Hello 2012! My Word for the Year

Happy New Year!  Hello, 2012.  We spent a nice quiet New Year's Day at home.  We are expecting the coldest weather here since last February.  It will be in the 20's at night and the 30's during the day.  Today I think the high was about 60.  So we are in for  some true winter weather.  I'm not looking forward to it.

In the South, we eat black eyed peas, greens, and ham to bring good luck into the new year.  I didn't cook my dried peas early enough, so I started looking for some canned black eyed peas.  I didn't have any.  I ran to the Dollar General, and the only ones they had left had tomatoes and peppers in them. The can said it was called "Hoppin John".  So that's the type of peas we had with our ham, turnip greens, creamed corn, and chow chow.  We also had cranberry sauce, because GrandBoy was here and he likes it.  I hope we ate enough to bring lots of good luck and success into our new year.

I joined a new challenge called 31 Days to Pray For Your Spouse.  It started today.  Today we prayed for our selves.  What better way to help our prayers be right with God, than to be certain we are right with God before we start.  I'm looking forward to this month of prayer for my husband.  Pappy isn't a Christian.  So I will be praying especially that this time I spend in prayer will bring him closer to the Truth and eternal life.

WORD FOR THE YEAR:?

Now, for my word for the year.  I have given this a lot of thought.  I have pondered where I want to go in my life this year.  About what I want for my family.  About changes I want to make in myself.  My word for the year, is BOLD.  I think this word will best describe how I want to achieve the goals I have set for 2012.  I will have to be BOLD and reach out for the things I want.  I will have to do things even when I don't feel like it.  When I am tired, and overwhelmed with life.  I will need to be BOLD and keep going.  I hope this word is an encouragement to me this year to make the changes I want to make.  What is your word for the year?  Honey

GoodBye 2011

I've been missing, I know.  Been a lot going on here.  If anyone is still out there reading,  I'm sorry.  But I'm back now.  Starting to feel better after my surgery.  Still can't eat like I did, but I understand that is normal.  I've lost 20 pounds.  I would like to lose some more, so we will see.

We had a nice Christmas.  The family was able to get together and open gifts.  I came to realize since my birthday, that there is really nothing that I want or need any more.  So I'm thinking I would like to do something different next year, than receive gifts for myself.  I think I will ask for gifts for an organization, or a charity.  I have all year to think about that though.  I'm sure something will make itself obvious by then.

It has been busy around here, like I said earlier.  Our oldest twin is getting ready to start nursing school.  Her orientation is Wednesday, and she will have some oral surgery Thursday.  I'm not sure when her classes start, but it will be soon.  I think after her orientation she will have to gets scrubs and such.  How exciting for her.

Our second twin is talking to military recruiters.  She thought she wanted to go to the Navy, but now is leaning toward the Army because they will let her keep her hair!  She will take her paperwork back Tuesday, and go from there.  She would like to leave for basic in February.  Not long now. 

In the paper today, I noticed the comic for Family Circus.  The mom said "When all the kids are grown up and leave, it will just be the two of us".  And the dad said "It was just the two of us before the kids".  This is where we are in our life, and I need to commit this to memory.  New and exciting times are here for sure.  I have to remember that I can only see a small part of the picture.

My sister got engaged over Christmas!  I'm sure they are both excited.  She has been divorced for several years, and her children are grown, too.  She will be a "bonus" mom to two young boys.  I'm sure that will be new and exciting for her.   I don't know what their plans are yet.  But I know they seem very happy.  I hope they just go ahead and get married (without a long engagement), and start their new life together!

Today is my Aunt Betty's birthday.  It would also have been my father-in-law's birthday.  It is hard to believe he has been gone 10 years.  I know my husband misses him a lot, still.

Well, It won't be long now until the big ball drops.  When you all read this it will be the new year.  I hope 2012 is better than 2011.  I hope the economy turns around, and that jobs are created.  I hope banks start loaning money again and businesses are able to hire people.  I pray that the people study up on the candidates before the elections and vote for the best candidate for the job.  I pray that the Lord will keep His hand over our country and keep us from further decline.  I pray that great things are in store for our nation in 2012.

Happy New Year!  Love, Honey

GrandBoy and Pappy waiting for the Santa Train!  We all went for the train ride, all six of us!  GrandBoy loved the train, but was a little scared of Santa.  Wouldn't sit on his lap, but shook his hand and said, "You a good ole boy, Santa!"

