Living In The Dash

Why We Love Them

2009-09-01T07:27:00.003-05:00

I was at my best friends house last Friday (Deb from One Single Minute blog) and we got to discussing our pets. They have a cat named Priss that is the female version of the cartoon character Garfield in size and attitude! When people come into their home for the first time they are "warned" about Priss and her attitude. If she likes you, all is well, if she doesn't then beware of a possible surprise attack! Deb told me that if Priss were a person she would not like her. Why is it that we find that good/bad kind of attitude cute in our pets, especially in cats it seems, but not in people? As we both agreed it must do with the fact that they cannot speak!:p

So, this week while she and her family are on vacation my son is house and pet sitting for them. Now my son has always enjoyed having cats as pets, he has had them since he was just 6 years old and all the cats he has met immediately likes him; all except Priss. Yesterday as he and I spoke on the phone I was informed that even though he had only been there a few hours he had been "attacked" three times already by her! I found this hilarious and the irony was not lost on me! He said there may be war before his time is up there! :0 I told him to give her a couple of her treats as a peace offering in the hopes of a peace fire and truce! :)

I am sure you pet lovers out there have similar stories you could share and can relate to the situation, so stayed tuned, I'll give updates on the saga and Priss and her "cat-ti-tude"!

Laughing,
Rhonda

Monday Mood

2009-08-24T11:09:00.002-05:00

I woke up to a beautiful morning here in the south. Sunny but the breeze is cool and that is a very welcome change from the hot humid days we have been dealing with. Makes me think of those autumn days when it's so nice to sit outside in the evening enjoying a cup of hot tea and looking up at the evening sky with all the stars.

Reminds me that no matter what happens in my life, the seasons continue on and the joys of life continue to come and go. Even though I have been dealing with some life struggles, as we all do, there is always something to be thankful for if you will just take a moment to look around.

Soaking Up The Joy,
Rhonda

WWYD?

2009-08-17T17:32:00.003-05:00

Over the years I have learned that there are grains of wisdom to be found in listening to others. It took some time for me to discern the wisdom from the folly but after many years of life experience I believe that I do much better, just not always 100 percent, but being human, the imperfection comes with the territory. :)

I am seeking some advice on the following: There is an issue between a married a couple that I know.The husband decided that they should take vacations/short trips in these forms; solo trips for himself, solo trips for his wife and then go on an occasional trip together. Since he devised this method he has gone on three trips alone within the last year and is leaving this weekend for his fourth solo trip which will be just over 2 weeks. He states that his trips are his down time from work and his decompress time. He has been at the same job for 11 years. She understands the need for some solo decompress time for a shore period (a few days) but is not in agreement with weeks at a time. So, for the happily married couples out there I ask; What Would You Do?

Rhonda

Through The Tests

2009-08-14T22:14:00.003-05:00

My best friend and I decided to start blogging together about a year ago and we were looking forward to testing these waters together. She is progressing well and after a recent talk with her about how she is doing I knew that even though I have been dealing with serious issues in my life that I need to get my head on straight and get dedicated to posting on my blog as well. I had in my heart the desire to help others with my posts and to share some of the life lessons I have learned throughout my life and I have let these struggles pull me away from doing what I had felt led to do.

I believe that the things I have been going through can and will be a help to others and I hope in time to be able to share what I have learned during this time and that others will gain wisdom from my words.

I want to update and add value to my blog, I would appreciate recommendations on updating and making my site more enjoyable from those of you that have some experience under your belt. :)

I know that as in everything in life I must practice to get better so I am warning everyone now that I have no clue what I may come up with to post but I hope it will be interesting anyway! :)

One Step At A Time,
Rhonda

Priceless

2009-06-19T07:14:00.003-05:00

No folks, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, it has just appeared that way. I have felt like though that I have been on a treadmill going faster than these short legs can run and it flung me off the back end of the machine! :o I got up and I am back on again and watching that speed meter very closely! :)

I just want to share a quick note today about an important reminder I had yesterday.

I had lunch with someone in my life that is not just a very dear friend but has become my mentor. She has been in my life for several years now and over those years I have gleaned so much wisdom and sound advice from her that I can never tell her how much all of that means to me. Her friendship and mentoring to me truly is priceless. If you have someone awesome like this in your life, please don't take them for granted. Be there for them, like they have been for you. Don't let a lot of time go by before you tell them again how much they mean to you. For most of us throughout our lifetime there are just a handful of people that comes into our lives that we can truly say are priceless.

