JungleLuv

The Thrill of Decorating the Christmas Tree

2011-12-04T09:33:00.001-08:00

Awe. I love the Christmas time of the year. With my little one Bianca, I swear there is more excitement when it comes with children.

To see the delight and twinkle in her eyes is so worth while. We went and picked up our Christmas tree last night. I could hardly get her to go to bed.

Those sleepy little eyes refused to want to give up for the day with the anticipation of decorating it tomorrow.

After a few minutes of tears and plenty of reassurance that the tree would be waiting for her tomorrow-she finally calmed down and fell fast asleep.

Our morning started with homemade waffles by daddy, hot cocoa. Breakfast is out of the way. Time to tear open all the decorations. Bianca is so estatic she can hardly contain herself. But its time for decorating big Christmas tree folks. Are you ready for the Christmas season? We are. Money maybe sparce but are hearts are filled with joy looking forward to the holiday season. Merry Christmas to all of my JungleLuv friends and Happy Holidays. May we find you safe and well throughout the rest of 2011.

Happy Thanksgiving to All My Friends

2011-11-23T15:25:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to wish all of you the very best throughout the Thankgiving Weekend.

May you all be blessed.

Give thanks for all the little things.

And for having such a wonderful family to share them wish.

Happy Thanksgiving! xoxoxoxo

Harry the Stowaway

2011-10-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

What is a Stowaway?
A person, or dog who hides themselves so they can get a free ride on a plane, train or automobile.

In this case; we have Harry my 11 year old Jack Russel. Our family is going on a road trip over to Idaho for some hiking, hunting and leisurely fun. But I think poor little Harry thinks he is going to be left behind. I had asked Bianca my little girl to pack her bag with her favorite comfort items.

Harry says he's definitely a comfort item. He also says mama has to have him along. If you look closely at the picture you can see he is looking at me.

But he is so hoping I don't see him!

Then Harry decided he wasn't going to be left out so he jumped in on top of her favorite blankets and just cozied right on down among them.

When I first got Harry; I trained him to get inside a duffle bag so I could sneek him into a hotel. He would be very still untils we got inside our hotel room. Then I would unzip the duffle bag and he would jump out like a Jack in the Box. He is too funny! I can't believe on February 28 he will be 12 years old. He has totally given me some wonderful memories.

Celebrate Life

2011-10-18T10:12:00.001-07:00

Today was the day to go through emails and clean house of my inbox; when I came across this email. I though you guys would also appreciate it as much as I did.

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore".

No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say “good-bye”, say "I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage.....And old cars... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send this to all those people who are "keepers" in your life, including the person who sent it, if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back. And just in case I'm gone tomorrow:

I LOVE YA!!!
Live today because tomorrow is not promised.

Do You Soar Across The Sky With Your Freedom Intact?

2011-10-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

What do you see before thee?

A bird, an eagle soaring across the vast blue sky. But is that all you see?

Come on now look harder and feel what you see.

I see freedom soaring off the tips of the eagles wings.
A pride that stands above all boundries and a powerful stature to be.
No gags, or ties bounding my mouth, hands or feet.
Freedom of speech.
Freedom to be me, gay or straight laced.
Choices to prevail with my mind sake.

So now I ask what do you see?

What binds your freedom flight?

Anger, sadness or a sicken mind.

Anger that binds your heart so tight

then holds back your eagle in flight.

A sadness that down poors your wings with weight

so you can not take off in flight.

A sicken mind that pain endures

and forever burys the bright blue sky.

Lucky You and Me with Freedoms Choice.

Freedom to choose where you live,

A house, townhome, condo, a grand estate.

A state, country, or space beyond.

Freedom to choose what you drive,

A truck, car, suv, or catored limosine ride.

Travel in a bus, airplane, or a mission to the moon.

Freedom to choose how you eat,

A choice to be well from pain with only the bite of a single grain.

With fruits and veggies galore.

We choose greasy burgers with fries.

Only for our cells live or die.

Freedom to choose what we wear,

Quirky, qacky, grunge, professional, ready to wear

we have the choice with our fashion flair

whats in, whats not, its all by freedoms choice.

Were quite lucky you and me.

To have the freedom to free.

So take your eagle flight.

And soar above the starry sky.

Have You Shared the Smiling Disease Today?

2011-09-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

What is the Smiling Disease?

Its definitely contagious. But not in the sense that it will make you ill. It could make you sick with laughter if the mood strikes you right. It is contagious in the fact that when a friend, acqaintence or stranger says something kind or compliments you about something. Like you look nice today. Or ask how are you?

There are several ways to share the smiling disease.

Face to Face.
Do you ever ask the checker at the grocery store how he or she is doing? They look worn out from checking out your clothing, groceries, etc all day long. Most of the time people are too busy to even say hello, or how are you. Its a crying shame. I try every time I go shopping to acknowledge the checker and ask them; how ARE you today or how's your day been going? The minute I say that a huge smile crosses their face.

