This and That Thursday by Mental Pause Mama

Today is a very special day for my good friend and someone I consider to be my mentor in this crazy thing called life, Mental Pause Mama.  Please go over and say hello, show some major love, tell her I sent you, I want to win that coffee maker because I live in a house with all men and I really need the coffee for my sanity and brewing Cowboy Coffee really sucks in the morning...anyway, Mama is celebrating her three year blogging anniversary!!!  And in doing so, I am having a special This and That Thursday where all my random and totally off the top of my brain quips will be about this very special lady and I mean them from the bottom of my heart, whether I win that Cuisinart Coffee maker or not.

Mama, I can not believe it's been three years.  It has been hitting me in a weird way since you mentioned it to me.  All I can think of is, WOW.  Three years.  In the scheme of things, three years is not such a long time, but looking back, it amazes me how much we have all been through...how we have been a part of the ups and downs of each other's worlds through our daily and sometimes "not so daily" writings...


I remember when you didn't think you would make it through the twins senior years of high school and then graduation...it's hard to believe they are now in their 2nd year of college.  My, how you have grown with them.

In the past three years, you have grown a deep attachment and affinity for Virginia, both the Tidewater and Piedmont areas, both having your heart deeply entrenched.

We have been there with you through moving, birds leaving the nest, a new job, ups and downs, through losing a dear fur family member, and all your fun adventures.

I am still jealous you went to Italy and Spain.

I miss seeing "those boots".

Times on the Chesapeake Bay...sigh.

Helping me to realize that the walls would not fall down if I went to worship at a Catholic church and soon I will be taking my conversion classes.

We share a deep love and affinity for, all things Monticello, Williamsburg, and Thomas Jefferson related.

I will never forget you holding my hand, from far away, when I moved to that other country called, Texas.

Parentexting Tuesday...BEST blog post out there to date.  Will it ever evolve into Grandparentexting Tuesday???

Clapping for joy with me when I came back to Virginia.

For always loving me and for being there, whether I was needing it or not.

I love how I can make you laugh and frustrated at the same time...you never, ever, stopped loving me and that is what a "real mama" should do.

I love how you trust my weather predictions...and we each see the magical beauty in snow.

I am so grateful and thankful to God for guiding me to your blog three years ago...you have forever enriched my life and I thank you profusely.

You taught me the word, Gah!

I aspire to be a woman like you.  You have taught me so much and I am eager to keep learning from you.

Audrey Hepburn...you changed my world forever and I got major love fo' ya.  I consider you to be a "stick girl" and those I can count on one hand.  Seriously.  If you ever need me, call me...I'll be there.


This is Home Girl and I raise a glass of Chardonnay in honor of Mental Pause Mama and your blog.  Here's to three more years!

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Best of Christmas 2010

This is Home Girl and I bid you all a wonderful day.

The Woes of A Winter Snow Storm

I often forget there is a negative side to having a big snow storm come through your neck of the woods.  It reminds me of giving birth to a child, it hurts like heck and you swear you will never do it again and then you hold a baby and...well, the rest is history.  That's the same thing that happens with me and snow.  It's pretty coming down and then the quiet stillness of it at night...the pretty sights and then somehow a few days later, you feel like maybe this wasn't such a fun thought after all.

See the various hats, gloves, and assorted winter garb stacked around the headlines from the local Tidewater paper.  It says "buried" in case you did not read it correctly.  That's right, this area of Virginia received more snow on December 26th than it has in more than 20 years.  I also heard this storm was the third strongest on record.

The jackets hung on chairs in hopes of getting dry.  "All this hoopla over some snow", says Benjamin Franklin.

More shoes lined up in the mud room.  

Hats and scarves corralled in the bin waiting for the next time someone has to venture out into the great white.

Blankets, comforters, snugglies, and pillows are piled high into a chair.  Waiting for the next victim of the frozen outside to come in need of warmth.

"Okay, whose big idea was this anyway?"  I am standing in fear and horror trying to gain the courage to go down the "stairs of death".  At this point, these stairs are nothing but ice.  Dangerous and scary, I tell you, but ya know what makes me come back to the bright side and know this was so very worth it?

When I trapse across the frozen walkway sliding and nearly killing myself....do you want to know what reminds me "why I crave snow"???

I get scenes like this to etch into my brain.  I know how truly blessed I really am.  

This is Home Girl and it's all good with me.