Rhonda

No Investment, No Return

2009-05-13T10:38:00.004-05:00

As I read the above comment in a daily email bulletin that I receive the thought came to my mind of how that covers so many areas of our lives. Granted, for the majority of our society the first thought that comes to mind is financial investing. The longer I thought on it though I found it sad to think that the first thing we think on is a material thing, a thing that will not last, but is only temporary. It is my hearts desire to have a new way of thinking, to have it be a normal thing for me to read something like the title of this post and have my thoughts and reaction to come from the heart and not so much the head. To think of how it can change me in my relationships with the people in my life.

I see this as a valuable lesson, just how much time do I, do you, invest in the people in our lives? Especially our immediate family members. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the daily rut of life. By week's end we have invested the majority of our time in what? Do we miss that precious moment with our kids when they had something really funny happen to them that they want to share but instead we allow the stresses of work, finances, relationship issues with someone else take that from us?

I must be honest and admit that I have invested too much of my time over the years in the wrong "stock"; worry, anger, bitterness, hurt, etc. Of course being an imperfect person I know that I will still allow that to happen in my life on occasion. I am glad to be able to say that even though my flesh, my emotions will win out at times, through God's help I am wiser and invest a lot less in the wrong stock.

We know that if we do not give serious time and attention to finding good financial stock to invest in we will not reap a good return. We cannot expect to do any less to reap a good return in our relationships with the one's we love. We must invest in quality time, attention, love and kindness if we wish to reap a good return.

Still Learning How To Invest,
Rhonda

"Decoration"

2009-05-12T14:03:00.004-05:00

I came to realize after leaving the south when I married my husband and we went off for 20 years of military service, what a unique southern tradition this is.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term as it is used here in the south, it refers to the yearly tradition of putting flowers on the graves of family members and it's done on the same Sunday each year. It is for the majority, done in the spring months of May and June. So now it is a normal site to drive along and see lots of vibrantly colored flowers covering an entire cemetery. Most of the flowers are artificial but there are those very few that are fresh.

Now, growing up here in the deep south I thought that was a normal tradition done across the country. Not until I left Alabama and moved to our first duty station did I learn that it is very much indeed a "peculiarity indigenous to the region" and that it is basically an Alabama/Mississippi and a few spots in Tennessee tradition that I am aware of. (I suspect maybe some of Kentucky as well).

I now see it as the unique and yes, somewhat peculiar tradition that it is. I must admit though that I find the respect, remembrance and loyalty of the act quite refreshing in this era of mostly digital filled contact. I think all of us could learn a few lessons of respect, valuing family ties and personal contact from this intriguing tradition.

Rhonda

Ouch Free

2009-05-08T09:29:00.002-05:00

So, I just recently bought a new pair of earrings and it's the kind that has a post with a spring clip back. I was enjoying wearing them until a couple of days later my right ear was getting really sore. I realized it was the spring clip putting too much pressure on the back of my ear. Well, being one to not accept things just as they are I started trying to "fix it". After realizing that I was not going to get the tension adjusted well enough I decided to try something else. I took the spring clip off the earring and got a silicone back off of one of my other earrings and put it on the post and presto, no more problem!

Now, I know that's not a big issue to deal with but it was one of those little annoyances that was satisfying to solve. It made my day because being the tight-wad, cheap-0, bargain hunter, etc. that I am, I was determined to wear those earrings somehow without pain and not toss them, especially since I had just bought them! :) I see that as one of life's little pleasures! So, I hope you find joy in life's little pleasures as well!

Enjoying,
Rhonda

Homegoing

2009-04-24T12:23:00.002-05:00

I just received an email today from a long-time friend of mine that his mom passed away last night.

As I read his email and he spoke of her and her 93 years of living on this earth I thought how awesome those 93 years were and now in this moment, how quickly they must have passed.

It is a strong reminder of how we must not let the temporary frustrations in life overly consume our thoughts, emotions and time. When you reach that point again sometime in your life that you have lost a loved one will you be saying, "If only I would have, should have, etc." or will you in a bittersweet moment be able to say, "I did, we did, I loved doing this with him/her, etc." Will I when it's my turn again? It is my hearts desire to be able to say "I loved it when..." and my memories are good and that I have not let the world take that which is priceless from me.