We then proceed to a meaningful and warm conversation that leaves us both feeling great. Remember we all work, we all get tired at the end of the day. But thats no excuse for becoming edgy and grumpy and taking it out on those around you. Cheer up, smile your alive and well. And your awesome.

Social Networks & Social Media

Do you join social networks online? Are you one of those who just use social networks to just promote your junk. Or do you join to meet, greet and make online friends, and acqaintences. I love joining new social networks. I'm a reading alcoholic for online information. I'm intrigued by other people across the internet divide.

I join to vote, follow, and comment on others in a very positive way and share my smiling disease in an internal, social manner. I wish I could see their faces as they read my pleasant comments or votes, reviews. Our world has become a very negative place.

The media spends more time spreading negative junk even if its untrue. If its a story they will write it even if the facts are all wrong. The funniest thing is I don't care to hear about it. I'm a blogger and journalist and I love to share a positive story one thats with true and actual facts.

Its all too easy to talk and share negitive crap. But it takes a little effort to share and muster up some smiling and laughter that could last all day long.

One smile or nice gesture can cause a sunshine rising that can spread all across the world if you will it to happen.

Lets share the smiling disease. Go out a give someone a compliment today or ask them "How are you today?".

A Smiling Disease Poem

OOPS Did you see that?
Your smile ran away.
When someone had something negative to say.

Negative sayings need to be put in the trash.
Where smelly, foul, nasty things live.

Being positive is easier to give.
Oh look; your smile came back today.
When your brother shared something special with you today.

A hi or how are you.
You look awesome or grand.
Always makes for a grand stand.

So put your smiling disease on.
So it will shine on and on.

One little kind word said.
Will kill the negative disease dead.

Try it you might like.

A Moment of Serenty

2011-09-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

Steal a Moment Like You'll Never Get it Back

I don't know how your morning starts. But my morning starts with my 3 year Bianca waking up at 5 am in the morning. Only to have me scuttle her butt back to bed. We have a rule that know one is to get up before 6 am. If your up you need to be quiet and respect others who still want that much needed sleep.

After my sweet heart Richard was diagnosed with Bone Cancer 2 years ago; it certainly changed our perspective on life. We try to give him as much sleep time as possible.

We have taught Bianca that if shes awake before that time; its quiet time for reading books or playing her Leapster 2 Game.

OK. Back to my moment. I put Bianca back to bed with books & Leapster 2 game box. I tried to go back to sleep myself but that wasn't happening. So I quietly got up and heated some left-over Starbucks coffee in the microwave. I sat down at my desk.

I stopped. All of a sudden I thought of how wonderful this felt to have this moment; to steal a few fleeting minutes to myself before the morning came crashing in on me.

I smiled. It felt good. No one was asking me for a sippy. No one asking me to rub his feet because they hurt from the pain of cancer. No one asking me for breakfast.

AWE-this was so wonderful I could almost pinch myself.

I always try to be humble and never expect more than I can get at that very moment.

I ask you. Do you take time to smell the coffee or the roses; reflect on who surrounds your life and not what surrounds your life. Remember all the houses, cars, jewelry, or economic times shouldn't take you away from what matters most and that is the people who surround you in the embrace of their love.

But every now and then you must steal a few precious moments for yourself.

I'm Lonely I Need a Friend

2011-09-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

A Seal and a Pengiun

Is the seal holding the pengiun with his flipper

for companionship? Is this a unique friendship

between to totally different animals.

Sharing a quiet moment together. Mr. Pengiun

doesn't seem to be struggling to get away.

Isn't friendship grand.

What do you think?

Here we are in the wild blue sea.

I have you and you have me.

We don't care what we are.

Even if we were worlds apart.

Hold on to my embrace.

You never know when

it will disappear without a trace.

A Wilted Body - A Renewed Self

2011-09-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

I have to apologize for taking time off from writing here at JungleLuv.

Do you ever wake up feeling drained, or lifeless? Like this wilted flower. A little rough around the edges. Boy I sure do! About a week ago I woke up feeling achy all over and I had severe lower back pain. I thought I had the flu. But then it continued on for another 4 days. Then I knew it was more then that. My family has a history of having kidney stones.

OMG: how can one be so lucky to have to endure them.

If you have never experienced a kidney stone I wouldn’t want to wish it upon no one. You spend any where from 4 days to 3 weeks trying to move it from your kidneys to your uretha gland, then to your urinary track to eventualy peeing it out. It kinda feels like your giving birth through a tiny little hole. Yikes! Yureecka!

Sometimes these kidney stones can be as tiny as a pin point of a pen to as big as a quarter or larger.

For me this week has been tough with feeling under the weather with this kidney stone. But I have finally released 2 of them so far.

I’ve had some that have taken 3 weeks to get rid of. It totally takes the life essence right out of you. But when you do finally pee them out you would not believe how you feel like GOD has given you wings to fly.

