Bright-eyed

One of the memories I hold near and dear to my heart were my visits to my grandmothers house in the mountains of Virginia. Waking up in the morning to the fabulous scents of a homemade breakfast being cooked just for me and how happy she was that I was there.

I want Sofia to love the scents of my home when she is with me and for her to confidently know in her soul she is deeply loved.

Little Miss Sunshine spent the night last night.

Bright-eyed and happy in her jammies, there is much to do. We made french toast together and she seemed to really like it.

She likes to investigate and be a part of everything ... and I let her.

Blessed are the curious,

for they shall find adventure.

A sweet moment captured of her kissing the baby in the mirror.

It's hard to believe another grand baby is on the way. I have a pregnancy app on my phone that gives me weekly updates as to the development of my grandchild. At 9 weeks, so much is happening. What a miracle life is. 

My sweet baby is coming back over this evening and I just took a cake out of the oven. She's pretty happy here. 

My Love, My Life

         

I saw this sweet photo of my Sofia and thought there is my love and my life. My daughters, my grandchildren, and my sons. The lives God entrusted me.

 

My love, my life.

Comfy at Home

I ventured out today to get a new book. There is something so comfy about being at home with a book, a soft blanket and a favorite mug with a hot beverage. I'm really into coffee, hot apple cider and hot teas right now.

The traffic. Get me home! It's like pre-Christmas shoppers out there on the roads and parking lots are full at every store. I could barely get to the highway by the mall due to traffic. Maybe because it's cold & rainy outside or perhaps people just don't know what to do anymore than search for more stuff.

Me, I'm almost done Christmas shopping!! :D

Making my Christmas list months ago and picking up things as I go so I don't have to use a credit card and thanks to Amazon Prime, I am almost finished.

It's been a year since I've used a credit card. It was a goal to see how long I could go without an impromptu purchase I didn't have money set aside for and the months have rolled into a year. If you want to form a new habit, I highly recommend ditching credit cards.

At the book store today the sales clerk at checkout acted as if I was nuts to pass on their credit card because I would have saved $8.00 today. [Eye roll] I can see she was passionate that I was missing out on an excellent deal, no thanks.

My girls don't use credit cards either. Both are really against them thanks to Brooke's Dave Ramsey finance class the high school offered and Mariah & Jeremy following Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace.

Curled-up moments are not for daydreams only. They are intentional moments of rest and relaxation and I for one am going make a cup of hot apple cider, curl up on my comfy chaise snuggled up under a warm blanket and open my new book. Guilty confession: with my neck massage on as I read.

Stay safe out there.

Empty Nest: Day 1

The sunshine is pouring through the window on my writing desk. Formerly Brooke's bedroom now transformed into Sofia's bedroom/my writing room. All-inclusive with a bathroom and walk-in closet.

The move yesterday went so much faster than I imagined, while Brooke had so much more than I imagined. Between me, my parents and Alex's parents, these kids are set up pretty nicely and their apartment has so much personality!

My daughter is a class act. She worked hard moving, was gracious to her helpers and planned to buy everyone dinner. Once things were moved, I left Brooke & Alex to put their things away. Had I stayed, I would have told Brooke where I thought things should go. This is their moment together. Their home.

My first night at home was different sleeping with my bedroom door open. I had kept it shut because of the cats. 

This morning I woke up and made it to the coffee pot without cats under foot begging for morning treats and in all things that give me balance I began cleaning like crazy.

It started last night after the move transforming the bedroom into a whole new look. 

Then, I couldn't sleep because I had so much I wanted to do and was up at 5:30 a.m. cleaning e v e r y t h i n g free of cat hair, moving things into Brooke's large walk-in closet which is now a fabulous extra space for me, and going through my cupboards and refrigerator. My gosh, I have a lot of excess food for cooking for several people and visitors. 

I'm thinking Monday's will be designated $5.00 gyros at Papa Gyro's, Wednesdays will be $5.00 sushi and I am thinking I'm going to have to learn to shop for just me. 

My girls now live 5 minutes from each other. What a blessing! I can make my rounds and see both my girls and grand babies. 

I woke up really happy and it makes me smile that the sun is shining. I knew it would be.

A Thank You Note on My Coffee Pot

Brooke often sets my coffee pot where I only have to push the start button. For a girl who doesn't drink coffee, I love and appreciate this act of service from her.

She also leaves me notes on my coffee pot if she wants to get a message to me right away in the morning, knowing the coffee pot is where I go to first. She's funny, creative, and thoughtful.

This morning I woke up and thought, I will make her a special breakfast this morning. I go to my coffee pot and taped to the top is a note card message taped and folded neatly into a letter ...

To the mom out there who feels like she can barely make it through another day, don't give up. It makes every difference.

I love you, Brookie.

xo,

Momma 

Her Last Night at Home

It's all you've known for decades, then it changes.

