The weekend . . .

We began our weekend loving on these two.

Papa explained how to spell names and count using  Chef Boyardee ABC's & 123's. It's the important lessons you know.


Little Missy fed and changed her baby

before putting her down for a nap.

Meanwhile Bennett watched Ferdinand (cute movie)

before planting the buttercups Aunt B.B. gave me for my birthday

He's Papa's little helper. Such a big boy!


That afternoon we helped with the Spring Cleaning at Awaken Church to get everything ready for Easter service and the new guests we are expecting.


Sunday morning was spent at Awaken Church for Palm Sunday, which included a donkey of course.

Following a nice lazy afternoon, we met some good friends for a movie & dinner. It was a great evening and a perfect way to end a weekend.

Side note: If you have not seen I Can Only Imagine you definitely want to before it leaves the big screen.


That wrapped this one up! So excited for ALL that our Easter weekend will bring. Starting it off with Good Friday at Awaken Church. Join us!


Later ;)
Shelia



It's Been A Minute . . .

Wow. It has been a minute.

 

Isn't it crazy how regardless of the season of life you're in - time just disappears? I mean seriously. I think as a couple whether you're newly married, setting up a home, preparing for children, welcoming children, raising children, those children leaving home, becoming empty-nesters, or realizing empty-nesting is not as sad as you were warned it would be (😊) - time just manages to get away. 

I decided to attempt blogging again because I'm heading into a new season and I want to remember the journey. It's a season I'm both extremely excited about (for obvious reasons) but a tad bit anxious about at the same time. I mean, talk about time getting away. I'll be retiring at the end of the year!

I'm still in the process of getting used to the idea. Partly because of the occasional anxiousness, which is just plain annoying. But I think having worked at a place for 25 years that is more like family than just a job makes me feel as if I'm jumping ship. Because I know how blessed I've been to work at such a place. Which led to my decision to give a 10 month notice.


But ... then anticipation and excitement takes hold - and I can barely sit still.


And yeah, I've heard the opinions from both sides of the retirement aisle. There are the Negative Ned and Nancy's who recall 'Well, I watched my parents retire and it was downhill from there.' But then there's the other side where the Peppy Positive's reside, like my friend M.R., who told me at lunch the other day 'You are going to love it!' I think I'll trust her voice of experience on this. Because I honestly cannot wait to be a full-time wife and Nana.

 

My retirement goals so far are to:  

• Remind my husband I can cook (without a microwave)
• Travel out of town with him for work
• Love on my grandbabies whenever I want
• Host a ladies brunch bible study
• Develop a consistent exercise routine
• Visit relatives
• Volunteer
• Read an accumulated stack of books
• Sleep in on cold rainy days
• Shop while most people aren't

Oh. And blog more often. Lol!

Later 👋
Shelia

 

 

 

 

 

Life is 'grand' . . .

When I started my attempt at blogging (ok, so it's been a while already) I chose to title it based upon life at the time and how I assumed it would be. Lol! There I go again. Silly me. 

That being said - the 'grands' have arrived. And I am loving*every*single*solitary*minute*of*it!

Our Sammie Girl is grown. Well, she thinks so anyway. We on the other hand, disagree. I mean, what happened to our little-big-eyed-strawberry-blonde-snaggle-tooth-munchkin?? Seriously!? Ugh. She may no longer be that little squirt toddling around all over the place, but let it be known . . . she ruled and conquered that roost for a long, long time. Quite well I might add. And she left some pretty big shoes to fill. ;)

Then, almost 26 months ago, along came Bennett Lane. And he has, without a doubt, wrapped us completely around every finger and 'TOE' he has! It is no exaggeration when I say it is impossible to describe the love one feels for a grandchild. Or at least it's that way for me. It's like I need a whole different language just for that one purpose alone. And his Papa? Oh please. That man is a total pot of melted goo when that child is around. Oh boy!!

And then, almost 5 months ago, when we were convinced there was no way our hearts could expand a single iota more - Aubrey Michelle arrived. Uh . . . with trombones and trumpets blaring I might add! And this sweet, soft and snuggly child is a Princess in her very own right. She is the absolute opposite of her brother - without a doubt - and does not hesitate to let everyone know it. She is a force to be reckoned with. And while some have even been known to say she's a 'drama queen' - I am thrilled. Because that means the drama gene didn't fall far from the tree and there are many, many tea parties on this Nana's horizon! I am so blessed to be here and watch this little sweetness grow up.

Now I say all of this so you'll understand that when I attempt to share with you how I feel about my grands, and if my eyes glaze over and I struggle to find the words, it's because my heart is also bursting at the seams. In a glorious way though! It's just because I know how very, very blessed I am to be here and able to love on these three babies. And I just want you to know it too ;)

So yeah, I guess the title is kinda right. It is 'just us...life after kids'. But more importantly it is 'just us...with more to love'.

See? Ain't life 'grand' . . .??


Later ;)
Shelia

A twinge?

I don't know if it's just me or not, but there are times I feel like life is just flat running me over. But then there are other times when I wonder just what the heck I've actually done with all of my time!

I mean, my days are filled with work (you know - the kind you actually get paid for) and then the evenings with chores (you know - the kind you don't). And then in between those two I try and take care of all of the other stuff. You know - the constant list of errands, grocery shopping, paying bills, balancing checkbooks, etc, etc, etc. I try to get as much done as possible Monday thru Friday so we have the weekends free for visits from any of the kids - and of course, the granddog, Jaxon :)

And since it's fair to say that my days, lunch hours and evenings are not wasted, I'm even more confused. Why is it that I always feel like I should be doing more?

So I'm wondering ... could it possibly be that this is my first twinge of the dreaded Empty Nest Sydrome?? And that instead of the whole missing the physical bodies part, I'm doomed to missing the constant to-do list?

You've got to be kidding me!!

Oh well. I think that's something I can work on ...

Until later :)