the fullness of love...

GLORY and praise

to you, Risen Savior,

for you bring

light to our darkness,

joy to our sorrow,

and the fullness of love

to our reluctant hearts.

                                                                --Guideposts

I’ve always loved Easter. When I was growing up, Easter Sunday meant my two sisters and I got new dresses (which we then wore every Sunday all Spring and Summer long) and new white shoes. (Easter Sunday was the day we switched from black shoes to white. I still think that way. Winter white? No. Can. Do. I’m too old and set in my ways. Black comes back the day after Labor Day. I didn’t make those ancient rules. I simply still follow them.) Many years we got hats, purses and little white gloves.(Our brother got a new bow tie. Shirt. Pants. Shoes. Clearly boys got the raw end of the Easter Fashion Deal.)

I also adored the egg hunts! At home. Church. School. I was always that nice child who wanted to make sure everyone got several eggs. (Despite the fact that I sure did want all the good candy I could get my hands on…) THANK GOODNESS, as time has gone on, more people do the plastic eggs filled with stickers, candy, even money, and less of the dyed hard-boiled eggs. Don’t get me wrong: I love me some hard-boiled eggs. Just not when they’re tie-dyed and have been sitting in the sun for a long-ish time…YUCK.

As TLC grew up (Her youngest older brother was 8 when she was born—the others were 15, 17 and 18—so her Four Bubbas were well past any interest in The Easter Bunny.), we had several Easter Sunday egg hunts with my sister’s two children—my nephew and niece. Our church didn’t have many young children—so those egg hunts were for all the kids from 0-14. Therefore, the teeny tots were at a complete disadvantage. TLC typically got angry about her lack of egg loot. Anger. After Easter Sunday service. Not what you want to deal with the rest of the day.

I'm certain Little Leighton (aka LL) and Baby Elle went to bed tonight excited about all the goodies The Easter Bunny will bring them in the morning. Well, Little Leighton is pumped. Baby Elle? Let’s just say at two years old she’s on the verge of understanding the concept (The LIES…???) about Santa Claus and The Easter Bunny. She doesn’t exactly comprehend why she’s getting new stuff/toys/etc. However, she’s ALL IN.

A couple of weeks ago, TLC showed LL the dress she wanted her to wear to church tomorrow. Little Leighton flat refused. It's a beautiful blue smocked dress I'd found for her, on sale, at the end of the summer season last year. It is truly the quintessential Easter outfit. Unfortunately for her Mama, she has definite opinions about what she wants to wear and this particular dress was NOT it. I told TLC I’d find her another dress—an "unsmocked" one. Which I did. This past Thursday at the Ft. Worth Dillard's. On my way to TLC’s. The sweetest, flowery Laura Ashley dress. LL immediately approved when she saw it!

Baby Elle will be wearing a pretty pink smocked dress, with the most precious little bunnies in the smocked area. It was LL’s when she was 3. (Yes. This means Baby Elle, at 2, is built a bit chunkier than LL. LL was diagnosed at 2 with Celiac and underweight for two more years. It's only been in the past year that she's beginning to catch up to where she should be on the weight chart.) And, hopefully, Baby Elle will be wearing the blue-smocked dress in a year or two. That sure is the great thing about sisters! Hand-me-downs. Not so great for the younger one. True. Except the blue dress will literally be new. 

These two precious sisters are actually quite different in many ways. Baby Elle is much more physical than LL ever was. More adventurous. Less shy. A bit sassier. Little Leighton is energetic...in a dance-y kind of way. Loves to sing. Color. Draw. MUST read. NEEDS books. We celebrate each difference with respect, laughter and love. (Okay. Yes, we occasionally roll our eyes with complete frustration at Baby Elle's antics. She is often an enigma. Like her Pa-Pa.) Baby Elle has no clue she can refuse to wear this dress. Not yet. She will. She watches everything Big Sister does. Listens to everything Little Leighton says. It's coming. TLC will be (semi) prepared. It's inevitable.

