ONE

It was one year ago this morning that I dressed in my pink sweater and headed to the hospital to await the arrival of The Grandbaby.  Pink was a necessary color of attire as The Grandbaby was to be a girl.  And what a girl she is!

(A good Nana and a good Gramma always wear pink at the appropriate time.)

I remember all the emotions of that day and not a lot has changed in a year.  I still get teary-eyed as I type.  How can one put on paper feelings of such joy brought by a gift from God?  I just don't think I can no matter how hard I try.  Yes, for once, call me Speechless.  It doesn't happen often.  😊

From this day a year ago, now, and all those days in between I give thanks for being allowed the blessing of this child in my life and hope that I will never take that blessing for granted.

So smile on, sweet girl, and have a most happy birthday today!

MONDAY AFTER EASTER

So, the official celebration of the resurrection is past but the joy continues on each day of every week for the Christian.  So yes, Monday holds joy, too.

I did enjoy Easter with sunrise service with birds singing their happy songs, breakfast here at home (yes, I arose in the 4:00 hour to prepare myself and the food), church service, and a quiet afternoon which included a long nap.  I think the Lord would approve.   He knows I always need a nap.  How does that scripture go?  "The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Yep, that would be me most joyful days.  Thankfully, God knows my name and my heart and loves me all the same.  😇

I thought you faithful blog readers, especially you females, might enjoy some pictures of our Easter attire.  The Grandbaby attended sunrise service in her pajamas; however, she did wear her very first Easter frock to church at ll:00.  I thought pictures of the little family of The Girl, The Son-In-Law, and The Grandbaby were great with them looking very nice, handsome, and pretty....and especially happy.  I do like happy.

And here's somewhat of a back view of the cute dress with birds on the skirt....and yes, a hair bow!

I wore the same suit I wore to last weekend's wedding but it was fairly new.  I don't do much in the way of new Easter attire as I age, but this suit will serve me well for many more years to come.  The Husband looked nice as well but maybe the little one in between us made us look even better.

I am looking forward to the week ahead as we in our family will call it "birthday week" when The Grandbaby turns one!  How time flies!  So stay tuned.....more fun and joy to come....

SUNDAY!

...and Sunday IS here!  A day of celebration for the faith I treasure and the Lord I love!  Hallelujah, Christ arose!

And..because He lives, I can face all the tomorrows I will see.  How I love Him!

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said..."  Matthew 28:5-6

A "GOOD" FRIDAY

My faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is my greatest treasure.  I can't imagine my life without Him.   If Jesus not died on the cross for me and my sins, I would be forever lost.

The Friday before Easter is traditionally called Good Friday. Christians "celebrate" Good Friday, remembering how Jesus died on the cross THAT day.  When I read in the scriptures what Jesus went through, my heart is overwhelmed at the love He showed to all people.

Yes, I believe.

I've never quite understood why this particular Friday is called "good" with all the torture and sadness it represents.  As I have aged, I appreciate more and more what this day held for my Savior.

Yes, I remember.  

How grateful I am to be numbered as one of "His" children!

Yes, I am thankful!

One of the most true sayings I have ever heard on this day goes like this:

IT'S FRIDAY, BUT SUNDAY'S COMING......

All God's people said, "Amen!"

A WEDDING

As a longtime aunt, I have many more nephews than I do nieces.    One got married quietly last summer, another got married this past weekend not so quietly.  As The Gramma, the one this past weekend also involved The Grandbaby so I was sure my faithful blog readers would enjoy some pictorials.

The Niece is the daughter of my sister, The Younger Sister.  She and my now The NIL (Nephew-in-law) were married at an outdoor wedding in a northern mountain town in our fair state.  Here's a few pictures relating to the event and mostly including The Grandbaby, which I know you enjoy seeing...or at least you fake it and tolerate seeing.  😁

Rehearsal was on the eve of the wedding.  The weather was not quite so springish with strong wind and chilly temperatures.  Rehearsal happened outdoors anyways as the wedding was to be outdoors.

The Grandaddy/Officiant prepared.

Scenes of a rehearsing "coming in" and "going out" with The Mother-of-the-Bride and The Grandmother escorted by The Father-of-the-Bride.

Interesting thing in this picture below is the footwear on the bridesmaids.  All wore sandals except The Girl who was smart and wore her winter boots.  She never wanted cold feet.  This picture also showed the view from the hill.

 The Bride and The Father-of-the-Bride practiced "coming in" while The Bride and The Groom practiced  "going out".  The Bride carried her customized rehearsal bouquet.She also wore sandal footwear.

The Husband and The Son-in-Law observed from the porch.

This picture was just a funny one to me.

Here are some rehearsal "windblown look" shots....and yes, The Grandbaby is wearing a hair bow....  miracle of miracles.

Brrr....

A nice photo of The Grandparents.....

The Mr. and Mrs.-to-be relax at the rehearsal dinner.

Wedding day dawned with sun and no wind, thankfully.  It was a beautiful day and one to remember.

The Mother-of-the-Bride, The Grandmother, and The Bride looking spiffy.....

...as well as The Girl and The Grandbaby....and yes, The Grandbaby is wearing a headband/bow....and smiling.

I like to call this picture "Two Men and a Baby".  The flowers add a nice touch.

