Just To Make It An Even Number For The Month

And that says it all.

Things To Be Thankful For #30:

I'm going to end this month the same way I began it:

I'm thankful for God, who loves US all no matter what, flaws and all, and even when we screw up big time or small, He forgives us.  God has our back.

Things To Be Thankful For #29:

Today I am thankful, as weird as it might seem, for Facebook itself. It keeps me in touch with people I might not normally stay in touch with, I get to have conversations with all kinds of people, I get to see what people are up to, and it's fun to read the different things that people post.

Things To Be Thankful For #28:

Today I am thankful for the mailman, who brings lovely things like this to my door:

Things To Be Thankful For #27:

Today I'm thankful for do-nothing days...like today. Just sitting around, drinking my coffee, reading the Sunday paper and doing the crossword puzzle, watching a couple of Flea Market Flips, listening to music and reading a book.

Things To Be Thankful For #26:

(I know...I know) Today (or yesterday as it were) I'm thankful that my son and his girlfriend took Thanksgiving dinner to Nicole since I didn't go down there.

Things To Be Thankful For #25:

Today I am thankful for cameras and being able to take pictures of everything, from people to places to food, so that you can look back on past holidays and summers and vacations, etc, bringing back all the memories that come with it, and being able to see loved ones who may not be with us anymore. I've always loved taking pictures ( as I'm sure everyone who knows me will attest to that as I usually have a camera in their faces...lol) and I enjoy looking at all my pictures, remembering.

Things To Be Thankful For #24:

Today I'm thankful that there are no rules for Thanksgiving dinner and you can have steak if you want to. Which we did.

Things To Be Thankful For #23

(I know, I know...)

Today I'm thankful for this:

My absolute favorite version of this song.

The Day After

A Letter To My Mom

Dear Mom,
Well, it's been one year ago today that you went to be with God and not one day has gone by where I haven't thought of you and wished you were still here, even though I know you are in a much, much better place and no longer in pain. It's been a long, painful year for me, and so many times I wished I could just bring you back to talk to, though of course I knew I couldn't.

I miss watching our favorite shows together, Flea Market Flip, Property Brothers,( I suppose ...HGTV in genera), along with the Food Network, Jeopardy, etc, going shopping, (not grocery shopping though, lol), having our Starbucks. I even miss those texts from you about why aren't I texting you. Funny the things one takes for granted are the things you miss the most when they aren't there anymore.

I am glad that I was there for your last few months of life, even with the things I had to do that I said I would never do. (God definitely had the last laugh there, I bet He told Moses "Did you just hear what she said she WASN'T going to do?? Boy is she in for a surprise!" and they laughed and laughed. (I like to think God has a sense of humor; He must to put up with the world the way it is.)

I have to admit I didn't think it would be this hard, but boy it has been. But on the other hand I am glad you aren't sick anymore and that you are in Heaven with our Creator. Can't get any better than that.

So just know that I miss you and I love you and you are thought of every day, and I hope to see you some day again.

I <3 span=""> you Mom.

Things To Be Thankful For #22

Well. Today is rather hard to be thankful for anything, as one year ago my mom passed away. I suppose if I'm thankful for anything, it is that at least she went to be with God in Heaven, a far much better place than Earth, and that she is no longer in pain and suffering. I'm thankful that I did have her as long as I did, and that she really was a good mom, even when she drove me crazy sometimes (and yeah I know I made her nuts too).

Things To Be Thankful For #21

(Annnd...I'm back on track!)

Today I am thankful for all of my mom's friends and her church family at Life Cathedral for all the things they did for her while she was sick; sending her cards, bringing her meals, taking her to appointments, praying for her, coming to sing to her when she was bedridden, etc. I know she appreciated all of you so much and that you made the last days of her life a little easier to get through. I thank all of you very much for how much you helped her, and me.

