2017 Suggestions...

Y’all may remember TLC and I don’t really, seriously make New Year’s Resolutions. But I’ve decided to make two “Suggestions” for myself. And one for TLC (that’ll be fun, right?)

For ELC: 2017 Suggestions

1.      Lose weight. It’s time. I must do something/anything to try to lose the forty (40) pounds I need to lose. I don’t really believe I need to join Weight Watchers. Or go to Jenny Craig (this wouldn’t be convenient as I’d have to go to Fort Worth and that’s at least an hour away). I need to stop putting so much food into my mouth/body. Especially sugar foods and drinks. Period.

2.      Drink more water. I must TRULY attempt to drink less Diet Mountain Dews and Sonic Vanilla Coke Zeroes. Also bottled Coke Zeroes I keep in my fridge at all times. MUST be 75% better about this. Period.

That’s it. Anything else? It would just be a waste of typing. There are SO MANY improvements I need to make to myself. My life. My brain. My body. It’s quite overwhelming. So I’ll be realistic and keep my goals/suggestions simple.

For TLC: 2017 Suggestions

1.      Post more. Please. Dear Lord. PLEASE help ELC/Yo Mama  write more blogposts. I’ve basically given you approximately five years to slack off. I know you currently have a Wild Child under the age of one year (Baby Elle). But she’s getting older each second that passes and Little Leighton (at 4 ½) is almost becoming a piece of cake to raise/care for/handle. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your posts and pictures. Come on: Commit to ELC. I know A LOT of your secrets. (Just sayin'. Teeheehee.)

That’s it! That’s all! My Sweet Hubby and I will probably be asleep in our Great Room by 7:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time) tonight. Max. I’ll say HAPPY NEW YEAR/HAPPY 2017 to each of Y’all now! May it be a GREAT one.

(Drink some champagne for moi and TLC, okay?)

Love and Hugs, always... 

we sure do like those Christmas cookies, sugar...

Can y'all believe Christmas has come and gone? I'm always a bit melancholy on Christmas night. I adore all things Christmas, and I get sad when it's over. I spend a lot of time planning gifts, purchasing gifts, wrapping gifts, decking my halls. By the day after, though, I'm ready for a fresh start. This year, I took all of our Christmas decor down, minus the trees. I decided to leave those up until after New Year's Day. (They just make our house extra sparkly!) I had fun redecorating the house. Little Leighton (LL) was my helper. I think she has quite an eye for design! (She's a hoot. And a toot. All presents for Baby Elle have been deemed presents they both will "share." She also declared, after the last gift was unwrapped, that she would like to open presents every day of the year.)

On Christmas Eve Eve, our Third Annual Baking Extravaganza took place. LL is my sous chef. We bake gingerbread cookies for Santa and a red velvet cake. Both gluten-free, of course. And both DELICIOUS, if I do say so myself. ELC was here that day, being our Grammy Nanny. She took a few photos to commemorate. LL and I also had matching aprons this year, courtesy of Matilda Jane's collaboration with Joanna Gaines. Two of my faves!

Decorating (and eating!) cookies is serious business, y'all. Teeheehee.

We here at LOL hope you and yours had the MERRIEST Christmas! Cheers to 2017!

Merry Christms Eve!

So it’s getting close to 10:00 p.m. in North Central Texas.

This has been a wonderful day. My Sweet Hubby (MSH) and I slept a teensy bit late. Then got a lot of things done. Tomorrow morn we head East for our Celebration and Gift Exchange with TLC, Her Hubby (HH), Little Leighton (aka LL aka Biscuit) and Baby Elle. We’re bringing a salad and dessert. TLC is doing one of her famous “Pot Roasts with Smashed Taters and Parsnips” lunches. I’ll tell Y’all more details about my dessert some other time. It was an Epic Fail. But MSH and I improvised and will be taking our extraordinary "Chocolate Toffee Crumble Cake." Teeheehee. Gluten-free, of course. With GF whipped topping. We already know it is YUMMO/FANTASTIC. We tasted it. Several times. Yes. Yes, we did.

Late this afternoon, MSH and I made a trip to Fort Worth to attend a Christmas Eve Evensong at a church I used to visit with TLC—when she lived in Fort Worth. Christ Chapel. It was lovely! Just what MSH and I needed to feel the full, true, amazing meaning of Christmas.

TLC and her Gang have been to Her Hubby’s Family’s Christmas. Baby Elle was not a Happy Camper. Pictures to follow soon. Now both Angel Girls are all tucked into bed. TLC and HH are pooped. We’re all quite certain Biscuit will be up at 5:00 a.m. If they’re lucky. This year it has positively hit her: The MAGIC. The FUN. The PRESENTS. She’s been one anxious Little Leighton for weeks! Bless her precious little heart…

We all wish each of you a MAGICAL Christmas, full of love, laughter, happiness, food, fellowship, family, friends and HOPE. The Hope of Our Dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

God Bless Everyone—tonight, tomorrow, on Christmas Day, and always…

ELC

p.s.: I follow Franklin Graham on Twitter. This morning I loved this tweet from him:

Make sure that Jesus Christ is at the center of your celebration—and the center of your heart--#Christmas. (He had the cute little Apple Christmas tree emoji at the end. I thought that was too sweet…)

comfort and joy!

