I'm so Thankful

Much has happened this past year that could have easily taken my focus off the blessings in my life. But God has a way of picking us up, dusting us off, and pointing us forward. I am not claiming to always live what I believe. I get discouraged and my faith wanes. Fortunately, God created us and understands our human frailties. He speaks to us from a multitude of different ways to get our attention back on Him and what matters most. I'm thankful to be a believer in God and divine intervention.


God has blessed me with three outstanding, incredible, and beautiful children. I marvel at the talents of each one, and the inner strength they possess. My chest has swelled with pride so many times through the years, from elementary Christmas plays, to art shows, to honors programs, to choir concerts, to graduations, to weddings, and the births of my nine precious grandchildren. Ron, my engineer. Allison, my soprano. Angela, my artist. These three families continually fill me with unabashed joy.


I'm thankful for Robin and the many ways he offers his love and support. He's there when I have a crisis and talks me though it. He's there when I do too much and insists that I slow down and take a nap. And he's a loving Papa to our grandchildren and I love him dearly for that.


I'm thankful that I can go to my parents' house this Thanksgiving and see both of them. What a blessing to have them and share in their almost 64 years of marriage. It's uncommon in this modern society and I'm thankful that God has blessed our family in this way. I'm thankful for my brothers and my beautiful sister. Donna has been there for me more times than I can count. God created the perfect sister for me and I thank Him for that.


No one could ever have friends as special as mine! Cheryl has been through so much with me and believes in me to an extreme. She is my rock, my confidante, my forever friend. Patty has been by my side for many years, dating back to the 6th grade. She spoils me rotten. During hard times with the business she has showered me with all the things I couldn't get for myself. I love how we are 16 again when we're together. I love these two ladies! And I love the new friends in my life - the beautiful Sharon who fills me with inspiration and comfort, and the Texas Divas group. What a fun bunch of gals who can erase stress lines within minutes.


A few days ago my Mother told me that grandson Callan looks so much like his Grandpa Chezzy. I told her Ashton does, too, and she agreed. I'm thankful that he not only lives on in our hearts, thoughts, and memories, but also in the sweet faces of my grandsons. I'm thankful for the paradise he shared with me for 19 years and the gift of a daughter we shared.


I'm incredibly thankful this season for God's mercy and saving grace. I'm thankful that God can and does take our battered bodies and make them whole. He was there when Clayton and his family needed Him most. He went through the long, painful process with them, and brought them through victoriously. God conquered cancer. He was also there when I had a heart attack and held me in His loving arms. I am writing this post today because God saved my life. To God be the glory and honor forever.


Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. When you can't look beyond your own home to find much to be thankful for, look up and praise God for His presence and that of your family and friends.

A Lazy Weekend

The Great White Hunter was at the deer lease again this weekend, and Patty and I had our fourth slumber party in a row. Usually we are energetic and get out to shop, but we didn't do much this time. We got dressed long enough to go to lunch, then back home to our books and games. And we fit in a nap! I never picked up the camera and you will probably thank me for that since we were only in our pajamas. But we were so relaxed after being so lazy!

The Great White Hunter has slew two dragons, uh, I mean, deer, and is ready for the Thanksgiving break. He'll get to share a warm bed with me this next weekend. I've been busy baking every week so he has treats to share around the nightly campfire.

Patty and I completed our Fun Pass online for our cruise in February. We will hit Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Islands, and Cozumel, Mexico, the same ports we visited last time. I'm sure I will enjoy this trip more since I had just had major surgery two weeks before the cruise. I moved a little slow. Not that Patty and I do much damage when we are in good health. We are not into the party scene. We prefer our stateroom suite with a balcony and room service. Ahh, that's the life.

Nothing exciting to report about the weekend, but nothing awful happened and that's what matters. I'm really getting old. Having a good book and a warm blanket is paradise to me and the perfect way to spend a weekend.

Being Thankful for . . . Jude

The Kindergarten classes at Jude's school had their Thanksgiving program this morning for the parents and grandparents. There were a lot of adorable Indians and Pilgrims on that stage. Jude was an Indian and his Indian name was Swimming Shark, which was displayed on the back of his vest. No big surprise to us since his interest in sharks is well known.This is Jude's Thanksgiving artwork that adorned the walls of the room where they presented their program. His handprints make up the Turkey's feathers.

Jude and his sweet teacher, Mrs. Hollaway, in front of the tribe's teepee. Jude is really fond of this lady and I can see why.

These young ladies insisted on having their picture taken with their classmate, Jude. He wasn't objecting either. He was proud to show off his friends and family to each other.

Jude with his proud Mama. Allison shed a few tears as she watched her firstborn do the hand motions to the songs they sang. I'm sure she was thinking, "wasn't he just a baby a short, short time ago?". I've been there and I know the feeling.

