All posts by Jeanie

About Jeanie

Wholehearted living somewhere in the middle of all my years. Aging parents, grown kids, and grandbebes everywhere! Married to my love and lifelong best friend, Dave for 33 years now. We raised 5 kids and lived to tell about it. My life's mission is to declare the great faithfulness of God to the next generations, especially those in mi familia!

Isn’t May really truly the merriest merriest month?

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, 4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, Stuff I Actually Think, , , , , , ,

I was strolling through the park one day

In the merry merry month of May

Amelie and her baby “Emily” in Estes Park, Memorial Day Weekend

True story: So, two little girls run in to see their Nonni~

A beautiful morning in May, two little darlings come bounding through the house and into the kitchen, breathless with excitement.

“I have something for you, Nonna.  I have money for you,” the big sister tells me.

“What?  You have money for me? What’s this?” I ask them with complete surprise and total awe at their cuteness.

“I have money for you, too,” the little one exclaims.

The first 5 grandbebes on the patio at a family celebration, mid-May

They both open their bags and pull out tiny coin purses, whereupon the older sister beamingly presents me with 10 pennies, lined up one by one, and tiny girl carefully adds her 4 pennies, as well.

“This money is for you, Nonna!”

They repack their bags and set off on their merry way.  They are so generous, so loving, so sweet.  And I am rich!  The interest is compounding daily.  I am loaded with benefits and treasure.  I have 8 grandbebes and I am made of this stuff.  :)

I love May.

Every May without fail, Tara has a birthday, Stephanie has a birthday and Gemma May does, too.  The grandbebes have lots of cute school programs, there is Mother’s Day and usually some one is pregnant (this year that is Tredessa). The final frost date finally arrives in May and you can go into a gardening frenzy.  The skies seem unusually blue this fifth month of each year and of course the green is that intoxicating shade of “spring” as new leaves unfurl and floofy, wildly-hued prom dresses get packed away while flowers in every dazzling color from here to heaven and back take their places and begin to bud and blossom with abandon.

May is sunny.  May is new leaves fluttering in gentle breezes, really enthusiastic rains washing away the meandering Colorado winters, rainbows, crazy-gorgeous clouds quickly moving by, colorful sunsets that rival Maui and the beginning of lemonade season.

Cornhole!  Happy Birthday, Tara! Amelie loves it!

May is a soft shade of yellow and a bright-sky blue.  It is lush, sky-watered grass and all the windows and doors flung wide.  It is kids counting the days until school is out and then wanting to go back to play in the school yard when it is out.  No rules!  It’s hearing the neighbors you didn’t hear all winter and graduations and weddings and baseball in full swing.

May is for expressing possibilities {I just may do that} and relishing long days that you thought had actually been swallowed up by long nights.  But here they are again, May days.

I was strolling through the park one day

In the merry-merry month of May

I was taken by surpise by a pair of roguish eyes

In that moment my heart was stolen away

Warning {roguish eye picture ahead}

The black eye is pretty much gone now.  I have lots more wrinkles there from all the swelling.  I hope they will go away.  Seriously.  But I shall always remember I had my first (hopefully last) real shiner in May 2013.

Cousins.

Oh, May, how I hate to see you go.  Thank-you for the the green, the new life, the sunshine, the rain, the hope, the promise and the lovely month, year after year.  Good-bye, merry-merry month of May.

she looked around

3 Celebrations & Festive Events

Hard year for my treasured friend, Marilyn.  But for all the love and generosity and hospitality and long-suffering and patience and gifts and kisses and joy and friendship she has ever sown into the garden of life, I know she is about to see a harvest for it all.

I asked God to give me a word in season for her and this line just popped out.

one day she looked around and realized she was surrounded by all the love she had ever given away

I think God wants her to know this is truth about her and it’s a line from her life story. Today is your day, Marilyn!

Gemma May – You’re 6 Now!

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think, ,

What a busy social season little Gemma May is having at the ripe old age of 6!

