Boo--It's Me :)

Hey...it really IS me. It was a ROUGH summer. Thanks FOR all those who checked in with me. I really appreciate all of you who just dropped an email to say hi and thanks, too, for all of you who kept me in your prayers.

I am SO grateful that Autumn is here. We had record heat here this summer. It was really brutal. Don't you love this time of year?? Pumpkins, all of the beautiful colored leaves...SIGH! Just such beauty everywhere!!

Another reason why I didn't post much over the summer has to do with my health--(but then WHAT ELSE IS NEW?? LOL!!) I was having a lot of CNS (brain) problems which just really makes it hard to communicate (especially trying to string together more than a few words together on a blog and having them make any kind of sense--and even on a GOOD day--I am not saying that I am very sucessful...but at least I hope I make SOME sense.)

As with all things, though, my faith continues to get me through the rough times. If I didn't have God in my life--I really don't know where I would be. All I know is that He is the light that guides me in my darkness and is ALWAYS there for me.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Until next time...

Gentle hugs,

Quotable Sunday #11 Chinese Proverbs

Yay :) Another week of Quotable Sunday is here. Head on over to A Daily Dose of Toni's to sign in with Mr. Linky (and the rules if you're a newbie) Plus, as you know, ALL of the fun is checking out one another's quotations and leaving comments on quotes that inspire, encourage, or just plain make us laugh.

The theme for my quotes this week is Chinese Proverbs. I just LOVE them. Let me know what you think (and I will return all comment visits :) Have a Super weekend.

A hundred men may make an encampment, but it takes a woman to make a home

Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and expecting a different outcome.

Small ills are the fountains of most of our groans. Men trip not on mountains, they stumble on stones.

Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.

With true friends . . . even water drunk together is sweet enough.

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Heaven has a road, but no one travels it; Hell has no gate but men will dig to get there

If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow


The journey is the reward.

Aloha Friday #11

Aloha everyone!
It's Friday, which means that over at An Island Life it is time for Aloha Friday. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays we take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, she asks a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. Then everyone else asks a simple question of their own blog for others to answer.

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin Cancer is on the rise and more than 8,000 deaths are attributed directly to melanoma (skin cancer) each year (most of these could have been prevented simply by protecting the skin from UV radiation.)

Several of my family members have recently been diagnosed with basal cell carcinomas. They have had to go in and get biopsied. Thankfully, in each case, early detection proved to be a good thing and both results turned out benign. Now, everyone is very prudent about wearing floppy hats and slathering on the sunscreen-especially on the face (nose)

When I think back when I was a teen and young adult, I shudder at how foolish I was basking in the sun practically marinating myself in a blend of just baby oil or MAYBE Hawaiian Tropical Oil (but never anything with any SPF in it!!) Also, we would lay out with these reflector sheets to attact as much sun as possible. HELLO??? When we moved to California and the first few times I went to the beach, I remember getting some of the worst burns in my life. One time I think I might have received sun poisoning I was so ill. (Also, remember...I have lupus, although undiagnosed at that time--being in the sun is horrible for lupus patients!!) As I got older (ahem, and wiser, I thought..), I started to go to the tanning salon. Living in California, it was important to always have a beautiful tan (and having a full time job meant that I couldn't just laze around at the beach all day--but it was important to at least look like I could! ) The CRAZY things we do!! Anyway, we were "told" that tanning salons were just as safe as the sun--even safer.

Life goes on....priorities change...I don't know when I stopped going to the salon...now I have lupus and I NEVER deliberately "lay out" in the sun. Even just a five minute walk out in the sun causes my fair skin to burn because of the various meds I am on so I have to be very careful to always try to either cover up if I am going to be outside (or carry a parasol/umbrella) or carry sunscreen around with me 24/7.

My question for YOU this week. Have your attitudes about sun exposure changed? Has skin cancer affected you personally?

WW Blast from the Past

I love Blast from the Past pictures. This is the picture that I have in my profile. I don't know who took it but I obviously am very happy :) I was sitting on the front porch of our new home. I sort of look like I might be up to something (don't I??) LOL! Anyway....Happy WW...if you show some comment love...I will return the favor :)

Quotable Sunday #10 Joy

Happy Easter and another round of quotable Sunday is here. Head over to A Daily Dose of Toni to check in with Mr. Linky (and read the rules if you're a newbie.) Give me some comment love and I will make sure to return the visit :)

This week my quotes are all about JOY. Hope you have a Blessed Easter and a wonderful week.

