We Turned 35 Today

Dan & I celebrated our 35th anniversary today!

We had dated for 8 months ...

we were planning our wedding ...

then we took a "drive" on May 16, 1984 

We had absolutely no clue as to the mountain peaks we would celebrate ...

nor the deep valleys we would journey.

Our very first meal as a married couple was stopping at the local Pizza Hut 

before traveling the 7 hours back to our hometown ...

and calling both sets of parents (collect -- before cell phones!) to surprise them

with our news!

35 years later, we celebrated at Brio Tuscan Grille ...

he had the beef medallions & I had the pan-seared salmon (yummy!) ...

then we split desserts -- chocolate molten cake & crema catalana (oh my!!!)

 

No special wedding day pictures ... or wedding gown ... or tuxedo/suit ... or reception

But I would definitely elope with him all over again 💕

We found this photo spot at our mall ...

how could we resist???

Believe in His blessings, my friends ~~~

Have a wonderful week!

Processing 3 in 2

I haven't posted on this blog for a long time.  It's a slow process for me but I do have plans in the works for another blog site... something that has been close to my heart over the past several years. But I'm now in the middle of another process and I just want to share with my blogging friends.

April was an extremely hard month

We lost 3 family members in 15 days ...

just over 2 weeks ...

Tuesday April 9

Monday April 15

Wednesday April 24

My husband lost his 98 year old grandmother on April 9 (which is also my Mother's birthday).  "Mommaw" was ready to see Jesus -- especially in the last 10 years. Dan has memories of his family living with her during his childhood in Kentucky ... and then building a house beside her before his family moved out of state. Her funeral was April 12 in her hometown (about 6 or so hours from us). He wanted to be with his family during this time, but it was in the last days of his busy season (100+ weekly hours leading up to the deadline).  He still has hopes of visiting his family cemetery one day.

I lost my 96 year old aunt (my Dad's sister) on April 15.  She was a widow with no children of her own.  She was like a mom to my Dad for many years.  Dan & I drove Daddy to our hometown in West Virginia to be at her funeral on April 19.  Dan was hoping to visit his parents, but it was not possible. It was cooler and rainy during this quick trip "back home".

And then I lost my 89 year old Uncle (my Mother's brother-in-law) on April 24.  My Aunt (Mother's sister) told us the Lord had given them almost two years longer than they thought they would have together. They were married for 68 years! Their daughter (my cousin) told me that we had made such a long trip back home after just being there --- but that's our family. My Aunt & Uncle had lost their 62 year old son four years ago. Memories start flooding back of growing up with all my family surrounding me (literally on my Granny & Poppy's homeplace)... what a blessing God gave me.

My Mother was not able to travel (and our family completely understood and have prayed for her & called her many times) ... she had her first hip replacement on April 11th (2 days after her birthday). She's one tough

 woman ... 2 years of surviving stage 4 cancer, 8 rounds of all-day chemo, 30 rounds of radiation (15 per spot), 1 hip replacement ... and planning hip replacement #2 and knee replacement #2 ... yes, one tough woman.

April was a hard month ...

And we are still processing ...

And God is still on His throne

And I plan to cry and mourn and rejoice...

sometime

And God is still on His throne

and He is still good and faithful and just

I pray that you, my friend, be blessed by the One who holds each of us in the palm of His hand...

our Creator ... God our Father

I Know a Guy ...

For the past year I've been researching a guy.

(Yes, I know that sounds stalky and creepy, but hang in here with me.)

 

The more I've researched ... the more I want to learn about him ---

he is made up of simplicity and complexity ... 

he studies every detail of even the most intricate mechanisms ...

he ponders how God moves clouds ...

he is compassionate and sensitive and reserved.

 

This guy is a body-slammer ... yet a touch-cringer.

He's in constant motion ... yet is motion sensitive.

He stumbles over words ... yet is articulate beyond his years.

He's sensitive to unexpected touches ... yet craves hugs from people he trusts.

He seems distant and inattentive ... yet recites past conversations.
 



This guy cringes at dirt & mess ... yet flourishes on outside time in nature.

He is challenged in learning new motor skills ... yet builds complex structures with no printed design.

He's cautious on risk-taking activities ... yet thrives on body-crashing into his pads.

