Returning to My Blog

 It seems like it has been ages since I last blogged.  I think that the last time was the day before my 37th anniversary, April 12th.  In fact that day, I was at Pri-med with my mother-in-law.  Since then, we have placed her in a nursing home.  This past Monday marked a week that she has been there. 


 She is doing as good as one could expect.  The week before we decided to place her, it had gotten to the point that she was not able to put any pressure on her legs.  I was fortunate to have two office chairs that had wheels on them and was able to push her around.  On Saturday, I took her to the ER, because we were afraid that she might have a blood clout.  Thankfully, everything came back okay.


 I visit her every day and some days are better than others.  The place is only 4 miles from the house, so it is easy to take the time and visit for about an hour or two.  I take her a soda and a bag of chips when I go and then we go out to the garden area or like today, we went to the central area where they hold church services.  They also have a nice fish aquarium and Mom always enjoys watching them.  So this will be a favorite place to take her.


So I have had so many things on my plate, that I didn't even turn my computer on for about 2 weeks.  Things are beginning to settle down and life will start to get on track.

Thank each and everyone of my followers.  I love visiting our blogs and hearing back from you.  May each of you have a blessed week and feel God's presence every step you take.

APPLE STORE DANCE TO CHECK IT OUT!!

                                              the little things we do     

1.   My favorite daily responsibility is,  keeping my house clean from the kitchen to the living room to the bedrooms and ending up with the bathrooms

2.  My least favorite daily responsibility is,    trying to keep the house clean when Gabrielle and her friends come over.

3.  My favorite cuisine to eat when going out is    a buffet.  That way I get to eat things that I don't cook at home due to my husbands eating of low carb.

4.  My favorite cuisine to prepare at home is     Mexican with the tacos, enchiladas and chalupas.  I also love making the avocado dip and homemade chips and hot sauce.

5.  Andy Warhol said that everyone is famous for 15 minutes. My claim to fame is    I am not really sure how to answer this one. I have never felt like I was famous, unless you would consider being the bride, giving birth to beautiful babies famous. 

6.  If I could have 3 wishes I would wish      that my house would stay clean, I lived in San Antonio, TX and I owned my very own bookstore of mysteries and Christian books.

7.  My biggest pet peeve is  being late.  There is no reason to be late unless you have babies.  I know some of you will think that this is unreasonable, but I have never understood why some people make it a habit to be late.

Thirty Days of Me...Days 8 & 9

One of the many streets of Adana, Turkey

Day 8 - A Place You've Traveled To

In the year 1980, we were stationed Incirlick AFB in Turkey.  This was by far the best tour that we ever had. We were there for 2 years.  The adventures we had made for great memories for Mandy and Bridgett.

The markets were so exciting.  The first time we went downtown to shop, we came back home so exhausted, but with some of the best produce.  There were so many sounds, colors, and people trying to get your attention. The food, oh, just thinking of it, makes me want to go back.  

The people that we met were so kind.  Very anxious to talk to you and try out their English.  I remember the time that I had rode the Adali (bus) one day to get my produce and I had given my pencil to one of the vendors to write down how much.  I forgot to get the pencil back and when I went back at least 2 weeks, the gentleman was me and walked up to me.  Was I ever shocked, he had my pencil and had held on to it.  Now in America, you would never expect to see that happen. 

People would always give me ugly stories about their time in Turkey, but I can honestly say that I found the people, culture, food, shopping, above what I have found many times in my own country, The USA.  

I think that any country that we visit, it is up to us to honor their ways.  If we have been asked to conduct ourselves in a certain way, then we need to.  I would love to go back just to visit and have more time to go places.

Mandy and I at one of the open markets.

Bridgett and I looking at carpet and purses

Our first meal in our downtown apartment. This was from a vendor just off the street.

I suppose there are many other countries to visit, but Turkey is the only one that I can think of.

Day 9...A Picture of Your Friends

This is one of the times last year that we had family over for a pool time and we invited Velda and her family to join in with us.  My best friend that lives here in Alabama is Velda.  She is the one sitting in the chair with the blue shirt on.  Then my sister, Tammy is standing behind my dog, Lacey. I really don't have a lot of friends that I get to do things with.  I am praying that in the near future that the Lord will open doors that I can spend time with my friends from church.

