I have a work friend, Marie, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer. While telling someone else about my fasting for my former pastor's wife Margaret, it occurred to me that I should fast for Marie as well.
Margaret, by the way, during her last blood test, was pronounced cancer free!!! Wooo Hooooo!! She will wait until after the Christmas holidays and then have a stem cell transplant to ensure (the doctors say) that the cancer won't come back! I believe that she was healed in the name of Jesus!
So for Marie, I am trying a bigger fast. Marie and I aren't really friends outside of work so I am not sure what her prayer network looks like. She told me in an email the other day that she believes that several miracles have taken place already!! I am glad that she believes in miracles and all it takes for her to be healed is one person who prays and believes! I have already prayed it and I believe that she is healed in the name of Jesus! I prayed specifically for healing and that she get her strength back quickly. She remarked in an email that she believes that 85% of her strength is back and almost all her symptoms are gone! Woooo Hoooo!!
My bigger fast will includes prayers of thanks and no chocolate for a month - through the whole Christmas season!! This is day two and I am trying not to have any accidental chocolate!
So when you read my post, will you add your prayers to mine? Pray that Marie be healed, believe she is healed (it's so simple) and then thank our gracious God that she is healed!!
Thanks so much and if I don't get back here again before Christmas, God Bless You All!!
Merry Christmas!!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
A Weekend at the Beach!!
In the first pic, that is the state pier still in pieces. The beach is deserted too! There should be some houses or high rise condo's there!
In the second pic, I got a great pic with my Rebel of some shells left on a fence bordering a walkway down to the beach!!
The third pic shows my Dad and Judy, me and George.
The forth pic is a shot of the awesome clouds and sun there on Saturday afternoon. Look how small the people are on the beach!!
The forth pic is a shot of the awesome clouds and sun there on Saturday afternoon. Look how small the people are on the beach!!
We left Dallas to head for Gulf Shores, AL early Nov 9. We knew the trip would take at least 12 hours and the time seemed to really just fly by (except for the part between Hattisburg and Mobile) and then we were there!! Wooo Hooo!!
George and I had not been to Gulf Shores in 6 to 7 years. I don't know why it took us so long to go back but I just got an urge to see a beach a few months ago and nothing here in Texas is even worth the drive so we headed to the Redneck Riveria, aka Gulf Shores, Al.
Hurricane Ivan hit Gulf Shores dead center a few years ago and it's amazing to see all the trees that were killed still standing, all the blank spots where the houses and buildings used to stand and I think the greatest toll for me was to see the former state pier in pieces. The state pier was 825 ft long and went way out into the Gulf of Mexico and there used to be a big parking lot near the pier and the state convention center used to be right new door. That convention center was an eye sore anyway but I still missed seeing it. When we drove down East Beach looking for the turn in to the pier, it wasn't even there anymore. I wonder if the sand that goes across the road was put there intentionally or if it's still there from the hurricane? I suppose the state doesn't want people on the road near the pier or there would be lots of people just looking - I know I would have gone if I could get down there!
The devastation made your heart hurt but it was good to see that buildings were going up again!! We met my Dad and step-mom there Friday night and we ate at Mikee's seafood. What a rip-off! I suppose they can do a good business from all the tourists who see them now from Highway 59 but the food was absolutely bland. My step-mom mentioned it to the waitress and she just blew us off. No more Mikee's for us!
Saturday, George spent the day on the beach fishing and Dad, Judy and I drove around looking for old places we had visited over the years. We rode around in Orange Beach, we drove down the intra coastal waterway and we found the new shortcut to get to the beach from Foley! I don't think I will ever use the short cut, I like looking at everything that SHOULD still be there too much!! Oh, Judy and I found a Christmas on the Gulf sale put on by the local Junior League at the convention center and had to take some time for shopping! I sure got a few Christmas gift and Judy got some things too and Dad napped in the big red truck while we shopped!
Dad and Judy left around lunch time on Sunday so George went and picked up some Hooters Wings and we ate them out on the balcony at the condo, then went down to what we call the cut at Big Lagoon and walked on the beach, then went back to the condo to watch the Cowboys!
George watched the Cowboys and I took a well deserved nap! Then George went fishing at the seawall down on Perdido Key and I went along for the ride! Boy was it cool outside! Actually, nobody was catching anything so we only stayed a few hours!
Then it was back to the condo to catch a few Z's and we drove home on Monday!! We did stop in Vicksburg at the Ameristar and the biggest thing I hit was a thousand nickles on a video poker machine!! Now that was a long trip home!! We left GS at 7:30 and got home close to midnight!!
As soon as we got home, we started talking about early retirement and life at the Gulf, somewhere on the water. I figure we can do it in 10 years if we plan well!! We shall see!!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Freak of the Week!!
I made Freak of the Week over at Scrapfreak!!
Wooo Hoooo!!
I get to keep my blinkie for a week but it's forever preserved over here!!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday is Weigh In
Today, I am back!! Woo Hoo!!
I found this cute little ticker over at Scrapfreak on Julie's siggy!!
I am almost through a 5th of my weight loss goal!!
Woo Hoo!!
I found this cute little ticker over at Scrapfreak on Julie's siggy!!
I am almost through a 5th of my weight loss goal!!
Woo Hoo!!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
No luck this week!!
My Tiny cat died on October 19 and because hubs was out of town, I had to handle the burial. Luckily, my oldest DD helped me. It was awful!! It's not something I ever want to go through again!!
So, there is still lots of sadness here because we lost our sweet cat that lived with us for 12 years. Last night, I changed the water for my beta fish, Tie Dye, and he died within 30 minutes of me changing the water. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I got Tie Dye for a Mother's Day gift and he was so cute!! He would just dance everytime you walked into the kitchen and he saw you!! I always have used bottled water for him but I cleaned his container with tap water...I hope that is not what killed him. He defintely freaked out everytime I cleaned his water...maybe it was his heart!
I need a vacation!!
So, there is still lots of sadness here because we lost our sweet cat that lived with us for 12 years. Last night, I changed the water for my beta fish, Tie Dye, and he died within 30 minutes of me changing the water. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I got Tie Dye for a Mother's Day gift and he was so cute!! He would just dance everytime you walked into the kitchen and he saw you!! I always have used bottled water for him but I cleaned his container with tap water...I hope that is not what killed him. He defintely freaked out everytime I cleaned his water...maybe it was his heart!
I need a vacation!!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
No more pets?
That's what George says everytime we talk about getting another cat or dog!! I keep telling him "so that's what YOU say"!!
