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It's Quote time again.

Here are 13 great Quotes!

1.)I never married because I have three pets at home that answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon and a cat that comes home late at night. - Author: Marie Corelli

2.)Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts. Author: Sigmund Freud 1856-1939, Austrian Physician

Rose Art Print Haas, Marianne Buy at AllPosters.com

3.)I like nonsense -- it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope... and that enables you to laugh at all of life's realities. Author: Dr. Seuss 1904-1991, American Writer and Illustrator of Children's Books

4.)Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!

- Inigo Montoya The Princess Bride

5.)A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. Author: Bernard Meltzer

6.)Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought. Let us have faith that right makes might and in that faith let us; to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. Author: Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865, Sixteenth President of the USA

7.)All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

8.)Do you love me because I am beautiful, or am I beautiful because you love me?Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderalla

9.)Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.Charles Dickens

10.)I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.Mother Teresa

11.) Chinese proverb -The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.

I can totally relate to this one, especially when it comes to coffee, chocolate and blogging! :P

12.) Donald Rumsfeld -As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.

WHAT!

13.)Theodore Roosevelt -Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

This is how I feel this week!

Poppies of Toscano I

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Something happened yesterday,last night and this morning that truly enforced my belief in Angels watching over us and God protecting us. In my family's time of real need God has always been there. Most of you know my son is a Type 1 Diabetic and has been on the insulin pump for almost a year now. He's was diagnsed when he was 3, and just celebrated his 6th birthday in July. With the insulin pump it simulates his pancreas in giving him small amounts of insulin every hour. The pump is programmed automatically to do this. Last year in K, everyday I put the pump on the child safety lock so curious hands of all his school buddies wouldn't think it was a Game Boy and push buttons. My son knows it's not a toy and knows how to work the buttons to give himself his medication after meals and snacks, but not to program the background every hour dose. It's a very complicated 5 Step process. I had the pump therapist do it for me when he got it on, and at his doctor's visits every 3 months the doctor has seen no need to change it, So.......I don't know what happend, but he normally gets about 15-20 units of insulin a day, and yesterday his total was 35. It was a really strange day yesterday the nurse at school called twice to tell me she couldn't get his blood sugars up and when he came home from school, he had juice, cereal, crackers....I felt like I was pumping him with Sugar and Carbs. My husband told me to give him a HONEYBUN, which has like 40g are Carbohydrates. My sons blood sugars wouldn't go up. For us normal is 80-140, his was floating between 80/90, so that's not bad, but because he's so active I like it at 150. Just because I like worry about him going LOW in the middle of the night I checked him, and he was low, I gave him some OVALTINE, and went to bed. Checked him 2 hrs. later, and he was even lower....I got really scared at that point,because I didn't know what was going on. An angel had to be watching him, because he was getting almost an extra unit of insulin every hour. I finally checked it, and that's what it was. Instead of .2 he was getting 1.0....Like I said he knows not to play with it like a toy, I'm definetly putting the lock back on, so no other children play with it, but it's not an easy operation to reset it where a child could do it, so I just don't know, but I just Thank God for watching over my family! And thanks to everyone for your kind supportive comments on his condition. I do have faith he will see a cure in his lifetime!

If you are here for the 2,996 tribute, scroll down, it is below this post.

40 Things More About Me

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

I borrowed this From Shelli. 1.)Do you still have tonsils? Yes! I always wanted them out so I could eat as much ice cream as I wanted.

2.)Would you bungee jump? I don't think so! I'm a little scared of heights!

3.)If you could do anything in the world for a living, what would it be? Own a restaurant somewhere in Key Largo, FL.

4.)How many tattoos do you have? None. I want one of a 'lil hibiscus on my middle toe. 5.) Your favorite fictional animal? Stuart Little.

6.) One person who never fails to make you laugh: My son Josh. 7.)Do you consider yourself well organized? That's funny!

8.)Any addictions? Coffee and blogging.

9.)From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? FOX 10 at 10.

10.) Would you rather go to a carnival or a circus? The circus. I'd rather watch the acts than, ride those carnival rides. 11.)When you were 12 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? A travel agent. 12.)Best movie you’ve seen this year? POTC.

13.)Favorite alcoholic drink? Tequila Sunrise or any flavor Margarita. 14.)What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Make coffee ASAP!

15.)Siblings? One brother

16.)What is the best thing about your job? I feel I'm raising a self-aware and responsible next generation.

17.)Have you ever gone to therapy? Yes. For my father's drinking, and the affects it had on our family. It didn't do any good. I had to come to my own understanding of my father's addiction and the realization that he loved me.

18.)If you could have one super-power, what would it be? The ability to do a hundred things at the same time.

19.) Do you own any furniture from Ikea? No. My husband is a wood craftsman and makes all our furniture. How cool is that! The construction on his website has just begun. 20.)Have you ever gone camping? Yes. My favorite memories of my father are when he took us up to Northeren CA to go fishing. I love the outdoors.

21.)Gas prices? First thought? They are coming down. At least around here. I paid $2.45 a couple days ago. 22.)Your favorite cartoon character: The Little Mermaid.

23.)What was your first car? A White Nissan Sentra.

24.)The Cosby Show or The Simpsons?My husband would say the Simpsons, because he looks like and acts like BART. I'd say the Cosby Show. 25.)Do you think marriage is outdated or ritual? No. 26.)Do you go to church? I did growing up. I believe in God and know the Lord as my Savior, but unfortunately I have issues with the Church. I pray. I read the Bible, but my faith is with my Heavenly Father and not in man.

27.)What famous person would you like to have for dinner? The easiest answer would be Johnny Depp. Why? To find out what his secret to his success is. I've watched him since 21 JumpStreet, and every movie he's made. I can't say that about any other actor!

28.)What errand or chore do you despise? Doing the laundry. Folding clothes.

29.)First thought when the alarm went off this morning? What alarm. I have a 7 mos. old baby who wakes up at 6 am.

30.)The last time you puked from drinking? I can’t remember. It has been a long, long, time. 31.)What is your heritage? German and Scottish

32.)Favorite Flower?Stargazer Lillies.

33.)Disney or Warner Brothers? Disney.

34.)What is your best childhood memory?Blowing bubbles with my Grandma when I was 2.

35.)Your favorite potato chip? BBQ Lays.

36.)What is your favorite candy? 3 Musketeers. 37.)Do you burn or tan? I burn the first time, then I tan.

38.)Astrological Sign? Cancer.

