Directions / Maxine Cracks Me Up/ Wedding Love/Mother's Day/

"D" is for directions! You can get directions when you travel, my goodness, your iphone will send you on your way. You can find direction in your life, the path well traveled or the unknown journey on a different path. You can explain a pattern, a word, an image to someone and give them direction too. I thought it would be a great word for my Alphabe Day post. I enjoyed this all the years Jenny Matlock did Alphabe Thursday at her blog. But she changed directions too. Oh, I can not forget the English boy band One Direction too!

Leave it up to Maxine to have an opinion about everything! This one is quite cute and very clever! It seems  the older we get the more we want to hide "stuff"!  Camouflage those flaws! Laughing all the way...

My BoJon heritage seems to increase as I age! Our son Jeremy married last Saturday to Brittany and added a new daughter-in-love to our phamily as well as a beautiful grand daughter Addy. A joyful addition to our P H A M I L Y !

Colton's graduation last May 2015. Jeremy and Addy dancing to "All You Need is Love" at the wedding April 30, 2016. Love fills the heart with song and smiles.

Noelle and Brittany are two terrific mom's. I am blessed that they are part of my heart and my phamily.

Happy Mother's Day to all who have taken on this job and survived to talk about it! Kids are something, I often wonder how I managed it all! Here are some more sweet momma's, Christal with her two daughters and son and hubby, Colton and Jacey minus Harrison in this photo. Noelle, my oldest child and one heck of a momma! Tarrah an incredible momma to her handsome sons, Jayden and Michael. I am so blessed and very honored to have these women in my life.

A Mother understands what a child doesn't say. I have seen this anonymous quote attributed to a Jewish Proverb. It is true, a mother can read her child's heart. I hope you will visit Jenny and those at Warm Heart Wednesday. I am sure you have guessed that the people  in my private life really warm my heart. Tell Beverly and the Pinkies you wish them a Happy Pink Saturday and join me in wishing all mom's everywhere a beautiful and blessed Mother's Day!

B is for Being Silly and Other Beautiful words Beginning with B

Somehow I get on a silly kick and had to share this t shirt with you. It just makes me smile. I laugh out loud and love the words written here. Are you nerdy?

You know Maine has an opinion on everything! While I am being silly here is a great running quote:

Who doesn't agree with me?

I think "B" for Baseball is the best! I love this quote. I love baseball, the Colorado Rockies are not the best in baseball though.

B is also for boys and I have two of them! Nick will be home Friday, by the grace of God, for the wedding! Storms everywhere  east of us and we hear snow for Jeremy and Brittany's wedding on Saturday!

Auntie Ang never had children of her own but she and Uncle Louie loved all the little ones. Jeremy was just a tiny baby here with Noelle too.

Jeremy likes to wear sports hats today but when he was very small he liked fancy men's hats! This one belonged to Uncle Louie.

Jeremy was a good student when he attended Holy Family HS. Many teachers in his younger years always said he would become a good student if he worked harder.  All though high school and college he did just that! He graduated high school in 2003. This is ten years later:

Always smiling and boy oh boy is he smiling now. On Saturday he will be marrying Brittany. They go together beautifully. It is a good thing when one person compliments another. Here is a Scripture I hope they will mediate on:

This verse is written on my parents marriage certificate. These are wise words and I hope Jeremy and Brittany will think so too!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if [a]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [b]another to lift him up.11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [c]keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [d]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

I will come back tomorrow and tell more stories about Jeremy. The day got away from me and I got a headache too. Just some stressful days leading up to the big day. Lots of things to do. Please visit Jenny and everyone at Warm Heart Wednesday too. Did I mention, weddings warm my heart?

lahko noč

Let's Start Over....Alphabe Day With A Warm Heart Wednesday

I was thinking of doing the alphabet thing each day and I just seem to not get to where I want to go! Dogs are underfoot, cats as crying, we want food, more fresh water! Meow Meow Meow! I need a vacation from all these pets! I am a very independent person so I like to get up and go and it is not always easy with this bunch of furry people hanging around me!

