These are some of the pictures of Joy’s family. But, in reality, I feel no difference. We are blessed with a closeness that we both treasure. As Joy is my sister, Tommy has been my brother for many years now. I love the girl’s and their husbands as if they were mine. And, to be sure, sweet JT is already snuggled into a special place in my heart…as are they all. We are so fortunate to live close and be available for each other. Thank-you, God.

THE McKIBBEN FAMILY

Joy…Tommy…Tara…Will…John Thomas…(Lori, Ben absent)

The Bush Family…Tara…Will…John Thomas

Joy and Tommy

4 Generations…Pop…Joy…Tara…John Thomas

The McDougald Family…Lori and Ben

THE GRANDSON…John Thomas…(Grand-Nephew of Auntie Tonja)

Grandaddy McKibben and JT

Tara…JT…Aunt Lori

Lori…

Pop

I’m just saying…

It’s Thursday…the day we were looking for snow to blanket our little corner of the world. The day the kids were counting on building a snowman. But is it white out my window? Sorry to say, it didn’t happen.

We did get ice on the trees…



…and, frost and ice on the ground…

…but, the only snowmen around here, will be the ones on my mantle!

I had a dream last night. It was one of those crazy dreams where nothing really makes sense. It jumped around from this to that and back to something else. I don’t remember all of it, but I know it was not frightening. Just crazy. Crazy can be frightening sometimes, I know. But, I live there so much of the time…it felt comfortable.

The only reason I mention it is because my Mom was there. Now, I don’t know why she was there, nor do I remember what she was doing. But, I do remember exactly what she said to me. She said, “Tonja Lynn, do not put those plants in that pot.” I don’t recollect doing any gardening in my dream. And, I certainly don’t remember how planting came in to play amidst the rest of the confusion.

I don’t know much about dreams. I do know that there are many books on the subject and plenty of people out there to tell you what they mean. I just don’t have a lot of faith in folks that think they know my inner self when they don’t even know my
outer self. I mean, how can someone who knows nothing about me personally tell me what the most personal part of me means. So, I’ll just pass on those ‘experts’. Thank-you very much.

I did read a book written by a Christian author some time ago, that talked about the meaning of dreams. Sorry, it was a while back, and I wasn’t a blogger then. Or I would have known I needed to remember all the important information to document my statement. Oh, well, believe me or not. Anyway, what he said was, “When you think back on a dream…think about the way it made you feel. Then,
see if there is anything that is going on in your life that is making you feel the same way.” This should be what your subconscious is trying to get you to think about.

I have used this method many times since I read it. And, it really does work. If I dream about not being prepared for something important…usually, I can relate it to something I am not prepared for in real life. So, this has worked for me through the years. But, in this case, it just does not make any sense. I most definitely have not been getting ready to plant anything. This isn’t the time. I have been planning to go back to my other house and dig up my hostas and move them over here. But, I think this is the time I am supposed to do that. I bought some small orange pots for the kitchen before Christmas…but I do not even have an idea what I am going to put in them. I have a big, beautiful Tuscan type urn/bowl. Mom gave it to me while we were building the house. I have had it up on top of the china cabinet, but just took it down yesterday. I actually was thinking of finding some sort of florals or greenery to put in it for the center of my table. Now, I’m thinking that I need to put it back up on top of the china cabinet, and forget the idea.

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OK, so, I just went to make a picture of this piece to show it to you. Isn’t it beautiful?

Then I decided I’d make a picture of the two orange pots, since I told you about them, too. Picked them up to move them to a better place to photograph them. Here they are:

No, I did not intend to move them to the floor to snap their pic! Sure glad I didn’t pick up the yellow bowl!

I have no idea what this all means…or if it means anything at all! Just thought I’d share…

I know that around the country, there is way too much snow. I know that there are those who are not able to leave their homes. I know that driving is very dangerous in weather like this. AND, to our great surprise, the weather man on our local station said we had a great chance of getting snow Wednesday night and Thursday.

In this area of the country…the very deep South, it hardly ever snows. We live just 90 miles from the coast of Florida. The temperature has actually been in the teens early in the morning. I have lived here all my life and I can recall it snowing and sticking twice. We manage to have some flurries all along, but it comes and goes quickly. The best chance we have had in many years comes this week. So, we’ll see. The children are all praying it comes…it would most certainly mean a day off from school! Because, the whole city will shut down. Schools will close, churches will cancel services, other services will be delayed. We are just not equipped to drive in sleet, snow, or ice… and that is the biggest danger. As happy as the children will be to play in it, they won’t be as happy when they have to miss a day of their spring break to make up the day! ‘Cause around these parts…it very likely could be warm enough to swim by then!

Following are some pictures I have collected over the years that show some beautiful snow scenes. Obviously…I did not make these! And, they are not taken around here, either! Beautiful, nonetheless!