39.)Do you own a gun? Personally, no. My husband used to have quite a collection, but not with all the kids in the house. Now we have a black lab, who's very protective!

40.)What do you think of hotdogs? I'll only eat ALL Meat Hot Dogs. Like Ball Park or Hebrew National.

I don't know what happened, but Kailani's comment got eaten by Blogger.

Here's her comment:

You and my daughter would get along great. Ariel is her favorite,too!

The Pink Diary

Thanks to Carmen, Kelly,TC for your comments too!

This remembrance is made possible by D.C.Roe's idea to commemorate the lives of those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

For a complete list of *2996 coalition of volunteer blogger participants, please click HERE*

This was wonderful me to feel some connection to the angels of 9/11. Naomi was the same age as my father when he passed away at 52. Which I consider too young! I also share her love and passion for the art of music. I enjoy Broadway musicals and I have a dream that my 12 yr old daughter will continue her love of the violin and one day play for a great Orchestra. Here is Naomi's story.

Naomi Leah Solomon lived in New York City until she was 10, but then moved to California when her father, Herbert, who took a job at Stanford University. Naomi, 52, enjoyed being a classical pianist in her spare time, and was also a big fan of musicals and Broadway show tunes. She became one of the first female vice presidents at Bank of America, and spent many years as an executive at Chase Manhattan.

She left behind the world of banking for Callixa, (a small California software vendor), and moved back to New York City. She was at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. attending a conference on information technology at Windows on the World, the restaurant on the 106th floor of Tower One.

Naomi was loved and will forever be missed by her parents, Dr. Herbert and Lottie Solomon, and her brothers Mark and Jed who are lawyers in San Francisco,CA.

You can view Naomi's United in Memory Quilt HERE!

Where was I when the world stopped turning?

My husband had called me first thing in the morning and woke me up with the news that All Fights were grounded because of the Terrorists Attacks, and the destruction of the Twin Towers. On my way to work in Scottsdale up the 101 Fwy, which is directly in the Flight path to PHX International Airport, you can see planes anytime during the day. All I could see were clear skies. And instead of the hearing the noise of Low-Flying planes, there was a dead silence.

What were you doing on September 11, 2001?

If you have a 2,996 post on your blog, please tell me in comments so I can visit your tribute!

Join

These Dianthus always make me smile. I love their beautiful "Pinks" color. I also picked up some bulbs for Fall planting. Some Blue Bearded Iris, some Tulips, Daffodils, and Freesia. One plant I could always seem to grow indoors for the Holidays were Red Lion Amaryllis, so I'm looking forward to Fall.

I'm planning two 8x4 raised beds. One for winter vegetables, and the other for my Spring Bulbs.

Feast One Hundred & Ten

Appetizer

Name 3 things that you are wearing today.

My jean shorts, tanktop, and sandals.

Soup

Who was the last person you hugged?

I hugged my kids before they went to bed!

Salad

What do you like to order from your favorite fast food place?

My husband and I both LOVE IN-AND-OUT, Monster burgers with grilled onions and their French fries are freshly cut and fried to order!Nice and HOT!

Main Course

What time of day do you usually feel most energized?

I'm not a morning person, so I usually start getting energized around 11am-1pm. And then I'm geared up at around 3-5, and I'm up until 11pm maybe 1 am at the latest being the night owl that I am. It's because I worked nights in restaurants half my life from 5pm-sometimes 2 in the morning. I've been a SAHM for almost 2 yrs. now, and I'm still having a hard time shifting schedules.

Dessert

Using the letters in your first name, write a sentence. (Example: Sweet unusual spaniels are nice.)

CuteHamstersRaceInStyle! (Chris)

OK!That's not my whole given name, just the name my family really calls me!

13 Things I Love to do On A Rainy Day!

With today promising a major Thunderstorm, and temperatures dropping to hopefully 80Fs, I love rainy days!

1.) Curl up on the couch with a good book!

2.) With a nice warm fuzzy blanket!

3.)In my nice comfy P.J.s!

4.) With a nice HOT cup of Tea with milk and sugar!

5.) If I'm in a baking mood, it would be chocolate chip cookies, but today, I'm baking a Spice cake with Cream Chz frosting!

6.) I love to play games with my family. The new game the kids love to play is Sequence Jr.

7.) Taking a walk in the rain. A light rain, I wouldn't want to take one when it's pouring down buckets.

8.) Sit outside and feel refreshed! OK, it's my choice not to go outside when it's 110F during the summer, so when it rains I just enjoy the nice cool, and clean (not dusty) smell it brings.

9,)Looking at all the plants, and flowers come to life too! Most of them burned by the scorching sun, it's nice to see them enjoy the rain too!

10.) While I'm curled up on the couch and NOT reading, I'd be listening to some soft relaxing music and talking with my family! Finding out what my kids are thinking (inquiring minds want to know), or what's on my husband's agenda!

11.)Watch a good LONG movie like Titanic, or LOTR! 12.) While eating Kettle corn! 13.) Some times I just like to listen to the rain and the Thunder and Lighting. Reminds me of the Sound of Music where all the kids jump in bed and Sing ,"These are a few of my Favorite Things!"

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

*PS...Not sure what happened, but with Mr. Linky, I had to adjust my sidebars, and now my Blog is off center....Can anyone help....Pretty, Please!! TIA!!**

Friend's Day Wendsday 16

Here are 5 things I found today that brought a smile to my face, or that I would enjoy doing!

1.) This was a new one for me when I read it! This post from Suz in VA about her

One Tired Computer, was just too cute!

2.) I don't know about you, but our house, if I cleaned, with my son and daughter, not an hour later, it looks like a tornado blew in! My husband has actually seen me clean, and then the next day, he's wondering what happened. That's OK! This post by Heather from

Everything under the Moon is how I really feel about it!

3.)Blue is one of my favorite colors, and I really liked this pic from On Top of the World!

4.) This recipe submitted to World of Bloggers Cookbook by Lindsey from

My Suspension of Disbelief,

is what I think will be my Dinner for tonight!

5.)OK, I'm feeling FALL in the air, and I am so looking forward to the under 100F temps we're supposed to be having this weekend, but I just love Blog Design 1 and Blog Design 2! Makes me want to go to New England and see the Changing Colors of Leaves, and My favorite trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

Don't you just love long weekends!! Except for the part where I was having Blogging withdrawls. We actually had a weekend where ALL we did was RELAX! Me and my husband and the kids watched movies, and visited with family, and none of us ran around or really did anything.It was nice to sit and watch a whole program on TV. OK, I take it back, my husband and I did start going through MY STUFF in the shed out back, but only because he had my hands tied. That's how he got me away from the computer this whole weekend!!Just kidding, but I did miss reading everyone's posts, I'll be sure and catch up with all of you!

