What's up with everyone?

Hi all,

Well, one day down for this week, and seeing how it will be a short week, you all only have three more days to go before you have three days off work.  Hurrah for you!

This past weekend was marvelous for sitting out on our porch.  It wasn't too hot or too humid.  I truly loved it.  I just saw the weather for this weekend and by Friday, a front is to be coming through, that is to bring less humid weather and nicer temperatures for the weekend.  That's great news.

What are your plans for this Fourth of July?  I'm sure that no matter what you have planned, you will have some fun and stay cool.  How about visiting a pool, a lake, a stream, an ocean, or if none of those are available to you to use, you could run under a sprinkler!  And, if none of the above is your choice for fun, stay in the air conditioning or simply sit in the shade on your front porch or back deck.

Last Friday, I finished a 27 day Journalling Course.  I've been journalling, off and on, for many, many years now.  It was recommended to me a long time ago, as a way of releasing stress and tension.  Emotions can sometimes overwhelm us and we definitely need a way to get them out.  Unlike some people, who freak-out at everyone, most of us don't chose to do that.  Journalling is a wonderful way to get all those negative feelings out.  Sometimes we are overwhelmed with what's going on in our daily lives and it overtakes us.  Please, pick up a tablet and start writing down how you feel.  Your journal isn't for anyone else to read except you.  You can write down exactly how you feel at any given time and for any reason.  You have a right to your own feelings.  That doesn't mean that those feelings are correct or right, but at that time, they are your feelings.  Journalling is much better way to release that tension and stress than going off on someone you love and hurting them deeply.

I spent about an hour and a half this afternoon working on my new novel.  It's non fiction and it's the story of my life.  I still have a ways to go yet, but I'd say I'm about half way done now..  Of course, that's still a long way from having it published.  Next will come the proof reading and I can't tell you how hard that is to do.  I've discovered that I read very fast, meaning that I skim over the text, even though I am reading every word, just not looking at each work very carefully. 

I have a lot of respect for people who do proofing for a living.  I'd really never thought about it before I started writing and doing my own proof reading.  It's amazing how any of us know about what's involved in another person's profession.  Think about it...

I do hope that each of you have a good week leading up to your holiday and the weekend.  Please stay safe and if you're driving any distance, please be very careful.  Everything can change in a split second.  Trust me, I know how true this is. 
Susan

From Feeling Good to Not Feeling Good, in the matter of a few mintues.

Hi all,

How's everyone doing tonight?  I am doing okay, except for the fact that my husband golfed in a golf tournament today and apparently he brought pollen home with him.  I was doing quite well with my allergies until after he got home, late this afternoon.  He went up to shower and change clothes, thinking that might help me.  I appreciate the gesture and I hope it helps me.  I know he couldn't help it.

Well, another weekend has arrived once again.  What's on your schedule for the next two days?  I'm sure many of you will head out to your community pools or local lakes for some cooling off.  As for me, there's no swimming pools in my future.  I will continue to stay indoors with my air conditioning turned on.  I understand it was quite humid outside today, but that tomorrow it's to be some what better, at least where the humidity is concerned.  Let's hope so.

I spent quite a bit of time today working on my current novel, "White to Black:  With Many Shades In Between".  It's an autobiography.  It's going pretty good.  Although I'm not in any huge hurry to get it finished anytime in the near future.  I'm kind of a free spirit, especially since I became chronically ill eight years ago.  I know better than to push myself because then I pay the price.

Today, I also finished up my 27 Days to Health and Happiness, which was a journal class.  I have to say that I enjoyed it very much.  It wasn't hard to set aside about forty-five minutes a day to do each days assignment.  Perhaps I'll try another course sometime soon.  Have you ever tried journaling?  If not, you really should.  It's a great way to release tension and stress, worry and sadness.  I've journaled many times, off and on, during my adult life.  In fact, I first started many years ago, when my counselor suggested I start journaling.  So, I did, and it certainly helped.  Day 27's assignment, was to read back over the past twenty six days of journaling and see how things progressed as I went through each day.  I have to say it was very emotional for me, even though I didn't upset me, emotionally, each day as I journaled.  I would suggest it as a way for anyone to help relieve the stressful times from your life.   Remember your journal is your private business.  It's not for anyone else to read.  So, perhaps after you have accumulated a few filled journals, you may want to destroy them.  Try it today!

