A family affair....

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Yesterday was my oldest grandchild's birthday party. We had a fabulous time. At one point in the evening, I was just watching and listening and I thought about how blessed I am that both of my children married into good families who share the same values we do. My family gets along so well with the in-law families that we tend to mesh into one huge family. In twelve years of marriage for both my children, there has never been any bickering, arguing over who gets what holiday, no "one-upmanship" with the grandchildren. We all work together to insure each side gets to honor their family traditions. I'm very blessed. I tried to get that elusive photo of all five grandchildren. It didn't happen. With it being so beautiful outside, I couldn't get them all to land in one place at one time so I just went around happily snapping photos and took what I could get.

Garret, Shelby, Caleb

Caleb and Colby

 Garret & Shelby

My twins, Diana and Chris with Alexis (my children do NOT look at all like twins, do they?)

Shelby and Alexis

Alexis

Garret and Caleb

My son his boys

Shelby and her Aunt Jamie, my daughter-in-law. Looks like an intense conversation.

Chris and Colby

Caleb...picture a big ball, three young boys running and a HUGE mud hole....'nuf said?



Welcome, Spring. We've missed you.

Happy first day of spring! It's going to be a glorious day. Sunday School and church this morning. Then this evening we are going to our grandson's birthday party; which means I'll get to spend some good time with all the family. I'm going to try to remember to get pictures of all five grandchildren, but sometimes that is easier said than done.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I brought out the capri pants and wore one of my new pair of flip flops. We went shopping at Turkey Creek in Knoxville. We did a lot of outdoor walking from shop to shop instead of driving to each new location. It was awesome. I got my little Welcome Spring sign at Target
for $2.99. I love it. I always try to have something new for each season or holiday on my front door. Friday, hubby and I were out driving around and on the way home, we stopped by the lake. It looks like they are starting to let the lake level rise to summer pool. Believe it or not, we saw 3 women in bathing suits walking down to the swimming area with their towels....I do believe that is called "rushing it a little." The swimming area doesn't even have water in it yet. There were a lot of picnic-ers out on Friday.


This is the view from my Sunday school teachers back yard. Isn't it beautiful. Nothing says spring like trees starting to show their true colors. I hope you have a beautiful first day of Spring.

One perfect day....

I lost both of my grandfather's at a young age. Grandpa Garretson passed away when I was barely 2 1/2 and Papaw Eden when I was around 5. I don't remember Grandpa Garretson at all, but I do remember a few rare and cherished memories of Papaw Eden. As we get older, we can remember little snippets of time...a touch, a smell, a taste of the past. For some reason, one day stands out in my mind and lives on in my memory.

It was summertime. The windows were all open to let in what little bit of air was stirring. Mommy and Mamaw were in the kitchen cooking. I'm not sure what they were making, but from most of my memories growing up, there was probably chicken being cut up to fry in the old iron skillet, green beans fresh from a garden that has been strung earlier that day and a fresh pitcher of ice tea (sweet, of course). I'm sure Mom had a cake already made, probably chocolate or spice, and peaches cut up in the fridge.

I remember vividly that Daddy and Papaw were in the living room watching wrestling on the old black and white TV. One thing I do remember about Papaw is he loved watching wrestling. I remember going in the living room and them being excited about the match. I remember climbing on Papaw's lap for a few minutes, then jumping down to run back outside. Our tan and white beagle, Lady, would be lazing in the shade of the old oak tree or stretched out in the sun on the front porch.

I remember racing and playing in the yard with Rachel and Jack (Andy wasn't born yet). I remember us hollering in through the screen in the bedroom window. I don't know what we were hollering about, but I remember us doing that. I remember Daddy's smile when I ran back in the house. I remember running through the living room, into the kitchen and back out the back door. I remember Mom yelling out the window to "quit letting the screen door slam". I remember the table holding salt & pepper and a plastic butter dish. I remember a fly swatter laying on top the Fridge for all those nasty flies that we let in by running in and out the doors.

But most of all, I remember love. I remember laughter. And I remember Papaw. Even though I did not get to have him for long, what time I had with him was precious. It's perfect days like that day that makes for the fondest memories.

Take a walk down your memory lane and see what images you can recall. As you do, listen to the song by Wynonna Judd. It was so much like my life growing up that I can't listen to it without it bringing tears to my eyes and memories to my heart.

Beautiful weather...

I'm linking up to Fantatic Friday at Jeremiah 29:11.

On Thursday, it got up in the mid-70's. I changed into my blue jean shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops and headed out back to explore. Here are some of the things I found...

My weeping willow "Prince Will" is starting to look very grand in his regal leaves draping down.

The Bradford pears in the neighborhood are really starting to fill out.

My neighbor planted this yellow bush last year and it is blooming beautifully. I always call this a switch bush because Mom had one and that is where she went to get her switched. She'd peel off the flowers and lay it on the end table and we knew to behave. I don't remember her using it, just the threat was enough to keep us in line. 



My little tea rose bush is starting to be very green. It should be a great year for my tea roses. 

I love the little wild violets that grow every spring. they make me know warm weather is around the corner. 