That's always been funny up until today!!
Today, we are watching our beautiful Tiny cat die slowly. Several weeks ago he stopped eating and went anorexic on us. The vet said that he has lipidosis...it happens when a cat stops eating and their fatty acids build up in their liver. The prognosis wasn't good. He stayed at the vet for a day or two and they force fed him and hydrated him and he came home. The vet doesn't know why he stopped eating. Tiny has always been our cat with emotional problems...pulling his hair out, pooping and not covering and marking his territory when we had a female cat because he hated her - although he was fixed!!
When he came home, we were expected to force feed him. That didn't work well from the get go!! I thought after a few tries at force feeding that we should let him go!!
So today, we are on a death watch. His paws and his ears are cold and his second eye covers half of his eyes. I wanted him to die at home so we could bury him in the back yard but I may not be able to wait that long.
So I decided that if he is still alive tomorrow morning when the vet opens, I will take him and have him put out of his misery!! The vet can send him to Tooth Acres and they will cremate him and spread his ashes on the grounds. He would join Topper, the female we had to put to sleep last year with FL.
Blech!! Not sure I ever want another pet at this point! Two cats down, one to go!!
Pray for me!
That's always been funny up until today!!
Today, we are watching our beautiful Tiny cat die slowly. Several weeks ago he stopped eating and went anorexic on us. The vet said that he has lipidosis...it happens when a cat stops eating and their fatty acids build up in their liver. The prognosis wasn't good. He stayed at the vet for a day or two and they force fed him and hydrated him and he came home. The vet doesn't know why he stopped eating. Tiny has always been our cat with emotional problems...pulling his hair out, pooping and not covering and marking his territory when we had a female cat because he hated her - although he was fixed!!
When he came home, we were expected to force feed him. That didn't work well from the get go!! I thought after a few tries at force feeding that we should let him go!!
So today, we are on a death watch. His paws and his ears are cold and his second eye covers half of his eyes. I wanted him to die at home so we could bury him in the back yard but I may not be able to wait that long.
So I decided that if he is still alive tomorrow morning when the vet opens, I will take him and have him put out of his misery!! The vet can send him to Tooth Acres and they will cremate him and spread his ashes on the grounds. He would join Topper, the female we had to put to sleep last year with FL.
Blech!! Not sure I ever want another pet at this point! Two cats down, one to go!!
Pray for me!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Up and Going
Hey there! Just wanted to stop by and talk about the new life change. Two weeks into the new life strategy and I have lost a little over 5 pounds!!
Who knew I had so much will power?
I am not sure what finally clicked this time but I keep thinking that since I am 48 now and they say that losing weight gets harder as you are older, I should start now!
So, for the last two weeks, I have been analyzing EVERTHING that goes into my mouth! I have even been looking up the calories on food to see what would be a better choice....unfortunately some of them have been whether a cheeseburger or a Filet O Fish would have more calories! So....I am not going to turn into one of those all natural, low fat, no fat, no taste types of people!
I would rather eat smaller portions of what I want versus food that doesn't taste good! That is my story and I am sticking to it!
I guess the hardest part is the lack of soda and Chocolate. I love Chocolate...with soda! So far, I have been able to get by with small sips of the soda (I love the carbonation) and miniture chocolate bars. All things in moderation they say!
So, onward and upward!! I still have lots of weight to lose! See ya!!
Rowdy
Who knew I had so much will power?
I am not sure what finally clicked this time but I keep thinking that since I am 48 now and they say that losing weight gets harder as you are older, I should start now!
So, for the last two weeks, I have been analyzing EVERTHING that goes into my mouth! I have even been looking up the calories on food to see what would be a better choice....unfortunately some of them have been whether a cheeseburger or a Filet O Fish would have more calories! So....I am not going to turn into one of those all natural, low fat, no fat, no taste types of people!
I would rather eat smaller portions of what I want versus food that doesn't taste good! That is my story and I am sticking to it!
I guess the hardest part is the lack of soda and Chocolate. I love Chocolate...with soda! So far, I have been able to get by with small sips of the soda (I love the carbonation) and miniture chocolate bars. All things in moderation they say!
So, onward and upward!! I still have lots of weight to lose! See ya!!
Rowdy
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Another Great Blonde Joke!
I used to be blonde when I was really little!! Glad I grew out of it!!
A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure how to get it started." Her boyfriend asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's fininshed? The blonde says, According to the picture on the box, it's a tiger." Her boyfriend decides to go over and help her with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, turns to her and says, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a tiger." Then he takes her hand and says, "Second, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then..." He sighed........."Let's put all the Frosted Flakes back into the box."
Good One!!!
A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure how to get it started." Her boyfriend asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's fininshed? The blonde says, According to the picture on the box, it's a tiger." Her boyfriend decides to go over and help her with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, turns to her and says, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a tiger." Then he takes her hand and says, "Second, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then..." He sighed........."Let's put all the Frosted Flakes back into the box."
Good One!!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Food
Here's what I am thinking about food and eating less -
1). Once you start to cut back, you are immediately HUNGRY.
2). I must have been eating way over 2500 calories a day before I got started cutting back this week!!
3). I don't like diet foods. What works for me is to eat what I like, but in smaller portions!
4). I just think when people have these great recipes that have all low fat or no fat, I would rather not have it. I am just not interested! Then I think it must not be me, their taste buds are just crazy!!
5). I guess what probably got me into this shape to begin with (besides my German heritage) is my love for sodas! I read a report today that liquid calories are not handled the same as hard calories. So you eat a burger that has 400 calories and drink a big soda with 400 calories. Your brain will tell you when you have had enough of the burger but you don't get the signal for those liquid calories! Grrrrrrr!!
6). I love fried foods - I didn't know I was eating so much fat although I don't have a problem with my cholesterol! That is part of my German heritage! I heard a joke once that said that there is only one page in a German cookbook and it says FRY EVERYTHING!! I love everything fried...except maybe twinkies! Fried is what I grew up with!
7). I have always admired people like weight lifters and body builders thinking (and I am wrong) that they could eat anything they want. Look at them closely and I think we would find that they eat healthy and like lots of supplements. So...I do need more exercise so possibly I could boost those food cravings with food! Good food!
8). Am I going to have to be this vigilent for the rest of the "lifestyle change" to get where I want? Yes
9). Am I going to have to be this vigilent once I reach a goal weight? Yes...for the rest of my life!
