Welcome Home, Grandieu

 What do you do on the day when the woman who has been like a grandmother to you for many years goes home to celebrate Easter with Jesus from the other side of the grave?

You talk to your bestie, and your daughter in love, and your mama, and your sister. You put on a pretty dress and go to the Farmer’s Market with some of your people. You find sweet friends to visit with, plus beautiful jewelry, freshly baked challah wreaths from your Easter table, and locally brewed coffee from small businesses. You go grocery shopping so dazed and confused that your son’s girlfriend has to come find you wandering in the auto parts section of WalMart and finish your grocery shopping for you. You celebrate the birthday of a dear friend’s miracle baby. You pick up a surprise gift from a generous friend of a t-shirt that you’ve been wanting. You laugh with a friend over your haphazardly made Easter dinner plans. You hug your people 73 extra times. You hang out with your ridiculously handsome husband and are grateful for having someone to share life’s burdens with each day. You prepare to feed your delightful assortment of family and friends and probably a few random strangers a big meal, hope you have enough forks, and are reminded anew of the many Many MANY blessings in your life.

Welcome Home, Mary Hover Parker, aka Grandieu. Your race is finished. I’ll see you when I get there.

How Are you? A Truly Blessed Season

 A dear FB friend asked me how I was today. Often, people say, "How are you?" but they are just being polite, not actually inquiring as to your wellbeing. And to those people, the only correct answer is, "Fine, thank you. How are you?" However, this is a friend who really wants to hear a truthful, specific answer. Like, how I *really* am right now. And after a moment of reflection, here was my response.

How's life?

~Overall, pretty good. We've got our heads above water financially for the first time in years. Dan has largely settled down and when he isn't working, he's hanging out with the family. Derek is emerging from the sulky early teen years and is spending more time with us, has rediscovered his sense of humor, and has even left the house a few times in the last few weeks. In fact, Dan and Derek are currently sitting in the LR playing Minecraft together, and we already have an expansion of Dominion on the table for board-game playing later tonight. I'm loving my job at Acton, even on the days that drive me crazy. It is good to be needed and feel like what you are doing is making a difference. And frankly, making decent money doesn't really hurt my feelings either. 😉

I've been really enjoying this season of 'non-active parenting' with The BIGS and their ladies. We have breakfast together once a week, plus pizza and movie nights on Sundays, we all ride motorcycles together whenever the weather and schedules allow, and each of the boys pop in and out of the house in the evenings a few times a week. It just feels like everything is right with the world when your grown children want to hang out with you, while still being mature and independent adults. Sometimes, you just KNOW that a particular season of your life is fleeting, and you want to cherish every moment. And that's where we are currently. It's pretty great. 

A Beautiful Blessed Saturday

 I have had a glorious day. A long brunch with a new friend, haircuts for some of my handsome guys, a sunset motorcycle ride with Hercules, The BIGS, and the girlies, followed by a delightful dinner out. *sigh of happiness*

#RidingWithHercules

#OldLadyRidingAdventures

#ChalasWoodFireGrill

#ManCrewMotorcycleClub

#ValentinesDay2021

#ManCrewHouse

#Panterra

#Dakenzie

Best Photo of the Day

 This photo of The BIGS makes me so happy inside. Just happy, relaxed, enjoying life. Together. Makes this mama’s heart fill with joy. Dastroyah and PattyCakes. 

Happy Birthday, PattyCakes!

 We celebrated PattyCakes today, even though his actual birthday is tomorrow.

Birthday breakfast of cinnamon swirl French toast, board games, and presents of succulents, followed by a birthday parade, a beautiful cruise to El Paso and back that included a stop at a tasty taco truck, and then pizza, the original Rush Hour, and graham cracker cake.

A truly glorious day.

#CelebratingPattyCakes

#RidingWithHercules

#ManCrewHouse

#PizzaAndMovieNight

#BoardGameNerds

Patrick was pretty pleased with his Succulent Of The Month subscription

Cinnamon Swirl bread for French Toast, Mmm!

