Today

Today I asked God for something I've never asked Him for. 
A Pastor friend told us we are supposed to be specific when we ask for something. 
It feels a bit "wrong" to ask.
Today I was specific. 


Today I received an email from my estranged brother which read: " I don't know why but something just told me to let you know that I love you....Take care..."
It makes me wonder if something is going to happen to me, a family member, or friend. 
Today I won't worry, but I'll sure wonder.


Today I tried to explain to a friend to not feel guilty about things beyond her control.
I've lived a life filled with guilty feelings for my beliefs and decisions.
Feeling guilty doesn't change anything, it just creates stress for yourself and those around you.
Today I'm learning to accept my thoughts, feelings and beliefs.


Today I'll call my sister. 
She's called and left several messages and I've just not gotten back to her.
I don't want to ever feel the loneliness I felt when she wasn't in my life.
Today I'll call my sister.


Today a friend is saying goodbye to his wife. 
She will pass soon after a sudden health issue.
He is on my mind and heart.
Today I'll pray for his peace.


Today I'll make it a good day.
I'll not take things for granted.
I'll tell others what they mean to me.
Today I'll try to better someone's day.


Today I'll Thank God for things He has given me...
and I didn't even have to ask.

For Jada

I love hands.
My Grandma Clemence had awesome hands. When I think about how they looked, it brings a smile to my face and a calm thought to my mind.
Her hands weren't especially beautiful, but to me they were perfect. Tanned from too much sun, a bit of dirt under her fingernails, a scar from an unattended injury... but soft enough to lightly brush a touch of love across my cheek.
I don't think her hands were ever idle.
One of her favorite things to do (besides fishing) was playing Yahtzee. A favorite photo of her was taken across the Yahtzee table from me. With her elbows resting on the table, her hands are folded up near her chin. I love this photo.
As I cook, garden, type, sew, or touch the faces of my grandchildren, I like to think one day they might look back and think about my hands the same as I do about Grandma's hands.
Recently, as I sewed a dress for my granddaughter, I decided to take a picture for her....of my hand at the machine.

 I hope it brings a smile to her face and a calm thought to her mind.

Hands of Time

Old or new, our hands show the measure of time.

Grandma holding her first grandchild's hand.

I'm linking this to Life With My 3 Boybarians Sweet Shot Tuesday

My Grandma

Her job as daughter, sister, mom, aunt, grandma, gr-grandma, gr.gr-grandma, friend, etc......is finished.


My beautiful,wonderful, loving grandma passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at the age of 99 1/2 years old.


Grandma has always been the person I hoped to be like. I don't think I've achieved that, but I'm still working on it. She was happy, calm and had a very positive attitude toward life. 


I already miss her and wish I could have said goodbye, but I'm so happy she's up there dancing, again, with Grandpa. She's been waiting to do that for 30 years.


Rest in Peace, Grandma. I'm a lucky lucky girl to have had you as my grandma and I will miss you terribly.
You were a wonderful, wonderful person on this earth and you'll be a beautiful addition to Heaven.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy

  Since it's Father's Day, I'll write an entry about my dad.

     Leo Elvin Butterfield. My Dad.

     His dad was Leo Sumner Butterfield, so my dad goes by Elvin.

     To me, he's always been Daddy. Even at 53 years of age, I say Daddy when I talk to him or refer to him. I've always called him that.

     Always will.

     I have memories that are more like moments. I suppose most memories are that way, but I'll describe mine that way, since I didn't have the typical "Little Girl and Her Daddy" relationship I would have loved to and deserved to have.

     Our "moments" were when things were calm in our household.                            Although, I have a few memories of the upsetting times, as well, I won't write about them.

     My dad worked in a lumber mill. As far as I know, he began his lumber mill career at an early age.

     I remember him coming home at lunch time and I can still sense the smell of his clothes.. his sweat and the sawdust from the lumber. The combination of the two is a mixture of calm.

Daddy came home each day for lunch and we all sat down for sandwiches. He usually had Braunschweiger (ugh !) on crackers with mayonaise or on a sandwich. I remember the slices of this liver sausage had the plastic sleeve on them and you had to peel it off before eating it. He loved the stuff... I think it's disgusting.

     As a very young toddler, my dad was granted custody of my older sister and I. We were raised by him and my step-mom till I was 12 and my sister was 14.

     Part of the time, things were "normal". Other times, things were bi-polar. I don't know how my dad stayed all those years, except for the fact that he had 3 biological and 2 step-children to raise and he believed in taking care of his family.

     That aside...

     My dad was a musician on weekends. He formed a country western band with several buddies and once a month or so, they gathered at our house for practice.

