A beautiful poem to share

                           

A big thank you to Donna for this beautiful graphic. A friend of mine emailed me this poem tonight, and I thought it was so beautiful and had to share it with you all.

A Different Christmas Poem
>>The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
>>I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
>>My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
>>My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
>>Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
>>Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
>>The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
>>Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
>>My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
>>Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
>>In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
>>So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
>>
>>The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
>>But I opened my eyes when it
>>tickled my ear.
>>Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
>>sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
>>My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
>>And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
>>Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
>>A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
>>
>>A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
>>Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
>>Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
>>Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
>>"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
>>"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
>>Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
>>You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
>>
>>For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
>>Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
>>To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
>>Then he sighed
>>and he said "Its really all right,
>>I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at
>>the front of the line,
>>That separates you from the darkest of times.
>>No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
>>I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
>>My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
>>Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
>>My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
>>And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
>>I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
>>But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
>>
>>Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
>>The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
>>I can live through the cold and the being alone,
>>Away from my family, my house and my home.
>>I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
>>I can sleep in a foxhole with
>>little to eat.
>>I can carry the weight of killing another,
>>Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
>>Who stand at the front against any and all,
>>To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
>>
>>"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
>>Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
>>"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
>>"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
>>It seems all too little for all that you've done,
>>For being away from your wife and your son."
>>Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
>>"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
>>To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
>>To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
>>For when we come home, either standing or dead,
>>To know you remember
>>we fought and we bled.
>>Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
>>That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

                       

And a big thank you to Roxy for this awesome name tag.

OutOfMyKitchen

 

                             

I just took me a couple tylenol for a backache, and I thought I would write an entry while waiting for them to kick in. There's a few people who have emailed me asking for the link to my recipe journal. I have added the link to this entry, at least I hope I did it right. If I didn't let me know and I will work on fixing it. I've still got alot to learn about journaling, but I am learning a little at a time. I am so pleased that your enjoying the recipes I post. I hope I can continue to make you want even more. LOL I have chosen the next 2 to be, Sweet Pear Dumplings and Eggnog Pound Cake. Both would go great for desserts over the holidays.

I managed to get my bathroom, kitchen and livingroom cleaned. But by the time I was finished I was so much in pain, I could not stand at stove and cook. So, I asked Jim and Joe about Pizza and Hotwings for supper. They were like 2 little boys, yeahhhhhhh hotwings, lol. So that's what we had. It felt good to just sit and relax and not have to cook. Tomorrow I will make my chicken. I think I will have my daughter Emma bring my grand daughter Marissa over for the day. If the girls are good maybe I will let them have a sleepover.

I can't remember who it was, but someone here in Jland suggested I take my medication at night before bed. Well, I started doing that, and guess what? By the time the side effects kicked in, I was sound asleep and slept right through them. So to the person who suggested this, thank you so very much. It is so much better not having those horrible dizzy spells and nauscia feelings.

Well, it is going on midnight now, and my body is screaming out for my bed. So, I guess I will go now. Sweet dreams everyone.

                             

                                       CINDY

GOOD AFTERNOON

                                

I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING AN AWESOME DAY TODAY SO FAR. MY DAY HAS BEEN OK SO FAR. I GOT UP AT 9:45 THIS MORNING. HAD MY DIET PEPSI, TOOK A COUPLE TYLENOL, CAUSE OUT OF NO WHERE I WAS HIT WITH A MIGRAIN. TYLENOL WORKED, MIGRAIN IS GONE. I HAD A LIGHT BREAKFAST. JUST 2 PIECES OF TOAST WITH MY OLIVIO BUTTER AND STRAWBERRY PRESERVES. I'M GOOD TO GO UNTIL DINNER NOW.

