Tennis Anyone?

There are certainly emails and internet sites that amaze me and take my breath away. This location for a tennis match does just that. It could be my fear of heights. Check it out for yourself.

Birthday Time

What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change, and they give me a million dollars' worth of pleasure. ~Gene Perret

I had the great pleasure today of having all three of my grandchildren here for Grady's second birthday party. It was a blast! And in December there will be another granddaughter born. Grady will be outnumbered by three girls but I bet he can handle it. He has three uncles to make up for all the girls.

It is nice to fill this house up with precious little ones. The good thing about having several grandchildren is that my lap is seldom empty when they are all here. And they keep me young inside even though the outside may not look so young. They are truly blessings from God.

R & R

Today is going to be a day of rest and relaxation. Yesterday I felt like my blood pressure was up, so today will be one of those sleep off and on all day, listen to music, do nothing days. So don't try to reach me, I am shutting down for the day. When I get overly tired and stressed it seems to affect my BP. Sometimes it seems that stress is a way of life. I see it all around me in almost everyone I know. It seems to invade every area of life.

I got a good email from a friend yesterday about imperturbability. One of these days I will learn not to be perturbed no matter what storms are raging around me. My main problem is that I tend to want to fix things, even things that are beyond my ability to fix. So I hold onto them until I reach the point where I have to let them go. If only I could learn to let them go in the beginning, God would handle them much better than I. He is the one who shelters in the cleft of the rock during life's storms and can be trusted to guide us to a safe place.

Now to all of you who love me and may be worried (Mom), remember that I have to do this periodically and by tomorrow I will be back up and running. The Bible prescribes rest for the body and soul and I am filling my prescription today. I hear the recliner calling.

Gonna Get Me Some Phillips

Okay, so how do you tell if you are losing it? The first thing you do is drive to an out of town meeting on Monday after work only to discover that you have arrived early . . . by a week. So now you have to dread this thing for another week.

The next thing you do is get to work and eat your breakfast at your desk like a good employee should and then reach into your bag for your daily pills only to come up empty handed. Then you wait a couple of hours and then drive home. Still can't find them. You get back to your desk and wonder if maybe they are in the car. So here you go outside again. Jackpot! There you find them under a hand towel on the front seat.

So for all of you who can identify, shop at your local store for the Phillips. When I found this picture online today it seemed so appropriate.

Life's Roads

"Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know why I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved."

Another good quote from an email source and one that I truly identify with although I must say that the majority of the ride has been smooth. But it did make me think back over all the kinds of roads that I have traveled on. The one most traveled is probably interstate since it seems that life has zipped by in a hurry.

Then there are the gravel roads that slowed me down and were rough with big potholes that jarred my teeth and unsettled my insides. Every now and then I got stuck in a huge rut on a winding dirt road that lead into the back country. I have covered flat lands, hill country and high mountain roads that chilled me to the bone. Sometimes I slipped and slid over icy roads or rainy, wet roads. At other times I cruised along at a leisurely clip enjoying the scenery along the way.

So you see, sometimes we get a cute little email and we smile but then we realize that what it says really goes soul deep if you take the time to meditate on it. How has your ride been and where have the roads taken you? Who were your traveling companions? Do you need to choose a different road? Or different companions? Think about it!

Maxine Tip on Good Housekeeping

Okay, ladies, it is almost the weekend and time to do all that Saturday housecleaning. So to help make it easier, here is a Maxine tip:

Always keep several get well cards on the mantel so that if unexpected guests arrive they will think you have been sick and unable to clean.

I'll also add a Ginger tip: Leave a mop bucket of Pine Sol water sitting out. When someone comes in they will see the mop bucket and smell the clean scent of Pine Sol and think you have been slaving away.

Now all of you leave your tips in the comments.

Wedding Bells

Saturday, my family will increase in number by two additions. Andy is getting married to Emily and her son, Grady. They will be sweet members of our family. Grady is a lovable 23 month old blond headed bundle of pure boy. He will be a change from my two granddaughters, I am sure. But don't get me wrong, he is also very well behaved. I love being a grandmother even though I am much too young for the job.

I wish for Andy and Emily a wonderful lifetime together.

Welcome Home

Tomorrow is the big day. Abby is anxiously awaiting the return of Dad, Mom and Lilly. We have been busy all week and my vacation has passed much too quickly to suit me. I know that I will cry a bucket when my little sweetie goes home tomorrow. The week has included swimming; shopping; the zoo; visiting with M and decorating cupcakes; eating with friends and lots of play time with Mimi, Nannaw and Kate. Do I win a prize for losing weight? Following a three year old is lots of exercise for Mammaw. But it has been the best!

Tomorrow I will hold my little one, Lilly and see if she has made the trip as well as her parents assure me that she did. I read this week that you don't know perfect love until you become a grandparent and I believe it. God is so good to bless us with grands.

Welcome home, my precious family!

Mission Trip

The travelers made it to Connecticut yesterday and Lilly proved me wrong about her ability to travel in an airplane. Kristy said that she did not cry at all with her ears. Yea, Lilly! Today they go sightseeing and tomorrow it is down to work with VBS. I hope the week goes well for all the group.

Abby and I are making it fine. So far she has not mentioned being homesick at all but I am already dreading Friday when she has to go home. I know why grandchildren are called grands. She told me the first night, "Mammaw, when I don't spend the night at your house it is no fun." Talk about melting my heart! We are having a blast.

We may go to the zoo Monday or Tuesday. Those will be the coolest days this week. I'll be glad when Lilly is big enough to go with us, too. And then Kristy and Mike can have a break from the kids.

Gotta go play and then off to church. More later.

Inspiration

Since my job is a trickle down political job (with me at the bottom of the trickle), I have been slightly worried about what will happen in the city hall shake up come January.

Whatever am I thinking? I am inspired by this picture. There is always the old tin cup method of making a living. So if you don't find me behind my desk just take a look on the square and there I'll be sitting on my crate. Maybe I can liven up the downtown area!