Great post

My friend, Sylvia, over at Christian Homekeeper wrote a great blog called Sit Down At The Table.
This article reminded me of good times and sad times.
The good times are holiday meals with friends and family as In my next relationship I remember early on we would sit at a table to eat but mostly and eventually suppers took place in the living room watching tv. Sometimes it didn't even take place in the same rooms. My daughter and I would eat in one room together and my bf, at the time, would eat in a different room. After many changes I found myself in a relationship with a great man (my husband) and his family. It was expected that supper was to take place around the table. It was great. I could feel the love as even though every one was stressed and rushed we made the effort to get together at this time. We would sometimes have music on sometimes nothing in the background. We would have 3 different generations at the table. My mother and father in law, my daughter and Frankie's little cousin (who is like a daughter to us) and Frankie and I. We would just talk. Talk about what the girls did in school. What was going on at the different places of employment. There was a lot of laughter and silliness. Even Mario (who doesn't know he is a dog) literally sat at the table in his own chair.
Now as my husband and I (and The Monkey) have moved out we make sure to sit at the table for our meals. Not just supper. We even eat lunch and breakfast at the table. Sometimes with background noise. Most times without it. (BTW the table that we now sit at as a family is the exact same table we sat at as a family with my in-laws.)
As our family continues to grow I look forward to the family and holiday suppers at our table.







"make sure you keep it between the navigational beacons."

Embracing Your Second Calling by Dale Hanson Bourke

I have just finished reading this wonderful book. At first I was a little skeptical since I am not yet 40. But I felt like this book was written for me. I loved the attention that the writer gave to Naomi and Ruth. I read this book with a highlighter so that I could highlight passages that I felt very strong about and didn't want to forget. Little comments like "...if I was too busy for friends, then I was too busy." (pg 140) hit home. Reminded me that I need to make time to stay connected with my friends. My favorite sentence has to be found on page 157. the last sentence of the first paragraph. "You simply had to trust God." How true is that?
The writer shared so much of the things that she went through at different times in her life wrote them in such a way that I just ended up feeling like I was her friend.

I was very depressed at the fact that I am approaching 40 but after reading this book I feel like I am ready to accept it and that the best is yet to come... This book is a definite read for any woman approaching the "second half" of her life.




I do want to disclose that I did this review for BookSneeze. I am not required to list a positive review.

Changes again...

Well. I am finally able to sit and spend a few minutes here...
It has been very hectic around these parts...

My in-laws arrived the beginning of July with all our belongings. It was a busy week of unloading a truck then finding homes for everything... I didn't realize how much stuff we actually had.. OK to tell the truth many members of my new family donated items to us... YAY! Less we had to buy! All the rooms EXCEPT the master bedroom are finished.
The last week of July The Boy became very ill.... He ended up in the hospital and they were talking about doing surgery on him.. So thanks to my mother in law I was able to fly up to Boston, MA to be with him. After 4 days in one hospital and 2 days in MA Eye and Ear hospital in Boston The Boy was finally able to go home... Thankfully without needing surgery... (Good thing we pulled him out of the first hospital. After 4 days they still were unsure of what was wrong with him. MA Eye and Ear knew in 2 hours.) So I ended up spending from Monday until Saturday there.
Came home Saturday the 30th of July in the morning... My mother in law had surprised me by getting an earlier flight than expected and was actually waiting with Frankie and The Monkey when I got off my flight. My flight actually landed 20 minutes early. We had to wait 5 minutes on the tar-mac since the other plane was still in our gate... I managed to arrive 10 minutes after my Mother in Law...
Saturday night The Monkey received a text from her Cousin. In this text was the picture of the Monkey's new half brother that NO ONE in the family knew was coming... 10 minutes after this text I received a call from the Boy, now mind you I left there at 3am. He wanted to tell me that his gf was pregnant. I was quite shocked to say the least. But I am embracing this news with the reminder that Children are a gift from God. Right now we refer to him/her as Lima Bean.


"I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille" (Lima Bean @ 5 weeks gestation)


Lima Bean @ 6 weeks gestation

Isn't it truly amazing how God can change something that looks like a ball into a beautiful work of art?

