Happy Birthday Darian

It is hard to believe that this boy is now a young man.

Today he is 14.

Happy Birthday Grandson.

We love you!

Getting in touch with your Senses

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An new endeavor for me in 2012.

Getting in touch with my senses.

Join in by going to Diary of 5

I am seeing...

a bright, sunny day.

I am hearing...

A story on TV about a plane crash

one of my worst fears.

I am smelling...

The wonderful scent of freshly brewed coffee

with a touch of French Vanilla Cream

I am tasting...

Ah there is that French vanilla again!

I am feeling...

HOPE



Happy Birthday Mom

Today My Mom would have been 89 years old.

She was born on January 26, 1923. A very different time than today. RIP mom. I miss you! I think of you everyday.

Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

Create your own daybook using the prompts below making sure in your entry you include a link back to her blog using this link.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY January 21, 2012


Outside my window...
Outside my window it is dark. Getting close to 9:00 p.m. Today was very cold. I think I heard that the high was 27* We were out earlier today and with the wind blowing it went straight to the bones. And tonight my hands hurt



I am thinking...
Right now I am thinking that I need to quit sneezing. I have just sneezed five times in a row. I never just sneeze once. I wonder often about that.



I am thankful...
I am thankful that things continue to go well with my husband. I think I can see very small improvements everyday. I am sure the memory will always be a problem, but at least physically he is getting stronger.



In the kitchen...
Today nothing happened in the kitchen! We had McDonald's for supper. It was a treat to the kids since we seldom eat out anymore. And those hamburgers were not bad either.



I am wearing...
I am wearing blue jeans and tee shirt. What I wear most of the time now days.



I am creating...
I am trying to come up with a heart banner for the mantel for Valentines Day. The one I started I am not happy with. So I have been surfing the net to see what is out there. I made such a cute one a couple of years ago and now I cannot find where I put the pattern......who has a memory problem, you ask?



I am going...
When I am finished with this entry, I am going to load and start the dishwasher and then put a load of clothes into the washing machine. Need to see about clothes for church tomorrow and an hour or so of TV before we call it a night.



I am wondering...
I am wondering where this crafting phase is coming from. I have been so into wanting to make things. My mom was very crafty. I haven't really been so much.



I am reading...
I am reading a book on my Nook Color called Bubba and the Dead Woman. Will let you know how that turns out. Kind of different.



I am hoping...
I am hoping for some warmer weather. I don't like how the cold makes my hands feel.



I am looking forward to...
I am looking forward to March. February carries some financial burdens and then things should look up in March. I hate it when I wish my life away like that.



I am learning
I am learning to let some of my worries go. I try to give them to the Lord but I keep taking them back. I don't know why I do that. It is so much better when I just pray about it and let God take care of it. But I just can't leave it alone.



Around the house...
Ah around the house....many things that I want to get done. No motivation.



I am pondering...
I am pondering how do people live this way. We need to develop a different style. We need to have a plan. We need a goal. We need direction.



A favorite quote for today...

One of my favorite things...
One of my favorite things right now is Pinterest. Oh my I waste a lot of time there. But there is just so much to see. And so much to learn. And so much to ponder. And so much to make. Excuse me, did I say that I like Pinterest.



A few plans for the rest of the week:
Ah the rest of the week....church tomorrow, clean some on Monday, Tuesday Justin and Paige will be here and Darian has a wrestling match, Wednesday get the kids to church, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Piper and Willow will be here. Hope I survive all this!



A peek into my day...

I made that headband this week. Aren't you impressed? I used an old tee shirt. I was fun. I shall make some more. After all I have 7 grand daughters. And Harley loves hers. Isn't she the prettiest!

Saturday Nine

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!










1. Do you live close to where you grew up? Why?
Well I do live about 60 miles (or so) from the town where I grew up. The reason I do not live there now is because we moved to this town when I was getting ready to be a sophomore in high school. So, I guess you can say that I grew up here too! So this is where I live. And I like it here.





2. Have you ever been so angry that you almost lost control?
More times that I like to remember. And I do not like myself after it happens. But, it happens. So don't make me angry.





3. Are you a fan of a musical act that slightly embarrasses you?
I might be. I am a huge fan of Brett Michael. And sometimes his lyrics embarrass me. But most of the time, I just love to hear him sing.





