We saved her.

She arrived on the first day of school… and was still in the driveway when I came home from work.

A day or two later, she’s still in the car port. We realized she couldn’t walk very far because her pads had slipped. Someone told me that their pads slip when they are chasing a vehicle down the black top road (probably trying to keep up with her owner).

How rude!

Someone brought this lovely creature and left her in the Texas August heat, without water or food… to fend for herself.

Now, let me tell you that I am/was not a “dog” person per se. I’ve had cats for over twenty years and only twice in my life did I own a dog… jointly, with siblings.  So, keeping a dog- especially, a HUGE dog was not in the plan.

We advertised, posted her on Facebook, told everyone we knew that we had a beautiful, white, house trained dog living with us that needed a home. We had her spayed,  groomed,  everything we could to make her appealing to a new  home.

She’s still here.

And her name is Trixie Honeysuckle. She has three pillows and rotates between them throughout the day. Did I mention she is Large?  She weighs 72 pounds and the vet mentioned that her ideal weight is 80. She walks on a leash, sits for treats, LOVES to ride in the truck… and she’s ours.  She knows where her home is and can make her way back without us.

So, a large white dog in a 2100 sq. ft. home, with no fenced yard, means we sweep, dust and vacuum daily. We bought a Ferminator… God’s gift to dog owners… and we brush, bathe, pet, cuddle and walk our baby on schedule. It’s a good thing the hubs is retired!  We’ve made friends with the vet, vet-tech and the spa keeper.

We’ve met neighbors we hadn’t become acquainted with previously, because they have dogs! We buy silly toys we haven’t had in the house since the grandchildren were babies. We always have cheese cubes available, now. They are the “gold” treat.

Today, exactly 7 months since she came to us… I redecorated the living room.  No longer will you see olive sofa’s with long white dog hair clinging to the sides… or her long white offerings laying on the dark coffee table.  I found the perfect decor to match the perfect dog — shabby chic.

So, don’t come looking for her now, she belongs in this home… our shabby chic dog, in our shabby chic home!

Perfect.  

Today I was privileged to participate in the initiation of a lovely young woman to a local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She’s blonde, cute, a young mother, a caring person, as far as I can tell.  She walked tall and appeared to learn alot today.

I’ve been a member of the Order for 15 or so years. I’ve filled a variety of stations (offices) and performed a number of special duties in honor of women and men who have served faithfully and taught many behind them. I’ve been honored to teach a few who came in after me, and I’ve even led the funeral service for a dear saint, whom I will never forget.

In our Order, there are women we admire, heroines from the Bible, heroines of our Order. They represent the different stages of our lives and we learn from them, to be patient, courageous, kind, hard working, loyal and faithful.

I love the Order… it’s filled with opportunities to serve others. There are so many choices- you cannot do everything.  All that we, the members, do is surrounded by bling, pomp and circumstance, and joy of loyal friendship. We tend to lean toward projects that help women, but we don’t leave the men out.

One year 17 students in Texas received scholarships to allow them more freedom while they studied for the ministry. 15 more were awarded scholarships to continue their college education… or to complete a certificate course in their area of work. And that’s on a state level. Locally, many students in all the communities received smaller contributions toward their education.  Thousands were contributed to Breast Cancer research, the Galveston Burn Center and the multitude of projects sponsored by Worthy Matrons around the state. Recently, we focused on the service dogs that help save lives.

Our Chapter collected 300 pairs of flip flops to send to the Air Force kids who were volunteering (as part of their job) in an orphanage in Africa. There are so many rocks, the kids can’t keep shoes on that won’t tear up… so we helped our service kids, help the small children. The cost for mailing them was riduculous, but they couldn’t be bought in Africa, so, mailing was what was required.    One year, we made lap blankets for children at the hospital. Once, we collected stuffed toys and gave them to the law enforcement folks. When they have to arrest a mom and dad, these toys give the children something to hold onto during the terrible process.  Who else will do these things?

It’s been a fun-filled year. A year of service and friendships, new friends and new goals set for the future… all to start a new year with new officers, new plans… new folks to help, new students to help and new women to train to carry on our work.

Most of my female friends don’t understand this committment to the greater good.  Yep, we spend our money on bling… but we give and raise more for the good of others. Yes, we spend much of our free time with the members of our Order, and we miss new movies and don’t spend much time reading… but we are doing good. Whatever avenue a person can find to volunteer to help others is good. It’s good for the soul, good for those being helped, good for our country to help one another.   For me, it’s a matter of breathing… we should help, as we breathe. I just love dressing up to do it!

    It’s a cool thing to have a ‘sweet sixteen’ party for your firstborn. All night… boys and girls played music, danced, talked.. and talked! And, then… the non–cook mom, decides to be very motherly and bake cookies.  Of course, this one action changes the entire event from a beautifully planned party to a hilarious memory for life!

Jenn was turning 16 – in January! Freezing out, ice everywhere and we were living in a small mobile home at the lake!

Not much room for girls to spread out with all their gear, but we’re determined to make it the best birthday ever! The invites are cute and hand delivered, the house is cleaned from top to bottom.  About twelve young teens filled our small living area with sweet sounds of laughter and gossip. The boys are on one couch, the girls on the other. All are eating chips, and salsa from the coffee table and the music is blaring! The girls dance, the boys watch them.. I fondly remember those days!

 I decided to make oatmeal cookies for munching later into the night, since they all brought their sleeping bags and planned to camp out on the living room floor.

