tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50597350064198399862024-02-21T22:58:22.392-06:00lilbit of my world9/2015 another birthday has come and gone. I am now 52, single and at peace. A new grand girl has been added to the two previous. We adore them all! Two great kids remain making me proud, Roddie, BB, married and raising babies with his sweet wife, Kd, Jesi, gypsy is back in college, working in the restaurant business, the finer ones in our area. She loves her Kayshara shara and we all do!lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.comBlogger1465125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-84497045830940549452017-01-01T09:05:00.000-06:002017-01-01T09:05:24.243-06:00...I'LL SAY GOODBYE TO LOVE...<div style="text-align: center;">
The old Carpenters song,</div>
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"I'LL SAY GOODBYE TO LOVE..."</div>
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and in lots of ways this sentence best explains</div>
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the ending of the blog,</div>
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Lilbit of my World!</div>
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I have written so much here since 2008,</div>
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my heart, good things, not so good things,</div>
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but time for a new blog, new beginnings</div>
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even for the blog! </div>
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I will blog again, just not sure what the new name will be!</div>
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Thank you to all who followed, supported me</div>
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in this endeavor, On to new things!</div>
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Happy New Year! </div>
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Make 2017 all you want in life!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-20044256133811157552016-11-24T07:30:00.000-06:002016-11-24T07:30:31.308-06:00THANKSGIVING.... AHHHH THAT DAY....<div style="text-align: center;">
The day of the year where we gather with family/friends,</div>
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and we give thanks for all we are so very happy to be</div>
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thankful for. I try not to let my thanks list build up</div>
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to big because then i get stuck.</div>
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Today, I have so so much to be thankful about...</div>
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It is almost the same, I am sure as many of my followers,</div>
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and yet, maybe I am feeling just a little more thankful </div>
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this year than others.</div>
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Let my start with the obvious.</div>
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1) My bestie's, oh my bestie's!</div>
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Just thinking of the day three weeks ago</div>
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when one young mother lost her life,</div>
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and my dear bestie's were hurt in ways that</div>
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will have them in painful therapy for some time.</div>
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However, they are here I can talk, text, touch them.</div>
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Not all have been so lucky this year. </div>
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So many have lost loved ones this year,</div>
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who feel a tinge of sadness when thinking of</div>
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the day of Thanksgiving.</div>
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2) My Grand Girls, oh those three girls!</div>
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You know, they say, when you don't have something,</div>
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you can't feel the loss because you don't know how it feels</div>
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to have them. For me, first, to be able to have children</div>
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when every doctor told me growing up it was impossible.</div>
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Two children later, one beautiful DIL and another</div>
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who finds herself in love with my baby girl has me</div>
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hoping of more babies.</div>
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For now, back to the three grand girls...</div>
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No words can explain the love I have for them.</div>
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Each with a different personality.</div>
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It feels like they have always been with us,</div>
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we are blessed, I may be biased, but I think we received</div>
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the three best girls in the world.</div>
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They love their Mumsie, well except Jem, but we </div>
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working on that!</div>
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3)My children.... Yes they are grown,</div>
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31 and 27 but when I look at them, </div>
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as you do if you are fortunate to be blessed with children,</div>
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I still see them as my little children,</div>
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I have spoken of this so many times but that</div>
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feeling just does not go away.</div>
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Not long ago, BB said to me, something he has said</div>
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many times in the course of his marriage,</div>
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"Mom, I am 31 years old!"</div>
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"But when I look at you, I don't see that grown up</div>
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man, I see the face of the same one you see when looking</div>
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at your little girls, the same you will see when they </div>
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says to you, 'Dad I am (fill in blank) years old'</div>
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4) New friends, old friendships rekindled bucket lists</div>
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-12213543325456444242016-11-18T05:40:00.000-06:002016-11-18T05:40:24.934-06:00THE BLOCK IS OPENED... BEWARE!<div style="text-align: center;">
I am a blogger, a writer, but when I get a block, such</div>
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as "the accident" until that is down on paper,</div>
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on blog, All other things I want to journal about, life </div>
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events just can't be done until that first one is.</div>
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So that one is done and I am full of things and ideas</div>
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that have run into that writing.</div>
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Many may have heard my words when I tell a portion </div>
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of my life, or I do a motivational speech and I say,</div>
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"You will have to read the book"</div>
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and the book will be written, it is not just a joke.</div>
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I can write, I have journaled almost my entire life</div>
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on and off, but constantly since I was 21.</div>
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I have over 20 journal completely full.</div>
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As I remain contemplating this book </div>
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my daughter, (changing her name from gypsy baby to something else)</div>
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(Just don't know what yet)</div>
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is also contemplating the writing of a book,</div>
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that child is smarter than I think she realizes</div>
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and I am just a tad afraid her book will be done before mine.</div>
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My next agenda thing on my list is to try and</div>
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find an editor to put my stories down</div>
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in some type of order that it will be read by others.</div>
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Hearing my baby girl talk of her ideas and excitement,</div>
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I feel that same excitement once again that</div>
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has been stuffed for years out of not knowing how to</div>
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organize it. I will get this done.</div>
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The hard part, is writing a book of Memiors that will</div>
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not hurt anyone by putting the words down to sell.</div>
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I know some may be offended, hurt and perhaps</div>
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that is what is holding me back but whatever it is,</div>
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just like the block from the accident,</div>
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this block about book writing has to go.</div>
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It is jumbled in my mind, some days, all I can think about.</div>
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On December 8th, I have been asked by </div>
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two dear friends from Golden Meadow to be a speaker</div>
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at </div>
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LADY OF THE SEA CANCER TREE LIGHTING EVENT.</div>
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I am super excited as I have not done a motivational speech.</div>
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I always say, give me an audience and a microphone and </div>
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I am there. If ya DTB and not much to do,</div>
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meet us at Lady of the Sea waiting room on December 8th!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-57944677346607468762016-11-17T09:32:00.001-06:002016-11-18T05:23:40.424-06:00WHERE HAVE I BEEN?<div style="text-align: center;">
Those of you who follow me regularly may wonder,</div>
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Where is lil?</div>
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Well I, and my two bestie's have had major life changing</div>
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events and although I have tried to write this blog </div>
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at least a half a dozen times, I just can't seem to put it </div>
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out there, can't seem to put my heart and thoughts into this.</div>
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And yet, I know until this blog is written I can't move forward</div>
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with my writing or my blog.</div>
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Let me give it one more try.</div>
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As most know I, and my two bestie's,</div>
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Ann and Laurie had been planning our bucket list trip</div>
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to Martha's Vineyard. We had not vacationed together </div>
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since our Senior year in high school to Disney.</div>
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We have been busy raising children, forming families</div>
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yet now we are at a point that it was time to get our </div>
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bucket list worked on.</div>
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You can imagine the excitement we all experienced.</div>
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Then tragedy hit us on the morning of our trip.</div>
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Although I was supposed to drive DTB to ride</div>
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with them to airport, I had been suffering with </div>
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bronchitis so I decided to sleep in NOLA and</div>
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meet them at the airport. </div>
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If you have seen the movie FINAL DESTINATION</div>
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you will know my feelings about not being in the</div>
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car that was hit head on with my bestie's in it.</div>
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As I packed my car to head to the airport I got </div>
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the worst call anyone every wants to get.</div>
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"We won't make it, we have been hit head on,</div>
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Oh Lil, its bad"</div>
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and she was right, it was so bad, for us, our families</div>
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and especially for the family and driver of the other car.</div>
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I am not going to go into detail on their injuries because</div>
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that is so private. I will only say that both of them </div>
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have long recoveries ahead but we are blessed because</div>
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each morning, we are still able to text, talk, visit.</div>
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The family of other, not that fortunate.</div>
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As they, and I heal and learn to live with the changes </div>
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this accident has made in their lives,</div>
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we are thankful, all of us.</div>
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I have seen so much good in this world,</div>
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from our families, friends and complete strangers.</div>
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I have seen some ugly, from doctors, hospitals, as</div>
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well as seeing beauty in the same doctors and hospitals.</div>
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and yet, the one this that really matters is,</div>
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we remain together as the "three besties"</div>
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Thanks to all who helped, prayed, cooked,</div>
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shared, visited, anything you all have done,</div>
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us three appreciate.</div>
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It is a weird thing to first, almost loose you very</div>
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best friends from second grade, it is weird</div>
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to have beat the odds and not have been in that car.</div>
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I have prayed and wondered often,</div>
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"Why was I not in that car?"</div>
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and in Lilly fashion, God has answered me in the </div>
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silence of my prayers,</div>
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"Because you are the medical one, you can help</div>
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with their recovery, you can help with Laurie's children,</div>
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you can help by being an obnoxious big mouth person</div>
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to assure they get what they need and understand</div>
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in lay terms the big picture the docs explain in ways</div>
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many would not understand."</div>
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I can't end this blog without mention of the poor unfortunate</div>
