Schedule is screwed up, I think

 I'm so used to doing this blog in the mornings - that when I run out of time for various reasons (i.e., falling back to sleep, getting up late, etc.) I sometimes forget.  As we have discovered lately.  But - I just remembered so thought I'd jump on long enough to give you something to read.  Not that any of it matters.

I was on a hunt this morning - my brother's granddaughter is collecting the quarters from each state. The last one she needed was Arizona.  So, of course I started going through my change and found one!  It is already in the mailbox for her.  I even washed it!  LOL

Well, I found out yesterday..... I think I mentioned I had ordered 2000 Easter eggs for the egg hunts our church is doing this year.  Unfortunately, I did not hear mentioned during the announcements - "FILLED Easter eggs".  Yeah.  I got eggs.  Not filled ones.  So yesterday I was also out on a hunt at the dollar store and picked up quite a few bags - but not even half of what is needed to fill these.  I worked on it last night some, filling the eggs.  Tedious, to say the least.  But got about 500 eggs filled, I think.  I'm working on them again today as both bosses are at another all day meeting (yeah me) and I have the time.  I'm also needing to head out to the dollar store again and see about picking up more candies to put in the eggs.  In texting with our pastor, he said the youth could help 'stuffing' the eggs - and I truly appreciate that!  I'll work on these until I take off to find more bags of candy - then I will take the candy and what is left of the eggs down to the church and the youth will continue filling them over the weekend.  Save on my arthritic fingers, for sure!  I guess I should have listened better.  

We have 12 quail eggs now.  AND, my Blink cameras arrived this morning.  When hubby goes to his bible study in the morning I will have my youngest come over (if he will) and put them up for me.  Then I will need to figure out how to use them!  Hubby always had to have the 'control' before so I didn't have on my phone.  Maybe now is MY turn? HAH!  I'll just 'do it'!

Had dinner with our friends last night - went to Denny's.  I decided I'd just order the tacos and let that be my dinner - and share them.  Hubby got his steak, of course.  Our friends shared their meal as my girlfriend can only eat less than a saucer full of food (surgery to lose weight).  Sure does save them money!  And hubby and I wonder why we can't lose weight when we both eat a full meal!  Well, I shared my nachos - which weren't that good anyway.  Forget the meat.  I just want queso, and jalapenos.  Next time - if there is one - I will specify to keep the gross meat off.

Don't know anything to add today - and since it's late - I'm going to shut this off.  Hope that you have an amazing day.  Maybe something exciting will happen today that I will have to share tomorrow. :-)  Who knows - it CAN happen!

Blessings!

I forgot to post....

 obviously, because as I brought this up this morning, I don't see a Tuesday - and this is Wednesday, right?  Wow. How did that get by me.  Maybe I need to just go back to typing when I have something to say.  Which doesn't necessarily mean today, either.  I've already been to the gym this morning; forgot my watch so couldn't record steps (I walked the treadmill first) nor my workout.  And so, now that I'm back home, watch on, I need to 'do those things again' so that I can get my steps in and my points on the challenge.  Workout was good, though, and I was really surprised that there were very few people at the gym at 7:30AM.

I'm drinking out of three containers this morning - my leftover coffee I didn't finish (cause I kept falling back to sleep this morning), my water, and my protein shake.  The past two nights I've had this strange dream and I never can remember exactly what it is when I wake up - yet I know it is the same dream.  Is it from something I watched? Or something I read?  I don't know - I just know that it is the same dream, but the hard part is I can't remember what the dream was about.  Do you ever have those dreams?  Ok - coffee is done.  

Both Sue and Brett are to be in all day meetings today so I should have a pretty light day - although I do still have things to do.  BUT - I want you to know, yesterday I got the minutes done for the last board meeting I was slacking on, AND got the PowerPoint deck completed and in the Teams folder for the prep meeting.

We are to go out to dinner with friends tonight.  There for awhile we were going out every other week, but it's been a month or more now.  Always good to hang out with them.  I worked with Linda at MCP - so you know it's been years we have known each other.