Can you believe that it's almost the end of June.  Where has this year gone to so quickly?  I simply do not know.  Seems like it was just New Year's Eve.  I have to say that before we know it, summer will be gone and the children will be returning back to school once again.  Man, I have to say that life moves along so quickly as a person ages.  I never realized that when I was younger and my girls were still at home.  Even afterwards, while I was still working, I didn't think that time flew by so quickly.  Have you ever sat and thought about that?  I don't know, perhaps I have too much time on my hands...

Well, whatever your plans are for the weekend, please remember to take some time just for yourself:  time to sit and converse with God, and time for you to be able to hear His answers.  Do something creative even if it's baking a cake or working in your flower bed.  Have some fun and enjoy your life because, believe me, in a single moment, it can all change.  God bless all of you.
Susan

Good evening everyone!

Hi all,

How is everyone doing this fine Tuesday evening?  Is it hot where you live?  It's quite warm here in South Central Pennsylvania, and I'm not liking it one bit.  When it's so hot and humid, I simply can not be outside.  My heart conditions make it very hard for me to breathe in hot and humid weather.  I'm not complaining, but I'm not real happy about it. 

What I am happy about is that I am still living.  I firmly believe that God has something He wants me to complete before my time here in this earth is over.  I'm trying to do just that, by my novels, my hand made greeting cards, my booklets on heart disease and living with chronic illness, and on this blog. 

I believe that if I can make one person smile, laugh, learn something or feel better about themselves, then I've done what God wants me to do.  So, if you are feeling sad today, for whatever reason, know that tomorrow may be a better day for you.  If you are having financial problems, live every day by this motto:  I can not spend more than I make!  If you are ill, please know that you are not alone.  There are many of us living with an illness.  If you are depressed and down, please know that there is always someone out there who can cheer you up or counsel you. 

I've learned that life is a precious commodity.  We all need to take it serious, so I promise you, it can change in the blink of an eye.  We all go along in our lives, just doing whatever we chose to do, thinking nothing will ever happen to us.  But, please believe me when I tell you that it can and does happen and often lets us hopeless.  But, please remember that God never gives us more than we can handle.  Also, God helps those who help themselves.  Please don't give up on God or yourself.  You're worth more then that! 

I'm still working on my newest novel, which is a documentary of my life.  I've never done anything out of the ordinary, but I've come a long way from that farm girl of many years ago.  And yes, I've had my share of very trying times in my life.  But, what's important to me, is that I'm in a better place now then I've ever been.  If I can say that while I live 24/7 with chronic Congestive Heart Failure, then so can you.  Just pull yourself up and do what needs to be done to change your life.  Remember that God will walk right by your side and He'll even carry you through the really tough times.  I promise.

I need to get back to my writing tomorrow.  I started to do some of my house cleaning today, and didn't have the energy to work on my writing later, as what energy I have, starts to leave me by about 1:00 in the afternoon.  I will not give up, though, and I hope you won't either.  There is always something wonderfully fulfilling for you to do.  Just figure it out and get going.

Well, my grandson is getting a bit better as each day passes.  I know he's getting quite bored, but he will get through this.  My daughter, his mom, had to return to work this past Monday.  I know she worries about him being home by himself, but he seems irritated when she calls to see if he's all right.  Go figure, that's teenagers for you!

My daughter, who's been ill, has an appointment on Friday with an ENT specialist.  I hope he can do something for her.  I'm still praying every day for the both of them, as well as, all of my immediate family, my extended family, friends and neighbors.  I truly believe in the power of prayer.  How about you?

My husband is taking part in the York County Senior Games this week.  Today was his first game, which was miniature golf.  He just called me to let me know he's on his way home.  He's very happy because he won the gold medal in his age group.  I'm so proud of him.  He's been playing for about four years now and he's won quite a few medals:  golds, silvers, and bronze ones.  I put them in a shadow box for him, along with the names of the game that they were won in.  He hangs them in his home office.  He's a very competitive person and I'm not. 

I tried my hand, or should I say mind, at poetry recently.  I've posted it on Fanstory, which is a website for writers of all sorts.  Here it is for you to enjoy.

I Am Simply Me

I am simply me,
A baby who is bounced on Daddy's knee.
A chi9ld who can plainly see,
The love my parents give to me.

I am simply me,
A teen who loves music and dance
A girl who dances with glee,
A teenager just hoping to find a "he".

