Thanksgiving for Another Year

Thanks be to God, our Father for another year of life.....I have officially arrived alive at 55! What a great, stressful, happy, sad, wonderful year I'm leaving behind and what a wonderful year of trying to glorify God and enjoy Him is ahead!

For you younger women, do not be afraid to venture into this age..it has it's benefits. If you say something wrong, people just think "oh, well, you know she's getting on up there". You can start dressing funny and it seems normal. If your rouge (blush) is a little too much, you're forgiven because everybody knows you can't see!

Today I would like to give a special thanks to my dear parents.....my dad who is in heaven and my mama! They nurtured me and with the help of God didn't kill me during my teen years. So thankyou and I love you!

Tonight my sweet husband is fixing dinner and a few family members will be here. Most especially the grandchildren. They have spent a few days with their grandfather and his family but they come back home today!

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" Psalm 139: 16

I got a brother for my 8th birthday

This is my brother and sister in law. He's what I got for my 8th birthday! He wasn't what I wanted at the time, but he's o.k. now. So happy birthday brother and don't forget, mine's tomorrow!

Sisters and Sadness

This is my mama and her sister, the only two left of 7 brothers and sisters. Aunt B has always been a second mama to my sisters and brothers and myself. I stayed with them when my younger brother was born and as he was born on July 30 and I was born on July 31, 8 years apart, I celebrated my birthday that year with Aunt B and Uncle S. That was the year I got my "big girl" bike. Aunt B made most of our Easter dresses and we had many an egg hunt at her house. She also gave the "perms" we had to have more often than we wanted to!

Uncle S died several years ago and Aunt B lived in her little house on the bay. She was an immaculate housekeeper and was very particular about her dress, and had every hair in place! She is loved by many.

Last nite we found out that Aunt B went to live in a nursing center. I went to tell mama and then went to visit Aunt B "to scout it out" before mama visits. The two sisters have always been so close, even when they fuss with each other. We call them the Golden Girls. Over the past few years, Aunt B has been gradually forgetting more and more. She will celebrate her 92nd birthday in September.

Nursing homes are sad places and although this one isn't bad, it is what it is. My cousin was there with her, and when she started to leave, Aunt B said, well I'm going with you!" That was when I got my keys, kissed and hugged her and got in my car to leave. So many memories flood through my mind. Happy memories. She didn't know me today, but when I said Husbands name, she knew who he was! She has always said he is the best looking man she has ever met. (of course she is almost blind). I went to visit mama and to give her a report. I made it sound as good as possible and left out the hardest stuff. Age is such a strange thing, the only thing that makes it possible to bear is that we know God holds Aunt B, mama and all of us in his everlasting arms!

With so much love to you, Aunt B

Surprise for Grandma

If you know someone who lives in a retirement center and you want to really make them happy, go to lunch! There! Today the grandchildren and I surprised mama at lunch. As we were sitting at the table, she was telling everyone who walked by that these were her greatgrandchildren! Of course, if anybody under 65 is in the dining room they get stared at a lot! The kids loved the attention and so did mama!

It made me think of a time before daddy died. Ashley, my 15 year old granddaughter, was about 3 when my sister and her husband, mama and daddy and I drove from Florida to California. Yes, it is the longest drive, especially across Texas..and if you've ever driven Texas from border to border, you know what a long, boring drive it can be. Another problem there are no rest areas! Here in Florida, we have a rest stop every 30 miles or so, because we just can't wait! Anyway, back to my original thoughts. Daddy was a tall, thin man who by this point in life had little to NO patience with little children. Also, due to circumstances of life, we had not seen Ashley in a long, long time. The minute she saw us, she knew us. She was such a little lady! Daddy fell in complete and total love with her. We explained that I was her nana and that daddy was her great grandfather and mama her greatgrandmother. While at the San Diego zoo, she was dawdling (southern for day dreaming and lagging behind). When she noticed some of our group was ahead of her, she shouted in her best 3 year old voice "Great, Great wait for me great". Well, she had him then and for the rest of his life he was Great to her. We miss him!

This visit is breathing joy into my heart. Don't ever let your children move far away, because they take your grandchildren with them!

A Heart Melts

They landed on time, had a great pizza supper, swam for a long time and then, SPEED STACKERS!!! We watched the video and they played for a while, while their Nana watched and soaked them in like a sponge! They have grown so much this year! Adam seems so much more mature and Ashley is just beautiful and so sweet!

Adam was talking to me tonight when just he, Ashley and I were still up and he said "Nana, I wish I lived over here in Florida." I said "Why?" And (hold onto your hearts) "cause you're here"....Oh, my gosh, my heart melted in my chest! Being a Nana is so wonderful!

As I write, they are trying hard to go to sleep. It is after 11 p.m. here, but of course only 9 where they live....I think they will probably just stay up awhile while their Nana goes to bed!

Since no one was sleepy, except me, they asked me to tell them some family stories..I told them about when their daddy was born. Then I said goodnite!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow the grandchildren come! I can hardly believe it is already here. I always get really anxious right before they come for some reason, then when they walk off the plane, I am fine! Have I mentioned I have issues?

