So Little Time, So Much to Do

Creating my something special - years ago, it was the smallest inclination of life that allowed me to openly put my life in print.  It was a relief to allow others a window to my life and circumstances.  The years that have been between then and now is more than i could explain in such a small space, but if you have the time and can come into my something better, i promise you won’t be disappointed.
My life isn’t without the distractions of every person living in America right now, and also being of African American heritage living in Oklahoma I find that being the liberal that i am isn’t what is the norm in the state of Oklahoma.  It’s secondary to privilege, racial profiling, and spirits that would haunt my family from then to now and forever.  But because of my Faith in the one true God, through Jesus Christ my Lord, the broken heart, and pure spirit of love and forgiveness have found me and given me the strength to continue to walk upright, head held high, and better with each passing minute to see the end of the tunnel to be the light in my eyes each and every day.
I walk.  I love, and I do my best to bring my granddaughters the hope that I learned from living in Europe, California, Philippines, Nevada, and Chicago.  I’ve become a woman of great faith.  Great grace through Christ Jesus my Lord.  And believing everything he said in His word, gives me the upper hand in this life, whether I’m living in Edmond OK, or Athens Greece, I’ve always been in covenant with Father.
My granddaughter that I began this blog about years ago, has grown into the apple of my eyes, beautiful inside as much as on the outside, and my daughter has become a strong, tenacious, powerful woman I always knew that she could be.
So, I will bless my life with events that my life is now on the verge of becoming to make me a wonderful window into the perfect will of God through Christ my Lord.  I will bind any spirits that would come and try to block words from the epistles of Christ my Lord.

Let's bring the blessings in

It's been a long time since I found my something better.  I initiated this blog, #1.  I am a grandmother with concerns about my granddaughters.  I am taking care of them, they are with me, while their mother isn't and I need to express myself before they grow up and begin a life of repeating the mistakes of the history of family members that are having difficulty, and I need the world to know like I know, that without a Spiritual relationship with a God who knows more about life than I do, I need to express that while I am still able to make sense of it all, I am here for them, like my husband, to make them viable members of society.

It's been so unfortunate for my little girls to have to suffer without their parents, and to have to lean on the hand and arms of someone that is literally an antique.

I've pretty much lived two thirds of my life, and now I'm responsible for the lives of more children.  Now if they weren't my granddaughters would I take such a delivering hand with little ones?  Or, would I allow them to enter into a system that is meant to separate them from each other, and not care.  I care, so ... here I am, them in a bedroom down the hall, sleeping soundly, knowing that Grandma will be there when they wake up, and Granddaddy will always take care of them, despite the turmoil that causes them stress.

I am here, and my husband is here to make them into viable persons in our society, no matter the political canvas, no matter the global situation, and certainly no matter the friends that tease them because they live with grandma.  This is not an end, but rather a beginning of what's going to bring them through without many deep scars because no matter what, they are loved.

Steve Jobs - I never meant that Bill Gates was the creator of Apple... I guess I had a brain fart, that happens when you get my age, and in our day and time, I should have googled, but I have to make this correction, because I so respect Steve Jobs... My bad on the previous post.  Since I have purchased an apple I have tried to learn and read as much as I can about Steve Jobs to find out what made him such a genius!  Anyway, my gufaful... RESPECT Steve Jobs.

Doing Something, Anything Better

More than a year.  I haven't made even a peep about blogging in over a year.  I could say that the past year has been very busy, and making the type of improvements aren't exactly the kind you talk about.
I have spent the past year making "home improvements", improvements to my ever lovin body, and our home.  We had a fire, which had us relocated for a period of time while the home was being rebuilt, and because of my age I am guessing, my body needed a little work done.  So I took the time out of my 'Something Better', and allowed doctors to improve me.
Now I couldn't be happier, most of the time.
My granddaughters are beginning pre-K today.  Yes, Pre-K!  My daughter had an awakening, and is so spiritually on fire, the Glory that God is raining on her, nothing short of a miracle.  Even my husband is impressed!  My son has begun his own awakening... he's quit smoking.
The world seems to have turned upside down though.  The heat that we experienced for the summer season has been HOT... The prices at the gas pump have risen off the charts, and the presidential election between Obama and Romney seems a political game so corrupt that the nonsense caused me to stop watching the news.
The one thing that always remains the constant in my life, my husband of 35 years, and walking.  After getting out the hospital, my only exercise is walking and stretching.  Putting one foot in front of the other.  Raising my knees to allow the quadriceps muscle feel the heat, circulate the blood, get pumped, because this is the rest of my life.
I received my second iPod, an Apple iPad Touch, and the technology blew me off the page.  The clarity with which I see on my screen, whether it's shoes, handbags, fashion, or a YouTube video is nothing short of miraculous.  I was so captivated by the iPod Touch, my husband then purchased an iPad for me!  Really.  I can now say that Bill Gates vision is renaissance!  I love everything about the apple products, from packaging, plugging it in, to turning it off and on again; and one day hope to replace my personal computer with a Mac.
My favorite hobby is still going out and taking photos, spending time outdoors whether walking or working in the yard, and knitting.  And I am good; but writing remains my love.
If I could sit here and write words to lift your spirits, I would, because not giving up is just that.  Lifting your countenance; Our Father, does that for me everyday.  And when I thought there was nothing left in me to give, my spirit was quickened with the words, 'Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee' Psalms 119:11.

