The End of March

I have totally neglected my page lately, life has been in full swing.  Last time we spoke, it was my youngest son's 25th birthday.  Yes, that makes me feel a bit old.  But I am proud of him and all my kids, they are, to use an overused word, awesome.
We just (well last weekend) got back from a family trip to sin city, a Christmas present from parents to kids.  It seems everyone has enough of everything so we opted to give a consumable gift.  We had 4 days of fun, family and lots of walking!  The hotel, although adequate was not what we expected or wanted.  We were looking for luxury and got a lot less than that.  But it worked for us.  The flight was good, we got to switch seats around so the "tall couple" got the bulkhead with the grandparents across the aisle for the "baby pass".  We flanked our 5 year old grandson for most of the trip, he is just a wonder.  We enjoyed him so much.  I got scanned and searched and my bag gone through because obviously I look like some sort of threat.  On a funny note, I was wearing a home-made belt, one that is used strictly to hold my pants in place, made from elastic and clips.  Well of course they made me take it off.  As the woman ran her hand along the elastic, yes it was made out of ordinary elastic, it snapped back & hit her in the face.  I chuckled and told her it was homemade.  She was not as amused as I was.

We walked the city, crammed into cabs, ate some good food and had fun with family.  My sister was able to join us from California.  On one excursion as we walked the streets, stroller, me, sis, daughters in law times two and one son plus grandson we all piled in an elevator to get to the next street level.  My grandson didn't see his great aunt get aboard the elevator so he stuck his head outside the door and yelled for her.  We laughed and laughed, what a good man he will one day be, watching out for all the ladies!
We got news that one of our families will be moving to Montana, job offer.  A wonderful opportunity.  I am thrilled and not thrilled.
So as Thursday rolled around I found myself with this odd cough, feeling so tired.  By flight time I had a raging fever, feeling a bit delirious but got home, fell into bed and didn't get up til Saturday.  Still coughing now but almost healed.
Now the countdown to Montana begins.  Lots of work ahead for them but a wonderful adventure.
 Lots of birthdays, each of my daughters in law has a birthday between March 27th and April 9th, my grandson the 10th.  Busy time for us, then Easter and fundraising for camp.  Life is good.  God is Great!

Making a Full Life

I was asked, today to be on the Liturgical Commission at our church.  I met with our Pastor to set up a weekly adoration time, dedicating time weekly to be there.  After I gave my sales pitch, he turned to ask me.  I said yes, of course, not sure if it is the right fit for me, but willing to give it a go.  So here we go.
Being so involved with Young Life, I felt that we need to give our church time, talents & treasures, too.  So here we go.  Let's grow our faith community.  I'm in.
For the past 4 weeks I have been involved with the Beth Moore Bible Study on James.  It is quite fabulous.  I love the daily studies, digging into the Word.
Also learning to be more flexible.  Yep, learning.  Slowly.

Still need to clean & organize.  Yuck!

Where did all this stuff come from?

I finally tackled my craft (crap) room, both 6' tables were covered with stuff.  Today I worked at hauling stuff up to the attic, to my car for Goodwill, to the garbage can, to the recycle can and sorting the keep/get rid of stuff.  My question is where did it all come from?  Isn't it weird how little piles of stuff turn in to big piles of crap...you really need to stat on top of it or it gets out of hand!  And as you clean one area leads to another, to another so my desk draw is clean, the office bookcase..well the entire office got dusted, bookshelf organized along with 2 supply drawers and I actually ran the vacuum in there & dusted with a Swiffer thingy.  The craft (crap) room closet got a makeover that led me to the guest room closet, now cleaned out.  Up and down the stairs with loads of stuff maybe 10 times.  Then just as I am ready to hit the post office/bank combo run I bend down to pick up two boxes on the floor, trying to bend my right knee but it actually locks straight in place and sends my reeling in shock and pain...wait a few minutes...it seems OK.  Sore as heck now.  Not sure what it will be like in the morning.  I am just plain tired now.  Need to hop in the hot tub & soak but too tired to get out of my chair!
Had a nice visit via telephone with my mom & sister.  Glad I took the time to call.
Busy rest of the week then Sunday is Superbowl!  So excited for the game, I have missed football!  Maybe pizza & beer?
It is February.  On the 13th, my youngest son is turning 25.  My kids aren't kids anymore.
On a brighter and more exciting note....at the end of the month we find out if grandbaby #3 is pink or blue.  We have 2 blues right now.  So excited..either way this baby is from son #3 so a first child for them.  My family is growing!  Woo hoo!
Loving the Beth Moore Bible Study on James!  wow oh wow. 

