Flashback Friday #7

This is a somewhat serious topic, but that is okay.  I'm in a somewhat serious mood today.



Here is the prompt for today's FF:
How old were you (approximately) when you attended your first funeral?  Did your parents shield you from death and grief or was it viewed as a natural part of life? Did you experience any significant loss(es) in your growing up years? What were your early impressions of death and dying? And while I do not intend this in any irreverent way, are there any amusing memories associated with a death or funeral? If you have kids, how have you handled this subject with them? Feel free to share as vulnerably or as shallowly as you want!  

I lost my brother when I was five.  Even though I don't have many memories from when I was younger, I remember everything about this one.  I remember visiting my brother in the hospital and seeing the tubes in his throat.  I remember I was confused, because we made him cookies and I didn't know why he couldn't eat them.  I remember mom getting a call that she needed to get to the hospital RIGHT NOW.  And I remember I was upset because during that visit my sister and I weren't allowed into his room.  Little did I know at that time, he had already passed away.  My parents did let us go to the funeral.  I remembered my brother as this wonderful, fun guy with long hair.  (He was about 17 years older than me.)  When I saw him in the coffin, all his hair was cut off and he had a mustache.  That shocked me beyond belief and I started screaming and crying.  They got me out of there fast.  I would say that was a pretty significant loss. 

I became very familiar with death during my growing up years.  Along with my brother, I lost my grandmother, my uncle, one of my nephews, a couple of my friends.  That was all before I turned eighteen.  I lost an old friend when I was around 24.  That was one of those experiences when I can pinpoint a significant change in myself.  Unfortunately, there was some unresolved conflict with us that laid guilt on my shoulders for a long time and almost destroyed my marriage.  My most significant loss to date has been my mother.  Nothing has ever struck me as hard as losing my mom.  There will never be anyone to replace her, and sometimes I still pick up the phone to call her and then I realize that she won't be on the other end of that line.

My early impressions of death and dying were those of nervousness and trepidation.  For awhile, I would say to myself "I wonder who will die this year".  Because it seemed like I was losing someone every year.

Boy that's depressing, huh?  Well this gave me a chance to open up to some of you.  I hope I didn't turn anyone away!  If you have anything to share, please click the link at the top to join in!

Random Dozen and Vitamin D

Howdy y'all!  Before I start this random dozen, I thought I would update you on my test results since I asked for prayer and didn't update!  Sorry!  Did you know that Vitamin D deficiency can manifest itself as depression?  Me neither!  Not saying that I don't have depression, but it sure does account for everything else I've been going through.  Seriously!  Google Vitamin D Deficiency and see what pops up.  It should show a picture of me.  Anyway, that is what came back on the blood work, along with B-12 deficiency.  My level is a 9 on vitamin D.  Normal is over 40, preferably between 50-60.  So I have to take supplements, as well as spent more time in the sun.  BUT, thank you all for your prayers.  This is truly a blessed diagnosis.  My hubby was actually talking to a coworker of his about my health problems, and she suggested I get tested for my vitamin D because SHE had the same problems.  Talk about divine intervention!  Apparently this is not something doctors regularly test, so I had to request it. 

People, I have been dealing with this for over 10 years and have been told that all my blood work is normal, time after time after time.  So to finally hear that something came back is the biggest blessing I could ever ask for.  I'm not crazy!

Anyway, without further ado, here is my Random Dozen.

 

 

 1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"
Well I turned myself in and paid the fines.  Does that count?

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?
Well I WANT to have an organizational plan in place.  So we usually end up buying the wrapping paper or bags along with the gift.  Sometimes I've been guilty of wrapping a gift in the car on the way to the party.  Gasp!  I know!

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?
Do hurricanes count?  Then, yes...several.  Not a pleasant thing to go through.

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?
Um..."Even Now" is a good one.  I love Manilow.

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?
I dressed up as a rocker in the 80s.
 
6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?
I use dictionary.com.  Although I love the thesaurus, too.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?
Bacon or sausage

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?
We bought our house after we viewed an infomercial.  We don't normally watch infomercials, so when we did, we decided to go big.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Oh yeah.  Many times when I was a teenager.  Makes me scared to be a mom of a teenager when my son grows up.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Hmmm.  That is a good question.  I believe in puppy love at first sight.  But true love is something that requires commitment and hard work.

