Today being a special day

As I read other's blogs and write my own, I am in unison with many of how therapuetic it is to some degree to post things that are near and dear to one's heart.

Today being a special day in my life I want to share some of an article that I read recently in AARP magazine (those of you under 50 are laughing at this point but you too will come to this day in your life so do take note!). The article is titled 50 Reasons To Love Being 50+! The 1st one they list is Because you can spoil the grandkids with sweets (that would be me!) Others they list are: Because you are free to do what you want....Because you get better at crossword puzzles-in my case Quiddler, scrabble..maybe(my son in law is laughing at this one)!...Because you've been embarrassed so much, you're all out of chagrin....Because our music rocks (the Beach Boys, The Beatles...)Because you don't tolerate bad service (my kids are probably now on the floor laughing at this one!)... Because you know who your friends are...and most importantly, Because love grows deeper over time!

I could really post a long time about all my reasons I love where I am at 50+ but I won't! But I am compiling a "bucket list" because when you get to this point in life it causes one to take notice of the time element left to do all you want to do and feel called to do.

Today I was reminded of how much love I do have, starting the day with love from my Savior while worshipping at church and ending with visits, cards and calls from family and friends. I did enjoy MY day and thank each of you who made it special for me to be 50+. An extra treat I received was from my son, Lee, driving in to town to see me (missed seeing Regan but I am looking forward to some time with her next weekend:). When I saw Lee grab a lollipop, I could not resist the moment!

Another reason I love being 50+ is sharing a lollipop moment with my grown son!
Lollipops are not just for the grandkids!

porch right now

For all the local readers of my blog, today is not a day you would want to be on our porch, huh?! It is raining, raining and more raining! Our rain gage says over 2" so far. Everything is sopping wet, puddles in each chair with the blowing rain but yesterday was perfect porch weather! The Lord knew I needed to get some things done inside!

Our Porch

As I approach the turn of another year of my life, there are so many things I could post about, boast about (grandchildren only), and roast about! Over the next few days I will try to do some of all that.

I read something recently on Beth Moore's blog where she ended her post saying " oh may our porches be beside one another in Heaven!" That is how I feel about you who read this (those whom I know personally). And if you know how much both Jack and I love our porch here on earth you can visualize that even more so! We just about think we have a small taste of heaven on earth on our porch in the trees here. The past few days with such a nice breeze blowing from the approaching storm and no hot sun have glued me to my porch. It feels like sitting on a beach with a pleasant breeze except I am surrounded by lush green trees swaying and watching various birds, a rabbit hopping about, a few chipmunks dashing in and out of places and numerous squirrely friends. It is even better when it is a tad bit rainy too because there is no action on the golf course and all we can behold is nature within our view. Nothing but songs of the birds is what we hear on days like this with small pitter patter of the rain.

Yesterday my dear best childhood friend Sadler came up to celebrate my 50 + years with me and while we sat on the porch she commented how times like that are just plain worship! She reminded me that even times when we are cooking, listening to music in the car, or anything that causes you to BE with God IS worship! What a refreshing thought! I absolutely LOVE being with God on my porch!

In conclusion I do pray YOUR porch, whomever I know that is reading this, will be next to mine in Heaven. But until that day when He calls us home you are always welcome to come and visit with me on my porch that is almost heaven!

The Shack

http://thebigmamablog.com/index.php/2008/08/21/name/
All my blogger friends and family who have read The Shack should read this post I have just linked you to. She expresses exactly how The Shack affected me when I read it in the Spring while we were on our Boston Trip. It is a quick read and I promise you will gain inspiration of how you view God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit like never before.

