I’ve been pondering all week on what 2010 meant to me. What it meant to turn 50, how it felt to have eye opening experiences, how wonderful it is to finally have your child ready to leave home and take that first flight that I did almost 30 years ago. Not the same first flight that Alan & I took to Jamaica in September, which was awesome by any standards, but that flight out of the nest; that leap of faith that God will direct her steps and lead her to “the” person she “will” grow old with.

My 50th birthday came and went without any grand pomp or circumstance, but in September, Alan & I celebrated that milestone in grand style with an ALL-Inclusive trip to Negril, Jamaica…..not only did I take my first EVER plane ride, which by the way earned me my Wings with Delta, but it was an International flight that transported me to a magical place of “no worries” in just under 2 ½ hours.

We went and met up with a total of 10 other couples, most of which have been all over the globe and back so in the middle of this grand, one week vacation with new found & long time friends, imagine our surprise when they had voted us “the most fun” couple of the trip. WOW, we were just having that “kid in the candy store with $20” (inflation) experience. Swimming, parasailing, snorkeling, massaging, sun bathing, eating, drinking, & drinking, and OH, did I mention “drinking”. Never once did we have to lift a finger to do anything. Well, except to get our meals at the buffet dinners or breakfasts, but they would have catered to us for those too if we had asked.

So, for over half of my life, I lived in fear of flying. Fear of the unknown, fear that the plane would fall out of the sky, fear that I might die before my time….FEAR! I guess you can say that I have gotten over that fear because in this new year, 2011, I will take a Bi-plane ride over the city of Atlanta with a long time friend, wind in my hair, goggles to protect my eyes that are wide open for the next adventure.


I’ve had several “favorite” songs this past year. One in particular by Miranda Lambert, “The House that Built Me”. Many of the words of that song reminded me of the childhood I had growing up, somewhat different than most people, but my childhood just the same. I have moved on from most of those memories, but there will always be that black dog that is buried in the back yard, the countless games of marbles or Mumblety-peg with the boys in the neighborhood, the endless days of Barbie dolls and dress up with the girls across the street….the Sunday dinners that always called our names just by the drift of the wind bringing the scent of Beef Stew or Pork Roast, or even the Hamburger & Sauerkraut Casserole from Mrs. Florence’s house, which I always managed to get invited to.

The song itself tells the story of a young woman that goes back to her childhood home because she had grown up, moved on and forgot who she was. She was hoping that just by touching or feeling the old home place, that she could find herself again just by walking through, taking her old memories with her. It is my hope and prayer that Stefanie will leave home in June and take all of her good memories of this old place with her.

Memories of that orange tabby Fabian, the cool cat, buried in the back yard next to Cally, the wonder dog and Hunny Bunny, the Netherland Dwarf rabbit that quickly became “my” rabbit. Memories of all the countless camping trips in that Coleman Popup under the shed…trips to the mountains of East Tennessee, the Sugar White Beaches of Panama City and jaunts to the lake where we drifted for hours on floats that barely looked sturdy enough to hold up a child, let alone BBW (Big Beautiful Women & an average sized guy & 1 Super Fur Baby in her pink designer life jacket).

The one thing Alan & I have always told Stefanie, breathed into her and conveyed in loving fashion is that we are the two people who will ALWAYS be here for her. We taught her to be independent and always be proud of who she is and no matter where she is in life, she will always have a place to come home to.

On June 18, 2011, Alan will answer that question that so many Daddy’s are asked about their daughters, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man? ”We” do. Adam, we look forward to “officially” welcoming you into our family (& Allie…such a sweet little fur baby). Stefanie, we love you with all we have….never forget who you are.

One of the things that I have been working on this past year is my “PMA” (Positive Mental Attitude). Thomas Jefferson taught that “Nothing can stop the man with the right attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on Earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude”. You would think that someone with so many positives in her life could easily stay on task with this assignment. I beg to differ though, it is very hard when you have the “negative” (NMA) forces around you. I have to be careful when treading this subject, I don’t want to cause friction and certainly don’t want any “unwanted” negatives flying aimlessly at me.

