Oral Ulcers "Surface Symptoms"

I Have Oral Ulcers Right Now

• 
  

I know this is really unpleasant looking, but I want people to know what Behcets does. I cannot imagine what I would feel like if I wasn't receiving any type of treatments (my tongue is typically covered...."geographical tongue"). Fortunately, the oral outbreak is on my tongue and not my gums....when it's around my teeth it's very difficult to eat.

• 
  

I wished I had some Aphthasol!

• 
  

I'm waiting for my doctor to e-mail me back so I can go in and get an early treatment...here we go again!

Bree Receives Her First Scholarship Letter In the 8th Grade!

As parents we invest time and money educating our children trying to inforce academia: reading to them when their young, helping them with their homework, paying for tutoring or self improvement classes - pagents...etc and constantly lecturing them about the importance of college. Unfortunately, some parents never get to see the fruits of their labor, and I hope we won't be one of them.

• 
  

I hope for the best ...clear skys but I know that we will have storms, just as long as the intensity and duration doesn't kill what we have planted. We recieved a sprout on our little "Academia Tree" in the mail yesterday! We are all so excited for Brittnee! Bree received an invitation to interview (hopefully she can apply what she has learned from the pagent world..I'm sure she will have no problem with this) for a scholarship fund..due to her test scores...she has commended every year.

• 
  

You go girl, we love you and we're extremely proud of your accomplishments!

• 
  

I'm really shaking in my boots now, she has already made a goal for herself; she plans on taking full AP classes her freshmen year and through-out high school.. to finish her education a year early so she can go off to Europe for a while and learn a different culutre. This is something I really didn't want...I want her home as long as possible, but what do you do?

I need to win the lottery but if she gets a scholarship this will really help us!!!!

SMILE Ladies!!!

The Woman Behind the Fabulous Fillie's Smile!

Mrs. Kay Lynn Renfro was my coach for 3 years when I was a Grapevine Fabulous Fillie. She became the director in 1985, and is still the director of this wonderful organization. Mrs. Renfro was a wonderful dance instructor and great motivator we won many competitions and was recognized as being one of the best drill teams out there.

She is still making these wonderful memories for young ladies, not only teaching dance but life long skills such as: high morals, team work, self-esteem and most importantly the VALUE of a SMILE!

Guess Who..20 Years Ago?

Go Mustangs & The Fabulous Fillies!

What or Who's Behind That Million Dollar Smile?

As a parent we spend lots of money on the aesthetics of our kids smile: buying braces, fixing cavities, etc…

You can spend money on a wonderful smile, but ultimately the biggest investment is what is taught to your children and their ability to apply what they have learned in life.

The Walmart Smile Club

For example this woman, that has waited on me several different occasions at our local Walmart, doesn’t have one tooth in her mouth but her smile is absolutely beautiful!

I totally admire her …some would think, “What does she have to SMILE about?”

She is the image Walmart is trying to get across – “The Smiley Face”...she deserves an award!

Smiling Is The Award

This subject is very clear to me because it’s been proven that smiling increases endorphins and endorphins helps you feel better.

That’s why you see me with a smile on my face…..even when I’m feeling like total crap. I try to put my best smile forward, as taught by Mrs. Renfro my drill team instructor....even though, I stumble after a couple of hours of endeavoring to be outgoing, I start to yawn and my eyes start to blink trying to stay awake...fighting the fatigue. It's the fact that I try that counts.

Smile You’ve Been Tagged!

"Experiments in Anonymous Kindness," is the name of the game, and now – you’re it!

Someone reached out to you with an anonymous act of kindness. Now it’s your turn to do the same. Do something nice for someone.

Keep the spirit going and visit http://www.helpothers.org/ for ideas and inspiration.

Special Thanks

I just want to say thanks to Mary (at the Moose Lodge) for giving me the Smile Tag. The timing was NOT coincidental. I didn’t feel well, my legs (as you can see in the photo to the right, the back of my calf ..bruised up from having muscle spasms) hurt really bad and I was exhausted and wasn’t going to go to the meeting and decided to make myself get up and smile and keep going and God let me know he was behind me by the card you gave me.

You see I had already planned on doing a post on Smiling this week. I already had the first page set-up but wasn’t sure what I was going to totally include on this week's post, till she gave me the card...then I knew what approach to use!

Forgot to add my quotes yesterday for my post:

Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available. - Jim Beggs

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief. - William Shakespeare, Othello

God Bless You & Keep Smiling!


P.S. Don't think I could do those "High Kicks" anymore!!!

Now Playing Smile - Nat King Cole I Love his music, his Christmas music is the best!

