Like the rest of you, I have a story.  Peaks and valleys along the way make up each of our stories.  Thankfully, I have a deep, strong faith.  A close walk with the Lord has seen me through some hard times.  God also gave me a sense of humor.  It helps.  I just don’t usually find the ordinary sitcoms and comedies funny.  A few years ago, I was at grandparents’ day at the Catholic school where my granddaughter attended prior to their move to Kentucky.  We’re not Catholic but it is one of the top schools in the state, and she’s smart.  We were sitting in the bleachers for the grandparents’ day mass.  The young priest was reading a scripture and kept repeating:  “Lord, have mercy!”  Honestly, though, he was saying it just like I’ve said it a million times in a Southern accent!  I promise I didn’t laugh but it struck me as funny.  Lord, have mercy!  You gave me this weird sense of humor!

I’m the mother of two sons and one daughter.  Each is married to a wonderful spouse who is just like my own.  I’m the grandmother of seven granddaughters and two grandsons.  Each and every one of them bring me great joy.

I’m married to the last love of my life.  He’s one year younger and a sweetheart.  He loves me.  He loves my two sons, my daughter, the beloved spouses and the nine grandchildren just like they were his own.  I was blessed with two sweet sons when I married Doug.  I love them like my own and I am thankful for them.  They are so good to me.

I’ve been a Registered Nurse since 1978 though, thankfully, I’m now retired.  I loved nursing but I love this retirement stage even more.  We love to travel and are usually in the midst of planning our next trip – even if it’s a year away.  We had a second home in Chicago four blocks from my youngest and his family for four years now.  We loved it!  Doug’s sons are also in Chicago.  Unfortunately, when Covid hit and we could not travel for a year, we sold it.  

Being retired also gives me time for hobbies.  Anything that has to do with creating!  Blogging, writing, sewing, quilting, decorating, knitting…the only problem is I don’t seem to be as fast these days.  Imagine that!  Everything takes me a bit longer and I’m okay with that.  I’ve finally accepted the fact that I’m aging.  There are wrinkles and lines now that have just crept up in the last ten years.  But I’m alive and well.

Life is good.  Whatever time is left, I will rejoice in every day that comes.

Blessings,

Dianne

mysouthernheart@gmail.com

19 Comments

  1. Fran Palmertree Tankersley
    Fran Palmertree Tankersley

    Hi Diane, sorry you will not be at the reunion. Lynn
    (my husband of 43 years) and I live in Houston, TX.
    We ended up here with his career with the Hormel
    Corp. We have one son and he and his lovely family live here, too. We have two precious grandchildren,
    Catelyn 5 and Cole almost 2. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion. I would love to know more about your dolls. Do you ever do personal orders for a look-a-like doll? Catelyn would love one that looks like her. Let me hear from you. I will think of you on your porch in July when we have 100 degree weather and 98% humidity here in Houston! But as my dear husband says, “we can play golf most everyday!”

  2. Mahalia

    Wow, what a relaxing site. The colors and design takes me to Iowa. Plus your header looks wonderful too. I am sure going to visit often.

  3. Marlene

    Dear Dianne.
    I stumbled upon your site and thought I would like to see. What I saw I like and if you don’t mind I’ll be back. Thanks

  4. Suzie Sews

    I enjoyed my walk, really beautiful pictures, they brought it to life.

  5. Joan Buchanan

    I know your site by Nancee, we have put up a small website for her and trying to help her with getting her music exposed.

    I live near Denton, TX. Or, I could say the Dallas, Ft Worth area.

    Nancee showed me your blog.
    I have enjoyed it, I would love to hear from you sometime.

    Blessings Joan Buchanan

  6. alexandkatiesmommy(Lisa)

    I love your blog…it is so peaceful and oozes with contentment and love. Your children are beautiful. Good luck with your chick a dees!

  7. Dianne

    Thanks, Lisa! It is a very peaceful and QUIET place to live…at least until the peeps arrive!

