It's St. Patrick's Day, 2015

Here's a look through past posts on this Irish holiday ~

St. Patrick's Day, 2015

St. Patrick's Day, 2014

St. Patrick's Day, 2013

St. Patrick's Day, 2112

Celebrated with Deborah & Richard by driving to Fairhope and joining in with the Arts & Crafts Fair - which was HUGE - then having a traditional meal at McSharry's Irish pub. Yum!!! Below is a precious model for her mommy's talents! Elle says, "Happy St. Patrick's Day!"

St. Patrick's Day, 2011

An awesome Pa & a precious Noah, 4 yrs old

St. Patrick's Week, 2010

A girlfriend and I visited another girlfriend that had recently

relocated to the Gulf Shores area! We had a great time~

Our bestie and hostess, Deborah. I heart her.

St. Patrick's Day, 2009

St. Patrick's Day, 2008

It won't be long before Spring arrives!

And Easter!

Then Memorial Day & school's out for Summer!

Does time pass quickly for you, too?!?!?!

"I Don't Believe You Were There"

"With man, this is impossible,

but not with God.

All things are possible with God."

~ Mark 10:27 (NIV)

It's been seven years since April 21, 2006 and there have been some dark places I've gone through to get to where I am today. Places I am ashamed of, but forgiven. Places that had I been stronger, would not have done. This is what I need to write, to exorcise and release in hopes of saving another from the road I chose.

I don't remember much of the rest of 2006, nor the following year, 2007. Those were times of learning to walk again, to take care of myself without help. John remembers them. Nelson and our daughters remember. I'm blessed that I don't.

This post is not about what sent me to the Garden, but rather what has taken place since. I know others prayed for me, suffered through it, and I am grateful.

And so, it begins ~

It didn't feel good not to be able to teach again. I lost a large part of who I was. Not teach?! Not ever again?! NO!

It didn't feel good to to sell our home. Because I couldn't drive anymore, nor did we need the payment, we had already sold my Murano. One of my favorite vehicles. But we, like so many others, spent what we made. Had we held on just another year and a half, we could have kept the home, but it would have always been a struggle. And God had other plans.

The house sold quickly (a great blessing) and we prepared to downsize. A stranger came into our life, sent by God, to help us in areas others couldn't. She found us a beautiful home on the east side of town, and we settled into a wonderful apartment. I should have thrived. I didn't. Leaving a job I loved still hurt deeply. I felt lost. Useless.

Later that year, I had the chance to substitute at a local elementary school and was thrilled! Then terrified. Being led into the classroom, the door closing behind me, I suddenly lost touch with reality and John was called. The words 'psychotic break' was mentioned. (Dr. Mary Neal talks of this in her book, To Heaven and Back. The feeling of wondering if 'this' is a dream or if you're actually back on earth.) An amazing network of family and medical support got me through, but it had serious side effects. I became addicted to prescription pain drugs and began a descent into depression.

Were there reasons to be happy? Of course! We had grandchildren to love. Three lived within twenty minutes of us. But I felt incapable of keeping them. One daughter and her husband even voiced this to us, reducing me to a sobbing mess, but they were right. My adored husband? He loved me, but hated seeing me sad and hurting, so he allowed me to sleep as much as I wanted. He became an enabler and I became a recluse, going into deeper hibernation, my soul crying, 'why did You send me back?!' We rocked on.

2011 began with laughter. A family vacation to the Smokey's and plans for another family vacation in May! This one at Disney World. The year held great promises. John and I took a trip to the Gulf coast in April to visit a friend, and it was then, he says, that he realized a change had to take place. The blessed Holy Spirit whispered to him that he needed to move us south, to a place where there were other retirees, but no one knew us. So much to do, a variety of places to eat, and to top it off, the fresh air off the Gulf of Mexico. We bought a home there the next month.

