Happy September Days

 

Good Friday morning! September days have blessed us with slightly cooler weather, and I love it. While many people thrive on the hot, sunny summer days, I relish the cooler autumn ones, just like yesterday.

If you have read here for a while, you may remember our beautiful friend, Blueberry Mary. We met Mary and her husband, Tom, years ago at church. We call her Blueberry Mary because she used to pick the best blueberries ever and would always bring us some. Tom passed away several years ago, and Mary often joined us for dinner and game nights. We haven't seen Mary as much since we moved, but we still have weekly phone visits, and at ninety-two, Mary is as sharp as she has always been. She now lives in an assisted living, and this week, Steve and I had the chance to surprise her with a visit!

We had the most wonderful time! She showed us all around, we sat and talked, and I showed her pictures of the kids. She is a wonderful, classy lady; we were so thankful to spend some time with her. Look what she had on her wall. She gave me permission to take a picture of it. Look at this beautiful photo of two young people, ready to begin a life together.

Yesterday morning looked like this. How fitting since yesterday was my birthday! I told you I am an autumn soul. This just sealed the deal. 

I had a fantastic day turning fifty-four. I was home, happy with my people, doing what I love: teaching. Flynn and I did homeschool, and Rhett and Kyrstin got lunch for us all. I sat outside for a bit, and then my best friend Heather brought the party to me! She made homemade chicken parmesan, garlic bread, carrot cake, and peanut butter pie! For all of us! It was so delicious! Then there were gifts and laughs and our family tradition of each person sharing something he or she loves about the birthday person and a special memory we share. We have done this forever, and I am always touched by what is shared. My sister Margie called when she was with my momma, so I was able to have a beautiful birthday visit with her on the phone. I thought back fifty-four years to when she was a young woman, bringing her fourth little girl into the world. I thought of all the things she has done for me over the years and how, on that day so many years ago, she wouldn't have thought that someday, that little baby would be a fifty-four-year-old, and she an eighty-six-year-old, and the two would be visiting on the phone. That is the beauty of the circle of life. Living in the moment, letting tomorrow be, and smiling when remembering the past.

I've learned so many things throughout my life, and not least among them is this. When you find joy in doing things for others, allowing others to do the same for you can be difficult. Yet, I finally realized that I cannot rob them of experiencing that same great joy of doing for someone, for blessing them with your care. And so last night, I sat down and let my kids and Heather do it all. They did the cooking, decorating, serving, and cleaning from start to finish. I was so happy and so blessed.

That ends the birthday celebrations for a couple months. Now, we settle into all things autumn. We are heading down to Maryland next week, so I plan on getting some things together and doing a few things around here this weekend. We have a family wedding on Saturday, a visit to see my momma on Sunday, a football game, and a lunch date. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, my friends. Thank you for visiting!

I am looking forward to visiting you this weekend!

BillieJo

Dear Fall,

Well, hello there, fall! Welcome back. You have been missed! I look forward to spending time with you and promise to appreciate every cool breeze and colorful leaf you offer. People sometimes ask me what it is about this time of year I love so much. I tell them I am an autumn soul. I am happiest surrounded by cooler air, vibrant colors, shorter days, and longer nights. Fall is earlier evenings together after dinner, with apple cake and cozy movies. Fall is soups and bread, pumpkin bars, and pumpkin bread. Our Spiced Pumpkin Yankee Candle returns and fills our house with the scent my children know as simply as Home. I love autumn for all these things. I love the soft throw blankets, the mums on the porch, and the trees' red, gold, purple, and yellow leaves, fluttering down in the wind, swirling onto the ground, and finally resting there to begin again. I love my grown children wanting to watch Halloweentown while making place and bake cookies with pumpkins on them. I tell people that autumn is my time. It is dark, cozy, and calm. Thank you, autumn, for all these things and more. Thank you for always returning and asking nothing of me except a short walk on a late September day down a quiet road with colorful leaves surrounding me. Welcome back. I've missed you.

