Catching up

MY THREE KIDS ----

Dana has just fried up some Jalapeno Bacon

and her brothers are giving a "review".

It's bacon ! What could be bad about bacon, I ask you?

I've been "away" for awhile --

It's been 4 months !!!

So much has happened during that time.

Life has been super, super busy.

and...can I just be honest? .....a bit weird too

In those few months a lot has happened at our house ---

* we had a wonderful Christmas on New Year's weekend

* right after Christmas, William became unemployed and

is still applying and interviewing -- no job yet.

* Colin and Ronnie went on a mission trip to

Guatemala

*then they attended a week long class that taught them

how to drill low-cost water wells and their plan is to take

that knowledge to third world countries and teach villages

to drill wells

*Blake ran "The Cowtown" in Ft. Worth this year -- his

first race ever

POPS wrestled by son and Jigs.

I have a fun family!

The guys often "attack" each other.

Just for fun.

NOT Four Christmases style though --

Just craziness.

* Devin has spent hours at Dry Hollow fighting the prickly pear

and mesquite

* Dana is just about a month away from presenting us with

a grandson, William Barret Boles,

named William after both his grandfathers,

and William Barret after a hero of the Alamo,

William Barret Travis.

* my part-time-gone-full-time-job, just went

fuller-time

* my mother has been with us for about a week

and will be living with us for probably another

4 to 6 weeks.

She had an accident last Sunday involving

her house and her car.

Yep. It's pretty ugly.

She, however, was not hurt.

This past weekend, everyone came for Easter.

Sunday night, we girls were all ready for bed---

I looked around the living room and realized that

never, ever !!! had all of us -

my mother,

me,

my daughter,

my daughter-in-law,

my grandaughter

spent the night in the same house.....not ever !

It was quite fun and very sweet.

A 4 generation sleep-over.

* Oh, and I started couponing !!!

What fun!

Where's has that been all my life??? I wanna know.

I'm definitely NOT "extreme".

But I am saving a substantial amount every month.

Truly makes me feel like I'm contributing in a bigger way to the

well-being of our household.

Grand dog Jigs -- having a well-deserved rest. He is the best dog EVER!

So much more has

happened to us over these past few months.

It's pretty overwhelming when we think on it all.

Sooooo - we don't !

But honestly, it just sounds like whining when I say them out loud.

AND -- I am so not whining.......

Along with so much stress and

upheaval in our lives,

has also come

just Pure Joy !!!

I know that many of my prayers,

the very desires of my hearts,

are being aswered.

I truly feel like we are up above all the mess,

just skimming along,

under the protection of the Father.

We have experienced incredible blessings over these months.

Manna on the ground.

Enough for today.

We only have to pick it up,

be grateful for it,

and

trust God for the next day's supply.

POPS and Lily Kate enjoying a cool winter's day

LK trying out her new soccer ball and shin guards.

All in all --

2011 is off to a great start!

Gwynie Pie

Dinner's On......

Cool and overcast days like today..........really put me in the mood to cook.

Buttermilk pies. Cranberry cheese bread. A spicy tortilla soup. Or some fluffy fragrant biscuits.

I'm sure inquiring minds want to know-------- yes, she had been freshly bathed and came out of
the bathroom to find someone cooking without her. Couldn't be bothered with putting on clothes first.....

Creating all these delightful delights would be ever so much more fun if only I had my Lily Kate here to help.

Since she was big enough to sit in her high chair, she has been cooking. Her mama loves creating with food. And she
has passed that love on to her daughter. Dana would put the high chair in the middle of their very small kitchen and
she and Lily Kate would fix dinner for Daddy.

When Lily Kate comes to Pops and Pies house, we almost always cook something yummy.

And honestly, she would rather cook than watch Little Einsteins.

Bon Appetite !!!

Gwynie Pie

It was a "Fancy" birthday !

