So.
I haven't gotten a good start on a "come back" have I?
Just small stuff. Nothing earth shattering.
The older I get, the more STUFF that rolls around in my mind is overwhelming. I can't seem to focus on a subject long enough to get a point across.
For the past couple of months, what has consumed my mind the most is an upcoming surgery...certainly not a life/death issue but then I find myself thinking about all the "what ifs"...and, as you age, you realize that the "what ifs" can happen.
So.
Today, I look at the boss of our house...Coco, and think of dog pets everywhere, who, if we pay attention, can teach us many things. This is certainly not new news but it inspires me every time I see it.
Hope it inspires you, too.
THINGS TO LEARN FROM A DOG
~ Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
~ Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
~ When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
~ When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
~ Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
~ Take naps and stretch before rising.
~ Run, romp and play daily.
~ Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
~ Be loyal.
~ Never pretend to be something you're not.
~ If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
~ When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
~ Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
~ Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
~ On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
~ When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
~ No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.
~ Bond with your pack.
~ Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
So.
If you don't have a dog....GET ONE!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
Unexpected Awakening
3:00 a.m.
Awakened by our dog, Coco.
Gagging.
Gagging.
Upchuck.
On my new bedspread.
Clean up.
Get up.
Coco is asleep.
I’m awake.
At least, the coffee is made.
Have a good day, y’all!
Awakened by our dog, Coco.
Gagging.
Gagging.
Upchuck.
On my new bedspread.
Clean up.
Get up.
Coco is asleep.
I’m awake.
At least, the coffee is made.
Have a good day, y’all!
Friday, May 02, 2014
I'm Back
Surprise!
I'm back!
This blog has been on my mind for months and months. I truly want to renew my commitment to it.
There have been numerous twists and turns in our lives that took precedence in my writing.
PLUS the entrance of Facebook!! Blogging took a backseat and became "old stuff".
Since I first began this journal, many things have changed. In fact, it seems that EVERYTHING has changed...some things for good and some for bad. Even the format of BlogSpot has changed. I've got to learn everything again!!
This is all for now.
Come back for the good.
Or, bad.
Whatever is on my mind.
I'm back!
This blog has been on my mind for months and months. I truly want to renew my commitment to it.
There have been numerous twists and turns in our lives that took precedence in my writing.
PLUS the entrance of Facebook!! Blogging took a backseat and became "old stuff".
Since I first began this journal, many things have changed. In fact, it seems that EVERYTHING has changed...some things for good and some for bad. Even the format of BlogSpot has changed. I've got to learn everything again!!
This is all for now.
Come back for the good.
Or, bad.
Whatever is on my mind.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Red Eyes
“In an era of extreme political correctness, when almost everyone is offended by almost everything, and with self-appointed advocacy groups organized to find offense on behalf of almost everyone - offensively, without the majority in the group's consent - it's nice to know that there's a place to go where everyone can be offended almost all of the time.” ~Andrew Brietbart
Good Grief! I’m 73 years old and I LOVE the place of which Brietbart speaks…a place where everyone can be offended almost all of the time. This place is the early morning Fox Network show, “The Red Eye”, hosted by Greg Gutfeld.
If there are other insomniacs who read this, you’re going to have red eyes from lack of sleep anyway; so why not have a good reason? Try tuning in to The Red Eye, and at least getting a few laughs.
The week-end is upon us. Enjoy, be safe, and stay well.
Peace to you all…
Good Grief! I’m 73 years old and I LOVE the place of which Brietbart speaks…a place where everyone can be offended almost all of the time. This place is the early morning Fox Network show, “The Red Eye”, hosted by Greg Gutfeld.
If there are other insomniacs who read this, you’re going to have red eyes from lack of sleep anyway; so why not have a good reason? Try tuning in to The Red Eye, and at least getting a few laughs.
The week-end is upon us. Enjoy, be safe, and stay well.
Peace to you all…
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Saving America
I have only one thing to say this morning:
I regret that the first black president of our nation has not been Dr. Benjamin Carson.
BUT! I'm not God. HE is in control and HE has a plan.
If you missed Dr. Carson on "Saving America"...here it is!
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2168364509001/?playlist_id=928378949001
I regret that the first black president of our nation has not been Dr. Benjamin Carson.