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Mother of two who lost her life that day.</div>
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We could not speak of this for their own privacy </div>
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but again, In Lilly fashion I feel that others need to know,</div>
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close to our hearts, although bestie's were not at fault,</div>
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the emotional toll of knowing this woman has passed has</div>
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not been easy. She was doing nothing wrong, going to work</div>
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at a respected job that required her to be up and on the road at 3:15am.</div>
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We have asked ourselves alone and together, why this has happened.</div>
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The way I can deal with it is my pure belief that </div>
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1) God has a plan for all of us.</div>
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2) God takes us when we are at our very best.</div>
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I like to believe that on the morning of November 2,</div>
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that young woman was at her very best and her </div>
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place was ready for her.</div>
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Please continue to pray for my girls, their road will</div>
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not be an easy one, but as I said,</div>
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they will survive, they will heal.</div>
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The way they and their families have handled this</div>
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has been such an eye opener for me.</div>
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They are truly my hero's!</div>
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Love you gals,</div>
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Ann and Laurie....</div>
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forever and always,</div>
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the three Besties!</div>
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lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-88775747688950703482016-10-28T17:22:00.000-05:002016-10-28T17:22:02.072-05:00WE HERE/SAY IT ALL THE TIME...<div style="text-align: center;">
...Those famous words,</div>
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"It's a small world"</div>
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and yet, yesterday, I was once again reminded of</div>
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just how true that statement is.</div>
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Yesterday I left my cottage early to</div>
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go to watch my Elise in a play,</div>
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her first in her College years</div>
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(It and she was awesome, by the way).</div>
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The reason I left early is my car</div>
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seems to always detour to Breaux Bridge.</div>
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Yesterday was not different,</div>
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I may have to get that car looked over</div>
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the way it pulls over for all antique or yard sales.</div>
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I walk into one of my favorite antique stores there</div>
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but its been well over a year since visiting.</div>
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Two men are sitting behind the counter</div>
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"bull shitting" as we call it DTB.</div>
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"I be that gal right there is a cajun girl"</div>
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"May ya, sha" I say in my best Cajun accent</div>
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"Golden Meadow first 4o years of my life."</div>
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I begin to look around and one of the men says,</div>
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"I used to work with a guy offshore I think from</div>
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that area, Ronal Riera."</div>
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I am like "WHAT??"</div>
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Of all the names, Riera???</div>
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Okay, our name is not like Cheramie, Guidry Thibodaux,</div>
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its Riera, there are literally 9 of us in all</div>
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of Louisiana and not many more in the US of A.</div>
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Ron, myself, his new wife,Roddie, Kd and the</div>
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three grand girls and gypsy baby.</div>
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I am shocked and begin to explain that he is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my ex-husband ! Total shock.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This guy not only knows Ronnie but lots about him</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Explained to myself and his friend at the counter,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
how many times they received letters of recognition</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with the company, Island because of Ron's hard work.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I and the man are so surprised by this</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and he wants his number, instead I do better,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I call Ronnie and tell him the story and they </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
speak to each other for a little while.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Each time I tell the story I am reminded again</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
what a coincidence this is!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yep, extremely small world!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-34308859890498123262016-10-07T10:20:00.001-05:002016-10-07T10:20:54.035-05:00WHEN GIVING BECOMES TOO MUCH<div style="text-align: center;">
For a few blogs I have shared how giving to others</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
less than us, Paying it forward.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I blog on giving too much,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
being hoaxed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was at Walmart, buying things for my chili for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
tomorrow's Pumpkin deco party.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While in the store had a cute conversation with a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
little family, three little children, mommy and Daddy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They were buying Play-dough and teasing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
their Daddy about it, I guess Dad was not a fan of play-dough.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We went on our way and I checked out,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as I was loading my groceries in the car</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a very thin, sickly woman was roaming the WM parking lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I won't get close, can you help me out? A dollar, for a </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sandwich? I don't want a ride but i am trying to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
get to my sisters house in Addis..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I so want to give her money but I have a feeling she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is not going to eat with it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I can't give you money, but I can go and get </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you something to eat in Walmart or you can have these</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
crackers" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"No I really need the money as my stomach is sensitive"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it killed me to say,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I am sorry, I don't give money to strangers but I </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
will buy you a sandwich" She walks away,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I call her back, I give her two dollars, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Thank you so much!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But she does not go into the store, she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
continues to try and hustle others, I think, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"by the time I get this car loaded with groceries </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and she still is bothering people I will go and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
get my two bucks back and report her inside the store.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then the little family I laughed with in Walmart</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
come out and the Husband spots her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"SADIE HOOD, I AM A POLICE OFFICER OF THIS</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
PARISH GET OFF THIS PROPERTY NOW OR </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I WILL ARREST YOU"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She be-lines right out of there, I tell him, shoot I just </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
gave her money. He says loudly for all to hear,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"THAT WOMAN IS A KNOWN METH USER AND</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
PROSTITUTE, GIVE HER NOTHING"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Yeah and give me my two bucks back I tell her as she passes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
me, she pulls out my two dollars from her bra </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and hands it to me with the meanest scowl on her face.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I look at the young family and say,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I mean why didn't she just take my two dollars </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and buy herself some play-dough, her life would be</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so much better."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-85980113948177092642016-10-06T08:21:00.000-05:002016-10-06T08:23:23.228-05:00SUSAN BRANCH AND MARTHA'S VINEYARD<div style="text-align: center;">
My head is jumbled with so much I want to blog and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't want it to be confusing to my readers,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so let me try and put this in perspective....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know and love Martha's Vineyard (MV)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because the Kennedy's loved it and have left </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so much history there.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love MV because it is the type of VayCay </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of relaxation, writing, starting my art journaling,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love this trip because the Besties will be with me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But one of my main reasons is.......</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
SUSAN BRANCH!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have always thought, when my book is done,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I want it to be in the Susan Branch way.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She used her own handwriting, with small drawn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pictures as well as photos to tell her stories.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday I get the book I have been wanting,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
MARTHA'S VINEYARD, ISLE OF DREAMS</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by yep, Susan Branch...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went to bed late last night reading her book</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all about the Island we are about to visit,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am energized, energized about seeing </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all the things she writes about,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
writing my own book,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
beginning to journal in a different way,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
making myself and the two besties</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
an art journal to bring with us,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well so many things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I text my Besties after sending them pictures of my book,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">"Finally got my MV reading, one of my fave</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">authors, lives on MV now, I'm going find her,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">if I get arrested for stalking will you girls get me out?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One answers,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">"Lil you can go knock on her door and run...."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I reply,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">" If I knock I ain't running, I'm getting this book signed,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">then they can handcuff me"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the next text,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">"You can go to jail, I am going to MV"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well I know where I stand with the bestie's...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, Susan Branch if ya not on the Island, I know what</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
your cottage looks like (yes, she calls her home a cottage,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
just like me!) If you not home, I will just leave you a note,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if you still live there that is.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If ever you looking for a good read,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that makes your heart happy and see a different type of writing,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they type of author I want to be,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pick up a book by Susan Branch, cheap on Ebay.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My very favorite,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Girlfriends are Forever"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Might just have to see about getting the bestie copies,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but maybe not since they leaving me in jail! lol<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEumJt5rLesYlxtQqIgkrMmPRBT4Hkzdg5VHEQjU4_3TqD5TkzD8VLpI33-TD5TauebCLjDNnaz4dPk_kYfY393Zq0LwpXkVZJy5OXTGEQKfskxX5tV1g2Qp7JIPAhKuZySk7FIv4saGzu/s1600/menemsha-2009.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEumJt5rLesYlxtQqIgkrMmPRBT4Hkzdg5VHEQjU4_3TqD5TkzD8VLpI33-TD5TauebCLjDNnaz4dPk_kYfY393Zq0LwpXkVZJy5OXTGEQKfskxX5tV1g2Qp7JIPAhKuZySk7FIv4saGzu/s320/menemsha-2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-10297442439226132272016-09-30T07:42:00.001-05:002016-09-30T07:42:58.003-05:00I REMEMBER NOW....<div style="text-align: center;">
People ask me at times,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Did you see the news?" and I realize</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I rarely watch the news anymore.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When Ron and I were together or when I worked,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I watched it every morning.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I remembered that I just realized Hurricane season </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is almost over and I have not had to look at news</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for threats of a storm at all this year.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That is not what my blog is about this Am.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided this morning I would watch some news,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
more because I am distraught over the Presidential campaign.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I see the devastation of a train crash in the terminal</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the Bronx. Ugh and another school shooting....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Back to the train crash. I am focused on the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one young Mother who passed away.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There she was standing alone on the terminal,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