Things To BeThankful For #20

(Again, yes I'm late)

Today I'm thankful for writers of books. I've loved to read since I was a little kid and still love it now (below are books from the library checked out yesterday, just waiting too be read). I always tell non- readers that if they would learn to like to read, they'll never be bored. From the Bible to The Bobbsey Twins to Carol Burnett's biography, I enjoy reading them all (well, ok, don't put Shakespeare in front of me...blech...) I've always wanted to write myself and when I retire in a couple of years, I'm going to try my hand at it. In the meantime, I'm glad that there are so many authors out there.

Things To Be Thankful For #19

(Yeah, I'm late and there is no #18)


I'm thankful for pain killers!!! I finally feel better and can walk. Phew!  (Had sciatica problems for the past couple of days....ouch!!!)

Things To Be Thankful For #17

DAY SEVENTEEN:  Today I am thankful for...ummm....hmmm....ok, maybe at the moment I'm not feeling too thankful because my sciatica is killing me and making it hard to walk or sit or lay down. So we'll try this again tomorrow.

Dream House

💮  If I could have a house made to my specifications, I would love:

A pretty entry way

A really great kitchen, with an island, lots of counter and storage space, and all kinds of cool kitchen doodads

A beautiful living room

A comfy family room

An elegant formal dining room

A cute, bright breakfast nook

A huge craftroom, divided into different spaces, one for scrapbooking, one for jewelry making, one for sewing, and one for miscellaneous

A nice office (though, I could include that in the craftroom)

A room for the gym equipment (well, if the room looked good, I might actually use the stuff. lol)

A cozy master bedroom, with a little sitting area with a nice chair and a tv

A spa-like master bath, with a lot of counter space and vanity, a big shower with shower nozzles everywhere, heated towel racks, and absolutely no bathtub

A couple of inviting guest rooms

A gorgeous front and back yard, replete with gardens

A wonderfully shaped pool with a couple of waterfalls, a slide, and spa


Not like I want much, right? 

Things To Be Thankful For #16

 Today I am thankful for a person who has been in my life since I was 16 years old and has truly been like a dad to me, and that is my father-in-law (well, not legally anymore), Derold Thornton. From the moment I met him, he just accepted me right off the bat and  when Ed and I got married and he thought we were too young, he still accepted it and helped us out as much as possible.  And even when we divorced, he still helped me out with all kinds of things, even picking me up at LAX at 2am ( and he lived in Ontario!)  when I was stranded. No girl could ever ask for a better father-in-law than him. Even to this day, he will call and let us know when he will be in NC so we can see him and Jean, and they both make it a point to have gone to all the grandkids and great grandkids graduations. Derold is all about family and I appreciate that so much about him. Thank you for being in my life still.

Things To Be Thankful For #15

 Today I am thankful for my pets: RabbitButt (my Calico kitty), Spot (my killer cat),  CaliGirl, and Bob-the-Bulldog. I mean look at those sweet faces. :-)  Each has their own distinct personality but love me no matter what and are always there to hug on or give me kisses. Love my puppies and kitties.

Things To Be Thankful for #14

(Yeah I'm still a day behind.)


Today I am thankful for chocolate. Because, well, I just really love chocolate...it's there for me when I'm happy, when I'm sad, when I'm whatever. Never a bad time for chocolate. Except when you're trying to diet...then maybe not so good a time. But still. I love chocolate.

Things To Be Thankful For #13

(This should have been posted yesterday. Ooops.)


Today I'm thankful for whoever invented the heater; last night it went down to 27 degrees and I finally turned the heat on ( I've been holding off ( and we've been down in the 30s a few nights) because while I like being warm, I don't like the electric bill that goes with it. Lol). So whoever invented it, kudos. I do like being toasty.

Things To Be Thankful For #12

Today I am thankful for music.  I love music and listen to it every day and I think I would be lost if I had to never hear any again.  Music can make you happy or sad and has the ability to take you back to another place and time in your life. My favorite music is 70s pop and rock and country, and I will forever be a 70s girl.  And I will never be able to listen to "I'll Fly Away" or "How Great Thou Art" with out thinking of my mom. Happy and sad.

