It's A Sign...

Do you believe in signs?  I do.  In my world, sometimes God is trying to tell me something and I may not think it is Him telling me.  Then I see something or hear something that catches my eye or my attention.  I realize that it isn’t something that would be normally going on.  It is then that I realize it is a “sign”.  Sometimes I get signs regarding a topic or message maybe times and I start believing that the Lord thinks I am dense.  But then I also know that He repeats Himself when it is a very important idea or message. 

The other day I went out to get into my car.  I hadn’t got into my car yet… in fact, I hadn’t even opened the door.  Suddenly there was a robin on the lawn near me.  I thought it was unusual that the bird would be so brave to be that close to me.  He seemed to have an agenda and he wasn’t concerned with me at all.  In fact, I was a part of his agenda.  I thought to myself, “I wonder if he is hungry and that is why he is so brave?”  But he seemed to be filling his belly with bugs from the lawn.  He didn’t need me at all to provide food for him.  I opened the door to the car thinking that the action would certainly send him flying off.  I turned to see where he went and he was still where he had been.  He was still watching me but unconcerned with my actions.  “Hmmm” I thought, “This isn’t normal at all.  It is a sign.”  It isn’t just a sign that spring is coming but a personal message to me.  So I had to look up what the meaning of the red robin was to everyone such as the Native Americans etc. and this is what I discovered what Red Robins symbolize:

• Joy

• Hope

• Clarity

• Renewal

• Pleasure

• Simplicity

• Happiness

• Satisfaction

• Rejuvenation

•Contentment

• Bright future

• New beginning

One thing I am grateful for is February is leaving us and March is upon us.  Soon Spring will be here!  What a wonderful time to have the promise of a new beginning! 
 

Weekend Overload

Last weekend we continued with our quest to decorate the living room of our home.  Kari was able to get some curtains that matched the aqua in the pillows that are on our couches. You can see what she found at Ross.  Each panel was only $5... so the curtains were only $20 plus tax. 

Then we bought some pictures for this big wall near the TV.  This is a photo of Kari and Julia getting ready to go to the women's church event at our new church Let's Make a Deal.  Riley helped them get their purses of various items together.  You can see the photos on the wall in the back ground.  It isn't a great photo because of the sun shining through the sun roof in the kitchen.

It seems the weekend went by really fast.  Tonight (Monday) I am kicking back and relaxing.  Have a fantastic week people!

Mattering More Than You Think...

I am writing this Wednesday night so I can post it automatically tomorrow.  My 5 days off has come to an end.  I feel I have used them well especially since the boys have had a cold.  They are doing better now.  I took them to Red Robin where their mom works for lunch.  We surprised Kari with our showing up at the end of her shift. 

I also stopped by two office supply stores to get a new insert for my day runner.  I use an acedemic calendar (wonder why? :-) and I am needing to plan things into summer now.  But I didn't find anything that would work.  I guess I bought it somewhere else.  However, mine is falling apart and it might be time to buy another one.  I always buy a red one.  I found a black one I liked but... I don't know if I will go away from having a red one.  There is not enough color around here in the winter and red cheers me up.

Last Sunday at church they had a "Life Groups Fair".  Life Groups at church are groups that get together to study the bible, or do a certain project, or go to coffee... just to name a few ideas for a Life Group.  There was a parenting group.  These groups usually are for 8 weeks. The group I signed up for was so obvious for me. The book we will be working from is called "You Matter More Than You Think" by Leslie Parrott.  I put the photo of the front of the book above.  Notice what is one it?  Anyone that knows me knows that I am a sea glass hunter and collector.  I have jars of sea glass just like in the photo.  What I like about sea glass is that I love the glass was something... then trash... then changed into something pretty and with a new reason and meaning.  I create various items with it.  Another thing about it is that it has a story... even though I don't know what it is, it has had a life.  From trash to treasure... what a great story that is anyway.

Well, only two days of work this week.  I will be able to manage that OK.  Then two more days off.  Not a bad week. 

New Sofa and Love Seat... Finally!

