gerber daisies

among my favorite flowers.

I usually get some every year for my pots.they're great cut-flowers to put in a vase as well.and yes, they are real.
I don't do 'fake flowers' to look real. lol. :)

(ha! ha!, Livi!)

what makes me happy

Kelly at Kelly's Korner hosts a blog carnival

each Friday titled 'Show Us Your Life.'
Today's post is about What Makes You Happy.
I thought I'd participate this week.

I like to believe that it doesn't take much to make me happy.
I 'try' to be happy and focus on even the tiniest to find happiness.
True happiness doesn't come from 'things' ...
since, you know, 'things' are really just temporal.
True happiness and joy comes from above.

First, I'd have to say, my happiest times on earth
are those times spent with my husband.
Just the two of us.Me and him.
On vacation.
Sitting in our living room.
Working together in our garden.
Just being together is a wonderful place to be.

My other 'happies' include, but are not limited to the following:

• being with our family - immediate and extended family! (and especially those sweet nieces)
• spending time with our awesome friends.
• cookies and milk, cherry limeades, and banana splits
• hearing Chris' truck turn in the drive (or actually before he makes the turn). And Thumpy typically hears it before I do. Yea, he's got a 'redneck-loud' truck
• the smell of rain - and the sound of rain (but no thunder or lightning)
• experiencing God. in His Word. in church. in music. in events of my life
• a clean house
• listening to Chris yell and scream at a concert (he even yells for DP!)
• flowers blooming in my yard
• seeing Thumpy excited that we've returned home to her
• being at the beach - sand beneath my feet and the sound of waves in my ear
• shopping (with at least a little $$) - I'm not a window shopper! :)
• and sweet surprises ... snail mail, a handful of wildflowers, catch-up emails/texts from friends, for-no-reason gifts, random phone calls, or a handful of candy 'just because' ... those are the best!

I have much to be happy about!
God sends these little 'happies' my way often.
I am blessed tremendously!

haven't seen the likes of this lately

seemed like step back in time.
no debit card or credit card use.
only cash.
not computerized.
antique, and out-dated for sure.

that was then ...

this is now:the result of 10 years of marriage!

(i couldn't resist just one more anniversary post) :)

wordless wednesday

sister love

big sister, Cheyenne

lovingly adores
new little sister, Audreyand shares sweet soft kissesand wants to help and mother baby constantly.
not realizing or admitting that
she's not much more than a babe herself.

two anniversaries

today would have been

my Mom and Dad's
30th wedding anniversary.
and it is my cousin, A and wife, C's anniversary!
happy anniversary, you two!
may God bless you with many, many more beautiful years.

while I wasn't looking

this precious little girl turned one-year-old!
(to be exact, she turned one on April 5th)

I wanted to remember a few sweet pictures
of the first year of life.
so even though, I'm over a month late,
I'm posting anyway.
hope you had a happy, happy birthday, A!

She has changed and grown so much.

And I can't to watch her grow each year.
"A, I love you sweet niece of mine!"

a special anniversary getaway

since Chris doesn't have vacation time, yet, with his new job,

we had a quick anniversary getaway,
we do plan to celebrate more later on this year.

but, on the day of our anniversary,
we visited the quaint little mountain towns
of Highlands and Cashiers.meandered through the streets
strolled in and out of the specialty shops.
enjoyed an ice cream cone.
scouted out several local waterfalls.
had dinner at a 'famous' bbq place - Carolina Smokehouse.
we even took Thumpy along for the trip.

@ Dry Falls:@ Bridal Veil Falls: Bust your Butt swimming hole
(and that's the actual name on the brochure)Cullasaja Falls:

we had a sweet time together,

leisurely enjoying our day,
just us,
doing only whatever we wanted to. ;)

and Chris even found a 4-leaf clover.
the first one he has ever found in his life.
I'm not a believer of luck.
but, thought, that was pretty neat-o! ha! ha!

i (heart) spring

no air on in the house, yet.
we're enjoying the savings on the utility bill.
just 3 open windows.the night air cools things down.
the hot air rises and is trapped in our large attic.

and the house stays pleasant through the day.

and I am loving it.

ahh. fresh air. spring weather.

