tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099870884454987012024-03-08T11:59:11.844-08:00 NEVER...EVER...GIVE UP HOPE <b><center><strong><big>Sharing laughter, inspiration and encouraging stories to anyone who has been</big></strong></center></b><b><center><strong><big>
put through the wringer of life, because if I can overcome tragedies...so can you.</big></strong></center></b>
Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.comBlogger435125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-71053509862409288602021-11-13T12:05:00.000-08:002021-11-13T12:05:01.756-08:00Do You Wanna Know A Secret? Do You Promise Not To Tell?<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbTLDSBkYh7q9mBpefo1o_JRsivTotVWXThhuH4qKoQnaF8UY7EWFYbo8ojwJeqeN9IiI1xWyyEcbq0ssQDeuZ1P1xC1kMiyuHtwHyJEVHtwVAUjUEesBZAuOlb3VxjvIWgCzHrtgU8lw/s340/ear-3971050__340.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret" border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="340" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbTLDSBkYh7q9mBpefo1o_JRsivTotVWXThhuH4qKoQnaF8UY7EWFYbo8ojwJeqeN9IiI1xWyyEcbq0ssQDeuZ1P1xC1kMiyuHtwHyJEVHtwVAUjUEesBZAuOlb3VxjvIWgCzHrtgU8lw/w400-h400/ear-3971050__340.webp" title="Do You Wanna Know a Secret?" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you have secrets that you plan
to take to the grave? Are there things in your past that you want to bury
and hope no one ever finds out about them?</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everyone has secrets. My
mother-in-law had an undisclosed recipe for Rum Balls that she swore she would
take with her when she died. And that she did. No one ever figured out her
secret ingredient. But what good did it do for her not to share it so we
could continue to enjoy her wonderful dessert?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOa42VUjS_DWZLkFteZ3XcCXTaX4fVOzvWWJ-UQf_neipv_Dhu-r489sNjKUN1EPgQv_IvTFc7jfzL0ysurTyPoof7ap32oJ4CvS-evTSScCbyw_rGhkx3RivqOz3P9qRzS0l4iimhOK9/s510/secret-2725302__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret" border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOa42VUjS_DWZLkFteZ3XcCXTaX4fVOzvWWJ-UQf_neipv_Dhu-r489sNjKUN1EPgQv_IvTFc7jfzL0ysurTyPoof7ap32oJ4CvS-evTSScCbyw_rGhkx3RivqOz3P9qRzS0l4iimhOK9/w400-h266/secret-2725302__340.jpg" title="Do You Wanna Know a Secret?" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are secrets we hide, never discuss, and
hope no one ever finds out. We keep secrets to protect those we love or to
prevent people from thinking less of us.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes we keep secrets because we would be <b>too
ashamed to admit the truth. </b>We may even lie to keep up the facade.
"No, I would never do that!" When, in fact, we did.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfYidcrAG9TvoeaMqYMvO8vbh38Nspwb5eoR_y3rdRFBPUhJcH-VxwCTT2BJBOGNw5RkwxjRtqye0dnpzSne_hWnpKP_BfYJGSRGiZO-gfKeOB6b3aV344Nl6DkTmYl82Uz8igwlbnlK2/s509/secret-2681508__340.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Shhh" border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="509" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfYidcrAG9TvoeaMqYMvO8vbh38Nspwb5eoR_y3rdRFBPUhJcH-VxwCTT2BJBOGNw5RkwxjRtqye0dnpzSne_hWnpKP_BfYJGSRGiZO-gfKeOB6b3aV344Nl6DkTmYl82Uz8igwlbnlK2/w400-h268/secret-2681508__340.webp" title="Do You Wanna Know a Secret" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Maybe we found out something about someone that
could destroy them if the truth came out. We choose to keep that knowledge to
ourselves. At times, it may feel like it is burning a hole in our psyche
because we want to share it -- but we don't. Or do we? Are you someone your
friends can trust to keep their secret? Or will you reveal it if you feel it is
necessary? </span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe we have a bad habit who was told by our
doctor that we MUST quit. We continue to do it, hoping no one will discover the
truth and we rationalize and lie to ourselves that it is <b>only </b>hurting
us. But when we are hiding things that can potentially hurt us, <b>we hurt
those who love us</b>. We assume it is no one's business when, in fact, it
could be unfair to keep such a secret to ourselves. When discovered, it could
hurt the ones we care about. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXSZyoVNd7ZjtDeQQ7iBVCug_Gx_hQs_Hr9sAs81-gYXm8AWl1OhO0-ZvwAq8x-4gd0tMkxKEOoo_PPoiY2HcJVjW0H0hgfmXBMZEdVI3LSaCEEzWHkLfWjl7e7zlK2JSIW75BQWPweOE/s500/photo-1482356432770-3a99f07aba35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret" border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="500" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXSZyoVNd7ZjtDeQQ7iBVCug_Gx_hQs_Hr9sAs81-gYXm8AWl1OhO0-ZvwAq8x-4gd0tMkxKEOoo_PPoiY2HcJVjW0H0hgfmXBMZEdVI3LSaCEEzWHkLfWjl7e7zlK2JSIW75BQWPweOE/w400-h268/photo-1482356432770-3a99f07aba35.jpg" title="Do You Wanna KNow a Secret?" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever told someone a secret and then
wish you had not? I remember sharing a secret with a counselor who later
told the entire group, using me as an example. I was mortified and he had
no authority to do that - but it was too late. Sometimes, we don't share
for that reason - we cannot fully trust the person to whom we are revealing our
innermost mysteries.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wZBsF-euPe1LEBzvMWAGXlC7bhPkdG3w3XvKE5DLXEGK7QFbPXStRGbrr_EwJz5p-Y6WdOd3JJJQacG2P1xxTqzvVYQvJXG-IGsbjit-lWoKsYcwurvGNwErgXLUTH_1FMLTpUnKpP5b/s336/Battered+Hope+front+cover3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Battered Hope" border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wZBsF-euPe1LEBzvMWAGXlC7bhPkdG3w3XvKE5DLXEGK7QFbPXStRGbrr_EwJz5p-Y6WdOd3JJJQacG2P1xxTqzvVYQvJXG-IGsbjit-lWoKsYcwurvGNwErgXLUTH_1FMLTpUnKpP5b/w266-h400/Battered+Hope+front+cover3.JPG" title="Do You Wanna Know a Secret" width="266" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or is there something we did in our past that we
believe would destroy our image if anyone found out? I certainly felt
this way for a lot of years. I struggled with writing my memoir<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battered-Hope-Carol-Graham-ebook/dp/B00JBMMA0G"> <b><i><span style="color: blue;">Battered Hope</span></i></b></a> because I knew I had to
"come clean." I had to let go of the secrets that terrified me. I
had to take a stand against the fear of losing friends and family members when
they found out the truth.<br />
<br />
So, why did I do it? <b>The biggest reason was that my "secrets" and
how I coped with them could be a great help to someone going through something
similar. </b></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
discovered that when I revealed the things I wanted to bury I had tremendous
relief. It helped people understand why I am the way I am or why I rise to the
defense of someone going through something similar. It brought me closer
to family and friends when they saw my vulnerable side.<br />
<br />
How do you feel about revealing your secrets? Do you wish you could but
feel the truth may hurt someone or yourself?</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-27531661083112815332021-11-12T10:49:00.000-08:002021-11-12T10:49:15.021-08:00Have You Ever Looked At Life Like A Five-Year-Old?<p> </p><h2 style="background: white; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">How Do
Five-Year-Olds Think? Priceless.<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Since they were very young, whenever my
grandkids visited us, they would take two hands full of loose coins from the
change bucket. They could keep what did not fall out of their hands. Their
hands are getting bigger now and they love counting the coins to see how much
they get. </span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8rTILD3bBHITMytsc5berXLvmK8vzAJyAJKSXC3DPkAJAlxFJXsZ7GN_LuFh0_ZtcZN4CrbWKO_03sk-Sp2NZEhvffAF2Ibx3iQCgsgIOMh5JN0wIOTd3UhAUqPUlI58zXmH_V_Md_l-/s612/istockphoto-875253554-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kids" border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="612" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8rTILD3bBHITMytsc5berXLvmK8vzAJyAJKSXC3DPkAJAlxFJXsZ7GN_LuFh0_ZtcZN4CrbWKO_03sk-Sp2NZEhvffAF2Ibx3iQCgsgIOMh5JN0wIOTd3UhAUqPUlI58zXmH_V_Md_l-/w400-h201/istockphoto-875253554-612x612.jpg" title="Piggy Bank" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Gramma: "Brie, what are you going to
do with all that money," I asked.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Brie: "Give it to my daddy, in case
he needs it."</span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Here's
Another One...<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Brie: "Gramma, how come you don't
paint your nails anymore?"</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Gramma: "Because I work from my home
office, now."</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Brie: "So, Gramma, you really need
to get out more."</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I was stumped for an answer to this
five-year-old.</span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyExei06tsmuzU-JDR2JgqPtg9CphzckrEEzGPKSpPsMVptx-LMIaUn_lrmieDp234WlRonRPVFRjbjsBLTSQDPEh5F_lPMiggsn-nu7vanr3rA2E3jFzuyL2J6VyXOYC4s2gqdCbfISXD/s612/istockphoto-1097794642-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life" border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyExei06tsmuzU-JDR2JgqPtg9CphzckrEEzGPKSpPsMVptx-LMIaUn_lrmieDp234WlRonRPVFRjbjsBLTSQDPEh5F_lPMiggsn-nu7vanr3rA2E3jFzuyL2J6VyXOYC4s2gqdCbfISXD/w400-h266/istockphoto-1097794642-612x612.jpg" title="Kids nail paint" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8pt;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="background: white; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">And
Another...<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">With the time change during spring break,
it was not dark at dinner time.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Brie: "Gramma, why are we eating
dinner in the morning?"</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Gramma: "It's not morning; it's
evening."</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Brie: "Oh, Gramma. You are so silly.
It is never light outside at dinner time." </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQdOhr-xYp1CNQlKAYYPJN4w9kQOMKBo57oGy9g8zstJfUO9maHesJJxgwU2I1o5k1CKag44YJfnYSJJKLOy5_tlvvU20KHg-qS5YMO8RVUSq6lSIfMTaD9EGUK_UxazxIPBBrZ1Cd1Yt/s500/photo-1477413114673-6708cad13418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dinner" border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="500" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQdOhr-xYp1CNQlKAYYPJN4w9kQOMKBo57oGy9g8zstJfUO9maHesJJxgwU2I1o5k1CKag44YJfnYSJJKLOy5_tlvvU20KHg-qS5YMO8RVUSq6lSIfMTaD9EGUK_UxazxIPBBrZ1Cd1Yt/w400-h265/photo-1477413114673-6708cad13418.jpg" title="Life as a 5-year-old" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<h2 style="background: white; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 16.8pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This One
Touched My Heart In A New Way<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">William is nine years old but reads at an
eleventh-grade level. He loves books and I teared up when he said,
"Gramma, you're an author, right?"</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">"Sure am!"</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">"Do you think I could read your
books?"</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">"Of course! But I will expect
a review, okay?" That really excited him.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">It's these moments -- these are the moments we never forget. you can't put a price on them - PRICELESS</span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdK-NOoQGstG_bxquIy5ghMYdeymJVBcDp9Sp3ZeJZjWXo4y6pcf5lD8MVs-gnrFf8Rct8fbloxpzEPWL5nBTFXrnOxDJI12v22rlAYd6a5AiDjVLScmItoaIcoOw9i1RQG5nT3o6Qhz-/s336/Battered+Hope+front+cover3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Battered Hope" border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdK-NOoQGstG_bxquIy5ghMYdeymJVBcDp9Sp3ZeJZjWXo4y6pcf5lD8MVs-gnrFf8Rct8fbloxpzEPWL5nBTFXrnOxDJI12v22rlAYd6a5AiDjVLScmItoaIcoOw9i1RQG5nT3o6Qhz-/w266-h400/Battered+Hope+front+cover3.JPG" title="Battered Hope" width="266" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">And watching them bowl......another priceless moment...last month.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Until You Have Bowled with Pumpkins....You Haven't Bowled</b></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcNMPL1p9VLDyQRjv7GQB9ebvRKYbJtgKxKuvQmZiU03fHAgFdx3lVdW2DbIZreDwth14Zqv49emCMVk5JxBNVSU1N1fYJ8Rqki2A_ZsepZg9r0MK22DFLiAyPvrAjKNFxM3wgoiGpol4/s960/248419389_10165875760960710_7341860458905049231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Priceless" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcNMPL1p9VLDyQRjv7GQB9ebvRKYbJtgKxKuvQmZiU03fHAgFdx3lVdW2DbIZreDwth14Zqv49emCMVk5JxBNVSU1N1fYJ8Rqki2A_ZsepZg9r0MK22DFLiAyPvrAjKNFxM3wgoiGpol4/w300-h400/248419389_10165875760960710_7341860458905049231_n.jpg" title="Pumpkin Bowling" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-87534010338664428562021-11-11T14:40:00.000-08:002021-11-11T14:40:05.377-08:00Can Your Relationship With Your Dog Be Like a Marriage<div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wVezaGzZEJ9fy2rWEzQLnCIiB48s6Sv0UAbEIuc4m4AlPHPKAkDKwSkbe-3dixT8DkuGQsT_Qs99X7_P-Xpi8Cx9PtmmmnP5SFp8MLfCtVHQZuzMcj-AQoPGMuPh9E6XxPbQzE9DAx9o/s768/relationship-with-our-pets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dogs" border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="768" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wVezaGzZEJ9fy2rWEzQLnCIiB48s6Sv0UAbEIuc4m4AlPHPKAkDKwSkbe-3dixT8DkuGQsT_Qs99X7_P-Xpi8Cx9PtmmmnP5SFp8MLfCtVHQZuzMcj-AQoPGMuPh9E6XxPbQzE9DAx9o/w400-h223/relationship-with-our-pets.jpg" title="Married to my dogs" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />When we think of the words "For better, for worse," we usually think of marriage. However, there is another type of relationship where I believe this is applicable – our relationship with our pets; specifically dogs.</span></b><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we acquire a pet, how often do we promise to take care of him; <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">for better - for worse?</span></span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">For Better Or For Worse - Our Relationship With Our Pets</span></h2><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVAejnE6VxDXGkOXY1hYSRCFRXArZnDEAK9QBvlu6YCCQfV2hcM24TbBgTZpEF5Q0rdtfNpVKUN0JlimkWbmyAEwaLkEAjS5i9B1TBqJP6d-HWzOd0Nr6-Y7JeusiQXIt8bPzOLCo5d2d/s768/Screenshot-2021-09-30-11.05.20-AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dog Wedding" border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVAejnE6VxDXGkOXY1hYSRCFRXArZnDEAK9QBvlu6YCCQfV2hcM24TbBgTZpEF5Q0rdtfNpVKUN0JlimkWbmyAEwaLkEAjS5i9B1TBqJP6d-HWzOd0Nr6-Y7JeusiQXIt8bPzOLCo5d2d/w400-h225/Screenshot-2021-09-30-11.05.20-AM.png" title="Can Your Relationship with Your Dog Be Like a Marriage" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div></div><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We fall in love with that puppy and look forward to many years of joy with him. <b>BUT.....sometimes…</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He has genetic problems and requires special care, which can be very expensive. He will NOT stop <b>barking.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He <b>bites</b> people.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He <b>poops </b>and pees in the house.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is left alone all day and then goes crazy when his owner comes home and becomes a <b>pest</b>, trying to gain full-on attention.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He isn't as cute as when he was a puppy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He has a serious accident or disease and requires special care for the rest of his life.</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is destructive when left alone... <span class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">Sometimes, rather than spend the time needed to restore the relationship, we give up.....and give that dog away.</span></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ3wPmJ0a9eGGV8KWUSomisBQOpOsLzd9Rnapzz1Hr3EMrORULz3igVwpnU2PWEY8lKqwNBZsA07yefAYJNpr54hj1fbz-lyBLWLdrZdAAqpMyC3u3dj4_s4fqCaJo4YfGJY5dHunUT-H/s768/pexels-anastasiya-lobanovskaya-792775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Marriage" border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="768" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ3wPmJ0a9eGGV8KWUSomisBQOpOsLzd9Rnapzz1Hr3EMrORULz3igVwpnU2PWEY8lKqwNBZsA07yefAYJNpr54hj1fbz-lyBLWLdrZdAAqpMyC3u3dj4_s4fqCaJo4YfGJY5dHunUT-H/w400-h223/pexels-anastasiya-lobanovskaya-792775.jpg" title="Dog marriage" width="400" /></a></div><span class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Your Commitment To Your Pets</span></h2></div><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is where a dog rescuer comes in. We have <b>rescued over 30 dogs</b> in the past few years who have been abandoned, beaten, or ignored. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">EVERY SINGLE one of them has been a total blessing in our home. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every one of them had special needs which required a lot of attention. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>And every single one of them has been the best dog…EVER</b>. Don't kid yourself -- rescue dogs know they have been rescued. They will do anything and <b>everything to please you. All they ask for in return is to be loved. </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just loved. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When given the love and attention they need, many of their previous bad habits disappear.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD8obK9NUsn9bJRiF2h9Z7tHxG1M1FewgRKHN5cFKxqCwWDjgYOe1i9ECldauwSfM48ZG0yc_WmWea5v-z8_zoVVG6oi2-rrUqrmMDGZHTtWka-DLUjuhXwmaA2q7a6a8wCySfQACA-Ih/s768/vasylyna-kucherepa-5Pq_-dSdMX4-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="marriage" border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioD8obK9NUsn9bJRiF2h9Z7tHxG1M1FewgRKHN5cFKxqCwWDjgYOe1i9ECldauwSfM48ZG0yc_WmWea5v-z8_zoVVG6oi2-rrUqrmMDGZHTtWka-DLUjuhXwmaA2q7a6a8wCySfQACA-Ih/w400-h225/vasylyna-kucherepa-5Pq_-dSdMX4-unsplash.jpg" title="Dog wedding" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Love Your Pets No Matter What</b></div></span><p></p></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);">I believe that dogs who have been rescued have the largest vocabulary and they tell us (to the best of their ability) how much they love us, how much they appreciate us, how they will never leave us.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All they want.....is to be heard and loved. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They will never break their promise to you – to love and support you to their dying day.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Has there been a special dog in your life? Possibly a rescue dog? I would love to hear your story.</span></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-28195754710479859522021-11-10T09:22:00.000-08:002021-11-10T09:22:04.146-08:00Why You Should Never Take Candy From A Baby - Ever<p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Is there a Murphy's Law that says: "When you are dressed to the nines, that is when mishaps/mini disasters/poop happens?"</b></span></span></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My daughter, her two children, my husband, and I had attended the Celebration of Life service for a dear friend of ours. It was difficult for all of us as he had been a friend for 35 years and was close to our entire family. It was exceptionally hot outside and we were anxious to get home. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband was in the far rear seat of my daughter Rochelle's SUV facing our one-year-old granddaughter, Brie, in her car seat. Hubby was entertaining Brie and she was giggling and having a great time with Papa. </span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNDtRCks-ikqpCN5Cvz7hAcX868cA7UZE9K5PdWQZO-GLP5iKFxYp7THVKD7GEpJjtIy9XA6qf6SLNasK5EXBO9nk4jnY0wPRmr-zAc7GmApXprucDxhzPU9v1lw4L3abDbXyIsm9Z6Ek/s667/photo-1549007994-cb92caebd54b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNDtRCks-ikqpCN5Cvz7hAcX868cA7UZE9K5PdWQZO-GLP5iKFxYp7THVKD7GEpJjtIy9XA6qf6SLNasK5EXBO9nk4jnY0wPRmr-zAc7GmApXprucDxhzPU9v1lw4L3abDbXyIsm9Z6Ek/s320/photo-1549007994-cb92caebd54b.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It's Not Chocolate...</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each of us was deep in thought regarding the day’s events when hubby shouted from the rear, <b>“Why did you give her chocolate?" </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"What chocolate? I didn't give her any chocolate. William, did you give your sister some chocolate?”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"MOM, it isn't chocolate. It's POO!"</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y03YxlujbSAqcekB8_ZG4UbknbE9772dh2zZJmh248c0v6CfMIopkU6ws43h-akskMOO-2RyGKOVSQUDBvxBjw1xrkfldGBRTBLPtTIUJbu-DhNl343sNsnY1GQWp4LGSblAaCPbbo35/s509/istockphoto-1290362393-170667a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Taking candy from a baby" border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="509" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0y03YxlujbSAqcekB8_ZG4UbknbE9772dh2zZJmh248c0v6CfMIopkU6ws43h-akskMOO-2RyGKOVSQUDBvxBjw1xrkfldGBRTBLPtTIUJbu-DhNl343sNsnY1GQWp4LGSblAaCPbbo35/w400-h266/istockphoto-1290362393-170667a.jpg" title="Baby and chocolate" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brie had been cleaning out her diaper and handing the poo to Papa. She thought it was a great game. Papa....not so much. It was too late. He had already taken some 'chocolate' from his granddaughter.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Why You Should Never Take Candy From A Baby</span></h2><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxZu2gdOpg1nuOMqt0foJt7BpB2IVicX8qCAMOG6c4B98RAyhGyGEK-lwAlctXUXDsQjc8SM9FWwIbc_hvUqGymPTaxT0O0tBgwLH-rl_VBI6_0Go1FfplcwtnC2ErMON6O5lJkSyJpEg/s768/take-candy-from-a-baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxZu2gdOpg1nuOMqt0foJt7BpB2IVicX8qCAMOG6c4B98RAyhGyGEK-lwAlctXUXDsQjc8SM9FWwIbc_hvUqGymPTaxT0O0tBgwLH-rl_VBI6_0Go1FfplcwtnC2ErMON6O5lJkSyJpEg/s320/take-candy-from-a-baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">We were on a busy highway with narrow shoulders not allowing much room to clean the baby and the car. Please remember, we are all <b>dressed up, it is hot outside and all we had to use for clean-up were some baby wipes</b>. No water. No bag to make the deposits.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rochelle stripped the clothes off of Brie, put them on the side of the highway which I protested for a moment. "Mom, do you want to hold them in your lap the rest of the way home?" Thoughts of the odor wafting through the car made me <b>gag.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Placing Brie on the driver's seat, it was my job to clean her using baby wipes. It was <b>in her hair, under her nails, everywhere. </b>It was Rochelle's job to clean the entire car seat, the window, the door, and the floor......all with one box of baby wipes. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We could only open the car door partway as there was a cement barricade on the edge of the highway shoulder.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /><br />Moral Of The Story</span></h2></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amazingly, we were able to do a thorough enough job to get us the rest of the way home, which was a five-hour drive.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Considering all the emotions of that day, the moment that will be etched into my mind forever was the look on Papa's face when he realized, <b>"This ain't chocolate!"</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And the moral of this story? Never take candy from a baby!</span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-2109515949486786882021-11-09T08:41:00.000-08:002021-11-09T08:41:25.175-08:00Have You Ever Wondered Why and Never Get an Answer?<h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Have You Ever Wondered Why?</span></h2><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">PLEASE. HELP.</span> I need answers and possibly you have the right ones! Most of us wonder about 'stuff' and never really get a proper answer. I am hoping you can help me answer some of the things I have not been able to figure out.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf5R9WPLO2GebVHiRnh-RPGllR2cyHndvjR8lMU_aC-xZ-c7tr6XzpvfakZ6CQThKZ8lpm8e9RVc1JAGhXx_s2RhmfYsE2TE-87MBrNM23dnXJLjOF-cg1ltC71Y0wGCcg2wdqT6gWdIg/s768/baby-on-board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf5R9WPLO2GebVHiRnh-RPGllR2cyHndvjR8lMU_aC-xZ-c7tr6XzpvfakZ6CQThKZ8lpm8e9RVc1JAGhXx_s2RhmfYsE2TE-87MBrNM23dnXJLjOF-cg1ltC71Y0wGCcg2wdqT6gWdIg/w400-h225/baby-on-board.jpg" title="Baby on Board" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: var(--tcb-skin-color-0); font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">1. Baby on Board Stickers</span></h2></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);">Why do people have those </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">"Baby on Board" stickers on the rear window of their car? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);">One argument for the sign is that in case of an accident, paramedics would be alerted that there is a child in the car. Another one is to warn drivers not to drive too closely to the vehicle with a child inside.</span></span></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>REALLY?</b> First of all, do the paramedics depend on a sticker on the rear window to tell them whether or not there is a child on board? What if the sticker is there but the child stayed home? Will they keep looking until they find the child?</span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly, it has been proven that bumper stickers of any type cause people to drive closer to the car in front of them so they can <span class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">READ the sticker.