May 9, 2026 A.D.

Baseball season ended this morning. This has been my favorite season yet. I am not sure why, but I do think playing at the older fields which are smaller and renovated this winter made it seem a little nostalgic for me. We tried to go to one game a week each for Tucker and Palmer. Next year, Miles will be old enough to enter the games, so more of this is in my future. I missed another season of Auburn baseball. I am a little bummed that we didn't get up for a game this year and think that I am going to prioritize that next year. 

We have had a real spring this year. There have been many cooler mornings than usual. I have to give all credit for any flowers in pots this year entirely to Jeff. I just was not feeling up to it, but gave him a little freedom to choose colors. We will be a colorful house this year rather than my traditional "white is right for summertime." I have to tell you I am liking it. We have a mixture in each pot up front of pink and white vincas. I think I am liking it! Rather than pots of roses downstairs on the deck we have an array of colors and I am loving it as well. Sometimes I suppose we need change. Jeff has a good little salsa garden going to with tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro.

I shared I was walking in the afternoons like my past days. I am really loving it. It has helped with giving me some alone time to walk, think and pray. I don't exactly have the best location to walk in my neighborhood, so Jeff and Gus, the Springer drive me to parks around town and keep an eye on me for safety while I walk. We have so many wonderful parks around town. I mean really nice ones, but I still feel better knowing Jeff is around to ward off trouble if it should arise for a 65 year old female out by herself. I have been mostly rotating between 3 because 2 of them are by the Sound (water views) and all are shady. The shade will be important as the summer heat is coming. When school is out I will add the beach to my rotation. 

This is one of my spots. The Gulf is just on the other side of the buildings across the water, so I get a salty breeze.

Jeff bought me a FitBit which has been extremely informative to what is going on with my energy levels. For instance, it warned me I needed to rest on this day and I heeded that advice. 

I have noticed in the 2.5 weeks I have worn it that when I don't sleep I feel awful. Duh! Big surprise there, but I'm 65 and I do think my autoimmune issues haunt the sleep patterns. I knew I was off weeks ago which had me thinking I needed to make some changes. I am getting some beneficial information and am changing even my big cleaning days around and trying to even those out some. I was so hoping the doctor would change my thyroid dosage but he did NOT. I am trusting him, even though I know in my heart it is not all just right. I think I have to look at changing some other things too. As with any medication there are side effects -so adding a higher dosage magnifies osteoporosis issues. I do take supplements that benefit me and those were in accordance with doctor advice. I see so much out there, but I do know you can mess up stuff royally just going rogue with additions. For now, I am walking working on that stress relief and listening to my body on the days when I have done more than is considered beneficial.

I am oddly just itching to put all my patriotic decor out. I swore off rushing seasons years back. I usually put it out the week before Memorial Day so it is very soon. I might just go for it this next week. I did put out some ribbons on the swans and light pole to go with Jeff's new flag he bought. I ordered the ribbon off Amazon. I just didn't see any at Michael's quite like that. I also ordered my flags to decorate in the house with from Amazon. See, I am telling you I have the itch this year. I even ordered the kids some patriotic shirts.

I took my stitch to be framed. It should be ready on Friday. I can't wait. I took it in with one idea and completely went another direction with my choice. I hope it all works!

I finally got my 2 little pillows all finished up.

Feather Flock by Plum Street Samplers

Let Freedom Ring by Needle Treasures Nook

I am stitching 2 things at once. Breaking all my rules.

The first is what are called Animal Crackers. This is a whole series of animals finished up to look like animal crackers. I chose the rabbit Maggie Mae and started it. 

Then I saw the goose called Olive which I just had to buy the pattern. I told you my stitching mojo was back. I am so happy about that! Anywho, I like her way more than the rabbit, but I am gonna finish the rabbit. I am doing the rabbit on 28 count which is making it larger than the patterns intended. I felt like I needed to experiment with these before I did a small one and even if I enjoyed them. Stay tuned.

Have y'all noticed the goose resurgence in the decor. I am gonna be back in style in so many ways! HA!

