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January 30, 2008
I Am A Christian
by Maya Angelou
"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin;"
I'm whispering, "I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride;
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong;
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success;
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect;
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain;
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say..."I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou;
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's grace, somehow!
Pretty is as pretty does... but beautiful is just plain beautiful!
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to my beautiful Christian sister, Gladys!
Posted by Omie at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2008
Health Warning
DO NOT SWALLOW YOUR CHEWING-GUM!
See what happens ?
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to friend Marie for this chuckle.
Posted by Omie at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
January 28, 2008
Food Art
Beautiful scences and landscapes made from food. Yummy!
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to my young friend, Kerri. Muy Bueno.
Posted by Omie at 09:34 PM | Comments (2)
Comments Made in 1955
Actual comments made in the year 1955! That's only 52 years ago!
"I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."
"Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to congress."
"The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on."
"There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel."
"No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $35.00 a day in the hospital, it's too rich for my blood."
"If they think I'll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it."
"I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20.00."
"Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before $2,000.00 won't buy a used one."
"If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. A quarter a pack is ridiculous.
"Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging a dime just to mail a letter?"
"If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store."
"When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage."
"Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as long as the girls."
"I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it."
"I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas."
"Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $75,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President."
"I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now."
"It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet."
"It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work."
"Marriage doesn't mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be getting divorced at the drop of a hat."
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to Marie
Posted by Omie at 08:23 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2008
Goin' Bananas
THE BETTER BANANA
A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas" is from the effects of bananas on the brain. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and
minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around
So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to Carole.
Posted by Omie at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)
Keepers
I grew up with practical parents who had been frightened by the Great Depression in the 1930's.
A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a Name for it...
A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.
Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away.
I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things: a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.
It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that repairing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.
But then my father died, and on that clear fall night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.
Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it.... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.
This is true... For marriage....
And old cars....
And children with bad report cards.....
And dogs and cats with bad hips....
And aging parents.... And grandparents.
We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close!
Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
Keep them close.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to friend, Judy.
Posted by Omie at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2008
Slow Dance
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask 'How are you?'
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
Author Unknown. (This poem was supposedly penned by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital.)
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to Carole
Posted by Omie at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2008
Birth Order of Children
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.
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Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.
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The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
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Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
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Pacifier:
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.
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Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
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Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.
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Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
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At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child
isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children
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Swallowing Coins (a favorite):
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!
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Pass this on to everyone you know who has children . . . or everyone who KNOWS someone who has had children . . (The older the mother, the funnier this is!)
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to internet friend, Debbie and her hubby.
Posted by Omie at 02:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2008
Touch Love vs. Spanking
~ Tough Love vs. Spanking ~
(a psychological conundrum)
It seems that these days most Americans think it is improper to spank children, so over the years I tried other methods to control my kids when they had one of 'those moments.'
One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk.
They usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together.
This worked so well for my children that I now use the method on my grandchildren.
I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my grandson, in case you would like to use the technique.
Sincerely,
A Friend
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to friend, Marie.
Posted by Omie at 08:56 PM | Comments (0)
Don't Mess With Old Ladies
An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...
Older Woman: "Is there a problem, Officer?"
Officer: "Ma'am, you were speeding."
Older Woman: "Oh, I see."
Officer: "Can I see your license please?"
Older Woman: "I'd give it to you but I don't have one."
Officer: "Don't have one?"
Older Woman: "Lost it, four years ago for drunk driving."
Officer: "I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please."
Older Woman: "I can't do that."
Officer: "Why not?"
Older Woman: "I stole this car."
Officer: "Stole it?"
Older Woman: "Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner."
Officer: "You what?"
Older Woman: "His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see."
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes five police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: "Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please!" The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older woman: "Is there a problem sir?"
Officer 2: "One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner."
Older Woman: "Murdered the owner?"
Officer 2: "Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please?"
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: "Is this your car, ma'am?"
Older Woman: "Yes, here are the registration papers." The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2: "One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license."
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: "Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner."
Older Woman: "Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too."
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to the "ex."
Posted by Omie at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2008
How to Tell the Sex of a Fly
A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter.
'What are you doing?' she asked.
'Hunting Flies,' he responded.
'Oh? Killing any?' she asked.
'Yep, three males, two females,' he replied.
Intrigued, she asked, 'How can you tell them apart?'
He responded, 'Easy, three were on a beer can; two were on the phone.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to big sister.
Posted by Omie at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)
To Those Born Between 1920 - 1979
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren' t overweight because, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms.......
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!
