Yucky Yuck!!!

I am still at home thanks to the yucky yucks. Mark has been sick again. This is the third time he has gotten sick. Each time is when we have been home a few days. I don't know what else to do. We have washed all bedding, changed tooth brushes, sprayed Lysol every where and used Clorox clean up every where. Whatever this germ is, it seems to stick around. Praying that Mark feels better and we get back on schedule.

Life!!!

I got the sad news tonight that a classmate of mine lost his wife to cancer. I haven't seen this classmate since graduation, but recently reconnected with them on Facebook. My heart goes out to him and their 2 teenagers daughters who are left without a wife and a mother. Life really is short. Life has no guarantees. There's no rhyme or reason why things happen to people. And to be honest sometimes it is hard to see God's plan in a sad situation. Although I know He has a plan and nothing happens by accident, we are still human and we still wonder why. I certainly don't have the answers, but I trust God. He is in complete control and makes no mistakes. He is there to comfort us in our times of sorrow. He engulfs us in His loving arms and cradles us as we cry out our hurts, disappointment, rejections and sorrows. He is a loving God. My heart felt sympathy goes out to the White family tonight. I think about all the times Stephen made me laugh in school and cheered me up. I only wish I could ease the pain for him some how in this time of sorrow. Say a prayer for this family.

My Life or Yours???

I am scanning my Facebook page seeing what my friends are up to today (btw, haven't seen people in 20 yrs, but since FB I have to know what they are doing everyday now). One comment catches my eye, "I wish I had your life". It was a comment after one of my friends posted something great about her day (like they would post the crappy stuff). It made me think..would I want someone else's life? NO!! I love my life. It's not perfect, but then again noone else's is either. I know what my past and my present and even what my future holds. I don't know anyone else's life, but I know mine. I have no regrets in life, except maybe not sticking with piano lessons(mom always said I would regret this). I mean that is not weighing on my mind so heavily that it keeps me up at night. I had a great childhood and wonderful teenage years. I married the man of my dreams, and he continued to spoil me where daddy left off. I do regret not trying to have a baby again when I had the chance. I am not depressed sobbing my eyes out about it every waking moment, but there are regrets. It really is not an issue to me until someone makes it an issue. Like not having children makes you a horrible person. Life hasn't always been easy, but who's life has been a bowl of cherries? My biggest reason for never wanting to trade lives with someone is...I know where I am going after I leave this earth. That is something you can't know about another person, no matter how well you think you know them. Why trade assurance for unassurance? While some may look like they have it all and have it all together...you never know. I say stick with what you know. You never know a person's regrets or mistakes in their past, but you do know yours. For the record...I choose my life. It's not always perfect, but I know where it's been and where it is going.

A Mixture!!

Yesterday, my dad had to have surgery for a second time to remove tumors from his bladder. This complicated procedure is done in the doctors office...can you believe that?? His appointment was at 9 am and we were leaving out of there a little before 10 am. He did really well, but will have to do treatments later on.

Mark and came back home thinking that some yard work might get done...WRONG!! We had the worst thunderstorm that we have had in ages. Thunder booming, lightning striking close by and such a down pour. Our yard looked like a lake a few hours later and the ground hardly looks wet.

We are gearing up to participate in the yard sale at church on Saturday. All our items are in totes already priced. We have 2 boxes of jewelry that we will be selling as well. I am looking forward to getting rid of some of this stuff. Our prices will be rock bottom. Believe me...I want this stuff gone.

More remodeling on our house is coming up on Friday. Chip will come and install new doors, fix our ceiling in the laundry room and build us a DVD insert for our bedroom. I am looking forward to getting all that done. Maybe the bathroom will be next to have a little face lift.

Planning on grilling out some pork chops, corn and squash this afternoon. Hope the weather cooperates to allow me to get a few things done.

Things Learned!!

1. If I come close to a fire ant hill, I am going to get bit.
2. Some people are scared acting when you show kindness. 3. God's blessings àre better than anything we can imagine.
4. Some parents are uneffected when their children act up in public places. The public is usually the ones effective by their lack of disicipline.
5. Love from your spouse can make all things and all situations better...instantly. 6. Your dog is always your friend.
7. Life isn't always easy.
8. Where you will spend eternity is the biggest decision of your life.
9. Laughing will automatically make you feel better...try it!!
10. Good friends are really hard to find. Fair weather friends are a dime a dozen.
11. Worrying is your enemy not your friend. (I know this, just don't practice it enough) 12. People's opinions don't matter. God knows your heart.
13. You will never please everyone, so stop trying.
14. Always love yourself, because you can always count on yourself.
15. Smile!! It increases your face value.

