stuff i tell my sister

Sacred Ground

Posted on August 19, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

Hubby and I were in Moore, Oklahoma last week, spending time with family. The town looked much different than it did when we were there in May, just after the tornadoes. (see post Here) Much progress has been made, yet they are just getting started. New roofs, siding, construction and clean up were in every direction. A rebirth for this town. Again.

We drove upon the Plaza Towers Elementary School. There was a television crew filming, as the next day would be the first day back to school for the students and teachers of Moore. We saw many people coming and going. License plates from everywhere. This is a memorial. Not only to those lost, but to those who must carry on. It is a place to reflect, pray, and remember.

May God bless the students. Pray for the teachers, parents, and children. Not just in Moore, Oklahoma, but in your town, as well. They will need much strength, comfort and healing. They need to know it’s okay to laugh again. ♥

Posted in Family, Oklahoma, Reflections, Relationships | Tagged Back to school, Elementary school, Moore, moore oklahoma, Oklahoma, Plaza Tower Photos, Plaza Towers Elementary School, Sacred Ground, storm cellar in Moore, tornado, tornado survivors | 42 Comments

Friday Flowers

Posted on August 16, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

“The Amen of nature is always a flower.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Have a wonderful weekend! And be nice to people…..you never know what they may be going through in their life. ♥

p.s. Flower photo is from my parents’ home. 🙂

Posted in Family, Flower Photos, Oklahoma, Reflections, Relationships, Uncategorized | Tagged 400th post, Flower, Friday flowers, Fridays, Home and Garden, Mom and Dad | 25 Comments

Rainy Day Thoughts

Posted on August 13, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Posted in authors, Friends, Friendships, photos, Reflections, Relationships | Tagged comfort, dragonfly, dragonfly photo, Encouragement, fatih, friends, Literature, My wish for you, nature, Rainy days, Ralph Waldo Emerson | 19 Comments

Secrets on the Front Porch

Posted on August 10, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

On our front porch, just above the rose-bush, we have a secret. Well, several secrets, actually. Shhhhhhhh.

Two weeks ago

Yesterday

Even though I’m not sure if “It’s a boy, It’s a boy, It’s a boy, It’s a boy” or “It’s a girl, It’s a boy, It’s a girl, It’s a boy” ~ Congrats to this very attentive mama bird. Your babies are beautiful. And you are amazing ♥

Posted in Family, Flower Photos, Oklahoma, photos, Relationships, Uncategorized | Tagged babies, baby birds, bird eggs, birds nest, congratulations, front porch, mama bird, motherhood, nest, Porch, rose bush, rosebud, rosebush, secrets | 44 Comments

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Posted on August 9, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

On a drive to the Amish House for a sandwich on Saturday…..somehow hubby and I found ourselves here. On a narrow gravel road in the middle of nowhere….watching a bird. I have been wanting to capture a scissor-tailed flycatcher forEVER! This beauty is the Oklahoma State Bird. And evidently, willing to strike a pose. When I saw it on the fence….I started snapping, expecting him to take off at any moment…..but then I noticed as we inched closer….he didn’t seem to care. So here’s our little photo shoot. 🙂

I kinda think he/she was teasing me on the last shot. Wanting to start all over again….. Have a great weekend, friends. Be nice to people. Life can be rough sometimes, and the little things can make a big difference. ♥

Posted in Oklahoma, photos | Tagged Bird photos, birds, Country drives, Gravel road, Oklahoma State Bird, scissor-tail, Scissor-tailed flycatcher, state bird | 27 Comments

Happy Anniversary ~ 1954

Posted on August 8, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

Wishing my mom and dad a Happy Anniversary today! On this day in 1954, they were married. Their secret? I don’t really know….but I do know she still surprises him with his favorite foods….and he still buys her fresh flowers every week. A pretty good start, don’t you think? (Read more about their love story here.)

Look at us, After all these years together

Look at us, After all that we’ve been through.

Look at us, Still leaning on each other.

If you want to see how true love should be, then just look at us.

