Full Weekend

This weekend was really busy.  I had a long errand list to do filled with the library, many stores, cleaning my car after the snow and ice, and cleaning the house.  I also had to sit down and do bills and budgeting.

Kari left the house early to go have her teeth looked at.  I hoped she would be able to find relief and she finally did too.  Riley and I took off to get some of those things on the list done.  I did get my wall art branch, I bought Brady two more presents, I ate lunch with Riley, and we got the car washed.  We then went home to check on how Kari was doing and to drop off our stuff.

Brady and I then took off to drop off library books, went to Home Depot, and then we went grocery shopping.  I was pretty tired Saturday night.

Sunday we picked up Riley’s brother, Darian, and went to church.  Riley was baptized and he wanted his brother there too with us.  I was so proud of him.  He was a little champ.

Afterwards we celebrated by going to Red Robin in Des Moines.  People knew Kari and so we were given a $10 discount on our bill.  Nice, huh?  A blessing!

Later the boys went with Kari and the Royal Rangers to the Thunderbirds game.  I didn’t go.  I had all kinds of plans but ended up falling asleep on the couch.  Image that?!

The weekend seemed really short because of all the activities.  I hope to slow it down for next weekend since the weekend after (11^th and 12^th) we are planning to go down to Portland, OR.

Have a great week!

Off Early Today... to Shop

I couldn’t wait until I got off work at 2 pm to take a trip to our Supermall to go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Since my little tree lost it’s branch, I decided to have a wall art of a branch in my bedroom.  I was going to have it in the living room at first but it is smaller than I first thought.  I need something larger for the living room.  I think I have a good idea for that…

Once I got there I couldn’t decide which of two pieces of art I should buy so I decided to wait until the next day.  I almost bought them both and then I didn’t knowing that Brady’s birthday is next week and I still needed to buy him some presents.

Kari had to work but I went to New Heart (Recovery group) at my church anyway.  I was hoping to see Mike Perkins who has been gone for months.  However, he and Fred Meyer (both friends from church) went on a fishing trip.  I will have to wait until next week to see him. 

I was a little worried about Kari tonight.  Her teeth were really bothering her and she was quite pale.  She can handle a lot of pain.  But she looked bad.  I felt that they might call me to come pick her up.  I was glad to see her home and in bed when I got home from New Heart.

This weekend is Riley’s baptism and my mom’s birthday.  I am not sure what to send my mom now that she doesn’t get out as much.  I will have to talk to her and ask her what she thinks. 

Glad this week is done… but on one hand it was nice because it wasn’t icy.  I was glad to be at work.

Have a good weekend!

Still Amazed!

Good Morning everyone!  The update on the extreme winter weather we have had around here is that the snow is still thawing... there is clean up going on all around us... and tonight we have gusty winds. 

To me gusty winds are Santa Ana winds.  I don't think that we will get that gusty but it is blowing out there a little.  I am hoping that everything that was in the trees came out of the trees already,  you know? 

One of my praise reports is that when we were having the big ice storm and the trees were breaking, there was a big branch that came down from a tree into my patio.  It only hit the snow.  It didn't hit anything else.  I am so happy that it didn't hit the house or the shed, or the patio furniture, or chimney.  It fell exactly where it should fall in order not to hit anything.  Amazing!

This week is different because the member of my church are fasting food, or entertainment, or something they usually do but takes up too much of their time.  One of the things I have given up this week is facebook just so that I can free up more time to do other things.  I have also given up TV unless it is for spiritual reasons.  I am surprised by how much more time I have to use differently.  I will have to think about how I spend my time.

I am really happy to be back at personally blogging so that I can get back in touch with my blogging friends.  I can tell that it was the right time to come back and pick up where I left off.  Hopefully soon I will be blogging Monday thru Friday.  I started out slow so that I could get back in the swing of it.  And I also manage the blog for the women's ministry for the church I attend.  Those together can take up a lot of time especially because I work full time.

Last night I worked until 7 pm.  I will get to leave on Friday at 2 pm because of working late one night. I am able to get some things done without having the boys with me on those days.  I am thinking of buying another piece for the house from Bed, Bath and Beyond.  It is a tree and it reminds me of the branch that fell in the storm.  I can't decide if I should place it in the living room or in my bedroom.  I guess I will have to bring it home in order to decide.  Here is a photo of it: 

What do you think?

Almost Normal, Almost...

