Weekend Rewind

Weekend Rewind...

Moving started early Friday morning.  Daughter is heading to Roanoke to begin her Doctorate of Physical Therapy program.  How can one person have all this stuff?

Truck was loaded and 'little man' decided to pack his toys---

Friday was also Relay for Life...
Even though it rained, it didn't dampen our fun,

Little man enjoyed running the lap in the kid's relay.

and dancing in the rain to the music.

Terrible thunderstorms forced us to batten down the tents and eventually the remainder of the relay was cancelled but not before the lighting of the luminaries.

Cancer has struck many love ones in my family and this is a disease I want to see go away.

Saturday, we moved daughter to Roanoke.  So thankful for both of daughters' friends (boyfriends?) that help unload and carry the 'stuff' in.

Terrible thunderstorms arrived Sunday afternoon.  So much rain in a short period of time.  I am hoping the sun shines tomorrow.  Would someone please turn the light bulb on for me?


Have a good week--9 days till I start my summer vacation!

Wednesday hodgepodge

1. May is National Blood Pressure Month...what sends yours soaring, either literally or figuratively? What calms you down? When did you last have your bp checked?

What sends my blood pressure up is people who are continually late!!!  Blood pressure soars when I tell a person we are leaving at a certain time and then I have to wait 20/30 minutes.  I understand sometimes circumstances prevent from leaving at a certain time but when it is usually the same person holding all up then...it is not the circumstances.  Often I have just wanted to leave the other person behind, but that would be rude of me.

Blood pressure checked a couple of months ago at the dentist and it was great.

2. You just found $1-what do you spend it on? How about 10$ 100?

Hum..what will a $1.oo buy?  

$10.00-I would use on my Zumba lessons.  Of course, the extra few bucks I have left could be spent on a candy bar.  Daughter laughs when I get out of the shower after Zumba and begin eating potato chips, crackers, and cereal!  I explain to her it is a mental break for me.

$100--Oh, I would go to the Dollar Tree and buy so much for my little group of 3 and 4 year olds-let's see I have around 20+ on Sunday and this would help me tremendously!  

3. Mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food has been proposed, but not enacted in the US. How much attention do you give food labels before you buy? Are you in favor of labeling if it means an increase in food prices? Is this an issue you've been following and feel strongly about, or is this the first you've heard of the controversy?

Here lately, I have become more conscious of  what the food labels say, and yes, I do read most of them.  Haven't given it much thought to the price increase-all things come with a price, right?  However, if we require the labeling of GE food, what about really knowing what chemicals farmers use to grow their products?  This is the first I have heard of this controversy.

4. May 15th marks the birthdate of Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz. At this point in time, are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain.

Courage-just some 'stuff' going on right now.  I need courage to deal with and face these.  I keep reminding myself of the Bible verse-"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

5. "There's no place like home" is an oft repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement?

There is no place like home.  Home is where I felt safe and secure and worry free.  Oh, I am sure there were times when I wish I wasn't home, but now how I long for my happy, home.  Home is your happy childhood memories.  A place you can visit but never completely go back to.
Hopefully, I have made my house a home for my daughters.

6.  Steak...yes please or no thank you? What cut do you prefer and how do you like yours cooked? Sauce or no sauce? Besides your own kitchen, where's a place you like to go to get a great steak?

Hub is the top chef at my house, and he makes a mouth watery steak.  Hubs grills out steak weather permitting, and no sauce for me.  Places to get steak-how about my local grocery store (LOL).  I hardly order steaks at a restaurant.

7. When was the last time you were in a genuine hurry?

Probably about 6 or 7 years ago.  We were traveling to watch daughter play in a basketball game about an 8 hr. drive for us.  Hub and I had the trip planned and we knew we would have plenty of time.  Unfortunately we hadn't planned on sitting in traffic (accident) and then taking another route.   I kept telling hub I wanted to arrive alive.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Prayers for me and family right now-just dealing with some 'stuff'.

Weekend Rewind

A very special weekend for me.

It's Graduation Day!

