Tuesday, March 6, 2007: Wow! Posting 2 days in a row! For me lately, that seems like an accomplishment. I am determined to post daily, even if a few lines. I am almost caught up with my blog visits also, & had a wonderful time catching up on my reads.

We had our sons & their girls over tonight for dinner. We had a great time. We watched a dvd of 'Alf'. Remember that sitcom? Not sure if it would make it in this day & age, but it was good, clean fun. Elliot is so amused by Alf, & Emily dances herself into a frenzy when the Alf music comes on. It's funny how we remember things so differently when we were younger. Our sons used to 'love' that show, & they commented on how 'corny' so much of it seemed now, but they still really enjoyed it, & it kept them laughing.

Another picture perfect day in Vegas. It is so 'Springy'. It makes me want to get our backyard finished, & to get Elliot & Emily's play area done. We are hoping to do that in the next month. We also want to get some furniture for our balcony. We've been looking, but want to wait for the perfect set. Seems like the 'feathering of my nest' always goes on.

Tonight I am grateful for being able to share memories of times spent in the past, & to be able to 'relive' that in some ways. We used to sit & watch Alf together when the boys were younger, & it was so much fun to watch tonight & talk about how we remembered the shows, & compare it with how we felt now. Strolling down memory lane always brings laughter, along with a bit of sadness. My boys grew up way too fast!

Monday, March 5, 2007: I cannot believe that it's been almost a week since I was last here. All my plans to get here daily, seem to fall by the wayside lately. There has been so much going on lately, & at times things cannot be helped. Elliot sick, Mike sick, Emily cutting teeth, my son in the accident in Los Angeles, my Mom getting worse...just so much piled into the past 6 weeks or so. I do want to get back to posting daily though, because I need to carve out that little bit of time just for me. I really did enjoy sitting here & capping off my day with blogging. Hopefully, I will be here daily from now on.

We took Elliot & Emily to the Doodlebops (from the Disney channel)concert tonight. I was surprised, because it was basically sold out. Lots of little Doodlebop fans out there! It was really fun, & the kids had so much fun. We didn't tell Elliot that we were going. We had been telling him for a week, that we had a surprise for him. Well he was surprised! The look on his face when he realized what we were there for, was priceless. And Emily? I think she's going to be a music lover. She cannot sit still if she hears any type of music, & I mean she really gets into it! So much so, that it can get embarrassing. Everyone around her laughed. It was really sweet to see her love it so. We bought them each something to take home from their night out...Elliot chose a guitar like 'Rooney's', & Emily got a 'DeeDee' doll. Those 2 things cost $50, so it wasn't cheap. Sad that these things are so expensive, & all the children there want to go home with something.

What beautiful weather we have been having! It was 74 today, & supposed to be 78 tomorrow. My friend from England is soooo jealous! I feel so badly for all the areas hit by the tornadoes. It's heartbreaking to see all the damage done.

I feel grateful tonight for special times shared with Elliot & Emily. I know we built memories with Elliot tonight. Emily is so small, that she will probably not remember tonight, but Elliot will. He hugged us during the concert, & said "Thank you Nana & Papa!" It meant a lot to him. We loved watching them during the concert...just to see their smiles & the joy, was worth the world! We capped the evening off by coming home to cookies & milk, so Elliot went to bed one very happy (& full), little boy!

Wednesday, February 28, 2007: I cannot seem to post regularly lately! So much going on - a real case of the 'busys'. I do miss being here daily, so I am going to 'try' to make it a point to be here. Life can just snowball out of control at times it seems. When something hits, it 'all' seems to hit. One thing after another lately. I have missed my daily blog hops too, so must get back to that, & catch up with everyone's lives.

Emily got a molar in over the weekend. I need to check, but I thought she was supposed to get those last. She's only got 3 teeth on the bottom so far, & it was so strange to see that little molar in. She is becoming so verbal - really, really trying to get those words out. She can say quite a few words now, but most of them aren't real clear yet. She's still up to her old tricks - into everything, & making sure she hits every single kitchen cabinet (& emptying it), & going at full speed.

I was trying to decide where to hang a picture yesterday, & was having a hard time reaching up. Elliot tried to convince me that he he could do it, because he was "Superman", & could fly & reach. He gets into these super hero modes, & it's so cute. He says it with complete confidence. He told me that he had "Superman feet" too - whatever that means. He had his first little heartbreak over a friend. He was eating dinner the other night, & out of the blue he said "Nana, Dylan's mean. He pushed me & made me sad." I said "Honey, Dylan probably didn't mean to push you. You're his friend." He got teary eyed, & said "No, Dylan pushed me & said he don't like Elliot. I'm sad." I know he has lots more disappointments ahead of him, but I hated seeing him hurt. You just want to protect them from any little heartache.

My son Brandon is taking a friend to the Excalibur casino tonight. It's her birthday, & she wanted to see the Tournament of Kings jousting dinner show. It's supposed to be really neat - you eat with your fingers (I wouldn't like that!) - supposedly it's just like it was in the days of knights & maidens. The re-enactments are very good from what we have heard. Brandon wasn't real excited about going, because he thought it might smell as they ate, considering these 'knights' are riding their horses, invading, jousting, ect. as you eat. He wasn't real thrilled about eating with the smell of horses mixed with food. I had always thought the same thing too. I can't wait to talk to him tomorrow & ask him how it went.

Off to bed I go - I've been trying to do better, as far as getting in bed earlier. Tonight, I cannot wait to see that bed! Loooooong day! So tonight, I am feeling very grateful for sleep!! I need it, & cannot wait to wake up 'recharged', ready for another day of chasing Elliot & Emily!

Sunday, February 25, 2007: Oscar Night! I have always loved the Oscars - I love all the 'pagentry', the excitement, the gowns, ect. From a little girl, I have looked forward to them each year.

Mike woke up feeling sick this morning...horrible headache & just feeling very achy all over. He took a couple of asprin & went back to bed. He slept on & off all day.

Shad made it home safely from Los Angeles. This trip was pretty eventful for him, & I think he was glad to be back home. The car had more damage than we had thought, so that was discouraging. Oh well...at least he is okay, & this is what really matters.

Off to get ready to watch the Oscars. I am grateful that we have things to look forward to in life...traditions or rituals that we look forward to each year, each month, or whatever it may be. This is another thing that adds 'color' to our lives.

Thursday, February 22, 2007: I guess I went MIA again! Things have been so hectic around here. Emily ended up not getting sick - it was her teething that made me think she was getting whatever Elliot had. She's as energetic as ever - into everything. Elliot has fully recoved & he's making up for lost time too. He's been a ball of energy.

My son & a friend went to Los Angeles to get away for a couple of days. He was there for about 10 minutes, pulled into a parking garage, hit a divider, & the hit to the bumper pushed something into the transmission cooler. All the fluid drained out. Needless to say, he was scared & upset. He called & didn't know what to do (I almost emailed you Susan!). Here he was, in this huge city, not knowing anyone, not sure what was wrong with the car, & without a car. This happened about 9PM the night he got there. The car couldn't be driven, so he had to leave it in the parking garage until the next morning. He found a hotel about 10 minutes away, so that was good. The next morning he called a towing company, & they took it to a service center. They had to order the part, & it just got repaired today. The thing that really made him feel bad, is that he didn't drive his car, he drove Mike's car. He's not back yet...he just picked up the car late this afternoon, so I think he's going to come back tomorrow morning. I hope there's not a lot of damage to the bumper. He says there isn't. I feel badly that he didn't get to do anything that he was hoping to do. Two days, spent waiting for a car to get repaired! He says he made the best of it though...he did a 'lot' of walking!

I have the Epson Picture Mate to use with my digital camera. It's so nice to be able to print out my own pictures, & we love it! Anyway...I have been printing a lot for the past 2 days. My family has been wanting me to send them pictures of when we visited there last October. It may have been a mistake to let them know that we had it, as everyone seems to want a 'lot' of pictures.

I have been watching the trial to determine who got Anna Nicole's body for burial. What a circus! It's so sad to have heard so much of the testimony & to think that it seems as though no one was there to get her the help she obviously needed. I do guess that unless you want help, it would be difficult for anyone to give that help though. I thought they went way off the focus of the trial, & I think this will drag on in other ways. I feel so sorry for that little girl, & pray that the real father can raise her.

Tonight I am grateful for God's protective hand. My son could have hit something other than a divider in a parking garage...thankfully he wasn't hurt, & it all worked out to where there was a hotel 10 minutes away. I know being in LA without a car wasn't fun for him, & it was scary at first for him, but he is safe & that is what mattered.

Sunday, February 18, 2007: I'm sitting here on 'sugar overload'. My son wanted me to fix those no bake cookies today, & I couldn't pass by them without popping one in my mouth. I have way over done the sugar for the past few weeks. And this from someone who tries to stay away from sweets.

Emily had a bit of a cough today, so I hope it's not worse tomorrow. This is how it normally goes though - get one well, & the other gets sick. She's only been sick once she has been born, & that was a cold that she caught from Elliot too.

Lisa baked us some brownies last night, & they didn't turn out at all. I felt sorry for her, because she put them in a 9x13 in. pan, & they were supposed to be put in an 8x8 in. pan. They were these thin, very hard brownies. She was so ashamed. I told her that I had made the same mistake at some time, as most everyone has. Not sure that made her feel any better though. She was so excited about this little treat she was making for us, so I just really felt bad for her. I ate one, just to make her feel a bit better. Mike whispered "Don't break a tooth out!" to me, & that made me smile. I told her that it will all come in time. She wants to learn how to cook since she & Shad are getting married, but I think Shad is a bit worried...he says he will starve if things don't improve. When I think back to some of my early cooking mistakes, it's funny. It wasn't funny at the time, but we now laugh about it. I will never forget the first time I made a dish for a church dinner. I was only 17, & it was a disaster. I was scared too death, as I'd never prepared food for a function before. I went through my cookbook & picked out what I thought looked really good, & it was a mistake! I chose 'Chicken & Dumplings". I can still see those excuses for dumplings in that baking dish!! They looked like big pillowy blobs! I over-heard someone laugh at them & make a comment, which put me near tears. Mike went up to the table & picked them out & threw them away while no one was watching. Now 'that' is love! My chicken was really good, so that kinda made up for it. Whatever made me think I could fix a dish like that, after having been married for only a few months (& being a kid still too!), is beyond me. When I was slaving over that dish, little did I know that we'd be laughing about it years & years down the road. I guess this is a good time to give what I am grateful for tonight, & that is the ability to laugh at ourselves. I told Lisa that believe it or not, those brownies will one day be something they will be able to think back on & laugh. What seems like a bad thing, can give us many years of laughs. It always helps if we can step back & have a good laugh at ourselves. Life is too short to get upset over some gone wrong brownies or big blobs of dough, that in no way resemble dumplings. And through those times, we learn.

