M O N D A Y, M O N D A Y

 Aw...Mondays

My paternal grandmother is in the front row. She is wearing the light colored dress, possibly white. She was actively invovled in the Women's Lodge when I was a small child. According to a couple of my cousin's, they said their grandma (Angela) "Gela", my grandparents daughter , was her replacement as Secretary when she stepped down.  Very proud of my heritage and those wonderful ancestors of mine.

Sparks 

"Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer." Niccolo Machiavelli

Love is....says it best, always and forever.

Aw...Mondays and Love is...

 Aw...Mondays I am guessing the reason that I can not get much done in the early morning hours is due to the fact that the pups and their role model Leo stand by the fence and have a bark a thon. Now I go out there with a spray water bottle and a snarky face! They know I mean business! So barking is a big deal at this house!

This is us after a long weekend of hard work and checking off those projects we finished. We have tired arms from repainted the front deck. Our goal is to get a concrete porch and prayerfully praying for that to happen in the next year. God Willing ~

Although Annie at Sparks is on hiatus I wanted to share a favorite Sparks. 

Random Monday Thoughts

 Aw...Mondays....

I am very technically challenged but I want to share a sweet story here. I would love to share a photo but I respect the privacy of friends with young children.

My friend in Kansas has two little girls. The oldest one turned 4 this weekend. She is a real sweetheart. She told her great grandma recently that  Jesus died for us so one day we will all go to heaven and be with Him. She is a smart little lady and her mom telling this story made me smile. I love those young mom's and dad's teaching the little ones about all the important things. One day this world will fade away but eternity will be forever. 

I was raised to know that same truth but often told to pray to saints. In the 2nd grade, I can remember thinking, I never had one prayer answered by a saint. I think I will go directly to Jesus. I figured He did die for all of us, so why shouldn't I just pray to him? 

Everything good I know I Learned early on from my parents and from my teachers at school. I am grateful every day for the childhood I had. It is refreshing to see young mom's raising kids like this.

Amanda and Aaron are expecting natural triplets. They homeschool their kids, mostly Amanda, because Aaron has an outside job. But with Amanda on bedrest, he is able to work from home and their homeschool community pitches in to help with their five little ones and their homeschooling. Amanda says it best, if we don't teach our little ones about Jesus, the world won't. Amanda comes from a very large Catholic phamily and she is the most encouraging young mom. She has her hands and heart full of little ones, yet it is her favorite world to be in. She encourages everyone she knows because that is her way. Although she is unable to do much physical activity now, she makes sure to inspire and encourage those of us who know her at social media. If you knew Nancy, her mom, you would know where Amanda gets her spunk.

This painting is called "First Day in Heaven".

I have a prayer request, for Brenda and Steve. Brenda is one of the kindest people I know. She is always willing to help out and she is a nurse . She has that personality, what can I do to make you feel better? Help you in any way. They would appreciate prayers.

Always praying for Amanda and those triplet babies growing so quickly. If she does not go into labor on her own, they have already scheduled a C-Section. It is very exciting, because she will have a team of doctors. Having worked in the medical school and the hospital Admissions for many years, it was always exciting when there were multiple births. Not all surgical procedures have large teams of doctors and nurses but multiple births and Transplant patients do.  I learned so much about my own surgery that I had because I asked questions. If you don't take hold of your own health, someone may not see important issues you have. Always be alert and pay good attention. 

The eye exam I had, was a blessing this year. That doctor was older and he knew all Opthamology good guys like E. Bruce Wilson who was a Neuro-Opthamologist.. When I had my first neurosurgery that guy tortured me by placing these metal clothespins on my eyelds to hold them open. He claimed he was checking my  peripheral vision. I said I think he shouldn't send me a bill because "torture" is not usually covered by health insurance! Although he is retired now, he was an excellent surgeon and all around good guy. My friend Sandy S. had an older sister who lost the vision in one of  her eyes. She would have lost the vision in her other eye except Dr. Wilson was there to help save her vision in one eye. He came highly recommended. They sure don't have doctors like him today.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoy this new month. I am finding nuggets in each day to remind myself how important it is to take care of all the little things in life. They are usually the big things, and sometime we realize this too late.

Today was a prime example, people losing their minds over social media shut downs. If that made you pull out your hair, you aren;t going to like when worse things come along. So take a breath, stop watching 24 news coverage and remember what is truly important in your own lives.

Sparks for Annie who is taking a break. 

PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN

Hello to Aw...Mondays . My friend Carole recently shared something. She said people spend too much time on their phones and ended with this message, put your damn phone down! Everywhere we go, people  with faces buried looking at  their phones.Look at life, your hubby or wife, your kids, grands and friends.Smile at a stranger. Please put your phone down while driving

This boy is on vacation in Cheese Country, otherwise known as Wisconsin. He told me one day to put my phone down and talk to him.  Goodbye phone, hello Harrison. I miss him already.

Harrison is warming up to the idea that in December, he will be a big brother. No pink ribbons there, another blue bundle of joy. Waiting on the name. They know I love Harley but they will have to find the perfect one. Love is...sums this up nicely.

HaHaHa! Oooooohhhhh Maxine, that new baby arriving in time for the CHRISTmas season. Maxine is 100 percent right, you know that don't you?

