What Is A Full Heart?

I suppose a full heart can mean many things to many people.
There are many things that fill my heart to bursting.  They are never pre-determined by me.  The fullness hits me the  moment it touches my heart.  I don't look back and say "Oh, that was heartwarming."  No, I feel it instantly.  Simple things received by a simple person from those who are clueless as to how full they have filled my heart.

God has blessed me with some of the most awesome Grandchildren.  I can't think of one hateful thing to say about either of them.  Sure, they all have their "quirks", but that is what makes them ~ them.  Understanding that leaves a door open for heart warming, heart filling moments.  Ones that are least expected.

I've had two of my nine grandchildren call me their best friend.  Who does that these days?  I must say it caused me to pause and think.  I don't recall being anyone's "best friend" until then.  But I can't think of any higher honor than that.  It was, to say the least, very humbling. 

Then we have the one(s) who love the banter and tease of life. (That actually, pretty much, fits all of them).  The ones not afraid to joke with me.  The ones with the dry humor that I find hysterical.  The facial expressions, the inside jokes.  They all have that.  I love it. I love them.

Then of course we have the complimentary souls.  The ones who won't let me grow old.  They defy my age. They push me to my limit. Sometimes it's painful, but so worth the effort.  They remind me of what being young is.  In my heart, in my mind and in my spirit. 

I truly can't imagine my world without these guys.  Sometimes just thinking about them makes me cry. That's how full my heart is with them.  That is the impact they have on me.  They may never know that moment when my tank is filled, but God does.  And I know He will bless them along the way.  I pray they may experience that fullness, but most importantly be able to recognize the reason their hearts were warmed.

That's it.  Short.  Sweet.  Simple.

Old and Weak

They say:  "Out of the mouths of babes."  That's what they say.  Who ~ who invented that statement?  Just curious.

All the local grandies, some nieces and nephews, and kidlings in our lives by association met here Saturday night to go Trick-or-treating.

Bob, aka, Pop-pop went with the younger hooligans and their parents to gather the bounty of the night, aka, candy. 

The older hooligans stayed behind to hand out bounty to the tricksters.
I stayed behind to monitor the older hooligans.  I actually monitored them from across the street.  I opted to chat with my front door neighbor as she handed out loot for said tricksters.  I think I watched my hooligans eat half the bounty they were to distribute.  Not sure, but they sure were chatty!  I'm thinking:  Sugar Rush?

Allotted time slot for perusing the avenues was from 6:00PM to 8:00 PM.  Then at 8:00PM the hooligans and all other tricksters headed for the fire hall to parade their creative attire, get refreshments and try to guess the weight of pumpkins. 

Goldilocks came in 2nd for pumpkin' guessin'.

Itty Bitty came in second for her costume.

Itty Bitty.  She follows closely in Goldilocks's shoes, which brings us to topic at hand.  "Old and Weak".

Bob said Itty Bitty seemed to be slowing down as they were perusing the avenues.  He offered to carry her bag.  She politely declined stating:  "That's ok.  You're old and weak.  You're not as old as Mom-mom, but she is weak too."  I just really have no words.  

I thought of that statement this morning when I tried to open the window over the kitchen sink. I couldn't get it up very far.  It gets all cock-eyed in there and won't go up smoothly.  It had me wondering for a moment if I was as weak as she perceived me to be (however that is).  Didn't feel old, but I did feel weak ~ just for a moment mind you ~ just for a moment.

Old and weak.  A combination of "state of mind" and "state of being".  You are as old and weak as you allow yourself to be.  That's my point and I'm sticking to it!

Happy Birthday, Benjamin!

Happy birthday to my:

 

Youngest.

Only Boy.

You're standing on the threshold of yet another decade.

Just two short ~ very short ~ years away from 3.0.

I'm very proud of you.

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

Love you to infinity and beyond!

 

MOM

Happy Birthday, Daniel!

When I say you tug at my heart strings, it's no exaggeration.

It has always been so.