Contemplating my priorities (again),
Rhonda

Hangin' On

2009-04-15T16:43:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday night we had a major storm come through our area and at points throughout the night there were 50 mph winds!:o Sitting at our kitchen table that night listening to the wind made me feel a bit like Dorothy in that tornado! :6 We were without electricity the whole night. We woke Monday morning to find 2 of our neighbors trees no longer standing, one is laying on the ground in the front yard and the other one is on their dog kennel, (they currently have no pet, so all is well:) After seeing this I realized I should maybe take a walk around our home and see if our home suffered any damage. I discovered we had shingles from our house laying in our yard and driveway. So, off to the phone I went to inform our insurance agent, feeling blessed that we had no more damage than that. Here it is Wednesday and there are still homes and businesses in our area without electricity. I am thankful for the quick restoration of our service and I have seen even more throughout the week how blessed we are. I have come to find out that our area was the hardest hit in the county we live in. Currently there is still workers from the neighboring states in helping to restore electrical service.

I sit here thankful for divine protection, insurance, sunshine (it's a beautiful day here today) the roof that is patchy but still over my head and that I am still hangin' on!

After the Storm,
Rhonda

Bounce-ability

2009-04-08T10:13:00.002-05:00

I am currently reading a book with that word in it and found it intriguing to think on. Do I have bounce-ability? Do you?

When someone offends/hurts you how long does it take you to bounce back and decide to not let the offense take any more of your time? When it's just been a bad day and "everything that could go wrong, did" do you take it to bed with you and get up with it the next morning? Do you decide instead that it's yesterday's news, it's in the past and unchangeable so today is new and so is my attitude?

I am a big Tigger fan from the Winnie The Pooh stories so I guess it makes sense that I would find the word intriguing, and no, the book I am reading is not a Winnie The Pooh book! :6 The word does just sound fun though!

So I have decided to make this a new word to remember when I find myself getting hurt or angry at something someone has said or done (or not done that I thought they should have). Life is too short and precious to "sweat the small stuff" (an awesome book has that as its title, check it out if you haven't) so I have decided to strengthen my bounce-ability! How about you?

Bouncing Back,
Rhonda

It's In There Somewhere!

2009-04-01T14:17:00.002-05:00

I recently had a conversation with a close friend and we were talking about being at our wits end with some tough situations involving a couple of our immediate family members. After sharing some of the things we were going through she made a funny remark (which is only shared between two friends burning off steam) that sent both of us into hysterical laughing. She then apologized and stated that she shouldn't have said that (I repented of laughing and agreed). She said that sometimes she just had to vent that flesh for just a moment and then she can laugh about the situation. I said yeah, it helps us keep our sanity and she remarked, "Yeah, I'm sure it's in there somewhere!"

I am so thankful to have friends in my life that loves me and prays with me. They get angry in defense of me because they love me. They know when to tell me no when I am saying yes out of frustration to doing something that would be detrimental to a good outcome. So, when you are facing some tough situations in your life and it's really getting you down, frustrated, "driving you nuts" as our society likes to say, call a true friend. Someone that will listen in love and then laugh with you, it will help you find your sanity, because it's in there somewhere!

Keep Laughing,
Rhonda

Are You Serious?

2009-03-16T11:43:00.004-05:00

I recently had a experience with my husband that should have not surprised me, but it did. The reason it caught me by surprise was because I thought in the almost 31 years of marriage to a military man, I had pretty much heard and seen it all.

It happened one day as I was ironing his clothes for him as he was getting ready to go to work. I had just finished up with his shirt when he came into the room and told me that I didn't have to iron his clothes for him anymore because he wanted to start ironing them himself. Now for a lot of you out there that irons clothes for your spouse you may be thinking, wow, that's great, I wish my husband/wife would say that to me! But hold on for a minute, after I tell you the rest of the story you may think otherwise. He continued to tell me that he would prefer to do it himself because I do not do a good enough job with starching them and he will take care of them himself! My first thought was, "I am not putting enough starch in work clothes for a warehouse facility that you tell me constantly has dust, paper fuzz, etc. flying around in the air while you unload mail from a semi-truck? Are you serious??"

