Four reasons I keep trying to live each day as a new day and celebrate each one.  Ronnie's Uncle Parnell and Aunt Alice have been another set of parents for each of us.  They were there when Ronnie and I needed a retreat from the St. Jude life.  I'm sure there were many weekends that they would have rathered not have company but never said a word.  We've enjoyed the fact that they are closer to us by living back home.  Maegan has another set of grandparents to love her like they've loved us.  Life is good!

My Daddy and Mama, Pete and Faye Riddell.  The two reasons I am alive today and they attempt to keep me straight.  Not an easy job and I'm very sure I contributed to the gray hair.  I could talk all day about how my Mama and Daddy have been my rock.  They have been that way not only to me but really anyone they came in contact with.  There were many people who came to stay the night and ended up there for  weeks at a time.  That is the kind of godly parents I have.

My middle "child" and my oldest "child".. It seems impossible to believe that they are both adults and have their own lives.  Julia is a very wonderful Mama to my fist granddaughter, Maegan.  Maegan is four years old and is in pre-K now.  We are so proud of Julia.  She's a strong woman and has a good support system behind her.  We're blessed with Maegan's dad and grandmother, who are fantastic to know and love. Josh is attending Mississippi State and will graduate in May with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  He has an internship with a company outside of Starkville.  We're so excited to see him growing and prospering into the man he is. 

And for our youngest daughter, Jenna.  She's pictured with her longtime love, Luke.  We are super happy that they love each other the way they do.  Not pictured is Lola, our granddog.  She's a year old Lab and super fiesty.  Jenna has grown into a woman who knows what she wants and works super hard to get it.  She's still her usual beautiful self!  We love Luke so very much.  He is also a very motivated young man.  I'm so very proud to have him in my daughter's life. 

Another picture of Maegan with Uncle Josh and Macey.  We couldn't be happier that these two found each other when they did.  Well, God put them together.  I firmly believe that.  Macey was accepted to Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Holmes Community College and begins the program in January.  We're so excited for her!  She's super sweet and loves my son like I do.

Can you tell someone has my heart?

Wednesday, September 21,2016

Things have certainly not changed much after reading my last post.  I'm still just as crazy as ever.  My health issues have certainly intensified to say the least.  I'm not working anymore.  I haven't since November of 2014.  I'll go more into that later.  Well, I guess I'm typed out for now.  This will be all for now, folks!

Peace, love and in His service,
Susan

Musings from an afflicted ADD/OCD/CRS woman

January 20, 2014

It doesn't seem like it should be the middle of January already.  I'm thankful to see another year of life and so very thankful just to have another day if God sees fit.  So many are dealing with the loss of a loved one and/or watching a loved one battle a disease that shows no mercy.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all.  I love the saying that I don't have to know what's going on - I just have to lift your name up to our Father because He already knows.  There's going to be one in every crowd to say "What's going on?"... LOL.. If we can't laugh at things especially now then we'd all be crying. 

Ok, I know ya'll are wondering what I meant by the title to my post.  If you're not, then go look again at the title to the post.  I told ya'll I am afflicted!  Haha.. Anyway, I started going through our spare room and I use that term very loosely.  In other words, it's the room that gets all the junk thrown in when I do that flight of the bumblebee dance.  You know the one.. Throw everything in one room and warn people not to open the door. I'm thinking of adding a sign to the door leading into this room.  Enter at your own risk - Consent form releasing me from all personal injury, damage to your well-being,etc. shall be signed before attempting to step one toe in the doorway. 

 Well, as I was contemplating what to do today, I just boldly asked Ronnie, "Ok, where should I start?" He knows I bounce from here to there so he suggested the "spare" room.  He also probably saw  my pained expression because I really didn't want to do that.  But, since I asked for his input, I figured I might as well make a go of it. Here's where the ADD/OCD/CRS starts taking a hold of me...
I need a supervisor when I am attempting a project.  Someone to say.. 1)  Get boxes to place items in to keep, 2) Make good use of the extra large trash bags and 3) Do not leave the room unless absolutely necessary (bathroom /rest break) included.  I say this because I can leave the room to take an item to the other room and get distracted by something else pretty quickly.  Prime example of this happened yesterday morning while Maegan was here.  Being the sweet MeMe I am, I proceeded to make her some mini muffins for her breakfast snack.  After I  placed them in the oven (and setting the timer), dear sweet Josh followed Maegan in the bathroom to see what she was up to.  Either she said bath or he asked if she wanted a bath because he says, MeMe, she wants a bath  AND muffins just placed in the stove were out of my head that quickly.  As I was finishing up with blowdrying her hair, Ronnie said, "Did you forget something?" So that leaves me with a total blank look to which he said one word, MUFFINS... He said I had a minute left on timer and they were burnt to a crisp.  So badly burned that the mini muffin pan is no longer with us. It departed by way of garbage today.

