The New Year Resolution

I have made a concerted effort during the last couple of years not to make New Year's Resolutions. However, I find this year that because I haven't made an effort, my habits have become worse. So this new year, I've decided on ONE resolution.

My resolution is to de-clutter.

I know this sounds like a feather-weight type of goal. However, the end results run deep.

De-Cluttering means ridding my house, schedule, life of things I no longer have use for. It also means having a place for everything and putting everything in its place. Whether that be things, feelings, priorities......see what I mean? The promise of a life de-cluttered is very exciting!!!!

So here's to resolutions!

My Knight In Longhorns Apparel

"I told my friend about your husband coming to pick you up

during the snow storm and we agreed that he is a great guy."

Christine doesn't know it yet, but the fact that these words have been floating in my head since she said them last night were a gift from God.

This has been a hard year for Troy and me. We've been disappointed in not being able to follow through with the foster care/adoption process. We've struggled with our own individual issues and didn't agree more than we agreed about many day to day things.

I had forgotten how it was to live by myself without my best friend ever with me. How I had to rely on myself for almost everything. How I didn't have Troy.

Troy listens to me ramble on about whatever is on my mind. His ears suffered when I made silly "Chinese" sounds to the tune of the Olympic anthem every time it was played during the August Olympics. He makes a clean sweep of the house every night picking up what I have left behind in my ever-present ADD mode to move on to something else before I'm finished with the last thing. He carries the dirty laundry down to the basement and the clean laundry up to the bedroom. (I think he could make this two flights of stairs journey in his sleep.) Even though Christmas lights are his last priority, he climbs up on top of the house to hang them so that I'm happy. If dishes pile in the sink, Troy loads the dishwasher. If it snows, Troy shovels the driveway and the sidewalk. He builds fires in the fireplace to make our few nights at home more cozy and romantic. He understands my aversion to cooking lunch after a full morning of church on Sunday morning and takes me out for lunch each and every time. He never gripes about the money I spend. (Although he would like me to use cash rather than the debit card for my frequent trips to Starbucks. Something about writing down $3.59 into the check book register.) He takes amazing care of our/his cat, Pinkie. He never gripes when I haven't finished ANOTHER project that I've spent way too much money starting. He celebrates my successes. He understands my weaknesses.

And he doesn't complain when he has to come rescue me on a snowy night after my little car couldn't make the slippery trip home.

No wonder my family calls him Saint Troy.

I have been very guilty of focusing on the disappointing, difficult times in our relatively young marriage. Thank you, God for using Christine to remind me of the wonderful man who has become my best friend, my caretaker, and my prince charming all wrapped up in his favorite ever-present, burnt orange, Texas Longhorn apparel.

You Can't Miss This!!!

I just found this blog that I'm sure everyone else has already found, but I've laughed till I cried over several of this talented blogger's posts. Especially the series about Swedish Rock Bands. To see her blog click here.

Have fun!

What Troy and I Do When Nobody's Looking...

Thank You God

Thank you God for:

• Ronnie and Judy, who invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner with their family since we had no family in town.
• Troy, who is helping me decorate the house for Christmas even though he doesn't understand why I want it decorated.
• My Christmas decorations, strewn all over the house, ready to be strategically placed.
• Family at home who are patiently waiting to see us in December.
• Pumpkin Pie
• My beautiful house that becomes magical during this season.
• Christmas music. Secular or Spiritual, I love Christmas music.
• Miracles. I've seen them so many times....especially thank you for the most recent miracle in Aidyn's life.
• Coming to live among us, not as an earthly king, but as a baby, young boy, young man, rabbi, friend, Savior.

Thank you God, for everything. If I were to write out everything You have given to me, I would be writing day and night. You are taking care of my life now in such a way that I may not ever know.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."
Psalm 95:1-7

Nathan Here

"Nathan Here" has been written on my calendar for several weeks. The top of the squares designating the days of November 13th, 14th, and 15th were titled "Nathan Here".

For those of you who don't know, Nathan is Troy's son from his former marriage. Troy became a part of Nathan's life when Nathan was three years old. Troy later adopted him. The contacts between father and son were sporadic in the years after Nathan's mother and Troy were divorced. Two years after Troy and I were married, Nathan came to California to visit during Thanksgiving break. Nathan was 14. He was good at being 14. Contact after that time was again hit and miss. Then about a month ago, the 18 year old Nathan called to say that he would like to come for a visit.

I had trepidation about the visit. I didn't know what the adult-boy's intentions were. I also didn't quite know how to relate to him. And I worried that Troy might have high expectations that might not be met.

The 13th came. Nathan here.

He's a pleasant kid who is unsure of himself. He rattles off motherly advise much like Forrest Gump. For example, before pouring a glass of pineapple juice from concentrate, Nathan stated, "Mom always says to shake well before drinking anything from concentrate."

He's into anything Japanese. Even wearing shoes that Troy calls "planks of wood". I have a feeling Troy is being "paid back" for all the times he didn't understand why his dad couldn't be more into science fiction.

He loved the snow we got on Friday. As soon as Troy told him it was snowing, Nathan jumped out of bed and within five minutes was out the door for a play time in the snow.



Nathan and Troy have very little in common. (Isn't this true of most father-son relationships?) He spends a lot of time by himself on the computer. (Normal, I'm sure.)

I really like Nathan and hope that he will come visit many more times in the near future. I think the more time we could spend with each other, the more we would feel more comfortable with each other's personality. He brings out the mothering quality in me. I like that.

Nathan here. It's been good. Nathan leaves for San Antonio tonight.

It makes me sad to see that tomorrow's square on the calendar is blank.

Cool! She loves it....She really loves it! I was awarded by my friend Janet of www.jabberingjanet.blogspot.com

Here are rules:

1) List 5 things you love

2) Pass on the Award to 5 fellow bloggers

3) Please link back to my blog

Five things I love:

1. My precious friend and savior, Jesus.

2. My husband, Troy

3. My family back in Oklahoma

4. Making jewelry

5. Reading

I love many, many more things but there are 5 in a nutshell.

