NURSING FOR FREE

Oh my HOBL….

He and ladders, together, should be banned.

Two days ago, while pressure washing the house,

he once again, fell off the ladder.

How far he fell is unknown as I was scrapping and

he was outside. We estimate any where between 8 and 12 feet.

How he dragged himself in the house I don't know.

When he called for me he was on the sofa,

in shock and screaming in pain. 

Had to call 911 and Iberville Parish,

well you guys did a phenomenal job as within minutes

they were here. 

He is banged up pretty bad, a broken rib and

many bruises, muscle spasm issues. He is

totally under my beck and call.

Only two years since he fell and broke his back,

thankfully, it seems that the back is still as stable 

as when it healed. The doc. had said if he let it

heal on its own it would be more solid than before.

It is hard to see HOBL like this as he is a man

who is rarely sick. He is in a lot of pain and like

all addicts, the pain medicine game is one that is tricky.

So, I am truly his nurse, "passing meds."

Rubbing him down, pouring Jacuzzi baths, etc.

Again, I say, it is hard to see a man down.

No Alaska for him tomorrow, poor HOBL.

Prayers would be appreciated as this is one lucky man.

Hard not to think what could have been…

paralysis, death, he is a lucky man.

I am glad to do for him, trying to keep my patience.
I know he is grateful as he has thanked me a few times.
Another test, another chapter in this story called
LIFE.

MONUMENTS MEN

Last Tuesday on my Movie day I saw

MONUMENTS MEN

It was full of an all-star cast,

Matt Damon

Bill Murray

John Goodman

George Clooney

the John Goodman is what got me choosing this movie.

I love him ever since the Rosanne days.

I was not sure what to expect but loved it.

Set during the second World War and based

on a true story, a group of common men,

all knowing much about the great works of art

that had been stolen by the Nazi's, IE Hitler,

said yes to the call of training and going into war

to recover the many famous paintings that had been

stolen. Bravery, right?

To go into war without really the knowledge of war

for artwork. Blood is shed, men die.

Later on Sirius XM talk radio I hear a

conversation with George Clooney and the

other actors about the movie, why they decided to do it.

Clooney brings up the bravery of these men all for the name

of art. He speaks of the fishermen who after not 

catching a thing in their nets that day go ashore

and God tells them, "Go back out" they know

nothing is out there and yet, they listen to the call.

They go out only to find their nets filled to the brim.

In some ways the MONUMENTS MEN reminds me

of that Bible parable. Some died all so that we could appreciate

the arts. When looking at it in that light, the movie

took a new life and I would rate it a 4 out of 5.

See it if you have the chance.

When a child stands on a limb..

Sometimes I am mesmerized by things those I love do.

Like, where do they get the courage?

I am very outgoing, very vocal, very honest and outspoken

but I have not always been this way.

Like most teens, I struggled with being teased, looking different.

I was not always like I am now.

It took me many years of growth, adulthood to get here.

So when a child I love does something that I know I

would have never had the courage to do I am 

so proud, so excited.

Where am I going with this?

MY dear sweet Abby Dupierre….

Conquered a beauty pageant and came home with the crown!

Hmmm, wonder if this was on her bucket list?

Shoot, wonder if young girls have bucket lists or is that 

saved for old folks like me?

 I love my ABS! 

 She is my oldest sisters Simone's grandchild,

my nephew and niece, Guy and Lisa's only child.

As a younger child, she and I had this special bond

of miniatures, the one Bean and I have now.

As a very young child, baby days, I could

have her with me, being gentle with some of my

prized possessions. She was one of the only ones

I would ever let even near my things. We also

shared a special "Language".

Because of all these things, our bond remains pretty close.

Okay now all that being said,

Abby decided she wanted to try a beauty pageant.

She had never done this before. Having watched TEdi-girl

in a pageant a few months ago, I knew

the skill it takes to be in a pageant.

Some of these little women had been in pageants since infants.

So, here is Abby, having been more of a "Play in the dirt"

type of child before, asking to be in a pageant.

Her Mom and Dad, always being her best fans,

allowed her to do it and supported her.

Followed her lead when asking not to tell anyone

as she thought having too many there would make her nervous.

They even gave her to the last minute to decide not to do it

if she changed her mind.

She, not only did not change her mind, but came home with the crown!!

How did she learn all that was needed to win her very first pageant????

I know a little bit about the pageant world because one of

my TES students had been in pageants since a baby and

still holds a crown. I know that there are many negative things

people speak of about pageants but knowing Sheridan Duet, it has

taught her so much. Grace, kindness, working to help others

as she bears a crown. Sheridan is an all around wonderful child

because of the lessons she has learned from being a queen.

Now it is Abby's time to shine.

Her year of being the queen of this organization will have

her traveling, working, meeting many other girls like her

who hold crowns not just because of their beauty but also

because of what they possess inside.

What a weekend for the Abby D!

She came home from the above picture, where she had a crown

placed on her head, to come home and dress for a ball...

Another stunning dress with our beautiful Abby

so she could attend a military ball with a friend.

MY DEAREST ABBY

YOU AND I, WE HAVE SHARED A SPECIAL BOND

SINCE YOU WERE VERY YOUNG.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH, WE SPEND LESS TIME TOGETHER,

WE WILL ALWAYS BE CLOSE, ALWAYS

BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING BECAUSE

OF THAT CHILDHOOD BOND. 

