Royal Wedding Pink

I woke up this morning just as Kate started walking down the aisle. How pretty she is. Kate looks the part, as if she was born for this. William was very good looking straight ahead. Of course, Prince Harry had to look around and see what was going on. I think he shared that Kate was coming and she was beautiful with William. I came into the living room and Ray was watching the news, so I went back into the bedroom to watch the wedding. About 7 a.m. he turned it to the wedding and I came back to the living room with my laptop and continued tweeting the ceremony out. I think the most exciting thing was how many times Our Lord Jesus Christ was mentioned. He certainly had top billing. See the scripture that was read by Kate's brother during the ceremony at the end of this installment.

Over night, I turned from about 45,700 followers to 46,009 followers on Twitter. Isn't that incredible? I think I have reached the tipping point.

My brother's business in Kentucky is doing very well. His sons, Jeremy and Bryan won more awards at the Sonitrol National Convention. Check it out at:  Sonitrol of Lexington KY. They are such hard workers and a tribute to their parents. My brother was strict with them, but they learned and grew up very well. They had a lot of advantages but Sonny and Pat kept them grounded. I am so proud to be a part of their family. Being Auntie Barbara is an awesome feat. I pray for them each day.

We went to NC for Easter. Jeff and Sharon had a few days off and went to the beach. I don't blame them a bit. They both work so hard. We had a grand time at Rhonda and Jesse's.

I went to Rebecca and Benita's home last evening. Polly, a friend of Benita's and Rebecca's cousin were there and a social worker from the city of Newport News was there. Evidently, the caregiver they had before reported Rebecca and said that the house was not safe and dirty and that Benita was being abused. As it turns out, the only one abusing Benita was Shirley, the caregiver. She grabbed Benita and literally threw her in the shower, bruising her arms and legs. She went so far as to go downtown to the courthouse to get a copy of Norman's will. The people in the courthouse had to get the security team to throw her out because she created such a scene. She was washing her own clothes at their home and staying on their phone all the time. She even made appointments at doctor offices and took Benita to see an eye doctor that was not her eye doctor. She seemed to be trying to take over their lives. I thought maybe it was just my impression, but after I heard the other ladies explanations of her strange behavior, I was convinced and so was the social worker. I even gave her my card and told her she was welcome to come to my house if needed. I am  so happy to have Benita here and know that she is safe. We have breakfast and lunch together and sometimes we talk or we watch TV. Sometimes we go to lunch when there is something going on at church. I can tell her anything, because she doesn't remember. The social worker never gave any indication of who complained but I think it was pretty evident. So, if you live in the Hampton Roads area and are thinking about hiring someone named Shirley, contact me. She tried to harass Benita at our quilting class but I got her out of there in a hurry and brought her home. She started going to Need-A-Meal after reading our church newsletter at their home. Now they cannot even go on Thursday night. She isn't a member and as Christians, we have to be tolerant, but even the Lord chastised evil people

Go to Crosswalk.com and get a free ebook: Israel 101. It is totally free and you could learn a lot about Israel and the things going on in that area for years. CrossWalk Bible Study Tools


Catherine's Brother read this during the ceremony this morning. Romans 12

Living for God

1 Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive. Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshiping him. 2 Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect. 3 God's grace has been given to me. So here is what I say to every one of you. Don't think of yourself more highly than you should. Be reasonable when you think about yourself. Keep in mind the amount of faith God has given you. 4 Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose. 5 So also we are many persons. But in Christ we are one body. And each part of the body belongs to all the other parts. 6 We all have gifts. They differ in keeping with the grace that God has given each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it in keeping with the faith you have. 7 Is it your gift to serve? Then serve. Is it teaching? Then teach. 8 Is it telling others how they should live? Then tell them. Is it giving to those who are in need? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully.