I pass this award on to Tricia, Robin, My friend Cindy Brick, and two more who I'm sure I will meet someday and just don't know at the moment.

I Love It.........Where is It???

I totally agree with the poem above by the Unknown Author about Fall. I love the beautiful leaves, the clear sky, and the crispness in the air.......

What crispness in the air?!?! It's the mid 70's outside! Don't get me wrong. I love warm weather too, but I'm really, really tired of my summer wardrobe and am ready to change to fall/winter wear. I mean it IS November!

Random Things

I was tagged by Jabbering Janet to write some random things about myself. Once again, I'm at a loss for oddities about me and my life. But here goes!....

1. I was the only girl in my class until fourth grade.

2. I was in Times Square to watch the ball drop to start 1999. (My friend and I wanted to "Party like it was 1999".)

3. Troy and I were married five days after he proposed to me.

4. I ate at Wally Ho's Garage and Grill in Pearl City, Hawaii. (This was Troy's suggested addition to the list. Thanks babe.)

5. I attended the 1990 Miss USA pageant in Kansas City, Missouri. (If you looked really close as the judges were being introduced, you could see me sitting in the audience behind Florence Griffith Joyner.)

6. My grandpa, Wilford, appeared in a nationally circulated magazine in an article about legends of Spanish treasure buried in the scattered caves on his property.

7. I was the first person in my immediate family to go to college.

Sights and Sounds of Waikiki Beach

I took this video because I wanted to remember how the beach looked and sounded. I'll probably play it a million times over the next few years!

Images Of Hawai'i

Day 1

East of Honolulu

Day 2

Have you ever read the Dr. Seus Book Go Dog Go?
I'm sure this is the Dog Party Tree!

The USS Arizona Memorial

(The fourth picture is of the actual sunken ship below the memorial.)

Day 3

View from our balcony, relaxing at the beach, and the Luau

Day 4

Visiting the USS Missouri and Wally Ho's

Troy standing where the treaty was signed.

From the deck of the USS Missouri, oil still seeping from the USS Arizona.

I made Troy pose next to this old Navy recruiting poster. :)

Wally Ho's Garage and Grill!

Days 5 and 6

This really was the view from my bed!

The whole week, we saw Asian people with cameras.

I just couldn't resist taking this picture!

Surfers

It's Already Over?

Tonight, Monday night, is our last night in Waikiki, Ouahu. We've had a great time, but we are ready to get back to normal life. We've spent almost every morning lazing around after our McDonald's run. Then around 10:00 am, we start deciding what to do during the day.

Friday, we visited the USS Missouri Battleship. This is the ship where the treaty ending WWII was signed. I took a picture of Troy standing where General McArther sat as he signed. Before we went to the museum, Troy humored me by taking me to lunch at Wally Ho's Garage and Grill. Troy said later that he had a little bit of indigestion. I said, "Really?!?! I can't imagine why after eating at Wally Ho's Garage and Grill!" You should have seen the look he gave me!

Troy worked part of the days on Saturday and Sunday. I shopped on Saturday and spent all day at the beach Sunday, where I got a bit of a nasty sunburn.

Sunday was our anniversary so we walked down the street to P.F. Changs to eat dinner and then window shopped on the way back.

Today, we drove up to the North Shore, known for it's huge pipeline surfing. Not many large waves today, so we drove along the shoreline back to Waikiki.

I think we've had a great vacation. I've always heard that a great vacation is the kind that you've enjoyed but that you are ready to go home when it's time to go home. That would be the best description of this vacation.

Wow, I'm in Hawaii, Part Three!

9/26/08

Troy and I spent a luxurious couple of hours on the beach yesterday. It was very relaxing! When I got too hot, I would go sit in the sand and let the waves cool me off. After the beach, Troy went to the room to take a nap and I went window shopping. We then went to a luau.

Major impressions of my experience at the Luau:

1. Kind of Hoaky but overall fun.
2. The fun was enhanced by the three drink tickets. :)
3. Poi is gross.
4. The moves Hula dancers make with their hips is impressive and illegal in 5 states!

Wow, I'm in Hawai'i, Part Two!

9/25/08

What can I way about the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor that hasn't already been said? Tears stung my eyes and a lump caught in my throat as I walked through the doorway of the white hallow tombstone which divides the USS Arizona graveyard into two separate sections. One of the things that moved me the most was the list of names of men who had actually survived the Pearl Harbor attack but had asked to be buried not with their family on the mainland, but here with their brothers. The loss of their comrades had haunted them their whole lives to the point that they wanted to be with them again.
Troy and I needed the rest yesterday morning so we didn't get to Pearl Harbor in time to visit the aviation museum or the USS Missouri. We are going back to do that on Friday. On the way back to the hotel, I spotted a roadside attraction called Wally Ho's Garage and Grill! Now I'm on a mission to eat at Wally Ho's on Friday! I bought a new swimsuit at Walmart and have plans to put it into action today. I love plus size Samoan women! These stores have much better large size clothing than Denver does!

