Monday, March 30, 2015

Pull Off the Boots and Enjoy Spring...


Blurry as it may be....I still think this picture is showing signs of pure beauty.

I must admit...traveling down the road and snapping a picture is NOT the best way to take photos.   Rest assured, I was not driving!   Sam was!!  When I saw these gorgeous tulips, I immediately took the shot.


This beauty is in my yard.  This is a Weeping Flowering Peach tree....called: "Crimson Cascade." 

   It is full of blooms and it would have had many more.....if {I} had not trimmed the thing.    Oh my..I can still see the reaction on Sam's face, when he came home one day after work, to find that I had trimmed his precious jewel.  


The Azaleas are starting to bloom!!


The "Red Bud" trees are covered in blooms this year!




And.....the ponds are all FULL..

Great time to do some fishing!!



I think Mylee caught a "pine cone" instead of a fish!


A great day to pull off the boots and enjoy Spring!!

Hugs, 

Shug ~

Saturday, March 28, 2015

5th Annual Free Throws for Souls....

5th Annual "Free Throws for Souls" is now over!!





As you can see.....Tom shot 22,063 free throws! 

The # that he made was 14,597 for a percentage of 66.2 !!!!

This is totally awesome!!


            ******

This event could not have been the success that it was if it were not for other area Church's, along with volunteers from the community...who helped in several various ways.  

And of course....Praise God for Blessing Tom with this talent and the strength to endure the 24 grueling hours that it took to shoot all of these Free Throws!!

Our family and our community is very Blessed...

shug

Friday, March 27, 2015

Free Throws for Souls.....

Today is a super big day.....

It is "Free Throws for Souls" day, and our son-in-law (Tom) will be shooting free throws for 24 hours.




Tom's talent for shooting free throws is phenomenal, and he is using this talent to serve the Lord.  

Money raised will go to "Gods Open Hands".....a food pantry that feeds over a thousand people per month.

From this event, (3) $1,000 dollar scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors, to go toward their education. 

Other money will be given to "Project Transformation".....an event where local youth groups come together to help local residents in need of wheel chair ramps and yard clean ups. 

While Tom spends the next 24 hours shooting free throws....others in the community will gather to support him.   Teams have signed up to rebound balls and to be there....simply to cheer Tom on.

I have posted a link to a "live feed" where you can watch Tom during the next 23 hours.  


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mElkm2ENnVU


Please be in prayer for Tom today!

hugs...
shug

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Texas Bluebonnets


Bluebonnets.....the State flower of Texas!!






The covered fields of Bluebonnets are always.... absolutely Breath taking!!

            *******
Wait a minute.....do you know what happens when a person tries to multitask??  Sometimes, multitasking does not work.   Especially, when your focus is being strained on another task.  

I wasn't even finished with this post and I somehow POSTED it.

These pictures were taken last year as Sam and I traveled to Waxahachie to see the Bluebonnets.

I am hoping to make a trip to South Texas to see them again this year.  

I am amazed at the fragrance that streams through the air....when visiting the enormous fields of Blue.   

Joining Good Fences today!





Shug !

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Cultivating Good Habits

While I was kidding around at my Doctors visit yesterday....about the long wait in the (4) white wall room....I must say that this is a Dr. who takes his time with his patients.  I appreciate this!

Honestly....This Dr. had the BEST bedside manners that I could have possibly ask for.  I would highly recommend him!!




This is something that I try to do each day....but as of late....I must admit, that I have let myself down.

I have not been very appreciative of my challenges in life.  Sounds crazy doesn't it....for a person to be grateful for challenges?!?!

But you know what?  It is through the challenges that we can become a stronger person.

I have looked at all the "RAIN" that we have had, with dread of another gloomy day.  Instead...I should have been meditating on the freshness of the rain and Thanking God for every drop.

Gratitude can turn a Negative into a POSITIVE.  I would encourage everyone to take a moment each day....to jot down the things that you are grateful for.

List them over and over and again! In doing so, it allows us to cultivate the habit of being responsive to the joys of life!

Have a Happy Day!!

shug ~


Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Here I sit in a room that is surrounded by white walls.   Four white walls!!!   I'm about Ready to open the door and Scream!   "Does anyone know I'm in here???  Have you forgotten me?  All I can here is the buzzing sound of the air conditioning unit running.   Thank goodness for the cool air, or I for sure would be going nuts.

I see tongue supressors, a jar of cotton swabs, and a huge chart that tells you what your ideal body weight SHOULD be.  Like I want to see that!!!   Lol.    And oh, I also see that chart which they use to assess a persons pain level.

