Friendship and the Collage.....

I am a truly blessed woman!

When you look up in a dictionary to see what the definition of a girlfriend is you will find that it usually deals with love between a boy and a girl. So disappointing for one who loves to use quotes and definitions in her work..... I have been married to the same man for almost 29 years and I claim his as my best friend! But there is something about girlfriends.... the bond, the history that seems to be a "happy place" that I enjoy going to. How is it that friends can get together after years and that bond is still there or even stronger because we have been thinking and praying for them over that time?

Friendships for me started in first grade.... Yes, I said first grade! I seem to only have good memories of "the girls", I am sure I experienced bad... but the memory of these times is just not there! Memories of parties, teachers, boys, the ball park, the All Star, Ken's Pizza, driving down Memorial Drive, Winn Dixie parking lot and my favorite~ Playing Girls Basketball!!! Over the last couple of years the "ladies" of South Gwinnett High School Class of 1978 have been getting together every month. We average about 15 at each luncheon, trying to spread the luncheons out between locations and time so all can attend. I am amazed at how this group of girls adds so much to my life! We talk about the present, but so many conversations lead back to the past. Teachers we admired, trouble we got into (including spankings) and wondering about those we no longer have contact with or that have passed on.

I have a group of about 17 girls that I actually attended 1st - 12th grade with. Now that is a true band of girlfriends.... We still know so much about each other, many of our children attending the same school and knowing each other.

When I started working on this piece, of course I had to find the perfect quote.

I loved the quote ~

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.

But the I found this one....

Like branches of a tree we grow in different directions, yet our toots remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a special part of the others.

I read this quote and knew it had to be the quote for my piece.

If you have old girlfriends that you have not heard from in some time...

Call them, put together a girls date.

You will be so blessed by igniting that part of your heart again!

Some of the girls that I attended 1st - 12th grade with!

Friendship that never dies.....

To my girlfriends from High School~

Thank you for the friendship that we share!

I love you all!

Make new friends, but keep the old;

Those are silver, these are gold.

New-made friendships, like new wine,

Age will mellow and refine.

Friendships that have stood the test -

Time and change - are surely best;

Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,

Friendship never knows decay.

For 'mid old friends, tried and true,

Once more we our youth renew.

But old friends, alas! may die,

New friends must their place supply.

Cherish friendship in your breast-

New is good, but old is best;

Make new friends, but keep the old;

Those are silver, these are gold.

Joseph Parry

Gifts to Encourage!

Some of the treats I left in my kids book bags and

lockers to encourage them through their days!

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by everything that you get out of your "groove" totally? Well, that is where I am at...... "Groove less" and Lost! I have had so much going on the last couple of months that somewhere I lost ME! I have not been able to do a piece of art since I arrived home from my ART RETREAT! (Isn't that a hoot... go somewhere and be so inspired and come home to tired to react on your inspiration!). Hopefully this is the week to pull myself back together, get back into my daily routine! Because of this lack of enthusiasm or whatever is causing my "rut" I am listing some of my favorite encouragements hoping to be inspired, encouraged and at the same time offering you ideas to encourage others! LOL

