The Royal Family Diaries

Happy Birthday Shannon!

2009-12-27T05:58:00.000-08:00

I believe....that DEEP down inside.....every mother wants a mini-me. I was no exception. In fact, I just knew I HAD to have a daughter. And I would name her Shannon, after my very best friend in 4th grade. Her name was Shannon White. She was only here for a year, but we were buddies, and I loved her. Fast forward 15 years or so, and I am pregnant with what will be my third & final baby. Oh how I prayed for a little girl. I even 'bartered' with God, if you can believe that! Of course, I didn't know Him then, and in my 'ignorance' I thought that if I made a deal with Him, He'd give me my little girl. I needn't have worried. He gave me my daughter because she was predestined to be. And every day I am SO thankful for her.

Shannon was 6 weeks early. I entered the hospital on Christmas Eve morning, in preterm labor. She was born 3 1/2 days later, after an entirely PAIN FREE labor. No epidural, no nothing except the medication that tried to stop labor. People can't believe that I had a pain free labor, especially a labor that lasted 3 1/2 days. It's true. She was born at 4:34pm, a healthy 5lbs 9oz, 17in long. A beautiful little girl with a head of light brown hair.

She was a good baby with a, shall we say, strong will...LOL...a strong will that has carried her through some difficult times in her life.

She was an excellent student, loved by her classmates and teacher alike. And then, in 2000, the inevitable happened. She left home to go to Bible College. My heart was broken. For 6 weeks, every time I'd go into her room for something, I'd break down & cry. My baby was no longer a baby, nor was she living at home anymore. We were empty nesters. We adjusted.

In 2004 She called me. 'Mom, I'm coming home'. That was like music to my ears! We made plans and rented a U-haul to go up to Orange County and bring our girl home, well, back to Ramona. In the years that she was gone, she grew even more independent than she was when she left home. For the first year or 2 after she came home, it was a real struggle for her. She worked 2 jobs just to try to stay afloat. But not once did I ever hear the words "I can't do this any more" spoken from her. It was quite the opposite. Her faith remained strong, and God blessed her 3 years ago with a job that she loves, helping people.

Shannon, I admire and respect you SO much. I have watched you blossom from a tiny little girl into the strong, independent woman that you are today. Your faith inspires me. Your determination assures me that you'll be okay. You're not 'needy', and that in itself is an answered prayer. You have such a caring and giving heart, and when you love, you love with your entire being. People who have you in their lives are blessed indeed. I am SO very proud that you are my daughter.

Happy Birthday Honey. I love you so much. May your day be as wonderful as you.

Love Mom

Happy Birthday Jessica!

2009-11-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

She's 29 again ;)

Jessica-our very special birthday 'girl'. Such a vital part of our family. From Day One she just fit right in.

Jessica is beautiful. She's smart. She's funny. And she's there when we need her. To be honest with you, I wasn't sure that Jimmy was going to find someone perfect for him. I'm glad I was wrong! Jess once told me, 'I'm not perfect, and Jimmy's not perfect, but somehow we fit perfectly together.' And they do.

It's been a rough 18 months or so for her. Between planning their wedding, then Jimmy & her both being injured and both having to have surgery, then finding out that the house they were renting was being sold right out from under them, not to mention the drama that daily life can bring, Jess has managed to take everything in stride and keep her attitude right. I admire her strength in the face of adversity. I'm SO not that way.

She's a wonderful cook, and has actually gotten her husband to eat some things that he wouldn't touch before he met her. She's the best step mom ever to Alissa & Justen. She truly loves them and cares for them, and it shows.

She's a wonderful daughter-in-law. I've told you before how blessed I am that she & Katie are members of our family. I still stand by that statement, and I know that'll be the case for decades to come.

This week she and Jimmy are heading off to Vegas baby! A long-awaited and VERY deserved few days away. A belated mini honeymoon, and much-needed R & R. I hope you guys have a blast! Don't worry about your 'boys'. Grandma will take good care of the grand dogs :)

I love you Jess....Happy Birthday Honey....

Mom

Bates, Baking, and Birthday

2009-10-25T11:11:00.001-07:00

All I can say is that all of us had a WONDERFUL time yesterday! The weather was perfect. This year Jared joined us for the 1st time, and Peyton had her very 1st pony ride, assisted by her cousin Alissa. Then it was back to Brian & Katie's for a fun-filled afternoon of baking, pumpkin carving, laughter, and LOTS of eating. Ahhh...does life get any better? We ended the day by celebrating Jim/Dad/Grandpa's birthday (a little early).

So many times I've asked the Lord what I've done to deserve such a wonderful family. I think I'll quit asking, and just continue to bask in His blessing, that is otherwise known as my family.

I am blessed beyond measure.

Thank You, Lord.

Happy Anniversary Jimmy & Jessica!

2009-09-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it. First off that it's been over 3 months since I last blogged.

Secondly, that Jimmy & Jess' 1st wedding anniversary is here already! Tomorrow is actually 'the day' but while things are fresh in my mind, I blog.

I am learning, that as a parent, I never stop learning. Make sense? It should! Every chapter of your child's life brings a new learning experience. There also comes a time when each child grows up, and you, as a parent, must 'let go'. That's been hard for me, because I always felt that as their mom, I knew what was best for them! But I continue to learn that you hold your adult children in the palm of your OPEN hand. You let them make their own decisions, their own mistakes, and their own life. You are ALWAYS there, whether to encourage, advise, or pick up the pieces of a broken heart. That's what parents of adult children do.

About 3 years ago Jimmy came to us & told us he'd found 'someone special'. I thought he was either crazy, or on the rebound from the long term relationship he'd just come out of. 'Back off mom' I told myself, 'and see where it goes'. So I did. A few weeks later we met Jessica. We were having a family get-together and I'd told him he was welcome to invite her up. Well, she fit right in-and that's where she's been ever since. A little later down the road I asked him the same question I'd asked Brian before he proposed to Katie. 'Is this woman someone you can see yourself making a life with, having a family with, and growing old with?' And Jimmy said 'Yes, absolutely mom. NO doubt whatsoever.' That was good enough for me! So he took her up to the mountains and proposed at sunset. We all had a part in helping them with their wedding, which was beautiful. A year ago tomorrow. Wow-time has just flown by. Jimmy & Jess have had a rough first year. A few days after the wedding,Jimmy got hurt and had to have surgery. A few months later (earlier this year) Jess got hurt and had to have surgery. Then a few months ago the owners of the house they were renting decided to sell-and not tell them! However, the property manager convinced the owners that they legally HAD to tell Jimmy & Jess, so they did. Jimmy & Jess decided to not wait till the last minute, then try to scramble to find another house, and they found their current house on the first try!

Jessica is a wonderful daughter-in-law. I am so blessed with her & Katie. Jess fits right in, always willing to lend a helping hand or a sympathetic ear.

I have never seen my son so at peace in a relationship. He & Jess compliment each other to a 'T'. She's perfect for him, and he for her. We love hanging out with them, because we know we'll be laughing more than anything.

I could go on & on (even more than I already have!), but I think you get the picture.

So, with that, I end this blog with a resounding Happy Anniversary Jimmy & Jessica! You are a special couple, and may you have a long and happy life, full of joy, laughter, and prosperity. I love both of you beyond words.

Mom

Happy Birthday Justen!

2009-07-09T07:33:00.000-07:00

I've lots to do today, but first up on my list is wishing our firstborn Grandson Justen the happiest birthday ever!

Justen can be defined in one word. ~LOVE~. This child has the purest, most loving heart of anyone I know. Literally. Let's take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on the past 9 years. Has it REALLY been 9 years already? (Sigh), where did the time go?

Justen weighed in at a robust 8 pounds at birth. His was the first birth I'd witnessed, and let me tell you, there's just nothing like witnessing the birth of your own grandchild!

Despite a colicky start, he was a happy baby, well known for sending the entire family into peals of laughter with his giggles. Then came those deep baby belly laughs, and more times than not, we'd all just 'lose it. Justen's laughter was indeed the BEST 'medicine' around!

Into toddler hood we go, and Justen has now earned the nickname 'Bulldozer'. And rightfully so! The child saw something he wanted, and off he went, in a straight shot. Didn't matter if there were any people or objects in his way-he bulldozed his way right through them! Our toes got stepped on countless times in this little boy's quest to conquer whatever it was he had his sights set on! We learned to pull our feet up FAST when Justen saw something he wanted!

At around age 2, he began having health issues. Many of you know that over the course of the last 7 years, I've sent out numerous prayer request emails on his behalf. Despite those issues, the one thing that has never changed with J-Dawg (another affectionate nickname, given to him by his Daddy), is his loving nature.

Justen wants to be loved. Period. He has NO other expectations of anyone, other than they love him. He's such a friendly little man who LOVES to show his love with lots & lots of hugs. He'd be a perfect Tanner Family member! LOL...

He is also big on compliments. I can't tell you how many times he's said to me, "Grandma, you're beautiful', or, "Grandma, you're my best friend', or, "Grandma, I love you'. Oh how my heart melts and does flip flops when he says things like that to me, because I know he is absolutely sincere in what he says. There is no purer heart.

The past few years have found Justen dealing with some very significant life changes. Several moves, and a new stepmom, and yet for the most part, he just takes everything in stride. Oh sure, he has his 'moments'. All kids do. And sometimes when he's feeling overwhelmed with everything going on in his life, he has a 'bad' day, but we're all learning how to deal with those 'bad' days. And we're thankful that the 'good' days outnumber the 'bad'.

J is a typical 9 year old. Loves to play with car/trucks/anything that allows you to get dirty without getting in trouble for it. He loves his doggies Kingston & Bailey, and loves riding his scooter across the street at the park. He's also held the Wii record in bowling until recently, when Jessica outscored him. Watching him bowl on the Wii is priceless! The kid doesn't aim...he has this special technique, all his own, and simply fires away. Gets a strike 9 times out of 10-it's SO funny to watch, and when he gets a strike, there's no hoopla from him. He simply grins, and hands the controller to the next person.

We are blessed beyond measure to have this child as a member of our family. He adds so much to our lives.

Happy Birthday Little Buddy! You are loved SO much more than you realize!

Happy Birthday To ME!

2009-05-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's MY turn. My birthday isn't really until tomorrow, but I have to write things down as I think of them, or they'll 'poof' from my brain...

I'm 52. Never had a problem with revealing my age. It's only a number. Well, maybe not....SOME days I wake up and feel about 90! The body just isn't 18 anymore, and never lets me forget that fact! LOL....give me an hour out of bed and I'm as good as...well...a 52-year-old!

There's not much to tell about me really. Born in the Pacific Northwest (near Portland, OR), the 6th of 7 children. Moved to Ramona at age 5, where I've been ever since. Met & married Jim here, raised my kids here...I guess it's all about Ramona, huh? :)

I was the proverbial 'goody-two-shoes'. My mom, being a single mom of 7, HAD to be strict, and it just wasn't worth it to 'screw up'. So many good childhood memories in Ramona. Back then, in the mid 60's, the population here was around 5,000. You knew just about everyone you met on the street. Two tiny grocery stores, and you knew the owners....and their kids too! Walks with mama down Main Street at 9 o'oclock on a warm summer evening. Kid brother David checking each pay phone as we passed by, hoping for success in finding a shiny coin. That kid was lucky! Sleeping with doors and windows WIDE open on a hot summer night. No fear of crime-this town was safe! ONE Sheriff. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. Great guy! Playing in the middle of the street, with no fear of being run down by a 'speeder'.....long bike rides on summer days, just David and me, all over Ramona. Mom wasn't worried. We were safe. Playing on the school grounds was fun, especially the ball courts. They're gone now. Trick or Treating-ALONE, and again, no fear of harm. You knew everyone who's house you went to. Ice cream cones at the Jolly Cone-a friend was the owner. Mananas is there now. A special treat was dinner at the Ranch Drive-In...El Ranchita is there now. SO many memories. How I LOVE yesteryear, when life was so simple, innocent, and uncomplicated. I'd go back in a heartbeat, just to relive the wonderful times.

I married Jim just shy of my 17th birthday. That was 'acceptable' back then-wasn't unusual at all. At the time, there were those who gave us MAYBE 5 years. It's been 35. Guess we showed them, huh? I was blessed to be a stay-at-home-mom. Shannon was in 2nd grade before I got my first job. It was perfect. The kids were in school from 8-2, and my job was from 9-1. Eventually, of course, each child grew up and left 'home', but there was usually a family member to take their place in the empty bedroom, and on occasion, each child has moved back 'home' for a period. Our last 'chick' to leave the 'nest', was my niece Julie, 2 years ago. She lived with us briefly until she met & married her hubby Jeremy. It took some getting used to, this 'empty nest'. I've loved having everyone here, but now I'm used to it.

The past few years have been a season of discovering who PENNY is. Now, what I'm about to say is true, but in NO way am I speaking regretfully. I wouldn't change what I've done. See, when I got married, and had my kids, I kind of put MY wants and needs on the back burner. I kind of lost sight as to who I was, and what MY purpose in life is. I've always been very family-oriented. Family has ALWAYS come first, no matter what. Jim & I had SO much fun being involved with our kids. Sports, music, whatever, we always did things as a family. I instilled in my children that your family comes above all others, and I am proud to say that they took heart, and that's exactly how things are.

But now....it's just Jim & me. As I reflect on the past 52 years, I have to ask myself, 'what have I accomplished, and where do I go from here?' Well, in answer to question #1....there are 3+answers: Jimmy, Brian, & Shannon, their spouses and their children. This is by far my greatest accomplishment. If I accomplish nothing else in this life, I can die today knowing that some of the most wonderful human beings on this earth share my DNA, and that I was blessed by their births.

I have found my role in life it seems. The role of servant hood-and I mean that in the most respectful way. I care for people. My calling came a LONG time ago-about 30 years ago to be exact, when I started caring for my ailing mom. Out of 7 siblings, I was the only one left in Ramona, so I just did what I had to do, and didn't think twice about it. I've cared for others as well, and there's no greater satisfaction than knowing you helped make someone final years happy and easier. And loved.

So, here I am. 52. A 'Golden Girl'. Still wondering who I really am, and what it is that my heart desires. I guess I really needn't worry about WHO I am, or what I want. I am a child of God, and He will help me along the path of self discovery. I am a work in progress. I think I'll just sit back, enjoy the 'ride of life', and take each day as it comes.

So, that's it. Just a small portion of my story. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed reliving it. Maybe I should write a book, hmmm???

Until next time~God Bless~

Happy Birthday Brian!

2009-05-07T11:30:00.001-07:00

Due to family emergencies and illnesses, this blog is late.

My son Brian turned 31 on Tuesday. Let me tell you, in THIS mom's words, about Brian.

We almost didn't have him. He wasn't breathing when he was born. I never heard his first cry, nor did I see him until he was about 5 hours old. Talk about a freaked out mama! So freaked out that I got out of bed without permission, and told Jim if HE didn't take me to the nursery RIGHT NOW, I'd go by myself. So we went, and as we walked through the nursery doors, I passed out. Too soon after giving birth to be out of bed, but my baby boy needed me, and come hell or high water I was going to be with him! He'd swallowed amniotic fluid just before he crowned, and his lungs were full, and infection set in. He was in NICU for 2 weeks. There's nothing harder than leaving the hospital with empty arms.

I also had a 3 year old at home. Jimmy was so excited about having a baby brother, and so crushed when we came home without Brian. He literally sobbed, which, of course, made mommy join right in. It was tough. Spend the mornings with Jimmy, then head down to Mercy Hosp. and spend 4 or 5 hours with Brian, then head home in time to fix dinner and spend some quality time with Jimmy before he went to bed. We were exhausted, but the glorious homecoming day finally arrived, and we brought our precious son home!

Brian was a very mellow and good-natured baby. But boy, could that kid EAT! Wow! I always said I felt sorry for the women who married my sons, because their grocery bills would be astronomical! LOL...I think they've finally tapered off. No matter, I don't have to feed them anymore! LOL...Brian also liked to stick things where they don't belong. First time was a rock up his nostril. The dang thing was bigger than his nostril, and even the Dr couldn't figure out how he got it up there! The 2nd time was about 2 months later. A candy corn in his ear-that one was a false alarm, but we didn't know that until the ER visit, at which time the nurse asked me, 'Hey, isn't that the little guy that shoved a rock up his nose a couple of months ago?'...um...yeah.

Brian, at 22 months old, ran away from home. Not consciously, mind you. More like wandered away. I turned my back for 30 seconds (which was about 29 seconds too long) and poof-GONE. My mother lived up the street, so all I could think of was that since we'd walked the street dozens of times, maybe he headed up that way. I stuck 5 year old Jimmy in the doorway of our apt. with the instructions, 'if you see Brian, you grab him and drag him in here and do NOT let him out!'...there is no greater pain than not knowing where your baby is.....horrible, awful thoughts ran through my head: 'he's so little, there's NO way a car could see him over the hood! We're 1 block from Main Street! Oh dear God, PLEASE help me find my baby NOW!!!' I RAN (and for those of you who really know me, you know that I do NOT run) up towards mom's house. No Brian. Headed back for home to call the Sheriff, when something made me turn my head towards the fire station, which was then on 9th Street, and lo and behold, here comes our friend Bill-a firefighter-headed my way, with a smiling, tow-headed little boy named Brian-happily on his hip! I didn't know whether to hug him or beat him! I chose the former...LOL...I should've known then that that would be Brian's calling in life.

Fast forward 16 years or so. Brian is 18, and invites mom to lunch. While sitting there, he says, 'Mom, I believe God has called me to be a firefighter.' It was then that I handed Brian over to God and said, 'Lord, if you've called Brian to this career, I place him in Your hands, and I trust YOU to take care of him.' And He has. Brian's been in some pretty hairy situations, and yet, I don't fear for him, because I know he is safely in the palm of the Lord's Hand.

Brian has always been so good with kids. Always wanted kids. His dream was realized when he met and married Katie, and then just 16 months ago became a proud daddy to Peyton Marie.
To watch my son with his child is amazing. He's such a good daddy. Loving, patient, attentive. He's what good daddies are made of. He's what good husbands are made of. he's what good sons are made of.

I am so blessed to have the 2 best sons in the world. Brian, like his big brother Jimmy, cares deeply about his parents and siblings, and his closest friends. He's always there with a helping hand, a word of advice, and a hug of encouragement. I am beyond proud to call him my son.

Happy Birthday Brian. I love you.
Mom

Penny's Excellent Adventure

2009-04-28T19:06:00.001-07:00

Forget Bill & Ted's excellent adventure....this is about MY excellent adventure!

I did something I've never done before-I went on a long road trip, all by myself. People seemed surprised when I told them I was going to AZ alone to see my niece and her family. I guess it surprised me that others were surprised. I mean, it's not like I'm 92 and doing this...LOL...but anyway, I needed to do this to prove something to myself: that I CAN do things like this. Call me crazy, but I just felt like I needed to do something for myself, and this was it. So sit back and read on:

Saturday morning, 7:15am, I am on my way...whoo-hoo! Pop in a worship CD, and I'm good for the long haul! Hit some sprinkles in Alpine and points east, then wind. LOTS of wind. HARD wind. The kind that makes you white-knuckle your steering wheel so that you don't go flying where you shouldn't go. What a trip! LOL....Up & over the mountains, and down into the Imperial Valley, and the winds picked up, and remained for my entire trip.

I was headed I-8 East....and was to pick up I-10 east, and go to 587 North to get to Willow & Kevin's. Got the first two right anyway. Didn't know that the 587 exits on the LEFT of the freeway, so there I am, cruising along, looking for Hwy 587 North....never did find it, but an hour & a half later, after cruising the freeways of Tucson, I decided to give Kevin a call, because by that point I was 99.9% sure I'd gone to far. But before I could call him, he called me. By now it's 2pm, about an hour or so since I SHOULD have arrived at their house...

