Thanksgiving

My thought for the week, sent by a friend:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. —Melody Beattie

Shirley

Click on this link and you can't help but smile:

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A story I like:

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Tojo...good dog!

Just when you think Life is moving along just fine and you have no major worries...the unexpected comes along and knocks you for a loop. On July 1st, we had to put my little dog down. I have jokingly called him our "foster dog" ever since we agreed to care for him "temporarily" five years ago.

He used to be my sister's dog and I really did like having him here. He had such a sweet nature and really wasn't much trouble. He stayed close to home most of the time without being confined or chained and he always let us know when someone showed up in the driveway or yard. I didn't realize how much I had become attached to him until this happened.

We're pretty sure he suffered a slipped disk. Three days earlier, he was sitting on one of the big rocks by the creek with Austin and when I called him, instead of walking down the way he went up; he jumped off of the side which was at least 4 ft. high. Later that afternoon, he was walking funny and his back legs seemed to be failing when he tried to walk.

His condition worsened every day and by Sunday, it was obvious that he was suffering and in pain. He couldn't stand or hold his head up and I had to finally make the decision I knew was coming. It was incredibly sad and emotionally exhausting and I cried off and on all weekend.

I tried to talk to Austin before he left Friday, knowing that when he came back from vacation, Tojo would be gone. He didn't understand why someone would have to put a pet to sleep to keep him from suffering. He said we should just take him to the vet and get him fixed! Unfortunately, that was not an option.

Tojo is buried in the back yard and I still look for his face in the door of his doghouse whenever I look out there. I already miss him and look for him every time I go outside just out of habit. I have rejected any ideas about getting another dog. Ronald likes the fact that he barked when someone was around but I just don't care to get another one. I've always been more of a "cat" person most of my life... I guess a cat doesn't make a very good alarm though. *sigh*

An odd thing happened the day after he died...as I was driving across town I came to a red light and a motorcycle was in front of me at the light. It had a personalized license plate on it and when I got close enough to read it, I saw that it said "TOJO" ! That was really unexpected! One of my friends told me God was sending me a little "hi" from Tojo...lol...but at the time I was trying not to think about him and what had happened.

I did hear these words of wisdom from my friend Brenda at church..."I think God gives us pets to help us learn to deal with death." I've never thought of it that way before, but I guess it makes sense.

Ronald was so helpful and thoughtful when I was upset and though he doesn't get emotional about animals, he was very understanding and sympathetic to my feelings. He tried to make things easier for me. I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband.

June was...

busy, busy, busy! With Austin out of school, he's been here every day and Cole comes after his nap. We took them to Chattanooga for a couple of days, along with Sarah. We went to Lake Winnepasauka...a small amusement park that they just love. Sarah wanted me to ride stuff with her that "spins" and after one or two, I had to give that up. I used to be able to ride everything and not have it bother me but I guess that is one more thing that has changed with age. :-)

I do still love the roller coasters though and haven't given them up yet! We spent the entire day and evening at the park, spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express and played Uno and watched tv. The boys argued over who would sleep on the foldout bed with Sarah and Cole ended up with us, much to his dismay. He elbowed me in the eye in the middle of the night so I guess he got even for being made to sleep with us. I can't say that I slept much but it was still okay. The kids swam in the indoor pool after breakfast until time to check out. It was a short trip but they had a blast.

The next week was Character Quest day camp at church. I was a counselor for 7 girls that just finished 5th grade. Two years ago was my first experience doing that and I enjoyed it so much more this time. It made a world of difference by having a peaceful week and no confrontations with anybody on the first day like two years ago. It was a busy week and it went by fast. It was hot outside for the outdoor stuff but the humidity wasn't too bad for Tenn. that week so that helped.
There were 185 kids attending the camp and everything went great. We all had a good time and the girls in my group were all pretty good kids.

Brandy and Jason have taken the kids to the beach this week and we have a break from babysitting. We took the canoe out Monday and tried a float we hadn't done before. Ronald caught one fish and we had very few bites. He said now he knows why he never floated that part of the river before. LOL

My sisters' children

Wow...Jamie graduated and it dawned on me after the cookout, that my sisters' children are all grown up! They have always been such a big part of my life and now CJ and Erin have their own children , Travis is expecting his first and Jamie is out of school. I'm still feeing very nostalgic these days. CJ's kids are almost grown up too. It is good that I still have "great" nieces and nephews to look forward to spending time with when I can.

