Happy Birthday, Granny

Today we got make the trip to Tulsa to see the moms!  We enjoyed a belated Thanksgiving celebration with my Mom and Bob. And had a really great visit.  

The next morning we headed to a lunch celebration for Granny's birthday!  I wish the kids could have joined us but it was still nice to get together with Jon's mom, brother and family!  

A wise son makes a glad father,

    but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 

Proverbs 10:1

Kirkwood Thanksgiving

The year has turned its circle,

The seasons come and go.

The harvest is all gathered in

And chilly north winds blow.

Orchards have shared their treasures,

The fields, their yellow grain.

So open wide the doorway-

Thanksgiving comes again!  

when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,  “For he is good,

    for his steadfast love endures forever,”

2 Chronicles 5:13

Over the Red River . . .

Before Caleb heads back to Lubbock we made a day trip to Oklahoma to see Granny and Donnie.  There we even lunch with a few of the 'old cousins.' It was a quick trip but long over due! 

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts Colossians 4:8

Granny's Visit to the Frisco Heritage Museum

Granny came for visit this weekend!  Hooray! Unfortunately, Caleb is out of the country again but we got to spend time together.  On Saturday we took Granny to Frisco Heritage Museum.  

The museum has all kinds of rail memorabilia.  It also features a turn of the century printing press, and a service station with cars from 1915 and 1930.  Frisco is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. and the museum was created to preserve the city's heritage. 

Granny shared stories with the girls about packing a lunch and riding the rail with Aunt Cathy to go visit relatives when they were little girls. 

Granny and Frankie worked on a puzzle together.  I think this time it was horses! Imagine that!  Granny joined us for church this morning before she headed back to Tulsa. 

Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:16

Continued Thankfulness

Today we enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner with Granny and Donnie! We met up in Atoka for a little Mexican food, a little antiquing and a dip cone.  Sport kept Granny and Donnie company on the drive from Tulsa. 

Granny and Donnie had a houseful over Thanksgiving so with a day of rest they felt up to a three hour drive to Atoka.  We are so thankful that Donnie has completed his chemo treatments and the doctors did an amazing job on his reconstructive surgery. 

We also took the time to celebrate Granny's birthday a little early.  She looks great, you wouldn't guess she turns 79 next week!  She still works full time and has no plans to retire.  The visit was too short but it was wonderful to spend time together. 

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 9:1

Mani, Pedi and a Side of Guacamole

This morning we all enjoyed a little breakfast together before we split up for the day.  Jon took the girls to Oklahoma to have lunch with our sweet Hannah.  I think there is a limit to how long they can go without hanging out together. 

Mom and I spent the day doing girly things!  You know, mani and pedis!  Then there was time for more shopping, which of course led to more eating!  But with all the walking we did while shopping with our perfectly coiffed toes, I'm sure it all evened out the calories! Right?! 

It was a great mother /daughter day for us and the girls had a good visit!  Again, thankful for much . . . family for the holidays, Godly friendships, and making memories! 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21

A Day of Thanksgiving

Aahh, the savory aroma of ham wafting through the air with hints of sweet brown sugar! It must be Thanksgiving! The table is set with fresh baked sweet potatoes; mashed potatoes with a hint of garlic; green bean casserole topped with crispy, salty, onion-y goodness; yeast rolls and a side of gravy! 

Around the table is the blessing of family and warm eyes. So many blessings and so much to be grateful for.  I miss my boy but I know he's safe in God care as he travels the world with LCU's study abroad group. 

Today was a laid back day to enjoy the festivities of the Macy's Day Parade.  At Frankie's request we watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving Special. And when we had rested a bit from our big feast we enjoyed a sliver of cheesecake or two.  There may have been some napping in the late afternoon! 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Food, Fun, & Family

Today was another fun day with my Mom and the girls!  I think we ate our way through the day! We started our day off with biscuits and smorgasbord of homemade jams! 

Next we headed over to Studio Movie Grill to see the newly released Wonder movie. The movie is the heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time. It was based on the New York Times Best Seller, Wonder!  The book and movie were both very heartwarming! 

After our morning matinee we took on a little more shopping at the Shops of Legacy, taking Mom to our favorite Kendra Scott store and a few others. Next we gave Mom a tour of the Collin College campus where Abigail attends.

By that time, of course we had worked up an appetite so we had a late lunch at PF Chang's.  It was so good!  I think the lettuce wraps and egg drop soup were my favorites. I think we came home with more food than we ate, but all of it was delicious! Abigail has already begun searching the Internet for copy cat recipes of the lettuce wraps! It was a really good day together! 