Saturday, February 17, 2007: Elliot woke up with all swelling in his cheek gone. He seems to be completely over whatever he had, except for a cough now & then. I am going to keep him home from church tomorrow though, as I do not want any child getting sick from what he might have had. So many seem to bring their children whether they are sick or not, & this is so unfair to the families that do not have colds or whatever.

I spent most of my day just enjoying Elliot & Emily. It's wonderful to see Elliot wanting to play after being sick this past week. And play, he does! He is all boy.

I was reading Susan's blog about how she was upset that Meredith has seemingly died on Grey's Anatomy...I did not like that either. That is such a good show...very well acted. I know a lot of people feel that it is over-rated, but I love it. I enjoy medical shows, & used to dream about becoming a dr., but our paths we take lead us elsewhere at times. I often wonder if I could have done it, & the 'what ifs', but no sense in doing that now. My dr. tells me I 'missed my calling', because he sees the interest I have in it, & at times it is 'me' that tells 'him' what certain things could be. He gets a kick out of it. This leads me to a funny story. A few years ago, Mike was having horrible stomach pains, with no answers. I had taken him to the emergency room on numerous times. One night, after a really bad 'attack', I rushed him to the ER. The drs had run all the tests that they could, & told us that they couldn't find anything wrong. I then went over all his symptoms with them & said "Have you ran a test to check his gall bladder, because with his symptoms, I think this is it." The dr. looked at me & said "Are you a nurse or dr.?" I said "No, but I am sure this is what's wrong." He said "No, that's not what we feel it is." He told us that they hadn't run that test, but would do it if we insisted on it, even though they didn't feel it was needed. He came back to the room a bit later, with a 'look' on his face & said "You're right, it's his gall bladder." He had to have surgery to remove it. Mike still laughs about that. I am content with having chosen to raise my 3 sons though, & now pouring my life into Elliot & Emily. No regrets there. Plus, I would get too emotionally involved with patients.

This leads me to what I am grateful for tonight, & that is that God knows the plans He has for us, & He knows the paths He wants us to take. What we may want, may not be the best for us, & I am thankful that He directs our steps to go a different way.

Friday, February 16, 2007: Elliot awoke this morning crying, saying his face hurt. His right side of his face was swollen slightly. This concerned me, but of course of all days, our dr. was out of his office. I called 3 other recommendations, & 2 were out, & the other one was totally booked. One was nice enough to give me a 'phone consult'...she said that with his symptoms, she didn't think it could be mumps (this was our fear). She said that if he is not being lethargic (he isn't), was eating somewhat normally (he is), & was not complaining of his ear hurting or having difficulty in swallowing, then to just watch him over the weekend. We are to watch for a spike in temperature too, & he hasn't had a temp all day. Always something to worry about or frighten you with little ones! And of all days for this to happen, a Friday & right before the weekend! Why is it, that things seem to worsen if a child is sick, at night, Fridays, & during the weekend? I hope his swelling is down in the morning. It's one of those situations that I will be almost afraid to see it in the morning! I just hope he is alright. Mike told me that he 'has' to be okay, because he was running, jumping, playing, laughing, ect. tonight. That is all a good sign, so I'm trying not to worry.

Emily is still okay, so I am praying that she stays clear of this 'bug' that has gotten Elliot. Both of them went to bed very early tonight, so hopefully a good nights sleep will do them both good. Especially Elliot since he's sick. This morning Mike was singing the song that Emily's little ride on horse sings (Clippety Clop). He sings it wrong 'every' time! He sings "Ride a little pony..." I finally couldn't let it go anymore, so I said "Mike! I'm a little pony!" Elliot looked at me, laughed, & said "Nana! You're not a pony! You're Nana!"

I called my Mom today, & she said it was NINE degrees in their hometown today! BRRRRRRRRRRR! It was 70 degrees here in Vegas today, so I can't even imagine it being 'that' cold.

I am so hoping to be able to work on my website this weekend. It's been a long time since I've been able to add anything new. I guess it's not like I need to add more though, seeing as it has so many pages already.

The NBA Allstars game is in Vegas this weekend. We had wanted to go, but with Elliot sick, that won't happen. My son Brandon, works as an assistant manager at one of the shops in the Wynn, & all the players are staying there this weekend. He has seen quite a few, so that's been neat for him. As a Wynn employee though, he isn't allowed to speak to them (unless spoken to), or to act as though he recognizes them. Steve Wynn believes they should have total privacy when they stay there. Brandon has seen 'so' many stars, ect. & not been able to even act as though he knows them. That would be hard! Many shop in his store, & all he can say is "Good Morning (or whatever time it is), Mr./Mrs. So & So!" He has some very neat stories to tell.

Well, hubby is waiting for me to bake a pie, so off I go to oblige! Tonight I am grateful for Elliot's pinging off the wall. That might seem a strange thing to be grateful for, but with him just lying around for days, not really up to doing anything, it was a blessing to see him being in his 'Superman' mode tonight. You don't realize how blessed you are to have a healthy child, until they are sick & lethargic. Then you want them to just get up & ping off the walls!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007: Happy Valentines Day! We are going to celebrate our Valentines as soon as Elliot feels well. He was a bit worse today...runny nose, cough, low fever. Emily has begun to show signs that she is getting it too. So anyway...no Valentines meal out, ect. for us. Shad volunteered to babysit, but we didn't want to leave them with him while they aren't feeling well. Mike brought me home a box of chocolates & a take out meal, & that was good enough for me! It was a loooong day with Elliot not well & Emily beginning to get sick, so it was so welcome!

Elliot had to miss his Valentines party at church. I filmed him saying his memory verse for his teacher, & he told her that he was sick. Mike took it to church, along with Elliot's Valentine cards for the children. The teacher was really touched to see him on video, reciting his verse. She said that was a first ever. I really hated that he had to miss this party...he was so excited about it, but he never really complained. I think he just felt too ill. He lit up when Mike got home from church & brought him a little 'party pack' from the party...there were Valentines cards from all his classmates, along with 'lots' of candy from the party. He was thrilled!

We had to change our home phone number today. We didn't want to, but had no choice. For almost 2 1/2 years now, we have been getting calls 'daily' for someone. It's all debt collection calls. We've had car dealerships call us for her too, wanting her to call them & get a debt straightend out. Realtors have called, asking if they can see her property...so she obviously has given our number as hers. I have called repeatedly, telling the callers that this has been our number for years, but the calls still come. The funny thing is, I am now beginning to get calls to my cell phone for her too...same thing - all debt collectors. I called them, & they say that our home phone & my cell phone are the numbers she has given as hers. Very strange, & it makes me wonder how she got our numbers. I can see if she just picked out a number & it happened to be our home phone, but my 'cell' phone number too??? I hope I'm not forced to change my cell phone number, because I have had that number for years.

Elliot announced to me today that he was a monkey, & that he needed a banana to eat. He's so funny! I love the things children say. He also told me that he wanted a chocolate Nana. At times, I wish I could just 'freeze' him at this age. But time marches on, & they grow up on you! It seems like yesterday that it was my boys that were saying these cute things.

Elliot's theme for his Valentine party at church was the greatest love ever given to man. Jesus. And that is what I am most grateful for tonight...that God loved us so much, that He sent His son as a gift of love for us.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007: Elliot's didn't get to enjoy his birthday...he was sick, & he's still sick today too. We were hoping to get to celebrate it tonight, but he felt so lousy. He didn't want to do anything connected to a birthday yesterday, so I knew he was feeling bad. Last night, Mike & I cuddled up with him & watched one of his Shirley Temple movies (Heidi), & I baked chocolate chip cookies. He loves those, but only ate a half of one, so I 'really' knew he felt bad! He loved the movie, but he kept calling her 'Curly Top' (although he pronounces it 'Turly Top'). He thinks that is her real name, & Curly Top is just in different movies. He didn't like it when he felt 'Turly Top' was being mean to. It was so funny, & very sweet. It's awful to see a child sick, & not feel like doing anything but lay. He's heartbroken to think that he might not get to go to his Awanas Valentine party tomorrow, & I can't see how he will be able to make it. He's been looking forward to this for ages. That is bothering him more than not feeling like celebrating his birthday! Now to keep Emily from getting sick. It was hard to keep her away from him today. She kept wanting to play with him.

It was so much colder here today! I guess it doesn't compare with the freezing weather & blizzards that so much of the country are experiencing right now. It began pouring rain tonight too. The weather seems to be really wacky all over the world!

Emily learned a new trick today. In our kitchen cabinets, we have pull-out shelves in each of the bottom ones, so she opens the cabinets, pulls out the shelves, stands on them, & gets into the drawers & gets to all the stuff that she might find on the counter tops. I could not believe it when I saw her doing it. I think she is going to be one that 'if there is a way, she will do it, & if not, she will make a way'!

I got a lot of 'piddling' done while Elliot & Emily napped today. I hung some pictures, did laundry, cleaned, printed out some pictures, ect. Things that I had been wanting to get done. I still haven't gotten around to tackling my computer room, so that will be on my 'to do' list tomorrow.

That's it for today...seems like a boring post! Tonight I am feeling grateful for the rain that I can hear hitting my window. I 'love' hearing it rain - it's so soothing to me. I love seeing it rain too. Now if I only had a tin roof to go to sleep under, as I did when I was a child!

Sunday, February 11,2007: Had a wonderful day at church today. Tonight we all took the 'spiritual gifts' test, & will get the results back next Sunday. I have taken such tests in the past, but will look forward to getting the results back.

After church this morning, we tried out a new Italian restaurant (Carmine's). It was very good, but they gave way too much food! Italian & Mexican food always fill me up too much...must be all the carbs.

We went shopping for just a bit. Elliot's birthday is tomorrow, & we put off stopping off to pick up his gift. This was a mistake on our part, because it was sold out. We are getting him one of those 'spring horses'...the bouncy ones. The one we had picked out has a age limit of age 8, so he would be able to enjoy it for years. We tried a few places, but all were sold out. I am going to order it online,& it will be here on Thursday. Until then, we are going to give him a small gift. We stopped by Wal-Mart to pick up his birthday supplies, & he saw this watch he wanted so badly. He can't tell time, but it was just a little cheap 'Pirates of the Carribean' watch. He is SO proud of it. He walked around all evening with the shirt sleeve on the arm that he's wearing the watch on, pushed way up. Lisa was admiring it, & said "Elliot what time is it?" He stared at the face of it, & very seriously said "It's time to go to work." He makes me smile so much! He woke up a couple of hours after he went to bed tonight, crying with a headache. I cuddled him & rubbed his temples while he drifted back off. I hope he's not getting something.

Emily has stolen the hearts of everyone in church. She is like that...a real heart winner. She wore a new dress today, & you can already see the 'little girl' in her...if she has something new on, she prances around like you would not believe. She'll twirl around for us too. She's so funny.

We picked up the new 'Simple Sweets' by Sara Lee tonight, & they were pretty good. Very fast & simple when you want a little dessert. They are small pies that take 5 minutes in the microwave. Not homemade, but good.