LL and Baby Elle have two egg hunts tomorrow. (They’ve already gone to their church egg hunt—it was last Sunday afternoon. Smart church. IMHO.) They've got the one at their house first thing in the morn and then one after lunch at TLC’s Hubby’s parents’ home. With cousins. They’ll have a big-time Easter Sunday Blast. I pray these memories are immensely happy ones for the rest of their precious lives. I have nice Easter memories. Any growing-up church memory I have? From Christmas to Easter Sunday and everything in between? My Nana. She cherished going to church. She was a good Christian woman and a tremendous role model.

Wishing each of you the Most Joyous Easter Sunday! I’m hoping we ALL remember the true reason for this Amazing Day…

Big Bunny Hugs,

ELC

perky gorillas...

Yep. No Tuesdays with TLC yesterday. Bless her heart. The road to y-all-know-where is paved with good intentions. Not that that’s where TLC is headed! Hopefully. Maybe she'll be able to post next Tuesday. (I'm not holding my breath, Friends. Winky. Wink.)

Meantime, life goes on out here in the country. I was actually going to TLC’s casa yesterday morning. For one night. The weatherpeeps skeered me. They were calling for possibly severe storms, heavy winds, quarter-sized hail from Monday night until this evening  and I had to cancel. My Highlander is not quite a year old. IF I can avoid hail damage—I try to! (As it turned out, we got heavier and more rain than TLC. It was not the extreme weather the TV peeps were predicting. What's new? )

I was going because TLC was to see a doctor in Plano. She'd rescheduled the appointment from two months ago. When something happened and she had to cancel. Although I felt guilty that I seemed to be placing my car over my daughter and Her Precious Princesses (I was actually concerned with both my safety and TLC's. Truly.), in the end, everything worked out for the best. Little Leighton (aka LL aka Biscuit) had a low-grade fever when she woke up and is suffering from her one-thousandth cold of this school year. TLC kept her home. My inability to come and be Grammy Nanny inspired TLC to decide to find a doctor closer to home. (I believe her Mama had suggested this months ago…)

I’m now going tomorrow morning and spending the night. All’s well that ends well!

Y’all know I am the BIGGEST FAN of My Sweet Hubby (MSH). For so many reasons. Not the least of which is his OCDness—(clearly where TLC got hers)—when it comes to keeping our home clean, organized and lovely.  He's mucho better than me about this. Anyone can look in his closet any day of the week any hour of the day. It is immaculate. For almost 40 years, he's always been ready, willing and able to make our bed. With me or without my assistance. (We both want it done EVERY MORNING. Period. It’s a must.) He knows I’m hugely picky about the way all of the pillows are arranged. Honestly? He does a dern decent job of getting them 97% the way I like them!

This morning, while we were making it, he said, with a serious look on his handsome face:

“My pillows seem to be a bit perkier than yours.”

He meant his pillows were sitting up “straighter” against our headboard.

It was a “Little Fruitcake” (This is TLC’s affectionate term she uses A LOT for her Dad.) moment. It made me giggle. It also meant I had to make my side of pillows “perkier.” Which, of course, I gladly did.

After TLC took Biscuit to school, she called me. She was heading to Baby Elle’s two-year checkup with their pediatrician. (WWHHHAAAATTTTT?????? Two-Year CHECKUP. STOP IT, Father Time. IMMEDIATELY.) She wanted to tell me about the dream (Dream? Or nightmare?) Biscuit had last night. Biscuit had told her what she remembered as they ate breakfast.

(And, let me share this: TLC has spent her entire life having the cRaZiEsT dreams. I mean completely off-the-chain NUTS. Most of the time we can figure out what has happened in her life that’s made her dream such silly/insane stuff. Sometimes, though, it is completely mysterious. Biscuit seems to be following her Mom’s trend of having wild dreams and remembering them. At least long enough to tell someone about them.)

