'FAMILY TOPICS' Book Collection & Blog

Gratitude is Everything!

Today, more than ever, we should all show how grateful we are for what we have, everyday. We may not have the items that we want, but if you have your health, a close family, a roof over your head and food on the table, how can you really complain? And if you don't have these, then work towards that. You create your own destiny, and it is definitely not items that will bring you happiness. Just the simplest of things. So be grateful for what you do have and for all you have experienced! Put post-it notes around your home to remind yourself of what you have to be grateful for. Wake up in the morning and be grateful that you made it through the night and be grateful for a new day. Post one of my signs that says "Gratitude is Everything!"  in your home for all to see. You will see others smile when they read that. Need a sign let me know. I will be grateful you asked! Have a blessed day!

Written by Ann Hadsall-Allen — January 29, 2016

There Really Are Angels!

OK, so have you ever been in a situation where people seemed to have appeared from nowhere..just when you needed them? A couple days ago, I went to the high school about 12 miles from home to pick up my son and a classmate after an after school band meeting. On the way there I notice that something smelled hot. Thinking it was a vehicle near me, I kind of just blew it off. When I picked up the boys, they say "what is that smell?" So,guess it was my car. I was on my way to a fairly bad part of town to drop off something, when my car starting smoking under the hood. "Great, not now, here!" We pulled over and the boy with us looked under the hood and thought oil might have been leaking and we though we better try to get going and to a better, safer place before dark . We started towards home, and it started smoking again. Since it smelled hot, I'm thinking may be it is low on water or a leak or something. We were lucky enough to be passing a car wash, so I decided to play it safe and pull over there. Before we even had time to get out of the car, a man in a van full of tools came up to my window, and asked me to open the hood. He said it was a leaking water hose, took it off, and it just so happened that there was an auto parts store 2 blocks away. The boys and I walked up there and they did not have the exact size. As luck had it, there was another auto parts place up one more block. We walked over there and they did not have the right hose either, however another location about 4 miles away had the part. I called the manager there and took a chance to ask if they would kindly deliver the part to me since I was stuck and it would soon be dark. To my surprise the manager said yes and within 10 minutes and by the time we got back to the car wash, a girl was pulling in with our part. I signed the cc slip for the part and before I could flag the girl down to give her a tip for bringing the part to us, she was gone. The man in the van quickly put the part on, just to find out that it was a smaller hose underneath that one. He took it off, and we went back to the first auto parts place, who actually had this hose, we ran it back and the nice man put it on in just a couple minutes. Low and behold the car was fixed in no time and we were ready to roll. I tried to give the man $20 for taking the time to help us out. No matter what I said he would not take it. I tried everything. He told me that he actually took off work that day to take care of some personal matters and it must have been meant to be that he happened to be at the car wash just as I pulled in and felt it was his calling to help us. That was such a blessing how it all took place. Today I went by the auto parts place where the girl worked that delivered the part to give her a tip for going out of her way to bring us the part that day. As much as I tried, she would not accept anything from me. It just goes to show and what I tell my children everyday and what happens to be above my name on all of my emails that says "Do at least one nice thing for someone else today!"... because it is so true that "what goes around, comes around"'.

Written by Ann Hadsall-Allen — January 29, 2016

 Stomach Full of Knots!

Today is the day of my 12 year old son, Micah’s, tumor surgery. Yesterday we all tried to make it seem just like a normal day around Micah; joking around, playing a lot of Rock Band 2, listening to Micah play Peter Frampton’s “Free Bird” song on his new electric guitar, as he knew it will be a while before he can play a guitar again. Everyone was home as it was MLK Day, so it was pretty relaxing. The day went pretty good for us, well for the most part. Then as night came on and his little sister Summer (11), and Haleigh (15), started getting their homework together and getting ready for bed early, Micah complained of severe stomach cramps. I am sure it was nothing he ate, but he was finally starting to show sign of anxiety and nervousness about his operation the next morning. Seeing him get scared, started to get me nervous and the the rest of the family followed. So after making Micah a ‘Get Well’ banner, hiding balloons we got him in the closet to put out today, and everyone kissing him, teasing him like normal and getting the girls to bed, things got a little more settled, including all of our nerves. I laid with Micah in my bed, watched TV together for awhile, rubbed his back, talked, and finally got him to go to sleep. Getting me to go to sleep was another story. To be continued…… 

Written by Ann Hadsall-Allen — January 29, 2016

Micah's Surgery is Over...

Yesterday was a pretty crazy day! After getting to the hospital 30 minutes late due to a multi car accident on a major bridge along the way, he actually got rushed into surgery about 30 minutes early. So we hardly had time to think and be nervous anymore about the whole ordeal. Micah came out of surgery OK, however, they did have to cut through a muscle to get the whole tumor out as it had grown so big. He recovered early and we were able to bring him home earlier than we figured. Of course not everything always goes that smoothly with any major surgery, right? Not with us either. Micah got sick a few times on the way home. I guess that is to be expected. His arm is bandaged up and in a very tight sling for at least a week. Keeping him clean will be fun. The family made him a banner, got balloons, and made him feel right back at home by teasing him as usual. In fact as soon as he got home, they went straight over to play Rock Band 2. Micah played with one hand. Good thing he is left-handed. Many friends and family called all throughout the day. He will be down for a few days, and on a lot of medicine as he is pretty sore, but all-in-all, Micah will be OK…we are sure of it! (Jan. 20, 2010)

Written by Ann Hadsall-Allen — January 29, 2016

My 15 year old daughter was recently caught smoking cigarettes!

My beautiful daughter Haleigh, who is truly devoted to cheer, soccer and track, recently decided to experiment with cigarettes that her friends would offer her. Once I realized this, I went to the same extreme my husband’s dad did to him. and had her sit and smoke the carton that she had on her. that she said she had bought with her own hard earned money, ($53.00). I wanted her to realize now that there is absolutely no benefits to smoking. You see, I know first hand, as I became a smoker at the age of 17 and once I could legally buy them for myself, I became addicted. Luckily, I did realize that I did not like the way they made me feel, smell, my lack of tastes, etc. I became sick more and the cost was crazy. In fact, I quit smoking at the age of 20 when cigarettes became .75 a pack. (That surely tells my age.) It was definitely not easy to stop, and I wish my mother had stepped in when I first started. It was difficult to quit and stay off of them, and I do not want to see  any child  go through that. Haleigh made a video over this past weekend when she sat down outside with two of her friends. She smoked those cigarettes until it made her sick. It did not take long until she came to me and told me she does not want them anymore. Her friends who had tried smoking before also do not wish to go down that path. They both have parents that still smoke and have lived around that on a daily basis all of their lives. Some may say this was taken to an extreme, however, I love my children, and yes, if that is what it takes to make them realize the dangers, then it was well worth it.

Make an impact on your child and be involved everyday….before it is too late!

Written by Ann Hadsall-Allen — January 29, 2016

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My Inspirational Quote of the Day!

My Inspirational Quote of the Day!

F.E.A.R. has 2 meanings: Forget Everything And Run or Face Everything And Rise...The choice is yours!

My Inspirational Quote of the Day!

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My Inspirational Quote of the Day!

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies!"

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