Welcome June

 We made it to Auburn for Memorial Day weekend. It was a quiet trip with nothing big to do. We just went up to check on the house and rest. I rested some, because Jeff usually wants to go go go. It was overcast mostly but not that rainy while it was raining here in Fort Walton. That meant the kids didn't really get much sunshine outdoors time. I did which I really needed! I sat outside and read a good bit. We watched a movie one night and lots of SEC baseball on TV. 

On one of my walks in the neighborhood, I noticed how much larger and taller the daylilies were in Auburn versus here. I would guess that has to do with the richer soil vs the sandy soil here.

I feel like my daylilies have struggled this year. They were getting ready to put on a show when that last cold snap kind of bit them. They are starting to bloom, but they have been very slow getting started.

Jeff took this picture and sent it to the kids. I forgot what he said to them, but it is proof I rested:)

Gus did too.

I thought this picture of Mama was really good taken at her senior living facility. She is truly the most photogenic person I know. She looks amazing, but that picture doesn't capture the truth. She is good and  probably will live to be a 100, but she has her moments.

She got some injections on Monday of this week and I am hoping they will give her some back pain relief. They have in the past. 

Now, for June plans.

I don't have to keep the grandchildren mostly for the month of June. We have a family trip to Cape San Blas, but for the most part June is open for me to hopefully reset. I need long walks, beach time, etc.

I don't want to have too much on the calendar other than just time to let my body and MIND rest. 

I headed to the beach on Monday after I had gotten Mama home from her procedure. I have tidied my house for now, so really no big plans on the horizon. That is such a nice line to type.

Last week I had to keep multiple children each day so I am more than ready for a little downtime.

Last night, our niece Kristan and family joined us for pizza night. Our family is very small. I have no siblings, and Jeff only has 2 one of which 1 has passed. That one had no children, so Jeff's sister only has 1 ---Kristan. My brother-in-law, Kristan's dad had one sibling who died young so that means Kristan, Paul Allen, and Lindsay are the only cousins each has.

If one of us is not at our family celebrations it is noticed. Kristan lives in Texas, so we have her here at Thanksgiving and in June. Last Thanksgiving they didn't come and it was awful for us. The kids are now in high school and had sports that made it difficult for them to come home. 

Thanksgiving also highlighted how much Jeff has gone downhill with Parkinson's. Parkinson's stinks big time. It made it just sadder than normal.

It was so good to see them all. We had such a good time together. Much laughter and good times.

Now, that Kristan, Lindsay, and Paul Allen have become the adults the picture taking goes to the next generation. I would have forgotten to do it, but Lindsay rounded them up for a shot on the couch. Tanner and Katelyn are now almost 17.

They are completely grown up. When I first started this blog, they were the little ones pictured at Thanksgiving. Valerie was real uncertain about the picture taking.

Katelyn has combined some college visits with this trip. She wants to head back to Florida for college really badly. The twins were born in Tallahassee and moved to Texas about the time they started school. She is a Florida girl while Tanner seems to be a Texan. I think she is eyeing Florida State the most. She makes an official tour later this week. 

I have been reading and finished all 4 of the books I was reading at the same time. I loved Liberty Island by Virginia Hume. I chose it because I had loved the author's previous book, but I think this one was outstanding. It was set in the late 1890's through the 1920's in America. It followed 2 generations of women and covered the Suffrage Movement. I would not have thought I would like this one based on the time period so much, but the characters were so well thought out and I would give this one high marks.

My space book was one I liked but not sure if you aren't a space nut you would like it.

I enjoyed the Camino Trail book too. It didn't make me want to walk the trail at all. I like hiking, but I like to know what I am gonna eat that night and where I am gonna lay my head that night too. It was a good read if you have followed the author's story. If not, you might now like it.

