Celebrating #97

 Celebrating 97 Years of a Life Well Lived

This weekend, we gathered to celebrate a very special milestone—my father-in-law’s 97th birthday! What a blessing it is to celebrate nearly a century of life, love, memories, and family.

There were about 20 of us who were able to be there, even though we missed another 15 or so family members who couldn’t make the trip. While we certainly wished everyone could have been there, we made the most of every moment together.

The facility where he lives has a beautiful private lake, so what better way to celebrate than with a little fishing? And yes… the birthday boy caught a couple of fish! Now, to be completely honest, there may have been a little assistance reeling them in, but in our book, if the fish made it to shore, it absolutely counts! At 97 years old, you’ve earned the right to let someone else do the heavy lifting.

After fishing, we enjoyed a wonderful meal together, followed by gifts, birthday cake, plenty of drinks, and even more laughter. Those are the moments that become treasured memories.

Of course, we couldn’t let the day end without taking family pictures. Looking at the lineup of great-grandchildren made me smile. The boys have definitely taken over the family tree! They outnumber the girls by quite a bit, and to make matters even funnier, those boys are now towering over the family’s two great-granddaughters. I don’t know what they’re feeding those boys, but whatever it is, it’s working!

Our Zeke...(has on the Texas Christian Shirt) was adopted when he was only 3 by Sam's niece and husband.  He was living at Zoey's place which is a ministry orphanage in Malawi Africa.  (More on this story in a later post)

As I watched everyone laughing, fishing, eating cake, and simply enjoying being together, I couldn’t help but think about how precious these days really are. Birthdays like this one isn't just about adding another candle to the cake. This one was about celebrating a legacy.

Ninety-seven years represent countless stories, lessons learned, prayers answered, hardships overcome, and generations influenced. Looking around that lake, I realized that each child, grandchild, and great-grandchild is part of that legacy, and this is what I would call and incredible gift.

Life moves quickly. Children grow taller before we realize it. Parents become grandparents, then great-grandparents. Calendars fill up, and schedules get busy. But days like this remind us to pause, gather, laugh a little louder, take the pictures, tell the stories, and celebrate the people who have helped shape our lives.

One day, these family photos will become priceless treasures. The fish may not have been record-breakers, and the cake will soon be forgotten, but the memories we made together will last far longer.

Happy 97th Birthday to an amazing father-in-law. Thank you for showing us that a life isn’t measured only by years, but by the people who gather around you to celebrate those years.

Here’s to family, fishing, laughter… and to having someone nearby who’s willing to reel in the fish when needed!

Shug....

Happy Sunday Sweet Friends

Happy Sunday, Sweet Friends. ☀️

What if, before asking God for anything today, we simply thanked Him for everything?

For the prayers He answered…

For the ones He lovingly said “not yet” to…

And even for the doors He closed that we didn’t understand at the time.

I posted on Friday about our Air Conditioning not cooling.......  I was supposed to go to Dallas with Shanda and Mylee on a shopping trip that day, the very day the air quit cooling.  I have no idea what God may have been protecting us from, but all day on the Thursday before, I had an uneasy feeling about us making this trip to Dallas. When I went to bed, I asked the Lord to give me peace about it or to close the door for us going.  

Well....the air stopped cooling around 1:00 am and the very next morning we had to call for someone to come fix the air conditioning.  Not only were we not able to go to Dallas (I needed to be here for the service guy) but, the air company worked us in that morning and my air was up and running before noon.  I do believe this was a God thing.  

Looking back, there have been many times when I have been disappointed… only to discover later that God was protecting me?

Sometimes our greatest blessings are the things that never happened.

As I begin this Sunday, I don’t want to focus on what I think I am missing. I'm going to Look around at what God has already placed in my hands.

A home, my family, friends, church, a sunrise, the birds singing early this morning, and His mercies that are new every morning..

It is wonderful to realize that gratitude has a beautiful way of turning “enough” into abundance.

I am already excited about the wonderful things that God is going to put before me today. 

Have a blessed Sunday! ❤️

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1

Shug....💛

AC Woes in Texas.

 Well… I woke up around 1:00 a.m. thinking, “Goodness gracious… am I having hot flashes?” 🥵🤣

Nope.

Come to find out… our air conditioner had quit working! 😳

Oh no, no, no! Texas heat and a broken air conditioner just do not go together.

By 2:30 this morning, I was seriously considering jumping in the swimming pool just to cool off. Then I remembered… I’m not a fan of creepy, crawly things that come out at night, so I quickly talked myself out of that idea! 😂

You know what? Everyone needs one of these portable air conditioners! It vents out a window and will cool a 20’ x 20’ room in no time.

This is a portable air conditioner...This thing sits on the floor just like any box fan and it really cools.  

Guess what?

We already have one! 🤦‍♀️ We bought it last year and have used it a few times.

So why didn’t we use it last night?

Because I had it packed away where it wasn’t easy to get to! It didn’t take me long early this morning to dig it out, get it hooked up, and get some cool air blowing.

I’m happy to report the service technician is here now, and it was a simple fix... $134.00 later and we have a cool house. 

Have any of y’all ever had your AC decide to quit in the middle of a Texas summer? 😅☀️

Hope you all have a COOL day!! 

Shug....🪭

Meet "HOOT"

Let me introduce you all to "Hoot."

I shared his picture for Wordless Wednesday, but the truth is, Hoot has quite a story to tell.

 Hoot… our trusty plastic owl who has been standing guard around our home for the past 25 years!

10 Things About Our Faithful Plastic Owl, “Hoot”

● Hoot has seen more Texas sun, rain, wind, and storms than most people would willingly stand through.

● He may be made of plastic, but he’s become part of the family.

● After 25 years, he’s beginning to crack in several places, but aren’t we all showing a few signs of aging?

● Every spring, he takes his position to convince the birds that someone is watching.

● Whether he actually scares birds away anymore is still up for debate. They may just wave as they fly by!

● He has survived countless mowing seasons, flower bed makeovers, and more than a few curious squirrels.

● Replacing him has crossed our minds… but it just wouldn’t feel the same.

● There’s something comforting about looking outside and seeing Hoot faithfully standing in his usual spot.

● He’s a little faded, a little worn, and definitely weathered, but he’s earned every crack and scratch.

● Hoot isn’t just a plastic owl—he’s a tradition  for our family.

It’s funny how certain little things become part of our lives. A plastic owl that cost only a few dollars has somehow become one of those familiar sights that makes our home feel complete. Seeing him outside each day gives us a sense of comfort, almost like he’s quietly keeping watch over everything.

One of these days, Hoot may finally retire. His cracks are getting bigger, and time has definitely taken its toll. But until that day comes, he’ll continue doing what he’s always done—standing proudly, watching over the yard, and bringing us the sweetest memories.

Do you have something around your home that has been with you for years? It may not be worth much to anyone else, but to you it’s filled with memories. I’d love to hear about it! 

Shug.....🦉