Thankful Thursday

I cleaned my bathroom today.

That may not be big news at your house, but it is around here.  I tend to keep it picked up, slightly swiped regularly, but not what I (or anyone else) would call cleaned.

I had a little laugh at myself when I realized that I am trying to moisturize myself into looking younger.

I have night cream, day cream, extra-emollient cream (it is so good that it will soften my feet), microdermabrasion cream, eye cream, cream to fade age spots, cream to cover up age spots, creams with names that I can't pronounce because they are in another language but someone told me they are creamy and good for aging skin.

I even have one called Precious Cream.  I haven't opened it, yet.  Because it is precious.

The years that brought the age and the wrinkles that need the creams have also brought great blessings.  I noticed a deeper wrinkle yesterday when I looked in the mirror.  The great thing is that the mirror was being held by Lily as she put makeup on my face.

I am so thankful for the blessings of the day I had yesterday.  I spent special, one-on-one time with two of our grandchildren and talked with and hugged the other three. I had meaningful conversations with two of our children, two of their spouses, my mother, both sisters, a sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, and my husband.  I feel a peace that completely passes any understanding I could have had in my youth.  I am aware of the perfect, total, and complete love that God has for me.

I am learning to love the skin I am in.

I just want to keep it moisturized.

Thankful Thursday

This is how I feel about cutting grass:

Somebody has to clean all this away.

somebody, SOMEBODY

has to, you see

Then she picked out a somebody 

and it was me.

        (paraphrase from The Cat In The Hat)

I have been a grass cutter since I was in the second grade.  Some years other people have had the primary responsibility to keep the yard mowed, but for most years since I was eight, I have been the lawn mowing queen.  Many times I have quoted those lines from Dr. Suess's book.  SOMEBODY has to do it.  Why not me?

I've had some great machines to work with, but none better than the Kubota with the 6 foot deck we use now.  If you don't mind the bumpy parts of the yard and keep the speed pretty high, all of the grass around here can be cut in about 3 1/2 hours.  That's not bad for the several acres that we try to keep well-groomed.

But, just because it is my responsibility to cut the grass and just because I have a great mower, it doesn't mean that I don't enjoy some help.

This week Daryl changed the blades, changed the oil, and did some other mechanical things I don't know a thing about.

Today he cut the grass.

That feels like love to me.  And I am so thankful.

Thankful Thursday

I had a flat tire yesterday.  That is only the second one I have had since Daryl and I got married.  32 years ago!  So, I've been blessed.  Of course, I'm talking about a flat tire on my truck.  If I was talking about the lawn tractor, it would be a different flat tire story entirely.  I have become proficient at using an air compressor on that crazy thing.

I was driving home on the interstate when I heard a loud roar.  My first thought was to look out the windows to see if there was a semi close by.  When I didn't see another truck, I thought of an airplane.  I was driving along a stretch of interstate that has corn fields on either side and sometimes a crop duster will fly low making his passes over the crops.  It wasn't an airplane, though, so the only other option was that it was me!

I quickly pulled off the interstate, got out and saw that one of the rear tires was as flat as a pancake.  I have no idea how I didn't feel it, but I didn't.  As quickly as I felt the aggravation of the circumstance, I began to feel immense gratitude and started counting my blessings.

#1.  As I was pulling off the highway, I had to go around a state trooper who had someone else pulled over. He was sitting in his gray SUV, blue lights flashing from several places on his truck.  Because he was there, traffic was pulling into the middle lane instead of zooming past in the lane closest to us.

#2.  Daryl answered my call to him on the first ring, and without any question he left his office and came right away to change the tire.  I am so grateful to him for his total willingness to help me.  And I'm thankful for the 8 other people I thought of who would have dropped everything to come help me had I needed them.

#3.  After the state trooper finished with the other car, he pulled up behind me.  He got out to see if I needed anything and looked at the tire.  When I told him that Daryl was on his way, he said that he would stay behind me so that I wouldn't get hit from behind.  He even offered to help change the tire.

#4.  Capital Tractor and six members of our family were only about two miles away so Daryl and I went there to pick up a bigger car jack.  They gave it to us gladly and would have all jumped in the truck to help if we needed them.

