Tag: love

Daily Post · Family · Home · writing

Once is Never Enough

shelie272 Comments

What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

I’m a big movie buff, so narrowing this list down wasn’t easy. There are so many films and series I’ve enjoyed over the years, but these are a few that really stuck with me. Some made me laugh, cry, and some told a story that stole my heart.

5.) Schitt’s Creek

I laughed, I cried, and I thought this show was both hilarious and touching. You can’t go wrong with Eugene Levy, and it’s great to see his son right there beside him. It reminded me of Doc Hollywood, a movie from the early ’90s with Michael J. Fox. Sometimes we all need a new perspective.

4.) The Queen’s Gambit

I was not familiar with Anya Taylor-Joy, but she knocked it out of the ballpark In this movie. She wasn’t dealt the best hand of cards to begin with and landed in the right place at the right time. The way she carried herself in fashion, pose and attitude, especially in a man’s world , was remarkable and envious and way before her time.

3.) The Longest Ride

I wasn’t very familiar with the cast, but they did a wonderful job. The movie is a bit cheesy, but there’s another story being told—actually three, if you’re paying close attention.

2.) Flight (Denzel Washington)

Let me just say, if Denzel Washington is in a movie, I’m watching it. It’s probably going to be good, because he’s such a great actor. This movie is suspenseful, sad, honest, and deeply moving.

1.) Regarding Henry

I remember watching this with my family when it first came out. Another favorite actor of mine, Harrison Ford, doesn’t disappoint. Sometimes other people’s choices can change the path we were heading toward. This movie is sad, sweet, and truly touching.

These are just a few that stuck with me, but I’m always open to discovering more great movies?

Daily Post · Family

A Tale of Growth and Flight

shelie271 Comment

What skills or lessons have you learned recently?

I’ve been following a pair of eagles on a platform for a while now, and found myself telling my mom all about them. I told her about the beautiful view from their nest, their teamwork, their faithfulness to one another, and how they were just doing what they were supposed to do without any turbulence getting in their way.

My mom replied, “Shelley, the grass isn’t greener on the other side of the fence.”

When she said this, I chuckled and said, “Do you mean nest?” She seemed a little frustrated and just waved her hand.

This morning, I woke up and checked on the eagles. I saw that J had been gone from the nest from yesterday into this morning. S, J’s mate, was sitting on their eggs and had been there all night, with only a few breaks. Seeing him like that grabbed my heart even harder. It wasn’t easy to see, and I was sobbing while trying to explain it to my husband.

While in the shower, I started thinking about the first two years of watching them. During those years, J laid eggs, but each time they were ready to hatch, they didn’t. One time, during a snowstorm, she stayed on her eggs for over 72 hours, only for them not to hatch in the end. The third year, they were successful, and I cried like a baby with tears of joy.

When she returned this morning, I couldn’t help but read the comments and think to myself: if this clutch hatches, the new viewers will feel even more connected to their story and more appreciative of what they are a part of. I know there will come a season when all of this ends—and who knows what that will look or feel like. But as my mom, Linda, always reminds me: every nest—and every life—has its struggles. Knowing that makes me appreciate these moments even more.

Daily Post · memories · writing

Are You Still Mine

shelie272 Comments

Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.

That night at a friend’s house,

I reached for your hand — you froze,

our fingers clutched

and you glanced up, smiled, and said, stay here awhile.

As the night went on, we were stuck like glue,

and those feelings of being inevitable were so brand new.

When we laid down, you kissed me goodnight

and asked me what about you did I like.

The way you looked out the front door

when the oven went ding,

for the cookies we made that New Year’s Eve.

The rest of the night we made out;

Unchained Melody played in the background

as you stole all my doubts.

When the night was over and we said goodbye,

you called for a week to say more than hi.

I came to see you for two whole days;

we slept on a mattress and floated into space.

The evening I left, the rain came down,

the leaves were all wet; we were a mess.

I heard from you a few more times,

and Unchained Melody plays in my mind.

Now, all these years have gone by,

and I’m still back there, without a goodbye.

Daily Post · friendship · love

Lifesaver

shelie271 Comment

If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?

