I’ve never actually truly broken a bone. I’ve been hurt. Severely hurt, but it’s never been broken.
I can think back through my childhood and remember sprains and deep bruises, and torn muscles. But no broken bones.
I wore roller blades in the house without a helmet on the second story, and fell down the stairs. But miraculously I was okay.
I tried the “sledding” when on a skateboard with my dog towing me, and she went so fast I fell off the skateboard and scraped almost all my skin off my limbs but no broken bones.
Swimming, I hit someone in the head with my thumb so hard they got a huge bruise, and my thumb throbbed, but no broken bones.
I ran into a teammates shoulder (with my face) and got my lip pressed into my braces. Lots of blood but nothing broke. Not even the braces.
I punched myself in the face with a paint scraper. Gave myself a minor concussion and lost some blood. An Ambulance had to come and take me to the hospital because I passed out while standing. But no broken bones.
I hurt my back enough that it stopped my swimming career, but the doctors couldn’t find the culprit.
There’s several more things. I know I sprained the same elbow more than four times. But it was never enough to break any bones.
Probably why my kids are so resilient. Their bones are strong like their mama.
I guess the only time it might have counted was when I was really little. I don’t know exactly what age…eight…ten…? Something like that. Just imagine two brothers and one sister. Plus two hula hoops over lapped. The brothers were on the outside, the sister (me) in the middle. The brothers begin to play tug-o-war. The sister trips and falls, and the brothers fall on top of her. Which causes the sister to bust up her lip and twist and chip a tooth. So much blood.
I still have it to this day. I could get it capped but it doesn’t bother me. It also has memories. Yes, some bad memories, but also I remember playing with my brothers. That day was almost twenty years ago. Wow. Time does fly.
So I guess I did break something. One tooth. I’m doing pretty good for being a adventurous child. I did so many dumb things in the past.
Enjoy your Sunday!! I will be having a quiet peaceful Sunday with my kiddos. ❤️ Also!
That the government had to pay stay at home moms a salary. I know, I know. If you magically come up with something for the government to do it just makes taxes go higher…
Instead let’s say this…If you are a stay at home mom, your husband gets a tax break.
Because, us, stay at home moms do so much. And I wish I could help out my husband financially. I know I do in a sense. We don’t have to pay for daycare, cooking, cleaning, laundry, gym, school, etc. It was about 2 years ago, when I looked up to see how much money would a stay at home mom make; and it was about $160,000 a year. I just looked now, and it’s saying closer to $180,000.
Really. Tax break would be awesome!! Like you naturally get, say $20,000 tax refund plus your other additional tax return. I think that sounds amazing!!
Just something extra for all our hard work. An extra incentive for having the greatest and hardest job of all time!! Seriously!! My days seem to be like Tetris…how much can I fit into a day?!?
So I don’t know if this actually counts as a business idea. But it would be truly awesome!!
Just an idea…
.-.-.
We are tough,
We are strong.
We are enough.
Our days are very long.
We feed you.
Bathe you.
Teach you.
Even prepare you!
Payment you might ask?
No money for us.
It is said,
Give us your love instead.
.-.-.
To all the mamas out there!
Digital Art: By emily2jane “Just Pretty” 01-11-24
I felt inspired to do a pretty picture. Probably because it’s so cold outside. I miss all the colors.
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
Mr. Pinky!!
I got a big pink bear for my first Christmas. My mom says I fell into him and gave him snuggles instantly!!
I don’t know why my giant pink bear became a boy bear but that’s what’s his name was and still is.
Yep! I still have him. My kiddos play with him now. I also have pictures of my kiddos giving Mr. Pinky hugs and kisses.
He still looks good for being so old. He has dirt marks that I guess I couldn’t get clean. Lipstick marks because when I was little I would find a lipstick smear it all over my face and give Mr. Pinky extra big kisses. Haha!
