Counting My Abundant Blessings

To Start Your Holiday Joy!

2010-11-16T09:49:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it's all ready mid November! Time is flying by faster than I can believe.
We finished Football season without Jacob sustaining any injuries, we celebrated his 15th birthday, the yard is finally cleaned up, they leaves are all blown, and now it's just 1 week until Thanksgiving!

Just in time for the holiday hustle and bustle, the weather has turned cold and windy.
I have a very good friend that is director of the KY. weather spotters, and he is warning of a major snowfall in the area with bitter cold temps by the 21st. ! Should get interesting, especially because we don't usually get snow until late January.

Chuck and I have started CHRISTmas shopping in earnest! Most of our "bigger" gifts are bought, and I'm biting at the bit to get the tree up! That's usually saved for the day after Thanksgiving in our house.

A friend sent me this video to get me jump started this year.....Oh how I would have loved to have been present when this went on! I'm having a hard time embedding the video, so you can check it out here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=player_embedded

Happy Fall Y'all!

How do you answer these questions?

2010-10-28T19:55:00.005-05:00

As many of you know, my older sister, Deb, has started blogging.
She just wrote a post that knocked the wind out of me!

Deb is the principal of an alternative school for children K-12.
I am awed as I watch her work...at the things that go on at her school...and her marvelous staff.
I thought I'd heard it all...until this.

Go give it a read, and then pray for our children!

ROCKIN' AND ROLLIN'

2010-10-26T12:11:00.004-05:00

Not the musical kind!
A very good friend of mine is the director of the Weather Spotters Network in Western Ky, and he sends out weekly emails about what we can expect from Mother Nature in the coming week. This past few days has been loaded with alerts of wicked weather on the way.

When I got up this morning at 4:30, it was all most 80 degrees!
In late October?
Our normal temps for this time of year are about 45 degrees in the early morning.
The air was heavy, the wind was brutal....something was brewing!
When the sun came up, this is what I saw out my back door....

5 minutes later it looked like this...

and it only got worse from there!

If you look closely, you can see shingles blowing off houses!

This is right by my grand son's high school!

I think Mother Nature was mad!

We had many tornadoes touch down in our area this morning! A local moving and storage company lost it's roof, and there were some horses and cattle killed by falling trees....but not a single life was lost!

It seems that damage was pretty minimal considering how massive this system was!

It all blew over in about 30 minutes, and the temperature fell 25 degrees!

Now it's 56 degrees and raining.

Thank you Jesus for your protection over our city, and for our awesome Storm Intercept team that gave us a much needed heads up on this situation!

GOD IS GOOD!

On Cyber Sisters

2010-10-13T09:46:00.004-05:00

Have you ever stopped to think about all of the blessings we receive through this modern technology called "cyber space" ?
There is a whole virtual word open to us through the Internet.
Some aspects are not so great, but depending upon the choices we make, a whole new beautiful word can be opened to us.
Take blogging for instance. I have met so many wonderful people in the blogosphere.

I had so much support, information, and love throughout my brother Mike's fight with kidney cancer.
I've followed a friend's journey through the birth of a daughter with Downs Syndrome, her fight with childhood leukemia, and the international adoption of another daughter with Downs.
I've learned about military deployments, rebuilding lives after major earthquakes, the salmon runs in Alaska, and life as they know it in foreign countries.

What I've learned is that we are all basically the same. Our skin color, language, and lifestyles may be a little different...but we are all just people on this journey called life. We all want to be loved, and we need each other.

About 12 years ago, when I was fairly new to the world of computers, I found Pogo.
I was in love...I'd found the Mecca of cyber space! lol
I could actually log onto my computer and play a game of canasta or bingo with people from Germany, France or Canada. Oh happy day!

Pogo has a little chat box set up in every game room. I admit, I was afraid of them at first. I lurked, and I laughed until I cried at some the things people said!
Sometime I didn't even play....I'd just log on to read the chat.
Then one day someone said something to me!
I didn't answer at first because frankly, it startled me.
I knew this person was supposed to be a woman, but her name was Dale. (not a common woman's name in the U.S.)
I had visions of a cyber perv or something.
I didn't know computers. This was all new to me! So I turned off my computer and ran!

After a few days, curiosity got the best of me. I logged back into Pogo. After all, the room I played in was called "Clean Chat"....it couldn't be all bad.

Dale was there, and again she approached me. This time I answered!
We chatted about the weather, where we lived (she's in Nova Scotia), and basically made small talk.
I liked her! She was so positive...she cracked silly jokes, and she was my kind of girl.
That was 12 years ago, and now I couldn't imagine my life without her in it!
She has become my cyber sister.

This is Dale with her husband Joe.

In the past 12 years, we have shared so many secrets,

and learned so much about each other.

We're the same age, we lost our mother's at the same time (of the same disease),

we have the same amount of siblings and children, we both love God and our families.....

We've shared our children grow and graduate ( this is their daughter Katie)

We've shared our children's weddings
This is Dale and Joe at their son Jeff's wedding.
He married another Katie!

And the birth of our Grandchildren

(I got mine first...nah nah)

Grammie with baby Alexandra

I could not love this woman more if she was my biological sister. I love her family as much as my own.
Even though we have never met "in person", Dale is my sister.....

and Dale has been diagnosed breast cancer!

She is "Fighting Like A Girl", and my heart is breaking!

I have one major goal in life right now, and that is to go to Nova Scotia and meet my cyber sister!

Being unemployed , I'm not sure how I will accomplish this, but I WILL!

I believe God put Dale in my life for a reason, and I believe HE will provide the way!

I Love You Dale!

You have brought so much joy to my life, and I will forever be grateful for our friendship!

FIGHT LIKE A GIRL AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON!

Some People!

2010-10-10T19:26:00.005-05:00

In 2008, our community came together to build a park/playground for families to play, picnic, and basically have a great day in a safe place.
It really is a terrific place, and we take Lyric there to play a lot.
The whole park was built by volunteers with donations given by many local businesses.
This is just the entrance.

The park has castles, an old frontier town, tractors, a picnic shelter, a Frisbee golf course, bridges, and basically everything needed for a fun family day. It is used A LOT.

This afternoon, we went to the park to play and found this...

It seems that a group of "older kids" set fire to our playground yesterday morning.

I just don't get it!

One of our local firemen was there with his children this morning. He told us they found rags tied to sticks and soaked in gasoline at the fire.

I don't know why people have to be so cruel! This is a happy place!

Every child that came today was so upset. They were full of questions. We should not have to explain to 4 year olds (or anyone for that matter) why some people are so unkind!

What did it prosper those "Big Kids" ?

Despite the fire, a good part of the park was saved. The most damage was done to the city for 2-5 year olds.

You did NOT win...we WILL rebuild !

We played anyway!

Our children deserve better!

Kentucky Quilt Line

2010-10-08T18:10:00.003-05:00

Isn't it funny how we take things for granted in our own home town?

A few weeks ago, my sister Deb and her friend Carla were here for a visit. We were out one day doing what we do best, shopping!

I live in a fairly small town in Western Ky, so most of the time we go to Nashville or one of the larger cities close by to shop. We were driving down the road and Deb said "What is that"?
Look...there's another....
I had no idea what she was talking about!
Then she pointed it out to me....the quilt squares painted on the barns.
I've seen these squares for years, and took them for granted. Of course I knew what they were, I just never stopped to look at them. I mean really look at them. They're beautiful!

They are part of The Kentucky Quilt Line Trail.

The trail is aimed at attracting visitors and tourist to the area. It actually started in Ohio when a woman painted a square on her families barn to honor her mother's passion for quilts. The trail now extends through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Iowa.

I'll never forget when my brother, Mike was still with us. We were driving him to a men's christian retreat weekend. We drove down a long country road that was mainly an Amish community. It showcased many of these quilt squares. Mike was in the back seat asleep (or so we thought).
Out of the middle of no where he starts screaming "hurry up, get us out of here"!
I asked him what the problem was, and he (with the most sober face he could muster) said "We're on Amish Gang Turf " !
Look....they've even marked their territory!
I thought I was going to wet myself laughing! Gosh I miss him!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of the barns in my area. (They aren't mine...I snitched them off of the website)

Our country is so rich in heritage and history. It's a shame that we get too busy to appreciate it!

Ten Commandments For Parents

2010-10-04T16:27:00.001-05:00

A good friend sent me this yesterday. I thought it was worth sharing!

Ten Commandments For Parents:

My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenever I make my bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you. Remember, it's our parental responsibility to teach and train our children how to do even the basics of life such as,how to make a bed, how to brush their teeth properly, how to prepare simple meals, how to dust and vacuum, but not expecting perfection in each task. As children learn each new life skill, give them opportunities to practice these in your own home, so young children and teenagers can feel good about themselves and build confidence in their own abilities.
My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely; don't restrict me unnecessarily. It should go without saying but,this advice does not include allowing our children such a wide berth of "freedom to explore" their surroundings in such a way that might put children at risk of being harmed or abused in some way.
Housework will always be there. I'm only little for such a short time...please take the time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and do so willingly.
My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs; don't nag me all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated. No matter how busy we are as parents, taking care of the home, jobs, and other duties, make sure you are taking/making the time to really listen to your children. Physically stop what ever you are doing when your child wants or needs to talk to you, rather than thoughtlessly telling your children you are "too busy right now", making sure you are giving your child undivided attention and looking directly into their eyes when they are speaking.
I am a special gift; please treasure me as my Creator intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.
I need your encouragement, not just your praise to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my own mistakes. Then someday I will be prepared to make the kind of decisions life will require of me.
Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me to my brother or sister. If you have the tendency to give your child a chore to do, but continuously follow closely behind to re-do the chore "your way", you might need to consider if you are really helping or enabling your child's efforts to grow and fully develop.
Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need a vacation from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special. Taking and making time to be alone with your spouse, over a weekend trip or during "date night" away from the kids, is beneficial for children as well as for married couples. It's so easy to get bogged down with various aspects of daily living that we may find the fire and romance in marriage, once enjoyed before the kids came along, begins to slip away from us.
Please set a good example for me to follow in all the ways of life. I enjoy watching the things you do and want to do them just like you do. The old saying "Children learn what they live" couldn't be more true, so make sure as parents that the attitude and behaviors children learn are the ones you really want your children to exhibit in their lives.

Our Princess

2010-10-03T10:37:00.006-05:00

This is my heart outside of my body!

I learned a whole new love when my children were born. One I thought the Lord could never top! Oh how very wrong I was. After everything involved in birthing and raising children of our own...Chuck and I breathed a sigh of relief when we became "empty nesters". We looked back and were proud, not only of what we had done...but of the people our children had grown to be.

God is good!

Then......we were blessed far beyond anything we could ever imagine. Grandchildren!

Everyone knows how we feel about Jacob, our first...the boy!

BJ and Catherine surprised her mom and I on Mothers Day 2005 when our gifts were presented to us.Brenda's was in a blue gift bag, and mine in pink.
Sweet gift wrapping, but we thought nothing strange about it.

When we opened our gifts, Brenda got a blue sleeper with a matching blanket.
Mine was an identical gift in pink. Again....we didn't get it!
Ahhhh...but Chuck did! He jumped up with a look on his face that I had only seen once before and then the light bulb came on! They were having a baby!

December 15th of that year, we were blessed with Miss Olivia Lyric!
We thought the name a bit "different" at first....but we loved it!

Little did we know how much that name would suit her. She brings a song to our heart, and just the sound of her name is music to our ears!

OK, most of the time!

Lyric is so sweet. However she's NOT a "girly girl". She sings, she dances, and she tells the corniest jokes I've ever heard from a 4 year old! She is a very opinionated child, and woe is the person that disagrees with her. Do I see a lawyer in her future?

Her Paw Paw is her best friend,they "get" each other and have the same sense of humor.

She loves to spend the weekends with us, and we take advantage of that every chance we get.

We go places, read stories, and discuss all things I Carly and Sponge Bob...but we will not talk about Justin Bieber.....he stinks!

She rewrites the ending of all of her favorite shows.

She will sit and watch a television show, and tell us how she thinks it should have ended. See....opinionated!

A few Sundays ago at church, we were talking to Erin, one of our youth directors (who is expecting a baby this fall). Lyric asked Erin what the baby's name was going to be. She told us she wasn't sure because they didn't know the baby's sex yet. She went on to tell Lyric the names they had chosen depending on the baby's sex. THEN.....she asked what Lyric thought of those names.

With the most straight face the child could muster she told Erin that the boy's name was "awesome"... but "that girl's name is crap" !

I thought I'd just crawl under a chair somewhere and die!

Erin has since found out she's having a baby boy.....whew!

Her newest passion is ballet and tap class. She loves dressing up (but only for dance) and making noise with her shoes. We have spent the last few weekends with her teaching Nana how to do ballet positions, or somersaults! Not a pretty sight at 53 years old, but she tells me I do awesome!

