~ Jewelry Making 101 or Chain of Love~

Take one daughter (Dawna) and one Great Grandson (Landen)..add one box of macaroni ,some ribbon and paint..Send Mama shopping so we can made her some LOVE BEADS for Valentine's day..Landen is now 17 months old and just love to keep us gals busy..

My daughter Dawna just had her second back surgery in 4 months the day we spent with her..She now can not walk without the help of a walker..It's so sad for me as her Mama to see her like this and in so much pain..But I just know God has a plan for her

She adores her little Landen as everyone in our family does..he is our baby boy that almost didn't make it..

So busy painting..got to make this special for mama

I thought being a Mom was the greatest gift God had ever given to me..until I became a grandma ( X 7) and then God Blessed me with 9 great grands loves...Sometime my heart just swells with pride when I see my babies with grand babies of their own and I get down on my knees and thank the Lord that he gave me all this sweet family to love and care for..I look at all of them and like to think a little piece of me runs through there veins..
I really don't share much about my life on my blog..But I feel the need to just write it down so my daughters maybe will one day when I'm not here will know the Love I have for each of them and the many struggles I went through to keep my family intact..Family means the whole world to me..
I was a single mom by the time I was 23 with an 8,6 and  4 year old to take care of..Yes do the match I was only 16 when I had my first daughter 18 with the second and just turned 21 when Dawna was born..
My whole world as I knew it came to a terrible ending one September evening in 1967 at the time I thought it was the worst thing that could ever happen to my daughters and I...But as they say when one door closes another opens..Oh I was so scared how was I going to take care of my girls..of course I went running and crying to my sweet mama and she gave me the best advise I ever got,we did have welfare at that time..But my mama had a way of always putting it like it was and said " Gloria the state didn't bring these kids into the world and the state should not have to support them" like I said my mama was a wise woman..she said dry your tears and get a job!! You have 3 kids that need to be taken care of now..I did not have  child support payments..I had nothing, a house full of hand me downs, little food and NO money..I did have God and my mama so I had a strong team in my corner..
I also had a landlord that was a God send to me..he gave me 3 months free rent..How many landlords would do that now days..
The first thing I did was get a job as a waitress and learn to drive a car, I also another job and then another job so I was working 3 jobs..I use to laugh and tell people I had a job for each one of my kids and thank the Lord I didn't have 4 kids as there were no more hours in a day to work another job ha ha!!

I just know as women we are strong and as Mom's we are even stronger..I'm so proud to see my daughters grow up to be strong women and now Grandma's..
I remember looking around my apartment 45 years ago and how I wanted stuff ha ha!! Now I have a home full of stuff and found the most important stuff I had all the time was not stuff at all but my own daughters..God has truly Blessed me in life..Thank you God for giving me this gift of love that just keeps on giving... my prayers over 45 years ago have been answered 100 times plus more..
Until next time from my mountain to yours,
Hugs and smiles Gloria

~Dear Diary~

For my birthday this year, my husband purchased a week of personal training at the local health club.

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

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MONDAY:

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines... I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

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TUESDAY:

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.

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WEDNESDAY:

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.

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THURSDAY:

Butt hole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.

He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me.

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.

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FRIDAY:

I hate that jerk Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.

Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

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SATURDAY:

Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my diary; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..

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SUNDAY:

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

 

Until next time from my mountain to yours
Hugs and smiles, Gloria