DECK THE HALLS

As I walked the decorated halls at the inptient Hospice Center in Mt. Pleasant, I began to understand what Christmas is really about....Love. So many families there in the halls all for the same reason we were. To give love and support to one another as our loved one died. It was a bitter sweet time as all of Grace's children had one last big family reunion. We laughed and we cryed. Grace I am sure enjoyed all the stories and time her children had together. She hung on for us until we gave her the time alone she needed to leave this earth. Now she is above looking down on us with her love. Just as God is looking down on us with his love.

FB Fanatic

Okay you can see I have ignored my blog....well it is like this. I have found FB a wonerful way to communicate. It is short. It is fast. And I can usually say what I need to in just a few minutes. Besides no one reads my blog anyways. But I will not totally give up on it. So if I find there is an interest in any one reading my blog I will be happy to take the time to write something. For now, just check me out on FB. In closing, for now Life is Good and I'm still Nuts about those Grandkids. They make me smile, they make me laugh. And they bring so much joy in to my life.

Also in closing, I am blessed with a wonderful husband and family.

Just About Nuts

I haven't posted in a while.  I get all caught up with Face Book.  Love reading the comments and seeing the pictures, and the videos people post.  My last favorite video was the baby dancing...so cute.   And children are so inhibited with all the stuff life brings our ways.   Other then being on Face Book I've been working and the job has gotten way too stressful....so I am just about Nuts at this point.   But I'm hanging in for a little while in hopes things will bet better soon.  We are suppose to be getting some help next week?? But I don't want to be all complaining because life has been good to me and for that I thank the Lord every day!   

The Lord touched me with His Love this Week

Just when I get really down and discouraged the Lord lets me know He is there for me.

I got back from Camp Rainbow and was very sick.   Missed working a few days and the days I did work it was a struggle to make it through the day.   It took about two weeks for me to begin to feel recovered.   Work in itself has been a challenge the last month or two.  To the point I wasn't sure I could continue in my present position.  But this week the Lord really touched me with His love.   I feel encouraged and blessed!

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Aah...back from Camp Rainbow.   We had a wonderful week and great weather.  It is always wonderful to see the kids year after year.   Some we had seen since they were small and now they are teens!   And that is great because they are cancer survivors.   

This week is such a life renewing week.   The focus is fun and fun the kids have!   They have hourly activities such as archery, biking, boating and arts of crafts.   There are 12 groups of kids that start at age 4 and go up to teens.  The day begins at 8am and goes until  10pm.   Gary and I try to get all the kids and all the activities for their DVD.   Last year we came home with 22 hours of raw footage that had to be edited to an hour and 50 mins!

We wanted to review how we edited last years before we shot this years, so we sat down with the Grandkids to watch it.   Joey the 2 year old watched the entire production.   That says a lot about camp not being a boring time or a boring video!

Somewhere over the rainbow is there a camp I can go to and stay at?  Where I don't have to be a responsible adult?   I'm not ready to cook again, and wash dishes, and wash clothes.   But tonight I can still pretend I am camp.   We are having pizza for dinner!

IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG

I wonder if any one ever reads my blog.   Never any comments.   But if you do, then this little update is for you.   Sorry I haven't kept up with it.   I got on Facebook and having fun reading funny and informative comments by others.

I just got back from Edisto Beach.   My sister in law had all of my husbands family there for a week.   She has time shares and was so kind to book a condo for us.   It was great!  Three bedrooms, living room, dinning room, kitchen and laundry room.   Lanie and the boys and Jetta stayed in the condo with Gary and I.   Every day Gary played golf and Lanie and I took the kids to the beach or pool.   In the evening we got together with all the family to play bingo or cards.

The weather was sunny all week!   Garren came down toward end of the week and played golf with his Dad.

I am home for one week and then Gary and I are off to camp rainbow.   This will be our 11th year to do the video.  Camp is for children with cancer.   But the week is very positive and full of lots of fun for the kids.   I love it because I get to be a kid also.   And I'm a videographer and not a nurse.