So LL said she was at our country casa. She and MSH and I were all walking over to our Barn (She was carrying a little stuffed giraffe she loves...) to put our cat, Hunter, up for the night. (Hunter cannot come into our home or into the Barn apartment. He’s too out-of-control when it comes to clawing at any and everything—particularly furniture. I caught him soon after we adopted him, last year from the Humane Society, attempting to destroy MSH's camo chair in his office in the Barn apartment one afternoon as I cleaned said apartment. He was permanently banned from any inside visits. He loves it outside so don't worry about him! Also, we adore him.) We put him up every night inside the Barn where he has his food, lots of fresh water, is warm and/or cool, and can roam free, being safe from country critters like bobcats, foxes, owls, etc., that would like to eat him for dinner. Or breakfast.

Near our Barn, we have a small grove of live oak trees that occur naturally in a half-circle. We’ve got a seating area and firepit in that cozy area. LL said as we got close to the Barn, we saw several gorillas in those trees. GORILLAS. (She has recently been to the Ft. Worth Zoo.) She and I ran into the apartment—locking the doors. MSH ran with Buddy Bear the Dog and Hunter the Cat into the Barn, pulling that door down fast. All of us were trying to get away from one of the gorillas that had come down from the trees to chase us! (She thought he was mad because he didn't like giraffes.) He (And I'm saying “he.” You know. Just because. I think LL told her Mom "He.") was banging on the door and windows of the apartment trying to get in! Apparently to get that pesky giraffe.

Then LL woke up.

I asked TLC if she seemed afraid/freaked out/worried. She said no. Biscuit relayed the dream quite matter-of-factly. Laughing a bit at the end.

Trust me: We have no gorillas here. Only perky pillows.

Hope Y’all are having a Wonderful Wednesday…wherever in this World Y’all are!

(Extra-Perky) Hugs and Smooches,

ELC

wide and long and high and deep...

I don’t know why this happens:

I’m completely and totally exhausted. I’ve taken either my melatonin or an Advil PM. I simply cannot stay awake to read even two pages of my current book. But the moment I put my book back on my nightstand, take my glasses off and turn off my light? I’m wide awake. And thinking some terrible/scary things. WHY?

This occurs at least once a week. Sometimes two to three times a week. Happened last night. I had to turn my light back on. Put my glasses back on. Pick up my book, again, for about five more minutes. Read two more pages and I was fading fast. Finally, sleep came.

This morning, this is what I opened and read... from Jesus Lives, by Sarah Young:

 

FEAR

I MYSELF GO BEFORE YOU—OPENING UP THE WAY. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Therefore, you need not be afraid or discouraged. I realize, though, that feelings often fail to submit to logic. So don’t be surprised when your emotions rebel against your will. David—who was both a mighty warrior and a gifted poet—expressed fearfulness, trembling, and even overwhelming horror in one of his psalms. Yet his trust in Me was genuine and deep. His life and his writing demonstrate that fear does not “trump” trust: They can coexist. This is why David could proclaim, “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”

Trust is a relationship word. It’s one of the prime ways you can draw near Me. When you are afraid, don’t blame yourself for having that very human emotion. Instead, acknowledge what you are feeling; then affirm your trust in Me—out loud or in a whisper. This affirmation protects you from the lie that feeling fearful means you don’t trust Me. Even better, it brings you consciously into My Presence, where you can find comfort and hope. The Light of My Presence illuminates the vast dimensions of My Love for you—empowering you to grasp how wide and long and high and deep My Love is, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge.

 

[I pray that you] may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

EPHESIANS 3:18-19

 

Let's all whisper Christ’s name when we're afraid. I'm crossing my fingers this is the SWEETEST Sunday for each of you…Wherever in this World Y'all are!

Amen.

ELC

gasoline...glitches...gifts

FRIDAY

 

IS MY SECOND FAVORITE

 

F WORD.

 

MY FIRST IS FOOD.

 

DEFINITELY FOOD.