I use this incident to make another point of how the military never fully leaves the person. When we first got married and I was that young bride that wanted to be the perfect little housewife and take care of our home like a "Leave It To Beaver" wife from the 50's, I got one of the first of many jolts of reality about being married to the military. (If you're married to a military person, you're married to the military!) He told me one day that I was not properly ironing the creases in his military uniforms, so I told him that I would no longer do them and he could do them from that point on, and he did. Yes, I was young so I did do it in the wrong attitude of being offended which was not the best choice. Another lesson learned :) I did continue to iron his civilian clothes though. So, in reality I should not have been caught of guard when the remark was made about not enough starch.

I have shared all of this not to put my husband in a bad light but in the hopes of saving an argument for someone who is still very much in that never ending learning process of being in the military life, active or retired. You may be married to someone that is not military but sure has the same mindset and this is for you as well. It will, in some form or fashion always be a part of that person to their dying day, literally. So take it from me, chill, cope and concede to that fact and it will help make your life much happier. Now remember, I didn't say become a doormat to their behavior, that's not a healthy relationship. Just realize that there will be things in them that will never change and if it's something that bugs you, for your own benefit, let it go, unless of course it is unhealthy or dangerous, be sure to get help. Most of us truly know that we detail things to death a lot in the relationships that costs us the most emotionally. So learn to pick and choose your battles wisely and determine if it is truly worth the cost.

A Little Less Ironing :)
Rhonda

Did You Know?

2009-03-16T11:33:00.003-05:00

Just the other day I had a DIY moment here in the house and thought I would post some of those DIY tricks I have learned over the years. It's gratifying to be able to handle some of those annoying projects on your own. You may know most of these already but if there's a new one you didn't know, I hope it helps:)

*If you are dealing with a squeaky door and don't have on hand WD40 try using Pam or vegetable oil spray, it works just a well. Be sure to clean up any over spray off the door, walls, etc.

*If you have gotten ink on a fabric, try saturating with hair spray and then washing as you normally do. Be sure to test an area that's hidden first to make sure the hair spray doesn't cause color problems in the fabric.

*If you drop toothpaste into the sink while getting ready to brush your teeth, take the time to spread it around the sink and clean the sink with it, it does a great job!

*Dissolve an aspirin in warm water before adding to fresh cut flowers, it will help them stay fresh longer. Also be sure to cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inches off the end of the stems so they can absorb the water easier.

*Color your own hair? Put a small line petroleum jelly around the hair line on your face and it will keep the color from discoloring your skin.

Keep Doing It Yourself,
Rhonda

Are You B-U-S-Y?

2009-03-09T11:21:00.002-05:00

Of course the answer to that question for the majority of us is, "yes!" It does most definitely apply to me as I sit here in realization of how long it's been since I posted on my blog! The acronym though applies to something much deeper than just being busy.

Back a year or so ago I heard this acronym from the word busy: Burdened Under Satan's Yoke. The irony hit me that day how well that fits the word busy. Even though we all have daily obligations that must be met, how many things do we "fill" our lives with that fits under the "yoke"? I know that I allow too many things in a lot of my days to take precious time that I shouldn't have allowed or at least not have given so much time to. At the end of the day I want to be able to say that for the majority of the time I was given I spent it wisely. I of course struggle to meet that desire but I do try to ask myself during the day, "Am I getting into the wrong kind of BUSY?"

We all have a limited number of days to live and even though I cannot undo the past and get back the hours upon hours I have wasted, I can work to make sure I am not under the busy yoke for the remainder of my days. I hope that as you read this you will do a "B-U-S-Y" check of your own time and clean out the clutter. Of course we all will have times we don't fully accomplish that every day but we just get up and do better the next day!:) I am not saying this is easy, it's not, but at the end of your days you will be able to say I am glad that I didn't stay under the "yoke".

Marriages Wouldn't Fail If......

2009-02-21T19:11:00.004-06:00

"Marriages Wouldn't Fail If Those Who Said "I do"...DID!

I saw this on a church marquee a couple of days ago and my first thought was the relation to it of the many churches in our area showing the movie Fireproof. Before reading on, take a moment to think on that statement. How different would marriages be if that commitment wasn't forgotten or pushed aside for selfish feelings? As the day went on though it occurred to me that the statement should apply to the many areas of our lives.

