tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17956300826224581392024-03-13T20:25:28.465-07:00Second Time AroundOld antiques, old house, and old me, all getting another chance at life...the Second Time AroundHopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-33932365129975302052009-01-19T11:54:00.000-08:002009-01-19T12:52:41.665-08:00Once again...catching up....<strong>Hello again and a late Happy New Year to all of you...it is still the New Year..right? :) I thought I'd better fill you in on what's been going on with me so you won't think I left the planet again!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I was having some minor health issues which started after Christmas. I started having pain in my left ribs which wasn't all that bad (it only hurt when I breathed) and also my ears plugged up and were ringing constantly which then turned into a roar. That, in turn made me dizzy. I was sure it was just a sinus infection and as usual for me, I put off going to the doctor. Neither symptom got any better so I gave in and went to Urgent Care one evening. The doc that I saw there said my ears were clear (???) but my sinuses were inflamed. Then she did an x-ray and said there were no broken ribs but she thought I had bruised them somehow and it would take time for them to feel better. She gave me antibiotics and said my regular doctor would follow up with all this.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>The next day she called to tell me she had taken another look at my x-ray and found a couple of nodules on my right lung and was making me an appointment for a CT Scan which I had. I went to my regular doc the next day and he told me the spots were infection in my lung. Just to be safe he wanted to do another scan in a couple of months just to be sure. So all was well and I was relieved.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Then today I get another call from the Urgent care doc saying she had made me an appointment with a lung specialist for tomorrow. She just wanted to make sure everything was okay. So I said fine and wrote the appointment down. Then about 30 minutes later she calls me back and says she forgot to tell me they also found an enlarged blood vessel on my liver and she was sending a referral to my doctor to have me see a specialist for that!!!! My doctor had read the scan results and didn't seem concerned so I think she is just being cautious. I have a call in to my doctor because I want to know what she is seeing that he obviously didn't...but we'll see what happens.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>In the meantime, I hope all is well with all of you and everyone is staying warm. We are getting a little snow here today but no accumulation. We had about an inch this morning and up to 3 inches in the higher elevations. I know some of you are sick of snow but it's exciting for me!! :) I took Tobi for her walk earlier while the snow was coming down pretty good. It amazes me how quiet everything seems when it's snowing. It's so peaceful!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I need to go start my supper now so ya'll take care and I'll try to visit soon.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong> </strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-32543183119795256432008-12-17T15:39:00.000-08:002008-12-17T15:49:09.505-08:00For your holiday entertainment...<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzMdvLxKi7Z9LBK8x45kBrCDVE_l-umbzEWbjmBC1ikcfgKe7fd9xoM6nc4I7VR2x5jq4M6sJ8IyVxUvEl9Rw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-66805376100690674312008-12-14T21:19:00.000-08:002008-12-14T22:24:57.778-08:00Catch up and house pics...<strong>First I want to say thank you all so much for the warm welcome back! It is so nice to know that I was missed. On August 7th Dave's mother passed away, then 2 weeks later his brother also passed. Needless to say, that was a very trying time. We received friends here in our home during his mother's funeral. In <a href="http://secondtimearoundhope.blogspot.com/2008/07/buried-in-junk.html">this</a> post which was July 9, we were painting, clearing out junk, moving furniture upstairs and just general cleaning, so we had just finished when we opened our home to over 60 visitors! We actually <em>fed</em> 60 but had many more coming by to pay their respects.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I also promised to show some after pictures when everything was done. Since the living room and stairway was the only actual "finished" areas, that's all I'm showing right now! LOL The first pics are the stairway before and after. There was carpet on the stairs and landings so we pulled that up. We started at the top landing and it came up so easily I was amazed! Nothing has been easy here in this old house! Well, it didn't let me down because when we got to the stairs the carpet had been glued down!! Here's how it looked when we finally got it all up:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a title="stairs before by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3109085011/"><img height="450" alt="stairs before" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3109085011_787bfebcee_o.jpg" width="338" /></a><br /><br /><strong>We tried everything we could think of to remove that yellowed glue, even a heat gun and scraper. It was coming off but very slowly and Dave was uttering a few choice words! :) I wasn't much help because of my bad back. It was such a mess we knew we couldn't just paint over all those lumps and bumps! Then he happened to think that he had some adhesive remover in his shop and tried that. Believe it or not..that glue rolled right off. It still wasn't an easy task but much faster. There were also a gazillion carpet tacks to be pulled up! Then came the paint which we matched as close as we could to the original, and the stair treads which we had bought about a month earlier! The results:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a title="stairs with treads by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3109084745/"><img height="400" alt="stairs with treads" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/3109084745_f4fb7970a4_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>After a couple of weeks we started moving things upstairs to reclaim some much needed space in the living room.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a title="living room 1 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3109916358/"><img height="337" alt="living room 1" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/3109916358_e123e9cb78_o.jpg" width="450" /></a><br /><br /><a title="living room 2 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3109916424/"><img height="337" alt="living room 2" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/3109916424_7cba814e50_o.jpg" width="450" /></a><br /><br /><a title="living room 3 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3109916496/"><img height="337" alt="living room 3" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3109916496_bdca4ac040_o.jpg" width="450" /></a><br /><br /><a title="living room 4 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3109084965/"><img height="313" alt="living room 4" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3109084965_517034b05e_o.jpg" width="450" /></a><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Our next project is to do the downstairs bedroom and take out the ugly ceiling tiles which some previous owner had put in to lower the original high ceiling. We want the high ceiling back!! Maybe in the spring!! </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>So, that's just the highlights of what has been going on with me. Maybe you can all forgive me for not being around for so long! :) </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-33486415954643452772008-12-12T13:52:00.000-08:002008-12-12T14:10:55.402-08:00Little Bits of Christmas at our House<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3103536572/" title="DSC02524 