Monday Morning Coffee Talk

Good Monday morning, my friends! I hope your weekend was lovely and cozy, exciting and fun, or a bit of all that rolled into one! As you can see from the above pictures, spring arrived here in Pennsylvania. As if by magic, green and blue appeared, promising beautiful summer days to follow. Helped along with the tremendous amount of pollen floating around, no doubt. That will pass, I remind myself!

Our weekend was blissfully busy! Friday night, some of the kids and I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It was so good! It was refreshingly free of politically correct themes and scenes that many movies insist on including these days. It was what a movie should be. Entertaining. It offered an escape from all the current noise of the world, rather than forcibly including things just for the sake of inclusion. And movie theatre popcorn? Come on!

Saturday afternoon, we went to mass and then dinner at one of our favorite cozy places. It is old, comfortable, unpretentious, and has the best old-fashioned food. I got the turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy and enjoyed it immensely. We had planned on a campfire after dinner, but the party girl that I am, I chose instead to come home, wash my face, and put on my pajamas for some comfy time on the couch. 

Sunday was Mother's Day! I was blessed to spend the afternoon with my own beautiful mother and the evening with all my awesome kids. Steve, Flynn, and I took lunch to my mom at her assisted living home and were able to sit outside and visit with her. She is the most special person I will ever know, and spending time with her is something I cherish. Her memory of current events and people is fading and being replaced with more detailed memories of her childhood and youth. As hard as that is for me, I see how happy it makes her to talk about her mom, dad, and siblings, so that is what we do! My mom loves music and singing, so I played some songs for her that I knew she loved. She sang along to Elvis Presley's  Love Me Tender, as well as one of her very favorites, Yankee Doodle Dandy! We had a beautiful visit sitting outside in her beautiful backyard.

Later in the evening, Madison and Nicolas, Peyton and Chris, Rhett and Kyrstin, and Flynn and Steve prepared the most yummy dinner for me. They had asked me earlier what I wanted, and I chose hotdogs on the grill, Peyton's deviled eggs, and Madison's macaroni and cheese! Peyton made my favorite chocolate chip cookie skillet for dessert. We took no pictures because we were too busy having fun! It was a beautiful day celebrating the blessing that is my vocation in life: motherhood. Today I have laundry, schooling with Flynn, some random things to clear off my counter, and some phone calls to make. I hope you have a cozy day with your people, whatever your plans may be! Thanks for visiting!

Mocha is happy to see you too!

Billie Jo

Really Random Friday Photos

 

Good Friday morning! I hope you had a good week and are ready for an even better weekend. I have some random photos on my camera roll, so let's get started! I made some coffee cake this week to put in Rhett's lunch, and then I inexplicably cut it and put it on this pretty cake stand because I thought it would be nice if anyone stopped by. In the old tv shows, doesn't the woman always have cake displayed just in case her neighbor drops in for a visit? It looks so nice, doesn't it? The hilarious thing is that no one would just pop in here for a visit! Everyone knows I require a phone call or text first! 

I was back in the kitchen this week. I made a delicious beef and broccoli recipe I found online. Madison was here, and I was so glad for her help. This was a hands-on recipe of chopping, stirring, mixing, and seasoning simultaneously, so I was glad she was here! We even put Steve to work! 

We have a regular visitor these days. He comes around a couple of times a day to check in. I call him Bill, after my dad. And I am always happy to see him!

I got nothing for this one. Maybe, as Flynn says, it's just "Vibe."

Our weekend looks lovely and full of family and fun. Tonight some of us are going to see the new Guardians of the Galaxy movie. I need to get caught up on the first two. Either I have yet to see them, or I completely forget what they are about. Both are possibilities. The non-Marvel-movie people, Madison, Nicolas, and Steve, are going to have a lasagna dinner cooked by Nicolas and a nice evening walk. Me? I'll be watching a movie with popcorn and a large Dr. Pepper. Saturday, we have mass, and then, weather permitting, our first fire of the season, complete with s'mores. Sunday is Mother's Day, and I hope to visit my beautiful Mom in the early afternoon. Then we will have dinner here, my choice! What have I chosen for Mother's Day dinner? Hor Dogs on the grill! Yep! Hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and deviled eggs! Peyton is making dessert too!

I told the kids I needed nothing on a Sunday in May to honor me as a mother. Every day I am reminded of how blessed I am to be their Mom. Several moments occurred that solidified this feeling, and I would like to share some of them with you here.

Flynn was due for a hair trim; Madison took her and made a day of it. They got their hair done, went for an iced coffee, and went shopping for shoes for summer. Flynn spent the night with Madison and Nicolas too! How amazing is this love between siblings? It isn't new, either.

Peyton sent me these texts yesterday as she was going through some things in her house.

Did I tear up? You betcha! I remember thinking that the precious little one who worked all afternoon on that sticker picture couldn't possibly grow up. But she did. And she is amazing.

Rhett sent me this yesterday. I have been making him lunch lately, and he took the time to thank me. That little cutie who used to eat the lunch I made him in his room with watching The Sandlot on a portable DVD player is all grown up. But he still appreciates his Mom.

