SUNDAY RANDOMNESS!

The weather here today is absolutely crazy beautiful!!!



Sometimes when you have such a great weather day, you almost feel as though you HAVE to do something "special". We went to church this morning, had spaghetti for lunch, (Zacks friends came by and joined us), and just hung out! All my peeps were home, and that was special enough for me.

We had a baptism at our church today in the river. Over 12 people went in and professed their commitment to Jesus before a tearful crowd.

These are random pictures of things I love. None are mine, but I thought I'd share them with you.


These two beauties are the daughter of a friend of mine that I grew up with. Hannah and Grace are as beautiful inside as they are out.

Hugs from Maine

HOT BUTTERED TOAST & HIGH SCHOOL GIRLFRIENDS

It's 11:20 at night. I'm sitting at my kitchen island eating hot buttered toast, reflecting on the night. I spent it with these girls,

We went to high school together 26 years ago! We are just a handful of many that we all grew up with, all those years ago. So much has changed for each of us. So much has stayed the same.

We ate nachos and talked, and laughed, and talked some more. A few had moved away and come back home to take care of aging parents. A couple have their own business. Some have been married more than once and didn't give up until they found the love of their lives. Another has been with her love for 25 years. One of us has lost that life long love, way too soon. Only to find strength from it, and move forward. Never forgetting. Never forgetting...

Although 26 years has brought each of us in different directions, I can't help but feel we are connected. I felt connected to them. As if we had been in each others lives all these years.
Maybe it's just me. Maybe not. I do know I am grateful for the evening we've had together.
I'm looking forward to many more.

We look pretty good for 44 don't you think?


Hugs from Maine

THE, "SHOULD I CONTINUE THIS BLOG ?" QUESTION

Yeah, I'm thinking about it. I am feeling overwhelmed lately with tooooo much exposure/availability in my life. FaceBook, Email, Blog... Oh and the Cell Phone!!!
Can we say "toilet"

(me and Goodfriend. Just because I like this pic, and her.)

When we first moved to this house about a month ago, we had no connection. No internet, home phone. Which means no computer and all that. I realized in that very short time that I had more peace in my life. Quiet. Less interruption. More time to talk to God. And I did. Talk to God. I liked it. I think He did too.

Do I share too much with too many? When is it too much? A very wise woman who loves me dearly has said, "Boy, there isn't anything you don't write about on that blog!"
And its not just the Blog. Its all of it.

This morning I needed to "vent" and a very good friend was available to me on Face Book. Not only was she "there" she validated me as a wife/mom and reminded me that I'm not crazy. She listened, encouraged me in the Lord, and helped to put a stop to what could have turned into an unnecessary hoopty-do. AKA, The enemy wanted me to start the day with him, not Him. I am grateful.

So lately, I've been wondering if I need to cut back on all the connections. Which ones, if any. I have a tendency to get overwhelmed. When that starts to happen, I now can stop, take a look at the "what" that is causing the overwhelm, and go from there.

And so my question is, Do I just need a vacation, or have I put too many things in my daily life and need to cut back to a more simpler day. Have I let a little bit too much technology in. What do I cut back on. Less really can equal more.

I will pray. Hopefully, I will listen.

Hugs from Maine

BEFORE FLORIDA SISTER WENT BACK TO FLORIDA

A couple of weeks ago, before Florida sister went back to Florida, each morning was for tennis. They played for TWO HOURS!!! I brought my camera and my dogs.


This is what it looked like when they invited me to come along,


Sophie always wanted to chase the ball.

She thought for sure it was for her. Both of my sisters are good sports,



and they put up with a ball chasing dog that belonged to the little sister they love. They even smiled whilst doing it.


They love the dog because they love the little sister.

I love them too.


Hugs from Maine to you Florida sister. I miss you.

THIS IS FOR YOU TIFF

Just enjoying some coconut cake from Pepperidge Farm...




Hugs from Maine

LOOK WHO'S HOME!

Family and friends gathered last night to welcome home 24 year old from the Army, and Congratulate him and his brother on their graduations.
My mothers heart has no words to discribe the emotions I am having.
Here are the pictures.




















I am only grateful for a God who knows my mothers heart, and how to help me work through everything I'm feeling. Family and friends whose love helps us through the process.


Hugs from Maine

OFF TO THE AIRPORT WE GO!!!

This is the day we pick up Benjamin for his stay at home before going to Germany.

He has graduated from boot camp and military police training, and is on his way home now. Tonight will be a good night for this grateful mom.
All my peeps will be home, what a wonderful thing.



Thank you Lord for bringing our son home safely for time with his family. Thank you for the closeness my peeps share as siblings. I know it is because of You.


Grateful Hugs From Maine

IF YOU STOP BY FOR ICE TEA...

This is the project I have been working on,


and hadn't as of yet, blogged about,

I needed "curtains" of some sort to block out the sun in the late afternoon.

It is unbearably hot at that time, and leaves us unable to sit out.

This didn't work for me because, it is one of my favorite "rooms".

I didn't want to spend a lot of money, (just don't have it to spend), and so I found myself at the Salvation Army. They had received a load of beautiful white sheets!!! Yeah, you know what I thought. I bought 6, full size sheets @ $1.75, each!!! Believe me, they DON'T look like sheets!

I also was blessed yesterday with this awesome glider at a local second hand store that I've talked about in a past post.

These are very hard to find, and I feel blessed to have gotten this one. It is in excellent shape, and I have wrapped it with a quilt and got it all cozy like with pillows.