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/3103536572_7691a9ddff_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02524" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3103536628/" title="DSC02531 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/3103536628_a07482034f_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02531" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3103537990/" title="DSC02565 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/3103537990_ed1d0129aa_b.jpg" width="368" height="1024" alt="DSC02565" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3103537578/" title="DSC02560 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/3103537578_423aa1f706_o.jpg" width="500" height="667" alt="DSC02560" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3102706377/" title="DSC02557 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/3102706377_2912b639da_o.jpg" width="500" height="236" alt="DSC02557" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3102706463/" title="DSC02559 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/3102706463_59d07f9ebb_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02559" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3102706803/" title="DSC02563 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/3102706803_9d6b007df1_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02563" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3102705683/" title="DSC02542 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/3102705683_4e17cd7f72_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02542" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3103536966/" title="DSC02547 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/3103536966_bed36abbb7_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02547" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3102705817/" title="DSC02545 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/3102705817_f8a129a2dc_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02545" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3102705881/" title="DSC02546 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/3102705881_f9eebf7060_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02546" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/3103536746/" title="DSC02544 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/3103536746_f62914cf23_o.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSC02544" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Yes, I'm still alive and well even though I've been a real slacker when it comes to blogging. Life does tend to get in the way sometimes. I'm sure most of you thought I might be "buried in junk" after my last post months ago. A lot has been happening but I'll fill you in later. I just thought a little Christmas cheer was in order for now. You can also see that we have been getting some snow this year. Have a great weekend!</strong></span>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-84539567273742295082008-07-09T10:39:00.000-07:002008-07-09T10:40:24.006-07:00Buried in junk....Just a note to let you all know that I'm still here but very busy. I was also offline for a few days until we got our DSL moved upstairs. We finally got our stairs finished and can get our den set up. Now I have a living room with space to actually move around in! I'm in the process of moving things around as well as organizing, sorting and doing away with a lot of junk! When you have 2 pack rats in the same house it makes for lots of junk!! :) I hope to have some pictures to share with you when it's all said and done.<br /><br />As for me personally, I'm doing much better. My face has cleared up and the skin cancer gone. I still have the same old face under it all...just clearer!! LOL My blood sugar is in check most of the time (if I behave and watch my diet) and my body is finally adjusting to the meds.<br /><br />I hope all is well with each of you. I try to pop in during my breaks from working and see what's going on but haven't had time to leave many comments. Just know that I'm thinking about you all and missing you much. I'll be back......Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-3073152991232953322008-06-22T10:00:00.000-07:002008-06-21T23:02:33.980-07:00Happy Birthday, Collin...<span style="font-family:arial;">Fourteen years ago today, God sent a special little bundle of joy into my life and I've never been the same! </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><a title="Collin 1 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2599825786/"><img height="375" alt="Collin 1" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2599825786_b812600b7b_o.jpg" width="264" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">He was named Collin, after my mother's maiden name, and I got a new name too. I became Granny. What a pleasure this boy has been to me!! He was such a good baby..always happy and smiling..showing his big dimples. He started growing up much too fast for me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><a title="Collin 2 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2598997161/"><img height="267" alt="Collin 2" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2598997161_bc73a1ec71_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a title="Collin 4 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2599825952/"><img height="375" alt="Collin 4" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2599825952_200d7d15a0_o.jpg" width="263" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a title="Collin 3 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2599825884/"><img height="269" alt="Collin 3" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2599825884_4704ab4ae5_o.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a title="Collin 5 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2598997329/"><img height="375" alt="Collin 5" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2598997329_9ddac59cf7_o.jpg" width="260" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The following two pictures of Collin were made in Mount Airy, NC, home of Andy Griffith and Floyd's Barber Shop. Does he remind you of another little red head named Opie??</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a title="Collin 6 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2599826134/"><img height="375" alt="Collin 6" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2599826134_d4d1d85e0a_o.jpg" width="405" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a title="Collin 7 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2598997511/"><img height="269" alt="Collin 7" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2598997511_629caed211_o.jpg" width="375" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It makes me really sad sometimes to look back at all Collin's pictures and see how fast he grew up, but then I see the fine and handsome young man he has become and it makes me so proud.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><a title="Collin 8 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2598997605/"><img height="475" alt="Collin 8" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2598997605_8bb5b56619_o.jpg" width="363" /></a><br /><br />Happy Birthday, my precious boy! You will always be the light of my life.<br /><br />I love you,<br />Granny<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-9790104651640532992008-06-20T09:21:00.000-07:002008-06-20T09:24:30.935-07:00Hello again, hello..Hello, my dear friends! It's really me this time! I can wear my glasses now and I CAN SEE!! Thank you all so very much for your concern, prayers and well-wishes. I missed all of you and it will take me a while to get around to visit each of you and catch up. One thing I've learned during this process is that you all stuck by me and didn't give up on me.