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 |  Just my zany thoughts. |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** To my beloved husband, and very best friend Eric Wharton  You are my greatest treasure and I love you.  I am happily married and my life has been abundantly blessed with a wonderful loving family. My blog is about the tapestry of two lives that God has permanently woven together by His love and our journey through our many trials, triumphs, and the God-size miracles we have witnessed throughout our daily lives with our strong faith in Christ.
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| Have you ever laid something down and it completely disappeared? I have and it's driving me crazy that I can't find it with or without my glasses. It's out of sight. Yesterday I received in the mail a pair of teeny tiny, clear colored silicone tips (ear buds) for my Mother's Day gift of a Bose® In-Ear Headphones they were wrapped in a small 2-inch zip lock package, and now they have vanished in this house. This makes me question if I am getting old, and this is only just the beginning of things to come.  Now I can't use them, bummer. Have you lost something and searched all over for it? |
I wanted to let everyone know that Anyea  called me last night, we had a good long talk, and I promised her that I would let you guys know how she is. She is doing well; working lots of hours and overtime, and misses everyone. She sends her love and super huge hugs to all. She should be back online around the end of June hopefully. Does anyone have a sure fire remedy of getting rid (hick) of annoying hiccups? I've been tormented by them for hours today. I've tried just about everything I could find online to get rid of them, and nothing helps. (hick)... I've tried holding my breath, (hick) swallowing a spoon of sugar, drinking lots of water, holding my nose, pulling my tongue (hick) lots of the weird things I've read to try. I can hardly carry on a decent conversation (hick) without these loud sounds jumping out of my throat. (hick). Zachary has laughed at me all day saying, "Mamaw, you sound funny. I (hick) don't want to sound funny, I just want to sound normal again...(hick) This really is annoying...(hick) Please feel free to share any suggestions....(hick). |
| I had to come back to do another entry, as I could not let this day go by without saying may we all remember what today is, and not forgot those who gave their lives for our freedom. |
| It's been difficult for me remembering that today is Monday. - I lost my weekend -- I left it at the hospital. Thankfully, we're back home now and on the road to recovery. After our cookout Saturday afternoon, Eric, and I were sitting around the fire pit talking, I noticed the calf of his leg was horribly swollen, and blood red. I saw he was limping in pain and this worried me. After explaining to him the dangers of possible blood clots, I convinced him to forgo his usual stubbornness and insisted he let me take him to the Emergency Room to be checked out. He gave in and went. Once we arrived, he was immediately told to strip down, and to put on an uncomfortable, cotton gowns that tied in the back, and flashes the world a view of your backside. Within minutes, he had an IV administering vancomycine, a strong antibiotic medication that was steadily flowing in to his arm. The ER doctor explained he was going to be admitted into the hospital and Eric's face suddenly turned pale. My heart ached for him seeing him in pain as he was and knowing this was his first hospital admission ever in his entire life. I wished I could have endured the pain for him. It's hard for me watching my loved ones suffer. Eric had a series of x-rays, ultrasounds, battery of blood tests, and was diagnosed with a bad case of cellulitis. The doc was concerned the infection had gone down to bone in the leg from the amount of swelling he had. Thankfully, the test revealed it had not and that it wasn't a blood clot. Apparently, Eric had scratched his leg and it broke the skin, causing it to become infected. For two days prior to this, he had been in bed running fever of almost 103˚ for 48 hours, but refused to see a doctor (what a stubborn man). The hospital staff was excellent in taking good care of him, and somehow he smooth-talked his doctor to release him this afternoon even though he probably should have stayed another night there. It was strange that a new patient was being admitted into Eric's double room with the same diagnosis of cellulitis on the same leg. What was weird was that Eric was being discharged with his leg looking much worse than what the new roommates did as he was coming in to the hospital. The good news is that he's resting comfortably at home now. It's so good to have him back home again feeling better. I'll gladly play nurse to him, and issue him his meds. Thank you all for your caring phone calls, our friends at WDC are the best, and we love you guys. |
