Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012

This gloomy weather is getting very depressing.  More rain and cold wind today. But I'm not complaining, really I'm not. I'm thankful I can SEE it and I'm thankful for another day.

Several years ago we lived in the country, not far from a turkey ranch.  Besides dealing with the stink, I learned that a fungus was spread in the air from all those turkeys and their droppings. It's common in our area and a good percentage of people had it but never showed any signs of it. Well, I was one of the unlucky ones. One day I noticed my eyesight wasn't right. The doctor ran some tests and they found histoplasmosis, also called Ohio River Fever. 

"Histoplasma fungus grows as a mold in the soil. You may get sick when you breathe in spores produced by the fungus. Soil that contains bird or bat droppings may have larger amounts of this fungus. The threat is greatest after an old building is torn down or in caves."

Pasted from <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002073/>

I was treated with steroids when they found it in my eyes. When it was under control from spreading any further, I had to have laser treatments on my eyes, which left scare tissue. There are parts of my vision that is lost, so when I say… "I'm thankful I can SEE it" I am. I've learned to never take my vision for granted. 

Another bad part about this experience…. I was currently studying photography. I had to drop out. 

Well, that was one long story you probably never thought you'd hear. For some reason I felt like sharing that bit of me. Sorry for my rambling.

Today I worked on a little something special for one of my grandsons. He still believes in Santa and my daughter wants him to keep that as long as he can. I have to agree with her. This politically correct stuff of not letting kids have fantasies, to throw them into the truth all the time, is bologna, if you know what I mean. 

Anyways, for the last 4 years, ever since he was old enough to know about Santa, Marxen has written a letter to Santa and the letter always manages to come to our house. :)  One of the things he asked for this year was for a photo of Santa. I thought that was so cute. So I found a good picture online, printed it and wrote him a letter from Santa on North Pole stationery.  Grandma loves to treat them like this because they grow up too fast.  One other grandson I used to do things like this with him, is now 18 and going off to college. He doesn't believe in Santa anymore. :(

I think I'll enjoy an afternoon of Christmas movies and another hot pot of coffee.  I hope you have a wonderful day.

Take care.

God bless.

Sat. Dec. 8, 2012

Today is definitely a chili day. Yep, I mean chili. I mixed up a batch and put in the crockpot this morning. It was good and all I had to do was call him to the table. I love those kinds of meals. 

 I've been working all day around the house. It's too nasty to go out anywhere. I took care of 2 loads of laundry plus a few other minor things. I worked on the Christmas cards but don't have them ready for the mail box yet. Each year I cut the list down a little more. 

I've felt pretty good today. I got a full night's sleep and that helped a lot.

Only 16 days until Christmas! We haven't gotten the tree up or any decorations out. I know I'm going to have to do something, get some of the decorations out, and maybe give him a little boost, or Hubby won't do anything.  We'll be sitting here Christmas eve with no decorations.  He hates getting the big box down from the attic in the garage, and I don't blame him, but we have no other place to store it.  I have to stand by while he's on the ladder. Makes me nervous.  He's not as steady as he used to be.

I didn't have much to post tonight, my brain is empty, so I'm going to shut down and get ready for bed.

Take care.

God Bless.

Friday Dec. 7, 2012

71 years ago today, we were attacked by an enemy which set off a string of horrible deaths. My father got that letter from the president.... "Greetings..." Thankfully, Dad came home. Or I wouldn't be sitting here.  A chill goes up my spine whenever I see pictures of Pearl Harbor. And we thought we'd never be attacked on our own soil ever again. How foolish.

Our weather today was another one of those cold, dark and rainy days. Hopefully the rain is over for awhile.

Bob and I went out to WalMart today and picked up 3 more Christmas gifts. I always get something for my boss, and I mustn't forget my beautician.  Now, unless we've forgotten someone, we have only one more and he's hard to buy for. Our #4 grandson. He's 12... too old for toys and too young to be in on the adult exchange.

I got my new cell phone yesterday... yes, the one I've been so excited about. When I explained to Hubby that it was an early Christmas gift FROM HIM, he liked that. I knew he would. So I've been playing with it, setting up my connections, emails, texts, ringtones, etc. etc. I made my first call tonight... to my daughter.. and she said I sounded clear. Now I am that "child with a new toy". LOL

I'm going to cut this short tonight. I'm shutting down and going to bed. I've been up since 5:30 this morning, with an upset stomach. It got better as the day went on, but I sure need some sleep.

Take care.
God bless.
-- Carol

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012

It's cold today. The clouds have moved in again after having a sunny morning, and the wind chill is only 28°.

Bob and I were just talking about our family Christmas exchange. The girls want to do a 'recycle' exchange. Passing on something we have, gently used, and want to give to someone else. I'm not having a problem with this. I have lots of things I can pass on to my daughters. Bob, on the other hand, is having trouble finding something. This will be interesting. He could let me handle it. I know I can find lots of things. LOL

I'm anxiously waiting for the FedEx truck. He should be bringing my new cell phone today. Last night I read the manual online from front to back. No problem. I backed up all my contacts on my current phone and took things off my SD card that I don't need. I'm all ready. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. Isn't that awful? I'm telling Bob it's an early gift from him. That lets him off the hook to go shopping for me.