Songwriters Gill, Vincent Grant / Barnes, Max Troy

Click here for the rest of the song ~ LOOK AT US ~ Vince Gill

Posted in Family, Music, Musicians, Reflections, Relationships, Uncategorized | Tagged 1954, Happy Anniversary, Look at Us, Mom and Dad, Vince Gill | 43 Comments

Crepe Myrtle Mornings

Posted on August 5, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

I love to look out on the backyard first thing in the morning. I turned the pups loose a bit ago and as they scampered about…I notice it had rained crepe myrtle blossoms. Crepes myrtles are my favorite flowering tree/bush of all times. They thrive in the heat. Their flowering stems look lovely in an old wine bottle on the front porch. But mostly, they remind me of summertime at Grandma’s house. ♥ Crepes can bring smiles and surprises. Happy Monday!

raining blossoms

Baby locates a toad

Hidden in one of the crepes ~

Sugar is exhausted from the morning “hunt”.

Be nice to people 🙂

Posted in Family, Flower Photos, Oklahoma, photos, Ramblings, Reflections | Tagged blossoms, crepe myrtle, crepe myrtles, Flower, Flowering crepes, flowering tree, Grandma's house, Lagerstroemia, morning hunt, raining crepes, Spider, summertime | 45 Comments

Bike Lessons

Posted on August 1, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

Happy August! How’d that July work out for you? (Read July 1st post here) I hope you were able to put a check by something on your get around-tuit list. I have now tried yoga for one month and ……. while I am still VERY challenged at it….I am still hanging in there. And I have plans for new ventures for August. ~~which I may or may not share with you later.~~ 🙂

While going through the file cabinet a while ago, I found this sign my oldest son made when he was a little guy. I think he had taped it to our curb mailbox.

May the spirit of the young also be the spirit of our now. Be willing to teach. Be willing to learn. Cheer someone on. Make August matter…. and make it better ~

Have a good one, friends. Be nice to someone. ♥

Posted in Family, Oklahoma, Reflections, Relationships, Thankful | Tagged Another first, August, August 1st, Bike lessons, Finding me, Finding your purpose, just do it, new challenges, Religion and Spirituality, renew, Try something new | 16 Comments

More than Cowboy Boots

Posted on July 30, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

Standing in the checkout line….I couldn’t resist snapping a quick shot of this little guy’s feet. I was reminded of my “boys“. They were not very old when my dad asked to take them shopping for their first pair of cowboy boots. When you live in rural Oklahoma, you wear boots.

Then I recalled one of the first gifts I received from hubby after we were married…

And my boys when my youngest was married…

Yep. They are more than just boots.

Posted in Family, history, Oklahoma, photos, Reflections, Relationships | Tagged boot culture, boot tradition, boots, checkout line, Cowboy boot, cowboy boots, Oklahoma, Rural Oklahoma, Shopping with papa, The Oklahoma way, wedding boots | 47 Comments

You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

Posted on July 27, 2013 by stuffitellmysister

I enjoy shopping at second-hand stores and antique shops. The carrot I dangled to entice hubby to go with me this week was the Bass Pro Shop. 🙂 At our first stop I looked through the awesome book section. I wandered on, and did a double when I spotted the hundreds of empty vases …. I thought of the many emotions they represented… happiness, surprise, grief, delight, sadness, love, comfort, joy, appreciation, disappointment, gratitude, regret…

I once knew a man who realized his relationship was in trouble, so he sent his lady roses every day. It was simply too late. Flowers will not always mend the shattered hearts. Especially when only one heart is broken.

Bass Pro Shop Flowers

Don’t forget….it’s the little things that help keep relationships healthy.

Be nice to people ~ You just don’t know what they may be dealing with today. ♥ Happy Weekend!

Posted in Curiosity, Family, Flower Photos, Forgiveness, Friendships, Reflections, Relationships, Uncategorized | Tagged Bass Pro Shop, broken relationships, Flower, Guilt, regret, thrift store, Vase, Vases, You Don't Bring Me Flowers | 34 Comments