It Goes So Fast

Cleaning out the Craft Closet

2011-06-01T15:55:00.000-04:00

This is a duplicate post. . . the copy of this post can be found here.

I am doing a bit of a spring cleaning project. I am cleaning out my scrapbook closet. What I found once I dug into that closet was entirely surprising to me.

I knew I had a lot of stuff, but I really had no idea how much I had that was unopened and never been used. I used to spend an enormous amount of time on scrapbooking and card making. However, I don't do that anymore and it's time to let some of this stuff go.

I have created an extra page on this blog to list some of the items I have that I will be selling. This page will be updated as I have time and as I find more stuff. Everything that I will list on this page will be brand new/never been used items.

If you are into scrapbooking or know someone who is, please pass this information along. Right now there are 40 items listed. I am still going through items so there will be much more coming. Everything from brad, buttons, rub-ons, stickers, chipboard, and many other types of embellishments.

I also have partially used items that I may be listing at a LARGELY discounted garage sale kind of price. So keep coming back to see if there are new items listed. I really want to get this closet cleaned out and give someone else the opportunity to put these crafty items to good use!

If you are looking for something in particular or some specific theme, please email me at
amylscott at sbcglobal dot net and let me know. I will post those requested items before I post other new stuff.

SO, come visit me over HERE. . . where you'll find my new hobby as well as all my scrapbook items for sale under the tab at the top of the page entitled "Scrapbook Sale"

Wasted and Guilty

2011-05-16T12:15:00.000-04:00

My mind has been swarming lately. Swarming about ways to simplify. Simply what? Well, it seems that it started with just my schedule, slowing down a bit. Then it escalated to the pantry, the spare bedroom, the office and the garage, and eventually the house. Now it is my whole life.

Much of me doesn't even really fully understand this. It is kind of overwhelming and yet I can't get it out of my head. It has been there for some time, just sitting dormant in the corners waiting for someone to pay attention. Ya know, those thoughts you have that kinda make you feel a little uncomfortable? The ones you just push aside for the time, thinking they will eventually get bored without the attention and just vanish, into thin air, like there were never really there to begin with.

It began one day when I was in a self examination of life mood. Why did I get into that mood, I have no idea. I don't have time for self examination! If I really think about it, there is too much I want/need to change, yet no motivation, energy, mojo (whatever it is) to make that change happen. It's much easier to remain in the place I'm in, that I've always been in and just let life pass me by, contributing to it from time to time, but more or less, just being a passenger on this ride.

I look around our home, our lives and realize how blessed we are. We are blessed beyond measure. We have a nice home, we have two cars, we have two dogs, we have all the clothes we need and then some, we have food in our pantry and in our fridge. We have central air, and then heat in the winter. With just a turn of a knob we have all the water we could ever want. We have our jobs, which give us the money to continue to have all these things we need and want. So what's my problem?

I'm starting to feel like I don't want all of this! It's like I've been selfish about obtaining all these "things". I HAD to have this house! I HAD to prove that I/we could do it, you know purchase a house and make the payments and be all grown up and such. And then with the house it just becomes out of control. I HAD to have all the "things" that go in the house. And, it just starts a vicious cycle.

All of these things are so material, they don't last forever. There are only here for a moment really. And do I need them? Not really. Need by definition is: " A condition or situation in which something is required". So is anything I have necessarily required? So I began to break it down, and really there is not much that I have that is actually required.

All of this is making me feel very ungrateful and wasteful. We live in a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home. There is only two of us and two dogs. What in the world do we need all this space for? Yes, I know. . .we do entertain and have guests. This gives them a nice comfy place to land when visiting us. Is that required? Ummm. . . not really! So there is probably over 1000 sq.ft. of wasteedness (is that a word?) sitting right here around me full of furniture (not being used) and causing me to heat and cool all that space.

We go and buy groceries. Have any of you ever thought about how much food is wasted by a single family? OMG! We could probably feed a small country, ok. . . maybe not a small country, but certainly we have wasted more than enough to at least feed another family or two.

Then I have to look at the fact that because, several years ago, I felt that I HAD TO HAVE all of these things. I now HAVE to work to continue to pay for all of these things. Which leaves me having this feeling of being stuck! I don't do "stuck" well. It makes me restless, makes me somewhat irrational, makes me want to run and just keep running. . . kinda like Forrest.

So, on a daily basis, there is this small part of my brain that takes over. It's sitting there I can see the little brain people setting up office in my head. Computer out, 10 key calculator on the desk, multiple spreadsheets. . . plotting away. Plotting how my life can be different. How I can sell this house, get out of that stinking mortgage, sell all of the contents in my home, and hit the road. Yep that's what I want to do. Is it rational? Probably not.

I want to be simple. Give me a camper, ~~a large one mind you cause I need my space~~, or an RV (WOW, not with these gas prices!). Or just my car, or one a little more reliable, I'm not really attached. Give me the clothes I NEED. Enough to get me through, a few pairs of shoes and enough money (hopefully what I'd make from selling all my earthly possession) to hit the road. Yep, travel. No plan really just get packed up, hit the road and decide where I'm going once I get there.

There is really no rational way of thinking this through. None of it makes sense. I have to work! I NEED to work. Ah, but yes, I'm a nurse. I can get one of those travel nursing jobs. Me and PS can just pack it up and go! Still. . . is this rational? Am I running from something or running to something?

I don't know the answer to that. All I know is that I have these overwhelming feelings of guilt. Guilt for all that I have that I have believed I NEEDED while there are so many who don't even have food enough for one meal today. Who have open wounds on their feet because they have no shoes, while I have 15 pairs of shoes, mostly that I don't wear sitting in my closet right now. And I have a refrigerator that needs cleaning out because there is old food that has gone bad. Why because we have chosen to eat out or do something different instead of fixing what was fresh in the fridge while it was still good.

I guess I'm airing some dirty laundry here, but I have to let this out somewhere. I know many people will have no clue where I'm coming from. And think I'm totally crazy. And that's ok. And I also know that I have no attachment (other than my son) to where I am now. This state that I live in, this city I've lived in my whole life, this house that we built for our family, my job. . . . all of it can be taken away from me in the blink of an eye. And all of that is material. I want something deeper. I want to be able to know in my heart that I don't NEED these things.

I need air, I need water, I need food (though, some might disagree), I need shelter, I need sunshine, I need love, I need affection, I need companionship, I need my family. Beyond that. . . I'm not sure that I honestly NEED all those other things.

So. . . what am I gonna do about all of this? I HAVE NO FREAKIN' CLUE!! Why do you think I'm blogging about it?
Give me your thoughts, leave a comment, shoot me an email. Tell me I'm crazy. . . I don't care. Just tell me something that will make sense!

Lost the Spark?

2011-05-01T11:26:00.000-04:00

*It's kinda long, but hang with me on this one. . . .

It has been raining here for what seems like weeks! We have not been given much of a break with this rainy weather. I'm not really complaining mind you, cause I absolutely know it could be worse. How in the world could I be whining about a little (ok. . . A LOT!) of rain? Especially with all those people who lost their lives in these terrible tornadoes in the South. Then there is still that tsunami and earthquake in Japan that still have people homeless and searching. I'm thankful for the rain, that means no wild fires, right?

So, back to the point. . . .
The grass in our yard was way out of control, as was the grass in almost all the yards in our neighborhood. Earlier this week we had a very short window, when we were actually home, of no rain. My best girl goes out to conquer the jungle that has become our yard, but to her surprise the mower will not start. She works with it for a little bit as she watches the storm clouds coming our way. So, being that our front yard is fairly small, and someone planted a WHOLE SLEW of little yellow flowers, that turn into tall white puffs, in our yard and didn't tell us, she proceeded to race the weather for time. She took the weed eater out and ~~told that yard who was boss~~, did her best to at least trim the weeds down a little. That was only the short term fix.
Yesterday she decided to give lawnmower a little tune up. My girl, she sure is one handy person to have around! As I am sitting in the office editing pictures for this, I hear can hear that old familiar sound. Pulling the cord to start the mower, a slight rumble. . . . then nothing! It's quiet for a few moments then I hear it again, and again, and again. After about 40 minutes of listening and praying, I went to check on her. I offered to give her shoulder a break. I began pulling, and pulling, and pulling. . . NOTHING! We brainstormed, she had cleaned the oil filter (I think that's what it was), put new gas in it and did a few other things that I don't know about. Then I asked her if she had checked the spark plug. She pulled the little cable off and said, "Yep, it looks good!" I then said, "Oh no honey, the other side of the spark plug, pull that thing out. If it is all dirty it won't work."
SIDE NOTE: I have not idea how I knew this. I must have watched my dad do this when I was a kid cause really. . . . I barely know how to check my own oil in my car. I'm sure I was NOT meant to be a mechanic!!!

Sure enough when she took it out it pretty much looked like this, covered in oil, grease, dirt, JUNK and GUNK!:

She got that puppy cleaned off and the lawnmower started right up, first pull.

That whole incident got to thinking. So often we hang onto all the JUNK and GUNK that life throws at us. Storing them away as to not be bothered with them right now. That "junk" or "gunk" can be any number of things and very different for each person. It's kinda like those old hurts you just can't let go of, that one someone you just can't forgive, that grudge you carry from 15 years ago, the anger from a relationship gone bad. . . . whatever it is, they just get stored somewhere. Somewhere, where you can go and get them off the shelve at any given time, to do with what you will. So often, we keep them stored up there, waiting for that "rainy day" when we might need to pull them off that shelf and use them. Sometimes that looks like just a reminder to yourself as to not get hurt again, or it may look very different. We may keep it stored up as a reminder that you hate someone, or that you can use it to control someone, to repay someone for hurting you. Sounds kinda harsh doesn't it? But you all know it is true. We are human, we hold on to things like that. I'm not saying it's a good practice, but it is what happens sometimes.

So, I got to thinking. If we store up all that old "junk" for so long in the shelves of our hearts then I bet we start to look and act like that dirty spark plug. We can't make life spark, so to speak. It contaminates our very being. Turns us hard, causing a shell or concrete wall in some cases to be built tall around us not allowing any life or energy in. Just like that dirty gunky lawnmower spark plug. . . the life is all gone out of.

The good news? Glad you asked! All we had to do with that nasty old spark plug was to clean it off. It was nothing really. . . very easy! All we have to do as humans is keep those shelves cleaned off. Don't hold on to things that corrupt, hurt, shame, blame, etc. You know those things. . . What is the good in it? The more "gunk" you allow to be stored the longer and harder it will be get it cleaned out. And the more you hold on to the more spark you will lose. You've all seen those people who have lost the light in their eyes, they wear an almost natural frown, their sky is always falling. How much fun is that?
Think of how amazing life can be if we just quit storing all that bad "junk", and just let go. Keep that light in your eyes, that smile on your face, and that spark in your heart. It will be that, that sustains you when life throws you more "junk". It will be that, that keeps you in check to say, "Nope! I'm not storing this one!" And as easy as that. . . . it is gone!

Have a great Sunday, my friends! I think I'm gonna reflect a little and make sure my shelves are cleaned off, and my files have been purged! Need to make sure there is room to allow all that is good and loving in!

The Real Deal. . .

2011-04-20T11:42:00.000-04:00

Today begins life back to normal for us here in this household. Back to work for me after a month of being off dealing with a kidney stone that resulted in not one but TWO surgeries. Back to the busy work week for Sharon after working and being a great nurse in the hours after work as I was dealing with this kidney stone. Now that is all behind us. . .

It has been a wonderful four days spent with blogging friends Vodkamom and Braja. Who knew that we would have as much fun as we did. Who knew that we would connect on such a level that it feels like we have known each other for a lifetime already. Who knew that these two people would come into our home and then sneak their way into our hearts the way they did. It was even almost more incredible that Jody (our son) also fell in love with these ladies. He actually ended up spending the whole weekend hanging out with us. And bless their hearts, these two ladies endured the fur-babies (Wendy & Daisy) like champs! We even ended up with an extra little fur-baby for part of the weekend, as we kept Sharon's brother's dog (Peanut) while he was on a weekend trip. Peanut definitely found a couple of new friends this weekend also.

Deep in conversation, take out dinner, wine, books. . . and Peanut.
Almost ready to pull out the scuba gear!

Ya know, you just never know when you meet people online. I mean really? We could have been inviting anyone into our home and yet we found they were just who they said they were. Two wonderful women!


Does this not just look like a scene from Sex And The City. Filmed in Indianapolis of course!

We laughed, we cried, we sang, we talked, we ate, we cooked, we took pictures, we talked, we walked (for miles I think), we explored our big city, we talked, we stayed up til the wee hours of the morning, we sipped wine, we talked, we did yoga, we connected. . . . and did I say we talked?

Vokdamom, looking like a tourist in our big city!

Braja, also loved taking photos! I was thankful to have someone else around
who loved taking photos as I do!

Sharon, Braja, and Rachel (Sharon's sister) entertaining us all. Playing the piano and treating us to a song or two!
Who knew there was so much talent in one room?

Did I also mention we walked and talked? I believe we all needed and got a much deserved nap after this long walk around the canal in downtown Indianapolis.

Oh yes, and we talked (did I say that already?). . . we got to know each other on a deeper level. At moments I thought I was going to have to pull out the scuba gear, the depth of the conversations was amazing. We learned so much, so much that I will not soon forget how much I have truly fallen in love with these two ladies. My only regret is that we did not meet in person sooner.

So, if you have not had the opportunity to be introduced to Vodkamom and Braja, please take a minute and give them a visit. You will not be sorry! They are the real deal!

Sharon and I are feeling so blessed by the weekend respite we were given by having these two ladies as guests in our home! Our lives are forever changed!

Oh and how can I forget. . . we took lots and lots of pictures. Mostly of the city and the trees with the white blossoms. These were Braja's most favorite! And the adventure of photographing these trees was just simply fun!

More photos like these can be found over at my other blog.
Photos from this past weekend will be posted in the coming days. So come over and give me a visit!

Stoned

2011-04-01T09:55:00.001-04:00

I guess it is time I do a quick update. Quick because I have not really felt like sitting in front of my computer for over a week now. I know many of you have kept up with me through THIS blog and I thank you for the thoughts and prayers you have sent my way.

A week ago yesterday was my first trip to the emergency room. I have to say that being a nurse, it takes a lot to get me to the ER. I know how those places work and know how busy they can be. However, by the time Sharon got home to me,(after I FINALLY called her and told her I was in pain), she found me curled up in a ball in the bedroom floor crying like a two a year old. Normally, I would not reveal that I was such a "pansy" about pain, however, this is pain like none other I have ever felt. The doctor gave me the mother load of medication and 7 hours later sent me home to privately birth the stone that was ever so slowly making it ways from my kidney to the outside world. I did what they said, I drank lots of water, laid around on the couch and took the pain meds they gave me for home. But this baby didn't want to be birthed! I ended up back in the ER on Saturday afternoon when I couldn't stand it any longer.
I was admitted, and the urologist went in with a scope to attempt to remove the stone. The only problem was he couldn't reach it. He ended up putting in a stent to stretch things and help the stone to pass, however he didn't really think it would pass on its own.
I have been home and on the couch with pain meds every 4-6 hours since Monday morning. The stent is painful and the stone is painful. I am scheduled for yet another outpatient surgery on April 7th. This surgery is going to be the same as the last. With the stent in there for almost 2 weeks, he is thinking he will be able to reach that stone and get it out of there. He will then remove the stent and place another one that will stay in for 5 days. They informed me that this stent will have a string attached to it, that I will have to remove myself. ARE THEY CRAZY??? I have already let them know that I am not sure I am capable of inflicting that much pain on myself!
I am off work on FMLA until at least April 14th, as of right now. Unfortunately, starting Monday it will be all without pay. And, I know there is no way I could work a 12 hour shift on my feet with this creature creating this much pain!
I am looking forward to next Thursday. The day I will hopefully be done and have this "baby" birthed! For now, I am laying low, taking my medicine like a good patient and just hanging out on the couch. I haven't even felt like logging into my computer until today and am thinking this will be a short visit to blogland, as I am just about ready for more pain meds.
I have to say, that I have the best nurse ever taking care of me here at home. She is making sure to check on me throughout the day, keeping my water glass refilled, sitting with me in the evenings and just loving on me a lot.

I thank you all for the thoughts and prayers! I will be back to blogging as I can!

"HELP ME, JOHN!"

2011-03-16T15:51:00.000-04:00

You know it's going to be a long night at work, when you are a nurse and the nurse you are relieving starts her report with "Thank God you are finally here!" That lets me know right away that her day has not been good and she is ready to run as far away, as fast as she possibly can.

Well my report started that way last night. The nurse I was getting report from started her report that way then continued to tell me how her patience was runny thin. She had been caring for an elderly woman (whom I would now be caring for, for the next 12 hours), who continued to yell out all day long. Mostly she just yelled the word "HELP!", occasionally changing it up a bit to, "HELP ME!". Every so often she would even add a name to this, "HELP ME, JOHN!" Interesting thing is, no one, not even her family knew who John was. We couldn't get John if we wanted to. Her husband and children all said they didn't know anyone named John. Hmmm. . . .

This poor lady, I thought, at the beginning of report. She's just confused, someone just needs to spend a little time with her. See, the lady pretty much just knew her name (and John's of course). She had no idea who most of her family was, no idea she was in the hospital, just knew her name and that of John. The problem was that, she would yell, I would go, and she would continue to yell. I would ask her what she needed and she couldn't tell me. I gave her pain medicine (just in case), I helped her reposition in bed to be more comfortable, I offered her a drink, I offered her food. I turned on the TV to play quiet music so she wouldn't feel so alone. I even sang to her! (POOR THING!)

About 8 hours into my shift my patient care tech and I were taking turns responding to her yells. We were both starting to feel the same way the previous nurse had felt. There was nothing we could do to make her stop yelling. Nothing we could do to console her. It leaves a nurse feeling pretty helpless and I'm sure the patient was feeling a little that way too.

Then something happened. . . . . .about 4am she became so aggravated because no one was coming to her room quiet quick enough after she yelled "HELP ME!" As I was walking down the hallway toward her room I no longer heard her yelling those words. I had to stop for a minute and giggle, because instead what I heard coming from her room was, "H-E-L-P M-E!" She had given up on yelling and began spelling it. When I walked into her room, she looked at me with a surprised look on her face and said very matter of factually, "I CAN spell!" She had the biggest smile on her face, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud a little.

I did my routine, drink, reposition, talk, sing, tuck her back in, hold her hand, and to my surprise after she remembered she could spell she slept for the rest of my shift! The whole THREE hours that I had left.