I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE

NOW A QUEEN, NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

BUT BECAUSE YOU FACE YOUR FEARS TO TRY AND

FIX THEM. YOU ARE NOT AFRAID TO GO ON A LIMB

AND TRY NEW THINGS LIKE A PAGEANT.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED HELP AND 

YOU ASK FOR THAT HELP.

YOU ARE JUST AS COMFORTABLE IN A TSHIRT 

AND COVERED IN DIRT, WORKING ON 4-H PROJECTS

AS YOU ARE IN A FORMAL.

I PRAY FOR MANY MORE MOMENTS SPENT WITH YOU.

WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD, I HOPE YOU ALWAYS

HAVE THE MEMORIES WE HAVE MADE AND THAT

THEY MAKE YOU SMILE.

I HOPE THAT MANY TIMES IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL

DO SOMETHING AND A MEMORY OF US WILL 

COME INTO YOUR HEART.

I LOVE YOU, MY DEAR ABS! 

PROUD OF THE QUEEN YOU ARE, 

THE QUEEN YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO ME,

YOUR AUNTIE LIL

yeah… the camera broke...

A situation where the bad news is also the good news.

Although I was able to save my pics on the SD card 

from Disney, my camera came home broken.

Why is this bad news?

Well myself without a camera is like a

fish without water. My iPhone (although getting a new one)

takes okay pictures, but not the kind I want.

The Good news?

Well it's broken and I cannot fix it.

The only way I would buy a new one would be

for my old one to break. 

Now I am researching camera's.

It will be a bigger kind, one that I can

play around with photography.

Also hoping to take a photography class possible

at LSU.

SO if you have any suggestions on a camera

for a novice photographer….

You input appreciated.

Mindy, sweet, sweet Mindy

We all, when raising our children,

think they are special. We want the world to see what

we see and yet, to us they are special but to the

World, there are many like them.

Then there is that one child, that one who grows up

with your own and you just know something is

different about them. You love and would never

trade your babies but there is that one 

child in their circle of friends that you wish would

rub off on your own.

I speak this morning about one of those dear ones, Mindy Guidry.

She and Baby boy, being the same age, grew up together.

Wherever baby boy's life took him, 

there were small smidgens's of Mindy.

She was the child who was always happy,

always happy. Bubbly, in your face, happy.

Baby boy being a boy, I don't think understood where

a girl gets all this energy, so much emotions.

She had no enemies and if you didn't like her,

well, to Mindy it didn't matter because she was

going to make you her friend through "in your face"

kindness. To know her is to love her.

She was born like this, remains with the same qualities.

Yet, I was the kind of Mommy that watched lil Mindy.

Was she every unhappy? You would never know it.

I am sure to live the life Mindy did, she must have had

times when life was not so easy and yet, you would 

never know by her face. I watched this child grow up

and then in adulthood, kind of lost tract for a tad.

Then through a tragedy I was back in touch with her.

Robert died and she again came into my life.

She was a bestie to Ash who was Rob's girlfriend at the 

time of his death and Mindy was working in the mall.

One day she pulls me aside to explain just how

BB would call Ash every few weeks after Rob's death

to check to see how she was.

You see, this is Mindy.

She is such a special young woman but no emphasis on

her as she explains to me something wonderful about

my own son that I would not have known if it were

not for Mindy sharing this with me.

She is that kind of person. The one who focuses

in on others instead of having the focus on her.

She is now a kindergarten teacher and I remain

mesmerized by this child, this woman.

She is truly one of a kind and I am so thankful that

I, with the help of social media, can see all happening in her life.

I followed as she fell in love with a most special man,

(who I wonder if he understands the gem he has found)

I followed as she loved and bragged about her sister's

children, being the godmother to all three.

I marveled at the home she and her love bought together

on the bayou side and all the wonders they have done

to the home. I wondered when this man would

ask this gal to marry him. Just a few weeks ago, he

pulled off one of the most beautiful engagements,

asking for her hand after a race they had prepared for.

Mr. Haney, you are one lucky man, for if this girl

continues to live her life on the path she has always

followed you will always be loved, always be told

just how special you are.

If you are lucky enough to have children and raise

a family with Mindy, you will have hit the jackpot, the lottery.

Now I find she also has a love for scrapping and scraps

with some of my own pals, Ash and Vera!

Now that girl plans a wedding, I am so darn happy for her

as well as being such a small part of her most awesome life.

Many, upon meeting Mindy may think that girl has to be fake.

There is no way a woman can be this happy, this silly,

this awesome all the time.

I am here to tell you, it is true. For her whole entire life,

she has exuded this happiness this "Never grow up"

Peter Pan life and I want to be just like her, 

when I grow up, that is!

Mindy you keep living, you keep dancing, you keep making 

the world a better place when most are just trying

to mess it up. I have followed you since you were

5 years old, and you have always had something special

in you. I am sure even your parents realize that

you are something special and watch you in awe, in 

honor, so proud that you call them yours.

Those godchildren of yours, the luckiest kiddo's in the world

just as each child you teach.

You plan the wedding of your dreams, I will be happy

for any small part I can help with,

even if it is to just look for old fashioned view masters…

Mr. Haney, smart, smart man when you put a ring

on that finger! Love you, Min….