Random Photo Friday

We are enjoying these beautiful waning days of summer while looking ahead to the upcoming cozy autumn days to come. I suppose that is August's purpose. So...here is a peek into a few of our August days...

Eating this makes me feel really good about myself...

 

Eating this Quadruple Berry Pie while watching my guilty pleasure Bachelor In Paradise makes me feel even better. : )

 

My beautiful-inside-and-out mother as I picked her up for Mass and dinner last weekend...and I can only hope to look and feel like this at 79.

 

My Mocha. Enough said.

 

Ironing is fun. It really is. Especially when you are watching a mindless Lifetime Movie and ironing something as sweet as this.

 

Or this. It isn't all fun and games, though. There were about 10 pair of Steve's work pants in-between.

 

Getting all that work done rewarded me with this...One of my very favorite things ever. Planning for a new school year! First Grade this year. : )

 

I was also rewarded with this. Peyton made the best zucchini bread.

And I enjoyed it warm with a little slather of butter. And it was good.

 

And apologies to all my summer loving friends. I just couldn't help myself! We had a dark, rainy afternoon this week, and I had to pull out one of my favorite autumn scents. But that's it! Promise!

 

Flynn's friend Miss Aly came this week, and she and Flynn made cookies together. Flynn loves the fun things they do together.

 

This beautiful sight last evening made me think of my dear Dad...

Missing him every. single. day.

 

One of the daily pictures I receive from these two...Always makes me smile!

 

Pinterest knows me well. : )

 

And that's all for now, my friends.

Have a cozy weekend with your people.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keepin' It Real...Because. Fun.

Every now and then I feel the need to lighten things up a bit around here. So here you go. More about me than you probably care to know. : )

Yep. My friend Marian can attest to this. Last time she was here, we were digging around for a lid to a yogurt container to send some food home with her in. We didn't find one. But we found about ten Cool Whip lids. Go figure.

Guilty.

True. So true.

Because...

This.

Come September, this is me. Honestly.

I do shower. I just put on really nice jammies after.

You could call them Leisure Outfits I suppose.

So. Yes. Pretty much.

And this. Yes. Yes. Yes. Would you believe I LOVE this movie? Only the original though.

The others? Ugh.

Speaking of Halloween...how much longer do I have to wait to decorate before people really think I'm weird? Oh...Who am I kidding? They already do!!!

Have a great day, friends.

And weird or not...just be yourself!

Pinterest for the pics. As always. : )

Thanks For The Love...And Winners!

I must begin this Monday morning by thanking you for the love and prayers for myself and for my Madison as she embarks on her exciting adventure. Please know your care and support do not go unnoticed. Just another reason why I love this world of Blogging. : )

Madison and Nicolas have arrived safe and sound back in Denmark, and are settling in nicely. His family was happy to see them and as always, welcomed her warmly. We are slowly beginning to establish a new "normal" here at home, with numerous texts, calls, and video messages to get us through. : )

They made it!

The view.

And a colorful reminder from God that everything will work out just fine. : )

My girl.

All grown up.

But still...my girl.

Now...on to those winners!

We gathered all the entries...

And took turns drawing names...

Peyton was first.

She drew...

Kelli!!!

Rhett drew the next name.

He picked...

Barb Rezac!!!

And little Flynn picked last.

Her pick?

Theresa!!!

Congratulations!

Please email me your information, and I will get them right out in the mail.

Have a wonderful week, my friends!!!!

Thanks for reading!

Random Photo Friday

This week's photos aren't really all that random. They are all about my Madison. And this.

My firstborn spread her wings this week. She left for Denmark with her Nicolas. This time, it is for a bit longer. She is planning on staying there for the school year and will be living with Nicolas' family. She is also planning on attending a make up artistry academy as well as taking a Danish language course. We are so excited and happy for her to begin this new adventure! She will be seeing so many new things, as well as learning so much about her true passion...make up. She will also be immersed in the language and culture of the beautiful country Nicolas calls home.

Along with the happiness comes a myriad of other emotions, my friends...among them...disbelief, sadness and anxiety. I will always be honest here, and to omit the fact that my Madison Marie leaving home for the first time has been easy on my heart would be untruthful. But it is her time. She is almost twenty, and is ready to spread her wings and fly. She is mature and excited and happy. She is also nervous and anxious. A new chapter in her life is about to begin, and that is indeed scary. But Steve and I reassured her that she is ready. And that no matter how far away she is, she is always here with us. Always in our hearts. And only a text or Snapchat or call or Facetime away. : )

Me and my girl. : )

Tuesday morning she kissed little Mocha goodbye...

And smiled a brave smile.

Nicolas will miss her too.

She cuddled with him every. single. night.

Then there were pictures on the driveway...

Before they headed off on their new adventure.

Were there tears? Yep. All around.

And hugs and waves and more tears.

But we will see her again in September before they return home for Christmas.

They say a parent gives each child roots and wings.

And I agree.

I just wish those wings didn't have to spread so fast.

Once they left, I got to cleaning. And scrubbing. And dusting.

Then I started scrapbooking. And organizing.

And then I collapsed on the sofa with a piece of this amazing pie Steve's sweet sister Sally dropped off because she knew we would be sad. : )

And you know what? It helped.

Have a cozy weekend, friends.

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Fourth Birthday, Little Blog!

Yep. That's right. Four years ago today, I hit "Publish" for the first time here, and this little ole blog was born. I am thankful I took a step out of my comfort zone that day, and ventured into a world that I had thus far watched from the outside. In a world filled with instant gratification and acknowledgement through places like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat, this world of Blogging allows us to move more slowly. To take our time and reflect on what we share, and allows us to interact on a more personal level. While I do enjoy using some of the above apps, I still hold Blogging above them all. Yes, it takes longer. Yes, the feedback may be slower, but in the end, the results are, for me, much more personal and rewarding. I have made many wonderful friends here. I have learned many new things, shared many delicious recipes, and received many prayers when asked. So thank you, my Blogging friends. For these past four wonderful years. : )

To celebrate...Let's have a giveaway! I'm always on the lookout for neat little things, and came across these fun totes on...where else...Zulily. : ) I have three to share with three lucky readers. In true Billie Jo form, I will put everyone's name in a bowl and choose three random winners. Sound good? OK...let's say...to enter, just let me know down below by Saturday, August 6th, and I will post the names on Monday, August 8th. Good luck!

The first name drawn will win this fun one...

The second...this one...

And the third...this one. : )

Good luck!

And again...Thank you for reading.

It means so much to me.

Christmas In July 2016

Yep. We did it again. We took a super hot July day, added a few festive touches, and suddenly it was Christmas! Well...sort of. Here are a few pictures of the fun we had that day.

We had fun, and now everything is packed away.

For a little while, anyway. : )