Thankful...and then some...

Ok, same story, different day. I'm not sure when I will stop missing my grandmothers..."never" sounds like a pretty accurate guess, though. It astounds me as I imagine how much I miss them, then wonder about those who have lost parents, siblings, and even worse, (deep breath here) children. How can they EVER move forward? God bless them.
Anyway, in years past, we split our Thanksgivings (and every other holiday)...half the day at my Mamaws and half of it at my G-ma's. This last year or two I really don't even remember what we have done to celebrate, it's like we have all been stumbling along, trying to make sense of how to go on. Holidays are especially hard. Anyway, I know my grandmothers would want us to continue gathering and celebrating as a family, but, Lord, how we miss them. Everything flowed with them here, everything came together perfectly, the food, the decorations, the people, everything just...made sense. I am completely inept, I am not good at orchestrating a gathering...I can't cook like them, I can't plan with such ease and grace, I don't have the patience and easy going manner that they did. Either way, we must go forward. So, this year, Thanksgiving is at my house. Wow. Everyone will chip in and bring certain dishes (I could never do it all on my own), and my place is somewhat cramped, I hate cleaning. But, I feel led to do this. Even if our holidays can't be as graceful as when "they" were here, we will move forward, with the beautiful examples that have been set for us. We have something to help guide us, to set us in the right direction, something to work towards. Maybe one day, when I'm older and a bit gray, my grandchildren will speak the same words about me. I don't see it that way, but I hope for it. I am ever so thankful that I have/had those ladies as an example. Life was never promised to be easy, but He is always here with us, and He knows best.
So, I have two days to prepare. Yikes! Today I helped with a Thanksgiving feast at Isabel's school, and then at Joseph's. I saw all the children's faces...some I pictured a beautiful Thanksgiving day in their future...and some I wondered if they would have any family that cared about them on Thanksgiving, much less a Thanksgiving meal prepared for them. For some of them, today was it. My heart somewhat broke knowing that. So, all the pondering I've done today, again, has made me thankful for what I do have. I'm doing my best not to focus on what I don't have, but look for the positive things in our lives. My family may drive me crazy (and I them :-), I may not want to cook and clean...but, the fact is...I'm thankful I have a home to invite people to, and family that will come. I'm thankful I have health, and a more than capable body that I can clean and cook with. I'm thankful to have beautiful people from my past that have given me knowledge about which way to go. Thankful...and then some.

Soul Food...not the edible kind

Today I went to visit (with my aunt and mom, even though it's my dad's side of the family) the cemetery. It was a perfect, crisp, Fall day.

I wanted to see my Mamaw's headstone (now combined with my Papa Joe's who passed away when I was just a little girl)and have a little visit with her, and the other family that are buried there. Even though it's sad, because you miss your loved ones so much, it's helpful to be able to have a "place" where you can visit them and let your emotions out. My other grandmother, who I miss equally as much, chose to be cremated, so I've yet to decide on a "spot" that's comfortable to visit her. While my heart ached to see her (them), the visit brought back SO many great memories. It was really a blessing. I got to pick out the verse for my Mamaw & Papa Joe's stone, and I am comforted by the one I chose, and that everyone agreed to go with it.

There's not enough room on all of Blogger for me to tell how great a woman my Mamaw was, or what a blessing she was to me/us (both of my grandmothers were glorious women, as a matter of fact). She was an awesome cook, she was always there when you needed her (no matter how much you'd messed up), always there to help out and to forgive. She was a strong woman. My Papa Joe was a good man. I don't have as many memories of him, but remember he did magic tricks and used to do them to make a candy bar appear before dinner, but we weren't supposed to tell anyone! He loved those squishy orange peanuts (I didn't inherit that love from him) and had a big orange recliner, he loved orange. How blessed am I? You don't have to answer, I already know :-)

Papa Joe was a World War 2 Veteran...


Mollie and Bill were my great grandparents. I don't remember Bill, but remember Mollie as an anchor to our family. I never heard her say a whole lot, but I remember her always there, quiet and strong. I remember Christmastime at her house...playing with cousins, opening gifts, eating the best food in the world, and no worries...When she passed, my Mamaw took her place as the anchor in our family...


Aunt Katy & Uncle Dell...honestly, I don't remember them, I was just a baby when the passed, but they are still very special to me. They died within the same year, I think they loved each other so much, they just couldn't live without one another. I was named after Aunt Katy. While you hear mixed stories about people, good and bad...I've never heard anything but good, no, great things about my great aunt and uncle. I've heard Aunt Katy was the best baker ever, and was famous for her cooking. Lots of people knew them, and thought the world of them. Uncle Dell was a carpenter, and there are many pieces still around that he made...a talented man. So, I'm thankful that I'm an extension of these two...


Ahh, Aunt Cora Mae. My great aunt. She lived a few blocks away from my Mamaw. My cousin and I used to walk down to visit her quite a bit. She lived in an average home, but when you stepped through the front door, it was something special. She had a yippy little dog, and rode around in her electric wheel chair (which didn't slow her down). Her home was full of collectibles, antiques, and fancy things. It looked like a victorian museum. While she did ask us to be careful, she was so good to us, she let us two wild heathens in to her home to play. There was never a speck of dust on her porcelain figures and her cushions on her furniture were always fluffed to perfection. Good memories...


I got a shot of the marker for my great aunt that I never met, she was my Mamaw's little sister...she died when she was only four. I remember hearing Mamaw talk about her...they are together again...


I had cousins that passed away as babies, and I didn't get pictures of all of them, but I did get one of my cousin Abby's headstone. She and I were almost the same age. She passed away a couple years ago. I have so many memories with her in them, especially holidays spent running around playing with her. I pray her parents can continue to find some peace until it's time to see her again...



