Day 108 - Good Lit

UPDATE:  A DAY LATER AND A FEW CHAPTERS INTO THIS BOOK AND I HAVE TO PUT IT DOWN FOR THE YUCKY LANGUAGE.  NOT MY CUP O' TEA......NO MATTER IF IT'S A BEST SELLER.

I know, I'm behind the times on this book and I know there's a movie that's been out awhile about it, but I am not one to keep up with current good literature. I love to read, but it has to completely enamore me or else I get bored and forget about the book. I don't read voraciously nor near as super-lightning-fast as PandaPop, but when I get in the mood to read....I want a great book right THEN. I 've heard about this one and Water for Elephants, but that one had a waiting list at the library. We'll see how The Time Traveler's Wife holds my attention.

Day 107 - Sweet Love

OK....this was from yesterday, but it was too cute and I didn't take a pic today. I know, shock & dismay.

Day 106 - Eggstravaganza

Day 105 - Did You See a Tornado, Toto?!!

We drove up to our house with a third of our silver leaf maple in our driveway today from the UNBELIEVABLY crazy winds we are having this year. We are not known for high winds, but I know I have had to postpone several photo shoots due to them. Our tree needed a portion of this branch down so I guess it wanted nature to run its course and not a saw. We "happened" to not be at home with our vehicles in the driveway when this fell. Thank you, Lord for angels of protection.

Day 104 - Here Comes Peter Cotton-Tail

Day 103 - Lost in the Shuffle

Poor Miao. He has gotten so lost in the crazy world we now have. He used to be so much a part of the family and now he just hides from the dog by sleeping upstairs or puts up with PJ "petting" him. Sometimes in the middle of the night I feel his soft warm fur on my face or legs and I know he's okay.

Day 102 - Red

Red is my favorite color. I used to collect these gorgeous antique glassware pieces and one just caught my eye today in a particularly special way as I was walking into my dining room.

Days 97-101 NYC!!

I didn't spend much money on NYC junk, but I had to buy all of the PandaFamily I ♥ NYC shirts. A must! I'll take pics later of both PJ and PG. PG had already gone to school when I snapped this of PJ.

There was toooooooooo much in Central Park for me to easily choose one photo! Central Park was my favorite part of the whole trip! LOVED it!

The famous Times Square was so full of people and just had an electric buzz to the atmosphere. Very fun, but way too crowded for us. We left before it got dark to go do something else.

Every morning we got a voucher from our hotel for Starbucks.  LOVE this pic of my friend.  Looks so New York.

I love this shot that I took right out of my airplane window. Gorgeous skies!!

Day 96 - The Big Apple

Packing right now to leave VERY early in the morning for NYC!!

Day 95 - Ni Hao, Y'all

That's hello in Chinese and you all in Texan.

Day 94 - Baby, Baby, Baby---OHHHHH!

Sportin' my new Bieber look for NYC!! Leaving on Thursday around 4:30 AM for NYC with this Reckless Housewife to celebrate our 40th birthdays (mine: last sept./hers: last dec.). There is no way I could do this on my own, but her hubby flies all over the place for work and racks up air miles and hotel points so we get to fly for free and stay in the Waldorf Astoria.....for free! So pumped about it!

Day 93 - Secret Sitter

This flower is from our front flower bed. I just love snapping pics of God's handiwork in flowers. They are all so gorgeous to me!! It was by total accident that I captured a day in the life of this little guy sitting happily on a petal of this flower. When I loaded the pics to my computer and enlarged it just a bit I noticed something sitting there!!! This flower is all of the size of a half-dollar coin so you can calculate HOW TINY this fella really is!

Amazing little gift that God blessed me with right in my own front yard.

Day 92 - Super Ticked-Off Feathered Friends

Well, I have finally come to my senses apparently and now know why everyone talks about and is addicted to "Angry Birds" on their smart phones! My 8 year old taught me......after SHE put the app on PP's phone. Welcome to the new millenium, PandaMom.

Day 91 - Happy Retirement

Had fun celebrating a lifetime of hard work and dedication for my father-in-law with a surprise retirement party out in the country at PandaPop's parents' awesome land with family and friends!

Day 90 - Asiatic Lily

Stunning beauty that PandaPop planted in our flower bed today along with gorgeous gerbera daisies and some other fantastic painted flowers!!! I can't stop taking pics of all of them!!! It was incredibly HARD to choose ONE photo for today......more to come, I'm sure!

Day 89 - The Master's Tiny Creations

Though these little babies scream SPRING, the weather for the past three days ventured back into winter. The temps have been soooooooo cold after we have all put away the winter clothes and donned our flip flops for a couple of weeks. Today's high is in the 50's with dark grey clouds....tomorrow will be 76 & partly sunny....Sunday will be 90. Go figure. Love my TEXAS anyway!

Day 88 - I'm PandaMom

Day 87 - Girl's Night Out

PandaGirl and I went out for a little girl-date and had such a BLAST at Pei Wei, Charming Charlie's, Bath & Body Works (I know.....I said I'd never go back, but I love their stuff!!), Yogurt Story and Target! We ended up with these darling matching power rings. PG's favorite color is GOLD. Very persistent with that choice, too. Not yellow.....GOLD. Nice taste! We were so delighted to be together without the high maintenance little jabber-jaws along with us this time. We love PJ so much, but we all need breaks from her demanding little self. This is the first time in two months since she came along that PG and I have done something together. Much needed GNO!

