Sunday Blessings

One of the greatest blessings in life is praise music. This song, and the beautiful singer, are such blessings to me. I'm humbled and in awe every time I hear it. Just close your eyes, relax, and take in the words to this amazing song. You will be blessed!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: When was the last time you really had a good laugh?

I got together last night for a little going away party for my boss. She's moving to Texas. There's nothing more fun than 14 friends getting together for an evening. Talk about laughing!

Thrifty Thursday

Thank you Leigh for hosting Thrifty Thursday each week. To join in the fun or to visit other Thrifty Thursday participants, click here.

Things have been so busy this summer I haven't participated in any blog parties at all, in fact, I haven't even blogged much. I've missed blogging and I've missed Thrifty Thursday! Hopefully things have slowed down a bit and life can get back to normal.

Thrifting can be so hit and miss can't it! Luckily, my last few times out have been a hit. Let me show you a few of my latest finds...


Do any of you use these types of baking pans? I found this one, brand new, and thought I'd bring it home and give it a try. I just got it a few days ago so I haven't used it yet but I'm anxious to see how my cupcakes turn out in this type of baking pan vs. the traditional metal ones. I also picked up this cute piece of milk glass. Do any of you collect milk glass? Unbeknownst to my sisters and I, my mom has the most beautiful milk glass punch bowl set I've ever seen. She brought it out when I visited her in Colorado and I about hit the floor. I couldn't believe her good fortune. The next time I see her I need to remind her "I am her favorite daughter!"

Look at these little treasures! They were just too adorable to pass up. I thought they'd be cute on Christmas morning for serving orange juice. They had 7 glasses and I bought all 7! They were .79 cents each.


I also brought home this nice granite serving piece with pewter handles. It's very well made and will be so versatile. Perfect for serving cheese, crackers, and fruit. It was a great buy at $2.79 don't you think!?


I'm looking forward to visiting you to see what treasures you've brought home lately!

Happy Thrifty Thursday!

I'm Still Wondering Why, Part III and Happy Birthday!

After all these years, over 15 to be exact, why do I STILL wonder and every so often think about Carol!?! In my heart of hearts, I know why...

Because there is unfinished business and there are questions to be answered.

Enter 2009, enter Facebook.

I NEVER thought I'd join Facebook, much less enjoy it. But I did, and I do. It's been fun typing in the names of friends and seeing that some of them have joined Facebook too. I've enjoyed connecting with friends, old and new, and I find it's an easy way to keep up with them. I've even connected with a cousin that I haven't seen since we were kids so I thank FB for that!

So on a whim, I typed in Carol's name, nothing. Larry's name, nothing. I typed in her son David's name, bingo. David's current picture popped up and I instantly pictured him as that cute little redheaded boy, not the man in the profile picture staring back at me. It made me miss him as a child, miss his mom, and it made me sad that I'd missed out on his and his sister's growing up years. And it made me angry. Angry that Carol had kept her kids away and angry that she had no interest in mine.

I sent David a message asking him to tell his mom "hi" and after a few days I got a message back from him saying hello and that he'd tell his mom hi for me. That was over a month ago.

I haven't had any contact with David since then but Sunday night there was a post and it looks like he got engaged over the weekend. Low and behold, there on Facebook, was his mom and sisters telling him congratulations on video. Yes, after all these years, I saw Carol on video, along with her adorable, grown up twins. The quality of the video was really poor, but Carol's voice is still Carol. It was such a weird feeling to see and hear her after all this time, really weird!

Truthfully, a part of me wanted to leave a message saying, "Hey Carol, I don't know why things got off track, but call me. We've got years and years of catching up to do." But of course I didn't. I've reached out enough and you can't force relationships on people who don't want them. I know that, I've lived that with her already.

So this recent video of my old friend Carol is what sent me down memory lane, triggering these recent posts. In all honesty, I doubt that Carol and I will ever speak again. I'm not counting on it, I'm not praying for it, and I'm certainly not holding my breath...but as its been for the last 15+ years...I'm still just wondering why.

One day soon, I'll write about my friend Sue and the funny story about how we met some 24+ years ago.

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On a lighter note, Happy Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Courtney. She turns 21 today! Twenty-one!! Courtney, have a wonderful birthday! I miss you and wish I was there to celebrate with you but I know you've got a busy day planned. Have fun and be safe! I love you Sis!

I'm Still Wondering Why, Part II

Carol and Sue went home after that weekend and I soon noticed the communication wasn't as frequent as it had been between Carol and I. Yes, it was gradual, but I felt a pulling away from Carol and Sue experienced it too. When Carol and I did talk, she wasn't her usual self, she wasn't my best friend Carol. She was distant.

