Friday's Letters.

Ya'll I am so very blessed. God placed me into an immediate family that is beyond wonderful - words can't describe my parents, siblings, their spouses and families. So thankful for being in this family.  But I also have an outstanding extended family on both sides - mom's and dad's.

A little background about my family:  My mom is one of 12 (yes, you read that right!). 12. She's number 8 in the line up so she was towards the end.  Actually, her oldest sister had children about my mom's age, so she was an aunt to people her age. ha ha! That's how it works out when you have so many kids. There were 9 girls and 3 boys in the family, (only one set of twins), from 1933-1956 (ish...I'm not too sure about the baby's birth year). All were living until this week, when my mom lost her oldest sister - the first born of the family.  It was a difficult weekend with hospice calling it down to a matter of hours.  Then she was gone.

My dad is one of 8, another rural Southern family with a ton of kids.  They had 6 boys and 2 girls - Dad is 5 in the line up and the first to be born in a hospital! Funny story - his birth certificate said, "Baby Boy" on it until he got married and had to legally change his name! Two of my dad's brothers have passed, one last year.  That one was tough because it was sudden and he had such a large personality - it didn't seem like it should have happened that way, with no chance of a goodbye.  This is why we should tell people what they mean to us today, right?

With my aunt, it was easier thanks to a wonderful service, delivered by her granddaughter.  She got choked up a few times, which were about the only times I really got choked up.  But she did a great job of presenting my aunt's personality without embellishing it or making her sound like someone she wasn't.  Because she was tough, straight-shooting, tell-it-like-it-is-whether-you-like-it-or-not, a community leader and a community MOVER.  She got things done.  Her granddaughter did her right.

So there, that's my week.  Getting back into work has been tough and overwhelming.  Not in a bad way - I'm definitely not complaining. It's forcing me to get organized and I like being organized. :)

OK, on to some letters:

Dear Mom and Dad, Happy Anniversary!  44 years is so beautiful and I'm SO GLAD ya'll went away for the weekend.  Go have a wonderful time without kids or grandkids and we'll see you when you get home.  We all love you very much!

Dear Project Life, I have spent hours working on you, trying to catch up the past several years of scrapbooking, only to realize I've left out many events that I wanted included. And it's not easy to go back and add... so I guess I'll be doing that this weekend somehow.  Let's not discuss the 100s and 100s of photos I've purchased thinking I would need them only to have them piled in a shoebox. Hmm...

Dear Big Brother, you aren't that exciting, but I'm still totally addicted. I read your feeds on Twitter every morning and every evening to make sure I'm up to date with your drama. Not that there is a lot of drama... but whatever.  Derrick, you deserve to win but Victoria, it would be hilarious if you took it all!

Dear Work, you are killing me.  It's Friday.  8:00 p.m. I'm still here.  Granted, I'm now blogging, but up until about 15 minutes ago, I was working.  2.5 more months of insanity and hopefully it will slow down.  By the way, work space, I'm loving my new desk and the new partitions that block out some of the noise!! LOVE IT.

Dear McDonalds, no more mocha frappes - I swear it was like my heart was going crazy.  No more.

Dear Neon Colored Paper Clips, you make me very happy.

Dear Far-off Friends, Ok, so I mailed out postcards from the beach today.  Work with me, ok? Don't think I'm psycho, just smile and nod.  Thanks.

Ok people, I'm heading to my HOUSE.  My couch, my twitter updates, my Project Life scrapbook... you get the picture.  Wish I have more excitement to post here, but I'm tired and don't have the energy to chase down pictures. Next week, I promise!  Adios my friends - have a great weekend and hug someone you love today!  :) :)

Photo Challenge Wednesday - 12

What day is it???  HUMP DAY! ... and Wednesday which is Photo Challenge Day! :) Woop Woop!  It's kinda fun and confusing at the same time to post these in the middle of the week, but since the year started on Wednesday, I've kept the weeks in line with that date. 

Let's get started, shall we?

                 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014:  Heading for H.O.M.E with a peaceful sunset.  Ya'll have seen this church several times, I think it's just a cute country church close to home.

                               

                   

                  

Thursday, March 20, 3014:  Wow, I didn't realize how snap-happy I was on Thursday.   :)   We were preparing for a Saturday election all week, with a steady stream of people coming into the office to vote.  I decided to Spring up the place with flowers. Also, it drew attention to our award - the office was voted Outstanding County of the Year by our state association.  :) YAY FOR US!

It was nice to see some Spring blooming - granted since then we've had another freeze so I probably damaged everything.  Pooh.  That night, Donna and I went to her local high school play, Grease, which was fabulous! Those kids do such a great job.  We always enjoy their plays.

