to Infinity and beyond

I am number 19

2011-06-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

I am number 19.

I am presently in a dark warm place, and am not sure where I am. Sounds are muffled but there is one partiacular voice that stands out the most. It is soft and makes me feel safe, protected and yes, loved. She must be one of the guardians.

I know that I came from somewhere before with a Father and a Mother who taught me what I would need to know to survive in a strange and dangerous place.

I was told that there would be others waiting for me to help me remember where I came from before and would protect me and watch over me until I could develope the skills and weapons to defend myself against an enemy who would try to destroy me and the others who came before.

the enemy has already destroyed a third of the warriors in the before. He and those who joined him there, are here, waiting for the rest of us to come down and then to destroy us before we can learn all we need to know to gain the treasure that we must find in order to survive and return to our Father and Mother.

There were two who agreed to act as guardians in this new place that I have been sent to. They agreed to the assignment while we were all still together in the before. They were strong and valiant and I trusted them to come first and prepare the way for me.

There were other guardians who agreed to do the same for the other 18 who came before me.

For my protection, once I emerge from my safe place, I wont be able to remember the before until I am ready and strong enough to defend against the enemy.

I'm not sure how much longer I will have to wait but until it is my time to leave the protection of the dark, warm place, I will wait and trust in my guardians to protect me from the enemy who wants to destroy me.

What has happened to the other 18. Have their guardians been able to protect them from the enemy? Have they learned where the treasure is and what is needed to survive this strange and dangerous place?

to be continued

thankful #7

2011-05-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

These are some of my greatest joy in this life.

I am thankful for each and every one.

Each one is my favorite.

Each one teaches me so much.

What a great blessing to love and be loved by such great kids.

I am thankful for the joy that is mine.

thankful #6 a good boot in the butt

2011-05-21T04:43:00.000-07:00

When you get older, it is so very easy to slow down, simplify, and become set in a routine and to become( lets face it )downright booooring.

that's when you need a good boot in the butt to liven things up.

my boot is grandkids.

We have them in all sizes, ages, temperments and attitudes. When they are around anything is possible. It is great. There is all kinds of laughter (directed in both directions) There are fun movies to watch together (even if you have seen them a dozen times), books to be shared (my grandkids got me into Harry Potter, Twilight, and numerous others I would have missed out on), updates on what is new in life, new ways to use toys, new artwork made to display, hugs and wet kisses given freely or taken under protest, new cell phone usage learned, the list is endless when you have young people around.

Lets face it, we couldn't handle it all, all of the time, but boy is it fun to have a regular dose of young people to keep your perspective in the right place.

I love a good boot in the butt. I needed that.

thankful for #5

2011-05-17T08:08:00.001-07:00

What do you get when you are doing a family photo shoot with over 30 people and 18 of that number being kids of all ages. You would think it would be total chaos and bedlum.

I am thankful for just downright good kids and for the parents who are raising them.

they had to wait for long periods of time, stay close and stay clean at all cost. they had to pose and sit close to siblings and look happy. many were tired and hungry (oh that was the adults) anyway, we all survived and accomplished the goal of family and individual pictures.

Next photo shoot we need matching t-shirts that say we all survived having our pictures taken.

coming soon, the results of all that effort

thankful #4

2011-05-14T04:34:00.000-07:00

I am thankful to live in a country where traditionally and culturally we help one another.
It was wonderful to see the outpouring of support and help that has been and still is being given. People came from numerous states and even some far away to lend a hand.
Many companies gave money, supplies, equipment and workers.
Churches organized and individuals from all walks of life showed up to do their part.
We are blessed as a country, a state and a local community for the outpouring of love, help and support from so many sources.

thankful #3

2011-05-09T12:29:00.001-07:00

I am so very thankful for the years spent going to Young Women Camp and for the equipment that was bought for those occassions that came in handy when there was no electricity for so many days.

after the storms, thankful #2

2011-05-08T18:29:00.001-07:00

A friend shared a quote with me years ago about worry. It says, if money can fix it, it isn't something to worry about.

I was out of town when the recent tornadoes hit. Being far away was hard until I got word that all of my family were OK. Once I knew that they were alright, I didn't need to worry.

You can repair, rebuild or replace a house, you can't replace the people in your life with any amount of money.

#2 I am thankful I don't need to worry.

after the storm, thankful #1

2011-05-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for family, for their safety, for the love and support shown to each other, for prayer and strength gained to make it through the after math, for renewed faith in a Heavenly Father and His presence and hand in our daily lives.

Who would have thought?

2011-05-06T04:17:00.000-07:00

I have never been a cat person. I have not be much of an animal person at all. I would never intentionally harm or hurt an animal but didn't feel the need for one and certainly not several in my life.

When we moved into our present home, it came with two cats. Domino and Fluffy. They were outside, country cats. (my kind of pets)
Domino was a black and white short haired cat. She was friendly and liked to be where you were. She was an explorer and went off on her own alot.
Fluffy is long haired (hence the name) and blue eyed. She is our stay close to home gal. After having her for awhile we discovered her breed. She is half ragdoll. She definitely fits the characteristics of the ragdoll. She is very affectionate, extreme talkative for a cat and a sprawler. She does the most unladylike poses while sunning on the front porch.
Both would leave us signs of their prowness as hunters by leaving mice, moles, and various body parts of unknown critters on the porch. You learn to not step out onto the porch bare footed.

You guessed it. We grew very attached and they very much became OUR cats. We dreaded the day when for whatever reason we would lose one.
And as we knew it would, that day came and we lost Domino.
We discussed getting another cat but it was winter and not a good time to acquire an outside cat. So we waited.

Recently, I saw an ad for a rescue cat. She had been abandoned and found by a woman who couldn't keep her and was trying to find a home in a country setting. So we took her, named her Whiskers and gave it a try but found her to be very wary of people and when it came time to release her from the cage after her transition time, she left and never came back.

We only had her for two weeks and even though she was not an affectionate cat, we had already begun to grow fond of her and were disappointed when she wasn't able to bond with us.

So we discussed it and decided to try again. We decided to look for a cat that had already bonded with people. I found several but they were always in pairs. We decided to go ahead and take two.
So, now we have two new younger cats. One is grey and black stripped with white feet. My husband named her Boots. The other is solid black with vivid yellow eyes that I call Topaz.
They are very friendly, let you hold and pet them. They have already passed the test of four very interested grandchildren.

So now we now have 3 cats. My husband laughs and says that Whiskers will come back and we will end up with 4 cats. Who knows.

For now, we are working on getting our resident cat Fluffy to adjust to two newcomers. So far she and Boots are not buying it. ( such rude behavior for two pretty ladies) We are only into the first two days of introduction so hopefully there is time for attitude adjustment.

So this previous non cat person is going online and reading up on introducing new cats.
I spend time on the porch talking to all three cats (the two newcomers are caged for the transition period of two weeks) I pet each one and feed them treats to help them associate each other and their new surroundings with good food and pleasant association. I take items that each of them have slept on and trade them so they will get used to each others scent.

So we will see how it goes. In the country, it is survival of the fittest and pets are no exception.

We will give it our best shot and Boots and Topaz will have to take care of the rest.

I love living in the country and actually love our country cats. Who would have thought?

little girl in a big truck

2010-12-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

My dad traded in his car for a truck. It was a big blue GMC pickup. Oh no, not that.

If I wanted to drive to school, it was in that big truck. I am short. It was a big step to get up into that truck. Once I was in it I discovered that I could actually see better and judge distances better because of the height of the seat.

Best of all, I found out really quickly that no one messed with a little girl driving a big truck. Aah the power of it was wonderful.

There was a lot of wealthy kids who drove to school where I went to High School. They could be snooty to the average person. I must admit, I got a certain amount of pleasure when the school bell rang and everyone headed to the parking lot and they seemed to think because of their status that they were to be the first off the lot.

Well, guess what? They got out of the way of a little girl driving a big blue truck. It was great!!!!

You see trucks weren't cool then. They were for farmers or the working class. I loved to see those little sporty type cars, scatter in the wake of that low class pickup truck.

Thanks Daddy. I loved that big old truck.

Later in life when I was married and was blessed with a bunch of kids, we had a big 12 passenger blue van. One of those vans that said, go ahead hit me, make my day.

Life was good. Again, I was so empowered. People just don't mess with a little woman in a big van.

I miss those days.

People just don't show respect for a little old woman in a cute little mini SUV.

Oh well, it's OK, at least it's red.

"the car"

2010-11-30T12:24:00.000-08:00

Things that trigger memories part 2.

In the previous post I talked about my mother’s sewing machine. This post is about my Daddy’s car.

Daddy grew up poor and worked hard all of his life. As an adult his car represented volumes to him. He took great pride in owning and taking care of a car. He put a lot into the upkeep and maintenance on his car. He never missed an oil change, tire rotation or let the gas tank get below half a tank.

He would drive all the way across town to the same service station for his gas and to have the car serviced. His cars lasted years beyond what most cars last. Anyone knowing my Dad and finding out he was going to get a newer car would let him know that they wanted first dibs on the old one because it would have been taken such good care of.

Many men like my Dad who put such store by a car would never have done what my Daddy did for two teenage girls.

My sister and I learned how to drive in my Daddy’s car. No automatic transmissions back then. We had to learn to use a clutch. Can you imagine how hard it must have been to have his car treated the way a new just learning teenagerer treated it?

We were allowed to take his car to school and on errands. In order for us to drive to school, meant that he was without a car for work. We would take him to work, drive to and from school and go pick him up from work.

One time I took that car for a spin, downtown on the drag one night without permission and rear-ended another car. I thought I was doomed. I thought I had done the unforgivable, I had damaged “the car”.

I had to call my Daddy and tell him where I was and what had happened. He didn’t yell, he just came and got me and my friends and took us home. He had the car fixed and I was still allowed to drive it.

He never brought it up again. Listen up parents of teenagers, I would have rather he had beat me with a whip, I knew how much he loved that car and I had damaged it and he did more by not saying anything than if he had ranted and raved at me. I never wanted to cause him hurt over that car again. (and didn’t until I was grown, and married with a baby but that is another story)

Again, knowing how much his car meant to him, two teenaged girls were made to feel that they were of equal and/or greater value to their father than even his beloved car.

He could be a cantankerous old fart, but there was never a doubt in the mind of two little girls and later as teenagers where we stood with our Daddy.

Even in his declining years on earth and with dementia, not always knowing who we were, there were the times when he was mentally alert and would tell us how much he appreciated and loved his girls.

Even to this day, and both of us Grandmothers, we miss him and where ever he may be, we are still Daddy's girls.

Things that trigger memories part 1.

2010-11-30T05:57:00.001-08:00

I took an old sewing machine into be oiled, cleaned and checked out. As I was getting ready to leave the shop, special memories came flooding back. To most people it is just a heavy piece of metal. To me it is a classic Singer 401. In its day and still today it is one of the best sewing machines Singer made.

When I was growing up, my parents worked hard for everything they had. They tried to buy the best that they could afford of whatever they bought and they took good care of them to see that they lasted.

My mother had a Singer 401. She loved and took great pride in that sewing machine and took special care of it. She sewed lots of pretty dresses for two little girls.

The thing that makes it really special is that for all of the love and care she gave that sewing machine, she allowed two little girls to sit for hours and sew doll clothes and blankets on it. I have wonderful memories of making all kinds of things on that machine.

I was in a thrift store a few years ago and came across an immaculate Singer 401 in a wooden cabinet. I scarfed it up. I couldn’t wait to call my Mother and tell her about my wonderful find. She still has hers that she used for years and that I sewed on as a child.

Then I moved and my sewing things were put on hold for awhile until recently when I was able to set up a sewing room. I am so excited to get that sewing machine up and running again and to be able to sew wonderful things again. I can’t wait to get it back from the shop and renew those wonderful memories of sewing.

Even though that sewing machine was my Mothers pride and joy. Two little girls were made to feel that they were equally important and were given cherished memories that even to this day come flooding back whenever they see and sew on a Singer 401.

thankful for helping hands

2010-11-15T03:57:00.000-08:00

As one gets older and less able to do the things that used to come easy, you learn to appreciate the helping hands of others.

Last weekend we were on the receiving end of many pairs of helping hands.

We have many trees around our home and earlier had two fall in a storm, one on the house one day and another through a section of fence the following day. The one that fell on the house did minor damage but blocked the driveway. Within a short period of time with the helping hands of friends and family the tree on the driveway was cut and removed.
The other tree was cut and removed by the helping hands of a group of leaders and young men from church. What a wonderful blessing.

Needless to say, we were a little nervous of other old trees possibly doing the same thing so we decided to try to do some preventive measures. So last weekend we rented a lift or cherry picker to get up in the trees to cut overhanging limbs and top trees that could hit the house if they were to fall in a storm.

So family members young and old were enlisted in the project. Again, younger, stronger, and frankly braver helping hands came to our aid.

