Today was a good day! Got the house all back in order...laundry done, bed sheets changed, things put back where they belong, left-behind items packaged up to mail back to the owners, kitchen cleaned up, etc. Even got in a visit with a friend, and a phone call with my daughter.
However, the house is still a lonely, quiet place. One might expect that a quiet house after a week of company would be a welcome sanctuary, but...NO! I like it better when it has the noise and fun of the younger generation--namely, my daughter and grandchildren. I love them; I enjoy them, and I miss them when they're not around.
Maybe communal living would be a nice thing. Maybe families should stay in close proximity. Maybe this thing of stretching our wings and doing our own thing is not how it was meant to be. But, then, where would the line be drawn between families and extended families, and both sides of families that just keep growing with in-laws being added.
Oh, how I long for Heaven and home!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A B C' s
I am up late tonight; all alone. My husband is away on business. My houseful of company (family) for the last week is gone. The house is way too quiet. There is music playing (I got tired of the TV interupting my thoughts), but it's still way too quiet.
I am simply alone with my own thoughts, reminiscing the visit with my daughter and grandchildren over the last week--the sights and sounds of happiness during the last six days. Where did the time go?
Why do families end up living so far apart. Of course, there are good reasons why this happens, but those reasons do not comfort me when I miss them.
Silly me! I resorted to thinking through the alphabet--all of the family names, middle names etc., etc., etc. . . . I started writing them all out on this blog post and then realized how incredibly lengthy it was getting. So, I deleted all of it, although it was a fun little exercise!
I must be desperately lonely tonight! From such a noisy, busy household for six days, to a completely empty house! It's a good thing I have Jesus to talk to--"a Friend who sticks closer than a brother".
I am simply alone with my own thoughts, reminiscing the visit with my daughter and grandchildren over the last week--the sights and sounds of happiness during the last six days. Where did the time go?
Why do families end up living so far apart. Of course, there are good reasons why this happens, but those reasons do not comfort me when I miss them.
Silly me! I resorted to thinking through the alphabet--all of the family names, middle names etc., etc., etc. . . . I started writing them all out on this blog post and then realized how incredibly lengthy it was getting. So, I deleted all of it, although it was a fun little exercise!
I must be desperately lonely tonight! From such a noisy, busy household for six days, to a completely empty house! It's a good thing I have Jesus to talk to--"a Friend who sticks closer than a brother".
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Moments to Remember
They left for home (Montana) this morning, but after six days of fun and many special moments, I'm sure the afterglow will remain for much longer than six days. It was a wonderful visit, and they will be muchly missed!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Arriving today . . .
Drum roll, please . . .
....
Please hurry, Sherry! I really need to see my grandchildren (and you too)!
....
Please hurry, Sherry! I really need to see my grandchildren (and you too)!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Beach Party!
If "life's a beach", then it should be a beach party! And, what's a party without lots of people? Okay, that limited time offer has been extended -- all of my family and friends are invited!
Now we just need to figure out the details and the financing of it.
Now we just need to figure out the details and the financing of it.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Day is Done
And, so is our six-day visit with our friends from Southern California.
At Island Cafe -- one of our most favorite spots to eat when the weather is nice. Larry and Dave are sitting at the far back of this picture, near the edge of the boat dock.
Here's Maggie, in her favorite environment--a place to shop (on the dock where Island Cafe is situated.)
Every day with Dave and Maggie was such a delight! We hated to see the visit come to an end, but it did--too soon. We've been close friends since 1993 when we went to a Club Med resort (Huatulco) in Mexico, together, in a group of seventeen people. We went knowing others in the group, but not each other. We came home with a brand new friendship that grew deep over the years, and now, fifteen years later, though living far apart, in two different states, it seems like only yesterday that we were living near each other and enjoying incredible times together.
It's one of those friendships that never loses its closeness, no matter how far apart friends move from each other. That kind is the best! (We have several of those, and those of you reading this, know who you are.)
