Saturday, August 07, 2010

Out For A While

I will be out of the world of blogland for a while. I don't type so swellish on my laptop and I don't know when we will have a home again. Forever grateful for my sister letting us stay with her for a "while". I have a trip or two planned so when we are driving her bonkers then we can "go away" for a bit.

We will finish packing (one can only hope) by tomorrow evening with the exception of a few things and perhaps some garage items. The moving truck will be loaded on Monday, the septic guy comes for the septic inspection, and the second of our two pods gets picked up and taken to storage.

It is a bit hard to pack my suitcases when I don't know how long I am packing for and I can't predict when the weather will turn fall like. I get excited just thinking about it. I think fall is such a fun season. I hope to be settling into a new home by the time it officially arrives.

I'll keep you posted. Please pray for us to find a new home and for us to get a buyer for our home in Vancouver. God is ever faithful, just the waiting sometimes gets to be a bit of a struggle. I better quit blogging and return to packing. The goal is to be in bed by midnight and it is after 11 now. Ta Ta for now.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Thank You to My Sister

I wish to thank my sister who is going house shopping for me tomorrow. I am so excited to hear her report. She is looking at 5 different homes. I think in so many ways that only a sister could "shop" for a house for a person. I know she will be honest in telling me what features I will have a love/hate relationship with.

I can't tell you how excited I am to be returning to live near my sister again. We do not always get on fabulously and yes, sometimes we fight (just a little:) but we have many fun times together, too. The fun times far outweigh the difficult ones.

Here are ten reasons why I am glad she is my sister:

l. She is a fountain of talent. She doesn't sing or dance that I am aware of, but she does play the piano, writes well, is humorous and understands computers while I only do one of those things with any real ability.

2. She doesn't try to talk me into things that I don't want to do while I on the other hand am always trying to convince her to do "something". Nina, do these words sound familiar, "It'll be fun!"

3. She cheers me when I am sad.

4. She doesn't insult the way I dress or look. She is complimentary and encouraging especially when I feel old or am having a bad hair day.

5. We laugh at things that only sister's laugh at: like things our mother says such as "Are you wearing that?" with a tone that implies you really aren't going to be wearing it even if you were."

6. We both love Longabergers, Americana, America and shopping.

7. She gets very excited when I tell her about my latest "good deal" and she never says I shouldn't have bought it.

8. She respects my opinion even when I don't deserve it.

9. She shares all of her good ideas with me.

10. She cooks fun things and my son loves her scones.

Thank you, Nina, for being a great sister. Thank you for house shopping for me! Thank you for praying and caring about all of my family. I love you. Nina,2

Monday, May 24, 2010

Camping

I really shouldn't be blogging. I really should be making a packing list and checking it twice. It is time for the annual camping trip. Actually it is more than annually, but whatever. I have the menus all made out, the laundry is almost done, the house looks ok (especially for my house) and the list goes on.

When I was a little girl my family went camping all the time. Most of the time, I didn't care for it unless a friend came along. If no one came with me then I was always lonely. The boys all had each other, mom had dad and I had no one. I took many a lonely walk while camping. I really grew to appreciate God's wonderful, marvelous creation. I absolutely loved the wildflowers and that has not changed. I still love them. I would turn anything I could find into a friend and I would tell my new friend everything. I talked all the time and it never mattered if anyone was listening or not. I knew that God was hearing me.

I always liked the food when we went camping. It was always so good and something about being outdoors made it taste even better. My mom made great camp food. We would have fried potatoes, baked potatoes, corn, steak, green beans, fried chicken (my favorite) and well you get the picture. One of my favorite parts is that we could have soda which we didn't normally get at home.

I think one of the main reasons I did not like camping is that we camped in the mountains. I would get so sick going around those curvy roads. I was never going to go camping when I grew up.

But, I did (I still try to avoid the mountains) I am glad because it really makes one appreciate the conveniences at home. A shower seldom feels better than when you haven't been in your own shower for several days. A washer/dryer is a welcome sight, and a dishwasher and a refrigerator suddenly become newly found friends.

So, I better get back to my prep work for our latest adventure. By the way, another reason I have never been a huge camping fan is the weather. Did I mention that the forecast for the weekend is: raining?

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Happy Mother's Day to My Mom

Dear Mom,
On this eve before Mother's day I just want to let you know how thrilled I am that you are my mother. I reflect more often these days, I think it is my age, but I really don't know. Whatever it is I want you to feel appreciated. So, in honor of you here are some of my thoughts.

l. One of my favorite things about you is I know I can always count on you to be praying for me and my family. This is such a comfort to me. Thank you for being a great prayer warrior and for standing in the gap for me.

2. I will always remember you for your singing. You taught me so many songs. You sang in the car all the time. I loved singing with you. You were never critical of my singing. I love the hymns and have tried to pass this love on to my children.

3. I am so glad you always took me to church. I loved going all the time. Come to think of it, I still love it and I don't like to miss. You have taught in church for so many years. How thrilling it is to think of the lives you have touched with your dedication.

4. It is a great heritage that you are so evangelistic. You have such a desire for everyone to know Jesus. I know you have spent many hours in prayer for the salvation of your loved ones as well as countless others.

5. You are a great one for celebrating!! Anything and everyone. I have fond memories of a few parties. I especially remember my 4oth that I celebrated while living with you when Rob was in Korea. It's hard to believe that was 10 years ago. It seems like yesterday.

6. You are generous to give to the Lord's work as well as others. You will share anything and give away your last penny. You have taught me a trust in this area that has served me well.

