I Will Never Be Your Friend....

"I am your mother.  I am not your friend."  I wonder how many times I've said that to my sweet girls.  And maybe at the time I meant it.  Yes, I'm sure I did mean it.   They were little girls and they are, after all, 26 and 29 years younger than I am.  I was the mother and I was in charge.  I wanted them to be respectful of me and of other people as they ventured out into the world.

And now, ironically, THEY are 26 and 29....the ages I was when I had them.  And yes, you guessed it.  They are my friends.  Of course they are my daughters, and they always will be.  My live baby dolls I had dreamed of since I was a little girl.  They were my greatest joys and my biggest blessings. Always have been, always will be.  But now....  "Always Your Mother....Now Also Your Friend."

This is cRaZy!!

Three years since I've written in this blog.  This is cRaZy!!  I almost never went a day without blogging before.  Now with a new move and a new job and our life settling down, somewhat, I hope that I will continue to post.   So much has changed and I can't WAIT to see what God has in store for us next!

The Teacher Wife

From February 4, 2012

For all my teacher buddies out there....this is one of the best links for teacher ideas.  If you're not on Pinterest, let me know and I'll invite you.  This teacher has combined many other teachers' ideas, bulletin boards, etc.  So many wonderful things!!
http://pinterest.com/mrslindsey/
She also has a darling blog, The Teacher Wife, which can be found here.  http://theteacherwife.blogspot.com/

An Idea!!

I just had an idea...ANOTHER idea...geez!   I am absolutely LOVING LOVING LOVING Pinterest!!!!  I love seeing new ideas and dreaming about the day I will actually be able to do all of them. : ) {{ I have done two of them.}} So...here's the idea...
I would like for you to send me an idea from Pinterest that you have ACTUALLY done!  Send me a picture of it with a few simple directions and your picture (optional : ) and I will feature you on my blog!  You can send it to donnalorenson@gmail.com.  TOO FUN!

Christmas is coming....

I think I just found the Christmas motherload!
http://deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com/

Santa Hats - Bugle Style!

This is the CUTEST thing I've seen this season!  You can find the recipe on this blog: http://cookiesandcups.com/santa-party-mix/ How cute would this be with the santa hats and red and green M&Ms in a bowl! Love love love this!

I'm Hungry...NOW!

This morning as I was getting ready for the day, God spoke to my heart and I wanted to share it with you.

I remember when the girls were little and I would be cooking supper in the evenings. They would come in NUMEROUS times and say, "Mommy is it ready YET?" "Mommy I'm hungry NOW!" "Mommy WHEN are we going to be able to eat?"

My response was always, "In a little while" or "I'm not through yet." They had a need that THEY felt needed to be taken care of immediately. I knew that they would eventually eat but it was in MY time that supper would be ready. I knew that it would eventually fulfill their hungry little tummies and that they weren't going to starve to death.

Isn't that what we do to God with our needs and wants? We want it RIGHT NOW. We think we know what's best for us and that sometimes God isn't reacting quite soon enough for us. We tend to forget that He has a plan already drawn out for us that will fulfill our hungry little tummies. The Bible tells us, in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

So, today, whether you are waiting on money or that perfect job, whether it's for a broken bone to heal or a crop to come in, whether it's for a test you've been studying for or a specific prayer answered, know that He has great things ahead for you.

By the way, Katy and Kelsey NEVER went hungry!

Last Day of Summer

Today is the last day of the most GLORIOUS summer I have EVER had! Here's a recap of some of the blessings I received this summer....
1. Moving to Burleson, Texas to spend the rest of my life with the most amazing man.

2. Visiting Montana with Kevin's mother, sister and sister-in-law. I met his Montana family that I absolutely fell totally in love with!

3. Surprising Kelsey on her 21st birthday!

4. Meeting new neighbors that are the BEST.

5. Playing golf, swimming, learning to clean a pool, date nights, movies movies movies, reading, learning about The Secret, Trinity and Crockett, Rummikub, parties, and learning to finally relax. (Thanks, Kev)

6. Hosting Kevin's Nebraska family....all 8 of them....for an entire week. SO stinkin' much fun!

7. Going to a class reunion in Crockett that spanned the classes of 1970 - 1979. SO great to reconnect.

8. Spending time at the lake with Malinda and Sheree. Our sweet, sweet lifelong friends.

9. Celebrating Kevin's 52nd b'day with three very special people in his life.

10. Having Amy and the kids!!!! Oh my gosh how I loved having them here. : )

11. Going to Mexico to celebrate Sharon and Brandon's wedding. PERFECTION to say the very least! We were honored to be a part of their celebration.

