Happy Birthday, Laura!

Although I have known you since before you were born,

Somehow, you still continue to amaze me.

I have watched you go through change after change,

And I have seen you navigate through some pretty rough times

with your heart as your compass and your strong, resilient spirit

to carry you through.

Simply put, I could not be prouder of you.

You have grown from an adorable girl

into a most remarkable woman.

A woman I admire, love and respect more every day.

When I held you as a baby,

I knew you were special.

When I see you as a woman,

I realize just how special.

More so than I ever could have imagined.

Happy Birthday, my daughter!

I love you very, very much!

Love,

Mom

Veterans' Day Week...

I first saw a print of this painting my first trip to Washington D.C. There was something about it that grabbed my heartstrings and I could not stop thinking about it. It was not practical for me to purchase it and try to transport it home at that time. When I got home, I went on-line and found it and purchased it; I still have it hanging in a prominent place of honor in my livingroom.

I did not have any brothers but I had uncles and cousins who served in different wars and thankfully, they all came home safely. My father was Marine stationed in the Johnson Islands at the end of World War II but at that time, the war was virtually over and he did not have to engage in any fighting. I don't know why I have an attachment to this picture, but I do.

I would like this week to be a week of reflection to honor all of those who have served and especially for those who gave their ALL so that we are able to live in the best country in the world.

Thank you soldiers!

Finally Friday!

Have a great and marvelous weekend!

Jo

Daylight Savings time.....

Yes, I set my clocks back, all six of them but my body still woke up to the old time. :o)
So, here I am at 6:30 a.m. ready for work and it is too early to go in!

This weekend's project was to assemble my new sleep number bed. Since my car accident, I have had difficulty sleeping on a traditional mattress because of my hips and legs. I saved and saved then I shopped around for the best price. I finally found a refurbished bed in my price range. The only draw back was that it is a king not a queen size so I was unable to use my headboard. I sat up the queen bed in my spare bedroom which was my grand daughters' play room so I had to move their things to my office which is now a playroom.

The new king fits in my room okay but in my haste, I did not order a frame so the bed is way too low so now I need to go purchase a king frame. Eventually, I will purchase a new headboard but for now, I will go without. The new bed came with a bonus package of sheets and pillowcases but I had to go get a new comforter and curtains to match the comforter. (A girl has got to match!) lol :o)

I must report that sleeping on the air bed is heavenly and for the first time in years, I woke up without any pain or stiffness.

You can be what you want to be....

Some people do not participate in the Halloween custom. For me it is a fun time for the kids (and adults) to dress up and be someone or something else.

At times, we all pretend to be something or someone else; put on a mask and hide our true feelings. Motives for doing this vary from each circumstance and I suppose it does not matter why as long as we are true to ourselves. Getting honest with ourselves, figuring out who we are and what we want to do with our lives is the big challenge in life.

No one sets a goal in their life to be poor or homeless, without transportation or to get cancer or another disease where they have to depend totally on someone else. No one chooses pain over happiness yet so many people are in that place.

I have found that happiness is not a costume or a mask but a product of making choices; it is an end product of what we do and how we live.

Jo

Another poem memory of Mother...

The Swing

Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside -

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown -

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

Come little leaves....

THE WIND AND THE LEAVES

by George Cooper

“Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day,

“Come o’er the meadows with me, and play.

Put on your dresses of red and gold;

Summer is gone, and the days grow cold.”

Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s low call,

Down they came fluttering, one and all;

Over the brown fields they danced and flew,

Singing the soft little songs they knew.

“Cricket, good-by, we’ve been friends so long!

Pretty brook, sing us your farewell song;

Say you are sorry to see us go.

Oh! you will miss us, right well we know.

“Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold,

Mother will keep you from harm and cold;

Fondly we’ve watched you in vale and glade.

Say, will you dream of our loving shade?”

Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went:

Winter had called them, and they were content.

Soon fast asleep in their earthly beds,

The snow laid a coverlet over their heads.