Have you ever been awoken early on a beautiful Saturday morning for a special event, and when you arrive, you are the only ones there, and something suddenly tells you that they obviously have the dates wrong? Yep, ...happened to me this morning but I won't mention any names of who did that to me. He was just confused, bless his heart.  It was okay, we returned home and spent the day doing lots of yard work. Our lawn has been nicely mowed, two trees cut down, limbs chopped up, and the canoe loaded on top of the truck, among other odds and ends getting done. Skyler called and it was so nice to get to talk to him for those three short minutes. He's doing good but hating the extreme heat over there of almost 110°... Tonight we're having another barbecue, and spent time hanging out around the fire pit roasting marshmallows with Adam, Lee and Zachary. Tomorrow the boys want to spend the day going to Manhattan,NY shopping, and site seeing. I'm not sure I want to go with this at this time. Hope everyone is doing well and are enjoying your weekend. I'm off to get the food ready for the grill. |
| Wahoo! I'm glad that Congress has overwhelmingly passed the 2008 G.I. Bill yesterday for more educational assistance for our veterans. This is great news for all of our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is now Veto-Proof! These veterans certainly do deserve this - especially after they have to pay $100.00 a month out of their small salaries for a minimum of 12 months to get this small benefit. I found it disappointing that Senator McCain didn't support it and he did not even show up to cast his vote. He was obviously too busy raising money at a fund raiser in California. Apparently, his absence hasn't sat well with many other voting veterans.  He may get surprised by their upcoming votes also.This speaks volumes to me about his priorities with our troops and veterans, and his character. Thankfully, Obama and Clinton did vote for it.  This is how the votes were cast, it is grouped by Home State Alabama: Sessions (R-AL), Nay Shelby (R-AL), Yea Alaska: Murkowski (R-AK), Yea Stevens (R-AK), Yea Arizona: Kyl (R-AZ), Nay McCain (R-AZ), Not Voting Arkansas: Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Yea California: Boxer (D-CA), Yea Feinstein (D-CA), Yea Colorado: Allard (R-CO), Nay Salazar (D-CO), Yea Connecticut: Dodd (D-CT), Yea Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea Delaware: Biden (D-DE), Yea Carper (D-DE), Yea Florida: Martinez (R-FL), Yea Nelson (D-FL), Yea Georgia: Chambliss (R-GA), Yea Isakson (R-GA), Yea Hawaii: Akaka (D-HI), Yea Inouye (D-HI), Yea Idaho: Craig (R-ID), Yea Crapo (R-ID), Yea Illinois: Durbin (D-IL), Yea Obama (D-IL), Yea Indiana: Bayh (D-IN), Yea Lugar (R-IN), Nay Iowa: Grassley (R-IA), Nay Harkin (D-IA), Yea Kansas: Brownback (R-KS), Nay Roberts (R-KS), Yea Kentucky: Bunning (R-KY), Nay McConnell (R-KY), Nay Louisiana: Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Vitter (R-LA), Yea Maine: Collins (R-ME), Yea Snowe (R-ME), Yea Maryland: Cardin (D-MD), Yea Mikulski (D-MD), Yea Massachusetts: Kennedy (D-MA), Not Voting Kerry (D-MA), Yea Michigan: Levin (D-MI), Yea Stabenow (D-MI), Yea Minnesota: Coleman (R-MN), Yea Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea Mississippi: Cochran (R-MS), Nay Wicker (R-MS), Yea Missouri: Bond (R-MO), Yea McCaskill (D-MO), Yea Montana: Baucus (D-MT), Yea Tester (D-MT), Yea Nebraska: Hagel (R-NE), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Yea Nevada: Ensign (R-NV), Nay Reid (D-NV), Yea New Hampshire: Gregg (R-NH), Nay Sununu (R-NH), Yea New Jersey: Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea Menendez (D-NJ), Yea New Mexico: Bingaman (D-NM), Yea Domenici (R-NM), Yea New York: Clinton (D-NY), Yea Schumer (D-NY), Yea North Carolina: Burr (R-NC), Nay Dole (R-NC), Yea North Dakota: Conrad (D-ND), Yea Dorgan (D-ND), Yea Ohio: Brown (D-OH), Yea Voinovich (R-OH), Nay Oklahoma: Coburn (R-OK), Not Voting Inhofe (R-OK), Yea Oregon: Smith (R-OR), Yea Wyden (D-OR), Yea Pennsylvania: Casey (D-PA), Yea Specter (R-PA), Yea Rhode Island: Reed (D-RI), Yea Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea South Carolina: DeMint (R-SC), Nay Graham (R-SC), Nay South Dakota: Johnson (D-SD), Yea Thune (R-SD), Yea Tennessee: Alexander (R-TN), Nay Corker (R-TN), Nay Texas: Cornyn (R-TX), Nay Hutchison (R-TX), Yea Utah: Bennett (R-UT), Nay Hatch (R-UT), Nay Vermont: Leahy (D-VT), Yea Sanders (I-VT), Yea Virginia: Warner (R-VA), Yea Webb (D-VA), Yea Washington: Cantwell (D-WA), Yea Murray (D-WA), Yea West Virginia: Byrd (D-WV), Yea Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea Wisconsin: Feingold (D-WI), Yea Kohl (D-WI), Yea Wyoming: Barrasso (R-WY), Nay Enzi (R-WY), Nay http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-rieckhoff/75-senators-stand-with-ve_b_103155.html I'm excited about this upcoming weekend for a number of reasons.  It's a time to remember those we love. It's a three-day weekend. The middle child, Adam is here visiting for the weekend. My pain from these shingles is finally getting better. It's sunny outside and isn't chilly for a change. |
