4th of july

Well . . . the 4th is over . . . I have to say I'm happy its over. It is so horrible on our dogs. We doped them up . . . but still they all sat in our laps and shook the entire weekend. They hate the fire works.

We were watching Beth's dogs, because her mother in law is very ill and she couldn't take the dogs to go to Oklahoma with her . . . so we had 7 dogs. Then Tim got a call that Beth's sisters husband went crazy and the sister was going to stay at Beth's house. And the dogs would get to stay home with her. Great! Although they were good dogs, having 7 dogs in the house was a bit much.

Well I assume the sister is an idiot! and she left the dogs out side, and not only was it raining but people were shooting off fireworks before it was even dark . . . so Scarlet one of Beth's dogs busted through the fence and got out . . . Tim went out looking for her, but hasn't found her. What is wrong with Beth's sister?!?!?! So Tim is feeling really bad . . . and will probably be out looking for Scarlet again today. I hope she is ok.

Earlier in the day we went to Tim's high school friend Diane's house. Destiny and Kennedy went with us, because Jason was out of town and She didn't have anything else to do other than to stay with Jason's crazy grandma . . . (I really don't like that woman!!! Talk about crazy!!!) So she went to Diane's with us.

Here are a couple of pictures~

Kennedy and her pappy!

Kennedy and her granny!! (We were talking to each other!!)

Kennedy splashing in the pool!

And us~ Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th . . . God bless our troops and I hope each and every one of you stay safe and make it home from where ever you are!!!

Life Memos

Did you get the memo??

About ~

If you love someone tell them . . . tell them each and every time you see them how you feel, how they have changed your life . . . you never know when it will be the last time you get to talk to them.

Label all your pictures . . . of who, what, when and where, and if you want you can add how . . . but always label your pictures . . . someday you may not be around to tell people what was going on, and who those people were.

If you have an older person in your life, sit and talk with them. Tape them if possible, so you will always have that documentation of who they are.

Open doors for others . . . when did we become a society of people who are so self centered that they can't hold the door open for someone else.

Smile at children and enjoy the way they are, have fun with them and recall the joy you had as a child!

Pet animals (Be sure they are friendly first) it's amazing how just something so simple as petting an animal, can calm you down and make you see life in a new perspective.

Write a letter . . . no one writes letters any more! But isn't wonderful to get real mail?!?!? let someone know you care with a real letter . . . your own handwriting . . . very personal and
special.

Anyone you have ever truly loved, you will always love . . . (in some place in your heart) it just grows and changes . . . remember that, even when they annoy you.

If you have ever had a broken heart . . . you need to take the time to heal . . . to figure it all out . . .take the time you need.

Tell the people you love that you love them. It's important.

Don't allow bad people in to your lives . . . and if you have people who bring you more harm than good, get rid of them, you don't have to have them in your life . . . you are not required to be friends with someone, or even family . . . (Well, you are still family, but if they are not adding to your greater good, you don't have to associate with them . . . you can choose not to.)

Take care of you! sometimes we are all so busy "doing" this and "doing" that . . . that we for get to just "BE" and take the time we need to just "Be" and enjoy . . . enjoy a good meal, or a bubble bath, or a glass of wine . . . enjoy the conversation of a good friend or the picture of a loved one.

Be sentimental . . . recall in vivid detail the things from the past that have made you happy . . . that have brought a smile to your face . . .

I know there are more things . . . but . . . I can't think of them at the moment. You can add to your own "life memo" . . . it's important not to forget, that we are all here for a blink of an eye . . . what do you want to leave as your legacy . . . live spherically!

Beauty

I'm sure every Granny thinks their grands are the most beautiful!!! But I KNOW mine are!! Just kidding, although she is pretty cute!!

Isabelle with her eyes wide open! Isn't she adorable? I love the blank looks that babies have . . . the "yes I'm an unfilled glass. Fill me up!"


Here I think she looks a little like her daddy . . . but I know that her beautiful mama is in there too.

Isn't she adorable?!?!?!


Brent sent me a couple other pictures too . . . but these two are my favorites!!!

I was making cards yesterday . . .

I was going through sentiments for Sympathy cards . . . and think of Thomas and wishing that some of those sentiments were what people had said to me, when Thomas died. (I wasn't crying or being overly sad, just thinking and wishing.)


And then the Mercy Me song, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWMk_MoFTFM"I can only imagine" came on the radio . . . it's the song that I always think of when I think of Thomas!! I started crying and laughing all at the same time. And felt like falling to my knees and thanking God for that moment of "Thomas-ness"~~~ "Will I dance for you Jesus, or to my knees will I fall? I can only imagine."

In my head and in my heart . . . It was Gods grace, or my Thomas, or whatever you choose to think of . . . that was standing with me, holding me, making me smile, and laugh through my tears. And oh Lordy, was I wanting to fall to my knees . . . Laughing and Crying . . . It was truly an unexpected moment of Thomas-ness . . . I could feel that momentary connection . . . that LOVE.

