Sentimental Journey

Sentimental.....How many of you can say that you are truly sentimental?  I can definitely attest to the fact that I am very sentimental! 

Sentimental means to have tender emotions and feelings toward something (things, places, situations.)

Here is one thing that I am very sentimental about...This old pot filled with the old "Hen and Chicken" plant belonged to my mother.

As long as I can remember, my mother had this in her yard.  After she passed away, I knew that I had to have this pot and the plant.

I don't know why, other than the fact that it was my mother's.

Keepsakes are meant to give an inspiring glimpse and momentary remembrance of the past.  I suppose that is the reason that those of us who are sentimental fill our lives with little pieces of the past.

I remember when my mother was in hospice and we knew she was not going to make it much longer.  I had to have the quilt that was on her bed.  It wasn't the quilt that I was longing for, it was a part of her that I was drawn to.  The quilt was something that kept her comfortable as her frail body lay in that hospital bed.  When I look at that quilt today, I picture my mother peacefully sleeping as  life was slipping away from her.  

Sam and I started dating when we were Freshman's in High School.  I have every single letter that he wrote me.  I have every single card that he has ever given me.  Birthday cards, Valentine cards, Anniversary Cards, Cards just to say he loved me.  I have the things like our wedding invitation, my gown, a few napkins, and the cake knife.  These are all things that are important to me.

These are just a few!  I literally have hundreds of cards and letters.......

And then I have things that the girls made, things that my grandchildren have made, and just about anything else that reminds me of precious memories.  I have my grandmother's watch.  It doesn't work, but it is still very important to me. 

I know that I need to simplify my life, because most of this just takes up space.  I'm just not ready!  I know that there are a lot of people that do not place sentimental value on things.  I truly know that the things are not of value, but it is what I hold in my heart in regards to those things that are priceless. 

I have read this quote many times, and I think that it is very good.  It was quoted by Wilson Rauls from the Movie "Where the red fern grows."  Check it out!

"It's strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man's mind for so many years, Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something you've seen, or something you've heard, or the sight of an old familiar face."

How true this is........I love memories, I love things that remind me of people, or remind of special events and times.  Some may call it clutter, but as long as I am able, I will find the space for this clutter that I hold so dear.  Life is good and I hope that this plant that my mother loved will continue to grow and stay healthy.  I want my  daughters or grandchildren to some day look at that old plant and remember how much it meant to me.  Maybe their hearts will be filled with sentiment and they will want to pass it down to their children.  To be sentimental is to love.  How much better could it be?  

Shug.........

Be a Blessing to someone today...Share a piece of your life with them. 

Up, Up and Away.....

Sat. Morning Excitement, Oh yeah....we had more excitement than we usually have!

Sam Called me around 7:30 A.M. and told me to go outside and look up in the sky.  I had no idea what I was suppose to be looking for...Figured it must be another one of his BALD EAGLES that he claims to see!!

I went outside and looked up, but saw NOTHING but a beautiful blue sky...I walked down the street a little bit, constantly looking up, but still I saw nothing.   (I am sure the neighbors were thinking that I had gone loony toony)  Just as I was heading back to the house, Sam drove up and told me to get in the truck...OK, I am really beginning to worry now.

As  we headed a little South West, towards the nursery, I saw it!  A huge HOT AIR BALLOON...Hey, we don't see many of these in our part of the country.

It was trying to land, so we followed it a bit.  I have always wanted to ride in a HOT AIR BALLOON.  It was about 10 feet from the ground and then it started back up again.  We noticed that there was a van with a trailer trying to follow it.  When the van stopped, Sam drove up to speak with them.  Seems the balloon was not able to land because the property was locked and they would not be able to pick them up.

Sam informed them that we had a place they could land just up the road and that he would go open the gate to the pasture.  The guy in the van made a call to the pilot and the plans were for them to land in the middle of the pasture.  When we get there to unlock the gate, we could see that the wind had taken them too far over and there was no way that they could land at the designated spot. 

