Laurie Jackson's Blog, page 21

Study Abroad

Study abroad? No thank you very much!

I could not handle that at all. My family means way too much to me to do something like that. My husband and I live at least three hours from the kids now and I am having a hard time with not seeing them whenever I want to. We went to Colorado just to visit and I got sick from the altitude and air pressure.

I am not that much of an adventurous person. I like to stay close to home.

Enjoy the day!

Laurie Jackson

Feel free to visit my website. Thank you!

Fly On the Wall

If I could be a fly on the wall anywhere I wanted, I’d have to choose the walls wherever my kiddos are. I think it would be awesome to be able to see how they act around other people. I’d like to think that they would behave and treat their peers with respect.

I’d be one of those flies that would buzz around their ears just to annoy them. I realize that they would probably swat at me but so what. So beware my children, I am everywhere!

May your day be filled with laughter and sunshine!

Laurie Jackson

Please feel free to visit my website. Thank you

I’d Like To Thank My Grandmother

I want to thank Grandma Helen for the award I am about to receive. I spent many, many summer days with her. She taught me how to bake. I learned how to make butter, homemade breads, pies, etc. She taught me how to make grape jelly, too. Now, I do have a mother. She was much too busy to show us girls how to bake. My little sister was battling cancer at the time. So, I understood Mom’s time was filled with taking care of my sister. My grandmother also taught my sisters and I how to take a piece of material and turn it into a shirt or dress or even a skirt. She could sew my grandfather a shirt in a day’s time. Thank you, Grandma Helen, for teaching me so much. I miss you and I love you! Hope your day is filled with warmth. Laurie Jackson Please feel free to visit my website. Thank you!

I Have Confidence In Me

I have confidence in myself to a point. I know I can write for myself. Is it good enough for people to want to read the stories, though?

It was hard for me to believe in myself in doing ANYTHING. Growing up listening to my dear old dad tell me over and over that I was too stupid to accomplish anything in my life. Guess what, Dad! I accomplished something—I have my Bachelor’s Degree in writing. Are you proud of me? Even if you are not, I am proud of me!

There is always room for improvement in anything anyone does. I feel that I can always write better. I realize that I should write everyday. That alone will help me to improve on my writing.

May your day be filled with laughter and sunshine!

Laurie Jackson

Grand Slam

My grand slam is coming up in November 2014. Graduation from Full Sail University, Florida–Online. It’s been an interesting 32 months. If it had not been for my wonderful husband, kids and mother, I would not have completed the course. I was taken out of my comfort zone way too many times. Leaving the house to interview a complete stranger. Not my cup of tea.

When I graduated from high school 30 plus years ago, there was no way I was going to college. Life happens and since I kept journals, I learned that I loved to write. Raising five kids, there was no time for me to write. I was getting negative responses from my dad, older brother and at that time husband. (I’ve since divorced him and remarried.) They told me I was too stupid to become a writer.

Well, thanks to Alex (husband) he convinced me to take an online course. By the time I graduate I will have a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing for Entertainment. I want to write children’s stories for my grandchildren. I also want to finish my sister’s story.

Dad is no longer with us but he’ll know I graduated and became a writer.

Five weeks until graduation. It will be strange not to have worry about assignments anymore but it will also be a blessing.

Hope your day is full of sunshine and blessings!

Laurie Jackson :)

Please feel free to visit my website.

Finite Creatures

The first time I experienced a funeral was when I was maybe six or seven. I did not understand why people were so quiet and crying. Mom tried to explain what was going on but I just did not understand.

I think it hit me when my great-grandmother died. I was 15 years.  She 101 years old. I thought wow how cool. At her funeral, I understood what was going on.

When my grandpa died, it truly hit home for me. I was much older and married. I thought Grandpa hung the moon. I thought he would live forever. I awoke during the night with a feeling that something had happened to Grandpa. I cried and cried. I didn’t like it because someday I pass on. It’s not that I’m afraid of death, I’m more concerned about my loved ones.

Since the passing of my sister, I have tried to stay positive and live each day to the fullest. I appreciate the little things in life.

Hope your day is full of blessings!

Laurie Jackson :)

Please feel free to visit my website. Be sure to sign the guestbook or drop me an email. Thanks!

Set Three Goals

Hmm…three goals for myself.

1. I would like to increase my stats by making sure my blogs are written in such a way that readers would enjoy to read.

2. I would like to add a section of my blog containing Grandma’s Recipes.

3. Improve on my writing skills through blogging.

I hope your day is filled with sunshine and laughter.

Laurie Jackson :)

Reverse Shot

I was six years old and in kindergarten. We were at school and it had been raining almost all day. Kathy, a classmate, was upset because of the weather.

“Laurie, I’m scared.” Between sniffles and tears, I tried to tell Laurie how I felt. I rubbed my eyes trying to make the tears from rolling down my cheeks.

“Kathy, it will be okay. The rain will stop,” Laurie told me. She hugged me so tight. It felt good to be hugged like that. The sky was black and thunder clapped. Tears started up all over again. I looked at Laurie and she hugged me again. Mr. Duncan, our teacher, came over to us.

“What seems to be the problem, girls?”

“Kathy is scared because of the rain, Mr. Duncan.”

He turned to me and asked, “Why are you scared, Kathy? It’s just rain.”

“Mr. Duncan, my daddy won’t be able to get me in the rain,” I sobbed.

” I’m sure your daddy will be okay when he comes to get you. Would you feel better if Laurie stayed close to you the rest of the day?

“Yes, Mr. Duncan, yes!” I said.

Laurie stayed close to me the rest of the morning. She gave nice hugs. Mr. Duncan was right. My daddy was okay.

Thanks for stopping by!

Laurie Jackson :)

Unequal Terms

I’ve been putting off writing this particular blog. Keep in mind that this is my humble opinion. I am not trying to start a debate of any kind. This is coming from my heart.

I have a gay son. I wouldn’t want him to be any other way. Does he have a choice to be gay? I don’t think so. I feel that God created him this way for a reason. He would not be who he is if he were straight. He’s very intelligent and smart.  He is so honest. I am honored to be his Mama.

What I don’t understand is why people think being gay, lesbian, transgendered or bi is so wrong. These guys/gals have a heartbeat just like me. They have feelings just like me. If we looked inside the body of a gay person, I’m sure we would find they are all just like the straight person. My son and his partner should have the right to be loved and married to whomever they want. They have the same right to be happy as anyone else.

My is son gay. Big deal! I love you, Elmer and Joshua, more than life itself.

May your day be filled with sunshine and blessings!

Laurie Jackson :)

Avant Garde

Umm—no! Ever hear the phrase “Lived under a rock” or “crawled out from under a rock”? That’s me. I lived under a rock down in a valley on a farm.

I seriously did not know what a cellphone was until one day when my oldest son came home from school and informed me he was getting one. A cellphone; what in the world was that? He laughed at me. Oh well. I am still probably way behind the times. Today, we (my husband and I) share one have a plain Jane cellphone. It gets the necessary job done. To be honest, I do not want an iPhone 5, 6, or whatever one is out now.

I was rather upset, though, when CD’s were created. I had just bought a case full of 8-track tapes for my car! Of course, the next vehicle I had no longer had an 8-track tape deck! I had hundreds of cassette tapes, as well.

When I try talking with my kids about music, it’s usually so much fun. If I ask them if they know a particular band, they’ll go “Who?” I’ll do the same thing to them.

It’s okay if I am not familiar with the newest phone or the newest band. I’ll be alright.

Hope your day is full of sunshine!

Laurie Jackson :)

Please feel free to visit my website.