Thanksgiving 2008

After working hard the past couple of weeks, I decided that we should take the entire week of Thanksgiving off. Actually, I scheduled it when I was doing our Homeschool plans.

Last year I created my "thankful list". I've debated whether to do it again this year. Things are a bit different.

A year ago, my sisters and I weren't talking. We had two separate Thanksgivings. Mom spent two Christmases with "the sisters" and us. Michael had left home for a whole year. I was sweating how he was going to get the money for GFA. I had substituted friends for family. Then somehow the friends part got screwed up.

I know that we should be thankful for our families, friends, jobs, health, and our homes. It's hard trying to find the good, glory, blessing or thanksgiving in death. While all of the support, food, cards, people coming to the visitation and funeral was very much appreciated. Their lives go on. Ours do to, but there's a part of it that ended. We have to get use to not having Mom around.

I'm still trying to figure things out.

With that being said, Happy Thanksgiving and be sure to tell all of those that you love that you "love them".

Important dancing news...not

In case your wondering...no I haven't seen my dancing with the stars workout dvd. I'm hoping to find it Christmas morning though. My show is almost over and again I have NOT been disappointed.


Lance Bass has come a long way, baby...I really think he's going to be in the final two.


My pick, Warren Sapp, I'm afraid will be third. I could be wrong if he gets a lot of votes from the people! I hope I'm wrong. I hate being wrong but in this case, I wouldn't mind.
Cody, bless his heart. He's tried very hard but I think he's gone tonight. If he's not, due to all of the teeny bopper Disney crowd, that probably means Warren is out of there, then I'll be completely upset.
Brooke Burke, I didn't pick her in the beginning of the show. The woman I picked was that fabulous Olympic volleyball player! But due to injury she had to leave. So...here's who I pick to win Dancing With the Stars this year. Hey, I've been pretty good over the years picking 'em.

After all tomorrow is another day

This past weekend my husband surprised me by taking me off to Jefferson, Texas. It was our 22 anniversary on Nov. 8 so we took off for a night. I'm sharing this with you all because I know my cousin Nancy will be so excited to hear of where we stayed...
LOOK!! A Claw foot tub!! Do you know how long it's been since I've taken a bath? Not that I don't shower regularly, I just rarely have time to sit down and bathe. How romantic is a claw foot tub!!!???
Are you starting to get an idea of where we stayed??? Green po'teers?? Ring any bells??
Here's the long entry hall way. Right off of that to the left is the formal dining room, to the left is the parlor.
Here is an enclosed sitting area with fireplace for all of the guest. We stayed at Scarlett O'Hardy's B&B. The woman who owns it is named Bobbie Hardy. She's a GWTW nut also!!! I didn't realize it but the author of GWTW, Margaret Mitchell, her birthday is NOVEMBER 8. The same day we were married on!!! Same day mind you, not year...

We had a great time down there. I think each year we'll go so that we can stay in a different room! She has 5 to choose from. We stayed in "Aunt Pittypat's Room". Scarlett's was booked. Then you have Belle's room, Mammy's room and the General's room.

Breakfast was FABULOUS!!!! She's sending me the recipes. Who knows, maybe when we get older we might retire in Jefferson and become B&B owners. I think I might like that. By that time Mrs. O'Hardy might be in the market to sell her already established B&B!!

I mean, think about it. You entertain guest Friday night thru Sunday morning. Serve them breakfast each morning and bid them farewell when they leave. Sunday evening thru Friday morning you are free and in the process make a little money.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention the museum. Yes, Nancy, there is a GWTW museum. Of course, my collection is nothing compared to hers. She had to have a 1700 sq.ft. building to house her stuff. You can't even imagine all of the memorabilia. It just makes me get all bubbly inside just thinking about it!

Anyway, if your ever in that part of East Texas, be sure to stop by. And if it's around Nov. 8, you might just see me and "my Rhett" wandering around!!!

Haven't rambled in awhile, so lets see what I can stir up???

Change…well; we’ll see what type of change is coming. I have been told that before I begin to say something I usually preface it so…

At the risk of ticking some off…

Over the past two days you’ve seen a change. You’ve seen people cry over the decision made in our presidential election. You’ve seen people hang their heads in worry. You’ve seen the entire world rejoice in the decision made and they. don’t .even .live .here.

For the older black Americans, I can see why they are so emotional. They had “a dream” and they have finally seen it achieved. Hopefully for our country, this will put an end to racism. Hopefully, for our country this will put an end to “playing the race card” anytime something happens. Hopefully, for our country this will make ALL people realize that they can achieve anything if they WORK hard enough.

