Visits to Grammy's

A couple of my favorite people in the world spent the afternoon with us/me.Dan was busy out in the garage & got the lawn mowed. I vacumned & did laundry & some cooking before they came over & relaxed the afternoon away with them. Great Saturday!

"Styling"

Shhh, don't tell the boys-Grammy has something on her sewing table for them!! Look at those tiny pockets!! It's more like "play" than "work" to sew these!! I'm hoping to finish the two of them this week!

Go,baby,go!! A visit to Grammy's is always fun-but oh! what a way to get there!!

Here's wishing you a Happy Memorial Day weekend!!!! From Ariana & all of us!!

What's Memorial Day Weekend without a picnic?? It practically seems unpatriotic!! So a few of our friends, Summer & Ariana, shared a hotdog with us this afternoon. We had a great time laughing & relaxing together & of course, maybe a little over eating,for me anyways!!!
Life has seemed to be full of events lately- a cookout, a graduation & party, a visit from my folks, a few shopping trips, a girlfriend day or two & fireworks tonight.....I love summer,don't you? Bright petunias & pale yellow marigolds are blooming on my porch & in my garden this year. Spots of cheerfulness. Like getting together with family & friends,they add a little joy,a dash of brilliant color to our days. Look around-God's goodness is all around us,He is Big & All-Powerful,yes,but it is the "small" things I see His Goodness in. The wind caressing my face,the laughter of babies,the warm hug of an old friend,the sunlight streaming in the window..... a thousand little things God gives to enjoy everyday. I want to live with my eyes wide open & my heart raised in thanks,don't you?
In church, Pastor Kelvin's sermon was on Memorial Day & that people matter. I admit I certainly cried. There were pictures on the power point of military things & at the end,there were pictures of the men & women of our congregation who had or are serving. Nathan & Travis were both on there. A small way to give honor & thanks.I'm so glad for these reminders of how precious life is, even though God tells us ,the best is yet to come.
Here's a little wish & prayer that you got to spend time with your loved ones & realized how wonderful it really is!! Blessings to All-Jill

Roses & Sew-A- Thon

Sometimes what appears to be a mistake turns out to be the best thing of all.......These beautiful roses are from Travis. Dan & I got home late Sat.evening & there was the flower box waiting on the porch for me. I was,frankly,tickled to death, & guessed they HAD to be from Trav. I sent him a little message of thanks & then spoke on the phone with him later.Well, it seems he had ordered a mixed color rose bouquet & was surprised that they were all red.... I told him this little story:

I received a beautiful bouquet of red roses just once before in my life...... from his Dad, on the precious arrival of our son.....25 years later,from that same baby turned man....I get a bouquet of red roses,by "mistake".......I don't think any "mistake"was made at all-do you? Yep, I cried!!

The seeds of greatness start young don't they?! Our little cherubic grand daughter pauses in her busy,busy,busy life to make a card for Daddy. Look at the cards below & I think you can figure out which one she helped make. She really DID NOT like inking her hand nor pressing down her hand for the print.She DID like being in control of the glue stick though!(Yes,notice cap is FIRMLY on!)

Friendship-Whether it's family or friends,they add warmth & light to our days.

THIS is what a sew-a thon looks like in progress!

Dear Heavenly Father,

I lift my heart up to you today as an empty vessel, seeking only that you fill it with Thyself.My life is yours,my heart is yours. Use me today Father as your own little teapot. Pour from me streams of refreshment on the weary. Comfort those who are cold with a life weariness with your warmth streaming from me. Strengthen & brace those who have lost courage & strength in the daily battles & cares they face.

It is you who are the life giver,abundant in your gifts....bestow thy love, O God.......through me.

Happy Mother's Day!

Summer made the card above for her mother in law.The one's below I made for our Moms. I've been blessed with two wonderful "Mom's", one through birth & one through marriage. I'm grateful for their presence in my life, for sweet memories, for love & laughter, for shared tears & sorrows, too. Your love has helped make the unbearable able to be born.Your laughter has brought joy to innumerable times spent together. No one else shares the special place you have in my heart-I love you, Mom & Bette, Have a Wonderful Mother's Day!

