Thought I'd Update

Hello, Readers! Thought I'd pop in for a few moments and let you all know that I am always thinking of you guys and I hope that the Summertime is treating you and your family all well.

Any plans this year? Or have you already taken trips that you decided on?

Well, so far, so good here in my world. Summer days are bit muggy lately, so it makes for awful hot days. My son is enjoying his Day Treatment Camp time (goes Monday through Thursday, during the day, only).

My oldest who is going in to Middle School this Fall has made ALL Advanced courses, and was accepted/invited to attend a "gifted program" school for her grade range, where they have science labs such as a Lazerarium, Terrariums with different exotic pets (including an iguana and a couple of bearded dragons) and a "hands on" petting fish tank.

My youngest is starting first grade and is pretty apprehensive. But I know she will adjust quickly once she really gets to know her teacher (who is a LOVELY lady who LOVES her job and her students).

Here's a few pictures of some recent past adventures of Summer... And of how big our Bearded Dragon, Gobi is getting since I last posted about him.

Well, soon, we will have LOTS more pictures coming, thanks to our annual trek to King's Dominion coming up. Talk to you all again soon. I can't wait to be back on here more regularly. I'm still on my "hiatus", but wanted to let you all know that I'm still alive and am enjoying myself. Have a great rest of the Summer and I'll "read" you all again very soon.

I'm not a huge fan of Christian music, but..

There are a few singers that I LOVE to listen to. I'm in to Contemporary Christian music. I like a few hymns that are traditional. But I'm really not a "traditional" kind of gal. With that said, here are my favorites (with a fave song video included).

First of all, gotta give kudos to Nicole C. Mullen. The girl can SING!



As for the guys, I have to give it up to Al Denson. The following song brings me to tears EVERY single time.



I've had the awesome pleasure to see Cece Winans perform one year at an Extraordinary Women's concert here in town. She is even more so beautiful in person and gives a WONDERFUL, praise-filled performance. Music for MY generation, and even my kids'. This was one of the songs she sang..



Another tear jerker for me. I love it though! He is my Comfort and my Strength. Darlene Zschech had done a wonderful job with this song.



Delirious has some good P&W tunes also.



I think that personally, I really needed to hear some of these and just give it all to God. It's honestly been a very emotionally charged (almost) two weeks for me and my family. Between after-school activities, the home invasion and my son's problems escalating due to the break-in, I have been stressed beyond limits. It was refreshing and calming to listen and even sing to these this morning.

True, I'm not a church-going, drop-to-my-knees-every-ten-minutes, constant-Bible-reading Christian, but I know HE loves me, He sacrificed EVERYTHING for me and that He is there even in the midst of every storm to help carry and weather me through.

It Was A 'Pay It Forward' kind of evening

They say that Angels walk among us. They are hidden within society, not showing their wings, as to blend in. They show mercy, love and kindness. Some are our Guardian Angels, sent here to be with us, help guide us and to protect us.

I truly believe we have met an "Angel in Disguise"...

Last night, hubby and I decided to take the kids out for dinner. He was in the mood for Wendy's (seeing as what he is REALLY in the mood for, he can't have at the moment, so something else HAS TO take its place).

After a good, long wait, being that for some reason, the place was packed and the line long (on a SUNDAY night), we finally made it up to the counter to give the Cashier our order.

Between the meal combos and the Frosties (can't leave without having a Frosty!)the bill racked up to almost forty dollars (within a few cents!).

Scott whipped out the trusty Check Card and proceeded to hand it to the lady behind the counter, only to be told to put his card back in to his wallet.

After giving the woman a puzzled look, she said "someone already paid for your order" and then secretively-like told Scott it was the "lady ahead of you in the pink shirt".

By that time, I'd already sat the kids down at a table. He came to me and explained all that transpired and I was just flabbergasted, to say the least. So, as the "Lady In Pink" was sitting at a booth, awaiting her order, I sauntered over and thanked her for her sincere kindness.

