Going To The Chapel

This past weekend my daughter and I threw a wedding shower for our sweet friend, Sarah.

She is marrying Jeff in January.

We made it a salad shower.

And cupcakes, of course. Can't go wrong with cupcakes.

We had this idea to ask Jeff a few things that he loved about Sarah (without her knowing) and then we painted some frames grey and printed what he said and framed it. It made the table decor simple but, personalized for Sarah.

I think his words made her cry a little bit. He got some major fiance points on Sunday!

More salads.

Isn't this the sweetest thing?

Instead of a sign in book. We had stone and everyone signed their name on one side and then a word for marriage on the other. Then they will have a nice table centerpiece reminding them of good things about being married.

For take home favors for the guests, we made "smores for two" baggies.

Everyone was happy to have something to take home with them. I did eat a couple of them before the shower and after.

The whole table.

By the way, ladies do not eat as many breadsticks as men do. We still have a refridgerator full of them.

Rachel, the gracious and hard working host.

Sarah, the bride-to-be with one of the things her hubby-to-be said about her.

Sarah enjoying all her gifts and Laura writing them down. You know the drill. Gotta get those thank you notes out.

This is Sarah and her little sister, Natalie.

A sign we made her. Thanks to pinterest for the idea.

My dear friend, Marta is Sarah's Mom. We are blessed to be a part of this happy time in their lives.

Always and Forever

We were married on October 7, 1983. He was 22. I was 17. Young Love. Not so young anymore. We have been married now for 29 years. We have gone through many seasons together. 

He said I DO.

I said I DO.

We DID.

We STILL DO.

Happy Anniversary to my best friend.

I love sharing covers with you.

I love sharing a bowl of popcorn with you on the couch.

I love sharing children and grandchildren with you.

I love sharing life with you.

Don't Blink

Here I go again attempting a post without photos. For some reason, I just always want a picture to remember things by but, sometimes words will just have to do.

I titled this Don't Blink after a Kenny Chesney song. My reason? I guess because once again I am seeing my family grow up right before my eyes and it's happening so quickly. 

I took a photo of our front door but, what I wanted you to see didn't show up. Our front door is glass from top to bottom, you can see in and you can see out. Sometimes  it's uncomfortable to have everyone be able to see in. I mean what if one of us is walking around naked? Well, I don't think that ever happens but, it could or maybe it does. Hmmm.... And then this morning when some guys were selling steaks out of their car trunks, I know they saw I was here but, I didn't feel like answering the door. But, we always know who's at the door. No doubt about it.

When our Grandaughter started walking around here about 3 years ago, going to the front door putting her little chubby hands on the glass and looking out was such a treat for her. And especially if the dog or the cat were on the front porch or mostly when it was her Pop Pop coming in for lunch or her Mommy and Daddy picking her up. At the end of the day, after she had gone home, I would see her little handprints and it just made me smile. I wouldn't windex them off. To me they said....she was here.  

Then I would think about all the times our three kids were little and I was striving to be a "Good Housekeeping kind of wife and mom" and I would windex every finger print and hand print off of  everything.  I believe I gave up some opportunities to just enjoy their ages in pursuit of being Suzy Housekeeper. And that makes me sad.

So, I forgave myself for that and realized I can't change anything in the past and I know my kids grew up knowing I loved them and they all still learned how to clean a little in the process.

But, my role now is different. I am a Mom to three grown kids and  a Grandmother to a beautiful grandaughter and soon to be a handsome grandson and I treasure every smear, smudge and hand and fingerprint left on the doors, windows and tabletops. Of course, they still have to be cleaned sometimes but, mostly I leave them and I smile. Because I know I will blink and these little ones will be grown,too.

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink

I

Castle on a Cloud

Our little grandaughter really grew up this summer.

 

 

She tackled the swimming under water thing and we can't stop smiling while we watch her. She is a fish. Or is she a mermaid? Hmmm....

She was only three years old. That's very impressive in our book!

 

 

I guess the olympics this summer was inspiring to her. She also went to see Les Miserables two times and she now knows all the songs from it and we listen to it in the car and sing along. A lot!

She also turned another birthday old! She's four! Already! Wow! And this year her gift was hiding behind this sheet.

Oh wow! A red retro pottery barn kitchen! She loves it!

I don't think her Mom and Dad can keep her away. She's a fabulous cook already!

Isn't that smile amazing? Also two days before her fourth birthday, she started her academic career. She is in 4k now.

A homemade birthday cake after a yummy pasta dinner and she was having a great birthday!

She also got girl legos and those are fun to play with with her Pop Pop.

After pre-school, a lunch at Red Elephant with an elephant ear for desert! And

 guess what? She will soon be a big sister! So, see how she has grown this summer. Wow.

I know I love being her "Nay" and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

Down in the Quarter

We got ambitious and tried out making Beignets. I was so excited about it I could hardly stand it. It was a fairly easy recipe that involved yeast and that no longer scares me so, we were good to go. But, I believe I made some mistakes in the steps or something.  Because as yummy as these looked....umm....lets just say, you might be able to down one but, only if you were drinking a lot of water! Oh well ( and that's a deep subject)
I won't give up.
I'll try again.
We will eat some delicious beignets from scratch at home one day.

Give Thanks

This week I just want to give my top ten things I am thankful for.

1. Getting to eat chinese food for no particular celebration.

2. Swimming in the pool with good friends.

3. A spend the night party with my # 1 Grandprincess.

4. Eating fish that were caught by my baby son.

5. The rain and how beautiful it made our hydrangea bush.

6. The time to read a book about someones life who loves the Lord.

7.The Lord really speaking to my heart about several things that are heavy on my heart.

8. A nap everyday with the princess.

9. Going to church and hearing my husband teach a Bible Study. 

10. Watching the princess take a bath and hearing her sing...I will search for you and I will find you, I will find you...with all my heart.

Sometimes it's the little things that all add up to the big thing. The big thing is....there are always things to be thankful for.

The other big thing is how much Jesus loves us.

In everything GIVE THANKS for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Little Boy Blue

Today is May the 31st.

On May 31st, 1991, I had a baby boy.

He was too early.

19 1/2 weeks.

He weighed less than a pound.

He was five inches long.

He was our son.

We loved him.

He was already gone.

But, I know the arms of my Savior welcomed him in.

I think of him everyday.

I wonder what he would look like.

Would he have had brown eyes like his Dad and his brothers and sister?

Of would he have had green eyes like me?

Would he be musical and comical like his brothers?

Would he be serious and more sensitive like his sister?

Would he have played sports? Ran for class president?

Would he like to fish?

Would he love coca-cola?

I will never know here on this earth.

But, I know. I know.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that one day...
we will meet. He is with Jesus.

We will unite one day.

2 Samuel

But, now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but,he shall not return to me.