Wow! I'm in Hawai'i

9/24/08

Sitting on the balcony of our 13th floor ocean front room, the view is amazing. I can look directly down on the busy beach side street, Kalakaui Avenue. The north side of the street is lined with shopping adventures calling my name and the south side, or beach side is a mixture of tropical images. Swaying palm trees and lush vegetation help back from the ocean by the sandy beach. The sand is the perfect contrast to the brightly colored umbrellas and beach towels dotting the shoreline. People of various shades of tan spend their time soaking of the sun, seeking shade, or playing on the shore line. The waves of the ocean rhythmically and continuously smooth the sand at the water's edge.
Near the beach the water is a teal green. Beyond the man-made rock breaker, the color changes to dark green and emerald, depending on the rock or sandy bottom. Further out, the water changes to a beautiful, breathtaking turquoise blue. A color that I'm sure is in abundance in Heaven. ON the horizon, the water is a dark azure blue. A stark contrast to the light blue sky. The sea is dotted with sailboats, yachts, and surfing students floating on the surfboards with giddy anticipation.
Troy and I woke this morning to an empty beach. It had just rained and we decided to take a 5:30 am walk. We played in the water cresting on the sand and then sat to watch the sun rise. Then it happened. We felt a sprinkle or two which quickly turned into a downpour, catching us off guard. By the time we made it back to our room, we were covered in sand, soaked, cold, and giggling. We showered and made a McDonald's run (conveniently next door). They serve a plate of pineapple with your morning combo! We lazed around in bed after breakfast, Troy playing his computer game white I watched morning TV and did the Sudoku puzzle from the newspaper.
Our plans for today are to go to Walmart and get some essentials and to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial, the USS Missouri is here. I found a coupon for Troy to do a free flight simulation at the aviation museum. He's pretty excited about that.

Six Quirky Things

Well, it finally happened. I was tagged to write six quirky things about myself. At first, I really thought I didn't have that many quirks. You know, kind of boring. I said this to my friend, Janet, who immediately laughed, and laughed, and added that as her "Quote of the Day" on her blog. Hmm.... quirky? Let's see....

There is the unnatural fear of birds and windmills. I'm not a bird fan. And NO it's not from watching a certain Hitchcock movie. I HATE the sound of wings flapping, especially if they are hitting something. I won't go near a bird. Troy and I tried to eat a sandwich at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. I couldn't even eat because the sea gulls and pigeons kept swooping around us. Not a fun experience! I actually screamed out loud as a pigeon flew under the table next to me. Now for the windmills...Not the old flower looking ones used for pumping water for cows on the old Little House on the Prairie farm. I have no fear of those nice, old, sweet things. The ones I very much dislike are the ones that look like they were made from Edward Scissorhands' left over parts! In California, there were hills of them. Some spinning, some still, some slowly rotating. Menacing creatures trying to capture the innocent wind! The wind should be free to move to and fro. It should not have to pass through the slashing blades of a sinister robot! Would that be one or two quirky things?

Anyway, there is also the love of post-it notes. When I find a new post-it note shape, it lures me like a new drug. Fun shapes and utility to boot! I love the ability to write a quick statement and stick it to something. It may the the most efficient thing I do all day!

If someone would invent a truly seamless sock, they would make millions on people like me. As a small child, I drove my mother crazy. She would put my socks and shoes on and I would cry until she took the shoes off and readjusted my socks. I hate the seams! There is always some spot that I feel the seam on my foot. I have been known to stop on a shopping trip in the middle of the mall and sit down to readjust my sock seam. I understand they are a necessary evil, however, I think I would just prefer to wear sandals.

I feel sorry for plants. In fact, we have a tree at the corner of our house that is terribly ugly and I don't want to cut it down because I feel sorry for it. It has a name. Ugly Tree. We introduce it to everyone who comes to our house and they agree that we aptly named it. I just can't bring myself to cut it down. It didn't plan to be ugly. It just happened.
Another example, we cut three low branches off the huge pine tree in our front yard. It's a beautiful, majestic tree. I went out every day for about a month, check to make sure the sap had sealed it's "boo-boo". I even tried to help by spreading the sap in the newly cut area. I almost cried. It's okay now. Every once in a while, I walk by the pine and pat it. I would hug it if I knew nobody was looking!

I am a huge fan of Petticoat Junction. You know..........

Come ride the little train that is rolling down the tracks to the junction. (Petticoat Junction) Forget about your cares, it is time to relax at the junction. (Petticoat Junction)

...........Everybody sing!.............

Lotsa curves, you bet. Even more when you get

to the junction, Petticoat Junction.

Reruns of Petticoat Junction came on every day after school on the only television station we received in my childhood. My middle name is Jo. I was sure that I was a long lost relative of Kate Bradley and her daughters, Billie Jo, Bobbi Jo, and Betty Jo. See the connection? Well, of course you do! I watched in anticipation as Steve, the crop duster who crashed near the Shady Rest Inn, recovered and eventually fell in love the youngest, most tomboyish daughter, Betty Jo. They moved into a little cottage between the Shady Rest and Hooterville. "Green Acres" was a spin-off! And then little Katie Jo was born! If I had ever had a daughter, you can bet that the name Katie Jo would have been a possibility! Okay, I'm mildly obsessed!

I think that may be six........Birds, Windmills, Post-Its, Sock Seams, Plants, and Petticoat Junction.........yep, my work is done! Wow, I'm a bit quirky!

He Loves Me! He Really, Really Loves Me!

I know you think this is going to be about Troy. It's not. Troy loves me more than anyone else in the world, but only in the capacity that a human can love.

After 20+ years of having a personal relationship with Jesus, it occurred to me yesterday morning that I really didn't believe He loved me in the way He says He does. No doubt, He loves me, but there are billions of people in this world that He loves just as much as He loves me. I'm one in billions that He splits His time between. Nothing special. He says He knows my name, the number of hairs on my head, even knew me before I was born. But He knows that about everyone, what makes me special? I'm just like everyone else in His eyes and in His heart.

And then it happened....

I heard the phrase, "God is NOT a big human." I've heard this before, but it struck a different chord in my heart. I was treating God as if He were just a bigger, better, new and improved human. He's not! Of course He can "split" his time between everyone. Time is nothing and everything to God. "Splitting" time between people or things is not an issue. He is everywhere at every time. He's rejoicing with me as I finally make this connection and at the same time comforting, healing, loving people everywhere.

My mind doesn't comprehend this Awesome God. I think I'll stop trying to "read" His mind and just bask in the knowledge that the creator of the universe created me. He had a plan for my life before the universe was formed. He knows all my flaws, yet only sees my righteousness through Jesus. He knows everything about me, my deepest thoughts, dreams, and fears. He laughs with me and weeps for me. And He loves me! He really, really loves me!