K: Hi Aunt Penny, it's Kev...where are you?
P: Hey Kev, I was just about to call you! Ummm....I'm on 10 East still...at Exit 294...I think I went too far Kev, I just drove through Tuscon.
K: Ohhh Aunt Penny, yep, I think you went ALOT too far! Can you turn around somewhere?
P: Yep, I'll get off at this next exit and head west again...what Exit do I want for your place?
K: You want 587 North, and it's just down the road from where you picked up the 10 from the 8...I'll check in with you in a few.
P:Ok got it...

20 minutes later:

K:Hey Aunt Penny, it's Kev again....you want Exit 175 or 177-it'll also say 587 North...
P: Wow! I went a LONG way past where I should've been! Ok hon I'll see you soon!

Long story short, I went roughly 3 hours round trip out of my way to get there, and a total of 10 hours driving time on what should have been a 6.5-7 hr drive, but I made it!

Had a wonderful time with Willow and the family. Everyone was so attentive and gracious, and I loved the time I spent with them.

I left at 6:30 this morning to head for home, and THIS time I got on the RIGHT freeway the FIRST time...LOL...a fairly uneventful drive, but oh the winds! Once I got back into CA they picked up and I again found myself white-knuckling the steering wheel-it was incredible! Hit a sandstorm, and was SO glad I had the van closed up tight!

Got in about 2:00 this afternoon, and am now unpacked, settled, and back to 'normal', whatever that is...

I'd write more, but I think you get the picture. Will definitely do this again-it was fun! BUT....

It's good to be home.

Bit By Bit

2009-04-15T04:53:00.001-07:00

Most people have a favorite room or spot in their house. Mine is OUTside. This is my swing. It was a gift from Jim's dad after we moved here 11 years ago. While sitting on my swing, I have laughed, cried, prayed, thought, talked on the phone and rocked all of my grand babies.

It looks alot different than it used to. We recently extended the brick out to the side to give us more room for family bbq's. There used to be honeysuckle all over the frame. Honeysuckle is nice, IF it stays green and lush year-round. Mine doesn't, so it went bye-bye. Eventually we want to put a patio table and chairs out here so that we can enjoy warm summer evenings in the fresh air.

This picture was taken not long after the sun came up. I love it. We still have many plans for this little area, and we're getting there....bit by bit.

Happy Birthday Alissa!

2009-04-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

April 6, 1998. 3:09am. Bleary-eyed relatives waiting in a tiny hospital waiting room. Actually, the waiting had begun 3 days earlier, when mom started having contractions. But this was the REAL thing. Auntie Lori burst into the waiting room. 'It's a girl!' Alissa Renae! 7lbs 12oz. Around 19.5 in. long. She was beautiful. Our first grandchild/first granddaughter. Born on our 24th wedding anniversary.

Alissa came into my life at a time when I needed something positive to pour my heart & soul into. I had been taken out of the workforce by a job-related injury, and my mother's ovarian cancer had metastasized. My kids were grown. Well, Shannon was a senior in high school, but pretty much grown up. I felt like no one really 'needed' me. Alissa was that shining star during the darkest of times.

I started babysitting Lissy when she was 6 months old. Daddy would drop her off about 6am, and mommy would pick her up about 4pm, so we had the whole day together. What a joy she was! A beautiful little blond-hair-blue-eyed princess. SO pretty, in fact, that I literally got stopped in stores and parking lots by people telling me what a beautiful baby I had! Of course, I corrected them right away, telling them she is my granddaughter, but oh, those buttons on my shirt nearly burst with pride. And talk about a good and easy baby!

Our days typically began quietly, then got busier as the hours went by. First was breakfast, then a short nap. Time for Teletubbies (her favorite!), Clifford The Big Red Dog, Blues Clues, and of course, Zoobomafoo (sp?)...morning snack, then off to go check on great-grandma, or take her down the hill for radiation. Lunch, then a nap, and then time for Grandpa to come home from work, which meant MAJOR playtime! She even, at a year old, helped Grandpa put in 'her' yard-right out there 'working' side-by-side with Papa, and getting just as dirty!

Lesa quit working about a week before Justen was born, so I had Liss over a year and a half, She was literally a God-send, and helped keep me sane during my mother's final months, and beyond.

I know she doesn't remember any of this, but we share a very special bond. I thank God for her. She was my 'saving grace'. Now she's 11. It's so hard to believe, but it's been such a joy and a blessing watching her grow and evolve into the beautiful young person she is today. I know she has a bright and happy future, and I am eager to share it with her!

Happy Birthday Alissa. Grandma loves you more than you'll ever know.

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

2009-03-23T18:33:00.001-07:00

I have made it my goal to blog about each one of my family members on their birthdays. I hope you enjoy reading my trips down Memory Lane as much as I enjoy writing them.

My firstborn, James Robert King. Born at UCSD Medical Center in San Diego, CA. on March 24, 1975, at 5:38pm. 6lbs. 15oz. 18.5in. Named for Daddy, and Uncle John. My baby. 18.5 LONG hours of labor...LOL...every mom has a 'labor' story. I'll spare you the details.

Jimmy was a happy baby, for the most part. By the time he was 2, I figured I'd pretty much marred him for life. He was my 'trial and error' baby. The first one always is. He's the one whose piece of fingertip I cut off while trimming his nails with the baby 'safety' clippers. From then on I BIT my babies' nails....no more clippers for THIS mama!

I wanted to be a good mommy, so I decided to use cloth diapers. That's what we did WAY back then. It's a NASTY way to go, let me tell ya! But, nevertheless, I rinsed, soaked, scrubbed and bleached those little nappies so my baby would have sparkling white diapers. No one told me that poop STAINS! Ah well...I gave it a go anyway. Until I pinned him to his diaper. He was screaming, and I'm thinking, 'what is wrong with you child??! I just fed you, burped you, bathed you, and gave you a clean diaper, and you're screaming???' So, I decided to check his diaper, one more time, and discovered, to my utter horror, that I had pinned the poor little guy to his diaper! I don't know who cried harder, him or ME! We switched to Pampers. That's all we had back then, but it sure beat risking the chance of 'pinning' him again!

Jimmy was a typical little boy, always running, jumping, climbing, and falling. In most of his professional portraits, he looks like a classic child abuse case...a black & blue bump, right in the middle of his forehead. Broken bones, sprains, lots of 'owies'...typical boy, all the way around.

I could go on about the teenage years, and even his 20's, but I prefer to talk about now. I am so incredibly proud of the man he has become. I love that I have such a special bond with him (as I do with my other 2 kids, but their turn is coming in later blogs), and I can call him with a need, and he's right there. He's always been there for his dad and me. He made the wisest choice ever in his choice for a bride. He's a dad who loves his kids passionately, and will stop at nothing to ensure their well being. He's a brother who's best friends are his brother and sister. He's a friend who is there in good times and bad. He's a man who takes his job seriously, never afraid to go that 'extra mile' if need be. He's had some hard knocks in life, and has learned from each of them, and he is a better man because of those 'knocks'. He appreciates what he's been given, and teaches his kids to appreciate too. He strives to be a good role model for his kids, holding himself accountable, and telling his kids to hold him accountable too. He's a wonderful daddy.

Husband, daddy, brother, cousin, friend, uncle....and son. Awesome man, and one that I am proud to call MY son.

Happy Birthday Jimmy. I love you.
Mom

Spring Is In The Air

2009-03-08T15:54:00.000-07:00

Ahhh Spring.... How I love the new life 'springing' up all around me!

I know that technically, Spring doesn't arrive until March 20th. But convince the flowers, trees, bushes, and lawns that are already springing forth with new life that Spring hasn't quite 'arrived' yet. My mulberry trees have got buds on them, that will soon to turn into huge, beautiful leaves, and producing sweet, tasty berries with which to feed the little birdies that have gone elsewhere in search of food for the winter.
My Texas Umbrella trees are blooming too. During the winter, I affectionately refer to them as 'my 20ft. twigs'. Soon they will provide shade to my living room, blocking out the hot summer sun. Adorned with delicate white flowers, they really are a beautiful tree.
My lawn, which has lain dormant for months, is now growing. It's fescue, and is green year-round, but I know that Spring is definitely in the air when the lawn needs a 'haircut', fertilizing, and bug spray, so that it'll be lush, cushy, and bug-free for grandchildren to play on during the warm summer months.
I just got my propane tank filled for our gas BBQ grill-another sign that Spring is, indeed, in the air. Soon, the grill will come alive with chicken, carne asada, spareribs and other yummy summer BBQ-type meats, as the family once again gathers at mom & dad's for a meal together. Sweet times they are! Daylight Saving Time-another indication that Spring is here. I love DST....ok so it's still dark in the early morning hours, but hey, it's still LIGHT at 8pm! I love it when we decide to take a stroll after a hot day, and it's still light out enough to feel safe. Yep, a nice walk, then a quick stop at Mickey D's for a soft-serve cone to enjoy on the stroll home....gotta love it!

Driving around town, I see so much new life, and it gives me hope. Welcome Spring, I've missed you!

Happy Birthday Katie!

2009-03-05T10:17:00.000-08:00

Today is a VERY special lady's birthday! 'Our' Katie!

Ok, so, I should have posted this blog a couple of weeks ago, but time got away from me, and....well, you know how it goes.

Rewind almost 4 years. Brian is leaving for Ione, off to the Fire Academy for Engineers. He's at an all-time low, and is definitely 'down on women' in his words. Of course my thoughts and prayers are with him. When your kid is hurting, you're hurting too.

Fast forward 6 weeks or so. Brian is home for memorial Day weekend. He & I are chatting in the kitchen, and I ask him if the rumors I'm hearing through the family grapevine are true. That he's met someone. My first thought is to take that guy and shake him till his teeth rattle! What IS he....CRAZY??? THIS soon? After what he's been through??? He 'confesses'. Now, my kids can attest to this next statement. My boys especially. I'm point blank with them. 'Brian, is this woman someone you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with? Someone to have a family with, and grow old with?' Without one iota of hesitation, he says, 'Yes Mom, she is. She's the one'. Good enough for me, but I still want to meet the young woman who has unequivocally captured my son's heart.

Katie came down a short while later to visit Brian, and Brian had cautioned us that Katie was on the shy side, and not to be too upset if she wasn't real social. Are we talking about the same girl here Brian? He brought her in, and she was like a missing puzzle piece to our family! She came in, sat down, and talked to us like she'd known us all her life. And that was just the beginning.

Katie has been a source of joy in our lives. She's the definition of what I, as a mom, wanted in a wife for my son. She is the definition of what I wanted in a mommy for my grandchildren. We look forward to many happy years with her....happy birthday honey. We love you so....

Rainy Day Blues

2009-02-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

It's a perfect time to whine. It's likely to be a 'downer', so you may want to stop reading right here. If not, don't say I didn't warn you...LOL...

It's ugly outside. Gray, rainy, dreary. Matches my mood today, and I'm in the mood to whine.

Seems like bad news comes in droves. In my last blog, I wrote about my grandson Justen, and what he's facing with the revelation of the DiGeorge syndrome.

Last Friday my entire family was blown away by the news of our niece Tracey's husband Tim's sudden and TOTALLY unexpected death. Not yet 40. Went into the hospital for minor surgery. Complications set in, but they were able to get over that 'hump'. Friday Tracey shows up at the hospital to pick Tim up, only to be ushered into a private room and told that her husband has died. We are stunned. Tracey is coping as best she can, and especially hard is the fact that their 3 tiny boys are left without a daddy. And the heart breaker is that Zachary, their 6 week old newborn, will never know his daddy. Funeral is tomorrow, and of course our thoughts are with them, back there in Kentucky. Tracey would like to come out here and spend awhile with her parents, once everything settles down. I think it'd do her a world of good to be surrounded by her family. 29 is WAAAY to young to be a widow! RIP Tim, you will be missed.

Adding insult to injury, is Jessica's plight. She was playing with one of the dogs last night. She slipped and fell on her knee. POP! NOT good. Jimmy took her to the ER, then to the Orthopedist today. The diagnosis: A torn ACL-we're 99% sure she'll have to have surgery. Poor thing, I feel SO bad for her.

This is where the 'mom' in me tends to kick into high gear. I have to keep reminding myself that my kids are grown, and fully capable of handling their own situations, but that certainly doesn't stop me from wanting to step in and 'fix' everything. I know I can't, but when one of my kids (in-laws/grandkids included) are hurt or need something, I just want to run to them and make everything all better. I want to gather them all under my wings, like a mother hen with her chicks, and protect them from the evils of the world. I guess one never quits being a mom-thank God for that! I can't imagine what would happen if I were forced to give up that role!

Work....ahhhh....well, it halfway didn't happen today. I went and took care of my first gal this morning, came home & had lunch, then left to take care of my afternoon gal. Turns out they didn't need me because her daughter was home, and they forgot to call me. So here I am. It is what it is. Maybe tomorrow will be better. One can hope.

Stay home today if you can, it's just nasty out there~

Justen

2009-02-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

By now most of you know the heartbreaking news about my 8 year old grandson Justen. He has a genetic chromosomal defect called DiGeorge Syndrome. It tricks one of the thyroid glands into thinking that the body doesn't need Calcium, therefore, robbing the body of this very important vitamin/mineral, whatever you call it. The repercussions can be very severe, from kidney damage, to bone damage, to heart problems, to name just a very few. Here is an excerpt from the email Jessica sent me, explaining more about the syndrome:

The specialist diagnosed Justen with Digeorge Syndrome. His developmental problems all these years don't appear to be from the anti-seizure medicine after all. Digeorge is genetic and something that affects you from birth. If you google it, you'll see it explains everything: the mild retardation, the hand cramps, the hearing and speech problems, the calcium deficiency and even some of his facial features. There is no cure, only treatments but they haven't actually figured out what to do with him yet. There is a treatment the doctor told Jimmy about but it's only meant for adults. Some kids have tried it but there have been no studies on the long term effects and so I don't know what we'll do. First step is to do more tests to see if there is any bone or kidney damage caused by the calcium deficiency going on so long without anyone knowing it. From here on, it's a matter of taking it day-by-day.

So, there you have it. But right now, I want to talk about Justen the little boy, not Justen the patient.

Justen's been a blessing right from birth. A healthy 8-pounder, he was, for the most part, a happy baby, aside from the wretched colic he suffered. His tiny little smile always lit up a room, and oh, that belly laugh of his would get us going EVERY time.

As he grew, so did his loving nature. He's always been such a lovebug, and still is! He's your typical 8 year old:very active, but never too busy to run up to Grandma and say 'I love you Grandma!', or 'Grandma, you're beautiful!'...ahhh...what a kid. Justen doesn't just have friends...he has BEST friends...LOL...most everyone is his 'best friend' and he never fails to tell them that.

As I mentioned earlier, Justen is active. Very active...LOL...if we could bottle his energy and sell it, we'd be rich! He loves to play with his dogs Kingston & Bailey. He likes to kick the ball around outside, although sometimes he gets a little carried away and needs to be reminded to 'settle down a little, buddy', and one of his 2 favorite pastimes is playing at the park across the street. His 2nd fave pastime is enjoying the title of 'Wii Bowling Champ'...yep, they have a Wii, and so far this little guy is an undefeated champ. It's an absolute riot to watch him 'bowl' on the Wii. He has his own style, and it earns him a strike 9 out of 10 times. We recently had a family night, and played Wii bowling, and everyone was just in stitches watching Justen do his thing. And yet Justen is in no way conceited or in-your-face. He simply bowls his strike, hands the controller to the next person, and walks away. It's amazing...LOL

He's got the biggest heart of anyone I know. He is so unassuming, and so undemanding, and simply wants to be loved. It's not unusual for him to drop what he's doing, and come give you a hug. Those are SOOO sweet. Daddy is his hero, and Jessica is his Velcro twin. He gravitates towards her, and a normal 'picture' is to see Jess sitting somewhere, and Justen curled up right next to her, if not in her lap. She's just the most wonderful stepmom to both kids, and someday they will realize how blessed they are to have her as their other mom.

So, as we deal with this recent development, we pray for wisdom and guidance on how to cope. Our prayer is that if there is any damage at all, it's minimal.

If you'd like to know more about DiGeorge Syndrome, you can google it. It's pretty comprehensive for MY thought process right now, so I keep refering back to it.

Please pray for our boy-he's so special to us.

We love you buddy.

T.G.I. OVER!!

2009-02-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

Thank GOD it's OVER! This past week felt like the week from hell. Both of my ladies had a bad week, and to top it off, Justen had to be rushed to the ER late Wed night for some health problems-he's ok now, thank God.

With this warm Santa Ana weather we've been having, there's always a price to pay. For me it's been allergies 24/7, and not much relief. Ah, but I SO love the temperatures, VERY welcome to me.

Uh-oh, weather change. This does NOT make my sinuses happy campers, so now on top of allergies, I have aching, miserable sinuses. Happens every time the barometric pressure changes.

Now, all of this combined with the drama that plagued me all stinkin' week long, it's no wonder that I woke up about 4am yesterday morning with the mother of all migraines. Yeesh, just great. I have SO much to do this weekend, and I do NOT have time for this. Fortunately, My migraines have dwindled over the years, and now only last a day or two, but boy oh boy...MAJOR pain. Anyone who has migraines on a regular basis knows exactly what I'm talking about.

But I need to get down the hill THIS weekend, or it'll be at least 2 more weeks before my schedule is free.....so off we go. First stop, Walmart, get what I need there, then off to Costco, and by the time we'd loaded 2 carts (spent a FORTUNE, but won't have to go back for 6 months! LOL), I told Jim, 'I've gotta get outta here, NOW'. By then I was going into 'inability to function' mode. Couldn't get outta there fast enough to suit me!

Got home and unloaded the van, made a quick trip to Kmart, then back home to fix dinner and get ready for our 'date night' to the movies with Alissa & Justen. By now my stomach has SERIOUS issues, and dinner was the LAST thing I wanted to smell...but I made it for them, and forced myself to eat a small helping, thinking that it'd maybe help settle the tummy some. WRONG. We left about 5:45 to head down to Escondido to the theatre. About halfway down the hill I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, I'm gonna lose my dinner.'...I grabbed a Dramamine that I'd wisely put in my purse, and took it with a sip of water, then focused on breathing in through my nose, and out through my mouth for the next 20 minutes or so, and by the time we got there, I was a tad better....BUT....now I had to 'GO'....oh cripes....I HATE 'going BIG' in a public restroom! Ok don't panic. Smart & Final is almost right next door, and they have a private little bathroom, so no worries. I ship Jim & the kids off to the box office and I head for Smart & Final...

About halfway through the movie 'Hotel For Dogs', which was a really cute movie, by the way, I started feeling better, and by the time we got back up the hill just after 9, I felt able to semi function, so I took the kids home & sat with them until Jimmy & Jess got home. Fortunately they came home soon, and i was home by 10.

Today, although still recovering, I am SO much better. Headache is 99% gone and I've gotten alot accomplished today.

We'll get results of Justen's blood work tomorrow too-and hopefully all that's wrong is a calcium deficiency that can be controlled with diet and calcium supplements, and he won't have any long-term effects from it...I'm praying for our little guy, as are alot of others.

Here's hoping that YOUR week is a good one!

Random Thoughts For A Sunday Afternoon

2009-02-01T12:02:00.001-08:00

It's been a couple of hard weeks since my last post. A season of testing, and I must have passed the 'test', because God has blessed me with another client. And the schedule is perfect, because I can still keep Mary Kay in addition to this new lady. I still have all day Tuesday as a 'me' day, something that I love, love, love, because it's a day for PENNY, and what PENNY wants/needs to do. And I have Thur. mornings and Fri. afternoons free as well, but ahhh, that Tuesday. We're not supposed to 'covet' things, so I try to keep an open mind about Tuesdays. I also like to do whatever shopping I have to do during the week, because, as we all know, weekends are NOT good for shopping....ANYWHERE.

Am I getting older, or what? Don't answer that! I already know the answer! LOL...yes, I AM getting older, but far from decrepit, so don't start looking for my nursing home just yet you guys! Seems like it takes me longer to get my 'motor' running in the mornings than it used to. I generally get up about 30 minutes before Jim does on workday mornings, because it seems I need 1 cuppa, plus a 'warm-up' to clear the cobwebs and start functioning in a somewhat 'normal' fashion. On the weekends, you will typically find me still burrowed down in my jammies and the absolutely wonderful robe & slippers that Jessica got me for Christmas. It's SO hard to pull myself together and get dressed and active...but, I need to get back into church, so I need to start some self-discipline here..

