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 ~

Back and Going Again!

We got to Gulf Shores around dinnertime and headed to Lulu's! I don't think I'll ever get tired of that place,

AND they've added a new addition to the playground! Parents, your babies will love it!! Of course, the food is awesome. Then,

we took a walk on the beach, which was  so relaxing, but gave my knee fits! Aleve helped that problem. Went back to the home of the girlfriend we were staying and played SCRABBLE while laughing, and reminiscing, and laughing, and losing, and laughing and winning.

Saturday Deborah fixed us french toast for breakfast! With strawberries! Yum, that woman can cook. After a leisure morning, we headed to the movies and saw The Lincoln Lawyer. Awesome! I would highly recommend going to see it. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Walked out and over to Kitty's Kafe and had the most delish lunch at a great price, with lots and lots of homecooked food!

Even got to meet Kitty, and she's so nice. Of course, afterwards, we brought out the SCRABBLE board, some wine, homemade key lime cake with lime sherbet, and laughed, and played, and laughed. Saturday night was an early night for we pretty much were worn out.

 

Took a look around our favorite souvenir shop, which has ThE MOST flipflops I've ever seen! and piddled through their store. Ended up with a few trinkets and some homemade fudge. I wasn't in for sunning on the beach Sunday, so I stayed in and slept late while the others headed to the sand and surf.

They loved their time there, I loved my time on the backporch, waiting for their call to determine lunch.

They called saying to meet at The Steamer, and let me tell you, it is so nice to eat out in Gulf Shores and not have to worry about how you look. Everyone dresses very casual, everyone has a  wind blown look, and everyone is smiling. We enjoyed our seafood, the sweetened tea, and their Snickers pie! Who's worried about calories?

And guess what?!?!?! The friend that couldn't go this weekend? She can go next weekend and I get to go back with her?! How blessed is that?! The following week, I think I'll take The Hood. He could ride his bike 12 months out of the year down there.

The thing that surprises me with the Coastal area? The breeze is forever present, which keeps the temps bearable. Shocked this humidity hating girl. I don't like the sun, or the sharks, but love the slowness of the life and the number of folks our age.

So, that was MY weekend! How was yours?!

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.

I Want . . .

these lovely ladies and their families back

because that weekend was so delightful for us . . .

and I want this long weekend in Gatlinburg back,

because it was cold, and fun, and relaxing . . .

and I am ready NOT to look like this anymore.

It's no fun being sick, when January was such a happy time.

{Note: go to our daughters page for more photos and pieces of just how much fun that weekend in Gatlinburg was!}

Friends, Food, & a Film!

What do you get when you take a best friend,
delicious food, an attentive waiter, four hours

of laughter, girl talk, and more laughter,

and a super cute movie?!One great time!

(And the four hours? That was just dinner.)

Girl Time With Jen ~

I was blessed to have some girl time with our youngest

today and it was such a nice time. We had a few errands,

some shopping, and a delicious chicken salad lunch at Zoe's.

Thank you for the laughter, Jen, but most of all

for making time today for me. For us. I adore you ~

Sounds & Smells of Saturdays~

Yum, the smells and sounds of a Saturday morning! As I type, John has coffee brewing, eggs boiling, and I'll be getting my oatmeal together soon. Settling in with the paper, good coffee that he fixes just right, and I'm set ~

And to top that off, we slept in this morning and it felt wickedly good. Gone are the days when children got me up at 6:30 (I could set a clock by Jenny), gone are the days of cooking breakfast or making sure there was breakfast food even in the house! Now if there isn't, we cross the road to IHOP, Waffle House, or Cracker Barrel. What an awesome thought ~

But for today, this is what is delighting my senses at the moment. Soon, I'll be driving into Montgomery to have lunch with a dear girlfriend and her mother. You can come back later today for snapshots and an update. Until then, here's hoping your day has begun with some pretty good smells and sounds of your own ~

I am in Gulf Shores! Helping a dear friend move into

her new home! This is a dream come true for her

and I am so honored and blessed to have been asked

to help get things settled in and to have a house

become a home. We are having fun!

Her home is located in Craft Farms and it's beautiful!

I have pictures and will tell you all about it later.

We will be leaving Saturday morning headed to Mississippi,

so look for snapshots and updates to come when the dust settles~

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Good food, good friend, good times~

Second Post For Saturday~

Ever taken the time to think about your last 24 hours and think, "how did I ever have the energy to do all that?" Yeah, I thought you had.

Jen and Brandon went out of town and left the boys with Johnny Friday afternoon. They picked me up at the boutique at 6 pm and we went looking for pizza on a kids meal menu. After supper we went home to find that our a/c was NOT working!!! I dozed in the recliner until early morning to make sure no one came in on us while we slept. Yes,

it got so warm, even with the overhead fans, that we left the sliding door open to the screened in porch. And I wouldn't have thought twice about leaving it open all night, but

we don't have a second floor apartment. Once I got back in bed, I think I heard Noah each time he turned over or squirmed in his pack and play. Ah, I remember those early days with Jenny now.

The morning dawned bright and early with Ian asking me if it was time to get up. "No, sweetheart, it's only 5 and it's still dark" Again, one hour later, "okay you can watch kiddie shows if you promise not to wake Noah". Noah was awake by 7. John went out for doughnuts and chocolate milk while I found that there are not many decent cartoons on Saturday mornings!

