Pretty Baby

Emily & Derek

Look at my pretty baby!
Last night was her last sorority formal.  She and Derek look so great! She sent this to me before they left.

Emily & Kelsey

This is Emily with one of her sorority sisters, Kelsey. Aren't they pretty?

They had a wonderful evening. Being a Chi Omega has been much fun. Emily always loved her dances throughout school. Middle School, High School, and College.  She's gonna miss the dances and formals.

Suggestions please...

This is the Hot Tub that came with our house. We have only used it maybe a dozen times in the 18 months we have lived here. We decided to utilize the screened in porch as living space and decided to get rid of the tub. It takes up too much space & we are not big Hot Tub fans.
The seller filled it up to prove all was working, but did not get the water deposits removed first. So the surface where the water was is rough.  Now that I emptied the tub, I am trying to remove the hard water deposits and having a harder time than I thought I would.  I'm using CLR, but it is so time consuming & hard to keep scrubbing and scrubbing so hard. Is there an easier way?  I want the tub to look nice.  We plan on selling it rather cheap but I still want to make it shine. 

Any suggestions?

Me Me Me!

I want this:

Huffy Women's Cranbrook Cruiser

It's Mint Green and white. Single speed. 26 inch. (It needs a little wicker basket too.)  Walmart has it for $89.00. That's right, under a hundred.  Thinking about getting it. Gonna have a big ole garage sale in June with the neighborhood. Figure I can sell my old 500 (exaggerating) speed bike that I never know what gear to be in. 

I want this:

Crate & Barrel

 Well, not this set exactly, but a really nice indoor/outdoor set for my screened in porch. (I don't want purple)We are getting rid of a Hot Tub we never use and reviving the porch and hopefully turning it into a little piece of Heaven. Anybody want a Hot Tub?

I really want this to:

Tee Hee! Who doesn't?

And while I'm at it... I want:

Not the plane, but I wanna go someplace. With Hubby, Daughters, Julie, Deb, or Janet.
anywhere...

pleeeease?

But I will settle for this:

Any of it...but I'm out of all of it~

Happy Weekend to you!

Introducing The Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge

Catherine & Prince William's Wedding went without a hitch this morning.
It was quite splendid. Not only was Catherine absolutely breath-taking, she and William truly look madly deeply in love.
How can one not smile and the thought that finally, Royalty marrying for love, and not pre-arranged. They are both 29 (okay William is almost 29) and they have had the opportunity to live a bit and not jump into something. Diana & Charles had all of 13 dates prior to their wedding... William has known Catherine for nearly ten years!
I know people are whining about the hoopla and expense of this Fairytale Wedding, and I say pooh-pooh to you! Personally a little, happy joyous news and sugar & spice is a welcome change to our depressing state of the world.  Yes, yes, the cost of this wedding could have given a lot of charities a lot of help... HOWEVER~
Did you know that the Royal couple are passionate about many charities and participate in raising awareness & money for these charities. Millions of dollars will be given to charities due to Catherine & William's wedding and exposure of causes.

Royal Wedding Charity Fund

Five charities are represented:

• Change Lives through Arts & Sports
• Children Fulfilling their Potential
• Support for Service Personnel & their Families
• Help & Care At Home
• Conservation for Future Generations

I found that to be very admirable and tasteful. 


Catherine chose to keep the Royal Wedding rather simple. William had his brother Harry as The Best Man, and Catherine had her Sister Pippa as The Maid of Honor.

 I was more in love with Pippa's dress, what a lovely Wedding dress that would make! I could see one of my girls wearing this :)

My morning was perfect. I woke at 4:30am, walked a few blocks over to my dear friend Jill's house, where she had a lovely Royal Breakfast for us. We were joined by another dear friend, Tammy.

Tammy, Jill, & Me

We drank fabulous French Pressed Coffee and English Tea in lovely delicate china cups.

We feasted on magnificent Sausage Rolls, English Scones, Cucumber Sandwiches, and Shortbread Cookies with Orange Marmalade and Preserves.

And some Fresh Strawberries and Cream♥







I really enjoyed this wedding! I chatted and ate while the ceremony was taking place, I didn't have to strain to get a good view, and I got the best birds eye view! (Plus I didn't have to buy a gift!).
What a fun day I have had, although I'm a bit sleepy now.
Cheerio To our lovely new Princess and her Prince Charming!

