WINNER WINNER ...CHICKEN DINNER!

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway!

This was my first one, and so much fun!

A special thanks to Jill for offering to help me with this. I hope to do 100 more post, and then some.

Chuck was outside working on his bicycle, and I interrupted him to pick the winner. Pardon the grease! lol

The winner of my giveaway is Robyn at An Alaskan Family!
Congrats Robyn! I look forward to your new look!!

Robyn's family is in need of some special prayer right now. Hop over and show her some bloggy love!

Don't Forget My Giveaway!

Don't forget to enter my blog giveaway!
Jill , at Blogs By Sneaky Momma, has offered to do a Sweet Package giveaway with a design kit.
She's also offering the winner 50% off her odds and ends items!

Drawing on Sunday afternoon.

TEXTING WHILE DRIVING !!

WARNING!! THIS VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC!
However, I feel it's one we must all see, and share with our teens that drive and text. I know they all deny doing this....but this video may save a life!!

100th POST!!

WOOT WOOT!!!! THIS IS MY 100th POST!!

Never when I started blogging did I think I'd meet so many awesome people! I love the blogosphere!
Thanks Renee for giving me the opportunity to become a part of this community!

I started blogging when I won a blog makeover (or a creation in my case) from my friend Renee. I'd been stalking her blog for a while, and she did a bloggy giveaway that I entered and won!

So in honor of my 100th post, and Renee....I'm giving away a blog makeover too!

There are so many talented people out there, and Jill, (a sneaky friend I met through the blogosphere) offered to help me out with this one!

Here's the particulars of this giveaway:
I have arranged for one winner to receive a Sweet Package (a $35 value) and design kit (up to $9) from Blogs by Sneaky Momma. The winner will have the option to add additional items (odds and ends) to their makeover at 50% off the regular price. Blogger blogs only. Commercial blogs are ineligible.

To enter just leave a comment on this blog (required) and tell me why you'd like to win a makeover.
Please leave me your email so I can contact you!

Additional ways to enter: ( leave a separate comment for each thing that you do)
**Follow this blog!
**Follow Jills Blog
**Link to and mention this giveaway in a post on your blog
**Follow Renee's blog

Maximum entries/comments: 6

You have until 3:00 pm (CST) Sunday, August 30th to enter.
I will email the winner, as well as post their name on this blog.
You will have 48 hours to respond to my email , or a new winner will be selected.

Good Luck and Happy Blogging!!

Random Stuff....My Thoughts Today

Gosh, i was trying to think of how to post everything going on in my head today, then I saw this cute button on Robyn's blog....so I stoled it!
Thanks girlfriend! I needed it!

First off, I'm LOVING this weather! It's been in the high 70's to low 80's with NO humidity! I just want to stay outside and play!

I'm so sad!! I blogged last month about my friends Moriah and Don FINALLY being pregnant with their first child. They were sooooo happy! Moriah was even blogging her way through the pregnancy.
Then yesterday I got an email prayer request from our church. Moriah had a miscarriage! Oh my heart aches for them! They were so excited, and had waited so long!
I had just seen a new blog YaYa has created for women that have lost their babies. It's WONDERFUL!! I wrote to Alicia, and she is sending Moriah a grief package. What an awesome idea!
Then I found this blog.
Deb sends out these beautiful handkerchiefs "For Your Tears" shed for your baby.
She is also sending one to Moriah.
These girls are awesome! What a wonderful way to show Mom's that someone cares....that they're not alone!

When Jacob played his first football game last week, we realized that we needed a new camera. Sooooo....Chuck bought me one for my birthday (it was the 20th) ( my birthday, not my age). This camera has a super zoom on it, now if only I can figure out how to use it! lol
Maybe I'll get some good pics of my grandbaby, who is now taller than me!

I'm so glad that doctors have finally decided that your appendix is a useful organ!
I'm not so glad they decided this after they removed mine!




I'm really concerned about the swine flu this year! Do you get a flu shot every year? How are you planning on protecting yourself and your family from swine flu this year?

This is my 99th post! Woot Woot!
Tomorrow (in honor of my 100th post)....I'm having a very "Sneaky" giveaway! You'll have to check back to see what it is.
I promise you won't want to miss it!

Jacob's 1st Football Game!

We've reached a milestone in our family!
My grandson Jacob made the football team this year!


Normally, this wouldn't be such a big thing to us. He's always been a boys boy...but his heart has alway been in BMX and skateboarding. Kristy and Phillip recently made a move to a new town. Jacob was scared! He's 13, and the new kid in town. New friends,and a new school.... UGH.
He had all of the normal jitters any 13 year old boy would have. Will the girls like me? Am I wearing the right clothes?? Am I smart enough?? Will the girls like me??
What if I don't make new friends?? Will the girls like me?
His first day of school, he was sitting in the lunch room and noticed a teacher staring at him. (for a long time)
Jacob asked if he was in trouble, and the teacher said he would be if he didn't try out for the football team! A bit scary since most of his time has been spent on wheels of some sort, and not on his feet! He'd never played football!
But he went to tryouts, and kept going to practice.
The boy is GOOD! The coach says a natural!
Imagine his surprise when he not only made the cut....but he made the "A" team!
Our boy is a starter!

