Working my way through....

 ALL these envelopes that need to be stuffed and mailed!  I did get the all addressed the other day and have been periodically working on stuffing them - and then working on my diamond art project - and then going back to stuffing envelopes.  Keeps me from sitting in one place too long and keeps me active as well.  I will focus on the stuffing this morning and then sort out by zip code.

Today I am to pick up my oldest son from the car dealership.  I think I remember which one, but am not sure of the time - around 7-ish, I think - and will wait for him to call me to come pick him up.  Bringing him back here, he will be bored, I'm sure, until time for his meeting and then he an come in here and shut the world out.  My 'inner room'.  The place where I live the majority of my life anymore.  After that, he and I will be going to lunch - our 'quarterly' lunch together.  Love spending time with him.

Yesterday was a quiet day, other than hubby and I exchanged a few words.  It's probably petty on both sides, but it happens.  We did both go to the gym yesterday - and was it ever packed!  I did have a 9AM gym training with Morgan, which was why we both were there.  But as we were early, I was going to get on the treadmill - and every single treadmill was being used - and nearly all the bikes.  I stood there and looked at them and said 'well, this ain't happening!' and went to the restroom.  I came out a little bit later and two rows of treadmills were open.  Guess there was a class that people were warming up for.  Even the trainers said they had never seen the place so busy as it was yesterday.  But Morgan and I got my training in and hubby worked on his arms before going to sit down and wait on me.  Came home and back on the envelopes!

I did do a 'run' up to see my daughter-in-law yesterday.  I figured she had to work - and I was right.  I text'd her and asked if I could bring up some t-shirts - I had finally cleaned out my closet.  She said yes, so I stopped at Starbucks and got a new 'topical refresher lemonade' drink.... I didn't realize it had those little beads in it - boba or what ever it is.  Didn't know if she liked them, but she did accept the drink.  I thought a little surprise for her at the end of the work day would be nice. I hope she enjoyed it.  Yes, I bought hubby his caramel macchiato - with extra caramel, and I got a protein latte.  Mine was like drinking coffee with milk.  Come to find out - that is all it is - they use some kind of protein milk and coffee to make the latte.  And that was it! But it was good.  And it was good to see my DIL and hand off the t-shirts and a pair of tennis shoes for one of the grandsons I had gotten.  I hope they fit well and that he can wear them.

I meet my boss tomorrow morning for breakfast.  I plan to take all the envelopes with me and maybe she will take charge of mailing them out.  If not, maybe I'll do a run on down to Mesa and drop at the office mail. Maybe. We will talk it through; maybe she will take half of them to mail and I'll have the other half. Will see. Want to get in the mail this week and out of my way.  That work is interfering with my time to do other things. Like I have a life of any sorts.  But I do enjoy my diamond art and reading.

As I sit here and try to think of something to write about.... I keep wanting to share things going on with hubby, but I am trying hard not to say anything 'bad'.... I do enough complaining about him, right?  He is just so clingy - and annoying - moreso than usual. And moody.   Let's just say that 'he had enough of me' yesterday and when I wouldn't watch a second movie with him last night, he stormed off to bed.  I didn't want to watch the first movie!  But I sat there and did watch a movie with him.  But I didn't want to watch a second. So we had a 'discussion' about he is the 'movie addict'; I'm content to sit and read with the TV off.  It didn't go well.  And I'll leave that there.

My little sister has told me that her husband, who has multiple myeloma for ten years now and has been receiving chemo at varying times for all these ten years.... his doctor has moved to Florida, having enough of Indiana weather.  Her husband's care has been transferred to another doctor who has now decided that she wants to do another 'trial' drug on the BIL.  It has something to do with T-cells.  He's been on chemo off and on for ten years.  The previous treatment throws it into 'remission' (so they say, but he still has to get chemo at least once a week),   Anyway - I don't know what is involved with this new treatment of T-cells....but, unfortunately, they had a friend who had another type of cancer, and he was treated with the T-cells - again, it is a trial drug - and the cancer shot to his brain and he got blood clots in his lungs - and he died within a month of receiving the T-cell treatment.  Yes, you can imagine their fear and reluctance.  I told them that they can refuse that trial treatment - and demand to stick with the chemo.  It has worked most of the time.  But it is a decision they have to make.  Scary decision at that.  

