What life is all about....

In my humble opinion, Life is about loving, living and delighting in God's miracles. His miracles can be of anything! The miracle can be the flower that is starting to open up and bloom - or one that is in full bloom.

His miracles can be the little seed that begins to burst forth out of the ground. Or they can be the beginning of a wait for a new child, watching it's growth within the womb. And the a greater miracle still, the birth of this child.

Have you ever watched a birth of an animal, or a child? It is amazing. Messy sometimes, yes; but amazing. To know that within the body of that person this 'thing', this 'person' was created. From the tiny body, even smaller fingers and toes, and usually a big head! - we ooh and ahh over such a birth. We are filled with great joy at this new miracle of life.

But what happens when this little body starts to grow? I've watched my daughter-in-law in amazement many times at the gentleness she has around people, especially children. She has taught me so much about being a good mother. I wish I had her as a model when I was growing up.

As I have shared many times, my childhood wasn't the best. A lot I have blocked out so that I don't remember. But what I do remember, wasn't love and patience or even gentleness. Unfortunately, because that is what I had been taught, that is what I sometimes passed on to my own children. With much regret I recall my lack of gentleness and patience. But I have always loved them. Loved them with a love that they will never understand until they reach the years I am at now.

I regret much of how my children were raised. I regret I was not a better example, a better mentor. I'm trying to do much better as a grandma, and I think I succeed at that. I find I have much more patience with the grandchildren, I'm even more loving, and if I need to swat a butt, I can do that too. Not that any of my grandchildren have ever needed that!

I was able to spend time with a couple granddaughters Saturday at a ladies tea. It was fun being with them, albeit the speaker went too long in my opinion. But it was fun and everyone said they wanted to come when they have it again. I'm thinking more of getting my granddaughters together and let's plan our OWN tea party at my house. Give them an opportunity to plan it and be involved in preparation. And, they can invite someone to join them if they want. It would be fun. And I think I will plan it with them.

Things like this are what I enjoy - what I call 'living life' - or at least part of it. There are many aspects of living life, of course. But for this day, I'm thinking of the tea and having fun with granddaughters.

Yesterday I was able to spend time with a grandson and have a talk with him. That was good too. I don't know what type of influence I had on him, but at least he knows I love him and wanted to spend some time with him.

Just like I like spending time with others - I want to pass this trait on. Never let go of caring for others enough that you would take time out of your busy schedule and spend time with them. One day you will wish you had.

Love them, share life with them, and delight in them. Let them share what they feel, let them know you care. Live life with them.

Blessings!

It was a fun weekend.....

I had a great weekend. At least, for me, it was great. We had lunch Saturday with a granddaughter and her fiancé and I passed on to her a fitbit that I had purchased from someone who didn't need it anymore. She wasn't too sure about it, but I encouraged her to use it just to see how many steps she took between school and work.

OH MY. Sunday I "challenged" my granddaughter and daughter via our Fitbits - and my granddaughter walked all over us - literally!! Well, the little stinker walked a lot and beat us both soundly. I didn't challenge her yesterday but she sends me a text last night. Now mind you, my goal is 10,000 steps a day. Some days that is difficult to reach and other days, very very difficult to reach. I only had about 6400 when I got home yesterday so I got on the treadmill. As I'm walking, I get this text from my granddaughter that says, "I need to set my goal at 16,000 for it to be a challenge for me."

SAY WHAT?? 16,000??!! Well, she reminded me, she does walk all over campus at school - and when she gets to work, she is working with one and two year old children who keep her running after them. She had over 14,000 before she even left work! So yes, I did encourage her to increase her steps to 16,000. But that probably also means that I will never be able to beat her unless she just doesn't go to work or doesn't have school. And that's ok.

I reminded her that even though I may give her a hard time about the walking and beating me all the time, to please remember it is only to be for FUN and for tracking how many steps we walk. I like challenges and therefore challenged her for today even though I am pretty confident she will badly beat me again - but it makes me push to get at least my goal. I had gotten really bad the past few weeks and only doing 6-7,000 because I had no one challenging me to do better. AND, the plus side, when I walk more, I will begin to lose this weight that I have added onto my body by not walking as much. I was doing real well there for awhile - then I quit. My bad!!

Sunday it rained most of the day - so what did I do? I baked a roast with potatoes for lunch and then baked cookies in the afternoon. Brought the cookies into work yesterday except for a few I left for hubby and his men's group. It was fun and I would have continued baking but I ran out of butter. That tells me I need to buy extra and keep in the freezer for times like this. Of course out here in Arizona it doesn't rain as much as some places. And listening to the news, Texas is getting hit bad again with rain and hail.

Work is keeping me busy - we are doing a lot of hiring and guess who gets to set up the interviews for my department. Yep - it be me. I have 4-5 I need to set up today already and more apps are coming in. I've already gotten several set up. At least I'm not on the interview itself - just setting them up.

And today is another busy day and I need to get at it. This rain has been good for my roses - they are blooming all over the front of the house and look so gorgeous.

Have a great day!

Blessings!

April flowers bring....

beautiful yards, for sure. My roses are in full bloom and look - and smell - so beautiful. I want to pick up a few more rose bushes and place strategically with the others, but I noticed the other night that my 5-6 rose bushes on the right front side of the house has gone from individual bushes to intertwining and it looks so full. I love it. They grow so quickly that we have to have them cut back 3-4 times a year. They are already taller than me - which isn't saying much I guess...

The last two weekends have been my dream come true, pretty much. I've often wanted to have the children over for meals, but just haven't done it.... and it probably won't happen often, but Easter was a good weekend to get started. I love the cooking and baking and just having the grandchildren around. Oh - and the kids too. My middle child and family came over the Saturday before Easter, my oldest and family came over on Easter Sunday - and the youngest and his family came over this past Sunday. Same meal - ham, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, etc. but seemed to be enjoyed by all. I think I am sick of ham, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, etc. LOL But it was good at the time.

I have several packages of chicken in the refrigerator that I plan on grilling tonight so that I can bring a piece to work with me daily and hubby can have some too. We can always find something else to eat for dinner. Or slice the chicken and make chicken tacos. Or something....

I feel so loved - all three of my children have managed to have some time with me this first quarter. My middle child was first - with lunch at a good salad place. I couldn't believe over two hours had passed before I stopped to look at my watch! It was so good to catch up with him and what he and his family have been doing.

My oldest and her daughter and I ran away for a couple days a few weeks later to what we have labeled "Jailbreak Getaway". I love it! Neither my daughter nor I came up with the name - but my granddaughter did! We cracked up laughing about it - but plan to use it for future getaways. Hopefully we can do this at least once a year. It was good to get away and just chill out and talk. Something that we don't normally have time to do.

My youngest just made it under the first quarter to have 1:1 time with me. In fact, if he hadn't been sent back home, he wouldn't have made it. But, being home, he took me out for dinner last week (and I enjoyed delicious chicken buffalitos (or something like that)- oh my these were so good!! Actually they are chicken tacos and I would love to have them again! It was fun to spend a couple hours with him as well and just catch up.

That's all I asked for. That's all I want. Just time to find out what THEY are doing, what's going on in their families. Not that I'm nosey, but they ARE my children and I just like to keep in touch. Most months go buy and I may talk to them once - and may even get to see them once - but that's about it. So, once a quarter should be good. Except the youngest is going to have to work hard cause he is leaving on Friday and then will be gone for several months.

But will be back next year when the flowers once again start blooming. It's hard to believe it is April already....

I am so grateful for Spring... and it's warmth.... some are already complaining about the heat... but not me. I'm grateful.

What are you grateful for?

Blessings!