I thought about being someone powerful—someone with lots of money, someone with a great body. The kind of power a president has, the kind of money Lukas Walton or his family has, and the physique Zsa Zsa Gabor had.

Then I started to reflect on this. One day is not long at all to do what needs to be done with that kind of power, wealth, or attraction—whether it’s passing a bill so everyone could receive insurance at a low cost, finding a charity or organization I believe in, or going to the beach and walking around in a skimpy bikini!

The Holy Spirit led me to someone who has not been as fortunate when it comes to medical issues—neurological ones—and life-changing surgeries. Their story is not mine to go into any further, but they would be my choice. I think if we were able to live inside the stories of other friends, family members, or acquaintances whose odds are against them, we might find that what we once thought was important would no longer matter. We might trade power for perspective, wealth for compassion, and beauty for gratitude.

Home

Within You Are So Many Answers

shelie2713 Comments

I stepped down from my position as the Activity Director on Tuesday. I made this decision like a nurse pulling off a band-aid. I went back  working as a Nursing Assistant in the evenings. I started last Wednesday. I have been off since Wednesday night when I clocked out. I’m glad I made the decision to take a few extra days off.

I wrote a post a few months back telling you I was not sure I could maintain the job. I was scheduling daily activities for the residents: outings, parties, competitions, entertainment, and games. I was getting the job done on one hand, but on the other hand I was having a hard time giving my residents quality time. I also had a hard time focusing  on my family because I kept thinking about all the things I could be doing to be one step ahead of the game. The job was never done when you left.

Wednesday when I worked a staff member made a comment to me about being on vacation for eight months, and I could do the showers from now on. There was another comment made about the  activity job being a “cake walk.”  I know those comments don’t matter but they threw me for a loop, and made me second guess my decision.

I want to encourage you to read a few of blogs of mine, if time allows.. I went back and read them last night. They reminded me of the good times, I have  had as a nursing assistant at the home. I want to come back to this post if need to, and give myself the whole story.

“Nosy”

“She Didn’t Leave me Hanging”

I made my  decision fast. I should have kept the job in activities, held out, until I came across something new. I know I can’t should on myself, whats done is done. Yesterday I came across this quote. The quote cured the loneliness I’ve been feeling about making a mistake.

” I never make the same mistake twice. I do it three or four times just to make sure it was a mistake” Andrew’s View Of The Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

memories

The Man In Front Of Me

shelie2710 Comments

I took a few of my residents to the ballet last night. I couldn’t  tell you the last time I had been to a ballet. I enjoyed watching them all dance, and the Ballerinas in their  purple, yellow, and pink tutu’s were stunning. I can’t tell you the plot of the show, though. I can tell you about the man in front of me.

He was alone.

He sat slouched a bit, with his legs crossed. His right elbow was placed up on his armrest with his hand up over his mouth. He was wearing a blue stocking hat, a pair of lighter colored jeans, and an oversized gray thermal shirt.

During intermission he was leaned up against the wall with glasses on reading the “Wall Street Journal.” He had a book with him and I’ll be damned if the title was covered up by the program pamphlet!

The program continued and I sat there staring at him for a smile, a tear, a sigh, but nada. He sat the same way the whole time. One thought I had, maybe this was Liam Neeson, he’s been spotted in town alone a few times, but Liam Neeson is tall this guy was average  five-eight or nine, maybe.

I decided he was there reminiscing about the time he danced in the ballet, and he was critiquing all the performers dance moves. He thought the show in this one-horse town was mediocre!

Family

A Step In The Right Direction

shelie276 Comments

My husband, Gabe, and I attended a seminar for families at the school tonight. They prepared dinner and a sitter for everyone who attended. The name of the seminar was Overcoming Obstacles.

They broke up everyone into groups of five. We EACH introduced ourselves by telling everyone who we were, how many children we have, and the biggest obstacle we our facing. I was the fourth one to speak. I told them my name, and that I was married, and that we have a son together and I have two Stepchildren. I told them being a parent was hard, but being a blended family was harder. In my opinion. I ended up getting tons of feedback from the girls in the group. A few girls married to husbands with Ex-wife’s and a few Ex-husband who were remarried.

