So caught up

In all the holiday comings and goings that I really have not had much time to do much blogging or even breathing! Lucky for me breathing takes no thought so at least I managed to do that~!

Christmas came and went in a blur but one thing is for sure. We were and are surrounded by family and friends and all the love that comes with it. Jared and Tina had us all over and we ate, drank, opened gifts for what seemed like hours. Truly though, the day was highlighted by an impromptu game of "horse" using all of us. What a blast it was watching and being watched while we all put our awesome basketball skills to the test. Needless to say the only one that could really play was our 8 year old grandson Blake. He is obsessed with basketball and has become quiet the player if I do say so myself.

Tonight we are going to UCF to see the Christmas lights for the final time this year. They also have a skating rink but for 12 dollars I think I will pass. Great time for pictures though! :)

My wish for all of my friends and family as we end 2009 is that God Blesses you richly in 2010 and that everyday you take a moment to really see the wonders of his love.

My top 5 Thankyou's for 2009

1. My continued health
2. My wonderful family
3. The love and support of close friends
4. Security that nothing is too big for him
5. All the "small" stuff.

Merry Christmas Friends

May your Christmas be filled with all sorts of Thank you's to our Creator. He is the reason for it all.

1. Holiday decorations
2. Dinner with good friends
3. The love of my sweet and lovely daughter
4. My husband even if he is a "mister bah humbug"
5. Teeth whitener ( don't ask ) okay, I drink alot of coffee. perhaps a little wine too! :)
   

Productive Day

After being cancelled this morning I was bound and determined I would make something productive out of it and I sure did! Lots of gifts bought and some are even wrapped! Whoo Hooo! No baking yet but no worries, that is what the weekend is for! I do have my recipes out and I am ready to hit the grocery store to start the process. I think I have finally gotten into the spirit of the season.

Hannah kept me company all day and while I am sitting here exhausted she is out again with her friends. Makes me feel slightly lazy now that I think about it.

Thinking of all the blessings in my life tonight. The comfort of my home, my family and my friends. God is so good.

1. Shopping with my girl.
2. New lipstick from MAC! yes, it's the small things.
3. Free gift wrapping at Belle's
4. Sales!!!
5. Cranberry bars. yummmm.

Help me please

In an attempt to keep at my 24 hour resolution I did NOT swear when I got an ADO this morning even though I was told yesterday I would NOT get one. I look at that as progress because usually I would have slipped a little "d" word out but not this morning! Nope, I just put down that SECOND cup of coffee I was drinking and started to DRY myself as I had just come out of the SHOWER. Sarcasm here folks!! Get it? Shower, Coffee, 5:15 in the morning??? What's a girl to do but blog about it.

This will be a productive day, this will be a productive day, this will be a productive day!!!

If at first you don't succed

Okay well I lasted about 2 hours before my 24 hour resolution was nixed. BUT the beauty of it is I can start all over ! Right?

Where do I start with my Thankful thought? How about at # 1

1. Sweet Jackson's face at his first Christmas production. He picked his nose the entire time! Yuck, but funny all at the same time.
2. Purell ( see nose picking )
3. The smell of my Mandy after picking her up from the groomers
4. Beautiful invitations to Tina's baby shower. Thanks Amber!
5. Hannah and her mouse ears.

Great Times

Last night was a great night for the NICU staff at Florida Hospital. We ate, drank and danced our silly heads off! Fun to just let go and let loose. Some of us let loose more than others ( me ) but still everyone seemed to be having great fun.

Woke up this morning with tons of things to do and no energy to do it. How come one night of dancing for me requires another day of recouping?? Can we say, "get in shape Robin" ? Yeah, that's on my list for 2010.

Speaking of 2010 I am wondering. Do I sabotage it and make a resolution I will not hold to, or if I do it anyway, and this year, REALLY try to make it stick? I say that every year and every year I really do intend to make it work but somehow it all unravels by February. I guess New Years Resolutions are just part of ending one year and starting another with new hopes, new dreams and a chance to make it all better.

