A Mother/Daughter Day With Amber......

 Mother/Daughter Days do not usually happen per chance.

No, Amber and I plan ahead and, with the busy life she has with husband Mike and Trystan, Kailey, Harrison and Logan - all 8 and nearly 9 years old now - planning ahead is THE only way we get to spend some one on one time together. I stand in awe of how Amber juggles everything on her plate and still serves it all up as appetizing as any 'plate' can be! I am so blessed that she makes it a point to spend time with ME. We had slightly over 8 blissful hours together on Wednesday.

I arrived around 2:00 and we began our adventure.

I value her opinion and advice, and I was in the market for some new makeup as well as fragrance.

Next month I will be meeting my brother, Buster, and my two sisters, Rita and Lori, for the very first time.  It won't be the last time we get together -  I am certain of that -  but first time meetings are so important.

Amber took me to The Shops at Legacy in Plano, near where she lives.

Such a wonderful upscale place!

They even have a photo op all set up!

We shopped Sephora......a favorite of  niece Leah, as well as sister Deanie, and others in the family.

My three purchases.....

Amber was an enormous help in selecting products and shades and fragrance.

I wanted something that smelled classy and not 'old lady' and I found it!

Amber went on to shop Pink and I found a bench to sit and rest.

It was absolutely PERFECT timing when my brother Buster called me just as I was coming out of Sephora with my purchases! I sat on that bench and visited with him like we'd known each other all of our lives.....which we have not. But there may be something about being blood kin that makes you 'recognize' one another on a very special level.

When Buster calls me - this is the photo that pops up on my phone and my heart lifts suddenly every single time. Just looking at the screen and seeing his picture makes me smile.

Sometimes I go to his Facebook page just to 'see' him.

Crazy, right?

I am a Gage.....he is a Gage as is Rita and Lori.

I have 'my people.'

Not that my dearly beloved Deanie, Nita and Lonnie and Luann and Shari aren't my people, as well.

They are as much blood as my newly found siblings.

I am half sister to all  of them.

But I look like the Gages.....and I just love that.

Anyway, it was just perfect that we got to visit for awhile.

In 35 days and a wake up - I will be meeting my brother in person for the very first time.

I will always remember the first time I heard his voice - Sunday, March 21st at 2:00 in the afternoon.

I know that Friday, May 21st - just two months from our first phone call - will be even more special!

Amber and I both love a good movie!

She is especially fond of action films and she found one that fit both of us.

Bob Odenkirk so reminded me of a dear friend's husband.....Jo Ann.....does he not look like Ben???

I could so see Ben during the entire film!

We had a HUGE tub pf popcorn, she had a hot dog and I a chicken sandwich.

I even had my favorite cocktail - a ghost margarita!

The movie ended but we were not finished with our day - yet!

Amber shopped Old Navy and I went into Marshall's that was just next door.

I was looking for some white sports shoes and I found some!

I was wearing a pair of white Skecher mules that were a good 12 years old!

We continued our shopping at Target and I found not one - but TWO bathing suits!

Win! WIN!!!

We all already have our season passes to Hawaiian Falls for the summer!

It was nearly 10:30 when I got home!

I normally do not drive after dark, but I can get home from Amber's with no problem no matter the time of day or night! I was supposed to text her when I got here but I was so excited about everything, I had to share it all with Louis Dean and show him all my 'stuff!'

I went to bed last night with a full and happy heart!!!

I was still so excited that I got up early this morning - as in BEFORE 7:30!

I spent a couple of hours all by myself....sipping coffee....walking around the gardens and yard.....thinking....praying....reading.....

I called Lillian and checked on her.

Her voice sounded the same as on Tuesday.

I told her we would be back to see her before we go to the ranch next week.

And I spent the day cleaning and organizing.

The entire house is clean - except for the sewing room and the den.

They are disaster areas!

I paid bills and ordered some things online and did some computer work.

The cats are so big now!

They will be spending a couple of weeks with Amber and Mike and all the little Bells as well as their sister, Ginger! Not taking them to the ranch until things are more normal down there. Way too much stress trying to keep them in with all the open doors and open holes they can get into.

It's been a chilly rainy day here......

I've been listening to my music as I work.....

and have lit candles in every 'clean' room.

Louis Dean and I take breaks in the living room between his projects and my cleaning.

It's been a good day......

As I close tonight's journal entry....

I must tell those of you who follow by email that the entity that provides that service will not be doing it any more. It's called Feedburner and they will no longer support the 'Follow by email' as I understand it.

I don't have the skills to figure out what to do about the subscriber list.....

so I just thought I'd give y'all a head's up.

I think the service stops in June.

Thank you all for the kind comments on my last post and I truly appreciate the prayers for Devin and Lillian. Devin's surgery has been sceduled for April 21st.