My sister, Amy, introduced me to The Shack book and today is her birthday so Happy Birthday Dear Sister! Have I told you lately that I am so glad you are my older sister! You have gone through so much more before me, paved many a way, taken many a training from our parents being the oldest and been so loving to pass on all your tricks and trades to me. I love ya!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

I need to follow up on this picture I posted in an earlier post!
YES that is a snake lying on top of the chair under "Hear No Evil"! That pretend snake gets it's mileage everytime the Downes grandkids come to visit and play dressup! I have many a video of them using the snake but I have yet to learn how to uTUBE so I am sorry I can not share them with you at this point. I am hoping one of these technology minded kids we have can help me soon learn some new things :)
"Hear No Evil" also is a child who likes to be quiet while others are talking and listens well and is sweetly sensitive to hearing something sad in a show or a movie.
"See No Evil" is kind of funny to me cause that is one grandchild that does not miss a beat in a crowd of people. He notices a lot of detail and will ham it up if he sees something that caused others to laugh!
"Speak No Evil" makes me smile because during that visit we took the boys to the AU library and "Speak No Evil" got a book about Auburn and Alabama Football. As soon as we got back to the house, he immediately started reading it. Later while the boys and I were playing UNO on the porch, "Speak No Evil" leans over to me and says "don't tell anybody but my book has some cuss words in it". He truly does not speak any evil that I have ever heard and I think it is so cute that he wanted it to be kept under a whisper around the younger two.

Our Luau time is drawing near

this is a picture I sent to the girls to get them thinking towards this year's Luau...I know it is cheesy but the grand girls love playing with these Barbies and I had just found the Barbies lollipop dresses so I took the opportunity to show them off (do you really think I was playing Barbies that afternoon by myself?)! I am a little bit of a crazy grandmother but not that far gone yet!

this photo is of all the grands with us during last year's Luau

So I will talk about The Luau a little bit on this post! Luau time at Lolli and Pops is when all our kids and grands come together at our house for a party. Holidays are just too complicated to get us all together so every year I strive to have one time when we can in the summer. This year we are having it at lunch on the first football game day of the season and I am hoping it will all work out nicely with everyone in town & all the excitement of a night game too.

There will be our traditional limbo, water balloon toss and Go Fishing Booth but something new added to the agenda this time! I have challenged each family to come up with an act to present to everyone for a Family Variety Show (after we do all the fun and games and eat some hopefully good Luau food too). Some are more excited than others but none more than me! Pops and I have "an act" we are working on for it and from what I hear by telephone some of the Downes families are working hard on their surprises too. The pictures of the grands I posted earlier made me think of the drama, the talent, the costumes, the giggles we might see at this year's 1st Family Variety Show during our 2008 Luau! Stay tuned in for a special edition of our 2008 Luau Party!

Luau time just around the corner

Getting ready for a Luau and here are a few pictures of the grands taken to wet your taste for what is to come!

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil!

More Lolli's out there

After visiting with my friend, Suzanne, this weekend, she told me that several of her friends like my grandmother name, Lolli, so much that they are adopting it when their little grands comes too. That is good with me, I will take it as a compliment that they think it is extra special because it is!
But it did make me wonder when all the MiMi's and Maw Maw's and GG's and GaGa's, and Nana's and Gram's and Granny's got started. I know the name, "Grandmother", dates all the way back to the Bible in reference to Timothy's grandmother, Lois (II Tim 1:5). Names are an interesting subject but grandparent names are even more fascinating to me. Could be because you get to pick that one out where as your parents got to pick out your other name! I catch most people smiling when they say "Lolli"! It has a cutesy ring to it, huh?
When I first came up with my Lolli name to compliment Pops, I absolutely had never heard of anyone else using Lolli as a grandmother name. Since then I have heard of 2 others using it somewhere in the Birmingham area and now some want-a-bees getting ready! Do yall think I started something? Maybe, they will even come out with some Hallmark greeting cards in the pink section that say Lolli!
For the record, I became Lolli 11½ years ago. If anyone else knows someone who has had this affectionate name as a grandmother before then let me know. We might have to start a Lolli Club!

Annie's Turn

With all the fun Lolli has been having with grandkids this summer, the past few days in BHam, were "Annie's turn" as we headed to swim and to play in the park. Having a newborn baby sister and turning two has taught her a lot about waiting on her turn. She is learning how to share and wait for her turn and it is so cute when she declares it's "Annie's turn"! Annie and Lolli visited at The Ross Bridge Swimming Pool with friends Suzanne Blocker and granddaughter, Mallory. Annie loved the pool options there with a baby pool, big big pool with lots of steps and a water fountain to play in as well. To give Mommy and Lily Kate some quiet time we also spent one morning at Wald Park in Vestavia and then had a special treat at a new Sweet Shop. You already know what Annie picked as her treat! It is so cute to hear her talking in little sentences now and she just about has the potty training nipped too. "Annie's turn" was as much fun for Lolli as it was for her and my oh my, how her first 2 years have flown by!

