Just Catchin' Up...

Hello again!  Sorry I've been  MIA!  With a grand baby I keep a couple of days a week and planning TWO weddings, it's been CRAZY-busy around the farm!  Yep, TWO weddings!  My oldest son, Adam, got married three weeks ago in Nashville, and my daughter is getting married in October here in E Texas.  I'm a very busy gal!  My son, Adam, and his new bride, Bre.

I have no veggie garden this year either - I'm so sad!  Guess I'll be going to the Farmer's Market a lot this summer.  When we had the big tree cut down, the garden fence, etc., had to be taken down and everything moved - my raised beds, too.  Then I got "wedding-busy" and it just didn't happen this year.  So sad...  I had planned on maybe having some patio plants, tomatoes and such, but that's not happening.  So, I've had to let it go for this year.  It IS what it IS.  Trying to prioritize this year...and not stress myself out overly much.

I've been looking for photos to show of our little farm this year, lo and behold - there are hardly any pics that do not include my little granddaughter!  I have thousands already!  She's sitting alone now, jabbering up a storm and SO curious about every little thing.  And still no hair!

This picture of my daughter, my granddaughter and myself was taken in Nashville at Cedarmont Farm where Adam's wedding was held.  It was a gorgeous place and threatened rain all day, but the sun broke out towards the evening and everything was perfect!  Bella is my middle son's baby girl and Hayley is such a proud Auntie!  Bella is sporting wedding attire along with her smallish hair bow (not).  I told her mommy and daddy that she looked like she'd been to the Kentucky Derby! either that, or she is a sweet little Ganache Cupcake!

Daddy and I did do our usual ritual of jelly making last week.  This has been going on for many years now, and we were sure missing our Lisa being there to help.  Just wasn't the same somehow, but we are carrying on.  I did not think I could go on at times without my sister, but I have.  Some days are better than others.  I know the Lord in heaven is working His healing touch on our family and I'm so thankful to have Him to lean on.

Notice something different?  I cut my hair.  I decided to go short.  I am really enjoying it a lot - so much easier to care for except my hair grows fast and I have to go to the salon just about once a month...  grrrrr.  But I'm liking it.

Hope to be back soon amidst the wedding planning for my daughter and keeping my baby. She's the delight of my life right now and she makes this troubled heart happy!  Take care and keep your dress down!

Hello 2015, Goodbye 2014

Caution:  Long Post w pics...

Where oh where do I begin?  Where do I start?  I left you all here in blogland, friends, to mourn the loss of my sister, Lisa, and just flat lost my blogging mojo.  Still not sure if it's back yet, tho, so be patient with me.  Time will tell...  Grief kinda comes in waves...

In February, it'll be two years since we learned of Lisa's cancer, and our world turned upside down and sideways.  I HATED that she had to go through the surgery, hated that she had to endure the chemo which in the end didn't really help, hated that she had pain and suffering especially those last few months.  But, we had almost a year and a half to share, to love, to talk, to laugh, to cry, to hold each other, to pray together and with our parents and our families.  We saw family members mend some hurt feelings and broken bonds and we all drew together as a family. Now, we've always been a close tight family, but you can't all be perfect all the time.  Lisa's undaunting faith in the Lord and love impacted us all.  Little things that used to bother me DO NOT MATTER.  What matters is our love for God and our love for each other. That's all.

Lisa and I have always been connected at the hip.  How we could grow any closer is hard to fathom, but grow closer we did.  We had to get down to the nitty gritty and talk about some really hard stuff.  Her kids first and foremost.  All five of our kids belonged to both of us.  Tony and I now have all five of these grown kids to call our own.

With Lisa, nothing was left unspoken, no love or feelings were not expressed, no tears cried together were not cried.  I guess that's the thing with an extended illness - having time to say goodbye.  Would that I could have gone through this for my little sister. Our parents have really had a hard time.  It's not for me or us to understand except that we live in a fallen world.  And if there were no pain and suffering, we would not need the love and saving grace of God. There was no pain or sorrow in the world when God created it - it was only when sin entered the garden and the world that the perfect became imperfect.  We need the Lord desperately, and when we go through these times (and we all will) He promises to be with us and help us through.  We will understand in the great by and by.  Lisa's favorite verses...

