Ooh La La

Today I treated myself to a French Manicure 

Haven't had a manicure in such a long time!

And, I got to visit with my sweet friend Melody

at her wonderful salon

Tomorrow is my great-niece's bridal shower

and I wanted my hands and nails to look pretty. 

Thank you, Mel, for doing such a great job

 especially since my hands were such a mess.

SO...tomorrow is a very special day for Brittany 

I am so excited for her!!!
(and you too Jeffrey)

Tonight we had the unexpected pleasure of visiting two little sweethearts

We gave them lots of hugs and kisses 
XOXOXOXOX

My Day with Ethan

I'm a little frustrated tonight because my computer is giving me fits again.

Technology can be great but it can also be oh so frustrating!

Anyway, today was my day with Ethan 

and here are some of the things we did:

Shortly after he arrived he took a nap.

His momma said that he was up most of the night...I think maybe that had something 

to do with him sleeping instead of having his morning cereal, ha ha

  

I love the way he crosses his feet when he sleeps

So then he woke up and had his cereal

(but I didn't get a change to snap a picture because he was hungry and a bit impatient)

After he ate, we watched some music videos.

I showed him the new Kia Soul Commercial with the hamsters.

 He liked that.

He had play time with his toys and eventually had lunch

but Ethan did something new today - 

My husband called and I put my phone on speaker and let Ethan hold it.

Ethan began chattering. He was carrying on a conversation. 

He knew it was the phone and he was trying to talk. 

He didn't put the phone in his mouth like he normally would

he just kept grabbing it between both hands and chattering away. 

I couldn't catch a pic or a video because he had my phone, lol

but he did the same thing when his mommy called to check on him

and he even talked to his Auntie Nettie and Auntie Angie :0)

None of us are quite sure what he was saying, but he sure knew!

Then, later in the day, papa came home and got to spend some time with Ethan.

I asked papa to take a picture of Ethan and me together

Then it was time for some milk

 He was in my arms here while I tried to capture this picture

 And just before his mommy came to get him 

Ethan shared some special moments with his papa

I love seeing them together. 

Until next week then little boy...we love you!

P.S. Ethan likes to fall asleep to music. 

One day I searched my music library to try and find something soothing 

to help him go to sleep...

This is one of his favorite tunes

it usually does the trick every time...zzzzzz

(and don't laugh, I know it's old, even before my time, but it's a pretty song)

Morning Sunshine

Today was a new day. 

This was the view from my kitchen window this morning

You can't really tell but it was bright and sunny outside.
I love the Florida sunshine, it makes me happy.

Mom and I met a friend for lunch who is really hurting right now.
 I am so grateful that we could spend some time with her today.
We had a nice visit.
Then we made a few quick stops before heading home. 

 I'm starting to see Fall things springing up everywhere. 

Here is a tree all decorated for Fall

Isn't it beautiful?

Heavy Heart

My heart has been very heavy today.

Yesterday I learned that a young man only 23 lost his life in an auto accident.

This morning I woke up to the news that a local mother and daughter 

were also killed in an auto accident yesterday.

These things I won't ever understand. 

My heart breaks for these families.

Our family knows this pain all too well. 

Even so...God is still God.

He is merciful and He is just.
He did not cause any of this and I believe His heart breaks too.

I truly believe there is something so much better waiting for us on the other side

if we belong to HIM.

So...why do these things happen?

One of my recent devotional readings addressed this and it brought me comfort.

It was talking about troubles in this life and this is what it said:

" It’s not the way God originally intended life to be, but when the human race first succumbed to Satan’s seduction in the garden, everything on this planet fell into the grip of sin. And the result has been disorder and dysfunction ever since."

You can read the complete reading from that day here.

Don't Blink

I'm getting ready to launch a new adventure

you'll be hearing a lot more about it soon (hopefully).

In the meantime, I've made a new friend.

We've been communicating by phone and email because she lives in another state

but just as I said in an earlier post

it's amazing how God brings people together. 

This woman is a mother of two young boys

and the more we communicate, the more I'm realizing 

how much we have in common

even though we are at different stages in our lives. 

She is raising her young boys 

and I'm now enjoying my grandchildren.

When I listen to her talk about her boys

for a moment I go back in time to when mine were that age.

The years really do pass so quickly.

It's like...you blink and decades have passed. 

I'm feeling very melancholy tonight :0l

Ok, well, on to something new...

have you heard this new song by Taylor Swift?

It's from the movie "The Hunger Games"

I've not read the books, nor seen the movie 

(I know, shame on me - because I've heard they are awesome!!!)

Anyway, enjoy...

Banana Bread and Autumn Leaves

Today I tried a new recipe for Banana Bread

The recipe is a bit healthier because you use less oil and sugar than most recipes.

It turned out really good and moist.

If you'd like to try it here is the recipe.

While it was baking I got out my fall decorations.

You have to use your imagination in Florida

because we really don't see the seasons change...

but I know it involves autumn leaves, pumpkins and scarecrows :0)

Here is our front porch decorated for Fall

This is the flag by our front porch. It's been around a while, but I like still like it

These are a just a few autumn touches to our back porch.

 This flag is out by our back porch. 

It's kind of funny because of what it says...the birds are all coming here.

I like it because it has bright, cheerful colors.

This is the flag my mom sees out her door

(My mom lives in a beautiful apartment right next door)

Maybe now that some Fall decorations have been put out the weather man will get a clue.

You think?

Birthdays and Other Celebrations

Today was the birthday of three very special people in my life...

my brother-in-law Chuck, my great-nephew Steven

and my father-in-law (but he celebrated in Heaven).

I'm thankful for Facebook and Skype 

which helped me share my birthday wishes

for Chuck and Steven,

and for my father-in-law, I thought of some special times we shared

when he was still on this earth.
He loved coffee; and when we'd get together

we would shout out to him:"café, café!"

He use to love that. 

These things remind me of "Pipo"

And let me tell you...those pastries are amazing!!!

I also went to a baby shower today

and then my hubby and I went to church. 

I think tomorrow I will try to put out my fall decorations.

I can hardly believe it's time for that

and then Christmas will be right around the corner :0)

and in-between there are several very happy events to look forward to:

A Bridal Shower

A Bus Rally in Georgia

A Baby Shower

A Wedding

Thanksgiving

Our Anniversary

and then

Christmas