I love this stage of my life. I get to be young again through my grand kids, and maybe even master those dance moves I was afraid to try as a young girl.

ODE TO MY GRANDSON

2010-10-01T16:14:00.003-05:00

I was looking back over older blog posts today, and realized just how much things/we have changed since I started blogging! Just looking at the pictures on my header make me laugh. I really need to update my pictures. Chuck and I, as well as our kids don't look much different...but oh...my grand kids have changed!
Not only physically, but they are becoming such great people!
I thought I'd do a quick update on them. Today is Jacob's day!!

I just love this guy!! If God would have asked me to make a list of what I wanted in a grandson...I would not have changed a thing about him.
In the header picture he looks so little! Kristy says the "puberty fairy" came to visit him in the past year or so, and looking at these new pictures....I believe her!

Jacob is such an "old soul". I love that about him! He is all most 15 now, and has a true love for God, his family, BMX biking, and FOOTBALL! This is his freshman year in high school, and he's playing on 3 football teams. He starts on the Freshman team, plays JV and varsity!
Needless to say, our weekends are filled with tailgating, and cheering on the Wildcats! (that's one proud Pawpaw waving in the back).
I can't believe how much he's grown!
I tease Kristy about giving him an iv infusion of miracle grow before every game!

This is Jacob's second favorite pass time! The boy can do things on a bike that I never dared try on my two feet! He spends every chance he gets with his buddies at the skate park. Those times consist mainly of who can jump the highest, or take the biggest dare! UGH.... scares me to death!

What is it about boys and dares?

With all of these activities, he still finds time for his school work,

(he's consistently on the principals list) and he always has time to spend with his Pawpaw and Nana.

He even wrote on his Facebook wall that his Grandparents rock!

I was so honored!!

And...he still has tea parties with Lyric, or plays Dora when ever she wants.

Yes, I believe the Good Lord knew what he was doing when he gave babies to young women.....

I'll take grand kids any time!

Tomorrow....Lyric

Sisters Rock!

2010-09-30T10:22:00.004-05:00

Well, it seems I've taken a blogger break for long enough.

For years, I've tried to get my "not so tech savvy" older sister to get a Facebook account. It's been like pulling teeth, but after her visit here this summer....

SHE STARTED A FACEBOOK ACCOUNT! Woot Woot!

It seems that it's not that she didn't want to set up a page, but she was a tech nerd.

She still kept up with everything on a calender or in an actual paper notebook!

Please note....this is my older sister....the principle of a school....a teacher!

hee hee....DORK!

Before she came home, her school had furnished her with a new Mac book.

Kewl !

I so covet that laptop!

She was all excited to show it to me, until it came time to boot it up.

From my kitchen table I heard that familiar cry...."Seester, I love you past heaven and back! (uh oh...wait for it.....) Help MEEEEEE!!!! LOL

I love it!

So being the dutiful tech savvy little sister that I am (shut up Deb) I came into the kitchen to help.

AAAARRRRRRRGH....it's a Mac! Greek to me! I've never seen anything like it!

So I had to admit defeat...I hate that! Sibling rivalry still gets the best of me sometimes....

Enter Carla....one of Deb's best friends and teachers. (she loves me)

Carla manages to get the Mac booted up, and Deb begins showing us how to take pictures and put them in all kinds of cool backgrounds. I loved it! We had such fun for about 30 minutes, then our tummy's started growling. So Deb logs off the Mac and we go out for some yummy Mexican food.

When we came back, I wanted to play with the Mac and see how fast I could figure the thing out!

We turn the power on, and hmmmmmm...Deb has logged out, and can't figure out how to log back in!

Toooo funny!

Not to worry, she says. I'll just call my tech guys and get it back up.

That never happened while she was here. We got tied up in doing family stuff. I only get to see her once a year, and there's never enough time.

Well, Miss Smarty Pants not only goes home and gets her computer running, she actually works with the tech guys and sets up a Facebook page in 2 days. I'm impressed!

THEN...she learns how to post pictures and comment on peoples walls! Go Deb!

I'm getting proud here (or wondering if she's just dictating to one of her office staff and is actually a poser) :0)

Two days later she sends me a link to her blog! WHAT????

Deb is blogging? I have to check this out!

I click on the link, and laugh so hard that I'm crying! The goof is actually going to blog her way through cyber space~ Good luck with that! snicker snicker.... I'm not there to help you.....

So I started following her. I even linked you guys to her....and I have to say that I'm proud!

She's now up and running daily on Facebook, posting on 2 different blogs, and even has a Twitter account now! And the girl is good!

She and my brother Mike have always had the gift of words...I just muddle through.

She's blogging stumbling through cyber space, and blogging her daily walk with God.

Go visit her, and give her some cyber love!

I love my sisters! Both of them, and now that we're all a bit tech savvy.....we can stay in closer contact, and harass each other long distance! Not to mention the Team rivalry. Everyone knows I'm a Tennessee Titans fan, and she love the Kansas City Chiefs. ***groan** Maybe I'll work on that next!

A Lesson in Humility

2010-09-17T19:46:00.000-05:00

My older sister has started blogging! I'm so excited! She's an educator/school director for children with disabilities.
I guess I need to get back into the blogosphere now,or I have no right to fuss at her for not keeping up!
You can read her blog here:
A Lesson in Humility

In the mean time...I'll be working on my newest post!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAYS....SPRING HAS SPRUNG

2010-03-31T13:27:00.002-05:00

Hersheys Better Basket Blog Hop

2010-03-31T12:50:00.007-05:00

Renee at My Special K's has passed on a virtual Easter Basket !

It's the best kind.....so cute and calorie free! Plus it helps a very worthy cause!

Hershey is partnering with the Childrens Miracle Network, and has promised a $10.00 donation in honor of each blogger that writes a post about this event.....up to $7000.00!

Since we all like to talk, and EAT CHOCOLATE....we have a winner here!

In my basket there would have to be a big chocolate bunny, Chuck's favorite Cadbury Creme Eggs (I just can't stomach them), Malted Milk Balls (yum), jelly beans, and a special Easter toy! We also used to give our kids a new cross every Easter.

I think everyone deserves a yummy Easter basket, so I'm passing this one on to each one of you!

Before you dig in, be sure to read the rules! Then go back to Hershey and link them to your post.

Hershey Better Blog Hop Rules:

Copy and paste these rules to your blog post
Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.
Hershey’s is donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written by April 4th, 2010).
Please note that only one blog post by each blog URL will count towards the donation.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

2010-03-29T13:45:00.010-05:00

Have you ever been in the middle of a situation and could see God shining all over it?
That happened to me over the past 2 weeks. I just had to share!

Rewind to my posts a few weeks ago. There has been major problems with my son and daughter in law for a while now. Actually, we haven't seen our daughter in law since August. You can read my rant here.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago and bear with me....this gets really really weird!
Chuck and I received a letter from some friends, Heath and Paige Wilson, who are adopting a child from Ethiopia. They are doing a fund raiser with a ministry called Both Hands. I had never heard of this organization, so I did a bit of research. What an awesome idea!

They had chosen a local "widow" to do a project for, and we're asking for our support.
As I read the letter, I was shocked! The widow they were helping was Catherine's mother!
She is not a widow, but is disabled and really needed the help.

I didn't know what to say! There were a few concerns with this situation that may have caused Paige and Heath to loose their funding for the adoption. There were things they did not know about and I wasn't sure how to approach the situation. I did not want them to miss out on the adoption, but I also did not want to get involved because of the situation with my kids. I spoke with a mutual friend of ours, and we all decided to pray and pray about it and let God do what was in his plan! He had put this whole situation into motion and HE was in control of it!

Paige and Heath contacted Both Hands and asked for guidance. The answer came back to all of us....Go ahead with the project because Brenda (Catherine's mother) needed the help. God also opened the door for the team to witness to my children. HE knew what he was doing!
Saturday, the work began. Chuck and I decided not to work at the house because of the family dynamics. We did support them financially, however. We went on about our day as usual (grocery shopping, etc)

When we pulled up at Walmart, the first thing we saw was our kid's truck parked right in front.
Since we had not laid eyes on them (or our granddaughter) in months, I all but jumped out of the truck! I was a mom on a mission! I wanted to see my children, even if they would not speak to me. I just had to "see" them.
I went on the hunt for them, and there they were....all 3 of them, right in the front of the store! Praise be!!

I sheepishly approached them and just had to get a kiss from Lyric! They were all smiles, and spoke to me as if nothing had ever been wrong at all! They told me they were staying away from the house during all of the construction and didn't know what to do with themselves for the day. Then it happened.....they asked if they could come to our house for the day! I all most passed out!
I told them they were welcome any time they wanted to be there. AND THEY CAME!!! ALL 3 OF THEM!! They stayed all afternoon.
Not only that, but we are all spending Easter together!

Soooooo....Paige and Heath received their funding, Brenda got many, many needed repairs to help her out, and we got our family back! GOD IS GOOD!

RELAY FOR LIFE

2010-03-09T11:24:00.003-06:00

A friend recently told me that "if you want to get rich quick....count your blessings".

I just want you to know what a blessing you have been in my life this past year.
The illness and passing of my brother Mike truly showed me just how God has blessed me,and my family with such wonderful friends!

Every day, it seems, I meet another person that cancer has affected.
I am so encouraged and blessed by these survivors !
Whether it be in their life, the life of a family member, or a friend... cancer has no boundaries.
It does not discriminate, and it destroys!

In honor of my brother Michael, and my mother, I am participating in the Christian County Relay For Life this year.

During Mike's illness, the American Cancer Society supported, encouraged, and sustained us.
They not only worked diligently researching a cure, but they provided my family and myself with the tools necessary to fight.
From food and lodging at no charge while Mike was hospitalized in Nashville, to the gas cards they provided to help with travel expenses....
they did everything possible to support our family....all at no charge to us!

Please join me in my efforts to give back!
If you could make a gift to my team and the American Cancer Society, I would truly appreciate it!
We all seem to think that "I can't give more than $5.00". You should know that $5.00 can do wonders!
If we all decided to give just the money that we'd spend on a lunch out for just one day.....lives would be changed!

You can make your gifts at www.relayforlife.org/christian. Just search TEAM STRONG TOWER!
You can also find a link to donate on my Facebook page.
If you prefer not to donate online, I will be glad to provide you with my home address.

I would also like to invite you to attend the Relay For Life in your area. I promise you will be blessed!

My Brother Mike....The reason I Relay!

Cracked Pots....I LOVE THIS!

2010-03-01T14:21:00.001-06:00

One of my friends sent me this story. I LOVE IT!! Hope you will too!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived
only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one
day by the stream.

'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all
the way back to your house.'

The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the
path, but not on the other pot's side?'

'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.'

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the
table.

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the
house.'

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in
them.

So, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the
flowers on your side of the path!

What's a Sabbatical?

2010-03-01T13:25:00.002-06:00

A few years ago, in reviewing the by-laws of our church,we realized that scripture teaches the principals of a sabbatical.
What an awesome teaching! EVERYONE needs a break from time to time....just to relax, rethink and re-evaluate.

Today, we sent our pastor on a one month sabbatical!
Brother Kevin, in his sermon yesterday, gave us a family talk!
He said when ever his dad would travel on business, he would call a family meeting to instruct the boys how to act while he was away....and to warn them "don't make your Mom cry" lol

The associate pastor Cory (whom Kevin kindly referred to as "Mom") will assume the business of the church, while Brother Kevin takes a much deserved "working" break. He will be in Florida visiting and learning from the church we "snitched" our "Out Of The Box" program from.

I love New Work Fellowship!!! There is so much going on within our church, and so many good things happening! It sometimes feels as if the building is actually trembling (in a great way) and the Holy Spirit is going to blow the lid right off of us! What an awesome feeling! We are so excited to give Brother Kevin this rest, and excited to see what the Lord is going to teach him!

He has decided to blog his sabbatical! How cool! My pastor blogs! lol
You can follow his trip here. Please join me in praying for a safe trip, much needed rest, and a spirit filled journey back to us! We Love You Kev !!!

Our Missionaries in Haiti

2010-02-23T13:06:00.003-06:00

I am SOOOOOO Stoked!

I just found out that the missionary family our church sponsors in Haiti has set up a blog!

Kevin and Susan Bruns are such an awesome couple. They ( as well as their children) moved to Haiti about 8 months ago. Little did they know about God's timing! The earthquake hit soon after.

We have cried, prayed, and done everything we could do as a church to support them.

We actually sent 2 of our church Elders to Haiti this morning to help with recovery efforts, as well as to make a video for Global Outreach. I'll post it as soon as it's available.

In the meantime, please go to their blog, and show Kevin and Susan some love!