       

Friday, March 21, 2014:  Sweet Niece #2 came by to visit while her mama voted absentee.  Katie was actually the last absentee voter! I can't even explain how much work goes on behind the scenes to hold even the smallest election... but it's alot.

                               

Saturday, March 22, 2014:  Election Day! Left the house at 5:45 a.m. and didn't get back until 10:15 p.m. So... it was just by luck I took this photo to send to my sister-in-law.  It's a very crappy photo of my scrapbook, which I was working on during the slower times of the Election.  :)   While I like the concept of Project Life, I've got to learn how to be more creative with it.

                     

                    

Sunday, March 23, 2014:  BOTH SWEET NIECES ARE HOME! WOOP WOOP! I so enjoy having time with both girls, they are just too sweet.  I sent this pic to AH's great-grandmother, in hopes to cheer her up (she lost her sister this past week. I can't imagine having a sister for 80+ years and losing her). Please say a prayer for her.

                             

Monday, March 24, 2014:  Thankfully, Spring is really beginning to show out! I love it! Blooms are on all the trees, the Yellow Belles are covered in blossoms, the rose bushes are pruned (thanks Mom!) and starting to show new growth - the world is waking up again.

           

Tuesday, March 25, 2014:  I know, you've seen this barn before, too, but I can't help it. I'm fascinated by it. I had to pull over on the side of the road and take a quick pic, the wind whipping my hair in a million directions.  Katie thought I was broken down with car trouble, only to realize I was just crazy to take photos in this cold windy weather.  But I finally got the shot I wanted. :)


So now it's Wednesday again and today's photo will show up next week.  I'm debating ordering some magnets of these more scenic photos from Sticky9.com especially since they have a buy 2 get one free deal.  But do I need 27 magnets of random photos?? Hmm... not too sure about that. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Ok, let me run.  Hope your week is going well - drop me a hello so I know you are out there. :)

--- Beth

Photo Challenege Wednesday - 10

We are already into March, ya'll.  And I have to ask you - where did the time go?! Any plans I had for 2014 are a quarter of the way SHOT because we are that far into the year.  Just baffling. 

My week was a good one, although busy.  This week is more of the same! But it's all good, even if I am missing several episodes of The Voice between this and last week. 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014: My journals! One (the bottom) is a journal I write in from time to time for my niece.  It follows from before she was born through her acheivements and funny stories.  One day when she's old, I'll give her the stack of journals.  The top one is my prayer journal.  It's about the third or fourth one.  If I write, it's usually at night before I go to bed.

Thursday, March 6, 2014: Project Life!!! My first pack for Project Life scrapbooking and I'm EXCITED! Yes, this crap is p.r.i.c.e.y. But I do like the concept. I'm sure you'll see more in the coming months. :)  This house is on my drive into work and I just like it. It's so romantic and Southern in my opinion. Thursday included dindin with my friend, Sara!! YAY!

Friday, March 7, 2014: Holy cow the rain on Friday. What a dismal day.  But by quitting time it was drying up and made for a decent drive home.  I'm sick of this weather, that's for sure!

Saturday, March 8, 2014: Saturday morning I had a work event, so my coworker and I left extra early for a visit to Cracker Barrell before the event. YUM! It was a foggy morning and at one point in my drive, the road dips down under the fog. It's just neat. By the time I got home it was a BEAUTIFUL day.  Here, my sister, niece #1, dad and niece #2 are enjoying the weather on the backyard swing at Katie's house.  So good to have Sweet Niece #1 home this weekend.

Sunday, March 9, 2014:  Church, of course.  Then lunch with the family.  Afterwards mom and I hit the Wee Sale to stock Macy up on summer clothes.  Wow she's growing so quickly! At 20 months she's in some 3Ts.  Good grief.  Found something things for AH, too, but she had already left for her mom's house by the time we got home.  As you can see, Macy wasn't working too well with me and the camera.

Monday, March 10, 2014:  This whole Spring forward on the time thing is evil.  But it does get me out of the house in time for some pretty sunrises. :)  Look at that! Isn't it great?! My morning started with four REAL kisses from Macy so I knew it would be a WONDERFUL day. And you know what, it was pretty darn good.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014:  After several long days in a row it was nice to come home to a Sweet Niece visit. Granted she wasn't happy when I wouldn't give her my phone lol!  I also visited with the kitties. Awwww.  A pretty good ending to a long day.

So that's my week!  Today I'm celebrating with my bestie the birthday of her late husband and my good friend. We have to appreciate the time we were given but it still sucks. He was a trip - and dearly loved my friend. He's missed. 

Y'all have a good week and I'll see you back here soon. I've got to get moving!! :)