Hello All

Well tomorrow Michael will get all his stitches out he has done quite well I might add. Praise the Lord so far no issues with the surgery and it was a week ago yesterday. He is getting antsy and ready to return to work.

We had a nice weekend we saw a few movies over the past week. We saw Dark Knight. Awesome movie I might add. Also we saw Hancock I love Will Smith. Funny and Sad movie is all I will say on that one. We went to the 2 dollar movie with Kim and the girls at 10 pm on Saturday night and saw Zohan. It is funny just cause of who is the star that guy makes you laugh no matter what I think. (smile)

Yesterday I worked on things for Aaron's school all day. The Principal wanted me to make a flyer to send home to the parents today about having a Parent Advisory Meeting next Wednesday evening at the school. Last year Julie had asked me to be the chairperson for the Parent Advisory Committee for the school. (it is something like PTA for Public Schools) and Aaron attends a NPS School. (Non Public School) so I made the flyer and took it to her so she could make copies and get them out. She also asked me to write something to place on the School Website so I worked on that some also. She also emailed me and asked if I could give a 15 minute speech on Autism at this meeting corporate is going to be having so I spent last night writing a speech. So basically yesterday all free time was dealing with things for Aaron's school.

Today I need to start on this weeks church bulletin. Nothing much new here really just still have my patient Michael home from work. Ha.. and Aaron is still out of school so I have had both my guys with me all summer. I guess I should say PRAY FOR ME. (SMILE) Sending you safe and gentle hugs for the day.... Love ya...

Happy Anniversary.....

Well today is our 38th Anniversary seems like we just had our 37th just a couple of months ago. So much has changed though since last year. We have had a busy year so I guess when you are busy time just flies. (smile) And I am getting healthier and healthier and feeling so much better than this time last year. I tease to everyone I have lost like a 5th grader off my body. I have hit a stall again so I am stuck for a bit and not losing much right now but Dr said this is what will happen cause my body has to play catch up. I am still losing inches though even if not pounds so I will take whatever I can get. (Ha ha ha) But still looking forward to hitting my first goal of 100 pounds of weight off. So I have about 13 more pounds to do that. I have had SO SO MUCH support from Michael and Aaron on this and they are VERY PROUD of me and they call me SKINNY.. ha ha ha I will never be skinny but cute they think so. It is funny how loving someone makes you feel I love my TWO GUYS and I not only started this journey of weight loss 5 months ago for me but also to be around longer for my TWO GUYS....Also my other family the Yearsley's have been a wonderful source of support. And Kimmi tells me all the time she is proud of me too. And my friend Penny Bowhay calls me her Hottie Friend now. And so many others have been so encouraging to me and noticed the weight loss, it helps more than you could ever know... (So thanks to everyone for your love and support) it means the world to me.

I am very blessed to have my hubby for sure. He is a wonderful man and the best Daddy in the whole world (well according to Aaron that is)The sun rises and sets in his Dad as far as Aaron is concerned.
He has been a wonderful Daddy all these years, regardless of what some may say or lies that are told.

He is recovering from his surgery quite nicely and has been a very good patient actually. I had told him last week he had better be or I would cut him up in tiny pieces and tell God he fell apart. (just kidding) he he he.. But I have not had to say that again maybe I scared him into being an ideal patient ya think? Well whatever works I say. ha ha ha

Seriously I cannot believe it has been 38 years and I won't lie it has not been easy at times. You have to work at marriage for sure. Living with someone 24/7 is not always an easy task. But we have BOTH put up with each other at times when it would have been easier to walk out but we struggled and continued on. Michael always said when we got married it was for life. He has had SO MANY divorces in his family between his Dad, Mom and Brothers and Sister he said he would never go through all that. So all their divorces I guess made him a stronger person. Also his belief in God and reading the Bible. The Bible says you are to stay married for life. So I am also great full to have a hubby that is a God Fearing Man.

Here is what we looked like on our wedding day 38 years ago.. I LOVE YOU MICHAEL....
Happy Anniversary from your SugarBear..............