A perfect Sunday afternoon.
Mama and Daddy
Uncle Toot
Aunt Ronnie and Uncle Roos
GG
Chris, Charla and Cora
Pops and Pie
And everyone dressed up "fancy".
Pink sparkly cupcakes
Drippy chandeliers hanging from the trees
Jigs even dressed up "fancy" in a pink princess crown and a feather boa
What more could a girl want for a
beautiful and fun 3rd birthday party???

Love Letters

Love letters.

Aren't those two words, just standing there alone, so very pretty?

In all my cleaning over the past several weeks, I came upon a big box stuffed full of cards, letters, notes. To William and myself. From friends on birthdays. From our children on special occasions. From people saying a thank-you. Or a "Hi there, how've you been?" And there were lots of cards and letters and little scrap paper notes to "us", from "us".

I started going through them, making a pile a all the ones we had written to each other.

Now I didn't keep every single card ever given. The early years are not well represented. Maybe I wasn't as sentimental back then? Or maybe we were just trying to hold it all together back then and I figured I would never want to relive those times. That could be it. :)

Reading them carried me back to where we were at the time, where we lived, how old the kids were then, events that happened along the way. Very nostalgic. Cried a lot. Not gonna read them again any time soon.

But..... so sweet. It stirred all kinds of gratefulness to the LORD for His goodness in our lives. He brought us together and kept us together, despite our best efforts to do otherwise.

My heart is just so full of love for my wonderful husband. And so full of gratefulness and love for the One to whom we give ALL glory for every good thing that ever happens in our lives. He is so amazingly, awesomely good!

Soooo - do you have love letters? Where are they? Why not get them out, tie a big beautiful ribbon around them and set them out somewhere in your home. Remind yourself today of how far the LORD has brought you.

AND if you don't have a stack of love letters...why not write the one you love a love letter this very day.

Love and hugs,

Gwynie Pie

The Singing Green Family

As I was cleaning out closets last Saturday, I came upon a beat-up cardboard box, full of songbooks. I had forgotten they were in there. For all of my growing up years, that book of books rode around in the trunk of our car. My Dad's reasoning was sound...."You never know when someone might want to sing."

I never questioned this. Because, sure enough, we'd be over at an Aunt and Uncle's house and someone would say, "Hey there, Patsy, sit down at that piano and let's sing a while." And she would. And we did. We would open up those songbooks and call out a number and we'd be off.....singing for hours. Someone would cut up lemons and get out some peppermints to soothe throats that were getting a workout.

It never, ever occured to me that everybody else didn't have a box of songbooks in their car. Isn't that funny?

AND none of this really struck me as "odd" until I found that box of books on Saturday.

It was just the way life was.

My Dad's family would have "get-togethers" and "singings" about 3 or 4 times a year. And more often if a big enough group was in any one place at one time for long enough. And when I say "singing", I mean gospel singing. And we all could sing. Singing was a very valued gift. My Dad and his brothers and sisters grew up with a singing Dad and he developed that gift in all of them. They passed it on to us.

There were 12 children in the Green family and after they all grew up and had ALL us cousins, when we got together, it was a crowd! Such wonderful memories. So sweet. Every single one of them.

We grew up loving each other so much.....still do! And as kids, we just couldn't wait until the next time we had a "singing" or a "get-together". Well------ our next "get-together" will be next Saturday, the 26th, when we will be hosting the family reunion. But the next "singing"? That will probably have to wait. You see, my Dad and so many of his brothers and sisters are in heaven now and very few remain here.....so we'll just have our next family singing when we all get to be There with them.

Every single singing, every time -- we would wind down the night with this great old hymn. We sang it at my Dad's funeral and I hadn't sung it again until this morning, with many tears. It is so beautiful! Such a beautiful prayer. It was a benediction to our time together and a blessing upon each of us as we left there and went on with our lives. I HAVE to share it with you.....

God be with you, till we meet again,
By His councils guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you,
God be with you, till we meet again.

God be with you, till we meet again.
'Neath His wings securely hide you,
Daily manna still provide you,
God be with you, till we meet again.

God be with you, till we meet again.
Keep love's banner floating o'er you,
Smite death's threatening wave before you,
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet again,
Till we meet....
Till we meet at Jesus' feet.
Till we meet again
Till we meet....
God be with you till we meet again.

