first violet (s)

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Shanda

I’m at the nail salon getting my nails painted pink for Spring. Soft classical music is playing and women are relaxing as they are pampered by the lovely nail specialists. One of the workers is spraying a fine mist of water all over a large potted plant. Another is trimming her split ends, waiting for a customer. I’ve already been to the coffee shop for a matcha and a yogurt, and the post office to mail out two orders for my eBay shop, and goodwill, which I haven’t been to in a month. I did find some nice items for my store and also for the grandbabies, I’m most excited about the Woody and the Jessie dolls, both of which no longer speak. No matter, already damaged toys are still worthy sometimes. Lucy loves Toy Story these days.

Next day…….

It’s the next day now. It’s 9:07am. I slept so well last night that I still feel groggy. I just watched YouTube while drinking my coffee (decaf, bc thyroid). It’s a cold, wet morning but the birds are singing their springtime melodies. They are happy to see the green leaves beginning to pop from the branches of trees, and the flowers opening at the ends of their stems. They can’t help but sing about it. I’m similar to a bird, because my heart can’t help but sing when I see the first violets appear. A joyous heart-song for my birth month flower, so numerous now in my garden after I transplanted wild ones there years ago. This spring I was down south when they first opened but my faithful blog-land friend (who shares a February birthday) sent me a photo just moments after I was telling my family that I needed to go hunt for a violet (it was time) because “Thia and I always do this in the spring”. Thia must have sensed me speaking of her because this is what I saw when I next opened Facebook messenger …no words…

Rich and I and the kids got home very late but the next day as soon as I was able, I took my “first violet” photo, too. For Thia, and all us February babies, a topic which Seth is quite offended by as the two of us used to be the only ones in the family to be born in February but now in a matter of one year, two more babies were born in “our” month! How dare they!

Unrelated: I was at goodwill yesterday and I found two magazines from the 90s on the bookshelf that I figured I could cut up for my art journal. One of them was an early Martha Stewart Living magazine. just for kicks I looked it up on eBay and found out that it’s worth over a hundred dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!but only if the recipe card insert isn’t torn out. And alas, in the copy I have they are missing. But still! Now I know. Have you seen her documentary on Netflix? After watching I became a huge fan. I’m guessing a lot of us are now, if the value of her early magazines are any indication.

Green price tags were half price, making this a dollar.

One last thing:

Besides not being able to talk (no string, broken box) there are multiple other issues with these dolls such as Woody has no feet and Jessie only has one. I’m utterly charmed.

Rich’s birthday….

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Shanda

…..was on the 31st of March. We were together on Amelia Island for a work conference and the last day just so happened to fall on his birthday. There is always a surprise live musical performance on that last night, which meant that Rich was serendipitously gifted with an amazing concert by Idina Menzel. She’s currently most famous in our world (as parents and now grandparents) as “that lady who sang Let it Go in the movie Frozen.” But it turns out she’s quite accomplished, I had no idea really, so I’m now a huge fan of hers just like my daughter in law Sierra who texted us “An angel walks among you” when she found out what was happening……

Truly, the voice of an angel! And such a performer. It’s always such a gift to be able to experience someone’s life long practiced skill. Musical performance (like most skills and art forms) only gets better with time. She inspired me to continue supporting the arts in any way I can.

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Easter was yesterday

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Shanda

I’m on Jekyll Island waiting for Rich, Seth, and Sarah to arrive. It’s raining today.

I wasn’t at home with the rest of the family for Easter but I still got some photos of the grandbabies;

Classic Lucy with her sister Eloise crawling on the floor next to her 💜

Rich sent me this one of Rory saying “help help”.

Precious little Luca 💚

I could stare at their faces all day.

Seth in Washington D.C.

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Shanda

He had not been feeling well for several months with Covid and then recently a terrible cold and cough, and so we weren’t certain he would be able to go but we kept making the payments through school in the hopes it would work out for him.

And yes! He perked up just in time. They left on Sunday morning and he’s having an amazing experience. I got these photos from him this morning;

Seth took this fun photo of his friend Alec.

He comes home tomorrow. And then the next day Rich and I fly to Amelia Island, FL for a work conference which will combine work and pleasure for both of us. We can’t wait to spend time together. I love traveling with my husband so much.

Here are a couple photos from the weekend;

David and Caleb (before Caleb’s haircut)

Sarah right before she got on the couch with me. We read our books and then napped for hours.

Rich and I went to the mall on Saturday morning.

Sarah and I went to the mall Saturday evening (she felt left out). 😂

She got these pretzel bites covered in Nutella; she could only eat a couple so took them home to share.

Family couch time, watching wrestling on tv.

Sunday afternoon with the babies on my lap. Precious

We played a game with Jacob, Brittnee, and Sarah and this was when it ended; I love the way Sarah is standing on her chair, Jacob is enjoying his bay, and Brittnee immediately started picking up.

Caleb and Jacob (Jacob’s wearing shoes!) the height difference really isn’t this dramatic.

My latest passion is replacing buttons on my new clothes with older, unique ones. I did these yesterday…took off plastic white ones and added antique square glass ones.

This was last week: I added little glass magenta buttons.

I’m a button collector now. 🥰 Another thing to look for at the antique stores.

Happy Tuesday my friends.