I gathered the usual suspects for cooking… a cookie sheet, mixing bowl, eggs, sugar, nutmeg, raisins, recipe..and began to mix away.  Excitement grew as everyone watched as the master created great food! Carefully, I mixed and placed small amounts on the cookie sheet for baking. A few of the girls came to “help”, so they got the spoon.

Nearing the prescribed baking time, I noticed a little smoke rising from within the oven. Deciding there might be something in the bottom of the oven, I waited.  Finally, the SSSCCCRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEAAAACCCCCCCHHHHH of the smoke detector shocks this cook into reality! With the assistance of ALL the excited teenagers we gingerly open the oven door and smoke billows out!

When one is baking oatmeal cookies, it’s a great idea to put oatmeal IN the cookie batter!  Much laughter followed and a re-do is in order. I apologized for embarrassing my beautiful sixteen year old.   Laughing all the way, NEW eggs, NEW sugar – you get the idea… and we are ready to go again. This time there were more folks willing to assist!

Into a freshly cleaned oven, the cookie sheet is placed. So proud, I was… that I could teach these children a valuable lesson about beginning again, cleaning up one’s mess, and the rewards of trying hard to succeed. I actually rationalized it in my own mind that I did this as a learning exercise!

A few minutes passed and all is well. A few more and there is a touch of smoke. KNOWING it’s leftover melted cookie dough, I let it continue to cook.  HEARING the familiar SSSSSSRRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAAAAACCCCCCCHHHHH of the smoke detector almost made me wet myself! My daughter nearly melted into the wall. Don’t all mom’s know how to bake?

This mom went back to NON-COOKING birthday parties. The story surfaces at every family holiday meal, when I’m asked… “Mom, did Poppie cook….. or you?”  Then we all laugh again and remember the memorable evening when Jenn turned 16!

I have been blessed by daughters.

Daughters are special people. They bring out the best in me and make me want to be better. I love being girlfriends with them  and at times, I’m just thankful to be their mom.

The eldest daughter is actually a step daughter – a gift from my new husband. She was already grown, working and planning a wedding. Our relationship is very polite and a holiday-ish kind of friendship.  She has a wonderful husband and son who dote on her. She’s smart and loving and enjoys life in the southern most part of our state.

Next there is Jenn, my first born.  She’s mom to four daughters. She’s had a hard time finding her place in the world, but she’s really settled now and enjoying the life of a mother of pre-teens. Her level of energy astonishes me.  After twirl practice, scouts, church, work and a woman’s group, she still cooks, cleans and even has time to visit the hospitalized friend from time to time.

The baby daughter (again, a step-daughter) is affectionately known as our perfect child. Her willingness to keep on moving is exciting to us. She’s traveled everywhere, is not easily ruffled, committed to college and the Air Force and loves her husband ever-so- completely!

The newest addition is the daughter-in-law.  She’s like a little Skipper doll. Cute, fun to be around, fashion wise and smart.  She’s still studying for the future, so I ‘m excited to see what life affords her. Best of all, she loves my son – and she does it well.

My daughters are great humans.  Not wasteful of time, money or talents, they are willing to help those that need it.  They are faithful and dedicated to their families and loving every minute of it. They all love to have a good time.

Each day brings a new adventure for my grandchildren.  That’s because their mom’s and aunties put them first.

We have a wonderful family of women, with just enough men thrown in there for comfort, safety, motivation and interest.

OMG! My baby sister is turning 50 tomorrow. What IS this world coming to? I guess I’ll have to take her seriously now. I wonder if she’ll ever take herself seriously? Hmmm,  that’s a thought.

Should I be concerned that she’s 50 now? Or happy she made it up here at last?  Naw… she’s too busy having a good time with her children.  She has two who are grown men (sorta) and a beautifully talented daughter that keeps her very busy.

Someone once told me that all adults over 50 are the same age. It took me a while to understand, but I agree.

Sometimes I forget she’s grown. Seems like she should still be riding the purple bike and playing with dolls.  Seems like she should be sitting under the dining table … hiding from the green peas on her plate, or trying out my makeup in the bathroom before school.  I should be tying her shoe or buttoning her plaid dress.

Other times… she’s the middle child. The loving, sweet, peaceful one in the bunch. She can make everyone quiet down and pay attention… and no one talks back, cause she’s the “nice” one.

Today, she’s 49. She works with small children and I am sure they help keep her younger than her years.  But, you just wait until tomorrow.

She will finally become as old as me! Happy Birthday, little sister!

I am always amazed at how smart young women can be. They are full of life, traveling the world, absorbing energy and information from every corner.

Todays young woman has so much to offer and so much available to them.  Their unabashed and unashamed love of living is attractive to those of us who didn’t take advantage of that time of life.  The time when you are grown, free to love and learn more and more.

Todays young woman is smart… she knows how to make money, how to save and invest, how to spend wisely and how to demand the best. My favorite young women are confident in their own lives, with their own abilities, and with learning new things from new people.

I write this because I have some new friends that I’ve known for several years. They are graduating this month and will venture out to the world in different directions… excited to see what awaits them.  They laugh a lot, cry some (they are teen girls, you know), and they love to be comfortable in their workout clothes and no make up.   They are all about being women… productive women.  And they are smart!

Congratulations to my Smart Female friends.  Life has much in store for you.  And I can’t wait to see how you handle it with grace, love and LOTS of laughs.

I love you, girls. Have a great life!