2020 October 15 Jason Lee Sample is 46

Wow! What a memorable day it is for me since my son Jason Lee Sample is officially closer to 50 than 40. He is 46 today and I have so many memories flooding my mind right now. I am so thankful that God gifted him to me to be his mother. 

He called me on his way home and we talked about how similar and different it is for him in his appearance, his life in general, and from whom he learned things that help him now.  He is an adult and has been for some time now but it is so nice and heartwarming to talk to him about so many things.  I thought about how my 9 lb.11oz, blonde haired, blue eyed baby now towers over me in height and now with beautiful green eyes that appear to look right into my heart with each glance.  He is no longer my baby Love Bug but he is certainly not afraid to hug his mom for which I am eternally grateful.

He may be quiet but he loves deeply even if he does not have a demonstrative personality along those lines. Love is love and I know that he loves me.  Thanks again to God for allowing me to have Jason so actively in my life as my son, a husband to Shaina, and father to his son Eric each of which brings me joy, great joy.

Happy birthday dear son and I will love you forever plus a day.   

On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts

This is the cutest book. I do tend to switch books in a given month depending on my mood. Special thanks to Mary Berwick for suggesting On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts.

One could substitute any holiday or repeat get together to appreciate the effort it takes to cook, clean, shop, etc. to make the event perfect and consistent each year. This book created many laughs for me and reminded me of what is done each year to make things special.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FUN AND A BREAK FROM WHATEVER REQUIRED READING IS PART OF YOUR LIFE.

2020 September 28 National Son's Day

September 28, 2020 was the second of the two annual days to acknowledge one's son(s), the first this year was March 14th.

My son Jason Sample has calmness about him and a low manner of speaking that belies his true inner strength. He is a man of integrity who loves his wife and son plus willingly provides for them.

His birthday is fast approaching so let me just say now in honor of this Son's Day that he's much loved as my son, a brother, a cousin, a grandson, and friend to many. I'm so proud of this man, the responsible and respected man that he is and has become. He is my son and I love him more than there is sun and heat in Texas. For you non Texans that is almost immeasurable. 

I am smiling. 

The Family Letter by Debi Ronca

I have known for years that words carry power and weight.  This book opened their significance in a way that shares them in a lasting way that moves through the life of those you love, family love, acknowledges ones appreciation in love, and love that grows over time.

Words are bonding and this book reeks of love. Saying "I love you" verbally is extremely important but writing a letter can be enjoyed at a different level over and over again. Share your life and love in words, especially the written word.

20 year anniversary for my book group The Early Words

Today marks the 20 year anniversary of my book group that originally started as a special interest group with BPW known officially as Northwest Houston Business and Professional Woman. 

BPW Past President Edna Thompsen had a vision to increase opportunities to get to know each other better, additional networking opportunities, and enjoy being together more than once monthly. 

There were mentoring groups, investment groups, a financial mentoring group now called Dollars and Sense, and of course our book group. 

The organization has gone through some changes but our reading group is still thriving. At that time we had so much required reading that it was quite a respite to have some leisure reading with other professional women.

Two of the original group Wendy Cole and Mari Davis plus myself as the facilitator are still here plus are retired along with fellow members Louise Burke and Judy Carlini. Others are welcome to join us since it's no longer an "official" BPW group.  Our book group is still comprised of BPW sisters; two are still active in BPW, Evangelina Vela and Denise Lewis. 

What a joy of a time we have together. We review a book each month, have a great lunch, and then do as women do we share our lives in conversation. Good time fellowship.

2020 Sept 28th National Coffee Day

 Today is National Coffee Day so here you go.

• ·         My hubby enjoys it inferno hot as do most of my McAdams family. Pre-Keurig the hubby would fill his cup from his fresh pot of coffee then it went to the microwave for one minute 45 seconds. Yes hot hot hot is the preference. 
• ·         My hubby blew up  our microwave heating his coffee. True story. The coffee got so hot that it literally exploded.
• ·         My mother and I treated ourselves with either a caramel or whipped topping in our coffee together on Saturdays during visits when my boys were younger. 
• ·         My Keurig makes hot enough coffee that the hubby doesn't need to put his cup in the microwave immediately after it’s made. He tried his usual heating method "once" and thought he had lost the feeling in his tongue permanently or that his tongue was melting away
• ·         I am no longer a coffee drinker and don't really miss it but please don't refuse or begrudge me a cuppa.

Now as my previous neighbor used to say as she was watching through the bushes "You can go now." That being said please enjoy the rest of your day. 

60th Wedding Anniversary for Ed and Gearldine Rhodes

 What can I say and yet be brief about this wonderful couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. 