Isaiah 40:31New International Version (NIV)

31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

My sister is soaring on wings like eagles and her strength has been renewed!!!

We shared SO much, sometimes we would even call each other at the same time or look at each other with unspoken words that we didn't need and KNOW what the other was thinking. One of the most wonderful things that we shared besides our faith is that we both became first time grandmothers in 2014.  Lisa didn't get to see her little grandson make his grand entrance nor did she see my little granddaughter.  But Tony said that perhaps she got to hold and love on both of them in heaven - that's comforting and I like to think that.  It makes me happy to think about her holding both of those babies before we ever got to!  I'm sharing a pic of Lisa's little Gauge, and one of my little Isabella. My daughter in law and son gave Bella my sister's middle name, much to my delight!  Of course, that brought happy tears and I know it would be a hoot for Lisa to know that!

Gauge

Isabella

The Lord is SO GOOD to us!  These two little babies have been a huge band-aid on our broken hearts!  There IS Joy in the midst of pain and sorrow!  Joy that we know that Lisa awaits us in Heaven, and Joy and thankfulness that God has brought these two little miracles into our lives at a time when we needed them most.  

So...  I want to end this long post on a good note, with a heavy but joyful heart feeling immersed in God's love and comfort upon our families at this time.  Thank you, my blog friends, for all your love and prayers and well wishes that have come my way in these past two years.  I'm looking forward to 2015!  

Autumn 2013, My Sister Lisa

Knock, knock?

Anybody out there?

Autumn is under way at Sand Flat Farm.  Our temps have been in the 70's the last week or so and will continue.  I still have time to winterize the chickie coop with plastic around the north side AND finish getting the garden put to bed.  We pulled and burned alot this past weekend, but there is still about a third of it to get done.  Flower beds need mulching again, altho the falling leaves do make a good protective cover. 

Shout out to Kathy at Spot On Cedar Pond - we've had some rain lately, and the gophers are popping up everywhere!  The moles, too!  I've got traps set all over the yard.  Not worried about the fields - our hay man takes care of that himself.  Gypsy can be spotted at any time of day with only her rear end sticking up above the hay digging for gophers.  (should be one more cutting before the first freeze)  You should see the holes she digs in our yard.  While it pains me to have to fill her holes, if she catches a gopher, that pleases me (I guess).  I was a little perturbed that she dug a huge trench in my rose bed that almost unearthed one of the bushes...

In other news, chickens are molting - they are hideous-looking and my #1 HCIC (head chicken in charge) is so embarrassed at her frock that she generally stays off to herself right now looking so forlorn.  Usually, she is keeping everybody in line and is always first in line for treats and to get out the door when they are ranging for the day.  She usually walks around with her chest puffed out like a little rooster and is not timid about attacking somebody that might get in her way to the food bowl...

Don't know how the autumn skies are where you are, but this is what our sunrises have been looking like lately.  They were utterly gorgeous - I've been out walking early...  Have to confess that I did amp up the color just a titch (like Vee says) but not much!  They were beautiful skies, and it makes me feel like heaven is coming down!

 

This is Texas Ranger Stadium in Arlington, Texas.  Many of you will recognize it.  This was the site on September 21 of the Ovarian Cancer Walk for the Cure.  Just about my whole family participated (including various significant others of the kids)  We walked in honor of my sister, Lisa.  She was there in fine form, but could not do the walk, but what a cheerleader she was!  It was a 5 K and we walked the course around the new Cowboy Stadium and Arlington Stadium and park areas.  It was a stellar day, and SO humbling to see all the family/friend teams walking for those they love.  Lots of survivors there, too!!!  We'll be doing this again!  Our team was called the Lollipops - my sister was called "Lollie" when she was young and momma still calls her that.  My niece named our team and had our Tshirts done - they were so cute!  Then we all went out to eat at Babe's to celebrate! 

L-R,   Lisa, Me, Mom, Lisa's daughter, & my daughter.  The menfolks were around somewhere... It was a great day!  Lisa has finished the first round of chemo.  3 weeks ago, she and I went to MD Anderson in Houston and she has begun another round.  Her hair is coming back and I like to pet her head.  She feels like a puppy...  Continue to pray for Lisa - she's a fighter and she has the most positive attitude!  God is with her and she is with Him every step of the way.  Thank you so much!!!

