Wow.......It has been way too long!

I think I will take a quick lesson from my dear friend Christie and be a little bit random with this one....

SO much has been going on and SO much is changing and will continue to change.  Gosh, if there was no change sure would be a boring world though.

First off let me just say.....in looking at my FB news feed these days I am just totally amused at the different attitudes and opinions of this "Fifty Shades of Grey"  I mean really if it isn't someone acting like a school aged kid who just got a peek of their friends parent's VHS Porn in the basement while the parents were asleep it is the complete opposite with the entire "You can't be Christian and watch this movie or read the book, it will destroy your marriage"  OH BS on both counts.  My mother-in-law I just know is looking down on this crazy world saying "Ahhh for F@#*& Sake Give Over Already" (ha ha the English can say that btw)  I swear I can hear her in my ear at this moment!  It makes me laugh.  People really do need to get over it and get over themselves.  I could honestly care less one way or the other, watch it, don't watch it,  but dang live your life, make your choices and quit trying to preach to everyone else.  I am 1000% positive you are all flawed in some way just like the rest of us.  Get off your high horses and stop acting like you are so amazingly wonderful and insightful.  Not to mention.......it isn't porn either, so before you start throwing that word out maybe you should educate yourself a bit. In the mean time stop being so stinking judgmental of everyone who is different from you.   Just sayin'

My friends are as eclectic as my musical tastes which most find to be all over the place LOL  This is something I find when reading my news feed.  If you are on my page there is a reason and I assure it is not because we are just alike. How BLAH would that be! Accept that everyone of us is different in some way.  Stop judging and embrace it.  Learn from it, grow from it. 

Our house is so upside down right now and it is driving me mad.  Every time someone says "Oh you don't have long"  "That little baby of yours is going to be here sooner than you think"  I go into complete stress mode!  Yes I WANT him here all safe and sound but I also want this house right side up again before he makes his arrival.  My Husband "We have time"  Me "OMG....this house is never going to be ready on time"  LOL  Good thing we balance one another out.

I have some chores to do here at home so this isn't a long post but it is a start at getting back to this blog......lol

On a final note.....My eclectic music tastes also have a little to do with my desire to understand what one writes/sings about.  Rob Thomas, like many, writes about what he knows.  There is a song called Her Diamonds  The song is about his wife Marisol who suffers from an Auto-Immune disease.  If you aren't familiar with Auto-Immune diseases ( there are a lot ) you should really read up.  You should stop and think in the future before you pass judgement or before you open your mouth saying something you can't take back that will affect another human to the core.  I know several who suffer from various types of Auto-Immune diseases.  Heck I have 2 myself one of which I only learned of a few years ago and the other I only learned of 6 months ago.  Man, it sure did explain some things I had wondered about for sure.  My sweet niece Starla battles one daily!  None the less.....You never really know what is going on with someone at first glance. 

I always like to share a quote.  I just reminded someone of this quote.  I learn more and more that it is SO true!  Quote by:  Theodor Seuss Geisel aka Dr Seuss (although there seems to be some uncertainty out there as to who really came up with this quote)

"Those Who Mind Don’t Matter, and Those Who Matter Don’t Mind"

The 15 Minute Challenge

My husband and I were discussing this sort of thing last night.  Sometimes we want to help and feel like we can't do "enough" to help.  What is "enough" really?  Every year that I have raised money for Relay, Race for the Cure and so on I have kept 1 solid mentality......Every single $1 helps!  I had $2 donations one year, guess what?  I was just as grateful and it all added up in the end just the same!

There are 774 friends on my facebook page.  We can add on top of that Twitter and Instagram as well.  Wow.....Imagine if each person donated ONLY One Single $1.  That would be HUGE!

When I was a little girl my mom saved pennies.  Just pennies.  Mom took all 5 of us to the movies with drinks and popcorn with her bucket of pennies.  It was a lesson (although I am not so sure it was the intention) but none the less a lesson I will never forget.

We all have our own struggles and needs and that is totally understandable.  A girl I went to school with reposted a page to a gal raising money for medical treatment a few weeks ago.  No clue who the girl was or anything like that.  Here I am trying to help this family so dear to me raise money for medical expenses with all the have been going through as well but I stopped, followed the link and donated $10.  That is a trip to Starbucks for most people.  My nephew actually works there now PT while going to Nursing College and he was talking about the $$ people throw down on coffee.....lol  It is very true though!

