Sugar Sugar...

Someone especially sweet is celebrating a birthday today...

Dear Sugar, 

Today you are ONE. Time seems to move faster with every passing year and while I know that's something 'old' people say, it feels so true. 

Also, Pawpaw and I are not really old, it's just that sometimes five grandchildren can fool us into thinking we are. 

You, my precious girl, have been pure sweetness from day one. You have what I call a whole body smile. When you smile, which is almost all the time, your whole face lights up (mine too!) and your whole body seems to feel the joy. You can make any day better and brighter, which is a gift I hope you never lose. 

You've been walking for a few weeks now, which has opened up a whole new world to explore. You dearly love your big brother and want whatever he has. He makes you laugh and loves you to bits too, and is so patient with you (most of the time).

You have your momma's big blue eyes and love seeing Daddy walk through the door. You like being outside, getting in to brother's toys, bath time, books, noodles, and music. You're also a climber which keeps everyone on their toes. 

You are the beautiful caboose on our cousin train and we all adore you. We can't remember what it was like not to know you and we're so glad you're ours. 

Happy birthday sweet Sugar. You are so very easy to love, and I pray you always smile as big and as freely as you have in this first year of your life. Know your Nana loves you deep and wide xo

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him." 

Jeremiah 17:7

A Heart's Desire

 Linking this post today with Joanne (Slices of Life) for Talking About It Tuesdays 

2025 is bringing a pretty big and exciting change to our family. I haven't said anything about it on my blog because I've kind of been holding my breath making sure all the pieces would actually come together, but that seems to be happening so it feels okay to talk about it here now. 

Y'all. Don't stop praying for something that is truly your heart's desire. 

When my oldest daughter graduated from high school eighteen years ago (huh???) we were living in the UK. She hopped the pond to attend university in South Carolina and then we moved to NJ and she moved to D.C., and then she got married and moved to Washington State, and then we moved to South Carolina, and then she moved even further away-South Korea, then to a town outside of Nashville, then to Cincinatti, then to England and whew. It's a lot, isn't it? 

All that to say we have not lived geographically near one another since she was eighteen years old. 

I have occasionally referred to this circumstance as the thorn in my side. I have prayed a lot of prayers for my girls in adulthood. Jobs, spouses, married life, childbirth, child-rearing, and yes I still ask God to bring them geographically nearer on a regular basis. Near enough for a cup of tea on a Monday morning or lunch now and then without planes, trains, passports and rental cars being part of the deal because this is my heart's desire. 

My youngest daughter has been living about 3.5 hours from us for the past three years and we consider that very near. We can go by car and it's not too far for a weekend drive which is nice. Hubs and I have spent most of our married life living far away from family so we know how to do this, but still it's not my favorite. Whenever a move is on the horizon for daughter1 I ask God if maybe the next location could be just a little bit closer to me.  

She and her husband just celebrated their ten year wedding anniversary, and in the last ten years my son-in law has completed the final four years of a five year residency, four years of orthopedic surgery, and then another two years in specialized orthopedic fellowships. 

Most recently they've been living in Cambridge (England) while he wraps up his final fellowship. Just before they moved to the UK he accepted a job with an orthopedic practice that will begin once they're back stateside. 

That job is here. 

Where I live. 

They are coming home and where we live is where they will live. 

I don't even know what this looks like, all I know is my daughter and her family will be living within arms reach. We can go to the kids sporting events and programs. We can have dinner together on a random Wednesday.  We can spend one on one time with each little grand since logistics aren't complicated. 

They can come for a swim in the lake, then go home and sleep in their own beds. Or their parents can go home and the kids can have a sleep over at Nana and Pawpaws. My daughter can go to the dentist and get her hair cut without three kids in tow. She can hang out with her sister more often which makes her so happy. 

We live in a small town and I imagine we'll run into one another in the market or Hobby Lobby and other places we'll both frequent. 

They will of course make their own friends here, settle in to their own routines and find their own favorite places, which is as life should be, but to have them near means so much. The in-laws also live nearby and they're as excited as we are for fewer Facetimes, and more actual face time. 

So all these many words to say this... 

I've been praying for many many years for something that I couldn't quite work out how it would ever happen, yet here we are in 2025 and my daughter and I are going to be 'neighbors'. 