I instantly wanted to get to know them better at our first meeting. Our conversation began with talking about cameras, cookbooks, and their being volunteer firemen. I have since ordered at least 10 cookbooks as gifts and one for myself in my small way of supporting their fire department. 

 From there we discussed and learned more about our larger than average sized family history.  Yes, we might be related three ways: McAdams, VanMeter, and Buck. What a joy that is!

Through them I came to know and grow the love of my family, my precious extended McAdams family. Joy!

Their love legacy lives on through each of their children, grandchildren, and even their great grandchildren. They have a service legacy as well through the multi-generational volunteer fire department. That's dedication. 

We may be cousins through marriage but they are so much more to me. She's more of a sister to me as well. I love her smile and the way she laughs and her wise counsel to me. I love the way that Ed looks at her which says that he loves her in every sideways glance that he makes. Every wife wants that same look.  

Yes I love both of them so much and count them as blessings to my life. Their love and devoted marriage example has been sprinkled onto each of us. How blessed are we to have them share their life with us and their love for us.

 Okay, enough said (for now). You two are loved and have many beloved followers. Thank you for leading by example. Happy loved filled 60th wedding anniversary to a much favored couple.

Educated by Tara Westover

For much of this book I was overwhelmed emotionally. The words endurance, dysfunctional, enabling,brain washing, and survival from one's family share my thoughts equally about this book. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a memoir and not a made for TV movie. Thankfully there were people in her life that saw her value and it allowed her to move and push hard from what was her normal. She definitely labored in many senses of that word.

The book title is perfect as the last page affords the real definition of her life. Well that might be true for many us really.

Once I started reading it I just couldn't stop reading it. I'd put it down then within minutes I just had to start reading more. Memorable is not a strong enough word to describe this book.

Special thanks to my niece Nicole Church for recommending this book to me.

Happy 71st birthday to me

 It's been so wonderful reading and hearing so many birthday greetings plus my special "singing" happy birthday voicemail message from my sweet Aunt Willie Buck. She thought that I wouldn't recognize her voice. Wrong! I called her and we had a great chat. If you never heard her voice in our church choir or at the old Oak Grove singings during Memorial Day weekend then you missed a magnificent,  strong and pure voice. Her voice may have weekend over time but it's still heartwarming to hear. Thank you dear cousin Mitzi Buck Hartfiel-Steve Hartfiel for giving your sweet mother my cell phone number.

I received as text from my son Jason Sample at 6:32am which I didn't see until later. I am after all retired. Lol. We had a wonderful chat on his way home from work today. He's also a great father and husband that makes me burst with pride and love. 

Then a surprise that began as concern.  A black car pulled into my driveway around noon and left some grocery items on my back patio. I shouted to the hubby (yes he was in another room) that someone's groceries had been delivered to our house by mistake and how in the world we were going to get them to their rightful owner. I saw Crisco and my favorite brand of baking powder in one of the bags and felt sorry for the woman who would be missing these important items in her kitchen. Then my phone rings and it's my precious treasure of a grandson Eric and my sweet, much loved daughter in-love Shaina Sample singing Happy Birthday to me. My heart melted in that moment. 

As I started expressing my concern about the grocery bags she laughs and asks if I found them at the back door and brought them inside yet. At that point I am wondering how she knew where they had been delivered. Her great laugh reached through the phone like one of her hugs and she said that it was from them and Happy Birthday.  A surprise indeed! 

We laughed together as I quickly and happily emptied each bag. There's even a summer sausage for PawPaw. It really has all of my favorites including TEA. My kiddos know me well and each item says "I love you". How awesome is that!'

My hubby kept asking to take me to lunch and I resisted. He then suggested curbside pickup for an Italian restaurant that we have been wanting to try. I then suggested that we use the FREE Whataburger coupon for their chicken sandwich which is my favorite item on their menu. He asked where I wanted to go and I answered honestly so for me it was a win win.  He relented and we used the rootbeer for a float with Blue Bell vanilla that was in my grocery birthday bag. . 

It's been a winner 71st birthday.  I'm happy and am still full from lunch plus have half sandwich and half of the french fries for tomorrow which is an added bonus.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

I really enjoyed this book. It shows her as an adult, her views and realities as an adult, and how naive she realized she was as a child.

It was somewhat sad for her to learn that those she thought loved her really did not. She learned that those she loved and adored were indeed flawed and had faults. However the relationship and full understanding of her uncle brought tears to my eyes as well. As an adult she must finally take on the responsibility of making decisions, her own decisions at last. 

Please do not be put off by all the varied comments and opinions about this book.  Do yourself a favor and read it for yourself and make up your own mind about what you read.  

I now feel that I have a full or at least better picture of events and definitely in the life of Scout.