Saturday Shout Outs

Courage For The Week

Forgiveness 

Liar Liar Pants on Fire 



Mad Writing Skills: Grammar

A Valentine Gift For Your Hubby

Kindle Giveaway!

Interested?  All ya gotta do is CLICK THIS LINK to find out how!  Good luck!

Nana Power

Can you keep a secret?  Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I am old enough to qualify for AARP.  What?  What do you mean you already knew that?  And here I thought I hid it so well.  Anyway (not anyways), Darrell is actually the one old enough--I just get to go along for the ride.  We got the monthly magazine today and I came across a little article that confirmed something I already knew.  However, it's nice to get validation from an outside source.  I couldn't find a link, but it's in the Mar/Apr 2011 edition and was written by Tina Adler.

"A little grandmotherly attention can help children avoid social and emotional problems, a recent study of Iowa families suggests.  Even a weekly phone chat with Grandma can reduce the odds of poor social skills for kids prone to frustration.  (Grandpas weren't included in the study.)  And loving grandmother involvement can keep kids with harsh parents from becoming defiant, says study coauthor Melissa A. Barnett, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Arizona.  Other research suggests grandparents help by supporting harried parents.  How best to do that? 'Ask your child how you can pitch in this week--a parent's needs change day-to-day,' says Ruth Nemzoff, Ed.D., author of Don't Bite Your Tongue: How to Foster Rewarding Relationships With Your Adult Children.  One grandfather she writes about sang to his grandchildren on Skype in the mornings while his son sipped his coffee."

My maternal grandmother was a big part of my life growing up.  I knew she loved me unconditionally and I loved her.  It wasn't anything specifically she did--more the way she made me feel.  That's the kind of grandmother I strive to be.

It wasn't until I was typing this that I realized part of the article comes from a book I'm currently reading.  Parenting adult children is a whole different ballgame and, even though my children have been adults for a while (the youngest is 28), I'm always looking for ways to improve the relationships I have with them.  Hopefully, we'll all be around for a good long time and I want us to not only love each other, but like each other and enjoy one another's company.  This includes those who've married into our family.

What do you think?  How are your relationships with your children?  How about with your own parents?  I like to think I'm a wonderful grandmother and a fairly good mother, but I know I stink at being a daughter.  Any tips or tricks you'd like to share?  Advice?  Juicy stories? ;-)

Wednesday Hodgepodge-Vol 12 Beating the Winter Doldrums

I have been chastised by my daughter for participating in too many linky parties and not posting about my life lately.  Ha Ha!  I've got her fooled.  She thinks I actually have a life!  Anyway (not anyways), I had intended to show you pictures of the flooring projects we've been doing lately.  Alas, it's dark, dreary, and raining here and I can't get good pics.  If the sun ever appears again, I'll get busy!  So, for the time being.....drum roll please.....

 

1. Would you rather be seen as a person who did their duty or forged their own path?

Forging my own path as I do my duty.  To me, they seem inseparable.  I certainly don't want to be seen as a lemming--someone without a brain in her head who can't think for herself.

2. This week's Wednesday Hodgepodge happens to fall on Groundhog's Day. In keeping with that theme, if you could have a do-over of any one day out of the last seven, which day would it be and why. If you haven't seen the movie Groundhog Day this question will make absolutely no sense but that's okay....you can answer anyway.  You thought my question was going to be weather related didn't you?

Hmmmm....honestly can't think of one.  Maybe last Thursday when I went to Dillard's and didn't take as much advantage of their 30% off all clearance sale as I should have.

3. Hot cocoa...yay or nay on the marshmallows?

Definitely yes!  Have you seen those giant marshmallows they sell at Walmart?  They're like 3" square!

4. Do you wear makeup every day? What are the top two must haves in your daily makeup routine?

Absolutely!  It's like my Amer Express card--I don't leave home without it.  Only 2 must haves?  Lip gloss and an eyelash curler.  Though usually I go with the full routine--even if I'm staying home.  I don't work outside the home, but of course my husband does.  He's been seeing made up, well dressed women all day.  I certainly don't want him to come home to a wife who's still in sweats with unwashed hair.  Paraphrasing Cheap Trick: "I want him to want ME!"

5. Is it more important to you in a relationship to be loved or understood?

Loved.  Because then they'll try to understand you.  Even if they're unsuccessful, they'll still love you.

6. Parsley sage rosemary or thyme... your favorite?

To be totally honest, I don't cook much and really don't know what any of these do.  I have seen rosemary trees and they smell divine--so guess I'll choose that.