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7 (The Living Bible)

More Than Words

Good Monday morning friends. I'm not going to do a weekend recap because ours was spent mostly de-Christmas-ing the house which is such a chore and not that interesting to read about.  Hubs remarked that we put out fewer decorations this year but it seemed like it took us longer to get everything taken down. I tried to be more intentional in how I stored things for next year, which contributed to the process moving at a snail's pace. 

Anyway it's done, or at least it's mostly done. Always a few stray bits and bobs that turn up once we've lugged everything to the attic. 

Let's talk words. 

Do you have a word of the year (WOTY)? Is this something you always do, sometimes do, have never done? I've had words from time time, but only when I truly felt there was a word I couldn't escape. That's how God speaks to me. He has to flash something in great BIG BOLD letters everywhere I look, and then I pay attention.

I know some people just pick a word they like and call it their own, but that's not how my words have happened. My experience with a word of the year has gone something like this-I go into it in January thinking my word is going to make the coming year look one way and then my year ends up looking a whole 'nother way. 

I haven't had a WOTY since 2019 when I chose the word 'delight'.  Sounds pretty doesn't it? Sounds like you're in for a year full of awe and wonder, right? 

If you've been around here for a while you might remember 2019 was the year one daughter had a cancelled wedding, and then right about that same time my other daughter and her husband told us they were expecting baby boy2 and would be transferred to South Korea three months before his birth, so yeah. 

It's a little scary choosing a word.

You know what though? 2019 actually did turn out to be a year of awe and wonder, just not in any of the ways I'd envisioned. Sometimes hindsight is a gift, and I can look back at that year and see how I learned to delight in Him, even as life presented some most un-delightful moments. 

So I've landed on a word for 2025 and it's this-anchored. 

Anchored means, "to make something or someone stay in one position by fastening him, her, or it firmly." In the Bible the word anchor is an emblem of hope, and a definition I read in a Bible dictionary added this, which I love, 'held by an anchor, moored, fixed in safety'. That feels like a good way to go in to a brand new year. 

I always like to have a verse to memorize and mull over that relates to my word, and while there are several that apply I picked this one-

I expect come December I will once again look back, and stand amazed at all the many ways God does exceedingly more than I can ask or imagine. 

If you have a word, I'd love to hear it. 

And I always feel like the new year should officially begin around the 6th, so happy new year everyone! 

Days Gone By

It was sixty degrees here yesterday so hubs and I (and the little brown dog of course) took advantage of the warm weather and hiked out to a nearby waterfall. We hadn't been on this particular path since Hurricane Helene hit, but she definitely left her mark. 

The rangers and crew have done a good job clearing the trail of most of the enormous fallen trees and they've made work arounds where needed.  

I do some of my best thinking while on a walk in the woods. I don't know if it's the quiet or the beauty or the freedom from distraction but I feel God especially near when I'm out in nature.  

As we walked yesterday I found myself thinking about this next new year getting ready to roll in...what I'm hoping for...what I need to do-untangle-notice-cherish. 

What will this new year bring? 

No clue, right? I mean we all hope for lots of goodness, but know most years are a mixture of both sorrow and joy. Every year is filled with the comfort of familiar, yet the unexpected will be woven in there too. 

There will likely be some muck along the way.

So much beauty too. 

There will be things to work out and things to enjoy. 

Time to play. 

And time to pray. 

A walk in the woods reminds me I don't have to think too deeply about the year I'm leaving behind. That it's okay to just let it quietly roll away and instead turn my gaze forward. 

To let my heart fill with gratitude for the way God goes before me into each new year. Each new day in fact. 

To rest in His unfailing love, knowing He'll show me the path I should walk. 

Creation reminds me to keep looking up. 

'The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." Psalm 28:7

In the words of my grandson, 'Happy new you!'

Ten on the Twelfth

So, funny story, or at least it's funny to me. 

Last week I saw Marsha post the topic for this month's ten on the tenth and I jotted a few thoughts into a post to save in my draft folder with every intention of joining. I was actually feeling pretty proud of myself for being ahead of the game. Ha! 

Here was the intro I had written..'playing along with 10 on the 10th this month because a) I remembered it was the 10th and b) I only have about 150 other things I should be doing so blogging seems reasonable.'

On Tuesday I saw a bunch of people posting their 10 on the 10th posts and I was scratching my head thinking why are they posting on Tuesday when the 10th isn't until Thursday??? 