I wonder if they will wake me up if I decide to take a nap on this super uncomfortable Dr's. table?  Just to think, I could have already had a thirty min nap!!!    No kidding.

I suppose that I could leave them a note...to say...."my tummy is healed and all is good!"
Send the bill to Sam!!!

This is basically what I'll be saying when and if the Dr. does realize that he has a patient in room 6.
Do I sound a little impatient???   Surely not!

So what, if my APPOINTMENT was 45 min ago?

I haven't eaten lunch yet.... So I now hear the added sound of my tummy growling.   Don't you just love it when your stomach talks to you?

Shug


And finally......the Dr. came in!  All is good with my colon re-section.  PTL!
I have a few more weeks of no lifting and being conservative with what I eat.......in other words....go light on the marshmallow Easter Bunnies.....   LOL!


Thank you Lord for all things.........Thank you Lord for this gorgeous day!!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Bringing Sunshine



Rain and more Rain.....this is what we have had, here in East Texas.   AND....more rain is on it's way!  

I am need of SUNSHINE....so, I decided to bring a little of the bright warm rays, right here to my blog. 

Most of you have probably seen most of these photos....but hopefully you will enjoy them again.   

These are photos from our Summer 2014 Florida vacation.  I would love to be there right now!! Surely, the sun is shining on the beach!!


                                                             Family Photo



Family Beach Volleyball game.......



                                                               Sam and Shug




Sam.....trying not to have his picture taken...


Two of the grands....enjoying the ocean water..


Tori.....Winning..... the watermelon eating contest.



Trista....doing a little ballet during the VB game.



Grands....having fun on the beach.


Sam.....photo bombing this picture.



Shanda and Mylee....playing in the pool.





 Sam and I got up this morning....and drove to Lufkin, to pick up a peddle car that he had purchased.   It rained all the way there and home...   AND...it is still raining!

I'm not trying to complain here...and I know that come July and August, we will be begging for a slow soaking rain.  It would really be nice to have a good week of nothing but Sunshine!!  The weather reports are showing MORE rain tomorrow and next week.

In the meantime...I will just have to spend more time, looking at these Florida pictures and thinking back to how nice it was, this past summer...

Hugs to you all...
shug ~

In the mean

Thursday, March 19, 2015

A Bit of History.....


Shame on me.....this fence is situated on a piece of land that is the home of a "Historical Marker."

Why shame on me?  Because this Historical Marker is located about 5 miles from our home, and I have never ever visited it.  I have no clue what the "Historic" properties are, surrounding this old log cabin.  



Sam and I had a good friend (who is now deceased) But....he loved Historical Markers.  Sam and I took a trip one time, with Jimmy and his wife.  I will never forget this trip.  We must have driven ever bit of 125 miles that day, going from Chandler to Texarkana....

A trip that should have taken us about 2 and 1/2 hours at the MOST, took us 4 hours to get there.  

  The reason?  Because, Jimmy loved to stop at Historical Markers....and he DID stop at EVERY ONE OF THEM!  

Jimmy was a hoot and he loved 
History.   

I'm guessing that I need to stop....someday....and see what this old Historical Marker is about!  I'll let you all know!!

I'm joining Good Fences today.


Hugs to all....

Shug ~

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Is it really Luck?



Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

                                            

 are you wearing Green?  I'm not...not yet, anyways!!

Check this out.....


doesn't this look great?  I came across this the other day on Pinterest.  Get the recipe at the link below...





Isn't it fun to celebrate St. Patrick's day?  The kiddos love it...and I remember, as a child, I had fun on St. Patrick's day too.

I think it was the "Pinch" thing that kept us all involved in the day.  Got to wear the Green!

I must say....I'm not too big on the "Luck" word.  I don't really want to disappoint anyone, but I just don't believe in LUCK.

Luck can be defined as:  A force that delivers good or bad.

I prefer to believe that GOD is in TOTAL control of my life.  NO force is going to determine my steps.   God orders my steps daily and nothing but GOOD comes from HIS directions.  

If I choose not to follow HIS will for my life...and I go off on my own, to search for LUCK...I can assure you that it will not be there!

Am I lucky if I win something??
I don't think so....I am simply BLESSED!!

Blessings flow all around me!

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope"

                Jeremiah 29:11

Warm Hugs to each of you!!
Shug ~


Monday, March 16, 2015

Energy...Sunshine...OCD

Energy is mine today...and I couldn't be happier! 