Just think, if we treated that person that got "our" promotion at work and our boss that gave it to them, with the love and kindness we are commanded to do, how different would things be for us? If you went to that person and said "Congratulations on the promotion. I was really hoping to get it but I didn't. If there is anything I can do to help you and be a blessing to you please just let me know." First of all, in today's society that is a foreign concept and that person won't have a clue of how to process that at first. But if you do it with sincerity of your heart, God will bless you with other options that weren't there for you before. The peace that you would have in "doing the right thing" would allow you to see those other opportunities that maybe you would be blinded to if you allowed resentment to build up in you because you didn't get the thing you felt you deserved. You may not get what you wanted the way you wanted but you will end up with so much more if you allow Him to help you "do the right thing".

If we all worked harder to teach our kids to DO once they said "I will" how much better would this young generation be in doing the right thing? They would stay true to their word once given, they would give the respect to those in positions of authority over them. They wouldn't take that first job and then decide they don't want to do it and just never show up. They would "do the right thing" and tell that employer that they have changed their mind and will not accepting the job instead of leaving them hanging, so to speak. How many employers would have a different perspective of this young generation if that one thing was changed in them? How would it change their behavior in the classroom? How about among their friends, family, girlfriend/boyfriend?

So, to me, even though that statement I saw that day was directed to marriage and the importance of doing once saying "I do", it should cover so much more in our lives.

I hope that we all strive harder to "do the right thing" so that we will be able to truly say "I did!"

Striving,
Rhonda

The Military In The Man

2009-02-09T15:00:00.005-06:00

I should also add to that title the military in the woman:)
My husband and I will be reaching the 31 years of marriage mark in June of this year and a total of 33 years of knowing each other. The one thing that still amazes me is how much of the military is still in him even after being retired for a decade. If you are not familiar with military life it is very regimented and there are no gray areas. Everything is cut and dry, you do something when you are told with no questions asked. Strict discipline everyday is the norm. For this current generation of young people I know this is a foreign a concept for the majority of them. This mindset is an asset and can be a detriment at the same time.

Most people that spend at least 2 enlistments in the military will have the military mindset in them for the rest of their lives. They are excellent workers, they work hard, will work over, will do work that others won't, etc. On the other hand though is the effect it can have on family life. Many military marriages do not survive because of the stress of the jobs involved, separations due to sea duty, overseas duty without their family, and the stringent mindset that is developed in them from the military environment. It is hard for them to have the strictness and discipline of military life in the daily work they are required to do and then just turn that off when they walk into the door of their home with their family.

If you are newly married to someone in the military or you are the one in the military please realize this forming and molding into the military mindset is, and truly will be a part of the rest of your life. Please take heed from a "Salty Dog's" wife to keep this in mind when differences come up in child rearing, decision making and other aspects of your life together. This mindset develops a different point of view like no other influence in your life will. Make a strong effort to remember that your family is your family and not your squadron, platoon, etc. Do not expect your family to behave like military personnel, you are in the military, not them (at least for most military marriages there is only one in the military).

It is my plan to share the lessons I learned about the uniqueness of military life as God puts on my heart to do so. It is my hope that my own experiences will help others (military and non military) learn to work better together as a couple or family and even those that may just work with an active duty or retired military person.

Salute!

Rhonda

Old Friends and Estate Sales

2009-02-05T09:40:00.002-06:00

Now please don't misunderstand me when I use the term old. I do not mean as in "I need my walker please" old. I mean as in we've known each other for many years and even though we don't live close to each other anymore we are still good friends.

This past weekend I went to visit some "old" friends from when we were stationed in Millington, TN (30 minutes from Memphis) while my husband has been on a solo trip recapturing his glory days in the Navy. I stayed at the home of one of them and we had a great girls weekend even with her husband around! :) I have to give him credit though, Saturday night we had 8, yes eight females there having a hen party and he just kept on watching t.v. in the midst of the chaos! He didn't leave, didn't complain, even joined in on some of the joking! So, kudos to Rick!