*******Kelly from Pass The Torch has a great idea! Pass the Torch Tuesday is an opportunity for bloggers to celebrate the ways they see kids/young people doing things RIGHT! These are the little things we witness everyday, that make us proud of and hopeful about the generation to whom we PASS THE TORCH!

Here's my story,

I was playing with the baby this weekend, and it got me thinking about my kids. How much they depend on me and my husband and eachother, to learn and grow, and how in reality, I've learned so much from each of them! The baby is starting to crawl now, and what I love most about that is the determination in her eyes and in her face! What is it that keeps them going? They could give up and say, this isn't working, I'm just going to quit! Does she, and never learn to crawl to get where it is she needs to go. No, she just keeps right on going. Getting closer and closer to her goal, which happens to be anything. Her little phone rattle, or a COKE can, or even my husband's TV Remote. The lesson I've learned from her is to never give up. Try, Try again! Things may get hard, and times may get tough, but I can just make it, if I don't give up and lose hope! Onto my 3yo daughter. She's the most loving,thoughtful and caring one of them all by far. She has a genuine affection for everyone, and she's just so full of life. Her valuable lesson, that I've learned from her is, her IMAGINATION. During my day to day life, just Full of grownup stuff, and everything that comes with Responsibility, she's taught me to not only LET GO of all my worry and perfectionism in dealing with my son's Type 1 Diabetes, and just have FUN again. How to laugh at all her silly imaginary friends in her world. My son's the hard one. He's been through so much for such a young age, and tears are rolling down my eyes as I'm typing this, because, I can't even imagine what living in his world is like!! His story is really the highlight of this post for the simple fact, he doesn't let being a Diabetic get him down. In a day filled with Testing Blood Sugars, counting carbs, and through all the Highs and Lows, it marvels me how grown up he's become. How he handles it so well? I'd be coming apart at the seams. He just goes to show me, that Living Life is all about the attitude you by which you live it. He could have a bad attitude and give me a hard time about everything he has to do, don't get me wrong in almost 3 yrs. I can count the times on my hands when he's told me how he's sick of it all, and I wouldn't blame him. Yet he still runs in the nurses office at school, does what he needs to and runs back to class. Everyday, until a cure can be found.

My question for you is, what have you learned from your children?

This made my day a little brighter, and meant so much to me!

Thank you so much to Kelly over at Pass the Torch for including me and my daughter for my outstanding Pass the Torch Tuesday post in August- Role Model Daughter!

It was a very nice surprise!

These are some more wonderful posts to read,

Unexplored Territory -- Servant's Heart

Drama Queen's Mama --Karate Kid, the awesome brother

Susan Stephenson --Sally stands up for herself

Mommy Needsa Mai Tai -- My Nephew Chad

Tired But Happy -- Teaching by Example

Looking for Hope -- San Francisco, Here we Come

WAYA -- Mommy's Proudest Moment

Wystful1 -- Mother's Pride

The Pink Diary - Girlie Girl's Note

Faerie Rebecca's Cleaning without Whining

Today she asks what are your Back to School resolutions?

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Labor Day weekend!

We'll be out to visit family all weekend!

What's your plan for having a fun weekend??

Participate in Friday's Feast!

Appetizer What are some lyrics you have misheard (such as, instead of "Gettin' Jiggy With It" you heard "Kick a chicken with it")? Gwen Stefani's song, "Don't Speak!", for the longest time I thought it was "Don't Speed!" Soup What is the worst movie you have ever seen? I'm not a big Horror movie fan, so I'll say the Ring2! Salad Using the letters from your favorite number, write a sentence. Example: Tomorrow has really easy experiences. Fall is very expected! Main Course What was the most interesting news story you have heard this week? I don't know if it was this week, but when "Snakes and Planes" movie came out, some teenage boys thought it would be a COOL prank to let loose some real snakes in a movie theatre here in the family! Dessert Which word(s) would you choose to describe your wardrobe? I have 3 types of clothes in my closet, my comfortable every day, my dress up clothes, and my After-pregnancy I need to lose 20lbs. more clothes!

Kailani, from The Pink Diary, Tagged me! Since I love to play games how can I resist!

BOOK TAG One book that changed your life:

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

One book that you’ve read more than once:

Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen

One book that you’d want on a desert island:

The Client or The Pelican Brief by John Girsham

One book that made you laugh:

Emma by Jane Austen

One book that made you cry:

The Gift by Danielle Steele

One book that you wish had been written:

How to freeze time to save all the good memories, and erase all the bad ones!

One book you couldn’t put down:

Inca Gold by Clive Cussler, and Sahara too!

One book you are currently reading:

The Traveler's Gift by AndyAndrews

One book you’ve been meaning to read(want to read) :

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Here's 5 people I would tag,

Ocean Lady,

A Southeren Girl,

Meredith,

Kimba,

Mama Fisher!

If you'd like to play too, consider yourself tagged! If you played, let me know, I'd like to come over and visit!

Banner courtesy of Novelist in Training! 13 Places I have been and Things I have done!

1.) I grew up in So. Cal. , so we did Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World, and San Diego Zoo. I've been to the L.A. Zoo too, but that was too much walking. Also Sherman Gardens, a gorgeous nursery in Corona Del Mar, CA. If you like horseracing, I can say I'd been to Santa Anita, and bet on a horse that won, I also remember the name Buttercup on the Rocks. Took a trip to Catalina Island. Also did Magic Mountain in Valencia,CA!

2.) We moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I think I'll post a couple pics. of when we went to The Hot Air Balloon Festival there. Santa Fe's a great city too! 3.) We took a 3-Day cruise from SanDiego to Ensenada, Mexico. If you haven't been on a cruise, I have one thing to say about that, the rooms are very small, but I loved the buffets, and once I got my sea legs, just enjoying watching the ocean. 4.) Now this trip, I'll never forget. We spent a month in Mexico. Comparing L.A. to Mexico City, Mexico City is 10X bigger. We visited and climbed the pyramids. The Valley of the Kings is breathtaking. On our trip, we visited, Cuarnavaca, where Emperor Maximillian's home is now a public Garden. I drank Pina Coladas in Acapulco. Saw the cliff divers. Now that's something to see. Another charming city is Taxco, which reminded me of a quaint European city. Winding old world cobblestone streets. It's a silver mining town, so of course I bought lots of silver jewelry real cheap. 5.) Washington D.C. is a great city! We visited all the memorials. I'd love to go back, there were so many things we didn't get to see and do.