Troy Versus the I-Pod

Troy works as a Field Service Engineer in a company that installs and maintains batteries and generators for large companies so that if their power goes off, they still have back-up power so that the computers and other vital electronics in the building don't shut off. Very intense, technology-driven work. At any time, Troy is called upon to diagnose the origin of a problem in order to save a company thousands of dollars in lost productivity if the power is lost. I'm very proud of the work Troy does.

Just don't leave him alone in a room with an I-Pod!

Troy got an I-Pod yesterday. If you listened to him, you would think the I-Pod was a futuristic device inadvertently left behind by some alien life form during their last exploratory trip to Earth!

Let's just say that after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Troy is a (disgruntled) registered owner of a new I-Pod Nano. He's learned to sync his new gadget with his music library and even downloaded a few podcasts.

I just hope God and the Colorado State Patrol are merciful with him as he tries to find his favorite song while driving on I-25!

My Remodeled Blog

So, I can't take all the credit, but isn't the new format adorable?!?! My blog feels much more like me now! I owe the majority of the change to this great blog called cutestblogontheblock.com . This sight has free backgrounds and all sorts of other fun stuff.

PaintShop Pro 8 kicked my butt again! I think I have a skill mastered and then I realize that something is just not right. ARGH! I finally gave up on creating my own background but I did finally use it to make my title picture a little fancier.

More about Our New Friends

Okay, finally I'm actually writing what I promised weeks ago.

Our new friends, Ivan, Vicky, and Ivonne are from Basconcobe, Mexico. They are a part of Rava Ministries. Rava Ministries houses and arranges missionary activities for the youth group in our church as they travel to Basconcobe and the surrounding areas between December 26 and January 1 each year.

This year as our church was planning the annual Vacation Bible School, God planted the vision to reach out to the Hispanic community in Castle Rock by offering Backyard Bible Club in local parks. God also used the relationship with Rava Ministries to make this vision a reality. Some of the Rava Ministry team members traveled to Castle Rock and stayed with members of the church while they helped to facilitate the Backyard Bible Clubs.

Troy and I were blessed to have Ivan, Vicky, and Ivonne Medina stay with us for the entire week. They would get ready early in the morning, leave for a day of Bible Club, and then return late in time to get ready for bed. Just time to rest and relax before another day out in the sun. Ivan doesn't speak English, and I don't speak Spanish, so Vicky and Troy were doing a lot of interpreting! We did share a common love for breakfast burritos, Indiana Jones, and of course Jesus Christ.

My favorite part of the visit was watching Ivonne play with a Play-Do kit I brought home for her. She LOVED it. Ivonne also loved coming down stairs in the morning to visit with me before Vicky was ready. She would chatter away as she was eating her cereal. I had no idea what she was saying, so I would just smile and nod. No telling what I was agreeing to!

After taking them to the airport on Saturday, the house seemed very, very empty. I've thought about them often. Last week we received a beautiful letter, two t-shirts from Rava Ministries, and a plaque that said, "Bienvenida, Mi casa es tu casa" ("Welcome, My House is Your House"). This was one of the only things I could say in Spanish!



God has a beautiful, special way of reminding us of Christian Love. That blessed week was such a precious reminder.

Nuevos Amigos (New Friends)

Our new friends, Vicky, Ivan, and Ivonne, left our house on Saturday to travel back home to Mexico. I will write more later about this experience. My heart is full of wonderful memories.

Remodeling Mode

I go through phases in my life in which I want to change everything. I'm sure some of you can identify. Since Troy and I have been married, it seems that every two years or so we make a major change, usually a move. This may have been in direct correlation with my "change phases". Well, we are fast approaching another two year mark. WE ARE NOT MOVING!! I emphasis this fact because I love my house, church, town, work, friends, hairstylist, nail salon, doctor....you get the idea.
But it seems that I am in the "change phase". So.............
I am attempting to personalize my blog template. I have Paint Shop Pro 8 on my computer. I haven't worked with it enough to remember how to use it from one time to the next, but I'm jumping in and designing my own blog page. I have an idea of how I want it to look, I just don't know if I have the patients to actually do it. Please bear with me as I go through this. Who knows, maybe I'll get so good, I can design other blog templates.....hmmm?!?!

Our Memorial Day Weekend

Each Memorial Day Troy and I try to go for a little weekend trip. Memorial Day weekend is the last chance to relax before our crazy busy summer. This year, our destination was Durango, Colorado to ride the Durango-Silverton Narrow Guage Steam Engine Train.

We drove through Wolf Creek Pass into Pagosa Springs.

We stayed the night in Bloomfield, New Mexico because there were no rooms left in Durango. The next morning we hopped on the train and was treated to a panoramic view of God's miracles of nature.

After the three hour ride, we arrived in Silverton at 11:30 (just in time for lunch). We had a great time eating lunch at the Handlebar Saloon and Grill. We "tromped" through stores before heading back to the train. We even bought an amethyst rock from a precious little girl who was selling rocks from a make-shift stand on the street.

We arrived back at Durango at 5:30 and spent another night in Bloomfield.

We had breakfast with Troy's dad, Jerry, his wife, Jan, and her brother and sister-in-law in Bloomfield. They live in Oklahoma but were also on a scenic trip of southwest Colorado. After breakfast, we drove the "Million Dollar Highway" between Durango and Ouray. We stopped in Ouray for lunch. It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I was ready to quit my job, sell our house and buy a Bed and Breakfast in Ouray and spend the rest of my days staring at the mountains. Then Troy burst my bubble when he reminded me that I would have to learn how to cook breakfast. Oh Well. The mountains in Ouray look like they begin at the back door of the buildings.

After Ouray, we drove up to Grand Junction and over to Glenwood Springs to stay the night before traveling home the next day. As you can see in the pictures, we had three out of the four seasons all in one weekend...winter, spring, and summer. Wow!

We had a great trip and now are hooked on riding trains. There are several in Colorado and we hope to ride them all!