YESTERDAY FELT SO GREAT, DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. BUT TODAY I AM SUFFERING. MY CHILD, SWEET AND INNOCENT REBECCA, YEA RIGHT I MEAN HURRICANE REBECCA HAS LITERALLY TRASHED MY HOUSE. SO NOW I HAVE DOUBLE THE WORK TO DO. OH WELL, PART OF BEING A MOM RIGHT? MY AGENDA TODAY IS CLEAN 3 OF MY 4 ROOMS IN THIS APARTMENT. WHICH WILL BE LIVINGROOM, KITCHEN AND BATHROOM. THE BEDROOM CAN WAIT BECAUSE WHEN REBECCA IS FINISHED EATTING HER LUNCH, SHE WILL BE GOING DOWN FOR A NAP, NO MATTER IF SHE WANTS ONE OR NOT. IF I WERE TO LET HER STAY UP, SHE WOULD TRASH A ROOM I ALREADY CLEANED, SO NAP SHE GOES, LOL. I HAVE ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH BACK AND LEG PAIN. SOMETIMES IT IS SO BAD I WILL ACTUALLY FALL TO THE FLOOR IF THERE ISN'T A CHAIR NEXT TO ME TO SIT. WHEN I DO DISHES NOW, I KEEP A CHAIR NEXT TO ME TO SIT WHEN THE PAIN IS SO BAD I CAN'T STAND NO LONGER. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I GOT CANCER AND HAD ALL THESE SURGERIES AND CHEMO TREATMENTS. IT REALLY TOOK A TOLL ON MY BODY. I AM 45 YEARS OLD AND 99% OF THE TIME I FEEL 95 YEARS OLD. I KNOW MOST OF MY PROBLEM CAN BE BLAMED ON BEING SO OVER WEIGHT, BUT IF I COULD WORK OUT OR JOG I WOULD. BUT RIGHT NOW I CAN'T, NOT WITH THE LUNG ISSUE HANGING OVER ME. WALKING IS VERY HARD ON ME. I CAN'T BREATHE HALF THE TIME. ALL I CAN DO NOW, IS TRY TO EAT HEALTHY AND WATCH THE FAT INTAKE OF WHAT I EAT. THERE IS TIMES WHEN I EVEN FORGET TO EAT. WHICH IS NOT GOOD, I KNOW. TAKING THIS MEDICATION FOR MY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TAKES AWAY MY APPETITE, SO IF I'M NOT HUNGRY I FORGET ABOUT EATTING.

         

DINNER TONIGHT IS GONNA BE A TREAT. GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST BASTED WITH A BUTTERY LEMON AND PARSLEY SAUCE, RICE PILAF AND A BIG GREEN SALAD. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. JIM WANTED SPAGHETTI AND HOT SAUSAGE, BUT I AM NOT IN THE MOOD TO MAKE SAUCE TODAY, NOT WITH ALL MY HOUSEWORK I HAVE TO DO.

I POSTED QUITE A FEW RECIPES THE PAST 24 HOURS IN MY RECIPE JOURNAL. I HOPE YOU WILL ALL FIND SOMETHING IN THEM THAT YOU LIKE. LATER TODAY I HAVE AN AWESOME RECIPE FOR MY CRABCAKES. YES IT IS MY OWN RECIPE. I LOVE EXPERIMENTING, AND THIS CRABCAKE MIXTURE CAME OUT PERFECT. WHEN I MAKE THEM, I SERVE THEM WITH STEAMED ASPARAGUS AND A NICE SALAD. NO NEED FOR ANYTHING ELSE, BECAUSE THE CRABCAKES ARE FILLING THEMSELVES. I DO BELIEVE YOU WILL LIKE THEM.

WELL, I GUESS I WILL GO NOW AND PUT MY CHILD DOWN FOR A NAP, AND GET MY HOUSEWORK DONE. THEN I WILL POST SOME MORE TASTY RECIPES FOR YOU. SO YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY, STAY WARM AND JUST ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY. YES IT IS COLD OUT TODAY, BUT THE SUN IS SHINING AND I AM ENJOYING THAT. IT IS SO MUCH BETTER THEN THE DOWNPOUR EMMA AND I WERE IN THE OTHER NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET I AM SENDING OUT CHRISTMAS CARDS THROUGH JLAND. IF YOU WANT ONE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND YOU ONE, AND I HOPE I GET ONE FROM YOU ALSO. I LOVE CARDS, IT IS MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS. I HAVE GOTTEN 2 ALREADY FROM JLAND FRIENDS. I WAS SO HAPPY TO RECEIVE THEM. AND DON'T WORRY GIRLS, YOURS ARE ON THE WAY. THEY HAVE BEEN MAILED.