Before the day was out, the job was done. How very grateful we are for those willing helping hands who did so much in our behalf.

all because two people fell in love

2010-11-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

So what does happen because 2 people fell in love?
In my case, it went this way.
2 people fell in love.
from that love came 8 wonderful kids who grew up to be some pretty great people.
one of those 8 was a nanny to 3 families giving me 8 special kids who call me Granni.
7 of those 8 wonderful people fell in love, married and gave me 2 sons-in-law and 5 daughters-in-law.
those 14 people gave me 18 grandchildren.
so, all because these two people fell in love, there are now 43 people in our family.
Life is good.

thanks thanks thanks

2010-11-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

My blog consultant and helper came to my rescue and gave me a new look to my blog. It is me. Plain and simple. Thanks so much daughter.

Also I now have a digital camera and hopefully will learn to use it soon and can actually document some of my country adventures.

still another tail to tell

2010-10-19T07:18:00.000-07:00

Soooo, obviously possums travel with company. One medium possum has been evicted from the premises.

Next night, water dispenser again scattered here and yon. How rude.
Hmmm could it be. Yes, it seems we have more than one culprit.

So out goes the trusty trap and walla, we now have a rather biiiig possum on the front porch.

Have you ever seen one of these things up close other than bumps or smears on the road? They are really uggggllllyyyy. At least it wasn't a skunk.

By the way, who says animals don't have a sense of humor or a vengeful streak. Fluffy the cat comes prancing up on the porch this morning and walks around the cage as if to flaunt the fact that she is free and said possum who has been bullying and making messes on her turf is now in a small cage awaiting his fate. I kept waiting for her to stick her tongue out at him but i guess she is too much of a lady.

Now where is my very brave and helpful dispencer of the critters?
Yep, gone fishing and said possum is left to wait out his sentence of expulsion.

Still no sympathy on my part.

Living in the country can be entertaining.

Hummm

2010-10-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

from the looks of things, I guess I need to get my blog decorator to come and redo my blog. I love talented family. If you don't have talent, mooch off of those who do. Works for me.

newest critter episode

2010-10-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, first it was horses running down my driveway, then it was raccoons on the back porch, then it was skunks under the house, what next?
So you think possums are really stupid timid little creatures that go around becoming road kill right?
Well the ones we get are nasty little buggers that come out after dark and eat the cats food if you make the mistake of leaving it out. They turn over the water dispenser and scatter the parts here and yon. They dig holes all over the yard and flower beds.
To top it off, one had the nerve to climb up on the porch and when I went to see what was scaring my cats it beared its teeth and hissed at me.
That did it. I went for my gun. Yeah my great big powerful b b gun. By the time I found the gun and got it cocked and ready to give that hissy little bugger a good what for, it took off. Good thing too, I might have acctually hit it.
Sooo I called in the reenforcements. I borrowed a trap from my very sweet and accommidating son-in-law and my very helpful husband set it out.
Of course the first thing we caught was one of my cats. Sigh. I figure since they are supposed to be smarter than possums it would only happen once and then they would learn to leave it alone.
So sure enough the next morning we have one very unhappy possum. Like I really cared it was unhappy. Did it care that it made me unhappy digging all over the place and moving in on my cats turf?
Sooo, sweet hubby hauls it off to the wild woods far far away. His reward, a Hardee's biscuit for his hard work and heroic efforts.
Peace is restored until the next critter comes along. So until next time.....

ten things

2010-06-26T03:57:00.000-07:00

1. I have been blessed with a wonderful heritage and have done a pretty good job of living up to the examples set my grandmother and mother.
2. I love my husband unconditionally and am so blessed that he loves me.
3. I love gardening and working in the yard and have done some good things around my yard that I am proud of.
4. I hate housework. When I was growing up things were made to feel more important than people at times. I let my kids sit on the furniture, our house was lived in, I tried to spend more time with my kids than cleaning house.
5. I love to read and have learned about some cool books from my kids and grandkids. I have been blessed by good books and enjoy sharing with my grandkids.
6. I am a good person. Not a perfect one but a good one. I like myself. I try not to take myself too seriously and can enjoy life.
7. I like to quilt and will actually make one now and then just to prove that I can and am not just collecting fabric.
8. I am a good mother-in-law. I had a great example in my husband's mother. She has always been good to me. Of course it helps when you have great daughters-in-law and sons-in-law. Not sure why I have been blessed with such great people in my life but am so glad that I am.
9. I am a good Granny. Again, not perfect but good. I have every size, age, personality and temperment of grandchild there is and they are all great.
10. I am a good mother. I (with the help of a good man) raised some great individuals. I made lots of mistakes but I also did alot of good things. I am proud of how they have all turned out. They are making good choices, doing their share of dumb things but nothing worse than what I did growing up, raising some darn good kids, are hard workers, and still associate with me so I must have done more good than bad. I love each of them and wouldn't have wanted to be anything else than just their Mom.

Wonderful mothers

2010-06-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

The purpose of the previous post was not to knock moms. It was to point out that mothers in nature raise some great offspring.

We human moms do the same and yet tend to beat themselves up over everything.

A great mom is one who does the best she can under whatever circumstances are hers.

A great kid is one who does likewise.

No mom is perfect and no child is perfect. They each come with faults and talents and struggle to do the best with what they each have.

It must make Heavenly Father a little sad when His wonderful daughters are working so hard and doing such a great job at what He gave them to do and yet they seem to only see what is perceived and perpetuated by the world as their or their offspring's supposed failures or mistakes.

We should celebrate. We need to find the joy in ourselves and our offspring. Look at all of the great people walking the earth becasue of truly great mothers. You moms are doing wonderful things.

I would love to see truly great moms toot their own horns once in awhile and relish their successes and those of their offspring.
You turned out great and so will your offspring.

Motherhood is great!!!!!!! Here's to all of you wonderful, truly great moms and your equally wonderful offspring.

I challenge any mom out there to post at least ten of their successes and those of their offspring.

mothers in nature

2010-06-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

There is alot to be learned from nature. Mothers in nature don't worry and lose sleep over whether their offspring are going to make it or if they are being a good enough mother.
They protect their young when they are very small and gradually let them explore the world, letting them get hurt and learn and even cuff them when they step over the line of authority. Are these bad mothers? I don't think so. These mothers know by instinct that young have to experience the tough things to become strong to survive. Young of all species want things easy but it isn't what is best for them.
More and more as their young grow, mothers in nature back off and even push their young from the nest or den to make them see that in fact they can make it.
Then those mothers get on with life and low and behold, their young survive and go on to succeed.
Those moms succeed because they don't over protect, over think and do for their young what they can do for themselves. These mothers do what God intended for them to do.
Heavenly Father doesn't hang on to his children. He lets them go. He wouldn't allow Lucifer to control and micro manage the lives of His children.
God trusts in His children, He believes in the abilities that He has given them. He allows them to get hurt, to make mistakes, but shows love and confidence in their abilities thereby building THEIR confidence in THEMSELVES.
We can learn alot from mothers in nature and in the instincts that God gave them in raising their young.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is a great thing. Like Christmas it has a tendency to be a little commercialized but it is a good day to think about and recognize some of the special women in our lives.

I was blessed with a good Mom. I never doubted her love for me even when it wasn't always deserved. She was strong, hard working and a good example of how to make the most of what ever life throws at you, much like her mother before her. I was blessed to come from that heritage. Those traits along with many others have been a great help in the things that would occur in my life. I am still learning from and being blessed by my Mother who is 86.

I have a great Mother-in-law who loves me and has blessed my life through the son that she raised. She too has taught me many things through the years that have blessed my life. I learned much of what it means to be a mother-in-law from her. I have much to be grateful for in her example.

I was blessed with three daughters who have grown to become great women and wonderful mothers. They are each unique in looks, talents and abilities and yet the same in courage, strength, and love of their familys.
We are each pretty independant and don't call each other daily but there is never any doubt of the love and support that is just a phone call away at any given time. They teach me so much and I am thankful for each of them in my life.

I have five women in my life who are also wonderful mothers. They came into this family by marriage and each has added so much. They are each talented and special in numerous ways. They have given of themselves in countless ways and have blessed the lives of each family member. They are great mothers and are raising wonderful children. How blessed I am for each one. They love my sons and that is such a blessing to me.

Two out of these ten women are not mothers in the sense that the world recognizes mothers but they are mothers in every sence of the word. They each have loved, nurtured, sacrificed for and touched the lives of children in countless ways and with equal love and support given by those who have given birth.

For me the greatest gift I receive as a Mother is the love of my family expressed and given in little ways throughout the year. Thanks one and all for such a wonderful gift.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all Mothers and especially those who have touched my life in so many ways.

Change in perspective

2010-04-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

You wonder about why certain things turn out the way they do. When you really need your sleep the most is when you start to have problems and aren't able to sleep like you used to. It can really be the pits. And then again, for me anyway, sometimes there is a light bulb moment and you see things differently.

As I have gotten older, I sleep less and wake up really early. At first I hated it and lay there frustrated and mad because I couldn't just go back to sleep.

Then I began to just relax and in the quiet of the late night and early morning I let my mind ponder on things, mostly my family and the great blessings I have in each member.
I think on each one and pray for and about them individually.
I started to pray about what to pray about and have been blessed with thoughts and ideas on things to do.

I feel closer to my Heavenly Father and have a greater love for my family.

Life can be really interesting at times. What started out as a negative experience has turned out to be something that I have begun to look forward to and am even disappointed now if I sleep through the night.

cont. critter stories( beware long version)

2010-02-02T09:53:00.001-08:00

Ok so we made it through the horses, stray dogs, stray cats, raccoons, skunk and possum.
then came the mice. the first one visited in Mistys room and she and her dad had fun catching and removing it. After another visit from a little visiter we set to work. So we got expert advice from a variety of sources and tried everything. We put out bait which nothing touched. So we find out we also had two sizes of mice. One size too little to set off the spring loaded traps and one size two big for the sticky strips and just drug them around and left them stuck elsewhere. we also tried the enclosed kind of trap where you don't see the departed little creature. So we got rid of one of the tiny ones in that one. Didn't even know it was in there until I went to move it and noticed a bad smell. Yuk. The rest biffed it on the spring loaded traps. We tossed the sticky strips, they were a total waste. We managed to eliminate a total of 6 over two weeks. The good news is it made me clean out the pantry and throw out alot of stuff that needed getting rid of anyway and I now have a totally rearranged pantry with containers for everything. Found a hole in the floor in the laundry room where they seem to be coming in and plugged that and haven't had a death to the mice population recently. Except for the ones our outside cats honor us with from time to time. They are like kids, they play with their food and then leave it uneaten for us to have to throw away.

Sooo, we thought that the worse was over at last. then we wake up in the weee hours of the morning, gaging from the smell of ..... you guessed it
SKUNK. Pee youuuuuu. !!!!!!!! We had one hit on the road in front of our place a few weeks ago which really stunk up everything and were hoping that is what it was this time.

Having blocked the place where one got under the house last time, we are thinking it just camped out under the porch in the back or was passing through, we aired out the house and felt confident the worst is over. Next day, the smell is still really bad. ??????
Sooo we finally take a good look under the porch and find out that the determined creature has ripped open the heavy sheet of plexiglass like stuff cover we put over the opening and has left his or her scent under the house which is seeping up into the whole house. Have I mentioned how very much I dislike skunks?

So, we get busy. Trip to Lowes for a piece of wood to put over the opening. Gather tools, put on coveralls and old clothers, squeeze under the only way to get under the porch and crawl through mud and old spider webs to get to the opening (hoping the said skunk has left for the day) Just as we get the wood cover ready to screw on, one of our cats darts into the opening and under the house. At this point I say leave the stupid creature for a couple of days and then let it out latter. The special screws that we bought to go into the fake brick wont work. We are under
the porch, muddy, cold, cramped for working room, mad at the dumb cat and now the screws wont work. We haven't divorced yet but are coming close. Sooo, I crawl back from under the porch, got into the house leaving mud covered shoes at the door and trying not to touch anything in the house with the mud caked coveralls and find some screw that we hope will work. Put the muddy shoes back on, crawl back under the porch, hand over the screws and hold my breath. Whew they are the right ones, we screw the wooden cover securely over the hole and crawl back out from under the porch. I repent of the urge to leave the cat under there and go to the other opening, take the cover off and call the dumb cat. The other cat comes tearing across the yard and luckily my husband catches her before she too goes under the house. I call, and call and call again. Finally she shows her face and acts like she has all of the time in the world. I am seriously thinking of my original plan to leave her under there when she finally exits from under the house. I quickly put the metal cover back up and head to the house to get out of my very muddy coveralls.
right now, I am sitting at the computer with my warmest coat on, with all of the windows in the house open and all of the ceiling fans and bathroom exhause fans running to air out the smell.

So, I am sure the saga will continue. But for now, we are hopefully critter less for the time being and my cats are safe and sound. It is a good thing I love even stupid cats.
the bright side is, the skunk didn't greet us at the opening under the house and can't get back under there again.

Oh did I tell you about the lady bug invasion???? Maybe next time.

Grown kids make my head hurt

2009-12-27T14:51:00.000-08:00

Some days I want to go back to when the kids were little and depended on you to take care of them and you knew what was right and best for them. Where bandaids and hugs and kisses could fix most things.

Sometimes I really hate it when they are grown and either know or at least they think they know more than me. OK Ok they know more than me.

I hate it when things get all complicated and there seems to be no simple answer to anything. Like trying to figure out when they are for real or joking and just trying to get a rise out of me. Trying to figure out if they need a listening ear or a kick in the pants. The things that you can only watch them struggle through and can't really help. You know stuff like that.

