Appearing on Oprah Monday, Oct 4

The long awaited airing of the interview my son, Terry, did with Oprah is Monday, Oct. 4, if anyone would like to watch.

Holiday plans already?

The Country Store Craft Guild met today to prepare for opening the store for the 48th year. Fifteen members and consigners sell all handmade items in a site downtown from Nov. 1st through Dec. 24th. Today the members got together to show their latest projects and creations and decide which days each of us will work during the holiday season. This meeting is always the final reminder that Christmas is coming once again. Looks like I will be busy tatting, doing Brazilian embroidery, herbal bath packets, crocheted ornaments, potpourri, sewing and quilting once again. Then each week there are baked goods for sale two of the days (no excuse not to get my holiday baking done, is there?

Another term has vanished!

Another term at Kaplan University online has vanished into the books! It seems like only a short time ago I was anxious to get the classes started and now I am reluctant to see them end. Ten weeks in a lifetime just doesn't go very far these days! Hopefully the education I got will take me much further. Alas, nostalgia! I know you well.

Latest Happenings

There is a lot happening with my son, Terry, and his hero dog from Afghanistan, Target. This is the latest TV report from last night.


http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid66789201001?bclid=40725603001&bctid=614743015001

It mentions the upcoming Oprah Winfrey show and the awards banquet, but not the Readers' Digest article.

It's Getting Close to Finals Week of the Term, Again

As week eight is nearing the end, completing my final papers should be the main thing on my mind, but I have developed a back problem that wants to be in the spotlight. Therefore, all my ways are not going to be easy as I can only work at the computer for shortened periods, I have been to the doctor 4x recently and everything I am able to do... hurts! This is putting a cramp in my style, literally. Today I will be spending another 5 hours away from home as I travel to and from another doctor's appointment that I could really use as time at the computer revising the two final papers. Yes, it's getting too close to finals week of the term, again! Then in the blink of my eye, it will all be history.

I Had a Great Time in AZ

Being able to spend a few days with my 3 grandbabies in San Tan Valley, AZ, was a blast. Their parents went to Chicago to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show with Target (their dog from Afghanistan) and I had the opportunity to deal with heat, homework, huggings and happenings in the lives of my grandchildren ages 4-14. I learned to play Mario Bros. on the wii game...almost. Poor Tavius (age 4) tried to teach me, but finally sighed and told me, "Grandma, I think you are unteachable. Now don't laugh. Try harder. Let's do it again." My reward came hours later when he crawled into bed with us in the middle of the night and proceeded to cuddle Grandpa to the edge of the bed. The girls had homework I could help with, spelling for Mahala, and science on the laptop for Trenedy. That Trenedy had no schoolbooks gave me a strange sensation! Then came the blackout in 108 degrees. It only lasted about 20 minutes but, of course, I was "totally in the dark" as to where to find the flashlights/candles. Memories! Yes, I have plenty of that trip to see my grandbabies. Think I'll go again soon.

Grandbabies or I'll Bust

I fly to Phoenix today to spend a few days caring for my 3 AZ grandbabies while their parents and Target fly to Chicago to do a talk show. Can't wait to see those 3 again! It's been 5 months!

Guest House

While reading another bit of homework, I came upon this poem by Rumi, titled Guest House. This is a struggle for me most days as I'd just love to put up a fight instead of invite it all in!

This being human is a guest house

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Mail call was very good today!

I have really enjoyed my studies at Kaplan and was very excited when my husband brought me the mail! Since last week was such a challenge, this was good medicine for the spirit.

Cool Fall Mornings, Hot Summer Afternoons

Taking my grandson, Trevan, to kindergarten this week has been wonderful. The mornings are cool and dew-laden, smelling clean and freshly washed. By the time he gets out 6 hours later, the temperature has hit 90 degrees and the humidity wears on your every step! Then the storms roll in to remind me just what season it is. I love the four changing seasons, but in Nebraska you can have all four within the same week at times. Guess that's why I choose to live here, right in the heart of things.

Changing My Schedule Has Messed my Seminars

It seems like the little changes can be very confusing at times. My schedule on Wednesddays and Thursdays has changed only the slightest, but I can't seem to get free to concentrate on my seminars this term. Last night during College Comp seminar there were four phone calls, someone ringing the doorbell and a family member that had lost a wallet with $100 in it. Then the storm blew in to send everyone scurrying to close the windows. Couldn't this have waited for one hour? Once in a while is expected but this is the third week in a row. Help! Yes, I feel better now. Think I'll get back to my homework.

