My summer so far...

July 4, 2015

This has been the craziest summer of my memory.....Now mind you, I have little memory these days.....being all of 61years.....it is slowly but assuridly slipping away...it comes with age...I thought wisdom came with age, but now I am questioning that as well.

In May, Joe & I went on a 10 day trip to Europe by way of a barge called a viking cruise boat down the Danube River. We returned only to watch 2 Jacksonville grandgirls, while their parents go on an Alaskan cruise for 10 days. A day later we go to TX to get in a U-Haul truck and drive from Hawkins, TX to Florida hauling two hand made bunk beds (thank you James Musser). We get home and decide to move around 3 bedrooms so that the bunks would have a fitting resting place.  I manage to paint the bunk room a stunning TX blue and everything is in it’s place .... ready for my niece, husband, 3 kids, and 16 others made up of my children and 7 grands and 1 foster child to follow suit to celebrate the 4th!...I think I counted 21 total.  We had a house full of sticky snotty nosed windows, one kid threw up, several hit, bit, and probably spit, and we had hot dogs of many sorts, mac-n-cheese, baked beans, corn on the cob, treats of many kinds, and full tummies all around!  We swam, played tennis, made forts, managed a few theme parks in there (this is Florida, after all), and ate & drank ourselves silly!  And we aren’t through....The summer is only half way done.

As I was sitting here in a quiet house....something that hasn’t happened lately, I reflected upon how blessed and wonderful my God is.  We were walking into church yesterday, when Annie bends down to tell Julie, “Julie, this is Majo & Papa Jo’s church.  You will love it. It is beautiful here.”  They held hands and walked each other to class and I thought....”Thank you God....We managed to get 5 kids dressed, hair in place, and in class before church started....This is a beautiful thing....then Annie proceeds to tell Julie the memory verse she learned at Camp Majo.....””Be Kind to one another. Eph. 4:32”.  And they were kind, if only for a little moment in time....before the hitting and biting took place once they got home, of course.!

     This weekend came to an end with wonderful news of yet another Sherwood grandchild coming into our lives come January.  Amanda is with child No. 3....making me a soon to be Majo of 8!...Eight as of now, that is...and who said “Eight is enough?” ....Don’t know why God continues to shower more grands my way....I guess it’s because He knows I will love them the best way a Majo can.....with all her heart and maybe a few ice cream treats!

Laura Jo, Julie, Evie, and Millie, who refused to pose!

CAMP MAJO!

June 15, 2015 CAMP MAJO begins it's first session

Millie, Annie, Laura, & Emily are excited campers!

There were little complaints at the mess hall!

ICE CREAM.. ICE CREAM...We all SCREAM for
ICE CREAM!

The Camp-mobile was a hit with movies non stop!

FUNNY FACES AT LUNCH were required 

Millie, what kind of funny face is that?

AND of course we didn't even have to go to the zoo to see the wild life!

Papa Joe is using his life guard skills!

What would camp be without crafts?

A lot of concentration was needed

...and of course adult supervision....thank you Millie!

VOILA!  Their Father's Day crafts are done!

On our way to church on Sunday....

Shhhhh.....a sleepy camper is a happy Majo!

Father’s Day 2015

  Alvin Glenn Lyon is his name...he’s my Daddy!  He will be 89 in October.  He was born and raised in Texas and proud of it.  He has been with the same woman for 65 years, and I think they are going to stay together .... for the sake of the children of course!

He was a no nonsense kind of Dad....What he said was the law, and don’t mess with him.  He was strict and I got my share of whoopins!  I will say I deserved every one of them.  Don’t know why I was a contankerous little gal, but I liked to go right when I was told to go left...I liked to bite and spit and draw on the walls....you name it, I probably did it, or thought about it.

He would come home from work at 5:00, almost like clock work.  We would eat dinner at 5:05.  Mother always had something wonderful on the table, and it never occurred to Glenda or I to question it.  

A lot of the time we had Mother’s two brothers living with us and often Mother’s Dad as well....Daddy always welcomed them in the door.  Family is family .... and you take care of family!

