Saturdays hopes

Was felling better so i was able to pick up my CASA kid and off we went on a new adventure. Today's morning was prep work, we will be traveling back in time next week. more pic's to follow it will be my first year so i am excited. My CASA and i are going to be in the village of Bethlehem. The Bethlehem Experience. my hope is that it will get people thinging on the gift of the birth of Christ. Go to http://www.gotobethlehem.com/ and check it out.
some came from a fair to help, and are not members of this chruch, yet they gave up there day to help set up. It was great every one pitching in and working together young and old it was a fun day. Then off to the birthday party at the park, can you remember your 18th?

i am sure this will be a birthday she will remember for ever. the kids BBQ'ed calif style, friends came but had to cut it short at 4:30 she had to work, i can remember working on my 18th. Was working in a convalescent home form the age of 15 1/2, with the elderly the ones with no family or family that is unable to care. Now i find myself in my late 40's working with foster kids the ones with no family or ones that are unable to care for waht ever reason. i have recieved blessing in both to see these young one with hope, and the lesson i learn for the old.

How thankful i find myself to have work with the forgotten one of our time in America. One of my favorite memories is a little old lady that was a Sunday school teacher she would sing Jesus love me, over and over all day. Some found that trying on there ears but for me i looked forward to seeing and singing with her each day she was a little ray of sun shine, in all the sadness. I find my self once again looking for the lessons and blessings, the more i look the more i see. We are a strong nation, and i love that there are thoughs out there helping all over the world. Yet were will we be if we as a stong nation fall our children and fall our elderly i think about what do other country see in us. What is your thoughs? Talk soon s.

WHO's JOB IS IT TO ANYWAYS

A little history i think my very first job was to clean, one of the gifts we recieved was no allowances for just being a kid. The first time i can remember someone cleaning my home
was being married to #2. The nicest 3 lady's i also remember the day they said they couldn't clean any more. Ah then i have paid many a young lady in my time to come and help me clean.
here in so calif., you have to come up with your own FLAKES at this time of year so sad no snow. I flaked having a fever and all, i didn't want to get her sick. So for now my home will have to wait, hoping to get every thing together before Christmas.
I have a lot of Hopes and dreams they all rest in God. I am blessed there are thous out there to help me clean when the time comes again. There is a time for every thing, that brings me peace. Who's job is it to clean in your house and what gift can your remember form your youth that has molded you?

MY FUZZY b-d gift

Some my see a fuzzy pic and because i have the skinny meaning it came form #2 I NOW BETTER. it was raped in x-mas paper it was adorned in costume jewelry form one of his dumpster dives. ah but this is from my bro. the one that is still paying child support on children one 21 and one 18, he has given up so much he is a great dad, wonderful brother, and friend. It was a gift i got on Thanksgiving Day, that was for my birthday. So what do you think it was? it could have been a box of rocks and i wouldn't have cared.
Any one out there with a guess? I have a surprise for how ever guesses the closes or who ever guess it wright first. I will give you a hint it isn't costume, you have one week! talk soon. s.

THANK GOD FOR THE LITTLE DEVILS!

Started off the morning stuffing the turkey and of course devil eggs! That's my little devil always helping!

Mom and her youngest stripping Brussels sprouts. If your are from India's family they call them money balls i asked why she call them that she said "i dont know my dad always call them that". I have had susi money balls any one out that has another food item, with the same name?

it was great to have everyone pitchin and help, my back was out and i wasn't feeling very good the last couple of days! how could i not be thankful!

Brittnee and India with the wish bone ! i hope she get her wish . . .

and we finished off the night with some friends a simple Thanksgiving. I loved it, i hope yours was simply blessed!

Yoly made Pad Thia, i am sorry i didn't get a pic of it for you it's yummy! every one went home with leftovers. Nowing I don't have to cook for the next few days gives me one more thing to be thankful about, take care and talk soon. s.