Being that my poor cell phone was about to die, I had enough umph in it to post a text to my FaceBook about it. When I got home, I was surprised at how many "liked" or replied to my post. Especially those that were shocked that there are still people out there that love others enough, even strangers, to do "random acts of kindness".

But like I later stated on another Status I had done, the kindness of strangers still amazes me, but doesn't truly surprise me. I know that they are still out there, though in now a rare breed.

And like I said, blessed are the meek. This woman and her generous heart had taught my children something that no school, nor even I as a parent talking about it could ever teach them. They witnessed what I have told them about "love thy neighbor and do unto others as you wish to have done unto you".

They know (well, at least the two older ones do) that eventually, and as a family mind you, we intend to "pay it forward" to a fellow stranger. Be it at a restaurant, at the gas station or even the grocery store.

And after what I'd been witness to and on the receiving end of, it took me back to the movie starring Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt aptly named "Pay It Forward", where a teacher who is scarred from a fire has his class do a project of doing a good deed for someone, then in turn that person does a good deed for another. Then that person goes and also does a good deed, and so on. The stipulation? The receiver MUST follow through and "pay it forward" with an act of kindness towards another. Be it a stranger or a friend or family member.

With that all said, I *CHALLENGE* all of my readers who are reading this post to go out and "PAY IT FORWARD". And it does NOT have to be with buying something or paying for something for another person. Just as long as it's a random act of kindness.

Want some FUNNY with your signs?

Bible Q&A Day

Welcome to the first of many posts for this series. We will be looking Book by Book at the Bible.

Each question and it's following answer will be provided by "500 Questions And Answers From The Bible" (Mark Fackler, Editor, 2006, Barbour Publishing Inc.)

(Genesis 1:1)

Q; Where did the universe come from?

A; Who has not heard a child ask that question? Unfortunately we have no eyewitness around to answer it. We do have a record, however. Genesis 1 is the story of God's creation of the word and its heavens. Genesis does not intend to be a comprehensive, detailed account of how God created all there is. The story moves in wide, sweeping strokes. Yet it does answer two fundamental questions about when and who-in the beginning and God.

Most religious faiths recognize that the world could not have created itself. For the universe to do that, it would have to exist before itself, which is logically impossible. Something outside of and existing prior must be responsible for its creation. That something, the Bible tells us, is Someone-God.

Nothing forced God's decision to create. The decision was an expression of God's character: creative, rational, loving. God created the world to say something about Himself, to extend His relational nature to embrace beings who bear His image, and to communicate with them.

Genesis does not provide a scientific record of how and when the universe was created. Christians who wish to argue with science about these matters become caught in the give-and-take of empirical data and scientific interference, a debate that the Book of Genesis was not intended to solve. (Recall that not long ago Christians firmly believed that a Biblical view required that the earth was the center of the universe and all other heavenly bodies revolved around it. Nowadays, thanks to scientific measurement, only crackpots make such an argument. Christians can and should learn from science.)

Genesis teaches that the universe sprang from God's nature and will. The mechanics that God employed to give expression to His will are the important domains of science (physics, chemistry, biology), which like other fields of study has sometimes, regrettably, forgotten about God. But each source-the Genesis account and science-plays a vital roll in our understanding of God's creation. Genesis identifies the God whom we should praise, and science employs God's gifts of intelligence and curiosity to uncover clues the mechanics of God's work.

********************************************************************

So, in a nutshell, in my mind, Genesis just lays out the subtle clues as to how God made way for us to be where we are today. I believe personally, in both the scientific theory of the "Big Bang" , as well as that God laid the beginning foundations for the rest of it all to come in to play.

As a Christian myself, I cannot deny science. I cannot deny what they have discovered about the universe and of what discoveries that they have made concerning our world, and of us. But I also cannot deny that there is MORE to the picture. Something we will NEVER be able to explain. And that is God's hand in how we came to be.