Lawn Care for Dummies

Lawn care at my childhood home on a farm in Oklahoma consisted of spreading granules to kill ticks and mowing once a week. By August it would be so hot that the grass was brown and crunchy..........yea, no more mowing!!....Yep, that was lawn care. Troy's childhood experience in Texas was much the same. We moved to California and lived in apartments and a condominium where other people took care of the lawn.

Then we bought a house in Colorado!

We moved into the formally foreclosed house with the much neglected lawn in April 2006. Luckily, our neighbor was a former landscape artist who graciously took the time to help Troy learn about the sprinkler system and about that miracle product called Revive. We watered the lawn like crazy and it payed off. After one application of fertilizer the lawn was beautiful!

The next summer was a little harder. Admittedly, we were concentrating on the back yard with a new deck and patio. But the lawn just didn't seem as lush as before. We muddled through and promised to take better care of it next year.

Now here we are in May 2008. We went to the local nursery and found out that Dallis grass (a weed) and spider mites had taken over our lawn! We bought everything they presented to us.....I know, I know, we had sucker written all over our faces. Sharon, the nice lady at the nursery, told us to aerate the lawn first. (For those Non-Coloradoans who are reading this, soil aeration is needed at the high altitude to help air get into the soil. A soil aerator pulls plugs out of the ground to help the soil be less compact.)

The aeration people worked their magic on Saturday. Our lawn has little soil plugs all over it that look amazingly like dog potty. (I keep having to remind myself that it's just dirt.) Yesterday, Troy and I walked into the garage and stood amidst our bounty of lawn care products and couldn't remember what we were supposed to do next. Spray the weed killer on just the weed or the whole lawn? Spray the weed killer, then plan the seed? Wait a week before planting seed? Mow first? Water last? Don't water? ARGH!!??!! We had written instructions from Sharon, but apparently Troy and I were in need of the remedial lawn care class. I made a desperate call to the nursery and the calm voice on the other end assured me that it would all be okay and that we could use all these products at the same time, they were idiot proof. Hmm....I guess she calls them like she sees them.

Shoes.....

Shoes are a necessity if dining out (No shirt, No shoes, No service), if walking on most surfaces, if wearing a new dress outside your own home. The type of shoes traditionally worn by a group of people establish cultural ties such as wooden shoes and moccasins. Shoes have been used as a reference point in popular movies such as "Forrest Gump" ("Those look like comfortable shoes") and "The Man with One Red Shoe".

I've been thinking about shoes a lot lately. Can you tell?

I have my Grandma Hazel to blame. My mom, dad, and grandma came from Oklahoma for a visit last weekend. They arrived on Thursday and left Tuesday morning. While here, Grandma wanted to find shoes to match some spring dresses for church. They needed to have a heel but not much of a heel. They needed to be "springy" but not open toed. They needed to have a strap around the ankle. They couldn't be made of a material that might get dirty. And they needed to be about $25. My mother warned me, but I took the plunge and told her that I would take she and grandma shoe shopping. WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!

I truly love my grandma. And I totally understand the delima of not being able to find just the right shoe. (Most women understand this problem.) We shopped and shopped and just couldn't find the right shoe [see requirements above].

Now, I'm going to digress for a moment....
My grandfather passed away in November and grandma is still grieving as expected. The whole family felt that getting away and seeing the sights of Colorado as well as visiting me was just what she needed. And I felt that finding the perfect shoe would help in so many ways.

About halfway through the shoe shopping experience, I noticed that grandma wasn't feeling well. She didn't feel well the rest of the night and didn't feel like going to church the next morning. Mom was worried about her due to the fact that her doctors in Oklahoma are concerned about her heart. She had bypass surgery in 1998 and had many complications due to that.

Mom and dad decided to cut their trip short and start home on Sunday afternoon. I suggested taking grandma to Urgent Care to check on things before getting on the road. Grandma didn't hesitate. This was the first time I really became concerned about her. The Urgent Care staff was amazing. After an EKG, grandma was whisked to the hospital via ambulance. The staff was concerned that she was having a heart attack. As mom and I were following the ambulance, we talked about the foolishness of encouraging her to travel and expecting that everything would be okay. I started blaming myself for pushing her into shoe shopping.

Five nitroglycerin tablets, eight doses of morphine, and a CT scan later, a cardiologist was called in. It was 6:30 pm on Sunday night. He ordered an arteriogram to see if damage had been done to the heart and to repair what needed to be repaired. Grandma was wheeled into the operating room at 7:30 pm. As she rolled away from us, I noticed the stack of her clothes topped by her shoes underneath the bed. We entered the ICU waiting room. Mom started to cry, and my mind felt numb as all I could think of was that we didn't find the shoes grandma wanted.

The nurse brought grandma's clothes to us in the waiting room. One shoe was missing. We noticed but had bigger concerns.

Thirty minutes later the surgeon came out to talk to mom and dad. She assured them that there was nothing wrong with grandma's heart. She even took mom and dad to see the computer images taken from the procedure to prove that there was no damage. Even though grandma's EKG looked concerning, this was normal for her and was of no concern. Grandma has gall stones and this is more than likely the cause of the pain.

Troy and I were not present when the surgeon talked to mom and dad, so we were thrilled to hear the news when we returned to the waiting room. I went to grandma's ICU room before we left for the night. On the walk there, mom told me that earlier, when she walked in, they had grandma's other shoe tied to the rail above her head. I started laughing. How fitting.

God has a purpose in everything and He is in control. I thank Him for bring my grandmother all the way to Colorado to find out that she does not have heart problems and can possibly stop taking some of her medication. I thank Him for the staff in the Urgent Care and the hospital for being so attentive to grandma.

Troy and I make a trip home every holiday season (either Thanksgiving or Christmas). I'm hoping that I can take grandma on a little holiday trip............SHOE SHOPPING!!!!