But for better or worse, just glad they take the time to include me in their lives and so far the hurt from the strain goes away like it does after eating ice cream.

Love the country, not necessiarily the critters

2009-11-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

So the saga of the country critters continues. We had a skunk under the house and thought it had moved on but kept hearing noices under the house at night. So now what? who wants to go under the house to check it out? Not us. So we just let it go for several nights. then we thought it was the cat, hunting under the back porch. Still noices at night.
then we had trouble with the satelight and had them come out to check it out. when they pulled the cable from the dish concection in the house to the outside, they found the wires chewed almost in to. Shesh, now what?
Since we hadn't smelled anything for awhile, we were hopeing the skunk was gone but now what was under the house chewing the TV cables?
So plan B. Set trap under the house and see what we can catch. Nothing the first night. Drat. But walla, the next moring there is a possum in the cage. Off he goes to the wild blue yander.
So, Tom goes fishing and when he decides to come home a kitten runs up under the truck and he can't find it. When he gets home, you guessed it, he could hear it. He can't get near it and it keeps running under the truck and he can't find it. So when he takes the possum off, it is still under the truck somewhere. Luckily after he drops the possum off and comes home, we don't hear the kitten anymore. Hopefully it left of it's own accord somewhere and didn't fall out and get run over.
Sooo, now we are double checking for any more ways for a critter to get under the house. We aren't holding our breath but hopefully we are done with critters for the time being.
We definetly didn't need a kitten that stayed under the truck to worry about everytime we needed to go somewhere.
So for now we are critterless and happy for it.

love the country

2009-11-01T14:34:00.000-08:00

we fairly recently moved into a country setting. Lots of trees, birds, great views, wonderful night sounds etc.
things are different out here. I never had a horse come down my driveway where we lived before and have had it happen twice now. I was talking on the phone with my sister one morning and a big white horse went down my driveway. Made for the start of an interesting day.
I never had racoons on the back porch before. We have had two, a mom and her offspring who were captured and moved to other far away places. they loved the seeds in my bird feeders and would go to any lengths to get to them. I kept finding my bird feeders on the ground each morning. Finally figured out what was going on when I heard noises on the back porch one night and looked out to see two racoons staring back at me.
Our old house was on a slab so we never had critters under the house. We have had several here, some we just heard during the night and never knew what they were but more recently knew what it was by the smell. Yuk. Skunks under the house are really stiiiiiiinnnnnnkkkkkyyyyyyy!!!!!!!
Definitely not my favorite kind of a visitor. Thank goodness it has been warm enough to open all the windows and air out the house. Hopefully we now have all of the openings covered and it wont gain entrance again. the smell is getting better. Just glad it was under the house and not waiting outside the door to greet us.
No snakes to speak of so far. I would just as soon miss that experience.
Love the birds the most. I have two bird feeders outside my kitchen window and keep them filled and enjoy lots of feathered visitors. the little ones are my favorite.
I have alot more spiders but they know their place and stay outside for the most part. I do have to clean the widows alot more when the webs get too much though.
I acquired two outside cats when we moved here. They are both very good hunters and leave little tid bits of their prey on the front porch. One day it might be a mouse head or various body parts, another time parts of a mole, sometimes a bird. How sweet of them to share their successes but I just wish they would clean up after themselves a little better. Yuk.
I have never been a big animal person but I must admit I enjoy our two cats. They always greet us when we come home and if we are outside they are right where we are. We each enjoy our independence and yet enjoy each others company and yes love, too. It is a good balance.
I went from very few trees and little shade to lots and lots of really big ones and lots of shade.
I love to sleep with the window slightly open and to hear the sounds of nature. It is my favorite way to fall asleep.
I love having a metal roof over my front porch and being able to hear the sounds of the rain coming down.
I even love the sound of the roosters, chickens, goats, donkeys, dogs and the voices of the children running and playing outside from the neighbors.
I have learned that I like goats milk and fresh eggs.
I love the sound of the wind in the trees. It is such a peaceful sound.
I love to burn and have had a great time clearing out scrub bushes and trees and making burn piles and seeing progress in opening up spaces for pretty things to grow.
If I ever think I want to grow roses, I remember what it took to get rid of the wild ones. I have had all I want of things with stickers and thorns that reach out and grab you when ever you get near. Nope no more rose bushes of any kind for me. I just burned the last wild one last week.
I love to walk my place early in the morning and listen to the sounds of the wind and hear birds and see nature and so much that is beautiful and peaceful.
I can understand why a boy named Joseph went to a grove of trees to find God.

Between the child and the Father

2009-10-28T05:17:00.000-07:00

this has been one of my all time favorite parables.

A PARABLE

I took a little child’s hand in mine. He and I were to walk together for a while. I was to lead him to the Father. It was a task that overcame me, so awful was the responsibility. And so I talked to the child of the Father. I painted the sternness of His face, were the child to do something to displease Him. I spoke of the child’s goodness as something that would appease the Father’s wrath. He walked under the tall trees and I said that the Father had power to send them crashing to the ground struck by His thunderbolts. We walked in the sunshine; I told him of the greatness of the Father who made the burning blazing sun. And one twilight, we met the Father. The child hid behind me. He was afraid. He would not look up at the face so loving; he remembered my picture. He would not take the Father’s hand; I was between the child and the Father. I wondered, I had been so conscientious, so serious.

I took a little child’s hand in mine. I was to lead him to the Father. I felt burdened with the many things I had to teach him. We did not ramble; we hastened from one spot to another spot. We compared the leaves of the different trees. While the child was questioning me about it, I hurried him away to chase a butterfly. Did he chance to fall asleep, I awakened him; lest he should miss something I wanted him to see. I poured into his ears all the stories he ought to know, but we were interrupted often by the wind a blowing, of which we must study, by the gurgling brook which we must trace to its source. And then in the twilight, we met the Father. The child merely glanced at Him and then his gaze wandered in a dozen different directions. The Father stretched for His hand. The child was not interested enough to take it. Feverish spots burned his cheeks. He dropped exhausted to the ground and fell asleep. Again, I was between the child and the Father. I wondered. I had taught him so many things.

I took a little child’s hand in mine, to lead him to the Father. My heart was full of gratitude for the glad privilege. We walked slowly, I united my steps with the short steps of the child. We spoke of the things the child noticed. Sometimes we picked the Father’s bright flowers and stroked their soft petals and loved their bright colors. Sometimes it was one of the Father’s birds. We saw the eggs that were laid. We wondered, elated at the care it gave its young. Often we told stories of the Father. I told them to the child and the child told them to me again. We told them, the child and I over and over again. Sometimes we stopped to rest, leaning against one of the Father’s trees, and letting His cool air cool our brow, never speaking. And then in the twilight, we met the Father. This child’s eyes shone. He looked lovingly, trustingly, eagerly up into the Father’s face. He put his hand into the Father’s hand. I was for the moment forgotten. I was content.
Jean Betzner Especially for Mormons Vol. 1

Parenting

2009-10-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

As I was reading the post of one of my grown children, I was thinking about parenting and the balancing involved.

The balancing in parenting can be hard and involves risks but also has some of the greatest joys ever.

Holding on too tight to me has more potential for harm than the gradual trusting and letting go of the reins.

Heavenly Father did not send us to earth to be over protected or have others make all of our decisions for us.(who's plan was that?) He loves and trusts us enough to let us experience trials and challenges that would strengthen and built in us the ability to succeed.

When we emulate His parenting, our children are more likely to grow strong and succeed.

Earthly parents are meant to be the temporary scaffolding.

Our children are meant to ultimately stand on their own.
They no longer need the parent/child relationship but the relationship of adult/adult or equals.

the permanent part is the foundation of Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

OK as my kids would say, step away from the pulpit. end of lecture 999.

cool quote

2009-08-14T03:28:00.000-07:00

“service is the rent that I pay for the space that I occupy on earth.”

I came across this today and it just really jumped out at me and I wanted to pass it along.

in-laws

2009-08-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

We have been so very blessed.
We started out with 8 offspring and they have multiplied and given us some wonderful additions to the family.
We have 5 of the sweetest and talented daughters-in-law that you could ask for. They take good care of their guys and keep them in line. They each have special talents that they willingly share with the family and are doing a great job of raising some amazingly smart and cute kids and sweet pets also.
There are 2 great sons-in-law. Both are so good to help out when ever called on. They are both quiet compared to the rowdy guys but hold their own and even get in a few licks(verbally, no physical abuse here) of their own when cornered. They are both wonderful men and take good care of our daughters and grandchildren.
When there are get togethers, it is always a blast to have so many different personalities and temperments in the same space.
As each new member has been added to the family, we have been blessed.
We are definitley thankful for special in-laws.
Thanks kids for making such good choices in spouces.

love/hate computers

2009-08-09T05:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that when they are working right, we love them and when they don't , it is a source of real frustration.?
I really love/hate computers. I love email, blogs and being able to look up things when I have a question or want to buy something ( I love me some amazon and ebay)
I get really mad when I have typed out a long reply to someone in an email or a post to a blog and have the darn thing wisk it off and lose the whole thing. Grrr.
Of course it has nothing to do with me messing up and hitting the wrong key at times. It always has to be the computer right?
But let the darn thing go down and what happens? Oh no, withdrawal!!!!!
then I feel bad for having bad feelings and talking ugly and just want it back. I might miss something really important.
Sigh, right now it is working, I am happy and feeling content for however long it lasts.
thanks for being there for me computer.

love my computer guys

2009-07-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

I love my computer guys, especially when my computer goes on the blitz as it did recently.

The last time my computer died, my first born son came to my rescue making several long trips out to the boonies to get me back in action.

This time it was a sweet son-in-law. As I am sure you can guess, it is never a simple thing with my computer. He came out ready to face the unknown and left with the problem improved but not solved. Sigh, another day computerless.

Never fear, these guys are fearless in the face of a clueless operator who doesn't always know how she got in the mess she is in. then comes the much appeciated phone call that there may still be a way to salvage the poor thing.
Another trip to the boonies and much effort to revive the ailing machine.

Joy of Joy. We are back in action, wading through countless missed emails and checking out the missed blogs. I have my fix and am happy.

What can I say, I am spoiled. Thanks guys.
I love love love me some computer guys who put up with me and my 'puter.

What do you get?

2009-07-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you have,
one husband,
one wife,
their 8 children,
the spouces of those children,
18 grandchildren,
one great granny,
one sister of wife,
one niece,
one great niece,
at least 3 dogs,

Add great food, cake and ice cream, lots of visiting, kids of all sizes running everywhere, feeding carrots to goats, and donkeys, trees being climbed, babies continuously being passed around, lots of joking and laughter, and in general,total chaos.

Have you guessed??? What else??

A Mayfield family get together!!!!!!

and the great granny, sister and nieces actually survived to live another day!!! We did give them prior warning of course. Not sure they would want to repeat the experience again anytime soon, but survival is the first step to recovery.

So the Mayfield family pulled it off one more time. thanks everyone (especially Dawn for hosting and providing the wonderful calzones) for helping to make it a great evening for the Great Granny, aunt and nieces.

Hopefully there will be pictures on the family blogs soon to prove said guest did in fact survive the experience.

my sister is half full

2009-07-12T05:56:00.000-07:00

I love my big sister.
She has such a great sense of humor and a positive outlook. I love that she sees life with her glass half full.
She laughs alot, even in the face of some pretty tough times.
She called this morning at 6:45am
She, my 85 year old mother, niece and great niece are driving from Texas for a visit. they had stopped at a hotel for the night and in the morning our mother who has Parkinson's fell out of the bed.
Luckily she wasn't hurt badly, just scraped and bloodied elbows and they had to call for help to get her up.
As my sister is telling me this on the phone, she starts out by saying, I just wanted to call and tell you about our latest adventure. She then proceeds to tell me what had happened. She is laughing and then tells me how cute the guys were who came to help. I can hear my mother in the background agreeing with her on the cuteness of the guys.
Ya gotta love her. She made the best of the situation, chose to see the humor in it and keeping a positive focus on the benefits of continuing the trip so our mother could see the grandchildren and most of the great grandchildren that she hasn't met.

Is my sister being realistic? Did it scare her? Of course it did. She is the care giver of our mother and knows better than anyone else what could have happened. Did she dwell on what could have happened or what could still happen if they continued on the trip, being a long way from home in case it had been serious? She made a choice. She chose to help our mother live life to the fullest, to even take a risk but not let fear of the what if's, or the oh my gosh's to keep her from the joys that are also a choice.

Because my sister sees life as a glass that is half full rather than half empty, she is taking a risk and giving our mother the opportunity to have a wonderful adventure, to see things she hasn't seen before and to look upon the faces of her posterity and have the joy of holding and kissing great grandchildren and experiencng what life and joy is all about.

I love my big sister and want to be more like her.

Reflections on Mother's Day

2009-05-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

I love Mothers Day,

Not because of what I get, but because I survived and am still glad to have been and still am a Mother.

I get to reflect on memories of my own Mother and feel and express apprecation to her for all she was and still is to me.

I read a magazine article once that asked a group of women, if they had to do it over again, would they have chosen to be a mother and it was sad to see how many would have opted out. How sad.

Not me, I would do it over again in a heart beat.!!!!

