Teenagers

You hear a lot of what is bad with teenagers, I would like to write about some good.
The other night, while driving in a local town, I saw three teenagers in a front yard making snowmen. It was a wonderful sight. The snowmen (there were two of them) were taller than the kids. They were having a ball making them. (Did you like the way I threw in the "ball" remark? I am just too clever!)
In church, several teenagers helped with the ceremony. They looked so saint-like in their actions. Also, sitting behind me were a couple of girls who sang like angels. It was wonderful hearing them. On the way out of church, I observed a young man helping an elderly woman down the church steps. I am sure it was either a grandma or an older relative, but it made me tear-up watching how gentle he was with her and how much care he gave to making sure that she was safe. He didn't mind how many people saw him or how long it took for her to maneuver her steps.
I know that these are just a couple of examples of what teenagers can do and I know that there are a lot more out there. We need to see the good things in them and not always the bad. We need to compliment them on a good performance and encourage them to keep it up. I honked and waved at the ones making a snowman, I told the girls after church how wonderful they sounded, and I thanked the young man for helping the grandmother. All of them smiled and that was a wonderful sight also.

Hands

I think one of the most beautiful body parts of a human is their hands. They can tell so much.
My mother's hands are starting to cripple up, but they are still a thing of beauty. When I look at her hands, I see all the times when I was little and had a bad dream. Those hands would stroke my hair and wipe my tears until I felt safe again. I see hands that have encircled me and given me some of the best hugs of my life. I see love.
When I look at my husband's hands, I see hands that work hard for a living. Not just at his job, but around the house. I see hands that are always helping the neighbors, especially the older ones, but also the ones with bigger families who are going through some very rough times and can use an extra hand or two. I also see him being gentle with the grandchildren and helping them learn how to fish, or build, or even just play patty cake and peek-a-boo. I see love.
When I see a child's hands, I see the future. I see the innocence and trusting of an individual with the world at its feet. I love to have a child put his hand in mine or cup my face in a very sweet sign of affection. I see love.
When I see my hands, I see hands willing to help anyone, anywhere. I see hands reaching out to protect the ones I love. And I see hands folding together to thank God for all the blessings He has given to me and to ask Him to make this world a safe and wonderful place to be. I feel love.

Music

Yesterday I wrote about talk radio, today I would like to tell you my views on music.
I am a music lover. I have it on all the time. I have a 101 CD player that is loaded always and has speakers in every room, including my outdoor space. I love to sit on my deck, eat a great meal with my family, and have music softly playing in the background.
I have radios in all the different rooms, including the shower.
I was raised with my mother's music so I know all the songs from the World Wars. I grew up when rock and roll made it's mark on the history pages. Those songs have a soft spot in my heart.
I love classical music, some country (if it isn't twangy or sappy), instrumental, and yes, even some of the modern songs.
I don't like "rap" that much, but I am intrigued with their ability to create a great beat with some of the "songs".
Christmas music is by far my favorite. You can catch me playing it all year long. When I am tired, it picks me right up. I carry a Christmas CD with me in the car so it will perk me up when I am driving.
I love music! I guess you could say that I carry a song in my heart. Come take a listen.

Talk Radio

I do not understand how someone can listen to talk radio. When I think of radio, I think of music, not talking.
My husband can listen to someone talking on the radio for hours. He will even listen to the guy who has no emotion in his voice. But as soon as I turn on some music that is a little on the slow side, he is saying that he wants something snappy or upbeat. What is upbeat to someone talking about the same thing over and over?
I especially do not like to listen to someone reporting on a sports event on the radio. How do you follow that? I can never figure out who is doing what. Give me a game to watch on TV anytime, but never on the radio.
I do have to admit that when I was growning up there was a radio program on every morning when we were getting ready for school. It was two old time announcers who would pretend to go out to the barn for the daily chores. You could hear the door squeak open then hear them talking to the different animals and the animals would make the proper sounds back.
I will never forget the time though that someone streaked through the program one morning and the two old guys talked about that for years. There was always a lot of laughter involved when they brought that subject up.
That show I wouldn't mind hearing again, or even Jack Benny, or Allen and Burns. Now that was talk radio. But I don't think my husband would like to hear them. I guess we will have to start using headphones.

