Mammy's Cupboard

The last weekend that the family was here Casey, Avery, and I had a girls day out lunch, at this little place.

It was sooooo delicious! As always!

We had been to Bark in the Park at the Indian Village running and playing. Avery was a little thirsty so when our waitress had to actually take our orders and then leave our table without leaving Avery her Sprite well, she had something to say about it, like "Hey why that lady not bring my Sprite."
Thankfully the waitress came back shortly with that important Sprite.

Shucks. I cant remember why she was saying "Pleeeeeaaasse". But I got the shot and I am sure whatever it was, with that face, she got it.

She was excited about the day. We had fun. If I hadnt waited so long to post I could probably remember what exactly she was particularly excited about in this picture. It was probably just the fact that she got to spend the day with Nonna. Yea that was probably it. I am sure. Yea.

And of course we couldn't leave without bringing Poppa a piece of thisAnd a sandwich
and soup
and potatoe salad of course.


Pretty much after we got back into the car little Miss Avery Grace was SACKED OUT!

LOST THINGS FOUND

Recently one morning to my surprise as I was wiping down the windowsill in my bathroom I got to the corner of the windowsill and what to my wandering eye should appear but two shiny earrings glittering near!

Probably 6 months ago those earrings vanished. I confess I placed blame on this sweet little innocent girl!

MY APOLOGIES!
She used to love to get in my jewelry box and root around. We have since broken her from that habit but at the time that my beautiful earrings disappeared she was well into the fun of it.

So apparently Todd was opening a window in the back bedroom, formerly known-and I guess still known as Joshuas room. There in the windowsill was my shiny pair of diamond earrings! It seems when we were re-doing our bedroom and sleeping in Joshuas room while he was away at school, I took them off and placed them there, probably because I wore them to bed and they were bothering me. Never would I have looked there for them. And I didnt.

I am so happy to have them back. It was like getting new jewelry all over again!

Finding them reminded me of another time I lost a piece of jewelry. I know, I am terrible! How embarrasing. You'd think I would be much more responsible. Sorry!

Anyway, I was making biscuits and I didnt want to get the dough all in my grandmothers ring. Okay, she wasnt really my grandmother, my great Aunt I think. We called her Memaw and she was the closest thing I had to a grandmother on my daddys side as his mom died when he was little bitty. So, on with the story. For some really crazy reason, I took off my ring (that I inherited when Memaw passed away) and placed it high in the kitchen cabinet so as not to LOSE it. Then I forgot about it. By the time I missed it, silly me, I couldnt remember where I put it. Each time I placed something in the cabinet it shoved my ring further and further back. The ring was gone for a really long time. Now I cant remember how long but maybe a year or so. But eventually I decided to have a garage sale because I LOVE those things. NOT!!!!!!!! I was cleaning out the kitchen cabinets one morning to find things to sell. There in the very back of the cabinet I saw something glimmer and thought "What in the world is that?" Yep, my grandmothers antique diamond ring! I went to hollering and screaming. I jumped out of that chair and RAN outside to where Todd was. He turned around really fast to see what was wrong and why all the screaming. I was so excited to find that which had been lost.

There are other things I have lost in the past like debit cards---Once I left it at LaFiesta, once I dropped it in Office Depot; thankfully one of our former students worked there and when she saw it in the bottom of the cash drawer where someone had tucked it she knew that it was me and gave us a call!

Finding lost things brings a sense of relief, satisfaction, and excitement.

And THAT reminds me of a few things in Gods word. Luke tells us that Jesus was trying to make a point. The reason I say that is that He gave not one or two but three different examples.

• Luke 15:4-5 "If you had a hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldnt you leave the ninety nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found."
• Luke 15:8 "Or suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Wont she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin."

And then Jesus goes on there to tell us the story of The Prodigal Son in which the father plans a celebration upon the sons return because "He was lost, but now is found."

• Luke 15:7 says of the lost sheep found "In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety nine others who are righteous and havent strayed away."
• Luke 15:10 says of the lost coin found "In the same way, there is joy in the presence of Gods angels when even one sinner repents."
  

Luke 19:10 says "Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost."

LOST THINGS FOUND BRING CELEBRATION!

