SHOES, GLORIOUS SHOES

I love shoes. In Kindergarten my Gramma Mattson bought me 2 pair of school shoes. Saddle shoes (I hated them) and another navy that I loved.

I think part of the reason I love shoes so much is because they are loyal. I mean If my rear is a size 8, my shoes are 6-1/2 . If my rear is a 14, shoes, still 6-1/2. It's easy to buy shoes for me, not narrow, not wide, not hard to fit, no 6th toe.

I learned a few years ago, (and am still incorporating this into my life) that if you find a pair of shoes that you love, buy them. Then find the outfit to go with them later. If shoes fit and look good, you're all set. Kind of like good undies.

I like a bargain. I like to buy shoes on sale. J-man calls it cheap, but the hunt is worth it. I got married in a beautiful antiqued ecru lace tierd dress that I made. Lucky me, I found antiqued ecru lace shoes to go with it. They were even ON SALE. Ya know what I said as I paid the cashier the $3.12 ($2.99 plus tax)? "what is your return policy on sale shoes?" Did I really say that? They looked like they were made for the dress. I kept them. (No picture available)

So many shoes are made now in China, but shoes made in Brazil and France are the best.

I have a pair of ankle strap amethyst satin shoes that I got to go with a special ball gown. (They weren't $2.99) I think they look kinda sexy. Dawn calls them "hooker shoes". That's a little trashy for me. I like to think of them more as "baby, take-me-home-and-I'll-do-you-right-shoes".

DSW is a happy place. They have a rewards program. If you are ever there and they ask for your rewards card or number, just give them my home phone number. I'll thank you later. Well, they send coupons. I had one once, and it expired. Ratz. I hate when that happens. It's like free money. I vowed to never let one expire again. SOOO when I got another one, it was only for $10.00, but better my $10.00 than theirs, right? I walked in on expiration date, straight to the CLEARANCE ROOM, 6-1/2 rack and looked for the yellow or purple stickers (those are the ones with the best % off). Picked a pair, stuck my feet in them (of course using those not-really-hose) and knew they were mine. Proudly marched to the register, presented my coupon and the shoes and she kindly asked for FIFTY TWO CENTS. Now THATs my kind of deal. Green shoes, you'll see them below too. I wear them more often than I thought I would ever wear green shoes.

Sometimes no shoes is pretty darn good too, like when you're with your sister enjoying a fresh pedicure. :D

Make sure your shoes are comfey and smart. Check out the sales. Dress from the ground up. Find a good cobbler (that's old talk for shoe rapairman). If he's old with a couple warts and speaks broken English, he will be best, I think. Yes, I guess I am sterotyping. Get fresh heel plates so you don't go "click-click-click" when walking on tile. Clean them up nicely, tops and bottoms, in and outs.

If anyone thinks shoes never changed a girl's life never med Dorothy or Cinderella.

Lillian Ingabourg Jaakkola Mattson

That's a lotta long names for my

"Gramma Matt".

I love her.

She took me to Mackinac Island the summer I was 8. Here we are.... Great tennies, eh? and... Hey, Gramma, I love that hand bag. (Really, I do. I wish it was still around, I'd use it and be happy about it.)

If I'd had more kids I'd have named them Lilli and Jakk or Jaak. (not typo-s, pronounced yakolla, a Fin from the UP.) Guess I got the double consonent thing goin', nn, tt.

She was widowed in her early 30's with only 1 child, an adolescnet daughter (my mom), so when we grandkids came along, she was luuuuuvin' us up. She loved my dad too. She never re-married. That's a long time to be not married. I admire her for her integrity. She had that.

She died when I was only 10, but in those 10 years we got to know eachother quite well, and I don't feel jipped at all by losing her so young.

I think my mom looks much like her, and I like my mom. I miss them both. They were both fabulous Grammas. I'll see them again one day.

Ok, it’s Tuesday at LuLu’s and I’m all alone.

Two years ago “Olivia” told me there are 3 children around me. Yep, guess I don’t hide them well… that’s a good thing. And they make me sooo happy. Now there are 4. But they are NOT at LuLu’s. That makes me … uhmmmm, ok, I’ll say it, as selfish as it sounds… so sad.

When the Evans’ moved that was a change.

