Random Sunday

It's Sunday Morning in Charleston, The sun is as confused as I am some days. It can't decided if it is coming out or staying in. Everytime I think it has made up it's mind it goes behind a cloud and peeks out at me, laughing.  I need it to come out, I am short on the vitamin C and at one point I heard that the sun's rays cheer you up. That, the experts say, is why you always feel cheerful on a sunny day as opposed to feeling cheerful on a rainy day.

Me? I have to  always be difficult, I have the audacity to feel cheerful on both days. Shame on me. 

This is my first spring in Charleston. The air is clean after yesterdays rain, it was a magnificent  storm in old world terms. Wind. Rain. thunder. I could in my minds eyes see the ships off Sullivans island tossing in the waves. The kind of rain God uses to clean the air and start us over again. This morning you can feel the crispness in the air. My computer tells me the temp outside my door is 67 degrees,   Natasha  and I lay in her room this morning listening to the birds talking to each other, Tasha wondered about the babies were they warm enough? Where were they? The cat next door can't reach them? I assured hr that none of the about could happen, but not enough as she takes a run outside, forgetting to put on her clothes, after  her bath to see a blue jay sitting on the fence she glimpsed through the bathroom window she forget her clothes including her pull up to greet the birds. A situation I quickly corrected.

Headlines in the Charleston Post and Courier: Streaking Baby Stalks Blue Jay..film at 11

Just my luck, but luckily she limited her streaking experience to the back yard and hopefully since I am surrounded by retired folks and college kids, they were all either getting ready for church or sleeping it off from last night. So I am safe. I hope. If the county comes by I'll let you know. 

Charleston has more azaleas then any place I have ever seen, almost every yard I have seen has azaleas in them. Not to mention flower boxes, flower gardens at the old mansions and all schools, business and gas stations. My yard has it share, but I say something and smelled something this morning for the first time. When I was picking up my streaking baby, I noticed purple flower petals on my back steps, after depositing Tasha in the kitchen and putting on a diaper as  we are out of pull ups, I looked outside and saw...in the yard behind us...the most beautiful Lilac tree, yes tree not bush. The lilacs hung like grapes from the branches full and more importantly, fragrent. You could smell them. How long has it been really since you could really smell the flowers? It seems scents have gotten lost somewhere.  But these I could smell and a distance away. No wonder the birds were singing. 

Charleston. 

Charleston is an city in itself, as I look out my window at the wonder that is this city, and think about God's grace to us that we are even here. Not more then 6 months ago was a very different picture. One of us was in an abusive relationship trying to get to safety, one of us found themselves homeless and one of us was trying to hold everyone togther. 

Different world today. Everyone is on their feet, and standing. 

Thanks to God. 

I am not one to preach, and though everyone who reads my blog knows I am a card carrying born again Christian, I am not one to hammer it in. I do a lot of praying to myself and God.

The fact is that is not what this blog is. It is a testimony what He has done in our lives, and He has been great. 

We always have to end up explaining what we are when we say we are Christians. the first thing anyone says to me is Oh My Gosh! Jerry Falwell! Bigot! small minded. Nope. None of the above.

Well  I am not.  I follow a Man. I don't follow a church doctrine. I follow His word. I follow what HE tells me is right. 

I don't believe you can show Gods love with Hatred. I don't believe I can win hearts by being judgemental. 

He says He wants no one to perish. He gives us free will to make our own decisions. 

I am not going to harp on you about yours, (ask me my opinion and you get it so do it at your own risk, but it will be I promise Biblical) but push? No.

I have a lot of Non Christians who read my blog. they know what choices they have made. I am not out to change them or win them but simply let you know all of us aren't bad. Love of God is our primary focus. And yes, Jesus died for you to, it is your choice to do what you want bout that.  I'm praying

Now I promised no preaching and no preaching it is. 

It is now 72 in Charleston, SC I am going out to do yard work (yes, on Sunday it has to be done)

The sun has made up its mind to stay out and smile on us today. 

Tasha need to get out of the house and get some excerise and fresh air.(in her clothes this time) 

She just sat down next to me and said :" I'm Bored." Bored? at three?

nannhy, I need food. I neeeeed Pancakes. 

hmmm not a bad idea.