Bother. 

December has been a whirlwind, and I'm going to participate anyway because why not? There are zero rules when it comes to your own blog. 

This month's prompt is-

Hmmm...which way do I go? Is there anything I truly dislike about the month of December? Doesn't each month brings its own mixture of sorrow and joy? I'm a bit like Pollyanna in that I prefer to focus on the joy, so here's what I really enjoy during the month of December. 

anticipation...

December, 2021

reflection...

December, 2019

family...

December, 2023

memory...

December, 1995

pretty food...

December, 2022

lights...

December, 2019

cookies -both the baking and the eating ...

December 2017

holiday parties...

December, 2021

little children...

December, 2018

And above all, the gospel story that never grows old or cold or irrelevant or is ever anything less than miraculous...

timeless

What would make your list of December favorites? 

Helene

I began this post thinking I'd wrap up our UK trip with a few stray thoughts still lingering, but then I started writing and ended up here. 

Hurricane Helene. 

Many of you have reached out to ask how we fared and I thank you for that. Honestly being out of town during a very major hurricane is both a good thing and a bad thing. We were literally an ocean away from it all, which meant whatever was happening was completely out of our control. 

Honestly we're never in control of the weather are we? 

Or many things we tell ourselves we can control, but especially the weather. 

We have wonderful neighbors who kept us in the loop, who checked on the house and the property, and who let us know we had no big trees down and no obvious damage. Our yard was covered in tree debris and we were without power for a few days, but it was restored by the time we arrived home Wednesday. Many in our area are not so lucky. The girl bagging my groceries today said they won't have power until Tuesday, fingers crossed. The storm happened September 26th. More than a week ago. 

I'm in South Carolina, in what is called the Upstate (so not the coast). We're just a hop, skip, and a jump from the beautiful NC mountains and we love the natural beauty and the many charming towns that dot the landscape there. 

Some of those towns are literally gone. Washed away. There one day and just completely gone the next. 

I don't feel like the media is adequately portraying the devastation, the tremendous loss of life, work, home, and nature that have happened here. It's hard to understand how a hurricane hits the highest point east of the Mississippi, but that particular geography complicates rescue efforts and help getting to people in need. 

This is turning out to be larger than Katrina in terms of scope and the death toll will rise as areas yet to be accessed are finally reached. Eight days in and people are still unaccounted for. 

One of my favorite things about America is the way her citizens rally in times of trouble and we are for sure seeing that here. Individuals, businesses, fire departments, and the like are collecting much needed items and pick up trucks are finding a way to get supplies over the mountain. Churches here have partnered with churches in the hardest hit areas to meet specific needs, volunteers are flying helicopters and small planes to both rescue the stranded and also drop essentials into remote areas. I saw a video of a woman getting her insulin via a drone drop which seems crazy but that's where we are. 

Many parts of Asheville and the surrounding small towns have no water and it's going to be that way for quite some time. Major highways are washed away and the rebuild for the interstate is expected to take more than one year. The major highway running from our area through NC and into Tennessee is going to be shut down for at least a year. 

And yet, in the midst of something hard to comprehend people are kind. They're generous. Their hearts are hurting and broken for people they don't know and this is the America I love. People doing practical things like making meals for the linemen and first responders, donating diapers and formula and get this-benadryl-because apparently the bees are really angry and out in force in some places. 

There are organizations on the ground like Samaritans Purse, the World Central Kitchen, and Operation Airdrop that all need donations to do what they do. If you can help in that way know it matters. The cost of recovery after Helene is estimated to be something like 34 billion dollars. 

It's easy to feel helpless in a situation such as this, but we are not helpless. And we are not alone. 

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging..." Psalm 46:1-3

What To Expect When You're Expecting (not that kind)

The kind of expecting where you're looking forward to something happening and then it does, but not in the way you expected. 

I spent this past weekend with daughter2, mostly holding baby girl who we've decided going forward will be known here as 'Sugar'.  She's so sweet y'all. 

Anyway, I spent almost all of my time with this little miss in my arms so daughter2 could hold her brother. He was feeling puny, wanting momma and only momma. You kind of forget what it's like to have sick kids in the house until you have sick kids in the house. 

Was this our weekend plan? 

