A to Z challenge.... Z is for Oozing and zzz

For today's challenge I am cheating a little bit. I am going to use oozing for my Z post because our 12 year old grand daughter Claire is oozing with talent.... and...

... she makes my heart ooze with pride joy.  I could not find a way to upload a recent video of her singing when I featured her on my O for Opera post.... but I did it today.

 Please click on the video at the top of this post and listen to her. I think you will be surprised at what a beautiful, mature voice this young girl has. She amazes me.

 I apologize that the video picture is blurry. My little camera would not focus with the spot light on Claire. However, I bet you will think it is worth watching, in spite of the poor picture, when you hear her voice. Let me know what you think.

Now that our A to Z challenge is over I'm going to go get some ZZZ... I should sleep well tonight since I don't have to wonder what I will post about tomorrow.

I have enjoyed doing this challenge even though it has been a lot of work. The best part was getting to know some new blog friends. I hope that you will continue to drop by and visit me. I usually post once a week. I plan to keep visiting you.

Happy Blogging

Hugs, Grammy Lura

A to Z Challenge….. Y is for You

 

Y is for You

This A to Z challenge had been a lot of work for me.  I’m not use to blogging every day so it has been a challenge…. It has also been a lot of fun because 0f

YOU

It is always nice to meet new blog friends. I’ve had several new bloggers drop by during this challenge as well as some previous favorites.  Here are some that have come back several times to visit. They all have nice blogs. Why don’t you hope over and tell them hello.

10 A to Z  blog friends for YOU

…

This is Betty from Through my Back Door

We have been blog friends for years. I think this is the 1st time she’s done A to Z. She is a fabulous decorator and a wonderful person.

http://bettyjcrowe-throughmybackdoor.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

…..

 

This is Carol from Buttercup Counts her Blessings.

Carol is another dear blog friend. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her in person. She is a lovely person and is taking us to all sorts of special eating places in NYC. Take a quick trip to NYC and say hello.

buttercupcountsherblessings.blogspot.com

 

….

 

This is Dee from A Deecoded Life

She is a blog friend from Singapore. She is a clever writer and lots of fun.  Her posts make me smile.

https://adeecodedlife.com

 

 

 

….

This is Bonnie from Where Legends Begin . She is an amazing young woman. She has high standards and values and is very talented. She sings, dances and writes books. She gives good advise for living …. she is way beyond her years.

https://bonniegwyn.blogspot.com

…..

 

This is Marcy from Random Thoughts and Tender Mercies.

I’ve just met Marcy but I feel like we are old friends. Her blog is inspiring and uplifting.

http://marcysrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/

 

 

…..

 

Betty from A Bench with a View takes us on a walk at the beach every day with her dog Koda. She has beautiful pictures. Even her hubby has helped her collect pictures for the challenge. Go get some exercise with Betty.

 https://viewsfrombenches.blogspot.com

……

Paula is from Smidgens, Snippets and Bits.

She is sharing her story of taking  care of her husband during his last days. Her blog is beautifully written and very touching.

 http://smidgensbitsandsnippets.blogspot.com

….

 

This is Patricia from

http://patriciastoltey.blogspot.com/

She is the author of mystery novels. She introduces us to other authors and books… and a featured word each day.

…..

 

Sally’s posts have been so interesting. She takes us to special places in the UK, shows us pictures and gives us a history lesson. I’ve really enjoyed traveling with her.

https://sallys-scribbles.blogspot.com

…..

( Birgit’s picture would not download clearly. Sorry.)

Birgit has been telling us about the classic old actors from A to Z. Her blog is very informative.

http://createdbybb.blogspot.com/

 

 

…..

More fun A to Z bloggers who have made me smile are:

pinkypoinker.com.au

ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.com

I’m afraid that I’ve left out some A to Z bloggers that I wanted to include… maybe I will think of them and add them later. This has been an interesting challenge. I’m glad that these bloggers, as well as my other dear blog friends are a part of my blog world.

