Thirteen random things…

1. I have done several posts tonight for pay.  I had a list of posts to complete and wanted to get them all done.  Sorry in advance.
2. Emelia slammed her finger in the door this morning while leaving for swimming classes.  She was hysterical.  I know it hurt really bad, but she screamed so loud I really thought she had cut off a limb or something.
3. Amanda loves her new (not so much anymore) job!  She enjoys going and it’s pretty close to home.  I’m thankful for that job for her!
4. I’ve been enjoying the pool this year!  I think I’ve been swimming every day for the past several days.  I am a little sunburned.  We have been taking Izzy swimming in the evenings and she likes it too.
5. We didn’t go to church Wednesday night.  The preacher stopped by at 9:50 p.m. to check on us!  Matt was already asleep.  That is the main reason we didn’t go, he was really tired.
6. Bailey & Emelia are leaving for church camp Sunday morning.  I need to start shopping for things like bug spray and flashlights… you know, fun stuff!
7. Emelia has won the Christlike award at basketball camp every day this week.
8. Izzy’s hair is so long, I was brushing it after her bath and it’s crazy long and so beautiful.
9. I’ve been doing cad’s again this week.  I have so many to do I should be doing them now instead of typing this silly post!… but my brain needed a break.
10. Emelia wanted (and got) lunchables to take to eat between swimming and basketball camps this week.  She insists on unpacking the box and putting all the parts into a lunch box!  That’s the whole reason you pay $3.50 for a little box of food, because it is self contained.  Oh well.
11. Amanda has been working on her room.  She had the walls (and ceiling) covered in pictures and posters.  She took down all the posters and stuff and has touched up her walls.  She has been going through all her clothes.  I bought ten boxes yesterday for her to pack away winter clothes.  Her room is really looking better.
12. I’m hoping to do a complete clean out in Emelia’s room and paint it pink with pretty silver flour de lis on the walls (or something along that line).
13. My mother’s birthday is Sunday.  I need to think of something to get for her. Quick!  Matt’s is Tuesday.  Then father’s day.  Then our 19th anniversary.  All in the next week or two.

So yesterday was the funeral I mentioned. Matt took off work to go to the funeral. He got to know Louis while we were dating and then in the early years of our marriage. He was instrumental in Matt’s baptism, and Matt really thought a lot of him. The funeral was short. And sweet. I only got upset once during the funeral during congregational singing of the song, “His Grace Reaches Me.” I remembered somewhere in my mind that Louis loved that song.

I had a funny memory of Louis in my mind during that song … We (the youth group and several sponsors including my parents) were in Clyde, KS for a missions trip. We had a VBS in the small town, did a lot of door knocking etc. The town was/is very old with a main street of two story buildings. We stayed above the church and had access to the American Legion Hall next door. That room was mostly used for meals and playing games in the evenings. Some of the boys set up a trap in a doorway with flour. Meant for someone else I’m sure. Louis’ wife Ann got out of bed for some reason and was the recipient of all that flour. She looked like a ghost. It made Louis so mad (he was very protective of his wife) that he chased them around that building at full speed. I laughed so hard. The whole thing was unforgettably funny.

The interesting thing about the funeral was how many people from my past I saw. I find it a little sad that I only seem to see people at funerals these days. We always say, “Let’s get together sometime when it’s not a funeral.” And then don’t. I saw so many people from my old youth group including an old boyfriend, “Robbie.” Matt was really patient as I visited with all those people. He finally waited in the car telling me he didn’t feel like a funeral was a place to work the crowd. I told him it was the only chance to see all those people and I wanted to speak to them, hug them, etc. He was just upset I think, there have been too many funerals lately. I guess that’s part of getting older.

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window… the sun is setting at 8:30 p.m.

I am thinking… I have a lot of work to do (cads)…

I am thankful for… a really nice day. I got to spend time with Amanda today…. we went to lunch together and shopping a bit. Then when Matt came home we all had a family swim!

From the kitchen… it’s closed now… but I had leftovers from my lunch and fixed matt grilled chicken and salad. The kids had their choice from the freezer (pizzas and popcorn chicken).

I am creating… cads for Sean

I am going… to a funeral tomorrow for Louis Thompson. It will be sad.

I am wearing… an orange hollister t-shirt and flannel pj’s! I put them on after swimming because it was so cold in the house with the air conditioning on.

I am reading… I have twilight on my nightstand, but I’m not really reading any books right now.

I am hoping… to get to bed in the next hour or two.