The New and Improved Dining Room

As most of you know, two years ago, Troy and I bought a foreclosed property. Our beloved house had been abandoned for over a year and a half and hadn't been winterized, so needless to say, we had multiple burst pipes. In fact one of the most memorable things about the buying process was our realtor, Greg Eckler, standing in the middle of the empty dining room, trying to stop the flow of water gushing from the baseboard as the inspector turned on the main water valve.

In the process of repairing the leaks, Troy and his dad had to tear out the sheet rock and some of the ceiling of the dining room. Soon after moving in, Troy and I were blessed to find our very own "Bob the Builder" who repaired the sheet rock and ceiling in the dining room as well as other wall and ceiling repair in other parts of our house.

I love having a dining room. And almost since the moment we moved in, I've been thinking about what I wanted to do to make it truly my dining room and not the stark white square room with the huge window. Troy and I started talking about it and with a little nudging, I finally talked Troy into putting in some effort on making the room our own. We finally finished it this week. I love it.

These "before" pictures weren't actually taken as "before" pictures. I was taking pictures of the Christmas decorations:

So, here's the New and Improved Dining Room: (These are definitely taken as "after" pictures.)

"Hello, George" and "Dude.........."

I've written before about my innocent fetish with phrases and odd comments.....remember "I like Rain." Anyway, lately, my co-worker friend Balbi has started saying "Hello, George" as a substitute for more colorful language. Also, there's a beer commercial that stops me in my tracks every time it airs..........the "Dude..." guy. I don't know why this commercial intrigues me...it just does.

Last weekend, Troy and I went on a little bit of a spending spree. We've needed new furniture in the family room for quite some time. Anytime we have more than one other person over, we run out of comfortable seating. We found a burgundy leather recliner love seat and couch at Lazyboy that we loved, so we bought it. "Hello, George!"

But before we decided to buy it, we went to the HUGE American Furniture Warehouse to check out less expensive furniture. While there, we were frustrated by the antics of the drivers in the parking lot. "Dude.........."

On Sunday, we shopped for wall decor and an area rug at (1) Home Depot (2) Linens-n-Things (3) Kohls (4) Target. "Hello, George!"

We found an area rug at Target that I really liked in the Target lighting but didn't so much like in the family room when we got home. To this Troy replied, "Dude....."

I know I'm kind of rambling but I've been reminded several times that I haven't updated my blog. I only have one thing to say....."Hello, Dude!"

Commitment and Dedication

6:52 am, Wednesday morning in our bedroom after Troy hit his snooze button for the sixth or seventh time. (He had set his alarm for 6:00 am.)

Troy: One more snooze and it will be an hour. I think I'm going for it!

Me: I'm so proud of you, honey.

Troy: Commitment and dedication. I'm all about it.

If I had...

If I had the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of John, the meekness of Moses, the strength of Samson, the obedience of Abraham, the compassion of Joseph, the tears of Jeremiah, the poetic skill of David, the prophetic voice of Elijah, the courage of Daniel, the greatness of John the Baptist, the endurance and love of Paul, I would still need redemption through Christ's blood, the forgiveness of sin.

R. L. Wheeler

Puddles the Cat

Once upon a time, there was a duck. He was an ordinary kind of duck. He had a very ordinary quack, an ordinary way of swimming in the local pond, and yes, an ordinary waddle. Duck often waddled and quacked his way to a pond across the street from a quaint yellow house with white shutters. As Duck paddled in the water, he often wandered about the goings on of the happy house with the white shutters. One day, quite to his surprise, a little boy walked out of the house holding a cat in his arms. It was apparent he loved the cat as he rubbed his cheek against the soft fur of the feline’s head. The young boy’s mouth curled to a smile and his eyes closed as he gave the cat one last gentle squeeze before allowing her to lazily slink out of his arms to the ground. He giggled as she stretched in that way that only cats can, as if to lengthen each and every bone in her back. The cat then showed her appreciation to the boy by sliding against his legs before stepping away to the front lawn.

“Oh, to be a cat, “ thought Duck, “Then I would have a beautiful home to live in, a little boy to hold me and smile as he hugged me. I wish I could be a cat.”

Duck wasn’t alone in the pond. A water fairy observed Duck as he longingly gazed at the house and its inhabitants. The fairy fluttered her way closer to Duck and asked why Duck looked so sad. Duck responded by telling her his wish. Duck learned that Sprite, as she was called by her family, had the supernatural ability to grant wishes to unhappy pond inhabitants. Duck didn’t believe Sprite. Sprite reminded him of the recent change in city policy to allow passersby to feed the ducks. Duck smiled as he remembered the older gentleman who often came to the park with a sack of bread cubes. Sprite told Duck that the Canadian Goose had made that request. Duck summoned his courage and asked Sprite if it was possible for her to make him into a cat.

“Of course, silly Duck,” giggled Sprite, “I could make you into a giraffe if you wanted. But my spells have their limitations. I can change you into a cat, but you will still have the urges of a duck. You will look like a cat, walk like a cat, and meow like a cat. However, you will sometimes want to quack like a duck, waddle like a duck, and swim like a duck.”

“Oh no,” cried Duck, “If I’m allowed to be a well loved cat, I will NEVER, EVER want to act like a duck again.”

“Very well,” said Sprite, “As soon as you walk to the bank of the pond, you will be a cat.” Duck paddled as fast as he could to the edge of the pond. He took a couple of steps out and noticed that his head was closer to the ground and his movements felt very fluid. He turned to look at his reflection in the water and was amazed and delighted that he was a CAT!!!! And not any ordinary cat, either. He was beautiful! He was white with some yellow stripes. His feet were all yellow. He smiled as he thought that his new friends and family might nick-name him Goulashes, as his feet looked like he was wearing rain gear. Duck spent some time admiring his new body. He then thanked Sprite for the granted wish and sauntered toward the row of houses across the street. It was time to find a little boy to love him.