~May they Live Happily Ever After~

It's a Nice Day for A White Wedding...

Well tomorrow is the day.  Many have anxiously waited and although we do not know Prince William or Catherine, let alone are British, we are just the same, caught up in the excitement and feel it's like a Fairy Tale.

I will be getting up early and arriving at my friend Jill's, as well as another girlfriend, Tammy, for a marvelous Breakfast Celebration as we watch the wedding on the tube.

I remember the excitement July 29th 1981... When Beautiful Diana Spencer became Princess of Wales marrying Prince Charles (yucko) . We all loved her so. I was just 19 myself. Diana, just a year older than I. Charles was so much older...scary...ugly. And they was always that question why would she choose him. Years later there is that looming question as to if it was an arrange marriage.  The Queen refused to allow Charles to marry Camile, so it seems a more worthy wife was chosen.  Diana was so elegant. Even when her Husband was not.. She was passionate about her boys, and of her charities. She was adored even after her untimely death.

And now, we have a beautiful new Princess at hand. Catherine Middleton is a wonderful fresh face for us to admire. Her story is much different, however, there are similarities.  I do believe that Diana would approve of her son's choice and I like to believe that this time...this Prince truly loves his bride.

Well, I'm off to get some shuteye soon~
Goodnight~

Quondam Tuesday My Early Twenties

Today I posted these on facebook. I won't share all of them with you (there were 80), but they made me giggle and I thought you too might enjoy seeing this side of me. They were taken between 1980 and 1985.

Senior Year working in School office 1980

my locker 1980

1980 Silly Kim & I

1980 Graduation

1982 with some of my favorite guys

1982 doing my best as Alan Collins (Lynyrd Skynrd)

1982 with my buddy Maria (whom later became my sister in law)

1982 Celeste & I Daytona Beach

1982 Me & Julie Daytona Beach

21st Birthday 1983

1983 my friend John & I

1983 Richie & I Halloween

Sara & I Young Life Camp Counselors 1984

1985 Richie's Graduation

Well, I've bored you enough..lol. They brought me some smiles, and hopefully some may remind you of your days in the early eighties (those of you that were around).

Geese Parade

The Easter parade I enjoyed today was not at church. Yes, we had our share of lovely ladies proudly wearing orchids and precious little ones in their Sunday best & Easter outfits. The church was overflowing with standing room only (and this was the fourth service of the day). It is rewarding and inspirational to see so many praising our Lord.

The parade I enjoyed came this afternoon, while preparing our Dinner. Hubby had gone out for a bike ride & hurried back in to let the girls & I know we had visitors. By time I grabbed the camera, they were already out of our yard & wandering along to another.

I have mentioned our neighboring Geese and how silly they have been lately. My neighborhood has a lot. We don't bother them & they don't bother us. (Then again, I live across the street from the pond, instead of having the pond adjacent to our yard).  Anyway, I knew that the goslings were starting to hatch. There has been much commotion and these silly geese have been rather vocal.

Aren't they precious???

They are just so adorable! The adults kind of surrounded the goslings as they crossed over the street and headed back to the pond. I was getting pretty close to get good photographs. One Goose kept hissing at me and looking at me like, "Hello? do not hear me, crazy lady?"

Easter Grinch

Mr Easter Bunny visiting our yard!

I've had a bellyful of these folks saying, oh.. I never Got the whole Easter Bunny & Egg thing. To me it's about Christ.  Well, DUH.. Yeah.. big time about Christ! It is Easter and as a Christian I rejoice in what Christ did for ME.  I love my Lord and want nothing to take away from that or the "reason for the season".  But come on people! Does having some Easter Bunny Fun really take away from the celebration?

Let's get one thing perfectly clear:

I LOVE THE EASTER BUNNY!

Pretty darn clever little fellow made my daughters pretty darn happy over the years.

Easter '65 Me & Julie

Heck, I can recall some difficult childhood memories that were overshadowed by the Easter Bunny magic. It wasn't so much about all I got, it was about the joy in looking for the eggs, finding an Easter basket just for me (that I gladly shared with my parents).

