gratitude

I am feeling somewhat down, so really need to concentrate on the positives in my life.

#1. My beautiful comfortable home. I was really thinking about this the other day, and realized, I love my house. I love my yard. I love the comfort that I feel when I am here. I have it decorated the way I want, and am getting things done that have been put off for so long. When we are out, Don will ask, "Where do you want to go, now?" My response is always home. Seems to be the only place I want to be.


#2. Chester!!!!!! He is such an awesome companion. We have had him for 2 years, and I never thought I would feel so much love for another pet. His personality just melts everyone's heart.

#3. My friends. I am lucky enough to have some of the very best friends anyone could ask for. Their honesty is the thing that makes me love them the most, even tho most are as young as my daughters, which my daughters don't get.

#3. Even tho the kids get on my nerves, ALOT, I am still glad that Teddy, Grace and Haleigh come here every morning. I know they love me. It does force me to get out of bed, and be productive.

#4. My new stairs, and mini deck. Our stairs have been horrible since we moved in, but just one of those things you put off. Well, it is done and I love it. Now my mom will be able to make it up the stairs much easier. Hopefully that means she will come and visit more.

#5. Air conditioning. God the Iowa air has been so heavy and hot the last couple of days. With all the rain we had, it just feels so thick outside. Also, with my allergies and asthma, it is just best to stay inside for me.

Katisha, and the windows

My beautiful granddaughter, Katisha went to San Diego on vacation and had her Sr. pictures taken. The photographer took 180 pictures, crap, how to choose. Here are a couple of my very, very favorite.

She is really so gorgeous. I just can't believe she will be a Senior in High School. She will be 18 in Oct. where has the time gone.






















Well, Lynn came at 9:00, just as he said, and the windows were in and done by 1:00. They are fantastic.




The seal is so tight, it is amazing. These windows were made in Boone, IA. They are the same windows we put in our house in Boone, 20+ years ago. We loved them so much. They just look so neat and clean. The poor hornets and wasps keep browsing, neener neener.

On another note, my beautiful granddaughter, Katisha went to San Diego on vacation and had her Sr. pictures taken. The photographer took 180 pictures, crap, how to choose. Here are a couple of my very, very favorite.

Excitement

Holy cow, we are getting new windows! OMG, I am so excited. Our house was built in 1948, and these are the originals. They are just plain falling apart, and are inhabited by lots of little critters. Now, in our defense, windows are expensive, and we don't sleep in either bedroom. No one sleeps in these rooms, except an occasional overnight guest. Therefore, we haven't really looked closely at them. We knew they needed to be done, just had to wait for the right time.

Tomorrow at 9:00a.m. the guy will be here. Woohoo!!!!!!!
I am anticipating these rooms to be much warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, a ton less dust, and best of all, be able to open them when the weather is nice outside. Have I said I am truly excited????


On another note, the woman that we bought our house from in 1984 stopped by yesterday. It was so wonderful to see, and finally meet Ruth. We did exchange letters years ago. She was so pleased with all the changes we have made to the house. I told her how much we loved the house, and fell in love with it the moment we saw it. She says that is the way she and her husband felt about it, also.

Well, tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow!!!!!!!! Will sure have to take pictures of my new windows. WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Gratitude Journal

I used to do a Gratitude Journal. Like a lot of things, it takes a little effort. Like a lot of things, something gets in the way. I think about it from time to time, but just don't do it. So, right now, some to the things, besides my family, all of whom I love more than my life, I am so grateful for, are the following.

#1 The fact that I am almost 60 years old, and still have Mom and Dad in my life, and both of sound mind, and relatively healthy. I know that I am so lucky, and still can't image a day with out them.

#2 Don is retired!!!!! I truly love having him around every day. He has done a ton of stuff around the house, which is great. It has been almost a year, and I am so thankful, just pray for many more.

#3 This beautiful earth that God has given us. I have been lucky enough to see all but 17 states. Hope and pray that we get to see the rest. Every mile of the road has something to see, in this country.

#4 I am so thankful for being born in the United States. I have the freedom to go anywhere I can afford to, any time I want. I have the freedom to say what I please, do what I please and believe as I please. The best country in the world.

#5 All of my heroes that have passed. Pam Brooks, my brother Gerry, Alison, Ray Ritter, Grandma Thompson, Grandma Thomas, Grandpa Thomas, and dozens of others. Each human I have met in my life has taught me something, and hopefully I learned the lessons I was suppose to learn.

Hopefully, I can continue to write my Gratitudes on a regular basis.

Today was the first day of Summer vacation for the kids. Had a few bumps, but I guess over all, it went well. It is funny how a 6 year old is so much better behaved than a 10 year old, and an almost 9 year old.



Teddy wanted to get the Karate Kid movie, and with it came the bandana from the movie. So of course he had to put it on. I thought it was too stinking cute.








He and Grace have been busy with the Wii, and now trying to master the Wii Fit. Lots of fun watching them, and getting some very good exercise.

Now Grandma and Grandpa need to get into it.

This retirement thing

It has been almost 11 months since Don retired. I was scared when he first talked about it, but then my parents talked about it with us, we realized that financially we would be okay, and I realized that his disposition would be so much better if he didn't have to go to work every day.

I will admit that I have loved having him home. His personality is quite a bit improved, and we have really had fun doing projects together. We have been doing a bunch of stuff outside. I think the really super crappy weather is finally over. Looks like 5 whole days with no rain in the future. WooHoo!!!

Will take some pictures in the near future to show what we have/will be doing outside this summer.

The saddest news

A very sweet, wonderful, most loving woman I know lost her 18 month old son on Monday. It was an accident. This has been the saddest thing in my life for years. I have felt so somber all week. She lives hundreds of miles away, so I can't be with her, and that is the only place I want to be. J, I love you so much, and I know your heart is broken. M, there was never a more loved child on earth.