The Simple Pleasures



A simple lunch of peanut butter, blackberry preserves on the heels of bread and iced tea in a mason jar!



My child, playing in our humble backyard pool!

My mom - always making me smile!

Green things popping up all over my Peace Garden!

A Memorial Day celebration and my bandanna tablecloth! (and yes, I did make it!!)

These are just a small glimpse of the simple pleasures that have highlighted my last two days, these days are hard for me, but it helps to look for God in the happy and simple moments...I just have to keep reminding myself of this fact, over and over and over again!

Living it out - one moment at a time!
Bev

Til Then

I have tried to write for the past two days....can't do it.
Life is too short -- I need to play and swim and sing and dance and read a book to my girl. I'll be back -- just give me a few days to process life and loss and the why(???) that is permeating my mind right now.

See ya then,
Bev

Summer Hair

Lately I have been having hair issues!

The last seven years have been the best hair years of my life...and then suddenly a month or so ago, I began experiencing some minor hair troubles. I won't go into detail here - but it has weirded me out! Now that summer is officially here and there is no office to go to each day, I am returning to my summer hair style and trying to embrace the hair God gave me! No more straightening irons and blow dryers and crazy hair products....for most days in the next few months, unless it is Sunday or some other more formal day, those who see me are going to be seeing me like this...

I am hoping a few days of week of my natural style will help out on the days when I work hard to get the "natural" out of it!!

Curly, But STILL Happily,

Bev



Just a Little Catch Up!

WOW! So much has happened since I was here last!

My kiddo ending her first grade year with a BANG! She was awarded two awards at the !st Grade Recognition ceremony, one for reading and one for singing! She's a STAR - we are so proud of  you!!

We left the day after school was out for the Great Smokey Mountains and The Smokey Mountain Car Show ---- all 55, 56 and 57 Chevy's --- my hubby was in heaven!

Our first official week of summer has started out slowing...catching up on laundry, trying to keep our flowers and garden watered in 100 degree weather and fighting off a stomach bug that has attacked my daughter. We are looking forward to a pool date at the end of the week, praying for wellness by then!

Hope your summer is off to a great start!

Happily,
Bev

Bunny's Eye View

My kiddo got my camera and snapped a few bunny shots in her room the other. I just wondering what in the WORLD poor Henry had running through his mind...especially in the last shot...it looks like he is striking the universal sign for STOP!!

Things around here = never dull!!

Happily!
Bev

An Update...

Hey...remember when I was desperate to reach a friend and sent out this message in a bottle the other day?  Well, thank God and internet -- the situation is resolved. My friend lives FAR away...she and I are of different faiths and sometimes I feel that our discussions hinge on the verge of wounding both of us, even as much as we try to not let it happen! Long story short....she understood, we are back in touch and all is well. I was more worried for nothing...really, life is just busy her way!  Whew!

Just wanted to share the joy since I shared the pain!

Happily,
Bev

Celebrating...

19 years as a Mrs.

Whew....seems like only yesterday we were looking like this...

We have celebrated in style tonight with dinner out on the town with our kiddo!

Looking forward to many, many, more happy years!

Beverly 

Another Try...

I couldn't get peace
couldn't stop thinking about you
all morning, all during church
I haven't spoken to you in quite awhile,
I haven't even spoken your name aloud...the doing so
would shatter me....
Every gesture goes without notice...
But today I worked up enough nerve to
actually dial the digits to your phone
I just couldn't hit Send...
I felt like it would go unanswered
You wouldn't take the call
And you used to ALWAYS take my call
And that made me sad
So sad
Sadder than sad
And so I spent the afternoon
in silent wail, tears flowing down as I watched mindless
television and
missed you
and wondered how are you
and where are you
and will you ever be in the
orbit of my world again
My friend, my heart, my someone I could always count on.
So once again I use the public
to display the private pain
to reach out and speak
to find out
to wonder aloud into the abyss
do you ever ...?
and would you have
answered me when I called?


Sometimes you just need to throw a bottle with a message tucked inside, out into the wild blue...and hope it lands on the right distant shore and somehow comes back to you! 