Now, not only was I in the throes of withdrawal from the prescription drug addiction, but there was the pain of leaving the only child I gave birth to, the sadness of leaving the only family member still talking to me, realizing we were leaving three grandchildren, and saying goodbye to friends of my heart. Sobbing became a daily occurrence. Looking for answers, for peace. Did I ever stop praying? No. Never. I just wondered why He allowed me to return when I couldn't find a reason or a purpose to be alive. I needed to feel needed.

It was a year of major life changing moments. I'm surprised we both survived. But God is so amazingly good and He had plans for both of us. Plans for healing. Plans for new friends, new experiences and the chance to just be us. Not 'victims of a horrid medical accident'.

By Spring of 2012, health issues dating back to the accident surfaced and coupled with a compromised immune system, I was not only sick physically but sick at heart. I prayed. Praying in earnest. Did I feel as if He was listening? I did. Was I listening to Him? No. I didn't want to hear what he had to say. I just wanted to sleep until I 'felt all better'. Talk about being a modern day Jonah!

But there are times when you have to listen. When He makes it impossible to ignore Him. We are blessed with three Godly daughters and they love us very much. Enough to show tough love and we needed it. I needed it. I will forever be grateful to them and love them even more for it.

A Godly physician corrected a serious kidney problem that kept me sick the Spring of 2012. Beginning in 2013, a dear friend told me of an easy way to still eat some carbs but eat healthier (Metabolism Miracle). And through a daughter, we learned of a natural way (thank you, doTerra Essential oils!) to cleanse the physical body. Spiritually, I became a very present part of a bible study with two wise ladies that taught me of a God I never knew. God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit. I began spiritually preparing my heart to do His Will. The healthier I became, the clearer I heard Him. I realized I had been sent back to share what I learned. Sent back to assure the hungry that yes, there IS a God. He DOES forgive and He doesn't want any of His children to choose an eternity away from Him. Away from Heaven. But there IS a Hell and we do have free will. We can choose to follow a Father that loves us deeply or live without Him and spend an eternity in torment wishing our choice had been different.

There are still friends that find it difficult to believe I was in one of His gardens. Telling me it was a dream, much like the nightmares that took place when my body was weaned off paralytic drugs. These questions are valid and easy to answer. NO. It was not a dream. The world is hearing of an increasing number of incidents of near death experiences. Word is being spread of what they witnessed. And that they, too, were sent back to share. Why are certain ones chosen? I don't know. I don't care. I only know we were sent back to encourage, to reach out to the lost, to reassure the believers, and to witness for our Father.

My journey to wholeness has been a long, difficult one. I'm thankful that John listened to Holy Spirit and made the difficult decision to move us. It's been a time of healing, of letting go and grabbing hold. It's been a blessing. But then, when we allow Him to lead us, we are blessed beyond measure. "For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I encourage you to read 'Heaven is Real' by Todd Burpo and 'To Heaven and Back' by Dr. Mary C. Neal. Don Piper speaks more of what is after death in his book '90 Minutes in Heaven'. These have encouraged and inspired me.

And always, God's Word. The Bible. His Word is filled with accounts of what we can expect, what He will give us, teach us, and wants for us. He is our Father, our Lord, our King and I will live the rest of my life living a life for Him and talking of what awaits us. I, for one, cannot wait to see the rest of what He has prepared.

I believe His promises to be true. I believe Heaven is real. I also believe He has a plan for me and that He will help, and even carry me, when needed.

"Be still,

And know that I am God."

~ Psalm 4:10 (NKJV)

I am not perfect, but I'm forgiven. I know He loves me. I am excited about today. About tomorrow. I have a God that has given me a second chance. I will spend the rest of my life on earth going where He leads and listening to everything He has to say, even when like Jonah, saying no would be easier. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" ~ Isaiah 6:8

Deborah's Gift ~

I have a dear friend, Deborah, and she knows how much I love food. Especially bread pudding. We decided to get together for a meal over at her house recently and she surprised me with this delicacy. Oh.my. It is almost, if not as good, as Elli Bistro's daily bread pudding. I say daily, for they change their recipe on a daily basis. I've never gone there that I didn't swoon at the first bite. You might get a fudge laden bread pudding or a fruit filled bread pudding or a white chocolate bread pudding. I never thought I'd like fruit IN mine until I had theirs. NOW, if it's a day when the waiter (we like Nemo) tells us that there will be raisins in it, I go home without dessert. Do NOT destroy my BP with raisins.