Brooke & Alex got the keys today to their new apartment and it's so nice. The moving begins. The tough years of dreaming of this moment and it's here. I'm stepping into the light at the end of the tunnel of raising children into independent adults and as I look around at this unfamiliar territory, I wonder where the years went.

Tonight is Brooke's last night living at home.

Mariah is pregnant with my 3rd grandchild, my mom & dad are heading south for the winter, and I decided it was time and had about 8" of hair cut off.

My hair feels light and bouncy. It's always curlier with the weight of length off and I like it.

There have been so many changes in only a week.

I've done my job. I have been steadfast as I sat on the nest with my youngest still home and have provided and cared for them well.

This light at the end of the tunnel, everything is much brighter than I expected it to be. With my home sold, zero debt, literally everything paid off, I've bought all the new things I wanted and I have exactly everything I want. God is an excellent provider in my life and I am blessed in so many ways.

I'm entering another new season in life as my little birdie flies off and my nest is now empty.

Congratulations Brooke & Alex on your new home! I am so proud of you Brooke!
xo

Thanksgiving in October

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving before my mom & dad head south for the winter. 

This photo was taken seconds before my sweet granddaughter leaned over and grabbed two fist fulls of hair on the top of my mom's head like vice grips and pulled not letting go. Mom was screaming wildly, it was hysterical!

An hour or so later, I was letting out a wild scream. Good grief that child can pull hair straight out of the root. 

It is always good to have everyone around a table sharing an amazing meal together. 

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

Photo:  Mariah & family, Me, Brooke & Alex, my mom & dad, my brothers & family.

New Flatwear

It's probably safe to say my flatwear is at least 15 years old. I've been looking, not looking, but have kept my eyes open for the last several years for the perfect flatwear. A new look.

With Brooke & Alex moving out in less than a week, it was time to search. 

Looking in high end stores for quality flatwear I was willing to invest in, it was frustrating that it all looked similar. Sub par similar. So I go online and search through hundreds of settings. I just need to find the one.

And I see it. So unique, it caught my attention in a "nobody has this at all look." In fact, every site I went on I couldn't even find a review on the 65 piece set. It was a risk, so I ordered it and it arrived today.

It's perfect. It is prettier than I hoped. It's so elegant and it just matches the look of my decor. I'm so grateful I didn't settle for what the stores offered. 

Washed and in the drawer, I do admit I keep opening the door to admire them. The former set is boxed up and ready to move with Brooke. 

Now I need to host a dinner party!

The Standoff

Sofia and I had our 1st standoff today.

I picked up and took lunch to Mariah's house today and was sitting in Sofia's play room with her feeding her when she wanted to grab her plate of food out of my hand and dump it on the floor. I told her, "It's not going to happen."

Then she looked at me and tried to grab a handful of food off the plate to throw on the floor. The challenge was on!

I know I gave her a look like what on earth are you doing and I said, "Sofia! Sofia!" She looked at me through furrowed brow, gave me the stink eye and yelled, "Ma! Ma!" Then she immediately started smiling and laughing. I snatched her up and ticked her and kissed her.

She's a brave little soul

Little Miss Attitude may be a princess, but Grandmomma is the queen!

June 2019

After much speculation, my sweet girl confirmed she is pregnant again and due June 2019!

I've been asking her for weeks how she is feeling and she's been getting annoyed with me saying she wasn't pregnant, but I could tell. I know they wanted to be careful announcing this pregnancy. 

It's still surreal that I am a grandmother and to know another grand baby is on the way! 

Stink Eye

In all her cuteness glory, my beautiful little granddaughter has mastered the stink eye. A.K.A. a dirty look and she's been lavishly sharing it! lol

That's it sweet girl, let your emotions reflect all over your face. Don't hide it! The thing is, she is giving everyone the stink eye and it's hysterical.

She calls me, "Ma" like her mommy, but I know it's because her vocabulary is limited and she hears her mommy & Brooke call me mom. Though it isn't my forever name for her, I like that I have a name that she calls me.

That stink eye is the best thing ever and I simply have got to capture it in a photo!

Clothing Optional

Raising my girls in an all girls household, clothing was always optional. You just didn't need to cover up and running around without clothes or in a bra and/or panties was normal.

Sofia & I Facetime every day and sometimes a few times a day. Of course I thought nothing of it as I was out of the shower and getting ready and sit the phone on the counter in the bathroom so we are not rushed and can talk as long as Sofia likes.

It was all good until I saw [Mariah took a Facetime photo] flash across my phone. Sofia!

Mariah is cracking up as I am yelling for her to make sure the photo is deleted before my son-in-law by chance (because of course it will happen now) is scrolling through Mariah's photos and God forbid sees his mother-in-law in all her glory getting ready for the day unclothed!

Mariah says, "How much will you give me so I don't give this photo to Uncle as blackmail?"

