Our newest grandchild

JAYDEN SHAPPARD

Proud parents , Todd and Heather

We have waited along time for this little guy to join our family and now it has happened. God is good! Welcome to the world Jayden. love you, grams

Building A Bridge

Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then one day it began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s tool box. “I’m looking for a few days’ work” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?” “Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you.”

“Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor; in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better.”

“See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence –an 8-foot fence — so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.” The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge — a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all — and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.

“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother. “I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build.

Family and friends come first in our heart

We all have a cherished garden we tend -
It is planted with love of family and friends.
The memories and dreams we treasure and share
Are like beautiful roses found blooming there.
The comfort and care on which we depend
Is given with love between family and friends.
The sunshine of laughter and rain of a tear
Only make our love grow with each passing year.
We may all be ourselves with no need to pretend
Because of the love of family and friends;
They notice the rainbows and weather the showers.
They overlook weeds and praise all our flowers.
The most valuable thing is the time that we spend
Tending this garden with family and friends.

Todd's Wedding

Todd finally decided to made the leap and was married on Oct.17 2009 to Heather Roddy. It was a happy day but also a tearful one. I won't be the # 1 woman in his life anymore. I knew one day I would have to give him up, it was just a matter of time. Everyone in the family was there to be a part of this great day!
Heather is from a small family , having one brother but she had tons of her girlfriends there plus her family and co-workers. It must have been a little overwheming to see our large bunch. She grew up in Clermont Fl. and that is where the wedding took place. They left for a honeymoon to Paris and after they returned, they bought a home, and had a baby boy 13 months later. they wasted no time which is fine with me. I am not getting any younger nor is Todd. ha! we couldn't be happier!
Happy Nesting you two! we love you. Mom & Dad

A Day at Disney

A wedding

Dad and I were married at the" Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" on June 3, 1961 on Wabash Ave. I had my dress made and I loved it! It had a sheer net covering the bottom of the dress from waist down with a small ribbon that tied in front. Sarah my sister was my maid of honor and Marvin Catt was dad's best man. It was a short ceremony with a reception in the basement of the church.

will add more pictures if find any.

MORE ON DAD

As I said before, Dad loves Music , The History Channel, War Stories, Inventors and I am blown away from all the things he can remember and the names of so many things. It does blow me away. We are certainly mixed matched. He can tell you something about every Pres. even , I swear he knows a little bit about every subject. you name it? I think my goodness we are so different! He has a analytical mind! He is very logical about thinking things out. I know he could win us a lot of money if he went on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire!" Now you see why I have a hard time relating to this man! He can only relate to people who think like him and I don't think like him at all. How do opposites attract?? I think how do people meet when they are so different and better yet to stay on the same path all these years. got me? ha! Posted by mamashap at 4:14 PM 0 comments

JOE THE FIX IT MAN!

Well , I been coming up with all these things I need repaired lately and as you can guess, Dad says" I can fix that!" To the star on top of my Christmas Tree that I wanted redesigned here and there to fixing my lights outside so they stay up to making wheels for our grandchild's train set with help from Finn's daddy while they were here from California to fixing up a riding toy for Aidan and on and on. Then my neighbor Jackie came over yesterday and needed dad's help with something? He returned twenty mins. later. It was nothing , just a small repair job. then a neighbor around the block came this pass wk. for help with her automatic garage door opener. Word gets around! And what motivates him? first and foremost he likes to help people. It does make him feel good! second, doesn't like to spend or see people spend money if it can be fixed easily, and last making some pocket money isn't so bad either! some will give him a little money if its a pretty big job.
My neighbors are mostly all widows but even a couple of the men drop by for his asistance now and then. Dad always steps up to the challenge. Now and then you will hear a knock on the door and sure enough their is a lady in distress and dad to the rescue. Wow, now he is even planning to turn our sunroom into a real room so he can have an office. I tell him it has to look good or I will be unhappy. I want it done by a professional! Oh no! says dad, I can do it mayself. so we will see what happens. Yes, dad is for sure the fix it man!

Compassion

Been thinking of all the things I could or should have done lately and came across this poem and thought it so true.

