Mamaw's Place

6/20/16

Featured Friend

Many years ago, I joined Beech Springs Baptist Church. My grandson, Caleb, was only about 4 years old and it was time for VBS. I agreed to help out in his class. The lady I worked with was Missy. Never did I dream what a bond we would have. From the start, it felt like we had been friends since birth. I can talk to her about anything, anytime, anywhere. We have shared laughter, tears, and enough secrets to fill a book. She hooked me into VBS and then into her class as a craft helper and it has just grown from there.

For those of you who have read my blog for a long time, you may recall about four years ago my daughter and I held a shower for her best friend Anya. Well, Anya is Missy's daughter so it has worked out great for all of us that our families have intertwined so well.

Anya is now the mother of an energetic, entertaining 2 year old that keeps his mommy and his Nana Missy on their toes. Missy also has a son who is friends with my son-in-law and is the youth pastor at our church. He is filled with joy and laughter. Everyone who knows him loves him and he is full of fun. Even though he is an adult he will be the first one to tell you he is just a big kid. We never know what ~~great~~ bright idea he is going to come up with next. He's one of those people who says "I have a great idea...." and you just pause and wait for the shoe to drop.

But he does have some fantastic ideas. Last year was one of them. He loves bow ties. He decided it would be good to challenge all the fathers in the church last year to wear a bow tie on Father's Day. Then it was decided if they were going to wear bow ties, they could do an all male choir that Sunday morning. He did and it was a great success. Needless to say, last Sunday he challenged them again to wear their bow ties and we had an amazing turn out. Here was our all male choir yesterday morning for the second year in a row on Father's Day.

All the men looked fantastic and the choir sounded great. But to me, the best of the best yesterday was Missy's husband Steve and their grandson Aydin, (Anya's baby). The white shirts, bibs and bow ties just made for the cutest Pop Pop and his little buddy ever.

Why bibs? As Steve posted on Facebook with this picture "Aydin & I wore bibbed overalls with white shirts in honor of my hard working Papaws and Uncles. Thank you for your examples of how to be a real man"

Thank you Steve and Missy for being such good friends. I love you both.

6/18/16

What next?

Do you ever have "one of those days" that you can't wait to fall in the bed at night and for it to just be over? Well, I have had one of those weeks.

It started on Monday. Our emails at work were not going out. Then I had several call me to say they sent us emails and they bounced back to them. Long story short, on Tuesday, after two hours with Go Daddy and one and 1/2 hours with AT & T and we thought the problem was solved. An hour later, we were back to my emails not going out but others in the office were. So I was in Technical World all day Tuesday.

Our IT guy decided that the problem was my old computer and the fact it was Windows XP with a very old version of Outlook. So on Wednesday, I got a new computer, Microsoft Office 365 and a new printer. Our IT guy thinks everyone needs two monitors so they can multi task across the screens. It was an all day job getting me set up and hooked up. Then they decided to get a new printer that could network and get rid of the ones on the desktops. So Thursday dawned bright and fair with all kinds of newness on my desk. I had to move all my files from a flash drive back onto the new computer. Get all my settings like screen saver, font size, desk top background, etc. back on the new computer. Had to now rearrange everything on my desk to accommodate TWO monitors. (Still haven't figured out why I need them.) And I was finally able to get back to work.

By the time Thursday night rolled around, I had an extremely bad sinus headache, ten layers of frustration and a desire to go back to pen, paper and postage to communicate with my customers. So after work, I decided to go to Pickin' on the Porch at a friends country market ... Double R Farms. It was so relaxing. There was a little breeze blowing and I got a chair in the shade. Had a wonderful relaxing evening listening to bluegrass songs and southern gospel with some good old fashion fun thrown in. Got there at 6:00 and didn't get home until around 9:00. I was so relaxed and rejuvenated.

Until I walked in my door. The house was 87 degrees. Poor heat pump was working up a sweat. I can tell you that 85 degrees at 9:00 at night when you just spent 3 hours sitting outside in the summer is not pleasant. I opened some windows but that just let the stifling air from outside in. And I turned on ceilings fans and my one floor fan. By the time I went to bed the sinus headache was back and the side of my face felt swollen. The lights were bothering my left eye because of the headache. But it was too hot to go to bed. Finally at 1:00 a.m., I went to bed. I didn't sleep good, but I did sleep. Only to wake up at 5:30 a.m.

