I desired to revisit the indoor picnic scene and settled on creating a cozy space in front of our fireplace. Celebrating love with my husband reminds me that faith never fails. I am surprised and forever grateful he came into my life to show me true love and compassion exist. I face and continue to stand up to many challenges that leave me to question my self-worth, sanity, dreams, and faith. However, the life and love that grows between us encourage me to press forward with plans and build a glorious relationship.
Pillows, petals, lights, ready!
We were taking a moment to design a pace to celebrate, and unwinding played a key role in how we marked the holiday. The setup remained a crucial point in displaying the right level of ambiance. I researched a few helpful tips from the website Pinterest to pull off a dramatic setting for us to enjoy.
The Dragonbeard Prince – played by Peter Baylies and his Crimson Phoenix – portrayed by Carmen Baylies, traveled through the piedmonts of the Carolinas. Lord Blackbeard alerted his alliances to take care of crossing the seas with a bounty issued for pirates that aided Blackbeard from capture. The Nexus Storm provided excellent protection as we visited a few of our pirate strongholds in the Carolinas.
The Baylies reveled in fun for Halloween! Or at least say I needed visual stimulation for a story. We tipped our caps to the strongholds that keep our sacred items safe. To the Hunter-Baylies Haven, The Blue Cay, and The Baylies Cove’s masters and mistresses, cheers and drinks on us next time we meet. May the pirate’s prayer cover you always.
‘Happy, Happy Turkey Day!’ – a song lyric featured in one of my favorite films, Addams Family Values, floated through my mind as I worked out Thanksgiving plans. When considering the amount of upheaval last year imposed with social distancing protocols, my husband and I looked forward to a leisurely holiday celebration. He and I spent time preparing our holiday meal and decor. Holidays always test your flexible nature. So even though I did not watch my football games live, I shared a meal with my husband and his mother, Susan, and fellowshipped. We recorded the fun for me to watch later.
The holiday weekend began with ‘Chef Peter’ donning his apron and pitching into the dinner preparations. My mom supervised me from afar as she readied to spend time with family back home in Oxford, NC. I checked in with my sister as she celebrated her birthday and the holiday in her new home. My father called Peter, and I tackled a 17lb turkey and fixings.
Floral accents for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 2021 table casual setting
2021 Thanksgiving dinner served!
With the uncertainty that consumed our world, our priorities constantly hold to essential truths. With faith remaining my center and guiding light, our needs focused my actions and thoughts. My family, friends, correspondences, work, and doubters encouraged me to continue forward toward completion. My soul was and is grateful.
Counting our many blessings, I remembered lean times and great times. I found it essential to see and recall things and attributes that make you thankful. I appreciated my family, friends, work, and health this year. My heart gladen that I have not yet seen the fullness of God’s mercy and blessings. With all the struggles and obstacles, the blessing business remains operational.
Celebrating forty-three trips around the sun released a newfound joy that unexpectedly delighted my spirit. My husband, Peter, kicked off the celebration by securing movie tickets to see The Chosen Christmas Special: The Messengers. The film nourished my soul as I looked at the nativity through the lens of the phenomenal show. Hearing the songs of Christmas and remembering the joy of reconnection to God through faith, wonders and promises fulfilled a weary soul. I found my soul moved by how the television show and film encouraged me to renew and exercise faith boldly and unafraid. Later that evening, Peter surprised me with a gift that touched my heart – a beautiful jewelry set of pearls.
43.
My mother planned a special pampering session for the two of us since I planned to travel closer to the Christmas holiday as a gift to her firstborn. A Mommy and me moment remained essential. My stepdad, Chris, secured a lovely bottle of wine by Melanated Wines. My sister, Johnea, called me from across the country to wish me birthday greetings. My dad checked on me to find how my birthday turned out. I wanted to give my family a big ole bear hug!
I do enjoy a good red blend.
Since I took in a film to begin the birthday celebrations, I intended on relatively low-key festivities on the actual day. My father-in-law, Chris, took my husband and me out to a birthday lunch at a nearby Irish pub, Trali Irish Pub & Restaurant. They partook in the restaurant’s specials while I set my sights on the shepherds’ pie paired with a delicious local cider. Chris gave me a present that reflected my love of being a Sagittarian and pearls. After lunch, Peter and I returned home, and the surprises continued.
