ONE YEAR DOWN

~MY BELOVED AND I~

1977

As incredible as it seems this month my Mr. AGPMan will complete a full year of night classes.  I first shared with you about his plans to return to college in August of 2010 and if you'd like you can read all about it HERE and HERE.  After some scheduling delays, last May his classes finally began.  Only a few more months of studies and then come November he will complete his accelerated courses and FINALLY graduate with a Computer Science degree.  On Thursday evening while in class he was measured for his cap and gown and was given information about ordering announcements.

Can this be true???
ONLY A FEW MORE MONTHS?

Oh my goodness!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

In many ways this past year has flown by.  Equally there have been many challenging days that were difficult to meander through and I felt like some of those days would never end!

My guy has studied long, long hours.

Taken and passed many difficult tests.

Studied.

Read.

Studied more.

Read more.

Studied more and more and more.

Read more and more and more.

Went without sleep.

Went without sleep.

Went without sleep.

Went without sleep.

He questioned

WHAT HE WAS DOING A GAJILLION TIMES

before finally settling in for the long haul. 

And me, you ask?  Well...Can I be honest here?

 Hmmmm....

OK...HONESTY!

Right?

Well, early on I spent many

long

long

long

long

hours alone.

(Being lonely in your house when not alone is not a good feeling!)

At first I pouted over the loss of our routine life.

Then I got depressed.

Then I got angry.

I prayed a lot.

I prayed a lot.

I prayed a lot.

I prayed a lot.

Finally...

I began to embrace a new normal.

I read.

Blogged too much.

Painted.

Sewed.

(Did more special orders than I dreamed I'd ever do.)

Prayed more.

I said

WHAT HAVE I AGREED TO? A GAJILLION TIMES

before eventually finding

peace

peace

peace

peace

While embracing God's amazing grace.

Both my hubby and I have learned a lot over the past twelve or so months about our lives and each other.  None the least being that although grueling at times it is possible to go back and right a past wrong.  School is often difficult when you are young, but it can be REALLY hard when you are older.

But, we are strong.

Committed.

Resilient.

Blessed.

And...

He's still my man.

I'm still his lady.

Truthfully it all feels a bit surreal.

For so long the husband of my youth and I lived with such intensive regret over him not finishing college that sometimes pressing onward was tough.  This last year has been quite a ride emotionally for both of us and I'm grateful it is over.  Only a few months to go now and my hubby's hard-earned and long overdue diploma will be in hand.

We've certainly taken the LONG WAY around the world!

Note To My Mr. AGPMan:

The finish line is in view...the race is almost over!  I'm still in your corner and more proud of you than I can say.  Never too late...never too late...never too late to be what you could have been!

YOU CAN DO THIS!  YOU CAN DO THIS!

I love you most

xo~Beck

~~*~~

Gotta go~

Love to you...

~NEVER MY LOVE~

You ask me if there'll come a time
When I grow tired of you

Never my love
Never my love

You wonder if this heart of mine
Will lose its desire for you

  Never my love
Never my love

What makes you think love will end

 

When you know that my whole life depends

On you (on you)

 Never my love
Never my love

You say you fear I'll change my mind
And I won't require you

Never my love
Never my love

How can you think love will end
When I've asked you to spend your whole life
With me (with me, with me)

 NEVER MY LOVE!

NEVER MY LOVE!

September 8, 1978 until death...

FOREVER and EVER MY LOVE!

~~*~~

Blessings to you all this Valentine's Day.  Don't forget...your heart is not judged by how much it loves...but, by how much it is loved by others....

Love to you~

THE MAGIC BOBBIN BOX

 "LOVE NEVER FAILS"

If you've been a reader of my Blog for very long then you know I sometimes share things about my personal life.  I love to chat about my two kids, Brandon and Adrienne, and I love to share the muse that often surrounds my only grandchild, Miss K (she's about to turn EIGHT by the way!!!).  I  also love to brag about my hubbs of 32 years, the one I affectionately call my "Mr. AGPMan".  I'm not embarrassed or afraid to sing his praises because as I see it, we need more real men in this world who aren't afraid to love, honor and respect their wives.  And that means they must be willing at times to do jobs that aren't necessarily "manly" (it's all in the name of  "LOVE", right?).

OK...it's important to interject here that in spite of the fact I love to sew (and I do!  I do!) I absolutely cannot stand winding bobbins for my sewing machine.  I know it's silly.  Totally ridiculous even. But when I'm in the middle of a project and my JANOME runs out of bobbin thread (it's always when I'm top stitching, too!) I start whining!  I mean I LAMENT out-loud!  WAH! WAH! WAH!  Is it possible for some brainiac out there to manufacture a piece of equipment for the home-based-designer that doesn't run out of bobbin thread evahhhhhh....?????