She has been to party after party recently, including one where all the girls dressed in pink and rode around in a pink Hummer limo.  She had a party at her house with her school friends, too. Throw in end-of-year activities and a field trip to the zoo – and just the other day, she had her Kindergarten graduation, well, she is happy-busy!  One exciting thing after another and she is still only at the beginning.

Oh, Gemma May – I miss that seemingly endless time with you back in our days of pre-school and hanging out.  Everything was a squeal of delight, sparkly and happy.  You entered the room like a shining star every single time I saw you, golden-red-haired curls bouncing and a smile so big it filled the house. You lived your toddler years on a perpetual-virtual red carpet, blowing kisses to the fans, a family who has adored you always.

Now, having graduated so beautifully from your Kindergarten year, I see a girl as lovely as a spring day, just like the morning of the day in May when you were born.  You are a little more contemplative, more graceful and grown up.  Your hair swings like light beams behind you, your eyes curl playfully as you tell me a fascinating story, your contagious giggle would disarm a London Guard.

You are SIX now, Gemma-Loo!  I am so pleased with what a lovely girl you are.  I am so proud of you and what a wonderful daughter and little sister you are to your family.  And I sure do love any Gemma-time I can get, what with your very popular and busy calendar.  You really are both sugar and spice and really everything nice!

Your Nonni loves you, sweet-pea.  I’ll be your biggest fan for-ever!  Happy-happy-happy Birthday!  See you at your party!

NOTE:  All photos by her talented-photo-taking mama.  See more at www.maydae.com

Happy Birthday, Stephanie-born-in-May

2 Mi Familia, 3 Celebrations & Festive Events, Stuff I Actually Think, , , , , , , , , , ,

What do Broccoli Cheese Soup at the Big Wheel, birthing classes at Howard Community with the Loftises on Thursday nights, Princess Diana, a really ornery Tilt-a-Whirl operator at Indiana Beach Amusement Park (now fancily called a resort), the song “He Means More to Me Today Because of Yesterday” by the Sounds of Happyness, and a beautiful morning in May with the lilacs in full bloom have in common?

My Stephanie.  Second child, only preemie, the teeny-tiniest babe who caused faith to rise in my heart as I prayed to God for her in the dark night, me in the hospital in Kokomo – her fighting to breathe at James Whitcomb Riley Hospital in Indianapolis.  Thirty-one years ago.

If an old friend lets you down

And a true love can’t be found

Till the blue skies come around

I’ll be right by your side

You weren’t due until June, very late June, very-very late June.  But you came in May and it was beautiful and it was a surprise and it was meant to be.  And every May since, we are reminded of the blessing and miracle and joy and completion and maturity and faith you brought with you, and what it caused in us.

No don’t forget me now that we’re apart

Just open up that great big loving heart

And you’ll always be

You’ll always be

You’ll always be a part… of me…

The name.

As middle names go, May wasn’t even on “the list,” and was perhaps a little old-fashioned for the times.  But we named you Stephanie because of one our favorite actresses at the time (Stephanie Powers) and because one of my all-time greatest Bible heroes is Stephen (see Acts chapter 6).  And May was for the month, the merry merry month of May.  Because it was a magical, lovely time in our lives – all was right and beautiful and exciting and we anticipated your birth with great energy and expectancy. And yet, you were actually so unexpected on that Friday, 5 1/2 weeks before your “due date.”

Take your time to embrace romance

Teach your children how to sing and dance

Love may hurt but it’s worth the chance

I’ll be right by your side…

And haven’t you been so many unexpected things things since?  Haven’t you just always done and became and created and produced and added to and on and surprised and delighted and shined and sang and wrote and been successful and just grown up to be an unexpected bundle on wondrousness?  Haven’t you?  Yes, you have.

Try to be the best you can

Show compassion to every man

And always take the higher ground

I’ll be right by your side

Journey far and travel safe

Make this world a better place

And keep that smile upon your face

I’ll be right by your side…

I wasn’t perfect this I would admit

I was always trying to make the pieces fit

Just know you’ll always be

You’ll always be

You’ll always be a part of me…

You’re a trailblazer and  a trendsetter. The family looks at you to confirm cool because if it isn’t, you’ll be the first to know.  Your children are awed by you, your husband reveres you.  Your siblings recognize your gifts and your parents are pleased with how you turned out and in seeing God’s favor and blessing on your life.

