Crazy Carols Capers

UTAH

2011-02-19T19:31:00.000-08:00

I'm in Utah right now visiting my adorable granddaughter, McKinley, my daughter, Megan, and my son-in-law Travis. I got here on Tuesday the 15th and I am going to be here until Friday the 25th. Travis went out of town a few days this last week and Steve is going to be out of town all next week and neither Megan or I wanted to spend the time alone. We have been shopping, visiting relatives, shopping, eating out, and shopping! I didn't shop at all when I was in that bad place that I talked about in the last post, so I guess I'm making up for lost time! In our family two things that we always do when we get together is shop and eat out.(except the guys don't go shopping very often. Especially Steve!) I have taught those girls well! Mandy, my oldest, says my oldest granddaughter Gabriella, who is 3, even loves to shop! The tradition continues!
By the way... in case I've never told you... I have the cutest grandkids in the world!!! It brings me SO much joy just to be around them!!! I absolutely love every minute!!! I'm very blessed to have them!!!
I'm also very blessed to have 4 beautiful daughters!!! I love spending time with them!!! They make me SO proud!!! (I don't mean to make ya'll feel 2nd place! You were my first loves!!! After Dad, of course!)
And speaking of Steve... I love that man more every day!!!(even after 34 1/2 years!!!)
I'm feeling very grateful lately!!! Just had to share!!!

I'M BLOGGING AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-19T19:06:00.000-08:00

I bet you can't believe it but... I'M BLOGGING AGAIN!!!!! You know for sure I must be in a good place!!! I used to love blogging, but for a VERY long time I was in a bad place and I wasn't motivated to do any blogging (or anything else for that matter). GLAD TO BE BACK!!!!

NEW GRANDBABY

2010-06-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

I have a new adorable grandbaby!!!!! Her name is Melia Rose Dillard. She was born to my oldest daughter and her husband on June 26. That is also Steve's and my anniversary,two of our son in law's birthdays,and Steve's sister's birthday. What a wonderful anniversary gift! I was able to be in the room for the delivery! What an amazing experience that was for me!!!

THE LAST FEW WEEKS

2010-05-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a whirlwind last few weeks but now everybody is gone and it's SO quiet!!!!

BUSY,BUSY,BUSY BUT FUN,FUN,FUN

2010-05-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a busy few weeks around here. Megan and Travis are coming tonight and they will be here until next Sunday. Natalie and Matt are coming tomorrow for the weekend. We will be celebrating my birthday on Saturday and Mother's Day on Sunday. The following Thursday Mandy and Matt and the grandbabies will come and stay through the weekend. Natalie and Matt will come back for the weekend too. They are all going to be here for Emily's graduation on Saturday. The following Tuesday Emily and I will go to Utah and stay until Sunday. Thursday we are going to hang out with Travis's Mom and sister. Megan's shower will be on Friday. Saturday we will hang out with Steve's sisters.

THE VERDICT IS IN

2010-04-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

Megan had her ultrasound on Thursday and found out what she is having. We are having another girl grandbaby! They are so excited and so are we!

CALIFORNIA TRIP

2010-03-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

We got back on Sunday from our California trip. We had a fun time hanging out at the beach. We also walked on Hollywood Boulevard and checked out the stars on the sidewalk and Graumins Chinese Theatre. We took a ride through Beverly Hills in a limo and checked out Rodeo Drive. Had fun playing with the grandbabies!
Emily, my baby, got engaged this week!
We also celebrated Mandy's 30th birthday!
All in all a very eventful week!

PACKING

2010-03-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

Packing is a major ordeal for me!!!! Does anyone else feel the same way? I try to devote the whole day before I leave just for packing. I can't ever decide what to take. Then I always think I am forgetting something! It's all so overwhelming!

MEMORY

2010-03-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Just realized that the last two posts are almost the same. You know how it is... the memory is the first to go. Now what was my name again......

CALIFORNIA

2010-03-14T14:27:00.000-07:00

So it's off to California for our whole family on Wednesday. We are going on this trip to celebrate Emily's college graduation. She doesn't actually graduate until May, but with the pregnant sisters, we had to move the trip up to spring break. We are renting a beach house while we are there. It should be a lot of fun.

MY TRIP

2010-03-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm back from my trip and trying to get back to normal. It won't last too long though, because we are going on a family trip to California on the 17th to celebrate Emily's graduation. She will be our last child to graduate from college. We are going to stay in a beach house there. It should be a lot of fun!

MY TRIP

2010-02-24T18:48:00.000-08:00

I'm having a good time in Utah! Megan and I have been shopping, crafting, and watching movies. I will be going to North Carolina tomorrow. Megan and Travis will be going too.

MORE GRANDBABIES!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-16T09:33:00.000-08:00

I will be getting grandbaby number 3 and number 4 this summer! Mandy is having her third baby in June and Megan is having her first baby in August! Isn't that exciting? I can't wait!!!!

