Making Memories

This weekend the grands used the gift I gave them for Christmas.

In the past I've purchased Christmas gifts that have been on their wish lists only to find out that they lost the gift, it had broken, or it had been left out in the elements and ruined

So I decided a few years ago that the best presents I could buy them, wouldn't be things at all, but would be gifts that create a memory. A memory of spending time with Grandma. Things they can get up and talk about at my funeral. Hahahahahaha.

I always trying to think up fun things we could do together that would make a lasting impression.

One year their gift was to fly to Naples Florida in January with me. It was their first plane trip, and we had a ball. I wasn't sure how I was going to survive for 5 days by myself with 3 rambunctious boys, but we did just fine.

Here they are checking out the crash landing pamphlet.

At the Pool

At the beach

And on a boat ride at the zoo.

This year their Christmas gift was a trip to Traverse City, Michigan, where we would be staying at the Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Water Park.

Our big weekend began Friday. We jumped in the van around 2:00p.m.. The car was packed with enough junk food to last a week, but with 3 growing boys I figured we would be lucky if it lasted until noon the following day.

I had my new Tom Tom all set and it began barking the directions as I backed out of the driveway.

Oh my, what a difference a few years makes.

There was no alphabet sign game on the drive up, no game of twenty questions, nor were there any sing alongs that they used to adore. Instead they had their ipods hooked to their ear and they were playing games on their Nintendo DS's. Even Wendy was hooked up to a Harry Potter book she had downloaded.

It was actually okay with me, because the roads once we passed Bay City were icy and slow going. I wouldn't have done very good concentrating on the alphabet game.

During one of the rare conversations we did have, I pointed out a restaurant where RJ had taken me while we were still dating.

Wendy asked me if I ever heard from RJ anymore. When I told her he was married and that I had discovered it by googling his name, she was appalled and replied:

"Mom, You are such a stalker"

And the two of us began a lively discussion on what constitutes internet stalking.

We finally arrived at our destination after discovering I'd entered the wrong address in my Tom Tom.

It was a great hotel, very kid friendly.

The water park was a blast and the grands loved all the fun things to do. With all the stepping it took to get to the slides and with playing all the water games, my body was forced to call on muscles that have long been in hibernation.

Man, I suck at water basketball, and I'm not much better at water volleyball, but the judges gave me a whopping 10 in hot tub sitting.

When the grands weren't in the water, the hotel had a great mystery game for them to play, (providing you purchased a $15 magic wand.)

I bought one wand for them to share. Big Mistake! I almost went nuts listening to them argue over whose turn it was to hold on to it.

The idea of the game was to find clues by using the magic wand and following a treasure map leading you around the hotel. When you find all the clues, you can fight the dragon and try and win a prize.

We, along with a zillion other kids, rode the elevators back and forth between four floors as we looked for clues. I gave up before they were finished and went back up to the room for a nap.

Last night we had dinner in a restaurant called Camp Kritters, The magic wands worked in there as well, making the trees light up, the fireflies flicker and the chipmunks swing. Strenched out on a limb above our table was a stuffed bear.


After an exciting fun filled weekend it was finally time to pack up and head home.

Except for all the burping and farting sounds that have somehow worked its way in to the grands pubescent life, it was a wonderful weekend full of special memories.

On the drive home the boys began to rate the trip for things like the most fun ride, the best place to eat, and the hardest clue to solve, etc. But the thing that stood out in their memory as the number one funniest moment of the trip was when their mom called their Grandma a stalker.

I can see it all now... Dressed to the nines in their suits and ties, together they'll walk up to the podium and address the audience and begin sharing memories of their Grandma.

"You probably never knew this...but our grandmother was an internet stalker."

Oh yes, memories are priceless.

Baby It's Cold Outside.

My dial down program is over. I only lasted 3 days before I began cranking the heat back up. But even though the thermostat is set higher I can't get warm today. The outside temp is so cold the furnace just doesn't seem to be able to make heat fast enough.

This cold weather keeps reminding me of my real estate days and I thought I'd share this story.

I was scheduled to do my very first Open House one Sunday afternoon.

I was a real newbie, and I'd only just gotten my license.

The day before the open house was to be held, our company received a fax asking us to be very vigilant. The previous week a man dressed in camouflage clothing had walked into an Open House being held at a vacant home and hosted by a women Realtor.

