Stitching, Easter, and Spring

 Once again, I didn't plan to be gone so long. I had to keep multiple grandsons on the weekdays before and after Easter so that blew any semblance of routine and order right out of the water. They had a wonderful day riding their bikes and scooters out front in the circle. Easter was blessed as well. Then this past week was the week of appointments. Too many appointments. By the end of the week I just felt out of sorts. Jeff did get good news on his latest bladder scope...no new tumors. That is a win. I didn't hear from my diagnostic test on Friday as I had hoped which kind of leaves a little heaviness on my weekend, but such as that is life.

We will start with stitching and then do some life pictures. I am stitching on Oh Happy Day by Plum Street Samplers. I finally got the border done and was able to start on the inside. The inside of the pattern which I shared in my last post is getting some changes. 

Here is where I stand this Saturday.

I think it is going to work with my plans. It does seem smaller than I anticipated which is really a good thing. I have limited space to add a ton of patriotic decor, but I do want to add a little for this year starting with Memorial Day in May.

Here is my graphing out of America 250 and I am currently playing around with "We the People."

I am so happy to be back enjoying stitching again. I had gotten into such a funk that nothing was drawing me in and now I have a stack of things I want to do. I am a one project at a time stitcher for the most part now because my brain can't take too many different things going on at one time. Don't know if it is old age or just my life at this moment in time.

Easter found it cloudy and rainy. We could not be sad about rain as we are in a drought here. Rain was good news. It did hold off long enough for the egg hunt. One of the children below was not happy. I had a golden egg in the bunch and he had not found it first. That would be the oldest, Tucker. Mimi will NOT do a golden egg again. He was told by his mommy he would smile or he would not get to do something or other, so he gave it his best shot.

Valerie was trying to figure it all out. By the time she went to her other grandparents house later in the day she had figured out what this strange thing was though.

You can see above that Tucker was clearly the winner of most eggs, but the golden egg did him in. No golden eggs. 

Here they were heading out.

On Good Friday, I had Miles and Palmer who had a blast together. Sometimes they argue a lot, but I don't think I heard anything all day but getting along. They found an egg in the flower beds from last year.

Hard to tell they are a year apart in age.

Here they were at lunch. Like I said, they got along very well and had a really good day together which helped tired Mimi and Paw Paw out a lot.

It was windy here all week and cool on a couple of the days, but at least I wasn't getting snow like some I saw on social media. I think that should be the end of cool here. You kind of just get that sure enough spring/summer vibe today out there.

My bottlebrush shrubs are popping out all over. My day lilies are starting to show leaves. They had come up earlier this spring and got nipped once more and kind have been slow coming up this year. I think we have rounded the corner of all that now though.

In a little bit of other news, many of you have followed Lindsay's woes with her health since Palmer's birth. That birth didn't go well which led to a subsequent surgery and quite honestly I think may have led to the second surgery she has had since his birth. She had the endometriosis and the doctor just wanted to put her on birth control. That was a no for so many reasons. Neither she no I could take it without migraines and we both feel it is not all that healthy for you.

I found her a functional medicine doctor similar to what I had gone to get well. She had the multitude of bloodwork and tests and has met with her since all that along with a nutritionist. She is doing her one month for lack of a better word, detox. I am cheering her on and she is about 8 days in now. I told her the worst part is over. It gets so easy from then on. She did find out from all her tests that she too is gluten sensitive. I think that was her worst news, but I KNOW I am better without it. It is hard, but I find it makes it easier to deal with it when you feel the difference. 

I know it is a buzz word these days, but we both have the tests to prove it with us.

My hope is she is finding out some things much earlier than I did and will avoid some of my troubles. She was able to find out some very helpful information overall so that was good news.

AND yes, I did watch the splashdown yesterday. I have followed the whole thing with gusto. It feels good to have something positive to look at on the news or phone these days.

In an effort to blog more and shorter posts, I will close out there and hopefully pop back in sooner.

April showers will hopefully bring some May flowers for us,

Sandy

Easter Blessings

 I felt like I needed to add one addendum to my last post on puttering in my yard. I showed you a photo a couple of posts back of these 2 geraniums....

The one of the right was bought first and I planted in the correct sized pot. The location should bring lots of geranium blooms until the intense heat of summer comes and then it will bounce back in November and December. However, it seems I do the same thing each year ---I think, "Oh no, you look so sad and alone. No worries, I will buy you a friend." Then I purchase another one and for some reason put it in a lower pot in which case it kinda falls over and is unhappy for a few weeks until I change the pot to the taller one. I have made this mistake the last couple of years for certain. I am going to try and remember that they seem to like the deeper pot next year. We will see!