Doctor's appointment!

My mom had a pace maker put in this past September. She has to go for tri-monthly checkups. The clinic is over an hour from her home.
The first one went perfectly. It was in October for a follow up to the surgery.
Her next appointment was for January 13th. We got snow.
They rescheduled the appointment for the next week, more snow. The next week, more snow and the next, yes, you have the pattern going now.
So after this last one couldn't happen, we skipped a couple of weeks. Her appointment is for Friday . . . and they are calling for freezing rain and snow starting Thursday night. I give up!
I think we are going to be done rescheduling until the weather gets better. Maybe we are keeping the snow around and I would like to see green grass sometime this year.

Letters

I know that letter writing is going out of style, but I am putting in a request from my readers for a giant favor.
Today I witnessed my mother intently reading a junk mail letter. I realized that she is letter starved. She has so little in her life right now that was so busy and rich just a handful of years ago. All she does now is watch TV (shows that she doesn't always understand or is able to hear), working on her sewing, getting an occasional phone call, and her mail.
I started to think of the other elderly living in their own homes or in nursing facilities, that are going through the same thing. It makes me sad to realize that we are so busy with our own lives that we are forgetting the ones who need us the most.
There are also the men and women in our armed forces who are needing some messages from US. They are out there night and day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, protecting this great country. We always seem to remember them at Christmas, but let's not forget the fact that they are still away from the homes that they love all the time.
A letter or card only takes a forty-four cent stamp to mail, and for twenty-eight cents you can send a postcard. I know that it will take a little of your time, but in our busy days we should be able to take a few minutes to let someone, somewhere know that we care. Come on America, pick up those pens! Send a message to a loved one who needs to know what is going on in your world. I know I am writing a few letters tonight, and the very first one is going to my mom so that in a few days, when she opens her mail, she will have a real letter to read.

Really???

I just received an e-mail that was suppose to be funny and instead I am sitting here saying to myself, "Really?". I sometimes wonder what people are thinking when they do certain things.
This image, that I am sure will take the rest of my life to get out of my memory, was of a little boy, sitting naked, holding a very sharp knife up close to his penis that he is holding with his other hand. The picture was taken up close and personal so it makes you wonder, did the adult who took the picture say to the child, "Hold still while I run get my camera?"
It is like the Christmas song that I can not stand. What mother, lying in her hospital bed dying, would want her husband to not be paying attention to their child, who is at a store by himself, dirty, trying to buy blue shoes for his mother. "Really?" That would be one sure way to bring me back from the dead because I would be jumping up out of that bed and kicking my husband's a**! He would have a lot of explaining to me on why he didn't know where in the heck my child was, let a lone why he was dirty! (I really do not like that song.)
I hear of children who are left in their homes by themselves for days and it breaks my heart. Or what about the mothers that would rather drown or shoot their children than to deal with the pressures of taking care of them. Give them to me. I will love them or find someone who wants to. Don't take pictures of them doing things that will hurt them and then have the dumbness to put it on the internet. If you get this e-mail, I beg you not to pass it on. Don't fuel this stupid behavior. Help make this world a better place for all children.

Lawn Ornaments

I really do not like many of the "fad" lawn ornaments that have been around for years. Do you remember the butt of the fat lady bending over in everyone's gardens? Or how about the little boy going to the bathroom? I have even seen that one on the back of some "red-necks'" pick-up trucks.
Then we got a little more sophisticated and started putting out cement geese dressed up differently daily depending on the weather. Gazing balls were also another big hit for many years. We had a visitor from another state who had never seen one of these balls before and was totally baffled by them. I didn't know for sure what to tell him other than they were called gazing balls and I wasn't sure what people gazed at when they looked at them.
I do have to admit that I have lawn ornaments. They are called trees and flowers. I also have grandchildren who on nice, warm sunny days run around the lawn and on cold, snowy days go sledding or skating. There are also the lawn ornaments around our fire pit any day of the year when we can get a campfire going to roast hot dogs and to make smores.
I feed my birds so I have a beautiful flock of them to brighten my lawn. And there are always the two dogs who love to sit on the porch or lie in the sun on the grass if it is warm enough.
So if you haven't anything to do this summer and would like to come sit with me and become a lawn ornament out by the pond, I will set out an extra lawn chair. Here's to the human kind of lawn ornaments!

