Every Day In May - Fav Quote

Lets not discuss what kind of idiot I am for not realizing blogging every day in May was a link up with a guided prompt each day. Duh. How did I miss this? Whatever, I'll catch up next week on the topics I missed. :)



So today, now that I know, is your favorite quote. Please understand, I love quotes! Love love love them! I'm working on a Pressed Clovers book right now with quotes all through it!

But one of my favorites is from Eleanor Roosevelt.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

This quote got me through my first real job when I really had no idea what I was doing. It was bad. But I survived and learned alot.

I really like many quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt... Google and you'll see why she is one of my favs.

Silly Insecurities

"I have learned to live each day as it comes, and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. It is the dark menace of the future that makes cowards of us."
Dorothy Dix

Ya'll, I totally psyched myself out this weekend. I can be very outgoing. But when I'm the odd man out, when everyone knows each other except me, I tend to become a wall flower.

Since my weekend plans were changed due to everyone being sick, I agreed to go to an event, a party of sorts, with a friend. When the day got here, I really didn't want to get off the couch. I knew no one would talk to me, I'd be left out, I would be undressed, people would wonder who I was and why I was there...I think you get the picture.

I just have to shake my head. Seriously, why do I do this to myself? While all the above was somewhat true, I had a good time visiting with my friend and an older guy that talked about wars all night. Even if I only visited with the friend I went with, it would have been fine. I enjoy catching up with him.

Good grief, I really got worked up about what to wear, should I take a gift, what will I do if no one talks to me, blah blah. So childish, these insecurities. Do we ever outgrow them? -sigh-

I can hear those words, Don't go borrowing trouble. I'm really good at borrowing trouble. Hee hee. But, I'm glad I had a good time and maybe learned a lesson?

How was your weekend?

Motivation... oh where have you gone?

Sunrise this morning, looking across the road from my house

"I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge."  -- Og Mandino

I haven't been motivated to do much in the past few weeks. I haven't started cleaning up and cleaning out and simplifying this way. I haven't even packed up Christmas yet. What am I saying - I'm still listening to Christmas music!! I think the drama is beginning to weigh on me again - the worries we have happening with health issues in the family. :(  Please say a prayer for my family and God will know exactly where all to apply it. Thank you.

This little girl is the light of our lives. Granted she refuses to sleep at night and isn't the light of her mama and daddy's lives at the moment, but she is so joyous. Do you see her little toothie in the pic on the left? One little toothie has poked out. My oh my, she's not a happy teether.  But thankfully we've found a gel that works and Sister Beth gave us some teething tablets by that same company that works, too. I'll find the name and share with you later - all natural! So that made us all a bit happier.

Any suggestions on getting a 6-month-old to sleep through the night? Please share. She hates her crib at home and refuses to sleep in it. Play in it - yes. Sleep - no.

In other news, I'm working on my first ever Cara Box! I have a few ideas I have to work on this weekend so it's ready to mail soon! I need to read those directions again... but anyway, I'm so excited! I have been given Amy to send a Cara Box to with New Year's Resolutions in it... and she's a Carolina Gal living in Kansas! So I plan to help her remember all about the Greatness that is South Carolina!! :) :)  Lovin' it already.

*sigh* Ok, I'm off to do something ... not sure what but something. Motivate me, ya'll... help me out here! :)

Looking for Happiness

I know I sound like a dang broken record, telling you how tired I am.  In the past two weeks, I've worked over 170 hours - I'm beyond tired, I'm exhausted. My poor buddy who was just being nice and asking me how I was doing ended up seeing my eyes fill with tears as I told her - I'm. Just. Exhausted. It's one of those don't-be-nice-to-me-or-I'll-cry things. You know what I'm talking about it.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. 
                                                                                 John F. Kennedy 

For whatever reason, I at least feel like I'm a part of "Liberty and Justice for All."  I know, a little cog in the wheel of our country, but seriously, it's pretty cool to be a part of it.  At least, I keep telling myself. HAHAHA

So anyway, to keep sane, I try to notice some of the little things that I feel like I'm totally missing out on and I then try to latch onto their wonderfulness.  Because this craziness is almost past me and IT WILL BE OK (again, I keep trying to convince myself!)