Oh, lunch! It took almost four hours from the time Haley and I with two boys got to Eastside Grille for a luncheon with fellow bloggers in the tri-county area to get back home, but what fun it was! Ian had a blast being the only male in a gaggle of girls, but Noah chose to cling tightly to his Nan and ask repeatedly for his papi, which I thought we had, but didn't.

Left John with Noah while Ian and I took some time in the pool. It was cold!! By the time we got back to the apartment, John was in the throes of the Alabama-Kentucky game {and that only got worse}. Noah kept crawling up in his lap, saying, "Pa, I scared" each time John got vocal. Ian was glad to see Pa leave for a 12 hour shift at the mill so he could get back into the kiddie shows. I got them in their jammies after supper and a pizza break, and rocked Noah while waiting on mommy and daddy.

They're home now, safe and happy and bushed. John's at work. The a/c is working, but I have the door open listening to the night sounds. I can't help but think, and hurt, for

Rick and Jamie Norton. They lost their 13 year-old daughter yesterday afternoon. Her presence will be sorely missed. She collapsed around 4:30 at school and could not be revived. It was a struggle to not get emotional last night with the boys here when we got the news. So horribly sad. You know we use the word 'lost' when we speak of death, but

Skylar isn't lost. We know where she is. She grew up in the Cold Springs church of Christ congregation and was deeply loved and nurtured. I wish there were another word to use. The autopsy was 'inconclusive'. She will be buried in a small country cemetery where scores of other family members have been laid to rest. And her parents and younger brother will struggle for answers and comfort. If you're a believer, pray for them. It's been a very difficult weekend, but one also decorated with the laughter and love of two grandsons~

A Meme. A What?!

And now for a meme . . . {what's a meme?} I found this on a blog to the left, Mrs. B I think, and I'm a sucker for these things ~ but why is it called a meme?!

Four things I did today:
1. Left my cute little car at the fix-it-please shop, then had my Sweet Man drop me off so I could help a friend at her boutique for 8 hours.
2. Sweet Man and two of our grandsons picked me up at 6 pm and we went to Applebee's for dinner, where one ate all the cheese sticks and the other ate whatever he could reach. For dessert, we shared a Triple Chocolate Meltdown, where two of us ate only ice cream while the other two ate the cake and the leftovers on the table.
3. Came home, put a load of clothes on to wash, built a small city with kiddie blocks; read several kiddie books, several times; watched too many kiddie shows; cleaned up a toy strewn room; rocked one to sleep while watching another kiddie show ~ so much for adult conversation, but oh, the snuggling time. {okay I KNOW this is more than one. so sue me.}
4. Finally wrested the computer away from my Sweet Man and got him busy watching kiddie shows and laughing with the grandson still up and awake; and did several blogs!

Four things on my to do list:
1. Go out for breakfast in the morning, since I haven't had time to buy groceries for four this week.
2. Go eat lunch at a new place with some old friends and a few new ones.
3. Watch more kiddie shows, build more little cities, read more books several times, maybe go to the pool, and hope a little one takes a nap.
4. Clean up and arrange guest room. It's been a collect-all room way too long! and my weekends are much too short.

Four of my guilty pleasures:
1. Magazines!!! I would never admit to how many I buy in a months time. Shoot! A week's time!
2. Reality shows ~ The Batchelor and Batchelorette, Design Star, Top Chef, Project Runway, Jon & Kate + Eight, Little People Big World, etc etc
3. Eating out. I love it. Simple as that. And I don't mind eating out alone. Just me, good food, a great waiter to keep the tea glass filled and iced, and a book. Or a magazine. And a corner booth.
4. Blogging. Journals. It's all pretty much the same.

Four random facts about me:
1. I have a stupid looking pair of glasses. They are old, old, old, and one arm broke off, AFTER I gorilla glued it back on - so now there's a glob of gorilla glue on one corner of the frame. They sit crooked on my face, so I have to tilt my head to watch TV, but for the life of me I cannot remember to call and make an appointment to get a new pair. No, I will not take a picture so you can laugh and feel better. Just use your imagination, and know that my family laughs until they weep every time I put them on.
2. I love drinking cold cold whole white milk from the jug. So don't visit and ask for milk.
3. Driving on an open road with great music to sing to gives me such a rush. Driving north to Gatlinburg, TN with great music and packed suitcases puts me in a total state of relaxation. And yes, I love to be the one behind the wheel!
4. Although I have no regrets, because it's the past that has brought me to where I am today, and I know all things happen for a reason, even if I have no idea why, a part of my heart will always belong to my high school love, and another piece to the father of my child.

Four bloggers I'm tagging:
1. Haley at Holding Hands and Making Memories
2. Jennifer at Marks Madness
3. Leigh at Graham Shenanigans
4. anyone else that feels so inclined! Leave me a note so I can visit your site and learn about you!

So who is going to meet for lunch October 4th? Jenny, haven't heard from you. Leah might. Heather? What about you? Grammy will keep AK (smile, smile) Haley Gray?? Get Katie to come!! What about it, Abbie?? Lynne Griffies?? Susanne Goodin??! Amanda? Come on, girls. It'll be fun. Anytime you get females and food together in one spot, there's bound to be fun. Leave me a comment and let me know if you are planning, or even thinking about it, to set aside that time!