Note to self: Clothing must be worn when Facetiming.

Boo!

Boo! never looked so sweet and now my autumn decor is complete. White chocolate covered marshmallow sure is tasty. 

My sweet girl loves grandmomma's house! Now that she's walking, investigating is an adventure and treasures await everywhere she looks. 

Sometimes, she likes to kick back in her fluffy chair and enjoy a book and her binky.

The good life.

Patience Pays Off

Patience pays off and it's been an exciting week for Brooke! 

Brooke and Alex got their apartment with all the requirements and pricing she was specifically searching for AND she has been hired as a manager of a restaurant she has liked for many years!

Not to mention, after hiking yesterday, she rescued a kitten on the side of the road abandoned in a box she is bottle feeding.. Bottle feeding because it is so tiny and far to skinny. 

I gave Brooke "the look" and she started laughing, knowing I was questioning her story of finding the kitten on the side of the road. While I know my daughter will go to the grave in an "it's my story and I'm sticking with it" mentality, Alex calls me fearless and when I looked at him and asked the question, the poor kid, shared exactly what happened and by his non-verbals I knew the story was true. 

Brooke will rescue any animal in need, she has a heart for animals. 

Brooke in her adult mind is really reconsidering keeping this kitten, because she has so much going on right now with a new job, moving into their new apartment, and they were more about choosing the 2nd pet as soon as they are established and ready they want to join their family, less spending a lot of $$ on vet bills for a rescue.

She is in heaven bottle feeding this kitten. 

Waves of New Experiences

Every day seems to bring a new milestone and experience.

Sofia is walking all over the place which called for her first pair of shoes and of course she needed a purse. In all the pretty colors we laid out for her, I was surprised she chose the black panda purse, but then I realized, I carry a black purse.

Sofia & I had our longest phone conversation. Now that she is walking, with a chocolate covered face she carried me on Facetime walking around the house talking non-stop with me on the phone for 17 minutes, room to room making me dizzy as she walks and talks. She loves it, I love it. I see a future of many, many, many phone conversations! 

 

I tried a new restaurant as a new 1st I've been wanting to try with really good sushi. 

My favorite grocery store just opened where I live and for the first time ever, I actually stood in line to be one of the first 100 people. My mom & I were #36 & #37. I've never stood in line for anything to open. Ever. We were only in line less than 30 minutes.

The first 100 people were able to pull gift cards out of a basket. I won $10 and my mom pulled the Golden Ticket worth $100. 

Brooke got a job as a shift manager at a restaurant she has loved for years with a strong probability of promoting quickly! She is excited to be in management and bring some money in. It's a good thing because they are waiting for the call the paint and new carpet is installed and their apartment is ready. 

So many positive changes for her and it's so good to see her genuinely happy and excited about life. Once her and Alex are settled in their new place, she wants to start planning her wedding.

So many changes, if I blink another change happens. 

A Friendship Over Decades

I was 17 years old when we met. I fixed up my best friend with his best friend and we all double-dated a short while, then I friend-zoned him. 

My mom always knew who I was talking to over the phone from my laughter. He was so funny, witty and smart and I loved that about him and I quickly learned I loved having him as my best friend. 

He was the guy my boyfriends worried about and I was the girl who scrutinized his love interests, they worried about me. He was also the perfect person to get a male perspective off of as well as the latest and greatest tips he'd experienced with girls. We would meet for coffee, share, laugh and sometimes cringe. 

I was the girl who he had been head over heels for at a young age and after that came a string of girls and relationships that struggled to live up to I think what I was to him.

I confess, we tried a couple of times to see if there was anything more than best friendship between us. Once upon a time, we made a pact that if we weren't married by the time we were 35 years old, we'd just have to marry each other.

He's 52 and I am 48.

Life happens.

Relationships happen.

Jealousy from both our partners and in quest to give peace of mind, we focused on our own relationships. 

It's been about 5 years since I've heard or seen him.

About a month ago, he contacted me. In the past year he has battled colon cancer and I couldn't believe it. 

He called me this morning and we met for lunch. Time is but a vapor and some friendships only need to simply catch up on the latest as if no time has passed.

He smells the same. The olfactory sense is a mystery and I remembered his scent. After a hello hug, we walked into the restaurant to get lunch and catch up with one another, when he made his 1st jab at me when I asked how long it has been? He remembers his role was to always be my memory. That goes back decades. 

I love his wit and banter and it felt good to put all cards on the table in a no-filter needed conversation catching up on life, especially with someone who knew me from my youth. There is a history there that is already known.

After a year of radiation treatments, I wasn't so sure what to expect and I was careful that my facial expressions stayed stoic. He looks great and if you didn't know, you wouldn't know his battle of this last year.

He has slowed down a lot. Cancer puts life in perspective.

I need wit and banter for mental stimulation. He's a worthy opponent. and a dear friend of 31 years.