HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERRI

39 Years ago (back in the "olden" days) I had just turned 21 and pg. I was in the hospital in Cheyanne, Wyoming, and terribly missing the 14 month old little boy I had at home (John). This (the 23rd) was my 4th day in the hospital because I had toxemia. I had lost 10 lbs. of water, and was still losing and the Dr. said I could not go home that day. The baby wasn't due for another 2 weeks.

I called Dean crying because I couldn't go home. We were in the military & he was home taking care of the baby (John). He said "well why don't you just have the baby while you are there." Right. I again was talking to him at noon and had a sharp pain that surprised me. About 5 min. later I had another one. He told me to get the Dr. but I didn't. I kept having to go to the bathroom, and about the 3rd time I got up the nurse, seeing me go by, asked me what was up. I told her I had a few pains. Her answer was: well we don't check you with your first pains!

After going to the bathroom yet again, she reluctantly did a check and I was dialated to 8. She rushed me into the waiting area by the delivery room, and the Dr. barely made it up to deliver Sherri Lynn. ( Total time from first pain to delivery----1 hour and 23 minutes.) Remember-----I was in the hospital for 4 days, and he was downstairs doing clinic hours. She weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz and had a head of black hair. Her Dad didn't make it til later in the day, as he had to find a babysitter for John. I had already gotten up, and taken a shower, and set my hair! I felt wonderful!!

I had her on a Thursday, and I finally got to go home on Sunday! So then I had a newborn and a 14 mo. old. to take care of. I loved it!

Nine months later her Dad went to Viet Nam, but that's another story.

She is my only daughter, and has been the joy of my life. We've always been friends I think, and I never talked down to her when she was young. I've always included her in everything that has gone on in my life, and I feel truely blessed to be her mother. I don't know what I did to deserve this wonderful person I call my daughter.

She's very bright and was in the "gifted program" at school. Her IQ was measured at over 143. She plays music. She is artistic. She is articulate. She is a wonderful mother, sister, daughter and wife. She is kind beyond belief and has a generosity of spirit that inspires me. She has patience with me and my A-personality and forgives me when I am cranky. She gets along with everyone in our immediate family and our extended family. I love her with all my heart. Thank you God for giving me this wonderful person to be my daughter.

Happy Birthday Sherri.

MERCY

By Judi Picoult was an excellent book. Has anyone else read this author??? She is new to me, as I don't read a lot of fiction, but I just loved this 1st book I read by her. I plan to read more. This asks the question----if your loved one was terminally ill, and in a lot of pain, would you put them out of their misery if they asked you to??? Remember they are in LOTS of pain???

Another question this books asks is who loves more in a marriage?? If you caught your spouse cheating, would you take them back?? If you cheated-----and really really loved the person you were with, but also loved your spouse (who was NOT your soulmate) would you stay in the marriage b/c it's the right thing to do-------or leave everything to go with your soulmate??

Very interesting questions and very good book. I can't wait to read another one by her. If anyone reading this has read her, tell me if you liked her books and what you read.

IT'S LATE AT NIGHT.....

and I just got through reading all my friends blogs. It's always interesting to hear what everyone is doing and I care very much about each and every one of the people whose blogs I read. One of the things I personally like about blogs is that I think we reveal more of our "true/authentic" selves when we write. This is a good thing. It doesn't matter what we are writing about------it just comes through. Also, it gives me a chance to pray individually and specifically for those who need it.

We played cards and dominoes tonight with our Flint Ridge friends, and then came home to peace and quiet. We had Bekah spend the night last night, and we loved having her. When she got up this morning she came into bed with me to snuggle. I LOVED it. I can't believe she still does this at 14!! I didn't go near my parents at that age, and sadly they never hugged let alone snuggled! So I always feel blessed and happy that my grandkids like to be with me, and sit on my lap and spend time with me.

The weather is getting cooler, and I love it. LOVE IT! I feel like dancing and singing when fall weather comes. I am a FALL PERSON----red/orange/yellow.

Off to bed......I have to get up early for church. We are going to mass at a monestery tomorrow, and that will be a fun adventure.

WE ARE BACK!!!

We are back from Branson and our wonderful vacation there!! We went for a week to Stormy Point Village with our friends from Tampa. We celebrated each and every day. Every morning when I got up I found another birthday card on the table from our great friends! We did one show a day and enjoyed all of them.

Here are pictures of Stormy Point Village, our cottage, and one taken on my birthday of me, and my best friend Lyanne Hamm. I don't feel so bad anymore about turning 60 because we celebrated every day, and I was so blessed and lucky to have these great friends and my husband to celebrate with.