We now have 11 eggs in the nest.  Mama sat on the eggs all afternoon yesterday and was still there when it got dark, so I didn't get to check until this morning.  My brother asked me to hold a coin up next to one so that he could see the size - I held up a quarter - and it's a bit smaller, I think. The eggs, that is.  I've had so much fun watching them.  It's the little things that bring me joy.  I think I bought the wrong camera to put on them for it is 'wired'.... and we don't have an outlet on the porch - imagine that!  So, I'm sending it back. Will check with my youngest to see if he will go pick me up a wireless camera - or maybe I'll just order the blink cameras - that's what we had at the other house.  Yeah, maybe I'll just do that.  Or I will ask my friends tonight what cameras they have up in Payson at their place there - he is always showing us the elk and deer that come up to the place there - and he's sitting across the table from us!  

I just got reprimanded!  LOL  Looked at my phone and Ralphd00d told me I was spending too much time on the quail watch and neglecting my blog!  

And with that - I don't have nothing more to share right now.  Still without an oven and stove - but we have made do with the air fryer, electric skillets, grills, microwave, and toaster oven.  All these appliances - who needs a stove or oven, right?   Well, I DO miss both - I want to bake - and that's a bit harder with the toaster oven.  I'd have to watch closer and I don't have the time for that.  

I've looked at a few food things - Nutrisystem, Home Chef (which I've done both before), Hello Fresh, Tovala (I could get another toaster oven!) and I think another one - but - I just don't want to commit right now.  I like the convenience of having a meal either prepared already or just having all the ingredients together to put together - but at times I just enjoy throwing together a grilled cheese - and then we go out whenever our friends want to go - and I end up having throw one or two away.  I like making my own decision on what we are having. Does that make sense?  Nutrisystem is great - and I almost signed up for it yesterday - even had my credit card info in it - but talked myself out of it and backed out.  TV dinners are already made and I can purchase those - OR - I can just do meal preps and freeze them, right?   I need to create my own menus and do just that.  It's more fun when someone does it with me.... but no one wants to.

Ok - I got to get off here and get some work done today.  Hubby has an 11:40AM meeting with the cardiologist today that I need to go with him - follow-up on ECHO results.  I'm sure he is just fine.  Next week we both get blood tests - he has an appointment April 8th with Dr. Mark... but Dr. Mark only wants to check my thyroid - he still thinks my levothyroxin is too high - he just wants to confirm it with my blood test. No appointment necessary until he feels something is wrong.  He will just write me a new prescription and off I go.

Oh - speaking of prescriptions - we got a shock yesterday - hubby went to Walgreens to pick up his Eliquis ..... His one time co-pay on meds kicked in - $546 I think it was.  Usually it is only $147 for 3 months supply.  And I caught him.  I haven't pursued it, but I will be watchful.  I thought he paid for it out of the bank account - which surprised me for I didn't think he had much in it - and come to find out, he didn't.  He got a credit card "no interest for 12 months" at Christmas time - AFTER I have forbidden him to ever have a credit card again.  We got out tax refund check yesterday - I told him to pay it off.  And all that is a whole 'nother story I'm not going into.

And with that - I'm off here - at least I've given you something to read today!   Until next time....

Blessings!

And.... it's Monday!

 Here I am, trying to wrap my head around today.  Not that it's going to be crazy or anything.  I just stayed up too late watching NCIS and got to bed late, and the alarm went off way too early this  morning and I have been dragging my butt ever since.  It's all on me.  I know better than to stay up past 10PM - but I did it anyway - stayed up until 11PM.  Some of you, this is nothing, but when the alarm goes off in the wee morning hours, well, my rebound capabilities have gotten quite a bit less than they were 20 years ago when I could get by on 4 hours of sleep.  Now I need at least 6!

I'm wondering how much work I will have from Brett today, as he seems to be winding down and deleting a lot of his meetings off his calendar.  Which is good, but since I made a large portion of his meetings off his calendar, we need to end-date them. It's something I plan to talk with him about next week. Not going to do anything about it this week.  Maybe I'll get the last set of minutes done today.

