Instead of packing.....

the RV for our trip tomorrow, I'm reading blogs and thought I'd try and do a Friday Fragments early....

Oh, how I wish I was one of those people who scheduled posts instead of sitting down and doing one on the fly.  Oh, well.......that's just my procrastinating self.

So go on over to Mrs. 4444's place and join in for Friday Fragments.  It's fun and you'll meet new people.

We did something this week that we very seldom do......went to a movie.....at the actual movie theater.  We went to see Hope Springs and although I thought Meryl Streep was good and I love Tommy Lee Jones, I didn't care for the movie.  It was a little too much sex talk for me, but the Maine scenery was absolutely breathtaking.  To add to my discomfort, the theater was as full as I've seen it in a long time and I was sitting in between my husband and a strange man.....he was only strange because I didn't know him.  Nevertheless.....I moved closer and closer to the Superhero as the talk got more and more graphic.

If anyone has seen The Odd life of Timothy Green I'd like to know how it is before I go see it in the theater.  But Hunger Games comes out on DVD next week and I do want to buy that one because it was good and I can watch good movies more than twenty times once.

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Since we're getting ready to go away, Russell washed the RV the other evening while I waited for him to finish so we could walk.  Our walking is limited to in between thunder storms, so he poked his head in the door and said maybe I ought to go ahead without him because it was clouding up and I said o.k.  Then I thought a moment and thought but what if it starts storming while I'm walking???  He doesn't call me Miss Positivity for nothing!! The Superhero had already thought of that and promised to come get me if it so much as thundered.  In case I didn't mention it two people were hit by lightning near us and both died.  I have a healthy fear of the stuff.

So off I went.  All was fine until I was almost back home and I saw one bolt of lightning but knew it was far off and I had time to get home.  In about a minute I saw the Superhero's truck headed to get me.....awwwwwwww.  I signaled to him that I was fine and he knew I was almost home, so he turned around.  That man loves me!  Awwwwww......

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Sometimes when I'm reading to mama, she tries to go to sleep, so lately I sit real close and give her a little nudge when her eyes close.  She says "Owwww, stop hitting me"  I just grin.  I wish she would stay awake in the afternoons because then she would sleep at night maybe!  Another attempt I make is reading so loudly they can probably hear for several apartments. 

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Everyone have a great weekend!
I gotta go pack!

All About the Sunshine

Makes me sooooo happy to see the sun shining!  It makes me sorry I whined about the rain or maybe not.  

But this is how I felt today yesterday. It's raining again today......but yesterday and the day before made a huge difference in my extremely poor attitude!  I was all smiling and sunshiny!

I'm going to try and keep that attitude going because this this will be a busy week.  We are getting ready to go on a little RV trip over to our favorite state park near Destin for a few days of rest and relaxation.  A little recharging of our batteries which is much needed.  Russell is looking forward to a little shopping now that he's lost weight.  Sunday when he was getting ready for church, he came out of his closet and I said uh uh...you cannot wear those pants they are huge!  That put a big grin on his face!

Speaking of kitchen tile grout that gets dirty and discolored, I mean we were weren't we? Well, ours was awful so I bleached and scrubbed and have been painting the grout with a colored sealant.  That helped me come up with this tiny bit of advice for the rest of you....DON'T!  I think grout is meant to be discolored.  It is very hard and back breaking to paint those little lines, wipe away the excess and continue.  I have done a lot, but still have a ways to go until all the tile area is done.  But when and IF it gets completely finished, it will look so much better.

But next time it gets dirty.....well, let me tell you it won't be me painting those little lines.

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And most the important thing on everyone's to do list today is to VOTE!

I was very happy to show my photo I.D. and verify my date of birth.  Quite frankly, I don't know what the fuss about showing I.D. is all about!  I mean, come on, if you registered to vote didn't you have to show some form of I.D.???  Just do it!  

Hope the rest of your week is great!

Help and Win....win/win

The absolutely Marvelous Melynda needs our help!  Please go over here and take a look at what you can do to help her.