We all had such a good time at the cookout. (At least, it seemed that way to me.) After we all ate, I gave Jamie the photo album I made for her and she was very surprised! All of the hours I put into it were worth the look on her face and that big smile. A big hug and a few emotional tears and special memories ....I hope it is something she will treasure for many years and maybe share with her children some day.... I need to work on some more albums to share with family instead of keeping them all at my house!

I love my family and love to spend time with them. They are all precious to me, each one of them in their own special way. God blessed us with love for each other, even in the times we don't get along which really aren't that many if you think about it over the years.

Life is good! :-)

Memories in May

Graduation...what a joyful time! Jamie graduated last week and it was exciting and fun for the whole family! We are so proud of her and her accomplishment and also proud of the beautiful young woman she has become..

There was a celebration at her grandmother's house and much love and laughter. Many memories come rushing back to my mind of the past 18 years and her life and all of our happy times together. I have a great surprise for her coming up soon!

Today I went with her to a job interview at the daycare where Cole goes. I hope she gets the job. It is what she wants to do and I believe caring for children is her calling in life. She does have a gift for it.

I also went to Leah's pre-school graduation, which was so cute! It was fun to watch and she was excited that I could be there. Ronald had to work and she wanted to know where he was! Some people think all of the pre-school, kindergarten and grammar school graduations are silly and I guess they are in a way, but they are also a good excuse to hang out with the kids and celebrate.

This past Sunday, I attended Sarah's confirmation at her church. Ronald had to work and oouldn't be there but I went and watched her recite her vows to the church and to Jesus. It is a big step in her faith and a new experience for me at a Methodist service. She is growing up so fast!

I am looking forward to the next few weeks, when I will attend Sarah's 6th-grade graduation, her violin recital and her dance recital. She is a busy young lady! All of her special dates fall on days when Ronald has to work, so he will miss out on all of the celebrations.

What a busy, exciting time!

the beach and then it's over...

Wow! Did we really spend a week on the beach?! We came back on May 11th and after slowly getting back to reality, the last few days have been busy! More about that later...we had the best time. All we did is lay on the beach all week! We went to play miniature golf one night and went to see Spiderman 3 one night and other than that...hung out on the beach. We stayed at the Phoenix 3 in a one-bedroom condo with a gulf veiw.

It was so relaxing and we didn't want to come home on that last day. The weather was gorgeous just about every day. On the 4th day there were very high winds...up to 25 miles an hour and the sand blowing around was a stinging blow to our legs when we walked. We walked to the closest pier which was a couple of miles and then back...it was a pretty good workout! We did lay out by the pool for a few hours that day, but would rather be down by the water!

The rest of the time was great weather-wise and there were some mornings that we sat on the balcony while we drank our coffee in the mornings and watched dolphins out in the water hunting for their breakfast.

All in all, a much-needed break!

Beach Bums!

We are off to Gulf Shores and sunny skies, the beach and the ocean. I've been looking forward to this for months. Some quiet time with my sweetie!!

It's the little things...

First of all, the black and white bird in the photo is a grosbeak, the blue bird is an Indigo Bunting which I think is the most beautiful bird we've seen in our backyard. It is a rare sight too, which makes it even more special.

Ok, I know a lot of people wouldn't get excited about a bird or two, but we have feeders and like to watch them in our yard. We see a grosbeak or two maybe every spring while they are migrating north and stop by for a snack, but they don't stay around very long. Maybe a few days at most.

For the last few days, we have had the pleasure of watching a whole flock of them! Well, it's what I would call a flock... today we counted 7 males and 6 females in the sunflower tray-feeder! Some of them have been to the peanut-butter feeder on the deck also and they have been wolfing down some seeds!

We are keeping the feeders full to encourage them to hang around as long as possible. It has been pretty cool to watch them in the yard. I hope they stay for a while.

His timing is always right

God knows what I need when I need it. I have been a little down lately, not all of the time, but just feelings of depression that wash over me just out of nowhere. I think part of it may be hormonal but part of it is just worry and being burnt out and disappointment in myself.

The weekend services at church lifted me up in such an awesome way. We were supposed to have a guest speaker and he was unable to come at the last minute. Pastor Phillip had little time to prepare and we didn't know what to expect, no outlines...out of the normal way things go at church.

Then he began to talk about disappointment and bitterness. I'm sure I was not the only person in the room who's ears perked up at that. It was such a good sermon and it spoke to my heart. We all experience disappointment at some time in our lives, there is no avoiding it.