So what is making me happy right now? This is:

This beautiful sunset that turned into this at the sun continued to dip below the horizon: 

It's like you can watch the night time begin to overtake the sun and the moon begins her reign over the sky. I love it.  It really was breathtaking and I'm so glad I made it home in time to see it.

What else is making me happy? My little niece, of course!

Macy Mae always makes me happy - she's so dang cute!! She looks like her daddy in this picture.  She's a happy baby and all smiles in the morning, which sets my day off to a great start.  Her sister was also home this weekend but I don't have any new pictures of her. But it was great to see her!

Those are two of my happy finds I thought I'd share with you.  Maybe you'd share something that makes you happy? Something small, silly, unique, whatever - give me SOMETHING to smile about!!!

Thirty Things on Thursday -1

As I was stumbling around on blogs that I've discovered from Friday's Letters, I found someone posting about Thirty Things.  I think I'm a bit late on this, but I loved the concept. More info about the original Thirty Things is located here. 

I don't typically take time to evaluate things too heavily.  But, this could be fun.  A new game for Thursdays, if nothing else. :)  Here is this first question:

1.   List 20 random facts about yourself.

Wow. That's a lot. Here goes nothing: 

1. My family is awesome. I am so very blessed to have the family I do and I try not to take it for granted. 
2. I am very thankful to have God in my life and have made an effort to become closer to Him. I am no where laughably near being where I need to be, but I'm praying and working on it. :) 
3. Our military are heroes in my book. I pray for them and their families.
4. Being an aunt is one of the best things I've ever accomplished in my life and not really had to do anything to claim the title! Love it! My nieces are great. 
5. I'm a chunky monkey. I haven't always been a chunky monkey and I'm taking baby steps to change it. Please say a prayer that God gives me the strength I need because this is not where I should be in life. It's not easy to change bad habits! 
6. Speaking of unhealthy...I'm a beefaterian. The only meat I eat is Beef. 
7. Yes, this means I don't eat bacon. Or fish. Or chicken. (Keep asking, I'll keep saying nope.)
8. Writing is a passion of mine. Love it. Have three pen pals across America and two guys I'm sending letters to overseas right now. 
9. I write a monthly column for a local "magazine." It's not glossy - it's newsprint - filled with nothing but columns from writers covering topics from the law, car care, internet tips, cooking, politics, storytelling, history, etc. 
10. I honestly enjoy people, what makes them different, special, their stories, talents, skills and so on. 
11. I am VERY PROUD to be Southern. I was glad to get my Southern accent back once I lost it in college. It makes me mad when people portray us as uneducated just because we have a drawl. 
12. I really enjoy quotes - quotes about any and everything.  I look up quotes for inspiration frequently.
13. Every Monday, I post a new picture of my furbaby, Muffin, who has been my sidekick for about 11 or so years. She's my companion, my buddy... 
14. I do wonder sometimes what's wrong with me that I haven't found my mate yet. I laugh when people say, "We'll, if he's in his 30's and never married, something must be wrong with him!" but really, those types of comments kinda hurt. Because I'm 36 and never been married. 
15. Everything makes me think of a song, a cheer, a marketing jingle... the girls in the office just love it. I sing and cheer all day long - whenever someone says something that sets off a song in my head. 
16. If I don't know the words to a song, I'll substitute the word, "Meow." So I meow a lot, too. My niece, Macy, will end up saying, "Meow," as her first word since that's how I sing to her all the time. 
17. There is a special place in my heart for people with disabilities. 
18. I'm very blessed with friends in my life - I just wished some of them lived closer. My friends range in ages from their mid-20's to their 60's and I think that's awesome. 
19. Christmas is my most all-time favorite season. Love it love it love it. I used to love my birthday, but I'm loving it a little less. 
20. I didn't realize how hard it would be to come up with 20 things to say about myself. Not that anyone is still reading because seriously, who finds this interesting? OH! but I thought of one more - I enjoy photograhy! So there, a true 20! 