</span></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2yadPdpSPekBG3yzUAi0SmLB0ULQo73Nyljs1SJNIzRlno81sRX67EY_1irW0KXWdFCDYV4VFE9MsegABWRBA8gHgB0LvUY2okig5UcwpJi01MmA46IX67Ku92MBox66BHDeAw6ahLYR/s768/shoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why" border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2yadPdpSPekBG3yzUAi0SmLB0ULQo73Nyljs1SJNIzRlno81sRX67EY_1irW0KXWdFCDYV4VFE9MsegABWRBA8gHgB0LvUY2okig5UcwpJi01MmA46IX67Ku92MBox66BHDeAw6ahLYR/w400-h225/shoe.jpg" title="Shoe" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><br /></span></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" data-css="tve-u-17c83f5868e" style="--tcb-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; --tve-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2. Shoe On The Side Of The Road</span></h3><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WHY do you always see only <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">ONE shoe on the side of the highway?</span> Asked a few times but no one knows. If a shoe is thrown out of a car during an accident, WHY is it always just one?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsSIyAqeMUlR1D4FrqiTlU_TyT0zpJYrmPUcMqMommvTX17mQANa1Bz8ZeS2oCp6vPSFhv6SlbN0juEYkF1mXGncAhByLNdmGFt20MvVEp1aM25mNwXrUKVj6JmlApOTSup7T5O50JXe5/s768/cop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why?" border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsSIyAqeMUlR1D4FrqiTlU_TyT0zpJYrmPUcMqMommvTX17mQANa1Bz8ZeS2oCp6vPSFhv6SlbN0juEYkF1mXGncAhByLNdmGFt20MvVEp1aM25mNwXrUKVj6JmlApOTSup7T5O50JXe5/w400-h225/cop.jpg" title="Cops" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" data-css="tve-u-17c83f66c99" style="--tcb-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; --tve-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">3. Getting Pulled Over By A Cop</span></h3><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">WHY don't cops pull over completely onto the shoulder when they stop a vehicle on the highway? <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">This one makes me shudder.</span> I understand that some shoulders are narrow and this could be a safety issue for the officer. However, for years, the officer would approach the driver on the passenger side of the vehicle to protect himself from being hit by on-coming traffic.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why does this make me shudder? Four of my mother-in-law's sisters were traveling to visit her a few years ago. They were approaching the crest of a hill when they noticed a squad car had pulled another vehicle over. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The cop's car was over the shoulder line. In a split-second decision and to avoid hitting the squad car, my aunt pulled slightly into the next lane into oncoming traffic. </b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She hit a car head-on and three of the four women were <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">instantly killed.</span> Almost as sad was the fact that there was never an apology of any kind from the police department.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZl2ewU9gXTmXIxYnK5g79qlyRuIAeAM0vKXWrsb85bRdGBon4u_VM6UmwFkRtaSpDD4LdBFjtW3P_BG17yTCzMDpcTfkj3yfTPYynfKGHUKz0yZd06ha5Z3oMfw2xftGijkJ5uo4RKwH/s768/old-people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why" border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZl2ewU9gXTmXIxYnK5g79qlyRuIAeAM0vKXWrsb85bRdGBon4u_VM6UmwFkRtaSpDD4LdBFjtW3P_BG17yTCzMDpcTfkj3yfTPYynfKGHUKz0yZd06ha5Z3oMfw2xftGijkJ5uo4RKwH/w400-h225/old-people.jpg" title="Old people" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" data-css="tve-u-17c83f840e4" style="--tcb-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; --tve-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">4. Old People Holding Hands</span></h3><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why do<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"> 'old' people hold hands when they walk together?</span> Of course, this is great to see and brings a smile to anyone's face who observes an elderly couple holding hands and enjoying each other's company. The other day I was walking past one such couple and overheard this: </span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p data-css="tve-u-17c83ec4dec" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 16px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px !important;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Don't let go of my hand, Henry, because I may fall."</span></p><p data-css="tve-u-17c83ec4dec" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 16px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px !important;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I won't dear. I need you to balance me as well."</span></p><p data-css="tve-u-17c83ec4dec" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 16px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There you have it - asked and answered!</span></span></p><p data-css="tve-u-17c83ec4dec" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 16px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0Irl2yVNtXC21GIh3Cvenl_8gdSOtGMgY8_qUtJjEPx3ln4jHTQ6NoUIAtdMPl5q2uKIvxiiuhdW-0J6gFOnJYb0sbwquShUJw7B6flLJCrTJ8yfb_tueOTUc61qdf6lAk0TRhtHIK__/s768/perfume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why?" border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0Irl2yVNtXC21GIh3Cvenl_8gdSOtGMgY8_qUtJjEPx3ln4jHTQ6NoUIAtdMPl5q2uKIvxiiuhdW-0J6gFOnJYb0sbwquShUJw7B6flLJCrTJ8yfb_tueOTUc61qdf6lAk0TRhtHIK__/w400-h225/perfume.jpg" title="Perfume" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" data-css="tve-u-17c83f952a9" style="--tcb-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; --tve-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">5. Choked With Fragrance</span></h3><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why do people try to choke us with their fragrance? A wise woman told me that fragrance should be 'discovered' - <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">NOT ANNOUNCED! </span> I find this is especially true with men who wear strong cologne.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It makes me wonder if they are bathing in the fragrance or trying to mask their body odor and are <b>too lazy to shower.</b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENtKFnGU_JvUgJXcW5NG2fHGkS1W5QkiSoWVGeyQAx2GTthQVUWWfy-XYxBJWS3XLsUjQNu6savWDlymIX0X8MObX5RVRYC1eEGBAUz1uDoB55C1IRaAnv61PtjZQOKHJ6iI6Siavc41F/s768/skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why" border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENtKFnGU_JvUgJXcW5NG2fHGkS1W5QkiSoWVGeyQAx2GTthQVUWWfy-XYxBJWS3XLsUjQNu6savWDlymIX0X8MObX5RVRYC1eEGBAUz1uDoB55C1IRaAnv61PtjZQOKHJ6iI6Siavc41F/w400-h225/skin.jpg" title="Skin color" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" data-css="tve-u-17c83fd5a95" style="--tcb-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; --tve-applied-color: var$(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">6. Skin Color</span></h3><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">"Mommy, why is that lady's skin dark brown?" </span>I saved the best for last. When my daughter was in the grocery store last week that is what her four-year-old asked in a loud voice. I loved the way she handled the situation and answered the question.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<b>No two people are alike.</b> Some people have blue eyes and some have brown or green ones. Some people have blonde hair and some have black. Skin has different colors as well."</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She was saying this loud enough for the lady to overhear it and saw through the corner of her eye that she was smiling.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Laughter Is Healthy!</span></h2></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope this post brought a smile to you today – no matter what is going on in our world – we need to see the lighter side of life. Laughter is healthy.</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-32902932415228480752021-11-08T06:01:00.000-08:002021-11-08T06:01:24.620-08:00Are You Prepared to Protect Yourself During a Home Invasion?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);"><b>This may be hard to believe, should make you smile and maybe you’ll shake your head. But this home invasion story happened to my friends. </b></span></span></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was close to midnight when Vicky thought she heard a noise. Thinking it was just the wind, she fell into a restful sleep. When she woke up at three in the morning, she noticed that not only was her bedroom door open but <span class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">there were lights on in the house.</span> Wakening her husband, together they cautiously took a look around the house and then called the police.</span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2U1tzM4p2xAOdoFt3Q45Biku-det026jqV065pPN6cHGclg8T0u0_A4Sy4CJHfNpZ8AdJxY22Rl5_GT8VWYAUVGwIp3tDLghZRIVMXAQT7uQ8iDhOPZsNNNUp0B8oslALk4PHp06dOCs/s612/istockphoto-458802651-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Protection from home invasion" border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="407" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2U1tzM4p2xAOdoFt3Q45Biku-det026jqV065pPN6cHGclg8T0u0_A4Sy4CJHfNpZ8AdJxY22Rl5_GT8VWYAUVGwIp3tDLghZRIVMXAQT7uQ8iDhOPZsNNNUp0B8oslALk4PHp06dOCs/w266-h400/istockphoto-458802651-612x612.jpg" title="Home Invasion" width="266" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Home Invasion Aftermath</span></h2><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While they were waiting for the police to arrive, they took inventory. Vicky's purse was gone as well as their cell phones. But both iPads were untouched that had been sitting next to the phones. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All the office drawers had been opened and a small amount of cash taken. <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">Vicky's car keys were used to steal her car out of the driveway.</span> It was driven to the closest gas station a block away, parked and undamaged. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The home invader left several lights on in the house and had searched through drawers and cupboards. They assumed that the last room he entered was the bedroom and when he realized they were asleep, left in a hurry.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdYMc-tNsaUTcmeC7JfnGX6vHnFtj2Oh6SMw6e6fpKd_IG7jt244SBy2ew4v_u6u6oeydDTP0uQ2oPKuo-SxigpW6sdV4mXGmFYjIczqNKyKVWfD2Zl7BWSItuB-B0a7mFFpdw7AL5r57/s612/istockphoto-1069504092-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdYMc-tNsaUTcmeC7JfnGX6vHnFtj2Oh6SMw6e6fpKd_IG7jt244SBy2ew4v_u6u6oeydDTP0uQ2oPKuo-SxigpW6sdV4mXGmFYjIczqNKyKVWfD2Zl7BWSItuB-B0a7mFFpdw7AL5r57/w400-h266/istockphoto-1069504092-612x612.jpg" title="Home Invasion" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Trying to put the pieces together as to how this happened, Vicky's husband remembered he had left his car unlocked a few days earlier and now realized his garage door opener was missing.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">Lesson learned.</span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"></span>Since this happened, they have installed an alarm system that they did not feel was needed in this upscale, quiet neighborhood.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">How To Protect Yourself During A Home Invasion (According To The Police)</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I found the suggestions the police gave them for protecting themselves during a home invasion <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">were nothing short of humorous and dangerous.</span> This is how I would have responded to what the police told them:</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">1. It is a good idea to keep a baseball bat on the floor, next to your bed.</span></h3></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me get this straight. Someone comes into my home, even into my bedroom and I am supposed to roll out of bed, find the bat in the dark and hopefully get the opportunity to swing it at the intruder. But wait, it gets better.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0eFGGbBmH6qbwpTXej5TTMSikJWtZBbdN59lNCPn-zUpo9inEbdvtCWUI8RraE3a9lGcXLzHddgOcq7M00aXRgtYo81B7Z84pSGmUxZ8drp3Pg2Fr_yH9mk0LcSQnAHu7AZn_ljNAYmy/s768/winston-chen-Dt3dFtyUIXo-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Home invasion" border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0eFGGbBmH6qbwpTXej5TTMSikJWtZBbdN59lNCPn-zUpo9inEbdvtCWUI8RraE3a9lGcXLzHddgOcq7M00aXRgtYo81B7Z84pSGmUxZ8drp3Pg2Fr_yH9mk0LcSQnAHu7AZn_ljNAYmy/w400-h225/winston-chen-Dt3dFtyUIXo-unsplash.jpg" title="Basebal Bat" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2. When you hit him, you cannot hit him in the head. You need to aim it behind the knees.</span></h3></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Got it! I roll out of bed, grab the bat, then ask the invader to turn around so I can hit him behind the knees. Sounds easy enough.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">3. You are not allowed to use greater force or..........(drum roll please) a bigger weapon against the intruder than the one he is using.</span></h3><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this why my weapon of choice should be a bat? I assume this would be the lesser weapon in each scenario. <b>If I don't see what type of weapon he has; i.e., a gun or a knife, should I ask him in hopes it will give me time to run down to the kitchen and get a knife? </b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Am I allowed to use a bigger knife than the one he is using? If he has a switchblade, am I allowed to use a <b>meat cleaver </b>or must I find the paring knife that is in the dishwasher?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3jW75ZXI3bKE9w922iaXKRwpHZSlT657eE09dJxev-MLiPLwW-4GTPmrnJzaEr5MiSzGF_3cZnc5lwz5lNPluurUi6xR2QAnJYuybLlMS9gTHWifpCtMuGJTDctp_hJEvE8uYQ-t2ZgO/s612/istockphoto-459021293-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Home invasion" border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="612" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3jW75ZXI3bKE9w922iaXKRwpHZSlT657eE09dJxev-MLiPLwW-4GTPmrnJzaEr5MiSzGF_3cZnc5lwz5lNPluurUi6xR2QAnJYuybLlMS9gTHWifpCtMuGJTDctp_hJEvE8uYQ-t2ZgO/w400-h289/istockphoto-459021293-612x612.jpg" title="Invasion" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">4. If you catch the thief red-handed and he is leaving, you may NOT, I repeat…NOT attack him from the rear.</span></h3></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, do I shout "Have a nice day!" as he is carrying off my purse and jewelry?</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">5. The best mode of protection against home invasion is to leave all the lights on inside and outside the house 24/7.</span></h3></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are telling me that if someone is watching my house, preparing to rob me, they won't notice I never turn my lights off? And do you suggest I wear eye pads so I can sleep with the lights on? </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do we leave the lights on so the thieves can see what they are doing? And what about conserving energy?</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h3 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">6. Under no circumstances can you maim or kill the intruder. You could get sued.</span></h3></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love this one. Think about it. My small children are sleeping in another room. I do not know how many intruders are in my house.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A man is approaching me with a knife or gun and I am not supposed to defend myself? Should I call my accountant first to see if I would have enough funds to fight the lawsuit?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">What I Would Do To Protect Myself During A Home Invasion</span></h2><div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What about a guard dog?</b> You did not even suggest that. Do you not like dogs? Don't you think that is a much better mode of protection instead of leaving the lights on?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>And if my dog attacks the intruder, does he need to follow the same rules? Does he have to wait for the intruder to bite him first?</b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskDsvhHwrQSn1mh_QyPQK1EEQ2Jk9jk9nH3djvlih_VpCaI5uAGsghISD7ExijNnjz0ZA8GuNTGDFecrs5ecFKL9smvbAINiBCcTUi3sk9DsKvxGy76xGoDAr9Qao-Y9FKNvXfRVwqMIM/s612/istockphoto-182673751-612x612+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Home Invasion" border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskDsvhHwrQSn1mh_QyPQK1EEQ2Jk9jk9nH3djvlih_VpCaI5uAGsghISD7ExijNnjz0ZA8GuNTGDFecrs5ecFKL9smvbAINiBCcTUi3sk9DsKvxGy76xGoDAr9Qao-Y9FKNvXfRVwqMIM/w400-h266/istockphoto-182673751-612x612+%25281%2529.jpg" title="Guard Dog" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, I ask you several questions. First of all, what do you think you would do in this situation?</span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow your instincts and protect yourself and your family or do nothing and hope you stay safe?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What are your feelings about having a weapon beside your bed? Would you be prepared to use it? Do you feel the suggestions given by the police are reasonable or......?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Would love your input. Let me know in the comments section below!</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-41376506128091965652021-11-07T07:33:00.000-08:002021-11-07T07:33:46.541-08:00What is the Secret to Stop Being a Procrastinator for Good?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);">I married the world’s greatest procrastinator. I have learned <b>NEVER</b> to ask him if he wants to do something now...or later. It does not matter what the task is, his option - later. <b>Every. Time. </b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77-6mPM_jSygrZeZaqvMhyphenhyphenfgXEGP-Fou04cuVHUUZFKyNRYaJWKoSSEVkXdQ5fNPJtvpBhy5umkvqbP7YL2UNWr2hlf950QTSUdEpak2hhEk_URruQbbUaXhk1MqG2FBoQ6jwzmeEcwG8/s640/kyle-glenn-_AR74EoWdy0-unsplash-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77-6mPM_jSygrZeZaqvMhyphenhyphenfgXEGP-Fou04cuVHUUZFKyNRYaJWKoSSEVkXdQ5fNPJtvpBhy5umkvqbP7YL2UNWr2hlf950QTSUdEpak2hhEk_URruQbbUaXhk1MqG2FBoQ6jwzmeEcwG8/w400-h268/kyle-glenn-_AR74EoWdy0-unsplash-1.jpg" title="Do it right Do it now" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are someone who is always on time or….early, it is extremely <b>frustrating</b> when others are late. If you think you may be a procrastinator, take this short quiz:</span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Quiz: Are You A Procrastinator? </span></h2><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">1. Have you spent countless minutes, hours, or days searching for something </span></h2><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">you misplaced because you did not take the time to put it where it belonged?</span></h2></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Have you argued with someone you live with for misplacing something of yours?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Have you missed an appointment because you forgot?</span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20303e;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcLPzWCQsDASolWYHumNudyQMOFlxYo7Fhz9WUf40TgGQsg2hhS_W8qwSabcByqp4qjYb8Ijv3H9cwj1VCGloHv6RFXhp7N954fpnMMuOYI2OfuJQviuGZ0MGgj4Ncd5HBdXD8hW0cYbN/s509/istockphoto-157580766-170667a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="509" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcLPzWCQsDASolWYHumNudyQMOFlxYo7Fhz9WUf40TgGQsg2hhS_W8qwSabcByqp4qjYb8Ijv3H9cwj1VCGloHv6RFXhp7N954fpnMMuOYI2OfuJQviuGZ0MGgj4Ncd5HBdXD8hW0cYbN/w400-h266/istockphoto-157580766-170667a.jpg" title="Procrastination" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Have you been halfway to your destination and remembered you didn’t bring what you needed?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Do you have piles of papers or unopened mail that you will get to someday?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Do you have that nagging notion telling you to get organized?</span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20303e;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B6uUpUbCmq8vhQdCh-Hi52vGJ6_OQ1edcdgade6jioqEGz6EU_ho-uCTwgPPKplJJXiIod19m3QEQdX3ZvXh1o8AXn5d4uAXyynkH2eRiPJ4Omjl3gyRH_fcjGGG43c_FQv_aQ_Bnlcz/s640/aleks-dorohovich-nJdwUHmaY8A-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="640" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7B6uUpUbCmq8vhQdCh-Hi52vGJ6_OQ1edcdgade6jioqEGz6EU_ho-uCTwgPPKplJJXiIod19m3QEQdX3ZvXh1o8AXn5d4uAXyynkH2eRiPJ4Omjl3gyRH_fcjGGG43c_FQv_aQ_Bnlcz/w400-h269/aleks-dorohovich-nJdwUHmaY8A-unsplash.jpg" title="Procrastination" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Have you read book and/or articles on how to get organized?</span></span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20303e;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVgaddtLCub25cb2-wF2BpNxz506yWkiArn262whazevZfFzc72NJcsiJyKx5iKGlZWvchLnSAzTcmFSkQd5wug0wxPZOX18w_dbRkL9GbWN15yiZjGk-9hwrJVDxEy0rM7QiqGch137G/s612/istockphoto-486832181-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVgaddtLCub25cb2-wF2BpNxz506yWkiArn262whazevZfFzc72NJcsiJyKx5iKGlZWvchLnSAzTcmFSkQd5wug0wxPZOX18w_dbRkL9GbWN15yiZjGk-9hwrJVDxEy0rM7QiqGch137G/w400-h266/istockphoto-486832181-612x612.jpg" title="Procrastination" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span></span><p></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #20303e; font-weight: 700; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Have you purchased organizational aids to help you and then never used them?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you are <b>not as organized</b> as you want to be. There is a simple solution to this problem. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am quite sure you are thinking, “Yeah, right.” You have tried everything and nothing has worked so far. <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">I have a tried and proven method</span> to get organized and eliminate all that wasted time you spend trying to get organized. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTNQys-FfQJVNxJ0UojPnei7WxUbYhGPnmODCKcREI9ntPSRE8iFlbBvjMKqfO8oigACGMmnZdRAL0MFUM3Ez7MrjFObMqPDl1XfTeCN3UESTD_g3vFWY5R1KUEJCEgSflnC4-uP5GHr4/s612/istockphoto-1135655840-612x612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTNQys-FfQJVNxJ0UojPnei7WxUbYhGPnmODCKcREI9ntPSRE8iFlbBvjMKqfO8oigACGMmnZdRAL0MFUM3Ez7MrjFObMqPDl1XfTeCN3UESTD_g3vFWY5R1KUEJCEgSflnC4-uP5GHr4/w400-h266/istockphoto-1135655840-612x612.jpg" title="Later" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can spend money on books, CDs, videos and even go to seminars to get the desired results but <b>I would like to share a secret that WORKS. </b><span style="color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember - It takes 30 days to break a habit and form a new one. But the exciting part is that you can get results IMMEDIATELY. </span></span></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are serious about getting organized, you will get the results using <b>ONE little secret. </b>It is a secret my father taught me when I was a little girl and it still works today – every time!<br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each time you take a</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">baby step in the right direction</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, it will pay off in the end. The more progress you make, the closer you are to becoming ORGANIZED.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you have any idea how much time you will have to do the things you want to do when you are not wasting your time trying to find something?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My father drilled this into my psyche. It is still there and has helped me to be organized, on time, and a lot less frustrated.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Secret To Getting Things Done</span></h2><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>There are SIX magic words that will change yhour life!</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I tell you the words, be prepared to say them a hundred times a day, if needed. Make some post-it notes; put them all over the house, your office, and your car.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those six words are – <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">“DO IT RIGHT – DO IT NOW!”</span> Just that simple. Saying them out loud requires commitment.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaLNaXg9i1hYQV9rCgS4wlkHhaBWLjT-80HFpFgXBk2klEg5Ymes9f6f96OXjrWT5gG9BqvW5WUX14iaXqMOoJ-2rkIyoNYZ8rSXy568Kv5HA-5GsONkXlqS_7qVAah4Kw8OJ6hEauDqu/s500/photo-1618068656845-fa244b9f8bd4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaLNaXg9i1hYQV9rCgS4wlkHhaBWLjT-80HFpFgXBk2klEg5Ymes9f6f96OXjrWT5gG9BqvW5WUX14iaXqMOoJ-2rkIyoNYZ8rSXy568Kv5HA-5GsONkXlqS_7qVAah4Kw8OJ6hEauDqu/w400-h300/photo-1618068656845-fa244b9f8bd4.jpg" title="Do it Right Do it Now" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even after all these years, sometimes I want to choose to put something off until later or not do it properly. But I say <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);">DO IT RIGHT – DO IT NOW! </span>As soon as I make the effort, I reap the benefits.</span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Beat Procrastination And Get Things Done</span></h2></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is easy to put off doing something by making the excuse that you don't have time. <b>Take the time.</b> You will learn to make the time to do it now and properly.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If it is a big job that needs doing, make a point of putting it at the top of your priority list to do before you take on any other task, which may be more pleasant.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It may sound too simple to work but it does! <b>I challenge you to be diligent for 30 days and the benefits and rewards will be incredible.</b></span></p></div></div></div></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-15755581387828497372021-11-06T12:10:00.001-07:002021-11-06T12:10:09.141-07:00How Far Would You Go to Save Your Dog's Life?<p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband, Clayton, and I have always called each other Babe. It never occurred to either one of us to name a dog Babe. Two Babes under one roof was enough.