A Cheering Grieving Hodgepodge

Welcome back to our Wednesday Hodgepodge sponsored by From This Side of the Pond

Life is full of cheering and grieving, isn't it. We cheer the living and grieve for the lost; for the Christian we do both.

1.  It's National Wine Day (May 25)...do you like wine?  Red or white?  Dry or sweet?  Do you have a favorite?  Have you ever been to California wine country?  Or any other wine region?  What's a dish you make that calls for wine?

I am not a wine drinker.  I have tried both red and white; dry and sweet and really do not care for any of them enough to repeat.  Hence, no favorite.  We drink no other alcoholic drinks, so I guess I should say we just aren't drinkers at all.

We have been to California but not to wine country.  Texas has some lovely wine regions that we have visited with friends, where we dined and tasted.

We like to use white cooking wine in several recipes and keep it in the pantry.

2.  What's something you've whined about lately?

Not being able to walk due to a hip flexor issue, and not being able to work out in the pool because it's still too cool. Soon though, I will be whining about the heat.

3.  Last time you were 'wined and dined'?  Tell us about it.

Several months ago we were 'wined and dined' by a couple friend whose wedding Dick had performed.  It was a lovely evening in one of North Plano's finest.

4.  Three cheers for _________________

Granddaughter Cassidy celebrated her 26th birthday on Tuesday and we had a family celebration with the most adorable little baby boy who was actually the center of attention.

5.  This will be the last Hodgepodge in the month of May.  Somehow next Wednesday the calendar rolls into June.  Before we go though, sum up your May in twelve words or less.

Wonderful family visit, travel fun, rocking Landon, cool temps, loss and grief.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

This week my husband lost a classmate to a long battle with cancer.  

Our son lost his "brother/friend" in a freakish boating accident last weekend.  John and Charles (center of picture above - Charles's brother is behind him and our Christy is far left) were born less than a year apart and grew up as brothers playing in the same play pin as babies, involved in the same church activities from birth to college, played baseball together from pee wee to college.  To our children, his parents were Daddy Ray and Aunt Sarah.  So many great memories.

Sarah and Ray Norris were our first and best friends when we moved to Bastrop, LA in 1969 and Sarah remains one of our dearest friends.  Our hearts are broken for her and Charles's family and long list of friends.

Charles was a co-founder of the wonderful organization in South Central Texas, Cowboys 4 Heros.  It has done amazing work in that part of our state in supporting first-responders, and especially helping assist combat veterans and their families during the challenging transition from active duty to civilian life. Charles will be greatly missed, but with Memorial Day just ahead, he will be especially thought about.

Cowboys 4 Heroes Facebook

Weekend of The 3's

This past week "The 3's" gathered at the Baton Rouge home of our friends the Smith's.  As you may recall, there were four couples of us who had been friends since all of them (except me) were in college together back in the early 60's.

Wayne and I have known each other since we were children, so we had that connection.  Everyone was a music major except Wayne and I.  Our joint friendships developed through everyone's personal involvement in the Louisiana Baptist State Music programs.  We traveled to conferences together, camped together, did state-wide and convention music programs, and our seven children grew up being friends as well.

Due to moves out of state and life in general taking over, we lost our connection through the years.

In 2017, we all met up for lunch and the reuniting began.  Since that time, we have made it our mission to get together at least once a year.  We did that as four couples until the passing of Nancy this year.  Then Wayne designated us "The 3's," and that is sadly what we have become.

As Wayne was visiting his children in another state, he was unable to join us for our most recent get-together this past weekend.  We decided once a year was not enough any more, because we never know when it might be the last time for one or more of us.

Isn't it unfortunate when we take our special moments with family and friends for granted?  We tend to think those opportunities for sharing love and memories and new experiences will last forever.  But, they never do.

I told you we would definitely eat well because Vicki is a wonderful cook.  Dinner Thursday night was a typical "Southern" menu with squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, rice and gravy with roast, with home-made rolls.  I didn't get a picture because I was much too busy enjoying this delicious fare to think about anything else.