I just received 'notice' that my oldest son has left his house, which probably means he is on his way to the car dealership.  Which probably also means I need to put some clothes on and be ready to go pick him up when he calls me.  I took today off work; not for this reason.  I think I mentioned before that my boss was also taking the day off.  I do have work I could do - but hey - I deserve an extra day, right?  Have a 3 day work week isn't bad!

So with that I am going to hush my ramblings and go get dressed.  Hope that you have an amazing day!

Blessings!

It was a very good day

 I didn't have to work yesterday, but that didn't make it a 'very good day'.  I didn't have an agenda for yesterday, other than doing a couple errands.  That didn't make it a 'very good day'.  So what made it a 'very good day'? 

Getting to have lunch with my oldest son and catch up on life with him.  Although I knew there was a possibility that we could have lunch, it was not confirmed.  I was standing in line at Cox to return equipment for a former neighbor when my phone rang.  It was my oldest son.  I had to get him to call me back, and as he was finished with his medical appointment, it was a 'let's do lunch' time.  He met me first at Big 5 Sporting Goods where hubby wanted me to take a look at the 'curl bars' there as I had put it on my Christmas list (not that I needed one, but needed something to write down).  So we looked at those, I took photos and we went to Black Bear Diner to grab something to eat.  

I'm thinking it was a little over two hours later before we finally left and headed our different ways.  I so much enjoyed our lunch together and just listening to what he wanted to share.  I shared a few things and well, I thanked God this morning for the blessing of the time I got to spend with my boy.  A treasured time, for sure.

I headed over to Burlington near us - a fairly new store in this area.  I liked the one by where we used to live, although it often looked chaotic with things everywhere - but this one... uh, don't think I will find my way back there.  Very disappointed in it's layout and in what was there.  The other one had everything - but this one seemed to have mainly clothes, and I was not impressed by what I saw.  I love to look at trinkets and other things - and again, I was just disappointed.  TJ Max was a store or two down, but I didn't want to go there. Haven't been impressed with them before either.  So I just headed on home.  Took a nap. Then went to grocery and picked up fried chicken for dinner and a few other things.  

I have thoroughly enjoyed my days off work (Friday and Monday) and resting, reading, and relaxing and doing whatever I wanted to do.  I tried to imagine what it would be like if I was retired... well, it would be partly like this, but not exactly.  It would probably take a few months to really feel like I was 'retired', right?  Other than no money coming in.  I talked with my son about that; I felt he thought we could make it.  Financially tight?  Yes.  But it can be done.  I've come up with a couple ideas on planning for 'my part' of the financial end... but will see if I follow through.  For sure, I need to quit doing mindless spending.  Once I get past working on our taxes and pulling my information together for it, I can have a better picture of what I can do.  

For one thing - and you know I'll love this part - I will be cooking more rather than us going out to eat like we do.  And I'm ok with that, for the most part.  We don't need three course meals.  Even a sandwich and a salad is enough.  

I love that my oldest son took it upon himself to create a dish yesterday in their new crockpot.  I didn't realize they didn't have one before.  Never thought of it.  Guess they got one for Christmas.  And here I have 4-5 crockpots that I could have let them have one!  I just didn't know.  But - he got creative and I love it.  I love using my crockpots and let it cook all day and not worry about dinner.  I go to the 'crockpot chicken chili' frequently because it is so easy to cook and let it set.  Also keeping chili warm - oh yeah.  Now I'm getting hungry!

I'm back to work today and I checked emails last night (after I had deleted many on Sunday), and it was up to 165.  I skimmed through and deleted a lot that I didn't have to do anything with.  Got it down to 50, I think it was.  But still, Brett has sent several emails with instructions for me to do something.  Some apply to the board meeting we have scheduled on Thursday.  I'm hoping that he isn't telling me to change the date.  That will be next to impossible to get everyone at this late date.

