To those lost at Virginia Tech

Safely Home: I am home in Heaven, dear ones;Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! but Jesus' love illuminated Every dark and feraful glade. And He came Himself to meet me In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus' arm to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still; Try to look beyond earth's shadows, Pray to trust our Father's Will. There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth- You shall rest in Jesus' land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!

Rain

Well fans, I'm sure I don't have to mention it's pouring outside! I was afraid of rain when I was a kid. If it rained I made excuses not to go to school or church or anywhere for that matter. I then had to learn to see that I wouldn't get sick just to get rained on. I began to even see that it really wasn't all that bad. I walk in the rain at times & feel a peace about it. April has always been the month where we get all the showers that will bring the flowers as we've been taught. We need to stop & see the beauty in nature. Teach our children that a rainy day doesn't need to be awful. Find things for them to do indoors or take them for a walk & let them splash in the puddles as you did when you were a kid. Fans, life is short & we need to enjoy "the little things" which weather you believe it or not your kids will remeber years from now. You are their guardians & teachers of life lessons. So rain or shine, enjoy!

What's in a Name?

I wonder if we still would care if someone we know by a certain name kept that name all his/her life? Frances Gumm or Archibald Leech? Wound we still feel she sings "like nobody's business" & he is the most suave, suffisticated gentleman we ladies would love to have in our lives? You know what, I believe we still would love them: Judy Garland & Cary Grant. I feel that I understand some people feel they didn't like their name as they grew up. Some, I'm sure would ask themselves "what were my parents thinking?" I remember when the folks would pick names out of the Bible. Then made up names from family members. Or just kept using a name in the family they liked (I had that in my family there were about four with that particular name). Now, some people want to change their name to something interesting or odd (Santa Clause, Ynot Bubba, etc.). I myself feel that as long as you know in your heart you are "unique" who cares what your name is. Work with what you are given. Remember...what's in a name, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So good luck to you...Metallica!!!

Acrylic Nails

Hi Fans, I decided last year to look for a new hair salon to get my hair done. I walked down the avenue & saw a place that looked good. The lady inside was Hispanic & she looked at me & said my hair was dry & I needed treatment. I knew this because it has been a problem since I was a teen. So I went ahead & let her do what she had to do. While I waited with the hair color she suggested I do my nails. They showed me these beautiful colors the manicurist uses to make the "French" style look more interesting. I chose an aqua blue (any blue being my favorite color) & she also finished it with a black trim. Wow, I thought! I had the "works" that day: hair,nails,eyebrows. I would've had a pedicure but I've always been shy about anyone touching my feet. I went home & my own nails began to hurt. The feeling went away in about an hour. I began to wonder will this cause any harm to my real nails? My sister couldn't help because she had done them once & just couldn't afford to keep it up. But I ran into a lady who told me not to be afraid because she's been having hers' done for seven years. So I've had them done about four times already (every three weeks or so). They look great & my nails feel real strong. It feels good not to have to be putting on polish every end of the week. Believe me it's fun & very up-lifting. Just don't let them get too long that they look like claws instead of nails. Enjoy!

Pets
Hi Fans, I spoke to you about taking care, for over a month, of a friend's pet. It was a turtle and though all I had to do was change her water everyday & throw a few bits of her food in; it still was like an obligation. It's like when you have a dog & you know you need to walk it, feed it & worry over it when it is sick. I guess I'm not into that now. Don't get me wrong I love animals & I sometimes miss so much my dog. I had dogs in my life from the age of ten. My father would bring home strays & we once had three dogs at a time. It's just that now that I'm alone again I feel it's more of a burden to me now. Maybe if I had a companion (who'd walk the dog & help me care for it) then perhaps I would welcome having a pet again. I have had birds, cats, dogs & fish & believe me they are all a big responsibility. So, I'll leave you all by saying: "yeah, I know I'll wind up someday with a pet".

Thanksgiving

Hi Fans, this Thanksgiving it was quiet but there is always things to be grateful for. That you are still on this earth, that the car is still running, the mortgage has been paid this month and that your bones crack a bit but at least you still can get around. Yes I had alot to be thankful for. In the olden days I never really felt worried about who was coming to join us as long as they came to enjoy that we were family & though we saw each other maybe only that day, it was worth it. I'm sure my Mom is glad she no longer has to slave over a hot stove because they (my family in Puerto Rico, were bringing her the food). I too no longer need to make the "fixings" which is okay with me. Even my birthday was very quiet. A few of my friends said I looked especially "radiant" & a got a hug from one. I guess the older you get the less your "birth" means anything. The time will come when the persons who trully remember you will be gone (to a better life) but I stay very optomistic, as I've always been & feel that the people I touch "today" will be there. So fans be sure to do good whenever the opportunity arises & you'll always have them to remember your worth. Be forever thankful too!

Happy Halloween

Well fans it's that time of year again where all the little goblins go "bump" in the night. As a kid it's a fun time to decide what you want to dress up as. I feel they should pick "scary" characters or make up their own, not fairy princesses or super heroes, which have nothing to do with the "spookiness" of the time. Though I wouldn't mind seeing a small GW come to my door, that would be scary. But parents be careful, as always, with those little ones. Make sure they can be seen on the road, check the goodies at home, make sure an adult is with them. I remember my youngest girl has always liked this day. She dressed up as a one armed baseball player, at another as a woman being attacked bt the "birds" (Alfres Hitchcock thriller) and just always invented cool costumes. I always wanted to come over to her parties too because they were fun. I'll never forget the "bobbing" for eyeballs. So, enjoy!