Mom decided to try our wreath on as a hat. As you can see, it didn’t work.
Category Archives: old Jill
“Life is like a box of chocolates”………
Watching ‘Forrest Gump’ at the theater, when I heard my title in the movie, I giggled. At the time I was a mere 28 years old and didn’t think past which movie I’d like to see next weekend, or what clothes I’ll wear to work tomorrow, or what to cook for supper that night. I didn’t think about the deep, complex meaning those few words can truly hold.
It wasn’t a good four years later that my marriage ended. I moved back to my hometown and back into the house I grew-up in. I had a second chance at life and I wanted to get it right this time.
There were many things about myself that I wanted to do differently, so I got busy and found myself. In that time, I felt like a piece of chocolate in that box that was different in so many ways, but at the same time you could interpret the meaning a a box full of choices. In that box, I found the changes I felt I needed to make and threw myself in head first.
My work ethic grew. I threw myself out there and made my job my number one priority. It kept me busy and kept my head in a good place. I also ventured away from positions I was familiar with and tried something new. The big suprise was I was good at it and found a new love in the nursing field. I job-jumped for a few months, until I settled into the field of geriatrics, where I stayed until my forced retirement.
*In high school, a couple of friends and I made a list of things we wanted to accomplish in life. My main thing on my list was owning my own business by the age of 40. I did it! It felt so good the day we opened our door to patients. We won an award for our service, but then it felt just as bad to close the doors, when we had to. But we had an incredible six years!*
At age 28, watching ‘Forrest Gump’ , I would have never dreamed I would actually meet my soul-mate and have him propose on my 38th birthday. He’s my soul-mate. My first husband was a good man, we just went in different directions. I’m the person I am today, partly because of my time with him, but Barry is the man I was meant to be with. I am the woman I am today, totally because the love and support of my sweet husband!
As I threw myself into my new job, I forgot about all the other important things in my life. I missed my oldest sisters kids grew up, the next thing I knew they were graduating high school and my baby sister was about to have a second baby and her oldest was starting school. It was time to slow down and make time for me.
I guess what I am trying to say in all this babble is that “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get” (movie quote: Forrest Gump, 1994)……but it’s your choice, the box is full. Life is too short, make your choices count!
Awards Night…….
This is a re-post from the night I got notified of the award. I’ll do my best to finish it now:
Thank you for the nomination, Sheri at http://theothersideofugly.com! I’m about to go to head off to sleep. I’ll post all of this tomorrow. Pooped tonight!
Thank you again for thinking of me. You are too kind!
Sheri at http://theothersideofugly.com writes an extremely fresh, well organized blog that I enjoy reading daily. Her poetry is creative,thought provoking, both inspirational and motivational.
The Shine On Award
nominated by randomuzings and the othersideofugly
To me this award is for the blogs that shine, make you feel good and are inspiring to the reader. The blogosphere is a large place and there are so many blogs out there that deserve this award.
Sheri had a beautiful piece written up about this blog, but the link I received is no longer working.
I’m going on memory for the requirements for the award, but I’m sure I have forgotten something. I have to nominate 15 blogs, as well as recommend notable blogs that tickle my fancy. I believe their wrote some questions to be answered, but I’m not sure. I’ll add just a few things about me just to bore you to tears!
I am going with some of the newer blogs I have recently discovered, as well as a few I have been following for a while. Then my list of ‘Tickle my fancy’ Blogs are going to be a mixture of the two as well.
My nominations are as follows: I hit publish when I meant to save as draft until I notified everyone. I’ll get that done after our church service is over tonight. Please forgive me!
http://thebottomofthebottle.wordpress.com
http://melanielynngriffin.wordpress.com
http://theasianreloaded.wordpress.com
http://Gooseyanne.wordpress.com
http://lindavernon.wordpress.com
http://tellthejourney.wordpress.com
http://peacefulpartings.wordpress.com
http://michelleproulx.wordpress.com
http://fishofgold.wordpress.com
http://gardnersworld.wordpress.com
http://lostcompanion.wordpress.com
http://therantingpapizilla.wordpress.com
http://deriklawrence.wordpress.com
The blogs that tickle my fancy:
http://mysouldances.wordpress.com
http://beachtreasuresandtreasurebeaches.com
http://hopeforheather.wordpress.com
A few things about myself:
I’m a southern belle, through and through…
I do not play games, I speak what is on my mind!
