Bloggers.

I have SO enjoyed being introduced to the world of blogging and all the cool people that are out there in this great big world.  My interests are ALL over the map, therefore, the list of blogs that I follow are also all over the map!  But it's wonderful to log in and see all the creativity that surrounds these ladies (guys just don't seem to blog as much??) - so I thought I'd share a few of them with you.

Mama Bear Gets Chatty - she's a trip. A mother with three children - Teen to child - and at least a few are adopted. She is super creative, very logical minded it seems and I just enjoy her positive spirit about everything. You want to check her out, I can tell.

Buckets of Burlap - Oh my, when I need to look at pictures that inspire me to dream big of cottages and relaxing days, this is where I go. I love her style, her eye for placement and design. *sigh* It's just dreamy and one day, my very own little cottage will be perfect like hers.

Sidewalk Shoes 365 - Photography, oh how I love you! Pam has an eye for awesome shots, of her adorable kitties, the flowers in the garden, fences on Fridays - her subject matter is diverse and it's always a treat.  She's doing the 365 Project - which I aspire to do one day when I know I"ll actually complete it. :)

Susan Branch - Susan is another cottage-y crafty person, complete with to-die-for recipes, printable bookmarks and other paper treats, and inspirational quotes prettied up enough to make you want to learn how to paint.  She has a store connected to her blog filled with wonderful items that I really want.  One thing I love - the Mom book. Maybe I can convince my mom to fill one out...

Positively Peaches - This lady is Creative with a Capital C! I love her awesome ideas for kids - even if I don't have any of my own! She's so neat, nothing seems to be crazy expensive - just a fun read and hopefully some ideas I can add to the "to do" list with my niece this summer! :) YEAH!


So there! Enjoy discovering something new and feel free to share a new blog with me! I love finding something else to read and follow! :)

Furry Child.

Meet my furry daughter, Muffin.

In my newish job (I've been here just over a year) I train, depending on the year, 300+ folks in a year's time.  Naturally, these people are curious about me, how long I've lived in the area, married?, kids?, etc etc. And I always answer - No, not married. Nope, no kids. I have a cat, does that count?

Today, someone asked if I had children and I said no - I have a cat.  Now sometimes, they leave it at that or say something like - you probably made the right choice! Now, mind you, it's not like I made a conscious decision to not have children.  But I realize they don't know what else to say.

Today, however, the comments were more along the lines of - well, you never know, you still have time! You may have children yet! Which, I usually comment - oh, I'm getting a little old to have kids so I probably won't.  I have a furry child and that's enough.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this post, other than to say this:  You never know why someone doesn't have children. Maybe they didn't want them. Maybe they can't have children. Or like me, the opportunity to have a child hasn't really presented itself to me. And you know what, I have faith that there is a reason for God having kept me unmarried up until this point. 9 times out of 10 I'm ok with it and 1 time out of 10 it makes me sad that I'm not a mother and the life I thought I'd have didn't happen.

I'm as guilty as everyone else to say something wacky because you don't know what to say.  And truly, I don't mind the questions and comments from well-intentioned people. They are so sweet and only want to know me better. But for me, my child is a furry child, who is very ill-mannered, rude, sassy, silly and loves her mommy.  And for today, that will have to make me content.

Muffin Monday...the Evening Edition

Did you think I had forgotten Muffin Monday? Of course not! It's just that my Monday started out as, Well, as a Monday!

But when I came in the door from work, there was my sweet kitten waiting for snuggles! Doesn't that make any day better?

I hope you have a great last week of June...enjoy these few days before the dog days of summer arrive! Take Muffin's advice and find time for a nap!

Bad Bethie.

I finally, after 17 days, write in my thankful journal last night. I even packed it up and took it on vacation with me, never cracking it open. Sad.

I learned that by holding off on writing, I let small but important blessings slip through the cracks. It made me a bit down thinking of all the great gifts, precious moments and happy happenings that I may not have appreciated a much because I perceived myself to be too busy to stop and give thanks.
But, those moments are gone.

