liz's shower

I worked all week decorating the house.

It felt like Christmas all over again.

It was rainy, and dreary, and cold outside,

but not inside.

We had a great time 

of very warm fellowship.

Pink and gray are the colors of

Charlotte's nursery.

I had pink tulle everywhere.

So many gifts were brought

for the sweet, little girl just waiting to be born.

Cake?

Of course there was cake.

It was really good too!

Lucy put bunny ears on Lindsey 

and Lindsey didn't even know.

So funny!

Liz opening her gifts

while beautiful Rhonda looks on.....

and the rest of us too.

And lastly, the lovely, glowing mom to be!

A wonderful time was had by all.

love is.....

.....flowers.

Twenty-four pale pink roses,

birthday roses,

all for me!

I think I will share them with

the shower guests on

Saturday.

I have always loved fresh flowers.

Only God can make a flower...

From seedling to

dead and gone,

they are a miracle to behold.

Man cannot make a flower.

He cannot make a rose unfold or give off a scent.

Only God can do that.

And think of all the many varieties

He made.....

Various colors, sizes, scents.

Flowers are truly an amazing work of our Creator.

Last evening I had another birthday dinner

and a free dessert that

Bubba and I 

shared.

I don't want the month of February 

to come to an end.

When I see it again,

I will be almost sixty-eight.

"Another blink of an eye

67 is gone,

the sun is getting high.

We're moving on."

100 Years

fff

(I am a little tired of cold weather though)

how many fish did you catch?

Bubba has gone and bought two fishing poles....

one for him and one for me.

Vacation cannot come soon enough.

As for me,

in the here and now,

I am supremely in my element,

decorating my house for a baby shower.

Fishing and decorating...

two

 of my favorite things.

Once upon a time,

there was a little girl named Cathy.

She liked to play with dolls

and go fishing with

the men folks.

I am a victim of......

That's me...

except I never wear big, clunky necklaces.

This picture jumped out at me 

as I was (over) thinking 

about what to write this evening.

For some reason,

and believe me it is not a good thing,

my thoughts do time and a half.

They don't even want to go to sleep at night.

Most of the time,

I am not thinking about 

what I should be thinking about.

The Bible tells us how to think....

"Finally, brethren,

Whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble,

whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely,

whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue

and if there is anything praiseworthy,

meditate 

(or think) on these things."

Philippians 3:8

One of my goals is and has been,

since the great suffering and trial of last year,

 to 

"Bring every thought into captivity

 to the obedience of Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:5b

It is not easy to change a lifetime habit...

First born ~ only child for seven years ~ responsible for everything.

I pray for God's strength every day

to help me get my thoughts

 corralled,

settled,

 quieted, 

at rest,

thinking pleasingly to Him.

I found this picture of myself  in this latest batch

of old pics.

Obviously, I was a young teen.

What in the world happened to my hair?

Maybe this was when I started 

"overthinking" things.

Probably in a pony tail.

And, those bangs just keep getting worse!

What am I wearing?

Looks like a boy's plaid shirt.

Kinda cute,

 but strange for me.

love is....

\

....old pictures!

That's me,

sitting on my grandparent's beautiful, shiny

Chevrolet.

Maybe a 1950 model?

They lived at 1719 Habersham Street.

There was a dry cleaners across the street.

Grandmother & Papa lived upstairs.

My Great Grandmother lived downstairs.

I loved to slide down the

mahogany banister.

There was a swing on the porch upstairs.

I spent a lot of time there

watching the cars

go by.

I could name every make and model.

My mom kept me in pretty dresses 

with bows in my hair,

The bangs are cut badly though.

Funny.

A heritage in family pictures.

To sit and look at them

 brings back so many precious memories.

Thank you Trish and Jackie 

for saving these for me.

I spent my childhood in the fifties.

It was pretty much idyllic...

had a playhouse,

a bike,

a cat, 

and a friend named Loucinda

right down the street.

What in the world more would I have needed?

love is.....

....memories.

This is the way life is.....

people come into our lives,

we grow to love them very much,

then,

for one reason or another,

they leave.

Sometimes death takes them from us...

other times circumstances

cause those we love

not to be around

anymore.

God gave our humanness a very special gift....

that of memory,

remembering the people we love

in all the good times we shared together.

Very often I will dream of I those love,

which brings a kind of regret when you awake

and focus on the truth.

But in reality,

the dream brings them closer

in mind and spirit

Above are some letters from my Mom. and Dad.

I like to get them out occasionally

and read to remember.

I would recognize their handwriting anywhere.

Words help me to remember those I love.

Pictures...

this blog is filled with them.

I also have books full of pictures going way back to

my great-grandparents.

Such joy to see faces and smiles.

Memories are precious reminders

of yesterdays 

spent in the best of times. 

love is.....

...the beach.

That place where the ocean meets the land.

the waves crash 

onto the shore,

the shells 

are ground into sand.

That place where the sun warms the sand,

where it feels so good to go barefoot.