No it was not. The original weekend plan was for both my girls to be in Tennessee with their littles while all of our hubs had their own obligations to tend to. I'd been looking forward to this for weeks because it's been a long while since it was just us girls (plus their 5 small children, but whatever). This was going to be both girls and me in the same place at the same time, no boys allowed. 

Except for the 6 and under set of course. 

Anyway, we girls were going to have some fun, take a picnic to the park, laugh a lot at all the cousins playing together in their matching cousin t-shirts, share deep thoughts and skin care products, and gab late into the night (well, later than 8:30 which is our usual bedtime when kids are in the house) for three complete whole entire days. 

Didn't happen. 

I did drive to daughter2's on Thursday, and daughter1 did plan to arrive with her crew on Saturday. 

There's that word again-plan. 

Things started off nicely. Friday morning daughter2 needed to visit the jeweler so we loaded up the baby and big brother and off we went. While my daughter was in the shop chatting about an order I was outside with the mister watching a large construction crew operate all the big equipment just across the highway. There were cranes and bulldozers, dump trucks filling and dumping, and best of all a 'digger', all making a lot of noise and moving a lot of dirt and rock. Little man was in heaven. When he waved at the digger operator the driver lifted the bucket up and down in the form of a wave back and it was the best.

We had lunch before heading home for naps, but by the time we got to the house it was apparent sweet baby J was running a fever. Bother. We finally had to tell daughter1 not to come because we certainly didn't need to share those germs with her family, and that was that. Plan blown. Expectation unmet. 

What can you do? 

Nothing really. Life happens and we have to adjust and move forward even when what we really want to do is stomp our feet and rail at the universe a little bit. 

We don't though. We adjust and move forward. We choose to find the silver lining...the bright side...the blue sky if you will. Maybe not in the first five minutes but we do get there. We pull on our 'let's make the best of it britches' and then we do just that. 

There are hours and hours of snuggles with a lapful of Sugar. 

There is the same book read no less than fifteen times because sweet baby J is not his usual oh so happy self and when Nana reads '....sometimes you're happy, sometimes you're sad'...and makes a great big sad face, he laughs. Somehow my sad face makes him happy and it's pure gold.  

There is sunshine. Glorious sunshine. We load everyone up in the strollers and feel the sun hit our faces and Vitamin D flood our veins and we can say with complete honesty that there is beauty in this day, this weekend, in spite of cancelled plans and unmet expectation. 

After babies are tucked in tight me and my girl (just one not two, but we're making the best of it remember?) sit on the couch and watch Next Level Chef. We discuss in great detail the choices these contestants make because we both love to cook, but we talk about many, many other things too.  

And suddenly, somehow, I feel grateful, not for cancelled plans, but for being right where I need to be. Lending a hand (or a lap), and having a front row seat to watch my baby girl mother her very own babies. What a gift. 

There is grace for the day y'all. 
For the ones that go swimmingly and the ones that fall to pieces too. 

Showered With Love

We have had the craziest start to the new year. End to last year? I cannot believe it's almost February and I still feel like I'm racing to catch up with the calendar.  

Is it annoying when people go on and on about how fast time is passing? 

It's flying y'all. I cannot seem to get my foot on the rung that is this new year. 

We have a new granddaughter joining the party (yes, we're a party) very soon. We're anticipating a  February arrival, but she may make her appearance sooner, and how in the world is it already February???

Technically it's not, but I've already made the leap into the next month because this one has me bamboozled.  

Also, I'm getting another granddaughter (insert all the heart eyes and emojis here).

Hubs and I trekked to Tennessee Thursday afternoon so we would be available Friday morning for baby's momma to visit the doctor without her toddler in tow. Remember when going to the doctor, followed by a stop at the grocery store by yourself was a real treat? 

We spent the morning indoors because it was something like nine degrees outside. We stacked blocks and read books and played 'baby pretend to go night night' in the great big blanket, and then Nana did 600 laps behind the tricycle on the living room-dining room-kitchen circuit. 

Little man sat so quietly and was so happy on that trike seat that we just kept doing the loop. At one point I asked hubs to take his picture and we discovered sweet baby J was sound asleep. Sitting up on his tricycle.

He is so precious. 

My daughter's in-laws arrived Friday afternoon and my son-in-law grilled wings and we had them with a nice charcuterie for dinner. Saturday morning we girls headed out in the bitter cold to attend a shower for baby girl. My daughter has the loveliest, kindest, most wonderful friends who made the morning so very special. 

