The Middle of the Week

Nothing too exciting going on, but it is sunny and that is always like a party to my spirit! I walked Mika today, or should I say: I dragged her? Funny dog! But, on the way home, she knows we're close and then she's raring to go - and drags me! Funny owner! :)

Good Morning!

Miss me???? Until Emily taught me a new trick for this site (you can actually get comments sent to your e-mail! Here's how she said to do it: Go to your dashboard and click settings, then comments, then scroll down and enter your e-mail address) I had forgotten all about it! But here I am, and I will explain my absence this week...

To begin with, hormones are making my brain spin like Fred Flinstones feet when he's revving up to go in the car (remember?). Add to that a multitude of to-do's - and, a new PUPPY, well, life is just chaotic. But, today is supposed to rain, and I hope it gets grey and just pours, so I can pour over my stack of unread magazines! If it's nice outside, Mike will be panting to get out and go. :(

Now, the puppy.... Mika (pronounced meeka) is work! Lots and lots of it; just like having a newborn. So, that's my reason for not blogging. There's only so much brain space left in this 49-year-old braino - and she's taking it all! :)

No Comparison

I'm sitting at my desk, which gives me a whole panoramic view of the goings on of the neighborhood. The ever-changing seasons bring variance to the landscape, and nothing is ever the same; but it's always delightful, as I get to watch the blooms stretch out into the sun, or at other times, watch the fall leaves say good-bye to the loving arms of the trees. Just now, I got to see a sight better than these ---- my husband, decked out in his sexy bicycling outfit.

As he pedaled across my view, I thought of how sexy, handsome, smart, and disciplined that man of mine is. Then... I thought of me. Umm, I need a little more work in some of those areas! I'm not exactly any of those four descriptions, but I am always striving to be more disciplined (man, that takes a lot of work! not exactly my forte).

Then, I thought of the one thing that matters most - salvation! I'm saved, saved, wonderfully saved, and if I'm never ever any of those other things, well, it will be okay. Belonging to Jesus and having purpose in Him, outshines everything else by comparison. Glad the Lord looks at the heart!

Cloudy with Warmth

It was supposed to rain today, and the sky tried its best to put on a scary face. However, it ended up being the perfect day for preparing for spring -- pruning, raking, spraying off the pool deck. I just can't wait till I can play Scrabble with Susan by the pool, and jump in, in between turns. Pretty soon!!

Another treat today was being able to hang a small load of clothes and watch them sway in the breeze. I've always loved that; and the way the clothes smell at the end of the day -Yum!

How was your Sunday?

Oh! A happy Wednesday, indeed!

Wanna know why? Cuz after that blog I just posted this morning (see below) I went to read two comments, which to me are like fun packages, and one of them was from Shannon! Hello, Shannon! I prayed for you this morning. xo

Greetings!

It's been a while since I've written because Mike was home on a mini vacation. When husbands are home, a wife's life gets totally topsy-turvy. I like the topsy of fun (like golfing together), but am not fond of the turvy (routines ruined and home in a harried mess).

So, here it is Wednesday - my favorite day of the week - and I am playing catch-up. The list of to-do's is tall as a giant redwood, and my brain is leaning like that famous tower. However, as our days so shall our strength be; that's what God tells us in His word. So, gonna just nestle in the Lord's strength and not wrestle with any anxiety, as I keep doing the next thing, one thing at a time. Happy Wednesday! :)

Happy Saturday

Good morning! Having been up since 5 a.m., these four cups of coffee are keeping me awake. This last one I made had half non-fat milk, half strong coffee, bits of candy cane, and a few white chocolate chips - stirred, not shaken. Quite yummy, I must say! If only it was calorie-free; I'd drink it all day long!

Oh, and this too --

I had four moles removed (what a Valentine's gift!) today. No freezing them off. Oh, no. I had to be poked with a dang needle - four times - to deaden them so she could cut them off. Not that I looked. No, like a kid my legs were wiggling and my fists were covering my eyeballs. But, I made it, thank God. Afterwards the doc says, "I'm proud of you." But she didnt' give me a sucker! Darn being grown up!

The Big 5-0

No, not my age.....a few more months before that scary milestone - but it's the number of blogs I've posted. Wow!