I was 17 years old and Michael had just turned 20 the month prior to our wedding

Mike's Surgery

Well it is almost 10 pm we just got home from the hospital. Mike is doing well from his surgery so they did not keep him overnight. (THANK YOU LORD) Hawaiian Gardens is not that close to our house. It is about an hour and half or so away. Mike is resting on our bed and I came in to check my email for a minute then I have to go back to be nursemaid. They sent him home with this electric ice chest thingy that plugs into where his surgery was it is to keep swelling, pain and infection down. I fill it up with ice then water then it circulates... Kind of a neat machine actually.....Different but neato.. (smile)

Just wanted you all to know we are home and well and I pray the surgery was a success the DR seemed to think it all should be fine now.

While we were at the hospital for the surgery... Kaiser called about his tests he had done about his eyes the DR said she was still not satisfied with the results and wants to retest him in 3 months or so. UMN... kind of scary it is the part of the eye that causes blindness they are concerned with and with his recent tests of them feeling he now has diabetes that does scare me a bit. So keep this matter in prayer too please. He is falling apart lately it seems. I guess that happens when you get old huh. We cannot live forever. But I wish to keep him around a lot longer. We will have our 38th Anniversary on Friday. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful hubby.

And speaking of wonderful.. Aaron did great all day at the hospital especially considering he was hungry the cafeteria at this hospital is weird they close at 2 and Mike's surgery was not until 4:30 and we stayed with him until surgery so by the time he went to surgery they were closed. So we hit the vending machines. I had taken some cheese and crackers cause I knew I would have to have a bite of something today too. Thank goodness I did. Before surgery the therapist doctor was cute he was showing Michael how to use the ice therapy machine they were gonna be sending home with Michael and they they said they needed to prepare Mike for surgery. So Mike said tell my wife how to use it please. Well Kimmi had went with us to the hospital... I said I am the wife Kimmi said I am his girlfriend.... this guy said cool I wish my wife was so accommodating that she allowed me to have a girlfriend. I said I have no choice... he laughed, it was really funny. But I really appreciated Kimmi coming along with us and helping to keep Aaron company I must say Aaron was extremely well behaved today and had no issues at all. Also was awesome because Bro. Glenn drove all the way down there too and he calls Aaron his body guard. (smile) Bro. Glenn is the Assit. Pastor of our church and also he is Aaron's one on one teacher on Sunday Nights Aaron adores him and I think Bro. Glenn feels the same way back at him. (smile) THANK YOU BRO GLENN for spending the day and evening with us and helping us pass the 5 hours or so....We love ya..
Here are some pictures I took before surgery...
In the one picture Mike was saying to me look Mommy I now have a boo boo where she had put in the IV took her 2 times to get it in...

Monday Morning July 21st

Well today is the day for Michael's surgery please keep him in your prayers today that this surgery will fix the problems with his fingers and his hand that got hurt while on the job a couple of months ago. We will be leaving in a bit for the hospital it is over an hour away it is in Hawaiian Gardens. So pray for traveling mercies too cause I am driving. (SMILE) Thanks for all the love and prayers for us. I will report back as soon as I can. Have a blessed day sending you gentle hugs....

The Mattingly Family Tonight At Our Church....

The Mattingly Family sang at our church this evening what a lovely family they have. Jim, Ruby, Jeremiah, Ruth Ann and Jonathan were the part of the family that was here they have 2 other daughters,Rebekah and Rachel who are twins and 1 other son,Jedidiah they are all 3 married. Their grandchildren are Rose Anna, Micah, AJ, Josiah, Hadassah, Abraham, Hezekiah, and Dorcas all under the age of 5 whew...... They make their home in the Ozarks but they are rarely at home because they are out sharing the Gospel through their music ministry. It was awesome. Aaron was thrilled because they sang one of his favorite songs. What God Says.. He sang it along with them word for word was very cute.

Here are a couple of pics I took and one of the three videos I did...







They sang this song Accapela it was great.....

Amanda's Birthday

We were invited to Amanda Lewis' Birthday at BJ's it was a lot of fun and we got to meet some of her friends. Here are some pictures of the night.

Update on Family.....................

