Fifteen

Flynn is fifteen! Yesterday, the baby that made our family complete turned fifteen. We had the best day celebrating her, culminating in a delicious dinner, complete with cake, presents, and games. Before I share all that, allow me to indulge in a few photos of my baby Flynn.

Flynn is laidback, easygoing, fun, intelligent, sensitive, thoughtful, and funny. She likes her new pup, Marty, frozen pizza, Dystopian Movies, pajama pants, being home, playing video games, and studying biology. She has a unique and amazing relationship with each one of her siblings, as well as Nicolas, Christopher, and Kyrstin. She won't eat rice or tomatoes and could listen to music twenty-four hours a day. She is the embodiment of God's answer to our prayers.

We celebrated with her favorite things, Taco Pie and Chocolate Cake. Then we played a trivia game all about Flynn, and we were so happy that Peyton joined us by phone! 

Madison made the delicious cake, Steve and Kyrstin helped assemble the taco pie, and Rhett supplied the comedic entertainment. I sat back in amazement that the little baby I held in my arms yesterday was now fifteen years old, content in the knowledge that I had enjoyed and appreciated every single moment. 

I want to remember:

Peyton asked Flynn last week what she wanted to do on her birthday. Without missing a beat, Flynn replied, "Stay home and receive gifts!"

Mission accomplished.

Happy Birthday, Flynn Grace!

Love you!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo

Taco Pie

Monday Morning Coffee

 

Good morning, my friends! Flynn captured this scene beautifully last evening as we drove from Pennsylvania to Maryland. And now we are here! We had a wonderful time, saw family and friends, and are filled to the brim with happy memories. Like going to Perkins for dinner after mass, then to Peyton's for a homemade ice cream cake she made to celebrate Flynn's upcoming birthday...

It was as amazing as it looks, and yes, tomorrow, my baby is fifteen. In other news, the dogs were treated to a spa day with a holiday package containing a bath with Gingerbread Shampoo and Conditioner and precious Christmas-themed accessories. 

Mocha

Cosmo

and Marty.

Finally, I was thinking about some random things yesterday. I would love to know your thoughts! 

1. I love my crewneck sweatshirts oversized! I cannot stand to feel constricted when I am in cozy clothes. Do you buy sweatshirts that are bigger than your other clothes, or is it me??

2. Do you have your Christmas tree up? I am in the camp of putting it up before Thanksgiving so we can enjoy the lights during the early darkness. Our tree is currently in the dining room in a box, patiently waiting for its debut.

3. Do you need to charge your cell phone during the day? I do, and it is driving me nuts! I charge it to a full charge overnight, and although I am currently addicted to a Christmas game, I don't use it that much. But then, I guess I do?

4. Does everyone in your house have an aversion to unloading the dishwasher? It is like an Olympic Sport here, seeing how long we can go, putting dirty dishes in the sink, pretending not to notice the clean ones inside the dishwasher. Or the cute magnet that says CLEAN hanging on the front. For the record, I usually cave!

Have a wonderful Monday, my friends. And remember, next week is Thanksgiving.

Billie Jo

Friday Again!?

 

Friday vibe around here!

I vividly remember lying in bed Monday night, mentally scheduling my week here in Pennsylvania. It was like I blinked, and suddenly, it was Friday. I am still trying to figure out how that works. In any case, here we are, with a week behind us and a weekend ahead. We had a busy week filled with all the things. Good things. Monday was a quiet homeschool day, and on Tuesday, we went to Peyton's for lunch, and then Steve's sister and her husband came for dinner and a visit by the fire. Wednesday, Flynn and I squeezed in some homeschooling before heading out to visit my Mom. Yay! We went to dinner with Margie and Chris afterward at our favorite place there. I ordered the same thing since high school: a steak and cheese sub with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.

While we were there, I saw two ladies walk in and sit down next to us. I recognized them immediately, although it had been close to ahmmm...forty years since I had seen them. They were my church's organist and director of the children's choir! One woman was also the mother of one of my dear friends, and I have fond memories of her. Although it took a moment for them to recognize me, she grabbed my hand and held it tight once they did. We had a wonderful visit, and I am so happy I could see them again. Yesterday, Steve and his brother and some friends went to camp to do whatever it is they do there to prepare for hunting season, while Flynn and I had a homeschool day, and then Steve and I joined his brother Todd and his wife Beth at a practice meal at our friends' new Habichi restaurant. It was so nice! They open tonight, and Jon and Erica invited us to dinner for a final run-through. The food was delicious! And it is beautiful. There are no pictures of the food. Because it was that good!

Camp stuff.

My stuff.

A quick selfie to check in with my sister to let her know I am almost ready to leave!

As Madison said, "Gram is always with it. Taking a selfie at 87." We had a wonderful visit, and I was so happy Mom immediately recognized me and was so excited to see Steve and Flynn, too. We held hands and FaceTimed the older kids. Madison said, "Hi, Gram! It's Madison!" My Mom replied, "Yes. I can see you. Isn't this phone something?" I realize all her moments are not this. I know that sometimes the disease gets hold of her and won't let go, and I am so thankful for Margie, who is there in those times as well. I take every moment I have with my momma as a gift to be cherished. I refuse to let Alzheimer's steal that joy from us. 

More pretty pictures of God saying Good Morning. 

And a live-action shot of me snuggled in my unmade bed with these two, who are not quite ready to say goodnight!

Today, Steve and I are running some errands. I need to get to the bank and visit some friends at the cemetery. We lost our dear Linda, our priest friend Father Ross' mom, last spring. I have yet to see her resting place and want to pay her a visit today. She was a wonderful friend.

After our errands, I am making this delicious dessert to take to my bestie Heather's for our Bachelorette Finale night! I have not seen any spoilers from the show on Wednesday, so it should be a good time!

Butterfinger Lush

Tomorrow will be mass and dinner, and then Sunday, we are packing up and heading back to Maryland! I am so sorry I have not visited much lately. Please know I miss checking in on you and plan to get back into some semblance of routine soon! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Billie Jo

Just A Thought ... It Is Enough

Years ago, when my first three were little, I was packing up Christmas on a quiet January day. I remember realizing that, believe it or not, no one outside our little family had seen our home at Christmas that year. I remember that year was frigidly cold in Pennsylvania, and many people were sick. Rhett was a baby, and the girls were young, and so it happened. No other person saw or enjoyed our cozy Christmas home that year.

Looking back, I remember feeling disappointed. Now, much older and hopefully a bit wiser, I realize my focus should not be creating a cozy, festive Christmas home for others to visit and enjoy. Instead, I should hope to make the most comfortable, Christmasy, warm place for us to settle in and spend the fleeting December days together. Of course, my being a homebody makes this easy. Still, I believe we must relish the time spent together for a few days at least, shutting out the chaos, noise, social media, consumerism, and pressure to go and do and buy and be. I will strive to do just that, hoping that this beautiful season we all wait for will not pass so quickly yet again. My motto this year: It is enough. 

It is enough to have soup and sandwiches for dinner on busy December nights. It is enough to set the phone down and be present for another viewing of Rudolph or Christmas with the Kranks. It is enough to pass on those gorgeous Santa plates that I know will look amazing but that I don't need and use the precious ones I have had forever. It is enough to cut the Christmas card list down to a smaller group of people. It is enough to reschedule a visit until those less busy January days. It is enough to do what you want without feeling guilty. It is enough to love from afar and send Christmas wishes and joy. My friends, it is enough. 

What can you add to this list? Feel free to share! And have a cozy Wednesday!

Billie Jo

( Google has these pretty pictures. )