May 15, 2023

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



May 12, 2023

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














May 8, 2023

Monday Morning Coffee Talk

 

Good Monday morning. My friends! How was your weekend? I hope it was happy and productive, cozy and quiet, whatever you planned. Saturday morning, I was up at 4:50 and had enough time to make some coffee and snuggle on the couch before the Coronation of King Charles began. While waiting for it to start, I recalled a summer day in July years ago when I also woke early and climbed onto my mom's bed to watch my first royal wedding on tv. I have followed the Royal Family ever since! The coronation was a beautiful, fascinating event, and I was so glad I could witness something that hadn't happened in seventy years. Watching the coronation unfold, I could not help but think of how amazing it is that the traditions and ceremonies remain unchanged through the years. I thought about how quickly time passes and how our lives are a small chapter in the unending book of life. 






I enjoyed coffee and a delicious fresh strawberry scone Madison made for me while I watched.



Another perk to getting up so early? Watching the world awaken right outside my window.

Today I will slowly begin some things I let go of while I was sick together. Steve and the kids did a great job, so I have a minimal amount to do. I have some laundry...don't we always...and some lesson plans to rearrange, and that is about it. The weather is turning more springlike here, so I plan to sit outside for my afternoon coffee. The lake is glistening now, and the grass is green. Some boats are back in the water too. Another lake season begins. 

Have a cozy day, my friends. I am going to catch up with you today, and I am looking forward to visiting!

(Motivation app)


Billie Jo

(Google for the images.)