Pictures from Vacation… Part 1

Posted on by

I know, Life is a MESS here…. SCANDAL after SCANDAL…  I’m trying to ignore all that because I don’t believe a word that comes out of the White House these days… but that’s just me & my personal opinion.

1. IRS targeting conservatives….. No kidding… and they “pretend” it wasn’t political HA!  No One claims Responsibility and oddly enough… no one knew anything about it… (I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it was anyone, not just groups, that disagreed with Obama’s policies.

2. Fast and Furious gun running to Mexico and investigation of our own DOJ, but of course THEY aren’t guilty of anything and they didn’t know anything either…

3. The collection of the AP emails by the DOJ, personal and business, phone calls- personal and business to supposedly find a “LEAK” (Ha, like they haven’t leaked TONS of information themselves) and now they are trying to make a case against Fox News Reporters… (They have hated Fox News from day ONE… but I’m sure that THAT wasn’t anything personal or on purpose – ‘said sarcastically’.

4. Intimidation and threats of repercussions of any witnesses or whistle blowers in in of the above cases, but the guilty ones are NOT FIRED, just moved around to a different job title.

5. I’m sure there are more… but I don’t have time to think of them.. (I’d be here all night…lol)

IMG_4284

IMG_4353

IMG_4286

IMG_4367

IMG_4902

IMG_5046

IMG_5025

IMG_4906

IMG_4951

IMG_4945

IMG_4301

IMG_4287

IMG_4625I’ll post more pictures over the next few days of the Beach, the Underground Caverns, Random shots taken along the way, & shots from some of the State Parks we hiked through. Hope you enjoy looking….

 

Moore Oklahoma… We Love You!

Posted on by
People can say any and all things they wish about Americans, but when we have a tragedy. (like this Tornado devastation)…. We come together and give what we can! We ARE one America then. 
Praying for everyone affected by the storms in Moore, Oklahoma and all the other towns touched by this devastation. A FaceBook page where you can help match lost dogs, cats, horses, etc. with their owners, check here: Oklahoma Pets
How you can help: Mercury One’s disaster relief fund is taking donations to assist those impacted by today’s devastating storms. 100% of donations will go to the victims of the tornadoes that devastated the midwest yesterday. Donate here:

All Pictures And Information Taken from “The Blaze” http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/21/41-pictures-of-the-jaw-dropping-destruction-in-oklahoma/

Inline image 1
Brennan Linsley/AP

An American flag blows in the wind at sunrise atop the rubble of a destroyed home a day after a tornado moved through Moore, Okla., Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The monstrous tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph.
 
Inline image 1
Brett Deering/Getty Images
 
MOORE, OK- MAY 20: Flipped vehicles are piled up outside the heavily damaged Moore Medical Center after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people.
 
 
Inline image 2
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Moore police dig through the rubble of the Plaza Towers Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as half a mile (.8 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school.
 
 
 
Inline image 3
Sue Ogrocki/AP
A boy is pulled from beneath a collapsed wall at the Plaza Towers Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013.
 
 
Inline image 4
Sue Ogrocki/AP
A child calls to his father after being pulled from the rubble of the Tower Plaza Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire
 
 
 
Inline image 5
Sue Ogrocki/AP

A child is pulled from the rubble of the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla., and passed along to rescuers Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school.
 
 
 
Inline image 6
Steve Sisney/AP

Rescuers recover a horse from the remains of a day care center and destroyed barns, Monday, May 20, 2013 in Moore, Okla. A monstrous tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school.
 
Inline image 7
Brett Deering/Getty Images
MOORE, OK – MAY 20: Massive piles of debris cover the ground after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people.

Pain of Life

Posted on by
Art by Arthur Rackham

Art by Arthur Rackham

http://rackham.artsycraftsy.com/

http://www.art.com/gallery/id–a9331-d207226/arthur-rackham-posters_p6.htm

Pain of Life

The deep pain of life,
lies unseen
behind shadows;
felt, but untouched,
engulfed by tears.
Thoughts become clouded
and Promises broken,
enchanted Seclusion
illuminates Fears.
Dreams become tangled,
illusions unfolding,
bewildered Ambitions
burning deep within souls.
Words lie forgotten
on breaths of Frustration,
with passionless Anger,
reminiscent and bold.
Integrity’s lost in the
hush of the darkness,
as laughter lay dying
a prophecy’s foretold.