During all of this time, Carol and her husband had started going back to church after both being away from "religion" for years. I had always gone to church so I thought this was great, especially since they now had 3 little kids to raise and be responsible for. Carol and I practiced different religions but it had never been an issue. We always agreed that we served the same God.

Over the next few years however, Carol was consummed with her church, raising her children, her church friends, and life in general. Before we knew it, Sue and I were history. Carol had dropped us like a hot potato.

Throughout the years, I continued to send birthday cards and every Christmas, up until only about 3 or 4 years ago, I still sent them Christmas cards. Early on, we'd get a Christmas card in return in Larry's handwriting. Eventually, Larry's cards stopped altogether. At that point, I stopped sending mine out as well.

Over the years, I made telephone calls and ALWAYS ended up talking to Larry, never receiving a call back from Carol. Eventually, I stopped calling.

I never could piece it together, I never could figure it out. But I did know two things...

1) Carol was envious of my home as they hadn't purchased a home of their own during all of those years that we were friends. It wasn't that they didn't have the money as they most certainly did, but Larry was a wise investor and all of their money was put in the stock market. With all of his early investing, in the long run, I'm sure they ended up better than all of us, but at the time, they chose to rent an apartment rather than buy a home of their own. This gave Larry more money to invest.

2) They became obsessed with their church and their church friends, leaving no room in their life for anyone outside of that circle.

Enter 2009...

Part III coming up tomorrow!

I'm Still Wondering Why, Part I

Have you ever had a close friend "drop you like a hot potato?"

I have...
And I'm still wondering why!

Carol and I were as close as friends could be, over the years becoming like sisters. We met at work in 1981 and quickly became fast friends. Although we were very different from each another, we shared common goals and looked forward to being moms together one day. Carol commented that she was sure we'd always be best friends, even as grandmothers, rocking our grandbabies together. I was sure too!

I had Brandon, she soon had David. I had Courtney, she soon had twins! In the meantime, I had moved 3 hours away and I remember her calling me to tell me that she was pregnant with twins. We were both in shock and just laughed and laughed about it. Carol thought for sure she'd only ever have two children so we thought that was such a funny twist of fate.

Now along the way, I met Sue (that's an interesting story in and of itself) and she quickly became friends with Carol too. These two ladies were truly great friends, very supportive, and I loved raising my kids with them. In about 1990, Carol, Sue, and their kids came up my way for an overnight visit. We had a great time that weekend swimming with the kids, reminiscing, and just catching up on each other's lives. They went home after that weekend but slowly, ever so slowly, Carol started pulling away, and it was never to be the same.

Part II coming up tomorrow!

Treat Yourself To This...

What an uplifting, fun movie! I mentioned to my husband on Friday that I wanted to see this movie and believe me, he didn't exactly jump for joy. In fact, his exact words were "I'm not interested in seeing a chick flick!" But he did, and we both loved it. Meryl Streep is brilliant and adorable as Julia.

I never knew any details about Julia Childs but I'm now a fan. I think I'll buy her cookbook. I'd love to try the Beef Bourguignon!

It's A Jungle Out There

Our friends and neighbors directly across the street from us moved about a month ago, well they sort of moved. They are renting a home 1 1/2 hours away and keeping their home here too. A few years back, they bought their 12 year old daughter Danielle a horse and they've been traveling "down south" a couple times each week for Danielle to ride, train, and care for her horse. After doing this for about 2 years, they decided to rent a place "for one year" and let Danielle go to school with her friends there. Being that the housing market in CA is in the toilet, they're keeping their home for now.

These neighbors have a gorgeous home and are always doing something to make it better, making it even more beautiful than it already is. Their home is immaculate, inside and out, so that's why we laugh each time we look out our front windows. Little do they know, they've got a jungle growing in their front yard...


A jungle full of fresh flowers...


Well actually they do know they've got a jungle going on as they were home yesterday to pick up some stuff and to check on the house. They gave my husband some direct instructions...

TELL LINDA TO CUT SOME FLOWERS!

AS MANY AS SHE WANTS!!

LOTS AND LOTS OF FLOWERS!


Aren't they beautiful! I think we'll be having fresh cut flowers around here for days to come!

Thank you Jeff and Stacey!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Are you a "people pleaser" or do you have the ability to say "no!"

After being a people pleaser my whole life, I'm finally learning to say no. It's been a hard thing for me to do but I'm doing it.

I've spent years and years running myself ragged and then being mad at myself for giving in to each and every demand. Just this morning I got a call asking me to do something on Monday. In a very nice way, I said no. Yes, I felt bad and even a little guilty about saying no but at least I won't be mad at myself the whole weekend for giving in.

I'm learning!

(It's been so hectic around here I haven't been able to post anything since last Friday. I'm hoping things will slow down soon!)