I wrote this whole thing while getting a pedicure. ❤️

I took this photo before I left for my nail appointment; the dress is a gift from Grace!

Speaking of; she sent me this little clip of Luca this morning….he already weighs 9 lbs, 15oz!

Okay, this is really The End of this post. 🙏❤️

Love you all!!

Today

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Shanda

I had the little granddaughters with me all day and it was the first time I took them both with me to Target. It was quite something, pushing a long cart that had the extra seating for two little ones. It was nice getting out and the girls were so cute.

Later, after we were back home, I rocked Eloise in the chair while Lucy was dozing in front of a movie next to us. I thought it was so precious when she got off the couch and came over to me. I stroked her hair and her soft little face. I could tell she was tired too, so I lifted her up. She snuggled in practically on top of her sister who was already sound asleep. Soon they were both sleeping and I was stuck in the rocking chair for over an hour……

It’s just after nine pm now. Caleb drove home from college to spend the weekend. He and Rich are watching college wrestling on tv and I’m in bed reading The Gospels, a new translation, by Sarah Ruden. I love the old, old stories.

It’s been a lovely day although Seth is feeling sick and has a fever now and won’t be going to school tomorrow……

Goodnight my friends, we are so loved. ❤️

Introducing……

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Shanda

Luca Richard, sweet precious baby boy born on February 15 to my amazing daughter Grace and her husband Brogan.

He’s a marvel.

“We all live off God’s generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.” John 1

we got the assignment

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Shanda

“Dress like the bird you want to be.”

Aunt Mary

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Shanda

I love how you called us kindred spirits. I love how you showed me your journals and photos and art and gardens. I love that you used words like “whimsy”, and that you were silly and fun and loud. I love the way you dressed and how you came alive around people. You were a treasure. And now I smile to think of you with Jesus. I’ll see you “soon”.

Sarah is fifteen

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Shanda

She stayed home from school and we went to Evergreen walks to Sephora and The Paper Store (for her crown). Then the mall and crumbl cookie.

We had lilacs in the car because we love the scent and they won’t be in bloom much longer….and our two bushes at home are loaded with them.

Sarah is a darling, full of personality and joy. I am so thankful for her; I see her and am in awe of her. She’s got a good heart and a good head on her shoulders.

She had her boyfriend Cash over and also Alayna came later on and we all had pasta (made by David), cake and ice cream.

Caleb-Ethan-Seth-Cash-Sierra-Sarah-David-Aleyna

I’m writing this from the mall of all places.

Rich and took Sarah and Aleyna shopping and I’m just so tired that I decided to sit and people watch while they all wandered around having fun.

In other news, I need announce my latest grandbaby…Jacob and Brittnee had their second daughter on February 13 and named her Eloise Josephine. She’s a darling and I get to watch her and Lucy once a week for the whole day.

thoughts after the election

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Shanda

“Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air.”

“Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption……… (examples of corruption: religious busy bodies, meanness, dirty talk, nasty sexuality, bad temper, wanting your own way, etc)……. guard against corruption from the godless world.”

“Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.”

“It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.”

“Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom.”

“Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom.”

“Twisting the truth to make yourself sound wise isn’t wisdom–it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving.”

“Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.”

“Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others.”

“It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.”

“Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time.”

“Purify your inner life.”

“Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out.”

-book of James

And then, rise and shine.

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I imagine a woman, poor in spirit, broken and struggling, used and abused, pregnant over and over, multiple abortions…….seeing a poor soul lying homeless and suffering on the streets calling for someone to help them, the self-righteous are walking by, over and over, they are on their way to church, or a political rally, busy with “importance” but she, with her little, reached out a hand to help. Sat down by the poor soul’s side, stayed and listened, loved.

I imagine a person with set-in-stone morals and ethics. Nothing would sway them from their beliefs. They work hard and make money, and are involved in church or politics. Meanwhile their own precious child is crying and lonely and emotionally neglected.

The lonely might sit in a church every sunday but find their comfort and sincere friendship from beautiful strangers — deep, thinking. creative, full-of-life humans who come from anywhere, perhaps a drag queen, a gay person, addict, perhaps someone in deep poverty, and the lonely are shown mercy and grace from God, through that generous soul.

(every good and perfect gift is from above)

In fact, I know of a woman who was actively using her body as a prostitute, when she took action to help God’s spies escape, she believed and acted; her name lives on in the Scriptures. RAHAB

A handicapped person faithfully volunteering their time to help others, while receiving practically nothing in return from whole-bodied people, not even a look or a glance.

A child, skipping through Trader Joe’s, handing out flowers after her dad paid for them. I witnessed this with my own eyes, and I would rather be that child today than involved in today’s seemingly cut throat political arena and media reporting.

Give to the government what is the government’s, your vote, your taxes, but live the life you are meant to live.

Look for a way to help someone else. Spread kindness. Heal and be healed.

Listen to your heart, see with it, and take action when you are able. Keep what you do to yourself. These are your pearls. But give a loud testimony of what you see someone else doing. Light hearts on fire with stories of crystal clear and joyful goodness.

You won’t find most of God’s most beautiful people easily, you have to search them out, because they are the ones that are almost completely hidden, ordinary and plain, quiet to the point of silence, exhausted, yet glowing with that certain something in the eyes.