The man supposedly stayed for a long time and walked around until all other customers had gone and the woman was all alone. He then beat and raped her.

This took place in a different part of the state so I thought I was probably okay, however the home I was holding open, was vacant.

Everyone told me I would be fine, but just in case, they said to be careful and if I had follow any single men into a room, I should stand in the doorway.

It was a below zero day that Sunday and only 2 or three couples showed up, but just before it was time to go, a single guy walked in.

No camo on, however, the guy was acting very weird.

He didn't say much but kept slowly meandering around. Keep in mind these were the days when all we had was a bag phone to use in the car, and there was no phone in the house b/c it was vacant.

I stood in the living room with my back practically plastered to the front door. Finally, the guy left and I calmed down.

I happened to tell that story at a company meeting one day, and our office manager decided we needed a system in place for scary things like that.

She decided that if we were ever in a situation were we felt uncomfortable, we should call the office and say " Hi this is Luanne, Hal Meade please."

Hal Meade was code for Help ME.

Years later I received a phone call from a man calling wanting someone to show him one of our listings right away. Since I was just getting off phone duty, I told him I would leave right away.

It was another sub zero day and I was in a suit and high heels with no boots, and oh man, this house was way way out in the boondocks. Not only was it way out in the boondocks but the house was vacant, and the closest house was over a mile away.

By now, thank goodness, I did have a regular cell phone.

There was a red pick up truck with only one person sitting in it when I pulled into the driveway. Just as I started to turn off my engine the man stepped out of the cab of the truck and walked towards my van.

The guy was decked out from head to toe in camouflage clothing!

My heart started racing as he walked up. I rolled down my window and told him to go ahead and walk around the grounds because I had to make a quick call.

I was so relieved to find out my phone worked way out there and I quickly dialed the office number.

"Hi this is Luanne Hal Meade please."

It was my friend Dick on the other end. Stop kidding around he told me.

I told him the story and he replied with , "So whaddya want me to do about it."

I guess he couldn't tell by the panic in my voice that I wanted at the very least some understanding of how frightened I was. Finally I sputtered,

"Call my cell phone in 10 minutes and if I don't answer call the police and tell them where I am."

I got out of the car and crunched through the snow and got to the side door of the house and began putting in the code to open the lock box that held the key. I was so intent trying to get the lock box open that I didn't see the man come around from the side until he said something to me.

It scared the living daylights out of me and I jumped a foot and dropped the set of keys. I could feel my hand shaking as I picked them back up and tried to unlock the door.

Thinking quickly I said "I am expecting a very important phone call and I am afraid I may not get a signal inside. Why don't you go in and take a look around and I'll be in as soon as the call comes through."

He didn't seem to mind one bit. It took him along time to look around that little house and my toes were getting frost bitten standing out there in the cold. Every so often I'd call in to the house and say, "Can I answer any questions?"

The camo man finally came to the door. "Okay I think I've seen enough" he told me.

I turned the lock on the doorknob, pulled the door shut, and turned to the man and asked "So what did you think?"

"I think I want to make an offer"

I was pretty upset that Dick had never bothered to call back to see if I was okay, but you should have seen the hangdog look on his face when I walked in the office with camo man right behind me.

I wish I would have held my hands in the air and had camo man pretend to be holding a gun at my back as we walked in, but my brain was still thawing and I couldn't think that fast. But then again, Dick would have probably ignored that too.

End of the story is this. The buyer wrote a full price offer for cash, and the deal closed about a week later. Except for the near heart attack, it was my easiest sale ever, and I did it without ever stepping foot inside the house.

Turned out that camo man was an Army Recruiter.

I Feel Blessed

Hooray! My Christmas tree and decorations are finally down, but I won't say how long it will take me to get things out to the garage and put away.

Whoops, now as I'm sitting here blogging I'm looking around and I'm spotting a grouping of snowmen I forgot.






Oh yes and a snowflake ornament that is hanging from my chandelier. But I'm sure they will all be in their proper place by Valentines Day.

Saturday my blogging friend Janine at One Breath at a time sent me this Fabulous Blog Award.

Thanks Janine I'm honored.