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Seen any good movies lately?

I'm normally not a movie goer but I've been itching to go. I'm wanting to see Julie & Julia, 500 Days of Summer, and The Proposal. Have you seen these movies?

Does Any Of This Sound Familiar?

Yesterday was my niece's 16th birthday so I asked my husband last night if he'd called Allie to wish her a happy birthday. I was kinda shocked at his response...

"No, I didn't call her. Why should I bother to call her or anyone else in my family, they never call me for my birthday, or any other time for that matter!"

Sadly, he's right. Today is my sweet husband's birthday and he hasn't received one card, call, or text from any of his family...and he won't. Unfortunately, the two that did call passed away over 10 years ago so his birthday always goes completely unnoticed.

That's where my family steps in...

For 29 years, they've ALL called and sent him cards for birthdays, Father's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or they'll call just to call. They love him and he loves them. They've all called him today already to give him wonderful birthday wishes.

My husband and I are of different faiths and we often have different opinions on things so at times over the last 29 years I've wondered why God even put the two of us together. I now think one reason is that God knew he needed to be part of a loving, caring family. My husband is the kindest, most generous person around and his family just doesn't know, or care, what they're missing.

For the record, this was my response to my husband yesterday...

"I sent Allie a card/check and also sent her a message on Facebook. I know they don't call us or acknowledge our birthdays, but we're better than that, and we do what's right."

Update: My FIL just called to talk to me, asked me why I don't call him much. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned that it was Howard's birthday today. He didn't acknowledge that I'd said it and just kept on talking. Amazing!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: What kind of roof do you have...tile, wood shingle, composite?

We "had" wood shingle but are in the process of getting a new tile roof right now. Yesterday was demolition day 1. It sounds like someone is going to come crashing through the ceiling any minute.

Our 20 year old roof needed replacing badly. The old shingles were such a fire hazard and if we were ever to cancel our homeowner's insurance, no company would pick us up again. We had discussed putting on a new roof for months but the recent house fire around the corner spurred things on. Their house, with the old wood shingles, went up in flames FAST!

Demolition Day 1:

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!

Watching this precious little one was the perfect way to start the day. I bet you're smiling from ear to ear just like I am!

Have a great day!

Busy As A Bee!

We have been busy lately! Busyness goes in spurts for me and right now it's definitely busy. As a matter of fact, I should be heading to work now to do a "special project" that I said I'd do but instead I'm relaxing and sitting on the computer. I haven't had much down time so I'm enjoying this immensely!

We've had alot of company pass through town lately which is always a pleasant surprise for us. Two weeks ago, some friends from our camping club called us asking if we'd like to meet for dinner. They were passing through on their way to her 40 year high school reunion in Oregon. We had the best time and it was so neat to spend time with this couple outside of our camping club. Obviously, they are much older than us, but that is the beauty of our camping club, meeting people of all ages and developing wonderful friendships out of spending time together each month. You can't go back in time but I sure wish we had discovered the whole "camping/RV" community years ago. We are having the best time and making wonderful, meaningful friendships through this hobby.

Sunday, I got a call from my friend Susie telling me that our mutual friend Cindy was in town and they wanted us to come for dinner Monday night if we could. I worked all day Monday and knew I'd be tired but boy was it worth it. Susie's children came to dinner plus a neighbor of hers who I hadn't seen in years came for dinner too. The 4 of us women lived in the same neighborhood and raised our children together so being with them brought back a flood of happy and fun memories. One of the highlights of the evening though was seeing Susie's 2 kids again. After knowing them for almost 20 years now, it was such a pleasure seeing them as successful young adults and being able to reconnect with them, but on a different level, a grown up level. My eyes are welling up with tears now thinking about how precious each of the people were at this small, intimate get together and thinking "where has the time gone!" God truly has put loving, giving, and amazing people in my life over the last 20 years and He's allowed me to make treasured memories with them.

Now, if all of that wasn't enough, we also were able to go to dinner with my step-dad Jim last night who is in town on business (from Colorado). There aren't enough words to describe how we feel about Jim. He's just simply the BEST! Again, dinner out after a long days work but so worth the time. The only thing missing was my mom!

So, even though I'm feeling very busy these days, I'm feeling very blessed and very loved. I'm finding there's nothing better to me at this time in my life than spending quality time with friends and loved ones...and I'm making it a priority!

Bloglines

Is it just me or is anyone else having trouble with Bloglines today. I swear, I think its down more than it's in operation. It just might be time to switch to Google Reader.

I'd make the switch right now but I'm unable to access any of the blogs that I read regularly since Bloglines isn't functioning. I'm unable to access the URL addresses that I need to paste into Google reader. Man is this annoying!

Hopefully I'll be around to visit everyone soon!