Color Me Happy ...

If you know me at all

you'll understand that I'm really, REALLY thinking

outside of the box (well, MY box anyway)

I generally don't do color.

I like color & can appreciate it in the

homes of others but I stick to the basics in mine.

Neutrals reign supreme in my home.

I like it like that, well I did, until recently ...

but things are about to change around here.

I've made an executive decision.

Color is coming ... slowly at first ...

I have a plan. A colorful plan.

I can't wait to get started

and share it with you ...

:)



Growing up Bellflower ...

I was an adult, working with the youth
before I ever realized the effort & love these people
had invested in my young life.

Diana Hancher (she's my cousin as well as a huge influence!), Millie Benefield & Sonjia Milner.

I balanced toddlers on my hips as I taught
because I had seen it done.


I've had patience with teenagers when others
simply thought of them as lost causes
but I'd already seen it done.

Bill & Sharon Cox, I loved to listen to them sing & play music.  In additional to their musical talent they were always fun, loving, patient & kind. Our trips to Magic Mountain with the Sunday School class are part of my most treasured childhood memories.

Bill & Alice Chamberlain were my best friend's parents. Hospitality reigned supreme in the Chamberlain home and I loved them both  very much. Their influence was monumental although I didn't come to realized most of it until I was a grown woman with children of my own.  Bro. Chamberlain has gone home to be with Jesus.

E.W. & Nancy Farr, when I think of them I think of stability and love. He had a heart for missions like nobody I've ever met. She was the Sunday School Superintendent for the Jr./Sr. High Dept. when I was a teen.  Always the same, loving but firm and kind. I loved and respected them both. Bro. Farr has gone on to be with Jesus too.

Sis. Johnnie Plyburn's words to a teary-eyed girl (me) outside a nursing home have stuck with me all these years. I couldn't have been any older than eleven. The smiling faces of the home's residents was too much for my young heart to bear. As tears filled my eyes, she gently explained how happy our visit and singing would make them and that I should try to focus on that instead of how sad it made me feel. Teary eyes dried, I was able to go on singing. I've never forgotten.

Of course there are many others ...

Bro. Bobby Benefield,

Joe Hancher,

Jim & Bonnie Flores,

Chuck Milner,

Terry Alongi,

(who has also gone on to be with the Lord)

Clara Llewellyn

(& Thomas Chai, who has gone on & I hope to see in Heaven)

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ".

Philippians 1:3-6



February Lay - zzzzzz - day



It's the first weekend of February,

better known as Super Bowl Weekend

(can I get a woohoo? WooHoo! :)

The weather has been grey, dreary, damp ...

Perfect for:

 laying around and

catching some zzzzzzzzz

The hubs has been home this weekend

(which I love!)

and we've had grandgirlies #1 & #3

 while their daddy & momma went away for a few days

(before the birth of grandgirlie #4).

The littlest Miss Dial, scheduled to arrive in April ...

We've watched movies ...

quite a few of them ...

(I'm not even sure if this is all of them. I'm sure I'm leaving a few out)

Sisters snuggling ...

'Trinka' snuggled up & watched movies today too ...

The hubs relaxing in the mancave ....

My Cookie Monster ... Anna Elisabeth

All this snuggling has made me miss

our sweet Floridian, grandgirlie #2 ...

My sweet Kylie Jo, doing some shopping with
her cousins, December 2011

If she'd been here with us this weekend,

as cozy & wonderful as it's been,

it would have been perfect.

Wherever you are, I hope this finds you

having a wonderful weekend with those you love.



The Irony & The Ecstasy

Irony: An outcome of events contrary to what was or might have been, expected.

I made myself a promise before the season began ... I was NOT going to spend the Winter of 2012 whining, complaining and anticipating misery.  I mean really, I was sick of listening to myself.

 I can't even imagine what those closest to me thought about my constant murmuring.

It probably went something like this:  

"Awww, enough already. UNCLE. It's Winter. It's cold. We get it. SHUT UP!" ...

(Let me be clear. No one actually spoke those words to me. Those were things I thought to myself - about myself -during my"Winter Whinery" of 2011 ;)

But, believe me, the irony of this winter's weather (thus far) and my decision to embrace all things snow and ice has not been lost on me. If I'd known embracing the wintry climate would make it go away I would've done it years ago. (I'm just kidding. I know my acceptance has nothing to do with it's disappearance. Duh! I mean, that's just silly, right? Of course, that's ridiculous. Right?  ;)

Today's temps were so awesome that Emily & I went for a long walk here on the creek before church. It was heavenly.  It's February 1st for goodness sake. This just doesn't happen.

We both loved it :)

 Looking for the horses ...

Country girl!

Nana's biggest girlie :)

This was Trinka's (chihuahua) first walk up the holler.

She didn't know what to do with herself! :)

The Retrievers, Jackson & Rosie,

loved the company and were in their glory ...

The daffodils are trying to bloom ...

I had a hard time keeping her out of the creek.

It was warm ... but not that warm.

The hills are still barren but, it's warm so I don't care  ...

I can't even express how happy the warmth makes me ...

Sooooo happy ...

Unfortunately, the unseasonably warm temperatures also bring about  things that do not make me happy. SNAKES! While I've not seen one, I have heard several reports that they are out & enjoying the warmth as well.

See that? It's a hole, in the hill, next to a tree ...

Yep, if I was a snake, I'd live there.

Very cozy and CREEPY!

Jackson walking on water ...

See that look?

I'd recognize it anywhere.

That's pure ....

Ecstasy: A state of exalted delight, joy; delight, bliss, elation.