Then I got sidetracked when I saw the next pattern finished by someone on Instagram. I think it will be last patriotic stitch except for the Pledge of Allegiance which is a large stitch and I didn't plan to try and have it finished for this summer. I want to add it to my sampler wall but no timeline on finishing it.

Now I usually stick to one stitch at a time, but reading is a whole different story. I can and do most of the time read multiple books. I am reading 4 good ones at the moment. Yes, you read that right. 4 - I will let one really captivate me and finish and then go back until the next one grabs me, etc. I should have some to share soon.

The Bible study I picked and shared in the last post is actually very good. It Is Well I have enjoyed reading through it. Like I said, I didn't think it had any earth shattering information, but very good reminders to keep the mind on track with the coming times.

My last item of the post is the word discernment. I never ever pick a word of the year. I have read the book that inspired that idea and it is not that I don't think that is a wonderful idea, but I am just never put together to ever come up with one. My mind is all over the place! HA! However, the word discernment was laid on my heart at the beginning of this year with so much incoming information all over the Internet. Honestly, I miss the days pre Internet when I just had my library and the World Book Encyclopedias. I am a total researcher always loving to find answers and read about anything and everything. I think the Internet can be good and not so good for a "me." I do know this, there is some crazy stuff out there, so discernment is wise to pray for!!! 

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. I am expecting my family over tomorrow afternoon to grill out. We will celebrate the generations of moms tomorrow. 

Grands....

Baseball, Stitching, Walking and A New Idea

I have been busy as ever. Between the usual things --keeping house, checking on the flowers, keeping Valerie, and seeing about Mama, we have been enjoying the grandsons' baseball season. It is nearing the end next month, but Tucker's season has been especially fun this year. He is playing machine pitch. He was having such a horrible time batting to begin the season. He was a great fielder and earned a 2nd base slot, but hitting was doing him in. One night it just clicked. He really doesn't have a strong arm that gets a really long hit, but he is consistent and rarely misses getting on base. He earned the right to be the lead off hitter. All of that has been fun to watch as he grew in skills and confidence, but the thing that has really warmed my heart is that each boy has gotten better and they have really gelled as a team. The other night one of the last ones that hadn't been able to get that hit did ---and the team and the stands just went wild cheering for him.

This season has also been special because they renovated the old fields which were smaller and more like what I remembered for Paul Allen's days. Palmer and all the littles can play safely at the ball park and they have so much fun. At the other field which belongs to the city and is really about tournament ball for travel teams was a park that made me so nervous with all the traffic around the fields. I was always watching for little ones rather than full engaged in the game. 

I finished my patriotic stitch. I have to get it to the framers over the weekend. It is one that I am not sure fits into prettiest or best, but I love it. It was what I envisioned for my patriotic decor for 2026. I didn't think I really needed a gigantic sampler even thought there were so many beautiful ones. I am pleased with its imperfection. After all it is a sampler!

I have started my next stitch which follows the pattern exactly and should be easy stitching, but it too is an experiment...something different from my normal choices. I will share next time.

Around the yard, my bottlebrush shrubs are just showing out.

Jeff has planted some flowers where I once had my roses. We are experimenting with what will grow in summer heat on the back deck and bring some color. Time will tell.

Now, I know that geranium won't survive there beyond May, but I will move it when I get my angel wing begonia going. I thought I had lost it to the winter, but it is coming back. I did take some cuttings before winter started and brought them in so I would not have to move any big heavy pots around. That is getting harder for me these days.

Here are some closeups. I didn't really advise him on what to pair with what so one is fuller than the other.

Loving that purple verbena.

I also have fallen in love with marigolds which he has planted in the same pots as his tomatoes. 

He has tomatoes, strawberries, peppers and cilantro planted.

And the hostas are very happy in their new pots. Happiness in a pot!!!

We made it to Auburn last weekend to see the new flooring. LOVE it!

I was ecstatic to see it. It is beautiful. It is darker than the downstairs but they did such a good job tying it in along the stairs

It looks amazing with this bedroom which I totally love.

I think there is a wee bit too much brown in this bedroom, but the bedding helps. I may change out the artwork and lamp shades with stuff I have. Not planning on painting the wall. I will just have to shop the closets here.

