Advent Ribbon 2018

Dear Sweet Lucy Mae,  You had me at “Hello”.  From the first moment we met and I held you in my arms we fell in love with you.  We love your smiles and laughter and everything about you. We pray for you every single day.  Poppa and Diva

Look who is a big girl now.  You are changing every day.  We were excited and cheering for you when you took your first few steps.  Now you can dance and run.  You are an amazing little girl and we love you.  Your Diva and Poppa

 Lucy Mae Mae, We miss you and your sweet sister.  We loved to see your smiles and excitement when you saw us.  It made our hearts smile.   Love Diva and Poppa

 

Lucy this is your big girl cousin Emma.  She will be 12 in January and she was so excited to meet you.  Emma loves to babysit and loved watching you and your sister.  She is funny and loves you very much.    Diva

Lucy this is one of the first pictures I have with you and your Poppa Thanksgiving 2017.  You snuggled in his lap and I could tell he would do anything to keep you safe.  Poppa can be silly and he can also fix just about anything.  He will always be your greatest fan. Diva

Lucy this is the first picture I have holding you. Diva fell instantly in love with your sweetness and your patience.  You are very content and smiley. We got to go with you and your family to see your first movie.  Diva

Poppa and I also got to see you and your big sister with Santa. Lyra Jane did not like it at all.  I love this picture.  Your Daddy was the youngest in our family and most of the time sat calmly on Santa's lap for a picture while his big sisters were screaming.  Love you.  Diva and Poppa

Lucy I am so glad you got to meet my sweet Lucy cat.  She is very sweet and gentle.  She liked you and could tell that you are a kind and sweet little girl.  Diva

Lucy, this is one of my favorite pictures of you and your sister.  I keep it on my desk so your smiles greet me every morning.  Poppa and I pray for you every day.  Love you.  Diva

Lucy Mae,  This picture was taken at your first Thanksgiving in Texas.  We loved being with your family and Dee Dee and Pops.  Diva

Lucy Mae, This picture always makes me laugh and want to reach out and pick you up.  It is a smile of delight and joy.  I hope you will always be happy and joyful.  With all my love...Diva

Lucy, this is my new favorite picture of you and your sister.  I love to see your sweet faces greet me every morning.  Poppa and I love you very much.  Diva

Diva loves Hearts

 

I am a very sentimental person.  I love watching Hallmark movies, even though I know how it will end.  I love happy endings, treats, thoughtfulness, hearts and flowers, and random acts of kindness.  I am definitely "a happily ever after" kind of girl.  

I was reading a devotion today from a book called "Devotions for the Hungry Heart" and she shared this story with her grandchildren that I would love to share with mine.

God shows us His love by showing us heart shapes in nature.  They are all around us and pop up in unexpected places.  I like to see them so He shows them to me.  It's like a little note from heaven right in the middle of the day.  When I see it, I think about how much God loves us and I have a little party in my heart.

Had to laugh at the heart-shaped bum.













I loved the hearts on the wings of this butterfly.













Heart-shaped rocks.



So my darlings, I am hoping to have some heart adventures with you this summer.  I will start collecting some I can show you and start taking pictures of the ones I find.  Don't be surprised if we go on a heart hunt adventure.   I hope you know you are always in my heart and never far from my thoughts.

Diva Remembers Roller Skating

When I was 8 years old one of my favorite past times was roller skating.  The picture below is the street skates I used, complete with a skate key to tighten up the clamps on my shoes.  The skate key was very important or else the skate fell off every time you picked up your foot.  I lost many skate keys growing up and had to get my dad to use a pair of pliers to adjust the clamps so I could skate.

Not only were the skates heavy and awkward but I learned to skate on the sidewalks outside our home in Abilene, Texas.  Our sidewalks were cracked and if you had any speed at all and hit the rough and uneven pavement a fall was the predictable outcome.  I don't remember how many times I fell but I usually had bruises, skinned knees and elbows and lots of colorful band-aids to show for my skating adventures. ( Remember this was long before knee and elbow pads and helmets.  So if occasionally Diva acts goofy its probably from a childhood skating accident.)  Occasionally my parents would take pity on my injuries and take us skating at the local roller rink.

Ah.....the roller skating rink with a smooth wooden floor with lots of room to skate and shoe skates that they rented out.  Back in my day, it was 8-year-old heaven.  For my 8th birthday, my parents rented out the roller rink and had my birthday party there.  I was the most popular girl in school for that brief week.  I was able to invite all my classmates, Sunday School class friends, Brownie troop, neighbors, and friends. What could be better than shoe skates, birthday cake, presents, music to skate by as well as skating games and" couples only" skating. I skated with Jerry Cleveland my third-grade crush....he had braces, bright red hair cut in a crew cut, thick glasses and was the smartest boy in my class.  (Yes, sweet Lucy....your Diva was attracted to Nerds even back in the day.  Jerry was a math whiz and did my math homework for me. (But don't tell great grandmother--she just thought I got really smart in math in that year!) 

