Happy 37th Wedding Anniversary to Me and My Better Half

I look back to 1972, two 18 year olds, fresh out of high school starting a life together. It has gone so quickly, yet seems so long ago.

I watched my young husband grow into a man and was amazed at what talents and abilities surfaced when the need arose. He watched his young wife become a nurturing mother of his children and happy keeper of the home.

We've been through alot of lifes ups and downs together, the challenges of raising alot of children, economic hardships and our opposite personalities. But with the challenges came the rewards, the rewards are our wonderful children. The economic hardships made us strong and strengthened our faith. Our opposite personalities drew out our sense of humor and made us more balanced and besides where would salt be without pepper? The lyrics to this song are fitting.

Baby aint it something,

How we lasted this long,

You and Me,

Provin Everyone Wrong

Don't think we'll ever,

Get our differences patched,

Don't really matter,

Cuz we're perfectly matched!

I love you, Chuck, happy anniversary.

My New Chair

I've had a fun summer going to yard sales. I'll be posting some pictures of my finds, soon. This past Saturday I was on a hunt for a new chair for the master bedroom. Several years ago, we bought a chair for this same room at a local furniture store and payed $300 for it. I decided to give it to son, Carl, for his new room and find another for me.
I wanted something with more color and character and not so bulky as the other one. This time I wanted it to cost very little. I was very pleased to find one in the colors of my room that matched perfectly and for only $30 this time, ten times cheaper than the first one. The woman who sold it to us said that her mother loved this chair, but never sat in it, so it was almost new. It is very comfortable, too.
This coming Saturday I will be looking for a small floor lamp to go behind it and maybe a small footstool. I love the hunt!

Happy Birthday Jackie

Today, my mother-in-law is 80! Jackie was born in 1929 to deaf parents. She was the youngest of three children, growing up in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in the Great Depression and remembers being poor, but the family was fortunate that her dad was employed throughout that time.
Jackie married at 19 and had six children by the time she was 30. She was a wonderful mother and along with her husband, Carl, gave their children a happy and secure childhood.
I entered the picture when she was 40 and I was 15. I had met her handsome son, Chuck, and we began dating and going together. I remember her easy laughter and her welcoming ways. Her household was busy and lively with lots of children as she also babysat for extra money. Life seemed to center around her kitchen as parents would often stay at the end of the day for conversation and a cup of coffee as they picked up their children.
As her family grew up and married she became the grandmother of 20. All of her grandchildren have felt the love of this wonderful woman and it has blessed their lives with many happy memories. It has extended, now, to the great grandchildren which number sixteen.
Jackie has always amazed me with her boundless energy and her positive mindset. In her childbearing years she read a book that told her childbearing should not be painful, so she believed and it wasn't! She gave me that same book and it didn't quite work that way for me! Then, later, no perimenopause for her, she just sailed on through! Would you believe she lived with us for two years and we got along? Not many daughter-in-laws can say that. Most older women will talk about their aches and pains which is annoying to her. She can still outshop me and is still employed working seven days in a row, with seven days off schedule. Alot of those hours are on her feet. She says she would be bored if she didn't work. Who works at 80?
Jackie, you are amazing and I have been blessed to have you as my mother-in-law.

Fall Nesting Party At The She Bears Den

It's time for the Fall Nesting Party over at The Inspired Room at

http://theinspiredroom.net/ It's an enjoyable blog about decorating and has great pictures and like it's name, inspires me.

I'm to take a picture or two of a room in my house that needs help and if I win I'll be given a gift card for $200 to use at TJ Maxx to put toward redecorating that room.

I have chosen our 18 year old sons' room. Our older daughter just moved out and Carl is very happy to have his own space, This is his first time to have a room all to himself, coming from a large family of 11 children there just wasn't enough room until now.

It's very sparse and plain and needs some wall decor and window treatments. If I win I will concentrate on the walls and window, keeping it masculine and take Carl shopping with me.

Swine Flu 1976 & Propaganda

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Swine Flu 1976 & Propaganda
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Grandma Bliss

Her Gift

So wee a gift-yet wealth of so many lands

Could never buy it in the richest marts!

So frail a gift, and yet those baby hands

Take mighty hold upon two human hearts

-Burges Johnson

I've been busy this week giving our daughter, Christy, some help. She has adjusted well with the new baby and seems to have lots of energy. Baby Lucy sleeps five hour stretches at night and nurses about every four hours. She looks so much like Christy as a baby that I feel I'm enjoying Christy all over, again! Her two older brothers, age two and two and a half love her lots, but want to be babied, too. Christy has her hands full!!

Happy 17th Birthday, Julie

After giving birth to three boys in a row, we were blessed with our 4th girl, our 10th child. She arrived quickly after a short labor and I'm a little embarrased to say, born on the bathroom floor of our local hospital. We used to tease her and say we almost named her Flora.

We brought her home to a very busy, noisy household. She fit right in and was a happy little girl with a wonderful disposition, with lots of love to give. In her home schooling journal she kept when she was little she would always begin it with, "Dear Mom, I love you so much."

Growing up in a large family and being the next to the last and the baby girl has given her character! Her sisters have been more nuturing, but the brothers have made her strong! For instance, when she was a baby her grandma bought her a special crib with netting because they had been caught trying to drop heavy objects on her. Her young years were sprinkled with alot of teasing and recently, pictures taken at "awkward moments" and then posted on facebook would make any girl not enjoy being little sister. But, she has taken it in stride, and has also tried to think of ways to get even!

Julie has been a joy to raise and is easy to please and is fun to be with. She loves people and social events. Has an artistic flair, an ability to do hair, make-up and put an outfit together. Katey and I often ask for her advice and by her expression know if we can leave the house or not. She talks of going to beauty school and becoming a beautician and then at other times not sure. She does know she wants adventure, excitement.

Julie, whatever the Lord puts in your heart, I know you will follow, as His plan will make you the happiest. I love you and can hardly believe my baby girl is 17!! Enjoy this last year of being a girl, before you know it you will be an adult woman. So I quote this song," You're gonna miss this, you're gonna want this back, you're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times, just look around, you may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this."

Love, Mom