more salads and reptiles

well this blogging thing has turned into kinda a weekly check-in huh-----i am sure i will be looking for things to do and hopefully writing more, after robyn and dillon's up-coming wedding

we are busy getting the last touches in order--the music finalized--the bows finished ----and maybe settling on one cake she loves----

but i am sure i will bore y'all to death afterwards with "tmi"---

Sunday we celebrated frank's birthday----we had pizza and a couple of salad's i made-----i once again brought out my award winning (jk) green salad, you might remember, the one with the almonds, cranberries and oranges---this time, i didn't dress it with the raspberry vinaigrette but gave a choice---forgetting i didn't have the "zesty" italian, my oldest grandson wanted---tried a new pasta creation---steamer bags,  of broccoli, fettuccine with sun dried tomato dressing--big hit

we had cake of course but i added a make your own ice-cream sundae, table----i was in a bit of a dilemma--cause you know how i am---about what 4 flavors of ice-cream to have-----ended up having, golden oreo---not such a hit----chocolate with mini m&m--ehh so so response----but definitely the two favs---girl scout, somoa and birthday blast---

interesting to me---the gummy bears were virtually untouched, while the gummy worms were gone, before you could say, candy reptile-----the chocolate syrup was used a lot and the cool whip----even though one of my grandsons, was careful to point out, that i was basically serving oil, not cream----he shared this as he mounted the oily mess on his concoction----

there was much entertainment at this proctor get-together, to be exact, there is never the lack of it at any occasion----they all have a small amount of the performer in them----

haha, i gotta tell y'all this----it might not relay too well in word------as frank was opening one of his presents---i was not aware it was a gift from my son colin and his family-----i mistakingly thought it was the shirt, i had suggested to robyn to get for her dad----she had told me she couldn't get the yellow color but had purchased a polo like it in blue---well when i turned my head and didn't realize the blue t-shirt, frank was holding up to show everyone, was indeed not the one from robyn---i exclaimed, "why did you get that shirt"--to which my son, defended---"well mom, it's a nice summer t-shirt"----i wondered, why is he coming to robyn's defense------thank goodness, i soon figured out what he thought---i quickly tried to explain, to no avail----they will not let me forget my rudeness---

oh and yeah---skip the fruit for the sundae spread--just keep it in the frig for yourself later

until there is freedom for all

on this the day before our country celebrates it's great day of freedom, i wanted to say happy 4th to all---but as my heart is dealing with some heavy duty stuff ---i am severely reminded that there is not freedom for some----so it is with that pain, i leave you with a poem today, probably my favorite---i have had it read at many occasions ---and although i fancy myself a poet of sorts---this says what is truly in my heart

                                   

I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN

I shall not pass this way again---
Although it bordered be with flowers,
Although I rest in fragrant bowers,
And hear the singing
Of song-birds winging
To highest heaven their gladsome flight;
Though moons are full and stars are bright,
And winds and waves are softly sighing,
While leafy trees make low replying;
Though voices clear in joyous strain
Repeat a jubilant refrain;
Though rising suns their radiance throw
On summer's green and winter's snow,
In such rare splendor that my heart
Would ache from scenes like these to part;
Though beauties heighten,
And life-lights brighten,
And joys proceed from every pain---
I shall not pass this way again.

Then let me pluck the flowers that blow,
And let me listen as I go
To music rare
That fills the air;
And let hereafter
Songs and laughter
Fill every pause along the way;
And to my spirit let me say:
"O soul, be happy; soon 'tis trod,
The path made thus for thee by God.
Be happy, thou, and bless His name
By whom such marvellous beauty came."
And let no chance by me be lost
To kindness show at any cost.
I shall not pass this way again;
Then let me now relieve some pain,
Remove some barrier from the road,
Or brighten someone's heavy load;
A helping hand to this one lend,
Then turn some other to befriend.

O God, forgive
That I now live
As if I might, sometime, return
To bless the weary ones that yearn
For help and comfort every day,---
For there be such along the way.
O God, forgive that I have seen
The beauty only, have not been
Awake to sorrow such as this;
That I have drunk the cup of bliss
Remembering not that those there be
Who drink the dregs of misery.

I love the beauty of the scene,
Would roam again o'er fields so green;
But since I may not, let me spend
My strength for others to the end,---
For those who tread on rock and stone,
And bear their burdens all alone,
Who loiter not in leafy bowers,
Nor hear the birds nor pluck the flowers.
A larger kindness give to me,
A deeper love and sympathy;
Then, O, one day
May someone say---
Remembering a lessened pain---
"Would she could pass this way again."

by Eva Rose York 

just checking in-----

ya know what blogger family and other unknown readers, i find myself, writing today, simply because i want to keep in touch---i do miss hearing from you and reading your thoughts and creativity

my apologies to any of you that have missed my not being around quite as much as usual---and please forgive me for not accepting the gracious awards----most of that is because, i have still not mastered the computer and robyn is gone a lot these days---but i want you to know, i appreciate each and every time i am honored by one of you dear friends

so much has been happening, my mind is pretty much in a whirl, these days---the wedding is only a few weeks away, and in some ways, it can't come fast enough for me-

people have wondered how i could support my young daughter to wed----it is meant to be, i believe---as a matter of fact, i think God placed dillon right where i could see him and said, he is the one you have been praying for---

we never know really, where life will lead us and when it may take an unexpected detour, from all of our carefully laid plans----i have learned that lesson, if nothing else too much over these fifty some years--

robyn is my only girl that i will see married----if you recall, she is the youngest of eight and my fourth girl---
 when my first little daughter passed away---a sweet friend of mine had given her the little bible that you give when a baby girl is born--it is to be carried on her wedding day---when eden died, frank laid it in the coffin with her and wrote in it--now you are married to Jesus----wow, i did not plan to share such an intimate part of my life, truth is i rarely do---

