Thank you Pamela's Girls!!!

Thank you Pamela's Girls for all you did to make Baby B's birthday so special! He had such a wonderful 2nd birthday thanks to each of you!

Next project for Mommy M... Preparing to move...AGAIN!!!

Love you Pamela's Girls!

~Mommy M

A January Saturday

I wish that Uncle R and I could have been at Baby B’s party yesterday. It has been a truly wonderful thing to watch him grow in photos and videos shared by the other Pamela’s Girls. But - even though we were not at Baby B’s Mickey party, he was very much in our hearts and thoughts during the day!

It was such a busy week with job possibilities and interviews, polishing resumes and zeroing in on interview clothes that Uncle R and I found ourselves mentally and physically exhausted yesterday. However, bright and early Uncle R said he wanted to take me out to breakfast and so we went over to our little nearby Bosnian café. Now CiCi is probably shaking her head and saying; “What KIND of breakfast can they possibly have at a BOSNIAN restaurant?!?”

Well – I had a pretty simple egg, fresh sausage, hash browns and wheat toast, but Uncle R had a breakfast burrito with Chef Sevala’s own Bosnian salsa. Maybe it was Sevala’s big grin and welcoming hug - in addition to the tasty food - that made us want to go there, but it really was a nice way to start the day. The décor in this small café is simple and unpretentious, but what makes the place absolutely shine is the unique & creative cuisine and the friendly & cheerful personalities of Sevala and her lovely assistant chef, Jordan.

On the way home from breakfast, Uncle R and I decided to make his Roast On Top Of The Stove Chicken. A few years ago we bought several pieces of Tennessee-made cast iron cookware, one of which was a nice, roomy dutch oven. While staying at Chez R one of our puppy-sitting times, he saw this recipe in a Southern Living magazine and has made it several times. It is pretty easy to make and OH so delicious!

So after stopping by the store for ingredients, we went home and started preparing. The idea was to let it cook until it was ready, turn the stove off and then come home from 5 o’clock church to a meal all ready for us.

It was absolutely truly wonderful to walk up our stairs from the garage when we got home from church and smell the mouth-watering herbs de Provence spices (brought to us from France by our French Sis), chicken, potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic and… yes… Uncle R’s jalapenos and habaneras slipped into the mix.


It was so nice to sit and dig in to our tasty supper and chill from the hectic week. And we did so with thankful and hopeful hearts. When I was laid off, I looked around at the Nashville music industry and did some serious thinking about where I would like to land next. There was one company that I decided would be at the top of my list, but had no idea whether anything would be available there. I am grateful to the Lord that He has provided a job – as of Friday - and at that very company.

Uncle R and I are so thankful for how the Lord has provided for us. This time of looking for a job for me has been full of grief for my old job and friends there and moments of apprehension as I wondered where I would be next. It has been a walk of faith which has had moments of triumph and temptations to fear. But the time at home with Uncle R, working on my resume together, eating lunch at our kitchen table across from each other and just holding hands as we looked out on a snowy backyard have been sweetly special. Thanks to all of the Pamela’s Girls for prayers and encouragement! Keep those prayers coming as I start my new job.

Love to the Pamela’s Girls!

Auntie J

Happy Birthday Baby B!

It is very hard for me to believe that my precious Baby B is 2 years old today. It seems like yesterday I was calling Cici at 2am, asking her if she thought I was having contractions. Other than the moment I saw Baby B's face for the first time, my most memorable moment from that day was when the nurse told me it was almost time to deliver and they brought in the hospital cradle and the little tiny hospital gown and booties. It was such an overwhelming feeling to know that he was soon going to be wearing those clothes and the moment I had been waiting for for 9 long months was finally about to arrive.



Now 2 wonderful and eventful years have gone by and he has brought so much joy to our lives! I anticipate every day that I get to continue to watch him grow and learn.

Baby B has a very busy birthday week! He had a party with Nana in Blythewood this past weekend. Tonight Daddy L has a meeting, so Cici is going to order Baby B one of his favorite meals... sweet and sour chicken from the Chinese restaurant. True love on Cici's part since Chinese food isn't one of her favorites:) Tomorrow morning Baby B has his 2 year old check up. Then SanFran S comes into town to celebrate. Friday night we may go to Chuck E. Cheese. Finally, Baby B's party on Saturday with 11 of his closest friends... whew! Poor tired Mommy M!!!