Marriage

2010-01-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup
When you're wrong admit it
When you're right shut up!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas kinda got spread out for our family this year. The girls and spouses/boyfriend exchanged gifts with the names they drew at Thanksgiving because the whole family was together.
Christmas morning we had Natalie, Matt, Emily, and Bossy. Both pairs had other family to spend time with, so Steve and I spent part of the day alone.
Then Wednesday we came to Plano and exchanged gifts with Mandy, Matt, and the kids.
We are going home tommorrow (Saturday). It's been fun playing with the kids!

CHRISTMAS

2009-12-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

I'm typing this on my new netbook!!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

THANKSGIVING 2009

2009-12-01T08:08:00.000-08:00

We had the whole family here for Thanksgiving!!! Megan and Travis arrived the Saturday night before Thanksgiving. The rest of the gang from out of town arrived Wednesday night. On Friday we took the kids to the zoo. On Saturday we hit the mall. There was a lot of game playing during the weekend. Lots of food, family, and fun!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT

2009-11-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

just in case there are any of you who don't know yet... I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER AGAIN!!!!!! Mandy is having #3! I think I have given her plenty of time to tell everybody that she wants to tell herself, so now I'm making my announcement!

CHOCOLATE WITHDRAWAL

2009-11-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

I think I'm having chocolate withdrawal! I woke up this morning thinking about it and I still am! We had SO much candy left over from Halloween that we've been eating it ever since and still had a lot until last night. Emily and Bossy came over and we gave it all to them. I'm SO glad to have it out of the house so I'm not tempted by it because if it's here I'm gonna eat it and I certainly don't need to be! I wouldn't throw it away because I spent SO much money on it! I'm always afraid I won't have enough candy on Halloween so I always over buy, but I don't think I've ever bought as much as this year! We only had 8 trick or treaters. All that sald, it's a good thing we don't live really close to a store or I might just run out and get a candy bar right now!!!

THANKSGIVING IS COMING

2009-11-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

I'm excited because all of my kids, their spouses, and my grandkids will be here for Thanksgiving! We are going to have SO much fun! I can't wait!

UTAH TRIP

2009-11-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

The Utah trip was fun! We got to see Megan and Travis and a lot of Steve's family. Megan, Emily, and I got in some quality time shopping, our favorite together activity! We went to the Park City Outlet, as well as a mall, and the Quilted Bear. For those of you who don't know what the Quilted Bear is, it is a store where they sell mostly handmade items. I always go there when I go to Salt Lake City. Actually this time I went twice! I love to go there!

INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL

2009-10-19T18:46:00.000-07:00

Went to the quilt show on Saturday with Angie Hulse. She came down from San Antonio for it and stayed with us since her mom and dad don't live her anymore. We had a good time!

FALL DECORATING

2009-10-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

I did a little bit of fall decorating today. I'm hoping this will make the fall weather come to stay!

OUR TRIP TO DALLAS

2009-10-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

We left Thursday around noon to go to Dallas. Thursday evening we went to the fire station open house there with Mandy, Matt, and the kids. Friday we went to the mall and just hung out until that evening when we went to the state fair. Then Saturday morning was Gabriella's birthday party. We came home Saturday afternoon. It was a fun trip! Natalie and Matt and Emily and Bossy were there too.

LESLIE'S PARTY

2009-10-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

Does anyone want to carpool with me to Leslie's party? Call me if you do!

NO MORE PAINTING

2009-09-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Today was probably my last day to paint with Jan and the gang, since Jan is moving to St. Louis really soon. I'm happy for her that they finally sold their house and she can be with Jim again, but I'm sad for me. I will miss her a lot! She has made me promise to go and visit her and I hope she will do the same!

SURPRISE

2009-09-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after painting, I decided to stop in at the McDonalds in Pecan Grove to grab something for supper. While I was waiting in line I saw what I thought was a squirrel at first, running right beside the building. On closer inspection, I saw that it was a fat mouse (or Steve suggested maybe a rat). This turned my stomach so, I almost got out of line, but I REALLY wanted one of those mushroom and swiss burgers. They are SO good!!! I mentioned my sighting to the person at the window and she said she would tell somebody. Marvin Zindler I need you!!!! Steve said since it was outside it's no big deal. I say where you see them outside, they are probably inside too. I hate mice! The only creature I hate worse is a snake!!!!!

I LOVE PUNS

2009-09-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

Got these off of someone else's blog. (thanks Rick)

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.

A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"

What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

A dwarf, who was a mystic, escaped from jail. The call went out that there was a small medium at large.

I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did! My favorite is the last one.

MY WEEKEND

2009-09-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

The game was a wipeout, we got rained on, and the shoes I was wearing were killing my feet, but I still enjoyed the weekend. I like going places, I like staying in hotels, and I like eating out.

