My Lara
Just recently we celebrated our daughter`s 26 Birthday. My question is this... where did the time go? Honestly, it seems like yesterday when I found out I was pregnant with her... then, I blinked along the way of life and here we are ......passing right by those sleepness nights when she was a baby, all of the pink bows and lace until she was old enough to tell me she didn`t want to wear them anymore, all those french braids we did as she was sitting on the bathroom sink, , Wee school graduation, first day of school, the middle school wonder years.(WONDER HOW WE MADE IT THROUGH THEM!!) then high school graduation, off to college in Waco, Texas at Baylor University, then 4 years later, another graduation, packed up and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee then Chattanooga, then Cleveland, Tennessee then back home to Birmingham this year and now in an apartment all her own with a big girl job... yes..
Christmas creations
I have had more fun with this new look that I have found. It started out as an experiment but now, I am finding myself looking for scraps of wood around the house to do another picture on. I had about 8 little square pieces of wood that I had actually gotten from Home Depot one day, in the garbage!! I am not above asking for trash if it is something that I can use.. So, I brought them home, did a few paintings on them last year then tucked the rest of them in a box for later.
Hot Chocolate bar
I have seen a few ideas of hot chocolate bars from Pinterest recently and decided that I wanted to have one in my den. I am a huge lover of all kinds of chocolate so this seemed appropriate for me to have to finish off my decor for the Christmas season. The quest was on to find the right glass containers! I found a few at Hobby Lobby and used a few that I had and came up with enough for my marshmallows, milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and candy canes.
Proverbs 31 Mother
I have just been reaquainted with a great little book that I received back in 1995 as a Christmas gift. It is called "Silver Boxes" the Gift of Encouragement by Florence Littauer. If you have not read it, I encourage you to go get you a copy. It will fill your heart and soul with ways to give silver boxes of encouragement to others..One chapter "thought" was talking about how" Mothers do a decent job of raising their children without ever hearing a silver box of praise. The Proverbs 31 mother had children who rose up and called her blessed, and some of us wondered where she found those children."!
Christian Boot Camp for authors part 2
Yesterday I went to another Christian Authors Class at Samford, the second one that I had signed up for... This time specializing in writing memiors and children`s books. The second half of the day, after lunch, we meet with Ellen Maze, to tell us how to get our books published. Lots of information, lots of it over my head, but the main part of the day was spent with these sweet Christian ladies, trying to help all the students with their dreams of being published one day. There were lots of smiles, friendly hello`s and lots of encouragement from one to another. There were some new faces, some old faces from last time I was there, but a great feeling to walk into...
Mod podge letters with Heston
My little grandson, Heston , just recently spent the week with us while his Mom and Dad were out of the country. He was sick the first half of the visit so we did a lot of sitting around, watching movies. The second week, he was back to normal, enjoying all that life has to offer! One morning, after the ritual of french toast and apple juice, we did a little art project that I had been telling him about. We cut out pictures from Dollar Store books of his favorite characters. ( We bought three books there, two were school type book with activities but plenty of pictures on the front and back and on the pages to use. The other one was a coloring book with the Green Lantern and friends all through it.) I bought c
A Day at the market with the girls
Early this morning, Lindsey and I headed out toward Atlanta for the Apparel Market. Lindsey had never been to the market before, so we were excited about this road trip today..I made some calling cards for my new employee, Lindsey, to have as we checked in at the market registration table...
Memories
As I am going through some boxes in my garage looking for something the other day, I come across a box that I have brought home from Mother`s house. We have been through most of her things now and I have many boxes filled with her things in my garage and up in the bedroom closet. I know one day I will go through them again but for now, they are just piled up, waiting. Then I come to this particular box, unwrap some tissue paper and come across this old Christmas angel that Mother has had for years, probably since we were little girls. I unwrap her carefully as to not mess her up, and there she is.... just like I remember.
Christmas Music Box
When I was going through Mother`s things, trying to pack up her things, finding new homes for as much as I could, I came across her Christmas music box that she had made. She took ceramics for years and gave us all many beautiful things she made over the years. This particular piece was one of my favorites. It took her weeks to finish it and when she did finish, she was so proud of it.
