Questions

Today is kind of a sad day for me here--no I'm not going to write about dead deer or the likes but my soul is sad. Why do we live in a society that builds moutains out of mole hills or thinks just because an old man hugs a young girl he has evil on his mind? My granddaughters were asked not to hug a certain older gentlemen at church merely because someone thought it didn't look good. Those kids are this old man's livelyhood and bring joy to him each week. They are never alone with him and he has never made any remarks to cause me any concern. I watched this couple during church and it's like the life has been snuffed out of them. I don't think I'm angry only sad. All I can do is hope God works things out. Sorry for such a pitiful post and hopefully I will be back later this week with some dilliness.

Something to ponder

Let me start off by saying I have been having major trouble walking the last few days. I have a big bruise on the right knee where I fell last week. And back pain---I guess its a delayed reaction and I'm hoping it will all go away soon.

While going over some of the blogs I follow I came across one that gave ideas on writing prompts. It gave a list of things that one could write about on their blogs. The one I liked the most was "your favorite song and why". I love Casting Crowns "Praise you Thru this Storm" or as I call it Praise you in this storm. It's a song that just gets to the heart no matter if you are in a trial or not. It's a song that brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it and one that uplifts as well. And this is why it speaks to me: Several Years ago I had my first mammogram and it came back postive. I was given exactly 3 days to return for a repeat test. In these 3 days I was also praying for 3 of my grandkids as they were in a bad situation and I knew things had to be resolved or else. I felt an overwhelming power come over me and I knew God had heard my prayers for them. I tried not to worry about the test I was facing but the drive to the hospital was like a million mile drive--never ending but too close. Just as I pulled into the parking lot this song came on and I sat there and cried. I said "Lord whatever today hold I know You hold the keys to unlock it. Help me not to be afraid". The song ended and I went inside. I was taken right in and retested and then I sat and waited. They came back and ask me to redo this test and the look on the nurses face wasn't one you wanted to see. She looked very concerned but assured me everything was allright--yeah right. Anyhow I went back to wait once more. Well would you believe they ask me to do it a third time and this round they made sure they squeezed the life out of me. All I could think of was this thing must be massive and they were trying to figure out the best way to tell me. Finally I was called back to the doctor's room. He ask me if I wanted to sit and I said no thanks. And then he began, "Well I just want to show you what we found on the first test". When he pointed to that xray I went right thru the floor. The mass was the size of a fist and I could just imagine what the future held for me. And then his voice came thru my fog--"I would like you to see what we found today " My eyes followed his finger to a new xray and I nearly fainted " I don't know what happened here " he was saying "but there is nothing here" I let out a Thank You Lord and slapped that ole doctor on the back and started crying. As I left the room I think I heard him say softly "Yes thank you Lord for not taking another life" That song gave me the courage to face the fear and to accept whatever was to come. It still speaks to me even today because no matter what we are going thru I know God is always with us and He doesn't always step in and remove the stumbling blocks from before us. Trials and test are hard but this is how we grow in faith. So if you are facing a trial know that there is hope and you will emerge a stronger, newer person because God is no respecter of persons. If He touched me He will touch you. Just Praise Him Thru The Storm.

Is it Tuesday allready???

Wow I sure can't believe it's Tuesday allready. Where did the weekend go? Where did last week go for that matter.

I'm still in a bit of pain from a fall I took the other day--ouch! But it was rather funny because I did the splits across the kitchen floor. Now I'm not sure what I stepped on that caused me to go sliding but there was a PowerPuff Girls magnet on the floor dangerously close to where I landed. I knew the minute I felt myself going I wasn't going to stop until I hit rock bottom or in this case the kitchen floor. It all happened so very quickly and I'm glad that I put down that knife I had just picked up. Now I'm no little lady and the term "The bigger they are the harder they fall" is certainly true. I came down hard on my right knee then bent my left leg under me. How I ever managed not to break anything is beyond me but I guess God looks after stressed grandmas too. I will have to say thank you to my wonderful hubby for moving soo fast--right out of the room laughing as he went. He claimed there wasn't any use in him hurting his back worse than it was. Now if that's not true love I don't know what is!!!!


Those gourds (last post) might just be mini pumpkins. They've gone from green to orange even after picking and the vine is now twice as long as it was before. I thought pumpkins came on orange but some say they come on green and then change as they get bigger. I guess that would make sense because of the size. I also have 3 more growing so each granddaughter will be able to have a pumpkin and I get to keep one too. And those nasty bugs were squash borers and they are now eating away at my zucchini--I say let'em have all they want!

