Look at this huge Blue Heron bird

My friend, Cyndee and her hubby Paul, went to Richmond over the weekend to the races, so she had a friend stop up at her house to feed her pond fish and clean the filter, and this is what he found. I guess nobody would have believed him when he told them about this huge bird sitting there scouring for the fish. Look for yourself. Look how much taller he is than her statue of a Blue Heron bird, which is about 2 feet in height.

See that lighthouse behind him? Well, that lighthouse is over 3 feet tall, so that tells you how tall that bird really is.



He went from the pond and flew to on top of her shed. Look at his mess he left behind as evidence he was there.



Paul went out yesterday to a pond place to purchase a "Scarecrow" that will scare the bird away. It is a motion kind of scarecrow, that has a censor to it and knows when something is there and it sprays water at the bird to scare it away. Here is the link if you want to check it out, if any of you have a pond in your yard.

http://www.safepetproducts.com/scarecrow-motion-sprinkler.html?gclid=CJfqpJf085wCFWJB5godp1PJkw

I found this picture of a Blue Heron with its wings stretched out. Their wing span is 5.5 to 6.5 feet width. I can't even imagine that in my head.

Happy Birthday, Stephanie

Today, I like to wish our daughter-in-law, Steph, a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY." I hope you have a wonderful day and that your kids did something special for you. I don't remember if she is one or two years younger than our son Tom.

Anyways, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

We Lost Our Beloved, Snowball-9/14/09

It has been a very sad week for us here. Our Snowball was developing kidney failure and becoming very sick.

Last Sunday, the 6th, I bought him baby food meats to see if I could get him to eat, because he stopped eating kitty food. He ate a little bit and that was the last time he ate anything. He tried drinking some water but it was so hard for him. I was so hoping he would pass in his sleep, but each day he was still alive.

Saturday morning, about 3:30 AM Chuck came to bed and he crawled out from under our bed.

He was crying, so we made a bed on top of our bed and he slept with us.

He was on his way to be put down, when he let out a cry and he was gone. I'm so happy he is not in anymore pain and is in animal heaven with Princess, Bruno, Snickers, Ductchess, Taffy, Patches (our cat), Spunky. Taffy, Patches & Spunky were all related to each other; Taffy was the nanny cat, Patches was mommy cat to Spunky. We don't have pictures of them, but Taffy & Patches were calico and Spunky was an orange tiger kitty.

Now, we are down to 3 cats & 3 dogs. Our family is getting smaller.

Dr. Phil's Blog

I added a link on my sidebar to Dr. Phil's Blog. Whoever likes Dr. Phil can catch up on their reading of his blog. I am a BIG fan of Dr. Phil. I also, like the show that he had a hand in creating and that is the Doctors.

It comes on CBS at 3:00 PM, Monday-Friday. Have any of you watched it? I know Jamie records it. It is very insightful.

Foods Surprisingly High In Added Sugar

Kids love the granola bars and to find out how much sugar they contain is something else. Maybe that is why they like them so much because they are sweet tasting. Yep, rope those youngsters in very young to the taste of sugar.

Look how many people have addictions to soda. Soda contains 8 teaspoons of added sugar, which is about 33 grams and 130 calories per can. I just read my Wild Cherry Pepsi and this is what is in it, calories-160, total fat-0, sodium 30mg, total carbs-42g, sugars-42g, protein-0g, total carbs is 14% and sodium is 1%.

Wow, I just read my two cans of diet soda that I have here, Diet Mug & Diet Crush Orange. Diet Mug contains 65mg of sodium=3% and no sugars, fat, protein, or calories. Diet Crush Orange contains 70mg=3% of sodium, 6g=2% of total carbs, 5g of sugar and calories is 25.

Wow, amazing and they call it diet!

Well, I just learn a very important thing by reading these labels, today. Bottle water for me.

I really don't drink much diet soda, only when I go out to hear Chuck play in the band or when I play with my Shuffle Board League. From now on though, I will ask for bottle water and if they don't have it then I will ask for tap water with ice.

