" M.I.A.? "

Again I find myself being a horrible Blogger. While I haven't been " Missing in Action " completely, I've been finding it more and more difficult to post these days.

I so admire those of you that post everyday or even just every week. I just seem to get so busy and then when I feel like posting, I don't feel as though I have anything important to post about! Such is the case today. Nothing really important but quite a lot has been going on around here.

We had a great Memorial Day weekend. Jake and I went to the theater to see " Dark Shadows "...

We really enjoyed the movie. Johnny Depp was excellent in the role as Barnabas Collins and the movie was done in true soap opera style. Very funny and enjoyable. It's been a few years since we've been to the theater together so it was like a real date !! Of coarse we ate lots of Popcorn and I had my Sno-Caps and Jake had his Chocolate covered Peanuts. We shared a giganto soda.

Sometimes you just have to splurge!!

After the movie we took a long walk ( Kate had the car) over to "Buffalo Wild Wings"...

We had never been there before. Did you know that you can get three free beer samples there? We didn't. So we had our samples, that was fun, and a couple of bottles with our wings. The wings are amazing!! We called Kate to have her come and meet us there. She had Mango Habenjero dipping sauce with her wings. It was very tasty but a bit too hot for this MaMa!! I stuck with my Blue Cheese sauce. It was all very delicious and we had a great time, just the three of us. Our other teen was at work that day.

Later that evening we grilled Ribs. I made baked potato wedges to go with the ribs. Salad too. All very good. The other teen came come that evening and we all had a great time outside just enjoying this awesomely wonderful weather we've been having.

This past weekend brought more happy, memorable, summer fun. We went to watch our granddaughter Sarah play ball. She is very serious about her game...

Thank Goodness her team won 28-29 as she was spending the night at our house that evening. She was so, so tired after that game !!

When we got her to our house and fed her, she perked up. Or it may have been after the milk shake Aunt Katie brought home for her !!

Another fun evening was had. The weather again was perfect. We sat outside and watched Sarah do all of her tumbling. I was amazed at how graceful she was. It was fun to watch.

When we went inside for the evening Sarah wanted grandma to braid her hair so it would be wavy in the morning. I used to braid Ginny and Katie's hair the same way.

It was a fun and busy day...

See what happens when you become a bad Blogger like me? You go on and on until people get tired of reading your post !!

I did something this week that I haven't done except when I've been in the hospital. I took a week off of work just so I can play in my yard and do things around the house.

I'm sitting in the the yard on the deck right now and it's just gorgeous outside. I've been out here since 6:00 a.m. Washed my car. Did a little shopping. Put some more yard ornaments out.

It's been almost the perfect week. The only thing missing is my husband. I really wish he were sitting with me right now. 

I'm already looking forward to the weekend when he comes home again. I wonder what this weekend will bring?

I wonder if it will take me weeks to post again?!

Oh well such is life, see ya!!

" Happy Birthday to My Sweet Ginny "

You know by now that you have always been the light of my life.

From the day you were born through today and tomorrow.

You've always had an aura of goodness and light that surrounds you. It's evident when you walk into a room. Like a celebrity walking into a room, heads turn and things seem brighter.

Ever positive , always trying to find the bright side and trying hard to do the right thing. That's my daughter Ginny.

As a baby and a child, you always had an infectious smile on your face. If I ever felt "Down", that smile and your disposition would quickly make it go away. And it still does.

You've made your whole family proud, being the first person in the family to receive a Bachelors Degree and a Master's Degree in your chosen profession. 

Your love of truth and honesty paved the way for that career in journalism. What a feat to be proud of Gin. 

Unfortunately the internet took over and replaced how many people get their news. But that didn't stop you from trying a different field of work. Many people wouldn't be brave enough to move hundreds of miles away from home to start a career. I know I couldn't have done that. It takes a lot of inner strength, courage and faith to do that.


Those are your best qualities Ginny. I want you to always remember that. You are one of those people that can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. And I admire you for that.


You are a wonderful daughter and a great sister. Katie knows how lucky she is to have a sister like you. She may not tell you but it shows.

I could go on and on Ginny, but the truth is, everyone in your family is proud and amazed by the things you have done so far with your life. And we all appreciate your precious love, faith and devotion to your family and everything that you do.


But no one loves you more than me. God blessed me greatly on
May 27th 1981.


You are a very special woman. 
Happy Birthday, I love you !

" Weeds "

I once borrowed a book about "Weeds" from our local Library. I was trying to find out what a certain weed was that was in my yard.

It was a very old book and I remember it's definition of "Weeds" reading something like this,

"Any plant that is unwanted".

At the time this really surprised me. I thought that flowers were flowers, vegetables were vegetables, and "Weeds" were just a plant that made more work for gardening.

