A Kiss from God

God blew me a kiss this morning in the form of a flock of honking geese. As I opened the door to let Copper out, I was blessed with the sound of geese moving south to their winter home. I don't know about any of you but that is so beautiful and melodious to me. I have even been known to pull over on the side of the road and roll my window down just so I can hear their voices. I look forward to it every spring and fall. I have been disappointed that I haven't seen more this fall and God knew so He surprised me this morning. I went for a walk then, hoping to see and hear more but that was not the case but it was a gorgeous walk none the less. The river was so still there were perfect mirror images of the trees and cattails in it. The weather has been so beautiful this fall that it might be why the geese have not been migrating yet. I even saw some robins on my walk and it's almost the 1st of November.
I'm glad that I forgot to set my watch back last night because when I woke up and saw it was 8:30 I was feeling guilty about sleeping in especially since Curt was up before 5am to get ready for work, so I finally crawled out of bed at 9 wandered out to the kitchen to see the clock said it was only 8am! So I didn't feel quite so bad. I am off to enjoy the rest of my morning. I hope all of you out there received your kiss from God also.

Back to work

I can't believe that my 5 days off are over. They were a good 5 days but I am sad that I have to go back to work. On Friday when I left Curves the attendant asked me if I had to work this week-end and I said no, my kids are coming home for the week-end and she said "Well, you'll be working then". At that moment I thought having the kids home isn't work but I guess in a way it is. There's the cleaning and washing bedding, buying groceries and cooking but it's all good things in anticipating their arrival. Amy, Tim, Ben and Jeremy flew in about 8 pm Friday so it was a late supper but it was great having them here. Saturday I got to babysit Cole again and it was a busy day with church, potluck, cantata practice and then going out to the cabin for supper. Warren, Carol, Brandon and Kristine joined us there.
Sunday was hard work out at the cabin shoveling dirt away from the cabin so new walls could be put in and a retaining wall. I am still feeling the aftermath with my sore muscles but there was a sense of accomplishment.
Yesterday was spent in Fargo for Curt's appointment with the allergy doctor and then there was a Youth for Christ fundraiser at the civic center I went to. So there you have it, my 5 days off and I feel like I really got nothing accomplished around the house like raking leaves or making applesauce. Oh, well, there will be other days. Now I must make the most of this one.

On Wings like Eagles

Today as I was out walking I was reminded of the verse in Isaiah 40:31, "They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." That's how I felt, I felt like I could fly over the ground but unfortunately I did get weary with the running but the walking was fantastic!
I'm attributing this new found energy on one of four things:
1. Chocolate
2. My Hbg is on the rise after donating blood last month
3. The "Bee Caps" I've been taking for the last month and a half are kicking in...or
4. The weather(it's absolutely beautiful!!!)
Of course I also have a lot of exciting things to look forward to. Amy, Tim, Jeremy and Ben are hopefully flying up here this week-end. My 50th birthday party, my Hawaiian cruise...it's all going to be here before you know it. Life is good.

Dancin' on the Ceiling

Yesterday afternoon I had an amazing experience. All of a sudden this burst of energy and happiness came over me and I was shadowboxing and dancing around the kitchen, I felt so light it seemed I could fly. I was getting ready to take a shower and get ready for work so I was picking out my clothes. Now I don't know about anyone else but I like to try and match my underwear to my outfit, not that anyone is going to notice but it just makes me feel good. So here I pick out this top with different colored hearts on it and didn't really have anything that matched and then I remembered...I had gotten 5 new pair at Victoria Secret a couple weeks ago and hadn't even taken them out of the sack yet. As I carefully opened the tissue paper, there was a lovely lavender pair, a perfect match. I was so happy I started singing "Celebrate" at the top of my lungs in the shower and didn't even care if I was on key. I was ready to party! I really think all this energy was brought on by overindulgence in chocolate. But man if I could feel that energized all the time, I could make it a habit.

