Thinking Awards and other nice things...

In spite of a few minor set-backs in my little life this week (see post below) I have also had some nice surprises along the way, too.

First of all, I found out that I had been tagged for the thinking blogger award by my good friend, Susie. I just love her....and she said such very sweet things about me in this post.

I must say that it's always nice to be recognized for putting thought and sometimes our very hearts into a post. Not that every post is this way, but some are for me. I wish I could say they all trickled effortlessly from my fingertips to the keyboard, but some posts actually make me feel exhausted by the time I hit "publish" and I'm ready for a nice soak in the tub.
So many of you also put so much thought into your wonderful posts- and therefore, it's truly hard for me to pick just five other bloggers to award this to, in return.
Because that's what we are suppose to do...nominate five other bloggers and "pay it forward".

So...although this is nearly impossible and I want to name 50 instead...here's just five:

1) E-mom at Chrysalis
She has written some incredible "thinking" posts about so many topics. She has an endless supply of references and quotes, Scriptures for the topic, and fun pictures, too...I can honestly say that not only am I blessed whenever I stop by, I usually learn something, too!

2) Joyful Woman
She is a superb writer (a published one, at that) and has written so many posts that have caused me to think. She can be at times witty, poignant or inspirational...and if anyone deserves the Thinking Award, she is definitely one!

3) Susan at Learning for a Lifetime
I just met her through the Ultimate Blog Party and I just love how she speaks from her heart. She seems to have such a wise and caring heart, and I've been blessed each time I stop by!

4) Chris at Come to the Table
Another new blog friend, and she is even newer to me! But her posts also speak eloquently from the heart as she writes about parenting and growing in Christ.

5) Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee
Yet another new friend whom I met at that cool blogging party!
She is not only my exact age (we're starting a 40's club for this awkward, wonderful stage of life!) but she has an incredible talent for getting her point across by lacing it with humor. I just love her style!

So, there are my picks...and let me tell you, it was tough! Just know, if I read your blog at all, that means there is something about it- or you- I really, really like a lot!



The other nice surprise this week was finding a box on my doorstep. You see, I won Pea's One World HeART giveaway and my prize finally arrived!

I hurried and opened my box...

Isn't that cute? And then I lifted the lid...


I oohed and ahhhed... isn't this so incredibly beautiful? And to think it has chocolates inside, too...


And then I gave it a place of honor on my island counter, complete with petals from my camellia bush!
Thank you again, Pea!

And as for my previous post, let me just thank each of you who gave your own personal thoughts on the aging process and the "40's" in particular. It so helps to get those other perspectives- both those that are a bit more positive than my own at the moment...and those that can also relate. And those that are a little of both!

Oh, and yes, Mom...I know. Eye doctor and reading glasses soon...promise!
(Funny how moms are still your moms no matter how old both of you get!)

I won't be posting again for a few days, but will be around to read your posts when I can. My husband has a couple days off and we're all heading to the mountain before the snow melts. I promise to bring my camera!

God bless and have a wonderful weekend!

Don't Mind Me...I'm just going through my Awkward Stage

Recently, my friend, Morning Glory along with Lei have started a new writing forum with varying topics called "Woman to Woman." Their first topic was called "In this Skin" and though I didn't actually participate, it was a subject near and dear to my heart.

I'm beginning to think it's not puberty that is the real awkward age for us girls...
No. It's the early forties. (OK...maybe mid-forties.)

Especially when for most of our lives we have looked relatively young- or at least liked to think so. Suddenly, we are looking not so young anymore...yet, not quite old enough to be receiving senior discounts. And we don't know what to do with ourselves.

Such an awkward age.

Yesterday, I went shopping with my little girls. (Thankfully, being an older mommy, I have never been told what cute "grandkids" I have. For that, I am extremely grateful.)
But with age comes that metabolism thing...I'm not sure the medical term, but it's commonly called, "The Dressing Room Blues."
It's that syndrome where you try on clothes sizes that you use to wear, only to scream, cry and whimper.

But yesterday, I was too smart for that, and reached for clothes that I knew might possibly work on this post-par tum, pre-menopausal mama. I also picked out something each for the girls to try on.
I'm not ashamed to say, that as a one-income, home schooling family, we're on a strict budget. But Kmart (yes, K-mart!) was having a huge sale, and since I rarely shop for new clothes for myself anymore, I was feeling giddy reaching for Jacqueline Smith tags fresh off the rack.
"Come on, girls...let's go try these on...and let me know which ones look best on me."

My girls, apparently having the universal female shopping gene, seemed thrilled at this rare opportunity as we found our little dressing room and tried on our finds.
When I modeled one of the tops, however, my seven year old took it upon herself to inform me that I "looked pregnant in that one".

