It's been fun, but reality can set in pretty quick!

I'm back at work after being gone for a week. At least TWO people (one being my boss) said that they missed me. That is always a good sign when one comes back to work. My boss also said that it had been boring while I was gone. Does that mean that I can be the 'life of the day' (aka party) while here at work? Or is it that I just keep things going enough that it makes the day more interesting? I kind of like either thought! I do try to be positive and keep things going here at work. I had to laugh this morning - I had three meetings scheduled on the Tuesday that I took off (the first day of vacation) - one got moved to Wednesday, then got cancelled. One can cancelled altogether. Only one meeting continued - of course it would - it was a lunch meeting and I do order good lunches! Which means also - that instead of 3 sets of minutes for me to face this morning, I only have one. And that is good.

I had lots of emails - but most I don't have to do anything with - they were just information. I saved the ones I needed to, printed the ones I want to relook at and maybe see if there is something I need to do, and deleted a lot.

My time off was very good. My first day off we headed to Las Vegas for our granddaughter's wedding. It was very small - maybe 30 people? - but very nice. Our granddaughter was beautiful in her elegant gown, and the groom was handsome in his National Guard uniform. The wedding went well, and yes - she had asked me to officiate the wedding. I wrote the wedding ceremony specific for them and made it short yet complete. Several commented how nice it was - and others commented on how short it was! Didn't matter - they were still married at the end of it! The reception was nice and I had so much fun playing with our great-granddaughter.

Whew! Had to stop and get some pressing things completed.... and I accidentally deleted this - thank goodness it had set long enough to save to draft form! Now to get my train of thought back in motion!
So much for thinking I could come back to work and get back on my diet.... I was told "we have lots of food today so you can participate with us" from those around me. And I brought lunch. What to do. Of course I can't hurt their feelings - after all, they are my co-workers.... just saying.

We got back home Thursday afternoon, unpacked and repacked, and headed up to Flagstaff for the weekend on Friday. We stayed at a really nice place - very reasonable - about $100 a night for our suite - AND a hot breakfast was available each morning! We had a kitchen with everything for 4 people, a king-size bed, nice bath, and a small sitting area for watching TV. Only thing we didn't really care for was the "sofa" was like a 1/2 sofa - only had one 'arm'. We both could sit on it, but only one of us (me) got the corner with the arm. :-) (no, I'm not spoiled. much)

We walked the mall, drove to Williams one day and walked around there, ate lunch, and headed back. We decided to find another place next year to run away to - these places are getting too familiar. We love Flagstaff and love Prescott, but we have been so many times we run out of things we want to do. I mean, you can only walk the mall so many times at Flagstaff - and that mall isn't very big! But it was good to get away and just relax - which we did. Once we got back Sunday we picked Marley up and I did the grocery run. Every time I go to the grocery I am reminded why 1) I hate to go to the grocery store and 2) I get depressed over the high cost of what little I do get. I don't know how families can do it - back when we had our family I did a lot of 'scratch' meals, and we got by - but I guess we are more 'healthy' and 'selective' now. Geez - 3 boxes of cereal cost $10!

I took Monday off this week and I'm glad I did. It was nice to start work on a couple quilts for Christmas. I have them put together and ready to put binding on. That will keep me busy for the next few weeks. Need to sit down and see what else I can make for Christmas gifts. I want the gifts we give to be meaningful and useful - not something that I grabbed because I needed to buy another gift. I'm just that way. Which isn't so bad.

And now it's back to work and I need to get busy - lots of emails to go through, and things to sort out. My boss is in St. Louis and won't be back until Thursday - we will have a lot to catch up on then!

We're grateful to God for travel mercies this week - we certainly traveled a lot of miles. The wedding was outside and the weather was beautiful - and the weather in Flagstaff was cool and very nice. We were to have rain last night - but only got sprinkles I guess for I had no trouble coming in to work this morning - for which I am grateful.

God is good - all the time.

Blessings!

It was a great weekend.....

We had a good weekend. It was labor day weekend so had an extra day in there. My daughter had asked us up for lunch so I asked what should I bring - and she responded 'potato salad'. So Sunday afternoon I made 5 pounds of potatoes into potato salad, made a batch of brownies, and decided to bake some oatmeal raisin cookies for my middle child's birthday. It was a busy, baking, productive day. I was tired at the end of it, but felt good at what I had gotten accomplished.