10). I suppose there will be days that I don't want to work the new lifestyle, like today when I feel like I am starving, but I will have to GUT IT OUT so I can stay on track!!
Food - I hope to put it somewhere in the background within the next few days so there won't be such a loud clamor going on all the time!
See ya!! Pray for me!! I covet your prayers!!
Rowdy!!
1). Once you start to cut back, you are immediately HUNGRY.
2). I must have been eating way over 2500 calories a day before I got started cutting back this week!!
3). I don't like diet foods. What works for me is to eat what I like, but in smaller portions!
4). I just think when people have these great recipes that have all low fat or no fat, I would rather not have it. I am just not interested! Then I think it must not be me, their taste buds are just crazy!!
5). I guess what probably got me into this shape to begin with (besides my German heritage) is my love for sodas! I read a report today that liquid calories are not handled the same as hard calories. So you eat a burger that has 400 calories and drink a big soda with 400 calories. Your brain will tell you when you have had enough of the burger but you don't get the signal for those liquid calories! Grrrrrrr!!
6). I love fried foods - I didn't know I was eating so much fat although I don't have a problem with my cholesterol! That is part of my German heritage! I heard a joke once that said that there is only one page in a German cookbook and it says FRY EVERYTHING!! I love everything fried...except maybe twinkies! Fried is what I grew up with!
7). I have always admired people like weight lifters and body builders thinking (and I am wrong) that they could eat anything they want. Look at them closely and I think we would find that they eat healthy and like lots of supplements. So...I do need more exercise so possibly I could boost those food cravings with food! Good food!
8). Am I going to have to be this vigilent for the rest of the "lifestyle change" to get where I want? Yes
9). Am I going to have to be this vigilent once I reach a goal weight? Yes...for the rest of my life!
10). I suppose there will be days that I don't want to work the new lifestyle, like today when I feel like I am starving, but I will have to GUT IT OUT so I can stay on track!!
Food - I hope to put it somewhere in the background within the next few days so there won't be such a loud clamor going on all the time!
See ya!! Pray for me!! I covet your prayers!!
Rowdy!!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Losing Weight
I need to lose weight!
I casually mentioned yesterday at Scrapfreak that I was going to look at WW for online weight loss and Julie (thank you so much) directed me to http://www.sparkpeople.com/ I checked it out yesterday...well practically all day yesterday and I joined up.
By this morning, I had added 4 girls from Scrapfreak to my friends page!! How nice is that to have friends who are trying to lose weight at the same time? Well, 2 out of 4 of them are preggers so they aren't trying right at the moment but I bet they will be back in no time!
What's nice about Spark is that when I entered my weight and height, it gave me my estimated BMI and then told me I was obese! What a thing to say to someone that you have just met! Really!! lol
Anyhoo, I needed the kick in the bo bo because I am just getting fatter and fatter so yesterday I decided to do something about it!
So, when I eat something, I enter it into my nutrition page and it plots the calories for me! According to what I weigh now, Spark decided what I needed to eat to lose weight and how many calories a day I should have. The first 2 weeks are the break in period. What's even nicer is you can search foods and find what you should eat depending on how many calories you have left. Almost like the first time I did WW but FREE!! FREE is better!!
So, off I go!! I want to lose my spare tire and my 3 tiered chin!! Wish me luck!!
Rowdy
I casually mentioned yesterday at Scrapfreak that I was going to look at WW for online weight loss and Julie (thank you so much) directed me to http://www.sparkpeople.com/ I checked it out yesterday...well practically all day yesterday and I joined up.
By this morning, I had added 4 girls from Scrapfreak to my friends page!! How nice is that to have friends who are trying to lose weight at the same time? Well, 2 out of 4 of them are preggers so they aren't trying right at the moment but I bet they will be back in no time!
What's nice about Spark is that when I entered my weight and height, it gave me my estimated BMI and then told me I was obese! What a thing to say to someone that you have just met! Really!! lol
Anyhoo, I needed the kick in the bo bo because I am just getting fatter and fatter so yesterday I decided to do something about it!
So, when I eat something, I enter it into my nutrition page and it plots the calories for me! According to what I weigh now, Spark decided what I needed to eat to lose weight and how many calories a day I should have. The first 2 weeks are the break in period. What's even nicer is you can search foods and find what you should eat depending on how many calories you have left. Almost like the first time I did WW but FREE!! FREE is better!!
So, off I go!! I want to lose my spare tire and my 3 tiered chin!! Wish me luck!!
Rowdy
Monday, September 17, 2007
Another Blog Challenge from Scrapfreak
This looks like fun!!
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: Tiny Avalanche
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: Moolenium Crunch Oatmeal Raisin
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: JMAR
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: Red Leopard
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: Corbin Munich
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: Marjo
7. SUPERHERO NAME: The Purple Mountain Dew
8. NASCAR NAME: William Joseph
9. STRIPPER NAME: Happy to be Baby Ruth
10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: Red Amalie
Oh my goodness!! How fun is that?
Rowdy
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: Tiny Avalanche
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: Moolenium Crunch Oatmeal Raisin
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: JMAR
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: Red Leopard
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: Corbin Munich
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: Marjo
7. SUPERHERO NAME: The Purple Mountain Dew
8. NASCAR NAME: William Joseph
9. STRIPPER NAME: Happy to be Baby Ruth
10. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: Red Amalie
Oh my goodness!! How fun is that?
Rowdy
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Day 7 of Fasting!
I had no accidental chocolate and I stayed off of Scrapfreak!!!
Wooo Hooo!!
I am so glad I got the news from the church about the fasting. I think fasting just changes you for the better. I may have actually got a bigger blessing out of fasting than Margaret did.
Of course I was supposed to do it in secret but I told everybody for a reason! I wanted people everywhere to pray for Margaret and lots of people told me that they would! I hope to talk to her soon and to get to see her by the end of this month!!
What a great week!! Keep looking up - that's where your deliverance comes from!!
Jo Anne
Wooo Hooo!!
I am so glad I got the news from the church about the fasting. I think fasting just changes you for the better. I may have actually got a bigger blessing out of fasting than Margaret did.
Of course I was supposed to do it in secret but I told everybody for a reason! I wanted people everywhere to pray for Margaret and lots of people told me that they would! I hope to talk to her soon and to get to see her by the end of this month!!
What a great week!! Keep looking up - that's where your deliverance comes from!!
Jo Anne
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Day 6 of Fasting!!
Lots of prayer yesterday and no Scrapfreak or accidental chocolate yesterday!!!
