2009 at a glance, yeah well, a long glance!

2009 was here, but now it's gone. This is an attempt to look back and be blessed.

January: found me back in Monroe to attend my cousin's New Year Eve and birthday party, with my parents. They do this every year, but I don't get the pleasure of going EVERY year. I came home in time to sing on Worship Team.

The next weekend found me in Dallas, visiting my oldest grandson, Jeremy and his family for our belated Christmas time. This is an annual trip Mary Ann and I take,( and Wayne if he can). We got to see him in one of his basketball games in a youth league. He is VERY good, (if I do say so myself), but he didn't have much patience with the teammates who weren't, (which was ALL of them). He's played this game since he could hold a ball, mostly with adults and has really developed good basketball skills. It probably helps that his dad has been coaching basketball in a private school since before he was born. Our usual plan was followed as we went to church with him and his mother, had lunch, played a little drive-way basketball and headed back to Conroe.

Sometime in early January, I attended a Dave Ramsey Seminar with Mark, Lisa and Mary Ann. Lots of good info retained. Just need the money to use it on. But seriously, I've really been able to pay off some bills and I'm more watchful where the money's going.

February: This month started off pretty profitable, sitting with my elderly next door neighbors, 4 hrs. a day (my choosing) 5 days a week. Their children took the weekends. Worked out great-they needed the help and I needed the income and I wanted to be near Wayne if he needed me. God has never failed us and continues to bless us.

The first weekend took Wayne and me back to Dallas to attend a bridal shower for Wayne's neice. Since Wayne didn't get to see Jeremy in January, we went over after lunch Sunday for a visit. Wayne and Jeremy played basketball in the drive-way. For future reference--ANYTIME we see Jeremy, basketball is played, no matter the weather.

The second weekend Wayne and I went to Monroe for my mom's 82 birthday. Any extended family who chooses get together at an "all you can eat buffet" called Barnhill's to celebrate the birthdays. It's a mini family reunion and lots of fun.

March: While sitting with the neighbors in February, I took a call that the neighbor wasn't able to handle and thought I might be interested. It was an opportunity to be in a mock jury for 2 days for $500. I checked it out on the net and it was legitimate. Talked it over with the neighbors, making sure they could get a substitute and all was set to take place the first week of this month. This was definitely rewarding. It was held in a plush Hotel on the lake with breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks served during breaks. Very informative, but very tiring and even got a little testy with some of the jurors. Some took it TOO serious. It was good to get back to my peaceful little world with my neighbors.

The 2nd weekend Mary Ann and I were back in Dallas. This time for Wayne's neice's wedding. We stayed the first night with Jeremy and met Mark and Alex the next day at the hotel where the wedding was held. We had booked a suite for the 4 of us plus Matthew, Ashleigh and Maya to stay the night. It was fun to see Maya as we don't see her as often as we'd like. They are busy in Austin and we are busy here, plus Wayne really not feeling up to traveling. It will be different this year. The wedding was beautiful and she made a point of wanting ALL her family in her wedding photos only to not ever seeing the photos EVER. Paid lots of money, forgot what happened exactly, but how disappointing that was for her. The reception was a lot of fun, dancing and visiting with other relatives. It was a good time had by all.

This neighbor sitting job got the attention of my elderly neighbors across the street who needed transportation help, so I was able to help them also. They all were so cooperative in being flexible for one another. This all aside from picking my grandson up from preschool and keeping him a couple of hrs. every other Monday til Mark got off work. His mom is Girl Scout Leader of my granddaughter, Rebekah. Oh, I also have Bible Study weekly and worship team practice weekly.

I went to Monroe the last weekend of March but can't remember if it was for anything special or a routine visit with my parents, which ARE pretty special these days.

April: Was happy and sad. Sad because my neighbor was moved to an assisted living in the Alzheimer Unit. It was on Good Friday. It was sad because it just got to a point the wife was not able to handle it alone when I wasn't there. She was also bombarded with one of her children and his offspring in a very ugly and disrespectful manner. She's 81, why is she expected to endure this. This is a very sad disease, losing someone you've spent a lifetime with. She's doing much better now and not so guilt-ladened. We thought she'd be able to take him to church and do other normal things, but wasn't the case. Once in their care, they take full responsibility for them. They say it confuses them to go in and out, that they need to feel secure in their new surroundings where everything is scheduled and dependable. He happens to be at the same home we go sing at and serve ice cream every Sunday afternoon. I still get to see him and his wife comes too and sings with him.

