All Is Well!

Although the scars are terrible, the foot is usable and things are all Ok.  The stitches are out now and I'm able to take showers.  That, in itself, makes one feel like a new person.

Christmas is creeping up and I am so not ready.  How about you?  I have plans in writing at least, so I know who, what, when and where.  For me, that helps a bunch.  (I'm one who also has to take a list to the grocery store.) There are several food gifts this year.  I love to cook and bake, so those are easy.  I have to stop procrastinating on the other gifts and as Larry, the Cable Guy says, "Git er done."

So, as you are preparing for the Season, sing Christmas Caroles as you are doing things and remember the reason for this coming Season.  Bless you all.

I'm back, once more

momentarily.

I've recently packed and moved to an apartment.  My land I had a lot of stuff I didn't need, so became good friends with Goodwill and the trashmen.  LOL. 
I am amazed at women, with children, who manage to get it all done and still blog.  A big hand to you all.  I do love living in my new place.  It is an apartment complex with lots of folks to visit with and quite a few activities going on also.

Tomorrow I will have an outpatient surgery on my foot, so will again be out of commission, but I will be able to wear shoes again when I heal.  Yippie!

I seem to see my son and daughter more now, so I'm loving that.  It seems amazing how many things we find to jabber about.

Since Halloween will be coming up in just a couple of weeks I'm busy running to the stores and making preparations to scare the pants off my kids and grands.  It will be fun. 

Have any of y'all started your Christmas shopping yet??  I have not made or bought a thing.  Ideas are harder to come by the older the grands get.  Usually I'm nearly done by now, Sigh, oh well.

I went downstairs to go to church Sunday and Surprise, we had a really heavy frost on the windows that needed scraped off.   Yes, winter is definately on the way, it was snowing 100 miles west of here where my mom lives.  The snow did not stick to the ground though, so that's good.

I'm off to the Wonderful World of Wal-Mart folks.  Like to get there early to get a handicapped spot.  Enjoy your day.

It's Carnival Time Here.

Five teenagers just left the house to go to the carnival and walk around to see what's happening.  Myself, I prefer the comfort of the air conditioner and a little pc time.  Now this is the life, it is also much quieter in here.  lol

Since my favorite day of the week is Sunday, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.  I enjoy sunday school and Church each week and always come away with something new. 

Our Church had a 3-day VBS this week.  This was the first time we did this and some of the children were actually pushing parents out the door.  Dare Isay the kids were responding well and they loved the singing, crafts and learning about God.  I'm sure this will be a yearly thing, it was really fun. 

Our countryside is awfully brown, just no rain.  Don't know if we are in the specific drought section, but I'd bet we are.  The farmers are hurting, which means prices will be going up at the supermarket.  We are all not looking forward to that.

Have a good evening all.

Almost the Big Bang Day!

Hurray for our country.  Another year in Celebration.  Please say a prayer for our men over there fighting to keep Her safe.
Fill your day with lots of fun and food, and fireworks.

Our Missions Pastor will be celebrating his Birthday tomorrow.
I know he will be having an extra helping of fun. 

Sunday will be a picnic at a lake for Pot Luck.  We will have a Baptism to celebrate on that day.  Bless his heart, he is 8 and wants to get baptized where his Grandma did.  So that is what he will have.  His Grandma is as proud as can be, right along with his parents.

I've been doing lots of boxing up today.  I'm receiving a wonderful gift from my friend.  She is moving home to New York and letting me have her Bakers Rack.  I will use it, as she did, for a computer desk.  It is SOOO time to do some re-arranging here in my bedroom/computer room.  A good time to do the deep vacuuming in those spots I can't get at right now.  I'm so excited.  Not that she is leaving though.  That is the downside to all of this.

Stay Safe tomorrow. 

I'm Back.

If I can figure out the new Blogger, that is.  lol  Everything has changed way too much for this foggy brain.

We are done for the summer as far as feeding the Mission Kids.  I know I needed a break.  A bit too much on my plate, will try not to overload from now on.

My niece and her boyfriend are moving back to her hometown.  They pulled in to gas up their "convoy".  My sister called and asked if I could come and see her for a few minutes.  You bet, it's been over 2 years and I miss her like all get out.  She had her big smile on and my heart just melted to get to see her for a few.  I will be making a trip back there as soon as I can.  She is a CNA and had her first interview just a couple of days after they got home.  You can't tell that I am just thrilled can you?  LOL

I finally found a simple way to clean my gourds.  I had heard that many folks just put them in a trash bag with soap and water for a few hours in the sun.  I took a short cut and used hot water and it worked perfectly.  So I'll get to crafting on these in a couple of days.  I'm really excited.

I've finally got a lawyer willing to work with me on a certain matter that is way overdue.  I am thrilled.  After you get beat on by your spouse, it is just time for the big D. 