One of my favorite places to relax in the spring and summer. A good book, a lemonade and the shade of the willow. 

They are still letting water out of the lake so the river is still higher than normal. It goes up and down every day, but it has stayed high for over a week now. This is the view down river.

This is the view up river. 

Hope you enjoyed your spring walk with me. 

My little leprechaun...

Twelve years ago today, God blessed us with a our very first grandchild, Christian Garret. It has been such a joy watching this child grow. I have always been filled with wonder at his wit, his humor, his compassion, his intelligence. He is very precious to me and I love him with every beat of my heart. As he gets older, he stills loves to come to Mamaw's house. We get to talk about his plans; his dreams. Recently, I made the comment that I dreaded the day when he got to the point where he wouldn't want to stay all night with Mamaw any more. He said "Are you kidding me? I can't wait till I turn 16 and get my own car. I'm going to come over all the time." He's at that don't hug or kiss me in public stage, but when I tuck him in at night when he visits, I still get my kiss and hug before lights out. He has owned a piece of my heart from the moment I first held him and he will always own it. Happy birthday to my dear, sweet Garret.

The juggler....

When I was a little girl, I always wanted to learn to juggle. I would get my brothers plastic bowling pins and try to throw them up and catch them at different times and thought I was juggling. I never quite succeeded. I finally gave up my dream of becoming a professional juggler and getting on the Ed Sullivan show.

I was thinking yesterday, that I have finally accomplished my goal. I can finally say I am a World Class Juggler. I think all women fall into this category at one time or another in their lives. I was thinking yesterday about all the things I have to get done in any given day, whether it be business, pleasure or volunteer work. I used to be one of those people who would spend so much time stressing over what all they had to do that I never got anything done.

Now, I'm amazed at what I can accomplish in any given day and still be done most days by 6:30. My secret? Prayer. I have learned that if I truly give it to God to handle and put it out of my mind until such time as I need to do whatever is on my schedule, things run more smoothly. It's another one of those Faith things. He tells us He will not give us more than we can handle. He even tells us He will help us handle it. So, I took Him up on His offer and now I just leave it up to Him to get me through each day.

I noticed yesterday how much I had accomplished last week and how much I have accomplished so far this week. Have I become more regimented? No. Have I become more organized? Not really. I think I have just finally realized that giving it to God to handle is the best way to get the job done.

The me you never knew.....

I attended a VBS event last night and had a blast. Met a lot of new people; spent times with friends. I really enjoyed myself. On the way home, I was thinking about how adaptable I am when I meet new people. It amazes me considering I wasn't like that at all in school. I was an introvert. Not sociable at all. In fact, I was rather shy (yes, my dear friends, shy...hard to believe). I did not make friends easily. I was lacking in self-confidence. I was a wall flower. Somewhere along the line that changed. I am more outgoing. I never meet a stranger. My family laughs at me all the time because I apparently wear a sign that says "If you talk to me, I will listen AND talk back to you." because complete strangers strike up conversations with me wherever I go. I remember one day sitting on a bench outside the rest room at the mall. When my daughter came out, I looked at the lady beside me and said "Well, I'll see you later. Have fun at your daughter's recital. I hope she does good." My daughter asked me who it was and I said some lady I was talking to on the bench. She just shook her head. Happens all the time. I never seem to run out of things to say. This morning, I was thinking on this again and thought "That was a "me" that my now friends never knew." So I thought I would dig up some more "old" me photos and share them. They are always good for a laugh....

This one absolutely cracked me up. I was 16 and going through my half-top bell bottom stage. You've probably never seen me with hair that long. I used to pull it back and pin it up to my head with bobby pins at night to try to tame the wild curls. Didn't work very good, just gave me wild waves. Check out the ponytails...

Not sure how old I was here...I think about 19. Mom had made my Easter dress. It was lavender dotted Swiss. I loved that dress and my high heels. I always loved having my picture made with Daddy...

I was seventeen in this next one. This was my Senior Picture that was taken at the end of Junior year. White plastic hair clips? Seriously? What in the world was I thinking? They aren't even holding any hair back. Just clipped right on a few strands for what I apparently thought passed for style....NOT.

I was 18 in this. I loved this dress. It was when young girls wore maxi dresses. This was my favorite one. So out of date, but I loved it so much I'd probably still wear it if I had it and could fit in it...

My graduation day with Daddy. Thanks to good old B'ville High School, red is still my favorite color...

I was about 23 here and worn plum out from chasing my twins who were around 2 at the time. Can anyone say exhausted? I weighted 85 pounds and wore a size 0. Clothes were hard to find. I think I was trying to pull off the elegant lady look but ended up with the "Oh my gosh I need a nap" look.

This was around 1978. I call this our "flannel family Christmas." I remember that just about everybody in the family got new flannel shirts for Christmas. They were all the rage that year. Check out the huge glasses. I always said that 10 pounds of my weight when I was younger came from my glasses....

Hope these made you smile. Just another sign of how I have changed over the years. As little as 5 years ago, I would never ever have posted old pictures of myself. Guess I realized it is good to laugh at ourselves every once in awhile.