It has been over a week since I posted here.  Last week was registration for Spring quarter at GRCC and even though it wasn't too bad, we have lots more to do.  I tend not to post during those busy times.  All I do is come home and take care by only making dinner (sometimes), doing dishes, and laundry (if needed).  I read, watch TV and go to bed early.  There are lots of people coming to my desk coughing and sneezing.

Speaking of coughing and sneezing, Riley was sick on Sunday and Monday.  His poor little eyes were runny and his nose was a faucet.  I took care of him and he slept a lot on Sunday before we went to the Mexican restaurant for Russ' birthday.  He did eat at the restaurant so that was good.  Then Brady woke up on Monday looking like Riley.  Sad... but they are both doing better now.

Yesterday we got rid of our old couch and we had our new one delivered by a friend.  We bought the couch and love seat at Price Co.  I thought it was maybe connected to a store in California but it actually turned out to be a recovery center for substance abuse users.  They are a non profit and they use the money earned to make the center run.  We were able to meet two of the guys that are now 3 months sober.  Kari was able to tell them she was 2 years sober... and she connected with everyone right away.  The young man named Michael wanted Kari to sit and hang out but she had to go home with the couches with our friend Chuck.  We hope to go back and say "hi" to those we met.

Now that the couch is here, I can get the new curtains and make the room ready to have company.  Remember, this is one of my goals under my "Home Wise" goals.  When I do my "How am I doing?" next time, I will be able to check this goal off.

For Thursday, I will tell you about the new Life Group that I signed up for at my new church.  Have a great week!

How am I Doing? Part 2

OK, I have told you that I am doing so so with money, and OK with spiritual things.  Now it is time to talk about my "Home Wise" category.  Well, due to the fact that I am trying to save money I haven't got a new sofa... but I will.  Kari and I have been looking.  It has been nice that Renee gave me an old sofa of hers to use until we could change it out.  We have used it for over a year now.  The cat has used it for a scatching post... which of course we will have to train him not to do.  So it was good that we had the old couch for this period of time.  Now it is time to get a newer one.

One home wise thing that I did that I haven't done for the past two years is that I got out my Valentines Day decorations.  I went out to the shed and moved the Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving boxes around... and found my Valentines box.  When I opened it up not only did I find the decorations but I found other things that I thought I had lost in the move etc.  I was very excited and happy to find out I was wrong.

Another thing I found was my stack of Valentine cards from my ex-husband... a total of 11.  Meaning of course we had eleven years together... five of which we were married (which should have told me something about him... it took him 6 years to ask me to marry him).  I didn't live with him for those six years but I should have been smarter.  But I was like most women, I thought up excuses as to why he wasn't getting around to it.  However, I have 11 cards expressing how he loves me and how wonderful I am.  While reading these, I thought to myself... see, you weren't crazy or stupid.  There were actual reasons to believe that he was truthful.  I must say that actions do speak louder than words.  I was one that put too much into the "words" and justified his actions... or lack of actions.

So, what does one do with 11 Valentines?  Burn them?  Just throw them out?  Hold on to them for the healing process... so when I feel crazy I can pull them out and console myself that I was OK?  Hmmm?  Or do I just pack them up and wait another year and see how I feel about them then?  They are a good measuring stick on "how am I doing?" because I know if I had found them the first year I would have cried my eyes out.  The second year I would have been having to ask forgiveness for the words and thoughts I would have had towards him (he got remarried within one year of our divorce).  This year... it doesn't sting so badly.  I am more dedicated to moving forward.

Anyway, that is my assessment on those things I picked out in January.  I feel that I should add or exchange one of them for Personal Health and Fitness.  I don't feel that way in January while all the ads etc. are going on about weight loss... but now it has died down and March is coming, I feel like finding ways to think about changing some things.

Well, I will see you the next time...

How Am I Doing?

