Things happen in God's time, not ours.

I have always heard that and I believe it to be true, but after 42 years of praying for Joe, I was beginning to think this was a prayer that was destined to be answered in the negative. Was I ever happily surprised on Friday afternoon when I found out that prayer was answered. When I got home Joe was here, of course, and he seemed kind of different in a good sort of way. Anyway, he told me he wa going to tell me something, but I COULD NOT tell anybody else. He said that over several times. I could not even begin to imagine what he was going to say next. And when he did tell me, I almost fell into his arms. He told me that he was going to have George, our minister, baptize him this week. I have loved this man for a long time and he has never told me anything that made me love him more than those words. Well, today at 11:00 AM the deed was done. Joe is a private person, so he chose to go this route. He only wanted one other couple to be there and that was the couple that basically were the first (outside of me) to ask him to attend church. I am sure the angels in heaven are still rejoicing. I am and will forever more.

This is a short post, but I can think of nothing else to even begin to compare. Praise to God our Father for His grace, mercy and love.

How Blessed I Am

Today has been relatively quiet. Joe and I had what I considered a good Thanksgiving lunch. I cook so much less than I once did, that I surprised myself when it all came together. Of course, I cooked more than enough, so I guess it will be The Left-Over Diner for a few days.

I really have so much to be thankful for this year. First of all I am thankful that God has blessed me as He has. He allowed me to be born to a family that believed in Him and brought me up to do the same. They taught me to work and be honest, traits too many of the younger generation does not exhibit. When our nation realizes that belief in God and His ways are what it was founded on things will begin to get better. He has blessed this country and for a large part the country has thumbed their noses at Him. How sad our ancestors would be!!

I am so thankful that I have Joe. I know there have been times that I could have put him on the proverbial slow boat to China, but I would have been swimming after it before it got too far from port. Pretty gutsy stuff for a girl that can't swim to be saying. That is just how much he means to me. I guess as we have aged together we have become more tolerant of each other.

My children are most precious to me. Trina has always made us proud, not that she was perfect. Sorry, Trina, perfect children are just a myth. Seriously, Trina has made her niche in life and a very good one at that. She married the most wonderful gift from God and we love him dearly. She has been mother to Katy and Jessi and a very proud Granna to Sam. Phillip and Lance are just a dear to her as are the girls. She has succeeded in becoming a great teacher and loves her job. She was fortunate to have had two of the best English teachers ever. I never forget to remind Jane Mullinax of her influence and were Ms. Smith still alive I would also remind her.

Our Eddy is another story. I love him with all my heart, but he is a very troubled soul. All his life he had great ambitions, but for some reason he never was able to capitalize on them. It could be that his particular ambitions changed so readily. I realized early on that Eddy seemed to have some kind of attention problems (this was pre-ADD/ADHD), but everyone kept saying that he would outgrow it. You the reasoning: Limit his sugar intake, don't let him drink caffeine drinks, etc. Guess what he did not outgrow it and hence, we have been burdened with many problems. His self-esteem is minus 100 at the best. I tried to get some counseling when he was around 9 years old, but was unsuccessful . All I can do now is let God have him and pray for the best.

Over the last ten years, I have become so involved with so many things. And I love all of it. When I retired, I began going to the ladies' Tuesday Morning Class. Loved every minute of it. We have grown since then and do a lot of service projects. My thing has always been that if Jesus came to earth to be a servant for us, how can we expect to be like him if we don't become servants too?

Now that I am volunteering at the hospital I feel my life has become even better. I work with people that are true God believing people and don't care for talking about Him to anyone that will listen. I feel that my faith has grown so much for this experience. I know I am where I am supposed to be and I love it. The little twelve hours a week I work is just icing on the cake. I would do it just to get volunteer hours, but the extra pay is good.

My friends through the years are some of the most wonderful people. There have been times when they were just what I needed. Our "bunch" from school still get together about every 2-3 months and have a girl's night out. We would probably do it more often, but some of them have become grandmothers and they have to coordinate their goings with the grandchildren's activities. Oh happy days!!

