Snow for Christmas?

Every year I get a "Christmas Letter" from at least one or two people. You know the type, everything in their world is so perfect that it makes me want to run to the bathroom and pluck my eyebrows so that I can hear myself scream out loud. They always name every person and all their accomplishments for the year and their grand adventures and if that was not enough they even write their upcoming plans for the new year. Well, I thought I would take the time to just BLOG my Christmas letter, so here goes...

Merry Christmas Everyone, 
This year has had it's ups and downs but thankfully more ups than downs. It is funny that I used to be a person that could name the downs faster than the ups, but now I see how those downs are always a path to the ups. My life has changed quiet a bit since last Christmas.  I have married my prince charming, gained step-children, turned fifty, have had some come to Jesus moments with learning to let go of the past. I have held my breath as my first born joined the military, and watched with pride as he became an amazing soldier. I have cried buckets of tears watching my daughter face heart ache and counted to ten knowing that at ten things would be better. I have rejoiced in the new feeling of being completely in love and having someone completely love and adore me. I have prayed many a prayer for a Brother struggling with health issues. I have watched with envy and glee as friends become Grandparents for the first time. I went to three funerals in the past year and thought how Heaven is blessed with new angels. I have stood on a mountain top and literally felt the presence of God and been in total awe of his art work. I have had moments when I did not know how to pray, and times of anger when I did not want to pray. I have laughed and smiled more than any other time in my life. I have accidentally tasted Wasabi and realized that it was not for me as I was wiping the tears from my eyes and screaming at the same time. I have stood on my feet (in cute Cowboy boots) for two and a half hours straight with 30,000 others screaming my head off at a Garth Brooks concert, only to be at the fox theater two nights later dressed to kill and acting like a Lady seeing Amy and Vince.  I have learned that not everyone is going to love you or even like you, just realize it is their loss!!  You still have to live loud and live large because you only get one shot at this thing.
I have made a new home, lost an old home. I have realized that you don't need twenty "sometimes" friends, but those that would come running may be few but priceless.  I  have held hands more than I did even as a teenager. I have learned to use a GPS system and not scream at it ever five seconds as it tells me to re-calculate. I have become a little wiser and realized patience really is a virtue. As for the New Year, who knows what could be ahead. I already know that we have some tough challenges ahead, but as Garth sings, "our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I would have missed the DANCE"... 
God Bless Each and Everyone of you and Merry Christmas!!! 
Love,
S. Sugarbaker

PS. I'm not sure if I should tell you this but I did kidnap a pig wearing a pearl necklace and pearl earrings, the pig was wearing the pearls, I only commit crimes wearing diamonds!

Where did Sixteen Go??

Oh to be 16 again but know what I know now:

• First of all I would realize that ninety eight pounds is certainly not fat, and to treasure every second that you weigh that amount.  
• I would go back and become a nerd, study hard, chase boys less and pay attention to that really smart shy boy on the annual staff, not only because he would one day be my future but I might just end up in the yearbook a little more.  
• I would not be so jealous of that beauty queen and realize that she is just as beautiful on the inside and would later in life become someone you admire with all your heart. 
• I would know that the boy that was so popular, that did not give you the time of day, would become a lifesaver and a treasured friend.  
• I would realize that my Mother is not my enemy but in reality my biggest fan. 
• I would spend a few more Saturdays watching college football with my Dad and not be in such a hurry to leave the house. 
• I would not be so afraid of my own shadow. 
• I would say Thank You a lot more and I would pray not just when I had a crisis.  
• I would realize that I looked darn good in that bikini and I certainly would not cover myself in baby oil and fry in the sun.  
• I would be in the school chorus and I would try out for the school play.
• I would listen to my Mom and not put so much in writing....well maybe. 
• I would treasure every time my Dad kissed my sleepy forehead as he left for work and not think it was corny. 
• I would spend more time playing with my baby brother and less time fighting with my sister. 
• I would start wearing high heels and never take them off.  
• I would be a giver and not so much of a taker. 
• I would not be embarrassed that I was madly in love with Donny Osmond. 
• I would not lie and say that I was already 17 just because everyone else already was. 
• I would go to the Prom with that goofy, nerdy boy. 
• I would spend some time with my Grandparents and learn my history. 
• I would not worry so much about being short and instead be proud to be petite.
• I would ride that roller coaster and throw my hands up in the air screaming with delight as I did it.....NOT.

