WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JULY 2014

Sylvia, if you felt so bad that you considered calling an ambulance, you should have called the ambulance. Please take care

Joyce

Ditto

Ok, I know I haven't been posting. It seems when I'm not riding then I'm not posting. Still have a lame horse. Anyway, I wanted to share what we consider a miracle.

My daughter is a student at Vanderbilt. It was an honor to get accepted as the acceptance rate was only 12 percent. She could afford it because her Mom had little income and residential custody. Well her Mom committed suicide just weeks before my daughter started school. It was a rough year for Cassie but she made it. Her dorm rallied around her and now she has the best group of friends possible and she is so happy.

Unfortunately she just got notified that she will get no financial aid this year and after what she saved and what we could contribute and her academic scholarship she was still $24,000 short for this year. With my husband now unemployed we had no possibility of even borrowing more. So she did what so many people are doing now. She set up a GoFundMe. In two days she had had more donations that she needed. Three news stations want to interview her and the school wants to discuss further possibilities. People are still donating and even though she only asked for enough for this semester, should it continue to generate money we will have funds available for next year too. We are amazed at the generosity of strangers, many of whom are Vandy graduates and students. I'm putting the link so you can see it, not for donations. It is heartwarming.

http://www.gofundme.com/b0qedg

Wessecg, It's nice to hear from you again. What a very bright, forward looking daughter you have! She will go far with such a good outlook and imaginative way of solving problems!

Eileen near San Diego

Joyce, my heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to you, today I had a personal counseling session and received a copy of...

Let Go.

it is pretty long and I will try to get time to get it on here, but here are a few lines that may help...

To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else...

To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization I can't control another...

To let go is to admit powerlessness which means the outcome is not in my hands...

I hope these help, for me these are affirmations that I need to remember in my everyday life..

Take care, Carol in Monroe

morning ladies~
Sylvia dont usually have little debbies in the house.. had them here for the girls...
my hip is still bothering me quite a bit I am going to suck it up for today and then if I need to call the dr tomorrow.
I have to go up and water the garden and plants at my DB house. I hope they are enjoying the lake I know we did..

Good morning everyone!

Jane: any housing news?

Heather: lovely photo.

Meg: your bird stories make me think of my mom again. I’ve posted this story before but love it, and there are newbies, so…There was a robin's nest in the tree outside the window, and the weather had been horrible for days. My mother kept thinking of the poor little ones getting wet in their nest while the mother bird was away.
Mom got an umbrella and a ladder, climbed up the ladder in the rain and wind, and fixed the umbrella in the tree so the nest would be protected from the worst of it. All the while she was being dive-bombed by the parents - and my mother is *very* afraid of birds.
One of my most treasured stories about my Mom!
I almost always have good luck at the dentist, too.

Vicki: you’ve done so well; glad you’re enjoying your new underwear!

Kim: :flowerforyou:

Joyce: hope there’s a solution for your sister. Vent anytime.

Yanniejannie: hope the heat was bearable and that the pizza was good.

Sue: OMG, almost-chocolate chip cookie dough for breakfast. I’m going to try that, even though I’m an ‘abstainer’, so large amounts don’t work for me. I’ll try cutting the recipe down. It looks delicious.

Carol: you sound upbeat and energetic. Good for you!

Sylvia: we’re really worried. Please let the ambulance come if necessary. Something’s got to give!

Alison: 2 Little Debbies…that’s not so bad. How is your hip?

Had that conversation about work yesterday; there’s not a whole lot of news except that I won’t have to make any quick decisions before vacation time. It will probably be in September. I was please the person I talked to was friendly and forthcoming.

Working today, listening to a lot of wind and a little rain outside.

Hope everyone has a good day.
Cynthia :flowerforyou:

Good afternoon!:flowerforyou:

After I've read all your posts they really stay with me during the day, especially when some of you are having problems. While I am doing my machines, thoughts of you all keep going round my head. :flowerforyou:

Wessecq - what wonderful news on your lovely stepdaughter. I well remember when her birth mother killed herself. I am so glad things have turned around for her. A lot of it by her own efforts.:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Sylvia - so sorry to hear you are still having dizzy problems. If it's blood pressure you need to go back to your specialist super quick. Otherwise, have you had your inner ear checked out? A good friend of mine has that problem and it's horrible.

Joyce - sounds as if all those drugs are not doing any good for your sister. Whatever the reason is she should not be driving. What a terrible worry for you, but apart from telling the police to stop her driving you may have to practice the serenity prayer.:flowerforyou:

DH back at the cricket today so I have the house to myself again.:bigsmile: Will prepare pesto crusted hake for dinner with broccoli as I can pop it in the oven for 12 mins when I get back from picking him up.

