A SUMMER MEMORY

Wanted to share a memory of my childhood.

Eating a popsicle I just bought from the icecream man - while sitting on the curb - I drop it, but I pick it up real fast - blow on it - and keep on eating. The red juice dripping on my bare toes.

WHO AM I TO ARGUE?

My daughter, Tori, wants to wait on getting her permit. She said she is not ready.

(She has been told it is a huge responsibility driving a car - I don't think she knows it yet, but she is being very responsible by making the decision to wait.)

YOU WANT ME TO WHAT?

The question asked by my son.


What did I want him to do?


Use soap and shampoo.

Marriage....the second time.

Steve and I have been married three months as of June 14th.

We are learning a lot about each other and marriage the second time around. We both have insecurities and have experienced bumps--some painful along the way.

Imagine two people who have been single for 10 years each...getting married....the letting go of everything single...both of us so badly bruised and scarred from our first marriages...learning to trust.....not be so independent....etc.

We love each other and the bumps bring us closer. God has blessed us so much and continues to do. Steve is who I am supposed to be with - it is not by accident we are together.

BELATED FATHER'S DAY THOUGHTS.....

Last Sunday June 15th we celebrated Father's Day. Tori and Sam were excited to call their Dad and grandfather to wish them Happy Father's Day. They were excited to give Steve a new lunch cooler full of goodies for him to enjoy. Steve's boys and his father came over later in the day for a Spaghetti supper. We had a good time.

I thought about my dad a lot that day and have been thinking about him a lot this past week. I miss him so - I have written about him before - you can do a search in this blog to find out more about the man I loved so much. (It was six years two weeks ago when he died)

Growing up, he would wake me up for school - and he would have me a cup of tea and two pieces of toast ready along with the newspaper. It was a morning ritual-that only stopped when I moved out.

He read his Bible daily - he was in Isaiah devotionally when he could read no longer-Alzheimer's taking it's toll. I picked up where he left off and read to him when I would visit him in the hospital and nursing home. His Bible was taped together - all of us at one time or the other would buy him another Bible - but he returned to his blue Bible - NIV - the pages worn.

He had a garden - and was proud of every piece of produce that came out of it. I on the other grew tired of shelling peas every summer. Surely I was the only teenage girl made to do so-and to insult to injury-I wasn't allowed to watch Luke and Laura or any of the other soap operas while shelling - soap operas were not allowed in our house (to this day I have never watched soap operas-I don't think I am missing much). I didn't mind the strawberries so much - because I like strawberries. One for the bucket, one for me, one for the bucket, two for me....... He grew grapes - I loved that scent when the grapes were ripe and ready for picking - the sweet smell drifting in through the windows. Okra was a pain to pick - it always made you itch. Squash and cucumbers were kind of okay - if you were to get over your fear of snakes in the vines. Ugh.

He used to laugh at me when I would run from the garden real fast because I thought I saw some critter. (he learned..you can the girl out of the city..but can't take the city out of the girl)

He was a 49er fan. If you weren't you were wrong. He barely tolerated the Atlanta Falcons.

Harry S. Truman was his favorite President.

He drank his coffee black from the same orange Tupperware cup everyday. Not filled all the way up - he didn't want to burn his lip with the first sip.

He could "fix" anything.

He took me to the library every week. He was my Friday night date for years-taking me to the movies and dinner.

There is so much more I could tell you...... some of it I have written before...some I am sure I left out.

He loved all of us so much...wasnt' perfect....worked hard....provided for us...protected us....loved God...loved us.

I miss him so.

APPRECIATIVE

I am ever so appreciative of our home. God continues to bless us and give us so much.

This past week - we received via a friend of Steve's dad - a dining room set. Last week when we got the call "I know you don't have a dining room set yet, I know this fellow that says you can have his old set" We figured it wouldn't look that great-because who gets rid of anything good - but hey we were going to take it - because we didn't have one-and it would be nice to have a place for people to sit. Well, let me tell you - it looks great! (Two of the chairs were still in plastic) I am so proud of it. What a blessing! It it is just the right size - as if it were made for the room. I was able to put a red flower arrangement on the table.

From Steve's family we inherited about a 60 year old solid cherry bedroom suite - it is gorgeous! Tori, from her great-grandmother was given a solid walnut bedroom suite - it looks great!

(I think we have moved furniture every weekend since we have been married - I think we are through now!)

God continues to give us so much. It is so nice having your little corner of the world - a place to call you own - a place to call home.

(I will post pictures soon!)