6.)Took a prop plane ride in North Carolina. Went to visit my brother in the Marines at Camp LaJeune. I felt like I was going to fall out of the plane. 7.) Las Vegas- Here's the link to that trip! 8.) El Paso, TX- You can see straight across the Rio Grande to Mexico.There is no comparing the border cities of Juarez and Mexicali to the rest of Mexico. Shopping and Restaurants are great, but honestly I found the farther South you go, much greener and prettier. 9.) For skiing trips, I've been To BigBear,CA, BrianHead, UT, and Ruidoso N,M! 10.) For waterskiing, had fun on 2 skis in the Colorado River. 11.) My brother lived in Parker, AZ for a little, and that was the first time I'd ever jet skiied down the River. 12.) I love to visit my grandparents in Prescott,AZ! Coming up in the Fall, they have a DownTown Arts and Crafts festivals every weekend! I like to take the kids to Youngs Farm for their Pumpkin Patch! So I'm looking forward to that trip coming soon!

13.) Arizona, I've been here almost 8 yrs. and there is so much more to see, than the Grand Canyon and Sedona, but the Grand Canyon is breathtaking and Sedona is gorgeous.Here's a link to all the things I've done or would like to do in AZ!Sometime tomorrow, I'll post a couple pics, If Blogger doesn't experience any technical difficulties! Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Today I'd just like to Thank every one of you for your kind, fun, and supportive comments. It's fun for me to be able to see and make friends from all over.

Free Myspace Glitter Graphics

Life After Katrina kit by Jamie Rouselle

I'm going to albums for the kids, and my oldest is getting a little jealous I haven't done a layout of her yet, so I told her she was my first, so I'd make her album first....This was a quick crop, and we only had an hour to do a layout, the timing for the chat was during getting the kids to bed, so I didn't make it, but I'm going to redo this and give it a little more, but here's what I have so far.....

The Threesome Meme

Borrowing this from Snarkypants ! Here are the threes of my life.

Things that scare me: Spiders, drowning, and my son's low- blood sugars.

People who make me laugh: Adam Sandler,Jeff Foxworthy, andRobin Williams.

Things I hate the most: Rude drivers and people, war, ignorance.

Things I am doing right now: Bloggin', drinkin', Diet Pepsi, and talking on the phone .

Things I want to do before I die: See my grand-kids maybe even my great-grand kids, swim with the dolphins and scuba Dive , do a walk for Diabetes and Breast Cancer.

Things I can do: With my knowledge of Diabetes, I could become a nurses assistant, or I could start a home cooking business for moms who don't have time to cook, or I'm finding I'm a pretty artsy and crafty person than I give myself credit for, I could teach some type of art class.

Ways to describe my personality: Patient,Friendly, Caring.

Things I can not do: Keep my checkbook balanced, be a consistent gardner with a green thumb, and keep the house clean for more than one day .

Things I think you should listen to: Family, the beliefs and opinions of others, your own opinions and dreams.

Things you should never listen to: Hypocrites and Liars, Cheaters and Liars, did I say Liars!

Things I would like to learn: Quilting, more about web design, and how to landscape.

Favorite Foods: Chocolate, Enchiladas, and Chocolate covered Strawberries with Whipped Cream.

Beverages I drink regularly: Coffee, Diet Pepsi, Peach Ice Tea.

TV Shows I watched as a kid: Gilligans Island, The Brady Bunch, and The Monkees.

Things I do not understand: War and Government, Why is there no cure for Diabetes yet, and why can't I remeber the simplest thing to water a plant everyday, I wouldn't think it would be such a hard thing to remember!

Hurricane Katrina- A year Later!!

All week, I've been thinking back to last year when this devasting event occured, and how it affected our Nation! How it changed lives and families!

My daughter's friend at school, her grand-parents live in Mississippi, and told my daughter the story of how her 72 yr. old grandfather made it out alive with his house completely flooded with water to the ceiling. Her grandparents came out here to live with her family, until they could get back on their feet. They went back and rebuilt and started over.

I don't know if I could do that. Am I wrong to think that this could happen again? While I admire their courage, and understanding that they have their roots deep with their friends, and their business. After all the devastation, and losing everything and coming close to losing your life, would you go back, and take the chance of losing it all again?

What I did enjoyed looking at are pics of THEN and NOW!

**On a happier note for today in rememberance of Katrina,

Jamie over at DSP created a dig- scrap kit! You can find out more HERE!

I'll be posting my layout tonight!

Sorry to be posting so late! I'll get a quick post in, I took the baby to the doctor's for her shots, and it took I'm not lying almost 2hrs! I'm a patient person, but that's too much time for me to wait, then I ran to my son's school for his lunchtime, which is another post rant, but I'll save it for another time. Then I finished my errands postoffice, bank, groceries....Then I picked the kids up from school, and helped them with their homework, now it's dinner time, if anyone's hungry, there's always plenty! I'll try and post something later. Here's a few funny things the kids have done this weekend! The baby-you know how a dog and cat chase thier tails, she was chasing her foot in circles. Then my son- My husband and I were talking at the kitchen table, when we hear the 3y. start to cry! Then we hear my son in the most innocent, i did nothing wrong voice say....."I'm sorry Katelyn, my hand accidentally hit you!"

Join

This week, I found some Red Vista Salvia. Gorgeous red color, and another heat loving plant.

I also picked up a tomato plant I can grow in a container.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

I enjoyed scrapping this layout, and I love these pics. It's 12x12 Psalm 23 Album by Stacey Jewell and Tina Chambers from Digital Scrapbook Place. The heart stamp in the middle is also by Stacey and Tina. Here's a larger pic in my Album!