Oh, to be sixteen again. I lived through it, I guess the things we would do different really do not matter, we are who we are because of the people we were. We live, we learn, we hopefully grow. We can  learn from all our stupid  mistakes and we can rejoice in surviving them in spite of ourselves. If we are really lucky we can say we have a friend from every decade of our lives.  Some of my greatest friends at sixteen are still some of the greatest people I know. Now, THAT, is just pure sweetness.....  I will turn the big 50 on Sunday. Fifty and Fabulous is the way I am approaching it. I am celebrating the fact I survived my teens, my twenties, my thirty's and the dreaded forties....  fifties are going to be FANTASTIC!!!!

Thankfulness from Sugarville

Gratitude.... my heart overflows with so much to be Thankful for:

First and above all, my salvation and knowing that God loves me so much in spite of my crazy self.  I know I must make him shake his head in confusion at least once a day, but how crazy great is his love??

My handsome, wonderful, extremely patient husband. It took us awhile to find each other but boy isn't the time together precious!!  I know I have turned your world upside down, and you are still at times trying to figure out my language, but honey the adventure is just beginning, so hold on.....

I am thankful for my crazy, wonderful family. When my Dad died, we could have imploded, but we are stronger than ever.  My Mother, Brother and Sister have always had my back and I am so thankful for every second they have shared with me through this journey. My precious sister in law, what a heart of gold, on days when I was so weak,  there you would be with words of strength and encouragement. My precious nieces and nephews, what joy you bring into the world, you are all amazing creatures and I am smiling just thinking of each of you.

My children; My brave, sweet son, so much like his Pop Pop, how I miss you each and every day but I am so thankful for God trusting me enough to be your Mother. I must say you taught me much along the way, especially patience and humor.
My Daughter, how thankful I am for your sweet, spirit. Your heart as big as the ocean, so thankful that hardly a day passes that we do not talk. You are and will always be my sunshine.
My Daughter in Law, what a match for my Evan you are. I am so thankful that he found the love of his life and that we get to love you just as much!!
My three bonus children, I know you have no idea what to think of me, and we are still learning our way, but I am thankful for you being so gracious to the "little person". I pray that I will always bring laughter and joy in your world .

My amazing friends, weather it was for a 'season' or for a lifetime, how blessed and thankful I am for each and everyone of you.  Time passes quickly, so I hope that with age I have learned to be a better friend. If I have hurt any of you along the way, and I am sure I have, please know that I ask for forgiveness.

So, many, many things to be thankful for, not just this time of year but always. There may be a storm brewing in your life at some point, but storms ALWAYS end and everything is washed clean . New beginnings, oh how thankful I am for new beginnings.
May it be a "sweet" Thanksgiving!!

 P.S. The beautiful photography is furnished by my wonderful husband, Michael. (http://www.mrhatch.com/)

The very first Byte.........

Hello Dahlings,

As I am getting closer to the sweet age of 50, I thought I should start acting more like a Southern woman. My friend, Louise would have a problem with that since this past week I have treated her as if she turned 90 instead of 50....  I insisted on taking her to the Blue Willow for her birthday, where I also insisted she wear an elastic waistband and her orthopedic shoes with support panty hose,  since for the past few years we have referred to ourselves as Thelma and Louise I advised her it was time she became Miss Daisy, to which she replied, "I guess that makes you Hoke". I think we should just go with Claree and Weezer.  Anywhoo...  the realization kicked in as I was stranded on Peachtree Industrial Hwy and decided to start walking ,  I thought I was all so cute stomping off in the rain in my little silver heels and my tight jeans, car after car whizzing by me honking horns,   when my two step daughters went  past me, they turned around and came back to get me and one said, "We did not realize it was you,we just saw an old woman walking in the rain and we felt sorry for her". WOW.  Yep. 50 here I come, silver heels, tight jeans, and long hair. I will be 50 and darn cute even if it kills me.  You should have seen my fabulous friend and I as our waitress at the Blue Willow told us she was only 54. We thought she was 64. As we powdered our noses and put on our lipstick and asked for our Senior discount, I reassured her we looked much younger . It ended up being a fabulous day.  I had a wonderful time driving Miss Daisy, I even did as any senior citizen should do and put a brownie and a lemon bar in my pocket book as we were leaving.  Do not worry, I did not get to devour them as planned because I ended up giving them to my little nephew later that day.
My great escape from Sugarville has been to go to my Mom's once a week and spend the night,  I have absolutely not a minute to myself here in this house so I treasure the drive and the time at Mom's. There is such comfort as soon as I walk in the door, no pressure to do a thing, just whatever I want, don't get me wrong,  Sugarville, is getting better, no doubt,  as I have found my way to Ross and Hobby Lobby. I got thrown a real fast ball this weekend when one of my new children informed me that she did not believe in Jesus. She explained that she believed in God and that there was a man named Jesus but that there was no way he came back from the dead or that he was the human son of our creator. Ok, God, I thought we went over the fact that I understand why I need to be here; you did not need to hit me in the head with a brick.  So... God loves to do this to me, I have been saying over and over, I don't want  to go to another church. Guess what???  We are looking for a church.  How does that saying go?? We make plans and God laughs.  When I make plans and God gets hysterical.  I must be his entertainment.