"Hmmm...I don't want to look pregnant, honey," I said, steadfastly keeping a brave smile on my face.

"Sorry Mommy... but you do."

I only felt slightly better when moments later, she informed her four year old sister that she, too, looked pregnant in her blouse.

After picking out my clothes (and choosing the non-pregnant top) we paid for our purchases and headed to the grocery store. All went well, until a lovely woman, in her early 60's, exclaimed to me,
"You look just like my sister!"
She seemed like a very sweet woman, and truly, I wasn't actually offended. To know you have a "twin" out there is always an interesting concept.
But I kept waiting for her to add adjectives like " my Baby sister" or perhaps..."my little sister who is actually young enough to be my daughter." Or even, "My sister who was my mom's mid-life surprise baby that came when I was already married and had three children...you're so young and cute like her, I just want to pinch your cheeks!"

She did say something I was unable to hear...so I'm hoping that must have been it. Yep, I'm sure of it...I'd stake my Oil of Olay on in it!

So, all in all, I'm finding the forties a truly awkward age.
I think by the time you reach your fifties, you began to embrace your new kind of beauty and wisdom. You begin to feel more comfortable in who you are.

But I'll be honest- I'm just not there, yet. This in-between stage is strangely unpleasant. But then, change almost always is difficult.
In a few short years, my blossoming daughters will be going through their own awkward changes and perhaps mourning their own fading childhood along the way, just as- let's face it- I'm mourning not being 25 anymore.

But I know there's more to this whole thing than just the negative...I just need to find the positive. I know it's in there somewhere...if I just look a little harder. I think I see glimpses of it now and then....

Maybe, if I just broke down and bought those reading glasses, I'd see it more clearly.
But no...that would make me look like I'm in my forties, so I'll just try and squint real hard and maybe it will turn up.

Wordless Wednesday... Incognito

Getting new Dollar Tree sunglasses leads to playing "movie stars" all day long.

It's Hip to be Square

I admit it. I am part of of a minority. But I can not hide it much longer.... as I visit blog after blog, friend after friend, it becomes apparent that the time to simply come out with the truth cannot be put off any longer.

I don't watch American Idol.
There. I said it. And I hope that those of you who are "normal" will still like me just a little, quirk and all.

I don't know when this whole quirky thing happened for me. I started out adult life just fine...watched Entertainment Tonight at least two or three times a week, knew who was divorcing whom, and even sat through personal interviews from the likes of Vanna White.
Every year I faithfully watched the Oscars and once in awhile, even a Golden Globe.
And of course the Emmy's. I was there to see Susan Lucci give her annual good-natured smile year after year after snubbed year...

And of course there were the sitcoms. I watched Seinfield and Cheers and even Designing Women. Oh, I was a hip single gal, let me tell ya'.

But something happened soon after I got married. I know it hasn't happened to most of you, but that's OK, because this is my story.
Something slowly...subtly began to change and I started watching more of that new channel called HGTV. Not the Food Channel though...not yet...that would come later...

Oh, it was innocent enough at first...just a few minutes here and there while channel surfing in-between sitcoms. Soon, though, I was watching whole episodes at a time and before I knew it, I was noticing when Suzanne Whong from House Hunters grew out her bangs.

I wasn't completely a lost cause yet, though...after my first baby was born, I became part of the mass of viewers glued to the set each week for Survivor. Hubby would sometimes watch with me to be nice, but he could take it or leave it. But this was before we had two TV's so he usually had to take it, and be quiet about it...especially at the end when they all gathered around the smug young guy with the torch, as the next victim was kicked off island- crying bitter tears because she no longer could fry up grasshoppers for dinner with people she loathed. It was all so intense and I wondered how I would endure until the next Thursday.

But...somehow...after two seasons...I began to strangely not care. I can't explain why...only that the pull of what they would find hidden behind 100 year old houses began to lure me with "If Walls Could Talk"...and then....

Then, I was actually flipping over to the Food Network and watching Paula Deen and wishing she were related to me so she'd come over with her homey accent and fix me some southern fried chicken and sweet tea...
and then came the real excitement- "The Next Food Network Star"!
Talk about a nail-biting reality show...those poor contestants would have to rattle on and cook in front of the judges without making a dork out of themselves or it was curtains!

(And speaking of curtains, those 20-something kids on Design on a Dime could whip up gorgeous drapes out of a moth-eaten bedspread, don't you think?)

In the mornings, it's a different world altogether, though. When I allow television time before 5 pm, my world consists of The Disney Channel and PBS.Kids. (Those Backyardians are really talented!)

