I'm still here!

I just dont really have anything to post about so thats why I have not been on.

My DIL and Grand daughter are moving in as Jake prepares to leave the Army. ( hi Lexi! ) Playing with Jolene is wonderful, especially when you watch her in the evening and she knows her PaPa has entered the front door!!!

We survived the negative temps a few days. No froze pipes or nothing....YAY!

All holiday stuff is put away and I am **SO** looking forward to Spring.

Got new bed sheets last night.....$20 for a King size set!! WooHoo!!

Got to finally wear my new red cowgirl boots for a date yesterday! Gotta say I love my boots!!

The sun is trying to shine and for the first time this winter, my window is not fogged so I can see out and enjoy it! I **LOVE** laying on the bed and staring out to watch the birds and squirrels. We go from negative temps to a high in the lower 60's today!! HEAT WAVE!

Well, there TRULY isnt anything I can post. Guess life is boring right now. But I'll take that anyday. I would much rather it be boring than for me than to be posting away about the sorrows of life! lol
( my normal negative self )

Lets get this day started!

STOKED!!

Red Leather Boots........clearanced from $150.00 to $50.00.
Yeah,
I'm HAPPY!!!!!
BTW- web pic ;-)

Went to my favorite store- TORRID. Got some great deals there and ended up getting a coupon to come back in later, buy $200 for $100. Now **THATS** a coupon!!! I finally own more than 1 pair of jeans at a time!!!!! I now have a basic set. Regular jean, boot cut, black and an embellished pocket pair. Am now starting with underclothes. Bought my FIRST true support bra.......OMGOSH!!!!!! I cant see my toes! However, my shirts now fit me so much better having the tatas's up where they belong!!!!! Starting with the basics. I have went so long with Goodwill clothes. Not that I will stop shopping there!!! But now feel like I can spend money on myself that I always thought was wrong.

I'm getting there.

Love those outlet stores!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is #26!

Really, its more like 29.

As soon as we started dating, we knew would marry. Well, to be honest, we knew BEFORE our first date! We did things a tad backwards ;-)

He moved to my mountain when he was 14. I was 12, in the front yard, doing cartwheels. He can even tell me what I was wearing and how my hair was.

As they drove by, his Dad said, "See that girl there? That'll be the girl you marry." Jimmy, being a young sprout of a boy told his Daddy, "NO!" But in the back of his mind, his head and heart were telling him, "YES YOU WILL!"

He said the next time he saw me I was hanging upside down from an apple tree limb. He said that sealed the deal! lol

The next few years, we rode the school bus together. I never knew who he was. Never spoke. But he was always watching me. When he got old enough to drive around the age of 16, he got a car so stopped riding the bus, but did from time to time. I STILL didn't know him, just knew him as a boy who rode the bus sometimes. Sat alone and nobody bothered. But I DO remember him looking at me! Still! He rode by my house a lot on his bicycle. Our dogs hated him! LOL

Then one day, he sat next to me on the bus, on our way home in the evening. He plopped right down next to me and opened up a HOT ROD magazine, laid one half of it on his leg, the other half on MY LEG, with his hand under it!! I had no idea who this guy was! I tried to move my lap, he moved with me. But yet I felt safe with him, knowing he was goofing off. He let it be known to me that he liked me! ( You think?!?!?! )

Well, we had idle chat. Got off at our stops. ( he lived less than a mile from me ).
Then luck would have it that I would start going to church where his Dad preached.

He drove by my house everyday back and forth to work. He could have taken a shorter route home, but didn't.

July of 1984~ the summer we REALLY started noticing each other. Always talking. I would always be casually walking the roads when I knew he would be driving by. ;-) So he would always stop and talk to me. We were best friends from the get go.

August, he asked me to walk with him to a place out here on the Mountain called Castle Rock. Its a place that all us young folk on the Mtn. would walk to. Its the edge of the Mtn. and it overlooks the whole valley below us.

We had our first kiss.

Our first date was September. See, told ya we did things just a tad different! lol

We began our relationship in the summer of 84. We wed Christmas Day of 1987.

Took a while! He was so afraid of getting married. ( $$ ) In this pic, we don't exactly look happy! But, he had a bad mouth ulcer ( he has one now~ ironic huh? ) and I had strep throat and was running a fever!!! Our honeymoon was anything but a honeymoon! We stayed in bad hotel the first night with me throwing up and the next day we drove into Kentucky, turned around and had to go back to that same hotel for the next night, then the next day we went HOME!!!!!

In the mix our our relationship, even when it was trying to start, we had a lot of hindrances. I was even dating somebody else and he was silently standing in the shadows, knowing he would wait. I always asked him why he didn't interfere. I understand now. We had a lot of heartbreaks. Things trying to come between us. I wont dwell on those. ;-)

But those things only made us stronger.