I will say that on this day, 1-1-11, I received an email from an old friend that does put some of the negative in a different view for me. I would like to share a portion of that email with you, it is my hope and prayer that I can apply what I have read to better help me understand at least some of that “NMA”:

Blessed In Aging
~Esther Mary Walker
Blessed are they who understand
My faltering step and shaking hand
Blessed, who know my ears today
Must strain to hear the things they say.
Blessed are those who seem to know
My eyes are dim and my mind is slow
Blessed are those who look away
When I spilled tea that weary day.
Blessed are they who, with cheery smile
Stopped to chat for a little while
Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday.
Blessed are those who never say
“You’ve told that story twice today”
Blessed are they who make it known
That I am loved, respected and not alone.
And blessed are they who will ease the days
Of my journey home, in loving ways.
This poem, as read by Mary Maxwell in the video “A Reminder That Laughter is the Best Medicine.”View the video online at CaregiverStress.com

To the ones who have remembered me in prayer, as I tend to her with loving care. I thank you for the love you’ve shown & let me vent until the cows came home. And though it seems like I can’t let go, I only have my attitude to show, just how much she means to me so today, I’m going to let it be…..I love you Dahling.

I can’t let 2010 come to a close without giving a very special shout out to “my girls”. I feel so very blessed to have not only one group of very special ladies in my life, but two. Neither group has anything to do with the other, yet they both bring so much of what is good and beautiful and right with the world. I don’t know what I’d do without each and every one of you, you all know who you are and just what you mean to me. I thank God every day for your friendship…here’s to many more memories in 2011.

It wouldn’t be right to reflect on the year without mentioning my sweet little Bunni Boo. Each day is like a new adventure with her. She makes me laugh out loud every day and you know what they say, “laughter IS the best medicine”. I can only hope that 2011 will be another great year of making memories with our little brown fur baby. I now have another favorite quote in regards to Bunni: “Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.” Like I always say, “After all, dog spelled backwards is God.”

On March 28, 2011, Alan and I will celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. It has been a great journey so far, one I wouldn’t trade for all the tea in China. It’s wonderful being married to your bestest friend in the Whole Wide World. I never would have dreamed that 2010 would hold so many wonderful memories for the two of us. I mean, how can you top the 28 years we already had under our belt.

It seems like yesterday that we were exchanging our “I do’s” and starting our memory catalog, but once again, as it has been throughout our marriage, this past year has been one of the best yet. From being with our daughter on the night that her Fiancé proposed to her, to making new friends in Jamaica, to catching up and getting reacquainted with old school friends….it will be hard to beat 2010, but I look forward to the challenge…..I love you Alan, you know how far :)

In closing, I can’t forget all the great friends I have reconnected with because of Face Book. From the late night chats, the pokes, the prayers, the encouraging words of so many of you, a simple Thank you just doesn’t seem to be appropriate. I would like to borrow from the status of my friend, Cindi Wallace Ray from Friday Morning, December 31, 2010:

May all of your needs, hopes, dreams and wishes be fulfilled, may your mornings begin with smiles and gratitude, may your days be happy, productive and filled with joy, abundance and prosperity, may your evenings have quiet moments of reflection that remind you what a remarkable person you are. “You” are exceptional and relevant to those around you and most of all…I wish you LOVE!

I can hardly wait to see what 2011 has in store for all of us…..Hooooooooty Hoooooooooooo to all of you ;)

Reflections of 2009

Original is posted on my Face Book page. Happy New Year, Y'all ;)

As I turn back the pages of what 2009 has meant to me, I stop to reflect on the passing of yet another decade in my life. 2009 represents the end of an era for me….the end of those years we call the 40’s. In just 6 short months & days, I will be a ½ century old. Is that right? ½ a Century! 50 years I have been on this Earth. As I stop to reflect on all that 2009 brought to us, it really wasn’t until almost the very last day of the year that it occurred to me; I am Who I was Born to Be.

I was listening to my new Susan Boyle CD: I Dreamed a Dream (for those that don’t know her, Wikipedia gives us this definition: Susan Magdalane Boyle (born April 1, 1961) is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on reality TV program Britian’s Got Talent on April 11, 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. Her first album was released in November 2009 and debuted as the number one best-selling CD on charts around the globe). I had picked it up as a gift to myself just before Christmas. I didn’t have time to really listen to the words of each song until today.

The CD has many familiar songs such as Amazing Grace, Daydream Believer, How Great Thou Art, Cry Me A River; a few I’ve never heard before and one in particular, Who I Was Born to Be. In Susan’s words, the song is about ambition & fate. It was written for her CD by a woman named Audra Mae who is the great niece of Judy Garland…another of my favorite performers (the Wizard of Oz is my all time favorite movie).