I have been changing things up. I told you sometime last year about my latest brainstorm for strength training. I tried as hard as I have ever tried something. I was faithful, BUT exhausted from it. I tried to change it up...lighter weights, less reps, etc. Somewhere down the road I just realized with the pace I am keeping with this house, doctor appointments for one, the stress from Jeff and Mama and keeping Valerie that my plan had passed this 65 year old woman by. 

I then tried the rebounder which I think could be great, but doggone it - it hurt my hip joints. I finally realized that wasn't going to work. 

I have gone back to a similar plan as I had in my 30's and 40's after work. I used to walk/jog after work each week day. No dog, just straight up walking for stress relief and exercise. I walk in the neighborhood a couple of times a day with Valerie in the stroller and Gus on a leash but that is not the kind of walking I need. I am now going every afternoon/evening for a rather long walk (no jogging) outside of my neighborhood so I don't get stopped at every house to talk and without Gus. It is working. It is good for time alone to pray and let all my frustrations out and good for exercise. It is not hurting me and I have come to realize at my age and stage of life it is all I have in me, but it is proving to be beneficial.

For about 3 years now, I just sort of swore off any kind of Bible study or Christian women's book. One day I woke up and just felt like much of was a business and the same authors seemed to be on a schedule to write write write. I don't know why that hit me like that, but it did and for the last 2.5 years I have only read the Bible and anything I was doing specifically for church.

A new lady in our small group brought up a study series which I have seen before and almost bought many times. Anywho, she had no idea when she was telling me about some of them that I was dealing with the issues I am, nor did I even tell her. I decided to order a couple of them and give them a try. They arrived this week. One was on rest and the other on anxiety.

I decided to start with anxiety. I opened up and this line says it all as to the why-

"But for others, anxiety is a new and unexpected part of life - something to manage and try to keep under control."

That is me- this is new and unexpected. I would never describe myself as anxious AND if I am honest I don't think I am going to read anything I don't know or haven't said to a friend who suffers from real anxiety or even to my daughter, 

BUT

I have been hit hard the past couple of years. It has weighted me down, the unknowns, the watching people go downhill physically and so forth. 

I have decided in the first week of this study that I may need to read all of these things that I know to BE REMINDED of them. To remind myself He is sovereign, He does watch over me, that He knows my fears and He cares. I think the daily reads will actually be good for me. 

The study is "It is Well, Walking Away from Anxiety and Into God's Word" by The Daily Grace Co.

Like I said, I don't think I am going to come across a new idea or verse I don't know, but a study to walk me though these times with prayer should be good for me.

April is cruising by and I am loving the spring like days. There have been some cool mornings, but no snow. My goodness, Old Man Winter has been throwing out some wrath this year. Spring is here though. All good.

Sandy

12 Years of Change and Growth

 It has been 12 years since I began this online journal. March 22, 2014 found me looking at retiring from teaching in a few months. I had spent 31 years teaching and quite honestly that had been my predominant hobby. From March to June that year I was juggling a lot of plates; winding down from managing a large DoD grant for 5 elementary schools, recovering after planning a wedding for my daughter, and spending my weekends and some weekdays traveling and taking care of my stepdad who would die of cancer that May and helping Mama with all which that entailed. ---I seem to never garner the quiet life!

Funny though when you read any of those months' posts you would not know any of that.

Those months were busy but I was so hopeful for what was to come. I was scheming of things to come post teaching.

As I was thinking about this anniversary, I decided to stroll down memory lane and look at all the posts from the first year of blogging. LIFE AND my focus in so many areas has changed. 

I mean really changed.

This post is going to be a little like those first posts. A reflection and some forward dreams too.

One of the most notable changes from the first year of blogging was the length of a post. I don't know when I decided to start writing such long posts. My guess is when life got so busy I could not blog often. I had recently decided I wasn't even going to try and write anything other than a monthly post. This stroll down memory lane has me thinking on that. By the way, this one is going to be long:)

The biggest life changing thing that we will get out of the way first is the Parkinson's diagnosis for Jeff. That came in September 2023 after I had worked hard to get Jeff to go to the doctor for what I had already self diagnosed. This was also the summer when Mama fell and I had to sell her home and move her to senior living. 