A dear, precious friend of mine (I’m thinking we’ve known each other for over 23 years—at least—I’d have to really work my brain cells on this to be completely accurate.) got together today for a little pre-Christmas cheer.

Her wedding (over 20 years ago) to My Sweet Husband’s (MSH) best friend (GL) was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever attended. Stunning. Exquisite. Unforgettable. We’ve spent a lot of time together since then—made lots of memories.

GL died last year—right before Thanksgiving. He was a bit younger than MSH. They’d been friends for over forty years. When MSH had his heart attacks, Emily’s husband was my second call—after TLC. When MSH was bit by the copperhead snake a year ago this past August, GL beat us to the ER, comforting both MSH and me. Losing GL was shocking. Devastating. Incomprehensible. To Emily. To his children, grandchildren and family. To us. His many, MANY friends. (He would tell MSH he’d make sure TLC and I had his help and support when MSH’s time came. Actually, they’d make lots of jokes about MSH being the “first to go.” Morbid? Yes. Typical of the two of them? YES.)

Emily has been amazing this past year. Strong. Brave. Smart. Wise. AMAZING. Since her life has changed in such a drastic and surprising way, we discovered we were going to have more time to be together. Three months ago, we had our first pedi date. We met for breakfast, first, and then journeyed to my current Spa/Salon. The next month, we changed it to a pedi and lunch. We did that order again today. (But, hey, we can be WILD and CRAZY. We might go back to breakfast. We might make a pedi/dinner date next month. We’re flexible and open to all possibilities! Winky. Wink.)

As we were drying our purty tootsies this morning, I told her I had a surprise for her: MSH was joining us, and, therefore, treating us—teeheehee, for and to lunch. I can’t begin to express his admiration for Emily. He’s constantly impressed by and proud of her courage and determination. The three of us had a great time. She and I did our best to talk MSH into having a pedi with us sometime soon. TLC and I have been working on him to do this for at least five years—with no success. He says: NO. H#LL NO. Silly, SILLY man. First of all—he’d love it. Second—GL would get the biggest kick out of seeing the three of us partake in this (IMPORTANT and necessary) activity. MSH says it ain’t happenin’. Ever. We’ll see…

After saying our goodbyes, I left for Hellmart. MSH left in his truck for home. Emily headed downtown to the office she and GL shared forever. I know it’s hard for her to face her new reality and daily challenges. But she does it with grace and class. I love her, dearly.

TLC grew up with GL as an “Uncle” figure. In fact, GL performed TLC’s wedding to Her Hubby almost seven years ago! He had to be convinced/begged/bribed to do it. It was perfect. Positively perfect. We have the luxury of watching him anytime we want on the wedding video. It’s quite wonderful.

TLC adores Emily, too! We might let her, Little Leighton and Baby Elle join us sometime down the road for a pedi/dining adventure. Emily has several granddaughters that we’d also happily invite!

This was a day of pure JOY—despite us all missing GL terribly. I confidently believe he’s with Emily. His children and grandchildren. And MSH. Watching them. Laughing with and at them. Treasuring them. Guiding them.

Now I must scoot…

Hope Y’all have had a Wonderful Wednesday! Call up a friend you love and tell them how much they mean to you. It’ll be a Christmas gift they’ll always treasure.

Smooches and Hugs…

the eyes of our hearts...

From Jesus Today, by Sarah Young:

(No. 63 page 146-47)

HOPE FOR WHAT YOU DO NOT SEE; EAGERLY wait for it with perseverance. Among the five senses, sight is often the one that people value the most. I created the world gloriously beautiful, and I want you to appreciate beauty when you see it. However, even more beneficial than sight is hope, which is itself a kind of vision. It enables you to see—through the eyes of your heart—things that are not yet. The most stunning example of this is the hope of heaven. Your ultimate destiny is to share in My Glory! This is my promise to you, secured through My finished work on the cross and My resurrection.

Practice hoping for things you do not see—both for this life and the next. Ask Me to guide you into hopes and dreams that are in line with My will. Train the eyes of your heart to “see” these blessings, while praying for My will to be done fully and only. Discipline yourself to wait eagerly—with your focus on Me and the longed-for outcome. Remain hopeful and expectant as you wait with perseverance.

If we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

            --Romans 8:25 NKIV

“The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.”