Here are my people...minus Kyrstin, who was at work but was there in spirit right next to Rhett. These are the ones who bless me every single day and allow me to be what I always dreamed of being. Mom.

Speaking of Mom. Here is mine. She is the absolute best person I will ever know. She taught me everything I know about love, patience, joy, grief, vocation, and home. She taught me how to be the very best me I can be. She is selfless, caring, kind, and beautiful. She has lived her life caring for the people she loves. And I get to call her Mom. 

Google

Finally, to all the mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, those waiting to be, and those praying to be, Happy Mother's Day.

The Sweetest sounds to mortals given

Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.

William Goldsmith Brown

Billie Jo

Monday Morning Coffee Chat

 

Yep! It's Monday! I hope you had a lovely weekend in your part of the world. It's hard to believe we are working our way through May, isn't it? Here in Pennsylvania, we are still waiting for things to turn green and for the weather to get warm. All in good time, I suppose. The highlight of our weekend was Mother's Day, and it was beautiful. I was blessed to spend the day with all of my children and my bestie Marian who drove up just for the afternoon. 

I came home from Mass and dinner to find my Rhett had left this for me before he went out for the evening. Beautiful flowers and a perfect book I already started, along with a card from him and Kyrstin. 

Sunday brought cards and thoughtful gifts that made me tear up.

Madison and Nicolas prepared the dinner of my choice. And it was delicious! It is Danish Ristaffel, a curry chicken dish served over rice and topped with many things that you think would not work together but totally do! My favorite toppings are banana slices, pineapple chunks, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, peanuts, and apricot jam. I know, right? But it is delicious!

Dessert was Peyton's homemade chocolate chip skillet cookie with ice cream. Honestly, one of the best desserts I have ever eaten! 

And I was so happy to spend time with the most wonderful mother in the world Saturday evening. We had the best visit together, talking and laughing and looking at pictures together. I am so thankful for every single moment I have with her. She is the best person I will ever know. 

Today is a cozy, ordinary day. I will do laundry, homeschool with Flynn, drink my afternoon coffee, write out bills, and watch Match Game. The best days are the regular ones, don't you think?

Have a cozy day, my friends. Thank you for reading and for commenting. I appreciate it more than you know!

Billie Jo

Weekly Wrap Up

 

Hello there, my friends. And Happy Friday! This week was quiet around here, filled with work, school, dinner, laundry, phone calls, and tv time. The weather has yet to allow much outside time, but that will change soon, so I am soaking up every last minute of cozy before the summer months filled with sun, boat rides, porch sitting, and meals outside arrive. It is funny; just as one season ends, I am ready for the next to begin. 

Dinner last night was Shrimp Tacos in celebration of Cinco De Mayo. Although truth be told, I didn't even realize I had planned it like that! In any case, they were delicious!! I did make some rice and corn to go along with them. If you want to try them, here is the Recipe. 

Steve surprised me with an early Mother's Day gift! And he hung them too! I have never had hanging baskets before, and I love them. Speaking of Mother's Day,

Thank you for reading, my friends.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Billie Jo

Accepting Appreciation

 

With some help from our superintendent ~aka Daddy~, my number one student Flynn surprised me with beautiful flowers, chocolate, and the most perfect homemade card for Teacher Appreciation Week! I could not have been more surprised. First of all, because I had no idea it is Teacher Appreciation Week. And also, because honestly, I never think about what I do as something that needs to be appreciated.

I love teaching. Long before I became a mom, I worked at a child development center on my college campus. I led circle time with three and four-year-olds, supervised playtime, and spent hours pushing little ones on swings. I loved it. Loved. I was blessed to secure a job right after graduation as a second-grade teacher and spent five wonderful years teaching vowel sounds and multiplication facts to sweet seven and eight-year-olds. I loved it. 

The best moments I have had teaching, however, remain the simple moments at home. I taught four little blessings how to walk and use a spoon, and tie shoes. I spent hours on a Noah's Ark blanket on the floor, helping little hands fit red plastic cubes into a yellow bucket. Eventually, I became a homeschool mom, teaching everything from preschool to advanced math at desks in my dining room. Three of my children graduated high school and are successfully working in fields they love. I am blessed to have one remaining student that enjoys our time together at the kitchen table studying ancient civilizations and Shakespeare. 

When she surprised me with the card, flowers, and candy, my first instinct was to say that she didn't have to thank me! She and Steve didn't need to be appreciative of me! This is what I do. I teach. And I love doing it! Sometimes it is hard to accept thanks and compliments. But something Steve has encouraged me to do is just that. Allow others to express appreciation and thankfulness. Validate their feelings. Accept praise. And eat the chocolate. 

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all the teachers out there.

And also, Happy and Blessed Mother's Day to all mothers, those waiting to be, those wishing to be, and those praying to be. Happy Mother's Day to all the aunts and friends, and neighbors who love our children as their own. May we love and shower appreciation on them this weekend, as we honor the mothers and grandmothers who have gone on before us. Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!  Thanks for visiting. I am always happy you do.

Mother's Day 2020