The Cupboard of the Heart

Children's Birthdays!

2012-01-29T10:43:00.003-06:00

My children (and my son-in-law) are having birthdays this winter. They are feeling older and, of course, I am feeling older. However, the truth is that every day that God wakes us up is a huge blessing!

I am so blessed to have my children! They (along with my other family members and especially Leah) have been the greatest blessings of my life.

They are in the best days of their lives - I am in the autumn (or maybe even the winter) of my life. Would I like to do it over again? Yes, and I would try harder to be a better mother and wife. I would spend every moment representing Christ to my children and teaching them about the Lord. Do I have regrets? Yes. Can I do anything about it? No. His grace will have to cover my failures.

Happy Birthday to all my children! Revel in each year. Make each year count for the Lord. Only one life-will soon be past-only what's done for Christ will last.

Love,
Momma

Gettin' in the Mood

2011-12-08T13:19:00.005-06:00

This picture helps me feel "Christmasy."

Very uncharacteristically of me, I just today got my Christmas decorations up in the house. I refuse to take down the Thanksgiving stuff until after November 30 and then I was out of town until December 4. It has taken me all week to put away the old and put out the new. I still don't have a tree, but I am planning to buy one on Saturday and decorate it then.

So I need some Christmas inspiration to get through all the hustle and bustle of this season...the picture of the lights to help with one side of Christmas and this to help me remember what this season is really all about...

Merry Christmas!

I Am Thankful

2011-11-25T12:02:00.003-06:00

I am thankful for my husband, my children, my grandchild, my brother and his family, a legacy of good parents, good jobs, good homes, good health, the love of Christ. I am blessed.

Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life!

2011-11-09T08:42:00.003-06:00

This was a big one - 65! Happy Birthday, Roger!

I Miss My Daddy

2011-11-03T10:43:00.002-05:00

It was a year ago this week that my Daddy passed away. I miss him so much. He was the first man I ever loved and he taught me so much about love and family and the Lord.

He lived his life as a servant of the Lord and was faithful and true to the end. He left a godly legacy to his family.

The Bible says we have a "cloud of witnesses" watching us as we run our race in this life. I believe my Daddy sees me and our family. I hope we make him proud.

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble

2011-10-21T09:51:00.003-05:00

Leah loves turkeys! Every time we see one, she says "gobble, gobble, gobble." So, when we saw this one at Central Market we just had to take her picture with it!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Starting My 60th Year

2011-10-05T09:19:00.003-05:00

Well, here I am - starting my 60th year! What happened to the time?

I remember when my children were both young and in their beds one night - I walked out to the front of the house to check the mail and turned back to the house and thought "these are the best years of my life."

Now my children are grown and married and I have a grandbaby and I think "these are the best years of my life."

I am thankful for my husband, my children (all four of them), my grandbaby, my extended family, my friends, and that even in my "golden years" God has provided me with a purpose for living above and beyond being a "stay-at-home wife." I am thankful that I get to spend so much time with Leah and be an influence in her life, love her unconditionally, and teach her about the Lord. I am thankful that I have a room full of young women at church on Tuesdays who are eager to learn more about being homemakers and being godly wives and mothers.

I made mistakes - I would do anything if I could go back and do a better job of being a wife and mother, but in spite of my failures, God has blessed me and my family and I am thankful to Him for His protection, care, and blessing.

I don't know how many more years or moments I will have here on Earth, but if I could ask just one thing from the Lord it would be that my children and my grandchildren would give their lives to Jesus and walk with Him all the days of their lives.

I pray that after I am gone, my legacy to my family will be a godly one.

Too Hot for Fall

2011-09-05T08:42:00.008-05:00

Usually on September 1st I start decorating my house with some fall leaves and maybe a pumpkin or two...but this year it is too hot to even think about it. I will revisit the idea in about 2 weeks and decide what to do then, but it really upsets me to miss 2 weeks-worth of Fall in my house - it is my favorite season.

Guess I will just have to pretend and look at pictures like this for a while...

Family Vacation 2011

2011-07-17T14:37:00.001-05:00

We are back home from Family Vacation 2011 and a good time was had by all! We went on a Caribbean cruise to Costa Maya, Cozumel, Honduras, and Belize. It was hot, but fun.

The best part about the vacation - Ryan and Chelsa didn't have to go back to Chicago after it was over!

Father's Day

2011-06-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the wonderful fathers in my life...my Daddy...

...my husband...

...and my son-in-law, Leah's Daddy...

Fathers are so vital to a family, for leading a family in the ways of the Lord, for protecting the family from evil and from the world, and for providing for the family in material ways. We have been blessed to have some of the best.

This is my first year without my Daddy and I miss him, but I know he is in the presence of the Lord. Happy Father's Day to all our Daddies!

Thank You, Veterans!

2011-05-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

My Daddy was in the Army during World War II...

...so was my Uncle Hollis...

...my husband was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War...

...and his brother, David, was in the Marines...

...our nephew, Chris, was in the Navy...

Thank you to all our veterans for your service and for your sacrifice for us and our country to preserve our freedoms!

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T14:09:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with all my children in town for the first time in 10 years!

Thank you, Allison, Justin, and Leah for hosting the party and for the cute flip flops and Ryan for bringing the dip and chips and Chelsa for hurrying home from Dallas to be there for me.
I am so blessed!

Easter

2011-04-30T10:19:00.000-05:00

This was our first Easter with Leah Rose! We had breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Brookwood...

...and we went to church to celebrate what Easter is REALLY ALL ABOUT - He is risen! Then we had lunch at our house with our whole family and some friends. This was the first Easter in 10 years that Ryan and Chelsa were with us - yeah! And this was the first Easter that we did not have Daddy with us - we miss you, Daddy! It was a good day of faith, family, and friends.

He is risen - He is risen indeed!

A Joy-Filled Year

2011-04-12T09:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Leah Rose!

What joy God has brought into my life through you! I pray that the Lord will watch over you physically, mentally, and spiritually and that you will walk with Him all the days of your life.
Nana loves Leah!

Joy-Filled Days

2011-04-10T20:44:00.000-05:00

Ryan and Chelsa are home! The moving van will come this week and they will be settling in at their new apartment. I am overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness to the Lord for doing this wonderful thing for our family...

...and our family and friends celebrated Leah's first birthday on Saturday - we all had a lot of fun...

...ok, she threw up later, but she still had fun eating cake.
What joy-filled days these have been. Thank You, Lord.

You Can Come Home Again!

2011-03-18T08:25:00.000-05:00

After being far from home for more than ten years, I am thrilled to announce that Ryan and Chelsa are moving back to Houston! Chelsa has a new job and Ryan will continue in his job, working from home. They have found an apartment very close to our house and should be here by Easter. We are all looking forward to getting to know them again!