Oh What a Week!

So I wanted snow, lots of snow & I got it...on my birthday, no less. A gorgeous 8-12" of the powdery white stuff.  Loving it!  Then we got hit by an ice storm.  The first of my life.  I had never, ever seen an ice storm.  Ice covered everything, pools of ice covering the snow in our yard, looking like I could grab my ice skates & twirl, thick ice breaking tree limbs and....power lines.  Power's out everywhere.  That's OK we still have cable and the DVR plus DVD's to watch. That ended quickly, cable out along with the use of our DVR.  We sat through days of DVD's that I never care to watch again, lots of computer games, a jigsaw puzzle, visiting neighbors and a trip to buy a new recliner. Oh and I forgot our cell phones were out, too so no communication at all! 
So with new recliners purchased, one still needs to be picked up we headed home to our street humming with generators. I guess we are lucky to have a generator, many did without or went to stay with friends/family.
I am loving my new chair, it is so comfy!  A few days later hubby decides he cannot live another day without the internet so he dumps our cell phone company & gets a new one with internet connection.  Loving that, too.
Power back on Sunday after we came home from the movies, around 8pm.  Then off again while we were asleep, then on for some of the day, then off around 1pm.  Now on again at 6:30pm.  We love our power and all it connects to, we wouldn't make it in the olden days!
So I planned on getting a lot of paperwork year end style done today.  Didn't.  Did get some admin stuff done. Tomorrow, I guess.
Stamps now 45 cents. I didn't know that, do now.
Feeling a bit distant from God as of late but still trying to stay in touch.  Maybe trying too hard to see Him but I really, really, really want to.
Busy week starts today.  Starting a new Bible study, Beth Moore series, so excited!  Lunch with friends, doctor appointment, then an all day session with my 4 month old grandson.  Excited to get lots of snuggles!
A sneak peak at a new project: I am rewriting a novel that I wrote years ago, it is really bad so I am fixing it up.  It's a good story but needs work.  I hope I can get it published one day.  Wow that would be excellent!
On to a week with electricity!

Learning, Still Learning

The very same lessons over and over.  I am not good at....being confident.  And stuff.  Ugh.
Backstory:
I had to send out this mass mailing of a thank you card or fridge magnet or...something to our generous donors...I had to design it.  I had the hardest time...cuz I had to please other people, not sure of what they had in mind, couldn't get a clear cut answer.  So I did it, well hubby helped and I got it printed, stuffed, labels printed and attached, postage purchased and attached and tomorrow the little darlings are goin' in the mail.  Done.  Not super happy with the result but it is done.
Year end paperwork, bill paying is next, done tonight.  Still need to gather tax stuff.
One of my mortgage payments, mailed on the 2nd is still not there & now considered late.  Bad mark on my rating, bad me.  Ugh.  Out of my hands.
Had the best time at OS12 worshiping the Lord all weekend now home to reality & crap.  Ugh.
So I finished up my bill paying tonight cuz tomorrow I get to spend with my 2 grandsons & their Mom, I am looking forward to a fun day!  I miss them so much.
It is supposed to snow this weekend.  Woo hoo.  I have been waiting for snow.
I started back at the gym & loving it so much!  I need the exercise.
Been taking antibiotics for sinus infection, thought I was over it but have sneeze a couple hundred times today & battling a headache, day 3.  Hmm.  Not sure.
I guess back to learning for me.  Same old lessons, at least I know them.  Now if I can get a grip on them...

Step One...check

I did it!  I rejoined the gym.  Great price, too.  I am going back Monday, going to make it an everyday routine, like before.  My prize for going?  I am thinking about a new pair of shoes...

OK, maybe not these, but I have my eye on a pair I saw a girl wearing the other day.

So excited to start working out.

Being an Intentional Friend

Something dawned on me recently and I am acting on it now.  For years, all my life I guess I thought you had friends that just stuck because they were your friends.  And when they moved on, it was because it was time to move on.  That is, I guess true in some cases. As I get older I realize friends are essential to everyone.  You Need (with a capitol N) to have friends.  And to keep friends you should be intentional about it. Being their friend on purpose.
At times I have been intentional about my friends, but at times I slack off, get too involved with my home life and just phone in my friend duties.  The friends I have right now at this very time in my life are jewels.  I need to be intentional in my relationship with them, they are worth it.