I had several things I wanted to post about today. I had a great meme I found to finish my 100 Things about me, also a new scrapbook layout, but I'm choosing to post about this. Just me ranting a little! This is about my husband's children and EX. We went to a BBQ for his son for his Senior Graduation, he also graduated from ROTC and planned to join the Marines when he turns 18 , which was this past Weds. We haven't seen either his son or daughter all summer. His son didn't call my husband on his birthday, or Father's Day, his daughter called the days after both of them, and said she was busy that was her excuse. I don't mean to sound harsh, but my husband loves those kids and supports them, calls them, and they still don't let him know that they care for him. All he asks is a phone call just to say Hi dad, How's it going? So, we knew we'd be getting an invitation for a BBQ for his son's birthday! They only live less than 10 miles away. His EX is remarried to a wonderful man, who loves and takes care of the kids. I don't like talking bad about people, but his EX and I just don't get along. She's used and manipulated me, my husband, and my husband's family. Her family has treated my husband terribly, and the whole situation is just emotionally and mentally draining. The first couple years of our marriage, when his kids were younger, they lived in Washington, and we could only afford to Fly them out once a Summer. Then they moved here about 3yrs. ago, and you think we'd see them a lot more. The only time we see them is for Birthdays, and on Christmas Eve. I don't mind giving to the kids. I've taken them shopping for school clothes, and had a birthday party for his son one year when he was 12, but my husband's EX is very controlling and to be honest very cruel. The reason his son wanted to go in the Marines was to get away from everything. The point of this story is after the BBQ for his graduation, and the feeling like I was invited, but I didn't need to show up, and the fact that we gave him a nice graduation present, and he didn't even appreciate it, I don't want to go to his Birthday party. I told my husband you go, I'm just staying home. My husband didn't really want to go, because at the BBQ last time or any time he gets together, he doesn't want to be around her family, because the comments her mother and sister make to him. My In-Laws are going, my FIL really doesn't want to go and neither does my husband's grandmother, because they don't like how my husband's EX and her family treat my husband and me. So to make a long story short. Why should I go if I'm not acknowledged, and made to feel comfortable? I'm not the type of person to ask for attention, but some decent courtesy. When someone doesn't even smile and act like they're happy to see you, then why should I go where I'm not wanted! My daughter's friend invited her to a birthday party , and I'd rather visit with her friend's mother than subject myself to the above situation. I'll post the other things a little later tonight, and my Green Thumb Sunday too!

Everyone have a great weekend!

Friday's Feast One Hundred & Eight Appetizer

If you could have a free subscription to any magazine, which one would you like to have?

I like magazines with either decorating, crafting, or food. It's hard to just choose 1. Soup

Describe your living room (furnishings, colors, etc.). It's a large room, which we're thinking of moving the wall between the kitchen, to make the kitchen bigger and the living room smaller. I have both a black leather couch and sofa. Which I love, because they are so easy to take care of with kids, and are worth the money. We have tile throughout the house except the bedrooms which are wood flooring. I have a large area rug so the baby can play on the floor without bumping her head! We need a new entertainment center, this one is about 10yrs old and on it's way out, with lots of movies a PlayStation 2 and lots of games. A tall lamp in the corner and 2 end tables with a coffee table in like a fake black marble material. Salad

What does the shape of a circle make you think of?

Wheels.Only because my tires need to be balanced. Exciting, huh! Main Course

Name 3 things in your life that you consider to be absolute necessities.

Before we had kids, my husband and I would tease each other all we needed ,was each other, love, and Diet Pepsi to get by! Not very practical, and kind of sappy, but seriously, I'd have to say food, clothes, and a roof over our heads! Dessert

What was the last really funny movie you watched?

My last movie, which was a little funny, was Sahara, my husband watched Big Daddy, which he thinks is hilarious. Don't get me wrong, I love Adam Sandler, but I'd rather spend my time with Matthew, or blogging!

Another one of my T13 visits brought me to Shelly's Incoherent Ramblings. What a nice surprise to see someone raising money for JDRF. Which stands for Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation. As most of you know, my son Josh is a Type 1 Diabetic. He's insulin dependent, and on the insulin pump. Thank god for small miracles. Anyways, any donation for the cause to help find a cure would be awesome. To help donate just click on the banner above.

Tried to edit the last post, but the pic below is of our new kitty Leo.

This week for Tink's TT , she posted about her new kitty! And she is a very pretty kitty! Our kitten Leo looks alot like her, that I thought I'd post a pic of him. Either they are twins separated at birth, or they would make a very adorable couple.

Banner courtesy of Phoenix !

Thursday 13 #17

Some of my Favorite Things!

13.) The smell of Frangrant Flowers. Roses, Lillies, and Gardenias just to name a few!

12.) Freshly baked Chocolate Chip Cookies. Can't have just one.

Anything with Chocolate will do too!

11.) A Sunset walk along the beach, or a hike or a walk along a trail.

10.) Purse and shoe shopping. Especially for flip-flops or sandals.

9.) Enjoying the 4 Seasons. Not just living here in AZ and having either Hot or Cold!Playing in the snow, raking a leaf pile and jumping in it, watching all the Spring Flowers bloom, and BBQ/Pool parties.

8.) Listening to my daughter play her violin.

7.) That clean Baby smell.

6.) Coffee in the morning, actually Coffee anytime is a good thing!

5.) Does anyone else like Gyros. My husband and I love them.Along with a nice big glass of

Diet Pepsi.

4.) The sounds of my kids laughing.

3.) Now this is a combination, I would love to have, a pedicure, a manicure, and a nice deep massage!

2.) Getting REAL mail, I mean letters and cards!

1.) Hugs and Kisses from my kids and husband!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Friend's Day Weds #15

This week, I wanted to try something different either for today, or for next Weds. It's just an idea, I thought about bringing some Blog Cheer to the Blogsphere. Let me know today, or sometime this week about a NEW Blog friend you've met, or any blog post whether it be a picture, or recipe, or story that just made your day! Then if you played by either posting on your website, a shoutout, or leaving the link in my comments, (today or next Weds, I'm always looking forward to a new list of links to read!Just let me know!

Here's a story, that helped change my attitude towards doing one of my

least favorite chores.....LAUNDRY!

The Joy of Laundry!

Just a little redecorating for now. I'm still playing around with colors and tweaking the layout a bit more, maybe a different header image. I did import my posts to Wordpress, and started looking at all the possibilites over there. Things should be finished around here, by the end of this week! Blue has always been one of my favorite colors, and so has anything to do with the Ocean. The only thing I don't like is the plain white background. This isn't finished project yet, but let me know what you think!! Do you like it, or do you hate it?? Enquiring minds want to know!!

With Back to School underway, I thought this would be the perfect day to post about how amazed I am how my children grow so fast. Since my oldest daughter is finding adjusting to Junior High a little hard, this is for her.