Their "g'bye" card to us says: Friendship...The path between friends is measured not in miles, but in memories. You're always as close as our favorite memories of you." That's so true! That's how we feel about all of our close friendships. You are our treasures, and your friendship is truly a wonderful gift to us!
Thank God for friendships that never fade away!
G'bye Dave and Maggie . . . once again, you'll be missed.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Oh, how I love cuckoo clocks!
From my dear husband's "joke of the day" collection:
________________________________________________________________
The other night I was invited out for a night with the 'girls.' I told my husband that I would be home by midnight, 'I promise!' Well, the hours passed and the margaritas went down way too easily. Around 3 a.m., a bit loaded, I headed for home.
Just as I got in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hallway started up and cuckooed 3 times. Quickly, realizing my husband would probably wake up, I cuckooed another 9 times. I was really proud of myself for coming up with such a quick-witted solution, in order to escape a possible conflict with him. (Even when totally smashed... 3 cuckoos plus 9 cuckoos totals 12 cuckoos = MIDNIGHT!)
The next morning my husband asked me what time I got in, I told him, "Midnight". He didn't seem upset in the least. Whew, I got away with that one!
Then he said, "We need a new cuckoo clock."
When I asked him why, he said, "Well, last night our clock cuckooed three times, and then swore. Cuckooed 4 more times, cleared its throat, cuckooed another three times, giggled, cuckooed twice more, and then tripped over the coffee table and swore again.
_________________________________________________________
When Larry tried to read this to me, we were laughing so hard we were in tears!
He could barely continue to read, and then proceeded to tell me that it was so funny to him because it reminded him of someone he knows well . . . well, actually, two someones (females) he knows well (one who lives under his roof, and one who used to). He quickly explained that it wasn't the getting drunk part, he was thinking about, but the quick-thinking, creative solution to getting caught.
Now, who could he be referring to? Personally, it reminded me of something my two sisters would do.
________________________________________________________________
Why females should avoid a girl's night out after they are married...
The other night I was invited out for a night with the 'girls.' I told my husband that I would be home by midnight, 'I promise!' Well, the hours passed and the margaritas went down way too easily. Around 3 a.m., a bit loaded, I headed for home.
Just as I got in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hallway started up and cuckooed 3 times. Quickly, realizing my husband would probably wake up, I cuckooed another 9 times. I was really proud of myself for coming up with such a quick-witted solution, in order to escape a possible conflict with him. (Even when totally smashed... 3 cuckoos plus 9 cuckoos totals 12 cuckoos = MIDNIGHT!)
The next morning my husband asked me what time I got in, I told him, "Midnight". He didn't seem upset in the least. Whew, I got away with that one!
Then he said, "We need a new cuckoo clock."
When I asked him why, he said, "Well, last night our clock cuckooed three times, and then swore. Cuckooed 4 more times, cleared its throat, cuckooed another three times, giggled, cuckooed twice more, and then tripped over the coffee table and swore again.
_________________________________________________________
When Larry tried to read this to me, we were laughing so hard we were in tears!
He could barely continue to read, and then proceeded to tell me that it was so funny to him because it reminded him of someone he knows well . . . well, actually, two someones (females) he knows well (one who lives under his roof, and one who used to). He quickly explained that it wasn't the getting drunk part, he was thinking about, but the quick-thinking, creative solution to getting caught.
Now, who could he be referring to? Personally, it reminded me of something my two sisters would do.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Juneuary
Okay, enough is enough! Is it June yet, or, is it still January? The answer is: It's JUNEuary! Are we ever going to have summer weather?