We gained one more egg yesterday - giving us a total of 9.  I went out yesterday to add a metal eagle to our wall where the red/white/blue star shaped flag used to be, and startled mama sitting in the pot on the eggs.  After I hung it, on the way back, even with trying to stay away from that area, mama took off, leaving a few feathers behind as well.  I guess I need to be a bit more observant when I go out front and check on mama first.  I was going to have the youngest son come over yesterday and put up the camera, but hubby got in one of his moods of 'he better not put it here or there because blah blah blah and he needs a drill, blah blah blah.... so it made me upset so I text'd the son to wait until hubby is gone to one of his studies and I'll see if he can come over and put it up.  I could actually do it myself - no, I don't have a drill either but what did people do before drills came into existence?  They improvised, right?  I'll get it done one way or another.  

I found my papers (finally) from Saturday so let's see if I can finish this off with what I discovered about myself.  Are you ready?

B - Broken before God.  In the Bible we have the woman with the alabaster jar who broke it and anointed Jesus' feet with it.  Find the desperation of your broken heart at the feet of Jesus and break that which we hold back and surrender to Him.

E - Empty yourself.  My junk is not too much for God.  We can't be full of the Spirit if we are full of ourselves.  If we don't empty ourselves, we won't have room for Jesus.

A - Accessible to God.  We make ourselves accessible to a lot of people, but neglect letting ourselves be accessible to God. Think about Mary and Martha.  Only Mary made herself accessible to Jesus.  Jesus never asked Martha to do all that she was doing - she kept herself so busy she didn't have time to sit at Jesus' feet.  Tune out our busyness; it will wait.  Sit at Jesus' feet for awhile.

U - Unpack the past.  Think about a backpack and fill it with all your disappointments and hurts, etc.  The past starts to shape us.  We need to be able to let go of the past.  Think about Lot's wife.  She longed for the past life she was leaving - and she turned with longing eyes toward it - and turned into a pillar of salt!  If we allow the past to hold us, we can't hear God speak.

T - Trust the process.  Moses's mother, Jocabed, kept Moses hidden for as long as she could, going against the Pharaoh's command to have all male babies put to death.  She trusted God to take care of Moses when she put him in the basket and set him in the river.  And God didn't fail her; Pharaoh's daughter ended up hiring Jocabed to nurse Moses!  How cool is that?    Are we a control freak?  Do we trust God?  What do I/we need to put in the basket and trust God for?

I - Initiate grace.  Remember the story of the Samaritan woman at the well?  When Jesus asked her to bring her husband, only to hear her respond, "I have no husband" and Jesus reply "You are correct.  And the man you are living with is not  your husband."  Jesus went out of his way to go to Samaria, just to meet this woman at the well, just to show her grace.  Jesus died so that we could receive grace.  Initiate grace for ourselves and for others.

F - Faithful, no matter the cost.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, when told she would bear a son, she didn't ask questions; she didn't argue about it.  She just replied, "I am a servant of God."  Mary knew a lot was going to come against her - and she still said Yes.  Compare it to a life following Him.  Be faithful.  When we are faithful with little, He will lead us to better things.

U - Unashamed of who we are in Christ.  Think about the story of Esther and how, when Haman had set it up to have every single Jew killed, Esther had a choice.  She had a specific task "for such a time as this".  She may - or may not have been able to continue to hide who she was, but her people would not. It was up to her.  We are created differently for His purposes.  Surrender unashamed to His purposes.

L - Let go and let God lead you.  When these women I've mentioned surrendered to God, He led them where He wanted them to go.  And He can do that for you as well.  Trust the process.  Success is easy.  Surrender takes trust.

So there you have it. Taking the word Beautiful - and giving you something to nibble on.  Chew on it. Digest it.  Think about it.  How does this affect you?  What is something you may need to work on.  I'm going to be a bit honest here.  Of all these, the letter that got to me was the first 'U'.  Unpack the past.