I am simply me,
A young woman who's found love.
Now a wife and mother, you see,
A mom who loves her daughters, three.

I am simply me,
Divorced and wailing for God's help.
A woman trying to start again, free,
A woman lost and alone, that's me.

I am simply me,
A woman in illness, but striving to be,
The best new wife to my husband, you see.
A woman God's given another chance, that's me.

I am simply me,
No more special in any way than thee.
I've been blessed with life from God, you see,
To honor and praise Him for loving me!

I am simply me,
There's no one else I'd rather be.
Than a servant of God,
Who's set me free.
I am simply me,
Thank you Lord for helping me to see.

I am using this poem as an introduction to my new novel.  I hope you enjoyed it.  It's a simple story of my life from birth to the present time. 

Stay safe and God bless each of you.
Susan

Well, I don't feel any older!

Good afternoon everyone,

How's everything going this fine Saturday?  Well, all right, I'll admit that here in South Central Pa. it's not the nicest Saturday weather wise, but at least it stopped raining and the temperatures are only in the low seventies. 

In case you're wondering what my title is referring to, my birthday was yesterday and I turned sixty-six years old.  All I can say is that I am so blessed to still be alive to see age 66, considering how close I was to death back in 2006.  I count my blessings every single day.  I suppose that God chose to let me live back then, because my job here wasn't finished.  I am so thankful for the gift of life.

Now I'm going to throw out a question to all of you:  Do you ever stop and thank God for the gift of your life?  I'd imagine that many of you younger generation folks, rarely stop and think about dying.  Although I know that as you get up into your sixties and seventies, that thought often pops into ones mind.  Especially if you are fighting a chronic illness like I am.

I am currently working on the story of my life.  I actually posted a hand written poem in the front of the book.  It basically goes very quickly through my life, from infant to the present.  It is my first attempt at writing poetry.  But, I have to say that I am pleased with the way it turned out.  I posted it on Fanstory.com and I got some very nice reviews.  So, for that, I am thankful!  I just may write some more poetry as the months go by.  Who knows, I may even end up enjoying myself.

So, what have you been up to this fine Saturday?  I trust that most of you don't have to work on weekends.  I hope that you do make some time just for yourself.  I can't tell you how very important that is for each and every one of us.  You can't be one hundred percent present for your families, if you don't take care of yourself.  So, just do it!  Find a nice quiet place and let your family know that they are not to disturb you for one hour.  Pick up that novel you've been wanting to read and just open it to the first page and start letting your mind take you away.  I promise you, that you won't regret it.  (Check out my novel, "Sassy With A Capital S" on amazon.com for electronic reading.  It's a fun and easy read about a group of close knit friends who do some crazy things in their older years.)

I spend a lot of time alone, and for the most part, you won't find me complaining about that.  I do my best writing and creating when I'm alone.  I also spend  some alone time with God.  It's just Him and me sharing thoughts and emotions.  It's very heart lifting to me.  Try it, you may enjoy it also.

At lunchtime today, my husband and I met up with five of my Red Hat Ladies, but only one other husband came along and that was my Son-in-law, Mike.  This was the first activity that Mari and Mike were able to attend so far.  She joined our group recently, as a Pink Hatter.  You see you aren't able to join as a Red Hatter until you're fifty years old.  She still has a few years to go for that.  Mari already knows most of the ladies and their husbands and both she and Mike enjoy their company.  I was just surprised when she sent me an email asking if she could join our group.  She told me that she thought it would be a good way to get to spend more time with me.  That made me feel good!

I really haven't spent that much time with my daughters and their families lately.  I realize that they are very busy with their own families, what with kids, jobs and social lives.  A few days ago, I shared with you all what was going on with my daughter, Mari.  She's the one that is having vertigo and heart palpitations.  Her family doctor has finally set up an appointment with an ENT specialist, but not a cardiologist yet.  I'm glad she could make it to lunch today, but she definitely wouldn't have been able to without her husband, Mike.  He had to walk with her to keep her steady.  She did very well though.  I just wish they'd soon get some answers and have a cardiologist check her out.

As for my Grandson, Tanner, he's doing as good as can be expected.  My daughter, Angel, is weening him off his pain medicine, which he's in favor of doing.  He is now getting around a little bit by himself, which is a good thing, because his Mom has to go back to work, full time, on Monday.  I know he'll miss her when he's home alone, but some of his friends have been stopping by to keep him company.  He's still in some pain, mostly from having to lay flat on his back all the time.  He's been sleeping in his special chair to keep that from happening.