My great grandkids are growing up too darn fast.  I enjoy it so much when I get to spend time with them.  Abel is 9 months old and Shayda is 2 years.   They are so precious.

Ok, enough blabbering.  Now to see how it looks when I hit Publish.  Enjoy June......it starts in just a few hours.
 

Happy Easter...He is Risen

I took a little trip to visit my mom. Her birthday was the 26th of March. It was so much fun. My brother-in-law took the 4 of us out to eat, mmm, good food is always wonderful when you don't have to cook it.
Ended up with pneumonia while I was there, but refused to go to the hospital. I didn't go to enter a hospital, I went there to visit. So that's what I did.
We scoured the local Goodwill where I found a purple mid length sleeved shirt. I love it, and will gladly hang on to it until fall comes around. Mom found things for her great great grands, and seemed to be enjoying herself.
I picked up my friend one day and we went and shopped and giggled and had lots of fun. She always makes me laugh and we have a blast.
I locked my keys in my car on Tuesday! My face got so red. I was embarrassed to the max. Called my son and he could not get me out but called someone who did. I went and had keys extra keys made today. Gave one to my daughter already and will give one to my son when I see him next. Even had an extra made to stick in my purse. It is funny too as my daughter and I were discussing my getting keys made a couple of weeks ago. I just let it slide too long. OOPS

Sunday is our Breakfast Potluck at church with an Egg Hunt following. We will have Church Services and Songs after that.
Tonight is Bible Study, we will be filling many plastic eggs. Each month we do a community service, a Girls Night Out, and Bible Study the rest of the time. It makes it a bit more fun this way.

Happy Easter everyone! May your day be as special as 2,000 years ago. He is Risen Indeed.

Unbelievable

weather for March. Yesterday was in the 80's. Grass is greening, flowers are coming up. Will we have one more snow storm? Probably, but we sure are enjoying this while we have it. How about your weather pattern? Snow or no?
I'm just happy to be back in the swing of things. Sometimes medicines make you sicker than what they were prescribed for...but all OK now.
Sunday was Potluck at church and then a council meeting. I volunteered to be Co-Hostess for events. Our first event is this Sunday...we supply the drinks or call on someone to do it. We'll be making punch this first time. It has quite a few other duties also, but will be fun to do this with another person.
My oldest grandson is home now. Wow, he has grown up a lot. I'm so pleased to see all the good changes in him. Praise the Lord.
Time to write postcards to church members about Sunday's event. Have a wonderful day all.

Hurray!

The knee is coming along nicely, I can drive and that makes me happy.
Kicking this cold would be nice but it'll happen eventually.

Thursday was a truly happy day. My 17 y/o grandson passed his GED. There was a ceremony for the 7 youths that graduated. It was a Special day indeed and I so enjoyed being there for him. We will continue to pray that he now looks into some courses to further his education. One step at a time.

I have missed being at sunday school and church these past 3 weeks. The friends as well as the sermons. I'm reading "Ambassador for Christ, the life and teaching of Paul". It has taught me a thing or two about living for Christ. It was my time to know as all things happen as they are written.

I have also missed the children at the Mission. On Valentines Day they each made out a card for me and Pastor and his wife brought them to me. Such a sweet thing to do and I so appreciated it.

Bless you all and have a nice President's Day.

TIme is drawing near,

Thursday is almost here for the knee operation. He said I will need a total knee replacement in about 5 years, but the Scope he will do now may help me get by until then.
Or Not. lol It is all in the hands of our Lord.

Last week I drank a gallon of Movi Prep and had a procedure. It is like drinking salt water. Yuck. The Dr. did find out why I am (soon to be was) anemic and fixed that. Still waiting on the polyp biopsy. My son took me to the hospital and was with me. Then took me home and fixed me a breakfast burrito. Yum!

Went to my grandson's basketball game the last 2 Saturdays. They won this past Sat., they were all kinds of happy.

Got a different battery for my car, thanks to my son. He cleaned the cables and got me all fixed up. I'm lucky to live with my daughter and so close to my son. What a help they are to me. I praise God for giving me these 2 children that I love so much.

I get to feed my Mission kids tomorrow, last time for, at least, a couple weeks. I sure miss them when I have to miss a Tuesday. They are all such good kids with big hearts and I am blessed.

Take care and blessings upon you all.

Running Circles Around Myself.

I love how this New Year has started. It has kept me extremely busy and I am not complaining.
My daughter and I have begun using the treadmill that normally just sits in a corner. It feels great, once I'm done. LOL Unfortunately it has aggrevated a knee condition and I'm going to be slowing down for a bit due to a knee scope. I was told I will need a new knee, eventually. But that is not now and I'm tickled pink.

