Habitat for Humanity

Among the companies I've been doing paid blogging for IZEA (formerly known as PayPerPost) has been the one I've been with the longest. I began there just a few short months after they started, and I've stayed with them ever since. Throughout the growth pains of becoming a major presence on the web, I've been able to generate some income from them. Enough, in fact, to be able to buy a car, a new laptop, and a few other extras.

However, not everyone is as fortunate as I. There are some within our communities, yours and mine, who are hard working but struggling nonetheless. These people are dreaming of owning their own home. This is a dream of millions of Americans, don't you think? Habitat for Humanity is an organization that helps people make their dreams come true. But they can't do it alone. They need your help in both time and donations.

I've just visited Habitat for Humanity and donated to help others attain their dreams. Just like IZEA has helped me attain some of my own dreams, it's time to pay it forward. I donated on behalf of IZEA and quite a number of other bloggers (or "posties", as we're called) are doing the same. MamaBok posted to her blog about this effort.

Others who are joining us are:

Christmas Spirit
Give the Gift of a Home This Holiday
Tis the Season
Give Thanks Don't Say It
Thanks PayPerPost
This is the Right Thing To Do
A Home for Everyone
Remember Habitat for Humanity

Won't you join us in this effort to bring the very best Christmas to deserving families? You can click the banner to donate any amount you wish. There is no challenge to be met here. Every little bit helps.

Welcome Sis to blogging!

I just wanted to take a moment to point my readers to my Sis' new blog. She's new to this kind of writing and internet social networking, but she's really smart and will be a pro in no time, I'm sure.

Her first post can be found at Sixty Something. I think you'll find her to be as excellent a writer as you've ever read, and she has a real knack for communicating through writing and conversation.

As time goes by I'll help her build her sidebar and deal with other technical issues. The writing is all her, though, and she'll soon learn how to manipulate her template herself, I'm sure. She has come a long way since her first computer in her home!

Middle name meme

Nellie from over near the right coast tagged me for a meme. This one will be a challenge since my middle name is so long!

The Rules:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.

2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.

3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts.

4. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

E-Elegant

L-Loquatious

I-Inquisitive

Z-Zany

A-Artistic

B-Broad

E-Enigmatic

T-Truthful

H-Hungry!

Now it's your turn. Anyone who wishes can participate, of course. Just drop me a message in comments and let me know. But since I feel like picking on people, I'm going to pick on...

Cin
Starlily
Kiwipulse
Leigh
Jimi
Eliza
Sandy
Laura
Peter

Have fun!


I hope you all have time to participate in this fun meme!

Daddy's girl

Growing up, I was always Daddy's Girl. Even when we didn't get along perfectly, I was the apple of his eye. Being the youngest of the family often puts you in that position, I think.

As I grew up and older, Daddy was first in my eyes, too. But then things began to change. He became forgetful. He began sleeping longer during his naps. And every time he woke up, he thought it was meal time, regardless of the time of day. He still drove a car, but was dangerous in it, so when one of the tires went flat in the driveway, Mama wouldn't let anyone fix it. She knew he wouldn't drive that car on a flat and he was too old to try to change it himself.

For better than two months, the car sat there. Daddy would look out the front door window and proclaim, "That flat needs to be fixed. It's been flat for a couple of days now." ...a couple of days. He lost sense of the passing of time.

After Mama and Daddy moved up to where my sister lives, it only got worse. He thought he was back in his mother's house, with his mother's things surrounding him. He didn't know us anymore, but he thought one of my nephews was my long-deceased brother.

He slowly lost the ability to speak. He lost control of body functions. When you looked into his eyes, nobody was there.

My Mama took care of him until the end, when we took him to the VA for long-term care. He survived only two weeks there. Mama was getting sick from taking care of him, and she ruined her back lifting him up from the bed and helping him into the bathroom and kitchen. She wore herself out constantly changing his clothes and his bedding, but she refused any sort of help coming in.

He had never wanted to go to the hospital or a nursing home. His own father had been taken to the hospital with pneumonia and never came home again.


When Daddy passed away, he was 87 years old and had suffered with Alzheimer's for probably 10 years. The worst of it was the last 5 years of his life, when he forgot all of us and pretty much forgot himself, too.

He was gone long before his body died.

If you love someone suffering with this disease, or if you are the caregiver for someone like this, please make your donation to research so this disease that robs us of those we love long before they pass away can be cured. My dear friend Cass is sponsoring a walk for this very cause. Her own dear grandmother is in the same shape. Donate to her walk. The cure could help someone you love.

Dogs

My Father used to tell us about a dog he had when he was young. It was a little Boston Terrier. I remember him always saying what a great dog that was, and how he'd like to have another one. He never did get one, though.

