Straightening Up!~

I spent the morning taking the Christmas decorations down. The tree, the stockings, the snow village.  So , the house is back to normal now.  I hate leaving it up til after the first of the year.  I don't know why, but it just gets old, I guess. If you think about it, they put the stuff out in October, and leave it out til January on clearance. I just get sick of it by then.  I don't mean that in a Scrooge type way, but seriously. Can you imagine if Easter, or Halloween stuff was out for 3 or 4 months at a  time?  Ugh. 
    I got the kitchen and bathrooms cleaned this morning, too.  Swept. Mopped.  Straightened up.  Trying to get ready for school to start back up.  Hubby will head back to work.  I'm kind of glad.  I mean, I love having him home, but he really does get kind of underfoot.  I was glad that he's taken the boys out to clean up the yard, cut up wood, and do some work!  I have been away from the computer, and I'm behind on writing, blogging, and my FB page.  Having the children off from school, and the hubster home, just kind of makes my schedule all out of whack.  So. That's what's up around here at the Woods Casa.  Hope your holiday was all you wished it would be, and that you are settling back into your life. 2012 is rolling around very soon!  New beginnings, new starts!

Here's to putting it all back together! ~ Ruby Jeanette

Christmas Day~

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.

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It's been a long , long time, since we went to church on the actual day of Christmas.  Most times, services are cancelled most places cause they're afraid nobody will come , I guess.  But we went yesterday to the new little church we've been going to for about the last 4 months or so.  It was actually a really nice service.  People seemed sincerely joyous to be celebrating the birth of Our Saviour.  Everyone was dressed in their favorite things, some new, maybe some not.  Everyone was fellowshipping and hugging and smiling.  Everyone sang at their best, and the Christmas carols rang out in the room.  Pastor Steve read God's word, and gave us some great things to think about.  Candy was given to little ones, or maybe a small gift, or card exchanged.  Mostly it was just wonderful to know that we still are able to gather to worship in our own churches, in our own ways for one more year.  It was wonderful to know that we were loved by the Saviour , and genuinely loved by those around us.  All in all, I can't think of the last time I had such a moving experience at church.  I hope all of your holidays were all that you wished them to be, and that the new year holds many blessings for everyone!

Here's to Christmas in the house of the Lord~ Ruby Jeanette

2011 Fantasy GIfts~

It's that time of the year again.  Yes, it's time for Neiman Marcus to share it's fantasy Christmas gifts!  I shared these last year , and thought it'd be great to do it again.  I don't know about you , but I don't know anyone who can afford anything on this list for their loved one, but it's sure fun to read about it, and either marvel at the wonder ,( or the stupidity) of the whole thing! 

Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts 2011

1. Dream Yurt with tons of silk throw pillows, linen wall coverings, and a crystal chandelier, installed on your lawn ~ $75,000
2. Custom designed library with all books , decor, floor coverings built on-site  $125,000
3. Trip for 6 to Stone Barns Farm~  $20,000
4. Johnnie Walker Private Scotch Tasting with your own personal bagpipe player~ $5,000
5. Tony Burr Ping Pong Table~ (which they of course , cal a table tennis table) $45,000
6.  Hacker Speed Boat~ $250,000
7. 2012 Ferrari~ $395,000
8. Trip for 9 to Flower Show Internationale, in various places around the world, Rome, London, etc.~ $420,000
And finally the most expensive fantasy Christmas gift this year is drumroll please..........."His" and "Hers" Bellagio-type fountains that move, twist, roll and light up to musical scores, installed on your "estate's" lawn.....   $1, 500,000 !  (Yes, that's 1 million and a half dollars for two fountains!)

So there you go! Whether you wanted to dream or wish for these items, or just wanted to laugh out loud at what some people are willing to pay for things, that's this year's fantasy according to them,anyway!

33~

33~ I turned 33 Friday, and thought it would be great if I could find one thing to be thankful for, for each year I've been alive.  So here are,

Thirty -three things to be thankful for~

1. My salvation
2. My husband
3. My children
4. That both my parents are still with me
5. My house is paid for
6. My vehicle is paid for
7. I am able to teach my children at home
8. I have 5 dogs, one cat, 4 fish, a spider , a turtle , and some chickens who like me
9. I am able to read and enjoy books
10.  I can hear and enjoy music
11.  Clean , fresh sheets to sleep on
12.  Good food
13.  Cold water to drink
14.  A team of doctors I respect
15.  A church family who loves me
16.  My husband is employed
17.  We have enough money to pay our bills
18.  We have a little money for extras
19.  I have 3 sisters that I love
20.  I have three brother in laws who I love
21. I can see and enjoy God's creation
22.  Chocolate cake
23.  Holding someone's hand
24. Hugs!
25.  Classic Christmas movies
26.  The smell of pine cones
27.  A little boys smile
28.  Knowing that you got someone the perfect gift
29.  Waking up to see the sun rise
30.  Seeing the sunset
31.  309 Face Book friends
32.  Living one day at a time
33.  and finally, NOT knowing what tomorrow will hold!

Get Your Busy On~

Ooooooh, I'm behind, behind, behind!  I have tried to post here, on FB, on my new blog, on my new Lupus FB page, and I am seriously behind!  But , let's see.   I have been kind of busy.  I've made about 8 dozen chocolate chip cookies, 4 gallons of home made laundry soap, cooked 3 or 4 meals a day , done school work, library visits, Christmas shopping, Christmas decorating, cleaned house, done seemingly endless loads of laundry, had a couple of doctor visits, tended animals, regular church , and so on and so on.  I 'm just about ready for it to be new year's so I kind of get a break before March.  My husband, my Dad, AND my Mom's birthdays are all in March, so the merry go round starts all over again.  And home school testing is in April, so we have crunch time on account of that.  Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it!  Anybody who thinks motherhood is NOT a full time job, needs to try it for a day or two. Of course, I then see some of my friends posts on FB , and they add in full time job, full time student, and their kids public school events to their schedule also.  Wow. 
   With all this going on lately, I wonder why I haven't had time to write anything ?   Ha! 
So, anyway.  I 'm here wishing everyone a blessed holiday season.  Hope you are able to spend it with the people you love most!

Ruby Jeanette

Blue Tuesday?~

Did you ever have "one of those days"?  You know where the minute you hit the floor (late ! late!), that you just know the day will not get any better from there ?  Usually it's Monday, right? Nope. That's me, today.  Both the boys had dental work done yesterday, and then we had youth rally for church last night.  So, today we overslept, and both the boys are being complete grouches today.  Usually they get along really well, but today it has been fuss, fuss, nag, nag, pick,pick, pick at each other, until I just want to snatch them baldheaded.  Plus, I was stressed out from yesterday's dentist visit, I didn't sleep well last night, so I am running on empty and it's only 11 o'clock.  Whew.
  But you know what they say , life is 10 percent what happens to you, and 90 percent of how you REACT to what happens to you. So I'm trying to get my REACT-or in gear today, and change my attitude.  It can be tough sometimes. You know when you get in that "funk" in your brain, how it can be hard to turn it off, or turn it around to the positive.  So, that's my goal for today. Turn my brain funk around.  Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I'll feel better by the end of the day!  Hope you are all having a good one!

Homemade for the Holidays~

Well, Christmas is sneaking ever nearer now.  I know it comes the same time every year, but every year I find myself unprepared, again!  There just seems to be so much to do, and so little time to do it.  Every year I swear I'm going to have shopped all year so I'm covered, and every time, I end up rush Christmas shopping. 
  I think this year, I may make homemade gifts for Christmas, like cookies or candy.  I remember our favorite neighbors growing up, Tommy and Fayne Verdon, use to make us a homemade gift every year. A cedar jewelry box, a big wagon of blocks, a checkers board and checkers.  Oh, and Fayne made this fabulous peanut brittle! She brought me some when I had the chicken pox, when I was about 4 or 5.  I remember thinking , "Chicken pox couldn't be all bad , if you got to eat peanut brittle on account of it! 
  It's funny how most people these days think you have to spend a huge amount of money for the gift to be appreciated, when the gifts I remember most did not cost much at all.  It really IS the thought that counts, I think!

Here's to adding a little more home-made , to our holidays~ Ruby Jeanette

Morals from the Muppets~

We are enjoying watching holiday and Christmas movies.  We 've watched The Nightmare before Christmas, The Grinch who Stole Christmas, and The Muppet Christmas Carol.  I guess the  Muppets is one of my favorites.  Michael Caine, to me is the perfect Scrooge.  When I was young I had a hard time understanding how Scrooge could be so terrible. But if you watch the Muppet movie, it puts it before you in a way that you can't help but understand.  Would Christmas be the same to you or me, if we spent every one alone, as a child?  Or if our beloved left us on Christmas?  If we grew up that way, would we feel the same about the holidays? 
  It became easy for me to see that Scrooge felt it much easier to keep people away, then to risk being hurt again.  How simple it would be to feel that way. I don't have to let people in, and so that way no one can make me feel pain.  If I hurt them first, they can't hurt me in return.  I wonder how many of the people we see in town, and different places at the holidays, are the same?  What great hurt have they experienced to make them feel that way?  If we look at them through the eyes of Christ, what would we see? 