</span></b></span></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had been out of touch with Clayton’s father for close to eight years. We missed him but distance and circumstances prevented much contact. In the spring of 1995, we decided it had been too long and Clayton made plans to visit him.Only two weeks passed when we got the call from my sis-in-law. "Dad slipped on the ice and hit his head. He didn't make it. He's gone." </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How could this possibly have happened? But it did. The long trip was made but it was to dad's funeral, not for a visit. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrzCk2AKq1Sc9skYGGbe3VUrRkOaba6seQ2G4WxJQ4Ga5bTLo7HqKvwI-XefW-D9YlxHi1Yj6W056g-YenQeQElxtSoYT_fxZF_li-9tUHyGUay05AsC5pDf7PmtY7YxvgFGmPFJEsrlm/s667/photo-1536677075446-821da10993a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Doberman" border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrzCk2AKq1Sc9skYGGbe3VUrRkOaba6seQ2G4WxJQ4Ga5bTLo7HqKvwI-XefW-D9YlxHi1Yj6W056g-YenQeQElxtSoYT_fxZF_li-9tUHyGUay05AsC5pDf7PmtY7YxvgFGmPFJEsrlm/w300-h400/photo-1536677075446-821da10993a6.jpg" title="Doberman" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Not All Surprises Are A Good Thing</span></h2></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Clayton called me after the funeral, his voice sounded sheepish and I sensed what he was going to say before he ever said it."Uh.....Babe. You aren't going to believe this but...."I interrupted his sentence, <b>"Dad had a dog, right?"</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"How did you know?"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"And you want to bring him home, right?"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was rapidly preparing my argument in my head against it. We HAVE a dog! </span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then he said, <b>"Her name is Babe. She is a Doberman/Shepherd cross and she's beautiful. </b>She has ears as big as her head and you will love her. Tell Rochelle I got a special dog, just for her."</span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hung up the phone and told my daughter that Daddy had a special surprise for her and she was excited.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThIDpBTL9G0Y7wXfMIqSb3uak6qzVQygOfQi6lET4hJtoOOqJr7M8toOg79RF5xPfYTgmsXfV54Z7LGhIoYXGrV1dXUa9CTpgT-WRc71X2-N_IlyUDxNe9WR6Nb5BrWe42iPsX-2Q4OMS/s543/Screenshot-2021-09-24-11.49.35-AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Babe" border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="346" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhThIDpBTL9G0Y7wXfMIqSb3uak6qzVQygOfQi6lET4hJtoOOqJr7M8toOg79RF5xPfYTgmsXfV54Z7LGhIoYXGrV1dXUa9CTpgT-WRc71X2-N_IlyUDxNe9WR6Nb5BrWe42iPsX-2Q4OMS/w255-h400/Screenshot-2021-09-24-11.49.35-AM.png" title="Doberman ate the teeth" width="255" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A Brilliant Idea!</span></h2><div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When they got home that evening, Rochelle took a flashlight outside to see her special surprise. <b>Babe took one look at her holding the flashlight in her hand and lunged at her, growling, barking, and showing her teeth. </b>I was screaming and terrified but within seconds, Babe realized the flashlight was not a threat and she settled down."Thanks, Dad. Nice surprise!"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the years that followed, Babe proved to be a first-rate guard dog and our daughter grew to love her dearly. Babe was trained but <b>only understood commands in German. </b>We did not know the commands but that didn’t matter to her. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She knew exactly how to protect her family and was always on guard. She was gentle and fun, smart and goofy. She attached herself to my husband's hip and rarely left his side. No matter where he went, whatever room he went into, she had to follow him.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Then This Happened...</span></h2></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We lived at the end of a country road where teenagers liked to party late at night. This disturbed Babe greatly and when she saw them coming she would run up behind them and smash the full weight of her body behind their knees. They would freak out and didn't know what knocked them off balance but they stopped coming around. <b>Babe would nonchalantly walk away as if she was not guilty.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Teeth? What teeth?</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My father-in-law, her former owner, kept his false teeth in a glass on his bedside table. Before going to sleep one night, he had eaten a piece of lemon meringue pie and left the crust on his plate. When he woke up in the morning, Babe had licked the pie plate clean and she must have realized that there were some pie scraps on the teeth in the glass of water. <b>She ate the teeth as well. Yup – she ATE the teeth!</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp9AflnQJe3Rked6RSLqHFFmhkPbMtcAy6naxW_EUWmHOrD0UA6vcUZPCy6vAflia6DdMrvoa3AXygv0h4IsbeNBb-M56d2hRNhdm_4JNhDtrgqvR-f2KPlQHWD7-zY5uCouK_tM1Sbc-/s616/Screenshot-2021-09-24-11.48.20-AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="doberman" border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="615" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHp9AflnQJe3Rked6RSLqHFFmhkPbMtcAy6naxW_EUWmHOrD0UA6vcUZPCy6vAflia6DdMrvoa3AXygv0h4IsbeNBb-M56d2hRNhdm_4JNhDtrgqvR-f2KPlQHWD7-zY5uCouK_tM1Sbc-/w399-h400/Screenshot-2021-09-24-11.48.20-AM.png" title="My dog ate the teeth" width="399" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Heartbroken!</span></h2></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though Babe never hurt anyone, she sent a message that her sole purpose was to protect her owners. Some of the neighbors felt threatened by her and a woman complained to the by-law officer that Babe had bitten her while my husband was walking Babe on a leash. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All she did was smell the woman, didn't even bark. We knew this was a lie and told the officer that when he arrived at our home with bad news.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Babe's demise was to be put to sleep.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I am afraid you will have to put her to sleep. She is a threat to the neighbors and we have no tolerance of dogs that bite people.""I want you to have the complainant show me the bite. She is lying." my husband demanded.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few days later, the officer came back and said that we were right. Babe had not touched the woman but she was afraid to go for walks and therefore, he would have to uphold his original decision to have Babe put down. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had 30 days to relocate or destroy the dog.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>We were heartbroken. She was NO threat and had never bitten anyone</b>. My daughter wrote a heartfelt letter to the by-law officer. She told him that she was raised to be honest and did not understand how he could kill a dog that had harmed no one and was the victim of a vindictive lie. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The letter went unanswered.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIDLOjRHMUqweWT99EvGCp8ftarYXGZNCqcLFa67UD2bFPdHwrrtHRL45jyxL4-9sJ5tWk1wEfBVw0SvSo8HW2JM4fCj4P6_Ee_5owxWA1PQjpbGGzp-iDg3Ta1jujrsprizL4j1ZXeV7/s634/Screenshot-2021-09-24-11.50.00-AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Doberman" border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="634" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIDLOjRHMUqweWT99EvGCp8ftarYXGZNCqcLFa67UD2bFPdHwrrtHRL45jyxL4-9sJ5tWk1wEfBVw0SvSo8HW2JM4fCj4P6_Ee_5owxWA1PQjpbGGzp-iDg3Ta1jujrsprizL4j1ZXeV7/w400-h295/Screenshot-2021-09-24-11.50.00-AM.png" title="Babe" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A Brilliant Idea Changed Babe's Life</span></h2><div><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few days later, while shopping one afternoon, I got a brilliant idea and I began to <b>laugh out loud in the drug store</b>. I made my purchase and drove home so excited I couldn't wait to tell my family.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I bought three boxes of black hair dye and we dyed Babe's hair black. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No one in the neighborhood questioned us about the ‘new’ black dog.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To her <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">dying day</em>, she never hurt anyone but there was no question as to who was <b>in control and Chief of Security.</b></span></p></div></div></div></div></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-69684057094005696042021-11-05T08:43:00.000-07:002021-11-05T08:43:06.163-07:00Taking Action to Save a Life<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);"><b>Were my eyes deceiving me? I leaned over the steering wheel to get a closer look. Yes! It was a tiny bird. He was sitting right in the middle of the intersection. </b></span></span></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I leaned as close to the windshield as I could, waiting to complete my left-hand turn. I could see him quivering. I was appalled and astonished when no one stopped long enough for him to fly away. No one seemed to care. Cars from both directions drove right over him and each one barely missed hitting him. I knew it was inevitable he would die. <b>I had to take action.</b></span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The adrenalin soared through me as I pulled into the middle of the intersection, got out of my car, and <b>raised my hands to stop traffic from each direction. </b>My labored steps seemed to be in slow motion as I met with horns honking and people shouting obscenities, but my focus was not on them. My focus was on the sparrow. I had to save that little bird, and <b>nothing else mattered.</b> </span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Hd57FBLT8wCXlyTvm45fLsL7lyjMaKT70uwMdYyFS3ODcAeyhZrqEBrdVmcZN3bkw0chnDBfZLSGPAxs9pyexyiFaofnwcvTDWzKcJ7qH_0eHDeWyxiuiFaSh9ojzjDTk2YHPdcG4LU//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Taking Action to save a life" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Hd57FBLT8wCXlyTvm45fLsL7lyjMaKT70uwMdYyFS3ODcAeyhZrqEBrdVmcZN3bkw0chnDBfZLSGPAxs9pyexyiFaofnwcvTDWzKcJ7qH_0eHDeWyxiuiFaSh9ojzjDTk2YHPdcG4LU/w400-h225/image.png" title="bird" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each step I took closer intensified my determination to save that little bird. I bent down and gently picked him up and carried him to safety under a shrub on the corner. As I headed back to my car, instead of honking and cursing, I heard shouts of praise for my good deed.<b> “YAY!” “Thank you.” I felt exhilarated.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then as clear as possible, I heard God speak to my heart. “How do you feel?” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What do you mean how do I feel?” I thought. “Isn’t it obvious? I feel wonderful.” I wanted to add, “What an odd question, God should know how I feel.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But He was asking me so that I would take notice. He was about to teach me something regarding His love for me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3O_aCAvXLPABYyvq9517SRyCjtcDotPVPWrbaXqR70mmybnhx9NmyM2CkINxxnKwkFAXmWqPCtRf3VHb9NatJcVj49-O199_jA-Uboa_yCTiIr8G9C7iHlhyMYX-BBusEY5hVnnu_DKRT//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="God's love" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="900" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3O_aCAvXLPABYyvq9517SRyCjtcDotPVPWrbaXqR70mmybnhx9NmyM2CkINxxnKwkFAXmWqPCtRf3VHb9NatJcVj49-O199_jA-Uboa_yCTiIr8G9C7iHlhyMYX-BBusEY5hVnnu_DKRT/w400-h223/image.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had a warm sense of His presence like He was smiling at me, “<b>Now you have an idea of how I feel when you fall and I pick you up and take you to safety.” </b> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was amazed. I had always beaten myself up for the <b>stupid mistakes</b> I had made in my life. Now it was as if God was saying how much He enjoyed being there to help me, to protect me, and to shield me. To pick me up. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am constantly reminded of that little sparrow. If you ever have a hard time relating to an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father, think about the sparrow. God wants us to know how much He loves us. Every. Single. Day.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In the world’s current climate, we need this message of love more than ever before.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-22972720186140040012021-11-04T06:22:00.001-07:002021-11-04T06:22:37.769-07:00Do We Allow Panic to Cloud Our Thinking?<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Last week I had one day
packed with running errands of every type. One of those errands was to go to the recycle
center. I had several trays of recyclables but there was a strong wind outside
which made cans and plastic bottles fly out of the trays and roll down the
parking lot. </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">It was a gong show.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> I would run after one can
while another bottle was flying through the air. </span></p><p><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxONfnSNwEBwILf-PYv7HGeZuTqxtiW9V4KSmAZ10iKcvdcGOTtCzXZ4fvDC7f-RqxWRQir4R2QjfkP-ZNyNoCfAKNjtZtBNnE_GnbxoLPhdkOUa4I_lCeVhn2QY6u8s3z3noVzjRg8XE/s400/image1-400x348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="400" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxONfnSNwEBwILf-PYv7HGeZuTqxtiW9V4KSmAZ10iKcvdcGOTtCzXZ4fvDC7f-RqxWRQir4R2QjfkP-ZNyNoCfAKNjtZtBNnE_GnbxoLPhdkOUa4I_lCeVhn2QY6u8s3z3noVzjRg8XE/s320/image1-400x348.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Finally, I got inside
the building, cashed them in, and left for my next errand. When I turned the
corner, my eye caught my right hand on the steering wheel - with </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">NO
ring on it.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> I freaked. I started to pray out loud as I turned the car
around, ran into the recycle center, and then searched the parking lot -
<b>NOTHING. </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Sifting through my tense brain, I tried to remember when I last saw it -- or felt it on my hand. Nothing. Empty. </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black;">Do I call my husband?
What would I say to him? He made me this ring for a special anniversary.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I carefully emptied my purse onto
the front seat of the car and there it was - at the bottom of my bag. </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">How did
that happen?</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> This was not possible -- yet there it was. Was this one of those times when an angel was looking out for me
and placed it there? I will never know.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">I called my husband but
only told him the first part of the story. Was that mean of me to want him to
feel my panic? Halfway through the story, I had to say, <b>"Don't
worry - everything's okay."</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black;">Lesson Learned: </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leave your jewelry at
home when running errands. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-5195256447480325072021-11-03T14:24:00.000-07:002021-11-03T14:24:15.509-07:00Story of Hope - Finding Hope Amongst Life's Challenges<p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Six years ago a man came into our jewelry store and asked for a small cash loan on a silver dollar. I gave him $20. </span></span></p><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I'll be back in a week to pay you back." Steve was homeless and I didn't expect to see him again.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv-columns" style="--tcb-col-el-width: 940; background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"><div class="tcb-flex-row v-2 tcb--cols--2 tcb-resized" style="-webkit-box-align: stretch; -webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; -webkit-box-pack: justify; align-items: stretch; box-sizing: content-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row nowrap; justify-content: space-between; margin-left: -15px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-top: 15px;"><div class="tcb-flex-col" data-css="tve-u-17b2fb3121d" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; max-width: 45.6%; padding-left: 15px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="tcb-col" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: 485.031px; position: relative;"><div class="thrv_wrapper tve_image_caption" data-css="tve-u-17b2fb2e41a" style="box-sizing: border-box !important; height: auto !important; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 943px;"><span class="tve_image_frame" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 445.031px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><img alt="homeless man" center-h-d="false" center-v-d="false" class="tve_image tcb-moved-image wp-image-1340" data-css="tve-u-17b2fb301f9" data-height="489" data-id="1340" data-init-height="664" data-init-width="1000" data-recalc-dims="1" data-width="736" height="489" loading="lazy" ml-d="-87" mt-d="0" mt-m="0" mt-t="0" sizes="(max-width: 736px) 100vw, 736px" src="https://i1.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/homeless_man_3.jpg?resize=736%2C489&ssl=1" srcset="https://i2.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/homeless_man_3-1000x664.jpg?resize=1000%2C664&ssl=1 1000w, https://i2.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/homeless_man_3-1000x664.jpg?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1 300w, https://i2.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/homeless_man_3-1000x664.jpg?resize=768%2C510&ssl=1 768w" style="border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; margin-left: -87px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 670.188px;" title="homeless man" width="736" /></span></div></div></div><div class="tcb-flex-col" data-css="tve-u-17b2fb31230" style="-webkit-box-flex: 1; box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 auto; max-width: 54.4%; padding-left: 15px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="tcb-col" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: 485.031px; position: relative;"><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" data-css="tve-u-17b2fbdc37a" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, a week later he returned with a $20 bill. We chatted. After graduating from university he lost the love of his life. He started drinking. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He has been an alcoholic for 40 years and lost everything - including his family.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of weeks later, he returned with the same request for a $20 loan and this continued every couple of weeks for about a year. Each time he came into the store we chatted. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><br /></p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I wanted to know about his life. It was obvious that he was educated. He is an avid reader. Each week he borrows three books from the library and is an encyclopedia of facts - a 'walking Google.'</span></span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px;">Story Of Hope </span></div></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple of years after meeting him, we moved from our home. He helped me pack over 100 boxes and on moving day was an incredible help. A year later we moved into our new store and he was the chief helper again.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since moving our store three years ago, he got himself a chair and parked it at the back entrance. For the past three years, he sits in that chair and reads. He has appointed himself our Chief Security Officer. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When Covid hit, our local food kitchen for the homeless closed. I brought him meals every day and often he came to our house for dinner (but hubby made sure he had a shower first)!</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper tve_image_caption" data-css="tve-u-17b2fba32c5" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box !important; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; height: auto !important; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 900px;"><span class="tve_image_frame" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><img alt="story of hope" class="tve_image wp-image-1343" data-height="500" data-id="1343" data-init-height="500" data-init-width="900" data-recalc-dims="1" data-width="900" height="500" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" src="https://i1.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pexels-cottonbro-4877839.jpg?resize=900%2C500&ssl=1" srcset="https://i1.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pexels-cottonbro-4877839-900x500.jpg?resize=900%2C500&ssl=1 900w, https://i1.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pexels-cottonbro-4877839-900x500.jpg?resize=300%2C167&ssl=1 300w, https://i1.wp.com/prayingmiracles.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pexels-cottonbro-4877839-900x500.jpg?resize=768%2C427&ssl=1 768w" style="border-radius: 0px; border: 0px; box-shadow: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 857.766px;" title="a story of hope" width="900" /></span></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve has been in rehab numerous times, has attended AA meetings for years, but nothing seemed to make a difference.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I spent hours encouraging him but trying not to make him feel guilty.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few months before his 60th birthday he announced that he has had enough and was quitting for good. To celebrate, we invited him to dinner on his birthday - filet mignon, prawns, all the trimmings, and two types of pies. He had FOUR pieces of pie.</span></p></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><h2 class="" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 28px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Truly An Inspirational Story Of Hope</h2></div><div class="thrv_wrapper thrv_text_element" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: content-box; color: rgba(10, 10, 10, 0.85); margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 1px;"><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He is now ten months sober and has ZERO desire to drink. He feels he owes us a great debt but we have assured him that seeing him sober is an incredible gift to us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steve came into our lives for a reason just as we are in his life for a reason. </span></p></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-36358417112365911962021-11-02T13:01:00.000-07:002021-11-02T13:01:03.730-07:00Do Your Excuses Keep You From Being What You Were Meant To Be?<p> </p><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Nothing can stop you - no matter how old you are</span></b><br /><div style="font-size: 11pt;"><b style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynjlj1_o7zccNZ8yHTNVATKaFDqR4-z-pPNaB2qGJIpaBIlu9vaKymW0iX9AlqwmMl2-ND3VSGWmDPCO9nDOZyGX20iz0OyM1odT38LE_VoKdk1yI7VjySkROSSg6mzUrDPzr13DwOppb/s1600/download.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynjlj1_o7zccNZ8yHTNVATKaFDqR4-z-pPNaB2qGJIpaBIlu9vaKymW0iX9AlqwmMl2-ND3VSGWmDPCO9nDOZyGX20iz0OyM1odT38LE_VoKdk1yI7VjySkROSSg6mzUrDPzr13DwOppb/s1600/download.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt;"></div><div style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt;"></div><div style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>How many times have you awakened in the morning and wondered what happened with the past three, four, five, six, or seven decades? Or have you looked into the mirror and felt it was unfair that life passed you by without giving you a chance to pursue the career you always wanted? </b> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">As much as some people look forward to retirement, what if you don’t have the income to maintain the lifestyle you have grown accustomed to? Then there is the backdoor threat of Alzheimer’s. <b>You may wonder how you are going to stay alert</b> and focused when your days may only be filled with volunteer community work or gardening. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">I would rather work than play. If I don’t have any pressing jobs to accomplish, I create one. The few times I have focused on leisure instead of work, I got bored quickly. As the years were fleeting by and I remained in great health, <b>I could not imagine living without an ongoing purpose or fulfilling a dream </b>during my ‘golden’ years.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULc1wxYGZSPNaz58uEui8JsWrOXP6D2yZU6ObrN0lQ2Hpjoowyr5QqjSncApULc_0v5npoqhrFX30Y4AlWgUn8h5i15iCEQosxGJErE01VRQq6O4ClxUbQ7qtcRIZ0EcpdmH2z1_d8hj-/s1600/unnamed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULc1wxYGZSPNaz58uEui8JsWrOXP6D2yZU6ObrN0lQ2Hpjoowyr5QqjSncApULc_0v5npoqhrFX30Y4AlWgUn8h5i15iCEQosxGJErE01VRQq6O4ClxUbQ7qtcRIZ0EcpdmH2z1_d8hj-/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Choosing to be a victor instead of a victim<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My life was not an easy one. I endured more problems than most people would be able to handle. The more negatives life threw at me, the stronger and hopefully, wiser, I became. But <b>what good is that wisdom if I couldn’t put it to valuable use</b>?</span><o:p style="font-size: 11pt;"></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XYfZuBy_5x7Lb3qVN0SdYcAo9fX3-EjlIJJ9MPBFyhkUzbc0n__CcCfG5d9gZlDZdRWF7eWHvpmrgKVrLoutMqZICS22oSlQycjkdCuQRuKxcQ5B00o_ueCq4CtrkakX-tJUeZKADK3W/s1600/download+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XYfZuBy_5x7Lb3qVN0SdYcAo9fX3-EjlIJJ9MPBFyhkUzbc0n__CcCfG5d9gZlDZdRWF7eWHvpmrgKVrLoutMqZICS22oSlQycjkdCuQRuKxcQ5B00o_ueCq4CtrkakX-tJUeZKADK3W/s1600/download+%25284%2529.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">When my daughter was a teenager she started a crusade to encourage me to write my memoir. It started as a campaign and for ten years, she made it a threat. <b>She had heard all my excuses and was not going to tolerate them any longer. </b> “Write your story or else!” Finally, I began the journey of writing my story.