I did instant message Monica and Amy today and Shannon emailed me so I was a little less cut off today!! Although, those M&M's in the kitchen called to me all day! I finally put them into the pantry this morning!
So, I get to get back on Scrapfreak tomorrow and get to eat some chocolate Friday. Since I accidentally ate chocolate two different days, I decided to extend the chocolate fast to Friday! It's just the right thing to do!!
I was just thinking the other day that I really don't hear too much outside of the Pentecostal and spirit filled non denominational churches, about fasting. The Bible really has lots of references to fasting that are exceptional! My favorite example is when some of the disciples try to heal a boy with epilepsy and Jesus heals him and then tells the disciples privately that this healing could only occur with prayer and fasting!
So, if we gorge ourselves with food, TV, the internet, games and other things and are called suddenly into a prayer session, how much power is lost if we are not ready? That is something to think about! Jesus apparently was fasting and the disciples were not at the time the healing should have occured. They weren't ready - how many times will we miss opportunities because we aren't ready? It's something to think about!
Have a blessed day.
Jo Anne
I did instant message Monica and Amy today and Shannon emailed me so I was a little less cut off today!! Although, those M&M's in the kitchen called to me all day! I finally put them into the pantry this morning!
So, I get to get back on Scrapfreak tomorrow and get to eat some chocolate Friday. Since I accidentally ate chocolate two different days, I decided to extend the chocolate fast to Friday! It's just the right thing to do!!
I was just thinking the other day that I really don't hear too much outside of the Pentecostal and spirit filled non denominational churches, about fasting. The Bible really has lots of references to fasting that are exceptional! My favorite example is when some of the disciples try to heal a boy with epilepsy and Jesus heals him and then tells the disciples privately that this healing could only occur with prayer and fasting!
So, if we gorge ourselves with food, TV, the internet, games and other things and are called suddenly into a prayer session, how much power is lost if we are not ready? That is something to think about! Jesus apparently was fasting and the disciples were not at the time the healing should have occured. They weren't ready - how many times will we miss opportunities because we aren't ready? It's something to think about!
Have a blessed day.
Jo Anne
Monday, September 10, 2007
Days 3, 4 and 5 of fasting!!
Well, the Scrapfreak addicition is still here and the chocolate addiction was accidentally fed again this weekend at a scrapbooking retreat!! I had poured out some semi sweet chocolate chips for someone and just happened to put a few of them in my mouth on the way to her table!
So, I have been thinking that I am getting some real blessings from the fasting although the whole thing is SUPPOSED to be about Margaret!! I was driving through Sanger to get to my retreat and there was a sign across the road advertising "Sanger Celebration" and I read "Savior Celebration". How funny!! Just small things like the girl helping me pack all the cold stuff for my retreat in the cold bags I was purchasing at the time instead of me having to do it in 80 something weather in the parking lot! Or my truck being packed up before I even realized I was done! I just feel blessed and I pray that Margaret is feeling healed!
See ya!
Rowdy
So, I have been thinking that I am getting some real blessings from the fasting although the whole thing is SUPPOSED to be about Margaret!! I was driving through Sanger to get to my retreat and there was a sign across the road advertising "Sanger Celebration" and I read "Savior Celebration". How funny!! Just small things like the girl helping me pack all the cold stuff for my retreat in the cold bags I was purchasing at the time instead of me having to do it in 80 something weather in the parking lot! Or my truck being packed up before I even realized I was done! I just feel blessed and I pray that Margaret is feeling healed!
See ya!
Rowdy
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Day 2 of Prayer and Fasting!!
It's day two of prayer and fasting and I have been praying for Margaret like the crazy Pentecostal woman I am. I bet I woke up at least 10 times last night with prayer on my lips for Margaret!!
I had no accidental chocolate today and haven't been on Scrapfreak! I really hit the jackpot with fasting these two items. I knew I was addicted to Scrapfreak - that's a given but who knew that I thought about chocolate every 10 seconds??? (inside joke for some of my scrappin girls). Fasting could only have been worse if I had given up real food and soda! I had a friend once who fasted over three weeks (I am not sure of when it ended) with no food. She drank milk and juices only!! Ginger was just awesome in her commitment to fasting and she fasted frequently.
I already believe that Margaret was healed the first time I asked for her to be healed. My prayers are just thanks to the Great God that we serve for the grace and mercy that we SWIM in everyday!! Thanks be to God that our words can call forth healing and blessings! Thanks be to God that Jesus left the authority behind with each one of us to lay hands on each other for healing. Thanks be to God that our hands don't have to touch someone physically and they can still recieve their healing if we only believe when we pray!
Thanks be to God that fasting really allows you to bring your body under authority!
Thanks be to God!
Rowdy
I had no accidental chocolate today and haven't been on Scrapfreak! I really hit the jackpot with fasting these two items. I knew I was addicted to Scrapfreak - that's a given but who knew that I thought about chocolate every 10 seconds??? (inside joke for some of my scrappin girls). Fasting could only have been worse if I had given up real food and soda! I had a friend once who fasted over three weeks (I am not sure of when it ended) with no food. She drank milk and juices only!! Ginger was just awesome in her commitment to fasting and she fasted frequently.
I already believe that Margaret was healed the first time I asked for her to be healed. My prayers are just thanks to the Great God that we serve for the grace and mercy that we SWIM in everyday!! Thanks be to God that our words can call forth healing and blessings! Thanks be to God that Jesus left the authority behind with each one of us to lay hands on each other for healing. Thanks be to God that our hands don't have to touch someone physically and they can still recieve their healing if we only believe when we pray!
Thanks be to God that fasting really allows you to bring your body under authority!
Thanks be to God!
Rowdy
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Snow in the Mountains!!
I love looking at the Webcam in my Aunt Ella's hometown. Looks like today it snowed in the higher elevations. I so want to go when it looks like this!! I think the temp was in the low 50's!!
Enjoy!!
Rowdy
Day 1 of Prayer and Fasting
My former Pastor's wife Margaret is battling multiple myeloma and the church has called for prayer and fasting so here I am. I decided to give up Scrapfreak and chocolate for a week. When I told my DD what I was giving up, she understood how hard it would be for me! She decided that she would fast on the chocolate too but changed her mind to ice cream today!!
So, while I am sitting here typing this, my youngest DD hands me a cookie right out of the oven and I just ate it...it had chocolate in it!! Grrrr!!! How does that happen?
So, before I had the outlaw chocolate cookie, the need for Scrapfreak was way ahead of the chocolate. It still is. It's nice to go online and chat with friends and look at cards or layouts and just have a good time. But Margaret is so worth every second for a week of not getting online or eating chocolate.