<br /><br />(Thank you, <a href="http://mommysquietspot.blogspot.com/">Brandy</a>, for letting everybody know what was going on in my absence.) I had several skin cancers on my face that I had burned off. The one that really worried me was the one that went all across the bridge of my nose and was spreading out under my eyes. None of these were serious, just over-exposure to the sun. They burned off 4 of them but the one on my nose had to be done with medicine which did a slow burn...14 days of applying it and each day burning worse! No fun at all! After that I had to apply a steroid cream for 14 more days to help it heal. I'm glad that's over!! Here's a picture taken on day 4 of applying the medication.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2593951439/" title="day 4 of medicine by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2593951439_68a376bc0e_o.jpg" width="375" height="143" alt="day 4 of medicine" /></a><br /><br />It got so bad by the 14th day that I didn't want a picture!! <a title="day 4 of medicine by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2593951439/"></a>I tried to wear my glasses on the very tip of my nose to check out your blogs but I kept forgetting and pushing them up. Then I would have to re-apply the medicine. I even tried to read without them but all the words were a big blur so I had to quit trying! :( A lot has been going on with me in the meantime so I'll have to catch you up a little at a time. We have been working on our house again and I've been taking some pictures to share with you. I hope to be back in full blog swing next week. Have a great weekend!!Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-16515895429633295022008-05-28T12:58:00.000-07:002008-05-28T13:01:30.334-07:00helloThis is Brandy, I am blogging for Hope today. She is on the phone with me right now. She wanted everyone to know that she had some skin cancers removed and cannot wear her glasses right now. She is doing ok, she just cannot see to blog. She wants everyone to know that she misses you all and she will be back as soon as she can wear her glasses again.<br />Thanks BrandyHopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-2596711318162016342008-04-14T20:50:00.000-07:002008-04-14T22:44:00.373-07:00Catching up on awards....<span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Yes, once again I'm behind but not only on posting this time but on picking up my awards. I apologize for the delay. So without further ado....</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>First an award from my dear caring friend, </strong><a href="http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/"><strong>Betty</strong></a><strong>, who checks up on me if I'm MIA!! She first leaves a comment, then an email, and if she still hasn't heard from me she calls on the phone to make sure I'm okay and to let me know she is praying for me. How sweet is that? How sweet is this award?</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2414783159/" title="betty-thanx by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2414783159_206a758659_o.jpg" width="225" height="155" alt="betty-thanx" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Thank you so much, Betty, for the award and for being my friend. You are so special to me! <hr /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Then I got a comment from </strong><a href="http://mjgolch.blogspot.com/"><strong>Mike</strong></a><strong> saying he had a special award for me on his blog. He has given me this award because he says I have been a help to him. Mike has so many health problems he is dealing with daily but he still takes time to check on me and pray for my needs. Mike, thank you so much for this award and for being the wind beneath my wings too!</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2414783175/" title="windbeneathmywings-Mike by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/2414783175_eefdace0fb_o.jpg" width="167" height="196" alt="windbeneathmywings-Mike" /></a> <hr /> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Last but not least is this special award from </strong><a href="http://mommysquietspot.blogspot.com/"><strong>Brandy</strong></a><strong> that made me cry! Here is what she had to say about me and the award:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Hope this is for you! You have been a rock in my life lately, you have been there for me when I have been faced with tough challenges with the kids. You have taught me so many things in the last few weeks. I know that you are in my life because of Daniel, but you know I don't talk to a lot of his family, I don't know them that well. I am glad that you are in my life and I have a great friend to talk to about important things and I want you to know that I really look up to! I know that God has put you here for a reason and I thank him for doing that to! So this is for you. I am calling it the rock award!</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2415605528/" title="Rock Award--Brandy by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2233/2415605528_17efbcc2fc_o.jpg" width="90" height="135" alt="Rock Award--Brandy" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Some of you have wondered what connection Brandy and I have to each other. Brandy's husband, Daniel, is my great nephew and has always been very special to me. I use to babysit him when he was a little boy and he spent a lot of time at my house, growing up with my children. He has always been like a little brother to them. Here is a picture of Daniel, Brandy and their 3 sons. I have always called the boys Huey, Dewey and Louie. (Donald Duck's nephews for those of you who aren't old enough to remember the cartoon! LOL) In this case, these 3 boys are my great, great nephews!! How old does that make me feel?? :O)</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2414776877/" title="Daniel and family by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2414776877_e276532b25_o.jpg" width="375" height="281" alt="Daniel and family" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Brandy and I have know each other for years now but have been developing a closer relationship in the last few months. A lot of this, believe it or not, was due to blogging!!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">We have become coffee buddies too and have been trying to find time to have Bible study together. We have done a lot of our study over the phone! </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2414776799/" title="It says COFFEE by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2126/2414776799_c09256936c_o.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="It says COFFEE" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Brandy, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the Rock Award. I love it and I love you! Let's do coffee and Bible study soon! </span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-47387721086486779852008-04-13T01:07:00.000-07:002008-04-12T22:10:04.612-07:00Who Am I<span style="font-family:arial;">If you haven't seen this yet please watch. This skit is done with just hands. The song <em>Who Am I</em> is by Casting Crowns. </span><br /><br /><br /><object height="373" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CT7x3VnrqbA&hl=en&border=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CT7x3VnrqbA&hl=en&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-9968795794657940332008-04-11T09:00:00.000-07:002008-04-10T22:44:58.754-07:00Still here...<strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Yes, I'm still alive and kicking...well, alive anyway! I want to thank each of you dear friends who have lifted me up in prayer and thank you for each sweet comment left. It is so nice to hear that I have been missed. I really am doing a lot better this week. My body is slowly but surely adjusting to my blood sugar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">meds</span>, thank the Lord! My count would be over 200 then drop suddenly after I took a pill, which caused me to get the shakes, sweats and nausea. No fun at all!! The time I've been spending on the computer has been research on diabetes and diet and I've learned a lot! The good news is, I have lost 6 pounds and still eating well!!