So there is a 15 minute challenge I came across online......

Set a timer for 15 minutes and run around your house, your garage, your car and round up as much spare change as you can find. Check pockets, purses, sofa cushions

I was on work break so I only spent about 6 minutes to be honest and let me show you in the pictures below what I found.....Well over $1 in just 6 minutes.

So, for just a few minutes a day you can help this family get their child the help she needs and a little reassurance that they will be able to focus all their time and attention on getting her better rather than the every day things that we so often take for granted ourselves.

Just a thought and a Reminder that EVERY Single $1 Helps more than we even know.

Do you have a few minutes of your day to take the challenge?

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/angels-needed-for-starla-and-joshua/82589

Meet my niece Starla and my brother-in-law Joshua

MEET Starla

Starla is a bright 15 year old that has been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease.  Starla was a normal young lady until the symptoms of Meniere's started showing themselves about 9 months ago.  Most young people at this age are excited about hanging out with friends, high school, getting their drivers licenses, dating, sports, part-time jobs, but Meniere's has robbed this special young lady of all these things.

Starla has constant ringing in her ears, her balance is very unstable, the room is constantly spinning which makes her physically ill, reading her school books is nearly impossible due to her eyes bouncing so much and the lack of being able to focus on the words.  Starla's hearing is not so good in her left ear; she could become deaf in her left ear (possibly both ears) over time.  She is in need of constant supervision and at times can't even shower without someone with her.  She has fallen so many times and gotten hurt because her balance is so bad.  Her days are long, painful and exhausting; she tries so hard to be symptoms free and does everything the doctors tell her.  There is no cure for Meniere's Disease, the only thing they an do is try to manage the symptoms and pray for a period of time that she may go into remission.

Starla has been working with doctors in her hometown as well as Knoxville, TN.  She has been referred to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville TN.  These trips are very long and difficult on Starla and her family.

MEET JOSHUA

Joshua is Starla's step-father, he is a hard working man that is the main supporter for their family.  Nearly 2 months ago Joshua had an accident that left him with a Traumatic Brain Injury.  Joshua is 38 years old and due to the accident he has no memories of the past 38 years of his life.  He is having to relearn who "HE" is, who the people around him are (including his wife and kids), he has no memory of his job or what he does, is learning basic things all over again.

Joshua has started having seizures now due to the Traumatic Brain Injury, this has been a very scary thing for him and his family to go through.  He has been working with a specialist and working on recovery.  It is very upsetting for Joshua knowing that he was always a hard working man with a "family first and most important" attitude and now due to the accident he is unable to work and support his family and feeling so lost inside his own mind.  Imagine, if you will, waking up one day and everything about who you are is gone in an instant.

The family has always been the typed of family that reaches out to help others no questions asked.  The family has always been there to help family, friends, a neighbor or community as a whole.  Now their world has been turned upside down to say the least.  There are three other children in this family, two of which have just graduated high school and starting college and one that is a "special needs' and a junior in high school. - 

See ➡ http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/angels-needed-for-starla-and-joshua/82589

Every $1 helps and donations are tax deductible. Please feel free to ask questions and share with others you know. 

YIKES!

I figure when John informs me it has been too long since I have updated my blog it has clearly been WAY TOO LONG.  ha ha ha  I am not real sure where to start.  So much has been going on since March.  Things are moving along.  I go to Atlanta the 14th to pick up my dress.  Nervous and excited all at the same time.  Haven't seen it since January not to mention the one I tried on wasn't even white so its going to be interesting.  It took a little more effort than we would have liked but we did find a photographer for the wedding and got that all booked and sorted.  They did a 2nd engagement shoot for us (we were not so pleased with the first guy) and we were very happy with them.  They knew what they were doing, where the best shots were and best of all they shoot at Biltmore several times a month so they are very familiar with the layout there and what works.  There are some photos on my FB page for those of you on there and if not here are a couple.