My youngest grandson plays basketball each Saturday afternoon and I went to watch him. Wow, does that young'un hustle from one end of the court to the other. He made a basket also and we were all yahooing and clapping. My youngest granddaughter took me to this game. Now that I know how to get there I will be driving myself. I am truly lucky to have such a considerate family, blessed is a better word.

I am still honing my cookie baking skills. I am loving the recipies I find on all the blogs. They are so tasty and so easy. I'm trying a Crockpot recipie for tonights supper. It's Crockpot Lasagna, I saw it and knew I had to give it a whirl.
Using the no boil Lasagna Noodles is a first for me, so cross your fingers.

We had a church "Soup" potluck yesterday. MMM, so many yummy kinds. After lunch is the business meeting. It is getting closer to the time when our Pastor and his wife go to the Ukraine to see their daughter. They hope they will be allowed to adopt her anyway. We hope and pray they will also.

Winter is finally supposed to be coming this evening, with a 70% chance of snow. I am rooting for the white stuff. We are now needing the moisture, so any we get will be appreciated.

Have a great day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Above all be safe as you celebrate. Ringing in the New Year is always such a joyous time.
As a child, we would put puzzles together as a family and I was always so tickled that I got to stay up late.
As an adult, one of my fondest New Years was spent with my mom and my niece playing board games.
Another was lighting fireworks with 2 of my grands after we had broken in to the pinata they had helped make.
So, no matter what you do, have fun and Enjoy it to the Max.
Marj

Santa's on his way.

Hurray! I'm actually all ready with gifts wrapped and tucked under the tree.

Such peace has made its way into my heart after reading the "get out the Kleenex" story my cousin just sent. I know I've read it for several years now and after the tears comes the Peace. It is an awesome Christmas feeling, one that I'm hoping you all have settle within you as we draw closer to the Christ Child's birtday celebration.

We were very lucky and only got a small spattering of snow last night and all of the first heavy snowfall had melted, so we are doing great.

I shared my Cherry Mash candy recipe with my granddaughter yesterday. I have not heard how it turned out yet. My daughter and I made it one year and the cherry part did not set up, we used spoons if we wanted some of it. Hilarious. (Now I realize it needs to boil a bit longer if the humidity is high) Never too old to learn.

Our church has a service on Christmas Eve that I will be attending and then On Christmas morning we are not having Sunday School, just the Church Service. I'm tickled pink that Christmas falls on Sunday this year.

May you be richly blessed this Christmas and enjoy the love around you.

Merry Christmas.

Are you all ready?

Are you all set for Christmas? I'm still not. I need to go get 2 gifts and at least I know what I want to get. Otherwise, one of them will be homemade and that is not a bad thing. I know it would be appreciated.
I've made two different kinds of cookies and I'm not making candy....it is just too tempting to me and my arteries don't need the cholesterol. It is just my daughter and I at the house now, and she sleeps during the day and works at night.
My grandson has been reclassified and now gets a 4 hour off campus visit each week. Christmas will be a "free" day and although it is still only 4 hours he is anxiously awaiting it. Presents are still presents at any age I guess. lol
We've decided we are going to have steak on Christmas. My daughter and grandson are big carnivores and love red meat.
I got my Christmas cards out earlier in December and had such a good head start that I just laid back and now the push is on. The wrapping is a big thing or my back thinks so. hehehe Our tree went up last Sunday when the grandson was here. I love looking at the lights and ornies. I picked up a small gourd with 1/3 cut off and a nativity scene in it. It is my favorite.
My son brought over Thick Green Chili Roast Beef to fill tortillas. It is so good, I'm glad he likes to cook b/c he is a darned good Chef. As a child he loved to help me when I cooked in the wok, he later took it over and mmm, good meals followed.
My 11 year old grandson got his first deer this year. I know they were making jerky and had a bunch of steaks cut up. I just saw the picture and forgot to count the antler tips. He's so proud and he should be, he did very well.
May the Lord Bless you all richly. Merry Christmas!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

I just returned from the Thanksgiving Meal the Mission 87 Kids hosted for their parents. They made some really nice Turkey centerpieces for the table. They also chose the menu which consisted of Turkey Hot Dogs, the buns were the dressing, salad, baked beans and a nice well rounded (lol) middle of the menu with rootbeer floats as the drink. It was so much fun to see them be so proud of what they had accomplished, they were just beaming.

I've become very active in the church, which Mission 87 is an off shoot. Tuesday is my day to bring their meal, snack and drink. It was an honor to be a part of providing some of the food for today. The Mission Pastor and his wife do so much for the children and I love being allowed to help. So for 2 days a week the kids have a safe place to come after school.

Tomorrow morning I get to go have lunch with my 10 year old grandson at his school.
I love it that I can do all these things and I know it is the Lords work. His guidance is what my life needs. Through him I can help others and keep myself busy too.

