Mrs Justa and THANKS going to you

43 Things Tags: thanksful,blessed,giving up,doing,working,parenting

"People, who need people are the luckiest people in the world. "

I am on this thankful path, and I was thinking about people as my dog was jumping at the edge of the bed letting me know he needed me to let him out. My mind begins to elaborate on ideas and before I know it, I sometimes can't get back to what made my mind start reeling.

But this I remember. The dog was bouncing up and down, getting a lick on my face every so often on his rebound. He was hyperventilating as he enthusiastically was telling me he was in a situation where my services were needed.

People, think about where we would be without people doing things for others. In life, we all do something for someone. Even if we live alone, if we are employed, we are doing something for others. And if there were not people willing to do everything that requires a person to do it, well we would be screwed.

There are many someones willing to leave their homes and go into work in essence to service others, to help others, to fulfill a need of others. This can be a nurse, a police officer, an engineer, an auto mechanic, a garbage man, the person at the ticket booth for the parking lots or garages, the street cleaners, the cashiers at the stores, those who deliver the goods, those who design them, those who manufacture them , those who write the articles in papers, magazines, those who write books, those who manage, those who clean up after us, those who stand on their feet for hours serving food to others, those who chose to spread the word of their religion, those who design, those who create, those who parent, those who keep our highways smooth, those who plow the snow, run the electric, oh the list goes on and on . We are all over, doing everything to make IT happen. Whatever "IT" is.

Everywhere I go, there are people that make whatever I am experiencing happen. So I want to THANK YOU , each of you, for whatever it is you do? Thanks for going to work, thanks for raising the children, thanks for picking up that piece of paper from the ground. THANKS FOR YOU!!!

(photo courtesy of www.fallingpixel.com)

Mrs Justa and health insurance

Health insurance gets a bad reputation. And I wonder if people really understand the work that goes on when a review needs to be done for a pre authorization of a service. ( photo is from google images courtesy of www.wciv.com) There are so many stereo types of insurance companies, and I admit there may be some that are crooked, but I personally have worked in the administration part of health care for 13 years now, and I am here to say the hours of compassion, of work, of trying to make sure the patient is receiving the care their doctor is recommending and within their benefit plan, it is amazing how devoted the people are who have worked in the environments I have been blessed to be a part of.

People need to understand that sometimes they or their doctor may recommend something that their plan just does not cover. Some plans are stricter then others. We sometimes may get a person who wants their health plan to pay for a craft- matic adjustable bed, or maybe a home health aid to spend days with them and help clean their house, or a ride to a doctors office, but it is not a covered item. If health plans paid for some of the services and items people want them to pay for, the premiums would be higher then they are already.

When we get a request in, we have to follow national criteria for the type of care being requested. We do not just say yes or no without careful researching . And if it does not meet our criteria, we have to send the case to a physician to review, to call the doctor who is requesting the service and discuss the case. The nurses do not just make the determination if there is a potential denial of the request.

SO please, I ask you, to take a moment, read your health plan, and feel free to call the customer service department to see what is covered. Ultimately it is you and me who need to know what we are covered for, whether it is our home owners insurance, a life insurance plan, out health plan, even warranties on things we have.

The folks working for your health insurance administration department are experienced health care professionals, who have been in the clinical setting and bring to this position knowledge, experience and the want to be the best they can be. So please refrain from calling us names, threatening us, and yelling at us. We are looking out for you, your health plan and trying to accommodate the needs of each sapient, within the guidelines of the health plan they are paying for. Stay healthy, love Mrs Justa

43 Things Tags: health insurance,approvals,denials,health care,compassion,knowledge

Mrs Justa and the wind

The wind,it plays heavy on my mind. The wind can be peaceful, as it is whispering through the pines, The song of the wind chimes tinkling gently as the breeze sets them to life.( this photo is of wind chimes that the kids brought us back from their honeymoon) ((Thanks Jeff and Amanda:))

But as winter is getting closer to reality, the wind is less peaceful to me and more threatening. The wind chimes are in the shed, hanging next to one another on a bungee cord between two nails on the rafters. Patiently dangling, waiting for spring.