My Life!!!!

The last few days have been a blurr of activity. I have been listing seeds like crazy on Ebay, plus trying to read my library books before the are due. I have been shopping a little, and found several great deals. I found my 2 little nieces an outfit each for only $2. I thought they were $3 each, but after checking my receipt I saw that they were only $2 each. What a great deal. I hate that they didn't have anything else in their size, and there were no boys clothes. My search for cute boy clothes continue.

A cute little outfit for our niece Madelyn. I loved this little 3 piece outfit. It has a hat with it!!!

Her big sister, Kate, will get this adorable Elmo leopard print outfit. I thought it was just the cutest little thing. I know they will both look adorable in these.

I have been running so many errands this week. That is the only bad thing about going back and forth from here to the coast...you play catch up wherever you go. I had to get medicine refilled and things mailed out. I just found a big envelope of coupons that goes to Amanda...so sorry I have forgotten these. I hope they are not out of date. I am going to wait until Monday to mail them, because I haven't clipped the coupons from last week, and then 2 more Sunday papers will be coming here this weekend. I did get 2 packages mailed out today that I had promised to 2 cute little kids that joined our family recently. I also mailed out some packages to my 2 older nieces...thought they needed some things to wear to school on St. Patrick's Day. I just realize that I always were green that day and try to eat corn beef, but I am NOT IRISH. I wonder why I do that??? Well, for one reason...I don't like to be pinched. I would like to find a pot of gold though, but I don't see that happening. I have started buying things to put in our 6 nieces Easter Baskets. I now have to buy the baskets. I may have too much to go in them, or I might not have enough stuff.

Sinus troubles have been my nemesis' the last 2 weeks. I have never had so many headaches before. I have taken Clari tin, Benadryl Sinus and Vick's Nasal Spray. I have gone through about 3 boxes of tissues...1 box was Puff's with Vick's on them. They are great if you are stuffed up. I have felt like my eyeball was going to pop out, and my face has just ached. I don't know if I am ready for Spring or not...I don't want to endure this much longer.

My daffodils are up at home, but not blooming. Crazy thing is that the daffodils here are blooming....go figure. Have gotten about 4 snows here plus ice and the flowers are blooming, but not down at the coast. I am looking forward to buying some flowers and baskets. That is one of my favorite things to do in the Spring.

After watching the news tonight, I might plant some tomatoes. $7 a box last year, and they are $30 a box this year. Seeds are not that plentiful this year. There are some things that I can't even get, and buying seeds in those little packs are a rip off. Ummm!!! Fresh vegetables sound pretty good right now. Went to eat seafood last night, and we got so much on our plate; that we had it for supper tonight. I got a whole flounder last night, and didn't make a dent in it...finished it off tonight. Seafood heats up great in the oven. Well, it is time to go read...my books are due Tuesday, and I only have 5 to read.

Talking!!!

I got up fairly early this morning and started preparing some breakfast.  Bacon and eggs for Mark and his dad and homemade Egg McMuffins for me.  It never takes that long to prepare breakfast because I do the bacon in the microwave...to me there is no other way to prepare bacon.  Mark's mom fell and broke her hip and has been in the hospital since Thursday night last week.  I know I haven't mentioned that in my blog until now, but that is because I had all my blogs preplanned.  I have to be organized or I can't function well.  She is doing better (the hip part anyway) and hopefully will be moved to rehab this week.


Mark's parents have a huge sunroom on the back of their house that over looks the woods and their pond.  I saw the biggest buck standing at the edge of the pond today.  He ever so slowly lowered his head to drink from the pond. (Mitchell you would have croaked at the size of this deer)  I would have loved to have gotten a picture, but the old blackberry doesn't zoom that far.  Shortly after he left, a crane swooped in and got a huge fish.  We have seen raccoons, deer, possum and lots more wildlife around the pond.

Went to the post office and there in my box was an envelope stuffed with coupons for Amanda.  I was thrilled.  To top it all off, Brooks had clipped them very neatly.  I just added them to the ones I had already clipped for Amanda.  I need to meet up with her and give her all my bags of goodies for Fed by Faith.  I love the name of the ministry that she started.  A big "Thank You" to Brooks Sears for taking the time to send the coupons.

