New Family Pics

My nephew, Bart and his family came for Thanksgiving and we all decided to take family pictures for each other. Here's some of the best ones. Which are your favorite?

Who Do You See?

*Choralaires has been having Sing Outs at Nursing Homes this past week and so many times it was very emotional for me and as I expressed my thoughts/feelings with another member she sent me this via email and I was touched so I'd like to share it with you too.

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte, Nebraska , it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. One nurse took her copy to Missouri .

The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . . . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . .. . . . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .. .. . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . .. . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . .. . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . . . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . .. . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children .. . . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I've known

I'm now an old man . . . . . and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . .. . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . .. a young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer .. . . see ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

Healthy Holidays

I have been part of a weight loss challenge for the past 3 1/2 months and I've been seeing great results, not necessarily in just pounds lost (only 6) but in making better more healthy choices each day. The challenge completes in 2 weeks and I'm excited that there is another challenge starting the following week!! You can live ANYWHERE and be a part of this!! Go to this link to find out more. Healthy Holidays If you join too we might even end up on the same team and win great bodies and a little bit of $$

Tooth Fairy Visits Idaho!

And I don't think Maggie could have possibly been more excited.

Warmth

I woke up this morning in a warm bed, in a warm room, in a warm house and discovered as I looked out the window that there is NO warmth outside. So, today I feel immense gratitude for the marvels of modern-day HEATING! Though I know how, and am fully capable, I am SO glad that I don't have to go out into the bitter cold to chop wood to heat our home. mmm...warmmmm

8th

Today I am so very grateful for antibiotics and the ease at which we access to them! I was thinking this morning about how horrible I've felt all week long with continuous fevers and not being able to swallow without pain, or sleep because of it and how I felt like I'd been hit by a Mack truck.

Yesterday, I went to a Community Care clinic maybe 2 miles from my home, met with a PA, had a Strep Test and was given a prescription for antibiotics in approx 35min. After which, I literally drove across the street to Walmart Pharmacy and had my medication within a half an hour. During this wait time I was wandering around thinking about how crappy I felt, but now after 3 doses I feel so much better! I still have a sore throat but I can function now!!

I just think it is amazing that these blessings are even available to us in such convenience and how not everyone has these opportunities. I am truly grateful today that I do.

An Attitude of Gratitude!

I recently saw a FB post to state something you're thankful for every day this month. I thought it was a FANTASTIC idea and want to carry it to my blog. So, here's the catch up.

1- I'm thankful for a good husband who will take the girls to church by himself when I'm sick.
2- I'm thankful that my hCG levels are normal and have physically healed from this miscarriage.
3- I'm thankful to be able to volunteer in reading groups in Maggie's class.
4- I'm thankful for music! And most especially Christmas music and that I am in a choir right now.
5- I'm thankful for modern day pain killers aka Ibuprofen that help me recover from migraines.
6- I'm thankful the two little comedians that run around my house everyday.
7- I'm thankful for a thoughtful RS Pres/Visiting Teacher who made sure my family had Chicken Noodle Soup and POPSICLES for dinner tonight (hot/cold therapy for Strep) because I wasn't feeling well. :)

The Final Draw

Blood draw that is! hCG is 3! and I finally stopped bleeding today. It only took 4 weeks....but I digress. I feel like I can start moving forward again. Whew..