I checked on Margaret through my former church's secretary and she said that despite some horrible things going wrong during a gel infusion on her spine, she is doing well. In fact, Margaret's daughter Tammy had surgery yesterday and today Margaret is at the hospital with her. My former Pastor Weldon, hurt himself by stepping in the elevator the wrong way at the hospital (he uses a cane after a bad ankle break years ago) and has had to start rehab again!
I would say the whole family needs prayer and fasting. On top of the obvious, the insurance doesn't pay for everything because Margaret had not had her insurance long enough! The church is planning some fundraising which I hope to be part of since that is something I do well!!
Here is my confession and I am sticking with it - the devil won't win this one.
Rowdy
So, while I am sitting here typing this, my youngest DD hands me a cookie right out of the oven and I just ate it...it had chocolate in it!! Grrrr!!! How does that happen?
So, before I had the outlaw chocolate cookie, the need for Scrapfreak was way ahead of the chocolate. It still is. It's nice to go online and chat with friends and look at cards or layouts and just have a good time. But Margaret is so worth every second for a week of not getting online or eating chocolate.
I checked on Margaret through my former church's secretary and she said that despite some horrible things going wrong during a gel infusion on her spine, she is doing well. In fact, Margaret's daughter Tammy had surgery yesterday and today Margaret is at the hospital with her. My former Pastor Weldon, hurt himself by stepping in the elevator the wrong way at the hospital (he uses a cane after a bad ankle break years ago) and has had to start rehab again!
I would say the whole family needs prayer and fasting. On top of the obvious, the insurance doesn't pay for everything because Margaret had not had her insurance long enough! The church is planning some fundraising which I hope to be part of since that is something I do well!!
Here is my confession and I am sticking with it - the devil won't win this one.
Rowdy
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Another Great Joke!!
I got this funny joke from my Dad!!
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna the news she said, "Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound-mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead." Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?"
Oh my goodness! How funny!!!
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna the news she said, "Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound-mindedness. The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead." Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?"
Oh my goodness! How funny!!!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Great Blonde Joke
I got this cute Blonde joke from my friend Linda!! How funny!!
A blonde woman was having financial troubles so she decided to kidnap a child and demand a ransom. She went to a local park, grabbed a little boy, took him behind a tree and wrote a note. "I have kidnapped your child. I am sorry to do this but I need the money. Leave $10,000 in a plain brown bag behind the big oak tree in the park at 7 AM." Signed, "The Blonde." She pinned the note inside the l ittle boy's jacket and told him to go straight home. The next morning, she returned to the park to find the $10,000 in a brown bag behind the big oak tree, just as she had instructed. Inside the bag with the cash was the following note. "Here is your money. I cannot believe that one blonde would do this to another."
A blonde woman was having financial troubles so she decided to kidnap a child and demand a ransom. She went to a local park, grabbed a little boy, took him behind a tree and wrote a note. "I have kidnapped your child. I am sorry to do this but I need the money. Leave $10,000 in a plain brown bag behind the big oak tree in the park at 7 AM." Signed, "The Blonde." She pinned the note inside the l ittle boy's jacket and told him to go straight home. The next morning, she returned to the park to find the $10,000 in a brown bag behind the big oak tree, just as she had instructed. Inside the bag with the cash was the following note. "Here is your money. I cannot believe that one blonde would do this to another."
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
8/10 Blog Challenge
This week, at Scrapfreak, we have been challenged to List the letters A-Z and use adjectives or phrases to describe yourself. So, here goes nothing!
A - Aggressive
B - Bossy
C- Colorful
D - Dangerous
E - Extreme
F - Freaky
G - Gregarious
H - Happy
I - Interesting
J - Joyful
K - Kisser
L - Loves her Daddy
M -Maniac
N - Nosey
O - Oprah lover
P - Prayerful
Q - Quiet (when sleeping)
R - Rowdy
S - Sentimental
T - Talkative
U - Unusual
V - Visual
W - Wacky
X - Xperimental
Y - Young
Z - Zealous
Okay...I tried really hard on the X but couldn't find anything! This wasn't was easy as I thought it would be! Happy reading!!
A - Aggressive
B - Bossy
C- Colorful
D - Dangerous
E - Extreme
F - Freaky
G - Gregarious
H - Happy
I - Interesting
J - Joyful
K - Kisser
L - Loves her Daddy
M -Maniac
N - Nosey
O - Oprah lover
P - Prayerful
Q - Quiet (when sleeping)
R - Rowdy
S - Sentimental
T - Talkative
U - Unusual
V - Visual
W - Wacky
X - Xperimental
Y - Young
Z - Zealous
Okay...I tried really hard on the X but couldn't find anything! This wasn't was easy as I thought it would be! Happy reading!!
Friday, August 3, 2007
8/3 Blog Challenge
Scrapfreak Blog Challenge - I am supposed to write about 1o moments in the hour (8/3 15:48)
1). I spend way too much time on Scrapfreak!
2). Do you think that work knows I spend way too much time on Scrapfreak?
3). What kind of paper do I REALLY want to use for this birthday card that I am about to
create?
4). Is there any chocolate in the kitchen?
5). Can I take a break from work now?
6). I want to work from some other room that doesn't have a litter box! Think my bedroom
would work?
7). Am I going to be responsible for dinner again?
8). Did I ever know that my kids sat on the couch and love seat and watched TV all the live
long day?
9). Wonder if I will get a severance package at work?
10). Wonder if I will be as HAPPY as I think I would be if I get a package at work?
OMG!! I sound like I am having some blonde moments!! LOL!! This was fun!!
1). I spend way too much time on Scrapfreak!
2). Do you think that work knows I spend way too much time on Scrapfreak?
3). What kind of paper do I REALLY want to use for this birthday card that I am about to
create?
4). Is there any chocolate in the kitchen?
5). Can I take a break from work now?
6). I want to work from some other room that doesn't have a litter box! Think my bedroom
would work?
7). Am I going to be responsible for dinner again?
8). Did I ever know that my kids sat on the couch and love seat and watched TV all the live
long day?
9). Wonder if I will get a severance package at work?
10). Wonder if I will be as HAPPY as I think I would be if I get a package at work?
OMG!! I sound like I am having some blonde moments!! LOL!! This was fun!!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Blog Challenge
Happy Birthday to my Aunt Ella who would have been 73 today!! I have written as much as I feel I have to write about Aunt Ella at this time so I will just say I love you Aunt Ella and move on!