Wishin...
Bev

Parenting...Just a Thought I Found Today

This is just too pretty not to share....Ann Voskamp...Parenting the Many.

Enjoy!

Bev

You Know You're A Blogger When...

You know  you're a blogger when you stop in the middle of a meal to take a picture of what you are eating!

Seriously, I fixed myself the most awesome bowl of grits this afternoon after my long and glorious Mother's Day nap and while enjoying it so much, I knew I needed to share it with the blogsphere! Since you don't have smell and taste ability on your computer (do you?  is that what is coming next in technology?) I decided I needed to snap a picture!

YUM!

It does look like I have a pound of butter in here..I didn't, just a pat and some cheese, I guess the lighting was weird...but it was a yummy bowl of grits!! Oh - and the best cooking tip I ever got...was to start the grits from cold water. I was always taught to boil the water and then add them, but it you put the grits in cold water and THEN boil...you will get the creamiest, yummiest grits in all the SOUTH!!

Have a good night! Make some grits!
Happily,
Bev

A Happy Mother's To You, And You, And You Too!

Just so you know...I avoid Mother's Day like the plague!

Truly -- I am not a fan of the day. I spent so many years crying on the day...trying to get through church services that focused on motherhood, wanting all the moms to stand up and so forth  or even worse baby dedications that took place during those services. It was trauma on top of trauma for me...the scars are still on my heart... and yes, I know, I should have been just focusing on the happiness of having my mom around, being thankful and celebrating her...but when you are in the midst of fertility issues, miscarriages and so forth...it is very hard to do. 

That said, I do want to wish all the moms a happy mother's day, mine included. I am six years away from the horrors I once endured on the day, I have a beautiful child that is truly my gift from God and for six years I have been able to participate in all the commerical, touchy feely Mother's Day events. And yet, as much as I am her mother, she is also a part of a woman who I love and try to honor everyday. I am trying to raise this kiddo the best way I know how...trusting that every decision is the right one and if nothing else, giving her Jesus, just as I promised I would when she was placed into my arms.  This day is filled with tons of bittersweet emotion for babies unborn, grandmothers gone, moms and moms in law still with me, and my child's birthmother who I know is struggling with bittersweet emotions of her own Mother's Day. To say it is a hard day is quite the understatement for me.

I hope you and yours have a great day...we are all gathering at my house -- I am cooking and can't wait to give our gifts to our moms!!

Happily,
Bev

Obsession...and not the perfume -- although I love it very much as well!

Just dropping in to say hello! This week and next are two of the busiest of my year...so I am not sure how much attention the blog will get  -- thank goodness summer is almost here and we can get on a more regular bloggity schedule!

I thought I would do a bit of  a list for us today...just a few things I am OBSESSED with...maybe you can relate --or better yet, leave me a list of your top five obsessions this week!

1. Blackberry preserves.  I don't know where this came from - but in the past three days I have had blackberry preserves for breakfast on biscuits, at lunch on a piece of bread with peanut butter and dinner on a piece of hot homemade cornbread!! I even renamed my cat Blackberry!!! Help me!

2. Autobiographies. Now, you know I love any kind of books - but lately I have been reading autobiographies and LOVIN every minute of it..currently on side table...Ashley Judd and Rob Lowe...great summer reads if you are looking for something to pack in your beach bag!

3. Flowers. Obsessed is not the right word, but I am finding myself wandering the garden section of more than one DIY store here lately. My deck and yard are in full bloom and I am having a great time every evening watering my flowers. It is a peaceful time...and right now - I crave peace!

4. Vitamin Water Zero.  It is a strange thing to obsess over for certain, but I love the flavors and the non-calories of this drink. It has replaced both my morning and evening Coke!!

5. Justice for Girls (store). Unless you have a daughter between the ages of 5 and 15...you will probably have no idea what this is...but it is a cute retail store for our girlies...and Saturday I went in and spent a bit of change, got 40% off of the total AND was given a free cash card to use next week. KEWL!!! I love being able to dress the kiddo in style...for little money!!
That is my list...so what is your obsession this week? 

Happily,
Bev