A - Z Blogging Challenge

 “I” is one of the most important letters in the alphabet—don’t you?  It’s impossible to imagine an individual inscribing ideas impaired of “I”!  The language would be incomplete!  Inadequate!  This is because the letter I happens to be one of the most-used, versatile letters in the entire alphabet.  As the fourth most common letter, I is used 38 times more frequently than Q, X, Z or even J.  I is also a word in and of itself, representing the first person pronoun.

Info About I

• I is the only personal pronoun in English that is always capitalized.
• The letter I is derived from an Egyptian hieroglyph meaning “arm,” since the word for arm began with the same sound.
• The dot over a lowercase I is sometimes referred to as a “tittle.”
• In the Turkish alphabet, four different characters represent I – an uppercase and lowercase dotless I, and an uppercase and lowercase dotted i.
• The Phoenician yodh and Greek Iota were both meant to represent I.

As I was thinking of the letter for today, I thought, let's see if there is anything on line about the letter I.  I found the neatest, site http://www.yourdictionary.com/, that talks about the different letters of our "Alphabet".  After browsing a  bit, I knew what I wanted to do.  I am going to use a word that starts with "I" that I have never heard before.  So here goes:

My Daughter, Bridgett, has always had a love for animals.  They could be small in size or large, it really didn't matter to her.  At times in her life, she has had a number of pets that I would never have thought.  

One year, she bought my daughter, Alexis a  "Tarantula".  Now I had to draw the line at this gift.  She was allowed to have it, but it stayed at Bridgett's house.  Later, I learn that it is living in Byron's room (her son).  He loves it.  

Then one day they get home and find that it has crawled out of the cage and is roaming somewhere in the house.   Byron is not even concerned because he is not afraid of it.  In his eyes it was a pet and it was innoxious.

A - Z Blogging Challenge

THe Letter for Saturday is H for

Hummingbird, the tiniest bird and the only one that can fly backwards.

Don't they just make you want to go out and buy some feeders?

A - Z Blogging Challenge

Yesterday, or actually, Friday the letter of the day was G. So here it is 12:55 on Sunday morning and I have yet to do Friday or Saturday's letter. Please bare with me as I try my best to get caught up.

Letter G

For the letter G, it was not hard to decide.  Our youngest daughter's name is GABRIELLE.

She was born in May of 1996 and has been a blessing, headache and a joy.  When she was little, she was always our little drama child.  Has always had a big vocabulary. One of her favorite TV shows growing up was the Discovery Channel.  When she went to school, the teachers were amazed at how much she knew about animals.

This is one of my favorite  photos

She has always been able to keep people entertained with her antics.  Now that she is almost 15, she is growing up too fast.  

Age three

On her way to a Biscuits Game

Gabrielle has decided that she would rather be called Gaby. I think that the kids at school, decided that for her.  She has a big heart and loves to be around her friends.

In her bedroom with circles

7th grade as a Dancer

This summer, she will be moving in with her birth mother and dad.  Our daughter, Bridgett is her real mother and we have been raising her since she was 5 months old.  We adopted her at age 1.  She has been looking forward to this for the past year. 

Part of video she made

What the next year will hold for her, will be up to her. She will be going to High School and then learning to drive. I believe in her and know that she is able to do whatever she wants to do.  I am just glad that I have the Lord on my side and He will keep His hand on her, as she continues to grow into that lovely young lady.

Mama's Workshop - If You Really Knew Me

If you really knew me, you would know that I don't have alot of close friends.  I have a friend from high school that I consider a great friend and she is Roxanna.  We don't talk much anymore, but when I get the chance we talk forever. 


If you really knew me, you would know that I place what God's Word says above all else.


If you really knew me, you would know that I love to read and keep a clean house.


If you really knew me, you would know that my rooms in my house get painted quiet often.


If you really knew me, you would know that my heart's desire is to move back to San Antonio, TX, so that I can be close to my Mandy and grand-daughters.