Where sun warms your body

and turns it pink.

That place that always smells like summer.

That place where you can look for miles and miles

and see no end.

Salty water,

that buoys you up, 

 floats you along with the current

 playfully sends spray in your face,

knocks you flat on your back,

comes and goes at will.

I could walk beside it forever,

listening,

feeling,

letting it fill my senses with joy,

losing myself in its 

immensity.

Thinking of the One who made it and said....

"This far shall your proud waves come and no farther."

Knowing that God holds the force of it back

by His own sovereign will.

I could live forever in a beach house

with a door that opens 

out into the dunes,

a few steps 

I'm down on the beach.

Sea breezes blowing the curtains in the windows,

watching the storms

from the great big front porch.

This is my dream.

No where else I'd rather be than at the beach.

floor scrubber (and its not me)

I only asked Bubba for one thing for my birthday....

an Oreck floor scrubber.

I had one of those rare days today

when I could say home and work on cleaning the house.

This morning I asked him

to unpack his gift and get it set up for me to use.

Finally the time came,

and after much consternation and a couple of setbacks,

we got her going.

On the right side you can see clean water 

mixed with the cleaning solution.

On the left side you can see dirty water.

It really works!

It scrubs the floor and then it vacuums up

the dirty water and the filth.

All I have to say is "Hurray!"

I no longer have to get down on my

 hands and knees to scrub,

Nor do I have to use an unsanitary mop.

Here's to technology!

Thank you so much Bubba.

You are welcome to use it anytime.

Oh, and one more gift.

At the end of my birthday month he is taking me here....

where it is always warm and sunny.

Just get me to the beach so that I can walk in the sand

and look out at the beauty whenever I want.

Can't wait!

at 67

What a joy to have had 67 years to live

and enjoy this life God gave me.

He has had His hand on mine.

He has led me & guided me 

every step of the way.

My birthday has been magical.

Lucy knows how much I love Peeps.

What astonishment I felt when I opened my present

from her and saw

four Valentine peeps on a stick.

Only someone who knows me very well 

and loves me very much,

would know to give a gift like that.

Birthdays are special.

I like to have fun and enjoy life to the fullest.

This was a good one indeed!

Thanks to everyone!

every text,

birthday song sung,

 card, 

call,

facebook notification,

gift,

party,

lunch

felt in my heart like love.

I thank God for all of you!

Cathy

Happy Valentine's Day

Bubba gave me this globe for my birthday.

It turns perpetually by the light.

I've always loved globes

and this one is

 very special.

I made it the center piece for our table tonight,

I also made a Valentine...

"Valentine ~  you make my world go round."

The Valentine dinner table.

We had homemade 

lasagna

and a made from scratch chocolate layer cake.

Cooking is a labor of love,

a way to show love to others.

This is our Valentine bed.

It is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in.

We did some sparklers.

These are our special Valentines 

with the Valentines we gave them.

best birthday ever....

Two absolutely wonderful days

culminated with my

party tonight.

We had  pizza flown in from

Chicago

specially for my party.

David made a fresh Kale salad that was delicious,

and for dessert

we had a mouth-watering

lemon pie from

Jim & Nicks.

As you can see,

there were smiles all around.

So much fun.

At various times during the evening,

Lucy kept going to the door to look for

the UPS man.

(Where is Jeff when we need him?)

He was late delivering her present to me.

Just when the party was breaking up,

he came.

It was a pillow that says...

"Love you to the moon and back."

It took my breath away.

That is the extra special little girl

I call Lu Blu.

She took my heart away the first moment

I ever saw her.

and I haven't gotten it back yet.

Harry and Gus and Archie made cards for me.

all sweet and touching.

Jake and Eli sang Happy Birthday to me

 on the phone yesterday.

Just hearing their voices made my day!

Thank you Lord for these special birthday days,

and the people who make them so lovely.

today is my birthday

I am two years old in the photo.

That would be 1950.

I notice a couple of things about this picture 

that are strange.

First of all,

I don't know any of these friends

who have attended my party.

No one seems happy

including the birthday girl.

Looks like I have cake all over my face,

but the cake seems undisturbed.

Only a few are paying any attention.

My birthday is in February,

 which is always cold.

Everyone is dressed for the middle of summer.

I do like the little vintage table,

My uncle's Studebaker across the street,

the huge birthday cake,

and my dress.

The tall dude in the shorts is adorable.

Anyway,

birthdays are great days!

I am completely overcome with the posts on facebook.

Best day ever!!!!

Thank you all so much!

Love is....

....having a birthday party.

My real party will be Friday night.

Tomorrow

 night we party with 

Lucy & Harry & Gus & Archie.

Mexican & Ice Cream!

We may even let some balloons go.

I love 

my birthday month.

I just feel special and loved.

There's nothing wrong with a "feeling" every now and then.

love is......

....eyes.

Eyes speak volumes without saying a word,

convey emotions at the 

deepest level.