Annie & Emily on an Easter Egg hunt

It's about the fabulous fun getting the opportunity in continuing this little childhood magic for my own daughters and the joy in coloring eggs, hiding them & watching a couple of squealing gigglely daughters, joyfully gather the goodies and share rather well♥
I taught my girls what Easter means. We taught them, "Easter is a spring festival that celebrates the central event of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Christ three days after his death by crucifixion." You can search reasons of the Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs, Easter Baskets, and although you will get similar yet different answers, basically it does not have a lot to do with our Christian faith and the Christian celebration of Easter.
HOWEVER~ neither does Santa Claus and we kind of like him around our neck of the blog too. It's for FUN! There is nothing wrong with a little fun. Come on!

Here comes Peter Cottontail,

hoping down the Bunny trail... 

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way.

I don't think it was meant to compete with our faith. I always looked at it as a companion. No harm.

Easter cousins~ Walter, Michelle, Emily, Annie, Miles

The joy I had with my sister growing up with Easter celebrations, and the Easters our Children had growing up celebration together made it all that much more fun and loving. We spent almost every Easter together. Our children had tons of fun together at Granny's famous Easter Egg Hunts. 

Easter w/ the Gonzalez Family

Hubby is getting a bit of the Easter Grinch. Just a bit. He thinks the girls are too old for the Baskets. (Funny, he never complains that HE gets one too!) So...Baby girls (okay they are 20 & 22) are getting minimal baskets this year. Just a few fun things that they need anyway. 

You are NEVER too old for the Easter Bunny!

That's what this fellow at the top of my post told me this morning in our yard♥

Runaway Chameleon

lookpictures.net

I can relate to the Chameleon.  She is always changing to adapt. Changing to blend in. Wanting to please and just fit in.  Or sometimes just hide.

When I was a Realtor, I learned to be a wonderful Chameleon. I could make myself  appear to be just about anyone you wanted and needed me to be. I learned quickly what to say & more important, what not to say. I worked with people of many different backgrounds and learned how to fit in and be trusted. I also worked for a marketing company that used chameleon in the company name. (Which I found to be very genuine & creative). There it was so appropriate as every client had a different need from us.

Have you seen Julia Roberts in THE RUNAWAY BRIDE? Her character Maggie, can't seem to decide who she is and mirrors whatever her fiance's wants and needs are. Even something simple like how she prefers her eggs..., that depends on which fiancee she is with. As she nears each wedding, she bolts unable to commit and then starts over, having the new fiance's wants.

Sometimes, I feel like a combination of the two.

I hate to admit, that just about everything I choose, I think first is this what Hubby wants too? Food, entertainment, plans... I am the wife that will sacrifice to make him happy.

I find that I do that with my daughters as well. Friends? Family? even strangers? Check, Check, & Check. It's what I do. And I do this honestly and lovingly. I'm 48 and my whole life I have tried to please others and make things better for them, even if it cost me comfort.

Please don't misunderstand. I have made choices to get me where I am and who I am.  It's just, if others are involved, I tend to try and be considered of what they want first.

I'm not complaining. What concerns me is, I wonder if I am starting to lose who I am? What I want and need. Things that were very important to me, that are no longer a part of me. I sometimes seem to follow the lead so well, I don't seem to be able to choose for myself.

I don't know... kind of rambling here.

I will be light & cheerful again with the next post.  Just a bit morose today.

The Passion Of Christ

Truly one of the best movies ever made. If you haven't seen this, I highly recommend it.
 I cried watching with Hubby a few years ago in the theater. They were actually tears of joy that Christ did this for ME. It is the only time I ever saw my Hubby cry at a movie.  I watched it again with my daughters.  I bought the DVD and I am thinking of watching it this weekend.

I haven't talked much about religion lately on Blog.  Those who know me know that my faith I live everyday, not just the Christian holidays.  I do love to read the many things my favorite Bloggers post this time of year regarding our faith.

Even though some of us have some small differences in our religious practice, it is an important part of most of our lives.

To all my Christian Friends, I pray for a Happy Easter.

For all my Jewish Friends, a lovely Passover.

Love In Christ~

[HQ] Katharine McPhee - Anybody's Heart (With Lyrics)

I love Katharine McPhee.
And I love this song. It was playing on my Ipod as I went on my evening walk through the neighborhood & thought I would share with you.
Hope you enjoy~

hammered

Last night I got hammered. 

Not the drunk kind. 

The emotional WTF ~ didn't see that coming kind.  

My head is swimming in thoughts... 

how... why... when... what. 