LEFT UNDONE


The setting of the Sun!
It isn't the thing you do dear,
It's the thing you left undone,
That gives you a bit of a heartache
At the setting of the sun.
For life is all too short,dear,
and sorrow is all too great,
To suffer our slow compassion
and tarry until its too late.
So it isn't the thing you do dear,
It's the thing you left undone,
Which gives you a bit of a heartache
At the setting of the sun.
Its the stone you might have lifted
out of a brothers way,
The bit of a heartsome counsel,
You were hurried too much, to say.
The loving touch of a hand dear,
Your gentle winning tone,
which you had no time nor thought for,
for thinking of your own.
Its those little acts of kindness
So easily out of mind.
that can help to lift another
in their troubled times.
It isn't the thing you do dear ,
Its the thing you left undone,
which gives yo a bit of a heartache
at the setting of the sun.

R.E.A.L.

A Star /Leslie
This might be every young girls dream! Well it happened to Leslie for a short time! She indeed got to experience what it was like to be a star! The group was called" REAL" the initials of the four girls that would sing their hearts out with their beautiful voices . Rachael , Elizabeth, Alyssa. and Leslie. Just to have had this was a experience of a lifetime was worth it! For whatever reason think one of the girls father pulled out their daughter, thought they were not moving fast enough and so it never materialized to make them famous but yes it could have been.
Leslie , you have a
gift, A BEAUTIFUL VOICE! mama

Discipline Of Children

Plant the seed of good choices!

Tough Subject But Here It Goes!
I am blogging this because I was thinking what my life was like when I was a young person growing up and how my dad didn't know how to discipline nor did my mother. My mom let you do what you wanted. My dad on the other hand had a temper and never set down to talk to you about WHY you should or shouldn't do such and such. He yelled out the rules and you did it or suffered the consequences. So I ask the question , is there a right way to discipline? My father came from very strict parents and he only knew one way.
I have seen children who are disciplined and those who aren't and what a noticeable difference!
Often the disciplining of children and teenagers is the hardest part of a marriage. It can make or break a marriage! I have seen my share of fighting and quarreling between my parents., Rivalry between my silbings, conflict,strife and it all goes back to how we were disciplined. I've also seen parents who didn't see eye to eye on what is best for the child and that causes problems.
When I got married I wanted a family where everyone loved everyone, where there was no feuding or fighting. I thought all you had to do was love your kids and everything would be perfect. Not so! love is not enough! I didn't really realize you had to work at the discipline thing to make it all come together. I just didn't have a clue, didn't see it at work in my own family growing up.
There was no example to follow. Sure I knew how to love my children, that part was easy. But the discipline part can get hard, more so as teenagers. So you might wonder, how did my children turn out? well I have been really blessed! There were a few tough bumps alone the way but as my sign says in my living room" You can't scare me , I have children." ha!
Sometimes love alone will not get you the results you want. Like the flower pot at the top of this page, you plant a seed and if you fail to care for it, not giving it what it needs, it will not make it.
Fumble you will , mistakes you will make but for the most part kids are pretty forgiving and resilience.
Getting the respect of your child starts at a early age and we almost forget because we are so into the wonderment of our child!
We hope to teach what is exceptable and not exceptable. Make no excuses for your children but show love, discipline and gain the respect of your child. We can help them to grow into that awesome person that we want them to become! I just had this song going through my head from the movie" South Pacific" goes like this "they got to be taught before its too late, before they are six, seven , or eight, they got to be carefully taught."
I love my children , they love their children. Perfect parents we were not but we sure did try our best, thats all you can do. Dad came from a loving family where his mother taught her children well, she got the respect that she so deserved! . Dad loved and had a great respect for his mother. It flowed over and today he has respect for all women. I know they sure love him in this neighborhood! ha! Anyway,I found this quote that has alot of truth in it. "I would rather go to jail for spanking my kid than for them to go to jail because I didn't!"
Be calm, I am not by any means saying you need to spank your child, not at all! But this I have learned, take the time to teach whats right and wrong , exceptable and not exceptable. It will save you alot of heartache in the future and along with this let them know you love them and how proud you are of their good choices!!
Life is all about choices!
Help them make the right choices when young and half the battle is won! It will make your job so much easier as a parent and above all it will help to build their self esteem. And if they feel good about themself then you will have done a wonderful job! love, mama

HOW FAR YOU GO IN LIFE

This I believe has to be my favorite saying:

How far you go in life depends
on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged,
sympathetic with the struggling
and tolerant of the weak and the strong
because
someday you will have been all of these.