I spent that Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2023 doing 2 things which may seem at odds with each other. I realized life was going to change and that I would not be able to keep up...

Less decorating and more purging went through the set up for those holidays, BUT at the same time I realized how important those holidays were and my role in them. As a family, we were in shock and as the Mother Bear I needed to BE was a Mama Bear willing to lead the family.

Parkinson's entering our life alone may me want to quit blogging. I don't think God wanted that because trust me HE and I had lots of conversations about it!!! Have you ever experienced a rough patch and needed encouragement from those who have walked that road? I have felt Him whispering to me that very thing and I am going to be completely honest I have told Him - "I don't want to be that spokesperson."

Also throw in a little bladder cancer for him last April...yep, it has been a tough time.

I am still here ---so we will see ---

You see that title - change and growth. Not always fun, but they are part of life and our faith journey. He walks with me and He talks with me and tells me I am His own. And yes, there is JOY there. If you know the song ----

The other hard thing that we will get through and move on to the more interesting changes is -Mother. Mother was always so strong when I was growing up. My dad died young and she raised me well. However, in May of 2014 when my stepdad passed away, she just couldn't be strong anymore. One thing I had not put into my dreams about retirement was being in charge of so many things for her. She did her part for me, so now I reciprocate. She turned 91 yesterday. She has had some really good days since Thanksgiving. She does get very winded with any exertion now, but like I said, she has been doing well. I realize it could change anytime. I have had to do so much more than I realized I would be doing. It is very tiring, but it is a necessity and one I won't be sorry I did.

 NOW, let's move on to some lighter topics!!!

I have loved roses since I was in the 8th grade. I babysat for a couple that lived across the street from us and the man grew roses. He had a whole row on them down one side of his home. Think morning sun and richer soil in south Alabama than coastal sand. I always wanted to grow them. In the early 2000's just before we moved in our current house I had planted some at our old house. I was having fun with them and then we decided to move. 

As soon as I retired I set out to plant roses. Oh my goodness, what I didn't know was how hard they would be to grow in my environment. I was stubborn and never considered some varieties that might have worked here. I kept pursuing those that I had loved so many years ago. 

Change and growth with the growing of roses. I have decided I am truly tired of the struggle. Some years ago, I gave up trying to grow them in the ground in our sand. I changed out our beds and now those same beds that left roses with no leaves by July are lush and bring so much joy to me. Bottlebrush, day lilies, and amaryllis are much more fun to walk out and see than roses that aren't happy. I have 3 left in pots but they aren't happy and I am truly ready to give that struggle up and maybe just buy me some every now and then to enjoy.

While I am on the topic of growing things which I do love, I got over a house full of plants inside. Mostly because I got a good case of fungus gnats in my kitchen. Out went all of my houseplants except one and guess what I haven't missed them once! That surprised me. I kind of like the look of less clutter. I had way too many!!!

Sewing is next. Strolling through that first year of posts, I realized I did sew a good bit. I really thought that was something I wanted to do, but I really really didn't enjoy said sewing. I came to realize knowing how to do something and it being your hobby are really 2 different things. My mom was the seamstress and was amazing at it. I do a wee bit, but it is not something I am running in my little room to do. 

Oh and that room, the gift from Jeff that Lindsay is responsible for getting off the ground. I LOVE that room even if I don't sew as much as I thought I would. It is MY little space. 

Stitching was definitely on my mind. I had taken a break from it due to teaching and life being too busy for a season, but I was scheming in March of 2014. I had no idea how much the stitching world had changed, but I soon met many of you who inspired me and taught me all the new. It along with reading are 2 of my favorite things to do and keep me sane with all the growth and change going on in life.

Reading is one of those things that hasn't changed. I still love reading the same things...lots of nonfiction and happy fiction. Although, I read all types of things. I love learning. I will say I am very annoyed with publishers these days, as I see an agenda being added to all new releases that I don't approve of or agree with. I guess I am going to have to go back and read oldies but Goldies. 

