I WAS TAUGHT GRATTITUDE

I was taught to be grateful from my childhood. My Aunt Irene Callahan was bedridden more than thirty years with rheumatoid arthritis. She was told to rest before they knew that exercise is better. She still had five children and was married over fifty years. She had many challenges.

She would always cheer everyone up that came to visit her. You would leave feeling better, even though you were there, trying to help her. She was not perfect, but she taught me to make the best of your situation. Rene did not believe in watching TV, she just read her Bible and talked to people.

I guess that is where I got the title of my blog from, some do ask. I fly around in my power chair, she would have loved to be able to do that. It took me 15 years of hating the chair before I realized what an aide I have.
Everyone with a disease like MS has the battle of the chair. Rightly so.

When you are feeling down, look around and it will not take long to see someone else, in a worse condition.

THANK YOU FOLLOWERS

I am happy to have more followers, check out the newest ones. Jennifer at Quest for cents
Kay's Christian blog and the one that has a country name:Boondock Babble. One blog of a missionary family, I admire is Pilar of the Stark Family

I still get a smile when I receive comments and followers, since I am not a writer. I wanted to do a little post to say Thank You to all who read my blog. I would like to post each one, but that would be boring. This might be useless, but I wanted to mention a few of the new blog friends.

I always say Thank You to the Lindenville Cafe. You should check out that button.

LOOKING FOR THE PAST

I have been looking for records of my job that I had in the 1980's. Since I have moved a few times, got married and had two children, many things have changed. The IRS is a little involved in my disability and I take that seriously. The worst that can happen, is to pay more taxes.

It is nice to get in contact with the past. I had many friends at work, it is nice to look back. We see what a road of miracles that we have traveled. Since the company has been out of business and they have sold my records three times, I am blessed to still be receiving benefits.

Looking at the past can be a reflection of what can happen ahead. Remembering the good, can help us hope for the best.

LEARNING TO BE FRUGAL

I am trying to be frugal now. A few job losses will teach you that. I have seen why my Grandfather was frugal until he died. He owned a Studebaker car dealership until Studebaker went out of business. He was in the town part of the mountains. I guess we are all learning what out Grandparents taught us, for a reason.

Today I went to get a new cell phone. I started analyzing how much I use the phone, which is not often. I decided for now, not to sign a two year contract. I am still relieved about that decision. I had a new phone temptation and passed.

I am trying to become debt free for many reasons. This lesson has given me more compassion for struggling families. We are so blessed, we need to help others, that is my goal.

AWARDS OF LIFE

I have been posting about awards, lately, however, one of the greatest award in my life, is my family. We are going to the lake to be with all the family again.
We are thankful for veteran's, but here it seems to be a celebration of the beginning of Summer. We do not forget the Veteran's, just cookout.

I suppose my point is to be grateful for what family relationships you have. We have the ordinary dysfunctional family, but it is wonderful. All seem to have strange family situations but that goes with the territory, I guess.

I thank God everyday for my family, even as my children are flying off to their busy lives, another season of life. Today is a celebration of what you have, at this stage of life.

TODAY BROUGHT GOOD NEWS

I posted last night, when you get discouraged, tomorrow is a new day. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

I am so happy that my husband, is fortunate enough to keep his job. That is such a relief since he has been laid off a few times, during the past four years. I have been taught again, to depend on God. We will see what happens now.

The first twenty years of our marriage was all about health issues, money was not. We all know health is more important but now I can have compassion on struggling families, much more than I had before.

Life seems to be a continuous lesson, let's see what is next.

WHAT A SMALL WORLD

I cannot believe my little post about my Hillbilly Family was featured on Bonnie Bonsai Blog Comments. in Australia. Since I cannot get these links to work, it is inserted in title. What a small world, really.

A different and the best honor I have is, to be included in the "Lindenville Cafe".

When I feel like I am wasting my time or I have too much time, I get encouraged by a comment or a new follower. This blogging world is unique.

I know when I feel discouraged, that it is temporary. Life is constantly changing with challenges and victories. Tomorrow is a new day, let's see what it brings.

My Hillbilly Cultures

To finish the story, fortunately my Dad still cooks some of the old Southern cooking. We had poke salad (really picked out of the yard), creamed corn, okra, ham, cornbread and lots more. He sent us off with pickled corn, which we love, however you have to grow up with it, to like it.
To see if a baby was truly country, my mom would let them taste pickled corn, my daughter loved it and my son hated it.

It is a little like the "dukes of hazard", that was Hollywood's version. Not exactly real. We have to look out for that in all aspects of life.

The best part of the south, it used to be called the Bible Belt, for a good reason. That is the part we need to hold on to.

MY HILLBILLY FAMILY

I have a very "Hillbilly" family and I love it. I guess you could say they are unique when my sister has many pet chickens. They have a small rooster that rides in the car with them, sets on their hand, and visits her at work.

Ivy loves her chickens so, that she will not eat chicken. We tease her about her love of chickens. Their names are Dixie and Pixie. I will try to get a picture posted later.