NEW ORLEANS

2009-09-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

We are going to New Orleans this weekend to see BYU play Tulane. As I said before I'm not a BYU fan, but I'm going along for the trip. I like to go places and I've only been through New Orleans before. I'll get to see at least a little of it this time.

PAINTING

2009-09-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm going to paint at Jan's today! I haven't painted since before my surgery in May. We do decorative painting on wood. It's really fun!

RAIN

2009-09-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

Rain still seems like such a strange thing after all the drought we've had this summer. This morning I heard a noise and I thought for a minute and then I thought could that be rain? I looked out the window and sure enough it was! I don't know how long it's going to take me to get used to rain again!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

2009-09-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

We started our Labor Day Weekend early. We left Wednesday night to go to Plano. We stayed there until Saturday. We enjoyed seeing the grandbabies and Mandy and Matt. Steve's sister Sally and her husband Gary were there to see the BYU/Oklahoma game. We took them around to some of the sights in Dallas and Fort Worth. The game was Saturday night and we drove home afterwards. We got home at 4:30 am. I'm not a BYU fan but it was a good game and I LOVED seeing Oklahoma get beat!!!!! HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!!!

CATCHING UP

2009-08-20T17:38:00.000-07:00

Just spent the last 7 hours or so catching up on everybodies blogs. I guess you'd say I've been out of touch for a while!!!!! I can't believe it took that long to catch up! I guess it shows how much time I have on my hands.

DOCTORS, DOCTORS, DOCTORS

2009-08-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

It seems like all I've been doing lately is going to doctors and treatments! I'm ready to get back to the real world! I've been out of comission for TOO long!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

2009-05-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

we went to austin over the weekend to see natalie graduate from ut with her masters in social work!~!!!! i'm SO proud of her~~~~~!!!!!!! \
we stayed in house with a great view of lake travis! the WHOLE family was there and i loved that!!!!!
i have to say it was hard for me physically and mentally but i had to be there.!!!!!!

2009-05-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

for the last 2 weeks or so i have been out of comission. i woke up one morning with what felt like a bladder infection so i call the dr. and made and appointment. here i am a little over 2 weeks without quite a few of my female body parts that i didn't know i still had. it's a long story and if you really want to hear it all i will tell you but right now i'ts all kind of grossing me out to tell about it. anyway the word of the day is THANK YOU LORD AND BENIGN!!!

ANXIETY AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

ok, so the general anxiety from my anxiety disorder has been over for a while!!!! the drugs did their job! now i have this female thing going on and i'm probably going to have to have surgery for it so now i'm having situational anxiety!!!!!!! when will it ever end!!!!

I'M BORED........

2009-04-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

any suggestions? (and please don't say clean the house or something awful like that. no matter how much it might need it.)

OUT WITH THE ANXIETY - IN WITH THE MANIA!!!!!!

2009-04-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

today i spent quite a bit of money. i really had fun shopping since, i haven't felt like going for a while. shopping sprees are a symptom of mania though(as many of you know). it's always something!!!!!! i'll probably be loosing my credit card again when steve finds out the extent of my shopping fun!!!!

THE GOOD NEWS!!!!!!

2009-04-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

the last post was the bad news now for the good news........DAY NUMBER 2 OF NO ANXIETY!!!!!!!!!

I HATE WEDNESDAY NIGHTS!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

every wednesday night steve goes to his church thing and i just sit around home being lonely!

9:45 AND ALL IS WELL

2009-04-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

still no anxiety and it's almost bedtime!!~!!!! God is SO good!!!!!! i had a lady come up to me in fulshear today and tell me all about how good God was. i was wearing a cross and that got the conversation started. (it really wasn't much of a conversation on my part). i didn't understand everything she said but i really had to wonder if it was a message from God even though i was on exactly the same track today!!!!!

STILL NO ANXIETY!!!!!!!

2009-04-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

it's 3:25 now and STILL NO ANXIETY!!!!!! i'm must have said "thank you Lord" at least a million times today, because i know that ALL good things come from God!!!! i did a little shopping and got my nails done to celebrate!!!!! steve says i shouldn't think that it's over, because if it comes back i'll be disappointed, but i can't help it!!!! the dr. said it would probably take 10 days to see any results and it's only been 7!!!! i think it must have something to do with all those prayers ya'll have been sending up for me!!! keep it up!!!! i always need them!!!

ANXIETY FREE!!!!

2009-04-21T06:21:00.000-07:00

i woke up this morning ANXIETY FREE!!!! pray, pray, pray that it continues!!!!!

A GREAT SURPRISE!!!!!

2009-04-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

yesterday afternoon there was a tiny little knock at my front door. i couldn't imagine who it was. most everybody comes to the back door. i went to the door and when i opened it who did i find standing there but oliver and gabriella!!!! they came to surprise steve for his birthday. they had already been to steve's work to surprise him.