My plans for my days off this week were to do some much needed sewing. Have I? No. Why? Too much other stuff to do. I HAVE GOT TO GET SOME SEWING DONE. MY FABRIC IS GOING TO DRY ROT IF I DON'T!!

Hope everyone has had a great day and that the upcoming holiday season will be just as blessed. Try not to stress out. Just spread some sunshine and everything will be fine.

Today was Up and Down

Today did not start off in such a happy way. Eddy was here overnight and it seems lately when he is here, it never is a happy way. I am at my wit's end on what to do and even wonder at times if there is anything to do except to just exist. Oh well, brighter days are surely not too far off.

Things improved greatly when I got to our ladies class. Always does. It is so refreshing to be around my "sisters." We had a wonderful discussion on several things before we ever got to discussing some of the things from the Beth Moore study book. The study series was so great, even the second time around. After class several of us went out for lunch. We always have a good time then and usually end up staying much longer than the waitress prefers. We always tip well.

Then, I had my six month check up with my hemotologist and I don't go back for six more months. She was so excited about my lab work. Numbers on my blood count were high, which was very good. Numbers on my kidney lab was low, which was very good. After nine years it is about time.

Then I got to go to work. Yea!! I love my job at the gift shop, but I think you all have probably already figured that one out. My manager (I'm old enough to be her mother and she actually calls me Mama Marty sometimes.) is a sweet young lady and anytime I put a display out she always will compliment it and is always thanking me for coming to work. She is a pure joy to be around. I think this satisfying that urge I once had to have my own business, but I don't have to worry with any of that boring stuff like payroll, taxes, ordering, etc. I think that is called the best of both worlds.

Time to call it a day and go snuggle with my little four legged boys. And they are excellent snugglers and on these cold nights I really appreciate them.

Have a great day tomorrow and don't forget o spread a little sunshine along the way.

looking forward to a new week

Yes, I am definitely looking forward to a new week. The last couple have been hard, but after hard times, the good times seem even better. And there will be better.

I am so sorry the Tide did not roll today, but I still love them and think they are the best. They always show class and that is just as important (well, almost) as a win. You know what I mean.

The last three days have been absolutely beautiful even though the temp today was just a wee bit too cool. If the wind had not been blowing, even the temp would not have been so bad. The skies were so pretty - just a few wispy clouds around. My God is so awesome when he paints His canvas so full of beauty.

Our gift shop is beginning to look like a Christmas wonderland. I don't know where Melissa got all the ornaments, but we have got them, everything from angels or all kiinds to fishing Santas. We even have some shoes and purses for all the girly girls out there. I am having a blast with all the decorating and seeing what else will pop out of the stock room.

We plan to have an open house this next Friday. One of the companies we order from has sent some samples that we can prepare to offer to customers in hopes they will then buy the product. Sounds like fun to me. The foods of the holidays are one of my favorite things.

Our younger Chi has been shaking for several days now so I dug out his sweater and he is much better. He is our funny boy whereas Mule is our more sedate laid-back fellow. These two boys have given us some very enjoyable times. You should see them get after animals on the TV. You would think a war had broken out and they were our only line of defense. It is even funnier when Dingo turns and gets onto Mule because he is also barking. It is a hoot.

OK, I have had my shower, got my flannel jammies on, lotioned up my feet and put on my sleep socks and then put on Snuggle slippers on, so dear blogging friends I will bid each of you a pleasant nights rest until the next time. Have a wonderful day with God tomorrow and spread some sunshine wherever you go.

Just some thoughts

It appears that arrangements for Elizabeth's funeral have been made. Joe talked to the oldest son this afternoon and he has almost convinced them to have the visitation and service all on the same day. Their dad, Joe's brother, just does not handle death well at all. When his dad died and again when his mother died, he totally collapsed, so I can not imagine what it is going to be like with his daughter. Right now it will be on Wednesday mid-day. Please keep the whole family in your prayers. They are going to need all the support that can be gathered during this difficult time.