This day, this moment, I have a chance to make everything better so I will start right now. My new day resolution and try really hard to make it stick for the next 24 hours . Then perhaps tomorrow I will have another 24 hour resolution. hhhmmm, yes, that sounds so much more plausible. yes, that is what I will do. The 24 hour resolution. For today I will not swear, not one time. I will avoid any expletive, I will, I promise. ( for 24 hours ). :)

So sore

Back in the surgeon's office today for some revision of my reconstruction site. As part of the Breast Cancer story I have had my nipples placed on. Crude to even say the word "nipple" but I guess that is what it is so there you have it. Anyway. I have been fighting an infection in my left one ever since the surgery ( hospital acquired ) and today I had it cleaned and re- sutured. God help me. 12 sutures later. I am thankful for:

1. Time off in the busy day to leave and have my "revision".
2. Tator at my door way when I got home. :)
3. My new friend Layne. ( even if we only got to know each other as she leaves for another job)!
4. Drive through pharmacy
5. Percocet. see above post.

Awesome Day

Some days there are SO many moments you can reflect on and be thankful for but today? Wow, where do I start?? Could it be my BIG sister coming into town for the Christmas Holidays? Or, perhaps, seeing my Niece a year after her graduation? Yes, I am thankful for those moments but I have so many more reasons to be Thankful today with the above mentioned just stating the obvious. For now I will dig deeper into my top 5 NOT so obvious Thankful moments.

1. A sisters knowing look and I don't have to say a word.
2. History
3. Looking at my past with someone who shared it.
4. Laughing at the same old joke that only we get.
5. Blue Martini room, Russian Martini, EXTRA dirty. ( only my sissy shares this love with me ) .

She's here!

My sister that is! Whoop Whoop!! I haven't see her in almost a year and we have alot of catching up to do. Going to shop, eat and laugh all day. I can't wait!

Funny how during this time of year I get most especially sentimental. I remember the years we spent as children and all the excitement that went along with Christmas even though we were terribly poor and never had alot. We still managed to get into the magic of it all. My grandmother would make her very tiny ham out of a can, her potato salad that had the oddest taste and it wasn't until she was much older did we figure out what that "taste" was. I can't reveal it as it is a BIG secret. Don't' worry I don't think you would like it! :) She also made a wonderful cucumber salad that to this day I have not been able to make it perfectly like she did. My mouth waters just to remember it. Few gifts adorned our very sparsely decorated tree but they were all wrapped with care and our names written on them. I don't ever remember believing in Santa but I am sure I must have at some point. I do remember going through the Sears catalog and marking my initials next to the toys I wanted and dreaming for hours on end about getting them. Funny how come Christmas morning all I wanted was the smell of Grandmas house and the comfort she gave me. Gifts were great but it was her presence that was our biggest gift. We all felt that way, me, my sisters and my mother. My grandmother was our Angel, our sweet beautiful Angel.

I hope that all of you have your Angel this year. Hold them dear and let them remind you of the spirit of Christmas. It is their presence that is your present. Everyday with them is a gift.

Today I am Thankful for my "gifts"

1. The sweet memories of my precious Grandmother
2. My 2 sisters who hold on to her memories as dearly as I do
3. My mother who loved us enough to share this wonderful woman with us.
4. My own chance to try and be the grandmother to my own grandsons that she was to us.
5. This moment in time .

It's Saturday!

and I am at work. Actually in the level 2 nursery today and enjoying the time I have to snuggle with the sweetest little babies. So different from my usual job with baby's on ventilators, feeding tubes and such. Nice break and fills my arms with sweet smelling, soft cuddly, tenderness.

Top 5 moments today.

1. Butt warmers! Yes, even in Florida we need them.
2. Warm Cookies from a sweet mommy
3. New life
4. Great co-workers
5. Wine chilling at home. Thanks honey.

Happy Anniversary to You

Today Jared and Tina celebrate 4 years of wedded bliss. Hard to believe that my grown son now has a family of his own and will soon be opening his heart to one more little BOY. There family is growing and he is seeing what I have said all along. Being a parent is the single biggest joy you will ever know. I am so blessed to have had the 3 children I have and now get to sit back and watch them raise there own children. Not to mention being a grandma is AWESOME!!

Jeff and I babysat the boys tonight so the Jared and Tina could go out and have dinner. We stuffed the boys with Spaghetti, peanut butter and Oreo cookies. After giving them baths we watched Spider Man. So fun. Now we are home and Jeff is sleeping while I keep my promise. Hannah as you read this, know that I love you and am so Thankful for you and stand in awe of all you have been through making your life your own in Gainsville.

