It's Been A Year

Tomorrow is the Anniversary of my Journal's First Entry... I cannot believe it's been a year already! Life. Oh, what a year can bring...

I started Journaling shortly after my guy decided to go back on the road. He's a long haul truck driver, and being so, he is gone a lot more than I like. I miss him so much it hurts. Being able to write my thoughts and feelings to him in my private Journal allowed me to feel closer to him while he was away. I eventually ventured out and started reading other Journals, and wanted a place to share my stories and own amateur photos.

Some of my favorite entries of the past year:

Black with Gold Trim ~ A story of Harley, my first Yorkie. Just a month after this posting, we lost Harley. He's now waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge.

My Baby Girl ~ A photo collage of my daughter.

Peanut, Our Little Miracle Yorkie ~ Peanut almost didn't make it.

My Idaho & Puppies ~ Beauty in my backyard and Puppies all summer long.

For all my regular visitors, your comments mean so much to me. Thank You all. Sonya, thank you for the graphic!

Here's a current photo of Sadie, one of Lucy's puppies we kept. Sadie will be six months old this week.

Summer's End

What a summer it's been... My son worked his summer away at his first real job, my Mom has had a rough go of it with her chemo treatments, my Dad has been by her side the whole time, my guy has been gone all summer long, puppies came and went, and more.

My Son... School is going well for my son, if you can tell much by the third week of school. A Junior in high school this year, and he's already earning college credits with some of his classes. We're pretty excited about that! He tells me he can manage working and going to school, and promises his grades will not suffer. I have asked him to cut back his hours at work, he's only 16 years old. In Idaho, once you're 16, there are no limits on the number of hours worked or the time worked in a day. My wish is that he's home by 10 p.m., he's not made it here before midnight already twice this week. ARGH! He needs the job to support that old truck he bought (his Dad bought for him) last spring.

My Mom... Bless her heart. She had only two more chemo treatments left and was told she could not continue the treatments. She's developed a condition in her feet that has left her barely able to walk. If she continued with chemo, it's very possible she may have permanent damage to her feet. Radiation treatments started this week and is planned to continue for six weeks. She'll have to have another biopsy done later this week for new found lump. Will this ever end? I keep trying to tell her, and myself, she'll make it through this. These treatments are tough, but she'll make it through. God, I pray I'm right.

My Guy... Tonight, he's in hot and humid, Thomasville, Georgia. Today, he drove through what looked like a war zone; New Orleans, Gulfport and Biloxi via Interstate 10. The interstate was clear of all debris, but the devastation he described over the phone, of what he was witnessing from the cab of his truck, was unbelievable. He's happy to be doing his part in helping Katrina victims by delivering badly needed supplies. After almost two weeks of delivering in the south, he'll be heading west, for home. It'll be good to have him home.

Puppies... Our first litter of puppies came early this spring. Almost eight weeks later, we had our second litter of puppies. The puppies stay with us at least eight weeks before letting them go to their new homes, so I had puppies all spring and summer long. I loved it! They kept me busy and out of trouble. Sadie is one of Lucy's puppies we decided to keep, and she's doing great! I need to get a new photo of Sadie to share with you all. I'll work on that this weekend.

I've learned a new trick... I've been playing with hyperlinks, inserting them throughout my entry. I feel I need to multi-task here, and make sure I enter photos too. All words and no photos, hmm, not sure I like that. LOL The above photo is a rose from my yard... I wasn't thrilled with the original shot so played with my photo editor, and wa-la! I like it!

September 11th, 2001

September 11th, 2001... It's been four years since the tragedy at NYC, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania where the fallen airliner found it's final resting place, tragedy for all of America. I will never forget the unbelievable 'live' seens I saw from my t.v. that beautiful, September morning. On this anniversary of that horrific event, I think of those who lost loved ones, four years ago today.

Feelings

I have been overwhelmed with emotions and frustration this past week, while watching the devastation of the Gulf States unfold on t.v. I am embarrassed that our great American country, what's considered the strongest country in the world, has taken so long to help our fellow Americans in such desperate need, in all the areas hit hard by Katrina.

Seems our troops have been dwindled down to so few over the years, and the few troops we have have been sent over seas to help other nations, leaving us vulnerable to emergencies like Katrina.

I have done what I can from Idaho, far, far away from the devastation, and will do more as I can. My guy is driving loads of food to the areas in need. His company has been asked to drive for larger companies donating to F.E.M.A. He may be gone for a long while, transporting food and supplies from all points to hurricane hit destinations.

I am thankful my 22 year old niece and her little family, 2 year old Gabrielle and her Daddy, made it out safely after staying in one of the hospitals in Marrero, LA, until Tuesday evening. She made it to West Virginia, the night before last, to stay with her Mom for awhile. My niece's home is in Marrero, LA. Rumor has it her home is dry, built 6 feet above sea level, but has wind damage. I pray for all those displaced and left without anything, that they will find a way to create a new life.

Gabrielle, while here on her first visit to Idaho, last November.