Whew...I have been bussssy.......

Children make your life important.

Erma Bombeck

I looked at my last post and, I just didn't realize how long it had been since I'd written. This month has been a doozey. My son was married on the 18th. I feel like I've been cleaning for a year. California (my daughter, her husband, and the two grandchildren) came to stay with us. Three days before the wedding, my daughter and I made the wedding cake and the groom's cake. This was no small feat. My daughter and I are both really good bakers but, there was a difference this time. It HAD to look professional. We had a couple of meltdowns but all turned out beautiful. Both cakes were delicious and gorgeous.

It took me about a week to recover from the festivities but, it was all such a blessing.

Today, at 12:16 a.m., my beautiful daughter turned 30 years old. That just doesn't seem possible. Where did all of that delicious time go? I am so proud of both of my children. They are so well grounded, smart, honest, wonderful human beings. If they ever did anything wrong, I don't think that I remember--oh, wait--I just remembered something. It's minor now--not even worth mentioning.

I read my daughter's blog about Halloween. I have very fond memories of Halloween. Each year the kid's would decide what they wanted to be and I would make their costumes. Believe it or not, I still have them. I just recently archived them so that they would remain preserved and unharmed. I remember clowns, bunny rabbits, princess lea and some others. Unfortunately, I don't have my son's T-rex costume nor his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume, which in all honesty, were masterpieces. That was a really fun era of my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Husband's hungry, gotta go. Later........

I will win...

A loser is a winner if he conquers himself.

Bob Gass

I just read my daughter's blog this morning. It is such an awakening to realize that we change physically as we age. When I was young and was not yet diagnosed with M.S., I juggled a physically and mentally challenging career, an extremely demanding boss (who is now one of my best friends), a marriage, two magnificent children (one of which I might say had an "attitude"). I was my own housekeeper and cook and all taking care of all of the accoutrements that go with that job. In my spare time (this is funny--did I have any? It's a blurr...), I was a long distance runner (a mental health requirement at the time), I played the piano and guitar. Then....

I was diagnosed. The symptoms had been creeping-up on me. In about one day, I lost my job. I must say that my boss was (still is) the best in crisis along with my husband. Not the same husband in the first paragraph. The point of all of this is, in the beginning, everthing changed except my husband (the best). He treated me exactly the same as before I was labeled.

But, there was no more running, no playing piano, no job. All of those doors closed. I learned not to dwell on what I could no longer do but, what I could accomplish. I had to change my methods of doing things. The fatigue associated with this disease is overwhelming. I accomplish, much slower now, but I accomplish many things. I went back to school, got a degree in Anthropology. It takes me about a month to clean the house but, I do what I can when I can.

I never let M.S. conquer me. I have done all that I can to remain healthy. I told my children that there may come a day when I can no longer do for myself but, it will never be because of something that I did to or did not do for myself.

It's been 32 years since my first symptom, and I'm still walking (not pretty but, still walking). I have great faith in God and the Holy Spirit guides me all day. The only credit I take for my good heath, at this point, is that I follow the good directions--physically and mentally and most important, spritually.

"Stairway to Heaven"

Weather forecast for tonight: dark.

George Carlin

Today was a good day. I taught school, exersized, ate lunch, cleaned out the frige (found a couple of food items that were missing, gross!), went to the doctor (I'm doing well), took a good nap, my husband came home and cooked me a wonderful meal, served me and then he cleaned the kitchen. Does life get any better?

My daughter and her little family will be arriving two weeks from tomorow. I'm so excited... My son is getting married in three weeks. I will be acquiring a new daughter. It's so exciting. My son and his fiancee worked in Texas this weekend at "Austin City Limits" and guess who was performing?????? Robert Plant of Led Zepplin and Allison Krauss. Doesn't get much better than that. Later.........