"Swimming Shark" in full dress for a picture with his Dad. Brian took lots of pictures and videos and it was a proud moment for all of us. Jude did a wonderful job with his songs and speaking part, and he showed us all how excited he was to have us there. That's our boy!

A Sleepover at Memaw's

I had plenty of quality time with three of my grandchildren when Brian and Allison went to dinner and an Eagles concert. Jude, Baylee, and Sophia were equally excited to have a sleepover at Memaw's house.

Jude and Sophia camped out in the den with sleeping bags, which Sophia giggled over every time she crawled in - and out - of the bag. Baylee wanted to sleep with me because I'd told her that Parker always sleeps at the foot of the bed. She was happy to see that he was still there when she awoke this morning.

Breakfast was, of course, funny face pancakes with strawberries on the side. And Jude, of course, shed his clothes the minute he walked through the door. How he stays warm in a pair of underwear I will never know.

Doesn't Sophia look darling in the birthday outfit from Aunt Angela? She was a little doll, if not a busy one. I caught her throwing quarters into the kitchen trash. I dug out two and I'm about to sift through discarded cans of smelly cat food and coffee grounds so see if there's a small fortune in quarters from the slot machines. Little stinker.

Robin was hunting this weekend and a little worried about me keeping the kids by myself. I told him it might be easier with him gone since he gets them so riled up and plays on their level. I was right. It went as smooth as banana pudding. Having one less kid around is always quieter.

Trash update: When I sifted through the trash I recovered 4 more quarters. I'd hoped that nasty adventure would have produced enough to make it worth the mess. Oh, but Sophia had fun!

Texas Divas

The Texas Divas had a wonderful girls night out in celebration of Paula F's birthday. Her actual birthday is the same as my baby's, Angela, but we got in the birthday mood early. Here's Paula in the Divas Birthday Crown.

The two Paulas and Deborah.

This lovely group is Allison, Jan, and Donna.

Paula the birthday girl, yours truly, and Patty.

Donna, Paula, and Deborah. When I arrived at the restaurant I told the host that I was with the Texas Diva party of 8, and he said right this way. We are becoming known in these here parts!

Our Double Date

There's no better way to spend an afternoon than double dating with a fun couple. Robin and I joined Donna and James at the King Tut exhibit in Dallas. We enjoyed it so much, plus we feel very cultured now. To actually be in the presence of items that date back over 3,000 years is incredible. The history was very interesting. After the exhibit we headed out for barbecue and lots of laughter. James and I tied on the number of rolls we ate!

Of course, pictures weren't allowed in the museum so we captured the moment in the parking garage.

Thank you, Donna and James, for such a delightful afternoon of learning, sharing, and laughing. I hope another outing will be planned in the near future.

Bandera Ensemble

Here's the Bandera pajama set put together. Yes, they are bulky, non-flattering, non-form-fitting, which makes them perfect for our week in the Hill Country. Totally loose and comfortable. That's the name of the game.

To get the letters down the leg, Patty's sister-in-law used some soft pink material, used stencils to cut out the letters, then had to open one leg seam to use a fancy stitch to sew them on. It would be a huge undertaking for someone like me, but she did them - 3 pairs - with ease. Cheryl, I'll be mailing yours to you to wear with your pink sweatshirt. You will love them!

Slumber Party, Week 2

Get a load of these pajama bottoms for our week in Bandera. Patty's sister-in-law sewed bandera down one leg on three sets of bottoms. Cheryl, Patty, and I also have pink sweatshirts to wear with these on pajama days. The pink camo is perfect for girls in the Hill Country. It will show the deer that feed outside our windows that they are safe with us! Click on the picture, Cheryl, for a better view.Sissy, here's your purse. A giraffe print all trimmed in red. You will look trendy!

Patty and I wanted the pink trim and Sam Moon only had one style in it, so we match. Mine is just like hers. I pulled out my camera in the store to take pictures of one of the assistants helping Patty model fake hair pieces, but she told me no cameras were allowed in the stores. I don't know why and I was disappointed. Patty's pretty ponytails and and bouncy do's would have made great, fun pictures.

And, yes, we splurged. This sinful establishment was in the parking lot where we shopped for our cruise (February 22!). I must confess that we behaved and didn't over-indulge.

Lunch was at Chili's. It was a fun day and our plans for the night include pajamas and books and TV, and whatever else tickles our fancy. We're on our own clocks!

Sophia's Party

Sophia had a fabulous time at her party which was held in her favorite Mexican restaurant. She was also good about wearing her birthday crown, If it slipped off, she put it back on, often in the wrong direction. So cute. She wasn't too interested in having her picture taken once the chips and salsa arrived. This girl loves the hot sauce.

