This old gal…

Has issues with clothes…tags…lace…polyester…turtle necks…elastic…tight fitting…is a no go…a wear a size or two too big…all cotton…no tags…the softer the fabric the better…kind of gal…

So when this bride-to-be of mine…and her little sister…took me shopping for the mother of the bride’s dress…they knew exactly…what their mama would be drawn to…which is exactly…what they did not bring into the dressing room…

This old gal was their blank canvas…they were the artists…and create did they ever…there were some head nods…and maybes…some no ways…and okays…and then…it happened…the intake of breaths…and the omgees…

It was the mirror ball gown…stunning…slim fitting…glamorous…like nothing ever worn before…or even tried on…so far from the Gunny Sack prom dress…it was ridiculous…

But this mama could see it…in their eyes…that they really thought…she looked beautiful…in the tight dress…that was a little heavy…and slightly scratchy…

But who is this old gal…to say no to creative artistry…to say no…to feeling beautiful…
to say no…to something chosen with love…and admiration…

She's an old gal…who’s gonna act like she owns it…that’s who…

Cuz…if you act like you own…you own it…
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And these daughters of mine…agree…

This old gal…

Is living in the dark ages…when it comes to wedding planning…

It's obvious…that when this old gal and her Mr. got married…five years ago…we did it the old fashioned way…

During her visit…my bride to be…designed paper invitations…created the cutest e-mail invites…ordered table favors…and dress shopped with Little Sis for bridesmaid dresses…

All from the kitchen table…

But that sister of hers…and her mama…did get her out and about…on a little excursion…to some bridal shops…where sister snapped photos…and mom sat…in awe…and wonder…at the beauty that stood before her…

The dresses were stunning…sure…but the beauty lie…in my child’s joy…her delight…her knowledge…that she has found…in him…the one…

This mom's  heart swells…her eyes…weep…

It doesn’t get…anymore beautiful…than that…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…

This old gal…

Is tossing sparkly glitter…and shiny streamers…in honor of that daughter of mine…who turns 29 today…on the 29th of May…29 years she’s waited…

For her Golden Birthday Day!!

Beautiful gold…a ray of sunshine…warm on the sand…a glowing full moon…brilliant in the night sky…iridescent stars…glittering above…

Golden gifts…given…to appreciate and admire…treasures that cost nothing…but the beauty seen…is worth millions…

I think of this girl…once a tiny little nugget…a gift…that was given… to love…and cherish…and adore…but an irreplaceable treasure…that is worth…to this mom…millions…and more…

So…Birthday Girl…today I celebrate you…by indulging in some Dove chocolates…and bestow to you…the wisdom found…on their shiny golden wrappers…

Smiles are free so share them
A smile is the quickest way to brighten a room
Be with people who make you laugh
Be the sculptor of your dreams

Dove knows you well…that beautiful smile…that sweet laugh…brighten every room you enter…

Happy Birthday…my dear…may all your wishes and dreams come true…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…

​This old gal’s…

Cup runneth over…it was a week…filled with girl time…wedding talk…more girl time…and shopping…

Provided some Mom taxi service…for that DC daughter of mine…who flew to see her sister and friends…in Nebraska…before coming home…for the week…

6 months it has been…since we all have been together…had brief…but cherished time…with Middle Miss…who hosted our sleepover…

Then armed with snacks…that daughter of mine and I…headed out…to fill that quiet house of ours…full of chatter…and laughter…and silly girl talk…

Surprised her…with a little mini bridal shower…since she’s having a little mini wedding…in a little mini couple of months…

She said she came home…so her mom could help with wedding plans…but truthfully…she and that man of hers…have it covered…

No…this trip was made especially…for me…so that I could share in her happiness…like so many times…I’ve done…in the past…

My little girl…four years old…sharing a glazed donut…in my classroom before preschool…

And now…

She’s getting married…sharing her hopes and dreams…for the future that lies ahead…
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And this DC daughter of mine…agrees.

​This old gal…

Was just relaxing…drinking coffee…playing some Wordscapes…petting Muffin…when the doorbell rang…

Which usually means…some delivery of sorts…the neighbor got our mail…or someone is selling fundraiser cards…

But it was none of those…

It was the beautiful woman…who is married…to that pizza making brother of mine...

You could say she’s my sister-in-law…but it’s more than that…she’s my friend…my dear friend…it’s like…if I had a sister…kind of friend…

Just stopped by…she says…because I think you need to have this nail polish…it’s purple…and it matches your sparkly phone case…

How fun…how absolutely fun…it will be…to have sparkly purple nails…that match my sparkly purple phone…

Because…you know…this old gal loves…all things sparkly…and she loves…this dear friend of mine…who is caring…and thoughtful…and who radiates kindness…

Because with her…she’s always finding a way…to make this old gal feel special…and so very very sparkly…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…

This old gal…

Won’t ramble today…her thoughts…are too laser focused…on a text received this morning…in response to a recent school shooting...from that teacher daughter of hers…

