It has been a couple of years since I wrote my first 100 Things, so I think it is time to try to update it.

OOPS! I WROTE MY NUMBERS WRONG. I tried to fix the mistake, but for some reason my retyping just wanted to delete instead of fix, so I wrote my 20's twice, which actually makes my list longer than 100. That's what I get for not editing like I should have.

1. I'm two years older!
2. That means I'm still breathing!
3. That is a definite plus!
4. My yuccas keep multiplying.
5. I wish I had planted many varieties of trees years ago, so I would have all colors of leaves this fall.
6. Being a Grammy is so satisfying.
7. I love my husband more each day.
8. January 20th will be our 40th wedding anniversary.
9. I have several "Best" friends.
10.I would be very sad without friends.
11.Two of my daughters hope to eventually move closer to us.
12.Family is so important.
13.I feel sorry for families who cannot get together without a fight occurring.
14.God keeps me sane.
15.Why do other countries hate us so much?
16.An elderly lady died in the ER night before last while I was volunteering.
17.My husband is afraid of how I would feel if a friend of mine was brought into the ER and died.
18.My husband cares about my feelings.
19.He's disabled, yet he worries about me, not himself.
20.It wasn't always like that, but people change with time and circumstances.
21.I don't understand why some of my mother's grandchildren don't make an effort to see her or communicate with her.
22.For most of my nieces and nephews, she's the only grandparent they have.
23.My mom gets excited when she hears from my children or receives a card or pictures in the mail.
24.I miss being at school sometimes, but not all the time.
25.Being retired is nice.
26.I love the cooler weather, if you can consider in the 80's cooler.
27.I want to explore the United States before going to another country.
28.I would love to see the fall in the northeast.
29.That's right, I'm retired. Maybe I can!
30.The places I want to visit?
21.San Francisco
22.Seattle, where our son lives.
23.Mount Rushmore
24.A balloon ride over Napa Valley.
25.Las Vegas
26.Chicago
27.New York City
28.Boston
29.Washington DC
30.Disney World
31.Savannah, Georgia
32.The New Aquarium in Atlanta
33.The Grand Old Opry in Nashville
34.Oh, just give me a motor home and I'll see it all.
35.I wish I had a twitching nose like Samantha the Witch.
36.House cleaning would be a breeze.
37.One's real life begins with grandchildren.
38.I'm beginning to like myself after all.
39.I wish kids of today wouldn't rely on so many technical gadgets.
40.I think our progress in technology has made us go backwards.
41.Don't forget to get your flu shots.
42.It's estimated 36,000 people could die from the flu this year.
43.How long has it been since you called your mom to say, "I Love You?"
44.I'm so glad my mom is still living and is pretty healthy.
45.100 things is a lot, isn't it?
46.Things I hope I NEVER do!
47.Skydive
48.Climb a mountain
49.Go on a roller coaster
50.Go on a boat into the ocean
51.Vacation overseas
52.Be locked up in a cell
53.Get a traffic ticket
54.Get lost in a big city
55.Live in a city again!
56.Be seen naked on the internet
57.Out live my children
58.Things I hope to do someday.
59.Meet Oprah
60.Be on The View
61.Have a gallery show with my photos
62.See my cards in stores across Texas
63.Have time to do more paintings
64.See all my dear friends have financial success
65.See all of my grandchildren grow to be adults
66.Write children's books
67.Be financially secure
68.Be a foster mom
69.Spend more time with my mom
70.See a world with no wars
71.Have a heart to heart with President Bush
72.See a woman President
73.See tougher laws for child molesters, women abusers
74.See our young ladies have more modesty in their choice of clothing
75.See young men without their underwear showing
76.See showing respect taught to the young by their parents
77.See parents take responsibility for their children's actions
78.Hear clean language from adults and children
79.See clean tv shows and movies
80.Put God into everyone's heart
81.Be concerned about other people
82.If someone has fallen, pick them up
83.If someone is hungry, feed them
84.If someone is sad, wipe their tears
85.If someone speaks, listen with an open heart
86.Don't blame a whole race for one's negative behavior
87.If you are healthy, work
88.Mentor
89.Volunteer
90.Hate begets more hate
91.Kind words will start a path of goodwill
92.A smile is contagious
93.Children are smarter than you think
94.The first five years are the most important
95.Don't neglect a child
96.You want a kind child? Be a kind parent!
97.Before you blame anyone else, first look into a mirror
98.You are stronger than you think
99.Abortion is killing our future sent to us by God
100.Now I have all the above to live up to. I better get busy, how about you?



Karen

Ah, to sleep in my own bed. So why am I not in it right now? I'm not really sure, except trying to play catch-up on the internet. Spending several days with the grandchildren puts a person in sort-of-a-time-warp. Every moment is geared towards the kids and the world is put on hold, which isn't such a bad thing to happen.

But boy, with two still in diapers, there sure were a lot of poopie diapers Not really my favorite thing to do, change them, but a necessity.

