2008

Looking back at the last eleven months, I find myself looking forward to 2009. I have been tested, rewarded, and tested again. I can hardly believe that I’m staring at 2009! Where has the time gone?

I’ve learned more about myself this year and hopefully I’ve been there for others during their struggles too. I know that I’m blessed and in everything there is good. Sometimes it’s hard to see at first, but there is always a lesson in it.

Last February I took the princess to the Ophthalmologist to learn if her daily headaches were caused by poor eyesight. The eye doctor insisted that we meet with a Neurologist who prescribed some anti-seizure medicine that made her feel awful. Her blood pressure dropped so low that she couldn’t get out of bed! I was at my wits end! I cried a lot and prayed to figure out where to turn for help. I ended up taking her to my Chiropractor because I know him and trust him. He told me that he couldn’t legally tell me to stop giving her the medicine…twice. Then he adjusted her neck and explained that her heavy school bag was pulling on her neck thus causing the headaches. I threw the meds out and four adjustments later she was headache free!

We had two major spring storms that brought several thousand dollars in damage to our home and car. The hail storm in April was amazing! I’ve never seen baseball size hail before in my life! I happened to be watching the station that I work for on TV that night. The Meteorologist, my friend was on-air giving my little town the ten minute warning to find shelter. I told my husband that I wanted to go to one of the many schools that have storm shelters. As soon as we made our way into the partially filled safe room, the hail hit. The shelter is made out of several layers of steel reinforced concrete walls and ceiling. The siren that was sounding right out the door could not be heard, but the hail hitting into the building was deafening! We waited out the storm for a few hours in the shelter and when we decided that it was safe to go home we waded through knee deep water that was rushing around our car in the parking lot. Our poor car had several hits on the windshield, a through and through hole in the hood, as well as many pock marks. Our house was one of many that needed a new roof, however not near as bad as some had with all of their windows blown out as well as water damage from the rain. The second storm was in June. I happened to be in Little Rock with a friend while the Princess was at dance camp. It was a wind storm that uprooted hundred year old trees and flung them into homes in my neighborhood. We were without power for a week after I returned home. As my daughter and I drove round looking at all the damage I couldn’t help but be grateful that I wasn’t in town the night that it happened. The root systems in almost all of the trees were as tall as my house. The trunks and branches fell on homes as old as the trees themselves. It was again serious for some families. Some of which haven’t been able to remove the trees from their homes yet. My home was spared. Thank Heaven! The items in my freezer were not as lucky…

In May my stepmom, Kim lost her mother. Myrna was an artist that lived in Craig, Colorado until the death of her husband a few years ago. That is when she moved to Herriman to live in a basement apartment in my dad and Kim’s home. It has been really hard on Kim and when I visited there in July she was heartbroken. I lost my mom thirteen years ago and I am still lost for words when someone looses a parent. I only know that I thank God for my faith that one day I will see her again.

Battle of the fleas was a two day disaster we had in August that will forever have an awful imprint in my memory! I don’t have animals, but there are several stray cats that have adopted our yard as their new home! I think that is how it all started. I’ve learned that some people, such as my self, are highly attractive to fleas. My hero called the exterminator who sprayed the house and yard. My car got a good layer of Seven Dust which killed the rest of them. With this new education, I plan to have the yard sprayed again next year for precaution!

My car is fifteen years old and has never had major trouble until this year. But again my hero saved the day and fixed it a few days later. This happened the same day that we were going to Tulsa for a show and his car’s windshield wipers stopped working on the way home.

I know that all of these obstacles could have been much worse than they were. I’m blessed with the lessons that came with each situation. For every predicament that we had, we also had joy around each turn. And we had each other. My mom told me once that sometimes the hard times are the best times. I truly believe that.

"Friends"

The whole reason why I hooked up with facebook is because my sister talked me into it so I could see pictures of a boy that my niece was dating. She and my niece were my first friends. Then a few more were added, which led me to my blog friends.

Personal note here: I’m not one who has a lot of friends.

Most of my facebook friends are from the past. A few shared the elementary school experience with me. One even reminded me of my most horrid memory of 5^th grade! Man, I’m still trying to live that one down. However, it was something that she remembered of me, even though it wasn’t my most stellar moment.

As I’ve added new friends some have actually became…well, friends with me all over again! It’s led me to my blog friends which I’m really enjoying and another friend that chats with me via text or cell phone (different states), but if I never signed up for facebook I wouldn’t have all of you, my new old friends! And I cherish all of you! You all have made me feel friend worthy!

The motivation for this topic is an article that I read on MSN about people who don’t want to reconnect with people from the past on facebook. When I read it I was sad for them because it’s sometimes hard to make new friends anyway. I can understand the various reasons behind why someone wouldn’t want their past mistakes drudged back up (like mine from 5^th grade) if they are remembered at all, or why someone wouldn’t want an enemy to get info to hurt their reputation etc…

But what is the harm with reconnecting to see if you can actually be friends? If not they can be deleted and no harm done…I know that some of my facebook friends might not even notice if I delete them because we haven’t exchanged one comment.