Katla - I am glad you are enjoying your committee meetings. We need people like you.:flowerforyou:
The zucchini tots were from skinnytaste.com. She has changed the recipe a bit but I cook them in mini muffin tins, lightly oiled, and I use parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs. I very lightly press them into the tins. The zucchini need a lot of draining. I use layers of kitchen towel and squeeze them hard before I measure out the cup. Everyone loves them, including toddlers. For adults I serve them with a jar of chilli jam and mango chutney.
I peel my butternut squash with one of those very sharp Y shaped peelers. Then I chop off the bottom half. You need a large, sharp knife you can lean on!:laugh: Then I divide that bit up and then tackle the top half. I find it easiest to chop it and then remove the seeds. I was apalled to find out when I married DH that he was not a knife sharpener.:laugh: My previous husband always did that job. So I had to learn how to do it with a steel. I do have very good riveted Sabatier knives of all sizes. My DH has other good qualities,:bigsmile: , but he does not light fires, mend things or sharpen knives!:noway: It took me a while to get my head around that.

Well, my lovely ladies. At least we didn't lose a semi final 7-1. Poor Brazil. I feel their pain.:ohwell:

Heather in sunny Hampshire UK

Good morning ladies! It's a beautiful day here so far. I just woke up, but so far am feeling better than yesterday. I don't know what was wrong with me yesterday. It wasn't my blood pressure. I checked that as soon as I got home and it was in the ok range. I called hubby instead of an ambulance, so my car spent the night up at the studio. He said he won't take me to get it unless I'm feeling really good today. He's going to go with me this morning to take the kids to swim lessons, and we will see how I feel after that. Yesterday I didn't get really dizzy till after noon. I had a really bad headache but no angina or anything like that. Anyway, thanks to all of you for your concern. I'm sure today will be better.

Last night instead of cooking, hubby took me out to our local Italian place. He was afraid I was dizzy because I hadn't eaten enough. So, I had grilled chicken on a bed of whole-wheat spaghetti in olive oil, basil and garlic, and a side salad. I didn't even ask for it to be cooked without salt, thinking I might need the salt. It was incredibly yummy. It was a huge portion, so I only ate half and brought the rest home, but then later I finished it off, so I ate way too much yesterday and by bedtime felt sick and bloated. Of course, no surprise, my weight was up about a pound this morning. Salt and about a pound of pasta will do that.

The kids are enjoying swim lessons. Even the little guy who was terrified. Whenever I tried to teach him myself he would shriek and cling to me like Velcro, and refused to get his face in the water, but with the teacher he's ok. He even dunked himself on purpose FIVE times when she told him to. And he jumped in from the side of the pool. Of course it helps to see the other kids in the class doing it too. It's so much fun to see him improving so much every day. The girls are in the same class with each other, which they do not like, but they are learning to dive, which they do like.

I do have trouble with the kids in the van though. My mini van has two "captains chair" style seats just behind the front seats and a bench seat in the very back. So every time they get in they fight over who has to sit in the back. So today I'm having hubby fold the middle seats down into the floor so they will ALL have to sit in the back. Hee hee! I can't wait so see their faces when they climb in today! But I'm sure they will find something else to fight about.

My son told me that his ex wife is threatening to make trouble. The oldest granddaughter is not actually my son's biological child. She was 6 months old when they married, but he legally adopted her very soon after. So now the ex is threatening to tell her that she is adopted, in spite of the fact that her therapist said she is not strong enough emotionally to handle it. She has the emotional maturity of about a six year old, and she already feels like an outsider in the family. DS wants to tell her, but not right now. I think Cruella wants to drive a wedge between my son and the kids. So he doesn't know what to do. He has sole legal custody of all three kids but has been letting the kids visit her because he thought they needed to see their mom. She is still on probation for the gun charges, and living with her parents, but will soon be moving in with her new boyfriend (another scumbag). He took them out in a speedboat on their last visit without any life vests! I was livid about that, especially since they are not strong swimmers. Heck, the little guy can't swim at all! So, his choices are...he can refuse to let her see the kids, he can insist on supervised visitation, he can threaten her with loss of visitation if she doesn't agree to handle the adoption issue his way, he could tell her first - gently, or he can just let her tell and see what happens. None are very good options.

Well, I have to get around and get dressed. I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Sylvia

Good morning! I am not feeling so great today. I didn't get much sleep again last night and I feel it this morning. Last night, I received news about something I work with at church that distressed me to the point of nightmares, tears, and nausea. I was sending out emails at 4:30 a.m. and, unlike Barbie and Alison, I don't get up that early! I'm trying hard to completely figure out my response to the situation.

Carol in Monroe - Thank you so much for the Let Go statements. They are helping me a lot this morning.