Joy is the best makeup.-Anne LaMott

We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. -Helen Keller

We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them-Kalil Gabran

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.-Thich Nhat Hanh

Joy is not in things; it is in us.-Richard Wagner

Joy is prayer-Joy is strength-Joy is love-Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.-Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.-Ben Hogan

The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy.-Jim Rohn

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.-RalphWaldo Emerson

One joy scatters a hundred griefs. -Chinese Proverb

If you really like quotes, check out my main site. I have been collecting quotes for about ten years (sorry--it's doesn't have a search engine--maybe someday...but it has archives and lots of quotes...)

Aloha Friday #10

Aloha everyone!It's Friday, which means that over at An Island Life it is time for Aloha Friday. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays we take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, she asks a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. Then everyone else asks a simple question of their own blog for others to answer.



National Library Week is the 2nd week of April each week and National Library Day this year is April 14th. My question this week is regarding libraries. What is your earliest library memory OR what is your favorite library memory?


The library was a special place for me growing up. I went to Catholic School and we lived way out in a rural area. Each day I would "carpool" with my dad into the city and go to school. After school, I would walk a short distance to the library and spend about three hours each day there until he could pick me up for the drive home. At first, I really HATED spending time at the library. I wanted to be home playing with my other friends or watching tv--doing SOMETHING.



However, I soon developed a routine that lasted the five years and I feel changed my life. First, I would, of course, do my homework. After that, I started to discover the library. The librarians were always so nice and helpful (I think that they were just thankful that I was a good kid and didn't cause any trouble every day!!) Anyway, they would suggest different books that I might like and soon I became a "reader".


We always read as a family but I soon discovered that I had my own tastes and that there was an entire world of books out there. I could travel back in time or ahead to the future. I could go to other worlds or to outer space. I could be a girl detective or a student nurse. I could read biographies about famous people. The library is STILL very important to me. Even today, I check out books and we have a wonderful community library that delivers books to me because of my medical condition.


Ok...now it's YOUR turn...what's your earliest library memory or favorite library moment? If you leave your comment-I will return your visit :) Have a great weekend...

Update: Last week's question was what was your favorite toy? Answers ranged from Mrs. Beasley, Chrissy and Sunshine dolls to Pound Puppies, and Leggos. Thanks to those who took the time to comment. I return ALL visits!!

Quotable Sunday #9 Courage

Happy Quotable Sunday :) I LOVE quotations. I write them down on scraps of papers, notebooks, --everywhere. For the past ten years or so, I have been doing a monthly quote page on my main website so if you need some quotes, you can check out my site.

For Quotable Sunday, go over to A Daily Dose of Toni's and check in with "Mr Linky." Then make the rounds of everyone else who has signed in before you (it is so inspiring and sometimes hilarious to read some of the quotes that your fellow bloggers have selected for the week) And--remember to share your thoughts--everyone LOVES to get comments (don't you?? :)

This week--I decided to go with courage. I needed a bit of extra courage this week so some of these quotes were VERY inspirational and were just the little push I needed. Did any of these quotes inspire you? Share your thoughts and have a WONDERFUL Quotable Sunday.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.-Eleanor Roosevelt

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.-Soren Kierkegaard

Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.-Claire Booth Luce

The best way out is always through.-Robert Frost

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.-Dorothy Thompson

We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.-Helen Keller

Aloha Friday #09

Aloha everyone!
It's Friday, which means that over at An Island Life it is time for Aloha Friday. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays we take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, she asks a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. Then everyone else asks a simple question of their own blog for others to answer.

This week's question is another easy one. What was your favorite toy as a child? Do you still have it?? My favorite toy was my Mrs. Beasley doll. I just loved that doll (and yes I still have her--she doesn't have her glasses--is missing her dress--is pretty filthy (I could clean her up--but I think she looks LOVED!!) Oh--and somewhere along the line--I decided to give her a haircut--LOL!! She sort of looks like a punk rocker now!! Ok...so now I want to hear from YOU. Don't be shy...