They started the shower by going around in a circle and reading scripture and prayers for momma, dad, and baby. Not only for her physical health and development, but each one also tied to her spiritual health and development. They were very specific and absolutely beautiful. Made me quite teary actually. 

We had tea sandwiches and a pasta salad along with fruit skewers, baked brie, and a delectable assortment of sweet treats too. 

My daughter is so very fortunate to have these friends, and even though my baby is having a baby she's still my baby. I love that there is a circle of friends to support her and to be 'on call' should any need at all arise. 

 

What a gift! 

While we were at the shower the men were out doing manly things lol. They had Mexican food before coming home and little man was napping when we walked in the house. We spent the afternoon reading, chatting, and watching basketball, then dined on some super delicious ribs my son-in-law grilled. 

We headed home on Sunday and are now playing the guessing game as to when baby girl will celebrate her birth-day. I have plans to go back sooner rather than later so I'm in the house with the soon-to-be big brother. Having your second is easier in some ways, fewer surprises at what your body is capable of, but then so many feelings about your first born too.

I want to remind my daughter of her big sister's reaction when she first laid eyes on this new little person who was suddenly part of her life. The big sister who became her very best friend for always. Who knows her like no other. Who has loved her since she was rolled into the hospital visitors room and we were quickly commanded to 'gimme dat'.

Be still my heart. 

May this new little one be loved so well. 

Learning To Count

Hello Friends. And also any strangers who happened to land here today. Happy Thanksgiving. I know we have a few days still but let's be honest, the holiday starts when the cooking starts and that's usually today. 

If you're cooking. 

Which I'm not, but if I were I'd start today. 

Today. Whew. Actually it's been a whole entire weekend+ Monday, which is why there won't be a Hodgepodge post this week. I know technically this post is all over the place and feels very hodgepodge-y, but there's no official Wednesday Hodgepodge this week. The Hodgepodge will be back next week when we'll be in full on December mode.

Even though it will still be November. 

Life here is not dull. I feel like it should be a little bit dull because we're retired. Shouldn't there be days where we ask each other what do you want to do today and hubs says I don't know what do you want to do today? Yeah, that doesn't happen here. 

Saturday we awakened to a dog throwing up. Now I know this is something dogs do occasionally, but not our dog. Our dog is the Superman of dogs and has a stomach of steel. He was sick several times, and I gently suggested to hubs mid morning that maybe we should think about taking him in to the ER vet, but Tennessee was playing Georgia at 3:30 PM and hubs was not missing it. 

Except of course he did because the pup was pathetic and is his best bud. He made the 40 minute drive to the ER vet, then spent the next four hours waiting, seeing the doctor, and having the dog's blood drawn and belly x-rayed. Basically he missed the entire game which, if you're a Tennessee fan, wasn't such a bad thing. ahem. 

They did not see a blockage but of course nobody knows this dog like the hubs knows this dog, and he suspected the pup had eaten a paper towel (or two) when he was cleaning the grill on Friday. I read online paper towels can become like papier mache in a dogs belly but the doctors saw nothing on the x-ray. They did give him something that coats the stomach so when the dog seemed worse and not better on Sunday morning, it was back to the ER vet for another look. 

Offering here 1000 bonus points for anyone who can explain to me why these things always always always happen on a weekend or after hours. 

Sunday's visit revealed a blockage, which we were sure was a paper towel (or two), but as it turns out was a baby sock, size 12-24 months. Y'all my grandson was here two weeks ago which is a long time for a sock to be stuck in your dog's belly. 

All that to say, the dog spent Sunday night at the ER vet, so instead of getting ready to visit our daughter and her family this morning, we were waiting to hear how surgery went. Ugh! ugh ugh ugh. The worry. The irritation. The aggravation. The money. And of course the biggest ugh of all was the idea that I was not going to see my girl and her littles as planned. I was not going to be side by side with her in the kitchen as we chopped celery and made dressing and pulled out the good dishes. 

I wasn't going to get to see my grands open their Christmas pj's or help decorate their tree, or read stories snuggled up on the couch, or get great big hugs around the neck, and I'm going to be honest and tell you that on Sunday I had myself a little pity party. Maybe more than a little. 