Did our taxes online the other night, and now eagerly awaiting our nice return. That return means a desperately needed new roof. Once the roof is replaced, I can focus on scrubbing/ painting the water spots off the ceiling in our bedroom. Oh that leak....RIGHT over our bed-UGH. Our bedroom is very small, and we have a king size bed, so only 2 ways to arrange this room, and BOTH ways puts the middle of the bed right smack in the center of the room, which is exactly where the leaking is! NOT good, and in fact, last winter we actually had to sleep in the guest room for a few nights until it stopped raining enough for Jim to go out & put some plastic sheeting over said leak. The cats, which are NOT allowed in the guest room at all, were NOT happy that mom & dad were in that 'other' room. No more worries, kitties, mama's gettin' a new roof!

Watched Pey last night for a few hours while Katie went shopping with the gift cards she got for Christmas. Boy, that lil squirt can MOVE! Grandpa and I spent 4 hours RUNNING after her, literally! LOL...see, we have an accordion door that closes off the living room from the rest of the house. Typically we put our ice chest in the doorway when Peyton's there. That we we can get in & out of the kitchen, but said baby girl can only go as far as the ice chest. The ice chest is still at Brian & Katie's from our Fantasy Football party Friday night, so we though, 'well gee, she doesn't usually offer to go into any of the other rooms, so we're sure it'll be fine'.....NOT! LOL...she went exploring....the family room, the laundry room, the guest bathroom, the kitchen, and anywhere else she managed to make it to before her grandparents managed to catch up to her. It was such a game for her. She had a blast, and so did we.

This next Sat., if I'm lucky, I'll get to have Alissa & Justen. Dad & Jess have plans, so they'll get to hang with Grandma. I haven't seen them in almost 3 weeks, and I need a grandkid fix. I miss them so much. I'm trying to think of interesting and fun things to so while they're here, so if you have any ideas, by all means let me know! Given their choice, Justen would plant his face in Nickelodeon, and Alissa would be right here on the computer, playing games...then they'd switch...Alissa to Animal Planet, and Justen to the computer for more games....I'd like to do something different.

Well, that about wraps it up for now. Nothing exciting, just what the title implies: Random Thoughts. Have a good week...God Bless~

Today is a good day for....

2009-01-17T11:11:00.000-08:00

Starting projects that have been on the back burner for some time now.

We painted our kitchen back in late 2000. About a year and a half ago, I noticed it needed some touch-ups. About the same time, I went back to work at the flower shop, and between that and taking care of Mary Kay, I was working 6 days a week, and certainly didn't feel like spending that coveted 7th day starting big projects.

Well, with the absolutely gorgeous weather we've been blessed with, I find myself this Saturday with nothing to do outside of the mundane, ho-hum everyday house work. I'm not in the mood for that. I'm in the mood to do something that you can actually SEE.

Jim's up in Riverside County today, and won't be home till later this afternoon, so after he left, and after sitting here for a couple of hours, I decided to get off my duff and actually get something accomplished.

So I pulled out my ever-faithful bucket, grabbed the Greased Lightening and TSP, and got busy scrubbing cupboards. Noticed a couple of needed repairs, so made them. Then got out the handy-dandy spackle and went to work. Took me a couple of hours to repair, scrub and spackle, but by gum I got it done, and now it's ready for that touch-up paint job.

Only drawback is that I have to wait 24 hours for the spackle to harden. Shucks, I'm in the mood to paint NOW...oh well, hopefully the mood will last, and I'll get it done tomorrow.

But for the rest of today, I will bask in the best weather in the world, and be thankful....

A Season Of Testing

2009-01-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

I guess that's where I am. The job I was supposed to have started last Thursday fell through. The husband was so depressed that his wife was in the hospital that he stopped eating/drinking/taking his meds, and ended up in the hospital himself. Meanwhile, the wife was doing really good, but in light of this turn of events, their daughter has decided to put them in an assisted living facility. So they no longer need me.
So, now not only am I back at square one, but I've also taken a hit in my hours with Mary Kay. She's doing SO well (That's a GOOD thing), that they don't need me as much as they did. My hours have been cut right about in half. NOT good news.
My Tuesdays & Thursdays are free for now. I still have to believe that God has a bigger and better plan for me. I'm focusing on keeping the faith.
The world tells me that things are bad, and that the prospects of a job coming my way are slim to none. But I serve a God who is WAY bigger than the world that I live in, so I keep reminding myself of the plans He has for me. Plans to prosper and not harm me, plans to give me hope and a future (Jer 29:11). It's hard in this, the eleventh hour, but still I hold out hope that He WILL provide ALL my needs, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
I'm hoping to post a praise report soon....until then, blessings to you~

Peyton's 1st Birthday Party

2009-01-10T18:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of Peyton's birthday party...towards the end she was so tired that she went into meltdown mode...LOL.. but she was SO good overall.

Happy birthday sweetie!

Our Precious Peyton

2009-01-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

I just read Auntie Shannon's blog, and decided to follow suit. Everyone has their own story about the day our beautiful little Peyton Marie King was born, one year ago tomorrow. Here's my story:

January 8th, 2008...Brian & Katie were supposed to be at the hospital around 7am for Katie's induction. I woke up around my usual 5am or so, and was enjoying a quiet waking up moment with my coffee. About 5:30am someone knocked on my door. I don't know about YOU, but when someone knocks at MY door at 5:30am, it can usually mean only one thing:bad news! I flipped on the light to see Brian & Katie there! Seems they had just left home for the hospital, and I can't remember if they'd called the hosp., or if the hosp. had called them, but at any rate, there was a delay. So since they didn't have to be to the hosp. until 9am, Brian had a cup of coffee with me, then he & Katie went back home to catch another hour or so nap before things started happening.

Jim & I left for the hosp. about 9am, knowing that there would be much to do on getting Katie settled in and the pitocin drip going, so no rush. We were geared up for the long haul. A change of clothes in the van for me, snacks, sodas, a blanket, and of course, my camera. We actually got up to her room around 10am, and she was already pretty uncomfortable, and dilated to about 4cm...about 10:30 Katie was very uncomfortable, and VERY politely called her nurse and said 'I think I'd like my epidural now please'...we always have a good laugh about that, because MOST women would be like 'gimme the %&*#@ drugs NOW!!!'...but not Katie. It's just not her nature to be anything but kind. Thats one of the things I love most about her. Anyway...Sandy (Katie's mom) and I decided around 11:30-ish to go down to the cafeteria and have lunch. We got back to her room about an hour or so later, and around 1pm Jim & Brian decided to go have a bite to eat. Not so fast Brian...all of a sudden Katie feel something happening, and feels like she needs to push! Call the nurse....ok. Nurse comes in, checks Katie. She's at 9 cm! So much for lunch Daddy-there's no time now! I get on the phone and call Shannon, who is up at Deer Springs Station visiting:

Mom;Hey Shan, where are you?

Shannon: Actually, I'm just getting of the 15 onto Pomerado Road. Why? What's up?

Mom: Umm...Katie's at 9 and about ready to push...

Shannon:Oh crap! And I'm stuck behind some old guy who's just cruisin' along!

Mom (Laughing): Ok well, just get here as quick as you can.

Apparently it wasn't TOO long till she got up to the room...and you can read HER account of how fast she got there on HER blog...LOL

So Katie starts pushing, and the nurse calls the Dr., who is in surgery, figuring that Katie, with a first pregnancy, will still go several more hours...NOT! Let me tell you something here: Katie was an absolute trooper! With Brian, Sandy and me coaching her on, we soon see the top of Peyton's blonde little head. Keep pushing honey, we can see her head! THEN...."Stop pushing Katie, the Dr isn't here yet" from the nurse. Now those of you who have had babies know that if someone tells you to stop pushing, well, that's almost an impossibility. I know from experience, but Katie, bless her heart, kicked it into high gear, and you could just see the focus on her face, and it was WORK, but she panted her way through another 20 minutes or so before the Dr finally arrived gave her the go-ahead to just pop this baby out. 5 hours, start to finish. Incredible.

Aw man, I cannot begin to tell you the joy of watching a grandchild enter the world. It was indescribable.

Peyton has been such a source of joy in our family, and it's still reeling that tomorrow she turns 1. She's not only beautiful, but she's got this GREAT little personality, and is now coming into her own, temper and all, and it is SO precious.

Happy, Happy Birthday our beloved Peyton! We love you beyond words.

P.S. Yes, she really IS as happy as her pictures show!

He Is Faithful.....

2009-01-06T18:15:00.000-08:00

Even when I am not.

I confess, these past few months I've been SO stressed about finances, and my faith has waned. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for today has enough problems of it's own. I forgot that Scripture passage. I've forgotten ALOT. I haven't been faithful to God. And yet, day by day, He STILL carries me. I can't tell you the last time I was in church. I miss it. But I go to church down the hill, and sometimes the money for gas just wasn't there.

But it will be now-God has provided me with another client to care for. Pretty much dropped her right in my lap. I sent out an email late last week, to most everyone I have email addresses for here in Ramona. My Cousin Kathy gave me the idea. She suggested that I email and ask the word to be passed along that I'm looking to pick up another client in addition to Mary Kay. Lo & behold, Saturday I received an email from a lady who works in a care management ministry here in town. I interviewed with her yesterday, and she hired me on the spot. She'd gotten my email forwarded to her by another Christian lady here in town that I'm familiar with, but don't really 'know'. That's how God's Family works-we all look out for each other. Another perfect example of His faithfulness.

So hopefully I'll start on Thur. I'll get more details tomorrow I'm sure. I'm not worried about details. That's God's job. He opened this door for me, so He'll provide the details that I need in time. I feel like a giant weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

In this care giving profession, especially with advanced aged folks, you pretty much live paycheck to paycheck, and you don't count on a paycheck until it is in your hot little hands, but for now, God knows what I need, and He's providing it.

The song 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' has been going through my mind today. With good reason. He is faithful....even when I am not.

Blessings~

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T18:08:00.000-08:00

Wow-time to start a new year huh? I know that alot of folks make New Year's Resolutions. The ONLY resolution that I make every year is to make NO resolutions. Half the time I can't remember what I resolved to do, and the other half of the time I fail. So it's just easier to say that I hope this is a better year than last year was, and I will strive to be the best Penny I can be.

Happy New Year everyone. God Bless and prosper each of you in 2009 and always.

P.S.....PLEASE don't drink & drive!

Back To Reality

2008-12-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Yep, the holidays are over. Time to get back to reality.

Reality reared it's ugly head awhile back, and gave me yet another reason to worry, although I try hard not to. I keep reminding myself to give everything to God, that He will take care of us....but for some reason, I keep taking everything I give Him back! Grrr!!

Our illustrious Governor, 'Uncle Arnie'-I call him that because I can't spell his last name-has said that if the federal government doesn't bail California out by February, state employees won't have a paycheck. Now, I don't know if this means ALL state employees, or just some. Jim is a state employee, once removed. His paycheck comes from the school district, who is funded, of course, by the state. I can't fathom how all state employees wouldn't receive a check, it just doesn't make sense, which means it probably won't happen.

And, of course, if Jim doesn't get a paycheck, well....well, I don't want to 'go there', because basically we'll be S.O.L....

So, I guess it's time for me to dig deeper for faith, because faith is the ONLY thing that will carry us ('us' meaning everyone) through these hard times. Time to quit freaking out about where the money is coming from to pay the bills, and time to quit losing sleep over things I have no control over. Time to lay EVERYTHING at the feet of Jesus. After all, He cares for me. He has plans to prosper me and not harm me. Plans for hope and a future.

Now THAT'S a reality check!

Blessings!

Holiday Fun

2008-12-29T18:59:00.000-08:00

Wow, hard to believe the holidays are over! We had our Christmas on Friday, and I wanted to share some pictures with you. A wonderful time was had by all, and the holiday was made more special because we were all together, and, of course, it was Peyton's first Christmas.

By the end of gift-unwrapping, she was going into meltdown mode, but after a nap, she was once again her wonderfully cheerful self. Alissa and Justen were thrilled with their gifts. We all made it a point to get them at least one thing on their lists, and the look of joy on their faces were priceless.

Once again, we feel so blessed, and we look forward to a Happy New Year~I hope your New Year is happy, healthy, and prosperous.

God Bless~

What I Forgot To Tell You....

2008-12-23T05:09:00.000-08:00

Is that winning 2nd place last night was nothing short of a miracle....

Jim has the light display on a timer. It goes on around 5-ish, and goes off around 9 or so. Well, last night they didn't go on at 5....or 5:15, so Jim went out to check. Remember a couple of blogs ago I told you that we've been having 'issues' with cords and lights and such....well, last night, of ALL nights, was no exception. No matter what he did, something kept tripping the breaker, and POOF-gone! Now, I am married to a man with a Type A personality. A Type A personality man who's been fighting a cold for several days, and in fact came home from work early yesterday because he felt like crap. Need I say more? After about 15 min. of fighting with the lights, he popped his cork, said some things that I cannot repeat, and stormed into the house, hands in the air, bellowing 'I'm DONE!'....

So I figured, 'Ok, that's that. We've had this display up & running every single night with no problems, and now, on the night of judging, we have nothing. Oh well.' I called the park manager & explained to her what we were battling, and she said if we couldn't get the lights to work she'd see if they could postpone the judging till Tue night. Then I saw Gary outside, and told him what was going on, and bless his heart, he offered to help Jim figure out what was going wrong, so the two of them worked steady for a good 20 minutes.

Voila! We found the problem! 1 stinkin' cord was tripping the whole thing-so we just left it unplugged (it belongs to a snowman). We got up & running at 6:25, and judging started at 6:30....by 6:45 we'd won 2nd place, and a $75 gift card to Stater Bros. (works for me!)....but it doesn't end there......

The light display took it's final bow at 7:02pm. Jim said 'It's out for the night.'

We think what happened is that something got too damp with all the rain we've been having. Jim had wrapped the cords tightly in plastic to protect them, and will check all cords today. The snowman has a brand new strand of lights on it, and yet that particular cord was the culprit.

Hopefully we'll be up & running tonight.....

2nd Place!

2008-12-22T19:16:00.000-08:00

We took 2nd in our park's Christmas decorating! We decorate because we want to, but hey, if someone wants to reward us, that's just the icing on the cake! Pics posed of our house, and of Peyton 'helping' Grandpa put the train together last week.

Our neighbor, Gary, affectionately known as 'the competition' took 1st-and he earned it. His display is beautiful as well!

Whoo-hoo! We're stoked! Stay dry!

Busy Weekend!

2008-12-21T17:47:00.001-08:00

Is it over already??

Seems like just yesterday it was Friday, and I was SO looking forward to the weekend. The hours have just flown by, but I did get so much accomplished. I am 100% DONE with Christmas shopping, and since we're not having our family Christmas till Friday, that gives me an extra couple of days to get everything wrapped....whew!

I spent most of today cleaning house, so at least it's 'presentable' now. Just a couple more 'touch-ups' and it'll be sparkly clean, just the way I like it. Okay, maybe not 'sparkly', but clean nonetheless. Enough to satisfy ME, and that's what counts, right? My motto is: 'Clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy'. Another cute little ditty in closing:

Although you'll find my house a mess;
Come in, sit down, converse.

It doesn't always look like this;
Some days it's even worse!

Have a good week everyone, and be careful in the rain!

Blessings~

In....Out....DONE!

2008-12-20T14:01:00.000-08:00

That was the story of my Christmas shopping this year. I just started yesterday...took about an hour. Then I set out for points 'down the hill' to finish up. Left home just before 9am and was home at noon-I am SO proud of myself. I cannot get over how quick all the shopping was for me-I'm amazed!

With the exception of 1 more Christmas gift that I can get up here, and 1 more birthday present, my holiday shopping is complete. We drew names this year, and in light of the fact that I didn't have alot of people to buy for, I decided that instead of the traditional gift cards, I'd buy actual presents.

It was fun shopping for the grandkids yesterday. I went armed with their lists, and pretty much went right to what they wanted. And the clincher was that everything is massively on sale, so I saved a bundle!

Today was pretty much the same story. I was gone about 3 hours, but roughly half the time was spent on the road. Traffic? No problem. Parking? No problem. Large crowds? No problem. Costco was pretty busy, but even at that I wasn't in there more than about 20 minutes, so I really can't complain.

I am SO done-at least for today. Still one more gift to get (a gift card to Denny's for Mary Kay & Lee) and a birthday present for Princess Peyton, but those things can wait for now.

Time to relax!

A Bittersweet Christmas

2008-12-16T17:32:00.000-08:00

Bittersweet......that's what Christmas is for me this year. I've been avoiding the term. But I can't anymore. It's too real. Bear with me through the 'bitter'. The 'sweet' is way better.

The bitter part is that this is the first Christmas without my beloved sister-in-law Julie. She was married to my oldest brother, and she was one of my closest and dearest friends. Julie died this past March of an extremely rare, and obviously fatal disease. She went into the hospital on Nov 1st 2007, and never came home. Julie was the epitome of a Christian wife, mother, grandmother....the list goes on. There's a definition of a Godly woman in Proverbs Chapter 31. That was Julie. She was 10 years older than me. I was a little girl of 8 years old when Julie came into my life. I've never known life without her, until now. I remember so much, and most especially the past 10 years, when we grew closer than ever before. She was my friend, my confidante, my giggle buddy, and most of all, my sister. I miss her SO much, but I rest in the knowledge that she is safe in the arms of our Lord.

Dear Lord, please help me get past this hurt. It hurts so bad. I know, time will heal, it always does. I guess God needed Julie more than I did. Julie has been reunited with loved ones that have gone on before her, and I know she's happy sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Julie, you'll never know how much I love you. Save me a place at the table. I'll join you someday. Then we can do an eternal lunch!

Now for the 'sweet'...Two new family members to celebrate Christmas with this year! Our granddaughter Peyton, and our beautiful new daughter-in-law Jessica! What joy! Jessica has been with us for about 3 years now, but THIS year she's officially a King, and of course, it's Pey-Pey's first Christmas, and from what I've seen so far, she is TOTALLY into it! We're babysitting her tomorrow so Mommy & Daddy can finish up their Christmas shopping, and this week our tree is up, so it'll be fun to see how she responds to it.

This weekend promises to be busy. Friday is our 3rd annual King Cookie/Candy Baking Party....then Saturday is Christmas shopping (I haven't started yet) a Costco run (one of my favorite places), and my plan for Sunday is to finally get to church!

So, while there is pain this Christmas, there is also joy. Amazing how God works...in the midst of pain, He gives us joy.

Thank You Lord, for the joy in our lives this year.

The Benefits Of Rain

2008-12-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

Well, in the past 20 hours or so, Ramona alone has gotten 1.59" of rain. Now, those of you who know me, know that I am NOT a 'rain' person. I don't like it. Period. I get wet. It makes for a bad hair day. It's inconvenient. I can't 'run' in & out of stores for fear of falling. There are ALOT of accidents....and the list goes on.....

BUT, as I sit here, God reminds me of all the GOOD benefits of rain. Here are a few:

1. The earth is parched. It (like us) needs water to survive and to help us thrive.
2. Our lawns/shrubs/flowers/trees get watered...for FREE.
3. Fields grow, so that cattle can graze.
4. If our cars are parked out in the open, they get washed....for FREE.
5. Rain clears the air of pollutants and airborne allergens-a BIG plus for us allergy-sufferers!
6. It causes fire-prone vegetation to 'green up', thus reducing fire potential-for now anyway.

I could go on, but I think you get my drift. So, even though it's a little inconvenient, there ARE things to do when it rains.

Grab your kitty, or your kid, or your doggy, and curl up in a chair, cover up in a nice, warm blankie, and grab a good book. Read to the baby, or simply enjoy your book of choice. Oh, and while you're at it, a nice cup of hot cocoa or coffee hits the spot too!

