HAPPY HALLOWEEN

WISHING EVERYONE THE VERY BEST

AND SAFE HALLOWEEN.

WHEN I AM SURE MOST LITTLE CHILDREN

AT MRS. JOHNETTE'S SCHOOL

SMILED ON THEIR SCHOOL FIELD TRIP

PICTURES, OUR BEAN HAS ANOTHER IDEA.

IT IS THE ONE THAT GETS SENT HOME

IN HER SCHOOL FOLDER, IT IS THE

VERY BEST FOR BEAN.

SHE TRULY IS ONE OF A KIND

AND WE ARE ALL SO VERY HAPPY THAT

SHE IS OURS!

MYSELF AND BARNES AND NOBLE

Myself and Barnes and Noble,

a good combination and at the same time,

not a good one. 

I loose time when I enter there.

Like a library, there is no better place I love than

to be surrounded by books, books, books

and other people who love books.

I swear, I went in there for one simple gift card

and the next time I looked at the time,

3 hours had passed!

My favorite place to hang is those gem of books

I find on the bargain shelves.

Monday I come across this most awesome little book,

LIVE AND LEARN AND PASS IT ON

by: Jackson Brown

I don't know if you can actually call this a book

by one author as what he did was began

to ask people of all ages the question,

What have you learned so far in life?

He has compiled all the answers in this sweet little book,

no names follow their answers, only their age.

Amazing how the age of the person answering the 

question becomes as important as the actual answer.

I am in love, swooning over the whole entire book.

It costed only 6 dollars and think I have to buy 

a few more copies for gifts.

As for mine, it is highlighted all over,

ear tabbed, marked, 

In the next few posts, want to share some of these wonderful 

sentences. Today:

I'VE LEARNED THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR

RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARENTS, YOU

WILL MISS THEM TERRIBLY AFTER THEY ARE GONE

     age 53

I'VE LEARNED THAT IF YOUR CHILDREN FEEL

SAFE, WANTED AND LOVED, YOU ARE 

A SUCCESSFUL PARENT.

age 39

I'VE LEARNED THAT YOU CAN'T HIDE

A PIECE OF BROCCOLI IN A GLASS OF MILK

age 7

See what I mean? How the ages become so important

in the sentence?

More later as I now go get ready to have a school lunch with 

my favorite little name sake...

the pride of grown children

Our job as parents,

HOBL and I,  was not to coddle them

but to teach them how to care for themselves,

how to give them wings, to be independent.

Then they grow into adults and I beam with pride.

I am so glad we are able to see them as adults

and to now be able to share adult things with them.

Gypsy has always made me proud and

I have written about it here before, how

she is one who has never suffered from low self esteem

and in a new relationship, working at a new

job and making me so proud.

Such is also the case right now with Baby Boy.

Not only is he about to become a Daddy again

but ground has broken on the new home that

he and Kd have designed.

He and I met there this afternoon, just he and I,

and he walked me through the plan.

He is a grown up and yet I am thrust back into a 

period of time when I was the Momma, he the young son

and he was eager to show a new accomplishment to me.

He is calm and yet, i hear it, the remote pride in his

voice. I too am beaming, what a man he has become,

to be 28 years old and he, along with is beautiful wife,

building their own home.

He is a "hands on" daddy and I am so so proud.

I know I have had a hand in the two adults who

now stand before me and sometimes I just could cry

as to just how proud I am of the both of them.

I can die tonight and know that my life, my calling

I have done very well.

Of course, I don't plan on going anywhere tonight,

I mean we have another pookie to have fun with!

THE NOTICER

My newest pal, Becky M.  has also turned

me on to a new author by the name of Andy Andrews.

As I said, she and I are like kindred souls, loving the

same type of things. She just knew I would appreciate these books.

She and her "Pappa" were lucky enough to go and hear the author speak

and bought me signed copies of two of his books.

It was my excuse to invite myself to her home,

to get my books.

Now, I have about 12 books waiting to be read

as well as about three that I am reading at the same time.

When bringing these books home though I want to begin to 

read them right away, they have been calling to me.

They are books that you just cannot read through fast

as there are too many lessons to be learned as you read.