E a T # 4 thanksgiving

Well back again this time on a lighter note had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family. Had turkey with all the trimmings. My dog came too and she whittled on the floor, thank goodness Sherry has tile flooring in her home. And then she got a treat not for whittling but because she was so darn cute. Quote of the week be thankful in all things.
In till next week D.

BENNIE'S

one of the thing i love about my #2 bro is he is not proud he will dumpster dive and i get the Bennie's! For this one all i have to do is put the cream in an old face cream jar and walla i am get to go for another couple of months.
over and over i use that glass jar of chanel it's just the right size! I am always up for the free bees that #2 bro. gets, or the marked off items form his work really cheap. He has picked me up wine at a buck or 2, .50 cents for a bag candy or cookies. The last dumpster treasure was costume jewelry, i think the all time favorite was the surprise. Ring ring, now my husbands was away form home on a work trip," i have a surprise if you can come over and help me". Me what? #2 just come over, OK i get there and it is a fire pit 4 chairs cushions and all, we just had to do a mosaic because one of the end had broke, so in two days with the left over tiles for the kitchen remodel we had a master piece.
Do you have any one in your life that is a dumpster diver! or can get thing so cheap with i little imagination, you have a master piece. i love you Danny thanks for loving me and my hubby so much your the best. talk soon. s.

FREE RANGE MIND AND THE CHICKENS

Welcome to the free range of my mind ! as i wonder from though to though i hope you enjoy my journey !
30 more day's in till Christmas i now i now what does Christmas have to do with chickens this is one of the gifts i will be giving this year! if your on my list i hope you enjoy the gift that keep on giving so with no further a due: meet my inspiration Thelma and Luise: these are my brothers chickens, my other brothers girl friend named them they replaced the two my mom had for many year:
Mom lived on a small farm before moving to Calif., at the age of 11yrs. Before settling in the Subaru's of the valley in her present home for the past 48 years. Most people did not have chickens in the Subaru's, that is country style living but Mom did, she did what she could to take care of use kids. Anyways one of her chickens laid green egg and the other brown one was from South America and the other was a Road Island Red. I had named them after patents i had taken care of in a Convalescent Home, Henrietta and Gertrude , they worked in vaudeville, the lady's not the chickens, what sweeties old birds. I had started working there when i was 15 1/2, there are many story's from that time in my life, some good, some that made me tougher then i was already. Some day ask me about Phebe my heart still cry for her, i am just now able to pray for that girl that i work with. They say when you get old and by no means am there yet, they are the Golden Years. I think that the years of youth are the Golden Years, they are the most precious years. I can't ( but i must) wait to see the g-kids, face to face again to hold them in my arms to hug them and to kiss there sweet cheeks. Which reminds me of other birds of my past, sweet cheeks, jenny, honey, and lovey, Bill would let them fly all over the house and then coach them back to there cages. then we have Don's bird, from the boy across the street. Pecker died this last year she was not a lady's lady she only liked men. How she got her name well some would say that story is for the birds. But i say Don was able to calm her, she would sign for him, i am like that bird Don has been able to clam me and bring a sence of comfort to my life. ly honey. talk soon s.

