Some Fun Pics

I don't have anything really to blog today, so I am just posting some good pics that I don't tink I've posted before.

Enjoy.

And if I stole any of these pics from your blog (Marlene), thank you.

Another reason the DMV sucks

A few of you may remember the car accident I was in last May.

If you weren't a reader then, or need a refresher >>click here<<.

Like all accidents, I was hoping to be grateful no one was hurt, get the car fixed and put it behind me. Which was even easier to do because it was not my fault and the other guys insurance covered everything.

However, 9 months after the incident, it is coming back to haunt me.

I did some searches recently to find out why I kept seeing stacks of money with eyes staring me down, and if the Progressive web site really had a spunky brunette with a headband (who I'm pretty sure also does yoga on a Glade commercial) who really could make me feel great about buying new car insurance online.

At first I was in disbelief to find out that by switching to one of several different companies I could cut my current premium of $170/mo almost in half to about $90/mo.

I went with Allstate. Partly because I had Allstate before and liked them, and partly because they e-mailed me instead of calling me at home like I had requested in the search process.

So sorry State Farm. You lost out for no other reason than that you made the mistake of trying to talk to me in person. (I hate that).

And I proabably have to admit that I like the Allstate commercials better than any of the others. After I got to know and like the US President from "24" and he became the face of Allstate, how could I not feel like I was in good hands?

Through a process of about 20 e-mails with my local Allstate agent we got the all of the policy preliminiaries out of the way, which included a driving record check.

I had been honest about the fact that I was in an accident last spring, but was not at fault.

However, that's not what my driving record says.

According to my DMV record I was listed AT FAULT for the accident.

Which if true, doesn't explain why the cop at the scene told me he was citing the other guy and why the other driver's insurance paid for all of my repairs.

This one little clerical error, as the agent told me, changed my quote from $90/mo. to $190/mo.

So I am off to the courthouse today to get a copy of the police report, which I then have to take to the DMV to appeal to have my record changed.

My agent can change me back to the original rate if she has a copy of the police report too.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can resolve this with as little violence as possible.

I would really hate to get so frustrated about this that I start to road rage and actually cause an accident that would be my fault.

Maternal Instinct - in Pictures

One of God's great achievements is the instillment of maternal instinct and the development of a bond between a mother and her offspring.

This can be seen in all areas of nature and is truly a beautiful thing.

And thanks to zibabin.com for the pics.

Hope For My Generation

Please watch the whole thing.

It is less than 2 minutes long, and valueable.

What My Dad Taught Me

Yesterday was my Father's birthday.

Chronologically he is 65. But there is some debate as to what his real age is.

To look at him you might think he is only 50-55. If you watch him go you might think he was in his 20s or 30s. But there are those among us who argue that he is actually over 2000 years old.

This is a picture of him with my mom and my sons at Niagra Falls last summer.

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Regardless of his actual age, my Dad has taught me many things in my life.

Including, but certainly not limited to:

1. The abilty and willingness to work is one of the greatest attributes a person can have.
2. If something needs done, do it.
3. It should not take all day to do 5 minutes work.
4. If you look for something you will usually find it.
5. When things are difficult complaining will not make them better. Effort usually will.
6. As much time should be spent outdoors as possible.
7. Be home when you say you will be.
8. Being dependable is another one of the greatest attributes a person can have.
9. Hard work will get you a long ways. Hard work and an education will get you even farther.
10. Arguing rarely solves anything.
11. True love is not based on appearances.
12. If you can't say something nice bite your tongue.
13. Sometimes it's okay to let people see you biting your tongue.
14. It's sometimes fun to start rumors if you tell people that's what you are doing.
15. Raising a family is one of the most worthy and honorable things a person can do.
16. If you choose to have a family, (and it should be an active choice), they should be your first priority.
17. Your commitment to your spouse should be more important to you than anything on earth.
18. Your commitment to God should be more important to you than anything in the world.
19. If you listen to the spirit, it will talk.
20. You should serve others at any given opportunity. And not brag about it later.
21. Do your chores before you play.
22. When you give a talk, don't write it word for word. Just have your outline written on 3x5 cards and speak naturally.
23. Our goal in this life is to earn eternal salvation. There is a whole plan for this.
24. To appreciate nature.
25. How to set up a tent.
26. How to start a fire.
27. How to dig a snow grave (for sleeping in).
28. How to make ash cakes
29. How to cook in a dutch oven.
30. How to sweep a floor effectively.
31. How to shoot a gun.
32. How to throw a tomahawk.
33. How to differentiate between kinds of pine trees.
34. How to watch for and follow tracks.
35. How to paddle a kayak.
36. How to make a bed.
37. You should give your spouse a good long kiss when you get home from work.
38. You should let your children see you kiss your spouse.
39. Don't leave the oven on during church.
40. Sometimes the best naps are on the living room floor.
41. There are few shows that are really worth watching on tv.
42. Star Trek is one of them.
43. Enjoy every minute of being outside.
44. Find excuses to go outside.
45. Enjoy life.
46. Let people know you have a testimony of God.
47. Decide how you want to live your life and do it with vigor.
48. Don't let little things (like quadruple heart bypasses) keep you from doing the things you love.
49. When you fall down get up and try again.
50. Love your family with all your heart and in every way you know how.
51. Make sure God is part of every part of your life, and you will be happy.