#5.  While Daryl was working on changing the tire I had two jobs.  My first job was to read the instruction manual from my truck to find out where the tire jack was and how to release the spare.  Since the trooper had moved on when we left to get the jack, my second job was to watch the traffic.  This was so I could let Daryl know if we were about to die.  He just wanted to know, I guess, because by the time I would have been able to see that a car was headed our way it would have been too late to get away.  I was so grateful for the many, many people who changed over into the middle lane.  I wanted to wave at them and blow kisses, but decided against that.

#6.  The spare tire was almost flat, wouldn't you know!  After it was on the truck I drove slowly to the nearest gas station.  When I pulled up beside the air hose, a truck driver standing there immediately asked if I needed air and offered to put it in for me.  Daryl drove up behind me, so I didn't need his help, but he offered his air gauge to us, too.

#7.  It was pretty hot standing out on the side of the interstate.  And even hotter for Daryl as he worked to change a tire.  But, the high on Saturday is predicted to be 103.  By comparison, 94 wasn't too bad.

So, on this Thursday I am thankful for the kindness of strangers and the love of family.  I was shown in a living story that I am not alone.

Not even close.

And, I'm thankful to God for the way he provides and the way he protects.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful that God made things...

Beautiful.

Toilet Wars

Today, I am so thankful that we are having carpet installed in our upstairs bedrooms.  It has been a long time coming and this is the realization of something Daryl and I have dreamed about for years.

With that said...

I see how dirty this toilet is, too.  I have known it was going to be replaced, but didn't think that I might take a picture of it.

We are also, having flooring installed in the bathrooms which includes removing the toilets for the day.  When we knew we would have to do that, we decided to buy a new toilet to replace the 40-year-old blue toilet in the guest bathroom.  


Daryl has a problem with laws about things like toilet tank size and he really doesn't like it that we are getting rid of a working 5-gallon tank toilet.

This was our conversation as we moved the 40-year-old blue toilet outside:

Daryl:  I'm not throwing this away until I am satisfied that a new one flushes right.

Me:  But this one isn't coming back in the house.

Daryl:  I'm not throwing this one away.

Me:  But this one isn't coming back in the house.

Daryl:  Well, all I know is that I'm not throwing this one away.

Me:  I guess you can use it outside, then.

Daryl:  I'm going to do an experiment.  I'm going to connect the tank to the downstairs toilet.  If it flushes better, I will replace the old tank with this one.

Me:  You think we are going to have a blue tank on that toilet downstairs?

Daryl:  No, I will take it somewhere and have it painted white.

Me:  The rest of the world is getting by with smaller tanks.  We can too.

Daryl:  I'm not throwing this one away.

I may need some help with this one.

Thankful Thursday

Last weekend Daryl and I had our first fire of the season.  That's a cause for celebration around here!  We enjoy fires outside in our little firepit and inside in our great big fireplace.

We grilled some hot dogs and listened to the Alabama football game on the radio.

I love fall!

And, I'm so thankful.

Thankful Thursday

It was just one of those day.

One of those days when you think life doesn't get any better than this.

First you have helpers to make the chocolate chip cookies,

watchers to watch the cookies cook,

and eaters to gobble them up.

Yep, I'm thankful!

Thankful Thursday

Today was our first tea party.

So we got dressed up, put on our pearls, and went to Minnie's.

For Sprite 'tea', jam thumbprint cookies, and strawberries.

Trampoline jumping, horse swing swinging, and a good nap.





















I'm so thankful!

Thankful Thursday

I have so much to be thankful for today!

Not the big things, but the little ones.

Like...

Air Conditioning

     One of our air conditioner units quit Tuesday evening.  When the repairman came yesterday he said that the capacitor had blown up.  I said, "That sounds like something out of Back to the Future."  And we had one of those moments when I realized that he is too young to have a clue about the flux capacitor and how that is what makes time travel possible.  He just smiled at me, kept walking, and I was left in the kitchen mumbling to myself.

Internet access in my house

     My modem has slowly been getting less and less reliable.  It quit on Monday so I called the satellite guys to come out and replace it.  For $150 they would replace only the modem with the same model I had.  Or for $100 more they would upgrade our whole system and install a new satellite dish.  I'm a sucker.  New everything for me, please.

Cut grass
     Around here we have a 'fix-it-yourself' mentality, so it was more than a little strange for there to be two repairmen at the house at the same time.   Daryl came home from work early to see if he needed to help with the air conditioner repair.  He didn't, but it still left him here earlier than normal.  Instead of just relaxing on the couch, he went outside and cut some of the grass for me!