We still don't know who John is, but we do know this sweet lady can spell!

How I do love dementia patients!

Blessings

2011-03-14T21:36:00.000-04:00

I heard this song a few weeks ago and it is one that has become my heart song lately. After all that this world seems to be going through lately, there are so many people asking why. I seem to hear it on a daily basis, not just about Japan or other natural disasters, but about everyday life.
*Why Japan
*Why cancer
*Why my child
*Why my marriage
*Why my health
*Why ME?
*Why. . .

I'm not saying God "causes" all of these things to happen. Please know that I don't believe that nor am I trying to make this a post that would bring forth all the "God made it happen" opinions.

However, when I heard the chorus of this song, it made me re-think all the disappointments, hurts, trials, times in my life I just couldn't grasp the "why me" part. What is true is that I DID make it through to the other side. I have not failed to overcome the disappointments, trials, hurts, pain, loss that I have been faced with so far in my life. There were times I felt alone like no one understood what I was going through.

I listened to this song and it all made sense to me. (Not that it didn't before, but it was articulated so well in this song). All the sleepless nights I have spent worrying, crying over different moments in my life, I can now look back on them and see how I have grown. I can now see that I was not alone at all. That He was right there all the time. And I am a much better person for all those times.

"What if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise"

I know for me. . . I'm so thick headed and stubborn, sometimes I just have to be hit with a 2x4 to even grasp the lesson in life that I am meant to be learning at this time. Sometimes I have to go through things so that I can come out on the other side a better person.

Thank you God, even for the trials, even for the disappointments. What I know, is that the recent world events have certainly brought me to my knees in a spirit of prayer that I haven't been in for a while. Thank you God for creating in me a person who knows where my strength comes from!

Where's the photos?

2011-03-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

I have made a few blog changes. It has been happening over the last month or so, but slowly I am making the transition. We all know, it is no secret I'm not the best, most consistent blogger. There is a nice balance one must maintain in life to be able to blog daily or even weekly and obviously I have been out of balance a bit. It is so much easier for me to just pop up a picture and be on my way. However, I do still need a place to write at those infrequent times that I just might need an outlet.

So if it is pictures you are looking for, head on over to my photo blog, where I seem to be only slightly better at keeping myself in balance. Keep in mind this is the blog that is ever evolving. I still need to do some tweaking to the way it looks and what's going on over there, but I really wanted a place for just my photos. So now they are very happy to have their own home. Visit me over there every now and then. I certainly trying to learn a few things about photography and constantly reading and looking at other photography blogs so you never know, you may visit me one day and see something that just makes ~~your chin drop~~ you smile.

You might even see a a photo like this one, that you know has a story to tell. . . . but I promise I won't tell the story there. However, I'd love to hear YOUR stories about this photo! That place is just for photos!

A lovely giveaway!

2011-03-10T12:48:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post about a lovely giveaway for a wonderful cause. Head on over to From Louisiana to China. Karen is giving THIS away. . .

I just happen to know Karen in real life, not just in blogland. She is an amazing woman with an amazing family. If you visit her blog you will see that she is in the process of adopting another (yes, she has done this before) sweet little boy from China.

Max is currently in China awaiting the arrival of his forever family.

He couldn't have been given a better family. I know that God choose Karen and her family especially for Max. And I know they are all just over-the-top excited to bring him home.

So, do not delay! Head on over to Karen's blog and learn how you can be in the running for this lovely giveaway!

Once you get there, leave her a comment. She is not a new blogger by any means, however with her children and family as her first priority, she doesn't post on a daily or sometimes even weekly basis, like most of you do. Maybe having more followers and comments and people encouraging her, she will see that blogland is a fabulous place to be.

This is just her first giveaway, so make sure you check back with her, to see what's she giving away next!

There Is This Boy

2011-03-08T17:02:00.000-05:00

There is this boy. . . .

He stole my heart the moment I saw him. His eye light up a whole room. His smile can melt the heart of even the hardest person. His love is like something I've never seen before. And when he flirts. . . .he can work a whole room!

Today my heart was heavy. Heavy with anticipation, heavy with worry, heavy with love for this sweet angel boy. I don't see him near enough because we live three hours apart from each other. However when we do see each other it is a sweet moment of hugs, laughing and play. He has a huge heart, and doesn't shy away from showing his love for people. He is amazing to watch in church. He loves to "preach" from the back of the church. He raises his hands in worship and plays his tambourine with all that he has in him.
I have talked about Elijah on this blog before.
Today he had heart surgery. Today the surgeons opened up his little chest and and spent hours repairing and trying to heal the heart he was born with. I think of how amazing it is to be able to truly touch the heart of someone, even as little as Elijah, who has touched the hearts of so many. I wonder if those surgeons realize how special that heart is and how many people have been affected by the heart they actually had their hands on today.
Today the surgery was successful. At least that is the word I received through an email from his grandmother. He is currently in ICU, still intubated, and as of right now it was a success.

Thank you God, for allowing this sweet boy another day. Thank you for blessing me with the opportunity be one of the many who have been touched by this amazing heart. Thank you for success!

My heart was heavy, my sleep was light today as I reflected back. Many years ago to the day another 4 yr old had heart surgery. The sweetest 4 yr old baby girl I had ever met. She too, stole my heart at first site. She was born with downs syndrome and as many down syndrome babies, had a small hole in her heart. Katie wasn't able to speak verbally, however her eyes and smile and heart spoke so much more than her voice ever could. Katie and I would sit for hours singing and playing little finger games. When she would hug you her whole body would wrap around and she would dig her little face into your neck and it became a full body hug. She didn't know anything but love, just like Elijah. She didn't know how to not love. I was always so fascinated by this. How amazing would it be to live in a world where people didn't know how NOT to love.
I was at work the day Katie had her "simple" procedure to close up the whole that was in her heart. I remember seeing her after work that day. She was a sleepy and sick little girl, laying in a huge hospital bed with those strawberry blonde locks ties up in a nice little bow, with her pink PJ's on. I also remember the day I got the call that Katie was not going to recover. The day they had to take her off breathing machines. The day the heart that only knew love was going to meet the one who made her perfect. I remember the last day I saw sweet Katie. The day my life changed forever. I wish I had a picture of this precious baby girl. The only one I have in my mind, my heart. The wobbly walk, the crooked smile, the pale blue eyes, fair skin and strawberry hair. The little chubby hands that would carefully hold a sippy cup to her mouth, or pick up a cheerio one piece at a time.

I think of Katie often but not near as much as I have in the last 24 hours. The similarities between Katie and Elijah have had my head and heart spinning. I wasn't able to be at the hospital for Elijah's surgery. I wasn't able to see him before they took him back in the OR. I have been there for other surgeries. This was a very weird, helpless feeling. I didn't hear that funny laugh after they give him the medicine that makes him silly so he won't cry when the nurses take him from him mommy. But that doesn't mean my heart wasn't there every minute today. It doesn't mean I wasn't praying for that sweet baby. It doesn't mean that I wasn't afraid I would be getting the same call I got all those years ago when I had to say good-bye to Katie. And it doesn't mean I didn't have faith that my God would take care of Elijah. That He had it all under control.

Thank you God, for another day! Thank you God for Elijah! Thank you God, for the preciousness of life!

Time and other random stuff

2011-03-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

Like sands through the hour glass. . . .it slips away faster than I can catch it.

We have been back from our week long conference in Texas for almost 2 weeks now and I still can't seem to catch my breath. The weekend we were gone our son moved out into his first new apartment. It wasn't a surprise, we knew it was coming. He had no good reason to move out other than the need to jump out of this nest and test his wings. He has chosen well. He has an amazing apartment, a very sweet roommate, and he is just simply "inside happy". I am very proud of him. We went to see his apartment shortly after we got back home and learned that he really didn't move, he just relocated himself. The cabinets were empty, there was no furniture AT ALL. No food in the fridge. He was just loving living in a new place, even with nothing there.

So last weekend we spend the entire weekend, even late into the night on Friday and Saturday, moving his bedroom furniture and other items from our home to his home. Then shopping. . . .kitchen wares, bathroom stuff like towels and a shower curtain and extra TP. Groceries and such. His place now looks more like a home than a shell of an apartment. However these two mama's are exhausted.

There has definitely been some adjusting to do. There is no more nightly hugs, and "good-nights". There is now the learning of new boundaries. He is on his own, he is is own person. He doesn't really need us in the same capacity he has before. Do we call and check in or do we not call and check in? If we call are we smothering him or making him feel like we don't believe he will make the right choices or he's doing the right things? OR, if we call will he just know it's because we miss him and want to hear that sweet voice?

I've also been busy editing pictures from the conference and getting them up on facebook and the website for the churches. I took over 2000 pictures. It took me the entire two weeks to go through them all. I finally finished them last night. DONE! Now I have to edit all the audio recordings from all the services from that weekend. I don't think I'm gonna get through that near as fast as I did the pictures.

I miss my life. I miss my best girl! I need a day shift job! I'm not liking that we don't see each other every night. And she's not liking being home alone now in the evenings while I'm at work and our best boy is enjoying his new place. I miss my camera and taking pictures of things besides people and church. I haven't been able to keep up on my project 64 that I was loving so much. I guess I'm gonna have to play catch up again. I also was wanting to do a Project 365, but i think I only got about a weeks worth of pictures for that on a blog I was dedicating totally to photography. A blog that looks a little thrown together and needs a nice sweet face lift. A blog that I created then ran off and neglected just as I did this one.

One day. . . .I just want time to stand still for one day. Let me catch my breath and catch up with life and then one day I will discover how to slow the pace down.

And. . . .this weekend, I think I will make a date with my best girl and my camera.

My Valentine

2011-02-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

"Valentine"

if there were no words
no way to speak
i would still hear you
if there were no tears
no way to feel inside
i'd still feel for you

and even if the sun refused to shine
even if romance ran out of rhyme
you would still have my heart until the end of time
you're all i need, my love, my Valentine.

all of my life
i have been waiting for
all you give to me
you've opened my eyes
and shown me how to love unselfishly

i've dreamed of this a thousand times before
in my dreams i couldn't love you more
i will give you my heart
until the end of time
you're all i need, my love, my Valentine

and even if the sun refused to shine
even if romance ran out of rhyme
you would still have my heart until the end of time
'cause all i need is you, my Valentine
you're all i need, my love, my Valentine

(I don't know who wrote this song but it is sung by Jim Brickman & Martina McBride)

Oh, yes, there are many songs that I would like to sing ~~but I don't sing~~, for my Valentine on this magical day. There are many songs we have danced to over the past 19 years. Many songs that have made us all googly eyed at each other, many songs that have brought tears and plumped up our hearts. Yet every time I hear this song, I still hear your beautiful voice singing it straight from your heart to mine.
And on this Valentine's day I think this song says it best.

I have dreamed of this a thousand time before and I still wake up every morning thinking I should just pinch myself to see if this is for real or am I still dreaming. And even if the sun refused to shine, and the world decided to go all crazy and fall apart around us (I think that has happened a time or two), I would be right there holding your heart ever so gently. Even when there are no words, I can still hear the words you speak in your heart. I so love that about us, that we just have that "knowing" about each other.
So my dearest. . . until the end of time, you'll always be my love, my Valentine!

I Do Love You. . . . MOST!

True Love, Valentine

2011-02-12T22:33:00.001-05:00

I have requested Pastor Sharon from Dances with God do the honor of posting Sunday's blog post.

If you haven't been to her blog, take a peak.

Greetings to all of you on this Valentine's eve. I am so happy to post for my favorite person in the whole world. I have kept up with Amy's blog and noticed her sharing poetry, tips and great ideas for spicing up your relationships. Of course, I have looked for clues that maybe I have overlooked in our relationship as well.

She has opened with a verse each day, and I will follow suite.

A loving relationship is one in which

the loved one is free to be himself-to laugh

with me, but never at me: to cry with me, but

never because of me; to love life, to love himself,

to loved being loved. Such a relationship

is based upon freedom and can never grow

in a jealous heart.

-Leo Buscaglia, writer and speaker

#571 Once a week: Bring home Chinese take-out, or have a pizza delivered. Streamline your dinner hour-then use the time you saved romantically.

#570 Don't go grocery shopping on Friday night! Don't do laundry on Saturday morning! Those are valuable times-times you could be spending together.

Practice "chore-shifting"

* Find ways to shift chores to more efficient times.

* Do two chores at the same time.

* Do chores together: Doubling the person-power more than double the efficiency!

* Something we do: Because of our schedules, I work a daily 9-5 job while Amy works 3 twelve hour shifts per week. It is easier for her to prepare meals on her days off or go to dinner for two. However, there are evenings when it is nice to order carry out and bring it home. Most of the time, it will be Mexican food from our favorite restaurant. When there is nothing to prepare and no dishes to wash, it gives us time to spend together that we normally wouldn't have in the evenings.

Everyday I spend with you, is a gift not purchased in a store.

Every moment we have together, I only wish for more.

What would life be like, with out you in it?

I only wish for one more minute.

Let's walk through life holding hands.

At the end of time, we'll sit on the edge of the world,

at 100 years old, wishing there was just a little more time to get to know each other.
~Sharon Hollis

Month of Love Day 11

2011-02-11T09:44:00.000-05:00

"Love me without fear
Trust me without questioning
Need me without demanding
Want me without restrictions
Accept me without change
Desire me without inhibitions
For a love so free. . .
Will never fly away.
~ Dick Sutphen, writer

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#710 - You can get your Valentine card postmarked from one of these romantic cities or towns:
Valentine, Texas 79854
Valentine, Nebraska 69201
Loveland, Colorado 80537
loving, New Mexico 88256
Bridal Veil, Oregon 97010
Loveland, Ohio 45140

Just put your card, addressed and stamped inside another envelope addressed to the postmaster of the town of your choice. Attach a note requesting that your Valentine be hand-stamped and mailed.

#718 - Romantics "work at it." Yes, relationships require work. But it's not "work" like nine-to-five work. It's more like an artist working on a painting. Painting requires skill, time, effort, planning frustration and sweat sometimes - but the work is so rewarding that the artist doesn't view it as "work". Working on a loving relationship is like that.

*Other suggestions. . .
I remember once when we really didn't have much money. I burned a CD of some of the most romantic love songs I could fine. Many of were some of our favorites, others were brand new songs I had never heard of. I made a label for it, gave it to her with a card. Then plan a nice candle lit dinner or "carpet picnic" and dance in the living room (kitchen in our case) to you new CD.

(OK, so I think this gets me caught back up. )

Month of Love Day 10 (a day late)

2011-02-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

(Sorry day 10 is really being posted on day 11. Life got in the way again. . . )

"Being deeply loved by someone
gives you strength, while loving someone
deeply gives you courage."

~ Lao Tzu, philosopher

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#671 - Romantics do not put their partners first by ignoring their own needs and wants. Rather, they put their relationship first, and they do things that enhance the couple as a whole. You see, self- sacrifice always backfires because it builds resentment in the giver and creates guilt in the receiver. Romantic gestures performed out of love provide benefits to both the giver and receiver.

#698 - Do something totally out of character.
Always late? - Be on time.
Not creative? - Think up something original and unexpected!
Forgetful? - Remember her birthday every day for a month!
Watch TV every night? - Go out to dinner instead.
Two left feet? - Take dance lessons together!

*Other suggestions. . .
Many times when we plan a date night we are planning what we ourselves would like to do. Some of my most special dates have been when I have been surprised by something she knows I like to do. We don't always enjoy the same things. It doesn't mean she is miserable on the date, it just means that she was doing something a little out of character.

Month of Love Day 9

2011-02-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

"Love that is true never grows old." ~ Elben Bano

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

# 749 - "Go for a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city - or the country."
      (this is something we have done several times, and it really is nice and it cost us
       about $35 for the hour)

#765 - "You do, of course, carry a photo of her in your wallet, don't you?
             And you and av eight-by-ten of her on your desk at work, right?"

**Other suggestions. . .
I will never forget the day (many many years ago), we jumped in the car early one weekend morning. There really wasn't a plan, just to drive. It wasn't premeditated, however once in the car we thought about driving to a local "Amish country" that is really about 2-3 hours away. We drove, laughed, sang to the radio, talked and had a great time. Once we arrived in this little quiet town, there were no shops open, no restaurants open, not even the gas station was open. We realized it was Sunday! I guess the whole town shuts down on Sunday. Who knew? It is one of the best memories we have together from our "early years". We still drove around the country looking at all the houses, farms and such, headed back the 2-3 hours toward our home town, ate dinner and made many memories that day. It was spontaneous, it was fun, and there was some romance there as well.

Month of Love Day 8

2011-02-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

"True love is eternal, infinite,
and always like itself. It is
equal and pure, without
violent demonstration: it is
seen with white hairs and
is always young in the heart."
~ Honore de Balzac

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#23 - "When she's traveling alone, arrange with the airline attendant to have a gift
or flower delivered to her after the flight is airborne."

#26 - "Write a love letter and mail it. Cost $.44"

**Other Suggestions....
There was a time when PS and I were going through some very difficult moments. During this time, there was even the question of whether it was really worth it all to stick it out. We were not communicating very well, we were both angry about different things, not necessarily at each other, but at circumstances. However, in not communicating the anger began to be misdirected toward each other. Then suddenly one night when neither of us were feeling very well at all, I get a phone call at work. Probably not the best place/time to work out a lot of "junk", but it is what it is. We were both crying. Thankfully there was enough staff that I was not really needed, so I was able to leave work (not something I make habit). I called her tell her I was leaving work and coming home to work this out, I just had to finish up some loose ends. To my surprise, she was waiting for me in the parking lot with flowers (a piece offering of sorts). We sat in her car for quiet a while and worked things out. It was incredible! This is not the first time she (and hopefully) not the last that she has surprised me at work with either flowers or coming to have lunch. For me that is a big deal, since I work the night shift. I know it is a huge sacrifice on her part to be up in the middle of her night just to have a moment with me.

Month of Love Day 7

2011-02-07T11:00:00.005-05:00

"Love is an irresistible desire
to be irresistibly desired."

~ Robert Frost, poet

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#135 - The bedroom is your private, romantic hideaway. Don't turn it into an
all-purpose room.
Get rid of that TV!
No bright lights.
No exercise equipment.
Keep flowers on the nightstand.
Always have candles handy.
Massage oil is a must.
#121 - Send an old-fashioned telegram. Call Western Union at 1-800-325-6000
or visit www.westernunion.com.

