alley-oop!

it’s the monday giggles…

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Life isn’t just about keeping score.
It’s not about how many people call you
And it’s not about who you’ve dated or haven’t dated at all.
It isn’t about who you’ve kissed,
What sport you play,
Or which guy or girl likes you.
It’s not about your shoes or your hair
Or the color of your skin,
Or where you live or go to school.
In fact it’s not about money,
Clothes, or colleges that accept you or not.
Life isn’t about if you have lots of friends or if you are alone,
And it’s not about how accepted or unaccepted you are.
Life isn’t about that.
But life is about who you love and who you hurt.
It’s about how you feel about yourself.
It’s about trust, happiness, and compassion.
It’s about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance
And building confidence.
It’s about what you say and what you mean.
It’s about seeing people for who they are and not for what they have.
Most of all it is choosing to use your life.
In a way that could have never been achieved otherwise.
These choices are what life’s about.
– Nike

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35

May you find a special way to alley-oop your love ‘into action’ today…and may it have a giggle attached with it!

hugs n’ slam-dunked blessings filled with love for (all of) you !

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!

“SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!”

No seriously, would SOMEONE please “SHUT the front door?!?!?!!”

I remember shouting this, as if it were just yesterday, exactly one year ago.  It was moving day into our New Home, North Star, and I needed to dash off IMG_3540(once again) to go get yet another car load of items from the home we were about to let go of.

Our beautiful House Placard!
Our beautiful House Placard!

My hands were full, the warm autumn sun had brought the bees outside to try to collect the last of the pollen they could find, and I could not manage to close the door behind me as I was exiting.  I knew if it remained open a few bees would welcome the idea to take up residence in our new abode along with us!

I summoned twice, to no avail, so my third & final plea turned into a shout and although I meant it to sound URGENT it probably did end up sounding ANGRY, (which tends to mistakenly happen when the soft tone of my voice tries to be taken seriously!)  I am so glad God understands my heart! And then it happened…

Yes, the door was finally closed (by a nearby helper who obviously didn’t hear me either because his final words before he shut the door were “Who left the door open??“)  But it was what I saw next as I walked toward my car parked at the edge of the curb that made me drop everything I was holding,

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Mrs. B!  AP English 11 & 12

IT WAS MY FAVORITE TEACHER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!

There she was waving at me while shouting, “Hello, Neighbor!”

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!  I now lived by Mrs. B!!

(And who knew we both enjoyed shouting???) 

Words cannot explain how much I adore her!  She was, and continues to be, one of the women I have looked up to and admired as a “Strong-Thinking-Woman.”  Besides my god-mother, I had not met another like her!  And she took such a kind, personal, interest in me back then, that it helped me to find courage & belief in myself I never may have found without her.

And she was to be one of my new neighbors!

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Home Sweet North Star!

So many wonderful surprises like this have continued throughout this first year at North Star.

North Star delivery!
North Star delivery!

We love our new home (and have heard those who purchased our former home feel the same about True North!)

God has a wonderful way of surprising us in life.  When we trust in His guidance great grace is given.  We are grateful for all the many ways we have experienced this in our relocation.

Today Cuppycake & I will be taking a drive together and I am sure it will feel reminiscent of a drive we took just a year ago.  It feels good to be looking out the front window as we drive…and yet I’m grateful for the rear-view one too; as we take stock & appreciate what has led us to this new road we are now on, still led by Christ.  And I’m sure before we walk toward the car & pull away we will be certain to…

“Shut the front door!”

hugs n’ blessings to everyone enjoying surprises in their life!

road-tripping with flat-gayle (who turned golden this year!)

it’s the monday giggles:

i took one of my bff’s on a birthday-road trip to VA with me this past weekend,

(well…kind-of.)

On the road with the birthday girl!
On the road with the birthday girl! (So far this is the oldest she has ever been.)

she turned fifty and that’s gettin’ old,

(well…kind-of.)

Coffee to increase stamina for the trip ahead!
Coffee to increase stamina for the trip ahead! (Coffee is nice…but cake frosting would be better.)

Potty-stops become important at a golden age.
Potty-stops become important at a golden age! (One step closer to adult underpants.)

if anyone else wants a similar birthday-treat I promise it’s lots of fun,

(well..kind of.)

Birthday Camel Ride!
A Birthday Camel Ride! (and it wasn’t even Wednseday.)

A birthday dinner Fiesta!
A birthday dinner Fiesta! (Because hot flashes are just your inner child playing with matches.)

A Mama-riding-llama!
A birthday-Mama riding-llama!

Feeding the llama hAy??
Feeding the llama 50 shades of hay???

Everyone knows...llamas eat tots!!
Everyone knows…llamas eat tots!

Just a friendly reminder...you are now older than dirt!
Just a friendly reminder…you are now older than dirt!

Because At 50 you need a daily dose of iron!
Because at 50 you need a daily dose of iron!

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A good LAUGH & a long sleep are the best cures in the world! (And tonight I fell asleep with you in my heart!)

I know there were no presents

and no ice cream & cake,

but… AT LEAST this trip WAS WRAPPED IN LOTS OF LOVE with A SLICE OF HUGS AND SCOOPS OF BLESSINGS,

(and I think that’s kind-of neat!)

Thanking God for this birthday-road-trip with my bff!
Thanking God for this birthday-road-trip with my bff!

hugs n’ blessings with hopes it doesn’t take another 50 before we go on our next road-trip together!

You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime!

John P. Grier

Dear Friend, I'm sorry if this was a little
Dear FLAT-GAYLE,
I’m sorry if this was a little “cheesy,” but I hope it made you smile! (While you still have teeth, lol!)