Today's My 100th Post~FUN!

In keeping with what seems to be a tradition when you hit your 100th post~please allow me to share 100 things about myself...I only hope I can keep your attention!

1. I am first and foremost a child of God! I asked Jesus to be my Saviour when I was eight years old. Without Christ in my life I'm sure I would be a crabby old lady BUT since He is in my life I can honestly report that I am a joyfully happy old lady!
2. I am a daddy's girl through and through.
3. I come from a small family~I have only one brother who is 4 1/2 years older than me~much smarter than me~better looking than me~but that's okay because I had mom and dad wrapped around my little finger ;o)

4. When I hurt myself, like on my hand, I kiss it to make it feel better~trust me, it helps!
5. When I hold my drink, whether it be a glass, cup or can of soda, I hold my pinkie out. Don't know why~just do!
6. I love playing Tetris! I'm really good at it too and I challenge anybody to take me on!
7. I made up a joke once and I think it is funny, but nobody else does! Tell me what you think~
What are God's favorite kind of cookies? Do you give up yet? He likes~drum roll please~ Gloreos! Get it! Glory and Oreos put together! Okay, okay, maybe it's not that funny, but I laugh every time I tell it. Sad, but true!

8. Some of my favorites are: color-BLUE, Christian group-4Him, flower-Snapdragons, drink-NOS or Diet Mt. Dew, restaurant-Romano's Macaroni Grill, number-7, candy-Lindt truffles.

9. I love to have my back scratched and thankfully I have three kids and a husband that are willing to scratch for several minutes at a time! I let them take turns~aren't I sweet?

10. I love Donny Osmond and will probably one day marry him! I'm not sure he knows this yet.

11. I have been fortunate to travel to many different places such as: Switzerland, Isle of Wight, England, Germany, France, Liechtenstein and can't forget Illinois! Seriously, I love travelling and am thankful the opportunities I've had.

12. I love collecting Noah's Ark things. I even used to have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 fish, and 2 toads. But one by one they started dying off so now I just stick to fake ones!

13. I love my friends...and I do mean love my friends! I'm not afraid to tell them I love them either. My bestest friend (besides my hubby) is Karen. We have our own language, we laugh at inappropriate times together, we act silly together, we take road trips together and we are total opposites. She is tall and thin. She is organized. She is a great cook. She keeps her house tidy. And she loves me anyway! I need to write a post on how we became bestest friends!

14. I love more than anything to laugh! My old pastor used to tell me he knew I was always listening because sometimes I would be the only one that laughed when he told a funny during a sermon! I told him nobody else laughed because they weren't that funny!

15. Speaking of which, my husband loves to make me laugh and will do anything, even if he looks foolish, just to hear me laugh! Sometimes I am sitting in the van and he will come out of a store and will skip or dance his way to the van and people look at him like he's a lunatic! I just smile and tell them that he just got out of the hospital ;o)

16. Okay, I'll try to make some short ones now....My name is Amy Diane. I was named after a soap star from The Secret Storm.

17. I have two daughters and one son~we adopted all three~and yes, they were all siblings!

18. I always pictured myself with two sons for some reason. I don't know why. But I am thrilled to have girls and a son! They are a perfect match for my husband and I. Our middle child looks just like my hubby!

19. I love them more than anything, even my dog! They often ask me if I was sad that I never had a baby and I always tell them that if I did have babies I would have wanted them as baby, but I couldn't be happier than I am right now!

20. This is randon, but I love to put Milk Duds on my popcorn at the movies! And I could eat popcorn for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

21. As a little girl I climbed up in our tree house with a handful of pennies. I inched my way out to sit on a branch and for some stupid reason I decided to jump. I threw back my head and tossed the pennies in my mouth. In doing so I fell and I swallowed a couple of pennies. DUMB!

22. I mentioned 4Him earlier, but they are just my all time favorite group. I never tire of their songs and I listen to them everyday! They keep me lifted up!

23. I will admit that I own cd's by Andy Gibb, The Bee Gees, The Bay City Rollers, The Brady Bunch (stop laughing!), The Monkees and of course anything Donny Osmond that I can find! And I do listen to all of them.

24. I also LOVE listening to Pachabel's Canon in D Major and had it played while my bridesmaids were walking down the aisle. Even if you don't like classical you oughta give it a try!

25. I also love to rock out and even my kids complain that I have the music too loud...LOL!

26. I love the drums! I have no musical ability whatsoever, but if I could play I would be a drummer for sure. I tried to get my son interested in them, but he's rather sing all the time.

27. I don't believe in luck, but I am pretty lucky! I win alot of things. Nothing big like a car or anything, but I have won video games, car parts (that I sell for $), cool jackets, just little things like that! But just because I win doesn't mean that I could go to Vegas and gamble and win~I am smarter than that!

28. For our honeymoon my in-laws offered to send us on a cruise or to California (where my husband lived until he was 16). I chose California because I wanted to see where my hubby lived, went to church, his schools, stuff like that! Now when he talks about his childhood I can picture him at all these places!

29. While I love to laugh I sure can cry very easily~sob, in fact. If I see a few seconds of a nature show where some animal is being killed or something sad like that I start bawling. I know it is nature, but it's just SO sad! And yes, I do feel the same way about children~even more so!

30. Are you bored yet? This oughta do it~while I'm not the most organized person I do so enjoy having my dvds and cds in alphabetical order! It's just easier!

31. Ben Hur was written in my hometown. There's even a little museum and everything~and I've never been to see it nor have I seen the movie!

32. I love pineapple the most and then bananas. And the two together is yummy also!

33. I am the Chums director in Awana and have been for 4 years now. Chums are 3rd and 4th grade girls and they are still so sweet at this age. I love them very much!

34. When I was in second grade I really liked a boy named Billy! He was the new kid in class and he had the biggest blue eyes. At recess I couldn't resist~while he was playing basketball I went up to him and turned him around and kissed him! He looked suprised and turned around and started playing basketball again!!

35. I found a kid's toothbrush that had a giraffe on it~you guess it~I bought it for me!

36. When we went to Cereal City in Michigan I had my bulldogs picture taken to put on the front of Frosted Flakes! It's really cute! Oh yeah, the rest of my family is on there too.

37. Not being able to walk and move much I tend to have a lot of energy so I bounce my leg alot and drive everybody crazy! Hey, sometimes that all the exercise I get people!

38. I got arthritis when I was 10 years old. It started out with my wrist hurting and then moved from one joint to the next. My folks took me to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago for my diagnosis. They cried all the way home....I didn't understand exactly so I thought that I was going to die...but I'm still here!

39. I was on crutches for all four years of high school. It was a pain because back in the olden days we didn't have backpacks so I had to carry my books the old fashioned way!

40. BUT if I didn't have arthritis I would have never married my hubby or had my three wonderful children SO I am thankful that I have it because I wouldn't want any other husband (besides Donny) or three other children!!

41. Have you noticed how much I "talk". I'm really not that way in real life~I am much more of a listener. I do know how to be quiet I promise. I like being there for anyone that just needs to let loose.

42. I can keep a secret better than anyone! If you tell me something private the only one I will share it with is the Lord if I am praying about it!

43. I still love to watch Little House on the Prairie! I loved the books as a child and still get them out once in awhile if I want some very easy reading.

44. My first car was a silver Ford Fairmont with red interior. I was so thankful I didn't have to ride the bus anymore!

45. I sound like a little girl on the phone. Alot of times when people call they ask me if my mother is home...I ask them if they would like her phone number!

46. I used to be a stickler for having a schedule and sticking to it~but my hubby is the exact opposite. I have learned to fly by the seat of my pants and not worry about the little things so much. There has been many times where we have had do drop everything and travel to another state to do business. I now think of it as a new adventure and try to absorb every detail of it and enjoy being with my man!

