We haven’t had a “featured grandmother” in quite a while, so it was wonderful to hear from Debbie Johnson today and have a chance to share her story with you. I hope you enjoy reading it…oh, and if you would like to be featured, please write to me at claudiascorner[at]gmail.com.
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After receiving a legal secretarial degree from Bryant and Stratton and working at GE for engineers for six years, I quit to raise our two boys, born exactly one year and three weeks apart. (My husband said, “We’re not going to have your mom watch TWO, are we? Mind you, I was sobbing at the time as he went out the door with our oldest.)
Seven years later a third son arrived on the scene and I worked at a quaint little local restaurant an evening or two a week to bring in a little extra cash. (And, admittedly, to remind myself that I still could “process thoughts” – Oh, the stories I can tell!!)
I’m thankful to have been able to work around our family, but where does a closing-in-on-40 year old woman go to find a job? For me it was an Oral Surgery satellite office 20 minutes away which I managed for two doctors. They kindly allowed me the opportunity to work while updating my computer/office skills. Six years later, with one son in college, another a senior in high school and the third closing in on high school, I needed a full-time job to help with college expenses and high school extra-curricular activity bills. And that is how I ended up at a local business as a sales coordinator for nine years.vI know – trained for lawyers and worked for engineers, doctors and salesmen – nothing “relates”, does it? Plus, nobody needs “secretaries” anymore – everyone does their own thing on computers! And, NOW I’m closing in on SIXTY!!
After we were blessed with 6 (yes, six!) grandchildren, with two more on the way, I left that job two years ago. In hindsight I am even more thankful because my father went to be with the Lord (and mom) this past Dec. 26. These past two years were filled with many medical appointments for him that I am SO thankful I could do. (I was thankful at the time, but even more so now!) I LOVE being with my grandchildren, but I’d also like to help my husband financially. Plus, they say our brains “go to mush” if we don’t use them.
Ameriplan®, USA, offers the chance for me to do it all. Yes, it’s network marketing and I’m learning, learning, learning – which is FUN! It’s VERY affordable to begin your own business. Plus, this company provides things I NEED in addition to a paycheck – discounts for dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic needs, as well as help with child ID, legal fees, medical expenses, identity theft (the fastest growing crime in America) and much more.
If you’d like to check out what this company has to offer, please visit one of my websites at:
I don’t have to tell you that the real estate market is going through challenging times. We have had a foreclosure or 2 on our street, though it there is anything about living in a modest neighborhood, it’s the fact that people don’t tend to over-extend themselves and are forced to live within their means…so those of us who have been living modestly and simply all along know how to survive during times like this.
Many are learning to work the real estate market as it is in their favor. I know some who are getting distressed market training so they can help buyers and sellers to make the most of their purchase.
I know others who know how to buy and sell properties with little money of their own, I don’t know how they do it, but if this is something that interests you, maybe the information available if you click this link may be useful to you. Check and see if the tools provided might help, and whether this might be a way for you to bring in some income.
I made a discovery today while I was working/playing with a Squidoo lens. Do you know what Squidoo is? It’s another way of quickly and easily getting your “presence” out there on the web. You can make what they call a “lens” about things that interest you, things you’re working on, just about anything you can think of. You can see what I have done if you visit my profile page on Squidoo.
One of the pages I did was “Find a Grandmother or Grandmothers on Twitter“. Stop by for a visit and learn more about using hashtags (#) and which word, “Grandmother” or “Grandmothers” is the best search term. I hope to add more helpful information, and perhaps more about how to use Squidoo to your benefit on this blog.
Beverly Mahone, the energetic leader of Boomer Diva Nation has another wonderful event in store for Baby Boomer Diva’s and Diva’s that are younger than Baby Boomers…I believe you ladies are called “Gen-Xer’s?”, do correct me if I’m wrong.
Whatever the age, it’s a great gathering of women, regular folks, just like you and me, that are on a mission, so take a look at Bev’s video, and be sure to visit the Boomer Diva Nation website.
One of the fun things that work at home Grandmothers enjoy doing is taking some of that hard-earned money from your home business and shopping for your grandchildren.
