Wednesday And Thank You

Hello! And Happy Wednesday! Thank you for all the kind words of love shown to Flynn on her Confirmation. She read them all! It was a beautiful day. Also, thank you for all your words of support this month for me as I checked off those necessary but intimidating appointments! Health Anxiety is a real thing, as is OCD, and they can make simply going to a routine doctor's appointment extremely frightening. Thankfully, through support, therapy, and proper medication, I am much more able to handle them and indeed did just that!

This month, I saw my personal care physician, obstetrician, dermatologist, eye doctor, and dentist, and had my mammogram - thankfully, all with good reports! In addition to all those appointments, we had dog grooming and a vet appointment. Not all our time here was taken up with appointments, however. We were able to spend a great deal of time with Peyton and Chris, as well as family and friends, and went out to dinner several times. We even saw a movie. I also got a pedicure and had lunch with Heather. Tomorrow, we pack up and head back to Maryland, where our cozy house and ocean waves await. 

Again, thank you, my friends. Have a lovely, cozy, final day of April!

Billie Jo

 

Monday Morning Coffee And A Confirmation

Good Monday morning! I hope you had the weekend you planned and waited for. Our weekend was lovely, made even more so because our Flynn Grace was confirmed! It was a gorgeous spring day, and we celebrated with the special people in her life. The church was full, the bishop presided over Mass, and the organ was playing our favorite hymns. Flynn was so happy to be filled with the Holy Spirit; she was beaming with joy. 

We had just enough time to snap a few pictures before heading to the church.

One on the way into the church...

And Uncle Todd, her Godfather, was even able to get close enough to take this one of her actual Confirmation.

And then, after, with Peyton, her sponsor. Flynn chose to have lunch after Mass at a favorite little restaurant. We gathered with a small group of family and friends to visit, eat, and celebrate. It was a beautiful day. 

We didn't take many pictures, and I'm okay with that. The older I get, the more I realize that for me, being present in the moment allows me to create special and vivid memories in my heart that a photograph may not capture. 

I do want to remember Madison helping Flynn find, choose, and order her confirmation dress, as well as take her to have it altered. And Rhett and Kyrstin driving up from Maryland to surprise Flynn for her special day. I want to remember the friends and family who chose to spend their Sunday celebrating our daughter, therefore making her day even more special. Celebrating Confirmation completes the sacraments of Initiation in our Catholic faith. For us, these are the three sacraments that are the foundation of a Christian life. And once completed, confirm a person into the Catholic Church.

Flynn's Baptism

Her First Holy Communion

And her Confirmation.

Finally, I want to remember that this day was the first celebration without my beautiful momma present. Here she is at Flynn's First Holy Communion. She was missed, but we knew she was there, and that she was smiling and singing along. Because she was awesome like that.

Have a lovely Monday, my friends. Thank you for visiting! I plan to sit down later today to visit with you. After I put this house back together! We managed to get out the door on time yesterday, but we left a hot mess behind!

Oh! The favors in the photo above came from Etsy. They are wildflower seeds, and everyone loved them!

Billie Jo

Friday Photos

The weekend is here! We have a busy and happy one coming up, as Flynn receives her Confirmation on Sunday. She and I have been preparing all year, and she is ready! She has chosen Peyton as her sponsor. If you think of it, please send a prayer or a good wish for her. I will share pictures on Monday.

In other news, spring is slowly making her presence known here in Pennsylvania. I know this by the tiny buds appearing on the trees, and the bottles of allergy medicine sitting on the counter. It sure is pretty, though. 

We went to Peyton's yesterday for lunch, and outside her door, I saw this.

Which, of course, made me think of this...

Which makes me realize just how quickly time passes. And how unreal and rude that actually is! It's a good thing I was sure to be present in every single one of those moments, and that I have all the beautiful photos to remember them by. You knew where I was going with this, right, Madeline???

Steve was in Pittsburgh this week and sent me a photo from a bakery like I've never seen. He also brought a delicious cake that we took to Heather and Dave's for dessert.

A reminder to all the women reading that it is perfectly acceptable to treat yourself every now and then to a little something that makes you happy. Case in point: I was ordering T-shirts for Flynn online and decided to get one for myself. It's soft and fun, and it makes me happy.

One last happy thing! If you know who these people are, we are automatically best friends! This show was my very favorite all through high school and college. It was on Thursday nights, and when it was over, I felt like I had lost my best friends. I know...sad. But true. Anyway, it has never been released beyond the first season. I have been waiting since 1993 to rewatch it. And guess what? It is finally on Amazon Prime Video! All the seasons! 