I was privileged to have been the Mother to 8 extraordinary individuals. Each one different and unique and yet all with things in common.

I get to reflect on my role as a mother, to wince at my mistakes, to laugh at the many good times, to sorrow over sad times and things I couldn't fix or make go away and the hope that overall I hadn't done a bad joy, that my children would grow up to be good people and still like me.

How blessed I was and still am.

I marvel at how quickly the roles change.

I am still a Mother but not needed in the same way.
We are no longer adult and child, but adult and adult.
I enjoy my children and have joy in them and in our role as adults.
Now they are teaching me and helping me.
I love Mother's Day.
It has been and still is great to be a Mother.

If you cant lick em

2009-05-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, So I kept waiting for the rain to stop long enough to get some planting done. Yea, right. I finally decided to just start and if it rained, keep going. It worked out fine until I slipped on a muddy slope and fell very ungracefully on my tush. Once I was sure I hadn't broken anything, I slugged onward through the mud and rain. I actually got alot done, I just couldn't go in the house until I was completely done. Luckily my washer is right at the back door. I don't think the work clothes will ever be the same but I plan to save them for the next rainy day. So, working in the rain can actually be fun.

playing tricks

2009-05-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

How come most of the illnesses that kids and people get are contagious before you know they or you have anything and by the time you find out, you have exposed a gazillion other people. How fair is that?
How is a person supposed to know the old gallbladder is acting up when the pain is many times in the back and chest? No one taught that in health class at school.
I remember going in with a back ach and was totally taken back when the nurse said gallbladder. I really thought he was joking and didn't appreciate the misplaced humor. What a surprise.
I was visiting my mom and sister recently and my sister made the mistake of saying she had missed out on getting sick much or having alot of surgeries. One day her back was hurting and she went to lay down on the floor to ease it. As we were talking a little light bulb lite up. She was describing the classic symtems of gallbladder. The more we talked the more sure I was that she was going to need to see her doctor. Yup, now she has joined the ranks of the surprised gallbladder victims and will be getting hers removed in 2 1/2 weeks. So if you haven't had the privilege of finding out your gallbladder can play tricks on you, you might want to google it and be prepared should yours do it to you.

the support

2009-04-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

I was recently driving down a road and was looking at the beautiful landscaping along the way.
I noticed a small tree that had been staked when it was newly planted. the sad thing was that the tree was now a couple of years old and because the stake and wire support had not been removed, it was cutting deeply into the tree.
The very thing that was meant to help support and give strength from winds and weather was now slowly choking and in fact weakening it.
For some reason it really made me sad.
It reminded me of parenting in some ways.
We are meant to help strengthen the tree (child) until is has sufficient roots to stand on its on.
Once the tree has gotten its own roots, the support is no longer needed and should be removed for the tree to reach its full height.
When the stake and wire is left past its time, it can actually keep the tree from getting strength from the roots and can cause it to become weak and be damaged in a strong wind.
Sometimes it is hard to remove the support and allow the tree to face the wind and storms on its own but the greater good comes from doing just that and allowing the tree to reach its full growth potential.
I hope that I have fulfilled my job as a support and by removing the wire, allow my trees to gain their own strength and reach their full growth.

My Dad

2009-02-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

On February 4th, my Dad took his last breath and peacefully passed from this earthly life.

He was in his own bed in his own home. My mother had kissed him goodnight as she always did the night before. My sister and I were in the room with him and when we realized that he was gone, we called our mother into the room and she kissed him one last time.

He was 92 in December and had been wheelchair bound for several years. My prayer for him had been that when he died that it wouldn't be in a strange place or in pain.
My prayers were answered.

Today as I was going through some of my favorite pictures of him I came across this one. I love this picture. It so shows the fun side of him. When we would ask him how he was feeling, he would usually hold his hand up, rubbing his fingers and thumb together, meaning he felt with his fingers.

I wasn't sure how I would feel when the time came to lose him. I felt calm, at peace and relief for him.

the next morning after he died, my sister and I went into our Mother's room and crawled into bed with her. We hugged each other, cryed and talked about him.
We all felt the same way, sad but at peace. We all felt that we would miss him but that we were so very happy that he had gone peacefully and that we wanted to celebrate his life, to talk about him and all of the good things that we remembered.
All during the time that I was there, we would talk about him off and on and laugh as we would remember something. It was so neat.
Sometimes we would wonder if we should be more upset or sad that he was no longer there and each time we would feel that peace and comfort.
I am so very thankful for the blessings that our family has received and for the prayers that were answered.

Granddaddy Price

2009-02-08T13:58:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. This is Misty, I wanted to let everybody know that Mom's Dad passed away this week. He had been in bad health for a while so this wasn't totally unexpected but is still sad.

Thankfully, Mom was there. This is/was such a blessing. I know Mom would have felt bad to not be there in Granddaddy's last moments. She has been going every couple of months to help out and give my Aunt Pat a break and I am so happy that this was one of those times.

She, my Aunt, and my Grannie are all doing well. As I mentioned before, he was not doing well and in recent times had been in some pain too so I think some relief comes with the sadness.

Mom was supposed to be coming home this week but understandably has extended her stay until later this month. We miss her much, especially with her going through these sad times and can't wait until she is home.

the difference

2009-01-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

Years ago, before the oldest kids got old enough to be of much help, I was up to my eyeballs in children, dishes, laundry, diapers, etc. I just wanted to run away from home all by myself. It was during one of those really tight financial times and I knew there was just no way we could afford it. The fact that I knew I couldn't seemed to make the want to get away seem that much more frustrating.
I finally talked with my dear husband and let out all of my feelilngs and frustrations, etc. He told me that somehow he would find a way for me to get away. I was stunned. I was so caught up in the I cant of the situation, it never dawned on me that there might be a way. I was so appreciative that he would do that for me.
Once I knew that I really could go somewhere, all of the frustration seemed to melt away. As I sat and thought and thought about where I could go, it finally dawned on me. There really wasn't anywhere that I really wanted to go. The fact that I could just seemed to make all of the difference.
How thankful I am for a good husband who was willing to do whatever it took to let me get away.
Again, now our situation is different. All of the children are grown and gone. I can go anywhere I want. What I really want is to be home with my favorite person, doing nothing special, just being together. Some things stay the same. Just knowing I could if I wanted to makes the difference.

new look

2009-01-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

thanks Misty for the new look. We worked on the first one that had the cars. I was across the room and saw it and thought it was cute but after we added it, we figured it had looked cuter from across the room. It was bright and colorful but not quite what I had in mind. then the blog wouldn't let her change it. So to do my blog designer justice, I wanted to let everyone who saw it know that I picked it.
When I got home from church she had taken pity on me and changed out the cars. thanks Misty. When you only have one foot in the new technology it helps to have tech support in the family and free.

such a special gift

2009-01-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up, we had limited space and funds for decorating for Christmas. We usually got a very small tree that would sit on a table and my mothers favorite colors were blue lights and blue bulbs.
I yearned for a big tree with all the colors possible.
One year at school, my teacher let me have the classroom tree and I dragged it all the way home. It must not have been too great because other than dragging it home, I really don't remember much else.
I dreamed and yearned for a big tree with lots and lots and lots of lights and color.
When I got married, we still had limited funds and space so we started out with a medium tree and some lights and a few ornaments. As the kids came along and got in school and primary, we began to get more and more ornaments of every size, shape and color.
We had real trees for awhile but it really got messy so we went to artificial. It was still somewhat ho hum but the day finally came when I found my dream tree on sale. I loved it. It takes awhile to set up and take down because it is so full and has so many branches. I even ended up taking the bottom layer of branches off because you couldn't get presents under it.
It has held up really well through the years and has filled my dream of a big tree.
Some may think it isn't all that big, but to me it is big and beautiful.
As the kids grew up and left home it got harder and harder to think about setting it up. We even put up a little tree one year and it was such a flop. When our daughter came up with the idea to decorate the tree for us, it was great. Now I had a reason to put up the big tree again.
This year was so special. We gals of the family get together once a week to do gardening or crafts or whatever. I took advantage of my week and asked them to set up the tree. They had it set up in no time. I tweeked a few of the branches and then three of the grandkids came over and put on the lights and decorations. It was wonderful.
I had my favorite tree, enough lights for three trees and wonderful ornaments covering it from top to bottom.
Next year another family takes a turn to decorate the tree.
As I took the tree down this year and sent thank you's to those who helped put it up and decorated it, I thought to myself. If there hadn't been a single present under the tree, the sweet service from our family through the years to set it up and to decorate it with precious ornaments of their making was a wonderful gift in itself.
How I love my tree and my family who make it so special each year.

the blessings of motherhood

2009-01-01T05:30:00.000-08:00

As I read the blogs of my daughters and daughters in law about their concerns of having another child, I pondered a special blessing given years ago before the ability to again have children had been restored to me.
We had two children at the time but one was very ill and doctors weren't sure if he would live past 5.
Having found the gospel and the significance of eternal families, my heart ached at the lost ability to have children. At that time, any surgery to restore that ability was very difficult and the results were extremely slim that it would be successful.
A very special blessing was received that reassured me that in fact the blessing to have children would be restored.
The restored health of the one was also given in another special blesssing by his father and uncle.
What joy filled my heart at the great love of a Heavenly Father to make a way for the great blessing of continued motherhood to be restored in such a miraculous way.
If that ability was to be restored, then so should the ability to raise and nurture those blessed children that would come.
I have never doubted that blessing, nor the strength that came when needed with each new addition to our family. The ability to love was always there, the strength was given when needed and the joy was felt and gratitude abounded with each child.
Now at this season of my life, I continue to marvel at the continuation of that blessing with the birth of each child to the miracle children that I was blessed with.
Of the one that was not supposed to live, there are now four children. Of the one who was not supposed to be able to have children, there are three. Another has four, one has two, one has three, one has one and another on the way, and one will, I am sure, be blessed in the future.
From that great blessing long ago there has been six added to the two and from those 8 have come 17.
Never doubt in your ability to love, care and raise up children to the Lord. You will be guided, directed and blessed in all your efforts. On your own, there could be shortcomings but with the Lord on your side, for every trial, there will be solutions and answers, strength and joy.
If He has the confidence in you to send you a child, then with that ability will also come all you will need to love and raise it, of that I can testify.

wrong blog????

2008-12-18T13:52:00.001-08:00

So did you think you had gone to the wrong place? Misty helped me to change the background on my blog. thanks Misty. It is a real improvement. If any of my family would like to help out on occassions with changing the background, let me know.

christmas tag

2008-12-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I really hate computers and internet. I had this all done last night and lost the whole thing. Grrr. Here goes effort #2

Actually this is effort #3 since number 2 ended up on Misty's blog.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Love old fashioned paper.
2. Real tree or artificial? Love the smell of real, hate the mess. Love my big artificial tree. We always had small table top trees growing up. I always wanted big big big.
3. When do you put up the tree? Used to be the day after thanksgiving, each year we seem to get later and later now.
4. When do you take the tree down? sometime after the new year
5. Do you like eggnog? yep
6. Favorite gift received as a child? can't remember that far back, nothing stands out
7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes
8. Hardest person to buy for? the person who doesn't do a wish list
9. Easiest person to buy for? the person who does a wish list. We started wish lists several years ago. You make a list of everything you can think of from the most expensive down to the least expensive and in between. If you are lucky, you will get at least something from the list.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? neither. I am not a very good Christmas card person.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Honestly can't remember.
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? the old old old one with Jimmy Stewart where he wishes he was never born and then finds out he wasn't. He finds out what a difference one person makes in the lives of others. It's a great old movie and I never get tired of seeing it.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December if I am lucky.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? food. anything except fruitcake, yuk
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? lots and lots and lots of colored blinking lights. the more the better. We always had blue lights and blue ornaments growing up. I really hate all blue.
17.Favorite Christmas song? Rocking around the Christmas tree.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? HOME
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? nope
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? angel, I love the crochet angel my mother made for me. It is my favorite thing on the tree.
21. The most anoying thing about this time of year? crowds and rude impatient people. Always thankful I don't have to be the one behind the counter and try to be extra nice.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I guess my theme would be an old fashioned tree. I love everything on the tree, ornaments made by my children and grandchildren are my favorites.
23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? food. I don't like to spend time cooking. we always had easy to fix things.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? another Christmas with my children and grandchildren near.
25. A favorite Christmas Tradition? I loved it when my children wanted to all sleep in the same room on Christmas eve. It was at least one time when they would all be in the same place and seemingly get along. It also made it easier for Santa to get the last minuet things done.