God, my husband and my family are my life. I learn something new about all three daily!
I’m attempting to figure out how to garden from my wheelchair….
I try to see the good in everyone…..
I can be gullible….
If God had had it in his plans for me, I would have had a houseful of children…
My husband is my best friend and a gift from God!
Time Reblogged…….
******This is a re-blog. I felt it was appropriate to post it again, cuz that old dislike is the word ‘Time’ is coming out again. I have something go wrong and I feel like crap-ola. All the doctor’s office can say is give it time, they will come in. I truly do not like being in this position. One thing has changed since I wrote this, I have been reminded that I am not supposed to worry about things. I need to put it in God’s hands, he is in control. So much has gone on since 2009, I had kinda forgotten that huge fact. I am actually beginning to feel more at ease about my illness. I do not like getting worse, but I have to remember, I’m just getting closer to him. Honestly, being able to give a little of this worry up is wonderful! I’m loving the peace!*****************************************
I learned to hate that word several years ago. When you are healing after anything to do with the brain, everyone’s favorite thing to say is ” Time, just give it time.”. I do not know about anyone else, but both Barry and I can be a tad impatient. Time is a word impatient people can’t stand.
I have to admit that I enjoyed paying Barry back with a few time comments. You have to understand my husband’s quirky sense of humor. I know he thoroughly enjoyed telling me “Give it time.”. He smiled and giggled a little too much after saying it. I turned it around and now use it on him just a little. I tried to hide my snickering.
Ok, well down to the news I need to share. My visit to neuro-oncologist was quite informative. He gave us more information than we have ever received from other doctors. He confirmed that I do have Cowden’s Syndrome. With my medical history, he doesn’t feel the blood test is necessary. He is scheduling an MRI of the brain and a full body PET Scan. He says he hopes they are both negative, but to be prepared for the possibility. Said it could be as simple as the thyroid cancer not being totally removed or something else manifesting in the neurological symptoms that have been popping up. Here we go again with that word, TIME! Barry and I are praying and giving it to God. If it’s meant to be……….
What a way to end my evening, Thank you!! you are too sweet!
Thank you for the nomination. I’m about to go to head off to sleep. I’ll post all of this tomorrow. Pooped tonight!
Thank you again for thinking of me. You are too kind! Sheri at http://theothersideofugly.com
Assume the position!!!!! :-) :-) :-) :-)
By the title, I can say, I don’t mean what you think. I’m referring to the position Barry had to assume to dry his pants in the Walmart bathroom.
Barry was being a sweety helping me find a cart a Walmart. The area the carts are stored in is dark. As usual, the staff at the local Walmart, had failed to plugin anything to recharge.
On top of that, the second cart he tried had a wet seat. Poor Barry sat down in it. We stopped by after church, so he was in his Sunday clothes. We went to the family restroom, where we attempted to clean him up as much as possible.
We discovered the seat was wet because someone had urinated or had a diaper leak in the seat. As Barry squatted in front of the hand dryer, it became more and more evident exactly what he sat in. He looked like he was trying to do some form of ‘booty dance’. It was funny, but it wasn’t, ya know! I felt so bad for him…….
Barry went to the car and got out of his pants, covered up with a blanket and waited while I picked up mom’s meds and a few groceries.
You should have seen Barry running in the house with his pants in his hands when we arrived home.
Walmart not only does not plug the carts up to recharge, apparently they do not clean them after someone urinates in the seat.
I go to Walmart to shop, because of these carts. I cannot walk more than 200 feet without needing to sit down. It troubles me, that I cannot trust the carts to be somewhat sanitary. I cannot get sick. I clean the handles and wipe the seat before I shop, but this one was in a dark area and the seat was nasty.
What is a disabled person to do? If stores are going to provide these carts, they should take care of them.
Then on the other hand, as customers, we need to plug them up if we can and let them know if one is dirty.
What is happening in this world? We used to care about each other. This world needs to change. Badly……
I’m so excited….one more award!! I can’t believe it!
Knowledgenut (http://knowledgeknut.wordpress.com) nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award. Knowledgenut is a blog, I recently came across. You are a sweetheart and your blog is witty, fresh, intelligent and a pleasure to read.
I am thrilled that they have visited my blog and felt I deserved this award. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Visit us anytime you want. I love to giggle and things that make me think. I don’t think enough anymore!
For The Liebster Blog Award (here are the requirements):
1. Link back and thank the person who gave you the award.
2.Display the award logo on your blog.