I read the Amy Grant book, Mosaic.  The parallels to my own life were mind boggling, her divorce, marrying her true love, the blending of a new family, struggling with prayer, dealing with loss and a friends illness. Terrific read, a keeper book. When Louise and I saw her in concert last year we both felt like she was a soul sister, well she is also turning 50 in November and she would definitely be someone I would be proud to call friend. Vince sounds so much like Michael it is scary.  Good, good book.

So, this week I have learned a great deal about myself,  it is ok to feel hurt and angry as long as you know to let it go at the end of the day and not let it take the sweetness out of your life. I need to be an example of faith to a child, to lead her on her path of salvation, I need to be patient and know that this may take some time. I need to rejoice in the lines coming across my face in between the freckles, because Lord knows more are from laughter and smiling than from frowning. My friend told me how blessed I am that we celebrate birthday's and have big family dinners, that she would treasure having that gift of time with her family. Never will I take it for granted again.  I also learned that it is never too late to learn another persons love language.  The real difficulty is wanting to learn it.

I send Evan off next week. Have been laying in bed  pondering this amazing creature. Yesterday was especially hard for some reason. Then last night on Glee they played Bridge over Troubled Water, and I knew it was one of those little signs from my sweet Dad, he will be the bridge to get us through this time.

I hope each of you has a "sweet" day!!!
Love,
Suzanne Sugarbaker

From the Man Cave

Hello,
This is Justin Buford (aka Michael) ; Suzanne's partner in crime.  In case you don't know where Sugar Hill is, don't worry, even the U. S. post office thinks we're in Buford, so I Just tell people we live In Buford.  Suzanne is going to kill me for posting on her blog but there is no thrill in posting on my blog which only has had like 2 visits (in 18 months).  So where do we go from here... maybe to my blog at http://mrhatch1.blogspot.com/?

I'm not really competitive but I do know a few of the important things like how to take a picture, unclog a toilet;  and keep the oil changed in the car.  Oh, and you have got to put paprika on deviled eggs.

I've have had a bit of trouble with a mouse lately; I think he has been using my computer.  He knows what a mouse trap is and doesn't like peanut butter.  I have stepped on all the glue traps myself so they don't work.  Even the live catch traps loaded with mouse bait from the store don't work  One night I had him trapped in the bed room (Suzanne was at her mom's).  I had traps at all the exits and took everything off the floor.  For three hours we played hide and seek (2am to 5am); I would find him and then... zing he would run to the next hiding place.  Finally I fell asleep waiting for him to make his next move.  Lately he has been spotted watching TV.  I haven't given up though, I am going to get a female mouse decoy and set her up watching Armageddon, that should do it.