The final one would make a great gift for a college graduate. The author shares 31 life lessons or legacy letters as he calls them. He intended them to be for his grandchildren, but ended up writing the book. I thought all of the 31 lessons were wonderful and on point which is why I think it would make a good gift. He recommended you read each of these letters over 31 days (obviously a month) and then choose 11 of them to work on over the next 11 months making it a year of application of the book. I read it like that and have chosen my June idea to work on throughout the month.

I am stitching away and think I will leave that for a separate post soon. I am way behind in blog reading and responding to anyone due to keep more than one kid everyday last week. I was so dang tired each day that I just fell in to bed. 

I hope to catch up this week with everyone.

Summer has arrived and I am here for it. I told y'all we had a spring this year, but the Tuesday after Memorial Day I walked outside and knew with 100% certainty summer had arrived.

YES!

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

Hello September

Here it is September once again... how can that be? It is a full month of birthdays and our anniversary. We celebrated 41 years together today. We are home from Auburn rested for all the busy days ahead. After so many health issues that try to paralyze one with fear, we are so grateful for 41 years of marriage. We know every day is a gift. 

The weather was spectacular in Auburn for the weekend. I am so grateful to have the home in Auburn. It is such a different setting than our primary coastal home. It is truly the best of 2 worlds. Auburn played away, but it was still bustling with energy in Auburn. Our little neighborhood is very close to the action, but yet very quiet and restful. It is surrounded by oaks, not live oaks like at home, but all kinds of other ones. It makes for a peaceful outdoor setting. 

I said I didn't decorate for fall right away, but I sat there looking at the built-ins at Auburn and thought they are just naturally a more fall look with the browns, cotton, squirrels and more fall colored items on them. It helped me get in the mood although I am still hanging on to summer a bit.

Auburn usually helps me prepare for the transition from summer to fall. It lends itself to a more fall setting than living at the beach. There is such beautiful farm land in northern Florida along the border between Florida and Alabama. In the summer the fields are so green and lush with crops, but this time of year the cotton has been planted. Once I see that I am usually able to start thinking about letting fall in. Once it blooms in a few weeks, it is like a rite of passage for fall to me.

I did quite a bit of stitching, walking, watching football and general easy living. We spent time with friends and ate out mostly while there, so tomorrow is back to reality of eating right. Mom has 3 doctor appointments on 3 different days this week, so as I said, September will start off busy. 

I did get my stitching mojo back and it felt so good. I started 3 new things in my excitement. All 3 are mostly small but still have lots of stitches in them. I will share more when I get farther along on them. I even sewed my latest stitch into a pillow. Need to trim it. Here is a preview of what it is to come.

I also arrived home to the cutest stitching present from a good friend. I will wait until my next post to share it. So good!

We went out to eat with good friends on Sunday evening and the restaurant was so kind. They brought out champagne for our anniversary.  Many of you know I don't drink alcohol (I don't think there is anything wrong with it- just a personal decision with a long story behind it), but I was so impressed that I smiled sweetly and had my picture taken. 

We don't look like those kids from long ago, but we are blessed indeed.

Lindsay and her family went with the in-laws over to Cape San Blas and had a fun weekend at the beach. The weather was supposed to be rainy all weekend in the south or so we thought. They had good beach days. I thought their picture was so good.

Paul Allen and family hung out at our house for a good part of the weekend enjoying our waters. Katie got a sweet picture of the kiddos in their Auburn attire. Valerie's outfit was one I got for her. 

I am so happy to have my turn keeping her. 

Back to reality tomorrow, but one last note. I think I have had many new readers and here we thought blogging was on the way out. Anywho, I decided to add a little more to my About Me page at the top of the blog. I added the characters you see here on the blog so you understand all the names.

Happy September,

Sandy

A Quick Trip to Auburn

Jeff and I made a quick trip to Auburn on Monday through Wednesday. It wasn't really in our plans. That is a biggie for me to do something so spontaneous since I am a planner girl. We really won't be able to get up in May due to his physical therapy, so we decided to go check on some things and get some things also lined up too. He thinks some pressure washing needs doing, so we have someone coming next week for that. Paul Allen and Katie are going up the next weekend for a baseball game and then my good friend is going up for the week, so there will be a presence there in the month of May.