Of course, I once put tons together ---

I have since simplified much and one is the geraniums. The 2 are plenty to enjoy.

One more thing I forgot to mention in my puttering in my flowers was that I have deemed the snow to have been a good thing for the azaleas this year. All of the locals agreed with me that this year was a BANNER YEAR for them all over town. I even had the owner of the jewelry store comment on them as well. It wasn't just me!

*****

Now on to Easter blessings. I really tried with all my heart to set my mind on not letting the message of Easter pass me by or Easter Sunday show up and I haven't given my heart and mind proper time to consider the holiness of the day.

For Christians, it is our holiest day - the day we remember He arose!

The tomb is empty and He is living.

I took a very long walk on the beach this past Wednesday. It wasn't planned. I had started the week quite busy and knew that Thursday and Friday were Mama days with appointments, so about noon I thought why should I not go to the place that feeds my soul. 

I drove myself out to the beach with no chair and decided to just walk. I took a very long walk. Easily got in my 10,000 steps for the day. 

It was the most gorgeous day. Look at that blue sky and those emerald waters. 

It truly gave me time to prepare my heart.

I didn't expect to have my full family with me this year as Tyler's parents were coming down Thursday for the weekend. I am happy they were able to visit and see both boys play baseball, going boating and even stayed for church this morning. They hit the road so I ended up getting all the family together. 

Lindsay let me know quick enough that I got eggs filled with candy and quarters for a hunt. Jeff cooked most of the dinner so this little mama's heart was so full.

With the past couple of years, it seems as if one thing or another has tried to beat me down, but I DO KNOW the Lord has me and He is in control even if I don't like the way it feels sometimes. Rain grows us just like the flowers. 

Jeff too is doing much better after the cancer scare. It has made us so appreciative of the days. WE know there could be more tough ahead but we will be grateful for every single blessing that comes our way.

He texted the next three pics this morning to our family. I think it truly true.

*I have decided to continue blogging and make it a priority, not for any other reason other than for posterity's sake. A journal of the good for my children.

So you get to follow along and see our family's text.

What a blessing Jeff is our family's life! A leader in every way. Life has dealt him some hard blows, but Jesus lives within our hearts so we will be ok.

Here are a few scenes from today and yes, it will be a bit of picture overload. I hope my children one day will love the journal I am committed to keeping for them.

I had the pleasure of having Palmer today at church. As a family we generally attend our first service, but Lindsay's group attended the second service which is my serving service time.  Paul Allen's family attended the normal time and Jeff, Mom and I attended Saturday evening at 6:00. Mother really wanted to try and go so we figured the evening service would be the least crowded.

Saturday was indeed less crowded, and we were able to get her on the golf cart and right at the side door. The guy that drove us up before was waiting on us when we came out. Bless him! She seemed tired last night, but I was glad she wanted to go. Based on what I am seeing these days I honestly think that will be her last church service. She is getting too feeble to make it all the way in and it is a lot for her. She is good for a long time yet, but things such as that take a lot out of her. 

 ***

Tucker and Palmer had the cool factor with the Easter bunny.

I almost forgot to order Valerie one. These are Amish baskets that I have ordered for all. I managed to get her one here in time which the truth is I could have waited. Cute, pink and girlie after 3 boys.

Miles and Valerie this morning. Valerie has on one of Lindsay's smocked dresses made by Mama. I think it made her happy.

Lindsay's family with an added Miles who loves his aunt and uncle.

Katie's birthday is this week, so I made her favorite dessert, strawberry pretzel salad

She got a special present this year. One of the perks of giving jewelry as special gifts has been being able to pass down jewelry from grandparents to our children. We had Lindsay a necklace made with things from Jeff's mom for Christmas a couple of years ago. This time we took a stone and some diamonds from her rings again and then used some wedding bands to make the rings for her necklace. We only had to buy the August birthstone. This has Miles and Valerie's birthstones.

I think she was pleased and a little stunned, but we consider Katie and Tyler to be our children as well.

Paul Allen and his family.

The 3 Musketeers

On the hunt.

A little fishing.

And a girl in the mix.

We set the timer for the Easter photograph.

 Seriously, I am so blessed. Both of kiddos have prioritized church for their little ones. Jeff is here with me. Mom has lived a long life. 4 little grands to love on.

Grateful beyond words. 

