Get rich with me, my good friends! :)

Here is an email I received today. It says if I pass it to at least 6 of my good friends I will be rich! Gee, I wonder how rich I'm going to be, since by posting it here I am passing it on to a hundred good friends??

So pass it on and get rich with me. (Ha Ha.)

(Actually, this caught my eye because I am a sucker for pretty, sparkly pictures, not because I want to get rich.)

Millionaire for Life

Money Angel

This is a money angel

Pass it to 6 of your good friends, or family and be rich in 4 Days.

Pass it to 12 of your good friends, or family and be rich in 2 Days.

I am not joking... You will find an unexpected windfall.

Trust me!!!

Awww... I am loved!

Here is a bunch of GOOD graffiti!















By Tuesday I'll also have Jimmy here in town since he is flying in for Shelby's graduation. For the first time in many years they will all get kisses from Mom in May.

Shelby included a beautiful hand-made card with three coupons stating that she will wash and polish my car. She said I can even redeem the first one when I get tired of the new car decor and she will wash all the paint off. Who could ask for more?? :-)

I hope yesterday was a great one for everybody!!

My 15 Minutes of Fame

Student: “Can I have a hug?” (gives me a hug)

Student: “Can I have a dollar?”

Me: “You are so cute I would be tempted to give you a dollar if I had one, but all I have in my pocket is a bit of dryer lint.”

Student: “Can I have the lint?” (then laughs and gives me another hug.)

How can anybody not love a job like mine?!?


I have been selected as Oklahoma City Public Schools' "School Nurse of the Year." Woo Hoo!! This week's Film Clip Friday is not my own film, but rather a film from the City's website and the corresponding article that was in Wednesday's newspaper.

National School Nurse Day

John says now I can walk into any restaurant in Oklahoma and demand preferential seating with the statement: "Don't you know who I am?" LOL!!!

Letting go, but keeping the love with me

It is less than two months until Shelby's high school graduation and about four months until she leaves home. Lately, she has been restless and impatient with all of us. Understandably, with adulthood looming closely on the horizon, she is ready to shed the restrictions and trappings of childhood.

Little by little, I have been letting her stretch her limits, as long as she follows curfew and house rules. Although a bit challenging to me, her current attitude shows that I am a successful parent. Likewise, my sadness at the thought of her leaving shows that being a successful parent can be a painful thing.

Today the pain came into sharp focus for me. It is time for spring cleaning, and the weather warmed up enough for us to work on the garage. We were sorting through bins, separating things into "keep" and "garage sale" piles. One bin held Shelby's huge collection of stuffed animals, and we both realize that she is not going to need a bunch of plush toys at college. So, one by one we went through them.

"I guess I will keep this pretty beanie baby."

"How about the dog and the ladybug?"

"Nah, they can go."

"And the brown teddy bear?"

"I don't even know where I got him, so I guess he can go."

Then I spied Lamb Chop.

"How about your Lamb Chop?"

Without a thought, she waved her hand, and said "Eh, give it away."

I was already feeling emotional because of all the memories in the bin, and the nonchalant way Shelby discarded her old friend pushed me over the edge. I had been certain that her reply would be something to the effect that she couldn't possibly part with that lamb. Shelby thought I was crying because she was all grown up. I didn't tell her that I was crying over a stupid Lamb Chop doll, and hearing far in the distance a little voice from another time:


~"Momma, where's my Lamb Chop? I want her. She's my Lamb Chop, and I love her..."~


Shelby noticed my tears and gave me a big hug.

"Oh Momma, don't cry."

Her eyes also brimmed with tears.

"Look, I'm always going to be shorter than you. That should make you feel better!"

I looked down at my petite, beautiful, grown up daughter's face, and we both laughed through our tears. Then Alex drove up and the moment was lost. It was time for them to leave for their youth group meeting.

I watched them drive away, and when I turned back to the bin sorting, noticed Lamb Chop still laying on top of the give-away pile. On impulse, I picked her up and held her close, and carried her into the house.

