My Last TX Trip Oct 2-7 2015

     It has been over 30 years since I have seen my friend Millie.   I have been looking for her for some time now.  Millie was and IS 5 years older than me.  She was my church camp counselor when I was a kid.  We both went to the same church and her Mother was my Sunday school teacher...Oooo how I LOVED that woman!  A treasure indeed!  When I got old enough to drive, I would go over there and hang out.  Her mom would fix me special treats and they just loved on this goofy kid...something I will never forget.  Her parents are since gone from this world, but Millie has remained, with husband and many grandkids to chase after.  I found her in Arlington, TX and decided we needed to meet face to face.  Women of Faith came to Dallas, so I arranged a meeting for us to go, along with my sister, Glenda, and the three of us had so much fun. We got a hotel room and giggled through the night and had ourselves a swell time!  Here is us at the WOF event...you can see we got in the nose bleed section...but it was all good!

     I am also going to include a picture of ME in her wedding...I will let you try to figure out which one I was....Millie said she tried to pick bridesmaid dresses that we would wear again....Remind you now, I was 20 years old in this picture, and it was 1974.  This makes me laugh so hard at what was stylish, or at least we thought it was, back then!

     From there I made my way to Whitney, TX where I visited with my folks and went to the Whitney Church of Christ, where this picture was taken.  This church is a sweet slice of America....these sweet brethren love on my parents and vice versa...

    

Mother loves the Dollar Store and Hobby Lobby...

And I LOVE a good Texas burger!

During our long shopping day, Mother's feet were killing her, so we went to a store that said HAPPY FEET, in hopes of finding her some comfortable shoes....only to find it was a place that massaged feet...which was exactly what Mother needed at the time....so Glenda and I set her up for a 30 minute foot massage right there and then....It did the trick....

Glenda is quite the seamstress.  She has been working on a Texas quilt for me for the last 4 years, and it is finally done.  I got to bring it home.  If you ever come over, you MUST see this thing.  It is a work of art!

Before I came home, we relaxed in Glenda's back yard.  It is quite calming with koi fish and a waterfall....ahhhh.....Loved it all!

Two years ago TODAY

Sept 11, 2015

Wow...a lot can happen in a span of 2 years.  Exactly 2 years ago today, Joe and I were in a Jacksonville court house, witnessing a transformation of 2 little girls....They were once foster kids....and by the swing of a gavel, they became our latest grandgirls.  What a blessed day.  Their lives are no longer in question....They BELONG, they were CHOSEN and are cared for by Stacy & Adam.  This Mom could not be more proud!  

As parents we do our best at the time and wonder....”Will they grow up to be responsible, loving, caring adults?”  The answer is a BIG YES!  If my 3 kids know nothing else, they know their mama loves them no matter what.....along with Jesus who loved them first.

So today we remember that 2 little girls got a FOREVER home. And as Jackie Gleason would say...”How sweet it is!”  INDEED!

Sept 8, 2015

Things I love...in no particular order....

     I love Sundays....I love early mornings, Sunrises, the way the sun pokes its head through the clouds, trying to get a peak at what is going on down here!...I love my early morning Jazz classes... Who doesn't want to start their day out with a dance?...I am crazy about my husband... He is really funny....yeah, I know... Who knew???.... Nobody knows that, since he is so quiet....he is also very smart...he can build furniture, fix pert near anything, and is redoing my laundry room..... And that reminds me of one more thing I love.... And that is ironing....I really do like pressing the man's shirts...yes, I know…. strange...

     I love my grandkids...... They are the bomb.... They crack me up, they make a mess, they break things, they wear me out, and I wouldn't have it any other way... Am looking forward to number 8 from Amanda!!!. There is nothing like rocking a baby.... Hearing the heavy breathing, the sweat on your shoulder, the soft skin....the smell of baby powder....a little slice of heaven....

     I love my crazy friends..... One would have to be, if they are in my inner circle....I love my old friends from high school...we are still in touch...I love my "not so old" friends who have stuck with me... And then there are my newer friends...now, mind you, they are "old" but new to me....that I wouldn't trade for a bucket of fried chicken!!!!..... Now that's love!