            --John 17:22 NKIV

TLC and I pray to see our many blessings. We pray for each of you that loyally read our Blog each week to be safe, strong, prosperous and HAPPY. Today and always.

Sweet Sunday Hugs and Kisses to Y’all...

bank grabbers...

Things that happen when My Hubby goes out of town for the week (not necessarily in the order in which they occured--it just happens to be the order in which my exhausted brain is remembering them):

1. Baby Elle learns to say, "Mama!" (VICTORY! It's only fair. Little Leighton's (LL) first word was "Dada.")

2. The freezer (temporarily) breaks. I had to locate our breaker box, too. I knew it was somewhere in the garage. I could not figure out how to open the dang thing. 

3. Little Leighton ROCKS her sweet Christmas Program. She sings with so much expression. It was precious and priceless.

4. The kitchen sink leaks. Everywhere. Because, of course. The plumber has to come two days in a row. Because, of course.

5. Baby Elle sleeps through the night--TWICE. Y'all--this was another VICTORY. The past month (Six weeks? I've lost count.) has been extra rough. Between the never-ending ear infection and teething, we've all had very. little. sleep. 

6. LL wakes up at 2:30 last night. Ready to get up for the day. Because, when one sleeps--the other doesn't. I could not convince her to go back to sleep. Grammy could not convince her to go back to sleep. It took bringing her to my bed to finally get her to doze off at 5:15.

7. My low-tire light comes on. Because, of course. 

8. LL has her class Christmas Party. It was lots of fun. There was Christmas Bingo, an ornament craft and (gluten-free!) sugar cookies. Basically, the best day--ever.

9. During dinner tonight, LL was recounting the rest of her busy day at her Methodist Church Preschool to me and Grammy. It was then that I learned some of the sweet little boys in her class like to play "bank grabbers." (That's in addition to zombies, apparently.) I asked her what that meant. She said they pretend to steal money from the bank. Uh-oh. I kindly reminded LL that her Pa-Pa and Mama were both bankers, and we put our money INTO the bank. We don't take other people's moo-lah out. Grammy nearly died laughing.

10. I visited my dermatologist for my semi-annual skin check. He removed three "suspicious" spots. Lovely. I went to LL's Christmas Program with two big bandaids on my face. I was very "Rudolph-esque," given one spot was right on the bridge of my nose.

11. LL, after much consideration, has decided she'll be ready to use permanent markers and have a cell phone (a purple one from "Grammy and Pa-Pa's Staples," nonetheless) on the weekends when she's 10. She says she'll be much more "good-er" by then and not as "silly." This girl. FUNNY.

So, now I'm headed to bed. At 7:30. No judgement, please. The fact that we've all made it this far calls for some sort of celebration. A Hallmark Christmas movie and comfy pants sound good to moi.

Happy Friday Eve!

blessed assurance...

From Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young:

December 11^th

I AM WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF. Bring me all your concerns, including your dreams. Talk with me about everything, letting the Light of My Presence shine on your hopes and plans. Spend time allowing My Light to infuse your dreams with life, gradually transforming them into reality. This is a very practical way of collaborating with Me. I, the Creator of the universe, have deigned to cocreate with you. Do not try to hurry this process. If you want to work with Me, you have to accept My time frame. Hurry is not in My nature. Abraham and Sarah had to wait many years for the fulfillment of My promise, a son. How their long wait intensified their enjoyment of this child! Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.

PSALM 36:9; GENESIS 21:1-7; HEBREWS 11:1   AMP

Today I head East for a few days. TLC’s Hubby goes out of state for job training. I’m truly looking forward to being with My Girls! The weather here in Texas is cold. Finally. (And, yet, we don’t much like it! Temps in the 50s and 60s are our preference. Of course. Fall. I could love that year round. I'm serious. Well, okay, let’s throw a little Springtime in there, too. For good measure.)

Christmas seems to be approaching FAST—to “big” people. To the “little ones?” The time is crawling. I remember that—don’t y’all? Thinking Santa was taking FOREVER to arrive. Seeing her gifts under their tree, Little Leighton (aka LL aka Biscuit) is becoming frustrated. TLC is actually afraid she’s going to peek. Open them up and then try to get them wrapped back! (TLC went through this dilemma. Actually, I believe she’s confessed to succeeding, a few times, at finding out what were in her gifts. Toot. I was too much of a Rule-Follower. If you told me not to do something? I complied. I’m still 98% that way! Teeheehee. Won’t go into the remaining 2% at this point.) It’s like a slow, confusing torture to our tots. I have moments now, as I did when TLC was a child, of feeling a bit guilty about the stories we tell about Santa. Is it our first, significant disappointment? Deception? I don’t know. Mostly I think of it as a part of life. What we all survived for the lessons we were to learn.