The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to Carole
Posted by Omie at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2008
Max's First Snow
Here are some pictures of grandbaby's Christmas trip to Chicago to visit his other grandmother, grandfather, aunts, and uncles, the SIL's family. Wonderful snowy trip.
Max LOVES doggies
Playing with doggy. Now, be gentle with puppies, Max.
Awhhhh.....happy baby. So cute.
First Snow Ride
Uh Oh! First snow face plant
Calm down everyone, Mommy will make it better.
Awh, now that's much better...
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to grandbaby, Max and his Mom and Dad for sharing their Northern Christmas holiday pictures.
Posted by Omie at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2008
The Mom Test
I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.
'Why?' my daughter asked.
'Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs' I replied.
At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, 'Momma, how do you know all this stuff, you are so smart.'
I was thinking quickly. 'All moms know this stuff because it's on the Mom Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mom.'
We walked along in silence for two or three minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.
'OH...I get it!' she beamed, 'So if you don't pass the test you have to be the dad.
''Exactly' I replied back with a big smile on my face!
When you' re finished laughing, share this with another MOM.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks again to Marie
Posted by Omie at 05:31 PM | Comments (0)
Montana State Trooper
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GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to Marie.
Posted by Omie at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
Dream Shattered
Finally someone has been able to photograph the pot at the end of the rainbow!!!
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GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to Billie and her hubby.
Posted by Omie at 03:45 PM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2008
Orange Necks
Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Tennessee aka "Orangenecks."
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Tennessee.
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Tennessee.
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Tennessee.
If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of Knoxville for the weekend, you may live in Tennessee.
If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Tennessee.
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Tennessee.
If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Tennessee.
If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Tennessee.
If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Tennessee.
If you find 60 degrees "a little chilly," you may live in Tennessee.
If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your Tennessee friends & others, you definitely live in Tennessee.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to the "ex."
Posted by Omie at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2008
Dad and Cheyenne
"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?" Those words hurt worse than blows.
I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle. "I saw the car Dad, please don't yell at me when I'm driving."
My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.
Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil.
What could I do about him?
Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon. He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.
The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived.
But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue. Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation.
The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered. In vain just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article." I listened as she read she article describing a remarkable study done at a nursing home.
All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs,black dogs, spotted dogs-all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons, too big, too small, too much hair.
As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and satdown.It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, and then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him, that was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow. He gestured helplessly.
As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. "You mean you're going to kill him?"
"Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog."
I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said.
I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch.
"Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, and then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it." Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples.
"You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!" Dad ignored me. "Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed those words as Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate.
We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw. Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently, then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together he and Cheyenne explored the community.They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years.Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind. The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.""I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: The sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. His calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father and the proximity of their deaths, and suddenly I understood, I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to friend, Diana.
Posted by Omie at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2008
Two Horse Friends
----- There is a field, with two horses in it.
From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing...
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing.
If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.
It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.
When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, we are not thrown away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. Others are mysteriously brought into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those friends who are placed in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way....
Good friends are like that... you may not always see them, but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours. And remember...be kinder than necessary- everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to friend, Gladys
Posted by Omie at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2008
Homesick
A Yankee from upstate New York was hiking through the mountains of Kentucky when he came upon the tiniest cabin he had ever seen. Intrigued, he knocked on the door.
"Anybody home?" he asked.
"Yep" came a kids voice thru the door.
"Is your father there?" asked the hiker.
"Pa? Nope, he left afore Ma came in."
"Well, is your mother there?" asked the hiker.
"Ma?, Nope, she left afore I got here."
But," protested the Yankee, "do you ever get together as a family?"
"Sure, but not here" said the kid thru the door. This is the outhouse."
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to neighbor, Ed.
Posted by Omie at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)
Good Sayings
** The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. ~~~ Samuel Johnson, British Author, Lexicographer
** We are inclined to believe those we do not know, because they have never deceived us.
** "Treat your body like a temple, not a woodshed. The mind and body work
together. Your body needs to be a good support system for the mind and spirit. If you take good care of it, your body can take you wherever you want to go, with the power and strength and energy and vitality you will need to get there." ~~~Jim Rohn
** "Some people take better care of their pets than they do themselves. Their animals can run like the wind and they can barely make it up a flight of stairs." ~~~Jim Rohn
** There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!
** When the door of happiness closes, another opens; but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one, which has been opened for us.
** Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
** Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
** When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ "Borrowed" from Andy.
Posted by Omie at 01:07 PM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2008
Laws of Work
** If you can't get your work done in the first 24 hours, work nights.
** A pat on the back is only a few centimeters from a kick in the butt.
** Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
** It doesn't matter what you do, it only matters what you say you've done and what you're going to do.
** After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.
** The more Junk you put up with, the more Junk you are going to get.
** You can go anywhere you want if you look serious and carry a clipboard.
** Eat one live toad the first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.
** When the bosses talk about improving productivity, they are never talking
about themselves.
