Tribute to Dear Old Mama!

 Ok....Here I go again...trying to put into words to explain my Mama!  

She turned 85 on June 9th....I have known her for 62 of those years.  And I can honestly say, she is NUTS...in a good way...and I am NUTS about her!  

To say she was the heartbeat of our family is an understatement...she brought life, laughter, & fun into the door of our hearts, and filled our tummies along the way.

She could fry up just about anything, and throw a little gravy on it, and you would think you had died and passed through the pearly gates...my,my,my those pies!  apple, lemon, pecan...you name it, she could knock it out of the park!

Did I mention her hands?  They point every which way but straight.  She has had arthritis for years...Her standing joke was always, “I went to bed with Ben & I woke up with Arthur again this morning!”  Those misshaped hands help form me into who I am today.  She sews, stitches, glues, cuts, stamps, and has taken up painting at the age of 84!  She can paint a mean sunflower!  She is famous for her bookmarks and her hug coupons that she gives out freely when we go shopping.

She loves a good bargain and salivates when you pass a yard sale sign. If she spent more than $1.50 on a blouse, then she spent too much!

Her childhood was something of a horror show, but she has overcome the demons of her past, to become one of the richest women I know!  I am not talking about financial gain...she probably doesn’t have 2 nickels to rub together, because she gives away everything she has....it doesn’t stay in her hands for long.  She is richer than Trump, the Gabor sisters, & Brad Pitt combined.....cause she has discovered the secret to a deep, full life!  Actually, it is no secret at all.  She tells most people she knows about HIM...Of course, I am talking about Jesus.  She knows His book upside down the other, and has never met a stranger!

Soooo....Have you met Jesus?....look no further....He indwells in the heart of this precious woman I call Mother!  

Happy Birthday Mama!  

Your children rise up and call you BLESSED! 

This was the first time EVER to get their toes done...a little slice of heaven! 

My view as I drove away...

Field Trip to Jupiter 2-27-15

"Hey Audrey Belle....My name is Papa Joe!"

"I have heard about you...can I have your next corvette?"

"OK Pizza...just another mushroom right here and you will be done!"

"Mushrooms?...Not on mine, thank you very much!"

SMILE EVERYONE!

CHEESE PIZZA....MY FAVORITE!  Thank you Majo!

Look what I picked for you Mommy, while you were out to lunch!!!

Majo's rainbow cake needs to be savored!...and poked at...

MAJO...the baby whisperer!

....sweet family picture!

Ahhhh.....a little egg in the nest.....Precious!  Audrey Belle, you have a little piece of my heart...sleep on baby girl!

What's Important to me

What’s important to me

Rocking a baby is a small taste of heaven for me

A home cooked meal after saying grace

Going to church and singing with the saints

Raising children to love their Lord

Being a good wife by bringing coffee every morning

Counting my blessings...which have far exceeded their limit

Friends who hold a piece of my heart

Parents who are dear and sweet

A sister who loves hers

Sitting by the fire on a cold morning

An open bible

a grandchild’s open arms

Watching someone being baptized

Staying fit with a lot of sweat along the way

Bluebell ice cream

Sun on my face

a nice ironed shirt

Sinking a long putt

Chicken soup when my throat is sore

NO. 8 Grand child Has Arrived!!!

Introducing Audrey Belle Sherwood....Born January 15, 2016

Weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 2 ounces

A beautiful little girl all in pink!

                                                        Philip is a proud dad

                                AND THEN THERE WERE 3!

Counting my Blessings...1 by 1!

I am SO Thankful                                                                     Nov. 26, 2015

Most years I have a house full of kids running around and a table full of turkey and all the fixins....This year it is just Joe and I.  WHAT?  Actually, I am looking forward to a quiet meal of a turkey breast, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole(Papa Joe’s request) and apple pie..did I forget to mention there will be gravy...lots of it !!??...a feast for a king and queen, in my opinion.  I won’t have to put out extra chairs or make sure the bathrooms are clean(I usually have to make sure that I atleast check to see if there are any “floaters”) or make sure I have enough dessert....or treats...but I am good with it....cause in a month, I WILL have a house full....a loud house at that, and will love every minute of it!  But I like the quiet and the rest and the reflection of my crazy, incredible life and how God continues to pour blessings on my sorry self and wonder why He does and how I don’t deserve it, and doesn’t He know all that I have done wrong JUST this week, or just in the last few minutes?.....well, YES HE DOES....but He knows my name, He knows my faults, and He loves me anyway.....ahhh....gotta love a God like that!