As always, Dan found a new friend.

Before the "French"-ing 

Makenzie is stunning in front of any background. 

PattyCakes prepares for the dismount. 

Bunch of show offs! Oof, these guys. #GentlemanSavages 

Well, we can't fault their form, that's for sure! Well done, BIGS

It was perfect for riding! Warm and sunny, with good company and great backroads cruising. 

The sunset was so lovely on the way home

Taco Taco Taco!

Cynterra did a great job of planning and preparing for Pat's special day

We Found the Taco Truck again, woot

Time for Graham Cracker Cake!

Worth waiting for, to be sure!

Happy 22nd birthday, Patrick!

There are no words for how wonderful this day was! Everyone was happy and cheerful all day long, the weather was perfect, and we all just had a ball together.

Friends, Family, Food.

Cake, Cars, and Crazy good times.

Birthdays, Boys, Board Games, and great big Blessings!

#YesAndAmen PS. And one of Dan and I, because #WeCute

Happy Sunday

 

Friends, I pray that you enjoy a sweet sweet Sunday surrounded by those you love the most. Lean in, breathe deeply, and take note of how blessed you are, even in these crazy days. 

God is good, still in control, and not surprised by any of the shenanigans that 2020 is trying to pull. 

#CoronaVirusPandemicQuarantine2020

#GodIsGoodAllTheTime

#Shenanigans

#KnockItOff2020

#HappySunday

#ManCrewHouse

It's The Little Things: Day 365

I want to focus on the good things this year.
All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• 'Shua and Lauren bought me a plane ticket to come see them in the New Year after #BabyThea is born. I am so blessed, and tickled pink! 
• My dear long time friend Lauren is on her way here and will be here in time to celebrate New Year's Eve with us tonight. 
• Dan and I decided not to throw a party this year and just be cozy at home. That's a decision I can live with all year long. 
• I don't have to work tomorrow. Hooray for sleeping in once in a while!

 

 

 

What's on YOUR little things list today? 

It's the Little Things: Day 284

 

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It is a really good day of school after a few that chased rabbit trails and ended up being more character training than following our curriculum.
•  It is having a new friend over for dinner, even though it was unplanned.
• It's having a free evening to host company since our community group was canceled this week. 
• It's having your grown children bring their friends over for you to dress their wounds when they've had an unfortunate experience with bare skin and a rough sidewalk. 
• It's having Hercules eat at the table with me two nights in a row. 
• It's the major rearranging that's been going on all week being finished and the dust settling now that everything is in it's new place. 
• It's having the house ready for Dastroyah, PattyCakes and NayNay to each have their own room. 

What's on YOUR little things list?

It's the Little Things: Day 272

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

•  A day spent almost completely at home. As often as we strive for them, in this busy busy busy culture, an at-home day is a gift. DT is still really embracing the idea of Sabbath, even though to him it just means a day at home to do whatever he wants. ;)
• Dan was helping Roger, Teresa, and Karen move into their new home, so it was just DT and I most of the day. I'm glad he's willing to help friends and family with whatever he can. The tv was on, but quiet, and DT took breaks often to help me with things or head out into the sunshine for a bit. I even snuck in listening to a CD or two while DT was otherwise occupied.
• I chatted on the phone with my mom for over an hour about her recent trip to Ohio, life around here, and just stuff. I miss her. I'm grateful for technology that helps the miles between us seem shorter.
• I accomplished several small projects that had been lingering on my to do list all week, like getting out the Autumn decorations and putting away the Summer ones, catching up on ALL of the dishes, 'helping' DT get his room cleaner and giving the rats a bath, folding some laundry, adding several books and a few items of clothing to the donation box, cleaning the bathroom and scrubbing the counters. Little things, but as a whole, made the house feel ready for Autumn and clean.
• When Dan came home from helping them move, he painted my nails so I would sit still next to him while he watched a movie. Oh my goodness, I love this man. He just wants me to sit by him. (Hello, quality time love language)
• I helped Ricky draft an email to fire his current lawyer, which was the only reason I left the house. I spent an hour at The Hooligan House eating pizza, laughing over the guys' love language quiz results, drafting the email, and generally enjoying myself quite a bit. I got to hug Carolina and Judah, have a chat with Johnny, and listen to Alex put everyone in their place a time or two. Good stuff. 
• When I returned home, Dan and I watched a few episodes of This Is Us, season 2. Netflix DVD service is awesome. It really IS the Little Things.