11 years of marriage

for my cousin, L, and her husband, B

they got married the year before Chris and I.
April 17th(once again, I'm late with this post)
(my life was extremely crazy on her anniversary)

such a special event.
hers was the first of weddings in quite some time.
we had so much fun planning.
shopping for the perfect dress.
preparing for showers.
the first wedding that I was involved in.
my first as maid of honor.exiting as Mr. and Mrs.such a happy coupleL & B, I hope #11 was great!!
may God bless you with many happy, love-filled years!
we love you!

birdie babies

yep, they've started hatching!see the fuzzy little babies!

sprouts in the garden

we planted our garden on Saturday, May 8th.
and by Friday, May 14th - we had sprouts!
talk about excitement.
we are so thankful for the rain and warm weather.
these are okra sprouts:corn sproutspea sproutswe are so thrilled with garden progress.
soon we will be thinning out the rows.

we also planted the following plants:
peppers, tomato, cucumber, squash, watermelon, and cantaloupe

unusually, we enjoy the hot, hard work.
our garden is small. so it's not too much work.
and working together - we accomplish the work quickly.
and hey, we're still new at this.
so maybe that's why we don't mind.

and we can't wait to reap the benefits of fresh veggies.

a 'fern' surprise

each spring,

after I hang ferns across the front porch,
there's always a mama bird
who finds the one hanging on the left, by the flag pole,
to be special enough for her nest.this year is no different.
I'm beginning to wonder if it is the same bird. lol.every time I step out front,
she violently flies away - and we're both scared.
she of me entering her territory.
and me, well, I'm not accustomed to the sudden fluttering.
I just need to water her fern-camouflage.
hopefully I'll get pictures of bird babies too!

an explanation

for the irregular blogging.

my emotions have been all over the place.
I am unsure of how much or how little to share.
and I've been busy. possibly trying to distract myself.
many things are happening in my life.
and, the month of May is a roller coaster ride of emotions for me.

as you know, Chris and I celebrate our anniversary on the 6th.
and it was a big one this year --- 10 years!
which was exciting and fun to celebrate.

then three days later, on Sunday, May 9th,
it was the special day to celebrate the blessing
of a wonderful mother and mother-in-law.

but on that same day, May 9th, the year 1998,
there were not-so-pleasant memories to recall
of losing my dear father that I only knew 16 years.
I feel so robbed of so much.
he wasn't able to share in my graduation.
or walk me down the aisle on my wedding day.
and I feel as if I need him more now than ever.
then I remind myself ... others lost their dad even younger than I,
including my mom, who lost her father at 5 years old or so.
and some people never even know their dad.
so, I resolve to trust that God knows what's best!
even if it means pain.

but visiting this spot doesn't get easier.tears always flow. my heart aches.

I only have the painful memory of saying "goodbye" here.
however, I'll choose the more pleasant memories.
he was definitely a one-of-a-kind man.gentle. wise beyond his years.
a heart of gold. peacemaker.
influential role model. prayer warrior.
lover of God and his family.I miss him.
I look forward to Heaven.

happy anniversary, T&A

9 years since your beautiful wedding day!

wow! look how far you've come.
and next year will be the big TEN for you two!
YIPPEE!I hope you have a wonderful day!celebrate your love.
remember your big special day.
gaze into the bright future.
and enjoy to the fullest!!!I'm so glad I was able to share in the joy that day.
I can recall it distinctly.
Since I was a part of the bridal party,
I do not have personal pictures.
And I don't have copies of professional pictures, yet. ;)
HAPPY 9th ANNIVERSARY, T&A!
Love you both!