I don't hold much bitterness in my heart, but I do have one place that nags me as I still try to get past the hurt from a friend. I have forgiven and have prayed for her a lot, but it is still there, although it does get better. It's been 2 years almost and I don't want to hang on to the hurt, I am so ready to put it behind me forever. It doesn't control me though and it's just a small part of my life that is filled with so many good things!

Yesterday, after we had children's church, we came home and fixed breakfast. It was an absolutely perfect day, sunny and warm...about 78...We took a little ride on Ronald's scooter, stopped on the new cul-de-sac on Irby Ln. and walked thru the new house under construction. It is huge...I don't see how people afford and maintain such big homes. I'm sure it will be beautiful and I like to look at different houses and floor plans. Our little house is big enough for us though and I love our backyard and the birds, rabbits, and squirrels that hang out here. I wish we had built it all on one level, but that is just a small thing.

We took our bikes to the greenway and rode, came home and rested. I had an early dinner with Renee and some of the other team leaders from church. We went to the Red Robin, a gourmet hamburger place and she treated us and we talked about a skill set she is working on for our teams in children's ministry. Renee has such a heart for God's word. I admire her and love her gentle nature.

Another beautiful day...I think I will go buy some flowers for the yard. Today is Robbin's birthday too. I sent her about 5 ecards...I am so proud of how well she is doing and how she has really turned her life around this time by putting God above all in her life. His grace is so awesome for us!

Scrapbooking

I love scrapbooking! This is a page I did of Ronald on our wedding day. These pictures were taken by a friend. I have been working on our wedding and honeymoon pictures, (almost 20 years after the fact) and they have brought back some wonderful memories.

In my album, it's very obvious that the pictures are old, by the quality of the photos that I took. When we went to Cancun, all I had was a Kodak Instamatic camera but I am thankful to have pictures from our trip. I bought it when I was about 16 and it had a flash bulb "cube" that you added to the top when you needed flash. It seems so archaic now...cameras have come such a long way! I don't use my film camera much anymore; the digital is just convenient as well as smaller and easier to carry.

I went to a workshop last night and did about 8 pages and now I want to go back to them and do some more, but the sun is shining and it's going to be a beautiful day so I need to get outside and enjoy it. My albums will have to wait...

I love Spring time!

Spring is back!

• The forecast finally shows temps in the 70's for the next week! Hooray! Maybe that will help a lot of the trees bounce back after the freeze and grow new leaves. I am ready for warm weather.

• We did get the garden planted yesterday with the usual...zucchini, tomatoes, corn, okra and Ronald's hot peppers. He is "only" planting 18 plants this year...! We still have a lot of his "gunpowder" left from last year but that's okay. It comes in handy and we can continue to put it in the peanut butter-suet cakes that we make. Did you know that birds cannot taste the hot pepper? The squirrels can though and it doesn't take them long to learn not to eat at that particular feeder. We make sure they have plenty of shelled corn, so they surely don't go hungry!

• This year we have watched one of the squirrels build a nest in one of the big trees right behind the deck. It has a huge branch that is split and hollow and she ran up and down the branches, chewing off little twigs and running back into the split. Now there are a bunch of little sticks poking out of it and sometimes we can see her moving in there.

• We were surprised she picked that spot. It's like "main street" for the squirrels that are constantly running back and forth to the feeders for corn. I foresee some future squabbles on the highway!

• The first hummingbird this year was later than last year. He showed up on April 15th and a female was there two days later at the feeder. They never cease to amaze me....such tiny creatures that travel so far. They are incredible in every way!

ShadyntheBoro

ShadyntheBoro

things I love:

my family- unconditionally
a child's laughter
kittens
fried green tomatoes
scrapbooking
taking photos
kids
friends, old and new
taking the canoe out on the river
the beach
open windows in the house
birds singing
the scent of honeysuckle or lilacs
hummingbirds
the freedom we have in this country
my girlfriends- unconditionally
foot rubs
massages
asian food
crab meat and lobster
going barefoot
movies
email
unexpected cards or letters in the mail
dill pickle potato chips
pistachios
a good glass of wine, not too dry
sunlight thru a crystal
homegrown tomatoes
Mexican food
dancing
digging in the dirt (gardening)
walking trails
waterfalls
a good book
most music
Elvis

Time does fly...