 

I mentioned this on my blog, "Losing Forty" and had several comments on Facebook for the recipe. Deborah made it that one time and gave me the recipe. I think she got it from a Kraft site and I think she made hers with French bread cubes instead of white bread. (She's like that. French toast at her house is made with real French toast and another friend and I always fight over who gets the last piece! It's that good. Having thick toast just soaks up that custard mixture so much better than my typical slap a piece of white bread back and front in a milk/egg mixture and fry til browned. No, no, no.  Deborah bakes hers. I think. I don't remember hers ever having an eggy edge like mine.)

 

Head over to my other blog (that I am NOT being faithful with and losing weight!) and get this recipe! It's even good cold.

If you're ever in Gulf Shores, go to Pelican Place on Hwy 59. Elli Bistro's on the corner facing the theatres. You won't be sorry. Lunch menus are SO much cheaper than dinner, but you'll find that a common thing in the majority of the eateries here. Ginny Lane at The Wharf? You can choose between 8 meals for $8, includes drink, OR choose from their 5 meals for $5.95, you buy your drink. Or drink free water! Since this is a sister company to EB's you can get the bread pudding! Ginny Lane's only has the white chocolate every day and it's $6, with a size that would easily feed four. There's also seating outside on pretty days. The ambiance is casually different than Elli's but they treat you the same at Elli's and you go away happy.

My favorite dish at both places?! The blackened tilapia with rice, string beans and a light white sauce of some sort over it. I never grow tired of it. Never. John chooses something different each time and he's never complained. Which says something about EB and GL. When you go, tell me what you like best!

Being retired and living here, it's great to have an awesome lunch at less than fast food prices and be full enough that you only want a bowl of cereal for dinner. I'm learning things from the snowbirds! There are a few that don't. Unless they've changed recently, The Original Oyster House doesn't have a lunch menu nor does Tacky Jack's or Lulu's. There's always hope they'll get one or have one already!

 

PS ~ For those of you that love Tacky Jack's? Head down Ft. Morgan Road until you get almost to the end. You'll see a small marina and what my daughters would call 'a dive'. It's one of the original Tacky Jack's and you'll see sights like this. Why? Because it sits on the bay. Not a canal. Of course, it's quieter, laid back, no loud music, but the food is the same. Might not have as many choices, but it's our personal favorite. Just sayin'

Bits & Pieces of June ~

1 ~ What is with the border around the blog title?! I cannot get rid of it! I wanted the title to say "Faith, Family, & Friends" instead of the original "Faith, Family & Food".  When I re-added the new header, there was a border! I've gone thru HTML, and editing shops and STILL, there's a border. An ugly border. Stacia, Teale, ideas?

OKAY! Uploading the photo and putting it on here, there's no border! Why won't it look like this when I try to do the header in Layout?!?!?! Help, someone!

2 ~ I am missing our youngest and her babies! It's been since the first part of March  (I know we're blessed that they aren't further away. All three girls live within less than five hours, so we feel truly blessed). She did drive down with a friend for a quick Sunday lunch - it was a business trip - and that's been it. However {smile font} they may make it here for a weekend trip soon, and we are driving up the end of this month to see them!

Jenny took this photo and I love it!

Elle is a girly girl, but she so wants to learn karate.

Imagine, a girly girl that can turn your head around,

with one kick to the cheek! 

And the two older brothers she adores.

Her karate heroes.

Oh, I can't wait to get my snuggles on!

Stacey came with her babies & the sun was out!

Stacey's two love the open water.

And the waves obliged.

Boogie Board time.

John went with them to The Track.

Go Carts, Bumper Boats, and the Arcade.

Alaina had lost two teeth before they came.

She is our snaggle toothed princess {hearts!}

Stacey's view of the Gulf, and her cute feet.

John and I like sitting under the umbrella!