The eye that mocks a father

    and scorns to obey a mother

will be picked out by the ravens of the valley

    and eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 30:17

Mom's Here!

Hooray, my mom is in town for the week of Thanksgiving! So where is the first place we head?  Off to the mall of course!  We got in a little, OK, a lot of early Christmas shopping together.  It was a great time of visiting and catching up while hanging out with the girls.  We also helped Santa check off a few names off the Nice List. 

Fun fact, if you hang out at the mall long enough you may run into friends!

After all that walking we certainly burned off a few calories to spare towards a delicious homemade Oreo cheesecake! And yes, it was as good as it sounds.  

A wise child makes a glad father,

    but a foolish child is a sorrow to his mother.

Proverbs 10:1

Road Trippin'

Today we had a break in Abigail's softball schedule so we took a trip up to Atoka, Oklahoma to meet up with Granny and Donnie for lunch.  With the cool weather, Padme' and Sport both made the trip. It was good to do a little catching up and be able to hug their necks! 

We texted Caleb a 'guess where we are' text knowing he would recognize the Mexican restaurant where we meet Granny and Donnie.  So Caleb texted back the picture of 'hello, Granny and Donnie' from Caleb and Sonny.  It was funny because at about the same time I got a 'hello' picture from my blonde son, Richard and his fiancee' Melissa!  

The father of a righteous child has great joy;

a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

Proverbs 23:24

Walk Down Memory Lane

Just a few more pictures from our weekend in Tulsa.  We were able to run by and visit with Granny and Donnie for a short visit. It was too brief but it was great to be together. 

While we were dressed up after the wedding I drove the girls around town where I grew up.  It was great to see the refurbished buildings. 

The high school is being torn down but it was fun memories to share stories with the girls about football games and great times. 

That in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

I Corinthians 1:5

Going Home

Trips to Tulsa will always include a stop at the cemetery.  It's a odd reality that so many of our relatives, both Jon's family and mine are there.  I think it is a blessing for the kids that both sides of the family are at the same cemetery.  My mom's twin, my grandparents, Jon's dad, my dad, Mimi's parents, and Jon's aunts and uncles are all together.  It is the first place we stop when we come to town to pay our respects and to pass favorite stories down to the kids of each of the lives represented in bronze. 

For today, our next stop was out to Mom and Bob's house.  It is the house I grew up in and it is always good to be home.  One of my favorite things to do when I'm home is to cook with my mom.  I know it is a lot for her to prepare meals for all of us.  I grew up in the kitchen cooking because my mom was a working mom.  Our meals would be our time to sit down together when Mom and Dad got home for work.  

There is a comfort knowing the salt shaker, pots and pans are all in the same place they have been for the last forty plus years! Some things have changed like the microwave above the stove and all of its fancy buttons, just ask my Mom! The table is still set; the dishes and glasses all match; the roll warmer is still the same one from my childhood; and we like it that way!  

In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so,

I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2 

Let's Be Independent Together

Independence Day means a trip to Tulsa to see Granny and the old cousins.  It also means brownies, deviled eggs, smoked ham and Granny's famous baked beans! Jon's brother Bobby and both of the boys, BJ & Jesse, all made it up. 

As usual Donnie put on a spectacular fireworks show and let the kids light and and set off some of the big ones. Got to love Oklahoma and being outside of the city limits! Plus it's always a bonus that Donnie is a retired Tulsa Firefighter should anything go wrong! 

It was good to have the Kirkwood clan together. I love how much the three boys look alike in the top picture.  There is no doubt that they are related.  I love seeing 'my kids' together.  I'm still in denial that they are all grown ups! Maybe that is part of the independence we celebrated today.   

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

    the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 137:3

Mother's Day in June

My little momma made the road trip from Tulsa to Plano.  After our visit in Ada yesterday, we swung by Atoka to meet up with my mom and bring her into Texas.  I'm sure she could have made it just fine but with all of the growth in North Texas I just felt better driving her in myself. 

It was good to have a few days to hang out and visit.  We took her over to Hawaiian Falls and showed her where Caleb has worked the last three years.  We also made a run over to Nebraska Furniture Mart, it is one of those stores you just have to see to believe.  Plus, my mom loves all the home decorating ideas.  I think we could have rented a U-Haul and redecorated both houses.

After all that shopping we headed over to Cheddar's for lunch including a large stack of onion rings, always a favorite! It was a short visit but a good one. We're looking forward to her next visit.

Treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. I Timothy 5:1-2

Take Me Back to Tulsa

The Texas weather has brought an assortment of thunderstorms to our area.  All of that rain played havoc on dirt infield softball fields.  A couple of Abigail's games for this week were cancelled until the fields dry out.  That gave us the opportunity to make a run up to Oklahoma to check on our family.  

It was good to spend time with my mom, it was our first visit since my grandmother, her mother, passed away.  We were able to slow down and spend time visiting some favorite spots where I grew up.  It was special to have Abigail along with me, she got to see the schools I attended.  I showed her the pizza restaurant, grocery store and law office I worked in during high school.  Yes, I held down three jobs during my junior and senior year.  

We even visited a few new favorites like 'Not Your Grandma's Cupcakes!'  I picked up a few cupcakes and we celebrated an early Mother's Day!  We also stopped by my brother Michael's apartment for dinner.  It's hard to believe he's been there for two years.  

Before heading back we stopped by to see Granny, Jon's mom!  She gets on to me everytime she sees her picture on the blog but it makes me so happy to see her!  It worked out that she was off work today for a doctors appointment so we got to visit with Granny, Donnie, and one spoiled lab, Sport. 

It was a quick visit, but I'm so thankful for the time with my mom and Granny!  It's hard to believe we left Oklahoma some fourteen years ago.  

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Proverbs 1:8

Take Me Back to . . . Atoka

The calendar showed a host of events today including building drama props and softball.  However, our industrious prop master found all the backdrops needed and wet field conditions cancelled practice.  So we had a Saturday free! 

Granny and Donnie had a rough week, Donnie's sister Betty passed away.  It was time to hang out and decompress.  We have a favorite Mexican restaurant in Atoka that is Caleb's favorite.  So of course Abigail took pictures of our dinner and texted Caleb! 

It was a short visit, but even just a little time together is so valuable!  

for your daughter-in-law loves you

Ruth 4:15

Thanksgiving at Granny's House

Our first Thanksgiving stop was at Granny's house. Granny and Donnie had a houseful of people, I think I counted 18+ at dinner.  Jon's brother Bob and his son BJ were in town; we were only missing Jess. Lots of laugh and story telling and plenty of delicious food make for a great holiday.  As you can Sport was worn out from all the activity! 

And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Matthew 15:26-27

More Birthday Celebrations!

Donnie's birthday is just a few days before Frankie's so he suggested we meet up in Atoka, OK for Mexican food and celebrating. 

Donnie teased Frankie that since she was 30 she was officially older than him since he was only 29.  But Frankie reminded him that he turned 80 last year, meaning he was 81 now!  They had a fun time teasing each other. 

After lunch at our favorite meet up spot we went over the park to play with Sport and visit.  

Abigail made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes to share.  We packed away six cupcakes to take to Atoka, but Jon dropped them in back yard on the way to the car.  So I packed up another six cupcakes and dropped them on the kitchen floor.  The next six cupcakes Frankie packed and carried herself to the car without incident! It was funny, we were laughing too hard to be upset about the dozen wasted cupcakes! 

It was an enjoyable, lighthearted day just perfect for celebrating!  Frankie loved being the center of attention! 

They celebrate your abundant goodness

    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:7

Take me back to . . . Atoka!

Hooray, a visit with Granny!  When we checked the weather earlier this week and saw it was going to be a beautiful weekend, we made plans to meet up with Granny and Donnie. 

We like to meet up in Atoka, Oklahoma it is about half way between Dallas and Tulsa.  It also has a wonderful Mexican restaurant and a nearby park.  We love to visit enjoy some guacamole and then head to the park. 

Granny got a new phone and the kids helped her figure out how access the blog from her phone.  Sissy and Donnie took Sport out for a run in the park.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother  II Timothy 1:5

Thanksgiving with the Old Cousins

While we were in Oklahoma Frankie grew up with her cousin BJ, and they spent a lot of time together.  Jess is several years younger and is Caleb's age.  When they were young I baby sat the boys each summer until we moved to Texas.  So, anytime we return to Oklahoma my kids refer to is as going to see their 'old cousins.' 

 

They are the only cousins my children have, but when everything became old house, old job, old church the cousins too became 'old.'   The kids are a hoot when they are together, it's like they all revert back to being young children! 

 

We were all together at Granny's house for Thanksgiving including a lot of Jon's extended family.  At one point I heard Jon explaining second cousin, twice removed; I'm not even sure what that means!

 

Granny and Donnie had a house full of people and plenty of delicious food and Sport seemed to take it all in stride!

 

Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family,
because I have shown kindness to you.  Joshua 2:12