Ah, life!

No posting here for awhile! Life has been busy and fun! Between the times of activities with church and friends, visits with friends far away (coming to us and us going to them), times of illness and recovery, etc., my time is spent with catching up on things that must be done around the house! And, sometimes I just want to rest from everything for awhile.

Overall, life has been good, and we are enjoying it the full! Larry has been doing a lot of traveling on business, and that will continue for awhile. He is usually gone for a full week each time he goes, all over the country. So, it seems like I should have plenty of extra time to write some blog posts, but I tend to fill up my time with other things--either necessary catch-up or focusing on things more fun than blogging.

We are finally in the last year of counting down the months until Larry's retirement. Next April he will complete five years of working for FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) here in Dallas. He's already 65, but his goal is to have five years in with FDIC in order to qualify for some retirement benefits. What comes next after that, we haven't a clue!

We have been praying about God's plan for us when we enter the retirement stage of life, but so far we don't know His leading. We know we would like to travel, but we don't know where we will live. We love it right here, but we also love being near our kids and grandkids. The problem is, both of those families live very far apart (Northwest Montana and Southern California). Yikes! Even if we chose a place half way between them, it would still be an awful long drive to either of them, and we would have to totally start over again with finding a new church and friends. If we stay here, then we will need to choose between staying in our current house, or moving into a retirement community which also looks good to us. It is in a very good location for us, and living there would be lots of fun, but more expensive than staying right where we are.

Choices to make, seeking God's wisdom and direction, enjoying life in the present while thinking ahead as the months are flying by!

Passion of the Christ

My friend, Karen, (from Oregon) is visiting with me for a whole week--what a wonderful week we've had together! She just shared this video with me and I am still stunned, in awe of what I have just experienced through this! Please take the time (30 minutes) to watch this video in its entirety. You won't regret it.

Food Poisoning

If you haven't had it, you are truly blessed!  I was infected with it a little over a week ago after eating at one of our favorite restaurants--Mediterranean.  Spending most of your time in bed may sound like a special treat, for Mothers Day, perhaps, but after one or two days of it, it get's old!  Plus, the abdominal pain (make that abominable pain) and bowel cramping is enough to make even a strong person cry after several days of it.

The only upside I can think of is that, even though I've just been lying in bed day after day, the sudden jumping out of bed and running to the bathroom frequently has been exercise for me. 

Yesterday, after 3 days of being on an antibiotic and a "sedative" type pill to calm the cramping, the doctor added another antibiotic and replaced the sedative with a different one, since there was no improvement or relief  yet.  So today is a day and a half later, on the new medicines, and I think, maybe, there is slight improvement, but I'm not sure yet if that is just wishful thinking.  I have to call the doc again later today, but I'm not sure yet what I'm going to tell him.

So, if you're bored with your life, and want to try something new, how about food poisoning?   

Dance of the Peacock

Click here to enjoy the show of this stunning white peacock!

His stance is fanciful, his look is proud!

His display is glorious, his voice is loud!

He must be seen, and must be heard!

His desire is strong; and will not be deterred!

He steps and struts and swirls about

As he spreads his fan and gives a shout--

His mating call, his dance of pride,

To display his love and woo his bride.

We watch in awe as he turns and calls,

With graceful feathers that rise and fall.

His winsome beauty was meant to attract.

His Creator made him thus, and that’s a fact!

He began as a peacock, and is still that today.

His species didn’t evolve as others went away.

Males attract females, and their pairing produces

More peacocks with feathers, not monkeys or gooses.
 

Here's two more peacock pics from my friend, Sandy. She took these pictures in Hawaii.

The Circle of God's Help

I just read something this morning that made me stop and think about the way of life for those who ask God for HIs help: He is the giver of true joy. It starts with hope. When you get hope, you get joy. When you get joy, you get strength. When you get strength, you get more hope . . . and so it goes, on and on, as you look to God for His help in your life.

