WE HAVE R-A-I-N, at least enough to measure again YEA!!

It was not much, 1/2" but at least it was some. However it was so scattered and random they did not get any at the Airport (where the National Weather Service is) so officialy we are still at 2.64" for the year when it should be over 15" by now. We have also broken the record for days over 100, the old record was 26 days in 1953, I can remember hearing stories of that time and wonder how they survived back then. Not much Refrigerated A/C back then, shoot most people did not have any A/C at all (we did not til '59 - I remember when we got it). Well now the record is 47 days and they say we are sure to go over 50 days maybe 60 for this year. Childress (just South East of us and where my Grandparents use to live and a lot of my Mom's family still live) have had it worse then us on the temps. They are usually hotter then us but this year is horrendous, 96 days over 100 and they are saying it will be will over 100 days for them by the time Fall gets here. It helps to be on what they call the Caprock, just a higher elevation so it is not as HOT.This is one year I am ready for Fall to get here.

As for the girls, they are home and safe. Thank you for all your prayers. We will go over to help unpack till I have to go to work. I work 1 - 10 tonight and 4 - 10 the rest of the week, still having to deal with the cut back in hours. That is 24 for this week and 28 for next week. Not good for Full Time work, even the Part Time are getting 16 - 20 hours. Please keep all of us (and our customers) in your prayers.

MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK, I know I am going to make mine the best yet.

just to let you know

The Girls are on their way back from Arkansas, I will be so glad when they are back home. THANK YOU all my friends and family for your prayers for them. In talking with them by phone all went well. JUST WANT THEM HOME. Jerry said since we had missed so many card nights he was not going to fuss when I wanted to go play cards any more. That is a good deal.

We have been real busy with Calvin lately. His bad days have been more then his good days. He is really having trouble breathing and with his oxygen legal up to 5 (the highest it will go) and still having trouble breathing. The nurses with Hospice say it has to do with him having trouble with the carbon dioxide he is breathing out. I had never thought of that, I was just concerned with getting the oxygen in. His O2 level in his blood bounces around from 98 which you want to 70 or 75 which is bad. PLEASE JUST KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS.

HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A BLESSED SUNDAY AND WILL MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK. LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL.

New Update

After going out and reading a lot of the other awardee posts I must apologize to my readers. I did not realize I was getting so wordie in my response. I just wanted you to get to know me. I promise I will do better next time. LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE

Yeaterday I got the biggest Surprise ever

I was so shocked when I was reading all my usual blogs I follow every day. Beth at Lifestyle Beauty Nuggets has passed on an Award to me. I have been reading blogs for a wile now but have only had my blog since last Christmas and still do not know how to do a lot yet. I tried all day yesterday to get the button (it is so inviting and if Beth only knew how much I LOVE Strawberry Pie, you will have to go to her blog to get a look ;-) HA HA HA) I do have a photo of it on my phone now for me. THANK YOU SO MUCH BETH.

Now I have to tell you 7 things about me and pass this on to 7 of my Blogger Friends. Step 1:

1. Favorite day of the week (I took this point from Beth): Saturday - When I inherited my first 2 GRANDsons I was exposed to the best life I ever knew. Grandmother is the best Job Title there is. I had enough seniority at work to request my days off. I went with THURSDAY - to have a day set aside for Dr Appointments (my husband is a Cancer Survivor) and SATURDAY - so I could be a Soccer Grandma. My GRANDsons are the best in the world. If you did not know that just ask me.

2. My youngest son is starting the best adventure of his life yet. August the 3rd he has moved his darling wife and my only other GRANDson to Weybridge England, just outside London and just before the riots started. I did not hear from them til the 10th in an e-mail. ALL IS FINE and they LOVE ENGLAND. They are both teachers and will be teaching in the same school again like they did when they first got married. GOOD LUCK TO YOU GUYS

3. I live 6 miles out of the town I was born in and have lived in all my life, on a farm my husband of 24 years has lived all his life. Our little bit of Heaven on earth is only 3 acres but it is our heaven. Grandad Andy homesteaded 6 sections of land and divided it among 3 daughters and 1 son (Dad). When I came to the family Dad had sold off all but 8 acers. When Mom and Dad died we got 3 acers and the oldest son got 5 and the homeplace and shop. Which was fine with us - we couldn't pay the taxes on the homeplace. Like I said "Our little spot of Heaven on earth."

4. My Mother-in-law had guite a family history herself. Her Dad owned 13 sections of what is now Palo Duro Canyon that he bought from Charles Goodnight (one of the early settlers of Texas Panhanle).

5. We have a small family at home now, 2 dogs and 2 cats. All but one are abandoned pets. Jerry and I are both softies and can not turn away those sad eyes. My biggest delight would be to catch those DUMPSTER (you can not call them people cause they are not) and put them on an island with no food or fresh water and see how they like it.

