Happy Father's Day.....

So thankful as we remember all the wonderful times we had with John in our lives.
For those of you that still have your fathers.....be sure to let them know just how much they mean to you.
Hugs,
Debbie

Where To Go From Here......

The last few days I have been kicking around what to do with this blog.  Continue on....but if that, with what?  I started this blog when my son was graduating from high school, to explore a bit (out loud so to speak...) about how our lives were changing....from his graduation, there was home stuff to share, craft shows and a new store, my husbands illness and passing, moving to start over, school....  A bit of a mixture.

I know there are many blogs that have a grand purpose...faith, books, crafts, cooking and such.  And there are many that I follow when I can.  But I have wondered where I fit.  And I guess I have wondered if I really have anything to say that anyone would want to read.

Finally, I have come to the decision, just to write, where I am, what is going on, regardless of how many or how few followers.  I have so appreciated all of you.....  and thank you for supporting me so far.  And if you continue to follow.....I would love your feedback from time to time.....  And thank you for your "gift" of patience...LOL

Moving on.......

What is going on?  Well, the family joke is that if anyone finds out that I have called the doctor for an appointment, that they should go ahead and order the funeral flowers because the end must be near!!! LOL  Truly, I hate going to the doctor and will do anything to avoid it.  But in the last few months, I have decided that I really need to take better care of myself.  With that in mind, I found a new doctor for our family and went in for a visit.  I really surprised myself, as I love this medical group.  Everyone there is just concerned and helpful and open to alternativel treatments (they offer massage, accupuncture, and other alternative medicine)  Ok....so I really liked them, that was until the blood work and the medical fast!!! LOL  I know, I survived, but I am still on the gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, caffeine free, almost meat free program.  I KNOW....who knew I could survive this for over a week!!!  But I have, and I have a couple of meds I need to take now to balance out my system......and I don't know when I have ever felt better. 

The struggle is to figure out how to live like this.  I have known people with food sensitivities, and have sympathized, but now trying to find new ways of cooking, new foods....I have a whole new outlook on this and appreciation for what they go through.  It is not easy.  Friday, I went to a large grocery with my mom...was looking for a few products and just became so overwhelmed with how hard it was to find the things I wanted.  Trust me, I know this will work out....I will get a handle on this....it is just a lot at one time. 

Moving forward, my life right now is school, massage, and this new lifestyle.......working in my normal daily dealings with faith, family, home, friends....it is all a juggling act right now....sadly I am dropping more than a few balls at times.  But this is a work in progress.....and I am at peace with so much of what is going on with us  now. (For everything there is a season....)

And there are some new doors opening ahead, I wish you would just add me to your prayer list about those.  I have found some things that God put in my path  long ago, are now coming together.  Funny how He works like that!!!  You know, from time to time I have tried to share with God how He could handle something better....and then He shows me why He is God and I am not.....smile.

Thanks for hanging with me so far......Hugs to you all.....
Thanks for sharing the journey with me,
Debbie

Happy Sunday.....

Yes, I am still around!  Above is a picture of one of my new displays on the front porch...I love birdhouses and I found these on sale at Hobby Lobby this week....

I added them to a baby changing table that I found.  It was white and we spray painted it a darker sage green...love the look.  It is a great piece to place by my front door for packages and such.  I am still looking for some things to add to the other shelves but for now I am happy with how it is coming together.

Finally, I updated the side panels with new books on my to read list and health items.  I saw a new doctor on Friday and I really love the people he has in the practice.  It is all about overall health care and not just waiting for problems to pop up.  So I had alot of blood work done (yes, I am the one that is REALLY scared of needles...so you know how much I loved this!!! LOL)  And I am having to fast all weekend to get rid of the sugar, caffiene and other things.  I thought it might be worse than it is, but other than a couple of headaches, it hasn't been to bad.  I have to go gluten free for awhile to see if that is a problem.....and while this will mean some major changes, I am looking forward to having a plan and some answers.  But on the down side, I am so over the whole water only thing!!

Hope you are all off to a great Summer.  June is a hard month for us....John passed away a year ago, his birthday and Father's Day all falls this month....so many reminders....but truly so many are really happy memories.  I thank all of you that have been so supportive and caring to us during this past year.  We are so thankful for dear friends and family.

Have a great week!!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Never Forgotten....

We All Need A Little Positivity.....

