Daddy I Miss You - Son I love You - Happy Fathers Day

When it comes to dads we all think we had the best.  I have to tell you, in my eyes and heart I know I had the best.  I honestly couldn't imagine a better dad.  No father could make his girls feel more loved every single day of their lives than our daddy did.

Our daddy had personality plus.  He never knew a stranger and anyone who met him felt happier after talking to him.  He'd give you the last penny in his pocket, or all the time you needed.  Daddy was that guy!   The guy everyone knew and everyone liked.  He was well respected for being a good father and family man.  I miss my daddy every
day.  Rarely does one go by where I don't think about him.

Now on Father's Day I think of my own son as much as I do my daddy.  I'm proud of the father he's become too.  His children are just as crazy about their dad as my sister and I were about ours.  Happy Father's Day Ty.

Then there's Neil who loves Ty as if he was his own child and  is so proud of being a grandfather to Zach and Ki'a.  A father wants the best for his children. I love you for worrying and always wanting the best for them.

I love these 3 men more than words can say.

Hugs Y'all...

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

~Psalm 103:13

It's a Hereditary Thing

Some people would say being late is a terrible thing. I say not always.

We opened our mailbox last week to this flood of cards.  It made us smile and made our week!!  Oh' and aren't my hydrangeas beautiful.  Fluffy cotton candy balls of nature.

What was it all about?  It was like a party in our mailbox.  We had birthday cards for me, birthday cards for Neil and even a Mother's Day card for me!!  Wow - it was like a wave of love pouring out of our box and into our hearts.  All thanks to the best sister ever and my wonderful nieces & nephews. Ahhh....the love.  Nothing, I mean nothing, means more than family.

Yes, our birthdays were in April and Mother's Day had passed, but that's okay because my family rarely gets their cards from me on time either.  I always tell them when the party's over, mine arrives just to make it last longer.

My mom used to get so aggravated with my daddy for running late.  I've been that same way ever since I can remember. Joni's better than me, but these cards are proof that it's hereditary.

Oh' and don't give me that old adage, that it's disrespectful to others.  It's not intentional, and if you think I'm slighting you then you're just being a little too self-centered, because it has nothing to do with you at all - it's hereditary. :)

Love and hugs y'all...

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

~ John 13:34

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Disclosure:  I received no compensation for this post from MyBlogSpark. 

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Hugs Y'all...

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

                                                                                                                        ~Proverbs 22:6 

Those Moments That Mean The Most

Today's post is a catch-up post.  I never shared how special my birthday was this year (way back in April).  It was the first year that I was ever able to spend my birthday with my grandchildren.  I like looking at the picture of half eaten birthday cake because it reminds me of the beauty of having family to enjoy it with.  These are things that mean so much.

A surprise I never could have expected.  My grandson Zach, who has the most sensitive heart wanted to serenade me with a special song on the viola.  Oh' how I love this child with his special heart!

A birthday gift of earring sent from my sweet, sweet friend Julie @ Mamawj's Moment Away.

She made them just for me and I love her so much for being so thoughtful.  She's a talented gal with a love of crafting.  You can visit her HERE.

As you grow older you come to realize that the special memories you have came from the everyday moments of your life.  I hope you're not walking around this week with your eyes wide shut.  You don't want to miss them.

OX's...Tracy

A First Trick-or-Treating with Grand Kids

As long as you live you'll get to experience new things and last night was a new one for me.  After all these years with the grand kids living in New York, We finally got to trick-or-treat with them.  They make lovely column statues don't you think?

First let me introduce you to Jason aka...Zach.  Our 12 year old menacing grandson.

Next is our fiery little devil aka...Ki'a.  At the last minute she changed her mind and went from pirate to devil.  Good thing the cute tulle skirt her mother made worked out perfect.

The houses were all decked out with their creepiest finery.

The neighborhood is full of beautiful old homes and by dark the streets were taken over with princess', superheros, monsters and ghouls.  It's  a shame my night time photos didn't come out.

Zach was full of optimism.  He said no little Halloween bag would be enough for his haul.  lol.  He took a KING size pillowcase.

These kids made out.  Full size chocolate candy bars and m&m's were some of the nights favorites. 