As I listened to what Clarisa (our speaker) had to say, when it came to Unpack your past, thoughts came swirling into my mind.  Not good thoughts either.  I thought about the abuse. But I also thought about the pain I have carried around with me and allowed to nearly destroy me.  Words spoken to me from someone angry with me.  Words like 'hypocrit'; your prayers are fake; who do you think you are?  These words stung, and unfortunately, come at me different times.  One person, in my sharing a bit with them, I think hit it on the head.  "They are jealous of you."  I hadn't thought of that before.  But even with hearing that, and possibly wanting to believe that, those words I heard cut me to the quick.  And I have carried them around in my backpack for years.  I feel so unworthy to preach; I feel like my every move or word spoken or prayer given is being judged.  And you know what?  It's time for me to unpack that backpack that I have carried around on my shoulders for so long.  I may not be a good preacher, but I do my best to share Jesus with others.  My prayers may sound broken and uncertain, but they are sincere.  If someone feels they need to judge me, so be it.  In my heart I know that I have pleased God, and that is more important than someone else's opinion of me.

I am not perfect by any means. I still make mistakes (lots of them, unfortunately).  But I am not who I was.  If someone feels they need to judge me, they need to remember that when they point one finger at me, they have 3 fingers pointing back at themselves.  Judging and Jealousy has no place in God's kingdom.  As Paul would say, Pray for me that I will be a light in the darkness and lead others to Jesus. Life is all about Jesus.  Choose Jesus. Follow Jesus. Only He is perfectly perfect.

Blessings!

I did learn something about myself yesterday....

 I had a good time at the women's conference yesterday.  Our small group leader came alone and sat with me, and we saw another member of our small group but her daughter was with her so they sat elsewhere. And that was ok.  Unfortunately, Vicky and I sat right where the air conditioner came out - nearly continuously, so the morning session we both were dripping liquid from our eyes - not from what we were hearing, but the cool air hitting our faces.  So much for wearing makeup.  Several people in our area left after lunch so when we came back for the afternoon session, we moved over and were much more comfortable!  All in all, it was a good conference and I'm glad I went.

The leadership lunch was where I learned something about myself.  The leader who spoke, a lady minister from Florida, spoke on the word BEAUTIFUL (which was our conference theme) and spoke on each letter.  Let me spell it out for you.  Hmmm I will get back with you on this one - maybe something I can write about tomorrow.  I think I left my notes and the paper I got in the other room.  I thought I had it by my chair, and I do not.  So - maybe this will bring you back tomorrow to see what I write. And what affected me.

Moving on - the conference was good.  I did buy myself (gasp! something for ME!) a couple t-shirts from the conference.  Our worship leader just released a new song - Joy is Mine - a couple weeks ago.  She had jackets and t-shirts - so I bought one.  I'll help support her.  She is, after all, our church's worship leader.  I met Pastor Lindsey's sister yesterday too. Oh - that reminds me - two instances that caused both hubby and I to wonder... LOL.... When I was registering, gave my name, and then asked if my wristband would also get me into the leadership luncheon. She didn't know, but said to check with the last lady who was checking in people.  So I walked over there and asked her.  She said yes, there would be a table there they would be checking people in for the luncheon.  Ok.  Then I asked if our church had a reserved section (as I had heard they did- and they did).  She introduced herself and said she went to our church.  She asked my name.  I told her - and she acted as if she knew me!!  She said my name - and hubby's name!!  Like she was connecting us.  What was that about?   Then, as I mentioned above, I met Pastor Lindsey's sister after the luncheon.  She was helping getting the plates, etc. put in the trash.  As we talked briefly, I had to ask if she attended our church (the conference was at another church, but the resemblance to Pastor Lindsey was so great, I had to ask!)  She laughed, said yes, she was Pastor Lindsey's sister!  She introduced herself and asked my name.  And she repeats my name, then goes on with hubby's name!  Uh WHAT?  She also explained that she was on staff and worked int he office.  So does this mean that hubby and I are talked about in the office?  I told hubby about it and I think it is probably more that we both write checks for our tithe - and are probably the only ones that do!  Everyone else probably does it online or just throws cash into the bucket when it is passed.  I like writing the check and putting in the bucket.  It means something to me.  It's my tithe and offering, and I don't want to ever take for granted that God has blessed us with money that we can tithe to Him.  I have no idea how two people in the office knew our names - but that was all I could come up with.

