Thursday, April 19, 2012
Happy Father's Day, Daddy!
Your little blonde sweetheart super duluxe XXOOXX (until we meet again)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Spring is in the Air...
Maybe you don't like to take walks but, whatever it is that makes you happy, as long as it is wholesome and healthy, "just do it"! Unhappiness and stress takes a toll on our mind and bodies and is just not healthy. Sometimes, we are in unexpected situations that are not by choice but I think a beautiful day outdoors can do wonders for our state of mind. Oh, by the way, my philosophy is "If you don't like what is going on in your life, change it." There! It is that simple. The best way to live a fulfilling life is to make it exactly what you want it to be. You are in control and you are the one that can make it happen.
For those of you who rarely venture out to play, step outside the box. (pun intended) for a little fresh air. Take in the beautiful colors, the birds singing and the gorgeous blue skies. If you enjoy walking or running, grab your IPod, download "Feelin Groovy" by Simon and Garfunkel and head out. (don't forget your camera) And, don't forget to look up and thank God for all the beauty he has created.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
FIRE!!!!!
The sad thing about this story is several young kids were seen running from the woods just before the fire. The firemen said that if it had happened a month or so from now, the brush would be much thicker creating a much larger fire and it would likely have affected some homes. We are very blessed today for the quick response of the firemen and the fact that someone took the time to call 911.
| The little guys were full of questions for the firemen |
| One of the female heros! |
| A fireman with Meme and the little guys. |
| The damage |
| Another picture of the aftermath. |
| The firemen have just arrived. |
| This hose weighs 200lbs with the water inside and that is a female firefighter. |
| My daughter arrived home to find a firetruck in her front yard. |
| The firetruck arrived. |
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Happy Birthday Mom!
Dear Mom,
I feel so blessed to be celebrating your 80th birthday today. Having you for a Mother is the greatest gift I have ever received. I have given you many birthday gifts over the years but none that can express the extent of appreciation and love I have for you. These words, from my heart to yours, are all I can give you that even comes close. And, honestly, there is not enough paper in the world to list all the things I am grateful to you for. First and foremost, I want to thank you for raising me in a Christian home. I can't say I was always excited to get up on Sunday mornings for church and Sunday school and Wednesday night prayer meeting but with your gentle nature, you could always make us see the importance. For that, I am so grateful. You have been a perfect example for your children and have always shown us unconditional love and support. I thank you for instilling in me good morals and values that have allowed me to be a productive and positive person.
I want to thank you for teaching me patience, kindness and respect for others. You are the most selfless, thoughtful and generous person I know. Only after becoming a Mother myself did I realize all the many sacrifices you made for me. I truly can't thank you enough for that. I appreciate you providing me with a loving home and making my childhood such a happy one. I appreciate your advice...everything you have said, and for the times when you said nothing, just listened. I am so grateful for the way in which you disciplined...always calm and patient and always expressing your love.
You taught me how to be a Mother and Grandmother and you are still teaching me today. I have immense respect for you and hope you realize what an amazing Mother you are and how grateful I am for your guidance in my life. I have always heard your Mother is your truest friend and the older I get, the more I realize the truth in that. I cherish every minute that we spend together and thank you for a lifetime of fun and blessings. Happy Birthday Mom. I Love You!
From the bottom of my heart,
Your daughter
Friday, February 18, 2011
A Root Canal.....Seriously???
A week prior to my appointment, the secretary called to say that the endodontist could no longer get the medication I had used in the past to numb me up. When I ask why, she said they no longer make it so we would need to try another medication. Well, I wasn't really thrilled about trying out something they had never used on me, so I called my regular dentist to see if, by chance, he might have any. BINGO! See how the power of prayer works! He said he not only had it but he was still able to get it. This was wonderful news and I didn't mind the fact it was an hour away, I said I will be right over to get it. I had overcome my first obstacle.
After that, I headed to the pharmacy to pick up my pre-med to be taken the morning of the root canal. Now, I just had to remember to take it! Obstacle two complete! Well, almost!
I was a little stressed over the third obstacle, the latex issue. It was clearly marked on my chart "NO LATEX" however, being in the restaurant business for many years, I know how cross contamination works. It was not only the latex gloves I was worried about, the "rubber dam" that endodontist use are also made of latex. I was willing to do the procedure without the rubber dam but I was concerned that the dentist might not be. I certainly didn't want to wind up in the ER like I had a couple of times before.
When I arrived at the office, I had my OWN (more about that later) Ipod, I had taken my meds, brought my own anesthesia and I reminded the secretary to remind the dental assistant and dentist about the latex allergy. When she returned to the lobby area, she informed me that the dentist had purchased a rubber dam that was "latex free" and of course, had both vinyl and latex gloves! I was so excited but don't know why I was surprised as I had prayed for a perfect procedure. God is so good.
The dentist informed me before we started that he would be doing the entire procedure since we have all the "difficulties" to deal with. Most times, root canals are done in two appointments. That was just fine with me! I told him to give me a punch if he needed to ask me anything, I put my earplugs in, cranked up the volume on my Ipod (to full throttle) and I was "in the zone". After about seventy minutes, he tapped my shoulder and said "all done"!! Whew, I had survived another root canal.