Between now and Spring we are facing bone chilling winds, the kind that make ones face hurt, the hairs in the nose freeze, eyes have to squint and lips chap. The winds take the whisper and become a howl. Whipping snow around in drifts that look like sand dunes.

The wind helps to coat ice on the highways, and frost on the windows. It causes me to grab a scarf and wrap it around my neck, creeping it up over my mouth and nose to protect it from the teeth of the wind.

Whenever the  dog is let out on his leash, he flies right back in , we have to go out with him in the biting cold, so that he will go to the bathroom.

The wind makes white outs, blowing the snow in strong lines and gusts, so one moment I can be looking at pavement and the next it is like someone put a sheet on the windshield. It is strong and tries to grab our storm door out of our hands as we scurry into the house. The wind wants to come in with us, but we fight it out.

I look forward to the spring whisper of the wind, starting in October I am already thinking Spring. As I come home at night, I literally think one day closer to Spring.

Oh our shovels are still dusty, and nestled in the rafters of the shred, and we have not yet purchased rock salt to protect us from falls, but soon it will be different, there will be rock salt in a container by the front door, and a few shovels right outside the door ready for us to pay attention to them. Our coats will be out of the closet and on the coat rack buy the door, and our gloves will be matched up and ready to encompass our hands.

As I sit here, finishing up this post, I hear the wind pushing at the window, trying to creep in through the window pane. Fortunately the windows are sealed tight, and the wind is not going to win this fight. So as I go for now, I am once again reminded that it is one day closer to spring. Love to all Mrs Justa.

 

43 Things Tags: winter,winds,Spring,cold

Mrs Justa and thanks to the truckers

Tonight I take a moment to thank all the folks who devote their lives to truck driving. It is a very hard job to do. It takes commitment, loyalty and devotion. It takes trust, faith and pride.

Mark drove truck until he was hurt almost 1 3/4 years ago. It was what he did for about 23 years or so. It was something he did very well. I had gone with him years back, when there was a rider program, and I have seen him parallel park a 52 foot trailer at a parking area! In one try. I have seen him back into farms in tight places to dump a load of brewers yeast for the cows.

He has driven over 2,000,000,000 miles , with a safe driving record. Sick and well, the guys and gals

are out there driving to get goods to everyone in this country. We need to thank them when we see them. They are out pounding the highway no matter what the weather. Sometimes choosing between sleep or a shower. Sometimes taking naps instead of full 8 hour rests.

And they miss their families but to earn money they have to drive. So they may only be home 1 or 2 days a week. There was one company Mark drove for and he would be out 2 weeks at a time. Getting to a state far away and then having to wait 2 days until another load was located, so he could head in another direction. It is a noble profession, and a tiring profession, and it needs to be more respected. So the next time you see a truck driver, wave to him, thank him, because if it was not for the truck drivers, your stores would be empty, fuel tanks empty, Truck Drivers make the world go round, they are the back bone of the nation. Thanks to all, Love Mrs Justa.

43 Things Tags: truckers,driving,thanks

Mrs Justa and then there were three

Life, it has its ups and downs.

For some of my siblings the downs are hard, but they can be an up at the same time.

My siblings and I have definitely defied the statistics on marriages staying together. I remember someone saying 50% of marriages end up in divorce. Well my family is looking a lot worse then that.

My older sister divorced,

my oldest sister had 2 bad marriages before she found the right person, my one marriage ended in divorce,  my one brother divorced and remarried, a brother that is a widower- so he does not fall in that category, my 2 youngest sisters, not officially divorced, but their kids and they are living apart from their husbands.

And then I have 2 older brothers

who have made it through thick and thin for MANY years with their spouses.

My youngest sister just informed me that her husband left on Tuesday.