© Kathryn Elizabeth Green
All Rights Reserved 2013

Art by Arthur Rackham Check out the links to his Art.

Art by Arthur Rackham
Check out the links to his Art.

I’m back… I finally answered the Awards questions & Nominated a ton of blogs. See if yours is one of those!

Posted on by

As some of you may know, I decided to run away from home last week and went on a short vacation without computer or TV.  LOL  Some might say I “ate” my way through my vacation, cuz I love seafood of all types and got to eat several different types of food that I usually don’t eat around here.  I visited 3 or 4 different state parks and naturally drug my camera along. Haven’t had time to  size most of the pictures yet, but will be posting some in the next few days. (Just a few, lol, I promise not to post all of them…LOL)  I will warn you, I do seem to take pictures of things I find fascinating, but a lot of other people just wonder why I chose what I did.

I’ve owed several of my friends a response for the wonderful awards they have given me lately and I just haven’t had time to respond to.

***********

I am very honored to accept the WordPress Family Award and would like to thank Chelsea-The Jenny Mac Book Blog for thinking of me! Please check out her blog here: http://thejennymacbookblog.wordpress.com

wordpress-family-award Rules :

1. Display the award logo on your blog.  

2. Link back to the person who nominated you. 

3. Nominate 10 others you see as having an impact on your WordPress experience and family.                                            

4. Let your 10 Family members know you have awarded them. 

5. Please try to pick 10 people who have taken you as a friend, and spread the love.
 
Nominees:

Remember these are not in any special order and actually, I’d like to nominate everyone, but if at the bottom of the page you find your name is missing… Please just add it.  It only means I ran out of time and space.

**********

I’d like to thank Willowdot21 for her amazing patience with me in waiting on my responses for these  FOUR Awards! Obviously, I’m VERY behind in doing, but it is a true honor to be nominated. Please visit her very cool blog at: Willowdot21 - http://willowdot21.wordpress.com I think you will really enjoy it!

liebster Award

ANDfirstbestmomentawardwinTHE RULES ARE:

1-Say 11 things about yourself.

2-Answer 11 questions that are asked by the blogger who nominated you.

3-Award 11 people, while creating 11 questions.

4 Notify all nominees on their blog

“ELEVEN THINGS ABOUT ME” 

1. I’m a middle child

2. I’m trying to take care of my mother who had a stroke & brain surgery since Christmas and I have a new respect for TAXI drivers… LOL

3. I will tell you, it’s REALLY difficult to take care of one’s parents when they begin having health problems that accompany age.

4. I have a really sweet little dog that just wandered up one day looking pitiful… yep, I tried to find his home, but he had been so abused that I just kept him since no one was apparently looking for him.

5. I play “fetch” with my little cat Anna, using the caps off water bottles.

6. I’m totally frustrated with the “untruths” coming out of my Government. I’m sure the aren’t the first to be so, but when the misleading is so blatant and the cover-up still continues.

7. I have 2 cats… One inside, one outside.

8. I have 2 brilliant, grown children1 :D (nope, not bragging, just saying..LOL)

9. I bought a “new to me” car about a month ago and I LOVE it!  (It gets better gas mileage too but it isn’t one of those tiny, moving match box cars.

10.  My brother tied me to a tree in the back yard when I was little and we were playing cow boys and Indians. I was the Indian!  Now I can understand how the scalping came about (kidding) cuz my brother left me there and went off to play at someone else’s house.

11. I do have a strong Faith, but I do not ever try to push it on someone else. But I don’t want them to push their’s on me either. And I’d REALLY rather not be “a target” because I have my own personal thoughts and ideas concerning that.

Nominees are: 

1. http://dlightblog.wordpress.com

2. http://beartales.me/

3.http://russelrayphotos2.com

4. http://www.searchingforthehappiness.com/

5. http://lignumdraco.wordpress.com/

6. http://pjb1943.wordpress.com/

7. http://freepennypress.wordpress.com/

8. http://foreverpoetic.me/

9. http://serialoutlet.wordpress.com/

10. http://karenkubicko.wordpress.com/

11. http://euzicasa.wordpress.com/

interesting-blog-award

There are of course on blogs as in life….. rules. They are pretty much the same for all I think…

  1.  Thank the person who nominated you
  2.  List 5 random facts about yourself
  3.  Nominate a minimum of 5 blogs for the award
  4.  Ask the nominees 5 questions of your choice
  5. Notify all nominees on their blog (which I probably won’t do since it would take me forever. Sorry….