47. Our dog has learned to do the same! She probably travels more with us than our own children do. Right now my hubby and Wensley are coming back from Minnesota! Spoiled dog!

48. When I was a real little thing, like before I discovered Donny, I adored Steve McQueen! I thought he was the dreamiest!

49. When I was a much older thing, like after I discovered Donny, I adored Brad Pitt! I think he is the dreamiest! But I don't like it that he split with his wife...but I don't know the true story so I still think he is yummy!

50. WooHoo! We're half way there! Speaking of half...I try to cut my portions in half, except for veggies!

51. I have always loved kids and I started babysitting when I had just turned 10! I even babysat newborns then...can you believe that? But I was very responsible and knew what I was doing...promise, I did! Otherwise why would so many moms ask me to sit? I loved every minute of it!

52. I can't sing a lick, but love to anyway...and loudly!

53. I'm scared of balloons and clowns.

54. I'm not scared of spiders or heights.

55. Feeding the giraffes at Binder Park Zoo was a dream come true for me! The giraffes even gave you kisses~wet~but still a kiss!

56. I am a people watcher. Maybe I've seen you somewhere!

57. I have a niece and a nephew that was born on my birthday~August 7th! How fun is that?!

58. I weighed 8 lbs. 6 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long when I was born. What a chunk!

59. I have gone to East Side Baptist Church since I was eight years old. I love my church!

60. I have a bil, sil, two nephews and two neices that are adopted! In fact, one of my nephews looks more like his mom and dad than their biological children do!

61. I've never had a speeding ticket, but I did get a ticket several years ago when I forgot to put back on my seatbelt...bummer!

62. When I played Barbies with my friend's I used to use my Donny Osmond album covers for the bedroom walls! C'mon, you know you did it too!

63. I started my period right before I came down with arthritis. But I never developed anywhere else until I was a senior. I think that maybe the stress might have been the cause of starting at such a young age.

64. I'm not very creative, but I do enjoy painting little shelves or little boxes~something simple.

65. I have been told I am very patient. I know I try my best to be, but sometimes.....

66. My grandma was from the deep, deep south and dipped snuff. I thought she was such a cool grandma the way she could spit! I soon realized how nasty it was, but she was still a cool grandma. I sleep under a quilt all year long that she made just for me!

67. I'm not a great cook, but my family loves my stromboli and my chicken and noodles.

68. I prefer to be barefoot, but when I wear shoes I can only wear tenny bops. I have many pairs and to make it fun I have all kinds of fun colors!

69. I try to have fun no matter what my circumstances. When I had my fingers replaced I had a really cool splint with wires coming out of each finger. It was around the 4th of July so I bought little tiny flags and glued them on to each wire! Hey, you might as well have a little fun with it!

70. I love going to waterparks! Floating on the lazy river with my husband is the best! And I do like to go down the slides with him too!

71. After we realized that God wanted us to adopt we were parents within 2 1/2 months!

72. I love watermelon sorbet at Cold Stone Creamery and we finally got one close to us!

73. I also collect dolls. I love Thumbelina and have many, but I also love character dolls. I purchased this doll collection when I was on the Isle of Wight. They were made by ladies that were over 70 years old.

74. I am a flipper. What I mean is when I have the remote I flip, flip, flip!

75. I can say the alphabet backwards~again, I don't have many talents. Sadly enough I consider this a talent!

76. I don't like feet! I think they are gross and I don't like to touch them...not even my own. Which by the way if I do have an itch on my foot and I scratch it...well, it tickles! I didn't think it was possible to tickle yourself, but I do.

77. I've recently discovered banana peppers and think they are awesome! I love them on pizza and even in my salads. Try 'em!

78. I love The LOTR trilogy, the very first Star Wars, and Raiders of the Lost Ark! I hear they are making a new Raiders!

79. I also love While You Were Sleeping, Sleepless in Seattle and A Walk To Remember.

80. I have a hard time throwing things away, but boy when I get in the mood to clean!! Let's just say that I can fill our local Goodwill up good! And what's sad is my mom loves Goodwill and has bought some of the stuff I donated!

81. I'm forty two years old and I am just now getting my wisdom teeth!

82. I graduated high school in 1982. I did not go on to college. Four years of being on crutches and I was just wiped out. I managed to get off them and got a job as a secretary for my future FIL! My hubby also worked there too so I loved the fringe benefits ;o)

83. I don't like to watch football...sorry!

84. I had just turned 20 when I got married in 1984! My oldest is now 20 and I look at her and realize how young and naive I was! I don't think I could handle her getting married quite yet.

85. I have bionic knees, bionic elbows, bionic shoulders and one bionic hand! Soon to get two bionic hips...but I am probably the slowest bionic person you'll ever meet ;o)

86. Hey, does anybody remember the Six Million Dollar Man~Lee Majors? Well, he is my Aunt Becky's first cousin. I have never met him, but he has been to their place many times to go hunting with my Uncle George. I know, I know, this isn't about me, but I'm running out of stuff!

87. I have met John Stamos, Richard Marx, Micky Dolenz, lots of christian artists, Mario Andretti (he signed my crutches!) and a few other famous, but not so much people.

88. I would like to meet......you! Yeah, don't look around...I'm talking to you!

89. I love to sleep in the car! Sometimes that's the best sleep I ever get.

90. I wish I could ride a bike again. I do miss that more than anything. Maybe I should get a motorcycle, what do you think?

91. I was in 4H when I was little and loved the cooking part...hated the sewing!

92. My wedding dress was a size 6...Sigh!

93. I was typically friends with guys most of my life, but now that I have Karen I just love getting together with all my girlfriends! We like to meet at one house and bring our favorite cookie recipes. We spend the day baking and then we all have a huge plate of cookies to take home to the rest of the family!

94. My mouth is always dry so I chew alot of sugarless gum.

95. And I am good at drinking alot of water too!

96.When I dream I am never disabled! I love to dream!!!

97. Even though I stink at it now my favorite subject all through school was math. I have a hard time helping the kids with their homework. They don't do it like we used to.

98. I also love collecting miniatures! I just love tiny, tiny things. The other day my son came running in from the shop and showed me a tiny little wrench~it was the cutest thing!

99. I will take this time to say thank you for reading this far! You are either a really good friend or a glutton for punishment. Whichever you are I say Thanks!

100. I want you all to know that I read your posts faithfully. I love laughing with you, I even cry with you, I learn from you and I pray for all of you. Even though you really don't know me you all are very important to me. I just wanted you to know that.

Thursday Thirteen

Let's Take A Look At 2006

1. In January my husband and I were invited to Silver Springs, Florida to display one of our show cars in the Primedia booth. I was so excited and proud of my husband when the editor of Mustang Monthly handed him a magazine and there he was on the front cover! Way cool!

2. February is always an exciting month for our church because our Awana kids are given the chance to show us what they have learned! The kids work hard all year long memorizing Bible verses (word perfectly I might add + references). My husband and I are both coaches and love working with the kids. It really doesn't matter where they place (although they did very well :o) It's the fact that they are willing to do the work~and trust me~it is not easy! And most importantly they are hiding God's word in their hearts!

3. March is a special month for my hubby and I because we became parents on March 14, 1992. We always celebrate our anniversary with dinner and some kind of family outing. I can't believe it's been fourteen years since they moved in....soon to be 15 years! There is nothing better than being a parent, especially when you have the three neatest kids around. God blessed me BIG TIME when He allowed me to be their mother. I am very thankful for them!

4. April was a rough month I'll admit. I tried my hardest to fight it, but one night after Awana I came home and sat at the dining room table. I was so tired and ready for bed, but when I tried to stand up I just no longer had the strength to do it. I gave in and asked for my crutches. Like American Express~I don't leave home without them!