In addition to this already tragic event, Joe comes in and tells me that his younger brother, Cordell, says that his son, Chris, is not doing well at all. Chris was born with heart problems and at age four had open heart surgery. He has since had several other surgeries. Now it seems that his body has begun to retain too much fluid. It seems his heart is doing fine, but the veins are the problem now. I really don't know what would happen to Cordell if anything happened to Chris. Chris is his only son, his only child. He is 37 years old. Please pray for this family as well.

Our family is making it, but times are still tough. Eddy has lost all interest in life. My son has been through a lot, most of it from his own undoing, but a lot from a system that is all wrong. He no longer cares much about what he looks like - wears sloppy clothes and doesn't get all done up nice anymore. He has gained so much weight, too much actually and his blood pressure is out of sight and I doubt very seriously that he is taking his medicine. He has even said he didn't see any reason to even try anymore. I pray that he will come around and get better.

I am going to get ready for bed and see if I can sleep and maybe things will be better by morning.

I will try to spread some sunshine tomorrow.

Life is fragile . . .

. . . handle with prayer.

Yes, life is indeed fragile and as the Bible tells us it is only a vapor that will soon disappear, but to have such a young life be snuffed out is hard to understand. I also know that all things are not meant to be understood; however, as humans we can't always grasp hold of that concept. The old church song, "In the Sweet By and By" pretty much says it all.

I am referring, of course, to our niece's untimely death on Thursday due to an accident as she was going home after picking her two oldest boys up from school. Everyone was properly buckled in and suddenly a car cut her off. She was unable to control her vehicle and left the road. She, according, to the paramedics died instantly. The oldest and youngest of the boys were shaken up, but not badly hurt. They were transported to the hospital for observation. The middle boy was in the seat behind Elizabeth and was air lifted to the hospital. The last report Joe got was that his face would have to undergo complete reconstruction.

I do not know why the person in the other car came onto the highway as they did, but for whatever reason it could not be important enough to take a person's life and deprive three young boys of a mother. To make the situation even worst was the fact that that person did not bother to even stop. Were they so oblivious to what was going on that they did not realize what had happened? Being a very busy stretch of highway and being the time of day it was there were several witnesses and a description of the car as well as the tag number was given to the officers. I hope that now that person will be apprehended and dealt with properly and in a timely manner.

Last Monday, the 25th, the baby turned one and next Sunday, the 7th, Elizabeth would have turned 37. Will it ever be the same around this time of year for them? Sadly not for some time yet.

As we approach the holiday season, I most always get very sentimental, depressed or whatever term you may choose. It will be twelve years on the 11th since my dear sweet Mother left this world of pain. My Momma (my forever name for her) is missed every single day that I live and so many times I think of something I need to ask her. That will never go away, I guess. Momma was so sick, both physically and otherwise. I think she just simply got tired and worn out and was ready to go to a better life. Even though I miss her terribly, I would not bring her back unless she could come back the way she once was. But, once again, "In the Sweet By and By."

The weather is finally beginning to feel like the fall and I am so happy. Basically I am a cool weather person, not necessarily cold, but nippy cool. I love the way the coolness will tingle you face when you walk out in it. It is so rejuvenating. I can get so silly during this time of the year. Heck, my manager at the gift shop told me Friday I was silly all the time. Oh well, I have fun.

My never seen friend, Karen over at Karen's Korner is having a give away. She will be drawing for it at midnight tonight. The picture of the unfinished basket looked too good and I just believe I could really appreciate everything in it. I love surprises.

Our shop is beginning to look like a Christmas shop. Melissa and I spent all last week putting up stuff and pulling out our Christmas stock. We have ten skinny trees that we decorate with ornaments in a particular theme. One is animals, one in Alabama/Auburn, another is for young kids and I don't know what else we will have for this week. One of our tables has some really pretty pieces of dishes that are too cute. Of course, there are our Christmas aprons. You all did know I have a fetish for aprons, didn't you? If Melissa thinks I have been silly before now, she ain't seen nothing yet!! I promise,Trina, someday I plan to try and grow up but not anytime soon.