(I chose this photo because this past family reunion, she had come up from Alabama with herself and her 2 kids.And here in this photo she is cooking and her kids are playing on the camp site they had. )I am brought back to the challenges I faced in a situation of separation from first husband. For my sister, she is feeling a sense of this being the right thing. Whatever the issues were, they were unable to resolve them, and knowing my sister and her extreme ability to be tolerant, and take ALOT of crap, they must have had some pretty bad stuff.

For me it was not the same.

I had loved my husband and we had a 2 yr old son. The only reason there was sun rise and sun set was because of my son and husband. Every breath I took was devoted to them. So when the words came out of my husbands lips that he thought we should separate, it was like getting hit by a freight train out of no where. Why?? What was wrong?? I had not a clue!

I had to leave the home we were in,

moved into my moms and slept on her bedroom floor, and I tried to make sense of it all. The sadness that the memories of this time in my life are always there, hidden but ready to surface. And for my sister, even though she may not have been surprised by this chapter in her life, there are now things that are changed forever. The kids are dependant on only one person now, there is no "mommy time", the bills all belong to her, the trying to get child support, to find a job that pays enough to raise your kids, the decisions. I am glad for her and the kids if this is better, I am also saddened by the challenges that lie ahead. I pray that she, and anyone who is going through a break up of a marriage , that they find strength, pray, trust in God, Let go and Let God. And be patient, be strong, and demand financial assistance from your spouse. Get legal help, you must do that for your future and the future of your kids. Know I am thinking of you. Love Mrs Justa.

43 Things Tags: Pray,divorce,separation,trust,believe,challenges

Mrs Justa and changing seasons

The other day Mark and I went for a short ride. BJ's had gasoline for 3.05 a gallon, so we headed over there, camera in the back seat.

I was on a mission, and warned Mark at any given moment we may need to pull over for a picture or two.

This is one we took. Sunday was a royal blue sky day, temps in the 60s, a slight breeze, clouds no where in sight. It is October, so the fields are full of green plants turning brown, drying out and the seeds beginning to fly off and replant in other areas.

These seeds have a bonus, they have wings for flight. I was thrilled to be able to capture the delicateness of the silk like threads that the seeds are entwined to.

As the pods are in different phases of retiring for the year, I was able to capture one totally open one just starting and one not even spread open at all. It got my attention for many reason, but it pointed out to me that even in Gods world of plants, each component has  individualism to it. This plant grew at one time, yet the pods are all in different phases, all look different. It then brought my whacked out mind to thinking about families, and even though the kids came from the same mom and dad, they are very rarely identical in looks, behavior, shape or stages. Some of us mature quicker then our siblings, some slower. We are all unique in our own ways. We have been given talents, I have some siblings who can sing, others who can not, some thin some not so thin. It is just one of those things that takes my mind and sends it whirling.

We need to look for individualism and not look for people to be like the next person. We need to look for a person's talents and not wonder why one person can not be the same as another. We need to appreciate the good and not seek out the bad. I wish you patience in taking the time to find those special qualities in yourself and others, and thrive on the good. Until later, Love Mrs Justa

43 Things Tags: life,being aware,being different,finding God's gift

Mrs Justa and the not so calm passage of life

43 Things Tags: calm,dangers,life,unpredictable

"God promises safe land but not a calm passage" This is a Bulgarian proverb that I remind myself of all the time. This photo shows to me the calm land, the reaching to the sky, the smooth comforting clouds. The whisper of the grass in the breeze, slowly drifting back and forth , standing tall. But in between these blades of tall grass are burdocks. They stick to my clothes and hurt my fingers to pull them out.   

It is like the paths in life, it appears the path will be smooth, but I miss the burdocks until it is too late.

I try to do my best every day, and I want the path to be safe, which it is, but the intruders make it not safe.

The roads I take to and from work, they themselves are safely made. The pavement is solid, the majority of the roads are well painted, but the people and animals that may choose to use the road when I am using it, they make the passage no longer calm or safe.

