Friday, April 29, 2011

TGIF!!!

Really it’s been a good week but I am ready for the weekend. I have it off which is nice because so does Mike and that means tomorrow morning we are going to go geo-caching. He doesn’t know this yet but he will after I get home tonight from my workout. He sent me a list of them the other day so I’ll get that printed out and we’ll go play a bit. In the afternoon my nephew will be here so him and Mike will be having a blast and then in the evening it’s family game night at my parents. We’ll have a wiener roast, croquet and a game of catopoly (which I always lose at but the boys love). But before the weekend gets here I have a couple of pictures to share with you.

The squirrels are driving Wilbur bonkers. He will run outside trying to catch them but they are fast and he’s not that fast so he sits in my office chair and watches them outside the window.

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Then on Thursday while Justin was in pre-school Jossilyn and Hannah got to play. Of course Wilbur sucks up all the love and attention he can.

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The puppy and Jossilyn are a hoot together. Where one is the other is also.

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All in all it was a great week. I still haven’t done a single craft. There just isn’t enough time in my day to get that done. I have so many ideas and then yesterday on Martha Stewart show there was a lady that made baby bloomers and she had the coolest book with ideas so of course I went to Amazon and found a used one I have to have. The book is called 
"Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching" by Heather Ross. Maybe a weekend project can turn into a nap time project and I can do something. We’ll see.

So now it’s onwards and upwards to a wonderful, fun-filled, relaxing (well sorta), rejuvenating weekend. Take care my friends and have a blessed day.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

From this….to this…

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From this on Monday……….

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To this on Wednesday……..WTH, why? I know cuz I live in Minnesota and it even snows on July 4th. UGH…..will it ever end? I’m so tired of winter. I’m tired of being cold. I’m tired of wearing jeans, I want shorts. I’m tired of looking like a beached whale, it’s time for a tanned one.

On Monday Mike and I also went for a 10.56 mile bike ride on the

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We had a great time though I am still not a happy camper riding a bike but we had a great time anyways. So you can enjoy some of our countryside I will share a few pictures with you. Even though winter refuses to let go I wouldn’t trade Minnesota for anywhere else in this great world of ours.

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This is a spoil pile along the edge of one of the pit lakes.

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Our area is a mining area. We have quite a few open pit lakes that have left over reminders of the life that use to be part of the area. See the old railroad tracks?

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Well it’s hump day and it was library day. Two weeks ago Justin and I brought in some duck eggs and he did a small presentation for the little ones. He was so proud. Here’s the library’s picture they took of him.

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And also, introducing my littlest one….meet Josselyn. She’s my newest wee one. She turned one last week.

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So there you have it, well mostly, I have two more photo’s to share with you. On our way home Monday evening we came in the back way and less then a mile from our home we saw this…..now you know why we fence everything. Why the apples trees never have apples and the plum trees don’t get past the budding stages.

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Guess what it’s still doing? Yep, snowing but now big fluffy pretty flakes but still snowing. I will sure enjoy summer when it gets here.

Take care everyone. Happy Hump Day and thank you for stopping by. God Bless you all!!!

Last but not least…

STARTING OVER….

The two important things I did learn were that you are as powerful and strong as you allow yourself to be, and that the most difficult part of any Endeavour is taking the first step, making the first decision. – Robyn Davidson

These words were written by a woman who learned to handle camels and traveled alone with them across the Australian Outback. Somehow the intensity of the circumstances under which she gathered these learning's make them even more profound. What if each of us believed that we are “as powerful and strong” as we allow ourselves to be? What if we quit trying to be accepted by everyone and gave up trying not to alienate anyone and just let ourselves be as strong and powerful as we are? Nothing extraordinary, mind you, just as wonderfully powerful as we naturally are.

And, what if we let ourselves take the first step towards what we really want? Nothing big…no fanfares…just do it!!

REMEMBER today really is the first day of the rest of my life.

AMEN!!!

If you want a good book for meditations, check this one out at your local library.

Meditations, For Women who do too much. By Anne Wilson Schaef. It has helped me with my daily meditations and I asked the library if I could check it out again, this is the third time and since it’s not a well used book I get it for another two weeks. YEAH!!! Lots of things to read, think about and then listen.

Even though Lent is over, our Lord has risen from the grave to give us the opportunity to be in heaven when we die, I am going to continue my meditation. I am no where near up to a full 30 minutes of just listening but I’m learning. And I think this has been one of the best Lents for Christ yet.

Take care my friends and have a blessed day.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Part two: SOLITUDE…

I have been fretting about the empty nest. I have been afraid that what Jim and I had before Mike won’t return and that I’ll be left standing alone to do the things that make me happy. I’m wrong. So very wrong. The love is still there, the passion is still there and yes we’ve both grown into completely different people we are still the same in many ways too. The biggest fact, we love each other for now, for always, no matter what.

SOLITUDE:

You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub. – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Solitude is such a blessing! Everyone needs time alone. Often we are fearful of time alone, because there is no one for us to encounter but ourselves. How comforting it is to go to ourselves! How much like returning home to an old friend or lover after having been away too long visiting places that felt foreign and unfamiliar.

Our solitude is one of the pleasures that only we can arrange. It is up to us to see that we regenerate through our time with ourselves. We have the right, and we have the power. If we do not model respect for our own need for solitude, our children will never learn that they deserve their time alone.

