Simply Life

Although my birthday isn't until tomorrow, I was surprised to find my seat of the bus all decked out for my birthday! Betty came in early and put all these streamers up! She made this sign for me by hand, and basically went all nuts! :o) She's so crazy when it comes to someones birthday. She will stand on a table, drag out her pom-poms and shout-sing to you, "They say it's your birthday..."
I am not the kind of person who likes attention much, but with Betty I've had to...adjust.

 

Can you see just how many streamers she put up? And, she kept it all in one long piece so she could roll it up again!! Frugal. Hee hee, that's Betty. Isn't she over the top?

 

 

Like the hat she made for me out of balloons? I was praying it didn't pop. I don't like balloons popping too much.

 

 

This is what it looks like when she "comes at you" with her birthday garb. Although,I got an extra touch of crazy because she was all decked out for early St. Patrick's Day.
On my actual birthday (tomorrow, March 11th) I will be 30 years old. Wow. Stunning. My mom and I leave mid-afternoon to spend next week in California. She has never been to Disneyland, and so we must go! We will have a blast and I will share it all with you in about a week! :o)

On December 23, 2005 my mom, hubby, and I went to see the V.V. Lakes Christmas Lights display. It was so nice. Of course, we took bunches of pictures! There are waterfalls and lakes all around. It wasn't a huge display. But, they had a WHOLE bunch of lights in the little bit of ground they have.
Last year, we went looking at Christmas lights. It was memorable too. At the time, my hubby worked for a transportation company and he borrowed the limo. He chauvered us around looking at lights the whole night. Our whole gang of family went. Marty (his brother), Shelly, their children, his dad, my mom, and Betty (who ended up being our mother-in-law) That was a good surprise for 2005. There are a lot of things I am thankful for. So, here's my list.

Jesus--
Always He is with me. Guiding me when I am more fearful than faithful. He truly is the reason I live. The reason I am free.

My husband--
He loves me without question. I never quite understand it fully. He truly has been my best friend since I was a teenager. I am so blessed that God has given us each other. What a gift! 9 years of marriage have flown by...

My mom--
Not many people can say that they are this close to a parent. But, I am. Maybe it comes from the fact that I am her only (and favorite, I might add) daughter. She has been there for me for, oh about, 29 years now. We've been through a bunch of stuff together, both good and not so good. I love her with all my heart!

My friends (both offline and online)--
As you know, I am a little kooky sometimes. You stick with me through it all! I love your humor and friendship more than you may know. Thank you!

My job--
Even though I complain sometimes, I know that I am blessed to even have a job. There are so many who desperately want one.

Freedom from debt--
Selling our house has enabled us to pay off so much debt; our cars, and more. What an enormous relief it's been.

And so many more...but I am sleepy and must go to bed. NOW or else I will be up until 1 am. Oh wait, it's 1:30 am already. Um. I mean 2 am!! Hee hee!!  :o)

 

I just bought my husbands major Christmas present. I cannot tell you for fear that he might see on here. I know I am being ridiculous because he doesn't blog nor does he read my blog. The computer is a source of frustration for him, I think.
But still, it would stink if he found out from all people me!
I have bought my mom a bunch of little things that I think she will like. I cannot think of a major purchase for her yet though. Although, I did include her in the present for my hubby. It is tickets to something. Shhhh...
We haven't decorated for Christmas. Mainly due to the fact that we are still living out of boxes to an extent, and don't really know where decorations are anyway!
Hope you guys are having a great weekend!

I am not sure what to make of this story. It sounds barbaric. The parents said that a pyschologist told them to do this. But, come on. If you are a parent you need to think about things you do. You don't just do something because someone tells you to.
Am I right?
If a pyschologist told you to make your children, adoptive or not, sleep in cages what would you do?
Here is a link to the story.
Let me know your thoughts.

Warning: I am going to be a whiney butt.

I miss my husband. I haven't had to be away from him this long since he was in the Marine Corps. He was discharged in 1998. It's been awhile. I don't know how to handle myself with him gone. I am attached. I think that's a good thing. I mean, after all, we've been married for 8.5 years now!
I'm not like some gals I know that rejoice when their hubbies are away. Nope. I whine. I mope.
However, in this particular situation, I am happy too. I am happy that he got to go with Marty to their dad's funeral. I am thankful he got to meet his half siblings, and sight see. I know that this is a blessing from God, and instead of just moping, I will be grateful.

Also, please remember my father in law, Don, in your prayers. His hip replacement surgery is tomorrow morning at 10 am. And, keep his wife, Betty in your prayers too. We are all understandably nervous about the surgery, and how he will do during it, and after.

Thanks for your friendships and prayers. You truly are a blessing!

