Last three Years

This is what is important, my goal this year and daily is to be at peace with all men, make right anything I have done wrong and walk in repentance. Think on what is pure.....one of mother's favorite scriptures, give no room for the negative thought in your mind and when they come, immediately rebuke them and think on the good, see the good in mankind, know they are just like you, a sinner saved by grace needing Grace just as you do each day....remember to smile and be courteous to everyone this Christmas Season, then you will be at peace inside your self:)

me, Marylee, Kay.at Tea party brunch for Marylee:)

My sister and I have had some heart to heart talks of the past three years, there were times in this past year that we could not talk without becoming hurtful to each other, we took time away form each other/talking, yes it was hard but when your going through what we have, you know your losing your mother, you will say things, do things, act ways that you really do not mean, yesterday when she told me she felt I thought she did not help me enough, I said I have not a doubt that had Kay been physically able to care for mother, no doubt mother would of been in her home and she would of been the POA, I also shared yes, I did have bitter feelings, I would be so tired and can remember one night waking Steve up saying, I can not do this anymore, He got up and cared for mother, I always did her personal care things, but that night he had to. I felt so guilty for feeling like that, but sometimes it was long days and nights, with Alzheimer people are every sensitive to emotions, and believe me they know when your frustrated, so you really have to be like a duck, swim smooth and pretty and paddle away under water, they can not deal with it, then can become very confused and agitated, then you really got a problem:) At the same time I knew Kay was going through so much with Colin being so sick, and Kay had her medical problems, so in my heart I knew she was doing all she could, in my head I felt like I did not have a choice, I had no one else to care for mother but me and Steve, it changed my whole life, work, family time, I never had my home to my self, I could not just come home tired and sit in a chair and chill, it took its toil on me, BUT I would not change one minute of it, now I look back and cherish it all even the hard times, Kay can cherish the nights she spent with mother and days, Kay did all she could to do to help. I did all I could do, I reminded Kay when mother was about to cry looking at us from her hospital bed, I said, mother what is wrong? she looked at us and said I feel so loved......that is what we focus on, not did I do enough, we both did all we could with mother's best interest at heart. I was told by a Elder Attorney friend that when a family is put in the situation ours was put in that you will revert back to how you got along growing up, I do believe that is true, Kay and I did not get along growing up, I felt totally controlled and was, she felt she had to protect me and was made by daddy to help me. I was back wards in some areas, Kay and I both grew up in a abusive relationship with daddy, and it created behaviors in me that were not positive. Kay was always the smart one, the out going one, the cheerleader/high stepper, I was more withdrawn and had animals for friends, did not care much about style, Kay picked out all my clothes, took me to the dressmaker, made me wear Wegen's shoes and peter pan collar dresses with my initials engraved on them, this was because she loved fashion and style, when she got her things daddy would make her get me the same things, even on my wedding day, I never picked out a thing, it was all done by Kay, in which I loved, I never had to make decisions, only problem this stunted me socially and mentally, I was in remedial classes in school and barley got by, always thought I was dumb. Would make book covers for my books so other's would not know my books were different. We had a family secret, that Kay and I never shared with each other until we were grown, we came to terms with that about ten years ago, Kay had always thought she had protected me, and I thought I was the only one to endure it, but we both endured it. We both overcame it and grew close as sister's, so when I say I have missed my sister last year, I did, God healed a lot of things in me this past year and in her. I believe our sister ship is more healthy now, I was raised in such co dependency with my sister, it took me years to find me. I am thankful to the Lord that Kay and I can walk in healing this side of Heaven, be sister's and be mentally healthy in our expectations of each other. Every year since Kay and I have been little girls we have had our families do Holiday's together, use to be my mother did it all then my brother and his wife who did them all after mother married Walt, then me when Jimmy's kids married and had their extended family, last year we were both in so much pain, from