If you really knew me, you would know that I will do whatever possible to never hurt or disappoint you.


If you really knew me, you would know that I am a giver and I don't accept help easily.


If you really knew, then you would know that my family means the world to me, please don't be ugly to any of them, I would hate for my mean side to come out. That is if I even have one.


Last but not least, if you really knew me, then you would know that my Mandy is my dearest best friend and my oldest daughter.


This is a weekly writing assignment from
http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2011/04/writers-workshop-breaking-rules/

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Thirty Days of Me...Day 7...Favorite Movies

 I love to watch a good and clean movie.  I remember the year that "Dirty Dancing" came out, I was at the movie store when they opened.  The girls were at school and I got to watch the movie for the first time, all my myself. Oh, I fell in love with Patrick Swayze.

 Then later, Richard Gere played in "Shall We Dance", and again I swooned.  Does he not look great in a tux?

I remember watching "The King and I" in black and white.  Then the color version came out and I just loved the interaction and dancing. Yul Brennan did a great job.

"Fiddler on the Roof" is just a wonderful movie that spoke of the love for family and once again, the music was awesome.  I remember at times when the girls would ask me if I loved them, I would belt out with,"I wash your clothes, I mend your clothes..."  There is something about this movie. It will always be in my library.

The first time I saw Sister Act and then Sister Act II, I realized just how much I enjoyed watching WHoopi Goldberg. Her movies have yet to disappoint me.

 When "Mamma Mia!" came out, I took my granddaughter's to see it and I remember at one moment in the movie, I had to say, "Quickly, close your eyes!".  Now I have the copy and I have been waiting for my friend, Velda, to come over so that we can watch it together. I just love musicals that are clean and easy to watch. 

Then some of my

 most favorite cartoon movies have to be the series of "The Land Before Time" and the "Nemo.  Who can not love cartoons?

A - Z Blogging Challenge

The letter for today is F

The reason for the color aqua is because it is the color of the only Fiat that I have ever had.


When we lived in Lubbock, TX, my hometown, our pastor's daughter had this Fiat.  I believe that she ended up getting in a wreck and my Tommy bought it.


It was always breaking down for her, so it really needed some TLC. My Tommy has always loved working on cars and making the beautiful. So after a lot of hours and loads of bond-dough. He painted it this lovely SMURFS blue.  So from that time on it became the SMURF car.

I normally will not drive a little car due to having back problems.  Yet when we moved to San Antonio, TX, I was the designated driver.  It was fun, until I look up and a long line of Harley's were coming up behind me.  I think at the time, I had my Mandy in the car with me, the top down and just cruising. I am looking around for the Silver Volvo and my Tommy is way ahead of me. All I knew about Harley's and their owner's were what I had heard on TV.  I am thinking, "what if they try to pull us over, what will I do?" Well, nothing happened and they just drove on by and waved.  Is it not sad that we make opinions about people and things without really knowing the facts.  Since then I have met some wonderful people who only ride Harley's.  


The SMURF and I finally caught up to my Tommy and he just laughed, because he knew that I was probably uncomfortable back there without him.  From that time, I did try to keep an eye on him,




We made it to San Antonio and parked the car in the parking lot at Wilford Hall on Lackland AFB.  Then a few days later we drove back home after having found a house we liked.  Driving the SMURF was fun, but I think that I will leave the small vehicles to the young at heart.  I really do not like to drive with the wind blowing my hair, for it just gives me a headache. I know, no fun, Sherree.

Thirty Days of Me...Day 6...A Picture of Something

Today's post is "A Picture of Something That Makes You Happy.  I thought of what picture I had that really makes me happy and I could have posted my children, grandchildren or even my books.  

Yet, this is one that I have on my refrigerator and I have to admit, I love it.  If I could, I would blow this one up really big and have it on my wall in my office. This was taken last summer while I had the grandchildren, so Mandy and her husband, Bob were out and she found this pig.  This pig means something to my Mandy.  You see,  she has collected pigs since she was a young teenager.

