cutest werewolf ever . . .

We attended Charlotte's school play last night!

It was wonderful!  She was wonderful!  She gets a bit nervous now that she is a little older, but I think she may be a natural when it comes to being on stage.  She had so much fun and it was a treat to watch her and the whole group perform.

Cutest werewolf ever!!!

When is monster not a monster?

. . . when you love it!

GO DUKE!

Jacob has always wanted to see Duke play in person.  So he made that happen . . . and invited his dad to go with him.  Great time for both of them.  

Smiling is good for the soul!

 

serious work . . .

This little one . . .  

the skeletons are out . . .

It's the most wonderful time

of the year!

painting . . . playing . . . and Tatum

I'm sharing a couple of paintings I started. 

I still have  more to do on them, but wanted to share what I have so far . . . 

Hopefully I will get a chance to pint later tonight.         

This one discovered painting this past weekend. 

Rather she discovered slopping in the paint water.  

She tends to get messy . . . this one!  

 

 “Do small things with great love.” 

~Mother Teresa

kids in a box 2 . . .

 They make me smile!

kids in a box . . . 30 years later

 I have wanted to recreate this photo for years.  The original was taken I believe in 1989 . . . 

It has always been one of my favorite photos of the four of them.

We had gotten a new tv . . . and of course being kids, they were more excited about playing in the box than watching the tv.

We finally did it!  Richard pieced together a bunch of cardboard . . . the kids recreated their clothes.  They were good sports doing this for me.  I laughed so hard when Sarah walked out in her pink sweats and black patent leather shoes.  Then I laughed again at Jacob's expression when he saw her. 

30 years . . .

They have grown up . . . most of them have become parents themselves.  I have watched them become adults . . . but they will always be my kids.   

love . . .

Their reactions to the simple fireworks that we had were priceless. 

 I have one video of them that I keep watching over and over . . . it makes me laugh every time.

They danced and laughed and attempted to turn cartwheels.  

By the end of the day (well past their normal bedtime) . . . they were tired and smelled like chlorine, sunscreen, and root beer floats.  

Hugging them goodbye I hugged each of them a little tighter than usual . . . because next year they will be a year older.

Cousins . . .

This makes me smile!

JOY . . .

I truly believe that you can find JOY in every day . . . and in doing that life is a bit easier.

Still working on this - (the painting and doodles - not finding joy) . . . I do that every day!

We celebrated my mom's 90th birthday this past weekend.

Not exactly as we had planned - but it was really nice.  My brother decided to make the trip to celebrate her birthday even though we postponed the full party.  (We now have to find a date where we can use the taco truck we had arranged . . . maybe we will use that to celebrate the day we can get everyone together again.)  We were able to get most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to participate in a "Zoom" birthday party?   We all sang Happy Birthday and she blew out her candles.  I had baked pie for her birthday, but Avery she had to have a birthday cake - so thanks to Avery - she had a cake also.  

Talk about JOY . . . it was the kind that brought tears to our eyes.

Clay being Clay - he didn't stay long, but it made the weekend so special for her.  

I asked people to send mom birthday cards.  This was really fun!

She ended up getting more than 70 cards!  It took her awhile to go through them all.

There were fancy cards, old cards, handmade cards, recycled cards, photographs, cards from family, cards from old friends, new friends, and people she didn't even know.

JOY!

I love this photo of Mom and Dad on their wedding day 70 years ago

April 15, 1950

A lot of life lived in 90 years.

The secret to living well and longer is: 

eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love without measure.

good day for a good day . . .

I made these a few weeks ago - just never posted a picture. 

They are small bags filled with rice.  They can be microwaved for 2 minutes to use as a heating pad, or put in the freezer to use a an ice pack.  

My granddaughter Avery loves them when they are cold . . . just to cool off when she is hot.

I have made larger one also that you can actually put around your neck, but I like these smaller ones better.  My scraps of fabric are now being sewn into masks . . . but this is a great way to use up fabric.

Our little Tatum Mae out for a walk.  She is growing so fast.

I could watch you for a single minute

and find a thousand things I love about you.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Sunshine and temperatures over 80 degrees

Walking every day

Taking pictures

Flip Flops

Staying up late 

Feeling rested

Binge watching shows with Richard (presently we are watching Ozark)

Planting sunflower seeds

Happy Birthday Logan!