     Oh, we kids loved those nights.

In our small living room, there was a drum set, a steel guitar, a lead guitar and a bass guitar with musicians behind each one.

     Singing, we kids danced and got to stay up late. The adults smoked cigarettes in the house, drank mixed drinks and laughed and sometimes danced. The neighbors came... it was like a party... only it was band practice.

     I still love classic country music.

     I'm sure there are alot of typical things I don't remember, but the ones that were special to me were when I got to do things with my dad that none of the other kids did.

     We got whole milk from our neighbor up the hill. I don't know how often, but Daddy and I walked to their house to get the gallon jar of milk. I loved doing that. I remember seeing that jar of fresh milk with a layer of cream a couple inches thick. I'm sure Daddy teased me as we walked to and from ... he is a teaser like my grandpa was (and I am, now).

      I always thought my dad was a "que sera sera" type person. As I've aged and seem to have gotten to know him more, I realize he is a person who just doesn't voice much about things. He forms his feelings, but is confident enough to hold those feelings as his own.

      He and I have had a few wonderful talks in the last few years and I understand him more and more. I wish we could have known each other better earlier on and he wishes the same. But, it is what it is, and we can only live for now.

       Happy Father's Day, Daddy.

       I love you and I am a lucky girl.
**********************************************************************************

Smile

Another Smile from our Jada-Bug.

This child brings so much joy to us. 

She is ornery, happy, stubborn, fun, sweet, sour... we wouldn't want her any other way !!

I"m linking this to Live Every Moment 's photo challenge: Smile

Beauty

I love having shots like this turn out. 

I'm experiencing with the macro shots.... 

I'm linking this to Blogging From Bolivia 's Macro Friday

And I'm linking this to McDougall Photography 's Fabulous Friday

MOSS

I think these little moss blossoms are adorable. 

I think they're having a cocktail party.

 Lot's of gossip going on

I'm linking this to pullingmymaskoff 's photo challenge "Multiple"

I'm linking this to Life With My 3 Boybarians Sweet Shot Tuesday

     

          

SIMPLE

At the end of a day

of playdoh and stickers,

a simple doll stands alone.

The little girl who left her there

is already on her way home.

Bella

I'm having fun with new shots of my new baby Bella. 

New Baby

This little baby joined our family Thursday, May 19. She is a sweet little thing.
10 weeks old and she weighs 1 lb 4 oz.

Her name is Bella.. I'm not sure yet what her full registered name will be, but for now, Bella fits her perfectly.

Spring

Our Dogwood tree outside my kitchen window.
Each year I watch for the signs of buds starting.
This year was a bit later than most.

CUPCAKES

There's just something about cupcakes that make me happy.

I think it is probably something that links me back to my childhood. 

Maybe it's how much I enjoy making them

These were at the Easter Celebration I was at. 

The Nelson Sister's made them.

I can just imagine them gathered in their mom's kitchen.

Good Job, girls... they were adorable..

just like you.

The Pose

Such a serious look, she has. 

It's a pose. 

She loves pretending she's a mannequin. 

Sometimes when we're in a department store she'll actually find a mannequin and pose with it. 

She thinks people really believe she is one.

This photo was submitted to the I Heart Faces photo challenge 
www.iheartfaces.com

Jada Bug

It seems my youngest granddaughter, Jada, is my main photography subject lately.

Jada has a very vibrant spirit. She is serious, silly, ornery, sweet, stubborn (like me), creative and certainly has a mind of her own. 

A doctor once described her as "strong-willed". Well, yes, she is.... and I think that might sound better than our description, "hard-headed". LOL.

She is VERY photogenic and when she's "on" she's on... and is soooo ready to have her picture taken.

But when she's "off", don't even bother trying. She thinks nothing of telling you she doesn't want her picture taken.

Sally and her Pink Bow

Sally didn't really like this pink bow I put on her.

She did leave it on long enough for me to get a couple pictures.

This is my favorite.

This Little Girl

This little girl

with the look of an angel

that can melt you with

 those big blue eyes

that will stop you in your tracks.

This little girl

with the hair like silk

 the color of gold

which is what 

she is worth.

This little girl

with the strength of a train

and a mind like steel

when you try

to convince her your way.

This little girl

with a voice like a bird

when she makes up 

her songs

and believes them.

This little girl

with the miniature fingers

that are large enough

for all to fit

who are wrapped around them.

This little girl

with such an imagination

ready to surprise you

with the next thing

she comes up with.

This little girl

holds a key to a place

she owns

in my heart

she has filled

with joy.