Just a grandmother....

I know that many of you are grandmothers and some may even be great-grandmothers.  If so....I know you understand when I say that Grandmothers need to be huge prayer warriors for our grandchildren.

We have 6 grandchildren, and not a single one of them is like the other.   Do you know what this means?  It means that they all live different lives and they all have different needs as they journey through life.

Some days.....I may need to spend some extra time praying for the needs of a particular grandchild.   Some days.....I many need to spend EXTRA, EXTRA time praying for certain needs.   

I was thinking about all of this today and I seriously thought...."This is not really a blog topic!"   But....I re-thought this, and I realized that it is a very important topic for me to blog about!

Do you know that it is important to pray for even the smallest of things that our grandchildren might need?
Nothing is too small or too big for our Mighty God.

For years......I've been praying for each of them to find the spouse that God has selected for them.   Along with this....I pray for their wisdom and for them to seek God when looking for the right person.

Along with prayers.....it is just as important for us to Thank God and to give HIM praise for the things HE does for us.   It's important for us to Praise Him for 
who HE is!

One of my grands needed God's favor today....so, I prayed.   God's favor was indeed, right smack dab in the middle of this need.   I just want to Thank Him and Praise Him right now for answered prayers.

I would encourage everyone to Pray, Pray and Pray for your children and grandchildren.  This world that we live in is so different from how things were when I was growing up.....These young people need our prayers!

~ Shug ~

I suppose that I'm finally getting my wish for some Cold weather.....   It really is pretty chilly outside today!   You won't find me complaining about it though.  I love cold weather!

It's not cold enough for Snow.....but it is cold enough for me to wear socks instead of my flip flops!

I do hope that all my good friends out there, are staying warm....and HEALTHY~
I have several friends who are battling the Flu, and there are so many people around here that are fighting the upper respiratory crud.  Me for one!

I can feel some congestion in my bronchial tubes, and I have a slight cough.....Just hoping that some hefty doses of vitamin C and some hot tea will help me get rid of it before it turns in to an infection.  

borrowed photo...

Hot tea is really suppose to be good for this sort of thing. 

How many of you have already taken down you Christmas decorations?   I am raising my hand on this one!  Everything is down....and packed away!

I do have a good reason for taking it down so early this year.   We are having my Kitchen pantry re-done,

which meant that I had to get the thing completely emptied.   The guys will be here early Friday morning to do their magic on my pantry!   EXCITED???

I am more than excited.    I am actually having a full wall of shelves put in, just for can goods and such.   

I will be able to see each can or jar, without having to stack them double or triple.   Yay for this!!

I certainly did not want to have to deal with putting up Christmas decorations and having the pantry scattered everywhere.....at the same time!

I'll post pictures as soon as it is completed...

In the mean time.....I hope you all enjoy a wonderful New Year Celebration.....

Shug 

What will be written in your journal this Christmas Season?  Such a big question.....

As I sit here this evening, in our warm and comfortable home, I can't help but look around me and wonder......Do I really know how truly Blessed we are?

This is a wonderful time of the year.......and I am truly thankful for my awesome family and for friends....They are all the BEST!

I'm thankful for health and financial security.......

I'm extremely thankful for my Salvation, and that I have a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior,  Jesus Christ!!!

I'm thankful for our freedom.....a freedom given to us by the sacrifices of others.

But.....let me get back to the question of "What will be written in your journal this Christmas Season?"

As for me...It will be about a few things that I've experienced these past few days.    One thing being, the loneliness of a friend who is very ill.  This has weighed very heavily upon my mind these past few days.  What can I do to minimize her loneliness?  I can Pray....and I can visit.
People all around us are lonely and hurting...

Another thing is the pain that I saw in the eyes of a lady that checked me out the other day.   Mylee and I were out and about on Thursday, and we made a stop at one of our local stores.  The lady checking me out had huge tears rolling down her cheeks.  My heart was broken for her.  I ask if she was ok and she told me she was hurting and that things had been difficult.   I wanted to pray for her right there, but she walked away and went into an area that we could not go in.  So...Mylee and I sat in our car outside the store and we prayed for this sweet lady.   