When I last wrote to you we were beginning to thaw out.  The snow and ice in the trees were beginning to come out of the trees (but not before my favorite branch fell just hours earlier).  By the afternoon it was safe to go out... and I couldn't wait.  I had a hair appointment scheduled for on Friday but it was cancelled.  However, I was able to go to one that afternoon.

After the hair appointment, I met Kari and the boys at a Mexican restaurant for dinner.  After cooking every night for a couple of weeks, it was time to have someone else cook and wash the dishes.  Do you know what I mean?

When I got out on the road finally, I could see the damage the ice had created.  There were trees down everywhere and many of them had been pushed to the side of the road.  However, I had to take caution getting around some of them.  A couple of street were still just closed because the trees were still in the road.  Wires were hanging low in some areas.  I had to really watch where I was going.

Sunday we went to church and went shopping for Brady's birthday (February 1st).  He is going to 7 years old, can you believe it?  Riley earned some money and wanted to pick out a gift from him personally.  Riley is like that... he is very independent in many ways.  He did the same thing when his twin brother and sister had their birthday last month.

I returned to work today.  I didn't even mind.  I was glad to have things back to normal... almost.

Have a great week!

Ice Storm Madness!

The Snowman created by Kari and the boys on
Wednesday before the Ice Storm...



Riley making a snowman

 On Wednesday night a message came across the phone that my college was closed for Thursday.  That was a strange feeling.  A scary feeling.  Like the world was ending and I was the last to know about it.  The college doesn't close easily.  The school districts closed too.  Eerie...

So I began to investigate.  At a quick glance, everything looked the same... Snow.  But going outside, there was a different story.  Complete ice.  The snow had a thick covering of ice.  The handrails had snow incased in ice.  There were small ice drops hitting my face known as "freezing rain".  The limbs of the trees have turned into iciles.  This all becomes very heavy for the trees and the branches begin to break and fall.  That in it's self is scary and dangerous around here where there are so many trees.

Tree all in ice because of an Ice Storm (freezing rain) and snow in ice too.

Dangerous is why the college is closed again today.  Three days in a row!  That is a good sign as to how bad it is around here.  THAT never happens.  Employees have been told that even though we might make it to work, they don't want us on the campus because of the danger.  Branches must be breaking everywhere.  Most of the campus is forest.

I have a big tree on the side of the house that had about 6 or more branches break.  Then the tree near the patio started dropping branches.  I realized my car wasn't in a good place so I moved it in case the evergreen let go.  I could see one branch broke.  This is a mess! 



The branch use to be in my view in my window... I am so sad about this. 
There are more branches but now it isn't as thick.

I have this tree outside my window that I love.  It is covered in ice and snow.  I have been afraid it would break... and sure enough, just as I began this post it the branch outside the window broke.  I can still see some of the tree but a lot of it is now gone.  Sad.  I knocked off a lot of the ice after this photo was taken to relief it of the weight of the snow and ice.  I hope the rest of it stays together.  It is such a pretty little tree and turns wonderful colors in the fall. I wonder if I can help it any... I don't want it to die. 

They say it will rain today.  We want it to rain because rain takes snow and ice away... just as long as it doesn't freeze.  I don't think it is as cold today though.  Now they are telling us that a wind storm may be coming.  Really?!

One blessing we have had is that we haven't lost power (except for about a half hour).  We can shower and cook where others can't.  Most of the area has no electricity.  Even my friends down the street don't have lights and they say they may not have any until this weekend.

Wish me luck saving my tree.  

Have a good weekend!

Snowed In in Seattle

This past weekend and this week we have been riddled with snow...then showers... then snow.  All of a sudden on Tuesday they began to report that we were going to have the biggest snow in the last 40 years!  And we all started getting ready and wondering when it would hit.

Finally they narrowed it down to beginning at midnight last night.  I woke up at about 2 am and it was coming down hard.  The street was covered and there were about 2 inches on the cars.  I woke up again in about an hour and it was still coming down.  The cars looked to have about twice as much as they had before on them.  And then about 5 am I started to receive notices on my phone that schools were closing.  Finally the college I work for called "closed" too.

Many people who are use to the snow think "What is the big deal?"  Well, the big deal is #1 we aren't use to it, #2 we aren't really prepared for it when it does happen, #3 in all honesty, the hills around here aren't where you want to be when it is icy and snowing.  I have gone pass car after car who have spun out and ended up in the ditch.