Tonight I am grateful for the gifts that God gives each of us to use in this world. As I took that test, I prayed that I would use each & every one that He has seen fit to bless me with. How sad if we go through life not using what He meant for us to use, & so not live to our full potential.

Saturday, February 10, 2007: Looks like I'm getting off track on my blog...it seems like it's been a 'hit & miss' thing for the past couple of weeks. I hope that I can get back on track this coming week.

We took Elliot & Emily to the zoo yesterday. The zoo at Las Vegas is 'so' pitiful! It's only 3 acres, & not a whole lot of animals. It's more like a big petting zoo, with just a few bigger animals thrown in. Elliot enjoyed it (Emily was afraid of all the animals). He loved seeing the monkeys - they were his favorite. I was getting ready to take him into a fenced area to pet some goats, but decided to let him watch them for awhile before we went in. There was this little girl that went up to a goat that was standing on a big rock...she petted his head, & he knocked her down with his head. I decided that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to let him pet them! He didn't really knock her - he shook his head & this in turn made her fall down. Do you know what was strange? I was standing there by the fence, about 3 feet from the little girl & I saw everything. After she ran out of the fenced in area, she ran to her Mom & began to cry. Someone came up, asked what had happened, & the Mom replied "That goat kicked her!" Another lady on the other side told someone else what happened, & she said "The goat attacked her & bit her!!" I stood there, not believing what I was hearing. I would sure hope that I didn't have those 2 as witnesses if something ever happened to me! I still cannot believe that they 'stretched' things that far. Anyway, Elliot had a good time. We are going to take him to the San Diego zoo, so he should 'really' love that!

I won a Longaberger basket on Ebay, got it today, & thought "Wow...that looks familiar!" It should, cause I have it hanging on my dining room wall! I have soooooo many of them (even after selling 156 of them!), so that one kinda slipped over my head. I got such an incredible deal on it though, that it doesn't bother me. I will find another wall to hang it on. I had never checked Ebay for them, until last year - I always bought them from a Longaberger consultant. You can really get some deals on them via Ebay.

Tonight I am grateful for all the wonderful things that God created for us to enjoy. Today, Elliot & I were talking about how God created such good things...beautiful things. I was telling him how He created the moon, the sun, trees, ocean, him, ect. He looked at me so sweetly & said "Nana, God made pretty animals." I guess those were in his mind after his trip to the zoo. Talking to him, got me to thinking about how awesomeness surrounds us...so much beauty, & we sometimes don't even notice it or think about it. Just like Elliot says "God did good!"

Thursday, February 8, 2007: We are still enjoying such beautiful weather. It was 70 today, & this has kept me in this 'spring cleaning' mode.

We took Elliot out for awhile today, & taught him how to ride his bicycle. He still can't get it down totally. He keeps wanting to pedal backwards. He'll pedal forwards once, & then pedal backwards, so he really doesn't get very far. It's so cute to watch him.

Mike brought home 2 pies from Marie Callenders tonight. He was supposed to bring home 1, but he couldn't decide which to get...so he settled that dilema by buying both of them. I guess that is one way of making your decision easy.

I am not a fan of Anna Nicole Smith, but thought it so sad that she died today. I know she has been through a lot over the loss of her son, & it broke my heart for her. She impressed me as a very troubled person.

Cindy sent me this blog game questionaire, & here are my answers:
Mention six strange facts about you:
1. LOVE the ocean - if I could live anywhere in the world, it would be by the ocean - I love hearing it (have to sleep with a sleep sound machine playing ocean sounds), & I love looking at it, but I am 'terrified' of water. I would panic if I were out in it. I can't even walk out onto a dock - can't bear the thought of water under me.
2. Can't have a Daytimer, because if I write in it & mess up, I have no interest in using it...the perfectionist in me I guess.
3 Am so afraid of speaking in public, that I used to go to my teachers & tell them that I would take an 'F' rather than have to get up in front of the class.
4. I get physically ill & feel panicked, if I know we have to drive over a bridge.
5. I am so afraid of snakes (hard to even type the word), that if I am browsing through a magazine & see a picture of one, I instinctively scream & throw the magazine.
6. I LOVE cleaning house.

I sound like someone that needs help! LOL This leads me to what I am grateful for tonight, & that is the things that make each of use different & unique. This is what adds the 'flavor' to life & to friendships.

Tuesday, February 6, 2007: I got all the shutters & fans downstairs cleaned, & will do the upstairs ones tomorrow. I had wanted shutters for years, but never counted on having to clean them...what a job! I think this warm weather has me in the mood for 'spring cleaning'. Mike is taking Thursday & Friday off, so we plan on tackling the garage then. He also has some work to do outside.

I fixed a roast in my slow cooker for tonight. It was delicious! I am going to go back to using my slow cooker more. I used to use it a lot, but have gotten away from doing that. It makes meals so easy, & it's wonderful to have all the work behind you when the evening comes. Plus, so many times I have planned on making a nice meal, but by the time afernoon rolls around, I am deciding where to go out to eat, or what would be the quickest & easiest thing to prepare. I want to buy another crock pot cookbook, & go over all the ones that I already have.

I also made a cherry cobler, & that is one thing that I didn't need. I thought it would be a wonderful 'top off' to the meal (& it was), but I didn't need the calories or the fat.

Emily slept till past 9AM this morning! I woke up at 8AM, looked at the clock, & couldn't believe she hadn't gotten up yet. So of course, I jump out of bed, run to her, & make sure she's breathing. That brought back memories...I used to do that with the boys, as I'm sure all Moms have. She was sound asleep. I finally woke her up at 9:10, & could not believe she was still sleeping. Elliot enjoyed having me all to himself for awhile, & this was good for him.

Tonight I am grateful for the bonding of families during mealtimes. These days, it seems like so few families have meals together...everyone is doing their own thing & on different schedules. So much is missed when you live life like that. Some of the best memories are made at the dinner table. We had such a wonderful evening over our meal, & I loved it.

Monday, February 5, 2007: I went upstairs to lay down with Elliot for just a 'few moments' as he went off to sleep last night, & guess what? I fell asleep! That's why no blog entry for last night. It was a long day though, with church & the Super Bowl. Mike's team won. I had wanted the Bears to win, & I had thought they would. Elliot calls it the "Soup Bowl", & he was near to being right, with all that rain! What a mess it looked to be.

Today was my Monday housecleaning day. I got so much accomplished, & plan on cleaning all our fans & our plantation shutters tomorrow. We have the shutters in every room, so that is a big job. I am in such a mood to clean & get everything organized, so I hope I wake in that same mood.

Emily is finally on a good schedule...I am hoping the early bird risings (4:30AM-5:30AM), are now over. For over a week now, she goes to bed between 8 & 8:30PM, sleeps till 7:30AM, then goes down for a nap at 11AM & naps till about 3PM. She was taking 2 naps per day, & this new schedule is so awesome. She is such a good, good baby. Always happy, always smiling. She has the kissing down now, & she runs to me to give me a kiss all day long. It's so sweet. When she's not kissing me, she's hugging me. She's very affectionate. I forgot to mention a story about her...she loves my bears (I collect bears), & she goes to this one glass doored cabinet I have filled with the resin Boyd bears, & she stands there peering in at them, oohing & aahing. I was looking at her little sweet head peering into the cabinet, "oohing" & "aahing", so I thought "I will open that & let her take a look up close". So I did. I let her touch a couple, & she could bearly (notice spelling), contain herself. So I hand her one of the Shoebox Boyds (the resin jointed ones), & she took it, pulled it's legs into a split, & PLOP, goes the body & arms onto the floor, & she's left standing with a leg in each hand, dangling from rubber bands!! It isn't fixable either. I guess I will lay him back in there, in pieces...this will give me a story to tell her as she grows older. It will be a memory for me.

After Mike got off work today, we took the babies & ran up to Costco (I 'love' that store!). Elliot always seems to come away from there with quite a 'loot'. He got the Shirley Temple dvd set. I find this funny, but he's wanted that for so long. Ever since he saw it advertised on tv. He sings the "Animal crackers in my soup" song all the time. I think she's his first crush, cause he turns 'so' red when the commmercial comes on, & he says "There she is Nana!" If he only knew how that little girl isn't little anymore! We were coming out of Chili's tonight, & as we were walking to our car, this 'very' curly haired little boy was coming our way, & Elliot squeals "Nana! There she is! Animal crackers in my soup!" I laughed so hard. The little boy's hair looked just like her hair in that movie Curly Top.

Our beautiful Vegas weather is back! It was 72 today - an absolutely 'perfect' day.

Tonight I am grateful for full nights of sleep! This past week has been the first week since Emily has been born, that I have gotten to sleep completely through the night, & it's wonderful!

Saturday, February 3, 2007: We were awakened by Elliot coming into our room & telling us that he & Shad wanted to go to "I POP" (IHOP). We got up, asked Shad if he really wanted to go, proceeded to get ready, & then as we were ready to go out the door, Shad informed us that he decided he didn't feel well enough to go. He was the reason we got ready to go, & then he backs out. Come to find out, the reason he wasn't feeling up to go, is that while we were getting ready, he ate 10 miniature candy bars, along with a glass of milk. We went ahead & went, but went to another place, as IHOP had a line going out the door. I hate going out for breakfast on a weekend, because every place is jammed packed. We went to this little place that just opened, & there was no crowd. I made a mistake in my ordering though. I decided I wanted something totally different (big mistake at a brand new unknown restaurant), so I ordered bananas foster pancakes...please don't ask me why I thought that was a good choice. They came, looked delicious, the first 3 or 4 bites were heavenly, but got worse with each bite. By halfway through, I felt ill. So ill, that I told Mike I just wanted to go home, instead of shopping like we were going to. That kinda seemed to set my day...I felt 'off' all day...tummy ache, ect. Lesson learned!!

Tonight, I had a 'movie party' for Elliot. He was 'so' excited, as he just threw out all the words except 'party'. Kids are so easy to please. All I did was let him choose a movie, & I fixed up some goodies. You would have thought it was a 'real' party. He had so much fun.

Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow. Mike is so hoping that the Colts win. That is 'his' team. I normally don't watch football, but I do enjoy watching this big game. Not sure what we are going to do in the way of food yet, but we do it like it's a holiday...meaning lots of food.

I had thought Shad was out this late afternoon. I was talking to his girlfriend on the phone at about 7PM, & I see his bedroom light come on. I called up, "Shad when did you get home?" To which he replied "I have been here all afternoon. I just fell asleep." I told him that I was talking to Lisa, & he said "Ask her if she's forgotten that I had tickets to a concert at the House of Blues, that started 30 minutes ago." I felt so bad for him...he had the tickets, concert had begun, & here he had just woke up. I'm sure he was still sleeping off the effects of all that candy! He's not home yet, so I hope he was able to get in & enjoy it.

