Going

After work today we are heading north to our other property until Monday. This will be our last weekend away until after the 1st of January next year. I signed up for a fondant class, no this doesn't mean I am making the cake, but we are looking at the possibility. After they get a place for the reception (next weeks focus) they will work on the invitations. We will go and look at wedding cakes and see what is out there. I will dig out my recipes for speciality coffees, call the church to borrow certain things, etc., etc, etc. And start preparing my house for a houseful. Life is taking a turn on the freeway for awhile, so I am going to enjoy a few days off. Remember God is good! and miracles do happen!
Have a great week, and God Bless ♥

Living Well Wednesdays

I have had an OK week with my diet or rather I should say my change of eating habits. I have noticed that I am not eating as much at night or snacking as much. I am not sure that is conscious or just the fact that so much has been going on with the beginning of school. I lost 2 .5 lbs this week, but I feel like I cheated a little ~ I had the stomach flu over the week end and still am tired from it. However, I am not saying a loss of appetite isn't always bad, plus my enthusiasm for cooking just isn't all there.

I have placed my part of my daughters wedding into God's hands. I am praying that all gets done, a small miracle and God's will ~ and all goes well. It can be done, and those who have planned a wedding understand. The bride and groom are doing most of the running around, and there is some stress. I think that part is just a given. It will come together, just so many things to think through. They will be OK. When all is said and done, God's will be done. I have been praying for her husband since she was born, as with all my children, so he has had extra blessings most of his life. I will continue to pray for them both after the wedding ♥

God Bless

Posting

I wasn't sure I was going to get to post today. I am sneaking in a few minutes while the computer is idle. The opening of school yesterday was good. I had a couple of whiners, but they were fine after a few minutes. No real criers this year, so far, not kid wise anyway. It, so far, is a calmer group then last year ~ each year is different. Calif. is adapting curriculum guidelines for prek, and we will have to follow them. We already have our guidelines, but now they will be uniform for all state funded preschools.



I didn't quite start yesterday exactly as I wanted, I had a bit of the stomach flu over the weekend and didn't get up Sunday until 2:00 pm, so somethings will wait for open house next week. We did manage to go to the school and get things out of the shed for a closer look for black widows, being in the country with farmland around the school. I had been in and out of the shed all week moving things and looking, but we took out and checked the bikes, wagons and checked in, under and around the sandbox ~ took off the covers and checked those very carefully also. I found one on Monday of last week and one in the bathroom yesterday, both little. I just don't want to take any chances. That is also why I do a week with a spider theme.



Yesterday would have been my mom's 82nd birthday, happy birthday mom ♥

Elizabeth found a wedding dress last week, she looks stunning in it. I would love to post a photo but can't take a chance of his seeing it before the wedding. It will be done, I would like to say His will be done.

God bless

General Session

I don't know how many school districts have a General Session (translated- large pep rally) for their staff. There are more then 4,000 people that work within the school district in one capacity or another. It is in a sports stadium that is used for many different events. Brittney Spears, Cher, Hillary Duff to mention some top name singers have performed here (I am not impressed). As well as the Women of Faith Conference I attended last spring.

I don 't know about the acoustics for the singers, but for the WoF conference the sound was really good and clear. However, you can see how far my school was from the center. The sound was terrible. I could only hear half of what was said, really. I know it isn't my hearing, I get my hearing tested yearly because deafness/hearing loss runs in my mom's side of the family. Lots of recognitions, etc. as well as a pep speech from the district superintendent. It serves it's purpose to encourage and "pump" up your spirit for the new school year.
I guess I could say another day another dollar.

Living Well Wednesday

It has been a whirl wind week. I'd like to go back to last Wednesday and start over. I am glad to say the scale is down another pound, though I'd love it to be 2 lbs a week, it is still down and that is good. Today I 'officially' start back to work, even though I have been going and doing some work in my class all week, now at least I get paid for it. What really changes now is when I get up I like some time to myself to do my devotions then get on the computer for a short time. I will now do my devotions then get ready for work. Going to the gym will be after work now and not in the mornings. I like morning. On top of all that is wedding stuff.

Today we are going down to look at wedding dress, I pray for success there. The wedding is set for November 22. I am also going to purchase some things for wedding favors - probably tomorrow. I am going to concentrate on some of the little things, and some of the big things also. As soon as she told me the date I got a sub for the entire week before, so thats out of the way.