My thoughts on weeds have changed a bit since I first started gardening. I really complained a lot about weeding, but thinking back on it now, the complaints were almost always because it was so, so hot outside.

Our spring season this year has been perfect for gardening. Including, weeding. I went outside early this morning. It was sunny and in the upper 60's. Perfect for pulling, digging and trimming, unwanted, undesirable plants.

So as I usually do when I work in the yard, I took my radio outside, put on my favorite station, and got busy!! 

It was so gorgeous outside. Wonderfully cool. I also had the pleasure of Mr. Mockingbirds company to serenade me while I worked.

This bird amazes me. He almost always perches atop the utility pole next to my yard. He whistles and sings then hops about a foot straight up in the air. 

It took me a good four hours with a couple of breaks in between all of the weeding. All the while, that Mockingbird sang. The entire time!!

Finally I finished the back section of the yard and never once broke a sweat. If only everyday could be as perfect as today was. At least for gardening.

I packed up my tools and gear. Said goodbye to the bird and came inside to start some laundry. It was a good morning and I think all of the work was worth it...

I'm just happy that I was able to complete one section of the yard. It can be hard to keep up with at times, but I think it's worth it !

So my final thoughts about "weeds" are this. If we didn't have any, there wouldn't be much to do in the garden. I wouldn't have anything to do but look at all my pretty flowers. That would be nice but I enjoy playing in my yard even if it is pulling weeds.

Although, my thoughts about "Weeds" may change come July and August! Oh well, for now I'll just enjoy "Playing"!

" Procrastination "

Procrastination has never been a word that I live by. I've always believed in the old saying, " Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today ". And believe me, living by those words can be exhausting at times!!

As far as Blogging goes however, I seem to be very good at

procrastination. I love reading what you all have written. I enjoy your stories, victories, and sorrows. I am there with you. 

What I am trying to say here is that I enjoy reading blogs much more than creating my own!! But I have put off my Mother's Day post long enough. 

It's just a gorgeous day here in Southern Illinois. The sun is shining. It's in the 80's and breezy. What a perfect opportunity to sit in the yard and reminisce about last weekend. It was just perfect!

We celebrated on Saturday as Ginny had to leave on Sunday.

We all went out to my son's house for a B.B.Q. I can't begin to explain to you what a wonderful feeling it was to have all of my children and grandchildren together. 

It warmed the cockles of my heart. Even though I have no idea what a cockle is. 

I was feeling so, so relaxed. My son and Daughter-in-law surprised me with a delicious T-Bone steak just for me! I had a huge salad with it and Amy made twice baked potatoes. And I ate every last bite of that steak without an ounce of guilt that everyone else had burgers!!

My sweet Daughter-in-Law, Amy also made me a delicious cocktail called a "Giggley". It's a darn good thing she did that too. 

After dinner the "Kids" decided that it would be fun to terrorize their mother by breaking out the four wheelers. 

Now I don't know about you but the word "Relax" and "Four Wheeling" , as far as I am concerned do not go hand in hand !!

Here we have my son Frank, giving his 17 year old sister, my youngest, a quick lesson.

I'm beginning to feel a bit anxious at this point. 

Katie's boyfriend, Anthony, showing her how it's done.

Lesson learned. Now Kate takes over. I walk away, not wanting to watch !

I will say that Katie hasn't looked that happy in a while.

Once she got the hang of it and started speeding and jumping hills, my son decided it was time to break out the fast one.

Wait, there's a faster one ?!!!

I'm still trying to remain calm, even through the near collides and tip over's!!!

Well at least my oldest daughter, Ginny, was keeping me sane and calm by playing in the sandbox with my grandchildren, Sarah and Jack....

Now that's more like it. 

Now I am back to feeling just a bit more relaxed as Amy and I converse.

Wait, what ???

Come on, REALLY !!!

Well if you can't beat them, join them. And I almost did. And I would have if I hadn't just ate all that food and felt like I was going to burst!!!

I do think I will give it a try the next time we go. I've never done that before but I have driven a Fiat!! Granted it was Fiats little economy car, but hey, at least I can say I drove one and I really liked it.

All in all, through all of the "Near" misses with the four wheelers, just seeing my children so happy, well this is one Mother's Day that I will never forget. God willing.

And I was still relaxed that day. As a matter of fact, I slept so good that night. What a happy and wonderful Mother's Day.

I think I've got some pretty good kids.

Oh I don't want to forget Frank cooking his mom's steak!!

Isn't he a looker?!

" The Call "

My oldest daughter "Ginny" lives in North Carolina and I in Illinois. Despite the miles we always manage to talk three or more times a week.