The oddest thing I’ve seen is how “Christians” have acted, voted or expressed their arguments for decisions they have made.
It goes from one extreme to the other, each side using scripture (or trying) to back up their decisions.
It seems as like our political parties, democrat and republican, we have two sides to Christianity.

There are two blogs that come to mind. Here and Here.

My question is: Who’s right??

Disclaimer: I do not personally know any of the people I have linked to; I read their blogs that is all. I am in NO WAY JUDGING any of them.

Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t believe Jesus is either democrat or republican.
I do think both sides use Him.
I'm just asking the questions!!!

Some cast their ballot in order to vote against one candidate or the other. Some cast their vote in order to show their displeasure with the current administration.

If we are “one” body, shouldn’t we feel the same about the “issues”. Now I’m not talking about our own individual convictions. There is a huge difference between my personal convictions and what God says, like for instance, wearing a purple shirt. If God has convicted me of NOT wearing a purple shirt, then I should abide by that. Because to ME, that would be a sin, going against what God has convicted me of. BUT just because He convicted me of not wearing purple, I shouldn’t force that conviction onto someone else.

BUT if it is an “issue” that God declares is an abomination to Him, if it is a commandment that I have been told to obey or if God has a problem with something that is causing sin, Shouldn’t I have a problem with it also? Shouldn’t I cast my vote for someone who stands up for that?

By the same token, if a candidate doesn’t personally believe in something but believes that people should have that “right”, shouldn’t I vote for him?? Because he “personally” doesn’t believe in it. But then, having that right doesn’t make it right or does it? Or shouldn’t we all be tolerant? Tolerant against sin?? Or tolerant to sin??? WOW…that’s kind of what it’s boiled down to.

Then you have this: Here. After all, doesn’t God actually choose who’s in charge? Doesn’t He allow situations to take place in order for us to become closer to Him? Shouldn’t we all come together and pray for our country? And for the unity of “the body of Christ”???


Maybe if the Church got it together, the rest would follow…

We have to remember that “Our ways are not His ways and our thoughts are not His thoughts. “

Lord, have mercy on us all...

Don't forget...
It has been said that all government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a misfortune. This necessity however exists; and the problem to be solved is, not what form of Government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect. -James Madison

Well, it's about time!!!

Monday and Tuesday nights will find me sitting in front of the tv anxiously awaiting DWTS. As I've posted before, I enjoy this show. Yes, the clothes are skimpy but look around at some of the things that people are wearing in every day life. Well, maybe not here in Armpit, Texas but you'll find some hum dinger outfits, trust me!!!

Anyway...Last night Cloris was FINALLY kicked off. I have to agree with Carrie Ann when she made the statement about Toni Braxton being kicked off and leaving Cloris. You have people who can really dance get the boot and people who are a joke staying.

With the holidays coming up, I have started purchasing Christmas gifts for the family. Hello BIG, BROWN SLEIGH!!! I get all bubbly inside when I see the UPS guy pull up!!

I can't think of anything that I would particularly like to receive for Christmas this year. After the past couple of months that I have had, not a whole lot seems to matter. BUT I did come upon ONE thing that I MIGHT. ENJOY. getting.

Viola,
I can see it now...ME, learning how to Cha-Cha, Merengue, Samba and Mambo!!! And in the process losing more weight!!! In the middle of my living room...with NO ONE home. UUUUU, I'm getting all bubbly inside!!! Guess there are bright spots in life!

Ok, I have to admit...

I have a guilty pleasure. It may come to some as a surprise BUT I love musicals!! Phantom of the Opera, Grease, Camelot, Sound of Music. I enjoy them! It makes me want to get up and start singin' and dancin'. Even though I can't do either but to be able to is another one of my secrets.

Tonight, like most moms around the country, I took my daughter to see High School Musical 3. It was cute. My 20 year old son and his girlfriend went with us...secretly...they enjoyed it too.

I even saw an old classmate of mine who had taken her daughter. We saw one another coming out of the theatre and she said, "That made me want to stand up and say, I love you, Dreama".

It's just that kind of movie. All gushy sweet. It makes you realize how old you are though! I mean, that Zac Efron kid just turned 21. I was 20 years old when he was born! Man, now I'm depressed!!

Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves.

It made me think about last year. We watched High School Musical 2 in August of last year at Moms. Michael was about to go to Gospel for Asia. Melissa went off to DBU. I hadn't ticked my sisters off yet, Mom was alive and things were good.