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">I never would have believed it could be so difficult but it was also a driving force as the more I wrote the more I realized I had a message the world needed to hear. <b>It was a message of never, ever giving up – no matter what happens.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stepping WAY out of a comfort zone<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US"></span></b><br /><b><span lang="EN-US"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">My husband and I were in our sixties when we opened three high-end jewelry stores and shortly after he was in a serious car accident which left him disabled. We found ourselves thrown into a situation that did not allow us to quit our jobs, or sell our businesses. <b>We had to keep going. We weren’t given a choice.<o:p></o:p></b></span><b><br /></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXgeJenuv7aFNHlSQKJyx1h0CwM94A4e8kWkdEH-zcIF4IAzmw_KMJTQ0gKPX74-nIrXIZdxRjc34vfVQBQyR5ImL8-N70LnU9wze6lGNM3VorFExrRU8cBHvTe8rnSkkYa96Mol93Faf/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXgeJenuv7aFNHlSQKJyx1h0CwM94A4e8kWkdEH-zcIF4IAzmw_KMJTQ0gKPX74-nIrXIZdxRjc34vfVQBQyR5ImL8-N70LnU9wze6lGNM3VorFExrRU8cBHvTe8rnSkkYa96Mol93Faf/s1600/images+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;">When I was in my twenties, I became a certified health coach after I was told I only had <b>two years to live due to cancer. </b>I refused the normal invasive treatments and opted to cure myself with nutrition and food supplements. After restoration, I promised to help people with their health issues until the day I die. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Where was I going to find the time to write a book? </span><span>I had no idea my life was about to start over with a <b>new career.</b></span><span><b> </b> </span><span>I wrote late in the evenings; and after ten years triggered by painful memories, I was ready to launch my book.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started a podcast to interview<b> ordinary people who overcame extraordinary circumstances </b>and became successful as a result. In the first hour after posting my idea on the internet, I had over 100 requests to be on my show. What show? I swiftly trained myself how to podcast, edit, and promote my show. That was eight years ago and </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Never Ever Give Up Hope</i></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is now heard in over 140 countries with unending weekly requests to be part of the show.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFPqsqDfvqTi9djGCvBERvgRZr-p4OFHtWLsRYc4C3s75AQIflHzOTIiDfTWMEVIFv_fSC-VmawlEEpzuZIEY4fo86VQltLiTWtdhChhtLzXNGKOuuzX_eY8b3tKYl6pJs2gyh8PdW7Lf/s1600/iStock-848658582.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1183" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFPqsqDfvqTi9djGCvBERvgRZr-p4OFHtWLsRYc4C3s75AQIflHzOTIiDfTWMEVIFv_fSC-VmawlEEpzuZIEY4fo86VQltLiTWtdhChhtLzXNGKOuuzX_eY8b3tKYl6pJs2gyh8PdW7Lf/s320/iStock-848658582.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to fulfill the dream of being an author, an international speaker, and a talk show host. At 67 these seemed like pipe dreams but I am now living them and looking forward to the next challenge. As owner and operator of two jewelry stores, my health coaching business, traveling as a speaker, hosting and managing my talk show, writing for numerous magazines and anthologies, having my own monthly column in two magazines, being the bookkeeper for all the businesses, taking care of a disabled husband and rescuing dogs (over 30 to date)..... I launched a new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzuYbubIwtX4b_v4gWziaA">YouTube channel</a> and <a href="https://prayingmiracles.com/">website </a>two months ago that is growing faster than my greatest expectations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg2R5QgSyGOgCW9drbYYNFmmIy8HOqYmnFAuwEB0K3zXLjmACUs05l4xMNnK7kk_VBFUdLFniyBcXRkUURyYKFUmFdNGioTBm_1_QWywx9BHmvHsTQsCj4iX9g9zz4Rm3Tt74XuHW3HoZ/s1600/download+%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="327" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg2R5QgSyGOgCW9drbYYNFmmIy8HOqYmnFAuwEB0K3zXLjmACUs05l4xMNnK7kk_VBFUdLFniyBcXRkUURyYKFUmFdNGioTBm_1_QWywx9BHmvHsTQsCj4iX9g9zz4Rm3Tt74XuHW3HoZ/s320/download+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><b>Nothing is stopping you<o:p></o:p></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span lang="EN-US">We all have the ability and the right to choose what w</span><span>e do with our retirement years. My choice was to start over – doing what I wanted to do and helping many others be encouraged and challenged to <b><a href="https://neverevergiveuphopenet.blogspot.com">NEVER EVER GIVE UP HOPE.</a></b></span></span><b><a href="https://neverevergiveuphopenet.blogspot.com"><br /></a></b><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><b>Never limit yourself by making excuses why you cannot do what you always wanted to do. Find a way. Set your goals. You will never regret it. It will sustain your youth. You have much to offer – start giving it away.</b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battered-Hope-Carol-Graham-ebook/dp/B00JBMMA0G"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzJiM7DtH4sdjXNnlQ2WelM31BuEDoUB9FVUnrzM7B0Rf07zd0CC2Dqf9UOW1qrULWTSlMQgSmaA23CORp8_utHDa0IvO_LDKP0kdWaORNy2wL8ihv7NpEeWLEnD_gaV6Xi1heojxqqwn/s320/41d1MwVrzAL.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battered-Hope-Carol-Graham-ebook/dp/B00JBMMA0G">Gang raped and left for dead</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battered-Hope-Carol-Graham-ebook/dp/B00JBMMA0G">Cancer diagnosis</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battered-Hope-Carol-Graham-ebook/dp/B00JBMMA0G">Loss of a child</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battered-Hope-Carol-Graham-ebook/dp/B00JBMMA0G">Husband falsely imprisoned</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battered-Hope-Carol-Graham-ebook/dp/B00JBMMA0G">BUT...Carol chose to be a victor instead of a victim</a><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-19040061832152990402021-11-01T14:57:00.001-07:002021-11-01T14:57:21.780-07:00What Does it Take to Have a Perfect Marriage?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>This month we celebrate our wedding anniversary and this is the toast I will give to my husband of 49 years</span> --</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo137/eeyorewantsahug/cb/anniversary/anniversary-1.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://i369.photobucket.com/albums/oo137/eeyorewantsahug/cb/anniversary/anniversary-1.gif" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">THE PERFECT DAY</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span><br /></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We met early in the morning, you and I. Even
before breakfast, we knew we were going to be together the rest of the day.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout the morning, <b>there were many
moments of turmoil, doubt, and uncertainty.</b> But we knew we belonged
together and.... together we would overcome.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By mid-afternoon, we received two priceless
gifts; <b>our children, a son and a daughter.</b> They came into our lives as
the blessing we always had hoped for and believed we would have. The afternoon
also proved to be tumultuous but our love for each other and God kept us strong,
focused, and … together.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have lost much but gained more. We have cried
often but laughed more. We were victims of total financial loss, cancer, loss
of our son, brain injury, and almost 40 years of trauma – often piled on top of
another. <b>But we are stronger now and better - as a result.</b></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are now entering the evening of that day and
we have received more incredible gifts – our grandchildren. No matter how many <b>mountains
we had to climb, or hurdles to jump</b>, the blessings of the perfect day are
many and I raise my glass to you, my love, and our 49 years together.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we celebrate and I thank God for you and for the perfect day.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-76645424594810556172021-09-10T06:17:00.000-07:002021-09-10T06:17:00.619-07:00A Sense of Accomplishment Can Be Worth More than ME Time<p>Preparing for this month's Fly On the Wall post was painful when I realized I need to get out more! Each day I am consumed with either <a href="https://prayingmiracles.com/blog/">writing blog posts</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzuYbubIwtX4b_v4gWziaA">creating YouTube videos,</a> <a href="https://prayingmiracles.com/blog/health-and-wellness/">writing health-related articles</a>, <a href="https://prayingmiracles.com/health-and-wellness-coaching/">analyzing health questionnaires</a> for clients, writing newsletters, <a href="https://neverevergiveuphopenet.blogspot.com/">interviewing one guest a week for my podcast,</a> bookkeeping for our brick and mortar businesses, or <a href="https://www.biblicalnutritionacademy.com/courses/praying-miracles">teaching on the internet. </a></p><p>If you haven't checked out my <a href="https://neverevergiveuphopenet.blogspot.com/">podcast</a>, please do! (Now in my 8th year!) You will find incredible true stories of people who went from victim to victor and from hopelessness to helping others find hope. <b>Each guest has become successful and many have made huge positive impacts to society. </b></p><p>It leaves little time for anything else, as my days start at 5:30 AM and run until dinner time. Don't worry, I cook everything from scratch and manage an organized home. </p><p>But who wants to hear about that in a blog post? However, I did travel to my daughter's home to <b>house/dog sit for one week.</b> That was heaven to me. I took my computer with me, set up an office in her dining room, and worked almost 'round the clock. I decided to fast that week so there was<b> no need to cook</b>. I loved it and accomplished more than I would in two weeks if I was at home.</p><p>The grands were in Hawaii that week and the pics speak for themselves:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ggrSPI4NFp0A2hZvM9yzGxztpcIipyqoPuih6okeAkkmf_W4qu5hVnbWuPXbKsfuOXfwlLcPZTkfSjkyaA1FoD2iG8Lzp0GEQL0oe81TnLVEHaGPNbiMSnsuQTz0czV7hzPSLCdhRPOK/s1800/240427274_1270715990040830_6361889128732329423_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ggrSPI4NFp0A2hZvM9yzGxztpcIipyqoPuih6okeAkkmf_W4qu5hVnbWuPXbKsfuOXfwlLcPZTkfSjkyaA1FoD2iG8Lzp0GEQL0oe81TnLVEHaGPNbiMSnsuQTz0czV7hzPSLCdhRPOK/s320/240427274_1270715990040830_6361889128732329423_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2ksz2OqkK_H0YCVgsqa_yT-xKn_OD14GP5ZFe4YUW58h8R7_jxMPNRCDGiDv65k5Q79IU6DOrO9nPin7_yrMClNVjuqe-jB9myR2QnG_lDtMnkOJC11Jd9vv9Y0GxC2G0DCFBhz2vp-V/s1800/240433622_1270715950040834_7154565092287677170_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2ksz2OqkK_H0YCVgsqa_yT-xKn_OD14GP5ZFe4YUW58h8R7_jxMPNRCDGiDv65k5Q79IU6DOrO9nPin7_yrMClNVjuqe-jB9myR2QnG_lDtMnkOJC11Jd9vv9Y0GxC2G0DCFBhz2vp-V/s320/240433622_1270715950040834_7154565092287677170_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curling hair at 5 yrs old?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAxpnhVyGPU7DwWl2UsfGf2D3zVvGvqOw-aAbUnkwI0ugsfNjDToQRBt4MeAhfPorGAVa4AqwuSYb-YlbOkWsJwBmNEKnRYMkDqMJpm6YY7goQZRrPsvi1oeKgZIM6LR6vDboru0L7jZr/s839/241345060_10158466132681848_4427786656741353183_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="839" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAxpnhVyGPU7DwWl2UsfGf2D3zVvGvqOw-aAbUnkwI0ugsfNjDToQRBt4MeAhfPorGAVa4AqwuSYb-YlbOkWsJwBmNEKnRYMkDqMJpm6YY7goQZRrPsvi1oeKgZIM6LR6vDboru0L7jZr/w640-h428/241345060_10158466132681848_4427786656741353183_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6QRooQztD-PyUzWJDuYh5DvS4DFBJYz_5pyX_n30m0JV0zFXNSkJRu23NAQEsYun-Hz4ouPBEn8PStDAW-gnkndNu8_8WmBWgfXfbeen1rEIiOhHxwNTxZzWhg42B6alv9D76XhiX36v/s839/241359686_10158466132816848_4406981465448180893_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6QRooQztD-PyUzWJDuYh5DvS4DFBJYz_5pyX_n30m0JV0zFXNSkJRu23NAQEsYun-Hz4ouPBEn8PStDAW-gnkndNu8_8WmBWgfXfbeen1rEIiOhHxwNTxZzWhg42B6alv9D76XhiX36v/s320/241359686_10158466132816848_4406981465448180893_n.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZgdloYzvfWCQHXemdeHd9iOYXb39cMHBJWi6i56_3jtLINUppT_fIJHg0gE8gWDeztZLtIUg4K2ud7o_6d_j6Xy9TdfrGX7-XMMLSIejXeVBRQ3v2tE694sjXP-urjG2hPLIA8Jtt54p/s793/241380366_10158466132831848_8984794887082536455_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="793" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZgdloYzvfWCQHXemdeHd9iOYXb39cMHBJWi6i56_3jtLINUppT_fIJHg0gE8gWDeztZLtIUg4K2ud7o_6d_j6Xy9TdfrGX7-XMMLSIejXeVBRQ3v2tE694sjXP-urjG2hPLIA8Jtt54p/s320/241380366_10158466132831848_8984794887082536455_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabMEz0aBJZIXBo4PotwhqCFAIzdBytvXzHG1fDerNPvwq4krN0RK_77WI8TGBhyphenhyphenuZuLeZw1ANZbsExqDDnLvpZJaFmklrldHZu2FdW0521ATSRpfRgeFpxwUVn4m3WYjlUdOoGSZx2NqX/s861/241405490_10158466132546848_3219504632051733453_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVOq49Bm2nvVFTcB8VdBx4ceWMmgKglYPxdizdK-8fcbGFpgE1sxK6USheF1OkAKz9q0zssrLZrKIqXdNB2VGjUiSi2pqZwi2NqWBPtsIaD2RYUKR8j0pQ4sq9tsXOKQkfcu4kMPmKpXw/s1800/241486485_1270715980040831_5795387398591243294_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVOq49Bm2nvVFTcB8VdBx4ceWMmgKglYPxdizdK-8fcbGFpgE1sxK6USheF1OkAKz9q0zssrLZrKIqXdNB2VGjUiSi2pqZwi2NqWBPtsIaD2RYUKR8j0pQ4sq9tsXOKQkfcu4kMPmKpXw/s320/241486485_1270715980040831_5795387398591243294_n.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatN0eFQxsn96Npk9_myVmNa__nklTdh4MHMf0LoSMrHCfmEJfpiZDWGKh0Odz4cECC6kZa3uyPTUjbVVP0hXErPN9OiUaBmeGNZqyf4FUpuLXTwPloayYxPZdO7qbdL7wwJNWcKDOX7Fi/s920/241504381_10158466132576848_3441713755487241712_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="614" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatN0eFQxsn96Npk9_myVmNa__nklTdh4MHMf0LoSMrHCfmEJfpiZDWGKh0Odz4cECC6kZa3uyPTUjbVVP0hXErPN9OiUaBmeGNZqyf4FUpuLXTwPloayYxPZdO7qbdL7wwJNWcKDOX7Fi/w268-h400/241504381_10158466132576848_3441713755487241712_n.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">How blessed I am to see the love these two have for each other</span></b></p><p>Please have a buzz around and see what the other bloggers in this group posted this month:</p><p><b><a href="https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado</a></b></p><p><b><a href=" http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother</a></b></p><p><b><a href=" https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog">Wandering Web Designer</a></b></p><p><br /></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-1015112097950881432021-08-20T06:07:00.001-07:002021-08-20T06:08:41.637-07:00Is it Difficult to Find a Veterinarian Who Loves Dogs - Really?<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Have
you ever turned off your clock and worked until the job was done? </b>That's the way
the past two months felt. I needed to launch my new <a href="https://prayingmiracles.com">website</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzuYbubIwtX4b_v4gWziaA">YouTube</a> channel -- everything else had to take a back seat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I
didn't realize that this was only the beginning. </b>My website and
YT developer set up a daily spreadsheet of articles to be written and videos to
be made. <b> As much work as that is on top of my other jobs...</b>I have never enjoyed anything more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">There
were <b>2,000 downloads</b> on YouTube in the first two weeks. I am
told that is extremely rare. I also know that the <b>message of hope </b>is
needed now more than ever and that is what I share. Every. Day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>We couldn't bear watching her suffer</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the middle of this craziness, hubby and I knew we could not put off Star's
dental issue any longer. As a rescue, she came with bad teeth and Doxies are
prone to gum disease and teeth problems. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
have tried to find a vet who would clean Star's teeth and remove the bad ones
for <b>under $10,000</b>. No luck. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Daily,
Star got a regimen of vitamins, tinctures, and a raw food diet but it wasn't enough. She
needed help we could not give her. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then
a <b>miracle</b> happened. My hairdresser found a vet in the city (a ferry trip away)
who didn't comply with the ridiculous fees other vets charged. She paid $1500 -
not $10,000 for a similar procedure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">After the doctor examined Star, he shook his head. The
infection had run deep and she needed antibiotics for two weeks before he could
determine what to do. He assumed there were two badly infected teeth. </span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyW5jI8w-HUbs3VWBY4lrF1I3HMafJkRUFMgAPlNuBBp-5tIiYa2xbBtNfOig1C67RWuETmBW3YTJy_o6RppPS5TLR7QRs-kN3A3zhZbrJZnHvWFw6rbFPvmKocKPhRIJMIS3VCs44W700/s2038/20210705_205223+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2038" data-original-width="1048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyW5jI8w-HUbs3VWBY4lrF1I3HMafJkRUFMgAPlNuBBp-5tIiYa2xbBtNfOig1C67RWuETmBW3YTJy_o6RppPS5TLR7QRs-kN3A3zhZbrJZnHvWFw6rbFPvmKocKPhRIJMIS3VCs44W700/w206-h400/20210705_205223+%25282%2529.jpg" title="Is it Difficult to Find a Veterinarian Who Loves Dogs" width="206" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coupled
with the abuse she had received before we rescued her, he said <b>her jaw was
cracked and she must have been in extreme pain for a long time</b> -- we had NO
idea. She never complained.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the day of surgery, the vet said he would call us in a couple of hours when she was
ready to be picked up. HOWEVER, the call came much earlier. He said it was one
of the worst cases he had seen. She would need all her teeth pulled. Her jaw would
need to be wired together where it was cracked. <b>Our dilemma: What should we do? And how much could we afford?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJmPSKAreQjfywXtB6sweEG1mywsVi80XeYjLLDa2-EZNPqUOFbfaBjkDe_uci-mkX3rHtvvNKny2G5PZTWD6t8eW2NmppAv88QEHncBpaIFAOdU7cguwgFYZyvUjBdHbqARIojxRNp0b/s2189/20200219_120136+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2189" data-original-width="2171" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJmPSKAreQjfywXtB6sweEG1mywsVi80XeYjLLDa2-EZNPqUOFbfaBjkDe_uci-mkX3rHtvvNKny2G5PZTWD6t8eW2NmppAv88QEHncBpaIFAOdU7cguwgFYZyvUjBdHbqARIojxRNp0b/w396-h400/20200219_120136+%25282%2529.jpg" title="Is it Difficult to Find a Veterinarian Who Loves Dogs" width="396" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I called my daughter and ran
the scenario by her. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">She has rescued dozens of dogs including those with rotten
teeth. She had been told the worst-case scenario more than once. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">She said, "<b>Mom, you will
give Star her life back. Trust me</b>." The vets told her many times there was
little hope of improvement. But she proved them wrong each time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I called the vet to ask him
what Star's kidney, liver, and heart health looked like. He said,
"Considering what she has going on - I could hardly believe how <b>healthy</b> she
is." That made the decision for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seven hours later we picked up
this precious baby. When she saw us she started to cry. She never stopped until
we got home. It was heart-wrenching. The ferry line-up wait was five hours in the
scorching heat (over 100 degrees) with no shade in sight. <b>Yup.....she never
stopped crying</b>. This is so rare as she rarely barks and we have never
heard her cry before. So sad!</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8ws8is3-9DYt59eo4oeEI93ZsGMz_Eg9VzWldlqKaWtq5-3jHcBR21yueweyzHSDLUShkx3jXTdhyphenhyphenKMoiA8UZ7S2ooxA4WtXBvNeYg3rjIF4YKiE4GKlwszPdJXRmC3BPkWMscCGu2sD/s2448/IMG_20150405_130304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8ws8is3-9DYt59eo4oeEI93ZsGMz_Eg9VzWldlqKaWtq5-3jHcBR21yueweyzHSDLUShkx3jXTdhyphenhyphenKMoiA8UZ7S2ooxA4WtXBvNeYg3rjIF4YKiE4GKlwszPdJXRmC3BPkWMscCGu2sD/w400-h400/IMG_20150405_130304.jpg" title="Is it Difficult to Find a Veterinarian Who Loves Dogs" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">UPDATE: Star is a new dog. She
runs with her tail held high (never did that before.) Her ears are perked up! She can't stop kissing us
and cuddling -- also unusual for her. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">She got a clean bill of health
and her jaw, which was stitched together is healing fine. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">AND.....you ready for this? The
<b>vet never charged us </b>the full amount. He loves rescues and wanted to help this
little creature. He only asked that we do not tell anyone or he would be
bombarded with people wanting the same deal. NO PROBLEM. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>We are so grateful. And.....so is Star.</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNkZOuOQQSxlZlmzwS5q7OyfyGhR0AZt1GF8M82JMjmE5U6rcBUdkcY63UQbvh2p1E8ji2pfcl2_CR1fJ5lTqSl091Y0G9kf8GLXgyLK6ldZ5FdTrRZYIGq0zweNK0LIf1Rg-wZSfqkhU/s1267/20210819_123830.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Doxie" border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1267" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNkZOuOQQSxlZlmzwS5q7OyfyGhR0AZt1GF8M82JMjmE5U6rcBUdkcY63UQbvh2p1E8ji2pfcl2_CR1fJ5lTqSl091Y0G9kf8GLXgyLK6ldZ5FdTrRZYIGq0zweNK0LIf1Rg-wZSfqkhU/w400-h313/20210819_123830.jpg" title="Is it Difficult to Find a Veterinarian Who Loves Dogs - Really?" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">And.....TODAY...I
am over-the-top excited. The <b>GRANDS</b> are coming for four whole
days. Life is put on the shelf. The work will be there after they go back
home. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">For
some of you who have not seen your grandbabies or loved ones during this season
of 'separation,' my heart aches for you. <b>I hope you will see them soon.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">What
would any <b><i>Fly on the Wall </i></b>post be without pics of the
