A "Friend"ly Post...Thank You For Being a Friend!

I suffer from depression and sporadic anxiety/panic attacks.  Just within the last few years have I accepted that I have these and sought out help from my doctor.  She subsequently put me on medicine and gave me some ideas about how to keep these things "in check".
Some days are better than others with my ability to keep my depression and anxiety under control.

I know that people reading this might find this hard to believe, because I try to be happy all of the time and am quite good at masking or covering up that I am depressed.

Whether they know it or not, some of my friends have been a tremendous help and blessing to me lately as I have been in a  "funk".  That is the best way that I know how to describe it. The last few days, maybe even a week now, have been REALLY hard on me for reasons I don't exactly know.  Well, that's not entirely true...it's a bunch of different things and situations.  I won't bore you readers with the reasons, but let's just say I've been thrown some crazy curve balls by life lately.   I wouldn't have been able to cope as well as I have without the help of my friends and/or family...most of which I keep in contact with on Facebook.

Facebook has allowed me to make and meet many friends over the years that I've been a part of the "Facebook craze".

Some friends I know in real life, some I know through my eBay days where I sold vintage postcards, some I've met through other friends, some friends are family or people that I consider my family, some I've met through the many many groups that I belong to where we share a common ground (i.e. reading books, our love of Disney, or something else).  Some of the friends that I didn't know in real life when we met on Facebook, I have since met or have talked with on the phone, sent text messages back and forth, and even video chatted (either via Skype or by Face Time).  I have also sent things like cards or small tokens of my appreciation to a few people that I have met through Facebook. Facebook has allowed me to reconnect with friends from my school days, my days when I was still working, and even people from my childhood.  I am so grateful for Facebook.  There are still quite a few people that I know through Facebook or other social media outlets for that matter, that I hope one day to meet in person.

Earlier tonight, I was sitting here all depressed when I received a sweet message privately from a person that I know through another friend.  This person sent me just a picture of a person being hugged with the words, "Thought of you with this".  This person barely knows me and we've only chatted a handful of times, but somehow, they sensed that I could use a little "pick-me-up".  Upon seeing the message (and even right now), I teared up at this person's thoughtfulness.  They took the time to send me a message and while it made me cry because I was so touched, it also made me realize that when I think that I am alone, I'm really not.  This is not the only time that someone has reached out to me and made me feel wanted, but I felt the need to night to share this.


I just want to tell everyone reading this, "Thank You".  Thank you for reaching out to me.  I might not express it very well, but I really do appreciate messages of encouragement or really messages of any kind.  It makes me feel special.  I only hope that I am able to do the same to some people at some point.

I'm going to close with this recording that I did a few years ago.  It sums up pretty well how I feel about all of my friends and family.

And That's What Sarah Says!!!

In Memoriam of Howard L. Pentecost....My Grandpa, My Hero, My Friend!!

On October 17th, 1921, the world changed forever when my grandpa, Howard Pentecost, was born.

He was a great brother, husband, father, uncle, cousin, grandfather, and friend. He and I had a nickname for each other and I'm not sure anymore how/when it originated. That nickname is "Fat Baby".

He was in the army when he was younger and loved to tell stories about his time in the service.

He and my grandma, Geneva were able to share just over fifty years of wedded bliss together before she left this world. I only hope that Brett and I can have the kind of love that they had.

My brothers, cousins, and I learned many things from my grandpa (some things our parents probably wish that he never taught us) and loved us all so much.

He loved to make us laugh any chance that he got and loved to sing silly songs. Some were made up on the spot, some were tweaked by him, and some were legit songs. He loved to sing, "Barney Google, with the goo-goo-goo-ga-ly eyes", but he had his own lyrics for it.

He even did his own "dance" called "The Mighty Mouse". If you would ask him to do it, he would act like he didn't want to do it, but in reality, he did and would.

He loved his animals (dogs and cats). They were ALL his babies and he treated them like they were humans. He had a shed for his St. Bernard dogs that had heaters in the winter and more than one fan during the summer months. Some days, he could even be seen napping in the pen with them.

Just over two years ago, we said "See ya later" to him after his earthly battle ended. We knew that the day was coming, but that didn't make it any easier.

I can't wait until the day that I can see him, my grandma, and other family members that have gone on. Until then, I will remember the good times that we had.


I obtained some pictures of my grandpa (and even a couple of him with my grandma) so that I could show just what a great guy he was! 

The Pentecost Clan

 Below, are some pictures from his Army days:

I'm Gonna Guess That He Sent This to My Grandma

In Uniform

 

My Grandpa (in the middle) & Members of His Gun Crew

Another Picture of My Grandpa and His Gun Crew

My Grandpa (left) and His Brother, Carl in Germany

My Grandma, Geneva and Grandpa Howard When They Were Dating

Years Later...Still In Love!!

Fishing...A Favorite Hobby of His!

Doing "The Mighty Mouse" at the 50th Anniversary Party For Him and My Grandma (That's his brother, Carl, next to him)

My Grandpa "Resting His Eyes" as He Called It

And now, a video that I uploaded to YouTube of my grandpa reciting a poem that he learned as a youngster and never forgot it.

This Makes Me Giggle/Smile Every Time That I Watch It!

As you can see, my grandpa was quite a character.  I think about him, my grandma, and my other relatives that have gone on before me every day and love to reminisce about the good times that we had and just wanted to share some memories of my grandpa with you, my dear readers.  I hope that you enjoyed this "journey" down memory lane as I pay tribute to my grandpa.

When he passed away on August 24, 2011, I made the following picture as my profile picture on Facebook in honor of him.

And That's What Sarah Says!!!