waiting for it to stop I guess to board.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wonder what she was thinking of...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the news says her one child was at daycare</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and her husband was rushing home from a</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
business trip. How sad, and yet, again,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am wondering, what was she thinking?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Probably like all of us, what we are going to eat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for supper, about her busy day,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wondering how her husband was doing on his</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
business trip. and for sure,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she had thoughts of her precious child.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am obsessed with the fact, she awakened like all of us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She probably fixed coffee or tea and fed her child,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
being a single parent while her Hubby was away.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She dressed her sweet child, brought he/she to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
daycare and headed to work or errands.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stood on the train depot perhaps with </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her cell in her hand texting with a loved one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I pray she had no clue her life was about to end.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also think, we all wake up in the morning, we</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
never think "today is my last day of life"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"today I will die" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I hope someone knows where my husband and child is.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That poor husband probably trying to get home </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to be with their child.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is such truth to the quote,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"live every day as if it is your last."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
RIP you beautiful woman who I have only seen</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
your picture, don't even know your name.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
.... and things like this may be why I watch</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Four weddings in the AM instead of the news.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enjoy beautiful weather!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-50177037120285246212016-09-24T06:20:00.000-05:002016-09-24T06:20:49.289-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
She is old and disheveled, she is riding in LeBlanc's</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
motorized car. I get in line to check out behind her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I see her leaving without her groceries.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I look at the cashier.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She rolls her eyes, "She is coming back, going to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the car for more money"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am upset. Not for the customer, but for the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the cashiers attitude. Here she comes,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she pulls out her little coin purse and starts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
smoothing out the money she has.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I move to the service check out and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I watch while I wait my turn.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I remember long ago, Oprah saying,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Respect your money and you will have enough"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have a feeling no matter how much this poor</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
woman respected her money, there will not be</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
enough to pay her groceries.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All her groceries are bagged.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are no alcohol, there is no cigarettes,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
only fresh vegetables and things</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
any household would need.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She leaves again without her groceries.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Again the cashier says to the manager who is </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
helping me, "She is going back to the car for more money."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The manager asks her total. $123. I feel anger boiling.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know if she has food stamps but that day she does not.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She comes back in, with the motorized car.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
While she was out, I remembered I had cashed a check</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sent by my dear friend, Ali for $30 she needs $23.25</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hand the $25 dollars to the little woman</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as the workers were beginning to take things out of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her grocery bags.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Oh thank you, God bless you my child"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I leave saying nothing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This time I feel good about Ali and I being able to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
help her but I don't feel good about her cashier.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think on the way home,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I should have waited to help her put her groceries in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the car,"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Who will help her when she gets home"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I then realize I have done all I can do for this woman.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I was leaving I hear the manager say,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You are going to make me cry"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope the manager was observant of her employee.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Again, I do not write for Kudo's I write because</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we must be observant of those around us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two Bible quotes come to mind</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"What so ever you do, to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"But for the Grace of God, go I"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Help your elders whenever you can!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-18580829523680860042016-09-15T07:12:00.002-05:002016-09-15T07:12:28.739-05:00...AND FOR ACCEPTING HELP<div style="text-align: center;">
On the other end of my post of yesterday,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I've another story that I will leave out names</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and change it up a little as the person</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who is the main character has not given me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
permission to post this but the story is a lesson </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for us all!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Weeks ago and episode happened where someone</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love dearly needed some time away,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
could afford it but others wanted to help</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and she was not wanting to accept the help.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I kept thinking to myself, I guess it would be hard</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for me as well as when I want something that is not</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a necessity I have trouble spending my money on it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In fact, if I don't make the money by working</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my little scrap business for it, I will not buy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it or go away for fun.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The next morning after this episode happened</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as I was saying my "Momma Rosary"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Rosary my Mom gave all us siblings before</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she died for helping her so much)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This idea came to me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"When we turn down or refuse help from </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
another we think we are doing what is right</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but we are actually stopping those persons</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from being a disciple to Christ,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we are not allowing His mercy to be bestowed on us.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There will always be a time where we can do</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the same for someone else, yet it if we are turned</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
down, we are not being allowed </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to do God's work"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I sent this to this person and I guess it hit her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and she allowed others to be Disciples.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
( or maybe she had already figured it out and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had nothing to do with it.....lol)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Remember, when someone offers to help you</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in some way, whether it be clean your yard,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
offer money because they know you are struggling,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
anything such as that. Allow it, it may not even </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
be about you, it may be something that person </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
need to do for themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Think about it, think about it.....</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-68551628555570091142016-09-14T08:28:00.000-05:002016-09-15T06:29:24.831-05:00PAYING IT FORWARD<div style="text-align: center;">
I have put off writing this post for a few weeks.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Only because I don't write it to brag on the things</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I do or how I live my life. Believe me, I am far from</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
perfect, I am a sinner just like most of us are,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
yet I have a big heart, again, like most of us have.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I may be different in the fact I am a people watcher </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
AND I WATCH PEOPLE </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the things going around me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I write this not for recognition but to say</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if we pay it forward, without letting those know</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
what you have done for them, The Big Man will</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
let you know He sees.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So a few days when things calmed from the floods</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went to BR. I had gotten a reward card for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
$100 so I wanted to treat myself to a movie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and wanted go to some of my thrift stores I venture to.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At my first store, I witness a man asking the cashier</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if she could hold a shelf he needed post flood</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I need to go get some cash from my wife for this,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can you hold this for me?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her answer, quite sarcastically,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I am not supposed to hold things, I will give</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you and hour but then its going back on the shelf."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"No ma'am I will be less than 15 minutes"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Hurry up she answers"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Having seen his worried face and he short tongued</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
answer, I ask, "How much is it?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She rolls her eyes and explains I can't sell it to you yet.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I answer, "I don't want to buy it I want to know how much</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it is" Six dollars.... SIX DOLLARS....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this woman, putting this man through worry over 6 dollars.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hand her a 5 and a 1 and she looks at me confused.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"When he comes back in, don't tell him who I am,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
just tell him someone paid it"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I walk away. I don't pay attention if and when he</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
comes back in but when I get to the register,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the cashier is nicer, she is smiling,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she tells me the man was in shock, almost in tears</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and he said that if the person who paid is still here,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
let them know I will also pay it forward today.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After, I go eat at Panda Express,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
place is packed as it has the best food for a </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
fast food restaurant. The line is almost outside and yet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the first worker you meet is a young spanish girl,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she is hot, sweaty and yet everytime someone walks in the door,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Good afternoon, how are you?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To others in the line,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Would you like a sample/"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If she noticed the workers did not understand her </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
English she would speak Spanish to them without </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a beat. How good that must have had those tired workers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
feel, finally someone who spoke like them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She is busy and yet she smiles constantly, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when ordering food from the kitchen</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Please and thank you" come out</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of each command. I decide to eat my food there,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I sit close so I can continue to watch her interact</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with others. It quietens down and I think, well </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
finally she will take a small break.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
NO, she get wipes, a broom and starts cleaning</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the tables, sweeping the floors,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This girl is an awesome employers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I take the time to write her a love note.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I explain that I have watched her,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she is what all people should be when working</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with the public, how she has brightened </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
