She's Here

This is baby Rachel. Four days old and counting when this picture was taken. Of course her very proud Grandmother was holding her while Poppa snapped her picture. She came into this world 7lbs and 9oz and was 19 inches long. God is so Good. She's healthy and such a pretty girl.

She arrived on March 3, around 6:30 in the evening after we had all pretty much given up on her getting here in a timely manner. Her sweet mom had to finally have a c-section after a long day. We were awakened at 5:11 in the morning saying she was on her way. And on her way she was all day long.

She's here now tho and very much loved and spoiled by all concerned. Seven more days and we will find out what our other Grandlove will be. My daughter-in-law goes for her sonogram on the 18th, and we will know what to expect in August.

Ain't this fun? I get two in one year to love on.

Blessings to all
Barbara

Baby Stuff

My beloved husband has asked me to help him with his "new addiction." Buying Baby stuff.

We are the proud grandparents of two babies on the way. One due next month who is the recipient of all the stuff taking up space in the back bedroom. Then in August we get to do it all over again. Lucky me I managed to get all the Christmas items out of the bedroom just in time to start filling it up again.

At first we were just going to split the cost of the baby bed and comforter set with another family member, plus the hand made items I had made, (2 afghans with matching baby hats). That was before I mistakenly took him to a consignment shop and we bought the frilly pink travel crib, that I later found on the Internet for $189.00, nope we didn't pay that much, only $39.00 if I remember correctly. From there it was a trip to Babies R Us, and he found something else, and something else, then hit the on line store for something else. It was then he asked me if I knew of a Rehab for Grandparents.

When I sweetly ask are you done yet? I get "well maybe." Please Lord do not let these wonderful expectant parents add one more thing to their Baby Registry.... Remember me I want to retire and be available to baby sit occasionally....

Christmas in the South

Since we haven't seen snow since way back in 1989, we have to create our snow men and let them reside inside the house. The little Christmas doll I found in the American Thrift Store in Jasper Alabama for $1.98. How could anyone part with her? As you can tell I'm a cat lover with all the cats sitting around, and now days there are no real pets to be seen. Seems strange after all the years of Cats and Dogs around the house not to have even one. Who knows maybe when I finally retire and stay home I will once again see the need of a furry friend to keep me company while I piddle around the house hoping to find no puddles.

Blessings/Barbara

Christmas is Coming

I love Christmas. I love the packages and the food and everything that goes with it. I especially love the "prep work." Now isn't that the dumbest thing you have ever heard?

So many of my friends and even my husband complain about all the energy and time it takes to prepare for an EVENT. Not me. That is my fun time. I love the mixing and pouring and cooking all sorts of goodies that I don't fix any other time of the year. I love wrapping packages and trying out new things with the bows and ribbons and anything I can find to attach to that package inside or out is a thrill to me.

All the decorations in the house. That's an entirely different story. Every room has to have something to say, "Hi y'all, welcome, it's Christmas time." I love trees so every room including the bathroom has some sort of tree. There are old and new ones, ceramic and green ones. Oh if only I had a HUGE house, then I could have large trees with different themes in every room.

I even like to create our own Christmas cards on the computer. My husband buys boxes of Thomas Kincaid cards to hand out at work and I create the special ones to send to all those extra special folks on our list, not that the great guys and gals at work aren't special, but you know how it is Family expects to be on the top of your list, with an extra touch of some sort. Last year I copied a caricature of myself and my husband that I had made for him on his birthday and put it on the cover of the card. I still love that drawing and even have it as the background on my cell phone.

I love celebrating Jesus. His birth, His life, His death and resurrection. And I'm so Thankful that He Loves me Enough to allow me the time, to create, play, and work hard cleaning and spiffing up the home place while enjoying all the Holidays that he has given us.

Holidays

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have so many things and people to be Thankful for. The list grows every year to include more friends and more family. I love the addition of new family members and we already know that their will be a new grand daughter arriving in February or March, and the possibility of another grandson or grand daughter later in the year, assuming God decides to bless this son and daughter-in-law.

They announced on my birthday back in September that they were now ready. Of course this daughter-in-love (I stole that love part from Debbie Macomber, makes perfect sense to me) has a birthday the day before mine so we are secretly (actually we've told everyone) that a September baby would be very much welcomed.

I'm thankful that God has given me a wonderful man to share the fall of my life with. We enjoy each other and never have trouble communicating with each other even on touchy subjects which include my children or his.

I'm thankful for my 3 grown children and even though they are sometimes "works in progress" so am I, and fortunately God has given me as well as them time to work a few more things out.

I'm thankful for my six grandchildren who are growing very quickly into young ladies and young men, and very thankful for the youngest grandchild who I call my bonus. I married her grandfather when she was a year old so not only did I acquire two step children but she was the bonus. Lest I forget I am also the great grandmother of one of the sweetest little boys, actually I tell everyone my daughter is a grandmother and sorta let the great grandmother portion remain unsaid. We rarely see him as he lives with his mother, but God I'm sure is working in her life and soon he will be allowed to be part of our family also.

Life has been very full and eventful for me and some days I wonder what God has planned for me next, but in the meantime, I will enjoy the moment, for I told Him quite LOUDLY one time that I was very tired of taking "one day at a time." When he asked me what I had in mind, then of course; I was speechless, for who am I to tell anyone, let alone GOD how to rule the world or handle my life?

I pray all those who take time to read my ramblings will have a Blessed, Happy, Safe, Holiday and let God know how very thankful you are for all that He has done in your life.

Many Blessings
B.J. Brooks Robinson

C.J.

Over thirteen years ago I visited my brother Charles and he presented me with a small bundle of black and white fur. His Boston Terrier had 4 puppies and he gave me one. Well C.J. was an easy name to come by, I had a grandson Christopher and a granddaughter Jessica, and also a sometimes bratty brother Charles. So C.J. represented them all, and he was just the cutest thing.

Actually he was so cute we had to find him a play mate, so the same brother who at that time bred and sold Boston Terriers had another litter with different blood lines so we bought C.J. his very own Lady friend Baby. From 6 weeks on they were inseparable.

Back in the the Spring Baby decided she had taken all she could of C.J.'s antics after 13 years of his barking and aggravating her she decided she would take a Heavenly Trip, or as my oldest son would say, Baby was no more.

Poor C.J. had nobody to bark at or snuggle up to. He tried the ceramic cat on the living room floor a few times, but guess she wasn't too warm or appealing. He became a crotchety old man and on Friday he decided he would take a long nap and go see Baby.

Time passes and it seems like a short time but for his breed 13 1/2 years is a very long journey. I will miss him he was a great companion to me, especially after my husband passed away and before I remarried. I can best describe it as the end of an Era one that included my other life, for I feel like now I'm walking in a different world making new memories and C.J. was part of my past. Forever gone now.

Blessings / Barbara

Birthday fun

As I previously posted my husband left my birthday gift at home. So on Sunday morning the day of my birthday he told me what I had waiting for me at home.

Of course I loved the gift, (Ruby/Diamond Ring) but the best part was the card. We have a running joke about the names he calls me. I've been trying to teach him some new words for quite some time now.

He often calls me "Brat" as in Spoiled Brat, "Silly" is another one of his expressions, so along the way I've tried to incorporate the word "Precious."

My birthday card said "To My Precious Wife." Can you believe it? He's really been listening to me, don't cha think?

Many Blessings
Barbara