Wow. I'm kinda glad that is done.  I'm really sorry I have bored you with this. Next Thursday, I guess I'll try to work on the next question.  Here is the complete list below.  

2.   Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3.   Describe your relationship with your parents.
4.   List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5.   What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6.   What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7.   What is your dream job, and why?
8.   What are 5 passions you have?
9.   List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrasing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misundertand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

Life is a Highway...

"There ain't no load that I can't hold The road's so rough this I know I'll be there when the light comes in Just tell 'em we're survivors..."

Dear Imaginary Friends,
Let's just say, when it rains, it pours. So not only does Katie scare the stuffing out of us, Dad takes a tumble this weekend. Yes, glad mom is retired to take care of the sickies. I'm sure that is just what she planned to do with her first week of retirement.

Thankfully, both are doing better which is such a blessing. Both could have been so much worse so we are sooooo thankful.

While I have you here, would you like to see one of my mom's friends?




This fellow visited while I was over at their house, checking on Pop.



He hopped over to the hydrangea and all I could think is I bet it's like a bubble bath, all soft and frothy-like. I'm not sure he/she appreciated me spying on their bath!

Ok, I'm going to go rest, because heaven only knows what is coming up! Goodness!

posted from Bloggeroid

Retirement Day!

Mom and one of her coworkers, Debbie

Mom's gift from the school,
a beautiful engraved bracelet

 "The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off."                                 --Abe Lemons

I think this guy may have a good point.  Guess we'll find out as Mom's last day at work was today.  The champagne is chilling, ready to celebrate with the family.  Picking up a cake and grilling out.  Her new job will be babysitter for Macy! :)  I'm not sure which job will be harder, school secretary or babysitter. What a blessing that she was able to retire just as Macy is being born! Perfect.

Mom's school picture, several years ago. 

My mom's speech was so good - just awesome. But that's for another post. It's time for me to leave and head home for a party! Ya'll have a great weekend, see you on Monday!

Beauty.

Earth laughs in Flowers. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

See? I told you I would find pretty things to take a moment to notice! Hooray! I did it today! :)

The first photo - flowers beside my sister's house. These hydrangeas tickle her pink (or purple as it may be)  every time she walks out the door. Every visit she says to me - do you see my flowers? I love my flowers! At this point, I'm surprised Macy isn't being named Flower or Hydrangea!

These were taken in the evil evening sun, causing shadows like crazy.  Mom's yard this time.  She has pink at one end of the house and blue/purple at the other end.  This must be the year for hydrangeas because everyone's looks wonderful. Huge beautiful puff-balls.

Check out Kenzie with her mom's flowers.  Brande texted me this earlier today and it just fit perfectly into my flower theme today.  And Kenzie is just a cutie, so I had to share.  That sucker is bigger than Kenzie's head!! Look at it!

Yes, I screwed with these photos using Instagram. While I love this program, I find it very frustrating in uploading the pictures to here.  But it's all good.  I'm finding ways around it. Hee hee.

An update on Katie/Macy - things are calming down *whew* and hopefully she'll make it to the 37 week mark like the doctors want her to do.  I could have a niece here at any moment! :)

Don't Fear the Shadows

Another computer wallpaper from Home Made Simple.  I really like the quote:  "Never fear shadows. They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby." Great to remember although sometimes hard to live by, right? 

We all face hardships and sometimes we share them and other times we keep them inside where no one can see them.  Worries, fears, concerns... it can eat us up and cause such tremendous heartache, turn into physical and emotional burdens.  I know it is hard, but please try to keep this in mind when someone is ugly, short, rude, angry, or otherwise just unfriendly.  You never know what battles they are fighting.

I think it's also important to keep our own fears and worries in perspective. Hard to do, of course.  But I sometimes have to do a reality check - how horrible is this in the grand scheme of life? Will it have an impact beyond this moment, beyond this month, beyond this year? Keep the drama in perspective, Bethie, keep the drama in perspective...

Ahhh... waiting for the sunshine, the light to chase away the shadows...

The Person You Are.