Just a thought, in case you run into a Scrooge~ Ruby Jeanette

The Scrapbook~

Large scrapbooks.
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Do you have a large scrapbook?  I do.  I have several. I never really thought about it before, but their presence in my shelf is a reason for gratitude.  Why, you ask?  Well.  Having one, even most people can say, I have one scrapbook. Or, I have enough good memorable moments to fill one.  But I have several.  As in 5 or 6.  I have enough memories, good memories to fill 5 or 6!
   Moments of my own, my husband's and my children.  Fun moments, silly moments, joyful moments, even a few serious moments, like births of children, or christenings.  Pictures of me , before I was fat, and while I was fat, and now that I'm in the middle.  Pictures of my husband with long hair, short hair, and (GASP!) thinning hair, lol!  Pictures of my children , their ultrasound ones,  their birth ones, and pictures of them growing taller and taller.  Pictures of pets recent, and pets gone on.  Nearly all my past and present life captured between the pages. 
  I wonder if God keeps a scrapbook for each of us?  Does he take His snapshots of memorable places in our lives, and tag them, with captions for the photos?  Does He take them out, so to speak, and look at them and smile?  Do I have any moments for God's great scrapbook?  Do I have anything He looks at with a smile and says,  " I remember that day!  You helped that person, even though you thought no one saw."  or  "I remember this!  Look! You learned to dust yourself off after falling!  I was so proud!".
  Oh, let it be true, I pray! I pray that I have earned at  least a couple of pages in God's great scrapbook, that I may one day hear Him say , "Well done.  Well done."

Here's to knowing what really matters~ Ruby Jeanette

Information Overload~

I'm reading a really interesting book right now.  It's called Gangs of New York, and is the basis for the movie of the same name, by Martin Scorcese. The book was written by  Herbert Asbury, in 1928, and tells of the notorious Five Points area in New York city. 

  I guess I find it so interesting because it reads like a modern day thriller crime novel, except the events are real.  I know there have been a lot of people saying they think the world is WAY more terrible now, and wishing we could get back to "the good ole days".  Well, all I can say is they need to read this book.

  Let's see.......murder?  Check.  Thievery, abundant?   Check.  Rampant abortion?  Check, for that too.  Muggings, rape, cons, scams, violence, even the ministers were in on it!  Sound familiar?  A whole bar full of transsexuals, open homosexuality, people using drugs in public, and the government and police supported it all!  Do we know any places like that now?  Well, sure! 

  Solomon tells us in Proverbs, there is nothing new under the sun.  It's all been here before. It's just been so long ago , that no one is now alive to remember it.  So I have a theory , on why the world seems so much more scary.  We hear about it every where. It's on TV and the internet, and our phones, and in the car, the newspapers, everywhere!  The news is fast , now. Instantly nearly!  As Mark says, a squirrel toots in Asia, and we know about it 5 seconds later it seems.  Used to be, something might happen on the other side of the country, and we might not know about it until 3 or 4 months later.  So, it's information overload.  A constant bombardment of negativity, all day every day. 

  Now, I must say I do believe the world to be in a sorry state.  And I do believe the  Lord will come back soon, but I believe it's more because the prophecies in the Bible, not because of the shape of the world.  The world has always been in a sorry shape.  That's just the truth of it!  But I'm not going to go around , "The sky is falling!  The sky is falling!", I'm just going to live every day I get to the way I think the Lord would have me to , and let Him take care of the details.  I think it's better that way.

Here's to trusting in the "bigger" plan~ Ruby Jeanette

Like a Duck~

I can hear reasonably well, I can see, I can eat anything that doesn't bite me, I may waddle like a duck, but I can still walk, so I 'm in pretty good shape.  

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I went to the Extension Homemakers party last night.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a women's organization devoted to making and keeping a home, charity, education, and just general togetherness of community , home and world.  I've been a member since 2005, and enjoy being part of it. 

   Last night , the ladies were all in fine form.  I am the youngest member to say the least , as everyone else is over the age of 55. Some over the age of 65, and the majority of them over the age of 75.  The quote you see at the top is from one my fellow members.  Let's just say she's over 75 , and leave it at that shall, we?  She has an amazing positive attitude, and I am  always on pins and needles waiting to hear what she will say next!  But , if you think about it, how many of us could learn from the quote at the top?  Can you hear "reasonably well"?  Great!  You're not deaf.  Add that to your list of things to which you are thankful.  Can you see?  Awesome!  Plus one, for your list.   Can you eat anything that doesn't bite you?  Fabulous!  You're up to three things already.  Do you waddle like a duck?  Who cares!  You are still mobile!  Walking is a privilege denied a great many, and we should add that to our list!  Alrighty then , we've got hearing , seeing, enjoying food and walking.  We're in pretty good shape, don't you think?  Yeah. Me too.

Here's to the wisdom of the elderly~ Ruby Jeanette

Broken~

Music difficulty. I am currently experiencing trouble with my playlist player on my blog. If you miss the music I am trying to get it fixed. If you don't miss it, then enjoy the silence, until I get it fixed, lol.  Sorry, I like music ! Thanks everyone for reading, tuning in , and your patience!   :)

Two Sides~

It's the good girls who keep diaries. The bad girls never have the time.  ~ Tallulah Bankhead
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I was just having a discussion with a friend of mine about blogs.  I love doing mine , and finding new material everyday is fun.  A blog is really like an online diary that EVERY one can read.  I remember my aunt telling me about a certain pair of boys finding her diary when she was young, and gleefully reading it aloud.  She was horrified!  I guess that might be some people's thoughts on  a blog, your thoughts out there for the whole world to see?  And read?  And discuss?  But, I don't really mind. Although I guess according to this quote, I must be a good girl.  I have two blogs, so does that make me TWICE as good? 
   The discussion my friend and I were having was about dual personalities.  Do you think everyone has one?  Is there a public face you show, and a private person you keep only for and to yourself?  Do you think you are the same person all the time?  I used to think I was the same person all the time, presenting the same face to everyone, and I still think it's true.  But I AM discovering that I have more than one DIMENSION to my personality.  I am positive and upbeat.  I love making people laugh.  I love optimistic quotes, and inspirational stories.  But I AM also sarcastic. I like being snarky, (sometimes).  I like to play practical jokes, ( that does not sit well with everyone!)  I also know that not all the world is nice, and that people can sometimes not be trusted.  Lest anyone think I'm a total Pollyanna, I know that bad things happen sometimes to good people.  I just choose not to use that as my focus here.
   So, you decide.  Does that make me two-faced?  I don't think so.  I think it makes me complicated.  And like life, sometimes complications can be fun.  Sometimes they can be difficult.  Sometimes complications are even funny.  But  they almost always keep life interesting.  I hope the ones who know me , can say that , too.

P.S. Here's my other side~ therubybutterfly.wordpress.com
Here's to finding more out about yourself~ Ruby Jeanette

One Thing Only~

What's the one thing you would never, ever give up? 
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This was a tough question for me!  I guess because most people immediately think of intangibles.  Like your faith, your sense of humor , your  children,  your spouse.   But  these are not really things.  These are non - negotiables!  But a thing.  Actual material possession?   I don't really know.  A lot of people have keepsakes, heirlooms handed down to them from a special person.  These items hold memories for them.  A loved ones face, a smile, a certain event relating to that object.  I know what my husband's would be, he'd have to have two actually.  It would be a box of keepsakes from his dad , who recently passed away, and an album of photographs of his mother who died when he was 7.  It's really all he has of her, and I know it would be one of his most prized material possessions.   As for myself, I am just having a hard time pinning down any one thing I would be devastated if I lost.  It's probably all the albums I have filled with photos of our boys, and family.  I guess it's funny if you get right down to it.  If someone told you , "You must choose.  One thing is all you are allowed to have to remember your life by." , what you would you take?  Kind of narrows it down , huh? 

Here's to knowing what really counts~ Ruby Jeanette

An " Invention", a Disappointment, and an IDEA.........~

I was a little disappointed with the purchase of the new hardback novel.  I have a bad habit of just reading the flaps, and not really looking THROUGH the whole thing.  And usually this is not a problem, cause I know the authors I like, and very rarely get a book I don't care for.  I like big, thick hardback books.  Although I will settle for a big thick paperback when I have to.  This was a big book, 500 plus pages.  And here's the kicker. Probably three-quarters of that was black and white illustrations.  Ohhhhhhhhh, I was so mad!  It's a beautiful book.  It's Brian Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret".  I hear it's a movie now, and hope to see it.  It's really a young adult book, but I don't generally mind those.  What aggravated me about it is I wanted it to last more than a day, because I wasn't feeling well, and was just looking forward to spending some down time with a book.  In hindsight , I suppose that's a dumb thing to be annoyed about, but I was.  It really is gorgeously illustrated, and it's got these black end papers, and chapter separators. Then, I had an idea!  I actually told my son what I most wanted to do with it now was to buy those gel pens, that write on dark paper, and scribble on all that fabulous dark glossy paper!  Shame on me , I know!  Defacing a book.  What depths I've sunk to.  It really is quite tempting though.  It almost seems as if the author intended for it to be written on.  Of course if you've read my blog any before, you know I kind of have this thing about paper.  Hobby Lobby, Michaels , Office Depot, any place with more than just plain white typing paper, has me drooling.  Scrapbook paper, drawing paper, construction paper, need I say more?  I've made a lot of scrapbooks, journals, and so on,  that I've illustrated.  I've never actually wanted to draw in a ready made book though.  Do you think if the library finds out, my card will be revoked?  I can hear the library ladies now,  "She actually wanted to scribble in a book!!"  Shock and horror.  Ohhhhhhh, my rebellious side calls me to run to the nearest purveyor of gel pens and scribble away......bwahahahahahahaha!!  Man. I either have too much time on my hands, too much going on in my brain , or both.  Maybe, just maybe, if I DRAW for a while, it will calm my brain...............:)

Mini-Me~

This is my three hundred and fifteenth blog post !  Yay me!
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I know I chatter on far too much.  But if you only knew how many things I want to say, and don't......~ Anne of Green Gables