We were busy going more than relaxing but I did find some time to just sit, read, and think.

Gus and I took our walks of course and saw a few things to share.

I came across this flower and oh did I stop!!!

I mean it is purple...think Donny Osmond's sash purple.

It is similar to the Mandevilla that I see here in the big box stores that are not made for our growing zones. I used my handy dandy app to identify it as Clematis. I know many of you know it, but I was not familiar with it. BUT, I needed to be.

I went home and did research for it. I made my way out to the local nursery in Auburn and promptly bought me some of this goodnesss even though I have said I am downsizing plants, etc., etc., etc.

It says it grows in zones 5-9 so it should be a go. I also watched lots of videos to make sure I was doing all the right things. 

I have been outside most of the morning today planting new stuff. I will wait to share it until it has been planted a week or so, because nothing ever looks too happy after being moved from their pots to a new pot.

I have shared many of the homes in the Auburn neighborhood before. It is such a nice place and I seriously have to pinch myself sometimes to think that I live in the most amazing place on the planet...the Panhandle of Florida, but that I also have a home in Auburn. We really do get to see 2 such different landscapes. 

However, I don't think I have ever shared the pink house. There has to be one house in every neighborhood that is a little different. Jeff is not a fan, but I am. She had a Dolly for President flag outside all during election season...gotta love that --- 

Check out the toadstools. Now that is in Auburn, Alabama but she has got some Florida yard art going on there. Chairs on the porch have some hot pink cushions and once I could see in her front room and lots of abstract and color art adorned the room. 

I added some pine straw to our front beds. 

I really took this picture coming back from a walk to see if the chair on the porch looked ok?

The porch is very narrow so the black rocking chairs we have out back won't fit, but I really wish they did. This is very much a front porch sitting kind of neighborhood.  We had gone looking for some black ones while out and about to which I saw nothing I loved. I came home and just decided to try out the ones we use on the back. We keep the chairs in the garage when we are not there to make them last. My eventual decision was those were fine for when we wanted to sit out front. A win...saved money and these are comfortable. 

What you can't see from that picture is that the gardenias planted across the front are about to be an explosion of white blooms. I hate I missed it but my friend will get to enjoy them.

The Confederate jasmine growing on the fence is blooming and smells so good. Just imagine a week from now with all those gardenia blooms. People will want to stroll by our house.

I found part of a robin's egg. Such a pretty color.

Next up is an example of how different going north 3.5 hours can be. Get a load of these pansies.

Pansies will fizzle out here when the calendar turns to April. I grow them in FWB from mid October to mid April and switch over to vincas then.

I might also have bought another bedspread. I go in spells where I go for months buying nothing and then I see stuff and go nuts. I swore I was through trying to buy something for the guest bedroom aka Lindsay's old room.  

Now, the problem with the picture is that it is hard to notice how cute the bed is with a twin size mattress standing up in the room glaring at you...

I will share again when the mattress being saved for Palmer's big boy bed is purchased and this leaves my house.

And since we have switched to interior picture talking, I love to sit on the end of the couch and look out the windows at the neighbor's bird feeder. It keeps me entertained and I love that I can open that door and let Gus out without having to go out with him since the new fence addition takes care of him leaving. He is a good dog, but he does like to run up the street and see if our friends are there from Huntsville. Remember we have been friends forever and they had to move to Huntsville years ago, so Auburn (specifically this neighborhood) is our meeting place.

This house is a testament to how dark colors can be so nice. This room and the upstairs bedroom which is a dark paint are the coziest rooms and everyone always says how much they love them.

There is lots of natural lighting to help make it not too dark.

I do find I love to go and just read, stitch and nap here.

I will share my plants soon. I will be checking in with everyone soon. I didn't take my computer with me, so hang on I am coming.

I have 6 roses in containers downstairs. They love this time of year. I love it too.

