Sunday funday

I got up early and showered, coffee, DAB.  After church we went to the omelet fundraiser for Arthur Fire Dept, EMT.  Naps, movie, watered my plants, discouraged when I look at them and wish it was warm enough so I could put them in the dirt.  I listened to my book and played on the laptop.  

 From the web:  I did not write this and I’m not sure who did - but Worth the read.                                 Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.  Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.  ... and the month is already over.  ... and the year is almost over.  ... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.  ... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends and we realize it's too late to go back...

So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...  Let's keep looking for activities that we like...  Let's put some color in our grey...  Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.  And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...  I'm doing it after...  I'll say after...  I'll think about it after...  We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.  Because what we don't understand is that:  Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...  afterwards, priorities change...  Afterwards, the charm is broken... afterwards, health passes...  Afterwards, the kids grow up...  Afterwards parents get old...  Afterwards, promises are forgotten...  afterwards, the day becomes the night...  afterwards life ends...  And then it's often too late....  So... Let's leave nothing for later...  Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,  the best experiences,  best friends,  the best family...  The day is today... The moment is now...                                                           We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.

Aby's shower

 I was up to make bread ... but no yeast.  Uffda!!  When we had our sister phone call Jack came out of the bedroom, little after that Denny and Tyler were up.  The day is chilly still.  I headed to Arthur with flowers for the shower.  There was a great turn out..... 30+ .  The salads were great.  When I found out her colors were dark green and brown I used some fabric I had under the wood slabs from Paulsruds with clear vases of tulips and pussy willows.  I headed for home, took a quick nap and then we took the boys back to their home. Denny paid the boys a dollar and 50 rupees for iron/ pieces they dug/ picked up in the camp ground.   Denny helped take off the dry wall in the basement for Thrashers to come and do When Jason ordered chicken from the Family Table the boys and I went and picked it up ... after a short stop at the school playground.  Denny was using his chainsaw to cut up a fallen tree when we got back.  We ate and headed home about 8.  Another nice day!!

When will it ever be warm???/

 Yup!! another rainy, chilly day  But good for pickleball in the rec center. (8-11) Denny went to Bomgaars and got grass seed, and got it spread before the light rain.  I read under the blankets most of the afternoon trying to gt and stay warm.  Earlier I had put together some vases for the bridal shower for Any and Matt R. tomorrow morning.   At 4 I headed to Holstein to meet the Cherokee boys for an overnighter here.  So fun to have them here.  They love to play in the chilly outdoors.  

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 42 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it..

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

11. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it...

14 Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

15. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

16. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

17. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.(amen )

20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

25. Always choose life.

26. Forgive but don’t forget.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..

31. Believe in miracles.

32. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

33. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

34. Your children get only one childhood.

35. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

36. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. (I love this one)

37. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

38. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

39. The best is yet to come...

40. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

41. Yield.

42. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

-Ann

Home and study,

Slow getting up and Denny said, “That’s ok.” I did some laundry, listened to a book, and at 1 I headed into Doses then study at Susan’s.  Denny came home from tractor driving and we chilled on porch in rocking chairs then griddled and had supper.  Another great day in Iowa. Except that my lisianthus look dead, I listened to a downer book, and friend Lee had her other die of a major heart attack, Lord, be with her So sad

I heard someone say a few days ago, “See, that just goes to show you that you can raise your kids in church all you want to, but……” and it literally shattered my heart.  All because that kid had made a mistake. All because that kid’s sin was brought to light. Let me just tell you…… We don’t raise our kids in church so they can grow up perfect. We don’t raise our kids in church because it magically makes them unable to sin or holier-than-thou. We do however raise our kids in church so WHEN they mess up and WHEN they fall short, they know just who to run to.  So they know that their Lord and Savior will NEVER leave nor forsake them no matter how big or small their mess up might be. So they know their Heavenly Father will always leave the 99 if they are that ONE that needs saving. So they will know what grace is like and give it out freely. So they will know the unconditional love of their Father and love those around them just the same regardless of anything else. So they know that there is absolutely NOTHING in this world they could do that our Saviors blood hasn’t already covered. I will never apologize for raising my children in church. I will never apologize for making sure our family makes church a priority over anything else. Because it’s more than just a song and a sermon. It’s more than just a memorized Bible verse in Sunday School. It’s for when this cruel world we live in comes knocking on their door, they personally know the solid rock on which they stand.

Happy Birthday Missy!!!!

My dearest Missy.  You have added joy to our lives from the very first moment we knew about you and every single moment until now and continuing forever.    You are a blessing to our lives and we thank God for you everyday.  

 Denny went to drive tractor for Larson's.  I went to play PB and then headed north. I got a Dipladenia (Mandevillia $35) at Kelli's.  Then I headed to Cherokee.  Ellen did my nails at 3.  I went to Mandy's and then I took her to a chiro appointment and went to pick up Tyler at Day care and Jack at school.  We played at the school until Mandy came with the car key.  Tyler spilled juice on his shirt.  I left and headed home. Hurrah as I dumped a load into the washing machine ... my apple watch fell on the floor.  Thank you, Jesus, it didn't fall into the washer.   Denny worked late.  

OGT

OGT until 11.  Denny went to drive tractor for Larsons.  In the afternoon I just chilled, afraid to put some wilting flowers in the ground and undecided about the coldness for doing outside work.  BUT I did text lunch time friends with this poem.  So true  so funny!!!

