Spring Is In The Air...Or Is It?

 Spring is doing a good job at flirting with us...

The daffodils have shown up and are being spotted all around town.  We also have Tulip trees blooming in the area...  Last evening....I snapped a few pictures from Shanda's Tulip Tree.

Just look at the blooms against the grey bark..Beautiful

I walked outside this morning fully expecting birds to be singing but to my surprise, what I heard was silence.  A heavy fog draped across the yard and the bare trees are standing very still and unbothered.  

No leaves, no buds....just branches stretching up to the sky.  The morning feels very quiet.... It feels like even the birds have decided it's just a touch too early to start rehearsing their sunrise symphony..

All of this brought me thoughts of how.... just like having flowers and fog at the same time, we also have promises and patience sharing the same space in our ordinary daily living.  

There are definitely signs that roots are strengthening and the sap is rising, which tells me this isn't confusion.  It's more like a choreography preparing for a big show. 

The daffodils blooming while the fog lingers...The tulip trees stretching open while bare branches still stand...      

These are not mixed signals.   It's called Timing!! 

Happy Monday Y'all...  

About our Princess

Tim Tebow's "Night to Shine and a Valentine Girl who Sparkled....

The Tim Tebow's "Night to Shine" is always held during the second week of February which means it is always near Valentines Day.  This past Friday evening was when the big event was held in our area, and our Princess attended.  

As I have said in years past, this is more than a prom.  It is more than dresses and dancing and fancy foods.  It's a celebration of Worth.. A declaration of value so to speak.  This particular evening is a reminder that every single person and especially those with special challenges, deserve to be honored and celebrated.  

What I love about this "Prom" is that it loudly and very clearly says....YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL...AND YOU ARE SO WORTHY OF JOY!!!

My precious niece (Tammy) wore the most beautiful deep burgundy gown, and when she stepped onto the red carpet, it was as if she owned the evening.  Her smile lit up the room in a way that I know NO spotlight could ever do.  Her hair was styled so beautifully as it was twisted and pinned perfectly to enhance the gown she chose.  Her happiness completely stood out and the blessing that comes from this is absolutely the best...  

She laughed, she danced and she soaked in every moment.  How happy this makes me!!!  

What makes this weekend even more tender is that her birthday is on Valentines Day.   February 14th baby!!

She was born on the day of LOVE!!

I want her to know that she is precious beyond words...She is strong...she is beautiful.  

Oh...how her mother would have glowed with pride.. I know she would have wiped away happy tears the very moment her daughter walked into that ballroom and I truly believe that heaven drew just a little nearer Friday evening as every beautiful moment unfolded for Tammy.  

Thank you to the Tim Tebow Foundation for this worldwide celebration which is dedicated to our special needs loved ones.  Tim Tebow often speaks about how his desire is for special needs people to know they are treasured by God.  What a wonderful message.  

Thanks for allowing me to share!

Shug...

 

My Valentines Message to you!!

What a gift you all are to me.....  Some of you live miles away, yet you feel closer than neighbors.  I Love how we share pieces of our hearts across the screen and somehow each of these connections have become beautifully real.  

Thank you always, for each visit, each comment, each check-in, and all of the gentle nudges just when I need them most.  You all are a part of my mosaic....each of you a unique and a treasured piece that makes the picture of my life richer and more colorful.  

Today, I am sending you love that is wrapped in my gratitude.  Praying that your day will be as special as you are, and that it will be wrapped in tons of unexpected joy!!  

You are deeply valued to me...

Shug..💗

 

I forgot to post about the Super Bowl..

 I failed to write about our Super Bowl evening at our youngest daughters home.  Tom and Shanda hosted our family (those that could come) over to watch the game.  

We had burgers from the grill along with all the fixings... I made a new cheese dip (new to me) and I must say...it was very good.  

A block of Colby Jack cheese

A block of Pepper Jack cheese

One block of cream cheese

A can of Rotel tomatoes. 

A can of green chilies.

1 pound of browned hamburger meat cooked with a package of taco seasoning.....DRAIN after browned.

Place in a cast iron skillet and warm until you can stir everything together..

DO NOT HEAT PAST 150 degrees. 

 Place in cast iron skillet to heat...

(as a side note....if this gets too warm the cheeses begin to turn grainy, so it is best to warm just before serving)

In the photo below, you can see that Trista was our 1st quarter entertainment.  

She had invested in a square that the Ag department at school was selling as a fund raiser.  Guess what....she won!!!  Her numbers were 9 and 0 and so she ended up with the winning square for the score at the end of the first quarter.   $200.00!!  not bad for a $20.00 donation.  

It was fun watching her excitement...

Half Time Show?   We watched the alternative half time event. I don't speak Spanish, so I would not have known what the songs were about anyways coming from Bad Bunny...🤔  LOL 😐 

The half time shows were not our main goal for the evening...it was more about gathering, eating and spending time laughing... This we did a lot of.   We all were rooting for the Seahawks, which made the night a Win, Win!!    Go Kansas City Chiefs for 2027!! 

Moving on from this.......↑↑↑↑↑

Our weather has been so nice this week..  Lots of sunshine with temps reaching the upper 70's.  So many little Buds are now popping out on the tulip trees around here. 

I'll leave you all with this painted rock that we found a few years ago while visiting over in South Carolina..

Be Unique!   Happy Friday the 13th.  

Shug...💛