Several months passed. One day as Sprite was sitting on a rock hidden by the pussy willows, she saw Duck walking toward the pond. She was very excited to hear about his adventures as a cat. Duck greeted her with a loud, “MeeoowACK!” He hung his feline head in shame.

Sprite cautiously asked, “Do you have a boy to hug you?”

“Yes,” sniffled Duck.

“Then what’s wrong?”

“Sometimes, I want to swim in the pond,” sighed Duck. “But I really want to be a cat. I love being a cat. It is a wonderful life. I live in a white house with blue shutters. My boy loves and plays with me. He brings me toys and treats. It’s really, the most wonderful life! Why do I still want to quack and swim?”

“You were hatched as a duck,” answered Sprite. “You’re a new creature now, but your old nature is still there. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to make you forget your old nature. But I do know how to help."

“How?” Duck asked desperately.

“Live each day as a cat. Make cat friends. Make a commitment to live each day as a cat. Forget about your life as a duck. You were not happy as a duck. Remember?”

“Yes, I remember, “ Duck replied. In the distance, Duck and Sprite heard a boy’s voice.

“Puddles, Puddles. Where are you?”

Duck perked his pointed ears. “That’s my boy. He’s looking for me!”

A little boy with hair that matched the stripes in Duck’s fur skipped over to the bank of the pond and saw Duck sitting at the edge of the pussy willows. “There you are!” the boy laughed. “It’s going to rain and cats hate being stuck in the rain.”

The boy scooped Duck into his arms and rubbed his cheeks against Duck’s soft furry head. Peeking from her hiding spot, Sprite smiled as she noticed the boy’s eyes close and his mouth smile as he hugged his cat, Puddles. The cat formerly known as Duck.

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead"
Philippians 3:13 NIV

I Like Rain

Certain phrases have been ingrained in my psyche. Sometimes, they are from movies, a cartoon, words a child says before they understand the rules of our English language. Sometimes, they are phrases that I'll make fun of. Some are from childhood and some have been established since Troy and I have been married.

When Mom would be frustrated with my siblings and/or me, but not to the point of really being angry, she would say, "Slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch...." I have no idea what this was from, but I still use it today.

When I was little and worried I was in trouble, I would ask, "Are you mean with me?"

Troy and I laughed at the exercise equipment commercial that shows the girl holding the waistline of a pair of jeans about five inches from her waist saying, "My fat jeans don't fit anymore!" Whenever we are feeling silly we use slurred, nasally voices to say, "My fat jeans don't fit anymore!"

Which brings me to the title of my post. Last night, Troy and I were at Target and I handed a last minute purchase to the cashier. It was a package of gum, the new Wrigley's "5". There are three flavors: Cobalt, Rain, and Flare. I decided since I have already tried Cobalt and Rain to try Flare. I wasn't sure, because the name "Flare" seems a little to cinnamony-hot for me. When I handed the package to the cashier, obviously a gum connoisseur, he said, "I like Rain. Have you tried Rain? I like Rain. Cobalt is good too, but I like Rain better. See?" He then showed me that he, in fact, had a package of Rain flavored gum in his pocket! Well, I also like Rain, so I changed my mind and exchanged the Flare for Rain.

So, from now on, if I'm trying to decide between two different things, I think I'll say to myself, "I like Rain."

Priceless

Parking for the Colorado Home and Garden show: $5
Admission to the Colorado Home and Garden show: $12 each
Leaving the Colorado Home and Garden show and realizing that we liked the Park Meadows store The Great Indoors better: Priceless


Dinner for two at Angie's Italian Restaurant: $30
Gas to drive around town trying to buy the Indiana Jones Movie Series: $3/gallon
Coming home and working together on a jigsaw puzzle until midnight: Priceless

But, Honey, I Did It For You

Troy and I decided not to go out to dinner last night for Valentine's Day. He had a long day on his work project and I had a long day at work. I was in no mood to stand in line at a restaurant. So, I stopped by King Soopers on the way home to pick up something special, yet simple, for dinner. (Can I just tell you I love the George Foreman Grill?) Our grill was covered in snow and it was too darn cold to be outside grilling anyway. So I picked up ready-made salad, potatoes for the microwave, and two nice NY strips, and ice cream. I love convenience. It's amazing that after a long day of work, I can go home and make a really nice dinner in under ten minutes.

I've been kind of in a bad mood the last couple of days. (I think it's a girl thing.) But I wasn't thrilled about spending even 10 minutes in the kitchen after a day of work. I divulge this information because it will help you appreciate the next 30 minutes of my life.

I walked into the dark house, groceries in hand. I yelled, "Hello" to no response. I assumed Troy was in the shower. Then I heard him say, "Honey, come up here." I looked upstairs and thought, "I know it's Valentine's Day, but I'm really hungry and unless there is a bed covered in chocolate covered strawberries, I'm not very happy." So I took a deep breath and asked God to help me appreciate anything that was waiting for me. Little did I know......

Troy was in the bathroom. My initial thought was "He ran me a nice hot bath, with candle light, and chocolate covered strawberries." (Can you tell I'm craving chocolate covered strawberries?) I walked in the bathroom and was struck speechless by what I saw.

There before me stood Troy in his boxers with a shaved head and a towel full of newly shorn hair. With a huge smile, he said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"

I burst out laughing. It was the kind of laughing that comes when all emotions hit your brain at once and laughter is what comes out of your mouth. Troy was heartbroken and then a little self conscious as he said, "But, Honey, I did it for you." At that point, I wanted to cry because I realized how much he looked like a little boy standing in front of me seeking approval.

We've had several discussions in the past about the fact that I think bald heads are sexy. As Troy was resenting his receding hairline, I was cheering it on! He told me about a week ago that he should just shave his head. I said, "I think you should." Hence, my Valentine's Day present. I love Troy. I don't care if he had purple hair down to his knees I would still love him. Having a shaved head just added to my admiration.

Last night, as we were watching Deal or No Deal I noticed that Howie Mandel (the bald host) has an earring. I said, "Maybe, now, you should get an earring."