our words with each other, I felt I just wanted my own children with me on Thanksgiving and Christmas, Kay or I neither one was safe with each other, so we each had our own individual family Holiday, we shared mother those days, yes, it broke my heart and I so missed them all, so did my children, it made me sad, I would of NEVER thought this could happen to my family but it had, mean words, accusations, miss trust, love, pain, hurts all wrapped up in one. At that time I felt I had it all on my own, Kay physically could not help and my main care giver had cancer, the Lord did give me strength, I was in a real depression, I resented that I could not have grand babies over, that I missed so much sleep, you feel so guilty to feel that way, just depresses you more. When mother went into UAMS it was a time I was thankful for help but almost could not take it, leaving her there was like when I left Sean at the boys ranch, I was not able to be the mother he needed, felt like such a failure, with mother felt he same way, I was barley coping, so depressed. Mother never came back home, I would second guess my self that day she went, could I have done something different, is that what made her die so soon, breaks my heart. Then in my mind I know that GOD is in control, I do know I was at my limit but not willing to give up and fail as a daughter. Truth is, just as when I could not provide what my son needed, I could not provide what mother needed, this is not a failure but being able to see I DID NOT HAVE IN ME WHAT THEY NEEDED. Sean had to change with in him self, and did, turned out that decision turned his life around at 14 years old, as for mother, she was much sicker then I thought, I could not provide a safe place for her anymore. When it comes to material things or money people change, I did not think I was sentimental to anything of mother's, but as I put her ornaments on the tree, I had never looked at them, I clung to each one, sniffed it, and thought through what each one meant, I am not sure I can never part with them, they are her in me now, I can understand my sister better when she would be so passionate and sensitive to Mother's belongings, I was just functioning in a role I was place in and disassociated my emotions from it, ( not healthy by the way) I have no doubt I made some hasty decisions in the process, I can understand why Kay felt I was cold and snappy, I did the best I could, Kay did the best she could, now my brother Jimmy, he was not involved much, I know he regretted it in the end, he loved mother, but never had a close relationship with her, she was his step mother and he grew up living with my aunts more, in saying all this it is to let you all know, we have survived, Kay and I are steadily working on our sister ship, forgiving each other, understanding each other, we will not have Holiday's together, which is sad, but her children have married into big families and it was time, heck we would have to rent a place for us all to be together now:) I will miss them and I am sure they will us, as I told Kay we can still do sister Christmas:) Its not like we do not see each other's families though the year. SO in sharing all this, it is to say there is life after having a family member with Alzheimer's but I can tell you now, it takes the Lord to get you thorough it, it takes the Lord to give you fresh mercy and grace each day, after their gone, guess what it takes the Lord to get you though it, it takes the Lord to give you fresh mercy and grace each day. I love my sister, bother and their children, nothing can ever take that away, yes we have had our differences, but we are family and if they have a need I am there for them. My sister is sick with heart issues, her heart would not beat without her pace maker, I dread the day my sister goes to Heaven, none of us know when our day is, could be today tomorrow or years from now, but I am choosing to live as if it were today, I do not want to live with regrets or guilt. If you are my family and read this, KNOW I LOVE YOU! I write my blog for me, not for you, its about me not you, but because my sister felt it sounded like she did not do much for mother I wanted to clear it all up on anything I have said. It took Kay and I both and Jimmy, each did what they felt they could, it took the grand children each did what they could, it took the great grand children each did what they could I have no hard feelings or bitterness, I am very grateful for all the things God has shown me these past three years. If your in the role of a caregiver, prayers for you, live for today, take care of your self, take breaks, get aways from the stress of being a caregiver so you can refuel, it is the hardest role in my life I have ever had and I have raised six children, you do get lost in it and you can not find who you are anymore, but remember that does pass and you will find you again, your stronger, different, a little lost, but finding your way in life again.......much love to all!