4. Is there a movie that always makes you cry?
I am not a big movie person. But there are movies that I have cried during. But they don't ALWAYS make me cry because I do not watch a movie more than once. I just don't see how anyone can do that. It would be like reading the same book over and over. And I can't do that either. Once you know the ending, what is the point?





5. Who is the most famous person that you've met?
Hmmmmm.......I have seen some famous people up close (Oprah, Paul Newman, Johnny Cash) but actually met them....none that I can think of.





6. Before you leave your home, what must you have?
I must take my wallet (money and driver's license) a cup of coffee, the newspaper, and my Nook Color. You never know when you might get a chance to read. Or play a game. Or surf the net, if you park close to someone who has wireless that I can use.





7. What do you miss the most about being a kid?
What I miss the most about being a kid is something I did not know at that time that I had. The ability to be free of responsibilities and to be carefree. I would take that again anytime.





8. Tell us about a passion of yours that your readers would not expect.
I doubt that many of my readers would know, or care, that I have a deep-seated passion for crafts. And I am getting better at it all the time. I will be showing some pictures soon.





9. At what age do you think you'd be to think, “I've had a great run”?
Well, I all ready think that. I am 60 and so far it has been a great run. And I have no fear of dying. I have lived a good life. I am right with my Lord. But, and this is a big BUT, I still have two grand kids to raise. So I guess I will say that when I am about, oh say, 80.

Now if you want to play, and share your answers, go to Saturday 9 here.

53 years is a very long time

Fifty three years ago today we received the news that our daddy was dead.

I was only a mere 7 years old.

Life with daddy had not been all roses and good times.

In fact, I have to think really hard to come up with a handful of good times.

The last time I had seen him was just before Christmas in 1958.

We were living at grandma's house.

Mom had left him a few weeks earlier.

She had a good reason.

We were living in a small house in the country.

Daddy had come home drunk.

Not an unusual thing.

But this time he took his shotgun and sat down in a chair in the living room.

Mom was sitting in another chair darning socks.

She always stuck a light bulb into the socks to darn them.

I remember well.

No one darns socks anymore.

We five kids were sitting on the sofa across the room from our parents.

I remember my dad saying,

"I will shoot them first, then you, and then myself."

It will be forever imprinted onto my brain.

Mom calmly continued to darn socks.

We kids calmly continued to sit.

Dad passed out.

Mom got my oldest brother out a window and he ran as fast as he could.

He got the neighbors, who were also our landlords, to come.

They loaded us all up and took us to grandma's house.

Mom had to file for divorce in order to get help from the state.

Dad called and wanted to see us for Christmas.

Mom said he had to come sober.

He didn't.

My last sight of my daddy was peeking around mom's skirt as he stood

on the porch at grandma's.

He had been drinking.

He gave her sacks of candy for all of us.

And left.

And I never saw him alive again.

My prayer today, on this day of remembrance, is that

Not another child will ever have to live a life without their

Daddy.

Nothing in this world is worth killing yourself for.

That is the easy way out.

It is much harder to stay and face the music.

Much harder to raise five kids.

I often think what he missed.

And what I missed!

Sunday Stealing

Today we ripped off a blogger named Tense Teacher of the blog Tense for a Reason. (Yes we know that we've ripped her off not so long ago as well. It's pretty amazing since she stopped posting in 2007. But that's where we live as a thief). Also, it's long so we'll do it in parts. She does not say where she got it from. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Take the time to comment on other player's posts. It's a great way to make new friends! Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!








Sunday Stealing: The Never Ending Meme, Part One



Cheers to all of us thieves!



1. Song that always makes you sad?
The song that always makes me sad is Snowbird by Anne Murray. It just takes me back to a sad time in my life.



2. Last thing you bought?
Well that is easy....I just came home from the grocery store. I bought spaghetti, garlic bread, Pepsi, milk and fruit snacks.



3. Last person you argued with?
Same one that I always argue with. My 11 year old grand daughter, Harley. About the same thing that we always argue about....practicing her drums.



4. Do you put butter before putting the peanut butter on?
Nope. But when I was a kid my mom always mixed butter into the peanut butter....and syrup too. Yummy



5. One of your stuffed animals’ names as a kid?
I never had a stuffed animal as a kid. When I got together with my present husband he couldn't believe that I had never had a stuffed animal so our first Christmas together he bought me a huge white teddy bear and I named him Fred.