**Other suggestions. . .
Once I came home for a really not-so-good day at work. I was exhausted and just wanted to do nothing. My whole body ached from the day I had, spending all day on my feet and meeting everyone's needs except my own. I was absolutely bone tired! I made it in the house, upstairs to change into some comfy clothes and found the bathroom smelling so sweetly, dimly lit with only candles lining the garden tub. There waiting for me was a nice warm bubble bath complete with floating daisies. Daisies are my favorite flower and it was a nice added touch to see just the tops of the daisies floating in my bath water. It was also a very sweet feeling to be loved and pampered after the day I had.

Month of Love Day 6

2011-02-06T18:42:00.000-05:00

"Generally, by the time you are Real,
most of your hair has been loved off, and
your eyes drop out and you get loose
in the joints and very shabby. But these
things don't matter at all, because once you
are Real you can't be ugly, except to
people who don't understand."

~ Margery Williams, writer,
The Velveteen Rabbit

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#224 - Treat her as your best friend - You'll build intimacy.
Treat her as a stranger - it will add spice to your life!

#223 - A Monthly Romantic Checklist

Plan one romantic surprise for this month.
Re-stock your stash of greeting cards.
Go out to dinner once or twice.
Rent at least two romantic movies
Make love several times!
Make plans for a three-day romantic weekend sometime in the next three months.
Plan one romantic event with a seasonal theme.

"While falling in love does "just happen",
staying in love never happens by itself." ~ Gregory J.P. Godek

**Other suggestions. . .
Continue to "date" each other even after you are married. We make it a point to go on a real date every two weeks. For us this would fall on pay day (it works better with a tight budget). We take turns planning what we will do. One week I will plan the whole date. It is usually kept a secret. I will let her know what time she needs to be ready to leave the house, what kind of clothes she needs to wear (just in case she needs to dress up a little bit), and then we are off. We did talk it over in the beginning and decided if this date is to include dinner, then we both wanted it to be some place we had never been to before (at least not together). This helps keep it new. We have a tendency to go to the same restaurant (our "watering hole") every time we go out. So this helped us step out of the box a little, out of what is comfortable. PS will usually plan a nice dinner followed by a walk or just time together. I usually plan something around theater, Broadway Across America (when $ allows), a little home grown small town theater (a much less expensive ticket), the symphony and then dinner. Either way, we get time together. Our calendars are marked and we know that is date night. The night for just us, and it works!

Project 64 - Gray

2011-02-06T14:54:00.002-05:00

So I am a little late starting this photography project but I just found it this week. I am in the process of working through Weeks 1-4 on this Project 64: Out of the Box, photography challenge.

I have to say this challenge was just that, a true challenge. The whole concept of Project 64 is to work your way through a 64 box of crayons. Each week the founders of Project 64 reveal the new color for that week. Those who participate are to find items to photograph that reflect that color, not necessarily going into your photo archives, but creating something new and different and interesting.

My problem this week. . .Gray! My whole world seems to be gray right now. I've said it before this week, I feel like I'm living in shades of gray, a black and white film. The sky is gray, the snow is white, then turns gray as it gets dirty, the trees are gray. And at the same time I didn't find any of it really photo worthy. Maybe it's because I'm just so crazy tired of of pictures of ice and snow.

So. . . here is my Project 64: Out of the Box - Gray Photo for this week.

Now, off to get the other 4 weeks done and caught up.

Happy Sunday to you all!!!

UPDATE. . . . I have posted all of my Project 64 photos here. I am now caught up and will be posting each week in a blog post and then archiving them in the link above.

Month of Love Day 5

2011-02-05T11:00:00.001-05:00

"A happy marriage has in it all the
pleasures of friendships, all the enjoyment
of sense and reason - and indeed
all the sweets of life."
~ Joseph Addison

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#527 - "Occasional romance is "nice," but it's limited. Romance-over-time is what it's really all about. Why? Because consistency of romantic effort reflects your commitment to your partner. Because it shows that he or she is a top priority in your life."

#237 "Send him a perfumed love letter."

**Other suggestions. . . .
We made a conscious decision early on to learn something new about each other every 10 years. Something we really didn't know. What is interesting is that it happens more often than every 10 years. It is happening by accident every couple of years. I think it is about paying attention to what the other person is saying and doing. If you pay close enough attention, you will see that you are constantly learning new things about each other. There will then be those "Ah Ha" moments when you realize that you never knew that his favorite toy growing up was his Tonka Truck, or that she never learned how to roller skate. Hmmm, not only did you just learn something about each other that you didn't know, even though these things don't seem very significant or important, it is what you can do with this information now that will make all the difference. For his birthday, go find that Tonka Truck and wrap it up in some kid themed wrapping paper. Make sure it is the "real deal" Tonka Trunk. He will probably be really disappointed if he played with the all metal yellow truck and you give him the all plastic (ever so safe) model they now have in stores. Take her on a surprise date, to the local roller rink. DO NOT take her on a Friday or Saturday night! Check with the roller rink to see if there are days or evenings when the rink is not packed with people. Once you are there, your job is to help her with her skates, hold her hand or her waist and escort her onto the rink. Teach her how to skate. You both might find that you have a new option for date night now! Whatever you do. . . . make sure you are having fun!!!
Each of you will now know the other one is truly paying attention when you talk. Sometimes you just have to listen for those little clues.

Month of Love Day 4

2011-02-05T00:17:00.000-05:00

"True love is night jasmine, a diamond
in darkness, the heartbeat no cardiologist
has ever heard. It is the most common
of miracles, fashioned of fleecy clouds -
a handful of stars tossed into the night sky."

~ Jim Bishop, columnist and historian

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

# 286 - Ways to Really be a couple in public
                        Compliment her in front of her friends
                        Hold hands
                        Give him a seductive smile
                        Blow her a kiss
                        Wink at him from across the room

"Anyone can be passionate,
but it takes real lovers to be silly.
~ Rose Franken, writer

#659 - Buy some crayons. If you're right-handed take a crayon in your
            left hand.   Write a short note to him as if you were in first grade

#662 - Visit a playground, swing together, play on the teeter-totter.
            Visit a playground at midnight, under a full moon, with a bottle
             of champagne.

Being able to be silly together is so liberating! Think of how much fun it was to be silly when you were dating. After being together for many years a lot of people lose that silliness. Bring back the laughter, bring back the playfulness. You just might be surprised at what happens!

**Other suggestions. . . .
Whenever one of us has to travel without the other one, it is not uncommon to arrive at the destination, open our suite case and find several cards. Usually one for each day that we are apart from each other. Sure we talk on the phone every day that we are apart, but there is just something sweet about finding a card here and there in your luggage that makes the heart smile and lets you know you are loved and missed.

by the way. . . sorry this one is a tad bit late! A lot of distractions today!

Something Red. . .

2011-02-03T15:27:00.000-05:00

The topic for the You Capture this week was red. That shouldn't be hard as one of my favorite colors is red. However, I was quiet busy this week. . . . .

I have several walls in my house that are red. OK, so not truly red more of a cranberry red. But I love them!

I was able to find some time yesterday, and finally got slightly inspired on this "Red" post.

Hanging on my kitchen window, right above my kitchen sink. However this week we have not seen much out of this window as it has been cover completely in ice.

I'm more of a white wine lover, but I thought it would make a kinda cool composition.

Did'ja know these are fat free??? Mmmmm!!

Haven't played with this since I was in grade school sitting at my grandmother's kitchen table.
Those were the days!!!

My favorite RED sweater!

Not my favotire picture, but it is a pretty necklace, oh and it's RED.

The view from above my sliding glass door in my kitchen.

I love it best in the spring when the morning sun shines a prism of color on my kitchen floor!

Go over to I Should Be Folding Laundry and check out the other entries in the You Capture "Red" this week.

And now off to start on next weeks You Capture . . . . COLD. Wow, with all the ice we have been having that should be easy!

Month of Love Day 3

2011-02-03T07:30:00.001-05:00

"We've got this gift of love,
but love is like a precious plant.
You can't just accept it and leave
it in the cupboard or just think it's
going to get on by itself. You've got
to keep watering it. You've got
to really look after it and
nurture it.
~John Lennon

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#584 - In the middle of a part or other social event, turn to her and whisper, "You're the best." While walking down the street together turn to her and whisper, "I'm glad I married you."

#537 - Send him/her a birthday card every day for a month preceding his/her birthday. (Don't just leave a card on the table, actually put a stamp on it and drop it at the post office. It is much more fun to get cards in the mail than bills, right?)

Other suggestions. . . .

*Did you know that fingernail polish will easily come off (with nail polish remover) the glass shower doors. I was taking a shower one morning, washing my hair and when I opened my eyes, there was a small single red heart. Instantly brought a smile to my face and reminded me that I was loved and thought of even when I didn't realize it. I think I left it up there for a whole month, just as a reminder.

Month of Love Day 2

2011-02-02T09:22:00.000-05:00

The most beautiful love story I have read just happens to be found in the Bible. Yep, that's right! Try reading the Song of Solomon. It's a lovely story and if you read it in the Message Bible it makes even more sense and is simply beautiful!

"Kiss me - full on the mouth! Yes! For your love is better than wine, headier than your aromatic oils. The syllables of your name murmur like a meadow brook. No wonder everyone loves to say your name!" ~ Song of Solomon 1:2-3

Out of the book "1001 Ways To Be Romantic" by Gregory J.P. Godek. . .

#373 - Surprise her by giving her a gift on your birthday.

#332 - It's winter, it's ten degrees below zero, and the wind chill factor makes it feel like forty below. At a time like this, love isn't about preparing a cup of tea - it's about going outside to warm up her car her for!

Thought I might add an idea that we have used in our relationship. After 19 years I don't think we have it totally figured out, however, we are both pretty good at coming up with ways to say "I love you" or "I appreciate you" or just letting the other person know how important they are to you and that they are being thought of.

Leave sticky notes in random places around the house where you know they will find them. Don't just say "I love you". Be creative. . . . use the note as an invitation for a date, or simply say "you are beautiful" or draw a heart with both of your initials inside it.

Dry erase markers work great on mirrors. With us working opposite shifts we often leave "love notes" on the bathroom mirror for one another. It always brings a smile to my sleepy face when I go into the bathroom to brush my teeth before heading to bed after my night shift and I see an "I love you!" when I look in the mirror!

Hope this is giving everyone the "love bug" for this great month of February! Now go out there and love on some folks!!!

Many of these ideas can be tweaked a little to work great for kids as well. We used to put notes in our son's lunch box. It might sound corny, but he liked them!

The Month of Love. . .

2011-02-01T14:00:00.001-05:00

So today is February first. This is the month all about love, all about Valentines Day. A great month to show that ONE that you love, how much you really do love and appreciate them. This is really something we should be doing every day, however many of us get caught up in the happenings of life and all to often don't take them time to let that ONE special person know how much they mean to us.

Now. . . I don't want to leave anyone our of this, so for all you single people, this is a great month to appreciate yourself. A great time to spend a moment reflecting on all that is good and wonderful about you. A time to really love yourself and really mean it. A time to look in the mirror and compliment yourself. Go out and buy that new dress, or those new shoes. Take yourself to a movie.

If you are a couple, take a moment and do something special for that special someone. . . . .

This month, at least for the next 14 days, I will be posting from the book, "1001 ways to be Romantic" - Gregory J.P. Godek

#68 - "Don't just walk into the house tonight the way you always do. Pause on the porch; ring the doorbell; and greet her with one red rose and a bottle of champagne/"

#869 - "Place a little love note or poem under the driver's side windshield wiper of his/her car" (if it's rainy, put it in a ziplock bag)

Hope you all have a wonderful "Love" month! Make is special, make it count!

Did someone say ICE???

2011-02-01T11:52:00.000-05:00

Here comes the ~~rain~~ ICE. . . .
Here in the midwest we were hit with a nice little ice storm. Supposedly this is round two will start for us around 2pm and according to the radar it looks worse than the ice storm we had last night. Ok, so this is a really bad screen shot, but the pink area is heading right toward us! That is the worst of the storm. So I am expecting, when I wake up for work this afternoon, that my car will once again be covered in ice.

Here is a quick look at what PS and I woke up to this morning. Taking us about 45 minutes to get the cars cleaned off from about an inch of ice. It actually took about 15 minutes just to get the door opened. And being the resources women we are, using a screwdriver to chisel away at the ice built up in the door cracks. Then using de-icing spray to help loosen it a bit. I'm sure our neighbors loved the sound of us banging on the ice early this morning.

Finally got this one mostly cleaned off!

This is the pile of ice chunks that came off my windshield.

Now it is time to be off to bed. Gonna have to wake up early for work and do it all over again. If you are in the path of this storm. . . . be safe!! If you are not in the path of this storm. . .be happy and don't tell me about how nice and warm you are! It might make me bitter!

Out on a limb

2011-01-28T11:00:00.001-05:00

Just sittin' here, chillaxin on this limb, crunchin' on some yummy nuts, waiting for the spring to come!

Won't it come, already???

You Capture : Happy

2011-01-27T21:35:00.000-05:00

The You Capture challenge this week was: Happy. I found this one a challenge. I think mostly because I worked a lot at the beginning of this week and wasn't able to get out and do much shooting.

I don't feel that some of these are my best work but it is what I have at this point.

I choose this picture because I love to watch both of my fur babies play and wrestle with each other. I was trying to snap some photos of that play and ended up with a bunch of blurry pictures. However, this one just looks to me like they are laughing and truly enjoying their play time together. Still a bit blurry, but fun still!

This is what I pulled out of my not so creative hat this evening. I like the colors, but again, not exactly the "pop" that I was looking for. Some of my favorite candy, and that makes me happy.

I do love horses, even though I don't have any or know anyone that has horses. Just seeing them run makes me want to jump on and ride. There is no better feeling than a full run while riding on the back of a horse. It is a "freeing" feeling that I love so much. Reminded me of our trip to California last May when I talked my best girl into going horseback riding with me. It was a guided ride through some mountain trails. I loved every minute of it. My horse loved to run and the guide just let me go. Her horse on the other hand, wanted to play follow the leader. She is not so much of a horse lover or a rider so she didn't much enjoy all the running. But it sure did make my whole week, just to have that hour on the horse, being free!

Go and visit some of the other blogs that participate in the You Capture of the week. There are some pretty creative and really good photographers out there! I'm hoping by joining in on this each week, I will learn a thing or two from some of them.

Use my hands, use my feet. .

2011-01-23T02:36:00.000-05:00

This picture is forever etched in my mind, and it is one that I hope will always be there.

When I see this picture I think of the book "The Shack". The part where God says to Max, "I'm especially fond of that one." I can't help but think God IS especially fond of this gentleman as well.

Many of us have our treasures laid up in our nice homes, nice cars, nice clothes all those material things that seem to matter so much. Others of us have our treasures laid up for us in heaven, at least that is what we like to say and believe, all the while still coveting our nice "treasures" we have in our "things".

This man is carrying his "treasures" around in a small cart. All his earthly belongings fit into one small cart and still when our eyes met on this particular day, he was able to smile at me. His eyes had a bit of a sparkle to them. I can't help but believe, he understood where his real "treasure" lies. I can't help but believe that he knows that God is in fact especially fond of him.

My heart has always had a soft spot for the poor and homeless. Ever since I was a young teenager I have been known to make a U-turn, run through a drive through and deliver something to eat or a warm drink to that person standing on the corner holding the sign asking for our help. I have always taken that sign very personal. Like it was really asking for "MY" help.

If I am going into the city, I always make sure I have extra change or even $1 bills in my pocket, ready to drop into the plastic cup that will later be used to fill with something nice to drink, or maybe even filled with soup or something to eat.

I don't question what will be bought, I don't put limits or expectations on the money I give. I don't care if they buy food, or alcohol with that money. That really is none of my business. What is my business is the pull on my heart to give openly. To be the hands of Jesus.

I know many of them choose to be where they are. I also know many of them are there because of poor choices they have made in their lives. I also know there are those who make more than I do in a year off of people like me. It is absolutely not my place to judge that. It is my place to love and respect and give what I have and am able to give, as He has called me to.

I see people like this particular man sitting on the sidewalk, and wonder to myself. . ."what if that is Jesus in the flesh?"

Then I think about the people Jesus surrounded Himself with. It wasn't other Kings or the wealthy. It was the poor, the sick, the people no one else wanted or loved.

Than I think. . . .I could be where they are, in a minute, I could loose all my earthly possessions and have nothing. I could be sitting on a corner begging for just a few cents to buy something warm to drink.

I am thankful God has placed within my heart a special place for the poor, helpless, and homeless. I pray that it will always be there. I pray that my intentions stay pure and when I bring them food, money, a drink or yes even sometimes a hug, that they feel the pure love of God. Because it is totally not about me, or even about them. It is absolutely a God thing!

Everytime I hear this song. . . I pray that I can be the hands and feet of God, showing love to all, even and especially the least of these.

Love ~ Brought to you by Dr. Seuss

2011-01-22T17:43:00.000-05:00

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is

finally better than your dreams." ~ Dr. Seuss

I have to admit, when this happened to me 19 years ago, I just didn't think it was possible. Now after that long, I still believe that my reality is better than any dream. The waking up to that same wonderful person every morning. Seeing that sweet smile as the last thing before I go to sleep and again as the first thing I see when I wake up. Is there any more wonderful way to begin or end a day? I think not!

Love is an amazing gift!

You Capture: Circles

2011-01-22T02:47:00.000-05:00

I have been on the hunt for photography blogs. Not just the portrait kind of blogs, but really interesting landscapes or other just random kind of photography.

I ran across this today over at I Should Be Folding Laundry and thought I'd join in, even though I'm a day or two behind. So since I just learned about this, I will TRY really hard to remember this is a Thursday thing. I will get it right next week!

So here are my ~~in a hurry need to go to bed, must find circle to take pictures of~~ circles. . .

Ok, so I was in the garage looking for circles. . .

This little exercise is going to be great to get my creativity going! It has been so cold I haven't been able to get outside much and it is making me crazy cause I want to use my camera more! I found myself walking around my house searching for circles. Made me kinda laugh out loud at myself.

Remembering California

2011-01-13T15:48:00.000-05:00

I haven't had much time to catch up on reading blogs this week. Been busy with work and such. Hopefully I will catch up this weekend. If I start reading now, I won't stop. . . it's addicting ya know!

So I will leave you with a little fun. . .

This is from our California trip last may. I am so craving some warm sunshine, I just had to go back through and remember this wonderful 12 day trip we had!

A Splash of Color

2011-01-10T16:40:00.000-05:00

I love pictures of old barns. On one particular afternoon drive, I found the most amazing red barn! I think it was the boldness in the red color that first caught my eye. I have become so bored with the dead grass, brown trees, gray skies and very little sunshine. None of this makes for a great photo.

