Matters of the Heart! And just a few tears on my part!

I have never spoken with you about my daughter Emily.  Today is the day.  I promise not to go into great details, but only to tell you  that she was born mentally challenged.  Emily will be 28 in June.  One and half years ago,  I let her go.  She wanted so badly to be like any other child.  She wanted to leave home when she grew up.  I cried, I yelled, and I cried some more, but I knew in my heart it was the right time, and the right thing to do for her. 

As a mother I asked,  what would she do without me?  Who would brush her hair?   I knew she wouldn't.  It's scary to ask yourself, can you love your child with all your heart if she doesn't have her hair brushed?  I took pride in how she looked.  I dressed her, I did her hair, I put on her makeup.  I wanted her to appear to you that she was well rounded.  I am her mom.  Truth be told, I wanted you to believe I took good care of her.   So 18 months ago my parenting was put to the test,  Emily moved to a group home.  She lives with 8 other women and  she does very well.  She tells me she loves me, and then says,"mom I'm not ever moving back with you." 

She is never wearing what I would dress her in.  Her hair is seldom brushed to my liking.  She only wears make-up on holidays, and I never say a word.  Today I went to see her at her day program, and took pictures of all the adults she spends the day with.  So here is a corner of  life as we know it.

He always ask if I can stay and watch The Price is Right with him.  He reminds me repeatedly how much weight Drew Carey has lost!

I've known Donnie for years.  He only speaks a few words, but he is always smiling! Plus I don't think I've ever seen him without a suit coat on!

His eyes tell a story, but he cannot.  He has never spoken a word in his life!

Jack is one of Emily's dearest friends.  They volunteer together delivering Meals on Wheels.  She tells me they are a team.  When you speak with him, he never looks at you, he always turns away.

She has a laugh you would fall in love with.  I took pizza, she asked when would I be visiting again.  I said soon, she said not soon enough.  We both giggled!

I love this guy.  Many years at different events we have had to watch him have seizures.  He just keeps smiling through it all.   Lesson learned!

I had a conversation with her today on her beautiful pink hoodie.   I told her many people would see her picture and know she was very pretty.  That is the smile I received!

This gal I'm very close with.  I've known her many years. She has quite a personality, she is Emily.  She will be 28 in June.  She is my daughter, and I let her go live her life.  Love you girl, you know that I do.

Soooooo, (tears wiped away here)  I wanted to do this post for awhile.  Not that I don't trust you. There is just some matters of the heart I feel I need to protect.  I know, silly me.  Recently a friend and fellow blogger  was speaking with me on the phone.  We got on the topic of my life and raising Emily, which she didn't know about.  That was ok.  Next day she sent me an e-mail that said, "I knew you were pretty darn special, now I know you are golden."  Thank you Char.  You made this post possible.  These are the golden people in my life.

Last summer, Emily  asked if we could go to the car show.  I said do you really want to do that on such a beautiful a summer day.  Oh yes, she had heard about it on the news, and that was where we needed to be.

As always, I just can't thank you enough for stopping by.

One Small Corner of My Junkin World

Spring is starting to show up in small ways in my booth.  It's that time of year where I get a little antsy, and I just can't hold back.  I want to redo everything in my booth, redo everything in my home.  I need color and textures and the feeling that sunshiny days are just around the corner.  So here's a few pics of the changing that's going on in One Small Corner of My Junkin World.

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When I see a set of Kitchen Craft serving bowls, I have memories of my momma!

Chalkboard Buckets

Each bucket is filled with treasures. I wouldn't want you going home with just a bucket!

Pink seems to be the color at this moment!

Maps are always on hand in my booth.  I can't help myself, even if they don't sell. shhhh!  Please don't tell Bob the Builder that!

A little turquoise blue always makes me smile!

Who said a punch bowl was just for punch?

I even offer garden supplies to the early birds!

So, I have made a beginning. For whatever reason, farmhouse look is calling my name. I promise there is more to show you in the next few days. What would a farmhouse look be without rust? Speaking on farms, just to the side of this post is a new button for Verde Farms. Just click and you will be taken to Amy's beautiful homestead, I love it! My hope one day is to visit The Tipton Five.


As always, I just can't thank you enough for stopping by!

From the Bottom of My Heart!

