Willie Nelson - The Harder They Come

Jimmy Cliff sang this song in the movie "The Harder They Come" which I watched in my Film Appreciation class my last year of college and now my gosh look who is singing it now. The ONE AND ONLY WILLIE NELSON......

Home - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros Acoustic Cover (Jorge & Alex...

Oh my gosh........If we only REALLY knew how our actions in our lives affect our children...........I don't know the circumstances in this video for sure but I do know that the mistakes we make are felt forever by our children...................

Paw and Carlee at Christmas 2010

Chloe' and Carson at Christmas 2010

Grayson visiting us for the weekend! Dear God, how I miss my baby!
My prayer is for protection and Your Grace dear Lord............

Grayson, February 14, 2011
MY BABY!

David Cook - Light On

AI Finale - Jason Castro - Hallelujah - High Quality

Wow what else can I say.  I had forgotten how awesome he was! 

External Ear Canal Infections

Okay, I have not been swimming since this past summer and I didn't even stick my head under the water.  Last Monday my left ear began to feel funny.  It went from feeling funny to sounding like something was sssshhhhh in my ear, then, I could feel my heart beating so bad in my ear that I could not sleep.  I decided it was time to go to the doctor. She looked at it and said it was an external ear canal infection, "swimmer's ear" in layman terms.  She decided to irrigate it.  A syringe with very warm water was placed in my ear with an extreme amount of pressure to flush out anything in my ear.  It hurt!  After they dried my neck and ear out the doctor came back in and looked again.  Puss, puss was lingering.  No wonder it hurt so bad.  She prescribed me some drops and put me on antibiotics.  Four days later it is some better but not as much as I had hoped for.  I still am not sleeping well because of the sssshhhh sound in my ear and the loss of hearing I have developed.  I hope soon to have full use of both my ears as I hate having to turn the other cheek to everyone who speaks to me..................

Definition


By Mayo Clinic staff
Swimmer's ear is an infection in the outer ear canal, which runs from your eardrum to the outside of your head. It's often brought on by water that remains in your ear after swimming, creating a moist environment that aids bacterial growth.
Putting fingers, cotton swabs or other objects in your ears also can lead to swimmer's ear by damaging the thin layer of skin lining your ear canal.
Swimmer's ear is also known as acute external otitis or otitis externa. The most common cause of this infection is bacteria invading the skin inside your ear canal. Swimmer's ear is usually treated successfully with eardrops. Prompt treatment can help prevent complications and more-serious infections.

Symptoms


By Mayo Clinic staff
Outer ear infection
Swimmer's ear symptoms are usually mild at first, but they may get worse if your infection isn't treated or spreads. Doctors often classify swimmer's ear according to mild, moderate and advanced stages of progression.
Mild signs and symptoms
■Itching in your ear canal
■Slight redness inside your ear
■Mild discomfort that's made worse by pulling on your outer ear (pinna, or auricle) or pushing on the little "bump" (tragus) in front of your ear
■Some drainage of clear, odorless fluid
Moderate progression
■More intense itching
■Increasing pain
■More extensive redness in your ear
■Excessive fluid drainage
■Discharge of pus
■Feeling of fullness inside your ear and partial blockage of your ear canal by swelling, fluid and debris
■Decreased or muffled hearing

Advanced progression
■Severe pain that may radiate to your face, neck or side of your head
■Complete blockage of your ear canal
■Redness or swelling of your outer ear
■Swelling in the lymph nodes in your neck
■Fever

When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor if you're experiencing any signs or symptoms of swimmer's ear, even if they're mild.
Call your doctor right away or visit the emergency room if you have severe pain or a fever.