No do-overs

Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once'

Anonymus

There are no do-overs. Only apologies. Personally, I find the need to apologize too much. I need to slow down and make sure that I'm spending my life as Jesus would want it done. I'm getting ready for my son's wedding. I'm doing a major spring cleaning. Why? Well, it's certainly not to impress anyone, we live in a trailer for goodness' sake. I just function better in "order." But, is my personal "preference" stepping on toes or making anyone unhappy? I want to be responsible for myself but, none of us lives in a vacuum. We must be responsible for our own actions and how they affect others.

As I watch the daily politico, no one wants to take responsibility for any of the wrongs and everyone wants to take credit for the good. Why doesn't the citizenry absorb some of the blame. Too many people are not being vigilant nor realistic about money, self-preservation, you name it. I can only be responsible for my behavior. Want to fix alot of the world problems...take care of yourselves first and then help those who are needy. That's not the government's job. THE CITIZENS ARE THE EMPLOYERS OF THIS COUNTRY NOT THE GOVERNMENT!!!!! HELLO!!!!!!!CHECK THE CONSTITUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I received my daughter's and her family's portraits in the mail today. They are all the cutest anyone can imagine. I wish I could live in that portion of my life all of the time...priceless.

Responsibility revisited

Happiness depends upon ourselves.

Aristotle

How is it that some people can find themselves in the worst of circumstances yet have a smile on their face? Conversely, there are those who only rarely smile? I would say to you that Aristotle got it right. There are those in my life who, I would think have every reason to be happy yet are sad too often. Then, there are those who struggle everyday with unfixable issues and have the most pleasant attitudes.

My son had a friend who, placed in the worst of circumstances while he was growing up, turned out to be a most honorable person. His role models were less than respectable, in almost everyway. When asked how is was that he became a good guy he said, "I don't want to be like that." He is one of my heroes. No one would have blamed him if he had followed the footsteps of his parents but, he chose a different life for himself (Thank God).

I have a student who was born with problems that may never be able to be fixed. She has never given up and neither have we, as teachers. This young lady has more grace than me. She has alot to teach me. Unfortunately, for me, she's graduating this year. She is accomplishing things, in her studies that, many professionls told her previously, she would never be able to master. I wish she could remain in school longer--I have so much yet to learn from her.

In both cases, both people found happiness where it always resides--inside of ourselves (and that's where the Holy Spirit lives.)

One day maybe.......

The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.

Leonardo da Vinci

Yesterday, my husband and I went to Houston for an appointment with my specialist. You see, I've not mentioned this before but, I have Multiple Sclerosis. I do not want to be defined by my disease. I take very good care of myself and am very vigilant in my own care. It must be mentioned that M.S. does not have me. Since my first symptom 32 years ago, my progression has been slow (thank You, Jesus.) I told my children that there may come a time when I can no longer take care of myself but, it will not be because of something I did to myself or did not do for myself. I want to be in charge, by the will of God. Anway, I digress...my appointment was wonderful and I'm still doing really well.

This afternoon my boyfriend (husband) and I are going to view some property. We live in a casa con ruedas (trailor). It's not bad really, considering that we own it free and clear but, I would like a house one day. Problem is that I think that property values are over inflated so, we'll wait.....one day. It's not the highest priority...happiness is.

Land of the Free????

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

Abraham Lincoln

I believe that this country is bordering on self destruction. The population is becomming increasingly dependent on government. Businesses are now becomming dependent upon the government. The next generation is less knowledgeable about everything but entertainment. Why have we become so lazy. Sure, there are many people who are self-reliant. Lately, I've been paying attention to the people who are not. I've lived through hurricanes Camille and Andrew, both were catagory 5 storms. After Katrina, no one can seem to survive without the government's help. No one hears about Katrina and Mississippi or Alabama, no--New Orleans--where so many of the people that were seen on the tv were wards of the government. They learned early on that they didn't have to make it on their own, the government gave them stuff. Now it's their right to receive handouts. Wake-up!!!!! Take care of yourselves. Our way of life is at risk.........