I'm just continuing to let the both of them in God's hands, just like I always do with all my family members, because there isn't any better place they could be.  I know He'll take good care of them.

I do hope you all will enjoy your Sunday.  Remember to find some time to stop and give praise and honor to God.  Without Him, we'd have nothing!  Stay safe and have some silly fun.

Here's a photograph of the second table runner I just finished.  This one is for my antique ironing board/coffee table, so it's not as big as the first one.  Now I'm going to make one (like this one) for my other two daughters.  I hope you like it.
Susan

It's steamy out there!

Hi all,

How's the weather where you are?  Here, in South Central Pennsylvania, it's very warm with high humidity.  Thank God I have air conditioning.  I know a lot of you probably don't mind this type of weather.  A lot of you can go to the community pool or dive into your own above or below ground swimming pool.  As for me, I'm not now, and really never have been a pool person.  Actually, for the past eight years, I haven't been able to be out of doors in this heat and humidity.  Since my heart isn't in very good shape, I can't breath under these conditions.  So, for those who like to be outside, go for it, and for those who don't, stay in a cool place.

Well, my grandson is doing some what better now.  He's still in a lot of pain, but my daughter has made him get up and walk with her, which is very good for his recovery.  While walking late this afternoon, they got caught in a summer shower and tried to find trees to stay dry.  She said that's the first time, in two weeks, that he smiled and laughed.  I'll bet that felt wonderful to him, to say the least.  I know he's anxious for the pain to go away and to be better, but only time will bring that about.

As for my daughter, she had two tests done today:  a cat scan and a chest ex-ray.  She won't get the results until Thursday, unless she or her husband calls the doctor's office tomorrow.  I spoke to her yesterday and she was very irritated, to say the least.  I understand how she feels.  She's so tired of sitting and laying around because of the dizziness all the time.  We need to get some answers soon. Please keep praying for the both of them.  I so appreciate the prayers.

Well, tomorrow is hump day, so for all of you who are still working full time jobs, rest assure that after tomorrow, you're on the down side of the week.  What have you all been up to lately?  Anything creative?  I'm now working on my second Christmas table runner.  Since I gave the first one to my ill daughter to cheer her up, I need to make another one for myself.  Since I have two other daughters, I may make one for each of them, also.  We'll see, I do have plenty of time to complete them.

I've been having a hard time concentrating on my writing lately.  So yesterday and today, I pushed  myself to get back to it.  I'm not on any time schedule, but I need to try to write every day.  At least for a bit.  It's coming along pretty good, at least I feel it is. 

I hope you will find something creative to work on, be it cooking, baking, planting gardens, sewing or whatever you choose to do.  I do hope your week is going well and I hope you have some fun during the evening hours and over this weekend.  We all need that!

Stay safe and make time for yourself, always.
Susan

An Early, "Happy Father's Day".

Hi all,

Well, Father's Day is fastly approaching.  It's tomorrow, Sunday, May 15.  So, to all of you out there who are fathers, step-fathers or grandfathers, I wish you all the best on your special day.  Fathers do so very much for their children.  They are to be great role models for their sons and a constant source of strength for their daughters.  I realize that is a very tough job for every dad out there.

My Dad passed away fifteen years ago, this coming September.  I have to admit that my mind returns to him very, very often.  I was just speaking about him today to our Chaplin.  I was telling him how I used to believe that I wasn't like my Dad at all, but as I've aged, I've come to realize just how much I truly am like him.  That makes me so happy.

My Dad, Harry, was a wonderful father and he was always there when we needed him.  He was a very hard worker, as he worked a full time job and a part time job for quite a few years to keep food on our table and provide us with the things we needed.  My Mom also went to work a full time job when I was about twelve years of age. 

In many ways, my Dad was my hero.  I always thought that he could do anything.  Of course, as I grew up, I realized that he couldn't always make everything better, but he always tried to do just that.  So, I want to take this time to wish him a very Happy Father's Day tomorrow.  He may no longer be apart of this life, but he will always be a major part of me.  I love you Dad with all my heart and soul.

How was your day today?  Mine was okay.  It was a bit chilly outside today, so I spent a lot of time indoors, which was fine.  I did sit outside for a while this afternoon and visited with some friends of ours.  It's always nice to touch base with friends, especially those you don't see too often. 