5. May rolled in without a hitch. It's always a busy month for Indiana because we have the Indy 500, which my husband and daughter love. So those two went to the race and the rest of us enjoyed our Sunday at church and having a big picnic with everybody. I love our church~I go to a Baptist church and let's just say that Baptist women know how to cook good food ;o)

6. In June my baby girl turned the big 18!! She moved in when she was a few months shy of four years old. She was such a tiny little thing and now she is a whopping 4' 11"!! She wants to be a nurse and gets plenty of practice helping take care of me and her grandpa. Our birthday celebrations are simple consisting of food, of course, and either a movie of their choice or playing games as a whole family. I love it that no matter how old they get they still want to spend the evening just being together! She's a very special girl and is working so hard her senior year. She's moved up to 26th in a class size of about 150! Not too shabby :o)

7. July is a month that I would just as soon forget. I have never been in so much pain in all my life, seriously. I really thought I was going to die and on some days I wanted to go on to Heaven! I thought I was a tough gal dealing with arthritis, but boy did I turn out to be a whimp! Here is what I looked like after giving birth to my kidney stone...scary I know, but I think pretty brave to show my really, really ugly side! Now my eyes are clear, my hair is washed and I am not so puffy anymore!

8. August is one of my favorite months because it's my birthday and also the kids go back to school!!!!!!! 'Nuf said! I also started this whole blogging thing back in August and have had a blast getting to know so many wonderful, caring women! Not that I want others to go through painful times, but it has helped me get through many tough times when I have read or you have shared your stories. And prayers for my father and mother have come so faithfully~thank you!

9. September my hubby and I had a mini get away for our 22nd anniversary! Even though we work together and are with each other non stop, we really don't get to have any privacy. For one we have Wensley who is in constant demand for attention, plus you have the phones and the customers and kids....we are thankful for all of them, but even more thankful when we have a chance to reconnect with each other. Marriage is tough~even when you are best friends!

10. Sorry, but October was another yucky month for me. Along came Kid Rock. This time I could not pass it so I had surgery on the Friday the 13th! I sound so ungrateful and I'm really not because what could have been a painful surgery because of my hips was actually a breeze. So I want to say Thank You Lord that you provided a wonderul team of doctors and for letting me have the wisdom to go ahead and have surgery and not wait like I originally thought. I found out after the surgery that if I had waited a while longer I would have lost my right kidney completely! So why am I complaining about October~shame on me~this should be my favorite month for here on out! Thank you Lord for this reminder just now of how faithful you have been to me all year long.

11. November was a fun month for me and my hubby. We were able to go to the SEMA show out in Las Vegas and do some business, but have a lot of fun too! This show is where I get alot of my freebies~it doesn't take much to thrill me! November was also touch and go with my dad, but he is still with us and for every day I have him I am thankful!

12. Ah yes, December! Where has this month gone? Again, a rough month with dad but he's still with us. Many people lost loved ones and my heart has ached for them and I have cried many times for these lives will never be the same without their mom, their dad, their little boy or their little girl. I've read their stories and they have been an amazing testimony to God's faithfulness and grace. Another good reminder for me that God is with us!

13. I am looking forward to 2007! I will be faced with many challenges I know. I have lots of poundage to lose so I can get bionic hips! I will keep doing the accounting for our shop and hopefully we will start making money! I will cherish each moment I have with my dad while he is here on earth. In fact, I will savor each and everyday I have with anyone that I love because we don't know what tomorrow brings, do we?! And I know in 2007 there will be many things that remain exactly the same: God will be with me and my family as He promised! I have a family that loves to talk and I will listen. I have a husband that loves me and considers me his best friend. I feel the same about him! I know that my favorite color will still be blue and it will make me smile when I see it. And I will still love feeding giraffes!

I WELCOME YOU 2007!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Candlelight Service

There's always something so special about a candle light service. As I walked into church last night my heart skipped a beat. I immediately saw my bestest friend, Karen. I commented on how beautiful our church looked. With the lights down low and a candle lighting each pew I made my way down the aisle. Each pew was decorated with a red ribbon, greenery and of course a candle. Simple yet elegant.

My mother in law came so she could hear her son sing Mary, Did You Know? accapella. I love the way my husband sings Mark Lowery's song. The words are so powerful that music would be a distraction.

Our pastor gave a beautiful message and then invited everyone to circle around the sanctuary to sing Silent Night. Well, my hubby had put my crutches clear out in the foyer so by the time he would be able to get them and bring them to me and help me up...well...you get the picture....
So I sat there in my pew singing Silent Night and looking at everyone. At first I felt awkward, but my church family knows me and understands why I wasn't with them. As I sang I started thinking about all of you. I wondered who else was at their Christmas Eve service maybe singing the same song. I wondered how Jaymun and his family were holding up at such a difficult time. I wondered how many of you were trying to get your excited little ones to bed so you could put out their gifts! You all have a piece of my heart.

The phone rang early this morning and woke me up. It was my mother. My heart races each time I see my dad's name on the caller id. Sometimes I'm just too scared to answer the phone because I'm afraid of what awaits on the other end. I did answer and mom just wondered what time we would be there today. I asked how dad was and she said it was going to be a tough day. I prepared myself all morning trying not to cry, knowing that this is my father's last Christmas here on earth.

My hubby got up and made a full spread for us to pick and choose from! It was delicious as always. Then the kids were anxious to open gifts...who would have thunk it?!! It didn't take long for them to get through everything and start playing with, trying on, listening to, or doing whatever the gift required of them!

My hubby and girls went to Illinois for his side of the family's Christmas. He comes from a very large family and we have a blast getting together. We do a white elephant exchange and it is definitely the highlight of the evening. His family is so creative when it comes to this that not just any gag gift will do. I am anxious for them to get home so I can hear all about the night and what kinds of weird things did his family come up with this year!

My son and I stayed here so we could help mom take care of dad's needs. Dad did have a rough day. His bllod pressure stayed about 85/35 and he had a bit of a temperature. I talked to him and reminded him of how special he always made my Christmases. I told him some of my favorite gifts that he had given me over the years. I told him how much he meant to me and how I loved him so.

It was hard not to cry. The man laying in the hospital bed weighing only 130 pounds with tubes everywhere I look is not my dad. My daddy is laughing while watching A Christmas Story. My daddy has grandkids sitting on his lap. My daddy is telling corny jokes and I'm the only one laughing because I still think they are funny! My heart aches. It hurts. It's hard to watch him die. It's hard to say goodbye.

I am looking forward to a brand new day! My kids will still be having fun with their gifts and saying thank you....they are sweet and thankful for everything, even when it's underwear, seriously! My dog will be begging to go to the shop with me in the morning. My house will still be dirty! I'll be reading everybody's posts about their weekend! My husband will be asking me to find things that are staring him in the face! It's good to know that some things will never change!

And my precious little daddy will still be my hero.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thursday Thirteen

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Thirteen + One!

1. Making new friends has been such a blogging blessing!

2. Each one of you are often thought about daily!

3. Reaching out to me, a complete stranger, you've shown true friendship!

4. Reading about your lives each day reminds me we are all in this together!

5. Your encouraging words and prayers have lifted me up many times!

6. Crying and spilling my heart out about personal things was a challenge!

7. Happiness abounds each time I see you have a new post!

8. Rejoicing with you over accomplishments makes me feel like part of your family!

9. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the videos and pictures of your kids and grandchildren!

10. Smiles have stayed on my face all day from funny things I have read, shared by you!

11. To think I may have missed meeting you if I worked would be a shame ;o)

12. My life has been forever changed because of each one of you.

13. A heart full of blessings I send to your and yours!

14. Saying thank you doesn't seem like enough, but from the bottom of my heart I thank each and every one of you for being my friend!