So...there you have the whole, sorted tale. And the sad fact is, that my 78 year old aunt, as well as my mom who turned 80 watch American Idol faithfully. In fact, Mom seems to know all the young, hip celebrities and keeps me informed if someone gets married, has a face lift or passes away in Hollywood.
But unless their from the old movies, I have to ask who she's talking about. Most of the time, she mentions someone under 30 and then I haven't the vaguest idea who it is she's talking about.

There's something strangely backwards about this scenereo...

But it works out alright. Between my cable channels and the Nick Jr. shows that my children watch, I keep her current, as well. She would be none the wiser if it wasn't for me telling her who won the "Ace of Cakes" ...and of course, you can imagine how totally informed I felt the day I casually mentioned that Go Diego Go was actually Dora's cousin. The woman had no clue, even though it was old news.

So, I'll stay warmly in my little bubble here, watching my little shows....while you talk amongst yourselves about "24" and "Lost". (Nope, never saw them either...not even once! Just have heard about them on the streets...)

Besides, I like to remember Paula Abdul the way she was....when she was dancing with a cartoon animal on VH1. That's when entertainment was true entertainment.

That Spring Reading Thing

I am so happy that Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting another reading challenge.
Because even though I have always been a book lover from the time I first learned to read, we all know that sometimes our busy lives can make it a little harder to settle in with that good book and cup of cocoa whenever we feel like it.

And harder yet, when we do other important things...like blogging.

Money doesn't grow on trees for us at the moment, but happily, the new church we have been going to has an awesome library. This place is wonderful...so spacious, with an incredible assortment of books, CD's and DVD's for both adults and children, that we make it a tradition to go up there every Sunday after services to choose more things to borrow.

I could browse in there all afternoon, but for some reason the church librarians want to go home to their families and eat lunch or something. Oh well!

I said all of that to say this...I noticed they have a huge assortment of both fiction and non-fiction that is fairly new. So hopefully, they will have a couple of the items on my Spring reading list.
So, without further ado...(and I've already given you lots of ado) here's what I hope to be reading:

Fiction:

(I already started reading this one....it's a Fall Reading Challenge book that I never got to...)
1) Sisterchicks in Gondolas! by Robin Jones Gunn
She is one of my favorite authors, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting twice. (She's also the author of the wonderful book I recently mentioned, "Gardenias for Breakfast".)
I have to admit, the Sisterchicks series doesn't grab me as well as her Glenbrook series, but when you can take a virtual trip without leaving your sofa, it's almost always fun.

2) At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
I am one of the very few who have not read the Mitford series yet! I keep hearing so much about them that I decided this would be the perfect time to crack open the first book in the series.

3) The Prince by Francine Rivers
I've only read one Francine Rivers book so far (And the Shofar Blew) and it was excellent. Though I tend to lean towards stories that are lighter when I want to relax, I would love to read another book by this great author and I heard some great things about this one!

4) Stranded in Paradise by Lori Copeland
In keeping with my tendency to lean towards lighter books, I chose this one. I like Lori Copeland...and after my own recent disasterous moments in paradise, I wanted to read about someone else's!

5) Yuletide in Ireland and Wales by Ginny Aiken and Tamela Hancock Murray
Another book of light reading, this is one of those two stories in one fare, which takes the readers to a journey of 19th Celtic romance in 19th century. I admit it...I love romance!

Non-ficton:

1) Lessons from a Sheepdog by Phillip Keller
I actually read the children's book to my girls last month based on this original true story and we loved it. It's an allegory of God's love for us in this story of how the author rescues an unloved dog who becomes his loyal friend.

2) "Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining and Bad attitudes in you and your kids!"
by Scott Turansky, D. Min. and Joanne Miller, RN., B.S.N.
How's that for a title? I know you're laughing, but I borrowed this from a friend and after reading the first chapter, I know I need to finish this one! And no...my children aren't that bad...but they do have their moments- and so do I!

3) Facing Your Giants by Max Lucado
While flipping through my catalog, I came across this book and immediately, I wanted to read it. I'm not sure if it will be in my library yet, but if not, perhaps I can order it...it looks worth it.

If I somehow get through all of these, I would also like to read:
The Cure for the Common Life also by Max Lucado.

So...there you have it! Whew!...I guess I better get off the computer and get going!
But I'm so glad Katrina said that we shouldn't worry if we don't make every book on our list. The point is, to simply have a list and start reading and sharing.

So...hope you join me!

Sure signs of Spring

Above is the only one member of our family not feeling sick or tired this past week. If only I could package this energy... she obviously has a taste of spring fever...(or just plain puppy-itus.)

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The first day of Spring? Can it be so?

Well, there's a few signs in the air, as well as on the calendar.
For one, the tulips (my favorite flower) which we planted a few years ago are just starting to open their sweet little buds...