7. I know that family is very important to you. You care for them all and want to know the details of their lives. So many, many times you have come to take care of me or to help me move. What a blessing you have been over and over in this area of my life.

8. You're not afraid of very much. I still am a bit in awe of the fact that you drove back and forth to Cheney to get your degree! I also remember when I was in the 7th or 8th grade how hard you worked to get your G.E.D.

9. You have never been a quitter and you are not one to give up. I wish I was more like you in this regard. I have seen you deal with many difficult things and still hold your head high while trying to help others along the way.

10. You have always been so pretty. I am pleased to call you my mom and never ashamed of how you dress or act. You taught me to take care of myself and you set a great example.

I will admit we aren't so much alike in so many ways, but in others we are truly peas from the same pod. So many things I thought I would never understand, so many things I would never do, well rest assured I do them all. I laugh when I think about these. As a child I didn't comprehend, but as an adult, somedays I understand a little too well.

The thing I now understand the best is that love makes all the difference. When you love someone the way I love you, Mom, and the way I know you love me then the differences do not separate you, they bring you together. You are a great Mom and I love you so very much. I praise the Lord for you. Happy Mother's Day.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Wedding Dresses




Clare posted about picking out wedding dresses. It, of course, gets one thinking about their own wedding or dress whether it is past, soon to be or in the future. I thought I would share a wedding dress story of my own.

Many years ago now, almost 31 to be exact, I was busily going to school (college), and planning a wedding. However, I didn't have to shop for a dress.

It seemed that since I was a little, tiny girl. Yes, I was a tiny girl. I only weighed 96 pounds on my wedding day. Anyway, I had seen and heard about my aunt's wedding dress. It was absolutely dreamy. I had seen pictures of her in it and she was beautiful. I knew people had talked about me wearing it when someday I married. The years passed quickly and the marriage hour was soon to be upon us. I tried on the dress and it fit as if it had been made for me. So the decision was easy. Of course, I would wear it. I didn't choose to wear it because I looked fabulous in it, although I thought I looked good. I didn't choose to wear it because the price was right, although it certainly was (only a cleaning cost was involved). I didn't choose to wear it because I had dreamed of wearing it and the dream was finally coming true.

I chose to wear it to honor my aunt who had gone home to be with Jesus. I wanted to honor her memory, for my mom, for my other aunt and for my grandmother. I wanted to wear the dress because my aunt only had sons and no daughters. I wanted to wear it because I knew she loved me and she would have felt honored that I wanted to wear it.

It was a beautiful dress, now yellowed over the years with age, but still gorgeous when seen through the eyes of days gone by. Aunt Jerry, thanks for the dress. It was such a blessing.

And even then, the dress wasn't what I had my eye on. It was the groom. And I still have my eye on him:)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Not Just for Today, But for Always

Life moves on even when we are sad, or lonely. Even when we can barely put one foot in front of the other. Life goes on even when times are terrific. Money is great, bills all paid, presents all wrapped, party all lined up and guests haven't started arriving. You know all those times when you think ahhhhhh, this time I finally got it right. Although the reality for me is that I seldom feel that I got it all right. I rarely feel all caught up either. But today, I am ok with all those things. I just want to get back to normal, whatever that is for me.

Normal by my definition is when Rob goes to work, the house needs cleaning, the kids need schooling, the sun is shining or else it is raining, but whatever, and my heart is not overly burdened with someone I love. So today is not normal, but perhaps tomorrow or next week.

So for today I will cling to what I know. God is faithful, compassionate, loving, tender and merciful to His children. God sees us as far different than we see ourselves. We are His creation, the work of His fingers. I know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. I know that Jesus died for me and rose again! Hallelujah! And I know that it is enough. Not just for today, but for everyday and for always.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Just One of Life's Little Pleasures

Most every day in life we get little surprises that brighten our day and make us smile. You know, things like kisses from our kids, a sweet text from our spouse, a child who does their chores without being asked (ok, I know I am stretching it a bit here), finding something you need on clearance, finding something you don't need on clearance, but that is too good a deal to pass up, however, I am sure you are getting the picture.

Well, Saturday was one of those life's little pleasures day for me. I was standing on the basket aisle in Goodwill and simply taking my time and thinking pleasant thoughts to myself. The thought began something like this. One day I am going to find a Longaberger, no matter how big or how small, I am going to find one. Some day. I was thinking of how excited I would be when I spotted it. I imagined myself scooping it up and doing a little happy dance. Well, about at that point in my thinking I was interrupted by the reality that I needed to keep moving along. Today wasn't going to be that day, but I was happy to just be "hanging out" with my honey at Goodwill.

Then I spotted a "nice-looking" basket at the other end. I zigzagged over to check it out. As I began to untangle it from the maze, I thought, "no-way", but instantly I knew that yes, this was the day! This was my day to find my basket! I quickly hoisted it up to find those long sought after words on the bottom, Longaberger baskets, Dresden, Ohio!!!!!! Wow!!!! I can only imagine that winning the lottery is something akin to this. I was so excited. I was holding in my hands a medium gathering basket complete with divided protector. What fun for me. One of life's little pleasures. Oh!, the price was right, too! It was $2.99. What a great deal!

Would the quality of my life have been the same if I had never found a Longaberger at Goodwill? The answer is yes! But I did see my little dream fulfilled, was happy to add yet another basket to my already overflowing collection, and finally I can say, "Oh, I got that one at Goodwill."