Thanks!  

Just look out the window....

No!  I didn't want to get out of bed this morning when my earlybird the Superhero woke.  Thunder....that's what I woke up to and rain.  I'm so sorry for all you that are in the drought areas and I pray for you to get rain, but if I'm totally honest, I'm tired of having it every single day.  Sigh.....

But since I was awake, I had to get out of bed and drag myself into the kitchen to make that first cup of coffee.  The words "I'm officially down in the dumps" may have slipped out of my lips when the ever cheerful Superhero announced he was off to the woods.  Where does that man get his energy???  

Shame then came along to take the place of down in the dumps as I remembered how very blessed I am.  Shoot!  Can't a girl just be down in the dumps for thirty minutes or so???  Then I looked out the door from my kitchen and saw this.....

Those two tiny white things are magnolia blooms in my neighbors yard.......they have their faces pointed up, outstretched in SPITE of the rain as if they actually welcome the rain.  

And then I saw this.....

This is my side yard filled with water and I remembered that I have always wanted waterfront property!  So I am trying to count my blessings and stop having a pity party since the only attendees are my two little dogs and my cat and they are paying no attention whatsoever and are horrible party goers!  They shall get no treats!

Trying to lift things up a little, our Mercy Uganda team is in the field!  Even more exciting this year as several people are on the ground there in Uganda for the first time.  This year's trip includes a physicians assistant, a physical therapist, an attorney and several others.  Mercy Uganda has teamed up with Bob Hayes and so much work is being done.  It will be so exciting to hear all about this trip when they return later this month.  Go visit both these sites to learn more about the mission and what is happening in Uganda.

We had birthday supper for David this week.  

With his favorite, chicken enchiladas and cookie cake!  Matt was able to come and we all had a good time celebrating David's 35th!  They are planning on a canoe trip later today and I'm thinking that may or may not happen!  

Mama isn't talking much these days and so there isn't a lot of conversation going on.  She loves a good book and was always an avid reader until her shoulders got too bad to hold her books and her eyesight dimmed.  We've been reading a great book together this past week or so.  I read the book a while back, but have actually found that I'd forgotten a lot of it so it's new for me too........I know, imagine that!.....  The book is What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.  If you've never read it, I recommend it.  When I'm reading to mama, I skip the curse words because for one thing I always wonder why on earth they need those words to make their point in the first place?  Anyhow, I choose not to read them out loud.  If you know anyone who is lonely, I would encourage you to read to them.  Reading is so great in that you can read for fifteen minutes or you can read for an hour......it requires only a short window of time in your day.  Just do it!

We have enjoyed the Olympics at our house and will be sad to see them end.  It's good to see the USA win so many gold medals and each and every time they stand on that podium and put their hands over their hearts while our National Anthem plays, I cry. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy Birthday, David!

Last year I wrote his birth story, you can read it here

It is very hard for me to get my mind around the fact that today he turns 35!  Well, at 2:08 PM to be exact.  So technically, he's still 34 as I write this and at my age I'm clinging to technicalities! 

From this happy boy.....

To this happy man.....

Happy Birthday

I love you!

Whirlwind week.......

It's Friday as hard as that is to imagine.  The weeks are flying by and time is slipping like the sands in an hourglass....oops can you tell I grew up watching Days of Our Lives?  But it's true!  Where does the time go?

I'm joining Mrs. 4444 today at Friday Fragments to unload my week.

You've heard the old saying "nothing tastes as good as thin feels"?  Or something like that.  It's true!  And this comes from someone who loves to eat.  But  besides not having a muffin top, there is another huge benefit to weight loss.  This week I had my annual physical and got my blood work report.  My cholesterol dropped 62 points!  I am almost to the normal range.  Also for all those who are tempted to tell me I'm too thin, I asked the doctor and she said and I quote "absolutely not, you are healthier than you've ever been".  So let's just put that one to bed for good!

