Day 93

Yesterday was another birthday in our family so I thought I would talk a little about the birthday girl. Jaide is now 11 years old.

 I first met Jaide about four years ago after they moved here from Washington. On that first day, I took her shopping with me at Walmart and I was amazed at just how much she talked, but not just that, but how she was so comfortable to open up to me - a stranger. She has a bubbly personality that will be a great asset to her when she becomes an adult. 

She is very passionate about animals and hopes to become a veterinarian or a scientist when she grows up. 
She loves to come and help me out with cooking and baking and she is very good at it. 

She is a very sweet, little girl........ young lady. 

Happy Birthday, Jaide!

Oh man! Today was another hot day. It was also the last day of school for Jaide & Jared. They both had field days and I'm very glad that I didn't participate because it would just have been too hot for me. 

Instead I went to work at Hannah House and took care of balancing the accounts, paying the bills, making a deposit and visiting the water company. There are now three mothers living at Hannah House and I briefly met the two new women this morning. There sure is a lot more activity when there are more residents. I didn't see Selena - I left before she arrived.

I did a little bit of shopping after that, but then spent the afternoon at home relaxing and trying to cool off. 
Tonight I had a Weight Watcher meeting. Pastor Joy and another woman, Tamara (from church) go to the meetings too. This was the first week of the program for Tamara and I. Pastor Joy said she would embarrass herself if we lost weight. Well, we both did - and she did this goofy, over-exaggerated happy dance there in front of everybody. Not just once, but two times! Funny, funny. So I would say, yes, she did embarrass herself. I lost 5.4 pounds this first week. I don't expect that big of a loss again. My first week on a diet is always pretty big. 
I am now watching "2012" on Netflix. I think a good disaster movie is always a great choice for entertainment.  I will fix myself a strawberry smoothie later tonight. 
Wade is fine - I think he's feeling a little better - I know that he did some running today - so I know that he feels well enough to run. He did say that the food in the DFAC was acceptable tonight and he actually ate some of it.   

Day 92

This morning I spent a wonderful 40 minutes skyping with Wade. It was great. I always enjoy my time that I spend with him. He is fine - a little homesick, but then again he's feeling a little touch of stomach flu or something and he thinks that is contributing to him missing home more. He does have some activities coming up this week that will enhance his Friday post. I can't wait! 
I worked on homework for my Spiritual Leadership Class. One of the chapters I had to read was on time management. This was especially meant for me this morning. I seem to have so many activities and responsibilities - I tend to overextend myself and that is so frustrating and stressful for me. 
No matter your status, occupation, or stage in life, we are all given the same amount of time. Why is it some people seem to have more?? It's all in the management. Not taking on everything new that is offered, but to be selective and open to the Lord's leading on what to commit to:
"God has a plan for each person that is uniquely suited to that individual. Unlike people, God never piles on more than someone can handle. God never overbooks people. God never drives his servants to the point of breakdown. God never burns people out. God never gives people tasks that are beyond the strength or ability he provides........... The key for overworked leaders is to examine each of their current responsibilities to determine whether they had inadvertently assumed ownership for things God has not intended them to carry."  [Spiritual Leadership, Henry & Richard Blackaby] Why do people get burnt out, overworked, overbooked? They're not following God's agenda. In an attempt to be a pleasing person, to be liked, to be appreciated, oftentimes people take on too much.  
And my message - to me - is to back up, slow down, examine my priorities and ask God what His agenda is for me. I need to be brave enough to say no to people unless I truly believe that God is leading me into it. I need to fulfill my commitments, but also to be selective on upcoming offers. My goal is to be in God's will. 


"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is."                                              Ephesians 5:17-17

Day 91

It's a Sunday and has been a busy day as well. I'm tired out and thoroughly enjoyed a quiet afternoon of napping. 
I took Jared, Jaide and her friend, Makayla to Sunday School and church this morning. I worked as a Sunday School registrar and that was fun. I like getting to see some of the younger children in the church. I just think that someday I will get to see them again when they rotate up into the grades that I teach now. Looking forward to that! 
The youth conducted the morning worship service and they did a wonderful job. I was informed that I was on the VBS schedule to lead games this morning (at the last minute - like 3 minutes before I needed to be there!), but since someone forgot to give me the book and materials, I didn't have to do that this morning. Hopefully, I will get the required materials this week in case I am scheduled for something else next week. 
We had the birthday lunches for Jaide and Jared today. The menu included:

Curried chicken with rice

Corn on the cob

Buttermilk biscuits

Peas

Hot dogs & buns

Mandarin orange slices

Leftover birthday cake for dessert.

