I am so¬†EXCITED!!¬†…¬†I have been keeping this news to myself for a week or so… I would like to announce that I am¬†HONORED to be the¬†FEATURED¬†member on the Bliss Guild Blog!!¬†

A very creative and respected¬†group of business women who are so talented and giving of themselves…¬†

For those of you who don’t know¬†about¬†the Bliss Guild or their members…. here is a brief¬†paragraph taken with permission from the forum which I think best describes these fabulous ladies:

“The Bliss Guild began almost a decade ago as an online community of women who were pursuing their passions and building their bliss. Through the years it has changed a bit, but the goal remains the same – to provide a safe, supportive, informative and collaborative environment that enriches not only bliss businesses, but the lives and friendships of its members as well.”

I am¬†so proud to be a member of this elite group of business savy women¬†¬†… I have¬†grown through my membership with this community…with the sharing of their experiences while pursuing their dreams and¬†I hope that I have contributed greatly with mine as well

Here is the link for those of you who are interested in reading about them or my interview on the blog ….. http://www.blissguild.com/¬†¬†or http://www.blissguild.blogspot.com/¬†

Should you decide to join us… do tell them I sent you!

HUGS

JO

UPDATES ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG …YOU WILL BE SURPRISED!!

 

There are more than twenty angels in this world……. Ten ¬†are ¬†peacefully sleeping on clouds……. Nine are playing…… and one……. is reading this at this very moment….

Someone who I adore immensely is going through a very¬†difficult time right now and I ask that you keep her in your prayers….¬† I was humbled today because I had been all upset about the way my life was going when I received an email concerning Diane of Petticoat Junction…. her daughter Andrea was injured in a fire…. had to jump head first out a trailer window and laid there for an hour¬†before¬†someone¬†found her….. she has a crushed vertebrae and second degree burns on her hands and was going in for surgery today…..

I LOVE DIANE dearly …. she is one of the most courageous … honest…. and strongest¬†women I have ever met…. PLEASE KEEP HER AND HER DAUGHTER IN YOUR PRAYERS

DIANE THIS IS FOR YOU

I thank you all for doing so

HUGS

JO

Posted with permission from Diane:

January 30, 2008

She’s UP!

Just wanted to let you know that our prayers are being answered.¬† ¬†I watched Andrea walk today!¬† Just one week since her accident and she walked!¬† She is using a walker and it is very slow and lots of muscles aren’t working but at least she can get up and move around with a walker.¬† She walkedd down the hall and back at the hospital and she was exhausted.¬† Her hands have grown new skin and no longer hurt!¬† It is just amazing to me how fast she is healing.¬† Papa took Dylan and I up to see her today.¬† I was supposed to go up yesterday and spend the night but gale force winds changed our minds.¬† I didn’t stay with her tonight because we are supposed to get snow and I want to play with Dylan in the snow.¬† It will be his first time if we EVER get any.¬†

Thank you everyone for the wonderful and kind comments you have left for Andrea and family.¬† She still needs lots of prayer.¬† The muscles that make her urinate/defecate are not working.¬† This is very serious and we don’t¬† want this to be permaneant.¬† Please continue to pray for healing.

I took a picture of Andrea and Dylan sitting on her bed.   Dylan enjoyed coloring on her turtle shell brace! 

This update is from Dianes blog:

Angels & Miracles

I really don’t know where to start.¬† I want to start by thanking every last one of you for your love, support and prayers.¬† What true, kindhearted, wonderful friends I have made through blogging.ANDREA’S COURAGESince Andrea’s car wreck and brain injury she can’t smell and she is very hard to wake up and she wakes up confused a lot.¬† She usually sleeps until around 11:00 a.m.¬† That day something (ANGELS) woke her up around 8:00 a.m.¬† ¬†She woke up to a smokey room.¬† She opened her bedroom door and down the hall she could see the rest of her home on fire.¬† She ran frantically for the back door but it wouldn’t open.¬† I think that is where she burned her hands.¬† She doesn’t know.¬† She then went back to her bedroom and tried opening the window but couldn’t.¬† She just ran and went head first through the window and landed on her head.¬† She said she felt her legs go dead when she hit the ground.¬† She landed very close to the house.¬† She started pulling herself away and then got to where she could roll down the hill.¬† She was still really close to the fire and she was breathing lots of smoke.¬† She yelled for help for a long time.¬† ¬†A neighbor finally heard her.¬† We don’t know how long she lay there in the freezing temperatures.¬† The closest we can come is at least 45 minutes.¬† The firetrucks were very slow getting there because ice was on the roads. She came to the hospital hypothermic, burned hands and with a broken back.¬† I know that God saved my daugther once again.¬† I am so thankful and grateful that she is alive.¬† Her mission on this earth isn’t finished yet.¬† She still has something that God wants her to do.AN UPDATE ON ANDREA¬† The surgeon that did my daughters surgery says it went very well.¬† ¬†Andreas healing depends on her willpower and YOUR PRAYERS.¬† One leg she can move with much effort and the other leg is moving some but not a lot.¬† She can move her feet a little.¬† After shattering her L1 vertebrae and chipping her T12 they had to put plates one each side of her spine from T11 to L2.¬† They had to go through her ribs and lungs to get there.¬† She is in so much pain.¬† There is lots of nerve damage and nerve damage JUST HURTS SO BAD.¬† It is so unbearable to see her pain but yet I bear it.¬† ¬†Her nerves on her toes are hypersensitive and she just screams if they are just brushed with a blanket.¬† She got out of ICU on Thursday night and got her back brace in on Friday.¬† She was sat up on the edge of her bed by her therapists and was able to sit there on her own¬† She also took a few steps with lots of help and willpower.¬† She has months of rehab lying ahead of her.She is having good days and bad days emotionally. She doesn’t understand why ANOTHER traumatic event has happened to her.5 years ago she was in an auto accident and got a severe brain injury that has already made her life very difficult.¬† She lost everything in the fire.¬† She has nothing left materially but she has her life and that is what I keep telling her.¬† Yesterday I just brokedown in the hospital and¬† they made me come home.¬† It has been a very intense, emotional¬† life with Andrea for 5 years and now this.¬† My body is starting to tell me that it can’t go on this way.¬† Someone said to me a while back Don’t say it can’t get any worse because it can.¬† AT that time I said “oh this person doesn’t know what I have already been through.¬† I know it’s not going to get any worse for me” and now this.¬† I just don’t understand. I am so devastated to be here at home.¬† I want to be with her.¬† ¬†She is 2 hours away from me and I miss her so much already.¬† I want to be there to give her strength but I guess I just don’t have any strenth left to give so PLEASE keep up with your prayers for us.¬† I don’t know what the future holds.¬† I am sad right now.¬† So very sad for my daugther that I can’t see clearly or think clearly.¬† Do I belong home or with her?¬† I have her 2 year old to raise.Please pray for strength, clarity of thought, healing and most importantly that God will be glorified for the miracle of saving my daughter AGAIN. I have been blessed by every comment left by all of you.¬† ¬†I have been sitting here for hours reading them and it really is uplifting to know that I have such a strong group praying for me.I have more miracles to share about Andrea but I am tired and will post them at a later date.xoxoDiane¬†¬†

January 26, 2008

UPDATE 1-26-08

Hi again!¬† I received another email from Diane’s mom last night.¬† Andrea is no longer in ICU – Yeah!¬† =)¬† Here’s hoping that they both can return home soon!!!

Thank you again for all of your support.  I know Diane and her mom REALLY appreciate it. 

UPDATE: 01-24-08….THIS FROM DIANES FRIEND DEBBIE OF PURPLE FLOWER FAIRY

Update on Diane and her daughter Andrea

I just received another email from Diane’s mom:

“Andrea’s surgery went as well as expected. Because the vertebra was shattered and not broken she has a lot of nerve and muscle damage from fragments.Right now she can barely move her toes. They are fitting her for a brace. She is off the ventilator and maybe she will be moved from ICU to a room tomorrow. I know that God has spared Andrea once again and even if we don’t know why HE does. I spoke to Diane this morning and she is just so over-whelmed by the responses on her blog. She can hardly wait to get home and get on her computer to read them. I believe she might do this Friday or Saturday.”

Thanks to all of you for your support!¬† I’m sure Diane is exhausted and ready to be home…¬† =)

As you all know… I went out of town last week… I would like to say it was for a wonderful vacation … but alas that was not the case… I had two appointments… one Thursday and one Friday… which was actually on the way back from where we were going to stay so it was going to be a short lived trip¬†and what was supposed to be one day of fun and relaxation!¬† YAY!!