Hubby's surgery is scheduled for Oct. 9th. I don't think we are ready for it--financial wise that is. We are just now getting back on track from his being off last time and we were hoping for a later date. I think the closer it gets the more afraid he is getting. I know the doctor makes it all look so quick and easy but we are talking major surgery here-I don't care if it is with a laser it's still major. Since we have to walk down a small flight of stairs to our room we've put a small bed in the livingroom and that's where he will be for awhile. And that's when I will be able to sleep in peace!!!! OOOh I say that but after 33 1/2 yrs I'm not too sure I look forward to sleeping alone at least not for the first couple days, after that I might get use to it.

Well son finally got his travel trailer and they are likely now living in it. His plan is to continue working for this year and see how much they can save up before hitting the road. I guess when God calls you He will help you with the money and likes. I just know this is a major life change for them and hoping they can stand the trials that come with it.

School is going well but granddaughter has had a couple melt downs. I am trying not to stress her too much and we split our lessons in smaller time frames. I also have rewards if she does all her work without a fuss. That seems to be working well but she wasn't happy with me today as she didn't earn anything. I'm betting she will be the best little girl in the world tomorrow.


Well this post has been a bit long today so I better sign out and start the kings meal. Try to find something funny in your day--even if it is falling across the kitchen floor(without injury)

My gourds and Sunday news

Well I promised a view of my huge gourds and I aim to please.I completely forgot about posting as I've been busy with assorted issues.I finally had to pick the gourds as most of them were infested with some type of worm. I will do a search here later today to see if I can find out what these ugly nasty things are. They seem to have gone in thru the stem area and ate the plant from the inside out. Just another nasty creature who wrecks havoc on one's garden. I've actually gotten enough tomatoes for 2 batches of salsa. I gave our neighbor some and still had enough for the freezer. And on top of that we made a stop today at an old friends and they had tomatoes coming out their ears so we got a very large bag full. Now I can make some zesty tomatoes for the future winter soups.

It's gotten hot again but I doubt if that will last--at least it hasn't so far. We'll have a week or so of really hot stuff then a raging cold front comes thru and it feels like fall. In fact there is another front due in by mid week. OOOh well that's nature's crazy way.

We will be starting our schooling on Monday. I've been working up lesson lists-even though we use the K12 program I still like to put my own stuff in. one good thing about home schooling is that if you disagree with a lesson you can simply skip it and you can't do that with regular schooling. Plus kids learn way too much extra in the public school system (if you know what I mean). There are pros and cons of home schooling such as lack of people interaction and proms etc. However, the pros are that a student who is slower than the average kid can take the time they need to learn. Also if you have a hyper kid (like we do) you don'tr have to worry about getting those calls from the teacher. Our school Ohio Virtural Academy has a good many interacting events so kids do get together.

Our son is about to embark on a new venture. He wants to be an evangelist so they have now sold all their stuff and will soon be getting a travel trailer. Not sure when they plan to hit the road but I doubt if it will be too long in the making. This hasn't been an easy decision for them and there have been a few tears along the road but when God calls you one doesn't turn their back. I wish them God's protection.

All the scarlet fever seems to have run its course and the grandkids are now back to normal. We were able to get back to church and I'm glad. I don't like missing unless its a have to case. Well I'm off to make some Zesty Tomatoes and other goodies. Have a great day

August 3rd layout

These layouts are getting harder and harder to come up with. I only have so many pictures and I hate to use the same ones over and over but sometimes certain pictures make the best layouts

Ababgail is feeling better and the rash is staring to go away. She broke out like this when she was a few months old and we wonder now if it could have been scarlet fever back then? I don't remember if she ran a fever or not but I do recall the doctor giving her an antibotic so who knows. And so far no one else is breaking out so hoping all is past.

We had some really heabvy rain yesterday--all day and the electric did kick out and shut me down. Today is cloudy and cooler but no rain in the forecast.

Have a great day and here is the link for the CuddleBeez contest(http://cuddlebeezscraps30in30.blogspot.com/)

Aug 2nd layout and scarlet fever

Here is my new cotest layout. I love the colors and they matched the dress and wings just perfectly. Emily always takes awesome pictures and I love using her in my layouts. She's also always getting into trouble--even with that wonderful halo hanging over her head!!! Emily was born with a few disabilities and the doctors said she would never do certain things. However, God had other plans for her and while she still has issues she's doing all that stuff the doctors said she couldn't.