Amanda is doing pretty good with her piano lessons. Her teacher is a young woman who use to teach music here at one of the schools. She is so sweet with the kids she teaches! She is very patient and is a huge blessing to all of the kids that take lessons from her. We are very grateful that God is allowing her to stay at home now so we can take advantage of her!!

Our Science class has been going for 8 weeks now. It seems to be moving right along. Most of the moms have learned things right along with their children. Did you know that Venus rotates opposite from the Earth??? And it all happened with a big bang, right??? LOL!!

Almost 3 months to the day that Mom went into the hospital, we sold her house. Or actually, our house. It's a good thing but sad at the same time.

I almost cried as I was handed the check at the bank. I've noticed that I measure time beginning with July 16, 2008 and ending with July 29, 2008.

I don't think I'll be driving down Market Street that often anymore.

We've been very busy with School the past couple of weeks. Tomorrow will begin a complete week of school without interruptions, I pray. It seems like at least one day during each week I've been to the doctor. I've gotten a good report from each test so now I might be able to stop wiggin' out.

Amanda is doing such a wonderful job so far this school year and we haven't killed one another yet so there's a blessing. She seems to be doing more on her own instead of me sitting right there beside her making sure she does it. Which is a wonderful thing.

Michael is going to school at Criswell. Prayerfully, God will supply the funds for him to be able to go next semester. He just might not be able to take as many hours. Mike has been working loooooong hours. He was up til 3:00am this morning working. In. Our. Bedroom.

Luckily I'm able to sleep standing up with or without light.

On the upbeat...

You turn on the news in the evening and all you hear is how the ladies of The View are having cat fights over the upcoming election. How we should let Madonna, Oprah and Barbara Streisand tell us how to vote.

Tina Fey will be leaving Earth if Sarah Palin ends up in office, she must be trying to out do Alec Baldwin. Wasn't he going to leave the country if Bush were reelected anyway???

And if you will indulge me...How Obama, our newly appointed savior, will kiss all the boo boos and make everything all better. I'm just saying...

Anyway, here is a story that you might have missed between all of the nonsense, smears and junk. It really touched me.

Take a read and enjoy!!

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081012_ac_queen.106e5560b.html

Say it ain't so...

OOOOHHH NNNNNNOOOOOO!!! One of my picks to be in the top two is now gone! Misty May Treanor tore her Achilles tendon and is out for the rest of the show. They showed what happened to her in practice. You could actually hear it pop. AWWW...it was gross.

More Sharing...

I'm into sharing lately. I don't know why. Usually I don't do that. But I felt as though this was important.
As some know, my Mom died 2 months ago. It was discovered that she had signet ring carcinoma. Which is a very aggressive cancer. If the ARDS didn't kill her, the cancer would have. Since then I have pretty much been "wigged" out about the whole thing.
I have been for my "yearly humiliation" which I haven't done in about 5-6 years. I've had the top portion of my body "squished". It being October, breast cancer month, I thought it was about time to do that.

But this morning a little after 8 am, I had a colonoscopy. Yes folks...a COLONOSCOPY. And yes, these are pictures of my colon. The worse part about the "whole" ordeal was drinking that vile concoction. It reminded me of when you smell something electrical burning, that is what I imagine that would taste like.

After it was all over and done the first thing we did was eat. I have NEVER gone without food on purpose for 24 hours. Hello, quesadilla explosion!!!

Anyway...

I go back a week from today to see the doctor. According to him, everything looked fine. They did find and removed small polyps. Those are the small white spots on the pictures. Isn't that the most amazing thing?? Look at all of the little blood vessels.

In about 5 years, I'll have to have this done again. Just in case...

Pet Peeve #2 and #3

Here's another one of my pet peeves that I thought I would share with you.

This particular picture was taken at church. Notice the old trash bag has been taken out, tied up and is ready to be taken to the trash can. Hence the phrase...take the trash out.

But look. In the can. There's more trash. And. No. Trash. Bag.

Pet Peeve #3 "Key Words" "Change we really need", "Hope and Change", "Yes, we can", "Reform", "Prosperity", "Peace", "Fundamentally"... Did any of those words comfort you or tell you how they were going to help the country????

Pet Peeve

Now, I know that my bathroom is not the only one that has this problem. Do you see it??? A toilet paper roll sitting on an empty toilet paper roll that is hanging on the toilet paper holder.

Why? What is so hard about changing the toilet paper?

It's an easy thing to do. It just takes a little time.

So, the next time you are sitting there and notice that the roll is empty...get a new roll but PLEASE put it on the holder.

My picks for the season

Yes folks, It's that time again...my picks for Dancing With the Stars.