They won't look this way much longer. 

On a side note, I always watch for these little guys.

They are in abundance here and on most everything. Pots, porch railings and the one I always check first....the trash can lids. Our lids have a lip to lift it and they love to get under those which means you can get quite a scare unless you are Miles. 

Miles thinks they are cute and need to be caught and touched. He doesn't understand why Mimi screams when I touch them which is why I never lift the lid before pounding on the top to scare them.

Spring is a lovely time of the year. Although I was quite surprised by how cool it was still in the mornings in Auburn. Definitely a change of pace for us when we get to go up. 

Jeff starts his PT for Parkinson's next week and Mom has not been feeling too well these past couple of weeks. I did get a change in her blood pressure meds so hoping that helps her. I don't often know what to pray but God knows what is needed so I am trusting in Him.

I love May,

Sandy

Perseverance #2

 I am rested and hopefully have some time to do some neglected items this summer such as this blog. I deleted my previous post which was to notify my special friends that Lindsay's surgery had been canceled. What are the chances of strep throat 4 days before a surgery that you have waited almost 19 months for? Challenges! I was so nutty, that I misspelled perseverance in the title. Oh dear, the school teacher in me shuddered when I noticed and the old me would have instantly changed it, but I am learning perfection doesn't work, so I left it until I had time to really write a post. We are always a work in progress.

Jeff and I slipped away to Auburn for Memorial Day weekend. It was empty of students and we spent a VERY QUIET Saturday and Sunday up there. I know that we both needed it and it was just what the doctor ordered for us. We ate at 2 of our favorite places with no waits and did some yard work and strolled through the antique store. Other than that we sat outside, watched some TV, read and just rested. 

We haven't been to Auburn since New Year's, so we arrived to realize the sweet jasmine on the wrought iron fence that provides a little isolation to our side yard porches had take a beating from the deep freeze. We pulled it all off the fence, but think it will live to grow again at the ground, so we will wait and see before we do anything else. We freshened the pine straw and called that a day.

It looks a little bare with the jasmine gone, but I still enjoyed my porch sitting outside under the oaks. By the way, it was chilly up there. I wore pants both days all day. 

While here, I would say May has been the most wonderful of spring days. 

Here is the view of our Auburn house from mine and Gus's walk around the neighborhood. 

And here it is out front.

I freshened up the pot on the porch. Of course, if we lived there all the time, it would need some red geraniums and some real ferns.

We also drove out to the cabin that we owned prior to this home at Lake Martin. You may remember that a friend I grew up with in Brewton bought it from us. Their children mostly live up that way and they wanted to have a place to be with their kids. We saw that they were there so I called them and we got to see the old place. I am so glad that they were able to purchase it and they have really cleared it up around it which we always knew we would like to do, but didn't get it done. They are a wee bit older than us and are able to go up way more than we ever could, so I know they love it with their grandchildren.

We loved that cabin and had so many good times there. I have a label on my sidebar for the cabin. We purchased it in 2006 and have a long story about how that came to be, but towards the end of our time there it just became known to us that we wanted to be in Auburn. We called the cabin "Serenity" because the family property that had been sold that gave us the money to buy it had been on Serenity Lane. I always prayed that anyone who visited or stayed there would feel peace when they drove up to it. I think God answered that with a "yes" in spades.

My mother and I used to go the first week of June every year as soon as school was out for me to decompress. We have good memories there. In May of 2013, life began to change. She fell and broke her femur and she had just gotten back on her feet to go mid July that year. As early as March that year, I noticed my stepdad had a lack of energy and just chalked it up to getting older, but while she was down with her leg I really noticed it. When we left for the cabin on July 14th, 2013, I knew deep down that something was wrong. I got up there that evening and did all the cleaning that I would do at that time. The next morning at 6:00 we got that "change" phone call. We would rush home and over the next few days find out that he had cancer that was too far gone to help. We began palliative chemo which would give him 10 months. During the course of that 10 months, I planned a wedding for my daughter, drove back and forth the hour and a half every weekend to my folks' home and mixed that in with midweek trips to Pensacola for the chemo treatments. I spent many hours on the road in the little triangle of Fort Walton Beach to Brewton to Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach in tears and praying. 

