Fuzzy Fussing

Our little grandson, who is 10 months old now, has found himself a new game: Grab Oma's slippers!

He loves my house-slippers. They are so soft and fuzzy. He will come crawling up to me, grab one of my slippers and pull it of my foot. His first reaction is looking at the slipper in his hands, then looking at my foot and trying to put it back on. He has not mastered that yet, so when it doesn't work, he starts playing with and chewing on it. Since I don't think that's very hygienic, I ask it back. Then he grins, turns around and takes off with my slipper. The little critter crawls as fast a mouse these days and is gone before you know it.

When I catch him and put the slipper back on my foot, he tries grabbing it again, but since I won't let him have it, he starts fussing, putting on a poor little pathetic face. Awwww.........

I think I am going to get him his own pair for Christmas!

Blond Moments

"With age comes wisdom" is an expression often used. I think the older we get, the more experience, which leads to learning and therefore to gaining a certain knowledge. I often find myself reading something I had read several times before and suddenly get the full meaning of it. I guess God decided it was time for me to understand then, and not before.

Many times in life I find myself in a state of total blondness, haha. Hardly any amount of reasoning and/or explanation makes sense and after a looooong time I finally get it, just to find myself in total oblivion again a few moments later. Aggravation galore! I know we will never know and understand it all in this life. And what I don't understand, I have to accept in/by/through Faith. Bang... that's hitting the nail right on the head! Why do we often make it all so much more difficult by not accepting what we don't understand, instead of doing it the easy way and just have faith?

I won't use "being blonde" as a justification, but... Do blonde moments fade as your hair turns grey?

"Q"

Stands for Quality.

Quality of life, for which we ourselves are solely responsible. You can do a whole lot of living in a short period of time, but does that mean you thoroughly enjoy all you are doing, or do you grasp just the superficial and is your mind already on the next thing that lies ahead?

Too much, too quick can make you miss out on a lot of things that could have enriched your life and the experience. You may be fully aware of the main event, but it's often the smaller things surrounding it, that add the quality.

"P"

For me, is associated with Prayer, but also with Persistence, Perseverance and Pride.

What is the connection in those? This is how I see it:

We all have our pride, which interferes with acknowledging and admitting to ourselves we are far from perfect. We have to set that pride aside and continually persist and persevere in doing so, in order to become a better person.
I believe we can not do that on our own and prayer is in order, to get the strength needed, to overcome ourselves.

If you want to make the world a better place, start with yourself!

"O"

Is associated with..... Oxi-clean, hahaha.

This is no advertisement! Seriously, I use that stuff for cleaning almost anything. It's so easy and works great. I suspect you are familiar with the normal use of it, but how about this: A scoop in the bath-tub in hot water, dip in the blinds, rinse them and they are as good as new! It takes me not even 5 minutes to clean a blind!

A bouquet of artificial flowers can get so yuckie. Well, run some hot water in the sink with oxi-clean, put in the flowers and gently move them to and fro, rinse and done. As sparkling clean as if you just bought them.

These are just a few tips and tricks I use. Maybe you have some of your own. Wanna share?? I sure would like to hear them.

"N"

With N I automatically think of Nature!

The beauty of it is incredible and keeps astonishing me each time. The fresh green buds in Spring, the enormous diversity of flowers in Summer, those wonderful intense warm colors in Fall, the frosted bear trees and fields, the frozen ponds and lakes in Winter. Each season has it's own lovely characteristics.

Nature is never boring. I think we often take it for granted and hardly even notice it. Why not take some time to look closer? The texture and the forms of the leaves, the cracked bark of a tree, the nuts and seeds spread on the ground. Close your eyes and listen. It's soothing, peaceful and de-stressing.

So, while you are raking up the leaves, don't forget to smell the roses! :-)

Turkey Recipe

NEW TURKEY RECIPE
includes the use of popcorn as a stuffing, imagine that!

When I found this recipe, I thought it was perfect for people like me, who just aren't sure how to tell when poultry is thoroughly cooked, but not dried out. Give this a try.

Baked Stuffed Turkey - 12 to 15 lbs. roasting turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farms is good)
1 cup uncooked popcorn (ORVILLE REDENBACHERS LOW FAT)

Salt/Pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn. Place in baking pan with the
neck end toward the back of the oven. Listen for the popping sounds. When the turkey's behind blows the oven door open and the turkey flies across the room – ITS DONE!

Another piece of advice: Keep doors and windows closed, take cover, or hoist yourself in well-protecting clothing. I would advice to do both the last. When hearing the popping sounds, do not open the oven, you might get blasted. Do not prevent the oven-door from flying open, you might like to use the oven in the future!

Bon Appetite! :-D

"M"

M stands for Mindful.

To be mindful of eachother is essential in a relationship. In any relationship for that matter, be it with loved ones, friends, or even a very superficial random contact, like the lady behind the register. They all are persons with their own joys, burdens and trials and all are entitled to be treated as a person.

No, we may not always want to, but then consider how we would feel if someone else wouldn't be mindful of us. What if they totally overlooked and ignored us? How would that make us feel? I know I would be very hurt!

Just keep in mind: What goes around, comes around. You reap what you sow. :-)

Water

I came across a post that was very interesting and my thanks to that person for allowing me to post this on here:-)

It concerns the healing power of water. Yeah, my eye-brows raised as well, haha. It definitely aroused my curiosity!

" Masaru Emoto : The Hidden Messages in Water and The True Power of Water,
After freezing water that is talked to nicely, immersed in beautiful music, or surrounded by written kind words, the crystals form beautifully and well. When water is talked badly too, immersed in very loud, obnoxious music, shown pictures of devastated land, or surrounded by written unkind words, the crystals do not form, or if they form they are deformed, incomplete, or very non-symmetrical.
Furthermore, he thinks that it's not so much the words and music, but the thoughts and feelings that are projected onto the water that make the difference.
He also shows that modern electronic devices (TV's, cell phone, microwaves, computers, etc.) have the same effect on water as negative thoughts/emotions: they render it incapable of producing crystals.
Finally, he shows that chemicals added to water to clean it (such as in cities) also drastically reduce water's ability to form the beautiful ice crystals, but that water from natural sources (waterfalls, rivers, lakes, etc.) that have not been inundated with chemicals or sewage readily forms ice crystals.
He postulates that our thoughts & emotions resonate on particular frequencies, and that those frequencies can be transmitted to water - the water then responds to what we are projecting.
It's interesting to note that one of the case studies he talks about is where a Buddhist priest said a cleansing prayer over a reservoir. Water samples were taken both before and after the prayer: before the prayer water crystals would not form, but after the prayer some of the most beautiful crystals he'd ever seen had formed."