Kelly from Pass The Torch has a great idea! Pass the Torch Tuesday is an opportunity for bloggers to celebrate the ways they see kids/young people doing things RIGHT! These are the little things we witness everyday, that make us proud of and hopeful about the generation to whom we

PASS THE TORCH! Here is my story:

Marissa is 12 now, almost 12 1/2. There is quite a gap between her and my son, about 6 yrs. So she was the one who got my undivided attention for so long, and now she has to share me with 2 sisters and a brother. I wanted to point out, that she is an awesome older sister, and an amazing daughter! She helps me by doing little things now and again with her siblings. She has fun feeding the baby and singing to her. With Katelyn our 3yo. she plays tea parties, and dressup complete with making her up. While I'm cooking dinner, sometimes she helps her brother with his homework. I know growing up can be hard, and especially now that she's at that in between, not quite a child anymore, and not quite all grown up, I can sense her starting to have little difficulties! She just keeps on going, smiling and laughing, keeps me going too!I was glad when she told me she wanted to keep up with her violin, not for me, but she enjoys it!

Everyone have a great Tuesday and be sure to visit Kelly and read other stories!

What makes grandmaother's so special, is the caring and love they show, along with all the endless memories and stories they share.

While I was up at my grandmothers this past weekend going through old pics, it inspired me to find this pic. ! This is pic was taken while my mom was in the hospital after giving birth to my brother, and my grandmother was watching me. I love this pic, because my grandmother is so much FUN to be around. And what child does not like playing with Bubbles. You can see in the background, another reason why I love this pic ( besides the 70'ish outfit I'm wearing, and the green table cloth with all that fringe), but my mother's Lillies of the Nile, and her Daylillies, I'd enjoy looking at growing up!

Here's a pic of us visiting Sedona,AZ, when she first moved to AZ, and I went to see their new place in Prescott.

Here's a Link to one of my Monday Memories about my GrandMother!

Everyone have a great Monday!

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Portulaca Grandifora

Continuing my Quest for plants which can survive a day or two without water, and can withstand the high temps. here in AZ. this week's addition is this gorgeous Salmon pink color

Portulaca. They are low growing succulents, that are good plants for rock gardens,

and for spots with poor soil.

I also bought some Sweet Red Bell pepper seeds, which I'll start tomorrow! My husband likes Stuffed Peppers, and I thought peppers do really good in the heat, and from now until almost the end of November the weather will be great to start them.

Everyone enjoy the rest of their day!

These colors are absolutely gorgeous. It's 12x12 Psalm 23 Album by Stacey Jewell and Tina Chambers from Digital Scrapbook Place

You can see a bigger pic In my Album!

Friday's Feast #107

Appetizer

What color is your car?

I love my 2002 SILVER Ford WindStar!!

Soup

If you could wake up tomorrow with full training in another occupation and a job in that field, what would it be?

A School Nurse. Just because of my background with my son, I'd like to be able to help other Juvenille Diabetics, and I give the nurse at my son's school credit. I take care of only one, she has at least 6 to look after.

Salad

How many times in your life have you had the flu (or something similar)?

I come down with something twice a year without fail, in Feb. and in October. Like clockwork, I don't know if it's the change in weather, but around the 3rd week of each month, and I'll be sick for at least a week maybe two!

Main Course

What is something that has happened to you this week that you didn't expect?

My MIL called me out of the Blue and my husband took me to lunch. Both were nice surprises.

Dessert

How old were you when you had your first kiss?

My first innocennt kiss I was 12 or 13, my first real kiss was when I was 16.

Thursday Thirteen #16

Banner from Goofy Girl

This week I'm doing an actual 13 Things About my Week!

1.) This was the best thing, while visiting my grandparents this weekend, Sunday morning the monsoons came, and it poured rain and hail. The kids had a blast just playing in the rain. Catching raindrops with their tongues. It was great fun to be out of the heat!

2.) My grandparents live about a mile high, and their house is up a Mountain just a bit. Because of a Population Explosion, it was necessary for them and their neighbors to save a portion of the forest land behind their houses. To prevent overgrowth. Anyways, their are hiking trails, and while my grandmother watched the baby, I took the kids along with my Mom and grandpa hiking to the bottom of the 'lil mountain to a play area and back again....Again the kids and I had a blast. I raced my oldest daughter up a hill.

3.) It was a good thing my Mom didn't decide to go up by herself ( I drove), because she got a flat tire on Monday.

4.)My 3yo now wants to go fishing and camping next time. I'm a little sad, because my grandparents are getting up there in their mid-80's and my grandfather thinks this is the last winter they will be living there. It's just too much for them to take care.

5.) My grandmother got out all the old pics of my Mom and my Uncle. I love seeing the old black and white photos of the '50s. Pics of my Great-Grandmother, and found out that her and her husband ran a Hotel in Oregon. I didn't know that! I like finding out about where my family came from and what they did.

6.) The baby has been doing disappearing acts on me. She's learned how to roll, so when I set her down in the living room and step into the kitchen. I checked in on her and couldn't find her....She'd rolled under the coffee table! When I found her, she gave me this big grin, as if to say...Oh you found me!!

7.)Ok, the 1st Day of School was Monday!! Thank God, and not a day too soon!! I can tell you the house is so much more peaceful now. No more hearing, I'm Bored, or so and so is teasing me....I'm so proud of my kids. Both of them are very indepedent and seemed to be adjusting just fine. My son has his 1st Spelling Test and my daughter seems a little overwelmed with Junior High and all the classes she has to go to .

8.) I like the school nurse. This is her first year at a school. She said she'd worked for years at a hospital taking care of Cancer patients, and finds this more rewarding. She's really interested in my son since he's the youngest one at his school to be on an insulin pump for his Type-1 Diabetes. She's got him on a schedule to test his blood sugars, and I don't have to worry to much anymore about his care. One nurse last year scared me, when she didn't even know how to work his blood machine. So I trust her, and it's nice I can let go of him in some sense that eventually he will be taking care of himself.

9.) My oldest daughter really didn't want to take violin anymore. I was a little disappointed. We talked about it, and I'm trying to change her elective, but I explained to her that's she's really good, and if she sticks with it, she could get a scholarship. Hopefully she sticks with it!!

10.) Mostly I've been running around to 2 different schools. And checking back with my son and the nurse at lunchtime...Yesterday, he's supposed to after he has lunch, go to the nurse to put in his insulin, and then he could go play. Well, me and my girls, and the nurse waited 30 min, and he never showed, he was shooting hoops on the playground and threw a fit to have to leave, but I thought it was cute how he'd grown up, and was just being a normal kid, even if it was for a moment.