My reading today:

“By the Grace of God I Am What I Am”

“By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain …” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means, “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble to others, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.

Conversely, the things that sound humble before God may sound exactly the opposite to people. To say, “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your Personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

…

 

YEA and AMEN!!

For all you who prayed, God was faithful, tonight I was in my closet, that I had tore through already, but tonight I was picking up so Amber could clean for me tomorrow, and I had this box of shoes, it had some red slippers in it, I thought hum I may wear those, under the slippers were the Waterford Ornaments! 1987 forward, mother and Walt's first Christmas in 1991! I am so thankful and my heart is complete with mother here for Christmas! Mother always had a Red Bird on her tree! I know she is smiling from Heaven and loves this tree too!

all I can say is WOW

I literally cannot believe how this past week has been, ended up with 10 offers, two new listings and one re list, needless to say I have met my self coming and going, left out today at 8am and got home at 8:30pm, Steve has ran one direction and me another making it all happen, listed a wonderful lake home in Heber Springs, will post pics later! It is priced to sell;) I got the listed in interview for, held it open Sunday had over 36 people and a offer, we have countered the offer......MAJOR WEEK for me!
I can't leave Steve out he helped:)  I am ready to have some slower time, tomorrow is sales meeting and tour, then I do not have appointments but have tons of files to get in order and closings, so I am ready to get it all in order:)

Mother's tree;)

 

 

 

Last year I took down mother's Christmas and stored her Waterford ornaments we had on her tree, I thought I put the ornaments in the little purple bags and in a box and put them in Steve's office with the tree, we found the tree but cannot find the ornaments:( It makes me so sad, I then began to tear the house apart, then the storage buildings, then the cover trailer where I have some of her things, that made me real sad, I remembered to think on the happy memories of her things, but just really missed her, it smelled like her in that trailer, I actually got nauseated and stomach cramps, thought what is the deal, told Steve I may be sick, went in and rested.....tonight Memaw who is my friend's mother in law and mother is in in same nursing home as my mother was, they  called my friend and told her Me maw may have a few hours left, so after we finished our day we went to the nursing home, my tummy cramped up again, just as before, so I knew it was just emotions of the death of Mother..............UGH, I am praying Angels will lead me to the ornaments, they are here some where.......also praying for Memaw to pass peacefully as mother did and for the Lord to touch her family.  One good thing about being so busy at work I have not had too much time to eat:) so that is helping me with my weight loss:)  I think Christmas will be harder missing mother, I pray God gives me the same nudge He did during Thanksgiving and helps me find her ornaments, I have a tree in her memory and was going to put them on it:) I have a crazy love tree, with ornaments of where Steve and I have been and of Jared that he made when he was little:)

crazy love

mother's memory, need to find ornaments:)

my tree

my new blow up:)

Table

We will put lights on the house as soon as we can be home:) I love Christmas and love Christmas memories, I have so many of them, mother and daddy and Walt always made it special, to think they will be with Jesus on Christmas will be the most special Christmas ever! That is what helps me be happy!  Keep Gavin in your prayers, he goes tot he Dr. tomorrow, his conformer came out:( of his eye, we are praying they can put a smaller one in and no surgery:) hugs and nite!

Fast forward

Man on man, I feel like I have been in fast forward for the past two weeks, I cannot believe how these weeks have just come and gone, for that matter the whole year has come and gone.  On Wednesday I had five, yes, five offers to work, plus we had our office annual Thanksgiving lunch and had about 300 people in the office, I could not find the time to even go to the store, when I got home that night I was so tired and still had work to do on paper work, finally I told Steve I have got to go get a Turkey and things for dinner, this was on Wednesday afternoon:)  of course the Turkey was frozen, I did not even think about that!  It all worked out just fine:)
Having so many offers at once and so many commitments it put me in over load in my brain, when you get a offer you add several phone calls, a lot more people in your day needing answers and negotiations.  A good problem, but my poor brain about had it.  Finally got alone in my home office, took one file at a time and worked through each one before I would let my self get side tracked, ADD does not help in paper work, it does help in doing multi task, I think it is why I can do so much at one time:) 
I was thankful we decided to have Thanksgiving DINNER at 5:30, even though I was starving by then, there is no way I could of done it by noon, went to bed early Wed. night and got  up Thursday with Steve's help got it all done:)

                                                                                 just a few pictures

Hannah and Mark could not come down, Mark worked Wed. and Fri., so she had  a family over and they did their own Thanksgiving meal, so proud of her, she did her first Turkey!  I missed them all but they will be here Christmas and I can always go there to visit, remember my camper is set up:)

 

I will have the best November and December in Real Estate that I can remember, will make for a fun vacation after Christmas, I am so ready, Since mother's passing all I have done is work, work, work, but have about four Million in closing, will end being a good year, my production has been low for me these past few years, but I have dug in and have some good business, I love being at the TOP of the Top in Real Estate, yes I am competitive, had lost that for awhile but it is back:)  Plus I love helping people find the homes they love or sell their home and go forward with what ever plans they may have, I meet all kinds of people in all kinds of situations:) It is rewarding to help them.