Warren Sapp is a retired defensive tackle. He's a BIG man!!! He was so light on his feet and fun to watch. I'm picking him from the men's group.

Misty May Treanor. Here you have an Olympic goal medalist. A 2 time goal medalist. A fantastic volleyball player. She's a pretty good dancer too. She's my pick out of the women.

It was strange watching DWTS and not being with Mom. It's even stranger not being able to pick up the phone to call her.

In 6 days it'll be 2 months that she's been gone. It's still hard to comprehend. Mom was a LOUD, little woman. We always made fun of her for being loud. Right now, I would enjoy hearing loudness.

And if Cloris Leachman doesn't get kicked off tomorrow night, I'm gonna shoot myself in the foot. I understand that she's 80 something years old...but she cannot dance!!!

Some of what's going on

I'm sitting here watching the effects from Hurricane Ike hit our area. We have been blessed with just rain and some high winds. So far we haven't lost any trees and I made sure to put things around the yard up yesterday so they wouldn't be gone with the wind.

Our local grocery store was a mad house yesterday with all of the people around trying to get water, food and gas. We usually have Saturday evening church but cancelled that due to the weather. It's been nice to be home on a Saturday night!

Last night we went to Homecoming. We left after half time since the score was 44-6 in our favor. We set near the band and here's my niece doing her thing with the Drum line.Amanda managed to get her science experiment done despite the clouds that were blowing in from the Gulf. Along the way, she decided to eat a little of it.

She had to melt chocolate with a magnifying glass. She had to determine if it melted fasted with the magnifying glass far away or closer. Then she discovered she could catch a leaf on fire with the glass...watch out Survivor.

Below is a picture from the first week of school. We went to Six Flags with our cousins and some friends. Aren't they cute???

Oh, I can't forget the visit we had with John McCain...isn't this so funny!!! We've been getting together with friends to study some history and this being an election year, well, what can I say. Senator McCain couldn't resist a visit.

Now if that ain't some stuff

WHEWWWW!!! Last Tuesday we started our third year of homeschool. Last Wednesday, I wanted to enroll her back into Public School!!!! After months of being prepared I was ready to sell it all and head up to MISD.

I'm not really though, but the thought DID cross my mind. In fact I told Amanda that if she didn't apply herself here at home with her studies, I know some people up there that might be able to motivate her.

So far her Bible study, Spelling and Handwriting (is improving) are going good. It's the English and Math that she doesn't get into. I knew History and Science were going to be boogers! I might have to rethink our schedule. We have ended up doing those subjects at night. And in a few more weeks we won't be able to do that...Dancing With the Stars and Survivor will be back, thank you very much!!!

The Spanish cd that she's doing, she isn't too keen on since it doesn't sing like Hannah Montana or look like the Jonas Brothers.

Amanda asked me the other day what age she had to be to have a boyfriend...I said 21. She has to wait until 16 to have her ears pierced, 21 sounds good enough for a boyfriend.

My sisters and I had the estate sale at Mom's last weekend. It's so strange to go into her cute, little house and nothing be there, especially her. There's a lady in town that's interested in it. But she hasn't made us an offer yet. I'm praying that she buys it, I know she would take care of it!

Homecoming is this weekend. We play Kemp. This isn't the BIG homecoming so there's no parade or any grand festivities. Rhonda, my sister, is a teacher at Kemp. She graduated from Mabank but teaches at Kemp. She also has the audacity to sit on their side during the football game at Panther Stadium. Her daughter, Caitlyn is on the Mabank Drum Line. But she's sitting on Kemp's side??? Go figure...

So far things are going good between the sisters and I. Maybe things are changing between us.

One month

Today is one month that Mom has been gone. It still seems like a dream/nightmare. It seems like yesterday that we all sat in her ICU room and listened to her heart stop beating. To add insult to injury, our cousins, 18 year old son was involved in a car wreck on Wednesday.

He didn't make it. It's so weird. Their world will be a blur for quite some time. They will go into his room, just wander around, look at all of the stuff in his room, smell his clothes and cry. They will keep themselves so busy that they won't have to think about anything.

Cause once you stop, then you think.

And while I'm on the subject of thinking...What lesson am I suppose to be learning here??? That childrens and parents hearts can be broken?? I mean, its a TOTALLY different hurt, but its hurt just the same. It's really kind of strange. Tracy, our cousin is the father of Wade, the 18 year old. Tracy is related to us on our Dad's side. When Mom and Dad divorced, Tracy still came out to the house to visit.

That side of the family still thought of Mom as part of the family. And quite a lot of them came to show their respect to Mom. We asked Tracy to be a pall bearer at Mom's funeral. Now he and his wife are having to deal with the loss of their little boy.

