HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE

My brother "George" celebrated his 40th birthday yesterday. He has gone by George since he was born, but his given name is Paul David. I can't remember exactly why he was called George, but it seems like I remember there being some argument between mom and daddy about the naming of this last child. Daddy had wanted to name him George and apparently this didn't settle well with the "boss".

George is the youngest of seven children. He was born with Celebral Palsy and has a mental disability. He attends a special Day School in my parents town. Everyday is a challenge for him, but, he makes it fine. This is a remarkable event for George. Twenty years ago, we didn't know if he would live from one day to the next due to critical complications from a medical condition that nearly killed him. He struggled for 63 days in the icu.

Here's to you Kid, on your big  4 - 0. May you have many, many more.

Pitter-Patter Went My Heart!!!

My sweet husband bought me FIESTA! accessories for Valentine's Day.

I happen to love FIESTA! dishes and have a few...pieces...uh, quite a few in fact.

BUT I ASK YOU...CAN ANYONE REALLY HAVE TOO MANY PIECES OF A COLLECTIVE ITEM.

You do not need to answer.

Red is probably my favorite color, along with this lovely shade of Shamrock Green. Then, there's Chocolate, and Tangerine. Oh, Sunflower is mighty cheery. Mmmm....I can't pick! All I know is this...and this fact is undisputed...I will never tire of looking at it, and Lord help me if there is any on clearance. I even have the flatware to match my dishes. I found them at Tuesday Morning for a sweet deal!

What is your favorite thing to collect? I suppose everyone collects something, even if it's just dust!

Whenever I watch "You Have Mail", I love the apartment that Meg Ryan lives in. I think she likes Fiesta! and probably had cabinets full of it. The reason I think she must have a thing for it is because in the movies she plays in they decorate her home with a nostalgic '50's kinda decor. Remember.."When Harry Met Sally"? There's Fiesta! in that kitchen, I just know it! In "Sleepless in Seattle" she has this adorable little kitchen with an old fridge and teacups and a whistling tea kettle on that ancient stove.

Me and Meg need to talk real soon. We could compare our favorite colors and pieces.

The River is deep, the River is wide..and rising!!!

Okay, where we live there are definitely challenges. If it isn't one thing is another. For the past six weeks it has been one cold front after another. It hasn't been like the snow and ice that the rest of the country has experienced, but cold is cold, wherever you are.

We live right next to the Mighty Mississippi River and we always look over the levee around this time of the year to see what the Old Man is doing.

Well, the Old Man is rising!

Me and JJ took us a little drive over the levee this weekend to take a peek at the action and WOW is all I can say!

The water is already taking over most of the hunting land and by this time next week it will be at the bottom of the levee.

Cupid's Arrow Flies Again!

Dear Johnny,
This Valentine's Day is our 24th as a married couple and I wanted you to know that even though we don't need a special day to show one another that we are in love as much today as when we first met, I want to tell you I Love You.
I am so happy that you choose me to spend the rest of your life with. Our children are a testament of that love...each of them are happy in the lives that they have, and this says alot for our family life through the years. It hasn't been perfect, and at times it was downright frustrating to go from one day to the next, but we always used one anothers shoulder to cry on, and when I couldn't bear the weight, you were there to take it for me.
You are my best friend, my soulmate, my confidante.
I love you with all my heart, body and soul.
Happy Valentine's Day JJ!

CUPCAKE TRAINEE'S

Everything I had learned bought me to this point. I had rehearsed a hundred times. So why was I feeling frightened and apprehensive?

I checked myself on every point. This mission would require patience and skill, never mind nerves of steel. I kept asking myself "Am I ready".

The answer was clear. My motive sincere. Now all that was left was ACTION!

So, READY OR NOT....HERE IT GOES!

I'm going to teach my grandson's how to bake cupcakes.

Wild Thing...You Make My Heart Sing!

I'm acting alittle bit wild these days! This is my new rug I ordered off of Amazon.Com last week for my next decorating project! It's a secret right now...but, here's a hint of the look I'm going with...Modern! YEAH! I'm talking chrome and glass baby! Oh, don't get too excited...I don't mean COLD, HARD and LIFELESS!

It's going to be different from the rest of the house. I'm shopping for a really cool piece of ARTWORK right now. I'm not sure if it will be a POSTER or maybe a clock....but I am sure I will know it when I see it.

I was in Office Depot the other day and spotted just the right piece of furniture...GLASS! That's going to be a really hard one to get used to...but I'm ready.

But this rug is TO DIE FOR! And the best thing is I got it for under $60.00!

Nothing like decorating on a budget to help you seek out great bargains of good taste!

Just Thinking Out Loud

This is a picture of my oldest son...can you see him? Doesn't matter really, I know he is in there. I look at this picture often to help me remember that he is proud of what he does. Right now he is on an assignment somewhere, not sure where. I keep hoping today is the day he will call and let me hear his voice.

He is a soldier, a pilot, an american, a husband. He is the father of three boys and a friend to many. He is a son, a brother, a mentor. He is my little boy too! No matter that he is 33 years old. If you are a mama, you know what I'm talking about.

I named him after his father and I sure hope he is watching from heaven, seeing this boy of his grow and mature as a man. I wonder if my son thinks like that too.

It doesn't get any easier to let him go, over and over again. I never get used to that.

Catch and release!

Have a good day son, wherever you are. Do your best, follow your heart, be the best you can be, pray everyday and think of all of us sometime.

We Love You!