Tonight I am grateful for 'simplicity'. Most times, it's the simple things in life that bring the most joy & the best memories. My little 'party' that I gave Elliot...so simple, & yet it was such a big deal to him. I love the memories that I now have of us with him & Emily during this night. So many put off life, just waiting till they can do the 'big' stuff, when it's the simple things that add up & bring joy.

Friday, February 2, 2007: Mike got home today, so we took the kids & went to Mimi's to eat dinner. It was delicious, as always. They give you way too much food there, so I asked our waitress if I could order the child's portion, & she let me. It was the perfect size.

After we ate, we went shopping. I wanted to stop by Kohls & pick up some picture frames. I am always taking pictures, printing them out, & framing them. At the moment though, I am concentrating on scanning in older pictures, printing them out, & framing them. They were having a 50% sale off on their frames, so I managed to do quite well. I also picked up a few framed artworks tonight. I have mentioned before, how I love the wordart. I have found so many of my favorite quotes or sayings framed also, so I have gotten quite a few of those. A sentence that expresses my sentiments exactly is a framed piece I bought tonight, it simply says "It's A Wonderful Life". I love the sentinment & I love the movie.

I am off to bed now...shopping is hard work!! I go to bed with a grateful heart tonight, that Mike arrived home safely. It was a long week without him, & we were all so happy to see him. Emily & Elliot were thrilled. Our 3 pugs were pretty happy too!

Thursday, February 1, 2007: I cannot believe we are already in February! Time seems to fly by.

I received sad news first thing this morning. My sister called, & told me that my niece's husband had died suddenly this morning. He was at work, bent over to plug something in, said "I don't feel well...something's not right", & he fell over. They gave him CPR, & rushed him to the hospital, but he never came out of it. They are saying it was a heart attack. So sad, & so unexpected. My niece has been through so much...my brother (her Dad), died suddenly a few years ago of a heart attack, & she lost her 21 year old son 2 years ago on New Years Day. She has never gotten over that, & now she must face this too. Life is so fragile & so uncertain. This is why it is so important to get eternity settled in your heart, as we never know when we will face it.

Mike gets home tomorrow, after being away for a week, & I cannot wait! Even though he's been gone for just a week, I have missed him so much. It seems much longer than a week. We plan on taking Elliot & Emily out to eat & having a fun evening. Elliot thinks that involves presents. I am sure it will.

I got so much accomplished around the house today, so I am feeling very good tonight. Emily took a FOUR hour nap this morning, so that allowed me to get so much done. She was thrilled when she woke up & saw that she had a clean slate to work with. She immediately began to go about & undo much of what I had done.

Tonight I am grateful for the time that we are allowed to enjoy our friends & loved ones. Each day with them should be counted as a gift. We never know when our 'good-bye' to them will come, & we should cherish them as much as possible.

Wednesday, January 31, 2007: Elliot's 'drive-in movie' night turned out great. He had such a good time. It was so cute to see all the little kids in their 'cars'. Some were really nice, & you could tell that a lot of work had went into them. Elliot was very proud of his firetruck, & I think it turned out pretty good. Not real fancy, but enough to make him smile. I even put a seat in there for him, & he loved that. Although he did tell me after church "Nana, that seat hurt my rear." I think it was a little too hard. There are a couple of pictures below.

A few have asked what program I use to work on my pictures. I just use Paint Shop Pro 7. It's not anything really fancy, but you can do a lot with it. I've been working on fixing pictures for years now, so it has gotten better as I go along.

As I look around in my computer room, it looks like a mini tornado has hit in here. One did...a little red haired girl! Emily has gotten into everything in here today. She has strewn my magazines all over the room, & managed to tear a few up too. She certainly makes her rounds in the house. I am too tired to pick this up tonight, so I will have her to help me tomorrow. She is very good at picking up when you tell her to. She likes you to say "Thank you" for every single thing she picks up though, & that can add up to a lot of "Thank yous".

Tonight I am grateful for the sweetness of childhood best friends. Elliot has a best friend named 'Brendon', & it's so sweet to hear him talk about him all the time. He lives for Wednesday & Sundays, to see him. Tonight as we were leaving for church, he said "Nana, I'm gonna hug Brendon!" When we got there, the first thing he wanted to do, was to show him his firetruck. Brendon said to me "He's my friend! I want to sit with him in his firetruck." He then left his 'car' to climb into Elliot's with him. He is the first real friend he has had, & I am enjoying it right along with him.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007: I'm finally getting caught up with some things, after having let them go last week. I'm still in the midst of getting lots of older pictures scanned in & printed out. They are turning out really good. Especially since some are really old. I took a picture of the collage frame with my Mom, Dad, & their 10 kids, but it didn't turn out well...it was not done justice. I had wanted to post it, but I will have to try to get it to come out a bit better. It's wonderful to work with all the pictures of childhood, but it's sad in lots of ways too. So many memories!! It hits on how very short life is, & how quickly it goes. Below, I will post a baby picture of Mike (my husband), & myself. I scanned these in, had to fix some scratches, fading, ect. & then printed them out. They really turned out good (or I think so).

For Elliot's drive-in movie night (with his Awana's), he & I are making him a 'firetruck' out of a box. I will post the finished product. I didn't think I was going to be able to make anything look decent, but I am excited about this. He is 'really' excited, & cannot wait. He & I played his 'Elefun' game last night (the elephant blows butterflies from his trunk, & the players have to catch as many as they can, in a net). He loved that. It was so sweet...I didn't catch a single butterfly in one game, & he thought I was sad. As I did something else, out of the corner of my eye I noticed him taking the butterflies from his net, & putting them in mine as fast as he could. He was also picking up the butterflies that landed on the floor & putting them into my net also. When he finished, he brought me my net & said "Look Nana! You caught some!" He's so sweet.

Emily has found something new to do...when we lived in Germany, Mike bought me a grandfather clock with shelves going up both sides...it's called 'The Anniversary Clock', & he got it for me on our anniversary. We put some Hummels on the shelves (fitting for a German clock). Anyway, she has figured out how to open the door, & get a Hummel out! I know she's going to break one someday. She's so quiet when she gets into it. I'll see her going through the house with a Hummel in her hand! I approach her 'very' gently & say "Give it to Nana." I'm afraid she will throw it!

I am going to keep my word to myself, & get into bed at a decent hour tonight, so off I go to dreamland. I hope Emily lets me sleep in, but that is doubtful. I feel so grateful tonight for 'technology'. A few years ago, I would not have been able to take these damaged older pictures, scan them in, fix them, & print them out. It's amazing what you can do now!! We have the Epson Picture Mate, & I love it. It's given me the ability to have lots of memories framed & sitting around our home. Below are 2 of those memories:

Sunday, January 28, 2007: Sorry I have been MIA. It's been a rough week...sick son, trying to help my sister through this never-ending grief, my Mom seeming to get worse each day, Mike away...just all in all, one of those weeks you just want to pull the covers up over your head and stay in bed! I feel better tonight, so I am looking forward to a brighter week. I am all cried out this week! I thank God for being able to see Elliot & Emily's smiling faces each day - no matter how I felt, they brightened the day.

After church today, I worked on some old photos of all my brothers & sisters...all gradeschool photos. My Mom & Dad had 10 kids, so I have printed out one of each of us, a quote, & a picture of Mom & Dad, & placed it in a collage frame. It turned out so good, & I can't wait to get that hung. I would love to do one for each of my brothers & sisters, but it would cost a fortune to do - especially to mail it. Lots of memories as I worked on those!

I attempted to put Emily in the church nursery tonight. She's never stayed in there - always went into services with us. I thought she would do well, but she lasted about 5 minutes. She was fine when I left her, but I went back to peek, & she was in a panic. I felt so sorry for her. The look of relief when she looked up & saw me! So I guess that idea is out. At least for awhile. In the morning services, she's fine - she takes her morning nap. But the evening services is another story. She tries to compete with Pastor in preaching...you ought to hear her babbling. I end up having to set in the foyer with her. Our church has the services being transmited out there on tv, so it's not like I have to miss the service.

Elliot has 'drive-in' movie night next Wednesday in his Awana's. Since Mike is away, the 'honor' is left up to me to make Elliot's car out of a cardboard box. That will be a sight! I have no idea how or where to begin, but I will give it a shot. Maybe I should pass the challenge over to my son. I think the 'drive-in movie' night is such a cute idea for the little ones. Knowing that age group though (3 & 4), they are all going to sit in their car about 10 minutes, before they want to be up & about. Maybe not though, with a movie on.

Tonight I am grateful for hope. This has been a really, really difficult week with emotional issues. It's wonderful to have the hope that each day things will get better, the next week will get better, hope that my sister can heal & move on in her grief, hope that my Mom will get better. Hope is a wonderful gift.

Monday, January 22, 2007: I had a very busy weekend. I got caught up on lots of things that I hadn't had a chance to get to. My son Brandon's birthday was Saturday...I cannot believe he turned 25! I guess because I can't believe that I have a 25 year old! It still amazes me, how I can be 29, and still manage to somehow have a son that age! I sometimes wonder just when he went and grew up on me, as it can seem like he was my little boy just yesterday. That 'little' boy, is now 6'3".

I have been trying to figure out what to do with our wall as we go upstairs. I finally decided on Saturday, and can't wait to get it done. I will post pictures as soon as I do it. I hope it turns out as good as I see it in my mind. I know sometimes things in my mind look SO good, but at times it doesn't quite come out like it looks in there! I am hoping to work on it tomorrow.

I spoke to my Mom tonight, and she's not doing very well. She just found out that she has diabetes, so please keep her in your prayers. As I've mentioned before, she is a rock in our family, and we can not imagine her not being there. She says she's tired, and is ready to 'go home'. My entire life, she has been so strong, and not one to show tiredness ever. She's is one of the strongest women I have known. Not only physically, but spiritually.

I lay down with Elliot tonight as he drifted off to sleep...this is a nightly ritual for us. I love this time, and will cherish the memories, as I hope he will. All the little talks, the bedtime prayers, the giggles, ect...all mean the world to me. Tonight, I showed him how Nana can make shadow pictures on the wall. About the only thing that looked good, was my bunny shadow. He laughed and laughed! He kept looking at my hand and then the shawdow - he was trying to figure it out. I make up little songs for him, to sing him as he drops off to sleep...tonight I decided to sing his Awana's Bible memory verse to him (I thought it would help him learn it better). He loved that! As I was going out of his room, I hear this soft little voice say "Nana?" I said "Yes, honey?" He replied "You're my sweetie." My heart melted in a puddle! He is so precious.

Emily has now learned to climb upon furniture! She's so proud of this accomplishment, but Nana has to keep an even closer eye on her now. I am so afraid she will fall off of something and hurt herself. She also somehow managed to grow '3' new teeth over the weekend! She smiled real big at me, and there they were! These will come in real handy, as eating is her favorite thing in the world!

Tonight I am grateful for legacy's. As I was talking to my Mom, she was telling me all of these stories of her life and of our family...things I hadn't heard before. As she spoke, I thought of what a legacy she will leave us. I am not speaking of money, but of the things that are truly important in life - the things that remain long after money is gone I pray that my children and grandchildren will think the same of me. It's a sobering thought, that we determine so greatly, the legacy we will leave our children and grandchildren.