Do you see those gigantic ghosts?  They were huge!!   We saw some great decorations  and had so much fun laughing and watching all the fun.

We saw lots of adults dressed up and having as much fun as the kids.

I really enjoyed seeing the older folks taking time out to talk to the children.  They seemed to be enjoying the nights visitors.

Most of all I just enjoyed watching my family on this special night.  Knowing that we made memories together.  Ahhh....It really is a good life.

Family, Friends and a Video of Love

Warning:  This is a long post.

This summer has been all about family.  Having my sister and nephew in town for 2 months has been such a blessing.  Laughing and sharing after not getting to see each other for a few years has been so much fun.  Her daughter and my great niece and 2 great nephews also came to visit for more than a week.  Having so much family around is so unusual and fun for us. 

With the sadness of them leaving, a new blessing comes to replace it.  My son and daughter-in-law are moving back to town from N.Y. with our grandchildren.  We haven't seen them in 4 years.  This is such a joy for us.  The thought of getting to share in my grandchildren's life in a bigger way means so much.  I'm so excited about the milestones we'll be able to be apart of.  God is good!  I feel like he has a plan that he is working in my life.  His plan has been laid out and timing is everything.  Time seems very important suddenly.

Earlier this week Traci @ Beneath My Heart  posted this video of her son Jonathan singing at the Kentucky Opry.  Jonathan is such a fresh young talent with a wonderful love for the Lord, not to mention a cutie.  I've enjoyed watching him grow and develop this wonderful gift he's been given. 

I had already planned on posting about the most precious gift I received from a childhood friend that I hadn't seen in years.  More on that after the video.  The reason Jonathan's video touched me so much is because it was the song we chose to have played at my sweet mama's funeral.  It was her favorite hymn.  I had tears when I heard Jonathan's version of it.  I hope you enjoy it as much I do.

Beautiful isn't it?  I want to thank Traci and Jonathan for allowing me to share it with you.  Click here to visit Traci @ Beneath My Heart to hear more of Jonathan's music or read about all the exciting diy projects that Traci and her husband Cy are up to.

Now back to that wonderful gift I received........

Growing up in a very small town, we were lucky to have wonderful neighbors.  Patty was only a year older than me and her mother owned the local dinner two doors down. 

Two peas in a pod - we spent so much time together it felt like we were sisters. I think I was 15 and Patty was 16 then.

Their house was practically in our back yard too.  Patty's family was very different than mine.  For starters, she came from a big family and had lots of brothers and sisters. Five brothers and sisters to be exact.  Our family was made up of a stay at home mom, daddy, Joni and me.  Her mother Ann not only raised her own 6 children but also raised 2 step-children before her own were born.   

Doesn't Ann Have a beautiful smile. I'm happy that I have memories of her like this one where we're celebrating her birthday at the diner.

When we were about 14 a close friend of Ann and my mom's died from cancer.  Marie who had two young teenage sons, one of whom was my age and the other a little older, had been widowed only a few years earlier. To make a long, tragic story shorter, Ann took these two boys to raise as well.  Not long afterward her own husband passed away.  She was left with 8 children to raise.  To this day, I'll never understand how she did it.  She was the hardest working woman I know.  And believe me when I say that she raised her family right.  These were no latch key kids.  They all pulled together and worked  together.  She was organized and knew where they were and what they were doing.  They all turned out great.

When my own mother passed I was the first words to my son was run to the dinner and get Ann.  She wasn't there, she was shopping for the dinner but just as soon as she returned you can bet she was at our house taking charge.  I literally don't know what Daddy, Joni and I would have done without her and her girls.  They all came with paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic wear, coffee pots, tea and so much food.  They cleaned, greeted guest with us and cared for us in every way possible.  I wish everyone had friends like that. 

After mama's funeral, Joni and I wanted her to have the last needlepoint mama worked on. We had it stretched and framed and gave it to her. She hung mama's picture in the dinner for years afterward.

God Bless Ann, she went home to our heavenly father a couple of months ago.  She spent 26 years here on earth after my mom died and she worked and keep going strong up until this last year.  That brings me to why my sweet childhood girlfriend stopped by to see me......

I heard a knock on the door and someones voice when Neil answered it.  You can imagine my surprise to see Patty standing there.  It felt so good to see her smile and hug her again.  Then she said I have something for you.