After the meal, Jared & Jaide opened presents:

Jason wasn't with us for the meal today because he was down south helping a friend of mine and Wade's cutting up a tree that had been struck by lightning. He left early this morning and took his tools and saws,cut up the tree, and hauled the pieces home. 

Thanks to Jason for helping out Hal & Rose. And Hal & Rose have invited all of us to their home for a barbeque and swim party. We'll have to plan for a good date for that. 

Day 90

June 4th -  

This picture is one of my favorites of Jared. Yesterday was his birthday and I neglected to mention it so I wanted to make notice of that in this post. Jared turned 9 years old yesterday. I have known him for almost 4 years now and I have grown to appreciate this little man. He can be a wild little indian sometimes, but also he has a soft, tender heart and this grandma sure does enjoy her time together with him.

He has different insights into situations and I love hearing his perspective. He is truly an outdoors-type boy. His thoughts run toward hunting, fishing, camping, archery and he is constantly collecting frogs, lizards and other critters that have managed to cross our property. He has tried to convince me to go camping and fishing in the middle of winter or to climb down the hill behind our house after we've had days of rain and everything is mud.

This year I had the opportunity to spend Monday afternoons with him and we read books, play games, practice spelling and work on homework. These have been great times to build a relationship with each other. 

So happy birthday Jared. May this year be your best one yet! 

So I spent Saturday morning relaxing, reading, doing homework, and watching some tv. I emailed back and forth with Wade. He is fine - says he has some plans in the works and can't share anything yet. But I'm sure I'll learn about it in the proper time. 

Jason & Peggy were busy preparing for their parties that would happen this afternoon. Jared's birthday party at 1:00 and then Jaide's party at 3:00. 

I had some things to do this afternoon and I left the house around 12:30. I had an "E-E-E-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! Mystery Palace" 

Alpha Omega

After that I went to the mall to pick up some things for Jaide & Jared for their birthday and then to the grocery store for tomorrow night's dinner. Jaide used her 'birthday privilege' and chose curried chicken for dinner. But I was so tired tonight, I boiled my chicken breasts and fixed myself a crab salad for dinner. I will take care of the rest of the preparations tomorrow. I'm worn out. 

We have severe thunderstorm warnings until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. According to the news station these storms have strong winds and hail. They're in Indiana now and expected to arrive in a couple of hours. 

Day 89

Another Friday - This is the last Friday of school for the Ohio grandkids. They will officially be done with school next Tuesday. 
Tomorrow both Jaide & Jared are having birthday parties here at the house with their friends. Today I kept myself occupied with baking and decorating. In between that, I skyped with Wade. He's fine, a little stressed out and hot, but it was still good to spend time with him sitting at my kitchen table. Almost as if he was sitting there with me. 
This afternoon I took the truck in for an oil change. I got to use my 'free' oil change certificate, and I still expected them to find something else that needed fixing so I would have to pay anyway. But today they found nothing else. So I got a truly free oil change and was done within 30 minutes. What a great place! 
Tonight I had Jaide & Jared and we watched "Ramona & Beezus". Jason, Peggy, and one of Jaide's friends went shopping tonight to pick up their presents for the kids for tomorrow. 
Now I'm looking forward to watching more Desperate Housewives and just relax. I have an E-E-E-EEEEEE ...............mystery palace tomorrow. 
But for now I want to share pictures of my handiwork today: 

 An empty canvas 

 The start of Jared's cake 

 White cake covered with brown-tinted frosting

 Chocolate layer covered with chocolate frosting

 Crushed chocolate fish covered the chocolate frosting. There are bowls with frosting waiting: red for ketchup, green for lettuce, and yellow for mustard

 Added the mustard....

