12.18.2021 Wednesday, we had the weirdest weather day. It seemed to hit most of the central United States. Here in Wymore, we had a rainstorm go through that was moving fast. It only lasted about 15 minutes with the hard rain and then just light rain with high winds. We had high winds of nearly 80mph wind gusts for about 12 hours. When it wasn’t gusting, it was 25 to 35mph or more. The rain came from the east and the wind from the Southeast. Truly weird weather. Kansas, where my son lives had more sustained high winds. Parts of Nebraska as well. The temperature was 70 degrees. So, so crazy. There were broken trees, limbs, garbage thrown around and lines down everywhere. We were without power for about 5 hours. Thank goodness we had a generator for my oxygen concentrator. The portable doesn’t last that long without a recharge. I heard of several tornados across the state. I don’t know exactly how much damage we had locally, but earlier in the week, Kentucky lost many buildings and people to tornadoes that made a huge swath over about 150 miles. All of this in December of all months. I think we all need to be praying.

12.14.2021 I’m 66-years-old and I’m finally understanding why my parents didn’t know how to make me grasp the things that happened when they were young. I listen to my children and grandchildren. When I talk about the sixties or seventies, they don’t relate to the events of those times. They may study things that happened then or things we used then but they think it was something from the covered wagon days or just plain bizarre. Our children remember the old phones that sat on a desk or hung on the kitchen wall with the spiral twisted cords that only stretched a certain distance. They also understand the remote phones with the base unit that had a specific range for the hand unit that didn’t need a cord. My grandchildren only see that in the movies. We do keep a land line that we can plug into the jack for times when satellite towers are out of use and the electricity is out. They’ve never seen that in use. There’s seldom an occasion for both electrical outages and downed satellites to happen at once. It’s hard to get them to understand the importance of keeping track of a checking account. They carry their debit cards and depend on whatever the store or their banking on the internet tells them. We still insist on using a pen and ledger attached to a checkbook. We do use debit cards most of the time, but we always figure it out in the checking ledger. I realize that maybe the millennials don’t understand our technology or the history of our generation. However, I also must admit that we’re behind the times in their eyes because we haven’t learned to trust the new systems of working paperless. It makes a person wonder what it will be like when our grandchildren have children and grandchildren. Will they be as slow to pick up on technology and share relatable history as we are now?

Live your own story. Today I thought about my story. I’m a writer but I don’t often put my own story together. I had a dream when I was in High School to work in the medical field. That or I wanted to be a journalist or some kind of writer. I married young and started a family so things didn’t work out the way I’d planned. Not right away, but I never lost sight of those dreams. They settled in the back of my brain for a while. I’d worked as a CAN for several years. When my oldest children were getting past the toddler stage, I told them and my husband they’d have to depend on a lot of each other for the next year. I found that with a grant, I could go to practical nursing school and get a license. I worked as an LPN for nearly twenty years before I had a meltdown. I got involved with a musical group and it turned out that it wasn’t the direction I needed to go. However, during that experience, an series of events happened that triggered a long dormant trauma. It was also at an age, nearly 40, that the symptoms I had turned into a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. I didn’t feel I was a safe nurse anymore. My emotions were cycling up and down and I couldn’t manage to get myself under control. That also affected my family. I tried working in medical transcription but after about a year, I started to break down under the pressure. I spent much of the next year and a half in and out of the hospital. Finally, we made the decision that I’d go on SSDI. Some people still think that social security disability is taken out of their taxes. It’s not. I’d been paying into the fund out of my paycheck for all the years I’d worked. I still felt like I could no longer contribute. Once I finally got stabilized on medication and a lot of therapy, I found that it was time that I do the other thing in life I felt strongly about. I set out to become a writer. I went back to college and took as many humanity and social science courses that I could. My junior year, I switched from a two-year college with a 4.0 grade point average to a four-year college. My counselor suggested that for my bachelor’s degree I should take business management. I didn’t think it would lead me into what I wanted to do but he strongly suggested it and I took his advice. I never went into business, but I never let go of that dream. I did take writing courses including creative writing as electives. I found that I did have an ability for writing. It wasn’t just a pipe dream. I’ve now written three novellas and a book of short stories. I’ve written and had several articles published. I’m currently on another book. I’ve also found an ability for art and crafts that I never knew I had. Nothing in life is wasted. The good and the bad are a part of my story. Don’t give up on your dreams. Don’t let anyone discourage you from pursuing them. I’m not wealthy as an author by far. I’ve sold a few books. I given some away and people who read them ask me when the next one will be out. You have a story. I haven’t written and autobiography, but there’s a piece of me in every story I write. You can accomplish your dreams if you don’t let the people who discourage wear you down. Your dreams are possible even if they don’t become the best in the world. They are important.

