spring. Well, spring is almost upon us and since it was the next thing on my things to do list, I decided to take the plunge. After finding someone to repair it yesterday, he told me we needed to have the spa full of water so he could test it to determine the problem. Sure, I said, we can do that.

So yesterday we got the hose out to fill 'er up and after it was full, we put the cover down. This morning the repairman showed up and when he lifted the cover, it was empty! Say what? Oh no!! We forgot to put the plug cover on! Gee whillikers. All that water drained out and we had to refill this morning. Talk about feeling really dumb!

Bad new with the hot tub. It's gonna be expensive! Good news at the tax office. We only have to pay half as much as we did last year. Glad that's done. 

We change the time forward tonight. I won't complain today, but I might tomorrow!! Ha!

credit

Tonight is a really big night for us at our church. Kate and Jack said Yes to Jesus and they will be baptized this evening! So thankful!

Weekend Recap

It's been a most enjoyable and productive week for us and others in our life.

First off, my praise report is that my brother turned 60 yesterday and that is a praise because 31 years ago, he was so close to leaving this world, it was quite fearful for all of us. However, we serve a God who hears our prayers and heals our bodies and that is exactly what happened. What a blessing to still have both my siblings with me. I've memorialized our story several times, but here is a shorter version from a couple of years back.

My brother and me

On Friday, my girlfriends and I celebrated the birthday of one of my dearest friends, Victoria. Why we didn't take a photo, I just don't know, but we were enjoying watching the little girls next to us eat spaghetti with gusto. Their parents gave us permission to take these pics. Sweet kids. 

My nephew came home from a three month training and was greeted with this sweet thing!   

And he got to see her try real food for the first time!

Apples and sweet potatoes.

Not sure I like this stuff called food.

Our other nephew, Billy, and daughter, Hunter,

did their second Daddy/Daughter dance.

Are they not adorable?

When I discovered our granddaughter Kate has a heart of compassion for children who go hungry, I invited her to come join me in making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the Feed the City Project at our church. We had such a great time and are hoping it will work out for her to join me each month. This summer, we will find other opportunities to serve together, too.

She made a new friend who also loves Minecraft.

It was a bright, sunshiny day!

Can you believe we put together that many meals on a Saturday morning?

252 people working hard together and having fun at the same time.

Chilling out at the park afterward. I love how our grandkids have a heart of compassion for others and they want to do something to help. This morning at church, the pastor was making the announcements and asking everyone to invite someone to church for Easter services. He mentioned the cards to use listing people we would invite so the church could pray. Jack was down in the floor trying to find a card to write on and when I finally realized what he was doing, I found a card for him. Amy said he wrote six names on the card. Such a sweet thing that a six year old was not only paying attention to what the pastor was saying, but he was trying to do what was being asked! 

And finally, this is funny. Last week I had our carpets cleaned. The young men were very nice and one of them came downstairs to ask me if I had really met the queen! What?? What do you mean? He took me upstairs and pointed to this picture I have on the bookcase. 

What do you think? Would you have been fooled? 

Friday Foto Friends

I realize we are already into the second day of March, but a friend posted this on Facebook and I think it is so sweet and love the little animals.

We have had sooooooo much rain over the past ten days or so. It's just crazy soppy and every time I walk into the back yard, my feet sink into the grass. Last night this little stinker refused to go in the pouring rain and in trying to coax force  her to do so, I slipped and fell on my backside. I confess I was pretty upset and yelled kinda loud. Here is Annie trying to make up with me.

"Please, pretty please can I sit on your lap

even if I wouldn't go outside in the rain and

even if I am a little wet and might even have muddy feet?"

I forgot to record in February a little get-together with these former co-workers. We enjoyed ourselves so much and were wishing we had allotted more time for our visit. Kay, the one with the dark framed glasses and gray sweater, supervised the other three of us in this pic and we gave her fits sometimes, I think. She loved us though, always allowed for grace and forgiveness and I learned much from her about being a servant. She is suffering now with that dread C word, and so we felt it was time for a reunion. A blessed time it was and laughter was hearty and plentiful.

Texas Tulips

Row upon row of beauty

 Looking forward to visiting the Dallas Arboretum soon

Signs of spring around this area of North Texas. I expect to see redbuds any day and daffodils as well.

She is face-timing a little love with her Daddy. Sweet!!

And a little brotherly-sisterly love!

We have been using Hello Fresh for a few months now and I've been saving these small glass jars which they use to supply condiments. Since I'm getting quite a collection here, I asked if anybody had a use for them and got several good suggestions. Some of the ideas were practical, some fun and a couple of funny ones.

• Take off labels. Sand the top and spray paint the lid (outside only) Use E6000 to glue a little knob to the top. Cute little storage container.
• Fill with Coconut oil & oil of choice!
• Party favors, filled with candy.
• If a chap stick breaks, I put it in a jar like that with a tiny bit of coconut oil and 2-3 drops peppermint oil. New lip balm!
• Store different sizes of nails, tacks, things like that in the garage on a shelf.
• Finger paint: Stir 4 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 cup cornstarch together. Add 2 cups of cold water and heat over medium heat until the mixture is thick (the mixture will further thicken as it cools). Divide into four or more containers, and add food coloring as desired.
• Pamela Steiner said she used to keep some to use for salad dressing in my lunch box for work. It held just enough salad dressing for one salad! I also use one for some spices that I mix...homemade Taco seasoning...I don't make a big recipe of it because I don't use it that often, but this little container seemed to work just fine for what I had mixed.
• Barbie sized fish bowl or cookie jar. Haha!!