You will certainly get a better view of what every day life is like this far after the quake!
In the meantime, I'll leave you with the latest video from our church's outreach. Enjoy!!

New Year....New Stuff...Changes

2010-02-19T09:46:00.003-06:00

I can not believe how long it has been since I've posted here! I check everyone's blog daily, but just have not taken the time to do a post of my own! So many things happening, so many changes....

I think I've entered a new phase of my life. I'm just trying to sort it all out, and trust God for direction. It's not bad....just definitely a "different" phase.

To begin with, on New Year's Eve, I was at work (as usual) preparing end of the month reports, balancing the store, etc. At 4:30 ( 30 minutes before closing time) my boss walked in and told me that as of 5:00 I no longer had a job! WHAT???? I was not being fired, but permanently laid off. With the weak economy and all, the store was not doing stellar. I knew that.....but seriously???? 30 minutes to prepare ??? OMG !!!
He told me they were NOT closing the store, but rather that the family was going to run it. They couldn't afford the overhead. (they have since opened an additional store here in the town I live in. I was NOT asked to be a part of that store!
I have worked since I was 16 years old. NEVER drawn unemployment for one day, let alone been fired or laid off! I didn't know how to act!
He stayed there with me, helped me pack my stuff up, and walked me out to my car. A new year was starting in 7 hours, and I had no job! I had no time to say good bye to my staff....I'd been blindsided!
More about that later. Much more!

I came home and told Chuck what had happened, and he was HAPPY!!
I couldn't believe it!
He said he wanted me to just take a break and chill for a while. I was glad he took it so well, but still, I didn't know how I felt! I was lost.....
It's funny how we allow our jobs to define us.

So, I'm at home and LOVING it!
For a while anyway. It took some getting used to, but I LOVE being home when Chuck gets here. I LOVE cooking supper for him every night, and Saturdays??? WOOT WOOT !!
I feel so normal!! We actually go out and I see people I know on the weekends!

I've been spending my days fixing things up around the house. I've been painting, cleaning, I even learned how to hang a new storm door! Spring cleaning has nothing on this girl!
We've had record snow this winter, and I haven't even worried about getting out and about. I'm nesting! LOL

We still have not heard from our son. **sigh**
The last time there was any communication was when they let Lyric come for a while during the holidays.
They do not answer phone calls, texts, or anything. They don't even respond to calls from Kristy anymore.
They are all still fine. We do get regular updates from Catherine's brother. They have a stack of mail here, as well as a few packages. They know they're here. They just choose not to deal with any of it. Please continue to pray for this situation! We miss them so much that it hurts! However, I've come to the conclusion that they are "big people" and have to learn to deal with they're problems in a way that works for them. I KNOW God has this....I gave it to him. Now I just have to "Be still and know".

Chuck and I have also left the "Celebrate Recovery" program at our church! That was major!!
I love that program, and truly believe in it! However, there were some major problems within the ministry staff itself, and several of the directors left our church. They then decided to move the program with them.
I believe that decision was ok, but when some of the staff decided to change things within the program, and not follow the direction that Rick Warren originally developed.....well, it was time for us to back out.
Chuck and I were encouraged by some of the staff to move our church membership to coincide with "the new" CR. We did not feel the calling to do that. A few days later, I was told that I was no longer needed in the program~ I've never heard of a "ministry" that did not need a volunteer! Especially since we had been faithful to the program for 4 years!
Chuck submitted his letter or resignation a few days later. He had not told me in advance that he was doing that. I got the letter with everyone else. He said he could not/would not continue in a ministry that I was "dismissed" from.
Sooooo....we're waiting....We believe that God has a new plan for us. This is a new season in our lives, and we're trusting Him to direct it!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!

2009-12-08T06:51:00.002-06:00

Several years ago, I met the most phenomenal couple at church....Tim and Lane Ann Miller.
They are truly a couple after God's heart, and have dedicated their lives to doing His work.

A few months ago, (after a regularly scheduled physical), Land Ann was diagnosed with liver cancer!
TOTALLY UNEXPECTED!! No symptoms at all!

Lane Ann began blogging as a form of therapy, and to keep us informed through her journey to healing.

This week, thing have taken a definite turn for the worst!
PLEASE pray for this family! You can read their blog here.

This time of year makes it especially hard on Tim and their children.
My heart is breaking for them!

Let me say again.....CANCER SUCKS!

GRIEF.....I'm so there!

2009-11-21T12:59:00.005-06:00

I have SERIOUSLY been neglecting this blog! I looked at it today and realized that it's been well over a month since I've posted! UGH!!

Honestly, I've been reading and keeping up with everyone in the blogosphere.....but the storms are raging around here lately. Every time I'd sit down to post, I'd read what I'd written and think "man....how depressing" !! So I'd just delete everything and turn the computer off!

I LOVE blogging! I really do!! I just don't want to sound like a whiney butt, so I keep deleting.

So I've decided to skim over the things going on, and I'm going to develop an "Attitude of Gratitude" from here on out. NO MORE CRY BABIES!!

So here goes......(feel free to click off at any time)

Grief x1

I'm really, I mean REALLY, missing my brother!
As the holiday season approaches it seems to get worse.

In the past month, I've also found out that 2 people very dear to me were diagnosed with late stage 4 cancer!
Can we say "CANCER SUCKS" ? I really want to scream that!!!
Neither one of them has very long to live, but they are fighting with all they have and praying without ceasing!

On the up side....I have been through 1 grief support class with hospice, and am currently in another group for grief through the holidays.

Grief.....what a word with many meanings !

While I am attending this holiday group, I'm also in training.

I feel that God has led me to facilitate a Grief Support Group at our Celebrate Recovery program at church.

I know that it's my responsibility to take the experiences God has carried me through, and use what I've learned to help others! That, in itself is another form of therapy for me.

Grief #2:

I blogged here about our daughter in law and Lyric moving out of our house without BJ.
All of that has changed, and not for the better!
A few weeks ago, I was off work and cleaning the house. I went up to clean the bathroom that BJ was using and smelled theis horrible stench in the hallway. So being the cleaner that I am....I got the Fabreeze and opened BJ's bedroom door to spray. OMG.....I was NOT prepared for what I found! Garbage everywhere! Literally, garbage.....YUCK!!
BUT......it only took a second for me to realize there was a bigger problem going on. There were liquor bottles everywhere. Not just a few beer cans ( which would have been bad enough) but LOADS of empty "hard liquor" bottles. A few full......most empty!
MY SON HAS A MAJOR DRINKING PROBLEM! LORD HELP US ALL!
We had no idea! But then again...how could we? We never saw him!

This is awful in itself, but Chuck is an alcoholic! He's been sober for 17 1/2 years :0) but how much disrespect can BJ have by bringing that mess into our home?
Chuck and I talked and prayed and prayed some more, then we decided it was time for BJ to go!
Chuck took the next day off of work, and we were going to tell BJ either we would help him with treatment, or he had to move. His option.
We never got that chance. He never came home! We have not seen him since.
We know that he's ok....we checked. He is evidently living with Catherine and her mom and her brother and Lyric in a very small 2 bedroom house. I really don't think that Catherine has any clue about the drinking. It was not going on 6 weeks ago. Or if it was....he kept it very well hidden.
We've tried to call, text, what ever we can.....but he has our phone numbers blocked!

Now, it's looking like not only will I be without my brother for the holidays, but my kids and grandaughter too. I'm just so broken hearted!

BUT...... I know, without hesitation, that my son is a Child of God and God is in control here!
I just need to have faith! And I do !!!!
I have laid this all down at the feet of Jesus and told him that I can't handle it!
He has assured me that I don't need to......he has it all under control!
Thank you Father!
This is honestly the first time that I think I've been able to lay something down and walk away from it. I do have a peace about this all.

Several years ago (when my Mom had passed away) a dear friend told me the greatest thing!
I cling to it today! She opened her Bible and started reading
"And it came to pass"....."And it came to pass".... "And it came to pass".....THEN SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID......But ya know what????
IT NEVER CAME TO STAY!!!!

THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR WORDS AND CHRISTIAN FRIENDS!!

BAD MOTHERS ANONYMOUS

2009-10-08T11:30:00.005-05:00

I stumbled on this web site while blog hoping earlier today.

Some of the stories here made me laugh out loud, but a lot of them made me sick!

I think this started out as a fun outlet for overwhelmed moms to just "vent" and realize that there is no such thing as a perfect mother. However, the more recent posts are unbelievable!

These women should NEVER have been given the privilege of being a mother.

I can't believe they find this stuff to be amusing......let alone post about it!

Here are just a few of the posts I've read.....

I've never been one that like displays of affection, especially hugs. My 8 year old loves to hug, sometimes when I shew him away when he asks for what I feel are excessive hugs.
-Anonymous 6/22/2009

Here's been my daughter's diet for today:
Breakfast--junior sundae and corndog from Sonic
Lunch--Cheetos and Diet Coke
Dinner--neopolitan ice cream
Who am I, Britney Spears?
-Anonymous 6/4/2009

I had my daughter when I was 17 yrs old, honestly I wanted to have abortion or put her up for adoption. But my mother kept telling me about these women who had abortion.."she went into depression" "she got mentally ill" etc. She also said if I gave my daughter up for adoption, she would take her and raise her. I felt like I had no choice but to have her. So now my daughter is 4 years old, and I'm still angry at myself for the choice I made. I feel like I don't have a life anymore, I work but all the money goes to feeding, clothing, daycare, toys, etc. for her! I can't get child support for the father just because he doesn't work!!! He's 22 years old and still lives with his mother who pays his bills!!
I love my daughter but sometimes "this" is too much..
I'm a bad mother... : (
-Anonymous 5/25/2009

I and my late husband (my kids stepfather) allowed my eldest to smoke pot and drink at 14.....and I have the nerve to bad mouth their father.
Anonymous -- 8/11/2008

But then there are these:

When my daughter was about 1 or so, I was changing her diaper. It was a Sunday. I swear she had a worm. I pulled one out of her bottom when I was wiping her. It was like 4 inches long. I called the doctor. We all got wormed. Her doctor wanted to see her on Monday and bring the worm with us. I walked in, (my MIL had already taken her and I met them from work)they both started laughing at me...My MIL had forgotten to tell me that they ate chinese and Mandy LOVES SPROUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a bean sprout!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....We all got wormed...for nothing.
Anonymous -- 7/17/2008

As my daughter got older, I kept telling my hubby to "watch what you say" around her and he keeps telling me she doesn't pay attention. As all Mom's know (guess not Dads tho) kids will repeat anything and mostly at the worst time. My hubby is not the most kind driver, so if someone is in front of him, not moving to his fast pace, he usually yells at them "Come on ya friggin bone head MOVE" (thank goodness he has made his language more PG rated)
So one day as I am sitting at a stop light behind another car with all the windows down in the car and my 3 yo in the backseat, the light turns green and the car in front doesn't move as soon as the light turns green. So in a loud voice I hear from the back seat "Come on ya friggin bonehead MOVE"
Gotta love what Dads teach their kids!
Anonymous -- 5/23/2008

Keep in mind this event happened on a day that this particular 15 year old boy was acting like a 15 year old boy. ATTITUDE, Hormone-filled, awkward hairs popping out of his chin Ball of Yuckyness.
15 year old son says to mom.....
"Mom, why did you even have me? I didn't ASK to be born you know!"
The very wise and very beautiful mother quickly responds...
"Well... I didn't know it was going to be YOU!"
Not nice, and yes, I , oops I mean she would have chosen him.... I, er I mean she would have just chosen him without the attitude!
(don't worry.... he burst into laughter and had to admit that his mother is indeed the Queen of Smart-as-a-whip, lightening-fast, comebacks to snotty questions.)
I, darn it.. I mean SHE wins! -- Dana in Texas

Am I being picky or what??? What do you think of a web page like this???

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-10-07T08:27:00.002-05:00

HARVEST PRAISE!

2009-10-06T09:15:00.026-05:00

Chuck and I have these AMAZING friends, the Corley family!

They are members of our church, and a true example of Gods Love on earth!
There is NOTHING this family will not do to help a brother or sister in need. They are always the first to call or show up without you even asking. They were such a blessing to us during Mike's illness and passing! There were days that I would be working and having a really hard time. Out of no where, Janie would call me and say "God just asked me to pray with you today....do you mind?" Wow! It was ALWAYS when I needed it the most!

I LOVE THESE GUYS!!

Janie, Milt, and their children (Craig, Jennifer, and Rachael)have one of the most amazing witnesses I have ever seen.

They own a farm in north Christian County called "Christian Way Farm." They use a theme of "Sowing Seeds For Tomorrows Harvest". This truly is a CHRISTIAN FARM!

Their teen twins, Jennifer and Craig, just returned from a mission trip in the Ukraine where they took the Tres Dias program to a primarily unsaved part of the world to show the love of God!