Without further delay: Today's top 5 thankyou's are

1. Sleeping with all 4 of my kitties last night.
2. Photo shop and all of the headaches that come with it!
3. Hannah doing well in Calculus
4. Sticky fingers all over me as Jackson kissed my face. :)
5. Knowing my sister is in the state of Florida! Whoop Whoop!!

Jackson picked this little, lonely tree for his Christmas Tree. Can you say "Charlie Brown"?

It's raining Hay!!! Yeah for Florida!

Love this New Layout

Testing to see if this new free blog page is working. Love the Santa. Thanks Layne! Your the best.

Uuggghhh, time to be Thankful. :)

Do you ever find it hard to be "thankful"? I know that sounds terrible but right now my feet are throbing, my head is aching and all I want is my bed. Before I take a shower, clean the litter box, make some dinner, oh, and throw a load of laundry in I will take note. I am Thankful. Yes, I am.

1. 3 admisions!! Hard to say as my feet and head are hurting. But I really am Thankful for them.
2. My sweet girl who calls me just to "check in". :)
3. Roof over my head and food in the fridge. ( hard to know that there are people who do not have such things )
4. Knowing what I want for Christmas. ( all 3 kids informed ). :)
5. My sweet lap dog and her sweet doggy breath!

Good night my friends. I really am Thankful!! and Grateful!!

So Sleepy

Long day with the babies. I am tired and ready to turn in for the night. But first, as promised. I am thankful for :

1. My job! Lot so girls loosing their hours so I am greatful for mine.
2. A great car to drive into work in. Convertable, great gas milage. Just a great car.
3. Jaksons finger is feeling better
4. Hannah coming home next week.
5. Clindimyin.

So Sleepy

Long Day today

For some reason I am in a funk today. It just seemed like a long day and almost like a little cloud over me. Perhaps it is just the natural let down of the weekend. What ever the reason it will pass, of that I know for sure.

Hannah has a HUGE exam today and we have been in contact most of the day. She is struggling with Calculus and I know has a great deal of stress on her. She is concerned about maintaining her grades and I can so relate. Pour little girl. Funny how at 19, 5 ft 11 inches tall I still can call her "little". She is my little doll baby and always will be.

However long this day has been. I am Thankful for

1. Free long distance! :)
2. The relationship my daughter and I have. Best Friends for sure
3. The smell of our Christmas tree
4. The Little Drummer Boy
5. Feeling at home in my husbands arms.

On that note. I will say Good Night to all my friends. Work tomorrow so it's early to bed for me.

We Found it, the PERFECT tree!

Okay, maybe not the "perfect" tree but it is the 2009 Roberson/Bush tree. The day was wonderful with lots of pictures ( over 1000 ), roasted hot dogs and marsh mellows, several pony rides, and even a donkey bite later we are officially worn out. Pictures will follow but for tonight I am done and could not be more Thankful.

1. The Eustis Christmas Tree Farm for memories that will last a life time.
2. Hot dogs on an open fire
3. So much laughter my sides hurt
4. The Spirit of Christmas abundant today all around us
5. Christmas trees as far as the eye could see.

In search of the perfect Christmas tree

Today is the offical day we go with the grandkids for the long talked about, yearly pilgramidge to find the "perfect" Christmas tree. This is no ordinary Christmas tree hunt. We first go to breakfast in preperation for the calorie burning run through the trees. Next, we load up the truck and drive to Eustis where they have the only central Florida Christmas tree farm. We are talking hay rides,a petting farm, buy your own hotdog, and roast them over the open fire pit Christmas tree farm. We usually spend 2-3 hours having a blast and taking tons of pictures. I am so happy to be able to share another Christmas with my greatest blessings. My children.

Not a great way to end the Season.

Started this afternoon so excited about the SEC Championship game between U.F and Alabama but what a crushing blow. U.F. got their butts squarely kicked and I hate to say really deserved it. :( That is so hard to admit as I am a huge fan of the Florida Football team but what a bad night they had. Poor Tim Tebow. I know that the entire team is responsible for such a miserable loss but I have a feeling that Tim felt it the most. What a sad ending to a great season. Tim said it best when he spoke after the game. "when it is all said and done it is still a game and there are many more important things in life". Got to give it to him. Even in the pain of a huge loss for him both personally and professionally he still has his priorities straight. What a guy.