A beautiful sunrise this morning from a friend visiting Crystal Beach in Galveston.

Leapin' Lizards Hodgepodge

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity?

I think it depends on the day of the week and what needs to be done. Monday was 100% capacity and great accomplishments. Tuesday, we will see.

If not, what % are you? All in all, I think I may be on average operating at 90%. What's keeping you there? Ouch. Fear? Laziness?

2. Have you done your taxes? Taxes are ready for the tax man next week.

Planned/booked a summer holiday? No.

Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'? I continue to think on it.

Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around. Getting the carpets cleaned. One of my goals this year was to have new carpet installed upstairs. Thinking of all the work involved with that causes me to continue my procrastination. 

3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?

Although Tex-Mex, barbecue and chicken fried steak are probably at the top of the list of favorites, for me, it would be chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy with green beans on the side and some fluffy biscuits. Although I must say, my other favorite food would be pinto beans with cornbread, fried potatoes and fresh tomatoes! Yummy! I really enjoy food!

4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

Oh dear, I have to say look before you leap, a leap of faith, and leap at the opportunity have fit me recently. For months I have been pondering and praying about making decisions to replace one or both cars. As it came about, when we took our car in for service, I asked to look at new cars and, before you know it, we bought one!

photo credit

Now for me that was a leap of faith because the decision had been left to me. In the past, DH always made those decisions (with a little of my input). And finally, because of the way the deal was presented to me, it was seen as an opportunity I probably shouldn't pass up. I did consult with a couple of other people, however, now ... I find myself hoping I did the right thing.

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.

That fabulous moon at the beginning of February

An Eastern Bluebird on our back patio

Seeing the movie Wonder

And also The Greatest Showman

Receiving my blog books for last year and looking through them

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Hearing the good report on DH's CT scan was probably the most fabulous thing that I experienced in February. 

It was wonderful seeing all the tributes in the news regarding Billy Graham and seeing him honored by so many different people and their special memories of him and his legacy. I loved Billy Graham because he kept the main thing the main thing. In 2002, I was so excited that he would be coming to Dallas and I entered into the training to be a counselor at the crusade. However, it turned out that our daughter and her fiancé set that weekend for their wedding so I didn't get to be a part of the crusade.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Baby Love (1964)

1) When this song was popular, the Supremes were known for their elaborate hairstyles, make up and full-length gowns. When was the last time you got dressed up?

It must have been for a wedding. Oh my, that's been a while.

2) "The girls," as they were known to the engineers and executives at Motown Records, were Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross. They began singing together when they were high school classmates. Are you still in touch with any friends from your high school days?

Yes, two friends in particular by long distance and many others, thanks to Facebook and class reunions.

3) Mary Wilson was born in Mississippi and her family moved a great deal before settling in Detroit, where she fatefully met Florence and Diana. Were you uprooted often when you were a child?

My family moved as I was entering third grade, which was very exciting to me. Not so much when we moved just as I had entered seventh grade. I was pretty upset about it. 

Or did you spend your school years in the same neighborhood?

My family stayed there until after I was married.

4) The Supremes began as a quartet called the Primettes. In addition to Mary, Flo and Diana, there was Betty McGlown. In 1960, Betty left the group to get married and was replaced by Barbara Martin. In 1962, Barbara left the group to have a baby. They quit trying to replace the fourth voice, soldiered on as a trio, and made pop history. Have you ever found yourself in a position similar to Betty's or Barbara's, where you had to make a difficult decision and choose between your personal life and your career? No. 

5) Thinking of babies and "baby love," is anyone in your life expecting a baby in 2018?

No, darn it! But our nephew and his wife had a new addition to the family just last month. So that counts for 2018.

Londyn joined this happy little family less than a month ago.

But I cannot leave out this precious one who arrived in October, 2017.

 
6) With twelve #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, The Supremes remain America's most commercially successfully recording group, and this song (along with "Stop! In the Name of Love") is one of the most popular karaoke songs. If we handed you the mic this morning and absolutely insisted you perform, what song would you choose (any song, any genre)?

One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus

7) Original group member Florence Ballard left the group in 1967. She died of cardiac arrest in 1976 at the age of 32. Since February is National Heart Month, it seems appropriate to ask: Is anyone in your life battling heart disease?

My husband has the past few years, but thanks to God and our good cardiologist and heart surgeons, he is doing well. So thankful. 

8) Florence Ballard's brother, Hank, wrote Chubby Checker's famous dance song, "The Twist." When did you last dance?

Officially, at the wedding where I dressed up! Lol! Unofficially, at home.

9) Random question: Close your eyes and visualize the most beautiful place you've ever been. Now describe it to us.

Gee, this is a tough question. We have seen many beautiful places. The lush green forests of Hawaii, with cascading waterfalls, the beauty and the majesty of the mountains. Whether it be the Swiss alps, French alps, Rocky Mountains, Grand Tetons and Glacier National Park, trees thick with snow glistening on their branches or dark green in summer or fiery fall colors, with clear pristine lakes are some of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. The quiet stillness in those places is beautiful to me. I don't have enough words. 

America, the Beautiful

for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain.

for purple mountain's majesty above the fruited plain! 

I think America is the most beautiful place.

Although 20 years ago today, we were enjoying our second visit to the Land of Israel!! And I think it is also one of the most beautiful places in the world. So much beauty around the world.

At the top of Mt. Arbel

(Please forgive me ... I may have overused the word beautiful!!! Haha!!)