OUR EASTER

2009-04-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

our easter was a different one. we only had 1 of our kids here. it was emily, our baby, (sorry emi but you will always be my baby) and her boyfriend. we still had our typical easter dinner (ham, deviled eggs, potato salad, and etc.) just a smaller version. no stuffed bunnies and we didn't even dye eggs. we ate in our easter decorated dining room. (one day leslie you too will eat in one of my holiday decorated dining rooms!) emily and basillio hunted camoflage easter eggs with money inside. (they seem to like money better in their eggs when they get older). it took them a while to find the eggs and they had to have hints for the last few. steve hid them READLY hard, in fact, so hard that he had to write down where he hid them so he could remember. there was still the usual easter candy, too. (reeses peanut butter eggs and peeps and NO i didn't eat any of them.) i did buy an easter dress for myself. it brought back SO many memories of all the easter dresses, easter shoes, and hair decorations i bought in the past for my 4 girls. they all had long hair that i REALLY loved to fix. (sorry nat). easter was such a fun time for me and i think for them, too.

GOOD NEWS AND HOPEFULLY GOOD NEWS

2009-04-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

first the good news: i have now lost 26.8 pounds! (that's even after the vacation from weight watchers i took in north carolina!)
now for the hopefully good news: the dr. is changing my anti-depressant to one that is supposed to help more with anxiety. he says i should see a difference in 10 days. i want to ask all of ya'll to keep me in your prayers the next 10 days especially!

OUT ON MY BACK PORCH......

2009-04-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

i'm out on my back porch and it's a beautiful, sunny day!!!! i'm thinking "now how could anyone be anxious on a day like today?" that someone would be me, of course. i'm not anxious right now, actually, but i spend most of my time when i'm not anxious being afraid that it's going to come back. so basically, i'm anxious about being anxious! sounds stupid, i know, but in my mind that's just the way i think! i'd like to change it, but i don't know how. i try to tell myself to enjoy these times, but the anxiety seems to always be in the back of my mind. i wake up in the morning wondering how the day will be. i don't want to get up in the morning, because i'm afraid it will be an anxious day. i do have the pills, but i don't like to take them, because i want to try to overcome this myself. they make me sleepy sometimes and so i'm afraid to take them if i'm not at home, so i stay at home most of the time. (doesn't help to overcome anxiety).if i feel like i just can't stand it anymore, i take one. i make myself suffer more then i have to, because i don't take them.

OH SHUCKS!!! TOO BAD!!!

2009-04-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

can't find any smaller ones in the attic! OH SHUCKS!!! guess i'll just have to by some new ones! TOO BAD!!! just ordered them online. they will be her in 2-3 business days!!!

JUST BECAUSE SHE'S SO CUTE!!!

2009-04-09T13:45:00.000-07:00

GOOD PROBLEM

2009-04-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

have you ever had a good problem? well... i do. all of my pants are TOO BAGGY! that's right i said TOO BAGGY! i'm going to have to go look in the attic where all the clothes are stored from when i lost weight last time! WAHOO!!!!

GOOD FEELINGS AND GOOD COMMENTS!!!

2009-04-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

i'm feeling good this afternoon without the help of pills! thanks for everybodies supportive comments! keep praying for me please!

ANXIETY IS THE PITS!!!!!!!

2009-04-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

i have been struggling a lot with anxiety lately. that is the reason why i haven't been posting much. i don't like taking my tranquilizers, so i suffer much more then i have to. i'm always afraid of getting addicted, even though my dr. says i never will because i'm so afraid of it. in fact, just writing about it is making me feel a little anxious, so i'm going to stop. i'll post another day when i'm feeling completely better. i'm going to the dr. on monday, so maybe things will get better after that!

I FORGOT

2009-04-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

oh yea... i forgot to say that i went to 2 museums in franklin while i was there. i went to the historical society museum. it was all about the franklin area and it's people. i found a bit about some of my ancestors there. i also went to the tartan museum. i am of scottish decent. i saw the anderson clan plaid and crest. anderson is my maiden name. i also learned about some scottish history there.

NORTH CAROLINA

2009-04-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

ok.... so we went to north carolina for 2 reasons: 1. to go to the wedding of my son-in-law's brother and 2. to visit with my mother and sister and her family there. it was nice that we were able to do both in the same trip. i left on monday march 23 and returned on saturday april 4. mandy and matt and the grandbabies also went there on the 23rd. i got to spend monday-thursday there with them and my mom and sister's family in franklin, which is where they live. my dad was born and raised there so it's always a little blast from the past when i go there. steve and emily came on thursday. friday was the rehearsal dinner in ashville, which is a little over an hour from franklin. saturday night was the wedding in ashville also at the biltmore estate. i don't know if any of you have heard of it, but it is a huge, gorgeous mansion built by the vanderbilt family. they don't live there anymore. they have tours of it now. it is the largest single family residence in the united states. the father of the bride is the business manager at the biltmore. the wedding was beautiful and we had a great time. our son-in-law was the best man and oliver, our grandson, was a daisy dude (or some name like that) and he threw flower petals along the path of the bride. he was adorable in his black vest, pants, and tie! steve, emily, and mandy, matt, and the grandbabies left on sunday. i just hung out with my family for the rest of the week.