  8. Amber Sternke (amberjs1)
    Amber Sternke (amberjs1)

    Dianne
    I think they are all so adorable! How about
    Stella
    Ella
    Bella
    Zella
    Emma
    Sammi
    Sandi
    Little
    Itty
    Henny
    Penny
    Herman?? 🙂

  9. spuddawg

    Ms.Dianne ,I love your website ! I linked from Pioneer Woman’s page. We also have some just hatched chicks,About 15 total. 10 more this week.Ha ha ! There are so many people getting them now.
    Anyway, your whole site is pretty cool ,very refreshing .
    I sent my son the link to your site,he’s a freshman at the Univ. of Ga.
    We love your music playlist .Keep up the good work !
    May God bless y’all always .
    C.Sherrod
    Guyton,Ga.

  10. Elizabeth, lizlvsdolls

    There are so many beautiful babies to choose from, I love Akira by vicki Ebbeling as well as her toddler doll. I love Suzanne Robinson babies, I also like Sandy Faber babies. You have done a beautiful job on your blog, wow your chicks grew so quickly! Until I saw your blog I didn’t “get” blogs at all. Thank you for the giveaways you do. Thanks for the blog experience, and thanks too for sharing about your chicks!!

    Liz

  11. Linda Smith

    I love your site! I wish I lived where you live! I have always wanted to live in the country and have chickens!
    I guess my favorite doll would be my Newborn Thumbelina, it was the very last doll that I recieved when I was 12 years old. My birthday is on Christmas Eve. and my mom had asked me what I wanted, I told her a the Newborn Thumbelina doll that I had seen on tv. That night when my parents thought that I was asleep I heard them talking, my dad asked my mom what I was wanting and my mom told him a doll but that she thought that I was too old for dolls, my dad said “you are never too old to play with dolls and that it would make me a good mommy someday”. Christmas Eve night they gave me my present which was the doll, I will never forget what my daddy said, I miss him so for he has gone off to heaven! I had the doll until I was married and ended up giving it to a little girl who I felt sorry for because she had no dollys.

    1. Cathy Fire

      Dianne, your story really touched me. What a wonderful person you are.

  12. kimberly

    I love my terry quinn silicone and i have had a few wanting one. I said hes not avablie anymore .lol I have loved dolly sence i was little and now my little girl does too.

  13. kate

    What a beautiful blog you have, and your pictures are absolutely gorgeous! So glad I happened across your little spot in the world.

    1. Dianne

      Thank you, Kate! I’ve had a few moments to look at your blog and look forward to catching up on back posts!

  14. Colleen Pardo

    You’ve created quite a wonderful accounting of your life on a tree farm. It’s something so removed from my life. I love your type of websites; the sharing of experience and knowledge that you’ve gained in living the life you do. The pictures are excellent as well. You have a beautiful family, too. Thank you for 4 years of faithful and endearing posts. I’ve only read about 4 pages of posts and plan to go back to the beginning. Ii also really like the listing of your favorite blogs. God’s blessings……upon you and yours.

  15. Stacy Lyn

    Love your site, Southern Heart. (I found you on Beatrice Euphemie.) Can’t wait to read your knitting stories and life on an orchard!

    1. Dianne

      Thank you so much, Stacy Lyn! Glad you found your way here!

  16. Dianne Bray

    Hi Dianne, I have just found your web site and have enjoyed the read. I also enjoy all things crafty but most of all I enjoy making Reborn Dolls. I am just completing a Riley sculpt and did a search for inspiration for her hair and dressing her and came upon your web site and your Riley Reborn doll. Your doll is very beautiful and has inspired me to also use dark brown hair. I am retired now and it is good to be able to spend time in my craft room and listen to Nora Jones as well. We live in a city town of Queensland Australia but over the last 18 months we have been caretaking a cattle property in Northern Qld. My husband enjoyes the country and so do I but I miss being away from family and friends. I have a blog of out stay at McKinlay Qld and have just started a second blog for my reborn dolls – it is still a work in progress. It is amazing that we can now communicate over such lond distances using modern technology I enjoy the computer. My blog is twodbs.wordpress.com. Again I say I have enjoyed reading your site and will most certainly visit again.

    Di Bray

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