It is the little things in life that make each day special!

A red tomato and a pink zinnia!

Sunflowers and zinnias from our garden!

Deer playing in field across the way.

Produce from our first ever garden.

A spunky little dog...NOT using the potty pad correctly!  She is playing in the WRONG place with her toys.

Weekend company!  Time with our grown-up chair fillers is ALWAYS a blessing!

Saturday morning Swedish pancake breakfast for my girl...and me too.

A new dip recipe for my guy!  Dill pickle dip...but this time made with Sweet Heat Pickles.  YUM!

Such a beautiful first tomato!!!

And it tasted so good on sourdough toast!

Time in the Walmart oil change waiting room on Sunday afternoon proved to be very interesting.  An older, southern bred and born man noticed the canning jars in my cart and that started a conversation that was enjoyable!  I learned as I asked him questions...a gardener and canner.  His garden is done for the year...wait, WHAT?  He plants early.  Some people get two and three plantings down here!  I was intrigued listening.  He cheered us on in our learning the art of gardening and putting up our harvest.  "Hopefully, you will end up with a mess of green beans too!"

I have noticed that people who are out and about here will look at you and acknowledge your presence.  If you say "Hello" or even smile, it prompts a conversation depending on the situation.  If we just put our phones down and looked up...we would notice the people that God puts in our path!  Just an every day conversation brought a smile to both our faces...and I learned a few things.  You never know who needs some kindness and a moment or two of your time. PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN...and see people!

 

We are getting promoted to GRANDPARENTS!

Teddy and Sloan shared their news with us on Mother's Day...and we kept the secret!

They announced it to the rest of their friends and family on Father's Day...using the outfit that we brought Teddy home!  I cannot even believe that little guy grew up to be the man he is now...yet...he did!  We had the privilege of watching and helping him.

Wow!  From parents to grandparents...we shall see what our names will be!  What we do know...we will do our best to make visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house full of fun memories...just like our parents did for our children!

 

A hurting heart today on Mom's 2nd birthday in Heaven

This was our last picture together.  I didn't know it would be.  Ted and I traveled to Florida in May.  He had a conference to attend and spent time with Mom.  We were able to be there for Mother's Day with our Mothers!  I am glad we took the time to take the pictures and to grab another hug.  I am glad I learned to slow down when I would visit in Florida.  I am glad I was able to fly down to be with her and Dad multiple times.  I am glad that God showed me when to go down and provided all the details in June of 2024.  I am thankful for the hours at her side in the hospital.  My heart hurts that she is not here to share all the changes that life has brought these last two years.  I ache to talk to her.  I would love to be the one to tell her that I am going to be a Grandma.  I wish she could come visit us in TN with Dad to our house on the hill.  But God had other plans for all of us, and I don't want her to miss the joys of Heaven.  I will spend time being thankful for the time God gives us with our family and friends...pouring into others just like she did!

 

June 24...a Happy Golden Birthday!

I saw the beautiful colors of sunrise at 6:00 am, thanks to Oakley!  Later, the fog rolled in till the sun got higher to burn it all off.  What a pretty morning as I got to work to finish up the last parts of a special delivery!  

Fresh strawberries to go into cupcakes!  Homemade buttercream that I was hoping wouldn't melt!

I filled the cupcake liners too full and they baked into each other.  Next time...less will work better!

I packed up lunch, birthday treats, the dogs, and we drove to Knoxville to be with the girls!  Such a beautiful day for a drive!

Pink and gold...whoops, Alisa's Christmas placements...added more color.

We sang to her and asked her to make a birthday wish as she blew out candles...2 candles and 4 candles for 24!  Mom has botched multiple opportunities for birthday plans this year. I forgot to go back and grab the gold 24 I had found at Hobby Lobby.  In my defense, I was not supervised in my favorite store and wandered the rows, overwhelmed by all the pretty things!  I had not been in several months.

The day's plans were lowkey and involved a day spent inside away from people.  No fanciness!  And I have learned to not snap pictures when we are in the relaxed, no makeup, messy hair, and lounge clothes state.  Just three girls and three dogs...food, treats, chick flick, naps, and quiet!  I hope and pray they felt re-energized to be adulty and peopley today!  Working in and with the public is no joke these days.

Happy Birthday to our sweet Alisa!  and Ashlynn too!  She had a June birthday too.

It was yummy!

Oh the memories!

Our sweet girls!  And we didn't even take a picture together...again!  We have been together a couple of times and have not documented it well for the memories for the blog.  We will next time!

I am in awe of how fast the years have gone by as I look at pictures and then get to watch our young women!  24 and 25 and the best of friends...and I now know how my Mother felt every time we all got together.  Thankful...teary...blessed...
 

Happy Birthday to our Ashlynn!

I love when I get pictures and polos from my girls!  Of course, Mom is worried that the day won't be special, and then I get updates that it is.  I love that UTCU acknowledges their employees' birthdays...a simple way to show appreciation.  So grown up and handling life...how is she 25 years old already?!?

We got to spend the day together when the guys went to Bristol.  We enjoyed Chinese food and shopping!  And I will say that Ashlynn is a bad influence on me when it comes to shopping excursions.  Both girls cannot be trusted!  Ha!

We are on a quest to find the best crab rangoon around here.  This was ok, but "it is too crabby". Ha!

It is fun putting together packages for my birthday girls. 

 

Memorial Weekend 2026

I unpacked several boxes.  Cleaned.  Got the basement room and bathroom ready for guests.  Cooked up some good food for supper and waited for everyone to arrive.

Alisa, Ashlynn, Alex, and Coco came to stay on Saturday!  The guys brought another load of stuff from the storage unit.  We ate yummy grilled chicken and relaxed...inside because it was warm.  I didn't get a single picture because I was just enjoying having everyone here.  Sunday's sunrise was beautiful!

The kids joined us for church and dinner...taco frito!  Ashlynn, Alex, and Coco headed home on Sunday afternoon.  Alisa stayed.

We played with the puppies.  I decided on the name Oakley for our new baby...a nod to the four huge oak trees on our property.

Monday, Teddy and Sloan came over...fun with the puppy and working in the garage!  I forgot to get a picture of us girls doing watercoloring.

We celebrated Teddy's birthday early with a favorite dessert of his...homemade ice cream cake.

Alisa and I got to go out for lunch and shopping on Tuesday before she left to go home.

We got her laundry done!  And she was so sweet to help her brother figure out some things.  I love watching our adult children...adult!

This man works so hard...it was nice that he was able to have some downtime to chill out!

We are pretty sure Oakley likes her new home!  She has been a balm to our hearts.

Daddy has already spoiled her with eggs!