After going through this experience it makes you re-elavuate your eating habits and diet.

So here’s what I have come up with.

Less Coffee. Darn it. No more than 2 cups a day.

8-10 glasses of water. Flush, flush, flush the kidneys.

Less protien. More fruits and veggies with protien.

Less calcium concumption. It’s a mineral which collects in the kidneys.

Drink lemon concentrate with your water: it helps stop forming a kidney stone.

So there you have it. A health lesson at the jungle of life.

Time For a Chill Pill

2011-09-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

Life is Too Busy. It's Time For a Chill Pill.

Lying back on my lounging chair.

I have to stop as if I don't care.

I'm missing my sunshine tea.

This special moment is just for me.

So quiet and serene.

I could possibly fall a sleep.

So leave me alone for awhile.

So I can nap and take up a smile.

Sweet Dreams.

A Run in With a Bull Snake in Idaho Hiking Country

2011-08-31T15:54:00.000-07:00

Idaho Bull & Rattle Snake Hiking Country

Have you ever had a run in with a Gopher Snake (a.k.a Bull Snake)? Bull snakes are called that for a reason they could get pissed off very easily.

Boy I sure did. My husband Richard and I had taken the week of July 4th from work to go on a hiking adventure around Pilots Peak in Northern Idaho. Granted from Washington State that’s a 10 hour drive. A night in a hotel at McCall, Idaho then another 70 miles on Old Wagon Road which winds around on old gravel logging roads and eventually takes you up to the elevation of over 8000 ft.

A person has to be very careful to acclimate themselves or you can get what’s called “mountain sickness” and die. It affects your ears and equilibrium. We lost a horse that way once. He just toppled over the edge of the cliff and there was nothing we could do to stop him. He took all the camping gear right along with him. But that’s another story.

Wikipedia: "The gopher snake (Pituophis catenfe, Fig. 2), also known as the bull snake, is found in warm, dry habitat—deserts, grasslands, and open woodlands. It’s a robust snake, measuring 3 to 4 feet in length, with dark blotches against tan along its back.
The gopher snake is often mistaken for a rattlesnake, owing to its coloration and its impressive display of coiling, striking, and loud hissing. It will also vibrate the tip of its tail in dry grass and leaves, further mimicking a rattlesnake. However, it is not venomous. It is a constrictor, killing prey—mostly small rodents—by squeezing them until the prey suffocates"

We parked by an old run down homestead and packed all our gear into our packs. One must be careful not to overload the packs. When your hiking in that elevation having a heavy pack can create some real safety issues like losing your balance on a hiking trail that is only a foot and half wide. There is sheer drop off of 1000 feet on one side and straight up mountain side on your other side. So it’s imperative that you have all your facilities spot on.

The sun was shining and the temperature was to be in the 90’s. So getting an early start is essential to staying cool and to staying away from heat exhaustion for us. We were finally packed and loaded with the essentials for our weekend in the rugged mountains of Idaho. We were going to hike in about 4 miles and then setup camp on top of a slightly smaller sloping mountain side. We called it sleeping under the stars. What would seem to be a fairly easy hike turned out to be a long hot strenuous ordeal? Not realizing how the temp increased so fast. We became very fatigued, stopping and resting to regenerate our strength. It should have taken us only 2 hours to hike in but it turned out to be a 5 hour hike.

We were able to make it to our destination. With only a blue tarp covering us in case it rained. We crawled into our sleeping bags. Lying on backs in our sleeping bags and munching on Trail bars we were viewing the most beautiful starry night I have ever seen. So crystal clear and vivid as if I could reach up and touch them. I could hardly go to sleep from listening to all the night sounds (crickets, birds, owls, etc.) I looked up again into the starry sky and there flying over us was night bats soaring through the sky. It was absolutely breathtaking. It was hard to fall asleep but I finally drifted off to LaLa land.

The next morning turned out to be beautiful. My sweetheart started a little campfire and made Starbucks coffee for us on top of this little mountain side. The Starbucks coffee was heavenly. It was the most wonderful moment sipping on hot coffee and watching the sun come up over the mountain top. It was like everything stopped in time just for us.

We hiked around for the good part of the day viewing everything we could lay our eyes upon. Then it was time to pack up and head back down the mountain side. As we headed down the mountain side we started picking up big twigs and sticks that were in the way of our path from the day before. About half way down the trail there was a big stick that lay across the trail. I reached down to grab the stick when all of a sudden it moved. Before I could realize it; I was looking face to face with a Bull Snake I couldn’t scream it was stuck in my throat as if it couldn’t come out. The snack rattled his tail at me. I froze. There was no way I could move quick enough to get away from being struck with his bite. I thought it was a rattle snake and then before I knew it he slithered off into the grass. Thank GOD he was only a bull snake.