I've heard from other owners that they are great dogs. If I didn't already have my little Sassy, I'd probably look further into this breed, as they've done at the Boston Terriers Dog Guide Article. I can see where these little dogs make great companions.

In fact, the Boston Terrier is a pretty loyal breed of dog, when it comes to families. Working at McDonald's, I often see these dogs riding in the car with their owners. When they get to the drive-through window, they are friendly and so very cute. Some dogs, in the car with the owner, wind up barking and snarling at us. Yes, it gets scary when they do that!

Anyone who's interested in Boston Terriers or other breeds of dogs for pets should really research a bit first before deciding on one, though. Know the dog's capabilities and limitations. Find out if they make a good family pet or are better for a single owner. Read through a dog guide first before making a decision.

Sassy, my mostly Shih Tzu, is a rambunctious and lively member of this household, but she's not too crazy about new people. She really has to get used to them. However, she loves us and is always supercharged when we get home from work. It's great to be greeted by that much enthusiasm when I walk in the door!

Lura's Bookcase

I've just finished reading a very inspiring and encouraging article at Lura's Bookcase. It really addresses some issues that many Christians face when trials are upon them. I found myself unable to stop reading until the end, and I was nodding my head in agreement throughout.

As a Christian, I've asked the question Does God Care?, and yet I already know the answer. If you are in a time of trial now, please read this article and others that are on the site. I think you'll find strength in them as I did.

Reaching out

One of the most difficult things in my life has been enduring the loss of my Danny. So many have reached out to me to express their concerns and condolences. Now, a year and a half later, of course, that is pretty well ancient history as life does move on. But it moves on at a very slow pace sometimes, and I still find myself lonely and sad due to various reminders of the life that could have been our future but is now put on the shelf.

I think it's important, though, to reach out to others in a similar situation. Not to have a pity-party and grieve anew. But to offer encouragement, support, friendship, and a dry shoulder from time to time. Yet, widowhood offers very few such places where we can commiserate with others and lend a helping cyber-hand.

I'd like to introduce you to a new friend, though, who has dealt with a similar blow in her life. You can read Katie's blog, and perhaps more easily understand the ups and downs that we widows endure even months or years after our husbands have passed.

This isn't something you just "get over". It marks your life forever and brings changes you never expected nor sought.

Positively Feminine site

I just found this site and I already love it. Positively Feminine is a Christian website for women. The articles deal with everything that a Christian woman might encounter in her life including relationships, homemaking, children, and singleness.

I encourage all my readers to visit the site. There's something there for every woman, I think. I'm bookmarking this one!

Skeet's Stuff

Are you ready for something refreshing? Then go to Skeet's Stuff and look around for awhile. You're really in for a treat as you view photographs of herbs in her garden and read her wisdom in her posts. She's really worked hard on her blog and deserves a nice comment from you!

Waxing political

A fellow Postie (that is anyone on the PayPerPost forums) has a pretty nice blog about things political. I've just skimmed through it, but plan to go back in just a bit and really read the posts. The blog is called Liberal Common Sense. That alone was enough to make me want to read it since I am very conservative and find that most liberals bend over backwards to irritate me. Just kidding. This really is a very well written, logical, and well thought out blog.

An aside

There's a new blog in town and it's funny reading. The author posts SPAM emails he's received and notes things about them that just don't line up. There aren't many posts yet, but I expect he'll be poking fun for a long time with this. Visit Crazy Spam and see what he's up to. Leave a comment!

Mission style at K-Mart

If we had a K-Mart near here, I could probably shop for just the accent pieces I'd like to have in the Mission Style I like so well. To see some examples of what I'm talking about, you can see some at K-Mart Furniture.

You may be wondering since we don't have this store around us, how I knew about them having the furniture. Well, see, a friend online told me about it. She had spotted it there. You can see what she's up to at Me and My Life. Read, comment, and tell her Ann sent you!

Valentine's Day blog

Since this person left me a comment on my blog post about Valentine's Day gift baskets, I thought it only proper to link you up with his site as well. I have to say, this is some really cute stuff for Valentine's Day! He has food, cards, crafts, and all manner of traditions on his site. Just go to Valentine's Day for All and I know you'll agree with me!

Whateverifeellike

Ok. Did you get that? It said "Whatever I Feel Like" and it's the blog of a very sweet young lady. I really hope you go visit her and leave her a nice comment. She deserves it. See, she's been working hard these past weeks to put together a puzzle online in order to win a contest at PayPerPost. Sadly, she didn't win although it seemed like she would. So go visit Amy. Tell her Ann sent you, and give her a big old cyber hug.