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There’s this little boy

…who calls me Ma

His little hands stole my heart, and his little feet ran away with it.

My sweet baby boy.

And although he is no longer a little boy, he is still the baby of the family.

Richard

came into the world 27 years ago today.  At the time we had been blessed with little girls, so to have a baby boy join the circle was an exciting event.

Those little girls weren’t completely excited about that event

Although they changed their tune when they discovered it was fun to dress him up like a princess with a purseAnd soon learned that they love him dearlyToday they are inseparable.

Richard had no interest in playing the part of the princess, but instead preferred to play the part of BatmanAnd still likes to play the part of Batman.
He had a handful of special friends as a little boy

Who continued to be friends through the years.

And even remain good friends to this day.
After he became part of the High School Ministry at First Baptist Jacksonville, Rich had the opportunity to participate in a few mission trips, including a trip Nicaragua to help minister to a small community and church there.  As the years have passed his focus continues to be spiritual.

 After high school he studied at Liberty University and has a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Today he works as a Collegiate Missionary at Campus Church UNF

He is married to a beautiful young lady; His own Mama, couldn’t have chosen a more perfect mate for him. And now he has a baby of his own.

Happy Birthday to my Baby!

I’ll Love You Forever.

I’ll Like You For Always.

As Long As I’m Living…

My Baby You’ll Be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Stephanie

 It is a fact

that nothing has changed my life so dramatically as did the arrival of

My Firstborn

Weighing a mere 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and measuring 19 tiny inches in length, Stephanie arrived at 4:14 PM on Friday,

November 1, 1985

…and the world has never been the same.

My world was not the only one that was altered.

She changed my Mama’s world too!

And brought into being the One and Only Mema Mary!

Stephanie was a pretty baby girl.

In the hospital, when the nurses changed shifts, each would tell me what a pretty baby she was, one commenting that she had a complexion of peaches and cream.

Although it seemed to take years for her to grow hair,

Stephanie was a little princess.

At thirteen months old, she became the big sister…and later on she became the leader of the pack.She is a valued Stein Mart Associate.And she is an integral part of our family…and a beloved friend to many.Stephanie is the Family Fashionista.She is the one I consult for choosing the best shoes, trends, colors, etc.

Stephanie loves to display her creativity in the kitchenand will be my head baker if I ever get that bakery business going.

She may not demand attention, but she draws it regardless.

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday Dear Stephanie…

Happy Birthday to YOU!

 

Weekend Recap

As I mentioned in my “Revealed” post yesterday, my weekend began when I gleefully left work on

Friday Evening

Stephanie organized a lovely party, and everyone went home knowing the answer to the big question…

(It’s A Girl)

And my cupcakes were delicious!Especially the PINK ONES!

Switching gears…

LB has been thinking about furnishing our bonus room with a large screen television and recliners.

Saturday

he decided we should check out a local wholesale company.

We visited

Mary’s Wholesale Furniture

And now…

some pictures from that visit I didn’t see anything in the showroom that tempted me.

However, when we asked a salesperson if there she could show us theater seating, we were taken to a catalog room and shown quite a few selections. That little stop provided us with a good starting place for continued shopping.

I’m looking forward to putting the “Theater Room” together and having movie-watching-fun with LB or my kids when they come by.

Afterward, we went to dinner.

La Nopalera.Yet again.

Then back to Kohl’s to spend my $30 in Kohl’s cash.

After making friends with the staffAnd showing LB the perfect socksI was on a mission to find the perfect $30 Kohl’s cash purchase.

It was rough deciding what to choose. There were several possibilitiesBut my ever faithful cameraman followed me closely, to capture every momentHe always catches me at my best.

In this shot I’m trying on the Jennifer Lopez Beaded Neck Cold-Shoulder Top and the Petite Simply Vera Vera Wang Straight-Leg Jeans.  YES, PETITE.  I’m 5’4″ and once in a while, a petite will work for me.  Although in this picture I look like I’ve lost my mind, I loved the fit of this denim.

This ELLE™ Mockneck Shift Dress was a favoriteProbably because there was a gold tassel necklace attached.  I’m a sucker.

So… I spent my Kohl’s cash and then some.

That said, I spent

Sunday

reorganizing my closet!

Revealed!

This post is part one of a weekend recap… because who wants to talk about Monday anyway???  It is part one because this subject (Revealed) deserves a post of it’s own.
I’ll start my weekend recap by stating the obvious:  My weekend began when I gleefully left work on Friday evening.

I headed home to gather my cupcakes (how’s that for a statement?)…then LB and I set out for the

Gender Reveal

Is it a boy or a girl?

The question is no longer simply answered…

but

REVEALED

How about ALL THAT PINK!

For anyone who doesn’t know, a gender reveal party is similar to a baby shower… minus the gift…

in most cases.The big sister is an exception, of course.

Moana was a happy addition to Lydia’s collection.

I read that there are oftentimes games where attendees guess the baby’s gender before the big moment.  For this reveal, there was hype in the form of group text messaging:

and some replied with their thoughts:

 

Some parties include providing ideas for the new baby’s name.  Glammy likes the name Finn, if anyone is interested.

So, this time next year I will be a Glammy of two little girls… and I love it.

Stephanie organized a lovely party, and everyone went home knowing the answer to the big question.

It’s A Girl!

Congratulations Richard and Emily!

And Lydia!

And the rest of the Family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Elvis!

He is eight years old today…and has been with me since he was three months old.

Elvis is a rescue kitty.

