Thursday Thirteen

13 Hospital Stays I've Had So Far

When I was nine I stayed a couple days so the experts could figure out what was wrong with me. Diagnosis - Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Then when I was a teenager in high school I stayed a couple days so the experts could figure out I had pneumonia. Cough. Cough.

Right knee replacement - my first step towards bionicness!

Left knee replacement

Right shoulder replacement

Left shoulder replacement

Right elbow replacement

Left elbow - cleaned out, which led to....

Left elbow replacement

Right hand replacement - not the actual hand, but my fingers, silly!

Kidney stones removed

Right hip replacement

Left hip replacement

Hey, they don't call me the six million dollar woman for nothing! Not because I am so bionic, but because that's probably how much everything cost!

How Time Flies

What Time Is It?

please click on it!

Cool, huh? Now when you are completely bored you can watch the time fly before your eyes!

Now I am off to enter my name in as many Bloggy Giveaways as I can!!!!!!! Wish me luck!!!

1000 Blessing's Friday & Friday's Feast

1000 BLESSING'S FRIDAY

211. Even though it was difficult to share my burden on Monday I knew I needed too. I know I have faithful prayer warriors in Blogville and through this I met so many new friends that I can't wait to have the chance to get to know better! Thank you to all for stopping by and taking the time to let me know your thinking and praying for my family. Especially my husband. Your words of encouragement are read daily!

212. I had another counseling session last night with my pastor and his wife. I love them so much and am thankful for their willingness to help. I am thankful for someone to talk to and him showing me from the Bible all the verses I need to be a godly woman. It's not like I didn't know them all ready, but when you are in the middle of a battle it's nice to have someone come along side you and show you where the answers are. Plus with my homework he gives me I'm held accountable each week. I have lots of verses to memorize. My poor brain hasn't worked this much in a long time!

213. We hired two new employees! Two young men that so far are doing a bang up job - not literally. 'Cuz that would be bad for the cars!

214. Today it is -7 degrees. And right now I am at work and under my blanket with a dog on my feet and a space heater to keep me warm. I am blessed with shelter. My heart aches for those that have no wear to go.

215. Each and every day I am blessed with the hugs and kisses from my three children. They are the absolute best and such good kids. They are strong and wise for as young as they are. I know God is teaching them through our situation. I am thankful for their hearts. They could be hardened by all of this and they have not. They are fighting evil with good!

FRIDAY'S FEAST

Appetizer

How many times per day do you usually laugh?

I find it pretty easy to see the humor in most situations. I'd tend to laugh even if I am crying. Like the name of my blog says - Laughing Through The Tears.

Soup

What do your sunglasses look like?

What? You got a problem with these? You know how much I like giraffes. Hey, at least they're not Donny Osmond glasses!

Salad

You win a free trip to anywhere on your continent, but you have to travel by train. Where do you go?

Since our trip to Washington D.C. last month was so short I would love the chance to go back and visit for an entire week. And I love going by train! My dad and I took a trip to Wisconsin one time to help my brother move. Just me and my dad! Wonderful memories for sure.

Main Course

Name one thing you consider a great quality about living in your town/city.

A traffic jam last about twelve seconds!

Dessert

If the sky could be another color, what color do you think would look best?

Why would anyone want it to be another color? BLUE is by far the bestest color ever in the whole wide world! And besides, blue makes me happy. Why do you want me to be sad? I just don't think that's very nice.

Thursday Thirteen

TMI THURSDAY

1. I no longer have to use the raiser for the toilet when I go potty! Yay 4 me!

2. I have a weak stomach and the smell of coconut has made me throw up on more than one occasion.

3. I have recently noticed that I have a chin hair. Or at least I did until I plucked it! I can remember my mother plucking one too. Does this happen as we get older?

4. Instead of having my kids say the usual terms for passing gas they said, "I made noise!" Hey, it was cute when they were three!

5. I have laughed so hard while drinking soda that it came out my nose. Kinda burns, I must admit.

6. I love to pull teeth! I love the sound that it makes. The grinding makes me smile from ear to ear as the sheer terror takes hold of my child! Mwahahaha!!! My kids never enjoyed it for some reason. Hmmm, I wonder why?

7. Working at a car restoration shop is dirty work, even for the secretary. My fingernails are always filthy. I'm in dire need of some pampering!

8. One time my daughter threw up a combination of hot dogs, oranges and chocolate milk. It was everywhere! It took hours to clean up and I couldn't even look at any of those foods for about six months. Plus it was on my 30th birthday. But I'm not bitter!