6. Did you ever at one time own a Barenaked Ladies CD?
Never



7. Favorite day of the week?
Every day is the same anymore so I don't have a favorite day any longer.



8. Favorite sundae topping?
Hot fudge



9. Did you take piano lessons?
No and I am trying very hard not to fall off my chair laughing right now.



10. Most frequent song played?
All of the songs (453) on my Ipod get played equally over and over



11. T.V. show you secretly enjoy?
Big Bang Theory.....it is a hoot!



12. Would you rather play basketball or hockey?
Neither....I don't have an athletic bone in my body



13. Date someone older or younger?
My husband is 18 years older than me right now! So if I ever date again, it will be with someone younger.



14. One place you could travel right now?
The Grocery Store is as far as I can go  now.



15. Do you use umbrellas?
Sometimes but only if it is raining :)



16. Do you know all the words to the Canadian national anthem?
Heck no....I don't know all the words to my own national anthem



17. Favorite cheese?
I like all cheese.



18. The Smith’s or The Cure?
What????



19. Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?
I am so past this. I do love my little blonde grandkids though



20. Best job you ever had?
Best job I ever had was the early years of my nursing career. When I was still new and eager. Before I became so jaded with the system.

Click on the picture and go participate

A Daybook Entry

Click on the Picture if you would like to join

FOR TODAY......January 4, 2012

Outside my window...
It is a very bright, sunny day. 57* which is just unheard of in Kansas in January! But I am happy that it is so nice. Because we came home from our New Year's weekend on Monday to a very cold house. The furnace was not working. Again. This is the third time since Thanksgiving. We are getting a new furnace installed right now. And it is warmer outside that it is inside the house today


I am thinking...
That I have the most wonderful son on this earth. I do not know what we would do without Justin. When we need something, he is there. Of course, there are times when I could hit him up beside the head. But when I need him he comes through. Thank you Justin for being an awesome son. I must have done something right.


I am thankful..
For so many things....Richard's current health. Justin. Warm January days. Darian and Harley. A budget that allows a bit to be left over after the bills are paid. A reduced mortgage payment.

In the kitchen...

Well tonight is the night the kids have Youth groups at church so Darian will not eat at home and Papa, Harley and I will eat leftover spaghetti. Yummy.

I am wearing...
Layers......no furnace. And it is cold in here. Jeans, tee shirt, long sleeve tee shirt and hoodie.



I am creating...
Oh the memories...right now that is what we are creating. Memories



I am going...
To put away the Christmas things tomorrow. And I am going to take my time and do it right. I always get in a hurry and cram it in boxes. I am going to throw things away. And pack up a box for Goodwill....yep, that is what I am going to do.

I am wondering...
Just how long can things continue like this? I stay home with Richard. He has improved but I think we are where we are going to be. Poor memory. Lots of answering the same things over and over. Not much adult conversations around here. I feel like a single mom...now I have three kids. Will I be able to continue to do this?



I am reading...
Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason
on my Nook Color.
Oh I love my Nook Color



I am hoping...
For a good 2012. Hasn't started out so good. But I am hoping it will get better.



I am looking forward to...
Getting my furnace on. I can't wait to use the new digital thermostat. And I can't wait to get warm again. I don't like winter. I don't like to be cold.




I am hearing...
Wolf Blitzer talk about the Iowa caucus. It looks like the Republicans do not have a really strong front runner. Hope they get someone to beat Obama. Don't want him for another 4 years. And I am Democrat.



Around the house...
Not much got done in the past few days. It is cold. Have I told you that? I want to put away the Christmas Decorations.



I am pondering...
What exactly does it mean when a little boy knocks on the door and wants to know if Harley can come out and play. What???? She is 11. They are in the back yard playing basketball right now. Hmmmmm.



One of my favorite things...
Is, has been, and always will be, my beautiful grandchildren. I love them and I thank God for them everyday.



A few plans for the rest of the week:
Thursday-put away the Christmas decorations.
Friday-do some cleaning and wash the sheets
Saturday-get Darian up the ladder to take down the Christmas lights
Sunday-church



Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

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