I'M BACK!!!!!!!

2009-04-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

i am FINALLY back!!!! i had a good time but i was SO ready to get home! now i'm trying to get caught up on emails (i had 177) and blog posts (i had over 100)!!!!!

NORTH CAROLINA

2009-03-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

i'm in north carolina visiting my family. my mother and sister and her family live here. steve and emily are coming tomorrow. we will be going to the wedding of my son in law's brother on saturday. it is nice that we are able to do both in the same trip. my daughter and son in law are here too with the grandbabies, of course. i am enjoying spending time with my family. i'm coming home on april 4.

TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN

2009-03-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

i haven't been posting because i've been having a rough time lately in the mental dept.(lots of anxiety). my meds have been changed, but haven't gotten things just right, yet. also i went to louisianna for 3 days with steve on a business trip. it was total relaxation while there, so i enjoyed that. just hanging out in the hotel room reading, doing needlework, and etc. no housework either! eating the local food.(which i'm sure hasnt't faired well with my weight watchers). it's so hard to eat right when you are eating at restaurants. got to go shopping a couple of times, too. i haven't stopped reading yall's blogs, though.

YEA, WEIGHT WATCHERS

2009-03-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

went to weight watchers today and i've lost 6.8 more pounds for a total of 18 pounds!

JUST SPOILN' THE GRANDBABIES

2009-02-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

i'm in dallas now. my grandbabies are still as adorable as the last time i saw them! we went shopping at the outlet mall this morning. fun! fun! i have my credit card back now, but i didn't overdo it.(for those of you who don't know, steve had to take my cards away when i started being manic. i was spending like there was no tomorrow!) just bought a couple of things for me and some for mandy and emily. nothing for he grandbabies,(if you can believe that), because i already brought some things for them with me. tonight we are going to go out to eat at a REALLY good mexican restaraunt!

GOIN' TO SEE THE GRANDBABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-27T06:34:00.000-08:00

i'm going to dallas to see the grandbabies today!!!!! (and mandy,too. i hope you don't ever feel left out when i say i'm going to see the grandbabies!) i'm so excited, even though it's only been 2 weeks since i saw them last! it really seems like longer! i'm SO happy that they live close enough so that i can see them this often!

PS TO LAST POST

2009-02-25T19:01:00.000-08:00

finally got to talk to the dr. he said he thinks the new med is causing me to be restless and not manic. it is a side effect. so now i have to take another med for that! crazy huh? he also said the new med should help with the depression too and that it will just take time! just what i wanted to hear!!!!!!

MIXED UP!!!!!

2009-02-25T18:57:00.001-08:00

so now i'm not just manic i'm depressed too! i've been trying to call the dr. for 3 days and still haven't been successful! what to do? it really doesn't seem possible that i could be both but it feels like it! not doing well!

THOUGHTS OF A MANIC DEPRESSIVE

2009-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

please don't call me crazy,
because crazy i'm not,
i wish you could walk in my shoes
and give it a shot!

if i was crazy,
i wouldn't have to feel
and deal with all the things
with which i have to deal.

most of the time i'm down
as low as low can be,
then something makes me up
so high that i can't see,

can't see all the foolish things i do
and all the things i say,
that i will feel regret for,
on another day.

they call it an emotional rollercoaster,
that's not what i would say,
because riding on a rollercoaster
wouldn't make you feel this way.

rollercoasters are supposed to be fun
and give you a thrill!
this thing i'm going through
doesn't have any appeal!

i try to think of the highs
as God's gift to me
to make up for all the lows,
but sometimes it's hard to see

why God would choose this way
to test and try me,
and make me into the kind of person
he wants me to be.