Keep your head up and TRUST.

Hey,
It's been so long since I typed my post in blogger, I forgot how.  A little apprehensive even.  I so wanted to have a place to put my "something betters".  I even think it kept me inspired...but letting it go wasn't that hard really, when I had Facebook.  the dreaded Facebook, it's like a punch in the gut with all the blank you know what spewing forth from it's clutches.
Initially, i ended up having two accounts, the stupid program couldn't put the two of us together, so whenever i update one, it doesn't update in the other, and all my friends and family have to friend me twice, fun.  i never had the time to work that out... i just go there and post pictures from time to time. 
Just a few minutes ago, i was responding to a YouTube video, it wasn't even a video, someone posted pictures of the Magic Mesh... you know that commercial, where you see the people walk out the door, or in the door and each time, there's that sweet sound of the door closing behind you.  Come on, you know!  Anyway, I couldn't figure the directions out so, voila, I'll just look it up in YouTube, everything you could think of is over there.  And there it was, easy to understand pictures.  To my delight quite self explanatory.  Sweet!  I want to leave a comment and tell the author about the beauty of his post and eeeehhh... you must go through Facebook!  I must go through Facebook? or twitter, and I am not as familiar with these programs. i found a way to leave a comment though, through another dummy button for Facebook.  Back door way, i am sure.  I liked it, and it went to Facebook without a password!  Yeah, now that I have been completely honest, and I feel good about that. Which brings me to another collective idea i have, but another time.
But my bitch, gripe, discomfort is with Facebook.  Isn't anyone doing anything to shut this down.  I currently use Google+ but it's another one of those programs where you befriend your family and friends, or go to MSN, there's another, or even better still, get your own little space, where you send people your information or get theirs through some subscription.  Which now brings me to another sore point that i have with Facebook...
The dreaded friend chatter.  When your friend or loved one spends their time on Facebook, you get an email as follow up, because we are friends right?  do i really need a blow by blow of chatter entering my mailbox?  I thought that was what Twitter was for.  I don't tweet.  As a matter of fact, i am going to get a twitter account right now.  Let's see how that works out?
Sound out if you like what i said or not.  I am sure we all have our stories, however, the Something Better today, has to be the fact that I have both identified my oppinion on the matter and that makes me better, because i have integrity.  Thank God through Christ that I have had the strength and courage to come back to Blogger, and say something, which makes my day better!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to You All
the number one resolution - "quitting smoking"
http://www.kpcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23665:Quitting-smoking-is-top-New-Year%E2%80%99s-resolution&catid=51:latest&Itemid=79
Can you believe that less than 1000 posts for quitting smoking exist online through google, and yet if I look up handbags in the search engine, i get more than 2000 results.   (What does that tell you?)