Today is a new day in the world of thankful journals...a new day to appreciate.

Everything is Beachy!

As promised, I have been uploading pictures and such from our family vacation to Edisto Island, SC.  Beautiful unspoilt beaches that aren't crowded and life is laid back and quiet. As mom kept saying - we are living on Island Time, and it was much needed.  Truly,  a wonderful resting place to recharge your batteries...

When things don't go psycho crazy like they did for us!  Despite all the weird happenings, we brought back so many wonderful happy memories of being a family, it was a week of blessings!

Ok, so the funny things are those that go whack-o, right?  Like:

• As I'm driving down there, I can feel my face exploding with zits. It was crazy. I haven't had this much trouble since high school and really didn't care to revisit those days.
• Then, I suppose from sitting with my legs smooched together for 5 hours driving, I developed a few painful bumps on the inside of my upper legs. Which required band aids to keep my pants from rubbing against and hurting like a mamajama. And those band aids were great fun to pull off at the end of the day.
• Then, I got the stomach virus one night. Serious fun.
• Katie, poor girl, got stung by a jelly fish. Do not pee on jelly fish stings - that's a myth (I looked it up online, not that we tested it out!) If you trust the locals, use vinegar and meat tenderizer - it seemed to work for her. Hooray!
• Mom's back went out, which made for a rough and painful end of the trip and ride home for her. She's still trying to get that straightened out. 
• Roger got fried up nice and crispy during his beach swim with AH and ended up coated in aloe.
• Both mine and Katie's home alarms went off, giving us both quite a fright!  Thankfully, it was the pet sitter, who I'm sure also received quite the fright, along with all our animals.

The two happiest clams of the bunch were the oldest and youngest - Dad and AH. Who had great fun bonding during this trip. We all played lots of Apples to Apples, Uno, Rummy and a bit of the Wii here and there.  We ate lots of bad-for-you-but-tastes-so-good food, enjoyed plenty of sun, sand and surf, and we all ended up reading books in the cool of the AC.

Because you know I have to torture you with pics, enjoy these FEW handpicked ones ... I could make you look at all 1.5 million so be thankful I narrowed it down! :)

AH and Katie - two silly girls on the beach!

Three generations at the SC Aquarium in Charleston

Mom after a walk on the beach

Beach Girls at sunset (AH and Katie)

AH and Roger on the front porch, taken through the door

Sandy feet of a happy beach girl!

MiMaw and AH

AH, MiMaw and Papa George

 

My fav pic - Roger and AH

Good times, good times.  We are already making plans for next year - I think it's wonderful we can all enjoy each other's company while taking time out for ourselves.  :)

Belated Father's Day

Since the family came back from vacation on the Saturday before Father's Day, I didn't do the posting here about my dad that I wanted to do.  So I'm doing it late because Pops definitely deserves an entry all to himself about how awesome he is.  And my dad - oh yeah, awesome.

Dad is a total goofball most of the time, creating nicknames for almost everyone who comes into our house. Mine - Leroy. Don't ask. But it's my nickname. He is smart, can rig up stuff and make stuff - it's crazy what he can fix, make or destroy and recreate.  Without him, there is no way I could have moved into the house I'm living in now. He did so much of the work himself and I just can't thank him enough.

Hardheaded - holy cow let me tell you, I get that trait honest. But he's good hearted, full of love and no matter what, I know I will ALWAYS be Daddy's Little Girl.  Happy Father's Day, Pop, I love you!

Now - to let you in on what the three kids and their spouses did for Pop this Father's Day.  My brother, who is very clever and quick-witted, made this poem to go in the card, which Pop opened up:

As for being our Dad,

you were never a quitter,

so for this Father's day to say thanks

we bought you a shitter. 

We searched and searched

for just the right fit

so now you can comfortably

take a ... pooh.

Yep, we bought Pop a "tall man toilet" to make life a little more comfy for him.  He's 6'6" and not overly skinny these days, so I think this will be easier on him.  Needless to say, he got a huge laugh out of the poem and more than one chuckle from the fact he received a crapper for Father's Day.  That's love for you!