Wednesday Mind Hump

Found these questions at Wednesday Mind Hump today and since smiling is one of my very favorite things to do...... :o)


1. Name a song that makes you smile.

Boy, make it tough on an old broad! Hmmm, of course Donny Osmond always makes me smile and my heart go pitter patter, but I do love it when we sing "This World Is Not My Home" at church! Not only is it upbeat, but I think of those people (like my dad) that won't be suffering any longer here on earth!

2. Name a food that makes you smile.

Another toughie....my husband is such an amazing cook that no matter what he makes it is out of this world! His six layer chocolate mousse cake is definitely a winner and he makes tortilla soup which is like no other I have ever had in my life!

3. Name a person that makes you smile.

My husband is my best friend and he can always make me smile! First, he has a beautiful tenor voice and loves to sing me love songs (which also make my heart go pitter patter!). He is a comic genius....he can tell great jokes, he can do impressions of just about anybody and he does them well, he doesn't mind making a full out of himself if it will make me laugh! We have great fun together!!

4. Name a movie that makes you smile.

I enjoy so many movies that it is hard to choose so I will tell a few of my favorites...

While You Were Sleeping~I'm trying to find this one on dvd.
Anne of Green Gables~my daughter and I watch this at least six times a year!
Goin' Coconuts with Donny Osmond~~hehe~~just kiddin'!
I.Q.~it's just a really cute, clean movie with Meg Ryan
I also love the kind of movies with no plot that keep you laughing so hard that you miss a joke and you have to stop and rewind it because you were laughing too loud!!

5. Name a website that makes you smile.

I read many a blog and Pamela has just become so dear to me! I love the way she writes and you can't help but smile the whole time your reading her posts. And she puts up the cutest pictures of so many different things. And Pamela is very encouraging and a good listener too! Yes, Pamela definitely makes me smile!

I do enjoy reading all of you everyday. I have been amazed how quickly I have grown attached to ladies whom (is that correct grammar?!) I have never met! You all touch my heart and your encouragment and prayers have not been taken lightly. It is hard to put into words and tell you how much you all mean to me so I will just say thank and I love you!

A Face Only A Mother Could Love!

This is my precious baby and she had a rough weekend. She was sleeping when her daddy arrived home Friday night. She woke up suddenly and flew off he bed to greet him. In doing so she pulled a muscle in her back leg. It is better, but now she limps like me!

Also, her poor little tummy has been upset. I woke up Sunday morning to the sounds of her throwing up on the bed :o( Yeah, that was fun to clean up....NOT! I know she couldn't help it so after all the bed linens were changed she and I just layed on the bed together. She wanted her belly rubbed to which I obeyed her command.

I didn't go to church yesterday (not because of her, but I couldn't move again!) so we spent the day cuddling. I know if you are reading this and you are not a dog person then you are probably thinking.....uhm...weirdo, sicko, it's just a dog lady! BUT, if you do understand where I am coming from then you are probably thinking....Awwww, poor little precious thing!

I asked Wensley in my baby talkin' high voice, "What can momma do to make her baby feel better?" At that moment she cocked her head to one side and then had the audacity to get on my pillows (that were arranged just so) and start making her own little nest! She plopped herself down and promptly started snoring. I admit it...I was weak...I actually shared my pillows. I know, I know. I could hardly believe it myself! But that sweet little snoring dog with her tummy just a rumbling needed comfort. I just prayed that she would not feel the urge to purge!

She woke up this morning good as new! We gave her a small handful of food and she kept it down! I don't know if dogs get the flu like humans, but I am happy she is feels better.

The Woo

You lick my face~you tongue is wet

You know many tricks~and treats you will get

Your love is unconditional~a stranger you have never met

You know you are loved~you spoiled rotten pet

You bring me such joy, you do~there will never be another one like you I bet!

I 've Been Tagged Again~Ouch!

LocalGirl tagged me for this meme. I did one awhile back, but I have plenty of weirdness to go at it again! This meme comes with rules though, BAH!

The Rules:
Each player of this game starts with the “6 weird things about you”. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says “you are tagged” in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. I love to have a bologna sandwich with mayonaise~now, now that's not the weird part! I love to put potato chips on top and then squash it down so the chips break. Yummy! Who thinks that sounds weird and who thinks that sounds megalicious?

2. My friends think it is strange that I have saved every single tooth my children ever lost. I don't, but maybe it has something to do with one of my favorite things to do~which is pulling teeth! Man, I should have gone to dental school~I think I missed my calling in life :o)

3. I get made fun of by many because I love my fish very much, but I cry when we have to feed them live goldfish because I become attached to them as well. When my two toads were living I cried when I had to feed them live crickets. It's just so sad :o( I know it is nature and God intended it to be this way~~~I just don't agree!

4. I have an obsession with bed pillows and I sleep with about fifteen. I hop into bed and then arrange them around me and they have to be just so or I don't sleep well. And I will admit I am very stingy with my pillows too. Normally I am not greedy with anything, except pillows. My family learned this very quickly! BTW, I have been this way since I was a wee one!

5. Now I don't see what is so weird about this and maybe somebody else out their in Blogville does this as well (if you do, please let me know!), but I am consider strange because I still LOVE, at age forty two, getting a brand new box of Crayola crayons (the bigger, the better) and a coloring book. Maybe it is because I have no ounce of talent when it comes to the arts! I will even hang my own "artwork" on the fridge!! Who doesn't love the smell of a new box of crayons? I hope I get them in my stocking this year ;o) Hint...hint...

6. One of my blogging friends~and I won't say who, but you know who you are~thinks I obsess over Donny Osmond a little too much! Frankly, I am suprised by this. Donny started around the age of five and he is now 49 years young and still singing! He still has a gorgeous smile and a full head of hair! What is not to (puppy) love? :o) :o) :o) :o) C'mon people....isn't he dreamy? hehe



Wow, that was an easy meme for, well, me! I didn't even have to think about it! I know this time of year is absolutely crazy for everyone and many of you have already done this meme, but I will go ahead and tag some of my peeps and some new ones as well!
I tag: Pamela, Heather, Kathleen Marie, Amy, The Pastor's Wife, and Kelli!

Well, one of my friends told me No! So I need to tag somebody else....how about....DeeDee?! She loves Donny Osmond as much as I do...I love her already!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

What was your very first job with a paycheck?

Working at Hickory Farms during the Christmas holidays. I loved it because I was able to see so many people all day long and I wore the cutest little red apron while serving my delicious tray of beef stick and smoked cheese balls with crackers! Can I interest you in a beef stick today or perhaps a cheese ball or two? Oops, sorry, I was suddenly transported back to 1982!


Soup

Did you ever lose something really important to you?

I have recently lost respect for someone I truly cared about because of their actions and their unwillingness to own up to it. If only this person would say yes I did it and I am sorry. It's a tough situation, but I will leave it in God's hands. He knows best!

Salad

What is the best Christmas present you ever received?

I've mentioned a gift my husband brought back from Bahrain. It was a beautiful ornate box that contained gold, frankincense and myrrh. But can I change my answer?

Thinking back on the years I don't know how I could have overlooked this, but we were able to officially adopt our daughters right before Christmas! Nothing can ever compare to this!


Main Course

Tell about a favorite "hang out" place for you and your friends when you were in high school.

Always after evening service at church all the youth group would cram into two cars and we would go to The Pizza Cottage (which is now an Arni's, as if anybody really cares!). There were about fifteen of us and we thought we were so cool! As soon as we would get there the pastor's son would put money in the jukebox and play Meatloaf's song, "Bat Out of Hell" about five times! Wow, we were a rebellious bunch, weren't we?


Dessert

Name something that always brings a smile to your face.

I'm defying the question and I am going to list many things that bring a smile to my face!

