LOVE-ly Week!

Some weeks feel like you are continually going uphill!

Remember I told you in the last post that our neighborhood is hilly.   Our house is at the top of the hill.  This is just part of my walk.  I can actually feel that my "core muscles" have been strengthened this week.  It feels like I have done bunches of sit-ups!

 

 One day we saw all these cobwebs in a wooded area.  That is not a usual occurrence.  They looked quite pretty though with the sunlight reflecting off of them.

Benjamin and I were pleased to find time to take our daily walk because there had been a lot of activity at our house.  We discontinued our Charter TV-Internet Service and switched to DirecTV and Uverse.  We had no complaints with Charter other than the price for the amount of stations offered.  Every second year the cost goes up.  The only way to keep it constant is to drop some stations.  My husband has mentioned to them it is not a good way to treat loyal customers.  The deciding factor was when a buddy of his became a new customer of Charter and got a much better package for much less money than we are charged.  Our monthly bill with our new providers is almost half as much as it has been in the past.

Long story short, we had service men here four or five different days in one week.  This was in addition to our kitchen oven burning out a few days earlier and my husband's car breaking down and being in the shop for a couple of days.  (Car is fixed.  Stove is probably going to have to be replaced.  It's old - needs a new wiring harness which has been discontinued cuz the stove is old!  For safety's sake, we will shop for a new one - - but there is no rush.)

As you can see though, life went on as normal for Benjamin!  He added some additional cuteness with this outfit!

His Nana (paternal grandmother) bought this for him.  Yes, that is the mascot, Smokey, on the hood.

This past week has been almost a vacation with only Benjamin here and not a bunch of technicians, etc.   Plus I received a nice gift in the mail from Buttercup!  Thank you, Carol!

Hope this week is LOVEly for you!   Tell someone or a bunch of someones how much you LOVE having them in your life!

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Matthew 22:37

 

ME

I made Grammy VERY HAPPY today because I said her name!!!   Well, part of it anyway.

At lunch Pop Pop asked me to say, "Grammy" and I uttered sounds that made them believe I had mimicked them well. 
However, when I woke up from my nap, I called, "Me" . . . . "Me" . . . . "Me" and then I was looking at Gram---MEE beaming at me!   She said, "You called Grammy, didn't you?"   She seemed very pleased with no words for an answer but just another big smile from my Pack 'n' Play.  It's amazing how she and Pop Pop become my servants with just a smile!

 

As you can see, I am growing into a future football player.  (My hips aren't really that big - - - It's just the way the fabric has fallen.)  I, Benjamin, am now 6 1/2 months old and as tall as an average 9 month old.  Grammy says I give her quite a strength-training workout.  My thought is all women her age need that kind of exercise to help increase their bone density.

 I try to help Grammy as often as possible since I can now hold my own bottle (that is filled with my mommy's milk).  I do like to be in control of my actions and schedule when the adults will allow it.  In addition to a couple of bottles, my diet includes fruits and vegetables.  Every few days, my taste buds experience something new!

 Grammy reads books (recommended by my "mamamamama") that give her ideas on how to "guide me toward my potential".  One idea was to put my toys in a clear plastic box and I could have the option of choosing.  My thought was just pick up the whole box and chew the bottom of it.

  Grammy thinks fresh air is important, too - - - no matter how cool it is outside.  That's great because I love strolling around the neighborhood.  The tall, tall trees fascinate me and Grammy's labored breathing as she climbs the hilly road is funny.  She keeps telling me how much she loves me and is excited every morning when she sees me again.

 

  And here is one of my favorite friends even though she won't let me pet her but Kit Kat will get close enough to talk to me with her eyes.  She likes me and acts like a guard dog.  Somebody needs to tell that sweet kitty that Grammy and Pop Pop are thinking about getting a dog for me at their house next fall.  I know that Pop Pop is using me as an excuse for him to get another "man's best friend".

  

 Grammy wants you to know that all the pictures were taken with her phone.  My Mommy has time to get pictures with her camera and post them on her blog but Grammy hasn't mastered all that yet!  She always has her phone close by but not her camera.  Plus she doesn't seem real thrilled when I try to grab for the camera.  My thought is anything near me is a toy for me - - right?!!

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother  2 Timothy 1:5

"Beatles" Concert!

Me - My junior year in high school.

About four years before the above picture of me was made, the Beatles came to America.  Tonight we got to hear their songs done live by the Classical Musical Tour.  As the spokesman said, this concert was for those who may have never heard a live Beatles Concert.  It was fantastic!   If they are ever near you, it would be well worth your time and money to attend.

The interesting thing is the "Beatles" perform with a live orchestra from the city where the concert is held.  Our orchestra was from Lee University - - also the location of the concert.  The college kids did a phenomenal job.

The funny thing about the concert was to view those in the audience - - - - the majority OVER SIXTY and some were definitely in their seventies.  Many were just short of using walkers but were rocking out to the music.  Their attire was extremely conservative.  It would have been interesting to compare their look today with that of almost fifty years ago.

Seriously people - - where did the time go so quickly???