5 Random facts about Me

1. I really have a problem trying to deal with LAZY people. (The ones who CAN do but DON’T because it’s easier or they have no inner incentive or personal RESPONSIBILITY.

2. I sometimes write poetry when I have time, but I also love taking pictures and hope to one day learn how to do the stuff some of my friends do with their photos.

3. I’ve lived in the South all my life and LOVE it…. even when it’s HOT. :D

4. Some of my favorite memories are from when I lived on an Island. :D (Obviously, I wasn’t by myself, but I love being around the ocean)

5. I collect American Indian jewelry, especially the silver and turquoise.

5 Questions of MY choice to you….

1. What part of the World do you live in?

2. Would you clone yourself if you could?

3. What is your worst fault?

4. What drives you crazy? (Good crazy or bad crazy)

5. Do you prefer children (if you have any) or pets? (And don’t say it depends on the day…LOL)

super-sweet-blogging-award21w6451

The RULES for this award are:

1 Thank the person who nominated you

2. Answer five super sweet questions

3. Include the Super Sweet Blogging award image in your blog post

4. Nominate a baker’s dozen (13) other bloggers (13… oh my goodness…LOL)

5. Notify your nominees on their blog (Hey y’all, I nominated a bunch of ya..LOL)

The 5 sweet questions:  Insert your own answers if you want to.

Cookies or Cake?   Both

Chocolate or Vanilla Milkshake: Chocolate, most definitely :D

Favorite Sweet Treat?  Do I really have to pick just ONE? Chocolate Fudge

When do you crave sweet things the most?  When I’m tired, hungry or stressed. Let’s just say I probably wouldn’t ever turn one down no matter when it was offered.

Sweet Nick Name? I don’t believe I have one unless they use it when I’m not around…LOL and then it probably isn’t so sweet. :D

Nominees:

**********************

dragonsloyaltyaward

I’ve received the Dragon’s Loyalty Award nomination from my dear friend of several years, Carmen :D , at her amazing blog,  Thank you Carmen for your long standing friendship over the years and always supporting my blog. I hope you,and others, actually enjoy my blog! PS.  You always have such fantastic pictures! I’d love for you to stop by for a visit on her blog at: Carmen http://carmenisabelgonzalez.wordpress.com

 Rules for The Dragon’s Loyalty Award

1) Display the  Award Certificate on your website.
2) Announce your win with a written post and link to whoever presented your award.
3) Present 15 awards to deserving bloggers. (15???  Are you kidding me? LOL  I’ll be here all night)
4) Drop them a comment to tip them off after you have liked them in the post.
5) Post 7 interesting things about yourself.

The “Fabulous” Seven

1. My personal time is very limited due to “stuff” I have to do (chosen really I guess) for others.

2. Sushi is one of my very favorite foods.

3. I would always eat my dessert before my meal if allowed, just to be sure I had the joy of having it)  :D

4. I really need to start back on my P90X so I’ll look ok at my daughter’s wedding.

5. My sister and I sound so much alike on the phone that most people (sometimes even our mother) can’t tell us apart.

6. I have ADHD.  You probably noticed already LOL.

7. My little grand-daughter is 8 now. Boy they grow up quickly…

Now personally, I don’t like this part cuz I hate to leave people out but I do get tired of copying and pasting all the addresses and my time is so limited. I always feel like I’ve left someone off my lists but everyone I follow has a wonderful blog.  It really is an honor to have people like/enjoy the things I post, and I know most of these Awards have made the rounds a couple of times, but I’ll try to think of different answers and recommend different blogs this time. LOL  Seriously, anyone taking the time to read this can consider themselves recipients of these awards also.

More Deserving Bloggers

I would like to nominate everyone, but I can’t so , remember no pressure on the the rules!

If you are nominated and you would rather not, or don’t  have time, (I know many are very busy) to respond on your own blog, that’s fine… no pressure!