"...I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten..." Thank you, God!

Happy Birthday to My Babies!

2011-02-01T20:30:00.001-06:00

35 and 29 - time flies!

You both have been my greatest joys in this life!

My Wish

2011-01-07T08:49:00.000-06:00

I wish there was just one New Year that I didn't have to make "lose weight" one of my resolutions. I am so sick of having fat years and skinny years. I wouldn't even mind if I just had all "a little chubby" years. I hate to diet - I love food - choosing it, cooking it, eating it. However, I refuse to buy any bigger clothes, so once again my resolution is to lose weight. I will let you know how I do......sniff.

Home For Christmas

2010-12-14T13:06:00.000-06:00

I love that Christmas song "I'll Be Home For Christmas" - Some years I am thrilled because all my children will be home for Christmas. Some years I am sad because Ryan and Chelsa won't be home at Christmas. This year as I was singing along on the radio with that song I realized something-----my Daddy is Home for Christmas this year! Well done, good and faithful servant.

The Cycle Of Life

2010-11-26T09:45:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Thanksgiving - the first one I have celebrated without my Daddy in 58 years. I missed him. But God is good and He gave us a new little life to celebrate with this year - Leah Rose. Here are some pictures of her first Thanksgiving...

We are in a season of mourning, but we do have much for which to be thankful. Praise the Lord who is so faithful to us!

Daddy

2010-11-07T21:27:00.000-06:00

Rest in peace, my sweet Daddy...

We will miss you, but we will see you again! Love, Sissy

Kisses From Leah

2010-10-25T20:35:00.000-05:00

I took Leah shopping last week and was carrying her and walking around and all of a sudden she turned toward me, grabbed my hair with both hands (ouch) and proceeded to "kiss" me all over the lower part of my face. She went back and forth, slobbering and drooling all over me - at times actually sucking on my cheek - all the while holding me by the hair with both hands. It was fabulous! The next day she did it in Whole Foods and today she did it while I was holding her in my chair and my camera was nearby - check it out...

I can't think of anything more precious. I am loving every minute I spend with her.

Seems Like Yesterday...

2010-10-12T20:20:00.000-05:00

Six months! I can't believe it!

Thank You, Lord!

Staying Young

2010-10-07T17:11:00.000-05:00

I have had another birthday recently and although I am another year older, I have lately had the privilege of caring for my granddaughter who is almost 6 months old. I have discovered a few muscles that I had forgotten that I had and I am sure tired at night, but having her in my life has given me a new purpose - if only temporarily. Of course, I wish and pray that my daughter would be able soon to stay home with her and experience and treasure the moments with her, but until that happens I want to make the most of my time with her.

I was never close to either one of my grandmothers. I loved them and I was around them often, but I never really spent much time with them one-on-one. My fear is that one day Leah - whose birth was one of the most joyous occasions in my life - will think of me as that old woman that my Mother makes me visit and hug at holidays even though she smells funny.

Today when I took her to meet her Daddy, he said he looks forward to her smile when she sees him in the afternoon. I feel the same way about the smile I get in the early morning. Roger looks forward to seeing her every morning also.

I haven't sung any songs or quoted nursery rhymes to anyone in a very long time. I caught myself actually looking forward to taking her to see a Disney movie. I can't wait to take her to the zoo and the park. I am looking forward to seeing her open her Christmas gifts.

I am feeling some aches and pains, but I think my upper body strength has improved and I know I am thinking more about kid stuff and less about how old I am getting.

Who needs Botox when you have this...

I Never Met a Pumpkin I Didn't Like

2010-09-21T16:27:00.001-05:00

Fall is my favorite season of the year! This picture makes me hyperventilate...

I love the shorter days, the cooler temperatures (?), the leaves turning beautiful colors, and the pumpkins.......I love pumpkins! I love to decorate my house for Fall. I start with the leaves in September and then work my way up to the pumpkins in October and then add the turkeys and Pilgrims in November. My daughter said it looks like The Great Pumpkin threw up all over my house. I can't help it -- I love Fall.

My children and I have carved pumpkins every year for as long as I can remember--it was a special tradition in our family. When they were very little, I would carve the pumpkin. But when they got older, I would get each of us a pumpkin and let them carve their own.

When my kids were all gone, I missed carving pumpkins with them....
Then, my daughter became a third-grade teacher....and one day she came home and asked me if I would carve a pumpkin for the third grade to enter into the pumpkin-carving contest! I was thrilled! Her school mascot was the tiger so I carved this pumpkin with the tiger on one side and the name of the school and the year on the other side...

I got second place ------- I was robbed!
Anyway, life goes on....but this year I look forward to carving a pumpkin with my granddaughter. I know she will only be 6 months old then, but you have to start sometime. I know her mother will make a pumpkin with her, too, but Nana has a tiny, special one in mind.....

Falling In Love

2010-09-12T12:40:00.000-05:00

Today is my granddaughter's 5-month birthday.

I have never been in love like this before.

I have discovered that love for a grandchild is a different love than you feel for your own children. I adore my children--they are the greatest joys in my life--but just like a person feels a different kind of love for their children than they do for their husband or their parents or their friends, grandparent love is different. Looking into the eyes of your baby's baby is a very special experience.

I don't have to be so concerned with the everyday stuff, so I get to just have fun with her, laugh with her, play games, sing songs, spoil her a little...

Of course I DO have one great responsibility and that is to pray for her--which I do--every day--and will for as long as I live. When I am gone, I want her to remember me as someone who loved her unconditionally and who prayed for her to walk with God and have His best for her life. When she remembers me I want her to smile.

New Toys!

2010-09-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

Leah has discovered that God gave her two new toys - her feet! They are always handy and she loves to put them in her mouth...

She also loves for me to take her picture...

...and she wants to play with my camera.
I went on vacation for a week and when I came home I went to see her. I was afraid she wouldn't remember me, but when she saw me she smiled and held out her arms. I melted....

What Are These????

2010-07-21T08:56:00.000-05:00

My granddaughter has found her hands!

How cute is that!!!!!!

I Can't Wait!

2010-06-29T08:31:00.001-05:00

This Friday my family will be off on our "Family Vac" in North Carolina. We have been taking these trips for ten years now and have gone to Colorado, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, and now North Carolina.

This is a very special week for me since we don't get to see Ryan and Chelsa very often because they live out-of-state. We pile Allison and Justin in the back of the Tahoe and strike out on a two-day road trip. Then spend 5 or so absolutely heavenly days in a house together sitting on the porch, talking, cooking, eating, telling stories we've heard a hundred times but still love, playing board games and cards and Wii. And laughing--man, do we laugh! I love that!

This year will be especially interesting with Leah Rose added to the family.

