Scrapbook

So I am putting together this electronic scrapbook for christmas for the davidson family...and boy has it consumed me.... its all I have done today!!! here are a couple of samples....

some of the pictures are very old. but a fun project ...back to work.

Giving Thanks

Thanks giving arrives in just 3 hours!!


I had the day off today...and mostly I read... I read a book that had come highly recommended several years ago...."The five people you meet in heaven" It is a quick read....took only a few hours..with breaks well worth it. I really enjoyed the idea of continued growth and learning after death... although I don't think we need to wait to die to find out why we came to earth.

Things have been a little stressful in my life recently....While I won't go into any details, it has taken its toll on my general optimism about life.

I like to think that in general I take a very "Pollyanna" approach to life....If you have never seen the movie...go rent it! It is a classic...a little Corny...but classic none the less. I really try to always look for the silver lining. I know that something good can come of any situation when you play the glad game.

I can get so mad at Edgar when he looks into the future and only sees the negative. the truth is...We have no idea what the future holds. And that is the first thing I am thankful for this thanksgiving... Thankful for an uncertain future with room for alternative endings to what we think they might be... It leaves room for miracles, optimism, pessimism and the chance to live just today...because we can't know what tomorrow brings.

With the economy being so volatile...I am thankful for a stable job, with an income that meets my needs. I am thankful that people don't seem to be panicked....I am glad that I can give this holiday season. In many ways to many organizations. This year I am giving a new coat to winter warm up, adopt a family at work, and food drives and I really want to give to an organization that provides recreational opportunities to inner city youth. I hope I can encourage anyone who is reading to give generously....skip expensive christmas presents and remember those in need.

A few years ago some really yukky stuff happened between one of my best friends and I and we slowly drifted apart...until we didn't talk at all for a couple of years.... Well this year both of us were finaly able to forgive and let go of the past. Although we are both pretty different people now than back then..... It feels so good to have her back in my life. I am thankful for my friends and the chance I have had to have such close friends that know ALL of my "secrets" and like me still anyway!

It has been a wonderful year filled with both the usual and the unusual ups and downs. This year in particular I felt more close to my family. I had the chance and honestly a desire to spend more time with everyone. I think family group things where hard when I was married to Paul, I always felt so alone. Now whether by myself or with Edgar I feel more a part of my family...I have really enjoyed it. I am very very thankful for my family!

Although anyone standing on the outside looking in at me would have a hard time finding religion in my life....I am still a believer....I just need a lot more practice! I have never forgotten my roots. I love My heavenly father very much. I don't feel like I fit very well in church. This year I have prayed more than in the prior few....I am So thankful and Glad that he is there for me despite my sins and attitudes. Thank you dear lord for all the blessings and gladness this world can and does bring. Heavenly father, please bless those children tonight who suffer so much pain in the hospital from cancer and other diseases.

Where in the world was Brenda this weekend?

Guess!

Halloween, elections and such....

Working chronologically backwards here....
Yesterday Saturday November 8th... Curtain making day at Andi's house. Andi needed some new curtains...so...I had called her some weeks ago to set up a curtain makeing day...never in my wildest dreams did I think it would turn into such an even....



Mom and Dad and Sarah all joined in for the sewing fun.... My dad can out sew any of us...I think that is way cool... and he showed us how to sew a straight hem with no pins!!!

These are the living room curtains we did these back in Feb of last year...but this was my first time seeing them up!

Grants bedroom curtains...trains per his request...

We also made curtains for Andi and Brian's room...but My camera ran out of batteries befor I got pics.

Halloween (:

I wanted to go as the water cube this year... and wanted Edgar to go as the birds nest...from the olympics this summer remember.... I really enjoyed the Olympics and wanted them to last a little longer.... So anyway it turns out when you sew a square fabric to round cloths and put it in a round body...it turns round...no matter how much support you put in. so .....a few quick changes and I was the Future Phelps...(future olympic swimmer)

Water Cube...my costume picture will be at the end of the post....gotta make you wait....its fun that way.

So Diana had her annual Halloween party... It was great fun as always. This is Diana and Her boyfriend Travis...in the Devil made me do it..... He is the devil and she is a pregnant angel with a beer and a cigarette...(no she is not really pregnant)

Angie and Bob...at the party

Edgar...as Pimp Daddy
I never even tried to make the birds nest...and he didn't want to go as that anyway...

And ...here it is...the Future of Olympic swimming.....once she gets the staying afloat part down......Brenda "Olympic" Swimmer

Halloween is upon us.....