I tell you all this to let you know that real life happens to us all. It may seem like all is rosy with some, but you never know they have a lot going on as well.

I came out tired and depleted, but it set me on a health journey and for that I am thankful. 

So, when I show you pictures of the Auburn house and all its goodness, don't think all of life is perfect here.

Here is a picture of the comfy cozy living room that brings rest to me.

This month has been very pretty here in Fort Walton Beach. We are getting a new seawall. It is almost finished. They should finish tomorrow. I will share the views. 

Standing out on the dock here is the left side of the new seawall.

It is higher than the old one which means......

that there is going to have to be fill dirt brought in. That is going to be hard work.

I am looking forward to summer. Katie is a schoolteacher so that means I won't be keeping Miles for the summer. Now, I know I will some of the boys or all of them on certain days, but I should get some free time. I hope to do some special things for Mama and for myself. 

I have an ambitious list of summer things to do, but I am going to prioritize some quiet time on the deck mornings and evenings and some beach walks. I am going to read and rest between those summer chores. I know that I have to slow down. 

I have even realized I can't do all that I do at church and for the first time in ages I am not going to be teaching littles. Jeff and I lead a small group on Wednesday evenings and will keep our role in a thing called Starting Point. For the last 2 years we have been trying to train some younger ones to help us and think that we might have that done so that we only have to lead that once a year. It is a 8 week course for those that have questions about faith. Stepping down from the littles was hard for me, but I felt at peace about it afterwards so I know it is the right thing. I think my role is to mentor the younger leaders and not do so much of the energy draining things. I am getting there. 

I have been pretty drained as of late, so it is time to change course. 

Lindsay's surgery has been rescheduled for June 20th. She also got a bit of bad news from one her best college friends. Taylor has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She went in January thinking something was not quite right but it was dismissed as a cyst. Then her daughter that is the same age as Tucker began to have seizures. The little girl is doing better. Taylor and Drew had decided to move back closer to home from Huntsville to south of Montgomery. She still didn't feel right so before they moved back to the country she went to the doctor once more. She faces 22 weeks of chemo before a full mastectomy can even be done. They were to move on the May 31st. Drew has asked us to pray for returning to old jobs and getting all the insurance kinks worked out. I am boldly praying even further that that....

I am praying that Taylor will respond to the chemo in record time and that she can have surgery after 11 chemo. I am praying boldly that all it would be half the scheduled time. 

That puts things into perspective very quickly.

Life is a gift not to be taken lightly. 

I am ready for my summer and will count e.v.e.r.y single blessing along the way.

I will leave you on a positive note. Look at this thing of beauty. I put the last stitches in on Saturday night.

I will turn it into a pillow over the summer. 

I hope to check in with all of you over this week.

Let's get summer started, 

Sandy

November Recap Part 2

 In keeping with the backwards order for the recap, we will begin today with Thanksgiving. It is gonna be a long post, so you may have to read it in two parts!

Thanksgiving week was a celebration of family. With all the challenges of the last 2 years, I think we all have a renewed sense of family and taking nothing for granted. We knew it would be different this year with 2 losses, so the goal was to gather and make it a happy place. Our one and only niece is a special member of the family. 

I feel like I need to do a little recap of our family members. We are small but close. I have no siblings, so it is just me and Mama. Jeff has a brother and a sister who were much older than him. He was the surprise child:) Jeff's brother was divorced and had no children. We lost him in February to cancer. His sister, Donna has only one child Kristan and is married to Al. Al's family has all passed too. We are just small in numbers. Donna lived across the street from us before Jeff's parents passed and now is just around the corner (walking distance). Kristan was just turning 5 when I met her and living across the street and being the only little one she was the star of the show. I have taken her to Bible school, to the beach, helped her research stuff in the encyclopedias that we had all during school. She is loved well.