All around us.....people are hurting.

I don't post many things on Twitter, but I do read a lot of the post that are on there.   There was this one post that I read and re-read, several times.
Here are the words...... " If you get to wake up on Christmas morning and see both of your parents smiling faces when you are opening gifts, you are lucky.  I'd give anything to have that back."
Wow......People all around us need our prayers!

My journal will be filled with prayer needs and with reminders of how I want to be aware of people around me who are hurting....Perhaps a simple smile or a gift of love can help them in some small way....

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas......God Bless!

Shug

Oh my Goodness.....I had myself a great time this past weekend.    There was no shopping involved, no parties, no Christmas lights and No worries!

Can you guess what my Friday evening and Saturday evening was all about?

It was just simply enjoying the outdoors with my husband!

We spent about 3 hours at the Farm Friday afternoon, and about 4 and a half hours the next day.....riding the gator all over the farm.   

Friday evening was a Cold one......oh my goodness, it was cold after the sun went down.   My fingers were so cold, even with gloves on.

That evening, we saw several piggies.....but it was way too dark to shoot one!

On Saturday.....Sam and I bought some new, warmer hand gloves and they really worked.

We were waiting on pigs to come to the feeders.....(these things are nothing but pest and they can ruin your farm land if you don't get them killed out)......I guess I need to add that the feeders are for the deer, but pigs seem to ROOT the deer away.

I looked up and I saw a deer standing way down by the woods.....and suddenly, a buck made it's way out into the open field.  

One good shot....and the deer was down.   

Great meat for the freezer!!!

Great Fun....out there in the midst of nothing.

I really need to do this more often.   It felt so good to get away from the hustle and bustle of this time of the year.

I completely enjoyed every single bump that I encounter on the gator....and every single tree limb that I had to dodge to keep from getting wacked in the face.

One thing that really caught my eye, were the gorgeous Red

Birds that seemed to be everywhere.  I love Red Birds!

They were beautiful...

Taking in all the nature around me....spending time with the love of my life and enjoying the cool brisk air....was a true Blessing for me.

Hugs Y'all....

Shug

My actions have not been very good as a role model for those around me.  Especially, when it comes to decorating for Christmas.   Truthfully, I've been moving more like a snail crawling in the snow.  

Good grief....this is totally not like me!  My focus has been on this weather of ours....the temps have just been way to warm to decorate for Christmas!  I'm in great need of some COLD weather!

This past Friday, I finally made a move to get "amped up" for doing some decorating.   In other words...I got some fire in my pants, and got it done!  (Fire in my pants, as in energy and excitement)

I really prefer a fresh Christmas tree....instead of the artificial trees that you buy in stores.  I know that some of those fake
trees can look real....BUT.....in NO WAY can they compare to a real live tree!  hey, I have lots of memories of fresh cut trees and Christmas.

Last year, I purchased some new ornaments that I was looking so forward to using again this year....BUT....I packed them away and could not find them this year.   I finally found them this past Friday, but it was too late....my tree was already decorated!! :(

Where did I find them????  Packed neatly in a container under my bed!

A few decorations here and there.....

I was very surprised when I found this "P"...... Seems like the P's always seem to go first....   I grabbed this one up real FAST.

The mantel!   I fell in love with this Buffalo Plaid Ribbon!  I really didn't know that this was the name for it, until Shanda dropped by the other day and said she loved the Buffalo ribbon.  I had no clue what she was talking about, but sure buff.....this is what it is called.

More of the mantel.... 

And More..........

This is my Old door that I decorate for each new season!!
Love this old door.....

I'm feeling Blessed and Life is good...

Hugs,

Shug

I know that we are in the month of November.....I know that
Thanksgiving is still a few days away.....I really do!

I still have pumpkins on my front porch, and I still have Autumn decorations in our home!  You know, all the orange, red, brown and green decor!

I also have a lit tree in our living room!

It's not decorated yet....only lights!

That's a Fall Wreath on my front door and Fall flowers in the vase on the cabinet....   Fall flowers next to a Christmas tree!!
Crazy isn't it??

