The Best of Christmas 2012

Dad watching over the gifts

I was so thrilled when my daughter, Leah...
figured out how to Skype with my son and his wife
 since I did not have any idea how

that almost made me feel like Jacob and Kayla was here for Christmas

...all the way from California

(but they had to stay inside the laptop)

I had a wonderful Christmas...
and I am still fascinated with new gadgets like Skype!

Wishing You A....

my horse dog Donny likes to carry around my house shoe in his mouth!
It just makes me smile!

Leah, Hubs and me

 I wish yall a Merry Christmas!

My Daughter Visits NYC

My daughter...Leah...and my niece...Courtney have always dreamed of visiting New York City at Christmas.

I thought 'Why?'

but I try to remember when I was young and adventurous like they are now! 

they saw a Broadway Play

the Rockettes

They got a little too close to this painting at the Museum of Modern Art (the guard said)

 This is the Bread and Breakfast Coffee they stayed in....

not what I had pictured in my mind...

but it is NYC!

classic view of NYC

they loved their Christmas trip ...

these photos let me see the fun they had in NYC
but as a Mom.... 
I am So Glad they are back at home!

MS Christmas Party

I always enjoy going to our MS Support Groups Christmas dinner.

We had a good time with friends, food and some laughter.

Then I went to another party with the ladies of my church
These are two snapshots of some good memories at Christmas 2012

I encourage others to get involved when you can.

Priceless Santa Moments

This photo captures how my niece Gracie felt about visiting Santa 

while her older brother Nate looked so calm.

It made me smile...
I do enjoy these moments of Christmas!

Thankfully Recovering

^{I am happy that I was able to spend Thanksgiving Day with my Dad and our large family.}  

^{But boy was I tired after the trip since it had only been a few weeks after my gallbladder surgery.}

Funny how I bounced back from major surgery 30 years ago rather quickly... 

and now minor surgery is not so minor!

Thankfully I am almost back to my normal with a happy Thanksgiving memory.

Thankful Birthdays

Happy 75th Birthday to my mother-in-law!!!

I feel blessed to have this friendship...

which began way 

before I married her son.

She is just one the reasons I have to be Thankful for

~during this Thanksgiving season~

 

Accidents

 My Hubs was driving home last night

when his car was hit by a deer.

(the car did fare better than the pitiful deer)

So this morning I wanted to get a pic of the car

 then I smiled when I saw my horse dog Donny sniffing it
to see 
what has happened to his dads car.

The wreck is a hassle but

I am so THANKFUL hubs was not injured!

A Special Day

Jacob

Today is my sons 23rd birthday!

ps...I am feeling good as I recoup from minor gallbladder surgery last week.

It is nice to have an appetite back since the nausea has left me.

pss...The nausea returned after a few days....
so I will rest again and
try to keep a good attitude about it!

Waiting

my dog waiting on me

I wanted to say

Hello...

as I am waiting to have my gallbladder removed 

next week.

Thankfully it is can to be done laparoscopic nowadays!

I remind myself it could be worse

as I wait!

Another Surgery?

For a few months...

I have been weaker than my normal 'MS' kind of tired...

~so after many tests~

my Doctor recommended that I go see a surgeon about having my gallbladder removed.

Maybe a 'less than normal' functioning gallbladder and some pain....

well, could it make me weak??

I do not want to have surgery but I am tired of being really, really nausea's!

I am trying not to complain...at least the surgery is minor nowadays...and

I remember: This too shall Pass!

My Stinking Horse-Dog

My horse dog Donny may look innocent and smiling here in this old pic,

but he Stank to high heavens after running through the woods yesterday.

(he must have come across something dead)

He stunk so bad that my daughter volunteered to give him a bath.
you know he had a foul odor when she volunteered

It took waterless dry shampoo, super deodorizing wipes, magical deodorizing spray and finally a bath with dog shampoo...
to get Donny clean again!

My Local Weather Station

Outside my window....

the geese are watching the rain...

as I watch them with a camera!

My Dad told me, "geese come in ahead of a cold front"
and sure enough it was cooler the next day.

I think of this view as

my own really local weather station.
I feel so blessed!

The Sweet Sound of Snoring

My Hubs snoring drove me crazy for the past 20 plus years

but now....the snoring has become comforting.

Go Figure???

what was sooo irritating has become soothing!

Strange how things can change as time goes by.

The Troubles of a Computer

When

Sandra was trying to leave me a comment....

she received the above warning.
 that my 'Stuff' blog may have a malicious virus!

I really appreciate her letting me know by

sending me a copy of the warning.