5 things I am Thankful for..

1. Getting off half a day to watch football.
2. Good friends to yell at the T.V. with.
3. Good friends to Text and yell about the game with.
4. Wings, Beer and Napkins
5. Tim Tebow. :)

Not sure were my Thankyou list for yesterday went

I am sure it is somewhere off into Cyberland but for the life of me I know I wrote it!! Pretty sure God knows that I am thankful so I get a pass for the one missing list,I think.

Woke up a little early today and thought I would make my coffee, take a shower and actually be on time for work. My normal routine is to be up at 5 and rush around like a mad woman and be out of the house at 6. Oh no, not today. Up at 4:30, showered, coffee, which by now I am onto my 2nd cup and low and behold, the phone rings. hhhmmm, not good. Now I know full well that we have been cancelling people left and right because of a low census but surly not me, not on the morning I was up and wide awake? My husband looks at me, I look at him, dripping wet. He answers the phone. I am officially CANCELLED! Now what??? I can't go back to bed, too much caffeine, I stand there and do the next best thing. Throw back on my pajamas and sit at the computer. So here I am. Wet, hyper and cancelled.

My little dog Mandy does not mind that I am not working if fact she rather likes knowing that she has an unlimited number of hours to sleep on my lap. Lazy girl.

Today I have no more excuses I MUST start my Christmas list. Tight budget, and long lists of needs from all the kids. Time to get creative.

Thrilled

I made it through the day.

I made it through my first day back at work after several days off and not feeling so great. It was rough going the first half of the day but Dayquil and Tylenol were my friends. Glad to be home drinking my hot tea and listening to the rain outside my window. What is it about the sound of rain? I find it so soothing. Nothing better than a rainy day and nothing to do but read and snuggle with my cat, dog or husband. Sometimes with all 3 at the same time. :)

Really sad day at the NICU. We lost a baby girl that although expected, still heartbreaking for all of us. Nothing can prepare you as you watch a life being brought into the world and very quickly brought back out. Doesn't make sense to my mortal mind. Somehow there is sense to it but we just don't know it now. Someday when those parents are brought face to face with their perfect baby girl it will all come together. For now we are left just shaking our head and wondering why God does what he does.

On that note let me share my "Thank-You God" for my life and moments to be grateful for.

1. Blessing me as I witness Life and Death and the frailty of it all.
2. Friendships that go beyond having to speak.
3. Maltballs!!
4. Rain on my window
5. Happy Dogs to greet me after a very long day.

Because I had nothing better to do

I thought I would play around with my new little buddy, aka Nikon d5000. I love her but boy am I needing to learn alot!! Trying to figure out these fancy settings and so far just have become more and more frustrated. Not to worry though, I will prevail!!!!

I am scheduled to work tomorrow and I am crossing my fingers and toes! We have been canceling alot of nurses lately due to our census being so low. Time for some baby's to be born as much as I hate to wish it. Lets just say that if a pre-term baby is to be born in Central Florida I hope it will be at our hospital.

Today as much as any other day I remain grateful for so many things but here are my top 5 special Thanks for today.

1. Time with my kitties as they snuggled around me. I swear they know just when I need them the most.
2. Free long distance. This comes in handy especially when my daughter and I are sharing the same flu but in different cities. Just the sound of her voice brightens my day
3. Knowing the love of my life loves me when I am least lovable. Okay, enough of the love I know.
4. Renters that pay on time. :)
5. Dinner from Uno's already heated and on a plate when I woke up from my 3rd nap today. Now that is love!

Playing with my Camera

Woke up with High Hopes

Woke up actually feeling pretty good and thought to myself that it would be a good day to stroll the mall and finally start some Christmas Shopping. Out I headed with my list in hand ( at least this year I have a list ) and stopped for coffee. Armed with caffeine AND a list, into the Mall I headed. Fast forward ahh, say 5 minutes and I started to sweat profusely. Cold chills, legs shaking and sweat dripping down my neck I had to stop and catch my breath. Maybe this Christmas shopping is a bit premature coming on the heals of the flu. Never having made it out of Barnes and Noble I turned back around and headed for my car.

Home with Thera Flu in hand and back in my pajamas. All good intentions but no cigar. Home for the day.