 

Yesterday while cooking, I thought of so many times when I would call mother to tell me how to do the dressing again, one thing I did remember is always get new sage:) I was doing a offer while cooking and totally screwed up the dressing, I was making the cornbread, which I usually do the night before,  so I had it all mixed up and ready to go in pans, when I realized I had put in the onions and celery and sage into the wet cornmeal mix:(((  I bet mother chuckled in Heaven, did not have her to call but could feel her with me as I did the sweet potatoes and dressing, yes, the dressing turned out good:) Now I am ready to do my tree and get my Christmas all done, have not shopped but never do too early and I do it all on line and have it delivered:)  I just do not like to shop, sometimes I do like to just go look in stores and if I find something that is wonderful:)  Hugs and pray you all had a Happy Thanksgiving now it's Merry Christmas to you!

 







Loved this when mother saw Santa she was so excited, she still believed:)))

Winning

Read this today and it hit home, enjoy:)  I struggle with cussing, I feel it really does not matter to the Lord becasue I do not htink He think's cuss words are cuss words, some Cultures say the cuss words I say as real words, BUT it does matter to the people I am around and they see it as cuss words and unwholesome words coiming right out of my mouth, so with that said, I pray for the Lord to help me, this reminds me I need to be more discipline my self:) God is doing His part:)

 

Winning into Freedom

“If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

God pays no attention to our natural individuality in the development of our spiritual life. His plan runs right through our natural life. We must see to it that we aid and assist God, and not stand against Him by saying, “I can’t do that.” God will not discipline us; we must discipline ourselves. God will not bring our “arguments … and every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)—we have to do it. Don’t say, “Oh, Lord, I suffer from wandering thoughts.” Don’t suffer from wandering thoughts. Stop listening to the tyranny of your individual natural life and win freedom into the spiritual life.

“If the Son makes you free … .” Do not substitute Savior for Son in this passage. The Savior has set us free from sin, but this is the freedom that comes from being set free from myself by the Son. It is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ … .” His individuality had been broken and his spirit had been united with his Lord; not just merged into Him, but made one with Him. “… you shall be free indeed”—free to the very core of your being; free from the inside to the outside. We tend to rely on our own energy, instead of being energized by the power that comes from identification with Jesus.

 

 

Branson real fast but so Christmas there

  Hotel so Christmas!

The Legend's

 Crab legs from Big Ben's :)

Well as you know me I do things on the spur of the moment, got the opportunity to go to Branson and we did!  We went so see the Legends, which had Liberace, Whitney Houston, Elvis and the Blue's Brothers. It was really good, we stayed at the Clarion, it was a fast trip but a fun one! We did eat at Joe's Crab Shack, did not have crab legs, we split a shrimp plate, they had appetizers for five dollars:) we did boiled shrimp and Calamari, it was all good, we just walked around the landing, trying to stay awake until eight for the Legend's:)   Steve had been a Hannah's for the week, so I took Luke home and picked Steve up, it was a long day in the car but I enjoyed it, when coming home Steve drove and I caught up on Real Estate, we are both hooked up this weekend working, although Steve did start his morning at 4am at the Full Throttle Duck Club, the fields were flooded and ducks were in:0  Sean put together a group of men and they leased some land for their Duck Club, he is real excited about it, he as well as I did not think Steve would get up, we have had some fun days but we stayed in high gear, on the way home we went to Big Ben's which is a Seafood Place in Vilonia, it was good, I did not get that big plate of crab legs, actually that is next to the small plate size, I did get the sm. plate and buffet, for 23.99, the crab legs were real good! The buffet was ok. They have all you can eat but it is 49.99, but you get a pot load and can take what you can not eat to go in a huge to go box.  This am I had a listing appointment, I will find out if I got it on Monday, I hope:) It is a referral and they interviewed three agents, so we will see.  Then showed property, then came home and finished up the paper work for the listing interview which took FOUR hours.....ugh I have got to get faster, it is doing a complete appraisal for the referral company, I am not an appraiser but you do all the same work when you accept to interview for their business.  Steve got all my Christmas things out but I was to tired to do anything with it, I was trying to have a migraine but think I nip it in the bud!  Steve is going hunting in the am then to church then we both have open houses, I am getting up early to fix chicken and dumplings for our dinner and Kay's, she has not felt good, she had a real hard day Wednesday and sees her Dr. Monday, hope it just some new heart medication being the problem. Pray for her.  Going to be a fast paced week, our McKimmey Thanksgiving is this Wed. from 11-1 so if your in the area of my NLR offie, 5217 JFK come by and get a bite to eat I would love to visit, then Thursday we will go to Alicia's for Thanksgiving dinner, so ready to get some energy to get my house in order, I have never got all my Christmas boxes out and tree and just let them sit in the floor and not go through it all and decorate, maybe tomorrow, just not sure when, after open house I take pics of one of my listings then show property so will not even be home to seven or so, maybe Monday...who knows, one thing for sure it will be here waiting on me:)
Best go get in bed so I will be ready to start my day, Journey Church then off to work...just pray my head will not be hurting......hug and love and nite