Please Email me if yall have received a similar warning.

Now I will be trying to figure out what in the world is going on...

but maybe I have been playing too many games!

Playing Games

net pic

I confess that I have been wasting time...

playing games on Facebook

I do not know why but...

maybe it is an escape for my brain

maybe it is an escape from stress

maybe it is an addiction

or maybe it is just plain ole Fun

However, I miss blogging...so I hope to get back to blogging more often now.

What I Could Not See

outside my window

My horse dog started barking at this scene with moths nest in it...

so I grabbed the camera

to get a closer look at what he was barking at.

the camera zooms in...to show me...

 ~an owl~ 

I felt this is a reminder for me to notice the simple beauty that is all around me!

Where is My Dad At?

net image

My Dad has had a rough couple of months...

due to strokes, COPD, etc.

All Dad wants is to go home

yet he is in his home.

Dad says:  "I want to go home"

Me: "Dad you are at home....look, here is the fireplace you and Mom built".

Dad:  "this is not my home....I want to go home".

Me: "We just want you to be comfortable"

Dad: "Then take me home"...."I just want to rest in my recliner"

On good days he says "My brain has been playing tricks on me"

I am thankful for the time with Dad but it is sad to see him suffer.

I have to wonder if he means his Heavenly Home

since Dad is so sure that he is not at home now??

I so appreciate all the thoughts and prayers!

Great Smoky Mountain Memories

Maggie Valley NC

When I saw this photo at Betsy's Joyful Reflections blog....

it reminded me of where I grew up.

Dad would drive us (Mom and his 5 daughters) up to the Great Smoky Mountains every year.

Nowadays Dad sleeps a lot....

He is so sick with COPD and TIA strokes.

I feel foggy like this beautiful photo...

Please keep us in your prayers 

My Pensacola Vacation Pictures

This is me driving my scooter....
going out with Hubs....to watch him go swimming

I snapped a picture of Hubs facing down a wave

I was almost afraid of heights
since our condo was on the 15th floor.

I sure enjoyed loved the time spent with
Hubs, son and daughter-in-law, and my mother-in-law!
I like making memories!

Watching the Sunrise

While we were on vacation in Florida...

 Hubs and I went to the beach early.
 We wanted to beat the heat of the day
~it was so peaceful~ 
after  all it was the crack of dawn

It is really nice to have a vacation but
there is no place like home!

A Summer Break

Jacob and Kayla

I can't wait to see my son and his beautiful bride

in person

They are leaving California's beach to come home 

~for a short visit~

so I will be taking a summer break from blogging...

see yall later!

Square Wing Tip Dragonfly

I saw this unusual dragonfly in Georgia - July 2012...
I had never seen this dragonfly with a square wing tip before.

They were flying around very fast...so I grabbed my camera.

A few minutes later...there were two

PS: This detailed photo was emailed to me.
He saw this unusual dragonfly in Michigan on his window.

My Maypop Surprise

I had never seen this flower before except on the net...
so it was a thrill to get a photo of a bumblebee strolling around on it

When I first saw this flower blooming in the weeds...
I said "Hubs, look there is a ballerina looking flower"

It is a purple passion flower...with the name of 'maypop'

net says this is an edible apricot when it ripens...I will taste it then

I am always amazed at the beauty that can be found hiding among the weeds!

Doctors, Doctors, Doctors

These flowers have nothing to do with a doctor...

however I like its bright color though it has a spider on it.

I have been visiting a lot of doctors lately...

 for 

check ups and follow ups.

I do get tired of visiting doctors

but I am thankful I have modern medicines!

Facing a Giant

This snapshot moment happened at my Dads house. 

Peanut (my sisters little dog) is barking ferociously at the door when he sees the neighbors dog standing outside...

I will try to remember the analogies in this pic
when I face the giants in my life!

Schnitzel and Spaetzle

net pic of schnitzel

We were surprised 

when my daughter invited Hubs and I over to her house for a meal...

since she does not cook too much.

However her Grandmother, Oma, recently taught her how to cook these two German dishes....

schnitzel (breaded meat) and spaetzle (noodles).

We enjoyed the meal very much...
it was delicious

She can cook!

A Rainy Day Bird

I sit here on a rainy day....with nothing to blog about.

then I look out the window to see this bird standing in the water.

It reminds to be thankful for the roof over my head...

and I do not have to get out of the house today!

Dog Snuggles Up to My Wheels

Ahh...Donny is so cute...
when He snuggles up to the wheels
of my wheelchair.

The above pic shows when
Donny looked up and said
"what?"

Funny how I can understand his dog language