Grateful for Monday

Today, I am very grateful for the wonderful nurses in our clinic. We all have very stressful jobs, but the girls manage to make me laugh everyday no matter how horrible the day becomes. Mondays are always the worst and everyone dreads seeing the day come. However, when I arrived at the clinic this morning, Shadawn (one of our nurses) had left a wonderful gift in my office. I opened the door to see a beautiful new plaque hanging on my wall. The plaque said, "I feel better after I wine a little". I just loved my gift and I referred to it often as this dreaded monday unfolded. If only they allowed us to have a glass of wine with our lunch......Then, I probably wouldn't whine as much!

Top 2 Tuesday--Reality Shows

I am participating in Top 2 Tuesday

Which reality show would you like to join?

#1:  THE HILLS

Photo from thehills.mtv.com

I just want to live like them for a little while! Their lives seem to be way more interesting and         

luxurious than mine. However, I don't know if I could spend 5 minutes in a room with Spencer Pratt!

#2: BIG BROTHER

Photo from cbs.com

I love Big Brother. I cannot wait for each new season to begin. I wish there was a Summer & Winter series. Once per year is just too long to wait!

I would definitely love to be cast for the show, but I am sure I would be eliminated in the first round!

Grateful for Monday

I apologize if this post offends readers, but I felt the need to express my opinion.

Today, I am grateful for my health. Too often, we take the simple blessing of health for granted, inevitably leading to poor choices which may negatively impact the outcome of our lives. I am so fearful to soon witness the effects of Healthcare Reform, initiated by President Obama. In 2014, I predict insurance premiums of the average working person to skyrocket in attempt to cover the cost of medical insurance for those who have CHOSEN to never work. Many of those people will live an unhealthy lifestyle, indulging in bad habits of smoking, inactivity, poor diet, drug abuse, etc. I am in no way judging the people who choose to live an unhealthy lifestyle, I just don't think I should have to work to cover the cost of their medical insurance when they do not work. (Please note--I am not talking about those who have unfortunately faced lay-offs or cutbacks. I am talking about people who have made a decision to not work because the Government will provide for them.) Where is the initiative to encourage people to go to work, get an education, or to improve their health? There is already wide misuse and abuse of the Medicaid system without extending coverage to even more adults.

I am so grateful to not have numerous health problems, requiring daily medications as I am sure there will soon be very high insurance premiums to cover the costs of very limited healthcare options.

Again, I am very sorry to offend anyone, but I fear for an inevitable collapse of the American Healthcare system, which will ultimately result in an economic depression. I think so many hear the wonderful promise of health coverage for everyone and neglect to understand the impending economic ramifications.

Father's Day Weekend

We've had a wonderful Father's Day weekend, with the exception of 100 degree heat. We grilled at the houseboat yesterday for our fathers and had to stay in the lake most of the day due to the extreme heat. It was unbearable. One of my aunts, Vicki,  and her daughters also stopped by to visit. My first cousin, Jessica, brought her son & daughter to swim and fish (I think of them as my niece & nephew instead of cousins). They are so cute!

Jessica & Emily Grace

Emily Grace

Emily couldn't decide if she liked the water or not!

Hunter loved the water!

We thought he would be afraid of the slide....

I guess we were wrong.

He wanted the swim across the lake....

But Robby couldn't keep up!

They swam for hours.

Hunter and his fish.

My brother, Shane, also celebrated his first Father's Day as a soon-to-be Dad. We are all so excited to welcome a baby girl into our family. I am counting the days until she gets here!

Mom and Dad made a coozie for the baby so she wouldn't feel left out on game day. This was Shane's favorite Father's Day gift.

Shane and Jennifer with the UK baby gifts.

Today, we went to a family reunion for Robby's family. We ate so much food. I actually gained 3 pounds in 1 day. How is that possible?

Robby and his grandmother Irene

Randy, Irene, Brenda, and Robby

We then went to celebrate Father's Day with my Papa Leon. He is one of the greatest men on this planet. I feel so blessed just to know him and witness how wealthy one truly becomes when he lives for the Lord.

Papa Leon and my Daddy (another great man)

Mom & my aunt Mara Lynn

Lastly, we traveled to the site of Mom & Dad's soon-to-be home. It is wonderful to see some progress. My Mom and Dad have traveled a long, difficult road since our home was destroyed by fire in December.

It is going to be beautiful. I am very excited for them to be back HOME.

There are so many days in my life when I focus on the negatives and complain about all the insignificant nonsense which may occur from one day to the next. I often forget how blessed I truly am. I have a wonderful father who is still married to my mother. I have a fantastic grandfather who still loves my grandmother, even though she passed away almost ten years ago. I have a loving father-in-law who knows how lucky he is to still be married to the mother of my husband. I am immensely grateful for the life God has given to me. I pray for comfort for all those who are without their fathers today. Holidays can be difficult for so many.....

Top 2 Tuesday-Guilty Pleasures

TOP TWO GUILTY PLEASURES

1. CHEAP WINE

        Don't get me wrong. I love a nice, expensive bottle of wine, but I also adore inexpensive wines (I'm a girl on a budget!). One of my favorites is Yellow Tail Riesling. It is delicious and perfect with appetizers, a light meal, dessert, or all by itself! Best of all, it is very inexpensive and can be found almost anywhere.

2. MURDER, SHE WROTE

        My husband is hiding his head in shame as I write this, but I have to admit that I love and often watch reruns of Murder, She Wrote. Please don't laugh out loud!

Grateful for Monday

Today, I am grateful monday only comes once per week!--enough said.

The Weekend is Almost Over

So sorry I have been slacking with my blog posts, but the past week has been soooo busy! We finally had some time to relax over the weekend, so we decided to stay on the boat despite periodic thunderstorms and unbearable heat! However, after a few glasses (OK-maybe 10) of wine, you really learn to ignore bad weather & just enjoy the day.

I also want to congratulate our friends Todd & Lindsey. Their new baby boy Tate was born on Thursday & he is absolutely perfect. We went to visit him on saturday and just fell in love.

Today, we packed up early at the boat and returned home. We had BUNCO night at Anna's & it was so much fun. The food was great! She had grilled hot dogs & hamburgers and made a wonderful new cocktail! I love a good cocktail! Ha! Vandi also made a delicious brownie trifle. I could have buried my head in the bowl. I find it impossible to imagine a life without chocolate......

Please pray for me as this weekend comes to an end. I have to be at work at 8:00 in the morning. My usual shift starts at 10:00 and it almost kills me to get there on time. I don't know if there is any chance on Earth I can make it to work by 8:00.....