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Dear Daddy

Today would have been your 73rd birthday.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you.

A lot has happened since you’ve been gone.

Sydney was born shortly after you left.  You didn’t get to meet her, but I know you would love her.  She looks so much like Gina.

Stephanie, Amanda, Richard, Kyle, Clay, and Dillon have all graduated from high-school.  Some have gone on to graduate from college…with the highest distinction.

~

All your grandsons are very protective.

Clay has been true to his word.  He takes good care of his Mema.  He has a manner about him that is remarkably familiar.  I always think of you when I see him.

Clay married Chynna; now they have a little boy and two little girls.

Richard had a hard time after you left; we spent many nights consoling him.  He had just turned 11.

You would be so proud of him today.

He is a preacher.  Richard married Emily… and now they have two little girls.

Lydia is Richard’s oldest;  although she doesn’t look like me, if you spent time with her, she would remind you of me when I was a little girl [according to Mama].Can you believe I’m a Glammy???

You might find it hard to believe, but all your grandchildren remember you vividly;  And your great-grandchildren know you from the many photos they’ve seen.

I know you would enjoy seeing photos of them too:

Easter 2018 Thea, Levi, Sydney, Lydia
Lydia, Levi, Thea
Lydia & Rory
Rory & Lydia
Adrienne, Thea, Levi
Rory (and Levi)
Levi

They Are So Sweet

Mama is crazy about them…

you would be too!

~

We’ve met some of your relatives and learned a lot about your heritage in the past 18 years.

  Recently Stuart discovered and shared pictures of your great grandfather William VanSickle Cox.

This is what he looked like His nose is familiar.

It appears that he was in the service; something I understand you considered.

Mama told us about that.

We talk about a lot of things in our group text.

Speaking of group text…

When you left us, we weren’t as technologically equipped as we are now.

Today everyone in the family has a personal cell phone and we keep in touch via this group text.

We talk about you often.

I saved this bit of communication from last Memorial Day:

Remembering will sometimes invoke a tearful moment, but will always bring a smile.

Thank you for the memories and for leaving a bit of yourself in each of us.

 

You would be HAPPY to know that Mama is doing well. 

And we are all fine.

We know that we will see you again Daddy; and thank you for showing us The Way.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

It has been a less than satisfactory week.

Even Friday was a disappointment.   Nevertheless, I DO have

Friday Favorites

to share.

Favorite # ONE

Groundhog Day

was a good day.

Groundhog Day is a celebrated tradition that is based on superstition.

Observed in the U.S. [and Canada] on February 2nd and originating with the Pennsylvania Dutch, it is said that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day sees a shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its burrow and winter will persist for six more weeks.  However, if it is cloudy, and no shadow appears, the spring season will arrive early (source).

On February 2nd, the groundhog predicted an early spring.  It was the 19th time in the past 133 years that an early spring has been predicated by the little furball (source).

Instead of celebrating as the good folks of Punxsutawney do, LB and I gathered with some of my favorite people to celebrate a special birthday… which brings me to

Favorite # TWO

Mama’s Birthday

Although we celebrated this special day on February 2nd, her birthday is January 31st. She appeared to be having a good time.See that cake???

Favorite # THREE

Lemon Pound Cake

I made two this week.

The first was a special request by my coworker and friend Wendy who celebrated a birthday on January 29th.  The recipe I used came from Add A Pinch which you can find here.

It was so good, I made one for Mama.

Favorite # FOUR

Birthday Selfies

Everyone needs a photo-bombed birthday selfie.  You haven’t been shown adequate love without one.  In my family, we are experts at bombing the birthday selfie…and it is fun…

Favorite # FIVE

A Concert

starring two Princesses (Thea and Lydia) and the Dinosaur Whisperer (Levi).

With a special solo by the littlest Glammy’s Girl (Rory).

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

This is Serious…

 

IT’S FRIDAY!

It’s time for my:

Friday Favorites

Favorite # ONE

My Niece

My sister has one daughter, which means I have one niece, which is one of the many things that makes her so special.  That’s her and her cat.

Sydney celebrated her 17th birthday this week.

Gina posted this on social media…She looks a lot like her pretty Mama.

Happy Birthday Sydney!