No explanation ~ no particular reason as to why.

You just do.

Very few people affect me that way.

One of them is you.

Simple truth.

 

So, Happy Birthday Daniel.

It's a wonderful day for a birthday.

It just is.

 

Love,

Aunt Crickett

Happy Birthday, Seth!

 Happy Birthday, Sefferdoodles!

You are like the elusive butterfly.
Can never seem to find a current picture of you
Why is this, oh why?

But do not worry my Little Man
A picture will surface that I can use
Yes I will, yes I can!

Happy Birthday!
Love you
Aunt Crickett

Fall Is In the Air

Fall is upon us
I feel it in the air
It is slowly marking it's territory
But ~  not quite everywhere.

The evening sky is shades of pink
The morning sky as well
The leaves show hints of color
But time is yet to tell.

Not long all green will fade away
Upon Nature's changing land
Her canvas will host warm new colors
At the touch of her Master's hand.

Gold, red, yellow, brown
Just to name a few
The mixture of all these shades
Will wash the land with lovely hues.

Breathtaking will the landscape be
Blazing like flames upon the earth
Then to fizzle to a gray
Preparing Nature for rebirth.

But until that time has arrived
We will bask in the warmth of it all
Watching as Nature gives to us
Glorious fireworks we call Fall!

It's Time For A Name Change

I almost feel it's long overdue, as a matter of fact.  One of my sandy haired, blue eyed, squirrely girlies is getting a name change.  Truth be known, the name could fit another of my squirrely qirlies ~ only difference is she's a dark haired, blue eyed girly.  Maybe I should number them.  Ha!

Little Miss Reasey Peacey is now, until further notice, renamed Chatty Cathy 2. 

 

 

"Why?", you ask.

I'll tell you why!

 

 

Not because she watched The Beast tie up lures and managed to figure out how to do one herself ~ no, that's not why.  She was, by the way, extremely proud of herself.

 

No ~ here's why.  Yesterday was a fresh reminder as to why a name change is in order. 

 

3:20PM  Home from school

3:30PM ~ After necessary breaks there comes one of several snacks

3:40PM ~ Homework ~ and selfies while doing said homework

4:00PM ~ I know ~ it didn't take her long to do homework.  Hmm  . . . .  The  "Chatting" begins!

 

I tell you ~ if our (our being me, Ben and Goldi) ears were made of wax they would have melted off our heads.  I don't believe Miss Reasey Peacey paused for more than 10 breaths of air!  All the while I am hyperventilating just listening to her!  The only topic that I was able to hold on to was her historic information behind the writing of The Wizard of Oz.  Everything else was a blur.  She could easily be diverted down the proverbial bunny trail, either of her own doing or someone else's.  One word from anyone concerning anything led to another whole realm of information!  I must say I was worn out by the time she left!  I think my head may still be reeling from the vocal activity of yesterday afternoon!  And here it is ~ almost time for her to arrive home today.  Glory be.

 

So, with some minor consideration ~ it really is a "no brainer" ~ Little Miss Reasey Peacey shall be called "Chatty Cathy 2."  That will remain her alternate, new, nickname until such time her vocal energy subsides to mild wisps of conversation.  Not that I expect that to ever happen given her track record. But one can hope, right?  One can hope?

 

Oh and just for kicks and giggles:

 

Rease:  "Mom-mom.  Have you ever been to a side kick?"

Me: "Side kick?"  Confused, I know there are weird names for the social media ~ snap chat, FB, Instagram, but side kick was new, very new to me.

Rease:  "Yes, a side kick."

Me:  (here I go ~ I'm going to ask) "Rease, I'm not sure I know what that is, but I've never been to one.  What is it exactly?"

Rease: "You know.  A person who can tell your future."

Me:  ? ? ? ? ? ?  Deer in headlights look going on here! ! I had no words. None.  Nada.  Zilch.

Bob:  Rolling ~ "Rease, that's a 'psychic!"

Rease:  "Yea, yea.  That's it.  Have you, Mom-Mom?"   O. Bliv. I. Ous.