Hubby Tag

2008-12-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

Where did you meet? He was stationed at Fort Hood Texas and I was living in Waco Texas. We met on a blind date set up by his best friend who was dating a good friend of mine.
How long did you date before you were married? I was still in high school when we met and I wanted to finish school before getting married. We dated for about a year and were engaged for about 6 months.
What is your favorite quality of his? He is very down to earth and sees things so clearly.
What is your favorite feature of his? I love everything about him. He is tall, very clean cut, looks good in whatever he wears and has great hair.
Does he have a nickname for you? Not really.
What is his favorite color? He is pretty tame when it comes to color. He sticks with very concervative, browns, blues and black.
What is his favorite food? He likes Mexican and Oriental.
When and where was your first kiss? It was after several dates. I was beginning to think he was never going to kiss me. At first it was sweet but then I wondered what was wrong with me. When he finally did kiss me, it was worth the wait.
Do you have any children? We are blessed with five sons and three daughters. We never dreamed that we would have had such a large family but are go glad that we did. Our first child had a blood disease and wasn't supposed to live to be 5. He was diagnosed when I was pregnant with our second child. At that time we were told that his disease was heriditary and I had surgury to not have more children. We were blessed with many miracles, our son's disease went into remission, the Gospel came into our lives. We had the surgery reversed and were blessed with 6 additional children.
His favorite type of music? He likes mostly easy listening kinds.
What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Since retiring, we love to just get up and do something frivilous like checking out anitque shops we have passed in the past or taking in a movie.
What do you admire most about him? He is very laid back and easy going. He is easy to talk to and has always treated me as an equal. He has always made me feel important and capable. He is my best friend and tells me what I need to hear.

It happens

2008-11-17T09:01:00.003-08:00

Several years ago when I was living in Texas in a rental house there was an old furnice that was in the floor with a metal grate over the top. When we first moved in the youngest child was a newborn so I didn't think much about the grate. The people who owned the house had rigged an expandable gate into a square to sit over the top of it but it didn't attach.
Later in the year on the first cold day of winter, I put the gate contraption over the grate because the baby was crawling by then and turned on the heat.
I stepped into the bathroom and just as I came out the baby had crawled over to the gate, pulled up and pushed. The gate moved and he sat on the hot metal grate. I grabbed him but the grate left a blister where the metal touched his leg. I was just sick. I doctored his leg and went over to my parents house. When my Dad saw the blister, he just glared at me and headed out to the shed not saying a word. He came back with some wood and went over to my house. He made a wooden box that fit around the metal grate and bolted it to the floor. He never said a word to me and didn't for over a week. It was obvious he was upset with me for letting the baby get burned. I was so very miserable.
About two weeks after that happened, my Dad took the baby outside with him. They had gone to the back of the yard and my Dad set the baby down to go into the shed to get something. When he turned around the baby had gotten back to the house and was on the back porch. Just as my Dad headed for the porch the baby fell and split his mouth open and was bleeding all over the place. My Dad was pretty upset that the baby had gotten hurt when he was supposed to be watching him. From that day forward, he started talking to me again. He never said anything about either accident but I guess he realized that things like that could happen to anyone.
It is a good thing that kids come so tough.

being thankful

2008-11-13T02:59:00.000-08:00

One of the things that I am so very grateful for is a large family. Each one is an example to me and they are reminders of the things in life that are of most importance.
When my family was young they taught me how to love, how to work, to sacrifice and to make the most of what one had and so many other things.
Now that they are all grown, they make me laugh, they make me think, they help me see things from different perspectives, they make me feel appreciated, they make me proud.
All has not been perfect and there have been hard times also. There have been mistakes, there has been hurt and tears, there has been saddness and worry.
I am even thankful for the hard times because many times in the end, it is the hard times that have brought us together the most, to help, to support and show extra love that is needed.
I am thankful for a large, ever growing family. They each have helped and continue to help make me a better person.
Thanks Heavenly Father, you knew I needed them.

A Mothers Love

2008-10-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

A mothers love knows no bounds.
I had always heard that and through the years have come to understand it a little better.
When I had my first child, the love I felt was so great, I didn't feel I could love anyone that much other than my best friend and eternal companion.
then I had my second child and found the ability to love expanded to include another.
With each child, the ability to love would grow to accommodate yet another person.
Then something wonderful happened. As each of my children grew and found their companions that love again emcompassed still more and as they began to have children of their own I found that that ability continued to expand to even greater amounts.
I never in my wildest dreams would have every thought that I could have the abiltiy to love to such a degree to so many and yet it has come to pass.

How blessed I am to have been given such a wonderful gift and thank my Heavenly Father for such a wonderful gift of Mother's love.

I AM

2008-10-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

I am...

I am...a good person.
I think...too little before I act and it gets me in trouble.
I want...more hours in the day.
I miss...sleeping through the night soundly.
I fear...losing my best friend.
I feel...immense joy in my posterity.
I hear...my father whistling as he worked.
I smell...the sweetness of babies.
I crave...the ability to sense others needs.
I cry...when I feel close to the Spirit.
I search...for what I need to change in myself.
I wonder...if I have been the person I should be.
I regret...not saying I love you enough.
I wish...for more time to serve in the Temple.
I love...each and every member of my family.
I care...about what my children think of me.
I always...talk to much and repeat myself.
I worry...I will let people down.
I am not...very patient.
I remember...being loved as a child.
I believe...life is good and is meant to be enjoyed.
I know...that God lives and Jesus Christ is my Savior.
I sing...badly.
I argue...too much.
I write...like I talk.
I lose...sight of the simple things.
I listen...better than I used to.
I can...do things that are hard with the Lord's help.
I need...to listen more and talk less.
I forget...what I did yesterday.
I am happy...that I agreed to a blind date when I was 16.

Granny's hand

2008-10-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

When I was little I noticed that my Grannys right hand was different than other peoples. The knuckle on the middle finger was bent and was slightly raised above her other fingers. It didn't keep her from using it and she never said anything about it that I remembered. I just remember it was different.
I was talking with my Mother recently and asked about it. She told me that Granny and Grandaddy had borrowed a car from his work and were driving to visit family. My Aunt Faye was little and in the front seat between them. Back then, there were no seat belts or anything. There was a another car that forced them off of the road and the car started to roll. As it did my Aunt was thrown toward the window on my Grannys side. Granny put her hand out to keep her from being thrown out the window and when the car rolled her hand was pinned between the car and the ground. It was almost cut off across her knuckles.
Miraculously they were able to save her fingers but the one knuckle never worked right.
Whenever I see a picture of my Granny now and see her hand, instead of thinking it was different or somehow odd, I think about how she loved and sacrificed to save her child.

Aunt Vernie

2008-10-15T17:55:00.000-07:00

I have recently been working on some geneology and had a distance 2nd cousin contact me about a mutual ancestor who was my aunt Vernie.
It brought back some memories about her that I thought I would pass along.
When I was little I was afraid of her. She looked mean to me and from a kids perspective scary. I remember leaving the room whenever she would come over to visit my Granny.
As I got older, I saw past the rough exterior and learned to really like being around her. She had raised 17 kids. I have the pictures to prove it. She did alot of nursing and midwivery. She would tell us about her famous salve. She told us about Uncle Jess cutting his arm once and how she sewed him up and put her salve on it and he healed up just fine. (About then, I was glad she wasn't around when I got hurt or cut) On one of the last visits I had with her, she gave me her recipe. She didn't want it to be forgotten. I wrote it down and still have it. I have never made it and after looking at the ingredients, I am not sure I ever will but you never know.
Recipe for Aunt Vernies salve
lb. tallow
lb. hog lard
lb. reson
lb. bees wax
melt together
add 14 drops carbolic acid
14 drops turpentine
strain, do not use if diabetic

To me, Aunt Vernie was a great example. She was rough and tough but had a heart of gold. She would do anything for just about anyone.
She loved to quilt. She made quilts for all of her kids and then went on to make for her grandkids. She went on to make quilt tops for the nieces. She figured if she made the tops they could make it into a quilt. I had mine for many years but never made it into a quilt. Sorry Aunt Vernie.
She loved to garden. When she wasn't able to walk up and down the rows, she would crawl.
She lived to be 95. She was my hero in many ways. She lived through tough times and raised a huge family and was still going strong until the day she died. I used to tease about keeping up with her but decided 8 kids was enough and if I could still be as active as she was I wouldn't mind reaching 95.
Uncle Jess was alot like my Grandaddy, He was tall and lanky and quiet and easy going, loved kids and loved to tease. That seemed a big trait in the
Andrews men.
It was fun to remember my Aunt Vernie after all of these years. One time when I was looking at some family trees I found where someone had listed Aunt Vernie being married to her husband's brother who was my Grandaddy. I had to laugh, she and Uncle Jess and Grandaddy would have gotten a kick out of it. Granny might have had a problem with it but it was funny to me.

defining moments 2

2008-09-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I was going to put this on the last blog but had to get off of the computer cause my better half needed it quickly.

So after reading these past moments of mine I am taging others to share some of their defining moments.

defining moments

2008-09-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

I guess I really should call these past several posts defining moments.

Here is one more and then I promise to stop and not bore everyone to death.

Several years ago I attended a class given by a Brother Residori. He gave a class that changed my life.
He spoke on racehorses and turtles. He explained that each of us is either like the racehorse or a turtle. Each has different characteristics but of equal worth in the eyes of God.
We have all met them. Racehorses thrive on excitement,compitition, racing to get things accomplished, always moving and doing things quickly, etc.
Then there are the turtles. Slow moving, thorough, steady, easy going, laid back, etc.

the jist of his talk was about accepting ourselves and others, including the differences. Racehorses shouldn't look down on Turtles and vice versa.

At that time in my life, I was new to the church and dealing with feeling inadequate around many of the long time members, etc.

When I sat in that class, it was so wonderful. I had found my nitch. I could work with the racehorses, could accept their characteristics but didn't have to be one. Whew!!!
I could work with the turtles and appreciate their seemingly slower progress and appreciate their steadfastness.

The true personal revelation was to finally find where I was. I cannot do things at a fast pace for any length of time. I have since found out that I have ADD which explains alot.

I realized that I am a turtle with an occassional racehorse spurt. Don't laugh. It was the most wonderful thing that could have happened to me. I had found where I stood and how to deal with others and it was so liberating.

The funny thing is, it was such a defining time in my life and when I told him about it several years afterwards, he doesn't even remember giving the class. Oh well, I am so glad that he did.

trying too hard

2008-09-28T12:16:00.001-07:00

When I was in elementary school, handwritting was really stressed.
We had to practice alot and we were graded on how neatly we could write. You had to hold your pen a certain way and slant your paper a particular way. I hated hand writting, no matter how hard I tryed, mine was never the really pretty flowing script that was so popular.
One day I just had had it. The harder I tryed the worse I got and I just knew I was going to make another bad grade.
I remember just sitting there and saying to myself, the heck with it. I was never going to have good handwritting and I was tired of trying and I decided to just accept the fact and get on with it.
It was the funniest thing, once I did that, I just wrote without thinking about it. I relaxed and stopped holding the pen so hard and just let it happen. I ended up having the best penmenship in the class. The teacher would let me write the examples on the board of how she wanted our handwritting to look. I loved how my handwritting looked especially after what it had been before.
I have found that very helpful in my life. When I am trying to do whatever and find myself getting all up tight and try and try and only get worse, sometimes I just have to stop and let go, to walk away.
By letting go and accepting that I may not be able to get it perfect and just do the best I can, it comes together and many times I am surprised at how good it turns out.

Meanest teacher in the world

2008-09-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

When I was in what is today called middle school, I had a math teacher. You walked into her class, sat down, got your pencil and paper out and never said a word unless she called on you.
Once everyone was seated and absolutely quiet, she would start class. I don't remember ever seeing her smile.
I remember not liking her very much and watching the clock and just living to see the hand say it was time for the next class.
We did alot of chalkboard work. I never voluntered to go to the board and hated being called on because most of the time I didn't know how to work the problems and just plain felt stupid.
After being in her class for a short time, I began to really listen to what she was saying and to understand what she was trying to teach us. Little by little I began to enjoy it and loved knowing how to work the problems.
I remembered one day she had given us a problem. She had had two kids come up to work it on the board and they got it wrong. I was so excited because I knew I knew how to do it. I raised my hand and headed for the board. I remember it as if it were yesterday. I started to work the problem, the solution started just like the two who had gotten it wrong and the class started to make fun and tease that I was doing it wrong. It was one of those long problems that had several steps and they had left out a step. The teacher was watching me and not saying a word. I did the step that they had left out, finished the problem and sat down. I felt 10 feet tall.
After that day, I loved math class and appreciated a teacher who though really strict, really taught.

get off my back

2008-09-28T11:29:00.003-07:00

I was just reading my grandsons blog about being bored with school. It brought back a memory of when I was in school.
In my family there was me and my older sister Pat. She skimmed by and really struggled with school. My folks acted like whatever she made was OK. I came along and supposidly was supposed to be pretty smart. Snort snort. They would really ride me about my grades and it really bugged me. One day I was really bummed and popped off at my girlfriends house about it. No one ever said, but I am sure she told my folks.
School was boring to me and I hadn't really tryed very hard just for spite because I felt they were trying to make me make good grades.
I don't remember exactly but I began to notice that my folks had stopped pressuring me about my grades.
It was what I had been spouting off about but somehow when it happened and they no longer bugged me about it ,it kind of left a void, leaving me without something to pop off about.
Now that I didn't feel like I had to make good grades just to please, I began to find out that learning wasn't so bad. I began to pay attention in class and found out I really could understand and in some cases actually enjoyed myself. I kind of liked making good grades. I wanted to make good grades for me. I even took some of the classes that were considered hard to just prove to myself that I could do it.
I actually look back now with a sense of pride at what I learned.
I am so thankful for parents who did the best they could with such a rebellous daughter and for "getting off my back" and letting me learn for myself how good it feels to make good grades because I wanted to.