Spring is here, and with season changes, the grandbabies are going to need some new cloths if you live in a place with season changes like we do…there are lots of places to buy cloths, but few as cute as a site I visited today, with a really unique selection of cloths. I loved the site, it had such a fun feel to it, and their cloths were so different, funky and fun to look at, like the little romper pictured here…which is really such a small example.
There are a lot of items with pop-art on them, many brands that were new to me (but it’s been a while since I’ve shopped for a child) including the following:
You’ll find a lot of fun when you visit, including dress-up cloths, contemporary and funky outfits. So if you want your grandchild or grandbaby to be a trendy little one, take a look at rsavenue.com.
We are just a matter of days away from Christmas, and many families will be gathering to celebrate the day. Christmas is a beautiful time, but it can also be a time full of memories that may make you feel a little melancholic.
I have memories from my childhood of my dear Grandmother at Christmas time. My grandparents would come to be with us from the Boston area each year, and spend a few days at least. I remember them sleeping on the fold-out couch in our living room, and running out to the living room to jump on top of Grandpa who never seemed to be upset at us doing that. He was always so patient, and loved to tickle and play with us.
My grandmother usually was up and about by then. A day or two before Christmas we would take out all the good silverware, and the silver salt and pepper shakers that were only used on special occasions and clean them with silver cleaner, then give them a good polishing. Christmas always meant a turkey dinner, and my Grandma was the best at picking those bones clean and making a soup after the holiday. She also made our traditional Scotch Shortbread…I share more about that on a Squidoo Lens.
The last Christmas that I have a clear memory of was also the year that my youngest brother was born, my grandmother stayed with us to help care for us while Mom was recovering…my brother was a “New Year’s Baby”, born on January 1st. This was also the last Christmas, I believe, before my grandmother had her stroke in her later 60’s. She lived many years after that, passing away at the age of 90 thanks to the wonderful care of my grandfather. She was still able to visit at holidays, but not with the same energy as years before, but always a wonderful part of our traditional family gathering. I guess the melancholy comes for most of us from either to high expectations for the day, or in my case, missing those that used to be with us at the table that have gone on. But that doesn’t mean that when we gather on Christmas day, there won’t be plenty of love and laughter.
Have a blessed Christmas!
Treasure your family, and have patience with one another this beautiful time of the year.
Coming from a family of artists, who wanted to be an artist myself one day, I found the following GodTube and post by a Grandmother inspiring. Here is what she shared, followed by her “tube”…I’m letting her know I posted this here in hopes that she’ll visit and make a comment telling us more about herself:
I am a 72 yr old great grandmother Portrait Artist. I am self-taught, better yet, God-taught. I praise the Lord for my husband of 50 years. We just celebrated our 50th Anniversary with our five daughters, son-in-laws, and most of our grandchildren.
Is it just me or are there other mothers and grandmothers out here who have a problem with the way some businesses are run?
I’d like to know why I can’t just buy ONE SHOE in a shoe store. Yes, I know they come in pairs but if one shoe is lost, why is it necessary to purchase a new pair of the SAME shoes at the same price?
In the past 72 hours, my grandson has lost two shoes—not two pairs of shoes—but two individual shoes. For the life of me, I can’t figure out what might have happened to those shoes. We’ve searched frantically in the house and in the car and even outside the house–in the yard—hoping those missing shoes would turn up. No such luck.
But get this—in a conversation with a store clerk at a Sporting Goods Store, I learned their lost and found box is filled with kids’ shoes! Obviously, my grandson isn’t the only toddler running around with just one shoe.
It might not be a bad idea to check some of those lost and found boxes at the various stores to see if I find a match.
We haven’t had a “featured grandmother” in quite a while, so it was wonderful to hear from Debbie Johnson today and have a chance to share her story with you. I hope you enjoy reading it…oh, and if you would like to be featured, please write to me at claudiascorner[at]gmail.com.
One of the fun things that work at home Grandmothers enjoy doing is taking some of that hard-earned money from your home business and shopping for your grandchildren.
We are just a matter of days away from Christmas, and many families will be gathering to celebrate the day. Christmas is a beautiful time, but it can also be a time full of memories that may make you feel a little melancholic.
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