Lots of decluttering and organizing have taken place in the last 12 years. I spent the first 6 months painting some rooms and finishing up that layer of my home. The one thing that the first year brought to light is that I broke ALL of MY OWN RULES for decorating that year. The stuff I bought to put in my home and blog about makes me shudder these days. Almost all of it ended up at Goodwill. I came back to myself after that first year. 

One thing I didn't have on my radar  was the growing family which has been my greatest gift. To keep the 4 munchkins that God has gifted me called GRANDchilren has been truly the most wonderful unexpected GIFT. He truly knows best!

I will be back later with updates on those grandchildren, my stitching, my gardens and so much more, but this post has been rolling around in the noggin for the past 2 weeks.

There are more chapters to write, more beach strolls, more flowers, more family moments, more stitches AND just more life.

Looking forward,

SANDY

P.S. What is a spring post without an azalea picture?

January 8, 2026 AD

     It is that time of year when we talk about New Year's resolutions and such. I knew I would be late to the game on this sort of thing and I do love this type of thing. I am very much a thinker. 

     Between sickness for me and the family I knew it would slow me down. We took the week after Christmas to go to Auburn and it was so good for me. I look forward to our visits to our second home to recharge. It is such a different setting than our normal environment here in Florida. You see the seasons in a more traditional sense there. We see seasons here in northwest Florida but through a different lens. Anyway, I rested lots which I needed. I knew I would come back to keeping more than one kid for a day or two and I would tire quickly.

The trees in Auburn are more like a typical view of the season.

     I asked for a cross for Christmas. We have one like the picture below in our home here and I just wanted something in our Auburn home. Our good friend makes these as well as  many other things for  a hobby. I thought it went well with the pictures just around the corner from it on the adjacent wall.

                    

     I have been busy thinking in between all the life stuff. I like to think of changing things in a more seasonal setting. I think each season is a good time to evaluate and to take a bit of time to reset when things are not going like you planned or let some things go that weren't working. 

     I do have some things that have been calling my brain. Things I want to change or add and things I want to try and eliminate from the routine.

     Now for some of my resolutions, goals, seasonal reset ---thoughts.

The evenings -

I want to continue trying to keep my mind active through January and most of February and not fall asleep at 6:00 PM. Anyone else? 

I have made a list of things I want to accomplish similar to the ancestry book I worked on in December.

Family Time -

I want to get Palmer out once a month on Fridays. That day is review day at his preschool and I just really want to do something special with each child...not always in a group where I get tired quickly. My goodness ---aging is real folks.

I want to eat lunch with Tucker once a month on another Friday. He won't always welcome that, but he is still excited about the idea.

I want to give Paul Allen and Katie a date night once a month on a Friday. Lindsay and Tyler are much better about this than Paul Allen and Katie. Mostly I think they are just sleep deprived. We did this last Saturday and I could look at Katie's face when they returned from eating a pizza without kids and I knew we needed to do this. It was fun too for Miles and Valerie and we enjoyed them.

Mostly I want to remember to do things that are helpful and good for the kiddos. I KNOW I need to take care of myself, but I want to spend time with them.

I also need to help Lindsay get healthy. Getting healthy can begin on ANY date. Mine started November 4, 2015. It is important.

I had a long thinking session about my physical body. I am trying something NEW. I will give it some time and let you know if it is successful. It involves less rather more.

Hotspots - 

I want to work on some hotspots in the house. Places that just don't make me happy when I walk into the room and don't work as well as I want.  One is here ...

This room is such a blessing and it stays too messy and honestly I am trying to do too many things in here. I am going to really try and pay attention to things over the next couple of months and rethink the organization in there. 

The cross stitch in the above picture is still sitting in that same spot. After realizing I was rushing things with it and that I wasn't going to gift it I let up on the quick finish. I have sewed cording around it and tabs to hang it on a dowel, but I have not stretched out the edges for the cording nor painted the dowel that is cut and waiting to hang it on... Need to get that done.

I have started a new stitch. I will update on that later.

About blogging.

I am going to share less pictures of my grandkids...

OR at least I am thinking that right now.

Blogging is such a weird thing and with AI and all the things coming along my mind spins sometimes.

Anyway, I am thinking pictures of the grands are what my blog is now mostly and maybe that is not a good idea. I am praying about it. It is something I am deeply pondering.

