Ann

Prayers for Leslie and Mark.

Describe your personality in one word. No cheating. One word only.

Yes, Ry, I remember. Is the book in stores or do I need to order online? Thanks for keeping us on top of things!

Melinda...I can try and get some information for you tommorrow about this. I have a friend who's the lead clinical nurse at MD Anderson in Orlando. I'll give her a call in the morning and then post. What part of Florida are your parents in?

ABC's OF AGING A is for arthritis, B is for bad back, C is for the chest pains. Corned beef? Cardiac? D is for dental decay and decline, E is for eyesight--can't read that top line. F is for fissures and fluid retention G is for gas (which I'd rather not mention and not to forget other gastrointestinal glitches) H is high blood pressure I is for itches, and lots of incisions J is for joints, that now fail to flex L is for libido--what happened to that? Wait! I forgot about K! K is for my knees that crack all the time (But forgive me, I get a few lapses in my M - memory from time to time) N is for nerve (pinched) and neck (stiff) and neurosis O is for osteo-for all the bones that crack P is for prescriptions, which cost a small fortune Q is for queasiness. Fatal or just the flu? Give me another pill and I'll be good as new! R is for reflux--one meal turns into two S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears on how to pay my increasing medical bills! T is for tinnitus--I hear bells in my ears and the word "terminal" also rings too near U is for urinary and the difficulties that flow (or not) V is for vertigo, as life spins by W is worry, for pains yet found X is for X ray--and what one might find Y is for year (another one I'm still alive) so Z is for zest

Good one, Charlie!!!

Andrea...thanks to you! You really did a great job heading up this project!!!

Connie...so very glad to see this post and know you're home and on the mend! You have been missed!!

Don...I like the way you think!

Eating and drinking are both very important. Try and offer small amounts often rather than large meals. I think the sight of too much food at one time can be overwhelming. Boost is a great way of getting calories and nutrients. I used to add ice cream to the boost and make shakes....even more calories. Try to keep a glass of liquid by her side at all times. This way, she can drink whenever she feels even the slightest bit of thirst. If she looses her appetite, you can ask the doctor for some meds that will stimulate her appetite.

http://www.rit.edu/~smo4215/flash/Eggs.swf Love this little game!!!!

Three handsome male dogs are walking down the street when they see a beautiful, enticing, female Poodle. The three male dogs fall all over themselves in an effort to be the one to reach her first, but end up arriving in front of her at the same time. The males are speechless before her beauty, slobbering on themselves and hoping for just a glance from her in return. Aware of her charms and her obvious effect on the three suitors, she decides to be kind and tells them "The first one who can use the words "liver" and "cheese" together in an imaginative, intelligent sentence can go out with me." The sturdy, muscular black Lab speaks up quickly and says "I love liver and cheese." "Oh, how childish," said the Poodle. "That shows no imagination or intelligence whatsoever." She turned to the tall, shiny Golden Retriever and said "How well can you do?" Um. I HATE liver and cheese," blurts the Golden Retriever. "My, my," said the Poodle. "I guess it's hopeless. That's just as dumb as the Lab's sentence." She then turns to the last of the three dogs and says, "How about you, little guy?" The last of the three, tiny in stature, but big in fame and finesse, is the Taco Bell Chihuahua. He gives her a smile, a sly wink, turns to the Golden Retriever and the Lab and says, "Liver alone. Cheese mine."

10 reasons God created Eve 10. God worried that Adam would be lost in the Garden of Eden, because he wouldn't ask for directions. 9. God knew that, someday, Adam would need someone to hand him the TV remote. (Parenthetically, it has been noted that men don't want to see what's ON TV. They want to see WHAT ELSE is on TV.) 8. God knew that Adam would never make a doctor's appointment. 7. God knew that, when Adam's fig leaf wore out, he would never buy a new one for himself. 6. God knew that Adam would not remember to take out the garbage. 5. God wanted man to be fruitful and multiply. But, He knew Adam would never be able to handle labor pains and childbirth. 4. As "keeper of the garden," Adam would need help in finding his tools. 3. Adam needed someone to blame for the Apple Incident and for anything else that was really his fault. 2. As the Bible says, "It is not good for man to be alone." 1. And the No. 1 reason of all . (Tada ... drum roll ... fanfare . , etc.) God stepped back, looked at Adam, and declared ... "I can do better than that."

