#SweetTweets are Awesome PINK

#SweetTweets are the people on Twitter who are following me. They are extraordinary Tweeple. I love them. They have stood by me over the past months while I have been ill. They retweeted me when I couldn't and increased my followers to over 10,000 from April to October 2009. I now have over 21,500 followers. Aren't they awesome!

They were there each morning when I woke up with encouraging words of love and prayers. I don't know how I could have made it without their positive support. They lovingly call me "the Queen of Twitter." Isn't that sweet, but I know that I am not. I am the Encourager. I am there to encourage them socially, personally, professionally. I don't see every using Twitter for anything other than my original intent. I do send links to my blogs occasionally but not constantly.

My blogs are:

• http://thoughts-of-pink.blogspot.com/
• http://thoughts-of-Christ.blogspot.com/
• http://barbara-duke.blogspot.com/
• http://attitudeaptitude.blogspot.com/
• http://Twitter-SweetTweets.blogspot.com/

I started the Twitter-Sweets blog to use for FAXO Twitter Woman of the month and then when everyone decided to go on their own, I change it to recognize my #SweetTweets of the Day. I know I am not a celebrity or even anyone who is very important, but it is my way of saying thank you to all those who have helped me survive this past year and a half. 
Love to all, Barbara

September 28-2009 import Pink

I had a strangly restful weekend in VA Beach. Wasn't feeling too well but went to the Lions Fall Conference anyway. It was very nice in some ways, and horrendous in others. The Holiday Inn was renovating the lobby and it made for a very uncomfortable stay. It was gutted and the dust and odor was aweful. It pervaded everything. I hate to think that we probably digested a good deal of it in the dinners we ate there. Conference food is iffy at best, but the food was not too good (even if it had been hot). Only one elevator was working where the temporary lobby was located.

Unfortunately there was also an American Legion State Convention there and they were all crowded around all the entrances so you could not enter the lobby without walking through a cloud of cigarette smoke. The conference and dining rooms were small with tables so crowded that the servers could barely get through with the food.

At least the rooms were nice. We were on the third floor and our room had been redone already (thank God). I spent most of my time there since the lobby was such a mess and the conference rooms were so tiny and without air conditioning. I just can't stay in a place that doesn't have AC. I do know that if I am ever in charge of a conference, I will try to make sure that it is in a new hotel or at least are not planning renovations. This is the second bad Holiday Inn stay though. We may have to stay somewhere else next time they book us into a Holiday Inn.

We came home Sunday and chilled out the rest of the day. Monday night there was a Peninsula Baptist Association Meeting at First Baptist. I went mainly because Reverend Billy Lewis was there and singing. He used to be a member of our church and I was on the Deacon Body when he was accepted for ordination as a pastor for his Praise Ministry. It was an honor to be on his certification team. We all love to hear him sing and he is a great servant of God.

Tuesday evening, Ray went back to the PBA meeting and Cindy came over and stayed with me until about 6 o'clock. She cut up the pineapple that was given to me in a Care Basket by some lovely women in my Sunday Bible Study Class: Ann Glover, Lou Ladson, Linda Hoffler, and Annabelle Thornton. Janice Mahone had the basket for us when we went Monday night. There was the Pineapple,  apples, homemade chocolate covered peanuts, Fall dish, Pumpkin, book, pkg of dried fruit & nuts, gum, etc., not to mention the beautiful Fall decorated basket.  There was also a bag full of toilitries, like lotion, candle, soap, etc. They were so thoughtful and made me feel so special. They are very thoughtful and Godly women. I love them all so much.

I went and had my protyme test today and it was normal. They sent me to the hospital for a chest xray because I am still feeling pain in my chest. My joints are still hurting some so I am still on the Prednisone. Ray went to choir practice and I went to sleep in the recliner. I can't seem to sleep on the bed. If I lay down, when I get up my chest hurts worse and it takes me longer to get myself together when I wake up.

To my Twitter #SweetTweets. Thanks for listening. Hope your day was wonderful. I am going to try to get out on my own tomorrow and go to Sally's by myself. Maybe the Mall. Who knows?

Love to you all, God is Good, All the time!

Mother's Day PINK

This is my beautiful daughter Rhonda with her husband Jesse and the twins, Garrett and Taylor. Grandchildren are certainly a Gift from God as are my children. Jesse has been a blessing as a son-in-law and I look at him as my son. He is a very good husband to my daughter and a wonderful father to my precious grandchildren. Rhonda is the mother that I always wished to be. I don't know what I ever did to deserve her. They have all been one of the most wonderful parts of my life. The children are almost 8 now, but this is the most beautiful picture that I have of them all. 


On the left is my son, Jeff. He is awesome. I am so proud of him.He has grown in to the son I always hoped for. He has a great job, loves golf, and he is in charge of the Upward Basketball Program for his church in New Bern NC. He recently became engaged to the beautiful Sharon on the left. Sharon has a little boy named Dillon. I don't have a picture of him, but hope to soon.

The most awesome part of this is that they are all Christians. People who go to church and love the Lord. I am so blessed.

Another reason that I am so blessed is my dear husband Ray. He is my rock. He is the Godly man that I prayed for. He is God's gift to me and to my family. He gave me step-children, Deborah and Kevin. Deborah (on right) has 3 children, Jennifer, Chad, and Ryan. Jennifer is married to Christian and their daughter is Emily Paige. Kevin is married to Paula. Their son, Andrew will be graduating from George Mason the end of the month, and then there is Emily Leigh, who will be graduating high school next year. All have been a blessing in our lives.
I have been very sick this week with some sort of virus and was not able to go to NC to be with my children, but I am here and may get to see our children here. I am feeling better this evening. The doctor says that RA is an auto-immune disease and I have to be careful because I can catch things so easily. I will be more careful in the future, but I just cannot avoid people. I love them all so much.
Remember on Mother's Day, that my thoughts and prayers are with all who read this.
God is So Good, All the Time!

PARLIAMENTARY PINK

We are in Fairfax at the Virginia State Association of Parliamentarians 53d Annual Convention at the Hyatt Fairlakes. The hotel is very nice and we are having a great time. Friday night the Alpha Unit (Ray is President) had their annual meeting at The Blue Iguana Restaurant. The food was wonderful and they manager made our meeting a special one. Ray had been dealing with him for 2 weeks setting up this meeting. We actually went by there before we went to the hotel and had lunch.
We met a waiter named Helmut from Germany. Helmut is 78 years old and is probably the best waiter they have ever had. He doesn't want to retire. He worked for a big cruise line, for some royalty in Europe and Iran as a butler and for Frank Sinatra for 17 years. He moved to Fairfax to retire but just couldn't stay home and do nothing. Very energetic little man. So interesting. Would make a good subject for a book. His life has been amazing.
 Well it is Sunday and I woke  up with a terrible sore throat. I had some antibiotics, took one and at least I can swallow now.  A friend came over the other day and she had a bad cold. You would think that people would stay away from those who have compromised immune systems when they have colds. I didn't run her off though, I helped her with some financial information that she didn't understand. I have been helping her with things since her husband passed away.
I listened to Joel Osteen this morning and was energized by his talk. I am hoping that I can go on line later and listen again. I really liked what he had to say today. It was how you could bless the generations ahead of you by the behavior you have today. It was wonderful insight on the favor of God. More later.
 If I don't get off these steroids soon, I am going to look like Chunky Barbie!

Love to all. GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME. Barbara