everyones day. I get up to hand it to her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wrap to 5 dollar bills in the note.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"OH, no Ma'am, I can't take tips"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Its not a tip, its a love note"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She seems shocked thanks me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After a little while she comes back to my booth,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
teary-eyed, thanking me so much for the note.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Ma'am, today is my first day, I just moved here</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from California and I miss my family so much,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you have made my day."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No sweet girl you have made my day and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
many other people who patronize this place.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Story does not end here.....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Remember I have a gift card from AT and T.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I treat myself to the movies, a pizza at the movies</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and as I make my order I hear a young family </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
behind me, two young children,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and they are trying to figure out the cheapest way</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to make this experience for their family </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a good one. I can tell there is not much money</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for snacks. As I walk to where you pick up pizza</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hand a 20 to the employer and tell him</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
after I walk away, use this money to get that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
little family whatever snacks they want.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I go into my movie feeling good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then, the Big Man rewards me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have 15 dollar free rewards play at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hollywood Casino. I am too cheap to spend much </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of my money at casino but this is free play.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One hour later, I walk out with $115 cash</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and still have $50 dollars on my rewards card.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It may not always happen this quickly that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you are rewarded for paying it forward,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but eventually you will be rewarded.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was a great day for me that day last week</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when so many were struggling with flooding</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was thankful that I could go to my comfortable cottage</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and having made myself and a few others </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
happy for paying it forward.</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-36702176769591569212016-09-04T07:27:00.000-05:002016-09-04T07:27:54.383-05:00MARTHA'S VINEYARD WITH THE BESTIES!!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
I have always had an infatuation with Martha's Vineyard.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because I have loved and been obsessed with everything </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
around the Kennedy's and the things that happened</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at Martha's Vineyard and the Chappaquiddick waters.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like BB said, he has heard of this place since he was like 5.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, back to the story.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A few weeks ago, I told my bestie, Laurie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I am going by myself to MV"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"What??? I want to go, please.... I need this!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Was her answer.....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She thinks she barged in on my Bucket list</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but she is one of the two people I would love to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
have a girls week with! The other is our other bestie,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ann. "OMG! I would love you and Ann to come!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now I was smart asking Laurie to come,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you see, I was going to Martha's Vineyard but had no clue</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
how I was getting there and had no clue where I would stay</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
following getting there. I don't worry about things like that.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I would have been like the Virgin Mary on the day our Savior</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was born.... "Do you have room in this inn?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Laurie is the ultimate planner, probably more than</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
needed but I was so glad she was coming and planning the trip..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Honestly, I did not plan it this way!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I didn't stop her either.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After days and night of studying, not sleeping,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she found us the perfect spot, but then she was doubting if she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
could find better, I told that gal,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Get on that phone and BOOK IT!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and that she did!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now we had an issue with the other bestie.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I guess we didn't explain enough to her and how cost </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
efficient it was, but her main reason for option out was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she did want to leave her hubby, Moody.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He has been sick last few years so as much as we</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wanted her to come, we didn't want to push her </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but we wanted her with us so badly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then the other night, while having supper with Laurie,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she was second guessing her decision as her love,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
told her she should go. When Laurie told her about</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the BandB she had found, how nice the owner was,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How we could fly round trip for 200 dollars, she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
really wanted to come, she went talk to her Moo</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and SHE SAID SHE WAS COMING!!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They think they busted my bucket list VayCay,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was cheering inside to be on my dream place with </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my two bestie! Then yesterday, they surprise me with </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a day visit to the cottage, and they brought my bestie's baby, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Linz! We talked about the trip, booked and paid our</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
flights and now we are definitely going on my dream</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
place! I am so ecstatic as this place is not something</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will be able to explain to anyone, to experience it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with the two girls who I have been friends with since</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
second grade..Well, I've not been this happy for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a while! When we were Seniors in high school,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
us three with a few other friends, flew to Disney for</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
our Senior trip, yes, we are a tad older now but </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I feel the same excitement I did way back then.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Martha's Vineyard, bet ready, the three Besties are on their</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
way come November! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks to Bestie, Laurie for doing all the hard work!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-87100298198522456102016-09-02T08:28:00.001-05:002016-09-02T08:28:14.275-05:00CHILDHOOD CANCER MONTH, SEPTEMBER...<div style="text-align: center;">
Some may not know I am a childhood cancer survivor.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I beat a cancer at 5 years old that was incurable.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Every September, I am reminded by media</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Back in 1968, there was no internet or all the media</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of today to announce to the world I had cancer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There were no money jars, no walks to raise money,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
only people who knew I was fighting to live</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was my immediate family and my little town</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of Golden Meadow.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Being 5, I should have been having fun in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
kindergarten, making new friends,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
instead my parents older to have a 5 year old,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and my siblings were scared beyond belief</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to find out I would most assuredly loose</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a kidney and probably my life but if my</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
parent gave this Dr. Fisherman all medical </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
rights to their little girl, he did not think he</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
could save me but he could hopefully find a cure</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and save others after me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of course I knew none of this.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I only knew that I was sick and the medications</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they gave me made me sicker.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let me tell you what the child inside of me remembers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the most....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I remember being in what was called a "ward" back then</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a long hall with many baby bed and tiny beds with </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
only curtains separating us. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Back then parents weren't allowed to stay with </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
their children. So still to this day there</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is a certain time of day, the light will come through</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the window at around 6pm and the nighttime</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
news was on our few tv's we shared between</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a ward full of kids,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I can still here the cries of babies and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
children wanting their parents, their loved ones.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Being a nurse now, I still can't think of why</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they thought in 1968 the best way to treat sickness in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
children was to send their parents home at night.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For me, even though the crying made me some nights</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cry, I knew my Mommy or Daddy or an older adult </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sibling was waiting in the waiting room.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because my Daddy let the hospital know on day one,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He did not care what the rules were, he was not</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
leaving his baby girl alone, ever. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I knew once all the other parents were gone and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the nurses had made their rounds, this one sweet nurse</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would let my parent back in.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't mind that my parent or whomever was staying</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with me that night I am sure rocked many</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
other peoples children. I knew I was not alone.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then their was the practice of the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"TREATMENT ROOM" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
parents were not allowed in that room either.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So of course, we children cried and screamed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for our Mommy's and daddy's.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know, now being a nurse that the things done in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that room were necessary but the route they</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
did it was in humane.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once we got in there and we cried or kicked</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
they held us down and did and IV change,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
marked us for radiation and there were threats</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"If you don't stop crying you won't have your mail"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mail was a big deal when you are in the hospital</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for 8 weeks. "We won't let your mommy spend the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
night if you don't stop crying" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know my 53 year old mind only remembers what</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a 5 year old mind can remember but so much has changed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Once my kidney was removed I still could not</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
go home but I was now in a room with only two other </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
children and parents could stay.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know now it was probably because</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we were very sick or on the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"gunna die" list.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Either way, I was glad my family was with me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My niece, Tiffany was two and a half</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and my favorite visitor besides my sister, Celena.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was rotten, I knew being sick I could pretty much</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
get away with anything. I didn't know the reason was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because I probably had only a few more months </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with them. Growing up, my parents did not tell</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
me much and treated me like everyone else even</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