I will say that I desperately needed these days off work.  I was still operating on 'burnout' from the holidays, I think, and needed to just relax and play.  

Our 'new' sofa we bought recently.... has started squeaking.  The springs, that is.  I'm thinking that because it set in a screened porch for several months, the air has affected it. Now that it is indoors and the temperature is different, last night when I sat down it squealed.  I may have to see about tearing it apart and spraying the coils.  Unfortunately, and embarrassingly, we have our group over tomorrow night and I don't think I will have time to do it before then.  Still want to vacuum it as well - my new upholstery vacuum came in the other day and I have it charged now.  It didn't squeak until last night - so my theory is that the temperature change, and the fact it is now getting used daily, has attributed to it. Hubby is already talking about getting rid of it and buying a new one.  I don't want to do that; we got this one a week ago. It didn't squeak int he beginning, but does now.  Will figure it out.

I've been taking two tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil before going to bed at night.  And when I've slept, it has been deep.  I wonder if that is part of it.  I wonder if my energy level is part of it. (I heard it could be).  I need to go back and google 'what are the benefits of taking olive oil'.  I've heard men at the gym talking to each other about taking olive oil at night to help cholesterol, lower blood pressure (mine was at 114//70 this morning!!) and clear out the blood vessels.  Hubby isn't 'on board' yet - and I will admit, you can't taste it going down like I thought you could (I remember the castor oil day), and it doesn't leave an aftertaste for I take it and let it go down without it staying in my mouth.  Will see how I feel in a week or so - if I can tell the difference.

And - I need to get off here and stop my rambling for today.  

God is good. All the time, God is good.  He is faithful, and loving, and kind, and forgiving.  All I am I owe to Him.  My future is in His hands.  And so is yours.  Think about that.  He knows your coming in and going out - before you even decide to do something.  God already knows the outcome.  Is it one that will help - or hinder - you?  Hmmmm.

Blessings!

It feels so good this morning

 to not have to jump on the work computer.  Why?  Because I am taking a day off work to go help the youngest son get some things done around his house.  The spouse is out of town until tomorrow, so I offered to help him get some things done.  He asked last night when I would be arriving - and I told him about 8:30-9AM - and I am in no rush.  I'm enjoying this little bit of time I have to myself this morning; hubby has gone to his Bible study, it's after 7AM and here I am.  Yeah, I'm late on here too - was able to get a bit more reading in this morning.  Is this what it would be like if I wasn't working?  Probably not. Sigh.  

Hubby asked me, as he came in to tell me goodbye this morning, "Will you be home this afternoon?"  Where does he think I'm going?  Sometimes - I'm sorry, but he does - he asks the stupidest questions.  Of course I plan to be home this afternoon!  I plan to be there most of the day, but don't plan to be there into the evening!  Hubby just can't stand to be alone and if I'm not home, he doesn't know what to do with himself.  He has gotten so dependent upon my being 'here' in person for him, for when he wants to chat or to feed him, it's as if he can't do anything in his own power anymore.  And one wonders why I always feel so smothered and buried.....

But I will be with the youngest part of today helping him, and tomorrow morning I get a real treat!  My oldest son is taking me to breakfast!  We were going to do lunch, but I goofed.  We have an HOA community gathering at noon - a potluck (which reminds me, I need to boil eggs tonight to make deviled eggs to take).  So my son and I are meeting about 9-9:30 at a favorite restaurant and we will get to chat for a couple hours.  I love these times for it gives us a chance - rather, it gives me a chance - to catch up on what is going on in life.  He reads my blog so he knows what all is going on with me.  He doesn't write as much in his (hint hint). LOL

I've decided I don't like the Spade Healthwatch 4.  I wore it all day yesterday and although it had my steps on the front, where I want it, I just didn't like it when I needed to see other information.  Is it that I am used to my apple watch and know where to go?  Anyway, I am back to my apple watch today and I turned the healthwatch 4 off.  If I switch out again, I think I'll get a Fitbit.  I used it first and I loved it.  I guess it is better to stick with what you enjoy, right?  It gives me all the information I want, and I like it best.