I understand that tomorrow is to be a nicer day.  It's to be a little warmer, high of about 84 degrees with very low humidity.  I can't wait.  I also saw that starting on Monday, the humidity is to come back in with higher temperatures and that's to continue through out the week.  Ugh!  I must say that I hate days like that.  I have a very hard time being out of doors when the temps are high and also the humidity.  It makes it very hard for me to breathe.  So, I suppose I'll be spending most of my time indoors next week.  Of well, there's no sense in complaining, so I will not.

Can you believe that tomorrow is the 15th of June already?  I certainly can not.  This summer is already flying on by, but then, almost every month flies on by to me.

I thought I'd give you all an update on my grandson.  He is home from the hospital and he is doing very well.  I hope he continues to improve, a little each day.  The biggest problem right now is the constant pain he is in.  My daughter has been by his side every minute, since he went into the hospital.  She's a great mom and she loves him very much.  I'm very proud of the both of them.  I know she will be there to see him through his progression and always.

As for my oldest daughter, she had a good day yesterday, Friday, but no so much today.  I was so sorry to hear that.  Her MRI is scheduled for Tuesday and it can't come fast enough for me.  I hope her doctor starts scheduling tests closer together, or that he finally realizes she needs to see a cardiologist.  I have to say that I do not understand family doctors and the slow process they make before finally doing what needs to be done. 

I will ask anyone out there, who is a believer in the power of prayer, to pray for both my grandson and my daughter.  I believe there is nothing more powerful that prayers.  Thanks so much.

Well, where ever you live, I hope all you Dads have a wonderful day tomorrow.  Also I wish everyone a great Sunday.  Stay safe and take time for yourself.
Susan

Good Evening!

Hi all,

How's everyone doing this evening?  I hope your week is going well and your troubles are few.  It's been an emotional week for me, as I have been worried about the health of one of my grandsons and my oldest daughter.  As for my grandson, he came home from Hershey Children's Hospital last evening about 8:30.  I'm sure he's very happy to be at home now.  He's still in much pain, and that will be with him for about the next three or so weeks.  I wish that weren't so, but it is.  He needed a special chair that would support his back when he's sitting up, so my husband and I purchased one for him, so he'd have the equipment he needed.  He had a few visitors today, so I'm sure that cheered him up some and his Mom is staying by his side until he's able to stay alone again.

As for my daughter, we don't know anything new there.  They have scheduled an MRI for next Tuesday.  Hopefully this will tell if she has a tumor on her brain or if she's had a stroke, or eliminate both these things.  Either way, I'm glad they're finally moving forward.  The medicine she's taking for the extreme vertigo, seems to be helping a little bit.  I'm still very worried about her, so I'll continue praying for God to keep on carrying her in His hands.  Hopefully, they'll soon know what is wrong with her.  I will ask you to add a prayer for the both of them to your daily prayers.  Thanks much.

Needless to say, what with all the worrying I've been doing, I haven't really been able to keep my mind on anything lately.  I've done some work on my memoirs, but not what I should have.  This week seemed like I was in a bit of a fog.  I hope next week will be better. 

I have started another Christmas table runner, since I gifted the first one to my daughter to cheer her up.  (She's been counting down the days until Christmas.)  I'm not making this one quit as wide as the first one.  That way I can use it on my coffee table, which is an antique wooden ironing board.  It's coming along and I don't have to concentrate too much when working on it.

Well, what exactly have you all been up to lately?  I hope you have started or completed something in the creative line.  How's the flower beds coming?  I'm sure many of them are truly beautiful.  My husband has been taking care of our flower beds and he hung up on the front porch and put one beside the front door.  Now all we need to do is remember to water them.  Since we don't use the front door very often, that may be a problem, but I hope not. 

I suppose that summer has arrived, whether officially or not.  It's been very warm, stormy and humid here in York, PA this week.  I have to say that I hate this type of weather, mostly because I can not spend any time out of doors with the humidity.  I can not breath in that weather.  There's nothing wrong with my lungs, it's all coming from my heart.  So, I'm left indoors most of the time.  But, I'm not complaining, because I'm happy to be alive.

I hope tomorrow goes quickly for all of you.  I know you'll be thinking:  TGIF and I don't blame you, not one little bit.  I used to do the same thing.  Have a good weekend and stay safe.
Susan