Card Showers....

A prayer request went out this morning for a gentleman from our church who just had a bone marrow transplant and is depressed. I thought I would post a card shower for him and my mother-in-law,Ginny, who is dying from brain cancer. Please send them each a card to let them know that someone is thinking about them, praying for them and help to brighten their day! (thanks in advance!)


The James Center Blood & Morrow transplant unit
Randy Yost
Room 357
300 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210


Ginny Wilson
c/o Sue Benner
1107 W. Church St.
Newark, Ohio 43055

Family Matters...

It's been a little while now and we have been going to Donnie's sister Sue's house to visit with my dear MIL Ginny. She has good days and bad days and I am sure "everything else" in between days too. The other night I decided to cut her toenails, give her a foot massage and paint her toenails a pretty shade of shimmery pink. She looked at me and told me how good it felt and it almost made me cry. It was such a small and simple act of kindness, and I didn't think anything of it at the time. I just knew that she couldn't cut them herself because she was too weak. I love her, so I decided to just "do it", as Nike says. As she sat there, just relaxing with her eyes closed, I started to think about all of the things that we take for granted,and how even the simpliest acts of kindness can affect our emotions and general well-being. Then I started to think about how wonderful a world we would be living in this side of Heaven if we all treated one another with the love of Christ and not as the rest of the world treats us. Never forget that family does matter...especially those family matters of the heart...like scratching your child's back at bedtime, telling your family that you love them, or painting toenails and foot massages! :)

Brains and other things...

Well, it's official...Ginny has brain cancer. After a CT Scan, an MRI and a Colonoscopy, the docs have conversed and have stated that the cancer in her colon would be treatable, but due to the 4 tumors on her brain, they aren't going to be concerned with radiation/chemo to that area. She has started radiation treatments because she wants to try to live long enough to see Donya's baby come into the world. Our niece, Donya, is having a boy.

I am getting better...and should be well enough by this weekend to go and visit Ginny for the first time since we both were in the hospital. I am glad that I just had to get a breathing treatment and after an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and a nubulizer machine and home treatments, am able to breathe again. I struggled with the fact that we were both sick at the same time, because my husband and I have been together for almost 21 years now and my MIL is just like my mom. I wanted to be there for her and to hug her and hold her hand and tell her that I love her. But, so far...I have had to do all of that via the phone.

The brain is a very funny organ...it tells our entire body what to do, how to move and how to act. When I watch tv shows like House, Three Rivers and Grey's Anatomy, you are declared "dead" and ready for organ donation when your brain functions cease. I wonder how brain cancer works. I know that sounds dumb, but I really do. Does it eat away at your brain, or do the tumors just grow bigger and crowd out the cranial space? I am not sure how it works, but I do know that Ginny was given a diagnosis of 3-6 weeks without treatment and 6 mos with treatment by her Oncologist and about a month by the surgeon.

I hate it when mortal people put a "timeline" on life! I know why it's done...I get it...but I still detest the whole thing because no one is God. Only God Himself knows when our time on this side of Heaven will be over, because only God alone has numbered the hairs on our heads and the days of our existence on this planet we call Earth.

I had to go to the apartment last night and help her grandaughters,(my nieces), go through her belongings. That is never an easy thing! Ginny and Donnie's sister Sue, had set aside some things that she wanted us to have and to look through to see if we would like to have them. That process is a funny thing as well. You don't really want anything, except maybe some photos or something small to remember them by...but it really can be touching to see what they want you to have. I went home with photos of my MIL and my daughter at the Pumpkin Patch over the years that she had kept in a small "Brag Book", some sweatshirts of our local school system (which my MIL had worked for several years as a lunch cashier when my husband was in Junior High and High School, and our daughters attended/attend)...some recipes...a cake plate, some kitchen utensils, and the thing that I had actually asked for- a glass plate with a domed lid.