12. Getting engaged.....on a romantic beach in Mexico....a total surprise....a total blessing....a lifetime of love.

13. Watching Katy sing at the House of Blues!!!!! WOW!

Will I miss this summer? You bet. Will I relive every single moment of it throughout my lifetime? You bet. Will I ever forget what he said on that beach....NEVER! So, goodbye hot pink toenails with fun flowers, goodbye tan, goodbye linen outfits....it was a GREAT ride!

Happy Birthday, Mother!

On July 9, 1941....Bobbye Gayle Garvey (Darsey) was born! The world became a brighter, more loving place!

This is what I know about my mother.....

1. She loves you unconditionally.....family and friends alike.

2. She never EVER ages! She is truly the most beautiful woman I have ever known.

3. She taught me how to walk, talk (yes...you can blame her!), iron cloth napkins, when to wear white shoes, to say my prayers, to wear makeup, to play with my baby dolls and my two real babies, to decorate, to sing the alto part, that it's important to wash your face at night, and to love Jesus.

4. She loves my father more than anyone or anything else in the world!! I LOVE that!

5. She is a TRUE friend.

6. She is the BEST 2nd grade teacher.

7. My Papaw called her "Tootie" and loved her beyond belief.

8. She is the most wonderful grandmother....ever.

9. She dresses to perfection.

10. She was the first person I ever loved....even before I knew her. : )

Mother, I hope you take today to celebrate YOU all day long! Have a wonderful birthday!!!

Sweet Memories and Precious Friends!! : )

My sweet friends made this video for me and presented it to me at my going away party! What a sweet sweet precious thing to do!!! They took a garden gnome from Martie's garden and placed it at all the places around B/CS that I had frequented! They then presented me with "Buddy the Gnome" for my garden. Such wonderful memories and such lifelong friends! Thanks, girls!!!

Exit

EXIT....how many times a day do we see this word? It is over doors, it is on highways, it is in movie theatres. One of the online dictionaries defines exit like this:

1. The act of going away or out. To make one's exit; depart.
2. A passage or way out.

3. The departure of a performer from the stage.
4. Death.

Today I have my Exit Interview with CSISD. Today, I remember how, as a young woman of 20, I did my student teaching in this district. How I interviewed and was so excited and proud to be a member of this family of educators. I am also extremely blessed that my daughters were able to be educated in this district from Kindergarten on. And now, I'm saying goodbye. I'm exiting.

I looked at that definition again and saw so many similarities in my departure from CSISD. I am making my departure. I will no longer be a member of this family. Wonder if they will remember me? Did I make a difference? I think "the departure of a performer from the stage" would have some of my colleagues laughing. I'm pretty sure at times, they wanted this performer to depart the stage! Did I make them laugh? Did I "perform" my job to the best of my ability? Death - not so sure about this definition! : ) I am sure that part of this does feel like a death. There will be tears and there will be goodbyes to people I will never see again. But there is also a new life waiting for me........One that I thank God for every single day. I will never forget to be thankful for this new life and all the blessings that Christ has bestowed on me and on Kevin as well. So, as I exit CSISD, I am entering a new phase of my life. The best phase. With a godly man that I adore.

~Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

~

A New Life

Knox Bradley Kuver and his Tia Donna......I could just eat him up! A new baby....so full of exciting times ahead for Marci and Sam and their families. If a baby can be spoiled long distance, then I'm going to do my best to do just that! God's little miracle....

Aggie Baseball

Aggie Baseball 2010 has started. The weather is perfect for baseball. I wonder what College Station was like on game day in 1931. Seventy-nine years ago.