Gratefulness makes us happy

In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy. Brother David Steindl-Rast. Austrian-American


I read this the other day and it so spoke to me, I shared in our sales meeting this quote and how it had applied to my life concerning mother's passing. After mother first past, when I read her bible, I smelled it and was sad missing her, when I looked at her tea pots, I was sad missing her, when I saw a favorite shirt she loved to wear at Christmas it made me sad missing her, I thought I have got to some how pull through this part of grief, I can not stay her stuck, I need to move to the next stage, what ever that may be for me;) then I read this, it is gratefulness that makes us happy, it changed the way I looked at things, I became grateful for her bible, I saw it in a different light, I saw where she had written in it and enjoyed her studies, it made me happy to know she was so fulfilled in reading it, as I looked at the tea pots, I could remember some of the times she received some and how she loved them, it made me happy, I began to be grateful for the sweet memories I was having, my sadness turned into gratefulness and it brought me happiness inside my heart!

I shared that when we are just not happy it may be because we forget to be grateful, that this is a hard time of the year for a lot of people, there is more depression this time of the year then any other, if you have grateful thoughts you have no room for unhappy thoughts no negative thougths, so I encourage you to look at your thought pattern, if there are areas you are struggling in then see if looking at the situation with a grateful attitude will bring you happiness, help you re focus, we all have so many many things to be grateful for, most of us have so much more then we need, we have family, we are loved, we have friends, we can worship freely, some of us have good health, some of us have health problems, if you have health problems, then be grateful that it is not as bad as it could be, even in death, there is eternal life. Man oh Man our perspective has to change so we can be grateful in all things and happy.  What is true happiness?  If you do not know then make a decision to start being grateful.....you may find it!

I decided today would be a smile day, so I decided to began this day off with a smile, and pass it on to others, I was sincere in it, it is amazing how many people need a smile, so brush your teeth real good and have a smile day too, you will be smiling that you did~it may change your day and for sure will help someone else's day.......hugs and nite or should I say morning?

Stinking Thinking.......You are the one who changes that!

This is so true,  take time to read it and think about you, what takes up your thoughts, and change if need be, life is to short, we do not know what tomorrow holds, so live each day like it is your last!

As We Focus
My Joyce Meyer reading for the morning. Get rid of that Stinking Thinking!

...

Years ago, I learned an invaluable lesson: Whatever we focus on, we become. That simple statement taught me a great deal. Wherever we put our energies or our attention, those things will develop. Another way I like to say it is, "Where the mind goes, the man follows!"

If I begin to think about ice cream, I will soon find myself in my car pursuing ice cream. My thought will stir my desires and emotions, and I will make the decision to follow them.

If we focus only on the negative things in our lives, we become negative people. Everything, including our conversations, becomes negative. We soon lose our joy and live miserable lives--and it all started with our own thinking.

You might be experiencing some problems in life--not realizing that you are creating them yourself by what you're choosing to think about. I challenge you to think about what you're thinking about!

You might be discouraged and even depressed and wonder what caused it. Yet if you will examine your thought life, you will find that you are feeding the negative emotions you are feeling. Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions.

We should choose our thoughts carefully. We can think about what is wrong with our lives or about what is right with them. We can think about what is wrong with all the people we are in relationship with or we can see the good and meditate on that. The Bible teaches us to always believe the best. When we do that, it makes our own lives happier and more peaceful.