Work, my cubicle environment in itself it safe, the desk top firm, the computer , screen and chair modern. But the incidents of any day can take the calmness away. It can be the folks calling, a "full moon syndrome", it can be a boss, a co worker, a situation, anything can take the calm away. I am constantly trying to keep the calm in every minute of my life. I think I am too mellow. I think I try to be too soothing. I find myself too lax in life in general. I like the safe land, but I need to do better with the not so calm passages.

I feel at times I am fragile, and at times I feel strong. Oh it is so confusing to be me. My mind swirls, my long is for the calm, my life is not. How nice it would be to have the perfect world. I would not know. But I do know I am reminded every day of this proverb. Tread carefully all, Love and best of luck until later, Cindy

Mrs Justa and Fall

43 Things Tags: Fall,God,Beauty,cold,apples,life,reflection

Fall, a time of year when God paints the world in brilliant colors. Colors of reds, yellows, browns, oranges, splashed between green and rust. Fall, a time of reflection of the year that has past. Look at this brilliant red, it is effervescent.It almost appeared like there was a light in the middle of the bush accentuating its richness. Fall. Cooler nights, frost on the windows, the dew on the grass is crisp, a nip in the air that when we breathe it in, it makes our lungs stiffen for a moment.  

Fall, when we pull out our snow tires and put away our yard ornaments, we grab our rakes and chase the leaves into piles, when we buy extra bird seed for the wild birds.

When the crock pot comes out from hiding, and soups and chili become meals that are longed for.

Fall, when shiny crisp apples are in high demand, and apple cider is on display at the stores. We begin to wear darker colors, and coats come out of hibernation. Shoes start having covered toes on them, sandals go into hiding. Sweaters hug our warmth in and shorts are tucked in the back of the drawer. Fall, as I drive to work I begin to see wisps of smoke coming from the furnace pipes and chimneys. A blanket , a couch and a nice book are replacements for a towel on the warm sand at the beach.

Fall, fields of brown corn stalks, pumpkins, plowed fields. Wood being split and stacked in neat piles, mowers get put to the back of the garage or shed. Fall, I love fall, find the beauty in it, for it goes too quick. Love to all. Mrs Justa.

Mrs Justa not being persuaded by the media

Once again I am feeling kinda

overpowered by the government and the faults of our society. Financial markets are not doing very well, heck I just checked my measly 401 K and it was down by 7,000 dollars. But do ya know what I did?? I went on line and sent in a request to INCREASE my contribution by 3 % of my gross. Money is so tight right now, costs have skyrocketed, but my little brain is looking at the costs of stock right now and thinking 3% may not buy much, but whatever it does buy will be more and  what it can buy will  grow along with what I have in there now.

The worse thing we can do is panic.

The darn 24 hr cable news is always looking for sensationalism, and this just happens to be the subject of the moment, and they are scaring the public. We have to have faith in our own selves, and not follow the pathway that the news folks are scaring us to go. We have to be patient, which is hard in the instant society in which we live.The bank can only mend ( photo is courtesy of  www.inmagine.com ) if we help to mend it.  You know that is true, look at each thing they sink their teeth into, and chew it until there is nothing left. Talk about dead horse beaters...

We need to turn off the TV,

play a game with the family, invite a few friends over for a game of cards, rent a movie , go for a walk, do something to help time pass by, and hang on, it is going to be tight for a while. For those with jobs, this is not the right time to get annoyed and do a version of "take this job and shove it" . There is nothing harder then not working and feeling like what you know, you can not find a job in. I can find myself in that same boat, and I am already trying to think of other things I could do. We all have a lot to offer, when we put our hearts and minds into it.

Maybe in some sort of way

this is a divine intervention, we have our priorities messed up, we are in such a greedy world, we need to be less me and more God. Stop, believe in yourself, don't follow the masses, listen to your heart, do not react on panic, and take quiet time, pray for guidance and trust. I truly believe it will be okay. I am praying for all of you. Love Mrs Justa.