Things To Be Thankful For #11

Today I am thankful for artists and the craftshows where they can display their awesome talents at by creating all kinds of different things, whether its making jewlery or baking raspberry bread or painting Christmas tree ornaments or knitting lovely scarves. I'd love to be as talented, but I think that gene passed me by. But here's to artists and their crafts; keep on creating these wonderful things for us to buy.

Things To Be Thankful For #10

Today I am thankful for the Marine Corps and the time I spent in it (and still spend time in it considering I work on a Marine Corps base even now). There were times I loved it and a few times not so much, but it helped make me who I am and though I didn't join it for any noble reason like some, I am still proud to have been a part of it. Happy 241st Birthday Marines!! OOH-RAH!!

A New President

This morning we have a new president, Donald Trump. I have to say I was pretty surprised that he was actually elected because I was sure Hillary Clinton would get it.  However, I'm glad she was not elected because first and foremost I am a Republican (a liberal conservative one), and secondly I do not like her or what she stands for. 

When I hear people talk about Trump being a sexist and womanizing, etc, I don't understand why they don't see that Hillary is married to the exact same kind of man and was almost impeached because of it.  It rather boggles my mind with that.  Last week we watched a documentary about her  and a lot of the things that were brought out reminded me so much of House of Cards and how much like the Underwoods the Clintons are. 

Now when it comes to Trump, I do like and agree with a lot of the things he says.  But then again there were quite a few things that he says that I don't like.  It's like his mouth overloads his brain and then he says stupid stuff and it makes me cringe inside.  Sometimes I agree with not having to be so politically correct but other times, yeah you should be.

So now the Democrats are throwing their tantrums and destroying things and calling Republicans every name in the book.  And of course the favorite names are there: bigot, racist, and sexist. Just like if you don't like Obama (and I do NOT), you're automatically a racist.  So apparently you aren't allowed to just genuinely not like someone and what they stand for, at least according to the dems.  I find it interesting that for being so liberal, they hate it when you don't agree with them and resort to calling names.  They have been the ones who have caused more damage than the Republicans.

All that being said,  I wish that both candidates would have been dumped and we start all over again with brand new ones. Of course the down side to that is Obama would be president longer and we sure as heck don't need that! But what's done is done and I do like this outcome better than I would have the other.

So here's to you President Trump and I wish you the best.

Things To Be Thankful For #9

Today I am thankful that we do NOT have Hillary Clinton as president. Would I have chosen Donald Trump? Not particularly though I did like a lot of things he said.  But I think both candidates should have been dumped and we start all over again, but since that couldn't happen, well, here we are. And I am okay with it.

Things To Be Thankful For #8

I'm thankful that I have my health (well, as far as I know anyway and avoiding doctors helps...lol) and that I can see (glasses are great for that), And that I can hear ( sometimes too well). Things we take for granted but I do appreciate them.

Things To Be Thankful For #7

I'm thankful for God bringing Nicole back to us after her accident. The doctors said she would never, EVER come out of the vegetative state, yet 9 months later, she did. Not perfectly but in a way that taught us lessons. No one will ever convince me that God didn't have something to do with that.

Things To Be Thankful For #6

I'm thankful that I have a job and make my own money.

Things To Be Thankful For #5

 I'm thankful for my really great friends, Vanessa Thompson, Janie Genet, Tonda Cave, Teresa Meyer, and Vickie, who are always there for me when I need them, putting up with my nuttiness and crazy antics, my love for Starbucks, and helping me through the bad times, especially the past couple of years. I love you ladies more than I can say. Thank you for being my friend.

Things To Be Thankful For #4

I'm thankful for Starbucks.

Things to Be Thankful For #3

I'm thankful that I was allowed to telework last year at this time so that I could take care of Mom in her last 3 months of life. Even though nursing is not my forte (and boy is that an understatement!!), I'm glad I was there to do it and that she wasn't alone.

Things To Be Thankful For #2

I'm thankful for my kids and my grandkids, all who I love very much. They've brought love and joy and heartbreak to my life but I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Things To Be Thankful For #1

I'm thankful for God, who loves me no matter what, my flaws and all, and even when I screw up, big or small, He forgives me.