" F. Barmanghelidj, M.D :Water: for Health, for Healing, for Life.
He states that many diseases and disorders suffered by people come from a lack of water - a condition of chronic dehydration that most people live with. Many common ailments (heartburn, fatigue, stress, headaches, lower back pain, constipation, etc.) and even major diseases (cancer, autoimmune cases, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc.) would be due to a lack of water flowing through the body and retained by the body. By the time we "feel" thirsty our bodies have already entered a mild stage of dehydration: if we wait until we are thirsty to drink a glass of water we would already be to late.
He further states that as we age we start to lose the ability to distinguish water thirst - and that many people mistake water thirst for hunger pains and then eat more to try and quench their thirst.
He recommends drinking at least 8 ounces of water upon rising, 8 ounces about 30 minutes before you eat, and at least 8 ounces about an hour and a half after you eat. That works out to at least seven 8-ounce servings of water a day.
He recommends cutting out all drinks with caffeine (because it is a diuretic which causes the body to lose more water then is put in), and increasing the intake of salt as the intake of water is increased (to help promote healthy water retention where needed in the body)."

The results starting this are amazing! It worked for the minor (and not so minor) ailments they were experiencing.

After reading this, I have to admit, it definitely is worth trying. Taking in more water, like described above, can not harm (unless using the bathroom more frequently then usual is, haha).

"L"

L is for Love!

We all need to be loved, but we also need to love. It's better to give than to receive.:-)

Love is not all about constantly being happy and butterflies. It's also about making sacrifices, putting those you love before yourself. Doing what's best under any given circumstance. Feelings of love do not necessarily mean you love someone, you also choose to love them. You can feel love, but when your actions are all geared towards your own wants and how to get it, there is no sacrifice in that. The choice to love is to set your wants aside and do what is best for the other, fill their needs. Even when it hurts, apply the Golden Rule.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." If we all did that, wouldn't the world be a so much better place?!

"K"

Kory.

I know you must be wondering what kind of word that is, well... it isn't, haha. But here is the scoop:

I was about 4 years old when I had gotten a ball. That was the greatest thing to me, I loved it. There was one big concern however, I was afraid I would loose it. Now how could I make sure to get it back in case I did? Simple, write my name on it.

I found a pen and made sure to write my name on the ball in huge letters. That way it couldn't be overlooked. It took me quite a while and when I was finally done, I went to show my mom, who was outside talking to the neighbor-lady.

Proud as I was, I showed them my prize-possession. Confusion set in as they both started laughing. My mom had taught me how to read and write a little. I had no clue at that point yet how to spell my own name and instead of Corry, I had written Kory. Can you imagine my disappointment??? :-)

Place your Bid

Do you get all those Sweepstake offers, that only fill up your mailbox and turn out to be nothing but a hoax? You have to order things, or fill out forms before you can even be eligible to be in the race for a prize.

What if you can go online and have fun playing a user-friendly game and bid on Apple I-Phone’s, HDTV’s, Designer Bags, SCION XB’s to Cash Prizes, for free, several times a day and really win it? No costs involved, entirely Free gifts and even a Cash prize? Seriously, all free. No shipping and handling even. You will be notified by e-mail when you win, but you can also see immediately online if your bid was the lowest.

Yeah, it is text based reverse-auction game, where the lowest unique bid will win the prize. You don't need cash, you can win it! All you got to do is place your bid.

"J"

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis!

The reason why this pops up in my thoughts is, I have a friend in New Zealand who is stricken with this disease. She has had it ever since she was a child and is in a lot of pain. She is only 20 years old and no pain medication seems to help. When it does, it's only for a very short period of time. Her body gets immune to it very quick.

In spite of being constantly in pain, she has the greatest disposition I have ever seen. Always joyful, encouraging and making the best of things. I admire her determination and commitment to go on, even when the pain almost prevents her from walking. Way to go girl!!! You are in my mind, heart and prayers.

Critter's Cooings III

BOOOO! Scared ya??? No?? Ok, I will try harder next time! grin.

Well, have I got news for you! I am going to be a big brother! :-D Noooo, not that tv-show, for real! My mommy is going to have another baby. It's due on February 25th. I am not sure what "due" means. I suppose if it's not there by then, they are coming to get it? Hmmmm.... odd, how can you come and get it, when it's not there? Oh well, I suppose it's going to be alright.

Anyway, I just needed to share this and I wanted to ask you to pray for my mommy and our new baby, that all may go well. And of course for Daddy too, might be tough on him having two cooing critters around. Maybe not as long as we are cooing, hahaha.

Opa and Oma are thrilled and thankful, although Oma suspects both of us are going to hog her computer from time to time and bug y'all with our ramblings. Honestly, I think she only minds having to wipe off her puter, cause that watery mouth of mine just ain't stopping yet. By the time mine has, my sibling's will take over, hehe.

I am looking forward to the new baby. I don't think I mind whether it's a brother or a sister. All I will say to our new baby is this:

"Big brother is watching you!!!. " Grin.

"I"

I am having problems with this letter. Not that I can't come up with any, I come up with too many. Idea, Ink, Injection, Interesting, Intervention, Irresponsibility, Irritation, Insane, and many more.

I just don't seem to have any first thoughts connected to any of them. I actually had to sit down and really get my brain in gear to think about a word starting with this letter. As you just read, I came up with many, but none jumped out.

Maybe I am too self-centered, because I use the pronoun I very much. "I" guess "I" do associate something with it, huh! Don't know if that's good, haha.

Quote

There are many good quotes going around. Some are just outright funny and don't require a lot of thinking. I however, love the ones that make a point, or jog my brain to consideration. I may not always agree with it, but that hardly ever occurs.

Take this one for example:
"Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what’s for dinner.
Liberty is a well armed sheep contesting the decision of the wolves."
~B. Franklin.

I had never heard or read this before. It sure makes good sense and I can see how it's true. What is so intriguing to me, is wondering how or when he came up with it. I suspect while having dinner. Maybe lamb-chops? What do you think??

The Clintons

I got this by e-mail and it kinda scared the diddly-doodle out of me. Not just the idea of it, but the pic is outright frightening. It's like watching one of those still-lives and suddenly this creepy creature pops up on your screen. Makes me want to jump up and run, ... screaming! It does, even without the still-life, haha.



Appearance-wise they sure do look alike. Makes me wonder if we haven't been fooled by one and the same person. Anyway, now I know what a Hill Billy looks like!

"H"

H stand for Home.
Many expressions are related with it. Home Sweet Home, Home is where the heart is, There is no place like Home. I have no doubt you can find several more.

Have you ever asked yourself: What is Home? It is not just a place that exists by default. It's a place created with and by love and care! Some houses may be laden with exquisite and expensive furniture and knickknacks, but are not "home". There is no loving, comfortable, peaceful atmosphere surrounding you when you enter. Others may be a shack, but make you want to kick off your shoes and sit back and relax.

Home is what you make of it and it doesn't matter where that is. The capability, opportunity and the choice to make a place a home is all yours. YOU are (or can be) Home!

"G"

Gratitude!

Looking around me I see so many blessings and it makes me grateful and humbled. I know I don't deserve any of this but still I have all I need and then some.

It also reminds me of Grandson, soon to be grandsons! The riches brought to our lives by this little critter are indescribable. Somehow it seems like we enjoy him more then we did our own babies. Maybe because we have the pleasures and not the burdens, haha.

That last is not entirely true thought. We carry the burdens together. :-)

So what does the letter G make you think of?

"F"

F is for Family and Friends!

What would we do without them? We all need the love, care, the safety and security of home, or be with others we know we can trust.