Lee University has a lot of outstanding accomplishments.  One other noteworthy one was held this week at the Presidential Inauguration when the Lee University Festival Choir performed  some of the preliminary entertainment.  The above link was just one of the many songs they sang.

And with all that said - - it's time for bed.  As my younger daughter reminded us - - - not to be out or up too late since we are responsible to watch her child tomorrow!

The LORD is my strength and song, and HE is become my salvation: HE is my God, . . . . . . . . . . . .  and I will exalt him.  Exodus 15:2

Siblings' Saturday

Ricky, Lynda, Sandie, Kevin

On Saturday, January 5, I drove to the Augusta, GA area to be with my siblings.  Our younger brother was there from NY State to visit our other brother and sister.

  

Here we are in 1955.

Lynda, born 1951;   Ricky, born 1954;   Kevin, born 1955;    Sandie, born 1952

Rick and I have our mom's features.  Sandie and Kev favor our dad.

Mary (Rick's Wife), Rick, Lynn, San, Kev

Mirror Image - - This is a copycat of our grandmother and her sisters in the 1940's.

Fortunately we thought to take a few pictures before the sun had set completely.   Lots of cars because lots of people were there.  I got to see two new babies born this past year as well as my nieces and nephew.  We had some super delicious barbeque for lunch.  My sister was a wonderful hostess and gave up her comfortable beds for some of us.  That was great for us but made me tired for her!

 

 We had a wonderful time together.  We are truly blessed that we all have a good relationship.  As most families, we have weathered many storms - - both together and separately.  It's nice to be able to come out safely on the same shore.

(And I hope to catch up on blogging.  Life has been BUSY!)

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.  Matthew 12:50

Christmas 2012 in Nashville

We did something this year we have never done before.  We left the children at Christmas!  We had been with them on Sunday for dinner and to exchange gifts.  But on Monday, we left for Nashville for a couple of nights.

 

We stayed at the Wyndham Timeshare Resort which is just barely over a mile from the Opryland Hotel.  This was Bill's first visit there.  I had visited it a couple of times before with my sister but never at Christmas.

Many of you know that the hotel has 3 nationally acclaimed indoor gardens.  You do not have to stay at the hotel but can view these for free.  Enter through any lobby door.  You can pay for parking at the hotel - - - but you can also park in the parking lot of the Opry Mills Mall and walk over.  Lots of people do that.  Park in back of the mall.  The walk is shorter.

These pictures barely show the tip of the iceberg of what there is to view.  It's a truly amazing place.  If you eat there, be prepared to spend a bit of money.  Do as we did and research their menus to decide ahead of time what you will do at mealtime.

There were so very, very many lights.  These were outside in front of the hotel.  The internet will tell you when their Christmas decorations are on display but I think they are ready for viewing by Thanksgiving weekend.

I was very impressed that they had this very large Nativity Scene as well as audio of the Christmas Story being read from the Book of Luke in the Holy Bible.

 Indoors transforms in the evening.  It also gets much more crowded because people come to see the decorations.   If you go to visit here, wear comfortable shoes because there is a lot of walking but well worth every step you take.  We enjoyed our trip and the timing worked out well but we decided that we would probably not leave our family again on Christmas Day.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying , I am the light of the world  John 8:12a

2013 - Under Construction

My favorite person is my husband but even he agrees that these men come in second place.  It's our contractor, Mark Beaty, and his assistant, Tyler.  They are the ones who rebuilt our basement wall when it collapsed.  This time they were back on a non-emergency basis.

They did a variety of jobs from replacing a dryer vent hose to installing crown molding in a couple of rooms to giving added foundation support under the part of the house that did not have flooding issues.   However, we had some uneven floors.  The good news is our block walls and wood beams are in great shape but more columns were needed in a few areas.

This was interesting to me - - - - some fascia boards needed replacing.  We thought everything would be done on ladders - - - - but as you can see, measuring and cutting was done on the roof.  One person was on the ladder though when they attached the boards.

It feels wonderful to have these construction projects done.  Speaking of projects, you should see the list I am compiling now that I am retired.  One thing I will work on this week is playing catch-up on reading your blogs.  Life was really, really super busy from mid-November until the Christmas holidays.

Also, I need to blog our holidays even though they have passed.  I want them for my scrapbook. - - - so - - - until next time!!!

Where there is no vision, the people perish . . .  Proverbs 29:18a

Retirement

Last Sunday I was recognized by one of our co-pastors for my fifteen years of service as our church library director.  Also, it was the public announcement of my retirement - - - at the end of this week!!!   I am so excited - - because I will be babysitting our grandson full-time in January while his mom teaches.

Transitioning the leadership at work while continuing to serve the public has kept us very busy.  That means blogging has taking a back seat to the rest of life.  Hopefully I will be able to post more frequently very, very soon!

Our other pastor honored me with this Scripture at our library workers' appreciation dinner last month.   . . . . Well done, thou good and faithful servant  . . . . Matthew 25:21

God has blessed me in an overwhelming way.  All I have done is try to hear HIS voice, work hard to accomplish HIS direction, and treat others the way I would like to be treated.  It has amazed me to see what HE can accomplish through a willing servant.  My praise and thankfulness to HIM overflows.