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I especially want to thank <a href="http://jonjdsbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/">Jo</a> for all the emails and advice on diabetes. She has been so helpful to me and even did a post on her blog, Bits and Pieces, telling about her struggle with this disease. If you haven't already read this post, you can go <a href="http://jonjdsbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/2008/04/just-one-of-those-interruptions.html">here</a> to read it. Thank you, Jo, for caring enough to help me and especially for letting me know that I'm not alone</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">in this. Also for letting me know that it's okay to obsess over it a little! :O)</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Now on to happier things! We have had beautiful weather here this week with temps in the upper 70's. I think it might have even gone into the low 80's today! Dogwood winter is getting ready to set in so another cold snap is due. I've really been enjoying the warmth and sunshine while it's here. My flowers aren't blooming yet but my yard is blessed with wildflowers, dandelions and violets...</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2404256515/" title="violets and dandelions 2 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/2404256515_acd9f83837_o.jpg" width="375" height="281" alt="violets and dandelions 2" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2404256457/" title="violets and dandelions 1 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2404256457_3b67e6305b_o.jpg" width="375" height="281" alt="violets and dandelions 1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2405082416/" title="violets by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/2405082416_8550fa8ea5_o.jpg" width="375" height="281" alt="violets" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">and even some weeds that look pretty to me!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2405082374/" title="weeds by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2405082374_de42aac1cb_o.jpg" width="375" height="281" alt="weeds" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Last year the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">grandkids</span> got me a lilac bush for Mother's Day. Lilacs are my favorite! All during the drought we had last summer I watered the little bush faithfully but it kept looking so bad. Even before fall came it had lost all it's leaves and looked like a dried up twig. Dave suggested once that we just needed to pull it up...there was no hope for it...but "hope" is my middle name (pun intended! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">LOL</span>), so it stayed put!! This spring we have had a lot of rain and plenty of sunshine and my little lilac bush is thriving and now getting ready to bloom! I will take pictures as soon as it does!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I'm going to try and get around to visit all of you and catch up. I know I have missed a lot so it will take me a while! Much love, Hope! </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-83598033976252873652008-03-31T00:57:00.000-07:002008-03-31T08:03:04.084-07:00Catching up....<strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I know I haven't been a very good blogger lately so I'm going to try to catch up a bit starting with Easter. We actually had our Easter get together on Saturday since we have to work around everybody's schedules. Nothing about our Easter was very traditional. We had pork barbeque, baked beans, cole slaw and chocolate eclairs for dessert!! (I had a little of everything except dessert!) We usually do Easter dinner at my house but this year my daughter was our hostess. We all had a great time eating, hiding and hunting eggs and just enjoying our time together. And of course there were photo opportunities for me!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I took this picture of Claire explaining to Uncle Dave and Kian how to jump a big ditch, and trying to talk Kian into jumping!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a title="Dave, Kian and Claire by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2375617919/"><img height="281" alt="Dave, Kian and Claire" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2375617919_9a5b583d81_o.jpg" width="375" /></a> </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">When her powers of persuasion didn't work, she demonstrated...looks like she's flying!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="flying by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2376525512/"><img height="281" alt="flying" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/2376525512_8e4a02bdb8_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Finally Kian got brave enough and jumped too. He looks like he's falling into the ditch but he actually made it across.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="Kian jumping ditch by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2375618005/"><img height="281" alt="Kian jumping ditch" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2373/2375618005_418bdfdc7b_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then the adults hid the Easter eggs for the kids to hunt...</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="kid's egg hunt by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2376453366/"><img height="281" alt="kid's egg hunt" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2376453366_81b47a5f81_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">and the kids hid eggs for the adults to hunt:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="adult egg hunt by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2376453268/"><img height="204" alt="adult egg hunt" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2376453268_f1af3110c6_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">While <em>some</em> of the adults were pushing and shoving trying to get to the same egg, Jenny was wandering off by herself finding one egg after another and won the egg hunt!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="Jen egg hunt by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2376453754/"><img height="195" alt="Jen egg hunt" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2376453754_1c26946206_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">It was too windy for Josie to be outside so she napped while we played. She had her own purple and pink Easter basket and a personalized egg:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="Josie's basket and egg by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2376453484/"><img height="281" alt="Josie's basket and egg" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/2376453484_478d1966d9_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">After her nap she posed for Granny to get some pictures:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="Josie's and basket by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2376452906/"><img height="281" alt="Josie's and basket" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2376452906_e88df9d548_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">She even smiled for me (actually she was smiling at Daddy):</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="Josie smiles by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2376452836/"><img height="281" alt="Josie smiles" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/2376452836_e7f95ea76a_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Even Pamela posed for me with her new outfit, actually a hand-me-down that Josie outgrew!