THE ROOST

30 Years Ago I Said I DO

And I would do it all over again.....

Happy Anniversary, dear! 

The Princess Has Arrived!

Yes, it is true Mr. Perfect now has a sister!   She was born mid March & has already captured our hearts!

Mr. Perfect thinks it is the most wonderful thing in the world to be a big brother.  He couldn't wait to bring his mom a big bouquet of flowers for "getting" him a new sister.

  Grammie got to be in on her entrance into the world.  I thought about how to describe that honor but it is just not possible.......without crying of course and I have done my share of that lately! 

 

Auntie Em's & Cara were right there too waiting to meet the newest member of our growing family.

 

One of the biggest problems we have encountered is trying to decide what the princess should wear on a given day.....

 She did come home from the hospital in the same outfit I brought her mom home in.....about a million 20 something plus years ago.

 

Since then she has tried on a hundred different things.....

 Among her favorite is the little tutu Auntie Em's made for her.  You can tell by the pleased expression on her face.

 With all this attention on Miss Princess there is no need to worry about how Mr. Perfect  is handling things.  Grammie & Pops have reassured him that he is still VERY important to us with lots and lots of gifts hugs!

 He loves Miss Princess just as much as the rest of us!

Someday when she wakes up from her many naps....

she will realize how much we all love her!  

Looking Back On 2009

I am doing my annual glimpse back at the year and posting my top 10 pictures of 2009.  It was really hard to narrow it down this year with such a fun, full year with Mr. Perfect.  I know next year will be even harder with two more babies due this spring.   

I would love to see your photos too so let me know if you decide to post your top photos of 2009.   Be sure and add a short caption under each picture.  This will be a great way to catch up with each other.

So starting with # 10

    In January an ice-storm like no other hit our area.  This is a picture of our house under layers of ice.  Although beautiful it was a damaging storm.  At the same time it pulled our community together with neighbors helping one another dig out from under the mess.

#9

In February I hosted the 30 year reunion of the sorority I was a member of in college.  It was so much fun reconnecting with these girls.   In fact we are doing it again this year! 

#8

In the early Spring Mr. Perfect turned ONE!  The first year with him has just flown by and has been.....well, perfect! 

#7

Also in the spring Hubby took me on my Dream Vacation to Italy for my 50th birthday. We are standing by the Leaning Tour of Pisa.  It was the trip of a life time. 

Of course we took our best buds with us. 

#6

Our trip this summer with our 3 girls and their families in Florida was a great memory.   It was so much fun that I went back with my sister and parents and made some more great memories.  Here is my dad chillin' out in the condo.

Isn't he handsome?  :)

#5....this is getting harder to narrow down

 The Chuckle Fest gang (sister and cousins) met up in Dallas for some laughs.  Never a dull moment with this group.  

 Our kids are caring on the tradition of chuckling...

 These two started the whole thing!

#4

We were all shocked to find out Mr. Perfect was going to be a big brother...AND a cousin....

These two grand babies are due this spring....3 weeks apart!  

#3

A fabulous fall trip with the Chuckle Fest gang... 

#2

Hubby celebrated his own 50th birthday this year too!

#1

 We had a great time with family over Christmas.  Mr. Perfect enjoyed his time with Grammie more than all the millions of gifts he got.  He told me so himself.....in his own way of course! :)

Okay I went a tad over but you get the idea..... I could have showed you soooooo much more but I will spare you and go peek at yours.  Happy New Year to you ALL!

Top Ten Summer Pics Challenge

I can NOT believe that summer is quickly slipping away.  We have already had temps in the low 50's at night!  On one hand I am sad to see it go and on the other I am excited about closing the door on one season and experiencing the next.

As I reflected back on the past three months I challenged myself to pick the top 10 pictures that really captured the summer.  I would like to challenge you to do the same.  It was a lot of fun looking back on some really wonderful memories that were made.

Sooooo here we go................

#1

 

Don't act shocked that it is Mr. Perfect!  This was a fun night with him at the park.  We didn't have a son and I always wondered how Pops would do with a grandson....see the grin. :)

#2   

This is the Ole Chuckle Fest gang!  

There were a couple of chicks missing from the group but we still managed to have a blast.  We are growing in number very quickly!  Just that much more to laugh about. 

#3

My sister and I went with my parents on a little trip to the beach. Here she is with my mother.  We had lots of good laughs and special times that I will always treasure.

#4

Any time I am with all 3 of my girls it is special.  This trip to the beach was no exception!

#5

Hubby and I took a little trip that was tons of fun.

#6

A special dinner and laughs again with my sister and 2 cousins.  Whose fingers are those?

#7

Going to Mr. Perfects house and celebrating the fact that he will be a big brother this spring.

#8

Watching Mr. Perfect slide on a big slide for the first time.

#9 

A celebration with my best buddies.

#10

Finding out that my middle daughter is pregnant with grandbaby #3.... our family is growing one more strong! 

• Now it is your turn to recap the summer by showing your 10 favorite photos.  Add your name to Mr. Linky below and please link back to me in your post.  

I can't wait to see your pictures!  Go spread the word......

Happy Birthday Girl!

Today is my middle daughters birthday!

Even though she has always been stuck in the middle......

It hasn't seemed to bother her at all.

She makes anything we do......... 

A whole lot more fun!

You are very special to our entire family.....

and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Celebrating With Friends

This Thursday I am joining Between Naps on the Porch and her Tablescape Thursday.  

Last week I hosted a birthday lunch for one of my really good friends.  I wanted it to be fun & special and at the same time on the casual side.  These are the dishes I decided to use.  I had them all on hand.  Many of them are gifts from friends.  They know my weakness for beautiful dishes.

 

Half the fun is deciding what dishes you will use & trying to stretch yourself to use things you already have on hand.  

For this particular lunch I used basket treys instead of place mats since I was serving buffet style.

It helped keep things on the casual side too.  The striped square plates are paper and were a gift from a friend.

A mix of patterns makes it much more interesting while the bright pallet set a cheerful tone for the party.

I love the texture the baskets brought to the table.....

.

The centerpiece consisted of a red pitcher filled with fresh lilies in assorted colors. The little strawberry fly and mini bee skep helped keep it fun and lighthearted. 

Of course all the fun was in sharing food and conversation with wonderful old friends.

It is such a blessing to celebrate life!

Now go over to Between Naps on the Porch  and see the other wonderful Tablescapes!

Dive Into A Little Fun

I caught this little bird right outside my window getting ready to dive into.......

a bowl full of fun.

You could tell he was so refreshed later.

I hope you have fun doing something you enjoy over the weekend.  It can really refresh the spirit.

Happy Birthday Mother

Mom today is your birthday......

and we are going to celebrate!  I only wish I really knew how old you were.  You began confusing us when we were very young about your age........reminding us that it was no one else's business & that you are only as old as you feel.

At one time I really believed we were only about 10 years apart.......then I realized that was not humanly possible.  Since I am 1/2 of a hundred I know you are least 15 years older than me.......give or take a few years here and there.  But what the heck difference does it make when you are this lovely.......

Happy_____  (fill in the blank with any age you like) Birthday Mother, dear.  I love you!  ;)

Married 29 Years & Still Holdin' On!

 I am writing this post more for myself than anyone else.  Today is my 29th wedding anniversary.   I woke up today recounting in my mind why and how we have made it this long.   

Hubbie and I had a real stupid naive start to our marriage.   We thought you just got married and lived happily ever after.....  We had no idea that it took work, prayer & more work.

So we started out like many couples happy and rolling along and then things quickly started to go down hill.  I am sure the partying & lack of real biblical direction in our lives played a huge roll in things falling apart.  

In total desperation I started getting serious about church and my spiritual growth.  I thank the Lord for those that took me under their care and helped me understand what it meant to be a godly wife and woman.  It wasn't long until hubs joined me too. In his journey he actually discovered that he had never really given his life to the Lord.   After excepting Jesus as his Savior he began to grow and understand what it meant to be a godly man.

Then we lived happily ever after......   I really hope you don't believe that!  Then we had the tools to build a good marriage.  The real work was just beginning.   In fact it has been 29 years of work.  But good work.  Some days better than others, some years better than others.  

When I recount some of the specific tools we have used to make our marriage work these are the ones that stand out in my mind time after time.

• Being dedicated to our own personal spiritual growth.    See for years I was "worried" that hubs was not growing spiritually as he should so I helped him along.  The Lord showed me very clearly that I was to pray for him but leave the work up to Him and my hubbie and to get out of the way and grow myself.  I did that through joining a bible study with other ladies & lots of prayer. 
• Placing ourselves under biblical teaching through church and a small group. Going to church together & learning what the bible said was huge in our marriage!  We started going to a couples class and got to know others that were wanting to grow in their lives too.  We still hang out with some of the couples we met in church over 20 years ago.
• Doing things together.  Yes, we both have our separate interests & work but we spend a lot of time doing things together.  Yard work, taking walks, travel.  I have had to give-in to car shows & he goes to antique shops with me.  Living separate and meeting "in the night" just doesn't work long at least not in a marriage that is fulfilling.  

You would think after being married as long as we have that we would have these tips down pat.  BUT we are always working on them.  They do come easier after time but marriage will always take work, prayer & commitment.   I am thankful for the grace and mercy God has shown us.

So here we are 29 years later......

with a love that's stronger and a faith that's deeper than the day we said "I do."

Dream Vacation Part 5

Chicks I am wrapping up the Dream Vacation......  I hope that is not applause I hear out there.....Really you have all been so kind to endure all these photos.  Thanks for letting me share them with you.

Okay we are leaving the quiet, beautiful countryside of Tuscany and we are headed to the fast paced city of Rome.  On the way to Rome we are going to swing by Sienna, if you don't mind.  In the main square the City Hall and its 330-foot tower dominate the area.

As you can see it is the central gathering spot of the city.  It was very energetic. 

The 13th century Gothic cathedral, with its six story bell tower was beautiful.   

 It sets atop Siena's highest point, with one of the most extravagant facades in all of Europe.  It is stacked with colorful art inside and out with sculptures by Bernini and Michelangelo.  I am name dropping now ;)   I stood by the doors just to show you how large they really are.  The current structure dates back to 1215.

Now we really are heading to Rome for our last 3 days.  Rome is so rich in history and really quite spread out.  So we invested in another private tour guide that was excellent.  We told her the places we felt we had to see and then she made some other suggestions.   She was well worth hiring. Plus she had a van with a driver.

I am going to hit some of the highlights of what we saw.   First on the list is the Colosseum.  It is a 2,000-year-old building and one of Europe's most recognizable landmarks.   The gladiators fought in this huge stadium.

Only about a third of the original colosseum remains. 

Some of it was destroyed by earthquakes, but most was carted off to build other buildings during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.  I could go on and on about this structure but I won't......I know I heard applause then.

The Piazza di Spagna, with the very popular Spanish Steps, is named for the Spanish embassy to the Vatican.  It has been around for about 300 years.

It was lovely with the azalea's in full bloom.

Need I say we toured the Vatican Museum which includes the finest art of Western Civilization , culminating in Michelangelo's glorious Sistine Chapel.  As well as St Peter's Basilica, the most impressive church on earth!

It is hard to put into words the beauty inside these amazing structures! 

We saw The Pantheon.  The original temple was built in 27 B.C. by Augustus.  After a couple of fires,  the structure was rebuilt around A.D. 120!  I don't know what took them so long....lol

Washington D.C's Capitol Building was inspired by this dome as well as Michelangelo's dome of St. Peter's.

Our guide insisted that we tour the Borghese Gallery.....I am SO glad she did.

The gallery is a beautiful villa set in the greenery of surrounding gardens.

I told hubby we were going to have to get with it in our yard when we get home;)

Camera's were not allowed in the gallery or else I would show you the masterpieces of art inside.   Again amazing with Bernini's David (1624) twisting around to put a big rock in his sling being a highlight for me.

Our next stop was one of my favorite......St. Peter-In-Chains.  Founded in 440, it's one of Rome's oldest churches, built to house Peter's chains.

The chains date back to Acts chapter 12 where Peter was bound with chains.  Just the thought that these really might be them was surreal! 

The central ceiling painting (1700) shows the chains as well.....

 This church also houses the famous Moses (1515), by Michelangelo the earth's greatest sculptor.  

In this statue Moses has just returned from meeting face to face with God.

He turns to see the Israelites worshipping a golden calf.  You can see the anger in his face.  His cascading beard is one of the greatest in art history.

After that we went on to visit The Trevi Fountain where I tossed a coin in to ensure a return trip to Rome;)  We saw the Catacombs which are layers of tunnels with tombs, mainly Christian, outside the city.   We stood above the Circus Maximus.........we toured for 2 days straight until this 50 year old body wore plum out!

Now that I'm home it is back to reality & dealing with the ole apron, working in my over grown yard, cleaning out my closet & planning dream vacation # 2 !  I realized that there is a big world out there that I am dying to see it.....Lord willing of course :)