A funny story about my first root canal, 5 years prior to this one. I realized my IPod battery was dead just before the procedure so I quickly borrowed one from a trusted friend. He ran through the basic steps in using it and I was out the door. Knowing he liked country music, I figured I was safe with his choice of music. When I say I crank up the volume, I actually mean max the volume. I don't want to hear any of the noises that go on during a root canal. After a couple of great country songs, there was a series of bootie shaking, hip grinding, rap songs with lyrics that had words that honestly I didn't know could be sold or downloaded. Talk about embarrassed, that is an understatement! Remember, the volume was as loud as it gets, the base was pounding in my head and probably vibrating the dental chair. I could see the dentist and his assistant shaking with laughter and I was positive it had nothing to do with my root canal. If you have ever sat close to anyone with music pounding in their ear, you know that those sitting close by can enjoy the music too. I had no clue how to turn the volume down or advance the songs without looking at the IPod. With my mouth propped wide open, a water squirter and sucker upper hanging in my mouth and fingers and elbows all over my face, I decided its best to just go with it.
After checking out at the desk, I could hear laughter coming from the back room. I couldn't get out of that office fast enough, nor could I wait to call my friend. In his defense, he said he had downloaded a series of "free" songs off the internet and had no idea those were on there. Thanks, but I will be sure if I go back to that office, I will have my own Ipod with a fully charged battery! Oh, and some good clean music! Praise God for all of his many blessings :)
Terreckly,
Kathy
Friday, January 28, 2011
Fun Traditions make great memories
Making memories with children cultivates happiness. Shared memories can foster a loving, healthy environment for the entire family unit. Each year for the past five years my family has spent a week together at Hilton Head, S.C. There are currently nine of us and next year, with our new addition, we are planning on ten. Once our children graduated from college and began to set up their own households, we decided we needed to begin a tradition that would bring us all together. We needed a place that was far enough away from home and work that those "workaholics" in the family would not be tempted to check in but close enough that we didn't waste a lot of time traveling. The first year there, we fell in love with the bike trails, golf courses, ocean, shopping, horse stables, restaurants and many other things about that beautiful island. Our days are fun filled and our evenings are spent grilling out, playing board games, cards and putting together jigsaw puzzles. A lot of good conversation at the dining room table! This year we burned the midnight oil and managed to put together 5 puzzles. Fun Times!!
Sharing a moment with hubby on a cold winter day! |
| The little guys had a blast on the beach with Mommy |
| What a way to bring in the New Year!! |
| Our little sand angel! |
| Hours and hours of bike riding |
| On my bike and ready to cruise |
| Lots of exercise helps with early bedtimes for the little guys |
| Me and my beautiful Mother |
| A rare moment! |
| Having a ball in the sand |
Challenger Disaster...25 years later
My memories are still very clear of that January morning. I was working in a dental office and had headed outside with a couple of coworkers to search the eastern sky where I had watched so many space shuttles blast off. There is a thrill in seeing the long white line of smoke that trails that shiny silver dot in the sky and then watching for the booster to drop from the sky. Space shuttle flights had become fairly routine but on that morning, our eyes were opened to the dangers of space travel that nobody likes to talk about and the fragility of life. 5...4...3...2...1...blastoff...The white line began to form in the sky and almost immediately, it was like a fireworks display that had gone bad. We stood in amazement starring at the sky hoping somehow what unfolded before our eyes was actually not really happening. Unfortunately, America lost seven lives that day and impacted millions more. This was not supposed to happen. This shuttle was different as it was carrying a young hometown Mother and school teacher who's mantra in her classroom might as well had been "reach for the stars". It left our country in a state of shock and disbelief that a space shuttle carrying seven vibrant Americans could actually explode in front of millions of people. The disaster was contributed to design flaws in the O rings on the rocket.
The image of that disaster will forever be in my mind. I pray this morning for the families of the victims that have had to somehow move on without their loved ones.
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| The Challenger explosion |
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| The crew |
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Dreams For My Grandsons.....
What better time then the beginning of a new year to reevaluate your goals and dreams. My goals remain "my goals" until they are achieved but my dreams are ever changing, depending on what stage of my life I am in. Sometimes I dream about things that will probably never happen, like winning the lottery or being a size 6, but mostly, my dreams are things I hope with all my heart will actually happen. Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. Days get shorter, and promises we have made to ourselves gets longer. Recently, I compiled a list of "hopes and dreams" for my precious little grandsons. One of the great things about blogging is that I not only have these things in my head, I put them in writing so my loved ones can hopefully, one day read them. I am sure in the years to come, I can add a few more things to my list, but for now....
Dreams For My Grandsons
That they pray often and depend on God for daily guidance, comfort and strength.