A young cowboy walks into a seedy cafe in Prescott, AZ. He sits at the counter and notices an old cowboy with his arms folded staring blankly at a full bowl of chili. After fifteen minutes of just sitting there staring at it, the young cowboy bravely asks the old cowpoke, "If you ain't gonna eat that, mind if I do?" The older cowboy slowly turns his head toward the young wrangler and in his best cowboy manner says, "Nah, go ahead." Eagerly, the young cowboy reaches over and slides the bowl over to his place and starts spooning it in with delight. He gets nearly down to the bottom and notices a dead mouse in the chili. The sight was shocking and he immediately pukes up the chili into the bowl. The old cowboy quietly says, "Yep, that's as far as I got, too."

Love and Daffodils Forever by Nicolle Woodward They had just celebrated their 39th anniversary in April when Bill went for his annual checkup. Always in perfect health, he was unprepared for what the doctor found. Symptoms Bill had ignored as "old age" led to questions, palpations, more questions, and finally instructions for a battery of tests. "Just to be on the safe side," the doctor said. When Bill took the news home to Constance, she refused to consider that it could be something serious. Fortunately, it was April and the gardens beckoned. There was more than enough work needed to prepare the beds for the coming season, and they threw themselves into the now-familiar yearly routine. They spent their days, as always, surrounded by trays of flowers and bags of mulch, wielding their favorite trowels. As the summer progressed, 30 years of gardening rewarded them with a showplace of color. Benches and swings were placed amid the bounty of flowers, and they spent nearly every evening during the summer relaxing and basking in the beauty. As they worked, Constance began to notice a subtle change in Bill. He seemed to tire more easily, had difficulty rising from his knees, and had little appetite. By the time the test results were in, she was no longer so sure of a good prognosis. When the doctor ushered them into his office, she knew. His demeanor was too professional, too unlike the friend they had known and trusted for so many years. There was no easy way to say it. Bill was dying, with so little hope of curing his illness that it would be kinder to not even try. He had perhaps six months left, time enough to put his house in order, but little time for anything else. They decided he would stay at home, with help from visiting nurses and hospice when the time came. Their children were both far away, one in Oregon and the other in Chicago. They came for extended visits, but with jobs and children, neither could come permanently. So Bill and Constance spent the ending time as they had spent the beginning time, alone together. Only now they had their beloved gardens, a great comfort to them both for that entire summer. By September, Bill was fading fast and they both knew the end was near. For some reason Constance couldn't understand, he seemed to be pushing her to get out more. He urged her to call old friends and have lunch, go shopping, see a movie. She resisted until he became so agitated that she conceded and began making her calls. Everyone was more than willing to accompany her, and she found she did take some comfort in talking over lunch or during the long ride to the mall. Bill passed away peacefully in October, surrounded by his family. Constance was inconsolable. No amount of knowing could have prepared her for the emptiness she felt. Winter descended upon her with a vengeance. Suddenly it seemed dark all the time. Then the holidays came, and she went to Oregon for Thanksgiving and to Chicago for Christmas. The house was cold and empty when she returned. She wasn't quite sure how she could go on, but somehow she did. At long last, it was April again, and with April came the return to longer and warmer days. She would go from window to window looking out at the yard, knowing what needed to be done, but not really caring if she did it or not. Then, one day, she noticed something different about the gardens. They were coming to life sooner than they had in the past. She went out and walked all around and through the beds. It was daffodils. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of daffodils. She and Bill had never put many spring plants in their gardens. They so enjoyed the colors of summer that they had only a few spring daffodils and hyacinths scattered here and there. 'Where did they come from?' she wondered as she walked. Not only did the blooms completely encircle each bed, they were also scattered inside, among the still-dormant summer plants. They appeared in groups all over the lawn, and even lined the driveway to the street. They ringed the trees and they lined the foundation of the house. She couldn't believe it. Where on earth had they come from? A few days later she received a call from her attorney. He needed to see her, he said. Could she come to his office that morning? When Constance arrived, he handed her a package with instructions not to open it until she returned home. He gave no other explanation. When she opened the package, there were two smaller packages inside. One was labeled "Open me first." Inside was a video cassette. Suddenly Bill appeared on the screen, talking to her from his favorite chair, dressed not in pajamas but in a sweater and slacks. "My darling Constance," he began, "today is our anniversary, and this is my gift to you." He told her of his love for her. Then he explained the daffodils. "I know these daffodils will be blooming on our anniversary, and will continue to do so forever," Bill said. "I couldn't plant them alone, though." Their many friends had conspired with Bill to get the bulbs planted. They had taken turns last fall getting Constance out of the house for hours at a time so the work could be done. The second package held the memories of all those friends who so generously gave of their time and energies so Bill could give her his final gift. Photographs of everyone came spilling out, images captured forever of them working in the garden, laughing, taking turns snapping pictures and visiting with her beloved husband, who sat bundled in a lawn chair, watching. In the photo Constance framed and put by her bed, Bill is smiling at her and waving his trowel.