Pop a movie in the DVD player-sentimental love stories are GREAT for times like these! Don't forget the Kleenex! :)

Or do like I did yesterday. Take the time and go through cupboards, drawers, and closets. You'll be amazed at how fast the time flies when you're going through these things! And at the end of the day, you'll be SO thankful for the rain that 'slows' us down.

Thank You, Lord, for giving us and our parched land a nice shower!

I know I am! Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I hear a cup of hot cocoa calling my name.....

Brrrr!!

2008-12-14T20:06:00.001-08:00

Before I begin on 'Brrr', I just wanted to let you know that Rudolph is a little shy. Ok, Ok, so he's not shy...he's half hidden!! I downloaded this template because it's just so darling, and, as with the last template I downloaded, only half the picture is there. Being rather computer illiterate, I'm not quite savvy enough on how to move things around so the FULL picture shows....oh well, you get the gist...

It's just freaking COLD outside! 37 right now, and our high today was 44....ok, yes, I know. It's ALOT colder in other parts of the country. But we're talking SoCal standards. This is COLD for us 'weather wimps'! Could be worse, right? Like Oregon, where my cousin Kathy lives. I just signed off of IM with her about 30 min. ago, and it was a whopping 8 degrees. Or in the Northeastern part of the U.S....well.....let's just say 'bitterly cold' is a huge understatement!

It was a perfect day to stay INdoors and get some things done. And get things done I did! I have a china cabinet built into a wall in my living room. It has 4 drawers down the middle, and 2 cupboards on the bottom, one on each side. Now, I've always prided myself on the fact that I am NOT a pack rat. But during this time of getting ready to decorate for Christmas, I discovered, via the drawers and cupboards in the china cabinet, that I could very well be on my way to becoming a pack rat. Oh nooooo!!

So, I worked like a banshee, and boy did I get rid of alot of 'stuff'....it's amazing how easy it is to just stuff something in a cupboard or drawer and forget it. LOL...believe it or not, I found stuff in there from 1994, which in itself is sad, but we've only been in this place not quite 11 years! How sad is THAT? Never mind that I am married to a pack rat, and the stuff from 1994 was old union papers of HIS, the fact remains that we brought it HERE! Aarrgghh!! I am proud to say that it is now in the recycle bin outside, awaiting Wednesday's trash pick-up. And my drawers and cupboards are now nice and clean, and organized!

I even managed to go through the latest stack of pictures, and get them into proper 'piles'. I did this about 3 years ago-went through every picture and put them into albums. Then after Jim's parents died, we inherited twice as many pictures to go through. So I now have 3 neat 'piles'. One for us to keep (and put into yet another album), one for Jim's sister, and one for my kids to go through the next time they're here. It was actually pretty neat, sitting here going through family history by the way of old pictures. Once my trip down memory lane was done, I felt good about what I've accomplished today. One less thing to do tomorrow.....

The weather here is supposed to be wicked this week: everyone around here, please be careful while out & about & driving. Have a good and safe week...God Bless!

Christmas Decorating

2008-12-10T06:51:00.000-08:00

Decorating this year for Christmas has proven to be a real challenge so far. Jim started putting up our outdoor Christmas display the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It generally takes about 3 weeks for us to get everything set up. Mainly because time is limited. Jim works on it for a couple of hours after work during the week, then has the church grounds to take care of Saturday mornings, so time is fairly limited.

This year we've had issues with lights going out and cords blowing fuses. Lights that worked when tested are now being difficult. Same with cords. I can't tell you how many trips we've made to Kmart, Rite Aid and Walmart :)

We finally got everything working on Monday, and the display looks beautiful. THEN.....up comes the santa ana winds. Monday night everything fared well with the exception of the nativity display. Wind knocked it over. Last night about 6pm I checked on everything again-no problems. Jim gets home an hour later and both snowmen that he hand crafted and strung with lights have been blown over. One isn't working at all, and only half a strand of lights is working on the other....sheesh.

On the UP side, we've added 'The Lights And Sounds Of Christmas' to our display. It is absolutely fantastic! You plug your lights into it, and the system plays dozens of Christmas songs while the lights keep beat to the music. The faster the tempo, the faster the lights...it's SO cool!

All that's needed now is the batting, and since we spent so much on lights and cords, the batting will have to wait till payday next week, but for all intense purposes, the display is finished. And it's beautiful.

This weekend we'll work on the inside...

So strap the kids in their seatbelts/carseats, and c'mon by and enjoy the show!

CHRISTmas

2008-11-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

I don't get it. How can someone who doesn't believe in Christ celebrate CHRISTmas?? I think of alot of people who neither acknowledge Him nor believe in Him, and yet they celebrate His birth. Do they not realize that without Christ, there would BE no CHRISTmas?

What they DON'T know, is if they DO celebrate CHRISTmas, they DO acknowledge Christ.....yep, that works. Whatever it takes to make Him the One that we ultimately point to as our Creator and Saviour.

Blessings~

'Tis The Season

2008-11-30T13:09:00.000-08:00

I love, love, LOVE this time of year!

But I am SO having trouble with the layout on my page! There should be a FULL view of my snowman, not HALF! Grrr! If anyone knows how to fix this, PLEASE let me know!

Kicking off the Christmas Season 'to do' list is, of course, getting my family newsletter and Christmas cards ready to mail. Took a family pic from our trip to Bates Nut Farm in Oct., and had it made into Christmas cards-turned out really good, and the price at Costco was right too! Got the family newsletter done and printed up last night, then spent some time addressing envelopes. Will mail them off tomorrow.

Jim has started hanging lights outside. For those of you who don't know, we have, for several years now, had a huge Christmas display outside for all to enjoy. Each year we add a little something more, and it really is quite a show! The park that we live in has an annual Christmas decorating contest, and never have we won any lower than 2nd place. Usually it's 1st place, but hey, winning is just the icing on the cake. We do this not only for ourselves, because it's something we enjoy looking at, but the community enjoys it too. Our neighbor directly across from us took 1st place last year, but he deserved it. He worked really hard on his display, and it was beautiful. I'm sure most of you have seen 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'? How about 'Deck The Halls'? I think those stories are about US, except that we don't steal electricity or anything else from Gary (the neighbor affectionately known as 'the competition'). I told Jim maybe we should change our name to Griswold...

Our kids get involved too. If they see something that they think would look cool, they buy it and bring it over. We have a 5ft singing/dancing Santa, a snowboarding Santa, slide-loving penguins, watchful snowmen, gentle deer, and all sorts of cool things. And of course HUNDREDS of beautiful lights.

We're at the entrance to the park, so our place can be seen from 2 different streets. It's not at all uncommon for cars to literally park in front of our place, let their little kids out to enjoy the display, and even take pictures! For those of you who can't be here to see our display, I'll post some pics after we're all set up.

We still have Christmas shopping to do-nope, I haven't started yet. I'll get there....eventually.

There are just so many plans to make, and this is the ONE time of the year that I actually enjoy making them with the help of my family. It's Peyton's first Christmas too-and boy is she gonna be FUN! I can't wait to see her face when she sees the pretty display outside at Grandma & Grandpa's, and when she sees the pretty Christmas tree inside.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....it truly IS.

Blessings~

Blessed

2008-11-27T06:07:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year that I start compiling my family newsletter to send out with Christmas cards. In doing so, it causes me to pause, reflect, and give thanks to the Lord for His provision, sustenance, and blessings over the past year. I should be giving thanks EVERY day, and I do, most of the time, but there are days when I just don't. That being said, I'm going to list some of the many things that I am most thankful for:

My salvation through Jesus Christ-I am guaranteed eternity with Him....

My husband-who has defined 'for better or for worse' so well, and has loved me even at my most unlovable, and 'in sickness and in health', which again he's defined well, mostly in the 'sickness' part.

My kids Jim, Brian & Shannon-I love them more than life itself. I have been SO blessed by them. They are always just so there for their dad and me. I am blessed because they all live nearby, and I hear so many people say they wished their kids/grandkids lived closer...I am blessed because not only are these people our kids, but they're our friends as well...and we get together often.

Our 2 beautiful daughters-in-law Katie & Jessica. We are SO blessed to have them as members of our family. They are genuine, caring, family-oriented women who have made our sons so incredibly happy. I'm not sure that these 2 ladies know just how much Jim & I love them.

Our precious-beyond-words grandbabies. How we are blessed by them! They have caused us to see life through their eyes, and gives us a whole new respect for children. And best of all....they LOVE Grandma & Grandpa! :)

Our kid's friends, who are more like family to us. They too, are SO there if we need them...awesome people our kids have chosen as friends!

We have jobs. Even in today's scary world of employment, or lack of, Jim & I are both in the kind of jobs that would be hard to eliminate.

We have a roof over our heads, heat in the winter, a/c in the summer. Our little mobile home isn't much to look at, but it's HOME, and we love it here. It's our little sanctuary that we can 'escape' to amid all the unrest, and feel safe and secure.

Food in the cupboard, clothes on our backs, and of course, our beloved kitties, who help to make our world a nicer place.

The list goes on, but suffice to say, I feel SO blessed, despite everything. I will NOT complain.

I am blessed....beyond measure.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! God Bless~

Dead Bugs!

2008-11-25T18:00:00.000-08:00

Catchy title, huh?

XTermite was here today....exterminated all those nasty little termites! The wonderful thing about it is that we didn't have to pack up & move out for several days. No risk of anyone falling through our roof while trying to tent, no risk of any damage to my outdoor plants, and no risk of residual odor/chemicals when we moved back in. XTermite uses all natural ingredients, the main ingredient being orange oil.
The only residual anything is the aroma of orange throughout the house, and I can live with that. They say the smell could hang around for a few days but will eventually fade away. Works for me!
No more bugs-YIPPEE!!

Last Yard Sale

2008-11-23T15:10:00.001-08:00

I just finished helping to close up what is my final yard sale. I'm done with them, period.

Nope, I'm not throwing a fit, or ticked off, or anything like that. It just is what it is-too much work, and too time consuming for what I ended up with. Oh, I'm grateful that I now have a little more cash than I started with at 0700 yesterday morning.

All but a couple of my 'bigger' ticket items sold. I still have the monitor left, as well as the printer, a night stand, and a computer chair. Guess people weren't in the market for those particular things. But boy did my piddly little junky things sell like hotcakes-I was amazed!

Alissa & Justen set up their own cookie/lemonade stand, and in 2 days made around $22....not bad, and they really worked for it. It was THEIR responsibility to man their 'station' and serve customers, and they did an awesome job! Of course, Grandma and Grandpa, and Aunties Shannon & Katie all bought goodies from them, as did their dad & stepmom. Hey, gotta give the kids some encouragement to keep going, right? They will split the money 50/50 and each gets to spend their share as they choose. Good lesson for them-money isn't free, you have to WORK for it-and they did.

Money aside, I really DID get alot accomplished over the past 2 weeks, the biggest and proudest accomplishment for me being that my guest room actually LOOKS like a guest room now. No more clutter-yippee! I have a few things to transfer from that closet into the shed outside, but for now it's out of sight-and that works for me....for the moment.

Tomorrow Jim & I will go back over to Jimmy & Jess' and load up the boxes of leftovers that they have, and on Tuesday we'll take them to the thrift store and donate everything.

But we did have a good time visiting with Jimmy, Jess and the grandkids, as well as Shannon & Katie, who stopped in to visit, and chatting with the nice people that came and either browsed or bought something. There are alot of real nice folks in Ramona.

Jim & I are exhausted. We're SO glad to be done.

Yard Sale

2008-11-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

We're having a big multi-family yard sale at Jimmy & Jessica's house next weekend, so I bet you can guess what I'VE been up to! You got it-going through all kinds of 'stuff that I've had-probably for YEARS-and downsizing big time. Geez, I didn't realize how much I've accumulated over the past few years!

Vases that I've had for I-don't-know-HOW-long, a like-new computer monitor, golf clubs that we 'inherited' after Jim's dad passed away, and all sorts of little what-nots. File cabinets (3 at last count), and a few end tables. Shannon will be happy to hear that-she says we're overkill on tables...LOL...

So far today I've spent about 4 hours going through, marking, loading into boxes and stacking those boxes in our guest room. Looks like the room blew up...LOL...and that's not counting the OODLES of Jim's union 'stuff' (I'm being nice here) that he never uses, but insists on keeping, 'just in case'....UGH. So I boxed all of his 'stuff' up, and put it in the closet-for now. Once the shed outside is emptied of yard sale stuff, his union 'stuff' will go into the shed, thus emptying the guest bedroom closet for GUESTS.

I'm totally excited that the guest room will finally LOOK like one, and I feel such a sense of accomplishment today, especially since I've been on the sick side for the past week between allergies and yet another sinus infection.

Ok, break time over-back to work!

Rainy Day Projects

2008-11-09T14:09:00.001-08:00

Wow-this rain is just something else! We need it SO badly, and I just know that our desertly-dry and parched ground is drinking deeply. And of course, I forgot to turn off the timer to my lawn sprinklers, so they got an extra 20 minute drink at 5:30 this morning....oops!

I've been battling 'the blues' today. Over the course of the last week, several people I care about and love have hurt my feelings by comments and actions. Then to add insult to injury, I awoke with a nasty sinus headache this morning. It happens when the barometric pressure changes so rapidly. After a good cry over my morning coffee, I decided that today would be the perfect day for a few indoor projects. I fixed Jim & I breakfast, then got down to bedrock.

There are alot of things in my closet that I can no longer wear, or just plain don't wear, so I weeded them out, got them bagged up & ready for the thrift store drop-off, and started on my dresser drawers. Jammies I don't wear, sweat pants, and a couple of sweatshirts. I'm sure someone will get good use out of them. It makes me feel good to give.

Good time to do laundry too-especially if your W/D is inside, like mine is. Helps heat up the house!

Did a few things on my computer that I haven't taken time to do lately...added a program and deleted alot of stuff out of folders....and don't forget-disk cleanup and defrag!

It's cold & windy outside-what better time than NOW to bake something! I went to Costco last weekend and got, among alot of things, a box of the Krusteaz Pumpkin/Spice Bread Mix...YUMM-O!
Ahhh....there's just nothing like something baking in the oven to give your home more of a 'homey' feel, huh? Especially on a cold/rainy/gray day. I cheated and didn't make stuff from scratch, but considering the fact that my head is still pounding, I consider it quite an accomplishment that ANYTHING got done today :0)

Tomorrow will be a better day.

TGIF

2008-11-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I know....I wrote a TGIF blog awhile back, but EVERY Friday is TGIF to me. Especially THIS week.

I feel like I've been beaten up spiritually, emotionally, and physically. It was NOT a good week for the elderly couple that I care for. Can you say cranky? LOL...'nuff said...

The presidential election (see previous blog) did a number on me spiritually and emotionally...

And the physical? Well, every day is a physical challenge.

I think God uses times like these to remind me to think not of how 'bad' things are, but how BLESSED I am.

So, I sucked it up and trudged forward. And I'm thankful for all that I DO have.

A few years ago I was in 'wallpaper' mode...can you say SOOO 70's?? LOL...we wallpapered one wall in our family room, top half only. Pretty floral print, but now I am SO over it, so early this morning I pulled things off the wall and painted over the wallpaper. Jim thought I was crazy....I reminded him of how horrific it was trying to get the wallpaper off the bathroom wall that had been there for literally decades before we moved in. Shannon can attest.

It was a perfect day for painting! Winds out of the east (yep, a santa ana) at about 20mph....84 degrees, just absolutely perfect, and my wall dried in no time flat. I feel such a sense of accomplishment! Looks kinda bare with nothing on it right now, but Christmas is coming up, and shelves are on my list.

Jim has the next four days off, which means I get to sleep in! Whoo-hoo! I still have to work on Mon/Tue, but at least I can wake up gently without that *@%$(# alarm clock blaring in my ear! Well.....maybe.....IF Casey allows me to sleep in. She's a little over a year old now and has adapted to our sleep schedule, so things are better.

I haven't seen my family in a week-I'm having withdrawls, but not to worry. Jessica's birthday party is tomorrow, and all will be there but Brian :(

I can't wait. After a week like this one, I feel the need to be around my family, where I can let my hair down, relax, enjoy good food, and fabulous company.

Have a good weekend! I know I will!

More Faith, More Prayer

2008-11-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Everyone~

By now all of us know who won the presidential election. I have a few thoughts, and I'd like to share them with you.

Last night I was NOT a happy camper. I wasn't really surprised, but I guess I just needed to see the 'official' word before I accepted it. At first I just got this heaviness in my spirit, and I broke down and wept, because this man doesn't share the same moral and scriptural values that I have, and I worry about where this will take us as a nation.

Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that Obama is a 'bad' man. I vote for candidates that share my spiritual beliefs and convictions. Obama did not get my vote, for those very reasons.

Anyway, I immediately went to prayer, and what I came away from prayer with was this: that we, as Christians, need to have MORE faith, and we need to pray MORE than ever before. We need to pray for this new president, that he will seek the will of God, and that those beliefs of his that do not line up with scripture will change by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I myself am done whining. I am going to pray, and I hope you'll join me. 'The prayer of a righteous man availeth much'.

P.S....And just for the record, McCain didn't get my vote either-I abstained from voting for president, being unable to choose 'the lesser of the two evils'.

God Bless~

Random Thoughts....

2008-11-02T07:44:00.001-08:00

Just a few thoughts on this beautiful Sunday morning...random thoughts, in random order...I'm assuming that's okay in a blog. But hey wait....this is MY blog, so anything goes, right? LOL...

Jim's 55th birthday was Friday. Yeah, yeah, halloween. I don't celebrate halloween at all, but I also don't criticize those who do. It's an individual choice. I have to follow my own personal convictions, and hopefully I won't be criticized for that either, but oh well.

It was a good day in general. Did errands and such, then went over to Jimmy & Jessica's for dinner. After dinner, Jimmy & Jess waited eagerly for their trick-or-treaters, with a big bowl of candy ready to be passed out. So they waited....and waited....and waited. Finally, 2 showed up...and that was IT until quite awhile later, when a group of 5 or 6 kiddos showed up...you should have seen Jimmy & Shannon (who had brought HER candy over to pass out too, since she'd only had a handful at her place) race each other to the door to pass out THEIR candy...LOL...then it was over. No more trick-or-treaters. Shannon said the same thing happened at her place-very few trick-or-treaters. Weird, because they all live in a very populated area of town, and yet still got no more than about 10 kids altogether. Jess had even decorated the porch outside with cute orange lights and 'cobwebs', and the decor was complete with a halloween cd going in the cd player. After Brian, Katie & Shannon got there, we even joked about how maybe we should all dress up, go door to door, and pass out candy instead of asking for it...no one had costumes, sooo....just strange since it was a Friday night...

I don't know about you, but I have had it up to HERE with politics this year. Unending phone calls by candidates asking for your vote, endless flyers in the mail by said candidates, and flyers in the mail from various groups suggesting how you should vote. Then there's the news....UGH. Ok so I know it's an important election, and I'm not minimizing that, but give us a break already! I do take my obligation to vote very seriously, and I do pray about just how I should vote. I read the proposed propositions, and I read about each candidate, then I vote my conscience. Jim & I vote by absentee ballot, and our votes have been decided, and our ballots mailed, so I've done my job. I'm just thankful that there's only 2 more days until maybe we can get a break from all this political stuff. Elections are an evil necessity in life I suppose, and I'm just glad it doesn't happen every year!

The weather....wow...we are SO blessed to have the weather that we have, but in all honesty, I'm looking forward to some RAIN. I am NOT a 'rain' person. But geez louise, we need it desperately. We need it for SO many reasons, one being to clear the air of pollutants and allergens. My allergies have been running amok for weeks now, as I'm sure everyone else's has too. Just a nice, slow, gentle rain, to soak into the ground, that's all. We've been hearing all week on the news about how there's a shot at rain this weekend. We're still waiting. But then, if you look at the percentage chance (30% at last report) you should know that the odds are NOT in favor of rain. Ah well, our rainy season is just beginning. Maybe we'll get lucky later on.

