All My Children #008

Hi kids,

well ... this is the last blog for February ! Yeah ! That means spring will certainly be getting closer to us ! Ooooooh ... that sounds so good to me ! This dreadfully COLD weather is getting old !! My skin feels all dried out even with trying to keep lotion on my hands they are so dry !

So this week was just a kind of slow, boring week. Although, I do know it is what "we choose" to make it. So ... you know what that means ? I didn't try too hard. I guess I should have made it a better (perhaps) more productive week. I did all the regular stuff, laundry,cleaning,taking care of Patty Jo, making breakfast,lunch and dinner, you know.... but ... not any projects really. So, maybe this week I should make an effort to get something accomplished in regards to furthering the progress of our house project here. I'll keep you posted on that.

After church today, Dad and I went for a nice long drive through a part of the country-side we haven't ventured through before. It was nice. Just to get out and drive and look around. The sun was out and even though it was cold, somehow that feels nice. I have said it before, but I must say again, it is really a BEAUTIFUL area around here. We saw spectacular views of the mountains and countryside and on one ridge a breathtaking view of Canandagiua Lake ! ( Sp ? ) We stopped and had a Starbucks coffee so that was relaxing too. Believe it or not ... we have rarely taken the time to just drive around since living here !

I am still using my new exercise room ! I am proud of that accomplishment. I intend to get our lifestyle into a healthier version. For Dad, Patty Jo and myself. I have also made grounds on eating better each day. Little changes here and there. So that will be an on-going progress that will evolve with each passing month. I still read and try to educate myself on information along those lines too. I think keeping informed and keeping new ideas, recipes etc., will keep me on the right path. I can tell I am feeling stronger from the exercise. It is still really hard on me to get thru some of the tapes. I was that "out-of-shape" I suppose. It does feel really good to know I am seeing signs of progress though. I am becoming aware ! This paragraph below is something I have read and so agree with !

"Here's something to keep in mind: Awareness raises consciousness. Read that last line again because it's important. Just becoming aware of your typical thought patterns will actually stimulate a move toward emotional health and balance. That's because the moment you notice a negative thought, you then have the ability to shift to something more positive. And then the fun begins. When you focus your mind on something good, it creates a good feeling, and that good feeling fuels you to make better choices. Better choices in turn, give you a better life.

Imagine, like so many people right now, that you're worried about paying your bills. Once you turn on your thought meter, you notice that your thoughts are focused on how little money you have. If you make a choice to shift these thoughts to a powerful affirmation like, "Abundance flows into my life every day in miraculous ways," and you keep returning to this thought, it automatically makes you feel empowered to change your circumstances. This feeling of being empowered - a life-affirming feeling - will lead you to find actions you can take right now to improve your situation. Then, once you identify an action and take it, you not only change the course of your life, you reinforce your positive thoughts and the cycle starts all over again."

This makes such great sense to me. Very many books and articles I have read states that your attitude and your own personal " self talk" that goes on inside your head, has a lot to do with your life and your ultimate happiness. So to each of you, I wish a sense of 'awareness' that may awaken something inside of yourself. Maybe to allow you to progress forward with something you are struggling with in your own life at this time. However it may work, awareness is a great start at bringing forth change. I know one of Dr. Phil's sayings is " you cannot change what you first do not recognise". Yep ... it is true.

Well, I know ... yadda ...yadda ... heeheeee. Enough from me.

Have a great week. Call us when you get a chance. We are always thinking of each of you and hoping things are going well.

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose." -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I love you, Momma G

All My Children #007

Hi kids,

well, I can say this wasn't the best week for me. It was a difficult week. Patty Jo has been sick all week, which lead to her being extremely difficult and irritable to me. The good thing is as of yesterday, I think she has turned the corner and is starting to feel somewhat better. I did take her to the doctor, but they said it just has to run its course. She coughs all thru the night. I am up and down all night, every night, just checking on her, offering her water and cough syrup. I haven't had a good nights sleep, it seems, for ages ! So, here's to a better week.