I have a busy week next week with three doctor appointments.  Yes, three.  I have the dentist on Tuesday - he's going to put a temporary crown on a tooth.  Wednesday is .... I forget.  Thursday is my dermatologist.  Glad I write things down on the calendar.  Or maybe I just have two.  Oh well. It's on the calendar.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV):  Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit.

Know why I believe and trust in the Lord, and hope in Him?  Because I never want to be left in drought, I never want to not be able to give to others. I don't want to be anxious about our next season of life.  It's like if I retired now, I know we will make it ok.  Sure, 'we' will have to stop doing things (like my careless and spontaneous shopping) that we may do now, but some things will still be do-able.  It's just being wise with what you have.  I've mentioned many times that we have way too much 'stuff'.  I don't necessarily want to 'sell' it, but if I hear someone needs something, am happy to give it to them.  Financially we can't help much, but I am happy to give what we can.  There really is very little we need. I have my books, and I'm trusting God to find a place to live and food to eat.  There is nothing else we need, right?

So what are you trusting in?  Your job?  Things made by man?  You trust in games or professions?  You trust in buildings?  Those things are all manmade and you can easily make them into your idol.  Anything you HAVE TO HAVE more than God, is an idol.  That includes food and drink.  Yes, we need food and water to survive; I get that.  But if we do it in excess, we are worshipping a manmade idol instead of God.  Make sense?

I have to watch myself when it comes to food.  Yes, I love food.  I love chocolate.  I love an occasional glass of wine.  I love my books.  But when it comes to God, He is to be first in all things.  I can cut back on food (hey, I'm doing it for this crazy 'diet', right?), I only cheat on occasion with a bite of chocolate. I don't 'need' it, but I enjoy it.  There is a difference.  

Oh I can get in trouble all by myself when I choose things to go after instead of going after God!  I pray daily not only for forgiveness of the things I'm aware of that I do, but also for the things I don't realize that I do that are not pleasing to Him.  I want to be in the image of Jesus.  I want people to see Jesus in me.  And many times, self gets in the front of Him and no one can see Him.  That is what I work on.  I want Jesus seen in me.  

The Lord has blessed us abundantly over the years.  He has answered many, many prayers I've prayed.  My heart and mind cry out to Him to 'use me' for Your glory alone.  And in that I wait, for I know He is not finished with me yet.

What about you?  Have you reached the point in life where you are ready to let this life go and grab hold of all that God has for you?  Do you not realize how much He loves you, and that He has been waiting patiently for you to come to Him and just ask Him to take over your life?  You will find life is so much more enjoyable when you do.  We aren't perfect, and He knows that.  We will slip and fall (as you know, this is something I struggle with daily), but our God is a forgiving God.  But He is also a jealous God.  He will not allow things to come before Him.  So what's your decision? Doing things your way - or God's way.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look upon His face.  All you can see is Love.

Blessings!

Sleep eludes me...

 My mind woke much earlier than my body did this morning and the body did NOT want to get up.  But, alas, it was of no good to stay in bed.  I could feel (and hear) hubby moving around awake as well, so went ahead and got up.  I wanted to go back to sleep so came in here and curled up in the recliner... but it wasn't long before hubby was bringing my coffee so that wasn't going to happen.

My coffee is now gone; I've got my clothes on, and it's only 6:16AM.  And I am off work today.  Whoo Hoo!  I could have worked today... but why?  I only have a couple meetings left over from last week - and that won't take long, plus I couldn't get the answers I need, more than likely.  So here I am.  I did schedule a blood donation at 11:15AM so I will at least get out of the house today.  Maybe I'll stop at Michael's on the way back... but why?  There is nothing I need.  At Needles of Hope last week we had a large yarn donation and I brought home two bags of yarn.  I usually bring what is left after the others choose what they want.  They are much more talented than I am with my two-three stitches....  I will take them over to my daughter's tomorrow and she and my granddaughter can pick out some that they want.  I certainly don't need all I brought home, nor do I have room for it all.  I did finish a baby blanket last night that I started on Saturday.  If I focus, I can get a baby blanket done every 2-3 days.   