WALMART

Ok, some of my funniest and happiest days in my later years were spent at Walmart! I loved working there! I felt I belonged and I made so many friends and even my supervisors I liked. I worked there for eight years and wish I had stayed longer. After we moved to Eustis I continued working and finally quit because of the commute back and forth. I tried once to get back on but think they never called me because I was making too much before and they could hire others for a lot less. Anyway will post a little article and maybe a few pictures of myself and holidays at Walmart. My friends there gave me a going away party which was nice.Some of my funniest and happiest days in my later years were spent at Walmart! I loved working there! I felt I belonged and I made so many friends and even my supervisors I liked. I worked there for eight years and wish I had stayed longer. After we moved to Eustis I continued working and finally quit because of the commute back and forth. I tried once to get back on but think they never called me because I was making too much before and they could hire others for a lot less. Anyway will post a little article and maybe a few pictures of myself and holidays at Walmart. My friends there gave me a going away party which was nice.

THE RED ROOSTER HOUSE

My Jenny did this needlepoint for me after we moved here in Eustis and named our home the" RED ROOSTER HOUSE!" She worked for a year on this and had it ready for me by Christmas . I love it!! When I think of all the work she put into it, I feel it truly is a labor of love. Thank you Jenny. I will cherish is always. mama

If you look close and you will see the intricate work she did to pull this all together.

This is also the beautiful frame she purchased to go with the picture and it matches perfectly with my dining room table.

Katie Lee & Regis

I been watching" Live with Regis and Kathy Lee Gifford" all my life it seems. My favorite person was always Kathy Lee on the show. She was pretty, funny, and just down to earth! I loved how sweet she treated Regis and how she shared stories of her life and that of her children. Nothing shy about her even with everyone watching and listening. First and foremost, she was herself and no pretence.

I was so sad when she left the show. Had watched her forever it seemed, some twenty yrs. I was heart broken . Maybe you can relate if you ever had a favorite show you been watching FOREVER!! and then boom one day its no more. Guess thats life!

I wanted to be Kathy Lee, wanted to look like her, act like her, and be as smart as her!

Well do I still watch Regis today? Yes, but not like I did when he and Kathy were a team. now its ' "Live with Regis and Kelly Ripa" , I do watch on occasion but I don't freak out if I miss it. I still and will forever miss the REGIS AND KATHY LEE show!! I however do see her now and then when I tune into the Today Show on channel 2 with" Hoda and Kathy Lee with the Scoop." Its a ok show but times change and nothing can ever be as good as or be compared to those good old days of here they are folks:

REGIS AND KATHY LEE GIFFORD!

Telephone Calls

What would we do without a phone or should I say a Cell Phone??

Today they say , you mean you have "No Cell Phone?" You answer , well not yet! but yes folks its true, but will happen one day.ha. Just this pass Sunday I was sitting in church and looked over at the lady beside me who had a cell phone or I guess they call it a Ipod, well anyway, I couldn't help but notice that " it did it all!!" Seriously, I was amazed! She even looked up scriptures as they spoke and they popped right up. I thought, I want one of those!!

Anyway, I do kind of miss the old time telephones. I remember as kids we used to race to see who would get to the phone first to answer it . The phone would ring and that ment a real live person wants to talk to you! Not a recording but a actual person was on the other end. I miss the old phones with the round face dial, like in the old movie dial" M" for murder. ha.

I love getting phone calls. Often here are some of the calls I receive.

Sometimes its Jenny calling me as she going off to work in the morning.

Sometimes its Angie calling me as she is leaving her work place heading home.

Sometimes its mostly during summer , Kristen will call to ask to spend the night.

Sometimes its Donna calling to see if I am home so she can drop by.

Sometimes its dad's nephew Mike calling to say Hi!

Sometimes its Stacey calling to see if its ok to come visit, which it always is.

Sometimes its Sherry calling to see if I am interested in going to a few garage sales, its a fun passtime.

Sometimes Frankie will call and ask dad a question or two about her tv or phone

Sometimes Randy might call dad and come over to help him with a computer problem.

But today, One of the sweetest calls came around three a. m.

Todd called to say they had their baby boy. What a joyful sound when we heard the telephone ring! some calls just brighten up your day, and for sure this was one of those calls!

Wise thoughts

You must love yourself before you love another and by accepting yourself and fully being who you are , your simple presence can make others happy.


Life is really simple , but we insist on making it complicated.

A day is made more beautiful when touched with kindness.

Try not to worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

Don't borrow other people's problems . They can take better care of them than you can.

Don't try to relive yesterday, its gone! do what good you can today.

Most of the things we fear never come to pass.

Never over look small blessings, they add up to become the big one.

Don't get bogged down with frustration, 90% of it will only interfere with having positive reactions .