It was 84 degrees in the house but very nice outside so I opened the windows and turned the fans back on to cool it down before I left for work. I called them to come fix it. When I got home last night, the A/C guy was there putting in Freon and it was right on 90 degrees on my thermostat in the house. A friend of mine wanted me to run to K-Mart with her so I did. When I got home it was a blessed 73 degrees and my house felt wonderful. Watched some TV and went to bed. Slept like a baby. So I am looking forward to a good weekend. Then I realized we are coming up on a full moon on Monday which means the crazy is about to start. Not a good thing to realize when it is my turn to teach at Children's Church tomorrow and I will have about 27-28 kids from four years old through third grade. This should be interesting.

Have a great day.

6/17/16

Faith Filled Friday

Welcome to Faith Filled Friday. I used to write something every Friday about God's goodness and mercy. I want to start that back up again. I came across an article I wrote in 2008. It applies today as much as it did then if not more so. We need to find the beauty and peace around us that God provides. I hope you enjoy.

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice

and be glad in it.” – Psalms 118:24

I never understood that verse as well as I did one sunny April day. The sky was clear. The temperature had climbed to a warm 80_. Being early spring, there was no humidity or heat index to cause that stifling heat of summer.

I gathered my book, sunglasses and a cold orange Crush and made my way to my favorite lounge chair on the back patio. As I sat and contemplated the world around me, I began to notice the beauty I was among. I could see God’s hand everywhere.

It was in the cool shade and dripping branches of my weeping willow tree. It was gliding across the still surface of the French Broad River. I started to notice the little things that we all take for granted. I saw the splashes of color lovingly painted with each gentle stroke of the Master’s brush. I could see His touch in the vibrant yellow’s of the dandelions and buttercups standing as soldiers among the sweet green grass of spring.

It was there in the brilliant blue of the baby bluebirds as they tested their wings and perched on the old wood fence. I watched as the multicolored butterflies flitted across the yard to the sweet, soft calls of the chickadees, cardinals and robins.

I watched as a bounty of birds lazily glided across the sky, perching on one tree and then another as if they, too, were taking a moment to enjoy God’s beauty. In the complete stillness between their sweet songs, it’s as if you can hear God’s voice whisper on the wind, saying “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps.46:10). I remember that day so well. I went in the houses that night and made me this little sign and did this little arrangement. I still have it all today. I can just look at it and it brings me peace.

I'm hooking up with Friday Foto Friends at Breathing in Grace.

6/16/16

The A-B-C's of Me

I saw this on Facebook and thought it would be a fun thing to do on my blog. I challenge you to do this post on your blog and leave a comment with your blog link so we can learn about each other. Here we go...

Twenty six things about me...

A- Age: 59

B- Biggest fear: watching someone die again

C- Current time: 6:32 a.m. EST

D- Drink you last had: Chocolate milk

E- Every day starts with: A glass of chocolate milk

F- Favorite song: Amazing Grace - My Chains are Gone

G- Ghosts ? : Never did until I worked in an old dyalisis building. Oh the stories I could tell.

H- Hometown: Kodak, TN now, but my whole childhood was Barboursville, WV

I- In love?: Still in love with my hubby. Miss him daily.

J- Jealous of: Not really a jealous person, but I do get envious when I see couples my age holding hands. Makes me miss hubby that much more.

K- Killed Someone?: No

L- Last time you cried: Sunday when Clint sang Amazing Grace - My Chains are Gone at church

M- Middle name: Kay

N- Number of siblings: 1 older sister and 2 younger brothers

O- One wish: to be a better Christian

P- Person you last called: my friend Georgeanna

Q- Question you're asked: Are you still collecting Pyrex? Amazed at how often people ask me that. And the answer is....OF COURSE.

R- Reason to smile: My grandchildren

S- Song last sang: Just as I Am at church Sunday

T- Time you woke up: 5:30 a.m.