I'm sure my mother despaired of me doing ANY -THING   three hundred and fifteen times , when I was growing up.  Well, anything really constructive anyway.  I could definitely leave my room dirty that many times in a row.  Or come up with some inane thing to say at least that many times.  I used to think my Dad was a quiet man, but now I realize he was only quiet because I never let him get a word in edgeways.  I have come to this realization because now I have a son who is the exact copy of me in personality.  He looks just like his dad, but his personality is ALL mine.  (Except he doesn't mind school work, which I hated with the passion of a thousand dying suns.)  But other than that.  He's me.  In all his awkward , geeky glory.  He once informed me,  "Gee Mom, you're a veritable fount of useless information."  This from a 7 year old.  How many 7 year olds even know the meaning of the words fount and veritable? At that age, I told the boy I had a crush on, ( he was older!  13!) , that Trilobites were a prehistoric animal that lived in the water, and went on to describe them in great detail.  He looked straight at me, and said,  "You know, I just really don't believe that."  I was crushed!  Of course, this was a fairly common reaction .  I read, read , read, anything I could at that age , too.  My sister and I were some of the few children allowed access to the adult section of the library, so I had access to the better books, you know.  So, I was not just nerdy, but immensely nerdy!  I have also come to the realization that I was not very easy to get along with as a child.  I was notoriously messy.  I'm an artist, and so paper, pencils, watercolors, markers, chalk, charcoal (shudder!) cardboard, scissors, yarn, glue, beads, and so on, were EVERY where, ALL the time.  It drove my mother wild!  Just the other day , the boy of mine we've been talking about had a box full of colored pencils sharpening them into his own bed , while gleefully drawing some imaginary creation.  He never even had a second thought about sleeping with pencil shavings that night.  I must admit though, perhaps he's not an EXACT replica of me personality wise.  I had an  attitude about a mile wide.  My mottos in life were "Don't TELL me to do anything.  You can ASK , but don't TELL me."  , and , "If it's do it or else.  I choose ELSE."  Yes,  you can imagine the conflict that ensued over those particular philosophies.  I 've mellowed some............I think.  I am still an avid reader.  I 'm still an artist.  There are STILL paper, pencils, watercolors, markers, chalk, charcoal, cardboard, scissors, yarn glue , beads, and so on scattered everywhere.  I try to keep them "loosely" organized.   I 'm still pretty messy.   Although I prefer  "creatively cluttered".  In retrospect , and now that I have a real live subject to study, myself in the looking glass if you will,  I realize that with your mind going in something like 529 different directions at once, it is very difficult to care about things like clean bedrooms, or organized work areas.  If  you take time to clean , that masterpiece you are currently thinking about might not get down on paper.  That invention might not get made from wire and old gears.  If you do EVERY thing you're ever told,  it seems as if a piece of yourself gets lost somewhere.  If you never speak your mind,  you can be a doormat.  Of course, there are negative consequences to these actions , too.  If you don't clean , you can lose time looking for JUST the right color for that masterpiece.  If you don't mind your parents,  losing privileges is a real possibility.  If you do speak your mind, you can really hurt someone's feelings( even if what you said was true.) All these things I can see in hindsight and happening for my little guy in real life , everyday.  I have grown up now, (mostly), and can clean , listen to my parents, I'm working on the speaking without thinking problem, but I'm by no means perfect!  My little man came home the other night, and told me "Mom, this girl said I was geeky and awkward.  "  I just put my arms around him, and said ,  "Me too, Bubba.  Me too."


Ruby Jeanette

Can't I Have ONE?~

Yesterday I posted a "funny" thing, so today I am posting a "fearless" thing .  Well, it's kind of a fearless/furious thing about life that I kind of wanted to get off my chest.  Big breath,  whew, here goes.

I feel bad.  I mean , really physically bad.  I never, ever tell complete strangers that.  But I kind of figure, well, after nearly a year, maybe we aren't complete strangers.  I don't share a lot about feeling bad.  I always think everyone has their own struggles, problems, and  concerns, and it really makes other people feel bad because there is nothing they can do.  You can pray, I know, and I'll accept all the help I can get in that department! 
  The thing is , it's not even anything real specific.  I DO have major ulcers and lesions in my mouth and on my gums right now.  That's a "lupus thing".  I 've had them before, but it's been a long time since I had any this bad.  But the weird thing is with lupus and auto immune diseases you get this condition called "malaise".  Which is really just a fancy way of saying your body feels out of sorts with itself.  Imagine that feeling you get when you know you're coming down with something , but don't really know what.  Like the flu.  Or some type of virus.  You feel really "blah" and just can't seem to get going.  You're tired for no reason, and the couch and warm covers seem like the perfect place to be.
  I guess that' s the really sucky thing about a chronic illness.  It's not even the "big" things that get you down.  It's the nagging, seemingly little things.  Like persistent fatigue, mouth ulcers, joint pain, or lack of energy.  Yeah, a couple of days a year with those type of things, and you manage.  But after a while, the very monotony , all  day ,  every day,  of the annoying symptoms start to overwhelm you. Like your own body is giving you the Chinese water torture treatment, or scratching invisible  fingernails on a chalkboard. 
  So , that's it. In a nutshell.  I've got a physical thing to deal with, and I'm sure everyone out there has their own "little" things that frustrate them every day.  Soooooo.......
I've had my ONE grouch session for the year! Although as blessed as I really am, even ONE seems more than I am due.I 'm not trying to bum anyone out, or even collect pity from anyone.  No pity needed! :) It is what it is.  I am here, and I'm grateful that everything is as well as it is. You know with illness , it's not even anyone's fault, so you can't even really be angry! My genetic lottery just was not a winning hand for me.  But , you know, I feel better now.  Sometimes it helps to be able to tell someone , anyone! about what is going on  with our lives.  So, now that I've turned my frown upside down for the day, maybe I'll get my pillow and a good book.  An Ibuprofen and a cup of milk.  I think I hear the couch and covers calling my name. 

Here's to taking care of yourself , when you need it, and thanks for listening.........~ Ruby Jeanette

Oh, yes. I Did. ~

Okay. I must say this up front.  I do not watch organized sports.  I don't watch football, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, hockey, wrestling, ice skating, volleyball, or any other sport.  I don't play video games, like Wii, PlayStation, Nintendo , Xbox, and so on.  I don't play computer games, like FarmVille, CityVille, TownVille, FrontierVille, Angry Birds, Mad Cows or anything in that vein , either.  I DO read, read, read, just about anything I can ,although being a mom, wife, teacher, homekeeper, homemaker, and general Queen of the Castle has cut my reading from about 20 books a week to WAAAAAAAY less than that.  I DO enjoy chess, puzzles, word games, and anything of that sort.  I consider myself a fairly intelligent person. ( Most of the time!)  So after saying all that, let me now explain my red-faced moment of the day, week, possibly lifetime,  ( although with me it is never safe to be certain of anything !) .  Since being on FB, I notice people have all these little acronyms, and abbreviations for things.  You know, LOL (LaughOutLoud) , TY (ThankYou), YW ( You'reWelcome), ROFLOL, (Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud) , and so on and so forth.  Well, since it's been football season, everyone keeps posting WPS.  Wellllllllllll, I didn't know what that meant!!!!!  I kept trying to figure it out without asking because I did not want to be seen as some weirdie.  ( No danger in that , right, RIGHT?) Anyhow,  I keep thinking to myself , "What in the world does that stand for?"   (Will Pray, Surely!)  (Well Played Sister!)  (What? People Sick?  ), and I knew it wasn't something tacky or vulgar, because it was good Christian people posting it. And then........... it hits me.   WhoooPigSoooieee.  Yes.  So, there is your moment for the day .  Don't you feel better about yourself now?  YW. Please feel free to say TY while ROFLOL. 

Here's to being able to laugh at yourself...........(I've no shortage of material , in that department!)

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and January's Jewels!~

"Does thinking you're the only sane man left on earth, make you crazy , Doc?  Cause if it does, then maybe I am."  ~ Will Smith  in "I, Robot."

I guess I 'm either crazy , or the only sane woman left on earth, but I DID NOT go Black Friday shopping today.  I did not go last year.  I have NEVER in my life , been Black Friday shopping.  I haven't ever been Cyber Monday shopping , either.  I saw all kinds of FaceBook posts about , "Ooooooh, we scored a huge deal!", or "Got the electronical whatsitwejusthaddtohave for 30 dollars!"  , or my favorite!" There are so many people here we can't even breathe!!!!"  all posted with some type of maniacal glee.  Like, "This is fun and cool!". Or they are desperately trying to convince themselves it is. Going shopping at midnight or 1 am, waiting in a line full of pushy people , while cold, caffeinated , and probably needing to pee, all trying  to save a few dollars for something that will probably be cheaper in January anyway.  No thanks.  I mean , no offense if that IS your idea of a really good time, but it just doesn't do it for me.  People might think my husband and I are Scrooges somewhat, but we've taught our boys that if you can wait til after "The BIG day", you can get twice as much stuff for your buck.  They know if you save your money , that toy set or electronic gadget will be marked down after Christmas.  One year they scored their faves ( Lego sets) , for over half off.  That convinced them!  So, if you 're waiting for me to post about how I managed the Black Friday madness, it won't ever happen on here.......just sayin!

Here's to everyone 's own way of scoring that deal! ~ Ruby Jeanette

Don't Let a Rock Take Your Job~

It's Thanksgiving Day!