And so I bring you the gift of these words and my prayers and wishes for you.  The theme is this: I believe in you.  And I hope you will open that gift with fearlessness and abandon, knowing you’ll always be a part of me, the best part of me.

a birthday blessing for my daughter

Happy Birthday, Stephanie, amazing, blazing, sizzling daughter, strong woman and spirited girl.  Your life was ordained and has so much value.  I thank God for breathing into your lungs the breath of life, quickening your tiny mortal body 31 short years ago with the very power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead.  That healing will take you all the way to the end with great fire and presence.  Go get ’em, Steph! {love from your mom}

Don’t ask me how the time has gone

I’ve loved you since the minute you were born

So many times we have laughed and cried

I see you now it fills my heart with pride

You’ll always be

You’ll always be

You’ll always be a part… of me…*

*Pure Love, Rod Stewart

 

You common field weed, you

4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons,

I am growing tomatillos this year!

I cannot wait.  I picked one up last year with no expectations and it did nothing.  I mean, it was green and it grew and got beautiful yellow flowers, but then – nothing.  I mean, I can grow tomatoes just fine.  Where o where were the tomatillos?

Mystery solved.

Tomatillas are not self-pollinating, it turns out.  So – they need to be in a serious, commmitted relationship with other tomatillos.  I got 4 this time.

A lot of people think they are just green tomatoes, however, they are a nightshade plant more closely related to cape gooseberry plants.  They’re a little wild by nature and considered a common field weed in Mexico.  Nonetheless – I am very excited at the possibilities…

The essential ingredient in the green salsas of Mexican cuisine is not the tomato but the tomatillo—a fruit with a citrusy, sweet flavor. Dainty paper husks encase the tomatillos, and by late summer, what seems like billions of fruits dangle from the plant’s branches, ensuring that you can more than satisfy your salsa cravings by summer’s end. Organic Gardening

They are indeterminate, grow 3 to 4 feet high and put down roots through their stems, so the idea is to plant them very deeply and then stake them.  I am so excited I am going to give them a place of honor this year where the pond used to be, right  near the patio so I can keep a good eye them.  I hear if they are happy they go a little nuts.  I hope that happens.

In about 75 days, I shall be in the kitchen making garden fresh salsa verde and it is going to be incredible!  Want some?

Just call me Mr. McGregor

4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons, , , , , ,

Hey, Peter Rabbit – yes, you and all your friends and cousins, too:

Get the heck out of my garden, you little hole-digging, lettuce chomping monsters.

Aaaaarrrgghh!

I wouldn’t be bothered one bit if a bunny feasted on Russian Sage or Garlic Chives (both quite aggressive little boogers in the backyard).  But darn it, stay out of my SFG* raised beds, or else!

P.S., Bunny-boy: I saw where you came in.  Don’t make me have to take drastic action.

*SFG Square Foot Gardening #lovemelbartholomew

A Thursday

4 Home & Garden/Food & Seasons

Pizza, and stuffed pizza, hot French bread and real butter, a fresh mozarella, avocado and tomato salad, garlic chicken quinoa, a spinach/red onion/toasted almonds, avocado, gorgonzola and strawberries with poppyseed dressing salad, lemon bars, warm brownies, these chocolately-oat and nutty squares to die for, iced tea, peppermint tea, lemonade; Amy Jo and Piper and Tesla, Heather and Emily and Hannah, Candi and Lainey, Patrice and moi.

Candi is as nice as a church bookkeeper.  I am as nice as a Target cashier. Open to interpretation.   :)

best. thing. ever.

2 Mi Familia


Bestie-cousins.

Malakai (4 months) kicking and flailing to beat the band.  And baby Bailey (6 weeks today), with her little gloved hands to keep her from scratching that gorgeous face.

They were just hanging out talking about how happy they are going to be when Tredessa has her baby (a new cousin!)  just 30 weeks or so from now.  :)