Tag Archive | Family

I Love It When She Laughs

On Saturday, I took a road trip to Houston with my daughter and friend for a little shopping on Harwin Street. At one point Brandi realized she had made a wrong turn. She saw a break in the traffic and did a very quick u-turn in the middle of the road. It wasn’t until I was able to upright myself from the other side of the car, did I realize what had happened. When my head popped up Brandi burst into laughter saying my eyes were as big as saucers and the look of shock on my face was priceless. It was all worth it to hear my daughter belly laugh herself into tears.

I was reminded of this when I read my Bible this morning. the scripture was…

A cheerful heart is good like a medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful person laughs often. In fact you will seldom find a cheerful person who walks around like they have been sucking on lemons. I love surrounding myself with happy people…

Victor Borge, the comic classical pianist, once said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” But laughter does more than help us bond. It’s been shown to have a positive effect on physical and mental health. Laughter is a cardiac workout, causing a reduction in blood pressure and blood sugar, and brings six times more oxygen to the brain. Laughter is affordable, it energizes and is undeniably enjoyable.

Laughter stimulates the release of endorphins which results in:

Pain Reduction
Stress Reduction
Anti-Depressant
Enhances Your Immunity
Cardiovascular Workout

Laughter is a part of the full range of positive emotions including hope, love, faith, strong will to live, and determination and purpose…

Have you had your daily dose of laughter today?

Click here for a free laugh

Love Lee ♥

Thanksgiving 2010

Nov27

I so love getting together with family and friends and this Thanksgiving was no exception! I am so blessed to have such a warm and loving family. We live, love, and laugh a lot!

The day started off very peaceful. I enjoyed my quiet time with the Lord; reading my Bible and praying. Then, it was time to get the turkey in the oven. Martha and I teamed up and got the dressing started. The meal was planned to start at 1pm and things were going as planned.

The first to arrive was my precious granddaughter Cheyenne. She was carrying a plate of homemade treats she had made all by herself. She chose a recipe from her cookbook, and purchased all the ingredients with her own money. She did such a wonderful job…I am so proud of her!

Second to walk through the door was Cheryl, Ken, and Shawn with awesome treats in hand and was wearing some of the most beautiful smiles. Shawn has gotten so big I have to look up at him now.

As I continued to putter around in the kitchen, family and friends continued to stream through the door and I quickly lost track of who came when. I could tell when another person would arrive when I heard the volume rise and squeals of excitement could be heard throughout the house.

Soon after my dear friends the Cannans arrived, Alisha made her way to the kitchen, washed her hands, and began helping me de-bone the turkey. A concern Alisha had voiced to her mother about Thanksgiving was the turkey. She was worried it might be dry. Thank goodness I soaked the turkey in a brine for over 24 hours…Her concerns were quickly put to rest when she took her first bite.

As everyone began to arrive, the buffet table began to fill up. My family has always been good to pitch in and bring sides and desserts. One thing for sure is God had blessed each member of our family with the ability to cook. The food was phenomenal and as always there was more than enough for everyone to eat.

As is our custom once everyone arrived we circled around the table and each person voiced what they were thankful for. There is seldom a dry eye in the room when we are through and this Thanksgiving was not different. One of the most tender moments was watching my sister and her husband embrace after the blessing. I was blessed to be a witness to it. God is so good and has richly blessed my sister and her husband.

Soon after the meal was over Susan ran to the store and picked up a couple of newspapers end the hunt was on. Everyone was in pursuit of an item they were going to purchase on “Black Friday”. Who would have believed the newspaper would provide the whole family with hours of entertainment.

Oh, and speaking of entertainment…We had piano playing, ballet, and hand slapping games, and of course FOOTBALL…Activities of different sorts in every room. Priceless times!!!

There were some who were not with us this Thanksgiving and they were missed terribly. Both Richard and Smokey had to work, Lindsey spent the holiday with her dad, Rayfard and Evelyn were celebrating a family member’s birthday, Debbie and Greg were in Arkansas with their grandkids…Our oldest daughter Tori lives out-of-town and was not able to come home but called to wish everyone “A Happy Thanksgiving”. To each of you…”You Were Missed”

What fun memories we made, what great food we ate, and what incredible thanks we gave to our Father in heaven for blessing us!