It was mama's needlepoint.  She asked if I'd like to have it, as my heart began to swell and tears filled my eyes.  What a treasure after all this time.  I've often wished I had a needlepoint or an afghan that she'd made, now I'm proud to say I do.

Patty, her husband Freddie, Neil and I had a wonderful visit and at least for me it felt like no time had passed at all since I'd seen them.

I've been missing mama a lot lately.  It came to me, that this year marks 26 years that she's been gone.  I only got to spend 26 years with her on this earth.  It hurts to think that this year marks the fact that I've been without her as long as I ever spent with her, and even worse, next year with be that turning point of being alive more years than I knew her.  That same mark will come next March for the time I spent with daddy.  I'm grateful for those years but also sad that they weren't here long.

Today Joni and took a trip down memory lane.  We went to the cemetary where sweet Nadine, my mother-in-law was laid to rest back in January.  Joni loved her and was sad that she missed her funeral.  Nadine felt the same about her and always bragged about how much she loved her. 

After that we headed to our maternal grandparents cemetary to visit their gravesites.  We drove past their old house on the way back to our old home town, laughing and remembering landmarks along the way.  Oh' how many times we drove that road. 

We finally made it home where we visited mama and daddy's graves.  We walked through the cemetary visiting our paternal grandma and friends from long ago.  Walking, talking and sharing stories.  It was a peaceful afternoon. 

Before heading home we made our last stop at visit Patty and Freddie's house.  It was such a nice visit.  I don't think I'll be forgetting this day.  I'll probably remember it with a smile for the rest of my life.

Wishing you all the blessings of family and friends,

OX's...Tracy ♥ I told you it'd be a long post :)

 

The Lazy Beach Days of Summer

There's nothing like having family visit.

Being with the people you love and miss. My sister who's my best friend and my nephew Juan have been here for over a month.  It's been the most time we've spent together since we were kids at home.

Juan and Neil have always have always enjoyed spending time together. The kids all ragged Neil this summer about being a hippie.  They've never seen him with a ponytail before.

We've had such a raining summer.  I don't mind it at all.  I love days like that at the beach.  It kicks up a wonderful breeze that makes it possible to leave the house and enjoy being outdoors.

Joni went to Atlanta and picked up her daughter Michelle and her grandkids.  Miranda will turn 14 on the 19th of Aug.  I can't believe she's getting so old. Michelle has a heart as big as the moon!  When Miranda was little she was the most like me.  We both have a big love of shoes and all  things girlie.  Which she probably thinks is a little lame right now. 

We did a little shell hunting and found this strange little crab.  None of us had seen one like this at the beach before.

Victor decided he wanted to be buried in the sand.  Miranda was only too happy to oblige.

Victors so funny and silly.  I wish you could spend time with him.

I was so glad Fidensio came them.  He's a great kid and getting to spend time with him was really special.

My niece Stephanie, who's Miranda and Victors mom didn't get to come down.  Neither did my nephew Hoopie, who just found out that he's going to be a new father.  I wish they could have been here with everyone else.  It's always so much fun to get the whole group together.  Lots of laughing and a house filled with joy and love.  I don't think they have any idea how much I love them all.  Neil loves these guys so much too.  He's been really busy and couldn't enjoy as much time with them as he wanted too.

Isn't this picture of Victor the greatest.  It shows us the carefree days of summer.  It just kind of says it all doesn't it.

I hope you're enjoying the last days of summer wherever you are.

OX's.......Tracy

Makeover A Pallet Into A Family Sign

With all the pallet inspiration floating around blogland I knew it was just a matter of time before I made something from them too.

Say hello to my family beach sign.  At least that's what it reminds me of.  Trying to pull nails out of old pallets is about as hard as it gets.  My solution, drag Neil into my project and get him use the circular saw and cut them apart. 

I wanted to make each one a different color and of course I didn't want to spend any money, so I just used what I could dig up around here.  Sorry but I didn't take a picture of the next couple of steps. I took the electric sander and roughed the paint up a bit.  Then I hand painted the names of the family with some acrylic craft paint.

I used the drill to make holes for the twine.  I marked the spots on both the top and bottom and drilled half way from each side to meet in the middle.