THE NOTICER

is the one I have began and already,  although on only page 15

there are things I want to underline all over the pages.

I just can't write on a collection book but I want to!

"NOW THEN, YOU ARE HAVING MARITIAL PROBLEMS.

'HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLE KNOW THAT?

'EVERYONE KNOWS IT."

...THE HANSONS LOOKED STRICKEN.

"EVERYONE?"

JONES SMILED GENTLY.

"BECAUSE YOU ARE MARRIED."

HE SAID..

"WHEN YOU ARE MARRIED, THOSE ARE THE PROBLEMS

YOU HAVE."

NEITHER JAN NOR BARRY KNEW WHAT TO SAY.

..."YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL PEOPLE-

ALL LIVES-ARE EITHER IN A CRISIS,

COMING OUT OF A CRISIS, OR HEADED FOR

A CRISIS...

MARRIAGE IS AN EXTENSION...

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THINGS ARE

NOT AS BAD AS THEY SEEM"

These words are those of THE NOTICER who is the main

character in this awesome book.

Isn't that paragraph so true?

It hit me like a "ton of bricke" because we are all in this

life one of those three things, 

in,  coming out or heading into a crisis.

A thought provoking book having me think hard

about things in my own life.

These books are just another way that Becky M. 

and I are bound to be friends for a very long time.

Looking for a good read?

THE NOTICER BY ANDY ANDREWS

Thanks again, dear Becky and "Pappa"

ANOTHER WEDDING!!

Yesterday, the beautiful ring, the beautiful couple. 

 Kris and gypsy baby

 halloween a few years ago

(two mommy's with their two babies)

MY sis, C and her hubster, Ted

have two sweet and grown sons.

So much alike and yet so much different....

Arthur is marrying Amanda in a few short weeks

and we all were wondering, when Kris, the younger son

would pop the question to his long standing and 

wonderful girlfriend, Kaylee.

We have all speculated and some of us also thought

he would beat his brother to the altar.

Kris, though, he is the sweet soul type.

He may have wanted to ask Kaylee to share

their life together before his brother and many times since.

In true Kris fashion he would not have done that

so as not to take away the limelight from his brother

and his soon to be sis in law.

Then, yesterday, he had already made plans to

take Kaylee's two very best friends ring shopping.

Yes, you heard it right, he and her two best friends.

He knew no one would be able to pick out her

beautiful ring better than her two besties.

We learn later that he, having asked her father

for her hand,  also planned for her Mom to take her for the day.

from what I hear, when she and her mom returned 

from shopping he was in a suit. with a ring. 

on the knee.

This is our romantic Kris.

We. his family who have known and loved him

from the first day he became ours knows 

just how lucky Kaylee is.

Kris, however, is also not lacking on the winning

factor. Kaylee is a gem and will be nothing but a wonderful

companion and the best Mommy to any children they are blessed with.

Both are from parents whose marriages have withstood the 

test of time and because of that, they know it is what they

also want.

Kaylee has an old soul and everyone wants her as a maid of honor

because of all the love and care she gives to the bride 

and the occasion. I sure hope all those, remember that

and spoil her to the hilt as no one deserves it more.

Now, for me to speak of my dear, dear Kris.

He and gypsy, being only 8 months apart they

not only were each others first friends,

but also were best friends and inseparable while growing up.

To the point that some believed they were siblings instead 

of cousins. They were only happy when each weekend was

spent together. I am close to al my nieces and nephews,

but the relationship with Kris was somewhat different

as he did feel like a third child to me in many ways.

Always a sweet child, he grew up as a very responsible young man

but not so grown up that he forgot how to play like a child.

He and Kaylee are always having some type of fun together.

I am blessed to be his Auntie Lil.

Now to officially become Kaylee's auntie also is making me

smile big, big!

Another wedding in the family and then hoping for my sis,

many little "sugar babies"

in their future.

Love you both, my surrogate son, Kris

and his soon to be beautiful bride, Kaylee.