We enjoyed our early Friday morning on the patio overlooking the pecan orchard expanse of the their backyard.  Rain from Storm Hannah was headed our way, so we loved the glimpses of sunshine through the trees.  And yes, it was a very humid and muggy 80 degrees at 8 a.m. in Baton Rouge.

Friday morning breakfast was perfect because we knew we would be eating better than we should for lunch.

We had breakfast banana splits (minus the Blue Bell ice cream) with lots of berries on bananas topped with nuts, granola, and yogurt.

Healthy, tasty and pretty is a perfect combination.

Lunch time found us about an hour southeast, nearer New Orleans than Baton Rouge at Manchac where we ate fish prepared in several ways.  Their specialty is thin fried catfish and all I can say about that is, it must be tried to believe how good it is.

The storm hit and we were unable to walk outside and enjoy the sights and sounds from the Manchac River and resident animals there.  However, the drive in the rain was well worth it for the renowned food.

Friday night we sat around the table playing games and eating popcorn with chocolates.

 Before we reluctantly went our separate ways Saturday morning, we had one more delicious meal together.  This Cinnamon Roll dish was as easy to prepare as it was good to eat.

Simply cut 2 rolls of Cinnamon Roll Dough into quarters and mix with a can of Apple Pie Filling, and chopped walnuts then bake at 350 until done.

We served it with our left-over berries and yogurt.

After we had devoured most of it, we remembered Vicki's special cream sugar topping she had made.  Needless to say, it was good even without it.

A few years ago, Vicki and Marvin's home was totally destroyed by flooding waters.  After it was rebuilt I painted this linen canvas for her to remind them that God's mercies are new every morning.  I loved seeing it again hanging in their home.

We are grateful for our time together as The 3's but still desperately miss when we could have been called "The 4."

Hello Friendships

Many years ago a group of ladies, bound together by a Sunday School teacher who loved each of us unconditionally for who we were, became the "DOVR" - Daughters of Virginia Revels.

Virginia is front center.  Can you find the writer of this blog?

 Twenty years later a group of us got together to honor this special lady and friend.

 This week an even smaller group of us will get together to remember and celebrate lasting friendships.  That will be another blog post.

This past weekend, my two daughters had their own time with special friends and seeing pictures of their happy faces, I realized again what a treasure such friendships are.

With their permission, I want to share my precious girls and their friends with you.

Daughter Christy, has a very special friendship with Malissa and Jennifer perhaps partly because their young daughters are so close.  But these three beautiful ladies have also built a special friendship based on their own common interests and respect for each other.

Christy, Malissa, Jennifer.  The lower right pic was taken from the Advocare skybox at the recent CMA in Dallas.

Christy had a birthday recently and Malissa and Jennifer thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to spoil her a bit this past weekend.  And spoil they did with shopping, spa treatment and pool time at a Dallas resort.

 Having fun with matching outfits at Diane von Furstenberg

Then to cap the weekend, a night together with their husbands at a large fund raiser.

Thank you Jennifer and Malissa for being such great friends to my daughter.

My Daughter-in-Love, Michelle had her own special time this weekend with friends who are some of the sweetest ladies one could want to meet.  I have come to love each of them and so appreciate their love from my Michelle.

Sherri, Michelle, Brenda

Nothing like a day trip into Chicago for good food, shopping and spending a fun day with beautiful, happy, funny, and loving girl friends.

Sherri, Kellie, Brenda, Michelle

A few months ago, Michelle made a trip south from cold Indiana to visit one of her best sister/friends, Dee Dee in New Orleans.  I am so grateful for this kind of lasting friendship for her.

Friendships such as these are rare because they are demanding and costly.

Friendships are Patient
Friendships do not hold Grudges
Friendships are Liberating
Friendships show Respect
Friendships are not Envious and Jealous
Friendships are Forgiving

  I thank my God at every remembrance of you my precious daughters.