Got 3 calls today to book me to come and perform my comedy  routine.  I am thrilled.  I have bookings now in December, January and February.  The Lord is really opening up doors for me.  I love it.  The last call I got today was a result of my website.  No referrals, just googled and found me.  Whew!!!  That $19.95 a month is already paying off.  That just tickled me down to the very depth of my soul.  I was searched and found on the internet....no autographs please. lol

Been working on my book this week, or fretting over it might be a better word.  I have outlined the book and pretty much have the story in my mind.  World War II plays a part in the story line and it causes me to fret.  Mark told me to quit worrying over it because it is not the deciding factor in the story.  His advice, "make the main thing the main thing".  Great advice, so I have quit worrying about that part.  I love to write and this is the 3rd attempt on a book.  The other 2 are in the round file along with rejected articles.  I finally hit upon something about my writing.  I am not technical (please I can't do big words) nor am I news worthy.  By news worthy, I mean writing about events and happenings don't appeal to me.  I write descriptive things that paint you a picture.  I like for you to read my stories and get a real picture in your head of what I am talking about.  I want you to taste the foods I describe and feel the hot sweltering July sun beat down on your back as though someone has a hot iron on you.  I also realized that some are just meant to write short stories, and some are meant to turn out the next great American Classic.  I think I am the short story girl, but  I am going to attempt this one last book.  The main reason for the attempt is because the story line is basically true but with a big twist of fiction. 

I am including a story that won a contest for me back about 12 years ago.  No money was involved just the honor of winning.  I have since revamped it a bit and got a little more descriptive in the details.

Yesteryear

By: Tracey Overby-Garner

I watched as black Carolina dirt slowly swirled down the drain. The last reminders of the work I had done that day. I lazily strolled to the porch remembering not to slam the screen door as I settled down in an old weather beaten rocker on the large expansion of the porch. My eyes lazily look over the corn fields that seems to have a never ending stretch. Their golden tassels standing tall as though lifting their arms in thankfulness to the abundant rain and sunshine. Fireflies buzz around as their light shines against the twilight of the evening. Frogs croaking down by the pond as if their song was being played to a sold out symphony crowd. Heaped up baskets of vine ripen tomatoes and golden yellow squash fill the porch waiting for the masterful hands to craft them into a scrumptious delight. The sounds and smells fill me with a nostalgia that makes my chest feels has though it will burst into a flurry of unforgettable delight. My body suddenly jerks as the subway comes to a halt, and I slowly come back to the reality of my life. The doors slowly slide open and unwillingly I rise to leave. Stepping out onto the hard cement and walking down the people laden street, bumping into total strangers that I will never know their names. I make my way to my dingy dark apartment as my heart aches for the times of yesteryear . No fresh cut grass to tantalize my nostrils announcing the arrival of summer. No daffodils peeking up from the ground as spring makes its grand entrance. My mouth waters as I think about those vine ripen tomatoes. Two pieces of Wonder bread all smothered in Duke’s mayonnaise with those crimson slices glistening in between. A tall slim glass of fresh squeezed lemonade to wash down that delight. My mind wanders to a time that was simpler that I had unconsciously tucked away in the far corners of my mind. What has it been? Five, ten no fifteen years since I left that little boy named Billy behind. How could I have let that much time pass without even a call? Without even as much as a card. In the recess of my mind, I see that young boy walking down the dusty lane with a well worn suitcase in hand, heading for the big city to make a name for himself. William he would be known as now to all the dignified personalities he would meet. He had made a name for himself, but at what cost? He had simply gained the whole world, but felt as if he had lost his own soul. Oh, how he had longed for something more than that little town could have given him all those years ago. Funny, now he longed for that little town and the finer things in life that only it held. The very things he rebelled against in that small town are now the very things his heart ached for. The neighbor helping you finish harvesting your fields before the big storm, even though his crops were still in the fields. Passing the day away visiting on the porches of friends who knew you better than you knew yourself. The smell of apples and cinnamon as a freshly baked pie cools on the sills. The speckled hound dog dancing around announcing the arrival of a visitor. Yes, by all counts those were the days. There is an ache in his heart that nothing in the city can even begin to heal. He rises slowly and lets out the breath that he had been holding. Picking up the phone he dials that far away land. “Mom, this is Billy. Can I come home?’