The timing was less painful, because about that time Marley started fearing me less… maybe even “liking” me. If it was all and only about LuLu, that would be great, but I love each of those kids, for any duration, combination and location, as long and as much as they will let me. I saw Nora every day.. she was a great neighbor. I miss her.

And now that I have met Smith, I miss him too.

TUESDAY THE WAY IT USED TO BE: Ky and Marley would arrive anywhere between 5:30 and 6:30pm. Dinner, usually Mac N Cheese, Mickey shaped chicken nuggets, chocolate milk, and/or what ever the heck else they wanted. They were at LuLu’s and they knew it was all about THEM! Guess we all felt like “it’s all about ME!!” and I think we’re right.

If there was something that HAD to be done, here were my choices: DON’T, or make it fun enough for Ky and Marley. If we were in the middle of doing one thing and an idea popped into Ky’s head, we’d stop, drop and shift.

If Marley wanted to (and she usually did want to)

watch Dora, of course Dora went on the DVD player.

A hat usually came in to play with Marley. We are alike that way: we love hats, and I think I am not lying

when I say we love each other.

Ky and I would do our thing in the TV room, or we’d run back and forth. Papa would arrive about 8:20 with Slurpees. One night he was running late. I hadn’t noticed, but the Slurpee alarm was sounding in Ky’s tummy or brain, or where ever the Slurpees hit. “Where’s Papa? Why’s he so late?” TaDah!!! The sound of the garage door

sent us all into a giddy, screechy, Slurpee dance. Up the stairs he’d appear, Ky was the first to take his part of Papa’s load. Mar toddled over with hands out (kind-a Frankenstein-esque style), grabbed the goods and gave the obligatory hug and cheek lend. Goofey, how Slurpees are even treats in December. Parents would arrive and bring us all back to reality. Jammies, prayer and a ride home to bed.

Many things they would say, do, put on, would be enough to make me laugh all week. Actually, I still laugh about things they did several weeks ago, and even longer ago.

Today at LuLu’s, fun? Not so much.

Memories of Tuesday’s at LuLu’s? PRICELESS

Drops of Kindness

I haven't seen anyone else blog about this, so I'm taking it on.

In celebration/commemoration of the organization of the Relief Society, the Brighton Ward had a family day where we ran around the community sharing

"Drops of Kindness".

I believe it was the Brainchild of The ever-so-fabulous (and often-so-humble) Wesley Casper and Polly Mallory. Here's how it went:

Calling all families: Meet at the church at 9:00.

(Be sure to bring your rakes, shovels, gloves and smiles.) Get fueled-up with a yummy pancake breakfast.

Get your assignment. (Calls were made earlier to find out where help was needed.) Assignments were based on the need of the "dropee" and the ages and number of people in the family.
Go-Go-Go. Be kind!!!

J-man and I were asked in advance to be the photographers, to follow everybody around and photograph what was going on. I got to use Wesley's really fancy camera. (The pix posted are from my not-so-fancy one tho.)

Care kits were assembled for the children at the shelter. There was some sort of project for everyone to work on, outside, inside, with other people, solo. Just to show that anyone, everyone can drop kindness around them. I think of the Primary song: I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right, you see. So I say to myself, remember this, "kindness begins with me."

Pam and Kent Aeschliman are heading down to Pinckney to spread their kindness.

Potted flowers were dropped off at random locations.

Wes also gave us a boat-load of change to spend. Woo-Hoo!!! Taco Bell here we come!!! Oops, not a good idea.

BUT:
Pre-paying in the vending machines in the hospital waiting room, coins in the laundramat, pre-pay the car wash. (Ya know, the quarter car washes require 7 quarters now!!!) I wanted to buy some instant winner lotto tickets, but J-man shot that idea down.

Challenger Elementary:
There were families with kids. Parents worked, kids worked. This job was to shovel pea gravel onto the playground. Much had spilled off into the parking lot. Good thing there were lots of folks, 'cause that's a lots-a pea gravel.

Opera House: They got a scrubbing, sweeping, spit shine thru and thru. I think they must have been singing as they worked, 'cause they sure did look happy.

Gleaner's Food Bank:

Sorting bags, packing eggs. They were very thankful for the help. Another group from a local church were there also. Nice to have brotherhood in "kindness".