Our little family begins......
(Photos by Two Ring Studios Asheville, NC)

We are quickly checking items off of the "To-Do" list that has been haunting me in my sleep!  lol  Ceremony, Cake, Photographer, Dinner after, Bouquets, Makeup for myself, the girls and my mother, favors (purchased but not put together) are all complete and marked off the list.  Still more to do but I feel much better seeing things marked off.   I wanted to do the nice custom hangers but just refused to pay $20-$40 each for them online.  So I started investigating, went to Hobby Lobby and put John to work!  I think so far he has done a great job!

LOL - For real, I have tried like 20 times and this keeps posting upside down!
Hopefully you can still see he did a WONDERFUL job!!

Work is going GREAT!  I absolutely love my job.  I think about everything going on in my life and everything going on around me.  I think about those around me, where they are and  where I was a year ago.  I can honestly say that everyday I sit down to work I realize how completely BLESSED I am to have the job I have now.  The ways this job has blessed my life are just endless.  I am SO THANKFUL!  A couple weeks ago I went to Nashville for some training with 35 members of my team and then we went to Nurses for Newborns for a Community Outreach Project.  I love that UHC works so hard throughout the entire company to encourage these sorts of projects all over the US.  They also work very hard to promote healthy living for their customers as well as every employee.  My team is wonderful and every one is so nice and so helpful.  There is never a concern when needing to reach out as you are always met with one or more willing to help you however they can.  I said on the way home from that long work day to those in the van I was riding in - I have worked in small offices with a few people and I have worked in an office with 100+ office employees sitting all around you and I have never felt such a sense of TEAM as I do now.  Odd since we each work from home and don't see one another daily but it is the truth.  It truly is a wonderful blessing I am forever grateful for.


I am positive there are a million more things I could write about and update on but I am thinking for the sake of everyone's time I will simply try and do a better job of keeping up.


Hope everyone has a wonderful remainder of the week!

The way to gain a good reputation, 

is to endeavor to be

what you desire to appear. 

~Socrates

From yesterday's blog.     http://rens2011dailysnapshot.blogspot.com/
I can't believe I haven't missed a photo post since I stated 1/1/2011!

Oh my goodness......It has been way too long!

So, I just don't know where to start.  I haven't written since December, shame on me!  Anyway as always there has been A LOT going on.  The new job is still going well.  I enjoy being home, I enjoy sleeping better and less stress!!  YAY!!  I have learned lately from questions from various people that there is a huge misconception about my job.  Yes, I work at home.  Yes, I can work in my pjs.  BUT I do way more work!  I am busy all day long.  I don't get much free time at all.  It is OK though, I enjoy it.  I would rather be sitting here at 3:45 and realize that I should have quit working at 3:30 rather than to be sitting there at 1:45 watching the clock and waiting for the day to end.  The job is very detail oriented.  You are dealing with claims, medical coverage and all so everything has to be entered in correctly.  I work for a great organization and one that has this telecommuter thing down to a science.  Everyone assumes that you can just do as you wish and nobody will know....HA!  No, they monitor everything (Wouldn't you?  I would!)  Of course, I have the mind set that if you are doing your job and doing what you are supposed to do then who cares?  I don't.  Of course after explaining all of this to my nephew yesterday he decided it was a bit too much for him that he was not cut out for working from home.  Truth.....not everyone can work from home.  You can't be distracted by everything else around you.  It takes a lot of self discipline and self motivating.  It works great for me but again, no, it isn't for everyone.  I am very happy with it though.


The kids are doing well.  Starla starts high school next year and JD will be a senior......CRAZY!  They are both so amazing though!  


Wedding plans are moving along.  We will be getting married on the hill at Diana at Biltmore on October 7th.  My dress was ordered in Jan.....good lord, I can't believe it takes 4-6 months to get a dress....craziness.  Working with a photographer on our Engagement photos and so long as all goes well we will have him booked for the wedding as well.  So location - booked, music - booked, Cake - tasting is the 21st...YUM, Shoes - purchased and are safely packed away, I am doing my own flowers and have started working on those.  Mom and I are going in the morning to choose fabric for the bridesmaid dresses.  I am working on favor bags and looking at some different options.  So......it is still a work in progress but things are moving along and a decent pace.