But I've gotten back in to my reading now and I can't do both - especially since hubby lives by his TV shows.  B-O-R-I-N-G.  Yes, I like a good movie every once in awhile... but I like to read too... just because he has all the time in the world to read - he wants to watch TV.  UGH.  And he gets mad if I come in here to get away from the noise.  I started to put my headset on yesterday to listen to an audible book while he had the TV on - and he got mad and turned it off.  I can't win some days.  If I had my headset on, I can't listen to him.  So I read after he turned it off.  I tell him he has a social addiction.  It's either the TV or his computer or his phone.  When the TV is off I can read (if I'm not working)... if it's on, I crochet.  

Hubby does have a workout scheduled this morning, for which I'm grateful.  I get alone time.  We didn't go over the weekend.  He always makes a big deal in the middle of the week that WE are going to the gym on the weekend... usually a Friday...  but I work Fridays... and he doesn't go... and I don't say anything... so well, here it is Monday and another weekend has gone by without him working out.  Not that I do a lot, but I do have my weights and treadmill here so can do something - and usually do.  Today I plan to get a short workout in while he is gone - but I also have to watch the clock; need to leave about 10:45 to make my blood donation appointment.   I do have a workout appointment tomorrow morning at 6AM so that will get my blood pumping and moving tomorrow.

Things that make you go 'awwwwww'.....  we went to church yesterday and at one point our pastor told us to get  up and welcome 2-3 people around us.  Well, I shook a few hands and chatted briefly, then I saw a baby withit's mama in the back row (we sit about 4 rows up from the back).  I went back and commented on what a beautiful baby she was ... and asked how old, for she was quite tiny.  I was told she was one month old.  I'm still awing over this baby (she really was beautiful!) and asked her name. You won't believe this!  (and that's what I told the mama too!)  Her name is Nova.  That made her even more beautiful.  LOL  I was blown away.  I've actually met one other person whose name was Nova up in Flagstaff at a restaurant... and I've talked to people on the phone for work over the years - or people tell me they know someone or there is one couple in Pioneer Village that has a granddaughter named Nova... but I hadn't met a baby yet.  The mother couldn't believe it either and even spelled it out for me to be sure I knew how it was spelled... yep.  Same as mine.  Pretty cool, huh.  

Well, I suppose I need to go either fix a shake or eat a good breakfast since I'm donating blood this morning.  Maybe I'll read for a bit first - it isn't even 7AM yet.  I don't want to leave my room and the quiet.  Maybe I'll go outside... before it gets too hot... but I know hubby will soon follow.  Oh well. It is what it is.

I've got nothing to share to today... got a lot on my heart that I'm praying about ... so think I'll just hushf or now.

Hope that you have an amazing day.

Blessings!

So excited it's Friday!

I am in desperate need of a fun day and am so looking forward to hanging out with my friend and boss for most of the day.  The Christmas House is in a mansion and there are fun things placed throughout it.  I mean these houses are absolutely huge - and they are donated to this club to use for their Christmas displays for two days - today and tomorrow.  And trust me, for $60 a person, just to get in and have a catered brunch, it is still well worth it. I think it was the house last year that also had a small landing strip and a private airplane in the hangar out the back door, on the other side of the huge pool!  I'm happy for these people to have these things, don't get me wrong - and I am ever so grateful I'm not paying for them!  Can you even imagine!

Yesterday was so busy and so crazy.  I had lots of things I needed to get done.  My other boss and I touched base and the location for the board retreat is changed and I have to call to find another location, arrange to get the rooms set up, have food catered in - and I just didn't have time to do it yesterday.  I did pick Ms. Amy up yesterday and I took her to her 'condo' to sew up her pants.  I let her alone and came home to catch up on things I needed to do, and then went back.  She still wasn't ready (she only took 4 pair of pants to fix, but she was also going through things to see if she should take it with it).  I came back home and worked some more; then finally just went back over and waited on her.  She finally got everything put away and we were ready to go back to the assisted living.  I helped get her things to her room and left.  Stopped at McAllister's and picked up food for dinner and home I came.