Thank you to Pamela's Girls for all of the love you show Baby B! Like me, he is so fortunate to have each of you in his life!

Love,

~Mommy M

A Jane Austen Tea Society Saturday

We had our Silas Marner High Tea & Book Discussion today. The rare Nashville snow receded just enough to let us all drive in from our varied sides of town and the sun shown warmly on slowly melting ice chunks lingering beneath overhanging tree limbs. But - for now the roads are clear!

Even though the writer George Eliot is not one of my favorite authors, there is the storyline regarding Silas Marner and his sweet adoption of little Eppie that I just love. Poor lowly weaver of Raveloe – reclusive and crushed by society – broken free from his isolation by a lost and friendless little toddler. If only George Eliot had stuck to the storyline and stopped wandering about talking about EVERYTHING else… I would have enjoyed the actual execution of the book more. (sigh)

But the discussion was good and it’s always true that thoughts and ideas sound better & flow more freely over bone china cups of Crème Earl Grey, Yorkshire Harrogate and Baroness Grey teas.

When we first got to the Tearoom a baby shower was just finishing up... I snapped this photo of a "cake" made by diapers that was so, so cute!

It was a small group of us today – only five tea-drinkers. But we had a great time nibbling goodies and sharing our thoughts. Afterwards, three of us went over to the art museum to see The Birth of Impressionism with paintings by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne and the painter of two of my favorite paintings (The Balloon and The Pigeon), Pierre Puvis de Chavannes.

When I got home I found a wonderful surprise – Uncle R had prepared a delicious supper. He took our cast iron Dutch oven and cooked a whole chicken with little fingerling potatoes, baby carrots, onions, garlic and a sneaky little jalapeno hiding amongst the simmering tastiness.

A day of tea, books, art and then a wonderful supper fixed by Uncle R….

Ahhhhh… it was a good day! It’s still hard to not know where my next job will come from – but I keep walking forward, knowing that the Lord will provide. I’ve seen so much kindness & encouragement from friends and former work peeps. Blessings spring up and are easy to see when you stop to look!

Love to the Pamela’s Girls!

Auntie J

Snowy Week In Nashville

It was definitely a snowy week for most of the Pamela’s Girls!

We didn’t have as much snow in Nashville as the SC Girls had, but the 3-4” that we did have was really beautiful to watch and gave the typical inspiration to start the soup pot simmering on the stove and fragrant hot teas steeping in cups.

Last Monday I made Mama S’s hamburger soup (a favorite of Uncle R’s) and Mommas’ cornbread with my added touch of dill sprinkled on the top. Uncle R and I ate those two delectables for several days and whether you were inside looking out at the winter wonderland or outside with knitted cap taking pictures while checking the mail – it made you feel warm and comforted.

Normally I would have been in a panic as to whether I would be able to make it down our treacherously steep & curving entry road, but this snowfall found me watching cars creeping nervously down our road with a strange blend of relief that I didn’t have to face that drive into town and heartache that I no longer had my former beloved job to go to.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom. 8:28

I am definitely walking on with the intent of fixing my eyes on the Lord and hoping for His perfect guidance for where I will work next.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Heb. 11:1

I have always loved the stories of King David in the Bible. There are so many things about David’s personality that we can identify with; the highs and lows of emotion, greed for things or people, impulsiveness & crippling despondency… and yet there is a deep, powerful desire to be God’s own person that brought the Lord Himself to identify David as “a man after His own heart”.

Before most of his marches into battle, David would inquire direction and guidance from the Lord. I love to read that. I want to call Him into my decisions, whether they are simple daily plans or the big life issues that face us around each bend in our road. And one of my favorite passages is when David receives the message;

“And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 2 Samuel 5:24

I am so thankful that the Lord is vitally interested in our day to day decisions and watches each step as a father delights in a toddler coming toward him on shaking, wobbling legs. I know that especially during this time I really want to hover near the balsam trees and listen!

Love to my Pamela’s Girls!

Auntie J

Dress Choices and Barkey's New Do

Daddy L and I have lived in Darlington for almost a year and jumped right into the social life... We have not one, but two dances to go to in the next month at the Country Club. I went to look at the dresses at Belk today. I was just going to get a new dress for one and wear an old dress for the other, but as Vivian would always say about Belks... "They were practically giving them away!" So, I bought 2 dresses to try. I was trying them on when I got home and I decided to take a few snapshots for Pamela's Girls. Since I had on these fancy dresses and heels like Mommas and Pamela always wore, I felt the "Mommas pose" was very fitting. The last photo is my old dress... which one do Pamela's girls like the most? Especially our fashionista SanFran S?