UPDATE: Last week's question was a fun one with a variety of answers. Thanks to ALL who participated.

Not So (Wordless) Wednesday Spring Flowers

Apri Fool's Day :) Hope no one has pulled any practical jokes on you. Sorry this picture is not of better quality (I took it with my cell phone) but the sun was just so gorgeous as it was streaming through the trees (Those who know me WELL are scratching their heads and wondering...morning??? Yes, I was UP early last week for a doctor appointment. LOL! Glad I was or I would have missed this great photo op!!

Quotable Sunday #8 Anne Frank

Yay!! It's Sunday--so you know what that means, right?? Another round of Quotable Sunday. Head on over to A Daily Dose of Toni, to sign in and read all about it. It's mostly a group of quotation loving bloggers who get together each week and share quotes and then make the rounds and read each other quotes and comment (we all LOVE comments--right :)


This week, yet another of my favorite people to go to for quotes--Anne Frank. I hope you these quotes inspire, encourage and strengthen. Have a wonderful week....

Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.

Boys will be boys. And even that wouldn't matter if only we could prevent girls from being girls.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.

No one has ever become poor by giving.

Aloha Friday #8

Aloha everyone!
It's Friday, which means that over at An Island Life it is time for Aloha Friday. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays we take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, she asks a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. Then everyone else asks a simple question of their own blog for others to answer.


Ok...here is my question for today. It's a pretty easy one. Tell us three adjectives that describe your day today.

My day? crazy, hectic, irritating (I have to go to the doctor's office-enough said?? LOL!!)

Update:Thanks for all who stopped by last week. I love that there are SO many other people who love to read as much as I do and there are SO many other good top five lists out there. The Bible was on the majority of the lists :) and Twilight--LOL!

Wordful Wednesday-St. Joseph

Prayer to St. Joseph over 1900 years old
O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God,

I place in you all my interests and desires.

O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession

and obtain for me from your Divine Son

all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord;

so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power

I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers.

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms.

I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.

Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me,

and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath.

St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen

Say for nine consecutive mornings for anything you may desire. It has seldom been known to fail.

This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1500's it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle.
Whoever reads this prayer or hears it or carries it, will never die a sudden death, nor be drowned, nor will poison take effect on them. They will not fall into the hands of the enemy nor be burned in any fire, nor will they be defeated in battle.
Make this prayer known everywhere.

St. Joseph's Feast Day was last week (March 19th). St. Joseph is truly a wonderful patron Saint and a powerful intercessor. Think of what a wonderful Father he was to Jesus. Also, think of all of the struggles or challenges he had to face in the bible-yet he faced them and did them gracefully.

To find out more about St. Joseph, check out my main website.

Quotable Sunday #7 Helen Keller

Yay! Another Sunday...another round of Quotable Sunday. Check in at A Daily Dose of Toni--make the rounds, read the quotes and of course--leave comments :) It's a lot of fun. If you are a quote fanatic, please visit my main website. I have been doing a monthly quote page for years (maybe a decade...LOL!!) It is NOT indexed or in ANY way organized...SOMEDAY!!

Anyway, my theme for this week is Helen Keller. Along with Bl. Mother Teresa, she is one of my favorite sources for quotes. I just think that Helen Keller is such a strong woman--she overcame so much-and her quotes always make me feel very inspired or encouraged. Hope something touches your heart as well. Have a wonderful Sunday.

All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.

Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.

The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.

Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.

One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.

Aloha Friday #7

Aloha everyone!
It's Friday, which means that over at An Island Life it is time for Aloha Friday. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays we take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, she asks a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. Then everyone else asks a simple question of their own blog for others to answer.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am an AVID reader so this week's question is going to be about reading. You are going to be stuck on a deserted island and only get to take FIVE books with you--which books are you going to take with you and why??

Me? I would first bring along the Bible as it has EVERYTHING--even poetry. The second book would have to be Jane Austen--probably Sense & Sensibility. I have just always enjoyed Austen's writing style (and have read all of her works--even the more obscure books.) The third book would be To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Again-just beautiful writing and a timeless story. Number four would probably be the book I am reading now--Breaking Dawn (just for a contemporary book) and Number Five would be the Velveteen Rabbit (my alltime fave children's story).

