This week's reasons to smile

Dear Blog Friends,

Perhaps you've noticed that I haven't been doing much blogging lately. Part of the reason is my computer is being difficult and is barely creeping along. I hope that my clever son-in-law, Patrick will be able to fix it the next time we get together....but that may not be for a while. The other reason is I've hit a blogger's block. After reading several blogs of late that have been so touching and heart rendering about the loss of loved ones , serious accidents, illnesses, etc I have felt that anything I have to blog about is trite or frivolous and not very note worthy.

I was discussing this with the Queen of Blog, Marie this week.

I asked her how she can post every day?

She said that "I write because I can't not write".

I have thought a lot about that.

Marie writes because she sees little miracles happening every day and beauty all around her. She works at a hard and difficult job but she finds the joy in it.

She looks for the goodness in her life and can't wait to share it with us in blogland.

My life is also filled with good things.

My cup runnith over with blessings.

My family and friends including you, my blog friends, fill my life with joy and love.

How can I not write about such blessings!!!

Writing about my simple life and doings can not compare with other blogs I read,

but it is my life and I am grateful for it.

I will continue to post about my little world even if it may seem to you to be uneventful.

Writing about these things is my way of sharing my smiles with you and thanking my Heavenly Father for the blessings He gives me each day.

Leprechauns and Rainbows make me smile.

Leprechauns came to my house again this year. They have been dropping by in March for as long as I can remember and doing Leprechaunish mischief. They didn't do as many silly things this year as they used to do when our children were small but they still had fun. They took my dough out of the breadmaker and marbled it with green food coloring. Then they hid it in the oven and let it rise way over the pan until it looked like a giant mushroom. I thought it was still in the bread maker and was surprised when I found a green and white mushroom loaf in my oven. They also turned our applesauce and lemonade green. (They used to turn our milk and pancakes green but when the kids left John told them not to continue with that mischief any more.)

They took down the valentine decorations and put up Shamrocks on our holiday tree.

Then they painted us a rainbow. It filled the sky as we drove to church this morning. They didn't remember to leave a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but I felt rich just looking at the sky. We need rain so badly in our drought ridden area. What a blessing to get a little rain to water our parched land.

St. Patrick's Day Dinner makes me smile.

The Leprechauns also did a really nice job of setting the table for our St. Pat's dinner.

We had the traditional corn beef and cabbage etc., etc.

We usually only can find corn beef in our markets in March so we only have it once a year..... but when we do.... we really enjoy it..... first as dinner and then in sandwiches (on mushroom bread with green spots.
Yum Yum!!!

Of course it wouldn't be any fun to have St. Patrick's Day dinner without sweet family to share it with.
My family has been putting up with the Leprechauns coming for years and always smile at the silly things they do.

Sewing for my grandchildren makes me smile.

(Warning.... don't look at this Loni if you want to be surprised.)




It always makes me happy that I can take some material and a pattern and with a little work and time, turn it into a pretty dress my grand-daughters can wear and enjoy.



I like being creative with piping, lace, sequins and pearls.

I guess that sewing is one of the few talents I have.


Lonica's 10th birthday is coming up.

I have always called her my Honey Bunny and made her Birthday/Easter dresses
since she is my Easter girl.

She picked out this pattern and the fabric when they were visiting at Christmas.

I am excited to send it to her. I know she will like it.
I will make more for the other girls as time allows.

I know that they are growing fast..... The time is coming that they will not want homemade dresses made by Grammy.... but for now they do....
and that makes me smile.

Louann makes me smile.

Louann has been cutting and styling my hair for over 20 years.
She can take my wild thick mop of hair and tame it.

She has become my dear friend.
She is a wonderful person.... she is my personal therapist.
I love Louann.
Whether I am happy or sad I always feel better after a visit to Louann.
Doesn't just looking at her sweet face make you smile?
(My only worry is she is talking about retiring..... then who will tame my mop???)

Little League and EJ make me smile.

Well it is baseball season again.
Unfortunately, EJ got traded by the Angels.

However, he was the first draft pick of the White Sox.

He and his team are ready to knock-m-out of the park.

Don't they look so cute in their uniforms!!! (Even though I like the Angel's uniform
from last year better.... shhh... don't tell EJ.


Here is he up at bat. He is a slugger.

He got a base run and drove 2 boys in for a score.

Last week in his first game is got a homer.

Way to do EJ!!!! You make your grammy smile.

He just got me to post these pictures on his blog.

He would love it if you would go to his blog, Baseball Kid and say hi. Thanks

...

I am thankful that I have these things to smile about.

I never take them for granted.

Life is fragile.... it can change in the blink of an eye.

Each day is a precious gift from God.

Let us all notice, appreciate and give thanks for the many reasons we have to smile.

Love, Grammy Lura