My Life at The Picket Fence

Thanks to all of you for coming over from Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/ to see my video? Only problem, is I have not purchase a Web Cam, so I tried to be creative and create this Slide show. I hope you all like it and I want to thank Linda for all her hard work in creating this fun blogging day. I have learned one thing from this entire experience, I am not cut out for Hollywood and the film making industry.

FALL LEAVES

With fall on its way, it has me thinking about the leaves changing and how beautiful they are in their mixture of red, orange, brown and yellow. All spring and summer they have served their purpose on a budding tree as this rich vibrant green leaf and in the fall a transformation takes place to give them their rich warm colors of fall. And then as fall gives way to winter, these same warm colored leaves fall from the tree and in the spring a new vibrant green leaf starts to grow.
I wonder how many of us can relate to the changing of a leaf's color to our lives? In life sometimes everything in our lives are going along at full speed, we are enjoying the rich vibrant blessings of the Lord and all of a sudden our lives start to change, the rich vibrant green starts taking on a new color. It can be a physical change that zaps our health or the health of one of our loved ones. Sometimes it is an emotional change like the death of a loved one or a failed marriage. I am reminded of a verse in the Bible, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3 vs 1. I think that just like the leaves when they fall, our lives can change colors too. There is a time for everything and there is a time of renewing and refreshing in the ways of God. And when we find ourselves faced with life's challenges and changes, it is then that we can draw from God's word and know that he has promised us provision for our lives. God will not leave us alone. Just like the leaves of fall, they die off and then new leaves are formed. This same transformation can take place in our lives. When we yield all we have to God, he can make something beautiful out of the fallen leaves of our lives. He can start a new budding process and with his grace and provision a new green vibrant leaf will form.

ICE CREAM

Okay so today I got a newsletter update from one of my favorite reality TV shows- The Biggest Loser and enjoyed reading this quote from the newsletter:

"One thing we are reminded of with The Biggest Loser: Families is that emotions often interfere with our eating. Do you run to the refrigerator for a "comforting" bowl of ice cream after a stressful day at the office or taking care of the kids? Does it aid your angry mood to chomp on crunchy corn chips?" Well, why don't you just hit me right where it hurts? Of course I run to the refrigerator for a bowl of ice cream every night. There is only one more thing more comforting than ice cream at night, but with a 4 year old granddaughter living with us, it usually is out of the question! (now for those of you who didn't quite get that, just keep thinking :) And as far as I can tell, as long as I am blogging, I don't get the urge to eat ice cream? (actually the real problem is I can't do two things at once, especially if it involves my brain and eating). When I eat my ice cream, I don't want any interruptions, No Mam, just leave me alone so I can enjoy the entire bowl. As far as chomping on crunchy corn chips, the only thing that does, is give my granddaughter ammunition to say "Grammy, your breath smells like corn chips!" I am sure that emotions do interfere with our eating, but if I don't get my nightly bowl of ice cream, then a whole lot of emotions are going to come out!!!

ROLE REVERSAL

Today, I must admit I am feeling a little tired and definitely a little down and out :( I took my 83 year old Dad to have another surgical procedure yesterday. He did really great and is actually doing quite well for all he has been through. We almost lost him in June, but thankfully God spared his life for a few more good years. I think my Dad has held on because he wants to be here to help take care of my 78 year old Mom, she is under Hospice Care at their home and is very ill.

It really is so true about what you hear about Role Reversal, I am definitely experiencing that right now. It was so easy being their child, but to now be their parent is very hard. It is hard to see them, especially my Mom struggling to breathe and stay alive. I think her will to live is starting to dissipate. She tells me just about everyday that she is tired of fighting and ready to leave. I actually prayed last night to God, that I do not want her to suffer and if he is ready for her than I am ready to give her over to him. You know that is really hard to do, to give up your Mom, but I know that she has fought a very long, but good fight down here on earth since she was 36 years old. She deserves some peace and although I will miss her immensely, I know that she will be going to a place of rest and healing with God.

Now that I have made all of you sad by expressing myself today, I can find some humor though all of this. When we got ready to leave the hospital yesterday, the nurse was going over all the post-op things with my Dad and she told him he could resume sexual activity!!! He said, I don't think we have to worry about that, it's been dead for quite sometime.

