Monday, October 29, 2018

Halloweens Past...Cuz I'd Rather Be Merry Than Scary This Year



Halloween is almost here and we have a bushel basket full of candy, but just haven't taken the time to decorate for Halloween like I've always done in the past. 



It seems like I just want to get through Halloween so I can get into Christmas. 



Yeah, I'll say it...


I'm not feeling Halloween this year!





So I thought I'd put up some photos of "Halloweens Past" so you wouldn't think I'm a complete grump. 



These pictures are all from other years when the Halloween spirit was with me.



I know my Halloween spirit will come back...just not this year. 



This year I'll breathe a sigh of relief on November 1st and make a bee-line for Christmas. I'd rather be Merry than Scary this year!



Maybe it's because 2018 has been a hard year for us...too many losses. The future looks bright, but the recent past has taken a toll. 



This year I'm not going to black out my teeth or put on a costume, but I will wear this T-Shirt, give out candy, and admire all the little ones who come to the door. 



Then on November 1st, fall and Halloween are gone and I hope my mood brightens. I really can't wait for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 2019 to get here.

I've even picked my "word" for 2019... it's JOY.  I hope to find all the joy in 2019 that we missed out on in 2018, and I hope you do too.





Thanks for dropping by!
(And Happy Halloween To You)



Sunday, October 14, 2018

Dogs Prove...You Can Pick Your Family!



Here's the latest two to join Youngest Daughter's family... 



Lucy, a "portly" dachshund came first. She was abandoned by her previous family when they asked the vet to put her to sleep rather than pay for an operation she needed. 


Zoe, half Lucy's size now, was just a little bitty thing when Youngest Daughter and family fostered her for what was to be a short time! 



Right away the whole family fell in love with Zoe and soon a "Foster-Fail" turned into a happy adoption.



These two dogs have quickly become part of the family and it's hard to remember when they weren't here. They have found their place as it should be...

They will never take the place of the two terriers that were a part of Youngest Daughter's life for so long, just as new members of all families create their own place when they join too.

We will always remember Bailey Girl...who left just before her 16th year.


And...we will always remember Mr. Wrigs who followed Bailey out soon after Lucy was adopted.


Car Ride Mid-2000's
Bailey was always the boss until it came to car rides


Wrigley was abused and fearful when he was adopted, and it took a few years before he overcame his fear. He finally found his calling in life when little Lily was born. 



He seemed to believe he was put on this earth to keep his little sister safe...



And, safe he kept her through the years...



Then at the end, sister Lily was there to snuggle him and say goodbye the day he peacefully left this earth...




Sometimes all it takes is a glance to know you're family. 




As the song goes...just one look, that's all it took.




Thanks for dropping by!







Friday, October 12, 2018

Friday Finds...At Target's Dollar Spot



Target pulls me in to their "Dollar Spot" section every time because I always have to look, don't you?



They know what they're doing by putting the Dollar Spot right by the front door!


In the Dollar Spot, everything is usually priced at $1 or $3, and I often find answers to my problems right in this little section of Target. 



For instance, this little $3 faux wood charger solved the problem of the messy bird. 



Can't you can see the guilt written all over her little messy face? 



Her nest sits on top of the bottle-dryer-turned-glass-holder. She was always dropping little pieces of her nest unto the white Lazy Susan that holds the glasses near the refrigerator water dispenser.

Until I saw the faux wood charger at the Dollar Spot, I was thinking of painting the Lazy Susan white - yet again - but this time with a glossy paint that could be washed. 



Now...I'm not a "glossy paint" person so that shows you how desperate I was getting!

But, as you can see, the dark wood charger hides any little pieces of nest that might drop off accidentally...



To tell you the truth, until I did this post and read that sales tag, I didn't realize the faux wood circle was meant to be a charger to use under place settings at the table! 

I'm thinking that would really be cute too. Happy Weekend to you!






Thanks for dropping by!







Sunday, October 7, 2018

Grateful For Prayers And Blessings



Sometimes you get a second chance. Sometimes prayers are answered. Sometimes even a miracle unfolds.

On Thursday, Sept 27th, I would have told you that miracles only happen for other people...not for us. 



