Mothers Day As a Grandmother

Mothers Day as everyone knows is quickly coming upon us and while grandmothers are no doubt also mothers, I want to take a moment to reflect on grandmothers raising their grandchildren at Mothers Day.

This is the time of the year when my husband and I don't usually give a gift. I know to many of you that may seem odd, however, while I am the mother of his children (our children), I am NOT his mother and don't get all weepy if I don't get a gift. To me, everyday is Mothers Day in one form or another.

How do we as grandparents explain this day to the grandchildren we are raising? They know we are NOT their mother and yet many times they are the only ones in class changing mom or mother to grandma and grandmother. What do you say to them?

We just daily tell them their mom loves them very much and she just can't be with them at this time. I always tell my grandchildren that my husband and I are very blessed to have them in our life because everyday I get to see their bright faces and get all their hugs.

Being a grandmother to the three children we are raising is a wonderful thing. It is about seeing happy faces when they come home from school, it is about putting bandages on the tiniest cuts, it is about finding ways to help them understand their homework. More over, it is about just loving and hugging them when they miss their parents.

I always tell them on this day, that while I love them, there is a very special day coming in September that is reserved for grandparents, so they shouldn't feel badly about Mothers day. After all, I have my own children and they will call, they will say hello and wish me a great day.

Maybe, if they are lucky, on Mothers Day, their mom will call them, they will talk to her and their other siblings and for just a few moments, their hearts will be filled with joy, because their mom will have given them some time.

I pray for all grandmothers out there who are raising their grandchildren. May God Bless all of us with the strength, love and tenacity to continue the wonderful jobs we are doing and may our other grandchildren who do not live with us, never feel slighted by our actions.

If I Die...What A Question

As we were crawling into bed last evening, my hubby asked me, 'if I die, will you stay in this house.' So many things began to race through my head such as why would he ask me this question? What is he thinking asking me this question? What would happen should he pass on before me? My day was filled with these thoughts rushing in my head.

First of all, I don't have a full-time job, so if he died, I couldn't afford to live in an apartment, let alone keep our home.

Second, we cannot afford to put central heat in our home and heat our home in the winter with wood. I couldn't load, unload, stack and chop wood all winter. So, I guess the house wouldn't be kept.

This house was built in 1926, it needs electrical redone, new cabinets, new flooring (we have put on a new roof, windows and doors) I couldn't afford to do this through a contractor.

So, I guess my answer to him when he gets home, is that he can't die until all the work is done! ONLY JOKING!

The truth is, I do not know what I would do without him, I would be absolutely lost and without a doubt, I would NOT stay in this home!

On the other hand, his memories would be here, his smell, I am not sure how I would answer that question, why he would ask or what would happen to us, but I know somehow, we would make it with broken hearts!

What a question to ask your spouse!

My Blog Friends Rock!

Wow, I came home from work today and recieved a wonderful card and hand knitted/crocheted cross from the Knitting/Quilting Granny thanking me for her giveaway gift. I was very touched that she would take the time to send me something and I had to share it with my grandchildren and the hubby.

Granny Ida, thank you so much for blessing my day this week, it was so unexpected and wonderful.

I once recieved a telephone call from Janene at Your Impact Matters and I have spoken with Melinda and Melindas Fabric Fancies, it is such an awesome blessing to reach out to others and then unexpected blessings when you reach back!

Thank you one and all for following me and sharing your lives with me!

Variety, The Stuff Life Is Made Of...'V'

Does God like variety? I certainly believe He does. He also has a sense of humor and this morning we are going to just touch base on variety.

We are told in the Bible, we are created in His image. There is nothing to say He created us to look exactly like Him. Since we Don't know what God looks like, I am not getting into a creation argument, I am using His image to make my point.

We come in male and female, black, white, brown, scarred and without scars. We come in black, shades of brown, shades of red and blonde hair and now green, orange and rainbow. While God didn't give us these colors at birth, He allowed for our creativity to take place.

Some of us are bald, some have long hair, short hair, in between hair. People with and without freckles.

There are millions of kinds of bugs, birds, flowers and probably many that we don't even know about yet. Just as our oceans are vast and revealing new sea creatures, our lands are vast and we still haven't explored them all.

Is it any wonder, so many of us like to change? We love variety. While my husband loves to stay in one place, I love to move around (though I believe we won't be moving much anymore).
While some of my neighbors have lots of brightly colored flowers, one chose to plant a tree with flaming red leaves and no flowers.

Life is wonderful, it isn't just vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream. We are as various as the patches on a quilt and today, I suggest you go out and follow Gods pattern and do something different than you normally do with your day. Need suggestions?

1- Eat dessert first.
2-Try that new restaurant you have always thought about trying.
3-Call your local animal shelter and volunteer to walk dogs or groom cats.
4- Call your local school and ask to volunteer to listen to children read.
5-Use your best china dishes.
6-Send your spouse to work with a love note.
7-Forget your household chores and spend time playing in the dirt.