Our annual conference for hospital volunteers was in Mobile this year and we stayed at the Renaissance Plaza and it was wonderful. We did not have to leave the hotel until we left if we didn't want to. Pat, my cohort in crime, and I did go out walking one afternoon and really enjoyed looking at some of the older things around that part of the city. Our state project for the association is Alzheimer's Disease. We had a wonderful speaker on the subject and I intend to learn as much as I can about it. Our hospital has a support group that meets once a month or once a week, can't remember which. It designed specifically for the caregivers who the speaker said is the most affected from this terrible disease. I can well see how that may be from what Trina says.

I promise to be a more dedicated blogger and not wait for a month or more between posts. I mean well and you would not believe how many blogs i write in my head as I wait for sleep to overtake me at night. Some of those actually sound quite good. Too bad I can't remember them once I waken the next day.

Until next time, always remember to spread a little sunshine wherever you go.

just some rambling thoughts

The weather is really pleasing me lately. Only complaint is that it warms up in the afternoon. It will be really nice when it stays in the low 70s and high 60s all day and with a breeze and sun shining. I guess God doesn't have to have me to do His weather planning, but maybe just a little hint won't hurt.

Joe and I are leaving shortly to go to Cullman. Today is the last day of their annual October Fest, the only one world-wide that does not serve beer. They seem to have great crowds and lots of stuff going on anyway. We will end up the afternoon by going to Rumor's Deli for a German style meal. Having never been to Germany, I have no idea if it is authentic or not, but Joe, having been to Germany, says it is close.

Well, this is probably the world's shortest blog post, but Joe is ready to leave and I don't want him to change his mind. The weather is good, I've got my walking shoes on and nothing is hindering us. Will give you a report later among some other thoughts.

Life is good, God is good. Thank Him for the first.

Karen's questions

1. What is your favorite season and why?2. Do you have a Bucket List and what is one thing you have on it?3. Do you go to Starbucks(or another coffee chain) and what is your favorite drink there?4. What book are you currently reading(or just finished)?5. Do you take pictures? What kind of camera do you have and share a current picture with us!6. What is your favorite genre of music and favorite group, band, individual from that genre.7. Where was your most favorite vacation and what made it your favorite?8. What is your favorite thing to cook/prepare and share the recipe

Hey Karen. Thanks for the chance to share with you. After the answers you may think i am a hum-drum person, but here goes.

1. Favorite season has to be the fall/autumn because of all the seasons this is the one that shows the wonder and awesomeness of my God. I know there is not a paint mixer anywhere that could match what He puts out there.
2. I do not have a Bucket List. Just haven't taken the time to make one.
3. Don't go to Starbucks much since we do not have one close by, but i do frequent our coffee shop, Lobby Lattes, at the hospital. My favorite varies.
4.It is a book by terri Blackstock, "Last Light" (I think.) Anyway, it is a mystery set in Birmingham.
5. I do take pictures but not a lot. My camera is a Kodak digital and I would love to share some of them if I knew how.
6. My favorite genre of music is country/gospel. Right now I am listening to a lot of the Gaither CD's. I am going to the concert in B'ham in December so I am practicing so I can be in fine voice that night.
7. Gosh, all of the vacations Joe and I took were favorites, but I guess the most favorite was when he surprised me by taking me to Buffalo NY where my dad was from. We even searched until we found my grandparents old home. Was I ever disillusioned when I saw it. It looked like the house, but not like it did when I was 11-12 years old.
8. I have cooked so little lately I just don't know. Let me see. I guess it would be the old stand by chicken casserole and I think everybody has that recipe. I have learned a little trick from one of my friends. Use both cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soups and add sliced water chestnuts. Also, put a layer of the Ritz crackers on the bottom of the pan. Yummo!!

Thanks again, Karen.

What a beautiful day!!