Love

9 Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.11 Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.12 When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes. 14 Bless those who hurt you. Bless them, and do not call down curses on them. 15 Be joyful with those who are joyful. Be sad with those who are sad. 16 Agree with each other. Don't be proud. Be willing to be a friend of people who aren't considered important. Don't think that you are better than others. 17 Don't pay back evil with evil. Be careful to do what everyone thinks is right. 18 If possible, live in peace with everyone. Do that as much as you can. 19My friends, don't try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written, "I am the One who judges people. I will pay them back,"#1(Deuteronomy 32:35)#2 says the Lord. 20 Do just the opposite. Scripture says, "If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on their heads." #1(Proverbs 25:21,22)#2 21Don't let evil overcome you. Overcome evil by doing good.

Isn't this lovely? He delivered it with the grace of an English actor. 

NC Verizon Wireless Purgatory Pink

We went to NC for Easter weekend. It was wonderful to see my daughter and her family. The twins are doing well. They enjoyed Easter at church and then we were at their house for dinner. Rhonda fixed potato salad and mashed potato salads, regular salad, Hawaiian rolls, and Jesse cooked pork on the grill along with our traditional fill in hot dogs. Rhonda and her sister-in-law Teresa hid about 60 eggs. Some had candy in them, some had money in them. The twins thought it was awesome. Then there was the annual Egg Toss. Besides breaking two eggs before they even started, it all went well, Garrett and his Uncle Cecil won. I couldn't believe how far they could throw those eggs without breaking them. Some even hit the ground and didn't break. No one got egg all over them. Darn! Just too clean a game. Afterward, the twins drove their four-wheelers around and round the house. You need to stay on the porch when that happens. LOL! At 8 (almost 9) years old, they are little speed demons. You can bet they had on safety gear, to include helmets.

We got up this morning, straightened up the house, packed the car, and drove home. We stopped at BoJangles for brunch. It was great. I don't remember much about the drive, I was concentrating on our Dave Ramsey CDs that I ordered last week. They came in time for the trip. I want to learn to be debt free! My son and his wife took the class before they got married and are almost there already. Jeff says after a while, it becomes like a game to see how to plan things to get your life to be like the life you have always wanted. We have listened to about 6 of the CDs and what he has to say so  far, makes a lot of good common sense.

Everyone is so excited about the Royal Wedding coming up next weekend. I think it is great, but a little over the top. I saw the Queen when I was a young girl. She wore hats then too. We lived in England for three years. It was cold, damp, and foggy. Of course, everything was green and pretty, but we missed the warmth of the Mississippi Delta. One morning, I had on my white hooded raincoat and white boots. I walked about 10 feet in front of my best friend all the way to school and she never saw or heard me until we got to the school door. I had watched the ground the whole way just to get there and she was too. The fog not only hid me, it muffled the sound of my rubber boots. Rusty Loper just couldn't believe I was ahead of her and her little sister, Dusty. (Rusty was a red-head and Dusty had black hair) Both were so cute. My other friend, Judy Roberts, went to Mildenhall to school and rode a bus. We went on Lakenheath AB and could walk to school.

This is a picture of my sister Jan in Jacksonville Fl with her twin grand-daughters, Summer and Savanah. Aren't they sweet. Her daughter Erika has 4 little girls, and her daughter Heather has 3 little girls and is expecting again. Needless to say, they are pulling for a boy, but at this rate, what are the odds?

If you want to follow me on Facebook, look me up. www.facebook.com/barbaraduke

Got some things to do. Rebecca is bring Benita over to stay this evening while she teaches an art class.
I will try to write some more tomorrow.
Love to all, Barbara
God is Good, All the Time!

FORGETFUL PINK

Hi #SweetTweets,
Spring has sprung in South Eastern Virginia. Isn't the Cardinal beautiful. When I go outside, the birds are everywhere. Actually, it is hard to sleep in around here, they are pretty loud in the morning. I just love birds. It is a shame that the  mail bird gets all the attention because of his beautiful feathers. In  bird land, the females aren't dressed up at all. I love it when the robins start chasing their little chicks around. And the mockingbird mocks all the other birds and people too if he gets the chance.

I just love Spring, it gives such hope for the future when you see the trees budding out into beautiful flowers. The Japanese Cherry Trees on Canon Boulevard were absolutely gorgeous.