USA

Three of the most powerful letters in the alphabet ~ U.S.A. I am so proud to be an American and to be able to take advantage of all the liberties that this country provides for all of US.
I have been watching what is going on in the Middle East and how they want what we have had since the beginning of our country. DEMOCRACY! How great were our fore fathers that they could put down on paper back in 1776 an unique idea that would make this country the greatest on the face of the earth.
I am so glad that I don't have to demonstrate for freedoms that we have, but I love the fact that I can demonstrate without threat to my life or to the lives of my loved ones.
I am also so very proud of all of the men and women that serve in our armed forces. I feel safe in my home knowing that they are out there protecting US day and night.
I love this country and all that it stands for. In John Wayne's words: "You ask me why I love Her? Well give me time, I'll explain. Have you seen a Kansas sunset or an Arizona rain? Have you drifted down a byute down Louisiana way or watch the cold fog drifting over San Francisco Bay? Have you heard a bobwhite calling in the Carolina pines or heard the bellow of a diesel in the Appalachian mines? Does the call of the Niagara thrill you when you hear her waters roar, look with awe and wonder at Her Massachusettes' shore where men who braved a hard new world to step on Plymouth Rock? Do you think of them when you stroll along a New York City dock? Have you seen a snowflake drifting in the Rockies way up high, have you seen the sun come blazing down on a bright Nevada sky? Have you hailed to the Columbia as She rushes to the sea, or how you headed to Gettysburg in our struggle to be free? Have you seen the mighty Tetons or watched an eagle soar, have you seen the Mississippi roll along the Missouri shore? Have you felt a chill in Michigan when on a winter's day the waters rage along the shore in a thunderous display? Does the word Aloha make you warm and stare in disbelief when you see the surf come thundering in on the reef? From Alaska's cold to the Everglades, from the Rio Grande to Maine, my heart cries out, my pulse runs fast with the might of her domain. You ask me why I love Her? I've a million reasons why. My Beautiful America, beneath God's wide, wide sky."
God Bless the U.S.A.

Computers

I sometimes think that computers try to tick us off. I got my laptop two years ago this coming May. Last June I had to get a new cord for it because the other one wouldn't charge my battery and wouldn't turn on the computer. It cost me sixty dollars.
Now my battery is going out on my laptop. I am sure that it won't be cheap for me to get a new one, but what can I do? It is probably more expensive to buy a new computer and it is sort of hard to get anything done on our desktop. It is still on dial up.
It just makes me wonder what can go wrong for next year? My key board, or maybe the screen will stop working. Yes, you got it, I am ticked off!

Jim Brickman

I was privileged to be able to attend another of Jim Brickman's concerts the other night. He is such a wonderful performer. I could sit and hear him play the piano for decades and not tire of his music.
My fantastic sister and my niece took me to the concert. It was my niece's first Jim Brickman concert, but my sister and I have been to many, many of his performances. We often travel out of state to attend.
Usually his concerts have been at Christmas time and we were a little worried about the difference in the music at this one, but he plays everything beautifully.
If you haven't heard of him, he is from Cleveland, Ohio originally and he travels with different artist, but it is usually Tracy Silverman on his electric violin and Ann Cochran singing. He has performed with many great stars, including Donny Osmond, which by the way was a fantastic concert. He has many great songs including The Gift, The Simple Things, and Rainbow Connection (Kermit the Frog).
If you can't get to a concert, try one of his many CD's or go online to JimBrickman.com and just check out his music. You won't be sorry that you did.