Adventures in Wallyworld

The opportunity came up for me to go back to work part time with my former merchandising company. Having still not found a gal pal to hang out with and with the local Library assuming that I am a very well dressed homeless person, I  was thrilled to take it.  Being the GRIT girl that I am, I love getting dressed up and any opportunity to wear my heels ... Ok, granted, this job really requires flats, but being five foot one and a half, flats absolutely do not flatter me in the least, and since I already live in a house with giants, I practically sleep in my heels. Michael is constantly looking baffled as I walk to the shower in my favorite pumps. Anyway, back to the story, ( I easily get distracted by my shoes). Even though it was pouring down rain yesterday I was excited, I  had twenty five cases of our product to put on a display in Wallyworld.  I took great pains to plan my outfit, black jeans, great faux fur vest and of course black mules with a three inch wedge. I even had a matching umbrella. Now you must remember I have only lived here in Sugarville for a few months and I certainly do not know my way around, so my protective hubby put a navigation system in my car. I call her Betty, well actually I call her Betty the ...  but that is because she is constantly telling me to re-calculate. I actually hate Betty. I know for a fact she did not come from the University of GRITS. She has to be from somewhere up North. Ok, there I go again, I will have to devote a whole blog to Betty.  After being recalculated half a dozen times I make it to my destination; Wallyworld.   I sign in and grab a buggy to put my product and tools in, only to be told that Vendors are not allowed to use buggy's.  OK, so I have my purse, my umbrella, my camera and my hot pink box cutter. The first wallyworld person I ask for information looks at me like I am from another planet. Honest, she just stared at me for a good solid minute. I was paranoid that my mascara was running down my face or Lord help me I had a bat in the cave, (think about it). Then I realized, she spoke very little if any English!!!! I know a little Spanish but counting to five would not get me what I needed. So, after several hand motions I am in the back room face to face with ... lets use a different name,  Butt head.  He informed me where my product was and where I was to put it and with an evil grin also informed me that I would be moving over 500 cans of carnation milk in order to put it there.  All I could say to him was, "Bless your Heart".  I think if you are a southern girl you will know exactly what that means.  A few hours later I had the milk moved and was ready to start on my display... I had already come out of the fur vest and my shirt was half untucked. I realized I was going to need to climb on a ladder to get to the pricing and the top shelf.  I kick off my mules and make the climb acutely aware that my pants which are slightly too big are sliding down my rear end. At this point I really do not care, I am just praying I don't loose my balance and go flying through wallyworld.  Finally, mission accomplished.  I am proud of my work,  take a picture,  put my shoes on and gather my things and head for the door. I was leaving and in the reflection I saw this crazy lady, half dressed hair sticking up all over her head, mascara running down her face, lipstick smeared, cardboard all over her black jeans and a box cutter in her hand with the blade out ...  I screamed out loud. Dear God, what have I become??????  Oh, the day was not a total loss, I asked the young lady that spoke no English if she would be my friend and she said, "Si" .

GA Tech vs. GRITS

My husband, Michael is one of the smartest men I know; after all he did graduate twice from Georgia Tech, the last being with his Master's in Electrical Engineering. He has always been smart.  OK, so he may be smart but I hold a P.H.D. from the well renowned University of G.R.I.T.S. ; for those of you that have never heard of this University , that would be.... Girls Raised In The South.  I will give Georgia Tech credit for being a very difficult school and producing fine, smart people for the world, but GRITS girls always seem to have one up on them.....for instance,  we decided to paint the inside of the house; Georgia Tech boy has to go buy just the right type of painting tape, move all the furniture (on coasters, of course) to the center of the room, (by center, I mean he used his math skills to figure out the exact center of the room) tape off every edge, lay the drop cloth, and don't you know it has to be REAL cloth, not anything plastic or paper.  He has to get just the right roller with just the right thickness, and Lord knows I can't explain his thought process for color selection..... anyway, we are talking a five day time period just for the prep work alone.  Well,  I on the other hand, marched right into the kitchen in my cutest pink heels with my hair done just right and picked up the phone, dialed a number and hired a painter ........... DONE.   This girl KNOWS how to use her P.H. D.  !!!