                      

THANK YOU DEBBIE FOR THIS NAME TAG. IT IS ADORABLE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ROXY FOR THIS ABOVE TAG. IT SURE DOES FIT THE WEATHER OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW, BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

WELL, IT'S SATURDAY 10:20 IN THE EVENING. MY REBECCA IS ALL SNUGGLED UP WITH HER STUFFED ANIMALS AND DUCKIE BLANKET IN HER BED, SOUND ASLEEP.  JIM IS DOWNSTAIRS WITH HIS FRIENDS WATCHING A MOVIE. SO IT'S QUIET UP HERE IN MY APARTMENT RIGHT NOW.  I TOOK A WALK DOWN TO THE DELI  AROUND 6:PM AND MAN WAS IT COLD OUTSIDE.  THE TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED OVER 20 DEGREE'S SINCE YESTERDAY.  WE GOT ALOT OF WIND AND SOME HEAVY DOWNPOURS YESTERDAY WHEN THAT STORM CAME THROUGH. EMMA AND I WERE LOADING MY GROCERIES INTO HER CAR, WHEN SHE SAYS UT OH MOM, I FELT A RAIN DROP.  SO WE HURRIED TO LOAD UP THE GROCERIES. I WENT TO PUT SHOPPING CART BACK AND WHAM, WIND HIT ME AND THE SKY OPENED UP. EMMA RAN TO ME TO HELP ME GET CART UP OVER CURB. IN LESS THAN 15 SECONDS WE WERE BOTH DRENCHED. BY THE TIME WE GOT INTO THE CAR, WE LOOKED LIKE DROWNED RATS. WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND STARTED BUSTING OUT LAUGHING, WE COULDN'T EVEN TALK WE LAUGHED SO HARD. EMMA HAD SOME NAPKINS IN GLOVE BOX, AND WE USED THEM TO DRY OUR FACES.  IT WAS RAINING SO HARD WE COULDN'T SEE OUT THE WINDOWS. I TOLD EMMA WE BEST JUST SIT THERE UNTIL IT SLOWS DOWN. I CALLED JIM AND TOLD HIM WE WERE SITTING IN THE CAR. HE SAID HE JUST LOOKED AT MAP, IT'S GOING TO BE OVER QUICK, AND TO JUST SIT THERE AND WAIT IT OUT. EMMA THEN CALLED DAN AND TOLD HIM, SO HE DIDN'T WORRY. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE STORM WAS OVER, BUT WOW DID IT GET COLD. GOOD THING EMMA HAS SOME GOOD HEAT IN HER CAR, BECAUSE WE WERE SOAKED AND FREEZING, AND NEEDED THE HEAT.

WELL, I PUT 52 CHRISTMAS CARDS IN MAILBOX. I STILL NEED MORE CARDS, LOL. SO, IF I HAVE YOUR ADDRESS YOUR GETTING A CARD.

I DON'T LIKE THIS WEATHER MAN WHO IS TALKING RIGHT NOW. HE KEEPS SAYING THAT UGLY BAD 4 LETTER WORD, NOOOOOOO NOT THAT 4 LETTER WORD, LOL. THE ONE THAT STARTS WITH S AND ENDS WITH W, WITH THE WORD NO IN THE MIDDLE.  HE KEEPS SAYING HOW MUCH OF THAT WHITE STUFF WILL WE GET. WELL, IF HE KNOWS WHAT'S GOOD FOR HIM, HE BETTER SAY NONE. BECAUSE I AM ARMED AND I WILL CHANGE THE CHANNEL REAL QUICK.  I BET YOU THOUGHT I WAS GONNA SAY SOMETHING ELSE, HUH. LOL  NOPE NOT ME, I'M BEING A GOOD GIRL, CAUSE SANTA IS COMING IN 23 MORE DAYS, LOL.