I am trying to stay claim and use the wonderful coping skills I have learned over the past couple of years. 

I have been praying really hard, 

and I am trying to pray the right way. 

Not asking to make this all go away, 

asking for guidance and understanding. 

Asking for my head to be clear and my heart strong.

I am putting my "Big Girl Panties" on, 

and dealing with what is at hand.

I don't have time to have a pity party.

Tears flow, but I am stronger than I give myself credit for.

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand why some are forced into difficult situations.  

It's hard not to get upset or even jealous.  

I must trust that all things have a reason. 

I must trust that God would not give me more than I can handle.

love jan

Is it Luck?

I read a post a while back from someone that was frustrated with the reputation of her nationality, and rather jealous of another having the reputation of Luck. (stupid, I know... but so was the the very one sided blog about everything written. My way is the only way...blah blah blah. I don't follow it anymore). Anyway, the post got me thinking about LUCK... and how many have superstitions that certain things bring luck. In fact I wrote a post about a year ago about luck. Go HERE for that post, (it was really good :( but no one commented on it).
I find it hard to believe that a person is lucky solely on their race. Or their sex for that matter. It is up to you to make things happen for yourself. Obviously, certain things in place can accelerate chances of good or bad. However, I don't think you are luckier than I based on the color of our skin or nationality.

I am kind of a hodgepodge person. I have many nationalities mixed in my blood as well as races. Although my maiden name is German, I have just as much French, Indian, and a "world" of others mixed in. While helping my daughter with a Genealogy  project, I learned of mixing of my race. Unlike my Hubby, whom was born in another country, can pretty well trace his roots through just that country.
But who really knows? And quite frankly, who really cares?  I don't mean to be disrespectful. I realize this is very important to many as to who & where they come from directly. But to me, it is more about whom I have become because of what I endure, and because of those that have been a part of my life more than what runs through my blood.

Quondam Tuesday ~ Photobooths

Recently, while attending a wedding, the couple had a photo booth set up at the reception. I loved this idea! (Although I could not get Hubby to go in it). All the young adults hovered around it laughing and enjoying. The company that supplies it, sets it up for the guest to enjoy their photo strip (free), and copies go to the newlyweds.

Got me thinking about the fun in photo booths over the years. I know I have many more, but here are the ones I dug up for Quondam Tuesday.

Gene Gardner 1943

This dashing young man is my Great Uncle Gene in 1943. He was Grandma Kitty's brother. A charming wonderful man she loved dearly, & I am sure I would have too.

Jan around 1972

Awe, look at me! I am guessing here but probably around 1972, ten years old.

Mary & I 1974

This is my Lifer Mary (Moore) Dougherty. So cute.

Tammy & I 1975?

Tammy (Bayliff) Cunningham and I around 7th grade. I loved those octagon glasses!

Tammy, Mary & I 1975?

This is me and Tammy again, joined by Mary (Crenshaw) Gilleispe. We had a Camp Fire Girl event at a mall. That is our groovy Indian costumes thingys with our patches & beads. Notice my tongue. Must have been eating candy?

Tribby/Meyer cousins 1977?

This was hilarious. We got all FIVE of us cousin in the booth! In front~ Janet, Julie. Back~ Shari, Me, Leann.
Julie & I had so much fun when the Tribby cousin came to town. My Mom was great at making our time memorable & we packed as much as possible into our visits.

Nadine & I Summer 1977

Nadine Wilham was one of my Best buddies in San Antonio. She lived down the road from my Grandparents, and we quickly became friends. I lost touch with her though over the years. I ran into her brothers at Grandpa's funeral, but Nadine couldn't make it. She was a Doll, and I have great memories with her.

Grandma Kitty & I 1978

Many of you are familar with this one. I have it enlarged and framed in the dining room, and keep the original in my wallet over my driver's license. It is without a doubt my favorite photo. I see and feel the love Grandma had for me in this photo. I adored her as much as she did me. Two peas in a pod.

Me & Deb, 1980

Deb (Wiggington) Merino, Lifer Bestie. I know I have more of her & some with Sheri & Lynn. They are misplaced though.

Rich & I 1981

Here I have Richie & I. Thinking this was taken in 1981, but may be wrong. I love how we aren't ready for the first shot.

I would love to see your photo booth pictures. Don;'t they just make you smile?