I never open my refrigerator without looking at this and smiling. She is just so darn cute, you can't help smiling.(and I was talking about my Mandy)

A - Z Blogging Challenge

Today is the letter E

This morning, I was talking with my Mandy and telling her that today was the letter E.  So we began to think together of what I could do.  She came up with electric fence. Now, you are probably wondering WHAT?

It has been at least 19 years since the accident happened.

My husband had bought me a PasoFina horse.  If you know anything about them, you know that in the show floor, they demonstrate how smooth the horse's gait is with a glass of wine. It is so smooth that not a drop will fall from the goblet.  The also are known for turning on a dime.

Most days, I would go out for a ride and had no problem with Deseo.  This particular Sunday afternoon, I decided to go out for a ride.  We started out down the lane and came past the big tree and Deseo took off.  We lived off a rather busy road and I didn't want him to go out into the road.  So without thinking I pulled the reins to the left and when I did, Deseo turned and I went flying into the road. It must have knocked me out for a moment. When I got my bearings, Deseo was standing there waiting for me.

My Tommy riding Deseo

I got back on and we started back to the house, because I was a little shook-up.  As we start back down the lane, once again we passed the tree and again, Deseo took off.  Now we had an electric and barbwire fence.  Plus the girls had their cars out in the yard. So I'm thinking, okay, get past the barbwire and roll off. 

As I did, Deseo clipped me in the head with his hoof.  Yet, I never even realized it.  So once again, Deseo stops and waits for me to get back on. Just as I was putting my foot in the stir-ups to get back on, my Tommy comes out of the house and tells me that he will put him back in the pasture.

At this time, I go in the house and I bend down to say something to one of the girls and they tell me that there is blood rolling down my neck.  So crazy me, I go to the bathroom and wash my hair.  I then wrap it in a towel and we head off to the hospital.  

After sitting there in a wheelchair for an hour, they take me to a room and they realize that I am going to need stitches.  Thirty-six to be exact.  They did this without a shot. I really don't remember feeling anything.  I just remember the next morning taking a shower and washing my hair again.  Yet, this time I started crying, because clumps of hair started falling out.

Tommy did buy me another Paso and she was younger and when I set on her, I didn't feel like I was sitting in the seat of a roadster with the motor revving. This was my last horse. We still have horses and I will ride one if I need to exercise it, before someone gets on.  But after 36 stitches and having the side of my head shaved, no thanks, I will stay on the ground and enjoy watching others.

I just won the Beautiful Mommy Writer Award today.  It was given to me by 

http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/p/awards.html

Deirdra was so kind to award this to me.  Thanks so much, you helped make my day.

Giveaway

 

Groove is a portable filtration device that helps you maintain a healthy, hydrated  lifestyle. Now you can entirely eliminate buying disposable plastic bottles and get freshly filtered water. Anywhere!

I am super excited about this! Now I do not have to have plastic bottle cluttering the floor of my car until I can drop them off to be recycled. Now I can just find a drinking fountain and fill up where ever I am. Viola, filtered water!

Features:

• Hydration Capacity: 20 oz
• 100% BPA-Free
• CamelBak® Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee™
• Easy to refill and easy to use bottle with a filter built into the straw. Turn tap water into fresh, great-tasting water anywhere you go.
• Durable, BPA-Free, easy to carry and spill-proof.
• Also comes in stainless steel
  
  
  Available nationwide for $25 (Tritan) and $35 (stainless steel). Replacement filters are available for $10 for two filters and $25 for six.

I love the idea of helping the environment but I REALLY like the idea of having clean water where ever I go. I have been trying extra hard to always keep a bottle or two of water with me all the time so when I received this Camelbak Groove it was the extra little push I need to get hydrated. Plus, it is nicely designed too. BPA free, spill proof and nice colors. Love it!

If you would like to enter  skip on over to http://dealiciousmom.com/camelbak-grove-giveaway-portable-filtered-water-everywhere-you-go-5-winners/

On to the Giveaway!

5 Winners will receive a Camelbak Groove ($25)!

I Should Be Reading

I just started reading this book last night by one of my reading lights.  Our lights had gone out when a storm blew through, so I enjoyed starting this book, practically in the dark.