43 Things Tags: money,budgets,God,government,news media,faith,work,family

Mrs Justa and the 2nd debate??

The great debate !!! You have got to be kidding me. I chose this photo ( courtesy of www.news.com.au) because these rocks have more personality and excitement then I feel that either of the candidates had in debate number 2. IN my humble opinion, there is more thought in these 2 pieces of compressed sand and minerals then either person brought to the table. One might want to go to http://www.factcheck.org/ and see what the facts are, cuz neither of these 2 guys have their information correct.

I am tired, and disgusted - ONCE AGAIN_ because I so wanted one of them to

A) answer the questions..B) indicate something about their real plans...C) throw out their repeated phrases and be REAL!!! We are being asked to entrust our lives in their hands, and they mud sling, state anything- who cares if it is accurate, one is arrogant, one wants us to be his friend, ..it was made clear to me that the debate really did nothing to impress me either way. I think those locked in on Barack- well they feel he did well, and those for John- well they think he did well.

Don't these guys see that the debate is a time to make a dramatic impression on the undecideds- to bring hope, some substance to the cloudiness in our minds of who stands for what.

"My friends" - as one of the guys said no less then 22 times last night- this is kinda scary. If I vote for neither then I have wasted a vote, if I vote for either, then I am saying the person is who I want to lead our country.

We have one more debate to go, I really hope one of these guys will come out of their canned speeches and phrases and show us something. Maybe it is me, I am a kinda simple minded person, but I do not get how these 2 are the best the country has to offer.

Until later, I will be banging my head on the proverbial wall, Love Mrs justa

43 Things Tags: debate,presidential candidates,hope,lost,frustrated

Mrs Justa and Brandon

43 Things Tags: Brandon,love,grandparenting,Jeff,Amanda,life

Oh I was a little sleepy this morning, but Grandma and Grandpa got to spend time with lil Brandon last evening. The lil guy had slept a little during the day, so when we got to his house we were advised that anyone who held him would need to try to let him sleep.

Not a problem for Grandma! I held the lil guy on my shoulder and he slept till about 10:00. He cuddled and slept, I was following instructions. I wanted to pass him the grandpa, but I did not want to wake him, he needed his sleep.

It is funny, as I look back in life how quickly life goes by, it is hard to believe he is already 7 weeks old ( almost!)

What a precious little bundle of wonder.

I wonder what he will be like in a week, in a month , in a year. It is so hard to imagine him anything but this innocent tiny baby. He is in a very special home, loved by his mom and dad incredibly deeply.

He has so much a head of him, a whole life, and here I am thinking about living on this planet for almost 55 years now, what did people think of me when I was 7 weeks old? I can not remember my mom telling me about how it was in those first few months, and now there is no one to tell me.

My mom, my dad have all passed on. My grandmother died when I was 4 and there are no other relatives around that would remember my first 2 months of life. I do have a sister that is 10 yrs older then me, but I am not sure if she would remember then.

So my advice to new parents is write things down, take lots of photos, and leave a journal of the life of your children so that when they are 55, and if you are no longer around, they have an image of life back when they were babies.

Peace, sleep tight lil Brandon, love to all....

Mrs Justa and the Fall

Fall, I think it is one of my favorite seasons of the year, that and spring. Fall brings fresh apples, peaches and hay . Fall reminds us that we can go outside and actually feel the refreshing air of temps in the 60s. The world in CNY becomes a pastel oil painting with yellows and reds, oranges, greens and browns splashed everywhere you turn.

Fall means apple cider, and out door camp fires, pumpkins carved out and the knowledge of colder days to come. Fall is a sign of an ending of another year. Fall means Halloween, walking in crisp leave piles, putting away the summer yard ornaments and moving the holiday stuff closer to the shed door.

It is a time of cleansing to me, a time of starting over, saying this chapter in my life is turning to the last page and a new one is about to begin. It reminds me that I need to start thinking about Thanksgiving and having the plans start for a family meal.