Back from Surgery

I'm sorry I've been away for the last two weeks or so.  I had my surgery on Black Friday.  The surgery went well.  I had my gallbladder removed.  It was full of large stones and infected.  The only problem I've had really, since the surgery, is that I can't eat much.  At first I was taking bread and water.  The doctor says I can eat what ever I want, but I can't.  Any meat, or anything heavy, makes me sick.  So now I am eating mostly bread and vegetables.  And chocolate milk shakes!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  All my family, and a few friends also.  We have a lot to be thankful for.

We have had some changes with our children lately as well.  Daughter #1, our oldest twin, got accepted to nursing school!  She is very excited, and we are so proud of her.  She is very excited to get this part of her life started.

Daughter #2 is pretty sure she has decided to enlist in the Naval Reserves.  She decided this last week.  She would be leaving for basic in February.  She is very excited about the decision, and we are happy for her.

This year I'm not decorating much for Christmas.  I put up a small tree, and set out a few things.  That may be all that gets done this year.  I have to do some shopping this weekend.

Well, I think that is enough for tonight.  I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow!  Honey

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will be here, and may be already gone for another year.  I have so much to be thankful for, and I'd like to share a little of that with you.

When my girls were toddlers, we started a family tradition.  Starting November 1st of each year, once a day  I would take down our kitchen calendar and ask each daughter what she was thankful for.  Some days they would all be thankful for the same thing, maybe chocolate cake we had for desert.  Our maybe one daughter would be thankful for her favorite book every day for a week.  It didn't matter, I was just trying to get them to notice their blessings and be thankful.  What ever they said I would write down, until Thanksgiving.  Then My husband and I made a list also, and I would combine the lists and read them at dinner. 

Now our daughters are grown.  They write their own lists, and sometimes they don't chose to share them.  But we still record our thankful lists each year.  I remember one year my Aunt was with us, and she said, "you didn't tell us we had homework!"  One year after Thanksgiving, my sister gave me cute little Thankful cards after Thanksgiving to use the next year!

We also always invite others to share our meal with us.  This year I'm not sure who all will be at our table, since my daughters are grown and can invite their friends.  And even though I won't be able to eat what the others eat, I know we will have a wonderful time together.

Now, what I am thankful for this year.  I am thankful for having such a wonderful husband.  We have been together 30 years, and will be married 29 years next month.  He is always supportive of anything and everything I try. He is a wonderful provider and planner for our family.  He is a wonderful man.

I'm thankful for my three daughters.  We both really miss the three little girls who loved us and were so close.  But our girls are now grown.  I'm thankful they live near or with us.  I'm thankful they have jobs and are pursuing educations if they chose.  I'm glad they are safe and healthy.  I pray they continue to grow "in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man".

We are so thankful for our GrandBoy.  After raising three girls, this little boy is so different, and keeps us laughing all the time.  Today he didnt' want to do something Pappy told him to do.  So he told Pappy he could get a "new" boy.  When I got home, he told me, "Pappa going to get a new boy.  You tell him "NO", K Honey?"  I thought that was so cute! I hope this enjoyment continues for a long time.

I'm thankful Daughter # 3 and GrandBoy live down the road and are near enough that we can see them every day.  And I'm thankful that GrandBoy can start 3 year old kindergarten in our public school this fall.

I'm thankful Daughters 1 and 2 are in school, and pursing fields they will enjoy.  One in Nursing, and one in Criminal Justice.

I'm thankful to still have my parents, and my sister.  Some many people my age have neither parent, and so lucky to still have both.

I'm thankful for my job that I enjoy and go to each day. 

I'm thankful for our Church family, in our neighborhood church.  It is such an honor to study with people who are diligently seeking the Lord's truth.

I'm thankful that I am healthy.  And I'm thankful that after the medical scare I had Sunday evening, that I will be able to easily take care of this health problem and work on getting well quickly. 

I'm thankful for the friends I've made on the Internet, and the ladies that pray with me when I request it.

I'm thankful that we live on a farm and can easily produce a lot of what we eat.

I'm so thankful and blessed.  I can honestly say that there is really nothing that I need.  God has been good to us, and for that I am thankful. 

