Praising God

I finally have Internet back.  A powerful tornado hit in a small community just about 5 miles from my house on Wednesday night.  Another tornado hit about 3 miles from my house. 

On Wednesday night, the TV programs kept announcing powerful storms and possible tornadoes heading our way.  My daughter #2 called from the college and sirens were going off and she went to the gym-she lives in a trailer off campus.  We were worried about her!!  We lost power at 10 that night.  At 11 we heard she was okay, so instead of my husband and I going to the basement, we thought no tornado hits here-so we headed upstairs to bed and watched the sky lite up from the lightning.

Around 1 we heard hail and looked outside on our deck, but didn't seem like no big deal.

I received a phone call early on Thursday morning (from cell phone) that our school system was on a delay schedule-still no power-so I thought no big deal.  Later that morning I learned the news-6:30-that a tornado had touched down 5 miles from my house and another one touched down 3 miles from my house-I didn't hear anything, but a concerned neighbor was worried about us. They closed school in my area-due to the storms.

Cell phone quit working so I drove to check on my mother and brother who lives very close to the community where the tornado hit.

The roads were blocked and the policemen wouldn't let traffic through only if you were checking on a family member.
This is what I first saw.

My heat was racing!! 

Praise God my mother and brother was okay. 

Many people were asleep and thinking -I guess the same thoughts I had -just a storm approaching and no big deal-but .....many lives were lost.

As I traveled back up the interstate with tears in my eyes-it was so hard to see the devastation all around.

A truck stop was completely demolished and tractor trailers were blown across the interstate.

I have never witnessed such disaster.

Then I felt so guilty-I had complained earlier that morning about no electricity and cell phone service and here were people who had lost everything-homes and loved ones-who had been found in  fields from their homes.

So I went home and prayed for all victims and thanking God that he had spared my family.

We live in a very close knit community and so we will all pitch in to help-anyway we can.

Until then...please keep the community of Glade Spring, Virginia in prayers.



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Wednesday's Hodgepodge


1. What is something that bothers you if it is not done perfectly?
Making up a bed!!!!  This is a huge pet peeve of mine.  It doesn't have to be perfect, but very, very NEATLY!!!!  My daughters say I am OCD in this department.  Making my bed neatly, sets the tone for my day.





2. What is one of your best childhood memories?
The neighborhood I grew up in was a tight-knit community.  The houses were on top of each other-if you know what I mean.  A fond memory is we (about 20 of us) would play 'kick-the-can' in the road when weather permitted.  Of course, there was not much traffic then like there is now.  We would play for hours and hours.  Just think-the can cost of nothing!!! and we exercised while doing this!!!!  Forgot to mention-we all helped each other with chores so we could go outside to play.  What happened to those days????




3. Do you plan to watch the Royal Wedding and when was the last time you wore a hat?
Definitely!!!!  I don't know if I will be able to get up that early though, so I am planning on watching it when I get home from school.  Hats---I love hats!!  I tell people I was born in the wrong decade.  If I am outside working in the flower bed, I will wear a hat.  Otherwise, it has been at least 15 plus years since I have wore a hat formally.




4. Where do you fall in the birth order in your family? Do you think this has influenced your personality?
Oldest-I have a younger brother.  I think being the oldest does put more responsibility on you.  Wonder if my brother thinks this????




5. Where do you think you spend most of your money?
I don't think--I know---College tuition hands down!!!!




6. When you need to confront someone would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, by email or by letter? Why?

Confrontation--not for me.  However, if I had to confront someone, it would be face-to-face.  This way the person would know exactly what I meant by something (could tell by body language) and there would not be any room for misinterpretation.








7. Dodge ball, freeze tag, kickball or jump rope? You have to pick one.
Jump rope--a little story here.  #2 daughter plays college basketball, and she tries to stay in shape during the summer.  One way (according to trainer) is to jump rope 5 minutes without stopping.  It gets kinda boring so sometimes she asks me jump with her.  Have you ever tried jumping for 5 minutes without stopping-using an athletic jump rope?  Well, it isn't easy-take my word for it.  While I am jumping, I sing or try to talk-daughter tells me I can't sing or talk.  Why I ask her-because coach says we can't.  After a few minutes (no way 5), I have to stop.  Daughter says to me, "Mom you can't stop and rest."  Again-I reply--"Why not?" She replies "Coach says we can't stop."  I reply--"Watch me." 