Work has been overwhelming lately.   Not taking care of the patients but drowning in paper work!   I was defintely not ready to go back to work.   Now my old partner is much smarter then me.   She went on vacation on her week off but took the week off after vacation also!

Why didn't I think of that!?

Well no words of wisdom from me this time!  Just wanted you to know I haven't disappeared from the country like our governor.

BACK TO REALITY

Well vacation is over!  ( However all day I felt like my brain was still on vacation.)   Vacation was good. It was good to have the time to reflect and renew.   We all need this some time.    I will most likely not have the time to post as frequently as I did while on vacation but I'm going to try to post at least weekly.    For now......it is back to reality.

WE CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD BUT WE CAN CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE

It is easy to blame others and see the world as a terrible place to be. A place of misery. It is more difficult to search our hearts and to learn the truth. The truth is God does not want us to be miserable. He wants us to be happy---full of love peace and joy. Misery is not a price we have to pay to get to heaven! He wants us to have a good experience here on earth. God gives us control--we can not ccntrol others or circumstances but we can control how we react to what life brings our way. You have heard the saying that when life brings you lemons make lemonade. There is a lot of wisdom in these words!

LIFE IS FOR GIVING AND RECIEVING

Did you every think and wonder why Randy Paush and Susan Boyle got so many hits on the internet? Why so many people were in awe with Princess DiAnna? Why these individuals touched so many lifes? I believe these people awaken our spirit and stir our souls. They remind us why we are here. Randy's lesson was about relationships and to live life to it's fullest potential. No matter how many days we may be here on earth. Princess DiAnna was a whitness to God's grace and unconditional love. Susan Boyle a whitness to the awesome gifts God gives to us all. We may not have her voice but we all have special talents and gifts.

PATIENCE PAYS OFF

Our pets have a lot to teach us about life! MacLoving, one of the newest additions to the family is a gray and white kitty. He was a stray that my daughter Christa and her husband Andy could only see in their hearts to not let him go hungry or uncared for. So they made him a home on thier porch. Many cold nights MacLoving hung around hoping to make it into their home that was so much warmer. And indeed he did! I'm here babysitting all the animals. When I saw MacLoving curled up on a their soft warm chair I could only think what he must be thinking----- aahhh...patience pays off!

DON'T BE HARD ON YOURSELF!

We all have the tendancy to be hard on ourselves! Even more critical of ourselves then others are of us. Don't waste the energy. Spend it being more gracious and forgiving of yourself. After all, God is so gracious and forgiving why shouldn't we be? Especially with ourselves. And the amazing thing is, you will suddenlly discover that you will be more energectic and you will accomplish more!

Live One Day at a Time

Okay---we have all heard this advice. But what if the day sucks like it does many days? What I find myself doing is looking forward to tomorrow and reflecting on yesterday. The time I will get to see my Grandchildren, a time when I feel like I've done a good job, the time I get to look forward to vacation, or something else that breaks the bordem of the normal daily routines. The times I can look back and cherish all the precious days I've experienced both good and bad. For reality is, many of our days are not fun, challenging, or heartbreaking. But it is the days that we experience great love and joy that keeps me going. And for one day at a time. I do every day thank God for the blessing he provides for me-- His constant unconditional love for me, for thelove of my family and friends, for good health that we too often take for granted. And daily, I try to reflect on all the lessons that's life challenges bring my way

STILL ON VACATION

WOW IT TURNED COLD HERE! IT RAINED YESTERDAY. WE WENT TO VISIT GARY'S PARENTS AND THEN WENT TO THE BOOK STORE AND HUNG OUT AND HAD COFFEE. IT WAS A NICE RELAXING DAY. TODAY IT WAS RAINING AND THEN COLD. WE STARTED AT TANGER MALL AND HAD TO BUY GARY A COAT. WE THEN WENT DOWN TOWN AND WENT TO NEW APPLE STORE. WE WALKED AROUND A WHILE AND THEN WENT OUT TO EAT. TOMORROW THE PLAN IS FOR GARY TO PLAY GOLF. ANY YES I AM TAKING CARE OF 4 DOGS AND 5 CATS! ALL IS GOING WELL. A BIT ANXIOUS THOUGH ABOUT CHANGES AT WORK.