He is startled by sudden motion behind him ... yet calculates his next mischievous sneak on others.

He's overwhelmed at lights and noise and crowds ... yet is a devoted Walt Disney World fan.

 

I admit that I was skeptical ... cynical ... and just plain ol' judgmental when I first heard

Sensory Processing Disorder

Some of the things that came out of my mouth ::::

"what in the world will people come up with next" ...

"he's a boy -- he'll grow out of it" ...

"he needs to toughen up" ...

 

But then ... the more I read, the more I understood what I didn't understand (crazy, huh?).  It was almost like "this stuff" actually contradicted itself and everything that I had

predetermined in my mind-set to be true and acceptable.

 

I still have so many questions about Sensory Processing Disorder. So there's more research, observing and learning in my future. But, one thing that has made a complete difference is my acceptance. 

This guy is my "who" and my "why" to continue studying SPD. 

 

And with such a handsome grandson ...

why wouldn't I want to know more on SPD so that I can know more of him?

 

 

 

I would love to hear if anyone else has experience with Sensory Processing Disorder. 

Please feel free to leave me a comment!

 

Have a blessed week, my friend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Turning Distractions into Disciplines

Sometimes life just happens

and the words simply do not come...

Circumstances seem to dampen

and my keyboard appears to be done.

 

But in that instant when I hear His whisper

I'll give you My words just follow My lead

These words are not mine as He is the Gifter

Of all that I have and will ever need.

"Granny" @ Love Granny BlogSpot, January 18, 2018

 

 

Do you ever get in a slump like that? I confess that mine comes around more than I like.

 

I have always loved writing ... but the dishes in the sink need attention ---

I have always loved photography ... but the upstairs rooms need to be straightened up ---

I have always enjoyed reading my blogging-friends' posts ... but there's 15 other things to do first ---

 

(and now trying to write this post, I get several text messages from our insurance company reminding me that Dan's prescription needs refilled)

 

It really never ends, does it?

 

But I'm learning...

 

I re-training myself to not look at the "distractions"

but rather to see them more of "disciplines"

 

I hesitate to say this, but perhaps it's one of God's creative disciplines to help me take my next step...

 

I'm in the process of creating another blog site.  It's been on my heart for several months and I even have the site ... just no posts --- yet.  There's been several "distractions" of 2017 that I have just started looking at through God's vision of "disciplines".  He has carried my family through some deep valleys and also to the mountain tops in 2017 ...

and He is always faithful.

 

I pray that 2018 will be the year of discarding the "distractions"

and turning them into "disciplines" to help each of us move from our "point A"

and into "God's point" where He needs us to be.

 

I'll keep you updated on my new endeavor ...

please pray that I will follow God's direction & His words as I venture into a new blog-site for His glory.

 

 

 

 



Looking Back on Real Life Role Models

I cannot believe 2017 is half over already.  It's been a while since I've posted on my blog, so I revisited my

"mission statement" as well as my "six-word-memoir".

 

I began this blog when Lucy was a baby ... it was my intent to write her (and now including Tag along with future generations) some history & values from me.  I grew up in a rural community in West Virginia surrounded my family.  My Granny was the center of family life and I was blessed to have my aunts, uncles & cousins in our little corner of the world.

 

Several family not pictured at the time... and several are now Home in Heaven

 

My Granny was never a person who wanted or thrived for attention.  She went about her daily activities -- taking care of her family, gardening, housekeeping, caring for people in our community -- and never expected anything in return.

Granny was simply being where God needed her most.

 

My Granny ... love her always & miss her daily

 

Along with my Granny, my parents set the role model standard for hard work.  Before my sister came along (when I was almost 9 years old), my parents each worked 2 jobs in the nearest city (about 30 miles from home).  Nothing was taken for granted. And they never complained.

My Daddy taught me that when you make a commitment to something, you simply see it through... even when it was hard.  You never quit. And even when he was so tired from working so hard, he still found the energy to play with me & my cousins. Because kids grow up fast and only have one childhood.

My Mother taught me to that it is perfectly okay to stand up for what I believe in... not to be swayed by "the crowd".  You never make fun of anyone, but instead you stand up for the underdog... because you could possibly be the only voice they have.