 2011 is coming to an end and 2012 is on our heels now.  It should be a time of looking 2011 in the rear view... all the sporting events of 2011, all the news worthy stories, all the discoveries of 2011 coming to an end, and just like every other year, we all have things we want to begin anew in the new year.  I think the biggest ones are, "I want to lose weight", or "I want to quit smoking".  I am sure there are those which are much less glamorous, like, "i'd like to be more agressive", coming from someone who's sort of a wall flower; or for someone who's far too aggressive, "i'd like to control my temper this year", but overall they are the hopes and dreams that will carry you into a new year. 
2011 has been successful for me, it's the 1st year in more than 30 (thirty) that i have gone without smoking cigarettes.  I have actually made it through the entire year, and i am very proud of myself.  But it wasn't easy.  I had days when I just didn't think i could make it through, and then there were days, i made it through with flying colors.  But there were years of practice before making my hope of becoming a non-smoker a reality.  There will probably be news reports on television about the odds of being someone successful in their hopes of quitting something.  And mostly, they have done the leg work, but if you were someone who abuses drugs, and you want to make this year special, by quitting, don't let anyone tell you that you can't.  If you feel you've had it with being heavy and want to lose some weight, don't listen to that voice within your own brain that repeats all your old feelings of insecurity.  If you are going to become successful at what you desire, you have to see, hear, touch, smell, and rise above your old mind set.  If reading is something that will be encouraging for you, read.  If like me, you are a walker, then Walk;  if you like art, use your love for art to encourage yourself. 
I am saying all of this because, having been around the block a couple of times now, I know that there are fears that we all share, the ones that keep us doing the things we probably want to rid ourselves of, but don't because of the fearful voice inside of us, that same voice that took us off our path in the first place, that doesn't want to see us succeed.  In order to become successful at quitting smoking, I had to stop listening to the little voice that always said to me, "who cares?  You are never going to quit anyway".  And the odds of me quitting was really not in that voices' best interest.  So, while being successful at your New Year's resolution would be great 1st time out, don't count on it, but never give up. 
I was so afraid that once I quit smoking i would be less than cool, and boring to be around, when in all actuality, I am more easy to be around because I don't smell like an ashtray anymore, and when I find myself not being the cool person, I just think about how, my grandchildren all think that I am cool as a non-smoker.
Yeah, I finally accomplished my goal of becoming a non-smoker, but without all the previous years of trying, i could not have been this successful.  I know that.  All the little starts and stops actually gave me more confidence each time to continue to try and make this the final accomplishment of my life.  I did it.  I know that you too can quit smoking if you give yourself permission.
So, ring in 2012 with a shout, and do what it's in your heart to do, and i want to wish you great success today and next year.
See you on the other side!
Writing to live, living to write.

Journaling

"The man who does not read good
books has no advantage over the
man who cannot read them."
- Mark Twain

I am in the throes of a book entitled Creative Journal Writing by Stephanie Dowrick.  A very good read so far, easy to comprehend and follow, and everything seems to be like an echo in my spirit, as I read the pages that describe my journaling life. Since I have been journaling on and off for more than 20 years I feel equally accomplished at the task of putting what is in my heart right down on the page.  Sometimes it's just a few words, and sometimes it's many, but however many words, it's a release from my spirit to the world around me.  I feel very accomplished, very happy, and totally satisfied with myself, despite my circumstances. 
The other day I had to run out to the store and pick up some vegetables and fruit; and on my way out, as I was pulling away from the store, I saw a Sister and her sister or friend walking to their vehicle, and as I watched them as they crossed in front of my vehicle, just for a moment, I felt a sadness come over me.  Of course, the moment that happens, I begin praying, but I found myself feeling sad for me.  Maybe because I don't have any money to dress that nicely, maybe because I never had a sister, or even a good friend that I could go to the store with.  I have been living away from my family for more than 12 years, and have yet to find that kind of friend.  So, as I watched them pass,  I began to pray, and feel the circumstances of being unemployed.  Not that being unemployed is bad, but let's face it, working for money is where I have come up short for more years than I care to remember.  Being unemployed means watching the means you have very closely, and getting away from the creditors that try to suck and drain your hard earned money for their benefit.  
But I digress, as I was grateful for them, sister to sister, having someone to share a trip to the store with is truly a gift.  And by the time I pulled up to the curb side with no oncoming traffic, pulling into the turning lane, I looked at the car in front of me, with only 1 (one) passenger, the car on the side of me, (1) one person, and the car across the street waiting for the traffic light, another single person in the car, I didn't feel so alone, and I felt grateful to have seen the sisters together.  And by that time, was able to pray to God through Christ for the privilege of having seen them, sharing.
Good thing for journaling, because now that I have written that moment down, it makes it even more edifying, and I know that I am OK. 