 

(from Pinterest…lovethispic.com)

This. Week. Full of FUN. Driving/Traveling/Family. I. Am. Pooped. (Tomorrow morn? One more car-trippin’ day to see Little Leighton play in her second-ever soccer game!)

So Sunday was Baby Elle’s 2^nd Birthday Celebration! At a lovely park near TLC’s casa. A small group of family. Baby Elle? Not sure she really had much of a clue what was actually happening. She does adore her swings and slides and cupcakes/frosting/sugar/sprinkles!

My Sweet Hubby (MSH) headed home before I did. He left from the park. I rode with my sister, Ginny (I have two sisters. I’m the oldest. Ginny is in the middle. Lucy is the youngest. We have a brother, J.D., that comes right after moi in our Birth Order.), to TLC’s casa to watch Baby Elle open her gifts. Ginny and I left around 5:00, deciding we’d stop for a little bit o’dinner on the way to mi country casa.

Sadly, the restaurant I suggested we go to didn’t happen. I’ve passed it 100 times—or more—since it was built. Which was about two years ago. But I’ve never had to figure out what exit to take off the freeway. We missed it.(After getting off twice because I thought we were at the right place.) My next idea was to go to a restaurant in Weatherford. (Where we got a basket of fried green beans! And fried corn nuggets! With ranch dressing. We were very, very bad.)

After also consuming two quite large grilled chicken salads, we headed west—and then south—to get to my house and get comfy. Jammies were calling our names.

Ginny was going to stay with us two nights. On Monday, we were going to Hico for shopping and lunch.

Then…this…

GLITCH! TLC texted me as Ginny and I recapped the day and before we drug semi-old bodies to bed that LL’s soccer practice was going to be changed to Monday or Friday—from Tuesday. The coach was going to have to be out of town on Tuesday. She picked Friday—when she knew Her Hubby (HH) would be home and she could keep Baby Elle  while LL ran and ran. And ran. (I was actually going back on Tuesday afternoon—to stay with Baby Elle before the practice was changed.) Because HH was leaving early to go out of town, TLC hinted she’d love for Ginny and I to come back to her house to spend Monday night and take care of Baby Elle while she took LL to practice 

We agreed. It was just above and beyond kind of Ginny. She takes care of her four granddaughters—one or two or three or all four at a time—dang near 5 out of 7 days a week. So this little short trip was to be for BIG PEEPS ONLY.

We got back to TLC’s at 2:00ish. As it turned out? Soccer practice was pushed to late this afternoon. Therefore, Ginny and I got to play and read and laugh with LL and Baby Elle Monday afternoon and evening. Have dinner with them. Help put them to bed. We stayed up WAY TOO LATE chatting with TLC that night. (At midnight, I screamed: IT’S MIDNIGHT! We have GOT TO GET TO BED!)

Tuesday morn, Ginny headed by 8:30am to her home (Wichita Falls) and I stayed at TLC’s until 1:00pm. Ish.

Wednesday, MSH and I got up early and headed to Waco! We’d been invited to see the FABULOUS new home Autumn and Hubby had just completed. It’d taken over a year for it to be finished. Y’all—I told her mucho many times in about three hours: “You could take JoJo and Chip’s place on Fixer Upper!” Autumn is BEYOND talented, gifted, creative. BEYOND. Her new casa has the most amazing floor plan and exquisite details. Every inch was thought out painstakingly by Autumn and built with pride. It is BEAUTIFUL. It should seriously be in a magazine.  

After our “tour,” we followed them to TSTC—a tech college a few miles from their home. They have a Chef/Restaurant School! We had lunch in an elegant dining room—staffed by students. Ate a 5-star meal prepared by…yep…students! It was FANTASTIC. Priced VERY reasonably. Quite memorable. MSH and I are determined to go back asap.