1. Knowing that no matter how bad it may seem I have trusted Christ as my Saviour and will live Him for all eternity!
2. I have the most amazing family that anyone could ever wish for!
3. I have many wondeful friends that love me for who I am~faults and all!
4. I am making new friends by blogging that love me for who I am~mispellings and all!
5. Anything BLUE makes me smile~~ALWAYS!
6. Little children~doesn't matter if they are happy, sleeping, crying, whatever! They are God's miracles and we should all shower them with as much love and affection as we possibly can!
7. When my checkbook balances and I have money left over :o)
8. Donny Osmond!
9. When my daddy is having a good day and we can visit together!
10. Feeding giraffes!

If only you gys could see me now! I am smiling from ear to ear just thinking on these wonderful things....my cheeks are hurting now...

Thursday Thirteen

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KAYLA'S THURSDAY THIRTEEN!

1. I always wanted a daughter named Kayla to hold. I was blessed to become her mother when Kayla Noel was just 5 years old!

2. Kayla was never shy and enjoyed being the leader. You would know that about her if you ever did meet her!

3. Kayla is gentle, innocent and sweet. She will capture you with her smile the moment you meet!

4. Kayla and I had a rough start. She had to give up playing the "mother" part.

5. Kayla had a baby sister that she had taken care of for years. Kayla was mom to her and dried her baby sis's tears.

6. I had to be gentle with Kayla and not step on her toes. She had been a great caregiver to Kara Rose.

7. With patience and understanding she let me into her world. I became mom and she was once again a little girl!

8. Kayla is a girl through and through. She loves to dress up in pink and make all kinds of different hair-dos!

9. She'll do anything you ask of her. She is most definitely a people pleaser.

10. Kayla plays the flute, loves to read and babysit the little ones! She is often found surrounded by my friend's daughters and sons.

11. So far, no boy she has dated has met my qualifications! It's going to take someone very special for me to be able to say congratulations!

12. I know one day she'll marry and become a great wife! That is exactly what she wants out of life.

13. I'm proud to call her my daughter and friend! I thank God for my Kayla to me He did send!

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY KAYLA!

Works For Me Wednesday!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
Hershey's Kisses (any flavor will do!)
M&M's candy

1. Heat the oven to 170º. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug.

2. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss.

3. Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.

These are so easy to make and even easier to eat! Enjoy!

Look for more WFMW at http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon!

Another Fun Christmas Meme!

I stole this from Kathleen Marie today. I thought it was a cute one!

1. If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone you want, who would it be?

Well, if my husband was away like on a business trip and couldn't make it back in time while I am patiently waiting under the mistletoe and Donny Osmond just happened to walk by then I would HAVE to kiss him! C'mon people, I am just following tradition! Because let's just say that maybe it was somebody like Billy Bob Thorton...(yucky) I would have to kiss him too....maybe on the cheek and a quick peck at that! I'm all for keeping with tradition ;o)

2. Where would you like to spend Christmas if you could go absolutely anywhere at all?

Wouldn't Switzerland be just lovely this time of year! Only if I could have ALL of my family with me....plus my baby Wensley....and my friends too....and if my church could have the Christmas Eve service there as well....and let's not forget my neighbors I like to visit every year. Maybe I just need to stay exactly where I am because I have everything I could possibly want right here!

3. Have you ever made a snow angel?

Definitely! Our backyard was huge and I would make row after row of them!

4. Have you ever been in a snowball fight?

Yes, but I was a big baby when it came to snowball fights. I hated getting hit in the face and would usually go in crying. What a whimp!

5. What is the strangest thing you ever got for Christmas?

When I was younger I loved cats and I also loved dolls. I received the strangest looking doll (if you can call it that). It had arms and legs like a regular doll, but the face of a cat. And if that wasn't bad enough it was dressed up in a Santa outfit! I received it from my sweet Aunt Pauline who just thought it was so cute! I was able to fake a smile and say how much I loved it! Many years later after she had passed away I used it for a white elephant gift. It was a hit!


6. How early do you wake up on Christmas morning?

It gets later and later every year because our kids are growing up. But we will probably crawl out of bed around 8:00 am and my hubby will make us a big yummy breakfast!


7. Name one thing that you always get for Christmas.

Can I name a couple? Thanks....I always get the new Noah's Ark ornament from Hallmark and I never go a year without getting a book of lifesavers! Do you remember those? I've received them since I was old enough to have them! Just keeping with tradition!

8. Have you ever gone caroling?

Yes, but I sing quietly because I am horrible! We usually go to the nursing homes ao I don't suppose the elderly would care if I can carry a tune or what! My youth group came to my house on Saturday and sang three pretty carols and then gave me a huge basket filled with all sorts of yummy goodies! I really shouldn't be eating any cookies, but I couldn't resist the homemade sugar cookie that was calling out to me!

9. Favorite Christmas scent.

I like the smell of homemade yeast rolls the best! I am only allowing myself to eat two this year. I could so easily eat a baker's dozen without blinking an eye!

10. Homemade cards or store-bought?

Of course I love homemade cards, but I really like it when people include a few words or even a letter about the past year is better!

11. Homemade cookies or store-bought?

You gotta love those homemade cookies, but I must admit that there are some store bought cookies out there that have been just as tasty as homemade! I love sugar cookies this time of year with frosting!

12. Least favorite Christmas song.

Don't hate me, but I get tired of hearing Feliz Navidad. If it had more words to it maybe I could tolerate it, but it does grate on my nerves a bit. Kinda like fingernails to the chalkboard...get the picture?

13. Favorite Christmas song

Mary, Did You Know by Mark Lowery

14. Famous Christmas Quote or Saying

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries. ~W.J. Cameron

I liked this one! If you feel inclined to do it please let me know so I can visit!

The Perfect Card!

I love to stand at the card counters and read all the cards! Some are very clever and some are just plain dumb! Because more than likely this will be my dad's last birthday I wanted to make sure I found a card that said everything I wanted, but didn't know how to put into words. And as an added bonus...it was the first card I picked! How often does that happen? I want to write out what it says inside mainly for me because I don't ever want to forget it....

There's a special place in my heart that only belongs to Dad.
It's filled with fond memories of times we've spent together...
the pride I feel whenever I talk about him...
the joy that comes from the relationship we share.
There's a place in my heart especially for Dad...
a place where he's thought of with a special kind of love.

I can't imagine anything more beautiful than my
childhood memories of you...
anything more meaningful than knowing
how much you care....
anything more wonderful than having you for my dad.

Happy Birthday!

I cried in the aisles when I read this. I was so thankful to find it last night. My family gets to go see my dad tonight and wish him happy birthday. I don't know if it is the weather or the stress taking its toll on me, but I am unable to walk at all today even with my crutches. I am so sad that I can't see dad tonight. But I am hoping that with a day of rest and prayer that I will be able to walk tomorrow and visit with dad!

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Which language would you like to learn and why?

Hola mi amigas! I had four years of spanish in high school, but have forgotten most of it! So I would like to relearn spanish for a couple of reasons. I have a new niece that is from Mexico and I have a hard time understanding her and I want to get to know her better without saying Huh? all the time....I'm sure she wishes I would stop that too! Also, my favorite restaurant here in town is Rancho Bravo and many of the waitresses don't speak any english. One~they usually get my order wrong if I specialize it, but also I would love to be able to communicate with them on a friend basis because we eat there so much! I wish I could also learn sign language because we have several deaf people at church. I told my dad that I would like to learn it and he laughed and said that because of my cripples hands I would "talk" with an accent!! LOL....

Soup

What's the funniest thing you've heard or read so far this week?

It's been a rough week with my dad so I haven't been my usual jolly self, but I do remember my hubby watching videos on You Tube and there was a SNL skit with Jim Carrey being a lifeguard for a whirlpool tub where Will Ferrell was trying to relax!

Salad

Which movie was so bad you couldn't watch the whole thing?