So, Happy Valentine's to all your friendys! Mike and I went to Logan's for a steak Valentine's celebration. It was good. Today he's been gone, but he'll be home way later. My Valentine today was the Lord Himself. I was supposed to walk with my sis, then hit Curves with Susan. Instead, the Lord was gently calling, so I finally cancelled my to-do's and stayed home with Him. He showed me many things I did not know, but have been asking Him about. Sweeter than a box of chocolates!

And now, it's time to wash my face and get ready to switch the channels between American Idol and the Olympics. If you were disappointed in this day of love, then look to Jesus and let God's Love overwhelm you! Ta Ta.

Olympic Mania

I am loving watching the Olympics. I do have one gripe (of course lol) - my peepers wanna quit peeping around 10:30, and all the best stuff is on after that! Amy is going to have to teach me to record on video!!!

Anyhoo, I love the three-week mania. My only hope is that tomorrow when American Idol is on, the Olympics are showing something I don't like. But drats, I think I like it all!

Michelle Kwan's not being there has freaked my grooove, and the Tomatoe Man winning the pipe stuff was something to cheer about, even if I didnt' seen his last run. Darn these peepers of mine!

shallow hal?

Forget Hal! I'm pretty shallow myself, these days. I'm reeeeeeealy hoping it's menopause, but I can barely remember anything, barely eek the right words out, and am just about as shallow as an ant pool (how do people find interesting things to talk about?)! How did this happen?!

But~! Wanna know the fun of it???? Grin grin grin. I'm not easily disappointed! Nope, I just float through life enjoying the smallest of the small things. Well, not ants, though. They still bug me. Mike has told me for years that simple minds are easy to please, and thank God it is true! Every day is a party!

I might be as shallow as Hal, but I'm as happy as Cinderella, so who can find anything wrong with that? And by the way, i love comments!!!

Huffing & Puffing

No, I'm not trying to blow down any houses; my lungs and heart are just pounding from my 7-mile bike ride. It's been a while... too long of a while! Let me just say that I have a spare tire - and it's not for my bike!!!! In fact, now that I think about it, it's not for anything! You know what just hit me? The idea that it's like a spare room, or the trunk of the car. All the extra gets thrown in those spaces. Yikes, like the excess food I've eaten over the years. Ok, so no wonder I'm huffing and puffing so much!

Earlier today (and get ready, cuz this is true confessions time) I actually strode right into the kitchen and stood there gobbling fish while making Mike and I fish tacos for lunch (I know... since I ate one standing, I only ate one at lunch...gulp...big gulp lol). And do you know why I did all that stuffing? Because I looked in the mirror, saw an oldish woman who had tons of weight to lose. Now, for a normal-thinking person, this would make you get on the treadmill. For me, it sent me to the treadmill of eating to stuff down those yukky feelings. There, a little insight into the mind of an overeater.

Ok, so later, I had to ask myself, "What is the truth, here?" Well, "Self," I said, "The truth is that this can be stopped, fixed, healed." Amen. And then I hopped on my bike. :)

Huffing & Puffing

No, I'm not trying to blow down any houses; my lungs and heart are just pounding from my 7-mile bike ride. It's been a while... too long of a while! Let me just say that I have a spare tire - and it's not for my bike!!!! In fact, now that I think about it, it's not for anything! You know what just hit me? The idea that it's like a spare room, or the trunk of the car. All the extra gets thrown in those spaces. Yikes, like the excess food I've eaten over the years. Ok, so no wonder I'm huffing and puffing so much!

Earlier today (and get ready, cuz this is true confessions time) I actually strode right into the kitchen and stood there gobbling fish while making Mike and I fish tacos for lunch (I know... since I ate one standing, I only ate one at lunch...gulp...big gulp lol). And do you know why I did all that stuffing? Because I looked in the mirror, saw an oldish woman who had tons of weight to lose. Now, for a normal-thinking person, this would make you get on the treadmill. For me, it sent me to the treadmill of eating to stuff down those yukky feelings. There, a little insight into the mind of an overeater.