I just about fainted right there. My sweetheart was about 50 feet behind me trying to catch his breath from just being overheated from the hike. He walked up and asked if I was OK? You look like you seen a ghost. I could hardly speak. But I informed him I had a run in with a Bull Snake. It just happened to be my lucky day THAT he was taking a nice morning nap and was still kind of sleepy. Bull Snakes don’t have a venomous bite. But they sure can leave you with a hell of a welt and swelling. I was really glad it wasn’t a rattle snake. Guess it was my lucky day!

The rest of the hike went quickly. It always seems that hiking up the mountain side seems to take twice as long then going down. But I was sure thankful to see our truck and unload my pack. Not that I didn’t enjoy the hike and seeing the stars so close, enjoying Starbucks coffee 8000 feet on top of a mountain. But there’s something too this being in the wilderness that makes you appreciate life at home. In the wilderness you are a stranger to this country and you have to be mentally prepared to be there and all the unpredicted events that can happen in a split second. So my moral to my story is wake up and smell the coffee or roses and never take for granted that it can change.

This event actualy happened July 3rd - 10th of 2003.
Linda @ JungleLuv in The Jungle of Life

3 Year Old Boy Running Down the Middle of a Busy Street

2011-08-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

3 Year Old Boy Running Down the Middle of a Busy Street

How could this happen? A little boy in the middle of a busy street.

It actually happened. I have to tell this story because it still plays in my head over and over just like it was yesterday. But it happened over 20 years ago.

It was a Saturday morning. My husband and I decided we would go to have breakfast in town. Town at the time was 16 miles away. It took anywhere between a half hour to 45 minutes to get there. The town is Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho. Saturday mornings are usually quiet in Coeur D’ Alene. But that Saturday morning it seemed everybody and there brother was out, maybe because it was sunny.

We got into town and headed towards our favorite restaurant. Denny’s at the time was hopping place and breakfast was inexpensive. When we were done we had to run a few errands before we headed back home. The bank was one of our stops. But just before we pulled into the parking lot something caught our attention. There in the middle busy 4^th Street was a little 2 year old boy running and screaming. My husband at the time quickly pulled into a parking stall and jumped out of the car. Waited for the traffic to clear run out and scooped the little boy in his arms and brought him back to safety.

We looked around trying to see if anyone had been looking for him. Where was his mother or father? Why didn’t anyone stop to help this little boy? We were just amazed. How could this happen?

We asked the little boy what his name is. “Jeremy” he said with the look of panic in his eyes. We tried to calm him down as we walked into the bank. “Let’s go see if we can find Mommy for you OK” as we consoled him.

We must have been there not more than 5 minutes when this white Cadillac pulled to the entrance of the bank. A woman wearing a white mink stole come blasting into the bank. How she knew her little boy was here surprised me. “Where’s my child” she yelled at the bank teller. Whose mouth dropped to the ground appalled at this belligerent woman’s behavior?

Then the bank teller turned to the belligerent woman. “You should be thanking these nice folks who just saved your little boy from being hit by a car” she yelled angrily back at the woman.

The woman stuck her nose in the air grabbed her little boy by the arm yelling at him for being a bad boy. It was crazy how quickly this all happened kind of like a tornado that blows in and destroys everything. No respect for what’s in its path. No respect for anyone.

What you say? Whose bad here certainly not the child? Some people can be so arrogant that they can’t see past their own mistakes. For us it certainly made for an interesting day and gave us lots to talk about on the way home.

I do know that you aren't always thanked for the nice gestures or saving someones life. But maybe you will be remembered by a little child that knows you took the time to give him comfort in a time of need. Thats all that counts.

What would have you done if you were in our situation? I’m curious.

Fun in The Sun For $8.00

2011-08-23T17:07:00.000-07:00

Creating Fun in the Sun For $8.00

$8.00 created squeals of delight and enough laughter to last a life time. The $8.00 fun in the sun is called Dora the Explorer Hopsplash. A wet and wild hopscotch water fun toy.

Do kids know how much you spend on them for having fun in the sun? No Way. My 3 year old Bianca wouldn't know if I spent $50.00 or $8.00. It might only last for the summer but it serves 2 purposes. One for watering the lawn and the other is to watch Bianca screaming her little head off cuz the water is cold.

Your the only one who knows what your checking account or credit card looks like at the end of the month when you reconcile it. It was so worth it. I loved watching her.

4 Little Kittens Sitting On a Ledge

2011-08-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

4 Blacks Kittens Sitting On a Ledge.
Whats up they say?

Where did you go?
I have come back from a picture show.

We missed you.
We want you back.
So we can cuddle in your lap.

15 Funny Sayings from Grandchildren about Their Grandparents

2011-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Funniest Things Grandchildren Say About Their Grandparents.

You may have read these before. I wish I could give the person that sent this email to me (credits) for this blog post, but it has been sent around so many times and it just said to share it. It is good for some wonderful laughs.