Life in 6 words

2008-09-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

wife, mother, granny, sister, daughter, friend

Getting older has its benefits

2008-08-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of getting older is that you have more things to look back on, to reflect on and to hopefully learn from.
Here are a few of the things I have learned or am trying to do better at.
I find, I don't always have to be right. Being right isn't as important as it used to be. In fact sometimes being right but not saying anything is the best thing to do.
I find that listening is better than talking.
I find that differences are not a brick wall, they can open doors to new and even better perspectives, solutions and needed growth.
Building is so much better than tearing down.
Assuming stayed the same. It gets you into trouble.
The more one leans on Heavenly FAther in choices and decisions, the better the outcome in the long run and the less one has to live with regrets.
Love can only do so much.
The more one trusts in Heavenly Father, the more one lets go of what they want or think is best, the more you simply do what He asks no matter how hard or how much you don't understand, the happier you will be, the easier things will get and the more you will come to understand.
The more one tries to measure up to Heavenly Fathers yard stick and stop trying to measure up to others, the more you will find that you like about yourself.
When one sees fault in others but choses to look inward for ways to improve oneself instead of trying to change others, the happier they will become and the more the capacity to love will grow. ( Satan wanted to fix everyone and make them change) The Savior wanted to allow for differences, to make mistakes, to learn from them and become better. He loved and trusted.
The older you get, the worse your memory becomes and the less you remember the dumb and stupid things you have done.

Off to a good start

2008-07-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

OK I have been in Primary for three weeks.
The first week I had two girls (one was a visitor), the next week I only had one girl. We had a short lesson and then just had fun getting acquainted. We decided our classroom was pretty dull and she suggested we have some pretty pictures. So this week, I made sure we had some cool pictures, mostly of the Savior.
The first week, I looked at my list of kids and realized that when Madisen moved, I would only have one child who comes consistently. It can be hard on the teacher and student when there is only one in the class. I mentioned it to the Primary President. She said they would discuss it as a Presidency and with the Bishop and get back with me.
this Sunday I started out with only one girl and then they moved two very active rowdy boys into my class.
I love a challenge and am enjoying looking for ideas on how to best present gospel principles in a way that the kids can understand and feel the spirit. These kids are really smart and truly can understand spiritual things. We had a great time.
I now have a Primary tote all packed and ready to go for Sundays. Actually I found a pack of three really cool ones at WalMart in wonderful bright colors.
I could have used some hand wipes on Sunday when they gave out cupcakes. Cupcakes are not my idea of a good thing when you are wearing Sunday clothes. One of my boys managed to get his cupcake on my dress. SOOO, into the bag for next week goes a pack of hand wipes.
The kids were impressed with the colorful magnets I found to hold up our pictures. They all wanted a turn a helping me take down the pictures at the end of class.
So we seem to be off to a good start.

enjoying the moment

2008-07-27T12:02:00.001-07:00

This weekend there was a soccer tournament in Birmingham. It had been awhile since we had been to one and when it was mentioned to us, we decided to go watch and cheer.
It was great. We watched the first game and then went out to eat with the group of players and their wives and girlfriends.
We hadn't seen some of the guys in awhile. Many of them had played together in high school with a few other guys to fill out the team.
It was like old times with a bunch of soccer players, talking, laughing, teasing and just having fun and hanging out.
It was exciting to watch our sons and their friends play. Indoor soccer is so much faster and more intense than outdoor soccer.
Two of our daughters-in-law were there supporting their guys. We were the only old folks there. It was a great day and we really enjoyed it.

It is a little sad when the kids grow up, and leave home. But once in awhile, you get invited to a game and it is like old times and you just enjoy the moment of watching your grown sons play a game they love.

sometimes mom actually does know best

2008-07-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

When my dad first broke his hip several years ago and I started making trips to Texas to help out my mother and sister, things were sometimes pretty rocky.
My dad was a roller coaster, things set him off and he would get really hateful and mean to everyone. He would do the opposite of whatever you would try to get him to do, no matter what it was.
My sister and I would react in kind, well meaning and trying to stand up for ourselves and protect our Mother who was the brunt of his nastiness alot.
Over time, we learned that alot of his intense mood swings were caused by medications, coupled with his natural tendency to be intensely independent and being frustrated at the total loss of everything that he felt made him a man.
As time went on and we finally got a doctor who took him off of all of the absolutely non essential medications, the roller coaster slowed and the mood swings lessened. We were still reacting and coming back at him when he got tacky and but it just wasn't happening as often.
Our mother kept telling us to just let it go and to stop trying to reason with him. Of course we thought she was wrong and kept doing what we were doing which meant when he had one of his outbursts, it lasted for days. It was really draining on everyone.
My sister is the one who has the patience and she kept trying new things and one day it just clicked. She tryed to get him to do something and he started yelling and cussing and getting really worked up. She kept her cool, told him she was sorry he was upset but she wasn't going to argue with him about it and walked away. Within minutes he calmed down and they simply picked up from there and he was fine the rest of the day. This happened several times and each time if she could keep herself calm and let it go, he would respond almost immediately and most of the time would end up doing whatever it was she needed him to do. There was still some times when he would go off and stay mad but they became less and less as time on.
My sister and I talked about it and realized if we had really listened to our mother early on instead of being so sure we were right, we could have avoided alot of really ugly situations.
Luckily, we did find out that she was right and changed what we did and everyone gained instead of losing.
We have learned alot from our Mother, especially when we really listen instead of being so sure we knew what is needed.

Life is alot like the situation with our dad. We go about so sure we know what is best or right for us or others and really don't listen to what others are saying. Because we aren't listening we end up missing out on so much.

How much could we gain from really listening and actually trying things?

I am sure Heavenly FAther feels that way with us. He trys to tell us things that we need to hear but we are so caught up in only hearing what we want to hear that we can actually block out the very things that we need to hear the most.

youngest son married

2008-07-26T02:04:00.000-07:00

Our youngest son just got married. It has been a truly wonderful time. It really helps that his choice in an eternal companion is such a sweet person. I can see how much they love each other and what a good couple they make.

We have been so very blessed in our childrens choices in marriage partners. Each one has made such good choices and our family has been blessed by each addition to the family.

Each person adds so much in the talents shared and the different abilities within the family.

We are very blessed to have each of our children and their families close by. For as many of us as there are, that is a real blessing.

It is so good to have a new addition to the family. We look forward to getting to know Jessica better and to see her and David progress and grow in their life together.

I love family blogs

2008-07-26T01:53:00.000-07:00

I love our family blogs. I check them each day and enjoy reading the thoughts and ideas being shared. They are as varied in content as are each person. I love the humor and insights shared. Some make me laugh, some make me think and some make me so very thankful for family. I love the pictures. As a not so talented picture taking person, I love those who do pictures and share them. These blogs have been such a great way for talents to be shared. I don't always respond to each post but I do enjoy each one and don't feel my day is complete without checking for each days newest tidbits.

Back where I started from

2008-07-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

I have to chuckle. Heavenly Father definitely has a wonderful sense of humor. Sunday I was called to teach in Primary. It has been years since I have served with the little guys.

The first calling that I had when I joined the church was in Primary. I remember it well. I had never taught before and was really nervous but figured, how hard could it be, they are 6 and in school and know how to sit and listen and behave, right??
I can laugh now but not then. I would come home near tears some (OK most) weeks. I was awful and so were they. For those who know me, I am pretty stubborn. I was not going to let a bunch of 6 year olds get the best of the situation.
Being stubborn has it's advantages. If Heavenly Father called me to that class then He would help me to do whatever it took to do it. He had something for me to teach and some things for me to learn, then I just needed to find out what.
Those poor kids had alot to put up with while I learned what I was supposed to be doing. I would pray and teach, pray and teach and pray some more.
It was a miracle. As I got better, they mysteriously got better. As I learned to love them, they responded in kind.
By the time I was released, those were my kids and it was really hard to no longer be their teacher.
I treasure those memories and can truly laugh at myself and am so very grateful to Heavenly Father for giving me that special time in Primary.
I haven't been in Primary in years. I must admitt it was somewhat of a culture shock after all this time.
It didn't take long for the old instincts to come into play. I got home and read the lesson for next week. There was a short shifting (OK grinding) of gears to get into the child mode from teaching youth and adults for so many years.
I went to the church web site to look up Primary. They have changed alot since I was in there. I read through it all and now have an idea of what to do and not to do. I certainly don't want to embarrish my grandson and my two Murphy girls.
I went on line and ordered my very own brand new manual . (I tend to make notes in my manuals) plus I needed the pictures and stuff that go with the lessons. I have ideas on how to set up a filing system for the visual aids for the upcoming lessons.
I also ordered the childrens song book and CDs with words and music. The brain doesn't pick up on things as fast as the kids and if the teacher doesn't sing, the kids will follow suit. I was frankly surprised at how many of the songs I still remember but there are new ones I need help with. Of course it really helps that kids don't care if you really can't sing.

Misty called that night. She told me that Madisen(who is in my class) told her mom that I was really strict. they decided that was probably where Mimi gets it (sorry Misty)When her mother asked her what I did that made her think I was strict, she said that I wouldn't let her stand up on the chair except if it was an emergency. How funny is that? At least she didn't say I was mean. Strict is better than mean. Right?
Sooooo, to make a short story looooog. I am back where I started, in Primary and will still have lots to teach and even more to learn. What an adventure.

Love Maiocampo the site

2008-07-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

I really love Maiocampo the site. I like being able to go to one place and see everyones posts in one place. It saves me going to each individual site to see if there are any new posts.
Its great to have such talented family members who post such fun and intertaining things.
I don't feel like my day is complete without checking out to see what is new in the family.
You can always tell when someone is really busy and they aren't able to post for awhile. Then there are several posts at once and they catch up all at once.
It is such a great way to keep up on all of the family.
I especially enjoy the grandkids getting in on the fun.
Thanks again Barry. You know I like things simple and you have made it so easy for me to keep track of the family blogs.

the blessings of trials

2008-06-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

Someone said once in a class that the day would come when we would give thanks for our trials and tribulations.
At the time I was young and new in the church and wasn't sure I believed it.
Now in my later years,I have come to see the truth of the statement.
Things have been very much an emotional rollercoaster lately with the health issues of my husband.
I am a person who wants answers and solutions. I would rather have a known bad to face and deal with than an unknown without any answers or solutions. I don't do well in limbo.
Now looking back, I can see the blessings of the past months. With concerns over his health, I found myself reevaluting day to day things. Things that seemed so important before became trivial.
He and I were able to discuss our fears and concerns and come away with a closeness and appreciation of what we are truly blessed with and that whatever the outcome, we could face it and deal with it together.
He has been the pessimist and I the optimist. There were times when the roles were reversed. At times when I felt pessimistic, he would be the comforter and point out the positive. It was pretty revealing.
Once we finally got some answers and have the assurance that it isn't the worst, it is as though the weight of the world has been lifted. There is a physical difference, a feeling of lightness and relief. You never feel as good as you do after being really sick. Feeling good is so much sweeter.
In reality, after months of limbo and frustrations with doctors and hospitals, I see so many things differently and have gained a better perspective of what is truly important.
Looking back, the blessings far outweigh the trials and I can say I am truly thankful.

always wanted to be a Mom

2008-05-31T04:47:00.000-07:00

I always wanted to be a Mom.

When I was growing up, I was around girls who wanted to travel and see the world, who wanted to go to college and have a career, who wanted to wait to have kids until they were ready and then only have one or two so they could give them everything they thought they had had to live without.

I always knew I wanted to be a Mom and one day a Grandmother.

I grew up in a hard working family. You took whatever life gave you and made the most of it. My grandparents on both sides had been farmers. They had worked long and hard to make a living. There was no welfare programs or food stamps or anything like that. What you had was family.
I have wonderful memories of my grandparents. We visited them often. They were always a part of our lives. They raised their families and were there for them and when they got older, their families were there for them.
I was around babies most of my life. I knew how to feed and take care of them. I knew how to change diapers and babysat younger cousins often. Being a mom is what you did and I looked forward to the day to be able to have children of my own.

To me, being a Mom is what you did. Those other things were not necessarily bad things, it is just that I wanted to be a Mom more.

My Mother went to work when my Dad had two back surgeries and worked until after I was married. She did what had to be done and even though I missed her and hated her not being there, it was a part of life. She was a good Mom and did the best she could under her circumstances. She was a great example to me.

When i met and married my husband, he too had been raised in a home with a working mom. We did not want that if at all possible.
We were blessed throughout our lives that I was able to be home with our family.

Being a Mom was hard work and a challenge. I learned and grew and found joy in the process. I was blessed with great kids and they taught me so much along the way.

Even before my children were all grown and out of the home, I looked forward to being a Grandmother. It was not a negative thing to me. It did not mean being old, it meant having grandchildren and having the fun and joy of seeing them grow up. I couldn't wait to be a Grannie.

As my children grew up and married, I was blessed with wonderful sons and daughters-in-law. They too have been a joy. They are so talented and are raising great kids. They have each taught me many things.

I was not a perfect Mom, any more than my mother or grandmother were perfect before me, but I did the best I could under my circumstances. I loved it and am loving being a Grandmother. I do not regret not going to college or having a career.