I tend to be pretty picky about movies and only for ones I really want to see. One time when we were in England we went to the movies with some friends and this movie was SO DUMB, but because we were with a bunch of kids our age we stayed for the whole thing. The movie was called, "Morons From Outer Space". Uh yeah, you get the picture!

Main Course

If there were a holiday in your honor that didn't use your actual name, what would the day be called?

This is a great question, but a tough one! Let me think real quick.....thinking...thinking.....

Okay, how about ~ Give Blue A Chance Day! Everything for the day is a different shade of blue and whatever we eat or drink has to be blue! I know it would be a happy day for me, but I am sure everybody else would get sick of it! Too bad ;o)

Dessert

Name one movie which is coming out soon that you would like to see.

I've heard wonderful things about Dreamgirls! Besides, I'll use any excuse to have a date with my husband! wink, wink!

Thursday Thirteen

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13 Memories Of My Dad For His 70th Birthday!

1. My dad was the manager for Kroger for many years. He put in 60 hours a week easily. On his days off he worked just as hard at home. He was not one to sit and do nothing. He helped mom around the house, he kept the yard in tip top shape, we always had a bountiful garden and he always had time for me and my brother!

2. Dad introduced me to one of my favorite sandwiches~slightly mix peanut butter, syrup and butter together! Yummy! My kids love it too!!

3. He was patient enough to teach me how to drive a stick shift!

4. On Christmas Eve he would take me for a drive through the neighborhoods to see all the beautiful lights and so I could see if saw Santa in the sky driving his sleigh! We both always managed to see Santa ;o)

5. I loved to have my back scratched as a child and when I would go to bed at night he would scratch it for as long as I wanted him too and we would talk about our days. Unlike most men~he is a great listener!

6. My brother and I always drank straight from the Coke bottles in the fridge, which drove my dad crazy! To teach us a lesson he put castor oil in the bottle one day! Let's just say I never drank from the bottle again!

7. He cried all the way home from Children's Memorial Hospital when he found out I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. I always knew he loved me bunches, but that day I realized how much I really meant to him.

8. I only received one spanking from dad as a child and I deserved it. What really hurt the most was knowing that I had disappointed my father. I would rather have a spanking anyday of the week instead of disappointing him.

9. Every single year for Dad's birthday and Christmas I would buy him either a pair of gloves or a pair of dress socks. He always acted suprised and told me they were just what he needed! Not too long ago I had to get in his closet and there were about five pair of brand new gloves he had never used.

10. He took me to the State Fair to see my first Donny & Marie concert! He bought me a t-shirt and a program~I still have both of them!

11. On September 8, 1984 he walked me down the aisle. When the preacher asked, "Who gives this woman...", he replied, "Her mother and I do with our blessing." And then he kissed me on the cheek.

12. Everybody loves dad! I have grown up hearing what a kind, generous, caring, thoughtful man he is....and some of these comments were from people he had to fire from Kroger! He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He is respected by the whole community~that says alot!

13. He's simply the best dad I could ever have! I am so very proud and privileged to call him DAD!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Thursday Challenge~CAR

This is a car my husband restored and modified. He made the cover of MM! He is the one drving the car! I am very proud of him!

A-Z Of Me

Uh oh! I've been tagged by Pamela~does this mean she owns me now?

A - Available/Single? I am always available to have lunch or go to the movies with a girlfriend, but I have to warn you~I have been happily married for 22 years!
B - Best Friend? In order to work with your husband and be with him 24/7 you have to be best friends~otherwise I would be in jail for murder!
C- Cake or Pie? My husband makes THE BEST Chocolate Mousse Cake~it is to die for! Not a bad way to go!
D - Drink Of Choice? Diet Mountain Dew all the way! Give me caffeine ;o)
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday? I do love my crutches. And let's not forget my pretty blue toothbrush so I can have fresh breath to kiss my boss with!
F - Favorite Color? You should so know this one ~ it's BLUE!!!!!
G - Gummy Bears Or Worms? I am assuming you mean gummy worms and not real live ones? I love the clear gummy bears and I do enjoy the sour gummy worms as well.
H - Hometown? I have lived in Crawfordsville, Indiana since I was four years old.
I - Indulgence? Ethel M chocolates are so divine as far as treats. I love to buy Noah's Ark stuff and purses!
J - January Or February? Can I choose both please? I love January because my kids are still on Christmas break and my hubby's birthday is on the 30th. I love February because that is the month when we met our girls back in 1992~so it is a very special month. PLUS maybe I'll get some Ethel M chocolates for Valentine's Day :o)
K - Kids & Their Names? Jordan just turned 16, Kara is 18 and Kayla will be 20 on the 16th!
L- Life Is Incomplete Without? God! I couldn't make it without Him!
M- Marriage Date? September 8th, 1984 I went to some yards sales that morning!
N - Number Of Siblings? I only have one older brother who will be 46 in February. I have plenty of in-laws (15) that I call my brothers and sisters!
O - Oranges Or Apples? Mmmmm, I love a juicy orange from Florida anyday, anytime!
P - Phobias/Fears? Not to fond of snakes or ladders~Hey, isn't that a name of a game~Snakes & Ladders? Sounds familiar.
Q - Favorite Quote? Tomorrow is a brand new day with no mistakes!
R - Reason To Smile? Knowing I've received God's free gift of salvation! Finding $20 in your coat pocket (which I did the other day!), meeting new friends by blogging, when my daddy is having a good day, listening to a baby belly laugh!, having a wonderful devoted husband and three awesome kids, finding a pair of shoes that fit me perfectly, going to Awana's tonight and being with my other 25 children!
S - Season? I love spring and watching everything turn green again, flowers blooming and lots of rainbows!
T - Tag Three People? I've seen where many ladies have done this meme already, so I would love it if Heather would do it! I know you are so busy, but I love reading memes and getting to know people better! Please Heather, I have a pouty lip right now!
U - Unknown Fact About Me? Not that anybody cares, but I have the same exact birthmark as my dad...we have two little "bumps" on our right ear in the same place...weird isn't it?
V - Vegetable you don't like? I'll give you several....lima beans, turnips and peas! Nasty! Who came up with these anyway?
W - Worst Habit? My family would say that I am too stubborn and don't ask for help when I need it the most. They are probably right, but I at least like to give it the old college try first!
X - X-rays You've Had? Haha...it would be easier to tell what I haven't had x-rayed! Which does remind me I have never had a mamagram and I am over 40 now....I should do that, shouldn't I?
Y - Your Favorite Food? I could eat pasta everyday! I've switched to whole wheat pasta now and it is quite tasty. Has anyone ever been to Romano's Macaroni Grill? Major Yummers!
Z - Zoo Animal? I'll give you one guess.....ding, ding, ding....you're a smart one! Yes, it is a giraffe. I'll admit I am partial to penguins as well!

What's Done Is Done!

20 years ago I... had been married for two years and spent eight weeks living on the Isle of Wight while my husband worked. It was an amazing experience I will never forget. Also twenty years ago at this time I was in the hospital recovering from bilateral knee replacements. I was only 22 years old! I had been told by doctors I was too young to have it, but thankfully God led me to a rheumatologist who disagreed! I have lived pain free~in my knees anyway since then! Also twenty years ago, although I didn't know it at the time, my future daughter was just about to arrive!! She was born on the 16th of December!

15 years ago I...and my hubby were in the middle of taking adoption classes for special needs children. God had big plans for the both of us! We were still trying to decide if adoption was what we wanted to do or not. Little did we know that within two months we would become proud parents of our two daughters!

10 years ago I...was the mother of two daughters and a son by this time! My kids were 10, 8, and 6 years old. I had my right hand replaced in the spring. Right after surgery we went to Florida for business/vacation. While my poor hubby worked the kids and I had the pool completely to ourselves everyday! I had to wear a certain splint while I was in the water. I had the coolest tan that year....the top of my right arm was striped from where the velcro attached to the splint....lol....can you picture it? It was pretty funny!

