The Princess and The Left Out

Today I got a visit from the princess.

She's been battling a nasty cold lately but is feeling better today.

I tell her, say I love Grammy...  and she does.  Gary says I'm brainwashing her.  This may be true.  But I think she genuinely loves me.

Or maybe it's my iPhone she loves....

And how was your day Gracie?

How was my day?  Let me see...  thanks to the intercom I pretty much know what goes on over in that office of yours during the day when you leave me home alone.   I have a sneaking suspicion that the cookie carrier had treats for me that were never delivered.  That's how my day was.  #AllYourFaultMom 

not.my.favorite

A couple of weeks ago we were invited to The Chamber of Commerce's 'After Hours' where other local businesses get together and have good eats, win some prizes, and mingle.  It turned out to be pretty big, with around 400 attendees...   

It was a good thing it was held at Rocky Gap Casino Resort this month.  They needed the space!

So anyway...  while there we were each handed a coupon for a free dinner at the Lakeside Restaurant there for Wednesday nights only with an expiration date of February 12, so we had to make sure we got in by then.

And so... 

 Tonight we got in the car and headed down that way.  I called on the way, to see if we needed to have a reservation...  and guess what?  They aren't even opened!  So when do you suppose you will be opening, I asked.  Not sure... but sometime in February was their answer.  

So I'm guessing they gave the coupons out to generate business for the casino.  They probably figure that once a person is there and finds out the restaurant is not open they will at least gamble.  

Hmmmmm..

Glad I called first. 

So we ended up eating chinese.  

not.my.favorite

But at least I did not have to cook.

Gracie,  your turn.

Dog food and another lonely night home alone.

Oh...  and a fortune cookie.

***YAWN***

When the dreary, bitter cold days of winter settle in and things are a little slow....

There's nothing like a visit from our Siemens rep. to bring some life to into our doldrums.

Dinner with Brian brought lots of laughs!  

And we even talked about business...  

a little...    

How's it going for you Gracie?

Well.  I eat.  I sleep.  I eat again.  Then I take a drink and sleep again.  **YAWN**  Let's see...  eenie meenie minie moe...  which of you toys can break this bored streak I'm having?

Lookin' for some fun, but Y'all are looking lame.  

So I think I'll just lay down a while....

Sick Of It

Summer has been sick lately, but not too sick that she can't send Grammy a little message.  God love her little heart....



Gracie, what's new with you?

Yep, I've been sick lately too.  Sick of this cold wet stuff all over my potty floor.  Sick of it, I'm tellin' ya!

One Growing Old and One In Denial

When I look in the mirror I see someone so much older than me.

I use all the latest moisturizers and makeup tricks...  But there are still lines and wrinkles and more lines.  My face has taken on a whole new shape.  My eyelids are drooping.   My gray roots and a brassy blonde combo scream out I dye my hair but I still look old!

And I'm seeing age spots.  Eeeeeek!

There's only one thing left to do...



Tomorrow I'm going out to buy a new mirror.



How 'bout you, Gracie?


None for me, thank you.  I still look great!

On Forgiveness

One of the most difficult things to do.  It's something that I always need God to help me with.

How can I forgive someone who does not even deserve it?

 Should I forgive when there is no apology?

Why does God say that He will forgive us as we forgive others?

In pondering these doo-dads that float around inside my brain, I go to the source for my answers.  The Word of God teaches that He will forgive us as we forgive others.  He also says that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jer.17:9). Does that mean my heart too?

So as I read further I understand that the wicked, evil person is being called back to God, because God loves us all. And as I draw near to him, I am changed.  As I allow Him to fill my heart, I am overwhelmed with His thoughts and His ways.

This is what God says about the contrite and humble spirit:

Isaiah 57: 18. I have seen his ways, and will heal him.  I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.  19. I create the fruit of the lips.  Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him.

But, of the wicked God says:

Isaiah. 57:20. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.  21. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him: and our God, for he will abundantly parden.   8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, either are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

Dear Lord, 

Today I ask for the spirit of forgiveness.  I ask also, that you forgive me in like manner.  Every day is a new day.  Every day I try to do the right thing.  Every day I fall short.  Let me see You in my thoughts and in my actions.  Deliver me from anger and resentment.  Let my thoughts rest upon your Hope for a Heaven where Your peace will fill my days.  

Amen.

And now...  Gracie  

Even though I was left out in the cold for a total of 30 minutes with no blanket, no food and no water (only icy snow laying on the ground) while you forgot about me and did whatever you do in that office of yours (which probably consists of eating fried chicken and watching television while you pretend that your dog does not exist) I forgive you, Mom.  And I love you.  And could you please bring me a warm blanket.  Preferably the kind that plugs into the wall...  and a cookie.  And while your at it can you scratch my ear...  I think I might've got a bug outside.  Thanks Mom.  

Snow Day

Today we closed the office and went to a movie. 

Lone Survivor.  Great movie...  but very sad.  

 Snow days do have their advantages.

57 Days till Spring...

Monday Funny

A Funny for A Winter's Day:

A blonde driving a car became lost in a snowstorm. She didn't panic however, because she remembered what her dad had once told her. "If you ever get stuck in a snowstorm, just wait for a snow plow to come by and follow it." 

Sure enough, pretty soon a snow plow came by, and she started to follow it. She followed the plow for about forty-five minutes. 

Finally the driver of the truck got out and asked her what she was doing. And she explained that her dad had told her if she ever got stuck in a snow storm, to follow a plow. 