Last year, both our daughters were expecting their first babies. This year is the first Mother's Day that I celebrate with my own daughters also being Mom's. I remember & relive some of my own mothering moments as I watch them with their children & interacting with the grand babies is pure joy!! Summer has said to me that everyday she wakes up she is so thankful to be Ariana's mother......I feel the same way about my kids, grateful that I got to experience what being a Mom is all about.
Thank-you Summer,Travis & Ashley-You bring joy to my life & I love you each of you so very,very much!!! May the Lord's blessings be on your lives!

$40.00 Grocery Challenge

Saturday was a simple day-A turnover & coffee for breakfast. Lunch consisted of a hamburg on a bun with some chips. Supper was a picnic up north at my sister-in-laws. I brought really yummy"Beer Batter Bread" with a "Spinach Artichoke Dip", both made from Tastefully Simple mixes. I'll be adding the complete totals for the week, hopefully, later today, to get a truer picture with breakfast & lunches included-So stay tuned!!

$40.00 Grocery Challenge

Well, it's Friday & we're almost there! How about you?!

• Friday night was a simple supper using up some leftovers & leftover ingredients.


• 5 eggs
  
• Ham & turkey pepperoni sandwich meat


• 2 slices American cheese


• Sliced, leftover boiled potatoes


• I just mix all together with salt & pepper & a tsp. or so of water, cook as for scrambled eggs or a fritatta.


• So good, so fast! Dan & I like it with a liberal amount of Frank's Red Hot!


• Cost for this meal-About $1.25 !! Total so far- $14.80

Ashley & Gavin with just his diaper on-ND

Dan- Looking out Ashley's window in ND
Our little Princess!!

$40.00 Grocery Challenge

Thursday-Summer had us over for a dinner of Chicken & Biscuits with green peas-So good!!!Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. My cost for this meal?! Well, how about a big smile of thanks,Sum!!

$40.00 Grocery Challenge

• Wednesday-Menu for tonight was quick & easy. We were given some things from an "Angel Food"box & one of them was a prepared entree of Salisbury with gravy. 15 minutes or so in the microwave & we're good to go with boiled potatoes & green beans. Because dinner was simple & it was grocery day-


• Strawberry Shortcake is for dessert!!! What makes it extra special is the real whipped cream. Yum!!


• Total for this meal, including dessert is about $5.25


• Total for the week so far-$13.55

I LOVE being "Grammy" !!!

$40.00 Grocery Challenge

What's cooking for Tuesday??

• How about a Buffalo Chicken Pizza with some carrot & celery sticks on the side. I used a store brand pizza crust that came in a tube,some diced,cooked chicken from our roast on Sun. I make a simple sauce with melted margarine (not butter for this) & Frank's Red Hot sauce. I stir the chicken in & spread this over the crust. Use a typical mozzarella or any mixture of shredded cheese you like. Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes,till crust is baked & cheese melted to your liking.
• Price for this meal which fed 3, with a slice leftover about $3.25.
• Total for the week so far-$8.30

A word of encouragement

Did you look at Summer's pics? They look like they should be in a magazine to me. I'm still amazed over all that's happened......& I want to lift a grateful heart to God. Maybe you're in the midst of difficulties where the circumstances of your life feel like a raging flood destroying all that is familiar to you. Can I share a word of encouragement? Our God,our loving Father,will not let those raging waters sweep you out of His hands. Always,always He will be there. In the midst of the turbulence, He is there. And when the storm passes & the waters of heartache recede, you'll see Him & know He was there all along.
"And underneath are the everlasting arms."

Summer and Nathan's Wedding

My dear family, here are my wedding pictures...There were 419 and considering that I can only load 5 at a time on here, I didn't upload all of them! If you want to see the rest, you'll have to come visit me! Enjoy!!! ( for those less computer savvy- if you double click on the pictures, it will make them larger to view in a new window)

Nathan and I had a wonderful 15 days while he was back here at home. He is back in Afghanistan now and will be there until Dec.- he should be home right before Christmas. Please keep him in your prayers and Ariana and I as we wait for his return.

All my love, Summer