After getting home last night about 6:45PM, I suggested to hubby we go to Master Taco for a quick dinner.  I could have done without, but after asking hubby if he ate during the day, I got a 'tv dinner for lunch, and this afternoon I had cheese and crackers"... figured he would want me to cook dinner, which I really wasn't planning on doing.  It's like he has forgotten how to do anything.  Anyway, we went to Master Taco for dinner.   Unfortunately for me, we went to bed about our usual time after eating and getting back home.  Now, I love refried beans.  I really do.  And I can eat them, and if I stay up long enough, I can go to bed and sleep with no problems.  But if I go to bed within 2-3 hours AFTER eating even a small amount of refried beans, I'm in trouble.  This is the third time it has happened that I can remember - you would think I would remember.  I think I will now.  What happens?

After I go to sleep, whatever is in the beans will work it's way through the bile and start working its way into my esophagus.  (this is going to sound disgusting, but I'm trying to explain)_ I work up with a cough. Then another.  It woke hubby up fussing at me "what's wrong?"  I got up and took a drink of water I keep next to the bed.  Climbed back in bed and fell back to sleep - until I was jolted awake with the bile working its way up the esophagus (and it really burns!!) and I jump up out of bed.  I remembered then I had had refried beans shortly before going to bed.  Hubby (lucky me) had stayed asleep this time.  I knew I couldn't lay flat for awhile so came in here - I think it was about 11:15PM, and dozed off and on here in my chair.  I really wanted to lay down on the bed, but knew I couldn't. I could sleep if I was somewhat sitting up.  I did sleep some, and have slept some more after I heard hubby up and bringing me coffee.  I've gotten a lot of reading done and a lot of praying as well.  After this I will jump in the shower and get ready to head to church.  Anyway - that's my story with the refried beans.  I can eat them, but must wait at least 3-4 hours before I can lay flat.  That bile burns its way up my esophagus - and trust me - that burning is clogging my breathing and if I don't get up... well, you can figure it out.  It always reminds me of my little brother's grandson.  At 7 months - I can't remember if it was the parents or the babysitter, but am inclined to think it was the babysitter - fed him a little bit of refried beans... then put him in bed with a bottle.  He never woke up.  It was determined that the refried beans had regurgitated and choked him.  My brother has never gotten over his death.  He used to go sit at the gravesite with little trucks and cars and play with them, his heart was broken.

So here I am this morning and my neck is hurting from the awkward way I slept in the chair.  Don't want to put anything on it - but maybe the hot shower will release the strained muscles.  

We have 8 eggs in our quail nest now.  The camera came yesterday.  Will hopefully get it put up today. I am enjoying watching the eggs.  I hope I bought the right one.  If not, may get my son to go with me to Walmart and see if we can find something.  Or wherever they are sold.  My brother says that we can get 15 eggs - so this is going to be interesting. No wonder the mama quail is killing my plant and widening the area she is laying the eggs in!  And it takes 17 days or so for them to hatch.    I guess I will keep that plant at a bare minimum and leave there afterwards for any other quails to protect their eggs.  Coyotes don't usually come into the courtyard, but obviously can jump the fence.  I would panic if they came in the courtyard!!

And with that - I need to get off here and get in the shower.  Hope I haven't bored you with all my ramblings today.  Have a super blessed day - do something nice for someone that doesn't expect it.

Blessings!

A new day - and it's a women's conference!

 Yes, I have a women's conference that I am going to today - It's called Imagine and is put on by the AZ Women's Ministry.  I think I've mentioned before that one of our senior pastors (the wife, of course), is the head of this AZ Women's Ministry.  Part of me is looking forward to it; the other part is the sheltering part - you know where you withdraw into yourself and become introverted.  I used not to be so introverted, but ... no, I'm not going to go there.... but I know I have stepped back of living life for far too long.  I'm trying to find myself again, and I admit, it isn't easy.   I'm hoping I will run into the very few women I do know from church so that I can be a part of that group.  I heard that we have our own section so will look for it.  Last year when I went to the conference we had not started going to the church yet.  I sat alone. I mean I did talk to the few people around me, but they had their own little friend groups.  I need to 'put myself out there' and quit backing away and standing in the shadows, if you know what I mean.  

We had a great time with our friends last night.  A great dinner at Cheddars and then over to their place at the RV park to play cards.  We played two games - one called spades, which was fun and I think we are finally getting the hang of it.  The other.... I forget what it was called, but you deal an extra hand and then there is a trump card... it was fun as well.  I hope we get a chance to play again.  Or hubby and I should practice on it ourselves so that we remember it.  Maybe some of the kids would like to play cards with us sometime.

