Today is Jamison's Birthday

She was born on the first day of summer and named after her maternal grandparents. (Jamison Louise was named after James Stevenson and Grace Louise Stevenson) 

Photo: Jamison~about 3 years old

 She was a normal, happy, naughty child and continues to have a huge welcoming smile. 

She is more creative than she cares to admit and carries a book with her everywhere she goes.

Jamison's faith is boundless, and she inspires me daily.

Whenever there is a "bump" in the road, she keeps on going, something I struggle with. She is our inspiration.

Happy Birthday sweet Jami.

We love you beyond the moon.

Mother & Dad

A Family Moment

I was going through old pictures on my laptop yesterday. There are hundreds of folders filled with family, travel, pet and food pictures. Hundreds. I love them all and soon I must update, before my computer dies.

This family portrait was saved from the recycle bin....

Photo: The first time that we met Jared- 2012
Family from left: Jared, Jamison, Lauren, Josh, Matilda, Robin & Larry

The photo was taken the first time we met Jared, Jamison's now husband and our son in law. We had lunch at India Palace restaurant in Dallas.  It was Saturday, February 11. 2012. (YES! Larry looked the date up in his journal for me)

I have no idea how this picture came to be. By the hostess? The manager? Look how little Matilda was!   Was it before lunch or after?

Eleven years have sped by...How wonderful is that?

Posting this photo is one of the reasons I blog. When I am gone, there will be memories and photos posted of special moments.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Thy Will Be Done

Anyone who knows My Larry and me,

knows that my daughter Jami is engaged to Jared.

Brave, strong, Jared is an

 Ex-Marine and Dallas Police Officer.

Last night the Dallas Police Force was targeted 

and many officers were killed and injured.

Where is hate like this coming from?

I am numb today with hurt and questions.

As I try to stay positive today,

faith is what sustains me.

Dear God,

Please give strength to those in Dallas

as they struggle through this difficult situation

of losing loved ones and healing injuries.

In Jesus's name we pray.

Amen.

Love you.

Me

Jami's Birthday

It is the first day of summer,

the longest day of the year.

and

Jamison's birthday.

The funny little girl above,

has turned into an amazing young woman.

I wish her a day filled with special moments and love.

Happy Birthday Jami!

I love you!

Mother

Sugar And Spice

Yesterday was a special day for the women of our family.

We gathered to shower Lauren

with Joy, Good Wishes, Baby Gifts and Love.

Our Hostesses,

The beloved Mary & Emily Cooper,

invited us to a SPA

for

massages.

It was 103 degrees outside,

but the spa was cool and inviting.

Lunch was served when we arrived.

Massages began,

voices could be heard visiting,

talking about Mattie, Lauren and babies in general,

we all nibbled sandwiches,

and

shared special moments.....

Karissa, the youngest of our group,

(and Josh's cousin)

fell asleep after her massage.

Lauren was not comfortable on the table,

so she had her hands and feet massaged

while seated...

After lunch & massages

Lauren opened gifts for Mattie.

It was an afternoon to remember.

Thank you Mary & Emily.

This time-line, will now have a note by June 14th.

Lauren & Mattie's Baby Shower.

I cannot help but think

almost one year from today.....

we will be gathering for Mattie's First Birthday.

Love you beyond the cucumber water.

Me

A Loving Path

It would be impossible for me to share with you,

how strange things are.

Many nuances make up the fabric of our life right now.

New, exciting moments make up each day.

Unlike the past, each day now holds the potential of

utter confusion, joy and or just getting through the day

by taking one thing at a time.

Your notes, emails, comments, and instant messages,

mean so much to me.

Thank you very much for being part of my life.

***

Mattie's quilt is now complete.

On Tuesday, I finished the binding.

The small Amish Crib Quilt was fun to make.

{is that because it is for my granddaughter?}

It is reversible, and this is my favorite side.

I have been calling it the sherbet quilt....

because it almost looks like rainbow sherbet.

***

I have been cleaning drawers, throwing away old scraps of the past,

and look what I find.

Treasures.

Here are Lauren {on the right} and Jami

I think the year is 1985.

Please forgive my sentimental posture these past days.

This amazing journey of mine

is about to take a different path.

A positive, loving path

that already embraces me

and

promises to be the most wonderful time of my life.

Upon that note...

I shall say good bye for today.

Love you alot.

Me

*Personal*

Larry, now that your laptop works in the pod,

I love knowing that you read the blog from your office.

I am glad that you and I are on this journey together.

