The Mercy That Covers Me

Day 13 - What's the Hardest Part of Growing Up? I'd like to be funny right now and say,  "I'll let you know when I grow up!"  But the truth is that is not the first answer to come to my thoughts.   The hardest part of growing up?  Realizing your parents were right and you would soon be repeating all the wise advice you once thought was unnecessary advice.  "No cookie before dinner."  "You can't spend the night at her house!"  And other seemingly unimportant advice that turned out to be for the child's protection and safety.  Who knew?!?

Back on Track!  The children and their babies have all gone home and now I'm back to the 30 Things List! Day 12 - Describe a Typical Day in Your Life. As a midwife, there is no such thing as a "typical" day.  That's the beauty of this call - every day has the possibility of amazing things! That being said, I will tell you there are a few things in my typical day I do not wish to miss - 2 cups of coffee in the morning, talking to at least one of my children or lately my grandson.  Oliver has been calling me on the phone for several months now.  He calls and asks things like, "Gigi, you hear me???"  Reminds me that he is at his new house in New York and other seemingly unimportant things.  To me, these are the best moments of my day.  Just a couple of weeks ago he FaceTimed me.  This is something we do just about every night.  This time, I assumed, was as any other time.  Once the call was connected, he got so excited!  "Daddy!  Mommy!  Gigi is on t

30 Things - Day 11 Describe 10 pet peeves you have. 1.  On the top of my list, number one pet peeve:  when people make one word out of the words "a lot". That's right, number one - alot.  See the red squiggle line underneath the non-word, alot?  Yes?  That's because it's not aword.  Get it?  aword? alot?  alittle?  So, next time you write a story and want to use those words, remember they are words not word.  Thank you. 2.  I almost hate to say this one out loud.  Okay, here it goes, beard trimmings left in the bathroom sink. There, I said it! 3.  This is hard.  I'm usually the author of pet peeves not the recipient of them.  I could list 20 or more that I am responsible for.  I seriously need help with this but fear I will open a can of worms if Ray reads this.  So, we shall say I have one, maybe two, pet peeves and leave it at that.

30 Things - Day 10 Describe your most embarrassing moment. I'm trying so hard to figure out an embarrassing moment and can only come up with other people's moments.   That's really embarrassing :-)

Day Nine of 30 Things List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how. 1.  My Mother - She has instilled in me my love for family.  The sacrifices she made for us when we were growing up had a profound affect on me.   2.  My Father - He's hands down one of the most intelligent and incredibly fun people I've ever known.  I learned how to have fun and enjoy life from him. 3.  My Grandmother Meadows - She exuded a love for God and Family without having to say one word.  She walked out her faith by giving her self to others, without complaint. 4.  My Grandmother Gallagher - I could always count on her for comfort and consistency.  Her home was always welcoming.  The dolls, the bears, the food.   5.  Dr. Rob Helmer - my employer and my friend.  He was like a big brother to me.  His influence in my life was perhaps the most profound of any in my adult life.  He help me learned self confidence.  I was timid, unsure and last self esteem.  He taught me that I could f

Day Eight of 30 Things My Children and Grandchildren should know about Me. What are 5 passions you have? 1.  Genealogy!!!  Thanks to this list activity I've embarked on, I have received 3 requests for help with folks family history.  LOVE IT! 2.  Documenting our family with photography.  Know just enough to be dangerous.  I love being able to look back on photos from family members long ago and reminiscing about days gone by.  I  want my children to be able to go back one day and relive those days. 3.  Helping families during the childbearing year.   Love watching families grow! 4.  Music - love listening to it, playing it, writing it, going to shows. 5.  Of course I will round this one out with FAMILY!  Remember - mountain commune?  Family!

30 Things My Children and Grandchildren should Know about Me. Day 7 - What is your dream job and why? First, I honestly think I have the dream job.  Helping women and families through the amazing journey of parenthood.  So, what would be that alternate dream job? Well, I've had lots of dream jobs.  Let me sound this out and narrow it down. I used to think owning a pug farm would be awesome.  We would have a hundred pugs and play with them all day.  Saying things like, "Do you wanna <fill in the blank>???"  We'd watch them tilt their heads in anticipation of whatever it was we asked.  Pugs frolicking through green, flowery fields and snorting in delight.  And then four pugs came to live with us while their "parents" got settled in their new homes.  I love those pugs but they squashed my idea of that dream job. How about activity director at a retirement community?  My first job was a volunteer at a nursing home.  Played cards and board games w

Day 6 of 30 Things I Want my Children and Grandchildren to Know About Me If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for? I first have to say that this question was not worded correctly.  Any of us has the ability to wish or hope for anything we want.   I believe the author of the list meant to say - If you could have three wishes granted ...  So, I will answer the question as if I found a genie in a bottle and he granted me three wishes.  I bet you're wishing I didn't go into all of this detail about the question! Wish #1 - Anyone who knows me knows this has to be at the top of the list!  I wish my family (children, grandchildren, parents and siblings) lived on a mountaintop in Tennessee.  A self-sufficient family commune.  Far enough from each other to enjoy alone time but close enough to be there in a flash. Wish #2 - I wish I could give wish #3 to someone who would wish for something more valuable for mankind.  Not the stereotypical "Peace on Earth&quo