MSH and I said goodbye to our dear and long-time cherished friends and headed north. On our way, we did exit off 35 (HELL HIGHWAY...pure HELL...pardon my French) for downtown Waco to see The Magnolia Silos. We decided not to get out and browse on this trip. (We needed to get Bubby Bear out of boarding before our Vet closed and he got more depressed.) I’m not sure I can get MSH back to The Silos. I will definitely strive to make another trip to see what kind of shopping damage I can do. (I also must have one of Jo’s famous cupcakes. Period.)

Yesterday, MSH and I had to make a journey to one of our doctors in Ft. Worth. For MSH. He was prepared for a procedure that would require stitches and a return visit in ten days. HAPPY NEWS! No stitches required. Procedure was a fast success.

We had lunch. We got my Highlander detailed. We shopped for a bit at the nearby Costco. We were home by 3:30 and I was in my jammies and a mild coma on our davenport by 4:00!

Today we went to Granbury! Apparently, we didn’t think we should give our vehicles—or ourselves—a day off. I went to a new salon for a delightful pedi while MSH did our grocery shopping! What could be better??? Nothing. Well, okay. Maybe a JoJo cupcake.

I’ve been piddlin’ since we got home about 1:30. Tomorrow morning we leave—AGAIN—EARLY—for LL’s soccer game! We’ll pick up my mom and baby sister (Lucy), watch the game, go back for my dad, and have lunch at a place they enjoy and that MSH and I have never been to. We’ve heard it’ll be a delicious experience. We should be home by 3:00. I’ll be on the davenport, once again, by 3:05.

Sunday will TRULY be A Day of Rest for this Grammy…

Hope Y’all are EXCITED it’s Fri-Yay! And that your weekend is full of (safe!) shenanigans!

Hugs and Smooches,

ELC

 

18--vol 3...

Late this morn, My Sweet Hubby and I are heading East to CELEBRATE Baby Elle’s second birthday! With several other family members. She won’t actually be two for a few more days. But this day made the most sense for TLC and her Gang and our families. So CELEBRATE we SHALL!

I’m positive TLC wishes she could be writing this post. In fact, that’s how we planned it. She’d do eighteen things she TREASURES about her second child. Y’all know our yadayadayada story/excuse: Life gets in the way of our good intentions. We both realized she was super strapped for time.

ENTER…MOI! Grammy can’t post pictures like TLC would have done. (TLC can do a few for me soon.) I can, however, give you…

Eighteen (18) Things I ADORE about Baby Elle (aka Belle):

 