The time change had me up before 5am this morning. Well, before 5am AFTER I'd already set the clock back last night before bed. I guess that means I was up before 4am. No wonder I'm already ready for a nap! I wish it would stay daylight savings time year-round. I don't like it when it starts getting dark at 4pm during the winter months. It just doesn't seem 'right'...

November is here, and with it comes Jessica's birthday (on the 10th), Jessica LaTour's baby shower on the 15th, and of course Thanksgiving. We'll be having our Thanksgiving feast the day after Thanksgiving so that eveyone can be here. We'll do the same for Christmas. It's actually better for us, because no one has to rush through a meal or opening presents because they have go somewhere else. The day is relaxing, and full of fun, laughter, and love. It's all about family, the thing nearest and dearest to our hearts. I can't wait!

Well, time to get my day started. After breakfast I'm off to Poway to treat myself and get my van washed/cleaned at Body Beautiful, then a couple of other stops before my final stop at Costco-one of my favorite places!

Have a good week....

Bates Nut Farm/Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Whoo-hoo! We had our 3rd Annual King Family trip to Bates Nut Farm/Pumpkin Patch yesterday. It was SO much fun!

The 1st year we went it was sooo cold and we were all bundled up. Last year it was hot with santa ana winds blowing, and our visit got cut short because of the horrid fires. This year it was just plain HOT. Shannon suggested that maybe we'll get snow for next year's visit....I say NOT! LOL...Mama is NOT a 'snow' person, so I'm putting in my order now for good weather!

I was so excited about this family outing that on Friday I put the camera battery on it's charger, for maximum 'juice', and even washed my van inside and out. Got the camera in the van Friday night so I wouldn't forget it, and Saturday morning we were ready to roll!

Surprisingly, the crowd didn't seem to be as big as usual, and we got good parking in spite of the fact that we didn't arrive till around 11am. We decided to take our usual family photo first, so up to the hay bales we headed. I pulled my camera out of the case to hand it to Melissa (Katie's sister) so she could take the picture. Turned it on....and NOTHING. What the??? Oh CRAP. The camera works better if it has a BATTERY in it! Yep, you guessed it. I left the battery in it's charger....at HOME. UGH! Way to go Penny, but alas, Shannon to the rescue...she snapped all kinds of pictures, so as soon as she got them posted to her Myspace page, I went in a 'stole' them...LOL...so now I have my own collection of the day's events. Yay!

After the family pic, it was time to turn everyone loose in the Pumpkin Patch, armed with their wheelbarrows, in search of their perfect pumpkin. I have to admit, everyone has a pretty keen eye for pumpkin picking-and Baby Peyton? Well, she was just happy to sit among those big orange 'things'...Alissa & Justen had fun going through the hay maze with Star & Jeremy (Katie's little sister & bro). After the maze, and the traditional hayride, we had a bite of lunch, then it was off to Bates Store for some sweet shopping. Yumm-o! LOTS of sweet things to buy!

Time to head home for a new tradition we've started after our Bates trip/pumpkin carving. A cookie/goodie bake and dinner! We met back up at Jimmy & Jessica's for the festivities, and we had such a wonderful evening. They guys took the little kids out back, where they all got busy gooping out pumpkin 'guts', and creating their 'masterpieces'

Meanwhile, back inside the house, the ladies got right down to bedrock and baked their little brains out, and some of us (who shall remain nameless...LOL) got downright messy! But the finished products were simply sinfully yummy, and a good time was had by all.

Bates has a Christmas celebration too...we're discussing going there then as well-but only if there's NO snow!

Venting

2008-10-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

Ok folks, I need to vent/state my opinion. Some of you may find what I have to say either harsh or hardhearted. The following is just MY opinion. I'm not here to argue my points. Just to vent.

Today 2 somebodies headed out of Ramona, on Hwy 67, not knowing it would be their last trip out of town alive. 2 somebodies that somebody else loved.

I check the Highway Patrol website several times a day. My son, daughter-in-law and daughter all drive to work via Hwy 67 every day. People I know and love drive that road either for pleasure or work every day.

Hwy 67 is NOT a 'bad road' as some have said. I've lived in Ramona for almost 46 of my 51 years, and cannot tell you how many times I've traveled that road. Too many times to count. If folks think it's a 'bad road' now, they should have been driving it 30 years ago! It WAS bad back then! 2 lane, VERY narrow. Dangerous. And years ago Hwy 67 between Ramona and Lakeside was tagged 'Slaughter Alley', with good reason.

No one can use that excuse today. It is NOT a bad road, period. Accidents happen, BUT, I don't consider it an 'accident' when someone is knowingly speeding, or driving drunk, or just not paying attention. There is NO excuse. I drive Hwy 67 frequently too, and let me tell you, I am just as guilty of speeding on that highway as anyone else. Many times I'll go 60-65, in the slow lane, and people pass me up like a dirty shirt right & left. I have determined that I will NOT do this any more. Yes, I know, people say that if you go too slow you may cause an accident. Very true, but whenever I can, I obey the speed laws. They were put there for a reason: to keep me and my loved ones ALIVE.

People, listen up. If we speed, and we cause an accident or are in an accident, we have no one to blame but ourselves! Driving is NOT a 'right'. It's a privilege. How would you feel if you caused an accident resulting in the death of someone, simply because you disregarded the speed limit?

PLEASE SLOW DOWN!

Someone loves you VERY much and would be devastated if you were killed because you were speeding. I'm not saying that everyone speeds. I don't know that for a fact. But I DO know that many do, without thought of consequences.

I also believe, with all my heart, that God sits in heaven, weeping for those who have disregarded the rules, and that He grieves right along with the loved ones left behind.

I choked up this morning when I read about the accident. Living in Ramona, the odds are pretty good that I've either heard of the people who died, or know someone who knows the people who died. Maybe I know them myself, and just haven't been notified yet. Whatever the case, my thoughts & prayers have been with the family and friends of those killed this morning.

My prayer today is that the Lord be with you as you get behind the wheel of your vehicle. That He set His angels before you, to make your path straight and safe, and that He keep you out of harm's way.

Come home safely. Somebody loves you.

Blessings~

Cat Mats

2008-10-20T18:30:00.001-07:00

Well, I feel like a bad cat 'mom'. Over the course of the last few months, I've been so busy that I haven't brushed two of my medium-hair cats. Either I've been running like crazy, drop-dead tired, or just plain forgot. Any way you slice it, the girls haven't been brushed. The result: matted hair. Bigtime. UGH...

Most of you who have cats know what's coming....World War III. I've been wracking my brain on how to cut the mats out without A) stressing them out TOO much, and B) managing to get myself majorly bitten/shredded. So today I paid a visit to my vet. She recommended an all natural stress reliever for humans, but is animal safe. Great! Where do I get it? Down the hill, she says...at Henry's in Poway or Boney's, wherever THAT is...ugh, there's GOT to be a better solution. With gas prices, even though they're dropping, I don't want to make a trip down the hill for one little bottle of something. Instead, I decide to go to Animal Pharm. Nancy, the owner, is really knowledgeable about animals, and pointed me to an herbal stress remedy. It's expensive, but as I found out, well worth the cost.

You give in according to weight. Ok, lucky is first. She's my 10-year-old Maine Coon mix. Lucky is my difficult one. Ask Shannon. She doesn't like to be held, period. She'll sit on my lap, if it's HER idea. She much prefers laying across the back of my chair, or on the floor where she can keep her eye on me at all times. Lucky HATES to have her nails clipped. Ask Shannon. I'm afraid to clip them, so Shannon does the honors for me. The other 5 cats, no problem. Then there's Lucky. Now, Shannon is WAY better than I am, such a steady hand and all, but I think only once or twice in the past few years has she been able to manhandle Lucky enough to clip her nails. Back to the mats. I give Lucky some of this herbal stress remedy, and within the hour she is mellow-SUCCESS! Even though it took me an hour, I managed to get the clumps out, and she is again silky, smooth and beautiful.

Snuggles is next. We believe, judging from her looks, and the research we've done, that she's got Norwegian Forest Cat in her. I'll need Jim for THIS girl. Mainly because she has some mats on her lower tummy, so I'll need him to hold her REALLY good so I don't get attacked. I get the mats off of her lower back, despite the threatening growls and yips she gives me. Ok, so far I'm still in one piece, let's start on the tummy. Jim's got her fairly good, but when she twinges, so does he. Ugh, can't have that! I need him to HOLD her! He's afraid of hurting her; I tell him he's NOT hurting her. She's just PO'd. He finally gives up, using the excuse that he needs a shower. Grrr....So, I got SOME mats taken off her tummy, but not all...it'll just have to wait till another day-when Shannon's here. Hint, hint Shannon...LOL...I know that together we can get the job done.

At least both girls LOVE to be brushed, so hopefully we can avoid this happening again...

Have a good evening!

Sunday Notes

2008-10-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to Station 80's Open House. It's an annual event that the entire community is invited to. There are safety demonstrations-Brian gave one on stove fires and Christmas tree fires-and tours, lots of pieces of apparatus to see, just alot of things to do. It was so much fun. There were engines there from each station in Ramona, as well as CHP and Sheriff vehicles. Mercy Air was there as well, along with USFS Helitack and CalFire's own Copter 10. What a show!

The whole family showed up-well, Brian & Shannon were already there. Brian was on duty of course, and Shannon was manning the Burn Institutes's table, filled with all kinds of useful information, as well as a 'spin the wheel' game for kids to play and test their knowledge. Every kid walked away with a treasure piece of candy...no child left behind there! Brian gave a guided tour to a group of Cub Scouts. They're so little, and yet they were completely mesmerized by the information Brian was giving them, and they asked lots of questions. Their attention was totally on what they were doing, and I was SO impressed that kids that young were that focused.

I actually learned something too-do NOT put ice on a burn-apparently it helps the skin continue to burn. Cold water is best. Wow, who knew? Back when I was growing up, we always used ointments, butter, oil, whatever. BAD idea, although we didn't know it then. Thx Shannon!

A couple of the stations got calls, so of course they had to respond. One call was a possible vegetation in Julian, so both the USFS Helitack Copter and CalFire's Copter 10 prepared to leave. Mind you, they are in the field, next to the station. A big field...all weeds, chopped down of course, but when you get 2 helicopters in the same field with their rotors going, well, everything flies, and I do mean EVERYTHING. Weeds, dust, dirt, and whatever else may be on the ground is now airborne...hold on to your small children! LOL...thank goodness the vegetation fired turned out to be a false alarm, so both copters came on back to the station...again kicking up everything not bolted to the ground. So much for my freshly washed hair!

Today my thoughts & prayers are with my daughter Shannon, as she participates in the Susan G Komen Walk For The Cure Breast Cancer Walk in Temecula. She's been preparing for this event for months, and has dedicated her walk to her friend Chris, a former CalFire Captain and breast cancer survivor. I've never met Chris, but she's been such an inspiration and role model to Shannon, so my prayer is not only for a complete recovery for Chris, but that Shannon is blessed beyond measure during this walk. She has raised over $600 herself, and I just couldn't be prouder of her. She's been working alot of OT lately, and she's tired, so I pray for strength and stamina for her today, and in the coming days. She has to come home today and get some rest for work tonight. She'll be fine.

Next Saturday is our family trip to Bates Nut Farm. I am SO excited! I've been monitoring the weather in Valley Center, and long range forecast says around 80 degrees next Sat. Perfect! Now if we can avoid a santa ana, it'll be a perfect day...whoo-hoo!

Blessings~

Termites-Part II

2008-10-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ok so, a few blogs ago I told you that we have termites. Since then I've had 3 different pest control companies out. All 3 agree-drywood termites. Major infestation.
Company #1 says they'll do the job for $1100.00. We'll have to move out, lock, stock, and barrel, for 3 days. This includes food, medicines, the cats, and THEIR foods and meds. They will then come and re-inspect our house in one year, free of charge. IF we sign up for their termite protection plan. Said plan costs $225 per year. Why doesn't 'free' sound 'free' here? If the ONLY way they'll come and inspect for 'free' is if you join their plan, then it isn't FREE! Nope, we're NOT using them!

Company #2 came yesterday. They promise to beat the competition's price. Guy was really nice, explained everything, and told us that they guarantee their work for 4 years, and free inspections at NO additional charge. He gave us a price of $1150.00, but once we told him what company #1's price was, he dropped it $100. Still all the same hassle with moving everyone and most things out, but we liked what he had to say better.

Both companies stress that there can/will be structural damage to the roof and any other outdoor components, like trellises, carports, etc...NOT very comforting thoughts! Especially considering the fact that there are damaged boards on the porch that will need replacing once all the bugs are gone. Who can afford additional damages on top of everything else?? No THANKS!

Still one company left, and he came today....our hero!

Company #3 is Xtermite. They use all natural products, so you don't have to leave. It's human and animal-friendly. They use orange oil and boric acid. They also only focus on the parts that they physically SEE are infested. Our bugs are pretty much contained to our porch. So of course they'd treat the porch with the orange oil, which penetrates everything and even defies gravity, and then for the rest of the house they'd use the boric acid. I think that might be more of a deterrent, but at any rate, the $1300 pricetag is WELL worth the overall stress-free procedure that enables not only Jim and I, but our cats, to stay in the comfort of our own home. And the only residual smell is that of oranges. I can live with that. I like citrus smells.

Needless to say, Xtermite gets our business.

For those 'catless' friends of ours, moving cats is NOT easy. Not by a long shot. They are OCD bigtime, and have only been out of the house long enough for a car ride to the vet. They were NOT happy. Oh what a nightmare it would have been to have to move them into a hotel room or a rented trailer/rv for even a few days. Nope, don't even wanna THINK about how that might've turned out!

**Just a footnote here: all 3 companies told us that by the time you discover that you may have termites, in all actuality, you've already had them for 5 or 6 years. That's how long it takes them to build up their colonies.

So, all's well that ends well, and soon we will be 'bug free'!

Blessings~

Friday Night

2008-10-17T16:03:00.001-07:00

I just can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night than with family. Tonight I get to do that! Jim and the big 'kids' are going to the Ramona High School Homecoming game (vs. Jessica's alma mater Orange Glen), so grandma is going to have all 3 grandkids. Just Peyton at first, then Alissa & Justen a little later in the evening.

I asked Brian & Katie to bring Peyton's playpen. That munchkin is FAST! LOL...man you should see her! She sets her beautiful baby blues on something and she's OFF...and alot of times gets to whatever she's going after faster than grandma can run and snatch her...and of course, even after thoroughly, she STILL manages to find something that I missed. Maybe cuz she's so low to the ground, huh?

In the meantime, I'm awaiting the pest control technician to come and give me a better quote than the last company I had come out. They promise to be the competitor's prices....we'll see. At any rate, I will be SO glad to get rid of those freaking bugs!

Tomorrow we have one more company coming out, so we'll see who gets the 'job' of ridding us of our destructive and UGLY little menaces.

Then it's off to Station 80's Open House. That's always a fun outing. We just never get tired of anything that has to do with firefighting. Guess it's in our blood. Must be, Brian's a 3rd generation firefighter on my side of the family, and of course now with Shannon with CalFire as well, well, it just doubles the pleasure.

Have a good weekend-we're promised cooler temp. I hope so!

Until next time.....blessings~

Fall...My favorite time of year!

2008-10-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, I just LOVE Fall....and nothing quite says 'Fall' to me like our annual King Family trip to Bates Nut Farm....for me, and I think for my family as well, Fall is the gateway to the holiday season. Next to Christmas, our trip to Bates is a major family event.

We absolutely LOVE the holiday season...it all kicks off, of course, with Bates. This year we have two new family members joining us. Our new daughter-in-law Jessica, and our newest granddaughter Peyton. Jess had to work last year, so she missed our outing, and Peyton was there, but in utero, so she really didn't get to 'see' anything.

Of course, last year's outing was cut way short due to the Witch Fire, but we're holding positive thoughts this year.

It's so much fun to watch the little kid's eyes as they take in everything, finally zooming in on the petting corral and the rides. And ohhhh....the smells...holiday spices and such-it just does wonders for a person's well-being. I feel like we adults revert back to childhood when we're at Bates...we're all giggly and happy and carefree, and looking forward to our traditional hayride and family picture, complete with the special pumpkins that everyone has chosen for their very own masterpiece.

The store itself is fantabulous! Oh man, I could spend HOURS in there! Then of course, there's the kettle corn....yummm! Gotta buy a bag on the way home to munch on! There are all kinds of booths set up, from artwork, to ceramics, to food. It's all there-something for everyone.

We'll head over to Jimmy & Jess' house later, to carve out pumpkins, have dinner, and start our first annual King Family Fall Baking Party....not to be confused with the King Family Christmas Baking Party in December...and of course, anyone that would like to join is is more than welcome! We're all about family parties and traditions, and the more the merrier, so C'mon over!

This will be Peyton's first Christmas, and I can't wait. She'll be just shy of a year old (my gosh! Where did the time go???), and as with Alissa and Justen when they were babies, I can't wait to see her reaction to everything.

Between now and Christmas will be a total blur of activity, between birthday parties, baby showers, family outings, the birth of Jessica & Andrew LaTour's baby girl in early Dec. (can't wait to meet her!!!), and of course, topping it all of...Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

These things we look forward to, because in today's world, with all the economic hardships and everything else, it just does a soul good to be able to connect with family, and let all the drama go, even if only for a day. It's times like these that I greatfully thank God for, because my family is intact, and nearby, and able to come together at will.

My advice to you: if you have a pumpkin patch in your community, grab your family and close friends and GO. It doesn't cost anything but time-and a little gas-to go. This is what family traditions and memories are made of. This is what Alissa, Justen, and Peyton will remember. This is what we adults look back on, with such happy memories. These are special family bonding times, times that God has blessed us with. Take them and run...and remember.....good times!

Blessings~

Welcome Rain

2008-10-04T19:57:00.000-07:00

It's raining....finally! I've been anticipating this rain for days. For those of you that live in this section of the country, you know what I'm talking about. We've been SO dry and parched for years. Never enough rain to make a significant and positive impact.

It started sprinkling here around 4 pm, but just off & on sprinkles, and I got a little discouraged, thinking "is this ALL there's going to be? Just 'spitting' here & there? What a ripoff!" But then as the evening progressed, so did the rain. Right about 6:30 it started coming down a little steadier and a little heavier. This is the GOOD kind of rain, the soft, gentle rain that soaks into the ground instead of puddling up and running off immediately. And the air after the rain is just heavenly...so clean, crisp and fresh...ahhhh....I love it...

I'll enjoy it while it lasts, because come Tuesday, we're supposed to be back up into the mid 90's once again.

Blessings~

Busy!

2008-09-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

What is it about going away for a few days that seems to signal to the house that it's okay to get itself dirty, and the laundry to 'be fruitful and mulitply' while you're gone?

Anyone out there hearing me??

Maybe it's because I was so preoccupied with the wedding, and having 7 guests in my home...yep, those excuses work...LOL...

I've spent this whole day cleaning, doing yardwork, laundry and errands, and I'm still not done. Gee, that makes it sound like my house is a real pigsty doesn't it? It really isn't though. I'm just one of those people that kicks into high gear when I see that something needs to get done.

I've decided that the 2 last loads of laundry will wait till tomorrow. I'd have done them today, but one of my cats decided that the middle of my freshly laundered/made bed would be the perfect place to barf up a hairball....UGH! And having a king-size bed, you do not put a quilt and a sheet in the same load....

Got some weeding and watering done in the yard early this morning while it was still cool out, then showered and ran around town doing errands. Next on my to-do list is grocery shopping. I'm sure Jim will appreciate groceries in the house!

Jim got the wall hangings up in the guest bath, and it looks really cute. Next I think I'll get some of that fishnet with the seashells attached and kind of drape it over the doorway-and that should finish off my beach/seashell theme.

I got alot done today. A couple of things to do early in the morning, and I'll have the rest of the day to rest, play, or both!

There's no place like home......