I bought speed stacking today at Target..thank you to momrn2 for that great suggestion. Looking at the box, it may be a little complicated for Nana but it has a dvd with instructions...that is good because I never read instructions. Today I've also been making sure the pool is ready. We have had a lot of rain lately and I was afraid it would be all out of balance chemically. It was good! I'm so thankful that when we put in a pool, we got a salt to chlorine system. We never have to buy chlorine (which can ruin a good pair of shoes in a hurry!) and our water is always sparkling blue! They love to swim. When they get in tomorrow, we'll have a little pizza party and catch up! It's really tough when your grandchildren live so far away, but my sister always tell me not to gripe, her's live in Okinawa.

If one of the two people who have ever read this blog, read it, please say a prayer for safe travel and a good visit making memories to last a lifetime!

Mama

I want to talk about my sweet mama today, but first I need to thank momrn2momrn2 for helping me with my blog! She took my 3 blogs and joined them into one! Thanks so much! I'm so excited to now be a one blogger woman!

This is me with my mama. Today we went to the dentist and she was feeling so bad. She didn't remember the dentist's wife and she has known her for years. I left feeling sad. So that's not who I want to introduce.....I want to introduce my mama, my friend. Mama was one of 7 children, the third of 4 girls. She grew up in a family where there wasn't a lot of money, but there was a lot of love. Mama and her sisters would find dresses they liked in a catalog and my grandmother would cut patterns and sew the dresses. They felt very well dressed, and were all raised to have grace and dignity.

One trivia fact about mama is that way back during the war, we had a tall (for small town usa) hotel called the Dixie Sherman Hotel (you may know the song "The Day they tore Old Dixie Down) and they had a band and dancing on the top. Mama saw Clark Gable! He was stationed at the air force base in our town. I'm sure he wanted to ask mama to dance.

Just as soon as I figure out what is wrong with my scanner, I'll scan in a picture of mama and her sisters.

I have 5 siblings and when we were growing up, mama was one of the original stay at home moms, although I feel sure that at times she would have rather gone to work than listen to us all day! But she was always there, and she always took care of her children. At any given time, anyone who needed a home stayed with us including most of us kids when we were adults. So mama, now that you need us, we'll be here, just like you were. I love you!

The Whole Armor of God

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic power over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert........ "

I am trying with the Lord's help to put on the whole armor of God.....I have been so tempted to just give up and throw in the towel where my son is concerned. I told my husband that some days I feel like I'm in an Alfred Hitchcock movie....or the twilight zone. We were watching 48 hours and I said (silly me), how do people get in such a mess, I just can't imagine how they go from a normal life to this mess.....then I laughed (believe me I needed to laugh) and said, why would I of all people think anyone else's life was unbelievable.

I always think of the song popular when I was a young teen (dating myself)....."People say I'm the life of the party, cause I tell a joke or two.....well, I may be laughing loud and hardy, deep inside I'm blue....so take a good look at my face, if you look closer you'll see a trace, the tracks of my tears.." If tears could change things......but only prayer....only prayer....Only God can change a heart. I pray he will change Paul. When I'm particularly down (today), I think of King David and how he cried out to the Lord in his distress.

I thought I would share a bit about Michael Paul, my first born. When he was born I had a severe kidney disease....he only weighed in at 3 lbs. 11 ozs. Back in that day, 36 years ago....I held him only once ( all gowned up) before I left the hospital and left him there in an incubator for 28 days. I went to the hospital twice daily and stood outside the glass and looked in at him. I never touched him again during all that time. When I finally got to bring him home, he was not a cuddly baby.....he was very stiff and not an easy baby. But oh, how I loved him.....so many loved him.....grandparents, aunts, uncles....cousins. He never lacked for love. As he grew, he had difficulties controling his temper.....he seemed angry even when he had (in our minds) no reason to be. The first time he was allowed out without our supervision, he came home so drunk, i almost took him to the emergency room......I knew little or nothing about drugs. He got into drugs early on and plummeted into that dark hole that leads to nowhere. He entered the navy at 19 and participated in the first Gulf war....on the U.S.S. New Orleans. As soon as he came home he married and brought his precious wife home to meet us. She walked into our hearts and lives immediately and has a strong bond with us all to this day. Throughout their tumultous marriage..... she remained as sweet to us and so gracious where the children were concerned....bringing them here to visit for years after she and my son were divorced. Paul continued to have so many problems with the alcohol and drugs. He was in several short term programs. In jail several times and things I probably don't even know about. I got many a middle of the nite call.

But to this day, I know God can and will change his heart of stone to a heart of flesh! I join many other parents who are praying for their children.

Go Here!!!

If you somehow, by some miracle find this blog, please go to "view my Profile" and you'll see I have 3 (yes 3) blogs. They were meant to be one, but sometimes things go astray in my life. If I ever learn how to join them into one, I'll do that, but for now they are what they are!