SO, as I started counting my blessings some 4 years ago, I thought it only fitting to continue the theme....so here goes....in no particular order....

Love my man, 38 years and counting

Love Sarah....1st born, and 1st to “try things out” on

Love Stacy, the one stuck in the middle....O how I love the middle!

Love Philip, my boy...finally got one...and what a treasure he is....doesn’t call much, but that’s ok...he loves his mama, this I know!

Love Jeff....He married my 1st born, and this I am grateful that he takes good care of her.

Love Adam...My 2nd RED HEAD to join the family...He and Stacy built their house (took them 3 yrs) and is a godly man, and is making their house a home!

Love Amanda....she loves and married my boy!  Thank you Amanda for that, and for also carrying my 8th grandchild....a little girl...ahh, can’t wait to meet her!

Laura Jo...1st grand and SO grand to me!

Emily Jo...she loves Cinderella & her Papa Joe

Annie Grace...our chosen red head...what a spirit you have!

Millie Joy...another Jacksonville blessing who is so funny when she is so serious...

Claire Elizabeth...full of excitement and adventure

Joshua Scott...My 1st grandBOY...O boy, what a treasure you are and those BLUE eyes!

Norah Marie...copies her big sister to a T....and what funny faces you make

Baby Sherwood....You don’t have a name yet, but you are greatly loved by this Majo!

My parents...Still alive in Whitney, TX...married 65 years and they gave me life and lots of love to build on.

My sister....Glenda, you are my confidant through our childhood...I adore you!

Lottie...my friend, my partner in our Double L Cafe, the New Orleans beauty queen, such a sweet heart!

Sherry...you brought laughter into my life, and you have helped shape this 61 year old body(no easy task)...and you aren’t too bad at golf either...you are the BEST!

My Wed bible study girls.....Linda, an old running buddy whom I love dearly, Patti, a speaker of truth, Carol, have traveled to Alaska and down the Colorado River with you, Vicky, we traveled to Europe and boated down the Danube River, Janie, my sweet friend who has been through so much adversity and came out like a true champ, Marsha, a sweet heart, Sally, a precious southern belle who has talents galore, Janet, a faithful servant, Denise, left us for the mountains, but one who walks with the Lord...We have prayed, we have laughed, we have cried on my couch for some 20 years...oh my, if those walls could talk....

My Tues. bible study girls...Angela,the baby, Cheryl, a bible scholar, Sherry, keeps us in stitches and on task, Karen, who says you have a bad heart?..I think it works just fine, & Kathy, your southern charm is infectious....not as many years together with you girls, but I love you each deeply...more than you know!

Beth...so thankful for your friendship, our “church” days together, and traveling to Israel with you....it was a life changer climbing Mt Sinai on camels.

Jan...my TX friend....we raised our children together and you showed me what Jesus looks like!

Millie, my mentor and friend when I was a stupid teenager...By your example, I went to ACU & became a teacher!...thank you for leading the way!

Laurie, my neighbor, my friend, who has fed my animals when we leave town....thank you!

Saucer Sisters....there are too many of you(16) to name...but you mean the world to me!
      JJ...love sharing grandma duties with you!
      Travis....you are MORE than a fish guy....sure do love ya! 

THIS house....38 years of dust & memories...Dorothy, there is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!...

My throne room....Where I have 66 crosses and counting and have taken each of you to the mercy seat a time or two!

Ok, as you can see....I could go on and on and on....if you aren’t mentioned, it is only because I am running out of space....The good Lord has not sprinkled, but poured a bucket of blessing on this sorry head of mine and to this, I am thankful...I will lift my fork this thanksgiving and thank my God, my savior, my comforter, for giving me breath, turkey, dressing, pie and all the overflow of this life I lead...O my....so so good!

Thankstoberfest

                    Here we are after eating a thanksgiving meal in October....A WILD bunch!

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!