This sounds like an odd question. Really, it is just to get you to wonder. I know full well where he is. Well, maybe not full well. But, mostly. He is in Connecticut. Yep. Thomas and his brother Marty are now back east. They were able to go back there for their dad's funeral. They left this morning way early. (I know, cause my mom and I took them) They will be gone until Wednesday night. Ick. I hope they have good family and vacation time despite the sad circumstances. That's all for now.... Talk to you soon!

I wish I were writing with even semi-good news. However, here I sit, frustrated as hell.
Have I ever told you about my hubby's confusing family history?
He basically has two sets of family. (Three when you count my side as well!) His biological family, whom he lived with until he was 13 and his "foster" family, whom he and his younger brother lived with after that point.

Here's a breakdown -
Biological family~
Rose: mom
George Sr.: dad (he and Rose are divorced)
George Jr.: older brother
Laura: older sister
Marty: younger brother

"Foster" family~
Darlene: mom (she passed away from cancer in 2001)
Don: dad (whom recently remarried and is in need of a hip replacement)
Mike: older brother
Debbie: older sister

They are all very special to us! Even though, other than Marty & his family, we don't see his biological family very often.
We found out yesterday afternoon, on the way to bring me to work, that his biological dad passed away of prostate cancer.
He died at 3 pm eastern standard time.
It really stinks, not only because I never met him, but because it has been since my hubby was 8-9 years old that he last saw him. And, that lasted for about 5 minutes.
We don't have the $$ to send him and Marty to Connecticut for his funeral. That really sucks.

So, I thank you in advance for your prayers guys. Sheesh. When it rains....

 

I am not too fond of hospitals. I don't know anyone who would say they are. I spent all of Friday in ER with my hubby, his dad, and Betty (his wife). Long story really. Basically, we got a phone call on Friday morning from Betty, asking us to come over and help her get him up. He had "sunk" to the floor and could not get up due to pain. He has rheumatoid arthritis, and had been on crutches because of hip pain. Well, he can't walk around. He can't go to the bathroom. He can't lay in bed. She cannot help him cause she is a slight little thing. His doctor (this is the third one he's seen) was trying to get a hip replacement surgery scheduled. Now, my father in law has brittle bones. He's had many surgeries. In fact, he has a broken arm that was worked on twice. It's been broken for 4 years now. Won't heal.
So, we don't even know if this surgery would take. We went to the ER so he could get approved for the surgery quicker, and get a bed. So, he would have care. Finally, after 7 pm, they moved him about 20 minutes away at another hospital. We left him there that night. The next day, we (meaning my hubby and I) that he had been moved to a nursing home. These are the reasons: They needed the bed, his injuries are worse than suspected, and they don't know if the surgery will take.
Aparently, his hip socket isn't even there anymore, and the ball of his hip is cracked. Not good.

Now, remember when I said that this is his third doctor? Several months back he had gone to two other doctors saying he thought he had pulled a groin muscle. Each doctor (seperately) didn't even check into it. They gave him pain meds and that is it. They didn't touch him, check him, x-ray him, or anything! If he was a healthy young man that would be ok. But, he is in his 60's and has rheumatoid arthritis!!! They should have checked him out!
We are furious! If he can't have this surgery, he will never be able to walk again. How will him and Betty live? They just got married for goodness sake!
We are all so mad about the whole situation.

This is an older picture of my grandmother's brothers & sisters. You can click on the photo to make it bigger.
The person highighted is my Great-Uncle Jerome. We just found out today, after church, that he passed away in his sleep last night.
He lived in Vermont for most of his life. However, he wasn't in Vermont when he died. He had gone on a road trip with Larry his nephew. They drove from Vermont to New Hampshire in a camper to see family.
Apparently, he was fine last night. But, this morning he didn't wake up.
He was only 68 years old. To me, that is young. I can't believe he is gone. It seems like craziness when someone you love dies, and someone else in worse condition & older age is still with us. Uncle Jerome was very active! He loved to ski (something even I haven't done!) and other outdoor things.
He owned the property that "housed" the annual family reunion; an event which I remember as a very small child. I wonder what will happen to the beautiful, wooded, mountain top site. I think back upon it with such fondness.
I have been reminded, through sad circumstances, that life is short.
Live it while you have it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day. It's been 5 years now since my dad passed away. I wish I had known him better.
He made a lot of mistakes in his life. I do know that he loved me.
At his funeral, I was told that he said I was the best thing that he ever did.
That meant a lot.
I remember when I was younger (perhaps a teenager), I gave my mom a Father's Day card. It was no accident. I did, and still do, believe that she has been more of a father to me than he was. She was the one who took care of me every day, and loved me through everything. He loved me from afar. He was too busy either drinking or trying to get better.
I loved him then, and I love him still.
I've missed him all my life.

Moral of the story: Don't waste your life drinking, or anything else. It's too precious.