though they thought my time was limited.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is because of this treatment that I grew up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and never used the cancer as a crutch.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because of this I am a nurse,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now as an adult, I have issues because of</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the radiation given to me. too much was given</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but I am not bitter, they thought I would die</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it is probably that treatment that kept me alive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yet some days are not so great. I try and act</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
like my parent brought me up, not to use</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the cancer as a crutch but on a bad day it's hard.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyway, I write this not wanting sympathy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but to pay tribute to September as Childhood cancer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
month and to bring awareness to the few adults in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the world still alive from childhood cancer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know my cancer had a lot to do with who I am now.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know there are few to compare me to as most have passed,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On a bad day filled with pain from radiation to my back,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I may get pouty but I know without that treatment I</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would have just been a name in the family,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"the little girl who died from cancer"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Instead I am Lilly.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A retired nurse who gave 30 years to the field.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am Lilly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the mother of two beautiful children who I was told I </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would never have.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am Lilly,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mumsie to three grand girls who are amazing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am Lilly ,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who loves people, people watching, giving to others,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am Lilly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who likes to laugh and do silly things to make others laugh.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am Lilly </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who still loves toys especially miniature ones.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am Lilly,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one of the lucky, saved by new wave meds at the time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and loved by older siblings and family, to health.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am Lilly,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
praying for all those little sweet children</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who fight the battle in the month</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of childhood cancer awareness,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
SEPTEMBER</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-23322426062094438782016-08-08T10:19:00.000-05:002016-08-08T12:12:48.671-05:00TO THE KINDER PARENTS.....<div style="text-align: center;">
As I sit here on my 53rd birthday....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
what (cough cough) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as my brod in law would say,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my 30th anniversary of my 23rd birthday,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that sounds better, thanks Nonc Jay!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I see on Facebook all the back to school pictures</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think of all the first time parents of Kindergarteners,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
us having our own Bean starting on Wednesday....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brought me back to a time back in the day....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When my own baby boy began Kinder.....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
yep, I had gypsy who was 10 months</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I held her in my arms as he bravely kissed us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
goodbye and climbed on the big yellow school bus </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for the very first time. My thoughts...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"OMG! He can't even see out the window, he is </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
too small"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I watched his little hand wave in the window that</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
showed only the top of his head.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I turned so he could not see my tears,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my mind went to all the other things that had kept me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
up at night....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Who will show him where the bathroom is?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"How will he know how to walk in a straight line</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when for the last 5 years he has only held his </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dad and I's and walked on our side?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Will he give trouble not to nap since he has</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
not napped since he was 4"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"How will he find his classroom?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"What if he does not like the food?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
OH how our minds worry about our little ones</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when they leave for the first time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am here to tell all you first time parents....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
THEY WILL DO BETTER THAN YOU.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When I began school nursing and saw the process</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
teachers, paras and everyone go through to teach</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the little ones the rules would have relieved all</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
those anxieties I remembered over 20 years before.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
yet, even with all that being said,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you will worry, you will probably tear up...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you will think of them all day and wait</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so anxiously for that same big yellow bus to bring them</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
home...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and you will be full of questions and the answer you will get?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know or a shrug of the shoulders...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy first day to all you little ones,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and especially my favorite one, our Bean!<br />
PS It DIDN'T GO AWAY IN THE 5 YEARS<br />
BEFORE GYPSY BABY STARTED KINDER.....<br />
SOOOOO beware... it will happen each time!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-14828333624278565692016-07-22T10:03:00.000-05:002016-07-22T10:03:38.166-05:00ITS A MISSION.....<div style="text-align: center;">
It's fun now, that the two older grand girls </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
can come and play together, but I still do enjoy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
one on one time with each of them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yesterday I had Tuts and Bean.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tuts cried for her Mommy and Bean</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cried to sleep at Mummies....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They both got their wish...lol</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So once we brought Tuts home and Bean and I</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
were waiting for Aunt Nan C we heard music....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ICE CREAM TRUCK MUSIC!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I hurriedly ran inside for my wallet,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bean didn't have her shoes on, cement was hot,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we missed the truck,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but to no avail, we saw the way it turned and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
WE are going to catch that truck,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my thoughts were, Beans feet will burn so I will</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
let her run in the grass while I walk quickly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
around the block to catch the darn ice cream truck.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I said to the Bean,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
" Give me your hand... we going to catch that truck"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And her memory must have gone back to Wednesdays</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
after school when she would come to the cottage</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we would walk the neighborhood for adventures....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I hurriedly grabbed her hand,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wallet in hand,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Give me your hand, we going to catch that truck,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her words...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"MUMSIE WHENEVER YOU SAY THAT,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I KNOW WE ABOUT TO GO ON A MISSION"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ohhhh Be Still, My heart...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Memories with the grand girls, its what i live for!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-37208690014515367312016-07-15T09:36:00.001-05:002016-07-15T09:36:25.167-05:00My Godson becomes a Husband.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Today, this evening, in the beautiful state of Virginia,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
my godson, Ricky, will become a husband,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
to a wonderful woman he found while doing his Navy</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
life on Virginia Beach.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am sad that I am not there yet I will be thinking</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
of them today and will be celebrating with them in a few</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
months when they come here to Louisiana.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOU5Y93pMvp790pxAgDETG9ur_7OgI8Z76S8a8FtEqyKQQMj2q3LyMtSg1zaGYW4uL9VIxxVDDbxYQ4HXlFRYQmO5bkDwel0ZrXJjNG74uUa59V_8vROqbi1dEN3At6mLbektgH7z-68_/s1600/SCAN0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOU5Y93pMvp790pxAgDETG9ur_7OgI8Z76S8a8FtEqyKQQMj2q3LyMtSg1zaGYW4uL9VIxxVDDbxYQ4HXlFRYQmO5bkDwel0ZrXJjNG74uUa59V_8vROqbi1dEN3At6mLbektgH7z-68_/s320/SCAN0776.JPG" width="245" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Above, gypsy baby and Rick at Lady of the Sea Easter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
egg hunt. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I always was afraid I just didn't do enough with him,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as I take this Nannie thing seriously.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yet, If you ask him, he will brag about his Nannie.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He make me proud when I hear Nannie from him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtejNtRcs9fqmxNQUU04ojzL9Gb3BMUfihklvDtnxekjAjegl0Z3SNAXD7d1PwboQfqeugR4F2RcdAZWiIOCIhGdxZGbNYB1uPliWxy8GKe9semsXq75tp5jJOIg5OArvuNcKgWd53WQdP/s1600/SCAN0689_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtejNtRcs9fqmxNQUU04ojzL9Gb3BMUfihklvDtnxekjAjegl0Z3SNAXD7d1PwboQfqeugR4F2RcdAZWiIOCIhGdxZGbNYB1uPliWxy8GKe9semsXq75tp5jJOIg5OArvuNcKgWd53WQdP/s320/SCAN0689_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Having found the woman for him, One that will follow him</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
wherever his Navy career takes him and it is something</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
he has wanted for a long time, wanting to begin a life</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
with a wife at his side, hoping for children to call him DAd.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WgJ9q1uc3w6bvTkP1IbDZJvP2Zru6x1ZqtRNAzguX-MmDQRYtmRWzSejP-nyf5wPEpjg34PanDHFeQ5ajiQhGJNoUtkM6lkAuV1fmvG1wVBow6E71EWEdPDP034I_B_MEz7Lz5bXPzkJ/s1600/CIMG4386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WgJ9q1uc3w6bvTkP1IbDZJvP2Zru6x1ZqtRNAzguX-MmDQRYtmRWzSejP-nyf5wPEpjg34PanDHFeQ5ajiQhGJNoUtkM6lkAuV1fmvG1wVBow6E71EWEdPDP034I_B_MEz7Lz5bXPzkJ/s320/CIMG4386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
( he and his Mom and step Dad a few years ago)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His life along with his Mom's has not always been easy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before his step dad, Bryan came into the picture,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
his Mom sometimes had three jobs so he could </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
have all those extra things he needed,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
biddy basketball weekends, Dixie youth baseball,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all stars he usually made, the shoes that he wanted</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but really were costly for his Mom.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He never wanted for what he needed,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I tried to help when I could,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
having him spend many days with me in the gyms </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because his Mom had to leave for work,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but she always made time for the games,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't think she missed many,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she has always been his biggest fan,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so proud of her baby boy no matter what he achieved.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like all of us, he has not always made the smartest</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
decisions but has always learned from them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His career in the Navy has found him finding</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
his place in the world, now with Sarah near him</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he will soar. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love you Rick, will think of you all day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as you begin your life as a couple, no longer</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
just you to concern yourself with.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I wrote to you in your love letter,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Words of wisdom for marriage bliss:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaNgxfDcxvUSmrBRMFaBzqfL7JIKntCECbJ0BLikBzIaUumoAS1hfiB1z7XoAFqoWSa1gofru_Et04BmSO364AnrxXmHs40tb7IjRISGccz4o5PVCTWH5KpFKt9JjJmvnbBfNYY0gSI0x/s1600/SCAN0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaNgxfDcxvUSmrBRMFaBzqfL7JIKntCECbJ0BLikBzIaUumoAS1hfiB1z7XoAFqoWSa1gofru_Et04BmSO364AnrxXmHs40tb7IjRISGccz4o5PVCTWH5KpFKt9JjJmvnbBfNYY0gSI0x/s320/SCAN0986.JPG" width="227" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1) NEVER FORGET THE LOVE YOU BOTH FEEL FOR EACH </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
OTHER RIGHT NOW, IT WILL CARRY YOU TWO THROUGH</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
LOTS OF ROUGH SPOTS, AND THERE WILL BE</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ROUGH SPOTS)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2) GIVING 50/50 IS NOT ENOUGH EACH MUST GIVE</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
100% FOR A HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3) WHEN YOU ARE WRONG, ADMIT IT,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
WHEN YOU ARE RIGHT, SHUT UP! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
LOL</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIi3hujWioV8ClucaMIAjG1uLykCaHo_X1TBc810ZQ4OWiwLKQANqpd_W-H08bOM0hwJytfukIbPW0K5TlWt-04hPj7igZHIAWTKgVdY_qufEBysE6iEsGX-NVq9ipf7Vkg7Eo83sF1t5/s1600/CIMG4379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIi3hujWioV8ClucaMIAjG1uLykCaHo_X1TBc810ZQ4OWiwLKQANqpd_W-H08bOM0hwJytfukIbPW0K5TlWt-04hPj7igZHIAWTKgVdY_qufEBysE6iEsGX-NVq9ipf7Vkg7Eo83sF1t5/s320/CIMG4379.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love you my dear godson, I am so very proud of </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the man you have become.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-60659181027219113282016-07-08T09:34:00.001-05:002016-07-08T09:34:30.796-05:00History of my NO WHINING signs...<div style="text-align: center;">