I'm going to put her away in a safe place, and keep her for a special occasion. Someday, in another time far from now, I will give Lamb Chop to Shelby's firstborn. When that day comes, I will say, "Many years ago, when your Momma was a little girl, this was her Lamb Chop, and she loved her..."

~~~

My "Wild Side," or Tipsy Shopping at the Dollar Tree

Anybody who knows me well can attest to the fact that I am not much of a drinker. I guess I'm what's known as a "cheap drunk." One drink, and I'm gone! :))

For this reason, I rarely indulge in alcoholic beverages. About once every two or three months, however, I allow myself a margarita with dinner at Chili's. After dinner, Arthur takes me to the Dollar Tree across the street from the restaurant and I go on a Dollar Tree Shopping Spree!

I'll never be rich by anybody's standards, but for a half hour I feel like a celebrity who waltzes into a boutique and purchases anything that catches her eye.

"Wouldn't this piece of framed art look good in the hallway?"

"Oh, look at those garden ceramics! I must have them!"


Etc.


Etc.


Fortunately, I have never regretted a purchase the next day, even though some of the items would not have been what I normally would choose. My inhibitions are released during "tipsy shopping!" :-)

So, now you all have seen my "Wild Side!"

Film Clip Friday: It's ME! :)

For this second weekly installment I am featuring myself! This is where it all began.



The clip features me and my mom, now known as "Grandma R." She was the most beautiful lady in the world! (Still is, I might add.)

I am very sensitive...

... and I know it. Over the years I have tried to toughen up, grow a thicker skin, not let myself get hurt. Sometimes I succeed, but still, it smarts when people get mean.

It seems to be getting worse lately. Maybe it is the stress of the current economy or something. But everywhere I go, people are jumping on others. I see it in the stores, in the parking lots, and at work. As hard as I try to avoid it, occasionally a jumper turns me into a jumpee. I don't like it!

I have been told, "Don't take what they say to heart, that is just how they are."

"The problem is you want validation, and you are hurt when you don't receive it."

"You are just too nice!"

That makes it very easy to continue to blame myself for other people's rude behavior.

It is apparent that it isn't just me on the receiving end of the dirty stick. I see the sad look and the defeated attitude of many around me, often caused by the same perpetrators.

Yet, the same solution is repeated to them: "You have to understand, that is just how they (the mean people) are, they are not going to change."

Huh? Let me get this straight.

We who are sensitive are supposed to grow a thicker skin, those who are cruel are supposed to be allowed a pass.

I have decided, starting today, to make sure I truly am treating others the way I wish to be treated. After that, am not going to run from my sensitivity, rather I am going to embrace it. I hope others will join me! If it makes cruel people uncomfortable when feelings get hurt, maybe they will learn something! :)

The Ghost of Christmas Past

I was the apple of Grandma's eye at age 3. The pink Christmas tree was always my favorite thing in her house at Christmas. The sofa now resides in my living room! :)


Doug and I posed for this photo a couple years later. I have no idea what he is doing, but on our family site he wrote: "...and here I am, getting my face sucked into a brass chalice. I still have the marks to show it, too."



May everybody have a blessed Christmas full of wonderful memories!

Love,
Stella

I'm back from vacation with a meme! :)

Hi everybody! We are back from our trip, and just about rested up.

I’ll post the “Oh no! Not vacation photos!” sometime soon, but first I need to share a meme that I received from The Practicing Catholic just before our trip.

The Rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you. (See above.)
2. Mention the rules on your blog. (Here they are.)
3. Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours. (I doubt if I have any truly spectacular ones!)
4. Tag six fellow bloggers by linking them. (I love my blogging buddies!)
5. Leave a comment on each of the six blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged. (Will do as soon as this is posted.)

My Quirks:

1. I am a very shy person. Shy to the point that I suspect I have social anxiety disorder. I love being around people, but I am always frightened except when I am one on one.

2. Ironically, despite my shyness, I don’t mind performing in front of a crowd! I used to earn my living as a singer/guitarist, and I will still ocasionally do a set or two at a local coffee house.

3. My hair color depends on my mood. It ranges from blonde to dark brown. My natural color? I’m not sure!

4. I almost never get angry. It takes a lot to get under my skin. But when I do get angry, it is not pretty. (Just about the only thing guaranteed to make me angry is unjust actions toward the weak and the infirm.)

5. My taste in music is quite eclectic. I listen to classic rock, country, jazz, pop, classical, some opera… just about everything except rap. I even enjoyed a recent concert where a rap group was the opening act!

6. I am a big believer of “signs.” I consider synchronicity to be an example of God’s perfect order in the universe.

I tag:

Ronni

Alexa

Shel

Patti

Ron

Sally

...and anybody else who would like to play!

Here's Grandma in all her glory! :)

Wow! My blog was selected for the Arte y Pico Award! :)

I am amazed and humbly thankful to be nominated for a blogger's award! My writings about the people that I love are from my heart, and I'm happy to know that there are readers who connect with my heart's emotions.

