FELINE FRIDAY

I think they call this the good life. Too tired to change the TV channel. Stop by and visit Sandee with everyone over at Feline Friday.

So many of  the beautiful people in my life. My momma top row far right)who has a heavenly birthday today. She is sharing it with most everyone in this photo except my older brother Bill (2nd row far left and cousin Charlotte, next to him). I do not know the young lad in the front row  .  Like me, my brother (who tells me he better not see his photo anywhere) and my cousin Charlotte are still on this earth without all these amazing folks. My Tata Rose and Grandmother are on the top row far left. How much I learned from them and my mom and her sisters and my oldest sis Pat (2nd row far right). In this photo are four of the five girls my grandmother had. The grandchildren and greats are too numerous to list.

A birthday wish for my mom, who left us too soon in 2001.

This is always a difficult day for me. Takes me a while to get focused so I can post.

A New Year For Living

Some of my daily reading for 2019. Rebekah gave each other of her siblings and her parents a book for each one of us to write our own storey for her. Where do I start? The hubby gave me a beautiful new bible, the NASB Message bible. I am a lover of the word and I will share it with anyone who doesn't have their own bible. I worked with some wonderful CHRISTian women in the mid-1980's. They all read from the Women's bible. I love it because in between each chapter of the various books are personal stories by such amazing women - Joni Eareckson-Tada, Ruth Bell-Graham,  Anne Graham-Lotz, Amy Carmichael, Elisabeth Elliot and more. It is fun to read . My dotted notebook will serve as a journal for me this year. In case I forget fun facts for Rebekah, I can recheck them there. Jan Karon is my favorite author. This little book "Bathed In Prayer" highlights some of the most notable events in her Mitford series collection. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp is just excellent reading.

This verse caught my eye today. It fits perfectly into this new year 2019.

I was thinking, since I missed my November 1, 2018 blogaversary I would hold a giveaway. But I decided instead to send a random gift(s) to someone who follows me here and comments during this year 2019. I would love to see people who receive a little token of my appreciation to "Pay it Forward". I believe in this quote and have experienced a random kindness myself on many occasions that lifted my spirits. Made me smile. Made me laugh out loud! So watch those mailboxes! If you don't think you shared your mailing address with me please send it via my g mail at 53strait@gmail.com. I can't say too much about this but I already have someone I know locally who is going to be gifted by me. I like to let people know they are appreciated and more.

Love is...brings a smile to my face daily. When we were young and newlywed I use to clip these treasures from the morning newspaper comic section and paste them on colorful construction paper (it was the 1980's, no scrapbooking phenomenon). THe TV and movie actor Dick van dyke turns 93 this March. He claims tai chi keeps him young! Hmmmm.......he looks darn good for his age.

"A" is for Afternoon Tea Sweets! I am an avid tea drinker as it is easier on my belly then coffee but love both. I adore drinking afternoon tea. Earl Grey is a favorite although in the mid afternoon I use Earl Grey decaf or I will be staring at the ceiling all night long. There is a tea concoction called "London Fog: which requires you to make a strong cup of Earl Grey with sugar or honey and then add frothy steamed milk. Earl has been a friend of mine for a really long time. If you go to a teahouse in the afternoon you need some sweet treats to enjoy with your tea. I am always ready to join a tea party or simply have a cup alone. It is something I truly treasure. "A" is also for Always make sure you give yourself an afternoon break and breathe.

Sandee with Happy Tuesday I thought I'd share some silly New Year's Resolutions here. Are they eating diet cake?

I think they said "Decadent Cake" not "Diet".

You have to say some of these made you happy! I love that parrot on # 10. #1 is a good one and #3 made me laugh out loud.  So come visit Sandee and share a happy Tuesday with her too.

Finally to make my friend Angela smile out loud. Tuesday Show and Tail. She has slowly started to come back to blog. Visit her, she is a genuine person. A great lady, I was happy to see some posts from her. Woot Woot!

See you tomorrow. God willing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year 2019 with love, health and happiness. Be joyful too. It is going to be my word for the new year.

A New Year;s pup for Aw....Mondays . Stop by and wish Sandee and the gang a great new year too.

Always a perfect share...Love is...

OH Maxine, I Love this one! I think we are all guilty on breaking them so stop making them! Hee Hee Hee!

Psalm 126:3 fits perfectly into my 2019 plan. I hope we are showered with much joy, everyone of us.

We were stylish at the December 2,2017 wedding of Rebekah and Zach. Some of my memories throughout the years.

Harrison with Alastor Avery, he loves this tiny brother. His mommy said he kissed his brother's head and laid down with him. Priceless and joy filled.

Summertime at OneUp and the Blake Street Bombers.

Hannah and Nick at the Old Spaghetti Factory, downtown, this past April, a few months before they closed their doors.

Happy New Year's Eve heading into 2019 with Brittany and Brody and Jeremy Missing Addy tonight as they had a fantastic dinner at the Texas de Brazil. Addy was off on a different New Year's adventure.

Meeting Alastor Avery for the first time, Noelle and Roger. The grammie and the Papa.