| When you feel as though the whole world is trying to eat you alive, remember YOU have the power within you to stop it. |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Take a good look and you're sure to notice it. Look closely all around at the lives of those who surround you, even your own life. Check out people you see at the gas pumps, those at the grocery store, online friends, loved ones, the ones you sit next to at work or church and you will see it. It's unavoidable to miss all of the internal pain that is everywhere. Some form of anguish and struggles are inside every one of us in one way or another. Our elusive dreams gets shattered, harsh reality sets in, our pain seems to temporarily distort views, and words are spoken that can never be retracted and hearts get broken. We all hurt and are crying inside, maybe even feeling like we're dying a little inside. Sometimes we think our own problems appear much larger than anyone else appears and seem impossible to be resolved. It's difficult to see things clearly. We can't escape this, or deny it though we often try. I know I have my own battles and demons that at times I think will surely take me under, but I have to remain strong in order to stay afloat of life. It's during these times that I know I have to look deep inside myself and fight as no one else can do it for me. Others may try to help, but the end result is up to me. Sometimes we have to stand-alone. Many circumstances are avoidable, but some are not. Hurting people are in enough pain and do not need any more agony added to already complicated, stressful lives. The choices we make in life often are like falling dominoes affecting multiple others. When this happens, we have to make the necessary changes needed to correct things, and pray we make the right choices. When you see someone discouraged today, take the time to give him or her a smile, a hug, a kind word, whisper a prayer for them or offer some type of offer of hope. They need encouragement, a safe place to hide and heal. Knowing someone else cares may be all the lifeline they need. |
| Warning ... Stop now and do not scroll down if you do not want to see a photo of dead animals. . . . . . . . . Our cat Lucy, aka Lucy Fur or better known around our home as Lucifer has a bad habit of stalking innocent animals. I know it's in a skillful cat's nature to have that predatory instinct to stalk and kill. I just wished she wouldn't do this. She is mainly an indoor cat at night, but likes to play outside during the day. After her preys are lifeless, Lucy then places it on our doorsteps as if they were presents for us to find. Today there were four dead animals on the doorstep - a small bird, a chipmunk, and two moles and she sat so smug and proud of herself, standing in the doorway meowing. She didn't want to leave them. I am considering putting a bell on a collar for her, to help warn the other baby animals she is nearby. Does any one have any suggestions other than to keep her inside 24 hours a day to help us stop her from doing this? |
| Wow, wow, and wow....I thought I would share this with you as I found it quite interesting and have immediately put it into my favorites on WDC. I can't even begin to tell you what all is here you just have to click this link to find out for yourself. I love it! http://www.allmyfaves.com/ The screen fills with hundreds of logos of numerous, popular sites that you will probably use. When you click on a logo it takes you directly to the store or site, that you have selected. Also, check out the tabs on the top to find more sites. It's a great time saver and you don't have to waste time searching for your things on the Internet. I hope you will enjoy using this as much as I have. I am off to read my favorite things.  |
| What's the scoop, just out of curisoty, how did you get your WDC handle if it's not your real name? Is it a nickname? Who thought it up, you, or someone else? I see so many cool names online and wonder where they come from. I got my handle four years ago when my then fiancé created my account on WDC. We knew my name was going to be changing so that was the handle he selected. He was so original.  If you decided to change yours, do you have any ideas on what would it be? |