Causes


By Mayo Clinic staff

Swimmer's ear is an infection that's usually caused by bacteria commonly found in water and soil. Infections caused by a fungus or a virus are less common.
Your ear's natural defenses
Your outer ear canals have natural defenses that help keep them clean and prevent infection. Protective features include:
■Glands that secrete a waxy substance (cerumen). These secretions form a thin, water-repellant film on the skin inside your ear. Cerumen is also slightly acidic, which helps further discourage bacterial growth. In addition, cerumen collects dirt, dead skin cells and other debris and helps move these particles out of your ear. The waxy clump that results is the familiar earwax you find at the opening of your ear canal.
■Downward slope of your ear canal. Your ear canal slopes down slightly from your middle ear to your outer ear, helping water drain out.
How the infection occurs
If you have swimmer's ear, your natural defenses have been overwhelmed. Conditions that can weaken your ear's defenses and promote bacterial growth include:
Excess moisture in your ear. Heavy perspiration, prolonged humid weather or water that remains in your ear after swimming can create a favorable environment for bacteria.
■Scratches or abrasions in your ear canal. Cleaning your ear with a cotton swab or hairpin, scratching inside your ear with a finger, or wearing headphones or hearing aids can cause small breaks in the skin that allow bacteria to grow.
■Sensitivity reactions. Hair products or jewelry can cause allergies and skin conditions that promote infection.

Risk factors


By Mayo Clinic staff

Factors that may increase your risk of swimmer's ear include:

■Swimming

■Swimming in water with elevated bacteria levels, such as a lake rather than a well-maintained pool

■A narrow ear canal — for example, in a child — that can more easily trap water

■Excessive earwax production

■Aggressive cleaning of the ear canal with cotton swabs or other objects

■Use of devices such as headphones, a hearing aid or a swim cap

■Skin allergies or irritation from jewelry, hair spray or hair dyes

Complications


By Mayo Clinic staff
Swimmer's ear usually isn't serious if treated promptly, but complications can occur:
■Temporary hearing loss. You may experience muffled hearing that usually gets better after the infection clears up.

■Long-term infection (chronic otitis externa). An outer ear infection is usually considered chronic if signs and symptoms persist for more than three months. Chronic infections are more common if there are conditions that make treatment difficult, such as a rare strain of bacteria, an allergic skin reaction, an allergic reaction to antibiotic eardrops, or a combination of a bacterial and fungal infection.

■Deep-tissue infection (cellulitis). Chronic swimmer's ear may result in the spread of infection into deep layers and connective tissues of the skin.

■Bone and cartilage damage (necrotizing otitis externa). An outer ear infection that spreads can cause inflammation and damage to the skin and cartilage of the outer ear and bones of the lower part of the skull, causing increasingly severe pain. Older adults, people with diabetes or people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of this complication. Necrotizing otitis externa is also known as malignant otitis externa, but it's not a cancer.

■More widespread infection. If swimmer's ear develops into necrotizing otitis externa, the infection may spread and affect other parts of your body, such as the brain or nearby nerves. This rare complication can be life-threatening

Thinking

I thought that we'd grow old together, and lord I miss him now!

reminiscing...

life... its a lovehate situation.

These are just a few of many quotes over the last few days that my darling granddaughter has posted  on facebook.  Christmas is a very hard time of year when you spend it without those who are no longer here to share it with.  Christmas Eve I was at Mary's watching her make cookies and talking when I made a comment about growing old and time going by so fast and how scary it was.  I guess I was expressing the emotions that have been tearing at me lately since Kim died and how fast we go from being young and healthy to being older and wondering about our health and well being.  I looked at my daugther and granddaughter and started to cry.  I mean it's sad to think that someday we will not be here to see the ones we love so much...... Whatever the real comment was............. I forget my actual words...............Kathryn said something to the effect about not having to be old to die.................With tears welling up in her eyes and softly falling down her young beautiful face she said, "it doesn't matter how old you are, David was only 21".  You are right Kathryn.  Life is so uncertain............so unfair sometimes.................I know this Christmas was hard for you............Since David has been gone your life has been so empty and sad. I know the first Christmas since he has been gone will be the worst Christmas of your life.  Death of someone we love teaches us to say, "I love you."   It teaches us to not take each other for granted and to spend a little more time doing the little things that mean so much more and not letting moments pass by without a smile or hug.  At least thats how it should be. We need to say I am sorry more often and mean it.  We need to say I love you and mean it.  We need to take the time to enjoy those we love.  The little things in life are what count in the end.  The material things and the money we work so hard for, are worth nothing.  They can not comfort us when we are sick or dying...But a hug, a kiss, a smile and a touch can bring us that comfort we all long for.  I remember before Jimmy's mother passed away how everyone of her children and grandchildren were at her bedside for days.  This made a lasting impression on me because my grandmother passed away alone, with no one to hold her hand and whisper words of comfort as she slipped away to be with God.  This made me so sad. 
A few weeks ago Mama and I fixed some Christmas flowers and I took them to the cemetery.  I got out of the truck and walked over to where she was resting peacefully.  I sat down and pressed my face against her tombstone.  I talked to her as if she were sitting next to me.  " Mama Lola can you believe that your oldest granddaughter is almost 60?"  I miss you so much", I said, "I wish you were here to see my beautiful grandchildren that you never met.  Chloe', Joleigh, Katie, Stone, Kaiden and Grayson would touch your heart.  I wish they could taste your dumplings and fried apple-butter pies.  I miss your smile and laughing eyes, your humor and your hugs and kisses.  I miss the way you loved me.  I miss YOU!"  I kissed her stone and rubbed my hand over her name then stood up, got in my truck, and drove home. 