7. What do you do when you feel angry?

Rant.  Rave.  Eat.  Cry.  Sulk.  Anything that won't actually help the situation and might possibly make it worse.  Then I'll have to apologize, which I thoroughly dislike doing!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 I understand about the beam and mote, but don't you sometimes just wish you could snatch a person up and smack some sense into them?  When they're doing something so obviously damaging to a precious relationship and poisoning other relationships in the process?  When they're burning bridges they may not be able to rebuild?  I don't even know this person.  Never met her and don't want to.  But she's hurting a dear friend of mine.  And that mother bear instinct that is usually reserved for my husband and children is rearing its head.  My friend has done nothing to deserve the treatment she's received.  I want to take away that pain.  I want to make the offender realize what she's doing.  All I can really do is pray, listen, hug, and cry.  I hope it's enough.

I'm So Excited.... (cue the Pointer Sisters!)

Today I accomplished something I never thought would happen!  I reached 100 followers!  Thank you so much for bearing with me!  Not too long ago, I was crossing my fingers to have 10!  I did a giveaway then and in honor of this auspicious occasion, I'm going to do one now.  Help me out here, though....What would be a good giveaway in your opinion?  Keep in mind that finances are limited!

Everything You Want to Know & More

Have you met the Real Housewives of Oklahoma?  No?  Well, you're missing out!  These gals are a hoot and a half.  I'm linking with them today, because as Toby Keith so aptly put it "I wanna talk about ME"!  Seriously, I'm joining in their linky party today and hope you will, too.

Here are the rules:

1. Answer the question on your blog (or in the comments sections if you haven't a blog).
2. If you answer the question on your blog, add your name to McLinky so that we all can discover the brilliance that is your mind.
3. Grab their button from the sidebar and post it either in your reply post or on your blog.

TEN FACTS

•Name - Beverly Louise

•Nicknames - Mom, Mommy, Beeba, Sweetheart

•Any birth marks - no

•Hair color - today it is reddish blond

•Natural hair color - mouse brown

•Eye color - hazel

•Height - 5’3"

•Mood - so so

•Favorite color - red

•One Place You Want to Visit - Italy

TEN THIS OR THAT

•Love or lust - love

•Cats or dogs – dogs

 •A few best friends or many regular friends - a few best friends

•Television or internet - can't I have both?

•Chinese or Indian food - neither

•Wild night out or romantic night in - romantic night in

•Money or Happiness - happiness (again, both?)

•Night or day - Night

•MSN or phone - neither

TEN HAVE YOU’S

•Ever performed in front of a large crowd - yes

•Ever done drugs - not really

•Ever consumed alcohol- yes

•Ever been on a dance team - no

•Ever been on a sports team - no

•Ever been in a drama play/production - yes

•Ever owned a BMW, Mercedes Benz, Escalade, Hummer or Bentley? - no and no desire to

•Ever been in a rap video? - no

TEN LASTS

•Last phone call you made - a lady from church

•Last person you hung out with - Darrell

•Last person you tackled - Darrell

•Last person you IM’d - my daughter

•Last person(s) you went to the movies with - Darrell

•Last thing you missed - grandchildren

•Last thing you ate - yogurt

WOULD YOU RATHER

•Pierce your nose or tongue? - neither

•Be serious or be funny? - funny

•Drink whole or skim milk? - skim

•Spend time with your parents or enemies? - parents

ARE YOU

•Simple or complicated? - complicated

DO YOU PREFER

•Flowers or candy? - BOTH

•Gray or black? - black

•Color or Black and white photos? - color

•Sunrise or sunset? - sunset

•Staying up late or waking up early? - up late!

DO YOU PREFER

•Sun or moon? - sun

•Left or right? - right

•Sun or rain? - sun

•Vanilla or chocolate ice cream? - vanilla

•Vodka or Jack Daniels? - neither

•Nervous Habits? - eating

•Are you double jointed? - no

•Can you twist your tongue around and roll it? - yes

•Can you raise one eyebrow? - no

•Can you cross your eyes? - yes

•Do you make your bed daily? - yes

QUESTIONS

•Which shoe goes on first? - right

•Ever thrown something at someone? - yes

•On average, how much money do you carry with you? -usually $20 or less

•What jewelry do you wear? - rings and watch, maybe a bracelet or two, sometimes a necklace

•Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? - cut

•Have you ever eaten Spam? - no

•Favorite ice cream? - strawberry

•How many kinds of cereal are in your cabinet? - 3

•What’s your favorite beverage? - diet Mt Dew

•Do you cook? - not if I can get away with it!

LASTS

•Last Alcoholic Drink:? - Pina Colada many many years ago

•Last Car ride? - church

•Last Movie watched? - Red (two thumbs down!)