This morning Kari tried putting on the cables on her car so she could go to work.  However, she got out to the main street and the cables became loose.  A police officer stopped and asked her why she was out and about.  She told him she was trying to go to work.  He said it was best if she didn't and to call in, so she did.  Before I knew it she was coming back through the door.  I was personally glad to see her.

The boys and her have just come in from outside where they made a couple of snowmen.  I took some photos that I will try to post for Friday.  They are very cute! 

So here we are snowed in... fire burning in the woodstove, and plenty of hot chocolate to go around.  I have no idea yet what tomorrow will bring.  As much as Seattlites like to see snow, they also like to see it go.  A fickled bunch of people.  My friend Barb on Facebook wrote "OK snow, you can go now."

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

If you haven't seen my posts on Facebook, then you would have missed that it has been snowing here off and on all weekend.  Saturday it snowed and then it stopped.  Yesterday it came down hard when we were to go to church.  Needless to say, we didn't chance it.

We live on a hill and to get back up the hills when there is ice and snow isn't easy.  I have seen so many cars in ditches before and it feels terrible when one loses the feeling of control on ice.  So the rule of thumb is that if one doesn't need to go out, you don't.

I have been cooking, cleaning, watching DVDs on Netflix, and I have plans to clean my closet and work on some of my beading projects.  So, here we are... snowed in.  And the weather people say this will continue through Wednesday.  We'll see.  But it right now snowing so that is a good sign that they may be right.

I am also continueing to learn how to use my new android cell phone.  I am getting better but it is still a learning curve.  I am still thinking I have done the best thing for our budget too.

My next project is getting a dishwasher.  The one we have here now is really old and I don't even bother with using it.  So in February I am going to order one and have it delivered and have this old one taken away.  It was will be great!  I love having something to look forward to.

Have a wonderful day!

Not Too Bad

I have to admit that my week turned out "not too bad" even though it started out a little rough.  Fighting the feelings of rejection etc isn't easy, let's face it.  Finding out that I could be so easily replaced just out and out hurts.  I am a Christian and my faith is one thing that helps but it doesn't take the feelings or the pain away.  Anyway, a scripture was brought to my attention through a TV show I was watching with Beth Moore... it is Isaiah 44:20.  It says:  "He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

When people in your life do things that just do not make since... or even you... this what has happened.  They are "feeding on ashes"... they are delusional.  They think what is the truth is actually a lie.  Kari mentioned to me that when she was in her addiction, she felt that drugs was what she needed.  She couldn't see how bad it was for her.  She couldn't save herself.

There are other temptations that causes us to "feed on ashes".  Shopping and getting into debt can do that.  Drinking, drugs, or having an affair.  There will come a day that the "something" will not satisfy any longer and what was cherished will not have any value or worth. 

Yes, I could have told you this truth before finding the scripture but there is something about finding a scripture that speaks to your soul.  This one did and it made it easier for me to move through the week.  I believe that it will help me move on too.

Today was also a good day because I was able to get off work a couple of hours earlier.  I chose to do some errands and go to the grocery store.  The weather people say that this weekend we will have snow.  So that makes everything on a time table... because no one wants to be out driving around on these hills once the snow is falling.  We will see... they have been wrong before.

The biggest news is I got a new cell phone. I have had the same one for years but now that my contract is up and my second line's contract is up, Kari and I are moving to prepaid Unlimited.  Kari went to Walmart and got Straight Talk.  It isn't too bad.  She had to buy the phone and insurance.  So after it was said and done she paid $300 to get it up and going.

I was going to switch off of TMobile to Verizon but when I saw the prepaid phones Verizon offered, I decided against it.  I was able to get a new android cell phone etc for only $100.  I think Kari might have a nicer phone but I decided on a better value.  I decided that I will check into changes and new phones each year from now on.  Hopefully I am contributing to the cell phone companies to find better values for us.  I get unlimited calls, texting, and web for only $50 a month.  I am looking forward to not having a big cell phone bill each month.  I love those commericals where the women are acting rich because of what they save with Straight Talk... I sort of feel that way too.

Have a good weekend!!!

Middle of the Week

I got through Monday OK with the help of prayers and friends. After work my friend Diana asked me to come over and have dinner with her.  She didn't want me to be alone.  My friend Stephanie (in her late twenties) sent me jokes all day over my phone to keep my spirits up.  Another friend Sarah sent me an encouraging email and Denise from Austin, TX left me a message here on the blog to encourage me.  I am also grateful for the prayers that were said on my behalf too. 

