April, and about over at that!

Well, much has taken place since my last post.
I have moved out of the building, and we now occupy 2 storage buildings instead. Working hard to eliminate at least one of them, and in time, the other one as well. No one needs this much stuff!!
My health is keeping me from being able to do much at the present time, but I am praying hard for healing as well as some answers as to why I am feeling so badly.
We are close to being out for the summer break, and I am counting down the weeks now. Only 5 more from the time of this post. Working at our High School in the discipline department, known as ISS ( In School Suspension )  has challenges all of it's own, and some days I just want to walk away and never look back. However, it is a job, and I happen to need it right now. So I endure.
I have hopes and desires for my little "home business" at some point, but first must get the cottage in shape and all set up to where I can be productive. Right now, it looks about like a storage bin as well.
I want very much to get back into doing crafting and sewing, as that brings me much joy and seems to be a form of relaxation for me.  Baking and Candy Making are still in my plans, but the crafting is something that I have been idle in for some time and want to start back doing soon.
I realize that I do not have but a few followers of this blog at this time, but hope to maybe expand my "fans" soon, and be able to actually create this thing to be a bit more interesting and entertaining. We shall see.

February Already!

My oh my! Once again, it has been awhile since I last posted in here. I really need to get better at this!
I had to re-read my last post just so I could know what was going on at that time to know what to say this time. Ironically, I still am occupying the building, still trying to decide exactly what to do with it/about it, and yes it is quite a tug of war in my heart! However, I do know that in the very near future I will have made my mind up for sure and will either be conducting events or moving into a storage building. I have enough "stufff" to open a super center thrift store!!!! MUST ELIMINATE!!! I am hoping for a miracle in the means of a couple of days of having a CLEAN SWEEP TEAM to come and assist me. I have a couple of volunteers already, if I could just find a few more and a good time for everyone, then I feel sure the impossible mission could actually be conquored. We shall see,
My family is going through another stage, one that is a little hard on this momma, but as the seasons of life must come and go, so does the growing and changing in families. My daughters are both grown adults, still have them at home for now but feel that is changing soon, too. My baby will turn 20 this year, and for some reason I am really having a hard time dealing with that idea. My oldest daughter is feeling the wind under her wings and is contemplating a big change that I know will be taking her from my nest, but never from my heart. This must happen for her to be able to find that independence that she needs, and as time does have it, it is that time. Going to be a big year for lots of changes, but I am ready!
Maybe it won't be 6 months before I get back in here to post, and perhaps I just might actually try to do it more often. I don't have many viewers, and rarely ever get a comment from any who are viewing, but maybe I can increase my followers, and am even contemplating starting a new blog that is all about cooking and crafting, but going to be sure that I can keep that one up before I start it. I want to learn more about the actual running of a blog, with all the additives and add-ons, ect. I see some really great blogs and wonder how they got it to look so great. Going to be checking all that out, and will post when I launch my new one.
If you want to share my blog site with any of your friends, feel free to do so. And, if you have a blog and I am not following it, I would like to, just need to know how to get on there.

My How Time Flies

Well, as usual, it has been a long time since I came to this blogsite. Shame on me. I really do want to be a "blogger", but guess I just have yet to make it a habit. Maybe I can do better, since I do have the time to actually get on here now and be a little more regular. My job does have some nice perks, for the most.
Since the last post too much has happened to try and catch it all up on here, so guess I will just say what is on my mind or post the most recent happenings.
For starters, I am recovering once again from a health issue/set back, seems that the current stresses and pressures have caused my body to once again reach it's limitations and I had to spend a few days hospitalized. Thankfully nothing major was allowed to progress.
Now I am in the middle of moving out of the shop building that we have occuppied for the last 2 years, again, and this time will probably be the last for a long time. These 2 years have been a complete nightmare with expenses of trying to maintain a building in HOPES of getting a business up and running, and each time I thought it was going to work something else would set us back and basically knock us completely off of our feet. If I ever go back into a business, it will probably be after Dale has retired and we can work it together as an extra income. I do have some hopes and ideas, but we shall see.
Right now my main focus is to just get us caught up on things and try and work on getting out of some of the debt that has us so bound up. Lord have mercy!!!
I am hoping to be a little more successful in my efforts of getting more healthy and shedding some pounds, but truthfully it is quite a challenge when you are so depressed all the time. Somehow I must overcome it and find a way to stay above it. I am looking forward to getting back into an old way of relieving my stress, and that is crafting. I enjoy it so, and hopefully I will be able to create some peices to sell that will bring in a little extra financial help. I am also thinking of creating a whole seperate blogspot area for that, eventually.
My favorite season is upon us, and I plan to enjoy it all I possibly can! FALL!