Fabulous is exactly what I think of Janine's blog. As I read her blog I see the way she struggles to come to terms with a life that has been thrust upon her, and my heart feels her pain. Unfortunately, I feel it only too well.

This award comes with some strings attached. I must pass it on, and I must list 5 things I am addicted to.

I'm passing the award on to my much younger cousin Debby over at Pixies Ponderings. Not only do I love her Fabulous blog because it makes me laugh, but its also a way to stay connected to a past I don't want to ever forget.


This award for Debby is actually two fold because she has two blogs. Her other blog Depuffing Pixie is her honest struggle to achieve a goal shes been striving towards for a long time. I share her struggle and she inspires me to get going.

The rules say to pass the award on to 10 blogs but I'm stopping here. Some of my favs haven't posted for a while, and some Janine already awarded, and some don't like the strings attached to awards.

Now as for my 5 addictions let me think which one's I'll admit to.

First of all I'd have to say my biggest addiction would be spending time with my grandkids. I need a weekly fix or I go into withdrawal.

The second addiction would have to be blogging since I spend way too much time surfing blogs.

The thrid addiction is my Lay Ministry class. I am loving learning more about my faith and learning how I can serve God better and the class is bonding and we are starting to feel like a family.

Fourth Addiction is definitely Naples, Florida. Some people experience God in a shack but for me its a beach in Naples.

My final addiction is Ben and Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream. No explanation needed.

There you have everything you didn't ever want to know.

Pretty boring stuff eh?

It's late I'm tired and I'm going to bed. Good Night.

Whats Cooking Thursday

The boys were coming over after school today. I was so excited because I haven't had a chance to see them since Christmas.


I decided to make their favorite dish, Poppy Seed Chicken. Its not a very weight watcher friendly dish but if it puts a smile on my grands face, thats what being a grandma is all about.


You'd think I was Racheal Ray the way they ooooh and ahhhh when ever I make this dish.

I start with 3 or 4 cooked chicken breasts and shred the meat and mix it with a can of cream of chicken soup.

Add to it one and a half cups of sour cream


Mix it all together

Spread mixture in a 9x13 pan.

Take one sleeve of Ritz Crakers and crumble it up in a bag.

Add 1 tsp of Poppy Seeds to the crumble crackers




And shake the bag to mix


Sprinkle cracker crumbs on top of chicken mixture and drizzle 1 stick of melted margarine on top of the cracker crumbs




Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

I set the table with my Christmas table settings that I have not yet put away, and anxiously awaited the arrival of my loving grandsons.

I envisioned them coming thru the front door and the smell of their favorite meal wafting thru the air to greet them. I just knew they would come running to me and throw their arms around me appreciatively and sing my praise.

Yessiree I was excited. And since a picture is worth a thousand words may I just say that their enthusiasm overwhelmed this Grandmother and brought a tear to my eye.



Oh yeah they were excited all right. They could hardly contain their enthusiasm!

Geesh! You'd think I was feeding them liver and onions.

I am complete, I am whole, I am loved.

I'm Getting the Itch

I'm dreaming of white sandy beaches............. just like the one I used to know.



My friend was going thru her picture duplicates last week, and sent me this picture taken from my balcony two years ago.


Oh my, I have much work to do in the weight department before March 5th.

How much weight do those herbal wraps take off and how long do I have to suck in my breath before everything bloats back up to the real size?

For those of you who don't know me, I still look fat in the picture, but I'm almost a normal size
here.



Now if you'll excuse me Richard Simmons and the Stair Master are calling out to me.

A Spooky Start To The New Year

Happy 2009

I was just starting to write a different post over at my First Tea blog about New Years Eve, when all of a sudden in the stillness of my home I got the daylights scared out of me.

I'm sitting in my living room with no TV on, no radio, not a sound can be heard except the ticking of my clock on the wall.



As I was thinking of how to phrase my words, a mans voice spoke out loud and clear. I'm not kidding you. I heard it just as plain as day, and I wasn't imagining it.

I looked at the TV to see if I had some how, accidentally, pressed the On button of the remote. Nope it was off.

I looked down at the sound bar on my computer to see if it had come from the computer. Nope, the horn had this symbol over it.