Fall can't be far away
     Walnut trees have a very short growing season.  They are some of the last trees to get their leaves and around the end of July the leaves begin to fall.

A walnut before it falls

This was the driveway about a week ago.  Yesterday the road was covered in leaves.  I love fall so much that it makes me giddy!

I'm so thankful.

Thankful Thursday

The one year anniversary of Mom's ovarian cancer surgery was yesterday.  That time was sad and frightening and exhausting and full of new experiences.  We all would rather have lived without the hard things.  During this time, though, there were so many things to be thankful for.

family prayers via Skype

yarn to keep my hands and mind busy

a sister to crochet with

friends who brought bagels from Panera Bread

so many people who came to the hospital to share their love with Dad

a doctor who looks like Pippi Longstocking

Mom's flower beds that kept blooming while she was fighting in the hospital

beautiful Oklahoma sunsets

being able to help Mom

compassionate nurses

neighbors who really care

a sister who will drive all night - to sit at the hospital all night

phone calls from loved ones in Alabama

nurses who will sit and comfort you in a dark hospital room, then make you a cup of coffee

and the biggest reason to be thankful today,

Mom is doing well!

Thankful Thursday

Last week Jonathan, Lily, and I did something we have never done together, but I hope we will do lots more in the future - we went to the movies!  All three of us were VERY excited.  It was their first time at a movie theater so the whole experience was very new.  On the way I heard some great conversation in the back seat....

Lily:  Jonathan, at the movie the TV is as big as the WHOLE WALL!!!

Jonathan:  Ooohhhh!

Lily:  Minnie, I'm wearing Minnie Mouse panties!

Me:  That's great, Lily

Lily:  Girls wear panties, boys wear underwear.

Jonathan:  That's right, Lily.

Lily:  My daddy wears underwear.

Jonathan:  And I wear underwear.  Let's think of something to talk about.  Let's talk about trees.  Look, I see some trees as big as mountains!

Lily:  Yeah!!

This picture is poor quality, but so funny to me.  It is also sweet, but mostly funny.  The picture I took before this one was too dark and Lily told Jonathan that he wasn't smiling.  I caught this one as she was making sure that his smile was okay!

We went to see Winnie the Pooh, but couldn't find any posters or signs of that movie.  They liked the Lion King sign, anyway.

After the movie we met PawPaw at IHOP where both kids got smiley face pancakes.  Gotta love that!

While we were eating, we had my favorite conversation of them all.

Daryl:  Was this the first time you went to see a movie?
J&L:  Yes, sir!
Jonathan:  And this is the first time I have been to IHOP!
Lily:  Thank you for bringing us!
Jonathan:  Oh yes, thank you!
Daryl:  Well, this is a really good day, isn't it?
Jonathan:  Yes, sir!
Lily:  And we're all together.

Yes, we were.  And I'm so thankful.

Thankful Thursday

I have been doing some cleaning out in our basement.  Some of what is down there is storage for things we need.  Like the oversized griddle I rarely use, suitcases, books that are waiting for that new bookcase I hope to get soon.  Stuff like that :)

We have boxes of saved momentos, too.  In those boxes are a KFC napkin from our honeymoon, some of Jackie's old stuffed animals, school papers from everyone, and an old pair of cowboy boots.

 
Today I was reminded of why I believe in keeping some things.  While looking through a box of random items, I found an old, small jar that had been on Mama Skaggs' dresser.  In the jar is her old hairnets, a piece of paper with the address of a Vallie Mullins in Chugiak, Alaska, some buttons, and this ring.

It is tiny and barely fits on my pinky finger.  I don't know anything about this little heart ring, except that it used to be plated in 18 carat gold.  I can see that mark on the inside.  I will ask my parents if they know anything about it, but today the details didn't matter.

The memories that looking through her little storage jar brings are very dear and very sweet.  Mama Skaggs was a good grandmother to me.  My life is richer today because of the memories we made together.  I am thankful that she was a part of my life.  And I am thankful for the little ring that made me think of her today.

Thankful Thursday

Last week I woke up knowing that two of our grandchildren were coming to play with me.  And so I did what all good grandmothers do - I mopped the floors.  Don't you hate it when your grandkid's knees and socks get all grimy and all they did was play on your floor?  Well, I got the floors clean and not just two, but FIVE grandkids came to play!  Two stayed for the day, and three for just a little while, but I was able to corral them into one chair for a photo shoot.