Now for the scarlet fever issue! Our youngest granddaughter broke out last weekend but we thought it was chicken pox. Even our local ER doctor couldn't figure it out and sent her home with a steriod. Thankfully she didn't have it bad and is fairly cleared up. BUUUUT yesterday daughter called and ask me to run oldest granddaughter, Abagail to the ER because she had this crazy rash really bad. No biggie . I run them out and about an hr later get a call a said I need to come get them as the ER doctor decided he wasn't going to see any more patients. Can you believe that????? Well in the course of complaining and talking the term scarlet fever came up. I dropped the clan off at their house and rushed home to do a search on scarlet fever. The very minute I saw the symptoms I nearly died and then when I saw the pictures---well lets just say I didn't waste any time getting back to daughters place and we took Abagail to another town. After about 5 hrs the doctor confirmed our fears--scarlet fever. However, this stuff isn't nearly as fearsome nor deadly as it use to be and with antibiotic Abagail will be cleared up in no time. Still we have a least 2 more grandkids who can and probably will come down with the stuff. Just hoping it stays clear of us adults.

Well we are in for a round of strong storms so I want to get this published before the electric kicks out and I lose it all. Have a good day and hopefully no scarlet fever your way.

Aug 1st layout

Here is my new layout for the CuddleBeez's contest (http://cuddlebeezscraps30in30.blogspot.com/). This is the funniest layout i've done simply because of the picture. Emily got the camera and caught her sisters on film. I laugh everytime I see this picture. Emily is the funniest child and she's always getting into trouble but that's just her nature and I wouldn't change her for anything.

Enjoy

Past contest layouts

Thought I would post some of my past layouts to the Cuddlebeez's contest so people can see my work.

Enjoy

Another day's layout and the hybrid album

Here is the July 31st CuddleBeez's contest layout. I'm #2 again but thats only a number and doesn't mean anything in the standings. I really like how this one turned out. It's one of two that I have of my granddaughter in Texas.

As promised I also took some pictures of the butterfly hybrid project I was working on. I might have to uplaod the pics in another post as blogger seems to have frozen up on me but I will see. Okay I don't really like how this all turned out but but at least the pictures are here

The top one is from the indivual books I am doing for each of the girls. I liked the way the pages looked when I outlined them in black. The other two pictures are of the very first book I did. I like the way you can add the digital look as well as making use of regular scrapbook supplies. This cute little album was well worth the $5.00(US dollars) I spent on it. Here is a link to the direct product and right now it's on sale for $3.75 so if you want it go grab it up because you will love it. (http://www.littledreamerdesigns.com/newshoppe/product.php?productid=932&cat=0&page=6) This designer also has some other cute templates and if you can't use a PSD file she will make you a PNG file. Her name is Michelle Filo or With love from Mushy designs.

I will make a seperate post for the gourds. All this rain is really causing them to go to town.

Have a great day.

Contest layouts

Nothing really exciting has been happening here as of late. I've been working on some contest layouts at CuddleBeez's scraps (http://cuddlebeezscraps30in30.blogspot.com/) .My entry for July 30th is entry #2. If you get a chance come by and vote for me. I don't think I create amazing layouts but the grandkids seem to think they are wonderful so that's what counts.

I entered into another couple ones as well but they will be random drawings and that's even harder to win.

I found the cutest hybrid project while surfing awhile back. It's a butterfly album from Michelle Filo (I will get the link and post it here). I originally had wanted to do it just like the preview I'd seen and even had Michelle make me a PNG file but I soon discovered it was easier to do my own thing. The first one I did was of my 4 granddaughters that live here in Ohio. I had picked up some chipboard lettering sometime back so I used that on the front cover to spell adorable then I added some foamy flowers and doodles. Inside I did a bit of digital layouts and printed ones. I will try to get a pic of it on here in the next couple days. Again it's not amazing but it is cute and may inspire someone. I'm now working on one for each of the 4 and if my daughter in law will ever send me any photos of my 3 grands there in Texas I will make them one as well. I'm not sure how boys will appreciate butterflies but maybe I can find a truck or something.

Well the tomatoes are offically toasted. There's no dening that they have the blight. I've been picking the big green ones just as soon as they get an ounce of coloring to them and so far they've been okay. But each day I go out to that garden and see those poor drooping tomatoes I just want to cry. I was so hoping for several batches of salsa and stewing tomatoes this year however nature had other ideas and it won't happen. I've also just about picked out the green beans, thank goodness!!! I only planted a small patch of them but they did very well this year and I managed, for a change, to beat the bugs. We do have some really strange gourds growing in the flower bed and the garden. They look like pumpkins , the mini type, but some are the green and yellow types. Those babies aren't your average sized gourds---oooh no they look more like those mini round watermelons( I think they are called sugar babies) you buy. Now I recall throwing out some gourds but they certainly didn't look anything like these things are looking. And the leaves are sooo huge. I guess it never occured to me to get a picture but I think I will. I just know we won't need to buy any gourds or pumpkins for the fall decorating this year and I will save my seeds.

Okay I've probably rattled on long enough today. It's just so quiet here this morning that I wasn't distracted--a very rare event for me. However I will say goodbye and get out there and get me some pictures of my --well I guess I will call them gourds until I know better. Have a blessed day.