Pancakes it is.

All about Saturday.....

"Tasha climbed in my lap this afternoon and said quite petulantly, "Nanny, you are always on the com-puter, just always!"

 So put into my place by a three year old, I climbed off  the puter for a moment only to find out the reason she wanted me off was so she could get on, and watch Dora. 

"Please Nanny, Nick Jr? I want to, I NEEEEEEEd to watch Dora,:"

So I set up Dora for her and she had a ball sitting at the computer pretending to type and write "bogs"

At another time on this day, I was busily typing a note to a friend, and she asked me what I was doing. 

"Typing a note to my friend Barb," I told her.

"Where does Barb, live" She asked

"Actually, Seattle"  I replied, "She is a computer friend". 

"OK" Sang Tasha as she danced out of the room, and I resumed  typing, thinking conversation closed. Silly me,  Tasha came back a few minutes later with her shoes on, and started looking at the CPU trying to play with it. 

"Tasha what are you doing?"

" I am going to see -  atle to see your friend Barb in the com-puter, you can come". "Nanny how do we get in this little box,"

now how do i explain the great city of Seattle is not in the computer? 

I forget as do we all, that kids are literal. If I say some abstract, Natasha can't think inthe abstract to her it is literally reality.

So I explained to her that someday we really are going to Seattle   because my friend Barb is the first on my list I want to visit, While our second stop will be Kansas City Because Denise is my newest and second online friend whom I wish to meet. I want to see if both of these delightful ladies are as amusing and sincere as they seem online. I am sure they are. As far Barb, I wan to see her many shoes. I know she has hundreds. 

Anyway this was a long after noon for Tasha as she sat in my lap and helped me type and get my "osting" done and my "bog" All the time singing her ABC's and pretending, (Sometimes not pretending) to type the letters on the keyboard. A favorite pass time of hers. 

Kids are wonderful. When was the last time you thought of anything as black and white? We are always into the shades of gray. Things might be this way but, maybe not.  years of living have made us cynical and not trusting. 

yet this changes when we come online. We meet people, and make friends. We blog about personal  things in our lives, somethings we don't tell our pastors or friends in church we will Post to an online friend. Why? Because they are far and cannot tell or do they, because they really live inside this HP of mine and yours, do we feel safer with them?

Social networking ha gotten big, we all Twitter, FB,My space some of us, friendster and twitter friends. 

I am not telling how many applications I am on, I am just saying it is Barb's fault. 

And I do enjoy talking er uh, writing to everyone, I especially enjoy comments on my Blog hint hint..is that to bold? 

At the present time, Denise just came out and told me rather sadly that the new king sized bed she just brought for Tasha and her has been invaded. When they were in the queen size, Tasha took up most of it, now that they are in the king size...Tasha still takes up most of the bed and has evicted her mom.  I am going to offer mom some solace, and I am going to remind her she did the  same thing to me when she was three...

My mom was right when she told me: Just wait until you have children of your own, so I did and now so does Denise.

Revenge is sweet.

Do you suppose God planned it this way?

The saga of he Pudding Pop

I promised Natasha this morning she could have a Popsicle after lunch.  I am always amazed at the three year old who cannot remember to close the "fridgerator" as she calls it can remember precisely after finishing her pizza it was now time for a Popsicle. Being she was a good girl today, I gave her a Pudding Pop. 

Now pudding pops have less sugar, and are a little more healthy then Popsicles and more importantly they are chocolate so I gave her one. 

The best laid plans.....

A few minutes after Dora went off, a very sicky and scary chocolate covered hand came over and tried to give me a hug.  As I pulled away after many hugs and kisses I noticed I was also sticky and chocolate covered. Pudding Pop revenge. 

Natasha was covered with Chocolate from head to toe, literally.  I don't know if she got any in her mouth. So  I grabbed a wipe, cleaned her up and sent her on her way. 

A few minutes more she was back, more Chocolate on her face. 

nanny is thoroughly confused now. But I clean her up yet again. 

The third time, I think I am losing my mind. I ask her where she is getting the pudding pops, I check the fridgerator to look for a MIA pudding  pop. No deal.

Confused, boy am I at this point. But it doesn't occur a fourth time so I think I am safe. 