I rise at 5:45, thankful for alarm clocks , because it means I have things to do to busy my hands and heart.  I am thankful for messy kitchens because it means I fed my family yesterday.  I am thankful for cluttered living rooms, because it means my children feel that this is their home too.  I am thankful for grocery sacks scattered in the floor, because it means we will eat today ,  and share it with family.   I am thankful for hunter orange, stray ammo, and dried mud crumbled, because it means my husband was well and able to go deer hunting this morning.  I am thankful, so VERY thankful, that this Thanksgiving , I am at home, and NOT in the hospital, with myself, or one of my children. Of the 15 years we've been married, we have spent 3 or 4 Thanksgivings, and 1 or 2 Christmases , in the hospital. I am thankful , thankful, thankful !  For salvation from sin, for forgiveness of my very human fallen condition, because it means that JESUS loves me!  I am thankful, thankful, thankful, that I've been blessed with one more day to be present in this body,  and thankful I am one day closer to being present with the Lord.  I am so very blessed, with so much more than I ever deserved.  If I fail to praise Him, the rocks will cry out.  I refuse to let some rock take my place!  How about you? 

Blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours~  Ruby Jeanette

Soaker Hose~

Happy 11th birthday to someone very special!
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I just want to say how proud I am of both my boys and how much they've grown in the last couple of years.  I can't say how hard being the parent of a teenager is, since I've only got two days experience in, so far. But , I think we are doing okay , today anyway! I do want to brag on both of them for a minute , though.  Den actually got up behind the podium and led the song Wednesday night, (red-faced), but hey, a very BIG deal for him.  So he's getting better about not being so embarrassed.  And I have to say I was impressed with the conversation I had with Joseph about his class.  He was telling me about sin , and how it corrupts ( his words, not mine!) .  Maybe not even all at once, but a little at a time, it causes your heart to be sick.  So, I guess even though I think maybe sometimes they don't listen, they are picking it up, little by little.  I don't want to give up on it now!  Even though sometimes I just wish I could pinch them, I think they may be on the road to being responsible, moral  adults , in time.  I guess really it is just a long process.  Every minute of every day of every year, gently , slowly, repetitively , it's soaking in.  Just like those old soaker hoses we used to use in the garden.  A little bit, over a long time, and the plants grow big and strong!

Here's to being in it for the long haul! ~ Ruby Jeanette

Nothing On!~

It is official.  I now pay 100 dollars a month for 400 channels of nothing.  There is absolutely nothing on ! And I like a wide variety of things, not just one type of programming.  I like mysteries, crime shows, nature documentaries, kids programs, good movies, music shows, British telly, I will even  watch hunting, fishing , auto auctions, home improvement, craft shows,  even financial reports!  I like cooking shows, and even  opera!  But here is  what was ACTUALLY listed on six channels in a row on my DirectTV screen guide.  In order , they were:
I Like Killing Flies
Turkey Fried Easy!
Hairy Bikers
Best Vacuum Ever!
More American Eats
I Used To Be Fat

Really!  I couldn't help but laugh!  I thought about, "What if aliens landed on Earth , and were going to learn about our culture , from just these six channels?!?"  We like to kill flies ,while eating turkey, fried  easy.  All of our friends are hairy bikers, who used to be fat , from eating more American eats, but worked it off with the best vacuum ever! I'm sorry!  I couldn't help it!  I 've got to take my laughs where I can , and this was just too good to pass up..........have a great evening everyone......just don't expect to find anything on TV!  :)

Uh-Huh..........~

Happy 13th birthday to someone very special!
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Current Situation:
Me~ Sitting in front of computer , at FaceBook page
Husband~  Standing behind me, asking "What are you doing?"
Me ~  Saying "Checking my FaceBook page."
Husband ~  Still standing there staring, staring, staring..........."Well, whatever."
Me~.   Ohhhhkayyy.  Yeah, whatever.  Men are sooooo weird!

Is that one of those situations where you just say, huh?  I mean , I know English was my first language, and  I thought I had picked up  more man-speak in fifteen years than that, but I guess not.  Any ideas as to what that particular exchange was supposed to mean?  Seriously? I'm scrolling through Face Book , something I do a couple of times a day.  What did he THINK I was doing?  I have no clue.  Sometimes I just look over at him, and think , "Who ARE you?!?"  Definitely one of those head-scratch type of days, for sure.  I wonder if he has any idea how close I come to just lobbing him upside the head sometimes?  Heehee.  With one hand I'm scratching my head, while I lob him upside his head with my other hand, so HE can scratch HIS head in confusion..........."What happened?"......(lol)!  Ahhhhhhhh, the joys of married life!  

Have a great day everyone!  ~ Ruby Jeanette

Getting Better~

It feels so good to be on the mend!  I had no idea that a sinus/bronchial infection could lay you so low. Two weeks in, two antibiotic rounds, and one steroid shot later, I think I may be on the upswing , finally.  Congestion mostly gone, now just really tired still.  I have missed posting on my blog, and FaceBook these last couple of weeks.  I'm behind with my "Thanks for" count , too.  I missed Wednesday and Sunday church from last week,  and I sure do count on the fellowship I get when I go.  You don't realize what a difference that time in the Lord's house makes for the rest of your week.  Or, it does for me , anyway. 
  Hubby has gone hunting for the day, and I haven't heard anything from him yet, so don't know whether he got a deer.  He was hoping for a nice, juicy , doe.  He never has been much of a horn hunter, you can't eat them, you know.  But tenderloin from a doe,  whew - whee, that's some seriously good eats, there.  Well, I just wanted to say hi to everyone, and wish everyone a blessed day!  Here's my "Thanks for"  for the last week or so....
6.  Feeling better
7.  Deer in the woods
8.  My parents living right next door
9.  Groceries in the cupboard
10.  Wood in the stove
11.  Little boy hugs
12. Warm blankets

Here's to being on the upswing!~ Ruby Jeanette

Playing Catchup~

I am excited to see so many of my friends participating in Thanks -Living this month!   I think it's a great tradition to start.  I haven't been posting anything for each day, but was glad to read other people's thoughts on what they are thankful for.  It's awesome to see people treating life with a more grateful attitude. We have so many blessings here in our great country.  Despite what the conditions are now, we still live in the most wonderful country on Earth.  Most of us have plenty to eat, clothes to wear, vehicles to drive, jobs to go to, are mostly healthy , can go to the doctor if we aren't , go to church when and where we want, read our Bible anywhere, anytime, speak freely, write freely, teach our children the things we want, and so many other things I can't even think of right now.  I wonder sometimes if our lack of thankfulness, and our considerable arrogance as a country is like a slap to the face of God?  That's really a theoretical question, because I already know that it is like a slap to His face.  I don' t like to preach, as  I don't feel that 's my calling. But there was a saying going around on FaceBook a while back that said, "What if today you only woke up with the things you thanked God for yesterday?".  Kind of scary , huh?
I'm going to catch up!
What I'm thankful for today:
1.  My salvation.
2. Jesus
3. My family
4. My freedom
5. That we live where we do!

Consider the Lilies~

I finally got the results yesterday, from the poetry contest I entered.  I didn't win the grand prize  , (CASH, sigh....) , but I did win one of their first prizes. Funny thing is, I don't even know what the first prizes were!  Oh, well, I suppose to have your poetry chosen out of thousands of poems , and be rated as good enough for a first is not too shabby.  So, what goes on in your world today? I got up about 4 30 and helped a couple of my  fellas off to the deer woods.  You know the whole warm clothes, snack boxes, hot cocoa routine. Today is youth hunt here where we live, so I hope the oldest boy get a shot on something.  The littlest boy got one last year, what we call around here , a "nubbin" head . Meaning it only had nubs of horn sticking up.  So that was pretty cool.  I'm wrestling with a major sinus and bronchial infection , so I didn't feel up to going and sitting in the cold , dark woods, waiting on the sun.  I do love to do that when I feel good though! There is just something about listening to the world come alive in nature.  To me there's nothing really like it .  It makes you realize there are so many other things happening on Earth than just what is going on with you personally.  The animals go about their daily lives without regard to what's occurring in our ridiculously fast paced ones.
 I guess that 's what God meant when he talks about the sparrows, and considering the lilies.  He tells us we are worth so much more to Him than that, and yet we still worry .  What will we eat?  Where will we live?  And so on.  If you ever get the chance, go to the woods sometime, and wait for the sun to rise.  Watch the squirrels, birds, deer and other animals go about their morning routines.  They might be scurrying, but it's not because they are worried!  They are taken care of by God, and He knows when even one sparrow falls, His Word says so.  Just think what kind of care He will take of us, if we let Him!

Here's to a little less worry and scurry!~ Ruby Jeanette

Keeping It Going~

I decided to redo the appearance of my blog yesterday.  I got bored with the look, and thought it could use re-vamping.   I did add a new description underneath the title and picture.  I did have "Only positive, uplifting, and humorous anecdotes".  Now I have ,"Finding the funny, fearless, and furious things in everyday life...".  Why did I change it?  Well, I found out that people find it hard to believe that you can be positive every day.  I guess I was really naive in that I didn't realize there was so much  negative energy in this world. I guess I knew it, but I didn't KNOW it, if ya' know what I mean.  So, I thought , "I'll change my description, but only so people realize you can still be frustrated or even furious and still be positive and optimistic.  Sometimes the world sucks.  I mean this is a fact.  We get sick, the bills pile up, as does the laundry and the housework.  The kids get ornery, the doctor did not have good news, our car is on the fritz.   But I refuse to give into the idea that life will never get any better, or that I have to be upset with the world in general! I can be furious, and optimistic.  I 'm going to be furiously optimistic!  Or optimistically furious, or something!  I'm going to be fearless and funny. I'm going to be fearlessly funny, or funnily fearless!  Or something!  But I absolutely am going to keep going with the idea that people need encouragement, and hope , and the realization that , Thank the Good Lord!  this life is not all there is!  So don't give up just yet.  I believe the sun is on the horizon.