Blessings~

Laughlin

2008-09-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

We just got home from Laughlin today. Had a wonderful time! It was SO good to escape reality for a few days, but now it's back to the 'real world'

Laughlin was HOT! 115 both days....whew! But....'it's a dry heat'...LOL...and it was. We were surprised when we went to Bullhead City, AZ and saw the temp gauge. It felt hot, but not THAT hot.

We got to Laughlin about 3pm on Tue, and basically just stayed at the hotel for the remainder of the day. That evening I needed to go to B of A to make a withdrawl, and soon found out that the little ATM drive-thru that we've visited before is no longer there. We figured surely there must be a B of A across the bridge in Bullhead City, so we popped on over there, and after quite awhile looking, we pulled in and got directions. Not being real familiar with the area, we assumed that the bank would be on the main drag....NOT. We found the bank eventually, I went to the walk-up ATM and made my request. They wouldn't give me my money! Did an inquiry and found several hundred dollars LESS than I just KNEW we had. Short of a complete meltdown at that point, while we high tailed it back to the hotel where the checkbook was, I'm telling Jim, 'Honey, there's obviously a horrible mistake, and NOT on MY part!'...I was thisclose to tears. Paid a fortune to go online and check my bank account. Ah HA!! There it is! I'd paid my cell bill that morning, and on my bank statement it was listed THREE times! I hopped on the phone to AT & T, and, remembering that it is NOT the person I'm talking to's fault, I explain my situation, calmly....sort of....ok ok, just shy of panic and rage.... He assures me that only ONE transaction went through, and that I should call my bank, which of course I did as soon as I hung up with him. Talked to a rep at B of A, who saw the obvious boo-boo....(yeah, a HUGE 'boo-boo'!), and of course he fixed it, and assured me that the funds were there should I need them. Geez Louise! Nothing like a near nervous breakdown on the first day of vacation, huh?!

Wed we played a little, and shopped ALOT. They have this really cool Outlet Center in the heart of town, and it's a MUST for me when I go...gotta shop till I drop...and I did, but hey, I figure what I bought over there I didn't gamble away, right? I've been wanting to finish the decor in our guest bathroom, a sea shell theme, but could never quite find what I liked. Wed. I was successful, and now my guest bath is about 99% complete, decor-wise. I'm thrilled! Jim got a much-needed pair of work boots at half the price that we would have paid for here, and a new pair of tennis shoes too...

The hotel was nice, but it's at the end of the strip, up on a hill, so in order to go where we wanted to, we had to drive to the center of town, park, and walk. Next time we'll get a hotel in the heart of town-not so much driving that way. The riverwalk was beautiful, as usual, and a good way to work off dinner, at least walk off dinner to the point where you have just enough room for an ice cream cone before calling it a night ;)

It was SO nice to not have the distractions of everyday life, and Jim & I have some of our most meaningful conversations on long road trips. We decided to beat the heat and leave early this morning for home, so at 6am we were on the road. Stopped for breakfast about 9, and got home about noon. It's been busy ever since, unpacking, laundry, checking/answering email, oh yeah, and getting the new things set up in the guest bath. A trip to the post office to collect the mail we had held, and a short trip to the store for dinner tonight.

Tomorrow I'll finish up laundry, and wash the icky gross bugs off my van. But for tonight, I....am....DONE.

It's so good to be home.

Until next time....blessings!

Jimmy & Jessica's Wedding~

2008-09-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe the wedding is over already!

It was absolutely beautiful. Jess was a stunning bride, and Jimmy was such a handsome groom.

We are all happy, but exhausted. I'll blog more details later, but for tonight, I just wanted to share some photos that we took. I hope you enjoy them.

Until next time....blessings!

Surprise!

2008-09-18T06:53:00.001-07:00

Wow, did I ever get a BIG surprise yesterday!

We had our family dinner at Jimmy & Jess' place last night. Had to be there at 5:30. But what I didn't know is that the 5:30 time was only for Jim & me. We pulled up & I said 'Geez, are we late or something? Everyone else is here, on time for a change!'

We made our way to the back yard, and greeted everyone...I picked Peyton up to say hi, and then someone took her from me and said 'Someone else is here too'....so I turned around, and who is standing there but my baby brother! Ok, so maybe NOT a 'baby' (It's HIS turn for the 'Big 5-Oh' this year), but he'll always be 'the baby' to me. Dave lives in Oklahoma, and I haven't seen him in nearly 10 years, since our mom passed away. My family thought it'd be neat if they flew him out here in time for the wedding, and to spend a few days with us. So that's what they did!

We had an absolutely wonderful family dinner, full of hugs, laughs, last minute wedding plans, an announcement that a new baby is on the way for my niece Willow and her hubby Kevin, and good food to boot! Brian says I'm easy to surprise....probably because I'm 50% deaf, so I don't hear half of what anyone says during these gatherings. LOL...ah well, it is what it is, right? Maybe someday I'll be blessed with hearing aids, huh? There's always hope!

In the meantime, what an awesome surprise....and and even MORE awesome family. Thx you guys, I love you, and I love how you love me....YOU ROCK!!

Termites! AARRGGHHH!!!

2008-09-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

Yep, we've got 'em.

Never in my life have I had termites...until yesterday. I was sitting here at the computer when I noticed one of my cats playing with something on the carpet, so I investigated. A funny little bug. No problem. I scooped it up with a kleenex and gave it a burial at sea....my cats don't usually eat the bugs, they just play with them. Well....except for Butterscotch. Sometimes he slurps them up before I have a chance to scoop them up. Xtra protein, dontcha know? Anyway, to get back on track here....I come out from the bathroom to find Sassy staring intently at something on the carpet, so once again I check it out. ANOTHER one of those funny little bugs....hmmm....oh wait, there's another one....and another....and more! Oh CRAP! What ARE these??? There's LOTS of bugs crawling around my carpet! CRIPES! How do I get rid of them? What the h-e-double hockey sticks ARE they???

So, I did all I knew to do....I grabbed the can of ant spray and sprayed not only parts of the carpet (away from my kitties, of course) but the window sill as well, then I hauled out my vacuum and started sucking those lil suckers up! I did manage to scoop 5 or 6 into a zip lock baggie, and had NO idea what to do with them at that point but to show Jim when he got home from work. So I stuck the nasty little critters OUTside, and vacuumed up their relatives.

Jim sees them and says, 'Looks like termites to me'...oh great, just what we need.

Off to Kmart I trot, and got some super-duper (I hope!) bug killer that includes termites...sprayed some inside, and will souse the outside once the winds calm down...

So today I make the trek down the hill (my 4th trip in 2 days) to Lloyd Pest Control in El Cajon, with my little baggie of bugs. I can't believe that after nearly 24 hours, 2 of the 5 are STILL alive! Sure enough, termites....UGH! It's swarming season, the guy says. Also said they could be just passing through, or we could have an infestation (Oh Lord, PLEASE no!) but they set me up with a free termite inspection 2 weeks from now. In the meantime, he says, my super-duper bug spray will keep them at bay, but ultimately won't irradicate them altogether.....

Got back up the hill a little while ago, and did the only thing I could think of to make me feel better about this situation. I went to Mickey D's and got me a vanilla soft serve cone. I earned it. Then I laughed, because I remember Shannon writing in her blog recently that sometimes I'd surprise them after school and them them to Mickey D's for a treat, and she recalled how funny it was that I always had to lick my cone fast to keep it from melting while I was driving home....well Shannon, some things never change...LOL...thx for the chuckle!

Blessings to you~

Memories

2008-09-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

My firstborn is getting married in 3 days....it blows me away, as I reflect back 33 years, when our firstborn son James Robert King was born.

A healthy 6lbs. 15oz. LONG labor, but SO very worth it. Jimmy was my 'trial and error baby'. Most of the mistakes I made as a mom, I made on him before I made them on Brian & Shannon. Jimmy & I had a few crying sessions together, although he doesn't remember them. A few cases in point:

Case #1
I was going to save money and use cloth diapers. So after the bazillion boxes of Pampers ran out (that's all we had back then. No huggies, or whatever else there is out there now. Just Pampers) that I'd received at my baby shower, I switched to cloth, and promptly proceeded to pin my baby's diaper to his skin! I just couldn't figure out why he was screaming. He'd been fed, burped, and changed, so I checked his diaper to make sure it wasn't on too tight. OMG! I pinned him to his diaper! I felt so bad-I'd hurt my baby, dear God forgive me! We cried together.

Case #2
Clipping the baby's fingernails. With baby clippers. I wasn't good enough. I clipped the very tip top of his baby pinkie right off! Oh it was a tiny tiny piece, but for THIS mama it may have well been half his finger! HE didn't cry, but I sure did! He just kind of looked at me like, 'why are you crying, mama?' So I bandage his poor little mama-induced owie and in a couple of days it was fine.

Case #3
Jimmy was slightly club-footed as a baby, due to his position in the womb, so at about age 3 months, our family Dr ordered foot braces for him. Basically what it consists of is 2 hard soled shoes, but on the opposite feet, with a steel brace in between. To be worn at night while he slept. Well, one morning I took his braces off to bathe him, only to find that the skin underneath his big toe had somehow stayed too moist, and was peeling away, leaving an ugly, gaping wound. It honeslty looked like someone had taken a knife and sliced his toe. I totally freaked out, and ran him straight to the Dr, bawling like a baby myself. Once again, I'd hurt my baby. Or so I thought. The Dr assured me that I had not hurt him, but rather the shoes were wrong for him. Of course, being a novice at this mommy business, I didn't have a clue. So the Dr suggested just getting a regular pair of shoes, and putting them on the wrong feet, which I did. It worked perfectly.

So many mistakes I made with him...and I worried that somehow the mistakes I made would scar him for life. Thank the Good Lord, they didn't.

So, as our son pledges his life to his bride, I'd just like to say how very proud we are to be his parents. My little baby, married. Wow. It blows my mind, and puts a knot in my throat the size of a heart-mine.

To my firstborn: I love you son, and I wish nothing but blessings for you & Jessica as you embark on your life together, as husband and wife. May God provide you with decades of blessings, good health, and prosperity.

Until next time....Blessings~

Family Ties

2008-09-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

No, not the sitcom....the REAL thing!

We're 10 days out from the wedding. Everyone has been so incredibly busy the past few weeks, and the other night as I was sitting on my porch swing, I was thinking about how nice it'd be to have a family night again, where everyone could be together and just kind of reconnect and regroup as a 'unit'. Lo and behold, Jimmy called me tonight. 'Hey mom, we were thinking it'd be nice to have a family dinner next Wed night. You know, just to hang together and relax and decompress a little'....I couldn't agree more!

You see, that's what our family does. We regroup on a regular basis. Whether it's getting together to watch a football game, or getting together just because....it's what we do. Good times AND bad. If a little too much time passes without a family get together, someone always makes the comment 'it's time to get together again', and plans are immediately in the works to try to figure out everyone's schedules, and also a day where Brian & Shannon actually have the same day off so that we can ALL attend.

It's the same way with holidays. We pick a time where everyone can be here, and we plan accordingly. Sometimes we have Christmas on Dec. 26th...even the 23rd if need be, as long as it's a time that works for the whole family. That's one of the things I love most about my family-we're all pretty flexible....

I'm thrilled that my family loves spending time together-there's just no better feeling in the world.

Family ties that can never be broken. What a gift.

Until next time....Blessings~

Fall is almost here....

2008-09-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

Fall is 2 weeks away. It's my favorite season. It's a nice cool-down after a long hot summer, although THIS summer has been alot milder than summers past.

I love everything about Fall. The cooler evening temps means that it'll be later in the day before I have to turn the A/C on, if at all. It's also better sleeping weather, just cool enough to pull up the sheet, but not so cold that you need your snowman jammies to keep from freezing.

The leaves on my trees are changing from green to yellow. That's the only thing about Fall that I'm disappointed in-my beautiful shade trees going naked. Although it can be a good thing in the winter, because my Texas Umbrella trees look like giant twigs poked into the ground, but on a chilly winter day, the missing leaves allow the warmth of the sun to penetrate my living room windows, and that it heavenly.

Fall also means another family trip to Bates Nut Farm/Pumpkin Patch. Oh, we have such a wonderful time up there! Going on the hayride, watching the kids pick out their pumpkins, playing games, riding rides... and the store...oh man, that is the highlight of my trip! And, of course, the traditional King Family picture just before we leave. Afterwards, it's over to someone's house to carve the pumpkins, and just enjoy family time for the rest of the day. I love family outings like that...

I love the Fall colors too-the reds, oranges, yellows, all the colors that make life bright on a sometimes dreary day. Fall is also the smells of baking goodies...cookies, pumpkin muffins, hot apple cider, pies...oh yumm! My hope is to bake alot more this year, now that I'm down to just the one job. I love baking in Fall-it helps heat the house up...LOL...and thus becomes energy-efficient! A two-fer!

One of these years Jim says he wants to take me back east, to his early childhood hometown, to experience Fall in a way we west coast natives never imagined. I can't wait. I'd love to visit New England and see for myself how beautiful it is in the Fall...maybe someday...

I want to enjoy Fall for a couple of months before I get into the Christmas crunch/rush....you know....'the calm before the storm'.....have a Happy Fall!

Blessings~

My Sons

2008-09-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, so after the blog about my beautiful 'girls', I realized that I have yet to brag about my handsome sons....my bad! My firstborn, belonging to Jessica, is Jim, there on the left. My 'baby' boy, on the right, is Brian, and he belongs to Katie.

What can I say about these two? Best sons ever, for starters! Best big brothers I could have ever asked for, for their 'little' sister, best husbands to the women who love them, and best daddies to their children...they make me SO incredibly proud.

My 'boys' are so special, and very near and dear to my heart. I am blessed to have such a wonderful relationship with each of them. They look out for their mom & dad, a quality that thrills me! They've both told us that if there's ever a time that mom & dad need to be taken care of, they're there for us, and that as long as they can help it, neither mom OR dad will ever end up in a 'home'...our future is secure.

They're men of integrity, always striving to do the right thing. The bond that I share with my sons is something that I cherish beyond words. It's said that most times, sons are more strongly bonded to their father than they are to their mother. I beg to differ. I've had heart-to-hearts with my sons, and trust me, we've covered it ALL. Above all, I love the honesty that we share. Yes, at times, the truth DOES hurt, but we always get past it and move on.

I watch my sons with their children, and my heart is thrilled. They're very hands-on daddies, and my heart swells with joy as I see them interact with their kids much in the same way their own father interacted with them. I know they will be awesome fathers-they already are!

I am blessed with these sons that God has given to me, and my hope is that Jim & I have trained them up well...so far, it seems as though we have.

Thank You Lord, for my precious sons. May they, as parents, be as blessed by their children as we have been.

Blessings!

My Beautiful Daughters

2008-09-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Here they are-my 3 beautiful daughters. I took this photo today at Jessica's bridal shower. We had lots of yumm-o food, great conversation, and fun games....sweet prizes too!

I am blessed among mothers. Not only do I have the most wonderful daughter in the world, but I also have the 2 best daughters-in-law that God could have provided me with. My sons have chosen wisely, and God has blessed them with women of integrity, intelligence, and talent.

Katie & Jessica are such welcome additions to our family, and the sisters that I was never able to provide Shannon with. We have so much fun together, and I know beyond doubt that the love we share is genuine.

We look forward to decades of happiness, laughter, and love.

Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with these women.

Until next time....blessings to you~

T.G.I.F.!

2008-09-05T17:26:00.000-07:00

I've been looking forward to Friday since Monday! Seems like every day there's something going on. Maybe it only SEEMS that way because each day is a day closer to 2 very important events in my life. The first being Jimmy & Jessica's wedding, in 14 days!! Yippee!

The second being that it's now only 17 days till my vacation....DOUBLE Yippee!! I am SO ready for a few days away. Booked a room at Harrah's in Laughlin. Gonna spend some time just relaxing along the river, and going shopping at the HUGE outlet mall they have there. I may 'play' a little, but will no doubt spend more at the outlet mall than I will feeding those little one armed bandits! The whole point of my trip is to just get away from reality for a few days. No, there's no escaping reality, but there IS reprieve, and I aim to make the best of it!

I've been fighting a stupid sinus infection for about a month now. Already went round one with antibiotics, but am thinking it may be a good idea to go back to the Dr for round two, and tell him I NEED to get better-my son's getting married!

Had a sick kitty too, who, after spending a SINFUL amount of money on, is hopefully on the mend. He started losing weight-a good thing since he was overweight-but he lost rapidly, so off to the vet we go, and after xrays and bloodwork, decided that it's a bad tooth that needed to come out...he still isn't eating his crunchy food, but is gobbling up the wet food happily, and is now getting REALLY spoiled on canned food 3-4 times a day. How do I explain to my other 'kids' that their brother needs it, and they don't? LOL...you should see the looks of disappointment I get when I call Terk into the bathroom to feed him, and shut the others out...

I've discoverd another reality show that I really like. It's called 'Wife Swap', been on for years, but I accidently ran across it the other day, and boy lemme tell ya, it can get REAL hairy REAL fast. Talk about reality check! Nice to see things change for the better in a family, and some of those husbands & wives can really tell it like it is! 4pm Mon-Fri on Lifetime...one of my favorite channels...Reba ROCKS!

I'm so glad it's Friday. I'm tired....

Until next time....Blessings~

RAIN!!

2008-08-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Yippee! It's raining! Well, sort of. More like a light sprinkle, but boy do we ever need it badly!

For those of you who really know me, you know that I am NOT a rain lover. But we've been SO parched and dry, and all kinds of allergy-producing junk in the air, and we've needed something like this to clear the air. I love the smell of rain, and even better is the CLEAN refreshing smell after a good rain. Just suck it into your nostrils snd enjoy!

Of course, with this current rain, there's also the stifling humidity-that's a BIG ugh...but that's also when we go outside, enjoy the water falling from the sky, then come back inside, where the AC is running 24/7...I really do sympathize with those who don't have AC....

Oh and of course, there's just enough rain to not really drench everything, but it does do a good job of mucking up the car! Took a trip to Wally's this morning, and by the time I got home, there was not only wet dust, but some kind of oily substance all over my van. Just nasty, and I'm sure not good for the paint job... That meant a trip to Jerry's B Street Car Wash. So now my van has no more of that nasty whatever-it-was on it. 7 bucks well spent in my opinion.

Enjoy the rain while it lasts. Even though we're fast approaching our 'rainy season', there's no guarantee that we'll see rain anytime soon...

Blessings!

She Ain't Heavy

2008-08-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

Oh yes she IS!! 'She' being Peyton. I had the pleasure of entertaining her last night while the rest of the family did their Fantasy Football Drafting....we had fun! She was Grandma's siamese twin...joined at the hip for most of the night, only seperated for a few brief moments when she went to see someone else....but as soon as she eyed Grandma, it was arms outstretched and little fingers wiggling. SO very cute, and do you have ANY idea how it feels when a grandchild says 'I love you Grandma', as Alissa & Justen so often do, or a grandbaby that can't talk yet makes the motion of wanting you? Man talk about the BEST feeling in the world! Their love is SO unconditional. They love you just because you're you, and for no other reason.

Back to Peyton...I'm sure she, at 7 months old, had surpassed doubling her birthweight. I'm sure because I'M feeling her weight this morning! LOL...again, being a 'Grandma's Girl' meant Grandma packed her around on the hip, and said hip is NOT happy this morning. Oh, but what a small price to pay for having such a good time. We had floor time, we had toy time, we had a short naptime, and we even took a little walk outside, then sat & chatted with the 3-year-old ADORABLE neighbor boy, until his mommy told him it was time for his bath...then it was back upstairs to rejoin the group and say our good-nights. Oh yes, and we ate too! Squash and peaches...and we also now know how to do a 'raspberry' with food in our mouth! Fortunately, she didn't do that but once last night, and then it only seemed to be more of a 'warning' that more may be coming...whew-it didn't! LOL...