Love you beyond the moon.

True Strength

“It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more 'manhood' to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.”

                                             ~Alex Karras~

***

This week, Jami and I met for dinner at Pei Wei.

This beautiful tree, near the restaurant

 had snapped in the storm & wind.

Jami posed.

It made me wonder what strength it took to resist such a storm.

And what small weakness allowed it to break.

Life.

Love you, me.

Good Morning America!

 Last Sunday was a typical Spring day in Texas.

The sky was over cast,

and there was a strong, warm, wind swirling.

I had an idea.

I gathered my cameras, lenses and

 my video camera as a second thought...

LIBBY, in a field of bluebonnets!

(this field is a few miles from the cottage)

Guess who was on her way to work,

and stopped to have a photo taken with Libby,

JAMI!

Birds were singing, small children playing,

 Libby loved the process,

and Jami was there.

After the stills,

I video'd Libby for

Good Morning America's THREE WORDS segment.

(Libby's video HERE)

Libby, Jami & I

wish you a happy, wonderful, spring day.

Love you beyond the three words,

Me

Favorite Images

I have favorites.

Favorite images of my daughters & Larry.

They are scattered about the house,

reminding me of moments, smiles, heart.

(I have been taking photos since Norman gave me

a KODAK Instimatic camera when I was 8.

Remember flash cubes? How they stunk when flashed?)

The photo above is Jami.

Sunburned Jami in her ZOO dress.

 She picked out the fabric and I made it.

The occasion of the shot: the sailboat races

in Corpus Christy Texas.

The summer of 1990.

Jami was 6.

She loved Malachite State Park/ Beach.

Today, Jami and best friend Jessicia

are making their way to Corpus.

Spring Break....

GodSpeed girls, text me if you need anything.

Be safe and have the best week ever.

PS:Jami, be careful of the jellyfish

Love you,

Mother

Veterans Day 2010

Dear Soldier,

I stood in a field, in San Antonio, Texas

one cold, March Day

as you took an oath to give your life for this great country.

It was the single most patriotic thing I have ever witnessed.

Even now, emotion burns my eyes.

Thank you for putting your life on hold

while you serve and protect.

The world is a crazy place right now

and

there is something comforting knowing that

you are watching over us.

On this day of honor,

please know that there is a mother of a SR Airman

who

whisperers prayers for you.

May God Bless you in everything you do.

*****

I posted this photo in August.

 While Jami and her unit were deployed to Korea.

It is my favorite.

Thank you Jami.

Love you,

Mother

All is Well

Today is day three without AOL and Facebook.

Facebook is connected to an email address...

and since mine is @AOL.com,

well, you know the rest of the story.

The last 24 hours have been rainy and depressing.

Perhaps I should add busy, too.

Jami called from campus. She fell down steps going to class,

and had to go to the hospital.

Since she is a Veteran, we went to Dallas,

to the

VA Hospital.

Her wrist is NOT broken.

Good news.

After X Rays, tests, etc.

We were starving.

OZONA for dinner.

You know the old adage?

Feed a cold, feed a fever, feed a sprained wrist.

It is still raining, but cozy in the house.

I have that feeling.......

you know the one,

make a cup of hot chocolate and watch Little Women.

(the newest version)

***

All is well at

"The Cottage"

but

IF you need me, text or send out a carrier pigeon.

There is a lot to be said for non-computer days.

Love you.

Me

Veterans Day 2010

I Love this photo.

It is filled with

spirit,

selflessness,

love,

energy,

strength,

youth,

talent,

brilliance,

and

my daughter,

Jamison.

(upper right)

To the parents of the others in this photo,

I send my undying gratitude.

Sharing a child such as this, is never easy,

but,

it is an honor.

******

I posted this entry in August.

I re-post it today,

to thanking Jami and her unit.

May this Veterans Day be one filled with grateful thanks.

Love you.

Me

A Day In Normandy

I smiled. I nodded. I pretended that I "got it" but I really did not understand. It took a fast train ride and a few days in Normandy, France before I realized what true sacrifice is.

Jami joined us that year. She was active duty and as she stood in the American Cemetery, the moment was overwhelming and realization made its way to my heart and brain.

Being a Veteran meant more than being ex-military. It means that you served, gave without question and each veteran gave something, their own personal gift to us all.

"Courage is rightly esteemed the first of all human qualities,

because it is the quality that guarantees all others."

