Co-inky-dinks and waterfalls

Several years ago I began to experience synchronicity. Woody and I had just started dating when it began to happen. I awakened to the sound of a train going by. The rumble reminded me of the time I had visited Dry Falls, a waterfall near Highlands, North Carolina.You could walk under the shelf as the water flowed over and down in front. It caused the earth to tremble from the enormous energy and force of nature. The power scared me then. But not this day. This day, I was full of courage, hope and life. I longed to feel that power in a new way, with my new love. I wanted to feel the "earth move". LOL. I decided to ask Woody to take me there, but first, I needed to go to Louisiana to see my father. I was asked by a family member to bring a picture of Woody. I went over to Woody's and he offered me a cup of coffee. I asked him if he had a picture of himself that I could have. He said "yes". I watched as he walked to his bedroom, opened a drawer and took out a picture. As he got closer, he held the picture up so that I could see it. It was a picture of him, standing in front of a beautiful waterfall. I was astounded. I asked him if it was the waterfall of my past. Dry Falls?! He said it was. I was speechless. Unbeknown to him, I had just been thinking of the waterfall that morning. Our relationship was so new. I knew that it was a special moment in time. A sign of God's hand in my life. An affirmation of my new path. I framed the picture that weekend. Even now, it sits on my nightstand, after fourteen years. It is a reminder to me of that special day. Being in tune with God and the flow of life. I would visualize the future and my life would flow toward it. Many more of these incidents have happened since. I plan to share a few more. God has truly blessed me with this little gift. My co-inky-dinks. His way of saying hello.

Sweet Samarah

 

Bragging on my sweet daughter is probably not what I am supposed to do. Most people would not. Having lost so many people in my life at such young ages, I don't ration my praise or my love according to what is acceptable to anyone else. I love everyone. If you happen to read my blog I probably love you too! I am so grateful for the people I have left. A few weeks ago, Samarah showed up at my house with this little Golden Book; Rupert the Rhinoceros and a little tea cup with Johnny Jump Ups on it. I collect children's books. She said that she got the tea cup because I told her a story about when I was a little girl. I wanted my momma to have a collection of tea cups. My grandmother had one and I wanted my momma to have one too. I began babysitting for fifty cents an hour and washing the neighbors windows to buy her these little treasures. I would go to Dixie Hardware and bring my two or three dollars and get them for birthdays, Mother's Days, Christmas or just when I wanted my mother to know how much I loved her. One day, after several years of collecting them, a young man came over to our house and accidently knocked over the cabinet in which they were displayed. Every one of the dozen or so were smashed to pieces. I was in shock. We all tried to make him feel better so it wasn't until later that I cried. Samarah brought me a tea cup and I love her for the thought. Last night I arrived at her house and Lilli came running up to me with these little fall squashes. I was so excited that Samarah gave these things to me. It may seem like a small thing to someone else. It is huge to me because I see so many relationships in trouble over small things. Things, that if I still had all the people in my life, that have passed on, I might not appreciate. I do appreciate the small, simple, beautiful things in life. Thank you, Samarah for being the best daughter a mother could ask for.

Hunting



taken by my fellow hunter Brenda Preston

First bow hunt morning in my stand

Dove hunt 2010

It is so quiet. Not silent, just peaceful. The sounds you hear are the ones you expect. Birds, crickets, squirrels scurrying, chipmunks. In the distance, the roar of a truck or an occasional train or plane can be heard. The wind breezes in and the trees speak with their leaves. They say welcome, sit down, rest awhile and soak in the beauty of nature. Wait for the ghostly appearance of the doe. The smell of leaves who have seen better days, now mingle with soil and rain. The smell is exactly the smell under the oaks in mama Guidry's yard. All I need now is the scent of coffee and a big swing to be fully transported back in time. One carnivorous friend asked me the question I sometimes asked myself. "You killed something?" Yes me, sensitive, emotional, grandmother of 11. It is all so different when the hunting switch has been flipped on. The weird thing is that it brings out the survival mode not the killing one. I feel stronger, more courageous. It's not because of the weapon I carry, but the accomplishment of being able to provide from the wild as God intended man to live. Only in hunting can you feel that strength, knowing that you can do what it takes to "make it". Hunting is the noble art of taking responsibility for ones own survival. Not a common thing in this day of drive through chicken. My friend's refrigerator was filled with lamb chops, chicken and a beef roast. None of that a problem for her. Let someone else do the killing. I was the same up until a few years ago. The thought of taking the life of anything was abhorrent to me. I love life itself and everything that God has given to enjoy. I understand if one is a vegetarian and is bothered. But in my opinion, don't judge hunters while you are munching on ribs. LOL! You hear hunters say " You just hire assassins to do your dirty work" in reference to the nay sayers. I can only say that after taking the life of an animal, I literally stop and pray. I thank the animal for sharing its life with me. I appreciate that it will be nourishment to our bodies. I thank God. I promise the Spirit that I will not kill in vain, but only to further the circle of life. Thank you Lord for the beauty of the hunt.