I sound like the former mayor of New York Ed Koch that just passed away, huh?  It is time to review how I am doing in the three areas of my life that I felt needed help first at the beginning of the year.  The three areas I picked was Money, Spiritual, and Home wise.  I think my assessment will be a bit long so I am going to split it up into a couple of days.  The first one was “Money” because we are still experiencing a 3% cut for the year and then more taxes were being taken out beginning January 1 2013.  There is a substantial amount of money missing from my paycheck until July 1 when the 3% is returned.  The state (I am a state worker) gives us some time each month to compensate for the loss but money is necessary too… you know?  To help combat this change I took the steps of not buying anything such as sodas etc. down in the cafeteria or bookstore.  I decided to bring my own soda or water from the grocery store which is much cheaper.  Doing this also helps me not buy any foods that aren’t good for me too.  Although I don’t do it very often, if I have a stressful day I am tempted to go downstairs and get a cookie or a snack.  I haven’t done that now for a whole month.  The only mistake that I did this last month (which made me so angry with myself) with my budget is that I didn’t add or something correctly.  I thought everything was running smoothly until I found the mistake.  It wasn’t a good time to do that with Brady’s birthday on February 1^st.  So for the next few days, I am without funds (trying not to dip into my savings).  This month should be better but it has set me back.

The second area is “Spiritual”.  We have been attending the new church.  Getting involved in the new church is slow but not because of us.  Two churches merged last November and so they are just now getting things going.  Life Groups begin at the end of this month.  There is a women’s event on the 24^th called “Let’s Make A Deal”.  So that is still a work in progress.  We have told our friends at Riverview Community Church that we are attending a different church… and it seems that our old pastor from RCC will be leaving in April too.

Hope you are having a good week!  Until next time...

Happy Birthday Brady!

Last Friday, February 1, was Brady's 8th birthday!  I can hardly believe 8 years have gone by now.  We began the day with sending cupcakes with him to school so that his class could celebrate with him.  When he got home, we went to Applebees for dinner because he had received a birthday card with a coupon for a free meal.  Of course we shared a chocolate dessert.  So to walk off the meal we went to Walmart.

At Walmart we bought the normal weekly things I get such as cat food, cleaning supplies, etc but I also let Brady pick out another DS game (I bought him 2).  I have decided not to buy another Skylander game since they have misplaced the game Riley got for Christmas.  That is too much money for that game for them to misplace.  They have been looking everywhere. I believe they will eventually find it but I now see that it wasn't a good idea for many reasons.

When we got home we watched a movie that Kari picked out from the Red Box.  I was able to finally set up the Blue Ray player that I bought for Christmas.  Of course, we didn't have a Blue Ray movie to watch but we will.  But the fact we got the Red Box movie caused us to plug in the new player.  We do like movies but we have been so busy lately.  Winter usually brings more opportunity for watching movies... and we are not out of winter yet.

Saturday we got up and got ready.  Later we went to the Dollar Store to buy balloons and to Costco to pick up Brady's dinosaur cake he picked out.  We were so ahead of time we had to go home for a while so we weren't at the pizza place too early... But finally we went and as we pulled up two of our friends were already there.

At Godfathers there is a game room and a room to have parties.  We set things up and ordered the pizza.  We bought 4 pizzas because we had about 20 people showing for the party... and they all showed up too.  It is interesting to have so many people in one place that are from different parts of your life yet they don't know each other.  As Kari did different things... ordering pizza and getting the Balloon Buddies set up to do... I was talking with people.  If I wasn't there the conversation would slow and no one would talk.  But if there is one key person that everyone knows (me in this case) then the conversation would continue... and they got to know each other.  I can always rely on people like Renee who can talk to anyone to help me along with conversation.  Both of us being extroverts can hopefully entertain people for a long time.

It all turned out well and it was lots of fun having the party there.  I believe we will be doing that again sometime in the future.  Brady was so pleased... it was his first birthday party ever. And he has lots of cheese pizza to finish eatting.

Have a wonderful week!  I am going through my new year's checklist and evaluating how I am doing in the first couple of areas I choose to work on.  Remember those?  I started out strong... and started to have some challenges as January came to a close.  Who can say the same?  I know it is typical to be strong especially when the emotions are up but then after a while the emotions die down.  That is where the rub is, isn't it?  I will discuss this on Tuesday.  Until then...