Work wasn't too bad yesterday - it was pretty quiet on the Brett front and Sue took the afternoon off to get taxes done.  She and I talked first thing yesterday morning and caught up on things.  Since I didn't do the minutes I still have left to do - I worked on my message for next Sunday.  It's that last one for the season.  In fact, our friends we met last night - the husband is one of the leaders/lay leaders of the RV park church and he gave me my schedule for next season.  November I have two, and then one a month for the remaining.  Two months I'll be leading communion.  He said most of the other pastors didn't like doing it.  Seriously?  What's up with that?  Why wouldn't you want to lead the congregation into a time of communion?  I don't understand that, but I have no problem doing it.

We have seven quail eggs as of last night!  It has been such fun checking on them - and today - I'll check this morning, of course, but then will have to wait until I get home tonight - which will probably be around 6:30PM or so.  The eggs just keep 'growing'!  My camera should arrive today as well so tomorrow I will have my youngest come over and set up the camera and show me how to view on my phone.  My luck in buying things I don't know anything about, I probably bought the wrong one!  

But my brother sent me a photo of one he has in one part of his house (he has cameras all the way around. Good thing, a couple years ago the police was able to catch a burglar as he showed up on my brother's video feed coming up to the house - but then leaving and going to a neighbor's house.).   Anyway, I only bought one camera and we'll get it set up.  I kind of would like cameras around each door - front, side, and back - just to keep an eye on things.  One never thinks someone will break in, and it is a quiet neighborhood, but when we get the newsletter - if we look at that section where it reveals what the posse has checked out, we see that several places have been broken in to.  Of course out here in the 'old age farm' - all they have to do is read the paper that someone died and when the funeral is - then they know the house will be vacant.  Right?  Wow - how did I go from quail eggs to burglars?!

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV):  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 cease from yielding fruit.

Troubles will come, we can be confident of that, but one who trusts in God, no matter what, whose hope is in Jesus, shall be like a tree planted by the waters.  You have probably seen trees planted by a stream.  Do you recall seeing the roots reaching out into the waters, going deep.  It doesn't die from the heat. Just like a man, whose hope is in Jesus, does not falter and grow weak when troubles come upon him.  He is like that tree; when troubles come, he will remain strong and will not stress nor worry, and life will go on, because he trusts in the One who can save Him.  Jesus Christ our Lord.  Be like a tree.

Which reminds me, the couple we met with last night had told me about her sister who was totally against God.  She was actually here when I spoke last fall at the RV park. She lives in another state.  Well, I was told (and shown the text) last night that yesterday morning my friend got a text from this sister that said "I want to tell you that I have accepted Jesus as Lord in my life."  Wow. She had other things to say, but that one sentence said it all.  My friend said her sister had always refused God - so this was a complete turnaround.  I hope next time we meet she will know more of her sister's 'story' of turning back to Jesus.  What a wonderful testimony to share!

And - I need to get off here and start getting ready. I want to leave around 8AM - why? Because registration starts at 9AM, it will take me about 30 minutes to get there - and last time I was there at 9AM and the line was starting to wrap around the church parking lot!  But then again, there really is no rush for me to get there... maybe I'll wait until 8:15 - so I have to wait in line - no big deal. I'm not sure when it starts, but I imagine around 10AM.  Goes until 6PM.  May be a long day!  I do need to get my things pulled together. Want to take a notebook for notes if I want to take any. I'll take my crocheting for the times I sit and listen (yes, I can do two things at once, in this case), and well - maybe I will have something to share tomorrow.

Hope you have a wonderful day today and enjoy it!  Life is too short to not live in each day.

Blessings!