9. I always keep several pair of brand spankin' new undies in case I go to the doctor or the hospital. But then again, who doesn't?

10. When I was around five or six I went through a phase of wanting to be a boy. I tried to go potty standing up. Didn't work. My mommy was not happy with me!

11. Speaking of which...when I drink my favorite beverage of choice - NOS, I tend to go potty all afternoon. See? Aren't you glad you are still reading this?

12. I have very ticklish feet! I cannot even scratch my own feet because it will tickle too badly.

13. I have not shaved my legs in over two years. Now before you judge me you must know a couple of things. One, I couldn't shave them because of my bad hips, but two, really there is no need. I barely grow any hair at all. I could probably take a piece of scotch tape and pull out the few I have!

Now, doesn't this make you all feel better knowing me so intimately? I needed to make myself laugh today. Mission accomplished!

This makes me laugh

I can't seem to get the YouTube video to show up, but watch this when you have the chance! He always brings a smile to my face! Ahh, c'mon. It's not what you think! It will make you laugh too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSAvicL_2pQ

To Share Or Not To Share

Dear Friends,

I come to you once again asking for prayer. This time it is for me and my household. I wasn't sure whether to share or not because I try to keep my blog a happy place. I'm trying to hold true to my blog name. But I have shed many tears lately. Not a whole lot of laughter, except the smiles you all bring to my face!

But this is to big a burden to bear. And I know I have faithful prayer warriors out there. And right now I really need each and every one of you!

Anything and everything I have ever written about my husband is true. He is wonderful and always has been. But right now satan has got a hold of him and he is deeply depressed. He's questioning God about letting people suffer and the trials we face.

I'll admit we've had a rough few years. My father's illness and death, my illness, his sister's breast cancer and other numerous situations and trials.

I am going to counseling with my pastor and his wife so I can make sure I am handling this in a Godly way. I cannot get him to go with me. My husband has quit serving in Awana and the choir. And when we went to church last Sunday he left during the service and said he will not go back. Ever.

Right now my husband is not being kind. To any of us. It's hard. I know he doesn't mean the things he says. But they still hurt. Deeply.

Now I know that our God is bigger than all of this! And right now the kids and I are going to be the only God my husband sees. So we need to make sure we keep our attitudes in check. Because it would be so easy to give in and say the things we are sometimes thinking.

Please pray for all of us, especially my husband. He's always been a faithful servant of Christ. His words are harsh and they cut deep, but knowing how far away from the Lord he is right now hurts more than anything he could ever say to me.

I know Christ can be glorified through this trial I face. He's lead me through every other one I have fought against and won. I am prepared to go to battle. And I will be victorious as long as I am in the center of God's will!

2 Cor. 5:9 So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

To all of you that have tagged me I promise I will get to them eventually! I know you all understand what needs to come first. I thank you all for your heart felt prayers during this time.

Monday Giggles

I just returned from having lunch with my husband and a potential employee only to find this in an e-mail sent to me by one of my close friends. I had to laugh because with the new year it seems like everyone (no matter how thin or thick) makes a resolution to eat healthier and start exercising. I am no exception.

I have broken that resolution at least twelve of the fourteen days so far. Not good. But in my defense I did order the kids meal today at Culvers! And I only ate about three fries because I was getting full from my cheeseburger and wanted to save room for my chocolate custard. Now don't scold me...I had them put strawberries on top. You know, so I could check off fruit group along with dairy at the same time! I like to kill two birds with one stone whenever possible. *I pat myself on the back for being so efficient* LOL!

In all truthfulness I have to say that I do feel better when I am at least doing my physical therapy. I normally have to sleep on my back because of restrictions with my new bionicness, but I decided to lay on my side and see if I could lift my leg straight up. Something I haven't been able to do for about eight years. Well, I did it as easy as eating a Hershey bar! It just went up without a hitch. I couldn't believe it! And this week I have finally been able to get in my van all by myself with no help whatsoever. Now how cool is that? Finally, a little bit of independence has come my way. Now if I could just get motivated to take that independence to the gym!

Exercise

- I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing.


- I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

- I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.


- The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.


- If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.


- Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $5000 per month.


- My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where on earth she is.


- The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.


- I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.


- I don't exercise because it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.

