Tea Cup Exchange

Our church is going to have a tea cup exchange soon and I'm looking for a tea cup and saucer to take for my exchange. I went to the online Marketplace because they can be new or used in good shape. I am finding some real pretty ones. I am going to have a problem with purchasing one. Because every time I find one I fall in love with it and want it for myself. 

Well, I have a couple of weeks to get one so I'll keep looking.

This makes me smile.....

I had a cat for 17 years and loved her dearly. When she died, I didn't get a new one right away. By the time I thought I wanted a new one my husband had passed away and I lived somewhere that does not allow pets. I have missed having a cat to come home to but I haven't missed the litter box, the feeding, the care. 

One day about a little over a year ago, a friend of mine donated some stuffed animals to my children's church class for a project we were doing. We had some left over so the kids all got to take one home. Since Shelby was born shortly after K.C. died, she never got to know her but had heard many stories. So she decided since I couldn't have any pets, I needed a stuffed cat. She picked this one for my "new pet". The cat lays on my bed all the time. She is soft and fluffy and Shelby named her midnight. I will admit it is kind of sweet to come home every night late and have my "cat" laying on the bed. 

My bucket list...

I am having the time of my life with my bucket list this year. There haven't been a lot of major things on it, but there have been fun things. For example, I got my first tatoo. I got a personalized license plate to commemorate this year. I have tried new food. I've started and continued writing my book. I'm doing a recipe book for my fave recipes. I'm learning to dance. I have spent more time going out with my friends and not so much alone time. 

But here is the biggie......

I have booked a flight on a plane! That's right. I am 62 and never been on a plane and harbored a slight fear of one. But thanks to a friend who provided me with input and confidence to do it, I started researching round trip non-stop flights and found one that was super affordable. I posted the ad that triggered it on Facebook and another friend saw it and has decided to go on a trip with me. Within a couple hours of my original post we had a flight booked.

Where am I going? Now that is the reallly exciting part. My one place in the U.S. that has always been a dream destination that I never told anyone because I knew I would never go is Miami, FL. Ever since the 1980's and my love affair with Miami Vice and Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) I have wanted to experience Miami. So that is where we are going. I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. 

We are going in mid summer because I want to experience the height of the season with sunny skies and warm sunshine. 

One thing I hope to do is visit somewhere that I can see live flamingos. Since my friend has a beach room and is flamingo crazy like me, I am sure we will find some while we are there. 

It's hard to tell what we will see or do, but one things for sure. We will have fun.

Playing catch up....again....

I do not know how I have blogged every day for over 9 years without fail, but in the past two months I can't find to blog but once or twice a week. Think I will change my blogging time and maybe I can get back to my daily. But to catch you up on my world...

During the school spring break, Shelby spent the day with me one day and we ran around all day playing tourist. We ended that night picking up my daughter (Shelby's mom) and going out to dinner and to the Smoky Mountain Opry. Shelby wanted to dress up a little and do some make up, so we let her. She always wears her hair back behind her ears so this is a rare photo of it completely down long. 

One of my favorite parts of the Opry show is when they do thriller and the floor little opens up and all the folks rise out of the graves. It is so cool. That whole show is amazing.

I've gotten a couple of little packages lately from my niece Amy. This was the first care package. The Junior Mint eggs were amazing.

But the favorite thing in that package was my flamazing flamingo sign.

Then a week later, I got this cute key chain of a flamingo. The funny part was that just that day I realized I needed a new house key and wanted a beachy looking one. So this makes me smile.

I went to the local 10 mile yard sale Saturday. I didn't find much but did pick up a few things. My favorite was this set of sandwich glass bowls for just .50 cents. 

I have wanted this book ever since it came out but didn't want to pay the $27.95 for a hardback and then forgot about it when it came out in paperback. So I grabbed it up when I found it for $1.00. Now I need to finish what I'm reading so I can read it.

Well, that's it for today. I hope you all have an enjoyable Monday.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday. As I imagine the jubilation that the people felt when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, my mind begins to wonder. What was He feeling? He knew what lay ahead at the end of the week. He knew how much suffering there was in store for him. Yet, He gladly carried on with the task the Father had set before him. You have to wonder what was going on in His mind. Not once did He drag His feet and say "I'm not going to do it. I don't want to go." It would have been easy to stay where He was. To continue to live a life where people adored Him, where they brought their troubles to Him. Yet, He humbly carried out the orders of His Father.