 

That girl.  God love her.  She's the apple of my eye.  "No, honey. God warns us about them. They are of the devil." I say.  And she nods.

 

And all is right with the world.  For now at least.



I Will Walk a Mile

On Monday I started a walking regiment with Donna Mae!

I had walked in the past with a friend, but she hurt her foot, life got hectic and our early morning walks came to a stop.  I missed walking (not necessarily at 5:00AM) but more than that I missed our
conversation.  We chatted about our families, how to pray for them and life in general.  And when one walks that early there is no traffic and it is not uncommon for the very early morning sky to still be dark.  And with that darkness came beauty.  The beauty of the stars in a black sky.  The moon shining down on us.  The cool crispness of the air.  Sometimes we would just stop and stare in awe at the amazing canvas God had painted that morning.  And then we'd be off again.  Heading to our destination ~ home.

So you can't imagine how thrilled I was when Donna Mae suggested we "walk together"!  We can chat on our phones all the while getting our heart rates up a bit.  We can start our days ahead of the game.  Why is she smarter than me hadn't I thought of that!!?  Not only that, I get to chat and walk again with someone who is as interested in my life, as I am hers.  We can solve, or at least vent, our own little "world problems" to each other.  We can laugh at them, get ticked off at them, go "hmmm . . . ."  at them, and most importantly, we can pray for them!

 Now, with that said, we do need to pick up the pace. We chopped 3-4 minutes off our time this morning, but the fact that The Boy indicated we were "lolly-gagging" makes me want to kick him in the knee cap up my game.  But give us some credit here.  We've not been on the beaten path for some time.  It will take a little warming up to get up to speed!   Plus, plus we have to watch out for the morning traffic!  Schools buses, cars and trucks and tractor trailers blowing by like giant bees!

But, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we will be on our "A", well, maybe "B" game in no time!

I think I will claim this as my "Walking Verse".  To remind me to TRY to keep my conversation pleasing to the Lord, because I do walk before Him in the land of the living.

Happy Birthday, Bob!

Happy Birthday, Old Timer!

 

No Monster Mile this birthday, but you have certainly conquered a Monstrous Year!

Keep checking off items on your bucket list!

 

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Barb

 

Johnny Appleseed

It seems that even as we get older we never lose the ability to be amazed at the things Nature throws our way.  And so it is with My Boy.  He's well into his 20's but can still find a curiosity in the simplest of things.

Back in late Spring, early Summer "Johnny" was enjoying his daily routine of an apple, a banana and a glass of OJ.  Simple enough.  Boring enough.  But Nature threw him a tidbit.  She gave him two seeds in his apple that were already germinating.  It never ceases to amaze me the little surprises that come along. 

Being of the curious nature, "Johnny"  promptly removed them and placed them on a damp paper towel and then placed them in a baggie.  He let them grow there until he was confident they would survive in a pot.

Speaking of pots, don't you just love these?   

He fusses over his little trees  like a mother hen. 

Don't, I repeat, don't mess with his babies trees!

Here we are ~ nearing Fall.  I'll be curious to see how Mr. Johnny Appleseed  "over winters" them.
Curious indeed.

Happy Birthday, Jenny Wren!

Time has certainly flown by since the day you were born.  It's one of the three things that still remains clear as a bell in my head.

 

Any day is a good day for a birthday, and today is certainly no exception!

 

Enjoy today's gifts and file them in the archives of your memory vault.

 

I love you to the Moon and back  times infinity!

 

Happy Birthday

Love

MOM

Out of the Mouth of. . . . . .

Goldilocks.  I can always count on her to insult me come up with clever verbiage.  Sometimes I just walk into it with eyes wide open.  Never thinking of the outcome.  'Cause I'm stupid innocent like that.  Sometimes I think I am more clever than she only to find out she has insulted me in the most sly of ways.  Never see it coming.  Such as it was a couple weeks ago.