Sophie and I spent some time out here last night relaxing and enjoying the summer weather.

If you stop by for ice tea, it will be cold and refreshing, served on this amazing porch, with a smile.



Hugs from Maine

WEEKEND WRAP UP OR, GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE, THIS MIGHT TAKE AWHILE

I am so very blessed to have many good friends who love me. Plus, two sisters who would walk through fire for me if I needed them too. No really. They would.


Well, my Good friend Shannon and I usually get together Saturday evening and have coffee and talk. About our week, our husbands, our peeps, our jobs, what God is trying to do in our lives, and if we are fighting it or letting Him...

We often talk over each other. No, let me correct that. We always talk over each other. And we laugh sooooo much. We didn't get a chance this weekend to have coffee, so I thought I'd "talk" here instead. You know, just to get it out.

Sweet Blue Eyed Husband will be so happy I didn't talk his tired ear off. Sometimes if Shannon and I haven't had coffee for a bit, or if I haven't talked Ericas ear off on her way to work, I might catch myself rambling on to poor Blue Eyes. He gives me one of those blue eyed looks that say, "Honey, I love you but don't you have a girlfriend for this?"

Hope your comfy and grabbed your coffee. Here I go.

I got to hold the cutest baby boys tonight at our church supper. These boys are twins and it just blessed me to hold and love on them. They and their parents have been through so much this past year. They are doing well, and are healthy!!! Mom is now pregnant with their little sister due in October. Praise God!!!

My sister is only here for another week. I love having her here. I miss her when she goes back to Florida. I get why she lives there and hasn't yet come home. I just wish it were different. Some day...

Ben got his orders a couple of days ago. Germany it is! All is well for him, and he is home Friday July 31st, for two weeks at least!!! We are so thrilled and excited to see him.

Sweet Baby Girl is safely home from a wonderful week at Girls Camp. She hugged on me tons, and said she really missed me!!!!! Yup, she did. (HUGE SIGH)... Thank you ladies at Girls Camp for all you do. It truly is priceless in my sweet baby girls life and I am one grateful mom.

We had a terrific BBQ cook off tonight at church. So many people came! The ribs were marvelous and the rest of the food was scrumptious. Our church body is very special. I feel blessed to be in fellowship, serving Him, and each other, in the body. Yeah, we are blessed.

Now that I'm on Face Book and I have this blog, I don't really check my emails at all. Yikes!

Sophie doesn't smell anymore. Don't know what that dog got into!

And finally, I love this house so much, it feels like home already. This neighborhood is quiet, quaint, friendly... God knew we needed to be here.

I go off to bed tonight thanking the God I love for everything He has given me. You folks, are on that list. You patiently read my ramblings and sometimes even take time to comment. If you were here right now, I'd pour you another cup of Joe, and we'd be laughing!

Hugs from Maine

Sweet Baby Girl Comes Home Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, I will go to pick up this sweetie at Girls Camp.



I have missed her this week. She has been on my mind often. Even though she home schools, she is gone with friends and they come here an awful lot, so she is usually busy. Just not having her upstairs, coming down to check out the fridge to see if she can find something good to eat... Yeah I've missed her pretty little baby girl face.

She doesn't know that her Dad has a class to go to tomorrow and that he won't be there with me to pick her up. She will be a bit disappointed. She adores him. I love that. We'll have a nice ride home. She'll tell me everything that happened throughout the week.

When parents get there to retrieve their sweeties, we sit and wait for a production/show the girls put on. It is always so cute.

I'll bring my sweet baby girl home, and she will sleep across the hall from us. In her own room. Snuggled in her own bed.

Yeah, I like that too.

Hugs from rainy Maine

THIS IS WHAT SUMMER IS IN MAINE

While my camera is off at Girls Camp with Sweetbaby Girl, take a look at these awesome summer pictures my Goodfriend took of her peeps,




WOW, huh...


Hugs from Maine

THIS SONG SPEAKS TO MY SPIRIT

This is from YouTube, enjoy...



Hugs from Maine

SWEET BABY GIRL IS OFF TO GIRLS CAMP

This is her 4th year to go to Girls Camp. Soooooo, that means she was 10 the first time she went.


Well I can say, looking back, there is a difference between 4 years ago, and today when I dropped her off for Girls Camp. Four years ago, it was one of her first times being gone from home for a week. I wanted her to stay home, but I wanted her to go. I knew she would have a wonderful time.

This year, four years into it, I wanted her to stay home, but wanted her to go more. Having my peeps as teenagers, well, lets just say, I don't like it one bit. Nope, not at all.

I truly LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, my peeps. But this age is so wearing on me at times. Today was such a strange day. Not bad, just strange.

I was talking to 19 year old a bit ago and I said, Hey Mattie, don't you wish we could go back in time, (just for a week or two), when you guys were all home, and home schooling?... He didn't hesitate in saying, Yeah, I really do mom.

I think these years of being teenagers is hard on everyone. Not just me, but the peeps too. And Blue Eyed Husband... well lets just say he is tired. I am so grateful when we have those moments in our day that remind us of how much we love each other. How grateful we are to have one another. How really important we are to each other in our daily lives.

And when my sweet baby girl comes home at the end of the week, I'll be glad to hold her, kiss her precious head, and tell her " I love you baby girl". And you know what, she'll be glad too. (I think)(Oh yeah, did I mention, she took my camera with her. Yeah...)

We are a family. God is so good. I am a grateful girl.



Hugs from Maine