Ok..your turn--don't be shy--leave your comments--and Have a Super Weekend :)

Aw Shucks! My first Award {Blush}

Thanks SO much Kimberly from She Scribes for giving this blog my VERY first award. Kimberly is one of those bloggers who always takes time out to respond to questions (no matter how CRAZY--LOL!! and is just a really nice person!!) She always has something going on at her blog--great giveaways too, so check it out.





Anyway, according to the award--I need to post a little something and then pass it along to five other people so without further ado....

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to those bloggers who must choose at least 5 more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

Piera Jolly Mom

Crystal Bead Happily Ever
"SuperJaxster" Life With Four Purrs

Kristin Babysites

Karen Karen's Catholic Journal

Ann Ann Dennis Author Page

I hope that you will check out these great sites and maybe you will find a NEW favorite blog :)

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday #7

Today is Our Lady of Mercy's Feast Day.

Here is a prayer:

Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent!

Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins.

Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God.

Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God.

May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection.

Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers.

Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever.

Amen.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

What are your St. Patrick's Day memories?

For me, St. Patrick's Day always makes me think of "wearing of the green" in fear of getting PINCHED!!

Also, my mom would always make corned beef and cabbage (blech!) I could not STAND the smell of it then and (with age and -ahem-maturity) I still haven't acquired the taste for it.

What else? Of course, shamrocks (and shamrock shakes at McD's..LOL!!) and

can't forget the leprechauns (and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow).

So...now's it's your turn...come on...don't be shy...

Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day

Check out 123 Greetings if you wish to send a cool St. Pat's Day e-card.

Another Round of doctors...another round of prayers answered but questions unanswered...

Okay, I went and saw a BUNCH of docs lately (and still have a few more to go see)...but the important news is this--my lungs are completely CLEAR. WOO HOO!! No more nodules. Doing a happy dance. My lung doc informed me that the "stuff--i.e. nodules were quite large--and also were numerous. He wasn't very happy to find out that my rheumie was asking me if I would again consider going back on the Enbrel (which my lung doctor believes was the main culprit in lowering my immune system to the crazy level where I got some really weirdo lung infection that basically took over my lungs--kind of like tuberculosis) My rheumatologist, though, (and I can see her side of the picture as well--says how well it helped with my headaches and diarrhea (oops--TMI, I am sorry--but the second ailment was so severe that I literally was homebound because of it. When I was taking Enbrel, it was the first time in almost 25 years that I could really have a somewhat "normal" life--except for ONE thing--my lungs became all gunked up within 2-4 months. So, of course, I just have to deal with the headaches and tummy trouble because I can't go back on that med which crashes my immune system (I am also on 3 other immunosuppresent "chemo" meds and then steroids which don't help matters any.

SIGH!! And STILL, with all of these meds...I have such awful headaches.

As I said...I still have another round of docs to go to--and one of those happen to be the neurologist. So, we shall see what he recommends. He is just THRILLED that I am still alive. Apparently, according to my MRI films, I have a "big hole" in my brain and I should be just grateful to be functioning as well as I am. He is always just amazed at how well I get around (as if I should just be sitting there drooling in the corner or something?? I am not sure what he really expects?? However, I am extremely stubborn--so if anything, they (docs) should all expect me to give them one HECK of a time. LOL!!

Anyway...that's the update for now. Again....thank you SO much for all of your prayers. The power of prayer is JUST amazing--isn't it?? Do you have a story about how the power of prayer in your life?? Do you have any tips for trying to deal with "dueling docs"?

Again--take care and SMILE at a stranger :)

Gentle hugs

Quotable Sunday #6

Yay...it's Sunday...so you know what that means?? Another round of Quotable Sunday. Don't forget to go to Toni's site and sign in and check out everyone's quotes (and everyone LOVES to see comments!! even me--hint hint!! LOL!) This week, I chose one of my all time favorite sources for quotations--Mother Teresa. Let me know which one is your favorite. Have a WONDERFUL Sunday :)

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.

Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you catch souls.

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.

Let us make one point, that we meet each other with a smile, when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family.

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?