Here's to never giving in to hopelessness!~ Ruby Jeanette

Do You NEED It?~

Have you ever had to "make do"?  For quite a few years now in America many people have lost interest in this concept.  "Making do" implied that you didn't have , or couldn't afford to get whatever it was that was involved. I remember one of my Dad's stories that he tells quite often, when he discusses this subject.  For a long time when he was growing up, they did not have electricity, indoor plumbing, or even their own rooms.  He said once they lived in a house with cracks so big in the walls, you could shoot rabbits outside.  The snow could drift in on you in your sleep.  And my Dad is by no means old.  This was only about 50 years ago.  And it wasn't for lack of my Grandpa Deer working.  He was  not afraid to work, and always had a job.  It's just that times were so hard.  People in America were still trying to recover from wars, and economic depression.  Sound familiar?  But, people knew how to "make do".  Could we do that now?  Could we live without electricity, indoor plumbing, and all the "extras" that people seem to think are so essential now?  I am by no means an alarmist, so please don't think I am saying "The sky is falling!", but I think we could all get by with a little less .  We are so consumed with the new, the now, the next, that we don't realize that most of it is just unnecessary .   People hurry from 50 hour a week a jobs, to their 40 thousand dollar cars, to their 250,000 dollar homes, so they can kiss their significant other, while THEY leave for their 50 hour a week a job, in THEIR 40 thousand dollar car.  And by the way , this is just a statement of fact, not a judgement.  If this is your lifestyle, I am not condemning you,  times are very tough.  But, I wonder sometimes if people slowed down long enough to think about it would they realize they really COULD "make do"?  With a smaller house, a less expensive car, or just maybe a little less money?  I don't live in much, but it's home to me.  I don't drive a new car, but it goes!  I can't afford to buy my kids the newest, the next "hot" thing, but they're not unhappy.  I guess it all comes back to the story my Dad tells.  I don't live in a house where you can shoot rabbits through the walls.  I have electricity, indoor plumbing, and even a room of my own.  That's more than "making do" , to me.............that's succeeding .


Here's to enjoying the blessings you have right now~  Ruby Jeanette

Just the Start~

Well, it's a new day of a new month!  November rocks, I must say.  Both my boys birthdays are in November, plus usually the weather is a lot cooler, the leaves are really showing off, and we really get to start to use our wood heater.  I love wood heat! It just warms your bones.  Of course, I partly love it because of the good memories I have attached to it.  That used to be one of mine and my Dad's favorite activities, cutting and hauling wood.  And it is still one my favorite things to go and do with my husband and children.  If someone asked me which would you rather do, "Dress up and go to a fancy restaurant?", or "Put your grubby, warm clothes on, and go haul wood?", I'd choose the latter every time.  Being outdoors, wearing my gloves and 'boggin, smelling the shavings from the tree, seeing my husband be the fine artist he is with a saw, it's just fun! November has lots of great things going for it.  You've got the weather, and the food, don't forget the food!  Turkey, ham, potatoes, and of course,  all the sweet treats.  A lot of people say Halloween is the start of the holiday season, and I guess it kind of is, but to me it's November 1st.  It just makes me feel like the holidays are now right around the corner. So whether your November is going to involve wood cutting, or holiday visiting, or cooking , all of it together, or nothing at all,  I hope and wish you all of God's blessings for every day in it!

Happy November 1st Everyone!  ~ Ruby Jeanette

Is Your Wood Wet? ~ ( taken from Pastor Steve Franklin)

Good morning everyone!  Well, at least it's morning here anyway.  I 've always felt kind of weird saying that on here, because you don't know where people are from.  Might not be morning where they are.  Anyway. Not sure how I got off on that.  My husband swears I have ADD too.  I AM very distractible, but I guess it could be the fact that I have so much going on.   You know what?  I may have officially overdone myself this last month or so.  We started school in the latter part of August, then we had theme park visits, Sunday and Wednesday church, youth rally, bowling trip,  company over two or three times for supper, fall festival,  library fun day,  Pastor Appreciation, and so on and so forth......of course, it's also deer season, which means more laundry , more dirt in the house, more grouchy husband (he missed)  , more muddy boys, and on and on it goes.  And there's always the regular shopping, bill paying,cleaning, animal feeding , sickness, and the like to add it on top of it.  Whew.  And then I wondered why I was feeling tired?!?  It's enough to make your wood get wet.  That's my friend at church's new saying.  It comes from a message our pastor just gave about being camping and having to start a fire with wet wood.  As he says, "It ain't gonna happen !"  .  He likened all this busyness we sometimes get into , and the tiredness, and aggravation that comes with it,  as having wet wood.  It's hard to show that fire for God, and even for our lives and the people in them , when you're going on wet wood.  So, I decided this morning, I was going to whittle down my extra curriculars for the next couple of weeks, so I'm not runnin' on wet wood.  How about you?  Could you light your fire if you needed too?  Or are you running on wet wood? 


Here's to keepin' your powder ( and your wood) dry!~  Ruby Jeanette

Save Me ......(LOL!)

I am doing my blog now because my hubby has decided to watch his DVR'd Bull Riding from the other night.  This would not be a problem ,except that Project Runway is on, and it's the final and I would REALLY  like to see it.  Also, he is not content to just WATCH his bull riding.  Our computer is about 4 feet from the TV, so he feels compelled to comment every 5 minutes or so.  They said,  they did, they are talking about........blah, blah , blah.  Now, my question is....If I cared,  wouldn't I be watching it?!?  But, noooooo, he doesn't get it.  I am trying to use my computer time to do my email, blog, Face Book , and things for the boys' school, and I have to stop every few minutes, and say,  "Uh-huh.  Oh, really?  Interesting."  I used to really enjoy bull riding and rodeo, but they have changed the rules, and it's gotten really sophisticated with all these contractors, companies, and money involved.  I just don't care to watch it anymore. But it seems I'm going to hear about it, anyway.  Yep. Here comes the next comment now............

LOL!~

Today's Funny True Story~

A couple of weeks ago, we carried both our sons to a theme park in a town not far from us.  It was early in the morning, and of course the deer were out eating their breakfast, and moving around getting their morning started.  We usually  make a game of seeing how many we can spot.  As we were driving we passed a rural cemetery.  There were two deer grazing peacefully amongst the headstones.  My oldest son blurted out,  "Look Mom!  Those deer are eating the daisies that people are pushing up!".  

Bowling Lanes; Changing Lanes~

We had a really great time last night!  We took the kids bowling with the church youth group.  Our boys had never been before, and I was excited to see if they would like it.  It took a few rounds for them to get their feet under them, but they did pretty good.  I just watched, but Mark bowled.  He used to go all the time with his high school friends ( back in the dark ages, when the ball was stone , ya' know....)  and he had as much fun as the kids I think.  Joseph and Denim are finally getting old enough to really enjoy going different places and having fun.  I think they probably enjoyed just goofing off, and being silly as much as they did anything.  It was actually neat to watch .  Even the older kids in youth group, are really still just little kids.  I know they would surely disagree, and be tiffed if they knew I said that, but it's true.  They are still just innocents to the danger and cruelty of the "real" world. Most of them are just barely old enough to drive, and are just getting that first taste of independence.  But they still jumped up and down, hollered, slapped high fives, and were just generally silly.  I enjoyed watching them more than I would have bowling.  I got to sit back and remember what it was like to be more worried about my game score than if the bills were going to get paid, or the car fixed.  To be more concerned with , "Does he think I'm cute?", rather than , " Why can't that man pick up his dirty socks?",  (LOL)  !  But don't get the idea that I am sad. I wouldn't go back there even though it is fun to be nostalgic. I would not be 16 again for ALL the money in the world. Although, I do have a son turning 13 VERY soon,  sooooooooo I may be wishing shortly that I WAS 16 again, just so I will have the energy to cope! 

Here's to fun times, new experiences, and old memories~ Ruby Jeanette

I'm SO Over It!~

I know I usually don't post news as my blog post.  I have done it occasionally but don't like to , as most of it is negative, and anti- Christian.  Well. I just can't help myself today.  The number one news story on YAHOO! today is ...........now before you guess, No it's not Moammar Gaddafi's assassination, the President's health care program,   or   any election coverage.  Nope.  It's "Christina Aguilera goes on a date without PANTS."  .  Yes.  This is the number one item of interest on the news this afternoon.  Why?  Who cares??!?  Stars in Hollywood  partying sans panties is not a news item. ( At least, not anymore, lol!)  Remember the Britney Spears limo incident?  But, really, even if you hadn't heard of that particular fiasco, or even keep up with ANY of it,  would you CARE?  Sheesh.  Seriously, there is sooooooo much stuff going on in the world today, that I can't believe that even merits news space at all!  Of course, you have to also note that one of the other top stories was "Lindsay Lohan breaks community service agreement, and violates her parole".  And although I agree it is sad to see this once-cute Disney star ruin her life,  I do not need play by play reports of it on the news.   So,  if any of you news reporters are reading( ha ha)  how about some real "news" ?  Like what third graders are eating in school cafeterias for lunch this week?  "Cause that 's about how interesting this other stuff has been today. Ugggh.