All in all, it was a good day. Sad, but good. The truth is, I could go on for hours reliving memories. But, I just wanted to share a little. Today, my soul really was fed, I feel good, I felt a small measure of healing today..that's a good thing.

Fall Fest

I feel like all my pictures these days are of my little chica, but it's not that I focus more on her, it's that it's like pulling teeth in order to get my boys to let me take a picture of them. Anyway, yesterday I went to Izzy's Fall Festival, it was fun (we won't talk about the fact that I was late because of a shoe sale, that's a topic for Not Me! Mondays)...
I also feel like all my posts these days are about my babies growing up way too fast...but I guess that is my life these days. It feels weird not to have an "infant" around the house. At this point, I don't want to have any more children, our hands are FULL, but I still totally miss mine being little babes. I feel like my life revolves around being a mother and wife...I guess that is good, but as of late, I find myself wondering if I should do better with "myself". Ok, that's also a topic for another post...
We had fun @ the Fall Festival, Izzy has the best teacher, we are So blessed with teachers this year, and I am SO thankful!
Hope everyone stays safe tonight and gets lots of candy :-)

I woke before dawn this morning, yet still ran late getting the kids to school...talented? Why yes, I am! One of these days I'll get together...until then I won't count on "Mother of the year" award.
We have had SOOO much rain yesterday and so far this morning, on top of the heavy rainfall we've already had over the past several weeks. I don't like everything to be mush, but I do enjoy the rain and thunderstorms, especially at night...I sleep so good!
Yesterday it was the perfect temperature for a party at the park for Isabel's friend. She had sooo much fun, and obviously wore herself out because she went right to bed last night.
This morning when I got my coffee, there was a sticker on the cup that said "Children are a gift from the Lord." We hear that all the time, but it was nice to be reminded not to take my own three blessings for granted. I am so thankful for them, and that they are healthy and happy and all their needs are met. Thank you, Lord!
I can't believe it's already the end of October! Where has this year gone? My kids are growing like crazy! Breaks my heart and makes me proud at the same time...

Family & friends & both

This picture was taken the day of my cousin's wedding shower. The 3 girls, errr ladies, in the picture with me, are my cousins. Growing up, I had some cousins I was really close to, I am so thankful for them. Now, I am thankful to still be close to a few of them. The thing is, they aren't just my cousins, they are my friends, too. When I refer to them, I feel like I have to call them my cousins, because that is their label. But, the truth is, they are more like friends. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful they are part of my family...but a cousin is born a cousin, you aren't close to them just because they are your cousin. It takes a long time to really grow close to someone and know them as a true friend. So anyway, I was just thinking of them today, and how thankful I am to have these girls in my life. Everyone needs a couple of good friends they can lean on, laugh with, and vent to. What's the verse that says "A friend sticketh closer than a brother?" Somewhere in Proverbs...
hmm, anyway, Life is good! Have a great weekend everyone!

Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not me Monday, a blog carnival, started by MckMama






My hubs made a chocolate pie last night, and since I'm so self disciplined, I certainly didn't indulge in three pieces...that would make me a glutton for sure, so I definitely didn't do that.


I have not been so lazy for the last couple of weeks, that I let the boys' room get completely disgusting before having them clean it. There were NOT dirty dishes in there, especially since I do NOT allow them to eat in their room!

I didn't post on my FB wall that I was about to completely loose it because while I took a super short, rare nap, my kiddos got into all the "lunch box" snacks...which are not to snack on while at home. Ugh, not me...and, NO, I'm not still totally annoyed by it!

I do not have children that break and destroy everything. The cute wooden plaque that Mimi gave Isabel was not found broken with the wire pulled out on her floor. The hook it normally hangs on was not also broken. If this were true, I would not have screamed, "IS IT MY CHILDREN'S PERSONAL GOAL TO DESTROY EVERYTHING IN THIS HOUSE, EVEN STUFF THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS TOUCHING"...nope, I would NEVER loose my patience like that...never.

I also did not text one my BFF's this morning with the following text: "My washer and dryer are going to go on strike bcuz I get behind on laundry then put such huge loads into them to launder." I never get behind on laundry, not that is NOT the story of my life.

Have a Happy, Brilliantly Blessed Monday all!

Happy Monday All!

I am doing a women’s 10 week Bible study, and most certainly didn’t skip doing my homework last week. I mean, if I wasn’t going to fully participate in the study, what would be the point?

My husband and I did not keep our children out until midnight one day this weekend, just so we could enjoy the fair that came to town. We didn’t feed them every sugary treat in sight or let them ride those germ-infested rides over and over again until I was almost sick simply from watching. I mean, who would blame me if I did, since we live in a small town and the fair coming to town is just about the biggest thing that ever happens here…still, I didn’t do that.

I definitely didn’t waste one of my days away on FaceBook, neglecting my laundry, dishes, and other chores that needed to be done.

No, my mission style bench in my living room has not turned into our laundry buffet. I mean, if it had, at least it would be clean clothes that are piled up to the ceiling, waiting to be put away…but that simply isn’t the case…no laundry buffet at this house.


I surely wasn’t the neighbor you heard screaming at the top of her lungs at her children to get in bed last night, because good moms NEVER raise their voice! How absurd for you to even think that of me.

I was NOT the mom straggling into school @ 7:40 to bring my dish for the Teacher Appreciation breakfast when everything was supposed to be there by 7:15…Nope, not me, I’m ALWAYS on time.

And with that, I hope you all have a blessed week, filled with as few “Not Me’s” as possible 