Whatever you do today, remember life is about variety! Grab hold, hang on, grit your teeth and try something new!

A New Winner!!

I would like to preface this announcement with this announcement...Please, please, when you leave a comment for my giveaways, make sure I have some way to contact you if you are the winner! I do NOT want to give your giveaway gift away. However and with that said, the second place winner of the cube initially was Michele (MiMi), but she has not responded to my pleadings to contact me.

Our new winner chosen the way all are chosen using a random number generator is Rl Grady. I have sent her an Email and hope all gifts will be sent out before the end of this week.

Remember, it is imperative that you leave me a way to contact you!

Congratulations once again to the winners!

They Arrived

The necklace and bracelet for Mothers Day arrived and they arrived in their own very nice little wrappings. The necklace in a blue net bag and the bracelet in a pink ribbon soft as fleece bag and I am passing these on with the winners.

So, don't forget to click on the Mothers Day Giveaway on the right side of this page, leave a comment about your mom and win either the bracelet or necklace.

A Basement Map Quilt

My blog friend Karen over at the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren blog had a giveaway last month and I won a wonderful fabric map of the United States. My grandchildren loved it and asked me to make a quilt from it, so today, I did.

My grandson chose the cotton plaid fabric for the back and binding and I used a high loft poly batting for the center. Here is the finished product done in about an hour thanks to Karens wonderful gift to us.

Here is a little bit better picture of it with the oldest holding it up because she didn't like the way her brother was bending it in the middle. It is the perfect size for watching television on the basement floor or in the rocking chair we have down there.

It will go well with the rest of the quilts I have made from bits and pieces just for the basement. They work really well when you are sick because everyone loves the couch in the basement.

Thanks Karen! I hope we did you proud!

A Very Busy Girl

Here is little Brownie Girl Scout on Friday evening as she was preparing for yet another Girl Scout week-end. This one was 2 nights and about a day and a half.

I picked up her sun/fishing hat at the Goodwill store in Olympia for less than two bucks, came home and washed it and she really loved it.

As you can see, it was a beautiful Washington day, the sun was shining and it was warm enough to have the front door open and I knew she was going to have a great time.

Fast forward to today...it rained all day yesterday and her almost new tennis shoes are completely ruined because they were suede and I never thought she would need anything more than tennies. Actually, I figured if it was cold and wet and it was yesterday, the troop leaders would have the sense to keep them in the lodge.

Nope, she said they played outside and got soaking wet all day. But she seems to have had some fun, because she told me about the skits they did and sitting by an outside camp fire and once again getting marshmallow in her hair eating a Smores!

She is outside playing and today it is cold and sunny! I am glad she is liking these trips, I feel it is important for her to get away from us sometimes and to be with lots of girls her own age.

I just love this picture of her as she is looking up at the brim of her hat. She is such a funny little girl and loves her hippy things. Her Papa calls her baby tree hugger!

I am a D, I am a D, I

Yesterday I took a wonderful spiritual giftings class at our church and while I really didn't learn much about my personality, yes anyone who read this blog or knows me on a personal level figures out I am a type A personality very quickly.

Go figure! That is why I rarely am in bed prior to 0300, that is why I always have 4 or 5 projects going at at time that is why I say yes to projects when I should say no. On the other hand, if you need research done, call me. If you want your house organized and your spice in ABC order, I can do it. Need to write a letter and can't? Just ask me.

I am strong willed, independent, hate wishy washy bosses, don't give up when I am loosing, won't bet unless I know I will win, excel in emergencies, demand much of others and I can be rude and tactless and don't know it unless you tell me. I am also very forgetful, admired by those who know me, restless and talkative.

So, none of that above comes as a great surprise to me. My husband has always said, 'those who know you love you and those who don't (know me) never will (they are to afraid of you). You can't imagine how many people over the years tell me when they first met me, they were terrified of me. It has baffled me and still does because I don't intentionally try to scare people.

I think many people including those that interview me, can see that I am a very strong person, I am not afraid of interviews, I sit up straight and I am the person you go to if you want something done. However, many people in management are timid and I scare them.

I have always worked in places that you have to think fast on your feet, think alone and get the job done without asking lots of questions. I can DO anything I set my mind to unless it involves my gag reflex.

So, as I said, none of the above was eye opening.

However, when it came to the spiritual gifts, I was surprised in a few areas.
My strong points were Administration (no surprise), Faith (no surprise), Service (no surprise), Miracles (that one surprised me), Craftsmanship (no surprise), Giving (no surprise), Mercy (no surprise) Wisdom (that surprised me) and Exhortation (that surprised me).

While I have see miracles and know they exist in todays world, I never thought I would have the ability or be an agent of God to perform miracles. While I may not now, this is a gift that can be used in the future I was told.

