Christmas once again

Just when you think you have it made, with gifts all bought and cards
all sent out and the menu planned for the big day, something will happen
just as sure as it will be cold in December.
My friend and I usually help the church we belong to get things together
for families in our parish who are needy and some we hear about in our
community. One of these people gave us a gift list that would have taken
over a $1000 to fill, oh come now people be for real.They wanted electronics
and we don't consider that to be needy. Then we heard from a family who
had several children and what did they want?? Shoes!!! So help me I will
get those little fellas some shoes if it takes my last dime!!!Then my
friend called me, she had gone to a family we had helped at Thanksgiving
and was shocked to see they had nothing in their house. Well, she and I were
able to get some furniture and some blankets and some used clothes for
the children. My friend called me when she delivered the stuff we were able
to get at first, we are not thru with this yet, she called me with tears
she described how happy they were to get everything.Now this is the true
spirit of Christmas . If your in our neighborhood rest assured we will ask
you for help with those less fortunate then we are.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL I LOVE AND KNOW.

Baby Girl is 21 a l r e a d y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, here we are on Halloween and it is my oldest grand-daughers
birthday. She is 21 already!! It does not seem so long ago that
she was my 45th Birthday gift. She was born on Halloween but
we were not able to hold her until Nov. 1st, my b-day. I was there
before the crack of dawn to hold my precious first grandbaby. When she
came in my daughter gave her to me and said Happy Birthday Mom. Now
I ask you could there be a better gift on Gods green earth??? We took
loads of pictures and recently one of my other daughters looked
at the photo's and said oh, there is a spot on one of the photos,
no it wasn't a spot, just a tear of happiness from the first time
grandma.As you start on your adult life I wish you love and happiness
beyond measure, know that you have been and will be special to me
always even if you do drive me nuts at times.

Happy Birthday to the Youngest Grand-daughter

Yesterday was the 10th birthday of the youngest granddaughter. She is a
beautiful, smart, loving little girl any grandma would be so very proud of.
She is very talented when it comes to soccer too. It was a very special day
when she came into our lives. She was a pretty baby ( I don't have ugly
grandbabies) and she was the only one who finally crawled. I had many
enjoyable moments babysitting her. I know she is too young to remember
but we had a lot of fun playing games together.
One of the fun times we had was when she was very little and at the time
would not say the letter G. We has goats down the road from us and they
were boats to her and I was Bandma to her. We had this little disagreement
every time she came out to our house. Then out of the clear blue when
we saw the goats one day she said" look grandma at the goats". Well I had
to stop the car and we had a big laugh.
Bless you Casey, may you have a wonderful year, we love you so very
much.

Anniversary's

Today is my middle daughters wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary even tho
you are yet to wish me one. Seems like yesterday we had that beautiful, large
wedding. My daughter was a vision of beauty in a dress that looked as if it was
made for her. Even if she did have to gripe about the color of the flowers on the
wedding cake. It was a very lovely wedding at a very nice place.
My brother and his wife are having a first wedding anniversary as is my ex and
his wife. This is wedding # 3 for the both of them. Hopefully the last for each. Hope they
have many more happy ones.
My youngest daughter had her anniversary this summer, the photo she posted was
just precious, two glasses of champane and a bottle of breast milk in between.
My son and his wife share the same anniversary my husband and I are. My oh my
how time flys soon we will both celebrate our 25th.
It is a nice time to celebrate even if the two of you are the only ones but then thats
who really count right??!!
Happy Anniversary to all celebrating may you have many more happy ones.

List of Favorite Things

One of my daughters made a list of things that made her happy. What a neat idea, I have
made a list before of things I enjoy but not one of things that made me happy...there
is a difference ya know!!
My happy list:
1.Time spent with my family, especially when my son or one of my sons-in-law are
fixing dinner, love to see a man cook!!
2. Time alone somewhere away from home with my husband, just sight seeing or
doing something different.
3. Time with the eight grandchildren, I know that they are growing up so very
fast and time with each is so precious.
4. Doing something off the wall with my best friend or any of my other friends.
5. Picking fresh fruit, I know it is work but it is so very satisfying.
6. Bragging...yes bragging on my four wonderful children (that bugs them as they
are all grown) they are a family anyone would be proud of. Include my eight grandchildren
as they are all very special in the very best of ways.
7. Working with children in my church .
8. Eating some of my favorite foods..like vanilla ice cream cone, chocolate and a
good rum and coke.
Now making that list was fun, try it.
Till next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lazy goofy days of summer

I know that I am considered to be very old fashioned but some folks
these days really amaze me. Let me explain.....
Take my children, they have children of their own now and what is
considered "norm" is amazing.
My next to youngest grand-daughter ran a 5k race which we were all very
proud to say she finished 1st in her age group. The child was soaking wet
at the end of the race which we all thought was par for the race but she was
wet because her dad (my son)kept squirting her with water so she would not
get too hot. It was 70 degrees at race time.
Then my youngest daughter, proud mother of one the cutest 6 month old fella
ever put on this earth, had her baby's picture taken.He was shirtless and
had what looked like a tatoo on both arms. This grandma was soooo relieved
to hear the pictures were for fun and REAL baby pictures would soon be
coming, hopefully by my birthday as I love getting photo's of the eight
grandbabies.
My oldest grand-daughter finally has a job and is going to school but
there are some things I fail to understand. Take sheets for example, she
will not put sheets on her bed.She says she is more comfortable without
them.I was raised that you nnnnnever sleep on a bed without sheets.
My flowers have started to bloom again and my garden I had thought was
dead has brought forth tomatoes and a cucumber and okra.Guess its just
a sign of the times!!!!