| Five things that has me _____ tonight. (feel free to fill in the blank). 1-What would you expect to pay for a 5 minute collect call from Germany? I certainly wasn't expecting the $46.89 we were charged. I thought that was a bit too steep, so after I called to complain, they kindly reduced the price by $16.00 after I told them this was for a soldier to call home... Stoopid International phone companies rates Arrgghh. 2- Someone dropped the ball within the federal government's health insurance benefits, and accidentally canceled my health insurance on March 31. Yet, they can't seem to get it reinstated until next week-therefore we will be required to pay cash for any medical needs until then, and Aetna will reimburse me later. We received a letter stating this. Naturally, this would happen when I get sick with an outbreak of the shingles, and today I purchased one generic prescription of Acyclovir, for $160.00 instead of my usual $10.00 co-pay. Arrrgghh. 3- AT&T screwed up our cell phone bill and we were charged $500.00 for Skyler's cell phone that is on our plan that he used while he was home. Took over 40 minutes on the phone trying to get this corrected. Arrgghh 4- It cost $75.00 dollars to fill up my truck with gas. I am staying home more and more. Arrgghh 5- My pretty pink Dell laptop wouldn't start and I spent 2 hours and 40 minutes talking to a dude in India who helped solve the problem... Arrrgghh Can you tell I am grumpy tonight? I think I need to take a warm bubble bath or have a good cry. I may just do both. Sorry I don't mean to sound grumpy tonight, it's these dang shingles... they hurt.  Love you all...Hope to check out your blogs later when these meds kick in. |
| From our hearts to yours, we say a huge thank you. I love you guys, you all rock! |
| My view of love is that it should always be unconditional, completely and never half-hearted. True love always sees through imperfections and shortcomings. Standing in judgment is God's job, not mine. Today I wanted to share one of my favorite poems by Ruth Carter-Bourdon. Loves Risk There is a risk involved in everything Every time you share a smile Every time you shed a tear You are opening yourself up to hurt. Some people tread slowly through life, Avoiding the closeness risk brings, Side-stepping the things they can't understand Turning away from those who care too much- Those who care too long, Those who hold too tightly. There is never an easy way to love You cannot approach it cautiously It will not wait for you to arm yourself. It does not care if you turn away It is everywhere, it is everything. Love is the greatest of all risks. It is not reliable, it is not cautious, It is not sympathetic It is unprejudiced and unmerciful. It strikes the strongest of mind, And brings them to their knees in one blow. Even in the best of times, love hurts. It hurts to need, it hurts to belong, It hurts to be the other part of someone else, Without either of your consent. But, from the moment it overtakes you, It hurts worse to be all alone. The risk of love never depletes; It grows stronger and more dangerous with time. But, it's in the total surrender of all defense, That we, no matter weak or strong, No matter willing or captive, No matter what, we truly experience love. Despite the many things love is not, Outweighing it all are the things that love is. Love is surrender without a loss. It is a gift without the cost. It consumes your every thought and desire, Every breath you take. It is the fire that fuels you To do more than pass through life; It urges you, instead, to live. No matter the outcome, having felt love, You will never be the same. It may scar your heart and soul And leave you only memories of forever. Or, it may cause every day of your life To feel like there is no need for tomorrow. But, love is worth it. It is worth the risk... For in all of life, Love is truly the only risk worth taking. |
| There is no way you can stop yourself from laughing over this one... It's guaranteed to put a huge smile on your face. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk |
| A loud blood-curling scream was all that escaped my throat when I saw its head. Suddenly our cat, Lucy went running through the house terrified of my undoubtedly, ear splitting shrieks to hide underneath a bed. All I knew was that I was petrified. Not knowing what else to do I grabbed my cell phone and dialed the number 2, for Eric's office that I had programmed in on speed dial. Within seconds, he answered in his familiar cheerful voice "Hello, Eric Wharton speaking", all I could get out was a cry of "honey, there's a snake near the deck"... I was hysterically trying to explain that it was about as big around as my thumb and it was black with a yellow stripe down its back... I ask him what kind he thought it was, and he calmly answered "a snake". Then he said, "Sweetheart, what do you want me to do, drive all the way home and kill it for you?" Duh, yeah! He just laughed at me, and I could see he was going to be of no value to me in my dire situation. I needed help I was panicking. I called our neighbor who lives directly across the street and he came over right away to bravely face off with this creepy critter. At least John could appreciate the seriousness of the situation from the panic in my voice. Immediately he went out to investigate, with Zak's shovel in hand that I had given him. I was peeping out the window, and soon noticed that John had a very concerned look on his face. He called out to me suggesting I should stay inside. My heart was pounding, oh, he didn't have to be worried... *shiver* I wasn't about to open the sliding door and step outside. John