Notice the big 2 on her T-shirt. She was a gracious hostess, going to each one and greeting them with a hug. She knew it was a special day.Uncle Ron, cousin Thomas, Baylee and Jude (or is it Indiana Jones?) chowing down on the chips.

Cousin Candice and my friend Patty joined us for the fun. Sophia will be stylin' in the black tights, black dress with silver lining, silver shoes and headband that Patty brought for her. Too cute.

The birthday cake was a huge hit. Sophia's Mama deserves a blue ribbon for producing such a decadent and delicious masterpiece from her kitchen on what was a very hectic and busy day. It took a few attempts but Sophia blew out the two candles on her cake. Once she was home again, she went through all her gifts as if seeing them for the first time. I'd say this little lady had a wonderful birthday and she loved everyone who shared it with her. What an angel she is!

Happy Birthday, Sophia!

This little doll is 2 years old today! And what a joy she has been. She has the sweetest temperament and a smile that melts our hearts.

Sophia reminds me so much of her Mom when she was a toddler. The blond hair, blue eyes, and big smile is Allison all over again. And like her Mom, Sophia is a happy girl, one that goes with the flow, and accepts what has to be. I'm sure, too, that when the time is right, she will display the spunk her Mom has. She is definitely sunshine peeking through the clouds.

Check out the pink boots, the high maintenance purse, and the prissy skirt. She strutted around like she was queen of the ball. She loves clothes, especially shoes. She came by that naturally since her Memaw is a Shoes Diva. She just fits so well into our family!

Have a very happy birthday, Sophia. I look forward to celebrating with you today. You are so precious and I love you dearly, my little Chunk-A-Munk.

Election Day!

Last chance to vote for the candidate of your choice. Exercise your right to choose! Together, with God, we can make a difference.

An Earth-Shattering Slumber Party

Yee-haw! It's opening weekend of hunting season and the slumber parties have begun! And we started with a bang. Both Patty's city and mine had six earthquakes, something very uncommon for our area. The strongest was a 3.0 which is very puny, fortunately. Did I feel them? No. Did Patty? No. Maybe it's our age. The ground beneath our feet can be unstable at times and we might not be able to distinguish between the usual imbalance or an earthquake. I prefer to believe it was because it wasn't that strong. At any rate, we survived the Texas 2008 Earthquake.

The first slumber party was meant to be low key. We wanted to take it easy and do our own thing. We had an early dinner at a favorite Mexican restaurant, then home for books, news, games, and chatter.
We made a short trip to a mall and drooled over these giraffe purses. We never found one with the size and trim we wanted, nor the price range. But they were pretty.

No trip to the mall is complete without a stop at the perfume counter. Patty bought us both a bottle of 24K. I haven't worn it in awhile since it causes Robin's allergies to act up, and boy! did it smell good. I'll at least wear it the two months he's hunting.

We were smelling pretty strong when we finally left the store. I don't know how many samples we tried, but our sleeves were raised above our elbows to find another place to spritz.

Patty with Weasil as we watched more news about the upcoming presidential election.

Fully sated after a feast of pizza and bread sticks. Later, Patty read in bed while I played games on the computer. Very lazy, very indulgent.

The Great White Hunter called to tell me that he hadn't gotten anything, but the guys with him had a total of three hogs and two deer. Robin has already had a productive pre-season at home, with 5 opossums and 4 raccoons.

Next weekend promises to be another fun time, free of restricting schedules. We LOVE hunting season!

Note: Please disregard the dates on these pictures. I only set the clocks back an hour, not six years. Robin has the newer camera with him and I used an older one.

I Love You, God

As parents and grandparents, we know we are role models for our children. We also know we have a responsibility to teach them right from wrong, what is safe and what is dangerous, and all the big and little things in between. But how often do we pause awhile and learn from them?

I picked my grandson, Thomas, up from school one day this week. He confided to me that he got a yellow warning sticker in class for not paying attention. After he asked me to not tell his parents, that he would do it and he didn't want me to worry about it, we began discussing what school is all about. I told him we are there to learn and that recess and friends are a bonus, but not the main reason we are there.

Then, Thomas told me that his Dad said there is a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, and that he should always listen to the angel. I agreed and offered that if you don't listen to the devil, he gets frustrated and moves on to someone who will. That's when I learned something profound from my 7-year-old grandson. He told me that when a bad word enters his mind, he quickly says, "I love you, God. I love you, God. I love you, God." He repeats this sentence until the bad word disappears. I praised him for a great solution to his problems.