Tee Pees, Indian Mounds, & Pit Bulls OH MY

Today was a beautiful day. Bark In The Park was happening at The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians so we took Avery over there to see the dogs and run around a little. We had a good time.

First we explored a bit.
Avery liked the Tee Pee but said she wouldn't want to live there.
The Indian Mounds were a hit. Avery gave me instructions on how to get down and held my hand.
We made it!!!
We saw lots of dogs and even puppies! Avery said she wanted one of these Pit Bulls. She didnt have $150 so we didnt bring one home.

This is my favorite photo from the day.
It's always fun to do something a little bit out of the ordinary.

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time...

Way back when, I had three littles at home...

Casey was playing ball, struggling to hit it hard enough to get to first base. I can remember the look on her face. Lips tightened together, eyes on the base, elbows out---way out, and running "her" fastest.

Mark playing T-Ball and loving every second of it. Oh and he was also running into walls, wrecking bikes, and falling off the bunk bed... (Thus the scar on his cheek in this picture). How did he survive?

Josh was into everything... Pulling bottles of ketchup out of the refrigerator and busting it all over the floor. Reaching up to grab the powdered Gain Box and dumping it all into his eyes and all down the rest of him. Dumping paint on the floor, where I was three feet away painting the wall. And we cant forget, pulling down the Christmas tree. Yes he did that two years in a row.
I know --cute, but quite a hand full. Never take your eyes off him!

I remember those days with much pleasure.

One day in particular I remember talking with Todd about how we would watch them grow; and grow old together ourselves.

And I'll be darned if we didnt do it.

A great reminder would be when Mark walked into my office today dressed to a "T" in his black slacks, shirt & tie. He looked like a man I tell you!

And I guess he is.

Casey a mom herself of a little dancer. I can hardly believe it.

And Josh a sophomore in COLLEGE no less.

Once upon a time...

Remember These?

Remember these?

Casey had one of these Cabbage Patch Kids back in the day. She left it outside one day and a dog drug it off never to be seen a gain. Insert teardrop, sniff sniff...

Today some friends of ours, as a matter of fact our Pastor and his beautiful wife were having a garage sale to benefit their adoption which you can read about here. They already have three wonderful little boys but have found room for one more little orphaned girl from Peru. Hopefully their journey to Peru will come soon. Those plane tickets are not cheap though; not to mention every thing else that comes along with International Adoption. So they had this garage sale in hopes to sell lots of stuff and earn much needed funds for Peru. I made my way to the garage sale this morning and this is what I found. I thought maybe Avery wouldnt mind adopting herself. So now she is the proud new mama to a set of twins. One she has chosen to name Carson (which almost caused a tear). Still waiting on the girls name.

I brought the dolls home and cleaned them up good. I even washed the little girls hair. It looks awesome! I bought them some preemie clothes (just like Avery wore when she was three months old!!!!). I fixed them all up, waiting for Avery to get to come to Nonnas to get them.

Then I had a lightbulb idea!

I remembered that I had the cradle my daddy made when my kids were babies.
I drug it out of storage and cleaned it up. I had so much fun getting it all ready for Avery to play with her new babies in. I thought about when daddy made them. I bet he had even more fun making them for his grand daughter to play with than I did cleaning it up for mine.

I had three special things that daddy made. One was a Rocking horse. Avery has that in her room now.

I have this cradle, which will go to my next granddaughter.

And I have a "Bear Bed" too. That will go to my first grandson.

Well actually I am planning on giving one to one of Marks kids, and the other one to one of Joshuas kids. So hopefully that plays out as I intend but if not I will figure it out then.

I am so thankful to have these treasures to pass along to my grandchildren. I wish there were more things to pass along. (Especially that HUGE rocking GIRAFFE, with leather stirrups he made for me when I was 11) But they said it was too big to move with us when we moved here so they gave it away. Insert tear, sniff sniff.

Look Who's a Dancer

These are her TAP SHOES!



I cant believe our little miracle is about to take DANCE

And I cant WAIT till we get to go to a recital and watch her.

All I can think about when I see her in this little outfit is that tiny beginning.

What a BLESSING!

Rain Dancing

Guess what it FINALLY did today!



Yay! I drove through puddles and walked through puddles. That is something I havent done in a long time.

Avery wanted to play outside so why not?