I grabbed the cell phone to call the bank as I was speaking to a Miss Reid, who sounded like she was about three hundred years old and new to the bank I  mean all I wanted to do was check the routing number,  we play 20 questions I sat down on the couch waiting for her to look up (look up your own routing number?!) any way look up the number , I felt cold and wet. Confused, I stood up and peeked over my shoulder and found the offending Pudding Pop. 

"No, nanny", Tasha cried holding out her little hand, "I am saving it for later!"

Sorry love, there is not a later for  this pop has died a natural death. It is melted in three places testifying to the fact she has come back ate some and then replaced it.  exactly three times. 

The mysery is solved, next time check for saved pudding pops. Preferably not on the sofa. 

Kids do funny things sometimes. To Tasha, it was a very natural thing to just put the pop down and save it for next time. Melting is not yet in her consciousness. So she didn't understand that things can be fleeting or temporary. When she wants more, we'll give her another one but i will be carefull to check the sofa before I sit down. 

Putting Tasha to sleep

I am laying in bed listening to the ABC's being sung, yet again. I think this is the 4th or 5th time she has run through them. ABCDEFGHIJJLMMOPQQQSUVWXYANDZEEE now I know my ABC's hmmm hmm hmm hmmm with me....Well she is three. 

She looks at me proudly and I praise her for a wonderful job well done. 

So she starts again. 

Oh well, encouragement is the spice of life. 

Charleston today is 70 degrees balmy and beautiful. I am trying to get Tasha down for a rest but she has too much energy. We have been out riding bikes, we have run the yard, I have done everything to tire her out. But at three, well you know if you are a parent. 

On days like this it is wonderful being a Grandmother. Her mother will come home and get the hyper child who didn't have a nap today, I will be going to work.

Life is funny.

I am lying here trying to figure out what I am going to write on my blog and all is suddenly silent, right in the middle of the ABC's....t trails off and I glance over....Tasha is sleeping. 

I wish I could go to sleep that easily.

So Mom will  not have to deal with a hyper child and I will be canonized for yet another good day of babysitting.

And Charleston afternoon is still beautiful.....74 degrees 

All is well in my world, how about yours?

Being Mary, Not Martha

I have always wanted to be Mary. But unfortunately I have a Martha personality. I like to get things done, and done quickly. I try to be efficient, organized in most things. Remember Mary and Martha? Mary sat at Jesus' feet and worshiped Him. Martha was to busy with other things, Taking control of the situation to see Jesus.
I have decided it is harder to be Mary then Martha. It is hard to lay everything down at his feet and just worship, we always feel we must be doing something. At least I do.
Being in control is a human thing, we all like to think we are on top of things, but even when we are, we aren't.
We are told that God is in control,we say but do we do it. I don't.
I try to make my life the way I want it, all the time praying to God to do HIS will, while trying to do mine.
OOPS.
God is wonderful, when we do His will life is so in control and peaceful. the Storm passes. His Grace really is sufficient.  My granddaughter Tasha, is active happy and loves life. She so wants to do whatever her mommy and Nanny do. If she sees us working the DVD player, you know in 30 seconds there she is. She likes to sit at the computer and pretend to be typing. I asked her one day what she was doing at the computer, she looked at me matter of factly and said. "Checking my email, Nanny," as if I should have known.
Her one complaint in life is having to do what we tell her to do. At three, she is rebellious. She wants to be in control. It is a hard lesson for her to learn, that Mommy is in control of her life right now. A very hard lesson. She is an independent three year old.

We laugh at her being so headstrong, but we know that in order for her to be safe, we have to be sure she understands who is in control. Natasha has to learn to be Mary, not Martha. 

And so do we. We have to learn to be servers of God, not to take the control from Him. We have to learn to worship him, alone not always ask for our needs. 

We live in a Martha world. Always doing. But isn't Mary's world so much better? Spending time with Jesus alone and in quiet. Worshiping him according to His wishes. Loving him as He directs. 

And no matter what faith you are, this is a prerequisite in all faiths. To love God. 

So today, no matter what you do, do it for His glory, do it with the peace of knowing tht God is in control. really He is.

I wonder why.....