U- Underwear color: Hot pink

V- Vacation destination: The Beach or Mom's house

W- Worst habit: jumping to conclusions

X- X-Rays you've had: Wrist, teeth

Y- Your favorite food: pizza

Z- Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Hope you join in the fun and post a link to your blog in the comments. (I don't know how to do a Linky thing).

6/15/16

Partying Thirty-One style....

The past six months have been a nightmare. Between moving, changing jobs, a trip to Mom's, a weekend girls retreat, a trip to the beach, VBS and various other obligations I haven't been able to focus much on my Thirty-One business.

So I'm doing a week long party. I'm posting shopping links here on my blog. I'm creating an event for my Facebook friends. I'm creating an online Facebook party. I'm taking up catalog orders and I'm holding an open house party at my home. It will be interesting to see how it goes. My goal is a $1000 party. I haven't had a big one like that since before Allen got sick. But I used to do quite a few large ones. As the hostess, I get to earn all the wonderful rewards. It should be a good party because the special is spend $35 and get the Medium Utility Tote for $12. Since it is only offered one time a year as a special, it may generate some orders.

I hope to earn enough hostess credits to get this Via Night wallet. It would be perfect for those quick trips to the store.

I also hope to earn this Mini Zipper Pouch. They are one of my addictions. I use them for so much that you just wouldn't believe it. Craft needles, scissors, seam ripper in one. First aid kit in one. I have one for coupons and one for spare change. I have one for make-up and one for manicure supplies. I have one for cotton balls and one for Q-Tips. I like getting ones that co-ordinate with my purses so I can carry an emergency kit....Tide pen, Germ-X, glasses wipes, eye glass repair, tweezers, etc. So yes, I am addicted. You cannot have too many mini zipper pouches. Here is one I want as my newest addition.

But the ultimate item on my wish list is a new tote purse. This is my favorite. I have one in Navy with dots for the fall. But I need a new fun summer one to take to conference this year. I love the personalization options they offer. And since I love Thirty-One, I want to do my favorite Icon and phrase on the Go To Tote (which is an appropriate name since it is my favorite "go to tote").

Don't you just love the little bow in the birdie's hair? That bag is the ultimate goal of the party. Why buy something when I can get it for free? If I end up with a $600 party I can get everything above for free. If I end up with a $1000 party, I can add my other dream purse. I don't know if it will be in the fall catalog, so I hope to earn it before August. It is the Miles of Style in Caramel Charm Pebble.

If you get a chance, you should check out some of the fun stuff.

You can click here to shop if you'd like to see the awesome items Thirty-One offers. It will ship right to your home.

https://www.mythirtyone.com/124266/shop/Party/EventDetail/9209133

6/14/16

Top 10 Tuesday

My mind is meandering again today. I can't seem to focus. Here are the top 10 things for this Tuesday that I have been contemplating.

1. I am starting to look everywhere I am to see if I can find a rock shaped like this. I want to make a lady bug. These are two cute.

2. Saw this on Facebook and thought it was cute.

3. I got my office/kids room finally about finished. Still some things to do. Can you tell I collect tea sets and tea for one's?

4. Thirty-One recently released what the July special will be. They normally do a July special with a new pattern for fall so we can purchase a fall product before the catalog comes out in August. It has been years since they had a nice plaid pattern and I am going through a color blue stage right now. I am in love with the plaid thermal. This is going on my must have wish list for sure.

5. I saw this on a website the other day and fell in love with it. I can't remember where I found it but it was only $10 or $15. Not a bad price for a tea for one set.

6. This popped up on Facebook in an add and I just thought it was adorable. I would never wear a watch this big but it is still cute. I think it is the eye glasses that made me like it.

7. This shirt is totally how I feel in the summer time. Of course, in the winter time I just wish I could wear house slippers everywhere. I own way more flip flops and way more house slippers than I do all my other types of shoes put together. I think I have a flip flop/house slippers problem.

8. I made one of these when I was younger. I should make one for the middle of my bed since I have the whole ocean/beach color theme going.

9. I found this cross stitch piece that Allen started about 15 - 20 years ago when he was laid off one winter. He never did finish. I am thinking I might see if I can. I normally only do small pieces, so I don't know if I have the patience for something this elaborate.