UPDATE: OUR LIVES HAVE CHANGED

It has been a long time and I have missed everyone of you!

We are living in Birmingham and our lives have surely changed.
Our oldest son & his wife made us an offer we couldn't refuse so here we are. 

Finding our way around a big city is an ongoing process.  I drive 
very little.  My sweet husband is my chauffeur and is always willing to take me places.

The very best reason to be here are two little one year olds named
Ava and Thomas!  We are blessed to be able to be a part of their lives.  They are our Great-Grands!  And we have another one due in January!  

In the future, I plan to focus my blog posts on the "third act" of our lives, good and bad.

I just wanted to bring you up to date today and say "hi".

Blessings,
Betty Parker

Celebrate Growing Older

The last time I published this was in 2014.  It is time to read it again!  It is still so true!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.  It is the most-requested   column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1.       Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2.       When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3.       Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4.       Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends and parents will.
          Stay in touch.
5.       Pay off your credit cards every month.
6.       You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.
7.       Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone..
8.       It's OK to get angry with God.  He can take it.
9.       Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10.     When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11.     Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12..     It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13.     Don't compare your life to others.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14.     If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15.     Everything can change in  the blink of an eye.  But don't worry; God never blinks.
16.     Take a deep breath.  It calms the mind.
17.     Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful..
18.     Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.     It's never too late to have a happy childhood.  But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20.     When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21.     Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
           Don't save it for a special occasion,  Today is special.
22.     Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23.     Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24.     The most important sex organ is the brain.
25.     No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26.     Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27.     Always choose life.
28.     Forgive everyone and everything.
29.     What other people think of you is none of your business.
30.     Time heals almost everything.  Give it time.
31.     However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32.     Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.
33.     Believe in miracles..
34.     God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35.     Don't audit life.  Show up and make the most of it now..
36.     Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37.     Your children get only one childhood.
38.     All that truly matters in the end is that you loved..
39.     Get outside every day.  Miracles are waiting everywhere..
40 .     If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41.     Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42.     The best is yet to come.
43.     No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44.     Yield.
45.     Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Matthew

Lots of Grandparents are blessed with a "Matthew".

We are, and he will be sixteen years old May 30th.  Matthew is our youngest grandchild.

He has always seen the world in a unique way finding fun everywhere.  Deciding
what to do at MiMi's house when he was a tiny boy,  he shrugged his little shoulders and
said, "well, we could always do some crafts".

He has always been one to teach himself things.  I remember Origami.  There was nothing
he could not make.  I bought lots of those beautiful papers.  He ended up teaching a class at school.

Then there was the RUBIX CUBE.  He has dozens of them and can work all of them.
Crazy!

Matthew's latest interest is making knives.  Who knows what inspired that.  He has already mailed mine and I love it.
I think he does beautiful work.

Some of his first work

Handiwork is exquisite.

This is mine.  I plan to use it on a cheese tray.

                                          ( I have another one that I cannot find in my cluttered
                                                mess of photos on my computer)

                                  Matthew has always enjoyed sports with soccer being his favorite.
                   

                               
                                  He is also a Super-Techie who is always so patient with his MiMi
                                  when she doesn't even know how to ask questions.

                                 You would like Matthew!  He is "fun" to be
                      with.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

My Therapy Garden (Part 2)

I love Lavender!
Still thinking if I'm going to re pot or not?

The white dianthus came back from a pot my
Daughter-in-law gave me last year.

I made a topiary from thyme that is in bloom along side
some violas hanging around.

Lenten Rose
is still blooming...

Thanks for coming by, I enjoyed our visit so much! Your comments are always welcome.
Blessings,
MiMi

My Therapy Garden

Hey everybody,

It's been a long time.  I've missed you.  Maybe I will do better.  I just couldn't keep from sharing

one of the best things in my life right now.  I have made lots of pictures too.  It is my   

favorite time of the year so we are going to take a very short stroll in my therapy garden.

My peonies are glorious right now.  I wish you were here.  Every time I catch their fragrance

it just takes me away.  Only God could create such beauty.  I'm going to show you several

different kinds.  

Cotton Candy

Just a touch of pink.....

I left this pot with 2 amaryllis bulbs inside on our patio  
all winter.  The only time they had bloomed was one
Christmas.  Da Da!

There are four blooms today and more buds!