The driver nodded and said, "Well, I'm done with the Wal-Mart parking lot, do you want to follow me over to Best Buy now?"

Chuck E Cheese ~ ~ My Hero!

There is so much going on anymore that 

I am forgetting what I've blogged about. 

So bear with me.  

The pictures you are about to see are from Jake and Jaspers Chuck E Cheese birthday party which was held in Altoona about a week before Jaspers surgery.   

 Jasper is doing great now, by the way.  The surgery was a success, and he is like a different kid!  

This birthday party was beyond awesome!  I want to have my birthday party at Chuck E Cheese! 

Don't laugh.  I'm serious...  

Good Times!

About 5 days after Jaspers surgery.  A different baby!!

~~~~~THIS IS THE YEAR~~~~~~

I wish Samson didn't know so much about me.  Dang that Mom of mine!  She should have never had my innermost thoughts and secrets published.  I just know Samson thinks I'm a bad girl.

But then again....  I believe Samson loves bad girls.

So maybe... just maybe... he will say yes.


This is the year!

I've waited long enough!!

I will ask Samson to marry me!!!

When the time is right......

Shhhhhhh

Our secret

I said yes to the dress!

Oh Gracie!

 Gracie, you are so soft and fluffy.  You make a wonderful pillow.  

 Could you get off me already!  I can't breath.  You're smothering me.

 And you smell so good....

 You smell horrible.  Do you have that lotion on your hands again??  ACHOO!!!

 Let's get a picture.

 Let's stick needles in our eyes instead.

  Say cheese....

 Pleeeaaassseee leave me alone...

  Awww Gracie.  That's great.  You are beautiful.

 You are a pain.

January Storms

A husband who is having vision problems and might have glaucoma, who also is suffering serious bouts of nausea and sickness from his crohns disease.  A 12 month old grandson who is having a major surgery.  A dear sister, who is in poor health to begin with, falls and breaks her arm.  A dog, who has nobody to give him the attention he needs, sits on the porch and waits.  A brother, down on his luck, tries to drink away his troubles and winds up in the hospital with heart problems.

Throw a few relationship problems into that mix and what you have: a quagmire.

January is off to a stormy start.  And I'm not talking about the weather.

But God is good.

  Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.


After going to the specialist, Gary's eyes might not be as bad as they thought.  Another test is scheduled to determine the severity of the glaucoma that they are pretty sure that he has.  His colonoscopy yesterday looked good, but we are awaiting the results of the biopsy.  He is feeling better.

Jasper's (the grandson) surgery was a success...  and after just 5 days in the hospital he is coming home today.

Waiting to be released

No surgery was needed for my sister as hers was a clean break.  She is home from the hospital, arm in a sling, and moving slowly.

I found a loving home for Cabot (my grand dog)

Here he is... living the good life.  Caged no more!

My brother is stable and we (his siblings) are coming together to try and find help for him and his predicament.  

As far as the relationship issues...  all in God's hands.  

And the music plays over and over again in my head...  and I feel a peace.  

New Year Post

So how are all the new years resolutions going?

I didn't make one.  I would only break it and then I would feel like a failure.

So I'm taking one day at a time.

Lately, my heart has been heavy for a number of unspoken reasons.

 Time ~ Alone with God has helped.

 Only He can turn my heart from anger to forgiveness.   He gives me peace to replace my anxieties and helps me to understand some things that I just don't get.   And when the day comes to an end,  I am at peace.

This is not a new years resolution, mind you, but I am setting my heart on drawing nearer to God and distancing myself from those who pull me away from His peace.   This is my survival in what often seems to be an insensitive, careless & manipulative world.

But.  I am grateful.  I have family and friends who are awesome.  I have some of the finest, most sincere and caring blogging friends!  And knowing that there are still good people in the world is reason for hope!

And now.  Lets Live, Love and Laugh together as we go into 2014.

Ok Gracie.  It's your turn.

Yea.  Gracie here.  My new years resolution - No more diaries for me.  Too embarassing when you-know-who shares my innermost thoughts and secrets with the world.  Know what I mean?  Question:  What kind of MOM would take a present from Santa AKA kitty kitty cat and put it up high so I can't get to it?  A NOT_SO_NICE ONE!  Here kittie kittie kittie....

My plan was not to remove the squeaker.  I was cleaning kittie's ear!  

In Recovery... In a Lot of Pain

Jasper's surgery went well.  He is in a lot of pain and has to be on morphine right now.  Thanks so much for the prayers...  please continue to pray for him and his mommy and daddy.  

Jasper with his brother's Angel Bear right before going back for surgery

Surgery for Jasper

Tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM our 12-month old grandson Jasper will be having a 4-5 hour surgery to repair a hiatal hernia.

Please say a prayer for our sweet little guy....

Thank You so much!

James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Life

Life has been way too busy.  I was supposed to be "off" for the week of Christmas/New Years...  but that just didn't happen. Sorry I have been absent from blogging lately, but life has just been in the way.

Did you catch the video from my last post of Rissi releasing the balloons?  I know, it was a little long...  but my editing skills are about as sharp as my mind these days.  It was really sweet...  and I knew I had to do something with her idea so I put the video together.

We had a beautiful Christmas.  Candlelight service at church.  The grandkids lighting up our lives with their presence and presents on Christmas day.  Visiting with friends.  Going to movies.  Loving on our Gracie.  It was all good!

We are going to make it last through January and keep our Christmas village up for the kids to enjoy.

May 2014 be a good year for you!  God bless.