Tasha is ill today. Full fledged cold. the first in her life. I feel sorry for her. She looks so miserable.

She is carring a towel around that is bigger then she is to use to wipe her nose. She didn't want to be bother with kleenix, so she got a bath towel out to the linen closet and has been carrying it around to sneeze and wipe her nose in. 

Finally got her down for a little rest, and she fell asleep at the 10th singing of twinkle twinkle little star. I looked over and she was gone on twink....

I wonder why kids have to get ill. 

Earlier this week, I saw something coming. She has been grouchy, misbehaving, and downright bratty. Tasha is not like that so, being an experienced Grandma I waited for the hammer to fall. It did today.

She discovered earlier this week, that the little buttons next to the doorknobs will make it impossible to get into a room. She experimented and locked her mom out of her room. 

Denise expertly opened the lock with a credit card. I didn't feel it necessary to ask her how she learned that little trick, though secretly I wondered how.

So my blog to day is things I wonder about.  When Eric was little he would be just sitting in space  and say out of the blue. "I wonder how the sky knows when to be blue," or  "I wonder why lightening strikes the ground?" his clue for mom to rush to the encyclopedia of science to give him an answer.

This, folks, was the pre Google, wikepedia days.So:

I wonder why Kids have to get ill.

I wonder why we changed dalight saving time.

I wonder why the person in line ahead of me when I am in a hurry always pays with pennies.

I wonder why the other line always moves faster.

I wonder why the car ahead of me is the one driven by a 100 year old lady at 6 miles a hour. 

I wonder why no matter what Walmart I am in, no matter what I am wearing I always get asked "do you work here?" Do I have Walmart Associate" stamped on my forehead?

I wonder, why, Jesus doesn't  hurry.

I wonder why mothers have to watch their children starve. 

I wonder, if you my friends are happy.

I pray you are. 

God Bless alll 

computer problems....

My computer has been moving slower then molasses in the winter for about a month. Even though i am on broadband high speed, I know turtles who move faster. 

So I have been having it looked at this week, therefor MIA.

It is moving only a tab bit faster so I guess I am going into the world of 'puter shopping this week.

Sorry to be remiss....

Wish me luck with the computer hunt..

And the time is.....

Did you remember to turn your clocks forward this morning? Or are you sitting there thinking you have an hour before you have to get to church? I am sorry to tell you, Church is half over, so just have another cup of coffee and plan on going tonight. 

Or are you one of the millions of people who thought your cell phone was going to update automatically? You woke up this morning and it wasn't, right? Because, you have to turn it off and turn it back on remember? you were supposed to do that at two am. What where you doing at two am? Well, Me, I was sleeping because I was off Saturday. The last thing on my mind is turning my cell phone off. My daughters either because she forgot to, and her cell phone said it was 4:30am when she woke up and it was 5:30am. She had to be to school at 6, she did an amazing job of getting out of here by   5:46. It would have been a perfect morning except the person she as giving a ride to, didn't turn his phone off either.  

A friend of mine whose blog I heartily recommend, Keep up with me  did something last week I really liked. 

It was a love/hate list. things I love and things I hate. I don't have to many strong likes or dislikes. Well that's not true I am very opinionated, well not very  well yes I am. Oh well on to it.

Love: My online friend Barbs' sense of humor and blog. Barb was one of the first people who read and commented on my blog, which sent me flying to hers and I was dutifully impressed

so  she was the first person I followed. She kept me cracking up, and I learned a whole bunch about blogging from her another blog I highly recommend. 

Hate: Social Media people who follow me on Twitter just to advertise their products. I joined Twitter to make friends, and stalk Barb :)  not to have some twitter on me..I have a giveaways on my blog..or go to my blog and learn about social media and how it can make you rich. 

I'd like to be rich, but don't use me to advertise so you can get rich. 

Love: My kids, my son is soooo smart. and he continually tries to improve himself. Not that he doesn't have faults, he does. But His knowledge of so many things suitably impresses me. He is now in the process of trying to start his own Internet business, and become a mogul.

Hate: people who know everything, been there done that if I've done it they've done it better. Thanks for making me feel insecure. OH, you felt that way to. Deal.