I had to add this after I first posted this post......I went to Giant and checked out Mountain Dew soda regular and diet. Here is what I found.....Reg. Mountain Dew has 160 calories, 65mg sodium-3%, 47g carbs-15%, and 47g sugar. Diet Mountain Dew has 50mg sodium-2%. Too much salt and sugar in this soda.

The reason why I checked Mountain Dew is because I was always told that soda is the worse soda on the market, if you want to be healthy.

The New Happy Addition to Cyndee & Paul's Family

Paul came home Wednesday night and surprised Cyndee with a little girl. At first, Cyndee was a little upset because she knew this was going to change there lives for a bit, but it will work out I told her. She was fine on Wednesday, but Thursday came and she started acting sick. She was coughing and choking. I went with her to the vet and Cyndee was told she has kennel cough. So, it has been a fun weekend so far. She is getting a little better, after her second trip to the vet yesterday.

They didn't have a name for her yet by Saturday. I told her she has to have a name before you go to Paul's brother's house for a picnic. So, her and I sat by her laptop and looked at all the girl names from A-Z. The ones she liked she saved and showed Paul. None really popped out at Paul, until Cyndee said she was leaning on Billie, after her dad. You see, her dad calls her his baby girl every time she calls him. So, when she saw that name it just reminded her of her dad. Paul really liked it too, so that is her new name Billie girl. What a little cutie she is. She is so smart at 10 weeks old. She pee pees and poopies outside not in her crate already. That is amazing that she knows that at her little age.

Good Luck to Cyndee & Paul.

I will have to get pictures of their other two dogs, Harley & Evo. They are Teacup Yorkies. Harley Barley, as I call him is such a sweet little boy and Evo is so shy. Harley wants to be held and played with all the while I'm there, where Evo is lying in his bed on Cyndee & Pauls's bed. He doesn't come out too much when I'm there, so I go to him to pet him.

Two Happy Siblings

Joss looks so content on Michele's lap. Michele is a co-worker of Jamie and her best friend. She is a very beautiful lady inside and out, as you can see in this picture. And of course, we can't forget that little cutie sitting on her lap looking at all the fun at Jonathan's 5th Birthday Party.



Jonathan and his Uncle Cory. You can tell that Jonathan was a very happy camper to have his Uncle Cory surprise him after his party. His Uncle Cory looks just like Jamie's dad in this picture. He is a younger version of him.

The BIG #5 B-Day For Jonathan

The Birthday Boy

Jacob trying to play basketball

The birthday gang

John and Jamie had an early birthday celebration for Jonathan yesterday at Bounce U. All the kids looked so happy to be able to bounce around, slide on slides, and hit each other with extra large boxing gloves and not worry about getting hurt. It is so awesome on different things there are today to make a child very happy and safe.

September 11th is his original birthday, but they celebrated it early, because his favorite Uncle is moving to Israel around his birthday, so he wouldn't have been able to attend his celebration. His Uncle Cory made a surprise visit for Jonathan and I really wish I could have been there to see Jonathan's face to see his Uncle Cory walk through the door. He loves his Uncle Cory. Who can't blame him, to have an Uncle who was like Jonathan when he was his age. I was told by Jamie that her brother was just like Jonathan. He was very happy and content to stay in the house and entertain himself with his legos or anything else he enjoyed playing with. You give Jonathan a lego, it doesn't have to be for his age, it can be for an older child, Jonathan can put it together and play for hours on end. He is one very smart child when it comes to building, or constructing it.

Here are just a few of his birthday pics for you all to enjoy. I really wish I could have made it. But that is a story in itself.

Tom & Steph's Gang

Steph is making it official. She is going to homeschool Leanna this year. She has been contemplating this for awhile now.