I am glad I met YOU.

Hugs, Grammy Lura

 

 

A to Z challenge..... X is for X-ray

X is a hard letter to do in this A to Z challenge.  

 X is for X-ray

Last year I posted about  X-rays too. 
X-rays were the X that saved my life after our car accident.

 If it had not been for X-rays I would have died.

X-rays showed the extent of my injuries and indicated what treatment was needed.

  I was monitored by daily X-rays. The weeks that I was in ICU intensive care I was X-rayed at least once a day and sometimes more.

After  X-rays showed my lung had collapsed they drained out the blood and fluid and put me on a breathing machine to re- inflate my lung which saved my life. You can see why X-rays was my pick for my X post.

But...that was my last year's X post

Why am I using X-rays again this year???

a

Because x-rays and other imaging have helped to save my life again this year.

X-rays showed I had a gall stone...

... and needed surgery.

 

 Imaging showed I had a bile leak after the surgery which would have killed me from sepsis if they had not found it and put in a stint to correct it.

  Imaging showed I had liver abscesses and a blood clot.

 

 Once again X-rays and imaging helped to save my life.

  That is why I had to use x-ray for my X again this year.

I'm home, recovering and enjoying my sweet family partially because of x-ray technology  and imaging.

 

So, I guess you can see why X-rays are my favorite letter X. I will always be grateful for them.... in fact, I might use them again if I do this challenge next year because I can't think of another X that means more to me.

Hugs, Lura

A to Z challenge….. W is for weekend

In our A to Z challenge today we are up to the letter W

My choice for W is Weekend

Doesn’t everyone love the Weekend??

All the years that I was teaching the Weekend had special significance  and was greatly looked forward to each week. Now that I am retired it is not quite the same.

Since our orchard and yard demanded most of John’s Saturday time….

…The house work responsibilities fell on me.  With only 1 day to get all my housework done I was busy from morning to night on Saturday.

We have a big house to clean.  When the kids were at home they knew that Saturday morning was chore time. (Now it is up to me and I miss their help.)

The beds had to be changed…….The wash had to be done.

The patios needed to be swept.

The garden always needed attention…. etc., etc.,etc.

Saturday evening our teenagers usually went off to a church dance or activity which left John and me free to go on a date.

However, we were both so tired by the end of the day that  our date was usually going to the grocery store together to buy our food for the week…. sometimes we would get an ice cream cone afterwards.

That was our Saturday part of the Weekend.

Sunday was entirely different.

Sunday is the Sabbath and we try to do as the scriptures say and keep it holy.

We attend church 3 hours each Sunday. I know that sounds like a long time but it is divided up into 3 meetings and the time goes quickly.

The first hour we attend Sacrament meeting. We partake of the Lord’s sacrament and listen to talks (sermons) given by the membership.

The second hour we divide up into age groups and go to Sunday school or primary classes for the children where we study the scriptures.

The third hour the teens go to their youth meetings, the men go to their priesthood meeting and the women go to their Relief Society meeting.

I love attending church each week. It gives me the spiritual uplift I need to get through the week.

After church we always have dinner with our daughter and her family.  In the past years we took turns. They would come to our house one week ….

…and we would go to there house the next week.

I like that schedule best…. but since I’ve been sick this whole year so far… we have gone to Mindy and Ernie’s every Sunday. I hate to impose on Mindy but they insist that we come each week.  We enjoy the meal and the sweet company even more.  I hope their schedule and my health will allow us to get back to our old routine soon.

That is how I use to spend our Weekend…… but not any more.

Sunday is still exactly the same but not Saturday…. no, no, no!!!

Retirement has changed our Saturdays dramatically. Since we have all week to clean, wash, garden,  do yard work and shop we don’t have to crowd it in on one day.

So what do we do on Saturday? Whatever we want!

What do you do on your Weekend???

A to Z in blogland.....My Varied Valentines

Yesterday I was undecided about which letter U to do but today there is no question in my mind! 