During a recent Business class, they were talking about daily affirmations.  Didn't really think much about it, but then I ran across this You Tube video and it just made me laugh......and think.  What if we all started our day with something positive???  Now, don't expect me to be climbing up on the bathroom sink and cheerleading.....but what a better way to start the day instead of cranky!!!

Hope you are all having a great week.....I will post more soon!!
Hugs to you all!!
Debbie

Where Does The Time Go?????

Seriously, where does it go?  I had a break from school and not much got crossed off my "to do" list....  We had planned on a trip to Atlanta to the museum and at the last minute decided to reschedule it so that things could get finished here at home.  And still.....it slipped away.  I think I have done more today than the whole 5 days put together....geesh!
But one thing I did do this week was cook.....I picked up Trisha Yearwoods new cookbook and really love it!  So far we have made baked bean casserole, hot corn dip, and "sweet & saltine".  Let me just comment on the Sweet and Saltine recipe.....I saw Trisha on The View and she said her family calls this treat "Crack"...and I know why!!!  That stuff is so darn easy and quick to make.....and it just way to addictive!!!  And I know, we have been working on eating healthier, but during my time off, I just felt a need for some good old fashion southern cooking---can't do this often, but darn it was good!!! LOL  Now I will be heading to Weight Watchers.......

Hopefully in the next week or two, I can work in the trip to Atlanta for the Bodies In Motion exhibit.  I have heard such wonderful things about it and I want to get there before it is gone.  If any of you have been to it, I would love to know what you thought about it.

School starts tomorrow.....classes in Kines, Business Law, Special Populations, and Sports Massage!!!  Looking forward to them and to getting closer to finishing!

Have a great week!!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

**Quote I heard this week and love..."If you know Him well enough, if you need Him bad enough, He will show up early..."

Happy Easter....

Hopefully, this is where I am going to spend much of my afternoon...with family and friends.  I pray that all of you have a wonderful Easter!!!
Hugs to you all,
Debbie

(P.S.  For some reason the comments area isn't working and I can't figure it out...I have posted  for help with blogger, so hopefully it will be fixed soon!!---don't know why but suddenly it "fixed" itself with this post......Easter Bunny???? lol)

Saturday Potpourri....

Happy Saturday All!!

Well this morning I am trying to memorize the "Sweet 16" muscles that attach to the scapula.  Aren't you impressed??? LOL

Love the Gerber Daisys above...found them at Lowes this week and had to have them.  There is just something so cheerful about them.  They are in a planter by my front steps...they are my "greeters".

Things have been busy here...as I am sure they are for all of you too.  We have been trying to work in the yard, clean the decks...get ready for warm weather.....all while trying to study for this quarters finals.  I have two more tests this coming week and then I have a week break. I am really looking forward to that!

Have you been watching the Jamie Oliver Food Revolution....love that show and his passion for these kids.  The show from last week where NONE of the kids in the elementary school class knew what a tomato, potato, or cauliflower was....so darn sad.  But heck they knew what catsup and chicken nuggets were. It not only saddens me that our kids don't have the grasp on what is healthy for them to eat, but the fact that we are all so busy that we lose that time with them at the table sharing a meal and sharing our days.  I know I have been guilty too....and it is so easy to justify not having the time....but "busy" is coming with a really high price tag....costing us in our relationships and our health.  And I point the finger at myself as much as anyone else.

Other "televison" stuff.....Lost, Lost, Lost.....I have to say I am going to miss that show.  They were stressing me out with the first shows not answering anything....but now things are coming together...and it will be interesting to see how it ends.  Who do  you think will end up as Keeper of the Island?

Do you have any fun plans for Easter?  We are planning on going to church and then having a simple cookout with family.  Normally we would have the whole ham and every Southern dish my mom could possible make for Easter....but this year we wanted to keep it really simple, less stress, and easy for everyone.  We have a new grill and it will give my son and brother a chance to play with it. 

I need to get back to studying.....Wishing each of you a blessed Easter and a wonderful week!!!!
Hugs to you,

Debbie

A Little of This, A Little of That......

Life is pretty busy right now....but I wanted to drop in and say thank you to those of you that follow this blog and hang in here with me. Your encouragement and friendship is so wonderful!