The plan was to leave early Tuesday morning and get to our destination¬†with¬†enough time¬†to relax…get¬†a good nights sleep and¬†spend Wednesday doing our thing because¬†Thursday would be a rough day for me….¬†I brought books to read… sketch pads to do some drawing…. and some¬† sewing and was looking forward to some pleasant down time…. HA!!

Ah the best laid plans….

Ok picture this….I was not paying for this excursion so I was at the mercy of the person driving…..therein lies the rub…. ahem!¬† An 11 hour trip that turned into 15…. 15?????¬† *cough *cough *cough

Again… the best laid plans….

Now I dont smoke… so I wont preach about the many reasons why you shouldnt… however… if you travel with someone who does… perhaps make sure you are the one doing the driving….¬†¬†the plan was to leave at 8 am get there about 9¬†pm HA!!¬†… After many many many….stops for a smoke?? ughhh¬† we arrived at our destination…. we are talking¬†4 am….¬† needless to say I was not in the best of moods…..especially considering the fact that I did not get to sleep before 2 am for the past two nights before that…¬†have you ever been around an Italian when they havent had any sleep?? …..avoid this if at all possible… and dont say I didnt warn you…..I had by this time reached a point of exhaustion….. and my desire to read…. sew …. and sketch went right out the window…. I did however take a LOT of pictures…. 575 of them to be exact….hehehe… so I will be doing a series of posts that will include some of these pictures …. this¬† turned out to be the highlight of my trip and will include some very fascinating subjects… you had a sneak peek with my last post…

So on the lighthearted side I will start with something quite kitschy and lead up to some fabulous shots as I take you on an adventure through the eyes of my camera…..

Now….¬†anyone who has driven down interstate¬† 95 going South would know about this interesting and absolutely campy place that sits smack dab in – between two states…..¬† yes its on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina…. however those of you who havent would get a kick out of¬†this off the wall and off the side of the road place filled with tons of restaurants ….tourist shops …..¬†giant hot dogs¬†and ¬†hamburgers on top of buildings and a huge Sombrero…. among other things….¬† you will start seeing huge billboards letting you know you are getting close and closer and even closer almost as soon as you cross either state line going North or South….

Unfortunately….. my pictures were taken on the way back which was at night instead of during the day because of the time crunch so there was a lot that was missed….that being said I will share what cutesy things I could get… though these pictures dont do it justice

The name of this roadside treat??

Jenn and Jacqui and Natasha ….. this ones for you

Now the best is yet to come… here are a few more teasers….

 

I really hope you enjoyed this funny little place… check back for more…¬†

HUGS BLESSING LOVE

JO

This is going to be a VERY long post… so grab a drink… sit back and relax… and dont forget your reading glasses…..

First¬†… I would like to thank everyone for their well wishes while I was gone… it was to say the least an interesting trip…¬†¬† more of that on¬†several different posts to come

While I was unable to blog and I did miss my friends…I did NOT miss my computer…. funny how the break away from it was rather nice

Now I received several different awards and I have been lax in thanking everyone and posting them so I am going to do that first…..

The first two awards… I received¬†from the lovely Jen at: http://www.pearstreetstudios.typepad.com/¬† ….¬†I have known Jen for over a year now and as always she is a real sweetie and I thank her for thinking of me!!

This second award I received from Rosie at: http://www.rosieswhimsy.wordpress.com/¬† it has been a true pleasure getting to know Rosie these past few months… she makes some of the neatest wall hangings and hangar cozies I have seen … and more

And I have been tagged by Heather at:¬† http://www.jeweledelegance.blogspot.com/¬† …. this¬†darling makes some gorgeous jewelry and you should go visit her to see¬†all her¬†lovelies ….she is¬†an inspiration¬†

Now with both Rosie and Heathers ¬†little surprise I am supposed to tell 7 and 10 weird things about myself…. I dont find myself weird… a bit ecentric perhaps… but I will try to do my best… I am just going to do what I can and if I dont reach either 7 or 10 then so be it…..

So here goes:

1)¬† Ok first off… Unless you have seen my feet you would not know about this and I am amazed I am admiting this to the world… but…. I have web toes …..¬† yes …. on my¬†right foot…¬†my two middle toes¬†are fused together…¬†¬† my Daddy used to tell me that is why I was such a great swimmer… I like to believe that one hehehe …. arent Daddys the best?