NUDITY, BODY BAND AND FSU = WEEKEND OF LAUGHTER

This weekend I have experienced a lot of things, some interesting and weird, some that made me almost pee in my pants laughing, some that made me ponder and some that made me appreciate life even with the sadness. In no particular order here they go:


1. I witnessed along with my hubby, my youngest daughter and youngest granddaughter, a naked man walking on the side of the road.


2. I laughed when my granddaughter said "Maybe he took a shower and forgot to put his clothes back on"


3. I laughed when we came back by the spot on the road where the man had been later, and he was sitting in the backseat of a Sheriff's car. My granddaughter said "I saw his naked shoulder".


4. I laughed after telling the naked man story to my oldest daughter and she replied " I hope the Sheriff that arrested the man, lysoled his seats"


5. I thought of how sad this gentleman's life must be and how even tho he was in the state that he was in, that our heavenly Father loves him.


6. I tried a new exercise tape with my youngest daughter using a Body Band.


7. I laughed at myself hysterically and almost peed in my pants, trying not to slap myself in the face with the Body Band.


8. I laughed at my daughter trying as hard as she could not to laugh at her 'poor old out of shape Mother'


9. I tried to enjoy the FSU vs. Wake Forest game and because we stunk so much, I found myself observing the crowd and checking out the outfits that women wear to football games.


10. I get a laugh out of the women who wear 6" stiletto's to games with shorts and have to walk up 50 flights of stairs.


Over all my weekend was nice and I enjoyed it, but to be honest, I still cannot get the vision of the naked man's butt walking down the highway. (Thank God, we passed him so fast that we didn't have time to see his gifts from God).

A PONDERING ON SNORING

I often wonder, what is it about women, that we cannot fall asleep fast or get enough sleep? Could it be the fact that the rib we were made of comes from man, leaving man with one less rib and therefore more room in his torso for snoring. Which in turn is one of the reasons we cannot fall asleep. Something to ponder?

I am only pondering over this because last night was, can I say AWFUL!!! Hubby was having back pain and took a muscle relaxer, which intensified the roar that was coming from somewhere deep within this Wonderful, Gorgeous, Lovable, God-fearing man that I sleep with (for those who do not know me well, I am also married to). I thought a slight tender touch of my foot into his back might not only help the roar, but also the pain he had been feeling earlier. Being married to the most thoughtful person in the world (in case hubby reads this), he so kindly moved from his warm cuddly bed to the sofa. It only took me another hour and I was off to la la land.

This post is dedicated to all of us who sleep with roaring 'teddy bears' and to answer a question for hubby - Me, I don't snore, I am a lady!!!

LEGACY

"I want to leave a legacy, How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough? To make a mark on things I want to leave an offering A child of mercy and grace Who blessed your name unapologetically And leave that kind of legacy. (nichole nordeman-lyrics)



I just added this song to my music playlist. I have always loved it and thought it represents a lot of who I am and who I want to be. I don't want to be just remembered as someone who was a good Wife, Mother, Grammy, Daughter, Sister and Friend. Sure, I love all of these roles and count myself blessed to be in them. But because God put me in these roles, I owe it to everyone of them to leave a Godly legacy. As one of my favorite old songs says "It Is Well With My Soul", that is what is important, it's not material things that make me happy, it is having that assurance that God is pleased with me. I want my legacy to show that I shared God's love with everyone and that I helped to point the way to him. I want to be known as someone who was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.




"Not well-traveled, not well-read Not well-to-do, or well-bred. Just want to hear instead, Well done, good and faithful one" (nichole nordeman-lyrics)

HOW TO CLEAN AND ORGANIZE A KID'S ROOM

I started out today on a mission to clean my 4 year old Granddaugher's bedroom. I forgot just how many toys she really has and I wonder, how on earth can she play with all of them? I started out with her Kitchen and found she has more pots and dishes than I have seen on Paula Deen. And lipgloss, oh my Lord, she has enough to stock up a cosmetic counter. The purses, maybe "Suri Holmes" might have as many as Macy, but it would be a close race. Stuffed animals, my gosh, we could start on our own FAO Schwartz.