And her family will be back!

To help celebrate the 4th of July. Which means,

we have to go purchase a grill,

for the Grill Master is coming!!! WhooHoo!!

3 ~ I have a girlfriend visiting this weekend and it's always so good when she's here. Guess where we met up for lunch?!

What do I love about The Hangout?

Besides the music, the dancing on the tables

and in the aisles? The sliders and fries?

IT'S ON THE GULF!

Walk right out to the sand and surf.

Or do as we did,

sit yourself down on a boardwalk bench.

We'd planned to do a bit of shopping,

so we're saving the beachy part for tomorrow.

Always a breeze, always the smell of salt,

always a vacation day ~ when you're retired!

The cutie in the middle and the cutie on the right,

didn't like this photo. Yeah, we all have cellulite.

But you know what?!

We're happy. We feel good,

and we're children of The King.

Can't get any better than that.

Besides, I think cellulite is a natural part

of a woman's body now. Julia Roberts has it {big smile font}

When I saw this, I immediately thought of my circle of friends.

4 ~ I read some of the funniest things on Pinterest this week. Laughed out loud many times and laughter is so good for the soul. Here are a few.

One to inspire ~

and one that taught me something!

I pray you've had a good week.

Here's to love, laughter, and family & good friends.

Blessings ~

Friends, Faith, and Food ~

"Be completely humble and gentle;

be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the

Spirit through the bond of peace."

~Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)

* * The following is part of my devotional for today.
I found truth within it. Maybe you will, too. * *

"One of the wisest pieces of advice on friendship I ever got was from one of my daughters. She was in middle school at the time. You know that awkward place where insecurities run rampant, hormones rage, and your best friend one day becomes your worst enemy the next? So lovely.

She got in the car one day with tears filling her eyes. She waited until we pulled out of the school parking lot to let all her hurt leak down her cheeks.

"Rough day?" I asked.

"Awful," she replied.

I turned down the radio, waited until we were at a red light, and reached for her hand. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Nope," she whispered as she turned her face away from me toward the window. The rest of the night she sulked around the house. And no matter how many times I tried to get her to talk, this normally very vocal child wouldn't open up.

The next morning, I was surprised when she bounded down the stairs with a smile on her face.

"Well hey! You sure look happy this morning," I said as I lifted up quick thank you prayers to God for whatever had brought back the sunshine to my girl's life.

"Mom," she said with great authority, "I've decided something about friends. They all have good stuff and bad stuff. Things you like and things that really annoy you. So, you just have to decide if you can handle their package deal."
How wise. How true.

Friends are a package deal. And sadly, not all friendships will stand the test of time. Some friendships are for a season. But other times, we have to be willing to deal with the messy stuff to fight for our friendships."

I am blessed with an awesome circle of Godly best friends that support me, laugh and cry with me, and He is constantly bringing more into this circle. There are those that have fallen away for one reason or another. There are those that are there through thick and thin, and though you may not see them but a few times a year it's as if you saw them yesterday. Below are recent photos of a fashion show a few of us attended. There was sharing, laughing, food! and we had such fun.

What a grand place Heaven will be ~

imagine to be always surrounded

by Christian family and friends.

Always. Forever. For eternity.

Food, Friends, and Fun!

She had to have some annual tests done and didn't want to go alone. It is a nice thing to be needed, not to mention I'm always up for some girlfriend time! I went along to giggle and laugh, and read a book about Oprah (by Kitty Kelly!) while Kay had a vamp take her blood and an alien scan her chest and heart. She was feeling a wee bit frightened.

The testing did not take long, and since she had fasted, she was hungry! WhooHoo, breakfast! One of my favorite meals. What am I talking about?! They're all my favorites. We ate, and talked and talked, and ate. Driving out of the parking lot, we decided not to go get our nails and toes prettied, as planned ~

But to go to the Zoo instead! I've been to the Montgomery Zoo once, with Jenny and her babies, since leaving my second grade post and let me tell you it was nice getting there in a vehicle that wasn't a long yellow bus! The day was a bit windy but beautiful. Cool enough that we were glad we had light jackets. We just wandered around and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

My favorite was the Sumatron Tiger. He/She was so soft and cuddly looking and very regal. We had to remind ourselves that it was an animal much like this that tried to take the face off that entertainer in Las Vegas. What was his name?! Siegfred and Roy? There comes a point when you just have to realize that one day it's a house cat, the next day it's a wild animal that wants you for dinner. Just sayin'.