What's Been Goin' On...

Hello friends ---

Sorry it's been awhile since I've surfaced.  Been spending time with one of the most important people in my life - my dear little sister!  The past 3 weeks have been a whirlwind - diagnosed with ovarian cancer, surgery and chemo started.  She's healing from her surgery, learning to manage her pain and nausea levels, and trying to get some much-needed sleep and rest her mind.  God is always good and He shows her daily that He's taking care of her.  The out-pouring of love, flowers, cards, meals from her church and work communities has been a testament of her love of people and her love of the Lord.  The hospital staff and even her surgeon have all commented that they have NEVER had such a crowd of people at the hospital in and out and some staying all day long to show their love and support of my dear sis.  There has been a steady stream of folks coming by her home to see her and leave meals.  I've been spending time with her and am taking our parents to her house tomorrow.  Thank you all for your prayers and your kind thoughts!  I treasure each and every one!

 

She's on the right - isn't she beautiful?  And just as beautiful on the inside!  Everyone loves her for she loves everyone first!   Thank you in advance for keeping her in prayer.  She has a long way to go - about 18-21 weeks of chemo - but she's strong in the Lord and with His help, she's going to overcome!

In other news, the garden's about in - just got my tomatoes planted.  It's a bit smaller this year as recent events have called me away, but it's done and I just feel like the Lord has blessed me with multiplied time this year.  He knows what we needed before we even ask!

My son, Adam Fears, the country-music singer/songwriter has released a new single ---

"There's A Girl Out There"

It's a great song, if I do say so myself!  (I'm a proud mama)  It was released to country radio this Monday past and you can call and request your local station very SOON to play it if you like!  The more hits he gets the better his single will rise up the country music charts.  That's how new artists get started, so get your phones ready and get requesting as soon as I get the green light from Adam!!!  Please!  If your local station doesn't have it yet, the station can go to 

http://allaccess.com to request it.  They have to be a member I think.

 

Now just look at that smile!  Don't you think a handsome guy like Adam needs to be a country music star???

They shot a music video (which I've seen) and it is awesome!  It won't be played unless the song does good, so that's another reason to request his new song! He's been playing, writing and singing since he was in high school, and been working his rear off in Nashville for the last 7 1/2 years.  I think it's high time that he succeeds, don't you?

http://www.reverbnation.com/adamfearsmusic

This is a popular place to hear Adam's new song - check it out! and share with anyone you want!  He has a twitter account, too - I think it's

Adam Fears @ AdamFearsMusic

I'll try to get around and do some visiting - it's just been so hectic - Thank you all again for your friendship and your caring!  Sending you all a Big Ole Texas Hug!!!

Merry Christmas!

Just taking a minute to check on all my wonderful blogfriends and tell you Merry Christmas!  Things have been hectic this past weekend with two of my kids coming in and us all squeezing into our tiny farmhouse, including 3 dogs - Bug under the Christmas tree, Gypsy the farm dog, and...

TANK (or the Tankster as we are wont to call him) or the Big Galoot or Doofus or ... or ... Tank is my daughter's dog - he keeps her company in college and they have all kinds of fun together. I was lucky to get a picture of him without two strings of drool hanging from the corners of his mouth!  Gotta love Labs!

Anyway, it's a tight squeeze. I've given up on trying to keep any semblance of order in our house until the melee of Christmasing is over with.  I've decided NOT to stress over it, just go with it, have fun with it, and clean up the mess and doghair when the holidlays are over with. (there'll be enough doghair to stuff a small pillow...)  To top it off, I was in the midst of preparing supper yesterday evening and my mom and dad were coming over, and OUR WATER WENT OFF.  Oh JOY TO THE WORLD!  The wonderful things that happen in the country!!!  So we just loaded up all the food and went to Mom's house!  I threw everything into a laundry basket and off we went!  It's back on now...Good - we can flush.

The guys in my family are doing the "guy thing" of chopping down dead trees, of which we have many after the drought we've had in the last couple of years.  It's dangerous to walk in the woods when there's any wind.  We've had several trees fall, and branches are falling daily. Luckily the weather's been nice the last few days - expecting a few storms tonight and cooler temps the rest of the week...