Oops - this is what happens

 when I have things to do in the mornings!  I did do a little reading this morning, but I had an 8AM call with my boss and a 9AM with the hygienist at my dentist's office.... and guess where my mind was all morning - looking at the clock and determining what I needed to do.   Just realized I have not written in here today - which may give you something to read in the morning, if not later today.  But, I do have a women's conference I am going to tomorrow - which is all day - so I may not get to write in here either as I have that to get ready for.  Will see....  When I have to 'dress up' and get makeup on, and do my hair (which takes the most time, trust me!), I tend to lag in the time zone.  At least today I'm dressed enough to meet dinner with friends tonight, I put makeup on this morning, although the spray from the teeth cleaning may have wiped it all off.  My hair - eh - I don't care. I'll just make sure it's in place.  I'm a 'no frills' type of girl until I really need to look nice.  

Well, the news is out about Brett leaving us on April 3rd.  I found the notice from our division president really interesting.  I mean, he didn't say anything wrong, but it was just 'out there' - very impersonal and with knowing the personality of both men, it seemed a notice of "Fine, Here it is, He's going to another company. Good luck."  Distant and cold.  Sue said she didn't see it that way, but understood what I was saying.  One of his senior directors is having me send a meeting invite for April 2nd for us (including me) to meet in Mesa to tell him 'goodbye'.  I suppose I ought to go - will be the last time I ever see him.  Sue lets me charge mileage so I just might go.  Unfortunately, I can only charge mileage from the main office and not from home - but oh well.  $20 is $20 for gas - right?  I paid $4.69 at Fry's yesterday - about killed me!  I didn't have any 'rewards points' as I haven't bought groceries in awhile.  Guess I need to do that.

I had a nice time alone last night while hubby was meeting with his friend for bible study.  I had a couple errands I needed to do and I got them done.  Gas, check. Macy's, check. Car Wash, check.  One Nutrition (for my SF Butterfinger Shake), check.  Home.  Check.  It was a nice quiet evening.  As mentioned above, meeting RV park friends tonight for dinner at Cheddars.... then over to their place to play games.  It will be a fun evening.  

Tomorrow I have the all day AZ Women's Conference I am going to.  I signed up also for the leadership lunch - not sure what that would entail, but I figured it would be one way for me to meet other women who are in leadership.  Although I am definitely not in leadership at this time.  Do I want to be?  Depends on what it is for - but yes, I would like to be a part of a group that meets weekly or every other week or whatever - just to belong.  Does that make sense?  I feel so much of the time my life is workout, desk work, feed hubby.  That's my life.  And it's boring.  Don't know what can change with retiring, but I think if I even took a couple months off work I could come back refreshed and renewed - does that make sense?  Maybe I could take FMLA and still keep my job.  I wonder if I could......  and if I chose not to go back to work where I am now, not a biggie, right?  Something I may think about - a short sabbatical, perhaps?  But do I really want to go back to this type of stress work.  And, do I really want to give up my pay check.  Things I will have to process through.

I just ate the last two white castles from my last batch that was in the freezer.  Yeah, I hear my stomach talking to me.  They have been in the refrigerator a couple days, thawing out. Sure hope they were still ok.  So far so good. :-)

Don't have much to write about and as it is in the middle of the day, I do have work to do - sorta.  Anyway - I'm off here; thought I'd update my thoughts.  Hope the rest of your day goes well.

Blessings!

It was another good day -

 We got to se our tax guy yesterday.  Since we do all the 'work' in pulling together our numbers, all we needed to do was to hand over the totals to him.  For the past several years, we have gotten back from State enough to pay our Federal.  Win-win- right?  Well, we were pleasantly surprised to find that THIS year - we get a refund from Federal AND State!  Grateful for the $12000 deduction for married people after the age of 65!  That deduction is only for 3 years I think - but I'll take it!  Not that we get THAT much back - we don't - but at least we don't have to pay anything!  I'm sure hubby was calculating how we can divide the monies - in the past he gave me half and kept half.  This year I turned the tables on him, since he is asking ME to come up with a place for us to go to in August.  I 'suggested' he take what WE are receiving from state and federal - and apply it towards a nice place for us to go to in August.  In other words, instead of ME paying for everything, WE can pay for it all.  For some reason he didn't seem too thrilled with that thought.  But I'm leaving it there.  Besides, I need to get new tires for my car - after all, they are the original tires and it's a 2017 - so 8 years old - even though only 55k miles of wear.  It's probably time.

