Country Living Southern Style II

Writing is my way of working through things. The way I wrote this entry will probably not make sense to any of you and for that, I apologize in advance. Approximately one year ago, my family was betrayed by a young man we took into our home when he had nowhere else to go. While my daughter, my son, and Hubby have seemingly moved past it, I have not. I am trying, but there is such pain there, I am still trying to work through it. I tend to be a fixer, a peacemaker if you will, but through all of this, I have learned that some things just cannot be fixed. If you are still interested read on and I hope it makes some kind of sense. It does to me and that is what matters, I guess. I let someone influence me not in a good way. I usually make up my mind about people on their own merit, not because of somebody else's opinion of them. I am sad to say I let myself be influenced by someone's opinion of another. All I knew of her was what I was told by him and he happened to be on the outs...

I just have to take a moment and tell all of you how much I appreciate your taking the time to comment me and let me know I was in your prayers and good thoughts. I cannot tell you how much that means to me. You are the greatest friends one could ask for and I treasure each of you. Part of the problem has been resolved. I hope the other part goes as smoothly. To make a long story short, I had a major tif with two family members, one being my sis and the other being my 1st cousin who is like a sis to me because my Mom helped raise her. My sis and I worked things out last night at my daughter's Halloween party, so we are cool. I took all the blame, hugged her, told her I didn't want any major problems with her like that again, and that I loved her very much. Haven't seen my cuz yet to work it out with her, but hope to real soon. I am confident it can be worked out. Last night, we had a Halloween party at my Mom's on the lake for my daughter. She invited 30 kids. Six showe...

I'm the mouse here. I have had a most emotionally draining day and could so use prayers and/or good thoughts. I thank you in advance. Susan

I have learned why I have pretty much become a hermit and keep to myself. I obviously don't have sense enough to socialize or be in public. I never seem to say the right things. Is there not anybody out there that understands me and won't judge me? Is there anybody I can talk around without fear of saying the wrong thing and being misunderstood? That knows me well enough to know I do not have a mean bone in my body, and that knows I am a good person, a person worth knowing. I am repeatedly told I get too involved. If I do, it's because I care. Why does that always have to be such a bad thing? We went to Wal-Mart today to pick up a few things. My son and daughter were with me. He kept getting on to me for getting in people's way. I was oblivious. They were getting angry with me. It sux to be sick and not have a brain anymore. I will be driving and have blank-outs. Notice I did not say black out, I said blank-out. Everything I know will just leave me, my mind just goes bl...

Graphic courtesy of my friend, Anna ( annalisa135@aol.com ). I have spent a large portion of my life taking folks with needs, mostly kids, into my home. The first one was a family member, he was the oldest one. He had fallen on hard times and had nowhere else to go. This kid grew up knowing what it was like to have to live out of a car with his parents and four other siblings, so it really blesses my heart to see him be so successful financially now, especially in these hard times. I took a cousin's child in when she had fallen on hard times. I actually went to court and got physical custody of her son (with her permission), mostly to keep him out of the clutches of alcoholic grandparents. I happily returned him to her after she met a decent man even before they got married; however, they did go on to get married, and have now been married for 20 years. They own a beautiful place in the country and have went on to have a daughter and they attend church regularly. Their son is old e...

Graphic courtesy of my friend, Linda (fasttrack58) Conversation between Hubby and me: HUBBY: "Where is my wife? I want my wife back." ME: "I don't know. I want her back too!" Since this thing called menopause has settled into my life, I am so not the sweet humble person people are used to. For several years now I have been "losing" myself. Menopause has made me evil, and the kicker is I really cannot help it. Not only has it changed my personality, but I have the mouth of a sailor. I am sure my minister Father has turned over several times in his grave. Even my own mother has commented on it. I am so not proud of it. It has gotten to where I am afraid to leave my house because I am afraid I will go off on somebody and live to regret it or greatly embarrass myself. My husband went with me a little while back to the vet to pick up one of our animals. I had gone off on the receptionist earlier in the day, but profusely apologized to her late...