The team had their first game on Saturday night. So the proud Mama and Daddy, along with the VERY excited Nana and PawPaw made the journey to the game.

I took my camera to the game (like I do for all firsts),and Jacob was none too thrilled!


We grow 'em big in KY! This is Jacob with his very proud Mom! He's 13....she's....oh well....you get it..she's the mama. (say thank you Kristy)

Then there was the proud PawPaw...you can see by his t-shirt that he has high hopes for the boy!

We found our seats and the game began!

We got to see him make some nice blocks !!
He actually played 2 positions in the game. Defensive End and Offensive Tackle. We're not sure where he will land permanently yet, but after only 1 week of practice, we were really proud of him!
His team won the game 12-6!!
Woot Woot! Go Rebels!!

You can tell, he was a bit proud of himself too!
It's hard (but very exciting) to watch them grow up!
He was glad that I brought my camera after all, and oh....the girls love him!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Sneaky.....VERY Sneaky!

I love the blogosphere! There are so many people that hang out here, and they're always honest and open themselves up to strangers like me! How awesome that we can "blog hop" and peek into the lives of others without ever meeting them.
You can make some really good friendships through blogging, and find out quickly that you really are not alone in this universe!

I have become friends with one of the most amazing women! Her name is Jill.
Jill is an awesome mommy to 2 girls,a wife, and a super friend. She gives so freely of herself,and is always there to encourage me and lift me up.
She has even created a blog totally devoted to helping newbies,like me,do the blogging thing the right way. This blog is dedicated to blogging tips and creations. She will talk you through (in plain English) things like adding buttons, strike throughs,sidebars, and all of that cool stuff to make your blog awesome!

Today, Jill has asked me to be a "Secret Sneaky Friend" on her blog!
I heart this idea! It's basically a Q&A session with the questions being submitted by her other blog readers!
I thought this was going to be an easy way to open myself up, and let others see a bit deeper inside of me. WOW....was I wrong! You people ask some deep questions!

Hop on over to Jills blog and check it out. (I may have to copy this idea one day!)

And by the way....I'm coming up on my 100th post...WOOT WOOT !!
I'm working on a Very Sneaky giveaway!
Stay Tuned!!

I saw this video over at Daria's blog, and just had to share it!
What an inspiration!



We all need an attitude like this!

WOW! WHAT A SURPIRSE !!

Jacki Jenkins

Cancer Community

Yesterday, I got an email from Dr. Geoff Rutledge at Wellsphere.
Someone there was following my blog, and they asked I would be a featured blogger on their cancer website! Cool !!
I highly suggest you check it out. (The web site...you're all ready reading my blog)
There is a wealth of information about any health concern or condition you can imagine.

Who would have thought that all of my rantings and ravings would be featured as a caregiver on a major web site!

They even created this really cool button for me!
Thanks Dr. Geoff!!

Cash For Clunkers....I Qualify!

IF MY BODY WERE A CAR...

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish, and my paint job is getting a little dull. But that's not the worst of it.. My headlights are out of focus, and it's especially hard to see things up close.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.

But here's the worst of it --

Almost every time I sneeze, cough or laugh,

either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires.

CASH FOR CLUNKERS..........I QUALIFY

A trip to my sisters house

Chuck and I recently took a trip to my sister Deb's house in St. Joseph, Missouri.....
Home of the Pony Express, and Jessee James and his brothers! It's a very cool "Old West" town. Lots of history there. But we were most interested in this........
My family.....
My nephew, Ryan....
My nephews, Mason and Cailyn, and my neice Brooklyn (along with one very tired sister)
This my nephew Shawn (Mason and Cailyn's dad)
We ate ALOT!! My sister is an awesome cook, as well as decorator. She and Mike got all of the talent in the family. the rest of us are just good ol' boys!
Mason is sooooo serious....but don't turn your back on him!
He's quite the practical joker!
Brooklyn was helping us with a family BBQ. She made a fruit salad out of Uncle Chuck!
Deb and Christy (Ryans wife/Brooklyn's mom) were always in the kitchen.
Occasionally, Deb got Ryan to do the yucky work. That's 3 pork loins they are cutting up. This family can eat!
My brother in law, Lonnie, is the grand Chef!
NO ONE touches his grill!!
Even in the pouring down rain!

Poor Lonnie! (note the Ariel umbrella, courtesy of Brooklyn)
Cailyn is the typical boy! His mom tried to teach him to stay out of the rain!
Mason and Parker were always thinking about things to get in to! They got alot of their own pictures.
They call them blackmail!! lol

We had a blast while we were there. It's the first time we've been back to St Joe in years! I miss my family sooooo much!

I'll post more pics of the inside of Deb's house later (it's amazing). We also took several cool mini trips I'll tell about.
St. Joe is an awesome place to visit!

Help!!

I got up this morning and decided to check in on my bloggy buddies. Much to my surprise, my dashboard is empty!! Gone...nadda!