A very big "Thank You!" goes to "Go_go Yubari," (Lisa) the author of Nothing Good about Grief. (Her blog, filled with her beautiful doll creations along with tales of life, is among my favorites too!)

But, now that I am the recipient of an award that I am required to pass on to five other bloggers, how in the world do I select only FIVE??? I have at least fifteen favorites, and each one is favored for different reasons.

Well, I guess I will try to narrow it down, but this is really difficult. Here in no particular order are five of my top fifteen.

The first is among my online widow buddies, but Laura's blog began before widowhood. Then after the unthinkable happened, she continued documenting her journey. Laura's Zoo up North, with Bears, Moose and Wolves

Tanja, another widow buddy, is noted for her candor and often brutal honesty about herself and widowhood, and for continuing to pick herself up and dust herself off after being knocked down time and time again. Dutch Delights

My third selection is one that I discovered on Blogger's "Blogs of Note." It caught my interest because this young lady is about my Shelby's age. I don't know how this baking, crafty whiz kid finds time to sleep! Scroll through the blog to see Kelsie's beautiful creations that look so good you can almost taste them! Cakes by Kelsie

Number four is a "can't miss" for me. Rants by Ronni has the backdrop of widowhood, but deals more with the life of Ronni, an actress/costume designer of a local theater group. A great read, and the costume photos are wonderful!

My final selection is perhaps a bit more narrow interest, but I really have to mention this one. The Warrendale (Detroit) Blog by Frank Nemecek is all about the sweet little working class neighborhood where Arthur grew up and his parents still live. Frank's blog is helping to revitalize the area, and shows how a community struggling to survive the woes of a large city can still be beautiful. Check out his "Cool Warrendale thing of the Week" posts!

My love and thanks to these writers for providing such beauty and entertainment to the blogosphere!

The rules for accepting and passing on this award are as follows:

1. Pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog.

3. Each award winner (upon acceptance) should show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.

4. Link to the Arte y pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. Show these rules.



I hate to end this because I still have several more blogs that I really want to mention! But, rules is rules I guess. :)

It's my Birthday and I'll Mull if I want to! :)

Today is my birthday, but we are not going to fully celebrate for a few more days. Arthur’s birthday is exactly one week after mine, so we plan to split the difference and mark both occasions at the same time. However, I have already received a very sweet card and a banana fudge sundae from somebody! :)

Most likely we will go out to dinner on Saturday. Our very favorite place to eat is called Junior’s, and I think it must be Oklahoma City’s best kept secret. The food is wonderful, the atmosphere is cozy but classy, and it is less expensive than some of the chain restaurants. It is a great place for us to relax, reminisce, and share another step forward in time.

I had a somber thought this morning, and since my birthday celebration is still forthcoming, I allowed my mind to run with it.

Today I am officially older than my dad lived to be.

I haven’t yet reached the age that Andy was when he died, so I have no idea how I will feel when that day arrives. I do know that I am not supposed to be older than my parent. But I am.

My dad died at age 52, leaving my mother a young widow. Shelby and John only know him from family stories. Jimmy has just a few vague memories of a jovial man that would lift him up high and make him laugh. My brother and I were adults, and were just really getting to know our father as a person rather than “just” a parent.

One of these days I will create a post full of memories of my dad. There are many different types of people in the world, each wonderful in their own way. But my dad was a one-of-a-kind, a unique individual who honestly stood out from the crowd. I know many girls think of their fathers that way, but just wait ‘til the day I create that entry! You will agree with me! :)

Another odd little tidbit floated through my brain today. Andy and my dad never met, at least not in this life. Like Shelby and John, Andy only heard the legends and wished he could have known him.

Arthur, the love I’ve been married to for less than four years, knew my dad very well.

Our lives are full of strange little twists and turns like that.

Alright, I'm off to try to shake off this mood now...!

8 Random Facts about Me!

I have been tagged fair and square! I guess I'll play this game. Here are the rules according to Michelle (my tagger:)

1. Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.
2. Those who are tagged should post these rules and their eight random facts.
3. Players should tag eight other people and notify them they have been tagged.

Here are Stephanie's (Or Stella's if you prefer) 8 random facts:

1. My parents were both only children, so my brother and I were the only grandkids on both sides. We have no 1st cousins. (Can you say SPOILED???)

2. When I was 10 years old I had a poodle that I trained to perform circus-type tricks, like jump through hoops, climb ladders and roll on top of beach balls. (Too bad I couldn't train my kids nearly as well!)

3. I reached my adult height of 6'2" when I was in the 8th grade.

4. I loved to square dance when I was a teenager, and was the vice president of our square dance club. (I know, I was a square!)

5. I was in a bad car accident when I was 19 years old, and I am still afraid to make a left turn without a traffic light.