But God is so good to give us new mercies every single day, so  I woke up this morning and I got a grip. I reminded myself the world is full of tremendous sorrows right now and this is not one of them. I talked to my sister who suggested we get a dinner to go from the grocery store and I had a new plan and a new outlook. Then I read this prayer first thing and it truly helped reset my outlook. And my 'in-look' too. It was posted by @cleerlystated on Instagram, not sure if I can share it without permission, so here's the link- A Prayer for Thanksgiving Week. 

Before too long the the vet called saying surgery went well. They would need to keep the dog for a few days because he also has a completely unrelated but significant skin infection and all that to say Thanksgiving is back on. 

I mean it was never off, but I let my mind travel down a road we are not meant to travel, and for a minute my normally grateful heart felt so completely Grinchy. Why is that so easy to do?

Making a list and checking it twice now...

I'm grateful today for modern medicine, for animals who worm their way into our hearts, for a husband who doesn't say 'snap out of it!', but instead lets me feel what I feel and offers hot tea, scrambled eggs, and a fuzzy blanket if I think it would help. 

I'm thankful for sisters who share my disappointments, who walk me through a plan B, who tell me I'm not being ridiculous when even I know I'm being just a little bit ridiculous. Sisters who love my girls and understand all the ways holidays and family go together. 

I'm so glad God loves me in spite of myself. That He keeps growing me up and into the person He created me to be. That He's not through with me yet. 

Grateful especially for this season that reminds me to count my blessings. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

"I'm Half Crazy...

 ...over the likes of you..." 

Name that tune. You should know I sing it every time I think of my granddaughter, which is several times a day, every single day. 

Dear Little Miss, 

Today you are one. ONE! 

This is your first birthday letter from Nana and there are so many things I want to tell you. I would love to post dozens of pictures too, but alas it's 2023 and there's too much 'iffy' stuff happening online in terms of pictures, so one or two it is. 

You are my first granddaughter. When your momma was expecting your biggest brother (the mancub as he's known on my blog) and she told us she was having a boy I didn't know what to think. I mean I raised daughters and girls were what I knew. 

But then the mancub came along, followed by your next biggest brother Max, then your cousin sweet baby J, and it was just all boy all the time and we have loved these boys more than I ever imagined was possible. These grandboys we call ours are the grandest, and we have gone all in on the cars and the trucks and the balls and the noise and the go-go-go and the run-jump-wrestle and the build-build-build. 

In five fast years we completely settled in to being Nana and Pawpaw to all the baby boys God would bring into our lives and we have loved every single second of the fabulous chaos they bring. 

Then came you. 

The sweetest, loveliest, little flower in the garden. 

You little miss, are the first grand of ours to actually look exactly like the momma who birthed her. Except for your hair coloring you are the spitting image of my once upon a time baby girl, and you're so much like her in personality there are days my heart wants to literally burst. Sweet and spunky, cheerful and gentle. Completely and utterly enchanting. 

I will say you might be just a little bit louder than she ever thought about being, but then your momma didn't have two big brothers showing her the way, ahem.

It has been so much fun adding a girl to our family. I don't care what the politically 'in'correct culture of today tries to tell us-boys and girls are not the same and I celebrate God's grand and marvelous design. 

It's been a complete joy to watch you insert your girly self into a family of boys. To quote your oldest brother, 'she's the queen' lol. So true mancub, so true. You my darling girl are already adored by all who know you, but by no one more so than your big brothers. They think you hung the moon and we all nod our heads in agreement. 

Some things you love right now are your momma (you're the luckiest), your Daddy (who very quickly and completely discovered the absolute joy of being a girl dad), bubbles, books, the water, standing on your head, looking out the back window for deer in the yard, swinging, cruising around the furniture, getting into your brother's toys, making your brothers laugh, being where they are, doing what they're doing, watching them....

In just a few months you will no longer be quite so outnumbered. Your Auntie M will give us another granddaughter to love, and give you a girl cousin. You will be close in age and I pray always close in heart too. I look so forward to tea parties, girl trips with your momma, aunt, and cousin, and finally getting into all your momma's American girl dolls stored safely in our attic, just waiting for you to come and play. 

Happy birthday Little Miss. It is my great great privilege to watch you grow and bloom. Jesus loves you this I know. And so does Nana...deep and wide xoxo 

"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11 

Wandering Through The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link to the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. What's something bizarre you've seen or heard recently? 