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="Pamela's new outfit by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2375618453/"><img height="375" alt="Pamela's new outfit" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2124/2375618453_1cef8d558c_o.jpg" width="281" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Even if we weren't traditional, we had a great time making our own traditions and most importantly, making memories! </span></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-29575528475137767612008-03-26T09:23:00.000-07:002008-03-26T07:02:57.042-07:00Goodbye, Ms. Fran<a title="Ms. Fran by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2361950626/"><img height="240" alt="Ms. Fran" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2379/2361950626_27f1629b42_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Most of you who follow Peggy's blog know by now that Ms. Fran passed away on Monday at 4:45 PM. Please go to Peggy's post <a href="http://hiddenhavenhomestead.blogspot.com/2008/03/goodbye-my-friend.html">here</a> to read her account of Ms. Fran's gentle passing from death unto Life. I read a comment on Peggy's post left by <a href="http://www.journalingthrulife.blogspot.com/">S</a> who referred to Ms. Fran's death as BITTERSWEET, which I find very fitting at this time.<br /><br /><a title="Bittersweet by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2361950688/"><img height="200" alt="Bittersweet" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2316/2361950688_34e889705b_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><br />Many months ago Peggy began to share Ms. Fran with us and we came to know and love her.<br />I looked forward to reading about her and seeing pictures of her sweet, smiling face. Peggy shared their good times together:<br /><br /><a title="Ms. Fran with kids by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2361289501/"><img height="240" alt="Ms. Fran with kids" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2228/2361289501_26eb0165b9_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Even after she became ill and her body weakened, she still liked participating in the fun that Peggy could cook up:<br /><br /><a title="valentine Ms. Fran by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2361118585/"><img height="240" alt="valentine Ms. Fran" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2361118585_46d541b9db_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Thank you, Peggy, for unselfishly letting us be there in Ms. Fran's last days.<br /><br />As a tribute I would like to share one of my favorite poems with you. I hope you will take the<br />time to read and absorb what it says. We say "goodbye" to Ms. Fran for now but only for a while.<br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Gone From My Sight</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">By</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Henry Van Dyke<br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Gone where?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,hull and spar as she was when she left my side.And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">And that is dying...</span></div>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-55097506272806290222008-03-23T08:57:00.000-07:002008-03-23T09:06:10.711-07:00He is Risen<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2355043282/" title="cross by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2355043282_6941cd7542_o.jpg" width="400" height="267" alt="cross" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>"The stone was rolled away from the door, not to permit Christ to come out, but to enable the disciples to go in." - Peter Marshall</strong></span><br /><br /><strong>Wishing all my friends a blessed Easter.</strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-7032907970012710542008-03-16T09:37:00.000-07:002008-03-15T21:54:01.483-07:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2336872868/" title="mountain view by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2336872868_388208d43c_o.jpg" width="375" height="281" alt="mountain view" /></a><br /><br /><em><strong>O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalms 34:3 KJV</strong></em><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-25257157686057556772008-03-12T20:14:00.000-07:002008-03-12T20:57:00.163-07:00Another Meme..<strong>I have been tagged by Mary at Mary's Writing Nook to do a meme on 8 facts/habits of mine. Most of you already know most facts about me AND my habits so it took me a while to come up with 8 things. If I repeat myself from other memes just ignore what you've already learned! Here are the rules:<br /><br />In the 8 facts about yourself, you share 8 things that your readers don’t know about you. Then at the end you tag at least 8 other bloggers to keep the fun going.<br /><br />1. I am not a morning person!! I can't think well in the morning and sometimes can't remember things. My daughter says she never tells me anything important in the morning because by noon I won't remember it! Morning dementia??</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>2. When I was young I wanted to drive a car so much that I had recurring dreams about driving! Now I hate to drive.<br /></strong><br /><strong>3. I like to fall asleep with the tv on in our bedroom and it has to be on Nick at Nite! The reason is that I've seen all these shows so many times and don't get deeply involved in them like I would if I watched a movie or any show I've never seen.<br /></strong><br /><strong>4. It has always been hard for me to accept a compliment without undermining it in some way. For instance, if someone tells me my hair looks nice, I would say something like, "It's only because I finally washed it!" I'm trying to learn to just say, "Thank you!"<br /></strong><br /><strong>5. I am fascinated and at the same time repulsed by serial killers. I've always wondered what goes on in their minds when they commit these heinous crimes, but at the same time it would sicken me to know!<br /></strong><br /><strong>6. I love puzzles..crosswords, jigsaws...I'll work about any kind except Sudoku. I never liked math or working with numbers.<br /></strong><br /><strong>7. I like to eat green bean sandwiches! </strong><a href="http://jdssoapbox.blogspot.com/"><strong>JD</strong></a><strong> had confessed in a meme that he likes potato salad sandwiches. Well, I like those too! I also like buttermilk with cornbread crumbled in it! My kids never could watch me eat that because it made them sick!!<br /></strong><br /><strong>8. I am not a fanatical housekeeper and never have been. I do try to keep a "path" through the house and give it a thorough cleaning occasionally. I have always felt there are more important things to do. My theory is that all the </strong><a href="http://dustbunnyhostage.blogspot.com/"><strong>dust bunnies</strong></a><strong> will be here when I'm dead and gone!!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Here are the 8 people that I tag:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><p><strong><a href="http://mommysquietspot.blogspot.com/">Brandy at Mommy's Quiet Spot</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://dustbunnyhostage.blogspot.com/">Jennifer at Dust Bunny Hostage</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://noraleesnook.blogspot.com/">Sandra at Nora Lee's Nook</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://rosieswhimsy.wordpress.com/">Rosie at Rosie's Whimsy</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://sweetnothingsbj.blogspot.com/">BJ at Sweet Nothings</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://talktograms.blogspot.com/">Carolyn at Talk to Grams</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://withagratefulheart.blogspot.com/">Adrienne at With a Grateful Heart</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://aplacetoland.blogspot.com/">Lisa at A Place to Land</a></strong></p><p><strong>I tried to pick 8 people that I though hadn't already been tagged so if you haven't then start confessing your habits!! :O)</strong></p>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-70963239419732314872008-03-10T02:14:00.000-07:002008-03-09T23:25:58.816-07:00My birthday boy...