Another plus???  The Superhero decided to eat sensibly too and he's lost over 35 lbs.  Of course, men lose faster than women and that kind of hacks me off, but I'm so proud of him and when we went to buy new shirts because his old ones were hanging off his new and improved body, I saw how good he felt about himself! Win Win.....

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Although it didn't happen this week, my granddaughter went to Hawaii and this is one of my favorite pictures!  

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In BIG news, this sweet girl was born!  She was actually four weeks early but decided she was ready to get moving in the outside world!  
Meet Georgia Grace!  Brand new daughter to one of my like a daughter daughters.  I couldn't be more excited for Jeff and Emily!  

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My computer is acting up and I don't know how to fix it.  Usually when I'm reading your posts, I can switch back and forth from your blogs to mine, but now when I try to do that, the internet just shuts down.  ARRGG!  The Superhero says.....I could help you but you switched to the dark side.......by that he means I have a Mac....oh, well!  


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I am fascinated with the swimming and gymnastics portions of the Olympics and last night was jumping for joy for Gabby!  Not only did she give God the glory for winning the gold medal but that smile lit up the whole arena!  Every time they play our National Anthem on that stage I cry.  I'm emotional like that.


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Well, friends, have a great weekend!  As for me?  I'm all fragged out!

Enough...... huh? .......

Yea, I know....I'm stuck on the birthday....but hey, how often do you think I'm gonna turn sixty?


Just thought I'd tell you about a few things I did for the birthday day, week, month.....year?


First, thanks to all for the birthday wishes assuring me I would go on even though I'm elderly.  Each and every one is very special to me.

I have five siblings and four of them were in town last weekend and we went out to eat for my birthday and my younger brother's birthday.  You remember him right?  Anyhow.....we missed the baby brother and his wife who have recently moved out to Texas and couldn't be with us.


We are a big, loving....mostly...., loud family and we had a great time.  Below are some scenes from the night.


Me with my eighth birthday present

The honorable eldest and his sweet and beautiful wife

My beautiful older sister.....thank you for organizing this party!

The beautiful youngest sister and her handsome husband

The old lady and her hot husband

My brother, the fifth child, and his beautiful wife



All of us the waitress could fit in the picture

And the rest of us

That was a really fun night!


Sister Cathy brought me this fun wine glass so of course I took it to the restaurant.....yes, I washed it first.....

Sunday night some friends took us out to dinner to celebrate...ever notice how people really notice when you become elderly??? That was another fun night of laughing our heads off.


On my actual birthday, I started off the day with a kiss from my Superhero as he headed out the door to work.  


I heard from every one of my children which made me so happy!!!


I went to sit with a friend and when lunch time came, decided to walk........parking is scarce where we were.......over and get sandwiches from a little shop nearby....when I left it wasn't raining.....I'm pretty sure you can figure out where this is heading....as I came out of the sandwich shop it was storming!  Blowing rain and huge drops.  I had my umbrella and so was able to keep the upper half of me and more importantly the food dry.....but my white pants were soaked and spattered with mud.  
But I didn't lose my parking space!  


We ate and then my friend got the call to meet the doctor in another waiting room.  
I witnessed a miracle after lunch that day.  Best. birthday. present. ever!


Leaving there, I went to my mama's to give her a kiss and thank her for giving birth to me and putting up with me for sixty years!  She said.....are you really 60!?
Notice the look of disbelief  

I headed home and the superhero came to pick me up to go to a movie and out to dinner.   The Superhero refuses to buy cards because they're so expensive.......so below is the card he made me...

This, boys and girls, is one of the many reasons he has Superhero status.  In case you can't read it, it says I love you in seven different languages!  The boy is brilliant!  I had already bought a few my own present.  He did also bring me two Ugandan necklaces, which I love!


My sweet MIL and Russell's Uncle had come by the day before and left cards and presents.  


Thanks to all who made this such a special birthday!


Most of all thank you to my Father in heaven and let me leave you yes, I know you thought I'd never end this with this verse that has special meaning to me....


Every good gift and ever perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.......James 1:17