  Today I have my all time favorite letter V to blog about.

V is definitely for Valentine’s

Please note that I did not say Valentine’s Day…. no, no, no…because to me Valentine’s is so special I celebrate it the whole month.

Normally my whole month of February is filled with Valentine fun. 
This year February was not as fun for me as usual....I had a "varied Valentine's" but I still love Valentine's and all it represents.
 
This year I was not feeling well so I did not get a lot of my Valentine activities done. I had my gall bladder out in January and did not know I had a bile leak that was filling me up with a sepsis infection. I was getting sicker and weaker each day and did not know why. 

 I got all of my Valentine supplies together. I bought candy & goodies and my friend Jan added to my stash by giving me a whole bag of her Valentine supplies.

Valentine Goody bags I made last year

I intended to make up my Valentine goody bags for my family, friends and neighbors like I do every year.

I also intended to make pretty Valentines 

I made 20 Valentines like these last year but not this year

and write a personal letter of love to my family and special friends.
I had all of the supplies but I didn't make anything this year. I kept thinking I would feel better the next day and do it then....but I never did.

However, I did set my Valentine’s tables.

This year I went totally pink.  (My hubby said it looked like there was an explosion in a Pepto Mismo factory.)

I’m glad my sweetheart puts up with all my fancy decorating. I just love it and he sweetly tolerates it. (He would just as soon eat in front of the T.V. on paper plates.)

My friend Louann and I have a  tradition of feeding the missionaries that are serving in our ward (Congregation ) a special Valentine dinner.

 One night we fed the Sister missionaries at my house.

We know that these young people are away from their families for 1 1/2 to 2 years. We try to give them some of the Valentine love they would get from their mothers if they were at home. Click here to find out more about our missionary program.

 The next night we fed the Elder missionaries at Louann's house.

I enjoyed doing this with Louann but I felt like I was made of lead and could hardly move.
 I only had 4 days left before Valentine's Day but I still could not find the energy to make my cards and goody bags.
I had extra time to get them done because I was expecting company on the 14th.

My grandson, Johnny was coming for a gymnastics meet near us.  I didn't have to mail all my Valentines to Utah because I knew I could send them home with Johnny. The family would forgive me for being a few days late.

This was the first meet since Johnny made the USA National team that I would get to see him compete.  He and his dad, Dathan,  flew down from Utah. We were suppose to go with them to his meet here and then drive them to LasVegas the next week to meet the rest of the family and attend another big meet there.
But it didn't work out that way for me.

I kept getting sicker and sicker each day after we had the missionary dinners. By the time Johnny & Dathan arrived on Valentine's Day I was too sick to do anything but go to bed. I couldn't even fix a nice meal for them much less go to the gymnastics meet.

Johnny put on a mini show just for me before they left for his competition.

I was so sad to stay at home but I just could not attend. John would not leave me alone so I made him miss the competition too. That made me feel extra bad but both Johnny and my John tried to make me feel better.

While Dathan and Johnny were gone, the rash I had got worse and worse until it covered my whole body. I was violently ill. John took me to emergency where I was admitted with severe sepsis and organ dysfunction. So much for all my happy Valentine weekend plans.... but I was alive. I could have died if I hadn't gone to the hospital when I did. I was in the hospital over 3 weeks.

I was bright red from the sepsis rash... kind of like a Valentine

Instead of making a nice dinner for my family that weekend, I had to settle for visiting with them in the hospital. It was not the way I wanted to celebrate Valentine's weekend..... but I did feel lots of love from my family and friends

Meanwhile, all of the candy and Valentine supplies are still sitting on my craft table. Can you give out Valentine goodies for Mother's Day or 4th of July???

As you can see my Valentine's month did not turn out the way I expected.... it totally varied from the normal way I celebrate this holiday of love....but I still love Valentine's day/month.... I will look forward to celebrating it next year.... and just be thankful I made it through this year.

I hope you had a nice Valentine's and felt loved.

Hugs, Grammy Lura