Planning for special times at Christmas. I do not go nuts at Christmas, I try to do home made things, things from my heart and not a quick purchase to say it is done.

It is a time, that society has pushed the Christmas season too close to, merchants take so much of the fall season away from us, the stores seem to go from Halloween to Christmas- forget about Thanksgiving.

To me though, I treasure each day. I know not how many more Falls God will bless me with, I know not who I may never see again. I soak in the fall sunrises. Have you ever noticed them, the sky looks like a fall sky! The clod front clouds lining the horizon, making it clear that things are changing. Yes I love fall. Do take a moment and enjoy it too. For it comes quick and leaves quicker. Look for the colors, look for the field of golden crops, grab a pumpkin, and stop and smell the wood fires. Until later, Mrs Justa signing off.

43 Things Tags: Fall,seasons,crispness,God,blessings,Thanksgiving

mrs Justa sick of it all

43 Things Tags: money,wanting,spoiled,wasting time,politics

Through the fog what is left.  (photo is courtesy of adobe.)I wonder when the dust is cleared, the elections are over, the financial direction goes in what ever way it goes, what is left?
Will I be able to afford to drive to work? Will my small amount in my savings account be worthless? Will we be able to keep what we own, and what we owe on?

What is the future going to bring?
I am so tired of the talking on the cable news, on the talk radio, I am tired of people thinking the troubles of the world just happened. Look around you, look at your life, look at your environment, look at your family, your friends.

We all have more then we need , really, look at how little people  need really.

Some folks want the best car, the biggest house, the largest TV, the most channels, the IPODs , cell phones for everyone in the family, video games, internet, the most clothes, 200.00 bucks a week in groceries.

I am tired of the spending, the wasting. We need to stop and just really ask ourselves... what do we really NEED.

I am off, I am tired, and going to chill. Love to all, Mrs Justa 

Mrs Justa and nursing

Well the best of me has got the best of me! I just faxed out a resume, cover letter and application to a local hospital for being considered for a per diem position. I have to tell you, I am really excited about the possibility to get back into  a clinical setting again. I am still going to work full time in management at a local 3rd party administrator for self insured plans, and I do like that type of work.

My heart though has always been in patient care. I really love helping people and in a hospital setting, well people are at very trying times in their lives. I always tried to provide the best possible care, take time to explain what was happening and planned and to listen to the patients and their loved ones.

I went into nursing to support those without loved ones , those who were dying, I never wanted a patient I was caring for to die alone. I would stay a little late to be with them if needed.

I went into nursing to try to make the stress of a sudden illness a little easier for the patient.

So we will see, who knows if I will get the position or not. But I really hope that I do. Per diem means at this facility, that I would work every other weekend, 15 hrs minimum. It will be a good thing if I get it, I will unfortunately be away from home a little more, but I think I will feel better about myself if I get it.

Wish me luck. Love to all, Mrs Justa

43 Things Tags: nursing,health care,helping others

Mrs Justa cautioning the use of words.

..."the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3

Words hurt , words can not be taken back, words get molding into our psyche and comeback at us at various times. Words are something that no longer belong to us once we say them, they are directed at someone else. We can not pretend like they never came out, and no matter if we say we are sorry, the word is gone, imbedded in another person- or other peoples hearts, minds, souls.

Enough ugliness happens to individuals every day in this world, with out any of us creating a living wound made from words.

I say this as I listen to others in the stores, and how they talk to one another. I say it as I hear the political ads, and the attacks that each others speech writers make on the opponent.

The "talking heads" of cable TV talk shows. I say this as I come out of a doctors office and hear the receptionists talking, thinking no one can hear them. I say this for the children of the world who hear what is being said in their homes, but the parents do not think they do.

My personal life has been filled with hurtful words. And sometimes when I least expect it, a song, a place, a moment brings back the words, and they surface to the top, often I hear the voice and tone as if it was just being said now.