Goldi and I were standing in the kitchen. I was leaning on the sink. She  nestled in between me and the dishwasher.  Should have been suspicious then, but nope. Not me.

I was drinking coffee from my new favorite mug:

Donna Mae gave it to me for my birthday.  I L. O. V. E. it!  Of course Goldilocks knew this but that didn't stop her from asking ~ again ~ about it.  So (silly me) I proceeded to tell her ~ again ~ about my favorite mug.  That Donna had given it to me because we were sisters.  You know, simple and to the point.  So she says, "That's why there are two girls on there?". " Why, yes. You know that." I say to her.  Her eyes start to sparkle. Awe, how cute.  BIG WARNING SIGN HERE I CHOSE TO IGNORE.  (that's all I'm saying about that)   She gently turns the cup towards her as I am holding it, looks at it, looks at me, and then in an ever so sweet voice says:  "I can see the resemblance."  Insert 'deer in the headlights' look here. 

Why, oh why, can't I just learn????  But, always a but, I took comfort in knowing that there are two happy little girls on that mug. So, if I resemble one, then Donna must resemble the other!  That's my theory and I'm sticking to it! !  Sorry Donna.  tee-hee

Happy Birthday, Joseph!

It finally happened.  You've slid over the crest of 30!  How?  Just exactly how did that happen?

At least I know you still have a lot of "kid" in you!  But, as I can see, having a snowball fight in July does tend to take it's toll on someone of your age.  Need some oxygen there Ol' Timer?  Bahahahaha! ! !   Those last three sentences seem contradictory don't they??  Hmmmm.  Oh well.

Have a wonderful birthday!  It's a great day to celebrate!

Love you to the moon and back
Aunt Crickett

It's Official

This Itty Bitty thing started school last week.  Because they rotate K-5 for the first week she only went on Thursday.

But, we know there's always a "but", she starts "full time" tomorrow. 

So, it's official.  She is a bona-fide, by school standards,  full fledged Kindergartner.

Let the craziness begin!

Happy Birthday, Greg!

 

 

Happy Birthday Pappy!

It's a lovely day for a birthday!

Enjoy the moments of today

For they will be your memories tomorrow!

 

Love,

Crickett

Happy Birthday, Gavin!

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Energy on Feet!

It's hard to believe you are 4 years OLD!

 

You are sunshine and gumdrops

May your curiosity never stop

May your adventures be grand

May your memories awesome!

 

Love you bushels and pecks

With hugs around the neck!

 

Love

Aunt Crickett

 

That Tree

Aside from the fact that school has crept up on us and barreled over us with a vengeance, the weather has been somewhat "hinky" this summer season. 

Our Spring started out quite cool.  Warm days, cool nights.  I could have compared it to fall except the leaves were green instead of those lovely amber, golden, red and brown colors.  But, apparently, "That Tree" across the street from me couldn't get it together.  It must have lost the memo about Spring's foolishness silly antics!  Just in case, though, it covered its bases:

It proudly displayed one little grouping of amber leaves.

Hm.  What do you suppose the other trees were saying?  I bet it was the talk of the town!

But, it refused to drop the amber goodness.  It did do a good job shielding it from an unsuspecting passerby ~ that is, until these past two weeks. Summer had brought on heat wave after heat wave. No cool nights. Sometimes it was almost too hot to get in the pool.  The water was like bath water.  Too warm to be refreshing, but too tempting to ignore.

So I think these last couple of weeks really played with the mind nature of That Tree.  It just could not stop itself from displaying its "true color".  The amber group of leaves that had made it through the bulk of  summer finally succumbed to the impending fall weather ~ which by the way is no where in sight!

It unashamedly donned its little grouping in a beautiful red!

 

For the love of Pete!  I can only imagine its transition when Fall finally announces her arrival

Now, don't get me wrong ~ I love That Tree's little antics.  It amuses me on stressful days. It tends to remind me that even though change is inevitable, you can add your own flare to it.  Be it out of season colors or be it accepting a change you may not care for ~ you don't have to go the "whole route".  You can keep a little reminder of things past.  It may prevent us from returning to where we came from and help us anticipate where we may be going. 