2)¬† I am a bit of a germaphobic ….. Not like Howard Hughes or anything but I do wash my hands a lot… seems I look at someone who is sick and I get sick

3)¬† When I go to a motel I bring my own sheets and pillows blankets etc…. sometimes even my own blow up bed…¬†¬† I watched Inside Edition one time about motels….¬† Big mistake!!…all I can say is dont do it!¬† If you ever want to stay in a motel or hotel again that is…..and dont watch the one about food if you ever want to eat again either (when that one came on I turned the TV off….I learned my lesson about the motel thing)…actually the blow up bed has a lot to do with my back… it has memory foam in it and I find sometimes the beds at motels and hotels sink in the middle…

3) When I get a bad stomach ache I drink olive juice…. yes¬† …. I did say that… ok so this one might be rather weird…. but for some reason it settles my stomach…. sometimes I want lemon juice and salt in soup or something like that….I can always tell when I am not feeling good when I start craving any of those things¬† ….

4) I am a hopeless insomniac….which makes for a very big grouch…. hehehe

5) I have a vast collection of books…..¬† I would say at least a hundred probably more but I am sure not going to sit here and count them…. I like to collect 1st editions….¬† mysteries… some biographies ….¬†lots of best sellers…..¬†have I read them? Not all… a few….¬†¬†however…. some day I plan to do nothing but

6) I have vast collections …. most people collect one thing…. not me….. I collect …. books…..¬† hummingbirds….. coffee mugs…. shot glasses…. etc….you might say my home is a serious dust magnet

7)¬† I am allergic to dust mites… lol…¬† go figure

8)¬†¬†I am claustrophobic….. me and little spaces do not get along…..¬† wide open is a must for me…

9) I LOVE cold….¬†¬† I dont like heat…. give me winter anyday as opposed to hot and¬†stuffy…

10)¬† And last …….I am afraid of heights…..

Ok so there you have it…now you know what a truly strange bird I am….. so on to the winner of the second chance giveaway

First… I asked Betty Crocker to help but she was busy baking…. she did however allow me to use her bowl again….

Since Betty was¬†elsewhere¬†I had to do something different so I decided to mix things up a bit…so the entries were placed in this cocktail mixer

Then shaken not stirred….

And of course poured on the rocks….

Hehe¬† …..¬† Just kidding…

And the winner is….

Congratulations to Phyllis !! 

This giveaway has been such a blast I plan on having more… it was too much fun

AN FYI…. I promise that we will give both Natasha and Phyllis prroper congrats on a future post.. along with links to their sites……Natasha is out of town so I didnt want to overwhelm her with a ton of responses which she cant answer…. while in and out she mentioned something¬†about 300 emails… so once she is back… we will congratulate BOTH ladies

Now someone sent me this and I loved it so much that I decided I had to share this with you….

  Life is too short for drama and petty things!

So laugh insanely, love truly, and forgive quickly!
   

¬†Don’t break the elastic!
In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. ¬†Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. ¬†And, there on television, she said it was ‘exciting.’ ¬†¬†Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day…like her breasts. ¬†They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first. The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this:

‘I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.’

‘I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.’
¬†‘I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.’
‘I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.’
‘I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.’

¬†‘I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.
¬†‘I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.’

¬†‘I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.’
¬†‘I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. ¬†People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.’
‘I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.’

¬†‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’¬†

Now you are supposed to send this to at least seven people in your email…
If you don’t…the elastic will break and your underpants will fall down around your ankles! ¬†Believe me, I didn’t take any chances on MY elastic breaking….¬† I posted it for the world to read!!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…..¬† A LITTLE TEASER…

¬†And more….

This will be a series of posts to come

HUGS

JO

Hi to everyone… I want to say thank you for all the well wishes for my trip…. it was quite an experience to say the least….. I will post about that later…

I have a lot of things to talk about… some pics to show… and some awards that I was given to post about… along with the winner of the second chance giveaway…and¬†a proper¬†congratualtion for the¬† first winner

Please give me a¬† day or so…some of the pictures will be over several days of postings¬†( I took 575 of them ……dont ask me how…. dont worry I promise I wont bore you with that many)..I am exhausted….¬†things did not go exactly as planned and it was a mad rush to get to our destination … coming back was¬†a bit¬†less stressful (sort of) ….¬†My plan was to announce the second giveaway winner on Sunday… however¬†it will probably be Monday before that happens…¬†my apologies… just need to gather my thoughts¬†

I have visited a few blogs today and will do more over the next few days or in between catching up with everything…

Thank you again for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers …..¬†¬† we just arrived at 7 this morning and I have been trying to wind down from being in the car for so long..

HUGS TO ALL

JO