Oh I am not saying my whole life has been bad- no that is not it. But I have had many times where I was not the prettiest, the thinnest, the most nicely dressed, the smartest, the wealthiest, in a situation. Obesity has been a curse on me, I am not pretending not to have dealt with it my whole life. And I try to get over it and loose the zillion pounds I have, but I have never achieved it for very long, I know I am the only one to take care of it, I have lost 45 pounds, but I am holding there. But people are cruel, they must think obese people can not hear. In my life I have had people make oinking noises as I walk by, or say things that are insulting.Not recently, but that does not matter- because the words the noises, they are there, and can come out at any time.

So my request for everyone is think about the other person, what if you were them. And use your tongue for praises, for praying, for grace, for appreciation.. make this world a better place and just be kind.  Thank God for what you have, appreciate what you have been blessed with and find the goodness in life. Love, Mrs Justa

43 Things Tags: words,insults,fighting,blessing,appreciation

Mrs Justa and Friends

43 Things Tags: friends,life,love,real,memories

There are some thoughts on Friends that Paul Williams wrote-

" Friends are like good wine, And I've had the best; I don't always show it, But no one knows better than I..."

And that is so true. Mark and I have friends that are always there. Cherished and loved. They do not judge us, they just are there. We do not judge them, we just love knowing them.

We do not see our friends nearly enough, but when we do we always have a great time. We laugh, we share our thoughts, we tease each other and we create smiles imprinted in our minds that no one can take away.

"Friends love your good side and they live with your bad; Want you and need you when no one else knows you're alive." Wow, is that not true? This morning we had breakfast with some friends that have know Mark since high school.

They have to be the most genuine people I know. They are real, and even though I have not known them for as long as they have known Mark, they accept me in part of their friendship. I meant them in the late 1980s so I have known them for a while now. We always have a great time when we get together, and I never want the time to end. The nice thing is knowing that it will not be too long before we all get together again.

I have some friends that I have meant in nursing and I have one friend who I have known since 1963. It is weird because we work together now, and have on and off in the past 20 years. We went to nursing school together. I have a few more friends I meant at Crouse and one I meant in 1995 when I went into insurance review nursing. All these people are true friends to me. We do not hang out like people we know out of work, but we are close and really care about one another.

And we have some blogging friends. Their relationships are fairly new, but they too seem very sincere. They are real people, not afraid to put their feeling out for others to see. And that is so important, because peer relationships help others see that what they are experiencing is not unique.

To all the friends, thanks for being there. And be safe, take care of yourself. Love, Mrs Justa

So to our friends, we have not tons of friends, but we have true friends, thanks for being there. .

Mrs Justa and freedom of cares

43 Things Tags: freedom,frolic,joy,happiness,carefree

Can you say happy? Can you say in his glory? When was the last time you felt that way? When was the last time you found nothing but joy in your life? Indi was in pure, ultimate joy. He got to go "bye bye in the car" and got to go for a walk in the park, with the breeze coming off the lake, he brings a 3-D image of what "frolic" means. Look at that smile! You can almost feel his lightness as he pranced through the rich green grass.

Whoa, when was the last time I felt that free of any cares in the world. It is hard to say but I can not remember a time . Maybe when I learned to ride a bike and that moment my dad let go of the seat and I was free, wind blowing in my face and a step towards independence.

As a 10-13 year old, I road my bike all over the suburban track we liked in, I can remember letting go of the handle bar and balancing as I propelled down the roads. Not a care in the world, me, God and the breeze. Maybe that was when.

It is funny how the more independent I became, the more pressures came with it. Where to live, who to relate with, bills to pay, cars needed to get to the job I had to do. Balancing all the variables of life .

For indi- he will never have those stressors, he will always be like this. Smiling, romping, and being our best friend. He was so tired that night when the sun set and the day ended. He was tired from over joy.... we were tired from life.