Life's Seasons There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment. The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Moral: Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.

Love your answer, Jim!!!!

What a GREAT post, Trish! Hope things are going well with Jeffrey.

THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING? ~ A dime has 118 ridges around the edge. ~ A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. ~ A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue. ~ A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours. ~ A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. ~ A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second. ~ A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes. ~ A snail can sleep for three years. ~ Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer. ~ All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill. ~ Almonds are a member of the peach family. ~ An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. ~ Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age. ~ Butterflies taste with their feet. ~ Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10. ~ "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt". ~ February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon. ~ In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated. ~ If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction. ~ If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights. ~ It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. ~ Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors. ~ Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. ~ No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. ~ On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag. ~ Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing. ~ Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. ~ Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. ~ "Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right. ~ The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing. ~ The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns. ~ The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. ~ The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet. ~ The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid. ~ The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). ~ There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. ~ There are more chickens than people in the world. ~ There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. ~ There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious." ~ There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins. ~ Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. ~ TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. ~ Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance. ~ Women blink nearly twice as much as men. ~ Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself. ..............There , now you know everything!

Martha...I don't have anything to say that will make all of this any easier for you but please know that I am saying prayers and asking God to give you strength to make it through these tough days ahead of you.

Kel, I am so very sorry for your pain. I know that many people have described the same feelings you are having regarding your mom now being a part of the "past." I can definitely understand those feelings at the beginning of a new year. When I lost my mom, I felt that she had become a part of me that actually lived on inside my heart. I found it became very important to do things she had always done and carry on family traditions. I pray that you can somehow find some peace your mom's passing and always know that she lives on through you.

Cindy and Tom...I am so very sorry for your loss.

Martha, I am so very sorry. I am praying that God will give you strength during this very heart breaking time.

Oh Cheryl, I am so very sorry to hear this bad news. I have been thinking of you and wondering how things have been going. I know how hard it can sometimes be for a patient to accept that no more treatment will be given. Three days before Dennis died, he was asking me if we were going to Orlando for chemo that day. I thought he understood there was no more treatment but he wanted to keep on trying. Do you have Hospice to help you and Jake? I know you were thinking about that when I last heard from you. If you can get Jake to accept the idea, it will be a very big help for both of you and it will assure Jake's pain management will be under control. ((((((((((((Cheryl)))))))))) I will be saying lots of prayers for you and Jake. Please PM me if you want to talk.

So very sorry to hear this news about your dad. I will continue to say prayers for him and his family.