Then, when I picked up my Kindle Fire to play my Words with Friends game - it wouldn't come up - although I had it on charge all night.  NOOOOOooooooo!!!  I have noticed it seems to lose it's charge within 3 days or so, and when it got to about 36% I'd plug it in again.  Well I never could get it up last night so plugged it in from the kitchen.  Will see if it works when I get back after another night of being on the charge.  If not, then I will be online and ordering a new Kindle Fire for myself.  I use this one daily so it's a bummer for it to go out.  When I did get a screen to come up, it showed the charge completely gone.  I haven't even been able to get that screen back up.  Oh well, I think this is my second or third one... and it's probably already been upgraded 3-4 times since I bought this one.  It's just annoying.  

I think I'm catching a cold.. or I've caught one.  Sigh.  I don't feel bad, but I get on these sneezing jaunts, then my nose runs like crazy and my sinus hurts a lot.  Already this morning I've taken Olive Leaf extract, an ibuprofen... and have an allergy pill laid out to take just before I head to Mesa.  I want it to work for awhile.  I took one last night and it dried up my nose and stopped my sneezing pretty much.  I did wake up in the middle of the night with a runny nose so took another allergy pill and went right back to sleep.  Maybe I have somehow caught an allergy to something.  Actually, since we spent that weekend in Prescott last April and I got so sick from the smell of the cleaning fumes, I have had issues ever since with my sinus area and little things bothering me that never did before.  

This too shall pass.  My mama always said so.

We had a large package delivered last night and we don't know who sent it.  There is no tag in the box, there is nothing on the label.  It came direct from a company.  I thought about asking my sister if it came from her, but if it didn't, and if it came from my big brother - which normally he will tell me a package is coming and do not open until Christmas - well, it can create issues.  So, since it was addressed to both hubby and I - we decided to wait and see if someone asks if we received a package.  And, yes, we opened it, because we had no instructions.  So - we'll wait to see who asks if we have received a package for surely they got notification it was delivered.  With no name, we don't know who to thank.  It could even be hubby's brother.  It came from a place in Indiana, so we think it is from someone there - but we could be wrong!

My big brother shared with me that his wife is retiring after 30+ years with Eli Lilly on January 4th.  Sigh.  That takes it back to I am the only one of my siblings and now their spouses still working.  Of course they can afford to retire... they have saved and invested well.  I'm not jealous of them... nor envious.... I'm happy for anyone who can retire.  I just wish WE had been more careful and saved more.  Some day my time will come.  I just hope I get to enjoy retirement before I die. 

Hebrews 8:10 "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  God has blessed me with a great friend, and for that I am thankful!

And I am thankful that I not only have a good boss, but that she is a good friend to me.  As I've shared before, we have been through a lot together over the years.  I know her kids, in fact, did the wedding  ceremony for all three of them!  She knows about my kids.  We've shared things only close friends can share.  I love her to pieces and am so grateful for her friendship.  She's the one I am spending most of today with.  We are right at 10 years apart in age, me being the older one.  We plan to meet the morning of December 23rd for our 'breakfast' and exchange our gifts.  I told her I had to make it close to Christmas as I give her things she puts out for her guests from the things I make to eat.  She doesn't know that I have arranged for another close friend to join us that morning.  It will be so good to see her too.  The week before Christmas I will be doing a lot of baking, salsa making, cheeseball making (did I share that I think the dill pickle cheeseball went over fairly well at Thanksgiving?)... you know I love to bake and make things.  And I don't do near what I used to do.  I do need to do some things for this coming Thursday - I'll be going to Mesa for a meeting and plan to take my other boss' gift then.  It's kind of awkward though - his wife is an excellent baker... so why bake for them.  I don't know.  I'm hoping to get a brilliant idea of something to take for him.  But it's cheaper than shipping something to him - it's the thought, not the price tag, right?

I cry out to the Lord for His strength for today.  I'm praying this cold or allergy will disappear today that I can enjoy the day.  I also need to work on the message for Sunday and need to be well to deliver it as well.  I know God is more than able to heal me completely.  I just ask... and wait.

Blessings!