And the bush I posted about a few weeks ago is now completely bursting forth with those pretty little Camellias... while our winter wood pile is just about depleted.


Oh...and in Bloggityville, there's another little sign...

I'll be participating in this fun reading challenge, which begins today! Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting another reading challenge, so go take a peek.
But I won't be able to post my list until next time...so stay tuned!

So spring has indeed sprung...(unless you're one of my friends up north, still buried in a mountain of white!)

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And here's just a quick update on our "doin's"...

Both of my girls have been sick with some sort of cold bug since last week...first my oldest caught it and seemed to have the worst of it all. However, my youngest- poor Lil Cherub- had a horrible night last night (and therefore, so did I, of course!) with an earache. I took her to the doctor this morning to find out she has a double ear infection! She has never been prone to these things at all...I think this is her second ear infection in almost five years.

And aren't you all glad that they make antibiotics in a charming shade of princess pink these days?

They're both on the mend, so oldest Sweetiegirl was able to make her little performance for her last day of acting class. Hubby came straight after work to see the show.
Look out, Broadway...here comes the 1st through 3rd graders in "Mystery of the Forest"!
My child gave a stellar performance as one of the girls lost in the forest. And in all seriousness, we were pretty proud when our normally shy little girl bounced onto the scene on cue and said all of her lines without help, complete with animated voice! (Not that I'm bias or anything...)

So...now I must excuse myself. Oldest daughter is gone to Awana with her daddy and I'm staying home with the little antibiotic princess and have promised to sit with her while she watches 3-2-1 Penguins.
She and I are both kind of going on "fumes" this evening...in fact, with our mutual lack of sleep, I'm surprised we're each as chipper as we are!

Must be Spring....

Edited to add the following...
I'm so excited to find out I was the winner of Pea's "One World- One HeART" give-away!!! I was late finding out, because of day I just described...Thank you, Pea!
Also, my mom (the recent 80 year old birthday girl!) just wrote a wonderful story about her own first car, after reading mine about Dad. Go check it out!
Now...after doing some school work with the girls, I'm off to read your posts...
Blessings!

Model T Tales

I have started participating in the Carnival of Genealogy...I'm posting this early for the next topic, "Funny, foolish family". This can be about any fun story related to your family history, so if you have one you'd like to share, just click on the link above! (It's not due until April 1st.)
My story isn't so much foolish, but just perhaps a little cute. Hope you enjoy it!

A few years before the time of this story

It was the very early 1930's, and as the Depression raged on, there was in one neighborhood in Texas, a little boy with a big imagination and heart for adventure. He was his mama's only child, and there were many a times he helped to add a few premature gray hairs to her head.

He was also very much the little "Ladies Man", even from the very earliest age. When he was about five or six years old, he had a little girlfriend from the neighborhood that he attempted to impress on a regular basis.

One day, he was playing around the family model T, with the little object of his affection nearby. As his mother went about her housecleaning duties, he burst through the kitchen door and excitedly asked her if he could take "Susie" for a ride.
His mother smiled...What would be the harm, letting them sit in the car and pretend to drive, she thought to herself.
With her approval, he happily ran back to Susie and the model T.
Now for those of you who might not be up on automotive history, this early auto was the kind that had a huge, heavy crank in the front. It took a very strong turn of the arm to get the engine even started.

Minutes later, the little boy's mother froze in mid-air as she heard the sound of their car starting up. In a flash, she was out the door, running towards them...the little girl sitting calmly in the passenger seat and her little son looking quite proud as he stood in front of the chugging automobile.

"Son, what are you doing?" she exclaimed, as she rushed to turn off the engine.

"You said I could take her for a ride!" he declared, looking somewhat confused and disappointed.
"I was just about to get in and take her around the block!"

From then on, every inquiry was taken at face value. Never again, did she underestimate what her son was capable of when he set his mind to it!

That little boy was my dad, and his mother I lovingly called "Gammee". And although it happened so many decades ago, the fact that they both could tell me this story in person, helps to make it a bit more personal to me...and hopefully, since I'm only one generation down, I can re-tell it without too many facts getting muddled along the way!

(My dad, at age 18, with one of his old cars)

A few years later, when my dad was a teen and actually able to legally drive, he took both his dad and an uncle for a ride. The car they were able to afford was still of the antique variety so as they sped on down the road, his uncle shouted frantically from the passenger seat,
"Slow down, son! You're going fifteen miles per hour!!!"


But fast-forward a few decades later, and my dad gave me my first car....a big old brown Plymouth Valliant "grandma" car because it was nice and safe...and he'd grip the door handle for dear life whenever I drove just a tad too fast for his liking.

I guess the more things change, the more things stay the same.

The Wearin' of the Green

Top O' the Mornin' to you!