11.) My favorite part of the day is bedtime, when I get to read to the kids. Both the kids pick out a story, and they take turns who's story is first.

12.) I should mention my husband...He was so sweet last night, he knew I'd been running around with the kids, so he got Chinese Take-Out for dinner. Yumm...Kung Pao Chicken.

13.) I have to mention, that one thing I did this week which I never do, was take a nap. I can see this was only the first, but ceartainly not the last time either. I put the baby down for a nap, and then me and my 3yo just crashed for almost 2hrs. It felt so good.

Everyone have a great Thursday!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Friends Day Weds. #14

Here are 5 things I found today that brought a smile to my face, or that I would enjoy doing!

1.)One of my favorite flowers are lillies. When I found Pets Garden, the pics are gorgeous.

2.)I am so making THESE for the Holidays too! from Sugarfused.

3.)Considering I'm watching my son's carbs, I got a laugh at this Funny posted by Melli.

4.)I wish I'd found this site earlier, but at Want Not, if your finishing up your back to school shopping this might help you!

5.) I got a laugh at this post from The Big Trade Off! Reminded me of my 3yo daughter and the things she does!!

What a day yesterday! I got my peace and quiet back! The kids get to be back with their friends. Life is Good! My daughter has at least one friend she knows from last year in each of her classes, and my son did great on his new schedule with the nurse. I'll post a few pics later of them on their first day back! I'm in heaven just with the baby and the 3yo. girls, I told them we'd be off on adventures without the older ones, so they get my attention in the morning, and the older ones get some attention at night, I think I'm going to like this arrangement! In other news, We all blog for many reasons. My reason is I'm terrible at keeping a diary, blogging lets me keep track of all the milestones and fun things I do with my family and kids. I'm also trying to make a little extra on the side , trying to stay at home with the kids as long as I can. I came upon this post from Pajama Mama about Getting Paid to Blog ! She brought up a good question.....What would you pay someone to do? Have a look at her post, it's great. For me personally, that was an easy one for me, besides the obvious cooking and cleaning. I'd like someone to do the little Pain in the Arse errands like grocery shopping, going to the bank, post office, pay the bills, etc.

What woud you pay for?

Join

Here's my pic ( a little late), but one of my favorite plants is the Red Bird of Paradise. These plants will grow wildly out of control the more water you give them, but they can survive on very little water. In the winter they go dormant. The cold temps. kill them, but when Spring weather starts back up, you just water it, and it will come back to life. I tried to take a pic before the monsoons started. The winds were starting to kick up, so hopefully that means more rain!

It's Back to School Day!!!

The children went back to school this morning, and what a morning it was!! Since we were up on a mini-vacation this weekend visiting my grand-parents, and didn't get back into town until 7 last night, I just got up early, had a cup of coffee, because I got up EARLY( I'm not a morning person), took a shower, and then (my husband would've done this for me, but I didn't ask him, so....) went to the store and bought lunch things and snacks. Got home, had another cup of coffee, made breakfast, then we headed out the door to drop my son off first. Made a trip to the nurses office....went over his blood sugar testing schedule and then headed off to drop my daughter off at the JHS. Got her schedule. Thank God, she takes the bus this year. Found out where she'll be catching it tomorrow. She also needs to have her elective switched. She wants to take ART this year, but waited to long to tell me, and is scheduled for orchestra.

Went to the park to let my 3yo play while we waited until it was time to go back to my son's school for his first B/S test....This was my fault I did say 9:00 and I thought I'd said 9:30, but the nurse took care of it, and did just fine. We went over when he goes to recess and snack time, what to do. I'm heading back there for his lunchtime check, if everything's fine, I won't go back for his 2 pm check. What's nice about this year, is he's on a schedule, which with diabetics it's great, because much of managing diabetes has to do with timing, so there is a lot of pressure taken off of me this year!! Thank God for that too!

I'll post a little later on a few things, and I'll catch up with everyone too!

Happy Monday!

Friday's Feast 106

Appetizer

Tell about a toy you remember from your childhood.

One of my favorite toys growing up is a PogoStick my father bought me for Christmas one year. I think I was 8. He would steady me until I got jumping straight up and balanced.

Soup

If you could make one thing in the world absolutely free for everyone, what would it be?

Free Meds. for terminally ill or anyone who needs meds to live a normal life. For instance my son. You would think someone would either find a cure for Type 1 diabetes or just give insulin away Hell, I don't know how seniors on Medicare even afford medications, on Social Security!

It amazes me how much Americans pay for medications.IMHO!

Salad

Approximately how many times per day do you think about your significant other?

First thing in the morning when I get my cup of coffee. Anytime of the day I see or hear something that reminds me of him. Then around 1:30 or 2:30 in the afternoon, either I'll call him, or he'll call me and tell me he's on his way home. I'd almost say we think alike, because sometimes, I'm calling him the same time he's calling me!

Main Course

What is something you believe in 100%?

With all my heart that there is a God who picks me up and carries me, when I can't make it through my day! Honestly, I'm a pretty strong woman physically, and emotionally(mentally), I can stand up for myself and my family, but when I hit the wall and can't take another day with my son's Diabetes, God's there (my family too) letting me know, I'm doing a wonderful job taking care of my son and teaching him what he needs and how he'll need to take care of himself. It's a huge job, and since I'm not a nurse, not to mention I HATE Needles....All I can say is, he's the reason, I made it through 2 yrs of giving injections and getting up in the middle of the night to check my son's Blood Sugar, so he wouldn't go too low.

Dessert

Name one thing you have done this week that you would consider a "good deed." Let's see my good deed for the week. Hmmmmm.....I would have to say just being thoughtfull of my family and thinking of their well being. I'm thankfull for all they do and are doing for my family.Like my In-Laws and my Mother and her husband, my grandparents, and my brother....

Trying to keep us all close and connected, and to show my kids that each one of them is special to me and I love each and every one of them with all my heart.

That's all I can think of!

Kudos to Kailani for the T13 Header! T13-#15

For this T13, I wanted to find out from everyone, which Childrens Story was your favorite growing up, or one you like to read to your children/child.

So I'll start it off , and then I'll add 12 answers!