Emoticons from allemoticons

Friday, January 19, 2007: TGIF! I am so happy to see the weekend! It's been a long week, and I feel as though I left much unaccomplished. Tomorrow, it is my goal to get it done. Mike has to work all weekend, so it will be a good time to stay busy with the house...that is, if Elliot and Emily don't undo what I have done. They are fun though.

Tonight, Elliot wanted us to play animals. I had to be everything from a cow to a frog. He loves it acted out exact. He's so funny, and fun. I baked cookies, and he insisted that Papa be a snake and get on the floor and slither to the island. Talk about a funny site! Mike wasn't too thrilled to go to that extreme, but I told him that he will be giving Elliot a memory that will last a lifetime. We are going to put a play area in our backyard for him and Emily, and it was probably a mistake to mention this to him. He thinks we mean now. He couldn't figure out why Mike was going to bed...he said "But Papa, you have to fix my park!" This is what he calls any play equipment in a backyard - a park. I guess because he feels it turns a yard into a park. It will be so much fun for him and Emily.

Lisa left tonight, for a week in St. Thomas with her parents. By the way Shad is drooping around, you would think she was going to be for months! Isn't love grand?

Tonight I am grateful that even as adults, we can become a child again at times. I had such fun with Elliot tonight - on all fours, mooing, growling, roaring, ribbeting...whatever animal he desired. His squeals of laughter filled the house, and he went to bed one very happy little boy.

My Friday Fun:Name Your Five Favorite...

1. Current TV shows...

With taking care of Elliot and Emily, I do not watch a lot of tv anymore. I honestly haven't had time to check out many new shows that crop up. I do love -
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Oprah
3. Extreme Home Makeover
4. Forensic Files
5. Most of HGTV's offerings

Things to shop for...

1. Clothing for Elliot and Emily
2. Candles
3. Home decor
4. 'Girlie stuff'...body creams, make-up, sprays, ect.
5. Webset graphics online.

Magazines...

1. More
2. People
3. Today's Christian Woman
That is really all the magazines I read, except for an occasional 'pick-up' one.

Non-blog sites to visit...

1. Graphic web sites
2. Christian websites
3. Disney (for Elliot)
4. Ebay
5. Fun sites (fonts, cards, ect.)

Things about yourself...

1. Eyes.
2. Sense of humor.
3. Compassion and heart.
4. Desire to be close to God.
5. Dedication to my Grandbabies and to friends.

Thursday, January 18, 2007: From what I was told, everyone has seen that link that I put in my post last night, so I am sorry if it is old news. I hadn't seen that particular one. I did see another quite awhile ago, but not that one. I was also told that it has been around for awhile - so again, sorry. I guess I am behind on this one!

Nothing really to write about tonight - I cleaned house, played with Elliot and Emily, and did laundry...so not a lot went on today. I also watched 'Godzilla' with Elliot...he loves that movie. I think all little boys love movies like that. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but for him, I enjoyed it.

Rather than bore you out of your head, I will end this now. I think I will piddle about my website for awhile. Tonight I am grateful for weekends! This has been one of those weeks that you just cannot wait for the weekend to come, so I will welcome it with open arms.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007: Much warmer here today, so hopefully the cold weather is leaving us. Snow in Malibu??? Unreal! The weather is so crazy all over the world.

I took Elliot to get a haircut today, and the lady that did it, sheared him! Way much shorter than I wanted it, but it will grow fast. He likes it, so I guess that's all that matters. He got to sit in the firetruck to have it cut, and he loved that. This place has different vehicles that the kids can sit in while they get their hair cut, so it's pretty neat. They also get to choose a movie to watch during their haircut (hey, I wanna get my hair cut there!). I wish they had done that when my boys were little.

Mike's workplace sent out emails this morning, with this web address: Family Watch Dog. Everyone should check out this site! When you get there, you will enter your address, and a map will pop up, with your house as a small icon house. There will be red, green, and blue dots surrounding your entire neighborhood. When you click on these dots, a picture of a criminal will appear with his or her home address and the description of the crime he or she has committed. This site was developed by John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted. This is another tool we can use to help us keep our kids safe. It was an awesome site. My sister doesn't have a computer, so I called her, typed in her address, and there were 2 sexual offenders living on her street! She had no idea. I gave her the name, and she recognized the names of the guys. I am sure most of you have seen this, but just thought it would be a good thing just in case there are some of you that haven't seen it. This was the first time I had seen this particular one, and it was really informative.

I feel as though I just ramble on and on each evening, so tonight I will give you all a break! But not until I give one thing that I am grateful for tonight. After I seeing that site, I felt so grateful for the tools that we are being given to keep our children and grandchildren safe. I know I want to be aware if there is a sexual offender living nearby, and this is a blessing to have this at our disposal. It reminds me of that old saying "You can run, but you can't hide". I am sure this is what the offenders are feeling because of sites like this.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007: Ever have one of those days in which you feel as though you didn't accomplish anything? This was that type of day for me. All I seemed to get done, was play with Elliot and Emily, but I guess that is accomplishing a world, as this is so important. My plans for housework, emails, reading, ect., just went out the window. That is fine though, as there is tomorrow to get to those things.

It is warming up a bit here now, and is supposed to be in the mid 50's by Friday, so this is closer to the weather we are used to here for this time of year.

I couldn't get this song out of my head today - one that we used to sing in church when I was a little girl - 'Open My Eyes'. I could sing bits of it, but not entirely. I then remembered that I had a hymn book from that time, and I was able to get it and sing it. I used to love that song. I was raised in this tiny church, and I have wonderful memories of it, and the times we had in it. About 10 years ago, that church was torn down, and the church moved to another town and built a new one. Our family had went to that church since I was very small, so it was a sad day for all. I had left many years before, since I had married at 17 and moved. My sister called me during that time, and told me that they were going to cut the large pews in half and give each person that had went there one as a memento, and wanted to know if I was interested. I was thrilled! I told her that I wanted her to see if I could have the pew that I had always sat on (you know how you have your favorite spot to sit in church!)...and I was able to get that. I also got one of the hymn books. So now that pew sits in our home. I love it, and we have received so many compliments on it. I am putting a picture of it below. It was good to get my hymn book today, and be able to sing the song that I had so loved growing up. So many of these hymns have been pushed aside for newer music. I love the praise and worship music, but there is also such a 'heritage' and truth in the old hymns, so I pray that they are never forgotten. I have a book that gives the history of the songs, and it is wonderful to read why those songs were written. 'It Is Well With My Soul', has an incredible story behind it. Anyway...just a little trip down memory lane for me today with that song.

Emily finally got down the art of giving a kiss today. It is a very wet, little kiss, but it is a kiss. It's so sweet...she will be looking at me, and then she runs to me, puts her little mouth up, opens wide, and kisses.

Tonight I am grateful for that little church that I was raised in. I will carry in my heart forever, memories of sweet people that cared (many of whom have passed on), and of all the teachings that led me to a faith in Christ. I am blessed to be able to have my pew from that church in my home.

Monday, January 15, 2007: I almost didn't make it here tonight. I went upstairs to pray with Elliot and to lay with him awhile. I always like to pray with him before bed, and then I like to sing Bible songs gently to him, and tell him little stories. I did that tonight, and next thing I knew, Mike woke me up!

Mike was off today, so we lay around the house all morning, and then went out to shop with Elliot and Emily after they woke up from their naps. We stopped off at Chili's to eat, but that proved a mistake, as no matter what I saw at the grocery store aferwards, it didn't appeal to me at all. I hate going grocery shopping on a full stomach! It's almost as bad as going on an empty stomach. I've done that too, and came home with everything! Emily has a real love affair with food. We got so tickled at her (as did everyone else around her)...here she had eaten lunch 'before' we left the house, then eaten 'again' at Chili's (a lot), and 'still', all you could hear her entire trip around the grocery store was "UMMMMMM!" And I mean a LOUD "UMMMMMM!" She was in her element, surrounded by food! She surprised us with how much she really notices and takes in today too. She saw a tissue, picked it up, put it to her nose, and made a blowing sound with her mouth. I could not believe it. I guess I just never thought she would be that observant. And Elliot...he was getting his legs in just the right position, and he looked at me and grinned, and said "Nana, look - I'm Papa." He was sitting like Mike sits so much of the time. I told Mike "See how these little eyes are observing everything, and then copying?" That can be a sobering thought. 4 little eyes watching us.

It's still so cold here! I had said the novelty would wear off - well, it has worn off! I want some warmth here!

Tonight I am grateful for those '4 little watching eyes'. Because of them, I find myself being more conscious of my everyday life and what I choose to do and not do. Elliot comes to me so many times, proud over something he has done, or wanting me to see how he's done a certain thing, and he will beam and say "I'm like you Nana!" Now that makes me more aware of my life before them. You know, as I typed that (here comes my thinking again!), the thought hit me, that in my day to day choices and doings, I should be able to beam and say "I'm like you Jesus!", just as Elliot tries to be like Nana, and is so proud when he feels he is.

Sunday, January 14, 2007: We're still in the middle of this cold weather that has hit Vegas. I think everyone here is a little 'amused' at this, as we normally never get this cold. We have such nice winters, so this is a bit of a shocker for us. I keep telling myself to enjoy it, because before I know it, summer will bring 115 (or higher), temperatures. So right now, this is a 'novelty', but I have a feeling that this novelty is going to wear thin real soon.

Church was great today, as it always is. Our Pastor is so good, and it seems like no matter how many times we hear him preach, we learn something new every single time. God's Word is inexhaustible - there is always something to learn from it. It amazes me at times. You can read it for years and years, and then you'll read a passage that you've read 100 times, and something new will hit you. Pretty neat!

Sticking with spiritual train of thought (if you haven't already guessed, I think...A LOT. My husband says I think 'too much'!)...anyway, I was thinking today about prayer. How we pray for a particular need or want, and then after a period of time, we'll say that "God hasn't answered that prayer yet", when in reality, a lot of times He has. "Yes", isn't the only answer there is..."No" and "Wait", are also answers. So many times, if we don't get the answer we wanted, or feel that it wasn't answered at all, we don't stop to think that just maybe He answered with a "No" or a "Wait", and we go off thinking we didn't receive an answer. Why is it, that if we don't get a "yes", we take it that we didn't get an answer? Just a thought that I wanted to share.

Shad is still walking on cloud nine here! I'm so happy for him, and for Lisa.

Elliot and Emily enjoyed church today. It's so funny how a child's mind gets things different. I asked him what he learned in Sunday school, and he said "I learned about baby Moses in the water swimming." He knew baby Moses was put in the water, and probably couldn't remember all the details, so he put 2 and 2 together...water = swimming. He makes me smile.