Just a very quick hello...with a promise to try and catch up on all of your posts this evening. (Again, for the upteenth time, forgive me for being so far behind!)

Does anyone else enjoy St. Patrick's Day traditions? I have a little Irish in me on both sides, so I'm partial to this day. Every year, I have to make corn beef and cabbage (my girls are less than thrilled at this) and our family watches "The Quiet Man", a wonderful movie about an American who goes back to his mother's home in Ireland, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It's one of those movies I know by heart, but don't ever get tired of watching...
"There's be no locks or bolts between us, Mary Kate Danneher!"

(Sorry, sometimes I just start quoting...)

Oh, and we all wear green, of course!

The girls both have colds today, but we're hoping that won't stop us from having just a little fun. (They might not be up to dancing Irish jigs, but maybe we can listen to our Irish music and eat green jello.)

Yesterday, our home school group had a party in honor of the day.




And a good time was had by all!



How can you not, when you get to eat Oreo's with green creme filling and wear a crazy shamrock hat that you made yourself?




So...
what are some of your St. Patrick's Day traditions?

Let me know...and then go enjoy them! Oh, and try not to get pinched!

Where's there's Smoke...

The great thing about being a home school parent is that my children aren't always the only ones learning. Here's...

What I learned today on our field trip today:

1) There is a difference between a fire truck and a fire engine.

2) Firefighters spend a third of their life living at the fire station. Meals and showers are frequently interrupted by emergency calls.

3) Their favorite room is usually the kitchen. There are three refrigerators there, so they can keep better tabs on their own food. (Keep out of my salsa, buddy!)

4) Most firefighters are men...therefore, the TV room is made up of a dozen recliners. (Individual dueling remotes most likely not supplied.)

5) If sleeping when the alarm goes off, a firefighter can wake and be dressed with full gear in just 90 seconds. (And they wear a lot of gear!)


6) Firefighters can be excellent tour guides, even to groups of children ranging from age 2 through 13 (or should I say 40-something) and keep all of our interests.

7) Girls ages 4 and 7 like to return home from seeing a fire station to play fire fighting women, named Captain Elizabeth and Lieutenant Sarah.

8) As much as I admire firefighters and the brave work they do, I really do not want to some day be the mother of two firefighters...but they are welcome to pretend for now.

9) We need to stop procrastinating and formulate a family plan for escape and have a fire drill. (Stop, Drop and Roll!)

10) Firefighters are not only extremely brave individuals, but they have a very generous spirit, as well. I don't think they are thanked nearly enough for all that they do!

WFMW...Interviewing Grandparents

I guess this can be considered a Works For Me Wednesday post! (And head over to Rock in my Dryer for many more Wednesday tips!)

Since I'm fresh off of a weekend visit with mom who is also known affectionately by my children as "Nammy", I wanted to share a home school project that we did...and that can be done by any family, whether you home school or not.

In fact, this idea started as something I wanted to do with our children and the residents of the retirement we visit monthly. I thought it would be fun to have each child in our home school group "interview" a resident about their early memories. A learning experience for the children, and probably something that the older people would enjoy, as well.

We hope to do this next month...but in the meantime, I told my second grader that she should consider interviewing her own Nammy. So, she picked five questions and sat with a paper and pencil, to record her answers.

"What was your favorite toy when you were my age?"
Nammy would think, then list off a few of her very favorites...spawning more memories and stories along the way.

"Did you have any pets?"
Nammy answered this one with a surprise...not a dog or a cat, as granddaughter expected- but a rat! A wild rat that lived in thier attic and came when you whistled!

When my daughter was through with her interview, she wrote a paper based on her answers. She wanted to make it partly fiction since she likes to write this way, so she took the facts and embellished on them. The result was wonderful!

Here is an excerpt: (complete with misspelled words!)
"Right now Ruthy was getting redy too go too the movies with her mom. She was going too see Hide! (Heidi), a Shirlie Temple movie. Her mom payed five cence and they watched the movie together. When it was over, they went home together and then it was time for her faverite job...helping her mom wash the dishes!"

and then later...
"It was time for heer favrite radeo show and she was right buy the radeo and it was alredy on! When the show was over, Ruthy almost forgot abot her pet rat. Everyone looked very hard. They cold't find Snowball the rat anwhere for five days." - based on her grandma's true tale!

So, whether you home school or not, what is important, I think, is encouraging your children to ask questions of their grandparents and great-grandparents. They hold a wealth of information....of history lived first-hand, and hopefully, some extra wisdom.

I remember when I was growing up, I would listen intently as my grandmother told me stories of her growing up years...and I'm so glad I did! Once they are gone from your lives, you cannot get those moments back to learn and glean from their past.