Do people read blogs with no pictures anymore? 

I know I have a few friends that I would be so sad if I didn't hear from anymore. I have followed along for a lot of years. I just need to think on this as the world spins a little faster these days. 

     As I sit here typing I have a digital frame that the kids gave me years ago. I upload each month's pictures on the last day of the month. I am seeing the snow from a year ago. Valerie was born just before the snow. The grandkids will probably never see that kind of snow again. 

The morning of January 22, 2025 AD

If you haven't stopped reading by now with few pictures, I am still going to blog, but rethinking the kiddos. It is a journal in some ways but maybe less in the picture department.

Until next time,

Sandy

December, the month of family sickness. 

Christmas did come and go with me reminding everyone that all was  going to be ok and we have to keep the real reason for the season upfront in our minds: that we have had years when things were more challenging; someone was sick, we had to move things around, etc. Then old Jeff piped into the family group text reminding us that  Paw Paw Palmer (Jeff's dad) was in Bastogne on Christmas 1944. That will quickly put it all in perspective. 

We did all meet at our house on December 22nd but there was sickness. Stupidly I don't think any of us thought about the flu until we were all together. I think there was no doubt Palmer had it that night. I was sick, but I don't think I had it. When Paul Allen came down sick the next day Jeff thought to go get him a flu test. He was positive and missed Katie's side of the family Christmas staying home with Valerie who didn't feel well either. It didn't matter that he stayed home because it is running through them now. Tyler's parents came down from Atlanta and I did see them between church services on Christmas Eve. They were sickie too, so it was all around. All of the kids eventually were sick. 

Fortunately Mama has not gotten sick, but it is all in her senior living facility. She is going to visit her sister in the morning for the week so maybe she will miss it. 

I actually got up yesterday morning and called the Teledoc. I don't have the flu, but my whole side of my head is full of junk. I now have an antibiotic. The only other person other than Mama who hasn't been sick is Jeff. Thankful for that.

Here are a few scenes from the last few days.

I mostly took candid shots on December 22nd which are wonderful in my mind too.

On Christmas Eve, Tucker and Palmer set out their cookies for Santa. All of the kiddos are in full belief age. It is quite sweet to watch. I think Tucker has another year before he questions it all.

Lindsay took this picture of Palmer at church on Christmas Eve. He was on the upswing by Christmas Eve, while Miles and Valerie were on their way to the depths of the flu. The service was so sweet.

This was Miles coming back in from viewing the swing that he was genuinely excited Santa had brought, but no energy to swing.

He would get some fever reducing medicine in and feel good for an hour. He gave it a try later, but even today he was still feeling a little poorly.

One interesting note, Katie did end up taking Valerie to the doctor since her fever was so high. Turns out Miles and Valerie each had a different strain of flu. One A and one B. Go figure.

Christmas morning, Jeff and I made it out for what has become our annual stroll on the beach. Someone took our picture after watching me try to get a selfie.

I am one to pack Christmas up right away. I know I am making some of you cringe. I can't wait to put it out right after Thanksgiving, but I am also eager to put it all away and get the house back in order on the 26th. I do the tree last. 

I love Christmas but for some reason I like the order that comes after Christmas. 

I am in  full on reflection mode now and hope to be back in the new year with some ideas for 2026.

2025 was crazy for us in many ways. I really try to focus on the positive though. Life can be even nuttier if you only focus on the bad. There is plenty of good.

I have listed all of my books in Goodreads the last couple years. I really like the digital footprint of my reading. I know many read way more than me but considering how many people I care for and things I do I felt very good about the 21 books I have read. I have two I am reading currently, but I am pretty sure both will be finished after December 31st.

I read 11 fiction and 10 nonfiction. The nod to fiction is a win for me. I am the girl who read the World Book Encyclopedia for fun as a child, so making sure I read as much fiction was a goal I had. I need more of that.

My 2 favorite fiction books were Theo of Golden by Allen Levi and The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Roebuck. I want to add more of Erika Roebuck this year. 

I honestly can't choose a favorite nonfiction book It would be a tie between at least 5 of them. I read some good ones this year. 

