Merry Christmas

Just stopping in to wish everyone a Blessed and Merry Christmas. I hope that in all the excitement that you remember the Reason for the Season, The Birth of our Lord and Savior who has given us so much to be thankful for. I for one have been blessed so many times this year and even though my health is not as good as I would like it to be, I am thankful for the many times I am not in pain, which are few, but will take whatever the Lord gives me. I am Blessed to have all my children here and Christmas won't be as lonely as in the past. Blessings to all who visit, Love, hugs, and prayers. May the Peace of our Lord be with you always. Pat

My thoughts today

It's Easter Time

Well I am thinking how much Easter means to me and all I could think of was 3 nails and a cross. When I did craft shows, I took 3 nails and wire themed together with a tiny little wreath at the top and sold them as ornaments that you hide inside your tree, because the tree symbolizes the wood used to make the cross. Jesus has always been there for me and I have been through a lot in the last 12 years, but He has always gotten me through. Being on life support and my family knowing that I might die was supposed to be a lesson for them, not me, because I didn't know what was going on. But once I found out, my life became simple, well almost, but now I find myself living the way God would want. I have always dreamed of living in a pretty new larger home, but I realized I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and clothes when it's cold. I am a very Blessed person with a few friends who stand by me when I need them, plus I have all of you in Blogland that have helped me through some very difficult times. I don't have all my graphics from my other hard drive but I am hoping to transfer all them soon.

Easter Season gives us time to repent and become a new person. Most Catholics give up something for Lent, but I choose to give it up forever. Mine is to be a kinder, more gentle person and not let anyone hurt me. I forgive all who hurt me and then go on with my life. I humble myself and quit dwelling on the past. What has happened is over and we can't go back to yesterday, but we can change today. The future holds our destiny and if we change today, our destiny can be everything God wants of us. I have never felt this good about myself before. I have been reading a lot of Christian books and found a lot of answers to what I need to do, so my bucket list is a pleasing one for God,not for myself. I love all of you, and even though, I no longer get many comments, that's okay also. This is my blog and I see it as a journal of sorts.

I still "like" things, but I could easily live without them if I have to, but God wants us to have nice things, but He doesn't want us to worship them. So my thoughts for you today are that you are as Blessed as I feel today. Life is good, even though I am not healthy, but working on what I can fix and leave the rest to God, only he can fix those. He gives me strenght to endure some of the pain, but I still have to rely on medicine. I want to be around to see my grandchildren finish school and see my granddaughter married with children of her own. Have a Blessed Day and May God Bless you all. Love and Hugs, Pat

If you can search for "He grew the Tree", listen to it. I will try and find it. I have it on cassette and need to try and get it to a CD.

An Almost Perfect Christmas

Our Christmas was almost a Perfect day, but Chris and David could not be home with us. This is my wonderful family, bottom row, left to right is Me, Pat, granddaughter Theresa, grandson Jacob, and Al

Standing from left to right is our oldest son Donnie, dil, Heidi and our youngest Jonathan.

Now you can see how happy I felt that day and for the first time in over 10 years, I was pain free. I just wish it could last forever, but I am enjoying it while I can.

Now Donnie's smile was worth a million bucks to me after not seeing him for 2 years.

Not many decorations this year, but having him home was the best gift after Jesus's birth.

Jonathan and Theresa in the kitchen having fun. Jonathan is 6 ft. tall, so you can imagine how tall Theresa is for being 9 years old.

That's my little angel and I'm praying Chris will have children, because I think Jonathan and Heidi

are finished having children.

She is such a sweet child, but when I have her and her brother together, they fight over such

silly things, so I try to have one at a time. Of course Jacob is at the age when it is not cool to hang with granny.

3 generations of Jochums, so hopefully when Jacob is old enough, finished with college and finds his mate, they will have a boy and we will have 4 generations. Al's mother is still living, but his dad drowned when he was about 3 years old, trying to save his nephew from drowning. His mom raised 5 boys alone at a time when there was no welfare for her.

Everyone, including myself, thought they were not ready to marry, but Heidi was pregnant and here they are together and will be married 15 years this April. Both have great jobs, but I always wished that he would return to college and get his degree like our other children and Heidi.

Here we are, the men in my life---Al is still a part of my life, even though we can't live together.

