Vick's, White Beans, Family....Always

Hello Dear Diary,

Been awhile since I wrote. Well, I am up and thought I would talk to you. I am sitting here covered in Vick's Salve. Yep, have it on my chest, nose, knees, and feet. Today, I traded in my humidifier for a Vicks' Warm  Steam Vaporizer. Yep, it has Vick's liquid in its med chamber. LOL! I really need to do a commercial for this product. I have been using these products for as long as I can rememebr. My mama was a firm believer in the power of Vick's Vapor Rub and/or any of its products. I am 53 so you see, it is ingrained in me. Probably all the way to my bones. LOL!!!

Another thing I still use is sipping baby cokes. Only when I am sick do I drink these.  Once again, my mama used these in helping us feel better.

The question is did they really work?

Maybe, they did a little, but I think feeling my mama's gentle warm hands rubbing the Vick's into my skin and her bringing me a cold frosty baby coke was what really worked.

The love in her hands did far more healing than the products. Gosh, I miss her. She has been gone for 11 years. She was 59.  My dad passed away 15 years ago and I miss him, too. They were good parents and believed family was of the uppmost importance.

I have bronchitis and am still hacking like crazy. But I don't feel as weak as I did. Fever is coming only at night. Maybe things are getting better. It takes a long time to stop coughing with bronchitis. You would think I would stop smoking, right? Haven't. Wish I could.

I have sweated so much in the past few weeks, first from pred, then from bronchitis I can not stop myself from stinking. I bathe 2x daily, use deodarant but to no avail. I keep having sweats, they dry, then I sweat again, it dries, and before I know it I am stinking. Oh well, maybe all this Vick's smells will hide the sweat smells. Na...just keeps people from coming too near me. LOL!

My home and yardwork are coming along well. So much has been done and more before finishing. I am glad because I have this feeling I will be nearly homebound again. It's nice to have repairs done, and yard expanded so I can sit out on my newly enlarged screened in back porch and see the beautiful nature that surrounds me. To listen to the rain coming down on the tin roof. Hey, if I can't go to it...it will come to me. I am thankful.

Hannah and I are looking forward to the snow. We have planned to go sit on the porch, wrapped  in quilts, having a heater out there, drinking hot cocoa and watching it snow.

I am giddy thinking about it.

We will have the bird feeders full and corn out for the squirrels and will laugh while watching them.  Yes, we will be making memories.

Chuck is doing well with his recovery from shoulder surgery. He is weak but getting stronger daily. It was very hard not to go with him to his out-patient surgery but I was very sick and running a high temp. Our son (Michael) went with him. And his wife (Cassie) took me to the doc.

When we both returned, neither of us was much help to the other.  Heart-breaking for us both. But family stepped in and helped us. Zach and Cassie really helped alot. Even Hannah(6) fixed my lunch one day, tuna salad, crackers, and sliced tomatoes. 

I have talked to Viv a few times and my heart has lightened because she sounds so much better than she has in the past few months. I love her. She is a special human being. I can feel the touch of God upon her.  How blessed I am to know this wonderful creature. Such love, mercy, faith...amazing.

Got some white beans soaking to cook with hamhocks tomorrow. Hannah has requested this along with Fried Porkchops, Mashed Potatoes, and Cream Corn for her 1st day of school supper.  I will only do White Beans/Hamhocks and Cornbread, her mom (Cassie) will do the rest.

Tomorrow, her little brother, Kaydan, and I will bake Rocky Road Brownies for dessert. He is bringing his backpack and lunch box up so we can play school for a little while, much like his sister in real school. God bless him, he is precious.

Well diary, time to close but remember....a loving hand can heal most anything...even when it is coverd in Vick's.