Isn't it just like me to finally have all things in place to say hello once again to you, and not know what to type?  First, oh how I've missed each of you.  The weeks turned into months, then during those months time turned into moments. The weeks have brought  illness in this house, financial burdens, and then my husbands brother-in-law/best friend ended his life.  There are very few words to describe Dave's passing, but I will say I witnessed an enormous amount of Grace.  Humility was given and shown to my husbands family, and their courage and faith during this time has effected me forever.


 While I was away from my blog, I pleaded and begged that all our electronics would magically appear again.  Nothing was happening fast enough for me.  What would my few followers do?  They might pack up and leave.  Would they accept me back?  Oh the crazy thoughts I have thought.  Then when I got the chance, I would sneak around blog land.  Yes you read that right, sneaked.  Every once in-a-while I would stop by and comment on your blog, but not often.  I just couldn't find any words to type. I wouldn't want you to stop by mine, and see that I wasn't there.   I couldn't find my way back. Then tragedy hit and I understood timing.  My family needed me, and I was not distracted.  I could give, I could pray, and I could stop feeling sorry for myself.  Isn't life just like that?


Where do each of you fit in?  Your kindness.  Even when I was absent, there were notes sent to me via e-mail.  Notes saying, "Hey, is everything ok?  Haven't seen you around the screen much."  You will never know how much I needed those notes and as silly as this might sound, I have needed each of my followers.  I look at your little boxes, and think, "They care Glenda."  That's why they hit the button to follow.  I'm just hopeful like that.   And now here I am, back with you my new found friends.  I have missed you.  From the Bottom of My Heart,  hello and thank you!  I'll be seeing you around the screen soon enough.
As always, I can't thank you enough for stopping by!

Could I ask?

I always want to pray for others, but often feel awkward asking for prayer just for myself.  It makes me feel vulnerable, or that maybe I haven't done enough and have found myself in a situation that I shouldn't be in.  I know these are only lies that I tell myself, yet I would be withholding the truth from you if I said I never felt that way.  So here it goes.   Today our home was burglarized.  I arrived home to find our door completely kicked off the hinges.  I ran into the house to look for my little Westie.  I was at that moment not concerned about my safety or the condition I found our home in only that my little dog was ok.  When I found the little guy upstairs hiding, that is when I noticed what had happened. 

Sir Winston

Those who broke in came for electronics, it wasn't a big heist.  We just don't own very many electronics.  But what we have they took.  We can get by without these items.  It's just a certain feeling of safety I find hard to live without.  It has jarred me.  I'm not angry, resentful, frustrated, but I am sad.  My husband and I have so little, we know that and we're ok with that, but we always felt safe.  Not at this moment.  I know in the days ahead we will shake this off, and go on with our day to day  happenings.  Till then, "could I ask?"  Could I ask, if tonight you would send a prayer up for us?   Would you send a prayer up for them?   I will not ask you to pray for specifics.  I trust your thoughts.  But that only you would think of everyone involved.  I thank you in advance, you have always been so kind in this little short time I have blogged.  As always, I can't thank you enough for stopping by. 
~G~xo

"It's Been a Long Time Since I Did the Stroll"...

The blog stroll I should say!  Where have I been?  I wish I had this whirlwind story to tell you, but since arriving back from seeing my newest grandson, I have been no where but here in my home. I  have wanted to post. I even went so far as sitting at the keyboard to do so, but the words I had none. I have not been myself, and my heart and I are not on speaking terms right now. You ask why?  Take a lookie.

I arrived home only to realize my heart was left behind during this moment.  It can be hard to get much  accomplished when your thoughts are somewhere else. But work must be done, and I'm tired of stalking my favorite sites and not leaving a note behind.  Then I went through this whole other emotion that felt bloggity, cloggity.  I started to think, "Maybe I have nothing to contribute or type for that matter to this blogging world."  After several weeks enough is enough, this junking girl must get back to work.  This time of year is a great time to show and sell and I don't want to miss out. So here are a few pictures from my booth delivered to you. 

The Reason For The Season Hiding Behind A Snowflake.

The colors on these Sunday School teaching guides never disappoint.

A lady recently stepped into my booth, and we struck up a conversation about buying and selling.  She was so kind and said  my booth always had amazing finds, and she had purchased many for herself.  But she wondered and asked how I could part with some of the items?  I told her I had been buying and selling for many years so I kind of, yes, kind of gotten used to it.  My thoughts as we were speaking though were, "back away from the industrial mail tote, lady".  Kind of gotten used to it!!!