I found several really cool backgrounds at Home Made Simple - I really like that website. I downloaded several quote backgrounds for the computer - mostly to share here - and this one seemed to call my name today. 

"To dream of the person you would like to be is to waste the person you are."  Not saying we can't all work to improve ourselves, but we should appreciate who we are at the same time.  God made us this way for a reason! And obviously He had His reasons for creating us just the way we are. :)

I hope you have wonderful weekend plans in the works.  As for me, looks like I have a date with a 3-year-old tonight, lunch with a good friend on Saturday, dinner with the entire family on Saturday night and hopefully will squeeze in a trip to the local gem and mineral show on Sunday after church.

Sometime in all of that I need to make pancakes - my new favorite breakfast food! I make up several batches and freeze them, pulling them out for breakfast throughout the week.  With just a few seconds in the microwave, I have homemade pancakes ready to eat! My favorite right now is sweet potato... YUM.

Enjoy the weekend and I'll see you back here at least by Monday for the weekly MUFFIN MONDAY! :)

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose....

  

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns,
or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
                                                                    --Abraham Lincoln

I know it is Autumn and therefore I should be posting pictures of warm browns and burnt oranges.  But, this is what is in my yard right now, which is tickling me pink!  I hope you will share in my excitement of having these beautiful flowers growing beside my cottage-y house in the boonies.

I wish they made scratch and sniff screens, because I can't describe the sweet smell of these flowers. And in the setting sunlight, they practically glow! I have one pink, two of the yellowish with pink tips, and they are thriving in the cooler weather.  I just can't explain how happy they make me.... but hopefully you can feel the enthusiasm radiating off of me. :)

Simple Advice

I have mentioned before how I adore Eleanor Roosevelt and her many quotes of wisdom.  Here is a link to the previous blog of adoration. 

Today, I'm all about this quote:

"A little simplification would be the first step
toward rational living, I think."

                                                        --Eleanor Roosevelt

*sigh* So true. So wonderfully true.  Simplification in all things - in our schedules, in our kids' schedules, in our materialistic desires, in our judgements, in our eating, in every aspect of life.  Allowing ourselves a moment to take a breathe and truly appreciate and enjoy those in our lives and the items that surround us. I know I've written about it before, but a reminder never hurt anyone.

Breathe. And enjoy life for where we are in it today. 

Autumnal Face

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face."

                                                                                                   -- John Doone



I don't know about your neck of the woods, but here tomorrow we should be feeling the first kiss of autumn brushing our faces.  I can't wait! I love autumn, the colors and the brisk, fresh feeling in the air.  I like how the sun streams through the bright colored leaves so they almost glow.  It's exciting and energizing!

I can't help but look forward to a mountain trip, with the hills and hollers ahead of me, hopefully showcasing God'skills as an artist.  I am crossing my fingers that the colors will be bursting open, but I have a feeling I'll be just ahead of the curve.

But who cares! It will crisply cool, it will be briskly bright and it will be AWESOMELY AUTUMNAL!

Friendship.

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.  ~Elisabeth Foley

This quote describes Sherry and I perfectly.  When she moved to Alabama, our lives may have been separated but our friendship never faltered.  I stepped off that train in Tuscaloosa and it was like we had never parted.  We immediately picked up the conversation, hopped into the car and headed for McDonald's. It is such a true and special friendship, it's a total blessing to have her in my life.

Even as I walked into her home for the first time, I felt like we'd been housemates for years. Made myself at home, scattered my clothes all over the bedroom, shed hair all over the bathroom - her home was my home and I never once doubted it.  Glenn, her husband, came home from delivering cross country and he just became one more housemate. We all had the best times sitting on the deck and just catching up. The dogs would run around or lay beside us and Chester, the cat, would hang on the deck with us.  When it got too hot, we'd move in and bring all the animals with us (Sam, Julie, Chester and Miss Kitty). 

The coolest part about it is that Sherry is still Sherry. She's the same person I have known from day one. The person I grew to appreciate, then grew to love and care about deeply.  She's one of a kind in the best of all ways - a person you can depend on and trust with no reservations.  This weekend with her was heaven sent and has become part of my special memories.  You just can't find better people than her. :)  Thanks for being a wonderful friend, Sherry!