1. Her sweet, funny, precious spirit! From the moment she was born, we all knew she was going to be very different from her older sister (Little Leighton—aka LL). Feistier. Yes—Wilder.
2. Her energy! Y’all may recall LL wasn’t a very…what’s the word…physical infant/baby/toddler. In fact, she didn’t sit up on her own until she was nearly a year old. We, lovingly, called her The Happy Sitter—because you could move her around the house all day long and sit her anywhere on any floor and she’d be happy for quite some time. She was getting restless? No problem. Pick her up and move her again! She was sixteen months old before she started walking. Even after that milestone, we never worried about her climbing up on things. Jumping down off things. Running much of anywhere. Belle, ontheotherhand, was a ball of fire and movement from the time she was in her Mommy’s tummy! She did everything physical much earlier than LL ever did. To this day? You can watch her little eyes/brain constantly looking around and trying to figure out where she’s going next. What she’s going to try to get up on/in to. We (tenderly) call her The Tornado. She is EXHAUSTING. In the very best way possible.
3. Her love for Her Big Sis! She looks at LL with complete and sincere amazement/admiration. She watches LL. She listens to her. She has from the time she was born. Don’t get me wrong. She fights with LL over toys. Space. Food. If she wants it? She’s going to get it. And hold onto it until the bitter end. Through all of that drama? Her Big Sister reigns SUPREME.
4. Her laughter. Her giggles. Her silliness. And, trust me: She completely knows she’s being ridiculous!
5. Her manners. From the time she could start saying “Tank ou, Mama…” “Tank ou, Daddy…” “Tank ou, Gwammy…” “Tank ou, Pa-Pa…”, she became the most polite toddler I’ve ever known. And that includes her Mama—who was pretty dadgum polite but sometimes had to be reminded to give thanks to someone. And Her Big Sister. Heck, possibly, me! She thanks everyone around her for something only one person has really done for her. It’s beyond cute.
6. “God bless you, Gwammy.” When someone sneezes or coughs? She is the first to say: “God bless you!” Again, the most polite child ever.
7. The fantastic way she naps and sleeps at night! LL? She was like her Mama. Not a good napper. Not a good night-time sleeper. In fact, she really didn’t sleep in her crib for more than a couple of hours at a time. We’d all finally just give in and put her in bed with us. It was the only way we could get any sleep. (TLC? The same. Exactly the same.) Now, in LL’s defense? Two things: (1) We have no way of knowing when Celiac disease starting affecting Little Leighton. Could have been very early on. She was two when she was diagnosed. At 2? TLC and Her Hubby bought a pretty Pottery Barn bed for LL—called it a “Princess” bed—and LL started sleeping in it right away. Has been a decent/GOOD SLEEPER since then! (2) Belle actually didn’t start off as a great sleeper. In fact, TLC hired an expert (a well-known New Orleans’ pediatrician) to Facetime with her one night to give her advice on how to help Baby Elle overcome her infant sleeping issues. Whether it was this doctor’s expertise or Belle simply being ready to start sleeping better, it happened. In the past few weeks? We’ve all noticed how Belle scooches into a corner of her crib with her Bunny Lovie (she calls “DeeDee”) and three pacifiers (she calls BaaBaas). She stays in the corner for most of her naps and her nights. It makes us smile.
8. Her hair! Especially when she wakes up from a nap or in the mornings! It. Is. WILD. Which she thinks is FUNNY. Also, those little pink glasses. I mean, seriously, Friends. Are they the MOST PRECIOUS?
9. Her love of fruit chews! You know—those little packages of sweet things that are made by companies that try to convince us they’re healthy because they have a teeny percentage of fruit juice in them? Right. Anyway, from the time TLC could give them to Baby Elle without cutting each of them up into several pieces, she has craved them. She is OBSESSED. She’d eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and her morning and afternoon snacks. She literally will look at you—every hour on the hour—and, with the sweetest little voice and expression—say: “Fruit chews, Gwammy? Fruit Chews?” It breaks my heart when I have to either pretend I didn’t hear her or think of something to distract her/change the subject. Or, God forbid, say “No, Belle. No fruit chews. You’ve already had two packages today.” She basically likes about six foods at this point in her little life. Which completely frustrates Her Mama. Fruit Chews are absolutely #1 on Baby Belle’s List of Preferred Foods.
10. Her curiosity! Yes, most every toddler is curious about everything. I get it. She is hyper-curious! Trust me. This Little Princess picks up everything. Looks at everything. Wants to take everything apart. Holds on to the weirdest things until she finally puts them down and you retrieve them and hide them. We call her a little wackadoodle about this idiosyncrasy.
11. Her running! Everywhere. All. Day. Long. Yes. This goes along with her physicalness. Yet, it’s also separate. Because even when she should be exhausted? She runs. One of my sisters can do the BEST impression of Belle running. It’s fast, sort of sideways and full of utter abandon. I LOVE watching Belle—even as we all try to protect her from injuring herself.
12. The fact that she calls LL’s teachers by their last name. There is not the required “Mrs.” in front of either one of them. Just their last names. Like Belle thinks their last names are actually their first names. They think she is a hoot. I agree!
13. The fact she’s never afraid to tell someone: “NO.” Whether it’s me trying to get her to eat something she doesn’t intend to eat—“No, Gwammy. No.”—or whether it’s her Mama telling her not to continue to do something she’s doing. She is not afraid to say: “NO.” Yes, her Mama occasionally puts her in Time-Out for this choice. Still…this grandmother must hide her laughter.
14. Her dancing! And singing! She is cRaZy about the movies Frozen and Sing! Mostly Sing! “Mom Pig, Gwammy? Watch Mom Pig?” She would watch Sing all day. Every day. Every night. 24/7. Yes. Mama TLC and Big Sister LL get weary of starting this movie over. And over. And over. Grammy thinks it’s priceless and they should simply CHILL. Winky. Wink.
15. “Okay, Gwammy!” When she says “Okay?” Her little shoulders rise and her adorable little voice gets higher and she smiles. It melts my heart.
16. Her love of people! She is quite interested in knowing all her family members and friends. If you’re lucky? She’ll go to you pretty quick. She’ll let you hold her hand. Yes. This could possibly be a challenge for us all in the future—teaching her to be extremely careful about whom she trusts. We’ll be working on that every day for a long time, I fear. But, for now, as we watch her every second like hawks—it’s nice! Little Leighton was always very skeptical of everyone. She still is shy/reserved/slow to warm up to people. Belle? Completely opposite.
17. Her love of: Daniel Tiger and Baby Margaret. Peppa Pig. Olaf from Frozen. Full House! If TLC—or Nanny Grammy—needs a few minutes to get a meal together or to get some fast chores done? Put on one of Baby Elle’s favourite TV shows and she’s good for 15-25 minutes!
18. My MOST FAVOURITE thing about Baby Elle? She’s here! Making our lives full of spunk. Sass. Giggles. JOY! She’s a force to be reckoned with. Already. At two. Watch Out World!