Those who love you and care about you, will not only encourage, but also point out your flaws. Yeah, that may hurt at times, but they only do it because they love you. It gives you the opportunity to better yourself in the areas you are lacking or falling short. Not all that hurts is bad. :-)

The letter also reminds me of Fall. The beauty of all the colors displayed is just awesome! God is some artist, huh?!

Look What The Cat Dragged In Part II

So, that little kitten found herself a home and daughter was so happy with her Ruthie. Then one day, while she was playing with her, I noticed something strange about the cat. Something a girl-cat shouldn't have! Ehhh.... someone check the cat again, I think we may have made a mistake. Yep, turns out she was a he!

Most of us thought it was hilarious, daughter didn't. She was quite upset because she had grown so used to the kitty being female and now what was she going to call it? Surely Ruth wasn't a boy's name. Okay, call him Ruthless, he sure is, hahaha.

So Ruth became Ruthless, overnight. No operation needed! And slowly but surely his name changed from Ruthless to Rufus. And yeah, he is a real tomcat and at times still in touch with his feminine side. grin.

Empire Home Building

I am a work at home grandma and it took me quite a while to find some lucrative business I could do in my own time. I can only imagine how many other women would love to generate some income, without having to leave the house, finding a baby-sitter, or not being present when the kids return from school.

It takes a woman to know a woman, et voila!. A brandnew work at home mom website is launched. It provides you with all kinds of recources, tutorials and more, to start your own business. All for free! Tips, tricks, business guides and ideas, tools, you name it. It's right there at your fingertips, and there will be more to come.

Your home is your castle. Why not build an Empire around it?!

"E"

Stands for Encouragement. That is something we all need from time to time. Yes, a hug is nice, so is sympathy and compassion. But a true friend who really listens and cares about you, will also be encouraging.

What is encouragement actually? Hope! Hope gives life and being encouraged, you have all you need to go on, with a positive attitude. So next time when one of your loved ones or friends is down, try to show them where the hope is.

The Emotional Effect of Encouragement is an Enhancement to Every body's Existence!
Some more "E"-words that tumbled through my brain while thinking about this letter. :-)

Look What The Cat Dragged In

In addition to the small "petting zoo" we already have ( 1 dogs and a cat ) came this little kitten. It sat next to Blake, our cat, in the yard one day. Our suspicion was, that Blake is the "Daddy", since he has been roaming around and the kitten looked just like him, haha. Possibility is that the kitten followed him home as soon as it was strong enough to do so. Blake abided it and Mia, always playful, thought it was a new toy and chased it under the building, where it stayed the remainder of the day.

The next day we thought it had left and we got in the car to leave. We pulled out the drive way and stopped to get the mail before hitting the road. While I got the mail out of the mailbox, the loud miaowing could not be ignored. I couldn't see the kitten anywhere, but it sounded real close. Hubby heard it too. We looked under the car...nothing. Then hubby popped the hood, and there it was...sitting on top of the battery. He picked it up, carried it back to the house and sat it down near the bushes, and we left.

Several months ago our oldest daughter's cat died. She was heartbroken. When we told her about the kitten, she went outside to look for it and found it under the grill of the neighbor's car. She fed it and played with it and the next day announced she had been thinking about naming it. Which meant...she wanted to keep it:-). We all were fine with that, as a matter of fact, I already had a name in mind myself, haha. The only concern was, that it might get itself killed by the preference it had developed for car-engines! Solution: it went in a large cage till it was bigger and we would go from there. After closer examination we found out it's female. Daughter picked a name for her. Her name is Ruth:-)

That was for that moment. But there was more to it then just this! Wait till you read how "she" turned out to be a "he". grin.

Dialogue

If it's not my backpain, it's someone in my family waking me up. Broken sleep, it's annoying and I am cranky...argh!
It should bring a smile to your face, knowing they are there, loving you and caring for you. God's love shines through in them.
Yeah, so true. I should be grateful instead of complaining. They are a blessing.

I don't want this pain. It's aggravating and a hindrance.
What's a little backpain compared to what others are going through? I think you are being a pain in the neck haha.
Duh...thanks a lot, but again You are right:-)

Sigh, we are out of cereal and now I don't know what to have for breakfast.
Good Lord, woman, there is enough to choose from. You should be in a third world country where they don't have anything to eat! They would be so happy with all that is in the fridge. They don't even have a fridge....geeez. Gripe, gripe.
Good point!

I don't want to wait for an hour at the doctor's office. I hate waiting.
Yeah, so did your little friend who went to hospital and had to wait from 10 am till 5 pm till she finally got to see the doc. You are so pitiful...boohoo.
Point taken!!

Do you know You are becoming annoying??
Do you know you are annoying and ungrateful for all that God has given you?
Hmmm...right on the money! Ouch.

I guess we all have things we complain about, without further considering how blessed we are.
Now you're talking. Keep going:-)
I have so many blessings.
Ahh...can you come up with some (grin)?
You already did, but yeah I can make a looooooooong list, hehe.
And do you know what caused you to count your blessings?
Yes, pointing my mind in the right direction, towards God and to the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
More complaints???:-)
Nah, they went out the window:-) Thank You Lord!
You are more then welcome, child.

"D"

This letter stands for Daughters. We have 4, so now you know why I associate the D with this word, haha.

Our oldest is 28, the next one 23 and both younger girls are 20 years old. Two of them are living in the Netherlands. We don't get to see them much and yeah, we miss them terribly. Even though there is phone and e-mail, it is not the same. But... maybe they come over this year! :-)

Another word that I associate with D is Donuts!!! Plain, cream-filled, fruit-filled, glazed, chocolate covered, you name them and I'll eat them. My favorite? The chocolate covered cream-filled one. No surprise huh, knowing my chocolate-addiction. grin.

The Plan

Looking at his new-born son, the responsibility of being the head of the family weighed heavy on him. He needed to make arrangements in case something would happen to him. You never knew, better be safe than sorry. First thing in the morning, he would check with several Insurance Quoting Services to find the best Family Insurance possible.

He sighed as he lit up another cigarette. Might as well find out if they would have Cheap Smoker Insurance Rates. He wasn't ready to quit yet, although it would definitely Save Money on Insurance.

Several Insurance Plans Pros and Cons crossed his minds and he decided to write down all the questions and requirements he had. As a matter of fact, he was not going to postpone it, but find an Online Insurance Policy right now. Why put off till tomorrow, what he could do today!

"C"

Chocolate!!!!! That was easy.

Yeah, I am a chocoholic. Doesn't matter whether it is plain chocolate, bonbons, cookies or caramel covered in this yummy substance, chocolate peanuts.... anything that involves milk-chocolate. I am not particularly keen on the darker kind, it's got a too bitter after-taste to suit me.

The funny thing is, chocolate-lover as I am, I do not like chocolate ice cream or pudding. Even a milkshake is wasted on me. But the best kind is white chocolate!

Oh gosh, I got myself craving for it now. Gotta go and raid the kitchen (drool).

Food for Thoughts

The results of my MRI are in. It turns out to be deterioration between discs in my lower back and a visit to an orthopedic surgeon is in order, which we will do soon. It is not too bad yet (just annoying haha) and maybe we will get to solutions to stop it or delay it. I have faith and great support:-)

I would like to share something with y'all that I found on one of my friends' blog. Enjoy reading it!