I first saw the barn and was drawn to all the redness, as I said earlier. Then I saw this sweet little black and white fuzzy face, sitting there in the cold, next to the barn. I had to pull off this little country road, get out of my car and capture that picture. All the color, and that sweet dog, was just begging me to take the picture.

I want to find this place again in the spring, when the trees are full and the grass is lush!

This boy is now 4 years old!!!

2011-01-10T01:45:00.000-05:00

In September 2009, I wrote this blog, entitled "There is this boy. . ."

It was about this sweet faced little guy!

Today, there is THIS boy. . .

If you don't remember this blog, let me take a minute to introduce you to Elijah.

Elijah is now 4 years old. He was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. All that is explained in the previous post about Elijah.

What I really want to talk about today, is what an amazing little boy Elijah is. He is already a walking miracle. He no longer needs his walker, he is going to pre-school, riding the bus, even! He sits with his grandma in church while she runs the sound equipment and he is still "preaching" from the back of the church, right along with his Pastor. He can often been seen on the platform at church, singing with the praise team and getting his dance on for Jesus.

He has never met a stranger, and love just pours from his face every time I see him. I don't get to see him all that much as he lives three hours away from me. But whenever we do get to see each other, I can always count on Elijah coming to me for a hug! That little boy gives the best hugs ever!!

I got a call this evening from Elijah's grandma. . .
Elijah has had a "cold" for a few days now. Yesterday it was determined he actually had a respiratory infection. He was given IV antibiotics in the ER and sent home with breathing treatments.
He already has a hard time breathing. Last time I saw him his sweet little fingers, toes and lips were no longer the only blue parts of his body. His fingers and toes are now clubbed, his lips are still blue and the blueness is starting to move up his arms and legs. His condition is worsening.

Elijah was taken to the hospital this evening via ambulance. He was having trouble breathing, he was lethargic and just not doing well. The paramedics, sirens and all the ambulance lights and commotion had no effect on him. He didn't really care that everyone was in a panic and it was all loud. He was too busy trying to get enough oxygen. Lethargic. . . saving all his energy for breathing.
Once they got him to the hospital, he got some more IV medications, breathing treatments, oxygen via nasal cannula (which he still didn't fight). He had a temp of 101.2 at that time. He is currently being admitted.

I'm sure his mommy and grandma is staying with him tonight to watch over our sweet baby boy. She sent me a text message asking me to rally all our prayer warriors. See, Elijah is due to have another heart surgery on February 17th. He will be having a Fontan Procedure.

The last heart surgery he had was in late 2009 and it was to replace his pacemaker and they actually ended up adding another one. That one worked for a while. There were great reports as soon as the surgery was over and for a while afterward. Now he is having trouble again, getting oxygenated blood to circulate through his body. This is the last heart surgery he can have before he will be placed on a heart transplant list. There are no guarantees with this surgery. If it works and he makes it through surgery, it might only work for a week. . . . or it could last him for a few years.

So far they have been told he isn't "sick" enough to be put on a transplant list. That is the really sad part. . . how much sicker can he get? I don't think I want to know that answer!

I love this little boy, beyond words! I pray that his little body will heal from this respiratory infection and that his body will be ready for surgery come Feb 17th.

Please, won't you remember sweet little Elijah, whenever you talk to God? It would mean a lot to Elijah to know that even strangers are praying for him!

100 Miles To Somewhere

2011-01-09T02:56:00.000-05:00

Over New Year's weekend, I just happen to have 6 days off work in a row (not sure it was actually six, but it was A LOT!) We spent two of those days in the car just driving around looking for interesting things to shoot. With the camera of course. . .

The first day was spent downtown, in our big city. It was our "church" day, as we mostly got shots of different older churches. I loved the architecture and all the different roof lines, steeples and such. But that is another post. The second day was my favorite even though it was the day I drove and didn't get near as many shots as my best girl, who on this particular day learned that she kinda likes photography as well. And all this time, I thought she was going to be my photography assistant. . .

That second day we drove right at 100 miles. We scoured countryside just west and southwest of our home. I have lived in this same little town my whole life~~, all 38 years of it~~. We ended up in places I had never been before. Roads I had never traveled. Lost, really. Not having one clue where I was or what little town we'd end up in next. I have to say that was one of the best days of our whole time off together. Just the two of us driving around all day, taking it slow and enjoying God's wonderful creation.

We drove into small open fields, up a very short distance into driveways of unsuspecting farmers. Who to this day probably don't have any clue that our tires graced their driveway that particular day. It was an adventure. It was time. . time well spent and thoroughly enjoyed.

Here is just a glimpse of what we captured on that lovely day.

This not so little guy (or gal) was nice enough to greet us as we ~~were sneaking~~ found our way down the driveway of what I am sure is a very nice farming family that lived somewhere in the middle of nowhere just southwest of where we live. I thought it was ever so polite of him (or is it a her) to pose so nicely for us.

A sudden stop into this nice quiet deserted field promised to give me exactly what I was seeing in my head. We almost missed this sweet opportunity as it was slightly hidden from the road by a half dead tree that was laying across the ground between this old water pump and the road.

By the way. . . what does one do when one had drank too much iced tea while taking a day long drive through the countryside and all of the sudden in the middle of no where realizes there is not a bathroom in site? Not saying that is what happened, just wondered what one would do in a case like that.

2011-01-04T17:11:00.000-05:00

I have been of work now for almost a full week now. That in itself is amazing. What is really great about it is that I work three days a week. For all you 5 day a weekers who are getting jealous right now, let me just add that those are 12 hour days. Well nights, really. So we are basically putting in about the same number of hours but I'm just doing it quicker. And on top of that I'm doing it when the rest of the world is sleeping, and ~~sleeping~~ attempting to sleep when the rest of the world is awake ~~and would like for me to participate in life~~. (did I just say that outloud?) Oops!!! Well, you other night shifters know what I'm talking about.

So. . that was so not my point at all! I was going somewhere totally different with this post and got sidetracked right off my course.

Oh. . . I have been pondering my "word" for the year. Ya know, the one I posted about the other day. No New Year's Resolution for me. I'm picking a word.

Here are a few words I have been pondering:

Balance
Present
Fearless
Hope
Strength
More
Joy
Acceptance
Clarity
Trust
Diligence
Prosperity
Peace
Compassion

Ok, so you get the idea. These are all words that I want my life to reflect.

For 2011, I am choosing to focus of the word. . . . . MORE.
For some of you this may sound like a selfish word. However I don't really see it that way. I see this word as one that I can focus on that will also help bring about the other "words" on my list.
For example: I want. . . MORE time, MORE knowledge, MORE God, MORE laughter, MORE prayer, MORE moments with my family, MORE peace in my life, MORE understanding, MORE forgiveness of others, MORE faith, MORE contentment, MORE love to give and to receive, MORE energy, MORE travels, MORE organization. . . just MORE! I could go on and on about what I want more of this year. And in having more of all these "words", I will be able to give so much more to others. Kinda like refilling my cup, so to speak.
I will focus on this word all year long and see if I with God's help create a more positive life for myself in 2011.

Speaking of God. . .I went on a photo shoot the other day with my best girl. Just driving around town to see what we would see. It ended up being a "church" day for photos. Here is one of my favorites!

Resolution. . . Not this year

2010-12-31T11:34:00.000-05:00

Nope, not gonna do it. I'm not going to have a New Year's Resolution. Having a New Year's Resolution is just like setting myself up for failure. I'm not going to "Resolve" to loose weight, to go to the gym, to work less, to be nicer, to stop drinking Diet Coke before bedtime. Nope, not me! I won't be the girl this time NEXT year that is choosing the SAME resolution yet again, because I failed to keep this one. I'm not going to set myself up to gain 10 lbs, buy a home gym that won't get used, to feel sorry for myself when I have to work a day or two overtime, or deprive myself of my favorite dark bubbly caffeinated drink.

Instead, I am choosing to this whole resolution thing differently. I am choosing just one word. This will be the word of the year for me. A word to help me remember who I am and what I am about. A word that will remind me of who I want to be as a whole being in this world. I am not going to choose it today, you know since it IS New Year's Eve and all. Nope, I'm going to sit on this for a week or two. Then I'll let everyone know what I choose as soon as I try out a few words on my list. Ya know, I'm not gonna commit to a word and then see that it doesn't fit just right. I'm gonna try it on for size (and hopefully it will fit better than those jeans I'm gonna have to return today) be sure it's the right word. I have a few words swimming around in my head. These words describe the person I want to be. I can not choose them all at one time, so I am going to simply choose one. What I think will happen is that I will choose the one word from my list and as I work practice each day to remember that word and to "live" that word, the rest of those descriptive words that describe who I want to be in this life, will start to come out to play and it will just be something that will unfold itself.

Yes, I am declaring. . . . . 2011 is going to be an amazing year. This year is going to be different for me. It is going to be a year of expectation, adventure, new beginnings, new friendships, realizations, opportunity, pure happiness, travel, contentment. Yep, my friend 2011 is going to be for me, a year of just plain wonderfulness.

So I will leave you with just one picture today. . . . I loved taking this shot. I did photo shop it just a little, and it's not perfect, (however I may go back in and work on that). I'm still learning this photo shop thing. And I am still in love with this photo! This is from our vacation to Southern California this past May. Probably one of my favorite vacations ever. My favorite I think mostly, just because of the adventure of it.

Have a safe and Happy New Year!!!

It's not a question!

2010-12-30T14:36:00.000-05:00

(Okay, so this ended up being way longer than what it looked like in my head, so if you can't hang with me on this I totally get it. And. . . I'm hitting that publish button anyway.)

I've been sitting on this post for quiet some time now and it just so happens that I have a minute to get it out of my head and into this blog.

How many people actually ~~know~~ realize and understand the fact that the words "I Love You" are not a question? This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves. Definitely something that will get my feathers ruffled!

I remember teaching this to my son when he was just in first grade. He was surrounded by people doting over him all the time. I mean really? How could you just not dote over that sweet little toe head with the sweetest smile in the world? However, ~~certain people~~ there were people in our lives that would just drop those three precious words around like it was a greeting or a salutation. Many times with a tone of a question mark at the end. This left my son thinking that the "correct" response was to say "Love you too". It broke my heart as I would watch him say those words and see something totally different on his face and in his mannerisms. It didn't take long to convince him that it was okay to not say it back just because he thought that was the "right" response. It was not rude or mean or unkind, or any of those things. It was okay to simply say "Thank you".

I wish that someone had taught me that as a child. I was just as he was. I thought that was what I was "supposed" to say. Kinda like when someone says, "Hi, how are you?" you return that question with something like, "I am well, how are you?". Even though many people who ask that question also don't really want to know the REAL answer. It is just a polite greeting. This makes me wonder why we ask questions we don't really want to know the answer to or don't have the time or energy to listen to. Or why do people say "I love you" expecting to hear those words in return. Do you REALLY love the person you are saying it to? Have those words lost their meaning? For me those words are sacred. Something that only comes across my lips if I truly mean them from my heart as well as feeling them.

I mean really? There are many perpetrators out there that will tell you they love you, right before they take advantage of you. Sometimes it's how they lure you in, convincing you of their love. That is NOT love at all!

Then there are those moments when you just aren't feeling it. You may love that person, but just not feeling it at the time. For example, maybe I am spending the day with my lovely sister whom I love dearly and am so thankful that I have an amazing relationship with. She is one of my best friends ~~which in itself is a full blown miracle!~~ But lets say, just for example, that she is getting on my last nerve and she randomly tells me "I love you". She may have just prior to saying that, said something to make me mad, or it may just be that I've had my fill of her for the day and there is no more energy left in me. I may not be "feeling" it with her right now. What if we just had a disagreement and just maybe it was a little heated. It doesn't mean that I don't love her. But if she were to say those words at that particular moment, I may not be feeling it. Yes, I love her, yes, she is still my BFF, AND, just because she said it first doesn't mean I have to reciprocate it. (And just for clarification sake, I DO love my sister and using her in this blog is simply hypothetical.)

There is also the fact that those words can be used so often that they lose their meaning. What is your motive for saying them. Are you looking for a particular response? Are you wanting the person you are saying them to, to say those words back to you? If so then you are just saying them for selfish reasons. You aren't making an exclamation of your love, you are asking a question. A question with an expected answer, one that will curb your own insecurities. Hmmmm. . . now there's something to think about.

There are so many ways to let a person know you love them. Love is an emotion, a feeling. The words "I love you" are an expression of that emotion. Not the ONLY expression of that emotion, mind you. There are many ways to express to someone that you love them. ~~Sometime~~s Most simply saying the words is not enough. They have been tossed around so often for so long they have lost meaning. People don't simply believe the statement "I Love You" if you are SHOWING that love in your actions.

So then that presents another question. How do you SHOW love. I think the answer to that is different for everyone. Some of us need attention, some need praise, some need tangible "things", others need physical touch. For some it might just be that someone gives you a day off from house work and THEY do the housework for you.
You "show" love (the emotion), by giving respect, mutuality, listening (really listening), complimenting, giving a gift for no special reason at all. There are so many other ways to show someone you love them. I think what gets me is that when you love someone you do these things without expectations. You do them simply because you love them, because you want them to KNOW and feel without a doubt that you love them. And in that "knowing" they will "FEEL" that you love them. That in itself to me, is way better than just hearing the words.

Now, don't get me wrong. It is nice to hear it. I love it when the love of my life looks me in the eye and tells me "I Love You!" Making it an exclamation, not a question. That is as simple as changing the tone and pitch of your voice as you say it. Be careful if you are an "I Love You?" person. You may have to actually practice this a little, because it just might sound a little strained or fake at first. And the more you stay connected to making it an exclamation without expectation, the better you will get at it. It doesn't mean that you don't mean it, because it is hard at first. It just means that you are retraining your mind and voice to believe that you don't have to hear it back to be okay. You can say those words to the one you love and still know they do love you even if they don't say them in return. Everyone likes to hear them, that is true, and hopefully if you are not hearing them you still feel that love in return. I think it is all about balance here.

It's really those insecure people that get me. You know the ones. That say I love you two dozen times a day, or maybe even two dozen times in a two hour period. It's those people that suck the energy out of me. Please don't expect me to just mirror back to you what you are saying, simply because you are afraid you are not loved. Or maybe it's because you are not feeling you are lovable? Who knows. What I do know is that when ~~I am that person saying it just to hear it back,~~ I find myself saying it more than usual and catch myself expecting a response, it is because I'm not loving myself very much. Or maybe just feeling a little co-dependent. ( Did I just say that out loud? Oh my. . . . .) Either way, it's not very healthy.

The sweetest thing is to have a relationship that you just know. You can look into the other person's eyes and actually see the love they have for you. And I'm not just talking about a romantic kind of love. A mother can look into the eyes of their child and you can just see the love pouring out over that child. Sometimes it can be the same way in a platonic friendship situation. I have friends that I love dearly. I don't have to tell them 15 times a day that I love them. I also don't have to hear it from them equally as often. They will know I love them and I will know they love me, by the way they treat me or I treat them. So, I guess in a sense, love is an emotion, and it's also an action.

Love is as simple as it is complex. There are many different kinds of love. There are even more ways to express that love. Find what works for you AND for the person you are expressing it to. Learn their love language so to speak. It will open a whole new if you can actually get and understand those 4 previous sentences.
Think of how different the world would be if people didn't say "I Love You?" with expectation and instead said "I Love You!" as an exclamation.

Okay, so I feel like I rambled a little in this one, but I'm posting it anyway. I'm not even sure it came out the same way it was in my head for the past month or so that I have been pondering this. I hope it made sense to someone, and if it didn't then I guess it was just for me to process.
What I do know is that if I tell you I love you. . . . you better know that it came straight from the depth of my heart. I won't say something I don't truly mean. And I won't expect you to tell me in return. (even though it does feel good to hear them). What I would like more is to feel the emotions reciprocated, but only if you really have them.

I kinda like this site. Take a peek, answer a few quick questions. Find out what YOUR love language is.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this as I continue to process this a little more.

Everything is bigger when you are younger

2010-12-29T16:26:00.000-05:00

For as long as I can remember it has been a Holiday tradition to take a drive to downtown Indianapolis and look at all the Christmas lights. This is the Monument Circle in the heart of Indianapolis. It has a red brick street that circles around this monument and at Christmas time the entire Circle is decorated with lights, horse drawn carriages, and an assortment of other Christmas decorations. There are people buzzing around, shopping at the local shops, satisfying the sweet tooth at the South Bend Chocolate Factory store, warming up with a nice cup of Starbucks, or leaving the local Symphony headed to a nice dinner for two.

This has not changed at all since I was a child, except for the fact that she needs a good limestone cleaning and maybe a gentle face lift. As we were taking in all the sites, they were just as I remembered from long ago. However the the people looked slightly different. I wasn't looking up at everything as I did when I was a child. It wasn't until I stood directly under this monument that I realized. . . ."This is why everything looks so much bigger when we are younger!" I know a silly epiphany, but it is the epiphany I had. I have always loved being "downtown", and this day was no different (except that is was FREEZING!).

I am loving these kinds of lessons

2010-12-28T16:53:00.000-05:00

This new hobby I have found is making me one happy girl! I am loving exploring and looking at the world in a whole new way. It's like everything I see has a frame around it. What is funny is that in one day I may take 500 pictures and come home look at them all and only 10 of them are really any good at all. That is the joys of having a digital camera!
I have spring fever so bad I can't stand it. I want the snow to go away, I want the gray skies to go away and I want to start seeing green leaves and beautiful flowers blooming. I want to learn how to shoot water shots, and go to the creek and different parks around town and capture as many moments as I can. It's like as long as they are caught on camera, they will last forever.
And. . . in the spring I am hoping to take a class that will teach me all that I still don't know. But for now, this is another look at what I'm looking at.

(I think you should be able to click on the pictures to see them bigger)

An amazing church in Downtown Indianapolis

The War Memorial in Downtown Indianapolis

Christmas time at "the circle" in Downtown Indianapolis

The beloved "Cherub" that sits atop this clock only at Christmas. I remember looking for this Cherub each year when I was a kid. It's like it has always been there, watching over the streets of our city.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and pray you each have a safe and Happy New Year!

What'cha been up to?

2010-12-24T03:07:00.000-05:00

Well, how nice of you to stop by! I'm sure you've just been wondering like crazy, what in the world I've been up to. Well. . . wonder no longer! I have been a busy little girl, learning how my new toy works. And I have to tell ya, I can't wait for winter to be over and spring to get here!!!

Here's why. . .

Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas!!

If all my friends are doing it, do I have to do it to?