God bless each of Y’all on this Wonderful Sunday—wherever in this World Y’all are!

(Thanks for your patience!)

Hugs,

ELC

tuesdays with TLC...

So, we're Spring Breakin' this week. Baby Elle and I are actually flying solo (duo?) while Little Leighton is visiting Grammy ELC and Pa-Pa at their Country Casa for a few days. We miss her so much but know she is having a BALL.

While LL has been gone, we've run a few errands, played at the park and been to Target. Twice.

I plan to be back to my regularly scheduled programming next week! We've started discussing our summer vacation this year, and I thought I might give y'all some insight into the challenges we face as a Celiac Family when traveling.

Happy day, everyone!

it's a small world...

TLC WILL BE BACK! Someday. Hopefully next Tuesday. Right, TLC? (Repeat after me, TLC: Yes, Mom. I will post on Tuesday. Cross my heart.)

Meantime? Y’all have moi. Again.

So y’all know we have our place for sale. (It doesn’t matter how many times I type this or talk about it: IT. IS. DEVASTATING. If ONLY I could win the Powerball. I’d hire someone to live in our very cute—just the truth—many people confirm this—Barn Apartment/Guest Cottage to be here every day to keep an eye on it and feed and take care of Hunter the Cat and I’d buy an exquisite lakehouse somewhere near TLC and Her Little Princesses. I’d buy My Sweet Hubby (aka MSH) and Buddy Boo Bear (aka BBB) a $300,000 motor home. PLUS, I’d hire someone to drive them anywhere they wanted to go! Then we’d come back to Our Country Casa every 2-3 weeks and take in all of the beauty.

Until I win that Powerball? Our Country Casa is for sale. DAMMITALL.

Speaking of Buddy Boo Bear: As y’all may remember, we adopted him. Eight years ago. His owner’s Mom said he was 4 years old. We think he was actually 5. We hoped he’d be mostly an outdoor dog—coming in when it was super cold or super hot. No such luck. He had his own recliner at his previous owner’s home. After his (HORRID) heartworm treatment (Yes. He had heartworm. It cost us a small fortune to have him treated, but our Vet said he knew he’d be okay because he was a strong dog. He’s been healthy ever since. Well, he has to take thyroid meds. And he’s a bit overweight. And he has acid reflux. Still—he’s 90% healthy! Especially for a dog his age.), we had to put books on our couch and beds so he wouldn’t jump up on them. He stopped. He has been a fixture in our master bedroom ever since. (I listen to MSH and BBB BOTH snore. It’s great! Winky. Wink.)