Change. Learn to live with it because you can't live without it.
. 

Our "Little Moonbeam"

I haven't met this Little Moonbeam yet. I can't wait!  If he's anything like his older brother and sister he will definitely seal the deal with my heart!  Just looking at him makes me all giddy. 

 

Is that not a lump of sugar laying there?

 

A Moonbeam if I've ever seen one!

Be still my beating heart!

K-5 Bound!

In just a few short minutes days this Itty Bitty will be heading off for her very first encounter with school. I am excited for her on the one hand: new friends, stretching her mind and growing in so many ways.  Also, I am ready for some "me" time.  But (there's always a "but"), on the other hand I will desperately, terribly, undoubtedly miss all this:

Playing with her babies and her kitchen

Silly lunch times

Making her own "cocoon", sucking her thumb and

watching her shows

Going through the grocery sales circular and circling

things "we" need.

Helping in my kitchen

Shopping tools with Uncle Ben

She has a thing for "hats" of all kinds

Wearing a splash guard ~ who knows why. . .

Strumming her guitar and singing

Reading ~ always reading

A hat and a bouncy ball ~ what more could

an Itty Bit want?

Best way to watch TV

900 degrees outside and she dons the wooly hat ~

then. . .

climbs the ladder ~ 'cause Pop-Pop said she could

 
Yes, I will miss these days just like I missed Goldilocks' time with me. 

Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to find a corner to melt down in.

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

How can it be that you have turned eleven? ? ? ?  How? 

I'm in denial.

Just remember, you may be cute, and you may be getting taller, but . . .  you are still my "Little Goldilocks"!   Forever and ever.  So ~ there. 

 

I love you to the moon and back.

I love you a bushel and a peck

With a hug around the neck.

 

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

 

Love,

MOM-MOM

Little Lady A ~ July Visit

I was so happy that Jenny brought the Little Tykes along for vacation!  I hadn't seen them in quite some time.  So sad. Sniff, sniff.

Anyway . . . . Little Lady A is growing into such a beautiful little thing ~ can't stop staring at her!

She is such a little mommy.  It cracks me up.  She dotes over her babies and she expects everyone else to do the same.  For example:  The Big Boy.  He was requested to hold and look after her babies.  He wanted no parts of that. She was insistent.  I think he lost the first battle.

 

 She tucked her TWO babies around him for safe keeping.  He looks somewhat amiss, don't ya think?  He refused to hold them.  She was not at all pleased with that response.  She was not pleased with him.  As a matter of fact she didn't like him.  At any given time one of her conversations with others concerning Big Boy went like this:

 

Bystander:  "Do you like Uncle Ben?"

Little Lady A:  "No."

Bystander:  "Why not??"

Little Lady A: "He won't hold my babies."

 

Plain and simple.  You don't like to hold my babies, I don't like you. 

Well now.  How's that for a "kiss my tail" attitude feisty?

 

The Big Boy had become her nemesis.  She could not conquer him.  She only tolerated him.

 

So it didn't hurt any that Itty Bitty understood her need for "mothering".  They got along quite well.

It also didn't hurt that all three of them L. O. V. E. Doc McStuffins.  The only victim in that scenario was poor Audie Dog.

 

But they took good care of her.  Fixed her up and sent her on her way.  No harm, no fowl.


Looks to me as if she's teaching Catie Bug all the "ins and outs" of the World Wide Web.  It also looks to me as if she has multi-tasking down ~ teaching and watching TV.  And, seems she letting her "babies" run amuck over there! Are they wrestling???   Tsk.  Tsk.  And she does all this with the style and grace of a Little Princess. 

 

 

"Tell me Catie, how does that make you feel?"

 

Little Lady A is full of life and vigor. 

 

 She seizes the moment and still takes time to "ponder".