Spread Thin~

In dwelling, live close to the ground.  In thinking, keep to the simple.  In conflict be fair and generous.  In governing, don't try to control.  In work, do what you enjoy.  In family life, be completely present.  ~ Tao te Ching
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I think this is a really powerful saying.  I especially love the parts about dwelling and family life.  In dwelling, live close to the ground.  In this day and age, it is very difficult to live close to the ground.  We are VERY far removed from the sources of our food, in most cases, we don't know where it comes from, or what they put in it.  The majority of us don't farm, or grow our own food.  Most of us don't have the time, or the inclination to worry with it.  Even as recently as 100 years ago, most people grew the majority of their own food.  They went to bed with the chickens and got up with them, because they didn't have the luxury of electric lights.  They worked with their own hands, and lived close to the ground.  This goes hand in hand with the last part of this saying.  In family life, be completely present.  We have so many things pulling us so many different directions these days, that in most cases we can never BE completely present anywhere, much less with our families.  School, work, sports, activities, shopping, movies, tv, events, etc. , etc., the list goes on and on.  We don't eat dinner together, or have an afternoon at home where everyone is together. Usually , if you have more than one child, you are probably going in TWO separate directions for TWO different events, or sports.  We stay up way into the night, and sometimes sleep way past sunrise.  We eat fast food, pre - prepared, pre-packaged, and pre- medicated.  We've just got to have that bigger house, newer car, and better clothes.  And because of all this, we don't have the time or the energy to be COMPLETELY present at ANY of these activities!  We want to do it all, have it all, and be it all, and our lives end up LESS fulfilling as a result.  Maybe it 's time we re- evaluate and see if some of these things could be let go, in order that we might live a little closer to the ground, and be completely present in our family life.  I'm going to try to measure my priorities all week, and see how I can be more present , in all areas of my life!

Wonderfully Made~

Did you ever wonder what God was thinking when he made certain animals?  I've often had these thoughts.  Sometimes when I look at a certain animal , I just think, "What in the world was in God's mind?".  Have you ever seen a hippo, a giraffe, or a platypus, and just thought , "Huh?".  It is wonderful; the creativity of the Master Designer's mind.  Of course, certain things do give us pause. When my oldest son was about 2 he pointed out that birds do not have hands.  They have feet , legs, and such, but no hands!  Well, of course , after he said it, I had to think about it.  Chickens , geese, ducks , and birds of all sorts don't have hands or arms!  Why had I never thought about it  before?  I had to laugh!  They don't need those things of course, because they are designed to perfectly fit the Creator's idea.  Giraffes use their long necks to reach the acacia leaves on which they feed.  Hippos use those fat bodies to navigate the river water in which they live.  And platypuses, platypii?  Anyway.....the platypus uses his duckbill and webbed feet to catch the underwater prey it needs to live.  God's design for all things is perfect.  Even for us.  Growing up , sometimes it is hard to see how this design works for us.  We sometimes have bodies that don't seem to match what we want.  Or perhaps we feel less than attractive.  "Why did God make me this way?", we might be tempted to ask.  But God's plan for us will use the way He has designed us as a positive, not a negative.  Some day it will all come together, and we will see how it all works.  So next time you  are having trouble believing in God's ideas, just think of those geese with no hands, or that kooky little platypus!  God loves you, and loves the way you are made!  :)

Here's to the unique, and the design of the Master Planner!  ~ Ruby Jeanette

Chatting Over Chicken~

It has been a very busy week here at the Woods casa.  School, housework, cooking , and so forth.  I do have to say, when I'm so very busy,  I'm very blessed that my parents live next door.  We eat dinner together every Tuesday, and Wednesday. And when I'm overwhelmed, they pitch in .  Even though it's a lot of work,  I love having company over (when the house is presentable!)  .  I enjoy being hostess and cooking for others.  We were honored to have Brother Steve and Sister Mary Franklin over for company last  night.  I cooked Mexican Chicken casserole, refried beans, Spanish rice, and homemade peach cobbler.  Plus, we had salad , so we didn't have to feel guilty about all that cheese and fat!  We had a really wonderful visit, and just enjoyed getting to know the Franklins.  I suppose that's why I always loved waitressing and working at the library.  I loved visiting with all the people, new friends, and old.  Someone once told me, "People are the only important "things" on this earth.  And they're NOT things."  It's so true.  Even if you don't feel comfortable having people over to visit, or cooking for others, you can find somewhere to make a connection with someone who would love to have you visit with them.  Nursing homes and hospitals are great places for visiting, (you have a "captive" audience, after all!).  Reaching out, talking to someone, cooking, or just smiling at the person in the checkout line, all these things can make a difference to someone.  Try it sometime!


Here's to making an impact wherever you go~ Ruby Jeanette


P.S.  I finally got a cord to upload some of my favorite photos from the past year, so I 'm going to be collaging some of them for my blog over the next few weeks.  Hope you enjoy!

Trees~

I have always loved trees.  I'm not really sure why.  They just seem so solid, I guess.  The scene with Frodo in the forest, in Lord of the Rings has always been one of my favorites.  The trees in the scene were the ancients, and had seen much.  I suppose that is true of many trees.  Perhaps that is part of the appeal to me, also.  The fact that they have seen the world turn for many years, and seen many different things.  I took the picture at the end of this post while lying on the ground underneath a giant oak.  The branches on this tree were so much like protecting arms, I just had to snap this photo.  Some of my favorite dates with my husband were spent under trees.  Picnics, deer hunts, and just lazy afternoons on quilts.  It's actually kind of ironic that my husband was a logger!  A person who "slays" trees. He loves old hardwood too, though, so I can't really hold it against him!  Probably one of my favorite poems too, has a tree.  It's a very commonly known poem.  Longfellow's "Village Smithy".  I used to wish when I was little, that I could see that "spreading chestnut tree".  It just seemed like such a safe place to be.  I know that some societies used to believe in "sacred" trees.  I can see how you could become confused about that.  But really , we have to remember to worship the "Creator" of the tree, and not the tree itself.  Every time I lay beneath an old oak, or pine, I thank God for using His creation as an example of the protection He provides.  I can imagine God using His arms like those old branches , to cover me.  And I feel safe. ~ Ruby Jeanette

Wide Open~

I had a friend to put as her status on FB, "Isn't it funny how some people can be so different on here, as compared to how they are in person?".  Some one else commented and said, "That's not funny, it's sad."  And I said, "It's a shame.  If I like you on Face Book, then I like you everywhere.  The real world, the digital world, wherever.  If I don't like you on Face Book , then I probably don't like you in the real world, the digital world, or anywhere else."  I got to thinking that maybe that sounded kind of harsh.  My plain spoken - ness, has gotten me into trouble  a lot of times.  I always tell people I was born without that filter between my brain and my  mouth.  If I think it, it flies right out.  My husband sometimes stands with his jaw dropped, and say things like , "I can't believe you actually said that!".  Or,  " Holy cow."  Or my favorite, saying nothing, while just shaking his head.  While my intent has never been to hurt people's feelings, believe it or not, I think sometimes the world could use a little more "truth" .  I don't surround myself with sycophants who only repeat back what I want to hear.  It's very difficult to find a real friend, who as Brandy says will answer honestly when you ask, "Does this skirt make my butt look big?".  Of course, I already know my heinie is  wide, so I know better than to ASK that question, but you get the idea.  The long and the short of it, (or the fat, and the skinny!) ,  is sometimes we need to hear the cold , hard , facts. If you are a real friend you will tell the person you love what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.  And as far as the digital world goes, let me say it again, I don't hide my posts from anyone, because I don't have anything to hide.  If I wouldn't say it to your face, I wouldn't post it.  You will never have to wonder where I stand , or how I feel about something.  If you want to know something about me, ask.  I 'll answer honestly.  Unless, of course, I feel like it's none of your business.  But I will let you know that too, lol.  But the same goes for me.  If you feel, or think I am being hypocritical, call me on it. I think if we all held one another a little more accountable, the world would be a little bit better place.  Just sayin'.

Only Little, A Little While~

I guess I should clarify what I was talking about on my FB page, and here is as good a place as any , I suppose.  There has been a lot of negative stuff posted lately on FB and other social sites, like the news page on Yahoo!.   Apparently Angelina Jolie's little girl Shiloh had a picture posted of her playing in the pool wearing nothing but a pair of boys style board shorts. The child in question is all of 4 or 5 years old, and obviously has nothing to show up on top.  What got the uproar started was that Angelina and Brad let her wear boys clothes.  I'm not really sure why this is such a problem for people, but the reaction it got was huge.  People went so far as to say the little one was going to grow up and be a homosexual just like her mom. I draw the line at that.  Now, let me just say,  I  don't agree with homosexuality.  But if one of my sons came to me and said , "Mom, I'm gay.", I would deal with it by saying, "Okay."  I might go cry in my room, or be upset, but I would never say, "I don't love you anymore."  Your kid is your kid, no matter what .  If they turn out to be an alcoholic or some other something, most people wouldn't turn from their child.  So. Back to your child dressing a certain way.  When I was little until the time I was 12 or so, I wore mostly boy type clothing.  I had a cowboy hat, boots, and more ball caps than a lot of guys.  I  DID not play with "girl" toys, wear makeup, high heels, or dress up like a princess.  I DID run around without my shirt, climb trees like Tarzan, shoot guns, and work in my Daddy's shop.  I was not "sexually confused".  I knew I was a girl.  I "liked" boys.  It was just more fun to be  a "tomboy" than a girly girl.  I mean , really, Camping versus Slumber/Makeup parties?  No brainer! But , I did start wearing makeup about age 14, and carrying a purse( horrors!).  I DID get married, and have children.  I wasn't growing up wondering if I was gay.  When I posted that on FB about our reactions, in saying that, I meant that my boys do not even know what gay is.  So if I over react to something one of them wants to wear, I think you can cause them to wonder, "Is that what I am?  What does that mean?".  Kids hone in on that kind of thing.  You know what I mean.  "Let's really freak Mom and Dad out!".  I guess what I'm really trying to say, is that kids are just kids.  A little girl wearing a ball cap and jeans is no more likely to turn out gay , than a little boy who paints his nails for Halloween.  Just let them be little for a little while!  The great big world slaps all of us in the face soon enough with all the hatred it can find.  I just want mine to be able to be okay in our little bubble , for a little while longer. 