Not to mention that is just plain sweet to sit, cuddled up next to a grandparent, and hear all those stories from his or her own lips... it not only bonds the generations but gives us all a sense of continuity.
And a sense of old-fashioned comfort in this fast-paced life in which we all live.

"Nammy's" Birthday Weekend

The girls and I just said our good-byes as we watched my mom pull away in her van.
Yes, she not only still drives, but my little 80 year old mom drives a big old van. She says it she likes how her 4'11 self can tower over the freeway. And she just had her license renewed, so if you see her comin' your way, just move over to the slow lane and get out of her way! heehee

Seriously, we had a wonderful time. No big fan fare, no huge throngs of guest nor parades in her honor...but a wonderful visit, nonetheless.
She arrived Saturday around noon, and because the children were at an Awana racing event with their daddy, it gave us a chance to visit quietly for awhile.
Later, she and girls watched movies and read stories...just spent some good old-fashioned "grandma" time.

(At far right, the girl watch as "Nammy" opens her presents.)

Sunday morning, we all went to church together...something that hasn't happened in a long while... and would you believe, that the message was partly about honoring those people who are of age, both men and women, and caring for the widows? Very timely!

Our pastor is fairly young- about 40, if that- with small children, so I found it refreshing that he was focusing on this subject a bit.
Afterwards, even though the congregation is large and service was the middle of three, I decided that my mom's 80th birthday was reason enough to try detaining him a moment and introducing her. Only two other people were ahead of me on this idea, so it worked out well.
At our turn, he didn't disappoint, but came down the steps and spoke to her with such graciousness and the honor she was due.

I think she might have appreciated the meeting more, if she hadn't needed to make a mad dash for the Ladies Room about then...but still.

After church, I had to do another quick clean-up around the house (didn't I just clean the day before?) and then the girls helped me decorate her little home-made cake. As you can see, nothing fancy...just made with lots of love. We only had a few minutes before my sister in law, Molly, stopped by, as well as one of my good friends, Missy, her little girl and a friend, to join us in our festivities.

Hubby has been given opportunities to fix a few cars lately, and earn a bit of needed extra money...so because he was under a deadline, he had to spend most of the weekend in the garage.
But at least he was able to join us for church, and later, gifts and cake. He even managed to pick a few beautiful Camellias for her!



The rest of the day was filled with simple pleasures. She and the girls decided to all finger paint together! My mom rarely gets the chance to smoosh her hands aroundf paints these days, so she was enjoying this childhood joy all over again.
The paintings pictured here are the two that she painted. She declared, with a laugh, "I'm no Grandma Moses"...but I think these are treasures, don't you think?

(My mom and daughters painting away...)




And at some point during the day, my oldest was even able to convince her arthritic "Nammy" to try playing Nintendo with her! Apparently, she was not too tuckered out from all the celebrating, and seemed to be actually enjoying herself.

Nammy zoomin' around the virtual tracks

I guess maybe something comes over you on your 80th birthday...maybe you go from feeling like maybe you're too old... to feeling like you just want to jump into life while you still have that kick!

The weekend seemed to fly by for all of us. And because it wasn't going to be a huge celebration, I worried that it would be good enough. But because she said more times than I can count just how wonderful her birthday was, I really believe it is true.

Thank you!

I just wanted to thank so many of you for not only replying to my 80th birthday tribute to my mom, but taking the time to go over and wish her a happy birthday personally. It truly means so much to me, and she was so very touched, reading all your comments! Thank you, thank you...you all are the best.

Speaking of her blog, she has written a new post about remembering life when childhood diseases were still rampant. I encouraged her to write more of her early memories, so she is obliging!

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And may I just say- I'm sorry to be so behind on some of your posts! Life has just seemed to be a little busier this week... and since my mom is coming up this weekend, I have a few extra cleaning tasks to do that so easily get pushed aside. You know...like, um...dusting.

Dusting is not something I do on a daily basis. OK....not on a weekly basis, either. It's on a company's coming basis. And even though my mom is not truly company but family, I just happened to look around and notice that...well...I don't think we've had company coming in a looooong time.

Lucky for me, my mom is not one to do the white glove test.
I still remember that commercial from when I was growing up... does anyone else remember this one?
The poor woman's mother-in-law came for lunch and proceeded to walk around the house marking in the dust on the furniture with her white glove. That poor daughter in law endured this humiliating moment all because she forgot her Lemon Pledge.

On top of the dusting, there's just a few other little tasks around the house that I need to do. For one, I promised my seven year old daughter a game of Nintendo before she goes to bed. Yes...Santa brought Nintendo for the girls...or for their daddy, I'm still unclear here. But since Daddy is busy tonight, I'm elected. And Mommy hasn't had much practice, plus I get a wee bit carsick towards the end of each virtual race. But a mom's life is wrought with sacrifices...like feeling woozy and getting laughed at by Mario.