Barkley was at the groomers today while Baby B and I were in Florence, so I had to include a photo of Barkey also posing for the camera with his new hair-do.

Happy Friday Pamela's Girls!

Love,

~Mommy M

Baby B's Big Boy Room in Progress...

Here we go again. Another year, which of course, for me means another move and a new theme for Baby B's everchanging bedrooms. This year he will be moving into a big boy bed (SanFran S and Daddy's old twin bed). I've picked out this bedspread. Daddy L is going to help me make the wooden, fish wall hangings since they are not for sale at Pottery Barn Kids anymore.

I used this photo to help me paint Baby B in his new painting for his room. It was a lot of fun trying to paint his little bowl haircut! I still have some details to add, but I'm close to finishing.

This should be my last blog for today Pamela's Girls!

~Mommy M

Birthday Photos

Here are some of the photos I took of Baby B with my new camera. I couldn't believe he actually smiled with the Mickey ears on... hopefully that is a good sign!

I think I have finished Baby B's birthday slideshow... I hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85DG_eSZV5U

Love to Pamela's Girls!

~Mommy M

Losses And Comforts

Wednesday, January 5th, was the last day at a job that I have loved showing up to do each day for 6 ½ years.

My boss came into my office late morning and regretfully gave me the news that my position had been eliminated and my copyright functions moved to the company’s LA office.

It was a sad day but not one that is unusual in the music business, I’m afraid. And I know that there are many other Americans going through the same thing that I am going through all around our country.

We don’t necessarily ask for chances to walk in faith. It’s uncomfortable. It’s frightening. And in this case it involves grieving the loss of work that I enjoyed in a great office that I loved and with co-workers that I love.

But the Lord is faithful. I know that He will provide because He said He would and He never forgets His promises. Ever.

I also have the assurance that I have a long history of seeing His provisions. Sometimes they are unexpected and sometimes it seems that I watch them moving towards me as a light approaching on a long, dark road.

Where will I go from here? I’m not sure, but I know that whatever it is, it will be His best for me. Walking with Him is not always the smooth path but is always the best one.

I love Susan’s question from The Chronicles of Narnia in regards to Aslan and whether he might be “quite safe?”…

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver.” Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia)

If I stop and look at the blessings in my life, I’m overwhelmed. They are absolutely abundant…. pressed down, shaken together and overflowing. From a supportive and loving husband to the care and concern of friends and all of the bounty around me I see countless reasons to be thankful.

Here I sit on my birthday morning looking out on a snowy Saturday – and it is well.

With love from Auntie J.

Adorable Christmas pjs from Cici

Hopefully one of these days I'll be able to teach Baby B to pose like Barkley!

Happy Friday Pamela's Girls!

Love,

~Mommy M

Tears and Mickey

Daddy L and I have recently started watching Criminal Minds. While most of our shows were airing re-runs over the month of December, we discovered Criminal Minds and found it pretty entertaining. I have to cover my eyes sometimes, but I like trying to figure out who did the crime and why. Each episode begins and ends with a quote, and I really liked this one by Washington Irving:

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness but of power. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and unspeakable love"

It reminded me of our tears Christmas Even and Auntie J's tears after seeing Mommas' former home... tears of overwhelming sadness and unspeakable love.

On a lighter note... Although I'm patiently waiting for my new camera to arrive before ordering Baby B's birthday invitations, I attempted some practice shots last night. I'm not sure if I can capture one much cuter than this... What do you think Pamela's Girls???

Love,

~Mommy M

Goal for 2011

Since I did not have a New Years Resolution for 2011, I was inspired by our preacher yesterday. He is memorizing Phillipians for his Resolution in order to have the Lord's words in heart so that he can better witness to others. This led me to the decision that I will memorize at least once verse of scripture each month. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11

This is the list I've come up with so far:

January- Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 (LOVE THE LORD)

February- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philipians 4:13
(STRENGTH)

March- Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah
41:10 (FEAR)

April- Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His mercy endures forever. Psalm 107:1
(GIVE THANKS)

May- Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In
all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (TRUST)

June- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither
the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (GOD’S LOVE)

July- I want you to trust me in times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give me
glory. –Psalms 50:15 (TRUST)

August- Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (GLORY)

September- And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
Matthew 21:22 (PRAYER)

October- Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who
loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
John 14:21 (OBEDIENCE)

November- Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together
and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use,
it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 (TITHING)

December- Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14
(PATIENCE)

Please share some of your favorite verses if you have any I can add to my list.

