Definitely taking a break next year, I will blog less frequently while focusing on writing my book. This will give me time to recharge.
How did I start NaBloPoMo? The same person that talked me into joining Twitter talked me into NaBloPoMo. Di Jasso, she is an influencer and ring leader. I am so excited for Di, she won a contest to go see the MLS cup in Kansas city. She is also in another contest to win a chance to present the MLS cup to the winning team. She would love your vote on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153524444960790&set=a.10153524443975790.1073741871.169890760789&type=1&theater
Now to look back at six years of NaBloPoMo:
11/26/13 I wrote this blog for my cousin Kyle on his birthday. Happy birthday Kyle! http://www.julesmpg.com/2012/11/happy-birthday-cousin-series-happy_26.html
11/26/11
Every year, I save the Christmas cards from the year before. I put them in the decorations bin and look at them again the next year. I even have some that are 10 years old. The purpose usually is to see how much friends children have grown throughout the years.
This year, as we hauled out the holly a very unusual thing happened. It was like I was viewing those Christmas cards for the very first time. Last year, things weren't good in our home. Marty wasn't doing very well and his health was rapidly declining. We almost were beginning to wonder if he would make it to transplant without further complications.
We spent most of last December holed up in our house waiting for the call. Our friends were great and their words of encouragement were so nice. At that point, after so many years of hearing " next year will be your year." it was almost as if those words just went in one ear and out the other. December 20th last year, we got the first call which turned out to be a false alarm.
This year, on the other side of transplant, I was truly able to enjoy the cards for the first time. I had so much fun texting friends yesterday telling them their wishes, prayers and hopes came true. So many had said 2011 would be our year and it truly has been!
My card hoarding paid off and I truly was blessed to read the good wishes again. This year, I can't wait to send our Christmas cards out and hope they will be a blessing to those who supported and prayed for us.
11/26/10 A few weeks ago, Marty the kids and I were sitting in the living room chatting. Marty loves to joke and tease constantly. One of his favorite things to joke about is cremation.....I know, a bit bizarre. His big thing is, when he dies he wants to be cremated and he wants me to have him put in a locket and to wear him. It is a funny joke that we go back and forth with.
We were joking and I was showing him lockets online. Conner pipes in and says, " Well you know, they only cremate your arms." We both jerked our heads and looked at him shocked, holding in the hysterics. "What do you mean they only cremate your arms? Where did you get that idea?", Marty said.
Conner," Well, you actually get to choose, if there's not enough room they might just do your nose or your head?" by this time we are laughing hysterically. " Again, where did you get this idea?", I said.
Conner says, " I was creative thinking!"
There ya have it, Conner was "creative thinking" about cremation. We are still laughing about it a month later.
There also is "productive thinking" which is what he told me one day when I found him spacing out during school. Not to be confused with "creative thinking" apparently "productive thinking" is something entirely different!
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11/26/09 Holidays never get easier, time and healing happen but the holidays are still hard. I have been hearing that from so many people today. Friends missing their daughter and sister, aching for her to be with them. Friends missing parents, wishing for more time. I truly think death is the hardest part of life and grief goes along with that. Most of this blog has been about grief and different stages of grieving.
Most of 2006, I spent writing about losing my my grandparents and the aftermath of their deaths. Then our finding out that Marty was sick and the grief that followed that. I started reading Di's blog during the loss of her father and the grief that followed.
My Grandparents all loved holidays and we had such great times together. Now I just try to carry on the traditions they set forth and remember them in them.
11/26/08-I got this from Di's blog and thought I would play along since it is twofer Tuesday.
1.What is your funniest childhood story? Read two blogs before this and the one after to find out.
2. What would your dream dress look like if you could design it? I always used to design the same dress over and over in my sketch book. It had a..........Oh what the heck, I always loved Princess Di's dress.
3. What weird habit does your hubby have? He never let's me get ice cream when we pass the ice cream section. We just pick it out and then he goes back to get it when we are done shopping.
4. How many cookbooks are in your kitchen? About 30 on the top shelf of my cupboard.
5. Granny panties or Victoria Secret girl? a bit of both
6. Favorite memory from 2008? I would say seeing Melissa and meeting up with Andrea and Di
7. I secretly...want to Live in England someday
8. I could really go for...some Chinese food.
9.We are going to have a big snow storm and you will find me..waiting by the window with snow gear on.
10. I knew he was the one...when we went on our first date.
11/26/07- I just got off the phone with the transplant coordinator at Stanford. Marty has been listed for transplant for kidney only at the moment. He needs to see the pancreatic transplant surgeon to determine if he is qualified for a pancreas transplant. We got a letter from our insurance denying that visit and they are trying to work with the insurance right now. Please pray that the insurance will approve the visit and that the surgeon will deem him a canidate for pancreas transplant. I am not worried because I know God is in control of this situation.
~I hate whiny children! Mine are whining about flu shots that I want to get them and they don't even know when they are getting them. Plus it is the first day back to school after several days off and they are being slow about doing their work.
~ Why am I always doing dishes? I think they are breeding in the sink.
~My email friends are wondering where I disappeared to and why I am not emailing. I had to explain the blog a day challenge to them and now they are reading all the blogs.
~We are going to the Candy cane lane parade tonight and I must find all the hats and gloves. Why are gloves always disappearing?
~ I burned my thumb making turkey taquitos on Saturday. It hurt like a *$@(@)_$@ but is feeling better today.
~ I am thinking about making turkey soup this afternoon.
I could go on and on but then I risk sounding whiny myself. I am going to make a post of pet peeves pretty soon!
