“But there's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all your stories is always your mother's story, because hers is where yours begin.” ― Mitch Albom, For One More Day

Mother's Day lunch at El Tapatio

From Left: Daughter Holly, granddaughter Shelby, son in law Jerry, hubby Neil's hand, grandson Elijah, Elijah's cousin Matthew, grandson Knox, son in law Kerry, moi, and daughter Kelly

Mother's Day cards

I'm sensing a theme here

El Tapatio was handing out roses to the moms at lunch

Me and my peeps

From Left: granddaughter Ella Rose, daughter Kelly, moi, granddaughter Shelby, daughter Holly, grandson Elijah, and grandson Knox

“But kids don't stay with you if you do it right. 

It's the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won't be needed in the long run.”  

~Barbara Kingsolver

Daughter Holly with her kids Shelby and Elijah

Daughter Kelly with her kids Knox and Ella Rose

Me and my girls

They are simply the best kids a mom could ever have.

Maybe all moms feel that way about their children.

But it's my truth.

They are a blessing to me.

“Perhaps it takes courage to raise children..” 

― John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Kids and Grandkids

And the dads who make Mother's Day possible

From Left: granddaughter Shelby, son in law Jerry, daughter Holly, grandson Elijah, moi, hubby Neil, son in law Kerry, daughter Kelly, granddaughter Ella Rose, and grandson Knox

All my best blessings together today

So thankful for all of you

Holly gave me two hanging baskets of petunias ~ one purple ....

.... and one a dark pink.

I'll enjoy these all summer

And I'll enjoy my Amazon gift card from Kelly

Thanks, girls!

“I love you every day. And now I will miss you every day.” 
― Mitch Albom, For One More Day

“I loved my mother too,' I said. 'I still do. That's the thing - it never goes away, even if the person does.” 
― Anna Carey, Eve

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY, SHELBY!

Child of my child, heart of my heart.
Your smile bridges the years between us...
I am young again, discovering the world through your eyes.
You have the time to listen and I have the time to spend,
Delighted to gaze at familiar, loved features made new in you again.
Through you, I see the future. Through me, you'll see the past.
In the present, we'll love one another as long as these moments last. ― Author Unknown


Granddaughter Shelby celebrated her 14th birthday today, July 18, 2015 with a party at her house. She broke with tradition; instead of birthday cake, she had birthday pie. Three of them! She made a Snicker/Caramel Apple pie, her aunt Kelly made a fudge pie, and courtesy of Mrs. Smith, an apple pie. Each pie was to die for, and we just might since we sampled all of them. In another break from tradition, Shelby also requested her Grandpa’s yummy home made vanilla ice cream to go with the pies. We sang the Birthday Song, she blew out 14 candles [all in one breath ~ I didn’t even have time to snap that picture] and after we stuffed ourselves with pie and ice cream, she opened her gifts ~ beautiful clothes and shoes, iTunes gift card, the novel Paper Towns, a Daryl Dixon keychain and a home made card from her brother, Elijah, with a dollar attached. Yesterday, she and her mom went to Nashville to shop, and they visited the Bluebird Café, something Shelby has been wanting to do for a long time, but tickets were sold out and the lines were long, so they plan to go again another time. She had a fun birthday, and we loved helping her celebrate. Happy Birthday, Shelby!! Our first grandchild and only granddaughter, you are so special to us in so many ways. We love you always!! Wishing you a wonderful year!

Love is the beauty of the soul. ~Saint Augustine

My niece Sarah gave a fabulous waffle brunch this morning for her nearest and dearest ~ just because she wanted to show her love for us and how much we mean to her. She and her family worked hard to make this occasion special and beautiful and delicious and it was all that and much more. She wrote notes of love and gratitude for each of us. Thank you, Sarah. I do love you and your tender heart.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! #42

Glasses, hearing aids, some white hair ... see, we haven't changed a bit in 42 years. 

Happy Anniversary To Us!

EVERY DAY, I LOVE YOU

“Don't wait until it's too late to tell someone how much you love, how much you care.”
― Auliq Ice

Neil and I don’t “do” Valentine’s Day. We decided to eliminate this stress from our lives years ago. Those heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, dozens of roses, poetic Hallmark cards and dinners at nice restaurants ~ it’s all good. But if you truly love somebody, tell them every day. Show them every day. Every single day. This evening, we sat by the window in a mostly empty Mickey D’s (one other couple in there ~ older than us and we’re pretty old) just talking about stuff, enjoying our burgers and fries, as we  watched the Valentine’s Day traffic jam on Jefferson Avenue. We were lovin’ it.

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all!

“Children and mothers never truly part—bound in the beating of each other’s heart.” ~Charlotte Gray

I love my girls ~ Kelly and Holly ~ two of my most treasured blessings ~ thank you both for a wonderful Mother’s Day today!

This is my favorite picture of my mother ~ Hampton Gailbreath Mabry ~ She passed away April 29, 2012. Love you and miss you, Mom!

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance ~ Three things will last forever, faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. ~excerpts from 1 Corinthians 13 [NLT]

Neil and I went to see grandson Elijah’s Valentine’s Day program at his school this morning.

That’s Elijah ~ top middle.

All the second grade classes sang songs about love and read Valentine poems. Such sweet voices. Later, the classes went to visit two assisted living residences to perform their love program and hand out valentines.

They held up their Happy Valentine’s Day sign so quickly that I didn’t have time to zoom back out to get the whole thing in the shot. Elijah is holding the A in Happy.

His class had their party and exchanged valentines and treats. I think this is why shoe boxes were invented. His decorated box was filled with love from classmates.

Grand daughter Shelby checks out her brother’s loot. She nabbed a Hershey’s Kiss.

Daughter Holly wore her pretty heart scarf in honor of heart day.

Shelby photo bombed her mom

Daughter Kelly and grandson Knox joined us for supper this evening at Ocha, our fave Thai food restaurant.

Love can be ticklish

Grandpa Neil and grandson Knox watched Thomas the Train videos together on the computer after supper ~ Knox’s fave past time at our house. Neil and I don’t “do” Valentine’s Day in the traditional sense. To me, it’s the most forced holiday on the calendar, and I tend to feel sorry for all the guys out there who feel compelled to meet the [sometimes] extraordinary expectations of their ladies, but that’s just my opinion. Loving is an every day thing. Spending time with my peeps is Valentine enough for me. Happy TGIF, everyone! And Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s all good.
The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough of is love.
~Henry Miller