My Anniversary is Today

(this photo was taken 2 yrs ago)

19 Years ago my sweet husband and I

 exchanged vows and began

our life as a blended family.

It was a simple wedding, 50 guests,

close family and friends.

We did not have a wedding party,

our four sons stood up with us.

Two years later our son Alex

was born, uniting the boys in

brotherhood.

This man is my best friend, my soul mate.

It wasn't always easy, blended families

bring a myriad of challenges,

but having Bill as my partner through

it all, certainly made the last 19 years

the best of my life.

As we near the beginning of our

empty nest years

I cannot imagine anyone else

I'd want to dance the rest

of my days with.

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

The Junior Prom

was this weekend, and here is my baby

all dressed up and ready to pick up his date!

 

I realize I'm probably a little

biased but aren't they cute?

I can't believe time has passed so quickly, seems like

I just did this with his older brothers.

Here they are with a group of their friends.

Sorry I've been missing in action for several days,

I had a very busy week and weekend.

Spent days immersed in yard work and trying

to get everything outside ready for the summer.

Everything is all tidy,

the vegetable and herb garden are planted.

The pond is doing well,

the lawn is ready for a game of bocce ball,

the pool is ready for swimmers,

and the deck is ready to host it's first barbeque!

Hope you'll stop by for a visit, I'd love to see you !

Walking on Sunshine...

at least for today!

(my wire basket with impatiens survived yesterday's cold)

The weatherman says some more showers

 are coming tonight but should all clear

out for the weekend.

(I was worried about the poor things)

(thankfully all was okay this morning)

(can you tell I love rusted garden things)

(ignore the hose, see the rusted bench & wire egg basket?)

My husband says I'll put a plant in

anything if I can get it to hold soil.

Is that a bad thing???

It's Dreary and Damp Outside

today, the warm weather of

last week is just a memory.

It is exactly  days like this

that I am glad I chose to plant

white flowers among all my

(white alysum)

other plants.

It is the white blossoms that

(geranium)

pop when the skies are gray

(moonflowers)

or when the sun begins to set.

(bleeding hearts)

I even like to add some white

to my shade gardens for

the very same reasons.

(Morning Glory)

While the white blooms may

not grab your attention

the way a vibrant color does

on a sunny day. You can be

sure that it's the one thing that

stands out

(shasta daisies)

on a day like today!

How's the weather where you are?

A Chill in the Air Today

but the white clematis in my garden

is blooming beautifully.

The purple jackmani clematis

is doing quite well too.

The jacob's ladder has made it's

appearance as well.

(jacob's ladder)

A close up of the jacob's ladder.

I always feel bad for my blooms

when the weather takes

a chilly turn and often go out

in the gardens to talk to them

and reassure them that warmers days

are returning soon.

Am I the only one out there that talks

to her plants???

Happy Mother's Day & Giveaway Winner

" All that I am or hope to be,

I owe to my angel mother."

-Abraham Lincoln-

I decided that selecting just one

winner for my giveaway

would not sufficiently say

thank you to all who have befriended

 me and encouragerd me.

I have randomly picked five names

from the comments recieved

in the last week and have decided

to choose something I thought would be

meaningful to each one.

Rachel of

'Rachel Cox Designs'

Lydia of

 'Beauty Will surely Save the world'

Janet of

'Just Me and My Art'

Tracy of

'The Vintage Sister'

and

Pam of

'Yoborobo'

Please email me your postal

address and I shall

mail your surprise gift this week.

As a way of thanking all

of you,

if you would email me your

address

I would love to send

you a 'token' of

my appreciation.

Thank you all for taking the time

to leave a comment and

Happy Mother's Day!!!

A Mother's Blessings

are not found in the makings
of a holiday, the gifts recieved,
the cards opened or even
the dinners prepared in her honor.

While it is nice to be recognized
for our efforts, the countless
sleepless nights, the many meals
prepared, the piles of laundry we've
washed and ironed, the clean house
and the hours of guidance we have
provided, our blessings are
found in the faces, hearts and
minds of our children.

My blessings are my children,
I am ever thankful that God
entrusted them to my care.

(My five sons)

I have been blessed by watching them grow
from sweet smelling, tiny infants
to sweaty youngsters with dirty hands,
to sometimes rebelious teens
searching for their independence,
to young men finding their way
and now to adults contributing
to society and sharing their gifts
with the world.

(Alex is the youngest at 17)

(Joshua & Jason)

(Tom, the oldest)

(Josh is second oldest)

(Jason comes next)

(Doug is fourth)

My role in their lives has changed
over the years since they were
first placed in my arms. I have gone
from providing food, shelter
and comfort to leading by example,
serving as advisor and ultimately
trusting in their choices.
While they may remain my babies
in my heart they are
God's children and I must trust
that they are in His loving care.
I am a mother and a stepmother,
but I have also been a mentor
and mother figure to many teens
in our church youth group.

You don't have to be a bilogical

mother to have the heart of

a mother. Many women provide

love, comfort and guidance

by mentoring, teaching, and sharing.

We are role models to

our nieces and nephews.

We encourage and lead our students.

Some times we are called to

befriend the child of a neighbor.

To all of my amazing friends here in

blogland I wish you the sweetest

of Mother's Days,

may you always recognize the

gifts you have to share and be willing

to pour out your blessings

on the children that surround us,

for they are our future.

Happy Mother's Day!