That is my feelings about today. This is supposedly the official end of summer. The temp isn't quite cool enough yet, but it is getting there. Now when the leaves start doing their grand show, this girl will be one happy person. I have ALWAYS loved the fall. I used to say it was because my birthday is in the fall, but no, it is just my kind of weather. It gets cool and the air has a certain feel about it. It feels so good to go out and you get this little tingle on your face and the air smells so clean kind of like I remember when we took one of our trips out to Utah, Idaho and that area. When you took a deep breath all you could smell was clean air.

I attended a Beth Moore class a few weeks back. Missed the last one because of my new found career, but I have continued to do the book study here at home. One day, my study was from Psalm 130. Let me tell you I feel in love with that particular Psalm, particularly verse 7. And from reading that verse, my love for God went up about umpteen million billion points. In my paraphrase it says, " God's love in everlasting and his redemption is full." That tells me that He loves me longer than forever and that He forgives ALL my sins (of course, I have to ask His forgiveness), not just some of them, but ALL OF THEM. I know that God's favorite thing for us to do is to love others as much as He has loved us. But that verse just about knocked my socks off. Don't ask me why that verse at that exact time. I don't know. I think it is what I like to call a "God thing." I have been having a lot of those lately and it just makes me feel so wonderful. I know my Redeemer lives.

God's beauty and goodness is another reason I love the fall. No one can duplicate the colors He paints on the trees. They are so vibrant and so pure and so, so, so . . . I can't even come up with the words to describe them.

I guess football has gotten here in full force. Alabama won, the other school won, Jacksonville State really pulled a biggie and little old Oakman High won. Guess that about covers my knowledge of football.

Life in the gift shop is going great. I have an idea working in my head for the baby section. It needs a make-over and I hope Melissa will let me do what I have in mind. Some of the baby items are so cute that I keep trying to find expectant friends and family to buy for. I know I have Jimmy Dan and Gina and Libby and Jay. Some of the things are in the keeping category rather than clothes. Seems like they always get more clothes than baby can wear.

Our collegiate things are coming in and Melissa and I began setting up each school's displays. Wish we had room to do local high school displays, but we are not big enough to afford to stock items to cover all 7-8 schools in the county. Maybe we can think of something. We keep things for people to buy for patients, but people don't realize that hospital gift shops carry things for other people as well. Next time you need a gift try your local hospital gift shop. You might be in for a surprise.

Time to get back upstairs and get our meal (late lunch/early supper) ready. Got most of it put together already, but still got the potato salad to make.

Have a good week and enjoy God's upcoming display.

Never say Never

I believe it was Sir Winston Churchill that once said, " Never, never, never, never say never." I fully understand what that means now. Back in June 2000 when I retired from my job at the elementary school I said I would "never" go back to work, at least not in a paid position. Well, guess who has had to eat her words? Yep, yours truly. It was just too good to pass up and the way it happened was just like it was meant to be. As you know I have been volunteering in the hospital gift shop for a little over three years and just love it. The part-time night clerk decided to quit and this was made known to me quite by accident and it just hit me that I might be interested. I talked to the manager and she explained how to apply online. I did and I am now the night clerk and I still love it. I only work four nights a week and three hours a night. It is not hard work, I get to meet a lot of people and sometimes I get to just listen to people as they want to talk. So far I don't think Joe minds. He doesn't act upset and even acts like he might like the idea. The pay isn't that great, but I didn't go into it to get rich, not monetarily anyway. So just remember to Never say Never.

Things in the Staggs' household have not been all fun and games lately. You know that Eddy has a chemical addiction, even though I really believe he has got that under control. But he will be released from Tuscaloosa County jail tomorrow after serving a 30 day sentence from two years ago. He could have avoided it by simply going down there and taking a certificate showing where he had completed the program at a state run rehab. He chose to not do and leave it in the hands of his attorney, who of course did not do as he said he would. Another lesson learned: never pay an attorney his full fee up front. They can tell you anything, but since they already have their money, don't count on them keeping their word. Bottom line is that it was ultimately Eddy's responsibility to take care of it and he didn't. Time to grow up, Boy.