It is like the credit card commercial--
Several hundred dollars for a cabin on the top of a mountain
several hundred dollars for food and beverages
several hundred dollars for gasoline
several hundred dollars for motel rooms and food on the road

FAMILY VACATION -------- PRICELESS!

Leah Rose is Two Months Old!

2010-06-14T09:02:00.001-05:00

We can't believe it has been two months since this angel came into our lives! People used to tell me how much fun grandchildren are, but you just can't understand it until you experience it. Holding your baby's baby is a precious, sweet, moving, emotional experience and I thank God for allowing me to experience it!

Happy Birthday, Leah Rose!

Four Generations

2010-06-05T12:19:00.000-05:00

Allison and I took Leah up to Nacogdoches to meet her Great-Grandmother and Great-Grandfather and her Great-Uncle Bubba, Great-Aunt Susan, and second cousin Kristen. It was her first road trip and she slept all the way going and coming. What a good girl!
Here are the pictures...

I thank God that He allowed my parents to meet her! Everyone loved her!

Tears of Joy

2010-05-31T21:04:00.000-05:00

My granddaughter smiled at me today - a real smile - and I cried and my heart melted...

It truly doesn't get any better than this! Thank You, Lord!

30 Years - I Keep On Lovin' You!

2010-05-19T16:52:00.000-05:00

When I heard this Reba song, I felt like she was singing about me and Roger. Happy Anniversary, Honey...

I Keep On Lovin' You by Reba McEntire

Love takes the patience of Job
That's what my Mama always said
Faith is the belief in something more than what you know
That's what the Good Book says
You gotta play the cards you got
Who knows what fate is holding
At times you gotta go without knowing where you're going

That's why I keep on lovin' you
I keep on lovin' you
Through the baby don't leave mes
And never will agains
And I promise tos
I keep on lovin' you

Lord knows we've had our share of fights
Our sleepless nights, our ups and downs
We've had plenty and then some of baby I'm gones and turnarounds
Sometimes I swear it might be easier to throw in the towel
Someday we're gonna look back
Say look at us now

That's why I keep on lovin' you
I keep on lovin' you
Through the baby don't leave mes
And never will agains
And I promise tos
I keep on lovin' you

Keep on lovin' you
Through the I take it backs...I didn't mean it like thats
I'd never hurt yous...Oh, I keep on lovin' you

I keep on lovin' you...I keep on lovin' you
Through the I take it backs...I didn't mean it like that
I'd never hurt yous...Oh, I keep on lovin' you
I keep on lovin' you...I keep on lovin' you

A Few Precious Moments

2010-05-17T08:33:00.001-05:00

My son was home this weekend...he came home to meet his new niece...

We spent the weekend together just sitting around, talking, watching some tv, of course eating, and taking turns holding Leah. Since Ryan and Chelsa moved away 10 years ago, these times have been few and far between so they are always precious to me.

I understand that my children have homes of their own and spouses and now children, but I still miss them. I can't wait to see them and I cry when they leave. Sometimes I dream about when they were little and I am upset when I wake up from those dreams. I will never stop missing them.

You have a child and you get used to having them with you every moment and then one day they go off to school and you don't have them with you for several hours every day. Then before you know it, they go off to college and you see them about every two weeks for a couple of days. Then they get married and move away to a different state and you only see them twice or three times a year.

I guess it is the natural order of things, but it doesn't make it any easier for me. I thank God that I still have one child close to home and I thank God that I can see her and my granddaughter often. But my heart still aches to see the one who moved away.

Thank You, Lord, for the precious time spent together this weekend.

Uncle Ryan Is Coming To Visit!

2010-05-12T09:59:00.000-05:00

My son, Ryan, is coming on Friday to meet his new niece who is now one month old...

I can't wait for him to get here (I wish Chelsa could come, too, but she is babysitting my granddogs). I look forward to seeing Ryan hold Leah and taking pictures of that - how sweet!

For This Child We Prayed....

2010-05-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

...and the Lord granted us our petition...and we dedicate her to You for her whole life...

God is good! Thank You, Lord!

Happy Mothers' Day, Allison!

2010-05-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

This Sunday is my daughter's first Mothers' Day. It has been a special privilege and gift from God to see my beautiful baby grow into a beautiful woman and then to see her mother her new daughter. She is so patient and sweet to her. I knew she would be a good mother because she has such a loving, kind heart.

Leah is going to be dedicated to the Lord on Sunday morning and this is the best gift any mother or grandmother could receive. We will commit together as a family and as a church to raise her up to know and love the Lord. What a huge commitment!

There is no greater joy than motherhood--and no greater responsibility. We bring our babies into the world and then we teach and train them to grow up and be independent--and leave us. It is the natural order of things. We need to savor and enjoy and remember each moment because in about 18 years they leave home and all we have left are our memories.

Baby clothes and toys and all the "things" of motherhood are fun and exciting, but the greatest responsibility a mother has is to introduce her baby to Jesus and to disciple that child in the ways of God. If we fail at this important job, we have failed as a mother.

I wish I could go back in time and do a better job, but we only get one chance. We do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time. We need to make the most of our time with our children. By God's grace, He does His part and we do ours.

Happy Mothers' Day, Sweet Daughter. I love you, Momma

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2010-05-03T08:28:00.000-05:00

Today my Daddy is 92! So much has happened in his lifetime....a Depression, a World War, a Korean "conflict", Vietnam, telephones, cars, televisions, computers, cell phones...he has seen it all happen. He is a very wise and godly man and I thank God he is my Daddy.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

2010-05-02T10:02:00.001-05:00

30 years ago today Roger and I got married!

Yes, we were both thinner then....It doesn't seem like that long ago except that we have crammed a lifetime into those 30 years. Two children, 4 houses, 3 dogs, 2 parakeets, 12 jobs, 2 lay-offs, countless cars and car repairs, 2 hurricanes, 2 baptisms, 3 churches, 3 graduations, 2 weddings, 2 more children who married our children, countless vacations and celebrations, 2 deaths, and now the birth of our granddaughter. Sometimes days seem long at the time, but when you look back on 30 years it seems like a blink of the eye.

Some years have been better than others....there have definitely been arguments and fights, but even in the bad times we learned something about each other and something more about how to live together as man and wife.

If I could go back and do it all over again, would I? Yes, but I wouldn't change much, just a few things...I would try to do a better job of being a wife and mother. We do what we can with the knowledge we have at the time. Thankfully, God forgives us and we forgive each other.

We would not be together today without our mutual faith in Jesus Christ. I don't know how couples stay together when they don't know the Lord. We also have a mutual love for our family and the belief that family comes first. Nothing and no one is more important to us than our family.

Marriage is hard work - is it worth it? Yes, look at the results so far...

