Tea Time

Thursday, May 12, 2016

So Proud

“This funny thing happens when you graduate college. You hear so much about being an adult that you start to feel like you have to become a different person overnight,

that growing up means being not you.

And you concentrate so hard on living up to the term

"adult" that you forget growing up happens by living,

not by sheer force of will.”

~Cora Carmack

I am so proud of this young man...

Photo credit ~ Donna

This evening he walks across the stage at

Rider University

and walks off campus with his B.A. degree,

hard-earned and well-deserved,

now ready to start his "adult" life.

The journey he has traveled to this point in life

has made him one of my heroes,

not only for the obstacles he conquered along the way,

but also for the fact this he is a literal hero...

serving as a volunteer firefighter for his community

since his teen years!

Ryan,

welcome to the world beyond school!

The "adult" world.

But, remember...as the quote says,

growing up happens by living!
As Alanis Morissette sings,
"you live, you learn".

So true!

May you continue to "grow up" all the days of your life!

Let the living begin and the learning never stop!

(do some of that living down here in Florida, please!)

A big congratulations to you, Young Man,

and a big virtual hug sent over the miles!

p.s.

And don't think I forgot about your

random, spontaneous promise to me when you were

about 4 or 5....

"Aunt Debbie, when I grow up I'm gonna take care of you!"

hahahahahahaha

Saturday, March 12, 2016

These Two...

These two!

Have their own love song.

It isn't comprised of lyrics

or even musical notes.

The song is their life

and they dance to it every day!

Christa and Robert,

you are much loved

by me and so many!

We celebrate with you this day!

Happy, Happy Anniversary!!!!!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Such memories as I go through the picture files, choosing a picture here and there. If I wanted to use all of my chosen pictures, I would have to string 3 or 4 songs together! But my purpose is not to make a documentary, but to just touch on moments of life as we live it, and that can be as simple as a smile or as difficult as capturing that first wave!

I love the message of this song. Basically, it's saying "live life" regardless of what might come your way..... and that is a message I want to send out to my girls....and all those I love - including you!

This link should allow you to view on mobile devices:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9LBQFVFvUtzTU9rWHgxNmJEQTQ/view

So long 2015

What will 2016 bring?!

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Here's to January

Do you read the prologue of a new book, the acknowledgements, the dedication page? I do. To me, it adds to the anticipation of what's to come.....the words on the pages of the chapters that complete the story.

That's what January is to me ~ the prologue of the next book in life. Resolutions are entertained and perhaps decided upon, goals are made, it has an air of freshness.

It is a New Year!

What is it going to hold?!?!

In past years, history has proven that it's not always good.....we may come away with scars, both physical and emotional....but history has also proven that difficult times are always survivable and healing takes place.

Because of this...

Faith

...and these...

Family

Friends

I thank God for being my foundation...I bask in the joy of my family...My friends are pillars.

The trifecta of life.

All elements of my book.

So here's to January and the year to come...

the anticipation is rising!

By the way,

here's the last book I read...

and its dedication...

to hope!

Always!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Coffee Shoppe and some Lip-Syncing

Recently, the majority of the fam stole a weekend away to the Dizzyworld area of Florida....just to take a break from "normal" life and sit back and relax for a bit. (We missed you so much, RaeandJoseph!)
One of the more enjoyable evenings while we were there was just hanging at World of Coffee and ice cream shoppe. ....

which also had tea.....why did I not buy this sign!?!...

Our coffee and ice cream cone maker, Mr. Congenial...

To indulge or not to indulge... that is the question...

No text messaging here...

A whole lotta sharing going on...

Is she not a little elf !?!....

High school sweetheart...both with sweet hearts....

And somehow, during this hang-out session, the conversation took a turn to competition (are you surprised??)...lip-sync competition to be exact. And in between the walk from the coffee shop....

Sidenote: this sign is totally incorrect! This pic is a depiction of the

right way!...

I think Christa agrees...

...and back to the condo with just enough time for the kids to get in their jammies, songs were decided and moves were practiced...and here, for the sake of posterity, are the amateur videos of the entertaining acts....

Somehow, Mish and Charlie turned into Part I and II...

And in true competition form, we were going to decide a winner,

but in this case we all agreed...

everyone came in First Place!

p.s.

notice I didn't partake...

I had all my moves down for a

Proud Mary rendition,

but I had left my Tina Turner wig at home...oh well...

maybe next time!

Saturday, December 5, 2015

The Holidays Have Begun

The menu was planned and divided up as to who was making what, names were drawn for the gift exchange, schedules synchronized (who can be where when), St. Augustine has been lit-up, the Holly Jolly Holiday Trolley is making its rounds, and our excitement continues to grow. The holiday season has officially started!

Which made me look up the definition of holiday..."a day...on which ordinary business is suspended..." In light of this paraphrased definition, I think everyday should be a holiday.

SUSPEND ORDINARY!

Let each day have a smidgen of extra-ordinary in it! Find it, create it!

However, on the flip side of that extra-ordinary coin, right now I want to bask in the ordinary. The simple parts of the days of my life that bring pleasure, satisfaction, joy. With Thanksgiving now history and Christmas just around the corner, I want to remember to take note of small events of each day that total up to a great big whole. A whole lotta love! Such as...

Smiles...

Nature...

Architecture...

Forever Friends...

Ice Cream Shoppes...

Triceratops...

Projects...

All things Gator...

Birthdays...

Family and Friends...

...just to name a few!

So as we approach the date of the most celebrated birthday ever, remember to hone in on all of the ordinary events in your life. Don't let them pass by unnoticed. Because as you reflect back on them, you'll realize the the ordinary is in reality extraordinary!

And at this moment the ordinary has been suspended as the SEC championship game is on.

GO GATORS!

in light of the above definition...
Happy Holiday!