BUT! I'm not God. HE is in control and HE has a plan.
If you missed Dr. Carson on "Saving America"...here it is!
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2168364509001/?playlist_id=928378949001
Thursday, February 14, 2013
He IS My Valentine...
Yes, it’s here again…Valentine’s Day; the day of love and romance.
What is ‘your’ idea of love and romance? For myself, at 73 years of age, it is me crawling out of bed every morning to start the coffee and turn up the thermostat and having HK get up and say….”GOSH! You look good this morning!!” and giving me a big good-morning hug.
That’s ALL I need! He IS my Valentine...
But for younger men, here are a few tips about what NOT to give your wife or your girl friend:
1. A box of chocolates, clumsily rearranged in an attempt to hide the fact you ate all the caramel ones.
2. Any food item with the words "diet," "light," or "high fiber" on the label.
3. Any video starring Sylvester Stallone or Jim Carrey.
4. Flowers from a hospital's gift shop--or worse, a mortuary's.
5. Any household appliance, power tool or other item from the harder side of Sears.
6. A gift certificate.
7. Cash.
8. Anything you could have bought at the gas station mini-mart on the way over, even if you didn't.
9. An apologetic look and the words "That was today?"
10. And…PLEEEZE don’t give her a Hunka Love Teddy Bear!!
That’s my advice for this Valentine’s Day, 2013!
Peace to you and many hugs!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Such Is Life on "For Love of Home"
How quickly time passes.
I remember my mom saying that, and, as a young person I made the usual comment…Ppfffft!! Time (at that stage of my life) dragged by, seemingly taking forever to reach…whatever it was for which I was waiting .
This is the first blog post I’ve entered since….JULY! I think about it and keep thinking…”OH! I have plenty of time” but that ‘plenty of time’ passes before I can blink!
Possibly, in the next few weeks, my motivation will return. This is what I’m striving for, anyway.
As time passes, and our age increases, much of our time is spent going to one doctor or another…trying to find that eternal fountain of youth. OH! No fountain of youth? So Juan Ponce de León made his search in vain? That is sooo disappointing!!
We have been richly blessed with good health; and we are very thankful….just want to hang on to it for a wee bit longer…mainly through curiosity…to see what Obamacare is going to do to our nation.
Yep. The time we spend going to the doctors is minimal compared to the time we spend on our chosen news source, Fox News. Even though we feel we get “slanted” reports on many news items, at least the news of interest isn’t ignored as it is with the mainstream media.
Oh, well! Such is life on “For Love of Home” and believe me when I say, “We DO love our home and family.”
Peace to all who click on my blog. Hang on and hang tight!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
A Long, Hot Summer Ramble
A Long Hot Summer Ramble
Though it has been a long, hot summer, it is passing quickly. I suppose that is considered an oxymoron.
It has been about 4 months since I’ve felt the urge to update my journal. That’s sad. It’s not that I haven’t had things to write about…I just haven’t been inspired.
We’ve been in a terrible drought and triple digit temperatures. The lawns are dead, shrubs are dying, the water source for our little town is being depleted, week after week. The ‘word’ is that if we don’t get significant rain soon, to fill the lake, we have only 8 months left of water.
So. A lot of time is spent inside the house, with air conditioning. Thank God for air conditioning!! And…what do you do when at home? Watch T.V. of course. And, what do you watch on T.V.? Well…if you’re interested in the welfare of our nation, you watch the news stations. More depression.
Now that I’ve spilled my gut with bad news, here’s good news! HK and I are well, with no major health issues. That’s PLENTY good! We are fortunate to have a daughter that has made her home here. Her house is within a stone’s throw of our home. Even considering the hot, dry summer, we’ve stayed busy trying to help her get the house in order.
And then, there’s Coco…the Havanese puppy that rules our lives…and, believe me…she rules with an iron paw!
I started listening to the audio version of a book by don Miguel Ruiz called “The Four Agreements”. I am very impressed with it. If the 4 Agreements were applied to my life, the first part of this entry probably wouldn’t have been written. I will write about it more in depth at a later time.
Enough rambling for now. I just felt the need to visit my blog.
Peace to you and your’s…
Though it has been a long, hot summer, it is passing quickly. I suppose that is considered an oxymoron.
