Thought of the Day - 1/26/09

Daily Living - 1/25/09

I finally found someone to drive us to the hospital and I finally found someone to watch Renee (foster daughter) and I finally had the dreaded talk with the children.

We, my children and I, are going later today to see their grandmother who is dying of lung cancer. The family was finally told that she will not survive the year. Many of the family members think she will not be coming home from the hospital. How do you relay that to two young children?

As we sat and cried and I answered their questions and dried their tears, I did my best to reassure them that we can handle this. Not sure if the reassurance was for them or for me.

Unconscious Mutterings #4

Time for more free association . . .

Free association is described as a "psychoanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this exercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week a group of ten words is posted at Unconscious Mutterings to which you respond to with the first thing that comes to your mind.

She said . . . I think . . .

Unwanted - I feel that way sometimes.
You’d better - "You'd better clean your room" is a often said phrase in this house.
Woman - I am woman, hear me roar. : )
Weighed - Last time I was at the doctor's office.
Upright - Vacuum
I feel - Tired
Ill - Illness please don't come knocking on my door.
It’s like - Totally reminds me of high school. : )
Poor man - I am a poor woman.
Great - Every day that I am alive is a great day.

Thought of the Day - 1/25/09

Thought of the Day - 1/24/09

Promise Messages

Make these promises to yourself. Then do them! You are worth it! You will be a better person to yourself and to those around you.

Be mischievous . . . it feels good.
Sometimes one smile smile means more than a dozen roses.
If they can do it, you know you can.
Go against the grain.
You are allowed to do nothing.
Follow your instincts.
Watch reruns; they replay your memories.
Don't think about it so much.
Count the stars.
Make a list of your dreams.
Smile before bed. You'll sleep better.
Smile. People will wonder what you've been up to.
It's definitely a bubble-bath day.
Make a list of your dreams.
Find your passion.
Dare to love completely.
Love without rules.
Go against the grain.
Make "someday" today.
There's no excuse not to dream.

Thankful Thursday #13

I am thankful for the so many wonderful people I have met via blogging. Simple but truly felt from the bottom of my heart.

Join the gracious hearts of others at Iris's blog.

Aloha Friday

Welcome to Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend, so the host of this meme thought that Fridays would be "easy posting" day. Therefore, a simple question is asked for YOU to answer.

Today's question from me:
What is your favorite day of the week? Why?

Works for Me Wednesday #12

Going on vacation and need care for your house plants. Check out this trick: Fill plastic bottles (such as milk bottles, water bottles, pop bottles, etc.) with water. Then freeze the bottles. Before you leave, drill a small hole in the water bottle and set the bottle in your potted plants. As the ice thaws, the plant gets watered.

Wordless Wednesday #22

After five hours and tired hands, Cassandra's corn-rows were done. Our neighbor, Ms. Liz, was very kind to take the time to do Cassandra's hair this past fall.

Isn't she beautiful?

For more pictures, check out Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Tuesday Toot #4

This week's toot is for myself.

I see this weekly meme as a challenge because I don't toot my own horn. I want to be accountable to myself for both the good and the bad. This meme is a good way for me to say good things about myself.

My toot this week is that I am recovering nicely from my surgery two weeks ago. I had four surgeries-in-one on January 6th: deQuervain's Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel, Dorsal Compartment Release, Reconstruction of nerves in the thumb and wrist. Today the stitches were removed. Whoo hoo! Next week I start occupational therapy.

God Bless America

As of 12 noon, EST, we have a new President of the United States of America. Keep our new President, Barack Obama, in your prayers and wish him the best as he takes on this new role.

God Bless America!

Unconscious Mutterings #3

Arrival - birth
Vomit - yuck!
Fit - not me
Stutter - butter
Lifestream - sperm
Tread - tire's worn
Desire - need
Freezing - i hate cold!
Permit - yes, I do
Crinkle - laugh lines around my eyes

Check out the smart, witty, funny responses from others at Unconscious Mutterings.

Thankful Thursday #12

As I think about all I have to be thankful for, the list is astonishingly long. For today, I will focus on those most precious in my heart

I am thankful today for . . .

1. Doug, a kind friend, who has helped me with so many things while I recover from surgery.
2. Cassandra, for being such a good girl.
3. Cameron, for having a good sense of humor.
4. Teresa, a super friend, who has not forgotten me during this hectic year of downs and more downs.
5. God, for continuing to show His love for me.

To see the gratefulness of others, check out Grace Alone.

Works for Me Wednesday #11

Did the kids scribble on the refrigerator door? Did the store receipt ink bleed onto the kitchen counter? Are there stray marker drawings on the appliances?

Pour some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and rub the marker/ink away.

Wordless Wednesday #21

Cameron (due to sensitivity to light he cannot look at the camera) is so proud of the gingerbread house he made.

Go to 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday for more photographic fun.

Thought of the Day - 1/14/09

Help Parker

Have you met Parker? He is the precious and medically fragile 4 year young boy whose smile blesses the 5 Minutes for Special Needs home page.
Parker’s list of medical challenges seems endless, as do his list of medical bills. (His parents have insurance, but that only covers some of the costs.)
Sadly, Parker is in the hospital again.

So often we read about children like Parker and think we wish we could help. But this time we can help in a simple way. 5 Minutes for Mom created a games page where the advertising revenue earned while the games are being played will go to Parker. It’s not much… but every penny counts, right?

And whenever you need a little break, play a few games.

Tuesday Toot #3

This week's toot belongs to my dear daughter, Cassandra.

She made me a Christmas card.

The front cover:
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Inside:
Dear Mom, I hope you have a nice Christmas. I know you are going to have a merry Christmas because you have a lucky card [this one] from your best daughter. Love, Cassandra

Isn't that just the bestest, sweetest thing to say?

Make Me Laugh Monday - Temptation

Join the fun and share a post that is funny - a joke, a riddle, a comic strip, a photo, whatever -- and add your link to the post (not the front page of your blog). We all need a laugh especially on Mondays.

We All Need a Tree

A friend hired a plumber to help restore an old farmhouse. The plumber just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit, and his ancient one-ton truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children, so I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled," when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."