"What we need is a cup of understanding, a barrel of love, and an ocean of patience."
St. Francis de Sales

I did get something accomplished in Patty's room though. I finally put up her curtains behind her bed. Hanging from high ( almost the ceiling) to down below, behind the bed . It makes a focal point of the bed when you enter the room now. She had seen a picture ( gosh ... two years ago now ! ) in a magazine and showed me and I kept it all this time with the intent I would do it for her. I still have to put up the outside valances for the finishing touch. She is happy. The other thing I did was to change my bedroom up. I moved the bed from the wall it was against to the wall beside the door entering from the hallway. As small a change as it is, it seems to me to have a big impact. The room seems to have opened up more. I like the feel of it much better. I moved the rugs, the bench and I just like the feel of it. I still have to move the pictures. Dad worked on the baseboards in the attic all weekend. Tedious work. There is the main flat large board, the top grooved molding and the shoe-moulding. So a lot to it.

Nothing else to going on here. Tom and Jennifer are in Las Vegas this week at a Photography Seminar. ( staying at the Marriott ) I hope it goes well for them. Angela had a Valentines Choir concert on Friday and Saturday, she even had an impromptu solo on Saturday ! I sure wish I could have been there. Bill has been working hard on their new Florida room. It sounds like he is making great strides in getting it done. Good work Billy boy ! CJ is feeling good with baby Vivianna growing stronger everyday. CJ may have a new job announcement very soon. We are so excited for her ! Ed is still studying for his test and looking forward to taking Oscar to training soon. I think the first week of March ? He also ( like his brother Bill ... ) got a new I-phone due to a miss-hap with water ! Haahahaaa !

"An attitude of gratitude creates blessings."
-Sir John Templeton

Take care and remember I love each of you very much.
Momma G

All My Children #006

Hello kids,

I am feeling so elated tonight. I just read Bill & CJ's new blog and saw pictures of my beautiful little granddaughter ' Vivianna Jo, in the ultrasound photos. I cannot get the smile off my face. I am feeling just like a small child at Christmas that cannot get to sleep Christmas-eve for being so full of excitement ! Haaaaaaa !! I cannot wait to meet my beautiful granddaughter for sure ! I bought some things for the baby shower today, that was fun ! Yes ... I know it is not until May, but ... we were in Ohio this weekend, and there is one of those party type stores there. So, before we headed back to New York, I figured I would stop in and get some things now. I haven't seen a store like around here. ( at least not yet ? ) It was fun shopping.

Dad, Ed, and I went to the Cleveland Home & Garden show on Saturday. After thinking about it ... I guess Dad and I have been attending this show for about 30 yrs now ! How is that for a long run ?! It is always good to be there. You walk thru some of the prettiest garden setting ever ! You get to smell the fresh flowers, see real green grass, all kinds of trees and shrubs and so many kinds of flowers than you could imagine. I will tell you this ... when you live in the North, by this time of the long, cold, winter weather, it is extremely refreshing to get a look into spring, as brief as it is. So, yes we enjoyed it. I was glad Ed went with us this year. It is nice to spend some time with you Ed ! Tucker and Oscar had a wonderful time playing with each other this weekend also. Too bad they do not live closer to each other, they would love that ! They were tired out today from playing so hard. On Saturday morning, Dad took them both to get their nails filed down, the girls that work there just love the two of them, and they came back each wearing ' Red Valentine Bandannas ... so cute ! Hey Ed ... could you post one of the pictures you took of them on this Blog under the comments or something ? That would be great !

Well, we are back home here in Hammondsport, resting up to start a brand new week. I wish a good productive week for each of you. Be safe. Be happy. Be healthy.

