Best Gifts

Hello, I hope you are enjoying your weekend. Yesterday I turned 49, and as I get older Birthdays have a different meaning to me then they use to. To me they are not about the gifts I get or didn't get, who remembered or who didn't. My Birthday's have become a day that I reflect on my life and where I am at. I think of life as a constant work in progress because we all have room for growth. So as I reflect each Birthday, I think of how have I progressed this year, if at all, and how is it going to add to my life in the coming year. I think this year my personal progress was acceptance. I have come to accept the circumstances of this past year with less anger, less need to control all of it. The circumstances that brought about my anger and/or frustration were job gain and then job loss, but with the acceptance of that one job loss, along came a better job. This year, I know for sure, that the hardest thing I learned to accept was Death. I no longer question why, I no longer curse the Gods for it. I've always known Death was a part of life, but at this point in my life, I didn't expect so much of it, and it angered me, hurt me, but with acceptance, I can now have peace with it. So as I head into the next year of life, I can honestly say, I get it now when they say your middle ages bring you more freedom. Learning true acceptance has helped to let go of so much, and in letting go, I've got peace and personal freedom. Who could ask or want for better gifts than those! Not me, not at all.
Thanks for reading my deep thoughts!
Janet :)

Roaring Times

Hello, Happy Saturday! This weekend we will be celebrating my Father in law's 86th Birthday. I couldn't have asked for a sweeter Father in law. He has been nothing but loving and supportive since I came into his life in 1983. Celebrating his birthday this weekend got me thinking about what life was like when he was born. So here are a few tidbits of what life was like in the Roaring 20's. I think Roaring is the perfect description of what that generation stood for. Times were a changing, especially for women!
Have a great weekend,
Janet :)


Larry, my Father in Law, with my late
Mother in Law, Elsie


Many of the automotive innovations that we think of as being modern
were in fact introduced in the 1920's. Things like electric powered cars,
four wheel drive, front wheel drive, and even hybrid fuel/electric cars.


The movies, radio shows, sophisticated advertising, and popular magazines all had an influence on the lives of 1920's youth who saw themselves as different from the older generation. Young people began to model themselves on movie and sports stars who represented a glamorous new age, but they also took on many of the negative traits of their idols like smoking, bad language, immorality, and selfishness. And so the new youth culture manifested itself as the flapper and Sheik


During Prohibition, Whiskey could be obtained by prescription from medical doctors. The labels clearly warned that it was strictly for medicinal purposes and any other uses were illegal, but even so doctors freely wrote prescriptions and drug-stores filled them without question, so the number of "patients" increased dramatically. No attempt was made to stop this practice, so many people got their booze this way. Over a million gallons were consumed per year through freely given prescriptions


The Roaring Twenties redefined womanhood — a new woman evolved; it became more acceptable to smoke and drink in public, closer body contact in dancing, shorter hair, make-up, different styles of dress, and greater participation in the workforce - all contributed to the new woman.

Go on, give it a try lol!

From coast to coast the " Charleston'' has caught the country swaying to its curious rhythm. No dance, since jazz first came into vogue with the "bunny-hug" and the "turkey-trot," has created such a furore. Enthusiasts ecstatically stamp to its syncopated measures, while others, equally in earnest, denounce it. But the controversy that is carried on everywhere concerning this latest mania has failed to stem its tide of popularity. America is "Charleston" mad

Believe More Than Ever Before

Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all doing well. I am doing great. It was a great week in Paradise, if you have never been to Aruba and some day you plan a trip I would highly recommend it, but ask me about where we stayed. Some are better than others. When we arrived they gave us a free two bedroom upgrade that had an ocean view which was a minute walk away from us. They have specials every night at their two bars one at the hotel and one on the beach. Two for one etc, barbecue night, great food every time we tried it in their restraints. Everyday the staff at the resort come in and make your bed and clean your room. It was the better than I expected. Today we went to Brianna's 2nd birthday, it was alot of fun. Christa got a bounce house and her and her cousins had alot of laughs. This time of year is always bittersweet. Brianna was born, yet 4 days later her grandmother Wendy died. For those of you who follow me, I don't mean to repeat this part of the story, but something happened today that I have to share and I want to fill in my new readers. When Wendy was in her last days, I went to a store that sells Angel stones. One for guardian etc. For some reason I felt compelled to buy one and when I sat with Wendy in her last day's I placed it in her hand. I whispered in her ear that I would give this Angel stone to Brianna when she is old enough to understand. There it stayed until she passed away. Christa is holding on to it and sometimes I check because I forget easily, you still have it right Christa, Ya mom LOL! Wendy also loved Angels, they were everywhere in her house. So today me and Briana wound up walking over to Christa's little garden that is filled with Wendy's Angel's that were in her garden. Then as we walked away Christa said something she has never said to me before. She told me every time Briana looks at an Angel she says Mimme which is her name for me. It hit me like a bolt of lightning and for a minute I went into shock, then before I could remind Christa she got busy doing other things. I felt Wendy let me know today she knew what I did and yes she is her Angel. It brings a tear to my eye and a smile to face because I truly believe she is watching over Brianna when I am not there and she is still with us at every gathering, Thank you Wendy I believed before, but now more than ever. One other sad note, Wendy's mother had to be taken off life support Friday. She had heart troubles and things went down from there. Her name was Lois and she was a great lady. I know she is with Wendy and her other daughter Judy who passed away a year before Wendy. Rest in peace Lois. I am glad I got to know you in my lifetime.
Thanks for visiting my blog,
Take Care,
Janet :)

Happy Birthday Karen

Hi Everyone,
Feburary 17th is my sisters birthday who I love so much and I wanted to dedicate this post to her, I wish I could do more for her as she has done so much for me and my family. I would not be the person I am without her in my life. So from my heart I wrote a simple poem.
Thanks for visiting my blog today,
Take Care,
Janet :)
Happy Birthday to the best sister in the world. You have always cared for me, when at times it was undeserved. You were the oldest when things in our house got heartbreaking, but you kept on caretaking. Your words were little, but your example said it all. Pick yourself up and carry on, love and forgive and move on. Appreciate each day as you never know what will come your way. Family is precious, embrace them and their faults, for in the end family is what matters most of all. Happy Birthday Karen and thank you so much for all you did for Mom and Dad and continue to do for us. You are truly an Angel on Earth and we are blessed.