Blessings

Good morning i was up and . out of the house by 7:15 drove one hr 40 min. for a board meeting then meet with a friend who does stain glass for a project he is doing for me,then 1hr and 40 home, it's now 2:00. This drive brings back memories of so much see i have been doing this drive for some 20 years. I've been married 11 years, known my husband now for almost 14, so some of the memories are from before i new my husband, they are what God has used to mold me. Well i came home to my honey waiting for me and (lunch) it is funny how simple things make me happy. See he started to feed me when we first met. with that first note on my office door, i was a 92Lbs ball of nerve's, it was just before Easter having been through a very ruff time. Bill had past away 6months before, i had fallen down some stairs, and i had people calling me daily to pay the bills. At the ripe old age of 33 i found my self in probate had been told by the attorney not to pay the bills in till we were able to figure out what every thing was worth. There was a 5Th on the house. The year before was the 94 earth quick, I had signed on 2 SBA loans for the business that my name wasn't on it that was stupid, thing were a real mess. It wasn't in till a month after Bill died that i had found out that he had lift me some live insurance. The business check book had a -10,000 + and the personal one not much better. i was a walking ball of nerves hence down to 92 lbs. . The Pro-Bo no attorney had to find me a liquidator most of the inventory was out dated all for another story, this post is to count my blessing. One of the blessings in that it all got donate it to a non profit, the supplies over filled a Semi-truck. This is just a little back round as to why i find the simple things to be thankful for. My hubby showing me how much he cares in simple ways, how much he loves me are my daily blessings. There was i time in my life that i wouldn't have seen that as a blessing, i wanted the fun the excitement of the night life and all that went with it. It is now the simplest things that i see like the morning corny poems when he calls me, when he complains about work yet he gets up every morning with out fall and goes. He is a great friend, husband, provider, son in law, etc i could go on and on how he has supported me and my loved ones in my life. So today is the day i say Thanks Honey i am thankful you love God, and that you love me. Thank You for all the extras you did this weekend. Thank You for taking care of me, so i don't have to work out side of the home, thank you for helping me with Ashlee, thank you working so hard so i can go see the kids, thank you thank you thank you. Now i am going to go iron you shirts. Ironing make me smile because it is a very small why i can say thank you. love you honey!

How do you show loved ones you love them in small ways! and what do you see as a blessing that others may not see? To all you peeps have a blessed day talk soon. s.

time to Wickiup ! 3 (21's)

it's Wickiup jct time: time to be thankful for all we have around us time to make our list if we are real with ourselves we will be able to see all that God has given us. Thanks you to all who called today with wishes of a h-b day, and to thous that stop ed by, your the best. For all the loved ones that forgot. well lets be real no biggy how many time have i not called or remembered you special day, thanks for going easy on me, your the very best because you love me anyways. So many things to be thankful for. IT IS WICKIUP TIME TO START CHECKING OFF MY LIST.
time to shop smart there is 33 day left before: well yes "We all now 33 day before Christmas"

33 day before that blessed day of the birth, and with out that we would not have had Easter. Today and for the next 33 i will think about the gift of the birth as i shop for thous i love. So shop smart and give the gift of prayer, along with any other ( things ) you give, and receive with the heart of thanksgiving. So today was my 21st post, on the 21 day with 21 blessing and counting. have a blessed day and SHOP SMART talk soon. s.

E a T #3 mom's thursday guest post

Well here I am again ! I came home to shred papers that I have saved for thirty years, isn't that sad!! I don't think I will do that again for one reason i'l be dead and the other reason its to much work !!! It took me three days non stop. On a lighter note i found pictures of family that i haven't seen in years a nice surprise that brings back memories. Quote of the day keep up with your paper work its easier that way! See you next week. D.

PAYING RESPECTS

2 days ago my husbands birthmother pastway, we are praying for her family as there feet take them down the path of time in the weeks, months, and years a head. I personal am praying for all 6 of her children 3 boy then 3 girls may they find comfort in each other. Amen.

WORKING IT !

If you follow my blog you know that i attempted to make bread yesterday, yes it was dense like myself at times. But that is not the reason for this post, it is to show you a window into hubbies heart. After a hard days work he came home to the smell of home made bread, now my husband has a love for carbs. When we sat down for dinner i removed the bread form the bread maker and it was a half loaf, mom and i laughed so hard i almost ( yes ) p.m.p.'s. Hubby being himself saw nothing wrong, he cut into the bread, buttered it and took his first bit it was warm "mumum". We had sweet potatoes, chicken and herbs, salad and dense bread. After dinner he got up with out prompting and cleaned up i never have to ask, more time then not i have to tell he to stop and rest. I should've done it the old fashion way, hand knead the bread like my mother, and her mother before her, i am the one that broke the tradition never to late to start again. I grew up with home made bread the easy way is not always the best, i think i could get a good work out. Ah i maybe like the gluten when your work it, it activates. talk soon. s.