May you have a free moment in life every once in awhile.. and smile a smile for Indi. Love Mrs Justa

Mrs Justa on time

43 Things Tags: time,friends,family,loss,treaured moments

" If I could save time in a bottle, this first thing that I'ld like to do, is to >>>" How would you finish that sentence? I am pondering this as I hear the tons of news reports going over the devastation from this most recent hurricane. And thinking of those who chose to stay behind, to challenge the storm, those whose lives may in danger, and I wonder what they would save if they could save time in a bottle.

Would it be the challenge of fighting a force much bigger then we are? Would it be special moments with a friend, a loved one, a moment , what would it be?

For me, I would save times of freedom from stress, I would save minutes with precious people that have passed on, I would save my sons laughter as a toddler and child, I would save cuddling him at night and reading to him. I would save the moment I met Mark, and the moment I meant my first husband, the moment I graduated from nursing school, watching my son graduate from high school, watching him and Adrianne graduate from college, Watching them both marry the love of their lives, the first time I held Brandon,sitting on my dads lap ( God I miss him so), my mom's wisdom, having good friends, feeling wanted. That would be what I would save in a bottle. How about you? My prayers that you treasure those special moments, Cindy

Mrs Justa and Mr Justa

43 Things Tags: llife,depression,Mark,Healing,improving

Don't look too quick, or you will miss him. Here he is. Mr Justa. This recliner has been his support, his comfort, his life for the majority of the past year and 2/3rds. He is trying to get better, trying to overcome the obstacles that life has in his path. Indi is always by his side, as he is in this shot. Indi is a good companion, although there are times when he can be a pest, wanting to play ball over and over again.

Mr Justa is coming out of the depression. He is beginning to see light instead of darkness. I AM THRILLED. I know it takes a long time to overcome the lowest part of depression, it hurts to watch someone go through it, and it is hard being a cheerleader to someone who can't believe what you are saying. But my cheering will continue, I will support him through this all, and I know things will continue to improve.

Life at the house is okay, Money is incredibly tight, but money is not everything. I had a doctors appointment this afternoon, so I took 1/2 a day off, and we tag teamed mowed after I got home. Mark uses the rider, I pushed around the parameter of the house, the shed and around the bushes that line the property line.

It took us about an hr, it was 70 degrees out, a slight breeze, it felt good and it looks great.

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes for Mark and his recovery. Without them  this would be much tougher. And I do believe soon, there may be more of MR Justa and less of me. Love to all, Mrs Justa.

Mrs Justa and the proverbial fruits

43 Things Tags: life,expectations,earning things

There is an old Greek Proverb " He who will have the fruit must climb the tree" (Courtesy of picasaweb.google.com)

That is so true. We must earn what we want out of life, work for it, Nothing should come easy. I see kids that have everything handed to them on a platter- and as they grow up, they expect for things to be handed to them. They expect that life owes them instead of that life is waiting for them to earn it.

I was in a management class a few months ago, and it was delineating the different generations and how the societal environment makes people different in their life and work ethics. Now I really HATE generalizing, and I know there are some people no matter what generation that do not fit the mold. The idea of the class was to show how we stereo type ages, and also that different generation groups are different in their expectations and their feelings of entitlement or appreciation.

I do find there is a difference. Again, it is not across the board. However, when I have worked with the 50-65 age group they are normally always on time, they tend to try hard to keep their job, they do not gripe about others and they are frugal.

The 30-40 age group are more computer savvy, carry themselves about differently, maybe even with more confidence, sometimes - and it may not be aware to them, but a sense of arrogance at times.

The 20-30 yr olds seem to have a little less understanding of how precious every minute is at work. You can catch them sneaking in text messages at times, chit chatting when work is piling up , sneaking in 5-15 minutes late, they are hard workers, when they are working, but sometimes seem to be lax.

I found this in various settings of where I have worked , where I shop or do business, and again it is not always, not everyone, but it is definitely apparent if you look for it. We all have to remember that life is not meant to be handed on a silver platter, and to appreciate something, it needs to be felt, earned, and a challenge to get.

Good luck in your endeavors, and until later, I am going to sign off and pick some proverbial fruits. Love, Mrs Justa