As things go I am planning on retiring at the end of this school year = praying all goes well. I wasn't ready so it started just being for my husband and no other reason, so he could fullfill his dreams and stop nagging me. But after my oldest moved to Colorado it motivated me more so I could visit more often and spend more time there (we'll be driving to Colorado next summer for a couple weeks). Now that my future son-in-law is re-enlisiting in the army, I am expecting they will be out of state also, so I will need time to go and visit them also. My boys are more then likely to stay in Calif. but I need time for them also. Not to mention other family members.

Enough ramblings, I need to get ready for work and am procrastinating big time.

Have a great day and God Bless

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my eldest son.♥ Playing with his niece ♥

♥ We love you ♥

When it's hot.

What do you do when it is 106 outside? You lie around (toy mouse on belly) on the ground in front of the fans. I think exposing the belly must help keep them cool.
Or you lie on top of the cat rise under the ceiling fan.

Photo taken from under. Or as E.T said "Phone home!" It had to have been cooler there.

I know it gets hot here, but it can be uncomfortable at times. Yes the AC helps quit a bit, but when the bill comes it is not fun when it is higher then you like. We are expecting cooler weather this week, in the mid to high 90's. I know that isn't cool, but it is much better then triple digits. My preference is still ocean weather. I really miss the cool fog.

We went to a Bridle show today at the conference center, and the AC building was very nice.

God Bless........

Living Well Wednesdays/ So much going on~

There is so much going on right now my head is about to burst. I will start with my LWW. I have been trying hard not to buy "red flag" foods to keep in the house. I do buy chips and stuff for my son's take to work lunch, but am pretty good with that (chips are not a hot item for me or the peanut bars). I am still going to the gym, though only 3 days this week and I am down 1/2 lb. I also try to keep my focus on my devotionals because believe it or not when I maintain that I do better. I have orientation tomorrow, and will start setting up my class this coming week (school starts the 25th). There is so much to keep me busy, but I do not want to stop going to the gym, I feel better when I do. SO I will have to change my schedule to around lunch time (I only work half a day). When you read the Bible you realize that the people walked, they had no cars or trolleys, etc. so they were able to get exercise regardless if they wanted it or not. I believe that was part of God's plan.

I mentioned last week and the week before part of my motivation was to be there when my grandchildren (born or not) graduate from high school. Part of the reason my head is so full today is that last week my motivation changed a little bit. Oh, the part about the grandchildren hasn't. Last Wednesday my daughters boy friend talked with my husband and myself. The purpose, to propose to our daughter, you know those conversations. They have been dating for sometime now. Anyway, to make a long story short, he proposed to her on her 22nd birthday. He prepared a very romantic dinner and everything. It was hard not to say anything to her, or her siblings (we wanted her to do that), and being a little sneaky to get some pictures to him that he needed. The whole story is very romantic, and of course she said yes. The wedding will be sometime this winter, and I am motivated that I'd like to be a size smaller when I am walked down the isle as 'Mother-of-the Bride'. There is so much that needs to be done between now and then that I wish I had a button to turn off my thinking for a little while, every now and then.

♥ ♥ The happy couple ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday

22 years ago today, I remember where I was. Happy birthday to my daughter.
We love you, ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Just stuff.

The wedding we attended on the 2nd was very nice. It was held outside in a park, then we went to elsewhere for the reception. The bride and groom. This was the first time we met her. Like I said in a previous post we have known the groom since the beginning of 3rd grade and that was 15 years ago.
Keith before the wedding.
The reception was held at a park along the Merced River, and Keith had his fishing pole with him because he was heading to his brothers afterwards. So of course, knowing his personality, he wanted of picture fishing in his tux. Fortunately he didn't catch anything because his dad would of had to taken care of it (so no extra charges when the tux was returned). I didn't see it but Keith and his dad saw someone walk by with a stripper (bass) that was quit large.

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On Friday (8th) we took the boat out. Now, contrary to what it looks like, no one was hurt when the tube tipped. The kids (did I say kids, they are all young adults) wanted Dan to try and tip them. We boated some, then stopped swam and ate lunch, then boated again. That was the first time Keith's girlfriend has been tubing. She had boated very little growing up.
We introduced Ryan (Elizabeth's boyfriend) to tubing, skiing, etc. last year and so we already knew he would enjoy it.