8. Insert your own random thought here.
Today is the 10th straight night I have kept grandson over night. Charlie's son goes back to the dr. tomorrow and his son's mom is coming in and she wants to keep him for a couple of nights.  So, I guess it will be strange here tomorrow night.
Have a good rest of the week!!!



Buddy (Charlie) and Nathan



Just wanted to remember what a great Easter we had.  The church service was amazing and I can't imagine not going to church on Easter Sunday.  My favorite song--"Jesus Messiah" was sung and so awesome!  After church we all came back for some family photos.

Nathan and his Easter Basket

Todd-Charlie's son-Emily and Amanda

Add caption

Me and Nathan

Emily, me, and Amanda

After pictures, we couldn't wait to change into shorts!!! But I am not going to complain about the weather-not yet anyway.

Something we now have a hard time doing is finding time to talk.  When one daughter is home, the other one isn't.  So you know what we did???

We talked, and talked, and talked.  I have missed those days!!

When we finally quit talking, we decided to get dinner ready.  Daughter #2 wanted to eat later than the rest of us-reason being she didn't want to eat the college food when getting back. So we

decided to just chill out some more.

Finally I had to break the party up and say let's get dinner started.  Daughter #2 warned me she was going to eat a lot-didn't really believer her but.....

she is all smiles with her plate of food.

We let her go first in line.

I think they are wondering if any food is left.

Sometimes it is a sin to eat too much!!  That's how we all felt after dinner!! So back to some more talking

before daughter #2 had to head back to college.

Now I know why daughter #1 is smiling above-she doesn't have to leave for pharmacy school-as a matter

of fact she is home for 7 weeks doing pharmacy rotations. 

Another beautiful day today and I still have grandson (2 yr. old) and we didn't have school. So what do

we do--we play with him in the yard.

Bubbles!!!!!

More Bubbles!!!!!!

I had forgotten how much fun this was.  I guess having a 2 yr. old around can bring out the

kid in you.  After 20 some years a person does tend to forget!!!

A sadder note---7 more weeks of school.  I tend to think my paperwork will go away.  While grandson is

sleeping or napping (Ah remember the naps-wish I could take one right now), I

better get started on grading papers!!!

"God has given us these times of joy."

Have already enjoyed some Easter festivities!!!  Beautiful weather we are having.  My husband, daughter #2, and I took our grandson too the Easter Egg Hunt in the park.





Daughter #2, Nathan, and Nathan's Dad
He didn't find many eggs, but really enjoyed hunting for them.



Buddy and Mamow had to get in on the action!



After the egg hunt, we went to the farmner's market.  I had to purchase two bottles of wine-strawberry and plum!!!  Gonna try later on.  Hub had to purchase Italian food--egg noodle pasta and meatballs.  Wonder if this would go with my wine!!  I wanted to get bread, but trying to lay off bread for a while.

Daughter #1 out with boyfriend on the Creeper Trail--wish she would visit us some when she is home, but all well-I guess she will later.  

Did I mention, I colored eggs with grandson on Thursday. 

I found the cutest basket-just had to purchase it----

Is this a coincidence???  Hmmm.......

Everyone enjoy your Easter!!!  Now to begin some cooking!!! and then outside to enjoy the weather.

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1. What are your plans for Easter Day/weekend?
On Friday I will clean house and color eggs and begin grocery shopping for Easter Dinner.  On Saturday I will take my step-grandson to the Easter Egg Hunt in the park and begin some cooking for Easter Dinner.   Every year I plan on getting up and going to Sunrise Service, but I manage to never drag myself out of bed.  I plan on doing this Sunday, then go to church.  After church and we kinda of settle down, I will begin Easter Dinner.  When dinner is finished it will be time for some R & R and conversation with daughters.  Almost forgot after dinner then the girls (yep ages 21 and 23) start sorting through their Easter Baskets!!  They still look at all items in the basket and sometimes trade each other for what they want most.






2. Besides Jesus, what one person from The Bible would you most like to meet and why?
Ruth--"For wherever you go, I will go..."  Ruth and Naomi stick together in good times and bad.  Ruth goes on living a normal life, trusting God and hoping that suffering will not come again. 




3. What is one modern day convenience you didn't have as a child that was easy to live without?
Looking back I would have to say a dishwasher.  I can remember Mom humming as she washed the dishes and looking out the kitchen window and talking to herself.  Sometimes when I only have a few dishes to wash, I catch myself looking out the window-like a mediation for me.




4. Are you more right brained or left brained? If you don't know what that means there is an interesting little quiz here.
Thanks for the quiz.  I found out I am 61% left brain and 39% right brain.  Now I will read up on all of this new information.