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought I would use one of Sugar's graphics. Hopefully, it will remind us to do our self examination and bring about awareness for breast cancer. I got all my journals transferred, except for my photo journal. Doesn't look like my photos transferred well in any of my journals so I didn't see the point. I will redo it at some point and time when I have a few minutes, but don't hold your breath! The one thing I did like better on AOL was the cool way we could display our photos. Wish they would to that here. I still have a few things to figure out, but have settled in quite nicely. The main thing is I have to figure out how to merge my Old Country Living Southern Style with my new one. I had already recreated it over here before I learned they were going to figure out a way to transfer them and it didn't automatically join with my new one. They sent me instructions on how to do it, but I don't understand them. Do...

Thirty years ago today, October 7, 1978, I was in a white dress and veil walking down the isle to say I do to the love of my life, Donnie. Just months before, I had broken off an engagement with another guy that I had dated for probably 1.5 years. Donnie had also just been through a prior fairly long relationship where there had been talk of marriage. It is at this time of my reminiscing that I am glad that those prayers I prayed to God to be with the one prior to Donnie went unanswered. Donnie, too, had prayed and prayed about being with his prior girlfriend. They had planned to grow old and gray together and he was quite devastated when she broke things off with him, but you see, God had another plan… It started one night when my sister wanted me to go with her to her boyfriend, Melvin’s church to meet a friend of his. She was telling me how goodlooking she thought this guy was and how she felt we would be perfect for each other. I still wasn’t over my boyfriend, but I went along wit...

Aunt Mary took the photo of Mary Jane posed so pretty on the Victorian-looking sofa in our living room in our house in Broomfield, CO while she was visiting us from Alaska (wish I could have brought that furniture back with me to Alabama, but it would not fit on the moving truck ::sigh::). MJ's previous owner had in her records that she is part Siberian Husky and part Australian Shepherd. Her right eye is half brown and half blue while her left eye is totally brown (you can tell somewhat in the head shot pic). Sadly, she has developed glaucoma in her right eye, so it is hard to see the color now. ::sniff:: I have had people argue me down that she is a Border Collie. Border Collies usually have more white in them than MJ does. I have looked up both the Siberian Husky and Australian Shepherd and have found dogs of Mary Jane's coloring in both breeds. She loves having her belly rubbed, as you can see in the photo of my daughter and her. Lemme tell ya, this is one spoiled mutt (I...

Pardon me, if you have already read this entry in my original journal on AOHELL. This is a favorite personal entry and I don't want to lose it, so I beg your pardon making you have to read it again if that is indeed the case. The original post is as follows: My baby girl was supposed to be going to her homecoming dance tonight, but she didn't make it because she was having trouble breathing and did not feel like going. My Mom had spent some money to outfit her. It breaks my heart she didn't get to go. Tears rolled down her face. It tore me up. Maybe when she is feeling more up to it, she can dress up in her outfit and I can at least take pictures of her. Her dress is gorgeous and fits her like a glove. The theme was Hollywood and all the kids were supposed to dress up like a Hollywood star. I have been tending to her and my husband since his work accident a few days ago. It made me think about what I have to leave behind when it is my time to go and I leave this world. My...

I have been urged by some of you in J-Land at AOL to please continue my Country Living Southern Style journal, so per your request, here I am! It really sux that AOL is doing this to us! I have been a part of AOL since 1997! I have had journals on AOL since 2005. I started my first journal while living in Colorado. It was called Susan's Shenanigans, but then I had to delete it because of an online stalker. He eventually found me again at CLSS , but I just made my journal private. I decided to come on over like everyone else since several of you have urged me to. I like AOL much better, I think it is way more user friendly, but guess they don't feel us journalers bring them enough revenue. ::big sigh:: Nevertheless, I have made some wonderful friends in J-Land from around the world. I hope to stay in touch with all of you either through email or blogging. I apologize that I have not had the time to stop by and keep up with every entry. Life keeps me busy, for sure! I look forw...