Too many lemons in the Sweet Tea!

This is one of the things my sister gave me for Christmas - she knows I love all things pertaining to "Sweet Tea"

Love these napkins!

It does seem we spent the holiday season dodging lemons and trying to "Make Merry" the best we could.  These napkins were perfect!

I was still recovering from my angry colon pre-Thanksgiving bout of illness when we made our pre-Christmas trip to Oklahoma.  Tho my energy was a bit lacking, the fun with our family made up for it. I handled the trip well.  One always hopes fun will trump feeling sick, and it did!

A few days after getting home our sweet little HK got terribly sick with a nasty virus and spent an evening in the ER with "severe dehydration". 

Our sweet girl went almost 24 hrs with no wet diaper.  It took her about five days to feel well again.

Fast forward 24 hours and Christmas Eve found Lil' Mama and her Fiance both in the ER being treated for the same nasty virus.

We were all pretty much elated, thrilled, ecstatic, happy to kick 2014 to the curb and welcome in a bright New Year!

Sweet Tea, anyone?

Absolutely no lemons allowed!

So thankful for God's healing hand which has delivered us from illness and brought us "whole, hearty, and healthy" into 2015!

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

*Let the record show that our Son and DIL both became ill while on their dream trip to Paris during the Christmas holiday AND our Tulsa daughter had emergency oral surgery during the same time frame.  Son and DIL are home now and feeling better.  Tulsa daughter is on week 3 of pain meds but is recovering, albeit slowly. 

Fun!

I don't want to "name drop",  but

I've been hangin' with some very

high profile people lately...

and so has Haylee Kate.

Can you believe how much she's grown?

There's just something about Santa photos that makes one smile.  Hope this did it for you today. 

Merry Christmas!

Quick Change.

Change can happen so quickly.

That's not a surprise to anyone is it?!

In one simple day we went from having 6 people (Me, Mister, My Mom, Litle Mama, HK, and very often Little Mama's fiance) + our dog in our home, to having ONE person + a dog in our home.

This is how it happened.
Little Mama were scheduled to move into the house where she, HK, and her husband, come March, will live.  They loaded and moved on this particular day.

In the meantime, I had an early morning doctor appointment and ended up in the hospital that very day.  How's that for bad timing?

Upon hearing I was ill my Sister made an all day drive to come get Mom and take her back to Okla so she could care for her as I recuperated.

That left Mister + the dog, "home alone" for 5 days.  I don't know who was the most pathetic.  Mister was so low he almost melted into the floor and our dog is said to have gone from room to room crying at each door looking for everyone.

Thank God!  (Really.  I thank God!)
Things are much better now.
I'm still taking meds and trying to get my stamina back.  It's happening and I'm getting a lesson in "being still" and letting God take care of many things I'd been doing for quite a while.  I'm a slow learner, but I'm beginning to "get it"
.

Thanksgiving went with nary a turkey or rich dessert in our house.  Youngest son came home during the holiday and it really helped to set our spirits back on high.  Mister took youngest son, Little Mama, fiance, and HK out to dinner on Thanksgiving while I rested it at home.  Still, I had the most sincerely thankful heart I've had in many a Thanksgiving.  I was very blessed and I had lots of time to ponder the thought.

Christmas is coming and it looks liked we'll get to celebrate in much of the usual ways.  I'm so thankful to be regaining my strength.  YAY!!  Still, it's different in some ways.  There is not a Christmas tree, a bauble or a single bow in our house.  I've decided that there's so much that will need to be done before bringing Mom back home, that we will enjoy our family and all the celebrating but without the usual festive "stuff" scattered about the house.  Almost every gift we give this year will come from online purchases. What a help that has been.

There is a air of happiness in our home that no Christmas tree or Christmas lights could begin to match.  Next year we'll be back to the norm, but in the meantime we'll enjoy things just as they are.  Mister is smiling again.  Boudxy, our dog, is my constant shadow, and everyone is doing well,  I'm learning to lean-into-it and embrace the change.

Merry Christmas, Bloggy Friends!

Pause.

This is my life.

"On Pause."
I've not gone away permanently.

I'm on my way back!

I won't bore you with details but I will tell you I'd been sick, sorta, for several weeks and ended up getting a ride via ambulance, with 6 handsome EMT's, to the hospital.  I've always been a girl who likes to make an entrance.  NOT!   I was there for 5 days and am so happy to be home now.  I came home a couple of days before Thanksgiving.  Yay!  

I've been spending my days in the recliner and doing little besides trying to be a good girl and take my meds exactly as the doctors told me.  

That's it.

It's not exciting,

but it's real.

Girl's, take it from me,

"Never make your colon mad".

You can quote me on this.

*I've had lots of time to visit your blogs and I do.  You entertain me and  I'm appreciative!

Day #4

Thursday, day #4 of unexpected hospital stay.

"In every life a little rain must fall".
(Insert imaginary photo of a bright yellow umbrella here)

Counting my blessings along with the days until I get to go home, which I hope is very soon.  Expecting to make a good recovery,
Would appreciate your prayers.

You know you want to!

BOWS!
Lots of bows,
probably around 200.

My neighbor gave these to me.

She knows we're planning a wedding and thought we could use them in some way.  I'm thrilled to get them, BUT, I'm not really sure how to use them.  