I had just been writing my first 2009 entry in my new journal. It was letter to God and it was full of questions I am hoping he'll answer sometime this year. Then just minutes later, right over my head, this big booming voice comes out of no where and says

" TURN LEFT AND YOU WILL ARRIVE AT YOUR FINAL DESTINATION. "

I almost wet myself.

I knew I'd been eating too many Christmas cookies and treats lately and wondered for a second if this voice was issuing my marching orders for my arrival at the Pearly Gates.

My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I played like Fred Sanford and clutched my chest and said "Oh Oh This is it, the big one! Oh Ed, I'm coming honey" ...................

And then all at once I realized that the sound was coming from the GPS Tom Tom the kids had gotten me for Christmas. It was sitting on the roll top desk directly behind me.

Wendy had programed it for me about this time on Christmas Day, so I'm guessing it must update itself weekly and that's why it suddenly came on. Couldn't help but start laughing hyterically.

When Wendy was programming it she asked me if I wanted a man's voice or a woman's voice.

I told her "definitely a woman's voice since it has been so long since since I've had to take directions from a man I don't know if I could do it anymore."

Either Wendy doesn't listen well, or else I have a very butch female giving me driving orders.

Oh well, it was a fun way to start 2009.

Goodbye 2008

Hip Hip Hooray! Here's to 2008! May she rest in peace.

I've had so much fun this year getting to know so many new friends and keeping in touch with family members that I love but seldom see. Who'da thunk that telling the world all about private matters could become so addicting.

I love the way I've been able to connect with people from different countries without ever leaving my easy chair. My bucket list of the places I would love to visit just keeps getting longer.

Before the final hours of 2008 tick away, I want to take a minute and in front of the whole world of bloggers, say Thank You to God for a beautiul year.

Thank you Lord for the highs and lows that 2008 brought my way, for the feeling of being pushed beyond my comfort zone, and for the disappointment of lost love, etc. For it all I am grateful. Your goodness and kindness never cease to amaze me, and the way you make good out of bad is truly astounding.

Thank you for the gift of Family that are such an important part of my life. For my precious grands who add such joy to my world with their love and laughter. May 2009 find them loving you and realizing how much better life is with you than without.

Thank you also, for the gift of the people who have made me a part of their life. I am blessed by the way their helping hands have reached out to me. I am blessed for the times you have allowed me to help others in their own need. Bless all who have touched my heart this year with their laughter, tears, and friendship.

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to grow my faith and love you deeper and more complete than ever before.

I pray that 2009 will be a year of greater serving, greater love, and greater sacrifice.