Flower Garden

In early spring the cherry tree blooms

My mail lady tells me that she looks forward to the new "do" every year! LOL

Peonys, roses, azaleas and foxgloves

My Lilli, the sweetest flower!

Graham Thomas

Pearly Gates

Bella Roma

Flower gardening nourishes my soul. It begins before the first plant is ever bought. Starting with rose catalogs, magazines, web pages, I drool over the possibilities. I have so much hope for my yard. Every spring I have amnesia of the summer before. That's when the dry heat of the Georgia kind, scorches rose petals and impatiens alike. It is the process that I love, the planning, buying, digging, planting. I used to joke that I had to get my fix every day, stopping by to get a six pack. A six pack of annuals. The roses I grow are chosen for their scent, color and size. I started out with three or four bushes and the count soon became thirty something. I’ve scaled down a little. It’s like having children. You know them all by name and each one is special for a different reason.  I can't say that I love to water. My sweetheart had a sprinkler system put in for that. My daughter in law, Alison Woodall, shares this love of gardening. She takes pictures of her yard at its best, saying that it reminds her of better times. She encouraged me to do the same. I love sharing a bouquet with family or friends. For me, gardening is exercise, therapy, and prayer. It puts me in touch with the original gardener of Eden.





Pearly Gates and Lillian Hays

Lillian Miia Hays



I would love to know what she's thinking!



What can I say about Lilli? I don't think that I can do justice to her. You have to meet her. She is funny, spunky, sweet and smart. I love her happy attitude and smile. Her energy is as high as Papa Woody's, who's heart she has totally captured. She melts mine when she asks for something to eat. The child loves to eat. True to her Cajun roots! When she was born, Allison, my sister, called me after visiting the new baby girl. She said "Stephanie, she is perfect." She was. Her head was perfectly round and she was absolutely beautiful. She was her daddy's little princess. I took her shopping one day, recently. I called her mother and said " Oh my! I can't wait until she is 15 to watch you take her clothes shopping." She is a mess. She wraps you around her little finger. The one waiting for my childhood birthstone ring to fit on. It's a promise I have made to her. It sits on my kitchen window sill, along with the other little treasures of my life. My first picture taken with Woody, my frog scrubby holder that Samarah made for me, the earrings from Rosalind, and a couple of  Lego toys waiting to be returned to Isaac. These are the simple joys of my life. Ones that are only special to me. But that is what makes it YOUR life. "It's your life", people say. She is.



  
 

Isaac Hays

I love the song “Beautiful Boy” by John Lennon. I tell Samarah that I just thought I loved her! LOL When you have grandchildren, you fall in love with them with a whole new love. They are the joy of my life. I would give my life for them. I know from talking to other grandparents that this a common phenomenon, and you always think your grandchildren are the most special. There are the old adages “ you can spoil them and then send them home!” or “if I had known grandchildren were this much fun, I would have had them first!”. My favorite is “Grandchildren are your reward for not killing your children!” Thank goodness I never wanted to kill their momma. You think that they are the smartest, cutest, sweetest, most loving little angels in the world. I am no different. Here is my “Beautiful Boy

 

 

Isaac has the heart of a warrior. He is fierce in his sense of what is right and fair. Sounds like his daddy! He also has a heart of gold. A sweet little man, protective of his mother and sister. He loves his dogs, DS, computer games, Lego toys, playing chess and his new guitar. He picks songs out on the piano. He gets a natural talent from an angel up in heaven, watching down on his son.  He is strong yet sensitive. His mother is making sure that he becomes a gentleman. Enrolled in Cub Scouts, shooting his bow and just being a boy, will prepare him for a wonderful life ahead. Precious to me. My first grandchild, Isaac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Lover Smiles

Lilli decided that Papa would look cute with a boa. The sweet man can't tell a girl "No"! Well, usually!

  
Woody is the love of my life. He makes me laugh, cry, grow, learn, forgive and play. We share so many things. He pushes, prods, teaches, and enjoys all kinds of activities with me. We make a good team. He cooks and I clean. He is fast and I am slow. He is 10 years older than I am and acts 10 years younger. He is a talented  drummer and can do anything well, the first time. He drives me crazy and I love how he challenges me. We have so much sporting equipment, that we could open a used sporting goods store! LOL! We have bikes, roller blades, tennis rackets, bowling balls, darts, chess set, work-out equipment. We hunt, and shoot archery, We scuba dive, swim, water ski, and  I almost killed myself trying to snow ski. Next he will be sky diving and that’s where I draw the line. I know I have forgotten something in this “first” post about my love, but rest assured that I will talk about Woody again. He is a unique person, one that I am so blessed to know. A beautiful soul. My Woody.