Chris, if you are reading this, we missed you and David, but we understand. Maybe next year, we can all be together and you and David will be married by that time.

Our Christmas was not about gifts, but about Jesus and Love of Family, so for me, it was the greatest gift.

Donnie left on the 28th and flew out on New Year's Eve, after visiting some of his friends. He rested and then caught a train on New Year's Day and spent a few days in Montreal. He will now leave for Portland, Oregon and will have his Christmas with Chris and David in Vancouver.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my family. We are very close and we all love each other unconditionally. They are my strength and it's what kept me fighting when I was so sick.

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families, because without family, there is a void.

We are having a deep freeze, but nothing like people are having in the Midwest and North, but with temps in the low 20s, we have to take precautions and get things as though a hurricane were coming, not to mention protecting pipes. There is a possibility of some snow mixed with ice. I like the cold weather, but not in the teens.

I wish all of you the best this year filled with many Blessings, lots of smiles and buckets of hugs. Take the time to say I love you or that you are sorry for hurting someone when you didn't mean to. Life is too short to hold grudges. Love, hugs, and Prayers. Pat

A Blessed and Merry Christmas and Sympathy for David's family

Well today did not start out good. Chris has informed me that her boyfriend's mother died late last night. Thank you for the prayers and David can really use them now. Chris said he is better today, but most of us know what is to come next. Death is no stranger to us at Christmas time. I think we have had our share.
Today I am Blessed that I have my son here and the other son and family will be here tomorrow. We just visited them and the ride there was really rough on my spine, but the pain meds have kicked in and it's much better. They want me to bake cookies tonight and I just don't know how to tell them NO, so with a smile, I will bake them with their help.
My Blessings and Joys:
I have a roof over my head, while others are forced to sleep outdoors.
I have food to eat, while many will go hungry tonight.
I have a God that loves me, but there are many who don't know Him.
I have warm clothes to wear while others have none.
I have a small family that loves me very much and there are those whose family have turned their backs on them.
I have friends who take me as I am with unconditional love, while I have lost friends because they couldn't handle my bipolar.
I have so much to be thankful for and the only thing I really want for Christmas is Love, True love that comes from the heart and that is my gift to all of you who accept me as I am.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Love, Hugs, and many Blessings. Pat

My friend has gone to meet Our Lord

I am home for just today, but with it I bring sad news. My friend Bubba (Donald) has left our material world and gone to meet Our Lord. When I went to visit him last, he was having a really bad day and the morphine was making him say ugly things to everyone around him. I left crying because I was trying to get him to eat a little something and he yelled at me to leave him alone and the get the %$#* out of there. I hugged him and he kissed me, even after yelling at me. I told him I still loved him unconditionally, then he pulled me back and said I love you too and kissed me again. That was the last I saw of him. He died with his buddy holding his hand, so he was not alone. Curtis called me to let me know that he died peacefully last Friday. He donated his body to LSU medical school, so there will only be a memorial service. Bubba abused his body and he knew it but it was too late to turn back the clock and he died at the young age of 64. Please keep him in your prayers. I have been really sad all week, but tried to keep busy at home in the country.

I have been busy setting up things for the estate sale on the 1st Saturday in June and it's not easy doing it alone. My sil comes once a week to help me out, but I will have to work really fast now to get it done.

I did have a virus last week and stayed in bed for 2 days and avoiding people as much as possible. I see the doctor next week and will be having blood test tomorrow to find out what is wrong. We have 7 cases of flu in Lafayette and 5 were the swine flu, but a very mild form that was quickly taken care of with Tami flu and that other injection they are giving. I had a mild fever of only 100.5, but my poor bones ached so much I wanted to scream.

I did do a small craft project to show people what they could do with scraps of material---a lacy pin cushion hat and now I am going to make a journal with lace and embellishments also. Not sure if I mentioned this, but we have a new scrapbook shop in Jennings and Mona, the owner asked me to come and give lessons on things I do with paper. I told her as soon as the estate sale was over, I would be more than happy to do it. I will be teaching a squash book class first, then a journal, then beading on cards. I don't have to buy anything as they will buy their own supplies in her store. I have never been a teacher, so it should be really fun.