The farm also follows the Kentucky and Tennessee Combined Curriculum in the areas of science, primary math, practical living,as well as vocational and social studies. Many schools use the farm tours as a teaching field trip.

The program starts with a "food" (such as pizza, tacos, hamburgers and french fries), and teaches the children everything that goes into making that food.

They teach them how to plant all of the veggies needed for the dish, how to care for the calf that will become the meat, how to grind corn for taco shells....you get it!

To me, one of the most touching "teaching stories" Janie does is to carve a pumpkin for the children. She uses that activity to teach the story of salvation! She explains how we are all a whole being (like the pumpkin) and when we accept Jesus as our Saviour, God cleans out all of the "yucky stuff" (the insides of the pumpkin) and puts his light and love inside of us (the finished pumpkin with a candle in it) AWESOME!!

The 3rd Saturday of each October, the farm hosts "Harvest Praise".

That's October 17 for all of you that are looking for an awesome way to spend the day with your family!

Harvest Praise is a fun filled day to play and give God praise for his abundant blessings of the year.

There will be puppet shows,live music, music, and more music!

Your children can navigate the corn crop mazes, play in the grain trucks, race on the tricycle track, pick a pumpkin, explore the straw castles, learn to shell and grind corn, pet and feed the animals, and many many other activities.

Mom and dad can also participate, or browse the country store, ride on the lawnmower train, take a hayride, or just rock on the front porch! The food is plenty, as well as the fellowship.

I guarantee you'll have a great time!

If you can't come to Harvest Praise on the 17th, then visit the farm on the other Saturdays in October. The hayrides, pumpkins, animals, cornmaze, etc are available. The music and food are not part of those days other Saturdays, but there is still plenty to do.

And if you can't make it on a Saturday, the farm is open every weekday thru October from 9 am to 1 pm. If those times don't fit your schedule still, just contact them--they will be glad to find a time that you can get to the farm.

Come on out to Harvest Praise on the 17th and meet the Corley's!It's an all day event, and I promise you won't be dissapointed!!

EXTREME MAKEOVER....CLARKSVILLE EDITION

2009-10-02T12:34:00.003-05:00

The news today reported that Extreme Makeover Home Edition is once again building a home for a family in need in Clarksville, Tennessee!
That's only about 15 miles from where I live.
I'm so excited!

They did a build in Clarksville in 2005 for the family of an army medic that had been injured in Iraq.
It was fantastic!

This build will be done the week of October 17th. That also happens to be the week Chuck and I are on vacation! We had talked of possibly going to the Smokey Mountains for a few days, but I think I'd much rather volunteer to work on this build!

If any of you are in the Clarksville/Hopkinsville/Ft. Campbell area, you can go here and fill out a volunteer application to work on the project.
Not everyone will be accepted to work, but they do need about 2000 people.
Everything from builders, to painters, to people catering for the crew are going to be needed.
We ALL have something to offer!

I love this show. It always makes me cry, and also reinforces my beliefs that there are still good caring people in America!

Come on Kentucky and Tennessee..... let's show these people some Southern Hospitality!

ANSWERED PRAYER

2009-09-28T08:35:00.003-05:00

GUESS WHO CAME TO VISIT YESTERDAY?

Chuck and I were watching the Titans loose **sigh** and we heard this little voice say "Nana....I've been looking for you!"

BJ brought her over so we could visit for a little bit. It was only for about an hour and a half....but it's a major breakthrough!

We did some reading.....

Played with our Littlest Pet Shop "guys" for a while, played on Lyric's "farm" on the computer, and then she was teaching me her newest hobby....BELLY DANCING! lol

Catherine has a belly dancing dvd she uses in her workout. Lyric's belly dancing consisted mostly of running in a circle and clapping her hands.

We built robots with her Lego blocks, and then it was time to go home.

The time went by so fast! But I'm so thankful we got to visit with her!

Thank you God for answering our prayers, and thank you friends for praying for us!

BROKENHEARTED

2009-09-24T10:25:00.010-05:00

This is Lyric....my 3 year old grandaughter....my heart outside of my body!

I love this child (and my grandson) more than just about anything in this world. Chuck and I have kept her every weekend since she was born. We get special "Nana and PawPaw" time, as well as give her parents a very well deserved break! Win Win....right?

I thought so too.

My son was laid off from his job last November. Chuck and I have done our very best to support them and help them out during the lay off. They even moved back home with us earlier this spring.

Our house is plenty big enough to accomodate everyone, and it gave them a chance to get back on their feet. It's what we parents do, right?

I though so too!

BJ, our son, went back to work over 4 months ago. The kids were still staying with us until they could get things caught up.

Well, 9 weeks ago....let me repeat that......9 WEEKS AGO....Catherine took Lyric and left!

(I've thought long and hard about posting this....but it's MY blog after all...and I need to say a few things)

I don't know all of the story behind her leaving, just that there has been trouble between them for over a year now! BJ told us this last week.

We knew something "wasn't right" because of the way Catherine was acting. She was very depressed and frankly, just didn't pay attention to Lyric at all.

She was spending most of her days either in bed, or sitting on the sofa doing Sudoko puzzles. Nothing more....no playing with Lyric, no tv...nothing!

We started potty training Lyric, and on the very first day Lyric had several accidents. To be expected, right??? At least I expected them, having potty trained 2 myself.

Well, Catherine went off!!!! She screamed and hollered at Lyric telling her what a failure she was as a Mom, and how she couldn't teach her anything! THE FIRST DAY!!

BJ works second shift, so after her went to work, I went in the living room and told Catherine she was NOT a failure, and this was going to take time. I also told her that if she kept telling Lyric what a failure as a mom she was......that's what Lyric would grow up to believe!

Things seemed ok for a few days after that. THEN.....on that Sunday Catherine wanted nothing.... NOTHING to do with Lyric!

She kept telling her all day to go away, or go downstains with Chuck and me. So she did!

We spent all day playing, coloring, etc.

Around supper time, Lyric went upstairs to go potty, and told Catherine she was hungry.

Catherine came totally unglued on the poor baby! She grabbed her arm and screamed at her that "she was sick of her, and didn't want to even look at her face" Then she told her to get out of her way!

I'd had enough!!

BJ came and rescued Lyric....he took her in the bathroom to get a bath.

Then I went into the living room.......... Naturally, I was none too happy at the time.

I told Catherine that I NEVER wanted to hear her talk like that to Lyric again. She's only 3...she did not deserve to be spoken to like that!!!!

I also told her that there were times I was sick of my 26 year old kids.....but I would NEVER talk to them like that! Lyric had done nothing to deserve this!

Catherine just went to pieces and ran to the bedroom and slammed the door.

BJ fed Lyric and put her to bed. Then he went to work.

When Chuck came home Monday afternon, they were gone! NOT BJ.....just Catherine and Lyric!

BJ said when he woke up that day, Catherine had her brother over at the house packing up their stuff, and she was moving back to her Mothers house.

I went into Lyrics room, and Catherine had taken all of Lyrics things (except the things we had bought her). She also took everything (I mean everything) we had bought for her over the last 6 years she and BJ have been together and dumped it on Lyrics bed. She wants nothing to do with us anymore! All because of me defending Lyric!

Fast forward 9 weeks.....BJ is still living with us, and Catherine is still at her moms house.

She's told BJ that she "doesn't want to be married anymore".....but she doesn't want a divorce because she has no means of support! She has never had a job, and does not drive. She told BJ she needs him for his money! Seriously???

My son is heartbroken! He really loves Catherine!

In her defense, I will say that since all of this has taken place, we've found out that Catherine is bi-polar and has sense been medicated. This has helped tremendously with the mood swings....but the attitude is still the same!

She has told BJ that if he finds a new palce and gets everything set up and moved then she will consider moving back with him. But not until everything is done to her satisfaction!

(she really needs the crown knocked off of her head).

In the meantime....Chuck and I have been denied any contact with Lyric at all!

We have not seen her in 9 WEEKS!!

Catherine says she is afraid that if she lets Lyric come over, we won't send her back! Are you kidding me?? She says she's afraid we will keep her because she is such a bad mother!!
NOTHING like that has ever even been suggested!

We've talked to BJ about this, but he says it just starts another fight if he approaches the subject, but he will "try to work on it!"
We know that KY recognizes grandparents visitation rights. We just really hate taking our own kids to court.
In the meantime, BJ is still living with us (rent free), and driving across town every day to visit his wife and daughter. We still have our house full of all of their household goods (I have put most of my stuff away to make room for theirs),and BJ is paying for all of the utilities and groceries at Catherines mom's house.
She is disabled and can't work.
I'm not sure where this saga is going to go, but I do know a couple of things. BJ has to make his own decisions about his marriage. We've told him we are here to support him, but we have no place in their marriage! I also know that we cannot continue to enable his behavior as far as Chuck and I are concerned. I'd like to have my house back if they aren't going to live there.....and
I WANT TO SEE MY GRANDBABY!
PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF US AND THIS SITUATION!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-09-23T07:14:00.002-05:00

JAZZ....the old guy!

KID STUFF LIVE!

2009-09-19T18:31:00.003-05:00

Our church has a program called "Kid Stuff Live". It's where kids take their parents to learn! Such a great program! Lots of dancing, singing, and teaching.

This is the new promo video for this year. These guys are CRAZY!! I love them!!
Who says church has to be boring?
Thanks Willis, for all you do for us!

Willis is also an awesome photographer! Check out his work!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM A SMALL TOWN WHEN...

2009-09-17T06:18:00.002-05:00

The funniest thing happened last night! It made me realize that I'm no longer in Detroit, or anyplace close for that matter. The largest city around me is Nashville. It's about a 45 minute drive from my house.

ANYWAY.....yesterday, I was cooking supper.(woot woot...Chuck had a night off!)
So I decided to turn on the news and listen while I was cooking. I usually like to watch the news on channel 2.

So I was channel surfing down to there. (I'm too lazy to just key in the 2).
Channel 3 in this area is our local tv station. It's not a very big station, and deals mostly with farming, local happenings, yadda yadda.
I saw a guy being interviewed on the station that used to be one of my delivery guys, so I thought I'd stop and see what Ol' Chad had to say!

Imagine my surprise when he and the station manager were having this in depth discussion about "how you can turn your ugly ducklings into swans on Farmville!!!"

OMG !! I never laughed so hard!
Now, I'm as big of a Facebook addict as the next guy. And yes, I too have a farm with ugly ducklings! (see above picture) While this is a great way to have some mindless entertainment, as well as a stress reliever...does it really warrant a spot on the evening news?

Like I said....they do cover a lot of farming information! lol

Won't you be my Farmtown neighbor? Maybe you too can find an ugly duckling!

MY HOW TIMES CHANGE!

2009-09-15T14:18:00.003-05:00

My aunt sent me these ads from th 30's today.
EEEWWWWWWW....my how the times change! You may have to click on the images to make them bigger to read.
I'm really glad we don't live in the 30's anymore!!

THIS MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD!!

2009-09-11T21:53:00.001-05:00

No matter what your political views....this is tooooo funny!

LOVE IS HERE!

2009-09-10T11:51:00.002-05:00

I woke up with this song in my head this morning. Have you ever done that?
I can't shake it!
I'm a firm believer that when God gives us a message, we are to share it.
I'm not sure who needs this song today, (actually we all do!)
but I just had to share it.
These guys are awesome~~~ENJOY!!

FOR ALL OF OUR TROOPS!

2009-09-05T13:12:00.002-05:00

Our newspaper announced today that the 101st will be re-deploying back to Afganistan earlier than we had anticipated. Being from a military background, and living in a military community, this breaks our hearts!

This community depends on our military for more than defending us! It is the lifeblood of our economy and well being. We feel the direct impact of the loss of our "guys", as well as the heartache of the families left behind.

Military wives are amazing! Not everyone could do your job!

Our Celebrate Recovery group has even started a support group just for Military wives and families. I think it may possibly be one of the fastest growing programs we have.

My sister has just started blogging, and posted this video on her blog this morning. I think it's amazing!

We salute you 101st! We love you! And God bless every one of you!!

WE WILL PRAY!!

A TWIST ON AN OLD FAVORITE!

2009-09-04T14:52:00.003-05:00

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello , and not too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this.
For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on...
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO : Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT : Mac?

COSTELLO : No, the name's Lou .?

ABBOTT : Your computer?

COSTELLO : I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT : Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou .

ABBOTT : What about Windows?

COSTELLO : Why? Will it get stuffy in here??

ABBOTT : Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO : I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT : Wallpaper.

COSTELLO : Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.?

ABBOTT : Software for Windows?

COSTELLO : No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT : Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything??

ABBOTT : I just did.

COSTELLO : You just did what?

ABBOTT : Recommend something.

COSTELLO : You recommended something ?