My son would love to be a "redneck" like my mountain family. If they know who you are kin to, they will help you anyway they can. They really believe with actions, that you take care of your neighbor.

It seems to be a fading way of life. Maybe we should all try more, to be hospitable to our neighbors.

WORKING ON COMPASSION

I have such an active weekend in the process. I am going to the north Georgia mountains to see my Dad and sisters. He gets to see his new grandchild the first time. Reunions are a happy time. I do not want to complain, but I am exhausted, getting ready to make the trip.

My husband has a ear infection, he is feeling bad. I need to have more compassion, and I am working on that. He has always treated me like a normal person, that is what I have always wanted. I do not want to be treated as a disabled person, just normal. As time goes by I would like a little sympathy from him. See how marriages change over the years, and he does not see it. Life is a work in progress, I guess.

Thanks for all the nice comments about the award, I do appreciate all blogging friends, that I stumbled upon.

TO FOLLOW UP.....

To follow up on a few posts, I know I do not have brain damage. I do not want to offend anyone who deals with those problems. I do think I have a bit of cognitive issues from MS. Maybe it is stress, that is what many people say these days.

We did have 30 people come to our house for a cookout, after Church. It was so much fun, I do want to have more cookouts. It makes good memories for all the friends and family to have. It was a Mother's Day to remember.

I want to spend as much time as I can with loved ones, in the end, that is what I will remember.

BRAIN DAMAGE?

I do wonder if I am losing my mind. I think we all know that someday we will not be as sharp, as we once were. The MS can do brain damage, I smile at that since I tease about it, however it is possible to have cognitive issues.

When I see my children do what I used to do, then I know. My son did write me a Mother's Day post in less than five minutes. Of course, as a mother, I think he has a talent. My daughter has great grades in college, I know I could not do that.

To be positive, I suppose I need to be thankful that I have a brain.:) I am so blessed and I keep repeating that, since it is so true, so true.

GUEST POST FROM MY SON

From our first words and until we die, we will always call the most important and influential woman in our lives, Mom. Today was a very special day for Mothers across the country. I hope all of them enjoyed every minute of it.

No matter what we (teenagers) might say to our Mothers, it is only the surface emotion. If you dig down deep enough, it is always the same emotion for our Moms, Love. You were the one who was always there when we were sick or hurt, and always had more sympathy than our fathers, (but don't tell them that). That creates a bond or a love that no one or nothing can come between.

I also want you to know that we will grow up, move out and find companions to love us all, but nothing can replace that love. I want you to carry that thought with you to the grave because it will forever be true.

From the first time I cried, to the day I die, I will always LOVE you, Mom.

ONE MORE MOTHER'S DAY

I do try to stay positive but life is challenging. I write about this often, but since my Mother went to Heaven, I would love to have one more Mother's Day with her. I advice everyone is to spend time with your Mother while you can. Life is short, so make good memories. I know many have this loss.

I will be blessed tomorrow with about 25 friends and family coming to my house for celebration of the day. I love having a large family, I do want to have more socials this year. That is my goal! We have been cleaning and cleaning. I am tired but it is worth it. Sometimes being tired is good.

I do have many memories to be thankful for. I am thankful I can remember them. I am so grateful to be a Mother.

A BED OF ROSES?

When life is a bed of roses, I have to remember that roses are beautiful, however with all the beauty there is thorns. That is the way I feel about Mother's Day approaching . I still find it one of the best things I did with my life, to have children. It has its beauty and some thorns, at the same time.

My daughter just bought a house. We will not have so many adventures in Atlanta since she will be closer to home. Now there will be more work with the house for us, but worth it, to own a home.

My son is at a critical crossroad in his life, of not knowing what he wants to do for the rest of his life. That is a frustrating place to be in life. Many people do not really plan their life, sometimes it just works out.

My life was not anything I planned and I believe there is a designer that knows much more than I. Some would say, you have MS, how could that be good? Everyone has challenges of different versions, much the same. We do not understand it all.

ADVENTURES IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

A very hectic weekend is over, good but over. We started with a usual weekend, date night, garage sales (which is always an adventure).

My daughters car broke down at her apartment in Atlanta, she needed a battery. That was a minor problem but her car was towed before we could get there. My husband had to pick it up at the lot with title and $125 cash. They get it back in its parking place and that is it, we thought.

Today starts with Church and buying a battery, rushing all day. We finally get to visit with my daughter at a restaurant on Peachtree Street, enjoying the food and talking. We look outside to see a policeman with a rifle gun running from store to store looking for someone. Everyone eating outside rushes inside to the restaurant, they said they heard a gun shot, we were all trying to get away from the windows and take cover, however, I was a sitting duck (pardon the pun). Fortunately, it was over, another police car came and they left with nothing happening. It reminded me of what you see on TV.

I know how blessed we were, while everyone was watching for a tornado, with our spring weather. This is a lesson in, you never know what the day will bring.