Please be seated ~ Thematic Photographic 143

Here I am again ... joining Carmi @ Written Inc for another Thematic Photographic theme. This week the theme has to do with sitting or seats. So... back to one of my favorite cities ...

and then on to vacation ...

Seems a seat is anywhere you enjoy the view!

Day 17~ 30 Day Challenge

Day17
A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently 




                   CANCER


17 years ago I had colon cancer. Even though I am cancer free the effects of the treatment still are evident. For the most part I have learned how to control how my body will react to things like diet and stress, but it effects so many of the normal day to day happenings. 


2 of the most evident effects ~
Early  menopause

Lactose intolerance

Day 16 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day16
A picture of someone who inspires you 

My Children.

And the winner is .....

True Random Number GeneratorMin:  1Max:   Result:52Powered by RANDOM.ORG
AND who is #2?

Quiltingranny said...

Your blog always makes me smile and I have been through some of those times as well! When I was alone with a broken leg and 3 grands it was neighbors and a few coworkers who let my dogs out, took my oldest to and from the bus..until the bus driver heard about it, then she came to the house. Back surgery? No problem, people I didn't even know yet brought food every evening for dinner. We are blessed!

What does she win??

I still haven't found what I am looking for, but have a back-up idea if I don't find it this week-end.

Congratulations to 

Quilting Ranny!

Day 15 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day15
A picture of something you want to do before you die


There are really 2 things I would love to do before I die ... ok ... there are more, but 2 of them are more a reality than the others...

I would love to see and take photographs of whales in the wild!

I would love to go to the Albuquerque International Hot air  

Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Day 14 ~30 Day Challenge

Day 14
A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without 

I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 9 years old.  Having a personal relationship with Christ has gotten me through events and happenings that many people go through daily. But you know, I could never imagine making it through those things without the Solid Ground that Christ has been to me. My requirement is to have Faith and Believe. God's promise is He gives peace.

Meet Me On Monday

Welcome to the 43rd edition of



"Meet Me On Monday!"

Java @ Never Growing Old  hosts this weekly meme. She askes 5 questions for you to answer.
This is a fun way to get to know each other a little better.
So ... COME ON ... JOIN IN THE FUN!!
 






Questions:

1. Caesar Salad or Garden Salad?

Garden Salad with Ranch or Thousand Island Dressing

2. Will you be watching the Royal Wedding on April 29th?

Probably Not.

3. Last thing you spent lots of money on?

The Cruise to Cozumel that I took 3 weeks ago.

4. Window seat or aisle seat?

Either is fine with me, but I do love taking pictures of above the clouds.

5. Do you know your blood type?

So... there you have it in a nut shell....

Day 13 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day13
A picture of your favorite band or artist


I really don't have a favorite, but here are some I listen to.

Daughtry

Bruno Mars

Sugarland

Train

OOOO ... See what I got!!!

A couple of weeks ago I left a comment on Kathy's post for a giveaway.Kathy has a World Press Blog and was giving away some of her favorite things ... AND guess what ... they were my favorite things too! I know I have been telling you that I have been CRAZY, BUSY with work and I have ... I forgot all about that giveaway. Last week-end, when I finally had time to actually read some of your blogs and the posts you had left me ... I found  that I had WON Kathy's (@edshunnybunny) giveaway!!!

Yesterday I received my package.

It was just like Christmas or my birthday!

Kathy had several items wrapped in brightly colored tissue paper!

YES ... that is a wet spot that you see on the green paper.

My mischievous little puppy was nosing around in the box.

One of her favorites is in there too! 

Do you know what it is?

Thank You Kathy!!

I LOVE it all!!

The wind chime, the Bath and Body Works items, the photo album, the Word Search, the notepad, the cookie cutters, the candles, the socks, the sewing kit, and the gum!

What a generous giveaway!

Day 12 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day 12
A picture of something you love 

I LOVE the beach! I love walking the beach in the evening and I LOVE this beach in particular!

Day 11 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day 11
A picture of something you hate

I hate crows! We like in a wooded area and have lots of crows. They are such mean birds!