He gave us gifts. Every one of us possess reasoning and the ability to use our logic ALONG SIDE our faith. God also gave some of us a lot of logic and intellectual ability (think medical doctors, scientists of all kinds, teachers). We all have a contribution. Because God made it so. By creating what we know of...Earth, land and sea, humans in His image, the universe.

If you like this new series, and wish to do so, GRAB MY BUTTON (below) and share it, and let others know that on Wednesday's and Sunday's, a new "Bible Q&A Day" post will be put out.

Please feel free to also share your thoughts and ideals in the comment area. Just keep it CIVIL, is all that I ask. Debate is great! But I will NOT have fights.

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New Look For The New Year! Come Take A Peek.

Well, at least this one isn't too complicated to work with. While I have loved the unique design of my blog that I have had for some time now, thanks to CheapskateMom, I felt it was time for a change and to freshen things up a bit to coincide with the new year starting.

As most of my friends know, I am a coffee fanatic. So what better theme to choose than to log on to find a hot, fresh-looking, steamy cup of joe?

At some point today (with the help from my daughter, Hayley) I will be doing the first installment of the Bible Q&A series (that will take place on Wed.'s and Sun.'s). I will be typing out the question and answer WORD FOR WORD from the book, "500 Questions And Answers From The Bible"...If some answers are VERY long (as like with the first post), then I will give my *personal* statements/views on the answers within the COMMENT section.

So with that all said, I shall be back later on today or this evening. Until then, I hope you all like the new look and have a great Wednesday.

Would you join me?

Thanks to my MIL's gift card giving this year for Christmas, I was able to buy a few things I wanted to have and know I would use.

One item being a book (for under $8.00 mind you!) that has 500 questions in regards to the Bible, and answers of explanation.

It goes by Chronological order to coincide with the Bible's text order. So, I would post the question (word for word), and then the answer it gives (word for word).

Then underneath, I'd place (********) to indicate the end of the quotes from the book and give my PERSONAL view of how I view the answer's explanation.

I'm not a fanatical, Bible-wielding Christian who even goes to church. I'm just a simple believer who enjoys learning in her own way and own time of how the Bible pertains to me as an individual and question myself a bit. And I have my own interpretation of how I read and view the Bible.

If this sounds like something you would like to read and participate in, let me know. I'm planning to do the first post TOMORROW (Wednesday, Jan. 5th, 2011), and will do them each Wednesday and Sunday.

It would be WONDERFUL to make this fun, engaging and interactive.

I've even made a GRAB BUTTON for this... (now that I found out how to do them on my own)

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Feel free to grab my button and spread the word about what I think will be a great series for all levels of believers (and non-believers) to discuss and learn from.

25 Days of Christmas (Day 9, 10 & 11)

Yes, I have three days in one post to do for the "25 Days Of Christmas" series, seeing as I have been WAY too busy to get anything done this past week.

First up, Day 9...More Christmas Decorating; The Outdoors Edition. In pictures mind you.

                  The newest edition (up to that point) was the Skiing Santa.

                      Yes, his arms REALLY DO move as if he really is skiing!

                        Meet our newest and latest edition to the Yard Deco Family...18 Ft. Frosty the Snowman!


Now, for "Day 10"... "Christmas" (Holiday/Winter) Party Planning... Wanna Trade Places?


School. The place where young minds go to learn and grow socially. And a place for a Room Mother to dread planning parties for twenty-two children aging between five and six years old.

Yep, that time again to plan another party. We have to call it Winter Holiday party of course, seeing we HAVE TO BE all PC about it.

And let me tell ya right here and now, I have some of the BEST parents to work with this year. In the three years since moving to this school and taking responsibility as "Head Parent" in the classrooms of my kids, I have NEVER seen as much devotion to and willingness to help and support myself and the kids in the class as I have in Skyler's Kindergarten classroom.

We're going to have craft time, Christmas music, all kinds of goodies to eat, pass out Christmas cards and presents, and goody bags filled with candy and trinkets. These kids are going to have a WONDERFUL time. I'd say that this will be  one of the best parties I have ever put together or have seen for a classroom to have.