The shows we saw were: Sons of the Pioneers Dinner Show, Roy Rogers Show and Museum, Broadway, The Hughes Brothers, Yakov Smirnoff, The Branson Belle Dinner Show & Cruise. We really did like them all-----we always go to see the Hughes Bros. every time we go to Branson. We like to see how many more kids they have. Ha-ha. I highly reccommend it!!

I recieved a lot of cards and good wishes; presents and gift cards (so blessed!). And from my husband I received two things I really wanted. A diamond ring and......dessert servers from Pampered Chef! Seriously.....I've been looking and looking for these small dessert servers not realizing that they were from P.C. Dean found out, and ordered them for me through Sherri's resources!! He's a keeper!!!

I'm still in the mellow glow of being on vacation and eating out every day, and having fun, fun fun!! I really missed Sherri and the kiddos though. It was good to see them when we got home. We all went out to eat at the Italian Grill to have a little celebration on Sunday. Sherri made the most amazing GREAT carrot cake (her friend Ann's recipe). Actually, she and Ann made it for me on my 50th birthday in Florida and I loved it then too.

Besides going to shows, we played a lot of Mexican Train (domino game) and watched some really good movies. Well that's about it. Now back to work, and washing clothes, cleaning, and you know the routine!!!

Card-craft is Thurs night, and I can't wait for that!!! :-)

PICTURES---I CAN DO IT! (Katie/Braces---Jamie w/ Dylan & Noah)

I'M EXCITED----ONLY TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL.....

VACATION!! Yes! Our friends Lyanne & Grady are flying into Tulsa Saturday, and we are leaving for Branson for a whole week of vacation on Sunday. Going to shows, playing games, watching movies, and reading & visiting and eating out! I can't wait. We are celebrating our on-going friendship....and my birthday. Thank you all for the good wishes. I sooooo appreciate it. More than you know!

I've been cleaning house the past few days. My son finally picked up his dog Tyson that I've had for past 3 1/2 mo. I really love the dog and got quite attached to him-----but NO I do not want one. He was really special and really well-behaved and trained. But now he's gone, and I've vacuumed and cleaned ALL the floors in the whole house to get rid of dog hair and dog slobber!! And of course I am having company at least overnight.

Jamie & Trixy and kids are currently in OK City for a short time, and then on to their new Army base----Ft. Bragg, N. Carolina. They are SO excited and SO gung-ho! All they talk about is the military. Jamie was in the A.F. and it was quite funny to hear them compare their "shooting scores" with a guns, and compare how physically fit they are. The best thing so far to come out of this whole thing is they both quit smoking!!!! And both now work out. Healthy at last. I've been praying for years for Jamie to quit smoking. Thank You God.! Trixy is a diesel mechanic (she's really tiny folks---only 115 lbs!). Jamie is talking about getting a job as Gate Guard as he used to be a military cop as well as a civilian cop. I'm excited for both of them because they are now so excited about their new chapter in life, and adventures to come.

Well, I don't know about all of you----but as a former Michigander----I'm so enjoying this cool rainy fall weather. I LOVE it! When we come back from vacation I will be ready to get out all of my fall stuff (I have tons) and decorate. I'm big on fall foliage and ORANGE & RED!

Book Club was great as always on Monday night. So happy friend Sylvia could come. Hope Suzanne can come next time!! It's always great to read new books and discuss with a bunch of really intelligent ladies! Well, I'll be writing when I come back. See Ya........

THE SHACK

THE SHACK is a a great book. If you want to know what it's about read Sherr's Blog. She said it much better than I could have.

I'm reading the pick for our Library Book Club THE HEMINGWAY BOOKCLUB OF KOSOVO, or maybe it's called The Ernest Hemingway Bookclub of Kosovo. Anyway, it's about a woman's experience teaching English as a 2nd language in Prishtina, while her husband (a lawyer) works with with others to set up a fair legal system for this area. They both take a year off with no salary to come to this country and this experience. She writes email and keeps a journal while she is there and that is basically the book. It's an amazing read because it explains so much about the people and the horrible legacy of blood feuds-----and yet in all other respects they are a decent loving people. If you really want to understand why the people in The Balkans----the "old" Yugoslavia are the way they are in regards war and genocide etc., read this book.

Labor Day is over----I will be 60 on the 20th (GASP!) I've said it often enough this year (that I was turning 60) it should no longer be a shock or a stab in the gut. But there it is. One of my grandmom's and Dean's mother only lived to be 61 and 62. We are blessed to be living in this day and age. I am blessed to be here and turning 60.

After reading the Shack I look at my relationship to others differently. I really REALLY do feel blessed to have the friends and family that I do, which includes everyone who is reading this I know. I'm so glad you have YOU in my life. I am blessed. Thank You God.