The simple life and gratitude

I am grateful for:
-a twenty year teaching career
-a sweet, loving husband
-Three loving children
-Cheri, Rob, Emilie
-a home that is paid for
-a car that is paid for
-a place where I can sing
-healthy grandchildren
-my good health
-a good night's sleep
-faith that all will be well
-family
-my sister, Patsy
-my friends who are more like sisters
-my brothers
-my Mama
-my Bigmama who was a sage to us all
-the promise that I, too, may have inherited some wisdom


To live a simple life is to take away things--just things. Lately, I have been thinking about that a lot. Gratitude is such a humbling experience. Several years ago I began thanking God for the income we had to take care of our monthly obligations. I began to feel happier and less burdened. That one little jesture of gratitude made those burdens more manageable. I say that prayer of thanksgiving every time I finish paying our bills. An attitude of gratefulness for the things I have (and I don't necessarily mean physical things) offers contentment to my life. It has taken me a long time to reach this place. I guess wisdom does come with age. I now understand the aura that surrounded Bigmama. She knew this secret.

If it's Monday--shouldn't I be at school?????

I am feeling really strange today. It is the first day of school and I am not there. I have had nightmares like this--where I am suppose to be someplace and I am NOT there. That is a little bit how I feel today. Loretta told me that she goes through this every year and Mama said the same thing. Isn't it strange how use to doing something a person gets and then when she doesn't have to do it anymore, it seems unnatural. I have been tearing through the house cleaning out and separating into garage sale, give away, and throw away piles. That has felt good, since I have not done this kind of cleaning in over a year--maybe even two years. I will keep myself busy all day so I don't think about school. I plan to tackle the inside freezer and throw away "stuff". I will especially toss the unidentifiable "stuff" for sure. Jessica will be glad that I am cleaning out. She says I have too much furniture and s---t. But isn't it interesting that she called me the other day to ask if I still had a learning toy for mulitiplication tables. Of course, I did and she is going to give it to Emilie. Some times it is good that I have kept "stuff" all these years. Gotta go and clean out the china hutch--goodbye old silver trays!!!!!!!

Our Future Aggie

What a handsome boy he is. I love visiting with him when Kirk and I babysit when Gwen and Rob are doing the photo shoots. Landon is so layed back and easy going. Kirk bought him this little bitty ball cap(Poppie's favorite thing to do--buy new caps!!!!!) Thank goodness they are for someone else's head besides his. Ha! Ha!! Ha!! But, don't you think this is the cutest boy ever!!!!?????? Later

Back to school for teachers

Well. today was back to school for teachers. So, here I sit with Bubba in my lap as I write this. He keeps nugging my hands to make me stop. Little shit!!! He will end up moving around on my lap until he nearly falls off and I just put him down. Anyway, back to what I was saying--I really felt strange this morning. I knew that Arlene, Peggy, Virginia, D'Anne and all the rest were going to school today. It really felt strange that I was not among those ladies. I cleaned out kitchen cabinets today, instead. I AM RETIRED!!!!! Lordy, when did I get so old????? Bubba is now on the floor, NO I did not drop him. Jake is laying on the rug near him. I guess it is official, now. I just clean stuff out and watch over my pets. God!! that sound soooo old and crotechety!! (sp?).
Later

Well, blow me down!!! I think I have done it. Let's see. You will notice that there are
of the same picture. Sorry, guys. I'm still a novice at this. Later

Riding Out Another Possible Hurricaine

We have been tracking "Dean" for the last few days. No one is making a decision about where he will make land fall. Right now he is tearing up the Caribbean and Jamaica and then will head right into the Gulf. These storms are so incredible(negative), not only do they tear up coast lines in their wake, but they throw tornadoes out all over the place and flood areas because they dump so much rain at one time. Our area has taken on the look of the tropics, no kidding. The grass is greener than I have ever seen it and my usually short banana trees are to the top of the house. The poor people of Oklahoma will not get over the drenching they took from "Erin" until
"Dean" will blow through. They are having a horrible time with flooding.

Now to change the subject, I wanted to post some more pictures on the blog, so Patsy can see them. Some of them are of our trip to her house and some are of our back yard jungle. Here is hoping that the pics appear on the blog. It is anybody's guess as to whether they will. Later

Riding Out

Baby Sitting!!!

We are keeping the kids again tonight because Gwen and Rob have another photo shoot. It is the fourth day in a row--what a great time we are having. I took some time today to clean up the office/computer room. I now have another desk in here. I put the printer on one end of it and the other end I will be able to put my sewing machine. I must do some shredding of old statements. I asked Kirk if we could just start a fire in the grill and dump a lot of those old papers in there to burn. I think he agreed. I just don't want to "burn" up another shredder like I did a few summers ago. I want to finish in here and get my bill paying station really cleared of the clutter and organize the "office" stuff in storage baskets and bowls so we can get to them easier. I hate to search for paper clips and the staple puller, etc. Hopefully, it will look like a really organized place when I am finished. Later

"Menopause The Musical"

I laughed so much that I had a terrible headache, but that show is so funny. The four ladies who were the stars were absolutely phenomenal(sp?). Their comedic timing was great, as was their facial expressions. It was just the most fun I have had in a while. That little theater is great, too. I will look forward to more shows being performed there. If you missed Menopause, not to worry it is coming back in Sept. for another run.

"Menopause The Musical"

Aunt Nell and I are going to "Menopause, The Musical" tonight. I'll let you know how it was. I went to a job fair yesterday and talked to a lot of people. You know when you are in the education business you don't realize how the rest of the world spins--really!!!! The business world is a whole new being. To get a little philsophoical(sp?), "What's it all about Alfie?" I honestly think that life really is all about the "Hokey Pokey". I told this to Kirk many years ago and he and I have had the conversation lots of times. I mean, come on, look at the stock market!!!! It has taken a nose dive two days in a row. Those business people are going crazy because the economy of the USA is glubbing down the drain. But is it really????????? Is there a Gremlin in there just stirring the money pot????? Ya think? If you own stocks hang on to them, what goes down always comes back up. Later.

The Black Hole--Garage

Well, wouldn't you know it, when I decide to get out into the garage and start cleaning out and throwing away, it becomes the hottest days of the summer. Just my luck. I can only stay out there a little while, so it is taking me for freakin' ever. I have divided it off into sections and I do that section and go in and lounge in the bathtub with a glass of wine for an hour. It is coming along. I'll be finished soon. I plan to have a garage sale when I am finished. I have stuff stacked up close to the door so I won't have to move it very far. If anyone wants to join me in the garage sale, come on!!!! Later