My favorite childhood storybook-The Velveteen Rabbit

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive. But the Skin Horse only smiled.

Being a parent

I guess today is a day I realized that some folks don't understand that parenting never stops. You know that feeling you get when your child is born. No body can understand that and you know it never is forgotten. Nothing severs that. And nothing stops that being a mommie or a daddie. Some folks never understand and its undescribable. I remember when both my kids were born and I will feel connected to them forever no matter what life brings whether it be marriage or kids, or moving away, or whatever. Nothing can make me terminate being a momma. Sometimes its hard for folks to understand. There is no real connection like being a momma or a daddy, that's if you want it to be. Thank God, there are mommas and daddas who still feel connected after years and years and changes and changes. No matter what.
I love my Brandon and Meghan whatever life holds. I hope for the best and I hope they know that I love them forever and ever.
This is my thought today. So many people think their responsibilities are over after marriage or college but I want my kids to know I am here always and will always be their momma.

Jennifer

Happy New Year's Day 2009

Happy New Years Day

My plans include taking down all the holiday decorations and vacuuming. That should take all day. Of course I will be working on my stitching project today too. At supper we will be eating lots of black eyed peas for good luck!

Happy New Year's Eve!!!!! Welcome 2009

Happy New Year's Eve and welcome 2009! I'm so glad to have a day off again tomorrow WOohooo!

I feel like a sponge after listening to tons of folks problems today at work and now we can relax. I fixed some cube steak and shoe string fries and carrots for supper. The pink champagne is chilling and we hope that our neighbors will join us after they eat out tonight. After I watch the evening news, I feel that life's not so bad afterall! LOL

I met a person that I hadn't seen in 20 years today. She used to keep Brandon and Meghan when they were little. She kept Brandon more and we caught up on stuff. It was really weird not seeing her for this long. Gosh, she remembers Brandon having breath holding spells and passing out from holding his breath when I would leave him for work. Let's say, he had a little separation anxiety, to say the least. She was really a good sitter and I remember the Jello snacks she made me when I was pregnant with Meghan to help with nausea. Oh my, that's been a Very , very long time!!

I guess we will shoot off the gun tonight. I got a new one for Christmas. I'll have to try it out. Its a 22. It has to be a little better than the 44. ;)

Here's to 2009!!!!!!

Jennifer

Mr. Persistent

ok, once the blanket is dragged out and made into a bed, now second time. Now you know why Phil calls him a little weasel! LOL.I think I will leave him be for tonight, he looks too comfortable to move.

Lookity here

I found this after watching a TV show tonight. I guess Ren took his blanket outside of the kennel after supper and he is napping there. Isn't he sweet?

A New Found Friend

I'm off work today and really just resting as yesterday I started getting sick with a cold. As I have now resorted to taking Nyquil in the daytime and resting, I guess my lab, Raven, is concerned, so she just burst open the screen at the back porch to whine at the back door. I had opened the sliding glass doors to get some fresh air as our temps today are 65. I guess she heard me coughing and I glanced up and she was whining at the sliding glass doors. She decided to check on me and broke through the screen. She has now taken residence on the back porch rug. Labs are quite faithful to their owners.

We now have another friend who visits quite frequently and I believe he is a good dog but very very afraid to let anybody pet him. We found out he belongs to our neighbors and his name is Charlie. Even though he comes down here and plays with our dogs all the time, he still won't come near us to let us pet him. He is quite a mix of breeds I believe. I think he likes our house better than his.

A Nice Quiet Weekend

The past two days have been really quiet and I got caught up on alot of rest. Last night was kind of scarey as I found out that I must be allergic to Brazil nuts. My throat started swelling and we were kinda scared there for a while as it was difficult to swallow. But 3 Benadryl later, and I was ok but had the EpiPen out in case. I guess I haven't eaten Brazil nuts since I was about 10 years old and usually just eat cashews or pecans or almonds by themselves but no more mixed nuts that's for sure.

Today I started working on a house~~~~~ nope, no remodeling, but a new project, designer is Homespun Elegance. The colors are Belle Soi "Red Fox" and "Expresso". Being silk, they feel like butter going through the fabric. As you can see, I have a meek start but actually it took me most of the afternoon to get to this point. I think this one is neat "Home is Where You Hang Your Needlework".

I also had fun enjoying my Christmas goodies. Here are some really pretty pink pearls from Meghan and a lovely wine decanter and glasses!! We were just talking tonight about what we may do on New Year's Eve and I think we are going to invite a couple of neighbors down the street and I can use my decanter!!!! And of course, I will also have some great snacks too from Brandon!

The next few days we can all think about our New Years resolutions. What are your resolutions this year?