Blessings on your Thursday,

Gwynie Pie

Mmmmm -- Cool

I felt it !!! This morning when I stepped out onto the back porch at 7-something I could feel just the barest hint

of Fall in the air.

Not full-blown, time to get out the Fall decor yet.

But, the air has changed a bit -- there is a slight coolness

that tell's me Summer is drawing to a close.

I'm always sad at the end of Summer -

cause I'm a Summer kind of girl

and I love it so.

But, ahhhh Fall -- delicious smells,

falling leaves, back-to-school,

family holidays, football --

I love Fall too !

And because I am in

such a Fall kind of mood today, I wanted to share

these Fall vignettes to get you in

Fall kind of mood too.

These are from last year -- I won't decorate for Fall

until after Labor Day.

Then it'll be full-tilt decorating

and of course,

I'll take pictures.

I decorated the dining table

first and then when I realized that as pretty as it was and as much as I loved it

there --- there was no room for the really important stuff ---

like FOOD !

Sooooo- I moved it all over to the buffet.

I love all those rich, warm colors.

I especially love the family picture

in the middle of it all 'cause

that is what life is all about --

whatever season it happens to be.

And now -- back to reality.

It's going to be about 100 here today.

That wonderful, cool Fall feeling will be gone

by 9:00.

And I'm planning on spending the last few afternoons

of Summer in the pool, soaking up the sun.

Hope you are having a spectacular Monday!

Gwynie Pie

Blessings !!!

As I shared in a previous post ---

my mother-in-law Elizabeth

had surgery to remove a brain hematoma

on July 15.

The surgery was successful.

However, she was very frail and

other health issues arose

and

she passed from this life to

Real Life

one week later on July 22.

As we have gone through all the things you do

when someone dies ---

making calls to family members to let them know,

putting together the plans for the funeral,

feeding the multitudes,

sleeping some of the multitudes,

smiling, laughing, crying ---

we know this: we are blessed!!!

and then

blessed some more!

We have been surrounded by friends, family,

church family, community

and lifted up and carried through

the entire past 2 weeks.

How awesome to have, not one or two people,

but literally dozens and dozens of people,

write, e-mail, call

and tell us what a grand lady Elizabeth was

and

what she meant to each of them every time

they were around her.

We have heard some sweet, sweet stories

of how they all remember her.

She taught Sunday school,

led women's classes,

taught VBS,

was a faithful choir member,

(with a beautiful alto voice),

she was a lifetime PTA member,

room mother for literally decades,

and active in everything

that happened in her community,

wherever that happened to be at

the time.

Amazing!

It's so strange to see your parents through

the eyes of others.

And that's especially true when you

see them through the eyes of those

who knew them when they were

much, much younger.

It's been quite sweet to get a glimpse of

the person Elizabeth was waaaaay

before any of us knew her.

I spent a lot of my early years

of knowing Elizabeth

kind of grieving

because she wasn't the kind of mother-in-law

I had always wanted.

I wanted someone who would call me just to visit,

ask me to go

shopping with her,

or to get a pedicure together.

Someone who would go to

"girl's night out"

with me. Or maybe to a movie.

A"let's do lunch"

kind of mother-in-law.

None of those things ever happened.

She was not that kind of woman.

And after several years, I gave up on that

"dream"

That just was not Elizabeth.

Thankfully --- many, many years ago I discovered

something absolutely phenomenally, wonderfully,

tremendously

BETTER

that Elizabeth had given me.

A way better gift

than doing any of those things together.

I discovered that she gave me

THE BEST

she had to give....

she raised a son,

took him to church,

laid a foundation of faith in him,

prayed for him faithfully

and then

handed him off to me !!!,

a silly and not so wise girl,

(at the age of 20)

and

Trusted in the LORD

to direct our paths.

Elizabeth gave to me

a loving husband,

a fantastic father to our kids,

a warrior,

a mighty man of God !

William Rosser

is who he is today

because of the kind of faithful

mother Elizabeth was to him.