Ok, so later, I had to ask myself, "What is the truth, here?" Well, "Self," I said, "The truth is that this can be stopped, fixed, healed." Amen. And then I hopped on my bike. :)

First Whopping Paycheck

Ola!

Did you like my bilingual greeting? I'm sure you are impressed with my use of the south-of-the-border dialect!! Really, I should have said, "Saluti," because I had Margherita pizza for dinner. When the moon hit my eye I craved a big pizza pie, and that's what I picked up to pop in the oven after work. It was yummo, or molto buon - very good, in Italian.

Oh! Did I tell you I've been dying to go to Italy?! Well, I have been! So, imagine my delight when I turned the page in this month's Cooking Light mag and saw that the grand prize in a pizza-making contest was a 5-day trip to Italy!! Then, a few days later i was reading a book (can't remember which one) that mentioned a missionary trip to Italy. Maybe the two could be combined - fun and service - all at the expense of some wine grower offering the contest?

Anyhoo, I would love to win, and must come up with a killer pizza concoction before the end-of-March deadline. I will!!! And hey, I've already had scooter practice, so when I hit the streets of Nopoli, I'll be ready to hop on that Vespa and go, go, go! Oh, and I hope when I win that God will turn Mike into a lean (he's already that), mean (ok, that, too), romantic (bring it on!!!!)machine!! Ah, amore romantico!!

This is all for now - arrivederci il mio amico!

Shannon.....

are you still alive??? :)

Ants

There are aunts, fun-loving relatives that you love to be around. Then there are ants - those pesky varmits that you don't ever want around and can hardly get rid of! The ants might not be a strong folk (Proverbs 30:25) but they are definitely determined!

Now, Mike and I have persistently battled these six-legged minuscule bothers for 6 months, and it seems to us that they are well outliving their 45-60 lifespan! I think the grandants are telling their grandchildants that our house is heaven, because they strive so hard to be here!

But maybe the Lord is using those ants as a visual message - "Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest (don't these ants realize the harvest ended months ago?!). How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?" (Proverbs 6:6-9.)

It could be the need for more discipline in my chores that the Lord is trying to remind me of, but that word determined I used to describe our diligent guests has nailed me to the wall. Writing my book, getting involved at church, being hospitible... I am not very determined to get going in these areas. Also, though we've smashed, yelled at (LOL), and sprayed them, the ants doggedly return. Nothing is deterring them.... get the picture?

Anyhoo, I am still determined to kill off these visual aids, but perhaps I ought to learn from them first!

A Great Week

It's been a really nice week. All week I had been working on an article on procrastination, then determined, by God's grace, to live what I was learning. Well, let me tell you some things I've noticed: First, I've been in a great mood. I hate to admit this, but I am really thinking that some of my depression is correlated to my lack of discpline. gulp. I reeeeealy did not like admitting that. Anyhoo, also, it's a joy to learn and apply. I mean, I've always loved learning, but never loved applying@! hahahahahaah. Those of you who know me well, know this about me. Anyhoo, when today, this wonderful end of the week showed up, my brain was clear - and so was my list of to-do's! A thousand hurrahs. May it become a lifelong habit! :)

OH, Brother!

In my laundry room has sat a clothes basket, pile up to the sky with clean clothes. Every time I have to go near that room, I cringe, not wanting to face that mound of duty.

Well, the jokes on me, 'cuz I finally forced my procrastinating self to attack. It literally took me 3 minutes to fold the clothes, because the largest portion of that high pile was ALREADY FOLDED towels!!

Moral of the story: No matter how high the pile, it is never costs as much time as letting things pile up (procrastinating)!

Winter Wonderland

Mornin'! At a cool 34 degrees, it's no wonder ice was covering the car's windows! This just might be the day that my cherry tomato plant realizes that summer is over! I've still had the pleasure of picking those little red delights! Yum.

Like the weather, our hearts can grow cold toward the things of God. The man who taught our OT class last night suggested this as our homework:

• Get Quiet.
• Quiet your heart and ask the Lord: What needs to go? Where am I not trusting you? How can I show you I love you this week?

I thought those were pretty thought-provoking, revealing, and hopefully, warm up any hearts that have frozen over this winter. Write me if you do this and let me know how it goes. :)