Did I say that with my outside voice?!?!?!?!

Just Me and the Guys

This morning, I went to the Hallmark Store to get a Valentine's Day card for Troy. I have to get Hallmark cards because 1. I worked in a Hallmark shop for about two years in high school and it's kind of like Sylvan. Once you've worked for the best, you don't want anything else. 2. Troy actually looks at the back of the card to see if I "cared enough to send the very best". He does it in a sneaky way, but he does it. I've learned this the hard way. 3. I don't buy other stuff when I get a card at a Hallmark shop. If I go to the grocery store or Walgreens, my $3 card ends up costing me $33.

I digress.

So, there I am, on February 13th, at the Hallmark Store and I'm reading through all the cards and realize that for the first time in I-don't-know-how-long I was surrounded by men. Then I felt a little odd. I realized that I had become a cliche. Albeit a cliche about the male species, waiting until the last minute to get a card.

Then I started thinking, when did I get too old to really love Valentine's Day? Did I just wake up one morning and decide Valentine's Day wasn't as big a deal as it was last year? Don't get me wrong, I love hearts and flowers and pink lovey stuff. But the attention that one day a year gets for all of this seems a little over the top. Then, I realized that I haven't always loved Valentine's Day. In fact there were many February 14th's in the past that were down right miserable. Times when I woke on February 15th thanking the good Lord that there were 364 more days until the next dreaded holiday.

I digress again...........oops.

At this point in the card searching journey, I was jostled back to the present by a surly construction worker reaching for the card which obnoxiously played "Let's Get It On" when it was opened. EWWW!!

The rest of the day left me thinking about my sudden ambilivent feelings about the upcoming holiday. Then I realized that I am married to a wonderful man who makes me feel loved and appreciated. He doesn't wait until a certain day on the calendar to show his love for me. I hear his feelings from him, not from a musical card.

Thank you, God, for giving me a husband who gives me Valentine's Day every day.

The Princess and the Coffee Maker

A couple of weeks ago, I told Troy that I wanted a programmable coffee maker for Valentine's Day. I had contemplated this for a few days, especially at six o'clock in the morning as I (in my best zombie impression) stumbled downstairs to make my early morning pot of coffee.

After a few days I realized Troy had made no mention of my Valentine's request. So being the good wife, I mentioned it again. And in the wisdom that only God can give, Troy said, "I am not getting you a coffee pot for Valentine's Day." I looked up from whatever I was doing in the kitchen and asked, "Why not?"........."I will get you jewelry, perfume, or flowers, but I will not get you a kitchen appliance for Valentine's Day." Wow, what a man!!! I didn't realize that he had been contemplating the request....and the consequences of fulfilling that request.

I can totally see myself in a year saying, "Yep, last year, Troy got me an appliance for Valentine's Day. Can you believe that?" (Conveniently leaving out the fact that I had asked for it!) After a few seconds of silence. Troy said, "Go get a programmable coffee maker if you want one. It doesn't have to be a gift." Wow, what a man!!!

So, last night I stopped by Target on my way home from work and bought a Mr. Coffee programmable coffee maker. Upon arriving home, I immmediately took it out of it's plastic bag, styrofoam incased box. I moved the old coffee pot from it's place of honor and plugged in the new one in it's place. Immediately, I read the directions, and set everything to make a pot of coffee in the morning at exactly 6:00 am. Then I stood back to behold the magnificent machine!

I have to admit the next few lines are a little embarrassing to write.

I couldn't sleep last night. I was like a small child waiting in anticipation for Santa! I looked at my alarm clock for the fourth time. It said 5:59. In one more minute a small miracle would happen. Coffee would start brewing without me having to make the trip downstairs! I lay in bed thinking about how I felt like a princess. You know, the furnace clicking on at 6:00 am to warm the house, the coffee brewing....all while I still lay in bed.

I heard the furnace click on. Warmth filtering through the grates in the floor. But, alas, I didn't hear the coffee start to brew. Could my royal dream be coming to an end? Oh no! What if I didn't set it up correctly? What if it was broken? I was sure my day could only be a good day if the new miracle appliance on the kitchen counter was fulfilling it's job.

I put on my slippers and made my way down stairs. Dreading the site of a still empty coffee pot...........Guess what?!?!? The innovation fairies were in the process of making a perfect pot of coffee!!!!

And as I sit here writing this blog, I am drinking the second cup of this first pot of coffee from the wonderful invention sitting on my kitchen counter.

I wonder what Troy's getting me for Valentine's Day??

At This Moment....

I'm learning to live in the moment. For example, at this moment I could be thinking about the clean laundry piled in the next room calling out to me to be folded. I could be thinking about the plastic serving dishes from our super bowl party still sitting in my kitchen sink needing to be washed. (I know, pretty gross, huh?) I could be thinking about that new episode of Project Runway that has just finished recording on TIVO upstairs. I could be thinking about any number of things that I didn't do or that need to be done. However, right now I'm enjoying the moment. Listening to Troy doing a much needed cleaning of his desk drawers (Me thinks he's procrastinating a work project.) We are listening to new wave music on the stereo....you know the kind that sounds like what floating on the ocean under a cloudless, starlit sky must sound like. I'm enjoying this moment because my dear Father in Heaven authored this moment for me before he created that ocean. If I had spent the moment regretting the missed opportunities or worrying about the upcoming events, I would have missed out on what God created for me in this moment.

Thank you, God, for teaching me to stop and "smell the roses", feel your presence, see you at work, hear your voice, and have a taste of the peace that passeth all understanding.

Wow, Thanks Tricia!

Thanks to Tricia, I know about how to blog. I've been wanting to do this for a while and didn't know exactly how to get started. It's 5:51 am and I couldn't sleep so I decided to check out Tricia's site. Too funny and too cute!

Warning to all who are looking for adorable kids and family stories...the only children you'll read about in this blog are neices/nephews and my cat. (Okay, Pinky is not a child....but don't tell her!)