Before the hen party that evening we had a great day out going to estate sales, eating, and bargain shopping, (like TJ Max, etc.) what more could a girl ask for? Please allow me to encourage you to check out estate sales in your area if you aren't already doing so. It's a great way to find most anything you might be looking for and will save you dollars on buying new and I'm all about that! Be sure to get there when they start because things do go fast! Make plans to go with a friend or friends and make a day of it like we did. It gives you time with your friends away from family obligations, it's a stress reliever and who knows, you might find the bargain of the year! :)

Money Saving Article

2009-01-29T15:40:00.003-06:00

I like to research articles on occasion and found this one which has some good info on saving on medicine prescriptions.It seems that everyone is trying to stretch those pennies as far as possible nowadays so I believe in sharing anything that will help with that! :)

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/10/15/11-simple-ways-to-slash-your-medical-costs/

A Proud Penny Pincher,
Rhonda

Life's Uncertain Eat Dessert First!

2009-01-28T11:37:00.003-06:00

I had a t-shirt many years ago with the Garfield character on it with him sitting in front of a large cake with that saying above his head. I was hooked on Garfield comics for many years and found "his" outlook quite entertaining.
That line came back to my memory over the weekend when my husband and I went to see one of his favorite aunts that suffered a severe stroke just 4 days before Christmas last year.
While we were there even though it appeared that she was answering our questions and acted as if she knew us, it became apparent that all is not as it seems. When my sister-in-law asked her if she knew what her name is, she looked confused and could not answer. My husband's aunt has always been so full of life and we have hilarious quotes in our family that we use all the time that we got from her. It has been so hard to see her in her current state and not knowing to what degree she will recover.
I spoke with her the Saturday before Christmas and she had her stroke the next day, early Sunday morning. Little did I know that would be, at least for now, the last true conversation I would have with her.
I post all of this to say, we do not know what tomorrow holds. Of course we are to conduct ourselves with discipline and some structure but we need to remember that life truly is uncertain and that we do need to "Stop and smell the roses." Through this last visit we had with her it soberly reminded me that because life is uncertain, on occasion, eat dessert first! (Which by the way, she loves!:)

For You Aunt Caroline!

Rhonda

But That's Not What I Planned

2009-01-22T08:23:00.003-06:00

I want to share one of those lessons that I learned on the long road, but let me assure you that the sooner you learn it, the better. Especially if you're a military family and live with a lot of separation or your spouses' job requires a lot of travel.
When we were newly married we spent our first 6 months together and then at the end of that 6 months my husband had to go on his first sea duty det (detachment that was on an aircraft carrier) for 6 months! I got to spend my 1st (yes first!) wedding anniversary without my husband! Needless to say, I did not handle it well, instead of having that joy that you expect on that first anniversary it was a very depressing day for me. Of course we talked on the phone that day but that could not compensate for the separation.
The point I wish to share with you is that yes, we all have ideas and dreams of how we think our marriage and family life is going to be. It is good to have dreams and to expect that you will have respect, love, etc. but do not set yourself up for disappointment with the unrealistic expectations that all your dreams and plans will become reality. When I had dreams of being married it did not, of course, include spending my 1st anniversary without my husband. Jobs, unexpected situations, just life in general will come along and you will have unexpected choices to make. The sooner you learn to be flexible and to adapt and work around the situation instead of being unwilling to bend, the quicker it can be resolved. This will save you much stress over trying to force something to happen a certain way. I have learned that by being adaptable and willing to accept something different from what I planned sometimes even turns out to be better!

Be Willing To Bend,
Rhonda

Coupon Clipper?

2009-01-21T16:25:00.003-06:00

My coupon clipping began back 30 years ago at our first duty station in Jacksonville, Florida. Upon my first visit to the commissary (grocery store) on base I discovered the the world of coupon clipping. In the entry way of the store was a counter top full of coupons from newspapers, boxes of clipped coupons people didn't need that they had left for others and an actual monthly magazine full of nothing but coupons that was published for military only. After checking it all out and grabbing up a few that I could use that day, I was hooked.
A few years later when we were stationed in Millington, TN (which is very close to Memphis)I discovered something else in coupon clipping. While visiting the cities library one day I came upon a note on the community bulletin board about coupon swapping. Twice a month on Wednesday's those that were interested would meet at the library and bring coupons that they did not use and everyone would exchange coupons. It was a great way to get additional coupons that you used often and to meet new people, for us, the new military families in the area. Being a young military family with a tight budget this was, at the time, an added benefit.
So, considering the current economic situation in our country and that some people who have never clipped coupons in their lives are now doing so, consider this an idea to maybe start in your area. It will benefit you as well as others.
Be sure to check out this site for online coupons in addition to your local newspaper, etc.: www.couponmom.com