My sister-in-law, Jeri, which is Chuck's sister, homeschooled her kids when they were doing mission work and was traveling a lot. Her kids did quite well with being homeschooled. Their youngest, Becky, was homeschooled for a short time, until Jeri got a job with a Christian School, then Becky went there to school.

Good Luck to you Steph for making this decision.

Another Grandchild with Allergies

John & Jamie's little boy developed peanut allergies at an early age of one. Their life had changed drasticly to protect that precious little boy.

Now, Tom & Steph have a child that has tested positive to allergies to peanuts, soy, cantalope, grass, ragweed, trees & dust mites. They will have their hands full trying to keep him allergy safe in their home with 3 other children running around and can eat the foods he can't. That is the hard part I believe.

Trying to keep your house dust free is extremely hard. I was tested many years ago to dust mites, but I don't follow the rules for that. I would have to cover my mattress, boxspring & pillow with a vinyl cover. They are too hot to lay on. I get hot very easily. I was suppose to not have carpeting in the whole house or especially the bedroom, because dust mites love to live there, same with curtains and your furniture.

It is going to be so hard for my little Jacob to be a kid with allergies to the outdoors.

Our Grandchildren

Leanna is the oldest of Tom and Steph, she is 8 years old. She is into paper dolls, reading, brownies, and having fun with her brothers. Also, she is into bugs, lizzards, rabbits, and anything that just fascinates her curiosity. She loves talking on the phone to her Nanny-Sue. She is always wanting me to come visit her.



Justin is next in age, he is 5 years old. He is into bugs, catepillars, his lizzard and rabbit. He is so curious about so many things at this age. His newest thing is, "Can daddy hear me if I really really yell loud enough where he is working?" Justin loves to work beside his daddy doing carpentry. He is always playing and trying to make something out of any type of wood.



Timothy is so cute, he is 3 1/2 years old and he copies everything his older sister and brother do. He loves to repeat everything they say. He is into dressing himself, and you never know what he will put on, whether it matches or whether it is the layered look. He is such a happy little boy. He loves to giggle. Timothy loves to help mommy around the house, whether it is vacuuming or baking.



Jacob is the youngest of the four kids, he is 2 years old. He is a very happy little boy. He loves getting into trouble like his other siblings did when they were his age. He is just curious about finding new things to get into. He loves making messes for mommy to clean up. In this picture he is tasting his mommy's lemon cookies she made. He loves to eat, especially daddy's goodies that his father tries to hide from the kids, ie, snickers. Jacob can sniff them out pretty well.

All in all they are very happy, loving, and curious children. They are so much fun to be around.

Our other two grandchildren are in that post below.

Josslyn and Jonathan, sister & brother

Josslyn is getting so big and I am missing out on seeing her grow. She was 4 months old, when I was sitting for her, when daddy got a new job. Now she is 6 months and enjoying the world around her.

I thought this was an Oreo Cookie she was holding, but the joke is on me. It is the lens cap of mommy and daddy's camera. Ha! Ha! Ha!



Jonathan is getting more mature, since I last saw him. He is turning 5 years old on Sept. 11th. After the world stopped on Sept. 11th 2001, we had a very happy day to celebrate in 2004, was the birth of our grandson, Jonathan. God always brings a happy ending to tradegies and what a happy ending this is.

Looking For a Donated Van

Anyone know of a company that is willing to donate a work van to a nice young man, my son, Tom. His work van is costing him from doing his job to feed his family of 4 kids and 2 adults. It was quite old when we bought it for him 2 years ago, but it has done it's purpose. Now, it is constantly breaking down and it is costing him money he doesn't have.

So, if anyone knows of one please get a hold of me and I will let him know.

Tom is a self-employed contractor in need of a good source of transportation.

My favorite picture of, Kylie, holding her brother, Kobe

I really enjoy sitting for Kylie and Kobe they have made my summer fly by. Kylie is such a loving sister to her brother, Kobe. It is really nice to see this in siblings.

A series of fun in the sun!

Noah is trying his goggles. I guess he wants to put his head in the water and look around, LOL.