This plate is what I fondly refer to as "the cheeseball plate". My MIL can make a mean cheeseball and she has brought one or two of these to every family holiday since my hubby and I have been together.That's a long time...and a LOT of cheeseballs...but everytime I see that plate or one of those cream cheese, dried beef, green onion cheeseballs, I smile and think of my darling Ginny. So you can bet that every holiday family get-together, I will be making the cheeseball and bringing it on the cheeseball plate.

When it Rains ...it sometimes POURS!!!

Well...as a Christian who loves the Lord and believes that Jesus is her Savior, brother that she never had, and best friend...I sometimes struggle when people remind me that we are to THANK GOD FOR ALL THINGS. I know what this means, and in my heart I know that this statement is true and just. But sometimes it just mixes with the humanness of this side of Heaven and leaves my heart and head a bit heavy...like this week.

Donnie's mom, who was doing so good after her cancer treatments, is in the hospital currently with what they thought might be pneumonia. She was having trouble swallowing and they thought it might have been from her meds. They scoped her throat and did a CT Scan and nothing was wrong. So they decided to do an MRI of her entire throat and head. Donnie called me this morning, teary, to let me know that his sister and mom were waiting on her Oncologist to get there, because his sister, who is a nurse and the radiologist both stated that it look like she may have brain cancer. Donnie said that she had started to say things a few weeks ago that didn't go together and didn't make sense...I am waiting on a call back again now for further confirmation.

This comes on top of me, being off work due to sickness and having to take Paige to the doctor, who was not feeling well. (You can believe that she got the FluMist while we were there!)--- We are both on meds at this point. I had to go to the ER yesterday morning because I had a fever and couldn't breath... and wound up having to get a chest x-ray and a breathing treatment for Acute Bronchitis. They sent me home with an antibiotic (and I am allergic to just about every one out there!) and a steroid. After 2 doses of both, today, sitting at work, I break out into a full flushed face, neck, chest and throat, with a VERY red rash. I called my Doctor's office.....(3 1/2 hours ago...hellooo!!!????) and they said to quit taking both meds and they would send my info back to the doctor and call me back...would that be BEFORE or AFTER you close for the day???!!! God love 'em! I know they are busy, but you would think that an allergic reaction to medication would somehow seem important to someone else besides me.

I know that Paige and I will get well...and no matter what happens with Donnie's mom, that she will be brought to a place of wellness too...even if that means that she is soon to be made whole again and be staring into my brother's face and surrounded by his loving arms...it just gets so hard at times, especially times like this, when everyone is sick including yourself...to thank God for the deck that we have been handed as of late. (I wish I could find the owner, I would hand back the deck!) But I will once again trust in the promises that God has made very clear... that He will NEVER leave or forsake us... that His love is unconditional... that He is ALWAYS with us, even to the end...and that He WILL made us whole and new..in His perfect timing. For these things and much, much more...I am truly THANKFUL. Maybe it's just my job to cling to Him right now and crawl into His lap and let Him love on me...so that I can feel well enough to love on the rest of my family...

Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Fall Classes for Men (LOL!)...I love guys, but this IS funny!

Fall Classes for Men at

THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
by Friday, October 22nd 2009
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM

Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays--Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll--Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor--Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5
Dinner Dishes--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM

Class 6
Loss Of Identity--Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7
Learning How To Find Things--Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8
Health Watch--Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined

Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.

Class 11
Learning to Live--Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy--Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14
The Stove/Oven--What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.

Falling Down...