~Sir Winston Churchill~

When Jami was graduating from boot camp at Lackland AFB. I sat with a hundred parents and friends of the future servicemen and women on the field. They marched, stood in formation and then....I will never forget.....they gave the oath. Each young person on the field promised to die for the country. For us. I was moved beyond belief and to this day, that is the one thing that has stayed with me from that day. Two hundred young people promising to die for us, and their country...

Tomorrow, on Veterans Day, please thank a serviceman, or veteran who you might know. Their promise to us was a gift that we have all shared.

Thank you Jami, thank you.

Love you,

Me

http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/normandy_american_cemetery.htm

Yesterday,

Lauren & Jami came to visit.

They ate take away food,

(YAY for Country Burger)

and

discussed the world as they often do.

I sat on the sofa and knit.

( Knitting an afghan for Jami)

It is then when they heard it.

The meow of discontent.

Two neighborhood cats were at our front door,

posturing for power.

I looked at Lauren & Jami,

peeking out at the ruckus,

and grabbed my camera.....

the moments of our day.

Thank you for visiting yesterday.

Love you Lars.

Love you Jimmers.

Me

A Devil of a Campaign

ELECTION DAY 2008

Today is a very special day in our country.

You have the ability to take advantage of your rights

and make your voice heard.

This campaign has saddened me.

Just when I think that people cannot be any nastier,

someone says or does something

beyond the realm of decency.

BUT we must look past that,

and VOTE

( I often wonder if they treat their friends

in such an off handed manner)

No matter how devilish these people have been.

Choose the candidate who speaks best for YOU,

and VOTE.

***

Love you lots.

(PS-The background of the photo is

our neighbors home and I see their political sign)

Ms Hestand Is Fine

Ms Hestand is Fine. She is indeed well and thriving.....my guess is that she is deep into the pages of her next book. (http://ritahestand.com/) Jami, my daughter is working as a waitress. Her 4 years Air Force is done and she is making plans for the future. While in this planning process, she is waiting tables at a restaurant in Texas. Last weekend, while working two shifts Jami found herself busy, and enjoying the weekend crowd. Waiting on a table, she observed a woman, a woman who looked rather distressed. The woman was choking. Jami asked her "the" questions.....and with a nod of her head, the woman agreed to the Heimlich. The Air Force trained Jami in all of these basic life saving techniques. In a second it was done. The woman....back at her table was resting. Jami went on with her day. A few days later, a book was left for Jami, at the restaurant. Ms Hestand left her a novel that she had written.....how did she know that Jamison's favorite thing in the world is a BOOK? Jami was relieved to know that Ms Hestand was fine......We are all happy to hear such good news. Blessings abound. Thank you Jamison, for being you. Love you, Mother

Steadfast Love

He cried when the first was born. He was stunned at the miracle. Two weeks later I became ill, almost dying. He worked all day the store, while Mother took care of Lauren and at night he had baby duty. He did it all, from diapers to making bottles, to just sitting and holding her in his arms.

Number two was born 3 years later. He danced and cried. He had two little girls. This delivery was normal, but he still was the same hands on Father as the first time. Jami was a joy.

I am married to the best father in the world. He is amazing. He is steadfast, strong, honest and supports Lauren, Jami and myself in all ways. Lauren's illness, Jami's Air Force, and when my own father felt that he couldnot be a father to me, Larry reminded me that I had enough wonderful fathers in my life....to move on and be happy.

Larry is my heart, my love and the father of two wonderful young women.

Happy Fathers Day to a wonderful Father. May the joy of this day live in your heart forever.

Larry, We Love you beyond the moon......

Me.

PS~ the Fathers Day Luau will be here this afternoon....stop by for Kaula pork and a "catch". Life is good.....

The Iceberg

Yesterday was beautiful. The breeze was cool and the sun was warm. We spent the afternoon at the Dallas Museum of Art, enjoying one of the last days of the JMW Turner exhibit.(it is in Dallas till the 18th of May) The photo above of Jami in front of her favorite painting since childhood...The Icebergs by F. Church.

Larry is out of town and I have a dozen things to do before he comes home late this afternoon.

Unlike yesterday, today is warm and over cast. I cannot believe that it is May the first.

This year has been amazing. So many wonderful things to keep a mind busy and occupied. No wonder the days have flown by.

Have you ever noticed that when your life settles down into a certain rhythm, something goes haywire? Well, I am feeling so content right now that I await the haywire moments.....bring them on! What a lovely day it is today. Love you lots, Me

PS~ Here is the link to Fredrick Church's Iceberg Adventure....

http://www.ric.edu/faculty/rpotter/harvey.html