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.
The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity .. boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. It's thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Sometimes Moms do know best and they sure know how to present it. To me, this was great food for thought and some soul-searching:-)

"B"

First thing that comes to mind with the letter B is Blond. More as in blond moments, haha. I have those a lot and sometimes they are hilarious, but they can be quite embarrassing.

Like the time I told my husband not to get rid of the ceiling-fans in the living-room, because they provided at least some airflow when the power would go out!!! The second it came out of my mouth I realised how stupid that was. No power, hence no working fans. Duhh......

Maybe I should start associating the letter B with Brains!

Rain in Spain?

As they were staying in one of the very nice benidorm hotels, they had to admit that this vacation was one of the best they had so far. They had visited Peacock Island a couple of days ago and had gone to Terra Mitica, a relatively new theme park, taking you back to the legendary civilizations that lived in the Mediterranean area.






Today was a day of rest on the beach, before they were moving on to one of the alicante hotels that was awaiting their arrival. The historical architecture like Castillo de Santa Barbara and Guadalest Monastery, for instance, had drawn their attention and influenced their decision to stay there for a while.





They were astonished how cheap and nice the spain hotels were, even thought their vacation was a last-minute one, it all turned out to be even better then they had expected. Spain turned out to be so much more than just Tappas and bullfighting. Definitely worth doing again!

Paid!

Even though you may not be interested in the advertisements, you never know what you come across. I learned a lot from it and found many new sites to keep in mind or visit. But don't forget to see my other posts as well. :-)

For the longest time now, I have been searching for a work at home job, but had been unsuccessfull for the longest time. Then I came across paid blogging. At first I thought that might be just another scam. After reviewing and inquiring, it didn't seem to be, so I gave it a shot.

I love writing and I can release all my creativity in paid blogging and get paid for it on top of that. I got my first payments in PayPal and already made a deposit in my bank-account. And there will be much more in there before Christmas. In other words: IT WORKS! Yes, it really works.

No, I am not going to promote paid blogging. I don't need your competition, hehe!

Joy Ride

You could see Europe as the US, but with countries instead of states. Every country has it's own culture and attractions. So, why stay in one country if you could explore Europe by car?

Starting from Hotels in London for instance, and then crossing the Channel to the main land. Make sure to have a valid driving-license and keep in mind that the minimum age for driving in most EU countries is 18.
Your insurer can give you a European accident statement form, that makes it easier to make a declaration on the spot if you have an accident in another country.

Check in to one of the Hotels in Paris and take your time to visit this beautiful city. Remember that in France, as well as in Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal, you normally have to give way to traffic coming from your right!

You could travel to some Hotels in Berlin and when you do, keep your eyes on the signs for the exact speed-limit. Maybe you come across a piece of the Berlin-wall. How would that make for a souvenir?!
Should you drive over to Austria, then you must possess and display a toll label or vignette on your vehicle. These can be bought at all major border crossings into Austria and at larger petrol stations. Some other countries have a similar system. Don't forget to check into it.

You can make your round through Europe and end up in Hotels in Barcelona before coming back to the States.

One more tip: make sure you have a good working camera and loads of batteries! :-)

Cute Grins

Sometimes when I look at our dog, it's almost like she is smiling at me. Maybe she is outright making fun of me! Grinning at me because of the silly human I am in her eyes, making those odd noises that don't sound like anything in the Bark-language.

Looking at these pictures below, I am practically convinced she is smiling. However, seeing what a gentle creature she is, I suspect she is not making fun of me. Then again.... you never know. grin.



Hey... Practice makes perfect!











I got the giggles.... hahahaha!















Did any one say "Cheese"?!










Oh man, where is my litter-box!!!!

"A"

I saw this on one of my friends' blog and thought that was really neat. Posting the Alphabet, one letter at the time and defining what word you associate with it and why.

Okay, that doesn't seem so hard to do. The first thing that comes up with A is Alphabet! If I hadn't learned that, then I wouldn't be posting now, haha. Of course there are other words that come up as well, like: Admiration, Affection, Attention, Aggravation, Apprehension. Hmmm, all those have to do with feelings.
Apparently (hey... another "A" word, hehe) I just qualified myself as a feeling-person, huh.

So what word do you Associate the letter A with?

The Royal Treatment

Sometimes I get so aggravated with companies, retailers, or their employees. You would think that the customer was appreciated for taking their business to them, but the attitude I am met with on occasions, is just totally the opposite!

And what can I do about it, except taking my business elsewhere? Nothing, you say?? O yes, I can!! I now have the option to go to Measuredup.com and let all future consumers know my experiences. Not just the bad, but also the good ones.
I can post a review on Customer Services I encounter, and also read about other consumer's experiences in every area of services offered.

Next time I am met with lack of respect or disregard, or truly enjoy the helpful and kind treatment, I will tell them they can look forward to my free posted review. After all, as the Dutch saying goes: The customer is king!

Audrey Hepburn

I have always been a great fan of Audrey Hepburn, not just for being a great actress, but for the wonderful person she was. Being an ambassador for Unicef was one of the things that clearly showed her personality... loving and caring.

You will get a better impression of her as read this. It was written by Audrey Hepburn when she was asked for her Beauty Tips. It was read at her funeral, years later.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed,revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

What a beautiful woman she was, both from the outside and the inside!

Faith Requested

First an update. The x-rays taken from my back were not good. They called me to let me know that between the discs in my lower back there is, what I call, "decay" going on, haha. Yeah, I laugh about it, besides praying I don't know what else to do:-) There is a MRI scheduled for tomorrow and a bone-density test for the end of August. They couldn't tell me yet whether it was RA or something else. I am concerned, not for myself, for I know God will give me what I need or open another door, but for my loved ones. It is another burden for them. One I know they will carry with and out of love. I can not express in words the depth of my gratitude to and for them. I pray God will reward them as greatly as He blessed me, being loved so very much, and strengthen me in my efforts to be as great a blessing and support to them, as they are for me.

I know there are many trials of faith along the way of life. It is tested every moment, sometimes by little things and sometimes by things that seem/are life-altering, things we can control and things that are out of our control. The question always arises: " Why?". Let's face it, we do not always know why and we may never get to know. God does, He has the answer. And He gave us the solution: have faith and trust Him!

Adorable II

Sometimes animals display human characteristics. Laziness, curiosity, or just plain stupidity, haha. Yeah, I got my blond moments, I won't deny it. They sure make for a good laugh as you can read a few posts below.

But... what would the world be without laughter?? It's scientifically proven to get good endorphins going in the body, which results in better mental and emotional coping skills. It relieves stress as well. A laugh a day, keeps the doctor away! :-D

I REALLY NEED TO GET GOING, BUT JUST CAN'T SEEM TO GET MOTIVATED.............

MAN...I'M GETTING SO FAT I CAN HARDLY SCRATCH MY OWN BEHIND!!

THESE MORNING WALKS ARE KILLING ME!!!!

WE IS FRIENDS......

Another Blond Moment

I opened the new box of garbage-bags to get one out and replace the full bag. As I unfolded it, I discovered to my big surprise they were only half the length of the ones we had. That's odd, I was so certain I had gotten the right kind and made sure it said 13 gallons on the box. No matter how I looked and even shook the new bag, it was only half size.