What a difference a day can make. Could it be that the sun is shining?  


Those are dried daffodils, from our yard....so full of color.


I have some geraniums drying now and I can only hope that they do as well as the daffodils.


Already this morning...I have heard the sweet, tweeting of many of our feathered friends. 

~ ~

I have just realized that I am "OCD" 

Having things in order in our home is a necessity for me!  Not only having things in their place, but having them neat. 

 I like LOVE change and I also love rearranging furniture.  Do you know that just by changing out throw pillows or changing up a wall....can bring NEW life to any room?  

While being kinda restricted, and not having full control, with my recovery and all.....my OCD has really been active!

Pinterest is not the place to visit my friends, when one is in such a state.  

Aside from pinterest....I keep getting all these messages from "Marburger Farms"...which just so happens to be one of the BEST antique shows ever!  It is happening the end of this month and I so need to be there.  

Did I mention that this place is only about 200 miles away from us?

Just one day would make me SMiLe.
Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

XOXO's
Shug ~

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Sat. greetings...

Happy Morning Dear friends.....


This old barn has certainly seen better days. 

 Just one of the many things that I enjoy seeing when we drive the dirt roads, at the farm.  

                ~~~~

I'm still waiting for the sun to shine!!  Woo Hoo...Mr. Sunshine, there are a whole lot of folks needing to see you today!

Hope you all see sunshine today...too!

Later,
Shug ~



Friday, March 13, 2015

Loving March 13th

I Love March 13th......even if it does fall on a Friday.

My favorite March 13th was way back in 1968.  Can you believe that was 47 years ago?  I am pretty sure that it was a Wednesday.

On the music charts.....  Otis Redding, "Sitting on the dock of the bay"  AND... at the movies, "Stay Away, Joe" directed by 
Peter Tewksbury was the hit movie.

But.....Something else WONDERFUL happened on March 13, 1968, and it happened to ME!!

NO...No...I didn't get married!  After all, I was only 15!
  
                                                 ~~~~~~

Slang words meant some totally different things from what they mean today!!

"Cool" = Nice
"Cruising" = Driving up and down the strip
"Cutout" = leave the scene
"Dibs" = It's yours
"Four on the Floor" = Floor mounted transmission shifter.
"Hang Loose" = Take it easy
"Kissup" - Teacher's pet
"Swapping Spit" = French kissing
"Wedgie" = When someone pulled your underwear up from 
                     the back and it ends up in your crack.

{Can you believe that now days....a lot of underwear is made to be worn like that...."Thongs"}

And, last on my list:   "Going Steady"  =  Dating one person!


 On March 13, 1968.....my sweetheart {Sam} ask me to 

                                            "Go Steady"


And from that day on......we have been the Best of Friends!



I must admit....I'm the sentimental type.  Yes, I am!
For the past 47 years, I have kept every single love letter, card, and note, that Sam has ever given me!  My box is full of hand written letters as well.  



How fun it is to look back at them now!  Oh yes, indeed, it is!

See that one little note in the above photo?   Sam sent to me when we were Freshman's in High School.  I can promise you that many of these love notes were just jib jab.   But, when Sam scribbled my name on a piece of paper, it was a big thrill, because I knew that I was on his mind.   Made my heart go pitter patter!




Do we ever get too old to send a love letter to that special person in our life?  I don't think so........!!!!!    

By the way!!  Sam has his own drawer, which is filled with messages and cards that I have sent him....!


  Two peas in a pod.......that's what we are!!

                                                     ~~

Happy March 13th everyone!

Shug

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Gorgeous Layers of Spring

Who of us can not wait for the gorgeous layers of Spring to arrive?  I for one, am so ready, and I am very ready for some of this.......




Oh yes...a nice breezy day spent at the farm...fishing, a picnic, and loads of nothing but pure fun!


We all enjoy spending time at the private lake on the farm.



Now this....my friends....is the lazy way of fishing.   All one needs is a pole, a cork, a worm, and a place near the water...to take a good nap!


Wa La....The shocking surprise of nap fishing!!



Check out Carson's smile...He was thrilled to catch a fish!



 The passing off!!  Pops had to take the fish off of the hooks, and with all of these kiddos fishing...he had quite a busy job!


I honestly can not believe I'm showing this picture.  This is my kind of fishing!!

I'm joining Tex at

 



Hugs...

Shug ~

Sunday Thinking

  Happy St. Patricks Day!   🍀 Tomorrow, I will be filling my hummingbird feeders.  The little beauties should be arriving any day now.  I a...