I just read the report on my daughter's blog that it was snowing at her house this morning! This is some crazy "summer" weather we're having this year! Put that together with all the horrific storms, flooding, and earthquakes--all of which are breaking records set long ago, makes me wonder:
Which is going to happen first
I just read the report on my daughter's blog that it was snowing at her house this morning! This is some crazy "summer" weather we're having this year! Put that together with all the horrific storms, flooding, and earthquakes--all of which are breaking records set long ago, makes me wonder:
Which is going to happen first
Monday, June 9, 2008
Words of Yesterday
I read the following blog post yesterday, June 8th, but I actually wrote it three years ago yesterday.
"Fogginess and Haze"
Yesterday morning, when I first got up and looked out the window, I noticed something unusual. The sky was completely overcast, as though a sheet had been draped down from heaven. There was no obvious pattern of clouds -- the sky was just a solid, opaque color that I couldn't see through. Yet, this phenomenom was only true off in the distance. The area surrounding me was clear as a bell, even up to a few miles away, but the hills way off in the distance (the higher elevations) were completely invisible, as though they didn't even exist!
The sight reminded me that this is how life is -- we only get to see this moment! God doesn't give us a glimpse of tomorrow, or even five minutes from now. So often it seems that what we see today makes absolutely no sense to us, and sometimes we wonder about the "how" and the "why" (of today) and the "when" and the "how" (of tomorrow), but only God knows the answer to our questions. He sees the bigger picture -- He sees clearly through the fogginess and the haze, and in His great wisdom and kindness, He protects us from knowing more than we need to know. What we can see right now is all we get for right now. We can trust Him even in the fog and the haze because He sees right through it! I'm so thankful He is that kind of God!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although they are "yesterday's" words, I found them to be so timely for now. This has truly been constant reality for me (and for my husband) for the last two years. The "fog" still hasn't lifted, and the haze is still hanging over our heads, even though yesterday was a beautiful sunny day.
Larry finally got a job (end of April), although it's not what he really wanted. So, even though he is working, he has continued on with his job search. I got a job (back in January), but had so many irreconcilable difficulties, that I finally quit it. "Job Searcher" has been my full-time occupation for the last month and half. I don't enjoy it, but this time I'm not able to quit. Our house is still up for sale, but we haven't had any calls on it yet. Actually, we haven't listed it with a realtor, nor have we advertised it anywhere besides the "For Sale" sign in our front yard. There are information flyers in the box on the sign post, but we've held off on any real marketing of our house until we finish the lower level. That project is almost completed.
The sight reminded me that this is how life is -- we only get to see this moment! God doesn't give us a glimpse of tomorrow, or even five minutes from now. So often it seems that what we see today makes absolutely no sense to us, and sometimes we wonder about the "how" and the "why" (of today) and the "when" and the "how" (of tomorrow), but only God knows the answer to our questions. He sees the bigger picture -- He sees clearly through the fogginess and the haze, and in His great wisdom and kindness, He protects us from knowing more than we need to know. What we can see right now is all we get for right now. We can trust Him even in the fog and the haze because He sees right through it! I'm so thankful He is that kind of God!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although they are "yesterday's" words, I found them to be so timely for now. This has truly been constant reality for me (and for my husband) for the last two years. The "fog" still hasn't lifted, and the haze is still hanging over our heads, even though yesterday was a beautiful sunny day.
Larry finally got a job (end of April), although it's not what he really wanted. So, even though he is working, he has continued on with his job search. I got a job (back in January), but had so many irreconcilable difficulties, that I finally quit it. "Job Searcher" has been my full-time occupation for the last month and half. I don't enjoy it, but this time I'm not able to quit. Our house is still up for sale, but we haven't had any calls on it yet. Actually, we haven't listed it with a realtor, nor have we advertised it anywhere besides the "For Sale" sign in our front yard. There are information flyers in the box on the sign post, but we've held off on any real marketing of our house until we finish the lower level. That project is almost completed.
So, in case you've been wondering about an update to our situation, there really hasn't been anything new to tell. We still don't know what's next in our lives, and God hasn't chosen to reveal it to us. It's the heaviest fog we've experienced in a very long time.
Friday, May 30, 2008
SPLAT!!!