I hope you all have a wonderful day with your family and friends.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Honey

Surgery Scheduled

I saw my surgeon today.  My surgery for removal of my gall bladder and stones is scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m.  I have to be there at 11:00 am, and should be able to go home the same day.  My surgeon said the most important part is not to get overly tired in the first 7 - 10 days, or it will take me longer to heal and get well.  I'm a little concerned about what I will be able to eat afterwards.  But I'm so glad that what I have will be simple to fix.  Honey

Monday - My trip to the Hospital ER

Well last night was an eventful night for us!  It started out to be a normal Sunday.  We went to church.  After church, I was busy putting up the groceries for Thanksgiving dinner.  I ordered our Christmas cards and some business cards for Pappy and I.  I needed to go to the drug store to put some money on my "credit card" so I could pay for the order.  I decided that because we were so busy, I would pick up dinner on my way out.  I asked Pappy what he wanted to eat, and he said McDonald's was fine.  It is the closest to our farm, and has a drugstore next door.  So I went to the store, and then to the McDonald's drive through.  I got double cheeseburgers and fries for everyone.  Off the dollar menu, you know.  Then I went home to do more paperwork.

We ate, and I started the evictions.  I had 7 to get ready to post Monday.  That means the month is almost over, and 7 people haven't paid.  So I got my paperwork finished and wrote some cards to mail out.  I was starting to not feel so good.  I decided to take a bath, that would surely make me feel better.  Things really start escalate from here.

I thought I had indigestion.  I wondered why I was the only person who felt bad, when we all ate the same food.  I took 2 tums and got in the bath.  I stayed in the bath a total of about 5 minutes - just long enough to wash my face and rinse off.  I was so uncomfortable.  I decided I needed to lay down.  I was up and down, moving from room to room, and pacing.  At one point, Pappy said I could either get dressed, or he was calling an ambulance, but I was going to the hospital.  I had started to cry.  He had never seen me in so much pain.  I kept telling myself that I couldn't be having a heart attack.  Every time I have a check up they tell me how good my heart is, and my blood pressure.  I couldn't have a bad heart.  But I still thought I was dying!

My #1 Daughter helped me get dressed.  I couldn't lift my leg high enough to put my pants on.  I had a bra and shirt on, but had to take my bra off, because I was in so much pain, and couldn't breath!  My daughter said, "You aren't going to wear a bra to the hospital?"  I told her that I couldn't, I hurt too much.  My daughter has probably never seen me without a bra.  She knew I was sick.

So we get to the hospital and head into the ER.  There was a sign that said 4 hour wait.  The clerk asked if he could help me.  I said I don't think we can wait 4 hours.  Pappy said "she's having chest pains",  and the circus started.  Forget the four hour wait and the lobby full of people.  They rushed me around the ER, and called to report to someone that there was a "chest pain" in the chair.  People were grabbing my arms and doing different things and tests.  One person ran a thermometer around my whole face.  The guy doing my triage grabbed my shirt, pulled it up to put sticky things all over my chest, and was stunned!  I don't guess I looked like a person who wouldn't wear a bra.  His eyes got big as plates, and he jerked my shirt back down.  Then I guess he realized he had to get those sticky pads on my chest, so he hesitantly raised my shirt again.  My eyes rolled back in my head, and it was all I could do not to burst out laughing.  When it was all done, and they decided I was not currently having a heart attack, I announced that my daughter TOLD me not to come to the Er without a bra.  She's in nursing school, so I guess she knows those things.  You only ever hear about clean underwear, not bras.  But now I know.

In case you are wondering, I have gall stones.  I guess I have several, and a large one is blocking my duct.  The doctor wanted me to stay last night for surgery, but I asked to come home to schedule.  The surgeon agreed with me, so I am off to meet the surgeon tomorrow.  I will keep you posted on that development. 

And if you end up sick and have to go to the hospital, just pray that you hadn't just eaten McDonald's.  They will never believe that you rarely eat it any other time!  Trust me on that one.  Have a blessed week.  Honey

Sunday Promises

Today for my Sunday Promise, I would like to post a scripture reading that meant a lot to me when i was young.  This scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians 13.  I must have mentioned this story to my children once, because everytime they see something that references this scripture, they think we should have it!
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New International Version (NIV)

1 Corinthians 13

 ¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Have a blessed week!  Honey