Sister, C and her new daughter in law to be

a new friend, a soul mate, forever and a day

A few weeks ago as I walked down the aisles of 

Thibodaux Big Lots,

an attractive woman approached me and was excited,

"Lilbit! I read your blog! I know your Bean, I have

a Bean, I saw Gypsy baby  the other day and wanted

to introduce myself but she would have thought I was crazy1"

Although the first time I officially met her was when she showed
up at my doorstep a few days after our Gina B. died with
a treat and much comfort to me, since that day we had not crossed paths.

I knew her sister through a wonderful email she puts out,

from Facebook as well as she being cousins to my pal,

Patricia. but the one bond we had was our Gina B. and
my blog.
 We talked for some time, myself and this

new friend, Becky Maggio right there at Big Lots.
Becky also throws an open invite to me,

shares how I just have to come to her old farmhouse

that she and her hubby, Vincent, known as Pappa to most,

put much blood, sweat and tears into.

There is one thing I don't forget and that is an invite

to your home. Since that day we began texting as

well as emailing each other, getting closer through these

conversations. A new found friendship made.
One thing I never forget, that is the phrase,

"You have to come to my house"

I will harass you until I get there.

Such was the case with Becky Maggio.

Yesterday I had to go to Thib. to bring the dogs

so I worked out a visit with my new pal.

From the minute I walked into her magnificent home.

I was gawking, trying not to drag my chin to floor.

It is a phenomenal home, full of things I love,

that I would love to incorporate in my home.

I share that I do believe we may have the same soul.

I know we will be friends for a long, long time.

Looking at her is looking at a part of me.
One thing that struck me in such a touching way
is the small lighted tree she has in her bedroom.
It is like the one I have in my attic, just a tad bit smaller.
I get the idea that I believe I will begin to leave mines out
year long as she does. She is proud to tell me
that is her gratitude tree.
Gratitude tree? I am intrigued....
there on her small lighted tree
is many pictures and small tags, full of writings
by her. All is written on those tags, those things
she is thankful for. I take a closer view
but feel like I am intruding to read her soul there.
I want that. I want a gratitude tree,
a place to put all those things I am thankful for,
a place to remember all I love when the days get rough.
a very special woman, this Becky is and I am so glad
we have found each other and have sealed the
friendship into something more.

We sit, along with Pappa on her back screened porch

and drink our coffee and share things about our lives.

I am so glad I kind of invited myself to her home

and I now know we will be friends forever.
Thanks again, Becky and Pappa for having me,
for being my friends.

Love, so many deminsions

So, I people watch, my followers know that.

It stretches to all parts of my life.

Yesterday, while stopped at a red light, 

I do my thing. To my left, I view through

sunglasses an older gentleman driving.

His face is happy, smiling, he is in love with 

the woman who sits beside him.

He talks, listens then laughs. I speculate

that the woman must be his wife.

It makes my heart happy to see that if it

is his wife, he is still so in love with her.

He glows when looking at her, when listening to her.

Then the woman beside him turns her head in

laughter, to my direction

 and I realize the love he has 

is not for a wife, but for an adult child.

A child with all the classic features of a woman/child

with Downs Syndrome.

The beautiful almond shaped eyes,

the small mouth with the slightly protruding tongue.

She is beautiful and her Daddy knows it.

His love for her is so obvious, unconditional.

I think of a few of my friends who have adult children

with disabilities, their worries and fears.

I also see this father, with the love of his life sitting

beside him on a fall morning, happy at a red light

knowing what love is and that this child has given

him more than what she has taken from him.

He probably worries about his age and who

will take care of his dear daughter when he is too

old to do it. However, he also knows she will be with

him until the end of his time or her time.

 Yet, this morning, just enjoying the moment.

I admire parents of handicapped adult children but I

also know they encompass a love that us others

will never know.

A fine Tuesday morning it was.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

SOME OF MY VERY VERY FAVORITE MEMORIES,

TRADITIONS WERE HALLOWEEN PARTIES AT 

TARPON HEIGHTS.

IT WAS "THE NEIGHBORHOOD"

THE SAFE PLACE TO TRICK OR TREAT, THE

NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERYONE CAME,

MANY HAD BLOCK PARTIES,

ALL THE NEIGHBORS WERE OUT TO VISIT

ALONG WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES THERE TO CELEBRATE.