 

 

 

 

 

 And . . . if you really want a friend for life, just break out the books or a tablet

and snuggle up to read (or play a game)!

 

 

 

She has quite obviously stolen hearts ~ and why not?  Just look at all that adorableness!



 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Happy Birthday Young Man!

Hope your day is wonderful and full of all things good.

 

 

You passed the sentry test!

No one drowned on your watch ~

So, I guess you're a keeper!

Welcome to the Clan of Hooligans!

A "Sticky" Situation

My Mama always told me to be careful what you wish for.

I got a call last night from a distraught young lady.  She had been on her hubby's case for some time to put his dirty laundry in the hamper with the rest of the family's or it wouldn't get washed.  And IF it didn't get washed, then by George, he would have to take care of that task himself.  

Like I said ~ be careful what you wish for

Hubs must have needed some clothes and Wife had held to her "guns".  So Hubs decided to tackle his laundry himself.  God bless him.

Wife went to get something out of the dryer ~ to which Hubs had added his wet laundry after washing without removing the dry clothes already nestled in there ~ and . . . she pulled out sticky clothes.  Kind of like "bubble gum sticky", but not quite.

Be careful what you wish for

I'm thinking when Hubs brought his dirties down, he threw them in the laundry room floor to get the washer ready.  Then he just tossed them in the dryer (on top the already fluffy dry things that were in there) and let 'er go!  Apparently a sticky mouse pad found its way onto a pair of jeans before they landed in the washer and was then transported via wet jeans to the dryer (on top of Wife's laundry) and the heat from the dryer released the sticky goo all over EVERYBODY's clothes! His accomplishment was the bane of her sanity!  (I would like to have been a fly on that wall!)

Be careful what you wish for.

Seems to me I would rather snag a pair of pants from the floor rather than let a novice laundryman have at my washer.  Just sayin'. . . . .


On a side note:

Today at lunch Itty Bitty, Ben and I were talking about age.  Don't ask ~ don't know.  All was well until this conversation (if you want to call it that):

Itty Bitty ~ to me:  "You are past old.
Me:  "What does that mean?"  (One would think I would have learned my lesson by now.  Never ask if your really don't want to know)
Itty Bitty:  "It means you are probably older than you think."

Hm.  I'm sure that could go either way.  I think I'm young, but obviously I'm not ~ OR ~ I think I'm old which means I could kick the bucket any day now. 
It doesn't help that Ben is choking on his food at that conversation.  Nope.  Not at all.

Thank you, Itty Bitty, for those Words of Wisdom.

Little Boy Blue ~ July Visit

I know you know this Little Fella stole my heart the moment I laid eyes on him!  He just did.  I have no words for it.  But, alas, Little Boy Blue, he is a'growin'. 

And he still melts my heart. 

I think he has taken favor to "someone" and "someone" has taken favor to him (although he won't admit it).

Big  Boy couldn't get too far out of Little Boy's sight.  He made sure he shadowed every move the Big Boy made.  We discovered Little Boy was smitten with baseball!  He would sit with Big Boy and watch all day long if he could.  It was priceless to watch him "hit the ball (with what ever would work as a bat), throw his "bat", run the bases and slide!  We know what his calling is!

Watching the Home Run Derby
on the computer
 

Then there was the fishing ~ yep ~ even though Little Boy didn't get to fish didn't mean he didn't have a shared interest with the Big Boy.

 

 

Let's just see what we can find online to spark our "creative juices" or maybe some sweet boat to pine after.  Who cares as long as it involves a fishing pole, lures, water and a boat!  And speaking of boats, let's just see what Big Boy is up to with his!

A key!

There's lights and buttons
and switches!

Train 'em young we say.  No need to wait 'til they're old and set in their ways.  Nope.

And if it wasn't bad enough he had stolen my heart, Goldilocks was just as smitten with him as me!
She couldn't get enough of him.  Can't say I blame her. 

Be still my beating heart!

I wanted to just put him in a box and hide him until they had gone back home.  I just WANT TO KEEP THAT BOY!