See how easy it is to come up with things once you start looking around?
What's on YOUR little things list?

#100HappyDays2018: Day 100

#100HappyDays: Day 100
These 100 days of summer have passed so quickly it seems and now that we’re here at the end, I couldn’t choose just one photo. So, I shall share two today for the grand finale.
I love Las Cruces, it’s so beautiful!
#100DaysOfSummer
#LasCruces
#TheOrganMountains
#100HappyDays2018

  

#100HappyDays2018: Day 98

 

 

 

#100HappyDays: Day 98
Happy Mail from a friend. Amy and I were talking nutrition and feeling run down and burned out last week, and today I find goodies in my mailbox! Thanks Amy!!
#100DaysOfSummer
#HappyMail
#NutritionForMama
#100HappyDays2018

 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 94

#100HappyDays: Day 94
This guy. He makes me happy.
#100DaysOfSummer
#22Years
#TeamMeYeR
#HappyAnniversary
#100HappyDays2018

It's the Little Things: Days 238 and 239

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

•  It's a Saturday at home, with nowhere to go unless I decide I want to leave.
• It's the hubster calling to say he was on his way home (quite a rare occasion) and asking me to please order some dinner and not cook so I could hang out with him. *You best I did! 
• It's a quick visit from a friend that was unexpected but very welcome.
• It's so many texts flying back and forth between your bestie and you since she's home from work for a few weeks due to a medical issue. She's healing well and feeling better each day.
• It's getting a little closer to your son's room being reasonable again after realizing is was WAY out of control a week ago.
• It's pizza and movies with the regular attenders again and having leftovers.
• It's getting 2 movies watched and everyone still getting to bed before 10. SCORE! 
• It's a friend that is soon to move away bringing over doodahs to share from her nearly empty apartment in a pretty striped 31 Bags bag that I've been drooling over and then giving me the bag, too. Thanks!
• It's a hilarious photo remake that the family indulged me by making.
• It's winning a phone conversation with the Man-Child. :)
• It's getting nearly caught up on the dishes after cleaning out the fridge and making myself tons of new dishes to do. 
• It's Hercules hanging out in the kitchen with me and helping out by making his own Kombucha and chopping up an enormous watermelon. 
• It's a grocery shopping trip that reminds of exactly why I don't take Dan grocery shopping with me, but that was so pleasant that I'm tempted to throw the grocery budget caution to the wind every week. 
• It's a full fridge AND meal plans to make sure we use up that food.
  
  See how easy it is to come up with things once you start looking around?
  What's on YOUR little things list?
  
  

#100HappyDays2018: Day 84

 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 84
I didn’t take a picture of anything today, but it was a good good day. I was reminded again of how much I have for which to be grateful. Friends called, texted and video chatted with me, came by to visit, and invited me out for dinner (all separately), I got some prep work done in the kitchen, school went as smoothly as the 7th day can go when one kiddo is sick and the other is sleep deprived, I went and had a sweet time with my BIGS plus some of the other Handsome, my S-G, and BethAnn at Swing On The Plaza, and I’m headed to bed at a reasonable hour for the first time in a while. And it’s hard not to be happy about a day like that. 😊
#BLESSED
#100HappyDays
#100DaysOfSummer
#100DaysOfSummer2018

#100HappyDays2018: Day 76

 

#100HappyDays: Day 76
Feeling fine and fancy in my new duds!!

#100DaysOfSummer
#NewClothes
#MamaK
#100HappyDays2018

It's The Little Things: Days 225 & 226

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.

All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.

All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.