Kobe is just getting his feel of the nice water, while Kylie is wading in the pool.


Kobe is fascinated with the body of the whale.


Kobe was getting wet from the sprinkler that is in the whales head, until his sister, Kylie, covered the holes. He looks so cute.


Kylie is going to try Noah's googles out. Kobe is still fascinated with the whale's body.

Kobe, Kylie, and Noah enjoy my pool

I really like this photo because Dutchess our Goldendoodle is watching the kids having fun. It was a HOT day on Tuesday for them to enjoy the pool.

I really wish my grandkids would come for a visit before the end of the summer to enjoy the pool.

Mark Your Calenders....Sept. 21, 2009

The Women's Circle Group I am in at Olivet will be holding a Fundraiser for Nicole Vogel. She is battling brain cancer.

THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2009

TIME: 5:00-8:00 PM

PLACE: FRIENDLY'S RESTAURANT, WILLIAM PENN HIGHWAY, PALMER TOWNSHIP/EASTON, PA. 18045

What you have to do is eat dinner at FRIENDLY'S on this date and between the hours of 5:00-8:00 PM and 10% of all the proceeds will go to her fund.

I really hope you all can help us with this event.

I would like you all to meet my friend Nicki. Here is a picture of her that I stole from her CaringBridge.org site. Please follow her updates by creating an account with CaringBridge.

Me and Kobe

I was rocking Kobe and before I knew it he was fast asleep in my arms. Chuck had the day off today so I asked him to take this picture so I had the proof to she his mommy and daddy.

Kobe Napping on My Recliner

Kobe was taking his afternoon nap in my recliner today. He is such a good little boy.

Kobe and Patches, again

A closer look at Patches looking at Kobe while he is napping on my recliner. I had to get Patches down real quickly after I took their picture because she was trying to wake him up.

Sleeping Kobe and Patches

Kobe was sleeping and my Patches wanted to investigate the situation for herself. She just loves the kids I sit for.

Pool Pics of the Fun in My Yard

Here Kylie is showing off her ability to throw her legs in the air, while Noah is playing with the sprinkler part of the pool. Kids are so much fun to watch how they play and interact with each other.


Here Kylie is showing off her ability to throw her legs in the air, while Noah is playing with the sprinkler part of the pool. Kids are so much fun to watch how they play and interact with each other.


Kylie is such a clown and she shows it in the pool.


Noah just loves playing with Kylie. He looks forward to her coming everyday, so he has someone to play with.


Noah & Kylie were having fun in the Whale Pool I purchased from Aldi's. They love the sprinkler that the hose attaches to it's head to get them wet like it is raining.

Happy 60th Birthday, Jeri

Sunday, July 26th is my sister-in-law, Jeri's 60th birthday. Chuck and I want to send her a GREAT BIG birthday wish. She & Bruce with most of their kids & grandkids went on a vacation in Oak Island, NC. They rented a house for very little money on the beach. It pays to know someone that has a house on the beach to enjoy for a week of relaxation and fun. They really deserve to relax and have fun with the kids and grandkids. It was a shame that Rob & Kritsy couldn't join them.

This economy has put a damper on everyone's pocket, so this comes at a good time, because Bruce is layed off from his job and this will help him to refocus, to look for another job.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JERI

My Birthday Wish from Jonathan & Josslyn

I absolutely love this picture of Jonathan & Josslyn wishing me a Happy Birthday. I'm surprised Jonathan didn't want to write Nani Louise, LOL, because that is what he calls me ever since he heard my middle name was Louise. Their new sitter lives next door to them and her name is Lousie. I was telling Jamie how ironic because my middle name was Louise and Jonathan heard us talking and he has been calling me Nani Louise ever since.

Grandchildren are just so very precious, aren't they! Anyone that is a grandparent can attest to that. You enjoy your grandkids more than when you were raising your children. I would always hear that from other grandparents, when my kids were little, and now I know first-hand on how different it really is.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACOB

Today is Jacob's 2nd Birthday, so I wanted to wish him a very BIG Happy Birthday.