How can he be ONE already?

ONE cute boy!

Happy Birthday Logan!

How wonderful life is

now you're in the world.

Good Morning Lily . . .

I have the joy of keeping Lily during the week . . . since her mom still has to go to work.

Since it looks like our schools may be closed for awhile, I thought Lily should have her own space while she is doing her school work. 

An old table we sanded down and threw some stain on is working out perfect.

I surprised her yesterday by  hanging up some tapestries.  

She has trouble staying focused at times - and this seems to have helped. 

"Children are not a distraction from more important work.

They are the most important work."

~ John Trainer

"Young, Wild, & Three" photo frame . . .

Love our Avery Rose!

Peace ~ Love ~ Grandma Dona

What a Spring Break!

7 days . . . over 3200 miles . . . 6 states (twice) . . . snow . . . rain . . . wind . . . fun stops along the way . . . junk food . . . some good food . . . 

. . . and my mom now lives in California.

Life changes . . . so you may as well enjoy the change and have some fun!

every little thing she does is magic . . .

 I have spent a good part of my life being the only girl . . . 

I have two brothers . . . I have two sons.

Then God blessed me by bringing Jennifer and Sarah into my life . . . 

. . . and now I have these amazing girls.

They are unique . . . and beautiful . . . and full of magic.

Little girls definitely are full of magic.  If you don't believe it . . . just spend some time with one. 

twotti fruitti birthday . . . .

 I had to redo a photo frame for Avery's Twotti Fruitii birthday party.

I wasn't completely happy with it, but it worked.  :)  

I really did like the pineapple in the corner though.  I should have gotten more pineapples. :)  

 They just make me smile!

How can she be two years old already?  

This is one sweet girl . . . with some unique attitude thrown in.

Love our Avery Rose!

blessings . . .

Charlotte drawings . . . 

. . . and weekend doodles.

Thank GOD for these five blessings.  

God's timing . . .

My son Luke . . . 

Sitting here looking at this picture of him I don't even know where to start and have been going back and forth on how to share this photo.  I mentioned in an earlier post that the end of last year brought some changes.  One of those changes was my son going into rehab. 
Obviously this is very personal . . . but feeling like I want to share it. 
There are of course a lot of negative perceptions commonly associated with substance abuse and addiction.  But what about when the addict is someone you love?  What about when the addict is your child?  What about when you can see past the addiction and see the hurt and pain and it nearly kills you because you can't help? 
I have spent years trying to figure out why this happened to him.  He really was not an "at risk" kid.  I have been through guilt and embarrassment.  We tried tough love . . . We enabled him (I can be very good at that.)  I have tried to figure out where love and support ends and enabling begins.  I think anyone who has been in this situation wishes they could figure that one out. 
The last few years . . . he was trying.  I could see that he was trying, but I could also see that what he was doing wasn't going to work for the long haul.  I do believe he could see that also . . . but hadn't really faced it.  Last summer he told us he was going into a rehab.  They recommended he stay 30 days . . . he told them he wanted to do 90.  He ended up staying for 60.
He is 7 months clean and sober.  I wish I could say it was easy . . . for him . . .  and for me.  There is a reason they say . . . "One day at a time." 
I will never give up hope . . . and then there is this feeling of being afraid to get my hopes up. 
What gets him through?   Prayer and surrendering his life to God.  Does he struggle?  Yes.  Is he fighting?  Yes.  Do I worry?  Yes.  Am I learning to turn it over to God?  Yes.


So about this photo . . .
Luke has always wanted to perform his music in front of people, but never was able to get the courage up to do it.  This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago at the church he attends.  He also was a part of the worship team at another church this past week where he attends Celebrate Recovery.  I thank God every day for his recovery.  I also turn my son and his journey over to God every day.  It is his journey . . . but oh what it has taught me. 

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.  
And the peace I five is a gift the world cannot give.
So don't be troubled or afraid."     ~ John 14:27

the cat's pajamas . . .

 It is so hard to get a picture of this one . . . she never stops moving.  

I was snapping pictures of her all night and this is about the only one that is blurry.

Friday night with Avery is the best kind of Friday night.

Dewey does not like his pajamas . . . but he looks so cute!