But he also is slowly falling apart at some seams so I sacrificed a pair of my shorts and he now has shorts on. It was kind of disturbing to me that the shorts fit him perfectly… I’m the same size as my giant bear…not cool.
But we will have to see how long he is around. Maybe he will get snuggles and kisses from grand babies in the future. I don’t know what is the final plan for Mr. Pinky. But he will stay with me as long as possible. Or unless one of my grandkids in the future desperately needs him. We shall see.
Where we live for some reason they won’t enclose their pool and make it year round. You travel anywhere else and everywhere there is an indoor pool.
The husband and I have talked about building an indoor pool on our property. But that would only happen if we were rolling in the money.
But even if they just enclosed our city pool. I would love to swim laps all year long.
That’s what my body craves. Because when I finally get to swim laps I fee all brand new. I feel ready for the day. I feel…good!
But instead the city wants to spend their money on terrible quality roads. Transit buses that are not needed. Building more homes in a town that doesn’t have enough water.
Maybe I’ll just buy one of those Sun Spas. You know it’s only $10,000. Chump change.
No instead, we drive a distance to a pool that is awesome. The husband says the next time I can swim laps longer. So excited!!!
A 2010 bright orange mustang. I actually have a picture of me standing next to one; when I was 17! I was determined to have one. Orange was my favorite color!
Instead, my first vehicle wasn’t until I was 27. And… I got an efficient car. At least it was cherry red. That’s somewhat close to orange… right?
Also a mustang would have impossible with kids. Folding over in half to put a baby in…Nope! Not happening.
So I didn’t get my dream car, but I love Jams. (That’s what I’ve named my car) Jams’ is awesome! We got Jams because of the gas mileage. A full tank of gas can go over 400 miles! And when we got Jams is was about $12 to fill up. Now, it more like $30; but that tank of gas will last me 1-2 months.
Look at me…bragging about my Jams. Haha 😂 but definitely Jams is now my dream car. So much so, I wish I could gift one to my mama. 🩷
And if you were curious…
The name Jams comes from the live action Aladdin movie. The scene with all the jams. If you’ve seen it, you know!
Well. My dream car was just that. A dream. But my reality car is perfect for me, my life, and family.
Obviously, my husband would be an easy answer. He has great impacted my life for the better. But I think I want to use this time to say my older brother.
My older brother had a great influence in my life. He was always the role model of a strong man in my life. As you all know, my dad was not someone in my life and I had no desire for him to be present either. So to me my older brother filled that role. If I needed help, he was the one I went to.
Now that I am living miles and miles away from my old home; I am realizing how much time I spent with my older brother. During my early teenage years, I would spend time watching him play the piano; Sometimes I would chime in and sing if a song I knew came up. Strangely I felt comfortable enough to sing in front of my brother, but never for anyone else. I would sit and watch him play World of Warcraft; it was incredibly boring, except for the beautiful colors and the imaginative creativity that they had to design the game. We would play board games together. That became a normal thing; my brother had game nights with his buddies over the years, and I was cool enough to tag along.
I have to say it is pretty amazing that I was able to tag along, because when I was a child i tormented my brother. I am amazed that we had such a strong relationship as I grew up; because I know at one point, he probably wanted to strangle me.
But even when I went through the stupid dating experience too young; I remember my brother coming up to me saying, “If you need me to do anything I’m there for you.” I felt so protected in that moment. My older brother was always a shy introvert like me; so, to know he would step up and be my protector made me swell with pride for him.
I even had thought that I wanted my husband to ask my brother for permission to marry me, but it was my mom’s role. But my brother would have been the second person in line.
I also had thought about having my brother give me away at my wedding. Again, I had always seen my mom give me away, but again my brother would have been my next choice.
I can’t really label what in my life has been influenced by him, because to me without him I probably would have seen men different. If life had just been us leaving a verbally abusive dad without a strong male example for me; I’m scared to think who I would have become. I have to thank my brother so much!
A stubborn believer. I won’t change my beliefs for anyone. I will always, and to the end be a believer in Christ Jesus the Lord!!