I also like the alligators, and there are signs up stating they are building a new addition just for the American Alligators, which by the way are in all natural rivers and most ponds around central Alabama. WHaT tHe?! This is no lie, and I still laugh when repeating it, but there was a student named Aaron in my class one year. Came to school telling us his daddy had found a Styrofoam cooler at work, and it had a baby alligator in it! After the hullabaloo 20 excited kids can make ended, I asked him if they were taking it to the Zoo. "Heck no, Miss Hood, he just let it go in the creek behind our house." Aaron's best friend, John, jumped UP saying (loudly) "THAT creek runs behind my house!"  A few years later, they both came by my room to visit and I asked Aaron about that alligator. Before he could answer, John yelped, "I forgot about that gator! I bet that's what's been happening to our dogs!" And yup, I laughed again, thanking my lucky stars I didn't live on the creek that emptied into Blackwell Slough! True story, cross my heart. Which is why I would never, ever, ever, never slide over the edge of a boat to pee. I don't want to turn around and see two beady eyes a foot away from my nose. I keep telling Hood there's things with sharp teeth in that river! 

So, I wasn't afraid of the tiger. Or the gator. But snakes? (Or 'snicks' as Jenny called them when she was younger.) Just being in The Reptile House made me nauseated. Kay kept getting right up on the glass to find whatever was to be in the enclosure and I promise you, had something come at the glass from INSIDE that cage, I'd have peed in my pants. Right there. No lie. And knocked her down finding a way out.

We left and it was Sonic time!!! How many of you love those slushies as much as I do?! All time fav is the Cherry Limeade. Route whatever. Gimme the biggest one there is. Then come home, put the lime slice down the garbage disposal and make your home smell fresh!

Having rested driving back to town, and rejuvenated with a snack and drink at Sonic ~ and NO, I'm NOT going to tell you what we had. I have a blog about Losing Forty and this is NOT confession day, so there. But it sure was good.

And who doesn't like to go to Kirkland's?! They're having a lamp sale, but nothing grabbed me and it was a bit crowded. I don't like to look with someone bumping into me while I'm standing still with several large pictures propped on a hip. Kay felt the same way, so we called it a day. Went back out to her SUV and played with our iPhones. She got one last week! and now, like me, she's addicted.

She got hers through Verizon. Now, I want a new one from Verizon.

It was such fun, and thank you, Kay, for needing a friend.

It's always nice to be needed {grateful font}.

And to go to the Zoo.

And Kirkland's.

And play.

It's Jenny's Birthday & I'm Home!!

I'm home!! We got in to Prattville around 7ish tonight, in time to watch our beloved Crimson Tide play against our oldest daughter's alma mater, Mississippi State. Yeah, we're winning {wink font} which is a great feeling, as the Tide has NOT been doing so well. But that's another post I won't be writing about (aren't you happy?!). I got together with some girlfriends and we drove to Gulf Shores to spend Friday and today walking on the beach ~ which was beautiful and so restful! ~ had some yummy food from several local eateries, shopped at Tanger Outlets, and stayed up late late late. We shared homemade pumpkin latte, laughter, tears, shopping tips, and even more food and conversation.  Now we are looking forward to finding time to make another trip. Only three hours from my garage to hers.

AND it is ALSO,

our baby girl's birthday!!!!!!!! Happy birthday, our beautiful and talented Jenny! We are so proud of you and the walk with our Lord that you are not only talking of but showing your three babies. We adore and thank our Father for the strong, Christian man that loves and adores you. May God grant you many, many more birthdays; more laughs than you can handle; and, all the love your heart can hold. Here's a Hello Kitty birthday greeting to a little girl that loved with a passion the Hello Kitty store at the Galleria!