grands<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Camping for 5 days is exhausting!</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteHg7g9ulZSRjFZT99jL2b7PDzVCxT8dTj1IsyTe2rIuN8DiSJPN13_AuBE_lHiu1YKFnpEroWIeE1t5zq_FiS-zR9n5IMZOL4-IWJLXOfteEcO6zmgkSfItB34lvgdHJCX3-sUoqb-KR/s960/236550897_10158431390871848_707260951279607131_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteHg7g9ulZSRjFZT99jL2b7PDzVCxT8dTj1IsyTe2rIuN8DiSJPN13_AuBE_lHiu1YKFnpEroWIeE1t5zq_FiS-zR9n5IMZOL4-IWJLXOfteEcO6zmgkSfItB34lvgdHJCX3-sUoqb-KR/w300-h400/236550897_10158431390871848_707260951279607131_n.jpg" title="Camping with kids" width="300" /></a></span></div><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq386ywrZxBwFEAmoM9-nrOPvgFc-Kh-5X7r_VQw8-dR03p7M59Qvhl_r7bIVj7qgmzOm-EP6jPOQo2IoKYMV0U_90RHM8rJfGgbYO_pRze7NnSkyor6pX3IlLvRYWnWIwAC4hF2_5056m/s960/235840776_10158431391291848_1598614374130499891_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq386ywrZxBwFEAmoM9-nrOPvgFc-Kh-5X7r_VQw8-dR03p7M59Qvhl_r7bIVj7qgmzOm-EP6jPOQo2IoKYMV0U_90RHM8rJfGgbYO_pRze7NnSkyor6pX3IlLvRYWnWIwAC4hF2_5056m/w320-h400/235840776_10158431391291848_1598614374130499891_n.jpg" title="Camping is exhausting" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m6mUE0Jg2DKK13j24ICJNQvap1rsFqtf7bmVLisBkEA8CkQOVDNDkEYcF-hFVXR2pYyrbVYiNMP91Tj3NFQlRpeVZqvXOBsXS06hRYSoB1QKbtcKKuaEXy7xCzjpUHbnThXrwREL6yVM/s1743/225229437_1242874339491662_8525840432097615810_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1743" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m6mUE0Jg2DKK13j24ICJNQvap1rsFqtf7bmVLisBkEA8CkQOVDNDkEYcF-hFVXR2pYyrbVYiNMP91Tj3NFQlRpeVZqvXOBsXS06hRYSoB1QKbtcKKuaEXy7xCzjpUHbnThXrwREL6yVM/w330-h400/225229437_1242874339491662_8525840432097615810_n.jpg" title="Suds in a hottub" width="330" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiaHUi_zN2bD95wpiJZs35Y9PVfigKG8hUoyygbH4KSvSDyaYzJk8Q1zDFXRAW5swi7yVPfGB2Rq_scJwXjH9OAe9YkkEbydBkemLSJXp4x06kHL31jxPLybP0TIP5XNurgWCqUK39U65/s1743/222200809_1242874322824997_1560601230667040831_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1743" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIiaHUi_zN2bD95wpiJZs35Y9PVfigKG8hUoyygbH4KSvSDyaYzJk8Q1zDFXRAW5swi7yVPfGB2Rq_scJwXjH9OAe9YkkEbydBkemLSJXp4x06kHL31jxPLybP0TIP5XNurgWCqUK39U65/s320/222200809_1242874322824997_1560601230667040831_n.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Someone dropped some</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 18.4px;"><b> bubbles in the hot tub</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;">Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 5 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href=" https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href=" http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog">Wandering Web Designer</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://crazymamallama.blogspot.com/">What TF Sarah</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-6260183983890097662021-07-23T08:27:00.000-07:002021-07-23T08:27:04.004-07:00During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?<p><b>"Building a website can be fun," they said. Have any of you ever done that? Was it fun? </b></p><p>For the past six weeks, I worked 10 or more hours per day - every day - building my new website. I was fortunate to find the right person - who did a job many times better than I imagined. She went well past the call of duty. I have hired her for life. There are <b>several pages on the site </b>and I have incorporated both of our jewelry sites, my podcast, my health coaching site, my YouTube channel, and everything in between. One stop - it's all there. </p><p>The entire site theme (mountains and ocean) is carried through all the pages, along with the color scheme. I would love your feedback. <a href="https://prayingmiracles.com">Check it out here.</a> PLEASE</p><p>BUT....it didn't stop there. I also have a new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PrayingForMiraclesWithCarol">Facebook page</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYzuYbubIwtX4b_v4gWziaA">YouTube Channel</a>. I am scheduled to do <b>three blog posts per week</b>, and <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>two YouTube videos,</b></span> PLUS coaching and teaching online. P L U S my podcast is booked until March until next year - two interviews per week.</p><p><b>"Building a website can be fun,"</b> they said. But <b>NOW</b> the fun begins. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rQe7SfybFv4RDCqVkoCRW3r9_8H0Ppec7OhBxdpOUFHYH9q-rNGGABfC43rbYXnTxVQWDtXkpC5MNQe8B3m4-_S7GtivBTpYqmzsmTnfAU0HrEbKUvsW-TGDFSpXeLo2PxpValtRDlBQ/s3264/20210621_182121.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rQe7SfybFv4RDCqVkoCRW3r9_8H0Ppec7OhBxdpOUFHYH9q-rNGGABfC43rbYXnTxVQWDtXkpC5MNQe8B3m4-_S7GtivBTpYqmzsmTnfAU0HrEbKUvsW-TGDFSpXeLo2PxpValtRDlBQ/w225-h400/20210621_182121.jpg" title="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaAsZP7k7E5n_TPgr3TKRwE8LtwYw5Zp66i9acPvnh8e7hgbFAWpiaut2OQc0ALCxVUvt16bb04LPRvqPAZGkkF_rxkmi39LQ02HxElOP1htGoMFvouUagUOAiA5y7hF4bbcqI-FUYHkI/s3264/20210621_182153.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaAsZP7k7E5n_TPgr3TKRwE8LtwYw5Zp66i9acPvnh8e7hgbFAWpiaut2OQc0ALCxVUvt16bb04LPRvqPAZGkkF_rxkmi39LQ02HxElOP1htGoMFvouUagUOAiA5y7hF4bbcqI-FUYHkI/s320/20210621_182153.jpg" /></a></div><p>One day last week, I was about to drive up the driveway when I heard loud screeching by birds. I stopped to have a look. A baby bird had fallen out of its nest and mom and dad couldn't figure out how to pick it up. </p><p><b>I felt helpless. </b>There was nothing I could do for this tiny creature. I got a chair from the house and placed it near the fallen bird so no one would drive over it. The cries from the parents went on until nightfall. I knew the demise of that baby but.......</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In the middle of last month's chaos, I took a four-day breather to visit the grands. With each visit, I see how they have matured and with <b>joy in my heart</b> also note their kindness to one another, their politeness, and how they love interacting with adults and animals which is a constant thrill for any gramma. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">PICTURES - MOST DEFINITELY SPEAK LOUDER</span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D0XVIGxC-uxoYGxEippwWn2gmJj31sa1IXTfyo7chJFdV4zX7XTvwEdqmdHesYcwVBxN8dkTaUZYlmvta-dQQdPlxftTu3hBuxWx-dZlSuSpuFgFBDOI6CSJcbJIaEa38W_m9Yvvay8O/s600/179830744_1186383411807422_3551494789815529597_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D0XVIGxC-uxoYGxEippwWn2gmJj31sa1IXTfyo7chJFdV4zX7XTvwEdqmdHesYcwVBxN8dkTaUZYlmvta-dQQdPlxftTu3hBuxWx-dZlSuSpuFgFBDOI6CSJcbJIaEa38W_m9Yvvay8O/w400-h400/179830744_1186383411807422_3551494789815529597_n.jpg" title="Grandkids" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ALWAYS EXCITED TO SEE GRAMS</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxxs4dVj6HARucIVOkzP2YBwLhgUNDldo2tWJSAJ6NrMAh6JLpoZ8paIbxCup4sFPvG9mnSFAg5gjjjqbc2txim8RghQ0saAlUuHJjVqVttBO_dlA3cokGi43T4mFZEuKHoND0jc-s45a/s1440/206235931_1221968318248931_714965516070261916_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxxs4dVj6HARucIVOkzP2YBwLhgUNDldo2tWJSAJ6NrMAh6JLpoZ8paIbxCup4sFPvG9mnSFAg5gjjjqbc2txim8RghQ0saAlUuHJjVqVttBO_dlA3cokGi43T4mFZEuKHoND0jc-s45a/w400-h300/206235931_1221968318248931_714965516070261916_n.jpg" title="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDVnUC4KoQcmDFVOZ6fyKItgLtv_9cyVSd_DEP3GdgBZUWpX5ce2Oii7_loswQjjaU7m3fsOo0PE8KGCfOB_W23mPb88N2AvGnq9D4083P61Bdzbe1oknNYixjb8omXNZ0NWGrXpPwRYv/s1440/205803491_1221968304915599_5131051928691303621_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Salmon fishing" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDVnUC4KoQcmDFVOZ6fyKItgLtv_9cyVSd_DEP3GdgBZUWpX5ce2Oii7_loswQjjaU7m3fsOo0PE8KGCfOB_W23mPb88N2AvGnq9D4083P61Bdzbe1oknNYixjb8omXNZ0NWGrXpPwRYv/w400-h300/205803491_1221968304915599_5131051928691303621_n.jpg" title="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>WHAT A CATCH</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx44owAbVhOme6OAJlksWP_LDRfO8A5pMRBI5e8QHYMfvPfrcYitMpjsErIR8xjAC4qdqePGmMSSiV5k7KjRfzRblIS-XG78o72U-gC11CiVC9mtzP2eEeSX4Jm3YXiPsXFeiJCK_mIjQq/s1440/207102374_1221968321582264_2270827094365443393_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Swimming" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx44owAbVhOme6OAJlksWP_LDRfO8A5pMRBI5e8QHYMfvPfrcYitMpjsErIR8xjAC4qdqePGmMSSiV5k7KjRfzRblIS-XG78o72U-gC11CiVC9mtzP2eEeSX4Jm3YXiPsXFeiJCK_mIjQq/w400-h400/207102374_1221968321582264_2270827094365443393_n.jpg" title="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>UNBELIEVABLE HEAT This Summer</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlokRDDjz680ilUtOdHy-4HdBhx-Q4TblANh6CXYPwmZLzaEUERqJy1rfmeCI3LQASO8Y2lIZq4qUfBOlAe7pQuxmVjZOQYE6-diZn6BdBSQPtonkBnH9LzBZdDacly8YBzRnjLJ8_0ks/s600/207502513_10158355500341848_5901000604961578295_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlokRDDjz680ilUtOdHy-4HdBhx-Q4TblANh6CXYPwmZLzaEUERqJy1rfmeCI3LQASO8Y2lIZq4qUfBOlAe7pQuxmVjZOQYE6-diZn6BdBSQPtonkBnH9LzBZdDacly8YBzRnjLJ8_0ks/w300-h400/207502513_10158355500341848_5901000604961578295_n.jpg" title="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqQyUbage55AbBTrb9-8CsD0Q4w9754IhyphenhyphenmhYNzAxpWPcXCFqbj5V4jAqfP7xwXb032XG2UjQplxXhslDZ5lEs_XRgaXURTaPLa-rG-u1MkCAavTIzdteu41F38aTF6z_-r564mwoXAia/s701/214061778_10158372660321848_4667550983680703088_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Golfind with grandpa" border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqQyUbage55AbBTrb9-8CsD0Q4w9754IhyphenhyphenmhYNzAxpWPcXCFqbj5V4jAqfP7xwXb032XG2UjQplxXhslDZ5lEs_XRgaXURTaPLa-rG-u1MkCAavTIzdteu41F38aTF6z_-r564mwoXAia/w300-h400/214061778_10158372660321848_4667550983680703088_n.jpg" title="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Loves His Golfing Times with Papa</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTTRpWCherHpUOV5DFyTCh0UNlAT22Pr-v359ZnQST_mlMYL7F9NV3GoFC_ycrI5no6FnOjAPg36sbA208-n4eA0-pV0T6QE0LH0IIZqcWdW7fp8PQi1mfMw3tBesxfQ4OWrRzdX1R8XY/s600/218278292_10158376101796848_1523166650624138420_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTTRpWCherHpUOV5DFyTCh0UNlAT22Pr-v359ZnQST_mlMYL7F9NV3GoFC_ycrI5no6FnOjAPg36sbA208-n4eA0-pV0T6QE0LH0IIZqcWdW7fp8PQi1mfMw3tBesxfQ4OWrRzdX1R8XY/w300-h400/218278292_10158376101796848_1523166650624138420_n.jpg" title="During the Middle of Chaos, Do You Stop for a Break?" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Time to Cool Down</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lOmOsSNLeavJ-89U_gd6IwApnNYaSrIobyWFYUMrSvvtEXZeVTtGTVAm9v0Zz5VLnyN_cmr0yvhoGSu4AS_Bb2QefhokluuUUCyZk4WOIBt5KjJBLy9CNOx4hWHmVl99uCbnBqQxxLPw/s600/195063735_10158295038906848_2665088498200778647_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lOmOsSNLeavJ-89U_gd6IwApnNYaSrIobyWFYUMrSvvtEXZeVTtGTVAm9v0Zz5VLnyN_cmr0yvhoGSu4AS_Bb2QefhokluuUUCyZk4WOIBt5KjJBLy9CNOx4hWHmVl99uCbnBqQxxLPw/w300-h400/195063735_10158295038906848_2665088498200778647_n.jpg" title="What a joy it was to meet the family member. Mama is such a little one and now this baby - so sweet and S O F T" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>SOOOO SOFT</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60MNjDXnpb4-BkDhPUdSZolplOFsoHWJxwUqephEb9ZMtIQtLfUYwydt2BcFOqidLGGqS0JwyMUjHxrL5Rs76iXcR8altL7uyfZDLsNrHzIBi4aQpoBhPz3ZaYHF2ZfUEiNU6uBtNedzE/s4656/20210706_182432.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="2620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60MNjDXnpb4-BkDhPUdSZolplOFsoHWJxwUqephEb9ZMtIQtLfUYwydt2BcFOqidLGGqS0JwyMUjHxrL5Rs76iXcR8altL7uyfZDLsNrHzIBi4aQpoBhPz3ZaYHF2ZfUEiNU6uBtNedzE/w203-h400/20210706_182432.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>The newest family member -- Mama was so tiny and her baby is like the<span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span></span>size of a small dog</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 4 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Baking In A Tornado </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2021/07/hoagies-stogies-and-watering-pants.html&source=gmail&ust=1627082111897000&usg=AFQjCNHYG2KLxpCJ89Lm412An4qXLq9_Ig" href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/2021/07/hoagies-stogies-and-watering-pants.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.bakinginatornado.<wbr></wbr>com/2021/07/hoagies-stogies-<wbr></wbr>and-watering-pants.html</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Never Ever Give Up Hope <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://batteredhope.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1627082111897000&usg=AFQjCNGzFC1kpoKdcxrZOS5ngrouLYgq1w" href="https://batteredhope.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://batteredhope.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Menopausal Mother <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.menopausalmom.com/&source=gmail&ust=1627082111897000&usg=AFQjCNEuTeEBj3ms4cheqYeoaRukpAFiBg" href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.menopausalmom.com/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wandering Web Designer</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog&source=gmail&ust=1627082111897000&usg=AFQjCNGNUB_pPF1S3j9izVcBzlYXI9kE7A" href="https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">https://wanderingwebdesigner.<wbr></wbr>com/blog</a></span></p></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-52778022929041035372021-06-18T06:37:00.003-07:002021-06-19T10:45:24.278-07:00Have You Ever Seen the Benefits of Helping the Homeless?<p><b>Six years ago<span style="font-family: inherit;"> a man asked us for a small cash loan on a silver dollar. </span> I gave him $20. </b></p><p>"I'll be back in a week to pay you back." Steve was homeless and I didn't expect to see him again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2tphgTvR45mL-oPjDJmyzuVc52V5mq4rT_8wDitFsnmxvnU9RG_Q6BCMbdg5yT7MmM0BC0KKhcXwjURLSPU8sEDBW4aAdFjmIMYovWi_sSQbxdo-YSOL9CIFwZL6IznFh_PM-XMxutT5/s612/istockphoto-169958913-612x612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="612" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2tphgTvR45mL-oPjDJmyzuVc52V5mq4rT_8wDitFsnmxvnU9RG_Q6BCMbdg5yT7MmM0BC0KKhcXwjURLSPU8sEDBW4aAdFjmIMYovWi_sSQbxdo-YSOL9CIFwZL6IznFh_PM-XMxutT5/w400-h210/istockphoto-169958913-612x612.jpg" title="Silver Dollar" width="400" /></a></div><br />A week later he returned to our store with a $20 bill. We chatted. After graduating from university he lost the love of his life. He started drinking. He has been an alcoholic for 40 years and lost everything - including his family.<p></p><p>A couple of weeks later, he returned with the same request and this continued for <b>about a year</b>. Each time he came into the store we chatted. He is an avid reader. Each week he borrowed three books from the library and became an encyclopedia of facts - a <b>'walking Google.'</b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkgUghnhKDvRR9Hl2o3uNXdV-DqCp-YrMynzcd09IxWs9ASWz4u4j7238oKSSLrOuNHyAP37k4jDZA-aS7fQ_Bu20wRR4XQ1-J4E6Vw5QhRnlw3fI_ei7jB1C1JIppF74AEimHU5BK0no/s492/istockphoto-1160437195-170667a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="492" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkgUghnhKDvRR9Hl2o3uNXdV-DqCp-YrMynzcd09IxWs9ASWz4u4j7238oKSSLrOuNHyAP37k4jDZA-aS7fQ_Bu20wRR4XQ1-J4E6Vw5QhRnlw3fI_ei7jB1C1JIppF74AEimHU5BK0no/w400-h285/istockphoto-1160437195-170667a.jpg" title="Have you ever seen the benefits of helping the homeless" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>When we moved from our home he helped me pack everything and on moving day was an incredible help. A year later we moved into our new store and he was the <b>chief helper</b> again.</p><p>Our new store's back entrance is in a parking lot. He got himself a chair and parked it there. For the past three years, he sits in that chair and reads. He has become our <b>Chief Security Officer.</b> </p><p>When Covid hit, our local food kitchen for the homeless closed. I brought him meals every day and often he came to our house for dinner (but hubby made sure he had a shower first)!</p><p>Steve has been in rehab numerous times, has attended AA meetings for years, but nothing seemed to make a difference. I spent hours encouraging him but trying not to make him feel guilty.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY6m125HAXH2blfUvcvOR6WfbdI6MD3MDs0by9JTzW6l1k029RueOje8q_WqxPbk7kSTiOQILvdEbgoPGGfO8zCG5cPtGCwp_jNxv-4zXoSmz3sYoti4Sm8LcMqGOo9FbBz4YQ4lbX9TS/s612/istockphoto-1216279393-612x612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="612" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY6m125HAXH2blfUvcvOR6WfbdI6MD3MDs0by9JTzW6l1k029RueOje8q_WqxPbk7kSTiOQILvdEbgoPGGfO8zCG5cPtGCwp_jNxv-4zXoSmz3sYoti4Sm8LcMqGOo9FbBz4YQ4lbX9TS/w400-h300/istockphoto-1216279393-612x612.jpg" title="Do you feed the homeless?" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>A few months before his 60th birthday he announced that he has had enough and was quitting for good. To celebrate, we invited him to dinner on his birthday - filet mignon, prawns, all the trimmings, and two types of pies. He had FOUR pieces of pie.</p><p>He is now six months sober and has ZERO desire to drink. He feels he owes us a great debt but we have assured him that seeing him sober is an incredible gift to us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvoKJmsfw1xe0Bzvs_C3ZGbbn7LjXySFDV4mH8Hyw-993K4KVR_wBvwxylPMnaif1HrcSGZUknWFLvnFMNaeLXV833p558snLTH2ehMnmNmTOcl8sguJCPLNkF7UG7hXEWKAlcwWUZuyd/s612/istockphoto-864262382-612x612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="612" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvoKJmsfw1xe0Bzvs_C3ZGbbn7LjXySFDV4mH8Hyw-993K4KVR_wBvwxylPMnaif1HrcSGZUknWFLvnFMNaeLXV833p558snLTH2ehMnmNmTOcl8sguJCPLNkF7UG7hXEWKAlcwWUZuyd/w400-h266/istockphoto-864262382-612x612.jpg" title="Do you eat live prawns" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>When hubby and I were in the city last week we visited our goldsmith. He asked us to wait a few minutes while he ran to China Town. He returned with a large, heavy plastic bag and told us not to open it until we got to the car. I put the bag on my lap, untied it, was going to put my hand into it when a LIVE jumbo prawn jumped out. </p><p>I screamed. Then laughed. Immediately we called my chef friend and told her we were on the way home with three pounds of live prawns. We dropped the prawns off to her, unloaded our car from the day's grocery shop, and 20 minutes later she arrived with all the prawns prepared including an incredible stir fry! What an amazing feast.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8HARUqU2f8tkCBGZokC5iAsnJkvb6ObUOa9qAM01Kj9qQG78Zo_syZ0AjNUdx2tQqM-Ua6g9YIi1JQhpI-t0TPGkcA3yXde1rO-j82OAA8PrvVGHygqsqfEELrPxBuyLNqNEj4ymA9Mv/s300/download+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8HARUqU2f8tkCBGZokC5iAsnJkvb6ObUOa9qAM01Kj9qQG78Zo_syZ0AjNUdx2tQqM-Ua6g9YIi1JQhpI-t0TPGkcA3yXde1rO-j82OAA8PrvVGHygqsqfEELrPxBuyLNqNEj4ymA9Mv/w400-h224/download+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Next week I am headed out of town to see my grands for a FULL week. I can't wait to see them in person.</p><p>Brie wears her attitude on her sleeve!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPjA-pbYmZHC6JOu9fZMtECi9Mg0fK4X-X9Gg1Lf-h0AmG-bbQ471rQH5JjpCoFx4by2o1Um2OZrlFn8t257NfvIieLhThx9OKwelioapHk-DR2Qi9tBIj2LbQR8NpQW7k65qw6834cEs/s701/172639684_10158179840081848_5788014583391501454_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPjA-pbYmZHC6JOu9fZMtECi9Mg0fK4X-X9Gg1Lf-h0AmG-bbQ471rQH5JjpCoFx4by2o1Um2OZrlFn8t257NfvIieLhThx9OKwelioapHk-DR2Qi9tBIj2LbQR8NpQW7k65qw6834cEs/w300-h400/172639684_10158179840081848_5788014583391501454_n.jpg" title="Attitude?" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM990X2EXCvfz-9wBWgKcRGnwp3I__SHiRAHsaitriiHeSCbf2eOA8Y2AOC-FNGI9kI546FpReVnZ3aLEntJ-laVkwD8isuROk8n1T0z8IvLUyTWJDuSAKnRhFf1tMvphTS0lm6Tvi3sEE/s600/180253105_1186383408474089_952039485379221674_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM990X2EXCvfz-9wBWgKcRGnwp3I__SHiRAHsaitriiHeSCbf2eOA8Y2AOC-FNGI9kI546FpReVnZ3aLEntJ-laVkwD8isuROk8n1T0z8IvLUyTWJDuSAKnRhFf1tMvphTS0lm6Tvi3sEE/s320/180253105_1186383408474089_952039485379221674_n.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Brie's baby had a baby - she is smaller than Brie's dog.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUUK-P8Lwx219pArFaF40CB0zKj0yp5tZP3Q_AE1Y37zpZPWT3JRixPP5hP5bDe8oJZoi7LyISQprJABLSXQOgMv-HTYXh28DczXimQRZkzEBdWDzeAeN5TUEh2yVud7XOFtnFNyqV6d1/s1440/185141833_1194215297690900_4543033414399080355_n+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUUK-P8Lwx219pArFaF40CB0zKj0yp5tZP3Q_AE1Y37zpZPWT3JRixPP5hP5bDe8oJZoi7LyISQprJABLSXQOgMv-HTYXh28DczXimQRZkzEBdWDzeAeN5TUEh2yVud7XOFtnFNyqV6d1/s320/185141833_1194215297690900_4543033414399080355_n+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqMmgTTkCc6GaAAGhZBrV8yym9i_HT1NuqD3d9tAJ_WG3OhmgDoMhH1VHkCC46xpW2yrTSQXUp9Aw2_5kdlUgKBta6IGWEOX7ZNjWEYNObs0eBSyyvzjslj-WfyPWgGCxG2owbdUhD-yJ/s600/195063735_10158295038906848_2665088498200778647_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqMmgTTkCc6GaAAGhZBrV8yym9i_HT1NuqD3d9tAJ_WG3OhmgDoMhH1VHkCC46xpW2yrTSQXUp9Aw2_5kdlUgKBta6IGWEOX7ZNjWEYNObs0eBSyyvzjslj-WfyPWgGCxG2owbdUhD-yJ/w300-h400/195063735_10158295038906848_2665088498200778647_n.jpg" title="Pony is smaller than dog" width="300" /></a></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Can hardly wait to see them all!</b><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 4 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Baking In A Tornado <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.BakingInATornado.com&source=gmail&ust=1624211082872000&usg=AFQjCNHxXlQwVyFbxlKm9jd_K5_89QJsow" href="https://www.bakinginatornado.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.BakingInATornado.<wbr></wbr>com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Never Ever Give Up Hope <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://batteredhope.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1624211082872000&usg=AFQjCNFF_P_zkvtGy5gXXVrfQE0f6R_sBQ" href="https://batteredhope.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://batteredhope.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Menopausal Mother <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.menopausalmom.com/&source=gmail&ust=1624211082872000&usg=AFQjCNFPS2Lneek-y6WNNpl_5KUx66d88g" href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.menopausalmom.com/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Wandering Web Designer <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog&source=gmail&ust=1624211082872000&usg=AFQjCNEiaiQrDdPta6QHiJfZXzb4xn0Few" href="https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://wanderingwebdesigner.<wbr></wbr>com/blog</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-47605453547561610742021-05-21T07:28:00.000-07:002021-05-21T07:28:23.314-07:00How to Maintain a Great Attitude in the Middle of Sadness<p>Mother's Day is an emotional day for many moms. My mom died when I was 18 years old. Not only do I miss her every day but I realize how fortunate my friends are who have shared their lives with their moms all those years. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3XoKuoLPJ00CtBsA8_nwMNsAMS4aSfAIKVI4-_dFONRyj-kv72zzl-y4lASs8y5qhJr_bRLXgqSG5tbPYpHAKdc0bpKL-C2GgWvZbXqXIjSX4IJEoUczqJDy2L8fodLFfSLkpWk9NV1f/s991/scan0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="729" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3XoKuoLPJ00CtBsA8_nwMNsAMS4aSfAIKVI4-_dFONRyj-kv72zzl-y4lASs8y5qhJr_bRLXgqSG5tbPYpHAKdc0bpKL-C2GgWvZbXqXIjSX4IJEoUczqJDy2L8fodLFfSLkpWk9NV1f/w294-h400/scan0018.jpg" title="Wedding day" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mom died 3 months after my wedding</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>I love orchids and hubby keeps me well supplied! On Mother's day, he made it his mission to find the darkest purple one available. We were both shocked to see that it had NINETEEN buds in addition to the ones already open. Considering that these blooms last at least six months - I wonder if it will topple over when all the buds open.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_C6_WV7vo-Ms2Kp8H1SaEX9_0qbL8E4SYahR5Vlocwgk-MPbjH8_gx2hFjLaxXW9XOzz2Uh9k55-KuZdk8BXhiwHIvUS8y9r6F2AX_5vGYo__HH8BGaTLizm77q3Sy916W96iavWNkuG/s3264/20210512_091002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_C6_WV7vo-Ms2Kp8H1SaEX9_0qbL8E4SYahR5Vlocwgk-MPbjH8_gx2hFjLaxXW9XOzz2Uh9k55-KuZdk8BXhiwHIvUS8y9r6F2AX_5vGYo__HH8BGaTLizm77q3Sy916W96iavWNkuG/w225-h400/20210512_091002.jpg" title="Orchids" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>19 buds on this orchid</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>This is also a day I reflect on the years of joy we shared with our son and his family. I hide away for a few minutes each Mother's day to thank God <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">that one day, someday, I will hug my son again.</span> </b>We are now in the tenth year since he walked away from our family, without explanation. He lives in our small town, minutes away from us. But, <b>we have not seen him. </b>When he left, he had two babies and now he has four. Although the last ten years could feel like wasted ones, <b><span style="color: red;">I refuse to buy that lie.</span></b> I focus on how wonderful it will be when we are together again and will maintain that attitude of expectation!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The more you give...the more you receive</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCO-7Yiz-oLH1Wp-zdfCj0lar4l45PUZjPeI-3ILVqWuhYAsU03WkiL2j8fRsAmByknp_ure6XOx720P0H2kd6b3w2JB4DWl-pr3xc9jSqEmK8UArvg5Lb78y1NYw2SqNPS70zJgcen18/s711/141374497_1104799016599536_2472839017855200189_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCO-7Yiz-oLH1Wp-zdfCj0lar4l45PUZjPeI-3ILVqWuhYAsU03WkiL2j8fRsAmByknp_ure6XOx720P0H2kd6b3w2JB4DWl-pr3xc9jSqEmK8UArvg5Lb78y1NYw2SqNPS70zJgcen18/w180-h400/141374497_1104799016599536_2472839017855200189_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><p></p><p>Hubby and I have close friends in Uganda who run an orphanage. They have sacrificed everything to parent over 100 children at a time. They ask for nothing in return. When Covid hit, they lost any small source of income they had and nothing has pleased us more than to be in a position to support them. They are humble and never asked for help which made it even more exciting to be able to bless them when they did not expect it. I keep a journal of our daily conversations - the good and the awful things they have had to endure. </p><p>On Mother's Day, our friend posted a Happy Mother's Day message on Facebook. His kindness touches many people and there were a lot of comments in that regard. I wondered if anyone recognized that he has a wife who has given so much, works tirelessly, and never asks for anything.</p><p>So......I posted a beautiful tribute to her and sent her two dresses. It is something she will remember forever and I cried when I received this picture of her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-uUcm-MvGkkyly-7FInuVAyqwlSFsiOg98xcwnoH06XLF7NbTKw2fgesEU7CQLfi9AtahqgasU2GQUw6XE-4iGcBzgwK3jHNAERkJYCVWECnHKzz2e24TRGFkAz0wAZyk2Jnz7MPv43T/s711/141986146_868717300585781_622780524616440987_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-uUcm-MvGkkyly-7FInuVAyqwlSFsiOg98xcwnoH06XLF7NbTKw2fgesEU7CQLfi9AtahqgasU2GQUw6XE-4iGcBzgwK3jHNAERkJYCVWECnHKzz2e24TRGFkAz0wAZyk2Jnz7MPv43T/w180-h400/141986146_868717300585781_622780524616440987_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Not the best way to hear such news</span></b></p><p>When I opened Facebook on Easter Monday I was shocked to see this pic of Brie. Her mom didn't want me to worry.....crazy kid....so she didn't tell me what happened until she knew Brie was fine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl7jQYF84mlO3UIrjZm4e2M4LWTzJCFOJosIK19GwMKo34eazbtzjYPRC7dAjHGxGk6fEKv_xWq2QGfdBNsTF_wuh3jjH7UxKwByRSvRbvn93ijf7R_CwSYuO2E0xsJbc0miJDcwPLfZ3/s600/169713152_10158167839601848_748973826777284956_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl7jQYF84mlO3UIrjZm4e2M4LWTzJCFOJosIK19GwMKo34eazbtzjYPRC7dAjHGxGk6fEKv_xWq2QGfdBNsTF_wuh3jjH7UxKwByRSvRbvn93ijf7R_CwSYuO2E0xsJbc0miJDcwPLfZ3/w299-h400/169713152_10158167839601848_748973826777284956_n.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>On their Easter egg hunt, Brie was challenged by one of her boy cousins to put a <span style="color: #990000;"><b>chocolate egg up her nose. </b></span>Daddy to the rescue and a trip to Emergency scared her enough I don't think she will do that again. She had to have minor surgery to remove it. </p><p>For Brie's birthday, she received a Shetland pony from her daddy who did not know the pony was <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>pregnant.</b></span> Last week this tiny horse gave birth. And now there are two precious babies. I can't wait to see them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-LIX0TvLydgskoFNftGBNlveWUrfbCsddwYfwQ_1MfKXvrIX-VexcylIrTl1Op7h1ulc7wuXD67zJF6xM1dMeLpS2gnMDfR-9GDWyz51cEznYp1QsJfWDmtwymDZCoRiI0AElLG3n72G/s1440/185141833_1194215297690900_4543033414399080355_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-LIX0TvLydgskoFNftGBNlveWUrfbCsddwYfwQ_1MfKXvrIX-VexcylIrTl1Op7h1ulc7wuXD67zJF6xM1dMeLpS2gnMDfR-9GDWyz51cEznYp1QsJfWDmtwymDZCoRiI0AElLG3n72G/s320/185141833_1194215297690900_4543033414399080355_n+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiISW62S7F5ko1WgAT9LdljkZwb6GtcMObQAo_yvIBxiHtRjatzdEeHCzDFnzkgSJJ9-mIppKIUvfscEfdiHJLLHTFbuHwICe8tnIYfi3cX1P2qd6E_N8cai1JwOWYAMZQFDVL7tSyrWW8/s600/184599481_1194215294357567_6510369848486814690_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiISW62S7F5ko1WgAT9LdljkZwb6GtcMObQAo_yvIBxiHtRjatzdEeHCzDFnzkgSJJ9-mIppKIUvfscEfdiHJLLHTFbuHwICe8tnIYfi3cX1P2qd6E_N8cai1JwOWYAMZQFDVL7tSyrWW8/s320/184599481_1194215294357567_6510369848486814690_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Although William is in second grade he is reading at a high school level.</span></b> Here is a note from his teacher:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i>I just
wanted to write to let you know that I reassessed William’s reading level today.
WOW. He’s reading at a level “X” on the A-Z alphabet scale. His fluency is
amazing.<b> I can’t
overstate this: I’m really impressed</b>. He says that he learned to do this by
listening to music and reading the lyrics. Suffice to say, you have an amazing
kid. I was thinking about talking with our Learning Support teacher, about taking a closer look at William’s abilities. And, of course, I’ll
explain to his classroom teacher next year that he is a truly unique
student. In the meantime, plenty of praise and confidence boosting is in order!