It’s December 11, 2021 Last year the United States and the rest of the world was hit by the Covid-19 virus. They made vaccines available early this year. Joe and I finished our second Moderna immunization injections in April. After missing out on Christmas with the kids last year we’ve been hopeful all year that we’d have this Christmas together, we felt much more confident. This summer we had a family gathering with all the kids and grandchildren. We went to our grandson’s graduation from High School. We visited my parents in the nursing home. I’m so glad we had those opportunities. We never know what tomorrow brings. I talked to our children, and we all planned to get together on January 2nd for our Christmas. That way nobody needs to rush through all their home Christmases and can have their spouse’s family gathering out of the way. Such was the plan but not the outcome. The Delta variant hit, and we felt we could get past that one because more and more were getting vaccinated. Now it’s the omicron variant. We’re now back to a separate Christmas celebration. Presents and well wishes will be sent via porch delivery or hand over. Face to face will be by video messenger, but Christmas will be had. If you are like me and have poor health and need to avoid large groups, you’re not alone. I do get sad, but I have the prayers of family and friends. I have the knowledge that this holiday is not just about Santa and presents. It’s about Jesus birth. God being born on earth as an infant. May God bless all this holiday season. Remember, Jesus our savior was born.

Find a moment of beauty #COPD and living well

Joe doesn't want shiny gold curtains🤣 #COPD and living well

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This years Christmas Ornament Surprise #COPD and living well

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Beautiful Fall day in late November #COPD and living well

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Flaming Flamingo Art #COPD and living well

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Fralins and Friends Crafts Plus #COPD and living well

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For two little granddaughters #COPD and living well

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Finishing touches on the tulip painting/ New bag of beads #COPD and li...

2 New Pendants #COPD and living well

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Don't worry, it's just mine. #COPD and living well

Fralins and Friends Crafts Plus #COPD and living well

Joe turned 65 / Bloopers/ #COPD and living well

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Half way to dead (done) #COPD and living well

Jack-O-Lantern and Witch #COPD and living well

I thought I lost my computer #COPD and living well

I made a funny new ornament #COPD and living well

We had an uninvited guest #COPD and living well

A Happy Triangle Pendant #COPD and living well

Each item is unique #COPD and living well

Where did that pole come from? #COPD and living well

I just didn't get it done #COPD and living well

Buster and Rosie are home #COPD and living well

Joe's silly tales #COPD and living well

I'm sure I can make it better. #COPD and living well

Necklaces for Christmas #COPD and living well

I'm thinking of daffodils #COPD and living well

We grew fat cucumbers #COPD and living well

I was in the Red Cross office #COPD and living well

Big Blue River runs through it #COPD and living well

Fralins and friends crafts plus|| bloopers|| plea for prayer #COPD and...

Eak, it's a painted claw #COPD and living well

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It was all packed away! #COPD and living well

That thing that makes you feel a little better. #COPD and living well

It takes practice to paint, make practice fun. #COPD and living well

Plea for prayer and positive thoughts for Kabul #COPD and living well

Maestro, how bout some music with that heart || Painting pizza #COPD an...