Memories have to be made..................in order to be remembered......................

Gary Allan Man to Man

Gary Allan at Rabbs in Ruston.

Thanksgiving Feast

Today is the day before Thanksgiving and we are getting ready to cook up a storm for tomorrow, literally.  The weather outside is forcast to be stormy but inside we are going to have a blessed day with family and delicious food.  I am in Magnolia for Thanksgiving.  Tonight I am going to make my cornbread for the dressing I am going to fix tomorrow.  I learned to make dressing from my Mama Lola, who taught my Mama and I learned from both of them.  I make a traditional Southern cornbread dressing.  I always cook my onions and celery in my cornbread to make sure they are tender and the dressing is full of flavor.  My broth will be homemade too because the richer the broth the better the dressing.  In the morning I am going to make a German potato salad.  We are having Thanksgiving at Mary's, my oldest daughter's house.  She is going to smoke a ham and a turkey.  There will be so many side dishes and desserts to devour.  Ummmmmmmmmm!  We will all be together except for Michael, Kylie, Katie, Stone, and Kaiden.  Michael and Kylie are going to Dallas to see the Saints kick butt.  We will miss them being with us but I know they are going to have a blast.  Mary mentioned this morning that I make some homemade dumplings, hmmmmmm, maybe.  I usually make such a mess but they sure would be good.  It took me a long time to perfect that one.  Another thing I learned from Mama Lola.  She made the best dumplings in the world.  I do have to say that Mamaw Addie made great dumplings too. She was Mary, Michael and Liz's paternal grandmother.  I found this recipe online for the potato salad.  I have made it before but had forgot and all my cookbooks are boxed up.  Here is the recipe.  It is soooooooo good.  Much better than regular potato salad.

Prep Time:
10 Min

Cook Time:
45 Min

Ready In:
55 Min

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes
• 4 slices bacon
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop.
2. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Reserve bacon fat.
3. Add the flour, sugar, water and vinegar to skillet and cook in reserved bacon fat over medium heat until dressing is thick.
4. Add bacon, potatoes and green onions to skillet and stir until coated. Cook until heated and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

I can not wait for tomorrow.  Thanksgiving food is just the best.  Especially when you share it with those you love so much!  I will probably gain a few tomorrow but hey, it is soooooooooo worth it.........  I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and let's just remember before we sit down to eat all that great food what the day is all about and to give thanks for all our blessings. 


The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.  No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.  ~H.U. Westermayer


There is one day that is ours.  There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to.  Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.  ~O. Henry


God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.  ~Izaak Walton

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~Thornton Wilder

And I had to add this quote I found just for fun because you see the Saints are playing the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day, 2010.
So here it is.....................

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! 


 On Thanksgiving Day, all over America, families sit down to dinner at the same moment - halftime.  ~Author Unknown

My baby Grayson playing in the sand with his trucks.....................

THANKSGIVING

In school last week the student's English teacher asked them to write an essay about what Thanksgiving meant to them or to write about what they are thankful for.  So, as I have heard many teachers say in class, "with that being said", I want to write a short essay on what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. I heard Glen Beck speak about Thanksgiving and Christmas on Fox News this past Friday and what he said made me stop and think about a lot of things.  In fact, if I can find the show, I will embed it in this essay, if not, I will just write my thoughts alone.We all have a tendency to want more in our lives. To have a lot of money, buy things we want, go places we have never been and on and on and on......  And I will have to admit that I am the same way.  But when I stop and think about what I already have and what so many people do not have then I am so ashamed of putting my wants and desires first, instead of others. 