Writing to Live, Living to Write

The Workings of Puzzling

Well, Several months have gone by now, and I have been putting puzzles together, and having a great deal of peace doing it, but I think I must be one of a few.  I look up puzzling, and I see Soduko puzzles, or crossword puzzles, and even jigsaw puzzles, but corresponding with others who sit and put a jigsaw puzzle together... well, You must be out there!
When I was a young girl, probably back in the 60's, when I'd visit my grandmother, I noticed she always had a puzzle going.  It must have had a subliminal effect on me, because, I didn't really start my puzzling until my kids were old enough to leave the pieces alone.  I mean, who gets to the end of a puzzle to find that all the pieces aren't there?
So, for a long period of time, I didn't think about it.  My kids were too young for me to explore the puzzling arena.  And life was far to busy with the aerobic field just hitting the state with full force in the 70's and 80's.  I gave it my all.  I was thin and svelte, I was at peace, healthy, and very much encouraged raising my young children.  Now I am telling my age, but the movement to eat healthy and exercise hit like a tidal wave, and I was first to be in that movement.  The way it made me feel made me want more and more until I became too ill to walk.  The doctors called it Fibromyalgia.  This was in the 80's, and from that time to date... I have used walking as a tool to keep me from feeling poorly.
But I digress, Puzzling was a tool I used in my life when all the kids left home to explore their own futures.  I have been taking care of my granddaughter most of her life, so I didn't puzzle again, until she became old enough to go to grade school.  And since that time, I have put puzzles together.  Now, it's great as a form of therapy, since I cannot get out like I did when I was younger.  And I know that there must be others out there that puzzle.  Whether it's crossword, forward thinking puzzles or puzzle boxes, I am sure that people are using puzzles to exercise their gray matter, and remain sharp in our technologically advanced society.  I intend to bring puzzles back, because you don't get courage watching the Television and finding other people do odd things on those reality shows.  But you do get courage by starting a project and completing it.

Writing to Live, Living to Write

SUCCESS!

What does success mean to you?  A lot of money?  a Job that You Love? Happiness with your familial relationships?  To me, success is being at peace with myself and the world around me.  I cannot control the cost of groceries or gas, but I find there's a sense of peace at having the foods that I need to keep myself and my family nourished.  There's a peace when the grandchildren laugh.  There's always a peace at accomplishing something better.  And I try everyday, to accomplish something better.
This past weekend the garage sale, it was successful, i managed to unclutter the house, i managed to put a little change in my pocket, and I managed to be at peace with myself. after the work that's involved in cleaning out some of the cabinets and closets.  As I continue the road of finding out who and what I want to be and do from home, I know now that it's actually possible to work from home without having to pay my money out for another scam.  I hate being scammed.  And trust me, I have paid out more money that the law allows, with no retribution to get my money back, because online, people find ways to separate you from your dollars.  But I am finally on the right path to actually working from home.

Living to Write, Writing to Love.

Rain

Finally, after a long hot spring/summer, we have been listening to the sound of rain for over 24hours.  It's amazing how peaceful you can feel, while sitting and listening to the rain.  Of course, I don't believe this is anything new, people have known it for years, but in our current state of the nation, it helps to be provided with peace, where the calm of the earth glistens and allows you to escape the stress of smog, consumption, and discontent.  It's a gravity that happens in the winter when the snow falls for the first time.  You look out your window and can actually feel alive.  What is our life without these moments?

Writing to Live, Living to Write

Puzzling

Working a puzzle lends itself, as a form of meditation, and peace of mind.  All of the important things that are going on in the world disappear, and the only important thing becomes putting in the next piece, and along with that next piece are the prayers sent forth to God through Christ Jesus, who shows me the way, and as i pray, I pray for my children, for my family and friends, and for an answer to the most burning question I've had for more than 50 years; why do I live?
My son is going to be incarcerated for the next 4 years or so, I don't even know the charges... I told my kids when they were young, if you get caught up and end up in jail, don't expect me to come visit you, because all my youth I explained to them the difficulty in the world, and how to avoid it, and if they went against that, then what can I do?  You do a crime, You do the time... rule of the streets.  Who's going to serve that time, well my son is for sure, but there are tears on my face that just never dry, because as he suffers that time, i most certainly do also, praying continually that God will keep him, and that he'll remain healthy and spiritually uplifted.
The other day, Amanda Knox was released from an Italian jail system, and it bought tears to my eyes as I watched her heartfelt words for those who supported her, but today on the internet, it's not the front page news any longer.  The stories just keep coming, and the internet, just keeps spinning around the world, with millions, like myself, putting words out there to be read by who ever happens in.  It's my life, and the commonness we share is that we love writing.
So, puzzling is how I continue my love.  I would love to write my stories down, like a narrative, but day by day, journaling is more my style.  Until I can find gainful employment, it's most constant.
Yesterday I watched a movie called, "Everything Must Go" with Will Farrell... a different role for him, but a good story.
After having a garage sale just last weekend, I guess you could say I relate.  I've been unemployed now for nearly 2 years, and I was never the CEO of anything except this house, and unemployment doesn't help. 
Last weekend my granddaughters flushed something down the toilet and caused the system to back up, and so the money that I made from selling old things went right back into getting the plumbing fixed.  And why didn't I think to become a plumber?  They get paid very well.  Roto Rooter coundn't have been her for more than 15 minutes, and it cost a bill.  $100!!!
That's just crazy right?  But that the way it is.  I must accept it and move on.  Back to puzzling...
The colors run together so much I don't even make areas, I am building this puzzle from the ground up and it's coming out find, as you can see from the previous puzzle, "Time Well Spent" by Henry Lee Battle, it' deserves a frame, and a place on a wall.
I think it's the least expensive way to get wall art right?