Last, but most certainly NOT least..."Day 11", A TRUE Christmas Miracle.


As many of my FaceBook Friends know, we in our area have been passing around and getting other friends from all over the USA to share an Amber Alert about 12-year-old Brittney Smith. Her mother was found dead in their home, and that the live-in boyfriend who is 32, took Brittney and ran off.

For a week, there has been a nation-wide manhunt for Jeff Easley and his hostage, Brittney. They were last seen on a WalMart video surveillance tape leaving the store with a ton of groceries and a tent that was purchased with Tina Smith's (mom) credit card.

Last night, it was reported that Brittney Smith was FOUND, as was Jeff Easley. Best of all, she is ALIVE and to the furthest of knowing, doing well and doesn't look to be injured. They were spotted by a store clerk over 2,700 miles away from here, in San Francisco.

Not many children are lucky to be found alive and unharmed. Being just two weeks shy of Christmas, this is truly a Christmas Miracle.

Welcome home, Brittney! It's good that you can be home and be here for your mother's funeral. I'm very sorry for your loss. Losing your brother was horrible enough.

My thoughts and prayers are with Brittney and her grandmother, who apparently will be the one taking her in, after the loss of HER only child.













                       

Sunrise Sunday (Join in the positivity!)

Each week, I will have a picture of a different sunrise at the top of the page. Underneath, I will state the positives from the previous week, and the positives that are to come in the week ahead. NOTHING NEGATIVE will be allowed in the post.

If you wish to participate, find a sunrise picture and follow the directions. And be sure to link THIS POST with your post as well, for your readers to look at, and see how it all works as well. Each of my posts will include the "rules" and how to post a Sunday Sunrise.




For this week, I am looking forward to Hayley's birthday party (today). She turned 11 on Thursday, but I had to do the party today due to school schedule, my husband's work schedule, and a prior family obligation.


Also, I am once again pulling a full day at school on Wednesday. Between helping with Art Class, doing things for Friday stuff, seeing as we (the kids) have Friday off, and also helping with a Staff Luncheon (for Teacher Appreciation).


Then, Thanksgiving is just around the bend. Not even a week to go and I can already smell the rolls, pies, turkey and all the other goodies that will be slammed in to my mouth. YUMMMM...Round 2, here I come!

Sunrise Sunday

It's once more the beginning of a new week. At least according to my husband's company work-week schedule.

I'm hoping that this new meme/carnival I'm trying to start and establish will be welcomed with open arms, is followed, and has other bloggers participating.  I want more POSITIVITY. Not just in my blog, to see in other's blogs or on other pages. But also within my own life. So, I'm hoping that by doing Sunday Sunrise each week, that I will be able to clearly see the new beginnings of each week in a positive light and also see the positives in my life.

Each week, I will have a picture of a different sunrise at the top of the page. Underneath, I will state the positives from the previous week, and the positives that are to come in the week ahead. NOTHING NEGATIVE will be allowed in the post.

If you wish to participate, find a sunrise picture and follow the directions. And be sure to link THIS POST with your post as well, for your readers to look at, and see how it all works as well. Each of my posts will include the "rules" and how to post a Sunday Sunrise.

*If anyone can make blog buttons, PLEASE help me out and make one for me to include as a grab button...It would be greatly appreciated!*

Here goes the launch! (And the only one with the picture this far down the post.)

Last week, I had been able to clear up (once again) a misunderstanding for my son's SSI pay without wishing to take someone's head off.

Also, I felt good and proud of myself on Friday for the fact that I was able to get everything, but one example project, completed on my "to do" list in the Kindergarten class that I work in for volunteer time at school.

For this coming week, I look forward to one-on-one time with the two older of my children and being able to go on trips with them. One being Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest. The other, another trip to Jamestown Settlement in Williamsburg.

I'm also gearing up for the first of two birthday parties, that will be back-to-back in two separate weekends.