I stepped on the scales this morning.... OH NO!! I have to stop this increase right now. I've left no room for all the holiday sweets coming up.

Wishing you a great day.
Take care. God bless.

Another rainy day

It's so dark, gloomy, rainy and cold today. Not even fit for ducks. Bob and I had to run an errand and I got soaked. Now I'm on another cup of coffee, trying to warm up.  This time of year can be so depressing. Everything outside is brown and dead. Yesterday was so nice. It got up into the 60's but the temperature has been dropping ever since.

Last evening we drove out of town to our daughter's for our 2 youngest grandson's school Christmas program. I always love to watch the little ones on stage and they always do so good. Occasionally we get some funny, unexpected, entertainment from a few of them. Last night we watched a little guy, at the end of the row, stick his arm into the front of his shirt, between the buttons, and got it stuck. Instead of opening a button, he kept trying to pull his arm out. We could see in his face how frustrated he was getting. It was funny. 

I've been having trouble with my cell phone lately. My daughter suggested looking for a software update. So last night I went online to Verizon to find out how to do it. While I was there, I did some shopping. I knew my contract was up and I was eligible for a new phone. I found one ... an iPhone .... and it was free! I ordered it. I hadn't intended on doing that, but I love "free". Now I'm anxious to get it. I've never had one, but I have an iPod and I love it.

I should get started on my Christmas cards. We got more in the mail today from family and friends. I used to enjoy doing it, but not so much anymore. It's become an expensive chore.

I have a little challenge for you... a QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What's your favorite Christmas food?
Mine is my homemade fudge. I have a few recipes that I only make at Christmas. For some reason, I just never make fudge in the summer. :) I'll start making them next week. I can't do it too soon or there won't be any left by Christmas. My will power is so weak when it comes to holiday sweets.

I guess we're having a very UN-healthy supper today, at Bob's request.  I try to keep us on a healthier diet, but occasionally I will fix Bob one of his favorites..... in moderation, so he doesn't get bored. Tonight we're having sausage, gravy, biscuits and fried potatoes. 

I hope you're having a good day.
God bless.

Rainy Sunday

This is how I feel today. Not sure why.....



Outside my window, it's dark, gloomy and rainy. Definitely not my kind of day, especially when the headache come with it. But I'm trying to cope. The day is still young.

I did have a good day yesterday. I got the laundry done.... worked on my genealogy research... and a bit of nothing. Then I heard from my daughter Teresa that she was coming to town with the boys. I hurried, made some last minute tweaks on my grandson's family booklet, designed a cover page, got it all printed out and put it in the report folder.

When they got here he was so anxious to see what information I had for him. I brought out the booklet and he was thrilled. I started showing him the information I had in it when he surprised me with questions. They just came pouring out of this little guy. I have to explain something here.... to Grandma he's a baby, by the calendar he's 8, but by his actions, speech & mannerisms he's maybe 15 (at times)!

For the next hour or so, we talked about his ancestors and the questions kept coming. Were any of them on the Titanic? Did any of them die in any of these wars? Did any fight in the War of 1812? He knew a lot about that one. Come to find out, he's been studying that one in school. If I had known that, I might have found something about it. But I told him it wasn't done. I'm always finding more information about our family and when I do, I'll call him so he can bring his folder back to me. He then told me he might take it to school for show & tell. His teacher would like seeing it. :)

After I finished talking to him, Grandpa had some things to show them. He brought out his medals from when he was in the service during Viet Nam. And his hats & helmet covers. Then both boys had a really good time.

 

This is Marxen Jr. The one with the questions

 

His little brother Bryan

 

 Bryan put on Grandpa's "shower hat" and his ascot. He tried to explain to him that was not a shower hat. LOL

Not sure what I'm going to do with the rest of my day. I'd like to just rest, but we have to run out to WalMart to get some things we're out of. I hate going out there, especially on a Sunday. Teresa went out last evening while we had the boys so she could pick up a Christmas gift without them. She told us later that she ran into several of the guys from the motorcycle club doing their annual shopping for their local version of the "Toys for Tots". And of course they were all in their leathers and the store was crazy busy.

Today's devotional: "So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." – 2 Thessalonians 2:15

The church in Thessalonica was going through a very difficult time. They were battered by persecution from the outside and false teachers from the inside. This caused the apostle Paul to exhort them to return to the source of their faith—the Scriptures. We can be thrown off course by the challenges of everyday life or audacious claims made by spiritual people, but we see much clearer when we stand firm upon what has been given to us in the Bible. It truly is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Well, I better get off here and get something done, whether good or bad.
Have a good day.
God bless.

A "flash-mob" with a good message

This is so great. I was blessed looking at the children paying attention to it all, even getting on their knees and singing along. It did my heart good. I saw it on Facebook and wanted to share it with you.