The happy time is going home for my dad's 85th birthday. Same as before--meet at Barnhill's for extended family time. Good times!!

Mix a little Maya, Alex and Rebekah time here and there, makes sweet memories on the weekends. Easter came and went. Hiding eggs for a week or so after Easter.

My birthday is mixed in this month also.

May: Was another month of being happy and sad. Happy because I got to spend Mother's day with my mom only to come home to my neighbor across the street being moved to the hospice floor of the hospital. He died the next day- Monday. Two weeks before, he was admitted in the hospital from one of our trips to the doctor and he never left. Infection had gone too far. They had a wonderful memorial service for him.

This is also the month, I lost one of my oldest and dearest friends. No, not by death, but because of a very unstable mental condition. And NO! NOT ME!! I had to let go of who she used to be and come to the realization that I had enough on my plate and could not do anymore for her. I wish her well, but she is unstable and I believe dangerous.

Alex's birthday is at the end of the month and was celebrated at Chuckie Cheese. Cute little people-all his little friends.

June, July and August: Ashleigh's birthday is the 4th of June celebrated by camping on the Guadeloupe river, for the weekend. This is a tradition for her birthday kicking off the summer months with tubing down the river.

My mother's family reunion is held on the 2nd weekend of June. A couple of years ago, we started having it at a church in the community my mother was born and raised in. It's a great place--out of the heat. The church is most gracious.

Father's day is hard to go home for because we always have just been there for the reunion. We usually spend it here.

Then there's Wayne's birthday on the 30th of June, which he didn't want to do anything this year. He just has not yet felt good since all the ablations. Things have sort of settled down with the neighbors, just periodically going to doctors doing misc. errands for them.

Just a few days later was Lisa's birthday-the 6th of July, a milestone celebrated with family and friends with a murder mystery party-luau style-poolside with all the trimmings.

Sometime, I think the latter part of July, we were told Maya was going to be a big sister. Due sometime in February. Exciting!!!

August brought Mark's birthday the 24th also celebrated with family and friends and karaoke and piñata.

September: Witnessed our sweet Rebekah turning 12, the 1st. Her last year before delving into the teen years. We had a small gathering but she's getting the age wanting to celebrate with her friends. She had a slumber party with a contest dressing in '80s fashion, topped with a competitive treasure hunt.

And Jeremy turning 8, the 3rd, the same day Wayne had a new pacemaker put in. The Cadillac of all pacemakers designed to help stop the flutters. Mary Ann and I made our way up to Jeremy later in the month to celebrate his day.

I think it was September when we found out the baby is a boy. Very undecided about a name. I'm sure when the time comes, he will have the perfect name for him. See how I've already forgotten when things happened? Hence the blog, it's more for me than anyone else who might read it.

October: Maya's 3rd birthday was next on the 4th. We all went over to Austin for a funfilled day celebrating with maybe 4-6 crafts to create. We ate later on at an Italian restaurant, afterwards Lisa, me and the kids headed back to Conroe. I had singing the next morning at church.

Matthew's next on the 17th celebrated here at Mark's house with family and friends and games.

Wayne made his way Dove hunting this month. Long overdue. He needed to get out and have some fun. I went to Monroe to visit my parents, the same weekend.

Sometime this month, I gouged my eye while taking my contact out. Eyes have really been dry and it's hard to take them out. Finally got over it. It was painful for 2 or 3 days. Couldn't wear contacts for a while. Didn't even want to. ha! Had a ct scan of abdominal area for pain I'd been experiencing. Turned out to be diverticulitis.

November: Mary Ann's birthday is the last to be had on the 15th. She had dinner planned at a mexican restaurant downtown Houston followed by Pete's Dual Piano Bar, on the 14th. I went to the dinner then came home. Matthew and Ashleigh didn't make it and Lisa's dad passed away the day before so they didn't go.