3. Answer the 11 questions.
4. Nominate up to 11 other bloggers for this award and link to them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.
The 11 Questions:
1. Name a book that changed your life? The Bible
2. Who is your favorite author/writer? Tom Clancy
3. How many pets do you have and what are their names? two, a boxer bulldog named Maggie and a Japanese Fighting Fish named Shotgun. We got him for Christmas.
4. Name the craziest thing you’ve done? Hit a local law enforcement officer across the face when he wasn’t minding his business
5. Who’s my best friend? My husband, Barry
6. Name a childhood prank? Hiding in the ditch, rolling hub caps down the road when a car passes.
7. Who are your favorite music artists? Mercy Me, Uncle Kracker, Barry Manilow, Josh Turner, Miles Pike, Oak ridge Boys, Alabama
8. Name a place you would love to visit? Greece
9. If I had just 5 minutes left to live what is the one thing I would do? Tell my husband I love him, kiss him….pet and hug my dog….call my mom and dad…..if I had time, call my sisters
10. What’s my favorite sport? College Football
11. How do I define love? Being supportive and just being there. Show the person you care about that you will be there no matter what and you will do anything for them.
My nominees are as follows. I realize I am getting some of you more than once, please forgive me if you are overwhelmed with blog replies. Just remember, In my opinion, everyone deserves one! Congratulations!
1.http://khaulanaxir.wordpress.com
2.http://peacefulpartings.wordpress.com
3.http://nativemichigander.com
4.http://mintedmoose87.wordpress.com
5.http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com
6.http://theasianreloaded.wordpress.com
7.http://hopeforheather.wordpress.com
8.http://lindavernon.wordpress.com
10.http://vivsspecialthoughts.wordpress.com
Again, THANK YOU! Knowledge nut!
Crazy Dream…….
I woke this morning thinking to myself, ‘that is the craziest nonsense I’ve dreamed lately’. Most of the time when you wake up, you can remember bits and pieces of where your dreams have taken you through the night.
When I climbed out of bed this morning, I felt like I was in the middle of a real situation. I told Barry and Miss Maggie ‘Good Morning’, and Barry told me to ‘get my lazy tail up, I know what happens when I miss breakfast’. I haven’t a clue what he was referring to, but it played right into my dream. You’ll understand in a few minutes.
Now to the crazy part:
In my dream, the world we live in was a little (lot) different. Anything considered unhealthy was illegal.
Eating at a fast food joint was illegal. There were only a few still open, and they ran you thumb print, searched you, and checked your car before letting you in the door. Then there was a cover charge to get a table, $20.00.
McDonald’s and Zaxby’s were the only two brave enough to stay open. I guess it’ll take a nuclear disaster to get rid of Mickey D’s.
If the police caught you in the parking lot, you could be arrested. They drove through regularly to check car tags. They kept track of who frequented the restaurants and when.
Soda was another thing that was outlawed. As a Diet Coke addict, this is the one that would have me in permanent residence under the jail. I just do not see myself hiding in a closet to have a Diet Coke!
You had to get up eat a healthy breakfast, healthy lunch and supper and eat two nutritious snacks daily. They somehow monitored your activities at home and at work. If you were caught, it was off to jail.
You got a public flogging if you fed something unhealthy to a child under the age of 12. The law was drastically toward keeping our children healthy.I was in the middle of being flogged when Barry woke me.
My sister visited that day, the dream was still in my head. My nephew asked for a drink, I knew all I had on-hand was Diet Coke. It actually crossed my mind about what would happen if I gave him a soda.
If you had a bad mouth, it was a public flogging. Anything that was ugly and deemed inappropriate in society today, was illegal in this crazy world I was dreaming about.
I thought about it all day, trying to figure out where this craziness came from in my head. Until I remembered we had watched “Demolition Man” the night before this dream.
I do not ever remember a dream affecting me like this. Maybe, it was something I ate. By the way, we have not frequented Mickey D’s in quite some time!
Daily Prompt: Quote Me
Do you have a favorite quote that you return to again and again? What is it, and why does it move you?