Are you all going to Grandma's for Thanksgiving?????? Or do you have the pleasure of hosting this wonderful meal. My son has always done Thanksgiving and he is again this year. I'll bake a few frozen pies to take to his house. But first, my daughter and I will be going to have Thanksgiving with her son, they allow him to have family only, but at least we will get to see him.

I take this time to ask you to pray for my grandson. Shooting car windows out with an air gun got that 16 year old in to more trouble than he bargained for. This is all just the right thing for him at this time in his life, the Good Lord doesn't make mistakes. I haven't gotten to see him yet so I am really excited about this meal on Thursday.

May your turkey be moist and your blessings be many as we enter in to this Thanksgiving Holiday. Have a Happy Long Weekend too.

Happy Halloween!

I'm so excited to see all the kiddos in their costumes tonight. Halloween is my 2nd favorite Holiday.
Sorry to hear about all the snow in the northeastern states. It surely will put a damper on Trick or Treating. Our Snow is scheduled to hit on Wednesday. I'm a little apprehensive after all the snow that was dumped already.
Here's wishing a safe and fun night to everyone, enjoy!

I got a big Surprise on Friday.

And not a good one, although it turned out well.

I had to put my dog down on Tuesday and cried for 2 days. Those of you who have pets will know what I mean. I was too tired to cry on Thursday and on Friday I went to the Dr. to get my blood pressure meds. tweaked. After she found out my chest and arm had been hurting for 4 days she did a lot of tests and off to the hospital I went, by ambulance.

I had a heart cath on Saturday morning and they put a stent in the artery that was 90% closed. I got to go home on the same day. I thank the Lord for looking out for me. He knew when to get me to the Dr. Praise God!

So if you get pain in your chest, shoulder, back and left arm, don't be stubborn like I was, go to the Dr. or the ER. Your family will be glad you did as well as yourself.

Chocolate Anyone?

I have some news that you might be shocked to the core with, I know I was.
It seems America's favorite chocolate brand, nearly 42.5% of the US market, is Hersheys. Yet inside almost every Hershey chocolate product is the bitter truth that the cocoa used to produce the chocolate may very well have been produced under harmful conditions, including forced labor, human trafficking and abusive child labor. The latter is the one that hurt my heart the most. So it's time to raise the bar Hershey. www.raisethebarhershey.org Please go to this site and read a bit for yourself.

There are many options for Fair Trade (slave free) chocolate. Hershey is not the only company possibly using these unfair labor practices. They just have the largest percentage of sales and won't reveal their cocoa sources.

This is nothing new......it all started 10 years ago, but read for yourself.

I know I will not be handing out chocolate for Halloween unless it is Fair Trade.

WELCOME to our world

Abel William Ray. Born Aug. 21, 2011 and weighting in at 8 pounds 8 ozs. This little guy waited till late afternoon to show himself. He has lots of dark hair which is unlike his big sister who was born with blond hair and not much of it. Even their personalities are totally different. Our little Shayda is quite the
independant type and this little guy loves to be held and cuddled. I am quite the happy great grandma with one of each to spoil to pieces now.

We are getting rain this evening but nothing like the east coast got. I pray for all those without power and for all the displaced people as well as those who may be missing.

I hear Abel crying now.....maybe I can hold him again before bedtime. lol They are too little to spoil at this age so now is the time to snuggle lots. Well, I missed that snuggle, mama is already nursing. More snuggling tomorrow though.

We will have visitors this week. Mama and baby are finally up to seeing folks. I remember wishing for a few days to get settled in before the house became crowded with friends when mine were first born.

I will be up first thing in the morning making a few goodies for the visitors, it is just what a great grandma does. So, as Vincent Price used to say, Good Evening.

Sardines, anyone?

Our mobile home has 4 generations of people living in it and while it can get like Sardines, the 6 of us are all family, and I'm loving it. BTW, anytime now there will be a new little sardine. He just isn't quite finished baking yet, lol. God will put him here when HE is ready.

My 14 month great granddaughter has been zipping all over these last 3 weeks. She was crawling before and decided walking is faster. Shayda is such a little love, she always has kisses for me. We sing songs and dance and she loves this too.

I didn't see it but got to hear the tale, Shayda was laying on her mama's tummy when her brother kicked. She reared up her head and slapped him back. lol Oh yes, we will have to watch her closely when he gets here. But she gives her dolls hugs and kisses so once he is here in person, I think we will be just fine.

I attended a Beth Moore Conference a month ago. The prayers and singing were wonderful and to hear her speak was such a treat. I splurged and bought a pink "I Am Living Proof" Heb. 4:12 T-Shirt. Because Yes, His word is living and active in me. I am so grateful to Him for putting in motion all things so I could attend this conference.

I hear a tiny hand slapping at the door to my room so have a wonderful Saturday everyone.

Happy Independence Day!

Have a safe day whether driving home or shooting fireworks.