Me: "Oh no!"
Hubby: "What is it?"
Me: " The garbage-bag! Look at this."
I held up the half-seized bag.
Hubby: " I have never seen such an odd seize. Who would use such a seize? Are you sure you got the right bags?"
Me: " Yes, I am very sure. Oh well, they will have to do for now."

Of course, in no time the bag was full and I pulled it out to be replaced. While I was tying a knot in it, I noticed a little piece of plastic sticking out on both sided at the top. Odd, what is that? Curious me pulls it and... the lower half of the garbage-bag revealed itself! It had clung together so well, I totally overlooked it. Both hubby and myself got a real good laugh out of it. It sure solved the mystery of the odd-shaped garbage-bags, haha.

Houdini

We had a hamster once, called Light bulb (he was so white, he almost gave off light). We would have done better to call him Houdini! No matter what we did or where he was in, he always managed to escape in ways we thought impossible.

One day, while I was cleaning up the kitchen, I turned around and there he sat in the middle of the floor, staring at me like a deer caught in the headlights. I was so surprised and said out loud: "How did you get out?"
He turned around and ran off as fast as his little paws could carry him, but I got him cornered and put back in his cage. I made sure it was hamster-proofed this time, hehe.

Spineless

My back has been giving me problems lately. I wake up several times at night, trying to roll over but my back won't let me. Well, eventually it will, after adjusting my entire body to a point where it will just drop to the side I want, haha. But getting up is a hardship and the first half hour being up is as well. After that it is getting better. Sometimes I wish I was spineless (literally in this case, figuratively I already know I am in some areas, haha).

I visited my Rheumatologist and told her about it. Of course, she was all over me:-). She came up with three conclusions of what it could be:
1. A consequence of a muscle-spasm I had a few months ago
2. RA in my back
3. Osteoporosis

In case no 1, she gave me muscle-relaxers to see if that would do the trick. So far, the only thing it has done is made me groggy and sleepy. The pain has not diminished yet, but I felt like having stepped right out of a zombie movie, haha.
In case no 2 and 3, she had x-rays taken of my back and depending on the results, she may have me take a bone-density test.
In case the muscle relaxers didn't work, she also gave me a prescription for another pain killer. So far it seems to be heading the pain killer-way, but I will wait and see for a few more days and practice patience (my weak point haha) with the relaxers.

Heart Beat

Our youngest daughter was scheduled to see her "baby-doctor" yesterday and since she has her hands full with our now 9 month old grand baby, I went with her to keep an eye on him. Well, that was only a good reason to go with her. I so wanted to be there and know everything was fine.

And... I got to hear our second grand baby's heartbeat! It was so strong and regular, although he moved around quite a bit, haha. Yeah, it's going to be another boy!! :-)

All is well and only 3 more months to go. Ahhh, patience is a virtue, I can't wait to have it. grin.

Have we got it backwards?

It just dawned on me: what do I actually know about the meds I am taking? I know, a little late after having swallowed them for so long haha. But... better late then never! So I summed it up for myself and besides the description that comes with the drug Methotrexate, I don't know much about it. Now, that description already should be enough to scare me off to even take a closer look. Oh Lord, it's enough to make you sick just reading it. And then the strong warning I recall, when I first got that medication: be sure to take the entire dose once a week. NOT daily, but ONCE a week!! If taken daily, I would ensure my own death. So what toxic substance am I washing down every week and what does it do?

So here is what I found on it:
" Methotrexate is classified as an antimetabolite drug, which means it is capable of blocking the metabolism of cells. As a result of this effect, it has been found helpful in treating certain diseases associated with abnormally rapid cell growth. It has also been found very helpful in treating rheumatoid arthritis, although its mechanism of action in this illness is not known. It seems to work, in part by altering aspects of immune function which may play a role in causing rheumatoid arthritis.
It is widely distributed throughout body tissues with reports of persistence of this drug in the liver up to 116 days after exposure.
It is a cancer medication, when used in high doses. In lower doses it is used to slow the progression of autoimmune diseases such as RA.
If you are taking methotrexate, you need extra folic acid. The reason: methotrexate can cause folic acid deficiency, which can result in problems/side-effects. Folic acid can be given by your doctor as a supplement. Foods rich in folic acid include beets, boysenberries, brown rice, veggies in the cabbage family, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, eggs, green leafy vegetables, haddock, halibut, salmon, tuna, soybean sprouts, asparagus and spinach. Eating five or more servings of the above fresh fruits and vegetables and three servings of fish a week should be more than adequate to decrease the side effects."

I have every confidence in my Rheumatologist and I don't question many others, because I perceive them superior in their knowledge. They studied for it, so they know what they are talking about and I have faith that their advise (or prescription) will solve/diminish my ailment, for I lack their knowledge and don't bother to ask, like so many others.

Cycles

How often have we heard the phrase: History repeats itself? Or as is said in the Bible under Ecclesiastes 1:9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Several times I think, at least I have:-) And when I look at it, I recognize it more and more. It's a cycle, running it's course from up, down, and then up again. Till it completed itself, only to start over again.

I see it in the progression of the RA. The times I feel good and I experience none or hardly any negative effects at all. That is the top of the cycle. Then the pain starts and gets worse and worse and at the bottom of the cycle my physical activity is hindered. And after that the climbing up begins. Activity level increases, pain diminishes, RA is stable/inactive again. Cycle complete, till the next time.

I see it in daily life. I get up in the morning, attend to my responsibilities during the day, go to bed in the evening. I know we don't look at it that way, but it is another completed cycle. And yes... each day is different (thank the Lord, for that would be boring haha), but still, it is a cycle and according to me a good one. I know, some of you disagree, but hey, suppose we would never get up? Who would take care of our responsibilities? God gave us all a purpose. Think about that!

Another example: one moment we are on top of the world. Things are going great. Something occurs and it all seems to fall apart, hopelessness and self-pity set in. Yep, we invented a word for that. It's called depression. And I say "seems", for nothing is as it seems and nothing stays the same. (Now, if that isn't hopeful???). And at the bottom of our despair...a slow change, all is getting better and up we go again. Sure, nobody likes to hurt or feel bad. But even bad feelings and emotional hurt have their reasons. Often it's an indicator that we need to change something in our lives to improve it. I see it as God pointing something out to me:-)

Even in spirituality there are ups and downs. Fear, doubt, self-judgment, insecurity at the bottom, and Love, Hope and Faith at the top of the cycle. We have to go through it to grow. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Spiritually, mentally, emotionally and even physically. It is never-ending.

Adorable

Kids are adorable, but so are animals. Sometimes I wished I had our camera with me to take a snapshot of those cute moments that they can display. But I didn't and by the time I got it, the moment is gone.

These people were smarter, hehe. They were there at the right time and the right moment. And I can only express my gratitude for their willingness to share it with all of us.

My advice to you: Keep those cameras handy! And above all... make sure the batteries are fully loaded! That will save you some aggrivation, as I have experienced, haha.

WHAT PART OF QUIET DIDN'T YOU UNDERSTAND??












