The World According to Leslie

Now that it's 2018, I thought I'd look back on 2017 and see the good, the bad, and the ugly of it. January: It was mostly boring. The "after Christmas" blahs hit. Since today, is a SNOW DAY in NC, I thought it appropriate to include my post about the first snow in 2017 here .  In January 2017, I also decided it was time to move on from things I had been waiting for.  I cleared out some space in my office (and my mind) by Making Room For God's Plan . Being the awesome Girl Scout mom that I am, I had to figure out how to fix the mess my made by melting CRAYON onto The Princess's brand new Cadette vest (which is light khaki)!!!  Read about that here . February: I got older... just like I do in February every year. :) I was also singing on the Praise Team at church, working in Children's Church, and helping with some big projects (still doing all those too)!! I was working out consistently and getting my mile time down so I could try to do a 5...

Yesterday was Father's Day. I spent 90% of the day with my Daddy!  I spent 100% of the day with Tony! I even got to spend about 10% of the day with my brother!  (Even though she's not a dad, I got to spend a lot of time with my sister yesterday too!) It was a good Father's Day! Tony, the Princess, and I  took him and Mom to my Papaw's church yesterday morning.  It was awesome! I sang, which I don't get to do often any more. Best of all, my Daddy sang. I haven't heard him do that in a long time. It's one of my favorite things to do.... listen to him sing.  After church, we "kidnapped" (not really) Papaw and took him to lunch. We went to this awesome Mom and Pop home-cooking place in Maiden. There wasn't even a sign out front to tell you the name. So... I don't even know the name of the place we ate, but I hope we go back again! After lunch, we came home (about an hour's drive) and we did some laundry and rested before going b...

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." Bil Keane Over the past couple of weeks, I have still been on autopilot . I have just been going through the motions. Mother's Day is bittersweet for me. On May 9, 2002, Tony's mom passed away. That was on Thursday before Mother's Day. We buried her on Saturday, May 11. Now, every year, it's hard to face Mother's Day. Don't get me wrong, I love my Princess! This year, she got me an awesome card.  It said to relax and have time for myself. Then on the inside it said, "for about 10 minutes because I need a sandwich!"  Loved it!  We got together with my parents on Friday night for Dad's birthday!  Then on Saturday, the whole family was together for Mother's Day.  All of us, including my brother's kids were there!  Papaw Paul even got to come hang out with us! The quote I chose for today is one we h...

I took a few days off to spend time with my family for Thanksgiving!  I hope you all enjoyed your time with family/friends/co-workers--whomever you spent Thanksgiving with! There are links to all the other Writing Challenge posts on Day #7 . I know in the beginning I said there are 60 days to this challenge.  However, I have thought about it, and I think I'm going to do the first 10 days. I have started writing on a regular basis.... which was the point. So, now, I'm going to write about other things.... not just the challenge topics. Today's Challenge is actually quite appropriate.  It's about Thanksgiving. Today's Challenge: "Make a list of 10 things for which you are thankful." Making a list is easy. Leaving it just in list form is hard for me. :) I'm Thankful For.... 1. God--He is so awesome. He supplies everything I need. He is there no matter what and loves me no matter what. I have failed Him so many times, but He has never fail...

I’m a little behind on here posting my “Thankfuls”.  I have them all on Facebook though.    Yesterday, we went to Mom and Dad’s house around noon. We were supposed to eat at 1pm, but someone ALWAYS has to be late! lol  This year it was my sister.   We had about 20 people at the house.  It was crazy.  After lunch, the guys all crowded into the living room to watch football!      My sister-in-law took a nap. My sister laid down with her two babies (foster daughters) to get them to sleep.  Mom and I worked on sewing things that the Girl Scouts are going to sell next weekend.    Then…once everyone finally woke up, we finished discussions for Mom and Dad’s anniversary party. The party is tomorrow. I’m just hoping I can get everything I need done by then so that I can get some sleep!  I need REST!  But….  I’m thinking I won’t get any of that until January!

Wow!  I can’t believe it’s been 5 days since I’ve written anything.  So, I’m going to try to catch up all the things I am thankful for.  I posted them on Facebook, so if you are my friend there, you already know these things, but I guess I just didn’t take the time to do it here.   Day 22: Thankful for Fridays. For some reason, this has been an EXTREMELY long week. Tonight we are going to the tree lighting and hanging out with family.   Day 23: I'm thankful for family time. Today, I got to sleep in....all the way to 8am! We may be heading to a Craft Bazaar at Hickory Ridge High School. We will be going to the Christmas parade in Concord....family tradition! We will be having fun knowing that the HOME team (CONCORD SPIDERS) are still undefeated for this season and moving on in the playoffs!   Day 24: I'm thankful for my nieces and nephews. I really do have a LOT of them. Mariah Rayne will be graduating this year! (How did I get so old?) Dorion P...

