Happy Birthdays & Happy Easter

This past weekend we celebrated birthdays and our Risen Savior, so let me tell you about it in order.

April 6

The 6th of every month, both our great grandboys get a month older.  Last Thursday Jax turned 9 months old and as you can see, he is "SO BIG" and a happy boy.

Landon completed his first year and is just about to fill out that sweater.  It is pretty obvious that we have personality overload in these two, and we could not love them any more.

April 8

This is our oldest granddaughter's birthday and she turned 30 and we are still wondering how that happened overnight.

Chandler gladly shared her birthday with her cutie pie and gave him the best 1st birthday party.  Landon looks just like his daddy except he has his mother's beautiful lips and smile which is pretty obvious in this adorable picture.

The party theme was "A Hole in One!"  Pretty clever since his dad and pops are both big golfers.

His CoCo, my daughter rehabbed this cute golf cart and customized it just for him.

He wasn't too sure about it at first but before long he took on the celebrity status of a Masters Champion and loved it.

The birthday cake was another matter.  He just wasn't into smashing and eating that cake and much preferred sharing it with his mommy and daddy.

This party has been declared a great success and again, we wonder how this happened overnight.

Easter Sunday

Following a wonderful worship service and an overflow crowd of 7,500 in our service alone, we enjoyed a delicious lunch with our daughter and her family.  On the left by me are David and Emily who will be giving us our third great grandson in August.  In the middle is Ava Grace who will be inducted into the Honor Society of her HS tomorrow.  On the right by Dick is Cassidy who be having a birthday next month.  Good things just keep happening.

And here we are with both the birthday honorees.

Across the country in Northern Indiana, our son and his family were celebrating Easter together at their church.

On the far right are granddaughters Mary-Elizabeth and Savannah.  Savannah will also be celebrating another birthday in early May and her mother, Michelle in June.  They just keep coming, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

And this tells the story about what life may be like at the Day house.

Have I already mentioned something about personality overload?

I trust your weekend was as eventful and glorious as ours was.

Happy Easter Hodgepodge

Happy Easter - 1973

This is how we celebrated Easter in 1973 with two of the cutest little Easter Bunnies you've ever seen.  It's hard to believe that now, 50 years later these two each have a grandchild of their own who will be celebrating their first Easter.

1.  What would you say is the most difficult task when it comes to spring cleaning?  Have you completed that task this year?  Any plans to get it done?

For me the most difficult part is deciding to do it at all.  I suppose the least enjoyable and what I put off the most is cleaning out the windows and dusting all the plantation shutters.  We have shutters on all our windows and although I love them, they are hard to clean.

2. Your favorite pastel color?  Favorite thing you own in a pastel shade?

I do not wear pastels because they wash me out, but I did recently purchase a light blue linen shirt for our upcoming beach trip.

3.  Do you like ham?  Yes

Do you fix ham year round or is it mostly just a 'holiday food'?

We don't eat a lot of ham but I do occasionally buy ham slices for sliders.

Baked ham-ham and eggs-ham and cheese sandwich-scalloped potatoes and ham-Hawaiian pizza...what's your pleasure?                                      Ham and eggs with cheese would my 1st choice from these options.

4.  Do you celebrate Easter?  What did Easter look like when you were a kid?  What are your plans for Easter this year?

Yes, we celebrate our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ on Easter with our church family and our own family as well.

As a child, we would have looked forward to new dresses made by our mother and Easter Sunday spent at the church our dad pastored.  We often had egg hunts (which I detested) and afternoons spent with other families in our church.

Our plans for Easter this year is attending a Good Friday night worship service and the 9:30 Sunday morning service at our church.  Afterward, we are going to our daughter's home where we will have a family meal and be grateful for the salvation that comes with knowing the Risen Lord.

5.  Something that makes you feel hopeful amidst all the chaos and confusion this world brings?

Knowing that God has a plan and He is in control.  The story has already been told so though frustrated and saddened with the condition of our world, we are not fearful.  We hold a Biblical Worldview and know how it ends; that this is not our home and we look forward to the day when we will be with Jesus around the throne of the Holy God.

We are also encouraged in seeing that people are being saved and pockets of revival are happening all over our world.  God is working in and through the chaos and confusion as His Holy Spirit continues to bring conviction and renewal.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Last Sunday night our church hosted its annual Zig Ziglar Service Leadership Award Banquet, held at the Ford Center in Plano Texas.  For you non-Texans, this also called The Star and holds the Cowboys indoor practice field.

Zig Ziglar was a long-time member of our church and several years ago it was decided to honor him while honoring others who are living a life of service to others.  Last year Tim Tebow was honored.  This year, Michael W. Smith was the honoree.

We were guests of sweet friends, Bob and Susan Chitwood (left) and among the 800 or so who attended.

Over 1.8 million dollars were given that night to help support scholarship children attend our Prestonwood Christian Academy.  What a blessing it was to hear from four such students and families who have benefited from the generosity of our church family.

May God Be Praised!

Springing Through March

Welcome to Spring

Thank you to Joyce for our weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Why do you blog?  Have your reasons changed over time?

This really is a good question and one I often ask myself.  Originally, I did it as an avenue for creative expression and to occupy my mind in retirement.  My friend, Lea from CiCi's Corner encouraged me and helped me get started.