5. What is something you intended to do today but didn't? Why?
Learn to be more positive.  I tell myself every morning to be more positive and quit trying to control circumstances you have no control over.  Once I enter the school building-this goes out the window.




6. Cadbury Creme Eggs or Reeses peanut butter?
Reeses Peanut Butter a MUST!!!!!




7. Who was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?
This would have to be Popeye because no one has ever done so much for spinach as Popeye.


8.  Random thought:
My step-son had minor surgery last Thursday.  I am keeping his 2 yr. old son.  Whew!! after teaching all day, I forgot how tired I was bathing and tending to a 2yr.old plus looking/keeping in touch with my 2 daughters. 


He does love to read, though!!!

Happy Easter to all!!!  

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

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1.. Would you rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time or have a significant conversation with two people?
I would rather talk to everyone at a crowded party--Mingle, Mingle.  Of course, I wouldn't mind striking up a meaningful conversation with a couple of people.







2. What objects do you remember from your parent's living room?
My mother had this huge mirror hanging on a wall behind our couch.  Whenever we moved the couch, we had to make sure the mirror would also go.  Growing up, I remember stopping in front of the couch, looking in the mirror to make sure all my hair was in place before going to school or on a date.  Mother said the mirror belonged to her grandmother.  Now I wonder, where is the mirror and what happened to it?

3. Do you hog the bed? Steal the covers? Snore?
I don't hog the bed.  We have a king-size bed and I sleep on the edge.  So close to the edge that when I turn one alarm clock (I set more than one alarm clock) in the morning, my body will sometimes hit the floor.  My husband will roll over, peek over the edge of the bed, and ask "are you okay?".  Before he rolls back to his side of the bed, he says go ahead and turn the other alarm clock off!  After a few moans, I manage to pull myself off the floor and limp (yeah, limp) to the shower.
Snore---I say I don't, but my husband will say that's not true!!!!!




4. Speaking of Easter dinner....what is your favorite way to cook/eat lamb? Or does just the thought of that make you squeamish? If you're not cooking lamb what will be your entree du jour on Easter Sunday?

I have only eaten lamb once and that was a long time ago. 

So for Easter we will probably have a roast or ham, potato salad, green beans, rolls, dessert (can't decide right now) mac/cheese (a must with #2 daughter).  I think this is pretty good for me since I absolutely can't stand to cook!!!!!



5. Let's throw some politics into this week's mix-oooohhh...Do you know the whereabouts of your birth certificate and when was the last time you had to produce it to prove you're you?
Not a clue to the whereabouts of my birth certificate.  I have the slightest clue as to when I used it last.  Do you need it to get married?   Where is the darn thing?  Then I began looking for my daughters' birth certificates--Whew--found theirs!!  Now where is mine????

6. As a child, how did people describe you?

I was described as a 'daddy's girl'.  I was very close to him and miss him dearly.  Daughter #2 is described as a 'daddy's girl.' 



They both love to pose for the camera!!!



7. What do you complain about the most?
I complain about being a 'maid.'  I really don't have enough time for myself and I begin to complain.  After complaining, I feel guilty!!!  Gosh--my husband tells me to just be glad I am healthy to do what I complain about.  I need to be more like him!!!!!






8. Insert your own random thought here.
Just found out the school board (after state approval) has forgave three whole days!!!!  We don't have to make up three days of school, of course teachers will have to stay at school an extra 18 hrs. without students!!!  Huh?????

Have a great day!!!  Thanks for stopping by!



One More ---Added to Plate

Well, I seem keep adding to my plate-by choice too!!!  A friend invited me to a coupon workshop Friday night.  Is my life that boring when I go to a workshop on coupons on a Friday night??????  Nothing else to do, so why no go?  The lady who spoke was very interesting and gave a list of interesting topics to follow along in her handout. She has a website and then I found out she was raised in Chilhowie (where I live) who was this woman and why didn't I know her!!!  My gosh, I live here and had never heard of her!!!  She goes to the grocery store once a month, but mostly shops at Walgreen's.  My word, what was she saying?  Her and husband will pay off their house in two years, not the 15 they had mortgaged!!!  My mouth was hanging open!!!  She mentioned all the bargains she would find and I kept thinking I never find bargains. 
On the way home, my friend and I talked and said let's try this.  I couldn't wait to look in the paper Sunday for coupons.  So after church I cut out coupons and headed to Walgreen's, coupons stuffed in pocket.

