Please More Prayer

Avery and Ali

Ali is Avery's friend. Her mommy works for me and they get to see each other a few times a year. They are nearly the same age and they really hit it off. Ali has been complaining of a stomach ache for over a week and yesterday she had an ultrasound. They are going to do a CT scan, but they think she has kidney disease. Her mother, Jamila, is so upset and was crying at work today. We all hugged her and told her until they get definite word not to worry so much. Of course, that's easy to say and not to do. I told her that I would put it on the blog and that I had praying friends all over the world.

Update on Avery: She's here at our house on the couch and she ate for the first time in two days. She had some chicken and a biscuit. Her face is still red and she seems to have a temp, but a least she is keeping food on her stomach. Thanks so much for your prayers. No cheerleading tomorrow. We will relax on the couch and read and watch tv. Thank you guys, you are wonderful!

Cookie Needs our Prayers

My husband calls Avery "Cookie". She woke up at 2am vomiting and had a terrible stomach ache. My daughter cleaned her up and took her temp. It was 101. They didn't get to sleep until around 8am and Avery has been on the couch all day. Jo's been giving her Tylenol and Sprite, but she could only keep one cracker down. I just hate it when she's sick. I just spoke with Jo and now she is feeling bad like she is getting sick also. Please pray they will get better. I think the weather changes have made so many sick. Now today we didn't even need a jacket or sweater, yet early in the week I had to have a thick coat. Crazy weather. Please say a prayer for Avery and Jo.

I just got home from work. I had a conference call that didn't even start until 8pm and I'm so sleepy. I just had to ask for prayer for Avery and I don't feel right if I don't check on my friends.

A Day That Will Live in Infamy

February 25, 1972

A Day That Will Live in Infamy

My baby, Jolie Renee, was born 37 years ago today.

Dear Jo,

You have turned out to be a wonderful woman and mother. I am so proud of you and I thank you so much for letting Mark and I share in Avery's life. You have always made her mind and taught her manners. You are responsible and a hard worker. I was married a lot of years before you were born, but you were definitely worth the wait. Speaking of waiting. I was in labor with you for 41 hours. You know how people say you forget the pain. Yow, right. I would go through it a thousand times over to bring you into this world. You are witty and so funny. I'm blessed to have you in my life and thank you for always being there for me. You'll always be my little Jo-Jo. Love, Mum.

I've Been Interviewed by Janeen

I was interviewed by Janeen from Chachaneen. She is a sweet person and she interviewed me on-line. Here's the results:

1) Twenty years have come and gone. Where did you see yourself at the beginning of those 20 years as compared to where you are now? Twenty years ago I was divorced and working in the same job as I am now, just at a different place. I didn't think I would be married to my husband and I was in the process of mothering a teenage girl. Twenty years from now who knows what I'll be doing? The Lord.

2) What movie(s) have had an impact on your life,even if only for a short while. B)Favorite movie of all time? Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of The Christ was the most overwhelming movie I have ever watched. I've watched many movies with the same story, but never have I seen such a graphic demonstration of the pain He went through for me. I don't think I could watch it too many more times. It shook me up big time. My favorite movie of all time as I had said before was Dr. Zhivago. It is DRAMA,DRAMA,DRAMA!

3) You have won a prize. The prize has two options, and you can choose either(but not both). The first option is a year in Europe with a monthly stipend of $5,000. The second option is ten minutes on the moon. Which option do you select? This didn't even take a nanosecond to answer. I would choose Europe. I have no desire to go into outer space. Although I love me some Star Wars and Star Trek, this chick has no intentions of getting in a spaceship.

4) What do you consider the ideal personality trait in a person? Why? I would say sincerity is a wonderful personality trait. There is so much phoniness in our world today. I love people that are real and down to earth. I come in contact with a lot of self absorbed people and when I get to know someone sincere it's a treat.

5) Who is your favorite historical person, and why? I won't say Jesus, as you know He would be my favorite, but I think you are looking for someone else. I would probably say Leonardo da vinci. He was a brilliant artist, inventor, and a man so far ahead of his time. I love reading about him and I find it interesting to reflect on someone that had such a desire to create.

Maybe you know me a little better now. I had fun with it and I think Miss ChaCha asked some neat questions. This was way fun!!!

Hanging out with the Governor

Here's some of our staff at the Governor's office while he signs the proclamation for March to be Eye Donor Month. Yes, to my three readers, this is what I do in my job. I'm the technical manager at the eye bank in Atlanta. I've been doing this for over twenty years and I think of it as a ministry and a way to help over a thousand people a year that need the Gift of Sight. If
you haven't guessed I'm the second from right. Yes, Nana is living the dream with a few of my peeps. I'm blessed. Next time you go to get your driver's license don't forget to sign up to be an organ donor or go on your state's registry on-line. Remember....don't take your organs, tissues and eyes to heaven, heaven knows we need them here.