The moment before honey...

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. 
Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do,
there was a moment just before you began to eat it
which was better than when you were,
but he didn't know what it was called. 
~A.A. Milne

Isn't this the truth?! The anticipation can be even better than the actual act!?

Or maybe BETTER isn't the right word. But it is something to be enjoyed all on its own.

Like unwrapping a present. Shaking it, looking at the shape, the weight, seeing it sitting there all wrapped up, hiding what it contains... isn't there something to be said for having the anticipation of what it MIGHT hold?

And the questions and hints! What is it? One piece or more? What color? Breakable? Something for the house? For the bath? My car? What is it?!?!?!

And when you finally tear into it, all the prettyribbon is discarded and the paper shredded, the box ripped open and the tissue tossed aside - well, there it is. And you love it. :)

Ahhhh Pooh. You are a wise bear.

Mom with her favorites:  EB and AH

 

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. 

~Author Unknown

I could list a million reasons why my mom is the best ever, but I'd only be covering a fraction of the list.  I am very blessed because I consider her not only an amazing mother, but an amazing friend.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there this weekend!!

Doggy Smiles!

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. 
For me they are the role model for being alive."  ~Gilda Radner

It is a nasty day here, dark clouds and periodic rain.  Grey skies.  Ew.  I'm not a fan of rain and grey skies and dark clouds (oh my!)  So I'm using Shelby, my furry niece, to brighten my day.  How can you look at this crazy bug-eyed face and not just want to scoop her up and HUG HER CROSS-EYED?! I'm so glad I'm an animal person (granted, I'm more of a cat person, but Shelby is still really cute) because animals can bring much joy to our lives.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend filled with family and friends.  I don't care how old you are, go boil some eggs and pull out the dye! And please remember the real reason we are "celebrating," - because God gave His ONLY Son, sent Him to this earth to live among us, only to be crucified for us.  I can't being to imagine the loneliness, sadness, the anguish Jesus felt on the cross. Being betrayed and murdered after paying for every single sin each and every Christian has ever commited.  Beyond our understanding. Far beyond mine.

So take a moment to be thankful! :)

Good Advice.

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized anyway.

You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't."

                                                                                            --Eleanor Roosevelt

I adore Eleanor Roosevelt. In another life I was a travel agent. A travel agent who had never been on a cruise ship or a plane. A travel agent who had no idea what I was doing in the travel world. A few people became snarly as I tried to learn the ropes and really upset me. I felt like a failure.

The person who I was replacing wrote on a Post-it note
and taped to my computer this quote:

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

                                             --Eleanor Roosevelt

And this started my adoration of Eleanor Roosevelt.

I could say some really ugly things here about my day. But I won't. Because it doesn't matter.  I will continue to do what is in my heart.  I'm sorry some people don't approve of my methods or actions - but understand this: you are but one voice in a crowd of thousands, and the voice in my heart sings louder than them all. I may have lost my confidence for a moment, but it's back. :)  

 Her words are wise -- there are more to be enjoyed here.

Apple Trees & Ellie!

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station,
through which God speaks to us every hour,
if we will only tune in "
~George Washington Carver

I can't tell you how much I am enjoying this beautiful Spring this year! Making a commitment to pick up my camera has encouraged me to enjoy finding beauty in my viewfinder. It really has allowed me to stop and acknowledge how surrounded I am by God's amazingness and perfection. Can you tell I'm enjoying taking pictures this year?? Sorry to bore you with them, but they are tickling me pink. 

_______________________________________________



I'm excited about the weekend - little Ellie Bellie turns three this coming week, so her Dora the Explorer Birthday Party is tomorrow!  Her first birthday she was very quiet and didn't do/say much.  Last year, she was so very sick and didn't play at all.  But this year I hope she's going to be happy and healthy - and super excited to celebrate! I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Everyone have a WONDERFUL weekend!! I'll see you back here for some Weekend Cat Blogging!