The Grandbaby enjoyed the wedding meal as children ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which has swiftly become a favorite of The Grandbaby.  Check out the pb and j on that sweet face.  Oh, and did I say The Grandbaby got her first haircut for the event?  Check out those bangs.

There were, of course, some "family" shots....Yes, I'm in THREE of them....wonder of wonders....

and one of cousins.

So congratulations to the happy couple and many prayers for a continued happy life!

YUMMY!

I decided with spring season upon us, some of you who cook (and even those who don't who might) would enjoy this wonderful new recipe I discovered.  The Husband LOVES it and believe me, if The Husband LOVES a recipe, it's a keeper.

Before you cook this yummy dessert, read the simple recipe through and be sure and follow three important things:

• don't use a mixer
• use butter--not margarine
• don't overcook  

These three things make the difference in a superbly yummy dessert and a mediocre one.  These bars are simple lusciousness.



PECAN CHEWS

Ingredients

• 2 sticks butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 cup pecans
• 2 tsp vanilla

Directions

1.  Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2.  Melt butter, add sugars, and blend well by hand (no mixer).
3.  Add beaten eggs, stir well.
4.  Add flour and stir until all lumps are gone.
5.  Add pecans and vanilla.
6.  Pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13 baking dish.
7.  Bake approximately 40 to 50 minutes being cautious not to over cook.  You want them to remain chewy, hence the name!

I put a few more pecans than the recipe says to put.  I also wonder how the recipe would be with other various delicious ingredients.  For instance, chocolate chips, white chips, those little caramel round chips, heath bar chips....you get the idea.  I am thinking a dollop of ice cream with a smidgen of caramel drizzled over a warm piece wouldn't be half bad either.  Or, as The Husband can confirm, they are good anyway you want to eat them!

REALLY?

I can hardly believe The Grandbaby is 11 months old.  Really?  It seems just like yesterday that she was born.  Next month the big celebration will be a party for a 1 year old baby.  The Grandbaby.  I figure since I see her practically daily, I notice changes being more subtle.  When I considered my blog readers, I thought maybe you would like to see how she is as an 11 month old.

I will readily admit to not having my camera with me to capture pictures as often as I used to; however, I did take it with me to her house a couple of days ago.  I was rewarded with some of these wonderful shots of her in various forms.  Some pictures are from the past few weeks but most of them are from this week.

She loves riding in the wagon and can I say that The Poppa LOVES pulling her in it.  His exercise level has really increased since The Grandbaby began to grow.  With the possibility of her beginning to walk in the very near future, all of our exercise programs will increase I am sure.

This beautiful hat is vintage.  It was worn by The Grandbaby's mama.

This hat is new and a sunhat for her trip to the beach soon.  Unfortunately, she REALLY hates hats.

See what I mean?  She pulled off the new hat already.  She doesn't like hair bows or hair bands either.  That's why she wears so much pink or girly clothing....so people won't mistake her for a boy.

The Girl found a dress for The Grandbaby on clearance for single digit price.  The Grandbaby loves the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show on television.  Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog!

Look how nicely she stands with support...and take a look at that long hair in the back and those chubby legs!

The Grandbaby wears more smiles than frowns.

She really is going to need a hair trim for her birthday.

She didn't pay any attention to her hair bow until the photo session was almost over so we can all enjoy these pictures with hair bow in the hair.

Oh, and you probably noticed that she's sporting two bottom teeth!  Finally.

She intently watches her cartoons....

...and loves playing with many toys...Curious George is a favorite.

She's beginning to walk with a walking toy with more help.

This very week she learned to put Nemo (or at least that's what we call him) into one of her favorite cup stacking toys and then she learned to take him out and do it all over again.

She does have a trait of her Gramma.  Her Gramma thinks that if one sticks out the tongue when concentrating, it makes the task more successful.

The Grandbaby enjoys "talking to herself" (another Gramma trait) while playing.  The Gramma, though, cannot sit in this fashion.  Shucks, The Gramma can't even hardly sit in any fashion on the floor.  Sadly.

Unfortunately, her BF is her pacifier.  Hopefully it will not be her BFF.  She learned the trick just this week of picking it up from the floor (if the sucking part is up) with her mouth as she lay on the floor on her belly.  Look Mamamamama....no hands!

I understand that someone in the household actually bought a movie.  It was not The Mamamama nor The Dadadadada of the household.  Hmmm....

For the longest time, she would put EVERYTHING in her mouth.  EVERYTHING, that is except food.  Finally, she discovered scrambled eggs.  (Amazing, since no one else in HER household will touch any kind of egg.)  After that she has enjoyed vegetables, waffles, and puffs....oh, and yeast rolls....  Yum....

Here's a couple of the "official" 11 month pictures.  Kudos to The Niece for making such a wonderful memory board.

She still loves to play peek-a-boo with anything she can find..

and still laughs every time.

The Grandbaby that is mine has such social "skills"....friendly, happy, and joyful most of the time.  Like all of us, there are times when she is not so much so but still the majority of the time she is happy.

So with all this cuteness overload, if you are still reading and looking to the end of this post, I'm sure you will realize that this Gramma is one proud Gramma.  I wish I had more energy but will use what I have.  It's like the song I used to sing to The Girl....and still do on occasion...."It's my job and I like it fine.  No one has a better job than mine!"

I give thanks multiple times daily to my heavenly Father for this blessing.  My prayer is that she will always be kind and love Jesus.  I could not ask for more.