Adam runs the chain saw, Dad does the scooping and putting wood on the burn pile, and Tony does most of the grunt work.  My daddy LOVES to get on the tractor, so Tony is so sweet and lets him do that.

In other news, my Kiwi kids, back a few months from New Zealand, decided  that their next big adventure was to move to Denver.  They found a 3-week house-sitting job in a nice lodge home in the mountains overlooking Denver, went up and found jobs and moved up there over the Thanksgiving holiday.  They both love skiing, snow and their latest activity as of yesterday --- dogsledding!  These two  kids are SO adventurous - they were made for each other!  Dogsledding pictures to come soon!

THIS is what I've been working on for the last couple of months.  A sawmill blade 30" across for a friend at church.  His teenage son asked me to paint a train engine from Union Pacific at the Mineola TX depot on this blade for his dad.  His dad was raised in Mineola and has worked for UP for 30 years.  It was a big job because of the surface of the blade and one I do not care to repeat EVER.  But I was pleased with how it turned out and more importantly - THE SON was pleased.  Glad that's over with!

Well, my friends, I pray that you all have a Merry Christmas with your families, friends and loved ones and that the Lord may bless you richly with wonderful new memories now and in the coming year!  May the beauty and awe of this most holiest of nights scatter your stress and mess and draw you unto Him and His unfailing patience and love. 

Sending warmest wishes from Sand Flat Farm!

I Guess I'm Done... This Is The End...

Scared ya, didn't I?

I'm just talking about my garden  :)   It's over and done with for the summer!  I'm always sad and always GLAD!  So much fun, but so much work.  This was a great garden year for us.  Alas, my volunteer pumpkins did not make it.  Well, they matured and I had some fine specimens, but just too early for fall decorating... they started rotting and then got attacked by squash bugs.  Yuck.. oh well...

Tony's tractor made small work of the remains of the garden.  Still needs a little care, but all the vines and everything have been piled up to burn after a good rain. Wonder when that'll be?  I thought for SURE we'd get in on the tail-end of that storm that went through far northeast Texas yesterday, but it dried up before it got here.

The last of my fresh tomatoes... Boy howdy, I hated to pull up those tomato vines.  But it was time.  Yes, there were still a very few small 'maters on them, but the heat is in the 100's again, and it was just a matter of time.  It's been hot and they were beginning to get spots on them that would rot before they got good and ripe.  So these were the last of the lucky ones... Maybe a big salad with chunks of tomatoes in it for supper. Maybe hamburgers with a couple of big slices.  Maybe I'll just stand over the sink and sprinkle a little salt on 'em and eat 'em and let the juice run down my arm and savor every last summer bite!

My freezer is full to overflowing, the top, the bottom, the door, AND my fridge freezer - not to mention all the canned goods from this year's harvest.  The good Lord has really blessed us here on this little piece of land this year!  Just look at the hay up there in the top picture!  It's been lush and green and abundant, too!

New Topic ---  I can't walk outside or open the back door unless THIS happens...

Of all the cluckin' and fussin' and pushin' and shovin' - you just wouldn't believe.  I'd like to think they love me for me, but NOOOO.  They only love me for what treats I bring!  Or they wanna get out and roam and look for bugs.  They fall all over themselves at the door to the pen.  When I open it, they jump and try to see what I'm bringing.  Lately (and you may have seen it in the freezer) I've been giving them watermelon - FROZEN watermelon in the hot afternoons.  They love it - it's cold, it gives them something to do, and I'm hoping it helps keep them cool.  They also love when I spray water into a corner and make some puddles.  They get in that mud and pick around and I guess it cools them off, too.

Well, my dear ones - gotta run - one last thing...  here's what's on my easel... just a sneak peak - I'll be posting over at my art blog, South Light, in a short.  Have a great weekend! 

Oh yeah - and keep yer dress down...

BACK TO THE FUTURE! Josh & Lindsey are HOME!

THE KIWIS HAVE LANDED!!!

Our Kiwi Kids, Josh and Lindsey, are home safe and sound after a 22 hour journey from Wellington, New Zealand.  Thank the Lord they had a safe trip and are fine and dandy!  We picked them up from DFW last night and probably everyone got to bed around 1:30 or 2:00 a.m.  