Family

My family is the best! They are always there for each other and in these times it is great to know that you have someone in your corner.
Yesterday was a long day for me, starting out in the dentist's chair for over two hours is not my idea way to begin any day but especially not Valentine's Day.
After this ordeal was over, I got the opportunity to spend some quality time with my mom. She is 85 and there are days when I can see sure signs of her slipping away from us. I am thrilled with each hour that I can spend with her. I do hear the same stories over and over but I laugh like it is the first time because hearing her laugh is one of my favorite things.
Later in the afternoon I had the privilege to watch two of my grandsons have their swim lesson. I was watching the three boys while their mom had a doctor's appointment. I left the one year old in the day care and everytime I went in to check on him, he would run up and hug my legs like it was the first time he had seen me in years. The two swimming would almost drown trying to wave to me or to give the thumbs up. It was too precious for words.
After getting them back to their house and doing homework, I put a movie on for the older ones, tucked the little one in bed, and left them in the hands of the babysitter who had come to relieve me.
Having a hour drive ahead of me, I started thinking about stopping at a fast food place for something for my husband and I for our supper. I wasn't going to get home until after nine so I didn't want anything to heavy. My cell phone rang and it was my son asking me to drop by his home on my way because he had fixed our meal. I am so glad that I taught my sons to cook. He had meatballs with his own homemade secret sauce and twice baked potatoes. What a treat and what a sweet son!
Life is good and I can't wait to see what today has in store.

Valentine's Day

Did your sweetheart remember you on Valentine's Day? Mine did! He got me flowers, a card, and some new baking dishes. Baking dishes, you ask? Yes, my husband thinks economically not sentimentally. And that is fine by me.
First of all, I am glad that he didn't get me chocolate because of my "more or less" year and it might have been hard not to eat "more".
And I am also glad that he didn't get me jewelry because I am wearing the pieces that I love the most and it might be hard not to wear something that he would give to me.
The flowers were just enough mush to get him through another year. At least until my birthday and then I would like the kind that can be planted instead of some that will have to be thrown away in a few days.
And for the first time in my life, I now have a glass bread pan. The other parts of the gift pack are good, but I have some of them. I am looking forward to making some bread!
I hope you all had a great day, even if you didn't wear read or have someone tell you how much they love you. I love you and that might just be enough for anyone. Have a great night, America!

The Wind

The wind is blowing fast and hard. It makes a lonesome sound.
I wonder when it blows like this, is anyone else around?
Am I alone upon the earth, does someone hear my cry?
Will I be safe here tonight under this dark, dark sky?
But as the trees shake and quiver with the wind creating a song,
I know that He is with me and will always right the wrong.

The sleepover!

The other night my daughter-in-law and her family were staying at our home overnight and my son and his family stopped by.
At 8:00 my daughter-in-law told her three boys that it was bed time. Their ages are six, four, and one year.
They got their pajamas on, brushed their teeth, said their prayers, and had a story read to them. My son's daughter, who is two, told her mom that she wanted to go night-night. So, up to bed she went with the boys. Her brother, not to be undone, wanted to go also. He is only two.
The little girl got into bed between the two older cousins. The two littlest boys shared a crib.
After they had gone to sleep we snuck up and took some pictures. I think they will become some of my favorite ones. I can't wait for the next sleepover.

Book Fairs

How much fun are book fairs? When I was in school, I loved to go to them and see all the beautiful covers with all of the bright colors. Every book looked more intriguing than the one before. I wanted everyone that I saw. But it was hard for mom to come up with the extra money, they cost all of fity cents up to two dollars. So I had to be careful that I got the one that I really wanted.
My sister was just a year older than me so we would pick out books that would interest both of us and that way we got twice the books. We started reading A One of a Kind Family series and The Box Car Children series. We would read and reread them until the covers almost fell off. We were in heaven every single night and anytime there were days that we HAD to stay inside.
Tonight my grandson experienced his first book fair. The prices have gone up slightly, now they are anywhere from four dollars to eight. He was just as excited as I had been those long years ago. He too was having a very hard time picking out just one book. He ended up picking out one for himself and one each for his younger brothers and sister. How sweet is that?

The Cardinal is never wrong!

I am a big lover of birds. I don't even mind the occasional sparrow. But wild birds are my very favorite.
We put bird feed out all year round. My husband is forever looking for the best sunflower seed that he can find. Me personally, I just go get wild bird feed and let it go at that. He doesn't like it when I do though, so normally this is one of his jobs.
The thing about wild birds is they always let you know when a storm is coming. They are better at predicting the forecast than the area weathermen. Everytime before a big storm, somewhere within forty-eight hours, the wild birds, especially the cardinals, will come up to the feeder and stock up on seeds. Just like we hear there is a storm coming and run to the store to get plenty of junk food and staples to make it through whatever.
The birds have never let me down. I can get to the store long before everyone else and be back safe in my home watching for what is going to happen in the skies. So put out some bird feed and watch for your own little weather birds!