Oh wow, where to begin? How about men 'chestfeeding'??? A man winning the Miss Netherlands title? The list is long.

2. July 18th is National Sour Candy Day. Who knew? Do you like sour candies or other foods with 'sour' flavors? Kimchi, rhubarb, gooseberries, tamarind, dill pickles, sour cherries, sauerkraut, cranberries, and  grapefruit...of the sour foods listed which is your favorite? 

I love sour candies, and actually all the sour foods (that I've tried) on this list. I don't think I've ever had a gooseberry. Hard to pick a favorite, but a good dill pickle ranks right up there.

3. Share a favorite memory of an aunt or uncle. 

My extended family included lots of aunts and uncles, but I didn't grow up living geographically close to any of them. We used to visit my dad's parents and his brothers and their families in Colorado. Whenever we made one of these trips we always made a trek into the mountains with everyone. We'd cook a big breakfast beside a stream and have some fun with our cousins. 

Another favorite memory I have is with my mom's only sister. She lived a long way from us too, but she and I became pen pals after one of her visits and we wrote a lot of letters to one another for many years. 

4. How would you describe your ability to manage stress? 

Pretty well I think. Depends on the day and of course what sort of stress we're talking about. I might have a moment of panic, but I don't stay there. I pretty quickly fall back on my faith, remind myself God is good and in control of this upside down world. That nothing surprises Him and He cares about the smallest details of my life. That He works all things for His glory and my good. Resting in His unfailing love is the best stress buster I know. 

5. What do you think about when you let your mind wander? 

I could make a list of about a hundred different things because I'm a daydreamer and sometimes an over thinker, but I'll spare you and just say generally it's one of two things-the never ending list of things we need or want to do to this house, and also 'how we want to live going forward'. 

We love our home, but it is a lot of work in terms of maintenance and upkeep so not sure we'll stay here forever and ever. No plans to go anywhere anytime soon, but it's good to dream and plan and think about what we want/don't want someday down the road. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have a short list of random nothings that I think I'll turn into a something. I want to get back to blogging and random is my wheelhouse. Stay tuned.  

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A Holiday Palooza

There's a weekend in June where worlds collide and our family gets to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, and Father's Day all at the same time, and ain't nobody mad about it. Let's discuss. 

First things first...

39 years y'all. 

Marriage is a lot of work and anyone who tells you otherwise is not being truthful. It's not a lot of work all the time of course, in fact much of the time it's a walk in the park on a blue sky sunshiny summer day. 

Most years though, it's a little bit of both and that's how we grow.  

After 39 years we can still say we're glad we chose each other. Glad we're still laughing a lot. Grateful for memories and shared experiences and growing up and older and grandchildren and above all God's amazing grace across the years and miles and minutes of our marriage. 

My son-in-law's grandparents just celebrated their 70th!! wedding anniversary, which let's just pause for a second to say wow...WOW! and hubs and I did the math and figure we've got a chance lol. Hey hubs! Cheers to the next 31!

Our third grandson was born on our anniversary last year so we trekked over to East Tennessee to celebrate his first birthday with thirty of his closest friends. Ha! His parents friends but they all have lots of littles so there was a crowd. 

What a wonderful day and party it was! 

A local farm brought a small petting zoo to the backyard and everyone enjoyed the animals. There were kids of varying ages so it was the perfect activity, and the farmers were so nice and the animals so clean and well cared for, and the weather absolute perfection~whoohoo! 

I'm sure my daughter will write about the day in detail so I'll just say this little guy was the star of the show and loved every minute. 

I think the small cow might have been his favorite, but he is an animal lover and the whole thing made him happy. fyi-he is very rarely unhappy. 

What joy this sweet boy has brought to our family, and we loved celebrating him. 

He smashed his smash cake like a boss. In case anyone is wondering, there was a black and white cow on top of the little cake which made for quite the cleanup afterwards. 

His other grandparents were there too, and we always have a great time together. Such a blessing. 

Post party day was also Father's Day and there were three dads in the house. The in-laws left early as they were headed out on a long vacation road trip, but we hung around until Monday so the 'kids' could have a date night Sunday. We ate leftovers and watched golf and baseball and relaxed on the porch and it was a very good day. 

A great day. 

A truly great weekend.