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits.Watch your habits; they become character.Watch your character; it becomes your destiney."
- By: Frank Outlaw -

I love you so very much. Momma G

All My Children #005

Hi kids,

I trust you all had a good week. I know it was an especially busy and hectic week for Tom and Jennifer, with hopefully a productive and welcoming end to it all. You are officially now moved in, huh Tommy ? Trust me ... there will always be work to be done. Always projects waiting to be finished. ( or started ) Always improvements to be made ... just keep them all in prospective. Keep a list, prioritize things to be done, and just keep at it. Life is made up of all the "things" to do each and everyday. Take your time and enjoy your journey too. As the saying goes,' Rome wasn't built in a day'.

Well now, Happy February to you ! One month gone in this new year already. This past week was just OK I suppose. Nothing special I guess. Cold temperatures, snow, and grey skies. I guess I am having some seasonal blues. Missing some sunshine on my face for sure. But, spring will be here before I know it. I hope that groundhog does not see his shadow !

Aunt Patty and I held true to our exercising program this whole week. Yeah !!! Bless her heart, she has been a real trooper ! I am impressed ( and surprised ) by her attitude of wanting to go up to the attic each morning with me and try to follow along with the gal on the tape. She may not be able to do the movements correctly, or keep up with the continual changes during the work-out, but let me tell you, she stands right there in front of the TV, she smiles, tries, smiles, tries more, drinks a little water here and there, she laughs and she is sort of in her own world of seeing herself participating and doing well !!! She is happy ! I am so impressed !!! God Bless her !!! She is out of her room, she is moving her body instead of just sitting in a chair or on her bed as usual ! I am so very proud of her ! She loves the orange t-shirt that I bought her and told her it is her exercise outfit. She always has it laying out for the next morning beside her bed. I need to go to Walmart and buy her another one too. She lost a whopping 8 lbs the month of January ! Go Patty Jo !! Me ? Well ... I did not lose much ! ( 3lbs ... ughhh !! ) Disappointed big time. I hate the scale !! I exercises daily, but I must be still eating to much. Oh well, I have to give myself the credit for making a good change into the exercise routine for now, and just know it takes more time to change other habits. I believe something I read recently, "A balanced body helps you create a balanced mind. As a result, peace and order begin to replace the chaos and frenetic energy of a busy life. " So, I will continue onward toward my journey for better health.

Dad made his spaghetti today and it was as good as always ! Hmmmm !! Then, I watched the Superbowl with Dad tonight. Actually, Aunt Patty did too. Not really my thing, but, I felt sort of obligated. I would have felt bad for Dad to sit in there by himself and watch it. So I read a book and sat there talking with him Thur-out the game. It is times like this Dad really misses his kids. He would give anything to be able to be with any one of you, when watching stuff like this. Sometimes it is really hard to have so much distance between us. It can suck for us parents for sure. I hope Tommy and Billy's Superbowl parties went well. Dad said how cool would it have been to be able to show up at one of your houses and surprise you ! Haaaa !! Well ... it didn't go the way Dad wanted in the end .... he hates the Steelers. Maybe next year it will be ... "Go Browns "!!!!

Well have a good and healthy week. Take care of each other. This month is Valentines month, so be extra caring, extra loving, maybe do a kindness for some one un-expecting of it. It isn't just about romance you know, it is for all of us. We all need the kindness and caring. Be loving towards people in general this month. Share the " care ".

"Enthusiasm is a kind of faith that has been set on fire.-George Matthew Adams "

I do have to say, Dad and I did have lots of fun this afternoon. The sun had been out for a little while (it warmed up to 42 today) so it started to melt the 2 inches of rock hard ice that has been built up under the snow for a month, in our driveway. So, we each dressed warm and went outside into the driveway with shovels, and as Dad broke up the ice over the concrete, I shoveled it over to the side. We spent about an hour getting this accomplished, but, we couldn't get it all. The sun just didn't stay out long enough to get all of it soft enough, so we had to leave some for another winter day. Yeah ! I know, I bet your each saying " Man !! I wish I could be there to do that too !" The fun was all ours ! ( and the forecast shows snow for the next 5 days in a row here ! So great ! )

Remember Dad and I love each of you very much, Momma G