EVERYONE NEEDS TO FEEL SECURE...












COULDN'T HELP IT MA, THAT FIRST STEP IS A KILLER..












IT'S IN THERE SOMEWHERE, I JUST KNOW IT!!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why me? What is the reason? What is the purpose? What do I do now?
I think at one point in our lives we have all asked ourselves at least one of these questions. I asked them all haha. Did I get answers? Yep, I did. Not always right away. Some were answered in time. Some I still struggle with. But I know God has a plan in all of it:-) The pic is there, not as a shock-effect, but to illustrate my statement and testimony. Although I can understand it may be somewhat upsetting to some of you. In that case I truly apologize. I learned to deal with it and even laugh about it and I pray you will laugh with me. Looking at my hands... I can easily reach around a corner without too much, or any effort at all, haha. Well, it may come in handy, you never know:-)

I am constantly amazed how gracious God is to me. I can still type, write, do crafts and most other things any of us used to do. As for the few things I can't do, God provided! I could always draw a little, but for some reason, that ability has been growing immensely. I do not know what He has in mind for it, but I have Faith He will show, in His time:-) I draw biblical images, that I see in my mind, while reading a verse. I do portraits from pictures (much easier than constantly urging the model to sit still, haha) and love to draw flowers. Just give me a pencil, paper and an eraser. Oh...and some time, haha.

The above questions? Those I can answer only for/pertaining to myself.
Why me?-- I figure God knew I was strong enough and had all the abilities to carry that burden.
What is the reason?-- I am still not quite sure, maybe to share, support and encourage? He will show.
What is the purpose?-- To be a testimony of His grace and mercy.
What do I do now?-- Accept it, make the best of it, count my blessing, have faith and courage!

Have you found your answers?

What's in a Name

Ok, if this joke below is offending anyone, please accept my sincere apologies.

I think it's outright funny and sure, feel free to change from democrats-statue to republicans-statue, hehe. Actually, you can prolly use anything for it. I can't help but wonder why they came up with the democRATS???

I suppose the rhetorical question: "What's in a name?", is very applicable in this one, huh?

A tourist walked into a curio shop in San Francisco. Looking around at the exotica, he noticed a very life-like, life-sized bronze statue of a rat. It had no price tag, but it was so striking he decided he must have it.

He took it to the counter. "How much for the bronze rat?"
"Twelve dollars for the rat, one hundred dollars for the story," the owner said.
The tourist gave the shop owner twelve dollars. "I'll take the rat. You can keep the story."

As he walked down the street carrying the rat, he soon noticed that a few real rats had crawled out of the alleys and sewers and began following him.
This was disconcerting, so he began walking faster, but within a couple of blocks, the herd of rats behind him had grown to hundreds, and they began squealing.

He began to trot toward the Bay, but looking back he saw that the rats now numbered in the millions, were squealing ever louder, and coming toward him faster and faster. Now scared, he broke into a run, then a full Olympic sprint to the edge of the Bay where he threw the bronze rat as far out as he could.
Amazingly, the millions of rats all jumped into the Bay after the bronze rat, and they all drowned.

The man walked back to the curio shop.
"Aha!" said the owner. "You have come back for the story."
"No," said the man, "I came back to see if you have a bronze Democrat."

Why is it so important?

One day I had to get some groceries. My knees were hurting but I was not going to let it prevent me. So I put my daughter in the stroller (at that time she fitted, being almost 21 now: not a good idea to even try haha) and headed out. The store was not that far and because of the pain I walked slow, using the stroller as support and stability. We saw so much on the way there and back, we wouldn't have seen if we had just rushed by. Bugs, flowers growing in the grass, even some snails that crossed the sidewalk. And we stopped and I let her check it all out, enjoying the look of enthousiasme on her face. We were walking back when a neighbour passed us on her bike. She greeted us and added the next comment: "You must have all the time in the world! I wish I had". I wanted to say: "no, you wouldn't wish that if you had my pain", but it stuck to the thought, for she was already way ahead of us, hurrying home. The assumption she made was that I didn't have anything better/else to do. And I know that's what it looked like, but had she asked or given me the opportunity to respond, she wouldn't have hurt me with that comment. For it did hurt. I even felt a tad of guilt, but I resolved that quickly. And everything has a reason. I am grateful I couldn't go any faster for we saw some of God's creations and my daughter had the time of her life exploring:-)

Sometimes, what seems like a justification to one, turns out to be a very good reason for another. When people just assume without asking, a false belief is formed and they act upon it. That can cause great injustice and hurt for the "victim". I am almost 100% positive we have all done it! Something said or done by someone is automatically assumed to be as how I perceive it. I don't ask. Why should I? I already know! Besides, I don't want to come across as being stupid by asking what it is they actually mean or are doing (Don't shake your head now at my foolish pride, I already am aware of it, haha). But am I not the greatest fool, when I find out that what I assumed is no where near the truth and that I hurt someone? It is better to ask then to assume. There is only one foolish question and that is the one that is not asked! ( quotation from hubby. Yes, I asked if I could use it, hahaha).

Nowadays, I do not care so much anymore what people think. As long as I make sure I tell them the truth, then I am no longer responsible for their thoughts, feelings or actions. They are. It matters to me what God thinks of/about me! So why do we still place so much value on their opinions of us? Why is it so important what they think? I don't see a good reason, but maybe you do. I would like to hear them:-)

Gotta love them!

We have all heard kids say funny things or ask hilarious questions. It's difficult not to burst out laughing when they do. To them it's really serious, so in my humble opinion, we should take it serious, or at least try to explain why some things they say are so funny.

They do make for fond memories though and I think the kids can appreciate you telling those memories when they are all grown up. One think is for sure: Gotta love those kids....!!! :-)

1. Dear God, please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
Amanda

2. Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Joyce

3. Dear Mr. God, I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.
Janet

4. God, I read the bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me.
Love Alison

5. Dear God, how did you know you were God? Who told you?
Charlene

6. Dear God, is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house?
Anita

7. Dear God, I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nancy

8. Dear God, I like the story about Noah the best of all of them. You really made up some good ones. I like walking on water, too.
Glenn

9. Dear God, my Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go?
Love, Dennis

10. Dear God, do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don't, who does?
Nathan

11. Dear God, did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?
Norma

12. Dear God, in bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
Jennifer

13. Dear God, how come you did all those miracles in the old days and don't do any now?
Billy

14. Dear God, please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.
Peter

15. Dear God, maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works out OK with me and my brother.
Larry

16. Dear God, I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet. What's up? Don't forget.
Mark

17. Dear God, my brother told me about how you are born but it just doesn't sound right. What do you say?
Marsha

18. Dear God, if you watch in Church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes.
Barbara

19. Dear God, is Reverend Coe a friend of yours, or do you just know him through the business?
Donny

And, saving the best for last

20. Dear God, I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night. That was really cool.
Thomas

Makes me look forward to when our little critter starts talking. I wonder what he will come up with, haha.

Who Considers This?