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own?
That fit?  Four.  That don't fit...about twenty.  Sad, I know.  I don't know why I think my hips will ever go back down to the pre-baby size.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")
Ooh.  It would be cool to see a cake of a lady with like six arms growing out of her back.  That would be how I feel.  Sometimes I wish I had some extra arms to keep up with everything.  I know...very weird.

Okay.  Head on over to 2nd Cup of Coffee to play along!

Flashback Friday #6

Flashback Friday Prompt #6

If you have a child in your life, your calendar for April and May is probably quickly filling up with end-of-year activities - performances, recitals, etc. Did you take lessons as a child? Piano or another instrument? Gymnastics or dance? Other types of lessons? Were they weekly? How much were you required to practice between lessons? Did you participate in recitals? If so, do any of them stand out in your memory? Did they foster a love or a hate for that activity? Did you want to take lessons in a certain thing that you never got to? And if you have kids now, how did your experiences with taking lessons like these impact the activities you had/have them do?

I wanted to do so many things when I was a child.  I wanted to take piano lessons, gymnastics, ice skating.  I also wanted to play soccer when I was a child.  Alas, we didn't have much money growing up, so I was unable to do those things.  I did play the Cornet in junior high though.  I loved it, and I was good at it.  I started out my 6th grade year in beginner band.  Then instead of going to concert band in the 7th grade, I got promoted directly to symphonic band.  My favorite concert was when we were going to play Wind Beneath My Wings.  I knew that was one of my mom's favorite songs and I couldn't wait for her to hear it.

I really wished I would have stayed in band past junior high.  But I was convinced that was not the cool thing to do, so I let my emotions get in the way.  My husband played the tuba all through college, and seeing now all the cool places he got to go makes me wish I had stuck with it.  Let that be a lesson to all of you young people out there!

As far as how it affects my son, I will do whatever I can to make sure he can participate in whatever activity he wants.  If I have to go without something, I will make sure that money is not the issue in deciding whether or not he can participate.

So, what's your story?  Go on over to Mocha With Linda to link up and share!

Random Dozen: April

1. Define a great relationship.
Honesty.  Effort.  Someone who chooses to make the effort to be in your life and vice versa.

2. Why is it called a "drive-through" if you have to stop? (Real question: What was the last food/drink you purchased at a drive-through?)
I think the last place I went through was good ol' Mickey D's.

3. As I type this, the Butler Bulldogs are getting ready to play in the NCAA championship game. Every Hoosier is hysterical about this except me. So in honor of the Bulldogs ... what is your favorite breed of dog? (I tried.)
My favorite breed is the chocolate lab.  So beautiful.  I have a terrier that was supposed to be a lab.  Who knows?  But he has been the best dog I've ever owned.

4. If you had to move to a state besides the one you currently live in, where would you move?
Hawaii

5. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
I wouldn't change anything.  My parents were very loving.  The way I was raised made me who I am today.

6. Who's the funniest person you know?
My husband.  He always makes me laugh with his wit and spontaneous humor.

7. Did you get enough sleep last night?
No.  :(

8. What's the first thing you thought about this morning?
Is David awake yet?

9. Grilled or Fried? --HONESTLY
I'm from Texas.  Hello!  Fried.

10. Are you afraid of the dark?
Not usually, unless I watch a scary movie.  Then I have to make sure hubby comes to bed at the same time as me.

11.When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A teacher.

12. If you had one word to describe yourself , what would you choose?
Determined

Go on over to 2nd Cup of Coffee to join in! 

Random Dozen and Peeps

Before I get started, I'm going to ask everyone who reads this to say a prayer for me.  I've been suffering with exhaustion, joint pain, mood swings, and a variety of other ailments for quite some time now.  I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday, and I'm praying that she DOES find something.  I've been told depression, which I accept on some level.  However, after SEVERAL years on different medication I'm still having a hard time functioning on a normal level.  So I know that it has to be something else in addition to depression.


1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?
Yuck

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?
Take a hot bath, or pray.  Actually, it works best if I do it in the reverse order.

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?
They are ok, I'm always grateful for the rain.

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?
Good grief...um...I have no clue.

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?
Well if I had to have one, I would pick a tattoo because it could be where no one would see it.  I'm a pastor's wife, so people would probably look at me funny if all of a sudden I got a nose ring.  

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?
I'm gonna try the resurrection cookies with my son the night before, to help explain it to my son.  Then we are going to church.  We used to have dinner at my mom's every Easter, but since she passed away, it has kind of fallen apart.

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?
Cadbury.  I'm all about the caramel!