Happy Clipping,
Rhonda

A Sigh of Relief

2009-01-17T15:39:00.002-06:00

So, I had scheduled my mammogram several weeks before my mom told me that she was going to have surgery on Jan. 5th. My appointment was on the 9th, just five days after her surgery. This would not have been anything to consider ironic except that I was dealing with a health issue myself that could have been a possible "bad news" situation dealing with breast cancer for me as well. After my visit with my doctor it appears to be nothing to be concerned about at this time and I thank God that He has kept me in His peace with this situation.
We have a great tendency to think that the potholes on the road of life is going to be in someone else's lane, but we don't have that guarantee. If you have anyone in your life that you know you need to mend a relationship with, as that famous line goes... "Just Do It!" Don't harbor and feed those hard feelings just to live with regret later and realize that it was not worth it and you missed out on so much joy and peace because you wouldn't let go. One of my husband's favorite lines is "Just suck it up and do it" (one of those military lessons :) Is it easy to swallow your pride and do what you know in your heart is right? Absolutely not! Speaking from personal experience though, when you take that first step out to do it and get it done, in LOVE even if it doesn't turn out the way you expect, it is such a sweet relief. When that burden is lifted off of you because you did the right thing you will be amazed at how much better you will feel.
So, go out and mend those fences! Regardless of how the other person responds, you've done the right thing, so celebrate the freedom of that with your favorite dessert! :)

Winter Warm Ups

2009-01-12T16:31:00.003-06:00

Back several years ago I had a friend share with me some delicious recipes for hot fruit beverages that are great on these cold winter days. I usually make at least one of them and take to my moms' and mother-in-laws' on Christmas day and they are hits.
So I hope that you will try them and pour yourself a large mug full and bundle up on the couch and enjoy!

Savor The Moment,
Rhonda

Apple Cranberry
1+ quart cranberry juice (to taste)
1 can frozen orange juice
2-4 whole cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
48 ounces apple juice

Blend all ingredients together in a large pot and allow to slowly simmer. The taste is tangy so if you would like add a little extra apple juice to sweeten. This can also be made with sugar free juices if your diet requires.

Cherry
46 ounces of cherry juice blend
2 tablespoons sugar
Juice and peel of one lemon (I like to make long strips of the peel so it stays together better)
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves (or less if you're not a big fan of cloves)
1 whole cinnamon stick
1 lemon thinly sliced for garnish (optional)

Combine ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat and allow to slowly simmer and to stay hot.

Reality Check

2009-01-06T18:12:00.002-06:00

Yesterday my mom had surgery for what could have possibly been breast cancer. Thankfully it appears to be just scar tissue from a previous surgery. For my family that was awesome news not just for the fact that it wasn't cancer but that it wasn't cancer...again.
Four years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through several months of painful chemo and radiation treatments and is thankfully still cancer free by yesterday's news we were given!
Cancer has not left us alone though. This past summer my younger sister (five years younger) was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently going through radiation treatments. It has not been an easy road but she is close to being able to say she is done with treatments!
My mother was the first in her family to be diagnosed breast cancer. The doctor diagnosed my mother's as being from her many years of hormone replacement therapy, but my sisters was diagnosed as being genetic. So it is possible that our mother's was as well but that is not certain. Please let this be a reminder to those of you on hormone therapy to research it out and make a more informed decision and not just based on your doctor's recommendation no matter how much you respect him/her.
All of this has been a stark reminder to me to do a reality check of how I am spending my "dash" and I hope that by sharing this in my post that it will do the same for you, the readers and those that you love.

Living In The Dash,
Rhonda

New Day/New Year

2009-01-01T09:29:00.002-06:00

On this first day of the new year I want to wish everyone love and joy in your life. Don't let the busyness of life wrap you up so tight that at the end of this year you sit and wonder what you spent all your time on. Purpose in your heart and mind to spend time on the people in your life, on things that makes a positive difference in the world. Yes, work is required to pay the bills but just make sure it doesn't consume all of your time and cause you lose out on time with the people in your life. When we are coming to the end of our "dash" the jobs we had and the money we did or did not have will not be what we contemplate on, it will be the people we love, the ones that loves us and our relationship with God that will matter. It takes much effort in this fast paced world we live in to keep that balance but it is totally worth the effort. Go to someone in your life that would be great at helping to remind you to keep the important things first and ask them to help you do so.
Relationships are like living things, if you don't feed them they die. Do what works to remind you to "feed" them with your time and emotions.