I thank God for the years I have spent with Roger and for all the blessings He has given to me and my family.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3

Milk Drunk!

2010-04-19T21:35:00.000-05:00

Is this cute or what???????

Momma's milk has come in and Leah is lovin' it!
It has been such a pleasure to see my daughter with her new baby. She is such a good mother - I have never seen her so patient in all her life. Her eyes light up when she sees this baby - I know how she feels.....my eyes light up when Allison or Ryan walk into a room. They are still my babies.

Don't blink, Allison...

My New Love

2010-04-16T08:36:00.001-05:00

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3

Home!

2010-04-14T21:52:00.000-05:00

Leah went home today to her beautiful room.....I walked her around and showed her pictures of her family...her Uncle Ryan and Aunt Chelsa, her Mommy when she was little...

Look at all that hair! Thank You, God, for blessing our family!

Our New Granddaughter

2010-04-13T08:01:00.002-05:00

Leah Rose - born yesterday weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces and measuring 211/4 inches...

This was my first moment of holding her and all my friends were right - there is no feeling like holding the baby of your baby!
She is beautiful and perfect and Allison was fabulous and she will be a wonderful mother...

Justin was great and he will be a great Daddy...

Roger and I are thrilled...

I just wish Ryan and Chelsa had been here and the whole day would have been perfect.

She is a baby I have been waiting for and praying for a long time! I thank God for allowing me to experience this and for His blessings on my family - God is good!

She Gets That From Me!

2010-04-01T17:20:00.000-05:00

My daughter (who said she would never blog) started a blog about her baby girl. Here is the link...
http://www.mylittlegreenbean.blogspot.com/
Since I have three blogs of my own, I guess she gets that from me!
Here is the newest picture of my grandbaby...

The doctor says she could be here as early as sometime in the next two weeks - I cannot wait to hold her in my arms.

Cherished Memories

2010-03-20T21:08:00.001-05:00

Awwwww......another baby shower today for Allison and Leah.......so much fun! It was lovely and there were good friends there and she received some really nice gifts.

It was such a joy to me to watch her at each one of the showers....she looks so happy and so excited. It is a special feeling to look over at your daughter, pregnant with your grandchild. I thank God for allowing me to experience this with her.

I wanted to make Leah a quilt and Allison picked out the pattern and fabric for the one in the previous post. But I wanted to surprise her. I had saved quite a few of her baby clothes and I made her a quilt using her baby clothes and dresses from her childhood. Since butterflies has always been her special "thing", of course, I used butterflies in the pattern. Here is the result...

The back...

The label...

I hope she liked it...

It is a quilt I have been waiting her whole life to make. Cherished memories.....

My Third Quilt of the Year

2010-02-27T21:29:00.001-06:00

This quilt is for my grandbaby, Leah Rose...

Her Mommy picked out the pattern and the fabric - I will never make another one just like this. It is a special quilt for a special baby.

Justin's Mom and her close circle of friends hosted a shower for Allison today and we had a wonderful time watching her open all the gifts. She received some beautiful clothes and toys and things you need for babies - thanks, Lori, Donna, Paula, April, and Sylvia!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above..." James 1:17

Happy Anniversary!

2010-02-27T08:35:00.001-06:00

Today is the 34th wedding anniversary of my Daddy and Mom.

They married in 1976 when my Daddy was 57 and my Mom (stepmother, obviously) was 56. I remember thinking that they were too old to be thinking about getting married. Now I am 57 and I don't feel old - most days.

My Mom told me a few years back that when they got married they hoped they would have 20 or 25 years together. Look how the Lord has blessed them!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Daddy!

A Shower Is Predicted For Today!

2010-02-20T09:48:00.002-06:00

Today I am going to a baby shower for my baby who is having my first grandchild! I have dreamed of this day--becoming a grandparent--for as long as I have had children.

When Allison was getting married a few years ago and she got her first wedding gift, she asked me if we could clear off the dining room table and set up a gift table. I said to her, "Are you kidding? I have been looking forward to doing this your whole life!"

It's the same with baby showers - I have always prayed that she would have a baby and would experience the joy that children bring. I pray that for both my children. My children have been my greatest joy in life. I would like both my children to experience this for themselves.

I have several gifts that I made for her that have sentimental significance. I will give them to her today and I hope she will like them. (Since she has seen them now, here they are...)

I look forward to seeing her open the gifts, get them put away for the precious life that will soon be coming. I said to her the other night, "Don't you just love her so much already?" and of course she said yes. But she has no idea--when they put that baby in her arms, her life will never be the same. She will fall madly and completely in love with her. She will reorganize her life to meet her needs. She will sacrifice her time, energy, sleep, wants, and even needs to take care of her. She will pray much more than she does now. And she will never regret one single moment.
Here are some pics from the shower...

Thank You, God, for allowing me and my family to experience this.

A Lifetime Ago Yesterday

2010-02-19T13:31:00.000-06:00

35 years ago today my mother died. I was 22 years old. My brother and I were devastated. She got sick with what the doctor said was a flu and she died a week later from viral pneumonia.

She was not my birth mother, but my brother was a natural child born 19 months after my parents adopted me - surprise! She was the mother who raised me - the only mother I had ever known.

It is hard to lose your mother when you are 22 and are just starting out in your life - getting married, having babies, needing advice. Thankfully, my Aunt Bibby stood in the gap for me and taught me all the things that my mother would have taught me had she lived - how to cook, what to do with a baby, how to take care of my home.

Seems like yesterday when I think of the day Momma died - I still remember how I felt when they told me she had died - but it also seems like a lifetime ago. So much has happened since - I had a baby, got divorced, got remarried, had another baby, my Dad remarried, my brother got married, got divorced, got remarried, had two children....

Life goes on, but on this day we remember Momma...

...may she rest in peace.

How Cute Is This????

2010-02-19T08:37:00.000-06:00

I Love Butternut Squash

2010-02-12T07:42:00.000-06:00

My daughter told me last night that Leah is a butternut squash this week. I like that much better than an eggplant.

It is hard for me to grasp that she will make her appearance to the world in less than three months. I can't wait to hold her in my arms. I can't wait to see Allison hold her in her arms.
Much that I have done and said will become clear to Allison after Leah is born. I am looking forward to this as well. All those times I panicked when I couldn't find her in the store...every time I said to her "be careful" or "call me when you get there"...nights I stayed up waiting for her to come home...all the advice I have given her over the years...all the warnings I have given her about being careful in parking lots, not staying out alone late at night, not parking next to vans, etc.....all this will become very clear to her when she gives birth to Leah.
My children have been my greatest joy in life - both are special in individual ways. They have also been my greatest worry. Every day I have to give them to the Lord again to watch over them. I pray not only that He will watch over them and protect them, but that He will reveal Himself to them in a way that they would love Him and devote their lives to Him.
I will pray this for Leah Rose as well. I have prayed this for her already.