A few facts about the above picture:

1. 1931 Southwest Conference Champions

2. Bob Garvey - my maternal grandfather - catcher

3. Bob Garvey - the first All SWC catcher A&M ever had

4. Bob Garvey - one of the finest men I have ever known

5. Bob Garvey when I graduated from A&M in 1983...."Papaw are you proud?"..."Baby it's almost as good as when we beat Texas for the championship in 1931!" : )

Friday Flashback Photo

Memories of Miss Hattie.
Her home reminded me of something out of a storybook.

The navy hose she wore. Even to casual events, she always had a dress and those hose on.

Playing the piano for me at the Baptist Church...she could tear up a piano!

Smiles...always smiles and hugs!!

She always told me about playing for Daddy's 5th grade trumpet solo. I think she loved that she played for two generations of us.

Letters I received from her after I was married - Always a Christmas card or a letter when the girls were born. Such very important letters that I still have.

Beautiful, one-of-a-kind handwriting.

A very important part of my life.

Sick of it.....

SICK OF IT! (Yes, I'm hollering.) Yesterday, Kevin and I met up at Panda Express after running our respective errands. It was drizzly and cold outside, I hadn't been feeling well, and I was anxious to meet up with him and have a quiet lunch together. I could write an entire blog on the people we saw there. Oh my goodness!!! Anyway...

As we were finishing up our lunch, a young guy and girl walked in. We were drawn to the hat the kid was wearing as our nephew has one just like it. And then...we....were...drawn...to....his.....

UNDERWEAR!! I don't know why I got so upset at that particular moment about this particular subject. I work in an intermediate school and in a middle school. I see kids ALL THE TIME with their "pants on the ground". This one must have been the one to push me over the top.

Now here's the deal. If I don't WASH your underwear, then I don't want to SEE your underwear.

I have thought about this for almost 24 hours now (it really made me mad) and I realize that there's not much we can do about this. Every generation has their way of expressing themselves through fashion. But, I think I have a way that we can show support for these kids....let 'em know that it's ok to think outside of the box. Try this....

All women, over the age of 35, especially the ones who wear "big momma panties", every single time you see a kid like that, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, pull your skirt or pants down and pull those undies up high! Wear them high and proud, ladies! That'll show 'em!

Listen To This...

"Do you hear yourself when you are speaking

and really listen to what you are saying?"

Saw this on a blog prompt site today. I SO wanted to go to the next prompt. So I did...several times....but kept coming back to this one. There are times, I believe, that what I have said is important. "Mommy loves you," "Hold my hand while we're crossing the street," "That does NOT match!," "Hold your fork like this," "Give it all to Jesus," "Let's say our prayers," "Be nice to your sister," "I love you...I really do love you with my whole heart."

My voice is irritating. I realize this. I hear it on a tape recorder and want to bury my head in the sand. (So right up front, for those of you that have to listen to me speak, I apologize for the nails-on-the-chalkboard-kind-of-pain that my voice might bring to you! : ) I've always wished for a slooowww soft Southern Georgia Drawl. Maybe I'll just start talking like that on purpose. Don't ask me why I'm talking like that if you hear me do it. : )

My grandmother always told me I talk too fast. Yes, I do. I'll work on that. I also talk too much. I'll work on that, too.

But...do I really hear myself and really listen to what I'm saying. Nope. Not most of the time. And I know people that are the exact same way. Why in the WORLD do I feel like I have to talk above others? Seriously?! Daddy always said that's why God gave us two ears and one mouth. So....I'm working on that, too! : )

So my sweet friends, if there are times that all of a sudden you hear an abyss of silence....it's me working on listening more! : ) I think Mr. Wonderful and K2 are gonna LOVE this!

Memories of Polk's

I don't know how many times I went into that store.
I DO know two of my favorite memories and I DO know one of the last times I was there.

First memory.....I must have been 8 years old. 1968. We had just moved back to Crockett. I was in the third grade. It was Christmas Eve and Daddy had given me a $20 bill and took me "uptown" to shop for my Christmas gifts. It was sleeting...I thought it was snowing...maybe I just hoped it was! : ) Daddy dropped me off by Roger's Shoe Store and told me he would pick me up later. TWENTY DOLLARS! WOW! I could buy gifts for everyone....Mother and Daddy, Aunt Nellie, Uncle Tommy, Grandma, Gran, Rob and Darla.