Well, Grandma will remember NEXT time that Peyton has a stroller, and also that Peyton doesn't NEED to be picked up every time she whimpers, but it's SO hard to resist! I have to keep reminding myself that by 'rescuing' her every time she whines makes it harder on Mommy & Daddy when no one else is around. Of course, I'm not the ONLY one to blame here-there are plenty of relatives just as guilty as me...LOL...but hey, as a Grandma, that's my 'right'.....right?

Blessings~

Summertime/Fantasy Football

2008-08-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about summertime is the lesser amount of laundry that I do. This was especially true when my kids were growing up. I did an average of 12 loads per week, and more in winter! Of course, that included both school AND play clothes, but summertime was shorts and t-shirt (or NO shirt for my boys) time, and made this mommy's chores alot lighter! Even now that it's just Jim & I at home, laundry is a breeze, with shorts & t-shirts, and summertime jammies...

Summer evenings are an absolute delight lately. Have you noticed the significant change in our weather pattern this year? It's nowhere near as hot as summers past. I just LOVE sitting outside on my porch swing during sunset. Not only is it a beautiful sight to behold, but all seems so quiet at about that time. Folks are home from work, and probably inside eating dinner and unwinding from yet another day at the grindstone. Even the neighborhood doggies seem quiet. Shortly thereafter, the neighborhood comes alive again, with families taking evening walks, and people walking their dogs. I love watching the activity!

Talk about good sleeping weather-we have it! Cool enough, in fact, to pull not only the sheet up, but the lightweight bedspread as well...downright chilly! But oh so wonderful to NOT have 75 degree nights when sleep evades us...

It's also Fantasy Football time! My family is SO into it! We're meeting at Brian & Katie's tonight to choose our teams. I'm not playing...I just never could grasp football, but I love getting caught up in the excitement and good-natured teasing that goes along with it...I'll play 'babysitter' to Peyton-hey, someone's gotta watch the kid, right?

Last year Summer (Brian Hathaway's fiancee) was the champ-and she's determined to hang onto her title this year too...way to go Gingy Snap! It'll be a fun season, and will give us yet one more good 'excuse' to have a family BBQ after the season is finished....so off we go!

Until next time....Blessings to you!

Two Brothers, A Little Sister, And A Baseball Bat

2008-08-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Jess LaTour's latest blog entry. Her boys, Noah & Jack, one by one, 'biffed it'. Boy did that story take me back in time...22 years back in time!

Picture it....Summer 1986...two young boys, ages 8 & 11, and a 5 year old girl.

The boys decided to play baseball out in the yard, and after a stern warning from Mommy to watch out for little sister, they happily went out to burn off some pent-up energy. All was well, for a short time.

All of a sudden an ear-shattering scream rocks the quiet summer evening.

The little girl comes screaming bloody murder into the house, with a knot the size of a baseball right smack in the middle of her forehead! Mommy, of course, is panicked, thinking that this child's skull is broken for sure, and immediately calls the Dr, who assures Mommy that all will be well if she follows instructions and wakes the poor little girl up every hour during the night to make sure her pupils are equal. Oh and give Children's Tylenol for pain too, that will help her sleep.

Once the Mommy and the little girl are calmed down, Mommy goes out to find the brothers to find out exactly what happened. She finds the 11 year old, in tears, but the 8 year old is nowhere to be found! Daddy & Grandma start looking for the missing child, when all of a sudden he appears, seemingly out of nowhere, and he is as white as a sheet, and terrified that his baby sister is dead.

You see, HE is the one who accidently clubbed her with a baseball bat! And when he thought he'd killed her, he ran and hid in the shed.

So Mommy, feeling SO bad for these little boys, calls them inside and assures them that their baby sister isn't dead, just hurt, and that this is the very reason Mommy warned the brothers to be careful, and had also warned the baby sister to stay away from the brothers while they were playing baseball...but, being a typical 5 year old, baby sister did NOT heed Mommy's warning, ran behind her 8 year old brother, and therefore got lambasted...

A happy reunion for the 3 children ensued, and all was well, once again.

The End....

Vacation Time!

2008-08-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well, almost...
The next 30 days are going to be mighty busy ones! The BIG event, of course, being the wedding of Jimmy & Jessica, which I talked about in my last blog. Between now and Sept. 20th, there is much to do...whew! But I know it'll all be SO worth it...

Once we get our son married off, Jim & I decided that it's time to take some time for US, so we're planning a little mini vacation...to the Colorado River! Ok so I know what you're thinking...'No way! You are NOT going to the Colorado River! You don't have a boat, you don't have camping equipment, so how are you gonna go??'

Well, let me tell you...the Colorado River runs for miles, and one of the places it runs through is Laughlin, Nevada, and yep, that's where we've pretty much decided that we're going. We've been several times before, and had lots of fun. It's SO much better than Vegas, in terms of cleanliness and crowds, and one of our favorite things to do is walk along the Riverwalk, the whole length of the strip. Heck, maybe this year we'll get brave and rent jet skis! That'd be SO cool...

I'd be lying to you if I told you we weren't going to 'play' just a little. We WILL play...a LITTLE. We also like to drive around surrounding areas and communities, kind of see how other towns are set up, and what they have to offer. It's just fun little day trips, but we get to see places we normally wouldn't.

Laughlin also has a TOTALLY awesome Outlet Center, with all kinds of shops-it's one of my favorite places, and I never leave empty handed! The casinos are fun to browse too, if you keep an open mind. It's not all just about gambling, but I'm really into the architecture of the buildings, how they're designed, and decorated. Some are so beautiful...and just the general upbeat atmosphere. Some may not agree with my opinions, but that's okay-they're MY opinions. The key is to keep yourself in check when you're in places like that, and for me it's just never been a problem, thank the good Lord.

Jim & I really NEED this time away. It's been an extremely rough year, and in everyday life, there are alot of distractions, i.e. the tvs, phones, computers, scanners, jobs, and a whole host of other 'issues'. We have our very best talks on long road trips. No interruptions, and most of the time we end up making some of our most important decisions in the car, simply because we've REALLY been able to communicate. I am SO looking forward to this trip, if for nothing more than to 'Get outta Dodge' for a few days, forget everything, relax, and decompress. It does wonders for the mental health! And for the marital lines of communication!

I can't wait!

Until next time....Blessings!

A Family Affair

2008-08-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

We're a mere 5 weeks away from Jimmy & Jessica's wedding. It's really been quite the family affair! You can bank on King Family involvement any time there's a wedding, bridal or baby shower, birthday party, or any other kind of celebration. Yes, even a memorial service for a beloved family member who has passed on. We're there.

It's been fun being involved in this wedding from the get-go! As parents of the Groom, our role is small in comparison to that of the Bride's family, but nonetheless, we're as involved as anyone else, and we are honored and appreciate the opportunity to help out wherever we can.

Shannon cranked out over 200 wedding invites, as well as the bridal shower invites. She had some very real issues with the paper punch (or should I say SEVERAL paper punches), but she was more determined than the paper punches were, and she prevailed. The invitations are beautiful. She and Katie have been planning the bridal shower for Jess...with the help of Jess' Matron of Honor, Annelise, who is helping from her home down in the south-Tennessee I believe, and of course, Jess's mom Linda and myself as well.

Brian, as his brother's Best Man, has been helping as much as he can too, when he's not out somewhere on a fire! He just got back from the fire at Yosemite, and is now able to take a more active role as Jimmy's 'right hand man'. The King menfolk went down today to get fitted for their tuxes. Jim, Jimmy, Brian & Justen will also have the afternoon to spend some quality 'guy time' together. I love it. I love it when the 4 most important men in my life have time together. I think it's a top priority for the family threads to strengthen with passing time. And this afternoon will be one that my guys will remember and look back on fondly. I'm excited for them!

Jessica & I went over the rehearsal dinner menu today. I've had some thoughts on it that I ran by her before, but we haven't had the opportunity to REALLY sit down and discuss it. So, it's all set. We also ordered the bouquets a few weeks ago, so that's one less thing to do. Now it's just a matter of synchronizing everything so that it all falls into place. No problem. I'm a planner. It'll work out wonderfully, of that I am positive!

Both Jessica's family and ours are DIY families. We figure the more we can do ourselves, the sweeter the occasion, because everything is done with love. Yes, even the blood, sweat and tears portion is SO worth the eventual outcome. Hence the invites made by Shannon, and the weekends spent up at Tom & Linda's house, preparing the land and doing everything possible to ensure that this day will be a day that Jimmy and Jess will never forget. Everyone has had a hand in something, and I believe that those are the ties that bind both families into one GIANT family. And BTW-'giant' is an understatement...I thought MY family was big...Jess' is HUGE!

Jess' family hails from Guam, down in the South Pacific Islands, and she has aunts & uncles that will be preparing the wedding dinner, or should I say FEAST...let me tell you something, her family ROCKS! You have not had a 'feast' until you walk away from a Long Family dinner! Not only are they master chefs, but they are multi-talented as well, and, along with the DJ, will be providing some of the music at the reception. I can't wait! There are SO many wonderful Guamanian traditions, and several will be incorporated into this wedding. I love learning about other family traditions, and maybe even 'stealing' a few to inject into our own...you can never have too many family traditions...

As time draws near, and things get more hectic, I take moments like this to reflect on the core purpose of this celebration: the beginning of a new chapter for our son and his beautiful bride-to-be. We are so thankful. Jess is a most welcome addition to our family. My only hope is that I can be as wonderful mother-in-law to her as my own mother-in-law was to me.

So, things are pretty much set. Location, invitations, flowers, music, minister, menus, attire, and everything else that goes along with planning a wedding....now we just eagerly await Sept. 20th...when a new chapter begins.

Until next time....Blessings~

Wednesday Blurbs

2008-08-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

Good Evening All!

It's been a marathon month, but I think things are FINALLY starting to settle down...at least for the moment. There's still a wedding that is now only about 5 1/2 weeks away, which brings me to my first blurb...Those closest to me know that I absolutely HATE dress shopping for myself. I can never seem to find just what I want in the color that I want or in the style that I want. I think God knows this. I'm sure He does. I get a mental picture, but can never seem to find it in the 'real world'. Today was no exception. I had an idea of what I wanted to wear for Jimmy & Jess' special day, so I made the trek down to Ross in Escondido. Going through the numerous racks of dresses, and all I can find is GRANNY dresses! Definitely NOT in the style, color, or size that I'm looking for. Ok, ok, I know what you're thinking...'Penny, you ARE a Grandma!'. Yes, I'll give you that. I'm a Grandma 3 times over, but that doesn't mean that I have to LOOK like a Grandma, right? Ok, scratch Ross. I'll swing by North County Fair, it's on my way home.
I get to NCF, walk in the door of Sears, and this beautiful blouse just seems to jump right out at me! And it's on the clearance rack! Yippee! I grab it-it's my size! Oh joy! Oh and look at this! It's marked down to $9.99! It's beige, and lacy, and very feminine, just perfect. Does life get any better??? Ok, so...now I need a skirt. No problem, a brown skirt will be great. Oh there they are, on yet another clearance rack! Whoo-hoo! Oh and whaddya know? Just my size! Better try them on together to make sure it's a 'go'....and it IS! Oh man, do I feel blessed! Something that looks good on me AND fits! Yay! I am SO done shopping! I check out. (By the way, the skirt was on sale for $17.99, but at the register, it was marked down to $15.00!), so I got the whole outfit for less than $26.00! Yeehaw!
Now for the REAL test-the approval of my kids! I stop by Jimmy & Jess' house on the way home-they both REALLY liked it! Of course, the wedding colors being predominately brown & yellow, it blends right in, and I won't stick out like a sore thumb in the pictures. And of course, I want my kids to be proud of me. I think/hope Brian, Katie & Shannon will like the outfit!

Got my computer fixed today. I've been having trouble with the monitor and these weird squiggly squares on it, so decided to chat live with a Dell tech. That went well, until my computer shut down as the guy was tinkering with it-yes, HE was tinkering with it-from INDIA! He asked permission to access my computer, and it was pretty funky watching my mouse move all over the screen...turns out it was the video card. This was decided after 3 hours on the phone with the guy from India...good thing it was an 800 number! Long story short, they ordered the part, and a Dell tech came to my house today and had the new video card in in less than 10 seconds-amazing! And now no more irritating squiggly squares on my monitor! It's clear as a bell-YAY! Maybe those squares were the beginning of the end of the video card, huh?

Jim's in Vegas this week for his annual union conference. I talked to him today while I was on my way up the hill after my happy-ending-dress-buying mission. No worries, I had my hands-free headset on. The conference is going well. They're actually finishing up things earlier than planned, which, of course, means more 'free' time. Translated, that means more 'PLAY' time....he's bummed. Says the stars must not be aligning right or something because he's not winning. I told him, 'Do NOT lose everything! Mama needs new shoes!' Literally!.....

Until next time....God Bless!

Friday Ramblings

2008-07-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's Friday! I'm happy about that! I love Fridays....it means that I have the next 2 days off, with NO committments! Well, sort of....

One reason I'm happy that today is Friday, is that this is Jim's last day of work. He's on vacation for the next 3 weeks, which means that I don't have to set that freakin' alarm clock for the next 3 weeks, and boy does that make me happy! No HAVING to get up at 4:30 am! I'll be able to sleep in till at least, oh, maybe 5:30 am IF I'm lucky! I think I'll go easy on Jim for his first week. He's been working so hard, and deserves a rest. The second week of his vacation will be spent in Las Vegas at his union conference. At conference, it's 90% work and 10% 'play', seriously. I've been to conference with him from time to time over the years, mostly during the last couple of days, and it really is alot of work. So, that brings us to the third and final week of his vacation. I'll cut him some slack the first couple of days after he gets home, then I'll whip out my 'honey do' list! No way is he getting off by having 3 whole weeks to rest and play, and do a 'little' work...unh unh, NOT gonna happen! LOL....good thing he's not the type to sit around and do nothing!

See, we have this kitten. Her name is Casey. She's a year old. She's also our very own little terrorist. She's got it in her mind that Mom absolutely MUST feed her by 5:30 am or she will starve to death. Nevermind that she, along with the other furry 'kids', has a feeder for her eating pleasure, available to her 24 hours a day. No, that simply will not do. 'Mom MUST be up....BEFORE the sun is, so that she can feed me my wet food!'....Now, alot of cats will simply come up onto the bed and gently nudge their humans awake. Not Casey. No. That won't work. Casey pounces. Repeatedly....over and over again, just like Tigger. And she's QUICK! After she uses my body as a springboard, she dashes away before I can reach up to smack her and tell her 'Casey, NO!' And just as soon as I think I'm 'safe' to doze back off....there she is AGAIN! And again, until I finally say to heck with it and stumble out of bed....Ah well, cats are creatures of habit, and if we humans get them into the habit of eating early in the morning, we have no one to blame but ourselves if we can't sleep in....Casey also likes paper towels. She likes to unroll them. It's fun....for HER! Not so fun for mom, who, of course, has to take the paper towels she's unrolled and use them for floor wipe-ups after she's gotten wild on the kitchen floor while chasing her mice-TOY mice-and run headfirst into the water bowl. Ugh....good thing we love her! I captured a kodak moment with her after her last paper towel unrolling-doesn't she look proud of herself? Good thing we love her!

Mary Kay continues to improve, and will be coming home on Sunday. I'll be going to pick her up, since I think it'll be easier for her to get in & out of my van, versus her little car. It's been busy, going down to the skilled nursing facility in RB every day, and today is the last day for that. So Monday I should get back to my 'normal' schedule, thank goodness!

Peyton has a tooth! Saw it last Sunday while we were all together to celebrate Justen's 8th birthday. Was kind of bummed, because that means that she's moving out of the 'baby' baby stage, and headed towards toddlerhood. Yes, it was bound to happen sooner or later, but geez, where did the time go? Alissa is already 10, and Justen 8...when did THAT happen???

An update on the car situation involving my niece Willow & her hubby Kevin...well, their faith saw them through, and God provided...

Backing up to last week's car fiasco...the tranny went out on their Honda Odyssey...SO, Jim & I decided to go up to Temecula, where they were camping, load up all their camp stuuf, and bring it back here to store in our guest room until they could get the van back. We headed out, and long about North County Fair, the front brakes went out in MY van! Of course, we headed back home, and the next day (Thur) Kev & Willow crammed their camping stuff in Kev's little Honda Civic, and brought it here, then went back up to Temecula, picked up the kids, and headed home. Somewhere, in the middle of NOwhere I'm sure, the engine in Kev's Honda blew up. So, there they are, all 6 of them, spending several of the midnight hours on the road, until the tow truck could come and rescue them. They got back to AZ, but now they have NO vehicles. They have a van like mine in AZ...in the shop...and a van in Escondido, in the shop, and a Honda Civic that has breathed it's last. Kev was told by 2 different mechanics to just junk it because it'd cost more to fix than it's worth. Kev & Willow know that their stimulus check is in their PO Box in AZ, so that'll help. So they head off on their bicycles to the Post Office....TEN miles away-one way! In 115 degree heat! BUT, because of their trust in the Lord, He saw them through, and provided enough to get BOTH vans up and running! Today Jim & I will go to Escondido and pick up the Honda, and Kev & Willow will pick up their Dodge van in AZ, and will head out here this weekend to do the camping thing again, and to pick up the Honda...and Kevin can go back to work-thank You Lord!

Well, I'm outta here...gonna be another crazy/busy day, but I do thank God that even though I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off (gross, isn't it?), I'm reminded that God has given me the stamina to be crazy/busy.......

Until next time....Blessings!

Crooked Mechanics

2008-07-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, I need to vent about crooked mechanics. Why is it that they feel the need to screw people over? I just don't get it.

Two recent cases in point: A couple of blogs ago, I talked about Jim's car needing a new starter. No problems there, got it done just fine by a local mechanic. Well, then, as I mentioned, it started acting up again, so we took it to the same mechanic. Keep in mind, we've used this particular mechanic off & on for years, so they know us, and we know them (or so we THOUGHT). Turns out it was the battery, but the reason I repeat all of this is that it ties in with an attempt to get more money that they should have fairly charged. The guy calls Jim:

'Hey Jim, it's *****. The battery is the problem. We can put a new one in for a little over a hundred bucks.' Jim says 'Thanks but no thanks, I can get a battery cheaper elsewhere and put it in myself, so just leave it where it is and I'll come over after work.'

So we get over to the mechanic's, and Jim starts taking out the battery. ***** comes over and says, 'Oh, btw, I noticed that's a NAPA battery. Maybe you can get prorated on it since it's an '05 battery' Ok yes, he DID tell Jim that, and we DID get it prorated, and only ended up paying $38 and some change, but the fact remains, that rather than tell Jim right up front that it was a NAPA battery and possibly eligible for prorating, we was more than willing to charge us far beyond a fair price.

Needless to say, that aside from the occasional oil change, (we have coupons with them) we will be looking for a different, and hopefully honest mechanic here in town.

Next case: Last blog I told about how the tranny in my Niece Willow's van went out. We had it towed to aforementioned mechanic, who in turn refered them to a tranny place in Escondido. Kev (Willow's hubby) is talking to the guy about how much it's going to cost to rebuild the tranny. They guy comes up with a ridiculous price of $5,000.00! No way, says Kev-no way we can do that. The guy then drops the price to about $3,800 and tells Kev 'We can get you financed. Just give me the last 4 of your social and we'll get started.' So Kev, not having anywhere else to turn, says ok. Next day the guy tells Kev 'Sorry, we couldn't get you qualified for financing, is there anyone else who can help?' Long story short, Kevin didn't give this guy the go-ahead to fix his van, as he has no money to pay for it, so when he goes today to tell the guy it'll have to wait, the guy says he's almost done fixing it and when they can come up with the money, they can have their van back. I don't know about illegal, but I DO know it's unethical!

So I suggested that they go to Escondido Police Dept., and see if they can help, or if they can at least file a claim against this so-called mechanic. I looked this mechanic up-he's listed with the BBB, so I'll be passing that information along to Kevin as well. People like this just shouldn't be in business, and as I get older, I get more intolerant of lying/cheating/taking advantage, and I have NO problem calling those people on the carpet. It's just WRONG.

I've always said what goes around, comes around. Maybe not instantly, but definitely eventually! The Bible says that what we sow, we will also reap...so be it!