I went to school with this designer, check her out!
http://annrothshoes.com/

Gracie is GREAT and spoiled as ever!  How can you not love a face like that.....she is my baby!  John is like her little buddy which is HILARIOUS since everyone knew him to "not be a dog person".  They go on little hikes together and everything.  Ha ha see.....you can't help by love her.

SNAPSHOTS......Well I am still doing this.  Can you believe it?  Since Jan 1, 2011 I haven't missed a single day. I have posted a picture every day.  I am working on my 2011 coffee table book but some of my photos were not uploading the other day....gotta figure out what is up with that.

JEEP!  Yep, got a new Jeep.  Well John traded the C7 and got the Jeep so he could "play" on weekends and I could drive it and he drive my car to work now.  I am good with that because I LOVE the Jeep!

So.......I guess there is a quick run down.  LOL  I will have to get better at this updating for sure!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring weather!

" People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. 

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. 

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. 

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. 

Give your best anyway. 

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. 

It was never between you and them anyway.” 

~ Mother Teresa

Ok.....I have been SO busy!

So, so much has happened so I will try and do a decent but not too long update! Let's see.....The end of October I started a new job!  I am now a Clinical Administrative Coordinator for United HealthCare.  I have a home office which is a big change.  All learning has been virtual but I must say, they have a good set up.  So far it has been a great experience.  Everyone has been very kind and welcoming.  We got a power point today of the veteran staff so that was great to put faces with names and voices.  We have a Christmas party coming up in Nashville so I will soon get to meet a number of them which I am looking forward to. Thankful for the new direction!

Mom says the picture doesn't do it
justice but this is the best I can do.
It's BEAUTIFUL

If you are on FB then you likely already know but if not......I became engaged Thanksgiving Day!  I am sure you have heard me talk before about John and of course he is on FB.  He is from England.  We seem to balance one another well.  Knowing I am a bit of a traditional person he arranged to get my mom and dad bother together the night before for dinner and asked them both.  I love that he did that.  So many just don't do it these days.  We are planning for fall 2012.  Having some issues with the location we originally wanted so not 100% sure on that yet.  I know, I myself never thought I would agree to get married after some of what I have been through.  I feel good about it though.  


New experiences this year, new friends, new job, new future.........I truly did set out on a mission this year though.  I set out not with any one particular "resolution" but I set out to CHANGE the way I did things.  I made myself get out and do things I wouldn't normally do, hiking by myself, seeing a movie by myself, I challenged myself to make changes in the people I surround myself with; focusing more on those that have a positive influence in my life and reducing the focus on those that don't.  I challenged myself on my snapshot blog and as of today I have not missed a post for every day this year.....personally that was one I didn't think I would accomplish!  LOL  Maybe those are the resolutions we should be making for ourselves. Not always big things either, sometimes just the simplest changes make such a huge impact.  Make yourself step out of your box.  It really has made such a difference in the past year. 

My little Gracie turned 7 on December 11th!  

We took her to see Santa and then of course took her annual photo. 

I just love her.  She is so rotten!

Well there is my update for now! 

 Hope everyone is getting ready for CHRISTmas 

and has a wonderful time with their loved ones!

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time."

  ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Well, not sure where to start.  The past month has been CRAZY!  Lot's going on, ups and downs.  I guess my last blog was when I went to Cincinnati.  That has been a while.  So I received a call on my birthday with a job offer.  What a gift!  There were a lot of security and background checks in the process so it took a few weeks to get everything in order.  I started the end of October.  So far it is going great.  I have looked for over a year and it has been such a relief to have finally found something that worked for me.  I now work for United HealthCare. I have a home office which I must say I am enjoying so far.  I spend my days by the french doors and with my little Gracie under my feet.  I am looking forward to the first snow for sure!  There has been quite a bit of classes and training and more to come but even with that it has been a very refreshing change which I am very thankful for.  My nephew (my brother's son) passed away a month ago in a tragic accident.  He and his wife are struggling still, very understandably, and can still use LOTS of prayers.  My heart aches for them daily and I so wish I could fix it for them but I just can't.  Starla's birthday was the 2nd as well, she had a wonderful day and I think she got everything she asked for!  After that it was on to new job, new training and getting ready for my sisters wedding. Yes, all of that jam packed into just a few weeks.  My sister got married on 11/11/11 and I think now has a lot of her stress and anxiety relieved so that is great.  She can chill a little now.  Jeramy is doing great, good in school and with friends.  Starla decided (on her own) to start volunteering at Riding High.  A local stable that works with horses and special needs children.  Very proud of her for doing this at her age and she has  really been enjoying it.  We have a program here called TAG (talented and gifted students).  They do these classes each winter at the local college.  Children must be referred by a teach and a counselor so it is not something they can just sign up for.  Jearmy did this both 7th & 8th grade, the only years it is available for them.  Starla hoped to go in 7th grade but didn't.  This year, SHE DID!  She has been so excited about it and has already picked up her classes.  So over winter break she will actually get to go to the local college and take courses.  There are only so may student chosen from the surround areas and they narrow those down so it is a big thing.  Class has been pretty heavy the past 2 weeks so I am looking forward to a 3 day work week and a long weekend!  It has been over a month since I have blogged so this is just a quick summary blog.  I will try and do better as things start to settle down!  Hope everything has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with those they love. Enjoy every moment, take nothing for granted.....We are not promised tomorrow.

Misty & Joshua 11-11-11

"If you treat Thanksgiving Day as a mere custom, then you are missing out on the true meaning of the holiday. As much as we enjoy Thanksgiving for the dinner and the festivities, we must also rejoice for our good fortune. So, have fun with your family this thanksgiving, but don't forget to say 'thank you.' And if you are fumbling for meaningful words, read these thanksgiving inspirational quotes for a push in the right direction."

~ Izaak Walton

Way too long....

Ok, it has been WAY TOO LONG since I have updated my blog.  Sorry, I have been so busy though!  Not sure where to even start to get caught up so I will just go with the flow.  I will try and post some pictures for you as well.  Starla has knee surgery on the 11th.  It has pretty much ruined her summer but she has been so good about it.  She has been a total trooper.  She will just get a late beach trip this year.  The weather has been crazy here since first of April.  Tornados and everything which generally we do not get here.  Lots of hail!  I have had my car repaired and I am now collecting quotes on the roof.  I hate it had to happen that way but it will nice to have a new roof.   I am thankful I am not dealing which much bigger issues.  We didn't have much of a spring in terms of weather so I am ready for fall.   LOL  I am so not a dead of heat kind of person.  The 70's are for me.  I like comfort and nice breezes.  

I am still keeping up with my Snapshot blog.  We are halfway through the year and I haven't missed a single post.  I am so surprised at myself, I never thought I would be able to keep it up this long without missing a day!

Cades Cove 6.26.11

I started at the Gym June 4th.  I have done well going at least 3 times a week.  I even got up and went yesterday morning on my day off at 8am and I go every Saturday at 8am.  A lot of misconceptions with that place for sure.  I wish I had joined that one last year and I joined Curves.  That was such a waste of money.  Anyway, I am doing it now and determined.  VERY!  I got a "Buddy Membership" so I can always take someone with me which has been great too because when one person can't go with me someone else can meet me there so it helps me to keep it up!

Poor Gracie!  She had like 6 baths in 3 hours!

Let's see, the week of June 14th was rough!  My little Gracie got sprayed in the face by a skunk at 1:30 am!  It was AWFUL!  Oh my gosh, I feel bad for her.  I mean here we are July 5th and she still has a little bit of skunk breathe!  It was an adventure for sure and one I hope to not have to deal with again.  YUCK!  (Only did the gym 2 days that week, had to skip the 15th due to the fact that I smelled like a skunk too!)

Work is still just work.  No major changes.  Still doing the dating thing.  Seems to be going smoothly so far, just taking things a day at a time.  It has been going well though and in a positive direction so I don't suppose I can complain there.

Still getting out and about and everywhere.  Cades Cove is always in there somewhere.  Found a new little local place called Parrot Mountain which was pretty neat.  Some great pics that day.  So many beautiful and bright colors.  This past weekend was sort of a lazy weekend.  Watched movies stayed local.  No day long road trips.  Need those weekends here and there for sure.  Went to the park Sat evening for my "daily snapshot" and ended up getting to watch some fireworks from the over look with just about 15-20 others so it was nice to do that and have no crowds!