It might take me a few more days to get the tree decorated....but that's ok.

Wow......check it out!!  I decorated the tree.   The truth is, I started writing this post a week ago and had to save it in a draft.   And..now I'm back to finish this post and my tree
is now decorated.  

I actually have a couple more trees to do...but at least this one will be done at Thanksgiving.   One of the reason's I wanted the tree to be up, is because Tyler is coming home for Thanksgiving ....but he will not get to be home for Christmas!

:(  :(  :(  :(   makes me sad....but it is what it is and I'm thankful to get to spend Thanksgiving with him.

I love making sweets at Thanksgiving and Christmas...

Coconut pie, Chocolate pie, Pecan cobbler, German Chocolate Cake, Pumpkin roll, and more...

BUT....guess what it is that my kiddos want?

Dirt Cake!!!!

Same dessert every single time.......They are not interested in any of the desserts that I want to make....only Dirt Cake...

and I don't really like it!!

I have much to do.....but I did want to wish you

all a 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Blessings and hugs!

Shug

I had several people ask if I made the pies in my header picture.    

I did!   I love making pies!  Coconut, Chocolate, Pecan..
Oh my goodness!  Yum! yum!

                                               **********

My wish list is a mile long right now!!  Not so much for material items....Just crazy little things that I want.  One big thing on my list is a change in our weather!!!   Oh my goodness, who has ever heard of 90 degree temps in November?   

For all my Up-North friends....Please push some COLD air down to East Texas.  Send Snow....send a Blizzard....and please send the refreshing smell of the evergreens my way.

Sounds like I need to take a Winter trip....for a FEW MONTHS!!

I also Wish I could lose this datum weight!!!!!  But, you know what they say:

"No one can do it for you....you have to do it yourself!"

And....I love this one too...

Lets see....another wish I have is:

For the pilgrims to come to East Texas and cook my 

Thanksgiving meal!!!

Wow, I'm sounding real unmotivated here, aren't I?

I love everyone being at the house, I really do......and you all know that I love to cook.....So where did that wish come from anyways?

I'll share this one other wish with you.......those that know me very well,  are not going to believe this one, but I Wish that the elf's would come decorate my Christmas tree for me!  I want it to be up by Thanksgiving, since Tyler will be here and, he won't be coming back home for Christmas....But, I'm feeling too lazy to dig that big ol' thing out, in hopes that all the lights work!!!!

The Pilgram's are gone, there are No Elf's and the "Skinny Fairy" seems to have vanished......so I'm guessing that I need to get motivated and take care of details!

I love y'all...

shug

Can you believe it's November?  I'm telling you, the days are passing by fast.  

I have a good feeling about it being November....I received some great news last night...!!!!!!!  The eve before the first day of November.

Our Airman is coming home for Thanksgiving!!!   

This news was totally unexpected.   We were not expecting to see him until next July or even some time later, but things worked out in our favor for him to be able to come home for a few short days at Thanksgiving.   

Gosh...how Thankful I am!!   

This means that my Christmas tree needs to go up a little earlier this year!  I can do it!!  I have three weeks to get everything planned and decorated.  No problem at all, as I love decorating.  The good thing is:  I already have most of my Christmas shopping all done!  Whoop!!

I am truly thankful that God opened this door.   We have much to celebrate.  

Hugs to all.

Happy Birthday to my husband........65 years young today!

 I am so very Blessed to be able to celebrate 50 of his birthdays with him......as his sweetheart and wife!

I love, love, love this man!!

Happy Birthday Sam Pollard!

shug

One of my favorite things to do, when I'm in the car by myself....is to listen to the radio.  

Just the other day, I was listening to Dr. David Jeremiah and one of the statements that he made was this:

"Your character is the one lasting thing that goes in your casket...the one thing, that you should be and will be remembered for."

On this early Sat. morning....I've been thinking about this very statement.  Seems that lately, we have attended way too many funeral visitations and we have another visitation and service to attend tomorrow and Monday.  

Just think about it!  Our Character is so very important...not only while we are living, but after death as well.

