Category Archives: family matters

My Christmas List

Posted on by

santa border

Last night, my great niece asked what Santa Claus was bringing me and what did I have on my Christmas List. Being close to 50, this is a question I have not heard or thought about in years. Would I be on the Naughty or Nice List? So many questions popped into my head. Since the brain surgery, my childhood memories are not what they used to be. I had my mother confirm that I had written Santa a letter or two. It’s been a long time, but I think I’ll give it a shot.

Dear Santa,

How are you? I hope this letter finds everyone at the northpole feeling good! I’m having a good day, so far. Feeling a little tired after last night. There is nothing sweeter than watching children sing and performing the Christmas Story. They did such a good job! My great niece was in the children’s choir. She was adorable. There was a mirophone in front of her. she kept stepping out from her spot in line uo to the microphone and singing  her little heart out. Just precious. So Santa, I think my first wish has been granted. I got to see that little girl sing and spend time with family. Nothing sweeter than my our nieces and nephews. Of course Barry, mom, my sister and hubby are always entertaining.

My next wish was granted when Barry and I found our church home this year. Victory Baptist Church welcomed us with open arms and has never made us feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. I have learned more about the bible, in our time at Victory,  than in all the years growing up in church. The pastor is incredible and the church family is gracious and loving. I thank the Lord everyday for leading us to Victory.

My next Chritmas wish would have to be to continue increasing faith in Christ. I cherish each ounce of knowledge I gain through study and attending classes at church. I enjoy the time Barry and I spend together studying. We have really enjoyed working with the choir director on the music program. Looking for Civil War items to use as props has been like a giant treasure hunt. So much fun! 

I thank the Lord everyday for bringing Barry into my life. I do not know what I did to deserve him, but I’m glad I did it. Barry is the love of my life, my best friend, my soulmate. With the health issues I’ve gone through since 2009, he hassn’t batted an eye. He has been there every second I’ve needed him, just as I will be for him.

My next and final wish is for the coming year and for my sisters. Sandy, the oldest, is absolutely stretched to her limits. She is dealing with a lot of stress, as well as being a new grandmother. She tries to do everything for everyone and I do not believe she knows how to say no. Along with everything else in her life, she worries herself silly about her disabled, highly independent husband being home alone. Dennis is the type of person that if you tell him he can’t do something, he will find a way to do it.

My wish for Sandy, is to find time for herself and a job that fits her situation better than the one she has. I know she enjoys her work, but something closer to home would give her more time to enjoy life and her family. I’d like to see her smiling again.

Now to my sweet, baby sister Kris! Sandy, of course, is sweet too! Kris worked her tail off and finished her college degree in less time than it should have taken. Now, for over a year, she has been searching for a teaching position without success. She is an incredible Math teacher and some school system would be lucky to get her. She is taking care a husband, raising 2 boys, 14 and 6 and attemping a job hunt. She also takes care of our father as much as he will let her and her home.

My wish for Mrs. Kris is to find that job she is looking for or something compariable. I’d like to see a smile on her face too! But I’d also like her to find a little peace in her life and time for herself. I have 2 sisters that I love dearly and will do anything in the world for either of them, they just have to let me. I’d also love to see the three of us spending a little time together. We might even take mom with us!

Thanks for your time! What kind of cookies would you like this year?

Love,

Jill

santa border

Secret Agent Man

Posted on by

Snowman2rudolph-th-1Parts of this story and others are totally fiction.

Recently, our nephew was asking about the blog and we attempted to explain the reason we write. We also said we haven’t written about him yet and asked what he’d like for us to say.

He wants us to tell you all he is CIA Agent and lives in secret life in Winder. Well truth be told, he’d fit in better as an MIB agent on the movie screen. He’s good with gadgets and fixing things, he’d love to get his hands on a reverberating carbonizer. Not sure what he’d do with it, but we are sure he’d love it.

He’d have to be Agent Jay Two. Of course, with his little brother, he’d always have a partner/sidekick….Agent M and 1/2. That would be quite a movie remake. There would have to be a Ninetendo Wii or some other form of gaming system. The truth is that both of my baby sister’s boys are tech gurus. They love anything like that.

gamer hacker

I accidently deleted half of this post somehow when I hit publish, so please forgive me and I’ll finish quickly.