It has been about 4 months since I’ve felt the urge to update my journal. That’s sad. It’s not that I haven’t had things to write about…I just haven’t been inspired.
We’ve been in a terrible drought and triple digit temperatures. The lawns are dead, shrubs are dying, the water source for our little town is being depleted, week after week. The ‘word’ is that if we don’t get significant rain soon, to fill the lake, we have only 8 months left of water.
So. A lot of time is spent inside the house, with air conditioning. Thank God for air conditioning!! And…what do you do when at home? Watch T.V. of course. And, what do you watch on T.V.? Well…if you’re interested in the welfare of our nation, you watch the news stations. More depression.
Now that I’ve spilled my gut with bad news, here’s good news! HK and I are well, with no major health issues. That’s PLENTY good! We are fortunate to have a daughter that has made her home here. Her house is within a stone’s throw of our home. Even considering the hot, dry summer, we’ve stayed busy trying to help her get the house in order.
And then, there’s Coco…the Havanese puppy that rules our lives…and, believe me…she rules with an iron paw!
I started listening to the audio version of a book by don Miguel Ruiz called “The Four Agreements”. I am very impressed with it. If the 4 Agreements were applied to my life, the first part of this entry probably wouldn’t have been written. I will write about it more in depth at a later time.
Enough rambling for now. I just felt the need to visit my blog.
Peace to you and your’s…
Friday, March 30, 2012
You Know The Type....
THE HUG
It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.
Things are tense.
Our infant son had been up all night. My wife's eyes (along with the rest of her) were weary. My oldest son, the five-year-old, wasn't feeling his best either. He was slow getting ready for school.He understandably didn't feel like going. It was just one of those mornings.
You know the type.
As I drove him to school, he was quiet. When parents are tense and tired, the children feel it.They know by word and gesture when their acts and attitudes are less tolerated. After being fussed at, he was sullen. It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.
I walked him to his classroom as usual.He walked in, removed his coat and hung it up. I usually give my son a hug before I leave him in class.I knew today he really needed a big hug, and maybe so did I. He came forward with his arms outstretched. I bowed down,clasped my arms around him, closed my eyes and hugged him tight. Normally, I would only hug him for two or three seconds but on this morning, I held him tight as the seconds ticked by like dashed lines on the highway. All of a sudden, I felt him get heavier. Still clinging to my son, I opened my eyes. I understood why he had gotten heavier. His feet were off the ground. He had curled his legs up and his heels were only inches away from his backside.
He clung. I clung.
Sometimes in life no words are needed. As he folded his legs up and trusted his father to carry all of his weight, he didn't get heavier to my spirit. I actually felt lighter. It was a ritual repeated countless times through countless years from countless parents to countless children. The touch and embrace between a parent and a child, make them both feel more secure. It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.
This is just a little story I read that makes us all realize how important a hug is to us....no matter the age of our children.
Hug your children....especially on 'those' days....you know the type!
It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.
Things are tense.
Our infant son had been up all night. My wife's eyes (along with the rest of her) were weary. My oldest son, the five-year-old, wasn't feeling his best either. He was slow getting ready for school.He understandably didn't feel like going. It was just one of those mornings.
You know the type.
As I drove him to school, he was quiet. When parents are tense and tired, the children feel it.They know by word and gesture when their acts and attitudes are less tolerated. After being fussed at, he was sullen. It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.
I walked him to his classroom as usual.He walked in, removed his coat and hung it up. I usually give my son a hug before I leave him in class.I knew today he really needed a big hug, and maybe so did I. He came forward with his arms outstretched. I bowed down,clasped my arms around him, closed my eyes and hugged him tight. Normally, I would only hug him for two or three seconds but on this morning, I held him tight as the seconds ticked by like dashed lines on the highway. All of a sudden, I felt him get heavier. Still clinging to my son, I opened my eyes. I understood why he had gotten heavier. His feet were off the ground. He had curled his legs up and his heels were only inches away from his backside.
He clung. I clung.
Sometimes in life no words are needed. As he folded his legs up and trusted his father to carry all of his weight, he didn't get heavier to my spirit. I actually felt lighter. It was a ritual repeated countless times through countless years from countless parents to countless children. The touch and embrace between a parent and a child, make them both feel more secure. It was one of those mornings.