<strong>Today my baby boy turns 35 years old. How can that be when just yesterday I was 35? :O) My how time does fly. Willie came into this world weighing 9 lbs. 11 1/2 oz. and was 22 1/2 inches long! I often tease him and say that if he had been born first he would have been an only child! It was rough carrying him especially since I'm so short and he had no room to move, but move he did!! He made up for all this discomfort by being a really good baby, so jolly and happy and always smiling...unless he was hungry, then I heard about it!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>My son has grown into a fine young man and I'm very proud of him. He has been a soldier and is now a police officer. He's a good son and little brother to Jenny:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2322336765/" title="Me and my babies by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2322336765_6e5b7beda3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Me and my babies" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>He's a good husband to Angie and father to Kian:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><a title="Kian, Willie and Angie on train by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2322640307/"><img height="281" alt="Kian, Willie and Angie on train" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2322640307_a6f8749816_o.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">And as you all know, he just recently became a father again when Josie came into the world:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="My baby holding his baby by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2197748730/"><img height="180" alt="My baby holding his baby" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2063/2197748730_a2dee24407_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">He has been playing drums since he was 4 years old and continues to play with a local band called <a href="http://www.spankthenet.com/">Spank</a>:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a title="will_01 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2322690935/"><img height="216" alt="will_01" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2322690935_8b3a84ae45_o.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong>As you can see, the fruits of my "labor" have paid off!! Happy Birthday, Willie! I love you and I would do it all over again!! </strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-25969323347558738502008-03-09T09:52:00.000-07:002008-03-09T09:58:52.697-07:00God's Painting<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2320810285/" title="God's painting 1 by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2354/2320810285_1847171e8b_o.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="God's painting 1" /></a><br /><br />For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth..Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-44883809583472379602008-03-07T22:19:00.000-08:002008-03-06T22:57:11.981-08:00Stamp of Approval<strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, I finally got my stamp of approval, thanks to <a href="http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/">Betty</a>! Check it out:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="stamp-of-approval by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2316220702/"><img height="152" alt="stamp-of-approval" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2316220702_ed95b7076f_o.jpg" width="136" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I am just tickled pink (or in this case tickled rose red) for this award! Betty, thank you so much. I'm honored to receive this. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you still don't know Betty or haven't visited her, please go over to her blog, <a href="http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/">Betty's This and That</a> and say hello. She is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet and has become a dear friend to me. <hr /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I just wanted to tell you all that I had a much better day today. I think my medicine is starting to kick in and work for me and watching my diet hasn't hurt either. I know this has to be a life style change and not one of those quickie fad diets. I'm just concentrating on watching my carbs and sugar intake right now. I've done well with that in the past week. Thank you all for being here for me! :o)</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-65378000058136982052008-03-04T21:09:00.000-08:002008-03-04T18:16:59.981-08:00Thankfulness<span style="font-family:arial;">First. let me say how grateful I am to each and every one of you for your prayers and well wishes. What a wonderful and supportive group of friends I have here in Blogland and I thank God for you.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One reason I hadn't already asked for prayer is because I felt that what I'm dealing with is just a minor little thing compared to what a lot of you are going through. But I also feel that the Lord has given me a wake up call here and now it's up to me to do something about it, with His help and the prayers of those who care about me.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><hr /><br /><br /><a title="Mary%27s+Blogging+Award--From Betty by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2276789365/"><img height="227" alt="Mary%27s+Blogging+Award--From Betty" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/2276789365_4a3a9f139e_o.jpg" width="301" /></a><br /><br />Now on to cheerful things! <a href="http://dustbunnyhostage.blogspot.com/">Jennifer at dust bunny hostage</a> gave me this award a few days ago. Even though I'm just getting around to picking it up, I appreciate it very much. I met Jen when she first started her blog and I was immediately drawn to her....probably because of that magnetic personality of hers! When I visit there I always get a blessing, a smile, or a belly laugh and sometimes all these emotions from one post! I love this girl!! Thank you so much, Jen, for acknowledging our friendship with this award. <hr /><br /><br />Many of you have asked to see new pictures of Josie. Well, today was the debut of her first studio pictures and her Mommy sent me the proofs to view. Even though they can't be enlarged you can get an idea of how she's growing and changing. My sweet baby is already 7 weeks old!<br /><br /><a title="first pics 1 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2310833227/"><img height="171" alt="first pics 1" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2310833227_726726c521_o.jpg" width="128" /></a><br /><br /><a title="first pics 3 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2311643002/"><img height="171" alt="first pics 3" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/2311643002_c8ee6940df_o.jpg" width="128" /></a><br /><br /><a title="first pics 6 by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2310833311/"><img height="171" alt="first pics 6" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2058/2310833311_cbdf924cab_o.jpg" width="128" /></a> <hr /><br /><br />Now I'm off to visit all of you and catch up on all I've missed the past few days.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-74828498760271654262008-03-03T05:59:00.000-08:002008-03-03T07:42:03.817-08:00Feeling unnessary..<span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>I've mentioned before that my mother had a strange way with words. One thing I can remember her saying was, "I feel so unnessary!" I learned at a young age to "read" my mother but I never fully understood this statement until I was older. I realize now that she was in a state of limbo..not feeling well enough to keep going but not bad enough to sit down and quit or just go to bed. Well, that's the state I'm in right now...<em>feeling unnessary</em>!