Gimme an F! (For Fall!)~

It's that season!  Ohhhhhhh, the beginning of my favorite!  I love October and November!  I guess it's partly because of the scenery , cooler temperatures and fun activities.  But , mostly I think it's because my most treasured memories are tied to this time of year.  I met my husband in late September of 1995.  The weather was just like it has been this fall.  Actually starting out cooler, with that little bit of a bite in the air.  You know the one I mean , that little crunch like a candied apple.  My two sons were both born in November,1998 and 2000, with the smell of Thanksgiving turkey from the hospital cafeteria swirling down the halls.  It's dress-up time, and an excuse to gorge on candy without remorse for just one day.  It's Thanks-Living time .  Time to live out our thanks for all that God has blessed us with this whole year through.  It's not as crazy as Christmas, and people aren't quite so aggravated with the holiday season yet.  It's chunky sweater and knee-high boot time.  Just the feel in your soul, that somehow we made it through one more year, and harvest time approaches again.  I'm not sure if I would feel like the year was complete without the autumn season.  So, go ahead.  Dust off your cord pants, hikers, and cable knits........it's Fall!

Anxiously awaiting those first leaf piles!~ Ruby Jeanette

Every Now and Then~

Here a while back I posted some funny everyday holidays on my blog.  I thought it would be fun to check back in with their website again and see what holiday today is.  Well, here it is.  Today is ........"Toot Your Flute" day.  Now where I come from , this expression means to kinda' brag on yourself.  As in,  "Well, aren't we tooting our own flute today?".  In general this is probably not a good practice, but I think everyone should be allowed to "Toot their Flute" occasionally.  So, today's the day!  If you read my post, I want you to leave me a comment with one thing you think is great about yourself, or that you  are proud of for accomplishing.  Let's show ourselves some love today, and maybe boost our own confidence just a little.  So come on "Toot Your Flute!".

Ruby Jeanette

What a Difference! ( A New Pill Makes!)~

I have had a super-busy day today!  I got up at 6 am, cooked 2 dozen pancakes, cleaned both my bathrooms, did two loads of laundry, did school work, two loads of dishes, cleaned my kitchen, started and cooked lunch, cleaned the front yard, took 3 boys to the river to catch crawdaddies, went to the bank, paid bills, grocery shopped, came home, cooked supper, did one more load of laundry, cleaned the kitchen BACK up, clipped some coupons, and read a chapter in my book.  Whew.  All that without a nap!  I've just got to tell everyone......I went to the cardiologist's and saw their new APN.  She was concerned about the level of fatigue that the Coreg heart medication was causing me.  She wanted to know if I had ever taken Metoprolol, and I told her yes, it worked really well for me, and I had asked if I could go off of the Coreg earlier, and they told me "No, I was just going to have to learn to deal with it. "  Well,  she was not satisfied with this answer.  She told me if it made me that tired, what good was it?  So. As of last week I started my old medication, and the change has been spectacular to say the least!  I have cleaned out my laundry room of clutter, gotten my living room back into shape, been focused enough to have school super-organized, and many other things I was not able to accomplish before!  It's amazing to be able to feel like a "real" person again.  Now, I can't tell you that the lupus does not still bother me.  That would not  be true.  But , I have also started taking krill oil, and probiotics every day.  And my lupus symptoms are also much improved.  I am able to get up and down now, without QUITE so much pain in my knees and feet.  I tell ya' what, I've just got so much to be thankful for, I would hardly even know where to start telling you about it.  Needless to say, even if this is just a temporary improvement, I will take every GOOD day I can get! All glory to God , who can even work through doctors, by giving them wisdom.  So , even if you feel like your situation is hopeless, don't give up.  A better day might be just around the corner!

Here's to brighter times (however fleeting)  ~  Ruby Jeanette

No Refunds?~

A gift is free.  There are no strings attached, all you must do is reach out and take it.
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I heard a good message the other day about salvation.  I  was blessed to be able to give my life over to Jesus very young.  About age 5, but I never tire of hearing those words.  We almost all have heard John 3:16  .  But I like verses 17 and 18 also.  vs. 17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  vs. 18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not, is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.    See the awesome thing about salvation , is that it is a gift that God gives.  You know , you can stand around all day trying to hand someone a gift, but if they don't reach out and take it, it can't be a gift, really.  The thing that really stood out to me about the message I heard the other day was the fact that once God gives you salvation,  and you accept the gift that He offers, is He won't take it back.  It's yours!  Yours to keep forever!  But you know what ?  He would never take it away from you.............but you could give it back.  Like all gifts, you could decide you no longer wanted it.  You could say , "Well, I've decided this doesn't really fit..........", and return it.  God made us with free will.  We are not mindless robots, who once receiving His gift, become slaves , as it were, with no choice.    So yes, Salvation is eternal.......but only if you want it.  In this world of instant, free, and cheap, how about a gift that's instant, free and priceless?  God holds out this gift,  won't you reach out and take it? 

Ruby Jeanette

Who Says You Can't Have It All?~

I have been away from my desk , and out of my mind. 
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Nah.  Not really.  But I have been away from the computer, my blog, and FB.  I DID however , get a marathon of house and yard clean-up done.  You know, I think they lied when they said you could "have it all."  Have you seen that commercial for that new movie called , "I Don"t Know How She Does It!" ?  Well, she doesn't.  I don't think it's possible for you to "have it all", without some of it suffering somewhere.  If I focus exclusively on my house looking "perfect", (whatever that means!) , then the boys' schoolwork suffers.  If I focus exclusively on schoolwork, all day every day, then the house does kind of look lived in.  (That's better than messy right?)  If I spend too much time worrying about my appearance, in order to look like those "super" moms, then something else will get let go.  Sooooooooo......all I know to do is try my best!  Some days, I may not get my email checked, but the house will get clean.  Some days the school work will ALL get done, and the house will look rough around the edges.  Some days, I will look   fabulous! (Ha!),  and the yard or car will be cluttered.  I don't think I will EVER have all of it done at one time..........but you know what ?  I think I'll live.  The kids will be fine.  The husband will be fine.  Every day I work at it, and maybe every day will be different, but it WILL all be okay, and one day I will look back (hopefully), and say I didn't do too badly!

Here's to getting some of it right , some of the time, and leaving the rest to God!  ~ Ruby Jeanette

Just One More~

One More Memory~
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The fall leaves are a' changing,
and the wind blows through the leaves.
Our lives always rearranging,
sand slipped through a sieve.

I see the lake a' rising,

and coming into view.
I'm here to make a memory,
one more day with you.

How many are we promised?
There is no way to know.
I might only have just one more day,
before I have to go.

So walk the lake and hold my hand,
and hear the autumn come.
While we make one more memory,
before God calls us home.


Ruby Jeanette

Four-Legged, Furry and Fun~

Every boy needs a dog,  and every dog needs a boy. 

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We have a little white terrier that someone dumped out at our house.  This was back at the first of this year, January or so, when the weather was all of 11 or 12 degrees outside with ice on the ground.  If you've read any of my previous posts you know I'm talking about Ivy, if you haven't , then she is all of about 8 pounds big, with wire hair.  She has these giant soulful eyes, and has the most amazing range of expressions on her little doggie face.  She's housebroken , doesn't bite, or snap, and is absolutely no trouble at all.  She is old, though, and you can tell her bones get arthritic and cold.  So lately, she's taken to sleeping with the boys in their bed at night.  It's really sweet.  They get their whole routine going, teeth brushing (boys) , bathroom breaks ( Ivy), then night kisses ( boys and Ivy, lol) , then they get her "special " cover, pile her up between them, snuggle her up, and sail off to dreamland.  It's awesome the care they show one another.  I understand why they say that every boy needs a dog.  It's almost as if it is preparing them to be good parents later in life. Most boys never play with dolls to get that nurturing attitude, and motions.  But with a dog, it's more acceptable.  A dog is a "masculine" thing to have.  But it's still the same concept. Feed the baby, bathe the baby, swaddle the baby, snuggle the baby, make sure the baby feels loved. And I know now why they say that every dog needs a boy.  There is just some kind of special bond between a boy and his dog, and the dogs seem to realize just as much benefit, and profit as the boy does.  After all, they say the dog was man's first animal companion.  Maybe so many years ago we realized we could help one another.  Food and comfort for the dog.  Companionship and protection for the man.  I think somewhere, somehow, it still runs deep in our DNA, and I do believe truly that in the animal kingdom, dog IS man's best friend.

What Do I Need to Know THAT for?!?~

It's official.  I have become my mother.  They told me it would happen.  All those years of "Just wait 'til you have kids!",  and "You will certainly pay for your raising!",  oh, and the dreaded, "May God make your children just like you!", well, God was surely listening!  I suppose this dawned on me yesterday because my 12 soon-to-be 13 year old, said ,  "And just what exactly is all this school stuff good for?"  .  I can remember having this exact same conversation many times with my mom.  Of course, she always said I would need it, and it will come in handy, and so on.  I, of course,  in my teenager-ly wisdom knew better!  Well, as much as it chafes me to say it, she was right!(  About some things, anyway.  I still have YET to use algebra in daily life,   and most of the time,  no one cares that I know when they signed the Magna Carta {1215} , or that I can quote obscure English poetry, {Thomas Hardy's 'The Darkling Thrush',anyone?} ) But all in all, regular math is useful for adding up your grocery bill, making sure no one cheats you on your taxes or things like that.  Not really sure why we need to know prepositions, nouns, verbs and so forth , other than writing a letter, a novel, or a paper,  but it's good to be ABLE to speak proper English, even if I don't always use that ability.  I never had a beef with the sciences, because they were always interesting, even though knowing about chemical reactions is not a real useful "everyday" ability.  I loved, loved , loved Literature, History, Reading, and anything to do with them, like poetry, or essays,  (reading them , not writing them!) But other than personal enjoyment, Old World History, and great French authors, are not something you use all the time either!  Sooooooooooo, I guess we are mostly trying to focus on the basics. Even though we ARE taking algebra, science, history, reading, spelling, art, and the other things that schools think are SO important, I do have to explain to my nearly 13 year old, that in fact, he probably WON'T be using a lot of this information, but as old Hercule Poirot would say,  "We must stimulate , every day,  the little grey cells!" , hopefully one day Joseph will thank me!