I got some interesting news yesterday.  I'm not to share it (at work) until after tomorrow.  Now you know that Sue, my favorite boss, is retiring July 31st.  It will be here before we know it.  Yesterday, Brett asked if I had a few minutes to talk.  I said 'sure'.  It took about 10 minutes but he called me and we were on camera on Teams.  It was an interesting conversation.  Yes, he is resigning his position and going to another company.  He's been with us for 3 years - and has been told promotions were coming - but, the company never followed through on their promises.  He got this offer as 'National President' of this company - (has gotten several other offers from other companies he has dealt with as well) - and long story short - instead of giving the company a month or two in order to find a replacement - he is leaving in two weeks.  April 3rd is his last day.  For his position, I am disappointed for I feel more time should have been given, but that is not for me to say.  So it looks like I will be getting TWO new bosses this year.  Retirement is looking pretty good right now.  

Speaking of - while we were at the tax guy's yesterday - I asked him that if I retired at the end of this year - I know it wouldn't really affect our tax filing next year (for 2026), but what would 2026 look like in filing in 2027.  Since I'm already drawing on my 401K a small amount, and I won't change it, he figured it out briefly, removing my w-2 from my company - and said we wouldn't have any taxes to pay for there wouldn't be enough income after deductions to pay taxes on.  I already have taxes taken out as I get a check from my 401K, so that covers any thing.  On the way home hubby commented that "if you are still wanting to retire the end of this year, we need to sit down and go over expenses again".  Ok, let's do that!  We can learn to stretch things, if you know what I mean.

I grew up with nothing - well, let me put it this way.  I always had what I NEEDED; I didn't always get what I WANTED.  There is a difference.  We have so much 'stuff' around here, there is nothing we need, seriously.  I would have the time to 'learn' how to cook again from scratch - and it would probably be more healthy for us!  I could take up my sewing again.  Along with the crochet learning and knitting, of course.  So many 'play' activities I could do!  Maybe even attend or start a bible study during the day that I could actually be a part of!  Yes, I would miss my 'play' money.  One thing that I think of when I think of retiring is that now I can give God 10% and more of my gross amount of my check.  Not bragging - there have been many years I could not do that because of debt.  Most of that is gone.  But my tithing would drop drastically.  I wouldn't be able to give to others like I do now.  And you know what?  I think that is ok.  The question will remain.....  Will I be brave enough to retire?   And of course I have the thinking that perhaps in January start looking for a part-time job to have spending money.  Oh the 'thinking' I'm doing.... it's just hard to make a decision (for me) when I have to think about having a dependent to take care of.  And I'll leave that there.  I've always been the security blanket. Dare I snatch that security away?

Last night after the sun went down and the air became a little bit more cool, hubby and I sat outside on our patio set.  It was kind of nice.  It started getting warm so I got out the camping fan my brother had sent me for my birthday last year.  At the time it confused me, as we don't 'camp'.  Ever.  Not that I didn't want to. But others didn't.  Anyway - like my brother had told me, using this fan really cools down the air in the area that you are in.  It was really nice and I had the fan oscillating and it really did cool down the area some.  Think we may be sitting out more and more because of it.  

We now have 5 eggs - or did have yesterday afternoon.  I wonder if we will have any more come today.  I heard that they usually end up laying 15+ eggs - interestingly, I guess I thought they'd lay them all the same time - I guess not!  It has been one a day.  I did buy a camera and it will be here on Saturday. I told my youngest he will be needed to put it up for me.  We be on 'Quail Watch' and I'm having so much fun with it!   I hope we can get a video of the eggs hatching - wouldn't that be cool to show the great-grandchildren?

Well - I meant to write this on my work computer but with all the news I wanted to share I guess I just jumped in.  But I do need to get off here and turn on the work computer.  Landscapers are out front making a lot of noise.  My daughter gave me (hubby was upset they didn't give to 'us') for Christmas a leaf blower - and I've learned to use it. But they have butchered our trees out front so don't have the leaves like we did.  Just in the back.  I have used the leaf blower - and hope to get a few more things done out front.  But - I do have a conference all day on Saturday so nothing will get done then. Wonder what hubby will do while I'm gone.

Ok - off here - have a day that you can write about!

Blessings!