Living to Write, Writing to Live

The Garage Sale... Success

Sweet Success, OK, it's been a long time, and I didn't have any SMC items to sell... but all in all, I found out that, you can make a few dollars to help with the cost of food and gas from your home doing a garage sale.  But get this, the city only allows 2 (two) a year.  Are you kidding me?
I have spent a lot more time than that at the god of the mall, and the god of other garage sales, trying to find those cute little things that will make me happy.  And selling some cute things was impossible.  I think I priced them too high, and I also noticed that my home is decorated with African American Art.  So, I didn't sell any of my African American figurines, and i also didn't sell any of my stemware, but what the heck, I bought it all back in the house and placed it all back into the china cabinet.  Which also didn't sell... but it gives me a place to put those things that my granddaughters and grandson can't touch.
So, thank you Donna Partow, I have found your book to be very enlightening, and like a road map to make a home business.
Making my something better is taking on a whole new light.  And I am not mad about that.

Living to Write, Writing to Live

GARAGE SALE

It's come to the time, tomorrow I start selling off old books, coats, shoes, clothes, children's things, and my heart, my knitting magazines and books.  Now, it brought tears to my eyes when I put a price on my knitting books.  I've spent a lifetime reading about knitting, knitting, and learning various styles of knitting.  So, whether the knitting books sell will depend, because I am not parting with them cheaply.,  I have gone online to Amazon.com to find out what those books would be worth were I to buy them used, and priced accordingly.  Some books I will give away, FREE, and some of the old shelves, and knick knacks around my house I will part with for a song, but my crystal champagne glasses, crystal clocks and figurines are things that I have because over the years you collect stuff.  And those stuff, I love, so parting with some of them will be difficult, but I will for the right price.  I don't want to price too high, but I also don't want to devalue my years of collecting.  

So... it's going to be a wonderful experience since I haven't had a garage sale in years, but it's also going to be a pleasure to get some of this stuff just cleared out. I was once a dressmaker, now I use my computer practically 3-4 hours a day.  Once I knitted sweaters, and crotchet aftghans. now I put puzzles together.  While the kids were young and I spent time reading childrens books, now I take my grandchildren to the library and borrow their books.  Once I spent long hours in the kitchen cooking being inspired by music on CD, now I have a iTune and it's quite compact.  Once I played with my childrens organ, now it sits in a closet collecting dust.  The things we collect over periods in our life truly gets out of hand when we don't go through it when we are done with those things.  And I am sure you've heard the phrase, "one mans junk, another man's treasure".  So, while the things i once cherished, are now dust collectors, they might fit just right in someone else's life.

I am hoping for the best.  Wirting to live, living to write.

Preparing for my Garage Sale

After more than thirty years of marriage there are bound to be things that need to be gotten rid of.  Especially when you are a professional at garage sales, and second hand store things.  In a consumer driven industry, when you don't have a lot of money, the second hand stores and garage sales provide you that release you need, shopping for something without spending a lot of money, and finding beautiful things that someone else owned, but discarded or lost, or maybe even passed on to the next life, and left.  Where it all comes from, doesn't even matter.  It's the idea that if you can't afford the mall, you go to the second hand store and you are destined to find something.  
Once I went out looking, and i mean searching, for a 'podium'.  I wanted a place to place my bible, so that whenever i got the mind to, i could just open it up and read it.  Like when I get on my soap box.  Or when I get a feeling of dread, or loneliness, the bible is my word, the living word.  Who wouldn't want a podium?  Right?  Well, believe it or not, i found one, but it was sold to a minister who wouldn't part with it.  I don't blame him, I wouldn't have either. 
But that didn't stop me from finding something of use that day.  Clothes for my granddaughters.  I love trinkets, and anything shiny things like champagne flutes, or wine glasses, or coffee mugs.  I even once went out in search of a desk, to place my sewing machine on, because the vibrations rattled the little 36" table that I picked up from (of all places) Walmart.
Well, it's time to get rid of things and possibly earn a little cash on the side, and going through all those things, brought up many memories.  I found pictures of my kids, when they were born... my oldest son being more than 30 years, and I thought I had all my pictures in one place, but I have more pictures than can be counted.  And there's something about going back and looking at photos, something about actually seeing them, turning the pages of the photo album that gives one a feeling indescribable.  The digital age makes a lot of things like pictures in albums obsolete, but I don't ever believe that a photo album gift isn't something that will always be cherished by the receiver of said gift.