     I love my kids...I birthed the most amazing human beings that I know.... Each so different, yet so wonderful.... And their spouses....they picked good and they are all still in love.... Makes a mama's heart go all warm inside......I love this 28 year old house that is full of dust and memories! I love my throne room that is full of crosses(65 so far)...I love my mercy seat where a lot of these crosses end up sooner or later....I love going on bended knee, praying to the one who has all the answers.... For answers!

     I love the good book, the words in red, and my creator and savior..... Could not go a day without Him breathing new life into me....thank you Lord for your breath of fresh air!

     Love my parents.... Who gave me life, love and a safe place to call home...

     I love arms stretched out yelling "Majo!!!"..... Love doing the"Majo" dance when they leave......love hugs from my grands, bathing them, even changing those stinky diapers...it's all good..... Love playing hide and go seek, especially when they hide in the same place every time and are surprised when they are found....so fun…..it never gets old!

     I could probably go on and on.... I am Just so blessed from my head to my toes... Beyond words!

My Texas Bunk Room

If anyone knows me at all....they know that my roots run deep down into the heart of TEXAS, where I was born and raised.  So it only seemed fitting to have a Texas room in Florida.  But not anything would do.  My friend James Musser is a gifted carpenter from Hawkins, Texas.  I commissioned him to build me a couple of bunk beds. He didn't get the lumber from Home Depot, but actually went out on his property and "harvested" the wood, as he puts it. (it is cedar, BTW) It took him a good while to build these babies....They are a work of art.  

So....How do you get 500 pound bunk beds each, to Florida you may ask....good question....

You get a one way ticket, rent a Uhaul, drive to Hawkins, pick up the beds, and drive them back, silly!  How else?

I just so happen to have a husband who went along with my crazy plan.

...And a husband who is talented enough to put these babies together.  On our long ride back to Florida, we realized that the room we had planned for these beds would not do...just love when that happens! We needed a bigger room....so once home, we moved 3 bedrooms around, and of course, I had to paint this room in a Texas blue bonnet BLUE, right?  My sister, Glenda, made the blankets for the beds.  So EVERYTHING in here was made by a Texan!  Only thing left to say is YEHAW!...Come visit us....your bed is waiting for ya!

Sundays 8-16-15

Why I love Sundays 

   Back in the day (1960's), Sunday's were sacred.  Very few stores were opened, no-one mowed their lawns.... It was a day to rest, a day to go to church, a day to be quiet.  I loved Sundays as a child.  Got to go to Sunday school and learn about Jesus.... Got to go to church and sing about Jesus, then we would have a Sunday lunch (which was rich in love and calories) and thank Jesus for it.  A childhood memory that I cherish.... Thank you Mother and Daddy for giving me such sweet times.  

    Fast forward to 2015......I still love Sundays......I get up and make coffee, watch a little church TV.... Who doesn't love Charles Stanley?... Then we head to church....sing good and loud during praise time and hear a good convicting sermon.... And if it is a really good Sunday, I get to witness a baptism.... That always sends chills up my spine, makes my eyes swell up with tears, and just warms my soul.....I so love baptisms.... Today especially....a gal got baptised who recently got out of prison, who is in our "just as I am" program.... The entire group of them all stood up when she entered the water and I thought I would burst with chills.... What a declaration of unity... Loved it!.... And then we all clapped as she rose from the"grave" of baptism.....shedding the old "man"... Or in this case "woman" and starting a new life with Jesus.....this is why I love Sundays!!!!

    We always have the Lord's Supper every Sunday..... Does it get old?.... Sometimes.... But in my later years, it means the world to me..... It reminds me of why I am here, it reminds me of the sacrifice, and it reminds me to be thankful to my Lord and Savior.

    We go home, change into our "house" clothes..... Eat lunch, which is usually leftovers, and watch a little Sunday Morning (our favorite show to DVR) .... Joe and I like to guess what the nature scene will be at the end... It is surprising how many times we have guessed it dead on....our little game we like to play.  

    When we are really tired, we get a nap in, or I catch up with Laundry, or watch Golf, or do an afternoon Jazz class.....or the grandkids come over for a swim..... All of those make up for a good Sunday!!!