So Excited

I woke up early this morning and checked out my e-mail to find a reply from a blogger I think lives in Minnesota?? I am not sure so I better check but I was thrilled that she actually read her e-mails and took the time to respond to lil ol me!! Actually she posted a picture of one of her cats that looks amazingly like one of mine it could be her twin!! I sent along a picture and she thought the similarities were uncanny also. I truly am not a blogging stalker but then again maybe I am???

My Sweet Gator Grandson.

Thera-flude and Thankful

1. Thera-flu and lots of fluids are the top of my THANK-FUL list.
2. Fresh sheets that I actually managed to pull off the bed, wash and reapply. That was not easy!
3. The fact that it takes very little effort to be Thankful even with a runny nose, fever and too much commotion going on around you.
4. My husband kissing my eye lids to make me feel better. ( sigh )
5. Any excuse to get to bed earlier than I normally would.

Sneeze, Cough, Sleep

In that exact order I am afraid! Yes, I am offically sick with the flu. Haven't slept so much in a very long time. Guess I am grateful that I am off and all I really have to do is laundry. Got up and threw a load in, slept till the next load was due and got up and did it again. Wow, how is that for motivation?. Waking up to the alarm of the washer.

Woke up thinking if I will have the 5 things I am grateful for list today. You bet I will. Just got to sort them through because although I am not feeling great, I am grateful.

I can tell you that I am grateful for Jason Mraz. What a great voice to lift my spirits. Just makes me want to sing along. Tapping my foot as I type. I especially love the song I'm Yours, the live version. My husband and I can dance all night to that.

Sick but Thankful

1. My husband bringing me medicine, tea and tissue
2. A warm bed with plenty of fur babies to keep me warm
3. The fact that I DON'T have to work tomorrow
4. My Grandsons 8th Birthday and his "i love you, miss you, bye" message.
5. My new hobby Blogging even if I can't receive responses! ( still trying to figure that one out ).

Does it work?

Try as I may to deny that I have any sort of upper respiratory thing going on I have succumbed to it. Up half the night coughing and now of course it's "productive". gross I know, sorry. Lots of fluids today and hopefully I have caught it in time to avoid the antibiotics. Curious that it all happens to be related to spending an hour cleaning dirty equipment Friday at work without a mask. I didn't wear a mask and complained all day about the fumes. hhhmmm. Next time I will wear a mask or better yet, do my job as an R.N and not pretend I am an equipment tech. But wait! Equipment techs DON'T work on holidays!! Guess that means I will have to wear the mask.

Thanks to my friend I hopefully can receive comments on my blog now. I followed the directions carefully so lets see if I am a total goof or really tech savvy.

Giving Thanks

1. Laughter of a child
2. My precious dog curled on my lap even if it means I can't quite reach the keyboard
3. Minute by minute updates on the U.F/FSU game by my daughter who was in the stands.
4. Blake turning 8 and so Proud of it!
5. Hebrews 12, 1-2.

Help!!

Help!! Any of my friends know how to walk me through allowing comments on my blog'?? A few people have told me that they can read the blog but not comment on it. I have searched and searched my sight and can't figure it out! E-mail me at h1slady@aol.com please

Look who is 8 years old!!

WOW! What a Game!!

Like any crazy GATOR fan I count myself among them as I hold my head high and say IT'S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!! The last home game today and wow what a way to end the season. I am proud and sad that it was Tim Tebows last game on our beautiful field but man what a ride!! Hannah was one of the lucky 90,000 people in the stadium and she is still partying as I blog. What a great experience she is having at U.F. Ahhh, lucky girl.

Had my pedicure today and while deciding on a color to paint my toes I was talking to Hananh and she "dared" me to pick orange and blue. What? Dare me? I don't think so! Guess who has orange and blue toes? Yep. Me! I will send a picture soon!

Tomorrow is Blakes 8th birthday and so tonight we went to CiCi's for a Pizza dinner. Not my choice but hey, he's 8 and what 8 year old doens't think CiCi's is the greatest place on earth? We ate, drank soda, filled up on cupcakes and took lots of pictures. Lots of fun for sure. I can't believe my grandson is 8 already. Time is going by so fast. Just another reminder to savor EVERY moment.