Let's catch up a bit. Did anyone see Oprah today? It was a repeat of her show with Michael Pollan and Alicia Silverstone on Food 101. I saw it before...and it makes you think about the foods we eat. And not about not whether you think you should or shouldn't eat meat...but the fact that the meats we eat are not what our great grandmothers were preparing. With all the added antibotics and other stuff.....we don't really know what we are eating. Interesting stuff.....I picked up Alicia's book. While I don't see me going Vegan.....I have been working on cutting back on meats....and the meats that I have been buying, I have been looking for more grass feed beef... We have a new Earth Fare grocery in Chattanooga....and I LOVE this place!!! Really great food.

School is going great......I had to miss today with a bug of some sort. Just one of those goofy things where I have just felt a little off all week...and then last night feel really bad and then it continued in to this morning.... I will be fine, just needed a day to sleep and just recharge.

So what are you all watching??? We are watching Lost and Survivor (and Modern Family). Lost is giving me a headache.....good grief, can they start helping us a bit with some info instead of more questiosn?????? They are driving me nuts!!! LOL

Well.....that is about it for now. Hope you all have had a great week...and have something fun planned for this weekend. I just want to stay around home and veg this weekend.....
Take care!!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Massage Are Us.....

I realize that this is a big deal for me.....but not so much for anyone else!!! LOL I FINALLY received my massage table today and I am really excited. And well, a bit stressed too. We have to have 50 massages done on our own by the end of the quarter. Since we just received them today...I have some massagin to do!!! So I am calling all my friends, relatives, passerbys to come on over!!! LOL
These are just a couple of pictures of the area I set up to do massage in. All kidding aside, I really am loving this and the people I have been meeting through school. I knew there was more to this than a lot of people think.....but I am really impressed with all we have to learn. From Anatomy to Kineseology to Somatic Psych and more.....there is just so much that goes in to doing this and doing it well.

My schedule has changed and I have had to add a class to Fridays for awhile. Hate that, as it was my at home catch up day. But it is only for 1/2 a quarter and I will survive!! Dust bunnies may take over, but it will work out!!!

Hugs to all of you!!! Have a great weekend.....

Debbie

Prayers Please.....

This has to be one of my favorite verses, because it reminds me that regardless of how things look , what I feel, what others say......God still is in control and He is looking out for me. EVEN when I don't have answers or understand.

That brings me to my prayer requests.....first is for my friend Jen. Her neighbor is 91 and dying. This lady and her son (and his partner) have become very close to my friend and her family. Not only are they dealing with her passing.....but with the family circus that has come with it. It is just so sad that things like this don't cause a family to pull together......but just become really ugly. Please prayer for my friend and her family as they step in to love their friends through this.

And another prayer request.....a woman that I had met through school was notified yesterday that her 14 year old daughter died of an asthma attack. It is just so sad...her daughter was skateboarding and fell off and in running back home she had an attack. Her inhaler didn't work and her father ran for the nebulizer, but she was gone by the time he got back. Understandably, this family is devastated. Please keep them in your prayers....the mother is carrying such guilt because she wasn't home at that time. It is just so heartbreaking.

Thank you for your prayers for my friends.
Hugs,
Debbie

I'm BACK!!!

We somehow managed to get a nasty virus on our computer......I mean really, don't the people that do this stuff have a life??? It just baffles me.....oh well....we are up and running again and I will be posting something fun soon!!!

Hugs to you all!!! I have missed you!!!

Debbie

APQ -1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge (Click the title above as it will link you to all the info!!!!)

I have a LOVE of pillowcases. Sadly, I haven't taken the time to make any for awhile (as my friend Jen will attest to as she weekly reminds me that I need to make her one....or two.......or twelve!!!). I love making them and mixing fabrics, color patterns, just to make them fun and funky....or soft and romantic.....so many choices!!!

Because I have been out of the sewing loop......I didn't know about the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge until a friend sent me a link. This sounds like so much fun...and like something I would love to get my friends together to do on a wintry weekend!

So go to the link.....check it out......see all the great ideas for gifting your pillowcases......and there are great free patterns. Why are you still here???? Scoot....get over there!!!! LOL

AND....if you decide to make some, I would love, love, love to see pictures of what you create...and maybe we can showcase them here??? Whatcha think?????
HUGS,
Debbie

Where Was This Stuff At Christmas??????

Well, this certainly isn't the norm in our area of Tennessee!!!!!!