It worked.

I used one length of string for the whole sign and tied knots evenly (sorta) between each name to keep them spaced.

I've started with Neil and me, then my son and his wife and our grandchildren by oldest to youngest.

This thing's heavy, so we were sure to find a stud to nail the hanger into.  I used a small wooden thread spool with the nail going though it to make a beefier hanger.

To add the shells to the bottom, I brought out the hot glue gun.  I twisted some wire and made a puddle of glue on the back of each shell embedding the wire.  Then I could just thread the shells on the twine for a nice finishing touch.

I hope you like it.  I smile and think of my loved ones every time I see it!  All that happiness on a ZERO budget.  Money out of pocket = $0.00.  Everything I used was leftovers from other projects.

Thanks for taking the time out to visit me.  I hope you'll leave a comment so I'll know where to visit you too.  Plus, it just makes me feel so doggone GOOD when you do!

Hugs...Tracy ♥

I'm linking my new family sign up to the following parties. There are so many creative bloggers.  Just click on the party below and magically go there and check them out for yourself.

JAQS Studio

Ginger Snap Crafts

Night Owl Crafting

Fireflies and Jellybeans

Dragonfly Designs
Faded Charm
The Sasse Life
Creations by Kara
Sugar amd Dots
Seven Thirty Three
The Trendy Treehouse
Southern Lovely
Blue Cricket Design
The Shady Porch
Handy Man, Crafty Woman
Someday Crafts
Let Birds Fly
Somewhat Simple
Delightful Order
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Christinas Adventures
Beyond The Picket Fence
Thrifty Decorating
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Classy Clutter - Saturday Spotlight

BEFORE ~ AFTER AND NOT QUITE THERE

Do you have an attic, a storage room or a shed?  I went up to my attic a couple of days ago.  Wow, you miss one year of decorating and the cobwebs claimed it their home.

Wild witches, spirit balls, fall florals....check, check, check.  Yep, it's all still there.  Why does it seem to have grown though?  You just never know with wicked things.  I probably should have pulled that Gypsy spirit ball down.  I could use a reading right now.

Body parts everywhere.  I do believe that's  a wooden leg sticking out.  Boy wouldn't you hate to have to crawl in that attic on a dark night.  It would be fun to find a stash like this in 40 years.

My son hasn't lived in Jacksonville in 8 years yet I still have his military duffel bag in my attic......and those bags and boxes  behind it....all his and his wife's.  Can you believe it, I'm still storing her wedding gown from her first marriage (before my son).

Tombstones lying in wait.  Hey, those red poinsettias aren't suppose to be mixed in with my Halloween.

Opening  boxes to see what's what.  Take another year off Freddy, you look like you can use it.

Bats and bones.  Sounds like one the potion's from Broomhilda's Magical Spells book.

Time to leave.  Even in October it's too hot to be in a Florida attic.

Are you ready to see the after?  

 

Well that was an ugly trick.  This is actually the before.  As in -  this was Halloween decorating for 2008.  Last year I really didn't decorate at all, I don't think.

We had dead pirate bones, witches, skeletons, skulls boiling, black cats, gypsy's, pumpkins, the grim reaper, grave yards, scary ghost and friendly ghosts, vampire bats and even a scare crow.

Even the dead were rising.  No not the photo below, the one above.

This was the year that my son and his family came home to visit.  Back row from left is my daughter-in-law Christal, me, my son Ty, MIL - Nadine, Neil,  and in front my beautiful Granddaughter Ki'a and adorable Grandson Zack.  Zack is holding my baby Mattie who is 10 now.

These ghost are the happiest ghost I know, singing and dancing all the way to All Hallows Eve.

 

Well I did take a few things out of the attic but most stayed.  No mechanical scary's brought down.  I'm going back to simplicity.  If the kids were here I would happily do it all over again.  Our neighborhood kids have grown up too.  Last year we got a couple of teens and that was it.  So I've hung a fall wreath and a friendly witch plaque.  Maybe I'll even get a picture.  

So, what about you.  Simple or all out wicked?  Leave me a comment.  I LOVE - LOVE - LOVE COMMENTS!!!! Tell me about yours so I can drop over for a visit.