Senate Passes Internet Sales Tax

Posted on by
Won’t be able to be back here for several days so posting news that might affect everyone…
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/kevinglass/2013/05/06/senate-passes-internet-sales-tax-n1588906

(Article from townhall.com, written by Kevin Glass, 5-6-2014)

Senate Passes Internet Sales Tax

Kevin Glass | May 06, 2013

Kevin Glass
The so-called “Marketplace Fairness Act” passed the Senate today on a 69-27 vote, meaning that businesses with more than $1 million in sales will be subjected to tax collection laws no matter where they’re located in the United States. The bill would give state governments the blessing to collect tax on retailers across state lines. Andrew Moylan of the R Street Institute ran down some of the major problems with the bill and detailed some of the straw men arguments used by the tax legislation’s proponents:

MFA would close a tax “loophole” - Supporters often say that the MFA exists to close a 20-year old “Internet loophole,” to stop government from “picking winners and losers” among different types of retail businesses. But there is no loophole and government isn’t attempting to advantage one type of business over another. The 1992 Supreme Court decision Quill v. North Dakota is what established current law, which says that a state can only force a business to collect its sales tax if it is physically present within its borders. That’s the law for online and traditional retailers alike.Some, like Walmart, chose a business model that included a physical retail storefront in every state and they’ve benefited handsomely from their ubiquity and uniform shopping experience. Some, like Overstock.com, have chosen a business model that (generally) included a web interface instead of a physical store, with a handful of warehouses across the country to facilitate shipping to consumers. It should be incumbent upon legislators to treat them consistently under existing rules, NOT to equalize their tax burdens at the end of the day…. MFA’s $1 million small seller exception means only big businesses will have to comply – Another whopper MFA supporters tell is that only really big businesses will have to comply with its mandates since they included a $1 million small seller exception. But if you do some back-of-the-envelope math, the claim falls apart rather quickly. Industry data says that the specialty retail sector (which includes businesses like Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Amazon) enjoys an average net profit margin of just 2.1%, while catalog and mail order retailers (which include eBay and Overstock) average 1.7%. For those of you not quick with a calculator, that means that the average such entity would have only $21,000 and $17,000 left over, respectively, after accounting for all the costs of doing business on $1 million worth of sales. Does a business with $17,000 in profit at the end of the year sound big enough to easily comply with 9,600 taxing jurisdictions across the country?

The internet sales tax bill split some online retailers down the middle, with Amazon supporting the bill and eBay lobbying against it. Amazon is the country’s largest online retailer – and since their infrastructure exists in almost every state already, they’re already subject to a lot of same-state sales taxes. The legislation will now go to the House of Representatives, where anti-tax proponents are more hopeful that the more conservative majority will be able to either delay and fix the bill or kill it altogether.

**********
Picture taken last yr. on vacation.

Picture taken last yr. on vacation.

Update on JESSICA

Posted on by

Jessica

I’m just posting an update about my daughter’s friend Jessica. I’ve posted about her before, but if anyone can spare a prayer or wishes to donate I’m sure they would really appreciate it.  I just can’t imagine being in her mother’s place.  She is only 2 years older than my daughter, but she is married with two beautiful young children…. (my daughter was in school for forever)

If you would like to DONATE by any chance, just click the link to the DONATION page.  May you all be blessed …. Thank you!

http://getbetterjess.blogspot.com/2013/05/behind-every-door-there-is-story.html?spref=fb

Jessica has been diagnosed with cancer. Currently she is planning to head to MD Anderson in Houston Texas to kick cancer’s butt! This blog is to help keep you informed about her journey.

 

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Behind Every Door There is a Story

 
After several hours in the ER on the first night the nurse popped her head in the room and said, “Well we finally have a room for you but admissions asked if you would mind a room without a bathroom.”  Jessica face looked horrified.  “Mom they are sticking us in a closet!  You have to go check things out.”  (You can imagine Jessica’s panic at the thought of room without a mirror to get ready by.)  I went in search of our room and found a beautiful clean comfortable space that was open and would serve our needs well.   And so, Jessica was moved.