I am so thankful this Thanksgiving for my family.  Before anything else.  I am not saying that I have the perfect family and I am the perfect wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, so on and whatever', I am just saying my family means everything to me.  I am thankful that those I love and let down, forgive me and love me anyway.  That is what love is all about anyway, is it not?  Unconditional!  I am thankful that God saw fit to bless me with a family to call my own because there are many out there in this world who do not have anyone.  Can you imagine spending Thanksgiving day alone?  What is worse is spending it on a street bench or under an overpass cold and hungry.  Or laying on the ground sick and dying from cholera like those people in Haiti.


I am so thankful I have a roof over my head and enough to eat each day.  There are people in our own little neck of the world who do not.

I am thankful for the Blessings of God.............Who takes care of my needs no matter how small and or trivial they may seem.  I know He does not take care of them exactly how I want Him to sometimes but He takes care of them. 

I believe I am most thankful this Thanksgiving for the freedom to believe however I wish and in Whomever I wish............. of course "with that being said"  that would be my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  And most of all for ANSWERED PRAYER, UNANSWEREhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gXmN2IS8dYD PRAYER AND ESPECIALLY FORGIVENESS. Thank you God for forgiving me, your child who makes many many mistakes. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gXmN2IS8dY

Winter seems to be around the bend and reminds me of this poem by Emily Dickinson

THERE’S a certain slant of light,

On winter afternoons,
That oppresses, like the weight
Of cathedral tunes.

Heavenly hurt it gives us; 5
We can find no scar,
But internal difference
Where the meanings are.

None may teach it anything,
’T is the seal, despair,— 10
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the air.

When it comes, the landscape listens,
Shadows hold their breath;
When it goes, ’t is like the distance 15
On the look of death.

Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me

 Sometimes going back is a catharsis we all need..... Brings us back to where we were and maybe help us to get back to where we want to be.....................

Blake Shelton - Home (Video)

No place like home, its where the ones you love are, no matter where that may be..........Home, a place to settle, to be yourself, to feel at peace and tranquil in thought and mind........

Memories

Pieces of yesterday, forever embedded in your heart, soul and unconcious thought process.  A loved one who has left this world but lives forever in your heart. That favorite pet or pets that made you laugh and cry.  Those moments which made you the person you are.  The tears that fell for someone you loved and lost.  The tears you cry for what you've lost in yourself.  Memories never die.........They may sometimes fade a little over time but they are still there inside waiting for you to retrieve them and remember.....

Tim McGraw-Let It Go

Daddy's 83 Birthday cake!!!!!!!!!!! He loves him some LSU!

I think he liked his picture of Gray in his LSU cap...............Happy Birthday Daddy!

My Daddy's 83 Birthday! Happy Birthday Daddy! September 27, 2010.

Where's the sandbox?????????????????

Grayson and his Daddy playing with his trucks in the sand. October 2, 2010.

Grayson playing with his train that him and his Daddy put up. October 2010.

Gray's trainset that him and his Daddy put up every weekend!

Grayson October 10. 2010

Tucking his jeans into his boots like a
real Cowwwwwwwwwboy!

My little hay baler!

His own way of baleing hay!

Grayson, what a little sweetie pie you are...............
Love you soooooooooooooooooo much!

Grayson playing in the hay one fine fall day, October 10, 2010.

Grayson and his Daddy

Grayson is enjoying his Daddy spending time with him October 10. 2010.

Disney - Turn, turn turn

HEY MY LITTLE COWBOY! WHATCHA SEE?

GRAYSON YOU HAVE THE BIGGEST EYES, THE BIGGEST SMILE AND
THE BIGGEST HEART. DEBBIE AND DADDY LOVE YOU!

WHAT CAN YOU SAY? WHAT A SWEET PRECIOUS GIFT FROM GOD, OUR LITTLE
GRAYSON. WE LOVE YOU BEYOND MEASURE. EVEN AS  WE TAKE OUR ARMS
AND WRAP THEM AROUND BEHIND US AS FAR AS THEY WILL GO, THEN AROUND
ALL ETERNITY!

OUR LITTLE DOLL/COWBOY/HAY BALER/ROCK STAR/TREE CUTTER/LITTLE DOLL!

TRANQUILITY

GRAYSON IS ENJOYING THE PEACE AND QUIET WHILE WAITING ON HIS DADDY!

I WOULD RUN IF I WERE YOU!