Character?  your mental and moral 
qualities!!

Integrity, Loyalty, Honesty...these are the first things that most of us think of when considering a good character.

but...what about...Optimism, Compassion, Perseverance, Kindness, Giving...and we can't forget about Forgiveness??

"Character is doing things right when no one is looking!"
                      J.C. Watts

It is very important for us to have... and maintain good character in our lives. 

I can only hope that my family, friends, and acquaintances view my life as one with "Great" character.

Hugs, 
Shug 

My header photo......was taken in one of my favorite places of all times.    Sam and I ate dinner a few weeks ago at the Gristmill in Gruene Texas.    

There is nothing fancy about this eating place.....just an old Mill, built on the side of a big hill, with all kinds of little landings that hold old wood picnic style tables.

I have eaten there several times and with each visit, I come away with a new memory.  This place offers the most relaxing time and the meal is always wonderful.   

I remember a time about 25 years ago....I had lunch at the Gristmill with a very good friend of mine.  We must have set there, on the edge of the hill....listening to the rushing river....for Hours!  The weather that day was absolutely the best and it was the most pleasant day.   This my friends, is a great memory.   

Other times....I have been there with Sam, and the enjoyment of our time together (while listening to that same river) and being totally engaged in the beauty of the landscape....has always made me feel so very content. 

This is a beautiful place to visit.....and I'm hoping to go back soon!!

Blessings, 
Shug  

Pear Relish.....

This relish is great on fresh cooked peas....it's good on anything!!

Be Blessed today.

Shug

I didn't realize how tired I was, until I sat down to write this post.  My phone is in our bedroom, and I'm too comfortable to get up and go get the thing.   Why do I need my phone?
Because it has some photos of what I achieved today.

Just imagine with me.....In my kitchen this morning was a bushel of Pears, several bell peppers...red-green-yellow, and a huge pile of onions.  What could possibly be on my mind?

MAKING PEAR RELISH!!   Yes, my job for the day was to make as many jars of sweet pear relish as I could possibly get out of that bushel of pears.  I sure wish I wasn't so exhausted so that I could show you pictures of my beautiful jars of good eating.

It has been a (L-O-N-G) time since I've made PR and the reason being is:  It's so hard to find Pears in our area.   At the grocery store, they run about $1.49 and up, per pound.  YIKES!!

I ended up with 16 pints!  Not bad I guess.   If you've never tasted Pear Relish.....you need to put in on your bucket list to do so.   It is so good!!

Hope you all had a very successful day.....

Blessings,
shug 

How often do you get to have a day....all to yourself....to do NOTHING?   Rare in my life!  However, today is one of those days!  

I'm sitting in a hotel room.....a room with a gorgeous view!

Not only is it a beautiful view.....it is so very relaxing!

I walked the grounds earlier today and even found me a comfy chair to sit in.....down by the river.   It was just me, the swans, and the sounds of nature!!  

I'm also getting to enjoy a few magazines.  I've found a lot of new ideas for decorating and several new recipes that I plan to cook for the family.

You know....it's great to have time like this....ever once in a while.   There are all kinds of places around here to shop, but I really just wanted to relax.

I love having the opportunity to tag along with Sam when he's on a business trip.  

God is so Good and I am so thankful for this day.

shug

Nothing like having a Beach vacation.....in the middle of a Hurricane!!

Sam and Joe.....they found a BIG crab out in the water and both of them were scared to death to pick the thing up.   Sam attempted, but just as he touched the thing....it pinched him!  NO MORE CRAB HUNTING!

WINDY?  oh my goodness....we have had Big winds here at Rosemary/Seacrest Beach.    The day has been absolutely gorgeous though.      Lot's of sunshine and no rain...YET!

The rain is expected to be here late tonight or in the morning, with 60 mile per hour winds!   YIKES!!

Hopefully....the outer skirts of Hurricane Irma will pass through quickly.   

We have a full week here at the beach and I really do hope that we get to see a lot of sunshine!!

Later...

Shug

I love August...... We have 3 Birthdays to celebrate during the month of August, mine being one of them!!