A PERFECT PLACE FOR MY CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE 

HALLOWEEN THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

Then we moved to Thibodaux and we tried to keep

the traditions going but the neighborhood we lived in,

Lee Drive, became unsafe on the Hallowed eve.

We continued our pumpkin carving parties a few weeks

before Halloween so it became the tradition we all looked 

forward to. Many have carved their first pumpkins at

the Riera home. It always surprised us as to how many

people did not carve or decorate pumpkins during this

October holiday.

Now that we are in Plaquemine, Halloween became

safe once again in the areas we gather,

Kirtley Drive and The Island.

Our Carving tradition still happening yearly.

This year we had a great gathering as we were able to

celebrate on a weekend night, being Friday.

Pictures can explain just how much fun we al had...

One of the best parties because of the people we love

who gathered to share it...

 Duane and Lillian carving

 Bean, BB and Kd went sticker mode for Bean...

 Frankie and Lizzie did the same

 lillian with her treats

 lizzie and Maw Maw Cathy

 Sweet Carter

 Gypsy baby and megan planning their pumpkin attack

 Top off for Carter

 dupont family/triplets joined us for the second year in a row

 BB and Bean breaking from their decorating

 Lillian and Aunt Lil... we share more than just a name

 gypsy baby and Meg doing some serious deco...

 Dana, devon, and one of the three girls who calls him daddy

 oh those sweet dupont triplets....

 picnic table becomes a camp

 mr. photogenic

 Bean and blue juice

 Minta, so glad they could join us this year.

 Bean loves her Nannie, especially when glitter is involved...

 also has instantly fell in love with Meg

 a Halloween, not complete with just stickers on pumpkins,

Baby boy carved for Bean

 Lillian leaves with hugs and kisses for allS

 This may be my favorite photo of the night

 Gremillion family Halloween 2013

 Gypsy baby, bday on the 17th, turned 24 yet forever our baby

 Pumpkin head...

 Dupont triplets saying good night and thank you...

 Those girls like me but they ADORE  their Mr. Ronnie

 This girl, although no blood relation, will always, always,

be my sister in law!

 Carter's Mommy, Melissa, one of my craft buddies

 Myself with my gypsy baby and her Meg...

they are such a stunning couple!

 Then there is this bond, Mumsie and Bean,

I love this child so darn much!

 Can you see the glow that my dear daughter in law, possesses?

If all goes well, Bean will be a big sis sometime in May!

 Nothing makes me happier than surrounding myself with kiddies.

These, two, Carter and Lizzie call me Mumsie...

 I often wonder.. what goes through his head...

and on his head...

 Looked like fun to Amalie

Meg, being her first carving  won with this

Cat pumpkin, so serious she was.

SAME LOVE

YES, I HAVE THE SAME LOVE FOR MY GYPSY GIRL

THAT THE DAY SHE WAS BORN.

After 24 years of life, my baby has heard all the lovely

words a Mommy can say to one child and yet,

I find myself wanting, longing to find something

to make her know just how much she means to me.

How I am so thankful she is the one who is mine.

That I am so thankful gave her the wings she needed

to fly, be herself.

Is it enough to tell Gypsy Baby that a truly believe

the world is a better place because she is in it.

Lame, I know, corny and yet, so true.

Mackelmore band is rap.

I don't like rap and yet.....

the lyrics of one special song is so beautifully  written 

that I will share it here today on the celebration of my

gypsy baby's 24 years old today!

[Verse 1: Macklemore] 

When I was in the 3rd grade 

I thought that I was gay 

Cause I could draw, my uncle was 

And I kept my room straight 

I told my mom, tears rushing down my face 

She's like, "Ben you've loved girls since before pre-K" 

Trippin', yeah, I guess she had a point, didn't she 

A bunch of stereotypes all in my head 

I remember doing the math like 

"Yeah, I'm good at little league" 

A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant 

For those who like the same sex had the characteristics 

The right-wing conservatives think its a decision 

And you can be cured with some treatment and religion 

Man-made, rewiring of a predisposition 

Playing God 

Ahh nah, here we go 

America the brave 

Still fears what we don't know 

And God loves all His children 

Is somehow forgotten 

But we paraphrase a book written 

35 hundred years ago 

I don't know 

[Hook: Mary Lambert] 

