Fall of My Life

Today I was just driving in my car and it hit me. I am in the Fall of my life.

Somewhere in my memory bank I know I once heard that we are like seasons.
Spring - we are young children
Summer - we are young adults
Fall - we are mature adults
Winter - we are senior adults

I am now over 50 (not saying how much over) so I am in the Fall of my life. There are 4 living generations in my family and we have them all covered. My sweet grandangels are in Spring - My children (their parents) are Summer. I am Fall and my parents are Winter.
 
I love Fall - but when it pertains to my life - I am not sure how I feel.  It doesn't really matter, I am there. But I don't feel like Fall. I still feel like Summer. There are times here and there I even feel like Spring.

So when do I transition to Winter? When my parents are gone and I take their place? Hopefully that is years away.  I don't know - but I better enjoy Fall as long as I can.


Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14 (KJV)


4 Generations: My mom, me, my daughter & youngest grandangel.

Wordless Wednesday

God's Glory

The Open Toed Shoe Pledge

The Open Toed Shoe Pledge

Summer time is upon us and it is time to go over the rules for the open toed shoe!

 I pledge to follow these rules when wearing sandals & open-toed shoes: 

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps. 

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe. 

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow. 

I will wax the hairs off my toes and the tops of my feet.

I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, or sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there. 

If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it. 

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl if my feet need him. 

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle. 

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages. 

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good. 

I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them. 

Traveling 500 Miles with Kids - Fun Bags For The Road

Every year instead of Brad and I going on a big vacation for ourselves - we drive 500 miles to Arkansas and get my mom and the 2 oldest granddaughters. The oldest is almost 13 and we have been doing this since she was 3 1/2, but that year - she was the only one - I had her all to myself for 2 full weeks. We had so much fun. Since that year - we have included my mom - so Brooklyn's first trip - she was 3 1/2. She is almost 11 now. Sooooooo this year - it all changes - Alayna will not make the trip - instead Lily - the youngest of the 3 girls - who is 5 - will be making the trip, her first time. (We are hoping that Alayna will be making a trip for Christmas - if we can work out the arrangements for her to fly back) There just isn't any feasible way for every one to be able to come. My SUV only holds 5 - and Brad drives a truck. We looked into renting a van or Expedition - but the rental cost was CRAZY and we would have to do it twice since we take them back as well. One of us could go alone to pick them up - but that just isn't smart either. So this is just what has to be.

Every year I buy them each some kind of tote bag and I fill it with goodies to keep them entertained on the road. It is a long 9 hours.

The bags are from Petsmart - from Think Twice which donates to a pet charity through Petsmart. 
This one is Brooklyn's:

 There are several kinds of magazine, word search, a couple of pre-teen books, candies, mints, sunglasses, card making kit, a couple of easy road games and a pencil pouch with crayons, color pencils and markers.

This one is Lily's:

There are coloring books, a book with games, a little doll, sunglasses, candies, mints, sticker books, stickers, crayons and puzzle books.

This is one thing the older girls always looked forward to - it is funny that we are starting back to square one with Lily  after a few years of filling the bags with things for older kids. 

This year with Lily we will be back to kiddie movies, floaties for the pool, Dora and Spongebob. I am really looking forward to it. 
We leave Friday morning at 7 a.m. and then will spend one night at my parents - turn right around and head home with our little crew Saturday morning and then have 2 full fun filled weeks!

Brooklyn is excited about doing some "What's in my purse" videos - "What I Wore" photos for me to post on my blog along with mine - and all the crafts she knows I have planned. Lily has no clue what is in store for her but I know we will be making some really great memories!

Stay tuned!

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (GBU)

This will be easy peasy for me this week! Linking up with Kati and
Kate .

The Good - SCHOOL is OUT for the SUMMER! woohoooooo yippeeee and yeehaw! I am "working" these 3 days - but school is officially out.

The Bad - We had quite a few staff retire - good for them - sad for all the rest of us. Not only that - both of our wonderful Assistant Principals are going to be moving to different schools. The powers that be do that every couple of years - they play muscial principals - and this year we lose both AP's at once. Next school year will be so different - two new AP's - plus all the staff replacements.

The Ugly - My Lazy Gallbladder is really doing a number on me. Two attacks during the week - not bad ones - but bad enough to hold my attention - and then Sunday was rotten. Thankfully - it waited until after church to hit hard - but I was literally down from the time I got home after church until late in the evening. While I was finally able to get up and at least move around - it last all night long. At this time - I still have symptoms going on - but not as bad as yesterday. I have decided I am going to go ahead and see my doctor and tell her I am ready for the surgery. I can't continue this way. I am at a point now where too many things set it off. :-(

My House - My Yard - I am In Love with My Yard Boy!

Our grass is looking so lush (thanks to my yard boy) and the roses are in bloom (again, thanks to my yard boy).

Yard Boy = the husband - My Bradley, of course!

He has really been working hard on the front yard - watering, seeding - and it has paid off. Our neighbor across the street always has the prettiest grass (he used to do lawn maintenance so he kind of has an advantage there ) and that is who Brad compares our lawn to - yesterday he wanted me to acknowlege that for the first time OUR lawn is just as pretty as neighbors. LOL - it is true, tho - he has finally succeeded!

Lookin' good, Yard Boy!

OOTD Tuesday

I am so happy that Spring is here. Summer is right around the corner! :-)

Another great find at Kohls - Apt 9 ruffled blouse

Gloria Vanderbilt capris - also from Kohls

Coach sandals - Coach Outlet in San Marcos, TX

I love all the different colors of tank tops you can get at Kohls. I have one in every color, I think. With the styles today, they are pretty much a must have!

You can find the blouse and capris by

visiting http://www.kohls.com/

OOTD Tuesday

I am thrilled with my Jennifer Lopez capris. They are super comfortable and I am not big on jeans at all. I wish I was - but they just don't feel good to me. I am very very picky about denim unless it is a skirt. Anyway - I bought these JLo denim capri's at Kohls, as well as this beautiful Apt 9 top. I am so happy the flowing look is in again this year. I am way past the belly shirts and skin tight tops.
I am also wearing my fushia Coach sandals - which I bought last summer at the Coach Outlet store in San Marcos, TX. They are so cute and I love the color~!

You can find the blouse and capris by visiting www.kohls.com

Italian Shoemakers - My Oh My!

I know, gross, right? I LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes. They are so dang comfortable - you can see my toe prints - and they are peeling - but I haven't been able to part with them.

I found another pair very similar a couple of weeks ago at Marshalls and snagged them right away. I am still working on breaking those in. Monday I went back and found 2 more pairs - different styles, but with that same "my oh my" feel to them. I feel like I am in shoe heaven with 3 pairs of these GREAT Italian Shoemaker sandals! :-)

I'm still keeping my originals. Just can't let a good thing go!

***(I did not receive payment for this review, this is my personal opinion based on my personal experience)