On an exciting note, we are down to 2 1/2 days until the grandchildren arrive in sunny/rainy Florida. We live on the world's most beautiful beaches and they live in California. That song that says "it never rains in southern California?" Well every time I go it rains! And when it gets dark it is cold! Living in Florida when it gets dark, it is just dark. Still hot! When it rains, it just rains. Still hot! This confuses my grandchildren. But they love it here and oh, how I love them being here!!!

The two pictures at the top (because I don't know how to get them where I want them!) are of Nana and Grands on the beach and of us ready for church. I'm going to have to figure out the slideshows so I can post lots of pictures from this trip!

Friends

I have been blessed in my life to have many friends, of all ages and all are different. Ecclesiastes 4: 9-110a says it best. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow....."

This is one of my friends, Carol. She has been having a hard time lately and I would ask anyone who reads this to pray for her and her family. She is ending a painful marriage of 32 years at the same time her mother is battling cancer.

There are so many problems in this world.......that is one of God's precious promises found in John 16:33..."I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have many troubles, but take heart; I have overcome the world" This is especially precious to me on days when it seems that every time the phone rings, somebody is telling me something bad that I don't want to hear.

But our joy does not come because everything is going well, our joy comes from the Lord. So my dear friend, may He hold you today in His everlasting arms!

The babies

These, ladies and gentlemen are our babies! Jack and Mikey. This is them in bed in the motorhome on a recent road trip. They love to go in the motorhome. Russell and i never thought we would be so crazy about dogs, but it just happened! When our big lab Sam died about two years ago, we were so sad and I swore off dogs forever. It is too hard when they die. But after the grieving process ended, I started just looking at different breeds on the internet. I had very specific requirements.....small enough to pick up (that is not bigger than me!) and no shedding! For all of Sam's 14 years, he shed enough white hair to make several blankets.

I got Jack December of 2005....the perfect dog. He was housebroken in a week and was just the greatest! But I always felt like he needed a friend, so in December of 2006, I wandered into the pet store with my dil, Claudia, and we found Mikey. He was so pitiful and filthy! He and his 2 brothers were in a glass cage with newspaper shreds all over the floor and nothing had been cleaned in days obviously....so I made an offer and took Mikey home. Claudia and I bathed him and he was so matted I had to cut a lot of his hair. I felt guilty for not buying his brothers, but you know, you can only have so many dogs! When we took him to our vet, he had every possible thing he could have and cost as much as having a newborn human baby. But he was ever so sweet.....o.k. lets see, Jack was so smart and Mikey, well let's just say he's not the brightest bulb in the pack! He is almost 9 months old and still has the ocassional accident...but he's really sorry! And he is sweet....I keep saying that over and over and over and over, well you get the picture. Together they have lots of fun and the favorite game is fetching a toy.....

The point is....Russell and I in our midlives have really lost out minds. But you know, they don't ask for much, just some food, water and treats, they love us like crazy and greet us with wagging tails every day, teachers nor policemen never call about their behavior! So I'll leave you with one last picture.... Okey dokey, it is at the top! I call this one, "Hey, could somebody help us down?"

If you hit publish post too fast...

Wow, you have to be careful about hitting publish post....it just goes on and does it's thing. Now if I am going to write here, I would like comments...

I have been reading lots of blogs lately and am amazed at the Christian women in our world who put their faith out there for all of us to read and be amazed!

O.K. I tried putting a picture up and couldn't so I'm through for tonight.

Now that I can.....

Now that my blog will actually let me on, I feel obligated to write! I spent so long trying to get on it that I created 3 blogs....of course I do NOT know how to join all of them together.

Oh, well!

A little bit about addiction

I have been watching a show about a famous guy who is documenting his way through rehab on primetime. My oldest son has been addicted to many things since his teen years. I never thought in my wildest nightmares that I would have a child who was addicted to any mind altering substance. I believe it is one of the hardest things a parent faces.

I'm so tired, though, of hearing all the excuses addicts have for being who they are....My sorrow is for the family that suffers daily for their child, brother, father, friend, wife, whatever place they hold in the family. I just want my son to be free of not only his addictions, but also his anger. He is my firstborn, the tiny baby I held in my arms. I was a young mother and the first time I held him and looked into his eyes I remember saying to him "Your life will be so wonderful because I love you so much". I have learned along the way that love is not enough, at least not the love of a parent, or a son or daughter or a grandmother or grandfather and in my son's case, not even the love of his great grandparents. I know that the only love that will save him is the love of Jesus which can change his heart.

I feel like I'm rambling. O.K. I am.....if you read this, please pray for my son, Paul, and for all the confused grown up children that are so lost. I have placed him in God's hands and backed off for now. I pray our relationship can one day be good.

Give me Patience

This blog is going to kill me! I have been trying to get on for weeks now and this morning it just said yes. Of course, you know I would have a blog with a mind of it's own! I'm laughing because I'll bet if I try later, I won't get on.....but try I will!

I have news!!! Ashley, 15 and Adam, 11 my two grandchildren are coming on the 26th all the way from California to spend two weeks with their Florida family! I am too excited to put into words how I feel. I don't get to see them often and they are just delightful!!!