 

My parents with granddaughters & greats

 

I will post later on what each of my aunts & uncles taught me just through them living their everyday lives.  Because that's how we learn, isn't it?  We can sit & listen to lecture after lecture of How to Live Life 101... but let's face it -- we live in real life. 

We observe real life.  We experience real life.  We model real life to our future generations.

 

So I'm asking myself this question ...

 

What will my future generations have to say about how I impacted their lives

 when they are my age?

 

Did I have a positive influence on them?

Did I show them through my actions how to love others & treat others as God has instructed?

 

Whether we admit it or not...

whether we like it or not...

whether we ever see it or not...

 

We are the role models for all the future generations coming after us.  We are either positive or negative role models -- but we are one or the other.

 

The choice is up to each of us.

 

My Granny never had to think about helping someone... whether family or friend or a stranger.  She simply did it.  My Granny never had to think about working in her garden or being there for a family member or friend who needed her.  She simply did it.  My Granny never held a grudge against anyone nor talked about anyone. And she was most likely the one who was such a positive role model to everyone who ever met her.

 

I have seen both my parents go out of their way to be positive role models to everyone around them.  They've put family needs before their own desires... they've worked hard to provide for their family... and they have shown unconditional love to all of us.

 

These 3 people in my life have been so much more than "blessings"...

 

they are the very foundation of who I am

and who I hope to be

 

 

How can we go about our daily lives knowing that we have a choice on what kind of role model we are to our future generations?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



15 Seconds at Easter

 

Jacqueline & our grands came down on Saturday for Easter ... we did the Easter bunny pictures at Bass Pro Shop and then to our house for the Easter egg hunt.  And yes ... Lucy dove in to her Momma's hair for the "traditional" egg-in-the-hair-do (my Mother & aunts did the same thing when I was growing up and then with our daughter -- so the tradition continues!)

 

 



Then Sunday morning came ... Easter morning ... Resurrection Day was here! Jacqueline was fixing Lucy's hair upstairs for church while Dan & Tag worked on a Lego set at the kitchen counter.

 

And then... "Lucy breathe! Lucy breathe!!!"

All in a matter of 15 seconds, Lucy had passed out and stopped breathing. Dan ran upstairs while Tag wanted me to hold him. By the time Dan made it up to the girls, Lucy was sitting up. She had heard her Momma terrified & begging her to breathe. The on-call emergency doctor told Jacqueline that it sounded like Lucy had a spike in blood sugar earlier in the morning (afterall, we do have Easter candy & this has never happened before now)

and then a sudden plummet. So today will be calls her to regular pediatrician for more testing.

 

 

That 15 seconds (possibly even less than that) seemed like an eternity...

but God was already there -- in those moments.

 

He was Lucy's breath when she couldn't breathe

He was Jacqueline's strength when she had to act fast

He was our sustainer when we all felt helpless

 

Lucy was very sad that we did not get to church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus ...

but I truly believe that we saw a miracle from God Almighty in those

 

15 seconds

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Journey to Sunday



 

I saw this on the Facebook page of Women Living Well this afternoon.  If you don't already subscribe to it, I highly recommend it.

 

Courtney captions this photo...

 

Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday, on Saturday - things looked hopeless. But Sunday morning he rose from the dead - just as He said.
Maybe there is something in your life that looks dead - give God time! There is always hope with Jesus <3 span=""> !

I've often thought about this over the years during "Easter weekend"...

 

sometimes we just want to skip Good Friday and skip Saturday to jump straight to

Resurrection Sunday.

 

And while we certainly do look forward to the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

we simply cannot overlook Friday...

 

the day He died a criminal's death on the cross

the day God Almighty turned His back on His one & only Son

the day Jesus cried out to His Father why have you forsaken me

 

We cannot overlook Mary & the followers of Jesus who must have cried out to God Almighty to save their loved one. We simply cannot overlook Saturday...

 

the day of hopelessness for Mary & the followers of Jesus

the day of crying & reliving seeing Him cry out on the cross

the day of mourning & weeping

 

 We have to go through Good Friday through His death on the cross

and we have to go through our own "Saturdays"...

in order to get to Sunday.

So many of us are experiencing our own "Saturday"...

we weep and we cry out to the God of mercy...

and then one day, our weeping will indeed turn into joy once again.

And our own "Sunday" will always come through our risen Savior.