I was able to get a great picture as it flew over.  The pilot had spotted another place about a fourth of a mile up the road and was going to try to make that landing.  This balloon looked monstrous and I was so afraid they were going to hit the trees.  Sure enough, it was coming down.  I do not know how, but they managed to miss the trees.  Sam Helped them hold the balloon down while the guy that was driving the van started working to deflate the air.  This was a very interesting thing to watch.  As he moved up the balloon, it just fell into place until it was finally down. 

I did not realize that you had to have a license to pilot a Hot Air Balloon.  The pilot of this particular balloon needed to log in some hours that are required in order for them to participate in a balloon fest next weekend. 

This just might be something for me to think about.  I need to consider getting my license!

I could pilot a Hot Air Balloon every day.  I could fly over all the schools and "DROP"  those kids right over that basket down to each of their schools.  We could leave home by 7:30 and I could have them there by 8:00 each morning.  I have the summer months to get this done in order to be ready for the first day of school.

If you see a big lime green Hot Air Balloon fly over, you will know that it is Shug's Taxi Service dropping her grandchildren off at school!!

Shug....

Hope you have a Blessed Day and that you will give GOD all the Praise and Glory that HE deserves!!

Sparkle and Shine

I like knowing that I don't have to make the same choices in life as everyone else!

I am able to make my own decisions and I don't have to be like all the other '49' year old women in this world. 

As a woman, it is important to focus on my own needs from time to time.  I like to feel confident enough to take on challenges that other women my age might consider to be too silly for an adult woman. 

If I want to Shine, then I don't mind wearing glitter!  If I want to be Spontaneous,I don't mind packing a bag in 20 minutes and taking off on some trip....As this thing we call AGE approaches each year, I feel totally free to enjoy my life in a way that is very satisfying. 

One thing that I find to be very relaxing is to Color and Draw.  I like to challenge my grandchildren in these awesome drawing contest. We may draw things like summer scenes, or we may just see who is better at writing their name in all kinds of weird shapes...

No one says you have to say GOODBYE to enjoying all the things you enjoyed as a child!

I like being in charge of my own life.  I like knowing that I can have fun, and I also like knowing that I am mature enough to put things into perspective.  Perspective as in realizing that I am an adult and that I am a wife, mother, grandmother and a Christian lady.  I do have responsibilities in life, but that does not mean that I can no longer sparkle. 

I am Me,and I am Blessed because I have the freedom to enjoy both worlds.  I can move ahead with confidence and wisdom while enjoying life to the fullest.

Shug.....

Let your life Shine and do good for the LORD!

It's Wrong...It's Just Plain Wrong

I know it's WRONG....It's just plain wrong!   But, it's something I can't help....
I guess it's just a part of me...

What's wrong, is that I have this thing about my bed being made every single day...It is almost the first thing I do.  I can not leave this house with the bed not made.  If we have somewhere to go and have to leave at three or four in the morning, the bed is still made.  Sam is like, why bother, we are just going to get back in it tonight.....

I even have this problem when we stay somewhere else.  Like this past weekend we stayed at the Embassy (Trey calls it the E hotel, you know like the W hotel) and before we left, the bed was made and bathroom clean.

Strange how we all have some kind of strange little quirks.....Like staying in a hotel, the one place where I don't have to do anything but get up and go.  No cleaning, just sit back and relax and let them do it all.  But nope, I can't do it.  

When we go out to eat, I really don't even like to leave the table a mess.  I don't clean the dishes, but I do stack it all up.  Believe me, the guys that clean the tables at restuarants and the housekeepers at the hotels, like me.  They probably like me BUNCHES!

I have seen some rooms that if I were a housekeeper at a hotel, I would probably turn around and go home.  I don't want to clean up someone else's yucky trash, so why would I expect them to clean up mine.  It's one thing for them to clean a room that others have stayed in, but it's wrong for them to have to clean up people's filth. 

Really,... I know that you don't have to make your bed or clean the bathroom, but we all could learn to be a little neater.  I know some of you are saying,  "That's what they get paid to do," yes this may be true, but it also doesn't hurt us to pick up after ourselves.  To clean up after my family helps me to attain a sense of PEACE and closure. 