A house on the lake: The homeowner wasn't there, so work got started and carried on. The neighbors came out to see what was going on and expressed their delight.

A house on Spencer Road:

This homeowner was out with her gloves on. She was thrilled to have help. She wasn't looking for a free ride, just a bunch of happy families to help get the job done. There was a lot of work to do, and do, they did. They took a moment to do a little rockin' after their rakin' O-style. Bags were donated by the City of Brighton. It was made known in the community that kindness was being dropped on Livingston County.

A new friend found: This sweet lady is a 2 time cancer survivor. Hmmmm, how did Wesley know to have Theresa Rowe go to her house to help? (Theresa is a 2 time survivor too.)

By noon we stopped for lunch, and hoped everyone else had a great time too.

Now, go be kind today.

The Last of the 25

23: I'm "Urgency Addicted" That means I work best under a deadline. For example: no force, seen or unseen "makes" me update my blog. In running my business, my clients are my force.

24: I like white. Underwear, kitchen, dining and bathroom linens and toilet paper must be WHITE.

25: hmmm... shux I thought I had this one figgered out. Gimme another 2 days. Oh, yes, I remember!!! Mabeline is my mascara, always, for years. I've tried others, Revlon, Mary Kay (every time they have a "new" formula), Estee Lauder. No thanks: Mabeline is the one for me!!

Endurence

Ok, maybe I'm a tuff old broad, well, ok, I AM, but actually, I don't think I've changed so much in the past 30 years.

Are you above grief? Do you feel like you don't "deserve" trials? Do you get "mad at God" when crap happens in your life? Mad at GOD? What the heck is that all about?????

OK, a discussion at church today was about enduring. We all need to endure. What we endure depends on what we're given. When crap happens, do you say "Why me?" Buck-up girls. Why NOT you? Why not Me? Because we pray daily for strength, peace and happy children? Because we welcome new neighbors with fresh-baked cookies? Because we have killer hand-outs for a Sunday school lesson?

I came to know in my late teens that I was given trials to prepare me for more to come. In my 20's I figured "this is the tragedy I've been groomed for." and I pulled myself up and sparkled-up the life I was in. In my 30's it was "oh, I guess that last trial helped prepare me for this one. Did I really agree to this?" Go figure. Then another tragedy. I remember J-man and I walking the halls of a hospital KNOWING that something good would come from this, that there was something to learn. DONE. Heckey-naw!! Ok, would you rather have a brick house fall on you? You never see it coming, BAM! OR, would you want see the mountain crack and the avalanche start rolling your way? We can't even chose that. What we can chose is, when crap happens, do we kneel to plead for help, comfort and understanding? OR do we get mad at God? I want to be on HIS side!!

I'll just say "thanks for knowing me, loving me, sending your Son to bear the burden; thanks for comforting me when I am able to be still enough to feel it, thanks for strong lungs that can breath in and out when day to day seems too far away; thanks for gently guiding me when I cannot know which way to go. Thanks for the trials? Hmmm, not really, but "thanks" for the ability to grow closer through the trials, and for having confidence in me, after all, I AM one of the ninety and nine.

Easter.

Is it different from other Sundays? Is the Lord present in my life every day? Do I daily have an awareness of His atonement and resurrection? Is Good Friday more sacred? Is Easter Sunday more reverenced than any other of the 51 Sabbath days in the year? I guess that is a personal decision. Maybe it is sometimes a new beginning for people who would not usually attend services for any reason, and whatever it takes to bring someone to Christ for regular gospel living? That's a good thing. There was some fuss about the Tiger's home opening game being on Good Friday? Hey, wait, don't they play ball on Sundays? Hmmm.

Each Sunday during our Sacrament, I read and re-read the words to the hymns; hymns of atonement, resurrection, forgiveness, redemption, and resurrection. "I Stand All Amazed" is my all-time favorite. I can still hear my grandma Matt singing it, and it tickles my heart. For that reason, I have read those words probably more than any other sacrament hymn. "...That He should extent His great love unto such as I, sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify" those are the words I have had ringing in my brain today. He love me. How much? "sufficiently". That's a lotta love; enough to redeem ME, enough to own ME, enough to justify ME. am more than just one of the sands of the sea, I am one of the ninety and nine.