LET ME REMEMBER that there is nothing more soothing than sound of running water, even if it is only in my bathtub.

Take care my friends, find a quiet corner and just relax and collect yourself and enjoy. God bless you all!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

What I learned… a 3 part series:

Remember for Lent I was going to meditate each day for at least 30 minutes? Well it’s personal, lots of learning, listening and more but there are two things I want to share with you. To very important things. Also no matter what you think about life, meditation is good for the soul. It doesn’t have to be spiritual, it can just be self centering or soul searching or just plain old regular quiet time.

#1. Living in the Moment:

Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries – Corita Kent

We women who do too much have a terrible time loving the moment. We are always making lists and eyeing the tasks that are just around the corner when we need to be busy working on the task at hand. Hence, rarely does anything get out full, undivided attention. Because of this subtle distractibility and lack of presence, we miss a lot.

When we really can be in the moment, the very process of being in the moment radiates into the crevices of our life and begins to dust out the cobwebby corners.

PRESENCE is such a gift….to myself and other.

This last Monday I spend the day with my family and I put my heart and soul into that day. No distractions, no thinking about what’s next, nothing but family, together, fellowship and fun.

This is so true, LIVE IN THE MOMENT!!!

Take care my friends, tomorrow will be my second insight. God bless you all.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

HAPPY EASTER….

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First, it’s my birthday today. I’m 49. No I don’t lie about my age, I’m earned every gray hair and and wrinkle I have. I enjoy my life and everything the good Lord has giving me. I have been blessed with so many wonderful friends and a wonderful family and the worlds greatest daycare kids.

The kids had a great time on Easter vacation and even have one more day to go and we’ll be working on Mother’s days gifts then.

We decorated Easter eggs, went and visited with grandma and grandpa and also great grandma. We had a blast. Of course I took pictures to share so here they are.

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Tomorrow is Easter. Family time. Time to remember what Easter is even all about. It sure isn’t just the bunny and the eggs.

Behind the festive joys, feast, fun and family enjoyment, Easter reminds all of a significant event. The event that Jesus Christ was resurrected, after having suffered and died. It reminds you that Christ, who was crucified on, what is now called, the Good Friday, showed himself up on the Easter. So, it is a time to celebrate. To celebrate - that Lord, who appeared on Earth for the good of mankind, is always with us. This is what it means to me.

HAPPY EASTER my friends. May you all have a blessed day.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Como Conservatory, Minneapolis, MN

That’s where I took mama, daddy, my aunt Pat, Mike and Scott yesterday. Really Mike and Scott went to the zoo while we visited thousands and thousands of beautiful flowers, trees and so much more. We had a blast visiting with Pat and Daryle and then heading to the conservatory. We ended our day with a trip to Old Country Buffet for a fine afternoon dinner. It was perfect weather with just the right amount of clouds and sunshine and not to hot and not to cold. I have a zillion pictures I could share with you but will try and just pick out a bunch to show you. If you live anywhere within a hundred miles or so you’ve got to take the time to go and see this beautiful place. They have many different “shows” through out the year like Poinsettia's in the winter, fall flowers in the autumn and a summer display also. Okay, pictures…..

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It was a great day. I hope we can do it again but with the gas prices right now it cost me $75.00 to go to the cities and back so I think it’ll be a little bit at before we can go but really can you place a dollar amount on the time you spend with family? Nope, so we’ll just go again soon.

Take care my friends, enjoy the spring show and have a blessed evening.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

This week in pictures…oh and a few words…

So do you want to see birthday pictures? Scouts pictures, part/full moon, ducks, more kids?  Our first picnic, the beaver in the creek? And Wilbur checking out the baby chicks in the brooder box? Oh and Monster Bobby, the crabby cat from Mars! I have them all so here, take a peek.

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Simba is Scout’s new friend. He lets her nibble on his back leg and pull him all over the kitchen.

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Wilbur is adjusting and now even playing with the puppy. Mid way through the week Mike said the puppy was getting cold so I picked her up a little t-shirt at the thrift store for .38 cents.

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She is the cutest puppy. Mike makes the perfect “daddy”. They are a great pair together.

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See these ducks? For years they have looked at the pond but refused to get into it. Well since the Muscovy's  like it they now all use it. YEAH!!! The pond will stay clean and nice looking as long as they use it.

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Mid week and the moon. Mike took these pictures. I love them.

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Monster Bobby mad because …. well because he hates everything lately.

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Justin turned 5 on Friday. Ain’t he the cutest 5 year old around. I sure do think so. He’s my little helper at daycare and I love him so much.

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This is what I woke up to this morning. YUCK!!! Why can’t winter just leave? We have burned up just about 14 cords of wood this year. Less then 1/2 cord left so it needs to get warm very, very soon.

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Here’s the moon tonight. Did you get to see it? It’s beautiful!!!

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I know it’s hard to see, this is my cell phone picture but there’s a huge beaver in the creek.

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Wilbur spends the better part of an hour watching the baby chicks. When we built the brooder box we put this little slider door in so when the babies get bigger they can get some fresh air, until then Wilbur peeks a lot.

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And our first picnic of the week. It was Wednesday and a bit windy but so nice out. I even wore shorts on Tuesday it was so nice. Now…..snow and cold.

It was a good week here. There is always so much happening. A week I wouldn’t trade for a million bucks. I hope you all had a great week and a relaxing and wonderful weekend. God Bless you all!!