Nanny-Sue and Pop-pop are sorry we can't make your party, so we hope you have lots of fun. We love you lots.

More of an Explaination on Previous Post

First, I want my readers to know that I don't condone my actions that I had a baby at 16 years of age, or that I had gotten married so young. For me, it was the right timing in my life, but it isn't the right timing in today's time. I knew that all I wanted to be was a mother and a wife like my grandmother. She is the one I looked up to for advise and child rearing. I admired my grandmother so much and I trusted her advise more than my mother's. She raised foster kids and she raised my brother and me, while my mom worked. She was a very wise woman.

I was always taking care of somebody's child from the time I was 10 years old. If it wasn't my brother it was one of my mother's friends kids. At the age of 12, I started babysitting for my neighbor while he played in a band.

In today's world there is NO excuse for getting pregnant at an early age like me, because there is FREE help out there for our teens, without us parents knowing about it. In today's times an education is very important for a good job. My kids knew how old I was because I never hid it from them. But I always told them that if they ever became parents while they were in school they were going to finish school, not like me, where I quit school. That is what I really wish I did was graduate with my classmates. I am really glad I got my diploma later in life, because it really is important to say, YES I got my DIPLOMA.

In love? It's not enough to keep a marriage strong, study finds

I came across this study on my yahoo homepage and I don't believe a word of it and I'll explain why.

OK, lets start out by me saying I am one of those statistics that should be in a study like this to prove them all wrong. I was 16 when I had my first son and the relationship that I had with the boy didn't work out, because he didn't want to grow up. He wanted to party, party, and party, instead of raising a child. So, I told him to hit the road, when my son was 2 1/2 months old. That very same day (6/17/73) I went to my friend's graduation party from high school and that is where Chuck and I started talking. You see, I met Chuck a few weeks earlier at his house in Raubsville, but he thought I was married at the time because I had a baby and all I did was talk about his father. When he saw me at his cousin's party I explained my situation about my breakup and that my EX was coming to the party. I told Chuck when he arrives I want to go for a walk. I said you may join me or you can stay here at the party. He decided to come with me on my walk and we talked and talked. Chuck was so easy to talk to it was like we knew each other for years.

That night all us young people decided to go bowling and of course my EX came too. Well, my EX had no money, so I gave him what money I had, so he could bowl and eat with the rest of us. Chuck asked me my why I did that and I told him I may not want to be with him anymore, but I feel sorry for him because he has a very bad home life. When it came to us going to McDonald's to get something to eat after bowling I wan't going to eat because I gave all my money to my EX. Chuck was kind enough to make me eat by buying me a sandwhich and a drink.

Chuck and I were inseperable for the 3 months we went together, before he proposed to me at the end of August. We planned a wedding in a few weeks and were married at the end of September of '73.

A month after we were married I started not feeling well, so I went to the family doctor and had some tests run. We found out shortly there after that I was going to have another baby. Our son was born in June of '74. We were married only 9 months when we had 2 kids to raise.

At that time of our life starting out we were both smokers. When I was 25, I started having throat problems. I was hoarse by the end of the day and that went on for a few months, when Chuck made me go to the throat doctor. He turned around and told me I had to quit smoking or I wasn't going to be able to talk anymore. So, I quit smoking. Chuck still smoked and he is still smoking today.

Chuck and I have had our ups and downs when it comes to money, just like everyone else these days. During the course of our marriage he was unemployed 2 times, in 1983 and 2007. Plus, I came from a DIVORCED family. My mom and dad seperated when I was 2 1/2 years old and I was raised by my mother. My brother and I hardly ever saw my dad, until I was a teenager, then he wanted to start a relationship with us, which was way too late.

Now, if you read this study that they have done, we should have been DIVORCED a long time ago. With my life how it was before I even got married I had many strikes against me going into a marriage. I really would like to know who does these studies, and on who they do these studies on, because I don't believe any of them.