So, while I continue to go through my house preparing for my garage sale, i know that there are a few things that i must do to make it successful.  It's important to advertise in a local paper.  And with Craig's List, it makes it more successful to advertise even there.  

 Now with all my things, I hope to make this day something better.  Living to Write, Writing to Live.

Everything must go!

 

Things they are a changin

I survived this day.  And now, it's at the end, I am finally able to sit my feeble ass down, and I am thank to God Almighty that I lived through the insanity that i saw today.  Some days are just full of goodness, you know, like the cool breeze blowing on your face after a long hot summer.  As simple as a child wanting to go to the park, to swing, ride on the slide, or just sit on a merry go round, or just taking my little dog for a walk.  But today, I saw my granddaughters full of glee as they ate donuts while their mother was in the doctor's office, walk into the library where the hope of their future was calling out to them and they couldn't decide which book to get, and then going through an attic of old stuff preparing for a garage sale, because the stuff i keep is just too old. 
What happened after that, i cannot even speak about, but I am yet alive, therefore, i can still say, I am happy within because despite the sever arthritis that caused my kids to become people i don't even know, or want to know, i live, and as long as there is breath in my body I will give all power to Him who believes in me more than I believe in myself. 
So, I do well, and since it's over, done, the end of this day, I sit and relax, and remember the trip to the library with little people who'll one day become big people, who'll hope and dream, and maybe even make magic happen, I thank God, I Live to 'Write', and I write to live.

Afterall, these are the moments worth living, and with that in mind, I bid you Good night!

It's Sunday Again,

This morning, Father,
I awoke, but knowing that we had no coffee I just went to the corner supermarket and purchased some coffee.  In addition, I purchased Amaretto cream; which i walked all the way over to the milk section thinking that I would find coffee mixes there.  Wrong.  They were on the same isle as the coffees!
It's still pretty quiet when I get up in the morning, so I am most relaxed, getting the body moving very slowly, and the same with the gray matter in my head, just moving slowly. 
I can hear the nuts hit the ground this morning, since there is a walnut tree right outside my back yard.
Last week, Friday, I paid for someone to take down the two trees in my life than have shaded our house for more than 12 (twelve) years.  The evergreen use to house woodpeckers, but i think when the new beetle moved in, the woodpeckers left, and i don't hear them any more.
The tree stood the tallest in the front yard, and every time you gazed upon it, you could feel the majesty.  You could tell that there was something grand there.

I'll miss you evergreen of the front yard.  And the little poor looking crab apple tree.  Who plants a fruit bearing tree in the front yard?  There was a peach tree out there right in front of the curb; you can just imagine what happened to it when the fruit fell to the street below it, and the cars ran over them.  Who would do that?

I've lived in this house for more than twelve years now, and I have learned that until you actually take special time to pay special attention to your house, you really don't have an investment.

I did the credit card thing so long, i bankrupted us.  And guess what?  No one came along to bail us out.  We had to budget, live less extravagantly, buy only the things we really needed, and spend more time as a family.  I've learned that those were the times we remember most in this life.  We put puzzles together, we create good food, and we eat together now frequently.  I like that a lot.  Especially when my children cook, and take the time to prepare a meal.  That's something money can't buy.

Our front yard is now a clean slate to create.  Being the creative person that i am I pray to Father, through Jesus Christ my Lord, to make something grand.

Living to Write, and Writing to live, this is my something special.

Make Money from Home

I went to the library today!  What a wonderful place to be.  All the books you could ever think of reading, and all the people happy, because people who read are generally happier.  Even better than that, I checked out books pertaining to "Home Businesses", and such related topics.  It's like everything that I've been thinking, someone was smart enough to write it all down, and categorize it.  Scams, real opportunities, and the like is really a matter of perspective.  But one thing I saw, I cannot help but repeat, Please forgive me if You wrote this, but; if you can earn minimum wage doing data input outside the home, why would you believe that you can make over 1400.00 dollars a day doing it part time from home?  That hit the mark for me.  Why do you think you can earn money mystery shopping, when the pay comes in the form of $10.00 or a reimbursement of your purchase, which has a ceiling?  How do you think that you can make money enough to earn a beautiful house, sporty car, and lying on a beach with a portable computer, when you don't ever get to find out what the job is?

