Right now I'm ...

listening  to the hum of the air conditioner & the chirping of happy birdies;
sitting in my living room, taking a break, feet on the ottoman;
drinking Aquafina;
thinking about a gazillion things;
wishing I was Samantha Stevens so I could wiggle my nose & get it all done; 
needing to get back to it so I can get it all done;
wearing a striped tank top & grey shorts (quite the outfit I assure you!);
feeling a bit overwhelmed;
thankful don't have out-of-town company this holiday weekend (is that wrong?);
dreaming of the day when I can post pics of my planted garden beds;
wondering why I'm still sitting here;
loving this blogging community that allows me to vent my frustration with myself;
hoping you don't grow impatient with my whining;
wanting to thank you for listening;
going back outside.

How about you?
What are you doing right now?

(Inspiration for this post goes to Kimberlee Jost. I always love her 'right now' posts & you know what they say "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" ... you can 'visit' her at: the driveway of life ... she's great & you'll be glad you did!)

First Friday Photos

Daisies on my evening walk.

Boochie's pretty happy about her decision to catch a ride.

Honeysuckle ... if you could only smell this picture ... heavenly!

Right after Papaw took her for her first ride of the season.

My youngest son on his first day at his new job ... he's a pretty big deal ;)

Kitchen doors before I painted them a happy "Spa Pool" blue ...
where's the after pic? Guess I didn't take one :/

She's a garden.

Sisterly love before Em goes to school.

Fall Creek foggy morning.

Vivian suffering in comfort after her breakfast.

"Nana, why are you always flashing that light in my eyes?"

My sweet Boochie still in her nightgown.

Mother's Day daisies picked with love by Em & Anna

She's "Vivilicious"

Papaw adjusting his hard hat to Em's "big Irish head"  for career day

Ritter Park, Huntington, WV

at the park ...

and again.

Easter cuties ... Em, Anna & Cait

So easy to use ...

So fun to share!

I'm @kimmydial

Intentional

Intentional.
Intentional.
Intentional.

Intentional: adj., done on purpose; deliberate; intended.
I'm a ...
born-again Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, friend, neighbor, mentor, church member.

It's always been my desire to excel in all these areas but it won't happen by accident.  A good relationship takes effort.
 (It's right here that I feel the need to clarify, that while it's always been my desire to excel in all these relationships, there have been times, MANY times, where I have been a complete & utter failure. I certainly don't want to give the impression that my desire has always been matched by my effort and a pleasant outcome. I'm a work in progress.)

Some relationships come easy to us ...
Some ... well, not so much ...

I've read a chapter of Proverbs on a daily basis for years ...
the Lord laid it on my heart when my boys were itty-bitty and
the book lends itself to ease of reading it over & over ...
it has 31 chapters ...
today is May 17th so I'll read Chapter 17 ...
couldn't be easier ... you don't even need a bookmark!
(If you miss a day, don't freak out. You'll read it next month!)

So, I'm excited to be following along with the

Good Morning Girls

study & I'd like to encourage you to do the same.
(It's never too late ... just jump right in!)

The woman of Proverbs 31 can be intimidating but she doesn't have to be (does she?)  Her qualities (awesome as they are!) must be attainable or she wouldn't be given as an example.
It is not God's intention to tease or taunt us with His Word.
She's meant to encourage us.

Admittedly, I've never seen her in this way ...
I've had an epiphany!
(a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience)

I want to encourage you to take baby steps ... concentrate ...
focus ... PRAY ... because when we intend to:

fear God,
v. 30 ..... a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised ...
work hard,
v. 27 ..... eateth not the bread of idleness ...
respect our spouses,
v. 11 ... the heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her ...
avoid hasty decisions,
v. 16 ... she considereth ...
use foresight,
v.18 ... she perceiveth ...
encourage & care for others,
v. 26 ... in her tongue is the law of kindness ...
 help the poor,
v.20 ... she stretches out her hand to the poor.
use wisdom with our finances
v. 27 ... she looketh well to the ways of her household ...

we can't help but be successful in our efforts!


~ Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praiseth her. ~
Proverbs 31:28


I'm in ...
what say ye?

A Few Days Late ...

I'm late ...
I'm late ...
For a very important date!

Happy Mother's Day! :)

 



My weekend was busy and I didn't have a minute to spare; thus the reason I'm a few days late with my wishes. I most certainly don't have the market cornered on Mother's Day maniacality but preparations for an out-of-town guest (my MIL came for the weekend), grocery shopping, prep for Saturday's cookout, a trip to the emergency room with my daddy (he's going to be fine) and lots of folks in & out all weekend made the Dial Domain a happening place and, admittedly, that's the way this momma likes it! ;)



Knowing I could nibble on "Mike & Ike" on the way home made my trip to the store bearable! LOL

Daisies on the hill +

If everyone in the world loved me like these two do, perfection would be the only word to describe my life!

two giggling grandgirlies,

two mason jars &

two hair bows for decoration =

lovely Mother's Day flowers for Nana!

(Daisies are my favorite flower & these grandgirls pick them for me at EVERY opportunity)

The new girl ...

Vivian Hope (described by the hospital Nursery nurse as 'intense') was

relaxing for a (rare) moment (after a diaper change) in the crib at Nana's ...