I had an appointment with my rheumatologist ( I will call her Dr. O from here on) yesterday afternoon. That same morning the phone rang. It was one of the assistants of Dr. O. She called to reschedule, for Dr. O had been in that morning, but went home sick. I was grateful I didn't have any pressing issues, so I didn't mind to reschedule for a later date, but it did make me consider something. How often do I think of Dr.O, or any doctor for that matter, getting sick? Actually....never! I admit I would prolly even laugh at first if someone would have posed the idea of a doc getting sick. It made me question and judge myself: why?

Let me tell you about Dr.O. She is the most wonderful, caring doctor I have met so far! From the moment I met her, she has shown me nothing but concern for my well-being, kindness, care and gentleness. Not just for my RA, but for every single aspect of my life. Every small ache, change or discomfort is taken into consideration, or taken action upon. Every preventing measure she will not let go by as she keeps a close watch on my health.

When we got to know each other better, she even showed interest and sympathy in/for my personal life. Asks about my girls, if all is well at home etc. One time, when she was behind on her schedule, she popped her head around the door of the waiting room where I was in, just to let me know she was being late and that it would not take much longer before she would see me. And she even apologized for being behind.

She suggests what I could or should do, gives me her opinion of what would be best and why, but leaves the decisions up to me. She takes the time to answer my questions and doesn't hesitate to tell me if/when she has not enough information to answer. She truly is a gem! I have a very high opinion of her, as a doctor and a person. I think you can tell huh, haha?

And now she is sick. Which dismantles the belief that a doctor won't/can't get sick, just because he/she is a doctor. And I am grateful for it. That belief was false and needed to be replaced with the truth. A doctor is a person, like you and me. Not a God in a white coat ( I still notice elderly people looking up at them, afraid to ask what they don't understand or want to know), but flesh and blood, with the same flaws, mistakes and imperfections as me. They too need our prayers!

So it makes me wonder if you already had considered this, or was it just a false belief on my part?

Ole!!!

I have never been to Spain, but one of our daughters stayed there for her study for about 6 months. She was located near Madrid and went sight-seeing on several occasions. The pictures she sent were absolutely gorgeous! They would prod you to instantly book a vacation, which is possible because there are many last-minute bookings available.






Of course you don't have to stay in hotels in Madrid to see the Prado museum, botanical garden or the royal palace. There are lots of hotels in Spain nearby, that provide easy access to go any direction you like.

I actually never thought of Spain as having many tourist attractions. I associated it with Fiestas, Bull-fights and Flamingo-dancing, but I was so wrong! It has so much more to offer, consider Torre de Bujaco or Muralla de Avila, for instance.

I am sure the soccer-fans amongst you, have heard of Barcelona. There is a wide variety of cheap hotels in Barcelona and La Boqueria and Gothic quarter are well worth visiting. Who knows, you may even be able and allowed to attend one of the soccer-practices and get an authograph or two! The Sagrada Family is happy to welcome you!

Some Friend!

I am so sick of all the scams begging for money or trying to trick me into getting to our money. They are filling up my mailbox. People are way too creative or just too devious, either working on emotions, or situations. Sometimes it's hard for me to know whether they are for real or scamming. This one however, makes it pretty clear!! grin.

MONEY:
It can buy a house
But not a home

It can buy a clock
But not time

It can buy you a position
But not respect

It can buy you a bed
But not sleep

It can buy you a book
But not knowledge

It can buy you medicine
But not health

It can buy you blood
But not life

So you see money isn't everything
And it often causes pain and suffering
I tell you this because I am your friend
And as your friend I want to
Take away your pain and suffering!!


So... Send me all your money and I will suffer for you!
Cash only please

Have a wonderful day.

A good friend is always there for you, through good and bad times. They suffer and endure with you. Well... I got enough doing my own sufferings, so please keep your money! haha.

Awwww....

Our dog loves our little grandbaby. She is so gentle and careful when she is around him and she sits perfectly still for him to pet her. Well, grandson doesn't really know how to pet yet. It's more like grabbing anything he can lay his little hands on, which included our dog's fur. Of course we try to prevent that and teach him how to pet.

Maybe one day we will get a pic of both of them, just like the ones below. Isn't that adorable?!

Instructions for properly hugging a baby.

1. First, spy a baby.

2. Second, be sure that the object you spied was indeed a baby by employing classic sniffing techniques. If you smell baby powder and the wonderful aroma of wet diapers this is indeed a baby.



3. Next you will need to flatten the baby before actually beginning the hugging process.
**Note: The added slobber should help in future steps by making the 'paw slide' easier.



4. The 'paw slide':
Simply slide paws around baby and prepare for possible close-up.

5. Finally, if a camera is present, you will need to execute the difficult and patented 'hug, smile, and lean' so as to achieve the best photo quality.

If this is properly done, it will secure you a warm, dry, climate-controlled environment for the rest of your life!

How little boys are born

Hah, I never knew this. I thought they were found in the cabage-patch, dropped of by the stork, or picked out at the hospital. Oh no, I remember that, according to some writer, they are from Mars!

This proves once more: you are never too old to learn. It does leave me wondering now how the little girls are born. They must be from Venus then, huh?!

A little boy goes to his father and asks "Daddy, how was I born?"
The father answers: "Well son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway!

Your Mom and I first got together in a chat room on Yahoo. Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mom and we met at a cyber-cafe. We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive. As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither one of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a little Pop-Up appeared that said:

You got Male!

Does Fear Have A Reason

It was such a lovely day. My girls were around the age of 7 and 5 at that time. It was summer vacation, so they were out of school and getting bored. My eldest loved swimming (and still does) and wanted to go to the swimming pool. Oh, oh...there it was. Fear! All kinds of catastrophic scenarios rushed through my mind. To go to the pool meant to go by bike, the car was unavailable at that time. My knees, hands and wrists were very inflamed and painful.
Fear no 1: I won't make it, the ride may be too far. It wasn't that far at all, but being in pain it seemed like from here to the moon ( exaggerating here, can you tell? haha.) And walking? A snail would have beat me to it! So if I didn't make it, how would we get back?
Fear no 2: If we made it, I would have to sit or lay down on the grass. I would never make it back up without any help. The girls were too small to hoist me up. So I would have to ask someone else. The embarrassment! What would they think?
Fear no 3: We would still have to make it back from the moon afterwards. Same fear as no 1.
Fear no 4: It would all aggravate my joints and I would pay dearly.
So, I told my girls I was in too much pain to go. I didn't even make an effort. Fear deprived the girls from a nice day and me from some cherished moments and memories.

Fear tends to take away so much in our lives, in every aspect, not just when you have an illness, although I think it adds to it, big time. With my illness, the consequence of everthing I want to do is pain. No one wants that. So the fear of pain, often/most of the times/always (you can answer that for yourselves:-), prevents us from enjoying God's blessings. Buzzzzz......wrong answer!!! WE prevent us. By giving in to the fear. By running from fear instead of to it. I will show you and you can form your own opinion on it.

Running from fear...That is what I did by only thinking about what could go wrong, could happen or could be a consequence. So allowing the fear to make the decision, I didn't go.
Running to fear...I would have considered all these things and have had Faith that God provides. On account of my fears: We would have made it, even if it meant we had to take a little break half way. Somebody would have helped me, and it doesn't matter what they think or how it appears, I could have explained. And I may not have had any more pain afterwards at all and if so, I could have taken some more Ibuprofen. If I myself had made the decision, in spite of fear, I would have gone. See how it works?