BTW-More mechanical problems. My van's front brakes started going out on me yesterday-NOT good. But God's provision allowed me to fork out the $240 for new brakes, by a mechanic that specializes in brakes, has been in Ramona for a LONG time, and is HONEST! Refreshing!

Until next time....blessings~

Crazy/Busy/WRONG!

2008-07-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a week it's been! From last Tuesday until today, it's been crazy/busy! Up & down the hill to be with Mary Kay, who is recovering nicely, daily chores, and rescues. Yes, rescues....of sorts anyway.

We had a family picnic on Sunday at Ramona Oaks Park. My niece Willow and her family were coming, so I called her with directions, thinking she was coming East Hwy 78 from the Escondido area (they're camping in Temecula). No worries, right? WRONG! Her hubby Kevin called me about 2:30. 'Willow's van broke down on Hwy 79.' What??? 'Whaddya mean Hwy 79? She's coming 78 Kev.' 'Nope, she's coming Hwy 79 Aunt Penny'....Ok let me call her & find out just where she is...yep, sure enough, she's on Hwy 79. I'm thinking she took a wrong turn somewhere and is headed for Julian! So I asked her what the cross street nearest to her is. 'Ramona Trails Road, Aunt Penny'...'Ok , I know exactly where you are hon. Stay put (like they're going anywhere???) and I'll be there as soon as I can.' She had come the 'back way' from Temecula, and never would have arrived because I'd given her directions from an entirely different direction! But long story short, we got everyone and everything thing loaded into what Shannon calls my 'Granny van' and we made it to the picnic.

Now, the main reason we decided on Ramona Oaks Park is because Brian was on duty, so we thought the station could come join us and eat & visit for a bit, which they did. Willow, the kids, and I arrive at the park a little after 4pm... Good, they're still here! We can visit, and I can see my son for a bit.....WRONG again! As I approach the picnic area, they get up and start walking. Turns out they got a call (of course!), so they're outta there! Well crud, ok, duty calls....fortunately it turned out to be nothing serious, so they came back for a few minutes. Ok so I only got to visit with him for a few, but no worries, we can always come out to the station this week and visit for a bit.... WRONG! Brian called last night-they were headed up north to Big Sur today to relieve the other firefighters that have been up there for 35 days now. UGH-ok well, I knew when HE signed up, WE signed up too...again, duty calls, so be it. THEY need him more than we do right now. Go ahead son, and be safe.

Got an awesome surprise this morning around 9:30-ish. Shannon called and told me that Brian was going to be on KUSI News live at 10am. I'd just arrived at the rehab facility and was getting ready to go up to Mary's room. I called Jim at work and told him to be sure and watch. 10:00 came, and sure enough, there was Brian, big as life, giving an absolutely professional interview. Boy was THIS mama ever proud! Gotta find someone who recorded it-Shannon said hopefully Jess LaTour did (I HOPE so!). Anyway, everyone was loading up the bus to head out, and Brian gave a very professional and knowledgeable to the reporter, explaining exactly why they were going, and what everyone, including himself, would be doing. I'm sure that Brian will be buying ALOT of ice cream in the near future! To have your pic in the media, or give an interview, among other things, is constituted as 'an ice cream offense' among firefighters. Maybe he'd better buy stock in Cold Stone, or Breyer's huh? They've packed a 21 day supply of everything, so looks like he'll be gone for a few weeks. When asked if he was leaving family, he said yes, his beautiful wife Katie, and their 6 month old daughter Peyton. What a neat guy! Of course we'll all miss him like crazy, and we pray for his & everyone else's safety up there, and a safe return home. Can't come fast enough for us, but I know it REALLY can't come fast enough for Katie! Bless her heart, she's such a trooper, and takes Brian's career in stride, and supports him, and that endears her to us all the more. She's SO awesome!

Back to Willow's van. Someone is ROYALLY trying to screw them over! Grrr! AAA towed it to our mechanic here in town. Turns out it's the transmission, and they only service trannies, they don't repair them, so the mechanic referred them to a tranny place in Escondido. Get the van towed down there, and not only does this place (Rapid Transmission) charge them over $600 just to LOOK at it, but is NOW telling them that it'll cost almost $5,000 to fix it! ARE YOU FREAKING SERIOUS???? I told Willow & Kev to maybe call some places up here & shop around, see if they can get a better deal somewhere else. Seriously, does it REALYY cost $5,000 to fix a tranny these days? I really don't know, but c'mon already! They need a financial blessing, and they need it NOW.

So much more I want to say, but I think I'll save it for next time. We have a wedding coming up soon, so I'll definitely be blogging about that! I can't wait!!!

Until we meet again....blessings to you~

Through a Child's Eye

2008-07-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've made my first attempt at uploading pictures for my blog. Now if I can just learn how to line this up properly, I'll be doing good! Ah well, maybe I'll figure it out by the end of this post-but if not, then at least the pictures are posted, and that's the important thing, right?

Now then, onto my thoughts for today.....My grandkids are amazing.....I'm sure they're no more amazing to me than other grandkids are to THEIR grandmas. On the left are pics of our beloved grandkids. Alissa, on the top, is the firstborn of our beautiful blonde-hair-blue-eyed Princesses. She's 10. Justen, our very own little Prince Charming, just turned 8, and Peyton, our newest little Princess, is just 6 months old.

I guess the way that they amaze me is when I try to look at things from THEIR perspective. I look at each of them, and I can see the 'wheels' turning in their little minds. Everyday things that we, as adults, have seen or experienced hundreds of times, that they are seeing or experiencing, maybe for the first time. I love watching them learn. It's exciting to watch that little lightbulb go on over their heads. "Ah, I get it now!' Or, 'Wow! I didn't know that!'. The two older kids are at an age where we can carry on an honest-to-goodness conversation with them. They really teach us more than we teach them I think!

We had Peyton for a little while last night. The heat finally let up and it was a beautiful summer evening. I hoisted Peyton on my hip, and we went outside for a bit. She was fascinated by everything, but most especially by the rustling of the trees. She loves trees. She could stare at them for hours. Then something else caught her attention. Pretty flowers in our neighbor's yard. She just started at them, mezmerized. I told her, 'Those are flowers, Peyton.' Then a car drove by. She looked at it. 'That's a car, Peyton'. I just kept naming the things that she looked at. That's how they learn to identify things, by us telling them what those objects are that they're so enthralled by. Then two of her VERY favorite things to look a came by. Her Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Jess. She got all excited! Of course, giggles followed, and she got to spend a few minutes of quality time with them. After they left, Grandma & Peyton spend some quiet time on the porch swing. Really took me back to when Alissa & Justen were babies, and I rocked them on that swing too. She just sat there next to Grandma, looking at everything, taking everything in. I sure wish I could have gotten into her little mind to see what she was thinking. All too soon, mommy came to collect the munchkin, but the short time we spent with her really left an impression on me. Made me REALLY think about what goes on in their little minds, and how fascinating it is to watch them see & learn things for the first time. I guess, just maybe, that they teach US about the simpler things in life.

We are blessed, in that our grandkids all live here in town, so we see them often. We have family get-togethers whenever possible, so Grandma & Grandpa get to be a big part of their lives. It's so awesome!

Lord, help me to teach our grandchildren things that will help make their world better, but MOST importantly, help me teach them about You.

Until next time....Blessings to you

It's a 'Mom' Thing....

2008-07-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Or is it???

I've had some time off, what with Mary Kay being in the hospital, and I got ALOT accomplished today. Mary came through her hip surgery just fine, and is hopefully on the mend now...

One thing I did was to go over & visit with Brian, Katie & Peyton for a bit. Brian just had MAJOR oral surgery on Monday. Had a wisdom tooth that needed to come out, however, it was grown into his jawbone, which means....right....he had to have a good sized part of his jawbone removed. I've been fretting ever since I found out he was having the surgery. I think it's a 'Mom' thing. He's fine, of course, although still quite swollen and sore, and he's supposed to go back to work tomorrow. He'll have to be extremely careful, as one wrong bite of food, or even a slight bump of his jaw can break it. I worry. In one's job, we have a tendency to just do what needs to be done, without a second thought that WE could get hurt doing said job. I'm hoping he'll opt for just one more day off to heal even a little more, but.....he's a big boy now, with a family of his own, so he will decide what's best for him....NOT Mom...LOL...

Jimmy and Shannon, in the course of their adult lives, have also been banged up and bruised. I worried about them then too, and when any of my kids are sick, I feel like the first thing I need to do is rush in and 'mother' them. Shannon had the stomach flu a few weeks ago. My first instinct was to rush right over to her place and sit with her, and wait on her hand and foot till she felt better. But I didn't. Instead, I told her to call me if she needed anything and I'd be right there. Literally. She just lives about a block up the street from us. She knew I'd come running if needed.

Jimmy, playing basketball recently, messed his foot up pretty good. At the time he was living in Escondido, but that didn't stop THIS mom from wanting to drop everything, go down there, take him to the Dr., and do whatever else was needed to help him along.

It's SO natural to want to be there for your kids, whatever their age, or stage in life. To kiss away their hurts, and to reassure them that all will be well. To tell them, 'No, I don't think you should do this', or 'No, I don't think that's the right decision....do it THIS way'...and the list goes on...but, as THIS mom has found, there comes a time in your life, and in the lives of your kids, when you must stand back and watch them fall, and make the wrong choices, and make mistakes that will follow them through the years. They make choices that you cannot 'fix' and mistakes that you cannot make 'go away', and any TRUE mother will tell you that, above ALL else, the hardest thing you will EVER do in your life is to take that proverbial step back and watch your kid's lives unfold in front of you, and NOT interfere, for that is how they learn. From their mistakes. They fall. Hard, sometimes. And our job, as a mom, is to be there to pick up the pieces when we can. Some pieces can't be picked up, and I suppose it's then that we take on the role of moral support and sounding board. Maybe that's what our grown kids need the most: moral support, encouragement, reassurance, advice, and maybe most important of all....a mom. It's a 'Mom' thing. I guess it'll never end, and I don't want it to.

So, to my children, I leave you with these thoughts: I thank God every day for you. I love the 3 of you beyond words. You have been such incredible blessing to your dad and me. I have loved being your mom, and I have so many happy memories of your childhoods. Please forgive me if I find it hard to 'let go'. Grown or not, you are still my babies, and will always be my babies, like it or not. :0) Forgive me when it seems that I'm trying to dictate to you what you SHOULD do. I'm really not dictating. I'm trying to outgrow it, so bear with me.

It's a 'Mom' thing......

Until next time, blessings to you!

God wins....and so do I!

2008-07-08T18:11:00.001-07:00

I've heard it said that sometimes it's good to write our thoughts down, that it helps to alleviate the stress.....so here goes....this may sound like a 'whine' session, but really, all I need to do is decompress, so if you don't want to read 'whine', then I suggest you close out this window now...LOL...and if you continue reading, thank you in advance for your patience...

It all started on Sunday. Nothing went right. Everything I tried to do, I either managed to mess up, or hurt myself (nothing serious, just enough to irritate me) trying. The final insult to injury was getting stung (sort of) by a bee. I hate shoes. I go barefoot as much as I can. I went out to my porch swing to sit & think. I lightly (thankfully!) stepped on a bee that I didn't see there. YEOWIE! Boy that smarted! I looked, and didn't see a stinger, but boy that puppy hurt, so I came in and put a baking soda paste on it-took the sting out instantly! It finally dawned on me later in the day that this is a full-fledged, head-on attack from the devil. Usually happens when God is about to bless my socks off. Ok fine, all I need to do is pray-which I did-and everything will be fine.....yeah RIGHT! The attack has continued, and still I pray, and I know beyond doubt that not only is God protecting me, but the He and I WILL prevail, and I WILL come out of this attack unscathed.

Ok, Sunday is over....let's move on to Monday...not a bad day really, and actually a pleasant day. Got to watch Peyton for most of the day while Mommy took care of Daddy, who underwent a major oral surgery. He's fine, btw, I talked to Katie today, and he'll live...LOL....ok, where was I? Oh, right, babysitting Peyton. She's 6 months old today, and it's such a fun age! Later in the day my niece Julie and her hubby Jeremy, and their 3 month old baby girl Hannah came to visit, so we had fun with both babies...still a pleasant day, until early evening, when Jim went outside to start his car for some reason. It's dead. Stone dead. Well, maybe not-let's try jumping it with jumper cables & see if we can get 'er fired up. 'Ok, Jeremy can you help Uncle Jim push the car out of the car port so we can jump start it?' Oh good-Jimmy's here-he can help too! Yay! We get the car backed out, I pull my van up, we connect the cables, and presto! Should start right up.....NOT! It's STILL deader than a doornail....UGH, and it's 5:15. Not much we can do about it tonight. Jim thinks it's the starter that we just paid several hundred dollars last month to be replaced. No problem, we'll just have it towed tomorrow morning and get it fixed-FREE of course. But wait! There's MORE......

Tuesday is here....I call Lee and tell him I'll be there between 9:30 & 10 to care for Mary Kay, because I'm waiting for the tow truck to come get Jim's car. The tow shows up just before 9:30...great! Charges me $50 to tow it approximately 1 mile-UGH, but what else can I do? Seems like a ripoff to me, but after seeing what the guy went through to get Jim's little car up onto the flatbed, well, I understand better now, and $50 doesn't seem quite so bad.
I finally make it up to Mary Kay's at 10am. As I'm walking up the sidewalk, I hear this strange noise. Almost like a whirring from a drill. Oh well, maybe Lee is installing those safety rails I asked him install so that Mary can go up & down the steps with something to hang onto. As I walk in the front door, it get's errily louder, and I see Mary's walker in the kitchen, so think she's in there talking to Lee, I pop on in. Oh CRAP! She's on the floor! It was her screaming that I heard! I run to her and tell her 'do NOT move! Let me find Lee!' I run outside-twice-screaming for Lee, but I can't find him. Oh geez! Oop, there he is! 'Lee come quick! Mary fell!' so we both rush back into the house, where I immediately grab the phone and dial 911. The paramedics here in Ramona are just THE best group of people, very compassionate and professional. Gently they lift her onto the guerney, and away they go to the hospital. I run home & pick up some money-never now HOW long something like this will take-call her daughters, and head down the hill, where they've got her into a room in the ER. Turns out she has fractured her hip. The Orthopedist says it's the best place to have a fracture, as it's easily fixable, but she'll be at least 2 weeks between the hospital and rehab. She has surgery tomorrow morning at 10:30-prayers are appreciated. The goose egg on her head will heal, and the hole in the wall from where her head hit can be repaired. That also means 2 weeks with no work for me, and no work equals no pay.

I feel bad (but not guilty) that satan tried to use Mary to get to me. He'll use anyone he can think of to trip us up. He'll use every dirty trick in the book. He hates us SO much, that above all, he'd like to see us dead, and burning with him. But you know what? That's not gonna happen. I serve a God who has promised me hope and a future, and an eternity with Him. Never have I been SO aware of His presence as I have this past few days. In the midst of this storm, I feel peace. His peace. All will be well. This verse from 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness' comes into my mind:

"Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness....Morning by morning new mercies I see.....All I have needed, Thy Hand has provided...Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.' Amen, and Amen.

Thanks for letting me vent. It felt good to 'release'.

Until next time....blessings to you!

P.S. Turns out it was the battery on Jim's car that needed replacing-and prorated it only ended up costing $38 and some change, and NO charge from the mechanic! Bless God!

Random Thoughts

2008-07-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well, we're smack in the middle of the 4th of July weekend, and I hope everyone is having a safe & wonderful time with family and friends! I've been reflecting on how blessed we really are to be living in the United States. Every time I hear Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless The U.S.A.' I get a knot in my throat. There really IS no better place to live. Sure, we grumble and gripe about everything from the economy, to gas prices, to politicians, and all of the very real life issues in between, but in reality, we DO have it better than any other country in the world. I've heard the old cliche, as I'm sure you have, that 'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence', but I, for one, am not willing to jump that 'fence' and see...I'll stay right here, thank you very much. God Bless The USA!

We've had a busy couple of days. Spent a few hours Friday afternoon up at Jess' parent's house in Valley Center, and, as always, had marvelous food, and, as usual, ate WAY too much-again...LOL...then made it home in time to watch the fireworks from the comfort of our own back yard.

One thing I've noticed is that I don't handle the heat as well as I used to. Chalk it up to age, or hormones, or whatever, but I just fizzle out after while. Used to be that I'd be running around in sweats in 80 degree weather, but nowadays, boy, once it gets past that 80 degree mark, I'm ready to turn the a/c on full blast and hibernate inside as much as possible. We were invited to Vail Lake up in Temecula today for a BBQ with my niece Willow and her family, as well as my other niece Julie (Willow's sister) and her family, and my sons and their families, but the more I thought about it, the more I just knew I couldn't face another day of sitting outside in the heat, even in the shade, so Jim & I wussed out. Then about 10am, a friend of ours called and invited us to a last-minute BBQ down at her house in San Diego-about 8 miles in from the coast. We immediately said yes, knowing it'd be ALOT cooler down there. And it was perfect! Maybe 80 degrees, and we had a wonderful time sitting OUTside and just chatting away. Got back up to Ramona early this evening, and it was so much cooler, so all in all, a good day! Hope our family doesn't feel like we abandoned them!

The one thing, or perhaps I should say, the one PERSON we've missed the most lately is Shannon. She's working something like a 24 day straight stretch. It's never a complete family gathering if even one person is missing. We'll have a big family get together later on, when both her and Brian can be with us. We love our family shindigs, and we have them as often as we can. We are so blessed.

That's it for now.

Until next time....God Bless.

I Am SO Lost!

2008-07-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, here I am, my new blog...and I am totally, hopelessley LOST! I don't know how to get from here, to where I want to be! LOL...

I thought I'd be 'cool' and start a blog, but I forgot one little detail....I am pretty much computer illiterate! Yikes! What do I do now? Is anybody gonna see this? How do I get this link emailed to everyone in my address book? SO many questions, and SO few answers!

Ah well, I'll keep trying. Maybe someday I'll get it right. I know, I'll wait till Shannon comes over-she'll help dear old Mom for sure!

Until next time (IF there's a next time), Blessings to you~

The Royal Family Diaries

2008-07-01T15:37:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone! Weclome to The Royal Family Diaries! Don't laugh at the title....after all, what did you expect with a name like KING?!

Be merciful, this is uncharted territory for me. I finally came to more of an understanding of my myspace page, so decided to venture out and start my own blog...I know, I'm behind the times, but hey, wait for me and I'll catch up!

Well, basically, I'm just your average Jane. I love my Lord, my family, and my furry kids. I can talk about any of them for hours.

I've been married to the same man for 34 years-and that's pretty darn good by today's standards. We met as kids-literally! Jim was our paperboy, WAY back in the days of bicycle paper routes. Long before motorized routes became the only method of paper delivery. We've been together since 1972-can you believe that???! We've been through so much together, and now we're headed towards retirement in the next 5 or 6 years. I can't wait! NO MORE ALARM CLOCK!!! Yay!

I have the 3 best kids that God ever created. Jim, Brian, and Shannon. They are my heroes. Even though they're adults, I constantly learn from them. The women that my sons have chosen to be their wives have been such a huge blessing. Jessica and Katie add so much to our family, and we are so incredibly thankful to have them in our lives.

My 3 grandbabies, Alissa, Justen, and Peyton, complete our family circle, for now. There will be more grandbabies to come, and Jim & I are so looking forward to that!

I love cats. I have 6 of them. No, I'm not crazy (although there are those who will challenge that statement!) They are my furry 'kids'. Each one has his/her own personality, and are precious to us, entrusted into our care by God. We have so many funny 'moments' with them, and some scary ones too, but overall, I can't imagine my life without them. Heck, I like my cats MORE than I do some humans!

I am a caregiver for the elderly. That's my calling in life. I love old people. They are such a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, and they have wonderful stories of yesteryear. It's so sad that so many fall through the cracks of society.

Well, I guess that's about it for this post. Until we meet again....blessings!