Thanksgiving was one of Lisa's dad's favorite holidays, so her mom wanted to get away and do something different this year. So we celebrated Thanksgiving with Matthew, Ashleigh and Maya and Mary Ann of course. Mark and Lisa and kids went to Moody Gardens with her mom.

I went to Monroe Saturday after Thanksgiving and stayed til Monday. Had trouble taking contact out again. Haven't wore them since. Need to go to eye dr. and discuss my options. Been wearing glasses and have even had a few compliments. shock!!

December: This brings me full circle. We had Sunday School Christmas party, Bible Study party, and got together with extended family at my parents the weekend before Christmas. Everyone was there but Wayne and my niece, Stacie. And darn, I can't believe we didn't take a picture of all of us. It's really hard to get everyone at the same time coming from North Carolina and us from Texas.

Came home that Sunday only to find out Monday morning my good friend Kathy was in the hospital with heart problems. She had a heart-cath done Tuesday, a defibulator put in Christmas Eve and went home mid morning Christmas day.

We had our Christmas dinner in the evening, giving Matthew and Ashleigh time to come from Austin. We had a fire in the firepit on the driveway and Wayne cooked steaks. We had salad, deluxe mashed potatoes, spinach, grilled bacon peppers, broccoli rice casserole, chips and guacamole,, pasta salad, macaroni and cheese, bundt cake, pumpkin pie, strawberry shortcake. I think that's all. Gifts were opened and enjoyed by all.

The oil company Wayne works for sold to another company and after much to do--applications, interviews, and physicals, he now works for the new company. Hopefully to be put on straight days. He needs this bad, but we are very thankful for a job. Thank you Lord.

The 30th, Mary Ann and I went to a friends retirement party. Good to see her grown children and their children after all these years. Her brother died in Mississippi that night so early the 31st they packed it up and drove there. Which left me taking her friend from Budapest to the airport.

New Year's Eve started off a little on the lazy side followed by a little shopping. I think I might have broken a record in buying 3 purses at 3 different places on 3 different days, only to take them all back--3 different times. Ha! I kill me!! Anyway, I picked up Elona and we headed to the airport, got her checked in at the hotel and made a trial run to terminal B on the underground train and back to the hotel to the restaurant on top and devour chicken quesadillas at the bar. I thinks I've made another good friend. That's how I brought the new year in. Rather quiet ride to a quiet home. So we will be looking forward to meeting little Harrison Phoenix? Harrison River? Harrison Wayne??

So that, Libby, is year 2009 at a glance. Recorded for future reference if memory fails me.

p.s. My daughter gave me permission to also add that her divorce was final March5th of '09.

I wasn't going to say anything about it. Didn't want to chance upsetting anyone.

This is me labeling as I see it.

A Slap in the Face? I hope not!

This is sort of a slap to My Space, but I don't mean it to be. Here goes...

It took me a long time to move over to FaceBook, not wanting to get hooked on anything else on the computer. I have to say, I'm so glad I joined, not that it's better. It's just different. I enjoy the profile pages of friends on My Space, learning and seeing more of their personality. I also like the blog sections, can't you tell? Ha!

What I do like most about FaceBook is connecting with so many old friends from school and childhood. I've even reconnected with cousins I haven't seen in ages. It's been fun to catch up with them and see a little piece of their lives as it unfolds thru out the day.

FaceBook has made it possible to participate in lives I care about, who, quite honestly, were long forgotten. No way would I sit and write letters to all these and send them snail-mail.

I am not a fan of all the games and apps., in fact I keep them hidden. I call it virtual trash.

And I am NOT going to succumb to the twitter gang. No, absolutely not.

Funny, that's what I said about FaceBook.

Turning 85

My daddy turned 85 years old this Monday. Except for major back pain, he's in pretty good health. Of course this birthday caught him conjested and not feeling too good. He was a trooper, anyway. The plan to meet family at Barnhills was not canceled. The meds he is on for conjestion sort of made him wobbly, but by Monday at lunch time he was feeling alright. I like the fact they all get together for birthdays. I was able to visit with my favorite uncle who is 90 himself. I call him Slim and he still calls me Wibby.