Our eyes

keep the secrets of our souls.

Eyes meet eyes

with a kiss hello and say

I love you!

a poem

about eyes

Smiles abound within your eyes,

taking the time to dance with mine.....

slowly encircling my very thoughts.....

sending me from

insecurity

into serenity.

Playfully teasing each other 

to the point of laughter,

while never losing 

the continually warm feeling of

 love.

(author unknown to me)

I see love in your eyes.

love is....

.....family!

Sometimes its all twelve of us,

sometimes just a few,

but, always, always,

the best of times!

We savor moments together.....

planning our trips around time spent with them.

Whatever season,

whether we are on the beach,

at Disney, 

in a swimming pool,

at a ball game,

an event at school,

a short road trip,

or gathered around a table eating,

It is always the best of times.

Bubba and I started our marriage

with a good desire....

to have children and to invest our lives in them.

They went everywhere we went,

they were treated with respect,

 and they were taught  to love God and others.

Then they left the nest.

They flew off to places faraway,

found spouses of their own,

and then along came the precious grandchildren.

A full circle of love.

Now we are investing our lives in these little ones.

What an honor and a privilege

to be called

Grammy and Granddaddy,

to really know them,

be with them,

encourage them

play with them,

and most of all to shower them with love.

A family is a rich blessing from God.

with eli at epcot

Fun....we had

fun ~ fun ~ fun.

Thursday afternoon

Bubba and I

met Amanda and Eli

down in Orlando.

Eli had a field trip with his second grade class

to Epcot.

We were invited to tag along

as we did with Jake just a year ago.

Yesterday morning dawned cool and crisp

and slightly breezy.

We dressed warmly and waited for the afternoon

when it warmed up nicely.

We were able to do all the things that we love,

and then after a short rest,

we hopped over to the Magic Kingdom

to finish the day there.

We were all full of energy,

as we must have walked about 15 miles 

around the beautiful parks.

Eli was my riding buddy on most of the rides.

Got a lot of snuggling out of this very adorable almost

eight year old little guy.

Thank you for this very wonderful

start to my birthday month.

I am overwhelmed with love for all of you.

My memory bank is full of 

the joy and the laughter of these past few amazing days.

I am the most blessed Grammie in all the world.

love is.....

...words ~ the Word.

I have a thing about words.

I love them.

I love to read words,

I love to write words,

I love to hear words spoken .

I especially love to read words that are addressed to me.

Chances are if you have ever written 

I still have your words

tied with a ribbon.

put away,

to read again later 

and be thrilled all over again.

Words can take me to faraway places,

 can make me love a character,

cry for someone I don't even know,

pant with excitement,

shake with fear.

The power of words makes life worth living.

This morning my little text signal went off.

I opened and there were these three words...

I Love You!

Bubba was out and about in town 

and he thought of me.

That's what I mean by the power of words.

The Word,

God's written word to His people

is different from our words.

The Bible describes God's word this way.....

"For the word of God is living and powerful,

and sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,

and of joints and marrow,

and is the discerner 

of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

God's word is supernatural.

It is able by the power of the Spirit

to change hearts and minds.

I am constantly amazed by the word of God....

can't get enough,

read it over and then over again.

Love words!!!!

love is...

...a big table

with adults and children

all gathered around

talking about things that are important to each other.

Sharing the day,

good food,

a prayer of thanksgiving,

lots of laughter!

Candles and flowers,

pretty table linens,

plates, 

and glasses.

Then,

coffee and dessert!

Love manifests itself in so many ways.

a picture of gus...

....looking at the bubbles on his head.

He had his bath in the laundry room sink this morning.

He has, sadly, outgrown the kitchen sink.

That's okay though.

Lots more room to have fun.

Gus spent the night with us last evening.

Erika took Archie back to St. Louis for a cast change.

seems as if all went well there.

I can't wait to see what color cast he chose.

We will meet them at the airport later on today.

Cannot believe that January is already gone.

2015 is speeding by.

Now February has come.

I was going to make an effort to blog every night this month,

because so much is going on,

but I've already missed last night, so it won't happen.

Fixing Sunday supper

and hosting little Gus

 left no coherent mind for blogging.

I am so thankful for such a 

rich, 

full,

 busy life

as February reminds me yet again 

of my age.

I think there was once a hymn entitled

"Work Till Jesus Comes,"

and isn't that a lovely thought.

Reading through the Bible, it is refreshing

to see how God used the elders,

both men and women,

to accomplish His work here on this earth

.

They never retired and lived a life of ease,

floating through their last years

doing not much of anything 

but seeking pleasure for themselves.

Work till Jesus comes........

Invest your life in others.

Tell the awesome story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Look for opportunities to serve others,

even in the smallest, most unassuming way.

Read His word and pray diligently,

Laugh,

 and let your joy be apparent, as it comes from a heart

that has been redeemed 

by the God who made the universe.

Give to others..

from the bottom of your heart.

May our last days on earth

find us thinking of, praying for, and serving others.