Tonight, I am grateful for 'prayer'. Such an awesome privilege we have. Just think, we get to talk to the creator of this universe - GOD! And He listens, and He 'wants' to hear from us. Sad thought, when you think we have the opportunity to speak to God, and many don't take it, or they don't take it often enough.

Saturday, January 13, 2007: The BRRRRRR weather arrived in full force here! Right now, it is 34 degrees, which is 'really' cold for Vegas. We didn't even venture out today...too cold to leave the house! There may be some of you that are used to this, & thinking that I am a 'weather wimp'. I guess I am. I have to go out tomorrow though, for church. I will probably bundle up in layer upon layer of clothing!

My son Shad is getting married! He had proposed 2 or 3 times to his girlfriend Lisa, and each time she told him that she wanted to wait until she was older. They have been together since she was 15...so NINE years! He came to me this morning, big grin on his face, & said "Look at what Lisa gave me last night." He showed me these 'dog tags' around his neck & engraved on them, were "Shad, will you marry me?" I said "Well, did you say 'Yes'?" He said "Of course I did!" She planned an evening for them last night, and surprised him with this. She figured that since he had wanted to marry her for about 3 years now, and had asked her, it was 'her' turn to ask him. He was on cloud nine all day. We are happy for them. Lisa is like a daughter to us, and we love her dearly. They haven't set their date yet.

Elliot wore me out today! He was 'all' boy...incredibly active. He was so tired tonight, that he went to bed at 7:30PM, so that gave me some 'me' time. It's amazing how very different he is from Emily. Mike & I had 3 boys, so Emily is the first girl in this family, & she is 'so' different. Very 'girlie', I guess you would say. I love seeing the differences. Elliot is 'so' sweet, but when he gets in his being 'Hulk' or 'Spiderman' mode, he pings off the walls. He's doing that, while Emily cuddles her baby doll & watches him with this look of "What in this world is he doing???"

Tonight I am so grateful for family additions. Lisa is already a daughter to us, so this will be wonderful. She has called me 'Mom' for years now, and this is how she sees me. She and Shad have hit their 'bumps' along the way, but their love for each other has only grown stronger. So now it is 'official'...we are near to having another daughter!

Friday, January 12, 2007: BRRRRRRRRR is the word here in Vegas tonight!! We normally have very mild winters, and it can be warm, but not tonight. It is supposedly an 'arctic blast', and it feels like it. We actually had a few snow flurries this afternoon. It is supposed to get down to 23 degrees tonight! I know that's not unusual for many throughout the country, but it is here. Time to break out the blankies, fleecy jammies, and hot chocolate, and fire up the fireplace. Yeah, fire up the fireplace...it's not like I am going out to the forrest, chopping wood, and starting a fire. I just go over to the wall and flip a switch.

Mike took the day off today, so we went off to shop for a bit. I found more treasures to bring home. I have bought a few of the 'word art' pieces, and I picked up a couple more today. I love to have these little 'life affirmations' around our home - gentle reminders of things that are important to me. We also bought Emily her first rocking chair, and she 'loves' it. She rocked all evening, with a big grin on her face. I am placing a photo below. We bought it unfinished, and I want to paint it this weekend.

While out, we got the snow flurries. It was so unusual (and neat) to see it. This made us want to eat! Why is it that falling snow or rain, makes you automatically want to eat??? I would think that it was just me, but so many have told me that it affects them like that also. We went to a place called 'Sweet Tomotoes' - salads, breads, soups, deserts. I wanted to eat healthy, and with the weather I thought soup would be so good. I resisted the deserts, to make up for all the 'damage' done during the holidays.

I am grateful tonight for time with Mike. He took the day off today, and we had such fun. It's always wonderful to have quality time - sharing, laughing, talking, ect. He's been very busy workwise for awhile, so this was a blessing to spend this time with him (even though I did drag him around shopping!). It is a 3 day weekend for him, and we are looking forward to this.

Off I go to work a bit on my website. I wish you all a blessed weekend (and a warm, cozy weekend).

My Friday Fun:

1. Are you facsinated by any particular culture of another country?

I would have to say England. We lived there for 3 years, and it is beautiful.

What about it grabs your attention?

I love the heritage there - all the 'pomp and circumstance'. They are so proper, and their history is very rich.

2. Have you been able to visit that area?

Yes, we lived there for 3 years.

3. I am coming to your area. Name 3 things I should do or visit, and why?

1. Our church, because it is such an awesome church, and you would leave blessed and encouraged. 2. The strip - only because it is world famous, and no visit to Vegas would be complete without driving it. 3. My house, so that you could see that normal, decent people live here. Many don't look past the strip, and there are great communities (and people) past that strip. Plus, I could show you around!

4. If you could visit any 3 places in your own country, where would you go, and why?

1. New York City, just to experience it. We've passed through (on our way to the airport there), but never got to visit. 2. Washington DC, to see much of our country's history. 3. Hawaii. I have been told it's incredibly beautiful.

Emoticons from allemoticons

Thursday, January 11, 2007: Tonight, I 'will' meet my goal of being in bed at 10:30PM. I am determined! I took a nap this morning when Emily went down for hers...I don't like taking naps, but it was either nap, or sleepwalk through the day. I haven't been going to bed at a decent hour for weeks now. I am too much of a nightowl for my own good. Anyway, after my nap, I was ready to go! Emily and I cleaned house and then we took off to shop! I bought all new towels and washcloths for our master bath, and I decided that if I picked those up, then I may as well add some throw pillows for our bed. And of course, if you buy pillows, then you may as well buy some pretties to hang on the wall, and then that leads to picture frames...and this is how it went until we came home. My car was 'so' laden down with bags, I think there were sparks flying as my back bumper would hit the road. It wasn't 'that' bad, but it did take me a loooong time to unload our finds. Mike has 'no' idea what fun I had. He thinks I went 'just' for towels. Emily will be trained very well to shop. Everyone loved her tonight. I can't seem to walk 2 feet without being stopped.

The winds were whipping about horribly today. Hey! 'That' is why I bought so much! I had to have all those packages to carry, to keep from getting blown away!

I am going to try to add more webpages this weekend. I really need to add a few on our 'kids with fur'. Maybe give them each a little page. I sometimes wonder if my site is getting too big for visitors to navigate though. I hope not, because there is a lot that I still want to add.

Tonight I am grateful for 'changes'. Change sometimes isn't pleasant, but it can be a good thing. Even little changes (like my new towels and pillows). We are tired of the colors in there, and it is amazing how changing out the colors add such 'newness'...it completely revitalizes a room, and I love that. Change in our lives can revitalize us too, and add a 'newness', a freshness to our lives, and we should be open to it.

Emoticons from allemoticons

Wednesday, January 10, 2007: I've been sitting here for hours now, driving myself crazy. I finished a new page, & it comes up with 'error on page' when I view it. I have went over and over the html, & cannot find anything wrong. I can see it all fine, but that error is bugging me, because maybe another browser won't see it all okay. I am going to give up on it for tonight though - my eyes have about had it.

Church services were nice tonight. I didn't put Emily in the nursery, so the only problem is, when she heard Pastor pray and say "Dear Jesus", her ears perked up. Loud enough for everyone around us to hear, she said "Ummmm! Dear Gee Gee." She thought she was going to eat. If you've read earlier posts, 'Gee Gee' is how she says "Jesus", & she knows "Dear Jesus" starts her meal prayers. We got so tickled at her.

We went out for Mexican food before church, which proved not such a good idea. I was sooooo full!! Note to self - Don't go out for Mexican food right before church!

I certainly had my quota of calories today. Right after we got home from church, my son's girlfriend (Lisa), came over from work, & said "Look what I've brought as a surprise!" She'd brought home a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. I couldn't be rude, so I 'had' to eat some. It was so sweet of her, and we did enjoy them. This leads me to what I am grateful for tonight - which is, other's thoughtfulness...them doing something for us, just 'because' to show they care. Lisa doesn't have a lot of money. She only recently found a job after being out of work for months, and she strugggles paycheck to paycheck. For her to have wanted to do this for us tonight, meant so much to my heart. I love you Lisa!

Tuesday, January 9, 2007: Looooong day! Not that it was long, just that I stayed up too late last night (I'm a nightowl), and then Emily decided that she wanted to experience a sunrise this morning. I felt like I had been up for 10 hours, when I'd only been up for 4, so I knew that wasn't a good sign. I guess I need to start going to bed at a decent hour, but I love reading or piddling around on my website after everyone is in bed. My problem is, no matter how sleepy I might feel, I perk right up at 7PM. Tonight my goal is to be in bed by 10:30PM, so we will see.

I am sure a lot of you know Nancze from her blog (Oklahoma Reflections) - well, I joined her 'Grammies Gang' today. I told her that I never, ever thought that I would join a gang, but I have! See Nancze, I have known you for a full week, and already you have talked me into becoming a 'gang' member! I am a Nana, so I guess I will fit right in to this 'bragging' group. I have met so many wonderful ladies since starting my blog.

JC Penneys is having a huge white sale this weekend, and cardmembers get to shop early (tomorrow), so I might buy some new towels for our master bathroom. I would like to change out the colors in there, so it's the perfect time. If I go, I am sure I will come home with more than towels - that's the problem with their sales.

You will probably think I'm crazy for what I am grateful for today, but it is 'blogs'. I have been visiting so many, and coming away with such encouragement and smiles. Not to mention, picking up a few friends along the way. I have come away from a blog, feeling as though I got just what I needed for that moment after reading. Never did I think that God could use a blog to bring such blessing to me, but He has.

Monday, January 8, 2007: I spent my day cleaning house...I set apart Monday as 'housecleaning day', and clean my house from top to bottom. I 'deep' clean on these days, and I love how wonderful it feels in the evenings - candles lit, house sparkling, and me enjoying it. I am one that doesn't function well in 'clutter'...I can't stand things to not be in order and in place. It makes my life feel out of order if everything else is out of order. Emily 'helps' too...she can be a good little cleaner. I tell her it's time to pick up toys, and she goes right to it. She is also a good little 'messer' too though.

Mike and I were talking tonight about how it seems time flies by now, and seems to move faster the older you get. I told him that I am not sure it has to do with age, because our boys talk about how fast it moves too. I sometimes wonder if it's because life in general is on 'full speed'. Used to, everything seemed to move slower, so that would make life seem to move slower. Anyone out there have any suggestions as to why it is flying by now??? I remember in the 70's, we had about 10 tv channels in Phoenix - here now in Vegas, we have almost 100 (more if you buy more channels or have satelite). There were so many things that made life seem simpler, and I miss that at times. Everyone seems to be in such a rush, and so few stop and really enjoy the journey of life. That's sad. He and I were also looking at this website that you can view cities and zoom in on things via satelite...it was really neat. It made me sad though, because we looked at our first apartment in Phoenix, and our second one too. Our boys were born there, and we moved there right after we were married, so lots of good memories are tied to that city. We were so surprised at how things had grown up around our first apartment. This has made us want to visit there, so I think we are going to go in 6 weeks. It will be fun (but sad too), to stroll down memory lane. I guess I am just too sentimental tonight...just talking to Mike about the past made me all teary. It made me realize how quickly life goes by, and you wonder where the years went. It also makes you realize how you need to 'really' enjoy life and every single moment you are given.