I went to Stowe's Men and Boy's Store and bought socks for all the men. They asked me if I would like them wrapped and I said yes but to PLEASE keep the little "hangers" on them. : ) I don't know WHY that was so important to me. I then went to Perry Brothers. I bought Mother a porcelain poodle. And bless her heart...she still has it! I was SO proud of that gift.

My next stop was at Polk's. I went upstairs. I LOVED the upstairs. It was linens only. I bought cup towels for my great-grandmother, my grandmother, my aunt and Esta, my grandmother's maid. They also asked if I wanted them wrapped. (Back then, they wrapped for free.) I was so excited.

My second favorite memory was graduation. 1978. In Crockett you sent out high school announcements and then people would buy gifts for you, Polk's would wrap them up (in white paper with blue bows/ribbons) and have your graduation announcement card on them heading up the stairs to the linens. You would get a call from them saying, "Donna has gifts to be picked up" and you would go to Polk's to pick up your gifts. They were then displayed at your house on tables with white table cloths. People would come by your home to see what you had received for gifts. : ) (Same thing happened when you got married! : )

The very last memory I have of Polk's is when I left Crockett to go to A&M. My great-grandmother, Hattie Murchison, worked there and I went by on my way out of town to say goodbye. As long as I knew her, "Mom" as we called her, never cried. When I went by Polk's that day to say goodbye, she started to cry. I asked her why she was crying and she said, "Your great-grandfather would have been so proud of you." (He was a HUGE Aggie fan! : )

So many wonderful memories of Polk's...of the back room where the shoes were. Of the sweet lady upstairs by the shoes (can't remember her name) who kept the "books". Of how you could take things out on approval to try them on and bring them back. Of how you had a charge account.
I loved that place!
What are your memories of Polk's?

Happy Valentine's Day!

1. Sushi dinner! - Mt. Axiom and ....
2. Tower of Pisa
3. Candy! - Martie and Diana trying to figure out what's inside! : )
4. Chloe - cutest morning Valentine EVER!
5. Valentine breakfast w/heart shaped strawberry cream cheese filled french toast...YUMO!
6. Coffee with Kevin
7. My BEAUTIFUL azaleas!!

8. Red Velvet Cupcakes - Kevin's favorite!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Earlier in the school year, my sweet friend Shannon made us all (the six CSISD tech specialists) a plaque for our desk. Something to look at everyday. She's such a creative, thoughtful person and I never know what sweet things she has lurking around the proverbial corner! Each day when I think about what to post on my blog, I think of just putting..."See Shannon's Blog". It would be so much easier that way! The above is a picture of the plaque she made. It sits on my desk beside a cross and two heart shaped rocks that the girls gave me when they were little. I wanted it to be in a place that I would see it every day.

I've thought many times about the words "Keep Calm and Carry On." What do they mean to me as a mother? What do they mean to me as a friend? What do they mean to me as a child of God, as a woman of God? What do they mean to me as a partner? What do they mean to me as I interact with strangers?

Am I keeping calm? Am I carrying on?

I love February!

I can't believe February will be here on MONDAY! Wow. Seems like I just took down all the Christmas decorations. I absolutely flippin' LOVE Valentine's Day. I always have. I always will. See reasons below.

1. Memories of making Valentine's bags in school in Crockett. White bags. Red hearts. Pink hearts. Glue. PASTE! The smell of the BIG red marker we got to use to put our names at the top. Tapped to the chalkboard rail. Would THAT special Valentine be in there?! And...I always thought it was important to decorate the back of my bag!

2. Valentine Cards. Then - getting a box of them at Perry Brothers or Duke & Ayres. Making sure I had enough for everyone in the class and a little left over...just in case I "messed up". Now - Finding the perfect one for Mr. Wonderful, my precious girls and my ya-yas.

3. Red & Pink. That's it. Just Red and Pink! Enough said.

4. Watching the kids at my Junior High...and remembering that time!

5. Red Valentine Suckers!! The big thick kind.

6. Planning the perfect day. I never thought of Valentine's Day as special for me. I just LOVE planning the day for Mr. Wonderful and the girls!

There IS one thing I don't like about V'Day...this word...and do you correct someone when they say it?? ValentiMe's Day...really?!