I have learned more about what life is all about from my children and grandchildren. They are still teaching me and I am thankful for the privilege of being a Mom.

the love of reading

2008-05-31T03:50:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, television had just come out. The screens were small and only in black and white. We were one of the last families on our block to get a television.
Summers were long and boring. I learned to escape through books. My Daddy would take my sister and I to the library and we could check out as many books as we wanted. I remember bringing home literally stacks of books. I would sit by the window in my room (the coolest place where a breeze could be found {yes becasue it was also before airconditioning}) and escape into wonderful worlds outside my own.
My favorite books then were about animals. There was a particular author I think it was a really odd name like Klgaard. I think I read everything he ever wrote. I started out getting books with lots of pictures and then took on the challenge of all words.
One year in school we had to read so many books from each of several catagories such a non-fiction, biography, etc. Initially I didn't like reading outside of my favorite books but actually found myself enjoying some of the things that I read. I remember reading the biography of one of the men who was famous in Texas history and died in the Alamo. I read a book about bees and how the colony worked together. They really have a facinating world of workers, drones and queens. I read a book on pineapple plantations. I can still remember some of the things that I learned from those books that I would never have known and was surprised by how really interesting they were.
When I was in middle school I remember most of the girls reading romance novels. I read a couple and thought they were so very sappy and silly.
When I was first married, I didn't have alot to do and I would go to the library and get books. I liked Science Fiction by then and found a huge book that I decided to read just for the sheer challenge of it. It was one of those plots within a plot within a plot kind of books. It was Frank Hurberts Dune. I have since read it several times throughout the years. It tends to be somewhat on the negative side of human nature but I enjoyed finding answers to the mysteries of the plots within plots.
I read the Lord of the Rings series. Again because of the challenge of length. I read Gone with the Wind and fell in love with the character of Scarlet. Not necessarily becasue of her selfish side but becasuse of the strength and courage she developed throught the hardships she lived through.
When we were stationed overseas, my husband was gone for long periods of time on military manuvers. It was books that kept me company and from getting overly depressed because I was alone so much. The post library was a life line at that time of my life.
I have read Anne of Green Gables. There are actually 7 books in the series. I loved Anne. She had such a rough life but was resilient and willing to try new things. She was not a bad person but her imagination and zeal for life, got her into trouble all of the time. Her character helped me to understand my children so much better.
After I joined the church, I found that reading was a way to receive answers to prayers. Many times as I was struggling with a problem in my life, an answer would come through a book I was reading. Sometimes through a church book and just as often a non church book. I learned how wise the counsel was from Joseph Smith to seek knowledge from the best books.
Outside of the scriptures the book the Hiding Place by Corrie tanBoon touched me the most deeply. It had profound insights into dealing with incredible trials and yet trusting in the Lord and by doing so, overcoming where others came away bitter and broken.
I love the Janette Oke series. She has a way of telling a story of hardship and trial but through the love and trust in the Lord being able to find strength and overcoming the trials and obsticals of life.
I loved the Work and Glory series. I have read it several times. It too tells of people overcoming incredible odds through their faith and perseverence.
Reading has been a joy in my life. I am so thankful for the many many really good uplifting books that help one get through life and see the good that is all around us and to better understand ourselves and others around us.

the chaos

2008-05-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

When we have a family get together, it appears to be total chaos.
There are small groups of adults and children scattered all over having various conversations or games or activities going at the same time.
I love it. I can walk around and stop and catch a little of what is going on in each area.
I see cousins playing, even with little ones walking through the game. They just pick up the pieces and keep going. the little ones can wander around and still have the security of moms or dads and yet explore new things and new people. They get scooped up and kissed and let back down to continue their travels around the house.
The guys gravitate in one place and sports will be discussed, again little ones wandering in and out of the tall people.
The women tend to group and talk, garden, recipes, babies, upcoming weddings, sharing ideas and the newest milestone of a child, etc.
As I walk around and observe, what I see is a family of all ages interacting and spending time together. There are loud conversations, a lot of laughter, teasing and squeals of babies.
It is loud and chaotic to some but, to me, it is one of the most wonderful sounds there is.

If I have to share my husband

2008-05-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

I was reading Alisha's comments about a husband being gone alot. It brought back memories of when my husband was a Bishop and then in the Stake Presidency. It was really hard at times but I always felt if I had to share my husband, I would so much rather it be with the Lord than so many other things that some women experience.

A friend told me years ago that it was better to have 10% of a 90% man than 90% of a 10% man. I have come to appreciate that fact.

So those who are blessed with a 90% man, especially in the church, we can be thankful that it is the Lord we are sharing him with.

It is still hard, but it is worth it and each will be blessed for that sacrifice. I felt the Lord was mindful of me and blessing me with strength when needed and that He was also blessing our family

When I stand before the Lord one day and am asked if I willingly helped and supported my husband in his service for to Lord, I want to be able to say, yes.

Thanks Alisha for sharing your thoughts.

A Parable and Motherhood

2008-05-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

A PARABLE

I took a little child’s hand in mine. He and I were to walk together for a while. I was to lead him to the Father. It was a task that overcame me, so awful was the responsibility. And so I talked to the child of the Father. I painted the sternness of His face, were the child to do something to displease Him. I spoke of the child’s goodness as something that would appease the Father’s wrath. He walked under the tall trees and I said that the Father had power to send them crashing to the ground struck by His thunderbolts. We walked in the sunshine; I told him of the greatness of the Father who made the burning blazing sun. And one twilight, we met the Father. The child hid behind me. He was afraid. He would not look up at the face so loving; he remembered my picture. He would not take the Father’s hand; I was between the child and the Father. I wondered, I had been so conscientious, so serious.

I took a little child’s hand in mine. I was to lead him to the Father. I felt burdened with the many things I had to teach him. We did not ramble; we hastened from one spot to another spot. We compared the leaves of the different trees. While the child was questioning me about it, I hurried him away to chase a butterfly. Did he chance to fall asleep, I awakened him; lest he should miss something I wanted him to see. I poured into his ears all the stories he ought to know, but we were interrupted often by the wind a blowing, of which we must study, by the gurgling brook which we must trace to its source. And then in the twilight, we met the Father. The child merely glanced at Him and then his gaze wandered in a dozen different directions. The Father stretched for His hand. The child was not interested enough to take it. Feverish spots burned his cheeks. He dropped exhausted to the ground and fell asleep. Again, I was between the child and the Father. I wondered. I had taught him so many things.

I took a little child’s hand in mine, to lead him to the Father. My heart was full of gratitude for the glad privilege. We walked slowly, I united my steps with the short steps of the child. We spoke of the things the child noticed. Sometimes we picked the Father’s bright flowers and stroked their soft petals and loved their bright colors. Sometimes it was one of the Father’s birds. We saw the eggs that were laid. We wondered, elated at the care it gave its young. Often we told stories of the Father. I told them to the child and the child told them to me again. We told them, the child and I over and over again. Sometimes we stopped to rest, leaning against one of the Father’s trees, and letting His cool air cool our brow, never speaking. And then in the twilight, we met the Father. This child’s eyes shone. He looked lovingly, trustingly, eagerly up into the Father’s face. He put his hand into the Father’s hand. I was for the moment forgotten. I was content.Jean BetznerEspecially for Mormons Vol. 1

I have always loved this Parable since the first time I read it. Today especially on Mother's Day I was thinking of it and how it could apply to Mothers.
Being a Mom can be bitter sweet. If you do a good job and raise strong independent children, the day will come when they wont need you as they once did. They will be able to stand on their own feet and live their own lives.
Sometimes we fear that day and feel that we will lose that special bond that was there when they were little.If we understand that they are not ours but are Heavenly Fathers and our job is to help them learn to depend on HIM and not us, then we can better understand what true joy is as a parent.Like in the parable, sometimes we need to be careful to not come between the child (at any age) and the FATHER.
If we truly love our children, we will do all that we can to lead them to the FATHER and step back and have joy in seeing them become true sons and daughters of God.
I am so very thankful for the privilege of being the earthly mother to 8 wonderful individuals. Each one has grown up to be pretty neat people. They are doing wonderful jobs with their children. They are living good lives and no longer need me as they once did. I am proud of each and every one of them. They each know the Lord and are living the Gospel.
I am content.

tall and lanky

2008-05-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my old pictures and came across this picture of my mother's daddy (Granddaddy Andrews) and my daddy.

I was reminded of when one of the soccer dads Mr. Frakes, wanted to take James home and fatten him up. He was totally serious. I think he thought since we had so many kids that he wasn't getting enough to eat.

I assured him that James came by his tall lankiness through his family and wouldn't fill out until he was older. Both of my grandfathers, my daddy and my husband and his dad were tall and thin until they got into their 30s and 40s.

My daddy had dark skin and dark hair with a tendency to curl. David and James got his coloring and curly hair.

Of course, I took after my Granny. Short, plump and straight hair. How fair is that? Oh well, at least I will always look up to my husband and my sister says I got the little feet and she got long skinny ones.

ABCs of Me

2008-05-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I like these kinds of things but I like to change a few things

A - Attached or Single: Attached for 42 years and still loving it, it is the best thing that I ever did. I have been attached since I was 18 and have never regretted it.
B - Best Friend: my husband, because he loves me enough to tell me even the things I don't want to (but need to) hear and next is my sister and my grown children, they are such good people.
C - Cake or Pie: Cake with tons of icing, especially chocolate but I wouldn't turn down apple pie either.
D - Day of Choice: Wednesday, it is the day that my husband and I serve in the Holy Temple and be an instrument to bring eternal joy to others both living and those who have passed on. Next would be Sunday when I can go to church and feel the spirit and learn things I need to change in my life to be more like my Savior becasue that is when I feel the best about myself.
E - Essential Item: the scriptures, a day isn't complete without time spent there
F - Favorite Color: definitely red, I love it
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: bears
H - Hometown: Waco, Texas but haven't lived there since I married. Huntsville and Meridianville Al. since we have lived there the longest
I - Indulgence(s): I have to have a Butterfinger Blizzard once in while and a Snowball (a small chocolate cake, with filling in the center,covered in icing and coconut)that is pure sugar
J - January or July: January, it gives me the opportunity to start a new year fresh and move forward and not look back at past mistakes
K - Kids: Ah, where to start, Barry my first born and an example of strength at an early age; Dawn the first daughter and ray of sunshine when things were tough; Misty the miracle baby (my firstborn after joining the church and having had a tubaligation reversed) ; Nathan (name means gift of God) the hardest to raise but the strongest in disposition ; Cari, the most beautiful baby and my reward for not killing Nathan; James, so like the beloved Grandparent that he is named for; Jared such a beautiful little boy and sweet spirit, loves to pick on and tease his mother; David, name means Beloved and as the youngest of 8 had the most bosses and critics in his life and truly was looked forward to and has been beloved.
Each child was wanted, looked forward to and has been a source of joy through the years and have given me wonderful sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren that are wonderful to behold.
L - Life is incomplete without: without feeling close to my best friend
M - Marriage Date: 27 May 1966
N - Number of Siblings: one, an older sister, who after my husband is my very best friend
O - Oranges or Apples: a wonderful expression to describe differences of opinion, I like both and have found both have value in relationships
P - Phobias or Fears: that my husband will give up on me
Q - Quote: Only one life, will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.
R - Reason to Smile: when one of my children realizes on their own, they messed up and then learns from it and moves on; not needing my help or advice
S - Sappy or Adventure Movies: Here is one of my changes, I don't like the word sappy as if a moving, uplifting movie is silly or trivial. I love a movie that touches your heart, makes you cry and that you are better for having seen it. Where the goodness of a person and life is depicted. I like adventure movies with lots of action and heros that win over the bad guys. I really dislike movies that only depict the dark side of people or life.
T - Tag: anyone who wants to go back and change anything
U - Unknown fact about me: wow, whats not to know, I am pretty open and especially my husband and kids know me pretty well, I may come up with something later or maybe one of my kids can chip in.
V - Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: this is one that bugged me a little, as if eating meat makes you an oppressor of poor little animals. I don't make fun of people who eat only plants. If you don't eat meat, fine. Just don't try to make me feel like I am a murderer becasue I do. Apples and oranges.
W - Worst Habit: working outside or reading a book instead of cleaning my house
X - Xrays or Ultrasounds: apples and oranges, but don't ask me about mammagrams.
Y - Your Favorite Foods: sonic hamburgers, pizza, hotdogs (really), mexican, anything chocolate
Z - Zodiac: have no idea, never really understood or got into signs