Allelu Allelu Allelu Allelu Ya Praise Ye The Lord!

Annie Loves singing this Song!

ok, a one and a two and a three....Allelu!
Allelu
Allelu Allelu Ya
Praise Ye The Lord!

Who said that open mouth is inherited from her mother's side?!

Most all my children's baby pictures have their mouths open and their tongues showing and there have been many comments that Lily Kate looks just like her mama and her uncle when they were babies. But would you take a look at this picture and please tell me she gets some of that open mouth grin from her Daddy?!

Don't baby girls in a bonnet make you want to ohhhhhh and ahhh, especially this one!
Lily Kate is the sweetest little dollbaby!

Tea Party Time

"One World One Dream" Beijingham Olympics

There was another version of the 2008 Olympics going on Friday night and I had a front row seat at their opening ceremony! The starring gymnasts were Sweet Pea and Cupcake and they captured their Lolli's undivided attention with their graceful acrobatics and delicate ballet feet!
Starting off with Sweet Pea on the daring jumperoo swing act


Next was Cupcake with her twinkle toes act in the jumperoo swing!
(you gotta click on this to zoom in and see such precious enthusiasm)


Sweet Pea encourages the audience to cheer for her as she concludes her trapeze act (while Lolli held her breath)!


Cupcake chimes in with her echoes of excitement on the balancing beams of hardwood floor!


"You and Me" theme song conclusion sung on the quilted blanket stage by the sisterly duo!


One World One Dream...these sisters make a pretty cute team!

Big Girls Only Weekend - "Puppy Day"

Our Big Girls Only Weekend started off with "Puppy Day". Lauren, 11, and Sydney, 8, were both sooooo excited when they found out we were going to visit real puppies, 4 little adorable maltese puppies between 4 & 5 weeks old and just starting to walk around. Sweet Anne Marie and Chris Musgrove let us come play with them and I thought they were going to have to bed us down for the night. None of us wanted to leave. Each girl kept trying to decide which pup they wanted. It was declared before we ever went that they were not for sale to us but we had fun dreaming about it anyway. We eventually went home and to liven up the evening I served the girls a puppy snack in bowls on the floor with Scooby Doo bone graham crackers and then we made "puppy chow" crispex for our dessert later. The girls also brought their favorite stuffed animal puppies. For dinner we ate pup chops, roasted puptatoes, and broccoli breath! Our puppy movie was "Benji" but it later got voted as the least favorite of the weekend! Puppy Day was a big hit and they begged to go back and play with them the entire weekend :)

Big Girls Only Weekend - "Twins Tradition Day"

Our 2nd day was Twins Traditions Day. Both girls are the daughters of Identical twin Daddys and we had lots of traditional activities for the day. First they dressed in their twin t-shirts embroidered by Lolli and put on their twin sunglasses.

Next we fed the new horses (Martin and Savannah) who also live around the corner, went traditional swimming with a lollipop snack of course and they came home and put on a traditional finger puppet show for me.




Our new tradition was a blindfold trip. I started this with the boys weekend as I used to do this with my own children many many years ago. To keep things from being compared between all the kids, I purposefully had the girl's trip this time not be a scavenger hunt. They giggled in the back seat with their scarves covering their eyes as we sang The Name Game Song (Tony Tony Bo Bony Banana Fanna Fo Fony Fee Fi Fo Fony Tony= remember that one?). We arrived at a new inflatable bouncy place to their delight. After jumping for almost 2 hours, we let them walk through the aisles of Hobby Lobby picking out stickers to make scrapbooks of their Girls Only Weekend. It was very exciting to find puppy stickers and horse stickers just like the ones we visited:) Lolli was a happy camper as well!

Pops then drove us girls to Cheeburger Cheeburger and we all ate well.
We came home and made some pipe cleaner coffee filter flowers and butterflies and rested well watching the Horse movie selected for our traditions day (Dreamer). Lauren voted it her #1 choice of my 3 movie selections!