Way back when I was just an aunt Lil,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before being a Mumsie, I would tell my great nieces</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and great nephews that there is no whining</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at Aunt Lil's house. When I was a school nurse, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I would tell the students, tell me what is wrong but</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
do not whine, use your words and I can help you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So of course, when Bean came along,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I would say the same thing. While they lived with</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
us and the other grandparents while their home was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
being built, the Bean was a tad dramatic....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sometimes whining for no reason any of us knew.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At that time, I had a sign in my house that said</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"BECAUSE NICE MATTERS"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because Bean was little and she could not read,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When she would begin whining I would point</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to that sign and tell her,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"There is no whining at Mummies' house"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She totally believed in the sign.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She would rarely whine and when she did all I had </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to do was point to that red sign.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then I moved to the cottage and the sign came along.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She would whine, I would point to sign and it </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would stop. If she whined at her house I would tease</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her and tell her, I will make a sign for your house</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and she would scream, "NONONONONONO"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then a few months ago, shy of her 5th birthday,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she began to really want to read, every book I read</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her I had to point to the words, she sounded out and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
OH this MUmsie was oh so proud....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Until she began to call my bluff.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She came into the cottage and I saw her standing </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
below the red sign and I see her mind turning,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I see her lil lips move</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Beee Cu......"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"MUMSIE, THAT SIGN DOES NOT SAY NO WHINING,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
YOU LIED"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Uhhhhh yeah, about that.....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
i explain,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Well you see, It says Because nice matters and in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a way it means the same thing"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"No it does not" she exclaims.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the very next day,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a new sign is made.....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvjgnmnWfbYMmKcJJUkOjqYwVfbVC7erYzy45cQg7Ijh-PZMm6X-uySYf1iPMyGmFy2CNQK2hQrKeswllWXViLz_du9py6w9o14qXMkv89jp5qZnMojMQye-HsZIdksGDHFg5CKyYbyeu/s1600/13592844_10207792983396578_7266645273327366721_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvjgnmnWfbYMmKcJJUkOjqYwVfbVC7erYzy45cQg7Ijh-PZMm6X-uySYf1iPMyGmFy2CNQK2hQrKeswllWXViLz_du9py6w9o14qXMkv89jp5qZnMojMQye-HsZIdksGDHFg5CKyYbyeu/s320/13592844_10207792983396578_7266645273327366721_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I own one and now sell them for any of you who may need </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the same type of sign!</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-30061738286345856582016-07-06T11:32:00.003-05:002016-07-06T11:34:07.137-05:00THE BEST JOB I EVER HAD....<div style="text-align: center;">
Most days I am in contact with my daughter in law, Kd,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at least once and I visit/babysit for her so I see how hard</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she and BB work to raise three little girls that are</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all close in age. Although, I would not want to go back</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to that time period when my own babies were young,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there are days I miss it, like a lot.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Because I was a darn good nurse, but I believe the best thing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I ever did was raising my children.<br />
Looking back, I realize just how fast it passed<br />
and how hard it was, but that it was the best job I<br />
ever had, the most rewarding.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This morning while surfing Facebook and internet,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it is filled with drama and death right in our</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
own backyard, Baton Rouge,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and it has me wanting to, once again, to put</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on my 'rose colored glasses'</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh the world the struggles of todays world.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So with all of that jibberish,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
let me share a funny story I keep thinking about</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and laughing to myself as I recall a moment in time....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">MY BABIES WERE OLD WHEN THEY STOPPED</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">SLEEPING IN MY BEDROOM.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">BECAUSE THEIR DAD WORKED OFFSHORE AND</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">WORKED A LOT, THERE WERE MANY TIMES</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">IT WAS JUST I AND THE TWO YOUNGNESS'.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">ONE NIGHT, I KNOW ROD WAS 7 BECAUSE</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">HE HAD HIS FIRST BROKEN COLLARBONE</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">FROM PLAYING FOOTBALL IN THE YARD.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">HE, GYPSY BABY AND I WERE LAYING IN</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">MY WATERBED TALKING BUT AFTER SOME</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">TIME I WAS TIRED AND READY FOR SLEEP.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">EACH TIME I WOULD TELL THEM </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">QUIET, BB WOULD THINK OF SOMETHING HE</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">JUST HAD TO SAY. FINALLY I HAD ENOUGH</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">AND I MAKE THE VERY STERN REMARK,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">"IF ONE OF YOU TALK AGAIN TONIGHT YOU ARE</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">BOTH GOING IN YOUR OWN BED"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">OH GYPSY BABY WAS NOT TALKING AGAIN </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">BECAUSE THE ONE THING SHE HATED WAS</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">SLEEPING ALONE. SO SHE QUIETED RIGHT AWAY.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">YET, BABY BOY, HE HAD ONE MORE THING HE JUST </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">HAD TO SHARE,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">HE SITS UP, "MOM, ONE MORE THING...."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">AND GYPSY HAD ENOUGH,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">SHE POPPED HER LITTLE THREE YEAR OLD HEAD</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">UP, LOOKED HIM STRAIGHT IN THE EYES</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">WITH A FINGER SHAKING IN HIS FACE,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">"RODDIE, IF YOU TALK ONE MORE TIME,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">I AM GOING TO BREAK YOUR OTHER COLLARBONE!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">HAHAHA Can you see how she was even back then.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">A fond memory I will remember forever.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Write down the little things your children do,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">one day you will be glad you did.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO25oLbaWur-5y8V0c3Se9UXiLKm1X3m-EXtmO55hLWr03X2-0mT7LmsoVib3rdEYMUtvjgIGf6_NWnHprV_aSH59tiwvSq4XU8Qj5uQNKvVOo8khaRbV43x-EPP32oLgWKG7REgkgTy1/s1600/13346995_534778463313825_1989700008106206823_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqO25oLbaWur-5y8V0c3Se9UXiLKm1X3m-EXtmO55hLWr03X2-0mT7LmsoVib3rdEYMUtvjgIGf6_NWnHprV_aSH59tiwvSq4XU8Qj5uQNKvVOo8khaRbV43x-EPP32oLgWKG7REgkgTy1/s320/13346995_534778463313825_1989700008106206823_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-1489590851463033862016-07-05T11:26:00.000-05:002016-07-05T11:26:38.111-05:00Nostalgia prevails today....<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICQvSKPIMLgMf4-0gMoLm_eJgK71tu5LP71xGA-Fj2xdq5qkUYlzgcm2r-STGR-jtgdpEIvjJ0zTv_1TSIo92Nve6jCkAZ2vgpmG8j5lamlppUy9iSmBLM_IqRIIZ6qts_g-l4jIXPs-8/s1600/168053_1614000388068_6991654_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICQvSKPIMLgMf4-0gMoLm_eJgK71tu5LP71xGA-Fj2xdq5qkUYlzgcm2r-STGR-jtgdpEIvjJ0zTv_1TSIo92Nve6jCkAZ2vgpmG8j5lamlppUy9iSmBLM_IqRIIZ6qts_g-l4jIXPs-8/s400/168053_1614000388068_6991654_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am not sure why but today I am filled with nostalgia....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thinking of childhood, thinking of fun summers,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thinking of how blessed I was that although I was born</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to older parents and we didn't do much as vacations go,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we did do "stay"cations before it was popular.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today while surfing Facebook I start looking at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cousins pages and I come across this sweet and happy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
face. Always smiling, always laughing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even on the rare occasions I have seem her crying,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she was still smiling. So let me bring up a few memories.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dina lived in Houma, we were both the babies of big</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
families, she the baby of my cousin, Jerry who</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I never knew was my cousin until I was grown,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because we called her "Aunt Nan Jerry"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Every summer Dina spent one week at her grandmother,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
my aunt LeeLee and then I would spend a week at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her house in Houma. Big deal for me as I rarely </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
strayed far from my immediate family.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think back on all the days we spent in our</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
back yard swimming hole. Dina, a year younger than</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
me, always sported fancy bathing suits and I thought</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
it was a big deal because she got them because she</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was on a swim team! back in the 60's organized</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sports for kids just was not popular on the bayou and</div>
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I thought she was a big Shit! excuse my french...lol</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We shared many secrets I am sure but I can't remember </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
any this day. Then when I went to her home....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
let me just say their family unit was one different from</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
mine and I admired it. For instance, when her siblings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and she was young, they did not have a tv in their family room.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It really was a family room. Which meant on weekend mornings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we climbed into Aunt Nan Jerry and Uncle Darwins bed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for morning cartoons. So cool all of us laying in bed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
watching tv. They also usually had a family project going on.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the one I remember in particular was the hooked rug</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the family was working on, I learned how to hook rugs</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
there. Also at that time, it was safe to walk to the stores</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
close to their home, we walked there to spend the few</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dollars my parents would have given me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"In case" I needed it. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of course, I needed that gel that came with a little straw</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that you could blow your own balloons...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I needed that magnetic wand that would add</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
magnet strands to a mans face....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I loved visiting there and I loved</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the nights Dina spent at her grandmothers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which meant I was able to also sleep at my aunt OraLee</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who still lived in the family home that was once a hotel.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What a great childhood we were blessed with.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And there is my nostalgic remembrance of the day.</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-72086062205103717012016-06-29T10:02:00.000-05:002016-06-29T10:02:31.906-05:00Where I am, is Home....<div style="text-align: center;">
Most of my peeps know that gypsy baby has come to</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
spend at least the summer at the cottage.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Needed a fresh start and although she was like,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Lord, Mom I am 27, having to move back with my Mom"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I reminded her,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Wherever your Momma is, is home, you can always come home"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and that she did, it has been almost a month and i think</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
last night made three nights she actually slept here,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but having a place to call yours, a place where</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a bed and pillow is always awaiting your arrival is</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
all a gypsy baby needs.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of course, her Dad would say the same thing,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she is always welcomed there as well</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but her and I have lots in common.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So last night, for whatever reason,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was thinking of that, how wherever your parents</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are, no matter how old you are, where they live,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that is your home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I went back in my memory to a time when Baby Boy was</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a mere 18 years old. He had moved out on his 18th bday</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