Make the world a little kinder.  Be courteous, respectful, and kind.  Simply, clean up after yourself!

Shug.......

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Psalm  51:10

Lesson Learned

Ever had something happen that was a very serious thing and then years later be able to laugh about it?......

We went to the ballgame the other night to watch Tyler play a two hour game and then immediately after,  we watched Tucker play his hour and a half game.

It was during Tucker's game, that Tyler came and sat in my lap for a few minutes.  Dirty, sweaty and stinky, but what grandmother is going to turn down their fourteen year old grandson WANTING to sit in their lap?

Can't remember what happened to remind us of this, but it was such a funny memory NOW.  Tyler was maybe three years old and as I have said before, I kept him most of the time while Trista was finishing college. This one particular day, he and I went to our local grocery store to buy a few items.  While we were checking out, he wanted me to buy him a package of gum and I told him NO.....

We finished checking out and made our way out to the car.  The groceries were loaded and I had Tyler all buckled in his car seat.  Just as I start to pull out from the parking lot, he says to me "Sugar, do you want a piece of gum?"  I was like, Tyler where did you get that gum?  He said, "My mom gave it to me."  Well, I knew that it was the same package he had wanted from the store.  I ask him if he got it at the store and he started crying.  Yes, he had taken it from the store!  You know like stealing.   I told him that we were going back to that store and he was going to have to go tell the store manager what he had done.

He cried some more and really didn't want to go back in the store.  We got out and when we got in the store, I ask to see the manager.  The manager came and Tyler told him that he had taken the package of gum and was very sorry.  I really think Tyler was expecting him to say it was alright and then he would let him keep the gum.  Instead, the manager took the package of gum and told him that he was glad that he brought it back, but that he had done something that causes a lot of people to go to jail for doing. Tyler's eyes were so big.  Of course, the manager was having a hard time trying not to laugh.  He shook Tyler's hand and let him know that he appreciated him for being honest. 

Tyler felt very bad and it was as if he really comprehended what had happened.  To this very day, he realizes that I made him do the right thing by taking it back.....He will never, ever forget that experience.  We remind each other from time to time of that day...Something good was done, and a memory will be there forever.   (Sometimes we have memories that are not so pleasant, but those are the ones that build character in us)


We laugh at it now and we joke around about it, but Tyler learned a very important thing that day.....We  should always do the right thing!  We shouldn't take things that are not ours....

 Yes, it did take a little extra time to turn around and go back to the store and it did break my heart to see his little bottom lip tremble, but I know that Tyler  appreciates what I made him do and he will forever be grateful.

Lesson's are learned, only if we teach them...

Shug........

It's not what you take from others that matters, It's what you take from yourself.
God loves you!

English please

Can I admit this out loud, or do I need to just sit back and keep my thoughts to myself?

I thought about this very question yesterday and I decided that if I vented about it (which we all have to do from time to time) I would be doing myself a favor.  I can say what I want to say and then move on.  Or at least I hope I can!

You know me, I love people...I love all kinds of people.  I even love some people that are hard to love!

I love our country (The USA) and I am very proud to be an American.  I love the language spoken here, which is ENGLISH.......

What I don't like is having to feel that I need a translator or some type of device that translates to me when I am placing my order at a fast food restaurant....Does this ever happen to you?

I pull up to place my order, and I can not understand a single word that This Person is saying to me.  I just have to hope that they know enough English to place my order correctly.  I then proceed to the window to pay and pick up my order.  When I get there, I can't understand if they are saying "Here is your order" or "Where is your daughter" or anything else being spoken. 

Yesterday afternoon, Taylor and I pull up to a place that sells chicken sandwiches, but they mostly advertise by using a cow.  (hint, hint).  I place my order and can barely understand what the girl is saying.  I pull around to the window, and she rattles off some kind of weird talk and then looks at me with her hand held out.  I give her the money and she hands me the drinks and food.  As always, I check my order before I leave and this is what I did at that time.  Sure enough, it was short two items.  I tell her that I am short two items and she stands there and stares at me like (DUH).  Her response to me (In some kind of weird language) was "Dat is Y I rpit Rdur."     Oh my goodness, I could feel my temperature rising!