7-UP: 'Seven up-lifting' thoughts for a good week!
Angel: Thanks for being such an 'angel'!
Apple Cider/Wassail mix: A little something to spice up a cold winter day!
Basket of Bath Items: When you feel like a basket case, take a break, and slow your pace!
Bath salts: Some days can be a strain on your body and your brain, so when you feel stressed, a hot bath is best, it truly will help keep you sane!
Bubble Gum or Bubble bath: May your day bubble over with fun!
Cupcakes or Cake: You take the 'cake' _______. We think you're first rate!
Candle: Thanks for letting your light shine!
Cinnamon Rolls: Here's a sweet treat 'rolled up' with warm wishes!
Donut: 'Donut' you know we love you?
Gummy Bears: You're 'beary' special!
Jolly Ranchers: Have a Jolly day!
Kool-aid (with pitcher): Thanks for being a 'kool-aid' when things were tough!
Life Savers: You've been a life saver!
Loaf of Bread:
For being there when you were 'kneaded',
for 'rising' to the occasion, large or small.
For never 'loafing' on the job and
Helping others 'heel' through it all.
No matter how you slice it, you are an amazing person. Thank you for all you do!
Measuring Cups or Spoons: Wishing you a joy beyond measure! (Great Wedding gift topper)
Nuts: I'm nuts about you!
Oven mitt filled with treats: I have to ad-mitt, you're a great neighbor (friend, teacher)!
Pasta and spaghetti sauce: Have a pasta-tively easy dinner tonight!
Peanut Brittle: It doesn't matter how you break it, you're the greatest!
Pencil and Notepad: Just a note of Thanks!
Pie: No matter how you slice it, you're a great dish!
Popcorn or Caramel Corn: Just 'popped' by to wish you well!
Popcorn Balls: Hope you have a ball!
Rice Krispie Treats: Snap, Crackle, Pop! I think you're tops!
Root Beer: We're 'root-ing' for you to have a great day!
Salsa and tortilla chips: Have a hot and spicy day!
Snicker's bar: When I am around you I snicker!
Soda: Pop, pop, fizz, fizz. Oh what a great dad you is! (Fun for Father's day)
Soup: You're Souper!
Sparklers: I love to see your sparkling smile, it makes me want to smile!
Swedish Fish: Catch the spirit!
Sweet Treat: Wishing you a day filled with sweetness!
Sweet Treat: You're so sweet. Having you as a friend (neighbor) is a real treat!
Whopper: Hope you have a 'whopper' of a day!

Please read this and call someone....

Grandma Moon at her 85th Birthday Party (She is now 92) at our old house!
This is my family, my sister's family and my mother and father.Grandma Moon

This has been one of the hardest weeks for me in a very long time....
Monday or Tuesday is my treatment (It really doesn't matter, I am too tired to go anywhere and my nurse comes here) and I lost my calendar.
This post is really not to complain about being so tired,
but to tell you about my week and why I am so exhausted....
We just had to put my grandmother, who is a great, great grandmother, into a nursing home. She is 92 years young and in great shape and mental mind~ The problem... She broke her foot and she needs therapy! It is amazing how a nursing home can not only age the person going into it, but the person's family members.
No, Grandma Moon did not want to go in.
No, she is not happy there.
And No, SHE says SHE IS NOT GOING TO STAY!
This week for the first time in my life (I will be 49 years young this year) I raised my voice to my grandmother and told her to behave! It killed me and just remembering that afternoon emotionally drains me!
What I NEED TO TELL each and every one of you right now~
allow NOTHING to come in between you and your loved ones!
At the age of 30, when I was taken to my knees with death at my front door, I learned how to value each and every day. You surround yourself with the ones you love, with positive words and feelings and you allow your days to go GREAT no matter what!

That is what FREE CHOICE is ~

And that is what GOD gives us,

The gift of FREE CHOICE!
Basically this is the way that I explained it to Grandmother...

.
#1 ~ Each morning when I get out of bed, not matter how I feel, I choose to feel GREAT! I wake up Praising God for another day in this world with a smile on my face with the ones that I love.
#2 ~ I choose to ignore the people who want to bring me into their conflict or bring me down.

If I have to I don't go around them. And that includes family members.
#3 ~ I choose to always go out of my way to say thank you to everyone for everything. If others considers that "sucking up" well, that is their problem not mine.
#4 ~ I choose to love all people because that is what God tells me to do. Now, I can ignore them if they want to cause conflict and such but I still can love them. If they choose to change and be happy, I am there waiting.
#5 ~ I choose to use my time wisely, helping others.
#6 ~ I choose to do the right things, never hurting others or doing it on the back of others. Sometimes doing the right thing even means hurting me, but that is the example I have to set for my child.
#7 ~ I choose to always, ALWAYS tell the people that I love that I REALLY DO LOVE them and show them in the process! You never know what the next moment might bring and I might not be here to tell them and I sure do want them to know!
#8 ~ I choose not to drink because my grandfather (who everyone said was an incredibly, awesome, talented man) chose to drink, make bad decisions for his family, left my grandmother and family because of it and worse of all~ he died from it........ I never was able to get to know him and I sometimes wonder if that is where I get some of my ability to work with my hands so well.
I threw #8 in for some reason..... I guess because he is so much still a part of us and that was 47 years ago.