You know the type.
This is just a little story I read that makes us all realize how important a hug is to us....no matter the age of our children.
Hug your children....especially on 'those' days....you know the type!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Spend Wisely...
Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400.00 in your private account for your use.
However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules.
The first set of rules would be:
Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
You may only spend it.
Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another$86,400.00 for that day.
The second set of rules:
The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, Its over,the game is over! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do?
You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right? Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right?
ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY!
Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just can't seem to see it.
The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!
Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.
What we haven't lived up that day is forever lost.
Yesterday is forever gone.
Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time....WITHOUT WARNING.
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in money
Think about that, and always think of this:
Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
So take care of yourself, be Happy, Love Deeply and enjoy life!
Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.
Start spending.
However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules.
The first set of rules would be:
Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
You may only spend it.
Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another$86,400.00 for that day.
The second set of rules:
The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, Its over,the game is over! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do?
You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right? Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right?
ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY!
Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just can't seem to see it.
The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!
Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.
What we haven't lived up that day is forever lost.
Yesterday is forever gone.
Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time....WITHOUT WARNING.
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?
Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in money
Think about that, and always think of this:
Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.
So take care of yourself, be Happy, Love Deeply and enjoy life!
Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.
Start spending.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
New Interest
For an indefinite time, Hubby and I have a new interest in our lives. We are "grand dog" sitting for our daughter until she gets situated and can take Coco home with her.
Coco is a Havanese and just a puppy...about 12 weeks old. I'm not really sure about her age. BUT! she is definitely a puppy...still in the chewing stage. There is nothing in our house that she hasn't chewed!
But what a cutie she is!!
We had to clean off the bottom shelf of a bookcase by my computer so she could have a resting place.
And, when she's not resting on the shelf, she finds a place in Hubby's lap!
Proverbs 12:10
"Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast...."
(ESV)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fat Tuesday
Today is Tuesday, February 21, 2012.
Fat Tuesday.
The day before the 40 days of Lent begins.
I’m not Catholic but I do place a lot of admiration in their observance of the Lent season….sacrificial ‘giving up’ of something very important in your life. I have made this a practice for the past 5 years and have found it to be the most spiritually rewarding of most things I “try” to do for God. As Christians, here in the United States, we have no idea of what the word sacrifice means. The closest I can come to the understanding is to ‘give up’ something that means a lot to me.
In the past, it has been anything related to food containing SUGAR because I’ve always been addicted to wonderful desserts. Well…they didn’t even have to be ‘wonderful’ IF they had plenty of sugar in them. But, believe it or not, through my past observances of Lent, that sugar addiction has disappeared. So…that wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice anymore.
This year, I’ve decided to give up my addiction to the social media of Facebook. I love Facebook. I love keeping up with old friends and I love meeting new friends. But a lot of time is wasted each day when I could be doing more productive things….like keeping my house in order, doing things to help others (instead of just thinking about it).
I started this blog in August, 2005 and kept it diligently until I registered for Facebook. Since then, it has been neglected. During this 40 days of Lent I hope to revive it and regain a following. I have almost 6 ½ years of our lives invested in “For the Love of Home” and I don’t want to lose it.
If you are reading this, I would love for you to check back occasionally to see what progress I’m making on my blog. I hope you won’t be disappointed.
Blessings to you and your’s.
Fat Tuesday.
The day before the 40 days of Lent begins.
I’m not Catholic but I do place a lot of admiration in their observance of the Lent season….sacrificial ‘giving up’ of something very important in your life. I have made this a practice for the past 5 years and have found it to be the most spiritually rewarding of most things I “try” to do for God. As Christians, here in the United States, we have no idea of what the word sacrifice means. The closest I can come to the understanding is to ‘give up’ something that means a lot to me.
In the past, it has been anything related to food containing SUGAR because I’ve always been addicted to wonderful desserts. Well…they didn’t even have to be ‘wonderful’ IF they had plenty of sugar in them. But, believe it or not, through my past observances of Lent, that sugar addiction has disappeared. So…that wouldn’t be much of a sacrifice anymore.