Pray: Dear patient and loving God, I ask You to forgive me for focusing my thoughts on things that are not pleasing to You. I pray that You will help me fill my mind with thoughts that are clean and pure and uplifting. In Jesus' name. Amen.

From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2005 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Deer Camp, Cat came home, Luke spending the week:)

Yea!! My kitty did come home, she was gone for two days!  Steve has gone to Hannah and Mark's for the first part of the week for deer camp. I went up with Steve to help Hannah finished getting settled, we got a lot done, the little three wheeler is Blake's and he pulls that little cart which Olivia and Luke will ride in it, of course he is supervised as he pulls them and the three wheeler has a govern on it or something so he can not go fast:0  Steve and Mark were working on a cutting thing for the fields, they were doing something and Steve saw the gas was doing something wrong and it was going to explode so he pulled the gas line loose, which made gas go up his arm and it caught fire, mark through dirt on it and Steve immediately cover it with his shirt, needless to say NO ONE told me, I saw Steve having a big baggie of ice on his arm as he mowed, watched him for awhile wondering if he cut it:( it was blistered with all the hair singed......I went to the Dollar Store in Centerville, Population 1334 people, I was going to go get dressed since I had on Hannah's PJ striped bottoms, pulled up at the middle of the leg, with my socks and pink and black stripped house shoes and a red t shirt that was her ball playing shirt with no bra, my hair had not had anything done to it, and she said no mother just go you will fit in, well wouldn't you know it, I went and this man said I looked so familiar, did I sell real estate?  I said me??? I  just have a familiar face.......still can not believe I went looking like that but I did.
His arm is ok and it did blister but is better, he is doctoring it.
I brought Baby Luke back with me so they could hunt and get some things done, Mark is off and the other kids will be in school:) Tonight I had the Averitt girls next door come over and play, we had a pizza picnic:) of course watched a Barbie movie! Luke is fast asleep and I am on my way to, he will get up early:)  Tomorrow I have a open house and work and Victoria will watch Luke then on Monday and Tuesday Heather will watch him while I work, I have a pretty busy week, I will miss Steve's help but glad he has some time off:)
I have Journey Kids in the am at church, JC is having a pot luck and I can not go:((( but maybe I will get my open house sold:)
My sister Kay is healing from her heart attack and stints, keep her in your prayers, also keep April in your prayers, I understand the family she lives with which is her boy friends family will be moving soon to Iowa.  I know this will be hard on April, have not spoke with her to know what she is going to do, if she plans on moving I will need your prayers, it will be very hard on Steve and I. If she does not go it will be very hard for her............so pray:)  hugs and nite

Forty years ago today my daddy went to Heaven:) for those that did not know him,he was hurt on Oct. 27th in a construction accident, he would of been 99! Which is so hard to believe, he got saved while he was in the hospital, God touched him, did not heal him on earth but totally healed him for eternity!!

Migraines...................UGH!

For what ever reason I woke up with a migraine, such a drag, it did not hurt as bad as last Wednesday's did, but I was way more nauseated:( the worst part is we had gone to to condo last night to turn the heat on, Alicia is having a women's retreat there this weekend so we wanted it in order, it has been months since we have even been.  Nothing to take, some Tylenol but that did not phase it, Steve went to Pharmacy and got me something that did knock it out, but it took me most the morning till afternoon to quit being nauseated.  I guess I will go see my Dr., I have not had migraines in  years and years and I have had four in the last month, they are on the right side of my head, like I can draw it off the right 1/4 of my skull.......I am a little anxious about even going to sleep for fear of waking up so sick.  It leaves me weak, so I best I get to the bottom of this asap! Could just be the stress of the past few months.

My cat, in which I do love, is missing, I am not a avid cat lover, but Nala nursed 10 orphan kittens after nursing her two, so after all that I said I would keep her and got her spade, she was in a foster home to nurse the baby kittens, they were suppose to find her a home for her, when they did not find her one, she came back to our home and we have had her for a couple years, so pray we find her, mother even liked her!  All the grands love her, she is sweet and loveable.

While driving to Fairfield Bay we loved the trees, and this am while I laid of the couch with my eyes having a hot cloth on them, when I got better I laid there looking at the tree colors, so beautiful!