God is good folks. He loves you and me with an OVERWHELMING love.

One of our Fur babies in the woods

This is just one of the many I feed at the Lake Mary colony. She is beautiful, somewhat friendly and loves her belly rubbed. She is about 4 years old and has lived a happy life in her little neck of the woods.

Saturday Finally

Although the last couple of days were crazy busy and fun I am ready for today. Calm, cool and Christmas. Lots to decorate today but I love every moment of it. I always have and it's the one day I look forward to all year. Everything feels whimsical and possible at Christmas time.

Heading out to the cat park this morning to look after my little feral cat community to feed and make sure there little houses in the woods are warm enough for them these next few chilly days. I take care of 2 colonies along with a couple of girlfriends and we take turns watching over our little gang of wild kitties. So many people ask me "how come" I do this. Do what? Make a commitment to taking care of little hungry kitties and provide them love and warmth? My question is who wouldn't? The reward is in knowing that once these kitties are fixed, ( we do that to ). They are free to grow fat and lazy and live out the rest of their lives without being a breeding machine. Everyone has there calling and that is one of mine.

Long Day in the NICU

Today just felt very long but at the same time good. Not sure how to explain that but anyhow lets just say it was a mixture of both. The long and the short of it is I work with some really GREAT people and then some really needy ones. You know the type? They just can't seem to do much on their own and require a great deal of assistance. Not saying that I don't like to help out but come on already!! On the whole it was okay and I have to say that there are many more good than bad so that's that.

I plan on spending tomorrow snuggled up on my couch watching the UF/FSU game and staying warm. Supposed to be really cold and I love that! We don't get many of those days here in Central Florida so I like to take advantage of it especially during football season. I think I will sleep in even! Wow, really? I say that now but I am pretty sure I will be up at 7 whether I want to or not. Just my own clock I guess.

Molly is plugging along on her Steroid high and for now we will take it. The Vet said that she will try to treat her as long as possible and we will just have to wait and see. I never thought I would feel so much pain watching my sweet little dog fight to live. She is such a trooper and I swear she understands what is going on. I know other people have said the same thing but I REALLY think she understands. Okay. I know your thinking shut up already.

Waiting for sweet Hannah to come home. Drinking Thera- Flu instead of wine. Uuugggghhh. Tired and ready for bed soon but first let me give Thanks.

1. New friendships and old ones. They sustain me.

2. Knowing that my husband would take a Million dollars for me.

3. Hananh kisses

4. This beautiful refreshing weather.

5. My Orange and Blue star.

Ahhhh, Turkey Day. Thanksgiving too!! :)

Happy Thanksgiving friends!! Long day of work, but I am grateful for that.

1. MANY great friends to share lots of Turkey, Stuffing and the works with today at the best place to be employed in the world!

2. The Freedom to praise and worship on the greatest land on earth.

3. Being married to my best friend

4.Children that love me and whom I love in return

5. My life and all it's quirks.

Today's Thanks

1. 
   My sweet baby girl ( 19 years old ) home with me and making me laugh until my sides hurt.
2. The love of my life's smile when he walks in the door. My heart still skips a beat.
3. God's forgiveness, over and over and over again.
4. A wonderful job where I see his mercies made new every day.
5. 4 kitties that want nothing more out of life than my lap!

A Rainy Day

And I love it!!!

Looks like it could snow today if you look out the window at the gray skies and rain on the window. Although it's 80 degrees outside I can still dream of snow can't I?

Hannah is home and we are snuggling together while we laugh at You Tube videos. I treasure these mornings because they are so few and far between.

Tommorow I will work on Thanksgiving Day. I am Thankful for a job when so many people are out of work. I would rather be home with my family but like I said, I have a job.

Count your blessings, name them one by one.

I truly believe that if Jesus was walking these streets today, He would definitely hang out at his local Goodwill. If He can heal the blind, and make the lame walk, surely He can surprise me by turning someone else's trash into my treasure, and He does it - time and time again.

Today I am Overwhelmed with Crazy Gratitude

1. Thankful, Thankful, Thankful for the wagging tail of my sweet Border Collie Molly when I came home from work today. She has bee so sick. The steroids kicked in, at least for a little while. Thank you sweet Lord
2. My girl is home from College for the Thanksgiving Holiday. She is happy and safe.
3. Thankful for the love, support and compassion of so many during a very stressful time of our lives.
4. Good wine. uuuummmm, good :)
5. Soon to be under my own roof, with my cats, dogs and crazy life.

Today I am Thankful for

Perhaps this should say YESTERDAY as it is almost 2 in the morning as I write this but since today isn't quiet ready to start I will make up for yesterdays "thankful list"

1. Above all that I awoke in a warm bed with the comforts of home at my beck and call. Hot coffee, warm cereal and my loving animals at my side.

2.My husband at work providing for his family.

3.Quiet time alone with my camera, nature and all of God's glory around me.

4.Another day to care for our aging Border Collie

5.The ability to help a friend in need of pain medication ( no, I am not a drug dealer). :)

Look what I found in my Backyard

It's been an Emotional day.

Jeff and I spent another sleepless night taking care of our Molly. Molly is our beloved Border Collie who will be 13 years old soon. She has had a very rough last couple of months and was diagnosed with Addisons Disease a couple of weeks ago. Since then we have gone from bad to worse. What started out as an enormous amount of water consumption has reversed to NO water consumption and very limited amount of food. She has a very difficult time standing up and going to the bathroom. I am bringing her food while she lays and she will barely lift her head to eat or drink. She still wags her tail when you talk to her and tries her hardest to get up and chase the light of the flashlight but I think that old age, arthritis and now Addisons Disease is starting to take it's toll onour old girl.

My question to myself and to those that love our old girl is where do you draw the line? I for sure will not watch her suffer in pain if there is anything I can do to prevent it. I will pay what ever price it takes to make her well but I fear there is nothing that money can buy to make that happen. I asked the dr today what our goal was for her. Quality of life or a life of more test's, more sticks and more sleepless nights. I think Jeff and I know where all this is going but we just cannot bring ourselves to NOT fight for her. Our beloved girl. Our confidant and most loyal companion. For now we will keep the check book open, and keep the prayers going for Molly.

Oh, I almost forgot. The 5 things I am Thankful for today

1. Waking up with Frito feet beside me snuggled so close I could NOT move!
2. Another day of knowing that Jeff and I have nothing planned and all day to do it in.
3. Knowing that my precious college girl will be home in 2 days and I can snuggle her neck.
4. That God loves me enough to love me through his Grace and not by anything I have earned.
5. My husband and I both have jobs and reliable cars to get us where we need to go.

A View from my Backyard

Jeff and I were driving around Lake Monroe today and I snaped this picture. Made me think of the Christopher Cross song. Sailing. Water so peaceful, all you need is a nice glass of wine, your favorite person by your side and sail away..... Good night my friends.

Another Lazy Day

Another weekend is almost gone and for the first time in a very long time I can announce that Jeff and I did absoulutly NOTHING!! Felt great and something I can recomend highly.

When I say that we did nothing I must clarify and say that although perhaps nothing was acomplished we still managed to catch up on each other. We took long drives down winding roads and today we took my car and had the top down which was glorious as the weather was perfect. Can't say that too much around these hot and humid woods but today was text book lovely. I even managed to get some pictures of the sky with it's soft white clouds just to prove it.

Today I am Thankful for.............

1. My husband and his endless patience with me and my mood swings
2. An unscheduled day to do nothing and not feel guilty about it.
3. Knowing that I made my son and grandson happy by sending them to their very first Gator game! Oh and the Gators won by a MILE!
4. My healing breast ( long story but believe me, THANKFUL ) !
5. Crazy Love. ( a wonderful book that is serving to remind me of our God and his crazy and unrelenting love ).

Spent a lazy afternoon with my husband and did nothing but drive the streets of our wonderful city. Actually drove all around the Central Florida area. We live in such a nice area and sometimes fail to see what beauty is around us. For example this bull I found in a pasture next to the Panera bread! What the heck? There he was grazing right next to us. Glad to have had my camera with me. The kids in the field called him Old Blue. I just call him big!

Playing with my new Toy

Trying out my new toy. Nikon d5000. Love this new technology!

These photo's were taken on my daughters 18th birthday. What a wonderful day we had.

After spending an hour trying to find a nice back ground for my new found hobby ( blogging ) I still can't find the right color of font to go with it. hhhmmm

I also am showing my ignorance in the high tech world by somehow down loading a sticker! Not sure how I did it and worse yet I am not able to delete it either. What a slow learner I am! Amy can you help me with that? You are the computer genious of all my friends. HEELLLPPP!!