So that was Saturday. We were up early Sunday for our family vacation. We went to Snug Harbor in Madeira Beach. I highly recommend this little B&B. It is great. We stayed in the room called "On Golden Pond." When I opened our blinds the view was straight back of the boat slips and the water. It was absolutely beautiful. We spent 4 days swimming in the pool, drinking beer, fishing (my new favorite hobby!) and having a great time visiting. We stopped in the Candy Kitchen a few times (was really a necessity with a 16 yo, 13 yo and a 9 yo.) for some treats. Then on the last night there Frankie, myself, my BIL and his fiance (they are getting married October 9th) walked down to Daiquiri Deck for a few drinks and some pool. A great time was had by all...
We returned home Wednesday afternoon to run some errands and then I did about 5 loads of laundry (Frankie doesn't do laundry so I had all the laundry from before I left to go to Boston plus what was worn the week I was gone). Then my mil and fil came over Thursday and Friday to paint the Monkey's room. Blue and Grey. Friday I did a big sweep of the house (the dust bunnies multiplied quickly while I was gone and no one could find the broom... Hmm... Thinking of making a sign for the closet where the broom has been for months just so they know where it is!)
My in laws left Saturday morning and we started puppy sitting our furry "niece" Roxie.


Roxie went home this afternoon... So now it is time to sit an relax....

Finally yesterday I was able to get The Monkey completely registered for Virtual School. YAY! I had started this process before having to leave unexpectedly to go to Boston. Then while I was gone they had sent me a message to call them. I was able to call and get everything fixed Friday and as of yesterday she has been approved and will start on August 23. I will only need to purchase items that she will be using. All the books are provided through the school.

Oh and on Monday while I was gone I was voted onto the Condo Board! YAY! Of course I have no idea what position but I am still pretty excited about it. I was also happy to see when I returned home from Boston that the bike that was chained to our stairwell had been moved to the bike rack which was moved away from the dumpster. YAY! No more tripping over the bike handlebar.

I hope everyone has a wonderful blessing filled day!



PS. Lima Bean is Due April 1st.




"make sure you keep it between the navigational beacons."

Some wedding pictures.

Here are some pictures from our wedding in June.

Frankie and Lola



My in-laws


The Boy, The Monkey, Little Man's momma, and Ms. Diva



The Boy and The Monkey


The men folk- The Boy, Little Man, Frankie and his father



The Monkey and her nephew, Little Man



Little Man's momma, The Monkey and The Boy



Sha Sha (aka Lola) and Little Man. He was so tired and also teething so he was a little cranky.



Little Man's Momma and Ms. Diva




I still have many pictures to go through and I will post more.





"make sure you keep it between the navigational beacons."

Embracing Your Second Calling by Dale Hanson Bourke

I am member of a site called BookSneeze. Here you can get free books if you write a review about it... FREE and BOOKS Two of my favorite words! LOL
I am currently reading Embracing Your Second Calling by Dale Hanson Bourke. I just started it last night but I have to say that I had to make myself put it down.
I love the fact that there are boxes title Reflect and Act. It really gets a person thinking... There are also quotes throughout the book.
Like I said I have just started reading it but so far it is really great.




"make sure you keep it between the navigational beacons."

I am Mrs. P!

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. As anyone who has planned a wedding knows it is a hectic time.. Try moving, buying a condo and planning an out of state wedding all at the same time! Man was is rough... But it was so worth it.. I now get to spend my life with Frankie and Monkey in our Paradise.
I finally got see the grandbaby- Little Man. He is such a doll.. Of course I might be biased but I don't think so! He was such a joy to have around. My in laws loved him to death... Even Frankie (who normally stays away from little babies) was in love with him. We found Frankie a couple of times downstairs rocking Little Man or holding him and talking to him...
The day before the ceremony my father called to say that he was unable to make it... He was driving his motorcycle up from Orlando to KY (a 16 hour drive) and had a blow out 250 miles from his home. By the grace of God he was able to control his motorcycle and not dump it. He was able to get to the side of the road safely.
The ceremony was beautiful.. Just Frankie, me, both of my children, Little Man and his momma, Frankie's cousin (who is like our second daughter) and my in laws... It was just the way we wanted it.
The reception was wonderful... My in laws did all the decorating. It didn't look like the same hall that we had seen. My FIL did a blessing for us and my brother in law did the toast (this Frankie didn't know about).
The food was awesome.. My in laws can cook! Jerk chicken, bbq chicken, mini cheeseburgers, pasta salad, fruit bowls, etc...
Our first dance was great.. We danced to Cross My Heart by George Strait. We had a surprise for my in laws as they are so great and have done so much for us. We dedicated a song to them for them to dance. Look At Us by Vince Gill.
I can not wait to share pictures with everyone...