ABBOTT : Yes.

COSTELLO : For my office??

ABBOTT : Yes.

COSTELLO : OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT : Office.

COSTELLO : Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT : I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO : I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. ?What do I need??

ABBOTT : Word.

COSTELLO : What word?

ABBOTT : Word in Office.

COSTELLO : The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT : The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO : Which word in office for windows??

ABBOTT : The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.

COSTELLO : I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with??

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO : That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT : Money.

COSTELLO : I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT : It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO : What's bundled with my computer??

ABBOTT : Money.

COSTELLO : Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT : Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO : I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT : One copy.

COSTELLO : Isn't it illegal to copy money??

ABBOTT : Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO : They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT : Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT : Super Duper computer store. Can I help you??

COSTELLO : How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT : Click on 'START'...........

2009-09-04T11:18:00.005-05:00

When I got to work this morning, I looked up and saw this ......in the Bradford Pear Trees. Do you see it? ONE red leaf. That reminds me that fall is on the way. I love so many things about fall! It's just so refreshing after he heat and humidity of Kentucky summers.

This is a common sight (and smell) on my way to work in the fall. Kentucky tobacco barns.
There is nothing like them. It's very common to get tied up in a "traffic jam" of 10-15 tractors driving down the highway hauling tobacco leaves. They hang the leaves in a barn and smoke them. What a wonderful smell that gives off! I guess you have to live in the country to really appreciate it. It's a very unique smell, and the air is thick with it.

This is Main Street of the town I work in. I LOVE this place! It is very often compared to Mayberry. This is a small town, and everyone knows or is related to everyone here. Businesses are still closed on Sunday, and everyone has a church affiliation. There is actually a VERY heated vote going on in this county next month to end prohibition. it is actually dividing the people of Trigg County.

There is no Walmart here,and you are defined by who your mama and daddy are....and where you go to church!
Every October, this town hosts The Trigg County Ham Festival". It's a blast!

People come from all over the country for this event!

It's all things country!!

There's a carnival, all sorts of music (country, of course), hog calling, food and crafts vendors, and a Gaither type church service on Sundays.

The town gets all decked out with everything "HAM". LOL

There are contests with the best decorated yard and business. EVERY business has their own " mascot".......... Pigs of course!

I'm including pictures....see if you can tell what kind of business they belong to!

"Deputy Hogg"

He belongs to the sheriffs office!

"Hamlet"

He is in front of the local book store!!

"Sue E."She lives at a local restaurant

"Second Hand Rose"

Her home is an antique shop!

"Violet"

She lives at a florist!

You get the idea!

The kick off event to this weekend is this.....

There is actually a competition to get into the Guiness Book Of World Records for baking the worlds biggest ham and biscuit! We've made it several times! There was a special oven built to accommodate this bugger! It takes LOADS of people hours and hours of mixing, measuring and rolling to make this happen. After the official measurement is taken and submitted, it is cut up and pieces are sold to raise money for the festival!
I can't wait for the fall! I'll be one of these people visiting the vendors, and eating the goodies!

Ya'll come!!

WHY I WEAR FLATS !

2009-09-03T19:51:00.001-05:00

I know you aren't supposed to laugh at things like this but....
This is why I always wear flats!

Needing a bit of bloggy help!

2009-09-03T12:10:00.004-05:00

OK, by now most of you have heard the story of my brother Mike.

I miss him terribly!!

Mike passed away June 27th of this year after a long hard battle with kidney cancer.

Not only was Mike a great man of God...but he was an awesome graphic artist, as well as a published poet.

After he died, I found a binder of about 300 poems that Mike wrote. They made me laugh....they made me cry! They really told the story of my brothers heart.

Now for the help part......

I would love to have these poems bound into a paperback book (that he named when he put the binder together). It is my intention to sell the books and give the proceeds to our Relay For Life team ! I think this would be a great tribute to my brother, as well as a great way to raise money for cancer research. I have a list of people all ready that want to buy the book. Our Hospice as agreed to sell them, as well as a few friends we have that own businesses.

Great idea right??? I just need to know where to start!

Does anyone have any ideas about self publishing a book? I know we did them fairly inexpensively as church cookbooks. When I contacted that publishing company, they tell me they only do cookbooks! Grrrrrrr

I've found a lot of that.

There HAS to be a company or a way to do a small paperback book that will not cost an arm and a leg! I'm not looking to sell them in a bookstore, or get royalties....I just want a simple paperback of Mikes work.

Any suggestions???

19 ???? OMG!!

2009-09-01T12:20:00.003-05:00

Have you seen this news today?

The Duggars are expecting baby #19!!
That's 19 !!
That poor woman!
Don't get me wrong....I think they are such a sweet family, and I love the fact that they are self-supporting (unlike the octo-mom)....but 19!

I love big families. There were 7 of us!
I've known several people that have large families through adoption, or other circumstances.
But 19 pregnancies ?????
That poor woman's uterus! It must be worn out by now.
I'm amazed that she's still healthy enough to bear children.

Her last baby is only 5 months old. When does her body ever get to recover?

What do you all think?

WINNER WINNER ...CHICKEN DINNER!

2009-08-30T15:31:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-08-28T20:54:00.002-05:00

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 !!

2009-08-27T08:40:00.001-05:00

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!!

2009-08-26T06:31:00.006-05:00

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

2009-08-25T10:18:00.010-05:00

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!

2009-08-23T20:17:00.005-05:00

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

2009-08-19T06:24:00.002-05:00

Sneaky.....VERY Sneaky!

2009-08-18T06:03:00.002-05:00

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!!

2009-08-16T09:02:00.001-05:00

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 !!

2009-08-14T06:12:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-08-13T21:10:00.001-05:00

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

2009-08-13T06:18:00.005-05:00

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!!

2009-08-12T08:27:00.001-05:00

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

2009-08-12T06:49:00.002-05:00

2009-08-10T11:26:00.002-05:00

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

2009-08-06T14:36:00.002-05:00

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

2009-08-05T09:11:00.003-05:00

THE STORM THAT BLEW THROUGH HERE LAST NIGHT.

WARNING...RANT AHEAD!!

2009-08-04T10:38:00.007-05:00

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!

I'm Backkkkkk

2009-07-16T18:55:00.002-05:00

OK, so I've been reminded that I've neglected the blogosphere long enough! I guess that's right. I've set down a hundred times to write a post, but my mind is just so jumbled up that nothing made much sense!

Blogging is really a form of therapy for me, so I figure I'm just going to spill out whatever comes to mind, and eventually it will sort itself out! Clear as mud??

I'm still sorting out the fact that I've lost my brother. A friend of mine said it best when he said "Sometimes you're a chicken....sometimes just feathers" ! lol

I think things are getting better, then something happens to set me back a bit. Like today, I was at work catching up on email and service calls. I opened my pictures folder to send a picture of some freight damage to the mfg. and a picture of Mike popped up!

WOW!! Did not expect that!

Then the funeral home called to tell me that Mikes death certificates were in. UGH!

I've been waiting for them so I can start settling his estate....but that made it all to real!

It's only been 2 weeks, so I guess I'm still on track.

You always kind of expect to loose your parents and grandparents....that's life.

But to loose a child, or a sibling??? That just doesn't seem fair!

I have several friends that have lost their children. I can not imagine how that must feel!

Today was a very sad day for a very special friend of mine. Hospice assigned Mike a social worker named Tina that I have grown VERY close to. 3 years ago today, Tina's son Zack was killed by a gunshot! He was only 6 years old! Zack is buried in the Veterans Cemetery close to my brother, and right behind my dad.

I went out to the cemetery yesterday to take some paperwork and stopped in to visit with Zack.

How sad! I'm so sorry Tina. My heart breaks for you!

When we were preparing for Mike's services, I was reading through his Bible and found a poem Mike had written. That's not unusual because he was a published poet, but this one was special! He wrote it as a thank you to everyone that cared for him over the past few years. It will forever be special to me. We had one of his best friends read it at the funeral.

It's called "A Tribute To An Angel"....

“TRIBUTE TO AN ANGEL”
HERE’S TO YOU AN ANGEL, MY SPECIAL FRIEND
FOR LOOKING DEEP INTO MY SOUL
FOR GIVING HOPE WHEN LIFE SEEMED AT IT’S END
FOR UNSELFISH LOVE THAT OVERFLOWS

HERE’S FOR BELIEVING WHEN OTHERS CAST ASIDE
FOR SEEING A SHINING STRENGTH WITHIN
FOR COMFORTING WORDS TO SAFELY CONFIDE
FOR DEFINING THE TRUTH OF A FRIEND

HERE’S TO YOU FOR IGNITING THE PILOT LIGHT
OF A HEART THAT HAD SURELY GROWN COLD
FOR DIRECTING THE WAY TO THE PATH THAT IS RIGHT
FOR KNOWING WHAT I NEEDED WITHOUT BEING TOLD

HERE’S FOR EMBRACING A PERSON AS “A WHOLE”
FOR GOD DOESN’T LOVE IN PIECES
FOR THROWING A LIFELINE WHEN LIFE TOOK IT’S TOLL
FOR HOLDING ON TILL THE STORMY WAVE CEASES

HERE’S FOR TEACHING ME TO BELIEVE IN FAITH
CONCERNING PURPOSE IN GODS MYSTERIOUS WAYS
FOR SHOWING PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE WORTH THE WAIT
IN UNDERSTANDING FOR A LATER DAY

HERE’S FOR SUCCESS ACHIEVED WHERE OTHERS FAILED
TO BUILD MY CONFIDENCE IN HUMANITY
FOR BEING THE WIND THAT FILLED MY SAILS
ON A SEA OF INSANITY

HERE’S TO COMPASSION YOU’VE SHOWN THROUGH THE YEARS
TO BRING A SENSE OF PEACE TO MY MIND
HERE’S TO YOUR WORDS THAT DRIED MANY TEARS
THROUGH TRIBULATION AND TRYING TIMES

HERE’S PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS SENT TO GOD ABOVE
FOR YOU’RE A PRICELESS DEBT I CAN’T REPAY
ALL I HAVE TO OFFER IS UNSELFISH LOVE
AND THESE WORDS OF TRIBUTE TODAY…..
THANK YOU

MIKE HAMMERS

I promise I'll be back on a regular basis! I'll get back to posting messages to all of you too!
I love you guys!
Just keep praying for me!

Pray for my family!

2009-06-27T06:27:00.002-05:00

My brother, Mike, went to his home in Glory at 3:58 this morning.

PLEASE remember my family in prayer!

Amazing Group!

2009-06-16T11:35:00.002-05:00

I was reading Alicia's blog yesterday (I'm soooo behind) and she told the story of "Spirit Jumping". I was curious....I had to check it out!
Am I glad I did!

Go here and read the story of Spirit Jumping!
Then join !!
This is something any of us can do. It takes virtually no effort on our parts at all, and is the neatest program to support cancer victims.

Basically you are emailed the name of a patient/survivor in need of a "Spirit Jump" aka a little happy...a card, candy etc. Anything to lift their spirits ! What a simple yet AWESOME idea!

Having a brother with late stage kidney cancer, I know how difficult it is to left his spirit at times. I wrote about it on his carepage, and got over 1000 messages of hope and prayer for him!
He could not believe that total strangers cared enough to send him a note and to pray for him!

Check out the Spirit Jumpers!
We all know someone that either has, had, or has a loved one with this awful disease!

Do something awesome...pay it forward!

A Short Update

2009-06-14T20:35:00.002-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit, but things are sooooo out of control here right now!
Thanks for all of the posts, thoughts, and prayers. Please know that I do feel and appreciate them.

Mike is still with us! Days are becoming more and more difficult,but we are counting every day as a blessing.
He is having different issues every day. All are tumor related, and nothing much more can be done. Hospice is AWESOME!! They are taking such good care of him, and for the most part, keeping him pain free.

On a HAPPY note....he got an email from his daughter! Thank God! It was definately a "God Thing" because until now she wanted no contact with any of us. The email was a "One time letter" but none the less, a letter!
He was soooooo happy!

Since my last post, we have also had BJ, Catherine and Lyric move back home with us. BJ has been off work since Thanksgiving, and the auto industry isn't looking too promising! Chuck also is an auto worker and laid off...so we've become the Waltons! I LOVE having them here, but after being alone with Chuck for the past 5 years, we need to adjust! It's really different having a full house again!

My house is turned completely upside down. It's driving me nutz since I hate clutter! What can you do when you combine 2 total households into 1? You count your blessings that you have a happy healthy family!
The clutter will clear and the kids will eventually find a place of their own. For now, I'm thankful that we are able to help them out and that my daughter in love and I are friends!

Please continue to pray for us, and I'll update just as soon as I can breath!

Urgent Prayer Needed!