What did I want to say?  I wanted to say, "And that is why you should properly speak affluent ENGLISH if you want to work in AMERICA."  I had to grab hold of my thoughts  and then take some deep, DEEP breaths. 

Am I wrong?  Is this not America, the country that speaks ENGLISH?  Geez, what is wrong with these employers.  These people need to speak English!  I might would expect this if I were eating at a place that primarily serves Mexican food, or Hillbilly food like (varmit BBQ or Chicory.  Sometimes their lanugage is a bit hard to understand as well)  or any other type of cultural foods.    But, this is certainly not what you would expect when you are ordering from a CHICKEN PLACE.....


I guess I have now vented some of my frustration ...  I do love people and I have a lot of good friends that speak other languages, but there is not a  single one of them that would be disrespectful to a customer if it was their inability to correctly speak ENGLISH that was causing the confusion. 

The next time I pull up to order something from a fast food restaruant, I guess I should say, "SORRY, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOU, PLEASE REPEAT YOURSELF."  I feel sure that if I have them repeat what they are saying until I fully understand, the management of these places would start to take notice.  A back up in a drive thru lane would not be a good thing! 

Oh well, as they always say.....LIFE GOES ON!

Shug...........

Varmit BBQ sounds pretty good doesn't it?  Hope you have a Blessed day and don't forget that we live in the GOOD OL" USA where we speak ENGLISH!

The Hardest Things I have Ever Had to Do

The Hardest Things I Have Ever Had To Do Is..........

I will never forget the date of August 16, 2006.  This is the day that I took our grandson, Tucker,
to the doctor to have his swollen glands checked.  You expect to see the doctor, get some medicine and go home.  That did not happen in this case. 

I know that many of you have been reading my blog and you probably read the section that I did on
Childhood Cancer: Our Story.  On this particular day, Aug 16th, I had to do something that ranked high on the list of the hardest things I have ever had to do.   I HAD TO TELL OUR DAUGHTER THAT THE DOCTOR WAS ALMOST POSITIVE THAT HER SON HAD LEUKEMIA........And, the doctor was right....Tucker did have leukemia.  I spoke with Sam earlier and he had already prepared her for what I needed to confirm about the diagnosis. 

I had already suspected that something was seriously wrong, but the word leukemia was not what I was expecting.  It broke my heart that day on the way home from the doctor, when Tucker looked at me and said, "Sugar, is there something wrong".   And then my heart was broken again when I saw Trista's face and she knew what the diagnosis was.  This was very hard!

A year earlier, to the exact date (August 16th, 2005), my precious mother passed away.  Just days before her passing, I experienced one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.  I will never forget the day, there in her room at the hospital, when her doctor told me there was nothing more he could do.  He informed me that the hospital would be contacting hospice and that someone would be coming to speak with me.  I was at the hospital by myself that day, when the lady arrived.  We spoke for a very long time and I knew that I had to call my dad and my brothers.  To tell my dad that mother would not be coming home and that we were going to have to take her to hospice weighed heavy on my heart.  How could this be?  She had only been diagnosed with Cancer a few months earilier. 

So many of us have to face difficult times like these in life.  I am so very thankful that I know the Lord.  Isaiah 40:29 says "HE gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak"
Psalm 46:1 says "GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"  This means that God is not merely a temporary retreat, HE is our strength in any circumstance! 

If you are ever put in the position to face one of the most difficult things you have ever had to do, I would encourage you to Trust in the LORD....Lean on HIM and HE will wrap HIS arms around you and give you the strength you need.  GOD is an awesome GOD and I give HIM praise for seeing me through these very difficult times in my life......

Shug...........

Isaiah 40:31   But, they who wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles,  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint  (teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait)