Happy Birthday to me...

What a great birthday... I kind of just focus my special day on how special and loved I feel and that doesn't just happen on my birthday; it's really an accumulation of the entire year!!

And it's just sweet; God is so good to help me realize these feelings and boost me right up!

I had a work conference to put on and honestly I was bummed it was scheduled on my birthday.  I had to get up super early and buy the breakfast food to take and set up.

But they celebrated with a big cake and singing happy birthday... it was a super awesome way to start my day.

My mother in law always does something festive since my birthday comes when all the Christmas things are ramping up.  I LOVE Christmas decorations, but she knew my Strong Silent Mysterious Man was putting a limit on how many I was allowed to accumulate... so she sent me this dress!

So festive, so pretty, super soft and fit perfect!

Which was just what I needed in my struggle with my weight right now to fit into clothing Ugggg!!!

My next surprise was flowers delivered to my work!

They were so beautiful, in a really special vase.

FROM MY SON!!!  

So sweet, with a really special sentiment on the card.

It really melted my heart, I love him so much!!!

The day just kept getting better when I was able to get off work at 2pm and Jim joined me for an afternoon on the town!

Since we didn't have anything planned, as we were leaving I saw the title for the Mercedes on the table and I hadn't been able to get off work early enough to make it to the DMV to get it transferred... so I asked him if we could get that off my list.  It wasn't a very traditional birthday gift to be at the DMV on your birthday, but it was a gift to me to get this done and to know we can take care of this gem of a car for my Mom and Sister officially.

We had to drive the car to the DMV so that was even more special to take her for a ride, AND it was the most beautiful sunny cool day ever!  We loved every minute of it!!

Afterwards we went to a nice steak dinner and then he took me shopping!

What??

I know, right, he's just mysterious that way ♥

Again, not very traditional shopping, but I had a gift card from Costco... so we went to see if I could find something I wanted there.

I ran across some under counter LED lights and if you know me at all you know I am obsessed with lights.  I think the right lighting is life altering and can set just the right mood for any occasion.  

So under counter lights and a pair of sweat pants... perfect gifts for me!

Oh hold on, it's not over and just gets even better!!!

When I got home there was a package from my Mom and Sister!!!

A beautiful outfit, black pants a purple plaid shirt and a black vest... it fit perfectly and I love it so much!!!

That evening I got a video chat from my grand babies!!!!!!!!

The best heart filling call of the day ♥♥♥

it was among many great phone calls and cards!!!

The next night it was dessert with my BFF!

(we laughed at how you can't tell where her hair starts and mine ends.. even though our highlight colors are totally different, they look exactly the same in this picture)

Nachos with that yummy white queso dip and Fried Ice Cream!!

I know, we were only going for dessert, but neither of us had eaten dinner yet, so we had to take care of business first.  Isn't that what you do with your bff?

She also had a couple of great pictures framed of me and her and another great one with me and mom!! I just love her to pieces ♥

She texts me birthday pictures ALL DAY and always sends me uplifting positive notes to show me how much she cares.

I told my SIL something I have learned in my 54 years is I no longer wake up wanting my loved ones to remember my birthday and being all pissy and bummed out when they forget.  

Now I wake up telling them IT'S MY BIRTHDAY giving them every opportunity to shower me with their love and we celebrate together!!!

It makes all the difference in the world in my attitude and perception of the day and who I am. 

It was just a wonderful day full of LOVE and I felt so special!

I am grateful for another year filled with blessings.

Knowing how much God loves me to put such amazing examples in my life to life and inspire me to be better and do better makes me want to do just that!

I am so thankful and blessed!!!

Happy Birthday to me... here is to another great year ahead!!

Sweet Sunday quiet time...

I really love these sweet Sunday quiet times!

I really LOVE these babies♥

Happy Halloween 2019

The company I work for has an annual potluck with a costume and pumpkin carving contest.

This year I am Flo from Progressive!

I didn't win but there were lots of great costumes and pumpkins, so it was fun!!

Jim will go with me to the Trunk or Treat at the church as Mayhem and Jacob is Jake from State Farm.  So were making it a family affair.

I haven't seen my grandkids but I heard we have a Flash, and Owlet and Catboy.

So I hope I get to see pictures and I really hope they have a fun, shenanigan filled Halloween!!!

Blogging Journaling and Sisterhood...

I am finding myself more and more looking for things trying to remember and coming to my 2 blogs to see if I had posted anything about that person or topic or time.  Then I always get caught up reading a few posts while I am over here.

This week I found a friend and blogger who had posted on hers too for the first time in a while and I was so inspired by the post and all the reminders of why I kept blogging.  I am going to keep encouraging myself to get back here posting!!

It's such a great tool for me!!  Sometimes the hardest part is just what to write about.  I connected with a lady in NM that I work with everyday, her name is Brittany, and we shared about our families today via email to get to know each other a little better.  She shared she has a twin sister.  She already kind of feels like a sister to me, we get along and relate to each other so well.  So I have sisters on my mind!

This week my BFF Cris met her sister for the first time.  They share the same Dad.  She is here to visit for a few days so we went together for lunch so I could meet her.  Cris and I have so much in common and are constantly finding things we are so much alike about.  We've been asked if we were sisters so many times.  So to meet and learn more about her sister is a real treat.

My sister Lynn is going through a really hard time, her brother in law passed away suddenly and unexpectedly and she is driving from Seattle to Yakima right now to go clean out his house.  Oh how I wish I could be there to help her.  I love my sister and I don't even know who I would be without her.  She is the one that tell's me when I am overreacting or being crazy.  It's that just what sisters do?

Tonight the sisters in my church are getting together for an evening to learn and create and unite. There is a lesson from one who inspires women to not let the adversary get in your way telling you lies about yourself or what others think about you.  But to learn to be confident in who you are and create and make goals and live according to those truths rather then the lies of Satan.   And there will be a water color craft.   It is from 6-930pm so much later than I am ever awake for, but I know it will be good.  I have been struggling to keep myself plugged into going; and this morning I was tired of listening to the lies of why I shouldn't like: I have a cold sore, I am ugly, my bff won't be there, I don't have any connections to the other ladies there, I don't fit in etc.   These were also tools that told me in my right mind that it would be REALLY GOOD and I SHOULD BE THERE!!  So I reached into my bag of tools and texted 2 ladies I admire and asked them if they were going.  One replied and said yes and right away and offered to pick me up and give me a ride.  Well there was my answer and I said yes and now there is no getting out of it.

I love that God knows us enough to put Sisters in our lives in ways we probably never imagined or even hoped for!  They are just the best!

Meet Beau James Dayley

Meet Beau James Dayley 

He joined our family 09-21-18

8lbs 14oz - 21" tall

Twin Falls, Idaho

We could not be more excited!

We went to meet him at his new home in Jerome, Id

and he is such a snuggly bunch of LOVE!!!

(nevermind the photobomber in the back)

Of course Beckett and Memphis were excited to see us (and when I say us, I mean Papa, Papa, Papa, Papa!!!)

Jake and Sabrina's family is not really so little anymore ♥

He is already soooo happy

♥♥♥

His brother and sister have been so good with him and were so excited to meet him.  They love him so much!!

If this picture of the boys doesn't get your mind thinking about what the future holds... I just don't know what would. 

I see lots of outdoors in their future!!

We love you little man; welcome to the family!

Its already hard to remember what life was like before he arrived.

I just love how God made our hearts that way!

So big and all encompassing... kind of like Him♥

Happy Birthday!!

I found this previous post, from my Dad's birthday it would have been 2009; and he went back to heaven 3 years after this post in 2012 - 4 days after his 82nd birthday.  I just can't believe it's been 6 years.  I still miss him so much ♥
I don't think I would change anything about this post... it was a great compilation of memories to recall. 
It would be his 88th birthday!
I will add this pics I did from a snapshot of old home movies (I couldn't watch them for years, so I am super happy I can now and rejoice rather than wallow in pain... time does heal).

 I couldn't add his pic, without one of my Mom in the same videos.
It was when they were dating... I just love seeing them so happy and in Love ♥

So here is the older post, from a previous blog...

__________________________________________
Happy Birthday Cliff!

Today is my Dad's birthday "79"!

Wow! That sounds like an old man, but he really doesn't have an old man's spirit. He still seems the same way he was when I was 18.

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Things I really love about my Dad.

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He likes to tease and have fun with everyone, even our pets (okay this was an acquired taste, I didn't always love it).

He used to pay me a quarter to be quiet on car rides.

He taught me how to be independent and especially how to drive in new places and not be afraid.

He knows what he likes and doesn't waver or give in, even when I beg.

He has 5 sisters and 1 brother.

He always claimed he hated cats, but brought a stray home from work that I had been nurturing and really really wanted. She had her kittens in his closet.

He taught me the importance of being a "smooth" driver, so everyone in the car was comfortable and it was easier on the car.

We gave our son his name.
(Jasper Clifford > Jacob Jasper)

He can admit when he is wrong.

He is honest and has loads of integrity!!!!!

He let me bring all my dogs to stay with him... even though he isn't a fan of dogs. I think he even learned to like the "obedient" one (as he called her... Morgan).

He loves my son, bigger and more than life... it's the sweetest thing and makes my heart grow 4 sizes bigger to watch them together.

He gives everyone a nickname.

Mine was Bethaleen (I have heard worse, so I won't complain)

He hasn't called me that for a long time.

He is a great driver.

He used to use me as an example (of what not to do) in front of co-workers to get them to work harder (it made me so mad); but then I would find candy bars hidden in my desk.

He has his own way of saying "I'm sorry" and "thank you"and "I love you".

He gets hooked on something he likes to eat or drink and stocks up on it. A few "kicks" I can remember were...

applesauce

chocolate pudding

Pepsi Light (with lemon)

and most recently Tuscan Tomato soup from Safeway. (so funny)

He claims from all the years he drove truck, he has backed up more miles than I have driven forward. He knows about how many miles he has driven in his lifetime. He has a few million miler belt buckles given to him from Kenworth.

He used to sing in the kitchen, it would start out as a real song, but then he would make up his own words. I haven't heard him do that for a long time.

I have never seen him cry, but I have heard tears in his heart a couple of times.

He is a Mason and has a very strong testimony of God, but doesn't share it with many.

He is deaf in one ear, but has an incredible knack for hearing and recognizing certain sounds out of the other... like the kind of engine under the hood of a truck while driving down the road.

He has taught me how to be a better mother and wife, and I love him and cherish all the fun times we have had together! Sorry I was a rotten disrespectful, unappreciative teenager.

Happy Birthday Papa!!!

♥ There's this boy who stole my heart... he calls me Memaw ♥

It's a bitter/sweet day... 

Beckett and Memphis are moving into their new house!

It's close to us which makes my feet dance, and I am soooo excited for them, and all the new adventures ahead... but I won't say a tear drop doesn't fall every time I think about not seeing their cuteness every day when I come home for lunch, and after work and eating with them and praying with them before they go to sleep.

Meet Jeffrey.  He's Beckett's friend, has been there for him since birth, 

and he is very loved!

So loved his head and foot went flat, from giving up his fuzz to comfort his friend in times of need.

Fuzz, it's a friend too!

As a last ditch effort to make sure he knew how much Memaw loves him... I negotiated a deal to fix up Jeffery for his new bedroom.

So before he knew what he was getting into, he agreed to help me!

After not too much effort at all, and lots of help from his little fingers to get some new fuzz back into those tiny holes; and then stitched up any stretched out holes... he was looking like his old self again (with a little dirt and grime he picked up along the way... hey baby steps).

"Memaw I so happy"

"Oh B, I'm so happy too!"

Oh my love, I could cry he didn't just steal my heart, he melts my heart!!!!