A loving smartypants wife. I am a lovingly wife. My husband knows. But I can also be a pain. Haha 😂 in a sarcastic way. Sarcasm is our second language.
A daughter. I love my mama!! She is still my best friend. It’s difficult to be so far from her. Not what I had first thought my future would be like. But she is supportive and adamant of our dream on living away. 🥰
A somewhat patient, but warm mama; and an above average homemaker. I try. Being a mama is hard. I’m still trying to figure it out. And it will only continue to get harder; if we keep adding kids. But I still love this job. Even though some days I feel like I have no hair by the end of the day. Also the home maker job….it’s hard to juggle the mama responsibilities with all the other chores. Again I’m not perfect. I probably have the kitchen requirements to 85% but the rest of the house is only at 70%. But not bad. But the husband keeps trying to help me.
An artist. I want to be an artist. I would love to be an anonymous artist. That only you on this blog would know. But that my art could speak for itself. Because also…I’m incredibly busy. Finding time to paint will be hard enough. But I do desperately want to get my art out there!!
I don’t what else is there….I think this sums me up!!
I drove with my mom to go pick up Sammy from the pound. I was still buzzing with excitement.
We had the yard prepared. Her dog house was in the back back yard. Her “pooping area” was hopefully back there as well. It was actually a substantial sized yard for a dog.
But I don’t know what I was expecting, when I finally got her. But as she waddled out of the pound she looked groggy. That was due to the shots and procedure. But the moment she recognized me she was waddling a little faster and licked my hand once beside me.
She remembered me. She was mine!
Instead of putting her in a crate I decided to have her in my lap. I thought crating her would be to traumatic for her. I sat down and then called for her to get in the car too. She was confused to say the least. So instead the backseat it was; which was a bench. Sammy didn’t fight me when I picked her up and placed her on the bench. I sat beside her; she crawled over enough to place her head on my lap. I scratched her ears the whole way home.
“Make sure you vacuum the car out afterwards,” mom said as we drove home.
“Of course, mom.”
Home. We were home. “Sammy, we are home.” Instead of having her walk I picked her up and carried her into the fence of the backyard. I placed her down and walked her around the yard. Letting her smell all the new smells. She wasn’t really interested in anything.
“Mom. I think she just needs a day. Or maybe a couple days to let the drugs wear off in her system. I’ll take her to her dog house, instead. I again scooped her up and carried her into the back back yard. I placed her in front of the dog house. It was a very spiffy dog house. I had gotten her a comfy pillow. It had been a little large but I made her a cocoon. She didn’t move. She just stood there frozen. So like any good owner I crawled into her dog house, circled a few times, and then laid down getting comfy. It was quite comfy. Getting back out was different story. How did my butt for through the door in the first place. Haha! But I managed to get back out; and Sammy instantly copied what I had done. She laid down and then she was out. ‘Good girl.’
I had given her food around dinner time but she was still asleep. So I left it there and went to bed myself. But when I woke up I rushed outside to check on her. She was no where! She wasn’t in her dog house! Her food had not been touched! Oh no! I thought the worst. I thought she ran away.
“SAMMY!” I called!
And suddenly there were little pitter-pat feet coming towards me. Where had she been? But Sammy walked over to me and licked my fingers as a good morning. And she was smiling! Definitely smiling. It melted me heart.
“Let’s go eat some food, Sammy! Do you want to do that,” I walked back to her dog house. She followed and I showed her the bowl of food. She saw the food, and then it was gone! (I discovered I like the sound of dogs eating food; it was quite relaxing.) But again she was a smiling dog. She knew her spot. And it was to sit in front of me with her back pressed into my legs; waiting for her morning scratch. I gave it to her.
But then suddenly she perked up and she dashed off into the front back yard. ‘What?’ And I followed her. Someone was walking by the fence. And Sammy jumped up on the fence to say hello. She wasn’t barking, but instead she was smiling, waiting for scratches. ‘I picked a social dog.’ The woman walkingwas startled, but then saw me. She waved me over.