We couldn't stop kissing and hugging them!  They were probably thinking, "OK, that's good - 'nuff hugs and kisses for now..." 

"Back to the Future" - they left New Zealand on Tuesday and arrived in Texas on Tuesday - they went back across the International Date Line and got here on Tuesday!  Isn't that wild???

They were exhausted after that long trip, but all smiles and happy, and there were lots of tears from both sets of parents.  Lindsey was a little teary, too, tho - she was tired and SO happy to see her family!

And happy tears are the BEST!

Lindsey's sweet sister and her two little precious boys, and her parents were thrilled to see their "baby girl"!

Her mom had American flags and red/white/blue leis for the kids and we all welcomed them back to the good ole U S of A (and especially to the Great State of TEXAS :)!!!

I imagine they'll be sleeping and resting today (and maybe tomorrow!), but I know that we'll be spending some fun times together here in the next few days.  We've got LOTS of catching up to do!

(and more hugging and kissing!)

And seeing what's next on the radar for Josh and Lindey's next Big Adventure!

Keep yer dress down!

Treasure Hunting... And Computer Woes

Good morning, friends...Another week and another Monday...  Ever feel like kicking the computer tower out the front door????  That's what I've been dealing with here at my office for the last week.  We got a bunch of viruses and trojans on our computer here.  It decided to just shut down and the viruses covered up all our programs and our 400+ customers and we came to a screeching halt! 

I won't even begin to tell you how mad and frustrated I was.  We had to do everything by hand. The computer was in the shop for 3 days.  They were able to save most of our files, EXCEPT our Customer files!!!  Well, since that happened, I decided to change self-storage programs to a more modern one, and I've got my assistant inputting all our current customers and all their information.  She's young and fast, and she's gonna have it done in a couple more days.

So I thought everything was all fixed this morning, got to work, and the printer/fax/scanner program had to be re-installed.  The computer guys stored all the software inside the stupid PC tower, and we had to take it apart to get to the software CDs.  Then,  WE COULDN'T GET THAT DAD-BLAMED SIDE PANEL BACK ON!!!  I guess I'm on stress overload - I was so mad I could feel my blood pressure go up and you know, when I get mad I wanna cry.  But I didn't.  Instead, I walked around my office saying ugly hateful things to my computer AND to the geek squad.  I did call and tell them I thought it was kinda dumb to store those CD's inside the tower and that THEY could come to my office and put this stupid thing back together.  I guess they could tell I was put out.  One of them volunteered to come.  I hung up the phone and made one last attempt.  There were some little doobers that appeared to be bent that I straightened out and then it snapped back into place.  Whew.  I called 'em back and canceled their trip over here.

OK, calm down, Vickie.....OK, I'm calm now......

New topic ---

Treasure hunting!  Now, some of you may think this is silly BUT...  There's a  couple of spots on our land way back up in the woods near the creek and the pond where we knew the folks that lived here long, long ago had used as a dumping place. That's just what people did.  There was no garbage service.  People burned what they could, but glass and tin cans and metal they just dumped.  Now, to look at this area, you'd never know it had been used as such.  But Tony and I had run across a couple of old items in this particular area just digging around and so we felt like this was the spot that his long-dead relatives had used.

Well, Sunday afternoon, in nearly 70 degrees temps and bein' a blue-bird day, we got a couple of digging tools and went down to that area and started poking around.  We unearthed decomposed metal and rusted out tin so bad that it crumbled.  AND old glass bottles.  Old medicinal bottles, perfume bottles, salve and ointment bottles, fifth of whiskey bottles (Old Uncle Claude liked his whiskey - drank a glass before bedtime each night and lived to be 97), all kinds of old soda bottles - some of which I'd never heard.

Some were broken, (some of the oldest and coolest), some still had lids on them, some of the lids were rusted out.  It was such fun!  We had us a frog-gigger with a long spike on it and could poke around in the dirt until we heard a "clink" and then start digging!  Sometimes just a big think piece of glass, sometimes the whole bottle.  They made glass real thick back long ago, didja know?