We are family…

Love Lee ♥

Don’t Envy Her…

Nov27

While standing in line at a checkout counter in a department store, I am reminded of times when people would have their shopping carts overflowing with merchandise and I would think to myself, “Wow, I wish I had that kind of money”…”Some people have all the luck”… or even “it is just not fair”.

Black Friday has come and gone and I am reminded of those who are less fortunate and are not able to express their affections by giving gifts. While Christmas is not just about gifts it is important to remember Gifts is one of The Five Love Languages as is Words of Affirmation, Acts of Kindness, Touch, or Quality Time.

So receiving gifts is very important to those whose love language is Gifts; even when we don’t have the finances to make purchases. But should the desire to make those purchases push us to the point of being envious of what someone else has? I think not…

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

So rather than be envyous…You should get creative by thinking outside the box for that one of a kind gift that will forever remain a memory in the heart and mind of the person receiving the gift. The gift you put yourself into for that special someone.

When Richard and I were first married we had very little if any extra money. Any extra we did have, we used it to ensure our girls had a good Christmas. I however also felt it was necessary to give gifts to all the family members so I had to get really creative.

Necessity, who is the mother of invention. Plato

With that in mind, I remember the year I took a tuna fish can, washed it, painted it with a decorative motif , filled it with pillow stuffing, then covered it with a cross stitch design held in place by a pretty ribbon, and placed dress pins in it. That year…a pin cushion was all I had to give.

While Richard was attending seminary we were especially stretched financially. I remember gathering all the fabric remnants left over from the outfits I had made for the girls when they were little and used them to make a quilt for Brandi. It was the talk of the campus and each day the neighbor boys would come by to check on its progress. A lot of wonderful conversations took place during the making of that quilt. To this day she has that quilt displayed in her home.

As I have gotten older, I no longer feel an obligation to gift family and friends; now it is a choice. If I see something which reminds me of someone I will gift them with it or if we know of someone in need we pray about how we can help meet that need.

For years now our Christmas gift to our family and friends has been to open up our home; providing a place for everyone to come together to make memories that will last a lifetime.

For the 32 years Richard and I have been married we have never exchanged a Christmas gift. We couldn’t afford gifts when we were first married and today we choose not to gift each other because gifts are not our love language. He gives me a hug (touch is my love language) and I tell him what a wonderful man and husband he is (words of affirmation is his love language) and we are set!

So, this Christmas I encourage you to think about the following:

Jesus is the Reason for the Season
Purchased Gifts are not Always the Best Gifts
Know your loved one’s Love Language
Memories will last a lifetime so make some great ones

And, when you see people’s shopping carts full…

Protect your bones…Don’t Not Envy Them

Love Lee ♥

To God Be The Glory

Nov25

Preparations for a day of food, family and fun are well underway. Thanksgiving Day with all its excitement is here! As I sit sipping my morning coffee in my favorite chair, I find myself pondering all I am thankful for in my life.

I am thankful for:

My mom for giving birth to me and loving me even when I am not loveable.
My Grandparents for loving me rotten (Our Nanny Miller)
My Sisters and Brother for looking up to me as their big sister
My precious husband for wrapping his loving arms around me and saying I do…and still does
My daughters Tori and Brandi who I adore and cherish with all my heart
My Grandchildren Cheyenne, Mike, and Brandon who rock my world
My precious friends for loving me in spite of my warts
All who are willing put aside their own lives to fight for our freedom

Above all other, I am so incredibly thankful for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…without them my being would be void of life!

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalms 95:2 which is what Andrae Crouch has done in the song “To God Be The Glory”

To God Be The Glory

How Can I Say Thanks
for The Things You Have Done For Me
things So Undeserved
yet You Give To Prove Your Love For Me
the Voices Of A Million Angels
cannot Express My Gratitude
all That I Am Or Ever Hope To Be
I Owe It All To Thee

(Chorus)
to God Be The Glory
to God Be The Glory
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done
with His Blood, He Has Saved Me
by His Power, He Has Raised Me.
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done

(Bridge)
just Let Me Live My Life
and Let It Be Pleasing, Lord To Thee
and Should I Gain Any Praise,
let It Go To Calvary.

with His Blood, He Has Saved Me
by His Power, He Has Raised Me.
to God Be The Glory
for The Things He Has Done.

