Of my two grandmothers, my country grandmother was the one I knew the best. There was something about my mother’s mother which was charming and endearing. Her life had many hard times at the beginning, the middle, and the end. But her last years were some of her happiest. Her first husband, William Henry Youngblood, … More My Country Grandmother| joyful2beeblogs
My grandmother, Nina Alexander, was born in 1901, 36 years after the Civil War. Nina spent her earliest years on her family farm in Georgia. She lost four of her ten siblings, during her youth. (Death at an early age was not uncommon during those times.) When her diabetic father died from complications from a … More My Maternal Grandmother’s Early Life| joyful2beeblogs
I shared this post from my experiences in surviving abuse and some lessons I learned. After I began to learn to protect myself energetically, mentally, and emotionally during the later years of my marriage, I began to understand the very fact and degree that I had been abused. Realizing that I had denied it far … More The Beginnings of Healing| joyful2beeblogs
To continue the story of my husband’s illness he recovered from the stroke and could walk with a cane. Since he worked on a computer, not being able to walk a lot was not an issue for his ret…| joyful2beeblogs
Several years ago I experienced a two way blessing with a stranger. I was visiting a young patient and his grandmother in a large hospital. My car had to be parked in a building across the street, …| joyful2beeblogs
By Melodie E. Estes You are the Great, Ancient Sequoyah Tree.Impervious, immortal, immovable.Insects of human frailties can not touch You.You weather storms; massive, powerful, ancient. You shelter…| joyful2beeblogs
When I was about 11 or 12 years old, I thought perfection was something I was supposed to pursue. I read in the Bible, “Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”…| joyful2beeblogs
This is the second letter to my younger self in an effort to understand who I am now better and perhaps to help someone else do the same. Hello, young Elaine. You have an exciting life ahead of you…| joyful2beeblogs
My heart and mind have been full of sadness for those who have suffered so much from the hurricanes, flooding, destruction, deaths and loss of homes. How hard it is sometimes to choose one person w…| joyful2beeblogs
Love and a loving touch can bring a baby peace.. Inner peace is a home grown commodity; beginning with the seeds of loving ourselves as babies then as children. Add the nourishment of loving parent…| joyful2beeblogs
By Melodie Elaine Estes Everyone has unusual experiences to share that make their lives more interesting and unique. Those events help make us who we are and give us stories to share with others. T…| joyful2beeblogs
Good friends having fun together. Do you ever stop to wonder why someone likes you or why you like them? Are you drawn to certain types of personalities or people with the same or even different be…| joyful2beeblogs
That sun light feels good! Strangely, I have a memory from when I was a teenager spending the night at my grandmother’s farm. I awoke to see a black cat sitting by my head, curiously staring …| joyful2beeblogs
I’m a great cat! I am very thankful for the companionship of my cat, Norie. This black cat is one of the joys of my life. She is a source of laughter, company, amazement, challenge, and life …| joyful2beeblogs
Me at 17 on a beach trip Some of us grow up hating ourselves, criticizing ourselves for our mistakes, always trying to be perfect, never satisfied with ourselves. Then there are some who seem very …| joyful2beeblogs
 One large fountain at Waverly Place For many of us middle aged women a lot of changes take place which require some adaptive strategies. Some of us have physical problems that limit our activitie…| joyful2beeblogs
I imagine that many of us feel sadness for the suffering of other people or even animals, that unbidden tears come to our eyes. During the invasion of Ukraine I, and I know many others, have been s…| joyful2beeblogs
A lovely sky at sunset In about 2012, after I had to retire from nursing, I started a small photography business. I had taken some lovely photos of a waterfall and wanted to frame them. But I could…| joyful2beeblogs
Srveral winters ago, my son, D, called me on the Friday before the ice/snow came last winter. He was sick with the flu and had my nine month old grandson to care for. C, his wife, had to work becau…| joyful2beeblogs