Happy 70th Birthday to my Daddy

Today is my daddy's 70th birthday!
I was trying to upload a picture, but it kept posting it sideways, and not upright like it needed to be.
Anyways, I just wanted to blog about that today, and am wishing him a great day!
We had a surprise celebrtion for him last weekend, but today is his big day!

April Already!

April is here already, and as you can plainly see I have not been a good blogger. I want to, plan to, need to, and hopefully will become much better at blogging as I do honestly feel it would be good therapy.
Presently, I am consumed with the upcoming graduation of my baby girl, and I want so much to be able to do her justice with a grand reception to give honor for all of her accomplishments.
With the health conditions that I suffer with, at times just getting out of the bed is a challenge, but with God's help and a lot of willpower, I move on.
The season upon us is Spring, however it did snow here yesterday, but is to be 70 today. Oh the joys of the Texas Panhandle weather!
I don't think there are very many who even see this blog, but if anyone should happen to read this, I hope you have a wonderful Spring. Your comments would be appreciated, just so I could know if anyone actually even gets this page.
Happy Spring!

January 2013

Well, here it is almost the end of the month, and I still have yet to post in my blog for the first time this year. I can say that it has been a very busy month, as I began a new job on the 3rd. One I had wanted, and the Lord made it happen. Today, the 29th, I am at home resting, after a very frightful weekend. On Saturday, I was very sick, and feel certain that I suffered yet another heart attack. After a ride in the ambulance and some long hours in the ER, I was released to come home, oh the joys of the insurance not yet being in affect. So I have been resting, and getting ready to return to work tomorrow. I feel blessed to still have life, and pray that I can just continue to gain strength and better health. I know that God is in control.

