This Eve

Tonight

As I write on the eve of what will be

The beginning of my 7th decade on this earth

I ponder 60 years of life

Grateful is a word that is 

Prevalent on my lips

So many wonderful memories tucked

Away in my heart

Treasured are 30 years of marriage

To a man who loved me well

Though he is missed daily

I treasure the gift of his presence

Adoption: another treasured word

Not only has God blessed my life

With two amazing sons through adoption

His love for us means we are 

Adopted into His forever family

How amazing is that

Family, more precious than jewels

So many that God has placed in my life

Grateful for each and every one

I wear their love around my neck with honor

Friendships, both far and near

Grateful cannot suffice in depth of those 

Whose love and faithful understanding

Have truly saved my life at times

Work/Jobs have afforded me opportunities

To live a life of comfort

But more importantly, they have blessed

My life with community and courage

The House of God

Feast or Famine, no matter the season

I believe that God's House is a Great and Mighty

Place of peace, rest and maturing

Seasons, dry, hard, dark at times

Joy-Filled as well

Yet, in all of them there are

Treasured moments of Increase and Change

Change

Oh change, always abundant in life

Never shall our lives remain in stale vapidity

Change is ever present

This year has been no different

More so than in previous years

Both children have moved away

As have my DIL and granddaughters

Leaving my home empty and devoid of warmth

A brother and his family 

A momma also following suit

Gone to new adventures

But not forgotten

A business lost to rising rents

Those friends dispersed into varied locations

Change, oh crazy change

 I have saved the next for tomorrow

Another change, another life decision

Ahead 

Adventure or Stagnation

Where will God lead?

Will my will bow to His 

Can I let go of comfort, of contentment

To allow HIS plan to unfold?

Change, oh crazy change

Where will this 7th decade take me?

No matter where it leads my prayer is that, YOU

My faithful friends

Will continue to watch God move 

And join me on my next adventure!!

Recreating ... Not the Answer

Hi Sweet Friends

2008

It seems like a lifetime ago

In the weeks leading up to my 50th Birthday

I challenged myself to try new things

Face some fears

And reach for far off dreams

I did Canon Balls in my pool

Played my piano daily

And vowed to stand on the edge

Of the Grand Canyon to see the sun rise

My fear of heights was No match

For my Dream to be their

I did … And so did my husband and sons

It was a time of strength, growing

And JOY

Nothing could stop me from

Embracing a new decade and enjoying life

2018

Life is so different

My husband has been with Jesus for nearly 8 years

My oldest son and his family live in Texas

My youngest son lives away in a group home

I am here … Alone … 

Trying to recreate my 50

It's Not The Answer

It's taken me 40 days to realize

That I was trying to recreate a time in my life

But it is Not were I am today

I cannot go back

I cannot recreate

I desperately want to embrace 60

In the same way I did 50

Yet, I am not the same

Nor is my Life

So

I'm done with 60 to 60

 

I bought myself some flowers

After work yesterday

Just Because

I treated myself to a pedicure today

Just Because

I don't know what the next 20 days hold

I just know, It will be different

It won't be a Joy-Filled journey 

To the next decade with my family

But, It Will Be...

Happy 81st MOM

Hello Friends

I haven't blogged in such a long time

I almost forgot how to download, edit and upload photos

Hopefully, in the weeks ahead

I will blog more and fill you in

On where I've been and life in general

Today

I want to SAY

Happy 81st Birthday to my Mom

In the past 10+ years

This sweet lady

Has endured a

Whipple surgery

Broken Hip

Mini Stroke

Valley Fever

And something that has eaten a good bit

Of her skull away

Yet, we celebrate 81 years

With Great JOY

She has

4 Children

11 Grandchildren

12 Great Grandchildren

We had a delightful Celebration at my home on Sunday

I'm sharing just a few of my favorite photos

Cousins and Braces

Cousins and 2nd Cousins

Laughter and Silliness

Which pretty much describes our lives

Why would this be a favorite photo?

It is a reminder of:

Family, food, fellowship

Joy, blessings and Happiness

And Celebration of a life well lived

Remember that messes

Are a Symbols of LIFE

Happy Birthday Mom

Checking In...