Sisters

2008-05-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is Patricia Kaye and Barbara Ann. This is the way it was and still is. Me and my big sister. (Only now we are about the same size) She was 2 1/2 years older than me. She was tall and thin and I was short and round. She was the easy going, good one, I was usually in trouble.
Her toys and dolls lasted forever, mine were used up, torn up and gone within days. She was obedient and I stretched the limits and broke the rules.
We fought alot, usually because I pushed all of her buttons then we both got spanked. Poor Pat, she got it even when I started it.
We were both very much Daddy's girls. Our Daddy made things for us. He was a jack of all trades and never threw things away if he thought it was useful. He salvaged alot of things and made us a swing set and a teetertotter out of wood he salvaged.
Mother sewed most of our clothes when we were little. We had some really cute outfits for that day. We had lots of older cousins and we had alot of hand me downs. We thought it was cool. Mother made costumes for us when we were in school plays or programs. I was an angel once and she make my costume, another time I was in an arabian knight kind of play and she made me a little vest and bloomer type pants.
We walked to and from school unless the weather was bad. Pat went to 6 schools and I went to 3. She would go to a school and then they would build a new one, I got to go to the new school. That happened in elementary, junior high and high school.
My sister and I have talked alot about our childhood. We both felt loved and protected by our parents. They sacrificed alot for each of us in numerous ways.
We were the oldest grandchildren on the Andrews side and kind of in the middle on the Price side. We grew up in the same town with both sets of grandparents and had sleep overs at their houses often. We had lots of aunts, uncles and cousins around.
We were spanked when we did something wrong but when we reached a certain age, Daddy would sit us down and talk to us, explaining what he expected and when he was disappointed in our behavior or choices. We would rather he have beat us than to talk to us.
When we were growing up my sister was called Kaye (actually Kaye baby). She didn't go by Pat until she was a teenager. Even today, older family members still call her Kaye.
We are alike in some ways and totally opposite in others but have always been close and especially these past few years, we are best friends and are there for each other.
I am so very thankful for my big sister. She makes me laugh and we have fun just being together.
We have rubbed off on each other. She is more forceful and outspoken and I have learned to be more patient and not to over react.
We have both come a long way through the years and we are still best friends.
I am so thankful for my sister.

memories of Papa and Mama Price

2008-05-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

This is Jessee Alfred (Papa Price) and Mary Ellen Westbrook (Mama Price), they are my Daddy's parents. The picture on the left is my favorite picture of Papa. He loved to sit on the front porch in his rocking chair and watch the people and cars go by for hours on end. I loved going over to their house when I was little but it got pretty boring when I got older.

the picture on the right is of Papa and Mama Price. He died when I was 12. I remember going over to their house frequently and the grown ups sitting on the front porch and visiting. There was a porch swing to the right on the porch that was all of the kids favorite.

Papa was a simple man. He had worked hard and raised a large family of 9 kids on a farm. There was 7 boys and 2 girls, my Daddy was number 5. My Daddy really loved his daddy. He said he was strict and believed in the belt but was fair.

When we would visit, my mother would fuss about us girls always getting our clothes dirty. He would tell her " Lucille, don't go fussing at those girls, a little dirt in their craw wont hurt them." I don't think my mother appreciated the advice but I sure did. I loved playing outside and the harder we played the dirtier we got.

Mama Price would make us butter and sugar sandwiches. Sounds gross now but we loved them. I am sure we got sugar all over the place. My mother would lecture us before we would go over to their house and tell us not to ask for anything. As we were all sitting on the front porch, we would watch Mama Price and if she went into the house, we would follow her. It is like this, if you mother can't see you it is OK to ask. Once we had the sandwiches Mother couldn't say much. We knew we would get in trouble when we got home but it was worth it.

There was a huge pecan tree in the front yard. Us kids would pick up the pecans and take them in the house and crack and shell them. Papa had an old cracker that clamped on the end of the table and then you would turn the handle and it would screw down on the pecan and crack it. It took a lot of pecans to make a pecan pie because we usually ate as we shelled. Mama Price could make a mean pecan pie.

Mama Price kept peppermint candy, not my favorite but what the heck, back then candy was candy.

She kept salamie lunch meat, the kind with the peppers in it. I really didn't like it but back then you never complained about what you were given to eat. I always picked out the peppers, yuk. I still do not like salamie but it reminds of her.

We thought the lady who lived next door was really mean. She didn't want us anywhere near her yard. She kept a canary in a cage on her back porch. We always thought it was odd that such a mean old lady had such a pretty sweet sounding bird.

We walked around the neighborhood alot and collected empty soft drink bottles. When we found enough, we would take them to the little local store and cash them in and buy a candy bar or a soft drink. We would punch a hole in cap of the drink with an ice pick and shake it up and make it fizz and try to squirt each other. It was great fun.

There was no TV then. We played all kinds of games outside most of the time. We played monopoly alot. We could keep a game going forever.

Mama Price was good to us in her own way. She had worked hard all of her life and playing was not something she did much. We still liked going over to her house. After Papa died my sister and I went over there frequently and spent alot of our summers at her house so she wouldn't be alone.

It is amazing how many memories there are of that old front porch. There are so many things that trigger thoughts of those times, front porches, rocking chairs, porch swings, monopoly, pecans, old pop bottles, peppermint, canaries, and even salamie.

By the way, thanks Barry

2008-04-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

Barry, thanks for setting things up so we can go to one place and see all of the newest posts from the family's blogs. I really like that. thanks

James Andrews

2008-04-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

This is my Granddaddy. His name was James Andrews. He was tall and lanky, quiet, easy going, loved to tease and loved his family and babies. He came from a large family. They were all fun loving and easy going people.

He and my Granny had 11 children but only 4 lived. My mother was the first baby to live. She was named after him (Jimmie Lucille) Grandaddy would iron her clothes and dress her. My Aunt used to tease that Jim thought that was his baby and not Betty's.

When I was growing up, he was always in the background. Granny was the talkative fiesty one and the one everyone saw the most.

He was hardworking and just loved being at home. If he never left home for months on end, he was happy, he gardened and tinkered with and built things. He was the happiest at home in his little house.

I never saw him mad. I am sure that he had his times, but he never showed it in front of us kids.

It wasn't until after my Granny died that I really got to know him.

When my mother worked the night shift, she would stop off at his house on her way home. He would make breakfast for her and they would visit.

When my husband was stationed in Korea and I lived in Waco, I would go over to Grandaddys and have breakfast with him and my mother. He dearly loved to have Misty (3)and Nathan(just a baby) over. He always had orange juice and vanilla wafers for them. He loved to hold them and would say over and over "too sweet, too sweet"

He had a little black dog called Buster that he dearly loved. That little dog was his life after my Granny died.

I am so very blessed to have had such great grandparents and such wonderful memories of good times and being loved.

Cute kid

2008-04-25T03:31:00.000-07:00

Is this a cute kid or what? Does she look like anyone else in the family?

Granny's house

2008-04-25T02:19:00.000-07:00

OK it is one of those nights when I couldn't sleep again. I decided to try one more time to bring up the picture of my Granny's house.

When people comment about the size of their house, I remember this little house. this was my Granny's house. It was a square. If you divided it into four equal parts you had a tiny living room at the front right with just enough room for a small couch, a recliner and a TV, one tiny bedroom to the back right with just enough room for a bed and dresser, a dining area to the left of the living room with a table and chairs with about a foot and a half between the table and the wall and a kitchen in the back left area. they built on another small bedroom off of the back of the house. the bathroom was a tiny tiny little room sandwiched between the kitchen wall and the bedroom wall. there was a toilet and an old clawed foot bathtub. That was it, the whole house.

We had family get togethers there often. No one ever complained about it being too small. We just spilled out into the yard and we ate in shifts. No one worried about the size of their house. Everyone just made the most of what they had.

the grandkids loved to stay the night. We slept on pallets on the floor made of quilts and thought it was cool.

My granny loved wrestling. You knew if you were at Granny's on wrasling night not to get between her and the TV. She got really excited and would fuss at the ones she thought were bad guys and taking advantage of the good guys. It was more fun watching her than the wrestlers. She bought into the hype, hook line and sinker. Whenever I see the wrestling shows and all of the hoopla, I think of her and smile.

I have wonderful memories of that tiny little house and of a small woman who was my Granny. There was so much fun and love packed into that house. It's size just didn't matter.

what the heck is an aggregator?

2008-04-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

Ok I will show my ignorance and my dictionary is still in a box somewhere
On the Maiocampo the Site, the word aggregator is used.
What the heck is an aggregator.
Just curious.
By the way am I the only one who doesn't know what it means?
Just wondering.

cute and pudgy

2008-04-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

I am still trying to figure out how to use this thing. I just picked a picture and tryed to get it to post. Hopefully I will remember what I did.
Wow what a cute family. This is my Mother, Jimmie Lucille, my Daddy, Buford Raymond Price, my sister Patricia Kay on the left and the cute little pudgy one on the right is me. This picture was taken in March of 1950 making me 2 years old and Pat was 4, my mother was 26 and my dad was 33.
We are standing in front of the first home that I remember on Barron Street in Waco, Texas. We rented this house until I was 5 and my parents bought a small house on Pine Avenue in Waco.
One memory that I have of this house is being on the front porch and it was raining, My sister and I were coloring and I got mad at her and threw the colors off of the porch and got a spanking for it. I remember getting spankings frequently. (Sound familiar?)
Another memory I have is laying in my crib (which by the way I was still sleeping in when we moved to the new house) and being afraid of animals being in the room. I just knew that if I faced the wall, they wouldn't get me but if I turned away from the wall, they would. I remember laying there and being afraid to turn over but eventually falling asleep and they would be gone in the morning.
I remember one Christmas and some people brought us stockings full of fruit and nuts. Fruit was not as plentiful as it is now and was a real treat especially oranges.
There was a fence at the back of the house and a little girl lived on the other side. We always wanted to play with her but weren't allowed to. Not sure why, I will have to ask my Mother if she remembers it.
Some things change and some things stay the same, pudgy then, pudgy now but still cute.

such a little thing, so much joy

2008-04-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Ok if you didn't know that I was sometimes weird, now you have proof. I am so very happy. Dad got my chipper shredder up and running today. Now, not only can I chop down trees, I can actually shred them into little bits and make mulch. What fun.
I am so happy.
Plus whatever wont chip or shred, will certainly BURN, my other fun obsession.
I am off to tackle the jungle and make it mine.

Take that!!!!!

2008-04-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am on a mission to stamp out poison ivy. I take great joy in seeing the little buggers begin to wilt and pass away. How dare they infringe on my woods! Between me and my trusty concoction, I will win the day and take back the ground that was lost.
Next will be the occasional vine and scrub trees.
I will prevail.
Take that poison ivy.!!!!!!

shedless

2008-04-12T14:37:00.001-07:00

give the man even a small sledgehammer and he thinks he is a destruction derby. Of course I had got it started by taking off the siding on the bottom but couldn't reach the top ones. Sledge hammers are such fun things. Dad went out today and took out the shed, literally. He took the sledge hammer and knocked out the upper siding and then pushed what was left over.
The shed is no more.
It wont be missed, it was pretty ugly and we now have a nice shady spot. It needs a little work but has potential to be a nice spot of fix up.
Dad salvaged some of the wood and the tin roofing and I burned the rest. I absolutely love to burn.
Man, I wish there was a use for poison ivy. Mine is back with a vengence. None one day and gobs the next. Drat. Me and roundup are on it. I do think yards double in size though. I got most of it sprayed except the woods behind the house to the right. I ran out of roundup. The good news is it hasn't come back where I sprayed before. So I am making progress.
Did I tell you I hate rose bushes. I still have several wild ones and they grab and scratch and grow by leaps and bounds. I hate rose bushes.
I have one flower bed to the right of the porch ready to put in bushes and flowers. Hurray. One down and two to go. My goal is to get flower beds across the front and end of the house and the island area between the house and the driveway. That will be the extent that my energy and budget can handle this year.
Boy, now I gotta paint that awful pinkish shed.
Well enough for now. I have bored everyone enough.

handsome devil

2008-04-12T04:05:00.000-07:00

The guy on the right in the picture is my father. You can get an idea of what he was like then by the way he is wearing the hat and the expression on his face.
He had a fun sence of humor and liked to tease. The other guy is someone he met in training. They had not meet before but got to be good buddies while stationed together.
My mother had to take extra tucks in the pants for him to keep them up. Some of my sons have his dashing figure, good looks and sense of humor.
OK I hope I can figure out what I did, so I can use more pictures. Wish me luck.

My grandmothers house

2008-04-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

I was looking at some old family pictures. I found a picture of my Grannys house (which of course I can't get to upload). It was the tinyest little house that you could imagine. We had lots of family get togethers there. The house was so small that everyone couldn't fit inside at the same time. There were chairs set outside under the shade tree for visiting. The men would gather in one place and the women would gather in another. The kids would play outside most of the time. There was always a cool breaze in the front yard under the trees. There was a metal glidder to sit on. When it was time to eat, we ate in shifts. Usually the men ate first, then the kids and the women ate last. There was always enough food to go around. There was never a question of where we would gather, it was usually at Grannys house. It never bothered anyone that the house was so very small. They just worked around it. The kids usually played outside and the grown ups gathered around the kitchen table and outside in the shade. It wasn't the size of the house that made it special, it was what went on there. There was grandparents, aunts, uncles and kids all together. We laughed, played, cooked and cleaned up together.
I have such wonderful memories of that tiny little house. I hope to find a way to show a picture of it one day.

couldn't sleep

2008-04-06T00:40:00.000-07:00

Well It is 2:41am, I am tired but can't sleep so I might as well do something constructive.
Most of my kids have blogs which I enjoy visiting so thought I would give it a try.
I don't have any cute pictures or anything so this will be pretty plain for now but that kind of suits me. I like things plain and simple and as easy as possible.
I am going to play around and see what all I can do, so bear with me and maybe it will actually get better and worth checking out on occassions.