This morning I went to an employment agency to do some testing of my office skills. What an absolute shock to my self-esteem to fall flat on my face! I was so embarressed -- no, make that mortified, to say the least! How could this happen to one so confident in her poise and abilities? Alas, it did happen--splat--flat on my face! Literally! Let me back up a sec here, and describe my preparation for this appointment.
Originally I had opted to take these tests at home where I knew I would be more relaxed, and hopefully, have the best possible test scores for my true abilities. So, yesterday, in the comfort of my own home, I took three of the five computerized tests. I did really well, and was delighted to discover that I can still type 67 words per minute! Yes! I was truly impressed with myself! Two of the tests (MS Word and Excel) would not run on my computer, so I had to make an appointment to go back into the agency office to take the tests.
This morning I smiled through my slight nervousness as I carefully got myself all up to snuff, to show that I fully fit into a top-notch professional office. When all was ready, I looked at myself in the mirror, and thought, uh-huh...lookin' good! Here I go! All ready to put my best foot forward and present myself as the best of the best!
As I drove to the agency for my appointment, I was mostly relaxed, anticipating a repeat of yesterday's successful test scores. All was well until I took my tumble -- out of my SUV, onto the parking lot payment -- FULLY SPRAWLED OUT for all to see! What a lovely--no, make that hilarious sight for anyone who happened to be watching what was going on in the parking lot. A car slowly came by. I layed there, hurting badly, watching to see if the driver would show concern for my well-being. I thought of her as, perhaps, the "good Samaritan", but, no. She ignored me lying there on the ground. I finally decided to see if I could get up, despite the fact that it felt like I might have broken bones. Yes, I could get up, and yes, I could walk, and no, there wasn't anything broken, except maybe my confidence and self-esteem!
I did fine on the tests, albeit a bit shaken. I have only minor abrasions to show for it. Oh, I found out this morning that they have already submitted my resume for an "Office Manager" position. If I get called for an interview, I certainly hope there is no repeat of this morning's performance!
Originally I had opted to take these tests at home where I knew I would be more relaxed, and hopefully, have the best possible test scores for my true abilities. So, yesterday, in the comfort of my own home, I took three of the five computerized tests. I did really well, and was delighted to discover that I can still type 67 words per minute! Yes! I was truly impressed with myself! Two of the tests (MS Word and Excel) would not run on my computer, so I had to make an appointment to go back into the agency office to take the tests.
This morning I smiled through my slight nervousness as I carefully got myself all up to snuff, to show that I fully fit into a top-notch professional office. When all was ready, I looked at myself in the mirror, and thought, uh-huh...lookin' good! Here I go! All ready to put my best foot forward and present myself as the best of the best!
As I drove to the agency for my appointment, I was mostly relaxed, anticipating a repeat of yesterday's successful test scores. All was well until I took my tumble -- out of my SUV, onto the parking lot payment -- FULLY SPRAWLED OUT for all to see! What a lovely--no, make that hilarious sight for anyone who happened to be watching what was going on in the parking lot. A car slowly came by. I layed there, hurting badly, watching to see if the driver would show concern for my well-being. I thought of her as, perhaps, the "good Samaritan", but, no. She ignored me lying there on the ground. I finally decided to see if I could get up, despite the fact that it felt like I might have broken bones. Yes, I could get up, and yes, I could walk, and no, there wasn't anything broken, except maybe my confidence and self-esteem!
I did fine on the tests, albeit a bit shaken. I have only minor abrasions to show for it. Oh, I found out this morning that they have already submitted my resume for an "Office Manager" position. If I get called for an interview, I certainly hope there is no repeat of this morning's performance!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
This Moment in Time
More "food for thought" . . .
"Don't wait 'till tomorrow to wish for this moment today."
That's good...dontcha think?
Think about it.
"Don't wait 'till tomorrow to wish for this moment today."
That's good...dontcha think?
Think about it.