The World According to Leslie

Philippians 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." (KJV) We all know that verse. We all quote that verse. What does it really mean to you? Today, it means that I can do the things I need to do because Christ is giving me the strength. It means that, although Facebook reminded me that 7 years ago today we held my Grandmother's funeral, I can remember the good things about her and know that I will see her again one day. It means that even when times are tough, I am tougher. Today, that verse tells me that no matter what, I have the strength of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I can do anything... even when my body, my mind tells me I can't. It could be the simple things like dealing with the pain in my left shoulder. It could be the more aggravating things like dealing with a teenager! (WOW! Enough said!) It could be big things like dealing with financial situations, jobs, family, and faith. For me today, that verse ...

Today is Day #2 of my writing challenge. If you missed Day #1, check it out here . Join in; it's never too late to start writing. Yesterday's challenge about songs did not require a lot of thought on my part.  I have music around me all the time. I have been listening to music since before I was born. I have been singing since "before I could talk," if you would have asked my Grandmother before she passed. Today's Challenge: "If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?" In order to answer this, I am going to say that I don't have ONE single person I want to meet. I have a lot of people I want to meet. I have a lot of questions I'd love to ask everyone of them. However, I have a group of people, however silly it may sound, that I would love to meet at some point. Let me preface this by saying that I have watched wrestling on TV since, well, since as long as I can remember. I recall times sitting on the floor at my great-grand...

....I still feel numb. When all is said and done, I know my Grandmother is better off. I know she's walking and talking and looking into the eyes of Jesus. I know that I'll get to see her one day. However, I'm still a little numb today. On Monday, we had the funeral for my Grandmother. It was beautiful. I saw friends and family this weekend that I hadn't seen in a long time. That's the best thing about funerals. But, I'm still numb. Dad said that he feels like there's a big empty spot in his heart. We all know that it will just take time for the emptiness to go away. Today, I still feel numb. Things are getting back to normal. School for Chasity. Work for Tony, Mom, and Dad. Family time. Friends. Church. Girl Scouts. Everything--the whole routine--will be back to "normal" (whatever that is) soon. It's just that today....I feel numb! I'm going to miss my Grandmother forever. Right now, I try not to think about it too much. My ey...

As you know, my Grandmother has been sick for a while. Over the past week, we have watched her get a little weaker every day. We've watched as her body began to fail her. She stopped producing fluids from her kidneys. They were weeping out of her right arm. We watched her eyes go from open almost wide on Sunday afternoon to her barely acknowledging us in the room last night. She hasn't been able to walk for a couple of years. She hasn't driven in so long I can't remember. She's been in a nursing home for 6 years. My grandfather has been by her side everyday. He has done everything for her that he can. However, last night at 8:40pm, my Grandmother (Doris Sigmon) went home to live with Jesus. She's walking again...on streets of gold. She can see again...oh the sites she saw last night! She is talking again.....with Jesus. She's singing again....with a choir of angels. She's happy again.....with all of her family that has gone before. I'm ...

My Grandmother's vital signs are still strong. Last night, she had a low grade fever. She's breathing on her own. Unfortunately, she hasn't had anything to eat in going on two weeks....that excludes 2-3 days of IVs they gave her in the hospital last week. One of her nurses at the nursing home (where they moved my Grandmother back to on Monday) told us on Wednesday that she thought it would only be a couple more days. However yesterday, Grandmother would still open her eyes a little bit when we talked to her. She would grunt a little (because she can't talk) when she was acknowledging what we said! We aren't sure why she's still holding on. It won't be long. We're just holding on.... and spending as much time with her as we can right now. Until next time........

Over the weekend, I had to make a decision. It was a decision I never wanted to make, but I made it. I decided that I needed to postpone the rest of my student teaching until August. I should have a new placement. I will have a new Cooperating Teaching. I will probably have a new University Supervisor. I made this decision because I think I need to spend time with my family right now. With my Grandmother in Comfort Care, we really don't know how much longer we are going to have her with us. We are okay with the fact that she's going.... she's ready.... we know she'll be better off.... she'll be reunited with family/friends that have gone before.... she'll be well again! Even knowing all that, it's not going to be any easier when she really goes. Knowing that we are going to lose Grandmother soon, I knew that I would be missing some time at school. I have to have 20 consecutive days of teaching full-time. Considering I had just taken over the 3rd cla...

Why is it that when people give you bad news they say ,"You might want to sit down"? Is that so that you won't get up and run away? :) Well, I know I've been MIA for about a week now. However, I will probably be MIA a little longer. Yesterday, I found out that my Grandmother is going to be put on "Comfort Care". The doctor said once they do that, she'll probably have about a week before she's gone. I'll hopefully tell more about my Grandmother later. For today, just keep my family in your prayers/thoughts. I'd appreciate it. Until next time........

...my true love gave to me...my 5 favorite foods to eat. 1. Peanut Butter Candy (fattening! We only make it this time of year!) 2. Mom's fudge (another Christmas favorite!) 3. Peanut Butter Pie (hmm....what's up with the pb today? lol) 4. RED VELVET CAKE!!! 5. Spice Cake (the way my Grandmother used to make it!) Please join in! It's really fun! :) NOTE: My Grandfather (Paul) is having surgery tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers. They found a tumor on his bladder and they are going to try to get it tomorrow. He's in his early 70's. We are praying that they find nothing when they go in....or at least get it all with one surgery. We know and believe in the Great Physician. So, we know everything is going to be fine! Until next time........

Ever have one of those days where you feel like you're rounding third to get home? Today is one of those days for me. I feel like I'm about to slide into home plate. Yesterday, I receieved an email from my English professor. She said that all my work was due today. Obviously, I had NO IDEA seeing as though the end of the semester is still a week away. Then today, she sends out an email telling the whole class that everything is due no later than tomorrow so that she can get things graded and see if we are missing anything. OMG! I only got 4 hours of sleep last night because I was trying to get all my stuff written up. So, today, while I was in the Emergency Room with my Grandmother (she has a bad UTI and they are keeping her) me and my computer worked on another assignment. Now, I only have TWO to finish! Since I started with FOUR at the beginning of the day, I definitely feel like I'm rounding third. I might not slide, but I might fall over from exhaustion when I re...