Thank you for loving me and drawing near. I love you!
~~~~~

And now dear bloggy friends I bid you adieu until 2009. Have a safe NYE and a wonderful and blessed New Year.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night.

Luanne

Be Careful What You Ask For

When I was finally getting around to begin my Christmas shopping a week ago, I asked the grands what they wanted for Christmas. "Ummmm let me think" was the reply. I wasn't in the mood to hear that. I wanted them to be able to spit it right out and not have to think about it.

Later that evening my phone rang and my grands were calling me from their moms cell phone. She had run into the grocery store and left her phone in the car. I could hear plenty of giggling in the background before AJ finally said in his pretend little girl voice. "Grandma, I want a dolly and a pony for Christmaaaaaas! More squeals of laughter and the phone went dead.


AJ wasn't laughing as hard; in fact he wasn't laughing at all when he opened his gift from me Christmas morning.







That'll teach him to not be a smart "alex" with me.

Baking Day

I should be wrapping presents, but I'm taking a break. I thought I'd tell you all about my yummy new treat I just took out of the oven.

Last year my sister made some candy out of Rollo's, a waffle type pretzel, and a pecan. They tasted just like bite size turtles. I tried some this morning and they turned out really good, so I thought I'd try something a little different with the left over pretzels.


First, I put the pretzels on a cookie sheet.

Next took Hershey Cherry Cordial Creme Kisses and put one on each pretzel.

Like this.



I put them in a 250 degree oven for two and a half minutes.

While they were cooking I cut marachino cherries in half.

Immediately after taking them from the oven, I took one of the cherries I had cut in half and pressed it down in the middle of the warm kiss.

Up close you can see how the creammy center of the kiss flows out. Ummm Ummm Good. And so easy even kids can do this.

I'm also posting here today.

Angels In Our Midst

I left my purse in the shopping cart at Walmart today. I didn't realize it until 4 hours later when I got ready to go back out shopping. I was shaking as I tried to look up the number of the store.

The phone rang for what seemed like 5 minutes before someone finally answered. I asked if anyone had turned in a purse. They transfered me to another line. After 3 more transfers and 3 more times repeating my question the woman asked me what my name was. After I gave her my name, she told me they had it.

I hung up and began singing "thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus until I realized maybe whoever turned it in found it laying on the ground after someone else had emptied the contents.

My mind was thinking negatively then I realized they wouldn't have known my name unless my wallet was still there. But......that didn't mean my credit cards would be there or my check book.

The five mile drive seemed to take forever, but finally I was inside the store. I didn't ask where I was supposed to go so I stopped a man who looked really official and asked him. When we got to customer service, the line was a mile long but the nice man took me over to an empty spot and unlocked a door and when he did I spotted my purse. After he handed it to me he wanted me to see if everything was in there. It was all safe and sound and turned in by some wonderful angel who was full of kindness and the Christmas spirit.

I don't know who that person is but I'm praying that God will bless them for their kindness. If you're reading this post please ask God to bless them too.

Our white Christmas has arrived. In fact it's so white I can't get out of my driveway to finish my Christmas shopping. Oh wait let me reprase that ....I can't get out of my driveway to begin my Christmas shopping.

Depression, Prayers and Meatballs

That last post was depressing. I need to snap out of this funk. Is it possible to be depressed without being sad? Cause thats the way I felt last week.

Sunday I learned my friends daughter lost her battle with Melanoma. She was diagnosed in May and she is already gone. Would you please pray for my friend Kathy and her family. Friday will be the funeral and Friday evening her grandchildren will be moving out of state to live with their father. I can't imagine burying my daughter and then feeling like my grandbablies are being ripped from my arms as well.

I don't have one single Christmas present purchased yet. I have no desire to shop for anyone either. I wish I could just write a check and send it to a charity. The grandkids have more than they can possibly wear or play with. I'm leaning towards a trip someplace when it gets warmer and I don't have to worry about driving in the snow or ice.

I'm paranoid about driving my van on icy roads. About 6 years ago I went to our office Christmas party. It was at our office managers home way out in the country on some rarely traveled road. About midnight I decided to head home. As I loaded the crockpot containing left over meatballs into the back of the van I almost slipped. We had recieved some freezing rain, which meant I was going to have to drive really slow.

About 5 miles down the road I hit a slick spot and the van started fish tailing. I couldn't get it under control and I spun in a complete circle and somehow the vans back tires slid off the road and the entire van landed upside down in a ditch.

As the van was spinning I did notice I was in front of a house. When the van finally came to a stop I took a breath and determined I was okay, and then tried to get out of my seat belt as I was hanging upside down. It would budge. Probably because all my weight was pulling on it. I reached around in the dark and managed to turn on the dome light.

I could see my cell phone laying out of my reach, but beside me was my purse with a long strap, so I began trying to lasso the phone. It worked and I pulled it to me.

I should have know it wouldn't work. Getting a signal when you are out in the middle of nowhere is difficult, but when you are upside down in a ditch its impossible.

I kept honking my horn hoping the homeowners would hear me. And I kept praying. I wasn't sure how much longer my coworkers would be staying. I was sure someone was getting their coat on as I was going out the door. Surely they would be coming down the road and see my lights.

I was starting to get cold. Then the thought hit me. What am I going to do if I have to go to the bathroom. Of course thinking about it makes you have to go, so I started praying harder and louder. I was even calling in all my favors from my dead ancestors.

40 minutes later I heard a car door and a voice holler "Is anyone in there"

"Yes, but I can't get out"

The next thing I knew a man had jumped into the ditch and was beside my window.

"Can you open the window?"

I had power windows and evidentally in my upside down cofusion instead of turning the engine off I turned it to accessories. The window opened.

The man laid on his back and was able to reach in and while I held myself up by pushing against the steering wheel, he was able to unlatch the belt, get out of the way, and then I dropped down.

My van was full of all my real estate files and when the tow truck pulled the van out of the ditch it looked as though I had wall papered the inside with my purchase agreements and other legal documents.

Durning the night we had a fresh snow. After church I went to the yard where they had towed the van so I could retrieve my belongings. A very nice man walked me out to the van.

The papers were still stuck to the windows and it looked like I had every paper ever written in there. It was a mess. As he opened the sliding door on the passenger side, something fell into the snow. It was big brown clump resembling a turd. The man looked down and when he lifted his head his eyes were about to pop out.

It's a meatball!" I said. "I was carrying a crockpot full of meatballs."

He started to laugh "Whew, For a minute I thought you had a dog in that mess to!"

The Gift

Yesterday on my First Tea blog I posted a story about a dream my husband had just weeks before he died; a dream that would later prove to be somewhat of a premonition.

This week end marks the 15 anniversary of the he last shopping excursion my husband and I shared. We had driven to Detroit to attend a family wedding and driving back home the following day we began discussing all the upcoming events on our busy social calendar.

“I think it’s time for me to finally buy a suit”, he said as I began naming everything we had coming up in December. Ed hadn’t owned a suit since high school.

“Let’s stop at the mall and see what they have, and maybe do a little Christmas shopping while we’re there,” he suggested.

I was shocked. Ed hated to shop and any shopping he needed to do usually took place on his last day of school before Christmas break, and usually after he’d stopped off to have a few beers with his fellow teachers. I guess the beer dulled the pain of shopping. Unfortunately many times it also dulled his fashion sense and the results were less than favorable. Needless to say I was jumping for joy that it was his idea to shop.

We pulled into a parking spot and headed into the first store. Ed was on a mission, and didn’t have the patience to browse and leisurely peruse the assortment of clothing. Instead he quickly picked out a Navy blue suit and held it up for my approval. I nodded. As he came out of the dressing room I noticed how the suit enhanced his body. His muscular physique was still quite evident despite the extra pounds he’d accumulated after his playing days. He could still make my heart race after all those years.

The tailor was on hand and the salesman promised to have the suit waiting for us in two hours. In the mean time, we could go off and finish our shopping.

Going through the aisles of the department store, I veered slightly off course as we passed a jewelry counter, and I paused to admire the necklaces in the case. I had never been one to wear any jewelry except my wedding ring, but lately, I had been admiring the gold herringbone necklaces many of my friends owned.

“Which one are you looking at?” Ed asked as he came up behind me and leaned over my right shoulder. I pointed into the case just as the sales woman turned over the price tag. I heard a slight whistle and Ed spoke up,
“Your taste is definitely improving!”

Ed proudly showed off his new suit at the REALTORS Christmas Ball the following week. It was a perfect fit. “If only I didn’t have to wear this stupid tie.” he muttered as he slid his finger in the 16 ½ inch collar of his dress shirt and tugged to try and make it loosen. “Life would be perfect if I never had to wear a tie!”

Who would have guessed that the next time he wore his new suit and tie he’d be laid out in a casket!
~~~~~~~~