I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THIS STUDY AND WHAT I TOLD YOU OF MY LIFE. I can tell you that Chuck and I are very happy with our marriage and with our life. It may not have been what we would have wanted, but it is what God has chosen for our life together as one.

A BIG Thank You From Doris for the help in Finding Don

This note comes to all of you well after the wonderful news has already spread but this is the first opportunity I have had to get online.

It seems and is so small to put into words the depth of gratitude I feel for absolutely everyone who has prayed, searched, posted flyers, sent emails, sent cards, gave donations, telephoned, and everything else I can't think of to enumerate in helping bring back my husband, Don. Literally, the hundreds of people who put their lives on hold for eight days to help me is still staggering. Certainly, I will never forget what you all have done for me. I still and probably will never know all the hands and hearts involved in this massive effort to come along side of me in this situation. I still receive emails, etc. from people I do not know but always they start out with "you don't know me Doris but I'm a friend of...." and the list goes on.

Most importantly my faith with God and the outpouring of love you all have shown me is what carried me through this ordeal. Without God, without all of you, sustaining throught these days would have been unimaginable.

As you many of you already know, tonight, July 12th, from 7-9 p.m. my magnificent church, Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, Bethlehem is holding a special praise service in celebration of Don's return. It is open to anyone and everyone. If you are able, come rejoice with us.

Again, the word thank you does not even begin to cover the level of love and appreciation I hold in my heart for all of you. There are not enough words in existence to express or convey my feelings of love and gratitude toward all of you.

In closing, I anxiously await my opportunity when I can "pay it forward" to all of you.

In Christ's Love and In Mine,
Doris

Jelly Beans Blog

I got this off of one of Steph's posted comments. I thought this Blog is very interesting to read if you have children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Great recipes, and interesting books for kids to read. Then I found their children's clothes website, called the Jellybeans a Childrens Boutique. They are located in Wauchula, Florida, the central part of Florida. I just love their style of clothing for girls for the summer weather. They even sell clothes for toddler boys and they have interesting games too.

Check out their online store, if you can't go to Florida, bring Florida to Pennslyvania or anywhere else in the country.

The Video is Removed

I got to much flack about the video, so I removed it. I'm sorry if it offended anyone, it wasn't meant to. Never ever again, you won't have to worry.

Here is my little sweet, Jacob

We all been praying for Jacob because of his exzema. He was really scrathing at himself where he was bleeding, but he never whimpered at all. So, you never knew he was bleeding. He is just so sweet and rambunctious.

Justin and his dinosaur presents

Justin was thrilled when he got dinosaurs for his birthday. He got a puppet one, he got one he can stuff himself, he got dinosaur books. He was a very happy camper.

Leanna and her American Doll

I believe Leanna was happy to get an American Doll but I don't think she was happy to get her picture taken. Just look at her face.

The Birthday Siblings

Here are the siblings, Justin turned 5 years old on June 27, 2009 and his sister turned 8 years old on June 19, 2009. Their father's birthday, my son, turned 35 years old on June 30, 2009.

Nanny-Sue and Timothy

I couldn't resists these cute pictures of Timothyon my lap. He can be so cute with those funny faces he makes.

Six food fixes that help beat belly bloat

Thought this was very interesting to help us to maintain a less bloated belly during those holiday picnics.

Leanna and her Nanny-Sue, look alikes.

This is the best I could do to compare us.
My grandmother used to give me perms because I had poker straight hair. You couldn't do anything with it and it wouldn't hold a curl in just plain curlers. I was about 5 years old.

In this picture I was about 1 year old. As you can see I enjoyed swinging and rocking, even to this day.

Here is Leanna at the age of 8. I am comparing pictures of her and I, as people keep telling me she and I look alike. The next picture is of me at the age of 9 in my grandparent's backyard.


What do you people think, Do we or Don't we look alike? That is the BIG question.