My Baby

2010-02-08T09:20:00.001-06:00

Today is my baby's birthday! Although it has been 28 years now, I still remember how I felt when I was in the recovery room and the nurse said something about "your daughter." What a sweet sound those words were to me. I had a beautiful little son and now I had a daughter - life was good.

When Ryan (who was 6) saw her, he exclaimed loudly to the whole room full of family and strangers, "She is just what I wanted!"

We brought her home the day before Valentine's Day and my husband bought Godiva chocolates for the nurses, his Mother, and me.

I sent him to the drugstore for the second or third time for some little item and he told his mother, "This baby is going to nickle and dime me to death." And she almost did - but it has been a great pleasure for us both.

Two of the most precious moments of my life was when she chose her wedding dress and seeing her walk down the aisle.

I will hold those moments in my heart forever.
Our children have been the greatest joys of our lives and each one is unique and special in their own way. Although they love to argue over "who is the favorite", the truth is Ryan is our favorite son and Allison is our favorite daughter.

Now my baby is expecting a baby - a daughter. I am thankful to God for His many blessings to our family and to Allison.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl

Look at My Grandbaby!

2010-02-05T07:08:00.000-06:00

I am not sure what fruit or vegetable my grandbaby, Leah, is this week, but I suspect she is a "watermelon"!!!!!

And she has three months to go!!!!!

I can't wait to hold her in my arms............

A Busy Day

2010-01-27T22:07:00.000-06:00

This was a busy day for me...running errands for my parents and visiting with them, getting Daddy out of the nursing home and settled back into Assisted Living with my Mom. They are happy to be back together.

Then, home to attend the birthday dinner of my fantastic son-in-law, Justin - the father of my grandbaby...

He is a very special man and he is so good to my daughter. I am sure he will be a great father. I thank God for bringing him into my daughter's life. We enjoyed celebrating with him.

My Daddy Wants Some Peas and Cornbread

2010-01-25T09:31:00.001-06:00

When I visited my Daddy a couple of weeks ago, he told me he is hungry for some peas and cornbread and some banana pudding. I told him I would bring him some the next time I came up and he said that I couldn't make peas and cornbread that were as good as his. Then he proceeded to tell me how to make the cornbread exactly like he does.

I am going to visit my Mom and Daddy tomorrow for the night and I am planning to cook him those things today along with some candied sweet potatoes which he loves. I feel sure they won't live up to his standards, but I think he will enjoy them.

I am looking forward to seeing them both.

Second Quilt of the Year

2010-01-23T09:03:00.001-06:00

Baby quilt for Mandy Johnson...

Same pattern as the first one, but different fabric, different border.

First Quilt This Year

2010-01-21T08:02:00.000-06:00

Baby quilt for Kate Kyle....

Oh, No! Not Eggplant!

2010-01-19T07:23:00.001-06:00

My grandbaby, Leah, is an eggplant this week! I really don't like eggplant, but I guess I will have to like it this week.

Here are a couple of pictures of her new nursery and her Mommy and Daddy. This nursery is a work in progress, but it is coming along....

Thought we would never get Papa out of the chair!

3 more months to go! We can't wait!

Birthday Boy

2010-01-15T08:19:00.001-06:00

My precious son just celebrated his 34th birthday! I am just too young to have a child that old, but it is true. He was a very special child and he has become a wonderful man.

My first baby, a daughter, died at birth, so when Ryan was born the next year, he was such a healing balm to my heart. He was perfect and even though I was young (23) and didn't know anything about babies, we got along great!

First children are always the guinea pigs of the family. You don't get an owner's manual when you have a baby, so you have to learn about parenting as you go with the first baby. Parents are more protective of the first child. Parents are harder on the first child.

When the first child drops his pacifier, the parent runs to the stove to sterilize it before the baby can have it again. By the time the second child comes along, the parent just wipes it off and sticks it back in the baby's mouth!

I made many mistakes with Ryan, but thanks to the Lord, he turned out great anyway! He is handsome, smart, talented, and he has a kind, loving heart. He married a beautiful, talented woman.

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy. You are my special angel and being your mother has been one of the great joys of my life.

What I Have Learned

2010-01-01T11:11:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! As I look back on 2009, it has been bittersweet. Lots of ups and downs. I can't imagine that this will change in this New Year, but as I reflect on the situation with my parents, one thing stands out to me.

Enjoy every moment as you live it!

I hate it when someone says "life is short...." That is simply not true - life is eternal - it is not short. How we live this life will determine how and where we will spend the rest of our life after we die. The MOST IMPORTANT thing we can do in this life is to put our trust in Jesus as our Savior. When you boil it down, nothing else really matters.

But I am not talking about that - I am talking about this "first" life. When we are kids, we can't wait to grow up. When we are teenagers, we can't wait to get married. When we get married, we can't wait to have babies. When we have babies and we are up to our eyeballs in diapers, we can't wait until they are all in school. When they are teenagers, we can't wait until they go to college. Then when they are grown, we can't wait until we have grandchildren. We "can't wait" so much that we don't enjoy the moments as we live them.

One day, if you live long enough, you will probably have to move from your home into another facility and someone is going to say to you that you can only take the necessities - you have to leave everything else behind. All the furniture and antiques, quilts and dishes, collections and things that you spent your life collecting and that meant so much to you - left behind for someone else.

Use and enjoy your "things" now - eat off the china, cover up with the quilts, enjoy your home and invite your friends to enjoy it too. Let your children enjoy "things" too. If they break a dish or a glass - so what! Things can be replaced. You are making memories that you can take with you wherever you live.

The sum of a life is not how many "things" you collected, but how you lived your life and how you helped others as you lived your life. Live every moment now!

"Life is not measured in the number of breaths we take, but in the number of moments that take our breath away!"

My Granddaughter's First Christmas

2009-12-26T09:55:00.002-06:00

I believe that life begins at conception, so, for me, this was my granddaughter's first Christmas. Even though she is "a spaghetti squash" this week, she seemed to enjoy it - she let me feel her kick at church for the Candlelight service, she let her Mommy know at the table when it was time to quit eating, she kicked when she heard me say that she was going to be my new favorite (a family joke). She even got presents - Mimi and P-Diddy gave her blankets, and clothes and we gave her "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" book. Her Mommy had to open them for her.

Here is a picture of her on her first Christmas Day...

We wish that her Uncle Ryan and Aunt Chelsa could have been here with us, but we have to be fair and share with Chelsa's family. We also wish that Meemaw and Pawpaw and Bubba's family could have been here. Christmas was bittersweet for our family this year.

