Here's a Little Inspiration: Explore Your Faith For Any Religion

I found this in Acadiana Catholic booklet. BUT you do NOT have to be Catholic to get something out of this. Please read and share your thoughts. It was sponsored by a local dentistry. I think Christmas time is 

Explore Your Faith

I am flat broke from overspending at Christmas time, but I need to go shopping again soon because I am completely out of self-respect.  I've said things I wish I could take back and I am not feeling too good about myself.

I also want to exchange a cart of self righteousness for an equal amount of humility. I hear that it is less expensive and wears well,  and while I'm at it I'm going to check on tolerance and see if there is any available in my size.

I must remember to try to match my patience with the little I have left. My neighbor is loaded with it and it looks awfully good on her. I was told the same department has a repair shop. for mending integrity. Mine has become frayed around the edges from too much compromise.  If I don't get it refurbished soon. there won't be any left.

I almost forgot the most important thing of all-- compassion. If I see some, no matter what the color, size or shape I'm going to stock up heavily regardless of the price.  I have run out of it so many times and I always feel ashamed when it happens.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to get around the shopping for these items. They don't cost nearly as much as some of the  frivolous things  I've bought for Christmastime, and I'll get a lot more satisfaction from them.

Yes, I'm going shopping today, and I can leave my checkbook and credit cards at home. The things I'm looking for have no price tags--what a joy.

I love this. I think it sends s a great message. 

Do you have any inspiration quotes, poems or thoughts? I'd love to hear.

Until next time...during the season of excitement waiting for Jesus'   birthday when you pass someone as you shop, say Merry Christmas and smile!

Merry Christmas

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Please be safe!

I guess you can say I have not been in the festive mood being I've been sick  I know. What is new? This time was the beginning of pneumonia and sinusitis. It knocked me down and I'm getting up slowly but surely.

We didn't put up a tree or any decorations. The most decorative we have is Christmas cards lined up on our shelves. Hubby hates this time of the year because he is sick of it as his job deals with it from September on. I keep telling him he needs to leave it at work. I guess the gloom is rubbing off of me.

My side of the family have decided to postpone it and get together after because a few are working and going to other places So that's fine.

Tonight, we do our usual Christmas Eve ritual. I love it. We go the Memorial Service to remember his dad and all the fallen soldiers. Then we are off to his brother's to have Christmas with Hubby's family which is cool.

Since we are not doing anything with my family Christmas day, BabyGirl is going to drop by after Hubby and I go to Mass. I'm cooking roast, mashed potatoes and corn. She also wants her gift.

We only buy gifts for BabyGirl and her Hubby. It is not much but hey it is what she wants. Hubby and I don't do the gift giving to each other because we get what we want during the year which I have a post coming of all my purchases in the last few months!

Oh and the weather is crazy here. Christmas Day we can wear shorts because it is supposed to be 80 degrees and stormy. We haven't had a handful of cold days yet!

Merry Christmas!

Until next time...






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Last Post….

of 2013 that is. I gotcha didn't I? 

Another year is coming to an end.  I look back at this time last year, MyHubby and I were "Homeless". The home buying process was coming to an end and there were delays of getting it on our property.  We spent Christmas and New Years living at my awesome Mother-in-law's. 

God works in mysterious ways because since then I think my MIL and I have bonded in certain ways. I think she has learned I am not totally disabled and am capable of taking care of her son. I have learned that she is only a concerned mother and she is full of more wisdom than I can imagine.

My health was overall stable until my hospital visit this month. It hit me hard. But I am still kicking. The tendinitis is still bugging me but oh well.

I used to make New Years Resolutions but I find them useless for me. 

Anyway our Christmas of 2013 was memorable. Christmas Eve, we shared it with Hubby's family. We went to the Memorial service in remembrance of his dad and all others who had lost a loved one. I think it is a beautiful event.  After we enjoyed a nice dinner at my brother-in-laws home and visited with his nieces and mother.

Christmas Day, we went to my niece's as my sister is remodeling her home so my niece volunteered. She was a great hostess. We again had a great meal. I was able to meet my second great nephew. Now we have 3 small children in our family again. It was fun to see them.

The oldest is 2 year old Andrew who is very busy, energetic and all boy. 

Then there is cutie pie 1-1/2 year old all girl Lillian, happy, quiet and rather do her own thing.