Grandparents from a grandchild’s point of view:

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful eyes of her young granddaughter, as she'd done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, "But Grandma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!" I will probably never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper good-bye....

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice,

"Who was THAT?"

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods."

The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?'' "You're both old," he replied.

6. a little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather's word processor. She told him she was writing a story.

"What's it about?" he asked.

"I don't know," she replied. "I can't read."

7. I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these colors yourself!"

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised "Mine says I'm 4 to 6."

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool. "That's interesting." she said. "How do you make babies?"

"It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'I' and add 'es'."

11. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked.

"Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties.

"They use him to keep crowds back," said one child.

"No," said another. "He's just for good luck."

A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.

SEND THIS TO OTHER GRANDPARENTS, ALMOST GRANDPARENTS, OR HECK, SEND IT TO EVERYONE. IT WILL MAKE THEIR DAY!

If Life Could Be So Easy

2011-08-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

Life is Good

If life could be so easy.
I'd quit my day job.
I make up for lost sleep.
I would let the air tickle my tongue forever.

Life's Precious Moments Enjoy Them.

The Leapfrog Leapster2 and the Green Eyed Zombie

2011-08-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I thought I was going through hell and back again. Why you say? Well my perfect little Sleeping Beauty Bianca; who sleeps from 10 to 12 hours a night all of a sudden threw those 10 to 12 hours in a bucket and changed her beautiful sleeping pattern.

Sleeping Beauty Bianca

The question is why? OH My Gracious; imagine going from getting 8 precious hours of beautiful blessed sleep to the tune of intermittent sleep at the pace of every 2-3 hours. Do you know how frikin hard that is? All of a sudden the little Sleeping Beauty is crawling in your bed at 12:30 am. What? You stir and TURN to look at these little eyeballs staring at you. What's going on you say to the little Sleeping Beauty? “Hi Mama” she says.

We get out of my bed. Walk back to Sleeping Beauty’s room. Quietly tuck her back into bed. Lots of kisses. AH back to land of sleep. I fall back to sleep. 2:30 am. In comes Sleeping Beauty again. "Hi Mama" she says again. What now? Again back to Sleeping Beauty’s room we go. Tucking and kissing. I walked out of Sleeping Beauty’s room and dragged myself back to my own bed. I'm hoping this is the last time.

NOT!

4:15 am. Oh My GOD. What next? Sleeping Beauty has turned into the Green Eyed ZOMBIE. Screaming she comes running into my room. Mommy my batteries died in the Leapfrog Leapster2 Game Box.

What the hell? I say to myself.

Mr Leapfrog Leapster Game Box

The Green Eyed ZOMBIE shoves the Leapfrog Leapster Game box in my face demanding the batteries to be changed immediately. You’re Kidding Me! I ask her. Have you been playing this all night? Yep.

Oh My God; no wonder Sleeping Beauty had changed into the Green Eyed ZOMBIE.

I scoop her up in my arms along with Mr. Leapfrog Leapster Game box. She's still screaming. I say to quietly to her. Can we talk about your game box? Yeh. Sniffle. Sniffle.

Bianca "It's time to put Mr. Leapfrog Leapster Game box to bed". His batteries need charging like your little batteries. Mr. Leapfrog Leapster Game box is tired. Don't you think he might want some sleep? Yehhhhh.

I'm going to put Mr. Leapfrog Leapster Game box to bed Bianca. I tucked and kissed her again for the 3rd time. She slowly lets out a sign. I throw myself into bed hoping this will be the last time for getting up. And it was.

We all woke up feeling the Green Eyed ZOMBIE got the best of us. But we managed. By evening we were ready to go to bed by 8: oo pm and Mr. Leapfrog Leapster Game box was put way up high so the Green Eyed ZOMBIE couldn’t find him. Ha Ha.

Having Someone Close to You Slowly Slipping Away

2011-08-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

Do you know the feeling you get when a loved one is slowly slipping away from you?

Only to be going to a better place in heaven. But you don't want them to leave. And we don't get the choice of when they come and go from this world.

For myself; it started in the month of July, 2009. I received word that my father has Prostrate Cancer. And then when I thought that I heard it all. I also found out that my sweetheart of 5 years of marriage has Stage 2 Multiple Myeloma Bone Cancer.

My world just collapsed right before me.

At first we didn't know it was cancer until my sweetheart was in the hospital for 10 days fighting for his life. We had been visiting our regular doctor for 5 months and getting no answers why he wasn't feeling well only to moved on for a second opinion. We finally got answers but it was almost to late. Cancer had consumed him by 80% and he only had 17% kidney function when we admitted him to the hospital.

We have been fighting the cancer long and hard. I say we because when a family endures the stress, emotions, the good days and the bad. It's we. There isn't one family member that doesn't feel the pain of the family member going through the cancer. With love and support we cater to the cancer, we fight it down only for it to come rushing back. Every day is a fight for life.

