Watching Television is Inspiring

Dear Friends,

If you have been following me you probably know I enjoy watching television.  You may ask when I find the time?  DVR is the best new device I have and use it regularly.  I enjoy watching television in the morning while eating breakfast, at lunch time, late in the afternoon after my busy day, and after dinner until I cannot keep my eyes open anymore.

I am mostly inspired watching American Idol, The Voice, Master Chef and America’s Got Talent.  What can be more inspiring than watching a person like you and I having a dream and working very hard to bring the dream to fruition?  It allows me to believe dreams can come true.  This is the ultimate inspiration.

Just recently I started watching Parenthood on Netflix.  For some reason I chose not to watch the show at real time.  After I viewed the first episode, first season, I was hooked and managed to watch all the shows in all 6 seasons in about three weeks.

It was a very well written show.  What impressed me most, the ability to capture a true family of today with subjects ranging from disability, cancer, inner racial marriage, heart disease, single mom issues, unwanted pregnancy, PTSD and marital problems.  Most of the issues are part of my family history.   There wasn’t one episode I didn’t find myself crying;  I could relate.  

I learned a great deal from this show.  I no longer believe I am not the only one dealing with real life issues.  I know it was a drama on television but  how many of you out there related to this great American family with their problems?  I will bet many of you have.

Virtual hugs dear friends,

Jude

Requesting Prayers

Last  Wednesday my cousin was in a severe car crash.  He underwent a nine hour surgery to correct damage to his facial muscles.  He is breathing via a ventilator through a tracheotomy.  Currently is spiking a fever due to an infection from aspirating pneumonia.

No one should have to ordeal such tragedy.  His parents are in a state of shock feeling like they are in a nightmare.  

He is in severe condition but, thankfully, hanging in there.  He is a young man with a long and successful life to look forward to.

Please help me pray for his recovery from this tragic accident.  

Thank you dear friends.

Jude

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALI

Today is Ali’s 9th birthday.   She is our sweet, loving dog.  We adopted her 8 months before Jason passed away.  She helped us through the difficult days of mourning, lying by our side when she felt our sadness.  Her only concern was to make us happy, and she eventually did.

Ali has her faults and unfortunately has a reputation of not being a friendly dog.  She will not let any people in our house she doesn’t know.  She will bark uncontrollably when she sees our neighbor outside and will bark at the children playing.

She loves our son and grandchildren and all I have to say. Michael, Dylan or Lindsey are coming, she will park herself at the window anxiously waiting for them to arrive with her tail wagging.

Recently I had surgery and when I arrived home and slept all afternoon, she layed  by my side to provide comfort.

Her only job in life is to provide unconditional love to her family and protect us from harm.  We all have our personality issues.  I only ask people to look beyond her poor behavior and believe us she is one very special dog , and we love her unconditionally as she does for us.

 

A Special Tribute to my Mom

  

This is a picture of my beautiful mother when she was in her early twenties.  She was raised in a rural small town in upstate New York.  Her parents were immigrants from Russia who did not speak English.  My grandfather somehow managed to raise and feed six children while making little money pulling a horse and wagon through the streets selling rags. They were poor but very much loved and well cared for, and all the children graduated from high school.

My mother married my father after World War II and they moved to Brooklyn, New York and eventually to Philadelphia when my father was transferred in his job with the Veterans Administration.

My sister was born and three years later I came along and Mom was a stay at home mom taking  great care of both of us.  When I started school, Mom got a job with the Naval Depot which was walking in distance from our house.  My sister and I took care of ourselves after school until she returned home from work.

She was a full time mother, had a full time job, cleaned the house and made us homemade dinners every night.  She was a Brownie Leader as well.

My values I learned from her made me the woman I am today.  She taught me to be independent, encouraged me to be self sufficient and tried to instill self esteem and build my confidence, but this wasn’t an easy chore since I believe we had the same faults.  She tried to make me better than her by pushing me to suceed and encouraged me to socialize by joining the USO in 1969.  She was a member of the USO in WWII, where she met my father.

My mother passed away in 1986 and I still miss her very much.  She supported me during my challenging years caring for my boys  and I know how much she loved them along with my nephew and niece.

Happy Mother’s Day mom.  You were my best friend, mentor and loving mother and I will cherish the values I learned from you for the rest of my life.