Awesome Things....NOT so Awesome Things

Awesome things.....Not so awesome things.  

Big Congratulations to our oldest grandson....   Lt. T.......  He graduated yesterday from Space Force Officer Training.... This was a full year of very hard work for him.  Super Proud of you T. 

He also received an academic award which was well deserved after the high scores he received throughout the course. 

Another Awesome Thing!

On Thursday afternoon, Sam was able to attend Mylee's softball game. Not only was this a big WIN for Sam, but Mylee's team had a big Win as well..    15 to 6

Now for the not so awesome thing!!

Yesterday, while Sam was having his infusion, I decided to run a few errands.  As I headed down the highway (only 2 miles from the cancer center) there was a pick-up truck in front of me.....  I'm guessing I was about 6 car lengths behind it. 

Suddenly, a can of white paint falls out of the back of the truck. 

👀 👀 👀

I missed the biggest spill, but as I was switching lanes, my tires did go through a small bit of the paint.  

I immediately pulled over to use my phone to find a carwash in that area.  After a few turns, I finally ended up at the car wash only to be told that with paint, they could not let me go through.  Thankfully, there was a "Do it yourself" car wash just down the road.  

I stopped by....spent $6.00 trying to wash it off with no luck at all.  

Gosh...I was dreading telling Sam about it.  I knew he would be exhausted and I didn't want to put any stress on him. 

After I picked him up from having his treatment, I told him what had happened.  

He phoned the dealership and thank goodness...they are coming to get my car on Monday.  

We were already scheduled to have the oil changed and so NOW...they will also be looking at the paint on my car as well.  

Funny thing...or maybe not so funny, when I pulled into the car wash, the guy told me that in the last ten minutes, I was the third person trying to get the paint washed off of their car.  

We all know that in life there is a mixture of sunshine and sudden storms. 

Some days I'm enjoying fresh flowers on the table and a cup of hot coffee in my favorite cup.  Other days, brings news that I wasn't expecting or roads that I didn't choose.  

BUT... the good is this:

The valleys teach us gratitude for the mountaintops. The struggles carve out compassion and the unexpected bends in the road builds resilience.

Life is certainly layered isn't it?

Lots of joys and many challenges that shape us into stronger, wiser people.  

Thanks for stopping by today..

Love to you all.

Shug.....💛  

 

Standing in line

 Standing in line!

I don't think any of us enjoy standing in a slow line.  

We tolerate it...

We endure it....

We try to calculate it...

"How many people are ahead of me?"

"Why did I choose this line?"

"Is the other line moving faster?"

If you really think about it, waiting in line exposes something in us.  

It reveals a portion of our character.  

Our culture trains us for speed.  Fast shipping, Instant streaming, Two minute devotionals, Microwaved everything.  It's like living life on a roller coaster.  A fast one at that!!

The other day I was standing in line at the grocery store and the lady ahead of me was writing a check for her groceries. (Not many people write checks anymore)...... I was patiently waiting as it was taking her a very long time, not only to write the check, but to record it in her checkbook.  

Behind me, I hear "REALLY?" "Why today." Needless to say, the lady behind me must have been in a big hurry or she lacked patience.   

I could tell she was very frustrated so I asked her if she wanted to go in front of me.  Her response?  "Well, I will if she (the lady writing the check) ever finishes."  I thought...How RUDE.  No Thank you...No, I would appreciate it.  Just frustration. 

🌸🌷🌸🌷🌸🌷

Patience isn't proven when things move smoothly.  It's formed when they don't.  

The question we have to ask ourselves in situations like this is:

"Will I choose irritation or Grace?"

Who knows, the slow person in the check line could be exhausted..They might be grieving...or perhaps they are facing something that is out of their control.  

We just never know what story is standing right there in front of us and we need to learn to value and respect others.  There is so much to gain when kindness prevails.  

Shug...

** Happy Friday Everyone!!  I might be slow reading and commenting today..Sam has his treatment this morning and I will not have my computer with me.   

Thankful Thursday - The Old Pecan Trees

Thankful Thursday 

I am so thankful for this amazing tree that is located down at the farm, and for the many hundred others that look just like this.  

These trees are at least a 100 years old.  

By looking at the trunk of the tree, you might say "there is no way that this tree is that old."

Here ↓↓↓↓ is the reason why!

 100 year-old pecan trees managed strictly for graft wood (scion wood) have small trunks primarily because they are subjected to continuous, severe, and intentional pruning, which prevents them from developing a large, mature canopy and trunk structure.

You can see in this close up photo the many twist and turns on the branches of the tree... These are caused due to the yearly cutting of new growth for graft wood. ...... throughout the past 90 or so years. 

These stock trees are only grown for graft wood..... NO Pecans come from these trees. 

A simple pecan is planted one year, the next year the tree that shoots up from the pecan seed is grafted with the wood that comes from these specific trees .... the third year, the tree is ready to be sold. 

This is what Pecan trees that have NOT been cut back for graft wood look like.

These trees produce actual Pecans...

The trees that are used as STock trees are the ones with all the twist and turns.  

I'm thankful for these old trees because they provide for our family...  

Thousands of pecans are grafted each year and thousands of pecans trees are sold each year.   

Shug.... 🌿

Joining Michelle 

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join here

Goodby February, Hello Nachos

Goodby February, Hello Nachos

Kind of Hodgepodge!

Joyce Asks the Questions

We Answer the Questions

join the fun here

1. America celebrates turning 250 years old this year. Primary cities set to lead the celebrations on July 4th are Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other significant locations for celebrating will be Charleston SC and the 'historic triangle' which includes Jamestown-Willimasburg-Yorktown Virginia. 

I have been Blessed to visit a few of these historic cities..  Washington D.C. especially makes you pause and remember the sacrifices that built this country.

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What's one place in America you think everyone should see? If you're not American what's one place in the US you'd like to see? 

I have visited Philadelphia, New York and Washington D.C.   

No plans to visit these places this year.   

The Grand Canyon is a place that I think everyone should see.  So massive and pictures do not do it justice. It is a place that reminds you how small we are and how big God is. 

2. Three sounds you love to hear? 

My grandchildren laughing with those kind of belly laughs that fills the whole room. 

Rain...I love the sound of a small gentle rain!

A river!! ...LOVE, love, love the sound of water moving over the rocks.  

3. Three sounds you hate to hear? 

People chomping Ice or smacking gum!

Crickets in the house!  

Coyotes.  Their howl is so terrifying.

4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips? 

I am most definitely a fan of tortilla chips.  I am fairly simple when it comes to my nachos...bean and cheese only, with sour cream, jalapenos, and guacamole.  NO meat for me please.  

I make taco soup and usually serve this with the scoops chips.  

5. We March into March with next week's Hodgepodge...what's one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile? 

Longer daylight hours! Yay!  One thing on my March calendar that makes me VERY happy is my trip to Ireland!!  I am overly excited and the best part is that I am taking this trip with my two daughters and one of my granddaughters.  Mylee's school has a week set aside each March for all of the High School students to travel to different locations.  Mylee chose Ireland and I am happy to be joining this group.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I don't "lose things anymore. NO.. I simply place them in strategic locations and forget the strategy.  

Shug...💚