My Toy Story

I’m feeling a little blue, except I have so much to do I can’t live in the land of sadness. I’ve been unplugged for days and enjoying every moment of time with Rosebud.

Last week, I meant to blog about my mad dash to inhabit our home with toys. Cupcake had commented about 10 days before the arrival of our tribe for the holiday that “Rosebud is going to be bored here. You know, she’s VERY active now." Oh me, oh my! My home needs to be the most magical place on earth to our grandchildren so I becamse a woman on a mission. I've never been one to do the garage sale trail, but since we’d already ordered a baby SUV (just kidding – see photo below), I mapped out a plan and went toy shopping. Oh the fun I had! These toys now make me sad as I look out how they were abandoned this very morning…

She enjoyed a water play table on the porch...

We gave her a wagon for her birthday. When papa went shopping for a wagon, he got her the baby SUV variety. She LOVES it and prefers going fast. Hmmm - I think that's a genetic thing.

She helped papa get the corn for dinner.Of course it had to be tested for sweetness.

And isn't this the sweetest image?

Love is splendid. Goodbyes - not so much.
Hope you had a fabulous weekend.

A Light Dawned & Broke Through The Boundaries of Time

This Video makes me grin. Then I have to dance around a bit. Celebrate!!

Wordless Wednesday

The Lookout

Her Joy is Contagious

So glad you stopped by today for some happiness and grins. Our cuddlemuffin is coming next week and I'm more than ready. We'll be celebrating her birthday... hard to believe it's already been a year since she entered this world and brought SO much joy to all of us. I have a gallery of photos that I look at daily - so here's some updates for you:

The beaches in Sarasota are still clean. We treasure every day of oil-free waters. I have to sneak this one in... My beautiful girls!
All of our children and Miss A.

My Remarkable Man

March 29, 2003. This day had been planned for months. Actually years. We awoke to a beautiful sunny spring morning with a palpable feel of love in the air. Jim wisely decided he needed to head out early to the plantation where our daughter’s 4:00 PM wedding would be held to check on the progress of the tent set-up. The large reception tent was supposed to have been set up on Friday but at the time of the wedding rehearsal the evening before, it wasn’t even on site. I gave him the drawing of the set-up, dance floor, tables, buffet, etc., since every single item needed for dinner and a party had to be rented, and off he went.

A phone call a short bit later revealed that only one tent was on site and the two guys from the rental company that were lounging around had no information about when the rest of the equipment would arrive. I’m not sure if even Jim could describe the frenzy of activity that took place during the next 5 hours. He’d never set up a large pavilion tent, but he pulled the scraggly workers into a team as the equipment arrived in pieces, gave orders and turned into the “working machine” that he’s respectfully called by those who have worked with and for him.

As the afternoon progressed, our nervous bride kept trying to see the reception site from the carriage house where she and her attendants were preparing, but thankfully, the view was obscured by trees as I continually reassured her that everything was looking fantastic. I’d brought Jim’s suit with me when I came out, as it was clear that there would be no time to return to the hotel for a shower. He sponged off and changed with minutes to spare before the guests arrived.

Despite the distant sound of hammering during the ceremony in the garden, the reception went off beautifully and very few people knew the feat that Jim had pulled off that day. We didn’t even tell Jessica the details until weeks later. I shudder to think of what could have happened had he not been uniquely equipped to handle the challenge. (Incidentally, that vendor was never allowed to be on that site again.) As it was, the day was remarkable – the memory still stirs my emotions deeply.

This story so clearly depicts my husband’s role as protector, provider and one who loves us without measure. He doesn’t talk a lot, (I do quite enough for both of us), but he has faithfully shown us through his actions for the 29 years he’s been a father that we are the most important thing on earth to him.

Happy Father’s Day, Jim. Thank you for giving us your best, faithfully. You are steadfast – a solid rock that we’ve built an amazing family on. I’m thankful.

The Real Deal on Books

First, I have an apology to make. I titled my last post, “My New Book”, mostly in jest because I feel like I’m in the process of writing several books with wildly varying themes. A little here, a little there, line upon line… but only by the grace of God will any of them ever get published. Since God’s grace is lavish towards me, you just may see an announcement sooner than you think about “my new book” and next time, I won’t be kidding. Okay?
On the other hand, I have a friend that’s the real “go to” person for both book reviews and book give-aways. She is giving away TEN – that’s 10! – books to celebrate her 1000th blog post. Wow. Go visit Mocha With Linda and get in on the fun.

In other news, I have been spending my evenings in the garden and my late afternoons cooking. The bounty of fresh corn, green beans, squash, tomatoes, peppers and potatoes is amazing. I’m bartering for watermelon and blueberries with eggs so we are eating like kings. No – I guess we’re eating like Daniel right now.

Surely I’ll have a meaty post soon, but in the meantime, come back for the latest pictures of Miss A, the grandbaby who will be ONE in a month!! She gets cuter by the day, if that’s possible and I know you’re just dying to see photos so I will oblige you….soon.

My New Book

I have a list of things to do as long as a football field and here I sit. Well, I can kinda count this as productive since it’s on my list to finally post something to my wonderful, fabulous and enduring friends in blogland. I know you’re my friends since you’re not mad that I haven’t been by to visit, haven’t so much as called and left a message. (i.e. stopped by and left a comment). Tolerance of inconsistency is the incense of a tried and true friendship, right?

In my new book, The Friendship Handbook, one of several that remain unwritten, here are some basic rules:
1) Total meltdowns with absolutely no apparent reason are allowed at least once a month. If more frequent, an explanation should be discussed.

2) Venting is allowed for 10 minutes at a time and then something positive must be shared. Just like sweet and sour, it has to be in balance or it’s not palatable.

3) Some conversations are best forgotten. Oh. Not to mention forgiven before they’re forgotten. But if they’re truly forgotten, then they are forgiven, right?

4) Bunny trails in conversation and hopping around quickly are totally okay; one doesn’t have to make sense to be understood.

5) Laughter is required.

I am going to do my part on the last item this morning as I just watched this clip by Chonda Pierce on “Britches” which is so totally a word I use (to the horror of my daughters). I’m disappointed that I couldn’t embed the video, but it’s worth the 53 seconds to CLICK HERE

I have lots to tell you and I'm hoping I will actually get it from my head through my fingers to the computer. I tried that Dragon Naturally Speaking program and it was hilarious but not effective. I don't think I have an accent, but apparently that program thinks I do.

Happy Saturday!