Informing her sisters and me…on our group chat…we call Besties…that if she should die before she has a family…sell her belongings…and use it to pay off their student loans…

No person…at the age of 22…should have those worries…at 7:00 am…while getting ready for work…
No person…should have those worries…ever…

Work should be safe…schools should be safe…grocery stores…should be safe…

Violence is never the answer…yet it continues to escalate…this old gal has no answers…and has little power…to change the crazy of today…but she can try…

Taught the little ones…36 years…saw so many…that were lost…scared…broken…
Little Miss…middle school teacher…one year in…sees kids…lost…scared…broken…
Middle Miss…youth probation officer…just starting out…sees youth…lost scared…broken…
Big Sis…university advisor and teacher…sees young adults…lost…scared…broken…

Research shows…that it only takes one caring adult…to change the trajectory…of a child’s life…

One…just one…only one…
I am one…YOU are one…

Teacher…neighbor…parent…grandparent…friend…boss…coworker…pastor…mentor…pizza man…

Ran into a former student…we chatted…and laughed…he’s grown up…loves his job…is happy…
As we parted…he said…if it hadn’t been for you…I never would have made it…

ONE…it takes…just one…caring adult…

Be that one…

And those daughters of mine…agree…

This big brother of mine…

Has a birthday today…
At age 5…he became the man of the house…my protector…my rock…the one I trusted…

Headed up whiffle ball…bathroom nerf basketball…used me as a channel changer…and was always up for a game of pepper…

At 14 he worked 40 hours a week…as a cook…at a restaurant in Little Amana…working weekends…and every day after school…it wasn’t long…before he became head cook…manning the grill…while his little sister…recruited on her 14th birthday…watched with pride…from the dishwashing station…

Tried college…it wasn’t his thing…bought the Pizza Haus…at 19 years of age…was told by family…he would fail…

Look at him now…

What a joy it has been…to have worked beside him…many nights and weekends…watching him use his expertise to create salads…homemade breads…tasty sandwiches and the best pizza…I’ve ever eaten…

I’ve never known anyone…to work harder than he…and underneath that old man veneer…lies a quick wit and heart of gold…

So happy birthday…Pizza Man…know that every time…I sit in a booth…I celebrate you…cherish our past…and watch you with pride…as you bustle around that pizza oven…
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And those nieces of yours agree…

This husband and I…

Have a fairy garden out back…delightful…whimsical…charming…and…undoubtedly…magical…

This old gal likes things…that are unique…and quirky…that bring a smile…and warm the heart…
And take her back…to magical times…when those girls of mine…filled the days with sparkle…and light…

There’s that church talent show…three hams singing some Bible School songs…in cute costumes…snowballed into requests for performances…care centers…hospitals…local events…and The Pixie Chicks were born…

Then Big Sis…studying abroad in Ireland…and lucky us…visiting for a week…castles…cottages…tea and hopeful wishes…at Bunratty Fairy Village…

And finally…Peter Pan…the first high school play this newbie co-directed…clueless…inexperienced…not realizing what a big production it was…but…with a little bit of magic…and some fairy dust…we somehow pulled it off…

It’s not about the thing…in the garden…or on the shelf…it’s how…like with the wave of a wand…that thing…can help you relive…the magic of past joys…and enchant…even the saddest…of days…
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And this husband of mine…agrees…

This old gal…

Does not take for granted…how lucky she is…to have such wonderful people in her life…

My Mr. and his family…those girls of mine and their peeps…trusty friends and relatives…far and near…

And then there’s those little ones…teacher me watched grow up…these last 36 years…during the stint in the classroom…

Each unique…and special…each hold a place…in those days in the classroom memories…

And then there are the ones…that keep in touch…even when the classroom’s gone…who brighten my day…with 12 year old chatter…and talk about school…and friends…and llamas…over fries and queso…

That sparkle in her eyes…her fun sense of fashion…that kind heart she gets from her mama…

And…now…making this old gal so ever cool and hip…with her very first image….on Tik Tok…

It’s not good-bye…it’s see you later…
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And my little friend….agrees…

This husband of mine…

Has a story…a life story that makes him the man I know...

His story…to his adoring wife…is like one of those paint-by-number kits…years of experiences….each one a color…and as snippets are shared…the masterpiece begins to emerge…

A snippet today began with…we had a raccoon as a pet…when I was a kid... his sister found it…thought it was blind…but his dad gave it a bath….it’s eyes just matted shut with mud...

They fed it with a bottle…it lived in a hole in a tree…but hung out in the house…played with the dogs…loved having its tummy rubbed…and swam with them in the river…

A year…he was family…and then suddenly…heartbreakingly…gone..

Just went off to do what raccoons do…consoled his dad…wise words to heal a six year old heart…

What was his name…asked engrossed me…thinking Fluffy…or Cuddles…or Snickers…

Coon…we called him Coon…

So…paint in the color for compassion…modeled by that dad of his…bathing Coon…feeding Coon…accepting Coon…and giving Coon a happy ending…

Just off doing what Racoons do…living happily ever after…
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And this husband of mine…agrees.