Happy Sunday Sweet Friends

I hope you have enjoyed a Glorious Weekend

And pray the week ahead will be filled with Joy

First,

I'd like to thank my bloggy friend, Kris

Who sent me this sweet birthday surprise

My B~Day is tomorrow

But she wanted me to enjoy a few fall items

Over the past couple of weeks

Just an FYI Kris

I only ate 1 of the Belgian chocolate covered Oreos

Since I won't make myself a cake tomorrow

I will eat the other two for my Birthday Treat :)

The next 2 pictures are a little hint

About an announcement

I hope to make in the next couple of weeks

There is always a project

Going on around here

Finally

I have had my red bottle brush bushes planted

In the back yard for about 10 years

Although I've had many spring and early summer blooms

Today I found my very first Fall Bloom

New life makes me smile

Have a blessed week

Busy Celebrating

Hi Sweet Friends

Oops...

I was too busy Celebrating my mom's

80th Birthday that I forgot to take many photos

I got a few

But none of the family

21 of us silly members

Having a super fun time

At mom's

50's Style Celebration

We all had a great time

Mom has been through so much in recent years

She's battled many serious illnesses

Including a broken hip and mini stroke

But has bounced back each and every time

This past summer she bought her own home

And now lives alone

LOVES IT!!

God has been faithful to heal her

And we are So very grateful that we

Have been able to celebrate another year with her

It is always fun to have my 3 K's around

They are such Joy in my life

HA HA HA

Fortunately we didn't Need the fire extinguisher

Mom's Birthday is April 4th

I'll send her all of your birthday wishes

Cards welcome :)

Easter was a bit of a rough day for me

But I did get 45 minutes with all of my kiddos and grands

I can Never get a good photo of all of them

But at least they were all in one place

At the same time

Lots of hugs and smiles

And finally

I purchased a card today

Wrote it out with kind and loving words

Signed it

Addressed it

Stamped it and placed it in the mail

I'm sure in a few days

I'll be SO surprised to receive it - LOL

Be Happy and Blessed

Birthdays, New Year, and Letting Go

 

 

Hello Sweet Blog Friends

 

Can you believe that it is time

To Celebrate A New Year

And New Beginnings

 

Isn't the saying true:

 

The older I get

The faster time goes by

 

Today would have been my hubby's

66th birthday

He has now celebrated 5 birthday's in heaven

(if they do that there)

But mostly

I have remembered him

For 5 birthday's here on earth

 

This year

My heart is ready to let go

Not of the precious memories that we created together

But of the 'holding on'

 

J. C. Watts once said:

"It doesn't take a lot of strength to hang on,

It takes a lot of strength to let go".

 

I believe that is very true

 

 

As I have prayed my way through

The past 5 years

And especially this past Christmas season

 

My heart has been strengthened

And is ready to 'Let Go'

 

My dear Mark,

I will always carry the precious memories

Of your smiling face, your silly grin

And your quiet voice

The 30 plus years God blessed us with

Are treasured and tucked away

In the depths of my heart

The tender moments

The crazy adventures

And even the silly disagreements

 

Our secrets are held together by God's love

Our hopes and dreams for the future

Securely locked in His Plans

 

You my Love

Will never be forgotten

But it's time to let go of the

Pain and Grief that have held captive my

Earthly future

The plans I know God still holds for me to take

 

You my Love

Are safely in your eternity

And now it is time for me

To live out God's plan

 

I have no clear view of this road ahead

I know that I have challenges to face

But I also know

I do not walk this journey alone

 

"The Lord has gone before me

And He will be my read guard".

