As we all know many times in our lives we simply couldn't make it without our Dear Friends in life! My niece passed this link on to me and I'm sharing with all of you.
http://www.frontiernet.net/~jimdandy/specials/dearfriends/dearfriends.htm
I hope it makes you smile and then pass it on to your friends 
.
Hugs,
Aly
Well it was nice to get out with some new people for a change! We have been in a rut with socializing due to us being the 'odd couple.' Me being the older woman married to the younger man and the discrimination that we face due to it. So it was nice to go and chat and play Bingo for awhile. Not one of the 6 of us that went won a penny but others there did quite well. You don't even have to dab the sheets anymore as they have electronic bingo units that marks your numbers for you, lol. You just have to pay attention and yell Bingo! I must say it made it a bit more boring as you weren't under any stress to dab all your sheets of Bingo cards. I'm not sure I would use that again. Then we made the mistake of going out to the slots and the place was a madhouse of noise and everything I touched was not paying so we left as the noise and chaos was bothering hubby.
Tomorrow is our friend's birthday so I guess she will come over for dinner and we'll pick up a small cake for her. Her family seldom does anything for her. Sad but true.
My niece is coming over for awhile and my son will be heading back up to Springerville late in the afternoon. Hubby works tomorrow so perhaps he and I can spend a little quality time together before he has to leave.
Well that's all folks,
Aly
Well hubby just said we have been invited to join 3 other couples to go out Saturday night to the Big Bingo games at the Casino Saturday night. I know my son might be back in town for the weekend so we'll see what his plans are and perhaps we will join them.
This is the first invite out from just a few of his manager associates when it is not a scheduled office party so I know we should make an effort to go. My main concern is how uncomfortable those chairs are and how long I can sit there without my knee bothering me. We'll see.
I am so glad our weekend together starts tonight as I have been so very lonesome this week it has seemed almost unbearable at times. With my knee in the shape it is in I am not driving as it is my right knee that is still healing so I never get up early to take the car.
Well have a good day all and make yourself and someone else smile today. It just might make all the difference in the world for them, and you, today!
Aly
Well our friend who has recently undergone two surgeries and ended up in ICU both times has finally gone home today. On the way home she stopped by to visit a little bit and pick up her cell phone. It is wonderful that she is now well enough to get on with her life again. She has undergone a lap band surgery where they also fixed her hiatal hernia and then she went home for a day and a half only to half to go back into the hospital and undergo a gallbladder surgery! She must be like new now. She is doing very well on the lap band program and has lost quite a bit of weight already. This is a life changing journey she is on and a true inspiration for the rest of us.
Have a good night everyone,
Aly
Well after many changes back and forth with Darleen the dr told her this morning he is removing her gallbladder tomorrow evening. She is getting antsy being in the hospital and wishes she could just go home but even after the surgery I am sure he won't want her going home alone which means she will have to stay with family for a few days. I pray it all goes well.
I found her the cutest teddy bear at the gift shop yesterday that sing 'that's what friends are for' and its head moves and its mouth while the song plays.. it is just so darling and so perfect for a close friend. I know she gets lonely as she isn't gettting a lot of visits from her family, sigh. I won't get into that now.
So tomorrow hubby and I go to my surgeon at 2:30 and then I guess we will be turning around and heading for her hospital. I hope I am not in tears as I am dreading this visit to talk about replacing my knee so much. No choice it seems.
Life is hard, isn't it?
Hugs,
Aly
Well I just spoke to Dar and she's back in her room after an early morning stress test to see is her heart is ok to perform gallbladder surgery tomorrow. She is so scared as her mom died on the operating table during a gallbladder surgery but that was many years ago and they didn't know she had a heart murmur.
I asked her when she wants me there, either before or after the surgery as I can't sit too long with my knee so she is going to think about what she wants.
Well we are about to get on the road so I can see my doctor and determine what to do about my gallbladder as well.
Gotta go,
Aly
Well I guess Dar won't know until tomorrow what the doctors will decide to do for her until tomorrow. She can't even drink water. She said earlier they were thinking of going in and taking the gallstone out through her mouth and then 6 months from now taking out her gallbladder. She has really gone thru alot these last several days. She looks tired from it all and just wants out of the hosptial!
We didn't stay too long tonight as she had company starting at 10 am today. I am glad her family went to visit her and let her know she is special.
I see my PCP doctor in the morning and I guess with all my digestion problems, pressure and pain that i may finally have to have my gallbladder out. This is just bad timing with my knee being so bad.
Life is hard these days, so I hope God is watching out for all of us.