It was December 12, 2009 and my plan was to give my oldest daughter Stephanie a kitten for Christmas.  LB and I went to the Humane Society and looked at all the adorable kitties that were living there.  Some of them were in crates; some of them were playing together in the Kitty Cabana.  As we walked into the Kitty Cabana I noticed one little black fur ball scurry behind a kitty play set. Of course I went after him.  Given the fact that he was so skittish, I was surprised that he let me pick him up.  Not only did he let me pick him up, he let me hold him close and snuggle.

I had found a winner!

We took him home.My plan was to keep him for about a week before Christmas and then take him to Stephanie on Christmas morning.

It was only a few days that he was with us and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to part with him.Exactly one week later, we went back and adopted Aymie.  She and Stephanie are inseparable.  Aymie is obviously a good sport.

She will also be 8 years old in October.

If you have a kitty in your life, you know just how special one can be.

Elvis has been on numerous trips and through several moves with me.  He tolerates no visitors and hides under the bed as soon as he is aware that company has arrived.  To most people, he seems very unsociable.
However, when he detects that his mama has arrived home, he comes running.  He then leads me to the living room for some hello-let’s-have-a-brush time.

Elvis sleeps on my bed at my feet. He is anxious for me to get up in the morning and has been known to sit by my head and pat my nose. His favorite time is when I’m sitting in my living room chair letting him sleep on my lap.  He is sleeping on my lap as I type this post.  He is just a precious little fur ball, and I’m so happy to have him in my life.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

Hurricane Hysteria

As I began this post

Hurricane Irma

was a Category 5 storm.  As info, a hurricane with winds of 157 mph or greater is a Category 5.  Hurricane Irma is currently ravaging the Caribbean Islands; LB and I are watching the Weather Channel for an update on the turn that she will take.  She is expected to turn toward Florida.

More storms hit Florida than any other U.S. state, and since 1851 only eighteen hurricane seasons passed without a hurricane impacting the state.  Approximately 488  hurricanes have affected the state of Florida.  This damage report includes a death toll of 10,272 people in Florida and $115 billion in other damage (primarily from Hurricane Andrew and thereafter (source)).

With the exception of the slight impact we felt from hurricane Matthew last year, I can’t remember having experienced a hurricane in Jacksonville.  Needless to say, everyone is a bit antsy about the uncertainty of what is to come.

Even Elvis is looking to me for answers.It is apparent to him that something isn’t quite right.

Since LB has to work on Monday, we are taking our necessities and heading to his office early on Sunday.  We will be spending the night and “hunkering down” here while Irma passes by.

This office has all the comforts of an office.

 

But we bring the party with us

 

During this time, my daughters are with their dad, my son and his little family are riding it out in their home, my Mama is at her house with my sister and her family.

We are in Jacksonville

keeping in touch via text:

 

 

Those are random, I know.

Welcome to My World.

My Mama is terrified (to say the least) of hurricanes, since her experience with Dora in 1964.  Thankfully, Jacksonville has not experienced such a storm in my lifetime.

Since we have no control over the weather, there is no reason for hysteria.  Several hours after beginning, as I continue this post, Hurricane Irma is headed our way, and expected to arrive in about nine hours.  That said, I know my Mama has been praying, because the storm has since downgraded to a Category 2 and the path has shifted away from the east coast of Florida.

God is in control, and in Him I place my trust.

August 1965

What was happening in August 1965?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was leading a civil rights march in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery.

The St. Louis, Missouri Gateway Arch was completed.   The Gateway Arch was created as a landmark to memorialize the symbolic gateway between the Eastern United States and the West.

Cool Whip was introduced by General Foods.

Diet Pepsi made its debut.

The Pillsbury Dough Boy, “popping fresh” came to be.

The New York Jets signed Joe Namath:

The Temptations’ “My Girl“, had hit number ONE.

The Academy Award for best best picture went to, “My Fair Lady.”

The “Sound of Music” movie was a smash success.

The “Green Acres” TV show made its debut [Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert].  Green Acres is the PLACE TO BE…

“Downtown” hits #1 in the US singles chart… Love me some Petula Clark!

The Mini Skirt appeared in London.  And as women’s skirts became shorter, men’s hair became fashionably longer.

The Beatles released 4 new albums that year, including “Help“.

“Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered on CBS.

More specifically, do you remember

August 28, 1965?

In addition to Lyndon B. Johnson serving as President of the United States and people in the US listening to “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher…

Mary Ellen Duckworth and

Richard Alton Reid

were planning a wedding.And they were married 52 years ago today.August 28, 1965 was a Saturday.

If my Daddy had lived, he and Mama would have been married 52 years today.  I have no question that they would still be together.  They loved each other dearly.

I asked Mama about her wedding vows because I thought she had written them herself.  She told me “actually they were the regular vows”.

The “Regular Vows” are

“I, ___, take you, ___, for my lawful wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.”

She then added “We just memorized them and said them to each other instead of repeating them after the pastor”.  I think that is very sweet.  What a lovely couple!

 

My Dear Mama

On this day that marks your anniversary, what would have been 52 years that you and Daddy had been married, I am thinking of you.  You have suffered a great loss, greater than I can imagine.  Of course you already know that everyone senses the void, the empty place that Daddy left.  Nevertheless, we all recognize that no one feels it more than you.  I appreciate the love that you still have for him, and that he is the love of your life, as you are his.

August 28, 1965 was a wonderful day and still is wonderful for the memories it offers.

Today I hope you can smile and remember your beautiful wedding day and the beautiful life you shared with him.

Love Kim

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