Getting back to my reflection, 2009 brought change. Not at the government level, but to us, personally. Stef finally found someone to love and be loved by. I was beginning to wonder if God had forgotten to make her “a someone”, but then she found Adam D. (Maddog) Maddox. He’s a very nice young man; lives in Jacksonville, Alabama, works at the Army Depot in Anniston, AL, has not one car, but two….neither of which are on blocks…sorry Adam, but you know I had to get my fun in there somewhere. All kidding aside, we like him a lot…I would even venture as far as to say that “We love him like a son” ;) So happy for you Stefanie.

Though Bunni wasn’t new to us in 2009, we had many new adventures with her and she continues to bring much joy to all of our lives….even to the little grey haired lady a mile up the street that will tell you, “I don’t like dogs”. We have discovered that she is a very talented dog as well…cooking, fishing, boating, sunbathing on the beach…..who would have ever thought that such a small little creature would have changed our lives the way she has. My Mother says I’m obsessed..maybe I am, but after all, dog spelled backwards is God ;) Thank you Bunni for your unconditional love.

Then there’s Mama. I guess a lot of the family thinks she’s mean, old and cantankerous. On occasion, I would probably have to agree with them, but I see the side of her that no one else see’s. Underneath the mask that she wears most of the time is a beautifully aged woman who is still as beautiful today as she was when I was a young girl…she doesn’t think that she is, but I tell her she is just the same. Thank you Mama for the weekly dinners, the tootle’s around town and the memories. I love you Dahling.

My very bestest friend in the whole wide world, or www as I call it, has been by my side for over 28 years. I’ve said this many times over they years to him, but I love him farther than my arms can reach. I feel very blessed to call him my husband, my companion, my lover even my co-worker. There aren’t very many couples that can be around one another almost 24-7, but God makes each new day different for us so life is always an adventure. I hope God gives us many more years together and that we get to check off some of the things on “our list” that we want to do and see. Alan, thank you for loving me.

2009 brought to a close, the lives of many famous celebrities that we have grown up with over the years. Such names as Bea Arthur, Billy Mays, David Carradine, Dom Deluise, Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, Henry Gipson, Karl Malden, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Ricardo Montelban, Soupy Sales & Walter Cronkite, just to name a few. Some of the not so familiar names on the list: Alaina Reed Hall who played on Sesame Street, Danny Gans – an American Singer & Comedian and Mollie Sugden… the lady on the BBC show, “Are You Being Served” that always had a different color of hair, lavender, blue, green, yellow…it was something different every week.

And so it goes, I save my Face Book peeps for last who are the real celebrities in my life. I won’t make this long and drawn out, but I will start with family: Adam, Alisa, Amber, Amy, April, Austin, Becca, Becky, Beverly, Bob, Bonna, Cal, Candice, Chrysta, Darrell, David, Donna, Emily, Eric, Frank, Jason, Jean, Jeff, Jeremy John, Kaley, Karen, Kellie, Ken, Leah, Missy, Nikkie, Noland, Phillip, Rafe, Richard, Sarah, Seth, Stefanie, Tina & Wesley….I love you all even if I don’t get a chance to tell you so everyday.

And to the rest of my Peeps: Ada, Alan, Alice’s Amanda’s, Amy’s, Analee, Andi, Andrea’s, Angela’s, Angie, Ann, Anne’s, Art’s, Banita’s, Barbara’s, Becky’s, Belita, Beth’s, Betty, Beverly, Bill’s, Billy’s, Bo’s, Bob’s, Bobby’s, Bonnie, Brandi’s, Brandie, Brenda’s, Bryant, Carey, Carl, Carla, Carlos, Carol’s, Carolyn, Carrie, Cassia, Cassie, Cathy, Chad’s, Charles, Chase, Cheryl’s, Chris’s, Christina, Christy, Chuck, Cindi’s, Cindy’s, Cody, Courtney, Cyndi, Cynthia’s, Dale, Dallas, Dan, Dana, Daniel, Danny, Darcy, Darrell, Daryl, Dave, David’s, Dawn’s, Deanna, Deb, Debbi, Debbie’s, Debra, Deena, Del, Denel, Denise’s, Derek, Diane, Dick, Dodi, Dondra, Donnie, Dottie, Doyle, Edna, Edwina, Elaine’s, Elizabeth, Ellen, Eric, Eva, Frank’s, Freda, Garey, Gary, Gene’s, Gerri, Ginger, Glenda, Greg’s, Gwen.