2009-06-05T21:42:00.001-05:00

I have taken the weekend off of work to spend every minute possible with Mike.
He is growing weaker and weaker every day.
We had a meeting with his Hospice team this week, and then yesterday we had to call them in on an emergency visit. He was having some breathing problems, as well as major nausea. His nurse gave him a dose of Compazine for the nausea, and he had a bad reaction to the drug! He turned beet red from head to toe and was burning up.They gave him an extra dose of Morphine as well as something else, and he did alot better after just a few minutes.
His nurses told us that his lungs were full of tumor, and now they are filling with fluid. They told us not to be surprised if he didn't make it through the weekend!Chuck and I took a few minutes to go to C.R. tonight and explain the situation to everyone there. We left church and went back to Patti's house. He was sitting up watching a show about blue whales! Gosh, he never ceases to amaze me!
We keep saying that we don't see all of the changes that Hospice does. They explained it as raising your own baby. You never see the gradual changes, but people that see you occasionally sure do! When they point out the changes to us...then we see them.
Michael is in what Hospice calls "end of life" stage. He is rapidly declining, and his tumors are growing like wildfire! His nurse told me that in all of the years she's been with Hospice, she has never seen a patient with as many tumors(or as big)as Mike has that is still cognisant.We aren't sure what is holding him here, but I DO know that God is not through with him yet!Our whole family is at the point that we pray only for comfort for him. It seems wrong, but I actually pray that God takes him home before it gets any worse! I hope that doesn't sound ugly, but I can't stand to see him this way!
Please continue to lift Mike and our family in prayer!
We are broken!!

I can't dance anymore,
Jacki

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-20T08:37:00.000-05:00

Currahee....Amazing!

2009-05-14T06:04:00.003-05:00

Being raised in a military family, and living right outside of Ft. Campbell, KY...
I was very touched by this video!
We all need to give thanks every day for the brave men and women that defend our country!

Watch CBS Videos Online

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2009-05-13T06:13:00.001-05:00

This will be my Wordless Wednesday post every week for as long as Mike is with us!
Feel free to grab the button and pass it on.

Lifesongs

2009-05-12T06:29:00.002-05:00

Do you have a "Lifesong" ?
I mean one that you always turn to when things are going bad?

Things in these parts are becoming increasingly hard with my brother.
Progression is rapid at this point, and Hospice told me last week that I HAD to make Mike's funeral arrangements! That was, by far, one of the hardest things I've ever done!

This is my lifesong. It has been ever since I saw Ray Boltz perform it many years ago.
It is giving me loads of comfort right now!

What's your life song?

Sleep In Peace Sweet Angel

2009-05-12T05:58:00.002-05:00

Please remember The Freeman Family in prayer today.
Their little Kayleigh went home to be with our Lord this morning.

I am heartbroken!
This family has been such an inspiration to me, and a true example of what faith is, and what it can do for us....if we only let it!
They are broken and yet they rejoice in the fact that their sweet angel is now dancing on the streets of Glory!

Rest in peace sweet angel!

Mothers Day

2009-05-11T06:24:00.005-05:00

We had a super Mothers Day yesterday!
I think I got 100 text messages starting at 6:00 yesterday morning!

Thanks to everyone that called , texted, or stopped by for a visit.

Chuck and I kept Lyric this weekend. We haven't had much free time lately, so this was a real blessing! Her new word of the day was "Perfect" ! lol

Everything was just perfect to her!

Kristy an Phillip came by and brought me the most awesome jewelry box. ( I actually did not have one)

It says says "Love" on the top of it, and you can put photos inside the letters! NICE!!

Then Chuck and Lyric took me shopping for these:

Yellow Knock "Out Roses! I heart them!

I love to plant my yard in the spring, and am really working on putting in more shrubs and roses as background plants. I figure it will pay off more in the long run. Knock
Out Roses are the greatest thing I've ever seen! Disease resistant and self cleaning! Plus they don't get the blackspot that is so common in the humidity here! So now the front of my house is graced with 5 new rose bushes!

I loved them so much that I bought some for my sister, Patti, and took them over to her.

While we were out, Kristy called me and said her BF Mindy (my "other" daughter) was having a cookout/birthday party for her 4 year old daughter Zoe. She asked if we wanted to come by for some BBQ. Well.....since BJ and Catherine were here, and we were planting the above awesome roses....I passed, but thanked Mindy any way.

About 30 minutes later, Kristy and Jacob pulled into the drive with a huge honkin' plate of what is quite possibly the best BBQ I have ever eaten!

There was chicken, ribs, porkchops, all kinds of sides, and the absolute best guacamole I have ever eaten in my life! Mindy had sent me a Mothers Day plate to go! She said I shouldn't have to cook on Mothers Day!

Thanks Mindy and Tony! You made me a very happy (and very full) mother!

(I NEED that recipe for the guacamole)

Mindy sent me a few pics of the party....thought I'd share!

Kristy the party girl!

My grandson, Jacob, in full party gear:
Zoe, the birthday girl:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!!

Party Gear baby style!

Hope you all had an awesome weekend!

What Do You Think?

2009-05-06T10:31:00.004-05:00

This is my grandpuppy, Petey!

Petey LOVES Chuck!

My grandson Jacob LOVES Petey!

As you can see, Petey is a pitt bull. I know... I know.....
I had the same reservations when they got him as a pup. However, Petey has been raised to be a big baby. Sort of a lap dog, as you can see by the pictures!
Lyric runs and tumbles with him all the time. He's NEVER shown any signs of aggression, or tried to hurt anyone.....until last night!

My son in love, Phillip, is trying to sell a riding lawn mower. He has it in the front yard with a sign and phone number on it. Last night, Kristy and Jacob were home alone. Kristy was in the shower, and Jacob was in his bedroom. Their front door was open, but the storm door was latched. Jacob said he heard someone knock on the door, and Petey started barking, so he went out to see who was there.Gosh did he get a surprise! When he got in the living room, there was a man on the porch holding Petey by the harness and beating him in the head! Petey had bitten the man on his leg!

What we don't know is how the man got in, or how Petey got out!
Petey can not open the door, and the glass was not broken out.
None the less, Petey got the guy!
Jacob grabbed him and put him up right away.
All we can think is that maybe the man opened the storm door to holler in since he didn't see anyone in the living room. Stupid move, since there are "Beware Of Dog" signs all over the front of the house and the fence. There's really been no need for them up until now, but he's a pit....the kids weren't taking chances.

Kristy said the man dropped his pants right there in her yard, and showed her the bite. He was pretty bruised, but the bite had not broken the skin. He told her that the dog just bolted through the door after him. They offered to take the man to the hospital, but he refused them. He said he'd go by himself if he thought he needed to go.

So, you guessed it, the police came over to the house last night around 11:30!
The man went to the E.R. and they had to call the police since it was a pit bull.
The police wrote the kids a citation for harboring a "vicious animal" and for not keeping him contained! How much more contained can a dog be than in your house??
Anyway, they have to go to court on the 27th because of this!
We have NO IDEA what the guy was even doing there. He's not talking about tht!
Was he looking at the lawnmower, or trying to break into a house that looked empty? None the less....the man was on their property.... and Petey was in the house! Nothing matters to the police except the fact that Petey is a pitt bull and he bit someone!
The way I see it....Petey was just doing his job!
He could have done major damage to the man if he had wanted to!
He did bite him, but only bruised him!
We all know what Pitt Bulls are capable of.

Anyway, after 10 years with no incidences at all, the state is requiring Kristy and Phillip to have Petey put to sleep before their court date, and to pay all of the medical bills this man incurs. How fair is that?? Just wanted your thoughts on the matter.

PRAY FOR THE FREEMAN FAMILY!

2009-05-01T06:10:00.002-05:00

The Freemans are having a really hard time today. They got some bad news about Kayleigh's prognosis last night.

Please stop by their blog and let them know you're praying!

Ode To girls!

2009-04-30T14:22:00.005-05:00

I am so blessed in my job! There are actually 2 businesses that operate from this building. I manage the furniture store, and we have a Radio Shack satellite store in the front quarter of our building. The owners of the Radio Shack, KC and Becky, are like my sister and brother. We go back a longgggggg way!

KC and Becky have two of the sweetest girls I've ever met!
Chloe is 8 and Skye is 5.

They come to the store most days after school.
You never know what these goofy girls are going to come up with!

The other day, Chloe came in and asked
"Miss Jacki, just what IS a tree hugging hippie"?

I cracked up!

It turns out that at home, KC has been banished to the outside while smoking.

The other night after supper, Chloe went outside and found KC smoking around their new trees! She threw a fit !
He asked her...."what are you , some kind of a a tree hugging hippie"? lol

When she asked him what that was, he told her to ask me!

So just what are you trying to say, K.C.? lol

Chloe and I had quite the discussion about "Tree Hugging Hippies". She said she wanted to be one! So we went outside and I took her picture.

Presenting.....Chloe ....the tree hugging hippie!

Isn't she beautiful?

Becky is from Britain. She and the girls just came home from a 2 week visit with their Nana and Grandad in England. They sent me this picture of them on their trip!
Gotta love girls!

Ever had one of these?

2009-04-30T11:44:00.001-05:00

Did you ever have a day that God put a song in your heart, and you just can't let it go?
I woke up with this song in my head and my heart this morning. I'm not sure why...but I LOVE IT! Thought I'd share!

What a Hottie!

2009-04-28T18:20:00.005-05:00

There is this new group on Facebook. It's all about the history of my high schools marching band. I wasn't a band geek (I was in choir), but Chuck and both of my kids were. Imagine my surprise when these pictures posted of Chuck today! He was the field commander of our marching band for a few years. I didn't know him back then. He was just a freshman my senior year....but I think he was a total hottie! (He still is to me!!)
I think I would have loved him even back then!

Chuck the field commander

Chuck and Tracey In Full Uniform

WHAT'S YOUR GORILLA?

2009-04-25T06:34:00.002-05:00

They showed this video at Celebrate Recovery last night. It cracked me up!!
Just a preview of what we do! lol What's your Gorilla?

YET ANOTHER REASON TO WASH YOUR HANDS!

2009-04-24T16:47:00.004-05:00

I'm participating in Renee's "In The News Fridays".
I really thought this was news worthy!

Deadly new flu strain erupts in Mexico, U.S

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A strain of flu never seen before has killed up to 60 people in Mexico and has also appeared in the United States, where eight people were infected but recovered, health officials said on Friday.

Mexico's government said at least 20 people have died of the disease in central Mexico and that it may also have been responsible for 40 other deaths.

Mexico reported more than 1,000 suspected cases and four possible cases were also seen in Mexicali, right on the border with California.

The World Health Organization said tests showed the virus from 12 of the Mexican patients was the same genetically as a new strain of swine flu, designated H1N1, seen in eight people in California and Texas.

"Our concern has grown as of yesterday," U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acting director Dr. Richard Besser told reporters in a telephone briefing.

Global health officials were not ready to declare a pandemic -- a global epidemic of a new and deadly disease such as flu. "So far there has not been any change in the pandemic threat level," Besser said.

But the human-to-human spread of the new virus raised fears of a major outbreak and Mexico's government canceled classes for millions of children in its sprawling capital city and surrounding areas. All large public events like concerts were suspended in Mexico City.

Close analysis showed the disease is a never-before-seen mixture of swine, human and avian viruses, according to the CDC.

Most of the Mexican dead were aged between 25 and 45, a Mexican health official said, in a worrying sign. Seasonal flu can be more deadly among the very young and the very old but a hallmark of pandemics is that they affect healthy young adults.

Mexico has enough antiviral drugs to combat the outbreak for the moment, Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said.

The WHO said the virus appears to be susceptible to Roche AG's flu drug Tamiflu, also known as oseltamivir, but not to older flu drugs such as amantadine.

"In the last 20 hours, fewer serious cases of this disease and fewer deaths have been reported," Cordova told reporters.

Humans can occasionally catch swine flu from pigs but rarely have they been known to pass it on to other people.

NO CONTAINMENT

The CDC's Besser said it was probably too late to contain this outbreak. "There are things that we see that suggest that containment is not very likely," he said. Once it has spread beyond a limited geographical area it would be difficult to control.

But there is no reason to avoid Mexico, CDC and the WHO said. "CDC is not recommending any additional recommendations for travelers to California, Texas and Mexico," Besser said.

Worldwide, seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people in an average year, but the flu season for North America should have been winding down.

The U.S. government said it was closely following the new cases. "The White House is taking the situation seriously and monitoring for any new developments. The president has been fully briefed," an administration official said.

Mexico's government cautioned people not to shake hands or kiss when greeting or to share food, glasses or cutlery for fear of infection. Flu virus can be spread on the hands, and handwashing is one of the most important ways to prevent its spread.

The outbreak jolted residents of the Mexican capital, one of the world's biggest cities with 20 million residents.