And I'm looking forward to a full week of seeing "my" kids at school for various upcoming functions. I'm helping with a Staff Breakfast for Teacher Appreciation Week, then also going on the trips, and am planning on helping in class on Thursday (seeing as I won't be there Friday).

*Want to spread some positivity? If you like this new meme/carnival, then LINK IT UP and share it with others and feel free to snowball the fun and positivity.*

One Year and Counting

Yesterday was filled with a lot of laughter, smiles and fun. But deep down, I knew exactly what the day was all about. Some of it, sad. While, for the most part, good.

I'd spent the entire school day in my youngest daughter's Kindergarten class. We carved real pumpkins in "teams". Then we did a ton of different crafts. Including my 'Jack-O-Lantern Jug' that they have an option to use as a candy collection jug for Trick-Or-Treating.

After trying to think of something to do to commemorate the special meaning of October 29th as being the Transplant Anniversary since having my new Cornea placed in, helping me to once more see, and even be able to keep the whole eye that at this time last year was ravaged with infection to the point is nearly impossible to save it, I think I found my way of honoring my Donor, their family and the significance of the day.

I had fun. I smiled. I played with the wonderful children I help every week in the classroom. I even danced with the kids at the Halloween Dance that was put on for them after school. I lived life as I always have. As a survivor of the hurdles I have had to face, and as the mother I was before my sight in the left eye was robbed, thanks to infection and an accident.

As I sit here and think back about the past week, I honestly cannot think of a better way to thank and honor such a gift, or the Donor that gave of themselves. To live my life. Be happy. To be the mother that I was meant to be to my children. To be the wife I have striven to be for my husband for the past eight years of our marriage. To be the friend that I have always been or have to tried to have been to others.

My donor gave me what was robbed of me in a matter of seconds. Even though apparently, the damage was already severely done over the prior months before. But it took just one accidental poke with my own knuckle to complete what the infection set out to do. To take away my sight completely from my left eye.

Almost a month later, my Donor gave me their cornea, thanks to their loving gift at the end of their life, and to sheer luck that one was readily available to fit my needs.

At first, it killed me inside to know that I had to have someone die to let me live my life as I have always known. I had "Survivor's Guilt". Especially when Thanksgiving and Christmas came around. I knew that as I sat down to dinner and opening gifts, another family was sitting around grieving and wishing that their loved one was still here to enjoy life and the holidays with.

Now that the year has come along, and I am pretty much back to normal like before all of this had happened, I no longer try to think about things in a "sad way". I know deep within my heart, my Donor is happy with my getting back on with life and enjoying being a wife and a mother.

They gave me my life back. And for that, I will FOREVER be grateful. To them, and to their family. And I have realized, at least for me personally, the best way to honor them, not just on October 29th, but EVERY single day of the year, is to just live my life to the fullest capacity, smile as much as I can, and know that THEY TO know just how thankful that I am of the gift that they bravely and heroically gave to me.

Finding yourself via FaceBook.

You probably read that title and thought to yourself that I have officially gone off the deep end. Admit it! Yeah, that's what I thought.

Some of us have personalities that are very open and we know everything about ourselves. What am I saying, you ask? Basically, you know yourself and how much you observe in your world and your life. You know of every single one of your likes, as well as all of your dislikes. People, places, music, literature. You name it, you know of it, all the way down to your very core.

If you are not a FaceBook crackhead, then you are probably quite confused. Let me break it down to it's very simplicity... When you update your interests, you are automatically linked with a "Like" page for that person, place or thing. And/or you can search for said PPT and "Like" it's page.

Some people only "like" a few things. Some people "like" A LOT of things. I have some friends on FaceBook that fall within that first category. I though, fall in to the latter one. And after really looking at all of my interests and "likes" across the board, I think I honestly shocked myself.

Recently, FB had added a new feature. You can see how many "Likes" your friends have, and how many total are on your page as well. For some it's no more than 20. Some, up to 50 or 100...Then there are those such as myself with 200 or more!