Way to go William!</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdXSxfxi7Mj9z6Y7IQmzbQNmzHERGAhApKeQcXtUpqF_HrOq1e1dK0cqwQLtq_suQ8gcAvgvLXlLw9stoDzgDdKBEm1Eom38CyRF59HeWwT8mlx4c4RAXYYRni07WW3qzXsKawAeWBFdC/s701/184794957_10158244439256848_6818988113863376378_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdXSxfxi7Mj9z6Y7IQmzbQNmzHERGAhApKeQcXtUpqF_HrOq1e1dK0cqwQLtq_suQ8gcAvgvLXlLw9stoDzgDdKBEm1Eom38CyRF59HeWwT8mlx4c4RAXYYRni07WW3qzXsKawAeWBFdC/w300-h400/184794957_10158244439256848_6818988113863376378_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kind big brother ALWAYS looking out for his baby sister</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The hydrangea bushes were so high that we could no longer use the sidewalk around the front yard. When I watched the gardener trim them back the entire yard was a pile of trimmings. This pic is only the beginning. I have no idea how this little bit of a woman did all that and carried it down the driveway into her truck. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVHc-rhRr_CpwiqFrfnLc2tgK7tS9Y5DMka6-vdKS1THyqSGzvBge9w5mRs_glq86cEm6I9ZH_8W7eMIwQI7riMu6tNfamX_VYsuf9sRPNryd1_4NoRVbVnL3Zpycrvsam6T9DpvsMqtZ/s3264/20210503_115227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVHc-rhRr_CpwiqFrfnLc2tgK7tS9Y5DMka6-vdKS1THyqSGzvBge9w5mRs_glq86cEm6I9ZH_8W7eMIwQI7riMu6tNfamX_VYsuf9sRPNryd1_4NoRVbVnL3Zpycrvsam6T9DpvsMqtZ/w225-h400/20210503_115227.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>When we chatted later she said she was in the movie industry in France and is trying to break into it here. After her first year, Covid hit and she needed a job so she started her own business as a landscaper. What an amazing woman!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGqS95oiO7pfeNzl746wDIf8HGXlTvFyNF6hkgqOe-Nuci4d_3404me3aYMn-_QFhqx_7XvtinAhLbLmPjCSN7tMEi6Z4xwmueFz0BkiAaHmZeegM4LhXL6IjZKFdcJwO9YWavTMce_r3/s3264/20210518_093703+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGqS95oiO7pfeNzl746wDIf8HGXlTvFyNF6hkgqOe-Nuci4d_3404me3aYMn-_QFhqx_7XvtinAhLbLmPjCSN7tMEi6Z4xwmueFz0BkiAaHmZeegM4LhXL6IjZKFdcJwO9YWavTMce_r3/w225-h400/20210518_093703+%25281%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p><br /></p>When I was sweeping the sidewalk the next day, I found my <b>diamond hoop earring</b> on the EDGE of the garden gate. Don't ask...I have no idea how it got there but how wonderful to have found it.<p></p><p>Whatever is happening in your world I hope you can find good memories and hope for a brighter future in your thoughts every day. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;">Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today four bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><a href="https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado </a></b> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"> <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/"><b>Menopausal Mother </b></a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><a href="https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog">Wandering Web Designer</a></b> </span></p><br />Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-22904209837563238832021-04-23T07:03:00.000-07:002021-04-23T07:03:42.056-07:00How Do You Answer the Tough Questions A Five-year-old Might Ask?<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Since I have my office in my home, the only time I 'dress up' is for Zoom calls - full make-up, business attire, and jewelry. If I have to run errands, I rarely bother with make-up. Sunglasses and a mask cover my face! How about you?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">Last week I had two interviews the same day and wanted to run my errands between them. One of those errands was to go to the recycle center. I had several trays of recyclables but there was a strong wind outside which made cans and plastic bottles fly out of them and roll down the parking lot. <b>It was a gong show.</b> I would run after one can while another bottle was flying through the air. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">Finally, I got inside the building, cashed them in and left for my next errand. When I turned the corner, my eye caught my right hand on the steering wheel - with <b>NO ring on it.</b> I freaked. I started to pray out loud as I turned the car around, ran into the center, and searched the parking lot - NOTHING. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7qAaCHSFvGCXT9IVzfI82HrjAL_oYNiPnlCdtPwfYXaNckgXWLWrIGEBpUEPJJ_zZkx2IsQgWukRwfxvBesXtUjO5z1QO_V_cxl3NU5pH1f-i9guvF1-2ELpj9EUWyjE4v1Ort2FTmP7/s576/ds09114a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="576" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7qAaCHSFvGCXT9IVzfI82HrjAL_oYNiPnlCdtPwfYXaNckgXWLWrIGEBpUEPJJ_zZkx2IsQgWukRwfxvBesXtUjO5z1QO_V_cxl3NU5pH1f-i9guvF1-2ELpj9EUWyjE4v1Ort2FTmP7/w400-h348/ds09114a.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Do I call my husband? What would I say to him? </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">I emptied my purse onto the front seat of the car and there it was - at the bottom. How did that happen? Was this one of those times when an angel was looking out for me and put it there?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">I called my husband but only told him the first part of the story. Was that mean of me to want him to feel my panic? Half-way through the story I had to say, <b>"Don't worry - everything's okay."<br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">Lesson learned. <b>Don't leave the house dressed up</b>. Go out with no make-up, no jewelry.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63pzhpG-sHMe5qOb_jJnyMHtro2n8qhgD7M55Ww2XB_Wg4iH1gygzBNltYnC_0_Dq1OacOmgDX5H_I99r4tMO3vT1A9ejJLKGRydY0dQXoHYIJ4XDeebs80Qf2iNohHlqgGucOvCci3HT/s595/6021662629345882643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="419" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63pzhpG-sHMe5qOb_jJnyMHtro2n8qhgD7M55Ww2XB_Wg4iH1gygzBNltYnC_0_Dq1OacOmgDX5H_I99r4tMO3vT1A9ejJLKGRydY0dQXoHYIJ4XDeebs80Qf2iNohHlqgGucOvCci3HT/w281-h400/6021662629345882643.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some of you may remember the story of Charlie - my daughter's Bernese Mountain dog that we rescued. Charlie was seven years old and suffered many close calls since we saved her life when she was a puppy. She almost died when her tummy flipped. She almost died when she gave birth and she had other close calls. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We realized how difficult it was to determine if something was wrong because she lived her life with an incredible attitude. She never showed any indication of pain. She 'smiled' all the time. She was gentle and loving and adored the kids. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWX0eZuviBrd9hMBKYdVYwxCAADav6-dexcFhom3_MWMXPllzr_-Ibx_V7ScZYsnOa4GPEF0-y5Al86VabuVL6iLKIAEO9vN6b9tbSjZU9x0MDlzeYxIo5cRkSLPTnAzfW76hu8RBPPWQ/s720/17402_10153033983351848_3603250553448196969_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWX0eZuviBrd9hMBKYdVYwxCAADav6-dexcFhom3_MWMXPllzr_-Ibx_V7ScZYsnOa4GPEF0-y5Al86VabuVL6iLKIAEO9vN6b9tbSjZU9x0MDlzeYxIo5cRkSLPTnAzfW76hu8RBPPWQ/w300-h400/17402_10153033983351848_3603250553448196969_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPZlICaaef0jxcdoHNiJRf0m4HaMwoo7HPDn9vgZafk9NWpoOeicy3MAXkH_yrVBc4MrAkmc24SI5oKoKrbTkKshj3VBdFbF385Jz6CAZ2L9as9azZ47110vQR8aiHs7K9tmDYWMagor3/s3264/Charlie+and+Landon+digging.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPZlICaaef0jxcdoHNiJRf0m4HaMwoo7HPDn9vgZafk9NWpoOeicy3MAXkH_yrVBc4MrAkmc24SI5oKoKrbTkKshj3VBdFbF385Jz6CAZ2L9as9azZ47110vQR8aiHs7K9tmDYWMagor3/w300-h400/Charlie+and+Landon+digging.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>One morning a couple weeks ago, my SIL found her in the woods in obvious distress. He gently carried her home. The local vet was kind enough to make a house call and tell them it was her time. She had run away to die. Charlie was my grandson's best friend.</span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This was not easy for a little guy who has suffered much loss - heart-breaking at every turn. But, as always, what a trooper he was as he comforted his little sister. Their daddy took them for a walk while my daughter stayed with Charlie.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieO5ClfM-Oz6oDD8rdertKIbaJ4mzmRQKqQnIwi_e_QwHklkaiMRrxXKuJAMfnT5h07Ff1Un01LHXCTOOo2ymgYIrah-F3nB00bCIgZON9dqWCTY724CBq0N8xPlssm6fvX4wPkzkK8jo/s657/-5587475951886922427.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieO5ClfM-Oz6oDD8rdertKIbaJ4mzmRQKqQnIwi_e_QwHklkaiMRrxXKuJAMfnT5h07Ff1Un01LHXCTOOo2ymgYIrah-F3nB00bCIgZON9dqWCTY724CBq0N8xPlssm6fvX4wPkzkK8jo/w250-h400/-5587475951886922427.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Good-bye, Charlie"<br />We will miss her forever</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"<b>Mom, I'm sitting here holding Charlie's head in my lap</b>," my daughter said through her tears. "Right up to the last second, Charlie is fighting her demise. She has pulled through so many times. She doesn't want to say good-bye."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">William asked me to make a story book with pictures of Charlie and have it printed. I am sure I will have many tears as I do that. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFualHbJLqmRnQ-HNw51yHkFt_5bypEPE9Y4J6x6XwLfjt6wae7drXc0BCxWvqtH0eoCeYT1L1jROnGTFAA107d5JmZPyjX5i5Thz6gW_F73YkUAg9FIsDmm__4VUZz0RqyyVkfGyNi3mk/s3264/20210324_172124.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFualHbJLqmRnQ-HNw51yHkFt_5bypEPE9Y4J6x6XwLfjt6wae7drXc0BCxWvqtH0eoCeYT1L1jROnGTFAA107d5JmZPyjX5i5Thz6gW_F73YkUAg9FIsDmm__4VUZz0RqyyVkfGyNi3mk/w225-h400/20210324_172124.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK18QCqS3rq8htGwYBiPOKYPik78BLavqi-xoSSTY5lbKOJ3ZRq0ZnnAHCcuCC08gQRbcCrotLkxqixuOVFquLjAkFC9Q7tAXidlphefKsiK1Yj_Og_VUiOrzTu-mAcFwuzrscDI-wSwV/s3264/20210324_172223.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK18QCqS3rq8htGwYBiPOKYPik78BLavqi-xoSSTY5lbKOJ3ZRq0ZnnAHCcuCC08gQRbcCrotLkxqixuOVFquLjAkFC9Q7tAXidlphefKsiK1Yj_Og_VUiOrzTu-mAcFwuzrscDI-wSwV/w225-h400/20210324_172223.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">During spring break, the grands spent the week with me. It is the <b>first time</b> I have had them visit without their mom. I planned activities and enjoyed each minute to the fullest. I'm already excited about the next time they can visit us. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No, I didn't spoil them. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgAOwGDrB7k8vX9WvSmKbLAyZWG_4TuuUm2V9h05JR5li2HIL04WXJBeZByPR3XYmVetKFEgV8yeuOne6Rd4tPhmZgjWGWdprmU-hn6ItJobP1QFIVmw4hDn1PYwo3DI4K_vo_u7FCRqZ/s3264/20210326_104525.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgAOwGDrB7k8vX9WvSmKbLAyZWG_4TuuUm2V9h05JR5li2HIL04WXJBeZByPR3XYmVetKFEgV8yeuOne6Rd4tPhmZgjWGWdprmU-hn6ItJobP1QFIVmw4hDn1PYwo3DI4K_vo_u7FCRqZ/w225-h400/20210326_104525.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM0QJGA0yG7yEleXDkwqJTpupHjsReqhIG3JGslfU7Y_70Ac6CZ1KXX6pp1ZVe70QX_1WdsCSRhegCNlhcJDXDW8ufRSoFF6lZ1JK-z0-xCB5Ed__M8nWzVdEPLH8gAFVKsxmGl2k_Swg/s3264/20210326_104923.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="1836" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM0QJGA0yG7yEleXDkwqJTpupHjsReqhIG3JGslfU7Y_70Ac6CZ1KXX6pp1ZVe70QX_1WdsCSRhegCNlhcJDXDW8ufRSoFF6lZ1JK-z0-xCB5Ed__M8nWzVdEPLH8gAFVKsxmGl2k_Swg/w225-h400/20210326_104923.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I bought one of those kits to paint Easter eggs. Can someone explain to me why the dye they use stains everything? We made a huge mess. I had to sit down on the kitchen floor because we were laughing so hard. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNuPCdBocJt1bywiGF5UnK5ucAh_fksH_E7Item8EdnrwOPGE82P2dZ6TI3y__xWeeRYs1Qx-X-gc5oQD1vp4wZHPLFeNB-_V9bNSZG5xWBMPF8YYWnXW5I3C4cw58sIxV5E_fcrAs2Jf/s960/169880689_10158166367926848_394526698634536392_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNuPCdBocJt1bywiGF5UnK5ucAh_fksH_E7Item8EdnrwOPGE82P2dZ6TI3y__xWeeRYs1Qx-X-gc5oQD1vp4wZHPLFeNB-_V9bNSZG5xWBMPF8YYWnXW5I3C4cw58sIxV5E_fcrAs2Jf/w300-h400/169880689_10158166367926848_394526698634536392_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunting for Easter eggs this way was a lot more fun<br />and an advantage over her cousins!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6rR-vV3iXcIRP7KJeLR0LtHGavQX1C9MKKYJ0pvj3LUSR8Y4z4JRkhzigfDAELcl8S8CCsI52ad9jNYRn8q4yzGVzSFXIjqyRj-ODBVqaASY9fI42PkeeBbS9CIlmaUSVj0NZ6A6SOUF/s960/169758735_10158166367841848_6083724319568050599_n.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6rR-vV3iXcIRP7KJeLR0LtHGavQX1C9MKKYJ0pvj3LUSR8Y4z4JRkhzigfDAELcl8S8CCsI52ad9jNYRn8q4yzGVzSFXIjqyRj-ODBVqaASY9fI42PkeeBbS9CIlmaUSVj0NZ6A6SOUF/w299-h400/169758735_10158166367841848_6083724319568050599_n.jpg" width="299" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF6f5M12iPdi_Ub1Lc3k98zDvb77fwPv3qeWZmGLCddbpF5D2uzCSTZ3HoYCGOLa4EROYw2jpS6lTzo7-X0Z7iKKo1N90GajOx9LheT5GjFulds25t_y3XB60AWRGF7tEP7ya5_g48__a/s595/169665331_10158166367761848_1817212378619458494_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF6f5M12iPdi_Ub1Lc3k98zDvb77fwPv3qeWZmGLCddbpF5D2uzCSTZ3HoYCGOLa4EROYw2jpS6lTzo7-X0Z7iKKo1N90GajOx9LheT5GjFulds25t_y3XB60AWRGF7tEP7ya5_g48__a/w354-h400/169665331_10158166367761848_1817212378619458494_n.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Aue0k-ej2FECs0SXd-pu-RMnHgNkd67uBRN26PgHa0PC42enk1B_OfCxfKm_D5E_hTVU999hjD2doch7EV8SAke7161J7JQ3f6D7BI5-T59D-C1KFmKDqdVXsBbLE0bciUDZq7VxsyY0/s960/169643181_10158166367791848_8501970400714117873_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Aue0k-ej2FECs0SXd-pu-RMnHgNkd67uBRN26PgHa0PC42enk1B_OfCxfKm_D5E_hTVU999hjD2doch7EV8SAke7161J7JQ3f6D7BI5-T59D-C1KFmKDqdVXsBbLE0bciUDZq7VxsyY0/w299-h400/169643181_10158166367791848_8501970400714117873_n.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>Let the Easter egg hunt begin!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn11pw60B9gZMaxSe44G9Amf1AFvKdtp83AgfQHNAwRmB6DPePgMIzXB7rfeJI8g8MFM8vzGvfCZZiTXr7F_hZ8u9IXmKfMh9-rpKFeV2FYIt3JxPVfIjx_3sWMnBdkaoBMAZUBkeCYwFu/s960/169056979_10158166367911848_8537789882679271490_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn11pw60B9gZMaxSe44G9Amf1AFvKdtp83AgfQHNAwRmB6DPePgMIzXB7rfeJI8g8MFM8vzGvfCZZiTXr7F_hZ8u9IXmKfMh9-rpKFeV2FYIt3JxPVfIjx_3sWMnBdkaoBMAZUBkeCYwFu/w299-h400/169056979_10158166367911848_8537789882679271490_n.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great success it was!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Since they were very young, whenever they visited us, they could take two hands full of loose coins from the change bucket. Their hands are getting bigger now and they love counting it to see how much they get. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Gramma</b>: "Brie, what are you going to do with all that money," I asked.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Brie</b>: "Give it to my daddy, in case he needs it."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yiO2rJE0SoIqJBAjsUzBxhg5sNgYYHEv6d4jg_vMA-wL-jXaCoLUGoD8wY4Sw_WQj05M-wVF9z2hvTQXCjXerApoSkZiJBHebptbavJg1OI5KW8KTErIuJZICEWYX9fRdLEPiX84ypfd/s2560/unnamed+%25288%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yiO2rJE0SoIqJBAjsUzBxhg5sNgYYHEv6d4jg_vMA-wL-jXaCoLUGoD8wY4Sw_WQj05M-wVF9z2hvTQXCjXerApoSkZiJBHebptbavJg1OI5KW8KTErIuJZICEWYX9fRdLEPiX84ypfd/w225-h400/unnamed+%25288%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Brie</b>: "Gramma, how come you don't paint your nails anymore?"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Gramma</b>: "Because I work from my home office, now."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Brie</b>: "So, Gramma, you really need to get out more."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">I was stumped for an answer to this five-year-old.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b></b></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Brie</b>: "Gramma, I'm five now. Do you think I need a bra?"</span></p></blockquote><p> <b> <span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gramma</span></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">: Dumbfounded look on my face. </span></p><p> </p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With the time change during spring break, it was not dark at dinner time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Brie</b>: "Gramma, why are we eating dinner in the morning?"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Gramma</b>: "It's not morning; it's evening."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>Brie</b>: "Oh, Gramma. You are so silly. It is never light outside at dinner time." </span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">William is nine years old but reads at an eighth grade level. He loves books and I teared up when he said, "Gramma, you're an author, right?"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">"Sure am!"<br /><br /><b>"Do you think I could read your books?</b>"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">"Of course! But I will expect a review, okay?" That really excited him.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">This has been my monthly Fly On the Wall post where a few bloggers share what has been happening behind closed doors in their homes. Have a buzz around and enjoy their stories and laughs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><a href="https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado</a> </b> <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><a href=" http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother </a></b> </span></p><p><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b><a href="https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog ">Wandering Web Designer</a></b></span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-79149152224507410772021-03-19T07:24:00.000-07:002021-03-19T07:24:22.595-07:00Sometimes the Only Way to say Thank You is to Pay it Forward<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">One of the only justifiable reasons for eating dinner out is my laziness if I do not feel like cooking. Rarely is it a treat. The choice of restaurants in our community is limited and usually a grave disappointment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">So if I succumb to the lack of energy to cook at home, we venture out. We have several Asian restaurants in town but since Covid they only offer take-out. I miss the Sushi and fantastic entrees but when we want to eat 'out' that does not mean bringing it home.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8axbLZJemMMRctesCXCrPprbFFmOOWhQmYhK3c-ncGMAcR2IbAfcKFsXo0BPNW4F2xhvKxRnNVUo5ZNC8QgEaPolk9WQZABnq26rCUpLM8HnVs0EiTDB0YLRcZ9WJiHMvlKi4DOmb1Dfj/s700/5ee3d2b9988ee3516e33daf3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8axbLZJemMMRctesCXCrPprbFFmOOWhQmYhK3c-ncGMAcR2IbAfcKFsXo0BPNW4F2xhvKxRnNVUo5ZNC8QgEaPolk9WQZABnq26rCUpLM8HnVs0EiTDB0YLRcZ9WJiHMvlKi4DOmb1Dfj/w400-h300/5ee3d2b9988ee3516e33daf3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But for most of the cuisine offered locally, we have been there and never want to go back. New restaurants get one shot to take my money and if they don't measure up - forget it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Hubby's birthday and Valentine's day are a day apart. As much as he loves my cooking, I wanted to take him out for a special evening. We heard one of the local restaurants had a new chef and the town was shouting his praises. We ventured out and hoped it might be as good as the feedback was shouting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The appetizers shocked us and could have been the main course. Unfortunately, that is often the case. Then the entre disappoints and we choose never to go back.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOtNrUIosaDzAn-7jRffPqfFDZUGPrlLmYXGYuHS1QKOG3cKu1zZG554medUN4mBBBjBNFmaiM9sPcycYByHrYmSD7nqXCEa2WmrXdV5JPI7re0QHKjLwQHVqI9ocZdKrtLy6ZkLWisv8/s822/1371611412057.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="616" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOtNrUIosaDzAn-7jRffPqfFDZUGPrlLmYXGYuHS1QKOG3cKu1zZG554medUN4mBBBjBNFmaiM9sPcycYByHrYmSD7nqXCEa2WmrXdV5JPI7re0QHKjLwQHVqI9ocZdKrtLy6ZkLWisv8/w300-h400/1371611412057.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The restaurant had limited seating (Covid) so we chose to sit at the bar. I glanced at the guy sitting two stools over. I glanced again and he caught my eye. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"Hi, how ya doin?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"Great - I couldn't help but notice you look like one of my favorite actors in a new series I am watching on Netflix."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"I get that a lot," he laughed. "Which series?" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"Firefly Lane." He nodded. "Love the series but no, not me. But I am doing one that is on Netflix."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dTbkGZc75wmlaAHjIipdS_1HlQtWjFfbCkK3gSCeVut7onqFICYEikrf3m9Wgtfatv6CkUujZ6Eka6PwPlA74aV717hQA05X64_YaCgqExq3OzJ32A9hFFEF3dbCv5gILUlM0Wp55rnn/s800/content_FireflyLane_Season1_Episode7_00_06_11_15R.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dTbkGZc75wmlaAHjIipdS_1HlQtWjFfbCkK3gSCeVut7onqFICYEikrf3m9Wgtfatv6CkUujZ6Eka6PwPlA74aV717hQA05X64_YaCgqExq3OzJ32A9hFFEF3dbCv5gILUlM0Wp55rnn/w400-h266/content_FireflyLane_Season1_Episode7_00_06_11_15R.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"AHA. So, I was right. What series are you in?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"I can't possibly tell you that," and he muttered something under his breath that sounded like, "if I told you, I'd have to...." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I laughed. It was weird.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPgBnwYMTBgp1z2vbKaoaeJvp0Fj0RqKeYPykaqAlN4MMSnvvF31ZtNiyJGMvpIheZF6_LkNCJBBJjvdp0vNu4PNS_b7JDkXSQIJoxl72Sefoybaww7CITjGLHX9kwQ-8YYesvQB0erSL/s307/images+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="307" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPgBnwYMTBgp1z2vbKaoaeJvp0Fj0RqKeYPykaqAlN4MMSnvvF31ZtNiyJGMvpIheZF6_LkNCJBBJjvdp0vNu4PNS_b7JDkXSQIJoxl72Sefoybaww7CITjGLHX9kwQ-8YYesvQB0erSL/w400-h214/images+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We finished our dinner of steak and prawns with all the trimmings. It was one of the best meals we have had in this town. We didn't want to leave. But there was no room for dessert.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Then she said the strangest thing. "If you would like dessert, it is on me." WHY?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"Thank you, but we couldn't possibly eat another bite. Just give us the bill please."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">"There is no bill. The guy sitting next to you paid."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"WHAT? WHY?"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"I don't know. He's a really nice guy and a regular."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I asked for his name but she said she couldn't give that to me. Understood.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My first thought was how to pay this forward and I told the waitress that we would be back to do just that.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy62YDjyABR1oSTqVV4iSWiu-PRYJSnzUYxacDujqI7fw4LgM8aOTMraHu6FRKebFCf_mJ0hOn83FxycCbbUxzaV-aCuNBi7EbdJNFkQA_zBgZQCUf-UYJriIH-XZ0lHvqWnLGJuI_9AZf/s960/64669327_703295973449504_5614442590054121472_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy62YDjyABR1oSTqVV4iSWiu-PRYJSnzUYxacDujqI7fw4LgM8aOTMraHu6FRKebFCf_mJ0hOn83FxycCbbUxzaV-aCuNBi7EbdJNFkQA_zBgZQCUf-UYJriIH-XZ0lHvqWnLGJuI_9AZf/w400-h400/64669327_703295973449504_5614442590054121472_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"Hey, Mom.....how would you like the kids during Spring break?"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"ARE YOU KIDDING!? I'm so excited I don't know how I will wait that long."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We have never had the grands on their own - without parents. What a great opportunity to spoil them. I have been making plans.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhXA9Tk6P1S1dFpO8qVyaKOXTTQ6gj7HwkxYU-fX7JjHtj5V0dEoNpf1X2sqPN9uJycTd5nN7F7GHxtQb-uXJKm19lgJ6L3zo6E-nEfWokxy2vMGE2VdWEzAGJ7OAoJKOoPHM1clU42ef/s1440/152731194_1142695792842851_1640775903312881623_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhXA9Tk6P1S1dFpO8qVyaKOXTTQ6gj7HwkxYU-fX7JjHtj5V0dEoNpf1X2sqPN9uJycTd5nN7F7GHxtQb-uXJKm19lgJ6L3zo6E-nEfWokxy2vMGE2VdWEzAGJ7OAoJKOoPHM1clU42ef/w400-h400/152731194_1142695792842851_1640775903312881623_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ON FERRY - TRAVELING TO GRAMMA'S</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Our SIL runs a road construction business and Brie was on the job site after school with her daddy. He was explaining to four workers (including the foreman) how to do a particular job with the new piece of equipment. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Brie was listening and it was obvious the message was not getting across to the workers.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">"Here - watch," she said.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">She proceeded to show the men. Remember Brie is four years old.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Thomas said the look on their faces was a priceless moment. He turned to the men and said, "You are all fired. She's four years old!"</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3MLH_NRhIeM4szmbUnwJv2EHu5t5HblBOSAAhBL7Uf-a0TwcoBwn8pF_jneexI34S01mFYWB480H4gHfxQ1wIO9vMTvL31O-YEvb3XRRl9I7lfFVHZi3qgDN75z_nLhV-04KgP-Rq9y7/s600/155058828_1145840062528424_2846279306483149537_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3MLH_NRhIeM4szmbUnwJv2EHu5t5HblBOSAAhBL7Uf-a0TwcoBwn8pF_jneexI34S01mFYWB480H4gHfxQ1wIO9vMTvL31O-YEvb3XRRl9I7lfFVHZi3qgDN75z_nLhV-04KgP-Rq9y7/w400-h400/155058828_1145840062528424_2846279306483149537_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A month later, she received a pony for her fifth birthday. Daddy told her she would have to learn how to feed and care for her new baby. This included helping him build the water trench. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Without hesitation, she got a shovel and started digging. Gotta love the attitude.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1rlV8IOtyqOxGQHdWwU1dXT8esq6YBDDlp2gFTVeVRp6HLZiiXQ-kxkxGhFat0ML2fyOYjIuuyeGjIVh3iBjr6kiGbdkpFuwlOY_h0dm4a2lbKdDj6HWBibdk3wkUp0H_yS3uKmvLVjX/s1466/156520130_1148535035592260_2393770915613979750_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1rlV8IOtyqOxGQHdWwU1dXT8esq6YBDDlp2gFTVeVRp6HLZiiXQ-kxkxGhFat0ML2fyOYjIuuyeGjIVh3iBjr6kiGbdkpFuwlOY_h0dm4a2lbKdDj6HWBibdk3wkUp0H_yS3uKmvLVjX/w393-h400/156520130_1148535035592260_2393770915613979750_o.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">Welcome to a <b>Fly on the Wall</b> group post. Today 4 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;">Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><a href="https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado</a></b> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><a href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother </a></b> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"> <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><a href="https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog">Wandering Web Designer </a></b> </span></p><div><br /></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-75937195383861973562021-02-19T07:05:00.000-08:002021-02-19T07:05:50.056-08:00Is Dental Surgery as Awful as it Sounds? The Truth How to Survive it<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">When my dentist put a
temporary cap on my front tooth he told me, "That should hold about two
weeks, and then we have to start the process of putting in an implant."</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My first thought was
"Do you know how much an implant costs? $3,000 to $5,000." I
decided to wait until it was necessary and then.....<b>THREE years later, </b>I
had a problem.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJdR_8UElTWBex2TCK2OgxiehoBm-ZvBUff2q8zh-zLchA_FO3CTZQQqp8qO3GcUzEcRC_1hVdRAM-IHlLK74OE3HQLiFXTXuIiMWW7axcLsztTx5cJ4QRBi8d4oHRnpB7GD0yZqbbbmS/s266/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Is Dental Surgery as Awful as it Sounds?" border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJdR_8UElTWBex2TCK2OgxiehoBm-ZvBUff2q8zh-zLchA_FO3CTZQQqp8qO3GcUzEcRC_1hVdRAM-IHlLK74OE3HQLiFXTXuIiMWW7axcLsztTx5cJ4QRBi8d4oHRnpB7GD0yZqbbbmS/w400-h286/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">I tried a new
'recommended' dentist in hopes of walking out with another temporary fix.
