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Have you ever sat back and thought how many TV shows ruined the typical family? #1 on that list for me is the “Brady Bunch”. Big nice house, a maid, all 6 kids got along. You never saw any kid on restriction or getting their butts whipped. #2 The Hallmark Christmas shows. People falling in a beautiful relationship and the Love that oozes out of each show. My wife and I would try and get all the family together at one time. My wife would be baking for days ( in between) work schedules. Always tired from it. Then everyone shows up, the grandkids open all their gifts up in seconds even though my wife would spend weeks wrapping them. Then dinner would start as well as the arguments between kids. It makes the movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation look like a drama. Then as soon as they ate, they would all gather up their gifts and leave. My wife and I would look at all the torn wrapping paper all over the house, then look around the dining room and kitchen at all the dishes just laying there. 2 years ago we finally said no more. We now go out of town to avoid all of it. Yes, TV shows can definitely ruin the American family….David

I apologize for not writing earlier but it was a busy morning, I hope and pray that all of you are having a great day as well! Boss, we’re fixing to hit that 100,000 member mark which honestly I have mixed emotions about. #1 I hate to see anyone suffering #2 Though I’m glad they found this site! Prayers going out to Jessy on his interview tomorrow which I know he’ll do well on. I’ve read some post on here I never realized they existed. One in particular, please seek immediate help ! I won’t mention which one as all of you probably have read yourself. The brain is so complex. For the one judge mental individual, yes my granddaughter showed back up Sunday ( as we knew she would ) as we’ve been through this before. She spent her 3 days with my wife’s mother ( that’s 3 days longer then I could have made it ) yes her phone is back on ( after a long talk with her) . It’s her senior year so school is priority 1. Well again, I hope everyone is doing fine and I’ll see ya tomorrow God willing….David

I’m having to take some time off for just a bit. Trying to find and fix these 2 screen room leaks has turned into a issue. Different ways to approach this is #1 take the complete roof off, clean and reseal #2 replace the whole porch #3 keep trying and get lucky lol. I’m dodging major thunderstorms, heat, not knowing what my wife and her mother are planning. Not sure if she’s planning to move her mother in as well. If that’s the case a room addition will have to be added. I did get a couple things accomplished today. I lost my rambling post this morning. Thank full that someone found it. Cleaned the house, only 1 trip to Home Depot, and mowed the yard even when it started pouring! I’ve laid in bed a couple of times only to think about that patio roof. ( things like that keep me awake lol ) wishing everyone a restful night and prayers going out to all. Think positive!…David. P.S. practical turtle, keep me posted on how things go…David

Have you ever thought of a simple mosquito bite? If you see it biting you then it will itch for hours. If you didn’t see it bite you, then you’ll probably never notice it. It goes the same way that a diagnosis goes. If you dwell on it, it takes sometimes years to understand it . The key is don’t dwell. Yes there are treatments that can and will help if you allow it. In Med 101, we learn the 5 predictable stages that people will typically go through after a terminal diagnosis. #1 Denial #2 Anger#3 Bargaining. #4 grieving and #5 ( the most important) Acceptance. These “5 steps can also be used by all of us in the battles we face daily. But remember, our diagnosis isn’t terminal. It’s a beautiful life out there if you know where to look. God opens our eyes to see them, but you won’t see the beauty if your dwelling on something else. Years ago, I made a decision to say Good morning, Good afternoon etc etc to everyone I came across. You never know if that’s the only thing nice that’s been said to that person in awhile. As I browse through a lot of these post, I see members that are dealing with worse things then I am. When you have a chance browse as well. Try not to dwell, try to find the beauty that surrounds you. It might just surprise you….David

It’s been a long 7 1/2 years since my life changed over an injury. I spent 7 of them drowning in beer to make me forget what my life was. Completely sober for a year. Having some medical knowledge sometimes is a curse! But having changed my way of life also changed my way of thinking. When I wake up, I have 2 choices to make. #1 Is this going to be a good day or #2 Am I going to make this a bad day? It’s MY choice. One thing I’ve found is common among a lot of us is dwelling on what we can’t do instead of dwelling on what we can do. Or dwelling on a diagnosis. Yes, at times it can be hard. One benefit of my injury was, it brought me closer to God. When my pain is overwhelming, I think of the pain that Jesus Christ endured to take away my sins. I then think my pain is trivial. Guys and Gals, this works for me. Life is too short to let anything stop you from living it. Find your enjoyments, Find new ways and hobbies! Just find things to occupy your mind and not dwell on a diagnosis!…..David

I've recently rediscovered haikus and have found writing them to be very effective when I'm going through a low spell. Here are a few I've written recently...#1 Darkness comes unasked

So heavy, sightless, morose

I await the dawn's rescue#2 The world is so big

Will the vastness swallow me?

I guess I'll find out#3 I miss my old friend

Special days no longer ours

But memories are