6. I was a professional singer for 7 years in my early adult years, and performed in coffee houses and clubs around Detroit.

7. I never had the chickenpox until I was 31 years old. My oldest son caught them at school and gave them to me.

8. I played the bass drum on the drumline in my HS marching band. 34 years later my daughter plays the bass drum on her HS drumline!

I will sleep on whom to tag next, but I wanted to get this much done. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Shel! :)

Getting closer to GRANDMA time!!!

Jim and Tiff's twins have been scheduled to be born by C-section on June 26, 2007. That is also mine and Arthur's third anniversary! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us! :)

Today we had a small (just the family) baby shower for them. That makes it a bit more real for me... wow! I can't wait to hold the precious little boys.

It's JUNE!

I love June!

Only good things happen to me in June.

My day lilies are blooming! (I'm sharing them with you: here they are!)


Summer break is a big event which begins in June. The kids and I now are officially off for the summer!

My mom's birthday was June 1st, and the family is getting together this weekend to celebrate it with her.

My twin grandbabies are expected this month.

Best of all... my wedding anniversary with Arthur is coming up in 3 weeks. We renewed our wedding vows along with the other June couples at our church last Sunday, and as we said the words I couldn't believe it has already been three years. He is such a blessing to me.

May everybody have a wonderful June!

My MOST INTERESTING Birthday present!

WOW, what a PRESENT!!

I guess we can call this "Lobster Fest." As most of you all know, Jimmy and Tiffanie moved to Maine a little over a year ago. Whereas Lobster is a scarce commodity in Oklahoma, it is plentiful in Maine.

So what did I get for my birthday??? None other than 4 LIVE MAINE LOBSTERS!!! :)

We invited Kathy and Kendy over for dinner the night the critters arrived. There was a great variety of reaction from the various people here.

I was delighted because I love lobster, but I told Arthur he would have to drop them in the boiling water. He said "NO PROBLEM!" since he also likes lobster, and considers himself to be "The Hunter, the MAN!!"

Kathy didn't care WHO boiled them, because she just wanted the lobster.

Shelby and Kendy were a bit squeemish about trying the meat. Shelby ended up really liking it, while Kendy decided it wasn't her cup of tea.

John insisted we were all MEAN and CRUEL, and he wanted to keep at least one of them for a PET! But after he realized we meant BUSINESS he wanted to cook one himself. (He didn't.)

So anyway, THANKS JIMMY AND TIFF! Not only was dinner delicious, it was rather ENTERTAINING!!!

Proud Band Parents!

Arthur and I worked at all the PC football games to earn credits toward Shelby's band trips. This was taken the week after my surgery, the night of the Pirate's semi final game. I was a little sore, but felt pretty good. The popcorn kept me warm! :)

Arthur prepared the hot chocolate. We sold 25 gallons that night!!! I don't think either of us have ever seen so much hot chocolate in one place before!

My surgery is over.

Well, I am home recovering from my my thyroid surgery. Surgery was on the 4th. I was kinda scared, (OK, VERY scared!) mostly about the outcome.

Well, the bad news is: there was a tumor the size of a chicken egg, so they removed it along with half my thyroid. I start thyroid medicine tomorrow. My neck feels like somebody took a hammer to it. There is a cut from one side of my neck to the other. My kids say I look like a Frankenstein monster. (thanks, kids.)

The good news is, they are 99% certain it is benign! Final results will be in tomorrow, but they said it looks totally benign.

I am floating on a cloud of euphoria, combined with narcotics. I didn't realize how scared I was until it was all over! This was my first real surgery, and the doctors had feared cancer.

My friends and family have been wonderful to me... (the Frankenstein remark aside!) I feel so blessed today. But I had my angel on the other side with me, too.

I have an angel named Arthur who has been cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids for me.

The world looks so bright and beautiful today! (I suppose some of that might be because I don't have to be back at work until the day before Thanksgiving break! :)

Yayyyyy!!!!!!!!!

Just Married....Again!

Our marriage is now recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. (Although we were legally wed on 6/26/04, the sect of the Catholic Church we were married under is not recognized by Rome. We want to be in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, so we had to do it all over again.:) I've heard friends say "I'd marry my husband all over again." Well... I really did!:) Actually, we consider today as a continuation of our original ceremony... we even used the same unity candle that we and the kids lit 6/26/2004. It still burns brightly!

Finally... a diagnosis

I have become so exhausted that I had to go see my doctor. She immediatly set me up for a thyroid scan and bloodwork.

I have finally been diagnosed with a thyroid tumor, 3.5 years after Andy's death, although I started having symptoms about a year before he died.

At the time, my previous doctor had diagnosed my swallowing difficulties as a nervous condition called "Globus Hystericus," aka "It's all in your head, silly girl."

So I am now having to have surgery to remove the tumor that has been "all in my head." And bless Arthur's heart, he is frightened to death. He literally broke down and cried when they called to tell me I needed to have the tumor removed and have it biopsied for cancer.

It isn't thrilling news to me, but right now I am more concerned about my sweet Arthur. Enough already. We have both been through enough!