After seeing with my own eyes just how many interests and "likes" that I have, my jaw about hit my hardwood floor. It really gave me a great ideal of who I REALLY AM.

I'm more than a wife or a mother. I am more than just a Volunteer at my children's school. I'm more than a daughter or sister-in-law. I am uniquely varied in taste and perception. I am from one extreme to another. I'm a little bit country, and a little bit rock n' roll. I'm a tad bit drama, and a whole lot of laughter.

Life overall has never been all roses, rainbows, puppies and lollipops. I have had more than my fair share of downs that, when looking back, outweighed the ups. But I rolled with the punches and came out the better person in the end, in this thing we call "life".

After seeing everything that I "like", that I take interest in, what my relationships are and weave it all together, I see the entire package now, that makes ME who *I* am.

Now, I can see what so many see in me. I can go with Adam Sandler one minute, laughing until I cry and my sides hurt, to being wrapped up in a love story that stars Sandra Bullock and cry my happy and sad tears all of the way through the movie's entirety.

Or, one moment, I'm listening to Reba McEntire singing "His Name Was John" on the local country station, only to tune in to Lady Gaga on the Rock/Pop station as she sings "Bad Romance".

So much variation is within my life. And I *LIKE* it that way.

How do your FaceBook "likes" cast you and your personality? Do they show the TRUE, FULL and the REAL you? Take a look and see if you "find" yourself today.

Pouring Your Heart Out w/Shell...Back To School Time.

Do you need to pour your heart out about something? Then click on the button above to Shell's post at Things I Can't Say, grab a button to put on your PYHO post, and begin pouring.


Please be mindful that everyone linking to Shell's PYHO post is pouring their hearts out and we should all be respectful in our comments. ;)


In our school, they teach (elementary level) Pre-K, through 5th. Last year was THE day for my youngest. She was almost 5 then (will be 6 in a few months). I, like many, counted down the days, made everything sound right in the world to her in regards to going to "big kid" school. And I made it like it was block-party time because Miss Skyler was *GOING TO SCHOOL!*.

When the day was FINALLY here, we got her in her uniform (yes, we are a uniform school..blech!), her big sissy and bro-bro helped her pack her back pack and then all of us (incl. dad who went in late to see this) waited for the inevitable. The first bus ride "alone" as a fully independent child. Not the dependent baby I raised to get to this stage of life.

As we stood there, I had flashbacks of all three kids run through my head. Of when they were babies and toddlers. And then I saw before my eyes, the wonderful children that they (at this point in their lives) have thus far grown up to be.


Sure, I smiled, laughed, made it all-out exciting and positive. But I was dying a little inside. It hurt to see my last baby go off. And seeing Skyler get on that bus did me in. Yes, I kept that slapped-on smile upon my face, and I waved to her as they started to pull off. But, as soon as they were out of eyesight, I lost it.

No longer could I hold back the hurt that my heart felt. The tears in their dam were no longer able to be kept at bay. Reality hit me square in the face, and in the heart.

Walking back in to the house, it was eerily quiet. I was so used to hearing Nick Jr. on the television and seeing Skyler munching on a morning goody (cereal mainly).

But on that day, it was just me and the cats. No "Mama!! I'm thirsty.", or "Mama! Where we go today?". Because, she was at "big kid" school.

This year, it will be a bit better. And Skyler is SO very excited to be going back to school. So is Bryce. Hayley on the other hand? She is 50/50 on the subject.

I get to do this again NEXT year with my oldest, who will be in Middle/Junior High School. It will (I'm sure) be riddled with many of the same fears as I had with them going off to Kindergarten (or Pre-K in Skyler's case) for the first time. Only this time, with MUCH more peer pressure and other "really big kid" things.

Even now, I can see Hayley (and yes, Bryce, too) as they were in the days of where Skyler is now. And all I can wonder at this point is...

God, where does the time fly off to? It all happens so quickly.

Post It Note Tuesday's w/Supah...Get your sticky on!

Wanna play too? Then come on and post some sticky notes with us!