~

Favorite # TWO

Perfect Attendance Party

In the inbound call center world, it is a VERY BIG DEAL to have perfects attendance.  So much so, the company throws a party for the individuals who are able to make it an entire year without using a “sick” day.  To celebrate these exceptional folks, the company will throw a party for them.  This year the party included Jimmy Johns subs and a movie,

Central Intelligence.  The movie was great!  The Buffalo Chicken sub came home with me; LB and I will sample it this weekend.

~

Favorite # THREE

These Shoes

Amanda presented these lovely leopard print sandals to me for Christmas…I wore them to work this week.

They looked great with my purple pants.

~

Favorite # FOUR

A Fantasy Closet

With my design skills and LB’s ability to do anything, we should have no trouble building an exact replica of this fantasy closet in one of our spare rooms.

Right LB?

~

Favorite # FIVE

I don’t usually pick an OOTD for a favorite… especially when my pics are taken in my garage at 7AM EST.  But this was a cute winter outfit and I got a lot of compliments!

Vest // Sweater // Jeans // Shoes

~

In addition to the favorites that I’ve listed, I have many blessings to be thankful for… I’m thankful for family,  I’m thankful to have a job, I’m thankful for my good health, I’m thankful for my closetful of clothes and clothes that I have no place to put!

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

Last Friday was my Favorite of all Fridays because I enjoyed the start of a staycation that lasted until Wednesday, December 26th.

Now I am back to work.

Alas.

But what a great Christmas holiday!And although being away from the office for 5 days was the best gift ever, I have some other favorites that I want to share today.

Favorite # ONE

While LB and I were Christmas stocking shopping last Saturday I was reminded of the bucket list that I have been adding to [and have yet to share].  One of the bucket list items is to try each flavor of

Pringles

This idea came to me when I was looking for items to add to my bucket list via google search.  I read in another blog that there are 29 flavors, but I count 22 on the Pringles website.

There were about 12 different varieties on the store’s shelf and I proceeded to add one of each to the buggy.  We walked around the store for about a half an hour before I decided that it was a bad idea to take so many Pringles home with me at one time.  So I put them all back.

We’ll tackle that bucket list item slowly.

Favorite # TWO

Sunday night LB and I experienced

Elf the Musical

at Alhambra Theater and Dining

Dinner was great.  I ordered the parmesan crusted salmon (which was SOOO good) and LB had the Holiday feast.  While Elf the Musical doesn’t compare to the Charles Dickens story, it was a very good show!

And as always, LB and I had a great time.

Favorite # THREE

In addition to the spectacular giraffe jammies presented to me by Stephanie, I also received a pair of ENORMOUS silver hoop earrings.  Richard thought it would be a good idea to try them on and LB caught it on camera.

This Photo

is definitely a favorite!

Favorite # FOUR

Friday’s

OOTD

Straight from Macclenny’s  Classy Crossroads Boutique

I wore this Merry Christmas outfit to work on Friday, so my blouse wasn’t off the shoulder as intended.  It can be worn comfortably both ways.  I love it and the jeans are very comfortable.

Blouse // Jeans // Shoes

 

Favorite # FIVE

 Holiday Hoopla

at Mama’s house!

I love it all!

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Merriest Christmas Moments

This Christmas was very merry, so much so, I wanted to share a few of

My favorite Merry moments.

I was awake very early on Christmas morning.  LB “lit” the fireplace and Elvis made himself cozy on my lap.  LB and I enjoyed our coffee and listened to Christmas music before exchanging gifts.

Although exchanging gifts also makes for Merry Christmas moments!

LB wraps packages beautifully!

And watching LB dance for joy makes for merry memories.Merriment and mild chaos ensued when the clan arrived!Elvis was Merry prior to their arrival.  He may not enjoy having company, but I am so happy to report that he is healthy this year!  We did not have to spend Christmas Eve in the Pet Emergency Hospital!Two little girls loved their Merry Mermaid Stockings! And later when I donned the

Merry Giraffe Jammies

It made me feel Merry to discover that there was a TAIL!Thanks Steph!

Later at Mama’s house, it was Pure Merriment to receive a bag filled with a few of

Gina’s Favorite Things

(Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume Mascara, Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream,  L’Oreal Color Riche Shining Peach Lipstick #910, Carmax Classic Lip Balm, Dream St. Kathleen Lights X Colourpop [Eye] Shadow Palette, and Buxom “Kimberly” full-on Plumping Lip Polish).

What a fun little goodie bag!

