A Princess in her Kingdom

Pretend with me.
Let your imagination wander.

Let's pretend we are a pretty Princess living alone in the kingdom.
We attend church, an occassional play,
go out to dinner with friends weekly, do our banking, and a bit of shopping as needed...We live in a suburb and drive a pretty, red SUV.  It's good being independent and a self-sufficient Princess.

Now - pretend the King decrees that YOU will no longer be allowed to drive.  Not a mile.  Not around the block.  Not even out of your driveway.  Your friends drive - their life in the kingdom remains unchanged, but yours has changed dramatically!
                 The End.

This is my Mom's reality.
She is a fiercely independent, capable woman, who is a widow.  She has always taken pride and joy in being able to take care of herself and her "business".  Then one day everything changed - her health became a bit "dicey" and the doctor said she should no longer drive.  She was crushed and sure the doctor was wrong.  Another doc was consulted.  He too agreed that she should not be driving.  Life as she knows it has now been forever changed...She is so very sad.

I suppose if we are granted longevity we will each reach a point where the privilege of driving is revoked.  This is my first time to get a peek at how this impacts a persons life.  Perhaps you have dealt with this in your family???

Driving = Mobility = Freedom
It would be painful to lose these things.
A Princess likes her freedom to go to the Ball.

M&M

Me and Mom.
I am in Oklahoma visiting with my Mom as she recovers from a bout of health problems.  Almost our entire family was here for Thanksgiving.  The weather was gorgeous and we had much to be especially thankful for this year.  Mister and Princess went back to Louisiana on Friday and I have remained behind to give Mom a bit of help as needed...

Being here is a bit like stepping back in time... The only channels on the TV are the free ones.  Since I am a devout TV-a holic this is a serious adjustment for me...Mom's driving privileges have been revoked by her doctor so I have become her chaufeur this week.  I have been rebuked for "following too closely" and for "talking and not paying attention to the road" when my sister was in the car with us.  I'm having flashbacks to my teen years...Mom doesn't cook any more so I have been cooking for her and she has been loving my cooking.  Only problem is that Mom ALWAYS finishes her lunch AND her dinner with a bowl of ice cream.  Every day.  Being the good hostess, she insists that I eat ice cream with her.  I am beginning to resemble Santa.

Mom has some challenges ahead, and the truth is I am honored and privileged to be here to help in any way I can.  We have laughed (and eaten ice cream).  We have shopped (and eaten ice cream).  We have talked late into the night (and eaten ice cream).  These are sweet days (filled with ice cream).

I've not had any time to read blogs lately so I am waaay behind.  If you are reading this I appreciate the fact that you've stopped by, and the next bowl of ice cream will be eaten in your honor. ;-)
Name your flavor.

"Don't want to miss a thing."

"I don't want to close my eyes
and I don't want to fall asleep,
'cause I don't want to miss a thing."

I love this old song by Aerosmith, and it's totally the way I feel.  I don't want to miss any of this ride around the sun.  I bet you feel the same way.

Last Saturday we "fetched" Princess and Boudxy and now we are all once again under the same roof, as we should be.  *sigh of relief and thanksgiving*   It is as though no time has passed and we are simply moving on as we were all along.  God is truly the "Healer".

We had no sooner loaded Princess and Boudxy into our car when my phone rang.  It was my sister telling me Mom had been taken to the hospital with a possible heart attack, but the emergency was over and she was resting well and waiting for test results.  Thankfully, her tests came back showing no damage to her heart and she was released from the hospital on Monday.  

Sooooo, Princess and I made the drive to Oklahoma to spend  the week with Mom as she was recouperating at home.  The week was not without some obstacles (2 more ER visits), and Mom has some serious challenges ahead, all of which serve to remind me once again of just how precious time is, and it's so true, "I don't want to miss a thing".

We are heading back to Oklahoma for the holiday week.  I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving, and let us all be mindful not "to miss a thing".

Ducks in a Row

I have been the "Cleaning/Purging Queen" for the last two weeks, and I have the clean closets to prove it.  I have hauled away lots of "stuff" to the Goodwill and lightened the load of this home by a good many pounds.  I've culled through stacks of things deciding what should go and what should stay. . .Then I watched the news and saw so many people who have lost everything.  I vow I will not complain about the job of cleaning closets.  I am blessed to have a messy closet full of things, and then to get to choose what to keep and what to let go of - this is a privilege when you really think about it.