Tuesday I woke up feeling relieved.  The grief I had been feeling of being betrayed and rejected had lifted.  There was certainly a feeling of "no turning back".  A door, you might say, has closed and a window is now open... letting in a cool breeze.  I have no idea why I have these feelings but I do.  I had a good day at work and things went better than the last four.  It is starting to slow down now and we were able to get more done besides just talking to students.

I went home at lunch.  Did I tell you that my home is now about a 1/4 mile from my work?  I was able to put together a meatloaf.  Kari came home from her job so she was able to cook it up right away for dinner.  I stayed at work until 7pm (which means I can leave earlier on Friday).

This evening, we watched a little TV.  Everyone has gone to bed now except for me... it is quiet here on the hill.  I don't hear any traffic where I am.  It is really peaceful as I write this post.  I am reminded that we are to go to the thift store and buy plaid flannel shirts this weekend to wear to church.  Everyone is wearing plaid flannel shirts and we are going to take a photo of our church members wearing them.  Our pastor was reading how in Seattle we aren't known for fashion... but for plaid flannel shirts, so we are playing off of what he read.  I think he might send the photo to those who wrote the article but mostly it is just for fun.

Well, when I write again it will be Friday and it will be a long 3 day weekend.  We have been spoiled by the holidays (except for the quarter start).  Until then...

Monday Monday... Don't Like This Day

This is the day that my ex husband is suppose to get married again.  It is so hard for me to get my head wrapped around this.  I have visions of our past together and wondering if there was anything I missed that would have told me this was coming.  That is; the divorce the quick dating and now the quick marriage.  But I can't. 

I did go to work today.  I thought about not going but I decided that he wasn't going to mess me up... I have to do what I have to do.  What would I do?  Sit around and think about things?  No... that isn't for me.

This last weekend I was so tired from the week that I declared it a "time out".  That means not doing much of anything... it was necessary.  This week will be the first full week back to work in three weeks.  It is necessary to really pace one self. 

I did go to the grocery store and Costco.  I also bought something for the wall in my dining area from Bed Bath and Beyond.  I will post it next time.  It has been such a long time since I was able to decorate my own place.  My ex wouldn't let me really decorate... couldn't buy furniture or anything.  If I did, it would somehow end up in the garage.  So it is nice to be able to enjoy the little things in life.

Have a good week...

It Is Friday!

It has been a short week but a long one all the same.  It has been winter quarter start at work.  Classes began on Wednesday which cause us a few issues. I will post my thoughts tonight when I get home.  I don't plan on going to New Heart tonight.  It is going to be a weekend of catching up and rest... which is keeping with my resolve to pace myself better.

A New Quarter Start

I will keep this short because we began a new quarter at the college I work and I am too tired to write.  See you Friday...

Welcome to 2012!

Wow, can you believe it is 2012?  I can't.  It was just yesterday we were talking about Y2K.  You know Riley doesn't even know what that is?  Anyway, here we are.  It makes one realize that it is necessary to really enjoy life day by day so that it doesn't go zooming by.

We didn't do much on Saturday, New Year's Eve.  Kari took her friend Julia home.  Julia and I went to New Heart Ministries on Friday night and she stays over at our house.  We watched a few shows on TV... one was called Dog the Bounty Hunter.  (I had never seen that show and it was a strange show but sort of interesting.  I don't have to see it every week though.)  We also cleaned the house and took down Christmas decorations.  I felt I was doing it along with everyone else on facebook.

We managed to all be up at midnight to ring in the new year.  We watched the Space Needle light up with fireworks on the TV and then stepped outside to hear and see the fireworks around our area.  It isn't as noisey here as it was in Kent (which is kind of nice) and so we were able to get to sleep right away.

Today we had church and then we headed out to Alki Beach.  You might know Alki Beach by the movie Sleepless in Seattle.  Tom Hanks takes his kid on a boat there and the play around on the sand while Meg Ryan watched on from across the street.  It was a beautiful sunny day here today so one naturally wants to get out and be near the water.  There were hardly any parking there.  People were out walking their dogs, playing, some were on a board in the water (brrrrr)... and we were sea glass hunting.

When we got home we made a nice steak dinner and watched some more TV... tomorrow the boys go back to school.  I have it off but they don't... that's a twist.  All and all we had a great start to 2012!