It was a fun day and the water was very refreshing.

______________________________
I did my yard sale on Sat. and it was OK. There were many people who came by, but not a lot of big spenders. On Tuesday a local Mission group will come by and pick up what we didn't sale.
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Now, according to the weather reports, we will be having triple digit weather next week. I go back on Thursday for orientation and will get the keys to my classroom. Then I will go and check it out on Friday. They were putting in new shelves on the walls, so I will have to put stuff back, then arrange my room, etc, etc, etc. Dan will go with me Sat. and help me move furniture around. Over the summer, when there are no classes they will usually clean the rugs and deep clean and wax the floors. The floors also get a new cleaning and waxing over Christmas break and Spring break. I sure hope they have turned the power on to the AC in my classroom.

It is nice to have our AC working at home again.

I now need to go and empty the dishwasher so I go......

God Bless

Live Well Wednesdays

It has been a busy and fulfilling week, thus far. Going to the gym 4 days a week, I feel it, not in soreness but I feel a little more toned. I am only 3 blocks from the gym so until school starts I am walking there and back. That is to save gas and it gives me a warm up before I get there. I sure am going to do my best to keep it up after school starts, I have so much to lose. I am only part time work so I can go around lunch time. In last weeks post I mentioned that part of my motivation is I want to be there when my grandchildren graduate from high school and the 1st starts kindergarten this month, I also mean ones unborn yet. The last 2-3 weeks has caught up with me and I showed a 4 lb. loss this morning, WOO HOO! I have been skipping on my devotionals since June and finally got myself back into the word, and you know that is a great feeling in itself. I feel so blessed that we live in a country where I can just go on line and do some additional bible studies and readings, and have found many I like ~ like Elisabeth Elliot.

When I say my week has been busy, Sat. we went to a very nice wedding of one of my son's long time friends. That was really enjoyable. Also, I have been going through some of my 'clutter' and am planning a garage sale this coming Sat. After that, Sat. evening my daughter is having friends over for a birthday get together (she'll be 22 on Monday). I need to be ready by Thursday for Sat. because we are taking the boat out on Friday. We (I) make lunch and snacks to take, we doing some boating, skiing tubing or knee boarding then we find a beach to play and eat at, do some more boating then head home.

As I go through my stuff, I have been thinking of God's word, and according to the standards of the U.S. we are considered lower- middle class. But when I look at what we have, what we can do ~I can say thank you Lord I am truly blessed and 'Rich'. We have everything we need, we really only want for what we 'want'. I am thankful we have air conditioning, and that tomorrow we can afford to have the repair man come and fix ours. It is only suppose to be 99 today.

Have a great week, and God Bless ♥ ♥

God is good, it's a new day.


Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

Have a great day ♥ ♥ ♥

Maternal love, like an orange tree, buds, blossoms and bears at once. When a woman puts her finger for the first time into the hand of her baby and feels that helpless clutchy which tightens her very heartstrings, she is born again with her newborn baby.

by ; Kate Douglas Wiggin

Frustrating

I have spent 3 days shopping; with my daughter, with my husband and by myself looking for something I'd like to wear to this wedding today. Alas, my hands thrown up, I found a blouse to wear, but nothing else. This blouse goes with many different things I have so not all is lost, I am just doing laundry and ironing this morning. We found pants for my husband but no shirts. We have been mixing and matching from out existing wardrobe and are gonna be alright.

There are fantastic sales going on now with men's shirts, but they are all long sleeved, and we want short. This wedding is being held outside and it's in the middle of the afternoon and it's gonna be in the high 90's! We'll go and enjoy ourselves.

The young man getting married we have known since Keith was in 3rd grade, he was K. first friend when we moved here. He is 3 hours younger then K. but their birthdays are on 2 consecutive days, and no matter where they are they always acknowledge their birthdays. This is the 3rd of K. friends who have gotten married since Dec. The 2nd wedding he has been a groomsman in since March.
Besides being in school together they also did scouts together. Keith stopped scouts when he started leading a Cell group (youth led Bible Study groups)in his freshman year in high school . We live just down the street from his parents, who are friends of ours. We are also expecting/hoping to see some other friends we haven't seen for some time, from the group of boys that used to hang out together. When they opened the new high school the kids friends were split in half on what school they would go to, so keeping in touch has been 'touchy' to say the least.
Have a good day
God Bless ♥