We do more than eat. We remember the good times we've had thru the years. It's almost like a family reunion, just on a much smaller scale. Speaking of reunions, a couple are coming up in June and July. I like to make them. You never know when we'll lose someone from sickness or other. I don't want any regrets of not seeing them.

I've been spending a lot of time with 80-somethings year olds. I count it a priveledge to be of some help to this last remnant of the GREATEST GENERATION. They served our country well and taught us great work ethics. The best cooks are slowly leaving us also. They were the generation that bought everything with cash or put it on LAY-AWAY. Who does that anymore?? Now days, we want it NOW! So we pay for the luxury of having it NOW. Most of that generation was a 2 parent home, where the dad worked and the mom stayed home with the kiddos. There wasn't all the extra activities for the kids like there is today. We played outside until we were called home for supper. Unless of course we were catching lightning bugs in a jar. THAT was worth eating a cold supper! After supper, we'd go out and play hide-and-seek with car headlights coming down the street. We'd hide behind bushes or down in the ditches, to keep the headlights from shining on us. We were out of the game if that happened.

I realize not everyone has good memories of growing up, but I have wonderful memories. Mostly due to a safe and secure home structured by my parents with what they had learned from their parents. I thank God I still have my parents with me, but as the years pass, I know the day is coming when NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME. I have to say, I'm a little envious of my sister living so close to them, because it is definitely an honor to do for them as the need arises. I want to take every chance I can to give back to a couple who has always been there for us in every way possible.

Love 'em while you have 'em!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Show me the Money

Money is tight. So, I've been doing what I believe, which is trusting God with our finances. All my teachings and beliefs say--trust God, trust God. As most of you know, that's easier said than done. In desperation, I say to myself and God-"show me the money". No disrespect intended. I've been in prayer and have had my thinking cap on to come up with a way of bringing in more income. Something I could do and still be available to Wayne and my grandchildren, would be nice. Can't have it both ways, I thought. Nothing really coming to mind, I continue to press on and trust God.
The last week in January, my elderly neighbor was admitted to the hospital for a few days. When released, his children was concerned about leaving their mother alone with the father (who has dementia). They compromised with their mother by having her promise to get someone to come about 4 hours a day as an extra observer and helper.
I noticed they were home from the hospital so I walked NEXT DOOR to see how things were. Mind you, I don't make a practice of this. I feel they need their privacy when first getting home. Two of the children were out on the drive and told me to go on in the house. I happened to be there earlier in the week when they were taking him to the hospital. I guess my reason, was to follow up on THAT visit. God had another reason.
I sat down and listened to the drama that unfolded during the week at the hospital. She began to tell me of this help she was going to need. As she was talking, I slowly and meekly raised my hand so as to say-- consider me. She jumped at the chance and said her prayers had been answered!! I told her I had been praying and it was an answer to MY prayers also.
Her children came in and we hashed out the details. They were relieved to have someone they could trust with their parents AND I was next door. They pay me $10 an hour. I could just sit there, but I can't justify that. So, each day I find something to clean as well as keep an eye on Lewis. It seems the whole problem stemmed from a mix up with the meds he's taking. I keep an eye on that too.
I just received my 4th paycheck. There's been no gas usage, no new clothes required and I'm next door for Wayne if he needs me. I'm done early enough to get Alex from school if needed and to get Wayne off to work in the afternoon.

I continue to be amazed! I don't know why. God ALWAYS does what he says he will do.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

My Parents & my Hubby

I saw my parents this past weekend, to celebrate my mom turning 82. Also did some more of that attic cleaning job. I miss my parents something fierce!! I know,-- I AM grateful they are still on this side of the dirt. A sadness comes over me when I'm traveling back home until about Shreveport. I wish we lived closer to them, so I could visit every week. An awareness has come over me that came over Wayne years ago. WE are THEM now!! We are to be there for our kids and their children, now, but I still have them and want to enjoy the time I have left with them. And I think I am but I'm just not through being a daughter yet. It really pains me to think of losing them. I know, you who have already lost your parents are saying "shut Up!! at least your parents are still alive!!" I guess the anticipation of losing them overwhelms me sometimes. They are in good health, as far as organs go. They do have a lot of pain and disabilities.