Harold, Harry, Heath, Heather’s, Holly, Horace, Huie, Ilse, Jack, Jackie, Jan’s, Janet, Janette, Janice’s, Janis, Jarita, Jason, Jay, Jeannie, Jeff’s, Jeffrey, Jennifer’s, Jenny, Jeri, Jerie Ann, Jerry, Jesse, Jill, Jim’s, Jimmy’s, Joan, John, Johnny, Jon, Joseph, Josh, Judi’s, Judy’s, Karen’s, Karla, Karol, Kathi, Kathy’s, Kay, Keith, Kellie’s, Kelly’s, Ken’s, Kenneth, Kenny, Kent, Kerrie, Kevin’s, Kim’s, Kimberly, Kirk, Kristi, Kristy’s, LaQuetta, Larry’s, Laura’s, Laurel, Lauren, Laurie’s, Lee’s, Leslie, Lewis, Lexann, Linda’s, Lindsey, Lisa’s, Liz, Lora, Lucie, Lucretia.


Marie, Mark’s, Marshall, Martha’s, Marty, Mary Ann, Mary’s, Melanie, Melinda, Melisa’s, Melissa, Michael’s, Michelle’s, Mike’s, Nancy’s, Norma, Norman, Pam’s, Pamela’s, Patricia, Patsy, Patsy-Jo, Patti’s, Paul, Paula’s, Peggy’s, Penny’s, Perry, Phil’s, Phillip, Priscilla, Rachael, Randall, Randy’s, Rebecca, Regina’s, Renee, Rhonda’s, Rick, Ricky, Rita, Rob, Robert’s, Robin’s, Roy, Russ, Russell, Sajuan, Sally, Sam’s, Sandra, Sandy’s, Scarlette, Scott’s, Shari, Sharon’s, Sharron, Sheila’s, Shelly, Sheri, Sherri, Sherrie, Sherry, Sonja, Spencer, Starrlyn, Stephanie, Stephen’s, Steve’s, Steven, Sue, Susan’s, Sylvia’s.

Tammie, Tammy’s, Teresa’s, Terri’s, Terry’s, Theresa’s, Tiffani, Tim’s, Timothy, Tobi, Todd’s, Tom’s, Tommy, Toni’s, Tosha, Tracie, Tracy, Travis, Trina’s, Valerie’s, Vernal, Vicki’s, Vickie’s, Victoria, Vivian, Wanda’s, Wayne’s, Wes, Will, William & Winkie….thank you all for the love, support, shoulder, vent, laughter, tears, joy, Friendship. Each one of you have made contact with and crossed this path of mine called life somewhere, somehow.

It is my pleasure to call each of you family & friends and if God can use me to touch even one soul along this path, then I am who I was born to be….Thank you God for Face Book ;)

My sister, the Fabgrandma, has another blog that I write on sometimes too. The blog site is: Jogging in Turtle Time and each day has a theme that you write your blog about for that particular day. I am coping my blog and posting it here as well.....So here is my What if Wednesday Blog:

What if you had terminal illness...
I decided to blog on this subject today because the theme for the day seemed to fit. We had a little guy that worked with us here at ACE last summer, Mason. He was such a nice young man. Always polite, courteous and kind. He is the son of a teacher I had at Lithia Springs High School, Gerald Harper. Gerald and his wife had Mason and his sister later in life. I'm sure Gerald is close to 56 or so.

Mason had been diagnosed with terminal cancer (I'm not really sure what kind he had so I'm not going to guess here; if I find out for sure, I will post it in a comment)a few years back and last summer he had a relapse. He has been in both Dallas, Texas & Orlando, Florida Cancer centers. He and his Dad came home a few weeks ago from Dallas where the doctors had told them there was nothing else they could do.

So, my what if? for today is: What if you were 20 years old, with your whole life ahead of you and you were told that there is nothing else that could be done? Would you hold close the friends and family who have always been there for you? Would you spend what little time you had left making sure that those people knew how much you loved and appreciated all of the love, care & sacrifices that have been made on your behalf to have a comfortable and peaceful journey into the unknown? or would you be mad at God and everyone around you because they were going to live and you were not! Mmmmm, tough place to be.