What is going on here? Whatever it is...I wish it would stop.

A Day of First

First of all, lookie at my new computer. It's RED...I love RED! It's my signature color, not really I like blue too. There's my lesson plan book for school, it's already full and waiting for next week. Isn't it pretty? Mike got a pretty good deal so Michael and I got new laptops. We needed them since our others are now obsolete. This has been a day of many first and I know more are to come.

1) This is the first in many, many years that Kemp Special Education Department began classes without Mom. You can call and still hear her voice on the answering machine.
2) This Friday will be the first High school football game that Mom will not attend to see Caitlyn perform. So I guess I'll have to go watch her.
3) This is the first time that I have posted my phone number on a "For Sale by owner" sign. That sign will be put in Mom's yard.
4) Today the "Dancing With the Stars" celebrities were announced and I couldn't call Mom to let her know who they are.
5) This is the first day of public school.
6) My niece and nephew began their first day of school at a new school.
7) We will begin our third year of homeschooling next Tuesday.
8) This is the first year that our grass isn't brown in August!
9) This is the first time in a long time that I have talked to all of my sisters in one day and no one ticked the other off!!!
10) Tonight the Democratic Convention will begin in Denver. They will be nominating the first black man for President. Why he picked Joe Biden and not Hillary I will never understand...I'm just saying.

So there's my little list of "first".

Oh, by the way, I made it known in my last post that I didn't want my GWTW stuff sold in a garage sale...I want it all to go to Nancy Sapp Purdy. I know that she has coveted it for a couple of months now. Your welcome Nancy!! LOL!!!

Cleaning and Counting Down

Yesterday, I cleaned Mom's house. It was something that I needed to do. I tell you...she was the basket and "little" wooden shelf queen! She also collected Santas so we have quite a few of those.

And for a little, bitty woman she had a TON of clothes. She owned enough tank tops to clothe Cedar Creek Lake!!

The sisters and I will be having a garage sale in a few weeks. For the record...when I die...DO NOT SELL MY "GWTW" STUFF IN A GARAGE SALE! Make sure you sell it to a GWTW collector and get a GOOD price!!!

Anyway...

We are almost ready for school, 2 weeks and counting. Actually, we have everything and could begin tomorrow if we wanted but mentally I don't think either of us are ready. Everything the past couple of weeks has all run together. It's like I've lost time somewhere and can't figure out where it went.

And no...I'm NOT having a blond moment!!

Not to mention we've stayed up late watching the Olympics. Leslie over at Recovering Noah is trying to get reimbursed from Michael Phelps for losing sleep and neglecting her family!
She is such a mess!

My brother in-law, Michael. We have to many Michael's in our family. My husband, Mike, our son Michael and the bro in law, Michael. His last name is Krywucki (Crywookie) people call him Wookie, like Chewbaca...He's a pretty big guy but not as hairy. In fact he doesn't have much hair at all. Anyway, he sent me a link to some GWTW checks! I had not seen them before. They are so adorable! You can also get the little stickers with your address on them.

Mike, my husband, not the son or bro in law, said "I have to look at those two enough as it is, I refuse to use them as legal tender......" shame on him!!! I might have to order one box.

Counting days...

It's been 15 days since Mom died. I keep expecting her to come barging through the door, dropping her purse into the recliner and asking what's for dinner.

I keep waiting to hear her honk as she drives by then Amanda or I would call her and ask "Just where are you going"? Then she would laugh that cackling laugh!

The sisters and I will be going to her house to go through things. I just keep thinking that if we take care of the place and water the flowers that she will come home soon. Like she's on vacation or something...

Anyway...life goes on.

I have been trying to get school lessons together for school in September. We'll be getting together with some friends for science and history may be a booger this year! From looking at my lesson planner, Amanda will be a busy little 5th grader!

She'll be going through the Bob Jones 5th grade curriculum except for science and history. Those subjects she'll be using Apologia Astronomy and American History from Beautiful Feet. Plus we are adding AOP Elementary Spanish. So begins another year of homeschooling.

August 3rd was my 2nd bloggin' anniversary! I kind of forgot about it. So much has happened in a year. Michael went to GFA and India. Amanda is now a tween. I went through some sort of funk. But there will be many first from now on though. The first Thanksgiving and Christmas without Mom, things like that.

We've been up late every night since 8/8/08. All we have done in the evenings is watch the Olympics! It kind of convicts you to get in shape after watching gymnastics and swimming events...well, not so much really.

Wow, I jumped from death to homeschooling then to the Olympics must be the ADD.