To put into words what my husband means to me, there are no words. I simply sit quietly in awe of him and the love that he has. The young guy that I married who has turned into this man that I know now, its just breathtaking. My Savior being first and foremost, there is no person I hold more dear
or appreciate more than my husband. I simply cannot put into words. Cards, poetry, they all help with getting those words out, but I simply cannot get out the feelings and words I have in my heart.

We've had a journey. Ups, downs, like everybody else. Seeing how God used those things to make our marriage as it is today, I stand amazed. If I could have looked into a magic crystal ball and saw the love we have now, way back then.....I would swear the crystal ball was lying. I thought at the young age of 20, that I knew what love was.

But, have I been taught otherwise.

Its those battles you fight. Its the scars you have. Its the fights and the feeling of wanting to give up. You can never imagine how love can be discovered in those areas. And just when you think you know..........

..........it gets deeper.
 When you think that your love could not get any deeper............
...........it does.

We never know what our journey holds next.

But together,

we're gonna go far Baby!

James Horace Sellers................................

I LOVE YOU!
 Happy Anniversary to my SOULMATE <3 br="">

Christmas for me

Hope everybody is having a wonderful season full of memories!

Every Christmas season, I have lots of thoughts/ideas/memories, what ever you wish to call it. When I think I have things settled, I don't.

I don't know that I have ever TRULY enjoyed the holidays. Don't know that I ever will. One year, I may think.... "Well, if I try this, then maybe"........then the next year...."Well, maybe if I try this..........."

Nope.

See, I grew up with a dad who hated pretty much any holiday. As a very young child- we had holidays. A time I don't really have memories of. But my memory can be jogged by a photo. And I rarely see those. So I got up to the age of really remembering things....like about the age of 10, and Dad changed everything he has ever taught me. Dad was a dad of "Do as I say" and NEVER EVER explained anything. Then, when I became an adult, and had my own children, I saw Dad back paddle on a lot of what he drilled into my head. Which has always left confusion! You would think that now, me being an adult, heart and mind of my own, I could make my own decisions. Especially with the wonderful husband I have. W would make our decision TOGETHER.

Nope.

Some things just get DRILLED into your head and heart. I know my Bible, I know history, blah, blah,blah. I have seen it, heard it, you name it.

I have had a lot of friends who have converted their faith and now don't believe in holidays. I get that. And most certainly don't judge.

I just don't know where "I" stand. I can never have that clear conscience. I LOVE the sights, sounds, taste and smells of the holidays. Don't get me wrong. Love the old songs, enjoy sending cards. ( I would like to send them for every holiday!! ) I adore the lights most of all. And what I mean by that is I just flat out love lights!!!! I keep lights on in every little nook of my house. I used to leave my lights up on the front porch all year long.....to quote an old favorite song of mine- REDNECK WOMAN! I truly did!! I just love lights, not that they "belong" to the holidays. My favorite is a turtle that is kinda like a stained glass thingy, I keep on at all times. I just love LIGHTS. There is a light on, of some sort, in every room of my house, at all times.

Maybe I am just old fashioned. Today's holidays stuff does not appeal to me. We cut back on gifts this year. Thought that maybe even that would help....stepping away from the commercialism. It really hasn't changed anything I feel. I don't enjoy the new Christmas song or movies. I like the old~ Burl Ives, Elvis, Bing....Rudolph,, Frosty, and Mickey's Scrooge.

I'm an old soul I guess.

I truly sit back and ponder and think about "the meaning" of Christmas. I don't mind hearing that. My problem with that however is KNOWING folk who PREACH and SING that. Then after the holidays are over, that remembrance is gone. Same with Easter. I truly believe those things we think on.....the BIRTH, the DEATH, the RESURRECTION is a thing that needs to be on our minds EVERY DAY.

Maybe THAT'S my hang up?!?!?!?!!?

I have heard one person say that they don't have a problem with Christmas. They just separate it from Christ. They don't do the "Reason for the Season" stuff. At first, I thought that was odd. The more I think of it, the more I am seeing light in it. I want Christ to be the reason for EVERYTHING I DO. Not just a holiday season. They don't have a problem with the holiday at all......like we do maybe....lets say, Labor Day. Its just a holiday. I hope I am making sense on this. They simply separate it. But then in the back of your head......you think......"How can you have Christmas without Christ?"

I battle any holiday that is encompassed by religion. Halloween especially. I love the OLD Halloween. More of the Fall Festival type stuff. Not the gory things of today. I know.....
I'M JUST WEIRD!!!!!!!!!! I believe Thanksgiving is the ONE holiday I have absolutely no trouble with. ( outside of  like Veterans day, etc..... it isn't religious affiliated.)

One of these days, I will have my answer. My heart will rest and be satisfied.

Above all things........

KEEP HOPE <3 br="">

The Master Bedroom.....my opinion!

I have always had a struggle with cleaning house. I was never taught how or even why! Get married, then had my boys pretty soon, I still struggled. Not having a routine or know how BEFORE they were born, I just never quite got it. It finally came to me a few years ago. Yes, FINALLY. One of the biggest things that helped me was realizing I had to take baby steps. FLYLADY helped me a lot with this. I found out I was doing way too much at one time.

