Book Fair, Tuesday Treasures, My 77th Birthday and Thursday Art Class....

I met Amber at the Bell Grands middle school to help set up the Scholastic Book Fair! 

Harrison is a library aid and helped us set up.

Jennifer (the librarian) had done all the hard stuff before we got there since she'd been working on it since last week setting the stage for the fair.

Brenda and I celebrated my birthday on Tuesday and ventured over to Dallas to check out a thrift store Susan from the kids' school recommended.

It was a bit of a wild goose chase but we finally found it having discovered the shop had moved.

The three sunflower arrangements were just $6 from that shop and I also bought a brand new fall pumpkin long sleeved t-shirt for $5.

The pillow and enamel sign from our favorite Texas Thrift store.

We decided to come back to Irving and ate lunch at El Fenix.

The food was delicious and this was the first margarita I'd had in a very long time.

Sunflowers!

My Christmas candle for 2025

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I found two brand new flocked garlands with lights!

Brenda and I had such a good day but we did say to each other, "Having fun can be exhausting!"

I picked Louis Dean up when I got home and we shopped Aldi.

He is strong and I am not and have decided to take him with me when I shop for groceries.

Wednesday was a good day to turn 77!

I spent the day doing things I love!

Book Fair with Amber!

Later that afternoon I worked on Chapter 46 of my book and I am so excited about writing!

It's 2005 and my life was turning around for me.

I use my handwritten diaries to help me remember things and I read the first page for the New Year of 2005.....

Advice to Myself for 2005.

 Take life one day at a time.

Pace myself.

Don't look too far ahead or too far behind.

Trust the plan that God has for me.

Believe that each day everything will come to me that I need.

Don't control.

Relax.

Enjoy.

Experience.

Stay true to my convictions.

Do the next right thing.

Don't be nosey.

Work hard.

Try new things.

Live each day and don't just survive.

Think the best of others.

Wear something pretty every day.

Take care of myself.

Talk to my children often.

Always do Quiet Time and praise God every single day.

Hold my shoulders back.

Don't be afraid of doing something that needs to be done - just do it.

Enjoy the small pleasures of life - these are big deals.

Wear fragrance daily.

Pray for others faithfully.

Read a lot.

After all the hard things I have written about in previous chapters, it's an absolute joy to look forward to writing the last of the book. I'm thinking maybe 50 chapters in all.

Jesse and Rachel invited me over for a birthday dinner and it was wonderful!

Grandson Levi was just leaving for work so I had a chance to give him a hug and take a photo.

Rachel is a great 'from scratch' cook and her Chicken Alfredo was SO good!!

Guess what I'm taking a pic of?

Nothing Bundt cakes!!

It was a totally lovely birthday from start to finish!

I was up and at 'em early this morning and managed to be just 15 minutes late for my 12:00-2:00 time slot for book fair.

I stayed a little late since the extra book order came in and it's always fun to fill the shelves up again.

As Jennifer says, "I can't sell what I don't have!"

Thursday art class happened at 4:00  today and we had a good time.

Brenda was here to do the pumpkin craft.....

Just look what a beautiful job she did.

Shirley and I worked on our Santas....

Two more sessions to go but I'm loving it so far!

Each one is different....

I love doing these!

Once my Santas are done - I will pack up my art and put together my fall dining table.

I am so proud of Shirley!

Her very first ever oil painting.

I told her I threw her into the deep end and she's a natural artist and has done so well!

Amen!