Controlling Pain Using Alternative Medicine

    Has anyone ever had pain that prescription and over-the-counter medicines didn't control well? Most people have suffered through recurring pain. Sometimes the most effective pain reliever carries side effects that doctors will discourage a person from using on a regular basis. I want to write a research paper on using alternative medicine to control the pain and thus avoiding the unwanted side effects of standard medicine.
    My dad sustained a lower back injury at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II and suffered from recurring back pain. The best medicine he found was a visit to the chiropractor and buffered aspirin daily, so as a child and early teen, my thoughts were to become a chiropractor. I had witnessed that what we now call alternative medicine really worked.
    Science keeps improving and discovering, thus a person has many choices for care of pain relief. I am currently reading on trigger point therapy, biofeedback, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain relief. If anyone has personal knowledge that they would share, please do so.

Online Students Don't Have to Shop for School Clothes Every Term

    As I was wandering the aisles of the store last night looking for the items on my kindergarten list of needed supplies, I was reminded just how much easier my life as an online student really is in comparison. Just as long as my computer is working, the storms miss Broken Bow at the time of the scheduled seminars, and I can access Kaplan's site, life is good. When these things don't happen, life is stressful.
   The nice part of being an online student is taking tests when my house is quiet, the right books are automatically shipped to my door, using option 2 for seminars and I have access to a huge library. Since I'm a social person, I miss not knowing my classmates and meeting the professors, but I suppose anonymity has its benefit, too.
   As I was reflecting on these things, it also popped into my head that online students don't have to shop for school clothes every term. If I did, just think of the size of wardrobe I'd have on graduation day! I never have to ponder what should I wear tonight to seminar. All I have to do is stop whatever I'm doing, wash my hands, clear my thoughts and get to class. That is a pretty convenient way to get an education.

Happy Birthday, Micro T!!!

Today is my youngest grandchild's fourth birthday! Happy Birthday, Tavius (AKA 'Micro T' to grandma)!

Too Hot to Function!

The heat index yesterday hit 106! Too hot to do anything. I'm having a hard time concentrating on school and the family newsletter. When the temperature reaches 85, I start to notice the heat, so the past few days have been miserable! I think I may be melting!!!

Target & Her New Family

It was a long plane ride, but Target was finally reunited with Terry and my grandbabies. (Not pictured is Terry's wife, the photographer). The next morning FOX news did an interview. If you'd be interested, this is the URL for the story.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4303135/hero-dogs-help-save-us-soldiers-lives

Terry and Target reunited

As I write this, Target is in Houston, TX, on a 7-hour layover out of the cargo hold waiting for the day to get cooler. She will touch down in AZ at 9:45 MST so the grandbabies will be up late tonight. Then tomorrow morning the two will be on Bill O'Reilly on FOX News. Next week they are flying to NYC for the Mike Huckabee Show (as Target's grandma I think this is way to soon to be in the air, again). Terry has the recorder from the Oprah Show to record tonight and her first three days with the new home and family, so that still is in the process. Readers' Digest is sending a camera crew to the house for photos. Please pray for a smooth and easy transition for Target and Terry's family (Koda, the pekingese, and the cat).

Blind Boy's Sign

I received this as an email from a cousin-in-law. It holds true for all communication, spoken and written. Sometimes it is all in how things are phrased…


A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign, which said, "I am blind, please help”. There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way."

I wrote, “Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it”.

Both signs told people that the boy was blind, but the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?



Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have.... Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.



If you appreciate this message, please share. You may touch someone's heart today and forever. Enjoy your week with a heart of gratitude.

A Hero's Welcome

Rufus, Sgt. Chris Duke and Target at Atlanta airport (CBS Evening News)

Hi, everyone. Welcome. The big news at our house is my son, Terry, is going to get a chance to let Target retire in the USA. You may have already seen her in the company of another soldier in the news. She is the golden haired beauty on four legs that just arrived from Afghanistan, one of the stray dogs at Dand Patan, that spoiled a suicide bomber's attempt to kill 50 US soldiers. My son was a medic attached to the unit that night. Thanks to Target, Sasha and Rufus, only three soldiers were injured badly enough to be flown off the base. No soldier was killed. (Sasha, though, was hurt too badly when they found her). The medics found Target and Rufus the next morning and did a lot of surgery and nursed them back to health over the next months. Thanks to the efforts of many people and organizations, Terry and Target will be together again. Chris Duke, pictured above, was one of the soldiers injured and MEDEVAC'd  on February 11, 2010, and requested the dogs as a Wish for Warriors. She makes her final leg of the journey on Wednesday, August 4th.