Our Charlie will be going back home on Saturday. I left my daughter's early so I could do my volunteering at the ER at our local hospital. We weren't too busy with patients, but I always find things that need to be done.

My husband has a doctor's appointment this afternoon in Austin, which is a little over an hour away from us, then we will pick our daughter up from the airport. She is flying in to pick up Charlie and will fly back out tomorrow evening. She and husband went to Mexico on a little vacation.

I have so much to do before Thanksgiving. Oh where to begin ? Sometimes starting in the middle and working one's way out is always a fun way to take on major projects. Now if I can just figure out where the middle is, then it might be a little easier.

I think if I can unclutter to the point my kids will be able to have a place to sleep and to eat our Thanksgiving dinner, then I think I will have it made. I have so many of my creative things going on for a craft show on the first Sunday of November, I'm not sure how to put things up without losing sight of them.

I sometimes wish I was the analytical type, like my kids. Very straight forward and no creative things in their heads or in their houses to clutter either one. Uncluttering my head sounds like a good idea. Now where to begin? If my head gets uncluttered, then maybe my house would be also.

Clutter here
Clutter there
Clutter, clutter
Everywhere!
In my house
In my head
A pet mouse
An unmade bed.
Things to make
Things to do
Things to bake
Sorting shoes.
Ribbons, glue
Cardstock, tape
Fabric of blue
Every surface draped.
Disappearing floor
Counters too
Never a bore
Creating anew!

What a terrible poem, but being so early in the morning, my creative brain is too cluttered to do justice to the poetic art of verse. SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karen

Okay, it's an exciting day for us today and I couldn't sleep last night, so finally got up and took the time visiting some of my fellow Streamers and meeting some new ones and now it is 7 here and time to hop into the shower and drive the 30 Miles to see our grandchildren.

OH YES! Charlie we haven't seen for several months and him not even two yet, has grown leaps and bounds, physically and mentally. A whole week with Charlie and the other grandchildren, Jordyn and Landon. LIFE JUST CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT, Oh, until March that is, when grandchild number 4 is born. Our family has been so blessed to have healthy children.

Everyone have a wonderful day and now time to get ready to help prepare for Jordyn's 6th birthday party. OOH, even a pinata! LIFE IS SWEET.

LOVE Y'ALL AND GOD BLESS!
KAREN

AKA

GRAMMY

Our 20 month old grandson was staying with us on Sunday and we planned on him spending the night, but things didn't quite work out the way we had planned.

He started to vomit right after he and I had taken a short nap. Oh what a mess. It just wouldn't stop. Reminded me of the days my own kids would get sick. All over the house, all over me and of course all over him.

I called my daughter, who lives in another town 30 miles away. She came and we took him to the Emergency Room. Since I volunteer in ER, they were surprised to see me as a civilian. They were all so great.

The first round of meds as a suppository didn't work, so he had to have an IV, blood taken and a stomach x-ray. He was so brave. He cried a little, but then became entranced with the machine's lights and beeping sound, plus he felt so bad, I think he just had no energy to fight back.

Finally, after 5 1/2 hours in ER, we got to take him to his home. I stayed there all this week to make sure no one else came down with this very aggressive virus. Well, his daddy came down with it in the night, Mom later on Monday, big sister on Tuesday at school and I got a little touch of it yesterday morning. I'm sure my flu shot helped me out a lot.

So I was the last one standing for awhile and so glad I was there. I will be spending next week also at their house to help to take care of my two grandchildren plus my youngest grandson, 2 weeks younger than Landon. I guess God just was putting me through my paces to get me warmed up for next week.

My daughter had to disinfect everything. My granddaughter's 6th birthday is tomorrow and her party is Saturday at their house. I certainly pray everyone will be virus free.

With my husband's health issues, I certainly didn't want to come back home and give it to him, but unfortunately it was already infected here at our house. Luckily Chuck hasn't come down with it, but his sister who lives with us had it while I was gone. Chuck too had his flu shot.

Moral of this story. Flu shots also help in other areas of viruses. I have found this out throughout the years working at school. So many of my co workers would come down with the virus, but I didn't.

HAVE YOU HAD YOUR FLU SHOT????????? I would very highly recommend it!

Blessings to each and evey one of you! Karen

A LOT GOING ON IN MY LIFE, SO HARD TO FIND THE TIME FOR BLOGGING.

I have been going to bed at a very reasonable hour and actually sleeping all night. WOW!

Tomorrow I'm photographing a friend's daughter's wedding.

Last Saturday I was a wedding gift from one of my friends for her childhood friend. It was my favorite photo job to date. Out in the country at the bride's parent's weekend home with a pond. The bride was beautiful (is there any other kind?), the groom in his uniform. He will probably be going back to Iraq anytime now. I know the feeling the bride has. I went through the same thing with my husband during the Viet Nam war.

It's bedtime, so I had better get some sleep Photographing a wedding is very tiring, physically and emotionally.

Goodnight and I pray all of my fellow Streamers have a Blessed weekend.

Love y'all,
Karen