Yes, the pie is here!
Make a Wish!
I found an online community that enjoyed music and gaming on Twitch’s streaming service during the pandemic. I followed a couple of gamers to enhance my skills with video games and a few DJs that moved the party virtually since the pandemic sheltered us. DJ Flash from Canada used his platform to help me celebrate and created an emote that I could use on the Twitch platform, especially for me for a couple of days. Saying that I was floored understated how overwhelmed I felt. Other streamers and chat families wished me a wonderful birthday, and I felt obligated to fulfill their good sentiments.
My Own personal Twitch Emote! WHAT!!!
Look, Ma, My handle is on TV!
After composing myself from the shock of my own special emote, we joined our regional Starfleet family at the Texas Steakhouse for our monthly meeting. My mother-in-law, Susan, joined us and presented me with a beautiful necklace for a birthday gift. (And of course, I began arranging outfits in my mind to showcase each exceptional piece.) The presents touched my heart, noting how all the local Baylies had the same thought pattern in mind in their gift-giving. So sweet!
When I closed out the birthday evening, I embraced some much-needed relaxation and meditative time to give my thanks. I received cards, calls, emails, messages, and texts that warmed this girl’s heart from family, friends, and acquaintances worldwide. I realized that I am a work still in progress, but standing on the promises and prayers answered humbled and strengthened me. I am an essential thread in the tapestry of a grand human design – a powerful and profound thought and fact. My task is to make my existence solid and purposeful so that God is pleased with the creation from my point of view. I strive to accomplish this mission by intentionally pursuing methods and actions to grow and be a better person than yesterday. For those who do not understand my faith or why, even after I fail and fall short, I still seek a real relationship with The Creator; I can only point out the basic facts of my journey.
I do not appear to have endured the challenges that I manage daily. Internal and external difficulties constantly mandate checks and balances to stay on track. I trust that when I redirected my course, the reason reveals that my destiny demands a more extraordinary mindset and circumstance to fulfill its purpose. I stand proudly beside my husband, whose very presence in my life is a compelling testimony of God’s faithfulness. I build my company to be a firm foundation of love and growth to inspire those who lose focus to hope and grow their legacy. With all the uncertainty in the world, I have my family and friends encamped around me, although we lost a few who graduated to ancestor/guardian status. I am blessed to know those who have ended their journey and appreciate having those still here with me.
Year 43, Here, I come! I want to take a moment to say thank you, God and Goddess, for another year. Peace and blessing, I extend to all.
CLB’s purpose is to inspire legacy initiatives. The founder’s dream to encourage literacy and hope plays a key role in activating the business’ mission. Through fiction writing and thoughtful commentary, the owner draws hope and inspiration from pivotal experiences in her life. Marking her wedding anniversary not only aligns with the purpose of the business but shows the essence of what legacy initiatives mean.
Year 3: The Baylies head to Charlotte, North Carolina
We walked down memory lane with a stop along the way to revisit a grade school field trip venue. The Discovery Place Science met all our expectations and more. The museum curated a special exhibit for artificial intelligence and gave a wonderful introduction to the emerging field for children of all ages to grasp. The beautiful August Saturday allowed me to show off my new jean jacket and cute sandals.
Welcome to The Discovery Place Science!The world still fascinates me.
Carmen’s Saturday afternoon anniversary attire
We rounded out the afternoon by picking up some lunch at the quaint restaurant near our hotel. Even though they were short on staff, the Wild Wing Cafe had a delightful ambiance, stellar food, and great music. We returned to our hotel room to check in with our monthly Starfleet meeting virtually. Settling down for the evening, we watched the Hall of Fame ceremony inducting the 2020 enshrinees for professional football.
A selfie at the bar
The Wild Wing Café
Cheers!
Relaxing and surrounded by extraordinary excellence
The feature event of Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Charlotte thrilled us tremendously. The warehouse that hosted the event once manufactured model T-Fords cars and provided a real car for attendees to sit in and take pictures. We, of course, slid right into place a smiled! The experience was delightful. The combination of music and the art seamlessly projected on the walls, floors, and ceilings truly embraced the term immersion. Beautifully, well done!
Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit CharlotteThe hostess checked us in with souvenir bags and posters.Larger than life, indeed!Where are you bound?Something to brighten the day!So, What are you looking at?Vincent and Peter