It was so great to see all of Pamela's Girls together over Christmas! Love to you all!

~Mommy M

Happy New Year To The Pamela’s Girls!

It was wonderful to have the Pamela’s Girls all together this Christmas.

How many years has it been since we were all together over the holidays? It has to be over twenty years - which is nearly impossible to believe.

Uncle R and I thoroughly enjoyed our time in South Carolina… the hospitality, great conversation, tasty food, hugs, smiles, laughter and even the tears that we Pamela’s Girls shed Christmas Eve as we opened the presents that touched our hearts in differing sweet ways.

CiCi & SS are ever their kind & generous selves and I savor the moments that I sit with them and drink in that sense of home & roots that I tap into whenever around them. And – I just love listening to Mommy M and SanFran S; hearing about their adventures & interests. They are certainly two rare and wonderful young women! Am I biased? Yes. Is it the truth anyway? Absolutely!!!

After leaving South Carolina and heading for our annual long-awaited Holiday Visit with PT & Pamula in their Georgia cottage, Uncle R and I decided to make a quick pit stop in Columbia. The snow falling on tall Carolina pines and drifting down onto green bristling palmettos was amazingly beautiful but impossible to capture in a photo. The South Carolina State House and its copper dome wreathed in swirling snow is also a truly rare and wonderful sight. I love checking out Columbia as we pass through and this departure was no different. My old hometown always appears as a strange simultaneous blend of familiar and foreign.

As we attempted to get back on the interstate we found that the entry ramp had been blocked by a police car – obviously there was some ice making that roadway unsafe. Since I was going to take a driving leg of the trip, Uncle R pulled out his iPhone and started taking us to an alternate access for the highway. As we drove along – me trying to recognize exactly where we were in a town that has changed immensely since young college-aged me drove away to Tennessee – I suddenly realized with a thrill of interest that we were driving along a road very close to where Mommas used to live.

I’ve driven past our two family homes almost every time we’ve passed through Columbia. I never can resist. They look so different now, but there is the ever-recurring desire to brush up against the past, feast our eyes on familiar places and test our memories out against the present.

But I had never had the courage to drive past Mommas’ old red brick duplex. Not since she left it in over twenty-something years ago to move in with Pamela. That little haven was such a special place to me that I wasn’t sure I could handle seeing it changed, possibly run-down & abused. It was too integrally “Mommas”.

I told Uncle R that we were close to Mommas’ house and he encouraged me to drive by. “I don’t know if I can….” I told him as we drove. “What if it looks bad? Maybe I should just remember it as it was when she was there…”

I really didn’t think I wanted to see it… but as we came up to Lakeside Avenue…. I turned in. I felt the lump in my throat turn into a trembling lip and that in turn dissolve into some sniffles. Why? I’m not sure, but Uncle R was so sweet and patted my arm as I cried all the way to Mommas’ old house, cried as I turned into the next road to the left to turn around just like Pamela always did and cried as we paused out front so that Uncle R could take a photo for me. I cried as we drove away and still felt my eyes fill up with emotional tears as we hopped onto I-20 toward Atlanta. I couldn’t explain my tears but felt really grateful to Uncle R as he lovingly smoothed my hair, rubbed my arm and said how happy he was to see where Mommas had lived long ago.

Our little unplanned, unexpected voyage past Mommas’ duplex… Serendipity?

According to the dictionary Serendipity is - the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. The origin is cited to the date of 1754: coined by Horace Walpole, suggested by The Three Princes of Serendip, the title of a fairy tale in which the heroes “were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of.”

No. I don’t believe that it was.

It was a small but generous gifting from a God Who is indeed in all of the details. A Lord of our hearts Who is vitally interested in every cry of our hearts and every strand of the fabric that is us and that He has painstakingly woven through our lives.

More than once in my life I have found myself taken somewhere and given an unexplainable but precious experience that I simply know and recognize is just an overflow of His generosity. This was one of those times and it was a poignant combination of seeing a place long cherished and seeing it with my beloved best friend.

I wish that I had an old photo of Mommas’ house to put side by side with how it looks now. Maybe CiCi has one that she can share.

Happy New Year to my Pamela’s Girls! I pray that the Lord will fill 2011 with His loving adventures for you too!

Auntie J