So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

•  It's the sermon series wrap up that made me want to go back and re-watch the whole series. It's good stuff. "Forgotten God" http://getrealchurch.org/sermonaudiovideo?category=Forgotten%20God
• It's lunch with my friend Alexandra, who is too good to me. It's been almost exactly a year since we've had a chance to just sit and visit without being interrupted 48 times in 3 minutes. After our delicious lunch at Cracker Barrel, we went window shopping and somehow, I ended up with 3 new shirts, 2 pairs of pants, and a pair of pjs...and that was AFTER I'd insisted she put half of the things she picked out for me back on the rack. She told me in no uncertain terms that she was GOING to buy me some clothes and that she'd worked overtime so that she could do it without hurting her family budget. (Guys, have I mentioned that I am blessed? This lady and her family is such a blessing to Dan and I.)
• It's pizza and movie night at the Man Crew House and while it felt weird to have only Dan, Derek and myself at home, it also felt nice. Like a little intro to the next few years of our life. And it was a considerable change from last week when it was us three, plus PattyCakes and Nathan who were expected, plus David and 3 friends who were NOT expected. LOL! This week we introduced DT to Mrs. Doubtfire and he laughed his head off. He enjoyed it so much that he re-watched it on Monday afternoon. *Hooray for an unexpected gem in the $3.74 bin at W-M.
• It's wearing new clothes to work on a dreary Monday and feeling like a million bucks all day long. And even better, getting several compliments on the new clothes. And even BETTER...managing not to ruin my brand new clothes. If you know me, you know what a big deal this is. ;)
• It's the simple, small gestures, like Dan staying up late with me while I baked bread for a fundraiser we are doing. He feel asleep on the couch at the end, but he tried, and in my world effort counts. 
• It's waking up to reasonable temperatures in the morning. We've had a few days in a row of mid-70s temps in the AM and I am ALLLL about feeling like Autumn is just around the corner. 
• It's preparing for the new school year. We are all dragging our behinds after the past few work weeks have been completely OUT.OF.CONTROL. But, hope springs eternal and the bulk of our books have arrived and the rest should be here soon, so we started today. Just with some organization projects and reminders about what we expect this school year, but we started. And that counts. 179 days to go. ;)
• Free breakfast at Chick-Fil-A this week to those of us returning to school. YES PLEASE. Yum~O
• New school Supplies. Enough said. 
• Catching up on housework doesn't sound fancy or exciting, but it does keep the house running smoothly and makes being home more relaxing. I'm glad I spent the time on Saturday to make it clean and shiny.
• It's a schedule with fair regularity now that school has started again. Thank you, Jesus!
• It's looking forward to Swing on the Plaza since it was cancelled last week for the National Night Out celebration. 
• It's not having much money for groceries, but realizing you've got plenty in your pantry, fridge and freezer so that you only need a few small things at the store to feed your family this week. **If you're struggling to feed your family this week, check out these links. https://lifeasmom.com/this-weeks-dinners-for-70-or-less-bonus-trader-joes-shopping-plan/ AND https://www.menus4moms.com/meals-for-hard-times/ AND https://moneysavingmom.com/2009/10/how-to-live-on-beans-and-rice-for-a-week.html AND https://www.frugalfarmwife.com/article/how-to-eat-beans-every-day-without-getting-bored/ AND http://theprudenthomemaker.com/blog/entry/how-to-eat-beans-every-night  The Man Crew has tried all of these at one time or another and several of the recipes have made it into our normal rotation of meals because they are so good. 
• It's getting a good night's sleep for the first time in a while. Makes everything look better. 

 

What's on YOUR Little Things List today? 

#100HappyDays2018: Day 75

#100HappyDays: Day 75
A dear friend took me to lunch so we could have some uninterrupted chatting time, which we both seriously needed, and then she took me shopping for some new work clothes.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m so ridiculously blessed with amazing friends. I am so grateful for them and humbled often by their kindness to me.
#100DaysOfSummer
#BLESSED
#Friends
#100HappyDays2018