So, I best go now. And please forgive me if I'm a little scarce this weekend. I may visit a few of you here and there...but my time will be limited for the next couple days, since I want to spend as much time with my mom on her special weekend as I can.
I hope to visit most of you very soon...and I'll be sure to let you know how our quiet little festivities go- maybe with a picture or two!

Thank you again on her behalf for all of the birthday wishes! You are all blessings to me!

Hello everyone! If you are new and here via the party, feel free to stop by this post and help yourself to some punch! And speaking of parties...I hope you enjoy the birthday post below in honor of my mom, who is turning 80 this Sunday!
Thank you so much to those of you who have already popped over to her place with good wishes! You are so appreciated!

Happy Partying!

80 Years...Forever Young

This Sunday, my mom will be reaching a tremendous milestone. She is turning 80.

This is so hard for me to believe, and even harder for her, as she will be the first to tell you! She is one of the youngest women her age that I know. I think you know what I mean...deep inside, where it counts. She is the personification of the phrase, "young at heart".

I was her only child. And I have never, for one moment, gone without feeling her love for me from the time I was born, until 44 years later.

Some days, this was no easy task. Some days, I'm sure she didn't like me very much. But she always loved me. And I love her. Now she not only my mother, but one of my very dearest friends.

I could go on to write a book about how special she is to me...but I will try and contain it to this one, medium- sized post. I will end up having to leave so much out that could be said.
But I wanted to honor her in this way because...after all, turning 80 is something special. And so is she.



Ruthie was born in Ohio in 1927, on the cusp of stock market crash, making her a true Depression era child. This childhood was usually less than happy...her parents marriage was plagued with tension and discord and her father would float in and out of their lives. But in spite of this, and the hardships of the day in which she grew up, she and her sister managed to have some happy times along the way.

(My mom is 22 months older, on the right.)
Her mother had been previously married but he had died in the big influenza epidemic, leaving her with a son to raise on her own. (That son later became a much beloved big brother to both girls.)
Whether my grandmother married my grandfather out of convenience or out of love, I will never really know. But the result were some very rocky years, and the marriage ultimately ended in divorce when Ruthie was around 16. She said, in spite of the unhappy home life, that this was one of the most difficult times in her life.

Eventually, my mom went to college for four years, leaving home for Tennessee to attend William Jennings Brian. These, it turned out, were some of her happiest years to that point in her life. She blossomed and was finally able to be herself and enjoy life and wonderful Christian friends.

Yet, something still remained unfulfilled in her. She was single, though one of her deepest desires was to marry and have a family.

Finally, that time came her way. When she was 30, she met my father as they both waited for the same telephone booth in, of all places, Hollywood! They soon married after a whirlwind courtship. Although only two years her senior, he seemed to be a lifetime older, having been married and divorced, with two children. (He had originally married at only 17!) She may have been thirty, but she still had quite a young and innocent spirit.
During their first married summer together, her new 9 and 15 year old step-daughters stayed with the newlyweds in their cramped little trailer house, giving "cozy" a whole new meaning. The youngest daughter was said to have been cold and resentful of the new marriage, which was somewhat understandable... but to my sweet mom, trying to be their friend while adjusting to married life, it was all a bit overwhelming.

(Here she is, in front of the infamous trailer. And isn't she gorgeous here?) Yet, everyone survived this summer ... and nearly six years later, I was born.
And she always told me that becoming a mom was one of the things she wanted most in life. And feeling so loved and cared for growing up, I can truly believe this.
Life was not always perfect for her from this time on. Far from it. But she always remained a loving and caring person to others, as well as a devoted mother to me through every age and stage...until this very day.

She waited a long time to become a grandmother, but her age doesn't stop her from being a doting one and relishing the role abundantly.

I have left out so very much of her eighty years of life. Life that she lived through during the Depression, WWII, and all of the decades following. The jobs she held, the friends she had. And so many of the not-so-good years during my dad's alcoholism. I left out all of the compassion she has shown to so many. The happier years of her marriage towards the end. My parents ministries that they shared together. And most of all, her faith and walk with Jesus most of her life.

But then...as I said, that would be the book I could write. Because she has been, and always will be, an inspiration to me.







Happy 80th Birthday, Mom!


*Please... go on over and wish her a happy birthday. Although she doesn't write or reply often, she has her own blog and would love to read your good wishes! She will be spending her birthday weekend with us so feel free to send your wishes early!
**Edited to fix a few late night errors...and to thank those of you who already stopped by her place with birthday wishes. That means a lot! (Keep 'em coming...)