BillieJo

Monday Morning Coffee

 

Good Monday morning, my friends! Thank you for all the Happy Birthday wishes for Steve. He had a wonderful birthday, as depicted in the following few photos. His day started with breakfast at a new place, where Peyton and Christopher surprised him!!! They were vacationing nearby and came to celebrate his birthday with him. This super secret mission was devised and executed by the kids themselves. Steve was so happy! 

We received these pictures of some of their delicious breakfasts.

Not to be outdone, I promptly responded with an image of what my delicious, if not nutritious, breakfast was. I'm sure they were jealous. 

They spent part of Steve's birthday getting some things ready at the new house. Flynn and I were home enjoying school; really, we actually enjoy it! Then Madison, Nicolas, Rhett, and Kyrstin took Steve to a new restaurant for his birthday dinner. They all had a wonderful time, and I am so thankful to my children for making Steve's day super special. 

Saturday, while they were on their way home, my best friend Heather came over, and Flynn helped us make our favorite apples. We have a wonderful friend named Frank, who had a shop here in town, and his wife made the most delicious apples. We bought them for every holiday. Last fall, she passed, and Frank closed the store. One day, shortly before Christmas, Frank came over with apples he had made himself. We were so touched by his thoughtfulness. Frank then offered to come over and teach us how to make them. So one day last winter, he did! And they were delicious as always. 

Heather suggested we make some before I head down to Maryland, so after a consultation with Frank, we did. They turned out great! Although not as aesthetically pleasing as Frank's wonderful wife's, they are every bit as delicious. And I have one set aside for Frank. You may think they look similar to any caramel apple covered in chocolate. You are partially correct. Want to know what makes these apples so extra?? There is a layer of peanut butter between the caramel and the chocolate! Let's keep that just between us.

And finally, while I was sitting home under my fall throw blanket eating apples, Steve was off at the Steeler game! He took Rhett, Kyrstin, and her brother to the game, and although they gave him a hard time about wearing a 49ers jersey, he came out the victor, as our Steelers lost the home opener 30-7. Could make for a long season. 

Have a cozy Monday, my friends. September is moving along, and I fear I am not fully embracing fall as I should be. But then, with temperatures in the 90s, it is hard to do. This week looks cooler, thank goodness! This is the last full week we will be here in Pennsylvania until November, and I miss my pumpkin decor. Soon! Thank you for visiting! I am always thankful you do!

Leaving you with this today. 

The passage of time will never diminish America's courage on September 11, 2001.

BillieJo

 

What We've Been Up To Around Here

Hello, my friends. And Happy Friday! It's time for a recap of life around here.

First up...Madison took Flynn for her back-to-school hair appointment and then for a special lunch and ice cream. Flynn is 13, and when Madison was about that same age, I was pregnant with her. Madison and her friends organized the most memorable surprise baby shower for me! Now these two have the best time together doing all the fun things!

Steve took Rhett and Kyrstin to the Penn State game last weekend, and they had a blast. Steve keeps photos on his phone forever, so he was able to send me this picture at the same time...

Who is that little cutie?

Yep. That is my Rhett at a Penn State game years ago. And...I may or may not have shed a tear.

Madison and Nicolas spent some beach time alone, and I am so happy for them. I am also thankful to them because they helped get things ready at the house down there!

Peyton and Chris are also on vacation at a beach nearby. They are vacationing with Chris' family and always have the best time!

How great is it that they met up and spent a whole day together?? I love that they have so much fun together. It makes this mother's heart so happy.

If I could sum up the joy that is Peyton, this picture would be it!

While all that was happening, Flynn was homeschooling and tubing! 

And dogsitting this little cutie for Madison and Nicolas.

As for me, I finished one of my favorite books of the summer. It is fiction but based on the actual events of the East Coast shark attacks of 1916. The author did a great job of incorporating fictional characters with characters based on real people. It is one I will keep and read again.

