Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

I am super grateful for my life. Not because of things or even people, but because He has entrusted me with an amazing family and He requires me to steward it well. Therefore, I must look upon each aspect of my life as part of His story. Good, bad and the ugly. Even the soapy.

Ok, back to the day. Sunday. Gratitude dinner #2 with Mama, Daddy, Tot and me. We were to bring a list of 10 things we are grateful for and then share at dinner. It was also PIE day (March 14th…3-14) so I had a special surprise planned for the crew!

Come on in! Our foyer is so welcoming.

Mama showed at 5pm and honey skewered the scallops. My master griller was making filet and scallops. SRSLY delish.

I had our table all ready for our extravaganza.

What a joy to share with family in our special room.

We then posed for pics. I cannot wait to share.

Now, Mama and Tot…they are so stinking cute! Tot gave her a little note.

Tot gave us a Scaredy Squirrel show

Now we are ready to partake!

Daddy shared first. Just wow.

My mom went next, and her’s was filled with such heartfelt kindness.

She truly puts the graciousness in gratitude. She edified all of us, and for her I’m eternally thankful.

Then Tot went. She had cards for all of us and then some drawings. She put PEOPLE in her list of 10. Mama, Daddy, Me, Mrs. Phillips…and HER LIFE from Christ. Melt.

Now me. I’m just …I’m just. I love living this way. What a lens to live with. It’s so easy to focus on the “what is not right.” But, we have a choice. Daily.

I added the Bible as the BEST book. I also added that my relationship with Christ soared after Tot was born. Another serendipity with her being born. AND, I added Doug’s job in there as well since I have seen him used mightily since he got promoted (I count it as one). After this time of sharing, it was time for 3-14! PIE! I made an apple crustless pie. Four kinds of apples, a few oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and …..No need for crust when you have plenty of butter! heehee

I love our family. I love our gratitude attitude. May we live this way with HIM at the center.

Decade day at school. Yes, it’s spirit week, and today, she gets to dress up in one of the decades (50’s, 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s). Well, perfect! I had just bought a tie dye shirt for her for school, and we also had some other 70’s garb.

Cooper noticed she needed more peace, so we added…

Now, she’s a true Hipster.

Oh, dear…the girl is growing up.

Now, let’s keep the peace and keep the love flowing!

See these flowers?

They were literally dead on Sunday. I watered them down and Monday morning, they were resurrected. It was a direct message to me that Jesus is renewing us daily. He is bringing new life! What a reminder.

Especially this Monday. It’s the second Monday of the month, and this means we have our IDEA dinner tonight. We share as many ideas (of any kind) that we can think of which we’ve recorded in our gratitude journals. I figured we’d have dinner in the dining room!

First, a fun game. Guess in 10. We don’t follow the rules to the T, but we do guess eventually.

Then, it was time for our salmon dinner. My favorite!

It’s a real treat being in our home. Ok, so we each shared our gratitudes first, as usual, then it was time to share ideas.

Daddy always has amazing house ideas. This time did not disappoint. I hope he remembers them! I love how his mind thinks so creatively.

I had some fun ideas for our family like service project ideas.

Kind of messy, but I get the idea. I added Tot’s ideas to mine so I could transfer them to my planner. She wants healthy lasagna and she wants a soccer game over Spring Break. Brilliant!
Oh, and I wanted to add that we’d have a piano recital for each of us at the end of each month since Doug is taking lessons now. No joke! I am in!

We love doing this, and we love always thinking of ways to serve.

Now, later on in the evening, there was a new idea of Coopy. The fan. The ceiling fan in the living was launched for the first time, and he went berserk.

What is that mommy?

Oh, Coopy.

What a fun day of new life, new ideas, and new discoveries.

May the adventures continue with my Hay family!

We missed celebrating birthdays and Christmas. The lockdown and the craziness of society limited all of our abilities to do anything social for a whole year. Now, I see the wisdom in some of this, but I don’t necessarily think it was all necessary.

Anyhoo, my mom and I finally got to go out to eat to celebrate and just be together. We really enjoy Fleming’s, and since both of us are on bland diets, it was a perfect choice. And…we got to get all cute. (which hasn’t happened in a while for me at least…my mom is always cute).

She bought a new cashmere sweater for our outing. Baby pink. My favorite. Thanks mom.

After removing our masks (when we walked in), we sat down and just relished being.

I love you mom. Thank you for taking me out!

We enjoyed talking about mom and daughter. I love that I get to be this for Tatum and give back. It’s the biggest fruit on my mom’s tree as well since she taught me how to be a great mom. I also appreciate her more than ever.

She thinks I’m pretty cute.

hmmmmm

We had steak, shrimp, salad, and potatoes. Perfect.

I love you immensely. May you continue to thrive in health and joy.

Six Dr. Seuss books will be discontinued because of racist and insensitive imagery. This is the headline last week. HUH??? Dr. Seuss…racist?? Do they even know what that word means?

Well, although I don’t agree, and many many of us don’t, we are going to still celebrate his birthday. In fact, Mrs. Phillips, her 2nd grade teacher, is going to have a party today. YAHOO

So, Tot wore crazy socks today as part of the celebration.

Cooper is fascinated.

She also brought in this fun book too.

Not really sure what is wrong with these wonderful books but…. Aye aye aye.

I will keep them in my library. Thank you PVCP for being sane.

She got it! Mama get her second one today, and we only had to wait 15 minutes for a reaction. She didn’t have ANY complications, and in fact, she felt great the rest of the day. Blessing!!!!

Precious. Truly precious. I adore our time together because with the hustle and bustle of school and work, it’s hard to find enough space to include fun, frolicking and frivolity!

Tot always reminds Daddy or me how much she loves us. Here’s a sweet note I found next to the sink this morning before church.

It all comes back to Tatum when she is loving and giving. Just today, a lady brought her a bag of cookies from Trader Joes. The sweet lady just wanted to thank Tatum for being a greeter and bringing joy to her every week.

Now that is truly sweet!!

After some Daddy daughter time and some Sunday chores, we had a Hay Happens meeting, and we decided to begin a 40 days or prayer practice. We also discussed our gratitudes and future plans for a next HAA! More to come there.

Our game du jour was Exploding Kittens. We still love this game although it gives each of us heartburn and stress! Don’t worry, Daddy. You might not explode this time.

Tot had Elton John join our clan today. I introduced her to some of my old CD’s and she flocked right to this one. She’s been listening to it constantly all weekend. (sounds like someone I know (ahem..myself!)) Of course he sings “Rocket Man!”

Coopy didn’t get to play. He’s waiting his turn.

Later, I made I nice dinner of salmon, butternut squash, and bok choy/broccoli ginger stir fry. Tot’s salmon looks like a heart. (I love you, Tot!)

And..I love salmon!!! (Thank you, Honey, for buying it!)

What a fun day and night. I adore Sundays just because we get to BE together.

Daddy and I always finish our Sundays with a devotion.

Hay’s, stay tuned! We have a fun trip coming up. Until then, let’s live our verse:

“But always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess 5: 15-18)