My friend, Benita, is staying with me during the day now. She has the early stages of Alzheimer's. She can still take care of her personal needs and she is so sweet. We enjoy having her here with us. She comes in the morning and has breakfast with me. We watch TV most of the morning, eat lunch, and she takes a nap. Then we watch TV until her daughter comes to pick her up. I am reading up on this condition so I can get some incite as to how to keep her from agitated. I have read that an agitated state could actually make the condition worse. She has been my friend for over 10 years. We were both in the Women's club together. She used to save me a place at her table at the annual style show and luncheon at the James River Country Club. She is a member of our church and she sang in the choir for years with her husband, Norman. They were a dynamic couple here in this area, always volunteering. Benita was on the City of NN Boards and Commissions for a long time. She helped with fund-raisers to help the seamen staying at the shipyard and so many other things. I think their fortune was decimated during the stock market downturn. There is not much left and Norman passed away last November. Since then, her daughter has moved in with her and is taking care of her. I found out from her daughter and others from our church that her daytime care-giver was frightening her. Anyway, the daughter fired the woman before Spring Break. I prayed about it and spoke to Ray about it. I called her daughter and told her I would like to take care of her mother during the day while she was at work. So here we are. So far, so good.

Ray and I DJ'ed the District 24D Governor's Ball last night at the Crown Plaza in Williamsburg. It was a very nice dinner, There was a magician, there who was very good. He has been doing this for 30 years. He plays parties, receptions, on stage, you name it. I cannot find his business card but I will be getting the information and posting it on this blog. He kept people going during the time before dinner by going around with a little table and doing card tricks. Then, after we ate, he did a show. I have always loved magicians, so I had a good time.

After that, Ray played music and sang. One of our former District Governor's, Debbie Ivey, sang some selected Patsy Cline songs. Then, one of our future DGs, Lion Donnie Johnson came up and sang some Elvis selections. We had a good time. The only bad part is I helped to get the equipment to the car and paid for it in pain this morning. I had a difficult time sleeping also. I think I even tweeted from the Hotel. There was a really bad thunderstorm and considerable damage in the surrounding area last night. I even tweeted out, "It's raining cats and dogs out there, no wonder the gutters keep getting stopped up." I got some pretty awesome tweets about that one. One lady said she told her children and ended up in a giggle fest for the whole family. That is great. I really like to hear things like that. If I can make someone smile, or laugh out loud, that is the best.
I am going to try to write more about what is going on with my illness and with Benita's. I pray that you all are having a wonderful Sunday. God is good, All the time!

Cancer Update from Johns-Hopkins

Bottled  water in your car is very  dangerous!    On the Ellen show, Sheryl Crow said this is what caused her breast  cancer.  It has been identified as the most common cause  of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer tissue.  Sheryl Crow's oncologist told her:  women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car. The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of the  bottle which releases dioxin into the water.   Dioxin is a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue.  So please be careful and do not drink bottled water  that has been left in a car.   Pass this on to all the women in your life.       This information is the kind we need to know that just might save us!  Use a stainless steel canteen or a glass bottle  instead of plastic! LET EVERYONE WHO HAS A WIFE / GIRLFRIEND /  DAUGHTER KNOW PLEASE! This  information is also being circulated at Walter Reed  Army Medical Center   No plastic  containers in  microwave.  No  water  bottles in freezer  No  plastic wrap  in microwave.  A dioxin chemical causes cancer,  especially breast cancer.   Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.  Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them  as this releases dioxins from the plastic.   Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health  hazard.   He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.   He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using  plastic  containers... This  especially applies to foods that contain  fat. He said that the  combination of fat, high heat,=2 0and plastic releases  dioxin into the food  and ultimately into the cells of the body...  Instead, he recommends using  glass, such as   Corning   Ware, Pyrex  or ceramic containers  for heating food.. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and  soups, etc.,   should be removed from the container  and heated in something  else.    Paper isn't bad but  you don't know what is in the paper.  It's just safer to use tempered  glass,    Corning    Ware, etc.. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food  restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper.  The dioxin problem is one of the reasons...    Also, he pointed out  that plastic wrap, such as Saran wrap,  is just as dangerous when placed  over foods to be cooked in the microwave.  As the food is nuked, the high heat  causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and  drip into the food   Cover  food with a paper towel  instead. This is an  article that should be read by anyone important in Your life!