One pharmacy ran out of surgical face masks after selling 300 in a day.

"We're frightened because they say it's not exactly flu, it's another kind of virus and we're not vaccinated," said Angeles Rivera, 34, a federal government worker who fetched her son from a public kindergarten that was closing.

The virus is an influenza A virus, carrying the designation H1N1. It contains DNA from avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses, the CDC has said.

The CDC is already working on a vaccine.

Scientists were working to understand why there are so many deaths in Mexico when the infections in the United States seem mild, Besser said.

The CDC said it will issue daily updates at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/investigation.htm.

The last flu pandemic was in 1968 when "Hong Kong" flu killed about a million people globally.

This is soooooo funny!

2009-04-23T14:01:00.001-05:00

@ Yahoo! Video

Another Award

2009-04-23T06:41:00.003-05:00

Lea sent me this award this morning!
Thanks Lea!

Now for the rules for the award:
Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate the blogs with great attitude and/or gratitude. Be sure to link to your nominees in your post. Let your nominees know they have received the award by leaving them a comment on their blog. Be sure to link this post to the person who nominated you for the award.
I would like to nominate some of my favourite blogs at the moment, there are many more, but these ones in particular have special meaning to me:
Betsi
Jennifer
Laura
Jane
Karen

There are so many women out there that inspire me and lift me up....but this post would go on for day if I named them all!

a Bit Overwhelmed!

2009-04-20T18:31:00.002-05:00

I feel like it's been forever since I've posted, or even read a blog lately. I'm just a bit overwhelmed!

Things with my brother have really taken a turn for the worst the past few days. We actually felt at ease enough to pick Lyric up for the weekend and go to church Sunday morning.
We go to Celebrate Recovery every Friday night, so on Sundays we have been sitting with Mike so my sister, Patti, can attend her church on Sunday mornings.

Friday, Mike had an appointment with his ortho doctors. That did NOT go well! We were there from 9:30 until after lunch. Most of the time spent waiting.We found out that his arm is not healing at all, and as a matter of fact, he has a huge tumor in his left shoulder now too. We expected him to loose the use of his legs soon, but had never considered loosing his arms!

We got up Sunday and Chuck cooked us a yummy breakfeast. I had Lyrics clothes all picked out for church, and was just about to get in the shower when the phone rang. It was Patti telling me that she had an awful morning with Mike and didn't know what to do. He was all but paralyzed! And...he was screaming in pain. He was stuck in the bathroom and she could not get him out! (not near as funny as that sounds).
Anyway, I grabbed a quick shower and we headed over there. WOW! What a difference 24 hours makes!

We called Hospice, and they told us to give him his meds again. (he had just taken them 3 hours earlier). They assured us it was ok, and at this point we just needed to do whatever it takes to make him comfortable. We were to call them back if he got no relief in a few minutes. So we gave him more meds, and he went back to sleep.

It became obvious that Mike can no longer use either of his arms, and his tumors have grown out of control in the past 3 days.The pain is unbearable! I feel so helpless watching him suffer this way!
He cries out to God that he has done everything he has been asked, and tried to live his last days doing God's work.....so why is God making him suffer like this? I have no answers! I feel so helpless!

Hospice came this morning and evaluated him again. They told Patti to increase his medications again, and do not let them wear off under any circumstances. He is obviously in his very last days, but he's so young that his mind is doing everything it can to fight.

PLEASE pray for comfort for Mike! AND for Patti! Mike is staying at her house and she is carrying the brunt of this load physically, as well as the heartache we both feel! I am so gratefull that God gave my sister the gifts and strength in the areas that I fail in! She is truly amazing!

Bear with me if I'm absent from the blogosphere for a while....I'll be in and out as my heart allows.

I've been tagged!

2009-04-17T15:59:00.002-05:00

Robyn tagged me with this 8 things meme today. I thought I'd give it a go since it was kinda sorta fun, and distracted me anyway! So here ya go!

**8 Things I'm Looking Forward To**

1. Going to visit my sister in Missouri this June

2. The garden centers getting their spring flower shipments

3. Going to Celebrate Recovery tonight

4. The smell of Summer flowers

5. The return of my 100's of humming birds

6. FRESH GARDEN TOMATOES!

7. planning Chuck's birthday

8. A CURE FOR CANCER!

**8 Things I Did Yesterday**

1. Went to work

2. screamed at my computer (at work) when the internet was down all freekin day!

3. went to a staff meeting in Clarksville

4. watched Survivor

5. ate a HUGE bowl of Death By Chocolate ice cream

6. thought about, but didn't do a blog update

7. won 2 badges playing Pogo

8. Hugged a pug!

**8 Things I Wish I Could Do**

1.See my Mom again

2. Make my brother all better ! :0(

3. draw something more than stick people

4. loose 40 pounds (see #5 above)

5.sing like I used to do

6. go back to Germany for a visit

7.take a vacation!!!!!!

8.learn to like Max and Ruby

**8 Shows I Watch on TV**

1. American Idol

2. Survivor

3. Dancing With The Stars

4. Criminal Minds

5. Lie To Me

6. A Baby Story (I heart TLC)

7. Good Morning America

8. What Not To Wear

**All of the above only when time allows....HOWEVER...I NEVER miss Idol!

Now I tag:
Alicia
Renee
Erin
Jill
Jamie
Daria
Amber
Wanda

HAPPY EASTER

2009-04-12T09:08:00.002-05:00

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter, the joy that our Risen Saviour offers, and the gifts of family of friends!

THIS IS AWESOME!!

2009-04-09T08:43:00.006-05:00

It takes me about 20-25 minutes to get to work every morning. On my way...I have the best time listening to our local Christian radio station, WAY-FM.
They do this awesome show called Mornings with Brant.

This morning, Brant was talking about new pictures that were sent back from the Hubble Telescope. Scientist have found 2 new galaxies that Hubble finally sent sent pictures of.
The first is called "The Crown Of Thorns"

and the second is "The Hand Of God" !

GOD IS AWESOME~~

What Part Of Spring Are You?

2009-04-07T18:50:00.002-05:00

I snitched this from Renee's blog! I'll do anything to bring on spring!

You Are Blooming Flowers

You are an optimistic person by nature. In even the darkest times, you are hopeful about the future.

You feel truly blessed in life and can sometimes be overwhelmed with emotions.

You have an artist's eye. You are always looking for beauty in the mundane.

You have a good sense of aesthetics, especially when it comes to shapes and color.

What Part of Spring Are You?

Trust Lessons Learned

2009-04-07T06:04:00.008-05:00

We had what has to be one of the most stressful weekends I can remember in years!

Saturday, I was at work selling sofas and just doing my thing. The day was going well! The I got a phone call.....
Don't ya hate that?

My co-worker, June, came to me with the phone and a funny look on her face. I could hear someone screaming through the phone lines. UH OH....

I thought it was one of those irate customers we occasionally get (you know, the ones whose dogs ate their sofa cushions and they don't understand why that's not covered by warranty). If only it was that easy!

Very very long story short.....the caller was one of my sisters ~~friends~~ former classmates.
She was calling me to tell me to tell my sister to quit calling her and harassing her! What???
Call her yourself, I said.

Then she goes on and on about some money she is supposed to owe my sister but
shereallydoesn'tbecausesheletPattitaywithher4yearsagowhenPattiwashavingproblemsandfriendsdidnotaskfriendstorepayfavors.....
You get the picture!!!! Breath Girl....Just Breath!

When she finally takes a breath, I kinda get the jest of the call. Patti was ~~upset~~ pissed because she found out that her ~~friend~~ former classmate had stolen some of my brothers medications from her house!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Who would steal meds from a cancer patient?

I tried to take a breath....found out I couldn't breath! Panic set in! Did Mike know this? Why had Patti not told anyone! Was Mike going without his meds? OMG!!

Sooooo....I left work to try to figure this one out! I was going to have to move Mike to keep him and his meds safe, not to mention away from people that would steal his medication!
I called a family meeting, Mike and Patti excluded, and we hashed out what to do and where we could put Mike. Would Hospice let us move him? Could he survive a move?? It's the weekend.....no time to ask questions, just do something! I could NOT believe that my sister would allow this to happen!

Around 4:00, Patti called me. My ~~friend~~ has gone crazy she says. I don't know what to do!
Then she admits to us that during the ice storm, while Mike was in the hospital, her ~~friend~~ stayed at her house for a few days because she had no power or water.
The doctors had just told us to remove all of Mikes old medications from his house because he was self medicating. They were giving him very controlled new meds. So Patti went over and had picked all of them up. She told us she had flushed them, as instructed, but she hadn't! While her ~~friend~~ was staying there, she had stolen them! Hundreds of dollars of them! Controlled narcotics! Now she was accusing Patti of selling them to her and Patti wanted the money!!!

Finally, I called Randy, our Celebrate Recovery director.
He came right over and sat with us until about 10:00.
We talked, cried and prayed ALOT. Did we tell Mike about this? Should we move him???

Have you ever had one of those "Wow" moments where things just make sense? You know, where you feel total peace after making a decision? I had one!
Randy said that it was Mike that had decided to move to Patti's house, knowing some of the ~~friends~~ that came by there. During the days he has been there, Mike has done a mighty work witnessing to those ~~friends~~ and their families. Randy said maybe this was Gods final work for my brother to do! WOW!
He (ever so kindly) reminded me that God knew everything going on, and God had my brother in his hands!
I just needed to pray and trust.GOD was in control of this situation, not Jacki!
WOWZERS!
I knew this was true, I was just to upset to think about it ! So we decided that we would leave it all alone for the night. We'd pray and listen....really listen to what God was saying.

Chuck and I got up Sunday and went to Patti's to "babysit" Mike for the day.
Patti went to work, and Mike began to talk! Patti had told him the whole story !!
He all ready knew! He had made the decision to stay there.
He feels that God put him there for a purpose, and he was going to be obedient!
He said that all of this had happened before he had moved in there. He was not happy that Patti had not disposed of his meds, but none had been missing during the time he had lived there. She was taking great care of him and he knew he wasn't in any danger. He asked us to trust him, and God. (there's that statement again).
OK GOD....I GET IT !

So Mike is still at Patti's house, and happy to be there ! If any problems come up, we'll just pray and deal with them as they happen! And I have peace!

AIN'T GOD GOOD?
My brother is amazing!!!!!

2009-04-03T06:17:00.002-05:00

Gosh, I check my Google Reader every day, but it seems harder and harder for me to write a post!
I guess because where I am right now is not a happy place, and I don't want to constantly write all doom and gloom!
Don't get me wrong, I KNOW how blessed I am, but this dark cloud seems to be hovering over me and the sun doesn't shine very brightly right now. So please bear with me!

Mike seems to be doing ok. He's comfortable anyway. Hospice is awesome!
It seems like anytime he is in need, they are right there to do what ever it takes to help him out. His nurse and social worker have even made it a point to drive 25 miles to my job every time they see him just to keep me informed! We are definitely seeing a bit of decline in his neuro function testing. That's to be expected with the tumor on his brain stem.He does NOT let it get him down though. I wish I had half of his spirit!
He is still going to Celebrate Recovery every week and teaching his class! I know how uncomfortable it is to move him, but he insists! The people there really give him an emotional (and spiritual) boost.
What an amazing program it is!
I'm having such a hard time comprehending the fact that my brother sits up every day, works on his laptop, still cracks jokes and has his wits about him.....yet he can be taken from me in an instant! I guess that's true of all of us, but when you have doctors and Hospice preparing you every minute, it's a bit different!

I rest in the fact that Mike is safe in the arms of Jesus, and is looking forward to his new home in GLORY!
He has made it his mission to witness to as many people as possible, and do God's work every minute he has left on this earth! What a guy!

Jill over at Sneaky Mamma sent me a button for Mike. It's on my sidebar. Feel free to copy it and add it to your blog as a reminder to Pray for Mike!
Thanks Jill! You are such a doll!

It's the prayers and concern from all of my friends, church family and blogosphere that keep my head above water. I truly appreciate each and every one of you! And Kristy....what can I say? God certainly blessed me when he gave me you! You are ALWAYS there to do what ever needs done, when ever it needs it! I love the fact that my daughter and I are best friends! Not many people have that relationship with their daughters.

I'm going to leave you with Mikes "Life Song". Our family has learned to cling to this song! It gets us through the hard times.
ENJOY!!

2009-03-28T09:39:00.009-05:00

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I've updated this blog!
Things have been in a whirlwind around here, and I just can't seem to get time to sit down for more than 5 minutes any more.

God has really given me the time to "Count My Abundant Blessings" in the past week!
There have been so many visitors, phone calls, emails, etc.
I have the greatest support network ever!
I thank every one of you for the emails and comments. They bless my heart!