Happy Hump Day!

Too often I don't take the time to enjoy the quiet. I'm sitting in an empty room, in between classes, with only the hum of the projector and air conditioning to keep me company. It's great. So peaceful. It allows me to drop my shoulders just a bit and let my mind wander to random thoughts floating about my head.

Usually  I'd look for a book, some music, a distraction from the nothingness. Entertainment. But isn't it nice to take a moment to empty the swirling odds and ends from your mind and find a spot of peace once in a while? I think so.

Happy Hump Day, my imaginary friends. I hope you find a stolen quiet moment before the excitement of the weekend!

Muffin Monday!

Happy Muffin Monday!! I'm home sweet home (thanks heavens!) and Muffin was so happy to see her mama come through that door. She didn't let me out of her sight all day on Saturday.  I was relieved, half worried that she'd be angry about me being gone, but the pet sitter must have shown her some love. :)

I did try updating while I was gone, but for whatever reason, the posts weren't received here.  I'm sure I was tragically missed (ha ha) so I'll update on our beach vacation later this week.  It was a great vacation, but let me tell you - I am HAPPY to be home. HAPPY! 

I hope you all have a great week.  Pull out the cool clothes if you are in the Southern USA because it's gonna be a scorcher!

Family.

Mom, sister, niece. Three generations together at sunset on the point. This week is really just beginning and we are having a great time. So many special memories to take home with us.

Don't leave out dad and Roger, too. And Clay on Sunday (we'll miss Angela!) Family is beautiful!

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Vay-Cay!

The most beautiful scene ever. :)

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Good Point.

I really liked this poster, snatched from Facebook. Honestly, the blame for rape, assault, etc etc is so squarely placed on the victim time and time again.  This poster places that blame and responsibility back on the person who is responsible for the situation - the rapist. The assaulter. The person who made the decision to shatter someone's life and take away a beautiful part of them for their own evil selfish means.  Exactly where it belongs.

Like a bumper sticker I read:  Guns kill people like spoons made Rosie O'Donnell fat.  Likewise, girls don't walk out there and rape themselves. Someone forced this action upon them. So don't act like they do or that they were asking for it. They weren't.

Love.

She's of no blood kin to me, but I'm crazy about her.  My step-niece, who came into my life when she was 7 years-old, found a section of my heart and claimed it as her own. I'm crazy about this girl. 

Crazy enough to spend 4 hours sitting in auditorium seats to watch her dance recital this weekend. Even as my butt began to tingle from falling asleep, I was completely captivated every time she came out on the stage. All seven times.

And because I'm a nice person, I won't make you view every picture I took plus the three videos, because I totally realize she may not have stolen your heart yet. But give it time - she's too funny, smart, witty, cute, sweet, creative, caring, and just all around awesome for you to keep your heart out of her reach.

It's a Small World

Butterfly

Do Wah Diddy

It's a Hard Knock Life (from Annie)

I can't wait to take vacation with her... it's going to be a trip. We haven't had a child with us on vacation since my sister was little, and she's 30 now. So life is going to be spiced up and wide open -something this family needs.  Some spice! :)  I'll tell you ALL about it once it's done and over with... provided the excitement doesn't kill me first. 

Muffin Monday!

Muffin greets you all with a cheerful face...please note the sarcasm. Here we have a Muffin that is ready to rip my head off. Hee hee Deep down, I know she loves me. :)

I hope you all have a great week ahead and that you feel loved!

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The Stolen Scream.

I'm removing this post, mainly because it's freaking me out how much attention it has gotten from overseas.  Since I wasn't sure what some of the images were saying, I figured I should take it down.

Sleep...

Don't you just hate it when you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep...then as you lie in bed wanting to sleep, you hear the sounds of a hairball being hacked up? Ahhhh...joy.

Funny thing is, I hear Muffin standing by the bed trying to confess she just made a mess. Lol!

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