2010-12-08T10:10:00.000-05:00

My heart has been heavy for a little while now. I simply can't get my head around what is going on. It seems all around me I am hearing the word divorce. Friends, close family, not so close family, friends of friends, everybody is doing it.

I have watched as people have fallen in love, just plain goofy about each other. Their lives build together into this wonderful romantic bliss. Then it happens! The new wears off, they start really learning about each other. The things that they once thought were cute are now not only not-so-cute but down right getting on their last nerve. I hear "If he does that one more time. . .", or "I can't believe she is acting this way. . ."! All around me peoples lives are falling apart.

*********************************************

They fell in love in high school, got married as soon as they graduated, had the first child a year later. They built a life. . . a family. It wasn't always great, sometimes it wasn't even good, but they worked it out. People had to have known there were issues. Yes, they put on a happy face and a nice front when they needed to, but those times passed and it was all good again. Or, at least people thought it was. As the kids grew, there was day care, jobs, church, bills. . . then there were second jobs, kids extra curricular activities, school programs, sporting events, scouts, sleep overs, church, family time, vacations, shopping, bills. This cycle didn't seem to get better it only got worse. As the jobs became more, the schedules became tighter, the "toys" became more expensive, the need to fill empty places with shopping became greater so did the bills. . . . so did the loneliness. . . .so did the resentment.
Where did the love go? Sure it was still there hidden under all that other junk that was taking up their lives, their time, their heart. But it was too buried to find it. To buried to pull it out and remember what brought them together in the first place. So it just sat, buried for years and years. The showing of love became more of a "routine", a robotic motion, words just slipping out as a salutation. It lost it's meaning somewhere along the way.
Now here they are 40 something years into what used to be a loving marriage, now separated.

********************************************

They met and fell in love almost immediately. They both filled a place for each other that had been empty a long time. They partied together, they played together, they found fun in everything they did. They dreamed, and made those dreams a reality. They had taken some great vacations together and made so many memories, just the two of them. They really had it going on. They were living the life! Then one day they find themselves jobless. Not so long after that (in the big picture) they find themselves losing their home and possessions they had worked so hard to obtain. During all of this they are finding themselves losing each other. The stress getting to them both. Finding a shoulder to lean on, other than that of their spouse. Realizing there is resentment, and mistrust. The love is still there, if you can push all the yuckiness aside for a minute. Make it work, forgive each other. Then all of the sudden realizing that in forgiving you didn't forget. Did you really forgive at all? Back to the whose doing more than whom. Who is carrying the load of responsibility. Keeping score, name calling, yelling, accusations, depression, bitterness, medication, counseling, mental illness.
It all begins to add up. What has been sacrificed here. How many years have been lost. Now separated, living in two different places, splitting up what is left of what used to be a happy home. Years and years of togetherness, not alone, afraid, sometimes excited to be starting anew.

********************************************
Kids are grown, they raised three. To everyone on the outside it looked as if they had it together. A happy home, lots of friends, three kids whom also had lots of friends. A great job, also owning a business that just justified spending time on your hobby, not so much a job. A beautiful old house right in the heart of town. Things are wonderful right. . . .
Not so much! He's in rehab, on probation at his job. Must complete rehab before he can work again. She's running the home business, having to make excuses for him to friends and family. He comes home, things get better, gets a new job, does some traveling. Kids start graduating from college, marriage proposals, new homes for now adult children. Life is back on track. All to find that the track has been moved.
He starts drinking again. . . .
That's when they begin living in two different places and I hear the word divorce.

I have a wonderful marriage. Do I? I now begin to question my own reality. Am I doing the same things as those all around me? Am I just covering up what is really true. I love my wife, that I know is true. I work a lot, she works a lot. We are working on 19 years here. I'm not saying it's all been peaches and cream. It has been hard work. Some times harder than others. But isn't that how it is. Marriage is work, it's not something that just happens and is amazing all the time right?
I find myself lost in my work, not my job, but the things I do at home that are work. Not house work, or yard work, but kinda like a second job kind of work, except I don't get paid to do it. I'm at my desk a lot, in front of a computer a lot. I make a conscious effort to stop what I'm doing, if not on a strict deadline, and make time for "us". But the truth is, do I always make that effort?
She talks all day at work, on the phone, in the office. People need her, need her attention, need her time. She listens all day. Listens to people complain, cry, vent, about their life, problems, illnesses, whatever.
By the time she gets home there is nothing left. Then there is her second job, that she mostly does from home. Where people need her time, her ear, and where she talks and listens.
I look at all of this and think. . . is this leading us down a path not so unlike those of our friends and family who are losing the loves of their lives right now? Is this how it begins? One starts feeling less important than all of those outside obligations. The other starts feeling lonely and neglected.
I don't want to be those people. I love my wife with all that is in me. I love the life we have built. I believe we have a firm foundation. Do we hit a rocky road now and then, of course. . . who doesn't. We have always been able to find out way out. Our way back to each other, the ones that matter the most at the end of the day.

I can't help but have a slight tinge of fear as I watch the lives of people around me that I know and love fall apart. I try to take it all in, remembering and evaluating each thing that could have gone wrong in those relationships. Not wanting it to go wrong in mine. Trying to make mine more stable, to ensure it can withstand any storm that passes. Because they will pass. They will come and they will pass.
I truly believe in my marriage our love. I will not allow the fear to linger. I will take pride in the life we have created. I will love a little more and a little longer. And I will pray, pray that my heart will make it through the pain of watching my family and friends as they find their new lives.

I love you Honey! (and this really isn't about us. . . .this is about what is happening all around us!)

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-05T13:00:00.002-05:00

Our first snow accumulation happened this weekend! I have to say I am not a huge fan of cold weather. I would much rather live somewhere warmer. . . anywhere warmer really!

I recently got a new camera that I have ~~no clue how to use~~ been practicing using for a few weeks now. I have to admit that most of these pictures are not very good. I need a lot more practice and maybe a lesson or two on photoshop so I can at least make them look like I know what I'm doing.

In reality, I have kinda fallen in love with this photography thing. And I do believe my sister and I will be checking into some photography classes in the spring. I really want to learn more and make what I see in my head show up in my camera lens and then show up on my computer. Is that even possible?

So here is a glimpse of Indiana's first snow of 2010.

I really need to work on water pictures. They were all a little over exposed. But the waterfall itself was pretty pretty with all the snow around it.

My Wendy girl sure does love to play in the snow!

I kinda like the ice pictures too. This was hanging off of shrub in our front yard.

Hope everyone is enjoying their winter and keeping warm!

Since It's Not ALL About Me. . .

2010-12-04T21:52:00.000-05:00

Hello. . . My name is Amy and it's been 10 months and 14 days since my last post. . .

THERE! Now that we got that out of the way. . . do I need to go through the list of ~~excuses~~ reasons that have caused me to be negligent with my blogging? Well, I don't really have any. I guess I could say I was just being lazy, or maybe because I got in a rut and thought I didn't really have anything very interesting say. Just so you know, I haven't completely left the face of the earth, there were a few people I would stroll in on unannounced and unnoticed and read a little, just to keep up with mind you. However, the unnoticed part would be my own fault for not announcing myself or leaving a comment or anything. I think this is where I am supposed to say that I will do better. . . I will make a New Year's resolution to be a better blogger, I will make an appointment with my computer and blogging buddies daily and devote at least X amount of time to ~~writing~~ typing my thoughts out on this big screen in front of me and then hit that nice orange publish button so the rest of the world can know what is going through my head. Hmmm. . .I don't think that is gonna happen, ya know the "I'm gonna do better part". I'm not making any promises like that again. I think I have done that so many times, then I fall off the wagon, neglect my blogging duties, and get so involved in my own life that I don't even check in this blogging world. I'm not saying life is all about me, but really? I think there are a couple of people that might tell you that ~~it's always~~ sometimes it IS all about me. I have been told I'm a brat like that.
If I were to be completely honest (which I always am!) I would have to say that I do kinda like it when it is about me, but not always! It does get old, especially when there really isn't anything intersting to discuss. I mean really? If it were ALL about me, we'd have to be talking about how I work 12 hour night shifts at a hospital. Where I love my job and feel like it is more of a ministry than a job. Where I love to take care of people. And how sometimes, I don't even get grossed out by many of the things that travel home with me on my uniforms (that go directly into the wash on those particular days!). And how most nights, I don't mind that demented old folks wake up in the middle of the night and will think they are at home, and will yell at me and hit me when I try to remind them they are at the hospital. If it were ALL about me, we'd have to talk about how on my days off I am usually loading pictures of church events, editing/uploading audio files of various ministers preaching, and keeping up to date documents on a website that I manage. And how after editing the audio files, I could recite every sermon I have heard in the past year!!! That's a lot of Jesus, right there! If it were ALL about me, we would have to talk about all the drama that is surrounding me right now. Even though it is not MY drama (does that still make it about me?) it is close enough to me that it feels like it overflows into my space an awful lot.
But really. . . . I don't want to talk about me! I just want you to know that I will do my best to be back, and pay attention, read, post, and comment.

But since it's NOT all about me. . . I'm not making any promises!

I did miss you all and your funny stories (don't tell anyone though, I wouldn't want anyone to think it's ALL about them)!

This is a test, this is only a test. . . .

2010-01-21T15:48:00.000-05:00

I remember as a kid in elementary school all the kids that got in trouble and sent to the principles office for pulling the fire alarm. Their parents were called, their backsides paddled, and their brain on overload from the lecture about crying wolf, and what if there was a "real" emergency.

Then there was me. . . . I wanted to pull the fire alarm so bad!!!! I was afraid of the punishment, but that didn't take away the urge. Those kids were rebels, they were cool, they went against the grain. They were almost always also known as the "trouble makers" and "playground bullies". Dare them to do anything and they would do it. Yep, I wanted to be just like them!!!

I remember in high school all the kids who got suspended from school for pulling the fire alarm. The fire trucks come, the kids get found out, because of course he/she can't keep quiet about it. He/she has to brag about what a great thing they had done. I mean really, we all owed then for getting us out of class, especially in the warm months. We would be outside for at least 30 min. to an hour while they decided that it was just a false alarm.

Then there was me. . . . I wanted to pull the fire alarm so bad!!! I knew if I was suspended, I might as well be dead. I would never be able to talk myself out of that one when I got home!!! But still, those kids were the rebels, they weren't always cool anymore, but beat to their own drum. They got the attention of everyone around them and people thought they were cool, at least for the hour that we were outside waiting for someone to find the fire. We all secretly wanted to be that person, if for only a minute.

I remember the feeling as a kid of walking by a fire alarm. It didn't matter where it was, what kind of building I would always notice it there, staring me right in the face. It was like it was calling to me. It was all I could do to just walk on by and not touch it. You would think it was pure gold, that is how strong the desire was to pull that alarm. To feel the adrenaline, as everyone went from whatever it was they were doing to scrambling outside. I don't think I ever really thought it through to the end. You know all the people it would scare, all the time and money it takes for a false alarm, how it takes away from someone who might really need emergency help. I just wanted to know what it felt like to PULL THAT ALARM!!!

I remember as an adult still noticing every fire alarm I walked by. Being in complete control, telling myself how childish it was to still want to pull that alarm. Knowning in all my "grownupness" that is not a smart thing to do. Telling myself to grow up already!!

THEN IT HAPPENED . . . .

Last night at work, these four men in nice blue uniforms approached me. . .they were maintenance workers at the hospital.

Maintenance man:   "Ok you are the only one around, so I guess you get to do it"

Me: "Do what?"

Maintenance man: (he was holding a red folder that said "FIRE" on it) Well what do you do when you find a fire?"

Me: (quickly learning this was a drill, started getting all nervous and such. Can't get this wrong, everyone will know!!!! Thinking to myself. . . ok remember. . . remember. . . RACE     R-rescue, A - um . . um. . OH YEA!!! ALARM!!!! WHO HOOOOO!)   "I would pull the alarm"

Maintenance man: "Well, go ahead."

Me: "Are you serious? Really? I get to pull the alarm?" (yes I said that!!! I couldn't stop myself!!!)

Maintenance man: "Um, yes. . this is a drill, someone has to let everyone know there is a fire." (he was laughing at this point)

Me: "Do you realize I have wanted to do this my WHOLE life! I can't believe I actually get to pull the alarm!!! This is amazing!!!"

Maintenance man: (all of them are laughing now) "Um, ma'am, can you go ahead and pull that alarm before we burn up all these sick patients?"

Me: "Oh sure. . . "

Mainentance man: "Ok, now what do you?"

I went throught the whole drill of calling security, and shutting doors and letting people know ect.

Me: "Thank you so much for picking me. I know you might not understand but I have wanted to do that my whole life!"

We stood around and had a little conversation about how we all wanted to do that when we were kids, and some of the guys fessed up to actually being brave enough to do it when they were kids.
We all laughed and had a great time there for a minute.

I have to admit, I had an amazing rush go over me just as I was reaching for that little red box, the excitement was filling my whole body! Then I pulled it, the alarm sounded and no one ran, no quickly getting people moved, no adrenaline rush. It didn't even feel like I thought it would when I pulled it. I expected a little resistance. . . . but nothing. It was so easy.    Then. . . it was over!

I was disappointed! I'm glad he picked me. I'm glad I got to do it. I'm sorry it didn't give me the rush I had always imagined as a child that it would. Maybe that is proof that I am grown up now. Maybe that is because there is no rush to be had. Who knows.

What I do know is that as I was leaving the hospital this morning, I passed a fire alarm. I kinda giggled to myself as I realized that I was still noticing each fire alarm as I walked out, and that little girl urge to pull the alarm was still there. Maybe because I wanted to see if it would be different the second time, or maybe. . . just maybe. . . . I'm an adrenaline junkie!!!

Either way. . . .I waited my WHOLE life to pull the fire alarm, and I got to do it last night!!!!

What'cha know about LA???

2010-01-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

So, the new year has started off a bit slow in blogland for me. I am trying. . . that's all I can say. How do you people with jobs, kids, dinners to make, PTO meeting, dance class, cub scouts, school, houses to clean blog every stinkin' day or even once a week for that matter???

I can't even seem to make once a month most of the time!

Well, I need your help. We are going to be taking a mini vacation in May to sunny California. This is someplace we have never been. We are actually going for a church conference but will be staying 4 extra days. We are planning to spend those 4 days in West Hollywood, LA, area. Bare with me, because since I have never been there I'm not really sure what I'm talking about.

Here is where you come in. . .
We are not really into the theme parks anymore, ~~since we are so old~~, don't have young kids to enjoy it with, don't enjoy spending hours upon hours ~~baking skin cancer into my skin~~, on the beach. I have already had to have too many pieces of me removed ~~from the good ole days~~, because I have had too many nasty sunburns.
However we would like to do some window shopping, eat at some nice places, see some hollywood kind of sight seeing.

Does anyone know of a great place to stay and a few things we just can't miss if we are going to be in the area???

I have everything booked, the flight, the car. . . . ok so not everything! I can't decide on a hotel!!! We looked at The Standard in downtown LA, and we also looked at the Griffon on Sunset, we also looked at Vince Beach. But can't make a decision!!!

Give me all the input you have. I know some of you life in California so tell me. . . where do I want to stay and what do I want to do. I have 4 days to play!!!

Annual Chirstmas Family Photo

2009-12-30T12:20:00.000-05:00

Ahhh. . . the annual Christmas Family photo. This family does it every year. It is interesting to look back on these Christmas Day photos and see how we have changed, where we were, what we were wearing, and whether the stress of the big day was showing as proof in the annual family photo.

Here is a nice look back at Christmas Photo's past. . .

2006

We all ran away to Gaitlinburg for Christmas. I would say by

far one of the best Christmases we have ever had.

The Christmas photo was very casual this year. We happen to find this creek beside

the road we were driving and just stopped for some fun. You never know

what you're going to get in to when you are with this family.

This creek became the 2006 Christmas photo backdrop.

2006

This was the picture we actually used as our Annual Christmas Photo. This was taken

on Thanksgiving Day 2006. Still pretty relaxed and still no makeup and after a long

day of cooking and eating and playing. But it turned out pretty ok.

2007

VERY informal!! This picture will always remind me to never get a haircut on Christmas Day!

My sister was in Beauty School, and in trying to support her, I let her cut my hair after

we had our Christmas dinner. She didn't do that bad, however, I didn't need haircut for

about 6 months! This picture, I promise, IS NOT hanging anywhere in our house.

When we saw the pictures weren't going well, we decided to have a little more fun with them and this is what we got. . .

This was much more fun than those other pictures!

2008

Yet another no make up year! The picture didn't turn out too terrible, but still

not one of my favorites!

Then there is this year . . .

This would be the whole family including the furbabies! I think we look a little less stressed and better dressed and put together for a family picture this year. This has to be one of my favorites.

This too is one of my favorites.

We have only had professional photos taken once in our 18+ years together and that was in 1995. We always relied on the Annual Chirstmas Photo. I think, it is high time we get some good picutres made of our sweet little family! Especially looking back over the years of not so good pictures.

Does anyone else get goofy over Christmas pictures my like family? How often have you had professional photos done?

Memories Flood My Mind

2009-12-26T14:07:00.000-05:00

I have been feeling a little sentimental this whole week. I'm not really sure what that is all about, but I know I'm missing my Christmases past. I have been remembering things this week that I have not even thought about probably since I was a little girl.

I had to work on Christmas Eve (night shift), and as I was driving home on Christmas morning I don't even remember seeing the road (thank God there wasn't any traffic and the drive is pretty short). I had this really cool reel to reel movie playing in my head and it was brining me all my Christmases past. It was bittersweet. I laughed a little, was sad a little and at times even noticed a tear or two from all the memories flooding my mind.

See, we may have not been the "richest" family in the neighborhood. We may have not always had it all together as a family. We certainly had our moments of disfunction. But it seemed at Christmas time all that didn't matter. Because on Christmas morning I was the richest kid in town.

My sister and I were not allowed into the living room until we were sure mom and dad were awake. I always seemed to be the first up and at ungodly hours, I'm sure. I would wake my sister and then we would decide if we were going to peek or just wake up our parents. Once they were awake and out of bed we would make a run for it to the living room to find our "side" of the tree. Santa would put all of my goodies on one side of the tree and my sisters on the other side. Because there is 4 years between us, it wasn't hard to decide whose side belonged to who.