Why do I continue?  I think it is for the same reason that I began - it is a way of sharing what is going on in my life and that of my family, it is something to look forward to doing each week, and it is still a creative outlet.

Although my reasons have not changed, my focus has.  In the beginning I envisioned my blog being more image, fashion and decorating centered.  That didn't last long once I decided to share the wonderful things that were going on in our life such as grandchildren, trips, events, etc.  I have also enjoyed just writing what was on my mind any particular day.

I am doing much less posting now which allows me to think about other ways to be creative.

2. What's a typical Friday night look like at your house?

Friday nights aren't any different than most other weekday nights for us.  We typically eat a home-cooked meal and try to find something interesting on TV.

3.  Do you like donuts?  Your favorite kind?  How often do you treat yourself to a donut?  Have you ever made homemade donuts?

Yes, I love a good donut.

My favorite donut got its start in 1937 in Shreveport, Louisiana in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Hargove.  When we lived there, it was a special treat to run by the local store on Saturday mornings. 

Part of the early Southern Maid tradition was a large sponsorship for several years of the Louisiana Hayride Show in Shreveport, Louisiana. An interesting note: Elvis did the only commercial of his life for any product on November 6th, 1954 for Southern Maid Donuts. He sang the jingle. "You can get them piping hot after 4 P.M., you can get them piping hot, Southern Maid Donuts hits the spot, you can get them piping hot after 4 P.M." Elvis frequented the Shreveport store for donuts on his visits to the Louisiana Hayride, but it is unsure what impact his jingle might have had on the business.

How often do I eat a donut?  I haven't had one in too may years to remember, and no, I have never attempted to make them.

4.  How do you feel about shopping?  Are you an online shopper?  Catalog shopper?  Brick and mortar shopper?  Do you order groceries online or prefer to select items with your own two hands?

I am not a shopper!  I have no interest in walking the aisles for anything.  Thankfully, Dick enjoys grocery shopping so that is his task.

I do shop occasionally online and prefer it that way.

5.  Next week's Hodgepodge finds us somehow in the month of April, which just so happens to National Poetry Month.  Sum up (or tell us something about) your month of March in the form of a limerick.  You can do it!

There was a third month called March,

And the calendar was filled to the brink.

It went by ever so fast that I hardly had time to blink,

Oh this windy, cold, busy month of March.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Last Saturday night we were invited, along with a number of other couples to attend the 2023 First Liberty Dallas Legacy Dinner held at the renowned Hilton Anatole Hotel.  This was an adventure all its own. It has a very heavy Asian theme, and there are objects of art on every wall and around every corner and there are many corners.  Trust the testimony of my feet.

Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO spoke about the wonderful things First Liberty has accomplished.  Their motto is, "Fighting For What Matters Most" and that is religious freedom.

You will recognize many of the cases they have taken before the Supreme Court such as Coach Joe Kennedy who recently won his case to pray on his football field after a seven year battle.  It was so encouraging to learn that they are winning over 90% of their cases for schools, faith-based nonprofits and ministries, pastors, students, military service members and Americans who have been challenged in living out their faith.

The guest speaker was Mike Pompeo and he did an excellent job of explaining his roles as Director of the CIA and Secretary of State in the Trump administration.  Such a strong man of great faith. We were each given a copy of his book, "Never Give an Inch" which I highly recommend.  And, if you don't happen to recognize him, its because he has lost a ton of weight.  Perhaps in anticipation of running for President?  We will have to wait and see on that, but he may very well have my vote.

Goofing Off Wednesday

We are back on the Hodgepodge after Joyce, our host took a break to enjoy her daughters and precious grandkids.  I so enjoyed seeing all her pictures and reading about their fun time.

1.  Did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in some way?  If so tell us how.  Are you a fan of corned beef?  Cabbage?  The color green?

DID NOT CELEBRATE & NOT REALLY a fan of the rest.

2.  March 22nd is National Goof Off Day...will you celebrate?  Your favorite way to goof off?  Last time you had a whole day to spend 'goofing off'?

When you are retired, you have your option of how many days to goof off, not necessarily just which one.

3.  Something on your to-do list that has been there more than a month?  Will this be the month you finally cross it off?

This was my March To-Do List, which also closely resembles my February one.  Nothing to carry over to April.

4.  In your opinion, what emotion is the most beneficial?  Which one is the least useful?

These happy faces say it all!  The least useful is my look of disappointment at missing an opportunity to see my family.

5.  What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?  Elaborate.

When I wasn't being a tom boy climbing trees and building hide-outs in the woods, or riding my bike, I loved to play 'dress-up'.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

We took an enjoyable Sunday afternoon road trip with friends and these are a few of the most interesting, typical North Central Texas scenes for your enjoyment.  I'm planning to do a blog post including other scenes later this week.

A lazy burro taking a Sunday afternoon nap

Work never stops on a ranch

Texas is known for it's beautiful longhorns

A Wordless Walk in the Park

It is such a gorgeous day here that I decided to venture down the street to the nearby Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.  Sunshine and 56 degrees is almost perfect weather for an outing.  And a lot of other folks thought so too.

I got off the concrete path and took the dirt trails along the Spring Creek.  I hope you enjoy being outdoors with me on this quiet walk.