This year, I’ve decided to give up my addiction to the social media of Facebook. I love Facebook. I love keeping up with old friends and I love meeting new friends. But a lot of time is wasted each day when I could be doing more productive things….like keeping my house in order, doing things to help others (instead of just thinking about it).
I started this blog in August, 2005 and kept it diligently until I registered for Facebook. Since then, it has been neglected. During this 40 days of Lent I hope to revive it and regain a following. I have almost 6 ½ years of our lives invested in “For the Love of Home” and I don’t want to lose it.
If you are reading this, I would love for you to check back occasionally to see what progress I’m making on my blog. I hope you won’t be disappointed.
Blessings to you and your’s.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Retirement?
Oooops! Looks like it’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog entry. So...here I am, checking in!
It seems that at my age, all I would have to keep me busy and occupied would be sitting at my computer, writing; or sitting in a rocking chair, crocheting or knitting; or even keeping a clean, tidy, stack-free home. But none of those things are happening. Retirement for me is not what it's cracked to be!!
I suppose the biggest change in my life came last spring when my sister started talking about retiring and moving ‘back home’. At first, I thought it was just “talk”. Then she asked me to start looking for a small place for her to live.
Ummmmm….sounded like it was more serious than I thought. So, I began to scout around; found a small house for reasonable rent; took some pictures to show her.
Yes….that should work (she said) Next thing I knew, she was boxing up; giving to charities; throwing away; downsizing as much as possible. By July 14, she was moved back to her beginnings; just as I did 13 years ago.
Needless to say, we have had a good time….well….all except about a month of her being sick and in the hospital! That wasn’t much fun for any of us. But she is doing well now.
If a blood test shows that you’re low on sodium, you’d better not ignore it…..low sodium can be treacherous!
Instead of driving 150 miles to see her, I now drive about ¾ mile…which I do every day.
Why drive? Why not walk? Yep…we’ve talked about that, also. AND, we’re gonna do it when we get “a round tuit!”
Would someone please send us a round tuit?
Have a great day and a Blessed Christmas!!
It seems that at my age, all I would have to keep me busy and occupied would be sitting at my computer, writing; or sitting in a rocking chair, crocheting or knitting; or even keeping a clean, tidy, stack-free home. But none of those things are happening. Retirement for me is not what it's cracked to be!!
I suppose the biggest change in my life came last spring when my sister started talking about retiring and moving ‘back home’. At first, I thought it was just “talk”. Then she asked me to start looking for a small place for her to live.
Ummmmm….sounded like it was more serious than I thought. So, I began to scout around; found a small house for reasonable rent; took some pictures to show her.
Yes….that should work (she said) Next thing I knew, she was boxing up; giving to charities; throwing away; downsizing as much as possible. By July 14, she was moved back to her beginnings; just as I did 13 years ago.
Needless to say, we have had a good time….well….all except about a month of her being sick and in the hospital! That wasn’t much fun for any of us. But she is doing well now.
If a blood test shows that you’re low on sodium, you’d better not ignore it…..low sodium can be treacherous!
Instead of driving 150 miles to see her, I now drive about ¾ mile…which I do every day.
Why drive? Why not walk? Yep…we’ve talked about that, also. AND, we’re gonna do it when we get “a round tuit!”
Would someone please send us a round tuit?
Have a great day and a Blessed Christmas!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Ways of God
Next door to her lived an atheist who would get so angry at her proclamations he would shout, "There is no Lord!!"
Hard times set in on the elderly lady, and she prayed for God to send her some assistance. She stood on her porch and shouted, "PRAISE THE LORD. GOD, I NEED FOOD!! I AM HAVING A HARD TIME. PLEASE LORD, SEND ME SOME GROCERIES!!"
The next morning the lady went out on her porch and noted a large bag of groceries and shouted, "PRAISE THE LORD!"
The neighbor jumped from behind a bush and said, "Aha! I told you there is no Lord. I bought those groceries, God didn't."
The lady started jumping up and down and clapping her hands and said, "PRAISE THE LORD!! He not only sent me groceries, but He made the devil pay for them. Praise the Lord!"
*********
I thought this was a cute, meaningful story because I forget that God's ways are NOT my ways. He is always working behind the scene and all we have to do is have the faith that He's with us and will never forget us.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
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