pebbles in the road

Don't you wish sometimes that God would just throw down an instruction sheet???  You know, some of us just don't get it even when we really study, we need a cheat sheet.  I think I am one of those people.  I am having the big birthday soon and I still haven't figured out what I am suppose to be.........  I have this amazing friend whom since the day I met her  she has told me the things that God tells her.  She has this direct line. I know it is true because number one I know God does that with some, that is her spiritual gift. I honestly used to be a little frightened and also I must admit a little jealous.  Why does he tell her and not me??  Then a couple of years ago as my life started falling apart and no matter how hard I prayed it kept falling, I realized I did not listen. All along, he was right beside my ear whispering softly, " I have great plans for you."   There were nights that I cried buried in my pillow so that my daughter would not hear and I would so desperately want someone to talk to, someone who knew exactly how deep my hurt was, how sad my heart was. He was there all along. I can see it so clearly now. I survived, and I became a listener,  I learned the true meaning of faith.  It was only when I really put it all in God's hands that I could see clearly why I had to go through the pain. At our wedding, Michael and I had the song played, "God blessed the broken road".  We both took rocky paths to get to where we are today,  a lot of hurt, loneliness, just going through the motions. The thing we talk about most is how God worked in our lives, how we found each other.  There will always be difficult times, sad times, frustrations, there will always be people that come in your life and exit your life,  if I have learned anything it is to be thankful for those times and those people just as much as the joys and blessings, because they were part of your path that led you to where you are and they will be the stepping stones that get you to where you need to be. I would not have the most wonderful love story had I not went through some of the deepest pain.
Now, if only he would tell my friend what I am suppose to be...........

Election Day!!!  Make a difference, vote. It doesn't matter if you are Democrat (though I may have a question on the sanity) Republican, or even Libertarian . Lord knows we have been hammered with ads that make me want to pull my  ever changing hair out of my head, signs that make our beautiful land cluttered with cardboard, and the very newest of campaigning.......yep....  the recorded phone message. They are tricky little things, some look like a cell phone number, so just when I think some fantastic publisher is calling me I get none other that Roy Barns. Now, between us, I would like to tell Roy Barns a thing or two, for that matter I would like to tell them all a thing or two, but no no no, they make it so you can't talk back!!! The nerve. I think everyone should have the opportunity to leave them a voice mail responding to the lovely messages that tied up our lines for hours.  Anyway, what I wanted to say today about voting is this:  the most important thing for a Sugar Hill girl is to pick the right voting outfit. Boots are a must, just in case the person in front of you needs a stiff kick in the buttocks. No low waisted jeans, sometimes you have to bend over to look closely at the fine print, no bangles on the wrist that may cause a distraction( I love bangles and Lord knows I have caused a distraction or two wearing them) no loud lipstick, only gloss or soft pinks, that way if you get into a political debate and have to say an ugly word at least it comes from a pretty mouth. A jacket with pockets is a must!!  You need to have your eyeglasses that no one knows you need to read the ballot, and yes, even with the glasses I still  need to bend over....  tissues because there is plenty on the ballot to cry about, and if you are like me and still looking for a new friend you should carry a few pieces of candy in case there is a line and you want to be friendly.  Now, my last word on the outfit, wear that tight fitting old glory t-shirt underneath that jacket. Be proud to be a woman and have the privilege to vote , let your sweet southern voice be heard all over this land!!! 
Till Next Time!!

Shopping for Friends

Well............ this time I may make the news. Or at least the Daily Gwinnett   ( I am so proud, I finally learned to spell it)   I realized that I don't have one single friend within a 60 mile radius, much less 2 miles.  So, I started thinking, how did I meet my closet friends in Fayetteville??  Well, I met them all through kids in school and church. OK, so I set out a plan. First I would drive to the nearest elementary school and act like I was bringing a forgotten lunch to a kid. My plan was once inside , grab the nearest woman and tell her I thought she looked familiar. Then from there we would end up at the Sugar Hill diner for lunch where we would bond and become friends for life. Only problem was when I pulled in the parking lot all the Moms looked to be 20 somethings, and everyone was staring at me like I was a granny in the wrong side of the car pool lane.  OK, option two, church. Well, I don't want to be Baptist anymore, I can't decide between Jewish or Catholic. So, until I make up my mind, I don't see that working so well for me. I finally just went bananas. I was in Kroger, feeling sorry for myself , talking to myself up and down the aisles, when I spotted her. She was perfect, she had wide enough hips, was talking on her bedazzled  cell phone, not texting, and best of all she had on leopard shoes.  I started by circling around so that I would be going up the aisle as she was going down. My only problem was , she kept talking on the phone. So 4 aisles later and nothing in my buggy, I lost control and rammed her head on and screamed bloody murder, "Will you be my friend or not???"   I swear to you, I have never seen someone run out of their shoes before......   but don't feel too sorry for me, they were a perfect size 6.  I may still be friendless, but I have a new pair of shoes and I may make the news!!!!    :))))))

Till next time,
Suzanne Sugarbaker