WRONG! He wouldn't touch it and said I had three options:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">Do one implant but that was risky as the neighbor teeth
had issues - $5,000 for the one tooth which could fall out</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">Repair the surrounding teeth including the implant
$12,500</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">Dentures - $4,500 <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">After spending most of the day deciding on my
options, having X-rays and consults, dentures seemed the best option.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">Was I scared? YUP. My
past experiences in the dentist chair, especially as a child, made me sweat and
shake. When I was a kid Novocain was not used and screaming out loud was
not allowed. <b>See why I waited as long as I did?</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XGMhJgoEWj72w35BsP6zD1Zk8BL9nSTl7M0l0ZHASIPx6naD4p3QVyoavp1vzlX45p4LAaEVwqwDr8Fn1KsV7RdnZ_gMcNFRcOJrBsQB13RlYw06ztRl4SZ7M7AaVDNp7Rn_anpJXdew/s250/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to survive the dentist" border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="250" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XGMhJgoEWj72w35BsP6zD1Zk8BL9nSTl7M0l0ZHASIPx6naD4p3QVyoavp1vzlX45p4LAaEVwqwDr8Fn1KsV7RdnZ_gMcNFRcOJrBsQB13RlYw06ztRl4SZ7M7AaVDNp7Rn_anpJXdew/w400-h322/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">With the new technology,
dentists no longer have to take an 'impression' to make teeth using a wax mold.
They use a scope that takes pictures of your entire mouth. This is sent to the
denturist to create your new smile. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">My appointment was set.
Three days before Christmas. <b>Excited?</b> Well, it meant I didn't
have to cook a turkey dinner but could veg at home for a week or more.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">Scared? Terrified!
Fifteen teeth to be removed.</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfki6S_PZ6SY9rlMPbvw4QB5MP_JmWtHEfUPfDPfV5OmClHKFL4kLRrb2SiuBbbDp_SfuV6Suk9ZUlFUWWZHuM8XbVTLy_kNVh4Ai7nPS8gvFl4PcRbvoGkY1cCDgZqGUFYhphahLnk8NC/s267/images+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Acute Gingivitis" border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="267" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfki6S_PZ6SY9rlMPbvw4QB5MP_JmWtHEfUPfDPfV5OmClHKFL4kLRrb2SiuBbbDp_SfuV6Suk9ZUlFUWWZHuM8XbVTLy_kNVh4Ai7nPS8gvFl4PcRbvoGkY1cCDgZqGUFYhphahLnk8NC/w400-h283/images+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">The day-by-day journey
was <b>unlike anything I have experienced</b>. I had a lot of questions through the
different phases but few answers. I have considered writing a book to help
anyone going through this nightmare. Extensive research was the only way I <b>survived. </b></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">I knew the endgame would
be worth it - but it is the getting there.</span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkr54VwSH_TnEhGnB4MTiGJMmVkWXKQk6QJtas-fCx0UtIqAWXWZxZECjVNUEtJGBCUwEnr1mgCxiBUSixtWXNBywYr4_AxS3q8taG65B9uaMUYH5DiCXdY1jBY0FswsbbGWqQcppUErX/s259/images+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stroke" border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkr54VwSH_TnEhGnB4MTiGJMmVkWXKQk6QJtas-fCx0UtIqAWXWZxZECjVNUEtJGBCUwEnr1mgCxiBUSixtWXNBywYr4_AxS3q8taG65B9uaMUYH5DiCXdY1jBY0FswsbbGWqQcppUErX/w400-h300/images+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: large;"><b>Kids are born older now</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I was five years old I played in the dirt; in fact, <b>I ate dirt</b>. I found out years later that is a calcium deficiency. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKYsh-eaB0hx0YL8bti2nicO75S1jtIKuxBFcwwYUtZMYQrqDAgydmPEBkfWHRB5CuSSdl7ZYTTejTCdpJEpctu4ktslzPO_n8qKxQBSC6QtWDETpocUkMIgCeD4Ia-qiOW2FvC3rgfAF/s600/150167555_10157540232186631_6140651516938599051_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKYsh-eaB0hx0YL8bti2nicO75S1jtIKuxBFcwwYUtZMYQrqDAgydmPEBkfWHRB5CuSSdl7ZYTTejTCdpJEpctu4ktslzPO_n8qKxQBSC6QtWDETpocUkMIgCeD4Ia-qiOW2FvC3rgfAF/w341-h400/150167555_10157540232186631_6140651516938599051_o.jpg" width="341" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">BUT NOW.....the stuff my grandbaby knows....and does.... is a thrill to watch. I'm learning from her instead of the other way around! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvllvXq-NwI99M03ZAGV59BbSK8bE0BC25A0q-deA7prHXpRJV4geM_eJwq5KP7wb7zdyoEs1JslxggZbjfpFOiGDTigDqtopw5f1c48VkErrbC96dAZpw4gzVNESKJl8mdtQilPCXad5q/s696/124234206_10157830545811848_8370703725084891411_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Genius at the keyboard" border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvllvXq-NwI99M03ZAGV59BbSK8bE0BC25A0q-deA7prHXpRJV4geM_eJwq5KP7wb7zdyoEs1JslxggZbjfpFOiGDTigDqtopw5f1c48VkErrbC96dAZpw4gzVNESKJl8mdtQilPCXad5q/w303-h400/124234206_10157830545811848_8370703725084891411_n.jpg" width="303" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Her birthday party was planned and as my daughter always does -- it was over the top. But we woke up to a blizzard.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FLEOXWxGcI78fgYoxkPXP7FsfXjcv9LH2LBJmi0GHDvo4dliG1GtjqJzz_O6xP7KXnj7QuBjm_1d0lumpamvziUfeOUIqUfKEqlJqzdSmJ0jyRPeONWKfVWc38nl-INuPw-YfFLi3uud/s1742/134316118_1109328212846276_5345869218937943697_o.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blizzard" border="0" data-original-height="1742" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FLEOXWxGcI78fgYoxkPXP7FsfXjcv9LH2LBJmi0GHDvo4dliG1GtjqJzz_O6xP7KXnj7QuBjm_1d0lumpamvziUfeOUIqUfKEqlJqzdSmJ0jyRPeONWKfVWc38nl-INuPw-YfFLi3uud/w331-h400/134316118_1109328212846276_5345869218937943697_o.jpg" width="331" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0mBxsY1HmwiOJ9Ydziyb2uGgXzZbdH-xZVEjiimG3s7CLEtISL9WaYKN1mOGWoab2p0tjZi1C9VIACZyoiz_US0EixvM_jaOXaQpRU_LUXBV7frfz4cxt3l8_h1Qza0CKfLzV8rodiyz/s600/149392580_10158056252006848_5188733576254092036_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0mBxsY1HmwiOJ9Ydziyb2uGgXzZbdH-xZVEjiimG3s7CLEtISL9WaYKN1mOGWoab2p0tjZi1C9VIACZyoiz_US0EixvM_jaOXaQpRU_LUXBV7frfz4cxt3l8_h1Qza0CKfLzV8rodiyz/w300-h400/149392580_10158056252006848_5188733576254092036_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6J8QEWDdxCoDb7yjq5t_GVVQreBPvr0SHofo2oDvYS7OLe6GMEbocyUKRy9aT-x_6hOLgrPlVkz0rX8N6vAEx9ErsHJ9bWIJZCRRo5WeCCJrk9ZsnWXHAZQ_nzOPxNv7o6KBaZRuM-Wz2/s600/150874408_10158056252081848_6769593760115145193_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6J8QEWDdxCoDb7yjq5t_GVVQreBPvr0SHofo2oDvYS7OLe6GMEbocyUKRy9aT-x_6hOLgrPlVkz0rX8N6vAEx9ErsHJ9bWIJZCRRo5WeCCJrk9ZsnWXHAZQ_nzOPxNv7o6KBaZRuM-Wz2/s320/150874408_10158056252081848_6769593760115145193_n.jpg" /></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As expected</b>, Brie had a positive attitude about it, even though you could see she was disappointed. One little girl was able to make it to the party and the day turned out wonderful. My daughter rented the town pool for an hour and the two little girls and Brie's brother had a great time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSdBLEAVDOvbQoTpCL_LG7bfpMRTIRQCimkbgtgaoLETG5q2tjP-Bwx1PxvMCqBGTPErggCiAux7e5SmwMMHGwRvz_RC8xOVQm3PIn2DAmwnZYGfL_F80CneWjhgA9M6IY_4kY3K1hzrs/s600/150228640_10158056251966848_5495883245048409954_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSdBLEAVDOvbQoTpCL_LG7bfpMRTIRQCimkbgtgaoLETG5q2tjP-Bwx1PxvMCqBGTPErggCiAux7e5SmwMMHGwRvz_RC8xOVQm3PIn2DAmwnZYGfL_F80CneWjhgA9M6IY_4kY3K1hzrs/w300-h400/150228640_10158056251966848_5495883245048409954_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dC8IsshmxT_4c7cillRaepfDo3msOHCSg_tSh_kvqPuZgPotVgr6st8YTWBLvCpt6OhdipgPER9aDzVOrcXFDKjPjzks6YEDIE42BUMzrlLKw5ZwGzz1Q60KEfxCP6QvUzD5yF2pj88Z/s600/150489317_10157540232136631_6445194181444606432_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dC8IsshmxT_4c7cillRaepfDo3msOHCSg_tSh_kvqPuZgPotVgr6st8YTWBLvCpt6OhdipgPER9aDzVOrcXFDKjPjzks6YEDIE42BUMzrlLKw5ZwGzz1Q60KEfxCP6QvUzD5yF2pj88Z/s600/150489317_10157540232136631_6445194181444606432_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dC8IsshmxT_4c7cillRaepfDo3msOHCSg_tSh_kvqPuZgPotVgr6st8YTWBLvCpt6OhdipgPER9aDzVOrcXFDKjPjzks6YEDIE42BUMzrlLKw5ZwGzz1Q60KEfxCP6QvUzD5yF2pj88Z/s600/150489317_10157540232136631_6445194181444606432_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dC8IsshmxT_4c7cillRaepfDo3msOHCSg_tSh_kvqPuZgPotVgr6st8YTWBLvCpt6OhdipgPER9aDzVOrcXFDKjPjzks6YEDIE42BUMzrlLKw5ZwGzz1Q60KEfxCP6QvUzD5yF2pj88Z/s320/150489317_10157540232136631_6445194181444606432_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A few days before the party Brie had her dyed with</span><span style="color: #00f7ff; text-align: left;"> <b>rainbow</b></span><span style="text-align: left;"> colors. She was so proud of her new 'look.'</span></div></span><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-fqSShIRf5iXzRs0OrfB2QTTJ3jv2bp1dZZy6ZYTLF0D_68d5cecqaKURVJRAxdNxCXqpxwPdixqzK1peYq3oEjykRZW67ff6fWcrhgTcr5ZKqMEVI1eNNd1Yv2dA2G8UCAR-LBy7KMR/s960/148095916_10158044475391848_5683855915272568018_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="808" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-fqSShIRf5iXzRs0OrfB2QTTJ3jv2bp1dZZy6ZYTLF0D_68d5cecqaKURVJRAxdNxCXqpxwPdixqzK1peYq3oEjykRZW67ff6fWcrhgTcr5ZKqMEVI1eNNd1Yv2dA2G8UCAR-LBy7KMR/w336-h400/148095916_10158044475391848_5683855915272568018_n.jpg" width="336" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>NEVER EVER GIVE UP HOPE</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>My podcast, <a href="https://neverevergiveuphopenet.blogspot.com">Never Ever Give Up Hope</a>, is now in its seventh year. </b>I love doing this show and more passionate about it now than ever. Recently, celebrities from every arena are sharing their journeys of hopelessness to hope. I am booked until 2022!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please tune in - have a look around and choose an episode to encourage, motivate, or challenge you. I would love your feedback.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0wtI6kXsaKK7spfIMPjFor165SVEP7p6va-wDkh3ZgK5xblDAfGS2oIZv9IUT4Oo3V0iIu8lhaxumPhWzBBzVHKxPRkGcarOD4N2MVOmfiFrRi3Ca7bOeaQJFgqCL6_kW5deiOD0vkht/s160/NeverD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Never Ever Give Up Hope" border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0wtI6kXsaKK7spfIMPjFor165SVEP7p6va-wDkh3ZgK5xblDAfGS2oIZv9IUT4Oo3V0iIu8lhaxumPhWzBBzVHKxPRkGcarOD4N2MVOmfiFrRi3Ca7bOeaQJFgqCL6_kW5deiOD0vkht/w400-h400/NeverD.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today four bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you would see if you were a fly on their wall. Buzz around and click on the links for a peek:</span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href=" https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado</a></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother</a></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://wanderingwebdesigner.com/blog">Wandering Web Designer</a></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-42731641671127072002021-01-05T09:24:00.000-08:002021-01-05T09:24:59.475-08:00How to Cut Your Veterinarian Costs to Almost Zero<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>BRINGING OUR DOGS BACK TO LIFE</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Have you had to sacrifice your own luxuries,
vacations, or fun because of the high cost of maintaining your pet’s
health?</b> Have you noticed that these costs
seem to be rising because your dog needs more trips to the veterinarian’s
office?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As animal lovers and dog rescuers, we
would do whatever was needed to ensure our pets lived a happy, healthy
life. But having to say good-bye to our precious
furry friends never got easier, especially when they died too young.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a kid, we fed our dogs table scraps
(which since has become taboo). Long
before ‘pet food’ turned commercial, people rarely if ever, took their dogs to
the doctor. They lived long, happy lives. <b>So WHAT HAPPENED? Pet food, that’s what.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXMAc8qNpAiatUAuPIEQadmFaZkwj9TL7A-CZcsCCn399jVlFffkdAPdosK8Ib4Db0fQUF43nLbgt9TkxNMoveoSloB0oH1OQRcw2MduaEBlNYc508FPAtaGazfRpcuHSb2shgYEj_XYe/s1600/Lily-sweater2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lily" border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXMAc8qNpAiatUAuPIEQadmFaZkwj9TL7A-CZcsCCn399jVlFffkdAPdosK8Ib4Db0fQUF43nLbgt9TkxNMoveoSloB0oH1OQRcw2MduaEBlNYc508FPAtaGazfRpcuHSb2shgYEj_XYe/s1600/Lily-sweater2.JPG" title="How to Cut Your Veterinarian Costs to Almost Zero" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As dog rescuers, we had several dogs and
cats. Due to a lack of understanding of how dog food was manufactured, we raised them on commercial food. They were part of our family and only
the <b>best food</b> would do -- and usually, that meant the most expensive. Yet,
they acquired various health problems, including cancer, skin issues,
allergies, arthritis, etc. and certainly did not live life to their full
potential. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Visits to the vet and high priced medications were not helping our pets.</b> But we did not know what else to do until fifteen years ago when we made a discovery
that saved our dog’s life. We had no
idea guaranteeing health for our pets could be so easy, inexpensive, and
logical. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UqhGbhmRoJsMsVDwOGcANbO71X1gfVYVsu4mTydr81ZdDoj_xTEj1RuiMS9WrKaSLWcHk5b3pu7nWwyV7ejvtk9IFp0qIzjsYjQ-l7br0EA7s4voZdkRYDtoqP33wIkAslveX9hEx_z_/s1600/DSC08085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sades and Louie" border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UqhGbhmRoJsMsVDwOGcANbO71X1gfVYVsu4mTydr81ZdDoj_xTEj1RuiMS9WrKaSLWcHk5b3pu7nWwyV7ejvtk9IFp0qIzjsYjQ-l7br0EA7s4voZdkRYDtoqP33wIkAslveX9hEx_z_/s1600/DSC08085.JPG" title="How to Cut Your Veterinarian Costs to Almost Zero" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My husband and I were watching an info show on how
pet food is manufactured when I had to leave the room. I became ill from the graphic images. My husband educated me later on the process
and the ingredients. It was the last day
we gave our pets commercial food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And it was the first day towards better
health for our furry friends. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also discovered that the price we paid for high-end dog food still had the <b>same chemicals, toxins, additives,
food coloring, sugar…</b>….as the cheaper brands.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How Is This Legal? It Certainly is Immoral</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">During our research, we discovered that
large dog food manufacturing facilities purchase euthanized pets to be ground
up and used in dog food. Even more
revolting, they don’t bother removing the collars, leashes, or the plastic bags
from the deceased dog. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsaxVHgxeNJXzU00Ae-OBHYByq5ZRsVjIX0Fn9ObzWFHXPNK8dYgf5xsgq1RlBVQUfhpAaWFuJz6F7hMAmtGxG8qpKlDf2GY3PpW0ng6pXotC0557he902Wp21bsCVR4TPcJfvmVIx0Yn/s1600/Louie-Tex-Lola-Lilly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Raw food" border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsaxVHgxeNJXzU00Ae-OBHYByq5ZRsVjIX0Fn9ObzWFHXPNK8dYgf5xsgq1RlBVQUfhpAaWFuJz6F7hMAmtGxG8qpKlDf2GY3PpW0ng6pXotC0557he902Wp21bsCVR4TPcJfvmVIx0Yn/s1600/Louie-Tex-Lola-Lilly.JPG" title="How to Cut Your Veterinarian Costs to Almost Zero" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Healthy Rescues on a Natural Food Diet</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Three Minutes That Could Change </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Your
Dog’s Life </span></b></span><b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">AND Yours</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Please take 3 minutes to <b>watch </b>this
informative video - You will be thankful you did.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Do you think the dog food you are feeding your pup does not have chemicals in it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Companies do NOT have to report what was added to the meat before they processed it. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Save a life....your pet's life:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_7kDm3DpJds" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Since that magnificent day when we
<b>discovered how to have healthy, happy dogs</b>, we have been able to rescue dogs
with serious issues who had been given only months to live and give them many
more years of health and bliss.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;">One of our rescues, Texas, was nine years old when we got him. He was given two weeks to live. He could not walk, was covered in tumors, no life in his eyes and in a lot of pain. Within a month, he was running and obviously on the road to optimum health. He lived until he was over 18 years old and died in his sleep, happy and healthy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;">The only vet bill we had during those nine years was when Texas was <b>brutally attacked</b> and almost bitten in half by a Bull Mastiff. The attacker's owner had to pay the $10,000 vet bill. We wanted to give Texas the chance of more years, if possible. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18px;">After two surgeries and a short recovery period, Texas lived three more years - without any ramifications. The vet said, "<b>I have never seen a dog survive an attack like this and heal so quickly, especially at 15 years of age.</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmh5tPZDmxUWPjmZuONqCFx37_9qZq1J-5I1t9MeOdQ9mcyrGdMjEtnO6OObDtMPxZvig0tVn57c6cdOsfluKbP-JPMC3P7JHGReGAJwsuPN69QbLLCb8Irxno38d04IAzoT9x-95ug0D/s1600/DSC02675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Texas" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1213" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmh5tPZDmxUWPjmZuONqCFx37_9qZq1J-5I1t9MeOdQ9mcyrGdMjEtnO6OObDtMPxZvig0tVn57c6cdOsfluKbP-JPMC3P7JHGReGAJwsuPN69QbLLCb8Irxno38d04IAzoT9x-95ug0D/s400/DSC02675.jpg" title="How to Cut Your Veterinarian Costs to Almost Zero" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Texas at 18</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y5PAvxjYh5minhz68ShQt-zeJm6YnahqoclvJZNRi5snw3GsveU6X1E4YrxbHbOggNGIEpHP4ZXv4VQ6wmqBQaQoUzSPRioaLM9OONOxy6Zqq6kOLyMnj81Jmp3MOMHK2GzRK4lAImNE/s1600/Leo+Wilson+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Leo Wilson" border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1478" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y5PAvxjYh5minhz68ShQt-zeJm6YnahqoclvJZNRi5snw3GsveU6X1E4YrxbHbOggNGIEpHP4ZXv4VQ6wmqBQaQoUzSPRioaLM9OONOxy6Zqq6kOLyMnj81Jmp3MOMHK2GzRK4lAImNE/s200/Leo+Wilson+Image.jpg" title="How to Cut Your Veterinarian Costs to Almost Zero" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Recently I received priceless
information from Leo Wilson who has a university major in animal health and
behavior. Working in the pet industry
for over a decade, he has contributed many pet-related articles to various
publications. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He shared the following informative guide showing which human foods are dangerous for dogs. Remember, dogs have sensitive stomachs and
giving them certain human foods can actually be dangerous, causing illness or
even death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Leo says, "If you are going to share your food with your dog, it's important to know that what you're feeding them won't <b>harm</b> them or necessitate an emergency visit to the vet."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">He shows which foods are safe to give
your pet, which ones you can give in moderation and which ones to <b>NEVER give
them.</b> His guide will answer all of your
questions regarding what is safe and what to do if your dog ate something he
should not have eaten.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Here is Leo Wilson’s <b>guide</b> that you
will want to keep – it has priceless and life-saving information. He uses great detail which should answer any questions or concerns you may have: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Leo Wilson's <a href="https://www.cyberpet.com/human-food-for-dog/">DOG FOOD GUIDE - Click here</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If you decide to switch to a natural,
raw food diet for your dog, your pooch will thank you endlessly. Not only will your dog be happier and healthier
but the money you save on vet bills will be shocking. When we took unhealthy, half-dead rescues and changed their diet to raw food and a few vitamins – the results
were incredible. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Our visits to a veterinary clinic have basically <b>stopped</b> altogether for 15 years. All of our dogs are healthy with beautiful coats, never a skin issue or fatty tumor, <b>no health</b> issues, <b>no allergies</b>, <b>NO fleas</b>, <b>no medication,</b> and incredible <b>energy</b> until a <b>very old age</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Check out <a href="https://www.cyberpet.com/human-food-for-dog/">Leo's guide to dog food</a> - he is open to any questions you may have.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwcpn-64NZnkIap4AN-HwAuJZavTEZjQrwpAWsGlsNbNlBq5pEmsLrk2nhQe9Zekm0eGyGOhu7aeUHDd89zLaTY3vrEYXy7QQEdyGCCyX1KuC0X3mxV4gajsgdKpFIiyx9wRhhJ4gqUP5/s1600/Williow+and+Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Willow and Lily" border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwcpn-64NZnkIap4AN-HwAuJZavTEZjQrwpAWsGlsNbNlBq5pEmsLrk2nhQe9Zekm0eGyGOhu7aeUHDd89zLaTY3vrEYXy7QQEdyGCCyX1KuC0X3mxV4gajsgdKpFIiyx9wRhhJ4gqUP5/s1600/Williow+and+Lily.jpg" title="How to Cut Your Veterinarian Costs to Almost Zero" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">More happy, healthy rescues we had</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-17992354542624591922020-12-18T07:12:00.001-08:002021-01-08T07:50:16.557-08:00What Happened to My Right to Celebrate Christmas?<div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>After I wrapped the last Christmas gift a few days ago, I began my Christmas baking. While baking my grands favorites I heard the devastating news: CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJW8j3oHN1js1QJ2ADwH-Y4XybRZZ9PPk4gKCGfxlYIJ91SCERL8opRHD4cMCZlAqTo1Yg65Ge1aRz7z6Rmodoi7hKTnaq7H1vCnPc0yUfe-bqkHBP2r72EMhSKCB7oNgh2zTA9HXDBtU/s1000/Christmas%252BIs%252BCancelled%252BGraphic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What Happened to my right to celebrate Christmas?" border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJW8j3oHN1js1QJ2ADwH-Y4XybRZZ9PPk4gKCGfxlYIJ91SCERL8opRHD4cMCZlAqTo1Yg65Ge1aRz7z6Rmodoi7hKTnaq7H1vCnPc0yUfe-bqkHBP2r72EMhSKCB7oNgh2zTA9HXDBtU/w400-h225/Christmas%252BIs%252BCancelled%252BGraphic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course, it came with a lame apology but our peninsula is on 'house arrest.' <b>No Christmas</b> celebrations. No family get-togethers. A $2800 fine if you are caught.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Many people might ignore this mandate but we don't have a choice. The ferries will not be running. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I am angry and sad because I know this decision is more about control than it is facts. In our area, we have ZERO cases and where we were headed there has only been a handful. Yet, here we are - on house arrest. The worst part is <b>explaining to the kids who do not understand.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Appreciate the little things</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thank God we were able to see the grands a few weeks ago. Brie wants piano lessons for Christmas and it is evident she has musical talent waiting to be exposed. Here she is practicing on Papa's keyboard:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XI9upqpdD89aWS3T_zQfPeuCEwBuyQ1s7128MqK1ohbL_Y_3dLOn8vjvJq30B_F_RUrqxYzUONCVwJhDQud4rovxsWPusx8dTF40FtQc7ZgiqulCx7FuE_K7pL3U9kVdZiNim_L4M0gI/s696/124234206_10157830545811848_8370703725084891411_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What happened to my right to celebrate Christmas?" border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XI9upqpdD89aWS3T_zQfPeuCEwBuyQ1s7128MqK1ohbL_Y_3dLOn8vjvJq30B_F_RUrqxYzUONCVwJhDQud4rovxsWPusx8dTF40FtQc7ZgiqulCx7FuE_K7pL3U9kVdZiNim_L4M0gI/w303-h400/124234206_10157830545811848_8370703725084891411_n.jpg" title="What happened to my right to celebrate Christmas?" width="303" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where Did All Those Years Go?</b></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We celebrated our </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;">48th anniversary</b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> this month. Hubby brought me a beautiful purple orchid, my favorite chocolates, and took me out for dinner. I didn't have a clue what to do for him but then decided -- why not do the same thing? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43v8cxouLhfcBxsXIpjSmfZIO29f1AxmL2MzGBjv47BzXzQ5IrXraWR7X1Gu9Er63fotei9NoCYpOOZJpnEqtjrX2rJblkbJsxrrus099Qt1HrMTYGeylBFcNpfIGM7pkHZVZdKvbhTqe/s2460/20201212_095257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What happened to my right to Celebrate Christmas?" border="0" data-original-height="2460" data-original-width="2175" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43v8cxouLhfcBxsXIpjSmfZIO29f1AxmL2MzGBjv47BzXzQ5IrXraWR7X1Gu9Er63fotei9NoCYpOOZJpnEqtjrX2rJblkbJsxrrus099Qt1HrMTYGeylBFcNpfIGM7pkHZVZdKvbhTqe/w354-h400/20201212_095257.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This pic was taken in <b>1983 - TEN years into our marriage</b>. We still adore each other!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had roses <b>delivered to him at the store </b>with a beautiful card and his favorite chocolates. The florist said that very few women buy their men flowers but those who do, will do it regularly. <b>The guys love it!