Fear is there for a reason. It makes you alert to areas that need attention. It's good to consider why it is present and face it. I am facing my fears. Not always successfully yet. It still roars it's ugly head every now and then, but I am mastering it, with God's help. Love, Hope and Faith bring life. Things done other then out of these three, bring forth nothing good. I found there is only one good fear. The fear of God:-)

Have you noticed how allowing fear robs you, and your loved ones around you, of joy and hope? How it stalls life?

Critter's Cooings II

HI!!!! I thought I sneak back in here and pound away a little, since I enjoyed it so much last time. :-D

Guess what?! I am almost able to grab what I am going for! Yeah, those hands are starting to go where I want them to go. I am not sure whether everybody is so happy with that, haha. I love to get a hold of Oma's shirt and chew on it and since I am still drooling away... grin.

Oh, and I made such a discovery! I have just noticed those things at the end of my "chunkies". I think they are called feet. They look so funny, I am fascinated with them. I love to grab those and try to get them in my mouth, but for now I think I will stick to my fists, so much easier.

I am making lots of noises. Sometimes a bit too much, hehe. Opa hopes I am going to be a "talker". I found out I can make Opa and Oma laugh out loud, by letting out certain squeals. I start low and then get as high as I can. They think that is so funny, while I think their laugh is funny. I guess we are tickling each other with that, huh?

Oma tells me, the best place is in the kitchen. When she baby-sits me ( noooooooo, she doesn't sit on me, hahaha), she puts me in my walker, drives me into the kitchen and then starts doing all that stuff which is "supposed" to turn into something called supper. She also tells me to pay close attention, so one day I can do it. Ehhh... okay, not sure why??? Maybe so it actually turns out to be a supper?! I think she could use a cook-book. :-D

As you can see, I am trying to sit up, but it ain't going too well yet. But I am getting there. Hey.... stop looking at my chunkies! It's already hard enough to get them pinched every now and then. Although I have to admit I like it, I can't help but smile but try not to show it by turning my face away. When Oma notices that, she calls me a little stinker. Hah, she hasn't smelled nothing yet! Nah, that's not true, she has, so I guess she knows what she is talking about, sigh.

Well, time to go. :-D

I will be back! Ehh... I hope you don't take that as a threat, grin.

A Laugh A Day...

Some jokes are so hilarious, they make you laugh till you stomach hurts.
Laughing is good for you, it has a positive effect on your mood and takes away the stress. It seems to get your good endorphins going. Yeah, I had that same reaction: my what??? Anyway, it's better than an apple a day!

Here is what I considered a good one!

Dear Tide:

I am writing to say what an excellent product you have! I've used it all of my married life, as my Mom always told me it was the best.

Now that I am in my fifties I find it even better! In fact, about a month ago, I spilled some red wine on my new white blouse. My inconsiderate and uncaring husband started to belittle me about how clumsy I was, and generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing led to another and somehow I ended up with his blood on my new white blouse! I grabbed my bottle of Tide with bleach alternative and to my surprise and satisfaction, all of the stains came out! In fact, the stains came out so well the detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse were negative and then my attorney called and said that I was no longer considered a suspect in the disappearance of my husband. What a relief!

Going through menopause is bad enough without being a murder suspect! I thank you, once again, for having a great product.

Well, gotta go, have to write to the Hefty bag people.

Familiar?

When I was living in the Netherlands I had a "disability card". This card was issued by a physician of the city department and gave me the right to park in the spaces reserved for disabled. I put it in front of the windshield of the car whenever I made use of one of those parking-spaces. At that time I had trouble walking and couldn't walk long. So, I was grateful to be able while being disabled:-) I walked slow and took my time to do the shopping. Only my hands showed my RA, for the rest one couldn't tell. I can not count the times I parked, got out of the car and noticed the glares of passers-by! I simply ignored those. Several times I was addressed, sometimes friendly, sometimes annoyed, being pointed out that it was a parking-spot for disabled I just parked at. At first I would tell them I knew, and make them aware of the fact there was the card in front of the windshield. Still, the looks of disbelief were there as they went on with their business. Later on, all I did was smile and showed my hands. That worked wonders, haha. Sometimes, but very rarely, an excuse. Most of the times a red face and a fast exit. Forgive me, but I found it amusing:-)

I was shopping with my Mom one day, when we ran into an acquaintance of hers. She introduced us and then reminded her I had RA. Mom almost summoned me to show the lady my hands. I knew she needed to prove she had not been lying, and that there was no ill intent, so I did. ( I prolly would do good in a freak-show, haha.) It just makes it so obvious...I can't see it, therefore I don't believe it. Most people turn into "unbelieving Thomasses". I guess that is nothing new. Very few accept words and trust without seeing. It was so in the days of Christ and still is so today.

Unless you have a visual injury or any evidence of physical discomfort, people don't seem to accept that you have an illness. Is it just me, or have more of y'all noticed?

Commissioned

I also do commissioned portraits, as you already may know. Some people may think my prices are a little steep, but having seen what others online ask for their drawings, I am actually rather cheap! It may not seem like it, but a lot of time goes into one portrait and comparetively, it wouldn't even come close to a minimum wage. Good thing it's my hobby, haha.

Like to see more of my work? See the link in my side-bar.

Back Bone

This concerns all of us, young, old, healthy or sick. At some point in our life we will be encountered by this... brittle, weaker bones. So, young ones, why not prevent that now? And us "older" folks, why not get back what we lost? It's not that hard to do ( which I think is good, after all, we like to avoid going through a lot of trouble if not necessary). Actually, it is pretty easy. All you got to do is ask yourself this question: "How much is my Calcium intake?" Ok, there is a little bit more to it than that. It would be good to answer that question too, haha!

Lack of calcium can cause Osteoporosis at a later age. You prolly have heard it so often: the older Lady that fell and broke her hip or people getting smaller as they age. My grandma for instance was not that tall, but by the time she was in her eighties, she was a head shorter then me. Each time I saw her she seemed to have shrunk. We ourselves are responsible for our health. (Maybe an idea for a sequel, Hollywood? Honey, I shrunk myself!) As for Arthritis and RA: "Inflammatory arthritis accelerates bone loss".

Getting the optimum intake of calcium daily is critical. There are more sources for calcium then just dairy products. It's in also in broccoli, kale, figs, salmon, spinach, lettuces and parsley. Hehe, seems to me like you don't even have to know how to cook. Just toss in bowl... et voila, a salad!

Calcium can also be taken as a supplement. Make sure to get Calcium tablets with vitamin D to be effective. It also contributes to tooth loss, muscle cramps and hypertension. Ask your Doc if it does not interact with your other medications. I always do. Better safe then sorry:-)

And here is another knowledge: "Studies show that the extra caffeine can weaken your bones". Maybe something to keep in mind when you're about to pour your third cup of coffee in the morning. No, no, if you think you get of that easy by not drinking coffee...it's in soft drinks too (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, DrPepper, etc) and even in tea. Ehh...I think I will go now and have a cup of tea and some chocolate. I heard that brings you in better spirits. Talk about a good justification, haha!!!