MARRIED!

Just a few words to go along with the photos.  BTW, all the photos are snapshots taken by friends.  You can be sure the professional photos will follow when we get them.

Praise God!  The day was PERFECT!!

Sunny and *73 degrees!

This was Lil' Mama's dream to have

an outdoor Garden Wedding.

We're so thankful we didn't need

to move it indoors because of "weather".

The happy couple!

After they were pronounced "man and wife" they 

recited the "Parents Pledge", (Pledging to lead, guide, nurture, and discipline HK with a heart of love, etc.) which was quite moving.

HK was brought forward for this part

of the ceremony.

Look how our family has grown

through the years!

Our  DIL (on the left) and our daughter (in the middle).

I could not have done all the things we did for the

wedding without their help.

Then there was my "Bestie",

right by my side during the wedding day doing what Besties do.

And look at how our Granddolls have grown!

So blessed to have them participate

in the wedding.

No time to linger as HK is here while

Mom & Dad are on their honeymoon.

We are a happy family!

Laugh or Cry?

Look at the weather for Saturday.
We wanted sun.  Looks like we'll get it.
Now we need the temps to rise.

? ? ? ? ?

Planning an outside wedding

is an adventure.

* * * * * * * * *

Ah.  Do you smell it?
Nothing says "Spring" quite like the scent of self-tanning lotion.  I slathered that stinky stuff onto my glaringly white legs today.  It will be interesting to see how it looks in the morning.  One never knows what to expect.  It's kinda like the weather, huh?

* * * * * * * * * 

Things are actually quite low-key here today.

It makes me think of the country song,

"If I Knew What I Was Doing I'd Be Doing It Right Now".

* * * * * * * * * * *

I'm looking forward to seeing all my family.
Besides being Lil' Mama's wedding

it's sort of gonna be our last 

"Big Hurrah" here in my beloved state
of Louisiana.

Can't decide whether to laugh or cry.

50 Shades of Grey, etc

Maybe it's a good thing I have lots to think about these days ie a wedding in 11 days and a move to another state very soon.  Mental diversions can be good. We've had almost a solid 2 weeks of rain (today was an exception) and rain is predicted for the next 6 days.  If you're still buried in snow I know you have no sympathy, but we're just a few steps short of needing an ark.  "50 Shades of Grey" means weather to me - nothing else.  Nothing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Some of you have asked where we're moving.  Let's see if you can figure it out.  "__________________ where the wind comes sweeping down the plain, and the waving wheat can sure smell sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain..."

Nuff said about that for now.

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

Happy! Happy News!

Our 4 typed pages of "To Do List" for the wedding is getting smaller and is now down to just the things that can't be done until the last few days before the wedding...Only 11 more days!

Two more weeks!

Have you noticed when you have time to blog, nothing much is going on to blog about, but when you get really busy and have all sorts of things to share there's almost no time to blog.  Ahh, the life of a Blogger.

We made the long drive to Tulsa last weekend, but as usual we had such a good time that it was worth the angst of the drive.  Our oldest daughter, Amy and my forever friend, Deniece (friends since we were 15 yrs old), gave Lil' Mama a Bridal Shower.  It was so much fun to be in the same room with family and friends that I don't get to see on a regular basis since we live so far away. (that will be changing before long, ya know.)  You'll notice I have no photos of Lil' Mama opening her gifts which means I was yapping.

I just couldn't seem to wipe this cheesy smile off my face.  The hostesses placed a veil on Lil' Mama's head.  She was wearing a white lace dress so it looks like she's already a bride, doesn't it?!

Shower's are all about the details aren't they?

This was a kitchen shower and they received so many things they'll use for years to come.  Showers are a real blessing when you're starting out.

We are at the two week mark, pre-wedding.
I feel we're right on schedule. 

I sure hope I can still say that a week from now!

Yes, I will. And I do know it.

I like to keep my blog on the upbeat.
I like to keep my self on the upbeat.
So forgive me if this post sounds a  little on the downbeat.  Sometimes I think a person has to "own" their feelings before they can move on to better ones.

Today I ran a few errands.
I love the way I know how to make a loop through a somewhat rural area to get to my "need to" places.  I know how to go by the bank, the dry cleaners, the grocery store, Sonic, the post office, and my favorite dollar store, all in a single loop.  It's one of the many things I like about living where I do.