5 years ago I...was teaching my daughter how to drive a car...I wasn't sure I would live through it, but I actually did pretty well. She said I was calmer than dad was and preferred it when I took her out to practice ;o) Which turned out I needed her alot because that fall I had my left shoulder replaced. My dad had just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and was getting ready to retire. If I only knew then what I know now.....

3 years ago I... was an overprotective mother. My oldest daughter had her first boyfriend. I typically love anybody and everybody. I didn't realize until then that nobody is good enough to date my child! I have worked on this very hard and while she is not with him anymore I love him like a son. And all those other boys that have passed through our lives since then are considered sons as well! I have lots and lots of sons now with two daughters dating! God will see me through until each of them find their spouses.....IF they get married!

1 year ago I...was wondering if that would be the last Christmas I would spend with my father. I had a rough winter as far as hurting and was trying desperately to stay off crutches. I was enjoying the birth of my new great niece! One year ago I was twenty pounds heavier. One year ago I looked in a mirror and discovered a whole lot of gray hairs...lol...I earned each and every one of them!

So far this year I...have been blessed beyond measure to have my father still! I cherish every moment I have with him! It's been a busy year...I walked as long as I could on my own and gave up and started using crutches in April. At the same time I gave birth to my first kidney stone with it's brother announcing his arrival a few months later! So far this year I have lost a little over twenty pounds by eating every few hours~what a chore! I really haven't accomplished anything big this year~just trying to survive one day at a time. But God is faithful and had taught me not to worry so much about the big stuff. I can only do my best and as long as I am doing that it will glorify God. I'm certainly not saying that I am even near perfect and He is pleased with all my actions. I'm just saying I have learned that I have a long way to go and God is right there with me!

Yesterday I...along with my mom and brother started preparing for dad's funeral. He hasn't passed away and we don't know when and if he will, but we need to be prepared. My brother picked out his casket. I asked my husband if he would sing at dad's funeral. I told mom I would go find a suit for dad since he has lost so much weight he won't be able to fit in his old ones anymore. I cried all evening, but I am better today.

Today I...had lunch with my husband and daughter. I came into work for a few hours. I have prepared for Awana tomorrow night. And of course I have been reading blog after blog after blog! The night is still young so who knows what I'll do!

Tomorrow I will...spend the morning with my daughter, go to work for a few hours and then I get to go to Awanas! I made a deal with the girls that if every single one of them said a section in their book I would eat some mint ice cream! I know that doesn't sound difficult, BUT I cannot stand the taste of mint ice cream...YUCKY! But I will be more than happy to eat a huge bowl full if the girls are learning their verses!

In the next year I will...hopefully lose enough weight so I can have both of my hips replaced! I will hopefully keep blogging and meeting new friends like Pamela! I will continue to work in Awana and love every minute of it! I don't know what the future holds for me. I am sure I am going to have some rough spots here and there, but I also know I will receive many blessings as well. My God shall supply my every need!

In the next minute I will...think thoughtfully on the past twenty years and realize what a wonderful life I've had thus far!

To be continued........

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Whew, is it cold and windy today!! Even as big as I am I almost got blown away ;o) Now that is some serious strong winds! Thank goodness I had my trusty crutches to keep from falling over!

I'll be honest...I do have fun opening gifts. I'm not denying it! I do enjoy giving too, don't get me wrong. On Saturday I found out who my secret pal was at church. She happened to be a close friend of mine! In my bag of goodies I received a Christmas cd, a giraffe ornament :o) good smelling soaps with loufas, a pretty makeup bag I've had my eye on, a bill organizer for 2007 (I wonder if she knows how unorganized I can be?) a bookmark, a Yankee candle (pumpkin spice) and an old Monkees album. I loved them as a kid and always watched the show. I had mentioned that and she picked up on it~clever girl!

My new secret pal for next year is one of my very closet friends! She is also my neighbor! I am so excited and I am going to have to be very sneaky this year when taking my gifts to church. My hubby is going to take me tonight to Wal-mart (seriously, this is the only store in town now) to pick out her gift! Oh this is going to be SO much fun!! I hope I can keep my big mouth shut!

I saw my father on Saturday and stayed for about five hours. He was a little more responsive then he had been. The poor guy just doesn't feel well at all. I wish I could take his pain away. Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts on his behalf!

Right now as I am typing this my daughter made some homemade hot chocolate and brought it to me :o) Happiness & Joy! MMmmmm......chocolate!

I am bumming a little today. I have a couple of my customers who are just not paying their bill. Each of them owe quite a lot. I think people think because we own our own business that we might be rolling in the dough~quite the contrary! I just got off the phone with one of them and he said he would send about 1/4 of it sometime this week. For the first time in my life I was a little snotty with someone. I said, "I have already paid my employees for work you authorized us to do. That was over two months ago." He said, "Well, maybe I can pay it off over the next few months." I said, "I am counting on that money because I need to pay our employees. Please try your best to pay off the last two invoices and we'll go from there."

Was that too mean? I feel bad because I know what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck. Only trouble is with people not paying us my hubby isn't getting a paycheck! And wouldn't you know, all my medical bills from the kidney stones this summer are just now coming! Does anybody have one of those money trees I could go pick? I promise not to take it all~just exactly enough to pay my bills for this month! Thanks in advance!

Okay, I'll end on a happier note....hmmmm...let me think.......

LaLaLa.....oh, not that kind of note?

How about I just say that I am happy to be out and about today and can't wait to go fight the crowds tonight at Wally World!! I hope everyone's week is starting off great! Hugs to all and to all a good night!!

I Think I Will Just Ramble Today!

We are having a very busy weekend. I am at the shop today because we have one of our customers here. He is excited about the progress on his 1970 Mustang and thinks it looks great!

We had our Secret Prayer Sister breakfast this morning, but I was unable to go. This cold weather snap we got is making me freeze up in the morning. I was bummed too because this year's theme was on Friendship! But because I am a big mouth I sent a Friendship Testimony with one of my friends to read to all the ladies. I just love all our dear ladies at church. I have gone to my church now for 34 years! I especially love the older generation. They have so much to teach us "young" folks and I have learned so much from them already!

I am going to see my dad in about an hour. He has not been doing well the past few days. His blood pressure is still extremely low. He started hallucinating yesterday and having tremors. That part is better today though! Mom just adjusted his medicine a little bit and that did the trick! He still isn't responsive. The hospice nurse told mom that he is declining. I realize he is going to die. But for some reason when the nurse says these things I can't stop crying. I'm just not ready to let go yet and that is not fair to dad. I want with all my heart to talk to him and tell him if he is ready to go that it's okay. I want to reassure him that we'll take care of mom and each other. I know I am being selfish and I am trying to work on that. I know I will see him in Heaven and I am truly thankful for that! But for today I want him here, with me and mom. Thank you to those that have prayed for both of them. I know that it is only through prayer and God's grace that they have made it this far.

On a lighter note....my husband is driving his truck and pulling a wagon for the parade tomorrow. All the church kids will be riding on the wagon and singing songs. If I feel up to it I will go and sit in the cab with my hubby where it is warm. And yes, we will take our precious Wensley! She will love seeing all the people and probably think that the parade is for her!!

I think the parades are cheesy....I know I am a spoil sport! If you could see our parade I am sure you would agree. Our parade consists of Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, maybe a high school marching band, a small dance recital where all the kids are not in step with each other, several tractors (who knows why they are in it!), the 4-H Queen and her court, and a few churches with floats~if you can call a wagon with a few streams of crepe paper a float! And don't forget Santa...he's always at the very end. Okay, do you see what I am talking about? BUT the kids love it and it is good clean wholesome fun for them and they will always remember freezing their little bottoms off for those broken candy canes that get thrown to the crowd every year!