I have a quick challenge for you. instead of an unkind word or thought proceeding from your mind and mouth please do this:

Small kindnesses make big strides. People everywhere are fighting a battle you know nothing about. Use kindness.  It makes me feel better to be kind. It is easy to be mean, kindness is hard if you make it that way. I see so many wanting their cause championed or expressing the hate they say among others and yet they are doing the same thing. Try kindness, use love to it's full potential. Love is the greatest gift of all. Prayers going up for Annie who has always shared kindness and positive notes at her blog.

A Very Blue Monday

Usually I can swing through Monday. But not this one. Although I enjoyed a nice weekend with loved ones here at home my sister sent me a link on SONday.

My friend Kathleen P. "Kathy" O' Gane passed away, I am assuming peacefully, in her sleep June 28, 2018. She was 63 years too young. Kathy and I had known each other since 1972. Her father Buck worked at the Pueblo  County Courthouse .  I was working there after graduating early in March 1972 from high school. Buck asked my boss Mrs. Mary Shomer if she could offer his daughter Kathy a job. That is how I met my friend Kathy through her funny and amazing dad Mr. Buckley P. "Buck" O'Gane.We became fast friends and she introduced me to Vivian, our sweet friend who passed away in January this year. I Am sad by my friends sudden passing but grateful to have known her and hoping she is resting in peace.

Visiting Sandee at Aw...Mondays and showing you a google image of a prayerful pup. I am going to donate to a local animal rescue in memory of my friend Kathy. She had three fur babies when she passed away Wednesday.

A message of smiles and courage and comfort and love with everything good in between. Praying for Annie and sharing this with Sparks.

A single blue rose in memory of Kathy. Stop by Blue Monday and share some blue today.

Love is...always has the right words I need. My sister would disagree but once a long time ago, Kathy had a few too many drinks and threw my sister in a mud muddle, that was huge, outside of a country/western nightclub we frequented. Kathy wasn't a huge drinker because she was too far gone way too early. She use to get a little crazy and my poor big sister was in her path. We can giggle now, but when it happened my sister was not a happy camper.

Kathy served in the United States Navy. So was her brother Michael and sister Marlene. Her dad Buck and brother Patrick were in the U.S,, Army.

Maxine, we agree! I am grateful for all who served and are serving. Thank you to all the O'Gane's who stepped up and served.

Kathy lost her mom this past Autumn. Her sister Marlene will now be the only one left at the phamily home. Please pray for Marlene. I am certain she is emotionally fragile  as she and Kathy lived together in the phamily home.

Grief.....it seems to come to us in this life when we least expect it. Stay close to those you love, renew your relationships that are broken.

God's promise in life because we will taste death.

Pray for Anne's niece Amber in Texas. She was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Pray for Vickie and Don as they struggle with health issues of their own while dealing with their daughter Kristi and her husband Jeremy who recently had a kidney transplant and has been dealing with one infection after another. Kristi needs prayer too as she is on the brink of breaking, it has been a difficult road for all of them. Pray for my husband's sister Lucy who is at a Level I trauma center here in Denver. She was hit by a drunk driver travelling over 100 miles an hour late last night. Her daughter Staci sustained a broken neck among other injuries. Her daughter has a broken elbow and three of Lucy's grandson's. Kameron, Kaden and Mason were also injuried. The drunk driver walked away with nary a scratch,

This is Lucy's truck. The photo is from the Brighton Fire Rescue post. She  is at a level I trauma hospital. Her daughter is at another Denver area hospital and the 3 grandkids are at The Childrens Hospital.  We were told Taylor, Staci's daughter had the least serious injury. My husband's sister was air lifted by Flight for Life and her youngest daughter told my husband she would let him know how her surgery went. For five minutes I wish people would get off the gun control issue , look at the death and critical injury rate of drunk drivers hitting innocent people  and take all the ads off TV and magazines glamourizing alcohol. Smoking is still attacked and it is no worse than being in an accident with a drunk driver who seriously injures you. Check the stats. I'm sorry but the drunk driving rate is out of control. I wish my husband's phamily peace, healing and many prayers.

"C" is for Cats a/k/a Felines

Rose has an attitude! She isn't quite Grumpy Cat but she is one tough feline or fur friend or cat. Whichever you prefer. I am using the letter "C" today for Cats and thought I would share it with Sandee and everyone at Aw....Mondays.

My favorite feline Boots. As the years go by, I still feel like he left him just a moment ago. An amazing feline, smart and beautiful and loyal. I will always love my Boots.

Bumby and Gizmo. These two fellows belong to my sister. Look at the naughty kitty pushing his feline friend off the bed.  Her other kitty is camera shy as well as people shy. He is hiding, probably under the bed.

we love tohave a pizza sometime while enjoying TV but we have salad too so it gives us a nice balance. Love is....the very best.

Oh Maxine....you are such a character. A grumpy one too! You need your sunshades.

We need to get back to love and stop all the hatefulness in our world. We will all never agree on everything we see around us and that is what makes us unique. How sad if we all thought exactly alike. Life would be boring.

Keep Annie from Sparks in your prayers as she had to take a blogging break. She is a wonderful person always looking for a kindness to share. HAve a wonderful week.