It was truly amazing . . . It was one of those moments where you can actually feel the difference in the air . . . the warmth of someone one holding you . . . the comfort of a gentle touch, and the love . . . the greatest love of all . . . (As I write this, this morning I have tears in my eyes, recalling how it felt . . . )


I know at this moment you are probably thinking I'm a wacko . . . or that I'm a few french fries short of a happy meal . . . or that I was drunk or drugged up . . . but I wasn't.
I was just thinking . . .
I was making greeting card for the store . . .
I wasn't crying.
I wasn't sad.
I was just doing and creating . . .
being . . .
thinking of when I lost my Thomas . . . and the words that brought me comfort . . . those are the words I wanted to use to bring others comfort in my cards.


And then I was the one who got the comfort . . . I know it was Thomas . . . Just checking in. Letting me know that he is with me . . . always with me.

I can't tell you how much the thought of "Thomas always being with me" makes me so happy!!! That on occasion he lets me know that he is with me!!

To me today, I had a moment . . . It was unexpected, I didn't ask for it . . . but it happened all the same.

I just wanted to share that with you. (I hope you don't think I'm too crazy)

I wonder if everyone has loved ones who come to them . . . but they are too busy or not paying attention and miss those moments . . . I wonder if you have to be "quiet" in your head and heart to truly connect . . . I was having a simple moment . . . not a lot going on . . .

At any rate . . . no matter what it was . . . I had a blessing!!! It was mine, all mine . . . and I'm so happy and grateful for it! Thank you God! Miss you Thomas! Love you!

Perception

I have been pondering a lot of things lately . . . and "perception" is really one of them.


I think, I'm like the seagull from the Little Mermaid movie, "This is this . . . and that is that." I get stuck in my head thinking, that I KNOW what I'm talking about when really I don't . . . I just have MY perception of it . . .


I guess we are all guilty of thinking "our way is the best way" or "our stuff is the best stuff" or "our beliefs are the best beliefs". I think sometimes it's hard to step outside of ourselves and see that the way with think, believe, live~ may work for us but it is not something that may work for everyone.


Tim grew up catholic . . . he says he is catholic. But he has not been in a church in years. I am not catholic . . . but I'm very spiritual. Although, as of late, I have been feeling like I would like to go to church . . . a fun, non denominational church where they build you up and help you to live a life with a closer relationship to God . . . When I bring it up to Tim, he says, "I'm Catholic. I'm not searching for anything different." But if you don't go to Church are you really catholic? Does God really care what church you go to? I bring this up, because Tim's brother called him yesterday to tell him to go to church . . . He said, "I had a dream about Mama, and she said for me to tell you to go to church." I think that is the "Catholic Guilt" or maybe it's the "Irish guilt" speaking. Does it matter what church you go to? In Tim's head and heart it matters, it's either the catholic church or no church at all . . . That's his perception or religion . . . For me, I have a different way of looking at it. And I'm fine going with him to the Catholic church every other week, as long as he is open to going to the other churches with me. Isn't it really about having a closer relationship with God, than it is about what "Building" you attend?? (Again, just my perception.)


I don't know, maybe that's a bad example.


Here is another one.


I belong to the most wonderful on line family . . . and lately there has been an issue . . . Supposedly, we are supposed to talk about Scrapbooking. But so many of us have been together for years and years, and have developed strong relationships . . . so we talk about everything . . . Well, there have been people "whining" that there is not enough scrapbooking talk . . . but they are also the people who don't post any scrapbooking talk . . . They simply get on line and look to see what "we" (The regular posters) have posted. They don't post things and ask questions, or make comments about scrapbooking. But then they want to say "Snarky" things. In my world, I see my on line family as people I can go to for whatever I need or want to talk about. In their world they want to only see Scrapbooking things. Perception. And in my abundant loveliness, I had to tell them to post something scrap related if that is what they wanted to see. There were a couple of people I know that had their feelings bruised over the snarky comments made about keeping the talk more Scrapbook related (you know who you are) as we feel this is our place, our family . . . and we should be able to talk about what ever we want. Ok, it's supposed to be scrapbook related by definition, but how many times can you say, "I am using the Glue Glider pro It works great." OR "I bought some new paper it's so pretty." if we were limited to only scrapbook talk, then we would never have really anything to talk about because you can only say those things so many times. The board would never move. But that's my perception of it. Maybe other people think differently.


I don't know . . . I guess what's I'm working through here is that it's fine to think what ever you want . . . you are entitled to that. And if it works for you, then by all means do it. But when you push your thoughts and beliefs on to someone else, that's where we run into problems. Just because you think one way, doesn't mean that it is necessarily right . . . it's just "Right for you".

One day old

And I'm totally in love!!!

I'd like to introduce you to

My new grand daughter!!
I got a call last night at 1:45 AM saying that she was born!! 9 pounds 5 and a half ounces! Big girl!

Mother and daughter are doing well. Granny is tired cuz she couldn't sleep after the call!!!

Last night her name was going to be Isabelle Ellen Marie Novak, I don't know if that name will stick or not . . . But isn't she round and beautiful!!!