I had to share another picture of Emily - as I've mentioned, she loves to get into the pots and pans drawer. I have posted a picture below of her 'squeezing' herself into a frying pan. I was at the sink, she was in 'her' drawer, and I turn around and was greeted by that site. She is too sweet!

Tonight, I am most grateful for memories. They are such a gift from God - a way that we can relive over and over, special times (and not so special) in our lives. I like to think of them as a 'window'. I have told my sons how I can enjoy them over and over as little boys, just by 'walking over to the window' and peering out at them at different stages of their lives. It amazes me how just a thought can transport us back to a very day and time in our lives, and it can be 'so' vivid. I have a favorite quote by Michael Landon about memories, that I so love! I will close with that: "It always amazes me, when I count the many ways a moment can be vividly recalled. So vividly, that it's somehow more real in the memory than it was in the living. I wonder whether or not we live, so much as relive life - that we know where we've been, only after we've returned."

Sunday, January 7, 2007: It was such a good day at church today. This year is the 30th anniversary of when Pastor began this church, also the anniversary of the week he proposed to his wife. She had no idea that he was going to do this. After the service, he said he wanted to show a short film on how this all began. The video began off by showing this little winding country road in Pennsylvania, leading to his wife's childhood home. It spoke of this young boy from Las Vegas (Pastor), falling in love with her when they met in a Christian college. It then showed pictures of them both back then. There was also a little secluded hillside, & that was were he had proposed to her. Do you know what was so neat about that? When that part showed, we heard the actual proposal...he had recorded it as he proposed that day, so that he (and she) would always have that memory. I thought that was the neatest idea. So anyway...they showed the wedding, pics of their 5 kids, then grandkids...all just really touching. He then called her up to the podium, & he began to cry as he presented her a dozen roses (representing him, their 5 kids, 2 daughter-in-laws, & 4 grandchildren), and a beautiful professionally bound wedding album of their wedding day. He gave this lovely talk to her, how he couldn't have worked to build the church without her by his side, and about how he wasn't worthy of her, and that his dream had been to one day give her the diamond that she deserved when he proposed. Then he took this jewelry box out of his pocket and gave her a diamond ring. She was also presented with a box of cards from members, to let her know how very much we loved her and appreciated her. There were so many, I am sure it will take her all week to get through them. Many had gift certificates or money, as a show of our love for her. There wasn't a dry eye in the auditorium. What she didn't realize, was that in the 11AM service, she was also being given gift certificates for all the home goodies...plantation shutters, new kitchen cabinets, paint, ect. I am sure she was over-whelmed, & felt very special. She 'is' very special.

We had a wonderful sermon too. He said something so true...he said that just as we need physical check-ups to make sure everything is good, we need to examine ourselves regularly with a 'spiritual check-up'. And just as when something is wrong with our bodies, we see symptoms of this, & that is a red-flag to get help...we see signs in our lives if something is wrong spiritually too. I wish I could go over his entire sermon, but I am afraid I have typed too much for you to read now. I was just so blessed, and wanted to share it tonight. It was one of those days that you end it with a full heart.

We had Mexican food after services, & it was so good. Then we came home and relaxed for the afternoon.

My heart is extremely grateful tonight, for so many things. I will say though, that I am most grateful for a good church family...where we are loved, encouraged, and get such good spiritual 'food' to help us grow. Pastor and his family are such an example of walking with Christ.

Saturday,January 6, 2007: We had a wonderful day out. We went shopping, & I came home with some treasures I found. Family Christian Bookstore was having such an awesome sale, so I picked up a lot there. I love browsing in that store, plus I love patronizing the Christian bookstores, just to give them business. I had wanted to get another Life Application Bible, but they were out of them. I love that Bible. I gave mine away months ago to someone that didn't have a Bible, & they so wanted one, & they loved the thought of having mine with my notes, ect. So off it went to them, my markings, notes, & all. It was worth it, as they treasure it. I had another Bible of course - I couldn't go without one. Anyway, I think I will get another Life Application. Right now, I am using the Way of the Master Bible, but I miss my Life Application notes. I have a 50% off coupon, so hopefully they will get one in soon.

We ate lunch at Famous Dave's. It was delicious, but waaaay too much food! I couldn't finish it all, & now I wish I had what I left behind! Little Emily got her fill of mashed potatoes.

I've had such a relaxing evening. Well...I take that back a little bit - it was relaxing, broken up with a 'whole' lot of getting Emily out of things. She is an 'explorer', & loves 'planting' us little surprises throughout the house. Mike was putting on his boots yesterday morning, & he couldn't get his foot in. He said "What in the world???" He reaches into his boot, & pulls out a one cup measuring cup. She had helped me put the shoes away, so I guess she decided she'd clean up some of her kitchen cabinet mess along with it. The pots & pans cabinet is her playground (or so she thinks). I 'gave' her a cabinet, & put some of her toys in it. I thought this would keep her from the pans & the plastic bowls, ect. She does love getting her toys out of there, but she also puts the bowls & pans into 'her' cabinet. I don't know how many of you collect Longaberger baskets, but tonight she took my two bears out of my Longaberger Market basket, & she got in it! I don't know how she wedged herself into it, but she did. I grabbed my digital camera & got a shot of her. I will post it below. Notice my displaced bear in the pic.

Thank you for the warm welcome I am getting from the residents of 'blogland'. It's been very sweet. I also want to thank Julie for making my linkie.

Tomorrow, our Pastor is surprising his wife during the service with a diamond ring & a professionally bound photo album of their wedding from 30 years ago. She has no idea about this. He is doing it for her, for her 30 years of faithful service beside him in the church, & for her faithfulness as a wife & mother. This is not their anniversary - he is marking the 30 year point since he proposed to her. She will think that is all when he presents it to her, but in the 11AM service, he & the congregation are going to present her cards & gift certificates for new kitchen cabinets, new flooring throughout their downstairs, & new paint throughout. I am thrilled for her, as she is so precious, & such a godly woman. This leads me to what I am most grateful for today, & that is having such a great man of God as a Pastor. He & Anna are the best, & have served us so faithfully. He does not back down in his stand, & he has a passion for the Lord. It's such a blessing to have someone to care so deeply about their congregation.

Friday, January 5, 2007: As I sit here & type, it sounds as though the winds are going to take our house down! I cannot believe how hard it is blowing out there. It makes it feel that much more cozy, to be tucked away inside the safety & warmness of our home. Nights like this, make my heart break for the homeless.

We were going to go out tonight to shop & eat, but I wanted to stay in and stay warm. Mike brought home pizza, & we had a relaxing evening. Our oldest son came over for awhile too. He had an art show tonight, but it was canceled because of the cold & the wind.

This was a good day, as far as accomplishing a lot (or at least I feel as though I did). I got all my housework done & got to work on my website (yes, again!). I am giving it a good 'going over'. I am adding lots more too...probably too much, as I added 8 or 9 pages today.

I had such fun with Emily today...I count each day with her a privilege. I love teaching her new things, & she loves to learn (even at 13 months old). Elliot does too...he loves attention also - LOTS of attention. And I do not mind giving it to him.

I am going to do my Friday Fun now. This is the first time I've done it, as my blog is new. I'm having great fun just blogging...maybe I'm boring everyone (if anyone is even reading this daily rambling), but 'I' am having fun! So here is my Friday Fun:

1. Did you go out or stay in? Stay up to count down to the new year?

We stayed in. Las Vegas is a real mess on New Years Eve, so we stay safe. And yes, we did stay up to count down to the New Year.

2. Do you make resolutions? If so, share a couple!

I call mine "Goals" now...& yes, I did make a few. Get deeper into the Word of God & share my faith in every way that I can.

3. Are you good about keeping them?

Yes (well, sometimes).

4. Do you have big things planned for this year? Any big changes?

Just spending time with Emily & Elliot & family...a trip or 2 to Disneyland (a yearly trek), & maybe having a casita built in our backyard. No big changes that I am aware of...although I guess the casita would be a big change.

5. What are 3 things you wish for this year?

Good health for our entire family, spiritual growth, a wonderful year for Elliot & Emily.

Well...that was painless! It was fun. Now for what I am most grateful for today - I would say 'laughter'. Laughter can be so healing & put a new perspective on things. I lost my niece in August, & my sister is hurting so bad - she cries almost non-stop. I called her & just got her to laugh...we both laughed so hard, that it hurt! She was so grateful for that laughter, & I was grateful that I could make her laugh.

Thursday, January 4, 2007: The winds roared in like a lion here tonight. The day began so beautiful - warm & sunny. When the winds were howling out there tonight, it was unreal. With it, it brought some really cold temperatures. Mike said that they were talking snow tonight (in Las Vegas!). I don't think it will happen though. Weather seems to be changing all over the world.

I talked to my Mom today back in Indiana. She's not been feeling well for quite some time now. They have run all kinds of tests, & so far, nothing has shown up. She's really failing, & it breaks my heart to see it happen. She keeps telling all of us, that she is ready to 'go home', & that we must accept her going. We know this is true, but it doesn't make it any easier. She has been such a rock in our family, & we cannot imagine 'family' without her. I will take advantage of every opportunity to pick up the phone & talk to her. I love just hearing her voice.

Emily was so sweet today. She is such a good baby - always happy, always smiling. Each time I feed her, I pray with her, & for a month or so now, she's been saying "Dear GeeGee" (Jesus), when she wants to eat. It is SO cute! We were doing our grocery shopping at Wal-Mart, & she grabbed the chips from the cart, hugged them to her chest, & said "Ummmm! Dear GeeGee."

Today I am grateful that I still have my Mom, & that I can talk to her. She is 92 years old, & we all feel very blessed that we've had her all these years. We want her to stay with us for many more years though, so I pray that the Lord would touch her & heal her.

Wednesday, January 3, 2007: It was a pretty much non-eventful day here in the Evans household. I piddled around a bit on my website, just checking all the links (found a few that needed fixed). I cleaned house, with Emily going right behind undoing everything that I was doing. I would put a dish in the dishwasher, & she would take one out. I'd put something in a cabinet, & she would drag something out. She is too funny! She is learning to help, & she does pretty good.

Mike went back to work today. He had been off for 2 weeks, so it was a long day for him. I missed him too. He is such a great help with Elliot & Emily.

We went out to eat tonight, with my oldest son & his wife. Mike had told me where we were going, so off he went to pick my son & wife up, & off I went with the babies in my car. After driving for 20 minutes, he called & asked where I was. He was on the other side of town (30 minutes away), at the restuarant that he said to meet him at. There are 2 of these restaurants (same chain) up near us, & he choose that one, but yet told me to go to the one that I was heading towards. I turned aroud, & took another 30 minutes to get to where I was supposed to go in the first place. He was sitting there, waiting. He swore he didn't tell me to go to the one that I was heading for, but he did.