Mister has not had a good week.  He has a cold/sore throat and pink eye in both eyes.  Yikes!  I can't even  imagine where he picked up these nasty germs.  I have been in full-blown Germaphoeb mode. I've doled out meds, cooked soup, and inhaled sprayed lots of Lysol, and I may have muttered "This is why I don't like winter" amidst the Lysol fumes.  Never mind that it has been in the 70's, sunshiney, and still officially Fall.  Someday some smart person will discover that some people are simply genetically wired to be cranky in November and December.  When that happens just remember that you heard it here first! OK?!

I appreciate those of you who stop by often to read my words. Thank you for caring.  Thank you for your prayers.  Thank you for your encouragement.  You have helped me through a difficult time and I pray God's blessing on you - you have made a difference to me!  I will not forget it, and you can be sure that I plan to "pay it forward" in your behalf.

Princess will be home today.
This is the answer to many prayers,
and many of them have been prayed
by you.  Thank you so very much.

And yes, Boudxy will be home too!

Coming Our Way.

It's a GIRL!
Princess will deliver this Granddoll in March.

This will be Granddoll #4.
"We do fluff & lace" is our motto!
Sonogram shows everything is
as it should be.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Wish List

This week I wish for:

NYC to get more relief from their suffering.

Special Blessings for those who minister/help/donate to relieve the needs of those in NYC. 

The election to go smoothly.
(no hanging, dangling, or sagging "chads" AND a clearly decided Winner)

To make great progress with my Closet Cleaning project(s).

A little cooperation from Mister in regards to the Closet Cleaning projects.  This man-of-mine does not understand the word "purge".  He wants to hang on to "stuff" for-evah!  He saves bits of paper, old clothes, books, bits of paper, magazines, Coke bottle tops, news clippings, bits of paper, HUGE bits of paper, etc. etc.  I love this man.  His "stuff"?  Not so much.


To find out the gender of our Grandbaby!!
(scheduled to make an appearance in March)
Girl?  Boy? Or Watermelon?
We'll find out Thursday.

To eat all the cookies I want and not gain a single pound.

"You" to have a wonderful, productive week, with a little "silly" in the mix to make it fun and memorable.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm not only "wishing" for these things

but asking for them in prayer.

10 + 10 = November

10 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT NOVEMBER!

1. It has a "v" in it.
2. It only lasts for 30 days.
3. Eating pie is acceptable during all 30 days.
4. Sweats
5. Fuzzy Throws
6. Grocery sales
7. Thanksgiving with my family
8. Insurance Reimbursement
9. Orange, Gold, and Brown
10. Apple Cider w/Red hots

10 THINGS I HATE DON'T LIKE ABOUT NOVEMBER!

1. Christmas Carols
2. Stress
3. Weight gain from eating too much pie
4. Stress
5. Road Trips
6. Stress
7. It means December is approaching
8. Stress
9. Nasty Cold Germs
10. Stress

Sometimes the truth is ugly. Real ugly.

"How much Halloween candy did you eat yesterday?"

(you know God reads my blog so you better be
tellin' the truth, GF.)

LOL!!!

I.ATE.NONE.
-0-
Zilch.
Nada.
Nil.
Sorry to brag.

Truth is, we were a "Stick-in-the-Mud".
(hanging my head in shame)
Here's where the truth turns ugly.
Real ugly.
We turned off all the lights and pretended
to be not-at-home.
It's an embarrassing truth.

I admit it.

I own it.
I failed to plan ahead.
I failed to buy candy.
I'll probably gain 12 lbs just because
I withheld sugar from sweet children.
It's what I deserve.
Yes, I have guilt issues.

* * * * * * * * *

I could say I was taking a stand for the next generation who are doomed to be fatties with rotten teeth - I hear that on TV all the time.
I could say that,
but I won't 'cause then I'd be a
"lying stick-in-the-mud"

which is even worse than simply being a regular
"stick-in-the-mud".

Yes, I know I'm babbling,
so I'll stop.
Right now.

*THE END*