   I broke my arm roller skating.  It was the first of three broken wrists that I experienced in the first, second and third grades.  My cousins used to say that "I was slippery", I think they meant that I was breakable.  It was my left wrist.  I was going too fast down an incline and couldn't stop myself from hitting a parked car.  I used my left hand to try and stop myself but it bent backward and I heard it snap.  I wore a cast on it for 6 weeks.

In high school, I used to watch Roller Derby on TV.  The girls skated on a banked track and it was really a physical contact sport.  My friends always laughed at me that I enjoyed watching it and called me the Roller Derby Queen.  I actually got to go to a game in Norfolk and meet one of my heroes...Joan Westin of the Bay City Bombers.  I laughed when your Auntie Becky told me she was interested in skating with the Roller Derby in Saskatoon.

  Who knows maybe she will fulfill one of my long lost dreams and be a roller derby queen
As I write this for you today I want you to know how excited we are to see you play, dance, walk, and smile.  Poppa and I love you very much and pray for your every single day.  Know that you are always in my heart and in my thoughts.

Your Roller Derby Skating Queen......Diva

Journal Entry from our first visit with you

Wednesday - November 29th, 2017

I started this prayer journal today because my heart is full of thanks from our trip to Texas to see Andy and "the girls".  Rachel is amazing and totally organized.  She is so loving and kind, a wonderful mother and wife.  Thank you Lord for the 5 years she has been a part of our life.  What a blessing.

Sassy little Miss Lyra is cute, adorable, smart and already knows "how to work a room."  She reminds me of her daddy at that age.  I love her cute smile, blonde hair, and the fact she calls her daddy "Babe".

Lucy Mae is the happiest baby ever.  Her bright eyes and smile light up the room.  She is very "laid back" and not much makes her unhappy.  However, when she does cry, it breaks your heart and you instantly want to fix it.


Andy is the best daddy ever!  He is sensitive to Rachel's need "for a kid break and quick to take the girls outside for a walk.  He is a good provider and a hard worker.  We are especially glad that he is studying Scripture and actively involved in a good church.

My most favorite Lucy!

Well, you aren't surprised at my choice are you, Lucy Mae?  We have been waiting for your arrival for a long time.  All of us are so thankful that you are here and perfect in every way.

It is probably a good thing that Diva and Poppa live far away cause you would have chapped cheeks from all their kisses. 



Mommy kisses are the very best!  Diva will tell you a secret...you have the very best Mommy and Daddy ever.  They will love you and play with you and protect you your whole life long.  Your Daddy is big and strong and will make you laugh.  He gives great hugs and will show you all his toys.  He loves to wear costumes for Halloween so I am sure he will be thinking of a costume for you too.

You also have a big sister to laugh and giggle with, share secrets and help you with things you can't reach yet.  She is your built-in friend, protector, and playmate.  

You are growing so fast.  We are so thankful that your Mommy keeps us posted with new pictures of you and Lyra.  It is not as good as being with you but know we will be there as soon as Diva can travel.

We love you little Miss....get lots of sleep so Mommy and Daddy can too.

We love you and pray for you daily.

Your Proud Poppa and Darling Diva

Xena, Warrior Princess

 Ok sweetie, by now you are probably thinking "poor Diva, she is really losing it.  What does Xena, Warrior Princess have to do with Lucys?"

Years ago, when your Daddy was in college he used to tease me because I enjoyed watching Xena.  She was a "kick butt and take names" kind of woman in a land where most women were victims.  She was strong, could fight like a man, and had a weapon.  Xena was everything that your sweet, silver hair diva is not...my alter-ego, my opposite. 

 One thing you should know about Diva is that I can appreciate and get excited about seeing a person using their talents.  I can watch Ninja Warrior, Project Runway, Top Chef, or Top Shot and get just as enthralled because these are talents that are unique and special. I envy anyone who has perfected their special ability.

 Xena, Warrior Princess was played by  Lucy Lawless from New Zealand.  

So what can you learn from Xena....strength, empathy for those less fortunate, justice, and wisdom.  I pray you keep your body strong and physically fit (unlike your marshmallow shaped Diva) and that you will lend a helping hand to those around you.

So, my adorable baby girl,  I hope when you look for a superhero you will remember my girl Xena, Warrior Princess.


Your soft and fluffy Diva

Coming to see you soon

 

We are very pleased and blessed to welcome a new grandchild.  Lucy Mae was born April 29th to our son and daughter in law Rachel and big sister Lyra.  Lyra is excited to have everyone look at her baby and has been very sweet and gentle with her.  We are planning on taking a road trip to Fort Worth to go visit them and meet little Lucy and marvel at how much Lyra has changed over the last year.  To say that we are excited would definitely be an understatement.  Please keep us in your prayers as we start our grand adventure soon.  Be on the lookout for blog posts along the way and lots of pictures of our Texans.