explained it was a rare very poisonous snake, and was dangerous. My anxiety increased and my heartbeat intensified. I went to another room to avoid looking outside. Finally, John came inside laughing saying that it was only a harmless garter snake, who wanted to sun it's self and that he had not killed it. He was only joking about it being poisonous. Grrrr, what a pal... I preferred it to be dead as I am terrified of any kind of snake. Yeah I know how they eat bugs and are supposed to be helpful. Finally, it hid its entire skinny body down in between two large bricks on the small patio on the left that joins the deck, and it went underneath the concrete. *Shudder* ... I may never go back outside on our deck again. It's too bad because I love it when we hang out on the deck, and enjoy cookouts, fires in the fire pit, or just my morning devotions time but this little alleged harmless snake may have just changed all this for me today. I may have to stay inside from now on. Sorry I had to make the photo extra small to be able to post it and this distorts it. The deck is 32 feet long, but it looks much smaller in this photo. |
| Instead of posting my entry here - I've moved it to my other personal blog that I keep for my eyes only... Hey I can do this... it's my blog...  After having a three hour nap today, I'm still wide awake at 1:15am, but I'm gonna try to get some sleep... Nite nite.. |
| It's been a great week, and even though I'm exhausted from it I wouldn't change a thing about it. Each year our little Baptist church holds its annual revival for a week and this year, Eric and I went to every service, all seven of them. Surprisingly we never missed a single day. The visiting minister was very inspiring I couldn't wait to hear what he was going to say next. He was really motivating, and each of his sermons held everyone's undivided attention. With every word he spoke I felt touched in the deepest, most tender corners of my heart and it was a very spirit filled, uplifting week, one which I won't soon forget. It was a very special week. Earlier this morning we went out to eat at a breakfast buffet, and then bravely faced two and a half hours shopping at our local Wal-Mart Supercenter. In honor of the upcoming Cinco de Mayo, the store was blasting loud Mexican music through speakers. The noise level was almost deafening at times in certain areas of the store. I told Eric I wondered if David McClain 's store was doing this today and what he must have thought about it. The employees I noticed seemed to be enjoying the music. It was funny watching the expressions of other customers, some were playfully dancing in the aisles and others were just annoyed by the music. Whew I'm almost completely drained. I wished I had just a tiny portion of the energy that young children have. Later this afternoon we took Zachary to a nearby park where he rode his bike, and played and giggled with the other children on the playground equipment. While it was a semi sunny day the gusty wind made it really chilly outside. Brrr and I thought it was supposed to be springtime. I'm off to get comfy on the couch and bury my nose in another book for the night and to read a while before bedtime. |
| Doesn't it bring a smile to your face when you find out that someone has done a random act of kindness for you? I have received two merit badges from two very considerate girlfriends (Kathy and Michelle) this week and it made my day. I love surprises and enjoy being able to spontaneously do something kind for others also. It's the simplest things in life that can mean so much. For example, it doesn't take a lot to make me happy, and my sweet husband knows this. He is so thoughtful each morning when he gets up, he lovingly makes me a pot of coffee even though he doesn't drink any himself, then he wakes me up. It doesn't cost him anything other than unselfishly giving of his time to do something that he knows I will enjoy. In return, I always enjoy doing things that bring him happiness. I feel this is what we're supposed to be doing... sharing, giving, and most importantly loving. This morning I had the opportunity to help a stranger at the post office, who wasn't expecting it, and though the deed didn't cost me anything but a little time, it made me feel like I had done something worthwhile to help someone in need. When offered money, I refused it and ask that they pay a kind deed forward to someone else one day also. They promised they would. Today, I want to challenge you to do a random act of kindness for someone, a family member, a friend, or a stranger and it doesn't have to involve money -- and see if it doesn't make you feel great inside. Have an awesome day! |
| Since I didn't have time to blog tonight, I thought I'd share a picture of Skyler and his son Zak that was taken last Tuesday before he headed back out to Iraq again. Yup, I'm a proud mom and grandmother... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
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