Over at Scrapfreak, they challenged us to answer the following questions so here goes -
Name 5 favorite television shows I Love Lucy, Miami Vice, Le Femme Nikita, Gilligan's Island and The Addams Family.
Name 4 favorite memories - Taking my nephew Art fishing in Gulf Shores and he actually caught a bag and a crab (he was only about 7 or 8), my whole first trip to Germany (when I was 2 and a half) with my Mom where I actually remember playing Lego's with my cousins and walking in the woods near their house, saltwater fishing in Gulf Shores with my Dad and seeing Gatlinburg, TN for the first time with my Dad and Step mom.
Name 3 things you want to do before you die - Swim with dolphins in Florida, go to a Green Bay Packers game in the driving snow and wear cheese on my head while Brett Favre is still playing and see Germany one last time.
Give 2 names that you would use NOW if you were going to have a new addition to the family. That's simple - Heidi Elizabeth. Heidi was always my fav story growing up and Elizabeth is a family name.
Name the one thing that you're working on now to improve your life - I really need to read my Bible more!!
That's it for me! That was fun!! I can tell I am missing my family back in Bama. Mostly they seem to be included in all of my favorite memories!
Over at Scrapfreak, they challenged us to answer the following questions so here goes -
Name 5 favorite television shows I Love Lucy, Miami Vice, Le Femme Nikita, Gilligan's Island and The Addams Family.
Name 4 favorite memories - Taking my nephew Art fishing in Gulf Shores and he actually caught a bag and a crab (he was only about 7 or 8), my whole first trip to Germany (when I was 2 and a half) with my Mom where I actually remember playing Lego's with my cousins and walking in the woods near their house, saltwater fishing in Gulf Shores with my Dad and seeing Gatlinburg, TN for the first time with my Dad and Step mom.
Name 3 things you want to do before you die - Swim with dolphins in Florida, go to a Green Bay Packers game in the driving snow and wear cheese on my head while Brett Favre is still playing and see Germany one last time.
Give 2 names that you would use NOW if you were going to have a new addition to the family. That's simple - Heidi Elizabeth. Heidi was always my fav story growing up and Elizabeth is a family name.
Name the one thing that you're working on now to improve your life - I really need to read my Bible more!!
That's it for me! That was fun!! I can tell I am missing my family back in Bama. Mostly they seem to be included in all of my favorite memories!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
More Memories
Three Peas in a Pod
Aunt Ella, Mom and me (Rowdy)
Last night I ended the post on a sort of sad note. This morning, I was so excited to be blogging, I got up at 3:30 AM to blog and really just talked myself out of it!
So while I was waiting for a meeting to start this morning, I wrote down some really funny experiences to share about my Aunt Ella. Yes, the realization is there that I won't get to see her again this side of heaven but getting to share her stories made me feel good!! So lets get this party started!
Shopping - My Aunt Ella was a shopping machine!! Even when she didn't feel good (she had COPD for probably the last 10 to 15 years of her life) she would just shop until she couldn't shop any more! Oberammergau is about an hour and a half outside of Munich by train and we always tried to get at least one train ride in during my visit. On one visit, my Aunt Ella, Mom, my sister Dixie and I had hit the Marienplatz to shop. Mom and Aunt Ella went into the first few stores with us but we were slowing them down so they went on ahead of us. Now bear in mind, we didn't make any plans to meet up later and I didn't remember the time the last train left for Oberammergau but I was not worried. If we didn't hook up with them during shopping, we would just make our way back to the train station and meet them back in Oberammergau if we had too! Or if we missed the train, we could stay in the city for a night. My Mom would have freaked out but I wasn't worried. My sister was going into all the shoe stores looking for Birkenstocks and was taking forever. Personally, I don't think UGLY shoe shopping should take that long. A very nice German lady told my sister that they didn't have any small sizes because they think those shoes should be for people with foot problems. I busted out laughing - she is so right but for years it was all the rage here. So, when it came time to find Aunt Ella and Mom, I suggested that we do a grid search. We each took a side of the street and walked very slowly looking at each other hoping to spot Aunt Ella and Mom. We found them. Then we lost them again and we got to grid search again. My sister and I noticed one thing while searching - everybody on that street that was in their 60's looked the same - grey hair and no makeup. Then we noticed in the stores that everything that year was black with 30 different shades of grey so Aunt Ella and Mom were really quite fashionable! I was in my standard American uniform - jeans and tennis shoes. My sister Dixie stuck out like a sore thumb - she had on light colored pants and a YELLOW sleeveless fleece jacket. I could have seen her for a mile.
Once, when Aunt Ella, Mom, Uncle Karl and I went up for the day, we went to this awesome cafeteria in some really nice department store. Who knew department stores had places like this? When we got there, it was very nice. When we sat down, things started to go horribly wrong. There was this whole bunch of older people there in their 60's and 70's eating and they all looked like they were wearing clothes that were 40 years out of style. Some of them talked to themselves, some argued with each other, some smelled like alcohol and I was starting to get a little nervous. Not my Aunt and my Mom! The longer we sat there, the longer I felt like something horrible was going to happen! I could not have blasted my group out of there with a bomb!! They settled in for the show! I still to this day do not know if it ways a program for local seniors where they dropped them off for lunch, if the local asylum closed or if they were all actors trying to get us all into the act - maybe it was the German version of Candid Camera!! What an experience! Germans are watchers...I know that myself because my head will swivel 360 degrees to watch something interesting. It's even better to watch with another German and to comment on everything going on!! I bet my Aunt Ella would have loved to sit in a mall all day long with my Mom and I watching people! I love it, I tell you!!
Food - My Aunt Ella was an awesome cook. Her stove in her kitchen was a wood burning stove. Some of the best meals I have ever eaten came off that stove. Of course, I liked everything that my Aunt Ella cooked because I grew up with an awesome German cook too! There were only three things I would not eat while there - spatzle, Weiss wurst and saurbraten. Every time I went to visit, I loved going to the local bakery for the local breakfast role which is semmel. To have those with real German butter in the morning, along with some great jelly (usually strawberry) and coffee (I want coffee every day while in Germany) in my Aunt Ella's kitchen was a treat for me! Bigtime treat. She cooked her largest meal at lunch and at night we had mostly sandwiches on rye bread. OMG. Liverwurst with butter on rye is to die for. Occasionally Aunt Ella would cook some sort of wurst, boil a potato, cut up some brie and serve with rye bread and I thought it was just wonderful. Aunt Ella always made 2 special things for me - I have the correct names written down but she cooked bread in a pot and poured homemade vanilla sauce over the bread and she made something I call pancake soup. She would fry something that was thinner than a pancake, cut it up into strips and then cook it in beef broth with a little maggi - a local flavoring, then she would add fresh chives from her garden if we were there in the summer. My mouth waters just to thing about it!