Both of my sisters did an incredible job in the kid department. Barry and I have an amazing group of niece and nephews ranging in age from 30 to 6. We also have a great niece and nephew. My entire family has accepted Barry as Uncle Barry without question. I have enjoyed watching Barry get excited as his relationship grows with each of them.

 My older sisters kids are successful adults and starting their own lives. We even have a professional dancer, a pastor (and husband) and an incredible, super mom in the family. Barry and  I are proud of each and every one of them.

Agent Jay 2  is an amazing kid that hasn’t realized to full potential yet. He’ll get there, I have no doubt. He is incredibly intelligent. At 14 he towers over me and Barry. I believe his feet get bigger weekly. I have had the pleasure of watching him grow into a handsome young man. Look out girl, heartbreaker in town!

I remember him as a child, locking himself in my car and giggling at me as I go window to window attempting to get the little rascal to unlock the door. I didn’t need an alarm clock when he was younger. He’d beat me in the head with his bottle when he thought I needed to get up. He was such a good baby and a challenge at the same time!

I wrote a previous post about Agent M and 1/2. He remains amazing and we love each of them dearly. We’d like to thank each of them for letting us be part of their lives. It has been a pleasure!

Snowman

“New” Barry Moments

Posted on by

1. While at a training session, the discussion was how to get a blog to send out an email to a smart phone when new topic has been posted, Barry commented to a colleague “I guess he needs to get a smarter phone.”

2. On the ride home from this session, he saw a semi- truck with “air-equipped ride” on the side, he said the more he looked around, he realized that all cars are “air-equipped”. The tires are full of air, technically making all rides “air-equipped”.

The brain is a strange and mysterious organ………….

Mom and the Matchmaker……

Posted on by

?How do we make this long story short? I’m afraid it will still be a mini-novel. We’ll do our best to keep it interesting. Here goes:

First of all, my mom and dad are divorced and have been for a very long time. They managed to live in the same town and be civil to each other in public for years. Together, they just did not work. Trust me!

Six-years ago, mom’s health was making it hard for her to take care of her home alone. My sister, that lived close-by, was doing double shifts between mom and dad. She and her husband were wearing out quick. Dad purchased the house next to my baby sister, which made life a little easier.

My other sister and I did what we could, but most everything fell on our baby sister. She decided not to run away from Winder, when she was old enough. I, for one, was glad she was close by. But it wasn’t fair, they needed help. By they, I mean mom, dad and my sister and we needed to contribute. After all, that is my mommie and daddy.

Barry and I were in the process of designing our home with an architect and with mom not being able to manage on her own, it was decided that we would design room enough for her. In 2006, my mother moved into our new home with my new husband and I. 

The home was designed as a business  (a Personal Care Home) off the back. June 2006, we moved in and opened the business in October 2006. Within 1 month, we had our first resident. 

Mom did not adjust well to being away from Winder or feeling like her independence was disappearing. She just was not happy.

I thought I would help and try to get her out to meet people. This was not tolerated well at all. She wouldn’t even go out to church. At 66 years old, she didn’t feel like she fit in with the local Woman’s Club. She felt like she needed to take care of everyone. 

One day, while leaving Kroger, I saw a sign saying something about local singles with a phone number. I called and left a message. Mom received a call the next day and scheduled an appointment with the lady for the next day. 

When she arrived home, I was mortified to find out that I was the cause of my mother joining a match-making service. I could not believe she actually fell for the hooey that salesperson was slinging. 

Little did I know that mom was so miserable not being on her own, she was willing to look for another husband. She proceeded to fill out the paperwork and started receiving email from the matchmaker. She went out with a few lemons before she found her peach, Mr. D.

Mr. D. Was the cutest little thing and treated mom like a queen. It wasn’t long until we received the news of their impending marriage. They wanted to get married on the cruise ship, while in Mexico, but when they discovered that could not happen….off to the courthouse they went. We received a call the night before their departure to let us know they would be cruising as Mr. and Mrs. D. This was 2008.