“Did you get a new dog?”
I didn’t know this woman. But, “Yes. I got her yesterday.”
She looked at Sammy who was still waiting for some love. “Can I?” Do you know?”
I didn’t know for sure, but I assumed. “I’m guessing she just wants some love, but I’m not completely sure. I assume she would be barking at you if she didn’t want you here, not here smiling at you.”
The woman decided to give Sammy some scratches behind the ear. Sammy leaned into her had and soaked up all the love she was getting. I think Sammy would have stayed in that position if the dog across the street didn’t start barking incessantly at the woman petting Sammy.
Sammy hopped down from the fence and just stood looking at the other dog. Not barking just looking.
“You picked a wonderful dog,” the woman said as she started to walk off.
“Thank you!” I beamed. I knew I had picked the right one. But for a stranger to say it, it just reaffirmed it for me. Sammy was the right one.
.-.-.-.
I learned several things as time went on. Sammy did not want to be in the back back yard. She wanted to be closer to the fence, where people walked. Because anyone who walked by got big smiles from Sammy. She never barked at anyone. I take that back. She did not like skateboarders. Not matter where she was in the yard, she would sprint to the fence and bark until the skateboard was gone. Haha!
But other than that she was perfect. I gave her a bath the second day of having her. She did not like or appreciate the water. It was a battle to bathe her. But as time went on she didn’t fight me as much. I also brushed her. So that she wouldn’t look mangy. She was a beautiful dog. But to me she was a lab, husky, smidge chow mix.
Learned more things. Like you have to put pavers under the dog house. Because when it rains, if it’s on the ground, the water washes in and soaks the dog pillow. Blah! Another. Sammy hated lightning and fireworks. I lived in the back room of the house, so on those types of nights I had Sammy sleeping next to my bed. And she was the perfect dog. She just laid down. She didn’t wander. She didn’t mess with anything. Also she knew how to tell me she needed to go out. I would be dead asleep, and she would come lick my hand. I would wake up staring into Sammy’s eyes and she would walk over to the door, which led outside. She would stand there until I let her out. She would go do her business, come back to the door, and wait for me to say come back in. She would scurry back inside and find her spot again. I didn’t teach her that. Her previous owners must have.
She protected me from bees. I’m allergic to bees and when being outside I would suddenly gasp or scream because a bee was diving for me. (I don’t know what it is but bees chase me.) But Sammy would eat them for me! She was my protector as well.
She was the perfect dog.
Through the years we moved houses and lived in various cities. But Sammy always came. And the new yards became her domains. But she had less and less social time with people walking. The houses we moved into had privacy fences.
But then my nephews came along, we discovered that Sammy loved being a mama. She allowed my nephews to do everything to her. And she never retaliated . They would pull ears, try to ride her, pull her tail, and she would just sit there allowing it.
We also got kittens at one point. My brother’s cats got pregnant and we had 9 kittens. The mom cats died when the kittens were on hard food. But Sammy took the role. She would lay down and snuggle the kittens, she would lick the kittens clean, she would sleep with them. My dog as a perfect mama.
I continued to learn through the years. She was gentle. She was mischievous. She was delightful. She was my best friend. But she wasn’t just my dog. She was my family’s dog. My mom loved Sammy. My sisters who were not big dog people loved her. I ruined my family for having the perfect dog, because she couldn’t be replaced.
But then I got married, and we were going to move away. I wanted to take Sammy. Desperately! But it would have been a huge change for her. Her life would have changed so much that I didn’t want to make her depressed. So left her with my mom.
It broke my heart. But I didn’t want to ruin her. We had, had her already 11 years. She was old. She had slowed down. But she had also become everyone’s dog. So she wouldn’t have been too depressed me leaving.
Thankfully I got to travel down and see her before her final year. She got to meet my daughter. She licked her fingers. Just like she had done to me.