McDonald's is changing the world.

McDonald's. It's been a kid-friendly staple for over fifty years. Who knew that when Ray Kroc first opened his little burger joint's doors, that it would be the mega-empire it is today?

It wasn't (if I remember correctly) until the middle 1970's that Happy Meals started to appear. Back then, it was either a hamburger or cheeseburger, with a small fry and a kid-sized drink.

Today, there are various types of Happy Meals. From burgers, to nuggets, to even a Snack Wrap. Plus you can now choose fries or "Apple Dippers", and either a milk (or chocolate milk), Apple Juice, or a fountain drink (AKA soda).

The other day, I had taken my kids for a breakfast. I had no milk, so no cereal. And I wanted to get out of the house anyways. At first I didn't seem to notice, but when I went to throw some trash away, I did.

Usually, you can see the small, plastic boxes where you can drop coins in to the box's slot. All proceeds in that box goes to the Ronald McDonald's Charity House for your general locality.

There, now in a huge window display poster, it now reads that Happy Meals and McDonald's was bringing even more smiles...and hope to kids and their families.

Namely families with sick, hospitalized children.

To my memory, if it serves me right, my parents, a time or two, had to stay at the Ronald McDonald Charity House while I was hospitalized. Plus, even though it was for a (grown) uncle, I and his (then) girlfriend and were able to stay a night at the Ronald McDonald Charity House here for this area.

McDonald's has (for the most part) always been committed to children and their families. They help HUNDREDS of families every year, around the United States.

When families, and their children must travel long distances for medical treatment, or the child is transferred via ambulance or helicopter to a distant hospital, then this is where the RMCH comes in.

They house the family (and sometimes the child too, if they are not admitted to the hospital), feed them a meal, let them shower and rest. And the RMCH has as much of a comfortable environment as possible. To make it as much a "home away from home" as they can make it.

I'm so happy that children and their families have somewhere to go, and feel safe, and be comfortable, as well as relaxed during their child's most trying time of life. And I'm happy to be a part of it. I love giving back to those that helped me and my family when I was a child. Be it RMCH, Children's Miracle Network (CMN), or Shriner's Organization.

Without them all, I don't know where myself, my parents or the millions of families like ours would have (or would in the future) do without them.

Extreme Blog Makeover....Thanks to Angel and to Tamara.

First off, I need to thank my sweet friend, Angel over at Angel Believes (http://singedwingangel.blogspot.com/). She had apparently won a contest that gave her a new blog button and header from Tamara (Cheapskatemom over at http://proudtobecheap.blogspot.com/). And knowing she was already getting a set up from someone else, she decided to let me have the new blog button and header.

After Tamara and I had communicated (A LOT), she got to work. Not only did I get fitted with a new header and Blog Button, but a COMPLETE overhaul. Button, header, a feed, a counter and a whole new overall look (background and all). She decided that with the color schemes, and the way I was already set up, along with what I lacked (and really wanted, but didn't know how to get them), that she would entirely redo my page for me.

I've gone semi-retro, brighter and with more attractive colors, a "happy" looking header that is inviting (as is the blog button). And at the bottom of the posts, it says, "__ People Have Made Me Happy".

I LOVE IT!

Tamara is a true artist when it comes to blog page set-ups. She has a true gift. And I cannot thank her, or Angel enough for the opportunity to receive such a BEAUTIFUL page.,,,Again, thank you to BOTH LADIES! A million to infinity times over.

Nothing to Say Day

Seeing as I have a severe case of writer's block and no one is wanting to REALLY help me via Twitter, Facebook, or my Fan Page (at Facebook), even after begging on my knees for topics, I figured a picture post was in order....

Wait! ONE friend did suggest a topic to me. But that topic, I am really not too sure on. I see too much of both sides on that one and I'm not in the mood for any knock-down-drag-outs today.

Instead, I think a hardy laugh is in order. Or two. Or three. Or....oh bloody hell! Laugh as much as you freaking want to. Better?