Okay so here is the update on Michael's surgery it will be on Monday the 21st at 4:30 PM please keep him in your prayers. Also I had said I got him to go for a complete physical last week finally. All of our family issues has really been getting to him and he just does not look well at all. The Dr called yesterday and said he has Diabetes it looks like. So he has to go this morning for the longer blood workup he will be there for a few hours. This new Dr he is seeing is very good he said too that his Cholesterol was over the top like 10 times higher than it should be. Said he was a heart attack waiting to happen. So he will be putting him on medications for that as well. I am so happy I finally talked him into seeing the Doctor I worry about him alot and a person can only take so much and work all the time. I told him we have to LET GO AND LET GOD. There is nothing more we can do it is all his hands. And we have to consider Aaron and do what is best for him and he too can no longer handle the heartaches and struggles of our family.

Speaking of Aaron he sees his Psychologist at 10:30 this morning and his Psychiatrist at 3:30 this afternoon. Please keep him in your prayers too. He has been having some depression over the lastest family issues that happened a few weeks ago. Poor kiddo he so wanted to see Haley before they moved to Conn. BUT OF COURSE THAT DID NOT HAPPEN..... We have told him he just has to get over it.I am talking to his Drs. today to see if they can tell him he just has to move on he cannot dwell on these things. He needs to focus on the good stuff and those who do love and care for him. In his heart he knows this but he does tend to sometimes get focused in on the negative issues too. (I think every human does at some point) but with his OCD he tends to Obess over it to much. So pray about this matter too please.

As for me the weight loss has been slow this month. The Dr assures me this will continue to happen that I will hit stall points. He said it is my body trying to play catch up and making sure it is not in starvation mode. So I wait patiently. (smile) total loss is 86 pounds. I have 14 more pound to hit my first goal of 100 pounds. When I began this adventure I told myself if I could lose 100 pounds I would be happy. I would LOVE to lose alot more than that but this is my first goal I set for myself so I am almost there. I can almost see the finish line on this first goal of making me healthier. I do feel SO MUCH BETTER. I tease when someone asks me how I feel they will say JUDY you look awesome or my one friend Penny Bowhay calls me her HOTTIE friend. (smile) Love you Penny.... But honestly when I stop and think about it I say.. wow I have lost a small person like a 5th grader or something I bet they weigh about 86 pounds. Ha ha ha.. So THANK YOU for all your prayers on this because PRAYERS DO WORK...

Well I had best hush and wake up Aaron he is sleeping in and he will want breakfast before seeing the Psychologist. Until next time giving you safe and gentle hugs...

Youth Rally

Tonight was the Youth Rally at Jurupa Missionary Baptist Church. Bro. Evan Scott brought the message and did a really good job. My cousin David was there with his kids it was great to see him had not seen him since his Mom's funeral last year. Angie took a picture of us for me.
Here are some of the pictures of the night.

I think Maxine should run for president. She was right on with this one!

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately: illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida...



Not me. I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation.

+ Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.

+ Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levies.

+ Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.

Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?

Yes!

Think about:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments

Cows
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

The Constitution
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq .... Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

The 10 Commandments
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this:
You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians...It creates a hostile work environment.


It is Time for America to Speak up !

Prayers Please

Well I finally talked Michael into going in for a complete physical he has not been feeling well and he has been off work for almost 2 months now with his injury from work. He is scheduled to have his surgery on the 21st of July so in 10 more days.
His doctor said he was a heart attack waiting to happen. His Cholesterol and Potassium and his Fasting Glucose was awful. He will for sure be going on some medications for Diabetes it looks like. The doctor also found that he has what is called Chronic Kidney Disease he said it was at a level 3 almost in the level 4 rage. That does not sound good so I looked it up and it isn't good. That with all the rest of the things they found no wonder he has been feeling icky. He is also sending him for a sleep study to see if he needs a machine for sleep apnea. I think at the moment he is wishing I had not made him go get a physical. But I am glad he did with medications these issues can be helped. But please remember him in your prayers and me too having him HOME already these past 2 months and now even longer because of surgery. (SMILE)Also I elected to keep Aaron at home this summer instead of summer school so I have both my boys home with me ALL DAY LONG..