 

Wednesday PINK

Hands of God?

I started a Bible study last week on Wednesday called "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed - A Study of David". It is a video study with Pricilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and Kay Arthur. It really is intense. I am having a nice time with it. I get up at 5 am, get my book and Bible out and get to work. I feel like I am coming to myself again for the first time in a long time.

Breast Cancer is awful. Just the words instill anxiety in my heart, even though the doctor has told me that I shouldn't worry anymore because it is gone. So why do I have to take a little pill every day to ensure that it doesn't come back? Now, one of the ladies that is on my deacon list has found out that she has breast cancer. They will be doing a mastectomy soon. I don't know what to say to her. I know what she is going through, but it is so intense at this point, I am not sure she would even hear me now. I am praying for her and will be there whenever she needs me. 

We had our business meeting at church and it went very well. I was the Clerk tonight and took the minutes. I also crocheted a dishcloth and gave it to Mary Susan, the pastor's wife. I find that crocheting helps my hands and helps take my mind off of things.

Just Remember, as always, God is Good, All the Time!

Saturday PINK

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. My friend that has Alzheimer's was beginning to be frightened of her caregiver. The lady was not being nice to her and spoke harshly to her a lot. Anyway, the daughter asked me to stop by and spend some time with her mother on Monday. I did and I was there for over 45 minutes and the caregiver didn't even know that I was there. She was on the phone almost the whole time I was there. I reported my findings to the daughter, Tuesday was impossible for my friend and her daughter brought her over to stay with me while she did her taxes. Some other friends went by and picked her up Wednesday afternoon, spent some time with her and then took her to church for dinner.
One of our friends, who just happens to be a man,  volunteered to stay with her on Thursday. The caregiver went by there and when she found out a man was keeping B, she called the police and told them there was a man molesting her. Which was an absolute lie. The man who was watching her just happens to be someone I have known for over 10 years. He is out of work and thought he could help. Be even brought his laptop so he could search for jobs. The daughter had to come home and assure the police that her mother was fine. The caregiver had been washing her clothes there and had even ordered the newspaper. She was staying on the phone all day.
The upshot is that the daughter brought her mother to my house Friday and she stayed with me. I took her to Swingin' Singers and to a covered dish luncheon at one of the ladies homes. We got back to our house, she had a headache and I gave her one of her headache pills and she took a nap until her daughter picked her up after work. Her daughter is off next week and it going to look for someone else to be the caregiver.

The devastation in Japan continues. My heart goes out to these lovely people. I lived in Okinawa for 2 years and they are so kind. I was truly amazed by them. I just cannot imagine living through such a disaster. I remember Typhoons. They were terrible. I don't ever remember hearing about Tsunami's like the one in Indonesia and now in Japan. The even more horrible scenario is the Nuclear Power Plants melting down. Japan will never be the same. It will take a minimum of at least 50 years to recover from all this, maybe longer from the nuclear mess. I wish there was something I could do other than send money.
I don't know what is going on with my RA. I have been hurting all week. The only thing I can think of is that I ran out of shots of Enbrill. By the time they got the prescription, I had to use samples from the doctor and I am still waiting on the drug. I am so cold all the time and everything hurts. Hurts to sit up, hurts to lay down. We went to Costco last night and I couldn't walk around and had to go sit in the car. I had even take two Vicadin yesterday. It is so difficult to experience these things. I wish I could get people to understand just how difficult it is. I have a whole new outlook on handicapped people now that I am becoming one. I took some extra prednisone this morning but it is not helping yet. I am so tired. At least, I still have my laptop.
I love Twitter. I get the most positive affirmations from everyone. Last count, 43,448 people following me on Twitter. I remember when I was sick, I could get up in the middle of the night and there were people in Australia on and they had been reading this blog and had me on their prayer lists. How can anyone ask for more than that. I have brothers and sisters all over the world. It is so wonderful. GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!