One thing I have never seen except in an Italian place in Oberammergau, is to go boxes. My German family always ate everything on their plate. I think it has something to do with they walked to the restaurant and then they walked home. They walked everywhere. They went to the grocery store everyday except on Sunday when the store was closed. We would lug all those groceries for half a mile to get back to my Aunt Ella's house. Anyway, there is an awesome place in Oberammergau called La Montenara. When we went in for the first time in 1985, there was an American couple who told us to ask for go boxes for our pizza - we were just astounded! On two separate occasions, when we were there the waiter asked me if I would like a go box for my spaghetti carbonara. My Aunt Ella was astounded the first time and I gave her the left overs for her lunch the next day and the second time it happened, my Aunt Ella expected to get my go box for her lunch again! How funny is that?
Shopping and Food were always fun with my Aunt Ella. Any time spent with her was good. We also loved going to local cafes where they served cakes, pies, coffee and tea only. My goodness! German desserts are so much better than American. They are not so sweet which makes them so much more enjoyable.
So I will stop here for tonite. Stay tuned for more fun with my Aunt Ella! Thanks for reading!
Rowdy girls RULE!
So while I was waiting for a meeting to start this morning, I wrote down some really funny experiences to share about my Aunt Ella. Yes, the realization is there that I won't get to see her again this side of heaven but getting to share her stories made me feel good!! So lets get this party started!
Shopping - My Aunt Ella was a shopping machine!! Even when she didn't feel good (she had COPD for probably the last 10 to 15 years of her life) she would just shop until she couldn't shop any more! Oberammergau is about an hour and a half outside of Munich by train and we always tried to get at least one train ride in during my visit. On one visit, my Aunt Ella, Mom, my sister Dixie and I had hit the Marienplatz to shop. Mom and Aunt Ella went into the first few stores with us but we were slowing them down so they went on ahead of us. Now bear in mind, we didn't make any plans to meet up later and I didn't remember the time the last train left for Oberammergau but I was not worried. If we didn't hook up with them during shopping, we would just make our way back to the train station and meet them back in Oberammergau if we had too! Or if we missed the train, we could stay in the city for a night. My Mom would have freaked out but I wasn't worried. My sister was going into all the shoe stores looking for Birkenstocks and was taking forever. Personally, I don't think UGLY shoe shopping should take that long. A very nice German lady told my sister that they didn't have any small sizes because they think those shoes should be for people with foot problems. I busted out laughing - she is so right but for years it was all the rage here. So, when it came time to find Aunt Ella and Mom, I suggested that we do a grid search. We each took a side of the street and walked very slowly looking at each other hoping to spot Aunt Ella and Mom. We found them. Then we lost them again and we got to grid search again. My sister and I noticed one thing while searching - everybody on that street that was in their 60's looked the same - grey hair and no makeup. Then we noticed in the stores that everything that year was black with 30 different shades of grey so Aunt Ella and Mom were really quite fashionable! I was in my standard American uniform - jeans and tennis shoes. My sister Dixie stuck out like a sore thumb - she had on light colored pants and a YELLOW sleeveless fleece jacket. I could have seen her for a mile.
Once, when Aunt Ella, Mom, Uncle Karl and I went up for the day, we went to this awesome cafeteria in some really nice department store. Who knew department stores had places like this? When we got there, it was very nice. When we sat down, things started to go horribly wrong. There was this whole bunch of older people there in their 60's and 70's eating and they all looked like they were wearing clothes that were 40 years out of style. Some of them talked to themselves, some argued with each other, some smelled like alcohol and I was starting to get a little nervous. Not my Aunt and my Mom! The longer we sat there, the longer I felt like something horrible was going to happen! I could not have blasted my group out of there with a bomb!! They settled in for the show! I still to this day do not know if it ways a program for local seniors where they dropped them off for lunch, if the local asylum closed or if they were all actors trying to get us all into the act - maybe it was the German version of Candid Camera!! What an experience! Germans are watchers...I know that myself because my head will swivel 360 degrees to watch something interesting. It's even better to watch with another German and to comment on everything going on!! I bet my Aunt Ella would have loved to sit in a mall all day long with my Mom and I watching people! I love it, I tell you!!
Food - My Aunt Ella was an awesome cook. Her stove in her kitchen was a wood burning stove. Some of the best meals I have ever eaten came off that stove. Of course, I liked everything that my Aunt Ella cooked because I grew up with an awesome German cook too! There were only three things I would not eat while there - spatzle, Weiss wurst and saurbraten. Every time I went to visit, I loved going to the local bakery for the local breakfast role which is semmel. To have those with real German butter in the morning, along with some great jelly (usually strawberry) and coffee (I want coffee every day while in Germany) in my Aunt Ella's kitchen was a treat for me! Bigtime treat. She cooked her largest meal at lunch and at night we had mostly sandwiches on rye bread. OMG. Liverwurst with butter on rye is to die for. Occasionally Aunt Ella would cook some sort of wurst, boil a potato, cut up some brie and serve with rye bread and I thought it was just wonderful. Aunt Ella always made 2 special things for me - I have the correct names written down but she cooked bread in a pot and poured homemade vanilla sauce over the bread and she made something I call pancake soup. She would fry something that was thinner than a pancake, cut it up into strips and then cook it in beef broth with a little maggi - a local flavoring, then she would add fresh chives from her garden if we were there in the summer. My mouth waters just to thing about it!
One thing I have never seen except in an Italian place in Oberammergau, is to go boxes. My German family always ate everything on their plate. I think it has something to do with they walked to the restaurant and then they walked home. They walked everywhere. They went to the grocery store everyday except on Sunday when the store was closed. We would lug all those groceries for half a mile to get back to my Aunt Ella's house. Anyway, there is an awesome place in Oberammergau called La Montenara. When we went in for the first time in 1985, there was an American couple who told us to ask for go boxes for our pizza - we were just astounded! On two separate occasions, when we were there the waiter asked me if I would like a go box for my spaghetti carbonara. My Aunt Ella was astounded the first time and I gave her the left overs for her lunch the next day and the second time it happened, my Aunt Ella expected to get my go box for her lunch again! How funny is that?
