Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year....


Well Almost!

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing fine. I have survived a very hectic Christmas that did not turn out as I had hoped, but you know, life is full of surprises. I have decided that people really do whatever "their" priorities are and that is about it. Getting together any more is just if people really want to, if it does not put them out too much. I can remember as a young girl we went to my grandma/pa B's house every Christmas eve. It was grandpa's birthday. I can remember one night my aunt D.A. got me my very own birthstone ring. I still have that ring. I was not very old, I bet about 8 or nine years old at the most. I loved that ring. We would get together with all our cousins and I was the second oldest. We would run around the house playing and I bet we drove the adults crazy, but it was sure good times. Then the next day we would get up early and open our gifts at our own house. Then later in the afternoon we would drive the short distance to my dad's parents house. Oh how I loved my grandma and grandpa. Grandma was my step grandma, but I never saw her that way. My real grandmother passed away when I was only three. Grandma J WAS my grandma. I can remember a big table full of food in the dining room of their little home and us kids eating in the kitchen. But it didn't matter, we weren't in there very long. Again, we would get up and go play. We did not see our cousins very often and we loved getting together any time we could. And again, I seem to remember doing things that caused us to get in trouble. Like playing in the basement that was not made for us to play in, and running all around. But you know, I do not have any memory of any adult "yelling" at us to quit or to be quiet. I only remember good times. I remember sitting in the living room and we would open our present. But the best gift of all was playing with all the cousins.
It seems we don't do that any more. Seems we don't get together very often at all. Seems we are all so busy that life just passes us by and we don't have that family time like we used to. That bothers me. Maybe it is because I am the "middle child", the peace maker, the people pleaser. But what ever the reason is, I miss it. I miss the fact that my kids and their cousins will not have grown up spending much time together. I hope they have good memories though. I did not get to spend much time with all my cousins, but when we got together it was ALWAYS so much fun. Jumping on the bed in nothing but our underwear....I so remember that. Riding horses and falling off, going out in the woods playing in the creek when we were told not to, or holding firecrackers in our hands and throwing them. And getting hurt! But those were the good times. Running and laughing, dreaming of things to do, thinking of ways to get around the things we were told NOT to do. Sometimes getting caught, sometimes we didn't. Sometimes we got hurt, sometimes we got lucky. I remember those days as if they were only yesterday and it truly brings a smile to my face. Now we are older and just don't seem to make the time to make those memories any more. I wish my family on both sides were closer to each other, but that's just it, we are not close in spirit or distance and that makes a difference. Distance does make it hard and I accept that. But I also know my own family all lives right here and we don't get together very often at all. And the holidays are about the only time I hear from them. I miss my family. I miss the dream of moving back home and having the quality time with my brothers and their families. I miss the dream of things being different than they are. So will we get together for the New Year? I doubt it. We didn't get together for Christmas, so I doubt that we will do anything for the New Year. I hope it is a good year. This one has been pretty tough on me. I am not complaining, for I truly believe that God is in control. Sometimes that is a little difficult for me, I am such...SUCH a controlling person, but I do believe He is in control.
I am hoping to get a job this year. I have one in mind that I am waiting for an interview. Don't know that I will get one, but I hope they at least call me. I think I am "perfect" for the job, but we will see what is in store. I am hoping that my kind heart does not come back and bite my in the back side. I am referring to the renter that has not paid rent for almost three months now. Hope that if he moves out he does not destroy my house. I hope we can sell the little home and get rid of that extra payment. Never dreamed when we retired that finances would be so tough. Never dreamed I would be taking care of so many people in need. I have to keep my chin up and my spirits up. That is the right thing to do. Sometimes it is a little hard, but it is still the right thing.
So as I look back over this past year, yes, I am glad it is over. I look forward to 2010 and hope it brings a change of things in my life. I hope to become a better person for this world. I hope to leave my mark on it in just a way that is pleasing to God and to this community. I hope that my health changes a bit and I work on being healthier. I hope that I am blessed to keep taking pictures of my new and old friends. So here is to the new year. If you are out celebrating please be careful. And if you are staying in to celebrate, have fun and remember something good of this past year. I am well, I am healthy, and I am blessed in many ways. 2010 will be a very good year.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving


I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am leaving in the morning to keep the grand kids for a couple days. My son-n-law and daughter have to travel to the City to attend a mandatory Banquet for his Navy duties. We were surprised they were doing this the week of Thanksgiving with the kids still in school. But it is what it is. I am so proud of Chris. He has been one of the top recruiters in this area since he was transferred here. We are so very proud of him. Not everyone can do recruiting and here he has just done a tremendous job outdoing so many all across this nation. I am ....WE are so very proud of him. So I do not mind leaving my home right here before Thanksgiving to go keep the kids. We will be fine.