This one had personality!

No zoom, you can really get this close!

Great view from Panther Creek Overlook!

Anyway, I will try and do better about updating.  I am SURE I have missed things in this post but hopefully I will pick them up here and there. Hope everyone has a nice short work week!

Hope Everyone Had A Safe & Happy July 4th Weekend!

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

~Ronald Reagan

So, I have been a bit slack due to the simple fact that I just haven't been home much!  So today I took my nephew to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean IMAX 3D movie.  We made a trip by Dillards so I could pick up a few things and then we headed to lunch at Calhouns.  Food was great as always and our waitress was quite entertaining as well.  My nephew cracks me up.  As most know I sort of swore off dating for some time and well recently I decided to get back into it.  So, my nephew decided it was time he tell me what HE thought was important for me to focus on.  (He is 16 so that makes it that much better)  So listed below are the things he thought were Important:

• He has to be very good to me
• He should be able to get along with him (my nephew - ha ha ha, gotta love him)
• He should make me laugh
• He should take me nice places 
• He should have a good job
• He should enjoy some of the same things that I enjoy doing
• He should not enjoy something that will occupy too much of his time and take attention away from me (this one made me giggle)
• More importantly he says, this guy should NOT hurt me.  If he does he will break his legs and .....Well I just wont repeat the rest of that but I am sure you get the point there.
• Oh, and he said that he needed to be quick and witty.  Since I am...lol
• He said that he can't be easily intimidated.  
• He has to be able to keep up.
• He said in some aspects he needs to counter me.

We discussed marriage and kids and all that stuff.  I also discovered that there are "bonus points" added for the one that actually asked if my nephew approved!  LMAO!  He was not too keen on the idea of me possibly getting married in the future.  He said that when people are not as good as they should be that Divorce ends up causing a lot of hurt and that he does not want me to be hurt that this would really, really upset him.  He is an insightful little thing isn't he?  So, even though he is in this stage of "I want to be a BA"  (bad ass, of course the fact that he doesn't even say it says a lot)  lol  It is very clear that he is a smart and loving young man.

IMAX was good as always - Can you go wrong with a 60' screen?

So tomorrow will be Starla's day.  We have plans to go see Bridesmaids.  I hear it is pretty funny.  She is a little in "girly" mode and decided that POTC 3 was just of no interest to her at this time.  LOL  No biggie, I haven't seen a lot of movies in the theatre lately so I am happy to take her.

I am way behind on house cleaning so I am hoping this next week to get caught up on that for sure!!  I can't stand that my house is so dirty!  Good lord, I have become my parents!  EEEKKKK

So, anyway there is a quick little update on things.  I will try and write more later!!

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than youever dreamed yourself to be.

~ Patanjali – the author of Yoga Sutra

M♥M

Well, today is Mother's Day and My Mother is, AMAZING.

 

My teacher, my rock, My Best Friend!

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

~ Washington Irving 

I must admit, we do have our moments but, no matter what I always know that when nobody else is in my corner, SHE IS.  She is always there no matter what my sister and I or the kids need.  Really, she is always there for anyone, not just us.  She has always been that way though.  She taught us about God, how to be polite and respectful, how to be a friend and how to share. She taught us how to cook, knowing she would never actually stop; she taught us how to take care of ourselves.  She taught us the perfect way to roast a marsh mellow, how to laugh; even when we don't always feel like it.  She taught us to get out, explore, and this one is very important...when you gotta go, you gotta go but; never go up hill because that will get your shoes wet!  LOL


