Happy Thursday

 Thankful Thursday

I have felt like this all week long. Today I had an errand to run at the credit union. Thankful for the drive up window.  A bit unhappy that my pharmacy no longer has their walk up outside window. They have no help, one clerk and one pharmacist. They fill hundreds of prescriptions each day. I know I am not alone in my unhappiness.  Very sad what is happening to our country. My dad told me it would be like this, going backward instead of forward. Certainly thankful so many loved ones are no longer here to see the destruction.

Thankful for  Nancy for  sharing this one. Nancy is a dog walker. She is so positive, and that is so encouraging. She lost her dad last year. She lost her mom several years ago to breast cancer. She and her sister had just visited their dad for his birthday. I think many elderly folks are tired, simply from working hard and not seeing a return on their hard work.  Always thankful for Nancy and her light shining bright. 

Thankful for a lifelong friendship with Carole. She shares lots of encouragement too. I believe you can purchase this at etsy. It is a lovely piece with very thoughtful words that are so very true. 

Thankful for my Oklahoma born friend Jean who lives in Texas these days. This take on the Serenity Prayer is quite clever. This made me laugh out loud because I Know so many opinionated people who think their way is the only way. These are people I now avoid, with as much grace as I can muster.  We all think we are right or our words matter more. So untrue. 

Wordless Wednesday

 Wordless Wednesday

HAPPY TUESDAY AND MORE

 Happy Tuesday

Maxine you need some  Bounce dryer sheets in your pockets. Gotta love Maxine. 

I should be sad instead of happy, but when a boy grows up and heads off to school, I have to smile. I remember his days at pre-school. He was so small. Now he is tall and very handsome. Harrison James, I wish you the very best. I pray he will not forget all the good things he has been taught. I am happy. I am amazed at how quickly time goes by. Happiness is a huge part of my life. I won't let anyone tarnish that. I reply on my fsith to get me thorugh the tough stuff. I need this grands to keep me smiling. Praying this beautiful child has a wonderful new school year.

He looks a little nervous, but that is to be expected. A new school, a brand new friend William, he met earlier this summer. They will be best pals. I can remember my very first day of school, two nuns, my mother and the kindergarten teacher to pry me off my mother's leg. I must have been a holy terror.  My poor mother but to be fair to her, I loved her and did not want to ever leave her.  If my dad could have been there, he would put me in that classroom and gently told me why I had to be there. 

School-days school-days, good old golden rule days, readin' and ritin' and 'rithmetic

If you were raised Catholic and attended Catholic school your entire parocial and high school days you knew the important "R's" - reading, riting, ' rithmetic, respect, religion. I loved reading, I still have so-so writing and my older brother Ed was the rithmitec guy. I was and still am respectful but I learned in the seond grade, religion wasn't what counted, at least not for me. It was my savior who gave His life for mine. I felt that way than and I still feel that way now.

I pray for all the children returning to school. Too much controversy for children . I see such a different side of schooling when friends I have known and those I know today homeschool the kids. Two sisters, Heather and Brady,  who helped us watch our kids when they were small, were homeschooled by their mom and today, they have raised some amazing children.  A young woman I know who lives in the NYC area homeschools her son. He is incredibly smart, learning things, I learned in Catholic high school, like Latin and advanced Science and Math. If I could have done it, I would have. So now I pray for all children, everywhere. 

I think most parents have a special prayer for their children. We all strive for their success, we want them safe and secure. We want them to be kind and never to bully and we want school to be kind and not allowing bullying.  Now I understand why my mom always told me to:

'

Hannah made this for me, if hangs above my side of the bed. 

Aw....Mondays and More

 

Aw...Mondays

Here are two of the birthday boys for the month of August. Jeremy and his son Blake. Jeremy turns 3-6 on Monday August 9th. Blake will turn 2 on the 31st. Avery and Jeremy are two of Blake's favorite people. But let's chat about my number one son:

Jeremy Edward was born in the early morning hours of August 9th 36 years ago. The first born son. He already had a big sister. She loved having him as a baby brother.

Jeremy hadn"t worked at his first "real world: office job very long when he won the Excellence Award. He spent a wonderful trip in San Diego at the famed Hotel del Coronado . After he won that trip his life when from good to great. He married Brittany in 2016 and today they have a new home and three kids and a very nice life. 