I did find a good bargain at Goodwill and this time, it's the really McCoy. I got a Louis Vitton bucket purse and the serial number is in the purse. I am hoping to make a few bucks on eBay, so wish me luck. I also found a ring in a parking lot over 3 months ago and no one has called to inquire about it, nor has it been listed in the lost and found section of the newspaper, so it may be mine to keep. The jeweler would not say what it was worth, but it has real diamonds. I may have mentioned the necklace I bought at a thrift store for $1 and it is worth about $350 dollars and is 18 carat gold with 3 garnets and a diamond.

Well I hope that you all have a wonderful Mother's Day this Sunday. My wonderful son and partner sent me a cashmere throw with pillows to match and a cashmere sweater. The throw is actually a full size throw and very warm. Lots of little gifts were also included with some wonderful cards with written thoughts that made me cry. Guess I did a great job as a mother and that is the greatest gift I have from God, because He helped me with them. My daughter, Chris is leaving for Hawaii on the 24Th and hoping she comes back engaged-lol.

It will be sad for Mother's Day this year, but I always manage to get through it with my children so far away and my youngest seems to live in a world of his own.

Blessings to all of you and hope to see you soon. Still trying to find internet service in the country, but it looks like nothing is available and ATT's satelite service is just not worth $55 a month--I could rarely get a connection. Love and hugs, Pat

Here for 2 days

Well my children are living it up in NYC and the gc are having a blast as I knew they would. Theresa was amazed at the Ferris Wheel in Toys R Us. They have snow flurries right now, so they may even get snow. They are doing indoors things today and just called to talk to granny. The plane ride was their first and she sat at the window and looked down just as I did on my last trip. I am sure they will have exciting tales when they return, but it will be lonely for Easter.

We had 2 deaths since I left. My niece's gf died after breaking his hip and Thursday, his wife died, but she only had a few weeks to live anyway, so it was not a shock. Our little niece(42) who has cerebral palsy is taking it hard as they have raised her after their mom died.

Living in the country is great. I get out every day for some great 15 minutes of sun and I am sleeping so good. I have measured more material than I care to think of and still have almost 100 boxes to measure. I did find some nice old vintage pieces and a few pink things like a candlewick pillow my mom did, but did not finish into a pillow, so that will be done for my room.

While there, I went to a place called Caring Hands that sells used goods to help feed people and got a wonderful old vintage doll dressed in pink lace that really doesn't look old, but the doll is. Will try and take a picture before I leave and post it. I also bought a necklace with garnets on it and it may be real, but the jewelry store was closed until Monday, so have to wait. I also found a beautiful ring in a parking lot and so far, no claims have been made. The police and store said no one has reported a lost or stolen ring, so in 2 more months it could be mine.

Not sure if I told you about the vintage small dresser I bought, but we found some tiny pink and white tiles at dads, so I am looking for a pretty plate to break and make that the center piece. I thought about not breaking it and just building up around it and use it for jewelry. I do have a small plate from moms that would be perfect, but not going to break that. They also gave me 13 vintage looking white and gold drawers pulls and I need 14, so will have to decide how that will be done. I do have 2 old glass knobs that could be used on one drawer.

For some more sad news, my friend Carol called at 1:30am and said that little Kaden is back in ICU. He started turning blue and went into distress, so please keep them in your prayers.

My blood pressure is finally under control and the sugar is dropping, but not sure about the cholesterol---I go for blood tests in 3 more weeks. At least this statin drug isn't giving me bad side affects.

I miss all of you and having no computer in the country is not fun, but I never realized how addicted I was to it, so I am getting more exercise and reading a lot and just relaxing so much. I've had more visitors in 10 days than I had in a long time. Seeing old high school friends is wonderful, so we are planning a dinner out with some that were fun to be around.

I did get to go thrifting and also found an office filing cabinet with 4 sections---2 across, so it will be handy as a table also. I have so many medical files that we need it just for that. It was funny because yesterday, we got a letter from our insurance company saying that I got into a wreck on Dec. 5th and it was not an wreck---it was the morning that I woke up with a huge leg, so now we have to get it straight before the insurance will pay. We are just getting that NOW! I would be willing to bet that there are more mistakes on some of our hospital billings that we just might have to check into.

I hope you all have a Blessed Easter. Our Lord will rise in the morning and what a Blessing for all of us believers and also for those who don't yet believe. They are in for a wonderful surprise when they leave this earthly home and go to their real home.