    So I have to ask...... Do you love your Sundays?....I am thinking the Lord wants us to. The older I get, the more reflective I become.... And love the Lord's day..... Actually, every day belongs to Him..... So Lord.....I give this day to you!.... Make it Rock!

     BTW, that picture on top is NOT from our church, but a picture I took in Germany this year.....ha.....just needed to clarify!

65 Reasons

     Last February my parents celebrated 65 years of marriage.  I wrote them 65 reasons of why I loved them.  I just ran across it and thought I would share it with you.  Some of it won't make much sense, but it does to them, and that is all that matters.

   65 REASONS WHY I LOVE YOU!  FEBRUARY 13, 2015

1. You gave me life!
2. You brought the egg in from the front porch.
3. You loved me unconditionally.
4. You changed my bed in the middle of the night when I would wet it.
5. You spanked me when I needed it.
6. You also peppered my mouth a time or two.
7. You gave me my love for cooking!
8. You are the BEST cook, next to me, of course!
9. Daddy taught me how to fish & how to clean them once caught.
10. Loved all the times on the lake fishing.
11. I never went without.
12. Took me to church.
13. Taught me to love the Lord.
14. Showed me how to care for others.
15. Love watching you two give of yourselves.
16. Watching Mother put on her makeup.
17. Gave me my love for country music.
18. Road trips to Dallas.
19. White horse.
20. You taught me how to make gravy, the 5th food group!
21. You gave me my sense of humor.
22. Gave me a quarter for the ice cream truck.
23. Loved how Daddy could fix anything, so I married a man who could as well.
24. You made all my clothes, my dresses for church.
25. Mother was always the prettiest Mother around, and still is!
26. Making crafts.
27. Your love for the Rangers.
28. Fun times at the bowling alley and playing 42 with your friends at the house.
29. The way you love my children.
30. The way you love my grandchildren, your great grandchildren!
31. Your love of garage sales and saving a dollar!
32. Your love for dogs!
33. Handing me a piece of homemade pie and saying, “You won’t like it.”
34. On your death bed coughing and saying, “I’m just fine!”
35. Your positive attitude!
36. How you love to go singing at the nursing homes.
37. How Mother loves to go to Hobby Lobby and give people hug coupons.
38. Homemade book marks.
39. The way you tell me I am your favorite!
40. You pray for me.
41. Your sweet tea.
42. Sitting & talking at the kitchen table.
43. The way you love on others.
44. You gave me an awesome sister!
45. The way you tell stories.
46. The way you exaggerate.
47. You are a phone call away!
48. Your birthday song!
49. Sitting in church and hearing you sing.
50. Daddy’s hands, rough but strong.
51. Mother’s hands, bent but never idle.
52. Daddy’s pie crust.
53. Mother filling up those pies.
54. I will always be your baby!
55. Daddy’s step stools he made for all of us.
56. Mother’s sense of humor.
57. Chicken & dumplins
58. Being born & raised in Texas.
59. Picking pecans.
60. Getting a bag of pecans to take home.
61. Both of your “crafty” ways!
62. Your love of stamping.
63. Silver Alert in Walmart.
64. Your church gift bags.
65. The way you love me so!

Weeds

Weeds

     They seem to follow me....I continue to buy Roundup from Home Depot.....I spray like I am painting a house.... But they continue to come back..... They come through concrete, cracks, rocks..... Really?......I pull em, I yank em, I curse em..... But they continue to laugh at me.... It seems like they come back even stronger... Like with a back bone..... Surely the garden of Eden had no weeds....I can't even imagine it.....I certainly don't live in Eden, but would love a weedless life.... Is there such a thing?.... Doubt it.... So now I have changed my attitude....I kinda respect these guys...I mean, look how hard they work.... Coming from nowhere through concrete.... That takes some doing!.... Then a few weeks ago Laura Jo pulled some weeds from a patch at church....a guess they were spiritual weeds.... There were Flowers at the ends of the green stalks and she said "Majo, I got you some beautiful flowers!" ....I went home and put them in a vase and they were transformed before my eyes!. Thank you Lord for the weeds you put in my path!!