I thought, ok, I'll check my Google reader, and there's only 1 blog listed there!
Is anyone else having this problem??

Helpppppppppppppppppppp

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

I saw this clip this morning, and could not believe what I was hearing!
This is unreal!! We really need to keep our eyes and ears open America!

Fogs In August

Are any of you counting the "Fogs in August"?

I got up to this today. It was thick and beautiful .

According to my co-worker, June, if you count the fogs in August, you will know how many major snowfalls you will have during the winter time.

She swears it's true! She was raised in the country, and said her daddy always depended on it when it came time to make preparations for the winter seasons.

This is our first fog this month. I'm going to try to count them and see how much truth it holds!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

THE STORM THAT BLEW THROUGH HERE LAST NIGHT.

WARNING...RANT AHEAD!!

Gosh, I just can't seem to get back into blogging! Somebody help me!
My head is spinning with things I can post, but I can't seem to sort them out.

I'm really in a funk lately that I can't seem to shake. Too many things are going on, and I'm just trying to find light at the end of the tunnel.

I really feel like I'll get better emotionally after I can get started settling Mike's estate. I STILL do not have a check from the life insurance company. The funeral home keeps telling me that "these things take time, but over a month"? Come on!!
I finally called them this week. I had at least 4 different people tell me that Mike had no insurance with their company!! WHAT???
They could not find him by name, social security number, or date of birth!
CRAP!!
PANIC TIME!!
Could I please send them back the original policy??? Oh PLEASE!!!!!
I finally called his HR director at the plant he worked at, and she gave me the Cobra conversion number. I called them back. OHHHHHHH, they said, they had sold his policy to another company!
Seriously?? When?? Why weren't we notified?

After getting transferred to like 6 different people, I finally got someone who would at least look at the problem. Turns out the problem was that "someone sent" me some forms to fill out 3 days after Mike died, and I never returned them. I NEVER GOT THEM!!! Who sent them???
The original insurance company, or the people it got sold to? (They couldn't answer that)
I had no idea that they had sold the policy. So this ever so sweet girl faxed me the papers necessary. I filled them out, included the original policy, a death certificate, and mailed them back the same night.
Two days later, I get the original paperwork in the mail! They want me to do it all over again, except that I've sent them the original policy all ready. 5 phone calls later, they tell me that they DO have my paperwork, but they are doing an investigation since he had the policy less than 3 years! I should expect a decision in 10-14 days! A DECISION????? I paid his premiums a year in advance! Grrrrrrrrr..... There's do doubt that he died, they have a certified copy to prove it!
He had cancer.....there was no autopsy....why an investigation?
I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!!

BJ and Catherine are still living with us. I love my kids, I really do.....but they need to move!
They were supposed to be there until they could get back on their feet from BJ's lay off....but he's been back at work for 6 weeks now and they are not even looking for a place.
I really do love having them close, but I've raised my kids....and I waited too long to have time alone with Chuck. Sometimes it's nice to run through the house naked if you forgot your undies before you got in the shower! Sometimes it's nice to take a hot shower, and not get frozen because "someone else" took a 30 minute hot shower right before you!
Sometimes it's nice to spend the day all alone, and have a chance to think about something other than what Max and Ruby are going to do today!
I'M STRESSED !

My job really sux right now, too!
People are having a hard enough time trying to eat and pay bills.....so obviously they are NOT buying furniture! My boss has cut my staff dramatically. I'm in the store by myself all but 2 days a week. We're only available to deliver on Saturday. The public is pissed at me!
When we are making a sale, I'm having to load it out for people. (they never bring enough strong helpers). I'm unloading trucks by myself....I'm stuck and I HATE IT!!!!!!!
I'll be 52 this month. I have no business loading furniture and unloading trucks!
But.....they say if I want to make a sale, I'll do what I can to close it!
I NEED A NEW JOB!!!!!!!!
I drive 20 minutes each way to work, and have no customers! No customers= no sales.....no sales = no commission. No money makes me cranky!

See, I told you I had alot going on......I sooooooo need a break!
Everyone tells me that I just had a vacation last month. I did....I went to my sister's house for 4 days. BUT.....while I was there, I was fielding phone calls from my brother (who was very sick at the time) and my other sister who was taking care of him. So we came home early, and Mike died 2 days after I got home. The rest of my vacation was spent planning a funeral, and grieving. (I'm still doing that).

My boss actually told me that "I needed to get over it"!
He said they had tried to be understanding while Mike was sick but now that Mike was gone he expected me to give 150%! If only that was the only thing going on with me.....maybe I could.
The saddest part is that my boss is also a preacher! He was the pastor at my church until he retired 2 years ago. He knew my brother, and I have no doubt that he loved him....but the magic word is HIM.
HE is not here anymore and life goes on.....right?

On a brighter note.....one of the couples that attends CR with us is FINALLY expecting their first baby! They have waited, prayed, and waited some more.
Moriah started blogging her way through her pregnancy. She's new to the blogosphere, and looking for all of the mommy advice she can get.
Please stop by and tell her how happy you are for Her and Don....and throw in a bit of mommy love for them.

I hope my next post will be happier, but I have to get this all out!