6. I love trying all crafts - will try anything at least once, twice if I like it.

7. Like I said earlier I am new to blogging and I love it. I have so many wonderful new friends and a lot of them I feel are family. However I am still learning so I promise I will post photos soon as well as figure out how to link up with other posts. Don't give up on me cause I am not.

AS FOR PART 2: I CAN NOT PASS THIS ON RIGHT NOW BUT I WILL AS SOON AS I CAN. SORRY BETH IF I LET YOU DOWN.

Sorry to say "No Rain Last Night"

The storm got to 5 miles NW of us and aiming straight for us and the storm split, missing Amarillo and Canyon. Better luck next time. Still high and dry. Guess I really do need to change my sign on to DUSTBOW. NO RAINBOWS IN OUR FUTURE.

HOPE EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING A BLESSED SUNDAY. BY FOR NOW

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE "RAIN" ON THE WAY

Just watched the weather man and he said it was raining at Boys Ranch on it's way to us, About 20 miles away. Will let you know in the morning how much. ANY WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED even if Jerry has to finally mow the grass or weeds, which ever comes first. He has not even had to cut the weeds this year yet. LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE.

THANKS GOOD FRIENDS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

Ernie and Sammie are two of the strongest woman I know and a great witness for God in everything they do. So you can know a little more about them, Ernie is my Wife-In-Law (Jerry's first wife) and my very best friend. She has remained single since their divorce in '75 and has raised a daughter (Terrie Dee-50) and a son (Jerry Raymond-44) doing a very good job of it. Sammie is her oldest sister and they come from a good strong family, total 3 sisters and 4 brothers. Besides the surgery she is having to deal with, she just lost her husband little over 3 years ago after 60+ years of marriage. Ralph is now in heaven with their Mom and Dad. I wish all families could be like theirs or mine. GOD HAS BLESSED US REAL GOOD THERE. THANK YOU LORD.

I just ask that you keep them in your prayers as they go back to Arkansas to pack up more of her stuff. They leave out tomorrow and will come back next Sunday (the 28th). THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND CONCERN.

Still no rain - BUT I DID GET TO PLAY CARDS TONIGHT

At least it was a little back to normal tonight. I got the chance to play cards with Ernie and her sister tonight. Like I said almost back to normal. We will not get to play Saturday because they need to go back to Arkansas early Sunday to pack up some more of Sammie's stuff to move it to Amarillo. PLEASE KEEP THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS, this trip there is no one to go with them to help them pack and carry stuff. On the other trips back they had someone to go with them plus others there to help out but this time it will be a 71 year old, packing up a 79 year old's stuff who can not walk since she is getting over major surgery on both her legs. When Ernie told me she had knee surgery I knew it would be hard but her scars are from her ankles up to half way up her thighs. (Both of her legs.) She really needs your prayers for healing. Sammie is doing GOOD but has a long way to go, and the move on top of all this.

JUST HOPE EVERYONE HAS HAD A GOOD WEEK LIKE ME. Make it a good rest of the week and a GREAT WEEKEND.

no more rainbow but " dustbow " for now, THANKS CW

NO LUCK ON THE RAIN TODAY

Sorry to say we have not added to the rain last night or today but the clouds were beautiful to make up for it. Maybe tomorrow! There is always HOPE.

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND A BLESSED SUNDAY.

Really looks like RAIN today

The sky sure looks like it could break out and rain any time, it even feels good outside. I know we just have a 20 percent chance but I hope we will be in the good 20 percent. Last time it rained, it rained in Amarillo and Canyon (18 miles apart) and we did not get a drop. We live exactly half way, 9 miles to Amarillo and 9 miles to Canyou.

Not much left of the week but I hope everyone has a SUPER WEEKEND. LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU.

i wish everyone could have a day like I have

Today started out as such a down day that I ever had. Thank goodness it did not last long. I did my gripey post and felt bad about it but it did make me feel better to get it off my chest. I then read the other blogs and I know God was speaking to me through them and it is such a wonderful day now. THANK YOU ALL MY FRIENDS AND MOST OF ALL THANK YOU LORD FOR LOVING ME!

THANK YOU LORD FOR FRIENDS

I feel so BAD for my earlier post but I do feel a lot better for getting it off my chest. After I did my post I went to some of my favorite Blogs to read and comment on and GOD had them all aimed at me. How could I be sooo lucky to have a LOVING GOD like I do and anyone can have if you just ask. OUR GOD IS SO LOVING AND CARING FOR US IT IS AMAZING. How can anyone go one day or one second without his guidance and LOVE.

THANK YOU MY FRIENDS FOR BEING SO IN TUNE TO GOD'S LOVE AND GUIDANCE AND MOST OF ALL THANK YOU GOD FOR LOVING ME.

Prayer is the only help I see. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!