Please pray for my brother, Marlin. He is going through a rough time and sleeps all the time. He won't admit that he may be bipolar, and he is losing so much weight and looks very sick and old. My sil is very sweet but it has put a lot of stress on her.

Well I am off to see what Goodwill has since I have been gone, then going to visit my friend in Lake Arthur. They have sold their parents home already for $53,000, so who ever bought it has $27,000 equity into it. Bryan and his sister got out voted on the selling price and it's a huge home in great condition, but needs some updating like mine and my parents. Guess we will probably get little for his house also. Bryan's sister bought a tiny house with 2 bedrooms so he won't be homeless. It's old, but has been updated and is very cute. Have a wonderful Easter and will see you soon. Love, hugs, and prayers to all who need it. Pat

Busy finishing up Christmas

I will be AWOL again for a few days. I have doctors appt. tomorrow and hope to visit some craft shops---2 months is too long! I am trying to finish up as much as I can today, but not likely as I still have 4 more trees to put the ornaments on. I wasn't going to bring it all out, but each box brought so many memories, I just couldn't help myself. As a sweet friend said, it looks like the elfs upchucked in my house, but we enjoy it and we have already sat and watched movies with hot cocoa and cookies----I always seem to stress out during the holidays because of a craft show, but not this year and I love it. I have time to reflect the true meaning of Christmas and that brings Joy to my heart.

I can't wait to see all the beautiful homes on the 15th that are listed on Deena's blog-Can I be Pretty in Pink. I hope you all take a visit and tour all the wonderful decorations. If you haven't joined, we still hope that you will post yours---I'll be sneaking around like Santa to see.

See you all in a few days. Love and Hugs, Pat

A Great Day

Who knew that a few days away could re-energize you. I have been totally busy decorating and running to the hospital. Bubba is getting better, but will be in rehab, but he has lost 61 lbs and can talk so much better now.

I already has visitors coming to see my house and it's not finished, but they will return when it's done. Lucky for me, they didn't notice the boxes every where and just noticed the gingerbreads.

I hope you all have a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. I don't shop on Black Friday---it's just not worth it, especially when fights start over some product that we can all live without. If I had a choice, it would be Micheals or Hobby Lobby, but Al has to work and the mail must go through.

My Joys today
Beautiful Day from God
My friend is getting better
My wonderful neighbors
My family and friends

My Thanks to God for all the many blessings He has bestowed on us this year, even the pain is a blessing because it motivates me and brings me closer to Him every day. Love and Hugs, Pat

It's beginning to look like Christmas

Well the elves showed up at our house and it's really starting to look like Christmas. After Thanksgiving, we start decorating the trees and it's always fun looking at them as many of them have a sentimental meaning.

I save the Nativity things for last and at night when I go to bed, it's the last thing I see and in the morning the first. We have already made plans for next year to make a display in the entry, so when you walk in, you know Jesus comes first for Christmas. We need small tables that can be taken apart and stored. Al has even thought of painting a background with mountains, palms, and a Bethlehem scene. My brother is coming over for Al to paint a memorial sign for mom and dad to put with his Christmas yard decorations, since he has all of dad's things. I can't wait to bring the gc to see it. We always take them riding to see Christmas displays. We gave our youngest son our first nativity and just as they did when they were young, my gc remove Baby Jesus until Christmas and then put him in his crib.

I start early because it takes time to do it, but I take the same care as I did when I prepared for my children's birthdays, so preparing for Jesus's birth always takes more time. I even bake a cake and the children blow out the candles and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Good news today, my friend was moved into a private room, so is doing a bit better. His doctor said if he keeps improving, he will get to be home for Thanksgiving and go to therapy as an outpatient. I wasn't planning on cooking, but we will see to it that Bubba has a good meal. If his electric wheel chair is ready, we may take him to my brothers with us, as they know him.

I did go to bingo last night and it was very quiet. We all signed a card for J and it will be a long time before she returns to bingo. She is afraid that the rapist will be there and see her. She is going to therapy, which is good. I got there early and got a parking place just outside the door.

My Joys today

Jesus forgives me every day

My friend is better

My husband's love

My children and family

Sunshine

Flowers blooming

My wish today is for World Peace and cures for all the diseases that plague us. I know that Heaven will have all that, but it would be so wonderful to have it here also. Love and Hugs, Pat