Christmas has come and gone...a picture of Scott and I....

The time really does fly and in many areas of my life, I have good intentions but a lack of time to bring them all to reality! I have thought of posting to my blog several times over the last months, but when I get to my computer I get easily side-tracked or am just too tired to do it.

It is April....Easter has passed and in reading my last two posts, Life changes...goes on...and I am blessed. I am thankful for all that is good in my life; for my husband and for our families; for our church; for our friends always.

I could take the time to update I guess if I can remember everything that has changed in 15 months since I last posted. Wow! Robbin is doing good and keeping God first in her life after some setbacks last year. When friends ask how she is, I can say "she is doing good!" and that feels great! With God all things are possible!

Erin is married, has a baby boy 4 months old (Kolby) and recently starting attending church! There's no need to write about everything that has happened with her and her difficult times in the past months but I continue to pray for her and her marriage, her children and her life. I see her growing and some positive things in her life and this is answered prayers!

Gneis has met someone and is in a relationship now that seems to make her happy. I hope they are both happy for a long time.

Sheila is looking with excitement and trepidation to Jamie's graduation next month! It's hard to imagine her all grown up and out of school. I still remember vividly when she was born and her heart surgery and how absolutely adorable she was as a toddler and little girl. She has become a wonderful young lady and we are all so proud of her. I can't wait to give her something very special for her graduation that I won't mention here yet. It is a secret! :-)

Travis....21 years old and expecting a child! Another event to make me think "where the heck did the time go???" He moved in with his girlfriend for a brief time but they were having a hard time living together so he moved back home. They will go for an ultrasound next week to see how the baby is doing and maybe what the sex is. It is due in October '07.

The kids are good. Scott got a real good raise recently and bought a newer car. Brandy and Jason have decided to sell their house and build in a subdivision on Kimbro Rd. which we thinks is good because it will keep them close.
Austin and Cole are growing like weeds and Cole is quickly catching up with Austin in height although he won't be 5 until September. He will start kindergarten in July! It will be interesting to see how that goes. He is a smart little fellow and is looking forward to going to school with his brother.

Ronald and I stay busy...too busy sometimes...a lot of the time......We just finished Easter and all of the work that comes with the church service at MTSU. It was an awesome event and Murphy Center was full! As we talked about what all had to be done and what our commitments were, Ronald said, "It was just Hoedown the other day!" and October doesn't seem like it was months ago.

In speaking of Easter, which came on Apr. 8th this year, I have to mention the Spring weather. March was unseasonable warm pretty much all month with temperatures getting up to 80 or so on some days! We had no cold snaps and everything that blooms in the spring bloomed in such abundance and splendor that it was a delight to go outside or drive anywhere! The flowers and trees were totally awesome and there were a few nights when we even saw fireflies in the trees behind the house! We had record-breaking high temperatures in March. I told the pastor that I think God really showed off this year!

Four days before Easter, a cold front came in and dropped the temperatures like an anvil! We didn't get a frost, but two or three nights of a hard freeze and record-breaking lows! Easter morning, it was 29 degrees when we got up! The day before was cold with winds from the north that would cut right thru you and many plants and trees with tender new leaves were hit hard. There are forecasts of slim crops like strawberries, that will be affected. That is sad since I love strawberries so much! As we drove to Woodbury yesterday, Ronald said the hills along the road looked like late fall with all of the dead leaves on the trees. I hope they will be able to recover!

We went to pick up Ronald's minnow traps that he had set out earlier and when we got to the creek, he said he needed me to help him and I got out of the truck and followed him thru a field along the edge of the creek for a little way. He got to his trap, saw that he hadn't trapped any minnows and started to go down the bank to get it. He told me I needed to walk up the bank a little bit more and not understanding why, I proceeded to walk a bit farther. About 20 steps along, I suddenly noticed a small stump right on the edge of the creek bank with a goose sitting right next to it on her nest! I immediately stopped and was about 6 feet from her. The I realized why I had been sent along and I watched her for a few minutes as she watched me intently with her neck lowered and her eyes not leaving me for a second. If I had gone any closer, she clearly intended to attack me at the ankles to defend her nest! Ronald had startled her earlier when he came upon her and she flew off of the nest, revealing 5 or 6 eggs. I love seeing the creatures that we don't see in our day to day busyness. I have a good husband that recognizes just how cool that is and shares is with me!

I am newly recommitting to posting more regularly, Today is a good start!