Now...back to my guy.

For as long as I've known him (and it's been since I was 17), my husband, Steven, has been kind, loving and more than thoughtful.  A true romantic (and no, I don't mean that gushy, sloppy-kissy, over-the-top kind of guy who makes girls NUTSO!).  He's more like the boyfriend with the wickedly expressive eye that did all the right things while you are dating and then kept it up long after the wedding ceremony.  

Am I making sense?

I know.  I know.  I'm blessed.

Even "lucky" some may say...

After a long day of sewing Christmas Stockings, Pillows and Sachets yesterday I fell into bed absolutely exhausted.  When my machine ran out of bobbin thread for the 4th time I finally decided to call it a day!  Now...as strange as it may sound to you (because I didn't say a word) I awoke this morning to find the "LOVE YOU" note (shown at the top) taped to the front of my sewing machine

and  next to it,

in what had been a completely EMPTY BOBBIN BOX

(now full of freshly wound bobbins),

I found this:

In case you can't read my guy's chicken scratch this is what the note said:

"Dear Baber,

I know how much you hate winding bobbins!  So, I present

you with the "magic bobbin box".  Just take out

a new one and place the empty one in the box.  It will 'magically' be full when you need it again.

Love, Me

(hope your day is "sew" wonderful) :)"

I'm back into the studio working on more things for my website...

 Knowing all the while how fabulous I really do have it!

(Thank you, God!)

Blessings for a beautiful Tuesday.

Love to you...

~A WEDDING TO REMEMBER~

~SEPTEMBER 22, 2007~

 Micah and Our AdrieGirl

Three years ago today our beautiful daughter, Adrienne, walked down the aisle and married her beloved.

~THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BRIDE EVER~

Truly I've never seen a more radiant bride...she was absolutely lovely.  But then...she was always lovely...

Both inside

and out!

   The Groom was incredibly handsome, too! :)

 My prayer is for them to be as happy together as they were on their special day~

~ADRIE and her DADDY~

This will always remain my favorite picture!

It's worth showing you again!

My beautiful girl dancing with her Father...priceless!

(She just grew up waaaayyyyy too fast!  I'd live her childhood with her all over again if I could!)

Love to you~

~SWEET Adrie & Micah - Happy 2nd Anniversary 2 U~

~Happy 2nd Anniversary~
Adrienne & Michael

To My Beloved AdrieGirl...

I can't believe it's been two full years since you left the only home you ever knew to marry the love of your life...

The last two years have flown by... You'd made such a beautiful, beautiful bride.

~Beautiful Bride - Inside and Out~

Here it is 730 days after saying "I DO" to the man of your dreams and I still miss you more than ever!

~Dancing With Your Beloved~

Knowing you are so very happy thrills my heart...

~The Most Beautiful Daughter~

It is what makes you moving away bearable. Otherwise I'd be lost forever without you...

~Dancing With Your Daddy~

May you always be as happy in your life as you were on your Wedding Day. You made your daddy and I so proud when you came into the world and you still make us proud today. We LOVE Michael and we know he loves us, too!

Now...when can we expect a grand baby from the two of you? Just curious! :) You've had more than enough time now, right? We've been TRYING HARD not bring up the subject but we are getting a little impatient and we ARE getting older...

Hint...Hint...HINT!

Love you Most...
I miss you so very, very much~
Momma

~MY BELOVED and I - A Celebration of Love~

MY BELOVED AND I
September 8, 1978

Somehow our marriage has stood the test of time. For this I am eternally grateful. Today I celebrate 31 years of wedding bliss with My Beloved. How blest I've been.

A PEEK AT MY KEEPSAKE BOOK

I was not quite 20 years old when I married my Mr. AGPMan. Nowhere near wise enough to make such an important decision for my entire life...

I was stubborn.

Still am.

OUR SWEET ENGAGEMENT

No one, not even my precious Father, could convince me to wait a couple of years...

MY BRIDAL SHOWER

I truly had no clue what I was doing...I only remember wanting to spend the rest of my life with my sweetheart.

Nothing has changed.

He's still my Number One.

LIFELONG VOWS

I will. I do. Forever.

OUR WEDDING PROGRAM

We've certainly shared moments of heartache...

LOVING PARENTS

And bouts of quiet despair.

But our love has endured.

We have pressed on.

LOVE BITES

Always a faithful, kind provider, I don't remember a time when my needs weren't met or my dreams weren't a priority.

OFF TO BEGIN OUR LIFE

Our family has been blessed.

Beautiful Husband to Rebecca.

Amazing Father to Brandon and Adrienne.

Cherished Papa to Miss K.

TODAY - CELEBRATING 31 YEARS
~I LOVE YOU STEVEN KENT~

Thank you, God, for your grace.