Every trip down I spent time with Sammy. But she was getting older and older. She had lost her hearing. She had trouble walking. But she was still smiling.
Then I got the call. The call that Sammy was in so much pain that she needed help to be done. I FaceTimed with her for a short visit. She smiled at me. But then she was gone.
We had her for 16 years. She was 17 when she passed. She had the best life. She was loved by so many, and she loved everyone back.
I had the perfect dog. I’m so happy I stuck to guns and was stubborn to get her. Because she was the best. ❤️
Young SammyHer last day 💕
She was still a beautiful sweetheart on her last day. I’m just bummed that my kiddos didn’t get to play with her. But I’m lucky to have had her growing up. I was the lucky one.
#1 Easy. Dog. But for me is a very specific dog. My dog that sadly has passed away, Sammy.
Part 1
She was the best dog ever. And she is the dog I compare to.
I got her when I was thirteen from the pound. A funny-ish memory with my dad; that is a scarce thing. But my dad is the one who took me to the pound that day to pick out a dog. I had, had my eye on one; a golden retriever puppy. But sadly the puppy had to stay at the pound another 2 weeks before it could come home with me; that must have been too long because I moved on.
My dad had his own ideas about a dog he wanted a male German shepherd mix. A dog my mom specifically said not to get. That was my dad though. I of course, was not going to choose a dog against my mom, but I continued to walk through the pound in search of my dog. I knew I would know when I saw it.
I walked past each stall; getting more discouraged as I went. until I came up to one stall. The dog was black. A little fluffy. Mangy looking. The sign said lab chow mutt. I don’t know what it was, but I liked this dog. She was just sitting in the corner sleeping away. My dad tried to pull me away, but I stood rooted there. He continued on, and I still stood there looking at the dog.
I squatted down to be on her level when she woke up and almost fell over. The commotion must have woke her up, because suddenly there was a little dog head perked up looking at me. I saw sadness in her face. I was about to walk on, because I thought she was too skittish; but as if she knew, she stood up and slowly walked over to the fence and licked my fingers. It startled me. I had forgot I had my hand there. But she continued to lick my fingers.
I trusted her instantly. I shoved my fingers through the hole in the fence and began to scratch her ear. She almost my instantly collapsed into the fence and soaked up scratches. She pressed her side to the fence and I continued the petting session. I probably squatted there, petting her for almost 15min. I knew. This was my dog. My dad was still off somewhere looking At probably only German shepherds. But I continued to be squatted there scratching my dog. My dog Sammy. I previously had a different name picked out, but I still to this day have no idea what it was. But when I was petting her, I just said, “Good girl, Sammy.” And that was that. This was my dog Sammy.
Finally he came back. “Pop, I want this one.”
My dad looked at the dog , “I don’t think so, I found a really cute dog down the hallway. It’s ready to go home today and everything. Let’s go take a look,” he started to walk away.
I didn’t move; instead I struggled to stand up and pointed at Sammy, “No, I want this one.”
“No. This one looks mangy; probably she will attack you or run away the moment she comes to our home. Instead there is a good looking German shepherd puppy down the hallway. I’m sure you will like it,” he tried to get me to come with him.
“Nope. I’m good. I want this one.” I can be quite stubborn. Haha!
“But, I think you should keep your options open. This one might not be available today. Let’s continue to look. I’m not committed to any dog just yet. Not until you look at the other one.”
I knew that he was not going to be open to my dog until I looked at his…but I was not moving. Thankfully a worker came up to us and asked the question I was hoping for.
“Did you find a dog you liked?”
“No, we are….” My dad tried.
“Yes. This one.” And I pointed at Sammy.
The worker looked at me, then at Sammy, then at my dad, “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m positive. I want this dog for my birthday.” Yeah I forgot that part. I was getting a dog for my birthday. My parents agreed I was old enough for a dog. So my dad brought me to find a dog. And I found her! “Can we start the process?”