What made me think of posting this? I was doing my bedroom this morning and was tickled at how far I had come on this. So I had to give myself a pat on the back! One of the habits I have developed is my bedroom is done EVERY morning. Even if I barely touch the rest of the house. Yes……I have my days. With my Fibro, I sometimes STAY in bed. But I make it my purpose to keep my bedroom DONE.

Why? My bedroom is IMPORTANT. My home is my husbands castle. But the bedroom is the one and only room that I don’t share with anybody. Its **OUR** sanctuary. I have made it an importance to us. I took everything out of there that does not have anything to do with us as a couple. Photos of kids, etc. All pics are of us. And, I removed everything that had any kind of memory to it that was not happy. Then I downsized everything to a minimal. My dressers don’t have 3/4th of what used to be on it. Bathroom in our room is the same way-even the closet. By emphasizing working on that one room, I got it done. Now, my room only takes a few minutes a week or even daily to keep clean. It makes going to bed at night such a blessing! I used to think that making the bed was pointless! Now I revel in the thought of nice clean crisp sheets of a made up bed! My bedding is also important. This is the one area I will spend money. Although I will still search for deals!! When you sleep on it for hours at night, the one thing that comes in contact with your skin probably more than even your clothing, sheets, etc are important to me.

Other tips?

I have room darkening curtains that help on those full moon nights. They are just pushed to the sides when not used. Sheers stay in between for regular days/nights.
I have a salt lamp. They say it helps with negative ions in the room. I cant swear by it, but I can tell a difference!

Yes, we have a TV. Some say not to, I think its up to you. Sometimes, that is how Mountain Man and me wind down.
Real flowers instead of artificial.
Keep all tops of your dressers, night stand, etc., clutter free.
Wash my pillow cases every week. Think of the YUCK that accumulates on them. Slobber, eye junk…..SHEW! I wash the bed sheets every 2 weeks. We take out baths right before bedtime, so I dont feel the need to wash them more frequently.
And I use a good smelling detergent for just my bedsheets! Even if that means its completely different from what you use for your clothes. My clothes- I dont like scented wash liquid. I made mine for years and have only recently went back to using regular. ( if I wear perfume- I want to smell the perfume, not fabric softener or detergent ) Yeah, I’m quirky!
Use a high thread count in the winter-it holds warmth. Use lower thread count in the warmer months- it releases heat.
Have good pillows. King size pillows are not recommended for sleep. Use those to hug! If you sleep with king size pillows, during the night, the weight of your head- well, it makes a divot. Your head sinks. So, no support!
I sometimes use linen spray. That’s a nice surprise for ya as you pull your sheets back for the night
I have discovered he versatility of duvets. I got a down comforter. Alone, they aren’t too attractive! So I got a duvet. I am enjoying the thought that I can change the color of my “bedding” by simply replacing the duvet. I dont have to buy a completely new bedspread/comforter. Saves on washing as well. They CAN be aggravating trying to shove a down comforter up in them. I didn’t know til after I bought mine the you can purchase them with ties in the top corners. That would be a BIG help.
Speaking of washing. I learned also to pull your top sheet up to the top of your mattress-or a tad beyond, then keep your next blanket, not that high but below the top of your mattress. That way, when you pull back your sheets for the night, your top sheet covers the edge of you blanket and the oils from your face ( or armpit sweat ) doesn’t mess with your blanket! Just the top sheets. WHO’D THUNK IT!! LOL I know I probably just confused you! Lets me see…..used to when I made my bed, I placed my top sheet AND blanket- the tops of them-together. And they were getting equally nasty. When I learned to put the top sheets OVER the blanket edge, problem solved! Maybe that explained it better!! Maybe not. Thats where a picture speaks better!
I also have a body pillow to keep my pillows from going down into my headboards. I am fixing to replace this with a bolster pillow tho.

 I will one day try linen sheets
I have also finally gave up on pillow shams. As long as I keep my pillowcases clean, they do the job just fine
Keep your floor clean! Whatever is on your floor, sticks to the bottom of your feet….then guess where it lands? RIGHT IN YOUR BED.
Use a good soft mattress cover. It also holds warmth in the winter months. You can remove it in the summer.
Wow! I had no idea I had rambled on so much. So you can see how much I put into my bedroom!
Do you make your room important?
( I had this posted on my other blog before I figured this is where I am going to prop up my feet and stay. I just copied and pasted it. )

Boy, this has been a day or wrecking my mind! Grocery list, menu, balancing checkbook, calendar, etc. My brain is at its limit! lol

Ok...the reason I popped on here and wrote that is to see just how easy it is to just jump on and right a blog. Me thinks its easier! ;-)

working on it some more......

ok. lets see how easy this is. Gonna tinker with this and compare how easy it is to format this blog as compared to the WORDPRESS.
HHmm.......