Yep. Knots Landing. It's Dallas, only not fancy, pretentious, and absurd. It takes place in a cul-de-sac with neighbors and slightly more everyday people who come over for coffee. It's still a bit absurd, but why watch if it wasn't?

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. 

Thank you for reading!

Billie Jo

Google for the images.

Happy Things

Meeting Peyton and Chris's new pup

Spring evenings outside my window

Grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner

Piles of pups snuggled on the couch

And my sweet Peyton and her Christopher celebrating their Fourth Wedding Anniversary

What happy things can you add, my friends?

Billie Jo

Easter And Goodbye To A Pope

Happy Easter Monday, my friends! As our priest reminded us yesterday at Mass, we must remember that Easter is not a moment. Instead, it is a new beginning for us, a time of resurrection and renewal. So, although the baskets are empty and the eggs are no longer hidden, we should strive to keep the joy of Easter alive in our hearts.

For me, that means not rushing to put all signs of Easter away and moving on to the next big thing. It means continuing the prayer time I made time for all those days of Lent. And, it means reminding myself of all the good in my life and in the world. 

Easter was quieter this year, as two of my not-so-little children remained in Maryland. That left Peyton, Chris, and Flynn here with Steve and me. Although I often fretted about the time when all my kids wouldn't be together on a holiday, I found it just as beautiful and fun, knowing they were celebrating together and being happy and proud of them for doing it on their own!

This was Easter in Pennsylvania: a quickly put-together display featuring the very first lamb cake Peyton and I ever attempted, using my Grandma Mil's vintage cast-iron lamb cake mold. She made one every year, and I always went to her house to watch. I remember her telling me to put toothpicks in the head so it would stay in place. I made the cake, and Peyton iced it. We were happy with how it turned out!

Peyton, Christopher, and Flynn. 

Meanwhile, in Maryland, Madison, Nicolas, Rhett, and Kyrstin celebrated with a lovely Easter dinner together. Madison served chicken, macaroni and cheese, and green beans. Rhett made tiramisu for dessert, too!

And that was Easter. I no longer fret about making each holiday the same with the same traditions and recipes. Life changes. Holidays change, too. And it is really quite alright!

I woke to the news that our pope's journey on earth had come to an end. May his soul find the joy and peace which he guided us toward, as he is welcomed into Heaven during the most holy time of year.

Today, Flynn and I will do our homeschooling, and then we're going to visit my dear friend Heather. Yay! I hope you have a lovely, cozy day, my friends. Happy Easter!

Billie Jo

Good Friday And Easter Weekend

Good Friday morning, my friends. Literally, Good Friday. Today, our family will remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus. We plan to attend church service, followed by fasting and prayer. An interesting fact: In the Catholic faith, today, Good Friday, is the only day of the year when no Mass is celebrated. Instead, we practice prayer, fasting, and abstinence.  

Earlier this week, I crossed two more appointments off my list. I had my yearly dermatology exam and my annual physical with my primary care doctor. I'm thankful for good results all around, and I can report that I'm down to one final appointment: my annual eye doctor appointment next week! 

It wasn't all waiting rooms and blood pressure cuffs, however. We had some fun mixed in, including dinner at Peyton and Chris's house, followed by cookie decorating, a post-appointment lunch date for Steve and me, and more Mission: Impossible movie nights for Steve, me, and Flynn. 

We had the best time at Peyton's house. She set the table with festive Easter items, including little treat cups filled with chocolates. She made sloppy joes and the most delicious homemade dip for vegetables. I'll get that recipe and share it soon, I promise. Then she gave us our own cookies to decorate, and we did a pretty good job! I wish I could better explain how I felt when we said goodnight and walked to the car. I was so happy. Happy for her because she is living her dream. Proud of her for all she does to make each holiday so very special for us. Thankful for Christopher for making my daughter so happy and loved. And yes, a little but sad. Maybe sad isn't the right word. Nostalgic? Yes. That's it. This beautiful young woman having us into her home for a fun night of dinner and cookie decorating is the very same Peyton that I carried on my hip, played Strawberry Shortcake Memory with every afternoon, had toast and coffee with in a big comfy chair, and tucked into bed arranging mounds of stuffed animals just so. It's like the blink of an eye, childhood is. For every mother. Before you know it, you are your mother, and your children are you. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Steve and I chose this for our postappointment date on a rainy, chilly April afternoon.

And yes. That would be our three of the four dogs at the groomer!

All fresh and clean. For a bit anyway!

And one last PSA! Wendy's now has Tangerine Lemonade! It is so good! 

I hope you all have a Happy and Blessed Easter, my friends. Our's will be quiet and cozy. I will be back on Monday!

Billie Jo