These are probably not the most interesting posts for blogging where they are all family, but I am planning to keep that part in for my family. I will continue to add other things too as I have time and the thoughts. 

Blog friends have been an unexpected blessing that I didn't fully understand when I launched this thing, but I am grateful for you too. 

Happy Easter,

Sandy

Life Lately

 Spring is finally coming in to the Deep South. It has been hit or miss these days, but I have some glorious days soaking up any sun and warmth that comes my way. I had a busier than even normal week last week and even mentioned in my cross stitch post last Thursday. In today's post,  I think I am in going to go in reverse order. We will share some good stuff first.

My first roses of the spring '24 season.

Jeff and I went to the movie yesterday. I have ALWAYS been a huge Karen Kingsbury fan, so when I saw that she had a movie out that SHE was in total control of and making it herself I knew I would need to go as soon as possible. What I didn't know was that kids would be sick and mamas and daddies would actually be home with them and I would be able to go as soon as it was released. Everyone run to it. Even Jeff said it was a great original story. 

The Baxters are out on Amazon Prime video. I am enjoying that as well.  If you are a Kingsbury fan too, then you know who the Baxters are! The one thing I can say about Kingsbury is that all of her books are full of hope and inspiration and I have seen her speak several times and she is truly so uplifting. Much needed in this day and age. Go read yourself one of her books for a lift.

Easter was special as always. I might have been a wee bit tired by the end of the day and that week leading up to it really tried to steal my joy and get me undone, but thankfully I fought all that off. I might have had to lay on the couch after everyone left, but I love Easter and all it stands for. 

Here a few pics. I didn't take a bunch but enough to remember the family moments. 

The kids at church. Jeff and I attended the service on Saturday night and I worked the 2 on Sunday morning. Jeff's back was not his best so he stayed home Sunday morning and hobbled around getting all my instructions for dinner taken care of. 

Egg hunting by Tucker and Palmer and Gus.

Palmer is cheesing it up and Miles didn't feel well and was totally uninterested by this time to get his picture made with his cousins.

Family shot...I wore my cute outfit Saturday night and my kids' shirt on Sunday morning as usual. 

I think Miles put three eggs in his basket and balked at the fun anymore. 

It was a crazy week last week with so many things going on and too many appointments, but it prompted me to realize I have to make some changes on that front and I have and am in the process of more. 

Miles will be home with Mama at the end of May and starts daycare in August when she goes back to school. I still may have to keep him one or two days a week, but that will be ironed out later. He is definitely ready for some children. Anytime the other boys are here he just loves it.

On Good Friday, I carried all three to the park for most of the morning. It was a huge success and made the day go by much faster.

Jeff was hobbling along and got to go get an MRI later that day. Tomorrow he gets the results. He has had terrible back issues for at least the last 6 weeks. He will have 2 good days followed by 2 horrible days. He is getting down about it all. I am not sure if Parkinson's is related to it, but it certainly isn't helping so I am hoping for an answer that he can live with tomorrow.

If all that wasn't enough with 2 days with all three boys, 5 appointments for Mother (doctors, test, and beauty related), Easter ---then throw in a family reunion on the Saturday before Easter up home in Alabama. Yep, I have no boundaries on time OR shall I say that is past tense:)

Mother and I drove up one way and came back another and got in the full countryside and let me say spring while it has been cooler put on a show for us on Saturday.

The azaleas at my Aunt Faye's house were so pretty.

It was a challenging week, but visiting with all my cousins that I don't see often reminded me I am not alone in the many problems. I think all 5 who were there had so many issues facing them too. I do not know how people get through without faith in God. 

I can tell you God has met me and is walking with me so closely and for that, I am grateful! 

This verse has been my promise for 2024... I have shared it before, but it worth repeating.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

Life Lately and Easter

Time is traveling at supersonic speeds these days. I am in such a busy season of life. I didn't imagine a decade ago that I would be so busy. I was still teaching and thought to myself, "I can't wait to retire from teaching, so I can slow down." I chuckle at that often. Teaching had an added stress that my busy days do not have, and I have no desire to go back. 

I was all rested from the week off for spring break. I had no grandsons to care for and Jeff and I had decided to just stay home and rest. I knew I would have all 3 boys on the Monday after, but it turned into 2 when the daycare that Tucker and Palmer attend was putting in new floors and didn't get it finished. I have no idea what working parents do who don't have a grandma to help out. The story got even crazier again.