Here is my teaser:

"I saw you at the funeral". McNearny glanced at his notes.  "I thought you told Lee that you barely knew the woman."

"Does that mean I'm not allowed to attend her service?"

paage 69

Come over to http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/ and share a teaser from a book that you are reading.

A - Z Blogging Challenge

Today is the letter D

When I was thinkin of the letter for today, my mind automatically went to the drawing that my littlest grand-daughter, Shelby had drawn for me.

She and her sister, Caitlin have been coming to stay with me for the last 7 years (I think that it has been that long). This is always one of the highlights of my year.  They live in Texas and I in Alabama, so I go and get them for the summer.  Normally, I get to have them for at least 4 weeks or more.

When Shelby was just starting to doodle, she drew me this drawing while she was sitting next to me in chuch. I have always kept in my Bible, until a few years ago.  So I knew just what I would use for today for D.

I know that my Mandy will be surprised. I don't even think that I had shared this with her.  These are some of her friends that she played with.

Thirty Days of Me

This is the only picture that I had of all of us.  We have many years added to us now.  We look better.

Day 5 - My Siblings
  

I was blessed to have 2 brothers and 2 sisters.

My brother, Stephen, is a pastor, husband, dad and grandpa, and lives in the big state of Texas.  He loves to preach the Word of God, hunt with his bird dogs and his grandchildren have him wrapped around their fingers. He has two children, Josh and Melissa.

My sister, Tammy, is a mother, wife and grandma.  She lives here in Alabama, so I get to see her often.  She has a beautiful singing voice when she wants to use it. Eleven grandchildren and 1 more on the way. She is someone that I can always count on to be there for me.  She is a hard worker and loves to work in the outdoors.  Her grandchildren are what makes her life.

SHe has one son, Jesse, and two daughters, Latriece and Ashley.  She also has two stepsons, Michael and Ryan.

My baby sister, Karen, also lives in the big state of Texas.  She and her husband are both pastors of their rapidly growing church.  She is a mother to Tosha and Erin. She has two little schnauzer's that are her babies. Like Tammy, she has a beautiful singing voice. She is always busy with her church work and is a great listener.  If I need anyone to pray, she is the one that I will call on.

Last but not least, I have a brother from my Daddy's second marriage, Jesse.  I have lost touch with him since my Daddy passed away. Due to circumstances, it has been a long time since I have seen him.  I just pray that the Lord will continue to keep him in the palm of His hand and that one day... ( I don't have a current picture of Jesse, but when I do, I will post) He did just friend request my on Facebook.  So who knows.

I love my brothers and sisters. I wish that we lived closer together and could share our lives more.  I do know that they would be there for me in a wink of an eye. What more can be said, when you have a great family?

Thirty Days of Me

DAY 4 - Your Parents

My parents married when they were teenagers still.  They were married in Dallas, TX, then moved to Lubbock, TX.  They were married for 37 years. 

My Daddy was always my HERO.  My Mother, someone that I could share my heart with.  I had the greatest parents anyone could ever have.  There love was never conditional. When we messed up, the problem was taken care of and then we moved on. It was never hung over our heads and brought back up.


My Daddy owned "ICEE OF WEST TEXAS", when I was growing up and my Mother was the bookkeeper.  Then he ventured out and bought a couple of "Cotton Gins" and they both worked together.  My Daddy had always worked with cotton gins. In his lifetime, he built 2 cotton gins from the floor up.  


My Mother was the keeper of the home, plus worked along side with my Daddy.  She loved her family and doing things for them as well as others.  In her later years, she took up painting and surprised us all.  I have one hanging in my home and it makes me proud to say that my Mother painted it.

Both of my parents have passed away. I miss them still and sometimes find myself wanting to share something that happened that day.  Parents should be honored and never taken for granted.  What I would give to just have a day to spend with them. 


There is so much more I would love to share, but then it would become a book.

A - Z Blogging Challenge

C is for CALVARY

Calvary, oh what it means to me,

since Jesus set me free,

I think of Calvary.

Jesus' blood, oh what a cleansing flood,

He did it all for me on Calvary.

Words and Music by

Carol Cymbala