Sunday our congregation is celebrating our 20th anniversary. It is hard to believe that it has already been that long. I was not there for the first six months, but am so glad that I am there now. It has been a wonderful time for me especially in my spiritual growth. I have developed some of the most wonderful friendships and love all the projects that I am involved in. It is such a good feeling to be able to do for people that are less fortunate than we.

I am going to try to do better about posting, but I think I said that the last time, too. I have good intentions but we all know which road is paved with good intentions. It really is a long time past my bed time and tomorrow is a long day. Ladies' class is in the morning and then work at 4:00. Joe has to see his cardiologist in Birmingham for his check-up tomorrow so I don't have to make lunch for him.

Until the next post, stay cool and enjoy life.

Aging - It's only a process of living.

Aging is somethng most people do not like to talk about, but face it folks, we all face each and every day. As a matter of fact, immediately after letting out that first scream we begin that process and it continues until we draw last breath. That probably sounds very morbid or something like that, but as I approach my 68th year, those things jump out at me more often.

I do not fear death. The thing about death is that it frees someone from all of life's troubles, pains, sorrows and whatever else may burden them and allows them access to a new life that is eternal. These are based on the condition that your are a saved sinner. Non-Christians don't have that to look forward to.

Death is a breaking of life long relationships and that is the sad part. Those left behind find a deep void that cannot be filled. Usually the grief is from a deep longing for the person that has gone and missing all the time you had together. And another thing, with death most unhappy memories no longer exists. You only remember those happy times and that helps to soothe the hurt. And time does ease the hurt; it doesn't eliminate it.

How did I get on this tangent? I was going to do aging. Oh well, I guess the two are very closely related.

I can remember when I was young and there were four generations living in one house. The house started out many, many years ago as a two room log house. By the time I was born, it had become a much larger house. My great-grandmother, my grandparents, my parents and I (along with my three siblings) lived in this one house. I can remember when we first got electricity and the house never had indoor plumbing. Somewhere along the way after we had moved to our own house, my grandparents did manage to get water into the house. But you know those years - we moved out when I was nine - were the happiest I can remember. I know times were hard and things were not always easy, but in my mind I cannot see any of that. We had plenty to eat thanks to the gardens and chickens and pigs. We had a place to live, not a palace but a mansion of love. We had clothes even though most of them were either hand me downs or home made by grandmother. We had plenty of room to play whatever games our imagination could find. Ever built your very own playhouse from pine straw? You ain't lived if you haven't. No, I did not slip grammatically. Some things are just better said like that. And the Sunday afternoons when Granddaddy would take us on a hike up the "mountains" behind the house. We would get to the top and he would begin to point so and so's house and mr. somebody's fields. It was awesome how smart he was. .

When I started school, the second time, we had to walk about half a mile to the highway to catch the bus. Didn't matter if it was hot, cold, raining or the dogs were following. It was down the road we went. I said the second time, because, Mother had enrolled me the year before in the little one-room school house, but I had to be taken out because that was the year the age requirements said you had to be six on or before October 1. That didn't happen to me until November. That was OK since the school was right next to my other great-grandparents house and we visited there a lot and I was allowed to visit the school. Those were golden days.

But as time went on and as I begin to "age" things began to not be as such. This thing called unhappiness began to creep into my life and I did not like it. I did find out as I continued to age that that was just part of life and I did survive. May have not liked it, but survive I did.

And even as I grew into adulthood and eventulally married and began a family, things were not always joy and fun. I can hear my Mother talking about how it seemed that after her children grew up and went out on their own, she was kind of forgotten. I guess it is called making your own nest. I tried to make it a part of my life to include her in as much as I could. If there was a band competition, she was always happy to go. She and I had a ritual for a long time. I would get up on Saturday and get Joe off to work. Then I would get ready, pick Momma up and away we woulod go. First stop was Hardee's for breakfast, slow and no hurrying. Then we would just ramble for quite a while, usually at Wal-Mart and then do some grocering shopping. I would drop her off at her house and come on home. Those were happy times, times that I miss.