because could not live by our rules.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Since then, we had moved to Thibodaux and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
once he went into rehab. came out to live with us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the apartment we were living in at the time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We told him the same thing, where your parents</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are you are welcomed if you can follow the rules.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
During this time we decided to buy a home in Thibodaux</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which would take Baby boy off the sleeper sofa he had been</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
living on at the apartment to having his own room once again.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As we were moving, we were all a tad happy to get out the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
apartment, well I and the kiddo's, Ron always like apartment living,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On one of the moving days, I watched as BB put his things up on the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
walls into his drawers, things we had put in storage coming</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
out to be with him. He followed me outside that day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanked me for giving him a place to stay.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then in a shy voice asked, "How long can I stay"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Liked to knock me off my feet, I had to hold</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
back tears as I said to him same thing I told gypsy a </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
few weeks ago.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Baby, as long as you are sober you can stay until you die"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Meant it then and I mean it now.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The thought that he felt there may be a limit to how long</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he could be there saddened me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of course after about a year, he had had enough of us all</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and bought his first home as soon as he graduated from </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
college. So to all you adult children out there,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Where ever your parents are, you are home.....</div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-38445275046150833242016-06-25T08:49:00.001-05:002016-06-25T09:03:46.577-05:00TUTS HITS A MILESTONE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4raLBXRj3eBI1QiSrvgt4gDDmeSbhuWygDfwIP8ZgkcLTiSq8cq-DxyBqHpXtMby6dax0xAM4hjJNRD0iwJhGLxK8q9kf0h-iYqOFjULWEtKLuEs6LwoJLJkOk6Oc7TSWQ_rOFVAntnn/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4raLBXRj3eBI1QiSrvgt4gDDmeSbhuWygDfwIP8ZgkcLTiSq8cq-DxyBqHpXtMby6dax0xAM4hjJNRD0iwJhGLxK8q9kf0h-iYqOFjULWEtKLuEs6LwoJLJkOk6Oc7TSWQ_rOFVAntnn/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our Sweet Tuts, the second of three grand girls turned</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
two in May. She is cute, smart and oh so Funny!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, she has a big love for "Bae" her blankie</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that she drags everywhere and for sure can't sleep without.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She also has a big love for her crib that she puts herself to sleep in</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as well as a big, big infatuation with her Mommy and "DaDA"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Therefore, it has made it very hard to have her</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
overnight. She likes "Muzie's Howz" as long as the sun is </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
shining and no sleep is involved.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5F45JLupYuF68ZU55ZfgddflXH0wRkCldUm3n9QznGLUbd6ejqkx-fE_s_NjluDtUQPvnjMWSoB8L4XBXCVrTqmX3cTSOpK7dGrRlFCS2Gch0cW1sxzDMXz-DPXlTVMKV1G5IhcCZUhf/s1600/DSC_0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5F45JLupYuF68ZU55ZfgddflXH0wRkCldUm3n9QznGLUbd6ejqkx-fE_s_NjluDtUQPvnjMWSoB8L4XBXCVrTqmX3cTSOpK7dGrRlFCS2Gch0cW1sxzDMXz-DPXlTVMKV1G5IhcCZUhf/s320/DSC_0122.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, as with pictures here of her second birthday,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted to try and start keeping her for the night.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bean has always loved spending a night or two at</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mumsie's and at Maw Maw and Paw Paws but</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her beginning was different from Tuts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They lived between our two homes while their house </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was being built so she was used to sleeping away</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as well as that girl is a socialite... does not want miss </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a thing. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tuts, well she is very different.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
However, she turned two and began speaking in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sentences, telling you what she wants,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"NO!" being her favorite when she means it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She also loves "Yes Ma'am" and " I love you"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The sweetest disposition ever.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So back to the topic.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wanted her to try and spend the night.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Good luck" her Mommy said as she sent</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her off with a small bag and Bae.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All day I reminded her, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"You going to sleep at Mummies tonight"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Yes Ma'am" and "okay"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I used my new Flamingo sheets as an incentive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Where Nannie Jew?" she asked a few times, the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
name she calls my Gypsy Baby.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Working". My answer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Where DaDA?" "Work" same answer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Where Sissy?" "Going to movies with Mommy"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Where Jemma Jemma?" she calls her baby sis</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that she just started actually noticing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Sleeping at Momma's"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By 7:30pm after a day of playing and wearing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this lil tyke out, laughing at all her antics.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We played in Mummies bed and laughed at videos</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of her family, I read her 4 books and then I said,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Okay, Tuts, time to night night"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"NO!" OKKKaaaaayyyyy.....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Well, Mumsie's just going to rest her eyes...."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Ok Muzie,"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
" I love you JoJo" "I love you Muzie..."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I close my eyes.....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After a few minutes I peak my eyes open to check</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on our progress and that lil fart,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
her eyes were so wide and her nose almost touching mine.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
How can you not laugh... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
yes, we both laughed and we started all over.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After four more tries with the same response....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
HER EYES WERE CLOSED AND HER TWO FINGERS</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
SHE SUCKS IN THE MOUTH WITH BAE, CLOSE TO HER</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
NOSE!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh I got this! She is almost out, and that she was,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and even without the "white noise" machine,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
our Sweet Tuts, slept all night at her Mummies' Cottage....</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know who was more excited the next morning,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
tuts or Mumsie.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She opened her eyes, pried mine open and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
said, "I slept a Muzie's howz!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh yes, you did my sweet little girl.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and a new milestone begins between myself and tuts,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
not just playdates, but sleepovers are in </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
our future. Happy second year, my sweet Tuts,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You make me laugh, you keep me feeling young,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you always, always remind me just how very</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
lucky I am for you and your sisters and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that the future, with you and I in it has just</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
began a new chapter.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c7E5F7nlI-LSvus_VVpYq5r25UlZ9V2W31UYSPZCVD-1g7tl4eyNtrTMgOXYfpgCanaKTrMkSMTndgam54Ld8oSXRgYKkO5seJfixmHlgmwSdhe3wOSznXek8kcZQQanqX2OYlWWgRJ8/s1600/DSC_0126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4c7E5F7nlI-LSvus_VVpYq5r25UlZ9V2W31UYSPZCVD-1g7tl4eyNtrTMgOXYfpgCanaKTrMkSMTndgam54Ld8oSXRgYKkO5seJfixmHlgmwSdhe3wOSznXek8kcZQQanqX2OYlWWgRJ8/s320/DSC_0126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"I love you, JoJo" "I love you, Muzie"<br />
(forgive Mumsie's rough look in video!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-75574482572940125182016-06-17T10:19:00.001-05:002016-06-17T10:19:43.913-05:00Happy Fathers Day, Daddy!<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Fathers Day to the best Daddy for me!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcigjQyWy7SE3V7eT8QtjJ40kNwL2u6t3SC8RILe35A26n4_CMfaYWc9ghquU3Zr8CrKNjGlFbNZTrXD4BrVn3fapLgKt8Zg0W9Idt_rMeASAqCgJv9CRSYNXHwlCyu-5Zx4Sf_TzRruZ8/s1600/13413602_10207649661053609_2234463221992001799_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcigjQyWy7SE3V7eT8QtjJ40kNwL2u6t3SC8RILe35A26n4_CMfaYWc9ghquU3Zr8CrKNjGlFbNZTrXD4BrVn3fapLgKt8Zg0W9Idt_rMeASAqCgJv9CRSYNXHwlCyu-5Zx4Sf_TzRruZ8/s400/13413602_10207649661053609_2234463221992001799_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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When you write a blog for as many years as I have,</div>
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its hard to remember what I said before but its</div>
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Fathers Day and the love for this man, </div>
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the first man I ever loved is worth repeating over and over.</div>
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Family dynamics, Born to my parents at the ages of</div>
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43 (mom) and 45(dad) I was their baby.</div>
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My nieces and nephews started coming not long after</div>
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I was born and my Dad loved us all but</div>
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had his own way and it was not the traditional,</div>
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"I love you" </div>
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It was when his baby daughter at 5, had cancer, he rarely </div>
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left the hospital. Back in those days it was child wards and</div>
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for whatever reason it was many children in one big </div>
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room with curtains separating us. Parents were not allowed to</div>
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spend the night with their children. in todays world</div>
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this seems unreal that a sick child would not have</div>
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her parents with them but that is how it was.</div>
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My Dad would tell the nurse,</div>
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"I'm not leaving, I will wait in that lobby but I'm not</div>
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leaving"</div>
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When lights out would come he would tell me</div>
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"As soon as I can I am coming back but I'll be in lobby"</div>
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To try and sleep hearing babies cry for their parents</div>
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made me so appreciative that my Dad was there.</div>
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I am sure there were many nights he or my Mom</div>
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did not just comfort their own child.</div>
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Then there was the meals he cooked us,</div>
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you put in your order before school and it was</div>
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ready when we got home. Mom worked, Dad</div>
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stayed home and cooked. His homemade buns could be </div>
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smelled when I got off the bus. If I was sick</div>
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he always went a bought me a surprise,</div>
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a color book and colors, comic books...</div>
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and there was the one time when I was a teen.</div>
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Mom was at one of the older sisters houses</div>
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and I came down with a virus. Dad rarely came upstairs</div>
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but that night he heard me come downstairs to</div>
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the bathroom to barf and followed me up</div>
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to my room, he sat and held my hand,</div>
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wiped my head, stayed with me all night.</div>
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These are the things that made me feel loved.</div>
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Towards the end of his life he was a cranky, old man</div>
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and yet, with us kids he loved making us laugh.</div>
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My Dad died when I was a mere 21 years old</div>
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and yet, I was blessed to have him for that long.</div>
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After growing up in a hospital, I had always wanted to be a nurse.</div>
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He saw me achieve this feat and his job was done.</div>
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I love you, you old cranky funny man,</div>
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Happy Fathers Day!</div>
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lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-61223279174179949002016-06-16T16:50:00.001-05:002016-06-16T16:50:38.895-05:00A sense of smell can take you back....<div style="text-align: center;">
I am not sure how many are deep thinkers as I.</div>
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Today I should say "deep smeller"</div>
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Many many years ago, when my kiddo's were children</div>
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a woman came into the doctors office I was working in</div>
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and I smelled her perfume and knew I wanted that scent around</div>
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me forever. </div>
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She told me it was just a body lotion from </div>
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Clinique called Aromatics.</div>
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That very weekend I bought my own and have</div>
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worn only that lotion for at least 23 years.</div>