Beautiful day, I began to feel better about 1ish and we headed home, had some real estate to get done:)  We will go to Hannah's once we are finsihed with work tomorrow and I will leave my sweetie pie there, I have work all weekend and week, he will stay and hunt and help them get things done, I get to bring my Luke man home with me:)  Sweet Heather will keep him while I work!! Excited to have him spend some time with Nana, he has never spent the night at my house without his parents here too!
I am so ready to put the fall things up and get Christmas out, I am going to do it next weekend when I get Steve back to help, Hannah and Mark will be here the weekend of the first till that Monday night so I want it all up for the kids to see! I just love love love Christmas, and guess what we may have a white Christmas this year, I feel it!  After Christmas we do a family week of fun and games, the Haley's Mcgills and who ever else will all be together, just hanging out, Hoping the others can take a few days to hang with us, we eat a lot, play alot and laugh a lot, and shop a lot:))) To me Christmas is a time for family, friends to love on each other and share the love of Jesus in every way we know how, from giving of ourselves, our finances, our time, and being together! Just can not wait!

 

As you can see, I am so ready to Celebrate the Birth of Jesus and share His love with others, we do it all year long, but I take time out to actually make goodies for some, stop and go to dinner with some, renew long time friendships, that pick up right where you left off, just slow down and enjoy life!  I hate to shop so I don't, I do it all on line unless I just want to go to a store and look, I took that stress out of my life years ago, its not the gifts that are important, it is family,friends,sharing the love of Jesus!
Hugs and Nite....OH YES< A PRAISE, Gavin does not need eye surgery and will not lose his eyeball!!! Thank You LORD!!

Thank you Lord!

So many times we do not get a warning when it comes to our heart, I am thankful God saw fit to give my sister Kay a warning, she has heart problems,      she had a mild heart attack Saturday, this morning she had two stints put in.  You know I am thankful God chose to heal her here and keep her here and not take her home, but it is a wake up call for all of us.  Do not take your health for grante, I have not been eating and exercising like I need to, so tomorrow I am getting back on a healthy living life style, walking and eating healthy, it is so easy to think I will do it tomorrow or next week, or I do not feel like walking, much less exercising, truth is I really don't, BUT if I don't then I will just feel worse in the long run.

Stress has many ways of presenting itself, I remember when I was a young mother, I ask the Dr. if stress was the reason for something going on in me, I can not remember what now, but I do remember he said stress can make you itch, it can do so many things to the body, so what can we do about stress????  Do something physical to relieve it! Work out what ever is causing it, change what ever is causing it, if you can, if not prayer the senerity prayer:)

 

 

OK enough on stress, I am so ready to decorate for Christmas!  I told Steve since Thanksgiving is at Alicia's, I am ready to put my fall stuff up and get out Christmas, I have never decorated before Thanksgiving but I am going to this year! 
Had a neat Pastor's appreciation service today at Journey Church, watch the children sing, it was so cute, Alex and Kevin are special men and I hope they felt appreciated!! Behind every good man is their wife, Jill and Sandy are choice jewels!

We did not stay for the service but went to the hospital, then had a late lunch at Cracker Barrel and went on a listing appointment, got the house listed:) then wrote a offer! So a busy day, we finally remembered to go to Kroger's and get milk!! I have been trying to do that for two days, we actually past Krogers and I said turn around lets get milk! Steve and I love milk, he got two gallons:) Tomorrow will be a hectic day, inspection at 9am in Carlisle, just alot of work to be done, then appointments to look at houses to list, so a full day!  I made Chicken Soup so that is for dinner, taking some to Colin and Kay for their dinner, she should come home tomorrow.  Please keep her in your prayers, one that she can get over the hump in her grief of mother's death, I am not sure how I made the turn but I shared with you about Sunday before last when the Lord touched me, it has been so different, when I think of mother its not grieving but thankfulness for her, not sad but fulfilled, I do not know how to describe it, sure I cry and miss her but its different and far and few between tears, just hard for me to put in words. I use to smell her bible and cry and hold it, hold her stufffed rabbit or some of her things, now I find joy in those things as she did:)  So pray for Kay that she can find peace and rest for her self in all she is going through.  Keep Gavin in your prayers, his surgery date is coming up the 15th of November, I think, I pray for a complete healing of his eye:)  Steve and I will go to La. to see mama and Connie and family once Mama gets back from Chattanooga, it was this time last year we took mother:)

Mother and Mama

mother, mama, connie

Mother loved Chirstmas too! I know she will be a part of our trip and our Chirstmas this year in spirit!  Have so many fun and good memories we made on this trip to Lousiana, so glad we went!  Take time to make memories with the one's you love!