Thank you for helping us to keep our vows...both to You and each other.

Thank you for Your severe mercy and for reminding us every single day that with YOU ALL things are possible.

Blessings to you as you celebrate this amazing life with those you love...Rebecca

~EMBRACING THE RAIN~

MY MAILBOX PLANTER

Yesterday morning I stood squarely in front of our large picture frame window and peered out onto the ground that surrounds our beautiful La Chaumiere de Briarwood. I watched as an unexpected rain storm blanketed our tiny patch of land allowing the parched earth to drink in a few sips of refreshing, heaven-sent water.

The colorful Vinca growing in my mailbox planter have suffered greatly this year. Evidence of the scorching heat of yet another blazing hot, Oklahoma Summer. They were obviously welcoming the rain. The window box flowers, grown from the tiniest of Begonia plants, are finally starting to bloom after thirsting from too long a drought.

MY BEAUTIFUL BEGONIA'S

When I was a little girl I did not like the rain. It interrupted my day, maligned my plans for outdoor play and carelessly washed away my sidewalk chalk. These were great concerns for a child such as I. For I was one who lived only to breathe in the sunny California sky and bask in the warmth of her endless rays.

Back then I had no use for the rain...

MY RAIN SOAKED SIDEWALK

But, today I choose to embrace it!

LITTLE FLOWERS
by Danny Lee

"Little Flowers never worry
When the wind begins to blow
And they never, never cry
When the rain begins to fall
Tho it's wet and oh so cold
Soon the sun will shine again
Then they'll smile unto the world
For their beauty to behold

When the clouds begin to gather
And the storm begins to blow
Little Flowers don't complain
Though they're tossing to and fro
Oh, I guess they've learned the secret
They don't fret because they know
If it never, ever rained
Then they'd never, never grow...."

MY PRETTY BASKET FLOWERS

Blessings to you as you seek to live out the truth even the little flowers of the earth know~ "If it never, ever rains, then we'll never, never grow!"~~Rebecca

ROMANCE AFTER 30 YEARS

BOUQUET OF FLOWERS

My AGP man had to leave on a short business trip late this afternoon and even after 30 years of marriage I hate it when he goes. I just HATE IT! Not feeling well today seemed to make his leaving even worse. I know...I know...I'm wimpy! But, after being happily married to a wonderful man for soooo long I'm lonely when he's gone. I assure you, I'll be counting down the hours until he returns. Thankfully my sweet daughter and her strong-armed man are both staying with me! :)

Oh...I'll fill up the time without my hubbs here with lots of things! I'll deep clean my house (I actually LOVE doing that!) and I expect to work late into the night on both sewing and painting projects for my website (AND--- I suspect I'll CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE getting those products uploaded without his help...but, I'll DO IT...PROMISE!). It just won't be the same around here without his smiling face and simply hysterical, sarcastic wit encouraging me along...


My hubbs was gone for only about an hour when I made my way downstairs and found a lovely bouquet (above) of deep pink roses accented with pale pink carnations. Attached to the beautiful blooms was a sweet card with the pet name we've called each other for years "Baber"....

Make no mistake about it...I KNOW, KNOW, KNOW I'm blessed!

Blessings to you, too....Rebecca

BEYOND THE BLING

Just a quick POST today! We are venturing out on the estate sale circuit (my favorite thing to do on Saturday) and I'm already running behind. Imagine that...me being late for something!? I'm afraid my hubbs has grown use to me being tardy for EVERYTHING!

When I woke up this morning I found this beautiful Bicycle Planter in my breakfast room. The back basket held a special arrangement of beautiful flowers and on the seat were two cards (one serious and one funny) and my favorite cheap candy, a Russel Stover's Strawberry Cream Heart.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love roses and dinner out, Godiva Chocolates, diamonds, etc. Roses will forever and always be my favorite flower (not red, but soft pink) and who can resist and bit of BLING or a decadent treat now and then? It's just that for ME I've longed for something different. I mean, the roses I see growing in my garden are truly my favorite (can't wait for them to bloom) and of course anything that comes "special delivery" (and on no particular day and for no particular reason) takes my breath away~ After many happy years of marriage I still love it that my hubbs comes up with his own definition of ROMANCE!

Take this charming Planter for example. I saw it about a month ago at Tuesday Morning and I sooooo wanted it for one of my front flower beds. But, even their "off-price" price tag was too high for me and so I passed it by without saying a word. My AGPM (A Gathering Place Man) must have noticed me eyeing it because he commented on it's unique style and form. I only smiled as I ran my fingers over the handlebar and walked away. He listened and watched...has grown accustomed to the look of wanting on my face and read it like a favorite book.

"All the wealth in the world cannot be compared with the happiness of living together united." 

Saint Marguerite D'Youville

Blessings...

Rebecca