LITERALLY!- the concrete and bricks at work on the sidewalk are uneven.... and low and behold, I fell and tripped on a raised corner of the concrete. Talk about feeling like that old lady on the commercial who says "I've fallen and I can't get up!"...I was determined to get up even though it hurt like hades! I had to take time off work and couldn't use my hands (because I used them first to break my fall- it sounded like a bellysmacker in the water!), so I just sat in the recliner all day and dozed off and on in between pre-recorded DVR shows. I now can tell you every bizarre food that Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain have eaten in the last 6 episodes...who won the Cereal Bridges 2 Food Network Challenge...who has been Chopped and which Models of the Runway and Project Runway Designers I like best. It was a sad and sorry existence and a stupid way to be able to be at home. I would have even preferred ironing clothes to that. And to make it worse, I have several swaps that were due on SCS and I had to PM my 4 hostesses to let them know, that while I am NOT flaking, I would be later than the due date, due to my inability to pick stuff up and use crafting tools!!...You know...we take our bodies for granted most days and never even think about how intricately God has created us to be and in that same regard, how it is a miracle that our bodies over time can heal themselves. But, if you ever get bored, try not using anything but your fingertips and you'll get a taste of my latest frustration! Stay tuned later this evening for gruesome pix!

The Autumn Months Splendor

The Autumn Months Melody
The hot summer days are gone and rolled by
The cool autumn months have once again arrived
The autumn majestic spirit permeates the land
It is another new day of autumn
The far sun above the horizon sends its rays and gentle warmth
on the valleys, mountains and hamlets
Nature has dressed in beautiful colors
The jolly trees are painted with red, yellow and brown
The autumn trees adorn the valleys and mountains that hug the skies
It is a portrait of panoramic dazzle
The brisk wind blows over the meadows
The cool wind sweeps the plains and fields
The tall trees dance and bow gently in grace
The tree branches hiss, swing and sway
The shivering leaves quiver with the wind
The green pastures are dotted with a mosaic
of dried brownish scattered leaves
Joining autumn happy symphony
The singing joyous birds, the playful beavers
The swimming silver fish in the water streams
All bring a solemn joy
The sun slowly climbs the immense skies
The autumn patchy clouds cast their shadows on the peaceful land
All painting an awesome picture of beauty, love and harmony
How beautiful are the melodies and splendor of the autumn months!

Sherif Monem

Back to School Salute to Teachers and School Staff Across the Globe!

Teacher Applicant

After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:

“Let me see if I've got this right.

'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.

'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.

'You want me to do all this and then you tell me... ”I CAN'T PRAY?!?!?!”

Scrapbooking/Crafting Day!!!!

I just posted one of Julia Child's famous recipes to get you inspired over the weekend (those of you who will be home and can cook all day)...I can't tackle this one today, but do intend to make it when the snow flies and I'll let you know how it turns out. I am getting ready to make Gracie's Biscuits to take to my bi-monthly scrapbook and crafting day with my homegirls! :)

Gracie's real name is Nancy Wright and I had the pleasure of going to church with her, her husband John and daughter Stacey years ago at HPC. The church motto was "Love Grows Here" and it certainly did! Gracie and Bud (John) were elders in the church and had raised animals and horses on their farm their whole life. They were definately hard workers. Stacey and I shared a love for vintage things and she even had decorated her bathroom with really cool vintage clothing, etc...and the effect was spectacular (wish I would have thought back then to take a picture of it)...anywho, I was trusted enough as part of her adopted family to have her secret Buttermilk Biscuit recipe. And while I can't share the recipe because she asked me not to give it to anyone, I will post a picture later of how they look when they come out of the oven.

They smell soooo good baking and they are so light and fluffy (probably the combination of buttermilk and baking powder)...and I think of and remember fondly the fun times that we shared in Gracie's kitchen, as she taught me so many things in that farm house. I love them dearly and we run into each other every so often...but writing this post, I realize that I need to keep in touch with them better before they are no longer here...because as Gracie used to say "I ain't no spring chicken!"

So I dedicate these biscuits to you Gracie!...thanks for the memories! :)

**UPDATE:The recipe was such a secret that I couldn't find it and had to make biscuits with a different recipe. Everyone liked them, but I thought they sucked. I later found Gracie's recipe and will be making these in a few weeks the next time we meet...will post a pic then!