I was remembering all my special and most favorite toys. And then I found some pictures online of them. It made me smile from all the memories. Because what I know is that many times while I was growing up, my dad worked two jobs. We didn't really have all we wanted but we certainly had all we needed and then some. I know they worked very hard to give us what we wanted. Spoiled? Yes in some ways, but not usually with material items. Christmas was almost always the exception. Mom would work hard shopping early in the season and stashing gifts here and there so we wouldn't have clue. Then on Christmas morning, our living room would be full of gifts for the two of us. Gifts from Santa in front of the tree and gifts from mom and dad wrapped under the tree.

One of my favorite gifts was the play kitchen I got. Mom called it my "combikitchen". It sat in my room for many years and I would put real water in the sink and wash my play dishes. I had a small wooden table with two chairs in my room and I would invite my friends and family over for "meals" that I would prepare for them in my toy oven. I had lots and lots of plastic food and boxes of "groceries" that was stored in the cabinets of my kitchen. I loved having dinner parties in my bedroom.

I was one of those girly girls that played with dolls until I was probably way too old to be playing with dolls. One that I think is absolutely hilarious now, but I loved it back in the day was my "Whoopsie" doll. She was a plastic doll that had pigtails. When you squeezed her belly the pigtails would go up and down and she would make a squeeking sound that sounded a lot like "whoopsie". I had to be around 7 years old when I got this doll because I believe she came out around 1979.

I was also VERY into Brabie. That should be another post altogether being that Barbie is celebrating her 50th Birthday and all. I can still remember the exciting I had when I saw this pair sitting in front of my Christmas tree. They tagged along for the hour long ride to grandma's house that Christmas morning and we put on "skating shows" for all my cousins and aunts and uncles that afternoon. They were like the coolest present that year. I actually had the Roller Skating Barbie!!!

The year my sister and I got the Atari we were the happiest kids in the universe. Dad hooked the atari up the console TV that sat in our living room floor and we played frogger, pitfall, breakout, space invaders, combat and pacman for hours on end. We were in video game heaven!! We still had our old original atari system and games (it still worked), until about 6 years ago. I want to say we sold it in a garage sale. Wonder how much that would be worth about now, still in working condition?

I loved to roller skate as a kid. What I learned at the roller rink could also be ~~illegal~~ a whole post in itself! I loved the new white roller skates I got one year. They had pink laces and a big pink yarn ball on the toe of the shoe. I was way cool at the rink after Christmas that year. I didn't have to rent my skates anymore!

Does anyone remember this cute littl guy. If I remember right he went almost everywhere with me. Stashed in my school bag, to church, shopping, in the car. . .pretty much everywhere. I do also remember driving my sister absolutely crazing singing the song from the commerical over and over and over.

If you just can't stand it and MUST hear the song, click the video below!

Then the year I got the greatest gift on earth. My very own baby. A for REAL baby that ate, drank, wet and pooped. She came fully equipped with a diaper bag, diapers, food and bowl, spoon, and even a bottle. I was a proud moma of a real baby. I also took her everywhere with me! You can't leave your baby at home while you go shopping now can you? My maternal instincts kicked in early. Baby alive was the first baby I ever loved!
I remember seeing this commercial during Saturday morning cartoons and begging mom for her. I also remember her telling me I might want to ask Santa. That year I must have been a good girl, because
Santa delivered, as usual!!

These memories and many many more flooded my mind yesterday while I was spending christmas with my family, Sharon, Jody and Sharon's siblings. Then I was blessed by gift of my other parents coming to share the evening with us. That was a special treat! (A fun Christmas post with pictures is yet to come)

I did talk to my sister as she was spending Christmas with her other family as well. I talked to my mom and dad online. They were having a good warm day in Brazil spending Christmas with their Brazilian family. We may all be scattered afar, but they were all close to my heart yesterday.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas as well!!!

A Bloggy Giveaway

2009-12-23T15:05:00.000-05:00

I don't usually post about giveaways on other blogs because I really don't try to win them. Maybe it's because I don't feel very lucky most of the time or maybe because really. . . I NEVER win anything.

Ok, so maybe that's not entirely true. I did win something once. When I wasn't even in junior high yet I won 10 yep count 'em TEN records. Really. . records as in LP's, well really we are talking about 45's, you remember them, the small LP's that usually had on song on each side, it you were really lucky you got two songs on each side. The kind you had to put that funny little plastic thing in the middle of to play on your record player. I was still so young that I was playing mine on a Holly Hobby record player.

The contest was to listen to the "Top Nine at 9" on our local radio station. Then be the 9th caller with the list of the top nine songs. I hit the redial button about a million times. And. . . I WON!!! My dad took me to the local record store in the mall and I got to pick out whatever 45's I wanted. I got 10 of them!!!

I remember only some of the artists I picked, Madonna (Like a Virgin), Prince (Purple Rain), Rick Springfield (Bruce), Sheila E (The Belle of St. Mark), Van Halen (Hot for Teacher), David Lee Roth (Just a Gigolo), Pat Benatar (We Belong), and I picked one for my dad, [ya know since he did drive me all the way to the mall] Moe & Joe (The Boys Night Out). I don't remember the others but the funny thing is, I still have these 45's.

So since I haven't won anything since the mid 1980's I thought I'd try my luck again. There is this blog and she is does giveaways quiet often. I read the blog but I have never been to this particular page of her blog. Mostly because I NEVER win anything!!! She has a whole page devoted to giveaways, most of them are pretty nice, alot of them are geared toward people with small children (not me), but this one caught my eye. You must go check it out!!!!

She is giving away an HP TouchSmart 600, yep that's a computer!! And, it's not just any computer it's a pretty darn awesome computer!!! So head on over to see this giveaway. . . make sure you don't put your entry in to win this amazing computer though. Because as blogging friends of mine I am sure you would want me to win this computer. I know that you would not be selfish and sneak an entry or two or even three in there and not tell me, because you are all very very good friends of mine and would have it no other way than for me to win this fabulous prize, especially since I NEVER WIN ANYTHING!!!

Seriously go check it out. If you put an entry in make sure you use my name . . . k? The entry deadline is Christmas Eve. . . OMG!!!! That's tomorrow!!!! Hurry, Hurry, go over there and put ~~your~~ my name in!

Good luck to all who enter ~~my name~~!!!

Merry Chirstmas to you ALL!!!

What do you know about Christmas?

2009-12-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

Did you ever wonder. . .

Why do we hang stockings at Christmas time?

Where did Rudolph come from?

Who thought to send the first Christmas card?

What's the life expectancy of a Christmas tree?

Well wonder no more! My googly fingers have done all the work for you. These were questions I didn't know about Christmas. Thought it would be fun to share.

The Night Before Christmas

A Visit From Saint Nicholas was written in 1822 by Clement C. Moore. It was later published as The Night Before Christmas, as a gift for his children. He did not acknowledge that he was the author of this timeless poem until 1844 when at the request of his children, he agreed to have this piece published in a call book of poetry entitled Poems.

The Christmas Stocking

According to legend, a kindly nobleman grew despondent over the death of his beloved wife and foolishly squandered his fortune, leaving him and his three daughters impoverished.

St. Nicholas, heard of their misfortune and wanted to help. Wishing to remain anonymous, he rode his white horse by the nobleman's house and threw three small pouches of gold coins down the chimney where they were fortuitously captured by the stockings the young women had hung by the fireplace to dry.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

The Chicago-based Montgomery Ward company, department store operators, had been purchasing and distributing children's coloring books as Christmas gifts for their customers for several years. In 1939, Montgomery Ward tapped one of their own employees to create a book for them, thus saving money. 34-year old copywriter Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer in 1939, and 2.4 million copies were handed out that year. Despite the wartime paper shortage, over 6 million copies had been distributed by 1946.

May drew in part on the story "The Ugly Duckling" and in part from his own experiences as an often taunted, small, frail youth to create the story of the misfit reindeer. Though Rollo and Reginald were considered, May settled on Rudolph as his reindeer's name.

Writing in verse as a series of rhyming couplets, May tested the story as he went along on his 4-year old daughter Barbara, who loved the story

Sadly, Robert Mays wife died around the time he was creating Rudolph, leaving Mays deeply in debt due to medical bills. However, he was able to persuade Sewell Avery, Montgomery Ward's corporate president, to turn the copyright over to him in January 1947, thus ensuring May's financial security.

May's story "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was printed commercially in 1947 and in 1948 a nine-minute cartoon of the story was shown in theaters. When May's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, wrote the lyrics and melody for the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", the Rudolph phenomenon was born. Turned down by many musical artists afraid to contend with the legend of Santa Claus, the song was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 at the urging of Autry's wife. The song sold two million copies that year, going on to become one of the best-selling songs of all time, second only to Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". The 1964 television special about Rudolph, narrated by Burl Ives, remains a holiday favorite to this day and Rudolph himself has become a much-loved Christmas icon.

Christmas Cards
The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843 and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. The picture, of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. Two batches totaling 2,050 cards were printed and sold that year for a shilling each.

"Official" Christmas cards began with Queen Victoria in the 1840s. The British royal family's cards are generally portraits reflecting significant personal events of the year. In 1953, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first official White House card. The cards usually depict White House scenes as rendered by prominent American artists. The number of recipients has snowballed over the decades, from just 2,000 in 1961 to 1.4 million in 2005.

Fun Facts

Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.
From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings.
Christmas wasn't a holiday in early America—in fact Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the country's first Christmas under the new constitution.
Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.
Alabama was the first state to make Christmas an official holiday in 1836.

Click here for a video of the History of Christmas

What fun Christmas facts do you know?

*all information on this post was found on the following websites.

http://www.wikipedia.org

http://www.allthingschristmas.com

http://www.history.com

My evolution of Christmas

2009-12-19T02:08:00.000-05:00

Christmas has always been a special time for me. Special for many different reasons and as I get older the reasons seem to change. I have many fond memories of Christmas' past. Time spent with family, special gifts I received and have given and those moments where there were no gifts just time with those most precious to us.

Here is a walk down memory lane with me of my Christmas' past.

This is my first Christmas, 1972. Me and my sister.

I don't know how old I was here but I am guessing probably around 2 or under. Mom always made Christmas special for my sister and myself. She would take us to the mall to visit Santa and have a picture made. There was also those amazing moments of Christmas when we would go "downtown" to Ayers (department store). She would get my sister and me all dressed up in our Christmas "best" and take us downtown for the day. We would walk the streets around the L.S. Ayres and Blocks Department stores looking at the animated Christmas window displays. She would then treat us to lunch at the Ayers tea room. We only went to the Tea Room at Christmas. I always thought it was only for the "rich" people. And when we went at Christmas all dressed up, to me it seemed that no one knew we didn't fit that description. After lunch we would go visit Santa and the Santa Express. The Santa Express was a train that the kids could sit in and it would take us for a ride around this little village and a Christmas tree. It was run by people dressed as Santa's Elves. We would ride the train, see Santa and that day no matter what else was going on in the world, all was well in "our" world. That day each year I felt like a princess.

The L. S. Ayers department store closed in the early 90's. However the Tea Room was replicated, with the original furnishings, at the Indiana State Museum. The Santa Express is also on display at the Indiana State Museum each Christmas.

L. S. Ayres building in downtown Indianapolis

The only picture of the L. S. Ayres Tea Room I could find. I know it is old but it gives you the general ida.

This is a picture of one of the window displays. People would fill the sidewalks around the many window of the department stores to see the Christmas displays. (NOTE: everything that is seen is inside a window. No one in this picture is real. All are animated maniquins, not full size. That little girl would spin around the pole.)

Ahhh. . the Santa Express!! It makes my heart smile just thinking about it!!!

Mom and Dad always made sure Christmas was special for my sister and I, and for that I am grateful!

This was probably one of the most precious Christmas gifts for our entire family when I was younger, my cousin Brandon. He was born in November of 1985. He made everyone smile. Especially my grandpa, who always wanted a grandson. Unfortunately Brandon never got to really know grandpa (he died in August 1986)

As I got older Christmas became more about making memories with and for Jody. I will never forget our first Christmas with him. We went way overboard!!! Of course we were so new at all of this and were trying so hard to make it special. It was a rough year for all of us, and the memories we made that year are etched in my soul.

I remember him praying so hard before he went to bed that it would snow. He had never seen snow before and he so wanted to know what all the hype was about. He prayed and believed that when he woke up there would be a yard full of white fluff to play in.

Our sweet boy got his prayer answered and made his first snow angel!

Christmas after this was never the same for me. I think it was about having a child and now he was the most important. Things were no longer about me. They became about creating moments for him.

Starting traditions that he would treasure as much as I treasure the ones shared with my parents. Making homemade Christmas ornaments, cookies and candies. Watching the special Christmas programs on TV and reading Christmas books together.

Watching his face light up when he opened the gift he most wanted that year. Those are the moments that made all the hard work of the holiday worth every minute. Worth every hour of overtime, every day spent with irritable shoppers at the mall, every sleepless Christmas eve getting it all together just perfect. Worth it just to see him smile!

As he got older it was not so much important to him, what gift he recieved. It became more about making sure we were all together as a family, spending time playing and enjoying each other. Yes, there were still gifts, but the time became more of a gift to all of us. He has always loved the snow. To this day he loves to snowboard and sled and play. This was his first snowboard and the VERY cold Christmas day we spent watching him learn how to use it.

One of my most favorite things to do at Christmas time is to go on a Carriage ride through Downtown Indianapolis. Yes, it is usually very very cold, but it is so worth it. It is best at night in a covered carriage. The city is always decorated so beautifully with Christmas lights everywhere! This makes for a great date night!

In 2006 we changed it up a bit. Sharon's mom had just passed and no one was really in the Christmas mood. We decided to take Christmas and the family on the road. We went to Gatlinburg, TN for Christmas. There were no gifts bought, that was no longer important. What became most important to us was the we were all together and making each moment count. We relaxed, played, and made memories that will last a lifetime. Our condo was large enough that we were able

to cook Christmas dinner right there and all share dinner around the same table. No expections, just pure fun and enjoyment! The start of a new outlook on Christmas altogether.

2005 was the last time both my parents were in the United States at the same time. They didn't go back home to Brazil until just right before Christmas. We were able to spend time together as a whole family with everyone in one place. I have seen my mom the last two years because she has been able to make a trip home, however it has been since 2007 that I have seen my dad. I do miss them!!

Since 2006 our family traditions of Christmas have change tremendously. We no longer purchase gifts for each other. No one really cares that much about "stuff". So we ditched the whole Christmas gift thing and instead we spend time together. We all get together at our home, have a great dinner, play games, play music and sing, take a nap, or do whatever makes us feel good. Again there are no expectations. No one has to go into debt, no frantic shopping, no stress. Christmas is about joy and peace and a new birth. For our family, Christmas is just that. . . joyful, peaceful and remembering why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Family is one of the most important things there is. We have all come to realize that each one of us are not promised tomorrow. We make our time count and love on each other the best we know how. Instead of making Christmas memories now. . . we are creating "family moments" that we will remember and cherish forever!

Falling off the wagon

2009-12-18T21:45:00.000-05:00

Hello. . my name is Amy and it's been 67 days since my last post. I totally fell off the wagon. Please forgive me?

Life gets in the way sometimes. I got busy, didn't post, then didn't read blogs, then got more busy. Now I am trying to give myself a break from life and return to what I like. The problem now is that I don't really have anything interesting to say. Ya know, when you blog daily, every other day or even weekly it comes pretty easy. You can think of all kinds of things to write about. Now that I haven't been doing this for over 2 months I can't think of anything to say.

I am hoping that my readers do in fact return. I hope I haven't been gone so long that people actually forgot about me. Not that I think I am that important and all, but it is fun knowing that people read your stuff.

So, I am going to do some reading. . . get some inspiration and be back at this! Just watch keep your eye out for me!

I do miss you all!!!

Remembering Steve

2009-10-13T20:18:00.000-04:00

In Our Hearts

We thought of you with love today.

But that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday.

And days before that too.

We think of you in silence.

We often speak your name.

Now all we have is memories.

And your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake.

With which we'll never part.

God has you in his keeping.

We have you in our heart..

Steve, Brandy (youngest daughter), and Gina (wife)

Steve

Sept 26, 1955 - Oct 10, 2009

Over the last week, we have been supporting our very good friend who lost her husband suddenly and unexpectedly. He was a wonderful man who leaves behind his wife of 20 years, 3 grown children, 2 daughter-in-laws, 1 son-in-law, 5 grandchildren, and 2 very loved furbabies, as well as a large extended family and many many friends.

Steve was the kind of person who loved everyone regardless. He was a man of little words, however when he did have something to say, you better listen because it was usually pretty darn important. He loved to laugh and make people laugh. There are just too many stories to tell about what an incredible guy he was. He will be certainly be missed.

So, if anyone was wondering what was up with the lack of blogging lately, here it is. Family and friends are life's most precious gifts. When one is in need, we will always be there.

Please remember this family in your prayers as they walk softly through their grief and learn how to live life differently.

Something About Otin

2009-10-07T23:00:00.001-04:00

Blah, blah blah Otin, blah. Blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah Otin blah blah blah blah blah blah! Otin! Blah, blah blah blah Otin, blah blah blah.Blah, blah blah Otin, blah. Blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah Otin blah blah blah blah blah blah! Otin! Blah, blah blah blah Otin, blah blah blah.Blah, blah blah Otin, blah. Blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah Otin blah blah blah blah blah blah! Otin! Blah, blah blah blah Otin, blah blah blah.Blah, blah blah Otin, blah. Blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Otin. Blah Otin blah blah blah blah blah blah! Otin! Blah, blah blah blah Otin, blah blah blah.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND OTIN!!!

I didn't want to be JUST like everyone else and give you the blonde of your dreams. This blonde is special. She will keep you really warm at night with all that fur. She will pick all the dirt out of your hair after a long days work. What more could a guy ask for, right?

I hope you birthday is as amazing as you are! Do something fun, just for you and remember how much people just love you out here in blogland.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OTIN!!!

Mosquito Hawk

2009-10-07T19:45:00.001-04:00

Mosquito Hawk (AKA Crane Fly)

Jane, this post is for you!

We have hundreds of these flying ~~beauties~~ annoying pests, in our yard. Rumor has it they kill regular mosquitos. However after a thourough search on my friend google, I have found this to not be accurate information.

According to A-Mosquito dot com

These flying pests are commonly refered to as mosquito hawks, or crane flies. They resemble very large mosquitoes. Although it is rumoured that mosquito hawks eat mosquitoes, that is not the case with crane flies. Crane flies do not bite people either, but prefer to feed on the roots of a variety of grasses.

So I am guessing by the number of these varmits I see daily flying around in our yard, by spring we will probably have no yard. The grass will all be gone to these so called mosquito eaters.