But my mind changed the next day when, on Friday the 28th, Wild Bill and I were at the oncologist's office anxiously awaiting the results of his latest PET scan. The results were nothing less than miraculous for us!

The first baseline scan (done last May) showed Bill had 4th stage terminal cancer with a devastating prognosis of 8 to 12 months. 



On June 6th, after reviewing that PET scan report, the Oncology Clinic doctors stated radiation and surgery (to shrink and eradicate Bill's cancer) were no longer an option! They immediately cancelled the "radiation and chemo, then surgery" treatment plan.

The Oncology Clinic offered only an every-other-week, intensive 3-day chemotherapy treatment that would, at best, retard the inevitable spread of cancer and possibly give Bill the full 12 months, instead of just the 8 months.

Our daughters discussed the situation and Youngest Daughter flew in early the very next morning after that horrible diagnosis. 

Youngest Daughter came right to the hospital to be with us as we said our last goodbyes to Bill's mother who subsequently died that afternoon. 



Before Bill's mother Jessie died, from right there in the hospital room, Youngest Daughter arranged a 2nd opinion appointment for Bill the following week at MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston. 

I truly believe that hopeful conversation penetrated Jessie's coma and helped ease her passing. 

Jessie, even though she had slipped into a coma right after she chose to have all life-support removed, had held on for 4 more days! It was as if she was waiting to hear better news for her beloved only child.


Youngest Daughter Helping Drive To MD Anderson


Unfortunately, the 2nd opinion doctor at MD Anderson concurred with the original diagnosis and prognosis. He was kind, but sent us home with advice to make the most of the time Bill had left.

That takes us back to Friday the 28th and the results of the latest PET scan. The hope was, at best, the cancer hadn't spread too much more. 

The doctor, just returned from a trip to bury his own father, had pulled the report up and sat there silently staring at his computer. 

Finally he broke the silence with "WOW!" and read us the report findings...stopping right in the middle of the reading to say it's very rare a doctor gets to tell a patient such good news...

The intensive chemo, which was only expected to retard the growth of cancer, has basically had a phenomenal effect on it. There is no activity in the tumors in the three organs and Bill's lymph nodes show minimal activity. One lymph node that had registered 9.4 in the first scan now registers 2.1, while most of the others show no activity at all!

OK...We know that Wild Bill isn't out of the woods yet...but it's been exactly 4 months today, and for the first time we feel like we have hope. 

We want to thank you, all our blog friends, who kept us in your prayers. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts! 

Thank you to our three daughters and their husbands who've spent countless hours sharing our burden, listening to our fears, helping us make plans and contingencies.

And again...thank you to Youngest! We could not have made it through the funeral, or to Houston, without your helpful hand to steady us.

And most of all, a sweet thank you to my "cross-wearing" mother-in-law Jessie, who no doubt gave them hell to pay and probably stomped across those "pearly gates" after hearing her son was expected to join her very soon!



I now know she is our angel...an angel who crossed over on a mission to change the course of her son's dreaded disease. At that point, I'm sure not even Jesus could tell dear Jessie no.




Thank you all for your prayers...
And thanks for dropping by!


Joining:
Wonderful Wednesday


Post Note: 

My wish is that our story might bring hope to someone else who may be struggling today. Nana Diana's recent post is a prayer request for a friend. If you can, please drop by Nana Diana Takes A Break today.
  

Saturday, October 6, 2018

"How To" Scarecrow From Let's Add Sprinkles



Since I was speaking of making scarecrows in my last post, I thought you might like the instructions for this adorable scarecrow makeover by Katie at Let's Add Sprinkles



Katie started with an old, store-bought scarecrow that had seen better days and made it into this truly special little creature. In her post, Katie kindly takes you through her step-by-step process. 

I know Henny (over at Henny Penny Lane) has been thinking about making a scarecrow, so when I saw Katie's latest creation I thought of Henny...and all of you too of course!

Katie has also announced the next Texas Bloggers' blog tour, which is starting this Monday. I had to pass this time, but I'm always glad to help spread the word for my fellow Texans!

You can see how Katie made that cute little scarecrow and get all the details on the Fall In Love With Texas blog tour HERE.






Thanks for dropping by!