5th Generation Receipes

I'm so excited! Next week, I'm going to share a couple of recipes that came from my mother-in-law's side of the family that's 5 generations old! It's a couple of our family's favorites...it's delicious! So please check-out my blog next week to get the details and scope on how these recipes transpired.

Building & Keeping Your Self-Esteem

Find the brightest light in the darkest of days

and pay close attention to its intensity.

-Jenece Austin

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

Don’t complain just work harder.
– Randy Pausch

In the late 1960’s a young exponent psychology professor from California named Stanley CooperSmith along with some other influential figures started the self-esteem movement.

"Self-esteem is a set of attitudes and beliefs that a person brings with him - or herself when facing the world. It includes beliefs as to whether he or she can expect success or failure, how much effort should be put forth, whether failure at a task will “hurt,” and whether he or she will become more capable as a result of different experiences. In psychological terms, self-esteem provides a mental set that prepares the person to respond according to expectations of success, acceptance, and personal strength.” --Stanley Coopersmith, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventories Manual

In an old post called Believing in the Goodness of Mankind I stated, “After all believing in someone is half the battle - meaning to help build ones self esteem.” Why can’t we treat other adults around us like we do our children: like their intelligent, beautiful human beings - from a humble loving perspective? This would be a “Perfect” world!

I had lunch with a girlfriend last week and our topic of discussion was about how people view life: the glass half empty or the glass half full. I dedicate this blog to her…she knows who she is. I love you and I believe in your talents and your abilities to achieve great things; no matter what the circumstances may be. I view you through “rose-colored glasses.” Taking an evaluation of the type of “Company You Keep” and knowing how to handle and capitalize in and on good situations is an important part but not a defining aspect of building your self-esteem.

They Say Perspective is Reality

When I was working I had a boss that taught me this concept. He was extremely intelligent and knew how to build one’s self-esteem. I thank God everyday I had him as a boss. I worked for him ten years till I couldn’t work anymore because of my illness. He didn’t teach me this concept forthright; it was taught from how he handled situations with me. He had a rough road with me on days because of my illness and some days I would doubt my abilities because I knew I was declining but he didn’t seem to falter, of course everyone has their bad days – we would get into our little spats and disagreements too. I would definitely voice my opinion - not always right but I did it anyway and he seemed to listen. When I would bring-up subjects like: people stereotyping me, or feeling inferior towards others - he continually reassured me of my abilities and qualifications by reminding me of the confidence the scientist and doctors had in me for example: their questions they would ask me – they wouldn’t ask if they didn’t value my opinion and reassuring me I wouldn’t make the money I made if I wasn’t worthy. It was a very smart concept because it worked – believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I realize that some people are not as fortunate as I was: they get these bosses that degrade and insult, taking advantage of the weak little piggy - being the “Big Bad Wolf” and not being the “Real Leader” they need to be - helping people through a difficult situation because they believe they are superior when in essence they have a very “Low Emotional IQ.” Your boss isn’t the only one that may treat you inferior: friends and family members can treat you this way too. These types of influences in your life can destroy your self-esteem. Because perspective, even if it’s not ALWAYS reality…can become reality quickly – a direct result of how a person is treated!

Changing the Company You Keep - So Perspective Doesn’t Become Reality

After doing your own “Self Inventory” which is a subject I discussed in an older post as well: Making sure you’re in check – and on the right path to success, by possessing and building all the positive elements you need to get through a tough storm or situation and you know without a doubt it’s not you, then you must purge or cut the line with people who are blowing your self-esteem down. Now your approach on purging or cutting that line is your own particular solution, I don’t know how to tell you to do this…that’s a personal choice. Of course there are several approaches you could use: trimming, ignoring or just cutting it off totally etc...

Catching a Shooting Star

At the end of the day, you have to grab onto people that are getting the job done…it’s like catching a shooting star – you catch onto that star so that you can soar with them. Pay close attention to their reactions and how they handle situations and life – recognizing what you are doing wrong in comparison and how you can fix your problems so that you can become a “Shiny Star” too. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if it means putting your self-esteem on the line momentarily!

Don’t Leave Your Self-Esteem in the Mouth of “The Big, Bad Wolf”

It’s great to have people and friends build you up and help with your self-esteem but ultimately you’re responsible for defining who you are. You have to build up your own self-esteem so that no one can blow it down. Setting up and meeting goals on a daily basis is important in the realization of your achievements and worthiness. Start off by setting up small goals and then gradually raise the expectations as you consistently meet them. For example, and for me personally, it has been a problem because of my struggles with Behcets. I started this blog for my family and for myself; I make it one of my goals to write a post every week. Due to my illness, my handwriting has only become worse and it hurts to write, a hand written journal is not feasible for me, typing one post and posting my photography each week is a good goal for me to meet in helping me to keep my self-esteem while leaving a legacy for my family at the same time.