Third grandson (Carson) had his B'day on the 6th.....which we have already celebrated with a trip to Allen, Texas.   We ate at the Cheesecake Factory and the family played at TOP-GOLF!!  Carson turned 16 on Sunday and got those "Driver's License" on Monday.  

Woo hoo....another teen driver!!

Today is Tucker's Birthday....Grandson #2.   Of course, he had other plans for the day.   He and his girlfriend made a trip to Dallas to do some shopping.   Tomorrow we will celebrate with a Birthday Dinner!  He turned the big 19 today!!

My day is coming up next!!   August 24th to be exact!   Sam and I have been in Dallas all week and this afternoon we were driving home.   I told him what I wanted for my birthday and his reply was:  "it's not happening this birthday! I've already got your gift!"  

Now, I'm wondering what it can be!!  He is way ahead this year on his shopping!!  Woo Hoo I guess.    His gift is probably a lot awesome than the one I was asking for!   

Three Birthday's, Trista and Ty's Anniversary, Back to school shopping, a couple of small get-aways,  sure makes for a busy month.   

What does your August look like??

Shug

No Thank you........!!!!!


As a child, I loved playing out in the rain, and I liked playing in the mud.  Did any of you ever have mud fights with your siblings?  I can remember playing out in the bar ditches....after a good ol' rain.

It was always fun to slip and slide in the mud puddles...and perhaps, throw a little mud on my sister and brothers.  

Not many kiddos play out in the rain, ANYMORE.  

This past week....the youth group at our church had a MUD DAY.

Theses kids had a Blast......

It has been above a 100 degrees outside, so maybe this was a great way to cool down!!    

This is Carson.....getting ready for a mud pull.

Mylee jo and our youth pastor's daughter.......

When this mud gets in your hair, it is very difficult to get it off of the scalp.   

I don't particularly want to cool down by covering myself in mud, BUT....it really does look like a lot of fun!!

Shug

This has been one of the fastest months that I've seen in a long while.   I guess that when you're having a GREAT time....the days pass by fast.  

As most of you ALREADY know....Tyler was home from his Tech school, from the 5th of the month until the 23rd.  Wow....what a great time for our family!  He made it to his duty station this past Monday, and I am already getting excited about the trip that Sam and I are planning...to go see him at his new base.

As a family....we fished, we fished, and we fished.  We had a great fish fry, but we didn't cook the fish that we caught!!!  LOL.   We bought the good ol' catfish that Sam cooked.  Of course....you can't live in Texas and not have a BBQ.  So....we had a BBQ with all of the good fixings of baked beans, potato salad and good ol' Sweet 
Tea!    And....we traveled!!

You know what they say......Time passes fast when you're having fun!!   

Can I just tell you, over the past year.....I have certainly learned a whole lot about the sacrifices that are made on behalf of our military men and women.

When it comes to our Airman.....there has not been an easy "See You Later" as of yet.   It is difficult seeing them move so far away, knowing that you won't see them for a good while.   

Oh wow....I had better move on to another topic before I get all teary eyed.

                                            ******

Blogging has become more and more difficult for me to keep up with.   What helps is being FB friends with so many of you.   I truly miss reading about the things that are happening with each of you and your families.   If you are on FB or Instagram and we have not become friends yet.....then I would love to friend you and keep up with you that way.

As soon as the summer time is over and our kiddos get back in school....I do plan to do more inspirational writings on my blog.

Speaking of school......Sam and I will have a grandson entering his first year of college, and I'm so very thankful for SCHOLARSHIPS!!  I'm sure you all know what a Blessing it is for your child, grandchild to get scholarships..!?

We also will have a Junior in High School....a Sophomore....a Freshman, and then a 4th grader.    Am I really getting older?

I may not be getting older, but Sam P. certainly is.   My goodness, our mailbox has been packed full of mail from insurance companies, giving us all the details about "Supplemental" insurance.   Sam turns 65 in October....so Medicare is just around the corner.   

While aging, it's best to age with great joy!!

Hope to be back on this blog site real soon.....

Shug...