CRAFTERS!  Got any ideas?
I'd love to hear from you.
If you know a Crafter/Creative person please send them a link to my blog as I'd love some suggestions. 

You don't have to be a Crafter to

have an idea.

Please put on your Thinking Hat,
cause you know you look lovely wearing it,

and give me some ideas.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Cacti

Day 6 of "Monster Cold and sinus infection

Kleenex.  Phone.  Remote control.

Drink.  Hot flash fan.

From the Bed to the Recliner

then back again.
*repeat for 6 days*

Mister is a Saint.
Forget anything I've ever said or implied that could be even the tiniest bit negative about him.  He is perfect. The man has lived in squalor for the past 6 days and brought in dinner (for 6) EVERY evening.  Never complained. Did I mention he was a Saint?

Time to "get off my cactus" and quit complaining.
I know.
I.Am.A.Horrible.Sick.Person.
I own it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This is our resident "Tissue Thief".
She can grab tissue from a box

quicker than you can even think about saying 

"No No!"
She loves to carry a tissue around "blowing her nose" like all the rest of us!  So thankful she hasn't caught our nasty germs.

*I must add that I'm feeling better today.
Antibiotics have kicked in.  Like my Mama always says, "if you're well enough to complain then you're getting well". ;-)

Peek-a-boo!

Here's a little peek-a-boo into some photo moments of the goings on here in the bayou.

It seems these were just a scraggly mop of need-to-be-cut-back-greenery

then BOOM - full bloom!

HK, our little Halloween Princess!

(carrying her purse to collect her candy).

Wedding Shower for a very special young couple.
(BFF's son and his fiance)

Mom and I both had our yearly check-ups and we are thankful and blessed with the good reports we received. . .Fast Forward a week and I was in bed feeling awful with a "Monster Cold" and sinus infection.  *insert LOUD whining here*  Third day of antibiotics for me and I'm still whining, but not nearly as loud.  By my own admission I know I can sometimes be a germaphobic,awful, needy, whine-bag, somewhat difficult patient. 

Outta here to visit YOUR blog.
The Blog Stalker is on the prowl!
(that actually sounds kinda creepy, doesn't it?)

Dixie Land.

"Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton

Old times there are not forgotten.
Look away.  Look away.
Look away, Dixie Land.

I'd heard about cotton fields but had never actually seen one until we moved to Louisiana.  I think of cotton as "the snow of the south".  I still find it amazing to see cotton-balls growing in a field.

When Lil' Mama was in her teens we took her (and countless friends) here each year.  We went in the evening and they loved going through the corn maze full of scary creatures carrying chain saws.  This year we went during the daytime.  It was sunny and beautiful and the only creatures stirring were of the preschool and toddler variety. 

"It was a very good day". 

   ~Dormilee
     My Mom

"I agree".

"The Wheels on the Car Went Round and Round. . ."

Road trip to Tulsa over the weekend.
Talk about a black cloud hanging over one's head - rain was with us all weekend, but it was so worth the rainy drive to watch this girl celebrate her 14th birthday.

Happy Birthday, Paige!!
(Our middle Granddoll.)

We LOVE you!!

Again, despite the rain and cold temps we made it to a football game to watch our oldest Granddoll cheer.  I would freeze my boopie for this sweetie any day.  

Lil' Mama and "her man"

made the drive with us.  While all we southerners were freezing, "her man" didn't mind the weather at all.  Since he's from Maine we know he has ice pulsing through his veins!

The trip was such that I also got to spend some good quality time with one of my favorite people, our daughter Amy.  I just love for people to know I'm her Mom, as she makes me look like a "Super Parent".  She's a wife, mother of three, working woman, crafter, encourager, fantastic cook, and best of all, she has a heart for God.  I learn from her and the example she sets for me and all who know her.  I'm richly blessed that she is my daughter!

Can't forget to mention my "Favorite SIL" since he puts up with all the nonsense that happens when  we come to town.  God bless him for his patience.  Do you see the "Photo Bombers"?  My BIL (in the back) and the youngest granddoll, Grace (lower corner).

Mister and HK , sitting patiently, while the birthday party was unfolding.  Gotta add, that Mister did some fantastic driving to get us to Tulsa and then home again safely while the blinding rain POURED as our family made the 6 hr drive to and from Tulsa.

Fun stuff!

Do you plan to do any traveling between now and the first of the year? 

The holidays will soon be upon us.

                                                    

Ladybugs!

Life is running so fast right now that I simply get out of bed and "hold on" to see where the day leads, and lately it's not been leading to the computer for me to Blog.  But today - "I'm here" and so happy to be back in Blogland.

The last time I checked in I was leaving for a "Girlfriend Trip" to Nashville, TN.  You KNOW I'm gonna say it was wonderful AND fun AND relaxing AND the best time ever.  AND you would be right!  There were 10 of us.  The states represented were, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Delaware, Washington, Montana, and CANADA.  Amazing, huh?!

When you see us you may see a group of "old gals" but when I look at us I see a group of some of the "funnest" people I know.  Here's a peek-a-boo" into the fun.  BTW, we all met on iVillage "back in the day", and we call ourselves "The Ladybugs".  (Not sure why, but we do.)Ladybug One just never knows where friendship will lead and the photos show just that!

Friends!
May we all be blessed with many!!

Perhaps someday we can have a
Bloggers Get-together!
What fun that would be!!