One of the most interesting bottles was a Chattan**ga Medic*ne Co. green bottle of McElr*e's Wine of C*rdui.  Now, this was a tonic for ladies supposedly from a recipe used by the Cherok*e Indians.  It was called a "regulator" for women's menstrual ills of all kinds.  Even supposed to get rid of tumors, fallen uteruses, and all kinds of fun women's stuff. This old medicine company originated back in 1897 and this magical elixer was a best seller!  They also put out a black draught and some other things, and even as late as the 1980's had some more modern items that are still in use.  Wish I had me some of that Card*i right now!

I'll show you a picture of some of our bottles.  Tony even got out the tractor and we scooped up several layers of dirt to go through and look.  He said, "Here, let me take your picture with some of your bottles to put on your blog".   So I let him.  Here's a few of my bottles.  Thought they'd be neat to clean up and stick a flower in them or just group them together somehow.  This picture is unedited in anyway since it came from my phone...

Ok, here's me in all my glory with my rake, frog-gigger and dirty bottles.  Doesn't look much like treasure, does it?  Well, it was fun.  Hayley called me and asked what we were doing and I told her, and she said, "Yuck".  When I told her it was kinda like a treasure hunt to find one not broken and how old and cool they were, she said then "SAVE ME SOME!  Don't find them all!"  haha!  It's all in how you look at it! 

Well, friends, I'm outta here.  Sorry I've not been posting often lately.  Just too, too busy, and too much going on with sick ones and holidays and traveling to Memphis and stupid computer problems.  Take care of yourselves and know that you are all a special part of my life!  I'm so glad you're there!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!

Commentary by a Friend

http://doublenickelfarm.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-wonder_27.html

You simply MUST hop over and read this post by Jennifer.  It came from 2009, I believe, but she reposted it. It's simple, to the point, and highly thought-provoking.  I stand and applaud her.  She put very eloquently what I think and feel every single day.  Tell her I sent you... Thanks!

Hotter'n Blue Blazes...and Other Goin's On

I know, I know, we're all hot.  Wow, this summer's been a doozy, hasn't it!  Even up in the northeast, they've been sweatin'.  Even as I type, I'm settin' here waitin' on the A/C guy to come fix my A/C.  It's blowin', but it's not cold.  The inside temps are steadily climbing just as the outside ones are.  And it's only 10:42 in the morning.  I have the ceiling fans on and my box fan right here beside me trying to just stay still until he gets here.

Daughter and BF came home this weekend - she's in a wedding this afternoon and gone to town to get foo-foo-ed up and she's busy with all that while BF went to run errands with my husband.  BF plays football - he's a big tall guy - and hubby has a couple of he-man jobs to do here at the farm that will take more muscle than he himself has got, so he's going to take advantage of BF being here.

I have to thank all of you who have expressed their sympathy and concern for our friends, Helen & Erin, who lost their daughter Kayla two weeks ago.  I really appreciate your love and prayers and kindness and I know that our friends did, too.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!  The Lord is showering His lovingkindness upon them daily!  What would we do without the Lord AND our friends and loved ones??? I just don't know!

(several hours later...)  OK, we're back in the COOOOOL now.  It was the flux capacitor on the A/C. No, really it was!  "Back to the Future"???  Hint-hint??

Anyway, the garden's gone, the yard is gone, all the jelly is put up - 8 pints of grape from my two little two-year old vines, 2 1/2 doz pints of plum and a dozen peach preserves.  Put up only a little corn - 4 gallon bags of ears - small ears, but they DO taste good.  And boo-koo's of pickles.  Oh yeah, about a dozen quarts of tomatoes or stewed tomatoes or tomatoe juice,  8 quarts of purple hull peas, 10 quarts of green beans, and several gallon bags of pinto beans.  Do you know that down here, purple hull peas are like black gold?  I told Tony that we should raise those babies.  The farmers' markets are charging $10-$12 a sleeve for shelled peas - not sure if a sleeve is 1 quart or 2.  Maybe 2.

Here's a picture of my sunflower seeds still on the flower.  They were beginning to fall off and into the garden. The birds were picking them out. Next year, I guess I'll have rogue sunflowers in my garden again!

My dead corn patch...

My dead tomatoes...

My beautiful sycamore tree - I love this tree - it's beautiful against a blue sky

Hoping for rain (which we didn't get) - turned everything kinda orange-y. Wierd...