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As my babies grew they often could be heard</div>
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saying, "I smell my Momma"</div>
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or "My Momma was here" just because of that smell</div>
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made by Clinique. I have worn it for so long that I can't</div>
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even smell it anymore on myself but often others</div>
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will ask what it is I am wearing.</div>
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This brings me to another thought,</div>
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often if you are behind me when when I walk into</div>
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my cottage, you may hear me say,</div>
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"Smell, it smells like an old church"...</div>
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as I tak a big whiff of this wonderful home </div>
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I call my cottage.</div>
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Below, the picture? It's a photo of my Mom's pillow.</div>
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The same one she used most of her elderly life. </div>
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I have not washed the pillow case since she passed.</div>
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I can still smell her in the case.</div>
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A few weeks ago, my sister, C was here with the other</div>
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sisters so she slept with me and I had her smell it,</div>
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she agreed, Mommy's scent is still with us and I </div>
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can't bring myself to wash to case. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpg9BNOmvV9ebsf6qN5DYRUvow6VhX9WLWI4XP48kW_vJgI86dj4GxA-YhTArNWl0G6Hvml7w0KmYQbVKWW52ms1h1pyNLkBeqU71Vx_WoISVfbHKhaERmikQtjJVBusiGPy152Pcj1cI/s1600/13418944_10207643790546850_4505936191819539630_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpg9BNOmvV9ebsf6qN5DYRUvow6VhX9WLWI4XP48kW_vJgI86dj4GxA-YhTArNWl0G6Hvml7w0KmYQbVKWW52ms1h1pyNLkBeqU71Vx_WoISVfbHKhaERmikQtjJVBusiGPy152Pcj1cI/s320/13418944_10207643790546850_4505936191819539630_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Which now brings me to another story.</div>
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Bean slept her one night last week and forgot her</div>
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favorite pajama here. So, a few nights ago,</div>
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myself and MawMaw Cathy babysat the three</div>
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grand girls so their parents could go on a date.</div>
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I brought Beans suitcase back that housed her favorite</div>
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PJ. I explained to her that she may want to wash</div>
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it before she wore it again because Mumsie had</div>
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not washed it yet. She opened the suitcase,</div>
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grabbed the gown and smelled it.</div>
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Didn't just take a small smell but</div>
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a deep, loving whiff.</div>
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Then said, "Oh, no Mumsie, I am wearing this tonight"</div>
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"Smell it" she insisted.</div>
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And I did, I smelled a combination of the cottage smell</div>
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and the Clinique Aromatics lotion,</div>
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"It smells like you Mumsie, I am wearing it tonight"</div>
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Yes, the kid will be eclectic like her Mumsie</div>
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and smells will take her back,</div>
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back to places of comfort and warmth.</div>
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I hope my smell will forever be in all their hearts and memories.</div>
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<br /></div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-15103825927398360942016-06-15T08:48:00.000-05:002016-06-15T08:48:00.681-05:00I was never afraid of being the Mother of a Gay child.....<div style="text-align: center;">
.....Until now.</div>
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The massacre that took place in Orlando,</div>
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I hope touched many more people than just</div>
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the gay community and the families who loved them</div>
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It was my very own gay child, now 27, who told me</div>
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about it. I would have preferred to keep on my rose</div>
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colored glasses and yet, this could have happened</div>
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to me, just because my very own baby girl is gay.</div>
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How can I ignore that?</div>
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I have often said, </div>
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"God gave me these two children to love them,</div>
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that is it, love them unconditionally no judgement barred.</div>
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Yet after this weekend, I am a terrified Mom.</div>
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I and my gypsy baby have been long time</div>
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lovers of Anderson Cooper, gay in his own right</div>
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yet so well known in the news community.</div>
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To watch his video as he tries to read the names</div>
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of the deceased through tears.</div>
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I watch and I get teary-eyed and many thoughts go</div>
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through my head and most importantly my heart....</div>
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and then I became AFRAID.</div>
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For the first time since my gypsy told me she was gay,</div>
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I had not had this type of fear.</div>
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YEs, I had fear for her to find a true and lasting love,</div>
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being gay makes this a little harder,</div>
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I was afraid that life would always be a tad harder for her</div>
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than straight kids and then I changed my thinking.</div>
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Our world has come a long way since my sister in law</div>
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came out in the 80's. What happened in Orlando</div>
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changed that, I am now in fear for my child and</div>
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all those other childrens' parents, like me,</div>
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who love them unconditionally.</div>
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I am so disappointed in our country.</div>
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We take one step forward by legalizing gay marriages</div>
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and 5 steps back. Yes, it was one hater who did the shooting</div>
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but so many jumped on the band wagon of what he did was</div>
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correct. Even heard a preachers sermon on Sunday saying</div>
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we should do like other countries and line all the gays</div>
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up and shoot them all. I mean this is a preacher,</div>
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who is supposed to be preacher love, not hate.</div>
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I will end with the fact that many people are suffering </div>
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right now by the hands of one crazy person but lets</div>
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not be fooled thinking he is the only one with those same</div>
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feelings. </div>
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I love, adore, both my children, my love for them</div>
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has not changed since they were born,</div>
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it has been a while since fear crept in my thoughts</div>
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and yet, this has surely put fear back in my heart. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijre7URLYW3__aVkxcoVu29vFq4VYa-1dEbgjKqTzbzN4zMsYvY7OMdIGXPayW6tFYWhYAgKsXtzZHtKqlAtEb3Z3fUWNG40lia80jW4JH4LXd6KBNXnPSMT5B326Ba-jeUqszFQ2Hjaoe/s1600/060_60_0002_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijre7URLYW3__aVkxcoVu29vFq4VYa-1dEbgjKqTzbzN4zMsYvY7OMdIGXPayW6tFYWhYAgKsXtzZHtKqlAtEb3Z3fUWNG40lia80jW4JH4LXd6KBNXnPSMT5B326Ba-jeUqszFQ2Hjaoe/s320/060_60_0002_002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I LIKE YOU FOREVER,</div>
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I LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS,</div>
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AS LONG AS I'M LIVING MY BABY YOU'LL BE! </div>
lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059735006419839986.post-27161962847077538422016-05-21T08:38:00.001-05:002016-05-21T08:38:14.488-05:00JO JO TURNS TWO TODAY!<div style="text-align: center;">
Another spotlight blog as Mumsie celebrates here the</div>
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birth of our spitfire, JoJo, Tuts and all those other names</div>
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we call her.</div>
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Jolee Claire Riera is Two today!</div>
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Not the best picture of the Mumsie, but captures so</div>
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much of what this child has done for me over the last two</div>
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years. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvguzdXT1H6LMAQlzIpRBXTJ-gJHVHhbRK3o3DhYW4ha55cYTFEqcejcLiyhpL1dTobEfO71nXsHWMpliKMirEs5J10IaSIOCX-oQmxx1eEIAt32RNDPX37G7C7RQJCWaRHs1H2-KS0k7/s1600/13232899_10207451857068633_5792552402216979805_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvguzdXT1H6LMAQlzIpRBXTJ-gJHVHhbRK3o3DhYW4ha55cYTFEqcejcLiyhpL1dTobEfO71nXsHWMpliKMirEs5J10IaSIOCX-oQmxx1eEIAt32RNDPX37G7C7RQJCWaRHs1H2-KS0k7/s320/13232899_10207451857068633_5792552402216979805_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She came to us at the same time I found myself ending a season</div>
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of my life, thirty years of marriage. Although the separation</div>
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and divorce was needed and wanted by both of us, its</div>
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just never a pleasant experience. JoJo helped that cycle of life.</div>
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She is not her sister, Bean in any way, funny, and likes</div>
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to make others laugh. She gets a joke, for instance,</div>
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she and I do this little thing,</div>
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I say, "I love you, JoJo"</div>
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and she repeats "I love you Muzie"</div>
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no matter how many times I say it, her comeback always </div>
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"I love you Muzie!"</div>
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So the other day when he Daddy came to pic her up,</div>
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I said my usual "I love you JoJo"</div>
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She gave that impish little smile she possesses and said,</div>
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"I love you DaDA" and began to laugh. At the young</div>
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age of 2, she knew she was pulling my leg and she understood </div>
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she was. I repeated it and so did she,</div>
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"I love you DaDa"</div>
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Lil fart....lol.</div>
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She has finally found her love for the cottage and can</div>
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have a JoJo/Mumsie day.</div>
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Napping was always hard anywhere for her because</div>
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she so loves her crib and puts herself to sleep in it.</div>
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I just could not get a nap here, then the magic round</div>
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library chair came in and it is not only my happy place but hers </div>
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as well!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej96ir-n8xcwHaPWDWmnHkfKHtZBNC0iNrnfHGAyFw0GVLsQMgCpBAjHqvl5J9t2YvZba-8GC6M7gH-dJH-Yfl_UXXFfCJUq-_pG1DUmHiwwXnYIm5AVFN32u7EFm3YAcUeQYMlWEjJw8/s1600/13241210_10207452415722599_7446389418981681889_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgej96ir-n8xcwHaPWDWmnHkfKHtZBNC0iNrnfHGAyFw0GVLsQMgCpBAjHqvl5J9t2YvZba-8GC6M7gH-dJH-Yfl_UXXFfCJUq-_pG1DUmHiwwXnYIm5AVFN32u7EFm3YAcUeQYMlWEjJw8/s320/13241210_10207452415722599_7446389418981681889_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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She loves her Bae, the blank you will most often see her with.</div>
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Sucks the two fingers her Daddy and her Auntie Jew (gypsy baby)</div>
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did. Being with Tuts brings back lots of memories</div>
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of my Mothering days as she is the child who reminds</div>
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me the most of my adult children when they were that </div>
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age as she has the most of their mannerisms. </div>
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Another thing about Tuts, she has a quality of playing and</div>
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entertaining herself, something her big Sissy never really learned</div>
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having been the first one. Although she began the "terrible two"</div>
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stage a few weeks early, "NO!" becoming her favorite word,</div>
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said with emphasis, she is a sweet heart, loves giving and </div>
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receiving love, loves dancing, not a big fan of her</div>
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baby sis yet but I know in time those two will be each others</div>
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best friends. Today she and her little family head</div>
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to Chucky Cheese then toys R Us for a bike for</div>
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the birthday party then we will gather this eve for traditional</div>
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Happy Birthday cake and singing.</div>
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Thank you JoJo, for making these last two years easier</div>
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because you have been in it. Thank you for always making me</div>
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smile and laugh, even when its because you are messing up.</div>
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When you leave the cottage I walk around and there are traces of you </div>
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everywhere and I smile.</div>
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So as I close with the typed words,</div>
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"I love you, JoJo"</div>
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My heart hears now and always,</div>
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"I love you, Muzie" </div>
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lilly rierahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14225033735388865046noreply@blogger.com1