This is one time I am real concerned about our bosses and our country. I have worked for Wal-Mart for a long time and two separate time. The first time was back in '82 when WM first opened in Amarillo. They opened the store in March and I started work in June. Back then Sam Walton was in control and he was really a remarkable man and person. Not only was he so concerned about the well-being of the customers and he always treated the employees as family. Everything I know about customer service I owe to him. THANKS SAM! When I came back to WM in '06 I could see some major changes but still our concern was for the customer (some of Sam was still around) and especially our store in Canyon. People would drive from Amarillo (where there are 4 WM's), Hereford or Plainview to come to our store. They always said our store was cleaner and friendlyer then any other WM. We had enough staff and a LOVE for our store and customers so we could do this. Now I do not know what is going to happen. Over the last 2 years they have cut back on hiring new blood employees and when someone retires their position is not filled. Being a college town I would say 70 percent of our employees are students and when they graduate they leave to start their new career. A lot of times they are not replaced till management wakes up to realize we do not have enough people to cover the shifts. Several times last month, not only was I covering the Photo Lab (which I LOVE) I had to cover Electronics, Sporting Goods, Auto Area, Hardware and Toys. How can one person cover that many areas and still have the time to help a customer find what they are needing, let alone know what they need or even are talking about. I can help a customer with buying a camera or camera accessories with my back ground and really help the customer with ideas they may not have thought of. In Electronics I have a basic knowledge of those items. At least I do know what a GPS is as well as a MP3 or 4 Player is and the difference in an iPod, iPad and an iPhone as well as their accessories. I have come a long way in 2 years. But when it comes to auto parts, sporting goods and hard ware I am at a total loss and no HELP at all for the customer. I feel so sorry for them when they ask me a question but there is no one else to ask. On top of the cut back in help there is the cut back in our hours. I am classified as Full Time, untill recently that was 40 hours a week, Part Time got 27 to 32 hours a week. Now FT are lucky if we get 33 hours and some are getting 27, PT get 16 to 20 hours. Who can live on that? I have a 5 hour shift tonight (5 - 10) and 4 hours tomorrow (6 - 10). Just glad on the 20th I start a 10 day vacation, at least that will be a 40 hour week but til then these short weeks mean we have no money to go anywhere. Two of my followers Gina and Beth have posted about a Bucket List and got me to thinking how much I wanted to have a real vacation trip with Jerry this year and go some where (any where) even if just a day or two. We have had one vacation in 23 years of marrage and that was just for 3 days and 2 nights. We at least had a chance to get away so I was really looking forward to getting away this time. Now we do not have money for gas to get out of the drive way. HA HA

Enough on that I really did not mean for this post to be a gripe session but I do feel a lot better now. THANKS MY FRIENDS FOR LETTING ME VENT. At least now I do not feel I need to be on constant alert so that an inocent customer does not stir me up when they ask "What is the difference in an AA battery and an AAA battery?" followed by "What is the difference in an AA 4 and an AA 8 pack?" and this was a college student. I LOVE MY JOB REALLY, dumb customers and all.

Hope everyone makes it a great week and EVEN BETTER WEEKEND. (I know my week is better already) LOVE and BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU

WE HAVE R-A-I-N, at least enough to measure

We finally got a little rain, at last enough rain to measure, whole 1/2 inch. It sure smelled GOOD and sure got the temp down to be reasonable for at least a day or maybe two I hope. That puts us a total of 2.67 for the year. HOPE EVERYONE IS AS HAPPY AS WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

Make it a GOOD WEEK, and A GREAT WEEKEND. LOVE TO ALL OF YOU.

Rich, Ginger and JACK hope all is well with you guys, setting up a new HOME has got to be a challenge. LOVE YOU GUYS

JACK and Rich are in London with Ginger

I got the text from Rich at 4:08 saying they were in London and on their way to Ginger. It is so nice they are a family again even if they are across the ocean from me. THE ADVENTURE BEGINS.

Today is a mixed up day

I am so excited right now. I am on my break at work and I just realized I have TEN followers now. I love my family so very much and I feel toward my follower just the same WE ARE ALL JUST ONE BIG FAMILY and my followers mean so much to me. I know you all and visit your blogs at least twice a day, even if I don't comment each visit. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY FRIENDS. Have to run and get back to printing all those wonderful pictures, will writ.more at lunch or when I get off tonight.

About the Photos

In talking with my WANTABE COMPUTER GURU, Rich (my youngest son) he tells me I probably will not be able to post photos from my phone but need a computer to do it. Some how I do not see the library letting me put my best photos on their computer so I can post them. I'm still not giving up, I'll find some way to share. LOVE TO YOU ALL, MAKE IT THE BEST WEEK YET.

Hope everyone has had as beautiful morning as I have

Just finished a date with two of my favorite men. Rich and JACK have been with me most of the morning. They leave for London at 3 tomorrow afternoon. I am sure Ginger is anxious for them to get to London so they can all be together. What an adventure for all three of them. ON BACK TO WAL-MART FOR ME, IT'S BACK TO WORK FOR ME. Have to print out the Photos I just took. By for now will post more later, have to go punch the silly time clock. LOVE TO YOU