After seven long years in college and the last three going continuously, daughter #1 graduated from pharmacy school Saturday!  Five tickets were issued to each student-daughter was able to get one extra from another student.  Hub, daughter #2. both grandmothers, her godmother, and I left early Saturday.  Getting a motel was out of the question-not only pharmacy school graduation, but also law students graduation also.  Tickets arrived on Thursday....




No tears yet.....

Daughters were ready to leave by 7:00 am... All smiles even though it was a rainy morning.




#2 daughter has to always check picture after taking...

Dad wanted a quick picture..


Daughters left and then we left shortly after.

.The campus is set in the foothills of Virginia.  A very small town-which just recently got a Wal-Mart!  Hey, what better place for a pharmacy school.

A little mist was still hanging around but the reception area was all set up.

I was still holding it together.  I took my seat -very crowded seat-the one where one touches the other person's elbow-but I was okay.  The bagpipes started...the processional began...

I glanced at hub and a tear was rolling down his check....which made me cry...I missed daughter entering...only caught the back of her

she is the one with the blue showing-

We listened to the introductions...and to Virginia's Secretary of Health and Human Resources, William Hazel, MD-Commencement Address.  He told all the candidates how they needed to make an impact in the medical field and to always treat patients with respect and above all to be nice to their patients for one never knows what kind of news their patient has just received. His speech ended with all the graduates standing and giving thanks to all who helped them on this journey of theirs.  I must say, I enjoyed his commencement address-not too long but to the point.

Now the moment we had all been waiting for...the Hooding of Candidates and Awarding of Degrees...

So glad a professional photographer was able to capture all of the ceremony.  I wasn't able to capture her when she was receiving her diploma.

After the awarding of degrees, they all took the pharmacist's oath.

I did capture the recessional--

A smile of accomplishment.

Pictures were taken with friends-friends who studied, ate, cried, and laughed together.

A close neighbor who would constantly make sure her door was completely closed and locked.

So glad she had a watchful neighbor like him!

A few pictures with family....

Picture with Godmother

Memories of this journey she will always have.

 

We arrived home just in time for a little reception hub and I were giving her.

 A book for people to write their wishes for Amanda.

Table pieces were pill bottles filled with skittles.

A day filled with such joy.

What more could a mother want for Mother's Day....

I have it all right here!

wednesday hodgepodge

1. When the children of today grow up, what do you think they'll say about this period in time? What do you most hope they remember?

I am afraid of what children of today think. Anxiously waiting to read responses of others!



2. National Teacher's Day is celebrated in the US of A on the first Tuesday in May, this year May 7th...share how a particular teacher positively impacted you. 

A teacher that impacted me was my World History teacher, and he also taught Driver's Ed.  I remember just talking with him about his favorite type of music.  He was strict but fair.  His classroom was organized and he didn't tolerate any nonsense.  Years later, I taught English across the hall from him.  There was a few times, when I caught myself listening to him lecture and thinking how many times he had to call a student down-this wouldn't have happened in my day.  

3. What's a dish your mama made, that if set in front of you today would whisk you right back to childhood?                                                                         

Brown sugar pies!

4. Mother May I was a game we played when I was growing up...no pieces, parts, or plugs required. What games from childhood do you remember loving that were also pieces, parts, and plug-free?

Playing kick-the can underneath the street light or playing red light, green light.

5. Besides your own mother, tell us about a woman who influenced you as a child?

My precious grandmother (on my father's side).  She was rather large and I use to laugh hearing my grandfather ask her if a tow truck was needed to get her out of a vehicle.  My grandmother was a devoted Christian woman.  My oldest daughter has had 2 open heart surgeries, and my grandmother would cry and pray with me over the phone.  I remember the second heart surgery daughter had-we were in Boston-the surgeon came in and said the surgery was needed or daughter would die within one year, but there was a 90% chance she would die on the operating table.  I had to call my grandmother-and she prayed with me on the phone and I cried.  She was something special-who influenced me more than my mother.  