If you have not heard, my dad and brother had an accident of sots this past week. Mike was trying to secure a tree stand for deer hunting. He was testing out the ladder from what I understand and found that it was NOT secured. He has hunted all his life and has never had an accident. He teachers hunter safety courses, he is very careful, very professional and we don't know what happened. But the ladder collapsed. He feel 10-13 feet, he was not all the way up to the tree stand, and the ladder came lose and hit my dad in the head. Dad was not knocked out believe it or not, and Mike was hurt by landing on his back. But it did not break any bones. Mike was finally able to get up and saw my dad was hurt so they made it back to the truck where Mike drove them to his house. Now understand he lives WAY out in the sticks. So he called my uncle who came to rush them to Urgent Care. That is a lot closer than the hospital and honestly, probably quicker and easier. They were treated, x-rayed, cleaned up and drugged up and then told to go home. Dad went back a couple days later to have a follow up and really is feeling fine. Mike has been really hurting with his back, but I think he is going to live. Sucks to get old, and really sucks to fall out of a tree while you are getting old. Sorry Mike, but the truth sometimes hurts too!


Here is dad at Urgent Care:
Dad the next day:




And Dad a couple days later:
I didn't get a picture of him today. But you would not believe how much better he looks. I just love all the color on his face. Ha Ha Ha...Halloween is over dad, you missed it by about three weeks!!!! What do you get when you cross a raccoon with Frankenstein???? My DAD !!!


I had planned to cook Thanksgiving for Beth and her friends. Don't know if that is going to be the plan now or not. I am tired. I am not sure if her friends are going to show up, and honestly, I would rather have dinner than lunch. So I think I will fix dinner here and if she wants to come over then fine. I love....LOVE getting up and watching the Macy Day Thanksgiving Day Parade. It seems that since the noon meal comes at NOON, it takes all morning to cook and get everything ready. I think this way, I can get up, take my time, and just have dinner. My son is hunting these past few days with his dad a couple hours away and I had hoped he would come over on his way home to see me. But I guess that is not to be the case. It is so hard having him live so far away. I know that it could be worse, but I so miss him. He,being all guy, just doesn't understand how that feels...but then again, he isn't a momma now is he? So he may NEVER understand those feelings..ha .


I am planning on doing some Black Friday shopping. I always have enjoyed doing my shopping then. But that was also when I had money. I will tell you this retirement stuff is just not paying the bills. We have always been so blessed, and plus I worked three job (my choice and my love ) so now it is sure different. Plus having to help my daughter who still does not have a paying job, pay her bills plus ours and now the renter has not been able to pay his rent. Good grief. I can NOT support three people. I am even paying his electric bill because he was suppose to change it over this month and that has not happened. He has three young girls, their mother left them, (she has an alcohol problem) and he has been in the hospital with pneumonia. I feel very sorry for him, but I just can't pay his bills too. Know what I mean. Life is sometimes very complicated. But I also feel it is the "right" thing to do by helping this man who is trying very hard to take care of his girls. He is renting Beth's old house for his dad and mom live next door. They were always very good neighbors to my daughter so I am trying to return the favor. So if you are saying a prayer today, would you please include my family and that maybe things will settle down a bit.

Now for a bit more sad news. My mom's brother (yes, my uncle) is not well. He is diabetic and has about everything wrong with him that you can have. He is refusing treatment and the doctor says he won't make it another six months. He is refusing dialysis so I am guessing it won't take a very long time before the toxins will build up in his body and things will shut down. He is about 71 or 72 and has been in ill health for quite some time. I feel badly for my mom for she has lost all of her family except for him. I know it is a part of life and she does too, but it still will not be "easy" to go through.


Ok, enough of all that. I am looking forward to making some pies, cooking a ham and a turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, dressing, a couple salads, and of course pumpkin and pecan pie. That is enough. I don't feel the need to make a hundred different dishes and especially if I am not feeding an army. I just want to have a quiet, peaceful, relaxing, low key Thanksgiving and be thankful that we can!



Have a great one and I will talk to you all soon......but if not....have a wonderful holiday and be safe.



Love to all my friends,


Lisa