Jonah is the youngest 5 months who is also a happy boy who wouldn't cry with anyone who picked him up. I got the chance to hold him, kiss him and squeeze the cut little cheeks (Softly). 

The blessing was everyone was there. Sometimes someone was offshore or off to another place. This year all of my family was together. 

Oh and I met BabyGirl's boyfriend for the first time. I gave him a subtle short talk about not hurting my daughter. He took it well. I wasn't able to talk to him one to one like I would have liked to but if he is around I'm sure I'll get to know him more. He seems like a nice wholesome guy.

After we left there we decided to go see if my BFF, JoAnn was home. She lives right down the road from my sister and niece. My niece lives a few doors down from my sister. 

The few times I had gone no one was home. They didn't even know where we lived. But our friendship is like that. We may not talk to each other for months or even years, but we continue where we left off. Miraculously, she was there with her crazy husband and her Mom who I hadn't see in a long time.

JoAnn's husband and I get along great. We pull tricks on each other and jokingly insult each other. I am thankful my best friend finally found this man. She deserves the best.

They have an X-box for when her grand kids go. We checked it out. It is pretty cool. It is better than the Wii and PlayStation that we have. I laughed until I cried watching MyHubby and Joann play a game. It was so funny to see their faces and movements. Ahh that will be a memorable time.

We came home later than we expected but it was all worthwhile. 

We are going back to my brother-in-law's New Year's Day to have a meal and watch some LSU football!!!!! GEAUX TIGERS!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I wish you a safe and Happy New Year! Be careful if you go out New Year's Eve or Day!

Christmas Memories--My First Bicycle

I have been trying to catch up with some of my blogs I follow. One of them, Pam on Mommacan.com has been blogging about Nostalgic Christmas Gifts. It is fun to go back and remember toys as a child. Be sure to check out her blog!

I started thinking about my favorite gifts I received as a child.

The one that comes to mind the most was when I received my very first two wheeled bicycle. You see I was told I would never be able to ride a bicycle because of balance issues from the CP. But I did. I had learned on my sister's old bicycle with training wheels. If you want to know the story how I learned to ride a bike, go here.

Anyway the Christmas I received my very own two wheel blue boys' bicycle I had pneumonia and couldn't go out to ride it. It looked similar to this.

We were living on Avery Island in a small two bedroom house. There was a straight shot from the kitchen into the living room., barely enough to ride the bike up and down. However, that day my parents made an exception of allowing me to ride a bicycle in the house. I still remember that day of excitement and pride.

Looking back, it was so weird how I got on the bike.  Instead of swinging my leg back over the seat to get on as every other child I knew did, I would stand on the side of the bike and move my left forward over the bars to get onto the bike. I know it is hard to imagine but it is called improvising.

I think that was my most favorite gift all!

Stay tuned about my other memories of Christmas.

If you like, share your favorite Christmas memory with my followers and me.

Mumble Jumble: No Motivation

I have had no motivation whatsoever. To do much of anything.

I can blame it on my recent gastrointestinal problems or any one of my medical malady. I can blame it on the cold. I can blame it on the holiday season stress. 

I don't know. I can't pinpoint the problem. I wish I could.

First, I don't have the motivation to read any of my favorite blogs I enjoy much less write my own. I have several in draft, completed. I just need to click publish but I don't have motivation to do that. I keep going over it and editing. I don't think it is good enough yet. I sometimes think I am not good enough to write. However, I remind myself when I started this blog, it was sorta like a diary, but publicly sharing my life to show others even with disabilities we go through the same joys and obstacles than those without. 

I have fellow bloggers and others say I have a gift and write well. It means a lot to me and thank them. Why don't I believe it?

I also have lost interest in Facebook, not that I ever had much interest in it in the first place. The only reason I maintain it is to keep in touch with my family and friends. If you think about it, its a shame. You have to go to a website to see what the most important people in your life are doing. There is something wrong with that.

I dread the holidays. I love the reason for the season, Jesus. I also enjoy the family time. But the rest such as shopping, fighting traffic and stressing I can do without. I find Christmas has become so commercialized it is ridiculous. The whole purpose of the Christmas Season is forgotten by I bet 50% or more of the population.

There are some things bothering the hell out of me in regards personal matters. Although I have voiced my thoughts before about certain things, the response has been rather condescending and 'it is what it is." But why is that I always have to conform to the changes. Or if I say okay, well then I'll do my own thing I am looked at as the bad person.

