April 7, 2011

Thursday Thunks.....Someone's Thunking Too Early

4 Lovely People said... at 4/07/2011 08:31:00 AM



1. How long can you hold your breath? Don't tell me you don't know... try it.

I tried but I forgot to time it and now i'm too lazy to try again.


2. Have you been watching the Decorah Eagles?

Nope, I watch Africam though. It's much cooler



3. Ever fallen off a horse?

Just the one at Walmart


4. Pick a color and a number and come up with a combination name for the new color.

I need more coffee to even understand this question


5. Write a paragraph about 10 minutes of your morning, writing it in the 3rd person.

Nessa woke up at 6:53. She realized she slept almost an hour late and jumped out of bed. As she made her way to the bathroom, she was tripped by Harley, the 14 week old Horse/Labrador. After peeling herself off the floor she managed to get to the bathroom where she found that Harley had left her a "present". He had also managed to chew her flip flop into roughly 40 pieces. Nessa spent the last 7 minutes using words best left unsaid in public. :)

6. What events have you marked on your calendar for this summer already?

Well lets see, there's going on out the Jet ski's every weekend and when not on the Jet ski's, going out on the boat. That pretty much covers it.


7. If you could have any realistic talent, what would it be?

You just had to throw "realistic" in there didnt ya? I can't think of anything "realistic" I'd want to do.


8. What is the scariest place you've ever visited?

Ghost Road, about 50 miles from where I live. There are reports of a green light at night, but the most interesting story to me is that this road used to be a railroad track. A contractor hired a whole bunch of Hispanic men to build the track and when they finished, he killed them all to keep from having to pay them. Supposedly there's a "Mexican cemetery" off this road somewhere. The road is also supposedly on the same parallel as the Bermuda Triangle. Kinda interesting stuff.


9. If you were a cat, what already-made flavor of cat food (no chocolate flavors!) would you want to eat?

apparently the only flavor worth eating is beef in gravy. That's the only thing my cat would eat other than Flaming hot Cheetos.



10. What were you doing the Friday 2 weeks ago in the afternoon?

I was probably getting ready to go to Phillip's for the weekend so that we could plant the garden. I'm really not sure now.

Nessa

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April 6, 2011

Searching

2 Lovely People said... at 4/06/2011 08:28:00 AM


For the last 2 weeks I've been doing some searching for family roots. I am pretty clear about the Vermillion side of my family history, but I want to know more about where I come from on my Father's side and maybe even my maternal Grandfather's side, though i'm not sure that's really possible. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but it's not good either in a way. It's pretty confusing to say the least.
See, our family is a big mixed up bag. My Granny, well, she was beautiful and smart and I think maybe she was one of those people who saw the grass as greener on the other side and went for it. She had 7 children, some of which have different fathers. For her time I think she was liberated. Some might say she was less than moral I guess, but not to her face. She went for what she wanted and that was that. I have nothing but respect for her and miss her greatly.
The man I knew as Pawpaw, wasn't my blood related grandfather but he is my Grandfather in my heart. I don't care what I could possibly learn about who my REAL grandfather is, no one could take the place of my Pawpaw. He was truly one of a kind. It's sad because the world needs more like him. Manly men who take care of business but know how to be kind and gentle and funny.
On that side of the family I always thought I knew who my blood related Grandpa was but now I am not so sure. I remember loving that man as a child and I do have fond memories of him but very few since we didn't see him after we moved to Texas. I always wondered why he didn't care more about us, but i've come to terms with a lot of things over the past year and have realized that probably wasn't the case. Regardless, there's a rumor that he wasn't and couldn't have been my Grandfather. I kind of wish Granny could just pop down for a few and explain this one to me. It sure would make things a lot easier. I know it's impossible, but they did it on Charmed all the time. I can dream.
On the other side of the family tree, my Father's side, I also have wonderful Grandparents who are not blood related but, I wouldn't trade for the world. My Grandma is the kindest, most loving woman I have ever known and my Grandfather was a true Grampaw. I had no doubt that he and Gramma loved me as a child. Between the 4 of them I had great Grandparents. All the bases were covered. I had sweet and sour, funny and serious, caring and tough.
As wonderful as they are though and regardless of who they helped shape me to be........who am I?
I started searching for my Father's side of the family and have gotten absolutely nowhere! I'm going to have to call him today to pick his brain about it. Something I hate to do really because as much as *I* don't see these faceless people who are my ancestors, I don't think he WANTS to remember them.
Apparently the story goes something like this:
My real grandfather died very early in some type of accident. My real grandmother decided that she couldn't or didn't want to care for her kids so she gave my Dad and his brothers to my Gramma and Grampaw, who were her neighbors and they raised them as their own. I know for sure that my real Grandfather's Mother managed to stay in their life somehow because we used to go see her when I was very young but I don't remember her name. All I remember about her is that she kept circus peanuts around for us. I hate the candy lol, but the smell of it always reminds me of her and i remember her being good to us.
Unfortunately, in my search I have also discovered things I don't think I wanted to know and it has really messed me up the past few days. I had always believed that my little brother, DJ, died of SIDS. As a young Mother I was literally terrified that my baby could just simply die for no apparent reason and for about the first year of his life I was terrified to sleep. Same with the other kids too. According to press releases I found, my baby brother died from Pneumonia, not SIDS. I was also under the impression that part of the reason he passed away was because our home had no heat so my baby brother was wrapped too warmly and that contributed to his death. As it turns out, he died in June, In Corpus Christi, Tx. I'm not a Meteorologist or anything, but i'm pretty sure that between 1971 and 2011, the average temps haven't changed THAT much and that it probably wasn't too cold in Corpus in June during ANY year. I'm not going to get into how or why i believed what I did...........there's literally just no point exploring that part of the story. What matters now is that I do know the truth and all I really wish is that my little brother had lived. I'm positive he'd have been as awesome as I am lol. As it is, maybe he watches down from Heaven and wishes he could pop me upside the head sometimes like brothers do.
Anyway, the whole point is that I want to know where I come from. I want my kids to know not just about the people who shaped me and loved me but the people who helped make me and them exist as well. I'm just afraid now of what else I'll find. I guess in the end, as long as it's the truth, nothing else matters and I'll deal with it. Wish me luck though. I have a feeling I'm going to need it.
Nessa

