Dot Dot

"We are lighthouse people, the storms come and go and buffett us around but we still stand afterwards and hopefully our lights still shine" ...Dorothy Popham

I was privileged to call Dorothy my dearest friend of about 15 years. Dorothy passed this life into the next on December 6, 2007 after a courageous battle with cancer. The above quote was taken from a note written to me almost a year ago. Throughout Dorothy's illness, she maintained a positive attitude and a strong determination to continue "doing" for herself. She never lost her spunk. As she lie in the hospital bed one evening, she looked at me through half closed eyes and said, "Aren't you about due for a haircut and some highlights"! In the midst of dying we still took the time to laugh and talk about everyday stuff. Dorothy was my friend, mentor, sister, sometimes mother and often a royal pain and I loved her for all those roles she fulfilled in my life. My daughters loved her as a mother and she loved them as well. My oldest daughter had so many similiar characteristics I often wondered if I was just the carrier and Dot was really her mom! My grandson adored her and she adored him. The two had a very special relationship. He still speaks to her and prays for her. Many children were privileged enough to have this no nonsense, loving lady be their caregiver over a 30 year span of time. She never met an animal that she didn't love. One could go on and on about the amazing qualities of such a great person. Of strong moral character and virtue, Dorothy never lost sight of her values. She was/is a noble spirit and beloved by many. Always at home near the sea, her native home an island, may she run along the sands of Paradise and continue to touch lives.

To Dot, til we meet again...you are loved and missed very much!

"The Four Agreements"

I am new to the blog world and I guess I am very naive about it. As I sat down this evening and was reviewing my blog I noticed some new comments. I am always excited about comments but imagine my dismay when opening the comments, they were mean and spiteful and gossipy.
I had attended the adult session of stake conference and it was about making your relationships better particularly your marriage but would apply to your friends, family, basically anybody. The key elements were love, saying Thank You and being thoughtful! As I sit here I am saddened but also nauseous because why in the world would someone post hateful things on a new blog??? To the person that is so insecure and mean spirited, I send you only love and forgiveness because you definitely need something in your life. I am in a place in my life where I am willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and only want to look for the good in them. We are children of a most high God and thus each is worthwhile and important.
Note I did not say each of us is perfect, that is why we are here to be tested and to become better each day. I am not allowing anonymous comments on this blog. The comments incidentally were not even directed at me but at someone that reads my blog. I just hope they were deleted quickly enough as to not hurt some one's feelings. This is a place where I write what is on my mind, it is NOT a forum to be mean to anyone. I will continue to write here because I will not allow meanness and hatefulness to infiltrate my life. My friend, Jayne recommended a book called, "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. I read it some time ago but intend on reading it again. Basically, the four agreements in a nutshell are,

• BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD - SPEAK ONLY THE TRUTH. NO GOSSIP
• DON'T TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY - IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU, EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN AGENDA AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES
• DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS - WE ARE OFTEN WRONG WHEN WE ASSUME THINGS BECAUSE OFTEN WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION
• DO THE BEST YOU CAN - EACH DAY DO THE BEST YOU CAN FOR THAT DAY!!!

Due to the comment section which incidentally was in the post about my sweet husband, (I really thought someone was going to comment on him) this was not my intended subject for a lovely Sunday. Everyone would do well to remember we are children of a most Heavenly Father and everyone is worthy of love, friendship and happiness. Imperfection abounds but we learn from this. I am by no means perfect, I strive to live each day a little better than the last one. So my friends and friends I have yet to meet, be a little nicer, a little kinder, more gentle, be forgiving so that you may rest your head on the pillow at night knowing that you enriched some one's life rather than crushed their spirit. I go to bed with a clear conscience, my heart is a little heavy but this too shall pass. Namaste

Carl

I'll play along, this is making its rounds from Laresa, Michelle, etc., so here goes...All about us!

His name: Carlisle Curtis Fogle, Jr.

How long have you been married?: 11 years in February
How long did you date?: about 8 months
How old is he?: Older than Me!
Who eats more?: Carl
Who said "I love you" first?: He whispered it in my ear as he was leaving one day, so I wasn’t sure at first!
Who is taller?: Carl
Who sings better? : Carl, for sure!
Who is smarter? : Depends on the subject! But I’m always right (LOL)
Whose temper is worse? Definitely mine
Who does the laundry? : Let me think, oh yeah, it’s me
Who does the dishes? : Usually I do.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? : All I know is that I sleep closest to the bathroom
Who pays the bills? : I pay the everyday household ones. He pays insurance, taxes, etc. (we combine our money)
Who mows the lawn? : Carl
Who cooks dinner? : I do most nights, he often picks up takeout!
Who drives when you are together? : Carl, most of the time.
Who is more stubborn? : I am more vocal about it but I think he is equally stubborn
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? : who’s wrong?
Whose parents do you see the most? : we work with his dad!
Who proposed? : Carl, with the girls’ permission on bended knee, it was a family event!
Who has more friends? : Probably me
Who has more siblings? : We both come from families with 2 boys and 1 girl
Who wears the pants in the family? : Both of us! I’m more bossy.