Thor and Loki waiting on their nightly belly rubs! Are they spoiled or what?

Zach and Rebekah meeting Pearl Harbor Survivor Sterling Cale in Hawaii in June this year.

See you soon.

CHRISTmas Eve

Wishing everyone a beautiful and bright and Merry CHRISTmas,

Santa was a great guy, I was just afraid of everyone when I was small. I love that my mom took the time to have a photo made with the jolly fellow when I was small.

This Santa was a good fellow. He worked for the Crews Beggs department store when I was a child.

A message to share to everyone.

These great grands are so precious. Devin  (11)is the oldest grandson for our daughter Noelle and her hubby Roger , Alastor Avery is the youngest born December 18, 2018, Although we saw Alastor earlier in the day, we missed the other greats because we were at our church service. Noelle took this precious photo.

I love CHIRSTmas and especially the story behind it. This is a favorite verse.

Can Maxine make you smile out loud? She is a real hoot.

Love is...always says it best.

Wish Sandee a Merry CHRISTmas and join her and everyone for  Aw....Mondays. Cat and Dog wish you happy holidays too.

A final post share for Annie with Sparks who has been taking a much needed break. Have a blessed and beautiful holiday. 

Birthday Wishes and More

My child isn't a child anymore but I love her so much! The firstborn, we are celebrating a double birthday with her and her hubby. Happy birthday Noelle and Roger. Have an awesome weekend filled with wonderful joys.

My son-in-law Roger has a big hog. Unfortunately this year has not been kind to him. He had surgery on both shoulders and he is still recuperating. Say some prayers for him please.

I have a December birthday too and this was my cake. I love the Incredibles. Teri at my local Safeway bakery does a terrific job. Noelle and Roger do not have any cakes to share. They have a fun filled weekend planned.

Good words to ponder.

Even though sparks has taken a much needed break. here is a perfect share today. EVen the Grinch was kind.

A CHRISTmas wish from Love is....today.

 Sandee has the link to Brian's Thankful Thursday blog hop.  Thankful Thursday

A GRATEFUL MIX

I am trying to continue the Alphabet post and I find that fun is always a good option. I use to watch my greatest grandboy Harrison and he was fun! He is smart and silly and kind and loving. I miss my days with him but I always find time to think about him.

I am always grateful. There are days that drag us all down. I like to think about the good in people, the kindness in simple things. I feel thankful and grateful and most of all blessed each day I live. The holidays can be so difficult for some folks so I try to be extra kind and grateful. I thought G for grateful fit perfectly here. List all the things you are grateful for. I bet they will outweigh the things that make you unhappy.

Harrison tells me this is my dance. I LOVE dancing but this Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Hot dog Dance" is a favorite because Harrison and I would dance together everyday. That child has so much energy. We have hot dogs on the grill in the summertime so it is a big win for me! I figured Hot Dog was a great H word and reminded me of my childhood where you'd go to the drive in movies and the food commercials featured the hot dog jumping in and out of the bun! I love good memories.

Oh Maxine, you are a tough old bird! We have both ham and turkey for our Thanksgiving Day celebration. This year we have a smaller group. Only 18 of us including the hubby and I, Rebekah and Zach, our gracious hosts, Hannah, Nick, Noelle, Roger, , Jeremy, Brittany, Addy and Brody with Alexis and Jake. Everyone is pitching in for a favorite dish or two.

MY friend Carole wrote a social media post stating clearly , "PUT DOWN YOUR DAMN PHONES". Harsh, I don't think so. I think we all need to learn to respect those we are with and  put those phones away. We aren't going to perish without them.

 This is another pet peeve of mine. I feel when people use this they are just trying to get away from you. I am a Chatty Cathy but if you have other things to do, speak up! This is just plain R U D E! I have a friend who is so up front I imagine some folks would find her rude. She lives in another state and when we chat on the phone and she has to use the bathroom, she speaks her mind! Ha Ha Ha! I love it! She's just like her mom, an upfront kinda gal. I love her so much!

I need to dig out old Thanksgiving and CHRISTmas photos.  My folks always hosted the best dinners and we had such fun times with remarkable people we called our loved ones. Do you have traditions each year or do you like surprises? I know lots of Italian phamilies who eat a full Italian menu. I may be repeating myself but when I was a young woman my neighbor Annie made all the fresh pasta for her sisters Italian restaurant  . She taught me how to make all those great pastas. I love all the dishes and enjoy them today.

We like to include wine at our dinner. One for turkey and one for ham. I worked with a doctor years ago who was a wine connoisseur. There is wine for every food.

I love Jan Karon and read all her books, this one is on my list. Do you love to read? I love holding a real book in my hands. Not into all the electronic options for reading, just not my thing. But this title is lovely and on the subject of prayer, would you remember my hubby's co worker? Geraldine had some heart issues and was hospitalized for a procedure . She won't be back for a while so my honey and his co worker Tony are splitting her hours. She is a lovely person and I am praying for her health to be restored. Always remember the homeless and the hungry in this season. SO many I pray for for each day.

Or eat a healthy meal on this blessed and beautiful THANKSgiving Day. See you here again soon.