Lace from the past
Today, I was making the big effort that I have been dreading but excited to start.... de-cluttering !!!!My goad is to at least make a small start this summer in taking a few closets and rooms and getting rid of things I do not need anymore. Happy to report that I have already done my closet and half of the upper garage!! Yea ME!!!!As I walked downstairs to get something, the under the stairs closet haunted me.... I hate to open that door because I have so much "STUFF" piled in there.
Birthdays....
Birthdays are so special, no matter what age you are. It has always been important to me to be sure there is a birthday cake at these birthdays for family and friends... even when the adults do not want one. I always say, "What is a birthday without a cake?!!" But as I am a bit older now, .... my thoughts have varied just a bit. I still love to get the cake for others, but it is not as important for me, personally to have one!! Hard to hear those words coming from my mouth cause I love sweets so much!!!
Afternoon with Heston and the alarm
This afternoon, I went to stay with Heston while his Mommie was at an appointment. It was the first time I had been over to his house since he is in his new room, in his big boy bed. He usually says, very loudly, "I ready to get up" after he wakes up. Today was a bit different.... A soft little voice, says....."can I get up so we can go see Grammie?"!! so I walked over to the sound and looked upstairs to see him.. His response, "Grammie, what are you doing here?!"!!
CBS devotion
A while back, I was asked to give the devotion for my Bible Study group about our
faith journey we were on recently.
We have about 140 people enrolled..... I could never have considered
doing this before our journey we took with our Mother in 2010, but now, going back
over those weeks and months in my mind, I wanted to share it.
Speaking in front of a room full of people is certainly out of my comfort zone,
but it wasn`t about me.
Our Faith Journey from 2010
I have been going through an old blog that I had for years, as I transfer to my new site. I came across this one on my timehop this morning, that I posted 4 years ago.
Ah. the memories. Hard to read some of these words, but always, always, it brings a smile to my heart to think of her with Him today.....
Peach Meringue Pie
When I was growing up, my grandmother would make THE best peach meringue pie. She would roll out her own crust, mix the filing, but.... the best part to look at would be that mile high meringue! It was at least 3 inches high! My Mother could make meringue equal to my grandmothers for sure. But that is where that talent stopped! It is not because I don`t try... but mine starts out pretty then by the time it goes in the oven to brown and sits out a minute, it starts crying and pops all the air out! The good news is that it still tastes good just not quite as pretty!I wanted to share her recipe and maybe if meringue beating is in your list of talents, you can whip up one of these peach pies that looks as good as hers did! Happy Cooking!!
Good friends
Last weekend, we went to Atlanta to stay with some good, good friends, Bill and Vicki. They were such good hosts, we felt like we were in a Bed and Breakfast Inn! Had a great dinner out, home for dessert then talked late into the night. When we got up the next morning, Vicki had put on quite the spread for breakfast! It all looked so pretty and tasted great. As to not hurt her feelings, Tom and I cleaned our plates.
Afternoon with Grammie
Yesterday I picked up my little grandson, Heston, from his daycare, early afternoon, to spend the afternoon with. He was staying with us through dinner and bedtime. It has become our custom, all two times, to stop by the bakery in Homewood and get a treat after I pick him up. Last time we got him a special cookie, this time he spotted Superman cupcakes! So, that was his choice, since he is really into super heroes right now.
Unexpected little gifts
As I reflect on my summer, one hard thing was to say goodbye, once again, to my daughter. Just got her home from Baylor after graduation for a few weeks, then it was time to pack her up again. This time to Knoxville, not quite as far as Waco, Texas, but away from home just the same. I know it was a good thing, a normal thing to do after graduation and I am so very thankful for her job there in Knoxville.
Day trip to Little River Canyon
My son and wife have bought some property near Little River Falls, 5 acres to play on last year. Yesterday they called me early, with my husband out of town, to see if I wanted to ride with them up there to see it for a last minute day trip. Well, I had to think just a minute cause after all, I am still getting over knee surgery. I didn`t want to slow them down on their adventure, so I said I would call him right back. I jumped in the shower and started to get ready after a few minutes of thinking what a nice day it would be, and called to say that I would be there in a few minutes.
How much of your life do you want God to change?
I read a great devotion this morning about giving God our all to transform. If we only give him half, that is all He has to work with. Really gives me something to think about today.... just how much am I giving Him?