We don't know what next year will hold for our family, but we know Who holds the future and we trust in Him.

Planning for Christmas

2009-12-17T09:26:00.000-06:00

Christmas will be vastly different for my family this year. When our kids were growing up we would meet at my Mom and Daddy's house along with my brother's family and have Christmas. The last few years we have had Christmas dinner together at my house which I have really loved.

This year my parents are not able to travel and my son and daughter-in-law will be with her family in another city. My brother's family with be with my sister-in-law's family. Roger and I will be at home spending as much time as possible with our daughter (and our unborn granddaughter) and our son-in-law. Fortunately, our son-in-law's family and we are friends so we can combine the holiday activities as much as possible.

Through the years holiday celebrations have changed. It's like that Wayne Watson song, Watercolor Ponies, the line that says "what will we do, when it comes back to me and you." Truthfully, families are like liquids - they change form throughout the years. This year Christmas will be quiet for us - a little sad.

What will next year be like? Lord willing, we will have a new granddaughter who will be 8 months old. Our son and daughter-in-law are scheduled to be here for Christmas. My brother and sister-in-law will have two college girls who will come home for Christmas. Hopefully we will be able to get together for dinner. Will my parents be with us - no one but the Lord knows.

Every year we will draw close to us whoever we can and we will celebrate the birth of Jesus. We will give thanks for each one of our family members and for the blessings the Lord has given to our family.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and as we shop and cook and enjoy the holiday, let us all remember the reason for the season!

The Chiffarobe

2009-12-14T16:45:00.000-06:00

Do you have any idea what a chiffarobe is? In the days before bedrooms had closets, there were pieces of furniture called a chiffarobe - a freestanding wardrobe similar to an armoir, but usually smaller. One side usually had a rod to hang clothes and the other side had drawers and a mirror.

This particular one in the picture was given to my paternal grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day. They died in the 1970s and they were in their 70s or 80s, so this piece of furniture is 100 years old.

My Daddy never cared much about antiques - having lived through the Depression, he didn't like anything old - reminded him of bad times. So, one day he painted it white so it would match his bedroom furniture. I told him one day I would have to pay someone to refinish it - and the day has arrived.

I brought this chiffarobe home from my parents' house this last weekend and my plan is to give it to my daughter to use in her nursery. I will definitely have to have it refinished, but I have no doubt it will be beautiful.

A treasured heirloom passed down through my family to the next generation. I pray that we will do the same with our faith - that we will teach the next generation about the Lord and how to live for Him.

Daddy's Girl

2009-12-12T08:59:00.000-06:00

All my life I have been Daddy's Girl. My Daddy is very special to me. Yesterday I went to see him at the rehab/nursing home where he is right now and he didn't know who I was. I am crushed to see him this way - please, Lord, call him home quickly.

IT'S A GIRL!

2009-12-02T20:51:00.000-06:00

The first picture of my little grandaughter - isn't she cute!

Thank You, Lord, for this precious life and for Your blessings to our family.

Christmas Decorations Are Up

2009-12-01T08:10:00.002-06:00

Everything is up except for the tree--I want a real tree this year. I hate the mess they make, but the smell--it's worth all the clean-up. I will trade cars with my husband and get one this week.

Tomorrow we are supposed to find out whether we are going to have a grandson or a grandaughter. I am so excited to find out because my daughter and I will be going shopping on Saturday. Black Friday ain't got nothin' on us! We have already done our research and initial spotting of the items. Just need to know the gender now. Lock 'n' load!

This Christmas is technically my grandbaby's first Christmas although we won't get to see his face until April. He or she is the size of a cantaloupe this week and Allison has a definite baby bump--she is so cute! I am enjoying every moment of this precious journey with her and Justin.

Thanksgiving Day is over, but I am still giving thanks for my precious family and all the blessings the Lord has given to us.

Goodbye, Fall!

2009-11-29T20:51:00.000-06:00

November 30 is always a traumatic day at my house. I love pumpkins and squashes and all things Fall. So, on November 30 when I have to take all my Fall decorations down and throw out my pumpkins, I get very sad. There is something soothing to me about Fall decorations--whereas Christmas decorations kinda make me feel stressed. The red, yellow, orange of Fall appeals to me much more than the glittery red of Christmas.

However, I have a self-imposed deadline to get my Christmas decorations up on December 1, so tomorrow I will be packing all the beautiful, orangey-red leaves and scarecrows and turkeys back in the boxes for another year.

Sad.

If I Don't Get Up This Morning Will This Day Still Happen?

2009-11-28T09:22:00.000-06:00

Today my son and daughter-in-law go back home. They have been here for 3 days. My daughter and son-in-law have been spending a lot of time here, too, so they all can be together. All my "chicks" were "in the nest." Every time I am with them I get used to having them around and then my heart is torn once again when they have to leave.

They can't help this -- this is the way it is supposed to work. The minute those precious babies are put in our arms we are supposed to be teaching them how to leave us and go out on their own. We don't realize it at the time--that takes about 16 years. They're always with us and we begin to take that for granted. Then they go off to kindergarten and we are sad for about a day and then we get over it. Then one day you wake up and they are juniors in high school and you realize that in a very short time they will be off to college.

It's downhill from there--you see them maybe once a month while they are in college (at the most) and then they get married and you see them maybe once a month. Sometimes they move to another city and you see them twice a year if you are blessed. Sometimes you call them on the phone and you are ok if you get their voice mail because truthfully you just wanted to hear their voice.

They should tell you when they lay that baby in your arms to treasure and cherish every single moment because the moments will not last forever. We should be aware of this time factor-thing when we are getting up at 2:00 a.m. and changing dirty diapers and when we are walking the floor praying they will get home from the date safely.

I enjoyed my Thanksgiving with all my chicks in the nest.

Those moments are precious to me. I will miss all my children a little more this week because my heart will be sore again. But everyone has to go back to their homes, their jobs, their lives.

I guess I did my job.

At Least We Were All Together

2009-11-27T09:17:00.003-06:00

This year Thanksgiving did not go as I had planned or hoped it would. I usually host Thanksgiving at my house and I enjoy it very much--all the planning and shopping and cooking and setting the table... But this year my parents were not able to travel so we went to them. We were supposed to have lunch together, but my Daddy fell and wasn't able to come to lunch. We had a really nice lunch with my brother and his family, but it just wasn't the same. My Daddy always says the blessing and I missed that.

After lunch we went to my Mom and Dad's new apartment at the Assisted Living place. He was not doing well, but he still appreciated us being there. He put his hand on Allison and pronounced his great-grandbaby a girl. Boy or girl, may the mantle of this great man fall on this new life.

We came home and watched the Aggie game - they played very well, but lost. My son-in-law handled it really well.