I heart faces | WIND

It's been awhile since I have participated in a i heart faces weekly challenge. If you LOVE photography ... you should really check this site out. There are all sorts of fun and exciting things for you posted there.This weeks challenge is ~WIND~

Prom is always at the beginning of  May. It almost always seems the the weather is cool, even sometimes cold and windy. You can see the wind billowing my daughter's dress and blowing her hair. What you don't see is how cold it it.

To see more photos showing ~ wind~ got to 

i heart faces

~GIVEAWAY~ Did you miss it??

Over the past couple of days, I wrote a post that included a GIVEAWAY.  I still don't know what I am giving away, but I pretty much know who is getting it ... only 1 person has commented.

You have til Monday night to comment. Check it out ~17-years-ago-today
~Vicki~

Day 10 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day 10

A picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with


As a parent. I really don't do **** up things, and never really have ...
BUT the person I have done most of my adventure with would be my youngest daughter, Lauren.

Day 9 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day 9

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

My faith in Jesus Christ, that He is who He claims to be and that He is the Rock that holds me up.

And my husband, Larry, who has been at my side through thick and thin for over 33 years.

Day 8 ~ 30 Day Cgallenge

Day 8

A picture that makes you laugh

This is my youngest daughter when she was 8. We went to visit my husband's sister who lives in Las Vegas for Spring Break. The weather was cool and not that great for being in the swimming pool. but just perfect for being in the hot tub. 

Day 7 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day 7

A picture of your most treasured item

Many of the people who have influenced my life are now gone.

The treasures that I have left are photographs and memories.

17 years ago today ...

I was in the hospital, awaiting surgery. The month before, a mass had been found in my colon.
At first the Gastroenterologist   thought that the mass was an ulcer, but tests revealed that it was cancer. I was 36 yrs old, with 3 young children.

The surgery was considered a success. The mass, along with 28 lymph nodes, and 22 inches of my colon were removed. **At that time, the number of intact lymph nodes that had been removed was unheard of. Lymph nodes surround the tumor and usually disintegrate, causing cancer cells to migrate through the body.** I was given a 70% chance of living 7 years.

Isn't it funny (not funny  ... ha, ha ... but funny strange) how life goes. I'm sure if you look back in your life you will remember a time that changed the way you look at things. There was a 7 year period in my life (my family's life) where terrible, tragic things happened. The funny thing about those things is how different family members reacted to them. My reaction has been to enjoy life more and the people who are in it. Yes, sometimes that is hard, people in your life don't always want the same things you want. But I learned to value and appreciate those who are here for the moment.

An example:
After surgery, I literally did not have the physical strength to do normal everyday tasks. I could not pick up my daughter who was 2. I could barely walk up a step. I could not push a shopping cart. Pride is a hard thing to swallow, It was hard to admit to other's that I needed help to do the simplest of things. I am so thankful for gracious friends who did those tasks, who called to check on me, even if they just left a message on the answering machine. There were people who I barely knew who fixed my family meals, took me to doctor appointments, who sent me a note of encouragement, a bouquet of flowers, and shuttled my older children to sports practice and school events.

Many of the people who helped me have moved on to other places. Some, I still hear from.

The point is, at least for me, Blogging friends are like those friend's I had 17 years ago. I really don't know who you are, but most of you, if not all, have encouraged me in some way. I read your posts and see what you are doing, even if I don't comment. (Part of that is my weird work hours.) At the end of the day, I just want to relax. Checking in on you (your posts) helps me unwind.

My celebration today ... is celebrating you! Thank you for your comments ( I wish you would do more!!), thank you for your interest in me and thank you for for sharing your world!
XOXO
~Vicki~

OKkkkkkkkkkkkkk...
So working long hours is making me go crazy! I just read through my blog and realized that I did not give the guidelines for the Giveaway.

First , you MUST be a follower.
Second, you must leave a comment.

Because I am working more CRAZY hours this week ( have to be out the door by 4am), I am keeping this Giveaway open until Thursday, April, 21.

I'm sorry if this has caused any confusion!
~Vicki~

Also ... I'm linking this post up to Debbiedoos Newbie Party.

Day 6 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day 6

A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

There is no one I can think of. I'm pretty satisfied being me!