A day later, I had a feeling of resentment flash across my mind. Without much thought, I repeated Thomas's phrase until the moment passed, then asked for forgiveness. It works. It instantly reminds you that you need to dwell on better things, on good things, and let the resentment fade into nothingness. Holding a grudge hurts us, not the object of our resentment. Giving it to God immediately is the best move.

I'm thankful that I can learn from the sweet children around me. Jesus reminds us to have the faith of a child. How trusting and dependent they are on us. And when we least expect it, how much they can teach us when we are open to learning. Get in the habit of saying, "I love you, God" when negativity is present. You'll be surprised at how well it works.

Thank you, Thomas, for teaching Memaw an important lesson. I love God and I love you, too.

We Voted!

Robin and I took advantage of early voting to avoid the crowds on election day. I'm proud that we exercised our right to choose. I'm not so proud of the selection we had to choose from. But a politician is a politician and they usually have few redeeming qualities. All one can do is decide which is worse and vote for the other one. I did. And Robin did.

Family and a Funeral

I meant to write this post days ago but I had a newsletter deadline to meet. I also have to fit in work once in awhile.

Five members of my family attended the funeral of our cousin Lou last week in Arkansas. It was a bittersweet day. On one hand, we were saying goodbye to someone who had played an important part in our lives. On the other, the intimate time with family was invaluable.

My brother Gene and I left early for a two-hour drive to meet our parents for breakfast. From there, the four of us drove to meet my sister Donna. Then, all five of us rode together to Arkansas. Gene and I see each other so little and never have a chance to catch up. We did this trip and I thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Once all five of us were together in one car, the sharing and visiting continued.

We arrived at the funeral and were saddened that Lou looked nothing like herself. I needed to see the cousin and friend I knew as Lou. However, the service fully captured the woman we all knew and loved. She was a Maverick. She was full of fire and energy, despite her limitations. She was unstoppable. She was a source of inspiration to many as she lived a full life from a wheelchair. It wasn't always easy, but as Lou once told Donna, "You thank God for the small things. Sometimes all you have are the small things." What a beautiful testimony from one who had more of a right to complain than the rest of us.

My mother told me later that being with us had been so special. I'd noticed that our parents seemed to hug each of us a little longer than usual. I told her I'd felt the same way, that I didn't know if it was the sadness of the day that drew each of us together, or if we would have sensed the closeness on any trip together. My mother said she suspected it was a combination of both. I have to agree. It was definitely a moment when I looked at each one of them with gratitude, and thankfulness for the blessings of family.

The Last of the Pictures

Before Angela left for Houston the next day we all met for lunch. There were some cute faces around our table and some hungry ones, too.
Baylee chomping on a chip and looking adorable with her bows.
Aunt Dee-licious with her handsome nephew, Ashton.
Dee, Baylee, and Papa Robin in a "say cheese" moment.
Cousins Jude and Ashton just couldn't get enough of each other. It was so much fun watching these two play with Thomas.

Yes, my chest is really puffed up over this picture of my three kids. It's seldom that I have them all in one place and this was definitely a Kodak moment.
Not sure how many quarters we fed these horse rides, but it cleaned us all out.
Brian supervising as Sophia rides the train. She was so big!
Our little horse-lover, Baylee, was having a great time on the rides.
Our little doll, Juliet, was having a great time, too.

We stopped by the tanning salon where Candice works so we could visit some with her.
Isn't she gorgeous? I'm talking about Candice, of course.
Candice with her Aunt Angela and her cousin Juliet.
Camryn, another beautiful granddaughter, is getting a hug from her Dad.
Proud Mama Chick with her little Chick-a-dees. They are all grown up, but will forever be my babies. Thank you, Angela, for making this weekend possible. I loved every minute of it.

More Family Fun

Here are more pictures of our fun family weekend. Everyone has remarked about how great it was to be together. A price tag can't be placed on the value of family. The love, support, trust, and the bond that holds us all together can't be measured on a monetary scale. We are rich, indeed.Here's Angela towering over Donna, who towers over me. Yes, we're all related!


Juliet came to me several times wanting to play. When I suggested painting her nails, the biggest smile spread over her princess face. Before long, all three girls were lined up to get their nails done. Juliet picked out the polish, a rich hot pink. Thanks to Dee for the idea. It went over fabulously.Sophia beamed and felt as big as the other girls as she patiently waited for me to finish turning her nails into a sea of pink.
Juliet showed off her nails and even though she doesn't look all that pleased with the results, she really was.
Finally, Baylee got her turn. All three girls were good sports. I'm not the best at applying polish, even with my granny glasses on.
Kids galore! When we opened the front door to see my parents and Donna off, you'd think we opened the floodgate. Happy little feet were everywhere. Sophia was out there, too, just didn't make it into this picture. But more to come tomorrow. I'm drawing this out a little so I can savor it longer.