Now cats are another matter. More devious, more obsessed with their human! They want your full attention like a two year old, when they want it, and it is usually N O W !!!

Cats and bathing do not go hand in hand. I think they must be bathed shortly after their birth,otherwise, they will perform an exorcism on you!

My husband knows I have one Master. It is God, and he has never tried to hold me back or question me. OK, yeah, those credit cards, once and a while! I simply say,

" Oh that old thing, you were not paying attention to me when I was with you and purchased it! " I feel blessed to have my hubby. He is my Sweets, my favorite friend living on this earth,  Here he is with our middle daughter.

Someone had to fill that incredible void I had from losing my ultimate BFF my grandmother Cecilia Steblay. I miss her as if she went away to join heaven's saints yesterday. Not one day goes by that I do not think of her and love her dearly. I inherited her awful eye sight. Now you think God might have been a little nicer and jumped a generation to my mom, who had wonderful vision to the very end of her life. My grandma lost her sight due to a detached retina.  She was hanging  her laundry in this photo. My mom never wore glasses. Here she is with Noelle.

When my Sweets had his eye appointment to set up his surgery, for May , they were concerned about a detached retina too. Fortunately it turned out to be nothing but thankfully they feared the worst and it double checked.  When I had my eye exam a few weeks ago the doctor looked concerned as well. Fortunately for me, Fred, my annoying floating friend who hangs out in my left eye was laying low that day! He was butting into my beautiful photos of my eye on the computer screen! R U D E Fred! Did you ever see the movie, "Drop Dead Fred"?

It is a terribly silly movie that my kids loved when they were younger. Fred is the imaginary friend of a little girl who grows up to be a beautiful young lady. Problem with her life, she can not let go of Fred. So I thought Fred was a very appropriate name for my annoying floater. But the doctors assistant has to get the credit, she saw my fear and the fact that I wanted to burst into tears and said "Let's name it, how about Fred?" When his twin brother took up residence in my right eye I gave him the name of Frank!

I had been on a kick between red and purple glasses and picked out these, which vary from light blue with some brown in the frame.

I am a terrible selfie taker but these are my second pair in brown with pink sides. I really like them both and they have the transition lens to go from indoors to outdoors. Saves me having to slip sunglasses on and off.

I decided A is for awesome people! Of course I am talking about those of you that come over to visit me here but also the wonderful folks I have had the experience to deal with lately. The gentleman who let me cut into traffic so I would not still be sitting at the post office exit driveway last night! About 100 cars were getting ready to cruise through the green light and he motioned me in! Thanks stranger! Thanks to Ginger on KBCO 97.3 FM radio who played Purple Rain and made me cry along with her! She announced the passing of Prince today. He was suffering from the flu and continued touring but then had a relapse and passed away at his home earlier today. He was a talent and we seem to be losing so many talented musicians lately. Thanks to Robin and Dr. Geck for getting Rebekah in for an urgent dental appointment when she returns from Ireland this weekend. The doctor gave me his private number so she may call him and he can talk with her before the appointment. Thanks to the three cashiers and one manager at my favorite Walmart store who chatted with me in the early morning hours when their store wasn't terribly busy. Thanks to the cute lil gal at Chick Filet who took my order in the wind and cold because their speaker system was down and called me "Miss Anne" and told me to have a terrific day! To Bev at King Soopers for being a good friend and helping me check out in the serve yourself lanes when I have too many big ticket items! Thanks to the young man at King Soopers who has Down's Syndrome and grabs a cart for me and the cute lil gal with Down's at Sprouts who always carefully packs my groceries, mainly fruits and veggies and tells me to have a beautiful day! They make up for some of the meanies we deal with daily! When people are mean to me in traffic and want me to go faster than the speed limit, I crank up my radio and sing at the top of my lungs! They usually sped around me and for that I am grateful, because they are sitting on the side of  road getting a speeding ticket and I am not! Grateful to my niece Karla and her hubby Aaron for the soap and Doterra items to help heal my hubby from his bronchitis.