</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I've never been one to frequent my doctor's office. I'm more of a wait and see what happens kind of person. I started having symptoms which I thought was just a virus and I'd wait it out. Then came even more symptoms until I could wait no longer. I went to my doctor on Friday and he officially pronounced me diabetic! I've been teetering on the border for several years now. He seems to think that all these symptoms stemmed from my messed up blood sugar levels. So he put me on medication which my body seems to have a problem adjusting to. He said it might take some time so I'm waiting it out again.</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I told <a href="http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/">Betty</a> in an email last night about what's going on with me. She had noticed that I wasn't online as much or blogging as much. She told me she would be praying for </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">me, </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">but reminded me of the wonderful prayer group we have in Blogland and that I really should ask for your prayers. So here I am, asking. Basically, I'm asking you to pray that my body will adjust to this medication soon and that I'll be able to turn around all my bad eating habits. I've been on diets off and on for many years but this is a whole new ballgame to me.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Thank you, my friends, for always being there and praying. A special thank you to Betty for giving me a nudge! </span></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-74889959832969554642008-03-02T22:08:00.000-08:002008-03-02T05:50:16.082-08:00The Lighthouse<a title="lighthouse Old Orchard Beach by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2303253483/"><img height="375" alt="lighthouse Old Orchard Beach" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2303253483_cac7c9cb70.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear?</strong><br /><strong>The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid?</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Psalm 27:1 <hr /></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>(Old Orchard Beach, Maine)</strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-67838996756617685472008-02-28T09:26:00.000-08:002008-02-27T22:50:23.911-08:00A book, awards, fun and games...<strong>My book arrived today from <a href="http://ramblinroadstoeverywhere.blogspot.com/">Karla</a> at Ramblin' Roads! She thought I might be a "rattled" Granny since I haven't taken care of a baby in 8 years! Thank you so much Karla. I know this little book is going to come in handy!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a title="rattled by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2297809182/"><img height="400" alt="rattled" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2297809182_d5436638c1_o.jpg" width="300" /></a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I received this award from my new buddy and hammered dulcimer player, <a href="http://mjgolch.blogspot.com/">Mike</a> at Rambling Stuff. Thank you, Mike. I'm honored that you thought of me. If you haven't visited Mike yet, go on over and say hello. He has a link to a video of a very talented girl playing the hammered dulcimer. </strong><br /><br /><a title="Writer+Roar--Mike by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2297781084/"><img height="165" alt="Writer+Roar--Mike" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2297781084_98fa4bb72b_o.jpg" width="220" /></a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">The following awards are from my sweet friend and coffee buddy, <a href="http://karensbogsite.blogspot.com/">Karen</a> at Karen's Korner. I love to tease Karen about visiting everybody very early in the morning and drinking all the coffee before I get there! We have had lots of fun with that one! Thank you so much, Karen, for passing these along. I will treasure all these awards!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="Friendship%2BBanner+from+Amanda+on+2-22-08 Karen by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2297781112/"><img height="128" alt="Friendship%2BBanner+from+Amanda+on+2-22-08 Karen" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2297781112_1cd2cfcd92_o.png" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><a title="FriendsAward+from+Robin+on+2-20-08 Karen by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2297781164/"><img height="220" alt="FriendsAward+from+Robin+on+2-20-08 Karen" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/2297781164_16a22f9aea_o.png" width="170" /></a><br /><br /><a title="Nice+Matters+Award+from+Cielo+on+2-26-08 Karen by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2296986421/"><img height="320" alt="Nice+Matters+Award+from+Cielo+on+2-26-08 Karen" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2296986421_cb5102f3d4_o.jpg" width="226" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">When I did <a href="http://secondtimearoundhope.blogspot.com/2008/02/more-weird-things-about-me.html">this post</a> with a list of my weirdness, one thing on my list was the fact that I can write backwards. Karen commented that I should show this talent on my blog sometime! Okay, Karen, you asked for it! Here's a sample:</span></strong><br /><br /><a title="backwards by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2297784660/"><img height="178" alt="backwards" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2297784660_a202c9d421_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Now get those hand mirrors out and tell me what it says! Maybe some of you have the talent to <em>read</em> backwards which would be helpful here! Then after you've done that fun game, look at this 3D stereogram and see if you can see the picture within a picture:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2297909096/" title="power vision by Second Time Around, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2297909096_1d205e973c_o.jpg" width="400" height="300" alt="power vision" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Have a fun Thursday, all.</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-16430648005985491002008-02-27T08:36:00.000-08:002008-02-26T22:36:47.897-08:00My tiara fits...<strong><span style="font-family:arial;">When I visited <a href="http://thepinkmagnolia.blogspot.com/2008/02/our-story.html">Tammy</a>'s blog today I was reminded of why I started this blog. This one line from her touched me: <em>Hey, I'm here, and I matter</em>. Please read all that she has to say and you'll understand why I "wear" this tiara proudly:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://www.glitter-graphics.com/"><img height="74" src="http://dl5.glitter-graphics.net/pub/135/135255vpkx7pipnl.jpg" width="99" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">First and foremost, I had things to say, stories to share...stories passed down to me from my parents and their parents before them...then finally my own stories. After all, I haven't lived 60 years for nothing...I've seen things happen in my time and many changes take place. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">For instance, <a href="http://karensbogsite.blogspot.com/2008/02/tuesday-tid-bits-black-history.html">Karen</a> had a post today about Martin Luther King, in honor of Black History Month. When I read it I thought<em>, I was there...I remember</em>. I remember riding the bus to town with my mother when I was about five years old, long before we had a car. I always begged her to sit in the back where the big long seat was and lots of windows where I could peer out at the sights that were all new to me then. She would quietly tell me no every time without explanation and I wasn't allowed to question my mother. It wasn't until I started school and learned to read that I noticed the sign at the back of the bus...COLORED ONLY--NO WHITES ALLOWED<em>! I was there...I remember</em>.