God let me look to you
and trust you evermore,
so i can learn to realize
just what this all is for!

carol beck

]

CHURCH

2009-02-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

church didn't work out so well today. i got up and got ready, even though i felt kinda weird. i drove there just fine, but after i got there and after we sang some songs, i thought i was feeling sleepy. this really scared me, because i was afraid of driving home while sleepy. so i just left right then and went and got a coke to help me stay awake, if i got sleepy and then drove home. i was just fine, of course! i should have stayed, but i'm just SO afraid of having to drive sleepy, like i've done several times since i've been on these new meds! i don't know what i'm going to have to do to get over this anxiety about sleeping! i get anxiey about it every night around bedtime. i just try to do something else and forget about it. sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

UTAH PICS 2

2009-02-22T03:50:00.000-08:00

UTAH PICS

2009-02-21T11:41:00.000-08:00

A BUSY WEEK

2009-02-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

i've had a busy week getting back into the swing of things after the trip. tuesday i just stayed home all day and did laundry, unpacked suitcases, packed up valentines decorations, and etc. wednesday i had an appointment with the chiropractor. thursday i went to weight watchers. i have lost a total of 11 something pounds! not too bad for 3 weeks and a trip in that time. i didn't count points while on the trip, either. i also had dessett a couple of times. (you have to have cake at a wedding don't you?) i also went to a luncheon with the mormon ladies. friday i had another chripractor appointment and an appointment with my new therapist. i really like her! it's kind of a long way to go, but i'll do it because i really need it! she's in richmond right by terry high school. a busy but mostly good week. i called dr. parikh about the anxiety attacks i'm having almost every night. he upped my giodon and told me i might just have to take klonopin for the anxiety for a while. i don't like taking klonopin, because i know it's highly addictive, but i know my dr. knows what's best for me. he says i'll never get addicted, because i'm too concerned about getting addicted. besides he says it's only for a short period of time. i guess i'll just have to deal with taking it! it's better then the alternative! my mania has been manageable so i'm happy for that! i'm planning a trip to dallas next weekend. mandy's husband is going to be out of town. i'm sure we will have a lot of fun and i get to see the grandbabies! what more could i ask for?

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN JIG A DEE JOG

2009-02-17T06:37:00.000-08:00

we are home again and i'm as happy to be home as i was excited to go. nothing makes you appreciate home more then being away from it! i'm just chillin' today, while the cleaning lady cleans! (sorry for bragging, but i love my life in that sense!) it was a really fun trip, even though i had 4 panic attacks and a few melt downs! i forgot to take enough meds and thus the reason for 1 of the melt downs, i think. the mania is pretty much under control. it's mainly just the anxiety i'm dealing with now. i'm really appreciating our warmer weather. like i told lori in a comment, "it's a nice place to visit, but i wouldn't want to live there!" (even though we did live there several years and i had 3 of my kids in wyoming and 1 in colorado. i was younger then and could take the cold better, i think!) i do have some pics i'll post later when i find out how to upload them from my camera!

UTAH UPDATE

2009-02-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

having a great time, mostly just hanging out at the cabin! (i have pics to come latter of every room! it's awesome!) there have been a million people here, at least, and they are all related to steve! i got to go shopping yesterday at the park city outlet mall! that was fun! there is lots of snow here and it's snowed several times since we' ve been here. you have to have a four wheel drive vehicle or chains to get to the cabin! i helped oli build a snowman! (more like a snow pile since the snow wasn't sticking very well!) of course, spending time with my grandbabies is the best activity of all!

UTAH UPDATE

2009-02-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

we got in aroud noon and then went to lunch with megan and travis at my fav place, chuck o rama. then we did a little shopping for ski and cold weather stuff. we had to pick up my niece, who lives in omaha at the airport, and then we went to my other niece's shower (the one whose wedding was the main reason for our trip). yesterday megan and i went to the beauty school, where my niece went, and got facials, hair deep conditioning, and i got a scalp treatment. we went to lunch at a really yummy soup, salad, and sandwich place and then went to a movie that afternoon. the movie was PUSH. i really liked it! boy, these kids really keep you on the go! last time i came here, when i got home i had to sleep for a day to catch up! last night i fell asleep pretty early. we were going to watch some tv but i didn't make it! i'm lovin' every minute!

I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T SLEEP!

2009-02-09T02:11:00.000-08:00

i woke up at 3:42 am and i can't sleep anymore! i'm like a kid on christmas morning! i'm SO excited about going to utah! we're going to have SO much fun playing in the snow, relaxing at the cabin, and visiting everybody! i can't wait!

SMELL THE ROSES

2009-02-08T05:12:00.001-08:00

HOT AIR BALLOONS

2009-02-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

this pic reminds me of when we lived in riverton, wyoming where natalie was born. they had a hot air balloon rally there every year.

JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL POE,M

2009-02-07T19:36:00.001-08:00

"All I want is a family,
Like everyone else I see.
And I won't understand it
If it's not meant to be.

Cause I would die for that.
Just to have one chance
To hold in my hands
All that they have.
I would die for that.

And I want to know what it's like
To bring a dream to life.
For that kind of love,
What I'd give up!
I would die for that.

Sometimes it's hard to conceive,
With all that I've got,
And all I've achieved,
What I want most
Before my time is gone,
Is to hear the words
"I love you, Mom."

I would die for that.
Just to have once chance
To hold in my hands
What so many have
I would die for that.