Sending you warm wishes and soft gentle hugs.... Love ya

Teen Vacation Bible School Last Night

Last night was our Second Wednesday night of Teen VBS it will be every Wednesday Night through July then in August it will be our Kids VBS for a week long. This years theme is the Olympic Theme it is really neat. Everyone had a lot of fun last night here are some of the pictures I took.

Gone But Never Forgotten

Today is the Anniversary of my Dad being promoted into Heaven. Have thought about him even more today than usual. Anyone who knew my Daddy loved my Daddy. He was such a hugger and friendly man. All my friends adored him.
The last night we saw him the night before he passed. Aaron and I were at the hospital visiting him. Aaron climbed up in bed with his Poppy and watched some TV. My Dad called him his little man all the time. If only my Dad knew Aaron is now almost 6 ft 4. (smile) far from a little man indeed. Dad walked Aaron and I to the hospital door that evening and hugged us both. I said I will see you tomorrow Daddy when I get off work. He said Punkin I am going home tomorrow. I said well I will come to your house to see you then. Little did I know that would be the last words I would ever hear my Daddy say to me. His going home was not his earthly home but his heavenly home. I never saw my Daddy alive again. I was not called in time to get to the hospital to see him before he died. I drove 90 miles an hour through the mountains trying to get to the hospital and say goodbye. He died as I was entering the front door of the hospital I found out. I loved my Daddy so much. He was always there for me. But I know I will see him again someday when I get to heaven. And Heaven looks sweeter each passing day.

I LOVE YOU DADDY AND MISS YOU...

Busy Monday

Well I got up yesterday to go to the hospital for my weekly injections of B1 and B12 now I do not need any for a month whew...
Was crazy at Kaiser so so many sick people.. I wanted to wear a mask. I have not been sick in a LONG TIME and hope to keep it that way.

Then I had to go to Social Security. I had to pull a number then I finally talked to a lady through the thick glass.. (smile) she said I would have to see a worker so wait for my name to be called. It was like 10:30 I finally got out of there at 1:10. I had been sent a paper that said since Aaron was disabled I had to put in an application for Medicare.. Yes you heard me Medicare something that is for old people. Ha ha ha.. Also they wanted me to submit ANOTHER APP for SSDI... So had to do that all over again knowing it would be denied until he is 18. They go by the parents income until the child reaches 18. Then he can get monthly support then because they do not go by parents income after 18. So finally got all those filled out and signed and I went by the Post office and mailed it to the crazy people. Ha ha ha.

Then I came by the house picked up Michael, Aaron and Jessica. Jessica has been spending some time with us she and Aaron played Wii the night before till like 2 am. Aaron loves having her here. So off we went back to the Kaiser hospital. Michael had a 2 and a 2:30 appointment with specialists about his eyes. When he got his eye exam last month they found something wrong with his eyes. Cannot remember what is it is called but early stages of what causes someone to go blind. So they sent him to a Specialist a couple of weeks ago and he ordered 2 more different tests yesterday. We should find out results in a week or so they said.

Then we went by the surgeons office to see if they have scheduled his surgery yet. Was told we should find out today when that is going to be. Between his Drs visits and mine we are busy busy busy.. (smile)

Jess and I went into a cute little store and I bought her a really cute halter kind of top. I love shopping for girls clothes. My girls always had cute clothes when they were home. My friend always said if she believed in reincarnation she wanted to come back as one of my daughters because I was so good to my girls and always took them shopping even had their prom dresses made one year so no one would have one like theirs.
When Jess was just a wee little thing she came to spend some time with Auntie Juju she went back home with clothes she did not come with. Ha ha.. One was a cute lavender dress and some pretty hair ribbons too. I promised her yesterday she would not have to buy a frilly dress today. Ha ha ha..

Then the kids were hungry so off to subway we went. Jess loves subs and so does Michael and Aaron. They all got the 12 inch I got the mini sub like the 3 inch one and could not eat it all. (smile) oh the joys of gastric bypass. ha ha ha..