Honestly, I rarely read anything anymore that I don't like. If it is not hitting me right I move on. Don't want to waste the time.

I stitched 7 things; Valerie's name, small hornbook with Christmas/winter sampler, Valerie's ornament,

my little multicolored dolphin, the sandpipers, the Bible verse with flowers (round), and the 12 Days of Christmas.

I still need to share the 12 Days of Christmas finish. I will...I ended up not gifting it. The sickness, the rush, all that just led to me saying no to the gift. Maybe later. I will share it in January. It is cute.

I am a few days away from finishing the Bible Recap again this year. I really do love this. I would highly recommend it to anyone. I am not doing it again this next year as I want to slow things down. I am putting my reading plan together for '26 over the next couple of days. I want to slow the pace, but I truly love having a reading plan all set and sitting down to Scripture within the first 30 minutes of waking. It is a good habit to have a starts my day off well. 

I can truthfully say one thing has worked well this year. Keeping up with the house and having organized or decluttered so much over the last few years. I don't need to hit January 1st and go crazy decluttering. I will do many things, but not like I have in the past. I still need to let go of much in my sewing room, but I have many wins in the remainder of the house. Woohoo for me.

About a year ago, Jeff and I went through one of our closets together that contains small appliances mostly. I felt there was much we didn't need anymore. We did purge that day but we agreed to put some stuff that we were unsure about on the top shelf of that closet. I am here to tell you not one item was touched since the day we put it up there. I would say that is full evidence that the shelf can now be cleared out. It is on my winter list.

Speaking of winter... fall and now winter have been very mild here in northwest Florida. Much to my liking. Winter is swinging in for a day right as 2025 is leaving, but it seems to only be for a day. I will take that.

We are heading to Auburn to ring in the new year. I will ring it in before midnight as always. I am going to rest the remainder of this week and put together my goals for 2026. 

See you next year,

Sandy

An Update

Well this past week didn't go quite as planned. We are back to waiting on news.

I will start at the beginning and move forward. I am finding it hard to concentrate on much and writing is almost nonexistent. When things are weighing on my mind I can write lots of journal pages. I can't write much at all right now.

I came across this sentence in my reading this week. 

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." --- Albert Einstein

I am doing my best to stay busy and keep moving.

Last Tuesday, we woke up thinking we had to do something to not think about surgery. After I was sure I had all things done for Mama so that I could not visit her until today, we grabbed a late lunch and headed to a water front park with Gus. We ate at a picnic table, then I walked Gus. We headed down to the water and sat on a bench and just held hands. Gus was tired from his walk, so he let us just sit quietly. We decided going to Tucker's baseball game that night was better than just moping.

Wednesday morning after a fitful sleep we headed to Pensacola. The doctor gave a great analogy of what he was hoping we were hoping we were dealing with.

He had described the tumor as large and having been there for a while, but he hoped it was like a slash pine and not a long leaf pine. Because we live with those trees all around, the analogy made perfect sense. The slash pine grows big but without putting down a tap root...sometimes quickly big. The long leaf pine grows slower because it is putting down its tap root. He hoped we were dealing with a slash pine without roots.

That wasn't quite what we got. He ended up having to scape pretty deep thereby keeping him from injecting chemo into the bladder on Wednesday as part of the procedure. Most tumors in the bladder according to my research are not good (hard to write the C word) and getting it out and injecting with chemo was the best case. So much scraping had made the chemo too much for Jeff to stand.

The doctor was hopeful he got it all, but we are back to waiting on pathology reports which take a week. I kept hoping we would hear yesterday, but alas that didn't happen.

Wait it is and try to keep busy.

Often when we have outpatient surgery, it is thought it isn't going to be so bad. He has been in a lot of pain. Mornings are especially hard. I think it will take a little more time to heal up. He can't be away from the toilet too long and it is painful and causes spasms, so it is up front and in the face a bit too much for my good. 

We will persevere ----

Romans - 3 And not only this, but [a]we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

I will write again when I get the pathology report. That is it for now. Like I said, I will be able to later, but for now...I am moving to keep my balance.