While you are thankful…Have you given Him the Glory?

Love Lee ♥

Our Nanny Miller

Nov24

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time to reflect on the people and things we have to be thankful for. But for me, Thanksgiving is about traditions and getting to do the things I witnessed my grandmother do for all those years.

I will never forget all the wonderful Thanksgiving meals my Nanny Miller prepared for our family. She planned for weeks getting her work list organized. She planned the menu and had all the steps to down to a “T”. She was amazing!!! The family would walk in the door and everything was ready to eat and she would greet each of us with a great big hug and a kiss. No one realized the amount of time she spent on a meal because she made it look effortless…

BUT…IT WAS NOT!!!

As I got older my Nanny began to teach me her recipes for turkey and dressing, pies, and other goodies. She taught me how to plan the meal, when to cook what, and most importantly the importance of keeping a good attitude no matter what.

Being her first grandchild and the oldest of four children Nanny encouraged me to take on our family gatherings. I was about 25 years old when Nanny sat me down and asked, “Lee, how would you feel about having Thanksgiving at your house this year?”. She then said the words that made me ok with taking on the family gatherings. She said, “I will help you”. And, she did…She gave me suggestions and gentle guidance on how to’s. For a while she continued to cook and bring in her dishes. It was awesome when she arrived the entire family would squeal with pleasure…One would say, “Yeah Nanny’s here…I can’t wait for a piece of her pecan pie” while another would say “Yeah Nanny’s here…I can’t wait to eat one of her rolls.”. Everyone had a like but without a doubt everyone’s favorite was her cornbread dressing!!!

From that Thanksgiving on our home has become the place for our family to gather for food, fun, and laughter. It is a privilege and I am so thankful my family is willing to come here so the traditions passed on by our Nanny Miller can be carried on.

Today as I bake the cornbread and place the turkey in the brine, I can’t help but think of my Nanny Miller and how terribly I miss her. But, her legacy lives on and she is still helping me. The advice she gave me all those years ago are still put into practice today and the minute the first person walks through the door all the hard work is suddenly worth it!!!

I Thank God for My Nanny Miller and all the grandmothers out there like her who are willing to teach the future generations about traditions and the importance of people in those traditions.

While I miss her terribly….There is no doubt in my mind Nanny Miller’s cornbread dressing is being featured at the banquet table in Heaven!

Love Lee ♥

WoooHooo…Claiming My Inheritance

Oct26

My grandfather was a pharmacist and my grandmother was a registered nurse. As a young child I always knew my grandparents had a lot of money. They owned most of Clute, TX , owned 2 drug stores, had a second home in Tennessee, and drove nice cars. I also knew one of these days my Dad and Uncle would inherit it all and felt I would receive a portion later in life….NOT!!!

Both my Dad and my Uncle who were born with silver spoons in their mouth did not gain the business knowledge from their parents so they both quickly spent their inheritance. It didn’t take long to realize there was nothing left and all my Grandparents worked so hard for was gone and I would not have an inheritance…

NOT…I got my inheritance and It IS BEYOND MY WILDEST IMAGINATION!!!

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father”. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” Galations 4:4-7

Do you get it…Because I am a born again Christian making Jesus the Lord of my life…I am a child of God!!!

God my Heavenly Father has put me in His divine will.

So, here is just a few things I have inherited so far…My salvation, joy unspeakable and full of Glory, peace that passes understanding, a beautiful family, wonderful friends, a comfortable home, my health, a strong will, creative imagination, non judgemental attitude, a loving heart, and a fun-loving spirit. Does He give it to me all at once?

NO… He knows I would not appreciate it all and could not comprehend it all. It would be overwhelming to me. He gives me a little at a time…so I am able to recognize what He has given me. In addition to what I am receiving on earth He also has an awesome inheritance for us in heaven. “…an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” I Peter 1:4

While it is a travesty all that my Grandparents worked for is gone, it has been an incredible lesson to me. Primarily I have learned, my inheritance comes only from God and earthly treasures can not be taken with us when we die…

So I ask you…

Are you receiving your inheritance?

Love Lee ♥

What an Incredible Day!!!