And the ability of the local drivers........ummmmm......let's just say it leaves ALOT to be desired!!! LOL

Anyway.....it looks like we are going to be snowed in this weekend....and I am so looking forward to it. Alittle reading, alittle sewing, alittle cleaning, alittle baking........and apparently a house full of 20 somethings!!! LOL

Sorry I haven't posted more frequently....I am still trying to balance home, school, life!!! It's a bit overwhelming at times. I can tell you that I made the Dean's List......I was really excited to find the certificate in my mailbox... I know, it may be silly.....but I have been working really hard and to see it acknowledged, that is sweet!

We have had a little shop open locally for primitives....I, of course, couldn't wait to stop by. Just a small shop but the owner seems very nice. I think I am going to try to put some of my dolls and such in her shop. With everything going on, I knew I didn't have time to make enough items for a booth or a show right now....but to have a place to put some fun things I would like to do would be great!!! And it if gets rolling, it might help me get back to doing more of it.

One thing I have started to do is work on my health. I have had so many starts and stops with this. Part of the problem is I tend to approach this kind of stuff with an "all or nothing" type attitude. Clean the kitchen out of all the junk food and usually it is not a few days down the road that we are all craving it. So I am trying to be better to approach this with baby steps. I know where I want to end up at....but I know that trying to jump in full force will just crash and burn. So I want to post each months focus on the side of my blog and will let you know how I do...a way to be accountable. And I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. I started this month with vitamins/supplements. I hate taking stuff.....occasionally an Advil or maybe something for sinus....but that is pretty much it. Anything that has to be taken on a regular basis, usually falls quickly by the wayside. But this month, I purchased on of those boxes where you can lay out everything you are to take for a week. I have started taking the baby aspirin, a good multivitamin, glucosamine (sp??) for my knees (and I am seeing a big improvement after two weeks!!!), fish oil, and calcium. And n honestly say that I feel better. I also have added in drinking more water.....which is a big deal for me. (hey, I am Miss Diet Pepsi!!!)....

They have ordered our massage beds that we get to take home....I am really excited as once I get it, I have to do 50 massages on my own to turn in before the end of the quarter! I have a bunch of volunteers, which is fun!!!

Well, this potpourri of info is to catch you up on what is going on here.......looking forward to some time this weekend to catch up on some of my favorite blogs!!!

Have a wonderful, fun, relaxing weekend.....do something fun for yourself....and something to feed your creative spirit!!!
HUGS,
Debbie

Grace.....

This is my favorite song......and the theme for my life at this time. This year is going to be about Grace....thankfulness for it being extended so lovingly to me.....and working on extending it with the same open heart to others.....
Enjoy the song....
Hugs,
Debbie

How Do I Love Thee, QVC....let me count the ways...

Here you will find the object of my affection.....the "cinnamon" Keurig that I have been coveting. I saw it on QVC....waited to see if it would work in the budget.....checked to see if I REALLY wanted it....all that good stuff. Then when I finally decided that I could purchase it....they were all gone!!! (insert big sigh here!) When I called to check on them..I was told I qualified as a customer in good standing to get it on easy pay...and that I could be put on the wait list.

Frankly, the wait list can become the pit of despair when you figure out that the item that you covet so will probably never, ever come back into stock. So imagine my surprise when I received a phone call on Sunday that they had my precious Keurig and it would arrive on the 7th (please insert "happy" dance here).

This morning I was checking out the shipping on QVC to find that I was on the "wait list" again...I just "knew" this had to be a horrible mistake. So I called, only to be told that because I had requested that they call me for approval before shipping that other people that didn't request being called shot ahead of me in line and by the time they turned in my request....they were all gone. And they sent me a letter to let me know..... Remember they CALLED me to get me all excited about the shipment.....but sent the reversal by pony express.

Feeling a big miffed about this whole thing....and realizing that I had given away our current coffee maker....caffeine induced stress and paranoia set in....that is when I dashed an email off to QVC sharing my irritation and lack of coffee. Yes, I did feel better after sending it....I wasn't ugly just stated the facts, how it could have been handled better....and the fact that you really shouldn't come between a woman and her coffee...just never a good idea.

This evening, I found a lovely email from QVC....they have express shipped my Keurig...and they thanked me and wished me "happy coffee days".

Yes, QVC will be receiving birthday, Christmas and other assorted holiday cards....and they may get left in the will.

Hope you had a good coffee day too.....
Hugs,
Debbie

Welcome Home.....