Day 86 - A Girl's Security

I ADORE this story!!!!! This morning PandaGirl was looking for a purse to carry to church. Well, PandaJOY wanted one too, so she trotted over to one of her toy baskets and got her black purse. We drive to church, walk in the building and I ask her, "where's your paci?" to which she quickly replies, "in my purse!!" So precious! She opened it up and showed me how safe & sound her little security "blanket" was just lying in the bottom of her purse all by itself. I asked if she wanted a tissue to go with it and she joyfully said no being completely happy with her paci in her purse. She also was showing anyone that would look inside her purse at her prized paci.

I love this on two levels: one, we girls have to have our "stuff" in our purse and with us at all times.....just in case we need it. Second, look at the parallel between our life and this purse & paci. We want everyone to see our pretty purse on the outside looking so together, but on the inside is all our insecurities and our true self.

I'm thinking I'll use this little beauty of a story many times over in my life.

Day 85 - Bubble Mania!

Day 84 - Sweet Surprise!

Some precious friends from out of state sent the girls these darling aprons today!!

Day 83 - The Art of Blowing Milk Bubbles

Day 82 - New Eyes

This is the perfect quote and picture for me today. After yesterday's cringes and cries, some personal reflection and a very stress-filled dream last night about something totally unrelated to PJ...I am now looking at this adoption and other areas of my life with new eyes and a lot of prayer.

Day 81 - The Reality of JOY

Oh my. This picture is perfect for how today went down.

The honeymoon is over. : (

PandaJOY is called to be with us and we know the Lord has plans for her and us as a family, but she has been here since February 8 and is now showing some of her true colors.

You don't think a two year old can KNOW what they're doing when they are mischievous? HA! This little one MUST have my attention at all times or she'll go off and do something naughty or give me the evil eye. Once she's done with her fit then all is well and it's back to I love you's and playfulness. I'm telling you.....she is wearing me OUT!!!!! Love her to pieces and love how stinkin' funny she is and cuddly, but the amount of work it takes to parent her is very, very challenging.

Day 80 - Lifestyle Change

This 40 thing has really done me in. I have self-medicated my emotions over the past year with the worst food choices, gained back all the weight I'd lost & have an achy body all the time. Something's gotta give. I have to take charge, make a change & stick with it for my physical and mental health.

Day 79 - Bonded Even More

After another long road trip and being in way-too-close quarters with my two girls was a huge blessing for allowing PandaJOY to bond with us even more. We are so blessed by her presence in our life!! She continues to suck up all my energy, but she is so worth it.

Day 78 - Bubbles

Day 77 - Yard Sale

We helped PandaPop's parents with a huge yard sale that took a day to get ready for and then two FULL days of working the sale. They have recently retired and have stored up stuff to sell. GOBS of stuff. We are sooooooo tired and glad to be home!!!

Day 76 - Top O' the Mornin' To Ya!

Day 75 - All a-Buzz

Day 74 - Rustic

Day 73 - Spring Break

Day 72 - Thank You Notes

Just now being able to make some time to send out thank you notes to all the sweet people who've blessed us with goodies for JOY.

Day 71 - Mini Kitchen Re-do

When PandaPop has spare time he works diligently on our kitchen. He has removed four layers of wallpaper from the previous owners, retextured & painted the walls, sanded the cabinet doors and now painting them along with the cabinets. He is so dedicated and I can't wait to see what it looks like! We'd love to have new countertops and black or stainless steel appliances, but it's just not in the budget. That's OK.

Day 70 - Moving Right Along

Thanks for your continued prayers. This little one has rocked our world in good and in challenging ways over the past several weeks. We are SO IN LOVE with her! When people say how cute or sweet she is all I say is that she's like a cupcake and I want to eat her up!! She does drive me crazy every day, though. This little gabby mouth never shuts up! AHHHH! That is funny most of the time, but we other three can get all wonky listening to her ask the same question. over. and. over. and. over......and over again. I cannot wait to be able to show you her GORGEOUS eyes on her darling little face. You can see joy in her countenance. JOY.

Day 69 - Bradford Pear Trees

Our area is COVERED in these gorgeous Bradford pear trees!!! They are stunning in beauty and look like snow has fallen all over the limbs. Such a pretty sight when there are so many on the streets!

Day 68 - Goin' Jeepin'

Since we sold our beloved black Jeep last year we have longed for another one! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE riding in the Jeep. Today we were able to get a new Jeep......an umbrella stroller Jeep. It's the best we can do for now!

Day 67 - Etouffee

I have never celebrated Mardi Gras. All that comes to mind is the debauchery filled streets of New Orleans on this day. Crazy stuff. However, our dears friends invited us over on a whim tonight for homemade etouffee, rice, bread and king cake. Yummy!

Day 66 - Scribbles

Day 65 - Cherished Gift

My beloved pastor's wife made this for us and PandaJOY. Cherished words of affirmation from The Word.

Day 64 - Luscious Springtime

My lamb's ear is so beautiful!

Day 63 - His Silent World

Sweet PandaDoggie doing what he does so much of the day. His deafness is his saving grace when I want to kill him for acting naughty. I still can't believe we have a huge, deaf house dog......but he is so perfect for our family.

Day 62 - Fluff & Stuff

New fluffy pink towels for the girls' bathroom! I'm about to paint a HUGE cupcake on a canvas to go along with them and the darling brown shower curtain covered in sprinkles of large polka dots. Too cute!

Day 61 - First Sign of Spring

This little gem was delicately decorating the path to our front porch this morning!! Spring is coming soon!!!

Day 60 - Shop!!!

What fun we had last night using the wonderful gifts card from the toddler shower!

Blessed beyond words! ; )

Day 59 - All the Children of the World

The girls were blessed with these darling soft baby dolls from one of the sweet office ladies with whom PP works at church.

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world.

Red, brown, yellow, black & white,

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.