I am afflicted with ADD (hard to complete many projects without getting distracted), OCD (in that when I do have my act together - I do repetitive things to make sure I have my act together) and CRS (re: blank stare when asked a question - either thinking did I do it or just thought about doing it but due to ADD it wasn't done. LOL>..

 Anyway, you have to smile or laugh at yourselves sometimes.  Life is too short to not live each day like it might be your last.  This seems like a good time to renew my promise to myself.. One day at a time. If you can't focus on a day, then break it down however you need to.  Just making it hour by hour or minute by minute.  We're all so busy but sometimes the busyness of this world leads us to believe that we don't have time to write a note, call a friend, email, text or message them if they cross your mind. 
A few minutes of your time spent writing a note to say hi, sending a card to a friend, or just picking up your phone to call and say I'm here if you need me. What you give of yourself will be returned to you tenfold.

Thanks for letting me air these thoughts.. You were warned that I'm afflicted ahead of time. LOL!!!
Peace, love and blessings to you and yours,
Susan

Seasons in life

 Ronnie and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary this year.  Talking about time flying by.  I love this man as much as I did when I married him as I do today.  This photo was taken Thanksgiving at Mama and Daddy's.

It seems as though time is either going faster or I am just realizing how precious time really is.  It seems like only a few days ago we were anxiously awaiting the birth of our first grandchild.  Now, we're headed for her 2nd birthday in March.  We've been constantly blessed with time spent with her.  I can say that I although she is growing up way too fast, we've enjoyed watching her little personality develop.  Julia and Eric have done a fantastic job as parents with this little angel.  I couldn't ask for more as a partner for Julia.  To have someone who is not only your love but a best friend as well makes all the difference in the world.  So this blog post is dedicated to our sweet grandbaby, Maegan and her wonderful parents, Julia and Eric.
Who wouldn't want this precious little angel to be your own personal angel?

Peace and love to all!  May your Christmas season be filled with the wonder and joy that comes from Christ Jesus!

Ready for Spring!

This weather only hints at my second favorite time of year.  I'm so ready to get out in the yard and start working in the dirt.

  Winter always depresses me and I'm thankful for the sunshine of today.  With the drab grays and dreariness of the cold weather, spring is always welcomed by me.

 Unfortunately, this year will also bring us closer to my youngest graduating from Humphreys Academy.  She is becoming a young woman before my eyes.  Whether I'm ready or not, she's going to be branching out on her own or testing the waters so to speak.  I can only pray that we've given her the values that it will take to tackle life head-on. 
I'm going to try to be more faithful to my posting and update ya'll on this crazy life of ours.
Love and peace to all...
Susan

Happy New Year to everyone!

You know when I was younger and I heard someone say that time had flown by too quickly, I thought they were insane.  When you're younger, it seems as though time stands still in some moments. I have reached that "older" stage where I look around and think.. It was just the beginning of a new year not too long ago.  Where has time gone?

I'm happy to say that I've picked back up on my morning text message devotion that I was sending out.  You know how Satan works and he didn't have to do much to discourage me when I was sending them out before.  One or two snide comments and I was doubting myself about the text message.  Well, I started sending them back out and am happy to say the response has been great.  Some things just need to be taken with baby steps and it all works out.  So far so good for now.

Only two New Year's resolutions have been made so far.. 1) Get better organized with my life.. All of it.. Not just work but home life as well.  I am the Queen of Procrastinating things so this should be interesting.. 2) start back with my Weight Watchers.. another area I've been neglecting is ME! 

My relationship with the Lord will not be a resolution though.  This is something that will not be broken or forgotten about within a short amount of time.  I took the step away when He waited for me to return back to Him.  Thank you God for second chances.  There's just something about trying to fill that hole in your heart and soul with other things when God is the only thing that fits.  After awhile, it's just apparent what fits.  God fits in my life perfectly.  I pray for forgiveness where I've failed Him on a daily basis.  The thing is that I don't have to keep bringing up what I did yesterday or the day before.  Once forgiven always forgiven.

Headed to Cleveland to spend New Years with family and friends this evening.  Nothing like the company of wonderful friends and family to know how blessed I am.
Peace and love to you all... and Happy New Year.. 2011 will be a great year I pray~..

New photo scrapbook of my family

Create a scrapbooking design

Hope you enjoy my latest creation.

Jenna's Senior Year Scrapbook so far

Photo album customized with Smilebox

I found this program and absolutely love this! It's real easy to use.  Look forward to more pages like this to show up soon.  We've had exciting news with our family and loving the direction our family is moving in.  Thanks be to God for blessing us daily with His love and grace.