2012 Reflections

Woke early this morning, I suppose because of the anticipation of this day. The last one for 2012.
I can't help but feel a sense of relief to realize that in a few short hours, I can mentally close the chapter of what has been a most trying year. This will be mainly for my own benefit, but I am going to do a re-cap of the events, and if anyone is actually reading this post, then they too may get a small glimpse of why I am eager to lay this one to rest.
Let me see if I can just hit the main highlights:
We came into the new year still in the middle of a weary battle, from Dale having been hospitalized on Oct.9th, 2011 for 5 weeks. He had suffered a severe infection in his foot that led to having to have a small part of his foot and his little toe of the right foot amputated. Once he was released to come home, just right before Thanksgiving, we still had to continue IV treatments at home, twice a day. Of course, with the holidays upon us and the emotional and financial stress we were under, it was not exactly the mood setting that we would have preferred for the holiday season. However, we made it through, and entered into 2012. With that said-
Dale was able to return to work on Jan.9th, exactly 3 months to the day of when he was hospitalized.
On top of all of this, we were also going through some extreme issues with extended family members, that left us emotionally and physically drained. I will refrain from details as it is not something that I feel I should share. Just trust me when I say that I was not dealing well from everything that was going on, yet I had to try and hold it all together for my own little family.
The finanical stress that we had been through caused us to go into default with our home, as well as about every other area where money was concerned, and we had the horrible experience of facing forclosure. Our mortgage company gave us a grace period to try and salvage ourselves, and with God's help and the approval for a loan through our bank, we were able to get caught up by the first of May. I am detailing this all so that there might can be some understanding to my mental status at this present time.
During all of this time, I was also struggling with trying to make a small business work, and sad to say, it wasn't.  I realize now more than ever that I had way too many irons in the fire that needed  more of my time than I was able to give, and this all too was adding to my stress levels.
By the time May had come, we were trying to plan ,my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary event, and there was other issues brewing again with extended family that was causing me much grief and heartache, and also deep concern. Details again not being shared for privacy. However, trust me when I say that this gal was at her wits end with trying to hold myself together, and yet function.
I will also mention that in late Feb. a very special young man had become a part of our lives, by becoming Maci's boyfriend. We grew to love Marijo very much, and enjoyed having him in our lives.
We could plainly see how he adored Maci, and was a good guy.
By June, my health was at an all time high of needing some major help. Stress can cause a body and mind much damage, and I was suffering.I was trying to focus on having a great summer with my girls, and it seemed the forces were just against us. My youngest daughter had an injury during the first week of summer break, that left her handicapped for several weeks, causing her great pain and unable to do a lot of the activities that she had wanted to do. We tried to make the best of it, yet I felt bad for her since it was such a misfortune. Thankfully she mended well and was able to enjoy the rest of the summer. For my birthday, my oldest sister Wyvette gave me a gift that would prove to be of great benefit. It was an Advocare 24 Day Challenge Bundle. I started it soon after, and was very pleased with the results I had both in weight loss as well as the way I was feeling healthwise. My hope was to stay focused on this road of recovery and to see my ultimate goals obtained in my weight loss, but sad to say, that did not happen. LIFE happened!  And I once again fell under the bus as you might say, by the circumstances that were taking place. By August, I had finally been able to get our household budget in breathing status, and felt a sense of relief that we were actually going to be able to hold our head above the water. How short lived that victory was. On Sept. 19th, I was in the ER having extreme high blood pressure and what appeared to be a light stroke. Doctor was also concerned that I was on the verge of another heart attack. However, I was released to come home providing I would rest and take it easy. HELLO! Have they no idea of how my life is? To some I know that you would say that I am an idiot for not heeding the instructions, but please would someone tell me how to actually "not worry" or how to not deal with everything???? I would really like to have some instructions to go by. Now as the rest of this year unfolds as you will read, again I will ask you. HOW am I to not be stressed? Trust God? I DO! But life just keeps throwing some pretty heavy punches at this point. The very next day after I was in ER, I had discovered that Dale had another very bad infection in his foot, that he had tried to keep hidden. Not sure why he didnt think it was a matter that should have been already seen about, but as I have been told, " that's a man for ya". WHATEVER!! So, we go to the same Specialist in Amarillo that had treated him the last time, and guess what! His exact words were, "well, to the hospital you go". I knew that was going to be the verdict, but Dale was thinking that he would just be medicated and sent home to carry on. Well, because he ( Dale) felt that he needed to at least make some arrangements at work, ect.  he could not go straight to the hospital, so the Dr. said as long as he was at the hospital to check in by 9 the next morning, he would let him go home to prepare. Little did I know that we were in for yet another lengthly hospital stay, much less the other life changing issues we were about to experience.
For those who don't know, the hospital that Dale was being admitted to was 55 miles from our home. That makes it even harder on several levels, both costly as well as limited visits. We got him settled in the hospital, and the tests and evaluations began. Saturday evening, Maci and I went to the hospital, and Marijo came to visit and also took Maci to dinner. Little did we know, it would be our last time to see him alive. That following Monday morning, he was in a horrible accident on his way to work, that took his life as well as the other driver. That is a morning I will not soon forget, as I heard the screams and horrified cries of my daughter, as she found out. My heart was so crushed, not only for her grief but for my own. It was one of the darkest trials we have been through, and I know that if God had not been my strength, I could not have gone through those next few days. I had a husband with a serious condition in the hospital, not sure if he was going to be losing his foot this time, and now a daughter in a state of grief that was ripping my heart out. My sweet baby girl Mandi was trying hard to be strong through all of this too, and yet we all was dealing with pain that we had not experienced before. During all of this time, we also experienced some of the loneliest hours, as it seemed we had been forgotten. Calls were few and far between, and most of them were from friends or family that were far away. Locally, it was shocking at the lack of concern that we felt, especially from those who we thought would really be there for us. They were not. I have to say, it was during this time that I had to really hold my faith together, because we were so hurt and disappointed that it made it hard to look at some people after that. And still is, to a point. But also during this time, God put a few others in our path that ministered to us by encouragement and even provision for certain needs, that we knew were a "God thing". It strengthened not only my faith, but was also a testimony to my girls that God knew where we were, though others may be too busy to notice. I know that there are a few of our friends who would have come to our rescue if they were able to, and I am in no way referring to any of them when I speak of the disappointment of others. I refrain from being specific out of respect, but if I were mean spirited, I would list names and "places" of those who I truly expected moral support from, as well as at least the offer of any assitance that we may have needed. It still blows my mind and the lack of concern. I will get over it, it just really set me back. So, as the days turned into weeks, finally Dale was released to come home on Oct.23rd, and again was place on IV treatments to be given twice a day. Also, we had to go for wound care 3 times a week here at the local hospital, as well as weekly trips to Amarillo for his blood work and appointments. Finally the blessed day came when he was released to go back to work, which was on Nov. 12th- so you do the math now of how the financial status was at this point. And yet, Wonder Woman was still trying to hold it all together and take care of things. So pardon me if I have seemed a little " out of sorts" or hard to deal with, or perhaps a little " whiney" as some have actually said, but life has been just a little sucky this year, and so yes! I am ready to say goodby to it! I am very thankful that I have the mental ability to actually believe that the new year is a way to finally put this old one behind, and also that I believe that I have a new page to start writing life on. My honest hope and desire is that this year will be less drama filled and more happy, healthy and prosperous. I do believe we deserve a break! So, I shall end this particular post, as my opportunity to have written my recollections of the things that I want to put behind me, so that my future posts can be more inspiring as well as entries of awesome and wonderful happenings. Thanks for letting me share my heart. Hey wait! Isn't this MY blog? I can say anything I need to, want to, feel like, ect. and don't have to worry about it! :)