** If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a fool about it.
** There will always be Styrofoam Coffee Cups And Dougnut Wrappers and Fast Food Garbage Cluttering the floor of your car when the boss asks for a ride
home from the office.
** Keep your boss's boss off your boss's back.
** Everything can be filed under "miscellaneous."
** Anyone can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work he/she is
supposed to be doing.
** Important letters that contain no errors will develop errors in the mail.
** If you are good, you will be assigned all the work. If you are really good,
you will get out of it.
** You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk.
** People who go to conferences are the ones who shouldn't.
** If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.
** At work, the authority of a person is inversely proportional to the number of pens that person is carrying.
** When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried.
** Following the rules will not get the job done.
** Getting the job done is no excuse for not following the rules.
** When confronted by a difficult problem you can solve it more easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger handle this?"
** No matter how much you do, you never do enough.
** The last person that quit or was fired will be held responsible for everything that goes wrong.
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ From the files of Omie (Author Unknown)
Posted by Omie at 08:06 PM | Comments (0)
January 05, 2008
Special Poem for Older Folks
A row of bottles on my shelf
Caused me to analyze myself.
One yellow pill I have to pop
Goes to my heart so it won't stop.
A little white one that I take
Goes to my hands so they won't shake.
The blue ones that I use a lot
Tell me I'm happy when I'm not.
The purple pill goes to my brain
And tells me that I have no pain.
The capsules tell me not to wheeze
Or cough or choke or even sneeze.
The red ones, smallest of them all
Go to my blood so I won't fall.
The orange ones, very big and bright
Prevent my leg cramps in the night.
Such an array of brilliant pills
Helping to cure all kinds of ills.
But what I'd really like to know...........
Is what tells each one where to go!
There's always a lot to be thankful for if
you take time to look for it. For example
I am sitting here thinking how nice it is
that wrinkles don't hurt...
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Sorry, folks, part of this is a repeat. I have no idea who sent this one..... probably my neighbor, Ed.
Posted by Omie at 10:45 PM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2008
Flaky Blonde
And How Blonde Is She??
A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, 'Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started.'
Her boyfriend asks, 'What is it supposed to be when it's finished?'
The blonde says, 'According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster.'
Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle.
She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table.
He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says,
'First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster.'
He takes her hand and says, 'Second, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then ..' he said with a deep sigh, . .. . . . . .
(scroll down)
'Now, let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box.'
XOXO,
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<3 GrandMom Love ~ Thanks to Catherine who has a new baby in her barn. Here is a pic of her new four-year gelding who is 16 hands high. That's a tall baby! I'll have more details when I see Catherine this coming Monday.
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Posted by Omie at 09:38 PM | Comments (0)
Personal Post Update
Things are slow in the email joke department, folks, so I am making a very quick and simple post just to share a few Christmas and New Year happenings.
Best Christmas present....just being with my grandbabies for their very first Christmas. Of course, the bags, boxes, and wrapping paper were much more interesting then their gifts and/or toys. The two babies were lying in the middle of the floor playing when the five month old baby got just a little overwhelmed with the exuberant playing of the ten month old and had to be picked up and comforted.
Next best Christmas present..... On Christmas Eve, an older gentleman approached me at the grocery store and gave me a warm hug and a tootie roll pop. He does this for all the little kids in the store. heh heh. Thanks, Rocky, I needed that.
My daughter and SIL took Max on his first plane ride to Chicago to meet for the first time his other grandparents. They said he acted up on the return trip, but I couldn't believe that. HOW COULD THE BEST BABY IN THE WORLD GET FUSSY? No way. heh heh.
For your information....On their return, they were grounded for seven hours in the Chicago O'Hare airport, had to rebook their departure flight and, of course, the airlines lost their baggage. I picked this little family up, hungry, cold and tired, at 11:45 pm New Years day minus their luggage or baby car seat. My daughter had to borrow a baby seat from the airline until theirs is recovered. Kudos to my SIL for practicing patience. C'est la vi!
Am grateful to all of you, (friends and strangers) who visit Chatta Mom regularly or just from time to time. Thanks for your comments and encouragement. Hopefully you get a few chuckles, your spirit is lifted, and you can pass along your smile to those around you.
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<3 GrandMom Love - Omie
Posted by Omie at 01:16 AM | Comments (0)