Love: Charleston, I love this this town I really do. It is full of history, beauty, and class.

Most importantly it has water and beaches everywhere. 

Hate: The fact that so many people in the world are hungry, I would love to do away with hunger, strife and kids who have nothing, I would like to make a difference. 

Love: Life. Even though I am a manic depressant, I love life and my granddaughter, and all the little twists and turns, (and I have many) it sends my way. 

That's enough for now, I  was thinking of  making this a feature. Someone reminded me I have no regular features for my followers to look forward to. So I might if people enjoy this, please share your loves and hates I would love to know....

My Biggest love I didn't mention is God, He is number one in my life. 

BTW, In case you are wondering why my daughter is not mentioned, it is not because I forgot her. She is awesome. But I am mad at her. her Birthday is Wednesday, she will be 27. That means she was born 27 years ago, do you know how old that makes me? well, I am not telling but I HATE that 

Friday Ramblings

This weekend is the Charleston Food and Wine festival in downtown Charleston. Denise has to work, but I hope to catch the evening program and food, food,Food. Since we will have Tasha we will skip the Wine, though THAT I  would love to attend. I like events like this, especially here

because Charleston adds an  elegance to these things that says, Hey you are in Charleston a City of Class. 

Of course I have a human side. Bobby flay will be giving a demonstration,He is one of my favorite chefs on Food Network (anyone NOT watch food network? even for a minute?) and They have a Iron Chef competition that I am looking forward to. I'd like to see if they really do these things in an hour. 

Charleston sense of history, makes a exciting background for the festival. The food will be distinctly Charleston, Shrimp and Grits, She crab soup all of old Charleston's favorites. Although people from all over will be there there, the natives will have a special, We are Charleston Savor Fa ire to the whole event. I am excited.

Tasha woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and has been growling at me all day. 

Her Banana was to hot (????)  Her toast was to cold. She didn't want to watch any of hr favorite programs. I finally settled her down to read and she decided to dress up in her Pirates costume she wore for Halloween. Now she is happily playing pirate and ARRRR'ing the whole house. 

We all have bad days, some are worse then others when we just feel out of sorts, this was her I suppose. 

I had forgotten how diverse an age three is.  

Denise is going to get a dog, a "rat" dog she calls him. When Tasha was 18 months, they had a cat. Tasha loved that cat to death. Almost literally. She wanted to love on it so much, the cat needed a therapist. She would hit the ceiling running when Tasha came into the room. Tasha just squeezed to much, and she had a habit of carry it my it's neck. 

Luckily the Cat survived and so did Tasha. We bribed the cat with Tuna, and hid it in the bathroom. It was reasonably happy. After a few weeks of teaching and loving on it, she calmed down, Tasha calmed down each loved  the other. Then the cat died quietly of some disease. 

So, we didn't have a pet for a while. I finally broke down and brought a gold fish. Tasha loved to talk to the goldfish. She fed it. I kept the food high so she couldn't feed it too much.

Things were great until her mother decided to clean the water. She forgot you have to make sure the new water is the same temperature as the old water. The fish looked up in total surprise at the cold freezing water, and went to fish heaven. I am sure in pet heaven they are telling stories about pet survival rates in our house. So pet three is a Jack Russel Terrier. The pets in heaven are twittering again in fear.

I hear they are starting a petition.

Rambling Tuesday

I got the answer to my question yesterday about things changing in love, Bret Michaels was on Ellen and he clearly told the world that today the first thing he looked for was physical attraction. No matter how nice the girl was, after he got past the lust part he worked on friendship and other stuff.

Guessthe world has really changed.

My boss told me that although I was a good manager, I was not a good leader. I thought it was one in the same but apparently not. I thought about this a bit. Is there a difference between a manager and a leader? I always thought they were one in the same. How can I be a good manager but not a good leader. 

Well, after reading up on the subject, i have discovered that managers manage but Leaders lead. Does that make sense? 

So,I have decided to work on leadership skills. 

Leadership involves team building, and recognizing the strengths of the others in your group. 

Another lesson learned.

Tasha finally has a room of her own, my son was living with us for a minute but has moved on and Tasha moved out of her moms room into as she puts it "her own room".