The don't bite, that is a good thing, but as soon as you step foot in the grass, you are being swarmed by them. It is like they stay hidden deep in the grass until the grass is distrubed then WHALA!!! out they come!!

So, Jane. . now you know, what has me going crazy around here in Indiana.

Take the risk!!!

2009-10-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

I had a guidance counselor in high school tell me I'd never be able to get into college, so there was no use in even applying. I ended up going to a community college right out of high school and let their truth become my own. I dropped out after a semester and a half. I didn't think I had what it took. The classes were to hard, I just couldn't keep up.

This kind of self talk followed me for many many years. Landing myself in dead end jobs, believing I would never make much of myself. I would always be "just someone's secretary". Inside I wanted more for myself. Inside I didn't believe I could do it. I had learned to believe the lies I had been told. The lies that said I wasn't good enough, wasn't smart enough, wasn't pretty enough, wasn't popular enough.

It wasn't until I was well into my 20's that I decided I wanted to be a nurse.

Many people thought and even said outloud that they thought I was crazy. That nursing school was too hard. I should try something else. Why would I want to be a nurse anyway?

By the time I was 28 years old I had grown into myself. I had learned that I could do anything I decided I wanted to do. At that moment I decided I wanted AND would be a nurse. I applied, I tested, I was accepted to a local college. I passed my pre-requisites, not with flying colors but I passed. I applied, I tested, and I was accepted again to the ever so competitive nursing program at this same local college. I trudged my way through, beside all those cute, giggly, 18 & 19 yr olds who had just graduated from high school. Those who had anatomy in high school. I don't remember it even being offered when I was in high school. I studied, I read, I cried, I screamed and I made it through my lectures. Then I cried, and screamed some more as I grew the strongest backbone ever during my clinical rotations with nursing instructors who thouroughly believed in breaking a person down before building them into the nurse they were paid to create. Then I cried again as I walked across a stage, dressed in my white gown, with my family and friends cheering me on. As I sat through that ceremony I remember thinking of each person in my life who told me I would never become anything. That said I shouldn't even try. That continually broke my spirit. At that moment I felt like someone important, like someone who had beaten the odds.

I look back on that time now and believe that I did beat the odds. However, now what I know is that it is not my education that makes me someone important. It is not how I look, or what people think of me. It is not what job I hold or how much money I make.

It is what I think of myself. . . it is the fact that I love ME. It is that I know that I am someone important, not because of anything other than I am ME. I took the risk, I lived my life and continue to live it every day that I am gifted with. I beat the odds. I was determined NOT to be what people said I was. I am unique, there is no one just like me. I am human, I have the ability to feel, I have the ability to love and to be loved. I am someone!!!

Take a minute to tell someone how special they are today!! Encourage someone to take the risk. . . to live!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

2009-10-06T02:00:00.001-04:00

Why is it when we have what we want we always want more. Something bigger something better. . .What does it take to be satified? Is this simply a reflection of what is inside of us? A piece of us that is missing? Something we must give to ourselves?

People all over the hospital are FREAKING out about H1N1!!! Is it really THAT big of a deal? Isn't it just another flu. . . shouldn't we be ok if we just take care of ourselves? Kids becoming sick, very sick from this. . . is it because parents are not paying attention and sending sick kids to school and infecting other kids who then infect their siblings, parents, grandparents, childcare workers, etc. Use your common sense!! If you are sick, stay home. Wash your hands often and stay away from places where there are sick people!

Is it really necessary to do road construction on EVERY exit on the interstate? Seriously, there are times, around here, when there are 3-4 exits in a row that are closed!!! Do they not realize this causes road rage, which in turn causes accidents, which then causes innocent people, like me, to be late to work!!!!

What is up with all the misquito hawks? I just walked outside to take the dogs to do their "business" and low and behold, I am attacked by these swarming varmits!!! I HATE THEM!!! They are ugly, they are big and I simply don't like them in my yard. I would really not be sad at all if they chose to take up residency someplace else!

I have spent the last 2 weeks giving flu shots to the staff at the hospital. I find it very amusing that so many doctors are afraid of needles. One nearly passed out while sitting in the chair, BEFORE I ever had the needle out and attached to the syringe!!!! Seriously??? Did they check their job description before applying to medical school?

I really don't like being home alone! I like to have people (ones that I care about) in my space. I also like the quietness I am having tonight. . . home alone. I can't wrap my brain around this. I don't like being alone, but I am happy and content tonight, all alone in my house, just me and the doggies. Aahhhh, the sound of a fishtank. . . how soothing!

If an opportunity appears right in front of me, after praying and praying for answers, how do I know it is God who placed it there. Is He just waiting for me to make the right decision? If I make the wrong one will He put another option in front of me that is even more enticing? How will I know which door the prize is behind?

Even when it is quiet there is always a song in my head. I think I have said this before. Music speaks to my soul. It soothes my anxieties. It simply makes me happy, a "happy on the inside" kind of happy.

This is the song that has remained in my head for the last several weeks. I have even caught myself humming/singing outloud at work, not even realizing what I was doing!

This song has calmed my anxiety, and helped me find the quiet moments to really sit with the choices I have before me. I have found my strength!!! Thank you, Jesus!!!

One of my favorite things to do is to drive with my praise and worship CD's playing as loud as I can. I find a place of solitute. And thank God I am usually alone during this time, cause I am usually singing at the top of my lungs, clapping my hands, and praising the Lord. I am sure people driving around me think I am totally nuts. Especially during the times I am driving to and from work.

If we humbly accept. . .We must pray

2009-10-05T20:11:00.000-04:00

Revolations 365.25

When the moon sets

Over your shoulder

As the sun rises

Bright towards your face,

What's in the middle?

Your life is. . .

Filled with choices

For each moment, each place.

We live in between the

Past and the future,

In the moment of our

Here, now, today.

Can we cope with the

Daily life stressers?

If we humbly accept. . .

We must pray.

- Matttie Stepanek, December 2001

Hope Through Heartsongs

Life has certainly been full of stressers for me lately. I have had many choices to make some difficult, some not. Many were just basically about changing my mind. Changing my mind to accept the path that has been placed before me. Through all of this, I humbly accept. . . and I pray.

Elijah Update

2009-09-30T11:30:00.003-04:00

Elijah is currently in surgery. According to the nurses who are giving updates, he is doing well. They are expecting another hour before we get another update.

Prior to them taking him back to the OR, they gave him some versed to help with the seperation when they took him from mommy. We all had a pretty good time, laughing with him and listening to him laugh. There is nothing like an already funny baby, now drunk on versed. It was a good way to help everyone relax a little.

Thank you all for the prayers. I will give more updates as I know them. Until then I will leave you with some sweet smiles.

Elijah and his "Grammy"

Elijah loves to play the piano. This was the concert he gave us Monday night.

UPDATED @ 4:00pm

Elijah did very well in the surgery. I actually feel much more informed and educated about what is going on. The plan with the surgery was to check the current pacemaker he had that was keeping his Left Ventricle working and then place another pacemaker to try to get the Left Atrium working. I actually think I had the left and right mixed up in my other posts. Sorry 'bout that. What they ended up doing was removing the old pacemaker and putting in a new one that was attached to his left and right ventricles and the left atrium. This means he will have three chambers of his heart working instead of just one. Which then means more of his blood will be oxygenated.

He did great in the OR and once he was in the PACU his heart rate dropped quiet a bit. They decided to move him to ICU just keep an eye on things for a while. Before they actually got him moved his heart rate went up to the 140's which is where they want it to be. So as of right this minute I believe he is pretty stable. It sounded like the ICU move was just a precautionary measure. If all goes well tonight they will move him to a regular floor tomorrow.

Thank you all for praying for him and his family. They truly appreciate it and have been touched by the emails and kind words you have sent.

Prayers for Today

2009-09-30T01:01:00.000-04:00

Remember this post not too awful long ago?

Elijah will be going into surgery today at 9:00am. He will be having a pacemaker placed to see if they can get the atrium of his heart to start working. Currently only one ventricle of his heart works. I have spent the last 48 hours with Elijah, his mom LaToya and his grandmother. I had the opportunity to ask several questions today, about Elijah's previous surgeries. He has had several and I learned today that if this pacemaker works as it should it will prepare him for another surgery called a Fontan procedure that will help send more oxygenated blood to the rest of his body. If this surgery doesn't work, they won't be able to do the Fontan procedure and the next step will be a transplant.

Click here for information on Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and the treatments Elijah has had already.

I am asking that everyone who will, take a moment and pray for Elijah and his family today. Pray for Elijah's health, pray for his family. I personally can't imagine sending my child into the hands of a surgeon and not being able to be in control of what was happening with him. They are trusting God and having faith that God will work this all out for His good. Elijah has a purpose in this world, there is no doubt about that. Please pray that they all continue to trust in God's will for his life. Pray for the surgeons, doctors, nurses and other caregivers who will be working with Elijah during this hospital stay. Pray that they realize someone bigger than them is in control. That they rest well tonight and come to that OR with a clear mind and a confident game plan.

I have never met another child who has touched so many lives with just plain and simple love as he has to give. It's the eyes and the smile that grab at your heart within seconds of meeting this amazing child. It is a love like no other.

So, as you go about your day today, please think of Elijah and his family and say a little pray.

World Alzheimer's Day

2009-09-21T09:12:00.000-04:00

September 21, 2009

World Alzheimer's Day

There are no words to describe the impact this horrible disease has on the life of those living with Alzheimer's Disease or the life of those who care for loved ones living with Alzheimer's Disease. This disease takes small pieces of you a little at a time. In the beginning you are aware that the pieces are falling away and you try to catch them before they fall to the floor and crumble. Eventually, you can't catch the pieces anymore, or just stop trying, or maybe you just don't realize they are falling. You are in there somewhere. People look at you like you are only a shell, but you are in there. You can't tell them you are there, you can't tell them you love them and are sorry you can't be with them, but on some level you know. Every now and then you may even be able to muster up enough energy to push through and let them see you, if only for a few seconds. Let them see that you do remember who they are. Let them see a sparkle in your eye when they come visit you. Call them by name, just this once, so they will know you do remember. So you can see them smile. So you can know, that yes. . . you do remember them. Their eyes are familiar, their smell is familiar, their touch is gentle and you can remember that.

Sometimes the person caring for you doesn't understand how you can have that brief window. It comes and goes so quickly. But you have to have that glimpse to keep you going. Keep you trying, keep you knowing. Because you know that before long, there will be no more windows. You want those people to know that you love them and appreciate their patients with you. You feel sorry that you can't remember, even though you try and in reality there is nothing you can do. But you see the disappointment on their face, each time you don't remember. You hurt, but you don't know why it hurts. Who are these people calling you honey, mother, sister, friend? Are you supposed to know them?

There are many faces to Alzheimers. I don't know one person who has not been affected by this disease in some way. For me, I have been effected twice. My grandmother Geraldine Cochran who was 84 when she died, lived with Alzheimer's for many years. I cared for her in her last years while she was in a nursing home. I fed her breakfast, I bathed and dressed her, I tucked her into bed each night. My grandma transformed into my little girl. I remember I would lay down in her bed with her sometimes at night and wait for her to fall asleep, just like she would do with me when I was a little girl. This time I was given to care for her has become very special to me, and I miss her very much!

We also cared for the Pastors mother for 10 years. She was dianosed with early onset Alzheimer's at age 50. She died at the age of 60 surrounded by her 4 loving children. She was the sweetest lady I had ever met. Her southern charm and hospitality always made anyone feel welcome in her space. I am grateful for the years we had to care for Peggy. I am grateful for the way she loved her children, even when she couldn't remember. Some days she would remember them, other days she might call one of her daughters "mother" and her son she might call by her brothers name. Either way, she was spending time with someone she loved dearly. Peggy gave me the sweetest gift a person could give. Peggy had an 8 yr old son at the time she was diagnosed. The Pastor and I have been blessed to have raised Peggy's son (our son) since that time. We have been able to watch him grow into an amazing young man of 21 yrs old. He has many qualities of his mother in him. His spirit is free and gentle. She instilled in him a strong set of morals before she was not able to remember. She brought a gift into this world. Peggy is deeply missed and pieces of her live on in each of her 4 children. You cannot see one of them without seeing a little bit of Peggy.

Today, take a minute and remember those who you know who have been affected by Alzheimer's. Remember them as they were before the diagnosis. Honor them as they are now. Learn what you can about this disease and support Alzheimer's Research in your local area.

Charles Bronson (Actor)
Died at age 81

Perry Como (Musician)
Died at age 89

Norman Rockwell (Artist)
Died at age 84

Ronald Reagan (40th President of the United States of America)
Died at age 93

Sugar Ray Robinson (Boxer)
Died at age 68

Rita Hayworth (Actress, Dancer, Model)
Died at age 69

My Mom's in Town!!

2009-09-19T00:21:00.001-04:00

I am not real sure I have ever really talked much about my parents on this blog. They are missionaries to Brazil, South America. They have been there for several years and come home only when necessary. For example, last year my mom was very ill and had to come home for 6 months for medical care. She is all better now, thank God!!! I was worried about her but it all came out just fine and she was able to return to Brazil and return to my dad. My mom is home again for a few months this year. This was pretty unexpected. See, the economy issues have not only hit us in the United States. It has also effected then in Brazil. They are volunteer missionaries, this means they are there because of a calling, and are not paid a salary to be there. They sold everything they had here in the USA and packed only what they could and established a new home in Santarem, Brazil. They are supported by pledges and donations made to their not-for-profit organization called Missions - Boundaries Unlimited, Inc. When the economy started getting bad here, many churches that send them money each month to help support the ministries they do, pulled out and either stopped completely sending money or drastically lowered the amount of money they send. This has had an impact on how much and what they can actually do.
There are several different kinds of ministires they have. It is quiet amazing all that they are able to do with the help of other churches here in the USA.

I am not going to ramble on and on and on about all they do. I will let you see for yourself. See, mom came home this time to raise money for their ministries. She has been visiting various churches and speaking with alot of people and doing alot of fundraising. This is essential to keeping their vision for Santarem, Brazil alive.

Below is a video interview that was done this week to help explain what it is they do in Santarem Brazil. Unfortunately I can't embed the video into this blog. You will have to click on this link to take you to the video. Let it start on it's own, the pictures will follow in time with the interview.

Enjoy and thanks for taking a minute to watch this.

I have also been able to talk my mom into blogging. She is a slow blogger right now because she is so busy here in the states, however, I am working on her. Before you know it she will be a blogging master. Please go visit her blog and be patient. She will get the hang of it and will continue to share her stories of life on the River. Yes. . . the Amazon River.

Just a Glimpse

2009-09-17T02:00:00.003-04:00

ere is just a very small glimpse of our wonderful weekend at Midwest SpiritQuest 2009 in Northwestern Indiana on Labor Day weekend.

I can't tell you how wonderful the services were! It is so hard to leave each year and then we can never wait for Labor Day to come around again!

This is a time of renewal for us all! Great singing, great preaching, great food, great fellowship. And we get to see many of our friends whom we only get to see maybe once or twice a year.

This gentleman, Marvin Matthews has sang with some great artists! Check out his website!

But don't forget to check out this video too!!! This song was sang at a funeral of my cousin several years ago and I haven't really liked it since. It just seemed like such a sad song to me. Marvin Matthews just brought this song to life when we watched him singing this! I now love this song again!!!

2009 Indiana AIDS Walk & Run

2009-09-16T03:00:00.000-04:00

October 10, 2009 I will be walking in the 2009 Indiana AIDS Walk & Ride.

Below is some information regarding the Indiana AIDS Fund. This information can also be found on their website

The Indiana AIDS Fund is a private, philanthropic fund-raising and grant-making organization dedicated to supporting HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in Indiana. Our goal is to build long-term alliances between Indiana's philanthropic community and HIV/AIDS education and service providers by engaging community leaders in the fight against AIDS.

Since our inception in 1994, the Indiana AIDS Fund has become the largest private funder of HIV/AIDS programs in Indiana as well as a recognized authority on HIV/AIDS issues. Each year, it provides grants to community-based organizations throughout the state for the delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention and care services.

The Indiana AIDS Fund is jointly convened by The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis and the Indiana State Department of Health. It shares office space, staff and other resources with The Health Foundation, but the two organizations have separate boards of directors. The 18 members of the Indiana AIDS Fund board of directors, who live throughout the state, oversee the IAF director, who takes care of the daily management of the fund. The Indiana AIDS Fund is also a senior partner of the National AIDS Fund, the nation's leading funding agent for HIV/AIDS prevention programs, direct care services and advocacy initiatives as well as a leading voice on HIV prevention. The National AIDS Fund provides leadership grants to state and local partners. The Elton John AIDS Foundation also matches a substantial portion of the money raised by the Indiana AIDS Fund. Established in 1992, this foundation is an international non-profit organization funding prevention, education programs and direct care services. In collaboration with the NAF, the EJAF facilitates nationwide challenge grants to communities and populations most impaired by HIV/AIDS.

I am walking with a team from my church. My personal goal is to raise $100. Our church team goal is to raise $1500 and have a total of at least 10 walkers.

The AIDS Walk & Ride is sponsored by the Indiana AIDS Fund to raise money for HIV impacted Hoosiers throughout Indiana and the agencies that serve them. These agencies provide their clients with direct care, financial assistance, housing, prevention, medications and more. All of the money raised from this event is filtered back to the community through the Indiana AIDS Fund’s Gregory R. Powers Direct Emergency Financial Assistance (DEFA) program, which provides essential needs out of reach for persons with AIDS, such as food, clothing, rent, utilities and medications. The AIDS Walk & Ride will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at University Park, Indianapolis. This is the 19th year for the 5K AIDS Walk and the 5th year for the 10K bicycle ride. In 2008, over 1,200 people participated, raising a total of $160,000.

I am asking my family and friends to give a small donation to this cause or to come out and walk with me. I know many of you are not in this area so you won't be able to walk. I understand that. I also know that times are tough, I do understand that as well. Times are also tough for those who survive with HIV/AIDS. Those who are unable to get their medications, unable to work, don't have appropriate housing, etc.

If each person gave $1.00 that would be enough. Just think about how you could help this community.

If you feel like you would like to give a donation or join us in the walk please follow this link to my personal donation page.

Thank you for making a difference!!!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

2009-09-15T02:18:00.000-04:00

Gossip - it kills the spirit, hurts many, and most time is not true, just someone's opinion that really should just be kept locked away and not shared with anyone.

Can't sleep, not during the day, not during the night. . . just plain. . can't sleep. Making me crazy and at times difficult to deal with.

I so need to reorganize my craft room, or should I call it my "therapy" room. Haven't been in there in about a year and now it has become a "catch all" for those things that just don't have a place.