Mom remembers summers so long ago

My youngest daughter wrote in her blog recently that she and a
childhood friend were remembering the smells of summer. It does
not seem so long ago to me and now just think all my children
have children of their own.I can remember the smells of summer,
children dirty and sweaty from getting into something I really
didn't want to know what it was. Loads of wild plums we picked
out in the woods, they ate as much as they picked.The wild
muscadines were so good and we always managed to find a huge bunch.
Summer always brings to mind the family who lived up the road
from us. They always had this huge garden, they were a sweet old
couple old enough to me my grandparents. They would always bring
huge sacks of food fresh out of the garden saying they had planted
too much and could I use it.Funny, all the time the children were
little they always planted too much.All those fresh vegetables
were so very good.I wonder if my children remember going to
the ole couples house to see the flower that only bloomed at
midnite????? There are many sweet smells of summer to remember.

Summer....whew!!!!

Anyone who doesn't live in Arkansas doesn't really know heat like we do
it is hot and humid. One good thing is you rarely gain weight in the summer
as you sweat it off constantly.Went to Utah one summer and the folks there
were complaining it was so hot. They had 75 degrees. We would be happy to have
that as a low in the evening. Oh well will be winter soon enough.
Been putting up vegetables like a squirrel gathering up nuts for the winter.
But oh how good that will taste in the cold months. Like strawberries and
good green beans and sweet corn!! Yum !!!!! Just could do without the
d--- bugs associated with the pickin !!!!! Right now I have as many red
dots as I do freckles and that is a lot!!!
Went swimming with a couple of Grandbabies not long ago as we had a get-together
and it was fun. Went swimming in the Buffalo River with oldest daughter
and her bf not long ago and in 100 degree heat it felt great!!
Well you'all take it easy in the heat....Thank heaven for the guy who
invented air-conditioning!!!!!

My Singer

Last sunday was like many of late. We got up and dressed for our lil
church and took off to services. As usual some of the folks who were
to show up didn't and a gal friend of mine and myself ended up being
the lectors, not really unusual as it falls in our laps pretty regular.
During the reading I was told the wrong one but was corrected by our
priest running across the altar to correct me. Funny part was later
he read the wrong thing corrected himself and went on. In the middle
of service we have a song usually song bye the organist. Well, this
time we heard a male voice. He sounded nervous at first but then went
right into the melody and sounded so good. This gal was about to burst
with pride as it was my husband and his first solo singing in church. With
many smiles and winks of approval it was enjoyed by all.I only hope that this
will be the first of many times.
Funny how it makes your heart swell with pride when you hear some
beautiful music from a loved one. My next to youngest granddaughter
plays the piano now and she is getting very good. My next to oldest
grandson plays the guitar but I haven't heard him yet and am very
anxious to do so. He used to have a beauitful voice when he was little
and he and his grandpa sang together on a few christmases.
I could go on bragging about the other grandchildren who make great
grades and play soccer like a pro and baseball like a pro but I will
save that for later.

Time Marches On

Well, here it is the begining of summer. From all signs it will be a wet Jun
and hopefully will dry out by at least August.
My newest Grandbaby came on March the 5th but I wasn't able to go see him until
the begining of May almost. Medical problems came up which scared me to death
as I thought I was ready to pass away. Due to a wonderful medical team and some
persistant family members who kept close tabs on me all came out fine. Not to
leave out all the prayers I had going for me from Arizona to Florida to Vermont.
My heartful thanks to all.
Mothers Day was a very special day for me and all the Mothers of the family.
My youngest daughter celebrated her first Mothers Day. My oldest daughter celebrated
her 21st Mothers Day. We had a delightful priest at church on Mothers Day
and he serenated (spell?) all the mothers. Well, after he sang " you are my
hero" in his beautiful voice there wasn't a dry eye among us. I lit a candle for
my mother, she has been gone for the third Mothers Day now. Whatever she was
she was my mother and you are only given one so best to make the best of it.
Like an old saying goes if you have lemons make lemonade!!
Summer will hold a lot of new times and maybe a trip or two. Keep the sunscreen
on and stay cool. Till next time.......................

Bye Snowball

For all the dog lovers especially the ones in my family you know the
heartake my hubby and I went thru yesterday. We lost our beloved Snowball
he was hit by a car who didn't stop and Snowball died within a couple of hours.
We got Snowball in December of 1999, he was 6 weeks old and a beautiful
white ball of fur. He was a registered white german shepard.His favorite thing
at first was to climb in my husbands lap, which as Snowball grew got to be
a problem.He was a gentle beautiful dog who seemed to love us and any dog we
added to our household. His favorite was Fluffie, a pomerian who he raced with
daily. He slowed down his running so Fluffie would be able to keep up with
him.
We will miss our Snowball but are comforted in the fact he is in heaven
walking with his "Buddy" again. Good Doggie Snowball.