Please oh please, come home with me.

Vintage metal trucks can at times be out of this world pricey. Then every once in awhile, I'll find one that is not a collectible but has been used, and abused with lots of playing time love.  These are perfect for adorning.

Vintage register drawer.  I buy what I love, and I love this.

Couldn't you see this bank banner hanging up at a Christmas party.

I love vintage Christmas, the colors of it all. This time of year also allows me to show off the beautiful religious prints that are always available in the booth.  My sister has such a great eye for prints, and this next piece she found has never sold.  Must be a reason.  I don't believe either of us ever mind. 

  The buyers are out and I never want to disappoint.  I love these items as much as making them available to you.  And making gifts, wow, is one of my favorite past times.  For the last couple of years, paperweights have been my delight to make, and they have just found their way to the mall in time for Christmas.

 I promise, I really do, to be back soon and show the furniture that has been primed and painted for my small spot.  So good to be back with you and thanks to those who checked to see if everything was alright.  I'm here and as always "I can't thank you enough for stopping by".

"One Two Buckle My Shoe"

I want to introduce to you two little boys who I'm crazy in love with.  This little guy is Benjamin Robert, he is twenty-two months old.  This mamaw thinks he is the most handsome in all the land.  Dreamy blue eyes and such a deep thinker.

Three days ago something special happened to Benjamin, he became a big brother to this little guy.  Yes, Yes, I'm a grandmother all over again.  Oh, my goodness isn't he precious?  He's precious, but also a whopper 9lbs 2.4oz.   Oh, I can't wait to get my hands on him.

I leave this next week, so you my dear blogging friends, if you do not hear from me no need to worry.  I will be off doing what any mamaw wants to do, and what she does best, hold her grandbabies.

I will return with new junking adventures, and lots of visiting and catching up with you.  If I could ask one favor, just one?   Could you please say hey to my daughter-in-law here.  It would make this grandma so happy, and I promise I'll owe you big time.   Till then and as always, I can't thank you enough for stopping by!

Two Junkin Girls One Destination Na-Da Farm

My first blog land adventure took me to the Na-Da Farm Barn sell.   We were two junkin' girls out on a three hour tour.  It was iffy on whether I could go, you see Friday morning found me at the doctor's office.  What the heck, I was just going to be in a car the next three hours,  and this was a trip I had waited for.

Two girls out on road trip calls for some background music.  We found this album to be the best.

My first trip out to you wonderful blogging friends did bring about moments of discipline.  One is I love to buy.  I love to buy alot, and I love to buy beautiful vintage items.  I also wanted to take pictures, because pictures give the memories.  Pictures tell the story.  Problem I found, I don't do the two of these disciplines very well together.  You see, while I'm trying to take a picture, I can see next shopper buying lovely vintage item that I want out of the corner of my eye.  So first lesson,  this junkin' girl either goes with the intention of buying, or she goes to take pictures.  I have a pretty good I idea what direction I will choose. 

My picture does not do this entry way justice.  The hand painted curtains were lovely. 

Looking through a huge paper wreath.  Wish I would have taken more pictures of Anne Marie's breathtaking homestead.

Vignette swoon!  Organic cake mixes are ready for purchase in a rusted shopping cart set center stage with an industrial light shinning down.

There was vintage beauty everywhere.  As the evening started to fade and darkness set in the barn took on a warm glow.  I wondered to myself how can this city girl get herself a barn?

Oh my goodness can this Parisienne Farmgirl bake.  Two junkin' girls went home with a bag of these. 

Now the lovely Anne Marie and Jen. Still working, one holding a pen, the other a plate of cookies.  The creativity was beyond words.

Wish, oh wish I would have introduced myself to other bloggers that I admire.  But first time out felt awkward, oh don't get me wrong everyone was kind, gracious, and so happy for you to be there.  But it's a whole new world to me. This Midwestern girl, who has been a mom for so many years, now that her youngsters are grown she has found a need to roam.  First Stop took her to Na-Da Farm.  I do have one last picture.  I do not know who the mother and daughter are.  They were walking, leaving the sale at the same time we were.   I couldn't resist asking if I could take their picture.  They were pleasantly surprised.  They had dressed for the occasion, and seemed so content with their cherished purchase.

As always I can't thank you enough for stopping by!