I also like that winters are mild and Spring comes early to the South.  I like to be called "Honey" and "Baby" by store clerks (it's a Southern thang).  I like that life is slower here, gentler.  I like that no one feels the need to "dress to impress" and that money doesn't determine who you are or who you're not.  I didn't know that such a place existed until I moved here almost 12 years ago.

I like my house.
I like my safe neighborhood.
I like my neighbors.

I like my friends - especially my "Shopping Buddy".

No, it's not perfect here, but it "feels" perfect to me.

Now I'm gonna move.  Soon.
I will be just fine.
But this Trace Adkins' song chorus is stuck on replay in my mind today.

"You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days 

hadn't gone by so fast.

These are some good times

So take a good look around,

You may not know it now,

But you're gonna miss this."

Yes, I will.
And I DO know it.

What do you do?

I believe.
I believe.

In the meantime,
when I'm bored
"I Pinterest".

What do you do to beat "Winter Boredom"?

This is no joke.

WE.ARE.MOVING.

TO.ANOTHER.

STATE.

Trust me,

I would not kid about this.

No time for details.

But I'll be back with

crying, sobbing, weepy

info very soon (when I find some time).

In the meantime I'm preparing

for a wedding next month.

Don’t you wish you were me?

Sunday Funday!

It was a gray, damp, February day "outside",
But "inside" it was pure sunlight and joy.

What fun I had at Lil' Mama's bridal photo shoot today.

I am so blessed to be a part of this

joyous time of  her life.

Just couldn't do it!

I've been trying to "purge" the house.
I've been going room to room, cleaning and purging.  Usually I'm pretty ruthless.  I've been known to make stealth trips to Goodwill so Mister can't see what I'm hauling away.  He has the "hoarder gene" in his DNA.

Today I'd planned to box up my collection of chef's (which has been in a cabinet and hasn't seen the light of day in 10 years).

Just couldn't do it!

Instead, I cleared out a cabinet in another room and moved these little guys into it.  Not sure why I couldn't let them go. They received a reprieve.

I'd swear they smile at me now when I pass by.

50 lbs!!

Strike up the band!!

I'm so proud of Mister.

He has

LOST

50 lbs!

He began a "reboot" on January 2nd.  The results continue to be amazing.  Have you heard of the video, "Fat, Sick. And Nearly Dead"?  If you're curious you can find it on Netflix (and I think on YouTube).

It has been a life changer.

I really don't know how Mister can stick with this, but he has, and he does.  He plans to continue til he completes day 60.  Weight loss is such a personal thing and different things work for different people.  He's found what works for him.  Our youngest son introduced Mister to this idea while he was here visiting during Christmas.  

And so it continues...

Things are Happening.

From this to that
and from that to this.
That's how I rolled today.

One thing I DID accomplish was some much needed yard work.  I pruned the rose bushes in my little rose garden.  I always dread this task, cause as we all know -

roses BITE!

I broke my own rule of ALWAYS wearing garden gloves when working outdoors.

It's gray and dank (is that a word?),

but things are happening.

Mister took this photo last week.

This beauty is in front of our local courthouse.  It's always the first in our area to bloom.  Things are happening.

Do you see it?
My hydrangeas are beginning to bud!

If you squint your eyes

you can see a few leaves on the rose bushes too.

Things are happening.

Even on these cold, gray days, Spring is preparing to make it's usual arrival.  

All in due time.  

"In winter, I plot and plan.
In Spring, I move."

          ~Henry Rollins

I.Am.So. Anxious.For.Spring.Days.
You?

Gone

"Well there's gone for the day 

and gone for the night

and gone for the rest of your doggone life.

Is it whiskey night or just a couple of beers,

tell me what kind of gone 

are we talkin' 'bout here?"
                                                                      ~Berg/Cameron/Davis

I've been gone.
Not away, just "gone" from blogging.
We've been a down-and-out bunch of sickies
for a long time now, and that doesn't make
for very good blogging. But, we're WELL
now. I want to open the front door and
all the windows and scream it to the world.
Mister said that's not very neighborly
he'd rather I not do that - sooooo
I'm back to this blog - full steam ahead.

From the sickbed directly into wedding plans for Lil' Mama.  Most of the big decisions have been made and arranged.  Now we're into doing the things that personalize a wedding to reflect the two special people being married.  I won't share these details till after-the-fact but you can be sure there's lots of spray painting, printing, and other such crafts taking place.

It feels so good to be back!

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?)