-Follow your bliss!-Joseph Campbell http://www.jcf.org/new/index.php
I have always taken this one to mean ‘follow what you love’. You cannot be happy in life, if you do not enjoy what you do. When my niece and nephews would ask me questions about what to do with their lives, I’ve told them to figure out what they love and go for it. If they choose right, they’ll shine. If not, keep looking until they find what makes them happy. One nephew is a pastor, this choice suits him perfectly. His twin brother is an artist and professional ballroom dancer, he has been showing his creative side since he was five years old. Their sister, is the perfect mother, wife and homemaker. She plans to homeschool her kids, which will be a breeze for her. My sister did a fabulous job with her kids. Of course, my brother-in-law is included in this praise.
-The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.-Joseph Campbell http://www.jcf.org/new/index.php
I continue with this quote with my younger nephews, who are still young enough to be figuring out who they are and what they want to be. They are both sweet, loving boys; but with totally different personsalities. I’m enjoying watching them grow into handsome young men and I encourage them to be themselves regularly. They will eventually figure out who they are and where they are headed in life. My younger sister is doing a wonderful job with her boys. She is a great mom with many challenges, but they are getting there. Of course, my brother-in-law is included in this praise.
I attempt to apply this one to myself daily. I learned early in life that I am a caregiver. I went to nursing school and worked for over 25 years before we had to close our business. I continue to be a caring, loving individual I have always been. I receive phone calls for medical advice regularly and do my best to give accurate, fabulous advice because I wouldn’t want to steer anyone in the wrong direction.
Even though I may not be actively working, I take care of my mother, my husband and myself daily. Sometimes it isn’t easy to be, the one person in the house, with the best memory. Making all the decisions can be a bit tedious at times. Barry has been in management for over 30 years, he isn’t the easiest person in the world to take being told what to do or how to do something. I am trying every avenue I know to figure out how to work with Barry. I don’t want to argue with him daily when he retires. I have to remember that Barry is only being who he is and that is his priviledge!
Thank you! just a few more awards!
Blog of the Year: Thanks to Lucewriter, http://writersite.org/author/lucewriter/ I will get my third- star on this award. Luanne thank you for being so supportive, encouraging, and just plain and simply a super, sweet woman.
Your comments to my post always make me smile. You are always there to listening to be rant and rave in words, being supportive all the way. Thank you for listening.
The rules/requirements for this award are as follows:
1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…
Lucewriter also nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Thank you again, Luanne! You are super special.
H
Display the award logo on your blog
* Link back to the person who nominated you
* State seven things about yourself
* Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them
* Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements
nominated by lucewriter/writers site.com
Luanne, again thank you! Your kindness is overwhelming! She also nominated me again for the Super Sweet Blogging Award! If you ask my husband, he might argue with this one, but he does like my writing.
I’m going to combine my requirements and only state seven things about myself
- Cookies or Cake? Cookie, of course. I’d have to say chocolate chip. Yummy!
- Chocolate or Vanilla? I must admit chocolate is my friend, but a love french vanilla in my coffee.
- Favorite sweet treat? Tiramisu (sp).
- When do you crave sweet things the most? Ummmmm, I have to watch my waistline, so sweets are a treat. There are always those stressful moments, when nothing will do the trick, but a sweet treat!
- If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be? Sugar Cookie: plain and simple, nothing fancy.
I’m going to combine my requirements and only state seven things about myself, since I’m running out of things to say about myself.
1. I’m a crafty person.
2. I believe in marriage and a happy home.
3. I believe it is the husband’s job to take the garbage out.
4. I could care less if the dishes are done immediately following a meal.
5. My stepson thinks I alone ruined his life.
6. I hate being trapped in a body that doesn’t like to work correctly.
7.My sisters and I may fight like cats and dogs, but I would move heaven and earth to help either one of them.
Now for my nominations:
1. http://hopeforheather.wordpress.com
2. http://blissinimages.wordpress.com
3. http://onceamonth4ladies.com
4. http://gritintheoyster.wordpress.com
5. http://healthyhighway.wordpress.com
6. http://lindavernon.wordpress.com
7. http://inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com
8. http://michelleproulx.wordpress.com
9. http://fishofgold.wordpress.com
10. http://theothersideofugly.com
11.http://peacefulpartings.wordpress.com
12. http://blackmarketfarm.wordpress.com
13.http://maryannemistretta.wordpress.com
14.http://thinkingiswrite.wordpress.com
15.http://dausonstimpsongagnon.wordpress.com
Other than a few old faithfuls, I nominated blogs that I have recently started following. Several are humorous, several are inspiring, all are very interesting. Check them out!
Two Rights Attempting To Make A Left! 
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