1.) The Velveteen Rabbit

2.)Mrs Doodlepunk -Blogging Outloud

3.)Goodnight Moon -Emily Rose Jewel

4.)Boxcar Children-Pass the Torch

5.)Emily's Moo-Southeren Girl

6.)Chicken Little-Barb

7.)The Munch Bunch- My 2 Cents

8.)The Chronicles of Narnia-Jen

9.)The Bobbsie Twins-Catch

10.)The Brothers Grimm-E

11.)Mother Goose-Something's Missing

12.)Picture Bible-Jenny

13.)The Pokey Little Puppy-Carmen

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Friends Day Weds. #13

Here are 5 things I found today that brought a smile to my face, or that I would enjoy doing!

1.) I'll admit it, I've done this before, Have you?

I enjoyed reading this post from MamaTulip .

2.) Traveling is one of my passions! Maremagnum is in Italy, and sharing pics of her trip!

My favorite is this one, of a beautiful Italian house.

3.)This pic from Tricia is one of my favorite flowers, and her's is truly lovely!

4.)I couldn't resist this one Hot Fudge Pudding, by Sally! You can find this recipe and more at

The World of Blogger's Cookbook! Check it out or submit your own.

5.) This story from Leanne gave me a case of the giggles! I know what I would have done, Called my husband to do the dirty work!!

Clay Balls

This story is not what your thinking, if you thought what I thought, since the email came from one of my husband's closest friends, and you know how guys are!

A man was exploring caves by the seashore.

In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clayballs one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone! Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away! It's like that with people We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy but we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth. May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them. I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with each of you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

Y'all have a great day now!

Writing Collaboration at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas The ladies at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas are holding a writing collaboration (episode five)! To participate, write a post on "What favorite books from your childhood do you plan to (or have already) introduced to your children?" Then email Crazy Hip Blog Mamas the link to your actual post(not the main blog page) to be included in the post on the CHBM site! All participating members will have a link to their entry. Questions? Go here for more information on the writing collaboration at Crazy Hip Blog Mamas. Not a member? Join Crazy Hip Blog Mamas today! Intro and prompt by Anne-Marie .

My Favorite Book from Childhood

Growing up, My favorite book I would have my mom read to me for bedtime and naptime was The Velveteen Rabbit. So when my first daughter was born both my mom and I went and bought it for her. The Velveteen Rabbit , growing up was such a magical book for me! I not only got the "warm fuzzies" from reading how a stuffed bunny was so loved and cherished by a little boy, I also learned the value of friendship. How the stuffed bunny was always there for the little boy, and the little boy couldn't be without his beloved toy. It made me cry when the bunny had to be thrown away. And then how happy I was for the bunny when he became Real! The story also reminds me how important a childs' imagination is. My 3yo is the one with the most amazing imagination. In her mind all her stuffed animals and baby dolls to her are Real! She even has imaginary pets. I think it's cute how her laundry basket was transformed into a rocket ship, or how she has tea parties with all her baby dolls. When I was younger, I had more of a fantasy imagination, of fairies and unicorns, so that was the big thing for me. That the fairy in the endof the story, turned the Velveteen Rabbit into a real bunny. One last thing, I learned from the book and hope to share with my children is even though we leave or lose friends, there are always new friends to be met and made. We may never forget the ones we've had to leave behind, but how important friends are, and how important it is to be a friend. At the end of the story, the real bunny meets other real bunnies, and lives happily ever after. That part of the story has always stayed with me. I love meeting and making new friends.

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These are the new addition to my new SW Garden. My husband's grandmother had some gorgeous bright pink Vinca, but I thought the pale pink with the dk. pink center were very pretty. They seem very happy with the HOT weather !I also got some California Poppy seeds I'll start when it starts cooling down here in AZ in the next couple weeks.

I have started counting down the days until the children go back to school! 10 days to go! Woohoo! This last week has been really tough! I told my oldest daughter, that the Summer has gone by really fast, but for some reason this last week has dragged on something horrible! The kids are getting antsy and bored, and driving me NUTS! We've played board games, read library books, swam in the pool, and rented all kinds of movies! I'm tired of Nickelodeon being on all day, and listening to who did what to who, and who did something bad! They've been so good the whole summer up until Tuesday it seems, than all HELL's broken loose! I haven't been able to blog, because I have to referee them, not to mention Blogger wouldn't let me post pics on Thursday! Not to mention we've gotten through the hottest part of Summer, and I'm just a little HOT, TIRED, and CRANKY! Even the baby's been cranky! She got her bottom 2 teeth, so she has a very good reason! What else! My husband chose this weekend to start organizing our shed! Something like that really irritates me, especially if it's 104F out! WTH! Can't he wait another month....Truth be told, I'm the pack rat, and most of the things are mine, and I don't feel like doing it! And I don't think he feels like watching the kids why I do it, so end of story, I'll wait until they are in school, and it cools down...This brings me to the reason for my post....Ok! I love my husband to death, he's my best friend, but he can just piss me off sometimes with how he is!!! His big thing is he gets an idea in his head he wants it done ASAP!! OK, I'm the procrastinator, so I'll get it done when I feel like it, or I'll make a list of what's important and start at the top and work my way down of things that need to get done. You think he would offer to help me, but he sometimes adds to my list, and expects his things get done before mine!!!ACK!! It's a good thing I'm the multi-tasker, or all would be LOST!!! LOL!! So this is the recap of my week, and my weekend so far!! I hope tomorrow is better!!

How's everyone's weekend going??

Friday Feast One Hundred & Five Appetizer

Name an actor or actress you think is totally underappreciated.

I'm not sure if Reba counts as being underappreciated, but I think she's a great actress. I think her show is hilarious, and I would like to see her on the big screen.

Soup

Impress us by using a big word in a sentence.

Don't you just hate it when you buy a new pair of shoes that give you a huge blister on your akropodion! (heel)

Salad

What is something inanimate that you've given a name to (such as a pet rock)?

I can't think of anything I'd name, but my 3yo found a dollar store calculator and called it her laptop.

Main Course

What color would best represent your personality and why?

I like shades of blue or turquoise, I think because I love being around water, I like feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Dessert

Fill in the blanks: ____________ is so ____________.

Chocolate is so good.

Matt McConnaughey is so HOT!

My husband is so handy! (mechanic,plumber,you name it he can fix it!)

My kids are so going to school in 10 days!!!

If you're looking for my T13, I was having problems with Blogger this morning, so I moved it

to Wordpress. You can find it here https://arewethereyet.wordpress.com/2006/08/03/thursday13-15/ !

Everyone have a great Thursday!