Today I spoke with my father. Reality hit me square in the face. My father was losing his battle with cancer. I could hear the life being sucked out of his body. The passion, fire, and the laughter I would usually feel and hear in his voice was not there anymore. His mind has always sharp as a pencil. But I noticed he was trying to remember things and events, mutterings coming from his words. I tried to keep myself together as I talked to him. I knew he was slowly slipping away from me. I knew there was nothing I COULD do. He told me he loved me as I said goodbye to him.

I cried. I was angry. Life is unfair.

My father is 76 years old. I'm grateful that GOD has given him to me for that many years. I can only try to make his last days as precious as can be. Enjoy every waking moment with him. I pray for every day I can have with him till the day he chooses to leave this world.

My sweetheart is 67 years old. And he is still fighting for his life. He seems to be having a better chance. We are told he can never be cured. But I don't believe doctors their so negative and that negativity can drain you so much that it can consume you. I won't buy into the garbage they try to sell. Life with cancer is about being positive every moment you can. Yes its hard. That is why I started writing this blog. Its my inspiration to keep me focused on being upbeat for my sweetheart and our 3 year old little Bianca.

I'm sharing my moment with you in the Jungle of Life. If your family are cancer fighters and survivors, please I would love to hear your story.

Friendships; I Want What You Got!

2011-08-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Are They All Friends? I Want What You Got!

One of my friends shared this photo with me via email.

Do you think the squirrel wants to share?
From what I CAN SEE his body language is saying no way I'm giving this up to you birds. His ears are pinned back and he has a real grip on that nut he's holding. His stance is solid and he is putting his dead right serious FACE on...I'm not sharing.

I believe the Squirrel has the upper hand here. Don't you?

The Squirrel has a nut that these birds want, and their are trying their hardest to acquire it by empowering him with a gang effect.

Everyone in the email thought it was cute. I took a look at it. I saw something different.

I saw four birds circling and pushing trying to make the Squirrel give up his nut by peer pressure.. I wonder if their some kind of gang. Ha Ha. Kind of like a gang that lays in wait for some innocent bystander that walks by to steal from them.

Do you think that animals behave the same as people? Preditor V Prey. Peer Pressure. Use of Force.

Life is like that. Some people kill for it. Some just share it. Some fight over it..Kind of like whats going on in the picture with the Squirrel and the Birds.

What's your take of this photo? I would love to read your opinion.

Linda @JungleLuv

A Mothers Poem

2011-08-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

A Mothers Poem: To All the Moms Out There!

Making Memories Count. (Crying, Laughter, Pictures, Places, and Videos)

On Call Nurse 24/7. (Puking, Boo Boos, Mumps, Colds, etc.)

Truely Inspirational and Totaly Awesome (Guiding, Cheer Leading Club, PTA, etc)

Helping Others to Help Themselves. (Encouraging Over Achievers)

Event Home Planner (Birthday Parties, Slumber Parties, Home Coming, etc.)

Reasonably Sane. Organicaly grateful. (Humble, Solidtude, Gracious, Emotional)

Successful. (Leadership, Motivator, Entrepreneur, Home-Business)

Come on in and add to my Poem. Leave them in the comment section below.
I would love to hear about it.

It’s a Pooping Party – Dogs, Cats and Kids

2011-08-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Peeps

As a busy mother you constantly feel as if you can never get a moment to yourself especially when it comes to using the toilet. You feel every moment has to be shared with something or somebody. You also hope that if you have to use the toilet that you can get that precious moment to do the # 1 or the # 2 all to yourself. Some people get embarassed talking about using the bathroom..Get over it...Guess what we have to do it.
No Way Forget It!

I have to share my funny “Pooping Party Story”.

Every day begins at 6:30 or after for us. My little 3 yr old Bianca decides to tumble her little bones out of bed. She comes into our room and quietly says “Yeh Momma”. “Good morning my little sweetie pie” I respond. I get up with her.

Its time to get the coffee on and start the day! The coffee is done. I got my coffee. Then all of sudden I get the urge...Its Potty time...

I try to slip away without anyone seeing me. I'm sitting down on the toilet hoping to enjoy myself with some peace and quiet just for one little second.

NOT!

Here comes my little Jack Russell Harry he lays his whole body on my feet and looks up and stares at me, then comes Bianca she sits on the bathroom floor rattling about something in her 3 yr old gibberish. Here comes Hunter my Border collie he plops his head in my lap looking at me with his big soft brown eyes. Then last but least in strolls Na Na our 1 year old kitty who jumps upon my lap..

Some people would probably get mad about being disturbed in their "POTTY TIME".
Forget It!
I look at all 4 of them and start laughing. It goes from laughing then into a ton of ton of giggles. Here we all sit in a bathroom that is 6 ft wide and 10 foot long room.