Katla - Although the mortgage is in my name and my ex's name, the deed to the house is solely in my name so I get whatever I can get out of it. If he was going to get any of it, I wouldn't be doing anything at all to get it ready! He screwed me over left, right, up, down, and every other way during the divorce.

Michele - I like the salsa con queso because it is cheesy and gives the veggies a "rich" taste. I like them plain, but it really takes them to another level. I also like marinara sauce over them. I have a friend who dices zucchini into spaghetti sauce instead of meat. :noway:

Gloria - Please take care of yourself! I'm so sorry to hear that your son's ex is being so mean. I simply can't understand parents who use their children to hurt others. Why would any sane mother want to damage her child?! :frown:

Alison - You, too, need to take care of yourself. Even at our age we need to be careful of breaks, etc. I wonder if it's possible that you cracked a bone in your hip. Is the pain actually in the joint? If it is not localized in the joint, it could be nerve pain from your back. If I remember correctly, you have back issues? :flowerforyou:

Kim - As always, thank you for your affirmations! I don't get many of those in my life and they mean a lot to me.

Heather - What is a pesto crust? I know what pesto is and I know what a crust is, but how do you make it?

Jane (?) - I hope your housing situation works out! I've been thinking about you a lot with that.

Joyce - I'm so sorry about your sister. I know you are overwhelmed with worry and the feelings of powerlessness.

I know I've left out folks but I can't remember anything else right now.

I had my dinner out last night with ladies from church. I had the grilled mahi mahi with a plain sweet potato and mixed veggies. It was very good. Oops! I forgot to log the breadsticks that I ate. I had plenty of exercise calories (500) left so I'll be fine. The veggies were seasoned with butter so I added a pat of butter to my log. It was fun! I really need to do more with these ladies besides just our meetings, but I am so introverted that I cringe at the thought of asking. :sad: :blushing:

So, I'd like to ask your opinion on the problem I'm having at church. I am in charge of our Safe Sanctuaries policy, which is designed to minimize the risk of child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, in the church. I do the training, schedule folks to monitor the halls during worship, and check around to be sure the policy is being followed. I didn't write the policy--it was done by a committee 8-10 years ago. During the last few years, the person in charge failed miserably at the job and by the time I took over, numerous key items had gone missing from the policy. We have an attorney who specializes in that sort of law and checks the policy for legality. When I sent her an updated version of the policy earlier this year, she was appalled at the changes that had been made without her knowledge. In any case, a key element in the policy as regards infants and toddlers states that diaper changing must be done in the open. That is a standard. Over the few years that I was not involved with the children, the playschool that uses the church moved the diaper changing station into the restroom. As a result, unless someone stands in an exact position in the doorway, there is no witness to the diaper changing. I was adamantly told that we could not go back to the way we were doing it before (a changing mat on a counter) because it messed up playschool's stuff. I don't really care how messed up it makes their stuff, but I came up with the compromise of a free-standing changing table that could be moved out of the way during the week while playschool uses the space. I was told last night that I was being overruled and that diaper changing would continue to be done in private. I can't ethically go along with that. A number of us on this forum were sexually abused as children and we know how quickly the damage can be done and how devastating it is. If there can not be a compromise then I will resign from the position because I will not be responsible for a policy that I don't believe in. I don't want to do that because this is an area in which I am passionate about and I feel that whoever will take over will let everything else slide. And that brings me to an even greater decision: Do I want to be a part of a church that is purposefully negligent about children's safety? I have a training session scheduled for tonight. I am not planning to change my training on the subject for tonight, but I don't even want to conduct the session because I feel like a fraud. Any ideas? Would you, as a visitor or potential member of the church, find this acceptable for your children or grandchildren?

Jeez Louise, I'm in tears again!

I need to eat my breakfast. Maybe I need to stay this upset because I am not in the least bit hungry.

Carol in NC

Happy Wednesday Ladies –

I had my 2nd session of Physical Therapy last night. My back is a little tender, but overall feels good. Most of the exercises they have prescribed are basic, and I know I should do these on a daily basis, but over the years have fell off the band wagon.

Woke up a little late today, so only got a 3 mile walk in before work. Going to dinner tonight w/some old work friends so it will be fun to catch up with them.

Michelle – I think I need to get that 10 Minute Solution Tummy Toner DVD, to keep up my core work!!!
Sylvia – my goodness, glad you are feeling better, please take care.
Katla – I don’t have to stand at my job, mine requires mostly desk work. My problem comes from longish standing (e.g. food prep in the kitchen, going to museums, sometimes even shopping). I can walk forever, but when I have to stand for any length of time, it really bothers my lower back. Think it was all my years in the Air Force 

Take Care,
Suzy

Good morning beautiful ladies. :flowerforyou: I am waiting for the phone call to tell me my great grandson is born. My DGD called at 4 this morning and said she was going to the hospital as pains were 4 minutes apart and pretty strong. I talked to her alittle after 6 on my way to work and they were a minute apart. She is having the baby in Hastings which is 25 miles away. So I am excited.