Oct10

I have thought about this day for years and have thought about what I could do to celebrate being a half a century old…But I never imagined it would be like this!!!

I woke this morning to a beautiful sunrise at Quintana Beach. Gentle breeze blowing and the smell of salt water in the air. Absolutely Beautiful!!!

Because Richard had made plans to go to my mother’s house today he wanted to go to the 8:00 church service this morning. I dressed for comfort since we were going to mom’s immediately after church. We had an awesome church service followed by great Sunday School. Then we were headed to my mom’s…I thought!

When we got in the car Richard said before we go to your mom’s I want to take you somewhere really special; somewhere I have never taken you. My gift to you…but I want it to be a surprise so I want you to put this blind fold on. Hmmm…I figured if he wanted to surprise me then I would go along with it. When we started out I tried to keep up with the turns so I would have an idea of where we were. After several turns I got completely turned around and then decided to sit back and enjoy the ride! Starts and stops; twists and turns…it felt like it was taking forever!

Finally, the car came to a stop and Richard said, “Before you take off the blindfold, you know I love you right?” I answered, “Yes”. Then he said, “and you know I would never do anything to hurt you right?”; I said “Yes”. Then he paused for a bit and said “Babe, I love you. You can take off the blindfold now”. When I took off the blindfold I was sitting in the parking lot of Quintana Breeze and standing in front of our car was my family and friend waving at me.

What a surprise!!! The very people I love most in the world had all gone in together and planned the most awesome Surprise Party. I could not have imagined it to be more perfect. Come to find out they have been planning the party since July! They had a family meeting (without me) and delegated the work out and when it all came together it was unbelievable!!!

They had planned the ultimate Tea Party. The Mad Hatter even came! My Brother Daniel has such a flare for theatrics and he out did himself on his outfit. The ladies were dressed so elegant. Because I thought I was going to my mom’s I was dressed in Capries and blouse. But, not for long. Richard had given them my dress, hat and shoes…Had my own dressing room and all…They had thought of EVERYTHING! They had even invited some of my most treasured friends.

To all involved in making my 50th Birthday so special…The beautiful tea cups and tea pots were the most perfect gifts!!! I love them every single one. I will remember this day forever!!!

Thank you so much!

Love Lee ♥

Establishing a Routine

Oct7

Establishing a routine is not the same as being in a rut…Routine is conducive to peace and harmony in the home.

Image via Wikipedia

When my girls were small, I was a stay at home mom. My success at motherhood was defined by the level of peace and harmony in our home. I wanted home to be a haven for my husband and children. This became the focus of my life and the core of my being. I wanted everything to be perfect. But, while trying to create the perfect home, perfect meals, perfect family…I became a perfect mess. I became increasingly tired and resented all the work it took to create the perfect world I so desperately longed for.

I now recognize life was not so perfect but my precious daughters did appreciate the stability which the routines in our home provided for them. I realized this when I made the decision to go to nursing school just before my girls entered Jr. High. I had early clinical in Galveston one day and will never forget the phone call I received from my youngest daughter. She called and asked, “Mom, what do I eat for breakfast?” I recommended a bowl of cereal and she replied, “We have never had cereal for breakfast…you always cook”. It was then I realized in my efforts to create the perfect home, I had forgotten to encourage participation. You see, had I allowed the kids to participate with breakfast preparations rather than just serve them a meal, my daughter would have been able to use those skills to prepare her own breakfast rather than eat out of a cereal box. Did it kill her to eat cereal? Absolutely not but had she had the skills to prepare her own breakfast she would have at least had a choice. By establishing routines in the home and incorporating the family in those routines, our days will flow with greater ease.

I can hear you now…”I can’t get my kids to participate”. Well, been there done that and I do not have the perfect answer but I do have some suggestions based on my life lessons…

Lighten up: Make things fun rather than a chore.
Accept less than perfect: So the bed is made and it looks crooked…let it go
Provide praise: Let them know when they do something right rather than remind them of all they did and do wrong.
Make the consequences fit the offense: Minor and major offenses should not have the same consequence or outcome will not be as effective
apologize when you screw up: Allow your child to see you handle mess ups and more importantly how you reconcile your ooopses in life
Love freely: Never ever miss a chance to tell your family how much you love them and how important they are to you.