We were placed on the Leukemia cancer floor as it was the only available room in all the hospital.  With that comes great standards of cleanliness and a sterile environment protocol (which includes not having a personal bathroom in the room).  We have to wear these adorable stylish blue plastic booties on our shoes and are not allowed to carry anything out of our rooms.  We even have to spray the wheels of the beds or equipment that is rolled onto the ward.   Still our time on this floor has been comfortable and we have enjoyed our nurses.  We have learned a lot here about cancer and the people that are affected by it.  Recently, Jessica remarked, “Behind every door there is a story and a person whose life has been forever changed.”
Behind our door our journey has begun to unfold. Our lives, Jessica’s life and her family’s life have been changed forever.  This is her story.  The doctors here have confirmed that Jessica does have a form of renal cell kidney cancer; but, they have, as of yet, to identify which kind. While we don’t have a name for it, we do have a plan of action to fight it.  We have found through CT scans that Jessica’s cancer is very advanced, aggressive and has metastasized throughout her body. This means the cancer is in and on her bones from the top of skull to her hips in multiple locations.  Unfortunately, there is no cure for this kind of cancer; and, at this time, there is no promising clinical trials.
We have been told the life expectancy is at the most four to ten years; but, because, Jessica’s cancer is very advanced the doctor has advised us to anticipate at the very most four years.   For us, now more than ever, we value every day.   We are claiming days, minutes and moments of joy.  And, we are also claiming hope and victory of a miraculous healing.  We are not giving up. This is not the end of the story!
We will work with great diligence and hope toward partial remission and in the meantime pray for and seek out a future cure.  Jessica will manage symptoms with a variety of pain regimes, physical therapy, diet, counseling and constant contact with her oncology team at MD Anderson. She will also be taking 10-16 days of radiation and weekly chemotherapy. We believe most of this in the near future can be done in Atlanta.  On occasion she will return to MD Anderson for scans, check-ups and adjustments to medications. 
Our story is NOT over.  In fact, we are simply starting a new chapter.  We look forward to making more memories; taking more pictures; and, holding each other’s hands during the hard times.  We look forward to finding a cure and supporting cancer research and treatment everywhere.  We are anticipating and looking for the healing God has for Jessica, whatever it might be.  We look forward to hugging our children more, slowing down and doing things we never gave ourselves time to do.  AND, we ask you to do the same!  Slow down! Make time first for Christ, second for your family, third for others and lastly even for yourself.  And when God nudges you, knock on someone’s door and ask them to tell you their story, tell them yours; because behind every door there is a story that needs to be told!

Thank you for being part of our story.  

 
Love,
The Newsome and Crowe Families
 
P.S.    From Chad – We want to thank everybody for donating to the fundraiser!  It far exceeded my expectations.   Again, I was blown away by your generosity.  Several people have asked how they could continue to donate and support Jessica during this time. So, I have set up a new donation button.  Using this button you can make a contribution to help Jessica and her family fight this disease.  Also note, you can make a reoccurring donation through this button as well. We are not giving up!!!
 

Reflections

Posted on by
Image from Indulgy.com ~ photographer/model not listed

Image from Indulgy.com ~ photographer/model not listed
 
Reflections 
Body cleansed
old pains perched
precariously on edge.
Lost in the darkness,
Perspective sits quietly,
immersed in the smell of Death.
Boxed up Disappointment and Dreams
abolish all Hope of future Success.
Shattered innocence,
anger, self imposed restrictions,
questions of religion,
the distant Light.
Alone in the crowd, transparent,
neglected, forgotten,
Death casts a brief glance,
as struggles penetrate the weary soul.
Impassive, masked faces
come and go, unknown.
Mischievous blue eyes,
soft warm arms,
the finder of lost things,
now keeper of my heart.
Whispers breathy secrets.
that Faith isn’t dead,
Inner calms are restored,
the path of Life has been revived.
An intimate version of self,
slightly revised,
abundantly alive
filled with the love Perspective’s searching for.
 
©  Kathryn Elizabeth Green
All Rights Reserved

Artist ~ Tzviatko Kinchev

Artist ~ Tzviatko Kinchev

https://www.facebook.com/tzviatko.kinchev

http://artfashionandshoes.blogspot.com/2012/08/tzviatko-kinchev.html  http://drawasamaniac.com/2012/12/the-amazing-art-of-tzviatko-kinchev.html  http://somethingsarebeautiful.blogspot.com/2012/05/tzviatko-kinchev.html

*****
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

~ Albert Einstein

*****

That deep emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.  ~ Albert Einstein

******

Dont waste life

Its Friday