Sunday my pastor spoke of sharing the comfort the Lord has given us with others, and i begin to realize, i might not be doing that-----it may come one day---all in His time---

thank you for all of your sweet comments and prayers about my friend---now i have two friends that are in their last days----one of them says, how she feels the comforter, the "Holy Spirit" with her----i share with her that it may be soon---she is ready----

so as we all enjoy the fireflies of summer and the hopes of tomorrow, may we be a small comfort to those around us in need and may i get through this magical stressful time of life and be able to look back fondly on it one day

last week's left-overs

last time i wrote, i sorta had a theme--of lessons i had learned---i kinda enjoy that thought, so i will look back on last week and try to pull some insights out--

last week, i talked to a friend who has been given only a few months to live---it was a sudden diagnosis and has left my friend begging for more time---i told her, that i didn't think God would take her until she is ready---i have to admit, i partly in faith believe this, but also was trying to comfort her---i would appreciate, any of you who are prayer people to say a pray for my dear friend--

i have been seeing a lot of fire-flies this summer---i am convinced, first of all that some summers, i have not seen any of these wondrous creatures and that when i was a kid, they came in red too--

i have come to know that we can start over and over again, as long as we are willing

as i write this morning, i am cooking yellow summer squash---i now believe that frozen squash, cooked long enough and seasoned enough, is just as good as fresh and most people cannot tell the difference-did i share this before-

i have learned that the government has taken over our washing machines---there is a lot more to this discovery- i may elaborate at a later date---but this really is someone else's story----i just learned again, that else's is not a correct word-

major find----clearance garden section in walmart----i have purchased four huge peace lilies for a little over six dollars a piece----now if i can only keep them alive until robyn's wedding, in a few weeks

mostly, i tell myself to relish each moment, and mostly i fail at this lofty attempt----but still, i can try

lessons learned

okay so today it hit me to write---i am at the moment going back to my inspired or just that push to write only times----

i thought i might share with you, some of the things i have learned or observed over my busy weekend----lately i have been looking at life more that way--like i want to take away something from most of it--we'll see, how long that lasts

i have re-learned that people don't go for the fruits and veggies too much, unless you don't have any other food----but you know what---i put colored, and shaped marshmallows with my red and green grapes and pineapple---i think if people had tried that combo, especially with the cream cheese dip, they would have loved them---i did-- and i am not too much of a fruit person----as for the veggies, which by the way, i have always hated that word, "veggies"--but now i find it is comfortable to use---anyway---people do love the snap peas--which my veggie tray had---but those things, are expensive----i do share one last thing with you about the veggie tray--i had planned to remove all of it and display it in these adorable little green tub like things, i believe people would have been attracted by that--

i learned, i think, this weekend---although, as i write this, i have to be honest, i will learn this one over and over again---that only you can make decisions, about yourself and what you can and cannot do and you must let it go

okay, this is now in theory, but i am still gonna list it---people don't really care much, how your house looks--certainly not as much as you do---and if they do, you aren't going know what they say, probably

cheese balls are coming back, in a big way---but don't forget to put the knife out with it-

don't ever assume, you know how your kids will react to things, or what they are feeling and never underestimate, their love for their siblings---i know, big shock to me too

even if you think something makes you look fatter, when people say it doesn't, go ahead and wear it---no one should be relegated to black pants and black tops, all the time

people love m&ms-----

and this is strictly personal---go on and make those darling little shot cups of mini cheese cakes---people are impressed by them--which hey, that's what you are going for right---bad thing, you will have a lot left over--good thing, you will have a lot left over---

rhyming today

twas the night before graduation and dance recital and all through the house not a thing was accomplished as we laid on the couch

the windows were spotty and needed much care, but who would be willing, we had to be fair

the truth is the house needed too much to do--and how we were to clean it all, i hadn't a clue

so we swept and we scrubbed and we tried hard to hide, all the clutter in sight, then i sat down and cried

and the food, what to have, who would come who would not, though we hoped after our effort, there would be a lot

if not for these lifetime events, my house wouldn't get this much attention----for cleaning is not my thing, did i bother to mention -

prayers

as i watch the devastation in Oklahoma today---it seems to me that the mystery of the human spirit is probably one of the biggest mysteries in life

we lose loved ones and houses, dreams and health--but as soon as that breath we take tells us we can go on, we want to go on--then life does go on---

and the lessons we think we shall never forget, fade and the pain we drown in--becomes a dull lonely ache--but we manage to buy new paint, go to dinner, pay our bills and entertain the thought that we can once again "plan" our life----

what else are we to do--what choices are there---they are too bleak and deeply dark to consider

so as we all pray and guiltily thank God it wasn't us---we know--that something will be us---but who could sustain their being, with this threat in our fore-thoughts----

so the human spirit --the God given grace and mercy, carries us on