After trying to figure out how to organize Macy's room, I did some research and found these suggestions:

1. Gather your supplies

A basket, bag or box to put clutter items in

A mop, vacuum cleaner or broom

A hamper

A trash container

A toy box

2. Grab all dirty clothes and put them in a hamper

3. Grab all trash and put it in the trash can

4. Make the bed

5. Grab all the clean clothes and fold or rehang them

6. Pickup all the toys from the floor, bed, etc...

7. Pickup all the items that don't belong in the room and place them

where they do belong

8. Sweep, mop or vacuum

9. Put away all your supplies

10. Do this all over again tomorrow

If you have any further suggestions, please let me know, so that I can be well equipped to start all over tomorow.

NOT CHOSEN

Okay, so this morning I dragged myself out of bed at 5:45 (am) and went downtown to the courthouse to do my civic duty. After 2 hours of sitting on probably the hardest wooden chair ever made, we were given a 10 minute break. Of course with all the women there, and with all of us having the same thing in mind, we all made a mad dash to the ladies room. The line was around the corner and down the hall. Imagine this, no line for the men's room!!! What are they thinking at least 100 women and you give us a 10 minute break to potty, I don't think so. I made a suggestion that for every 1 men's restroom there should be 2 women's. After getting back late from our 10 minute potty break, I joined the others for another 30 minute wait. All these names started being called out to report to court rooms and I was thinking, please call my name, so I can get off of this hard chair. I was trying to enjoy my new book that my friend gave me to read, but the two ladies beside me were talking so loud about their recent surgeries, that I couldn't concentrate. Finally, they called my name, I was so excited and nearly ran upstairs to the court room only to find another hard wooden chair, this time in the juror's box. The judge went through all the preliminary questions, your name, husband's name, nature of your business, how many kids do you have, do you like criminals and have you ever been a criminal. I tried to answer all of them to my ability and must have failed somewhere, because they didn't pick me :(
As sad as I was that I would not be coming back tomorrow to sit on the wooden chair that I had grown use to, I was glad to be going home with the knowing ,that I had tried to fulfill my civic duty.

I'VE GOT JURY DUTY

Okay, so it's been along time since I have done my civic duty, so I guess I am overdue. Tomorrow I have to show up at 7:45 a.m. on a Monday to the Courthouse. That means I have to leave my house at least an hour early to fight all the traffic and find a parking space downtown. I tried to see if I disqualified for having to show up, but after the choices of disqualification, I couldn't find one that applies to me. 1. Are you currently being prosecuted for a crime? Let's see, only if not doing the laundry for the past three days qualifies me! 2. Have you been convicted of a felony? Well, there was that one time my girls threatened to turn me into the police for not letting them stay out late. 3. Are you a U.S. Citizen? Yes, and I plan to stay one, even with gas $5.49 a gallon. 4. Are you the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, a cabinet officer, or clerk of the court or judge? Well as a matter of fact in my home I have one time or another, pretty much held all of those offices. And lastly 5. Are you pregnant? Let's hope not, at my age that would be a miracle (but then it did happen to Sarah in the Bible), so it couldn't be totally out of the question for me. So, with not really an excuse and because I know it is my civic duty to do so, I will be off tomorrow to help decide some one's fate. I plan to stay occupied during the boring times of jury selection, a friend gave me the book 'A Bride most Begrudging' by Deeanne Gist to read and I heard it was great, so off to Jury duty I go.

WHAT SHAPE IS YOUR LIPSTICK

With so much talk about lipstick these days amongst the Presidential candidates, I started to think about the shape of my lipstick. It looks like the down hill slope of a ski resort. It gets so one sided, that I have to be careful for the side not to fall off. For this reason, I have decided to do a little research so we can all find out what our lipstick says about our personalities.

Sharp angled box curved tip
Creative, Enthusiastic, Energetic, Talkative and Loves Attention

Sharp angles both sides
Spiritual, Curios, Seeks attention, Mysterious and Loves Life

Slant close to original shape
Abides by the rules, Great follower, Schedule driven, Doesn't like to much attention

Rounded tip to a point
Loveable, Family oriented, domestic, a 'doer' and needs people around

Rounded smooth tip
Easy-going, Peacemaker, Even tempered, Like able and Generous

Flat top
To the point, High morals, very dependable, quick minded and Careful about appearances

Sharp angle tip
Opinionated, High spirited, Dislikes schedules, Selective of friends and Augmentative

Flat top concave
A great detective, Makes friends easily, Inquisitive, Adventurous and Exciting

I hope this helped you all find your personality through your lipstick shape. I have decided that mine is Sharpe angle tip, and unfortunately some of the traits are mine. I may start trying to shape mine more like the rounded smooth tip, but then that wouldn't be me would it?