I’m grateful for all of you who I have reconnected with! Thank you for your friendship! Even if it is over the internet and we don’t get to physically hang out. If you ever find yourself in Arkansas please tell me, we’ll have dinner!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27775484/?GT1=43001

Grocery Follies

It’s a Saturday thing at my house. Weekly grocery shopping! Most women don’t have their heroes doing the shopping with them and for myself, I’m truly blessed with a man who shares in the household responsibilities. I personally don’t enjoy to shop, unless it is for craft stuff. Groceries are not my favorite, but my hero makes it entertaining.

Wal-Mart Fun #1: Wal-Mart worker waved to us that her line was open and started walking toward the other side of the store. A lady in a red sweater weaving in and out of various lines saw the wave. She obviously was looking for a “quick for her” check out. In attempt for an interception she started speed walking with her heavily loaded down cart toward our waving checker...and….in hot pursuit my hero started to brisk walk along side her with our packed cart, occasionally looking over at her and back to the isle, again at her, and back to the isle. The faster she went, the faster he went. The race was on, it was neck and neck. She actually started running!! And so did he! It was interesting watching the other shoppers taking in this crazy contest between two people that had never even met. The lane before the waving checker’s lane was empty. My hero stopped there instead and let the lady go. Not dropping the competition, he egged our checker to go faster. He kept calling out to the red sweater lady that our checker was faster. Major attempts to ignore him, but each and every time that her curiosity overtook her, my hero waved, and told the checker to hurry. We were finished first and my hero had to walk by her and tell her that he won. Just saying…

Wal-Mart Fun #2: It never starts in the check out lane, it’s just worse there. He starts up conversation with them…usually the girls. We buy a lot of water, usually the big Sam’s Choice case. Unsuspecting check out girl thanks my hero for not making her pick it up and scan it, but rather keep it on the bottom rack of our cart. My hero asks, “What? Aren’t you strong enough?” Check out girl says, “Well, not that strong!” This is where the true fun gets started. Hero suggests that she is stronger than the man standing behind her in the next to our check out lane. She giggles, but doesn’t answer. He suggests that they compare. She turns beet red while giggling! Hero says, “Excuse me, Sir?” The blush deepens on embarrassed check out girl. “Sir” ignores him or doesn’t hear him, I can’t really tell. Check out girl is trying to find a “happy place”, because hero is loudly asking man behind her to compare muscle tone with her. Each check out girl then turns to me and asks in different ways “Do you bring him out often?” My answer is usually the same, “It’s never boring!” Seldom does the check out girl clue in that the person behind them knows my hero and is playing along with his outrageousness. He says it’s talent. They think he is creepy, I’m sure. I’m there for entertainment. It’s cheap and well, funny!

Another must know!

Princess: Mom, watch this commercial.
Thinking to myself: Great, another one!
Princess: What is Male Enhancement?
Thinking to myself: Great, another one!!!!
Princess: Is this for car insurance?
Thinking to myself: Why me?? Car insurance? How in the world did she come up with that one?
Me: What? Why?
Princess: Look, he's in the car. The person talking sounds like that guy for car insurance.
Thinking to myself: It kinda does sound like car insurance commercial guy...
Me: No... It's not car insurance.

Bragging Rights

The princess' High School dance team "The Prancers" made history this weekend! They won the first State Championship for their school ever and the first year that dance is recognized by the Arkansas Athletic Association! It was fun to see the girls proud of themselves! They have such school spirit that when it was announced that they won they all cried and then they sang their school's Alma Matter!

I've heard of Christmas in July but this is ridiculous!

We are “schedule” people. Monday through Friday are work days. Up at seven, leave by eight fifteen, home by five, dinner is usually served around six or six-thirty and we sit as a family. The Princess is in bed by ten. We are in bed by eleven or twelve depending on what I’m doing. There are also the shows on TV each night and are DVR’d so we can forward through the commercials later.

Until the recent addition of Friday night football games, Friday was “dinner out” night and we rotated who chose the restaurant. Saturday is whatever days. So if my friends call and want to go shopping or scrapbooking that day is wide open! Sunday we rotate who cleans what room, and in addition I’m always blessed with laundry…(sarcastic undertone) my favorite!

I used to decorate for fall the first weekend in October, but then I started working full time and I haven’t since. That was three years ago. I miss it because I have such a cute witch, but haven’t put her out to enjoy.

I never put my Christmas tree up until after my birthday, December 3^rd and never had the desire to, until this year! I’ve had the itch to put it up NOW! (it’s gotten to me too! EEEK!)

Two days after Halloween I went Christmas (décor) shopping with my friends. One of them already has her TREE up! And her Christmas Village is already strategically placed in her window! Each store already has Christmas music playing! I noticed that Wal-Mart had a “Before Black Friday” Sale on Saturday November 8^th! It included “Online Specials” which are now (Monday) out of stock. Of course!

This is totally out of my routine! My hero has specifically asked me not to put up the tree…but it may stimulate the economy if I do….(grin).