We haven't gotten her to sleep there yet, only play. Deni set it up with butterflies, stars and 

 a sign that says, once upon a time there was a beautiful princess,  Which she thinks she is. I wonder who gave her that idea? Who, Me? Well what are Nannies for? Any way she likes to play in her room and invites me in  much like a princess in her palace. It is the first time she has had her own space. I never thought of that as important, but Is suppose it is a rite of passage for a three year old. Denise is going to buy her a bed next week, then the battle will begin I think: or maybe not. Denise usually wakes me up to let me know she is leaving. I come in around 2:30 or 3:30 and she goes to work at 5, 

(which explains if you ever wondered why you frequently find me on the computer at 3am)

anyway I listen for Tasha to wake up and call me into her room. She is not use to sleeping alone.

Since she has had her own room, however, she has told me to "stay in my room and sleep Nanny." So I have. Then 5 minutes later she will tearfully call, 'mom, come here!" (she also calls me mom)

So I know she is trying to be a big girl, just is not ready for the dark yet. 

I will miss the time she comes out and Says "nanny, stay in your room and sleep," and 5 minute later doesn't call.

They have to grow up, don't they?

What do you tell your kids about Love,

My daughter did a post a while back about Love at first sight and whether or not it existed. In this day of online dating, meeting in clubs etc how do you meet someone and fall in love at first sight?  I'm  wondering, is it love or is it infactuaction?

I know a lady who cannot be alone. the minute she breaks up with someone she is looking for someone else. she is 40 years old and divorced, you would start to wonder why she has not had anymore permanent relationships, why they are all so fleeting. She doesn't. she continues to fall in love. 

I don't understand, I always thought love was once and forever. I thought love was a special feeling for one person, whom you really wanted to be with, I thought that kind of devotion takes a minute or two. I can't see it coming around the corner every time I meet someone. There have to be some men out there I do not like. 

Well, I hate to tell you there are  a lot of men out three I do not like. I can usually tell by their pick-up lines. Come up to me and tell me how incredibility beautiful I am, ciao I know better, I don't like false complements. 

Come up to me and tell me you are separated from your wife..see me when you have papers..either from the AKC or the courts.

This one annoys me: I have been watching you and want you to have my Baby? really? What makes you so special I'd want to go through nine months of pain then labor? Think that one through. Now if you offered to carry it for me....

I find it hard with these lines to fall in love at first sight Denise asked me if I believed that there was one person for everyone. I actually do.  I believe we are afraid to wait. What if No one else comes along? and so we rush in. 

A friend of mine married a gentlemen a few weeks ago, I asked her if she loved him and was surprised by her answer, She told me she could live with him, he liked her kids and was nice. No Love? In the old days the father used to choose a mate for the daughters, my favorite movie in the whole world is fiddler on the roof most people who like the movie like it because it represents change and giving up tradition. but I love tradition. I think that we started giving p our traditions we lost everything dear and life became complicated. 

When Dad chose your mate, you were ashamed to leave him marriages lasted.

Now, before you are up in arms that I am advocating the old ways, I am. No I don't want my dad to choose my mate. 

But I want my daughter to be more careful this time when she chooses hers. 

She asked me how she could tell a nice guy. I told her by where she met him, if you meet a guy in a bar he drinks. He is probably not a alcoholic if you want a non drinker why are you looking there?

"Mom" Denise asks me " Do you believe in love at first site?" and my answer is yes I do. 

I have seen it, I have experienced it.

Love is indeed beautiful, and warm. It is not about lust. It is about respect.

There are three popular venues out there right not.  That everyone is talking  about The movie

"He's just not that into you." Which to me was tongue in cheek and I took it that way, but some women were really offended. The other is a book: The problem with Women is: Men Which is another excellent book on dealing with relationship problems and finally "the Break Up diet"

 And with all of this media telling us how to have a relationship, I wonder if we even know when we are in love. Do the books tell us?

The book of  Romans tells us there is  a perfect mate for all of us,one who will last for a lifetime.

Yes Denis, I believe in Love at first site, I believe it is lasting and is pure. I believe there is someone person for everyone. I just believe you have to listen to your mind as well as your heart, and listen first of all  to God. 

Or better yet, just go watch Fiddler on the Roof.