“It’s time for the final good-byes. Family please step up to the casket”, the funeral coordinator directed, and I stepped toward the casket for the last time. My left hand clenched my neck as I took the last few steps. My ring finger slid back and forth over the herringbone necklace I wore. Earlier that morning our son Danny had handed me a dented box.



“I thought you might like to wear this for Dad today, he’d said. Inside the box was the necklace Ed had seen me admiring in the department store. Danny and our friend George had gone to the salvage lot where Ed’s demolished Grand Am had been towed, and in the back seat, along with his real estate files they found a shopping bag containing the necklace as well as a beautiful sweater that was wrapped and waiting for me to open Christmas morning.

The sight of the necklace moved me, and for a minute I thought I was going to loose control, but I quickly regained my composure. There would be time for tears later, but today I needed to stay focused. I would be stepping to the podium soon to deliver Ed’s eulogy and I couldn’t afford the mental breakdown until after that was done. As I fingered the necklace I drew strength for the task ahead.

I gazed down at my always hyper husband’s lifeless body for the last time. I stared longingly at his precious face hoping that just maybe I would see his eyelid flutter and he’d sit up and this would all be a terrible mistake. With one deep breath I reached out I patted his hand for the last time. “I love you Eddie, I whispered. I love you.”

I turned to the funeral director standing at the side “Do whatever you have to do, but don’t bury him with his tie on!”

Counting Blessings

Like everyone else this week,I'm posting on Thankfulness. You can read what I had to say yesterday by going here.