 Added the ketchup.....

 And here is some lettuce....

 The top bun has been added. Plus I toasted some pound cake pieces to look like french fries and covered those with ketchup too.

 The "sesame seeds" are actually Rice Krispies

 Ta-da!!!

 Beginning of Jaide's cake. 3 Funfetti cake layers.

 Chocolate mini layer on top and frosted with pink wedding cake frosting.

 Ears are pink sugar wafers covered with frosting. M&M eyes. And after numerous trials, I ended up using marshmallows skewered with pretzel sticks for the nose and feet. 

 I added a little green bow.

 Hard to tell, but there is a pink cork screw tail on there.

 This little pig is tall enough that I can't close the box. 

Here they are in my fridge - this is where they'll spend the night and get a good rest before they join the parties tomorrow. 

Day 88

Just in case you were wondering, today (Day 88) is 24% of the year. Almost one quarter over with. 
It's been a fairly busy day with lots of running around thrown in. I had Jaide and Jared this morning waiting for their school buses. We watched part of a movie while we waited. While I was standing out there by the road, I thought how nice it would be to have a bench out there - something to think about for next September. 
After they were gone, I went to Wal-mart and bought some things. Today was my last day with my mentee and I wanted to get her a 'parting gift'. So I picked up a few little cheap (inexpensive) odds and ends:

Walmart has wonderful deals. I got a butterfly beach towel, sunglasses, sidewalk chalk, some flip-flops, two journals and some different colored pens - plus the denim bag, which cost 97 cents, served as the gift bag too. I think I spent around 20 dollars, which is a great bargain for all these goodies. 
I had a nice visit with her and we talked and played games for the whole hour. She loves to play games and LOVES to win even more. But then, which kid doesn't? 

According to her, they are moving to a new apartment or home tomorrow and at first she was expected to attend a different school next year. But today, she told me that she will be returning to the same school, which would mean I will be her mentor again next year. It wasn't as hard to say goodbye today (as it was last year) because I know I will see her sometimes on Sundays and Wednesdays at church this summer. 
I made a trip to the post office, grocery store and then out again to Wal-mart and Hobby Lobby tonight for more things I forgot to get. I am making birthday cakes tomorrow and I've got the designs in my head and down on scratch paper. I will post pictures of them on Saturday when they will be eaten. 
The weather here was very pleasant today. Perfect summer weather (to me). 
Wade says it's hot there, but it's cooling down a degree or two. I posted his blog tonight. I really enjoyed reading it today. He writes so good - 
I got a trunk in the mail from Wade a couple of days ago. I haven't gone through the whole trunk and all its contents, but this coin was in there and I thought it was pretty neat - 

Day 87

Wow - June 1st already. It sure feels like summer out there too. Warm, warm days. I finally had to turn on the central air conditioning today and the house is very comfortable. 
I had my hair cut today. I always enjoy seeing my stylist who is also my friend. I love hearing stories about her teenage daughters, and just catching up in general. 
A little bit of shopping and then home this afternoon to prepare for tonight's Summer Kids' class. I was in charge of crafts/food and they showed their creativity. Part of the lesson was on the body and tonight's 'body part' was the skeleton. I had 34 kids and each got a bag that contained pretzel twists, pretzel sticks and M&M's. I told them to make a skeleton, let me take a picture and then they could eat them. So here's a sampling of what they made and then ate:

 Early on - they made some pretty basic skeletons, but as time went on their creativity came out. 

 Ribs started emerging.

Eyeballs started popping out and they began to resemble aliens. 

 This one was a little different than all the others. 

 This particular skeleton was made by one of the kids in the neighborhood, and  yes, that is a gun he is holding, just in case you were wondering........

 I asked the little girl if this was the hair or a hat..... she looked at me funny and said, "No, that's a rainbow." Ah - hah..............

Now we're getting into two headed skeletons. 

I think they all did a wonderful job and I believe they liked it too. 
I came home after that and had some dinner while I watched some Desperate Housewies. 
Wade was super busy today and I didn't hear a whole lot from him. So all I can say is it's hot there and he's running around like crazy.