DOORS

Did you ever think about doors? Some are heavy, made of steal and hard to open and some are made of wood that sometimes can be easily opened with a little force. Some doors come with locks like Fort Knox and no matter how hard you try, you just cannot get the lock open. Some doors come with little key hole locks and if you tried hard enough, you could probably open one with force, like a small bobby pin or credit card. And then there are doors like on our closets, they just open up with no effort at all.



As I have been studying lately, it has been about open and closed doors. As quoted by Charles Stanley "God answers prayer in one of three ways, Yes, No, or Yes, but not yet! I find myself so many times waiting on these answers for all of life's situations. I have always been the type of person who wants the answer right now! My patience is full of anxiety, I get frustrated when the door want open, I try to unlock it on my own and just make a mess of things. I sometimes feel alone and think I am the only person who has issues. Do you ever feel this way or is it just me?



I think of Daniel, in Daniel 6 vs. 10, it says that Daniel got down on his knees and prayed 3 times a day, giving thanks to God!! Wow, in our busy lives, that is alot! But it brought forth an answer for Daniel. Daniel's big metal door was starting to open. In Daniel 6 vs. 23 the door did open! "The King was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." Daniel was bold enough to pray 3 times a day (even when it was against the law of the land). If you can just see yourself as Daniel. There you are in this den of lions, you are scared, not sure what is going to happen today or even tomorrow. You start thinking, am I going to get through this and how is going to happen and when will it happen and what can I do to make it happen. And then you realize the only one thing that you can do at this point is get on your knees and pray to God. He holds the key, mine and you're entire future (today and tomorrow) lie in his hands. Colossians 1 vs.11 "being strenghtened with all power according to his gloriuos might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light"



God, today I choose to wait on you and trust you for provision in my life. I trust for all who read this blog, that they will wait on you to open doors for the answers that they need. I pray that they will find sometime in their busy schedules to sit at your feet and may they rest assure that you open and close all doors in our lives according to your perfect will. God, don't let us get ahead of your schedule and teach us to wait patiently on you.

Ponderings on Baby Boomers

Am I a Baby Boomer? I started thinking today and came up with a few facts that I have read lately that might help me make this decision.


1. I keep catching myself saying the exact things to my children that my parents said to me.




2. My children are starting to look middle-aged.




3. I am helping to take care of my children, grandchildren and parents, but who is taking care



of me? (Sometimes they are all in diapers).




4. I have realized that my mid-section might be getting larger than the clothes in my closet.




5. The term Grammy's having a 'Hot Flash' has become a household phrase in my family.




6. With all my recent visits to the doctor, my health insurance is finally paying off.




7. I actually enjoy hearing about others sickness and operations.




8. My friends and family call at 9:00 p.m. and say 'Did I wake you'?




9. It takes longer to fall asleep than it did to get tired.




10. I know I am grown-up, because I groan every time I get up.



11. I could possibly live without 'sex', but not without my glasses. (just kidding Lee !!!)



12. "Getting a little action" means I don't need to take a laxative.




13. I know all the answers, but no one asks the questions.




14. I have too much room in my house, but not enough room in my medicine cabinet.




15. Kidnappers are not interested in me.





Now, that we have the facts, how many of you can relate. If you are younger than me and find yourself having these symptoms, you might want to call or blog me and I can give you some pointers. (ha :)



Hebrews 11:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)11Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.



Lord, today I pray for the faith of Sarah (but just not the child) after all, I am a Baby Boomer!!!

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Sarah Palin on 17-year-old unmarried daughter is 5 months pregnant



"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us," the Palins' statement said. "Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support," the Palins said. The Palins asked the news media to respect the young couple's privacy.



I wanted to share this quote with all my blogger buddies, I think it is so important today that our children know that we love them unconditionally. I can tell you from experience, as hard as it may be for some of you to believe (ha) my own two girls were not perfect growing up (neither was I for that matter). I haven't experienced the same issue that Senator Palin is facing right now with her daughter, but I can relate with her on her feelings of family. It doesn't matter what your children do or how far they may stray from you, they are still our children, gifts from God. When God gives us these children, I think he expects for us to love them in the same way that he loves us. His love is full of grace, forgiveness and unconditional love.