Joyce--saying prayers for you and your sister. I know telling you to let go and let God is easier said then done. But please know he is in control.

Allison--you take care of you also.

Sylvia--Please take care of yourself. Prayers for DS and DGC.

Sue--That is great news about DD and her school money. It warms my heart to hear about the kindness of others. Shows the world is not all bad.:flowerforyou:

Carol--very wise words that I printed off and will post around my computer to remind me. Thanks.

Cynthia--glad to hear you feel good about your work meeting.

Margaret--interesting fact about the penny. Thanks for sharing.

Carol--I am so sorry about your deal with the church. I understand how you feel when they change things and not for the good. What did the lawyer say about this? I would stand by what you know is right. Good Luck, prayers and hugs.:flowerforyou:

Been a stressful morning at work so far today. They have not gotten the overhead paging fixed. Does not make the doctors happy. I just pray we do not have a code or fire. Someone from the paging company is to come out from Omaha sometime today. Then Dan, a guy I work with and has cancer. Went to the doctor yesterday and he now has 6 tumors and they are growing so the meds that cost so much are not working. The doctor is to call him back today with what they will try next. We are trying to talk to him about checking out cancer centers of America.
Just got an update on DGD and they broke her water, hoping it will not be long now. I am working an 8 hour shift today, which is my normal for Wednesday and planning to walk home. Enjoy the beautiful day. Hope it does not get really hot.
I called the book store this morning to find out if my order for SWSY had come in. They said it was there. Would of been nice if someone would have called. Anyway I will get out there this evening and get is picked up. Have a great rest of the day and remember we are not in this alone.
Blessings, Vicki GI NE

Happy Hump day!!
Talked to the realtor yesterday,they are interested in us renting.However,I need our current landlady to talk to them.I have left messages as she does`t answer the phone.Giving her the benefit that she may be on vac,but my gut says,she`s ignoring our calls.
So praying on this,trying not to eat over this.
hugs
jane

Thanks for all the support guys. Michelle, I was not wanting to do those things to my sister's car, although it is a good idea. I wanted to do this to my BIL car so that he would have to cancel out in going with his wife and call me and have me go. Carol, thank you for the Let go poem. I know all that, I have been brought up in my life believing it but my humanity just makes it so, so difficult.

I called my BIL this morning and told him my concern about TIA escalating and asked that he relay that to her doctor. I also told him again that I would go with her if she couldn't but he is going. This guy used to be kind of 'cold' on the outside. But when Norma goto her cancer and had very extensive surgeries for it, had complications, and was very ill he was there for her. He never let her go to any appointment without her, he took over all household duties without question, moved his work to their home as much as he could and showed us a different guy. We appreciated it so much especially since we ahd never seen this side of him. So with this going on I can understand why he is taking the stand he is. I just wish he would take it one step further and take the car keys away from her. If it continues like this I am going to have to break their confidence and call their oldest son and tell him what is going on and have him put pressure on the both of them. They haven't even told their kids anything is wrong. And their daughter is such a prayer warrior I don't know why they wouldn't let her know. I feel like I am hiding a secret in not letting them know. I am jsut so torn between both sides. Yes Carol, I need to let it go because I have no control and it is all in God's hands and He knows how to take care of her because He made her.

Joyce, Indiana

Gloria - Please take care of yourself! I'm so sorry to hear that your son's ex is being so mean. I simply can't understand parents who use their children to hurt others. Why would any sane mother want to damage her child?! :frown:

Carol in NC

Thanks for your concern and acknowledging I'm here, but I think you were referring to Sylvia. My son's father simply ignores his existence.:indifferent:

Regarding your church situation, and coming from someone who is not especially religious, praying and/or church going, if your church is not bringing you peace and clarity, then what is the point? There's a devil's advocate pun in there somewhere but I'll pass since this is not a funny topic. Seriously speaking, I wouldn't really want to be a part of any type of church that I didn't leaving feeling good about myself and exciting about how to be a better, person.

xo- Gloria in Metro Detroit

Sorry, Gloria!! I did mean Sylvia. I knew who I was talking to, just messed up the names. I'm sorry your son's father is missing out on a wonderful little boy, but sometimes I think it is better if they just stay away altogether instead of popping in and out or being mean.

I do get a lot out of church, typically. I've talked to the person who overruled me and he is now willing to negotiate so it may all turn out fine.

Thanks for the support, everyone!

Carol in NC