Everybody needs to go and wish Pamela's @ www. justthetwo-of-us.blogspot.com adorable grandson Ben a very happy 1st birthday!

Have a great weekend everybody!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Have you ever flown in a helicopter?

No, I have not. We used to have a small company plane that seated like six of us and I thought it was too small. It was kind of scary to me to fly in it. But the weird thing is I would love to go up in a hot air balloon!

Soup

What color is your warmest coat or jacket?

Well, if you know me at all it is of course BLUE! Because blue makes me happy I don't think about how miserable I am out in the cold, snowy, slippery, wet, slushy, yucky snow ;o)

Salad

What is your favorite rainy day activity?

As long as my family is home with me I am gonna say playing board games all day long while we make cookies or homemade breads~stuff like that. We are on a Scrabble kick right now and have played every night for the past week and a half! My kids remember stuff like this and it means something to them!

Main Course

Describe your hands.

Okay, here goes: On my right hand each finger has a scar on it about two inches long because I had to have screws put in each one...BUT each of my fingers are straight now! I cannot make a fist nor does it straighten out all the way. I don't have alot of mobility; therefore I drop alot of things....BUT it doesn't ache or hurt anymore! On my left hand I decided not to have the joints replaced so you can definitely tell I have arthritis because my fingers turn out (does that make sense?). I cannot make a fist with this hand either, but I don't drop as much with it for some reason. My hands may be considered crippled up by most people, but with these crippled hands I can type super fast and you ought to see me play Tetris! Nope, I wouldn't change a thing.

Dessert

If you could eat only one nut for the rest of your life, what nut would you pick?

This is an easy one....I adore cashews! MMMMmmmmmmm!

If you did today's Friday's Feast please let me know so I can stop by!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things You Might Not Know About Me (Or Even Care To Know!)

1. I am easily entertained. I can sit for hours watching the giraffes or the penguins at the zoo, laughing out loud the entire time! I love to people watch at the mall. And I love watching babies do anything, even sleep! And I still enjoy looking in the clouds and trying to find things like dragons and stuff like that!

2. I never had a a real girlfriend until I was about 27 years old. For some reason I always preferred hanging out with guys! There was never as much drama with them (you know what I am talking about, don't ya?) But my friend Karen is the absolute best! It's funny we are best friends because in a lot of ways we are total opposites. She brings out the best in me and I bring out the goofy side in her ;o)

3. I've had both my knees replaced when I was 22, then both my elbows, both of my shoulders and all the fingers on my right hand. I've had my knees for twenty years now and they are still in great shape! PTL for that!! I am quite bionic. Yes, I know I am on crutches and move at a snail's pace, but I can still call myself bionic!

4. I collect anything Noah's Ark! Hallmark always has Christmas ornament out every year that I get, but I also love some of the obscure kind of things too! I have some very old Noah's Ark toys from like 1940-1950. It's a fun thing to collect!

5. I still love baby dolls! Every Christmas I got a new baby doll. One year I received a cloth doll with a plastic head. I took a knife and slit open her mouth so I could feed her real food like green beans. It wasn't long until she started rotting and we had to throw her away! I was so sad, but the next year they came out with a doll called Baby Alive and she was so cool because you could mix up food for her and really feed her! I still have her too!

6. I love music with a passion, but I cannot play any instrument, I cannot read music and I certainly cannot sing! BUT my husband and my three children are all gifted musically. Lalalelulo~wow! I can't even type in tune either...hehe!

7. I have three children and they are all adopted from the same family. We became parents when our daughters were 5 and 3 and then our son came up for adoption and we got him when he was 3 1/2! I really need to write our adoption story sometime because it shows how God was working in our lives!

8. I was bit my a snake when I was five years old and have never been fond of them since!

9. I took some matches from a restaurant when I was seven years old. I went into the bathroom and started lighting them and then throwing them in the toilet. Our furnace kicked on as I was tossing a match and it caught the toilet paper on fire! I also lit matches in my bedroom and set my carpet on fire too. Don't fear~I am cured now!

10. I think my laugh is obnoxious, but most people say it is contagious. I do get tickled pretty easily over things and sometimes I am the only one that laughs at something. I seem to find humor in just about everything. Hey, it's better than crying and complaining, right?

11. I love to pull teeth! I couldn't wait for my kids to start losing their teeth. I've even pulled other kids teeth that I don't really know. I just love to hear that cracking sound!

12. I'm the type of person that once I have met you I pretty much consider you family! In fact, my family is the same way. We truly enjoy getting to know other people and we are not shy at all. I've realized how much we can learn from others and how much we need other people in our lives too!

13. I guess I'll end with one last weird thing about me. I have a big gap between my big toe and the second toe! I could probably fit another small toe in between the two! Oh yea, and a little bonus fact....I cannot stand feet....yucky! I don't even like to touch my own feet when they are clean!

Happy Thursday Thirteen Everybody!!!!!!

Holiday Meme!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg nog makes me gag because it is so slimey. I love hot chocolate, especially homemade kind!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? When I was little everything was sat under the tree. I did the same when I had children. Now that they are older we wrap them up. I always wondered why my mom and dad never got us anything!!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I love the big colored old fashioned bulbs~you know, the kind that would probably start a fire!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We used to all the time, but now that we have teenage daughters we don't! I don't want any boys taking advantage of my girls!!

5. When do you put your decorations up? My daughters birthday is December 16th so we always wait until the day after. She likes it better that way and that's okay with us too!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? My sister in law makes the yummiest dressing I have ever tasted! Ooh, and she also makes the best yeast rolls too! Okay my mouth is now officially watering :o)

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: On Christmas Eve my mom and brother would set out the gifts while my dad drove me around the neighborhoods looking for Santa and his reindeer! You know what? I always saw Santa flying! I would get so excited and my dad would play along too. Then when dad felt mom had had enough time we would go back home to a tree full of presents and I would get to tell her where I saw Santa! Yes, good times.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was a very immature child and just didn't want to grow up. I really believed until I was about 11 years old. Someone at school made fun of me for it so I asked my mom if Santa was real. She asked me, "What do you think?" I said, "I think he is real!"

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Well, normally we are at my folks for Christmas Eve so we get to open up lots of gifts! When we get home the kids are usually begging us to let them open one more, but G'ma and G'pa get them so many things that I play Scrooge and say NO!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? We have lots of special ornaments that we put on every year, but my favorite ornaments are the ones the kids have made throughout the years. The kind with the cotton balls for Santa's beard and the ones with all the glitter that gets every where!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love to be inside safe and warm and watching it fall! I gotta have snow on Christmas Eve though!

12. Can you ice skate? In my dreams I can!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? One year my husband was in Bahrain and brought back a beautiful little box that contained gold, frankincense and myrrh. Very special!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Getting everything I want! Just kidding! I would have to say having more opportunites to share the story of Christ's birth and why He came to earth for us with my unsaved friends!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Probably all the different yummy kind of cookies people only make once a year!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? There are so many, but I just love it when we have Christmas music playing while we are decorating the tree. After we're finished we turn off all the lights and only have the tree lights on. It is peaceful and quiet and we sit together on the couch all snuggly like and drink hot chocolate. We talk about past Christmases and just enjoy being together. I can't wait!!

17. What tops your tree? An angel that my daughter made on a paper plate when she was in first grade. I just can't bring myself to change it!

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I do love both I will admit. I love finding just the right gift for people I love. And I love receiving the special ornaments my friend Lori makes every year or when my husband makes me something special like a Noah's Ark shadow box to put my Noah's Ark ornaments on!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? These may not be too familiar with you, but I love Mark Lowery's song~Mary, Did You Know? I also love 4Him's song~Strange Way To Save The World. They both make me cry.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?? I think they are pretty to put on the tree! I don't care for peppermint, but they have so many flavors now I am sure I could find one I liked!