I thought to myself, I could have written each and every article that I read today.  And I only read through the 1st 5 chapters.

I've seen it in the news, earn money from home, blah blah blah, I bought the course; it cost me $150.00 off my visa card, and the most I did was give my opinion on products I didn't even use.  Maybe now it's different, but that road I will not go back down.

Been there, done that.  Now, I blog.  Notice what goes on in the world and write it down.

Today I paid $2.50 for a dozen eggs.  It's time for me to purchase a chicken.  I bought a loaf of bread for more than $1.25, can I also bake my own bread?  Of course.  Will it be enlightening?  You bet.  Can I also raise a pig or a cow in my back yard?  Probably not, but becoming a vegetarian is not in my future.

The very good question is... What am I good at, and can I see myself doing it?

Am I prepared to work at home for real doing something I love rather than watching the idiot box all day?

Is it possible to manage my time, and proactively seek out my fortune?

These are all the best questions that require deep insight to know what I am going to spend the rest of my days doing.  Maybe, like my son, I have my whole life ahead of me, and rather than consider my entire life a failure because I didn't accomplish my goals, I could continue to try and not give up until I succeed.  That would sure make for a better ride through this thing called life than lying down, and wallowing in self pity.

I am going to continue to put forth my best foot, but another important point I want to make before I go... Unless I stand up for something, I will fall for anything.  Time for me to be the best that I can be, and that means making My Something Better.

I have never finished a puzzle and missed pieces, much less finished one that had so much black in it, but since my granddaughters have moved in with me, I am undone, but not failed.  I still Love that puzzle, Henry Lee Battle.  Thank You for that!

Pat Matheny

Have you seen him in concert? I haven't but I have listened to his traveling music for years. I don't want to date myself, but when I take a road trip, I play his music. His inspiration towards a better day will always be a part of my life.
Last night, a young friend took me and my daughter out, and when we were at the Jazz Lab in Edmond Oklahoma, I cannot tell you how wonderful it was just to be out there, Praising God through Christ in Rap, and without drink or drugs. I have to say that I was inspired, and enlightened. How do they say it? Music covers up all the dirt that drags us down in life. Well, that happened to me last night.
If you know anything about me, you know that I am continually trying to make something better out of life that money cannot buy. But it is going to take some money for me to get to the Pat Matheny jazz exhibition on September 28, 2011. And because of my handicap, I don't work a full time job, and right now, I am puzzling. The picture you see is the last puzzle that I put together. It took me more than a month to finish this puzzle. And when I got to the finish I found that I didn't have all the correct pieces, and in fact, I was missing a piece, but, because of the difficulty and beauty of this puzzle I will not take it apart. I love her. It's called, "Time Well Spent" by Henry Lee Battle, and I have written SunsOut to let them know my delima, but imperfect as she is, she's no different from me.
I believe through living we learn and grow, and many times we get bruised and battered, and finally if we live long enough, we become better people.

This blog is all over the place, but my hope is that you will see me, and help me through donations. $1.00 is not too much. because I want to see Pat Matheny in concert. Part of becoming and making something better is being able to accept help from others. I have always been the kind of person that counted on me and me alone. But with 4 grandchildren, all living with me, and a son and daughter still living at home, I need help. And if you see fit, I have an account with paypal. My entire name is Aleasha Jefferson. And I would appreciate anything you can send so that I can attend that concert. Thank You in advance for your generosity, and love.
May God bless you and keep you.