Here is a picture of a Bulletin Board I made for her

room hoping that it would make her feel better:

Here is also a short story that I wrote about her.
*When I was younger, I loved going to Grandma's house to stay. I would pick daffodils by the armfuls, run into the house and eagerly give these to her as though she had never received any before. Sunday lunch was on the table, ready for anyone that would enter the door. If we were lucky, my uncle would have raided the closest blackberry field for fresh blackberries and we would be treated to one of her yummy blackberry pies. Sunday afternoons would find us on the porch in rocking chairs until I would be bored stiff. More than likely, I would then choose to climb the highest of pecan trees only to get stuck and have to find my own way down (even if that meant breaking a bone). Sometimes we were lucky to play ball with our uncles, although they would usually loose our precious softballs in the nearby woods! Summers~ Oh the hot summers complete with watermelons and grandma's fresh homemade churned ice-cream! Grandma gave me so much~ the love of gardening, the excitement of summers, and the shoulder to cry on that many times I didn't deserve. At times she was the one that I ran to when I was upset or just needed to be hugged and comforted. She never really sided with me, but she never sided against me. She was just there to listen, to comfort~ I loved her for that! *Now that I am a grown woman, I admire my Grandma in so many different ways. I see a woman that stood where so many other women fell. I learn more about her everyday. I see a woman who raised four children by herself. I see a woman who made a path for other women in her day. I see a woman who took care of others and now others are taking care of her. I see a woman that is so loved even though she constantly speaks her mind. I see a woman of strength, of heart, of determination!

I see a woman that I dearly love with all my heart~

My Grandma!

Call someone now and tell them

You Love and Appreciate Them!

It will make Them feel good and Yourself!

If you have a few minutes and an extra card to send to her~

Just tell her that you are a friend from blogland!

Thank you so very much

Marion Moon

Park Place Nursing Facility

1865 Bold Springs Road

Monroe, Georgia 30655

Do you ever feel like an "AIRHEAD"???

Have you ever said something or done something really stupid and wish you hadn't? You wanted to apologize and just get it over with? Here it is the perfect way to do it. No matter who the "VICTIM" (your own child, husband, relative, or friend) is, this is the sure cure! Give them a pack of "AirHeads" with a note attached saying Sometimes I just feel like an Airhead! I am Sorry! You know they just have to laugh at that point! Who could be mad? They say that

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!

An "Exceedingly Charming" Award...

My First Award

I had to share with you the wonderful surprise I had waiting for me today, Lisa at Antiques and More ( http://antiquesmoreblog.blogspot.com/ ) was sweet enough to gift me with the "Proximidade" Award.

This award is written in her native Portuguese language and it focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world.
Here's the definition of the award: "Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Now I will award this to eight very special bloggers who have inspired me to be a better person and blogger.

I chose to select my bloggers from a group of ladies that vary from everyday!

Super MOM's,

a 73 year old grandmother that I admire so much,

a couple of loving sisters,

wonderful Artist,

a Grandmother to the real Mr. Perfect,

Crafters,

Photographers,

A Blogger (who really is a Journalist in disguise) who writes a beautiful obituary to a fly that dies in German glass glitter,

and a Texas beauty whose blogs are constantly being sent to my younger daughter at Auburn University with a note attached saying, "Wow, look at this beautiful role model".

That's what special about blogland,

God leads us to all different types of women to take care of our daily questions if we allow HIM!

The one thing I love about Sue so much~ She loves life, she knows God created her as she is, for a reason and she is happy because of that!

Why can't we all be like that!

Just live a Charmed life as God wants us too!

Beverly at http://www.rrmama.com/

Kathy at http://countrychintz.blogspot.com/
Mary at http://asplendidadventure.blogspot.com/

Bevie at http://bevie2u2.blogspot.com/
Jules at http://theroost.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Tiffany at http://shabbyscraps.typepad.com/shabbyscraps/
Caroline at http://carolineintexas.blogspot.com/
Please pay them a visit and get inspired!
Blessings!
Yvette