For THAT and so much more !!!

I love her and I pay tribute to her..

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and

beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD
is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise

at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:28-31

Gwyn

What??? My baby is HOW old?????

Dana, Colin and Devin --- a couple years ago. And still one of my very favorite pictures of my three kids. They love each other. It makes a momma happy.................

Sweet picture of "Uncle Hoot" and his niece Lily Kate. Lily didn't feel good that day so Devin just sat and held her while she slept.

A friend of ours used to refer to Devin as a real "Opie-boy". Is this the cutest picture or what?!?!?

Brothers !!!

Darlin' boy!!!

I pray for God's very best blessings in your life!

I love you, Devin!

Happy, happy 28th birthday !!!

xoxo

Mom

Cousin Toyah got to my house around noon on Monday and just left for her home in Kerrville

a couple hours ago.

I really didn't even realize how much I needed this 3-day slumber party.

And that's pretty much what it was too.

We stayed up late, late, late -- went to bed at 3 a.m. one night.

We ate just what and when we wanted.

We made a pot of coffee every night at about 9

(decaf, of course)

and drank it with cream and sugar until the pot was empty.

One night -- I suddenly remembered the recipe for

cinnamon bites that I posted some time ago,

and since we had all the stuff --

we made them.

And then ate them - all !!!!

We spent the hottest afternoon this week at the ABA barns....

some of the best antiquey, junky, flea-markety stuff

in town....well worth the "melt-down" we endured wandering

around huge metal and un-air-conditioned barns.

We just moved from fan to fan.

Looked at everything and had a blast !

We went to Paula Sue's for dinner

one night with my mother (the above pic is my mother and Toyah)

and had a nice visit and meal with her.

Toyah went to Wednesday ladies bible study with me.

It was really good and she got to meet a few of my friends.

They all "know" Cousin Toyah already even if they've never met

her. I talk about her and our growing up

shenanigans a lot !!

This week with Toyah has been such a treat for me.

I think I really just needed a little break

from the usual. And, as a busy pastor's wife,

I know Toyah needed a little "no pressures" break as well.

There was no pressure to keep up with a schedule of any kind.

We just did what was relaxing and fun !

I think I'll take the rest of today to clean, change sheets and vacuum

and get the house ready for Colin and Ronnie

to visit this weekend

AND for William's return on Friday night.

Gwynie Pie

I just have time for a quick few words before my company arrives. But a few words are better than no words. Right? Since William is gone this week to Guatemala, I thought it was the perfect time to get my cousin, Toyah, to come hang out with me for a few days. That way we can stay up late, sleep late, come and go as we please. Toyah and I grew up together. We spent many a summer together, pretty much the entire time. So, this week just feels like "old times". Instead of riding our bicycles all over Mereta, though, we will most likely spend most of our time sitting on the back porch, drinking coffee or maybe rummaging through some junk shops. I'm sooooo looking forward to this!

Oh.....these seemingly random pictures that have seemingly nothing to do with this post? They are just that! Random pictures with absolutely nothing to do with this post! They are pictures of areas around the house that I just love. This one is my living room coffee table top. An bunch of baseballs, collected by my Daddy. I arranged them in a cut crystal Fostoria bowl. I love baseball. That probably comes from growing up watching my Daddy play. He LOVED baseball !!!

Sooo, it's a little tribute to him and to summer and to baseball..................

The other picture is on my counter top in the kitchen. I have had a drawerful of old "silver" ware for years. Emphasis on the old, not so much on the silver. I just decided this would be a fun look. I tied them in bunches with tiny jute twine. I've had the GRACE plaque for a long time. It says "GRACE each day, with Thanks". It always is displayed somewhere in the house. The initialed linen towel, that looks like an antique.....not! I found it a few weeks ago at Tuesday Morning. And it just "went" with all the rest of the mess !

Okay. That's all I got this morning! I'm preoccupied with "when will T. get here?" and "what will I fix us for lunch?" and "what are we gonna do first?" I'm looking forward to a fun week. Hope you are too!!!

Gwynie Pie