Sleep

What a wonderful thing sleep can be, that is if you get enough of it. I love to sleep at night and when I have a bad night, it shows the next day.
It's very unsettling when people tell you that you look tired. That is something that you don't have to hear because you already know it and it doesn't help to know that someone can see it also.
I am also one that doesn't like to get up in the night. My husband on the other hand can get up several times at night and then fall right back to sleep. If I get up, I might as well stay up because I am done sleeping for the night.
My husband also can fall asleep while sitting in a chair watching TV. There is no way that I am going to take him to a movie because I pay $10 for him to get a nap.
Speaking of naps, why do children fight them and adults fight not to take one? Maybe if we just switch places at those times, let the children run the offices and we curl up on a nap mat, things might be different. I am sure they would be, there wouldn't be much of a world left. Most of the children wouldn't even know how to answer a phone let alone run a machine. I guess we better just get more sleep at night and enjoy those cat naps when we can fit one in.

Super Bowl Sunday

What a greatday! Went to church with our daughter-in-law and her children and then ended up at Buffalow Wild Wings for lunch. They were having forty cent wings and there wasn't anyone in the place. It was a great time to be there.
When we got home, part of the rest of the family were already here ready to party out in the party barn. The others soon showed up. We had frozen pizzas and lost of appitizers. Everyone pitched in to help get the food ready.
We had a great time watching the ball game and the commercials. They seemed a lot better this year. We also had the grandchildren playing foose ball and other toys. A couple of the daughter-in-laws worked on a jigsaw puzzle.
The game ended as we had hoped, since all of us were cheering for the Green Bay Packers. Most of the little ones didn't make it to the end of the game, but that was okay because we got a lot of goodnight kisses.
The sad part of the whole evening is that it is a long time until football is on our TV sets again. But if the next couple of months fly by as quickly as the first two have, we will just be turning around and it will be fall and time for those games to start again.

Day Three!

Today was a day to play outside. Snow forts were built and lots of sledding down the hill.
The pond was cleared off and my grandson caught a fish. Maybe some ice skating tonight or tomorrow night.
Right now, while supper is in the final stages of cooking, we are sitting around the table playing cards and working on computers. A lot of talking is going on about various topics and we are just enjoying being in out of the cold.
My daughters-in-law and myself did another workout and plan on doing so the rest of the weekend. We would like to continue our support group and try to get in shape together. We want to get my other daughter-in-law to join us.
All-in-all, it has been a fun filled three days. It makes me want to pray for another blizzard soon.

Update on the Blizzard of 2011!

Well, we have been snowed in for two days and are loving each minute. We have done crafts, played games, and eaten a lot of junk food. Actually, I have done very well with my less and more concept for the year and have stayed away from the junk.
My two daughter-in-laws and myself did a workout today and will probably do it again tomorrow because we just found out that my one daughter-in-law has been called off again. Yea! Another day!
The boys went outside to play, including my son who had a great time digging out the driveway with his front loader.
All-in-all I am hoping that this stays around until the weekend so we can keep the party going. If you are in the neighborhood, stop in for a cup of hot chocolate and some fun.













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The blizzard of 2011!

I saw a satellite view of the United States. The current storm/blizzard is covering from Texas to Maine. Some places are getting snow, others ice and a combination.
Yesterday stores were packed with shoppers stocking up on bread, milk, eggs and junk food to keep the kids quiet for awhile. Today schools are closed and those kids who have already gone through all the sugar coated stuff are out burning off the extra energy by sliding down snow banks.
I am cleaning my house and baby proofing it because my daughter-in-law is coming over with her four. They have a lot of ice and she is afraid that the electricity will go off. If I were her I would want help trying to keep the four entertained. I am sure my son that lives down the road will come help keep the boys busy with snowmobile rides and snowball fights.
So if you are at home today, have fun! If you are at work, be careful when you drive. But just remember that we are not in this alone. There are a lot of people in the area of "The Blizzard of 2011!"