It doesn’t matter that there are unpleasant smells. It’s a Pooping Party! This little group of my favorite peeps are hanging out with me, they think there is no better place to be.

I totally feel blessed!

Do you have a funny story to share? I would love to hear about it.

The Start of a 2nd Family

2011-08-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

Starting a 2nd family is questionable especially when you are totally not prepared for it. My sweetheart and I had only been married for 4 years. You could say we were still newly weds. But the day my niece Chrystal came to live with us changed our lives forever.

Little Miss Bianca

She had been living with us for about 3 months;
when she asked if she could have a friend come for the weekend. A weekend turned into several weeks. The friend was a guy and she had promised that they were just friends and nothing more. Well the friend left. But that friend left her with a special little package.

We were upset that she wasn't completely honest with us about their relationship and we shared that with her. She decided to go back home. Months had passed when she called to inform us that she was pregnant. She was crying and upset and begged to come back to stay with us. She came and visited for a month. And then again she went home to have the baby. She had sweet little Bianca Marie. A little brown eyed delicate little baby girl.

Bianca @ 4 Months

The day after Bianca was born; we drove over and picked mom and baby up from the hospital. We all decided it was best that she and the baby come live with us. We offered her a job and a roof over her head for her and Bianca. But as time went by we found there was no bond between my and baby. Baby Bianca was put in a chair and left there with no cuddling, no hugs or kisses. Sweet baby talking..Nothing. Chrystal would just change her diaper or feed her and that was that.

3 months had passed; at first we just thought it was baby blues that every young mom gets after having her child. But we could clearly see that she didn't want any kind of bond with Bianca. Maybe she didn't know how to. We tried to show her. She became frustrated with Bianca.

Ugh Another Picture!

Then one day it happened. Chrystal went into a complete outrage. She demanded that she didn't want Bianca and she wasn't ready to be a mother, she had made a huge mistake. She left. Leaving little miss Bianca behind. Bianca was 3 1/2 months at the time.

1 week later we get the phone call we were anticipating. The guilt had come over her. She had changed her mind. She came and picked up Bianca and took her home to her family. At the time we were upset with her. We knew she was confused and feeling guilty. But we were worried that Bianca wouldn't get the attention she needed and the love. We also knew Chrystal wouldn't get the help with Bianca that we had given her. Chrystal's family was a very dysfunctional family with a history of sexual abuse, neglect, and mental abuse.

Little Miss Bianca at 3 Years Old

3 weeks had passed but we had to be patient. It as inevitable what was going to happen and we had to wait. Then it happened. The phone call we were waiting for. Chrystal called begging us to come get little miss Bianca. Of course we would we had become quite attached to our sweet little great niece and we would do anything for her. Chrystal was having difficultly dealing with her family and taking care of Bianca all by herself.

The day I picked up little Bianca WOULD a day I would never forget. It had seemed like eternity since we had seen her, but she didn't forget who her Auntie was. I picked her up in my arms and called out her name "Bianca"....All of a sudden she jerked her head around looked at me in disbelief...The biggest squeal came out of that little baby girls mouth and she smiled, cooed and wiggled with delight. She knew her who her Auntie was.

Chrystal comes and goes. Bianca knows who her mother is and she has nice visits with her. But Bianca also know that Uncle and Auntie ar always there for her 24/7.

She's are Little Country Sunshine on a Cloudy Day!

Are You a Wildflower Living In a Cultivated World?

2011-07-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Do You Feel Like a Wildflower Living a Very Cultivated World?

Untamed Wildflowers

Everyday we walk around living with rules.

What is a Wildflower?
wild·flow·er /ˈwaɪldˌflaʊər/ Show Spelled

[wahyld-flou-er] Show IPA
–noun

1. the flower of a plant that normally grows in fields, forests, etc., without deliberate cultivation.
2. the plant itself.

Wildflowers have their own agenda; they fly through the air and land where ever they land. Settling in the field, or forest that the wind has delivered them to. The sun, rain and ground nurture the seed. Growing wildly and fragrantly in the spring and summertime.

They offer a variety of color, beauty, and fragrance beholding to everyone. But they live with no rules. Nothing confines them. Untamed in an adventurous world.

Are we untamed flowing in the wind carefree. Not necessarily. We are cultivated the day we are born in this world. We live with guidance from our parents. Or no guidance. But we have rules to follow.

I invite you to comment and leave your opinions.

In Your Face Elk: Olympic Game Farm

2011-07-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun. On July 18, 2011 we took 3 adults; myself, my husband, and our daughter. Also our 3 grand daughters, our sweet little Bianca and crazy dog Harry boy our Jack Russell to the Olympic Game Farm. We had to go over on the ferry to Seqium, WA. Cost was about $68.00 but it was so worth it.

The Olympic Game Farm has some crazy Driving Tour Rules;

Stay completely inside your vehicle.
All doors, sun roofs, and rear hatches completely closed.
No feeding other than bread that they sell as you enter.