I got all the items on my list and carried the basket to the counter.  As the clerk was ringing up the items, I said to my husband, I didn't get this, he replied, "I did."  That conversation went on for a few more items.  My total was not what I expected!!!  Way over budget.  So I learned a lesson--don't take hub with you when going to Walgreen's!!!  Then I thought to myself, do I really want to continue hunting through the paper for coupons and then go sour-when it wasn't what I expected!!!  I mean, I do have plenty other projects going on-work, cabin hunting, children, grandchild--do I have the time????  Well, I am seriously going to try again!!!  Will let everyone know how this goes!!!!

Tammy-Enjoy Life

Wednesday's Hodgepodge


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1. National Read a Road Map Day falls on April 5th. Would people say you have a good sense of direction? Do you rely on a GPS when you drive somewhere new? When was the last time you used a map?

ABSOULTELY---no sense of direction.  On road trips, I tell husband to go left and I know he must go right....  I rely on a GPS when driving somewhere.  The last time I used a map was probably about four years ago at an amusement park.



2. What's your favorite cookbook?

I have a few cookbooks, but not a favorite one.



3. What painting would you like to "walk into" and experience? Why?

I am a fan of any Thomas Kinkade paintings.  His paintings of cottages, snow scenes, and just a cozy life are so real to me.   Because his paintings are so detailed, he makes me want to look through the windows of a house to see what is going on. However, on a sour note-I read somewhere he was arrested for DUI.  I hope my information is incorrect!!!  His painting scenes of pastoral life does not reflect this, but......I don't know for sure if this is true or not.





4. What annoys you more- misspellings or mispronunciations?

Mispronunciations, I guess, annoy me the most.  I can't put my finger on the reason why.  Maybe it is because mispronunciations lead to misspellings.



5. What is something your mother or father considered important?

The golden rule--"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  Treat people as you want to be treated.  What would it be like if EVERYONE in the world, treated each other that way?  Wouldn't it be an incredible world?  Everyone caring about each other!!!!  Can it be that way?????



6. Do you like or dislike schedules?

Must admit-I like schedules.  To me, schedules help keep some order in my life.  I like knowing where and when I need to be doing something.  When we go on vacation, I have a schedule for us to follow.  When the girls were younger, they were okay with this, but not now!!!!!  So now I am the one trying to fit into their schedule!!!!!!!!



7. Let's have some fun with National Poetry Month (that would be April)...write your own ending to this poem-





"Roses are Red

Violets are blue..."

Tulips are opening
Come on, Let's Sing!!

8. Insert your own random thought in this space.
What a Monday night.  Daughter #1 called and her car alarm kept going off.  Now she had a big pharmacy exam Tuesday.  She kept shutting it off, but it kept going off.  She called and we (well mostly her dad) was telling her what all to try to do--nothing worked.  People were knocking on her door-telling her to turn the alarm off-which she was!!!!  But living in an apartment complex, I know the noise was nerve wrecking-but what could she had done.  So about 4:00 am my husband heads over to get her car.  He disabled the alarm-it was coming from the truck of the car.  We took her vehicle back-she has a rotation tomorrow and has to travel at least an hour for this-so as parents we do what we need to do!!!  Right?  Now Momma is very tired!  But after a good night's (part of a night is still left) rest, I will be brand new.

I keep thinking of a verse in Psalms-(I think Psalms 81) For God has given us these times of joy-There is joy in what we do, we just have to find it.

Weekend

Weekends go by so fast!!!  Too fast!!  and the weather changes--I know it is April, but what crazy weather the weekend had in store for us.  Friday was a ho-hum day!!  After working, I decided I better make a run to the grocery store.  The daughters were coming home and the pantry was empty!!!  A few snow flakes were falling no big deal-but you would have thought a blizzard was coming!!!  Shew glad I make it out.

Saturday was no different--the sun was shining, then it began to sleet, then snow!!!  CRAZY!!!!

Sunday was beautiful-in the 70's!!!! What-I was beginning to sweat!!!!  Daughter #1 wanted to cook out on the grill--so what does she want-steak--she really doesn't like steak-but oh well.  My mother came up for a visit.  I hadn't seen her in a while-she had a total hip replacement and is doing fine.  Another run to the grocery store.  Then fire up the grill!!!!!

My husband started cooking.



Don't he look happy!!!



 The girls started to help!!!!

Some help.....and I decided to see my tulips coming up.

Then we all sat down to eat!!!!

Now time for the good-byes

Once last picture with their Granny Jane--my mother

What a fun weekend-even though the weather was CRAZY!!!!!