Me as a preteen

Can hardly see this cause was taken so very long time ago. Not sure who even took it.
 I wonder what color that dress was and what was hanging around my neck.   I didn't think I was a pretty child.  Always wanted to be pretty like my sisters. I was a very unhappy child growing up and even more so when I entered high school.  I felt selfconscious about a scar that was under my eye and  kids would ask where did you get that black eye? I was totally embarassed!  It hurt so much that I pretty much withdrew from making alot of friends. Was so happy when those teenage yrs. were over with and behind me. 

Once married I felt totally loved  and we started a family and life was good!  And then we hit the teen yrs. with our children and things got a little tough. Teenage yrs. are hard and even harder if you had no example growing up to help you out. I never saw by example from my parents just how to deal with things that pop up. I had nothing to fall back on  to help me in this new adventure of being a mom and wife ..  I went into marriage learning as I went along.  All I saw at home growing up was that adults fight and scream at each other and I knew I didn't want that for  my own family.  Having had no role model to learn from I think I did pretty good .... I did try the best I could!  The toughest part was  during those teenage yrs. when sometimes Joey and I weren't on the same page. I am sure it was hard for Joey....he grew up pretty much free to do what he wanted and his parents were good people and he had a happy childhood.   As for me it wasn't so.
 Anyway when our children needed to be disciplined  I was quick in wanting to let it go and keep the peace.  I never wanted there to be any confrontations!  I had seen it all my life growing up at home.  And yes it  caused some problems as our kids went into the teenage years for I would not confide in Joey but tryed to solve the problems without him.
Even so those early yrs. were wonderful and the best yrs. for both Joey and I.  When love is strong you can get through anything!  I had found someone who loved me and everyday was beautiful!  Having  small children whom I loved very much made life good and I was going to try and be the best wife and mommy there ever was! :)

What Happiness Is and What Happiness is Not? (Great Article)

 . True happiness comes when we find enough confidence within ourselves that we can stop relying on the rest of the world to give happiness to us. 

When we feel, and act like we are entitled to have happiness all the time then we are essentially putting the pressure on somebody else to make us happy, rather than doing it for ourselves.

 Learning the difference between ‘good mood’ and ‘happy mood."

I’m in a good mood because things are going well in my life, is not the same as  

 things are going well in my life but during the difficult times I can still be happy with who I am.

Life isn’t always fair period. ... end of discussion. 

If we are good people, life is not going to suddenly become fair...life happens!

When we stop resenting the world, we may just find that it’s a much nicer place than we ever thought.

Learning A Life Lesson the Hard Way!

               Pasting along some good advice that I have learned in the past month and hope it helps another out there  from making the same mistake.  I needed a lesson in life and had to learn it the hard way it seems!  I learned this:.... that we are all individuals and have the right to choose how we will live our lives.  Its a God given right called ( free agency.)  On a more serious note (as long as it doesn't infringe on another.)  It may not be how we would choose to live our life but still it is there right.....we have been given this gift to choose!   It doesn't matter that we may not like the way someone else does something but it is their right to choose....sometimes this idea gets all of us in trouble including myself.   It possibly may mean that I have to turn my head....we cannot take away another persons free agency .... its God Given  and I am sure we all want it for ourselves as well!
             Over the last few wks. I have learned a life lesson and its not just about not letting words fly out of my mouth but I also need to control my thoughts!!!  You may ask how can thoughts get you in trouble? Thoughts lead to action/ plain and simple!
 At times I feel we all speak without thinking and the words fly out...if we fail to guard our thoughts they often will lead us to action which can lead to other things. I have more than once put  my foot in my mouth because of  overthinking  a situation and then it comes back to bite me!
  I need to learn to stop overthinking and just let it go!!  I need a new perspective on life and the situations that will come up as sometimes they do....perhaps at such times I need to just go take a nap.... Yeah, probably a nap would do good!!   One thing I have learned and learned the hard way is we can control our own lives to a point and how things are with us to some degree /but we cannot control how other people choose to live their lives!
Its not easy ....lots of times we feel our way is best.  It can be a hard lesson for anyone who feels they know how to fix things or knows a better way!  It doesn't work like that guys....we all like choosing no matter good or bad!  When we see where we think things can be made better we have to be careful and not  infringe upon the rights of others to choose.