Every year, I see friends and family tell on a daily basis through the month of November what they are thankful for.  Every year, I say, “I’m going to do that!”    So….this is the year I’m going to try.    I’ll start it here, but I’ll have to copy and paste it to my Facebook page. I haven’t started it there yet.   Day 1: I am thankful that I have life. Although everything doesn’t always go the way I plan or wish that it would, I am still happy to be alive.   Day 2: I’m thankful for health. There are always things that could be better, but there are also people who are suffering. I’m thankful that God has blessed me with my health.   Day 3: I’m thankful that I still have my grandfather. Papaw Paul is getting older, and I know he won’t be here forever, but he is here now. I’m really happy that we still have him to be here, and that he is healthy enough to still live on his own and have fun with us as a family.   Day 4: I...

Yesterday, after softball practice, we grabbed lunch and started shopping. We went to a few used car dealerships; however, they either closed at noon (during practice) or don't open at all on Saturdays.  We found a few things to look at again on Monday. Then I said, "I think we should go to the Kia place in Salisbury.  I have heard good things about the Kia Sorento.  I think it might be for us."  So... we went.  We saw. We said, "Not for us." Then the guy there asked if we had thought about a Kia Sedona.  (Yes!  Sedona is a city in Arizona!  My hubby used to live there!)  We test drove.  We played with all the buttons and compartments.  We bought! :) As soon as my camera isn't dead, I will post pics.  Most of the cars my family has ever owned have been silver.  This one is CAROLINA BLUE!  We are excited!  There is enough room for absolutely everything we do! :) Can't wait to take it to Hilton Head this ...

Before I tell why my heart is heavy, let me get some good news out! 1.  Chasity sold over 1000 boxes of cookies!  WOW!  That's a new record for her.  We are excited.  It means she will get a Kindle Fire.  (I think she is going to take my Kindle full time for now and we will share the Kindle Fire!) :)  2. Today is Friday!  That means that tomorrow is Saturday!  I get to scrapbook tomorrow for 12 hours! :)  LOVE IT!  Can't wait to see my triplets! :)  3. Our first softball practice is tonight!  We are going to get to meet team and see how things are looking. Now, for my heavy heart. On Wednesday, I got a message from my mom that my Uncle Bud (my Papaw Paul's brother-in-law) was in the hospital in critical condition.  It wasn't very long until I got a message that said, "I hate to tell you this over text, but Papaw just called and Uncle Bud passed."  :(  So, tonight, I will be getting in a car with ...

Earlier this year, my dad's dad--Papaw Paul--had to have surgery. They removed a tumor that covered 1/3 of his bladder. Just a couple weeks ago, he had to go back in for more surgery. This time, the tumor was there again but, it wasn't as bad. On Friday, he had to go in for a FULL DAY of tests. It was an ALL DAY CT Scan. They had to pump him full of fluids and then drain them. It sounded waaaaaayyy too complicated for me! He got through that wonderfully. Today, he had to go back for the follow-up to get results. My parents are his "power of attorney". So, any time they talk to Papaw at the doctor's office, Papaw has them call my mom to tell her. Dad drives a truck--home nightly--but you don't want to tell someone what the doc said while they are driving an 18-wheeler down the interstate! Right? Anyways, I just picked mom up to take her home from work. On the way, the doctor's office called. I heard mom asking questions. Then I figured out it wa...

...my true love gave to me... my 3 favorite verses to read. 1. Isaiah 40:31 2. John 3:16 3. The Christmas Story (all the versions in the gospels) What are your favorite verses? NOTE: Just heard from my mom! They are sending Papaw home from the hospital today! Until next time........

...my true love gave to me...my 5 favorite foods to eat. 1. Peanut Butter Candy (fattening! We only make it this time of year!) 2. Mom's fudge (another Christmas favorite!) 3. Peanut Butter Pie (hmm....what's up with the pb today? lol) 4. RED VELVET CAKE!!! 5. Spice Cake (the way my Grandmother used to make it!) Please join in! It's really fun! :) NOTE: My Grandfather (Paul) is having surgery tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers. They found a tumor on his bladder and they are going to try to get it tomorrow. He's in his early 70's. We are praying that they find nothing when they go in....or at least get it all with one surgery. We know and believe in the Great Physician. So, we know everything is going to be fine! Until next time........

…my true love gave to me…my 8 favorite people to see. 1. My parents 2. My siblings 3. All 5 of my brother’s kids 4. Himself 5. Our Daughter, Chasity 6. My Grandmother and Papaw Paul 7. My Grandma Edwards 8. Our Pastor and his wife So…that’s a “few” more than 8 people. I couldn’t stop at only 8, so I had to group them together! Who are YOUR favorite people to see during the holidays? Until next time……..