This Time Last Year....

Getting back to what was going on in my world while I was away from my blog last year...... Brittany, my oldest granddaughter was completing her senior year of high school. She made her last appearance in the High School Musical with the lead female role in "South Pacific". 

Watching her perform and hearing her sing on that stage for the last time was a melancholy experience for me. Who am I kidding, pretty much all of her senior year was a melancholy experience for me. It was just the reality that our Britt was all gown up and about to take that giant step into being a responsible grown woman on her  own and there was no holding her back.   

It was a very busy year for her. Along with working a part time job after school and on weekends, going on college visits, play and band practices followed by performances...... She still found time to sing at a fund raiser for one of her friends. He was chosen to join a group of talented high school musicians from around the country to travel through Europe performing. The fund raiser was to help finance his trip.

Finally Graduation day arrived and it was most definitely a roller coaster ride for me. I was so proud of Britt for all that she had accomplished in her 18 years. The fact that she had not allowed her Type 1 diabetes hold her back in any way, served to magnify that pride. 

  

At the same time my heart was aching. Our Beautiful song bird was testing her wings and would soon be flying out of the nest.

  

As I am typing this Britt is about to wrap up her first year of schooling toward being an RN. She is doing great and when the time comes, she will no doubt graduate with honors. That is just who Britt is..... If it is worth doing, she puts her all into it. We Love You Sweetheart and couldn't be prouder of you than we are at this moment!

I Am Blessed

~Jo

Another Beautiful Day

Granddaughter, Alley Oop will be working at Wendy's this evening to help raise money for her softball team. A portion of the total sales between 5:00pm and 8:00pm today will go to the team. I hope they get a lot of support for their efforts. I have to admire these kids for getting out and raising the money to help cover the cost of having a softball team. 

I can't get over this weather folks. We had another beautiful day going on. JD cleaned off the back porch and car port today. He got the umbrella for the patio table and the cushions for the chairs down out of the  attic. When I look out the kitchen window this afternoon it looks so inviting out there. I am thinking we are going to need to get the grill ready to fire up any time now.

The doctor called in a prescription for me that I need to pick up. He is going to try his hand at treating my fibromyalgia. There is a pain medication we are going to try that is not a narcotic, which in itself sounds good to me. The doctor warned me that the only real side effect is that it may make me a little loopy...... I had to laugh at that statement, because I know there are those among us that would argue that I couldn't get any loopier than I already am. I will have to let you know about that one. 

  

I Am  Blessed

~Jo

Manic Monday

I woke up early this morning, as I usually do and enjoyed my coffee while Paddy and JD slept. It is during quiet times like this that I sort through the agenda for the day ahead of me. This day included a visit to our new Dr. after lunch to get acquainted and let him know if we have any immediate health concerns that needs to be taken care of. 

After breakfast and a shower, I had some lab reports that I needed to download and print out to take to the Dr. when we went. As I sat at the computer I couldn't help but notice all of the sunshine that was pushing its way past the curtains, making promises of a beautiful day ahead. I admit I was distracted by this and even more so when I heard one, and then another, and yet another lawnmower firing up around the neighborhood. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would see the day that people would be mowing their yards in Ohio, the middle of March. 

I did eventually work past the distractions to get my lab reports copied and off we went to our Dr. appointments. I am pleased to report that I think we made a wise choice and will be very happy with this Doctor. Of course JD turned his charm on and impressed all of them with that sense of humor and personality that is so uniquely JD. 

We talked about the nodule they found on my thyroid in late 2010. A second ultrasound has shown that it has grown, so I will be seeing an ENT the first part of April to discuss my options concerning that. 

........... and then I turned around only to find the day was gone. I hope if the sun was shining in your world today, that you had the opportunity to soak up some of those warm rays and enjoy the day. 

I am Blessed

~Jo

Saint Paddy's Day......

I think today is one of those days when rather you are Irish or not, we should all take stock of the many blessings that brighten our lives. The spotlight for our blessings shines on our little Paddy girl today. This is the day that we celebrate her third birthday...... 

Happy Birthday Paddy! 

Paddy loves camping

 It was two days before Saint Patrick's Day two years ago, when we visited the Jackson County, Ohio dog pound hoping to rescue one of the inmates to become part of our family. Just inside the door was a BIG pen that held one tiny little pup. She was part dachshund, part terrier. She sat in the center of that pen shaking uncontrollably and scared to death. We didn't look any further than that because there was need to. Our hearts immediately went out to her and destiny had spoken. We were told after we chose her that she was scheduled to be put down the next day. The Dog Warden remarked that she was a lucky little dog to be rescued when she was. That is how Paddy got her name and how she came into our lives. To be honest we think we are the lucky ones.

  

Paddy in Papa's shirt sleeve.

Of course she participates in whatever we are doing and goes just about every place that we go. She loves to go camping with us. The only thing she doesn't like about it is being on a leash, but rules are rules. In the picture above, JD was playing their version of peek-a-boo / hide and seek with her. He would cover her with his flannel shirt and tuck it around her and she would work her way out of it. This time she had wiggled her way into his sleeve and popped her head out as if to say "BOO!" 

Camping makes a girl tired sometimes

This was the camping trip with the boys..... I think they sort of tuckered her out. There is no describing how much joy she brings into our lives.  Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I Am Blessed

~Jo

House Guests

Last spring, in the process of getting the house in town ready to move into, JD had removed the doors from the utility closet and sat them outside on the back porch. He did this to make it easier to maneuver while he put down new flooring. The next morning we found this lovely Mama-to-be perched on top of the bi-fold doors preparing a temporary home for her babies. 

She was completely trusting of us as we came and went. Opening and closing the back door all day long didn't seem to concern her in the least. She watched us as we passed her nest repeatedly, but she never ruffled the first feather or stirred once in her nest. JD had his table saw set up on the back porch and she wasn't bothered with that or the noise from it either. She just continued construction of her nest and then did her motherly duty of keeping her eggs warm.  

Theresa and the girls said that there was a dove that nested on the back porch every year. Most likely it was the same one. She knew she had never been harmed before when she nested here, which is probably why she was so trusting of us. I am anxious to see if she returns again this year. We will welcome her if she does.

I Am Blessed

~Jo