When Kristan married Torrey, his parents started coming to our Thanksgiving. Never missed. Torrey's dad died just a few weeks ago. I knew we needed uplifting times not sad because it was going to be real hard for her. 

We had our usual feast and then games. Uncle Al concentrating hard on the Jenga game.

Kristan waiting for the big fall.  By the way, do you see how big the twins are now. Seriously, where has time gone? The twins are Kristan's. More pictures coming of them.

One more picture from Thanksgiving. Mother and Miles...sweet.

We knew we would have to share Lindsay and Tyler with Tyler's parents this year in Atlanta, so we had pizza on the Tuesday evening of Thanksgiving week. I told you we celebrated all week.

I took lots of cute pics of the kids who were our entertainment. Get ready for a long list of them.

Katelyn holding Palmer, Kristan, and Tanner

Katie holding Miles

The next generation...Katelyn holding Palmer, Tucker, Tanner holding Miles

Tyler, Palmer, Gus, Paul Allen, Miles and Jeff's big foot:)

Another shot with Tucker. 

Katelyn, Tanner, and Kristan. I realized I left Torrey out of this. 

I had Kristan capture us. 

You see that ugly hair of mine...It is has been chopped off and looking so much better.

Every year, I see all these people on social media decorating for Christmas early. It can make you want to cave, but every year when Thanksgiving day is here I am so glad I didn't cave. I know there are many who have wonderful reasons for the early decorating, but I really love to keep it all Thanksgiving. 

Jeff and I did a lot of of shopping over that week and are almost all done. We noticed that this year is one of the most fall colored in memory. Not just me saying it! We decided that this year it is more noticeable because it seems all of it came at once. Usually the different plants are scattered with their color. It truly looks like fall in north Florida this year.

Our lemon tree had a huge harvest. In fact, I still have probably 3 dozen more lemons to get off the tree. We had homemade lemonade for both of our family gatherings over Thanksgiving week. IT was so good.

Just the beginning of lemons. We have had lots to share this year.

Now, to try and wrap this already long post up. 

We made it up to Auburn as a family after several failed attempts this fall. It was such a fun trip for us. Mother stayed home. It all worked out perfectly. Her sweet neighbor kept her busy with fun things. She is just not able to make that trip anymore.

We made it up to the Texas A&M game. It was also Veteran's Day weekend so it was a long weekend too. We had so much fun together. 

Lindsay, Tucker and I went shopping downtown and had some Toomer's Corner lemonade as we strolled and shopped. Tucker happened to stop and we noticed that we were on Carnell (Cadillac) Williams's diamond. We felt it was worth the picture considering his contribution to making the end of the football season fun again.

There were fires, walks in the new wagon, just cuddles with grands and the like.

Palmer pretending to be asleep.

Made with the timer.

Oh so many more. I really only used my phone this month for pictures. It was a good break away.

We had 2 tickets so Paul Allen and I slipped off to the first half of the game. He didn't want to leave Katie with Miles too long. The stadium and the atmosphere was electric. We had a blast! It was cold, but we layered up. I keep cold weather clothes up there for it can be much colder in Auburn than we are used to on the coast.

I apologize for the long post, but I wanted to get it all documented. 

I am blessed ---so very blessed, but it is busy around here. I have many to care for and I am not a 100% myself. Gonna get there though. I have a new haircut that maybe I will have combed and get a picture of soon. The Auburn pictures were the ones that shouted it is time for the long straight hair to go. I have chopped, added layers and letting it curl. If only it curled like it did before it turned white. Oh well.

After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 1 Kings 19:12

The sermon this past week was on this. How appropriate was it! I stilled myself this past month so I could hear Him and remember to count my blessings. He is often not heard in the noise of the day, but in the gentle wind of a quiet time. And these days are so noisy.

He is our Hope though.

Sandy