“Oh. It’s for your birthday. Then of course you should get the dog you picked. Right, dad? If your daughter choose this one, and is adamant, you should trust her choice, right?”
Thank you worker. But oh! my dad is going to be pissed on the drive home. At the time I was terrified for the drive home, but not scared enough to give up on Sammy. My dad just nodded, but I knew he was not happy.
The worker grabbed the small sign and walked us to the office. I looked back and Sammy must have felt abandoned and walked slowly back to to her corner. ‘I’m coming back for you.’
We got to the office and the person in charge handed me a slip to fill out. The normal stuff, but I also got to put Sammy’s name on the line for name!! It was an exciting moment. But then came the time for paying. Thankfully my mom had planned ahead and gave me a $20 bill, because my mom knew that if my dad didn’t get his way he was not going to pay.
The worker said, “Okay, that will be $15. Who will be paying?”
As I expected my dad didn’t react; so I pulled out the $20 bill and said, “Of course me. It’s my dog after all.” It was done. She was mine. I fought for her!! They also let me sign on the dotted line since I payed.
Sammy would be ready in two days. They had to give her, her shots and spay her. But she was mine. It was done.
I thanked the workers and walked out of the office with my receipt. I was so proud, that I forgot all about my dad. I turned and he had not followed me out of the office.
I sung open the door and my dad just said, “maybe have that German shepherd puppy ready to go in two days too and maybe she will change her mind.”
I rolled me eyes. The workers looked uncomfortable. I yelled in the door. “No need. Sammy is all I want. Come on Pop, let’s go home and prepare the yard for Sammy.”
That ended the topic. Sammy was my dog. I would fight for her!!
.-.-.-.-.
I know this post was meant for multiple animals, but Sammy is…well now, was my favorite. I think I’ll continue the story tomorrow. The story of Sammy is a fun one.
But now you got a glimpse into what my dad was like. I think this result only happened because I was his favorite child. Which sickens me. The only reason for that, was because he had control over my swimming. Also (not to brag) but I won races a lot. I gave him so much pride. He gave me too much pressure, but he didn’t care. Which is why I think he allowed my behavior that day. Because he needed me to continue to fuel his vain side in the future.
But I’m happy for that. For once in my life I was happy I was his favorite; because I did get the best dog that day!! My family would agree.
(Also I’m not against German Shepherds. I just for one didn’t want a male dog. I wanted a female. And German shepherds have lots of energy. I wanted a more mellow dog. I wanted a dog that would be content in our small backyard. Nothing against German shepherds.)
This is a two part answer. Because I want to vacation at the beach, but live in the mountains.
The beach it’s warm and sunny. Beautiful! There is the hot sand, the blue oceans. It’s paradise. But honestly for me not where I want to put down roots.
I have some reasons. I’m not just stating a fact or anything. But for one, I’m afraid of the ocean. Yes it super pretty to look at; but only my knees will be dipping in. The husband and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon, and I was having a panic attack swimming around in the ocean. I totally was a buzz kill for the husband.
Second reason…tsunamis. Not a fan…or hurricanes…nope nope. It’s all sunshine and rainbows until your house is washed away.
Third reason. I burn. No matter how much sunscreen I put on; I burn. Peeling is the pits.
But still, even with all those things; I would love to vacation at a beach again.
But putting down roots; I’m a mountain girl. The trees, the mountains, the Autumn’s breeze, the snow, the cold. All of it is beautiful.
But the extreme weather is not the greatest. The over 100mph winds or the -50°, terrible. But you learn, you adapt. My great fear in the mountains is grizzly bears and rattlesnakes; but there are things to do to handle those problems.
So I guess that’s what it is for me. The extreme weather issues of living in various places. You live up north you freeze. You live farther south you get whacked with baseball sized hail. The east you get humidity and tornadoes. And the west you get sky high population and expensive living with nice weather. Haha! But no matter where you decide to put down roots; you take the good with the bad. You learn to adapt. You live!
emily2jane 