WELL, TODAY I DID NO HOUSEWORK. NOPE NONE. DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT, I TOOK THE DAY OFF. AND IT FELT GREAT TOO. I DID COOK DINNER, BUT THERE WAS NO CLEANING. I DIDN'T EVEN DO DINNER DISHES. THERE STILL IN THE SINK, AND I AM NOT TOUCHING THEM UNTIL TOMORROW.

I POSTED A FEW RECIPES TONIGHT IN MY RECIPE JOURNAL. I GOT SO MANY MORE TO POST, BUT I HAD TO STOP. I WAS MAKING MYSELF HUNGRY, LOL. I AM SO CRAVING A CUP OF HOT TEA TONIGHT, BUT I FORGOT TO BUY TEABAGS AT THE STORE LAST NIGHT. OH WELL, NO TEA TONIGHT.

MAN IS IT QUIET HERE IN JLAND. IN THE PAST HOUR OR SO, I'VE ONLY GOTTEN 1 JOURNAL ALERT. IS JLAND ASLEEP, HMMMMM. I KNOW MY FRIEND NANCY ISN'T ASLEEP. HER BUTT IS IN POGO LAND, WHERE SHE IS BOWLING, LOL. HEEHEE GIRL, I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. AND AFTER SHE READS THIS SHE'LL TELL ME SHHHHHHHHHH DON'T TELL ANYONE, LOL TOO LATE GIRL I JUST ADVERTISED IT.

OK, WELL I THINK I WILL GO NOW AND UPLOAD SOME MORE GRAPHICS. YOU GIRLS ARE GOOD AT MAKING TAGS. THEY ARE ALL SO PRETTY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR MAKING THOSE TAGS FOR US HERE IN JLAND.

WELL GUESS I WILL GO NOW. THIS DARN PINCHED NERVE I HAVE IS MAKING IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT RIGHT NOW. GONNA GO GET ON PJ'S AND ROBE, AND RELAX A BIT. HOPE YOUR ALL HAVING A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.

Winding down my day

                                      

I am so glad today is over. I am tired, hurting and ready to get into my bed real soon. I just wish this nagging and annoying pain would go away. I took 2 Tylenol Arthritis capsules, it helped some, but the pain is still there. It's just in one little spot under right shoulder, but closer to spinal cord. And another pain on front in rib cage on right side. Jim says I sit too long at computer, that's why I'm having the pain. Maybe I do, but since I can't sit on my own couch due to it being so fluffy and I sink in and feel as though I am losing my breath, I have no choice but to sit in computer chair. Or I go into the kitchen and sit at the table.

                          

My sore throat and hurting lungs are almost completely healed. I have taken the antibiotic for 5 days now. I am going to continue taking them for another 5 days, just  to make sure it does not come back. Since I went back on blood pressure medication, the fingers on my left hand stopped going to sleep or numb. Do they go numb or tingle when you have high blood pressure? I was always diagnosed with low blood pressure or normal to low border.

Well, I think I will make this short and go to bed. This body needs to lay down. Not only am I a grandma, but I feel like one now, lol. I find myself falling asleep alot. I can sit at computer, fall asleep, sit at kitchen table, fall asleep. Rebecca wakes me up when I do that. She smacks my arm and says, Mommy wake up, it's daylight now, no sleeping. I need a good night's sleep, tonight, cause tomorrow Emma and Dan and the kids are coming over for dinner. I am making the turkey we got free at grocery store. Jim said he didn't have turkey for left over turkey sandwiches, so I am cooking another one, lol. I told Emma christmas dinner will be a ham dinner and Lasagna. Cause after this turkey tomorrow, I won't want to look at another one, lol. Well, goodnight all, sweet dreams.

                            

                                      CINDY

Our tree and a special package

                               

Well, there it is, our tree. It turned out a little dark so you can't really see the little wooden ornaments and other decorations on it. Now if I can only keep my child from getting under it saying she is hiding in the forest, lol. She has already knocked one branch off and I had to put it back on and the bottom strand of lights also. She asked how come it doesn't smell like the ones outside. It's fake honey, it don't smell. She then tells me we should spray it with airfreshener so it can have a smell, lol. I just put the lil stinker to bed. When she gets over tired she is a handful. 8:pm comes and it's bedtime. I didn't tell her the Eagles were on tonight, cause if I did she would want to stay up and watch them, I don't think so, no way, mommy and daddy need a bit of quiet time.