Wisdom is the ability to discern the mind of Christ and apply scriptures to a situation so right choices are made or right direction are followed. I can't memorize scriptures to save my own soul, how this wouldn up being a gift I am not sure, but it was a very high number on my survey.

Exhortation as the ability to challenge or rebuke in the body of Christ. Now that one confuses me.

I wasn't listed for praying for others, hospitality or compassion ministries which I have always felt drawn to, so these were huge surprises to me. But God works in mysterious ways and I will follow what he asks.

The class very insightful, we had a wonderful teacher from Moses Lake, Washington and her husband and I got to chat a bit this morning about the class and how beneficial it will be to our church.

The class is Spiritual Gifts by Dr. Dan Reiland called 'A Tool To Discover Your Place in Ministry.'
I recommend you talk to your pastor about it.

Last Call for Michele/MiMi

Shout out for Michele/MiMi who posted a comment on Aprils blog giveaway and was a winner!

Michele/Mimi left me no way to contact her, her blogger only shows her name and no other information, so I have no way to reach her.

Last Shout Out for Michele/Mimi, you have won the post it cube I was giving away. You have less than 24 hours to contact me with your Email address or I will have to do another drawing for a new winner.

Please, Michele, contact me I would love to send this gift to you.

If anyone knows this person, please let her know she has won!

Mothers Day Giveaway

This is one of the items I ordered from the Breast Cancer site to giveaway to someone you care about. It is called the 'Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, Friends,' bracelet and it has a faux pink leather ribbon woven through it.

The charm has the above on one side and the celebration of courage on the other. I thought it was beautiful and you can give to anyone you know who is strong. It doesn't just have to be for a cancer survivor.

I thought the toggle lock was a cute idea as well.

This second piece is a sectioned heart that closed is a beautiful silver heart and opened, it lets mom know you love her. It comes on its own chain.

Both of these will go to some lucky person and the winners of this contest will be drawn on what else? Mothers Day, May 10 at noon PST. I just ordered these yesterday, so I do not know when they will come in, but I am hoping they will be here to send out the day after Mothers Day.

This is open to everyone male and female, United States and military familiers where I can send these to an A.P.O. or F.P.O. address.

Contest Rules:

1- Leave a comment about your best memory or funny story of mom when you were a child and automatically be entered.

2-Link to this on your blog, twitter or post it on facebook and send me the link and you receive 10 additional entries.

3-If someone tells me they came via your blog, you get another 10 entries and they will receive an extra 5.

4-This is open to previous winners.

Good Luck!

Glade Giveaway For May

Spring is here, this is the day children in some areas still run through the neighborhood, knock and doors and leave flowers hanging on a porch or door to surprise neighbors.

May is also the month for Mothers Day, so this month I am having two giveaways. The first one is generously provided by SC Johnson/Glade who sent me some wonderful samples of their new Fragrance Collection in a few scents. The candles are Soy.

I am sharing these with three lucky winners and I am changing the rules this month.

There is a reed diffuser in Lotus Bamboo that smells wonderful.

Two candles, a green one in Earthly Awakenings and a white one that is McIntosh Apple. I wanted to keep all of them so badly, but knew you would love them as much as I do.

Giveaway Rules:

1- Leave a comment on any posting this month and get 1 entry each time you post. Make sure you tell me which prize you want to win, so when your number comes up on the random number generator, you will be sent that prize.

2-Post a link on your blog to this giveaway and send me a copy of the link and you will receive 5 extra entries.

3-When someone tells me they came to my blog via your post, you will get an extra 5 entries.4- Please leave me a link so I can contact you when you win.

4-All winners have 3 days to get a snail mail address back to me so I can mail your winnings out.

6-Please let Glade know when you win that you won one of their products from my blog as I know they track information like that.

7-Twitter about me and send me the link and a whopping 10 extra entries.

This giveaway goes from May 1-May 31st and closes at 8:00 pm, PST. This giveaway is open to United States residents only.

Good Luck & have fun!

*************IMPORTANT!!!!*****************IMPORTANT**********************

Leaving a comment here, does not enter you into the Mothers Day drawing, that needs to follow its own rules and comments on that posting.*************Thank You!******************

Aprils Winners Are...

The random number generator has chosen the following winners for my April giveaway:

1st place and winning the notepads is Dawn from DSChicBoutique

2nd place and winning the notecube is MiMi (Michelle), MiMi I have no way of reaching you, please contact me!

3rd place quilting pins winner is Val from Yarni Gras.

Thank you all for leaving comments and sometime today I will have the two giveaways for the month of May.

Winners, please contact me within 3 days with your address so I can mail these items to you, if I do not hear from you within 3 days, I will choose another winner.

Remember for the lurkers out there, you can't win if you don't leave a commen!