The picture above is of one of our neighbors. It is what I love about my neighborhood. An eclectic mix of homes and this one shouts Old Florida.

Just a cute picture of Valerie in one of Lindsay's old dresses.

And a little boy got an accident haircut.

Praying for good news.

Be back soon...Sandy

Hope

Today marks 11 years since I put up my first blogpost. My life was so different then and I could not have imagined what the future held. I think the blogging turned out quite differently than I imagined, but that is ok. I have made many friends through the shared interests we have.

My first few blogposts had azalea pictures too. Azaleas are a core memory of my life. They bring me such joy. We drove to Pensacola this week and all along the way they were just showing off. The older the neighborhood the better because they had those huge unchecked ones. The azaleas have been such a blessing to me. We have to always look for the good and the beauty amongst the crazy.

I am blessed with 4 beautiful grandchildren from my two amazing children and their spouses that I love like my own. I often look around and think how did I get so lucky to have so much. BUT, we know with blogs and all forms of social media there is life behind the pictures too. This blog has been the highlight reel for certain. When I started this blog, no one would have known that I was driving an equilateral triangle between my home here in FWB, to Brewton to take my stepdad to chemo in Pensacola and then back to FWB on many of those days. I was spending the weekends going to Brewton when I started this blog and my house was a mess. I had planned a wedding for my daughter on many of those drives home from Brewton. I would cry the first half and pull myself together for the second half so I could get all the things done. I was a mess, but I was hopeful for better days a head. There is a book by Ronda Rich titled, There's a Better Day a Comin' that reminds of just that. One of many she wrote to inspire us to draw on God's goodness through struggles.

Yesterday, Mama turned 90. 

The senior living had a banner outside her door. They celebrate the 90, 95, 100, etc.

Lindsay and I both agree that Mama is the most photogenic person we have ever seen. She can be hardly moving around and yet, she looks like a dream. 

She always does her best to look nice. 

I got her early in the day and brought her to my house.

The kids are all on spring break so they arrived early afternoon for entertainment value:)

They all loved her crown which had a 90 woven in the jewels.Those doggone balloons didn't want to cooperate so the boys helped out.

She got to hold Valerie who is  growing and holding onto her black hair.

Later on we had her favorite pizza for the party. She ate quite a bit of salad and 2 small slices of pizza. We were amazed at that.

Then it was cake time. She also ate a large piece with strawberries and whipped cream. Truly that is more than she ever eats.

We got her a new outfit from Talbots. A leisurely outfit but quite nice. I know when I go over today, she will have it on. She likes to have new clothes.

We celebrated her well and told her what a big deal it was to be 90. I think she knows that.

I have been stitching on Valerie's name. This is my current location on it. 4 more letters to personalize.

I will back at stitching it today at some point between watering plants, checking in on Mom, and watching the basketball tournament.

A couple of things to share....

Jeff and I have decided to no longer look at homes. We have had time to look at retirement plans and have decided we will not be traveling or doing all the things such as that. Sitting on the dock and looking out at our water is vacation enough. We will continue to stay here for now which gives me a big sense of relief. God will show us if we need to make a change. For now, we will  hire people to do some of the bigger things we can't handle such as yard work. 

On that note, I kind of thought at some point I would share more about the Parkinson's journey because it might help someone. That has not flowed from my fingers yet. God will tell me when to do that too. What is more pressing at the moment is that Jeff has a bladder tumor. I have been sitting on some of that too. I am sharing it not for pity. 

I serve an amazing God and am so blessed, but to say that, I can't really be authentic without writing that we are facing another challenge. He had the telltale blood in his urine and that set off the trail to find the cause. Monday, we had the final tests in Pensacola to find the cause. He will have surgery on April 2nd in Pensacola. On Monday, we have to get him through all the pre surgery details like the EKG, so prayers would be helpful.

It is a heavy weight right now, but we will tote it. For those outside the rural south, tote is the word we use for carry. 

I am grateful for spring right now...azaleas brightening my day, grandchildren to come running in with hugs and joy, and so much more.

On this blog anniversary, I will continue to find joy in the things of home and have hope in the days ahead.  I am looking forward to summer and all the hot days. That is me!

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16