Live in Harmony,
Aly
We heard early this morning that our friend was feeling pain in her chest and nauseous late last night so her brother and his wife took her back to the hospital. They ran all kinds of tests and couldn't find anything wrong. Her sister in law Nancy called me early this morning to fill me in on everything. They told her they were going to run an upper GI series and found that it is her gallbladder and now they are going to plan on taking out her gallbladder. This is so much for her to deal with. I am so worried about her and now my stomach is acting up. Some days are just so hard to deal with everything.
I hate to complain as I am blessed in so many other ways but lately things have been piling up. Our friends mom died on the operating table during gallbladder surgery and besides worrying us I am sure it is worrying her. Please say a prayer for Darleen.
Off to the hospital,
Aly
Our dearest friend is being released from the hospital today and we are so thankful for that! She has to be with someone for 2 days so I guess it will have to be with her brother since I have difficulty even taking care of myself. The walk to the front door is a long one for me and by then my knee is throbbing in pain. God give me patience and strength.
On a lighter note our cat Jordan has two floral arrangements he is constantly trying to get at and eat! It is usually during the night that we will suddenly hear the 'crunching' sounds of him at the greens on the roses. Hubby finally removed the leaves but he was still going after it early this morning. Not a half hour later I was in bed having my cheerios and reading the news on Yahoo when that little scamp slithered by me and started at the spring bouquet on the nightstand next to my bed! He has a lot of nerve that boy!!!!
Live in Harmony,
Aly
Wow, I am so relieved as Dar just called me herself from her private room. They are keeping her another night just to make sure she is going to stay ok. I am so thrilled I can't tell you. I have been so anxious myself my chest has felt tight so I am now trying to calm myself down.
Thank you Lord for answering our prayers.
Aly
I just heard from Dar's sister-in-law that they are removing the ventilator and she is breathing on her own now. They are admitting her for awhile to monitor her but thinking of sending her home tomorrowl She's been thru a very tough ordeal and now another week with only liquids. She will have lost around 50 lbs in a very short time!!!
Thank God she is doing better!
Aly
I was in such shock last night I didn't think to notice if they had her knees elevated or on pillows and since she needs a double knee replacement after she's lost enough weight I know she never sleeps with her legs flat. So in the middle of the night this came to me so I've called there this morning to ask them to please put pillows under her knees so she won't be in pain from that also. She told me she would do it so I will have to trust that they will.
I pray her family rallies round her today and doesn't just leave her there alone to be afraid. I can't get there again until hubby takes me and wheels me in in a wheelchair.
Saying prayers for Darleen today that they can remove the ventilator and she can breathe on her own.
May health, love, and courage grace your day,
Aly
Well my gf made it through the surgery ok and was in the recovery room and when they tried to remove the ventilator she did not start breathing on her own. They tried a second time and it also didn't work so they have her in ICU tonight and will not even try again until tomorrow. They are just going to let her rest and try to recover from the trauma of the surgery. We did get in to see her for a few minutes and it is hard to see her hooked up to all that and I can see her disappointment and fear in her eyes. The dr did go in while the family was there and was reassuring to them all that he thinks she will be doing much better tomorrow. We are all praying for her to be able to breathe on her own. The dr did say he was having a lung specialist come in just to make sure nothing else was wrong.
So we are all worn out tonight from this news and from seeing her like this. She is our dearest friend. She and I went to grade school and high school together and have been friends for all our lives.
Peace, courage, love and good health
Aly
Well I am trying to do as the doctor said and not bend my knee hardly at all. I am keeping it straight as often as possible. It appears to be healing together abit better this evening but I am sure tired of laying on my tushie for so many days.
The antibiotics are wiping me out as I was talking to my aunt one minute this afternoon and then fell asleep for a few hours just like that. So rude of me but I could not hold my eyes open. She went to the casino for a little while this afternoon and had some fun :).
Hubby and I are going to watch a Ron White comedy DVD tonight and try to share some laffs together as he's back to work tomorrow morning bright and early.
Peace and Courage,
Aly
Meaty Munchies
Here are two quick-fix favorites that will satisfy the hardcore carnivores in your group:
Zippy Meatballs
This one calls for three whole ingredients. I'd advise making a double recipe, because they'll go FAST.In
a crock pot, combine one bag of frozen Italian-style meatballs, 12
ounces of grape jelly (cheap is fine) and a 10-ounce bottle of chili
sauce (found with the ketchup in most grocery stores). Turn the crock
pot on low and stir occasionally until jelly is melted and combined
with the chili sauce. The sweet-spicy flavor is addictive. Feel free to
make the recipe sound much more complex than it is when you tell your
guests about it.