Well as hard as we tried yesterday to let our little preemie go meet Jesus he is still of this earth. His little body is breaking down in everyway but he still will not go. I am not sure what we are to learn from watching him suffer but I am sure that this little guy has served a purpose to so many of us involved in his care. His Mom and Dad have finally come to terms with it and now we are leaving it up to our God who is the author and finisher. I keep looking at him yesterday and prayed that God would release him to his perfect body and I know that it is coming. Who am I to question God?

Reading one of the best books called Crazy Love. In the book the author asks the question about how come we feel we have the right to question God anyway. So many people do and I am one of them. I think God is big enough to handle our questions. We are human and as part of our humanity we ask. Why

Some of the best advise I ever recieved was from my grandmother. She said, "Robin, God will not fall off his thrown just because you sin". That was the reality check I needed as a teenager to know that the world did not revolve around me. That our God was big enough and forgiving enough to not let my sin give him a bad day.

Wishing you a good and forgiving day. God is good today and tomorrow and his mercy endures forever.

Such a busy day with my little guy today. A little closer to Jesus by the change of the shift. So painful to watch and now I am mad. I don't know where the line is as to how far we go as a medical profession. I just know that God would not want this precious little one to suffer and that is what he is doing right now as far as I can tell. I am just so sad for him and for his parents. My prayer tonight is that God would reveal his plan for this little guy and that his mother and father can find some peace. One thing I know for sure is that NONE of this has taken our mighty God by surprise.

I am off tomorrow and plan to spend the day spoiling my grandson Blake and shopping with him for his Tim Tebow t-shirt for the big game on Saturday afternoon. What a cutie pie! It is great being a "young" grandma!

After I work on Wednesday I am off for a week! Whoop Whoop. I am in need of rest and recoup.

Still pinching myself over my Nikon. My only regret is that I haven't had all weekend to play with it! Not to worry though, there is always Tuesday! I am off that day and plan to do alot of "playing".

Worked today, what a day! Busy with a very sick little guy. Mom and Dad are broken and I am so sad for them. What can you say when you look into a mothers eyes as she silently pleads for you to save her little boy? I wish it were that easy. This is something only God can do. I am a vessel and ultimately the healing will be up to him. God do you have any miracles for this little boy? I think perhaps he was placed here to become an Angel for all the other little children that will follow him.

Arrived home after a wonderful night with Jeff. He surprised me with a day in the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World but before we started on our day he opened the trunk to surprise me with a lllloooonnnngggg awaited dream!! My Nikon D 5000!!!! What the heck??? This in one wonderful man I married!!!! Anyhow, wow!

Jeff and I had the most glorious day with the weather being nothing but perfect. No humidity, blue skies and cool breezes. I could not have custum made this day any better. God knows the desires of his children but more than that he knows the needs of their hearts. I needed moments with my husband where it was just about us. Thank you Lord for giving us the desires of our hearts. Yesterday was worth the wait.

My new camera rocks!! Going to spend alot of time learning my new toy and hopefully making new memories and sharing with my family and friends.

Hananh is for the weekend and tonight we are picking up Jordan from the airport. Yeah us!! Our family is all together tonight. Couldn't be happier than I am at this moment.

This is my darling husband. He would hate that I called him "darling" :)

Date Day with my sweet man. God is Good and I am Blessed!!!

Alive after Five with Jeff tonight. Needing a date with my husband in the worse way. Love the cooler weather.
Spent the day watching my sweet border collie go through Chemo for an adrenal gland tumor. She is doing okay but only time will tell what the out come will be. She has been the greatest dog for the last 12 years that we feel we owe it to her to give it all we have. Tons of money being spent. What price do you put on "man's best friend"?

Let my blogging begin!!

November 12th 2009,
After reading so many blogs I have finally decided to start one myself. Funny how I want one of my own but don't really feel I have much to say. I think as I told my friend Amy I will use this just to share my love of life, my love for my family and the journey we have taken over the last few years .
I am a wife, mother and NICU nurse. I take care of the tiniest babies and see daily miracles. I am humbled by the human spirit and by God's faithfullness everyday.