Aging goes on until we can't go anymore. Then our bodies will revert back to from whence it came. Sometimes I think how wonderful that will be, but then I think of the things I would miss. Fortunately, I won't know I am missing them.

I will be back on this subject later. I am glad I have gotten back on my blogging. Lazy I was for a while.

MEMORIAL DAY 2010

I hope everyone is enjoying your holiday, but PLEASE remember WHY we have this holiday. It cost some people a lot, like their lives. They may have survived whichever war/conflict they may have been involved with physically, but do you ever stop to think about those that have and are still having problems dealing with the things they endured? Our idea of today is a cook out, time at the beach/lake, visiting with family and friends. This is all good, but somewhere we need to stop and think just how we got to do all these nice things.

I guess I am on a real giant size soap box lately, but all these political ads have just about got the best of me. Tomorrow is election and I will be so glad when it is over. This is just the primary and if a run off is necessary it will be starting over on Wednesday. What floors me is that today, there are say two/three candidates running for the same office on the same ticket. They are blasting each other for all they are worth - name calling, mud slinging, you name it. Then come Wednesday and time to begin campaigning for the run off. Those same people that could not endure each other today are all buddy buddy on Wednesday. How do you account for that?

And another thing. Why do people long at you like you have four heads if you happen to not agree with their political agenda? Those people that I spoke of earlier gave me the privilege to vote and to vote for whomever I please without fear of reprisal. And I love my friends that are not of the same persuasion as I, but I don't ever recall forwarding them an email that is knocking the people/party I happen to be supporting at this time. I say at this time, because I do not vote party, I vote person. I know of no president, governor, senator, representative or any other elected official that is perfect or above reproach. We all have/will sin and fall short of the glory of God.

I received an email today that was blasting President Obama really bad. My Daddy, a veteran, said that even if you did not vote for the sitting president, he still deserved your respect by the very nature of the office he held. President Obama has been in office less than two years. Now tell me this. How did he create a trillion dollar plus deficit in that length of time? And the health care reform stuff has been floating around for years as in more than two. And I received an announcement from Medicare last week that said this new act would be a savings for people and the government. Oh, I forgot, the person that sent it is a Republican. I still love her and think she is a wonderful Christian lady. And that is another point. Since when do I have to be a Republican in order to be a Christian? I am first a Christian, then an American. My salvation was bought with the blood of Jesus and my freedom was bought with the blood of a soldier. I don't think that anyone has the right to try to impose on me their political views. I feel like I am a fairly intelligent person and perfectly capable of making my own decisions. They may not always be right, but they were nonetheless, MY decision.

I have also been told numerous times that when President Bush was the sitting president that he was there with God's blessings because God set in place those that should govern us. Does Presjdent Obama not have those same blessings? Evidently from the way some people talk, not so.

I will probably anger some people and they may think me a lunatic, but so be it. I have sat around for eight+ years and had things stuffed down my throat and rather than cause a conflict, I have just let it pass, but the email this morning just put a big crack in the straw on the camel's back. Glad it didn't break!!

My sisters that I meet with each week are so dear to me and I would not hurt any of them for anything, but I guess I am just full up today.

This is not going to be a happy face week. Nothing to say on it just yet, later though.

I definitely need a good attitude adjustment and don't know where the adjuster is right now. I guess the blog will have to do. However, I don't think anyone ever reads my posts, but so what? I have got a lot off my mind and I do feel a little better right now.

I am going upstairs, take a shower, get dressed with a minimum of make-up and go for a manicure. My hands are hurting so badly and a couple of my fingers feel like a tooth ache. The manicurist I use is great and I do hope they are open today. If not, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow will be another day.

Remember our veterans past and present. I am honored to have had a dad, uncle, brother, husband and numerous friends to serve. And as always may God bless the United States of America.