Isaiah 52:12

 

I trust in Him

 

Happy Birthday My Love

 

Happy New Year to You

My Sweet Blog Friends

 

I'm letting go

I'm trusting God

I cannot wait to see

What HE has planned

 

Prayers to you All

For a Wonderfully Blessed

Creative, Healthy and Happy 2016

 

 

 

 

 



Thankful Thursday

Hi Sweet Friends,

It has been a quiet and peaceful Thursday
I had my little K~Baby today
She is so very sweet and such a joy
She was pretty low key today
So, that made the day restful
And, after the past two weeks
That is exactly what I needed

Matthew is home from his 10 days of treatment
We are learning to navigate these new and uncharted waters
God is doing a mighty work within my spirit
Each day I learn more about grace
And unconditional love than I thought possible
 

The past couple of days have been sweet

I received a beautiful package in the mail yesterday

From a blog friend (Deb)

Who blessed my heart with these fall goodies

And even a few pieces for Christmas

My birthday is Saturday and she just wanted

To let me know that I was being thought about

I cannot thank you enough Deb!!

Because I'm taking Friday off work and 

I'm always off on Thursday

The office staff had a fun and delicious lunch for me yesterday

BBQ chicken, homemade mac n cheese

And a host of other treats

I also received flowers, balloon, and gift card

Then, in the mail this week I received

A couple of cards from other sweet bloggers

Who really have lifted my spirits in recent weeks

Along with a couple of gift cards and birthday wishes

 


Being hospitalized last weekend
And having my son in the hospital as well
Along with all of the 'challenges' we are facing

Today
I am SO very grateful for those people around me
Who have taken time to:
Pull weeds in my yard, take care of my dog,
Send a card, note or comment on a post
Like or 'heart' a photo
Give me a hug or word of encouragement
And drag me to Yoga

YOU have blessed my week and helped to
Support me as I take each step 
Along this new and very challenging path

YOU are my HERO's

I am Thankful on this Thursday
for YOU

Blessings to All

Pool Time and Parties ...

 Hi Friends,

It's been a busy few days with
Lots of pool time
Lots of cousins
And Birthday parties

School starts in two weeks

So we are attempting to get in lots of cousin time

Somehow swimming makes the little's hungry

Lots of cookies and juice

It's okay, summer is almost over

Lots of craft time too

One thing that all the kids know

Is that Nana/Aunt Cindy

Has LOTS of craft supplies that they are welcomed to use

And they do ... makes me happy

To see them be creative

Today we celebrated K~Bugs 11th birthday

More swimming, food and fun

Some little Bug was Super happy when she opened this huge box

To find a small gift inside

Yep, daddy bought her ~ her first phone

Middle School here she comes

More cousins

More Swimming

 Mommy's / Nana's

Lots of Sun

 

Daddy's and Papa's

Were working on This Nana's A/C

They fixed the piping and sealed the leak

No more drip drip drip

Thank you Guys!!

Since it is National Ice Cream Day
I decided to buy a bit of Carvel
YummY

Happy Birthday Miss K~Bug
You are a Shining light in my Life
And I Love you So Very Much

Also,
Happy Birthday to these two 
Nephew's of mine
Chris and Mike
Love you Always you silly boys :)
 

Thanks for stopping by
Blessings for the Day



A Little More Red * White * Blue *

Hi Friends,

It certainly was a busy Birthday week for my boy

He had several friends stay at the house

From Monday through Friday

With all that life involves and having

All those big hungry boys around here

I just haven't had time to do much blogging

But I wanted to thank each of you

Who left birthday wishes for Matthew

He was so excited to see and read them all

Thank You!!

I thought I'd share just a few more

Of my Red, White, and Blue decorations

I did go to Sweet Salvage last Saturday (06/20)

And found just a couple small items

Had a great day 

It was kind of 'my time' before the Birthday Stuff

I've put up a few more of my June/July decorations

I've had the little Boyds Bear for several years

He adds a fun touch

I placed some of my patriotic jingle bells in my #3 tin

I found the above wooden banner

For just a couple dollars at Merchant Square 

Love that place

These Patriotic saying cards

Were picked up at Sweet Salvage

Should have gotten more

But love the ones I did pick up

Ordered this sweet flag pillow from Etsy

KelsCountryBlessings

The workmanship is excellent

Love this piece

This is all on my entry table

And...


Decor just wouldn't be complete without a few quilts
These are on the entertainment center 
Above the TV
I love looking at them

Well, that's about it for this post
I have a tiny project I did yesterday
That I may share in a couple of days

Until next time
May you enjoy your day
And find something to be Joyful About

Blessings