A Few Loves in My Life ~

**our beautiful daughters, Jenny, Leslie and Stacey ~ such inspirations to me, such sweet parts of our life

**our precious grandbabies, Austin, Ian, Alaina, Noah, and baby Elle ~ the ones that remind me how sweet and adorable their mommies were when they were small

**my Lord and Saviour ~ always there, always loving, always forgiving, always helping me to be a better mother, wife, person

**John ~ the man that has always believed in me more than I've believed in myself

**Brett, Brandon ~ the Christian men that love and adore our daughters and grandbabies

**hot showers, soft beds, safety within four walls ~ things we often overlook but miss when we don't have them

**girlfriends, Nelson ~ those that bring delight and laughter to my days just by being with them and near them

Not in any order other than when I typed the title this was what came into my heart. I am so thankful for the blessings of my life, even those little bitty ones that creep into my days and make life richer. We are truly a blessed nation, a blessed people, and these are a few of my loves and blessings.

Just Another Trigger Moment

Julie Conn.

A second grade teacher at Holtville Elementary.

My home-away-from-home for twenty years.

She taught down the hall from me.

Always had a smile, a hug, a dear friend.

She came into Cute As A Button last week,

looking for an outfit for her newborn son.

I turned around to greet a customer,

and it was Julie. Jules. My Jules, from 'that time'.

My counselor calls these moments trigger moments.

When my throat closes, the headache begins,

speech becomes labored, my thought process jumbled.

I wanted to cry, to hold onto her, to be back there,

to be back in Room 33, beside Lisa,

across the hall from Jackie and Deborah;

to live at 204 Spruce, the home Johnny and I loved,

to have it all 'not have happened'.

So much rushed me at once

that for a moment, or two,

all I could do was stare at her.

And remember. And hurt.

We talked, we hugged, I saw the baby,

she left. I remembered.

And I grieved. And cried.

Will it ever.get.better?

Will I ever, ever get to the point

that it.won't.hurt?

Logic tells me the house at Spruce was too big,

too much upkeep for a disabled retiree.

But my heart tells me

had the accident not happened,

we would still be there. Still sitting in the swing,

on the deck John built, and I loved.

I would still be teaching next door to my best friend

and learning from seven and eight year old

angels in little children bodies. Do I miss the day to day

routine, the parental worries, the paperwork?

You bet I do. I always will. It was a passion. It was me.

Honestly, I don't know if it will ever get better.

It will be three years tomorrow.

We are in a new home.

Another new home, as a matter of fact.

And Life is different. As much as he tries,

and as much as they try,

and as much as I try,

it will always be different.

And God help me,

I want it back. There are times

I ache I literally ache,

to have Life the way it used to be.

My heart tells me I have much

to be thankful for; much to enjoy;

much to find delight in. And yes,

retirement has freed me up for other things,

and I cling to the understanding

that He never, ever, allows anything to happen

that He doesn't offer some means of bringing

Glory and Praise to His Name.

But my heart still breaks,

when those trigger moments occur.

So if I see you at some point, and you wonder

why I fumble, why tears slide, why I stare~

just know you have triggered a moment

for a past I miss with my whole heart.

And I continue telling myself,

it will get easier.

And then,

I go to my Jenny's family blog,

and she has this photograph of Noah.

And I read her words with the picture,

"Run, Forrest, run!"

And I laughed.

Through the tears brought from writing to you,

I laughed remembering what I had seen on her blog.

So I have brought it to you for your laughter.

God works in beautiful, mysterious ways.

"My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

Go, Noah! "Run, Forrest, run!"

Jonah & Sister, Claire

This adorable young man,

Jonah

and his precious twin, Claire

are the grandbabies of one of my dearest friends, Lynne Griffies

and her husband, Allen.

They were too cute not to post on today!

Lynne is an accomplished photographer

and we have plans this summer

to gather some of her shots

and publish a coffee table book!

Stay tuned and remember,

you first heard about her book here!