Day 5 ~ 30 Day Challenge

Day ~5~

A picture of your favorite memory 

When I was growing up, every year for Easter we would go to my 

Mom's Aunt's ( my Great Aunt) home in southeastern Indiana.

My brothers and I could not wait to get there and spend the week-end with our cousins!

ANNOUNCMENT!!!

I know this is kinda last minute ... working 10-14 hour days makes me loose track of time. I had planned on posting this early in the week, but I'm sure you'll forgive me.

• Tomorrow is an Anniversary, of sorts, that I will be celebrating.   Well, not really celebrating  with hoopla or a party... more ... a quiet observation. I will  have a post up about this Anniversary, hopefully, tomorrow.

• I will also be having a Giveaway associated with this Anniversary. Today I went "looking" for just the right item to give away...of course... nothing jumped out and said "PICK ME, pick me." So I am still looking.

• Over the week-end you will have the opportunity to read and comment on my post. From those comments, I will choose the winner of the Giveaway. Hopefully, Monday evening the winner and Giveaway item will be posted. 
• So, come on back, read and leave a comment. See ya soon!!

ABC Wednesday ~ M

Welcome to another ABC Wednesday! 

ABC Wednesday is hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt and the ABC team: Annelie, Leslie, Nathalie, Joyce, Donna, Helen, Roger, Troy, Sylvia, Jay, Barb, and Gattina.


Today, Mrs. Nesbitt herself is the host!


M is for ~
~Moon~


 THE HALF MOON SHOWS
A FACE OF PLAINTIVE SWEETNESS

The half moon shows a face of plaintive sweetness
    Ready and poised to wax or wane;
A fire of pale desire in incompleteness,
    Tending to pleasure or to pain:-
Lo, while we gaze she rolleth on in fleetness
    To perfect loss or perfect gain.
Half bitterness we know, we know half sweetness;
    This world is all on wax, on wane:
When shall completeness round time's incompleteness,
    Fulfilling joy, fulfilling pain?-
Lo, while we ask, life rolleth on in fleetness
    To finished loss or finished gain.
By Christina Rossetti  

This photo was taken April 1,2011

Moon
the moon the moon shining brightly in a pool of water the moon the moon glistening so brightly on the ground the moon the moon like a white shining marble floating in the sky the moon the moon what would we do without the moon  olivia freitas

These pictures were taken on February  19, 2011 I was so excited to get such great moon pictures with my new camera! Thanks to the ABC Wednesday crew for giving me the opportunity to share them. For more posts on the letter ~M~ click HERE

30 Day Challenge ....No show ...

My new scanner did not arrive today.

I hope to start posting it again on Thursday.

For those who asked... I will do all 30 days.

You can read through MY BLOG, 4 days are already posted.

See you soon!

Meet Me on Monday

Welcome to the 42nd edition of Meet Me on Monday!





Every Sunday, Java, @ Never Growing Old will post five get to know you  questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post. It's a fun little meme ... why not give it a try?




Today's Questions


1.  Who would be your dream celebrity date?

Johnny Depp

Every movie I have seen him in I have enjoyed. 

2.  Do you have any food restrictions?

 Both milk and sour cream upset my stomach.

3.  How much time do you take to get ready in the morning?

That includes showering , drying and curling my hair.

4.  Sausage or bacon?

Bacon is the best!

5.  Do you Google, Bing or Yahoo?

Now it's your turn!

Day 4~ 30 Day Challenge

Day 4~
A picture of your favorite night 
I'm not really sure that I have a favorite "night" picture, but I have a favorite thing I like to do at night when I'm at my favorite place.

This is my daughter and one of her best friends walking the beach at sunset.

If I lived near a beach, I would do thing every night

  

Windows ~ Thematic Photographic 141

I was just looking through my blogger dashboard and saw Carmi's post. REALLY?? today is Thursday. Working crazy hours makes you loose track of time.

This weeks theme?   WINDOWS

Of course, we go back to one of my favorite cities ~Chicago~

These are all taken from the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building .
The 95th floor is the Signature Room..

To view more perspectives on WINDOWS ~ looking at them or through them go to
Written Inc