Gonna have a garage sale on the 26th, maybe I can get that room cleaned out by then and get rid of things.

Why do I have three dogs in my house again? Dog sitting is not always a fun project. He is a cutie, and a great bed buddy, but good Lord does he whine alot!

Wonder if I'm gonna get to work this week. I hate that I keep getting cancelled. Can't decide if I need to find a whole new job or just ride out this storm. No hours at all last week!!! That goodness the Pastor went back to work last week. I need God to send me a CLEAR sign on what it is I need to do.

I so had fun at the church conference I went to last week. I always have a feeling of renewal after those. Wish they went on forever. Now it is back to life as usual. Can't forget the feeling I had while I was there. Something I definately need to hold on to.

Food for thought? Nope not me. . . just food. I love food! I love to eat. I have in the past year lost 60 pounds and I keep finding myself feeling so comfortable that I just get back into eating whatever it is I want. I don't want to gain that weight back. I like the new me. I like how I feel, how I look and they way people look at me different. Need a will power boost shot!! Gotta stay on track before I "bloom" again!

Had a house guest for the past week. It has been wonderful having him around. One of those houseguests that you don't even realize is here. Don't have to entertain him, just an extra person in the house. He cooks dinner, he helps with the animals. He is hilarious and such a joy. I don't know another soul who wakes up EVERY morning singing! The Pastor and I really need to take those morning singing lessons.

I have been such a bad blogger lately. I can't seem to find the time, energy or motivation to blog, read blogs, comment on blogs. I haven't gone completely away, I guess just been turning into a part time blogger. I hope people don't give up on me!

The weather is changing around here. Causing everyone to have colds, all evening when everyone is home I hear coughing and sniffling all night!! But it sure hasn't caused the census at the hospital to go up. Still no work there for me.

The leaves are also starting to change. The green will soon be gone and the Indiana grey will be out in full force. The leaves will show their amazing colors and once they fall to the ground everything turns grey. Brown grass, naked trees, and the sky just doesn't seem as blue.

Seasonal depression will be in full force. I need a vaccine!

Where Were You?

2009-09-11T02:00:00.001-04:00

Where were you that day. . . THIS day 8 years ago today at 8:46am when American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into WTC North Tower. Then at 9:03 Flight 175 crashes into WTC South Tower. Then at 9:37am American Airlines Flight 77 crashing into the western side of the Pentegon. Then at 10:06am the United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in a field outside Shankesville, Pa.

I think most of us will remember exactly where we were this day 8 years ago and exactly what we were doing.

I was driving to work listening to the radio when the first WTC tower was hit. I remember thinking, "how awful!". I had no idea at that time the significance of that moment. Before the second plane hit I had arrived at work and watched it on TV. The rest of the day was a blur of something undescribable. It was like watching a horrible war movie. My mind could not comprehend was I was seeing. How could this be happening? What about those people, their families, the rescue workers?

The hours turned into days and then into months as we continues to hear of more statistics, more death, more missing persons, more clean up, more recovery, more grief, then the suicides started. People were not able to deal with the magnitude of that moment. The magnitude of that loss.

We will forever be changed by that day September 11, 2001. We will never forget what was taken from us. We will never forget how our country was shaken by grief. . . by fear. We will never forget how our country was pulled closer together in an effort to overcome. We will never forget the reason for this war we are still battling.

By September 2002, the number of lives lost that day was 2,800 and names were still being added. There were still 78 people not accounted for. More than a dozen countries represented in that number. Many firefighters lost their lives that day in an attempt to rescue others.

I will never forget this day! And on this day each year I will remember and give thanks for the people who work in and for our country to keep us safe. Who risk their lives. so that others may live. The service men and women who leave their families to fight for our freedom.

I will never forget where I was that day. . . . and where I am today.

THE STAIRWELL....

You say you will never forget where you were when

you heard the news On September 11, 2001.

Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room

with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I

held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the

peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it

is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed

breakfast to their children. I held her up as she

tried to understand his words and as she realized

he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a

woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been

knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.

'Of course I will show you the way home - only

believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest

ministering to the injured and devastated souls.

I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He

heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,

with every prayer. I was with the crew as they

were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the

believers there, comforting and assuring them that their

faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan.

I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.

Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew

every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me

for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.

Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the

smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take

my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.

But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You

may not know why, but I do. However, if you were;

there in that explosive moment in time, would you have

reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey

for you . But someday your journey will end. And I

will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may

be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are

'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Thursdays - Mother's Lesson . . . RERUN

2009-09-10T06:00:00.002-04:00

A little "birdy" told me!

How is it that my mother always knew what I was up to. Even as a little girl she would know when I had dome something I shouldn't have. She knew when I was lying to her. She knew where I had been, when I had told her I had been somewhere else. I never understood it, as a chid. It also didn't bother me much as a child. It just meant I had to be more sneaky. I had to be careful, keep a straight face when I wasn't telling the WHOLE truth. Do whatever I could to keep her from knowing that I was doing things, saying things or going places, I shouldn't have been.

Then I became a teenager. This is when it really started bothering me. I was the baby in the family. I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not, but I think I did get away with a little more than my sister. Maybe because she paved the way. Maybe because she simply wore them down and proved to them she could make it out alive. Therefore, it must have been ok, so they just let me do more things without me having to beg or put up a fuss about it.

I never understood though, as a teenager, how my mother knew exactly where I had been when I was out with my friends. For example, I got my driver's license and the first thing they told me was "DO NOT take your car down town!". That meant I was not to drive into Indianapolis. Weeeelllll . . . let me assure you, the very first thing I did was fill my little gas tank up and away I went. By my self no less, right into the heart of this big city. I had never driven downtown before and had no idea where I was going. I knew I would get lost, but that didn't matter to me. I knew which direction I needed to go to get back home and it was still in the middle of the afternoon so I had plenty of time to get lost and find my way home. It was a success and for some reason mom knew what I had been up to.

Then I started dating. This was the really weird part. I would come home from a date and she would be able to tell me where we went and EXACTLY what we had done. She knew it all. I never could figure this one out. How did she know that we went "parking" down the little road that ran beside a cornfield 5 miles away from my home? I still don't know that. But she knew. I guess that little "birdy" was working overtime for her.

Then I had a son of my own. When he was younger and out riding his bike he had boundaries to stay in. I would get this "gut" feeling that he was not where he said he was going to be. We would get in the car and drive around. I would find him some of the strangest places. I never said much about him not being where he was supposed to be, but it always surprised him that I knew. Then he started dating. I didn't know as much as my mom knew but I did know when he was up to no good. Thank goodness that wasn't very often. Especially since my "birdy" didn't work overtime like my moms.

What I learned is that as a mother, you just know. You are connected to your kids in such a way that when they are in trouble or in a place that they shouldn't be, your heart knows. That is when you get on your knees and pray. Then you go and find them and bring them home. If you are not in a place you can bring them home, or they are too old and just have to take their own journey, all you can do is just wear out the carpet by being on your knees all the time praying for their safety. Praying they will do what is right and remember all you have taught them. And pray that that little "birdy" will keep hanging out and maybe whisper in their ear that it's time to come home now.

Ask A Nurse Wednesday

2009-09-09T06:00:00.001-04:00

It's that time again! Have you ever wanted to know something but didn't want to ask your doctor. Go ahead, ask me. I will give you my best answer.

Ask me anything. . . .
Why do you laugh when tickled?
Why do you have tears when you cry?
What causes pimples?
If I cross my eyes will they really stick?

Ok, so I gave you a few sample questions. Let's see what you got this week. Give it your best shot!

Here are the rules:

1. ONLY one questions per person per week!

2. Questions have to have to at least be medically related

3. Make them as crazy or serious as you like, let's have fun with this!!

DISCLAIMER
Sad but true, there must be a disclaimer!!! I am a nurse, not a doctor. I know alot, but don't know everything. I will give you my best answer, however if you really have a problem, go ahead and ask, but please see your family doctor. If you don't have a family doctor - - -
GET ONE!!!

There is this boy. . .

2009-09-08T22:42:00.005-04:00

There is this boy. . .

His name is Elijah

Elijah is 29 months old. He has just started walking, with the help of his trusty walker and braces on his feet to help give him support. Elijah just started being able to crawl. Before now he would sit on his bottom and scoot across the floor, using his feet in front of him to pull him. He does very well getting around. He doesn't talk much. He is trying really hard and can say some words but not many. They are teaching him sign language and he is doing very well with this. There is not a person he doesn't love. He has become everyone's baby, everyone that knows him, anyway. He has the heart of an angel and a smile that will melt the hardest of hearts. He has had many challenges in his life. This is why I have decided to give him a place on my blog.

See, Elijah was born with a heart condition called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome. The entire right side of his heart was not working. It was not working to the point of him having to have surgery to close the whole right side. So now he only has the left side of his heart. The problem with this is that his left atrium, the left upper chamber of his heart, is also not working. It is truly a miracle that he is still with us today. The problems of his heart cause him to to not get enough oxygen in his blood. He is on alot of medications daily, some of the doses being very high. These medications along with alot of prayers is what keeps Elijah with us. He has also just recently started having seizures. This has also been able to be controlled with medication. Because of the lack of oxygen in his blood, his heart has to work extra hard. His little fingers and toes most of the time are very blue. His fingers and toes have started "clubbing" just like people with lung diseases. I have seen him look very gray with blue fingers, toes, and lips. This is not unusual for Elijah. The Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome is the big issue, however there are many other issues with his heart. I just don't know all the details well enough to share them.

Elijah and his young mother (20yr old) have a great support system with his grandparents and church. Elijah goes to church each week with his grandparents. He love music. During the song service he will clap his hands, play his tamborine, and raise his hands in praise. He doesn't really talk much yet. That is something he is still struggling with, however he sings/hums with the best of them. During the preaching part of church he will sit with his grandma in the sound booth. He will sometimes stand on the counter at the sound booth in the back of the church and lean against the ledge. This past Sunday during church, I heard Elijah "preaching". He was jabbering from the back of the church. I couldn't understand a word he was saying but he was saying it with much passion. I turned around just in time to see his little arms flying and heard him clearly say "HALLELUJAH" at the top of his lungs. This precious little baby was just preaching away, right along with the pastor.

Elijah can't run and play with the rest of the children. He loves to watch the other children play, run around chasing each other and giggling. I don't think he even realizes that he might be missing out on anything. He is absolutely content to watch, point, giggle and cheer them on.

Elijah loves music. There is not doubt about that. He was at our house last month and we sat two old drums in front of him and gave him a couple of plasic spoons. He played and played and played those drums and was one happy boy! He couldn't get enough of them. He would play for a second, then stop, waiting for applause from his audience. There is no questioning that this baby is loved by many.

Elijah has had several heart related surgeries in his 29 months. Last month, his mom and grandparents drove three hours one way to visit his cardiologist in Indianapolis. That is when they learned that Elijah had an ejection fraction of 40%. This was a victory!!! Before this visit his ejection fraction has been 20%. For those that are not familiar with what this means. . . the ejection fraction is the amount of blood your heart is pumping out.

They decided they would try to put a pacemaker in this month. September 30th Elijah will undergo surgery again, and this time they will try placing a pacemaker on his left atrium. The goal would be for this to make the left atrium work, giving him a higher ejection fraction and pumping more blood through his little body. Any time a baby goes in for surgery it is serious. It becomes even more serious when you have a sick baby with so many health issues going to surgery, especially a heart surgery.

There is this girl, LaToya, she is 20 years old. She has this amazing baby, Elijah. LaToya is a wonderful mother. She has been through more in her lifetime than any kid should have to go through. She is a single mom of a baby with a congenital heart defect. She has the wonderful support of her family, and church family and friends. However, I am sure there are moments she feels very alone. Elijah is her life. She loves that baby more than anything else in this world. She is no different than any other mother, who wants to give their child the moon and stars. She holds her breath while praying for Elijah to breathe. I am sure she would give her very breath to him, if it would mean he would have a full life. However, God did not plan it that way. As with any mother facing the decisions she has had to face, she wonders what God is up to. . . and sometimes, wonders where He is altogether. Why her. . . why Elijah. . . why now? God has given LaToya the most precious gift . . . Elijah.

I am blogging about this to ask that everyone who will, please pray for this family. Pray for Elijah and his mommy, LaToya. Pray for her to find peace in all things and to know that only God knows the plans He has for Elijah. Pray for God's will in Elijah's life. Pray for his grandparents for strength and wisdom and peace. Pray for the surgeons and doctors and nurses who will be caring for Elijah during this surgery and afterward. Pray that God guide their hands, and give them knowledge and a clear mind that day during surgery. That they have compassion when dealing with this baby and his family.

What I know is true is that Elijah has already lived beyond what doctors thought possible. I also know that God has given this baby a ministry. I don't know anything beyond that. . . other than I have to trust in God and in His perfect will. I pray that Elijah is with us for a very very long time and not for just a season.

I will update this blog as I know more about Elijahs condition. Until then, please remember Elijah and his family in your prayers!!!

If you would like, please feel free to copy this button and place it on your blog and link back to this post. I would love to have as many people praying for Elijah as possible.

Little Debbie - Unraveled

2009-09-03T01:39:00.001-04:00

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Old ladies everywhere are searching high and low for their beloved oatmeal cream pies, nutty bars, and swiss rolls. A riot broke out at a Tennessee Wal Mart early this morning between two elderly ladies fighting over the last box of Zebra Cakes.

The shelves that once looked liked this. . .

Are now looking like this. . . .

Little Debbie stock however is on the rise. No one can quite figure out how in the world this is happening. Stores all across the United States are unable to get deliveries of any Little Debbie item. They all seem to be on the backorder list.

After several days of thorough investigation it seems we have found the cause to all this madness. It seems there is someone working for the U.S. Government who has an ~~addiction~~ obsession with Little Debbie. Due to the sensitivity of this case we are unable to name, at this time, the person under investigation. We have proof, however she has a hoarding issue. There are reports that she is not living at this time in the U. S. These reports come from very reliable sources that tell us, she continues to request people to send her more snack cakes. Preferably Swiss Rolls.

Just recently a person close to the suspect who wishes to remain annonymous has stated, "Even her mother-in-law is helping feed this addiction. We have tried to get her help but she keeps talking peole into sending her more. It has become so bad that she hides the snack cakes and forgets where she hid them. Just recently she found one loley Swiss Roll she had hidden in her freezer. She really needs help."

Family and friends have tried to get her help, offering to pay for her treatment. Instead she decided to take a job assignment far away from any emotional support. Our team of reporters have found evidence that she has paid off someone (whom will remain anonymous at this time) to re-route shipments of Little Debbies to her personal residence. This Little Debbie delivery vehicle has been seen making daily deliveries at a residence in Sudan.

They were even seen unloading this. . . .

There has also been concern about the amount of trash the woman is producing with all the wrappers and boxes and such. These photos were received from a concerned friend, who stated these boxes were in the back yard of her Sudan home.

All of this has caused quiet a ruckus here in the U. S., causing Little Debbie to fall into a pit of depression. What once was a sweet, wholesome, household name, has turned a little sour for some folks. Little Debbie has taken up smoking and was recently photographed by the paparazzi, sporting a baby bump.

What does all this mean for the future of Little Debbie? Rumor has it that Little Debbie will be coming out with a whole new product line called Little Debblets, due to debut in approximately nine months.

In the meantime, a Little Debbie spokesperson has requested that all shipments be returned to their regular routes. They have promised to make arrangements with this unamed woman living in Sudan as to not keep her feeling deprived. They would also like to remind everyone that as Little Debbie Snack Cakes are in fact a tasty treat, all things are good in moderation. Over consumption could contribute to health issue.

Ask A Nurse Wednesday

2009-09-02T05:00:00.001-04:00

It's that time again! Have you ever wanted to know something but didn't want to ask your doctor. Go ahead, ask me. I will give you my best answer.

Ask me anything. . . .
Ever wonder if it really does take seven years to digest gum?
Why are yawns contagious?
Does eating chocolate really cause ache?
Why do we get goose bumps?
Ok, so I gave you a few sample questions. Let's see what you got this week. Give it your best shot!

Here are the rules:

1. ONLY one questions per person per week!

2. Questions have to have to at least be medically related
3. Make them as crazy or serious as you like, let's have fun with this!!

DISCLAIMER
Sad but true, there must be a disclaimer!!! I am a nurse, not a doctor. I know alot, but don't know everything. I will give you my best answer, however if you really have a problem, go ahead and ask, but please see your family doctor. If you don't have a family doctor - - -
GET ONE!!!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

2009-09-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

Does anyone know why in the world it would be in the mid 40's at the end of August in Indiana? This is rediculous! Had the windows open for two days and nights and now we all have stuffy noses.

I love fall but just not ready for it yet. And all the pumkins and scarecrows and halloween stuff already out on the shelves. I can't stand it!!

Maybe I will start a fire in the firepit tonight and roast some marshmallows, might as well embrace this crazy weather, I guess.

Wonder how a man can kidnap an 11 yrd old girl 18 years ago, and not get noticed. Ok, maybe that is not right. . . how can the parole officers that do home visits not notice. What about the calls from the neighbors to the police about kids in his backyard and tents and stuff? And still not noticed. I feel for that young girl, and her young daughters. What is wrong with our legal system. . . too much to even mention!

Maybe I will get to work tongiht. Been cancelled to much lately. Flu season is coming. . . that means more sick people. . . which means more work. . . which means, I'm really sick!!

Can't forget to fix the light on my car. Got a warning for my license plate light being out, don't want another warning for that one.

I love to watch our furbabies lay on the carpet where the sun shines in from the window.

Wonder what ever happened to that creepy man that lived down the street from me when I was a kid. He used to sit on his front porch all day and just watch as the kids played outside. What he really creepy or just lonely and missing someone?

Do fish sleep? I was up all night last night and the fish in our tank were swimming around like nobody's business. But that is the same things they do during the day. I wonder if they ever get tired.

Jody had his first day of his first "grown up" job today. Hope he is having a good day. I'm so proud of him.

Wish I could get this last 30 pounds off! Maybe if I would actually exercise some. . . DUH!!!

Why is it that my mind runs continuously and then when I got to do a random Tuesday post. . . . NOTHING!

I just goes blank, like being put on the spot or something.
I do hum ALL THE TIME! No kidding! There is always some tune going through my mind and sometimes even humming outloud and don't even realize until someone asks me what I'm humming.

But I don't know how to type all that out. How can I type out what I'm humming if there are not words, just hummmms?

Hmmmm hmmmm hm hmmm hmmmm hmmmm.

Felt like I was typing morris code!