“If  you want something you never had you have to do something you’ve never done”

I felt all of us stepped outside the box tonight. We walked to the school together, we had face to face human interaction, and put down our electronics. This year, if the good Lord is willing. I want to quit trying to fix problems out of my control. I’d like to see some of the unnecessary energy I use trying to fix these problems spent on the people I love!

Home

Should I Let The Balls Fall Where They May?

shelie2727 Comments

I’m at a crossroads in my life. I think, I have been here for a while. I know I told all of you who follow me, I had a new job as the Activity Director. I worked years in this same facility as a Nursing Assistant. I enjoyed being there as a Nursing Assistant in the beginning and the middle of the job. The job just got repetitive, I caught myself not giving my all as a Nursing Aid and did not enjoy the feeling of being half-assed!

The Activity Director

Has a lot of responsibilities. Truthfully, I don’t know if I’m pulling my own weight…

Last Saturday, My husband and I drove two of our residents, and a bus full of other olympians who  belonged to another company. We drove to P-town for State Bowling Competition. They asked if they could hitch a ride on our bus. We left around 7:00am and we should have left earlier. I had forgotten to check the gas tank the night before and we were on empty. My husband took a wrong exit to find a gas station. We ended up going around in a circle, and started back from square one. The time is now 7:25am and we are just leaving S-town, the town where we are from. We had to be on the lanes ready to go by 9:00am. We strolled in at 8:40am and the lady from the company who hitched a ride said she was going to run in and register her athletes. I gathered every one-off the bus as quick as I could. A man from the other company came and grabbed the ramps they needed for their olympians. I got both of my residents into the bowling alley and on their lanes. My husband parked the bus, and grabbed the two ramps we would need. I went to registration, registration started from 8:00am – 9:00am. The time, now is 8:55am. I barely made the deadline. I was headed back to their lanes, when a volunteer came up to me, and said: “both of my athletes need name tags.” I stuck my hand into the registration envelope pulled them out and walked as fast as my chubby self would carry me sideways through the crowd. I slapped them on my athletes. Then the lady who hitched a ride with us informs me my residents needed their ramps set up. I had yet to set up ramps at all in this job position. I asked her as opening ceremony was going on if she thought I could use the ramps of the opposing athletes? She said “Shelley, you will have to ask them, where are our other ramps?” I told her they were up front, and I don’t think I have time to set them up. She said “GO GET THEM” my husband took off running to do as she said and we ALL helped put them together, and put them on their lanes. I don’t know what time I had everything together, however I do know it was a close call. I also know these two people saved my ass.

I still have to take all these ramps back to the bowling alley. I felt I owed this woman a favor for saving my ass! I told her we had bowling on my calendar for Tuesday, Tuesday being yesterday. I called the bowling alley to find out their hours have changed. They would not be open until 4:00Pm. I get off at 4:30PM and the residents eat around 5:00. The ramps didn’t make their way to the bowling alley yesterday.

Today my son is coughing.

My husband stayed home yesterday to be with him, now its my turn. I was working yesterday, maybe I should have taken the ramps back after 4PM. I had a choir coming in to perform for my residents around 7:00pm. I’m going to go into work, tonight to take back the ramps when my husband gets home. The reason being is because tomorrow we take twelve residents to go shopping. We leave at 10am the ramps take up two seats on the bus. I’m thinking they need to be out of the bus before we go grocery shopping. My luck we won’t be able to cram everyone into the 15 seats we have on the bus. I have my assistant, and two volunteers going tomorrow.

Whomever this letter concerns,

I have a calendar full of activities this month. One being a Christmas party with residents and their families. I feel the pressure is on. They also have a New Years eve party which is in this same month. I’m not for sure I like this feeling, I don’t know though if I’m just not used to working this hard? I don’t know, if its to physical for me because I’m a chub. I do know I have seen other chubby people doing the job. I have always had trouble focussing, and this job is all focus and organization. I wonder though if I’m lacking help or perhaps the job has to many things going on for two people to handle?

This is where YOU come in. I’m asking you guys, I guess since I’m asking you can let me have it!!!