My hat goes off to you Senator Palin for not only standing up for your family, but for the stand I know you will take for our country as our Vice President.

The 'Blankie'

This weekend my oldest granddaughter, Jesse spent the night with us. Just like every time she stays over, we push Papa out of his bed and into the spare room, while Jesse and I snuggle into the big comfortable warm bed. Over the past 7 years, (almost 8 years Jesse would say), she has loved spending the night with us. One thing Jesse never forgets to bring with her, is her 'blankie'. In order for her to go to sleep (or anyone else for that matter), she must have her 'blankie'. Originally her 'blankie' consisted of 4 cotton baby diapers. She would carry these around with her everywhere she went. Her Mom says that she has her Aunt Holly to thank for this. When Jesse was first born, her Aunt Holly would put a soft cotton baby diaper to the side of Jesse's face when she would go to sleep. Through the years the 'blankies' have become worn and somewhat tattered, so I had to sew them all together and make one long 'blankie' out of them. Unfortunately the dryer ate one of them not to long ago and now there are only 3 sewn together. I often wonder when Jesse will finally give them up, but then again there is apart of me that doesn't want her to give her 'blankie' up, because that will be a step in Grammy's little girl growing up even more. I am not sure that I am ready for that, so for now, I will continue to sew the 'blankie' every time it gets a little more torn or tattered. Eventually, I know we will be faced into putting the remnants in a small ziplock bag for Jesse to carry on her wedding day. That's right, even though that will be a long time off, there is no way that Grammy is going to let Jesse get married without her 'blankie' to comfort and protect her. No way....

The Little Green Creature

What is it about those tiny little green creatures that just scare me to death. I really am afraid of them and the thought of one jumping on me just scares me so much. I went to pickup my 4 year old Granddaughter Macy from school yesterday, and as I was putting her in the car and buckling her in, she screamed Ahhhhh, I said what is it? She then screamed to me in her tiny ear piercing voice "there's a frog in here". Well I immediately started looking around ( now picture me on the outside of the car and my little Macyboo on the inside of the car, all buckled in to her car seat) and I spot the little green creature, he is on the inside of the door panel. I immediately close the door and scream Ahhhhh to the top of my lungs, in the middle of the preschool parking lot. I then realize, that I have closed the door to the car and Macy is inside with the little green creature. I opened the front door and the little green creature jumped to the floorboard of the front passenger seat and as brave as I could be, I took a cup and scooped the little green creature on to the parking lot, closed the door and saved the day. When I got my dignity back, I got in the car and Macy said "Grammy, that was a big ole frog and I was scared". I said Macy I was too and just think he could have come home with us inside this car! Macy said "I would have hit him and killed him Grammy". Here is a 4 year old that is ready to go to battle with the little green creature for her Grammy. I am reminded by this experience of Psalm 91 vs. 5 and 6 "You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, not the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, not the plague that destroys at midday. And in Psalm 91 vs. 9-11 "If you make the Most High your dwelling , even the Lord, who is my refuge, then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. God, today I thank you for being my refuge and guarding all my ways, even against little green creatures.

Mary, Edwina and Martha

2 Chronicles 31 vs.21 "In everything that he undertook in the the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

In todays world, I so want to be like Mary, always finding ways to worship and sit at the feet of Jesus. Mary just like Edwina and Martha had so much stuff going on in her life, her home, her family, her job all the daily things that would keep her away from sitting at the feet of Jesus, but Mary realized the thing she needed the most in order to make all these other things fall into place, was just sitting at the feet of Jesus, taking care of him and the relationship that she had with him. She knew that if she kept the relationship with Jesus first and foremost in her life, then all the other things in her life would fall into place. Don't get me wrong I enjoy being like Martha, being distracted at times and making preparations for my family, my home and other areas of my life. But sometimes being like Martha, I can get into trouble. I think alot of times, nobody wants to help me prepare for all the things in my life. I am in this all alone. I even get mad at Jesus some times, just like Martha did. She said to Jesus in Luke chapter 10 vs. 40 "tell her to help me" Martha had a meal to prepare she was getting mad. But Jesus told her "you are worried about many things, but only one thing is needed". I pray that I will find a good combination of Mary, Edwina and Martha, so that not only will my home, family and things that I hold dear, be in order, but also my relationship with God will be the most important part of what makes me who I am.