Anyway, I'm just venting with a glass of wine, all by my lonesome. Wayne's at work and Mary Ann is somewhere with friends.

I'm so grateful for my parents and my children and OF COURSE my hubby by whom the children would not be. He is so much a part of my past, present and future. He has been in my life all but 15 years of my life. I just feel I'm at a place in life I want to be 2 places at once.

We had Valentines day while we were in Monroe. We both have the memory of our 1st Valentines day branded in our brains.
We had met 4 days before. He was our ride to this teenage nightclub for me and my 3 friends. His friend was the brother to one of the girls I was with. Found out later the guys had already picked us out as we were coming to the car from the house. They ended up later at the club. He asked me to dance and then we talked, then he asked me out for the next weekend. I said yes. During the week came Valentine's day. In pouring down rain, he showed up at my door after school with a valentine's card. He was soaked. I couldn't ask him in b/c my parents weren't there. The card let me know he was smittened with me. It swept me off my feet. Our date was 3 days later. When he brought me home that night, he saw me to my door (past my curfew I might add, and never got in trouble for it)and handed me my first love note from him (if you don't count the valentine card). Now that REALLY swept me off my feet. He basically poured his heart out to me.

Ok, the wine is gone and that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Obama Begins--hmmm- with a hint of Bushism

Obama begins - and so does the resurrection of Bush
Larry Elder - Syndicated Columnist - 1/22/2009 8:40:00 AM
This week, Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States. So now the governing begins -- along with the resurrection of George W. Bush's reputation.

Candidate Obama promised to pull all the troops from Iraq within the first year to 16 months of his administration. President Obama intends to retain Bush's secretary of Defense, Robert Gates -- a man who supported Bush's courageous decision to "surge" and send 30,000 troops, an action that then-Sen. Obama opposed while predicting its failure. When, post-surge, violence in Iraq dramatically declined, candidate Obama refused -- for a long time -- to credit the surge, later pointing to the lack of Iraqi "political reconciliation." But the supposedly nonexistent political reconciliation produced a U.S.-Iraqi agreement -- supported by Gates -- for troops to remain until 2011.

Candidate Obama claimed George W. Bush "shredded" the Constitution. But as president-elect, Obama nominated former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder to serve as attorney general. Holder, in a 2002 CNN interview, agreed with the Bush administration's position that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to terrorist detainees! "One of the things we clearly want to do with these prisoners," said Holder, "is to have an ability to interrogate them and find out what their future plans might be, where other cells are located....It seems to me that given the way in which they have conducted themselves, however, that they are not, in fact, people entitled to the protection of the Geneva Convention. They are not prisoners of war."

Holder also supported the Patriot Act, first passed in the Senate 98-1. The Senate renewed it in 2006 with support from then-Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Both versions included the much-condemned "library provisions," which allow federal agents -- after authorization from a "secret" court -- to obtain suspects' records from businesses, libraries, and bookstores during terrorism probes.

Two months ago, the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled unanimously in support of legal warrantless searches of Americans overseas. "The Fourth Amendment's requirement of reasonableness -- but not the Warrant Clause -- applies to extraterritorial searches and seizures of U.S. citizens," wrote the judges. The panel of judges justified "sustained and intense monitoring" as reasonable, given the "self-evident need to investigate threats to national security."

Candidate Obama promised to shut down Guantanamo Bay immediately, and the new President recently reiterated his intention. But the closure may take some time -- possibly a year -- as the administration faces the reality of what to do with the estimated 245 detainees, many of whom represent serious threats. Countries claiming "abuses" at Gitmo refuse to take any of the detainees, including those from their own countries.

Between 30 and 60 of Gitmo's detainees, according to the Bush administration, returned to the battlefield upon their release. When Obama closes Gitmo, what about the "rights" of detainees held in prisons in Afghanistan? As the new administration works through these issues, Bush's choices won't seem so arbitrary, for they were good-faith decisions made in gray areas -- with the goal of keeping the country safe.