And I can't change 

Even if I tried 

Even if I wanted to 

And I can't change 

Even if I tried 

Even if I wanted to 

My love, my love, my love 

She keeps me warm [x4] 

[Verse 2: Macklemore] 

If I was gay 

I would think hip-hop hates me 

Have you read the YouTube comments lately 

"Man that's gay" 

Gets dropped on the daily 

We've become so numb to what we're sayin' 

Our culture founded from oppression 

Yeah, we don't have acceptance for 'em 

Call each other faggots 

Behind the keys of a message board 

A word routed in hate 

Yet our genre still ignores it 

Gay is synonymous with the lesser 

It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion 

Gender and skin color 

Complexion of your pigment 

The same fight that lead people to walk-outs and sit-ins 

It's human rights for everybody 

There is no difference 

Live on! And be yourself! 

When I was in church 

They taught me something else 

If you preach hate at the service 

Those words aren't anointed 

And that Holy Water 

That you soak in 

Is then poisoned 

When everyone else 

Is more comfortable 

Remaining voiceless 

Rather than fighting for humans 

That have had their rights stolen 

I might not be the same 

But that's not important 

No freedom 'til we're equal 

Damn right I support it 

I don't know 

[Hook: Mary Lambert] 

And I can't change 

Even if I tried 

Even if I wanted to 

And I can't change 

Even if I tried 

Even if I wanted to 

My love, my love, my love 

She keeps me warm [x4] 

[Verse 3: Macklemore] 

We press play 

Don't press pause 

Progress, march on! 

With a veil over our eyes 

We turn our back on the cause 

'Till the day 

That my uncles can be united by law 

Kids are walkin' around the hallway 

Plagued by pain in their heart 

A world so hateful 

Someone would rather die 

Than be who they are 

And a certificate on paper 

Isn't gonna solve it all 

But it's a damn good place to startXX 

No law's gonna change us 

We have to change us 

Whatever god you believe in 

We come from the same one 

Strip away the fear 

Underneath it's all the same love 

About time that we raised up 

[Hook: Mary Lambert] 

And I can't change 

Even if I tried 

Even if I wanted to 

And I can't change 

Even if I tried 

Even if I wanted to 

My love, my love, my love 

She keeps me warm [x4] 

[Outro: Mary Lambert] 

Love is patient, love is kind 

Love is patient (not cryin' on Sundays) 

Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) [x5]

Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/macklemore-ryan-lewis/same-love-lyrics/#seAQJFxCrFQeD3Tu.99

When did this happen????

 When did this little bitty baby.....

 Become this beautiful, intelligent, lovely young woman????

This Weekend, is our time together.

It has been a few years since we were able to spend one on one

time with each other. 

I honestly thought she was at the age where is is the last thing

she wanted to do, spend time with her Old Aunt Lil.

How wrong was I!

A few weeks ago, when speaking with her Dad, I spoke of 

how I miss our time together as we at one time lived in the

same neighborhood. He shared that she was patiently waiting to be

invited again to aunt Lil's.

That set the wheels in motion for this fall break visit.

Wow! what a girl.

Once a quiet, mellow child, she is now a teenager

with lots to say and not afraid to put who she is out there.

There is magic that happens in my scraproom.

As I and those I love work on projects, talk goes on

and I am able to find out more of what someone is made

of than if we were just sitting around.

Abby has grown into a teenager who has strong opinions

on her beliefs and she blows my mind at the maturity she

displays. She talks.... a lot.... like me....

and yet the conversations is always interesting and deep.

Where have the years gone, when did this beautiful child

go from being a little munchkin in a witch outfit to 

a teen with thoughts on the brink of becoming an adult.

As we talk and share about love, family, boys,

relationships, sad times, happy times,

I just want to get on my phone and text to her parents

just how special this girl is, yet, I don't.

Instead, I spend our 6 hours, yes! 6 hours scrapping,

playing, talking, and it is as though no time has passed

since the last visit years ago.

She assures me that she will always have time for her

ol' Aunt Lil....

I silently pray that is true.

An amazing young woman,

it is my Abby Claire Dupierre.