I’m wondering if this time, the Christmas season, is actually the beginning of our children’s/grandchildren’s training to have faith. Faith in the goodness of Santa Claus/Generosity/Kindness. Faith in God and Jesus. Faith in Their holy “time frame.”

Y'all remember: I’m not a patient person. Never have been. Don’t think I ever will be. I do try. I pray for patience. Daily. I take deep breaths. I attempt to distract myself with other things. I force myself to stay busy. I’m also a worrier. Both of these traits/issues? Not so good. Not a testament to my personal faith, right? I’ll keep trying to be/do better. I’ll never stop working on it. Today. Every day. I do so love My Dear Lord God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Hope each of you Sweet Peas has a Splendid Sunday and WONDERFUL Week! PLEASE be patient and faithful. Don’t worry. Be HAPPY!

Hugs and BIG Sunday Smooches…

oldish...mostly ish...

I went East Sunday morning for one night. TLC, Her Hubby and Little Leighton (aka LL aka Biscuit) were going to church and then, after lunch, to LL’s first play! TLC and I’ve been discussing the fact, for at least a year, that we needed to take LL to a play/musical. A little community theater group was putting Elf on very close to TLC’s casa. This seemed like the perfect play to take LL to. (I haven’t seen the movie. I believe I’ve said I'd watch it the past six or seven Christmas seasons. Yep. That' not happened yet.)

The ticket prices were very reasonable and the time was going to work out great. Off they went after lunch! (TLC’s Hubby? He decided, after the two-hour play—including a too-long intermission—that in the future—he’d volunteer to keep Baby Elle and I could go with TLC and Biscuit to all plays and musicals. He enjoyed it—was glad to be with TLC and LL—one time. Teeheehee.)

Baby Elle and I had a happy afternoon. She’s continued to be sick. Ear infections. (These have gone on for five weeks.) She has, however, still been SWEET, cute and downright yummy! At least in Grammy’s opinion.

Monday morning, TLC took Baby Elle back to their pediatrician—for the 4^th time in four weeks—and I took LL to her ballet/dance class. After lunch, TLC and LL made a quick run to Hobby Lobby while I watched Baby Elle sleep—on the monitor. Poor, precious Baby Elle—she had to have a HORRIBLE shot yesterday. Another one today. One more tomorrow. If these evil shots don’t clear up her ears, the next step is a visit to a pediatric ENT. Possibly tubes. We’re, obviously, all praying non-stop for healing!!!

I had to head home by 2:15 as I had Bridge Club last night. I missed My Three Girls by the time I hit 121—10 minutes from TLC’s house.

LL and I Facetimed for a few minutes around 4:30 today. Her class—and several other classes—walked over—this morning—to a Senior Citizens’ Home that’s next door to LL’s Church School. The children were “practicing” their Christmas songs for their Christmas Program next week and entertaining the Home’s residents. Two birds (turtle doves, of course...) with one stone!

Here is the conversation LL and I had:

Grammy: So, tell me about the walk to the Senior Citizens’ Home this morning. Did you have fun?

LL: Yes! It was cold, but we had FUN, Grammy. We sang for old people.

Grammy: Right. Well, were they as old as Grammy?

LL: Yes!

(I will remind Y’all, I’m 62. I don’t have plans to live in a retirement home anytime soon. I certainly won’t be opposed to it—if that’s what needs to happen. I’ve told TLC for years: You may have to make a tough decision about me. I may get mad at you. You must do what you must do. I’ll be fine. I’ll love you no matter what happens. She dreads these talks. For many, many reasons.)

Grammy: They were as old as me? Hmmm. Were they as old as Pa-Pa?

(I will remind Y’all, he’s 72. He’s actually 9 years and 11 months older than moi.)

LL (after pausing and thinking for a few seconds): No. They weren’t as old as Pa-Pa.

Oh, Biscuit. What am I going to do with you????????

Hope Y’all are having a wonderful week—and that no one you know thinks you’re older than people that are clearly 15-25 years older than you.

Sheesh. And SMOOCH.

'Tis The Season!

Happy December, y'all!

Yesterday, I took the girls to go see Santa. I think the pictures speak for themselves:

Priceless!

God love Baby Elle. Apparently she missed the "merry and bright" memo. Santa was so apologetic. He felt terrible she cried. I told him to not think twice about it. The crying pictures are always the most memorable!

Little Leighton had spent a long time working on her letter to Santa. She was excited to hand deliver it to him. Santa was beyond patient and kind, reading every word with her. LL requested an "Elena Guitar," "Barbie Clothes," and a "Purple Bike (with training wheels--she dictated this part to me!)."

There is truly nothing more magical than experiencing Christmas with your child/children. Their wonder and joy is amazing. It is simply "the most wonderful time of the year!" (Well, it will be for Baby Elle--once she recovers. Teeheehee.)

I hope you're all having a Splendid Saturday...Seriously SPLENDID!