I am hearing… the dryer and the tv (matt’s listening to msnbc with his eyes closed).

Around the house… I see folded clothes waiting to be put away and the crystal sugar container on the dining room table, I’m guessing Emelia has been eating sugar again!

One of my favorite things… is coming into the cool house after a swim and eating dinner.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… funeral tomorrow, Emelia is going to swimming classes every morning and basketball camp every afternoon this week, getting the kids ready for church camp next week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you…

Bailey enjoying Summer!

It’s been a fun weekend, but I do love Mondays. I guess it’s the thought of a fresh start, a new week! Saturday turned out to be a pretty nice day. It’s getting really hot here already, I guess that’s not unusual. Matt took Bailey to see Indiana Jones at the theater with a friend, so Emelia decided she and I needed to have a pool/pizza party. I haven’t really been into swimming the last few years, but since it was important to her… So I let her order pizza to be delivered and started working in the flower beds hoping to get hot enough that swimming would appeal to me. It worked! I got quite a bit done and was so thankful for that cool water! She also insisted we eat in the pool. Not an easy task. But she had a ball and when I told her we needed to get out she said she just didn’t want our party to end. We got Izzy in the pool with us and stayed in another hour or so. Izzy seemed to enjoy the swim party too.

Today church went well, I really do enjoy teaching the junior high girl class. Today we talked about Matthew 17:20 (about the mustard seed) and I had a package of mustard seeds in my bag so we planted some and made a scripture picture with some. I’ve been teaching them the books of the N.T. song and they almost have it. I promised to take them out to breakfast when they can all sing it without looking. Next week they get a reward if they can quote the above verse. They are sweet girls. I got this message on my myspace tonight from one of them, Ashley (14).

u did see me this mornin and it was an awsome mornin. i’m so glad your uor sunday school teacher. U ROCK AND I LUV YA. you know before i met you and got to know u, i always thought you never really talked, i guess i was TOTALLY WRONG, LOL no i’m kidin you don’t talk alot but you don’t talk as little as i thought you did b-4 i got to know ya. i mean i thought u never really talked at all but u do carry on some good conversations. intresting and laugh-able conversations. luv ya see ya wednesday.

The preacher from our old church, Louis Thompson, died last week. His funeral is this coming week. It’s sad to me, I have so many memories of Louis… from camp to mission trips. He was a good guy. I helped mom make food after church today to take to the family. After I made my part I rearranged her front room furniture. She’s been asking me to help her rearrange for a while and there is never time. I came home and took a nap with Izzy. She was a little irritated today. I am not sure why, her eyes were really red and she was tired. I made a *salad* to take to the potluck tonight, but didn’t make it so I had it for dinner (yum).

*broccoli cauliflower salad*

1 head of broccoli (cut off stems and chop)

1 head of cauliflower (cut off bottom and chop)

1 can sliced black olives

3-4 green onions, sliced

ranch dressing

mix together and refrigerate.

• monday … grilled chicken & salad
• tuesday … chicken spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread
• wednesday… grilled chicken & salad
• thursday … steak & baked potatoes
• friday … pizza delivery!

Have a great week!

Have you ever seen those stair lifts that you ride up your stairs? Matt’s great aunt had one at her house, I never got to ride on it, but it was pretty cool looking. I think it would be a great solution for a person who has a home with multi levels and is no longer able to walk up and down stairs. I know that as people get older stairs become more and more of an issue and people look toward homes with no steps.

I’ve never been to Las Vegas. Really.

Las Vegas celebrated its centennial in 2005 – not that it needed an excuse to party. “Sin City,” “Lost Wages,” “The City That Never Sleeps” – call it what you will – this Nevada desert city will awe you from the moment you fly over its glittering expanse to the day you leave.

Why Go

Believe it or not, there’s more to Las Vegas than debauchery, including a world-class restaurant scene and fantastic shopping.

Las Vegas travel

We recently updated our light fixture on the front porch area of our home, but I’ve been looking at and considering other outdoor lighting projects.  I love the solar lights, and there are so many cool looking ones out now.  We do have some in some of our flower beds, but I would love to update them all and create a whole new look outside!  It’s fun to create a mood outside with plants and lights.

Updating your cabinet knobs can make such a big difference in your kitchen.  I’ve changed mine several times when we have redecorated our kitchen.  It was like a mini facelift for the cabinets!  Whether it’s pewter, nickel or brass… it really changes the way the room looks.  All this talk about cabinet knobs is making me want to go look at mine and think about what changes to make!

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