When I see them all together I feel so blessed.

But when I look into each child's face and see them as the person that they are and the person they will be, I am so full of love.  That is one of the great blessings of being a grandparent.  We have been through a cycle of watching a baby grow into an adult.  So now I can look at Daniel, or Bella, or Lily, or Bennett, or Jonathan and have a real glimpse of who they will be when they are 10 and 20 and 30.  I don't just love the little person they are now.  I love the adult they will become.

And I am thankful for them all.

Thankful Thursday

This morning when I opened the door to go for a walk I was greeted by a beautiful fog.

The foggy garden

I don't know what this weed is, but I think I will go back and cut some to mix in with the roses in a vase.  It looks a little like babies breath.

There is a little farming going on out on Greer Farm this week.  Imagine that!

Headed back home

Deer tracks, but didn't see a deer

The sun trying to break through

Back to the garden

Living out of town like we do is a lot more messy and a little more complicated than living in a neighborhood, but I am thankful that the things that matter most to me about home are all found here.  

P.S  After I posted this I went outside to cut a little grass and tend to the animals.  

SO... I noticed that one little chicken had escaped from her pen so I tried to catch her, was unsuccessful, went back and forth out of the horse pen trying to "show her the way home", left the horse gate open on one of those times, Midnight got out, finally got the chick back in her home, went to get Midnight, he said "no, thank you" to coming back home, I said, "you wait until your dad gets home, " he changed his mind, I put him in the fence.  

Good thing this is "thankful Thursday" or I'd be having some ungrateful thoughts!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for small things.

And sometimes it is just the small things that make me giggle - out loud by myself - that can help make a day happy!

Have a happy Thursday!

A wedding, a baptism, and a funeral

Last weekend was one spent with family.  Close family, extended family, and family friends.  The reasons we were together were varied.  Grandchildren spent the night with us so their parents could be alone together, the daughter of friends was married, nieces were baptized, an uncle was buried.

I am thankful for people we love and that we get together during the events in our lives.  Big events like weddings and funerals and small things like a night out.  We celebrate as family and we grieve as family.

Sunday evening Joy, Bell, and their cousin, Scarlett, were baptized in Ellen's pool.  It was a real celebration!  The girls were so happy and excited.

Bell, Scarlet, John, & Joy before their baptism.

Ellen and Joseph led the music

 Lily and Pappy reading the words to the songs.

It was really cool for a May evening and the girls warmed up by the fire.

Ben and Bennett.  Mary and Don in the background.

 Ellen, Daryl and Bennett

Mary, Savannah, Marilyn, and Jacob.  Between Mary and Savannah is a drawing of Savannah when she was a little girl.  So cute!

Thanks, Anna and Betsy, for allowing all of us to be a part of such a happy day!

Thankful Thursday

I found an old camera a few weeks ago and today I got the card out of it and loaded it on my computer.  On that card were some pictures of our trip to Rome that we took last year.

While there we went to St. Peter's Basilica and saw, what is now, my favorite piece of art, Michelangelo's Pieta.  The Pieta depicts Mary holding the body of Jesus after the crucifixion.

A little trivia about his Pieta:

It is the only sculpture that Michelangelo signed.  He had gone to view it, along with many others, and overhead people saying that it was the work of another sculptor.   So he went in at night and carved "Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florentine, made this" across a sash on Mary's chest.

I am amazed at how someone can carve stone to look like draping fabric and muscle.  But I'm in awe at how an artist can convey such intense emotion as a mother's love and grief.

I'm thankful to have been there to experience this.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for this little piece of organization for several reasons:

1.  My sister made it!  Thanks, sis!

2.  Until she gave it to me, my crochet hooks and knitting needles were scattered all over the world.

3.  Now I know that I can stop buying size "I" crochet hooks.  You can only use one at a time and I have four.  Until they were organized, I was unaware of this.

4.  Taking this picture out in my yard reminded me of how bad my burweed problem is.  As if I needed to be reminded....

Thankful Thursday

\

Today I'm thankful for

short walks

mothers

sisters

health

and

being together.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for rainy days.

There are so many things that can't be done while it is raining outside.  My list is narrowed down to inside projects and those can be numerous, too.  But the rain outside asks me to slow down a bit.  Look out the window some.  Enjoy a warm fire.  Drink a cup of hot tea.  Bake something made with yeast.

Roll in the mud.  Eat some grass.

We're all different out here, but we're all thankful!