Keep on Smiling

This is my new theme. Keep on smiling, Patti. This is what I tell myself. I have noticed that I have reached the age that the muscles around my mouth have started to sag. That means that when I am not smiling I look like I'm frowning. I don't mean to. It just happens. Maybe this is some kind of thing that will encourage me to smile more.

I don't like people thinking I'm grumpy. I don't consider myself grumpy. I am a happy person most of the time and I do have the joy of the Lord. I will be hitting a new decade this birthday and maybe this is one of those fun tricks that happen to you. This fellow looks happy and carefree. Whoopee!!!

I was so tired last night that I went to bed very early. As some of you so appropriately put it, I had "overload". I just woke up at 1am and opened my bible. I turned back to what I had read last week and I guess didn't let it stick in my heart good enough. You see I've read chapters and books since then, but I guess the Lord needed to remind me.

Paul was telling the Philippians, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly, things to praise, not things to curse."

Some may say, "She's a grandma. Let her quote from the bible". Well, that's just fine. I am a lot older than many, but I do know it to be true that when I need to know something deep within me I am prompted to look to where my Lord can speak to me. I pray all my friends will be able to receive this comfort. It's not anything spooky or mystical. He's my friend and my King.

Finding Balance

I seem to have a challenge with finding balance. I want to keep 'in the know'. I want to be aware of what's happening around me and in the world. I have lately felt like it is a little overwhelming to know all that information. I enjoy Fox News, but lately there has just been too much going on for me.

I was on a kick of watching HGTV for a while. That took my mind off the negative news, but then I watched so much fixing up that I was a little frustrated because I couldn't run out and fix up my house and apartment. See I need moderation.

I now sit here in the quiet without my television on. The last story was on human trafficing and that was the final straw. I am just going to look at blogs, read my Bible and chill out. I don't need to know all the crazy stuff going on in this world. The quiet gives me peace and I can pray more and think on good things.

A Dancing Nana

I have been so busy this past week. There have been so many things that kept me from posting and I have slowed down enough to get with the program. We had a great weekend. Saturday morning was basketball cheering with Avery. That afternoon we roamed around Target looking for some fabulous red tag bargains. We got a few and headed home. Mark got me some nice gloves for Valentine's Day. Also, he got us the first season of Gilligan's Island. Avery got a kick of it and we decided to watch an episode each Saturday.

My new banner was of A again at the bookstore. She found a series that she is crazy about. It's called Dear Dumb Diary. She started reading book number one and starting giggling every couple of minutes. It was amazing. Avery is very stoic and she laughed more Saturday then any other day in her life. To verify it, I asked her and I was right. She continued to read the series because Nana had to purchase these giggle maker books. I figured if anything made her laugh like that it must be a good thing. They are actually written by a man writing as a middle school girl that is hilarious. She talks about being popular and her mom's terrible cooking and it is truly funny.

Avery getting such a kick out of those books has made me so happy. She's such a serious little old soul and listening to her tell me about all the good parts was enough to make me want to dance. I want to write the author and tell him how much she enjoyed his books and how he's made a Nana want to dance.

I'm So Blessed

The last few days it just keeps rolling around in my head that I have so much to be thankful for. I wonder if I haven't been grateful enough lately and the Lord is reminding me of how good I have it. I have been loving reading my Message translation of the Bible and what has jumped out at me today is the following: "I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."
Philippians 4:13,14. Paul had learned how to deal with all his situations. I suppose this is a lifelong lesson for me. I do want to list some of the things I am so thankful for:
My relationship with the Lord
I have a husband that loves me.
I have a daughter that loves me and has grown up to be an adult I love, not that little curly haired moppet easy to love, or the teenager that made me pull out my hair.
I have a sweet granddaughter.
I have a wonderful son-in-law.
I have great friends.
I have a warm, loving church home.
I have a home.
I have a job.
I have loving pets.
I have a car.
I have clothes to wear.
I have food to eat (too much sometimes)
I have lots of books.

Why do I ever complain about anything? God has been so good to me. He's the One who makes me who I am. I only have what I have because the Lord has given me all I have. To the world it probably would seem that I don't have that much, but I am a pilgrim and I'm just passing through. How about you?

I had to put the beach scene back up. I just can't get warm. For weeks and weeks now I was having the hot flashes and now here I am freezing. This hormonal stuff is so interesting. I just wonder how many of you lovely ladies out there have these same kinds of thermostat issues.

My husband complains about it when I'm home. I love to have the heat turned up and tons of covers. He on the other hand, loves the windows open and thinks it brings in nice fresh air. I totally think it's crazy. It's winter and I love to get all wrapped up and sip coffee or nice hot tea.

We have had the lowest temps and strong winds. If I could stay inside all the time I would be doing okay, but getting out in the wind just takes your breathe away. Work has been so challenging, with projects galore and although I hate to admit it...somewhat overwhelming. I keep thinking I will get caught up, but that never happens. I hope you are having a good winter. Life is short....have fun!!