6. Mamma Mia! What's the best play or musical you've ever seen? 

It has been so long since I have attended a play or musical-can't remember.

7. What are three smells that make you feel nostalgic?

country ham baking at Christmas, garden dirt, and burning leaves--all of these make me remember my childhood

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
A busy weekend is ahead!

Weekend Rewind

Weekend Rewind

I learned a lesson this weekend.

We have a Sam's Club just a few minutes away from home so after work on Friday I decided to go and stock up on some things.  I had made my list and was ready to go.  My list was very short and I told hub it would not take me long.  We planned on grabbing a bite to eat afterwards.  Daughter #2 said she wanted to go and get a couple of things.  Shockingly, Sam's wasn't crowded.  I put my items in the buggy and I just went to look at a printer and Holy Cow-I couldn't see Hub!  He was pushing the buggy cart but what had happened.  The cart was piled high.  ahem--was the look daughter #2 gave me.  What turned into a couple of items-turned into $500.00 worth of stuff!!  Now hub is a softy when it comes to the girls and I knew what he was thinking.  Yes, #2 daughter would be leaving in two weeks to attend graduate school so just bite your lip she was just stocking up.  Stocking up--she practically stocked up for an entire year--that was what I was thinking.  I know in a couple of weeks I will look back and say-ahem --daughter sure did use her brains tonight!  Lesson learned-when #2 daughter says a couple of things-she will purchase them-not me-no more volunteering to buy a couple of things. 

Weather.....Woes.....

I usually don;t write about the weather but our crazy weather is getting to me.  Another cold weekend in my neck of the woods.  Today it is raining and temp barely 50-this is unusual around her.  Usually we have temps in the mid-70's by now.  The long range forecast is rain and cool until Thursday-ugh!  Bring me the sunshine.

Graduation...

Daughter #1 is beside herself.  She will graduate Saturday from pharmacy school!! I am very proud of her-a long road, and she has seen it through.  Seven long years of college is behind her with no breaks.  However, she can only invite 5 people to the graduation ceremony--so we are giving her a little reception later that evening.

Testing.....

Our state testing begins tomorrow--What a way to begin a week, right?

My post has been more like-my thoughts this weekend and not what I actually did.  I am blaming this on the weather--this stinky, cold, rainy weather!!!

Wednesday hodgepodge

1.  This week's Hodgepodge is Volume 123.  What's something you've done recently that was as easy as 1-2-3? 

Absolutely-NOTHING!

2.  The Wednesday Hodgepodge also happens to fall on the first day of May ...what is something you may do this month? 

Not the slightest idea-right now my May calendar is full!


3. The Englishman Horace Walpole is credited as saying, "The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think"  How do you see it?

Boy-this one is a brain exercise!
If one uses the heart, this person is very emotional.  If one uses the mind, this person uses logic and reasoning.  Best to use both, wouldn't you agree?

4.  May is National Hamburger Month...how often do you eat a burger? What are your must-haves when it comes to burgers?  I assume you vegetarians won't be celebrating so tell us what you'd like instead? 

Not very often-hub may grill out hamburgers once in a while or I may occasionally order one. When hub grills, I must have all of the 'fixins'-lettuce, tomato, mustard, A1 sauce, and chili on my toasted bun.  When ordering one I love the black and bean burgers with an order of sweet potato fries.

5. Pansies, petunias, geraniums, impatiens...of the four mentioned, which is your favorite in a patio pot? Will there be pots on your patio this spring? (Or whenever spring comes to your part of the globe?) Who does the gardening at your house?

Hub and I both do the gardening-but mostly it is me.  Hub just begins the gardening.  There will be flower pots on the front porch and back patio.  Probably will have impatiens and geraniums.

6. When did you last (literally or figuratively) shout "Mayday, Mayday!"

Two weeks ago-while unloading furniture we had purchased for #2 daughter!

7.  Say farewell to your April in ten words or less. 

Bye, Bye, cool, rain showers-Hello flowers and green grass!
'
8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
Enjoy the rest of the week!