James Mason Harper passed away today. He was twenty years old and had his whole life ahead of him only to be snatched like a thief in the night by the terrible, horrible cancer that lived in his body. From what I understand, Mason was mad. He was mad at everyone and everything that represented life. I had heard through some of his friends that they didn't think he was saved. I can only hope that Mason and Jesus were the only two that knew the answer to that. I will be praying for the Harper's and their loss of such an amazing young man.....I will also be praying that in the end, Mason was able to take the hand of his precious Lord and Savior for his journey home.

In Memory of James Mason Harper: September 7, 1988 - March 25, 2009

Annual DCCS Spring Concert 2009

One of the things I so dearly love to do is sing. Back in June of 2003, I auditioned and landed a spot in one of Douglas Counties finest Community Chorus, Douglas County Chamber Singers. I sing Tenor I for all that have a knowledge of SATB in the choral world. Over the past 5 seasons I have sang with the Chorus, many of the songs have moved me, but none like one of the pieces we are singing this Spring: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Mack Wilberg arrangement).

Wikipedia describes this piece the following way:

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing is a Christian hymn composed by the 18th century Methodist pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson. The hymn is set to an American folk tune known as Nettleton, by attribution to the evangelist Asahel Nettleton who composed it early in the nineteenth century.[1] Robinson penned the words at age 22 in the year 1757[2]. The words of the hymn are in the public domain. The song has gained a degree of popularity in recent years, in large part due to an arrangement by Mack Wilberg, which appears at the end of the BYU Choirs concert "A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns," recorded in April 1994, which is rebroadcast annually by hundreds of PBS affiliates.

I have posted a link to the BYU rendition for your listening pleasure. I might add that we don't have as many members in our group as BYU, nor do we have a full Orchestra, but we do have an awesome Director and an even more profound young Accompanist. It is an awesome piece. The words to the revised version are:

1. Come Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,

Mount of God's unchanging love.

2. Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by Thy help I'm come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

Interposed His precious blood.

3. O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let that grace now like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander,

Lord, I feel it,Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

It serves as a reminder to me that I am covered by the

Blood of my Precious Savior, Jesus Christ and I am

Eternally Grateful for the opportunity to do what I

love to do & that He has given me a voice to Sing

His Praises.

Show Me Your Fridge & Pantry

I haven't clicked anything out in a while so at the urging of my sister, the FabGrandma, I had to step up to her latest challenge...show me your Refridgerator & Pantry. So here are some pics of my cupboards and my pool Fridge (the one that keeps the wet bathing suites outside during the hot summer days):

Liquor & Overstock area / Outside of Food Pantry

Inside Food Pantry / Spice Cabinet

Miscellaneous Cabinet / Pool Fridge on back porch

Inside Pool Fridge - everything you need for

hot summer days.................

......my house is your house ;)

My Sister the FabGrandma

My sister has started selling her wares on a web-site called Etsy. You can view all of the trendy things she has made on her page at Etsy. I especially like the Wait Book she made. If I had Grandchildren, which I don't, I'd buy them. I personally think she should try to find someone that would be willing to mass produce the Wait Book and sell them everywhere. I think it is just the neatest thing I have seen for small children. Here's a pic of it:

Swing on by her site, she has other things for sale as well. Perhaps you need a homemade apron or some beaded jewelry. She used to make the beaded necklaces when we were kids, but nothing like she is making now. Tell her Linda sent you ;)

The one thing I like about Fall is all of the beautiful colors that God puts on his canvas. Our peak Fall color was here last week, the 2nd week of November. I can’t remember when the trees and shrubs have been as beautiful as they have been this year. Perhaps it is due to our drought situation here in the South, but everything has just been stunning. The oranges, reds and golden yellows have been so vivid, it’s just hard to describe their beauty. Here are a few pics of some of the trees right here in my own yard:

stages of color

The one thing I don’t like about Fall is all the leaves that fall down after they have put all their beauty on display. It’s as if they just peak their color and then immediately terminate themselves from the branches from where they have hung all summer long. The bare branches will provide a better view of things that have been masked all Summer by their ever gently rustling in the hot breezes that are now just a memory.

I love all the Seasons, but I have to say that this Fall has been the prettiest we have ever seen. I’m just a little scared of what Winter will be like as we have had an abundant crop of the biggest acorns I have ever seen. I raked up just a very small area in the back yard, about 8 square feet, and was able to fill a 5 gallon bucket to over flowing. I didn’t make a dent in the acorns. Even the Squirrels and Chipmunks can’t keep up with the supply that covers the ground. I’ve always heard that when we have acorns like this, we are going to have a rough Winter….we’ll see. I’ll get back to you on this one.