Candidate Obama criticized the Bush administration for "neglecting" the "peace process" between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The world now condemns Israel for its "disproportionate" military action in Gaza. But back during the 2006 parliamentary election in Gaza, one of Hamas' candidates was a woman named Miriam Farahat. Palestinians call her Umm Nidal, Mother of the Struggle, for she lost three sons in campaigns to murder Israelis. A Hamas recruitment video features Farahat showing her 17-year-old son how to kill Israelis and telling him not to come back. He murdered five Jewish students. Another son was killed when the Israeli air force blew up his vehicle, which was carrying Qassam rockets. Farahat celebrated his death: "I am so proud. I wish I had more sons to offer." The Palestinians elected her. President Obama will soon arrive at the same position as did Bush -- that would-be "peace partner" Hamas seeks, above all, Israel's "obliteration."

Obama promised -- before larding it up with conditions -- to sit down without preconditions with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Last year, the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran's military and most of its banks for continued nuclear activity. Ahmadinejad calls for Israel's destruction. Iran arms and assists both the Shiite Hezbollah and the Sunni Hamas. Obama will come to regret that "cowboy" Bush did not do more to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuke, even though Vice President Joe Biden once threatened the impeachment of President Bush had he taken military action.

Many historians long ago called the Bush administration a failure. President Obama's actions suggest that he now holds a different view, if only privately.

CREATORS SYNDICATE COPYRIGHT 2008 LAURENCE A. ELDER

I'm just saying-------

A Grateful Heart

People always told me how great it was to have grandchildren. They were wrong. Anything I ever heard cannot hold a candle to how great it truly is. A feeling I was very receptive to, but surprised all the same. A blog on that at a later date.Another feeling that has surprised me is my love for my parents. I love my parents as much as I ever have, but it's different than before. I'm not even sure when the feeling took place, I just want to give it a voice now. So many times we wait til we lose someone we love before we really know what they mean to us. Well, I have had a revelation on the subject and needed to jot it down while it's fresh on my mind. (these days thoughts don't stay on my mind long) lolI have always looked to my parents for protection and security and support. It has occurred to me-I don't see them in that way anymore. Instead, I feel protective over them. I find myself attempting to be supportive and encouraging to them in their own struggle for normal in their aging years. Things I would have told them in the past, I keep to myself. My dad has always been a worrier for us girls and our families. I don't want to burden him. He just can't help himself--it's in his blood.The gratitude I have for the life they gave us girls is overwhelming. I only wish I could do more for them. On cards I send I try to write about a fond memory I have from growing up. All they really care about is spending time with us. My resolution for the new year, now that Wayne is feeling better is to visit more often. In the past, we would visit once a month, but it was always a very short visit, b/c Wayne would need to get back to our business. In the past, they would visit, but now they hardly travel at all.I feel so fortunate to still have my parents living. I want to take every opportunity to see them often. If you think about it, there is an age you think of yourself still being. And if you don't, then you're too young. You haven't arrived yet, so enjoy the ride as long as you can. Anyway, back to what I was saying.... Did you know that you still think of that age as you get older. I asked my mom a few years back and she agreed. You never feel as old as you really are. Sometimes to the point there is a stranger in the mirror looking back at you. She might look like your mother. I've been told all my life I look like my mom. I was told that just these past holidays. My sister and I are trying to empty out our parents attic. They don't need to be up there at all for any reason. We've ran into some great memories up there. I caught myself telling my Mom--Dad should carry the cell phone with him when he's outside doing stuff, in case he should fall--- Her reply was---your sister has already had that conversation with him. It's not what you know, it's what you do with what you know.---- How true THAT is. I enjoy watching football games, Wheel of Fortune, and any western that's on with them. My mom and I flip thru magazines together and watch HGTV and Food Network channels after Daddy goes to bed. When I'm there, I feel like someone's daughter again, but now it's a grown up daughter. I haven't always felt that way. I'm pushing 57, it's about time. I'll have to watch it with my own kids and remember they are all grown up now. That's a hard one to swallow. It's like a vitamin you need to take everyday. No matter how old we get--we're still someone's child. I'm ok with that. I've had a wonderful upbringing, so it's a great trade off.OK I'm through jotting down, I think.