I'm her company on her way home from work. She usually calls me on her drive home, depending on how late she gets off of work.

One of the "perks" of her job is that she gets to travel. This past Tuesday she flew to Vegas to attend and work at a "Trade Show" I guess you could call it, and was staying at the MGM Grand.

How awesome!

I couldn't remember if she was returning to North Carolina on Thursday or Friday and knew that she would be very busy out there so I didn't call her.

She finally called me on Friday on her way home from the airport. We talked about how the trip went and other less interesting things on my end. I was feeling a bit tired and down during our conversation. Tired from the week itself and down thanks to a sad story I had been reading.

It was a good story but the part I had been reading was about a desperate man getting reading to attempt suicide when his mother appears. His mother who had passed ten years previously.

The story was bringing back a flood of memories of my own mother who passed two and a half years ago. Things you wished you could have or would have said if given one more day.

Back to the call. I can usually tell on the phone when Ginny arrives home. I can hear her car being turned off and her shuffling things to pick up to go into the house. So when I heard these sounds I asked if she was home? She said "You could say that." So told her that I'd let her go and I love her. Before she could respond my dogs started barking wildly.

Not unusual but a nuisance at times. Ginny in turn  told me she loved me and goodbye. Seeing that the dogs weren't going to stop until I got up to see what was going on outside, I obliged the critters and got up to look out the front door.

It was then that I looked out the window, opened my front door and just stood there, speechless, with my hand over my mouth.

This is what I saw...

Ginny !

You may or may not remember, I haven't seen my daughter since last August when I had my knees replaced. Instead of flying from Vegas to North Carolina, she flew into St. Louis.

Happy Mother's Day to me!!!

All I could do was to stand there with my hand over my mouth and cry. Just floods of tears of joy!

I didn't know it yet but this would turn out to be the best Mother's Day weekend that I've ever had to date. 

We had a wonderful time this weekend and there is more to post with lots of photos.

For now however, I am still just enjoying the memory of "The Call."!

Thank you Ginny, you are a blessing to me !!

" A Free Day ?"

It's hard to believe but it's true. I have a "Free" day ! I can't remember the last time that I had a day to do whatever I choose. More specifically, I don't have to leave the house. 

That is very rare with three part time jobs and two teens.

Great news! My second teen finally landed a job!!! Now if my own teen can find one, well that would be just wonderful !!

Wow, a free day. I don't know what to do. The house is clean and it is a beautiful day so I will most likely go outside and play in my yard.

There are many weeds that are calling my name.

Tomorrow will be an extra busy day. I have to take the dog to get her nails trimmed. Then I will be off to church to do my weekly work. Then my Kate has a doctors appointment in the late afternoon. 

Hopefully sometime tomorrow my husband will be home as well.

So today, I am going to go play. I love to play in the dirt!!!

I hope you have a fun day too.

" One Day at a Time "

I just love those Ice Flowers don't you? Their color is just gorgeous and they grow like crazy! I've been spending a lot of time in my yard lately, not as much as I'd like too, but enough.

Things have been very busy in our household these past couple of months. Since my last post I've picked up a third part time job. It's only temporary, which is good. And the extra cash is a needed blessing right now. My husbands job has been slow lately.

I fell in love with this bowl that I found at my favorite thrift shop. 

As I mentioned in the past, our family has changed  over the last few months. My husband and I are raising yet another teen. I shouldn't say "raising" as both teens are quite tall ! Lets just say that God had someone that needed some people to help. I don't quite understand why God chose us but the fact is that for now, we have another teen living with us.

I've been busy !

You know it's a very strange feeling when your life is just going along, not perfectly, but you get used to it, and then all of a sudden it all changes.

It may not be what you thought it would be. Not that we ever really know what will happen from day to day. Still it seems such a challenge when it all gets turned to a different direction. 

Waiting for the Cone Flowers to bloom.

Acceptance seems to be the word of the day for me. To be able to accept change. Keep my Faith. To know in my heart that God will not let go of my hand. To know that God will give us the strength to mentor and guide with care, patience and love.

Our "Peaceful Place".

Teens can be so, so trying. I sometimes envision them as grown people trying so hard to "Hatch" from an egg shell. That probably sounds silly I know, but I really see it that way.

The struggling movements. Then the slowness as they tire from struggling so hard to escape so that they can spread their wings to fly. Ultimately to fly away.

Here we are filled with doubts. Are we teaching them the right things? Are we showing them everything that needs to be shown how to do? Will they succeed in this difficult and often cruel world?

We are trying. We are holding tightly to the hope that God will guide us in guiding them.

And that my friends is what we have been up to!

Life has been busy. It's been up and it's been down. 

And all the while, I can feel someone holding my hand.

 The Toolbox.