Yesterday was a good day. We slept in until 6:30AM!! (and that is with going to bed at 8:30PM - I was soooo tired!!) Went to our daughter's for lunch, took a 45 minute walk with my daughter, visited for a bit, and came back home. Was able to catch my middle child at home so took him the leftover potato salad, the bag of oatmeal cookies, and what was left of the white girl salsa we had at lunch. I had to think about leaving that with him! We had an opened bag of chips at home so decided to send that with it all so that he could eat it in case he didn't have any at home. I think he was pleased.

I made a trip over to our neighbor's last night to get a visit in - sometimes I am so tired in the evenings I don't want to go - but it had been a month so decided I had ought to. So I did and sat for an hour while the neighbor's caregiver shared his stories of old.

Today's I'm back at work and have lots to get done. Short week with being off yesterday - and then I work next Monday and am off the rest of the next week to head to Vegas for a granddaughter's wedding. I sat and thought about it being labor day weekend - and began to wonder once again where has this year gone. It's scary that Christmas will be here before we know it. And then a whole new year. I'm anticipating that next year will be better than some of this one. At least I hope to accomplish more than I have this year.

I started reading a book this weekend that I've had on the shelf for awhile. I read something that made me really stop and think about it. When silver is made, it is put in a pot and lots of heat is applied to it. As it dissolves, and the dross from dirt and other things come to the top, it is removed. The silver is kept hot, and after more times of the dross being removed, eventually, you will see your face in the silver clearly.

It's like life. Sometimes we are in difficult and troubled times (the heat) and we need to pursue through it and allow that to work it way through. Each time troubles (the heat) come, we need to allow the penetrating grace of God to help us walk through those times. As we go through the tough times, we grow (if we choose rightly) and as we allow God to use us and work through the bad stuff in us, we will reflect His perfection in us.

I think I've gone through a lot of dross this year - and I'm sure that I have more ahead of me. But my prayer is that in time, I too, will reflect the perfection of my Father in me. What about you?

Another thing I read is that we need to change the word DISAPPOINTMENT to HIS APPOINTMENT. Our disappointments in life may be His Appointments to make us stronger in Him. I want to change my dis-appointment in life to His appointment for my life.

Blessings!

The year is going by.... so quickly....

I am amazed it is already September 2015. I look back over the year and really can't see much that I've done. Or anyone else, for that matter. By that I mean doing things at home or with family, vacations, etc. Well, the middle son did a short vacation as did his daughter and her new husband last July, but other than that.... but September will prove to be a little more busy than usual.

We have another granddaughter's wedding this month in another state so will be making the trip there. I guess the youngest son is planning on attending, but I don't know all the details. Of course my daughter and family will be there since it is their daughter. It's tough for some with being in the middle of the week and having to take off work or being taken out of school. I'm keeping my mouth shut on that one. :-x

I don't have any problem with getting off work to attend. In fact, I'm taking a little extra time as when we get back, hubby and I are heading north for a few days. He is looking forward to some cooler weather, I'm looking forward to just doing something. At least when it's cooler I can get him to walk around some antique shops - and we always do the mall - and there is a book store we usually can't pass up going through and purchasing several books..... of course that is if it is still there.... we haven't been up there for several months.

I'm also looking forward to just being quiet and resting. Our lives sometimes get so cluttered with things that we don't take that precious time to just 'be quiet' and meditate. I am really looking forward to that. It would be nice if we had a patio or balcony off our room - but doubtful. It will be fun just to get away from everything.

Work is still going on and keeping me busy. Had a four hour meeting yesterday - and another four hour meeting today. At least I have nothing going on tonight and can just chill out.

Don't have nothing more to share at this time..... had my physical follow-up visit yesterday with the doctor. I'm healthy, which is a good thing. Stupid cholesterol is up - but it is my fault. The past 5-6 months I have eaten everything I shouldn't - from cookies to cakes to bread and more bread.... sigh.... did it to myself and now I have to take the stupid cholesterol pill. AND I have to go back in three months to have it checked again. It'll be down for sure cause I'm paying attention again. Couple things I need to follow up on.... and I will.... eventually. :-)

Other than that - life is good, work is keeping me busy, hubby is in a new exercise program and Marley is being Marley. That's life.

How you doing?

Blessings!