Tuesday, November 23, 2010

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/)

Friday, November 19, 2010

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

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

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.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

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" .

Monday, November 8, 2010

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.  !!!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

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...........

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

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!!