This will go on a wall. #COPD and living well

Making weird necklaces for Christmas #COPD and living well

Arbor State Park || Joe's Garden || #COPD and living well

Our 45th Anniversary || There's even a fish story #COPD and living well

It's about fun not perfection #COPD and living well

Yes I can and you bet I will. #COPD and living well

I designed some tooth pendants #COPD and living well

Respect and care #COPD and living well

Visit to family in Kansas #COPD and living well

It's a bear tooth I think #COPD and living well

My phone won't leave me alone|| #COPD and living well

Bulky necklace pattern #COPD and living well

Beads, Root Beer Barrels, & Pixie Stix Oh My #COPD and living well

My brain needed a break. #COPD and living well

Building the giraffe episode 3|| Polymer clay|| #COPD and living well

Building a giraffe episode 2 || polymer clay || #COPD and living well

Giraffe's head sculpture #COPD and living well

Fralins and Friends Crafts Plus #COPD and living well

I had to pick the wood out of the middle #COPD and living well

Goof Reel #COPD and living well

The good, the bad, the old, the new #COPD and living well

tri-color pendant #COPD and living well

City park and little league || Historic sites|| #COPD and living well

Coping with Bipolar and COPD part 2 #COPD and living well

Coping with Bipolar disorder and COPD Part 1 #COPD and living well

Tickle Toes the Hummingbird || short story || #COPD and living well

This weeks sculpture is... #COPD and living well

Hummingbird in the Jungle || Abstract || #COPD and living well

What happened in 1776 || My Research || #COPD and living well

Arnold and the Scarlet Macaw #COPD and living well

Fralins and Friends Crafts Plus #COPD and living well

It's a cute, folksy necklace #COPD and living well

A visit from sister #COPD and living well

Pearl on Teal pendant #COPD and living well

Opening my Amazon order #COPD and living well

Joe the carpenter #COPD and living well

Showing off my new clothes #COPD and living well

There's a Willow on my Window #COPD and living well

We finished the apple tree. #COPD and living well

Painting the apple tree

Making an apple tree (part 2)

A cool June evening, at last.

I'm going to make an apple tree

I'm clearing my bookshelf

Apple Tree drawn with colored pencil

Doc, don't label me.

Long awaited family day

There's a lizard in my house

I cleaned my messy craft room.

Each of us color our world differently

It's time to relax and let go.

Are you ready for some little creatures?

Happy Emoji sails across my window pane

Captain Emoji went sailing

Another piece of homemade jewelry

There's a green tree on the window.

From pretty pendant to a knockout necklace.

I made a beautiful layered pendant

Talkin attcha

I made a golden beetle

Why not draw a butterfly

Interrupted by Farmer Fran

Sounds of COPD - Update

Cute little nut eater

What have you been up to?

People been talkin bout my shakin

I had a wonderful busy day.

Give Joe and hand.

I've had so many wonderful things happen today.

The answer to last week's challenge

The story in a country scene

Plastic Lives a poem by G. K. Fralin (Me)

It's all in the design

I made a sloppy mess.

We hung Oscar the Orca

Odd moments with Joe and Glenda 2020

New phone rant. #short #fralins and friend crafts plus

I drew a rose

That's going in my bathroom.

That's going on my wall

Road trip to Barneston

April camping for dummies

Buster and Rosie are back!

Painted pot, gardening and a CHALLENGE

Our unexpected Easter outing.

Review of SoClean2

It's a pot paint party

Two fails and one win.

Oh my how will our garden grow?

Setting up my new SoClean

I painted a dolphin

I'm making a dolphin

I'm making plans for a front porch bucket garden.

Relax to Music and Mosaic Coloring

Buster and Rosie interrupt my cleaning

Another fun style of folk art.

I'm learning so much about folk art.

It just wants to be decorative

I think I'll put it in the bathroom.

Two crafts in one show

Driving a country road away from home.

It's too nice to be inside

Relax a moment with me.

Who doesn't like sunflower seeds?

I'm drawing a daisy

What kind of flowers are these?

I wonder how live birds will react.

Polymer Clay Sparrow Sculpture part 2

A day of frustration and miracles

Country home library.

All hearts are red, aren't they?

Fast-set Cherry Gelatin with applesauce

Making a country comfort display and Valentine

It's a white world

Out in the cold wind and snow

Joe's Monday Vlog (short)

I have no agenda. Can we chat?

Cardinal Sculpture part 3 - paint

It's a Cardinal part 2

I'm ready to sculpt a Cardinal.

Sparrow sitting on a stump.

Women's health - As a Woman Ages

I want the birds in a tree.

I drew a mocking bird in colored pencil

Shall we draw some birds?

My history with COPD and where I am now.

Road trip to where the cows moo back

Drawing - Cardinal on a wooden post.

2020 year of crafts in review

Crafting a 3D flower, paper crafts, Fralins and Friends Crafts Plus

What I'll do with who I am and what I have in this troubled time.

Animal Comedians

It's a Sunday funday with Sweet Joe

New Year Party decorating plates