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That was a little longer list than I originally intended. I hope you stuck through and read them all.

I could have kept going, but 51 was enough for this year.

I am so grateful for my father. He is one of the people that I truly admire the most.

He taught me so many things (obviously), and those things have made my life better.

I wish you a happy birthday Dad.

No matter how old you really are, I hope this year is better than all the ones before it.

I love you. Thanks for being my Dad.

-Della

More Good Stuff

Because the majority of this blog is merely me sharing random things that I enjoy, I feel compelled to clue you all in to a blog I found recently.

My Real Life Was Backordered is seriously one of the funniest blogs I have ever read. DeNae has a witty way with words that I can only envy.

Go check her out.

Her latest post An Epistle to the Roamin's had me laughing out loud.

Any one who has ever 1) read any scriptures or 2) ever had a child vomit during the night, will feel that you have found a kindred soul.

-Della

Woody's thought for the day

Why isn't Miniscule a smaller word than Huge?

Thank You All

Thank you all for your prayers.

It hasn't even been 18 hours since I posted asking for prayers, but I have felt them all day long.

This was a hard day, and the work isn't over, but I was strengthened and fortified all throughout the day.

I wish I could share more, but let me tell you that a miracle happened today, something I have been praying for. And it wasn't even part of the bigger issue, but happened kind of because of the bigger issue. (If that makes any sense).

Anyway, not every thing is solved and resolved, but progress has been made.

I have felt God's love and your love in your prayers today.

At many times I felt the strength of your prayers and was touched by them.

Thank you all. Don't stop praying. We still need them.

But thank you so, so much.

Love, Della

Calling for Prayers

To All of My Beloved Bloggies,

I need your prayers.

I can't go into details in the specifics of my needs, because much of it is confidential.

Most of you know that I have 2 high intensity foster sons and that this is my full time job.

My boys are in crisis right now, and are making decisions that will affect the rest of their lives forever.

One of the sad parts is that they have so little understanding of how their actions today are affecting their lives permanently.

Sadly, their choices also affect my own core family very deeply as well.

We are all hurting right now and at times I don't even know what to ask for when I pray because I don't know what the solution is.

But please keep my boys and our family in your prayers.

Thank you all so much.

Love, Della

A scrapbook

I have been posting a lot of pics on Facebook lately because it is so easy to upload pics right from my phone tto Facebook. But I have been neglecting putting pics here.

So here are a few random recent pics.

Changing leaves made this stretch of road really pretty in the fall.

Me.

Me, same day, with my hair down. If only it would stay looking like that. My sushi lunch date with Mark.

Hat day. CJ liked Dad's chauffer hat, while Mark went with the Viagra racing hat.

An amazing cloud formation that made a beautiful sunset.

Chris' Superbowl birthday cake.

No kidding, I have seen this limo in front of the elementary school twice now.

Lunch at Joe's Crab Shack had a lot of photo ops.

This mosaic was in the bathroom, so when you looked in the mirror you could see that it says "Eat at Joe's".

My honey. This was me from another lunch.

Snow on the ground yesterday morning. Yes, really.

Friends and forts.

One of my running shirts.

Taken at Mt. Trashmore Park.

This is CJ's orchestra concert. He is the cellist that is right in front of the teacher in the pic.

A Sam's club shopping trip.

Chris napping with Toby.

A cool lit up tree.

Hope you enjoyed them.

Maybe I'll add more soon.

-Della

80 Years Ago

I seem to have a them going, but don't blame me. Blame my Grandpa who keeps sending me these e-mails.

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Check out these ads from the 1930's

Some of these are unbelievable.

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But this one is my favorite:

What do you think we are doing now that people will be scoffing at 50 years from now?

One Hundred Years Ago

Just in case you were wondering, or want to be blown away, here are some statistics from the year 1909:

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The 1909 Packard

The average life expectancy was 47 years.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles

Of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.

The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a

veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .

Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which Were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard. '

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo. Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from Entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death were: 1. Pneumonia and influenza

2. Tuberculosis

3. Diarrhea

4. Heart disease

5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas , Nevada, was only 30!!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea

Hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.

Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.

Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'

( Shocking? DUH! )

Eighteen percent of households had at least One full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !

And I was able to copy this whole thing without typing it myself. From here, it can be viewed by others all over the WORLD - all in a matter of seconds!

Crazy, huh?

I wonder what things will be like in another 100 years.