After that we went to Sams Club had to get the goodies for Vacation Bible School on Wednesday night I signed up to help bring snacks this week. So I got crackers and cheese because we are supposed to bring healthy snacks since the theme is the Olympic Games. Also bought some steaks. I have not had a steak in over a year. So Mike is gonna Bar B Q tonight. I will eat like 4 bites maybe but yum it will be to taste steak again I am sure. I put them in to marinate last night so they should be yummy by dinner tonight.

We brought all that home then took the kids to go see the movie called the Strangers. Wow what a nightmare of a movie. Very scary to think that actually happened. But we all enjoyed it none the less.

When we got home it was like 9:30 so Aaron and Jess played basketball it had been to hot in the daytime to play. They played for like 3o minutes and both came in soaked it was still very hot and humid even at 9:30 last night so they worked up a good sweat. So off Jess went to shower then Aaron they they played Wii again.

Today I am off soon to the hospital Pat Yates is having surgery this afternoon and I am going to go and sit with Lloyd for a bit.

So not sure about the rest of the day what it will hold but seems like since I quit working I am running running running all the time. Ha ha ha..

Hope you all have a good day.. Stay COOL.. supposed to be in the triple digits here again today..Summer has for sure arrived.

Celebration for the 4th

We celebrated with our church family yesterday we had a Bar B Q. It was warm outside but the evening was perfect.... Here are some of the pictures I took....

Happy 4th

Good morning and Happy 4th of July to all my friends and loved ones.

I could not sleep. I was so tired last night but have had a bad night.

9 years ago we spent the 4th with my Daddy. He did not look well that day and two days later wound up in the hospital. They said he had pneumonia but he didn't he had congestive heart failure and died. Life has never been the same without my Daddy. I miss him each and every day. I used to call him EVERYDAY at a certain time of the time and he would tell my Mom that is Punkin calling. He would say that telephone ring is hers I know it is her.(smile) He was such a nut. Everyone adored my Daddy.
So when I woke up at 2 am I started thinking about Daddy and have been unable to get back to sleep so here it is at 4:20 am and I am wide awake. Sure is quiet around here at 4 am. Just have been remembering that last 4th of July with my Daddy 4 days before he died. And remembering making homemade Banana Ice Cream too that day with him. I am going to make some today too. Gonna take it to the Church Bar B Q. Life has never been the same since I lost my Daddy. He loved me very much and loved Michael too like a son. Aaron remembers sweet things about my Daddy too I am so glad he was old enough to remember his Poppy when he died. To this very day there are times he will sit and cry and say he misses his Poppy. Just breaks my heart because I miss him so also.

On another note...
Please continue to keep Evelyn Yearsley in your prayers. She continues to be in and out of Loma Linda and is in much need of your prayers. We love her very much and is an important person in our lives. And basically the only Grandmother figure Aaron has in his life who loves him unconditionally and understands and excepts his disabilities. Aaron loves her VERY MUCH....We all do...

We had been invited to our Adopted Family Celebration (The Yearsley's)today but we had already made plans to attend the Celebration at church. And Aaron loves to watch the fireworks. So we told them thanks for the dinner invitation but we would have to pass on this one. But they always include us in all their celebrations and treat us as one of their own. We are blessed to call them OUR FAMILY......

Well I will close this jabbering and send you safe and blessed thoughts for your 4th of July celebrations to all my friends and loved ones across the United States.

I love you.........................

Teen Vacation Bible School

We started our Teen VBS last night it will be every Wednesday Night through July then in August it will be our Kids VBS for a week long. This years theme is the Olympic Theme it is really neat.
Everyone had a lot of fun last night here are some of the pictures I took.

NEED WASHING?? Oldie but I still love it...

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in. Mom let's run through the rain, she said. What? Mom asked.

Lets run through the rain! She repeated...

No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit, Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: Mom, let's run through the rain.

We'll get soaked if we do, Mom said.

No, we won't, Mom.. That's not what you said this morning, the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?

Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, if God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.
Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing, Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, they can hurt you and forsake you. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!

You Gotta Love Maxine

This lady is my kind of woman she just cracks me up...

Aaron has this saying on a T-Shirt I love it..