Now, you can establish routines incorporating the entire family. In doing so you will be providing some of the most important life lessons a child could receive.

Mornings:

When your children wake up do they know what to expect. Is your morning absolute chaos or is it even keel? By establishing a routine in the morning their lives become a little mor predictable. There are fewer unexpected and family time together is spent with the focus on family rather than the drama created by the unexpected. Break the big routine into doable pieces so the goal is no longer unattainable for them. Assign tasks that fit the child’s personality so they enjoy what they are doing. Often times prep performed the evening before can make a huge difference for your mornings. Prep could include: Loading backpacks, signing school work, baths, or laying out clothes for the next day

Evenings

Ahhhh the moment everyone has waited for all day…Coming Home! No one wants to come home to chaos. Home is our haven and for most our greatest amount of time at home is in the evenings after school or work. Life at home can not be all work. By finding balance between chores and play home becomes more enjoyable. Allow you children to work with you rather than assign them independent tasks. In doing so, closer relationships are formed. Organization is key. Think about how you want your evenings to go and plan for them. Get your work list prepared, plan fun activities, and always allow time for talks and prayers at bedtime.

Dinner Routine

To this day my girls fondly remember our times around the dinner table. This was a time we all sat down and interacted with pleasure and respect. Dinner time was when we talked about the events of the day, shared funny stories or just relaxed and took it all in. Dinner was not a time for us to discuss negative subjects or to discipline the children. Turn off the TV and Radio; make dinner about the family. Allow your children to set and clear the table, prepare the meal, and wash the dishes. The result is two fold…the chores are done and excellent family time.

Bottom line is life is pretty unpredictable so why not add some predictability back into your home by establishing some routines.

Love Lee ♥

Establishing a Family Routine – Très Important (crazyadventuresinparenting.com)
Effective Routines for Busy Moms (momblognetwork.com)

Smith Family Reunion 2010

Oct6

The Smith Family Reunion was the vision of Richard’s brother Mike. He made the statement wouldn’t it be great if all the family could get together each year. So Richard and I volunteered our home and that is how it all began.

Menues planned√…House Cleaned√…Firewood for the Pit √…Yardwork done√… Pool Cleaned√…Sleeping Arrangements for All√…Towels, Floats, and Toys√…

Now they are on their way! Each year the last week of May, family and friends from all over the US begins to make their journey to Jones Creek, Texas. They usually begin to arrive on Wednesday and stay through Tuesday the following week. So it is a week of family, friends, and fun…coupled with food, swimming, and grotto chats!

So much fun for all and each year the number grows. Family members marry, babies are born, and new friends are made…Therefore, the more the merrier!

We are so honored to have the privilege of hosting this annual Smith event! The Family Reunion was a great idea! Thank You Mike!!!

Love Lee ♥

An Unexpected Treasure

Sep27

Your entire day can change with one small and unexpected gift.

Image via Wikipedia

It was Sunday and we are at my daughter and son-in-laws and are going to watch football; The Houston Texans vs. The Dallas Cowboys. As anyone knows, no game is complete without food so Brandi, Richard, and I were in the house cooking while everyone else gathered in the game room for the game.

Brandi had planned to grill chicken and make oven roasted potatoes and I brought a big spinach, strawberry, and walnut salad, along with some deviled eggs. A couple of store-bought desserts and it’s a meal. While Richard and Brandi focused on grilling the chicken, I decided to do a little writing on my blog.

As I waited for the website to open my mind drifted and I began to think about my granddaughter Cheyenne. She was at her dad’s and I was missing her. I thought about her cute little giggle, her whimsical personality, and sweet spirit. The more I thought about her the worse I missed her.

Suddenly my mind returned to writing when my website came up on the screen in front of me. As always I check the comment section to make sure I approve all pending comments and there it was my unexpected treasure. My precious Cheyenne had gone on-line and located my blog. Then she went to the page titled “Family Fun” to hide a buried treasure.

The Treasure

“hi meme i just whant to say that i love you and that you are the cooooolest meme ever my memaw sayed that mabbyshe mite come to the tee party.”

There is no greater joy for this Meme than to know my precious granddaughter stopped her day to look up A Love Lee Place, find the “Family Fun” Page, and leave me a treasure.