Excuse me but ...

It seemed like a great photo op (I was wrong!) so I grabbed the IPhone  and propped her up a bit for the perfect pose ...

"I was relaxing! I don't want my picture taken!"

she was having none of it (as evidenced by the photo I did manage to take!) and would not accept my apology, no matter how I tried ...

even when her momma stepped in to plead my case!

The good news is

She did forgive me (eventually) but we are all

in complete agreement:

The nurse called this one 'cause she is most definitely

INTENSE ...

(in the most 'Vivilicious' way possible :)

My day could have only been made better if my sailor boy & his family could have been here but of course, that was not to be ...

I did receive an e-mail from him which made my momma's heart very happy!

Well, I hear the gentle sounds of the saw outside.

The hubs is working on my garden beds & I must go snap a few pics (he's sooo gonna love that, in fact his reaction may be similar to Vivi's ;) so I can share my gardening journey with all of you (I know you're all waiting with bated breath! ;)

Have a great day!





I'm so excited!

Why?
(Well, I'm gonna tell ya ....)

Because the hubs has agreed to build the garden beds I've been wanting for quite some time now.
(For nearly 3-years, his out-of-town work schedule made it nearly impossible for him to do my bidding ;)
I know, I know, a better woman would have just built them herself. Well, I can "break an anvil with a rotten banana" (that's a direct quote from the hubs & while I will NEVER admit it, I fear he might be right!)

My lack of  non-existent carpentry skills prevented me
(and wisely so) 
from forging ahead on my own.  
So ...
as luck & love would have it, it looks like he's going to be in town for a while (I can't tell you how happy that makes me!) and he has agreed to  make my dream come true
and I'm just beside myself with joy ...
giddy ...
I feel like a teenager again
(okay, okay, I went too far, didn't I? Uh yes, I believe I did)
but I am sooooooo very excited ...

I'm hoping that my lack of knowledge of all things gardening will (somehow) be overcome by my enthusiasm. 
(I've planted squash, cherry tomatoes & bell peppers along side my flowers in years past with success - thanks to my DIL Rebecca - so that ought to count for something right?)

Besides, I'm a descendant of some of the best ...

~ Ray Sr. & Ouida Ellis ~
and
~ Perlie & Mirinda Frye ~

  both sets of my grandparents raised spectacular gardens
(surely a 'gardening gene' made it's way into my gene pool somehow ;)

Since we're already into the first week of May, the beds will need to be built, filled & planted within the next week & I'll take pics of the process (oh my, won't the hubs be excited? ;)

Next time you see pics of this patch of grass it will be well on it's way to closely resembling what ...

 Manuela @ A Cultivated Nest

and

Mel @ The Larson Lingo

have done so beautifully! I encourage you to take a look. I just know you'll be inspired in some way or another.  They've certainly had that affect on me.

*********************************

For all things produced in a garden, whether of salads or fruits, a poor man will eat better that has one of his own, than a rich man that has none.
- J. C. Loudoun

Whatsoever ...

Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are  of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

Philipians 4:8

This scripture always reminds me of a Native American proverb that someone shared with me years ago. 
(I feel certain you've heard it too).

  It's the story of a boy, angry and upset over an injustice, who expresses his feelings to his grandfather. His grandfather is sympathetic and confesses that he experiences the same feelings.

“It is as if I have two wolves living within me.
One is good, does no harm, is slow to anger and will only fight when it is right to do so. But the other one fights everything & everyone. The smallest offense makes it furious".

The grandson looks into the eyes of the wise, old man and asks “Grandfather, which one wins?”

And his grandfather's replies ...

 “Whichever one I feed.”

Truth. Such truth.
Wisdom. Much wisdom.

If we are mindful which wolf we feed and make it a point our goal to only think on  things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and full of praise
and not feed give place to bad thoughts, hurt feelings, petty jealousy or reminders of past offenses we wouldn't be able to stay in the mulligrubs (n., a despondent, sullen or ill-tempered mood) - not for long anyway! - and everyone we come in contact with (not the least of which, our spouse & the kiddos) would catch on and I'd bet big $$  (if I did that sort of thing ;) that all our lives would be the better for it.
Agree?
(Come on. Admit it. You know you do!)

Agreed!

There's no time like the present so I've decided that I'm going to do my best (and let's face it, my best is NOT going to be enough) to follow the Apostle Paul's "advice" (inspired by the Holy Spirit) to the Philipians and focus only on all things positive, give others the benefit of the doubt
 (instead of immediately jumping to "Oh no she didn't" ;)

 I've prayed and asked the Lord to help me and because I ask, I'm trusting Him to do just that 'cause He said He would!
(John 14:14)

I know this won't be easy but my victory is assured!
How do I know?
Read a little farther ...

~ I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me~
(Philippians 4:13)

My challenge to you is for you to join me
(assuming you don't already do it & if you do ... BRAVO!)

It's May 1st ...
Start the month off thinking only positive thoughts
and things that are pleasing to the Lord
and the rest of 2012 is guaranteed to be
positively fantabulous!


BTW, as of the last couple of years, this scripture also makes me think of one of my favorite blogs:
whatever

You should pop over for a visit with Meg ... you'll be glad you did! :)