I want to remind everyone of The Giving Tree, founded by Angie/CanyonSun. This is a wonderful thing she has put together. If it weren't for her and the help she gave me when Jim lost his job, we wouldn't of eatten for a few days. But thanks to her we had a hot meal and Rebecca had snacks. Also she helped me with gifts for Rebecca for christmas. Angie is such a great lady. Please email her at CanyonSun04@aol.com and see if there is a way you can help someone in need this christmas season or with food. There is so many people out there who struggle on a daily basis to just put a roof over their heads or food on the table and have nothing left over to buy shoes, or a warm coat or a pair of mittens for their child. I know how it feels to worry about having something for your child to eat or worrying if there is even gonna be a christmas this year.

I want to share a couple pictures with you of my Rebecca. She received a package in the mail friday, from a very special friend here in JLand. I have been asked not to give out the name of the person, so out of respect for our friendship I cannot say who this special person is. I do want this person to know, that we think this person is awesome.Rebecca loved the beautiful gifts, and I loved mine also. Yep, I got gifts also. A beautiful little vase and 2 bags of the most wonderful smelling potpourie. I know I spelled that wrong, lol. Rebecca received a hummingbird feeder and food, which we are going to save for spring to hang outdoors when we are moved. She got a beautiful soft as cotton puppy, a bunch of art items like colored pencils, crayons, glitter pens, paper tablet and a beautiful Princess Rapunzel Barbie. She will be drawing and coloring in pictures of birds and turtles to send to this special person. So here she is:

Just look at her smile, is that precious or what? Here is another pic of her closer up, but the smile faded, because I was in the way of her watching tv, lol.

Well there's my lil girl. And her gifts she received. Tomorrow Rebecca and I will spend some time at the table drawing and coloring. She loves it when I join her in things like that. She loves drawing and coloring. She gets that from her Daddy. He is very good at oil painting, and he went to school to be an architect but never persue'd it. So, a great big thank you goes out to the person who sent these lovely gifts. We love you.

Well, all day today I have had this nagging sharp pain on the right side of my back between shoulder blade and back bone. It just won't let up. So, I think I am going to go take myself a very hot shower and put the shower head on massage and let it hit my back for a while. So take care everyone and have a wonderful evening and an even better tomorrow.

                    

I would like to thank Debbie of Derasta Creation for this lovely name tag.

Mommy's lil helper

                                                  

Good evening. Hope everyone had a wonderful day today. My day was very nice. Rebecca and I put up the christmas tree and decorated it. She was so thrilled when I told her to go ahead and start putting on the ornaments. She did a very good job at it. She hung ornaments up as high as she could reach, and I did the rest. I took a picture of it with Jim's cellphone camera, but now I can't figure out how to email it to me. I'll have to wait until Jim get's up or until tomorrow morning to have him email the pic to me. My livingroom is all decorated. Looks like Santa's workshop in here. Rebecca was so tired from all the decorating, she asked to go to bed tonight, lol.

I started filling out my christmas cards. Got me a long list of Jland friends to send a card too, and I am so happy about it. I love sending and receiving cards on christmas. So, if you want to join in on the fun of exchanging cards, drop me an email with your address and I will reply with my address.

I made a nice hot dinner tonight. Jim loved it and was so full he had to go lay down. I fixed a pot roast, with carrots celery and onions cooked in with it, it came out so tender. Also made mashed potato's, gravy, green beans and a cucumber salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, yummy.

I was able to catch up on a few of my alerts today. Went from 80 alerts down to 55. I will get to more of them tomorrow. The antibiotic I am on is great. After just 2 doses I can already feel the difference in my throat and chest. The pain is just about gone in the throat. I will keep taking the medicine until it is gone, just to be sure. I think I am going to sign off now and get ready for bed. I am tired tonight and my body is hurting. My bed and soft covers sound really good right now. Hope you all have a wonderful sunday.

                               

Thank you Donna for my lovely tag, it is so cool.