All in all, a good day. I am thankful that my precious children (and I include my children's spouses in this group) were all with me and Roger. I am thankful that we are all healthy and that we have a new life on the way. I am thankful that we are all happily married and enjoy being together. I am thankful that we all have homes and jobs. I am thankful for all the blessings the Lord has given to my family and I am thankful that we were all able to be together again this year.

The Best Days of My Life

2009-11-18T07:39:00.000-06:00

There are 5 days in my life so far that I count as the "best days of my life."

The day I married Roger

The day Ryan was born

The day Allison was born

The day Ryan married Chelsa

The day Allison married Justin

Today is the anniversary of one of those days - Happy Anniversary Allison and Justin! I pray that the rest of your lives will be as happy for you as the last three.

I look forward to what I pray and believe will be the sixth "best day of my life" - April 29, 2010. May the new life that God has blessed our family with be healthy and strong and grow up to love the Lord.

She Likes It!

2009-11-17T07:40:00.003-06:00

My brother and I moved my Mom into a really nice Assisted Living place in Nacogdoches last Wednesday.

When I left her on Friday morning, she looked like a deer in the proverbial headlights so I was kinda worried about her.

Yesterday her good friend called me and said that Mom told her she loves it! I also talked to my Daddy yesterday (he is still in the hospital rehab place) and he said Mom likes it and he thinks he will also. Thank You, Lord! I am so relieved! Now I just can't wait for my Daddy to get over there with her.

My Daddy is 91 years old and yesterday my brother got him a cell phone so he could talk to people in the hospital (they don't have phones in the rooms). I can't wait to see how this turns out!

My grandbaby is the size of an avocado this week - we find out on December 2 whether we are having a boy or a girl! I am so thankful, Lord, that you are allowing me to experience this with my daughter.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

2009-11-13T21:22:00.001-06:00

My Daddy always told me that it is the people who can't accept change that go crazy. I really hate change most of the time, although some of the time, change can be good.

This week was hard for my parents--a lot of changes going on. Routines that have been established for 30 years had to change. They had to move from their home of 30 years. They have to get used to a new place and new people and new routines. It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

This is the childhood home of my brother and me.

My parents bought this home after my Daddy got out of the service after WWII. They paid $5,000 for it and Daddy told me that sometimes they had to eat beans for dinner a few nights just to save up for the $50.00 per month payment.

Years later, Daddy gave me the house and I lived in it for several years, but neighborhoods change, too, and I had to sell it and move. It was sad for me, but I moved on.

Later, my husband and I bought a house and lived in it for 20 years and raised our children. We eventually sold this house and it was sad for me, but I moved on.

My parents know that the move was necessary and they are willing to do what needs to be done. I know it is sad for them, but they will move on.

Pray for our family and especially for my parents. May their llives be filled with love until the Lord calls them to their final home. They can live there forever and won't be sad and won't have to move on.

Where Are My Treasures?

2009-11-10T07:51:00.000-06:00

Today I have to go to my parents' house and help them decide what "stuff" they will take with them to assisted living. Of course they will "need" some things just to live, but they will also "need" some things just to make them feel at home. They won't be able to take very much, so this is difficult. I want them to be comfortable and to feel at home, but truthfully wherever they are together should be "home" for them.

The bottom line is - wherever your family is, that is home. Things don't make a home. People and family make a home. Memories and photos of loved ones make a home. Friends and family that visit make a home. I am thankful that they still have each other and they both love the Lord. The three of them should be right at home no matter where they "live."

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break though nor steal." Matthew 6:20

Good News/Bad News

2009-11-08T16:25:00.001-06:00

The Good News first - To my great surprise, I had a lot of fun at the 60-something Frat Party! I think it is because I had come to know them all by working with their pictures when I was making the slideshow for the party. I especially enjoyed the football game when they got to go out on the field and be recognized. I am sure they had a lot of fun seeing old friends and talking about old times.

I finally got to meet Fatsie - the guy who black-balled Don Henley and he was presented with a guitar signed by Don Henley at the gathering Saturday night. Don sent a message to Fatsie that there were no hard feelings and he thanked the Delta Sigs for saving him from a career as a plumber in Lufkin. That was fun!

The Bad News - my brother and I have to move our parents to Assisted Living this coming week. We really like the place and their apartment is nice and roomy, but it's not home for them. I know they will be sad, but this is the right thing to do and I hope they will learn to be happy there and make some new friends. Things change - life goes on. Pray for my family and especially for my parents as they adjust to their new home.

Frat Party!

2009-11-06T08:10:00.000-06:00

When I was in college I never went to a frat party. I was not "cool." I was a geek and really didn't date much and certainly didn't date a frat boy. But I did manage by the grace of God to marry a "cool" frat boy and we have been together now for almost 30 years. This weekend his fraternity brothers are getting together to celebrate the 45 year Delta Sigma Phi chapter reunion. They are all 60-somethings now, but I am sure that when they are together they will still feel like those 20-somethings in college.

Even though when I tell him something he can't remember it 30 minutes later, I am sure he will be telling stories that happened in the late 1960s and early 1970s and never miss a detail. I will know very few people there, but I will know some of the stories by heart, having heard them many times over the years. My favorite one is about how some of his frat brothers black-balled Don Henley (of the Eagles) from getting in the fraternity because he was a "long-haired hippie." Don Henley wrote a song about this later called "Greeks Don't Want No Freaks." You can download it on iTunes. No kidding!

I will sit in a corner and take pictures and let him have his fun. Now that I think about it, this is what I did in high school and college, too. Sit in the corner and watch the "cool" kids. Things haven't changed much.

The Cat is Out of the Bag!

2009-10-26T22:08:00.000-05:00

Wow, it feels good to finally be able to talk about my first grandbaby. He is the size of a peach now, by the way. Next week he will be a lemon. I get hungry just hearing her describe him in these terms.

She is getting past the morning sickness stage and is doing really well. I hope she doesn't gain 50 pounds like her Mom did - my baby is in her late 20s and I am still trying to lose my "baby weight."

I told my Mom and Daddy about their new great-grandchild and they were very excited. This news has been the one bright spot in my days for the last couple of weeks. Babies are good news and gifts from God.

I am so thankful that God has blessed my daughter and her husband and our whole family with this priceless gift.

Lentils, Beans and Grapes

2009-10-26T22:02:00.000-05:00

Today my daughter told me that my new grandbaby is the size of a grape. At first he was a lentil, then a blueberry, then a kidney bean and now a grape. I guess at some point he will be the size of a watermelon….

I still can’t tell anyone until she goes to her doctor appointment in late October and that is two more weeks…..this is so hard!

Highs and Lows

2009-10-26T21:58:00.002-05:00

In the midst of all the sad things that are going on with my Daddy, I have the great pleasure to announce that I am going to be a grandmother for the first time! I have been writing posts about this since the day I found out, but I couldn't make them public - here they are...