I am grateful for the awesome time Rebekah is having in Ireland. She said she was adopted by a couple from Massachusetts because she is traveling solo. Wish we were with her. Maybe next time! She is sharing this photo of the Cliffs of Moher. God is so good, He gives us so much natural beauty to enjoy. I have a warm heart today for these things and more. I pray and ask you to pray as well that Rebekah has a safe journey home again this weekend. I hope you will visit Jenny and share your warm hearts today too.

Warm Heart Wednesday /Alphabe Day

 A strawberry crepe will always warm my heart on on day! I treated the middle - to breakfast at Village Inn where we both enjoyed a strawberry crepe. If you would be so kind, stop by Jenny Matlock and join the Warm Heart Wednesday.

I can not seem to get through the day with a post at my blog so I am going to play catch up right here:

"A" is for A D O R A B L E ! My life is so happy with babies or as my daughter Noelle says "It's A Baby Palooza"! The toothy grin belongs to Leonidus who will turn one in July. The great grand boy Harrison is showing you his sly smile. These two fellows like each other's company and that alone will warm a heart.

"B" is for going bonkers! With Jeremy and Brittany's upcoming wedding in 16 days, the boys Vegas last hurrah as a bachelor trip, Nick's finals, Nick's flight to Vegas from KC and back again and his flight home April 29 and back to Salina again can make you bonkers! He has a professor who refuses to allow anyone to take an early final exam so we felt it was too much to travel to Kansas turn around and come home and turn around and go back May 3. Oh yes, my wedding anniversary! Ah...the joys of traveling the lovely highway I-70 East for this college pick up trip! I might get a McDonald's salad for lunch or a Pizza Hut buffet in Russell, Kansas! Maybe I will have an anniversary card in my mail when I return! Home for the summer May 4th. Now if you can top this bonkers list, please do! Oh, Rebekah has her Ireland trip and she is suppose to leave this Saturday. Did I mention the weather is predicting a huge storm half rain and half snow! Please pray and ask for a clear take off for this girl who has been planning this trip for as long as I can remember.

Since I gave you "C" for crepe already how about one more delicious dish, a blueberry blintz? Now please visit Jenny and pray for nice weather.

My BoJon Heritage/Warm Heart Wednesday/

My Tata Rose Steblay at her wedding to Mr. John Levstik. My grandmother Cecilia and her husband Joseph are in the back row and  grandpa Steblay is holding their first born child and son Louis. Uncle Louie was born in May, 1908. I assume this photo was approximately the same year.

My Tata Rose raised her phamily in this little cottage. It still stands today and someone who purchased it was updating the windows and adding more modern conveniences to this little place. They had 7 children, two sons,  John and Henry . Their daughters were Rose, Annie, Edith, Virginia "Bebee", and Evelyn. Mr. Levstik served in World War I between 1914-1918. My Tata lived in that little house until her death and her daughter Annie continued to live there until she too passed away.

This memory warms my heart and Wednesday was a bitter cold day so the thought of having a warm heart yesterday made me smile. Please visit Jenny and those Warm Heart Wednesday participates.

Kindness and the Blizzard

Welcome to my Warm Heart Wednesday and please visit Jenny and all those participating. I am way behind on commenting so forgive me. Can't get well, lose a cold, get a new one,can't feel right, 30 today and 60 yesterday! It is an upside down world lately.

The blizzard of 2016 is here! Of course, they said it was a mild storm, sure is funny, all the local, state and federal government offices are closed up tight as a drum while the rest of the working stiffs tried and some failed to get to where they were trying to go! My hubby says downtown, where many of the people he works with live, is not getting hit as hard as we are. Our back door is barricaded with four feet of blowing snow at least! Here is some proof:

Leo has not seen a blizzard with us! Well this is his first! He is quite a large dog, standing on all fours, as you can see, he barely can run through the snow.

