I can’t believe I can now tell y’all about one of the most exciting things to ever happen in my life but yes, I’m gonna be a grandma!

My son and daughter-in-law didn’t want a lot of hoop-la about it on the air but didn’t say I couldn’t blog about it!
For far too long it seems that our family has been getting smaller with the loss of loved ones..but, now…a new life.
The baby is not due until March 2011 but, I am so excited I can barely wait for the child coming into our lives.  Warren is thrilled as this baby will be our first grand.

My son asked what I wanted to called and I told him “Mam”…but, he insists on “Mam-moo”…GREAT…what a smarty pants!  It’s way too close to Shamu , but tell you the truth, I don’t care what he or she calls me…as long as they call!

Don’t know yet about the gender (find out next week) but I DO know I will love the heck out of this gift from God!

I want to take a moment to thank those of you who remembered me in your thoughts and prayers as I recently underwent major surgery.  I am doing VERY WELL and healing from it.

I will never forget the kindness shown to me by those at the doctors offices, the Greenville Cancer Center, or any of those at the hospital who treated me.

You were each a blessing to me and to my loved ones.  “How can they do this job they do on a daily basis” I asked one of them as she was helping me in the middle of the night and she said …”because of success stories like yours…you’re gonna be fine.” I AM AND I THANK YOU ALL!

We are so blessed in the upstate to have the fine medical facilities and caretakers we do.  GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

I am writing this on primary election day and am looking forward to the results which you can hear, of course, right here on WORD.  Clarence Darrow said:  “When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it. Another quote I heard was by an unknown author…”George Washington is the only president who didn’t blame the previous administration for his troubles. “

While the candidates I choose to vote for may or may not be elected to office the important thing is to vote, not just to win!  Voting is our chance to direct the country, the state, the county, in the direction we feel is best.  Don’t waste the right to vote just because you don’t feel strongly about the candidates running.  Vote because people have fought and died for your right to do so and it’s something that should not be taken for granted.

And remember this…if NO candidate suits you to a tee and no one could possibly represent you…then run yourself and show us what YOU got!

Someone the other day was talking to me about being successful in life and how blessed they had been to be so much so.  Anyway, he asked what I thought about success …his, particularly…and it made me think about this poem I had read at one time by Ralph Waldo Emerson…entitled “What is Success” … Let me just first off say success has NOTHING to do with power or control of anyone other than yourself…NOTHING to do with making money, making laws, or making others feel less that you.  Read this and think about it!

“What Is Success”
by Ralph Waldo Emerson
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

I saw the below on facebook and it made me think:

While you yell at your woman, there is a man who is wishing to whisper in her ear. While you humiliate, offend, curse and degrade your woman, there is a man courting her, and making her remember she is a great woman. While you are violent to your woman, there is a man eager to make love to her. While you make your woman cry, there is a man who steals smiles from her.” Re-post against violence towards women.

All I ask is that you think about it.  Take it from someone who knows…words hurt!  I remember when I first heard, “there is a lid for every pot”…in other words, someone who fits perfectly with the other.  Don’t take your husband or wife for granted. Make them feel special and they WILL BE…especially to you!  Anyway…

There is an old Irish Proverb…”A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.”

I am blessed to have been a sweetheart and to still be a wife and mother.  And yes, still be loved!

I wish you a VERY Happy Mother’s Day!  Enjoy it with those who will truly love you the longest and will miss you the most when they lose you!  After many years, I still miss my Mama and  think of her daily!

I hope to honor her by doing for my children what she did for me…teach them about their Heavenly Father and love me unconditionally!

To each of you Mom’s, thank you for the difference you make in so many lives…that little one you’re guiding now may one day guide us!

Your passion can be your faith, your children, hubby or wife, your county, patriotism, your work, whatever…yes, even all of it!  I appreciate your desire to fire others up about what you feel passionately about..do it…share it …be proud of it!

Although I do not take part in the tea party movement , it’s not because I don’t support those of you who do. I just go about it differently!

But I’ll tell you one thing…seeing the hundreds and the thousands of you who have recently come out to wave your flags, hold your signs and express your beliefs was so refreshingly wonderful to me…and I thank you for doing so at the recent t-parties, tax day rallies, enough is enough gatherings, etc.  GOOD JOB!

Thank you for caring and doing what you can to let our politicians know we are displeased with the job they are doing.  What YOU are doing is a wonderful thing…working to have a true government for, of and by the people…thank you!

You are fired up and rightly so…PLEASE don’t let your passion die.  And don’t be surprised if 1 day I’m not out there standing at your side!

As we have heard in the past there have been a number of lawsuits over things like spilled hot coffee and such…but what if you took a spill from doggie poo?

A 69 year old man named Robert Holloway from Virginia is suing PetSmart after reportedly slipping on some dog poo in an aisle at Petsmart.

He is said to have suffered back injuries for which he needed surgery and also lost 4 teeth in the fall.  Now, he’s suing the store for 1 million dollars for negligence.

Originally, the lawsuit was filed in Norfolk, but was moved to U.S. District Court by PetSmart.

The Associated Press reports the store has denied any allegation of negligence.

So don’t be surprised if next time you’re with Fido at the store you don’t hear this announcement…”Clean up #2 on Aisle 4″.

I remember when I was little my Mama would take me to Ivey’s or to Belk’s in Downtown Greenville, or maybe to Sears on Stone Avenue, and buy a special dress just for me for  Easter morning!  It was usually a bright pastel color and sometimes, had a matching hat.  White Gloves and Patent Leather shoes topped off the creation.  But, what about now?

And yes…I bought MY little girl Easter Dresses, too.  Her favorite one had a matching pocketbook with lace and we have a picture of her wearing it with that little purse in one hand and an Easter basket in the other.  Precious!

We wore those lightly colored dresses made of airy material despite any sort of cold snap which may or may not be occurring at the time…that sometimes happens here in the South!

Is this just a Southern thing?  Or have we just fallen away from dressing up the way we once did for special occasions?
I just don’t see them!  What about you?

Movie Actress Bette Davis said…”Getting old is not for sissies.”  I now understand what she was talking about.  The older I get the more aware I become of body parts not exactly moving the way they once did.  But there is something of which I AM fully aware now…and that is…you are NEVER too old to learn.

I learn more everyday about how blessed I am to be the child of a King, I learn more and more about how to treat people…I learn how to speak up for myself and for what I believe.  And yes!  I learn what’s TRULY important in my life.

So while the old barn may need a new coat of paint, it’s still standing and I plan on using it to its fullest!  And yes, I’m learning to paint pretty well these days!