A Party Photo-Tag..."Bump"!

If you here visiting via the party, please feel free to scroll down to the previous post and help yourself to a nice Hawaiian punch!

Is any else' s eyesight getting blurry from visiting with everyone? It's so much fun, and I'm working my way randomly through...but wow, I have a feeling if I actually did visit all of the hundreds that my kids wouldn't get fed and my seat would permanently be glued to this chair!

We had a rare weekend of spring-like weather come our way after days and days of cold rain and winds. And guess what? More rain is forecasted for the rest of the week. But this little taste was sure wonderful!

I happened to stumble on a little photo-tag that Stephanie from Adventures in Babywearing is hosting called "Bump". In other words, showing off big beautiful pregnant selves!
So I decided to play, it being party week and all.

This was when I was expecting my youngest, who is now soon to be five years old. Can it be???

I love how we got that nursery looking all sweet. We had just moved to this house and this picture was taken, I'm pretty sure, the same month Lil Cherub was born.

You know how it is...you paint (or rather, make your hubby paint) you put up cute borders after painstakingly search through hundreds of samples (or rather, you look through samples, have hubby put up border) and then put the right pictures up and break hormonal sweat watching hubby move furniture just so. It was finally perfect.

However...baby girl #2 would have nothing to do with her crib. Plus, she nursed almost constantly, and mommy was too tired to battle it and decided co-sleeping was just the ticket.
When she did graduate from Our Room, she moved into Sissy's Room.

But doesn't it look cute?

For more Bump pictures at the link above...and I tag all of you moms- no matter how long it's been- to show your bump!

Have fun this week- and don't forget to leave your party chair once in awhile, gals!

It's Blog Party Time

Aloha and welcome...
It's time to open our doors to the Ultimate Blog Party!

For those family and friends that aren't apart of Blogville, this is a time where some of us are introducing ourselves...hosting a little connecting blog party.
So...may I offer you some punch? Or a little cup of my children's apple juice, perhaps?

Let me start by saying just a little about myself...
And, no... I don't live in Hawaii. Sorry. But I have been there twice and the picture above is of my husband and I on our tenth anniversary. Our first time on the sands of Waikiki and Maui! (Not bad for two middle-agers over 40, huh? Funny, how this was just two years ago but I have to color my hair even more often now, and use industrial strength Oil of Olay...)
I use to say I wanted to move to Maui after our first romantic time there. Then we went back this past fall as a family where we endured an earthquake, sunburns, and rainstorms, all in the course of a week. I wrote about it in 3-parts here...but it's not for the faint-hearted.

I met my sweet husband on a blind date 14 years ago. Our love story is told in this post.

We have two little girls, ages 4 and 7 which I currently home school. They really keep me busy...but they truly can be the sweetest things ever sometimes!

As you can plainly see, we definitely do not live in Hawaii! We live the beautiful northwestern US...but believe it or not, this big snowfall last month was rare!

Last year, we also added a new member to our family. A little Lab\Chow puppy girl named Mandy. She was a huge handful, and is just now settling down a bit. But she's...ahem...not so little anymore. Here she is when we first brought her home the day after Thanksgiving...

And here she is now...(taken today)



And that's just at five months!

Now that you've met my family, here's just a little more about who I am...

The reason I originally started blogging last May was two-fold:

First: I wanted to keep my friend and families updated. I use to send lots of e-mail updates and pictures, and I sometimes wondered if I was beginning to become annoying! So, I thought updating a blog with our "family doin's" would keep it simple.
Second: I love to write ...and have off and on ever since I was a small child. Even though I have always preferred writing stories, I thought this would also give me an outlet for expressing some of my thoughts.

What happened was this: I found a whole network of friends that have become very real and dear to me. It has been truly a blessing to meet such wonderful people...especially other Christian women.

I have no particular "style" that I can even figure out. It is just all over the board! Once in awhile, I feel that God gives me something of to share. Sometimes, from my own experience, such as in this post. Or even this one...about No TV day.
Maybe, it's just a little Christmas poem I wrote, borrowing shamelessly from Clement Moore...as in this case.

But no matter what style of post I end up writing, I love to read each and every reply...and sometimes getting to know the people behind those little replies.

I love all things nostalgic- especially old movies- and have another little blog listed on my sidebar.
And to find out more than you ever wanted to know about me, you can find it out on My 100th Post!

So...thank you so much for stopping by. Before you move on to the next little gathering, enjoy that last sip of punch and don't mind Mandy's barking....I put her in the crate to spare you from being pounced upon and I'll be letting her out soon. Please...don't worry that you spilled a drop of punch on the carpet. The carpet has seen so much worse is definitely not afraid!

God's blessings! And do come again!