Shopping and Food were always fun with my Aunt Ella. Any time spent with her was good. We also loved going to local cafes where they served cakes, pies, coffee and tea only. My goodness! German desserts are so much better than American. They are not so sweet which makes them so much more enjoyable.
So I will stop here for tonite. Stay tuned for more fun with my Aunt Ella! Thanks for reading!
Rowdy girls RULE!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Just Remembering
While trying to figure out where to go next with my blog, I kept circling around to my German Aunt Ella. I would like to remember my Aunt Ella tonite. My Aunt Ella lived in Oberammergau, Germany all her life. She passed away in April at 72 after a visit here to the United States.
Her 73rd birthday would have been at the end of this month and I suppose that is why I keep thinking about her. Aunt Ella was very special and was my Mom's only sister. My Aunt Ella, Mom and their brother Walter grew up in the aftermath of WW2. Mom's parents built the house that my Aunt Ella lived in almost all of her life. Mom is old enough to remember that when the Americans got to Oberammergau, they turned all the Germans out of their homes. The Germans had to live where they could and eat what they could find. Aunt Ella, Mom and Uncle Walter lost both of their parents when my Mom was 15. Aunt Ella was married with 1 child by then. She and my Uncle Karl moved into my grandparents house and raised 3 children there. I will never forget seeing the house for the first time, as an adult, when I was 21. This was a part of my heritage - the place my Mom grew up and the place that welcomed us both back when I visited the second time in 1980. I had gone back when I was two and I actually remembered that I used to play with my cousin's Lego's that were stored under the kitchen table which was built into the corner of the kitchen. Germany holds one of my earliest fond memories.
When I did get to visit with my Mom, language was a small barrier but easily overcome if I could get my Aunt to speak in English. I often warned my Mom that Aunt Ella knew a lot more than she let on. My Aunt Ella had a tiny garden plot in her side yard and on several visits I would stop at the blumen shop for flowers - she was always so excited to get flowers. One year for her birthday, I had a house plant delivered for her birthday and Aunt Ella told me that she argued with the delivery person that the plant could not be possibly hers because NO ONE had ever had anything delivered to her. She went on and on about that plant. I was so excited to have done that for her. She was almost as excited to get edelweiss but didn't want to tell me that they wouldn't make it because her garden wasn't on the side of a mountain. We got a good laugh out of that.
I may have to blog about Aunt Ella in phases. We share such a rich history. The story of my grandparents is pretty different - my Mom had never seen her Dad until he came home from a Russian Prison Camp after the war was over. Conditions were horrible in the camps, extreme poverty, sickness, frostbite, etc and my Grandfather came home sick. Mom said he never recovered. That's just part of my history.
Everybody wants their story to be told. I will keep telling it until it's finished. They are interesting - all of them. I think the reason I miss my Aunt Ella is because I have started to realize that when I take my oldest daughter to Germany to visit for her first time next year, I won't be going to my Aunt Ella's house to visit her ever again. I am glad I faithfully recorded the last 4 visits in scrapbooks. I don't need the scrapbook, Aunt Ella lives on in my memory and my heart.
Gute Nacht die Freunde (good night friends)
Rowdy
Her 73rd birthday would have been at the end of this month and I suppose that is why I keep thinking about her. Aunt Ella was very special and was my Mom's only sister. My Aunt Ella, Mom and their brother Walter grew up in the aftermath of WW2. Mom's parents built the house that my Aunt Ella lived in almost all of her life. Mom is old enough to remember that when the Americans got to Oberammergau, they turned all the Germans out of their homes. The Germans had to live where they could and eat what they could find. Aunt Ella, Mom and Uncle Walter lost both of their parents when my Mom was 15. Aunt Ella was married with 1 child by then. She and my Uncle Karl moved into my grandparents house and raised 3 children there. I will never forget seeing the house for the first time, as an adult, when I was 21. This was a part of my heritage - the place my Mom grew up and the place that welcomed us both back when I visited the second time in 1980. I had gone back when I was two and I actually remembered that I used to play with my cousin's Lego's that were stored under the kitchen table which was built into the corner of the kitchen. Germany holds one of my earliest fond memories.
When I did get to visit with my Mom, language was a small barrier but easily overcome if I could get my Aunt to speak in English. I often warned my Mom that Aunt Ella knew a lot more than she let on. My Aunt Ella had a tiny garden plot in her side yard and on several visits I would stop at the blumen shop for flowers - she was always so excited to get flowers. One year for her birthday, I had a house plant delivered for her birthday and Aunt Ella told me that she argued with the delivery person that the plant could not be possibly hers because NO ONE had ever had anything delivered to her. She went on and on about that plant. I was so excited to have done that for her. She was almost as excited to get edelweiss but didn't want to tell me that they wouldn't make it because her garden wasn't on the side of a mountain. We got a good laugh out of that.
I may have to blog about Aunt Ella in phases. We share such a rich history. The story of my grandparents is pretty different - my Mom had never seen her Dad until he came home from a Russian Prison Camp after the war was over. Conditions were horrible in the camps, extreme poverty, sickness, frostbite, etc and my Grandfather came home sick. Mom said he never recovered. That's just part of my history.
Everybody wants their story to be told. I will keep telling it until it's finished. They are interesting - all of them. I think the reason I miss my Aunt Ella is because I have started to realize that when I take my oldest daughter to Germany to visit for her first time next year, I won't be going to my Aunt Ella's house to visit her ever again. I am glad I faithfully recorded the last 4 visits in scrapbooks. I don't need the scrapbook, Aunt Ella lives on in my memory and my heart.
Gute Nacht die Freunde (good night friends)
Rowdy
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
My first blog!!!
Hey There!
I am Jo Anne (aka Rowdy). I got the Rowdy nickname at a few of my scrapbooking retreats where things got a little interesting! I have been scrapbooking for 11 years now and I am also a Creative Memories Consultant. My friend Monica invited me to join Scrapfreak and now I know a LOT more about scrapbooking. I just recently had fun at a weekend retreat at HeavenLeigh Escape where Tammy, Shannon and I altered quite a few things!
Several of my friends (Shannon in particular) have suggested more than once that I should have my own blog so here goes nothing!
I really don't think my life is that interesting but I sure have an opinion about everything. Just ask me - I say that at work all the time! I have an opinion, just ask me!
I have been thinking the last few days about what I would start my blog with, so I am really still working on that but thought I would just try things out tonite!
So, stay tuned!
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