I’m looking forward to sampling each of these items.

It was truly a Merry little Christmas with many Very Merry Moments!I hope you had yourself a Merry Little Christmas too!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Black Friday

Black Friday began as it normally does.  Everyone is recovering from over consumption on Thanksgiving Day.  Some are planning to go brave the crowds and shop.

On November 23, 2001, my Mama was out to begin her Christmas shopping.  My Daddy was beginning work on a project that would be a gift for Mama.  He was planning to build an arbor that would hold a swing and be covered in roses.  His friends Fred and Charlie would be helping him.

It would be his last day with us.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have been at home being my typical home body self.

Somewhere between 4 and 5 in the afternoon,  I was sitting in my room, on my bed watching one of my favorite movies: Overboard [starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell].  My phone rang.  I picked up the phone and said hello.  A voice began speaking to me so hysterically that I didn’t even recognize who it was, nor the message being relayed.  “Who is this?” I asked.  And then I heard her say “Kim. Its Gina. Daddy is having a heart attack”.

I dropped the phone, ran to my car and left.  No shoes, no drivers license, no word to my family.  I drove the short distance [about 3 miles] to Mama and Daddy’s house to find that I would have to park a few houses away and walk to get to them.  When I walked in through the garage door I saw Mama sitting on the sofa, surrounded by family and friends and obviously in shock.  I saw firemen down the hall, in her bedroom, working to revive my Daddy.  I started toward them when my Uncle Roger grabbed me and held me close.  I put my head on his chest and began to pray “Lord Jesus, please take care of my Daddy”.  I said it again and again.  He prayed with me and assured me that Jesus would take care of Daddy.

It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but Jesus did take care of him; Daddy went to be with Jesus that day.  November 23, 2001. The day after Thanksgiving.  Black Friday.

It has been 17 years and even as I type these words, I’m wiping tears from my face.  I’ll never stop missing him.

Today I saw a familiar photo and Facebook memory that Mama shared last year:

 

The arbor was finished later in 2002 by my Daddy’s friends Fred Scarborough and Charlie Brown.  I believe there were others who helped as well.

We’ll see you again someday Daddy.

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

The Emergency

Over the past year I’ve come to realize that my blog serves as a journal of my life, my experiences and the memories I share with my loved ones.

Today I am posting a story by my Mama which she wrote on 2-26-09; She promises to share more in the future.  You’ll be able to find them on my blog by searching

“Mary’s Musings”

The Emergency

I’ve always had a thing about clean, being one of those people who think if a little is good, a lot must be better.  This has been a personal trait for as long as I can remember.  Don’t ask me where I got the idea of adding bleach to the dishwater.  It just made sense that two cleaners were better than one.

I couldn’t have been more than ten or eleven, but I washed a lot of dishes.  Today that would probably be considered child abuse.  I remember begging Mother to let me wash the dishes.  Finally one day Daddy said, “let her do it”. He should have added, “she’ll be sorry”.

Everything was going well until I came to the silverware in the bottom of the sink.  As I picked up piece after piece, I couldn’t believe what I saw.  The once shiny silverware had turned a dirty, dull gray.  I had no idea what had happened.  I only knew it was my fault, and when Mother saw what had happened, I was going to “get it”.

It was almost time for Daddy to come home, and he always came in the kitchen door.

So I waited.

After what seemed an eternity, I heard the car in the driveway.

I was right there when he opened the car door to tell him about my emergency.

He took my hand and led me back into the kitchen where he found some silver polish and a cloth, then proceeded to show me how to polish the silver.

Low and behold, it looked like new!

Not only had he saved the silver, he had saved my “ life”.

I will always remember that day as a turning point in my life.

There I was, without hope (and from a child’s perspective, that’s just how I felt).

So I went to my father, and without effort, but with love, patience, and understanding, he was there with the answer.

He knew what to do.

I only had to ask.

In the ensuing years, how many times have I struggled with a dilemma, only to remember my Abba Father knows the answer before I have even begun to form the question?  How childish my needs must seem to Him.  Why is it that many times I seem to remember to run to Him only after I have considered all of my other resources?

What a beautiful picture my Daddy painted for me that day.

Did he know he was preparing me to handle a lifetime of emergencies as God my Father would have me do?  Maybe, and maybe not.  I just think it came natural to him.

 

MDR

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Amen.
Philippians 4:19-20

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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