When we’re about to show our casa and place? We must leave BBB OUTSIDE or in our garage.  While we clean and vacuum. To be honest? He is the reason we must vacuum our home every other day. Truthfully? We could do it morning and night. (We is old. We simply don’t have that kind of energy.) God love and bless him.

When he’s outside? This is what he does. He goes from window. To door. To window. Looking pathetic. Semi-frantic. It is quite sad. Hunter the Cat? Couldn’t be happier when BBB has to stay outside for a couple of hours. Follows him everywhere. Hunter loves BBB. BBB tolerates Hunter.

Yesterday morning, while we were waiting for a local realtor to get to our casa with her prospective buyers, I was checking each room. It hit me. I’ve taken THOUSANDS of pictures in 18 years in and around our casa. But I’d never taken close ups of things I truly love and will desperately miss. My vanity:

It’s not fancy marble. The sink probably should be replaced. I TREASURE my vanity chair and the fact I can sit at my makeup mirror to put on my “face-for-the-world” every day. (TLC has a vanity chair now and can sit to do her makeup! That was a BIG thing for her in her third house since she got married.)

This is what I look at as I do my makeup. Every day. Every week. Every month. Every year. (I’ve changed out the flowers a couple of times. When they’re on sale at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s and when they’re “sticky” from my oodles and gobs of hairspray.) I will desperately miss my bathroom.

This is our fireplace. I do have hundreds of pictures of our fireplace. 99% of said pictures have people in them. (I wouldn’t take $300,000 for those pictures, either. They are full of people I adore.) The mantle? Made from a tree that was on our place when we bought it. Crud. Now I have to stop for a tidbit to wipe away my tears. Sigh.

This pot o’ pansies? They’re right out our front door. MSH potted them for me five months ago. We truly forget to water them. They make me smile. (And remind me of My Nana. She loved pansies!)

The couple that came? Let me just say this: It is a SMALL world. Turned out we know her sister! VERY. WELL. I met her over 40 years ago. IN FACT, I met this woman at a baby shower for her sister! They loved our place. (Y’all would to. It might not be what you needed or wanted. Still…you would love it. Our view would ROCK your WORLD. Trust me on this.)

Who knows if they’ll submit a contract? I don’t. God knows. I don't. MSH and I stay in peace throughout this process. Thy Will Be Done. (Also, our casa stays mostly clean. Which is lovely.)

Y’all have a WONDERFUL Weekend—Wherever in this World Y’all are! (Look around Your World and focus on all of the things that make your heart happy!)

smooch,

ELC

a very broken world...

From Jesus Today, by Sarah Young:


BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND I WILL STRENGTHEN your heart. I want you to face adversity with confidence and firm determination. Because I am with you and the Holy Spirit lives in you, you have everything you need to be bold. Cowardliness is not of My Kingdom. When you are feeling overwhelmed by your circumstances, remember who you are—a child of the eternal King! Invite Me into the very circumstances that are intimidating you, and let the Light of My powerful Presence strengthen you. When you choose to live courageously, I am pleased. And I respond by strengthening your heart, thus increasing your valor.


Expect to encounter hardships as you journey toward heaven, because you live in a very broken world. This is why bravery is desperately needed among My followers. You also need hope. My promise to strengthen your heart is for those who hope in Me. Courage and hope are closely connected in My kingdom. So I urge you to hold on to your courage and your hope. They are more precious than gold!


Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.  --Psalm 31:24 NKJV


Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
 --Hebrews 3:6


Sadly, this is such a broken world, isn't it? It is often exceedingly overwhelming. Throw in our own, individual daily problems and challenges? Sometimes—it is simply too much. Too depressing. Discouraging. I needed this today as My Sweet Hubby and I try to focus, this quiet Sunday in North Central Texas, on Our Lord God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ. As we focus on our blessings. Our strengths. Our hopes.


God bless and be with each of you today…and always…


Love and Hugs,
ELC