</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwXyuM9QQd7UtWl6sW5An1zqinyPLw4vA6XgBPOku8RbDOWlUJWt1cNX0RjMW1eopoBrmF0XzMwMDmu_qtAcZF3xnRGzzq8W0PvdfoPQ9UXLv8gnU6Q7bxS68XXu9LItYXAfv8niq8cMA/s4656/20201125_104500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What happened to my right to celebrate Christmas?" border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="2218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwXyuM9QQd7UtWl6sW5An1zqinyPLw4vA6XgBPOku8RbDOWlUJWt1cNX0RjMW1eopoBrmF0XzMwMDmu_qtAcZF3xnRGzzq8W0PvdfoPQ9UXLv8gnU6Q7bxS68XXu9LItYXAfv8niq8cMA/w304-h640/20201125_104500.jpg" title="What happened to my right to celebrate Christmas?" width="304" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love the Christmas colors</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love the Christmas colors in my kitchen. The two Christmas' cacti have been around a while and the beautiful orchid was from hubby for our anniversary.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6KOE3bJ_J-H__twKj8JUPtkSIAmBWHTGU6Bmvu27soGlIz8wDQjYFichqD4NADyufI4rck5Ku5HqXfwc7PXiUSKjuhH6oj_a9E2hZ1em0cnLs3gtZcxkHVkGBHjUcJe_-06LS0tMJCMR/s3264/20201215_222745.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What Happened to My Right to Celebrate Christmas?" border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6KOE3bJ_J-H__twKj8JUPtkSIAmBWHTGU6Bmvu27soGlIz8wDQjYFichqD4NADyufI4rck5Ku5HqXfwc7PXiUSKjuhH6oj_a9E2hZ1em0cnLs3gtZcxkHVkGBHjUcJe_-06LS0tMJCMR/w400-h225/20201215_222745.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For the first time in 48 years, we realized that we have never taken a vacation<b> together.</b> We have traveled but it is always business-related. We have visited family in various places but we <b>never took a vacation</b> -- somewhere warm, or exotic, or even a few miles away. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Having our own business, it is almost impossible to take a vacation together and now we aren't interested. <b>Anyone else like that?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We both like working too much, which can be as much a curse as it is a blessing. But now that we can't go anywhere for Christmas, maybe we will have a staycation - <b>watching movies and eating chocolate.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">What Terrifies You?</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G3inF6cdB_fLPnxA9sQyppR4gNjDUKibPrp6wIqcIfcmL5e-vreL_Sp4McdR60NHkRloZVcFOISAiWK8pRcAecApi4ijKikmczXH_2AOOQz1YhZeCnYqTt91LYk-O4PZKWL5TKBKs9R1/s293/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What Happened to my Right to Celebrate Christmas?" border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="293" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G3inF6cdB_fLPnxA9sQyppR4gNjDUKibPrp6wIqcIfcmL5e-vreL_Sp4McdR60NHkRloZVcFOISAiWK8pRcAecApi4ijKikmczXH_2AOOQz1YhZeCnYqTt91LYk-O4PZKWL5TKBKs9R1/w400-h235/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On December 22 I am doing something that <b>terrifies</b> me. But I have come to a place where it is no longer a choice. It would be nice to put it off a bit longer, even after the holidays but.....not an option. Once I do this, there is no turning back. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I am having major dental surgery. 'Nuf said! OUCH!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 4 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span><a href="https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado </a></span></b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b><a href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother </a></b></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span><a href="https://gomamao.com/posts/">Go Mama O</a></span></b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">. </span></span></p><div><br /></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-89421271076752585502020-12-05T09:24:00.002-08:002021-01-08T07:50:46.964-08:00Do You Struggle with that Dirty Little 15 Letter Word?<p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One word that almost always brings groans and utterances and people often wish they could remove it from their vocabulary. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That word is 'procrastination.' </span>Many people hate to admit they are procrastinators, yet some are proud they can put things off until the last moment and still get them done. Are you one of these people?</span></b></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe you have monthly, weekly, daily even half-daily lists. When crossing tasks off those lists, it can bring you great pleasure. The tricky part is to be flexible and spontaneous when something fun or necessary takes priority and totally messes with your lists! To do this without getting flustered is an art, creativity at its best. It takes practice and a lot of patience.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2phw2BtR3cWT1WzTFdfLc15SVybjyacjKMOvC_5BhetkeBqrBQ2G_pRdkUj4LWN4bvHUA-oIsa1dP7zbEJFRF35WyjveiSg7TtNJrKsAst2ZXuGjWFOFqlw0DzAcSeLFYhNcbQuIEL9YL/s1600/procrastination.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="procrastination - now or later" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2phw2BtR3cWT1WzTFdfLc15SVybjyacjKMOvC_5BhetkeBqrBQ2G_pRdkUj4LWN4bvHUA-oIsa1dP7zbEJFRF35WyjveiSg7TtNJrKsAst2ZXuGjWFOFqlw0DzAcSeLFYhNcbQuIEL9YL/s400/procrastination.jpg" title="Dirty little 15 letter word - procrastination" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Only you can choose</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />I have lived with the <b>world's greatest procrastinator</b> for the past 48 years. If you happen to be one of those lucky people who live with someone who puts EVERYTHING OFF until the last minute -- hang on -- here are some synonyms for procrastinator and they aren't pretty:<br /><br /></span><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 158px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="1" data-id="12" data-length="2" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/dawdler" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">dawdler</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="10" data-length="3" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/dilly-dallier" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">dilly-dallier</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="1" data-id="7" data-length="1" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/idler" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">idler</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="1" data-id="4" data-length="1" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/lag" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">lag</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> </span></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 158px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="9" data-length="1" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/lagger" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">lagger</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="1" data-length="2" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/lingerer" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">lingerer</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="1" data-id="6" data-length="1" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/loafer" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">loafer</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="8" data-length="2" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/loiterer" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">loiterer</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> </span></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 158px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="2" data-id="13" data-length="2" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/lounger" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">lounger</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a class="common-word" data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="1" data-id="2" data-length="1" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/poke" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">poke</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="5" data-length="2" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/slowpoke" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">slowpoke</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-2", "color": "#fbd48e"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="3" data-length="2" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/straggler" style="background-color: #fbd48e; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">straggler</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> </span></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; float: left; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 158px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-1", "color": "#fce8c4"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="14" data-length="3" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/slow%20starter" style="background-color: #fce8c4; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px;">slow starter</span><span class="star inactive" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: -9999px -9999px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url(http://www.thesaurus.com/trc/img/serp/sprite-lowdpi-1c8ce.png) -9999px -9999px no-repeat; font-size: 0px; height: 28px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: -20px; text-indent: -9999px; width: 16px; z-index: 2;">star</span></a></li> <li style="display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 2px 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 155px;"><a data-category="{"name": "relevant-1", "color": "#fce8c4"}" data-complexity="3" data-id="11" data-length="2" href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/tarrier" style="background-color: #fce8c4; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; float: left; max-width: 156px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="text" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 7px; text-decoration-line: underline;">tarrier</span></a></li> </span></ul><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If I called my hubby any one of those names, I would be in serious jeopardy of dirty looks or worse. Hey, I didn't write the dictionary!<br /><br />My question to you is this: <b><i>Who is the most stressed? </i></b> The procrastinator or the other person? I have learned not to care if he doesn't get done what he would like to do -- that's his problem.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br />H O W E V E R......... if I want him to do something, there is a trick that has worked for a couple decades. I honestly don't think he has figured it out.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CRUCIAL</b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />I never, I repeat....,<b> NEVER</b> ask him when he would like to do something. Yet, I always give him a choice -- that is crucial. If you don't give a choice, it sounds like nagging.<br /><br />Instead of saying, "Would you please fix the door? It has not been closing properly for six months." Get creative. "With winter coming, the front door needs to be fixed. Do you want to fix it today or <b>should I call a carpenter</b>?"<br /><br />Instead of "I have to work late tomorrow. Could you fix dinner?" Try....<b>"I'll be home late tomorrow. Do you want to order in or meet me at the restaurant?"</b><br /><br />When you do this, the procrastinator actually thinks it is his idea. So get creative in how you approach each situation or you will come off as the <b>"nag."</b><br /><br />Now, here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you are a procrastinator:<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Have you spent countless minutes, </b>hours, or days searching for something you misplaced because you did not take the time to put it where it belonged?</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Have you had an argument</b> with someone you live with for misplacing something of his or hers?</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Have you missed </b>an appointment because you forgot?</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Have you been halfway to your destination</b> and remembered you didn’t bring what you needed?</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Do you have piles of papers</b> or unopened mail that you will get to....... someday?</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Do you have that nagging notion</b> telling you to get organized?</span></li></ul><ul><li><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Have you read books and/or articles on how to get organized?</span></b></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Have you purchased organizational aids</b> to help you and then never used them?</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you answered<b> yes</b> to even one of these questions, you are not organized to the point you want to be. There is a simple solution to this problem. I am quite sure you are thinking, “Yeah, right.” You have tried everything and nothing has worked so far.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Secret</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>I have a<b> tried and proven method</b> to get organized and eliminate all that wasted time you spent trying to get organized. I know there are countless books on the subject. I know you can spend money on books, videos, and even go to seminars to get the desired results, but I am going to give you a secret.<br /><br />If you are serious about getting organized, you will get the results using <b>ONE little secret.</b> It is a secret my father taught me when I was a little girl and it still works today – every time!<br /><br /><b>REMEMBER -- It has been said that it takes 30 days to break a habit </b>and form a new one. But, the exciting part is that you can get results immediately. Each time you take a baby step in the right direction, it will pay off in the end. The more progress you make, the closer you are to becoming ORGANIZED.<br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfa3GbLTteB2LLC97SJif3Jbkk4H58kWsTZTJiLoN9e02ZxHpz0UNNJXYAA-4y-Zh7w19TeFsD4aux0ukCMlkD_cDKRqPVJfmhPA2cGE1Z71YV8-Y8nkGP-V7IW9lDtZUVc1inhLgOPms/s1600/clock.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img alt="clock showing the stress of procrastinating" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfa3GbLTteB2LLC97SJif3Jbkk4H58kWsTZTJiLoN9e02ZxHpz0UNNJXYAA-4y-Zh7w19TeFsD4aux0ukCMlkD_cDKRqPVJfmhPA2cGE1Z71YV8-Y8nkGP-V7IW9lDtZUVc1inhLgOPms/s400/clock.jpg" title="procrastination - do it now - remove the stress" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>Remove the stress - Do it NOW</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />Do you have any idea how much time you will have to do the things you want to do when you are not wasting your time trying to find something?<br /><br />My father drilled this into my psyche. It has helped me to be organized, on time, and a lot less frustrated.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Six magic words that can change your life</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Before I tell you the words, be prepared to say them a hundred times a day, if needed. Make some post-it notes; put them all over the house, your office, and your car. Don't put it off -- starting now is the first step to possibly changing your life forever.<br /></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Those six words are – <b>DO IT RIGHT – DO IT NOW!</b> Just that simple. Saying them out loud requires commitment.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even after all these years, sometimes I want to choose to put something off or not do it properly. But I say DO IT RIGHT – DO IT NOW! As soon as I make the effort, I reap the benefits.<br /><br />If I am ever tempted to put something off, I will say it immediately out loud and the few seconds or minutes it took me to <b>DO IT RIGHT and DO IT NOW</b> will pay off big time in the long run.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Reap in the benefits</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I rarely lose or misplace something because it was not put back where it belonged. It is easy to put off doing something now by making the excuse that you don't have time. <b>Take time.</b> You will learn to take the time to do it now and properly.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If it is a big job that needs doing, make a point of putting it at the top of your priority list to do before you take on any other task, which may be more pleasant. For the bigger jobs, you can also schedule it onto your lists in segments. Then the job does not appear to be as overwhelming. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>It may sound too simple to work</b>, but it does! I challenge you to be diligent for 30 days and the benefits and rewards will be incredible.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You can thank me now (or later) but please send me your thoughts, ask me questions or tell me about your victories!</span><br /></div></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309987088445498701.post-55743759314576190962020-11-20T07:17:00.001-08:002021-01-08T07:51:18.741-08:00You Can Find Joy and Contentment No Matter What<p><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most of us plan our holidays to share with family and/or friends. Especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yet, this year our plans may be altered or shattered for many of us.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This must be especially difficult for children to understand. I am thrilled that I have not had to make any changes to how we spend our holidays (dinners, travel, etc.) and look forward with <b>enthusiasm and excitement </b>to the impending celebrations. I trust you will be able to enjoy your holidays as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When Rochelle took the kids <b>trick-or-treating,</b> they passed a father walking with his kids. The father was dressed up as Jesus. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In a loud scream of <b>delight </b>Brie shouted, "Mom, I see Jesus!" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The man must have heard someone say Brie's name because he said, "Hello, Brie."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Mommy. Jesus knows my name!" She was absolutely thrilled and I think the man felt pretty good about making that little girl's day.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8FYQPu6Vh1s_ldE8TNk4PRvzOzgvwXLf_nmpUWOKyYd13Z20FNcfcQ7XjP0-QIP30QrliWT4H6v7Mw7SvPHqgTeAjnkYiyUSSi6bKbjDy-8gTx-PZZDlQy8LRWu-xZwjq-GOemk3Ezu-/s898/123244227_1065466227232475_8588874602159065111_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8FYQPu6Vh1s_ldE8TNk4PRvzOzgvwXLf_nmpUWOKyYd13Z20FNcfcQ7XjP0-QIP30QrliWT4H6v7Mw7SvPHqgTeAjnkYiyUSSi6bKbjDy-8gTx-PZZDlQy8LRWu-xZwjq-GOemk3Ezu-/w375-h400/123244227_1065466227232475_8588874602159065111_o.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><p></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaRMZh4d8Wb-a48C2DyueA3S7uUe0yvqi-JKt7uyad7F1vXBpUSAwD9VPOuIyZxsPQ0BmfBLFQ9Ax2u2Ec5qRCOgrg-FP7pqq0Uf65Ii3JZDRfhZdraZ9S7nJdI9Jaf-4Nq8wqbtCbKdB/s960/123441231_10157815341831848_5152571121370907720_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaRMZh4d8Wb-a48C2DyueA3S7uUe0yvqi-JKt7uyad7F1vXBpUSAwD9VPOuIyZxsPQ0BmfBLFQ9Ax2u2Ec5qRCOgrg-FP7pqq0Uf65Ii3JZDRfhZdraZ9S7nJdI9Jaf-4Nq8wqbtCbKdB/w214-h400/123441231_10157815341831848_5152571121370907720_n.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When the grands were visiting the following week, Brie couldn't wait to tell me about it. </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;">What a wonderful teaching moment</b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> to share that God does know her name. She was fully aware that the man was only dressed up in character but she said she would never forget it and understands that God knows her and loves her.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Brie decided that the best place to put your stickers was Papa's belly - apparently, they stick better on fabric.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57UrPPet_HZB8b0jSKzUOBPpe7SZmjLeTh9-k5LEmqwBnHmr8z2E8lqTMXzVxRbr7XtcTZrA8_xljVSOyh68jaoKPgZIirXenAGSXHpA2-8gm7XQzwm3ybR3h9L-4Q2AQQ1pIvLblGK7v/s2170/20201106_155247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2033" data-original-width="2170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57UrPPet_HZB8b0jSKzUOBPpe7SZmjLeTh9-k5LEmqwBnHmr8z2E8lqTMXzVxRbr7XtcTZrA8_xljVSOyh68jaoKPgZIirXenAGSXHpA2-8gm7XQzwm3ybR3h9L-4Q2AQQ1pIvLblGK7v/s320/20201106_155247.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>I have not worked at our store since last Christmas so try to imagine my shock when TWO bouquets were delivered to me there ...... on my birthday. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"How did you know I was working here today?" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"We saw you come in this morning," the delivery person told me. Awww... the joys of living in a small town.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My daughter sent me a beautiful bouquet which was a wonderful surprise. But who was the second one from? My precious and <b>sneaky</b> friend who lives in Texas, Christie Jones, figured out it was my birthday. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFH4n_AwP9i83TvuTA28h_TcqSEt2Mf1YkmIExtS2aKS8MWHVR7LCXEKPrba-4nNfDhBcKAytU6eKbJIlnJB5YYG3dIU1iVTcdvgg2bTPzoMC1WUv3GvQwMJ3hQeuWhFxG_2DxNURFr8it/s4656/20201104_142748.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="2218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFH4n_AwP9i83TvuTA28h_TcqSEt2Mf1YkmIExtS2aKS8MWHVR7LCXEKPrba-4nNfDhBcKAytU6eKbJIlnJB5YYG3dIU1iVTcdvgg2bTPzoMC1WUv3GvQwMJ3hQeuWhFxG_2DxNURFr8it/w304-h640/20201104_142748.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGnMjhtSudmKo3oBFpSmHeZEZSQof5eqorKCz7JdbT7iLSsflqamXsIJqCyFYRbOcYVDP6sG34SJQfF7zEQtOjE9Q1Gp4iwyTiZ4FoarkAlejE7CgnZGFSPim1lUgo3J55gpyiFPiX6dG/s4656/20201104_174423.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4656" data-original-width="2218" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGnMjhtSudmKo3oBFpSmHeZEZSQof5eqorKCz7JdbT7iLSsflqamXsIJqCyFYRbOcYVDP6sG34SJQfF7zEQtOjE9Q1Gp4iwyTiZ4FoarkAlejE7CgnZGFSPim1lUgo3J55gpyiFPiX6dG/w304-h640/20201104_174423.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last week, my daughter and kids came to visit. After not seeing them for three months I was ecstatic and tried to cram as much activity into a two-day visit as possible. Rochelle, Brie, and I took Star for a walk in the park. I decided to sit on the <b>'adult' swing</b> while Brie played with new-found friends at the park.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I was sitting down on the swing, my bum <b>missed the seat.</b> I wish we had had a camera to take a picture so please try to imagine this in slow motion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I missed the swing I was holding onto the chains and S L O W L Y slid back onto the ground. I was <b>lying on the ground</b>, but my foot was tangled up in the chain. With one leg in the air, all I could see were people rushing towards me to see if I was okay. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rochelle's legs were crossed and I knew she was trying not to pee her pants. For me, it was too late. The crowd was confused. I was laughing too hard to stand up and Rochelle was trying to untwist my foot.....with her legs crossed the entire time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Throughout the day one of us would burst into laughter without warning....which <b>started a chain of giggles.</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>FOOTBALL SEASON</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">William loves playing football and was so proud to share that he had four tackles during the last game - <b>helping his teammates win!</b></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVf9Qm62tpHhaqGfLvoBJKfb5f_dYx7YqHwaEaL0MeKTJ9tb1Ni_FUEVyjhSkX5SN25oXFy0Js4ae0evactdutfjOvKfryLKi7ecA5mqRzvLL1k70qcnzVIIl5_TLTRrvGJZImoHZXXEK/s960/125377477_1077359962709768_7558404097683879126_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVf9Qm62tpHhaqGfLvoBJKfb5f_dYx7YqHwaEaL0MeKTJ9tb1Ni_FUEVyjhSkX5SN25oXFy0Js4ae0evactdutfjOvKfryLKi7ecA5mqRzvLL1k70qcnzVIIl5_TLTRrvGJZImoHZXXEK/s320/125377477_1077359962709768_7558404097683879126_o.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">PROUD SISTER</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahwV8lF8ZvzEGBjomB8Cta0s44FWAUB5SpqAmz75QqAkw1Q_8SBDVxOgV9Am04K9qyH1z0jKJUX0-QwYT27_eq8aFj5n9VHA-ZCuDPt2TR41U74GO4VWSPwm4NeiRQ05C-Zq-ZpBT9NFY/s1440/125126637_1077360149376416_2335796227918149341_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahwV8lF8ZvzEGBjomB8Cta0s44FWAUB5SpqAmz75QqAkw1Q_8SBDVxOgV9Am04K9qyH1z0jKJUX0-QwYT27_eq8aFj5n9VHA-ZCuDPt2TR41U74GO4VWSPwm4NeiRQ05C-Zq-ZpBT9NFY/s320/125126637_1077360149376416_2335796227918149341_o.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 4 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">Buzz around, see what you think, then click on these links for a peek into some other homes:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.BakingInATornado.com">Baking In A Tornado </a></span></b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"><b><a href="http://www.menopausalmom.com/">Menopausal Mother </a></b></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px; margin: 0in;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://gomamao.com/posts/">Go Mama O</a></span></b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">. </span><wbr></wbr><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><div><br /></div>Battered Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04084857421183756543noreply@blogger.com10