When my daughter, Brittnee, was a toddler one of my favorite primary stories I use to read to her all the time and explain the significant lesson to learn was the “Three Pigs and The Big, Bad Wolf.”

hello

All three of these pigs used a different approach on how they built their home, and of course the easiest way out never stands – The Big, Bad Wolf always comes around and blows it down. If we invest time and effort into whom we are; The Big Bad Wolf can come as often and blow as hard as he wants but you will still be standing!

Now Playing – Who’s Afraid of The Big, Bad Wolf

Now Playing - Bad Company – To My Friend...Don't You Know that you are a Shooting Star

Can't Walk

I could use a Hot Spring today!

I’m in trouble today. I can’t walk. My knees hurt so bad; it took me 15 minutes to get down my stairs. This is when I wished I lived in a one story home. My plans were to go see a movie today called “Women” with my gal friend and I had to call it off. I’m calling my doctor at 8AM to see if I can get in to get a steroid shot and back on my steroids. I hate it. I don’t like taking these damn pills. I lose 12 pounds then gain it all back when I get on these little suckers but I guess the benefit of being able to walk now out weights looking pretty.


Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.
St. Catherine of Siena quotes

Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.
William Barclay

How Ideas are Formed

A couple of months ago, I was going through a new treatment for my illness and was extremely exhausted and weak. My mom knows how much I love magazines, so she brought me about 100 magazines. It was a very funny, over the top statement: it cracked me up when she walked in with an arm full of magazines. Mom took interior design in college and her and my father owned a furniture store when they were married. It’s almost her hobby (expensive), she lives and breathes furniture and decorating “Little Ms. Furniture Aficionado.”

So, we spent the day at the “Magazine Spa!” We had fun both of us in silence saying nothing to each other but reading magazines and showing each other the treasures we found: recipes, articles on health and fitness, she pointed out the fact she bought a particular type of magazine called “More… fabulous over 40”…Not there yet mother! Of course I always enjoy reading the articles and getting new recipes and ideas, but the inadvertent finding which transpired was the best. I ran across this interesting design in the Homes and Garden Magazine that prompted a new task for our household: A photo of a fireplace mantle hanging above a bed (using it like a headboard or wall art). Popping quickly into my head…I have a fireplace mantle in my closet; from the mantle that was in our living room prior to the Austin Stone application!

Brittnee (Bree), our daughter, had been asking for a "New room makeover" for about a year now which I have avoided granting her because her room is in “Texas Tech” theme and I admire and want to hold onto the goal and spirit she has for wanting to attend that college upon graduation. Also the Ericksen’s, some good friends, and the husband’s a fan of Texas Tech, have given her things that are worth quite a bit of money and I felt she should stick with that design for a while. Of course one of the things I both love and hate about my daughter is: she has an argument for everything “I can put the fat-head in my closet or the game-room upstairs.” Pretty good argument!

When I ran across this design, I liked it and thought that we could really embellish the look to create a real modern design which is what Bree was looking for. So, I immediately showed her the picture; not sure how she would react since the mantle was more traditional in the magazine and at this age they are incredibly picky and Bree can be quite precocious when it comes to her independence. She doesn’t want me to have any ideas for her sense of style…or anything to “cramp her style” for that matter. She feels she is very capable of making decisions. Much to my surprise she was ecstatic, (with a few requested ideas of her own), over this new look when I explained to her what we could do with the look she loved it! WOW! She was able to envision the mantle with a different look….guess she is a lot like me after all: argumentative, persuasive and creative…sounds like a good recipe or creation for an “Ambulance Chaser!” She has her great grandfather’s gift, on my mother’s side, Judge Homer Hall.


Design on a Dime (Under $500)

Bree’s b-day is next month and my mom is always trying to figure out what to buy her and she decided to help me buy half of what I spent on her room and helped me put this all together since part of this was caused from the “Magazine Spa Day.” My mother is as strong as an ox. She is 61 years old and you wouldn’t believe the crap she can do. It’s quite embarrassing that your own mother can outwork you. She hung the curtains, helped hang the mantle and Mike painted the room and moved out all the furniture from the guest bedroom (Bree is now in the guest bedroom which made perfect sense because it basically has new carpet). So I was the foreman on the job…poor mom and Mike! Please forgive me for my bossiness and impatience. I love you guys. Thanks for all your help!

Introducing... Our Innovative Results

The Mantle. We hung it a little higher for safety purposes.

The Whole Room...Love the consistent lines.

We plan on getting her a chest or something

to put at the foot of the bed to sit on.