The Art of Puzzle Making

This was the first puzzle that I made this year. It was like a stroke of genius, all of a sudden I got this bright idea, to go to Wal-Mart and purchase a puzzle, because I didn’t really have anything else to do, and when you don’t have anything to do, you have to do something. I hadn’t finished a puzzle in a while; so I decided to make a puzzle. We have been having some very hot days. I mean, it’s been so hot outside that I had to do something indoors. So, while sitting around, unable to knit, and just having way too much energy, a puzzle seemed a good outlet, while not being so stressful. While out shopping, I went through the game department to find a puzzle, and I found 2. A beautiful Disney puzzle for Faith, my granddaughter; Snow White and the seven dwarfs, and I found the one above that I worked.
I felt enlightened; I also felt I had a purpose. I immediately began working it, and when you work a puzzle, the best way to begin is to separate the border flat edged pieces from the rest. Whether it’s 300 pieces or 2000 pieces, it’s always easiest to separate the border pieces, from the rest. At the same time, while separating the border pieces, I separate the various colors, like red, green, blue, white, or yellow, and place them each color in separate piles on my canvas. After separating the pieces, I bag the colors in small sandwich bags, according to color, and leave only the border pieces on the matt.
This is when it becomes fun. After having all the colors separated, I begin putting the border together. And once the border is complete, I rest. Whether it’s a day or two or three days before I get back to putting the rest of it together, I sleep well knowing that I have completed the border, and because I chose a puzzle that I want to see completed, I feel confident. I feel like I accomplished something, and truthfully, I did.
Because of the prices of groceries, or the cost of my monthly bills vs. the money that comes into our household, or whatever stress is bothering me, I spend time working through my issues while finding the pieces of a very unique puzzle. I do this so often now, I have managed to slow down the clock, and while I put a puzzle together, the time stops. The only sounds I hear are the gracious voices inside my head, praying for my family, praying for my friends, praying for our President, prayers righteously so, for our country. I cannot fathom the ramblings of commercial television. I cannot be inquisitive about the clothing that’s called fashion, and I especially cannot fathom the rate of interest on an automobile purchase. I enjoy hearing the tick tock of the clock. I love listening to children playing, and imagining what I would do were I to hit the lotto, but realistically, the chances of hitting the lotto which could very possibly range in an area of 18 million to 1… who has time to think and calculate those numbers?... but 1000 pieces in a puzzle, that’s calculable. Each time I find a place for a piece of my work, that number is decreased by one. And the odds of me being successful are better with each piece that I place on the matt. That’s like money in the bank, when you don’t go out with the credit card to purchase something that you thought would make you happy, you don’t spend your money because you hear the call of the commercial. You hold on to the life that is expressed in each moment, be religiously Thankful for each breath. Were you to be God, you’d say that time is halted. And while working the puzzle, the only thing in relation to time is the breath you make during the day in exaltation. It’s a process that our predecessors endeared, hence, they created the very idea of the puzzle. Recently I read that it was around 1930 that the cutting of puzzle pieces was made convenient by complex machinery, prior to that time, people actually cut puzzles by hand. Can you imagine?
So, while it seems a complex hobby, a relative improbability, even a frightening obsession, from the time you choose which puzzles you would like to see complete it becomes a challenge, pitting mind against matter. Laying caution to the wind and doing something that will allow your reality a bit of “peace of mind”.
So, go on out there, choose a puzzle, and work it like you have a renewed hope in your own mind. Be courageous and piece by piece, believe that you can, and you will.
I am going now, on to the next puzzle.

Life

It's been awhile since my last entry, and since life didn't stop with my last entry, it's time for me to enter my "something better!". This past month or so, I have reignited my love for puzzle making. I so enjoy a good puzzle. It's probably not something that I share with everyone, except family members; I don't exactly share that hobby. I have told everyone how I feel about knitting, I probably have even admitted my love for digital photography, but puzzle making?... no!
Initially, I started at Walmart, back in the game department, I found a puzzle that really peaked my interest. A beautiful puzzle of stamps from around the world. I got it home, and couldn't wait to get started. It took about a week, but at the end of that week, I felt like such a "Victor"! I'd accomplished a beautiful piece of art. My inners were thrilled, accomplished, and I felt a self worth that can only be described as "I am a puzzle genius!" That's how I felt after completing my first puzzle. So, I went back to WalMart to find another puzzle, but the choices there were limited, so I used the internet to find out where puzzles were sold other than WalMart. And I found, "seriouspuzzles.com"... Go there! You will not be disappointed. Whether you are looking for a mind bender, or a tool to inspire your young person, you will surely find what you seek. Out of all the sites I found online, I would rate seriouspuzzles.com as the best! 5 Stars being the best!
So, immediately I found a puzzle of my favorite kind; a knitting puzzle. I have a basket that looks a lot like the one that I was ordering. Immediately, I had to have it, and seriouspuzzles.com wasted no time, sending me the puzzle. I received it no more than 5 (five) days later. Immediately, I was on my way... after completing the borders I realized that this wasn't going to be as easy as the previous puzzle. I had a little fear, would I be able to accomplish my goal? Was I smart enough?
Well, today, just an hour or so ago, I completed my puzzle, entitled Knitter's Delight. I feel like I just ran a marathon. I feel as though I won something. And I did. My brain is still sharp, and I still have the ability of using all my wits. Yeah, today, I truly made "Something Better!"