And I want to know what it's like
To bring a dream to life.
How I would love
What some give up.
I would die ...
I would die for that" ~Kellie Coffey

GNO

2009-02-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

went to girls night out last night or gno as they call it. it was a hoot!!! we shut the place down. they almost had to kick us out! the people who worked there asked if we had marijuana in the brownies that liz brought. i guess we were so crazy they thought we were high!

BICYCLING

2009-02-06T15:38:00.001-08:00

went bicycling for the second time today with jan and jawan. it's really fun and not hard on my legs at all! it think it's the company that makes it SO fun!

2009-02-06T15:33:00.000-08:00

2009-02-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

THIRD DAY AND COUNTING PAIN FREE WITH MY LEG!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE ON THE CRAFT ROOM

2009-02-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

jan and angie came over this afternoon and we worked on the craft room again. we got it where we are ready for the stuff in the attic next time. i'm so excited that i can now use my craft room for the first time since we moved into the house! i know where pretty much all my supplies are or i can find them easily if i don't because they are in clear containers!!!! LOVE IT!

PAMPERED CHEF PARTY UPDATE

2009-02-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

i seem to be doing a lot of updates today!! anyway, the pampered chef party was fun, even though only two people came. we had great conversation and even greater food!!! found WAY too many things i want to earn from it! sorry ya'll missed out! i guess it was a bad night.

UPDATE ON MY LEG

2009-02-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

i can't remember if i've told ya'll, but i've had this excruciating pain in my leg for the past few years when i stand on them very long. i'd gone to the medical dr. and they couldn't figure it out. they just said probably just my weight.(then why didn't i have it in both legs i ask?) anyway, i finally decided i would try a chiropractor as a last resort. you see, i never used to believe in chiropractors. i thought they were all quacks (even though steve's cousin is one). since the insurance will pay, i decided why not give it a shot. i started going last week. he told me i had a pinched nerve caused by a movement of some kind (i can't remember what he called it) of my hip joint. it was causing lower back pain, too. i hadn't seen much improvement until yesterday. i went the whole day without pain, until it started hurting a little bit at night. today i haven't had any pain, so far! i'm ecstatic!!!!! it hasn't felt this good in years! GO CHIROPRACTORS!!!!! another myth disspelled!!!!!!

WEIGHT WATCHERS UPDATE

2009-02-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

went to weight watchers today and i'd lost 7.8 pounds this last week!!!!!! YEAH ME!!!!! YEAH WEIGHT WATCHERS! the best weight loss program in the world!!! i don't usually praise myself very often, but i think this deserves it!!!!

PAMPERED CHEF PARTY

2009-02-04T11:34:00.000-08:00

don't forget about my pampered chef party tonight at 7:00!

2009-02-03T20:23:00.000-08:00

FAMILY TRADITIONS

2009-02-03T16:09:00.001-08:00

Family Traditions
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Yesterday at 11:21am
Traditions are very important to children. Have you experienced the following? You do something once and it becomes that thing we "always do". One year we made and decorated cut out cookies before Christmas. The next year the kids bugged me to death to make those "cookies we always make". One way we know traditions are important is kids are so invested in seeing them continue.

When I was growing up my mom made a very big deal out of holidays. She still does. Her house is decorated in pumpkins and scarecrows for Halloween, red hearts for Valentine's Day, pastel eggs for Easter and flags for the Fourth of July. Everyone decorates for Christmas but my mom puts up shamrocks and served us green oatmeal on St. Patrick's Day. She believes in celebrating!

One Valentine's Day, when I was a snarky teenager, we had wrapped presents on our breakfast plates along with decorative napkins. I asked the following question as only a teenager can ask, "If the Easter Bunny brings Easter baskets, who brings the Valentine's presents?" My dad, at the top of his game, quickly replied, "The Valentine's Cow, of course". The Valentine Cow visited us for many years after that and continued to visit us when I had children of my own.

One day this week the Valentine's Cow will buy candy and cards. She'll make cookies and pack everything in boxes to send to our college boys. My daughter's gift has already been purchased. Celebrations and traditions are important. You have them, too. Think about what they are, talk about them and celebrate the things that make your family unique. A Valentine's Cow is pretty unique and while I'm not sure I appreciate the bovine reference, I am happy to continue the tradition.
Kathy

(I do pretty much the same things at my house except no Valentine cow and never any green oatmeal I have to say!)

MANLY CARD

2009-02-03T05:47:00.000-08:00

2009-02-02T17:46:00.001-08:00

if any of my friends or family out there in blogland want something from pampered chef just let me know and i'll shoot you the info!!!