Marc

I sure do miss this grandson of mine so much....Marc is working in Tennessee and staying with a sister of his mom's ....miss you Marc and  I wonder all the time how your doing.
 I sure do miss his visits to Grandma's and working puzzles with me.
I think about him often and hope he is happy and doing well.  Here is my picture of Marc.  I think back on working puzzles with him and he would not give up even if it ment staying up to the wee hours of the morning. He was really good at it, and one thing I can say for sure,  he just wouldn't ever give up still we had finished that crazy puzzle! :)  Love you Marc!

                                        

Zekey

Zekey is a skinny little female cat that Jen and I saw advertised in the window of a pet thrift store. So now we have one more pet in our house these days. ha.  Having cats is new to dad and I but honestly we have come to love these two!  Jen knows this is our limit ...two cats.....but I will say Zekey is a quiet little one and actually will stay hidden all day till Jen gets home.  Jen loves this little gal because she is loving and Plo well... he is so independent and loving also but only if you can win him over.  I will say that Plo has won my heart!  He follows me alot during the day!  This little cat named Zekey is older like ten years and I am thinking she may not have had the best care since she is sooo very skinny but her owner could not keep her cause he said he got married and said his wife is deadly allergic to cats. I am not sure if I believe him cause who would get rid of their pet after having had her for that long.
 So here is a picture of sweet Zekey and right now she is not feeling well but Jen is taking good care of her.   As said she hides under the bed most the day and when Jen comes home she gives her plenty of attention.  I know Jen has a soft heart for these two sweet cats. All I want to do is fatten up Zekey! :)

 Took Zeyey to vet.....she is in great shape!!

Old Mormon Chapel

    This is the Old Mormon church  that Joey and I got married in....it was used by the Mormon church for years and was just down the street from our house at 1618 Wabash Ave.  Later on the church built a new chapel and the old church  place was sold to the Baptist church.
    I remember that the missionaries would come by the house and invite Bump and I to go to church because our parents didn't attend , well my dad did go on occasion but my mother never did attend during my childhood.   I just think my mom didn't feel good about herself because she was doing things that she was not proud of.  Most times Bump and I would attend together.  Enjoyed going to  MIA during the week. It was a fun night for the youth and some of the girls and I had crushes on the missionaries so that was a big enough reason to attend for sure. :)  I loved Bro. Rodgers also who was over the program and he was so good to all of us kids. That program and Bro. Rogers was a life blessing for both me and Bump!  I loved that man!
 Here is picture of the Old Church. Its still there today.  Missionaries had apt. in the back lot and I would often go there on Saturdays and help them clean it / as said today that would never be allowed. ha.  Those were fun days.  I remember even going to the movies with them/ sure Bump was with me cause we did everything together back then.   I would do anything to be near those cute guys. :)   Even felt like i wanted to marry one of them.  Funny how we think when so young! 
Today they have a whole new agenda ... none of that could be today......they keep these guys super busy now days .....things have changed alot since that time when  I was so young.... now days they have no time to goof off! :)

Joe Todd and Vincennes Indiana

        

 So what makes  my brother Joe Todd just love our hometown of Vincennes Indiana? Well he has lived there all his life and said many many times that 
"Vincennes has been really good to me!!"
            So just what does that historic small town have that holds his endearment?  Well it likely goes way back when he was fresh out of high school and he got a job at the Brown Shoe Factory.  His employer liked him alot and it wasn't long that he worked himself  up in the company. Will have to get  with Joe and find out more of his young yrs. there and all his jobs in Old Vincennes.
            Just shortly out of High School Joe met the love of his life Marianne and they have been married now for , wanta say 65 yrs ? They had one child,  a boy whom they named Pat.  Sometime  just before he married, Joe had a accident on his motorcycle and lost his right leg.  He was dating Marrianne at the time and she stood by his side and saw him through the whole thing and not too far down the road they married. Has been dedicated to Joe every since! Have to get dates and more info but want to put there wedding picture in here.
           Joe loves life and don't think he would change a thing .... he got back on his bike after the accident and he has never looked back!  He never meets a stranger / can really talk to anyone and is yes super smart!
          As kids growing up Bump and I got to see our brother Joe race Hot Rod cars which he did for many yrs. and won many trophies.  It was always a big thrill for Bump and I to get to be up on those bleachers watching him race.
Such excitement!!!! We would watch as he came around those curves and Bump and I would be setting on the side line cheering him on!  Those were such fun memories!
       And O YES,  many times he WON! 
  I tell everyone how much Joe loves life and people. 
 And yes, he just never looked back...Don't think Joe ever used the word  "can't " ....always he gave his all! What confidence!
Great job Joe......... 
you really did find in this life.....  
              ...joy in the ride!!