He was a man of God from my very early memory.  We never missed a church service unless we were bleeding or sick.  I caught him often reading the good book and he lead the blessing over our food and often thanked the Lord for the bounty.  

He was and still is a quiet man.  Doesn’t say a whole lot, but when he does, you need to listen up!  He won’t repeat himself!  You heard it the first time!  We didn’t travel much except for our usual trip to Dallas from Baytown to visit Mama & Papa.  We would maybe stop ONCE.  If you needed to take care of business, we were supplied with an empty mayonaise jar to take care of that.  We never missed and got pretty good at that over time.

This picture is one of my favorites and was one of the last one taken on our last trip there.  We were going to a HODOWN and had to dress accordingly!  

My Daddy is not a tall man, but he stands TALL in the eyes of the Lord.  When you are on your knees, that is when you are the closest to heaven.

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!  Hope you get a good nap in before night church.  You deserve the very best!...Your cantankerous wild child LOVES YOU! 

Our Viking River Boat Cruise

Our boat took us to Germany, Austria, and Hungary down the Danube River.                           May 17-24 2015

Our suite was SWEET!

Our boat was a nice ride.

They even had champagne to greet as we got there.

The bathroom had top notch details

nice view from our room

We saw lots of churches

the scenery was fabulous!

the open markets were fun too

We sampled the local food....not bad for this red neck!

Speaking of rednecks, I found me 4 women from Texas...they loved me!

Honestly, this was all I saw Valerie do the whole time we were there!

They even had Joe dogs!

Our first European selfie!

Vicky is showing us her Christian shaped sausage!

Thank you Valerie for your dinner display....looks good enough to eat!

What is a cruise without animal shaped towels?

Umbrellas were a must for this trip!

George & LaDonice were fun to be around!

Our last night in Budapest

Here's to a great trip!

Happy Mother's Day 2015

Mother’s Day 2015

Another Mother’s Day...It happens to fall on my 61st birthday this year.  I have shared my day with Mother’s day many a time before, so this is no different.

The big difference is ... I am OLD....I can remember thinking anyone in their 60’s ought to be put in a home or taken out back and put out of their misery...Of course now, I would like to just stay home and take a nap...that’s all....not in need of much else...or maybe some chocolate or a nice round of golf would be nice.

Can’t ever remember wanting to be anything but a Mother.  It seemed like such a worthy calling, and I had and still do, have a Mother who is worthy of the name.  She taught me how to iron, cook, clean house,  do the dishes, and cook a mean meat loaf.  I was Texas born & raised and brought up to respect my elders.  Was raised going to church when the doors were opened, and our road trips consisted of singing old hymns in the car going to Mama and Papa’s.  Daddy didn’t like to stop, so we learned how to go in a mayonaise jar while driving down the highway...An art not learned by many.  We played “white horse” to keep us entertained and Glenda and I fought over the “hump” and who was going to sit there...I usually won!  Seat belts were not around then, so we had free reign.  Amazed we are alive to tell about it.  

Mother would play the “comb & tissue paper” to accompany our singing and make teeth out of watermelon rinds.  She was the milk & cookies kind of Mom and an excellent cook.  She wore dresses for the most part and always had on RED lipstick.  To this day, she still does.  

And as the good book says....”Her children rise up and call her blessed”  I am a better woman, wife, and mother because of her.  And as much as most of us try to not become our mothers, we do anyway!  We can’t help it.  I open my mouth and her words come out.  How does that happen?  I have stopped trying to fight it, and just let it be.  

So, with milk glass raised, I toast to you, Mother....May your bread always rise, your kitchen smell like something roasting in the oven, & your lips red as can be.  If I could be half of the mother that you have been to me, I would have lived a full life!

Love my mama!

April 25, 2015 Claire turns 3!

YES 'EM....I am 3!....I even have the fingers to prove it!

Yummy cupcake cake

Ok everybody....dig in!

We had 12 children and 13 adults....CRAZY!

There was something for everyone!

NO...Norah did not just lay an egg!