We laugh together, he serenades me everyday, he is an all around good guy and I love him. Sometimes, he exasperates the heck out of me as I am sure I do the same for him!

One is Silver and the Other Gold

Many of you former Girl Scouts may remember a song that was done in a round; make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver, (and?) the other gold. And I am not referring to hair color! I treasure my friends and I am totally committed to sustaining those friendships. I was delighted to celebrate my birthday with some silver friends and some gold...all are not present...we missed you! I am also happy to count my daughters among my friends! Friends are like soft, warm comforters, they enclose you with warmth when life is feeling a little cold or softness when we feel bruised. And the true test of friendship, they love you when you are at your worst because they know a better day is coming. Most of my friends have common goals and share the same values. I love them all for their diversity. I am feeling so supremely and richly blessed to have people step in and comfort me during a difficult time. Some of our friends have passed the veil of this life and we can't call them, we miss them terribly, know they are in a wonderful place and strive to live in a way that we may see them again.

I Love You All!!!

The Last Quarter

I have thoroughly enjoyed posting 100 favorites. It has made me look around and appreciate people, places and things with a more keen eye. We each have so many blessings. Here they are, the last twenty five...

• my yarn stash
• yarn stores, I love all the colors and textures of yarn, the needles and gadgets!
• fabric
• knitting
• my collection of vintage sewing notions and buttons
• making beaded jewelry
• crisp, clean sheets
• babies
• craft shows
• book fairs
• shopping with friends (or just shopping, shopping, shopping)
• Girl's Night Out
• riding our jet ski
• colored pencils
• stationery and greeting cards
• Brother Gorka's painting of Christ blessing the children
• black sweaters or shirts with awesome accessories
• the perfect handbag
• people watching
• Food Network Shows especially Iron Chef America
• Project Runway
• watching children play
• blogging
• autumn colors
• oatmeal raisin cookies (it is the only way I can eat oatmeal, plus it would lower my cholesterol, wouldn't it!)

I am thankful to live in a country which allows me to enjoy all of these pleasures without censure!!!

Widgets and Such! Oh My!

I have no earthly idea as to why I have a huge space between several posts! You have to scroll way down to post a comment. I now know what a widget is, I just don't exactly know where you find them and how you install them! I am such a blog amateur! Hey Cindy, you look like the queen of widgets (I mean that lovingly) how bout some advice...also my pictures are fine until I load them to the post and then they look faded...Help???

Twenty-five More!

The sky is so blue today. It is still a little cloudy and cool out. I find myself needing a break from year end books and payroll to just gaze out my window. I have wonderful pictures of favorite things to take a look at when my eyes blur from rows of numbers! The photos in this post were all taken at The Bend of Ivy Lodge in Marshall, NC near Asheville. So, it's lunch time and I present you with 25 more favorites...

• Bend of Ivy Lodge, a serene and beautiful lodge in the mountains alongside a tranquil river.
• rock gardens, rocks, especially "found" heart shaped ones
• Christus Statue in Salt Lake City and Brazil (I have been to SLC not Brazil)
• Buddha statues, he is always serene and/or happy
• great massages
• facials
• having my feet rubbed with lots of lotion by sweet husband
• eating cherries over the kitchen sink
• homemade lemonade
• popcorn
  
• beach glass
• shells
• birkenstocks and danskos
• flip flops
• comfortable boot cut jeans
• hair that smells Great
• hugs and kisses
• antique stores!!!
• favorite quilt, the top is made of old suits and embroidered in a feather stitch (antique shop bargain in great shape)
• Sweet grandson taking my favorite quilt and then snuggling with me
• My granddaughter feeding me anything she is eating whether I want it or not!
• my granddog Rhett, the black 125lb lab who thinks he is a lap dog and doesn't know he is a D*O*G
• my daughters asking for advice or recipes
• Heather's pumpkin roll, YUM!
• Michelle's dancing
  It amazes me how many simple things around me enrich my life and bring me joy! Life can be so delightful if we take the time to look at the wonders around us. One hundred favorites, a piece of cake...only 25 more