Want more of this? Look to God more often. Focus on Him throughout your day. Deepen your relationship with Him. It's a "delicious" circle (instead of a vicious circle.)

Like a Good Cup o' Coffee

Tepid coffee just isn't very satisfying, and I want to be satisfied to the last drop.
So glad I have a microwave!

Thinking further on this one:
That's how it is with my relationship with God--
I want to be satisfied to the last drop!
I'm not satisfied with just a "tepid" relationship with God.  I want full and deep satisfaction, which requires keeping it hot, not just luke warm!

Think On These Things . . .

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace with be with you." ~ The Apostle Paul (Philippians 4: 8-9)

Greatest Day in History!

The Thrill of Bluebonnet Hill

Contrary to the well-known song "Yellow Rose of Texas", the bluebonnet is the official state flower of Texas. This time of the year we see the bluebonnets, but only for a short time, so it's a BIG deal when the bluebonnets are in bloom.

Everyone finds the closest bountiful field of blooms, and goes to take pictures with their loved ones sitting or laying on the ground among the blossoms. It's tradition and must be done if you're a real Texan!

So, this past Saturday we went for a "stroll"--or should I say "roll" (actually, we drove in our Corvette with the top down--the car top, not mine) down Bluebonnet Trail in Ennis, Texas. It was beautiful--both the weather and the scenery! It always delights me to see people enjoying the beauty of nature in this way. Lovers snuggle, children romp, and parents just try to keep everyone in the picture, always trying for just the right pose.

I love this tradition!

 

Here We Come -- Ready or Not!

(This is part 3 of our move to Dallas, Texas. To start at the beginning of the story, click here.)

    Sunday, April  11, 2010:    Texas, we have arrived!

  We are soooo glad to finally be here! Man, was that a long drive!



 It feels great to be out of the car and into our new homeland!

For the first few days we will bunk in with some family friends.

Tomorrow (Monday, April 12, 2010) Larry starts his new job with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Dallas.

        It's good to be "home"!

That's all for now, folks. It took me way too long to get the photos and the text to align properly and then stay where I wanted it!

When the Rose Will Bloom Again

I penned this today in honor of a FB "friend" (Paula Knight  and  husband Glen) for whom I have been praying almost constantly during the last few weeks.  Paula's struggle with pain and multiple life-threatening crises ended today when God took her Home to be with Him.

April 2010 (continued)

What a month this was four years ago! (If you haven’t read the beginning of this saga, you can click here to start at the beginning.)

Our daughter Sherry arrived on the last Tuesday of March, and organized a huge “clean out our house” project (also known as a mega garage sale). From the time she arrived until she left, we pretty much stayed busy from early morning till next day early morning, except for a few hours of sleep in the early hours of morning each day. It was exhausting, but highly productive and successful!

As I write this, on the first Friday of April, 2014, I realize that it was also on the first Friday of April, 2010 that our pre-move garage sale began. Long before the published start time, people were already parked outside, waiting for the garage door to open, to get “first dibs” on the treasures within. After two very full days, the garage was nearly empty, and the remaining treasure trove was carted away by two people who had stood by (prearranged) waiting to receive the unsold bounty—for free.

The next day was Easter Sunday and we gladly enjoyed a Sabbath rest, complete with a family dinner that was enjoyed by a family (including our son Jim and daughter-in-law Patti) so happy to celebrate Easter together!  Getting both of our kids together with us under one roof is a rare treat, since our three families live in three different states, all across the county!

On Monday I had the fun challenge of helping Sherry pack as much of my chosen stuff as she could fit into her suitcase to take home with her. (I think we even added another suitcase to her load to cart home.) Monday was also Larry’s last day of work as a Bank Examiner for the State of Oregon.

On Tuesday, not long after we said g’bye to Sherry, my friend Maggie (from California) arrived to spend the next 2 days with me. Wow! Straight from a week’s visit with my daughter into a visit with one of my best friends! What a way to close out life in the gray and rain of the Pacific Northwest!