E. a. T. raising to the ocassion part 2

hey everyone it mom again: take it away mom. My daughter reminds me of my mother she is a noog : So here goes i am raising to the occasion my daughter was using her bread maker and stated " i think this yeast is to old" well it was! But it reminded me of a time when i was a child, my parents had just gone shopping at the A.& P. for groceries . While on the way home I sat in the back of our Chevy eating the block of brewers yeast. The yeast was to be used to make bread for the next week. That was in the days when your bottom become as warm as the oven that the bread was to go into. I'm no worse for the wear, but mom was having to return to the store, i guess i got a raise out of her, because i heard about it for years! ah i miss her. Quote of the week: go use some yeast and bake for someone. intill thursday D.

Veterans Day

what do you see when you look at this pic ? Veterans Day is a day set aside to show respect to the ones that served in one of our Wars ! I think of when i was a little girl my mom baked she would have us once a week help her put together care packages we would sent note and letters to a young man we new and others in his troop. His name was John K. so thank you and to all that are serving today. thank you to the family's and your time aways form your loved ones. Veterans day is a day that our country has put aside to support and give thanks to thous that have gone into battle that have fought the good fight. There has been many battle through out history. in present time we have some people that were in WWII, others the Korean War, the Vietnam war. Today i give thanks to my Dad for the time he served. Now he has had many battle in his life, and from were i set the Korean War was probably the least of them. And as he enters the final days he may have on the earth i find, myself reflecting on the scars he has to carry. I pray he feals his peace and comfort. I once read how does one honor someone that has Dis-honored you. I asked my mom what she thought and she said to remove self and in cert God. This last year i have learned that most(not all) the homeless were once vets of a war or once in foster care or both. They are the one that have made this land i place were we can sleep at night, with out tanks rolling down the middle of your streets. So today i am humbled when thinking of this man and the battles only God No's yet he is still able to fight the good fight. I have new hope in a new friend received through a lovely woman Rena that i just met. She is a friend of my Dads, our friendship grows i will see a new side her refection of my Dad. We all have battles to face it's not what we go through it's how others see us as we live this life. So today i am counting my blessings. Thank You Dad for this new friend, and to my Father for this new friendship. Tring and Honor you as i grow in your light and my, this new friend only see you in me as i ask my self how can i serve today.

R/B united we stand

i just love when i don't have to cook anything for more time with loved ones. I will jump at the change to go out, for great mexican food, "why" it's cheap and it fill's you up. So off we went beause after driving Mom to the valley to vote 10 min in line 40 min. in the car to get there. Then by 11:00 picking up # 1 brother stoping for lunch to make sure mom was feed on time (diabectic) time frame keeping the sugar sugar sugar stable. ah home it is now 1:30 off to vote my self 1o min. no line, back in car off to pick up the cake across town, home by 3:oo. Set up for the night every one arrived. it's now 4:30
got in car but not before we voted ! the youngest 20, good for her i don't know if she is of the red or blue color because we dont care she voted and exercised her wright great job honey!

ah yes and we all got tat's for the ocassion. can you guess which one is mine?

the last votes were tallied before leaving for dinner! but not before the elderly cast there vote!

to enjoy dinner and return home for some fun! Just to see him smile makes me cry!

no dis-respect meant just a little humor ! but for some one that can forgive and let go he gets my vote he has my support !

This is a man that will always have my support, my vote. Even in his worst mental pain he was there for me, he helped me through porpate gave of his time to help clean up a 2800 square foot medical office (full of you name it), 2 weeks + off work then help move me to a new home . It was at a time in my life i really needed him and he shined. his mental illness has help me to grow as a person and for that i will forever me greatfull. Not only is he a freind he is my brother, happy birthday David.