Bull Elk

Now look at the picture!
You think he's close enough.

This is a bull elk that weighs 1000 pounds.

His rack is 8 ft. across in diameter...

Which is above our Chevy Tahoe.

His head is right at our passenger door window.

He's just asking for bread!

We had to weave in and out of these guys.

As you enter the game farm your given a map to follow to be able to view all the animals. We fisrt went through the Zebras

, Llama's

then we spotted the Fallow Deer. Harry the Jack Russell was actually trembling but speechless or should I say barkless.

Fallow Deer

The Fallow Deer were real friendly also. More bread please...

They were so cute...

and so many of them...

Dark Fallow Deer

They had a White Rhino; but he didn't look well. They were giving him extra help.
The next animals we saw was the Bison; Do not feed the Bison the sign said and keep on moving. Can you imagine a 3000 pound Bison pushing on your vehicle.

Big Bison

There were a bunch of caged animals. Bobcats, coyotes, wolves, cougars, african lions, bengal tiger, and siberian tiger.

Bengal Tiger

What was the craziest thing was all....was little bunnies running around all these wild cats. You would think they would eat the little bunnies...insane. It took about an hour to drive through the game farm. We were always trying to drive around Peacocks, Tibetan Yaks, Kodiak bears. If your in Washington State you should go check out the Olympic Game Farm. It makes for a fun family day trip.

A True Artist Inspired By a Broken Leg

2011-07-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

The Broken Leg and an Artist Destiny

Have you ever had the feeling that you were destined to do something great? But you just didn’t know what it was at the time. That was the way I felt for a long time. I knew there was something else out there that I could do. Just didn't know it at the time until I broke my leg.

My Fist Acyrilic Painting- The Barn House

The Broken Leg

In the spring of 1997; I was working with my 1st husband at the time doing carpentry work. We had just gotten home from work. My 2 girls also had arrived home from school and went inside our house. My husband had to leave again to run a quick errand with one of our employees. He said he would be right back.

I had chores to take care of outside; feeding the horses their afternoon hay in the barn before settling down with the family. I piled my arms up high with a couple of leafs of alfalfa hay and I proceeded to walk down the stairs that lead into the barn. Not realizing that I had wet mud on the bottoms of my boots, I lost my footing on the first step down. Before I could realize what was happening the hay and me went twisting through the air. As I came down my ankle took the brunt of my fall and I heard a huge crack as my ankle snapped against the steps. I knew instantly that my ankle was broken.

My Little Unicorn Sketch

I screamed in agony from the pain. But no one could hear me. From the fall I had also twisted every micro muscle in my ankle. I wasn’t sure what to do. My girls were probably watching cartoons and couldn’t hear the screaming. The dog did. She ran over grabbing my jacket and tried pulling me up the stairs. But she quit and whimpered giving me a ton of licks as if to say I’m sorry.

So I dragged myself up the stairs and stood up. Now I was back up to our driveway but I had another 400 yards to go to get to the house. All of a sudden I could hear my husband’s truck coming up the driveway. Thank GOD! He stopped and asked what’s wrong? I told him what happen. We drove up to the house and picked up my girls and went to the emergency clinic.

My Imperfect Colt

Have you ever sat in an emergency clinic? Nothing is an emergency; it takes 2 hours of waiting to get looked at. And of course my foot was so swollen that it couldn’t be casted until a week later.

The Artist Destiny

Oh what a pain in my butt side it was to be in crutches and be forced to stay home. I was a very active wife, mother, rancher, cheerleading coach, and substitute teacher at the time. I became very bored. I asked my husband if he could get me some drawing pencils. He brought some home for me. I began doodling and then drawing. He also brought home some acrylic paint.

Sunflowers and Dragonflys

I was very grateful to have something to do. I must been really bored. I found the more drawing and doodling the more creativity was starting to flow through my fingertips. I started out just looking at different pictures in magazines. I would take a little picture of 2 x2 and draw it unto a full blown 8 x 11 drawing.

My first actual doodle to drawing then to an acrylic painting is a little house with a chimney. It’s the first picture you see above. Then my next fascination was sketching the anatomy of horses. Of course! I lived and breathed horses; having a stallion and nine mares. Why wouldn’t I know the anatomy of a horse.

Sunflowers, a Horse and Dragonfly

As you can see I have evoled from just sketching, I like to work with oil, chalk, colored pencil and water color. Never spent a day in my life in a art class. Like I said before; I felt there was more that I could do. I believe we all have a GOD given talent and one day we find it.

Sunflower Forest and Wild Flare

Granted these drawings and painting are far from perfect; no artist is perfect and flawless. But this collection of art is who I am.

Baby Colt in The Snow

I hope you have enjoyed just a few of my drawing an paintings as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you. I still try to take time for my one true talent. Tell me about your true talent and how it came about. I would love to hear about it.