"make sure you keep it between the navigational beacons."

Tomorrow will be the official one week mark of living in our new home! It has been great... We spent the first couple of days using a box for a "coffee table" as the monkey called it. We also sat on pillows on the floor. Then we decided we would go look for a temporary dining table (since ours will be down after the wedding). We looked around at Wal Mart and decided we didn't want to spend $70-$150 on a table and chair set.. As we were driving the Monkey saw a thrift store and pointed it out.. So there we went.. We walked in and one of the workers gave us a paper (I didn't bother to look at it). We walked around the store. Walked past a little table with 3 chairs but kept walking.. Then walked back to the little table... Told Frankie that it would work. It was meant for us since it had only 3 chairs... But Frankie was looking and said he didn't really want to spend $20 for the table and $6.98 for each chair... So I happened to look at the paper that was given to me when we walked in... There right at the top were my favorite words- 50% off all furniture... LOL So we ended up spending $21 for it all... We decided that we would put it on the porch after our items arrived (that way the parents could have somewhere to sit while smoking). Two days later Frankie's brother and his family came over for supper (BBQ Ribs, Potato salad) and brought shrimp cocktail, shrimp wrapped in bacon, baked beans and a card table with 4 chairs for us to use (they didn't know we had purchased the other one). Frankie's brother and his fiancee also gave the Monkey a full size bed and night stand.. Yay!!!! She loves it..
So we have kept with our plan to swim daily... Every day at least once. There were two days when we swam twice.. We have gone swimming as early as 8 am (this morning Frankie and I went swimming when he came home from work) and as late as 7pm.
My crock pot is my friend again.. BBQ ribs on Memorial Day and then tonight I made Boneless Chicken Breasts with Cream of Mushroom soup (which I put over brown rice). I won't be doing any baking until after we return from the wedding..




"make sure you keep it between the navigational beacons."

Its that time again to join in with Sylvia and others for the Homekeepers Journal.


In my kitchen ….. Today is an easy day in my kitchen. I am making pasta and sauce for supper. Once we are back from the wedding I will be cooking and baking more. I just don't want to bake and have to leave it here for while we are gone.

My marriage or relationship ….. growing stronger daily. We are at the last 2 weeks before we become Mr. and Mrs. I am so excited. I look forward to wearing his last name proudly.


With my children …… The Monkey is still doing her school work. She is getting real good with it. She is now just getting up in the morning and starting it without being asked. The Boy is going through a lot right now. Trying to figure out life. His fiance and him just split so they are trying to work on being the best parents to their son.

I feel so relieved when …..when I know where all my family members are and 2/3 are home. (The Boy lives in MA).


My spiritual life is (choose one) flourishing, declining …. (and talk about why)… Slowly flourishing. I am still trying to get into the habit of reading my Bible. I have a daily verse up on my yahoo page that I read every day. I am trying to surround myself with better influences and make better choices that I show that I am a Christian and am proud of it. I am trying not to be just a sometimes Christian but an all the time Christian.

If I am honest, the thing that keeps me from praying as much as I should is ….. Me. I always seem to wait until last thing before bed and then fall asleep... I have started praying on the spot when I get the feeling that I just have to instead of making a list and trying to do it before bed.


I see God moving in ( a particular area) and …… My life. Starting to make me remember what it is like to be a Christian and to remind me to be the best Christian I can be. He often reminds me that He is in control.

This is in the deepest, darkest recesses of my mind, but should be moved into the light …. I need our Heavenly Father to help me get over some things from the past and realize that people are different and I should hold against one person things that someone else did.