Ring, Ring!~

I forgot to put my phone back "on" the hook yesterday.  So my apologies if anyone tried to call.  I usually take it off in the mornings, during school and rest time.  I try to remember to put it back on in the afternoons, but am bad to forget.  When Mark and I first got married , and for about the first two years, we didn't have a phone, at all.  No cell phone, or home phone.  I loved it!  You don't think about how much of a hassle those things are until you go completely without them.  No more telemarketers........"Can I plese speke to Miss Ruvy Voods, plese?",
   or "Wouldya' like to buy some vinyl windows?"  ,  or "How about a trip to faaaaabulous Braaanssson!!!!!!!!?".  Uhhhh, No.  No.  and definitely  NO!  Not having a phone also gives you the excuse to actually go and visit people , instead of just saying, "I'll call instead."  Of course, it's a pain when you need to call the doctors, or pay your phone bill, or those kinds of things, but all in all, it's wonderful not to have to hear the crazy thing ring, and check the caller id, and worry if you paid the bill, and so on, and so on........any - how, I think sometimes these electronic things are just a huge time-suck.  Well, I better get off of the internet, and go plug my phone back up!  Have a great day everyone!


Here's to going unplugged , every now and then~ Ruby Jeanette

Where's the Light? ~

Don't wait for the light at the end of the tunnel.  Stride down there, and light it yourself.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Have you had dark days lately?  Does it all seem like it's closing in on you, and there is no place left to turn?  I've been there!  It is oh, so easy to feel  like you are in the dark tunnel, with light so very far away.  The quote at the top makes it sound easy, doesn't it?  Just "stride down there, and light it yourself!" .  But what if you can't see to walk?  What if you can't find your own hand in front of your face?  I've never been afraid of the dark, but I know people who are .  They talk about it being a crippling fear, fear of the unknown.  Fear of falling, fear of something being in the dark , that can hurt you.  So really, it's not necessarily about the dark itself, but what can happen to you, and be in, the dark.  Jesus talks quite a bit about the dark in His messages.  In John chapter 3 verse 19, Jesus says ,  "And this is the condemnation , that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. "  And in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 6 Paul tells us this, "For God , who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  "   In Genesis God said , "Let there be light, and there was light."  And perhaps the most powerful of all Scriptures, to those in dark times, and in dark places........John chapter 8 verse 12, "Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  What a wonderful promise!  Does this mean I will never have dark times?  Will I never again struggle with fear?  No!  But this promise does mean , I WILL NEVER WALK ALONE! So when I am in that dark tunnel,  I don't have to stride down and light it myself, Jesus is right beside me , and He is the light!  I don't have to be afraid of the dark, because He holds my hand and walks with me.  I can use this knowledge and this promise, to make it out of the tunnel, and back to the land of the living! 

Here's to never walking alone ~ Ruby Jeanette

Row Your Own Boat~

Okay.  I have a question.  If you are accusing someone of "judging"  you, and saying they are a bad person because of it,  aren't YOU judging them?  Should we even make comments about other people and their actions?  I guess I'm confused as to the appropriate place to say things about others.  I was always taught that if you didn't have anything nice to say, then NOT to say anything, and that GOD is our judge.  But people seem to be using FaceBook as a platform to say all kinds of things, and then they use the "GOD is my judge " statement to make what they are saying okay.  I think the world would be a whole lot better if maybe we kept more of our opinions to ourselves.  And if you wouldn't say it to a person's face, then don't say it on FB.  Just a thought!

Water for life~

It was so wonderful to feel the rain yesterday!  It has been so dry here, it seemed as if it would never rain again.  Drought is never good, but in the summer it seems even worse, with the heat, and everything just ends up crunchy and brown.  All of the grass and trees, people's gardens and haymeadows, it all looks really sad.  I know it makes it hard on the farmers and ranchers, too, because they won't have enough hay to feed their cows through the winter and will have to buy it elsewhere.  Of course, Texas has had all those wildfires , so not sure if people can buy hay from there, either.  I know I complain sometimes about the rain, (it's terrible on arthritic joints), but I would never wish for it to NOT rain.  I got to thinking about the drought in the Old Testament, during the time of Ahab.  I'm not sure how long it lasted, the Bible says years,  and many days.  We've done without rain for a few weeks, and we've experienced lots of difficulties because of it. Not sure how we'd deal with YEARS without rain.  Of course, I thought it was kind of ironic that Ahab asked Elijah if it was "he" who troubled Israel?,  as if the fact that Ahab doing more evil and wickedness than any other king had nothing to do with it!  I don't think we were having drought as punishment necessarily, but it does get your attention doesn't it?  We all know water is a necessity of life, but we sometimes take it for granted I think.  I hope it continues to rain , for a couple more days anyway, and I 'm promising myself, I'm not complaining about it anymore! 

Here's to showers and sprinkles! ~ Ruby Jeanette

Fair Time ! ~

Well, it's that time of year again.  County fair time.  I love the fair!  It's always so much fun to go, and see the parade, and exhibits.  My favorite is all of the art entries.  I didn't get my heinie in gear this year and draw anything to enter.  I got a third place last year, and  a first prize year before last, but have just been too busy to really have free time to draw and do it right.  I belong to EH too, and usually my project with the club involves helping to design the fair booth for our club.  Last year the theme was Country Roots, and Cowboy Boots. Our design won best in show! This year our theme is Pig Squeals, and Ferris Wheels.  We worked on it last week, so I'm hoping it does well this year .  Here is a copy of the poem I wrote to use in our booth.........

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At the fair~

We've got pig squeals, and ferris wheels,
here at the Pike County fair.
We've got pink cotton candy, the exhibits are dandy,
and we hope to see you there.

The leaves are a ' fallin ',
the wild geese are   a ' callin ' ,
and the pumpkins lay bright on the ground.
To see Nature's bounty,  
just visit Pike County,
'  cause we've got the best around!


Ruby Jeanette

I am behind, behind , behind!  Aaaaaaarrrrrggggh!  Laundry, dishes, school, cooking, cleaning , taking care of sick husbands, paying the bills , buying groceries...................whew, breathe in, breathe out, lol!  I didn't really even realize it has been a week since I've posted anything new here.  Sometimes life seems to speed up faster than my body can go.  I always wondered , when women talk about "having it all", how do they manage it?  I manage, but it's by realizing that sometimes the laundry will pile up, or maybe the shelves won't get dusted today.  But, anyway.  Has everybody been enjoying the cooler weather?  I know I sure have been .  Something about the air in fall, it just makes you think about sweaters , boots, and pumpkins.  Of course , it also means the beginning of the holiday season.  You know after Halloween , it's Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year's...........whew, breathe in, breathe out.............It'll all iron out fine, and if it's not perfect,  I'm doing my best anyway!  Have a great day everyone!

Which Will You Be?~

Today's post is dedicated to my aunts, Lola and Rachael.  They have both been such an inspiration to me in my life, and the choices I have made.  These are my mom's sisters, and they are super-special people to me.  They have both experienced many hardships in life, but still manage to keep their eyes focused on the Lord, and stay positive in the face of great trial. My aunt Lola said to my mom, just yesterday that she is not going to be a , "P-P-P".  What is that, you ask?  Well, my aunt says it means "Poor-Pitiful-Pearl".  In other words, are you throwing yourself a pity party?  Is your outlook, poor-pitiful-me, how did my life get this way?  I thought about what she was saying and decided there could be two types of "P-P-P".  Poor -Pitiful-Pearl, and "Positive-Prayerful-Person".  I have great compassion for people with chronic illness , as this is the situation I am in.  I understand the toll, that dealing with an everyday physical ailment, and near constant bodily pain , can cause on your mind , and emotions.  I have sympathy to others who are maybe in even worse shape than I am in. This has become my life, and this has become what I understand. I can not go the places I would always like to go.  I do not have the energy to clean my house the way I wish that it was.  I can not even spend time doing my favorite activities, with my family.  I take many medications, which the doctors say will keep me alive a little while longer.  Why am I telling you this, you ask?  Because , despite ALL these things, I REFUSE to become a "Poor-Pitiful-Pearl'!  God has granted me THIS moment, THIS time, THIS body.  I refuse to give in to the negativity that the world would heap on me , saying , "You've been dealt such a hard hand.  You deserve to be bitter."  I REFUSE to make life any harder by griping about how awful all this is!  Yes, it's not fair.  Yes, I wish I were healed right this instant, and that life was all sunshine and roses.  But, I AM going to be a "Positive-Prayerful- Person" , despite the circumstances!  Besides , if THIS life were perfect, how many of us would long for Heaven?  I 've got a place so much better than here , to spend my eternity, and I'm  not going to waste one minute of ANY of the life I've been given , here, or there!  So..........which of the "3 P's" will you be?  Will you be a "Poor -Pitiful-Pearl", or a "Positive-Prayerful-Person"?  I 've made my choice today!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me~ Philippians 4:13