My cousin Debby posted this morning about the colors of her world in Buttonwood Bay, Florida.



She took pictures of all the colorful flowers and the gorgeous Florida sky that I so love and miss. For a minute I gazed at the sky scape in her assortment of colorful pictures and imagined I was walking along the beach starring out into the ocean and I felt like that sky was actually above me.


This is the color of my world this morning as I stepped out my front door.




Stepping out on my patio it was this.




If you look hard you can find color mixed in with all the white.

I think that is what God is reminding me lately. The color is there if I look for it.

Last night I participated in the most wonderful prayer service. The local Presbyterian Church and my Catholic church united for a Thanksgiving service. The two churches are trying to combine resources to assist the people in need in our community.

Father John and Pastor Ted did a great job. It was held at the Catholic Church but each church was well represented and took turns with the readings and prayers. Pastor Ted gave a wonderful sermon/teaching on being thankful and how important it is to make sure we don't take our blessings for granted. He told a story of 2 next door neighbors.

One day a woman decided to make a pie for her elderly neighbor next door. When she took it to her the woman began Oohing and aahing. Come in please and Oh thank you so much, you have no idea how much this pie means to me. That you would think of me is such a blessing. Thank you so much I will always be grateful for your kindness. Thank you thank you.

The next week the woman decided to bring happiness to the woman once again and made another apple pie and took it to the woman. The woman opened her door Come in she said "How kind of you, thank you very much for your kindness.

The following week the neighbor made yet another apple pie and when she took it next door the woman stepped outside and simply said thank you and turned to walk back in. She turned at the last second and said to the other woman, "Perhaps next time you wouldn't mind putting a little more sugar in the mixture. Or better yet, perhaps you could make cherry.

The fourth week with a cherry pie in hand the woman went to her neighbor. Before she could even knock the woman opened the door a bit and held out her hand for the pie. After she received the pie she stopped her neighbor and said, "You're a day late you know."

The fifth week the woman found herself too busy to make a pie. As she walked past her neighbors house the window flew open and the lady leaned out and hollered "HEY WHERE'S MY PIE?

Isn't that what we do with our blessings from God sometimes. We begin to take them for granted. On days like today I can either holler up to heaven "Hey God where's my sun and my flowers?" Or instead I can look for his colorful blessings right in my back yard where my grand kids are busy building snowmen at recess.

Thanks God for all your blessings I forget to be grateful for.

Little Pitchers

My luck has been better than normal the last few weeks. Our Alter Society at church and the neighboring parish have each put on a card party within the last few weeks. I won a door prize at each party as well as having 2 of my raffle ticket numbers drawn.

I won two bags of sugar which will be great for holiday baking.

Some lovely scented candles which I can always use.

Four grape color drinking glasses.

And this fall foliage basket with a bear.

This will become a door prize for "the group" next week.

Lucky in the prize department-unlucky in love. Maybe that's not all bad!





Tuesday I had to take YT for a root canal he needed because of chipping his tooth playing backyard football without a mouthpiece. Daughter had a regional volleyball game and step dad faints at the sight of needles so Grandma got elected to take him for his appointment.

He was a pro. I didn't even have to go back with him and after he went to a two hour basketball practice. Later that night when I called to check on him I heard how horrible he was feeling. I couldn't figure out how everything had gone so wrong. Finally Daughter came to the phone and told me what the real problem was.

Last week the boys went trick or treating at the home of our local football coach. He told the boys he was getting ready to go to a Halloween party and when they asked him what he was going as, he told them John McCain. YT asked "What are you some kind of an idiot?"

Football Coach has a daughter who plays volleyball for my daughter. On the way to the game that night she told my daughter what YT had said. Volleyball girl laughed telling the story, but my daughter was appalled.

Needless to say that YT was told he had to make a phone call to the Coach to apologize for his rude behavior. Suddenly the tooth became excruciatingly painful. Go figure. Pain or not the call was made.

I was so happy daughter gave YT a consequence for his poor behavior.

Now if I could just get daughter to realize that his attitude didn't come watching TV, it came from hearing his step fathers commentary for the last 8 years on what he thinks of George Bush and his political views.

Little Pitchers have big ears.....and sometimes a big mouth follows.