That they know how deeply they are loved by their family
That they love themselves
That they show compassion and kindness to others
That they have respect for themselves and others
That they accept responsibility for their actions
That they have the ability to forgive
That nice really does matter
That they appreciate nature as God's gift to the universe
That they contribute to their church, community and society in a meaningful way
That they work hard but know how to play hard
That they develop a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves
That family, friends and traditions are always worth the effort
That they are honest and always keep their word
That they understand the value of patience
That they never stop listening and learning
That they exercise their body and mind often
That it is okay to cry
That they allow fear and adversity to make them stronger
That they learn from their mistakes
That they set goals and achieve them
That they create a strong bond of love for each other that connects them for a lifetime
That they are blessed with the happiness that a wife and children can bring
That they know, their spirit, their soul is the most enduring part of their being.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
A very special Christmas Elf.....
I'm baaaack! It has been a couple of months
since I posted but I have been very busy with family matters. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball that is totally unexpected. Lets just say, my little guys need lots of KK's love and attention right now and that is exactly what they have been getting. I have been wanting to get them a Christmas Elf, so today while I had gone to pick up the 5 year old from school, the elf appeared. After we had been home for about an hour, the big guy looked up at the Christmas tree and said, "KK, look at that elf at the top of the Christmas tree. He's not an ornament cause he's not hanging from a branch, he's just sitting there." I said, Wow, look at that. We looked around and found a book by the tree about a little elf that Santa would send to your home to watch for good or "bad" behavior. The children are supposed to name the elf and are encouraged to talk with it and share what they would like from Santa. The boys named him Zeus and have told it several things they would like for Christmas. Each night, he magically appears at the North Pole to inform Santa of what he has observed while in your home and then returns, but always in a different location. (I am a little concerned about what Santa might learn from the elf tonight) Let me put it this way, it was too cold to play outside today and these guys need lots and lots of outdoor time. Anyway, tomorrow is another day. Right? When you awake each morning, you look to see where he might be hiding. The big guy, our more "spirited one" (he has more energy than the energizer bunny), wants so badly to just touch the elf. The way it goes, if you touch the elf, he will lose his magic and can no longer communicate with Santa. The little guy is terrified that his brother is going to accidentally touch him and cause him to miss out on presents too. It is hard to find spots that are out of reach of those little climbing monkeys. We are on day three now and the boys are so excited when they wake up to see who can find him first. It has been a great gift and I purchased it at the local Hallmark store. I am attaching a couple of pictures of Zeus hiding out.
Terreckly,
Kathy
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Good Old Days...
Times have certainly changed and even though our kids and grand kids have many more opportunities then we did, I think they miss out on so much. The good ole days when it was safe to let your kids roam the neighborhoods are long gone. Life has gotten complicated and everyone is busy and stressed with jammed packed schedules. I am very fortunate to have grown up in that small country town with such a loving and happy family. We really did grow up like the Cleavers and I loved every minute of it!!
Terreckly,
Kathy
Saturday, November 13, 2010
It's Time For Planting!
Well, we have our garden started and in the next few weeks we hope to see some little plants pop up. (That is, if we don't over take care of them!) It is hard for a three year old to understand exactly what takes soooo long for them to grow but he had a great time and a wonderful lesson in planting. Now hopefully we can watch them grow and actually eat something from our little garden.
Terreckly,
Kathy
Friday, November 12, 2010
Beautiful weather for outdoor reading!
If you are not enjoying a good book outdoors, I hope you are spending time doing something else you love on these beautiful days.
Terreckly,
Kathy
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Temp is FALL-ing!!!
The book I will be curling up with (rain or shine) if I can sneak in a couple of hours is a self-help book I picked up last week. I consider myself a healthy eater but I am no longer a "spring chicken" and it is time to quit kidding myself and take control of my health. It makes me happy to be in the kitchen and now I must begin eating with my head instead of my heart. This is a blog in itself and you will be the first to know when I officially begin the transformation. (which will be very soon indeed!)
Right now, I am happily transforming my daughter's home from Halloween decor to Fall. You know how I feel about those "spooky" things hanging around. A couple years ago, we took the oldest grandson to the mountains during this time of year and had a wonderful time. We brought home pretty leaves and delicious apples but unfortunately hubby can't take vacation time right now so we have to make do. (Boo Hoo) I went to the grocery store this morning and came home with beautiful organic produce and organic fruits for the table.
I think a pot of homemade chili and grilled cheese sandwiches will be in store for my weekend. I might even whip up some yummy pumpkin bread. I think you are supposed to "pig out" before you begin a new weight loss program. Right? Happy weekend, happy fall!
Terreckly,
Kathy
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Preschool Halloween Party
On the way home, he said, KK can I watch batman on "on demand" when I get home. You will have to wait until Mommy gets home and talk with her about that, okay? Well, I don't know why I can't ever watch it. I said, sweetie, you know, Batman is not real, it is just a character and he cannot really jump from building to building and do all the things it looks like he can. I know that KK, just the man inside of batman can do all that stuff. His name is Bruce. OK, so that explains why Mommy doesn't like you to watch it.
Terreckly,
Kathy