Happy New Year,
Rhonda

Holidays/New Year

2008-12-30T08:45:00.003-06:00

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and didn't gain too much weight!:)
Christmas day is very busy for us since we visit both sides of parents and even though we have a good time I must admit that I feel we need a change from the craziness of it. We are considering for the upcoming year to maybe go somewhere special for Christmas before our daughter gets out of college and really off on her own road out into the world.
I must say that I am not big on New Year resolutions. I do believe in making the effort to make positive changes in my life but I don't like to overload myself with a long list of resolutions that will just disappoint me because it will be impossible to do. So I say if you are one of those that overloads yourself with an impossible resolution list try backing off a little on that and enjoy what you do accomplish in the coming year and stop being so hard on yourself. Don't miss valuable moments with family and friends because you are too focused on a list.
My bargain tidbit if you have any money left from Christmas is that it's a great time to shop at Bath and Body (one of my favorite stores!)and other chain stores. They have their year end sales going on to clear out leftover merchandise from Christmas and are getting ready for the new merchandise to come in. Be sure to sign up for emails from the stores as well because you will get good online only offers that include free shipping a lot of times. The emails also include coupons on occasion that can be used online or in the stores. I love a bargain!

A Winter Favorite

2008-12-23T15:44:00.002-06:00

The first time we were stationed in California I made friends with a girl from the midwest and she shared with me her favorite banana bread recipe. That was 26 years ago :0 and we still use that recipe because it's the best we've tried. I thought I would share the recipe because it's great for a breakfast bread or just to snack on. I hope those that try it enjoy it as much as we do.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:
3 large very ripe bananas, mash into a pulp
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted (be sure to use butter, the taste is so much better)
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt (like an 1/8th of a teaspoon)
1 cup nuts (we like walnuts for this)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease sides and bottom of bread pan.
Mix all ingredients but flour and nuts together well. Slowly mix in flour with mixer until well blended. Stir in nuts. Pour into greased pan and bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes depending on oven. Enjoy!

Where Did The Time Go?

2008-12-19T16:50:00.002-06:00

Today is my daughters 22nd birthday and I sit here wondering where all those years went. She jokingly sent me a text at 3a.m. this morning to "remind" me of the fact that I was in labor 22 years ago today, as if a woman who had natural child birth would ever need a reminder of that! :) My reply to her was; "Actually I was in labor with you on the 18th and it took you until the 19th to get here, so since the very beginning you have been running late! Which even though funny stands as a truth to this day.
Those of you that have young kids please take the time to de-stress and just sit and spend time with them. If you have a major talker as my daughter has always been, the babbling will test your patience skills but don't look at it from that perspective. Soak up the moment that your child enjoys being with you and sharing all those goofy, silly thoughts in his or her head that comes from their innocence. Even if your kids are older don't let the things that won't matter this time next year cause you to miss an opportunity to spend time with them. As a mom who sits here shaking her head in wonderment of how fast all those precious years flew by I can tell you that you won't regret it.

How Do You Live Your Dash?

2008-12-18T18:00:00.002-06:00

In writing this blog I hope to remind others and myself about the importance of slowing down in the rat race world we live in. Time truly does fly and it's so important to remember that the people in our lives are the most important part of our lives.
Several years ago at a one day conference for women I was given a pamphlet that has the following short story on it. It has been a constant reminder to me of how short life really is and helps me to keep things in balance (at least most of the time :) I hope it will do the same for you.

How Do You Live Your Dash?
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone as being from the beginning..to the end. He noted that first came her date of birth, the beginning, and spoke of the date with tears, then of the second date, sadly the end but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth..and only those who loved her know what that little line is worth. For it matters not how much we own; cars, house, cash. What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash. So think long and hard, are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.
Slow down enough to consider what's true and real. Be less quick to anger and love the people in our lives like we've never done before. Treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile...Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while. So, when your eulogy's being read, with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?