Blessing #125 - Everyone Needs an Aunt Ruthie

When we visited North Carolina, the boys and I got a chance to visit with my Aunt Ruthie.  (I blogged about her once before.)

During this visit, I enjoyed watching the boys with Aunt Ruthie.  It reminded me of playing with Aunt Ruthie when I was a little girl.

When you are "working," and you ask Aunt Ruthie to help.  Aunt Ruthie doesn't say she's too busy or it's too hot.  She grabs a shovel and "works" too.

During a car ride, Aunt Ruthie isn't concerned with the scenery.  She would much rather make faces at you.

Aunt Ruthie is always there to cheer on your great ideas.  

Aunt Ruthie knows how to find cool things, like rollie pollies, and she doesn't even scream when you try to smash them. 

When you take a picture with Aunt Ruthie, and you try your signature "go completely limp and slide out" ninja move, she doesn't get upset.  She just keeps smiling. 

During our visit, I had the best time watching my boys love Aunt Ruthie.  I couldn't help but think of her accident in October, and how far she has come since then.  Her determination and drive is truly inspiring.

I'm so glad that my boys and I get to have someone like Aunt Ruthie in our lives.  I think the world would be a better place if everyone had an Aunt Ruthie.

Blessing #90 - An Aunt Ruthie Voicemail

I really don't like to talk on the phone, but one person I do talk to on the phone is my Aunt Ruthie. Aunt Ruthie doesn't text, scype, email, or have a cell phone. In fact, Aunt Ruthie is the only person I know that doesn't have call waiting. If you want to talk to Aunt Ruthie you have to call her.

One thing I like about the phone is an Aunt Ruthie voicemail. In July, I blogged about the awesomeness of an Aunt Ruthie breakfast, and an Aunt Ruthie voicemail is just as good (but not as tastey).

All Aunt Ruthie voicemails sound generally the same. (you need to read this with a southern accent to get the full effect.)

"Hi Stephie,
I didn't need anything, and you don't have to worry about calling me back. I was just thinking about you and the boys, and I love you. Hope you have a good day."

Many times, I just listen to the first 10 seconds of a voicemail, and then I delete it. However, I listen to an Aunt Ruthie voicemail twice. The older I get, the more I realize the value of having someone that loves you.

Aunt Ruthie is currently in the hospital, recovering from an accident, and right now, my heart really wants to be with her. Although, the miles separate us, I think I will follow her example and leave her a voicemail today on her answering machine (if she cut it on before she left) just to say "I love you."

**photography by Brandon**

Project Life: July 18 - 24

All my pictures this week are from one day, Saturday, but I love these pictures we got at my Aunt Ruthie's house. We stopped in to see her on our way back to Maryland, and yes, I got an Aunt Ruthie breakfast that day. If you want to see more Project Life posts, check out The Mom Creative.

Collin is showing Aunt Ruthie his raspberries.


Brandon wanted to take some pictures for me. I love this one of my mom and I.

This is another Brandon picture that I love!

"The Photographer" said "Funny faces," so we had to comply. Collin is saying, "Hey dude! Why are you cutting me out?"

Blessing #66- An Aunt Ruthie Breakfast

This weekend I visited some of my family in North Carolina while I was on my way to GA!!! We stopped in to see my Aunt Ruthie. (Yes, I am 29 year old woman and I still call my Aunt Ruth, "Aunt Ruthie", but Aunt Ruth just doesn't sound right.)

I don't know when it started, but at some point, Aunt Ruthie started making breakfast for any of my family that stops by and see her, and I love stopping in and having my Aunt Ruthie breakfast.



Aunt Ruthie's selections for this particular breakfast were grits, eggs, black label bacon, cheese, biscuits, and scupadine jelly. (I always thought it was "scuffidine", but google says "scupadine".)

Aunt Ruthie's food is fantastic...unbelievably good, but the food is not even the best part of an Aunt Ruthie breakfast.

The best part of an Aunt Ruthie breakfast is gloating about eating an Aunt Ruthie breakfast. Shortly after the tradition of the Aunt Ruthie breakfast started, the gloating phone call started. As you eat an Aunt Ruthie breakfast, you can't help but call your loved ones and let them know what you are doing. Here is how the call usually goes...

my brother or dad: Hello.

me: Hi, guess what I'm doing right now?

my brother or dad: What?

me: I'm eating black label bacon.

my brother or dad: (sigh)

me: I've got a biscuit with scuffidine jelly.

my brother or dad: uh huh.

me: It's just wonderful here at Aunt Ruthie's!

Now, before you feel bad for my dad or brother, just remember when they get an Aunt Ruthie breakfast they call me too. They may not write a blog post about it, and rub it in on facebook (they are nicer than me), but they call me.

Project Life: April 11- 17

If you want to see more Project Life posts, click on the badge at the top of the post to go to The Mom Creative. I love this weeks pictures! In all the outdoor pictures there is so much green!


Monday, April 11- my niece: "Ummm...Aunt Stephanie, could you put down your camera and help me get my kite."


Monday, April 11- This was Collin's first time in a pair of shorts! Also, this shot shows him sticking out his tongue. He did that for about three days. I love watching him discover new things.


Wednesday, April 13- On this day, he found his foot, and he thought it was very tasty.


Saturday, April 16- We met in Virginia to pick up Brandon. My Aunt Ruthie came with my mom. This was the first time she met Collin. I love this picture!


Sunday, April 17- Shad was showing the boundaries for the church Easter egg hunt, but he had a shadow.


Sunday, April 17- This was right after the egg hunt, and we are all looking at the camera!!!! Let me tell you what each one of us is thinking in this picture.

Shad: Easter egg hunt done. Time for lunch, lunch, lunch, lunch, lunch, lunch....


Brandon: I'm going to smile, but as soon as this picture is done, I'm tearing into my Easter egg candy.


Stephanie: Bangs and a windy day...they just don't go together.


Collin: I look ridiculous in this baby carrier.

Project Life: January 17 - 23

Week three of Project Life. My favorite picture this week is Thursday! If you want to see more Project Lifes, just click on the badge at the top of this post.

Wednesday, January 19 - This was the first day the snow had completely melted. 1. Brandon broke into his sandbox and pulled out all the toys. 2. He missed the snow and decided to throw mudballs instead. Not cute. Not cute...well, kind of cute.


Thursday, January 20 - I looooooooove this picture! There are so many captions I could put here, but I'll just take a guess at what Collin's thinking. "Hey, Mommy. Put down that camera and feed me!"


Friday, January 21 - My Aunt Ruthie (her name is Ruth, but I call her Ruthie) sent us a package with all kinds of treats. She sent me a couple of bags of pecans when my dad came up for Thanksgiving. I have already used all those pecans for Christmas cooking. So Aunt Ruthie sent me some more!!!

Saturday, January 22 - I had not gotten a picture of Shad in several days. This was his reaction when he found that out.


Sunday, January 23 - I walked by this shirt in Walmart and I could not resist it. My "Eligible Bachelor!"

Sunday, January 23 (again) - Shad normally tucks B into bed, but this night I did it. I told Brandon if he was really still, I would let Collin lay beside him during story time. B was so excited to have his brother there. It was too sweet!