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April 1, 2011

Comfort Cross Review and Giveaway

4 Lovely People said... at 4/01/2011 07:05:00 AM


Have you ever heard of a Comfort Cross? I hadn't until a few days ago and I admit I was more than a little curious as to why someone would make them. It seemed like a good idea....I just wasn't sure I got the point. Then I got this gorgeous little cross in the mail. I won't say it's perfect. It's not. It barely looks like a cross with it being all lopsided and everything, but it's still beautiful. I think it's beauty lies in the fact that like me, it IS imperfect and yet God still loves me.

When I first held it, I loved how comfortable it was to hold in my hand. It fit perfectly and it would be easy to carry with me anywhere. I'm not big on jewelry but you wouldn't believe some of the stuff I carry around in the bottom of my purse lol. So i figured I would take my little cross with me in my purse and pull it out when I need it. Then I realized that I do that with God a lot too. I keep him with me, but I only REALLY talk to him when I need something or things aren't going right. That's got to stop! So, I decided to share my cross with my beautiful niece who is officially a teenager in a couple days. Being a teen is tough work these days, especially for girls. I am hoping the cross will help not just comfort her during tough times, but also guide and protect her. I know I know, sappy right? Shoosh! I love my nieces and nephews very much and hopefully she won't see this before she gets her package.

Anyway, The story of the Comfort Cross is a little sappy too but in a good way. These crosses are made of Olive wood from Bethlehem. Due to tourism declining in the area it is becoming harder and harder for Christian Artisans to feed and care for their families. The mission of MyComfortCross.com is to provide a market for these beauties here in America to help those families that are struggling. The artisans receive a fair price for their goods and the consumer gets a beautiful token from the birthplace of our Savior for a very fair price as well. I know I'll never go to Bethlehem, but my niece will now have a piece of it and I plan to buy more as well because I think they're just gorgeous.

Plus they can be used in so many ways. I used mine for a few days just holding it in my hand as I prayed. When I was feeling a little stressed I just held it and ran my hand over it to soothe my nerves and remind myself that God is with me. It could also be used to help soothe a child's fears and anxieties. I imagine it would be good to hold just while meditating too. I don't meditate so I wouldn't know for sure lol. They make great gifts and there are even ways to use them as a fundraising tool which I think would be awesome. At our old church the kids could do things to earn money to go to summer camp and this would have been something they really could have raised money pretty fast with.

To get the word out, mycomfortcross.com has offered me the opportunity to give away two of these beautiful crosses to two lucky readers. Winners will receive a Comfort Cross in a velveteen bag and a card explaining the story behind the comfort cross. If you can't wait to see if you win, you can order it at a special price, $12 for 2 crosses including postage.

To win, follow the instructions listed below. Please leave a new comment for each thing you do to enter. Each activity gives you an extra entry. Winners will be drawn April 15th, in order to get the crosses to the winner well before Easter in case you'd like to give it as a gift or just have it for Easter Sunday.

1. You MUST visit www.mycomfortcross.com and tell me which bible verse shown on their site that you like the best. Please don't cheat by copying someone else's answer. God see's you ;). I don't need the whole verse, just the book, chapter and verse number are fine.
and/or
2. You MUST "Like" the My Comfort Cross Facebook page
(if you do both, it counts as 2 entries)

For Additional Entries:

"Like" the Nessa's Place Facebook Page (all fans will be automatically entered in a monthly giveaway so join quick. This Month's prize is going to be a $50 Wal-mart Gift Card)

Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to use @NessaJTx in the tweet so I will be able to see it. In return, i'll follow you if I'm not already.

Become a follower of Nessa's Place. (leave your blog link in your comment and i'll follow you too :)

Blog about this contest and leave your link in your comment so I can read it too. I'll tweet about your post too.

Contest open to USA and Canada readers. Good Luck!

Nessa

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