Jeremy was able to barrel through a four foot snow drift and charge out of his driveway ! He made it to the RTD bus station and picked up his dad. In the meantime, Markus, who lives a few doors away with Roger and Noelle, was off work early and barreled through the snow in his four runner to clear a long path for the guys to drive through. That is true warm heart kindness. My poor hubby was wading in deep deep snow and had to change his clothes ASAP when he came inside. Now we are enjoying fresh hot buttery popcorn and I am drinking mint and lemon verbena tea with lemon and honey.

We ended our evening with a wonderful potato cheese soup and some nice bread the hubby found.

A blizzard, some good friends and strangers too. A cup of tea and a steaming bowl of soup. Ah....the perfect ending to a Wednesday that warmed my heart.

My Bittersweet Warm Heart Wednesday

Today is one of those days where I am happy one moment and sad in the next! Four years ago today I lost the sweetest and kindest feline friend a girl could ever imagine having! My feline friend Boots passed away after a short but difficult illness. He was the classiest kitty who ever lived. Smart and very gentleman like, he never left my side when I was sick or sad. I miss him so much. He was truly one of a kind! He would have turned 14 on our wedding anniversary May 3rd in 2012. But the sweetest cat I ever knew was taken from me too soon. I pictured him growing really old with me but it was not to be.  This pinterest find is on his board that I made for him there.

When Boots was a kitten he never really acted like one. He was a mature feline in a kittens body. I loved him so much and when I think back to the day we got him, he costs us a whooping $35! The lady who sold him to us said he was quite a quiet fellow and not a squawker like his sister. She thought perhaps their father was a Siamese because the others in the litter were quite vocal. My Boots was just perfect. He had a "milk moustache"  and beautiful markings like a tuxedo! His paws were white and that is how he came to be "Boots". As a kitten the girls would dress him up, prim and proper him and he would sit still like a regal statue. They put hats on him and scarves and sunglasses. He was always the guest of honor at their tea parties.

He was giving me the look in this photo. He said "Why must you torment me? Why, oh why, must I live with a houseful of silly dogs? I am so reserved and they are sniffing my bum! really disgusting creatures." He came to love all those silly dogs. He played with them and he loved them. He was a first class friend. I miss you so much my friend.

This boy will always hold a special place in my heart for me.

My very favorite photo of Rose. She is 11 years old today. That is why my day is bittersweet. She is enjoying a gourmet wet chicken and gravy dinner while I write my post. Mr. Kitty has his fat bum soundly sleeping on the sofa in the living room. He is such a slug. Rose is a sort of good will ambassador. She welcomed Miss Daphne to our home while Mr. Kitty hissed and cried and carried on as if she came to take his place! She befriended Roxanne when she came to live with us. The two of them reminded me of the book "Are You My Mother?". Rose has the most beautiful green eyes like jade. She is a quirky gal. Does her own thing and can stare you down with the best of them!

rose is very cold blooded. She loves sitting on the cable receiver. She seems to be saying "Follow the bright blue light". She loves getting her photo snapped. This girl came to live with us when Nick was in middle school, the fifth grade to be exact. Nick claimed his friends parents were parting ways and the dad said he would drown these lousy kittens. Nick was quite dramatic and my hubby fell for it! While Nick attends college in Kansas, Rose rooms with us. She got very ill last year. The cost was astronomical and somehow we paid the price. She had a really awful urinary tract infection. Nick takes good care of her. Because she is a long haired cat she is hard to groom. Oh, did I mention, she is a biter too! She got sick once with a flu bug, I am sure, and Nick jumped in the bathtub with her. He has a method of holding her legs together she she can not bite or run away and he gave her a bath until she was smelling like a beautiful bouquet of roses! Yes, the pun was intended there!

Rose looks miffed but Mr. Kitty is photo bombing her with his legs so she might be mad! She is the house matriach of felines and she never lets him forget it!

Rose is quite serious. She loves the sunlight and seeks a warm place to rest her aging bones. We love rose and wish her a happy birthday, even if she is the chicken rangling thief stealing chicken for her own culinary delights!

A girl needs her rest. We hope she is with us for many more birthdays to come.

Some wise words for Rose today. Please visit Jenny and share your warm hearts too.