I convinced this guy to take a selfie with me yesterday because today is his BIRTHDAY!!!! And this is the first time since 1990 that we won't be together to celebrate. He took a quick trip down to the beach to do a few things at the house. So...Happy Birthday, Steve!!!

Shoutout to Madison for doing all the birthday things for him!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends.

Thanks for visiting!!!

Billie Jo

Oh! This starts Sunday if you are a Walking Dead fan!!!!

 

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!

And thank you for all the well wishes on my last post.

See you soon!

BillieJo

Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday morning, my friends! And Happy Labor Day to you! I have always loved this holiday, except perhaps for the years I spent it driving back to college! Labor Day signifies an end and a beginning to me. It is the end of the carefree summer days and the beginning of a brand new school year. This year, Labor Day means something much more for our family, a brand new beginning of sorts. My husband, Steve, is retiring from the job he has loved since the day I met him! Steve was sixteen years old and was selling cars when I met him at his family's car dealership. Following the sudden passing of his father thirty years ago, Steve, his two brothers, and two brothers-in-law built that small town car dealership into one of our area's biggest and most successful automotive companies. And I am sincere when I tell you they had the best time together while they did! 

Recently, one by one, Steve's family members retired until just Steve and his older and equally awesome brother Todd remained. The two of them decided that they would retire from the business together, and just as they began to think about it, an offer came from another family car business to purchase the entire corporation. God's timing is impeccable! After months of preparation, evaluations, and patience, Steve and Todd officially sold the company they, along with their brother and brothers-in-law, had built and loved for thirty-seven years. Steve is happy, thankful, sad, and relieved. And ready for the next chapter in our lives.

As for me, I realized just the other day I will be beginning this new chapter right along with him. Since 1996, I have been blessed to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. For twenty-seven years, I have sent my husband off to work and was there when he returned. My days were cozy and centered on my family and my home. Looking back, it all went so quickly. I can easily see the various seasons as chapters in the book of our lives...Steve and I, as a young married couple, both working and enjoying life...Being blessed with our first child, followed by two more back-to-back, and then years later, our last...Living a blessed life as a young family, sharing the joys and sorrows of life together. Now, we begin the next chapter as *Ahem* older parents with 3/4 of our children grown and less structure to our days. 

Our family loves the ocean, and we have vacationed in Maryland for years and years. Because Flynn is homeschooled, we are able to spend more time there now that Steve is semi-retired. ( He has agreed to continue working for the new owners in a remote way as a consultant. ) We recently bought a house there and will split our time between here and there. We are heading down to stay there for a few weeks soon. Why am I boring you with all this? Well, I wanted you to know that I won't be decorating for fall here because all my decorations are already down there! So, if you are wondering where my beloved fall is, I will share it from the new house soon! 

Well, if you made it this far, good for you!

Have a wonderful day, my friends.

Thanks for visiting!

BillieJo

Dare I Say...It is September Today!

• 
  
• "September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn." -Rowland E. Robinson

Well, here we are! It is September! I love this month for the structure it brings to our days and the cozy it brings to our nights. I love that September brings the start of school, yet the end of the year. And I love pumpkin spice everything!

Before we jump headfirst into my favorite time of year, we can wrap up August with the last of the summer fun photos!

Peyton and Christopher took Flynn camping and horseback riding last weekend and had a ball! I am so thankful to those two for sharing all the fun, naturey things I didn't!

We also had a wonderful visit with my amazing momma! We talked and laughed and watched an old movie with Doris Day. My mom is the best person I will ever know.

This princess got cleaned and clipped, and now she resembles a little fawn once more.

I treated myself to a little fall gift, as women should occasionally do. Etsy is the place to find anything and everything.

Well, that is it for today, my friends. I hope you have a wonderful long weekend! 

Thanks for visiting!

BillieJo