Wednesday's Cheers!

The birds woke me up this morning - apparently singing their hearts out before the rain started. Again.

After our morning routine of stupor time, Bible reading and out loud reading,  I started cleaning my bathroom.

I cleaned out and organized all makeup and everything under the sink.

I cleaned the floor and the shower.

By the time I lit the candle, everything was sparkling!

I love the smell of CLEAN.

Louis Dean has been feeling a bit blah.

I'm thinking it's the steroids and the antibiotics.

Tomorrow is his last day of medicine and I'm sure he will be perking right up!

Early this afternoon we went just down the street to the Irving Arts Center and voted.

Hopefully by election day we will be in the country!

We would have walked except for the rain - it's that close to our house.

I made up a cheese/turkey/cracker tray and carried it out to the gazebo when we got back.

The rain was still falling but, even with the rain curtains open, it was dry out there.

Cheers!

I love being retired and having a glass of wine at 3:30 in the afternoon if we want to!

We opened up our mail and received two big treats!

Amber tells us that the quads have been earnestly praying for their Granddad every evening at the dinner table. I think the prayers of little children are the most powerful prayers in all the world.

 They sent notes and colored papers and their school photos. 

Where are my babies?

These pictures are of Big Kids!

There is something so special about handwritten notes - easpecially from a child.

I love looking at Kailey's writing and reading all the messages from everyone.

That sure put some smiles on our faces!

We had another package in the mail, too!

This one was from a dear friend who used to be my back yard neighbor for years and years.

They have a beautiful and incredible family.

And a BIG one, too!!

This photo was taken at their 60th wedding anniversary!

They have four sons and one daughter and a lot of precious grandchildren!

My children and I admire them so much.

Mary Jo and TC are smack in the middle of this pic.

She's wearing a green top and they are holding hands.

I love that. Still holding hands after 60 years together.

Mary Jo sent us some photos she'd found in her stash - this is of Amber and Benjamin.

I'm not sure who the baby and young girl are.....my memory isn't what I would like for it to be.

Just look at Amber's dimples shining!!

She looks like Kailey here - minus the dimples!

She looks so sweet with her arm about Benjamin's shoulders.

He is so cute!

Mary Jo and TC had a swimming pool in their back yard so I would take the kids over and we would all hang out on a summer afternoon. Such good memories!

Thank you, Mary Jo! Your package and note meant so much to me!

Summer came over for a little visit while we were still in the gazebo.

Mary Jo had sent copies of their family photo - enough for me and my children.

We had fun looking at our pictures this afternoon and was glad Mary Jo had written every one's name on the back - according to rows.

Summer was packing a box to send to Sabrina and Rayne in Puerto Rico and I wanted to add a note and some tuck ins to it.

My friend, Sharon, makes the most beautiful hand made cards.

I have kept every single one she has ever sent me.

That doesn't surprise anyone, now does it?

This was a card from her and I took the front and wrote on the white backside.

This was perfect for the St. Patrick's Day theme to the box!

Summer marveled at the huge selection of new cards Sharon had made and sent me last year for my birthday. She is one very special lady.

Summer had the box pretty full but I added a tiny tin with one chocolate coin wrapped in gold foil.

Last time Rayne was here, the house was still decorated for Christmas and she said she thought there was ONE chocolate coin left in the arrangement on the living room coffee table.

She didn't find it that night but I found it when I was putting up the Christmas things.

 I also printed off copies of scripture art for her to color using my fancy new printer and heavy paper.

God sent us several chunks of cheer today!

And in helping Summer pack and wrap up her box, we got another chunk!

You can't send cheer without getting some back......

It was good to see Summer.

She's had several really rough days lately.

She makes me smile.

Summer says I make her feel better just being here.

That makes my 'mother heart' feel good.

Some things about being a mother never change.

We are happy when our children are happy and it hurts to see them suffer.

I think my children bring out the best in me. They tend to see my strengths more clearly than my faults. They see me in the best light possible. I know I feel the same way about them.

Summer tells me things that I taught her so long ago that I've forgotten them and she's teaching them back to me! One of her sayings is 'Always leave a place better than you found it.'

And she does. She left us with a smile. And a pair of overalls and a pearl snap western shirt for Louis Dean and a pretty turquoise leisure dress for me! Another favorite of hers is - 'actions produce feelings!' So true. 

My way of cheering LD up was cooking a good old fashioned dinner tonight.

Fried pork chops, scalloped potatoes, candied carrots and a fresh garden salad.

He loved it all!

Then, to crown the day, I had a phone call from Grandson Robert and then one from Sherry.

It's always a good thing to keep in touch with those we love and especially those we don't see all the time.

Sherry checked the camper for us yesterday and said all was well.

I told her I bet it was lonely.

Now Louis Dean and I are going to have one final sit in the gazebo before we close up the house for the night.