After one brief shower, the hay pasture greened back up - it looked great for a few days...

I did not re-touch these photos with color - promise - these clouds were awesome...

End of another hot summer day with no rain...

I HAVE to show you this --- My daughter has become quite a fan of the shabby, farmy, rustic look.  Look what her BF built for her apartment.  She was whining about not have any end tables...

Is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen?  She's been wanting a windmill for something.  She thought he'd forgotten her birthday.  He's been secretly working on this for her!  What a sweetheart!  He's built her a nice TV stand and a nice big heavy desk for school.  He's always happy to build for her whatever she wants!  She thinks he's a keeper.

Well, folks, guess that's all for now.  We're taking daughter and the BF and maybe my son & his wife out for dinner this evening to celebrate daughter's birthday AND

Hubby and my 33rd anniversary!  Take care &

Keep your gown down!!!

Please Meet Mr. & Mrs. Josh & Lindsey

What a weekend we had last weekend!  My son, Josh, married his God-given soul-mate, Lindsey, at a beautiful lakeside service. The rain held off, it was gorgeous, a good breeze, a few rumbles, but absolutely perfect - we couldn't have asked for better weather! 

I have to tell you - the whole courtship, the whole engagement, the whole wedding, Josh getting a job right before they married, I can't begin to count all the "coincidences" that happened...This young woman and this young man were brought together by the Lord.  All their lives, her parents and us had been praying for these two kids AND their future spouses.  The Lord's been preparing them all these 25 years for each other.  If I looked the whole world over I could not find another girl more perfect for my son Josh.  Her mama feels the same about my son.  Our two families have blended into one.  We share the same faith, the same values, and now the same happiness in the joining of our two kids.

I knew early on that Lindsey was different, and that Josh was different.  They are two peas in a pod and compliment each other so well.  I could tell that they were crazy about each other.  Our whole family loves Lindsey, and hers loves Josh.  It is a match made in heaven - LITERALLY! 

Wanted to share a few snapshots with you all - mind, my sister took 'em - Lindsey & Josh will be getting the wedding photos from the photographer before long, but they still turned out well.  There's a few from the rehearsal dinner, too.  The kids went on a wedding trip to Paris, France, Athens, Greece, and the island of Santorini.  I can't wait to see THOSE photos!!!!  Maybe they'll let me share some of those!

Travel theme  - rehearsal dinner!

Here we all are - both families - at the rehearsal dinner. It was Wonderful!!!

Lindsey and her mom and dad...

Josh and me and Tony...

Josh, Tony and I.  We are so proud of him!

A moment alone with my son before the wedding....

What a blessed day for us all!

My three...

My mom and dad and their grandson...

Hayley and her daddy...

A good-looking bunch of guys...

being silly...

Us two moms!

Waiting for the bride...

More silliness...

Awwww, shucks!

The Bride and her dad (sorry it's out of order...)

The vows.

The REAL Kiss.

Git Er Dun!  Now we can EAT!

Lindsey and the Groomsmen

Josh and the Bridesmaids

See the suitcases?  THAT was the Groom's Cake!  My friend Nelda made both cakes!!!

Now THIS is one happy girl!!!  She's just beautiful!  Inside and out!

Prince Charming and His Princess had their Fairy Tale Wedding!

A happy couple!

My family is now 6!

Looks wierd to see a wedding band on Josh's hand...

Lindsey and Hayley now have a new sister!

Lovebirds...

Adam & his girl Jena

We sent the happy couple off with giant sparklers!  It was magical and wonderful and oh so fun!!! They will be back Monday night late after a long flight back from Europe.  I can't wait to see their pictures.  Don't know if I'll ever get to go myself, but I'm glad these two were able to go.

Thank you all for being patient and looking at all my pictures. I'm a little partial I guess. I thought everything turned out beautifully.  It was busy, it was hectic, but it was wonderful.  I pray for these two kids to be blessed with happiness and a home full of love for each other and for the Lord.  They'll be living not too far away from us so I'm ecstatic about that!   I hope to be back a little more now that the wedding is over with. Been super busy with the garden, and still trying to move things and throw away and put things on craigslist. Take care my friends! 

And keep your dress down!