I’ve Been Tagged!

I’ve Been Tagged!

This is the first time I’ve been tagged for a meme, thanks to Tara at http://ifmomsaysok.wordpress.com

I’ve now been deflowered.

So 7 facts about me:

I have visited all 48 of the contiguous United States, my favorites are Montana and Florida.

I played the “I” of E-V-I-L in our church play when I was a teen, I was the one who listened and was changed by the message.

I took 6 years of piano lessons when I was a kid and have resumed playing lately after a 28 year hiatus.

My favorite job was working as an airline agent for American Eagle Airlines in Tallahassee, Florida.

Both of my kids were delivered via c-section.

I used to love collecting seashells.

My favorite movie is Gone With the Wind.

I’m tagging:

1. Trish Thompson http://stringingmythoughts.blogspot.com/

2.Kathleen at http://sogratefultobemormon.wordpress.com/

3. Mike at http://monfat48.blogspot.com/

OK, I’ll pester 4 more people later!!

Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The Gift of the Kokopelli

I wanted to give a little bloglove to my friend Trysh in the crafting community on Cre8buzz, my favorite social network site.

Back in December we were discussing men’s jewelry. I was trying to think of a unique gift for my hubby and told her he liked Native American things. Then I got busy with Christmas and life in general and temporarily forgot our conversation.

A week or so ago I was thinking about Trysh when a couple of days later, lo and behold she messages me about a Kokopelli key ring she’s made and wants to give me as a gift! And just when I was thinking of doing random acts of kindness for others, someone does one for me! http://www.cre8buzz.com/profiles/1225/galleries/8096/gallery_entries/26615
That’s the link to a photo of the keyring on her Cre8buzz profile.The keyring arrived today and I must say she does superb work! I’m keeping it for myself!If you are looking for a beautiful one of a kind gift, Trysh is certainly the woman to talk to. Her handmade jewelry is top notch. Not only does she do awesome work, she is one of the kindest people I’ve met online.

Thanks a bunch, Trysh!

By the way, you can find one of her many blogs in my blogroll under Bible Bytes and Bits.

Special Moments

The other night Mikayla, my 4-year-old, asked me for a peanut butter sandwich and it occurred to me I had never shown her how to make one herself. She is getting more independent lately, wanting to help me cook and clean, etc. So I handed her a butter knife (she was very impressed getting to hold this) and told her to dig into the jar. She didn’t get much at first then dug in again. I instructed her to spread it on the bread. She had a little trouble, but was SO proud of herself. When she jumped up and down proclaiming, “I did it!”, I saw that sparkle in her eyes and realized this is one of those special moments in life. Not a roller coaster thrill ride, just a fleeting moment to be cherished.

I wish for you, my readers, many special moments today!

Snapshots of My St. Patrick’s Day

Well, I did at least have an Irish cream flavored coffee with 3 Irish cream flavored creamers in it. Whew, that’s a mouthful!

My day got off to a weird start when I was called by Amanda’s school nurse to come get her because they think she has pink eye. This call came before I’d had my morning coffee and if you know me, you know I have a sign hanging in my kitchen stating, “Give me the coffee and no one gets hurt!” After making it to pick her up and on to the doctor’s appointment I had immediately made, I signed her in and went down the road for my precious java. She was actually seen by the doctor rather quickly and left with a note to return to school tomorrow.

Later I was sitting with my 4 year old waiting for the hair cutting appointment I have been putting off for awhile. She cut it herself a few months ago and we have been trying to let it grow out a bit. I figured it was time for some spiffying up. There was a lady roughly in her 70’s sitting next to us looking rather shy but like she wanted to talk at the same time. We chatted a bit and she mentioned she was a widow, waiting for her daughter to have her highlights done. We talked a little more and I found we live in the same neighborhood and that her husband committed suicide last year. She said he was supposed to have a Dr. appointment for that day and she thought he had gone, when he did not return that afternoon police had come and they’d found he’d shot himself. Wow, you never know what the person sitting next to you is going through.

This same sweet lady was telling me of a barn dance her Dad had taught her and I joked that she should get up and do it. She responded, “Not in public.” But by golly, before she left with her daughter she was doing a little barn dance for us.

You never know what the day will bring. Hope this story brought a smile to yours.

How to Help a Troubled Friend?

A couple of days ago I got a message to call my daughter’s school vice principal.  She had already told me she was sent to him for talking during the FCAT test and would have to go to detention next week

I called him to verify the date for her detention.  He also told me, “There’s something else she did, which is not like Amanda”.  I’m thinking, “What now?”  He said there was a girl on the bus who had been in the hospital recently and Amanda blurted out to her, not knowing this really was where she had been, “How’s the mental hospital, I heard there were good-looking guys there?!”  The girl started crying.  He said he was making Amanda write an apology note to her.

I asked Amanda about it when she got home, what had happened and who it was.  Turns out it is a girl she has known for years who used to bully her, and later became friends with her.  Amanda  even spent the night over at her house awhile back.  She told me this girl said her Mom hates her and barely spoke to her when she returned from the mental hospital.  She said she cuts herself (emo) on a  regular basis and freaks out over the littlest thing.  She said kids think she’s becoming really weird and avoid her.  Even the girl who used to be her best friend has nothing to do with her anymore.  Amanda said she had apologized to her and explained she didn’t know what was going on and the girl thanked her.

After hearing all this I said a prayer for this teen and wondered what else we could do.  I feel so bad for her, at that age and seeming so desperate.  I asked Amanda awhile later if she would like to ask the girl to go to church with her.  She said she was thinking that, too.  I thought maybe in a friendly environment she could see there are people who really do care.

I’ll post more if and when she does go with Amanda.

Spring is Almost Here!

Yesterday afternoon my 4-year-old daughter, Mikayla and I went on our first picnic of the season. Our local library and children’s park has a nice area out in front designed for just such an occasion. We live in northwest Florida, and it is starting to warm up enough to get out and really enjoy ourselves. It is still cool in the shade and warm in the sun. We opted for a sunny bench overlooking the putting green to eat our lunch from Wendy’s.

Afterwards, we walked over to the children’s park so Mikayla could slide and ride, eventually making our way around to the ever popular sandbox. After a few minutes there were four other little girls who had joined in the sandcastle-making fun while I watched from my comfy spot on one of the swings provided for us old farts. As I glanced around at the parents, I tried to work on a spiritual lesson I am struggling with right now. Instead of looking at people and mentally judging them on the spot as too fat, too this or too that, I attempt to be like a mirror and simply reflect what I see. Try it sometime, it is NOT easy! I guess we are just so conditioned to judge others, but it something I am trying to train myself not to do.

Finally, we made our way to the library where Mikayla got on the computer to play some learning games while I searched for books and videos she might like to check out. She loves having me read stories to her and I want to keep that love alive.

All in all, it was a wonderful almost spring afternoon.

Yet Another Site to Learn!

I asked around and was told by many that wordpress is the place to put your blog, so here goes!

I’ve been blogging for about six months now and have gone through some trials and tribulations with other sites. One wouldn’t post comments easily, another I could not get the RSS feed to work properly.

I am first and foremost a member of a loving family. I am also a spiritual seeker, not so much affiliated with any particular religion as I am with learning the truth about everything in the universe.

I invite you to join me on this incredible journey!