MyHubby says I should say how I just need to make my decisions on what makes me happy and don't worry about what everyone else thinks. They sure as hell don't worry or care about what I think.

He is right. But it is hard. It's frustrating and maddening.

I have been praying asking God to give me direction and strength. Either I am not listening or he has his plan that he doesn't want me know about just yet.

Sorry about the rambling. I just wanted to let all of you great people who read my blog that I am around and do care about all of you but I'm just in a rare mood at this point. I am sure it shall pass.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season! Be careful and enjoy!

Christmas

I trust everyone has survived Christmas and doing well. Besides being busy My Christmas was nice. It is always nice being with family!

As explained in last post, Christmas Eve, we spend the day with his family. It was sorta chaotic in my opinion. But there were at least 50 people there including Hubby's brother's wife's family and  and Hubby's family. There was so much food! I did not know most of the people. I had seen a few at my brother in law's Superbowl party.  It was a huge family compared to mine.

Oh! Wow that is the first time I have used brother-in-law! LOL! Yea we are still getting used to the idea that we are married!


We went to the Memorial Service at the local Veteran Memorial Park. I have to say every year I have enjoyed it. The Memorial Service is mainly for those families who have lost a loved one during the year. But MyHubby's family has been going I think since his father passed away. I guess you can say it is a tradition of theirs.  There is an  late 20/early 3O something African American about 5'8" 200+ lbs. that sings out of the world with no music. HE is the music! He sings at several services we have gone to that has to do with the Veterans. The first time I head him sing, the hair on my arms raised and my spine tingled. I just can't describe it. You have to hear him!

After the service we picked up BabyGirl to sleep over. I so enjoy having her here. We don't do much but its just us being together I enjoy.

Christmas afternoon we went to my sister's. My great-nephew was the center of attention. He is so adorable.

My sister's soup was delicious and I enjoyed visiting with everyone. We played Dirty Santa. I ended up with an Anti steam Oven Glove that I so can use! But it seemed after I ate dessert, Mom's awesome HEALTHY banana pudding, I got the "Have enough" syndrome. We stayed for a little longer than we left.

We stopped by BabyGirl's girlfriend's place to give her Christmas gift. We visited with her family for a short while then we dropped BabyGirl at her apartment and we returned home.

I told MyHubby it was nice to be with family but it was time to get back to "normal' life, whatever that should be.

Happ Birthday Jesus!

I want to wish everyone a Safe and  Joyful Merry Christmas!

It seems everyone has forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.  It is Jesus' birthday. We should be celebrating his birth and life! We should be singing carols and praying!

However, it seems people forget. They are running around to get the right gift or planning and cooking the meal. Most of us have two families so we have to split ourselves between them.

Through the years it has become less stressful because My Family has done away with gift giving for the most part. We only give to family members 25 and under. We had agreed to this  because things were just getting too expensive and our family started growing. The 25 mark was because the oldest grandchild of my parents was 25 at the time and we didn't want the younger ones feel they were slighted. . As I think about it, I grin to myself, were we serious? I guess we were. But it sorta crazy! MyHubby's family continues to gift give and that's okay as his is not as big as mine.

We have gone from serving big meals to smaller meals. Nearly everyone has a diet restriction and we always overate. This year my sister is cooking a soup, mom is bringing the desert and I am bringing the utensils and plates etc.  His Family refuses any offer to bring something.

MyHubby and I didn't put up a tree or put decorations. When we look at each other and ask, "Do you feel like it" and we respond, "What do you want to do?" Why bother?  One of these days we will invest in a Nativity Scene!

I had refused to think of Christmas until we returned from Vegas. When I returned I lucked out and found what I wanted to get for BabyGirl.  She and I went shopping for my great nephews and niece. I bought theirs. My Hubby and I exchanged gifts the first year we were together but we did away with it.

In my head after I bought BabyGirl's gift I kept trying to come up with stocking stuffers. One day it came to me, why am I worrying about stocking stuffers when she does not even live here and she is not a child anymore?

We will be with MyHubby's family today. Then will go to the Christmas Memorial Service. After we will pick up BabyGirl and enjoy her presence for the evening. Tomorrow we will be at MyFamily's.

I will enjoy seeing our families and spending time with them. I will also be thinking of the true meaning of the season!

Happy Birthday Jesus!