Indian Summer

Hmm..I wonder where that name came about. All I know is that it is that it is synonymous with "glorious". I returned from my workout at Curves and the day was so beautiful! It was calling to me to come and bask in it's golden bliss. So I took a walking tour of the neighborhood and was fascinated with all the diversity of colors. Some of the trees have dropped all their leaves while others are blazing in gold, russet, orange, burgundy and green. Pumpkins are sitting on the front steps of many homes. It was all a joy to behold! The weather has just been so great this whole month, other than that freak snow storm that hit western and northern ND, we only got some slushy rain that day. My mums, geraniums and zinnias are still blooming. One doesn't even have to wear a jacket most days. I love autumn.

Sunday morning bliss

I love being married to a man who likes to cook. Every Sunday morning, without fail, well, unless he is working the day shift, he is up whipping up a great breakfast before I even get out of bed. I tell him he doesn't have to go to all that work but he says it's tradition. So who am I to stop tradition. It's great! And then I continue on with another tradition, I quess you could call it, of calling my children. I am always a little disappointed when they are not available to chat with but usually I get to talk with at least one out of the 4. Sometimes not much has happened in our lives during the week but it just feels great hearing their voices, even if just for a few minutes. Yes, I love my Sunday mornings!

Feeling fine

I'm not sure what it is about turning 50 that is exciting to me. Maybe it's that in a few years I will be able to get senior citizen discounts and I don't feel any older than I did when I was forty. I really believe in the old adage "You're only as old as you feel" because I don't feel like I thought I would feel when I turned 50. OK, the grey hair thing is starting to bother me but I have always said I would never color my hair just so I could look younger and I'm trying hard to stick by it. A friend of mine told to that the best way to celebrate your 50th is to plan the party yourself and she was so right! It has been fun and I just hope it all transpires as I have envisioned it in my head. As long as I can be surrounded by the ones I love it will be heavenly.
I even broke down and got myself a physical today and it only proved what I've known all along, that I am in perfect health. OK, so I'm overweight, but what if I lose weight and start getting sick, what would be the good in that! I'm starting to get OK with where I'm at. I exercise regularly and try and eat healthy most of the time and if I can lose a few pounds and still find pleasure and comfort in what I eat then all the better.
So to all of you out there, "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be..."

Amazingly made

This last week-end I had the pleasure of babysitting my grandnephew,Cole. He is 7 and a half months old and is starting to do so many new things, like pushing himself up to a sitting position and he is almost able to crawl forward. He gets up on all four but then usually pushes backwards and ends up scooting forward on his tummy. Watching the amazing way that infants instinctively know how to counterbalance themselves when they are starting to tip over or how they know to keep their head raised when they fall over backwards so they don't crack their head on the floor, I am reminded of the awesome God who created us. We are truely "fearfully and wonderfully made"! Our walk with God is so much like a baby learning to crawl or walk, we make mistakes and fall over and hit our heads a few times but hopefully we learn and go on and are stronger for the mistakes we made. Thank you Lord for being so patient and loving with us!

Group therapy

I am often amazed at God's timing. One never knows when a routine day brings unexpected happenings. 4 nurses, 2 coming, 2 going, end up sharing hurts and hidden secrets of their painful pasts. The evening ending in a hour and a half therapy session. All of us knowing we should leave but no one wanting to end the moment. There is comfort in knowing that others understand and empathize and are there for you and you get your therapy for free. It was a beautiful moment.

Ahhhh,autumn!

I can't tell you how beautiful it has been the last few days! 70 and 80 degrees, and it's October. Friday Curt and I enjoyed hiking a 3 mile path out by the Pipestem Dam. It wound around by the river and up small hills, through the trees and then through the prairie. The leaves are turning goldren with splashes of bright orange wood vines. I am reminded everyday why autumn is my favorite time of year. It's applesauce making time but I'm still waiting for a good frost so I can pick the apples(at least that's my excuse).