The sun is coming down.  I think
I'll take a break.  Let's call this part one. Thanks again for coming by.  Your comments are always welcome.



blessings,
MiMi

A Prayer To Begin This Day

A Prayer To Begin This Day

Lord, as I begin this day, open not only my eyes but my mind and my heart as well. Help me find joy in every experience, every conversation, every mundane task, every chance encounter. Help me see the rich pattern that forms from the ordinary events of my life. Save me from so hastening through life that I am blind to its beauty, so focused on myself that I miss its priceless joy, its endless wonder.
Lord give me grace to see your goodness active in simple things–a quiet cup of coffee shared with a friend, a meal enjoyed with colleagues, full of laughter and optimism, the healing touch of beautiful music, the bliss of becoming lost in a good book, the smile on the face of a child, the grateful eyes of one I’ve been praying for.
Father save me from lost opportunities and wasted time. Remind me that my days are rich in pleasing moments, that the large problems which disturb my sleep mostly turn out to be little ones after all, and that for all its turmoil and sorrow, it is still a world of beauty, and that I am of all people most richly blessed. For your Son Jesus’ sake. Amen (Steve DeGweck, St. Luke's Episcopal Church)

Such a Beautiful Night

                     Hello......Is anybody there?  I'm still here.

                    We are all settled in for a long winter night.  

             This was earlier this evening.  It's still coming down.  

                         We have approx. seven inches so far.

It really is so beautiful and is only supposed to last a couple of days.

I went to the grocery store yesterday and these beautiful spring flowers had my name on them!  I would encourage all of you to treat yourself.  It really lifted my spirit during these winter days.

One Of Our Favorite Traditions

Since my sister and I live in the same town, one of the things we enjoy doing every year is getting together one day before the holidays and making our wreaths for our front doors.  My SH gathers from several sources so we have a wonderful variety of greenery.  Our daughter has a magnolia tree that we "prune" every year.  As always, we forgot to make pictures as we work, so I only have photos of my wreath(and hers is so much prettier).  Enjoy!

This is One of Those "Lord Have Mercy" Posts""

I read a post recently  titled  something like " a blogger that really shouldn't be a blogger"....me too!  Lord Have Mercy!

Have you ever worn clothes that weren't dry?  Tell the truth.  to church?  me too, yesterday.  It all started Thanksgiving.  I had this new  sweater that is my favorite color, dark chocolate, real pretty with black.  I wore some new black slacks that I love to  a Thanksgiving celebration and was planing to wear my  gorgeous sweater too.  I walked right out of the house without it.  I grieved (to my granddaughters) all day. 

O.K, second chance, at church yesterday.  I had just put a load of darks in the laundry...well, you know the rest.
This was at 9:00 a.m.!  A word about these pants, they are the closet thing this older lady will ever get to leggings (did I say that).  So comfortable!  I don't buy many clothes anymore and when I find something I enjoy, I wear it out.  The pants are wet, Sunday School starts at 9:45, I am going to wear them....and I did.  I get very hot at church normally.  Today I didn't.  I worried that they would stretch. They didn't.  I worried that someone might touch me.  They didn't,

Why I did it ?  I don't know.  Come hell or high water, I knew I was going to. 

Happy Holidays!

Three Days In The Big Easy!

What a "fun" trip!  Our main focus was to see our grandson, Josh, play high-school football.  As a bonus, we saw the rest of their family.  My sister, Sue, went with us which was extra special.  At that friday night game there were 2 grandparents and one aunt who were so proud.

                  I guess you have figured out that Josh is # 54.



He got to play most of the game, got his name called on the PA system twice for making tackles, and an extra bonus, we met his girlfriend, and also, Matthews' girlfriend.  FUN!




Saturday was our day to take "the tour".  Thanks to Rob (our son) it was mostly a driving tour.  I failed to mention that they live on the North shore and we went downtown to the "quarter" and other interesting places in downtown, New Orleans.  We got to cross that long, long bridge (26 miles) called Lake Pontchartrain.  We also made a stop where Rob works, The LSU school of medicine. 


Our plans included lunch in midtown city at a quaint little restaurant called "The Red Slipper".

We had a short wait and did some "people watching" in front of the restaurant.

Rob was the perfect tour director.

Catfish 'St. Peter'....Oh my gosh!  It was incredible.

i

Pan seared Mississippi farm-raised cat fish over a cheesy grit cake...

Topped with poached eggs,sautéed spinach, tomatoes, a skewer of grilled shrimp,

Finished with a Creole mustard hollandaise...
We licked our plates!

As you might guess, lunch was our favorite part of the day.

I know this is getting long but I really wanted you all to meet Sadie.

She is the sweetest dog.....and she can sing!

This sounds like, "She'll be coming 'round the mountain"

We had such a good time!