I know over the years my sister and I have absolutely put her through some hell; we were kids, we don't always do as we are taught.  Good and Bad, all of the proud and not so proud moments; Mom has never given up on us, she has always had our back and always been there to fight for us.  She taught us all of the big and little things in life but more than anything for her undying and unconditional love for us she taught us how to love; being the most amazing example one could ask for.  My mom has sort of always been everyone else's mom.  I have a couple friends during my teen years that actually lived with us for a while.  I remember growing up the BVS Football team always yelled "Hi Mom!" as soon as they saw her.  The kids always gathered at the house, we played ball in the back yard, fought in the front yard and she was always there.  Jimmy came to her when he fought with his father, Josh hung out and even went shopping the day after Thanksgiving, Geoff was willing to clean or so do anything she asked.  I am pretty sure he was much better behaved for her than anyone he has ever known.  When one girl was out with friends, drinking and terrified to go home in the middle of the night she knew it was OK to call Joyce and she would take care of her.  As always, she did.  Over the years we have no doubt become best friends.  We shop together, travel together and yes we actually "hang out".  For 15 years it was just my mother and I.  I can always depend on her.  Growing up she always set her own wants and needs aside for us kids and to this day she still does that very same thing.  I could not have asked for a better and more loving mother.

Because I feel that in the heavens above

The angels, whispering one to another,

Can find among their burning tears of love,

None so devotional as that of "Mother,"

Therefore, by that dear name I have long called you,

You who are more than mother unto me.

~Edgar Allan Poe

There are 365 days in every year.  Make no mistake, I recognize daily how blessed I am to have MY M♥M.  I have so many friends that have lost their mother's at such young ages.  I have a number of friends who's mothers are too far away for them to see.  I even know a few that never had the blessing of meeting their mothers, but I know their mother's have met them and watch over them daily, patiently awaiting the day they will finally meet again.  I often say a little prayer for them when I am thinking how lucky I am to have her and even more how lucky I am there she is literally just a call away when I need her.  I call her every day, not out of obligation or request but because it simply puts my heart at ease.  That will never change!  I could ramble on forever and ever about all the reasons I love my mother and about all the things that make her so wonderful so I will just stop now....LOL


To all of my friends that are Mother's, I hope you all have a beautiful and blessed day with those you love!  Love you!

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. 

~ Jewish Proverb

It just seems to be a very long week.  I think I said yesterday that it was dragging a long like a fat bag of bricks! No joke!  It has just been one of those weeks.  My ability to procrastinate with certain things seems to be beating me at the moment.  I really need to get it in gear.  I need to get my  house cleaned.  I need to get the weeds taken care of under the porch before they consume me.  I need to find a way to clear my mind, to relax, to just be.  I need a BREAK!  I feel like I have just has so much going on.  I actually overslept Monday morning...this is simply not something I do.  I don't recall the last time I had a decent night's sleep but if I had to guess it might have happened then, had I not had to get up of course.  I find myself lately forgetting things or overlooking simple things, this is not my nature.  I don't forget anything and I am overly observant.  I don't feel like I have been lately though. 

I always seem to have a million different things on my mind.  Some things stick and some slowly, over time fall away. Gotta clear my mind.

I read this and it just seems to be resonating with me right now for whatever reason.

Sometimes you have to say no to the good,

so that you can say yes to the better

~ thanks for that amylee

So we are approaching a holiday and in typical, spoiled, unappreciative fashion this individual I often speak of is already complaining about what they will or will not be getting for Mother's day.  I mean good lord, give it a rest already.  Someone said "Hell, what's it matter, no matter what he gets you he will be in trouble. It is either not enough or too much or not the right 'fit' or too cheap or to expensive."  LMAO!  I don't think she took too much to that but seriously that is exactly what it is.  I get so tired or such ungrateful asses.  With all that has happened these past couple weeks, with people in our own community that have lost everything they own, some have lost loved ones and you are really going to continue to be such a pompous ass.  WOW....It just never ceases to amaze me, the behavior of others who seem to live in their own little world.  I mean really, The Truman Show was just a movie.  The world simply just does not revolve solely around you. Of course these are also the types of people that when something goes wrong in "their world" they expect everyone to stop, drop everything and devote themselves to them.  Not going to happen.

Maybe SHE should take a moment to look at the images below.  20 minutes or so from where we live and work.  Yes we have dented cars, cracked/broken glass, tress and shrubs that had seen better days but come on, you can't look at these images and really tell me any of us have a damn right to be complaining about material things in life. 

Camp Creek Community in Greene County Tennessee.

 

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, 

nor the most intelligent that survives. 

It is the one that is the most adaptable to change"

~ Charles Darwin