The funny thing to end this story with, is that in the email from the matchmaker, it said that Mr. D. was at that time, 79 years old. Mom later found out that he was actually 8 years older.

He is still the cutest little thing on earth, but mom has moved back in with us. She is a big help to have around. Barry feels better knowing I am not home alone.

Someone make me sleepy, please!!!

Posted on by

Here I sit, wide unable to turn my head off again. Barry is sound asleep in his recliner, Miss Maggie is wiped out on the sofa,  while I sit here envious of the two of them. I guess I’m just so worn out from the holiday. Go figure….

Guess what? If I do not get this rest thing figured out soon, I’m gonna be out of luck. The Christmas rush, of running around, starts Saturday. We’ll be off and running again. By the time Christmas actually gets here, I won’t be able to function. My number one resolution for the New Year is going to be:

1.Get appropriate sleep!

2. Listen to my body.

I’ll finish that list when I am not exhausted. One good thing that happened today, we got the exercise equipment set up and I was able to start my routine again. That will perk me up and help with sleeping, hopefully. Everyone get a good nights sleep and have a great day tomorrow. I intend too. Exhausted or not, every day is a precious gift not to be squandered.

Treasure Hunt

Posted on by

Barry and I have turned into treasure hunters for our churches Christmas Program. Our program involves a civil war hospital  battlefield hospital scene, so……we have been pestering  civil war re-enactors and combing through every antique shop with-in driving range for usable props. I have to admit, I love the antique shops.(this comment is from Jill only) I do not believe Barry enjoys it as much as I do. He does enjoy the hunt!

Several people have been extremely helpful and even given us a lead or two, but others have just been flat out, UN-NICE! This is for a church program and we will take good care of any item loaned to us. I  understand that these items are part of history and we both have a great respect for that, surely out there somewhere is someone that will trust us with the care of their antiques.

We both have trusting faces. We didn’t think it would be this difficult, but here we are….2 weeks till the program and things are finally rolling in. I’ll feel better when we find the uniform and clothing we need. It feels good to be able to help with the program, just wish we could do more. God is shining his grace on us leading us in the right direction. Thank you! 

Our bodies are screaming at us!

Posted on by

When you have been through the wringer, as Barry and I have, you have to  listen to your body. After the past week; running around getting ready for company, the clean-up, the company, doctor’s appointments and all of our other weekly obligations; Barry and I are both ready to crawl under the bed. He is dozing in his chair at this very moment and I will not be far behind him.

I skipped the Women’s Bible Study Group tonight because I wasn’t sure I could stay in an upright position for the entire program. I’m sure God will understand. Mom took the peach cobbler we made. It  smelled heavenly! I hate to miss anything at church, but I just couldn’t do it. My hair even hurts. I had to patch my left eye for awhile today because my eyes are even fighting with me. I don’t walk well when I am tired.The next question my body is screaming is “Why are you blogging when you should be resting?”……..Well…..Good Night everyone! Sleep well!

Black Friday Jitters

Posted on by

 

I think Barry has a mild case of the Black Friday Jitters or just the shopping jitters. We had a few errands to run today, nothing involving any Christmas shopping, just general items we needed  around the house. I think between the overly dramatic commercials and my tussle over a handbag, he was a little fearful of taking me into ANY retail establishment today. Every place we stopped, he was quick to say I could stay in the car…..always if “I wanted too!” Honestly, I was exhausted and didn’t want to go in, it was just too cute to see him stress over me going in. He even stated he wasn’t sure he could back me up if someone started another argument with me over a purchase. I believe he is a little pooped from our company, yesterday. Even the puppy dog didn’t move off the couch last night.

We had a wonderful holiday. We had good food (too much), good company and good conversation.I also managed to get a few pictures that no one will appreciate, but me. My family knows I love to get pictures of those moments no one wants a picture of. (sleepers, fork headed to mouth, a bite headed to the mouth that should never be considered one bite…..that kind of thing) I’ll post a few of those later. Great Holiday! Thank you, God for providing us with the beautiful day to enjoy each other and all the fixins to make a wonderful day!