My brother, Mike, is hanging in. He has so much courage and strength! He is using every minute he has left to witness to people and bring glory to God. I'm so very proud of him!
I had to laugh yesterday. His Hospice nurse, Betty, came over to check on him and had her Bible in hand! She said she was coming to have church! lol
She told me what a blessing Mike was.
In her job, it seems most things are sad and stressfull.
She says when she comes to care for Mike, she walks away refreshed, and realizes why she is in the profession she is. What a blessing!

At Celebrate Recovery last night, the team did a special program for Mike. They just wanted him to know what a blessing he has been to them and the program. It was precious!

OK...on to a happier note:
Renee tagged me to tell you 6 weird things about myself and then pass it on to 6 others.
So......here ya go!
1) I was born in France and my birth certificate is 8 pages long! (I can't read it)
2) I am NOT a fan of chocolate
3) I HAVEto have one foot out from under the blankets for me to sleep at night
4) I once found an abandoned newborn baby boy at a bank I worked at and revived him!
5) I have a daughter that looks just like me, and a son that looks nothing like me!
6) I am a major ice cream fanatic!

Now I tag:
The Motherboard: http://wheredidiputthat.blogspot.com/
Alicia: http://yayastuff.blogspot.com/
Martina: http://freedom2move.blogspot.com/
Lady Dorothy: http://ladydorothy.blogspot.com/
Sera: http://laughingthroughthechaos.blogspot.com/
Jade:http://theonecurlyfry.blogspot.com/

My Brother....My Heart

2009-03-24T22:42:00.002-05:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

URGENT PRAYER NEEDED!

2009-03-22T19:50:00.002-05:00

Hi All,
Just a quick update to let everyone know where we stand with my brother,
He is not doing well..
I posted the other day that we had called Hospice in. Alot has happened since my last post! But then again, there is no normal around here any more.

We called our oldest sister, Debbie, and let her know of the latest scans and about Hospice. She immediately made plans to come home from Kansas City and spend the weekend with Mike.She left early Thursday morning and got in about supper time. We all went out for a yummy meal at a Mexican restaurant Mike loves. I kind of noticed that Deb wasn't so chipper. I just chalked it up to the long drive and the news. Later that night she got SICK!! I mean really sick!
I called my doctor Friday morning (when I was at work)so we could get her looked at. They told us to get her there ASAP and he would see her. Thanks Dr. Brazil!!

While I was on the phone with my doctor, the other phone rang. It was Mike and he was SCREAMING! He had fallen in his apartment and could not move! Luckily he had his cell phone in his pocket! My first instinct was to call 911....then I remembered that I was supposed to call Hospice first! Of course, I didn't have their phone number with me, so I had to find a phone book! I was crazy!!

We got Hospice on the way,I sent Deb on to the doctor, Kristy over to Mike's house, and I headed for town. Kristy called me and told me that the Hospice chaplain was there when she got there. They called 911.
Mike was paralyzed! He had dislocated his right shoulder, and broken the right arm all the way through.
They would meet me at the E.R.
***Special Note*** A GOD THING!
The chaplain was actually on Mike's street at the time. He was coming over to introduce himself to Mike when all of this happened. He knocked on the door not knowing Mike had fallen! Mike was able to holler out to him and tell him he needed help!
THANK YOU LORD!

They got Mike to the hospital and started working on him.
They sent him to x-ray to make sure everything else was ok.
He had fallen flat on his back! That really scared us!
After about 30 minutes, Mike was able to move his toes....then his legs! He is NOT paralyzed! They said it was probably just the trauma from the fall. They reduced his shoulder and put his arm in a cast and a sling and let him go home! Amazing!
Deb came to the hospital to meet us. She told us that she had double pneumonia! The doctor had wanted to put her in the hospital right away. She promised him that she would stay in bed (she didn't) but she had not made that drive just to go into the hospital! So he gave her a "BIG HONKIN" shot (in her words) and a prescription!
We brought both of them home, and they slept the rest of the day away.

Later that evening,we all went to Celebrate Recovery. Another God thing because Friday was the 1 year anniversary of his diagnosis and he was determined to pick up his chip! GO MIKE!
We had special prayer for him at CR and the pastor anointed him with oil.
It was so precious!

Hospice called and said Mike had to be moved. He could no longer stay alone.So we spent the whole day Saturday moving him over to Patti's house. We agreed that he would be better there because I have a split level house, and we can't navigate his wheelchair through it.I also feel better that he's there because Patti is a nurse and knows how to care for him better than I ever could!
Hospice came right away and delivered him a hospital bed and a wheelchair ramp. We spent today at Patti's getting him everything arranged for him.
Things are finally settling down.
So that's our weekend in a nutshell. Deb left at 5:00 this morning to drive back to Missouri and we're all going to bed early!

Please keep us in your prayers. This fall caused Mike alot of pain, and now he's frustrated that he has lost his independence.
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY!
We'll keep you updated!

Somebody Stop The World

2009-03-18T06:24:00.002-05:00

I found this poem this morning, and it explains right where I am this morning.
Anyone who has had a loved one with Cancer will be able to relate!

Somebody stop the world,
I want to go back.
I want to go back ,
Before cancer Turned our world upside down.
I want to go back
this wasn't supposed to happen to us,
not to you .
I want to go back ,
To our carefree days
And future plans.
I want to go back
before doctors and chemo
and losing your hair
I want to go back,
When you were so strong
You seemed invincible
I want to go back,
When I didn't cry every day
for fear of losing you.
I want to go back ,
To where people didn't avoid me
Because they don't know what to say.
I want to go back ,
To when we still had forever
And weren't living on borrowed time.
I want to go back ,
To a point in my lifeI wasn't so angry with God.
It wasn't that long ago,
Though it seems like forever
Somebody stop the world,
I want to go back........
Author Robin Reynolds

Hospice

2009-03-17T06:04:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was NOT a good day!

I took my brother for his new set of scans, and they were sooooo much worse than we expected!
I met with his oncology team, and they told me it was time to call Hospice.
He lit up like a Christmas Tree when he was scanned. Despite the chemo and radiation he has been taking,he has major tumor progression and formation. They have exhausted everything they know to do for him at this point.
My heart is broken!
I'm not familiar with how Hospice works, or what they do, but everyone I've talked to says they are amazing!

I'm so sad...I'm ANGRY....I'm broken!

BUT.....I have the best support team around me! My Celebrate Recovery Team, my pastor, my church family, and all of you.For that, I am so thankful !

My brother is such a strong Christian man, and he is not scared or worried. He went into "work mode" when we told him, and started listing everything he thought we would need to know. I'm so incredibly grateful to have this time with him, and to know that I can make his celebration of life exactly as he would want it.

I'm angry that his daughter will never have the blessing of knowing this man. She has been told so many untruths about him. She will never have the chance to find out for herself what a blessing he truly is!

I'm angry that he has only been back with us for 2 years (after an 18 year separation)....that's another post... and he has spent 1 of those years battliing ths demon called cancer!

I know that in this past 2 years God has used Mike in a mighty way! He has made good use of his time here. Many many people have come to know our Lord and Saviour because of him. He IS a man after Gods heart and puts NOTHING before that! I stand in awe of him!
Please continue to pray for Mike and our family as we try to help make his journey into GLORY a precious one!
I'll leave you with my lifesong! I cling to this:

OMG....The many uses of "UP"

2009-03-16T09:12:00.003-05:00

Lovers of the English language might enjoy this. It is yet another example of why people learning English have trouble with the language. Learning the nuances of English makes it a difficult language. (But then, that's probably true of many languages.)

There is a two-letter word in English that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is 'UP.' It is listed in the dictionary as being used as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.
At other times the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this up is confusing:
A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP !

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP , look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP . When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP.

One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP , for now ........my time is UP , so time to shut UP!

Oh...one more thing:
What is the first thing you do in the morning & the last thing you do at night?

U P

LOL

Now I'll shut up

Funny Faces

2009-03-16T06:41:00.003-05:00

I was feeling a bit "down" yesterday, so Lyric decided she would cheer me up with some funny faces! I love these! She always makes me smile!

A SAD SAD DAY

2009-03-15T17:54:00.004-05:00

MIKE AT 4

5 YEARS AGO

LAST YEAR AT HIS BENEFIT MOTORCYCLE RUN

RELAY FOR LIFE 2008

MIKE AND OUR SISTER PATTI

THIS YEARS CHURCH DIRECTORY PICTURE

So my sister called me this afternoon. She was at the ER with my brother again!
He called her and asked if she would come over after church and look at his arm. He thought he had hurt it in his sleep??? I thought it was weird that he wasn't at church this morning. He's ALWAYS there before us, and has seats waiting for us.
So Patti went to look at him and immediatly took him to the hospital. His arm was "contorted" and black and blue. They sent him for an x-ray, and sure enough, the upper bone in his arm was broken! How do you break you arm while you are sleeping???

Mike has to roll himself over and push himself up after all of the radiation to his hips. When he pushed up this morning, the bone snapped!

The doctor came back and told us that even though they had just x-rayed his arm, it was obvious that he had major tumor in his bones in his arm and shoulder! WOW!!
Did NOT expect that!

He has an appointment to see his oncologist tomorrow, as well as an MRI scheduled.
Now I'm scared!

He called Chuck and I over to his house this evening. Patti was all ready there.
He told us that the doctors had all ready told him that even with all of the treatments he has been having, his cancer is spreading rapidly and it may be time to call Hospice in. He had not told us that before now, because he didn't want to worry us!

So I'm taking him for the scans in the morning, and to see the doctor. I need to hear what is really going on, and just how much he really has not told us!
THIS SUCKS!! I'M NOT READY TO LOOSE MY BROTHER!

Soooo Pretty!

2009-03-14T15:03:00.001-05:00

I just had to share these pictures of the Bradford Pear trees in front of my store!
I think they're so pretty!
Even the rain and cold can't dampen my spring spirit!

Another Blessing

2009-03-12T18:20:00.002-05:00

Jill has blessed me with the TLC Award! Thanks Jill !

I'm passing this award on to some of the sweetest bloggers I've met!

Alicia
Renee
Laura
Dee
and
Robyn

These ladies inspire me, and always lift my spirits!

What Do Your Initials Say About You

2009-03-12T15:47:00.000-05:00

You Are Shrewd and Talented

When You Are Comfortable or in a Social Setting:

You are ambitious, and hard-working. Adversity allows you to shine. You resourceful and able to make due.

People see you as honest to the point of bluntness. But they always know that you'll be fair. You have the good intentions.

When You Are At Your Best:

You are enthusiastic and flexible. You are open-minded. You prefer to learn from others... not judge them.

People see you as kind and cooperative. You are very supportive when friends are down on their luck.

What Do Your Initials Say About You?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAYS

2009-03-11T07:01:00.003-05:00

2009-03-11T06:26:00.003-05:00

The Garcia's are holding a silent auction fundraiser to "Bring Kellsey Home".
There are some AWESOME items in this auction at great starting bids!
Hop on over to the auction and start bidding!
You know you want to!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG !!

2009-03-10T11:29:00.014-05:00

I got up this morning, and was actually NOT freezing! I have slept with my windows wide open for the last 3 days! Ahhhhh simple pleasures!
Then while I was driving to work, I saw this:

When I got to work, I looked a little closer and saw this:

Then I looked across the street at the cutest little house and saw this down the sides of the driveway!

SPRING IS HERE!!!! ok, almost here! Even though it's thundering off in the distance (You can't hear snow coming, can you?) AND....the weatherman (not my best friend for the rest of the week) said it was only going to be in the 40's tomorrow.
I can look around and see the earth waking from her
(selfish, much too long)slumber!
I've had a taste of the 70's and I want more!

Chuck ever so lovingly reminds me that pretty soon it won't rain here any more, everything will be brown and crispy, and I'll be complaining that it's too hot!
Gotta love him!

I DON'T CARE! I love spring! I love the colors, and the birds, and the pollen (NOT).
And even though I have awful spring allergies,I look forward to this season every year.
I dance and sing when I spring forward, who cares about loosing an hours sleep when you can wake up to songbirds?

I have officially ordered my spring planting catalogs, as well as every seed catalog I can find! I never really "order" anything from them, but I do get good ideas!
I can't wait to get my hands dirty! How 'bout you?
What's your favorite seaason?

Serious Life Magazine

2009-03-10T09:11:00.003-05:00

I can't wait to introduce you to the March issue of Serious Life Magazine!

This is one of the best magazines published and the subscription is FREE!

This magazine is owned and published by The Riggs Family.You can follow their family journey of adoption and cancer. They also donate advertising to several charities. Well worth your read!

The magazine also features several bloggers and their comments. Shoot, I'm even on their featured blog list this month!

This magazine is a truly christian based publication, and will certainly inspire you!
Check it out!!

WHY GOD MADE MOMS LOL

2009-03-09T11:53:00.002-05:00

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.