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This waterfall is not too far from our house in South Carolina. We pass by it to go to Avery's house and I have always loved the scene. Finally, Mark stopped on the bridge so I could snap a picture of it. It just all looks so peaceful to me and I think it would be great to have a house right by it.

This has been the best weekend. Friday night the three of us went to the drive-in and we saw UP. Then yesterday we went to a Chinese restaurant and afterwards Books-A-Million. Avery got some more of her Jim Benton books. She laughs and laughs when she reads them. Then last night we sat with her while she played some video games on Poptropica. It's a site her teacher showed the class. Then we watched some episodes of Gilligan's Island. Mark got the first season and we all enjoy them.

This has been a restful fun weekend. Some would think it was boring, but our gang thinks it's just great! I hope you have had a nice weekend. Back to work tomorrow!

Have a Happy Weekend!!! Happy One Year

A year ago this week I actually started my blog. I was at my daughter's house dog/house sitting. Her and her husband took Avery to Disney for her first time in the Magic Kingdom. I had been reading others blogs, but took the big plunge when I was at her place and had lots of time. Jolie took this picture of Avery at Disney World after her 'make-over' with Jasmine's costume. She has grown so much in a year. Thank you everyone for indulging me by letting me share her pictures.

Have a super duper weekend and I'll try to post if I can get the time. Thanks for one big wonderful blogging year!!!! Love you guys!!!! Remember, Have Fun...Life is Short!!!!

Thank you, Barb from French Elements for such an awesome award. I love the bling-bling crown and it's fun, but truly, I'm not queen of much of anything. I am flattered. This is a difficult task because it's usually a lot easier to think of things that I'm not good at. I will try and list seven things that make me awe-summm!!!

1) I usually don't act my age. I hope that's a good thing.

2) I love helping people. That has gotten me in trouble at times.

3) I enjoy meeting new people and finding out all about them.

4) I am crazy about my daughter and granddaughter, Avery.

5) I get passionate about things that are important to me. That has gotten me in trouble also.

6) I love to encourage people. There's so much in this world to bring us down that I love to cheer others on.

7) I love my friends.

Okay, that was not easy. I will follow the rules and tag 3 people with this Awe summmm award! I love to get to know others better so here goes. This is difficult because I have so many bloggy friends that I could tag, but for now:

Steviewren at A little Birdie told me so

Janeen at ChaChaNeen

Julie at Julie King Art

Thanks again, Barb!

Thank you for your Courage!!!

We are so blessed to live in so much freedom. Thank you, those of you that have given for our many freedoms. Men and women that gave it all. We so appreciate so much because of you. God Bless you and your courage!

Where Does It Go?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about time. Getting a handle on it is difficult. I understand the whole....as we get older the reference of all that's happened is different. But, why does it feel like it flies at lightning speed? Summers were so long when I was young and I couldn't wait to get back to school and be with my friends. Now it all zooms along.

I can remember things from fifty years ago and yet I may not be able to tell you what I had for lunch yesterday. Is it just me or do you have these time issues too? I started reading blogs in November of 2007 and in May of 2008 I started this blog. There's so much I still want to say and I'm so thankful for you. I love learning about your life and thank you for sharing mine.

8 Things

I was visiting my friend, Brenna, at Gracefull Girl and she had a post I enjoyed. So I will take the challenge. Brenna is a wonderful, warm mother. She home schools and loves books. I think you would love her posts. Here goes:

8 Things I Am Looking Forward to:
1. Going to Seattle next month
2. Visiting my cousins and Aunt Jean this summer
3. Losing weight
4. Going to my girlfriend's wedding in Florida
5. Watching Avery grow up
6. Seeing my daughter's yard when she's done landscaping
7. Getting emails from my friends
8. Going to heaven

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Went to work
2. Ate Shrimp Salad
3. Mailed some things to my aunt
4. Watched American Idol
5. Read my Bible
6. Bought some cute shoes at Payless
7. Wrote an email to an old friend
8. Thought about making some purses

8 Things That Bring Me Peace and Comfort
1. Reading scriptures
2. Old hymns
3. Doing art with Avery
4. Sitting by a body of water
5. Closing my eyes and listening to our church choir
6. Being able to pay my bills
7. Prayer
8. Taking Naps

Okay, now consider yourself tagged by me. I want to know about you.

First of all, thank you for all your prayers. We met with the doctor this morning and I had the nerve tests. He said that the MRI and nerve tests show that I now have arthritis in the top of my spine. He said there are three vertebrae that are messed up. I can't tell you how relieved I was to find this out. I have had arthritis in my hands, feet and knees for several years and I know that dealing with the chronic pain is one of the biggest parts of the disease for me. I suppose some people would be upset to find out this new information, but I feel like I can deal with it. I had imagined so many other things that, for me, would have been a lot harder to handle at this point.

I came home early today. I didn't sleep well last night and I guess all the waiting and wondering had gotten to me. I watched the Elizabeth Edwards interview with Oprah. They have a huge beautiful home. She has been through so much, losing a child, breast cancer, and then finding out her husband was having an affair and may have a baby with the woman. I think I might be interested in reading her new book.

I hope you have had a great day. I know that I feel a huge sense of relief. I feel like I can face things better once now that it has a name. I feel so blessed!

On the Countdown

I will be heading to the neurologist for one more test. Then I'm supposed to meet to find out the results of my tests. My hubby is coming up to Atlanta tomorrow for the verdict. I told him he didn't have to, but he insisted. I am blessed. I have been thinking about it a lot. I have tried not to, but it will just float into my mind. If it's just something aggravating I will need to live with, I can do it. I just need to know what's wrong and the Lord and I can tackle it.

I needed a little treat tonight so I stopped by Barnes & Nobles and got my new copy of Artful Blogging. I love it. I find it super exciting to look at a whole magazine full of bloggers with so much artistic talent. I highly recommend it. I love to read the Q & A sections and the partial posts. It teases you to check out the blogs.

American Idol is on in the background and I kind of like Danny and Adam for the top two. I think Simon is cute. He is rude at times, but the contestants seem to respect his opinion more than the others. He doesn't sugar coat things. He's not my type as he is too cold and there are many other reasons, but just talking about looks, to me, he's cute.

I painted my nails with O.P.I, "Lincoln Park After Dark". It's kind of dark, but I think it's fun. Don't you ever wonder who these people are that create these names of our products. I mean, really, is this their whole job? Setting around staring at a polish color or lipstick color and making up a name. Crazy as it seems though, I always turn the bottle over in a flash to see the name. If it has a cute name it's just more fun. Okay, here's the question for you guys....have you ever known anyone that makes up these names? Just think there's hair colors, lipsticks, polish, foundations, blush, eye shadows and the list goes on. Might get boring after a while, but while it was fresh and new...what fun!!!!

Breakfast for Dinner

I don't know about you, but I love to have breakfast for dinner. I only had cereal tonight, but it reminded me of when my mom would make a real breakfast for our evening meal. She'd fix the best scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, toast that was perfect with just the right amount of butter. It was so delicious. Now maybe I remember it as tasting fabulous and it really wasn't, but I don't think anyone would argue with me about it. She cooked it just right and I loved it. Why is it that our mothers cooked the best this or that? It must have been a very special ingredient. I think it was love.

Did your mama make you a special dish that you'll always remember?