Lindsay left here on that Tuesday afternoon to head home. When she got home she was in for a big surprise. Nothing bad like the first one, but a shocker anyway. I truly wish I had a picture for you to see. She FaceTimed me so I did get to behold the sight myself. Remember, they had new floors after a month of concrete and were now getting painting done. 

Let me back up for a minute. The insurance did come through and since Tyler works for a construction company he was able to get the most bang for the dollar. The flooring was practically free so he was able to get the whole house painted and new baseboards throughout and even add some shiplap to the walls in the kitchen and around the fireplace. 

Now, back to the story. On Monday, the painter came and they talked as best they could about painting. He was Mexican as many construction workers here are these days. She thought they were going to paint one room at a time, but these guys do big projects for the construction company, so they envisioned their normal routine. WOW WEE... When she walked into the house on Tuesday, every single thing was off the walls, the closets were emptied, etc, and all of the furniture and ALL of that stuff was moved to the center of each room wrapped heavily in plastic. The new floors were covered in plastic. If you haven't guessed by now, they would be spraying. Anything white would be first, anything that was one of the two colors they chose would be next and then the final color. In other words, you had to move out again.

Tthat evening they drove back here and trudged in to spend the rest of that week here trying to make do with little clothing. While they were on their way here, I sent Jeff to get lunch stuff for them and then I remembered Palmer had lost one of his shoes here that day. Jeff then proceeded to go to Kohl's to buy a new pair of tennis shoes, while I prepared the beds. The funny thing is I had been downstairs the day before letting the boys run around and Tyler got up the next morning early to take a shower and found the missing shoe in the shower downstairs. Palmer got a new pair of shoes anyway because the others were getting small. 

Now, in as much as all that crazy story that is just a sampling of the crazy busy life I lead, there have been many blessings too. For one, the flooring that covered their whole house being leftover in a warehouse in Pensacola from a project that all was needed was to get a trailer and go pick it up. That shaved off a lot of money and let them get the whole house painted. They chose a different color since the flooring was darker than their original.

I will share pictures when all is back in order completely. They have had so many life interruptions. The week that was all happening was the week Lindsay puts on a huge job fair for the school district. Folks, nothing is ever smooth sailing over here. I think people don't know because we are a family of doers and we don't whine, so most would never know that week was such a crazy one.

Here is a sneak peak of Lindsay's home. You can see the colors. The main areas got Sea Salt on the walls and the bedrooms got Oyster Bay. New tile around the fireplace.

Palmer's room was put back together first because it was easy and he had to go down first. The Oyster Bay is so pretty on the bedroom walls. 

Now, we can move on to other things. The weather is all over the place. It has slowed me down this year on my outdoor projects. It seems like every weekend is rainy or cool. It also seems like I have more to do this year than usual with the colder winter we had in December. Much more has needed attention. I know I will get it done eventually.

I have only managed to get straw down in the front 2 flowerbeds. There is much more to do. Notice the cloudy.

The next photograph was taken a little later than the one above and shows that the bottlebrush have exploded with color. I really thought some of them might be dead, but I finally pruned them and they just popped.

The daylilies and magnolias are all starting their shine. The magnolias are already just showing off or completed loaded with their flowers about to open. Just beautiful. The spring thus far has been cloudy so many days. If the sun pops out, Miles and I spring into action to go for a stroller ride.

I planted more roses in pots on the lower deck this year and I am already getting to have cut roses on the kitchen counter. 

This makes my heart sing with joy.

Proof that Palmer seems to like to pull one shoe off and then not know where it is.

He is our little blonde boy. 

I will save the stitching for later since this has been a long post.

I have been busy with so many things. We lead a Bible Study at our home on Wednesday evenings. We are getting ready to lead a group at church on Sunday mornings that is for those that have questions about faith. It lasts for 5 weeks, so I will lead that with Jeff and teach my littles and watch the service at home for those weeks. Easter was just amazing. 

On Good Friday, I put my phone and computer mostly down for the weekend to just soak up the wonderful thing my Savior did for me. I could almost tear up in a good way counting my blessings.

I will share far too many pictures of my family for Easter and catch up with everyone. I don't read as many blogs as I once did or comment like I should, but you know what...I can't get this time back as it flies so fast and these little boys won't be little long.

T-ball, working in the yard, church, seeing about Mama, cooking, cleaning, reading and a wee bit of stitching keep me hopping in a good way.

Palmer was not feeling the picture taking vibe.

Notice he has on one shoe:)

We used the timer for this one.

Oh and the kids took their picture together at church.

I will try and get back with a stitching post soon.

Sandy