So Halloween is a pretty great time of year for me... I mean it is October... and that means anniversary... Although my marriage is well....pretty much self destructed... still the day comes round every year... and I like it... See we got married as near October 12th as was possible since that was the anniversary of my car accident. That day has always been special to me- as a new beginning and a celebration of life... and I wanted to make my marriage a new beginning as well. Although the marriage didn't last the new beginning has.

The Jewish new year Rosh Hashannah is in Octoberish...

I had a patient (Jenny) who came back to visit the hospital a couple of days ago. Her mother is a Jewish rabbi. When Jenny was 12 years old she was at summer camp when she suddenly became very ill. She was in septic shock from a bacterial infection. It got very serious very quickly and she had to be placed on ECMO the heart and lung bypass machine. Her parents where told she had a grim prognosis... Many prayers where said on her behalf. She lived. She did suffer some lasting damage to the nerves in her lower right leg. Now she has to wear a brace on her leg in order to walk without dragging her foot. I was her physical therapist both when she was in the hospital and after she was discharged she came back for treatment. I had told her and her mother about my annual celebration of life after surviving my car accident. When it came time for Jenny's Bat-mitz-va at 13 years of age she asked me to speak at her ceremony and that in addition to the Jewish ceremony she would also celebrate life.... I spoke as did Dr. Pinada who helped save her life by putting her on the ECMO. That was in October.

When Jenny came to the hospital the other day she told me it was the anniversary of her Bat-mitz-va. That felt really neat...she mentioned that she celebrates life annually now. That this year she wants to start a program at children's Hospital where kids who had spent some time in the hospital can talk to other kids who are undergoing treatments or extended hospital stays to help encourage and lift their spirits. I thought that was a wonderful idea!!! New beginnings again....

One more new October beginning... I don't know how many of you watch extreme makeover home edition... but this past Sunday the Make over of my friend Job's house aired... While the actual makeover took place in August... it aired Sunday.... October 26th. Job was also a patient... I was not his primary Therapist... Carol was... but I did see him regularly during his year long hospitalization. Job has had many many medical issues including cancer, deadly infections bone marrow transplant and after broncholitis obliverans destroyed his lungs... her received a bilateral lung transplant. Job finnally got to go home after more days in the hospital than out.... since he was 6 years old. He was from Bigalow Arkansas. When he went home it was quickly discovered that he could not live in his home as it was infested with mold....deadly for immunosuppressed lungs. After many letters to ABC's extreme makeover... they came and the home they built along with the contractors... was nothing short of amazing. Job looked so happy... and although they never mentioned St. Louis Children's... they did show video clips of Jobs therapy at our hospital. The neatest part they used some of what I wrote in as their closing lines of the show.... I had written that Job has gone through so much and managed to maintain a positive outlook that it gives so many other people hope... that they too can survive. I don't look at any diagnosis now as a death sentence.... I look at a deadly diagnosis as a new beginning....with an unpredictable end.... but one that Prayer can and does clearly influence.

Family time

Brenda and Edgar

We went to Hannibal today... for the folk life festival. We met at my parents house around 11am. Unfortunately, at 3:30 it was time to drive back home....Mizzou game tonight and Edgar has some of his buddies here. Probably why I am blogging now!, anyways... we Had such a good time with the family we never made it to the folk life fest. Here are a few of the pictures.....Andi, Brenda and Sarah...playing ring around the rosies.

Aunt Kathy and Marianne....trying to food...umm umm good.

Sarah and Aunt Kathy

Susie, Aunt Lachricia and Uncle Dick

Susie... She looks so good for 92



Grant opening birthday presents with his mom Andi

So Tuguchi...always needs his picture taken.

Christian just lookin cute. Why yes that is a giant cockroach he is holding....(fake)

Grant and Sarah Play Wii bowling


Okay we mostly enjoyed family time....

It was really fun....I took some of my scrap book pages and got more info from Suzie for the book.... also got a ton of genealogy info on CD from my dad...Thanks dad. it was really cool.

Accepted the challenge!

My sister-in law (pabstadventure.blogspot.com) had blogged about accepting a challenge from another blog to post the 6th picture from your sixth file. So here it is... a picture of a hotel room! we had won a one night stay in this suite. it was really nice.. complete with a river view... if you didn't mind all the construction! Okay... the picture is a bit boring but this room was the inspiration for my bedroom... which is still a work in progress.