Long Hollow

 

 

"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."

~Rita Rudner

 

If you haven't guessed, it's been 35 years since that Friday the 13th when Tom and I said "I do" to a lifetime together. It's actually tomorrow, but what's a day when you're talking about 35 years, right? 

As I said in last year's anniversary post, they "have passed in a blur of laughter, tears, frustration, relief, adventure, illness, challenge, excitement, celebration, perseverance, love, forgiveness, and blessings too numerous to count." 

Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years.

~Simone Signoret

 

Nothing really compares to that, but I have collected other sweet!s over the past few weeks…

 

Remembering and celebrating the anniversaries of my clients' closings, and that there are more and more to celebrate!

Meeting a neighbor at the local grocery store because she wants to buy some of my church raffle tickets, and having her sell two more to a friend of mine who walked in, because the St. Vincent de Paul Society once helped her during a time of need. She knows the proceeds really are going to a great cause. 

Making it to the grand opening of another friend's business.  She retired from the tech industry and started a sign business!

 

Facebook, where I can wish my sister a happy birthday and post a bunch of photos of us together over the years when I can't be with her in person.

Also cell phones and free long distance, so I can also call her. (Remember the days when you had to pay for every minute you talked on the phone or just send a card? I did that, too, of course. I found the perfect one months ago and actually remembered to mail it in time for her birthday!)

Stopping on my way home one day to visit with a friend's dad who is also a past client… a New Jersey transplant-turned- proud-Texan. 

 

Continuing to find hearts in nature, like this rock on my caliche road…

 

…and this heart carved into a larger rock I noticed on one of my morning walks.

 

A friend thinking of me when she spotted this book, and then sending it to me, along with a large donation to pass on to the Prayer Shawl ministry at my church, in appreciation of the prayer shawl they sent her when her mom passed away. 

My kids making it home safe and sound from their trip to Florida to visit their grandma. 

Their grandma calling me to say how awesome they are and how much she enjoyed their visit, even though Tommy skunked her at cribbage. 

 

Lizards, especially when they stay still long enough to take their picture. 

Soft morning light on the trees lining the creek after several days of rain. 

Tom's cousin in Miami thinking of buying a house near Austin!

 

Helping a friend's daughter, who you've watched grow up, become a homeowner. It is an amazing feeling being a part of the journey and I'm so grateful to be able to do this for a living!

Spending a day helping a friend find a place for her son to live when he is discharged from the hospital after a diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer. Please say a prayer for them. 

Lunch with my oldest before they headed off to Florida, and being able to discuss different marketing and motivational ideas with him. 

Being able to drive to Houston to be there for a friend as she says goodbye to her dad. 

Seeing another friend there who recently suffered a heart attack and almost didn't make it to the hospital in time. 

Having dinner with my sister and brother-in-law before heading back home. 

 

Watching Belle in a stand-off with a deer. So fierce!

Finally remembering to get the oil changed in my car.

Making a last-minute decision to go see Don Felder (Eagles), Styx, and REO Speedwagon in concert with a friend on a Monday night!

A dear, talented friend and her husband spending their Sunday afternoon helping you re-cover your dining room chairs. 

 

Glorious sunrises over the hills.

Rescuing a Daddy-Long-Legs from my bathtub. 

Candles, when we experienced a power outage in our neighborhood. The power company getting it fixed before the house got too hot. How the smell of candles burning can transport me back to my 7th grade bedroom. (I had a LOT of candles back then.)

Sitting on my front porch, after I've swept it. 

 

Belle getting better about letting me take her photo!

Playing my drums for the first time in ages. I'm worse than ever, but it's still as much fun!

Teaming up with another agent to support each other as we pursue our broker's licenses. 

Having so many classes available, on everything from pricing properties to hiring an assistant. 

 

And last, but not least… these gorgeous purple/pink flowers I noticed growing in a curve of our dirt road.

I almost didn't see them because I didn't expect to see them.  There usually aren't any flowers blooming by this time of the summer, except for the small yellow and white ones, and occasional rain lilies, and I've never I've never seen any like these before, anyway. I haven't spotted them blooming anywhere else. 

I'm so glad I remembered to open my eyes.

"Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful."

~Jim Carrey

I hope you have a great collection of sweet!s from the past few weeks, too, and that it continues to grow!