Always Daddy's Girl

1000 BLESSING'S FRIDAY

Where has the time gone? It's been almost a month since I have posted any blessings. Even though my family is going through some uncertainties I see God's blessings everyday. Whether it be a friend calling from out of the blue just when you need her most or realizing that I am not so wobbly anymore and using my crutches less and less!

Today, though, I would like to do my post a little differently. You see, one year ago my father passed away. It's hard to believe it has been a year already. I still have on my caller i.d. when the nursing home called to let me know my father had died. For some reason I cannot delete it. And that's okay too.

So for today's post I would love to share how my father was a blessing to me growing up!

206. Being a Kroger store manager meant dad worked sixty hour weeks a week. But when it came to spending time with me and my brother he always had time. Always. We were never told no, now now, maybe later. If he had an errand to do we were always invited to go along. We always said yes. Dad made even a trip to the hardware store an adventure! We were blessed with his time and blessed, too, with a mother that also needed his company, but knew the importance of spending time with his kids.

207. We had the same sense of humor. My mother babysat from the time I was ten until dad got sick. Dad and I saw the humor in the kids and enjoyed just being in the midst of all of them! On his days off he would help my mom with the kids and do whatever was needed. My dad kept a bottle of water in the fridge and when he would get a drink all the kids would follow him and beg to have some of his "special water". That was one way he got them to drink water instead of wanting Kool Aid all the time. Smart man. Even when dad could no longer speak I would remind him of things we laughed at and is eyes would just light up and he smiled. I knew he was laughing on the inside. So a definitely blessing in my home was laughter. And lots of it!

208. Blessed to have a father that wasn't afraid to cry. He and I went to see The Hiding Place when I was a little girl and we both sobbed all the way through it. He cried at church when a sermon touched his heart. He cried often for me when I was in pain and couldn't walk. Or when the lab tech would try to get blood and they couldn't. I knew how much he loved me because of all the tears he shed for me.

209. Patience! My father was the most patient man I have ever come in contact with. He never yelled or lost him temper. Ever! I didn't know people actually yelled or got angry until I was in my teens and heard it from my friends. Seriously. And even when he got sick with Parkinson's he could have easily been demanding. He was a model patient. He never complained or asked why. He was thankful for the care my mom and us kids gave him. He was a trooper and a fighter. Can you imagine going without tasting food or having a drink of anything for over a year? I cannot even fathom the idea. When he could speak I told him that he was very brave and courageous when he could be the total opposite. He told me he learned patience from watching me. Oh, how that made me cry. And still does to this day. Maybe in the big picture this is one reason why I was allowed to have arthritis. Only God knows. But I do know if I start to complain about not being able to get around as fast as I want I quickly remember my father who couldn't move anything for a year and did so without complaint. But he's moving now!!!

210. But the biggest blessing I could receive from my father is seeing Christ in him on a daily basis. I was witness to how a husband and father should lead his family. We had devotions as a family, which I cherish to this day. He was a good provider for his family. He was gentle and soft spoken and didn't have to get angry to get his point across because we respected him as a father and a husband and was willing to obey and please him. He wasn't self seeking. In all he did he tried to glorify God. I know dad wasn't perfect because none of us are, but he was as close as a person can get!

I am thankful to have had him for 43 years. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and smile. My mother, brother and I know how truly blessed we were to have him as head of our household. There are so many more ways he blessed me and I could write about him all day long, but I'll stop for now. Thank you for letting me share this today. And as a favor to me please call a loved one and let them know how much they truly mean to you!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things To Do When I Get Really, Really, Really Bored! And Even Then I Think Twice About Doing Them!

1. Change all my passwords to hotmail, Facebook, my online banking and bills, etc. And then forget what I changed it to so I have to go and reset them again. I suppose it would help if I kept a list somewhere, huh?

2. Work on my latch hook rug I started up teen years ago. It's sorta frayed and raggedy looking now. I should just toss it and start a new one that I will never finish! What? Doesn't everybody take twelve years to finish a craft project?

3. Read War and Peace. Maybe I'll just wait for the movie!

4. Count and organize my money by $50's and $100's. Oh, that's right. I don't have any money!

5. Learn the alphabet backwards. Now won't that be impressive?

6. Get over my fear of snakes. I don't work too hard on this one though.

7. Work on my stand up routine. What do you call a sheep with no legs? A cloud! Okay, okay, I'll keep working on it!

8. Switch the labels on the vegetables and the good stuff like ravioli. Then when my kids open a can up I say, "You opened it-you eat it!" This reminds me...I need to buy more spinach!