September 3, 2009 – a red-letter day in my life! This is the day I was told I was going to be a grandmother for the first time! Our daughter and son-in-law are expecting a baby in April. She thinks it is a boy – mother’s intuition? I have been praying for this baby for many, many, many years and I couldn’t be more excited….but then she tells me I CAN’T TELL ANYONE!

What? I have just been told I am going to be a grandmother and I can’t tell anyone? That’s just cruel. “You can’t tell anyone until 12 weeks is up, Momma.” That’s a long time!

Sure, I could talk to the other grandmother in this situation – she wants to be called Mimi. She was still shrieking when I called her. We have known each other since the kids were in elementary school and we had a great time during the wedding planning so I have no doubt we will have an even better time planning for this new grandbaby.

I could talk to my daughter’s best friend - she is excited of course.

I couldn’t tell anyone else – I was so frustrated by this that I told two perfect strangers just to talk about it. One was a bank teller and the other was just someone I was standing in line with. They smiled and said congratulations (I know they thought I was weird, but I don’t care).

My daughter and I went shopping the next Saturday and I wanted to buy my new grandson (?) something so we bought a couple of tiny outfits (one for a boy and one for a girl – just in case).

We went to the bookstore and looked at name books. My daughter sat in the floor, closed her eyes, opened the book randomly, and pointed to a name------------

Oh, no, this is not going to be the name of my new grandbaby. Try again…..

She pointed to Braden twice which we thought was significant, but the Baby Daddy squelched that one when she got home. The nerve!

We stopped by the maternity shop to buy some Preggie Drops because she thought she might hurl, but then she miraculously improved enough to eat a cupcake on the way home.

I already love being a grandmother. I just can’t publish this post for 4 more weeks…..

Storm Clouds are Gathering

2009-10-26T08:46:00.000-05:00

It is a bright, sunny day outside, but storm clouds are gathering - that's how I feel today. My Daddy is getting weaker every day and my brother and I have to have him evaluated to see if he can go to assisted living or must go to a nursing home. This is a day I have dreaded all my adult life. It is hard for me to see my Daddy weak and in poor health. My Daddy has always been a great, strong man. He could leap over buildings and stop bullets -- at least to me. He has been there for me all my life to help me and to pick up the pieces when I fell apart. It hurts me to see him like this. Please, dear God, don't let him suffer long.

Daddy's Girl

2009-10-21T21:37:00.000-05:00

I don't care how old I am, I am still my Daddy's little girl. His health has been failing lately and now he is in the hospital for tests, and it is hard for me to see him in pain. He has always been healthy and active. But in his 9th decade of life, each day is a trial.

How do I make sure he is taken care of? My Mom, too. It is hard to know how to care for aging parents. They are used to being the adults - making decisions - living independently. They resent someone else making their decisions and they are embarrassed to have to ask for help to do the most common tasks like putting gas in the car or balancing the checkbook.

My brother and I, and our families, are glad to help any way we can, but we want our parents to be able to retain their dignity. At what point do we start making the decisions based on what we think is best for them?

When you are parenting a child it is challenging, but at least the child lives with you and is not used to controlling his own life. "Parenting" a parent is even harder because they sometimes live in another town or even another state.

My family has begun to deal with this situation. My prayer is that the Lord will give us wisdom and discernment and that we will make decisions that will be respectful of our parents and that will allow them to retain their dignity and their quality of life until the Lord calls them home.

I Love The Quilt Festival!

2009-10-15T15:32:00.000-05:00

I went to the Quilt Festival today with a good friend and, as usual, felt inspired and overwhelmed at the same time. Every year I get so excited seeing all the beautiful quilts and I want to run home and make a masterpiece. However, the longer I walk down the rows of these incredible works of art - textile art - I realize that I am only a casual quilter. I don't sew every day - I don't even sew every month. Some of the quilters who made these intricately detailed quilts work on them every day, all day, for years. I can't do that. My interests are too varied. My hat (if I wore one) would be off to these patient artists.

Here are a few of my favorites...

What talent! I am both inspired and humbled by them!

Time Flies!

2009-10-11T12:16:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it was ten years (!) ago when Ryan and Chelsa got married!!!!! That day was one of the best days of my life. My family and friends were gathered in one place, my precious son was marrying a young woman that we absolutely adore--what a great day!

Now they are off on a big trip to celebrate ten years of life together. I pray they will have a wonderful time of adventure and making new memories together.

Don't blink - life goes by so quickly.

Does This Make You Feel Like Fall Has Arrived?

2009-10-08T08:18:00.002-05:00

Someone sent me this picture on the internet and just looking at it makes the temperature drop 20 degrees (of course, then it would still be 70 degrees outside)...

(Click on the picture to see it larger.)

Happy Fall, y'all!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-10-01T18:27:00.002-05:00

My birthday will be here soon, and although I don't mind telling my age, I don't like the idea of putting all that personal information out there into cyberspace. I don't mind birthdays - it beats the alternative. I look forward to going to Heaven one day, but as the Kenny Chesney song says, nobody wanna go now.

When I was a young woman I always thought of my parents as old. I realize now that they really weren't that old - I guess that's what my kids think about me and my husband.

I lost my mother when I was 23 and I thought my Daddy was kind of old to remarry - but I realize now that he was the age I am now! Wow - perspective! The other day I said, "Daddy, can you believe you are 91?" And he said, "I can't believe I have a 56 year-old child!" That shut me up!

I want to age gracefully - no facelifts, no lyposuction (although I could certainly use it), no botox. I draw the line at haircolor though. My husband doesn't want to have a wife who looks older than he does.

I guess the truth about age is that just when you start to understand how to live your life the correct way and how to handle circumstances and problems and people that you love and those you don't like so much, you don't have the energy to do it! And even though you have so much life experience, successes and failures, and so much advice to give to someone else, no one wants to listen to some old woman talk. I'm not that old - I can blog and send a text message!

I still wonder - when will I be old enough not to care if I need to lose weight? My mom is 90 and she still cares.

I am grateful to have my health, a great husband, four fabulous children, lots of good friends, and most of all that I know Jesus Christ and enjoy His blessings in my life. I am happy to have a purpose and work to do and enough money to buy what I need and to give to the Lord's work.

And, hopefully, one day I will have grandchildren! Maybe they will listen to me!

Keep In Touch

2009-09-27T23:14:00.003-05:00

I have discovered blogging! Maybe I'm just lonesome for other people to talk to every day, but I really enjoy it. I thought this blog would be a place where I could share my thoughts and feelings and maybe something funny or helpful.

I have a new chicken...

My husband said "good grief", but I love it! What do you think?