PAMPERED CHEF PARTY

2009-01-31T11:06:00.000-08:00

ok.....so the stampin' up party was SO much fun that i've decided to have a pampered chef party. rosie (emily's boyfriends's sister) sells it, so i wanted to help her out and there are some things i've been wanting to get from pampered chef, anyway. it will be wednesday, february 4 at 7:00 pm. everyone is welcome and don't feel pressure to buy. i sincerely don't care if you do or don't. i just want to have fun! (you know girls just wanna have fun!) oh, and the food she's making sounds really yummy. it's going to be ceasar salad pizza and non-sinful brownies(not the correct name, but something like that). they are both low-calorie. (since i'm going back to weight watchers now). hope to see you her!

SO GLAD YET SO SAD

2009-01-31T08:52:00.000-08:00

just found out yesterday that jim hulse got the job in st.louis, so they will be moving there! jan will stay until the house sells, though. i have such mixed emotions about this! we have grown SO close, since we have become related by marriage (the marriage of our children). jan and i craft together and just love hanging out togeter, too! steve and jim have always hit it off and share the love of sports, also! i guess there will have to be some all night crafting slumber parties after jim leaves and some other marathon crafting going on! we will definitely go visit them and we hope they will come back to visit us! we are making plans for that. steve and i would like to go visit when the astros play the cardinals. navoo, (or however you spell it), isn't too far from there and steve would really like to go there. maybe sometime when megan and travis are there we could go there or vice versa. we are very thankful we had this time to get to know them! we believe the reason why they came here was so megan and travis could meet and now i guess there is a reason why they have to go to st. louis. they will be sorely missed, though, by many people here!!!!

CRAZY CAROL

2009-01-31T08:46:00.000-08:00

i haven't been much into blogging posts lately. i've been manic and i can't sit down for very long a one time. i just keep thinking of stuff to do. i still haven't even posted my pics from my trips to dallas, so ya'll don't even know what i did there! ha!ha! hope to be able to chill out soon and do it! i've also started organizing my craft room with the help of THE CRAFTING QUEEN and my hero jan hulse! i'll let you know how that turns out. wish i would have taken a before pic so i could do before and after!

JUDAS ASPARAGUS

2009-01-31T08:29:00.000-08:00

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell:
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats.

Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
* * * * * * *

2009-01-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

STAMPIN' UP PARTY TONIGHT

2009-01-28T00:58:00.000-08:00

my stampin' up party was tonight. we had a great time! there were 8 people there. we made valentine cards and learned the kissing technique and rockin' and rollin' technique. we also had valentine treats! for those of you who missed it wish you could have been here!!!

JOY LIST

2009-01-28T00:54:00.000-08:00

Make a joy list. Anything goes, from losing yourself in a great novel to laughing with friends. Whenever you feel the pressure mounting, pull it out for an instant reminder of the things in life that bring you pleasure. "We are what we think about," says life coach and best-selling author Gail Blanke. "Add up the good, and embrace it."

read this on someone else's blog as well. i think i'll give it a whirl!!!

DON'T FORGET!

2009-01-26T06:05:00.000-08:00

don't forget about my Stampin' Up Party tomorrow night! Hope to see you there! Call if you need directions.

OUR BATTLE WITH SATAN

2009-01-24T13:19:00.000-08:00

I wanted to say basically that God isn't a game to think you can claim and dis. He is serious, there is a war to fight to hold onto Him. I don't even understand these feelings rushing through me. These feelings of good anger. This feeling that I want to kick the crap out of Satan. That I am disgusted by what Satan has done.

this came from another blog. i thought it was interesting the way he described our battle with satan.(i refuse to use a capital letter at the beginning of his name like i do at the beginning of God's name even when i am not using capital letters).

STRESSED?

2009-01-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

had to steal this one from kenzee, but not after next thursday! i start back to weight watchers then!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BEING A MEME PART 3

2009-01-21T21:43:00.001-08:00

you should have know i'd have more of these after this week:

-when gabby says my name
-when i ask oli if he loves me and he says yes
-when i see them wearing the clothes i have given them
-when i see them playing with the toys i have given them
-when i do crafts with oli
-when oli wants me to watch his shows with him and points out things to me in them
-when gabby says umh (meaning yes) in her own special way
-when gabby slides down the slide and says wheeee (i taught her this)
-when they do pretty much anything i taught them
-when gabby waves bye everytime she leaves a room
-when i get to spend special one on one time with them
-when oli came in the bathroom right after i got out of the shower and said "meme, your hair!"(i
thought he'd be scared for life by the sight of my grotesque naked body!)
-when i get to babysit them
-when i get to play outside with them
-when i sing songs, do poems, or do fingerplays with oli
-when oli goes out to my car with me and helps me carry stuff in
-when gabby smiles (her smile could light up the world)
-when i play ball with oli (he's going to be a pro baseball player someday if he can just get the
catching down! or maybe a pro basketball player! he's got the skills!)
-when they show how smart they are (i'm sure they get it all from me! ha!ha!)
-when other people notice how adorable they are
-when they won't go to other people (not including their parents, of course) but they'll go to me

to be continued........