9. Decide which is better ~ Coke or Pepsi.

10. Balance my checkbook. Hey, I figure if I have checks left I must have some money in there!

11. Turn on the telly to see what's up with Britney. Some channel is focused on her 24/7.

12. Dust the furniture. Ever notice that you dust one day and the next day it looks the same way? So why bother?

13. Organize my left over Christmas candy and separate the green wrapped Hershey kisses from the red ones. Will use them for Valentine's Day and St. Patty's Day!

So, what do you do when you are bored out of your mind?

News Update

Hi Friends,

Stopping by my own place to give a quick update. My momma is out of the hospital now and is doing well. She did have a polyp that they are doing a biopsy on and she also had an internal hemmorroid (I have no idea how to spell it!) causing a lot of blood that will be tied off this Friday. Pleasant, huh? I didn't know how else to put it except the truth! She is very weak and unsteady on her feet, but all in all she's doing okay. Thank you for praying and thinking of her. She's a dear, sweet lady. She'd give you her last penny without hesitation.

As far as my SIL goes things are still quite dim. My main focus is on her and her kids right now. There is so much disappointment and unbelief on the situation that we are all struggling. All we can do right now is get down on our hands and knees and pray without ceasing!

We've had another situation come to a head that we were all unaware of too this week. Honestly, I am feeling low. I have made an appointment to talk to my pastor and his wife on Thursday. I want to handle all the situations in a pleasing manner to God. I know He can be glorified in these circumstances, but I need some guidance. Please pray for me that I don't lose my cool with certain people. I'm usually easy going, but when you hurt someone I love I can not be so pretty.

For those of you that have tagged me for meme's and other things, I will get to them. Michelle, I thank you for the Blessing and want to give that one some clear thought when I do it because it is such a neat idea. I know you understand!

Thanks again for all your encouraging words and most of all prayers! Love you guys and am forever thankful to have found each and every one of you!

FUN MONDAY - Meet the pets!

How fun is this? Today's Fun Monday is hoted by Lisa. This is my first time participating, but when I saw the theme at Christine's I knew I wanted to participate and show my baby off!




Her name is Wensleydale because she is an english bulldog and Wensleydale is an english cheese and my husband loves cheese. And yes, we are very strange. Nice to meet you by the way!

How can you resist that face? Woo (as I call her and please don't ask why) is as faithful as they come. She never leaves our side. EVER. I don't even go to the bathroom without her sitting at my feet. She goes with us anywhere and everywhere we go with the exception of church. And if they would let her in we would take her!





No, she is not going to eat the kitty! She loves ALL animals and wonders why they all don't want to play with her. She's very good at giving kisses as you can see. We've decided not to breed her though because she does kiss so much. We are afraid her babies would be bald! Plus I would ant to keep each and every one of them.

Wensley loves travelling and knows when we go to a hotel. One of her favorite things to do. Seriously. This was a roll-a-way bed we got for our son, but she claimed it as her own as soon as it came in! She is telling us that she is not moving from HER bed. My poor son had to sleep in the tub. Just kidding! Of course Woo always sleeps with us. ALWAYS. She is totally in love with my husband. It's a good thing I am not a jealous woman.

Thank you for stopping by today! I would encourage you all to consider getting an english bulldog if given the opportunity. She brings joy and laughter to my life each and every day!

In Need Of Much Prayer

Dear Friends,

Last year on New Year's Eve we were putting my father in the hospital. He died on the eleventh. I spent this New Year's Eve putting my mother in the hospital. She has been bleeding and they are not sure why yet. She has lost a lot of blood and her hemoglobin is very, very low. I am frustrated because the doctor hasn't given her a blood transfusion because she is right on the border of doing it or not doing it. She is so weak. Please pray for her. Hopefully she will have a colonoscopy (spell?) tomorrow and maybe we will find out more.

The memories of dad just came flooding back and I pray I don't go through this again so soon. I'm sure I'm a little more stressed than normal and it will be okay.

Also, please be in pray for some of my family members on my husband's side. We spent Christmas all together and never knew what was in store. We received some devastating and shocking news a few days later. I won't go into details, but as of right now it seems hopeless because one person is not willing to change their ways.

It's going to take alot of prayer and some tough love. We know that God can do all things! But there is so much hurt and anger right now for those involved and rightfully so. I will be spending most of my time with my mom and my sister in law so please remember them in prayer.

I will try my best to check in from time to time, but understand I need to be with them.

Thank you all.