I managed to go shopping for graphics, & bought 4 sets. Now I am excited to get some new pages built, to use those graphics.

Today I am grateful for God's promises. No matter what we face, what we are going through, where we are in our physical life & spiritual life, God's Word is filled with promises, & He keeps them. I faced a few things today, & His promises gave hope & comfort.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007: I am not off to a very good start in this new year. Our resolve to cut out eating so many sweets since the holidays kicked off, has already failed. The reason? Mike says we have too many goodies in the house from the holidays. So his reasoning is that we may as well eat them, & ‘then’ we will do better. The decision to try to make up for all the eating (calories) that we have been doing since Thanksgiving? Also blown! We were at a Las Vegas buffet tonight. If any of you have ever been to one of these ‘affairs’, then you know exactly how difficult it is to go there & “be good”. You normally leave there, having grown 2 pant sizes. Even Elliot told me “Oh, I wanna go home & lay on the couch.” He ate so much! Emily didn’t get left out…she held her own in the eating. I guess we’ll get through all the goodies in the house, & get rid of the temptations. I know how that goes though – the weekend is coming up, & we’ll end up pushing it to Monday.

The weather today was more like Vegas weather. It was beautiful out. It’s been quite chilly lately, so it was so good to feel that Vegas sun.

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, in regards to my web home housecleaning. I have put a lot of time into cleaning & rearranging, so I hope my traffic picks up. You know the saying “If you build it, they will come”…well, I wonder if that pertains to websites too? I hope so.

Elliot informed me of something about him today, that I wasn’t aware of. He is Hulk AND Spiderman! So if any of you had ever wondered if these guys were for real, & where they were, there is a little 3 year old Vegas guy that’s been carrying a big secret! I love the innocence of children. Everyday they awake with a wide-eyed wonder about the world, & each day, life is an adventure for them (as it should be for us).

Today, I am most grateful for 2nd chances. You might think that is an unusual thing to be grateful for, but it hit me this morning about how every new morning brings with it, a 2nd chance. You didn’t do so good yesterday? Well, today you have a 2nd chance to do it right. You blew last week? Well, you have this week. If you are like me, you beat yourself up over messing up. God is good at giving 2nd chances…& 3rd…& 4th…& 5th &……

Monday, January 1, 2007: Happy New Year! It seems so strange to tpye '2007'. Time truly does have wings! I spent my first day of the year, very tired. Since our boys came over last night, I was up till 3AM, & then Emily got up at 5:30AM to start her day. I really should have taken a nap when she went down for hers, but I always feel 'off' when I take a nap. I have never been able to take them, without feeling out of sorts. I think it's because I have to wake up all over again.

Mike & I discussed the things we would like to do to our home this year. Our house is only 2 years old, so we aren't going to do major stuff...just buy some new furniture, change some rooms around, ect. I am thinking about taking our guestroom & using it for something else. We were talking about how it seems so silly to have this beautiful room, & it's only used about once a year. I am excited about making a few changes here & there. We will continue our search for the perfect family room furniture tomorrow.

One of my goals for this year is to spend more time in prayer. I think prayer & Bible reading is key to your walk with the Lord. This is how we build a relationship with Him. I know I can tell a big difference in my life if I'm not spending the time praying & reading the Bible as I should be. It kinda throws everything out of whack for me.

I am off to bed now. I have a very early date with a special little red haired girl! This leads me to what I am most grateful for today...it is for the blessing of having another year ahead of us to train Elliot & Emily as they should be trained. We enjoy them so much, & it's a blessing to be able to have this time with them.

Sunday, December 31, 2006: As I type this, it is official - we are now in the new year of 2007. This happened just moments ago. While most of the world was out bringing this new year in with "a bang", we were tucked inside our home with our family, enjoying a quiet, peaceful, reflective evening. I have never taken time lightly, even as a young girl, & I have never taken the passing of time lightly. I know it is God that gives us every second that we have on this earth, & every year is so bright with new promise. I also like to think of all the surprises (big & small), that the Lord has in store for me in this new year. I know I will see changes this year, inside of me, & outside of me. If I didn't see changes in me, then I would see that as me being 'stagnant' - not growing. Something would be wrong, just as I would know that something was seriously wrong if I didn't see Elliot & Emily growing physically. I pray that all of you have a wonderful, blessing filled New Year!!

We had our 3 sons & their mates over for the evening. We decided late afternoon to order out for Chinese food tonight. There is a new Chinese restaurant 5 minutes from our house, & it is so good! I baked a few deserts & we had ice cream. It was such a relaxing evening. We were looking at the boys pictures of them growing up, & that was fun. Mike then challenged each in x-box games.

I will have to say, that tonight my heart is most grateful to God for allowing me so see a bright new year - 365 new, untouched, unspent days to open!

Friday, December 29, 2006: Another day of putting a lot of time into my website. When you've not worked on it in a long while, there is so much to do. I am hoping to have it all finished by the end of this weekend, but then I want to add a lot more pages, so it never ends.

We went out shopping for awhile tonight. Even with Christmas being less than a week ago, Elliot wanted to look at toys. He didn't ask for one though.

While out tonight, we saw a sofa, loveseat, & chair, that we liked for our family room. I didn't want to get it until we have looked around some more though. The set we have in there (a sectional, which I hate), is only 2 years old, but we both really want to get rid of it. I'm not sure if we should buy anything though, as one thing leads to another.

The winds finally died down here today. It left it quite chilly. I do not like cold weather!! Of course, when it is 115 degrees here next summer, I will be dreaming of this chilly evening. I'm not sure if any of you have visited Vegas, but during the summer, when you step outside, it feels as though you stuck your head in an oven. As we keep telling ourselves though - it's a 'dry' heat. I guess that is supposed to make us feel better about scorching. The heat is better than humidity though.

I am going to go tear into some tiramisu that we brought home with us tonight, so off I go. First I must share that my heart is most grateful tonight for...all the talented graphic artists out there on the web. We are so blessed by you all. It is your talent & hard work that allow us to decorate our webhomes so beautifully! I've been spending a lot of hours sprucing up my webhome, & you all make it fun & so much easier. Thank you!!

 

Thursday, December 28, 2006: I was soooo lazy today! Well not lazy, just didn't do anything but piddle around with my website & enjoy Elliot & Emily. I didn't even get dressed today...just stayed in my pj's. That feels wonderful to do sometime, & it was the perfect day for it. The winds were horrible all day, & it is still howling out there. We couldn't even set trash out this morning, because it would blow down the street. One guy up the street from us sat his out, & everyone on the street ended up with 'his' trash. We waited till we heard the trash truck, then Mike ran out real fast & took them our trash. Elliot always listens for the truck, & runs to the window to look out at them. It was so funny today, because when he saw Mike taking trash to the guys by the truck, he said "Papa! He's doing trash!"

Since the weather was so 'un-Vegas', we were craving a breakfast for our late lunch. I love having breakfast for dinner when it's cold or windy...don't know why. It just seems 'fitting'. I fixed a huge meal - the works. Even biscuits & gravy! It was really good.

I had 'school' with Elliot this evening. I bought him all these little pre-school books, & we are doing some each day. He loves it, & is so proud of every little accomplishment. We then doodled on his Doodle Pad that Shad (my son), got him for Christmas. He kept telling me to draw all these different things, & he would get so excited. You would have thought I was the best artist in the world, when in reality, it was pretty pitiful. He wanted me to draw an alligator, which turned out to look like a deformed dinosaur. To him it was perfection, & that was all that mattered. For Christmas, one of my friends got him this 'mud' (safari mud) bath stuff...it's neat, as it looks like they are smearing mud all over them. At first, he didn't know if he liked it or not, because he looked dirty (mud). Anyway, it turned the water 'muddy' too, & when Shad came home, he went up to the bathroom to say 'hello' to him, & he said "What in the world happened that he got 'that' dirty???" We all got a good laugh out of that.

Off to bed I go now, but not before I give what my heart is most grateful for tonight...tonight it is grateful for days to do nothing but enjoy the day - no pressures, no place to go, nothing to do but just what you want to do.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006: I spent much of the day working on my website. I am making so many changes, (& one change leads to another change), that I am having to put much more work into it than I had thought it would take. I am lucky (blessed), that Mike is off this week, & that he is here to help take care of Elliot & Emily while I try to get things in order. I will miss him when he goes back to work next week!

As I sit here, I can hear the wind howling outside my window. I hope we aren't getting another cold front in. Vegas has such mild winters, but it's gotten pretty cold here on some days lately. It is also raining outside - so it's been the perfect evening to sit & piddle with my website. I should have turned the computer off, & went & sat in front of the fireplace - hot chocolate (or coffee) in hand, tucked under a blanket, while I enjoyed an old classic movie. This type of weather always makes me want to watch an old movie.

Tonight as I dressed Elliot in his new pj's that he got for Christmas, I whistled at him. I had explained to him months ago what a whistle meant if someone were to whistle 'at' you. I then whistled at him again & said "Honey, what does it mean when Nana whistles?" He looked so deep in thought for a minute, then he said "That you're a bird?" lol! I got so tickled at him. I love the innocence of children...there is such pureness in their hearts & in the way they think. I love seeing life through their eyes. He comes up with some doozies! He came to me a few weeks ago & told me that he had "hurt his foot's fingers"...he was talking about his toes.

Emily's pacifiers have been disappearing for months now, & we couldn't figure out what was happening to them. We've spent a small fortune on keeping her in supply! Well - I think I found out where they've been going. I was in the kitchen getting the trash bag ready to take out, when she walked over, took her nukki out of her mouth, & threw it in! So now I will keep a watch on her, to see if this is where they are going. Below is a picture of her & Clippity Clop...she loves him. She walks over to him all during the day, & pats him & hugs him. This picture was one of her first rides on him, & the picture shows you just how thrilled she was with him!

As always, I have so much to be grateful for today, but I will have to say that today my heart is most grateful for...sweet, innocent, pliable minds of children. Elliot trusts me completely, & this is a big responsibility. We have such a small window of time to mold those little minds in the training of them. I don't want to waste a moment with them.

Tueday, December 26, 2006: I got to sleep in today! Mike got up with Emily & Elliot, & I slept till 9:30AM. It was much needed sleep, after getting up with Emily yesterday at 4:30AM. I'm blowing it though, as it's past midnight, & I am just finishing up working on my website. I haven't been able to work on it for about 3 years now, so I'm wanting to spruce it up a bit, & having 'way' too much fun doing so.

After I came downstairs this morning, I 'tried' to get through the sea of toys that greeted me. Elliot doesn't want anything put up right now, since it's all new. We are going to go buy a toybox this week (much needed!), & then we'll have a better home for all the toys. We got him a Leap Frog system & some cartridges...we bought him the preschool ones, but when we tried it tonight, he looked SOOOO lost! I must be in 'big' trouble, cause I even had trouble following some of it. