A PENNY FIR YOUR THOUGHTS, MR DOBSON

***

Don't marry the person
you think you can live with;
marry only the individual
you think you can't live without.

~ James C. Dobson

***

A PENNY FOR YOUT THOUGHTS, SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL

***

You have enemies?
Good.
That means you've
stood up for something,
sometime in your life.

~ Winston Churchill

***

GRIEF

***

Caring for a loved one in a vegetative state has to be one of the most wretched, heartbreaking circumstances possible.

We need interaction and response and growth.

Who knows this sadness more completely than God as he cares for a largely unresponsive humanity?

Don't ever think God doesn't understand the most bitter form of sorrow.

***

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, MR AQUINAS

***
To one who has faith,
no explanation is necessary.
To one without faith,
no explanation is possible.
~Saint Thomas Aquinas

***

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, HENRY ELLIS

***

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.

***

MAY I TAKE YOUR ORDER?

***

Ava made up a breakfast menu this morning...



***

I LIKE YOU, DUME

***

Last Saturday morning on the way home from Mimi and Papa Beile's house, Ava and Jessica had a discussion about "treats." Ava had agreed that sweets would be limited to weekends. Since it was Saturday, Ava had big plans to eat treats ALL DAY LONG. Jessica had to break the news to her that there would be ONE treat a day on Saturday and Sunday. Ava was supposed to attend a birthday party for a schoolmate that day and she could either have the sucker that Papa Beile had given to her, or she could have birthday cake. This didn't sit well with Ava. She got a little sassy and Jessica advised her that sassy girls don't get to go to birthday parties, so she had better check her attitude real quick.
Ava picked up her notebook and pen.
After about 15 minutes or so, Jessica asked to see Ava's journal. Ava began scribbling feverishly. Then she started crying. She said she didn't want to get in trouble. She was told she was already in trouble and could only get out of trouble by sharing her journal and talking about what she had written.
This is what she handed over...


UNDER the scribbling Ava had written:

abawt mom (About Mom)
dume
dume
dume
dume
dume
dume (dummy)

Jessica explained that parents set boundaries because they love their kids, not to make them miserable.
Ava and Jessica made up and Ava enjoyed a cupcake at the birthday party!

***

A GROCERY LIST FOR NONNIE

***

Nonnie requested a
shopping list from Ava
so she can be sure to
have food on hand that
Ava will enjoy when
she visits...
Mac & Cheese
Licorice - red
KoolAids (juice pouches)
Apples
Strawberries
Raspberries
Fruit Snacks
Chocolate
Milk
Ovaltine
Chocolate cereal
A drop of love

***

Then she thought of a
few additional items...
Pancakes
Candy
Gogurt
Watermelon
Blood ( ** c r i n g e ** her vampire phase has not passed...)

***

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, MRS GRAHAM

***

A happy marriage
is the union
of two good
forgivers.

~ Ruth Bell Graham

***

GLAMOUR GIRL

***

Miss King went to a makeover birthday party
for her friend Samantha at Girlfriendz in Roseville.

BEFORE...
On her way to the ball in Nonnie's chariot...



AFTER...
All gussied up...


Ava and Samantha, the Birthday Girl


Someone's inner puppy comes out when she is hyper...


Such a fancy hairdo!


She can hardly contain herself...



Think she had a little bit of fun?

***

SO FAR...

Since Lauren's suicide nearly five years ago, the time of year between the approach of her birthday in December and the anniversary of her death in March has been difficult for me. I'm certain the gloomy weather contributes heavily.
So far, and I'm afraid I may be jinxing myself by saying so, I've managed to avoid an outright funk this season. The downward pull seems weaker anyway and for that I'm very thankful.
***
Ring the bells
That still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

~ Leonard Cohen, poet & musician, "Anthem"