The author recently ate at a restaurant where a table of girlfriends of a certain age were having a wonderful time, and came home and wrote this. You may recognize somebody, maybe yourself ...

Lunch With Girlfriends

Elaine’s vertigo has never been worse

Kay can’t recall where she left her purse

Rhonda’s about to replace her knees

Linda’s breathing is tinged with a wheeze

Donna's left boob has a troublesome lump

Diane’s on her third trip to take a dump

Lorraine’s husband can’t remember a thing

Nine years a widow, Marge still wears her ring

Marlene is dealing with another UTI

Sally’s giving a hearing aid another try

Marie has decided she can’t drive at night

Sharon still wears clothes two sizes too tight

They’ve been through divorces and babies and wakes

They do for each other whatever it takes

They’ve already buried Marcia and Kate

And truthfully, Lizzie’s not looking so great

So whenever they can, they get out to eat

Open bottles of wine and forget their sore feet

There’s laughing and crying and letting down guards

And when the bill comes, there’s ten credit cards

So here’s to the waiters who keep orders straight

And to the places that let lunches run three hours late

And here’s to the girlfriends, those near and those far

Here's to the girlfriends, you know who you are!!!”

Credit: By Kathy O’Malley

Mow the first time ~~~

I went to play PB in am.  When I got home we worked outside  My plants look terribly sickly, so I put some in the ground.  I raked dead leaves from around flower beds.  Then we mowed the acreage.  At night Denny griddles fish and a hamburger for me.  I went out until dark and planted sedum and lay bulbs.  Lord, help my flowers grow despite my failures.  

Thankful for Hidden Acres

 SS and church.  Taylor from Boone was there to talk little about the camp.  After church we went to the movie His Only Son.  It was good. At home I bought up on the blog and made soil blocks for sprouting SF zinnias.  

Chilly day

 Kinda slow am.  I went to IG library for a apron talk by Sheila C.  It was fun to see her after about 50+ years.  I brought a salad for a quick lunch there.  Same prom was tonight and I met Sherry and them at Bomgaars for pictures.  At home we chilled and Denny griddled chicken for supper.  Sherry joined us for left overs before she headed in to work on after prom.  

                                             

Pickleball / Tax

I headed into IG and played pickleballuntil 10:45 when I headed to Cyndi's for a tax appointment.  Denny has all the info available and figured out.  We headed home, it was another chilly day.  We drove up to Cherokee to look at a Grasshopper mower and pick up the mattress from New leaf.  We stopped in to say Hi to Mandy working at home and pick up a window for the Lamanz.  At home we went to Jim R. 60th birthday party at the country club.  Fun night with great music.  

Home then study

I got up at early regular thirty.  It is raining again.  We watched the Boca Chica sendoff in the comfort of our sunroom, not nearly as exciting as being there at Isla Blanca.   I was around the house all morning, but didn't do much of anything.  At 12:30 I headed to Sue's for study.  Denny worked on getting the lawnmower oil changed and I got 2 oil filters for replacement.  I fixed a corn soup and Denny fixed fish for his supper. 

Me and the Cherokee boys

I was up and checking my plants with the rain last night.  I think they will be ok.  They seemed little saggy yesterday and I lifted out the trays to give a little more air to the plants, thinking they were over watered before the ride to Iowa and maybe they needed to get some drying air all around the plants.  Tyler and I took Jack to school, then pickleball at the wellness center until 10:30.  A couple of thrift stores and then home to play with bubbles, shakers and lunch before a nap.  Mandy is working from home so she stopped in the kitchen to say Hi before heading back to a one o'clock appointment.   After naps Tyler and I picked up Jack from Good News Club after school.   Then to the school playground and then to the art show.  I stopped at Christina's flowers before heading home.  It was rainy and hail was falling.   Denny, Sam, and I sat and watched.  Sherry came home with a pig she picked up on the middle of the road near Henningsons.  They came and got it.  We sat in the sunroom watching the weather until it subsided.  Denny grill pork rib eyes for supper.

Orphan Grain train

 Denny headed to Larsons and I headed to OGT.  After OGT Irene, Sue, Craig and I played pickleball until noon.  I planted some tiny soil blocks with spinach, eucalyptus and State Fair Zinnias.  Then I got the water pump going and watered my lilies and preened them.  I planted bluporum and cress next to the wheel.  I started planting the sedum south of the bunk house.  Sam came home from school/ work and asked if he could do anything  I set him to rototilling the garden area behind the bunkhouse.  Denny got home abut 6:30.  Hope my seeds grow.   Picture from Wednesday with the boys. 

Happy Birthday Evan!!!!

 Happy Birthday, Evan!! Hope you had a great day!!!  We loved spending time with you this December and seeing you living your life.  May you use it for God's glory always and ALL WAYS!!!

I sent Evan a birthday greeting last night before I went to bed.  Nice coffee morning.  I went to pickleball and then mailed the cards for C.  Plus got a few groceries and some Preen at Bomgaars.  At home I planted the 50 lilies for $50 and put on some Preen, but didn't get it watered in. There was some asparagus I picked and burnt:(.   At home at 2pm  the Leaf Filter guy came to finish up the installment.  After they left I went to visit Brenda and talk to her about yard work she would like done before the wedding.   I put out the sedum plants I got along the south bunkhouse foundation and fixed hamburgers for supper.  Denny put in 10 hours for Larsons today.