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?
My son...who had emptied out his backpack and then proceeded to wear it over his head.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?
Right now I'm reading Big Girls Don't Whine by Jan Silvious

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?
I clean all year round.  Have you heard of The Fly Lady?

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
One

12. Which color makes you happiest?
Blue, as in blue skies, as in my son's blue eyes.


Go on over to 2nd Cup of Coffee to link up and play along!

Flashback Friday: Easter

It's almost Easter. It seemed obvious to do this flashback next week, but I thought folks might either be out of pocket . . . or this might bring back some memories that you might want to do again!


What was Easter like when you were little? For example, did you receive a basket with toys and candy? Was the Easter Bunny part of your family's celebration? Did your family integrate both secular and spiritual aspects of the day? Did you dye Easter eggs. . . .and did your family eat them afterwards? Did you usually get a new outfit? (Post a picture if you have one!) Does any Easter stand out particularly? You might also share how your Easter today is similar or different to your childhood?


Easter was always a special holiday for me growing up.  That's when my nieces and nephews would come over and we got to see them.  Keep in mind I have siblings that are 20 years older than me, so I was close in age to my nieces & nephews.  One in particular was more like a sister to me.  I remember my sister and I used to decorate all the eggs with my mom the night before.  (And eat one or two right away with salt.  Yum!)  Then everyone would come over the next day for lunch and we would hunt Easter eggs together.  We didn't do the plastic eggs back then.  The real ones were much more fun!

I remember one Easter when we were in a particularly playful mood, we ended up throwing the eggs at each other and kind of playing a "tag you're it" with them.  We made a big mess, but for some reason our parents didn't seem to mind.  Maybe because we were out of their hair for awhile!  Then we hot-trotted it over to the park where they had this huge "creek".  It was semi-dry so we decided to cross it.  We did that a lot and went into the woods behind the park.  (We had no fear back then.  Now I would lose my mind if my son was off running around the neighborhood, and I didn't know where he was!  Alas, things are different now.)  Anyway, my niece ended up falling over backwards in a mud puddle and got stuck.  That still is one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen in my life.  We did get in trouble for that one, though.

Anyway, I know that this story isn't at all spiritual.  But that's how it was when I was a kiddo!  So, come on and join in the fun.  Click the link at the top to head over to Mocha with Linda and participate!

Random Dozen and Poop

Before I post my answers, I have a question for all the experiences moms around.  My son is three.  No he is not potty trained.  He refuses to go.  I think it is a control issue.  For the fourth or fifth time he has decided to take his diaper off and wipe his poop all over the floor in his room.  He is supposed to be napping at this time.  And he is so quiet about it, I don't notice that anything is going on until I go to get him up.

Ok, on to the Random Dozen.  This week South Lakes Mom is hosting, so go on over and link up!

The theme is Spring . . . and any other random questions that crept in.

1.  What is your favorite sign of Spring?
Blue skies, cool breezes.  Oh and driving down the freeway and seeing the wonderful green grass separating the sides of the freeway.  Then the flowers start coming in and it is so beautiful to look at.  Don't worry I do keep my eye on the road.

2.  Did you remember to spring forward on March 14?  If not, how did it impact your day?
Yes, and we were traveling to Dallas and got to bed late anyway.  But that's okay because my three-year old slept in big time.

3.  If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year?
Can I plant the bags of salad that I get at the grocery store?  ;p

4.  If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant?
Ooh.  Definitely berries...strawberries, blackberries, raspberries.  I love berries!

5.  What is your least favorite insect?
Big tree roaches.  They are evil.

6.  March 22 was World Water Day. To celebrate, here are some water questions. Do you drink bottled water? If so, what brand?
I sometimes drink bottled water.  I buy whatever is cheapest at the grocery store.

7.  Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that?
Um, church?  Our church is brand new and the well hasn't been dug deep enough.  So we all usually bring bottled water to church.

8.  How many glasses of water do you drink per day?
Not enough.  I used to drink a lot, but after having a baby and still having to pee all the time, I don't drink as much.

9.  March 24 is the birthday of Harry Houdini.  Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share.
Not live.  I've watched a few on TV.  I wanted to do magic when I was a kid...but I was way too shy.

10.  Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)?
No!  See answer above.

11. March 24 is also the birthday of Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies?  If so, what is your favorite?
No I cannot stand either one.

12. (Really random)  What U.S. state that you've never visited would you like to visit someday?
Well my hubby & I really want to take an Alaskan cruise, so I guess Alaska!