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have this sign at one end of my porch:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a title="sit long talk much by Second Time Around, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21368663@N03/2295688774/"><img height="176" alt="sit long talk much" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/2295688774_bb7d5ec9f8_o.jpg" width="350" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">With today's hectic schedules we don't do much sitting and talking anymore. Even families don't communicate like they should. But, my children and grandchildren read my blog and they read my stories. Another important reason to blog! </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I also wanted to share bits and pieces of our old farmhouse, the remodeling, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fixin</span>' and more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fixin</span>'. This old house may not look like much to some but it was a dream come true to me. It's certainly not perfect by any means and neither am I, and you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way! It's a work in progress and so am I! </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">So, I started a blog! Then an amazing thing happened. I started meeting friends in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Blogland</span>. Through them I met other friends, and on and on...and comments were coming from these new friends. Then comments came from people I didn't know yet, people telling me they were praying for me and my family and our needs at the time. I knew in my heart that these comments were sincere. I looked forward to my daily visits at each friend's blog home. I started looking forward to my comments, knowing each of these people had come here to see what I had to say! </span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">I had to chuckle today when I received this comment from a new friend, <a href="http://jdssoapbox.blogspot.com/">J.D</a>.:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>"You have so many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">visitors</span> here, I almost didn't find a place to park.....JD" </em></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Well, J.D., I'll just have to build a bigger parking lot cause I hope to have a lot more company here!!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Hey, I'm here, and I matter. And as most of you already know, I have much to say! Thank you, my precious family and my dear friends, for listening. Thank you, Tammy, for the reminder! </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></strong>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1795630082622458139.post-74831556907643235892008-02-25T09:00:00.000-08:002008-02-24T21:37:40.319-08:00More weird things about me??<span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>I have been tagged <em>again</em></strong> <strong>to tell you 7 weird or random things about me! This time by <a href="http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/">Betty</a> at Betty's This and That. I think this is about the third time I've done this meme but I just keep coming up with more weirdness, not to mention random-ness!! Lots of that going on with me. Anyway, ya gotta have rules in every game...right? Unless, of course, you make up your own game with no rules! I've been know to do that too! But, since this wasn't my game, I'm going to play nice. So here's the rules:</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong><br /><a href="http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/">1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.<br />2. Post THE RULES on your blog.<br />3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.<br />4. Tag 7 people and link to them.<br />5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.</a><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Ok, I did cheat a little..I copied Betty's rules from her page! :o) Here again is some of my weirdness:</strong><br /><br /><strong>1. I have always had strong nails and could grow them easily but I never liked long nails!<br /></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>2. I always peel my apples when I eat them. I can't stand to bite into an apple peel. It makes me shiver and get chills. Sorta like the fingernails scraping on a chalkboard, which by the way never bothered me at all!<br /><br /></strong><strong></strong><strong>3. I am the youngest of 6 children. My next youngest sister is 6 years older than me. I grew up with my nieces and nephews who felt more like my siblings.<br /></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>4. I love to eat cake batter. I always loved to "sop the bowl" when my mother made a cake but I could never get enough of the batter. Dave and I once made a chocolate cake batter and ate almost all of it. We were sick!<br /><br /></strong><strong></strong><strong>5. I like for people to look me in the eye when they talk to me. I don't trust people who don't! I feel they have something to hide!<br /></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>6. I can write backwards about as well as I can write forward. I don't know what this skill will profit me but I have it! I do it to entertain the grandkids. I write something and tell them it's a secret code. They have to have a mirror to read it! I guess I do use this skill...to entertain!!<br /><br /></strong><strong></strong><strong>7. Now that I'm older, I hate getting dressed up to go out. If I could I'd wear my PJ's 24-7. I'm all about comfort! <hr /> </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Ok, that's it! Everything else about me gets even stranger so you better not ask for more! I'm just kiddin'. If ya'll really want to know I'll tell ya!</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Now for the fun part...I get to tag 7 people. I'll tag some of my new bloggy friends, but if any of you have been tagged before you don't have to play. But, hey, I know I can't be the only one that can list 21 weird things about themselves and still think of more, can I??</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>I tag:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://aplacetoland.blogspot.com/">Lisa at A Place to Land</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://jonjdsbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/">Jo at Bits and Pieces</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://lynneslittlecorner.blogspot.com/">Lynne at Lynne's Little Corner of the World</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://mockingbirdhillcottage.blogspot.com/">Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://wwwwhisperingoakscottage.blogspot.com/">Ruth at Whispering Oaks Cottage</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://mjgolch.blogspot.com/">Mike at Rambling Stuff</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://withagratefulheart.blogspot.com/">Adrienne at With A Grateful Heart</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Most all of these new but already dear friends showed up on my blog when my little Josie was sick to tell me they were praying for her. I had never met them before but they were praying for my baby. How that touched my heart! Claudia is a new blogger in our community and such a sweet person. I just met Jo who lives on a mountain..I like that about her! :o) Please go over and visit each one of them...oh, and don't forget to tell them Hope sent you! </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Most of you already know my sweet southern belle friend, <a href="http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/">Betty</a>, but if you haven't met her you don't know what you're missing. Thank you, Betty for asking me to participate. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://jonjdsbitsandpieces.blogspot.com/"></a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong></strong></span>Hopehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352897817201291585noreply@blogger.com28