Well Friends....this is our new home. A wonderful arts and crafts type home built in the 1930's. There is just something special about this place....and we have felt it's homey atmosphere from the moment we stepped onto the front porch.
I had worried about leaving our other home....but as my son shared with me, it really hadn't felt like home the last few months with John not being there. So this is a grand place to make a fresh start.

This is a little area in my kitchen....I love being able to use this great shelf my friend Stephanie, from Between the Vines, made. It had been in my living room before and repurposing it as a spice shelf is a great space saver!!! And my rosemary......picked this up at Lowes during the holidays. We have been using sprigs of it to make rosemary yeast rolls that are divine!!! (the recipe is from Pioneer Woman...her book is awesome!!!)

And this is one of my end tables...decorated with sweet items made by friends who were part of our shop at one time or another. It is so special to have these touches and memories around our new home.

This will be a year of changes....growth.....new adventures. And I hope you will join me along the way.

Hugs to you all....and I am praying for each of you a very special new year!!!

Debbie

Moving, Moving, Moving......

Sorry I have not posted....our move is taking much longer than we expected. I am not going to complain because our new landlord has been doing some really wonderful things for us in our new home....so it truly is a blessing. I am just getting really antsy to get settled in and to have Christmas.....
So say a prayer for us as we work this move....and for my upcoming finals for this quarter....there is just alot on my plate right now and I hope to be blogging again soon.
I will share this, I am sick to death of eating out!!! So I have been eyeing all the cooking magazines and new books....as I so want to get back to cooking and baking. I picked up the new Pioneer Woman cookbook and it looks wonderful....you will have to check it out. I am planning to use several of the recipes for Christmas Eve dinner.

Anyway.....Blessings and a Merry Merry Christmas to all of you!!! I so appreciate your friendship and prayers as we have traveled through this last year....you all will never truly know how much it meant to us!!!

Hugs,
Debbie

Ok Christians, I am officially embarrassed for us.....

Sometimes I have found the same stuff gets said to me over and over in different ways....and after awhile I just feel like that for some reason I am suppose to share this...so here goes.
In the last month, this topic of conversation has come up among several of my son's friends that work in the restaurant business....the story? They hate working Sunday's because the church crowd is the WORST at tipping and in the way they treat the restaurant staff. How sad is that???

We recently found a great "new to us" pizza place in Chattanooga and we have been going often and telling our friends -- one of the waiters was sharing with my son about being there when a Christian group came in, their bill came to $100 and he was surprised and please to find two $100 bills on the table for payment. He had really worked hard for this group and was thrilled to see that they had appreciated it....that was until he found that one of the $100 bills was actually a track telling him how he was going to hell on the back of it. Really????? I mean Really???? What kind of witness do you think you are leaving with this tacky act?????

This stuff just makes me highly irritated to think that this is the witness we are giving. I work really hard to make sure that we try to go above and beyond if we are able to help change the opinion of these folks that work really hard for their money.

If you are guilty of this....SHAME ON YOU!!! We truly do need to set a better example of what living a Christian life truly is.....it is about sharing the love and grace that God grants to each of us every day.... Do I miss the boat on this......sadly, I do on a frequent basis.....but let's work to make a difference in how the restaurant community thinks of us.

Ok....I am off my soapbox......for now anyway....LOL
Hugs to each of you!!
Debbie

P.S. thanks for all the comments about the Halloween decorated house....I am sure I will have another picture to share when the Christmas decorations come out.....

A Little Overboard, Don't You Think???

I quickly snapped this picture on my way home from school the other day.....sorry for the poor quality, but I have been wanting to post a picture of this house for some time.
This isn't even ALL of the blowups that are on this lawn!!

This is for Halloween......it is even more crowded for Christmas, if you can imagine!!! LOL
There is always so much on the lawn that it is just too much to take in...and each time I pass it, I just think that someone either has money to burn or way, way, way too much time on their hands........or this is the result of a bet gone wrong!!! LOL

But the more that I look at it, the more that I see that I think alot of us do this with our lives.....we clutter it with so much "stuff" that it is hard to really see the "heart" of who we are. Plus we have so much clutter around us of all we have to do, want to do, demand to do, feel pressured to do.....that we just look unapproachable. Check out the house above, I am not sure how the heck you would even get to the front door without a map!!

So I am working to take this life lesson to heart. I am "decluttering" some things in my life that I have been hanging on to, but they are things that aren't serving me well. Are there some things that you need to let go of????

Hugs to you all...
Debbie