SHOES/SOULS

Walking in others shoes, so at times i ponder on the paths of others. If i had lived there life how would it have been different. Then i must rest in knowing that God has a path for all of us, that he gives us no more then we can handle.
It is at this place William Woodworth my husband was laded to rest on the grounds of a desert surrounded by men that live a life of prayer . I received a letter form One of these pressies souls. The reflection of his love that day and over the past 14 year has brought tears to my eyes many times. I think of the girls there mom's and the loss they had to have felt that day and still do as they raise there families. I am sure there is others that ponder on the lose of a loved one. I am thankful in my weakness God was, and still is the strong one. The letter i received was sent to me because of a funeral, that was attended by so many that loved a very special Monk who i am blessed to have known. It reads: post maked date Oct 16Th 2008

Dearest Sherry, As you can imagine at times i frequently enjoy a certain forgetfulness----

But when i do have clear moment full pictures do restore Themselves fully. At the cemetery you were very present to me, Thank you! I realize that it must be hard to revisit pain-- But indeed

you my Friend have come a Great ways Courage and Much Love signed Dom, There are a few that know the full weight of that day and the life i lived with Bill. From the eulogy to the grave to the lunch shared that afternoon a family walked, O Lord i think of the shoes, we all walked that day and still do.

and like the Donuts from Valyermo we all have holes piece that God has removed to keep us close to him. Now some of the Donuts have big wholes with a lot of nuts, and others are like the Cinnamon sugar one's you can barley see the hole but it is there. I ponder how do people see me! Like Jackie O' with my glasses on being strong because i had to. Or like that big old nutty Donut that every one could see. And how different does God see me then others! Ah to be loved by God and prayed for by other! counting my blessing as i write this lovely man back and give thanks for his friendship. talk soon s.

Our Son And His Little FAMILY

This little family was out for a wedding in Sept. it feels like a life time! They are planing there own for May of next year, we will have to get one good shot with the shades. It is great to be involved in the experience of plaining this wedding. Amy has been great she gave me a day of trying on dresses when i was out in Florida and we are starting to have fun with the flower. She was also the one that help me get started on my first blog i miss the little guy on there lap, am looking forward to seeing him soon.

Don't work to hard my Son get the rest you need stay out of trouble or i will have to wear my bloomer to your wedding i am on the diet so watch out!

Amy don't let him grow to fast keep him safe we miss you guy give him a big hug and a soft kiss. talk soon!

Arent Hugs Great

love your smile,
ah a young man with a great sense of self, there was a time i didn't think he would be a part of my life, but there is something to be said for persistence, see God has put a love in my heart for the kids this happens to be just one of them a nephew. Last month we had a little get together for him and mom's birthday. we made use of so fun props around the house. cost .O cents
there was also a time when you couldn't get a real good hug out of him, how thing can change !

he is truly a young man now.

This was a special day! Tomorrow will also be a day that we should all remember and i for one am going to make the best of it. i now this post has nothing to do with today but that is the beauty of blogging see to re-cap the whole day well lets just say i don't want to bore you see you all another day! take soon!

TOURMALINE

Stones come in many forms i will for ever remember this day as i spent time with this sweet child i can't want to learn all he has to teach me !

You my ask why tourmaline: they are full of color, you can find them in green, blue green, blue, pink, watermelon, maybe it's because some would say i have a colorful personality, as you read these post my hope is to introduce myself in a full array of color. Some in my family tell me i can be funny, others see my sensitive side. This is my second attempted to the world of blogging, it's to share my life in all its colors as I grow and learn from you or not. They say the tourmaline is a hard stone and yes you guested it, hard is another color i have worn. Green is my favorite color because i love the out doors, blue in my jeans and the color of my hubbys eye's, brown for chocolate. Then you have red (Scarlet), yes i have worn that to. Then you have my colorful teasing or not, i told my son when he was young "i will show up to your wedding in my bloomers" (that was when he acted up). OK payback i have to say is in May! first i need to lose xxlbs, my goal to start a diet tomorrow. Last but not least when Bill pastway he left behind 6 stones that he had got on a trip to Brazil and one was a tourmaline i had it made into a ring. O yea and because this last Oct. i went to Oregon and stopped by this little shop and found a new reason to by a tourmaline, i just had to have that stone. Thanks for stopping bye talk soon.