Pigs In Sugar
If three ingredients is too complex, try this mixture of two.In
the aforementioned crock pot, mix two 1-lb. packages of all-beef
cocktail franks with ¾ c. of light brown sugar. Turn heat to low and
stir occasionally until sugar melts and forms a glaze on the franks.
Serve with toothpicks, bamboo skewers or those groovy little cocktail
swords usually found in tropical drinks.
Mood: concerned
Just a quick post to inquire if anyone else has heard from Seqkat in awhile?? I haven't and I don't see any posts on her board since December nor did I see any new entries at her other blog site. She is such a caring person to so many people, and I for one, am missing her being here.
Please let me know if you know she is ok. Thanks!
Hugs and Peace to Your Hearts,
Aly
This was sent to me by a dear friend I met online a few years ago, Tee. I am so glad we have stayed friends over the years and through all the changes in our lives. Hugs to you, Tee.
My Greatest
Prize
It seems as each year ends, I look back and
think of my friends... What I did right what I did wrong... who came into my
life and who is gone.
But every year there are those who remain, looking only
for friendship nothing else to gain. They have stayed by me through good and
bad... smiled when I am happy and held me when I've been sad.
After so many
years you begin to realize, that a friend is life's greatest prize... not the
pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, that we seem to seek where ever we
go.
So as I grow older and begin another New Year's Day, I
will thank God for those friends He sent my way and my New Years resolution will
always be to thank Him again for every breath of life He's given me.
Then I will pray He will show me the way, give me wisdom
and guide me through each day. And most of all at the end of each year, keep by
me those friends I will always hold so dear. And as I make new friends I'll
treasure the old, for the first are silver the latter gold.
Well today we got up late and then my aunt and I went to the casino for about 2 hours. It was so crowded and smokey we couldn't stay any longer. We came home and picked up hubby and went for a burger at the Red Robin. After that we went to see the movie, "The Good Shepherd". It was extremely well acted but I must say after seeing this movie I would never want anyone I know to have to be a part of either the FBI or CIA. There doesn't seem to be any glamour to it and it is extremely hard on a relationship and children.
My stomach acted up the rest of the night so I didn't get a chance to spend much time with my aunt before she went to bed. They have to get up at 5 am to get her to the airport by 630 so hubby can get to work ontime at 7. Since it is almost 1 am here now I'll be lucky to be able to get up in the morning to say goodbye. We will miss her tremendously. We thoroughly enjoyed her visit and will look forward to her returning again within the the next few months. The spare room is just hers!
Well with the New Year comes new opportunities for growth and changes and we are looking forward to being successful in our endeavors. Together, and with God's help, we will succeed.
Peace to All,
Aly
Mood: good
Well I had a rough nite with sleeping and nightmares but when I finally got calmed down and back to sleep I almost couldn't get up in time to pick up our company! If hubby and my gf hadn't called multiple times I would have slept right thru pick up time at the airport. Lordy, I was tired!
So we visited this afternoon and had a nice simple dinner at home tonight followed with chocolate cream pie. Everyone was tired so we didn't play cards tonight. Our guest was tired from traveling. Our Jordan cat LOVES her to pieces and was so thrilled to see her arrive, lol. She gives him extra treats so he always gains more weight when she is here.
We have to pick up 2 more small gifts tomorrow for the rest of the company that might be coming this weekend. My aunt called and said she has caught something, a cold or virus she's not sure. She said she hopes to be better at least by Saturday. We'll see as no one wants to be ill. It is a wait and see situation.
Well I should try to settle in as I don't want our guest up for hours alone in the morning while I sleep in.
Hugs and Peace to Your Hearts,
Aly
Well we met two friends of ours today for lunch at Black Angus and took the time to talk about our lives, our families, and the holidays. We spent a good bit of time there just enjoying the peaceful time amongst friends. It felt so good just to 'be' in the moment and take and give value to our closeness.
We also bought one more Christmas gift my aunt tonight. We picked her up a pre-paid phone card to make sure she isn't driving without a way to contact help if she has another angina attack. I was one step away from calling the police the other evening as she didn't return 3 phone calls. She was out and about the very next day and finally called me in the evening just before I called the police!
Had a wonderful phone call with my son today also. He is a constant source of joy in our lives. He has come to love my new hubby over the years and appreciates the way he takes care of me. In the beginning it was rough going as they thought he would just take off on me after he used me. He has come to know him and love him now too. They joke amongst each other and both show how much they appreciate one another. It is truly a blessing :).
Well that's all for now. I am working on getting Beefy II ready to roll as I think my pic availability is about maxed out here and I must be able to post pics, grin 
!
Peace to your Hearts,
Aly
'