Yes, Easter is a time to celebrate. He is Risen. He is Lord. He is the King of Kings. But on that one day, riding on a donkey, being treated with love and respect, you have to wonder what He was thinking. Did He want to scream out in angst and agony and warn them. Did He want to say "This is not going to turn out the way you think." Did He want to warn them how much suffering He was getting ready to endure before He arose in sweet victory?

No, He rejoiced. He knew what was getting ready to happen and He was ready. The big moment was just days away. He had been preparing His whole life for the one moment He hung on that cross on that hill. The one single moment when time stood still and He took OUR place.

I am so thankful to have a Saviour who did all this so I can have eternal life.

Friendships

I have so many friends in my life that I thank God every day for those special friendships. I have friends in their 20's all the way through friends in their 80's. I cherish each friendship. I have friends I work with, friends who I go to church with. Friends from my childhood, friends I went to school with and friends I have had for years. I also have friends who have only been in my life a short while and friends I've made over the past year. We see each other all the time. We go to dinner together or talk on the phone or message each other. 

There are some who are just fun to hang around and be with. Some I can tell my deeps dreams and thoughts to. Some I can cut up with and laugh and have fun. Some who are there for me when I am down and lonely.

No matter what type of friend they are, they touch my life daily.

When I lost my husband, I worried so much about how I was going to live through the years alone. I always have my family and they are very important to me. But they have their own lives and they can't be with me all the time. Surrounding myself with so many wonderful friends from all walks of life means I always have somebody I can call on when I am feeling alone. They always have my back. I never miss an opportunity to thank them for being there for me. March 27th marked what would have been mine and Allen's 38th wedding anniversary. A few of my work friends found out and took me out that night so I wouldn't have to sit home alone. I had such a wonderful time just sitting and talking and laughing. They will never know how much that night meant to me. But that's just one of the things I love about my friends. They are there for me without me even having to say a word. God has truly blessed me in the friendship department.

Weekend wrap up

I worked Friday, was off Saturday, worked Sunday and was off Monday. So I waited until today to do my weekend wrap up. Saturday was a beautiful day. Up in the 70's. I am rarely off on a Saturday and my daughter and I never spend time together like we used to because of my crazy schedule. We decided to play tourist and head to Gatlinburg. The flowers were so beautiful.

I took so many pictures, but I won't bore you with all of them. I just had to share a couple.

Since our new show Pirate's Voyage is opening soon. We have opened a retail store in Gatlinburg called Pirate's Treasure Chest so we stopped in to check out the new store. These two guys are very special to me. They came to the Stampede two years ago as the chaperones for a tour group. We hit it off right off the bat. They told me that they wanted to move down here in two years and I spent a lot of time with them. The plan was to come down and work for us. Here we are two years later and they are here and we all just love them dearly. Truly some great guys. 

Me and Shelby had to get a selfie on such a beautiful day. 

Sunday it was back to work as usual. I did go to church that morning. I went ahead and gave them notice that I had decided the end of September will be my last Sunday for Children's Church. I have worked in in one capacity or another for 12-13 years. The past five I have been the director and the for two of those, I was the only teacher. I told them I would finish this year (which ends in September) and we would have to find someone new. Walked into the sanctuary and was talking to one of the teachers that helps me and she tells me that she wants to be more involved. Long story short, meet Miss Maddie (far right). I was so thrilled. All my babies will be in good hands. She loves them and they love her already. She is in college studying to be a teacher. 

Then on Monday when I was off again, I had to go do my mandatory show for our newest addition to the Stampede family, Magic Beyond Belief . The lights and special effects were amazing.  

Darren Romeo was amazing. He is an extremely talented magician, singer, dancer and songwriter. He studied and trained under Sigfried and Roy. It was an amazing show.

When I got home, I had a little gift from my niece Christy. I love the smell of these.

Before I left for the show that day, I put out some spring and Easter decorations. 

 

All in all, it was an amazing four days.