He has worked very hard and started working at the tender age of 14 helping a neighbor, who was a Grease Monkey manager sweep the floors and help out in the shop. He worked there for a few years and switched to Domino's Pizza where he delivered pizzas for his college years and eventually worked with his younger brother Nick, also an August baby. Jeremy delivered the pizzas Nick made. They made a good team. They both work for the same company today, only in different departments.

Addy, Blake and Brody. Jeremy is a great dad, he embraces it with love and laughter and sometime sheer dog tired determination. 

Who doesn't want a cool DQ ice cream for their birthday? Brittany had this made for Jeremy and we enjoyed a nice evening with them last night.  Very proud of who our son has become and I wish him the happiest of birthdays and many more ot come.

Love is..wishes Jeremy a happy birthday too, These little comic strip characters have always given me great joy. This one is for Jeremy and Brittany on his birthday. 

A Mishmash of My Life in Photos Part I

 

Jeremy, Hannah and Boots, my favorite house we owned on Durango where the kids grew up with their life long friends.

Rebekah honoring my friend Sharon (RIP May 19, 2021) with her trifle. She made it for America's Birthday 2021. Sharon would have been so very proud. I took it to a Princess House event once and my friend and PH mentor Jonel (RIP Sept 2010) said give me a straw , I'll siuck all that goodness from the bottom of the trifle dish! That is a favoirte memory and I remember sharing it with Sharon, who laughed so hard, she had to put down her phone and grab a glass of water! Memories are what what me happy in this wicked ole world. Our backyard on Downing Drive.

 

Nick and Santa back in days when such things were exciting for little ones. Nick truly loved vsiting the white beared ole fellow.

Noelle her bestie Crystal and Jeremy. A turkey cake just for fun.  That was in our house on 105th Drive.

Some wise words about motherhood.

RANDOM PINK SATURDAY

 Random Pink Saturday    Visiting Beverly   and thinking up fun pinks to share makes me happy.  Here is an oldie but a favorite:

Peter Sellers portrayed the inept Inspector Clousseau. But he always made us laugh. The cartoon series was great fun when I was a kid.Today there is always someone unhappy about something. I think they missed out on having fun as a kid. Otherwise they would find things more important to complain about it. I don't think we will ever see a real live Pink Panther do you?

We are back in our heatwave.  I believe we are in for some very sorrowful times. As our country slips away you need something to hang on to. 

He sets on high those who are lowly and those who mourn are lifted to safety. Job 5:11

Feline Friday and Friendly Fill In's

 

Feline Friday This child cracks me up! He was trying to watch some skateboarders on the Olympics while he and his buddy, Mister Kitty, were chilling. He is going to start school Wednesday next week and I am devastated. This boy is one of the loves of my life. He spent two days a week with me from the time of his birth until he turned two years old. He is 5 now and headed to full day kindergarden . I am going to miss him. When he walks into my house, he is always ravenously hungry. So I have to stop whatever I am doing and make his special mac n cheese and no matter the weather, his steaming cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream. When I get the whipped cream out, he also says, give me a shot grandmother and I hit that button and spray a mouthful of whipping cream into his mouth. He is such a joyful child. Sometime he does not get his feel so I have to "hit" him again, He is a cat lover and the only human being I know of, that can pet the spoiled cat from his head to his tail. My finicky feline does not care for his sister, Shea.

She approaches everything with this look on her face! The cat is mortified and runs away to hide until he knows she has left the building. She is a crazy girl, hates the word N O and will sit quietly when she is given her meals. There is nothing she won't eat and she gives everyone a run for their money. She is getting faster on foot and can leave you in the dust. But when she is sleepy she is as sweet as a tiny kitten. She is going to miss her brother when he goes to school. He can make her laugh , stop her tears and generally keep her in an excellent mood. The two of them together can light up a room.

“Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.”

James Herriot

“You can not look at a sleeping cat and feel tense.”

Jane Pauley

I hope you will come join the fun with Ellen and Lorianne. They think up thes egreat weekly selections here:

1. I am contemplating ________________.

2. My ________________are___________.

3. I can ________________in record time.

4. I miss the days when__________________.

Sweet Dreams and a hopeful tomorrow. Be happy, be safe, be kind.