First Date......

 It seems only fitting that a little girls first date should be with her dad!

Brooklynn picked out a dress in her very favorite color...along with high heel shoes and headed to party with her Tim!

 I am really not sure who is the proudest..or most excited!

What a fun night for my much too grown up first grandchild.

Can't even tell you how happy this makes my heart.
So many huge things on the horizon and the best part of it all is that I am right here to experience it all.

Condiments.....

So, this week I decided to dive into what I laughingly refer to as the "temple of doom".

Please note there are no before pics of my ever so nasty refrigerator.  

 On one of the unseasonably warm days we have been having, instead of enjoying time on the patio, I took on the task of fighting microorganisms and taking the kitchen fridge from filthy to fantastic!

 Two trash bags of expired products later what I discovered was that my refrigerator housed nothing but condiments and beverages.

We have 6 kinds of jelly, at least 8 different salad dressings, sauces, marinades, and drinks galore....but really no food.

There was some cheese and one package of lunchmeat but that was about it.  

We did not even have lettuce to use the dressing on and we rarely do.

I think everything that was expired or moldy is gone so now if you want some butter with your A-1 sauce come on over.  Just do not expect to find any food.

My Valentine.........

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Yes, I will come to your party with you!

 When Mandy committed her time to Finley's party, Brooklynn needed a stand in.

Well just twist my arm!!

It has been a long time since I have been to a school party and I am a good bit older than the rest of the attendees but the nice thing is...it does not seem to bother Brooklynn and that just makes my heart smile!

Soon she will be grown up and I won't fit so readily into her schedule.  Until then I will make the most of every opportunity to share in the Valentines fun!

Ash Wednesday 2016......

It is Ash Wednesday today and I love Lent.  What an odd thing, I am sure, but I really do.  I look forward to reaching the Lenten Season as soon as we begin the New Year.  

I NEVER make New Year's resolutions anymore because I know I won't keep them but I can do 40 days of anything....so I am encouraged.

Lent is the one season that cannot be commercialized.  After all the glitter and glitz and craziness of the Christmas Season, Lent calls us to slow down and be reflective.  

I have found that giving something up is not as satisfying anymore.  I can do without a diet coke, and although it would make me healthier, giving up sugar would not really make me a better person internally.

I choose to not give up but to add to...to add to the things I know will make me a better person, a more caring friend and neighbor.  The world has become so harsh and cold.  As our pastor said last week, how many of you all walk into church and take time to greet each person you pass?...or are you on a mission to get to your seat before someone sits in your space.....that could be me. 

This year I am going to focus more on my interior and not my exterior.

I am going to choose to find Christ in everyone, even the lady that brings her snack container to church and takes up a whole space for it while another person has to stand.  

I have a pile of books that I am going to read that I have been saving just for Lent.

I am going to come out better and that is the goal of Lent.

Our church has been renovated....all new pews and now a new pastor.  I believe he is that man that is meant to be there. I have met him and his presence excites me.  We are a fractured parish that needs mending and I know with a community as close as ours is and new spiritual direction it will happen....and in God's perfect timing, He chose Lent to put all the pieces together.

Easter Sunday will find us all healed, personally and as a parish.

It is God's plan and I am going to be part of it.

This Sweet Boy.......

This sweet little boy is two months old...well maybe a week past that in a few pictures.

The time is flying by and I am amazed at his development every time I see him..

He is nothing but pure love.  

 He is a snuggler....can't help but love that!

Believe me when I tel you I take every opportunity offered me to snuggle!

He is beginning to laugh and use his hands.

Babies are incredible little creatures!

 He took his first trip to the lake last week...and I think he is going to love it like his sisters do!  By summer he will be boat ready.

I am sure between his two granddads that fishing will be a skill he acquires early!

Yes, this is our little guy.

Matthew Joseph you are our bundle of love and our hope for the future as are our other precious grandbabies.  What a blessing!

Just A Day........

It is very seldom anymore that I post a really general, random activity.  My pages are filled with grand babies and why not...that is much more fun than reporting on a crockpot (with a liner because my husband is watching way too much food TV).

It is cold here...like bitterly cold and I am simply not made for the cold.  The genes I should have because I was born in Chicago simply left me years ago and I have no desire to go back up north and see if I can rekindle them.

I dug through the pantry and found enough ingredients for a big pot of overnight crockpot oatmeal.  The advantages....the house smells YUM and I am going to wake up to something besides coffee and yogurt.  Jimmy's excitement stems from the fact he will not have to clean the crockpot....we all win!

My second task because anything that required going outside was scratched was washing the sheets on the crib and raising the mattress.  Soon I will have another grand baby who will be using this bed! I wonder how they would feel about co-sleeping?  I find this all very exciting.  

Next on the agenda....take a seat in the sewing room and peruse all of the 100's of cookbooks lined up on the shelf.  some of the were wedding gifts, and sadly who uses a cookbook anymore.  Technology has just kicked these to the curb...so what do you do with them?

since I was by choice stuck in the house I picked a pile and went through them.  so much trouble.  The computer lets me find 15 recipes for enchiladas in on click of search.  This is labor intensive.

I decided on a cupcake cookbook and am actually going to try and compete with SPRINKLES this weekend.  How hard can that be?

They had to start somewhere so with confidence I am taking this cookbook and going to try and compete.  I have confidence!

And last I stuck my head out the door and took down the final Christmas decoration.  Why wait to long?  Total lack of enthusiasm.  Putting it up is easy...taking it down not so much.  May have to rethink the enormity of my decor next year.  

Looking forward to sunshine tomorrow.  Do not need too many days of being housebound...it is far too much work!