VACATION

Gary and I went to see the Movie Star Trek. Good movie Recommend The weather has been beautiful. It is suppose to rain tomorrow. So not sure what we will do.

vacation

Vacations are good!   Getting away from the normal routine.   A chance for new experiences.

Garren and his family had a great time on their vacation to see the space shuttle.  My friends Cindy and Dave  are having a lot of fun.  They are sightseeing NC outer banks and touring Washington D.C. (my birth place).  I will be leaving for Charleston tomorrow to babysit the four legged Grandchildren.  Christa and Andy will be going to Wisconsin and Chicargo.    I love Charleston and plan to do some fun stuff while I'm there.  I'm ready to get away!

MY BORING BLOG

Okay---I'm still here.   Have a lot to say but not much time to say it.  I'm still nuts about my life.  I'm still enjoying those Grandchildren!   They are the love of my life.   They keep me going!

Joey's personality is in full bloom.   Jetta smiles with her eyes.  I love Jacob and Gauge.  They are such boys!   I know...I'm bragging.  But it is all true.   They are the most precious children in the world!   And I thank God for bringing them all in my life.

I will be going to Charleston next weekend to celebrate with Page,  Christa's best friend from college.   Christa is giving her a baby shower.   She is having her second child, a girl end of May.

Her son JJ.   He too has a wonderful personality and so precious.

On a sadder note,  my boss Connie lost her daughter last week unexpected.  He has been a shock to us all.   She was only 25 and has a baby 7 months old and a daughter Olivia.  She is around 7 years old.   My heart breaks for them all.

I enjoy reading Savvy by design!   Gifton you do such a great blog page.  Maybe mine will get better and more interesting!   I will be dog sitting for Christa in May and hope to have some time to blog then.  For now,  maybe someone will read my boring blog!

Not Enough Hours in a Day

With so many things to do,  I find there are not enough hours in a day.   So how do I accomplish all that I have to do?

I have found a few helpful tips and could always use some more.

First,  take care of ourselves,   so we have the energy to give.   Eat right,  exercise, pray daily

Make a schedule,  but not a rigid schedule, to allow for things  not anticipated

Don't be a perfectionist! 

I would love some input---that is if you have the time in your day to share them with me!

The Heavens Have Open up

On Sundays, my son and his family have a social and dinner with their friends. While we were eating, my son announced to his friends "My Mom has started a blog!" When his friends did not understand the significance of this, he continued to make them understand by saying "This is a big deal!" "The Heavens have open up." I thought to myself, the heavens have opened up. It was not long ago that I would not try things on my own. As a nurse, I spent most of my life and career in a hospital setting. If I didn't know how to do something I would just ask someone to show me how or have them do it for me. Things changed when I went out into the Home Field to be a Hospice Nurse. I was out on my own, not always sure of what to do or say, Because I didn't have anyone to ask, I quickly learned to rely on God for guidance. He helped me with the smallest to biggest decisions I needed to make. He taught me to be confident. As my confidence soared, I began to understand the potential God has for my life. God has potential for all our our lives. To find the potential God has for your life, trust Him and ask him for help. The Heavens will open up!

Nuts about my Grandchildren

I'm still amazed at how awesome it it to be a Grandparent!   I have 4 amazing Grandchildren--Gauge, Jacob, Joseph, and Jetta.   They fill my life with such joy!  They are always a pleasure to be around.   I want to commend their parents for doing such a good job teaching them to be polite, well behaved, and so loveable.   In closing---I'M NUTS ABOUT MY GRANDCHILDREN-- says it all!   JOYce