Thurday, April 8, 2010 dawned bright and early as we began our journey to our new life in Texas! That’s it for now, y'all!

To be continued . . .

Choices Reap Natural Consequences!

I guess this means if I choose to have my wisdom teeth pulled out, I also have to endure the painful consequences!

Hmmm, I wonder if there's any way to escape that.....

Seen yesterday in an oral surgeon's office

Having my wisdom teeth (both upper) pulled out seems like a BAD dream! (There goes half of my wisdom), and if "today" is all I have (and my wisdom teeth haven't bothered me at all ever), then why get them pulled out???

4 Years Ago

On this date in history, our daughter Sherry arrived at our house in Beaverton, Oregon (from Montana) to help us get ready to move to Dallas, Texas.   What a whirlwind that began!

 

She began her visit by systematically taking me on a guided tour through my house, gently (but somewhat firmly) suggesting I get rid of 2/3 of my stuff!  You see, her purpose in coming was to help me with a garage sale, which I didn't want to bother with, because there wasn't much I wanted to give up.  Larry had tried suggesting we have a pre-moving garage sale, full-well knowing the resistance he would get from me.  His next "suggestion" was to invite Sherry to come for a visit, knowing full-well that one of her favorite specialties and expertise is garage sales.  He also knew that I couldn't resist an opportunity for a visit with Sherry.

 

She gladly accepted that invitation and came.  My home became "her" home and my stuff became "her" stuff for a whole week!  She watched me try to resist her suggestions, and she hugged me when I cried.  She reassured me whenever I struggled with decisions to say "goodbye" to relatively unimportant possessions, and "high-fived" me whenever I succeeded in giving in to her advice. She also wisely backed off whenever she realized I just couldn't let go of some things.  

 

By the end of the week my home contained a mere skeletal amount of what had filled the closets and cabinets before she arrived, but our piggy banks were full, and boxes to be packed would be fewer!  I think we sent Sherry home exhausted, but my heart was full of gladness and gratitude for the week spent with her.  

To be continued . . .

(Click here to continue reading)

Peace & Joy

I can't help but feel at peace when I place myself in this boat.

Ahhhhh, the joy of being in such a tranquil setting!

Who knows the location of this picture?  

Happy Spring!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Just One of Life's Little Oddities

Whew!  I made it--just in time!   I walked in, quickly closed the door behind me and slid the latch bar to the left.   Immediately, I turned my attention to the white carton and began removing a sheet of  white paper from it.  My hands trembled a bit.  I was anxious to get on with the task at hand. 

Then I sensed something amiss, and whirled around to find the door swinging open . . . I thought I had locked it.  Good thing I hadn’t begun to disrobe yet!   Once the door was securely returned to its locked position, I returned to the matter of removing the piece of paper from the white carton.  Once removed, I quickly unfolded it and spread it out.   My breathing quickened a bit as I began fumbling with the fasteners on my clothing, eager to get comfortable and relax for awhile.  

Whoosh!  The sound made me jump, and I spun around just in time to see the white paper swirling and disappearing right before my eyes!  I couldn’t believe it!    After all that work and wasted time, alas, it was gone!  So, I resigned myself to starting all over again, and, in my state of being half-dressed and half-undressed, I pulled out another sheet of paper from the white carton and began to work with it.  As I tugged and pulled at it in all directions, it seemed to be shredding badly.  In my attempt to separate it at the appropriate places, all the parts that needed to remain connected had become disconnected, and  before long, I realized it was so torn-up, it was useless!

By now my frustration had risen to such a level that all I could do was laugh out loud as I tried once again to open, spread out, and smooth down a third sheet of protective toilet seat covering!  So much for being in a hurry!

Ah, the fun of laughing out loud, in a public place, at life’s private oddities, and having no one to tell about it!  Oh, Jeannie, Jeannie!