 One memory was we were at a Pizza place, and the waitress ask if we wanted beer with our pizza, I said unsweet tea for me and sweet tea for mother, mother said she wanted a beer, I said, no mother, and she said I am old enough to have a beer if I want one, of course Larry chimes in and said yes, Jean can have a beer if that is what she wants, so yes, she got a beer, did not drink much of it, but she was right, she was old enough:)  She also ate TURTLE soup on that trip!!!  Mother was always full of surprises, maybe that is where I get it!

 

You never know what tomorrow holds, so live and love with all you know!  Hugs and nite!

Little did I know

Give away pumpkin with flowers at Open House

chicken spaghetti

fudge cakes with pecans and without

salad with everything in it:)

 

 

 

 

Last blog I had my week planned, or I thought I had it planned:)  I was once told of a illustration, get a bucket of water, put you finger in it and stir it around, you will see the ripples, turning, then take your finger out, it will go back just as if you never put your finger in it, in saying that, when we or maybe Should say I think all depends on me to make something happen, I think of this teaching, we can do all we can but when we quit it, all is still ok, on Monday I was very busy, Tuesday went to sales meeting, had my Realtor's Open house had major food   and agents, a very busy day, then had a unplanned meeting with some Averitt/Miley ( Sherri, Roger, Anna Averitt ) family for dinner which was a wonderful time for us all, Sean and Sarah and Cole spent the night. I woke early morning with a bad headache feeling nauseated, went back to sleep got up, I had a full day planned, a class to teach at 10am, a loan to close then making cheese dip and helping with Journey Church Harvest Fest, which I love to do:)

 

 

Got up to my head pounding thinking  I've got to keep stirring the water no matter what, got a file in order to close, sitting about to throw up with my head pounding, then laid down, got back up thinking I can do it, just got worse, called another agent to see if she could teach, which she did, then thought I have to lay back down, so I did..............then it did not get better, was weak and so sick with a migraine, I knew I could not go to the closing or anything else, of course my sweet husband handled the real estate and my Averitt girl's, Jill and Jenn and Alicia covered for me at church.........I spent the day in bed, Steve would wake me for a signature or ask a question, other then that I was down for the count. Now guess what........some other fingers went into the bucket of water and it all got done with out me:)  It is so hard for me to give in and let go, I am learning, but not very good.  Journey had the best Harvest Fest, my loans got closed and the class got taught! Thursday I was still groggy and fuzzy headed from the headache, so I took it easy, my Averitt girl's came over that evening while others cleaned up from Harvest Fest, I  loved having some play time with them, I was suppose to have Jared and Jenn's girls but their Aunt came in town, it was just a fun way to end a day:) That may sound stressful to some, but I can curl up with these girl's and watch the best Disney movies:) I slept so good, woke up today and started in on loans, by the way we did close the single mother's loan on time, which was a lot of people going the extra mile, docs came out of under writing, the loan officer and staff stayed till 10pm to get them out to title company, then title company came in early to get buyer closed and seller closed by noon:))  The seller was all smiles then, and of course I had to stay professional:(( but if I could of I would of told him what I really thought:) The other one is working out too, she will lease the home until we can get her credit scores back:) Most builders will not do that, this is a home she pick everything out in too, so God worked it all out, and guess what the water in the bucket got stirred by HIS fingers:)) It is nice to just get out of the way and watch what He can do!  He does use our minds and bodies to do His work we are His hands and feet but sometimes I do believe I get in the way:) I began to think it depends on me..........be thankful when I can learn not to do that:) Today Friday got up no head ache feeling good, Steve and I went to some carport sales, then went to look at a home to list then to the movie and back home to do some Real Estate work then cook dinner and watch a movie....been a good week even in the midst of a migraine, now if I can just quit eating the left over fudge cake!  hugs and nite  One other thing, I decided it is just ok to call my back bedroom mother's room, when Amelia was here she said, can I go get the babies out of Mimi's room, it blessed me, I want them to remember her:)))

 Sydney

Amelia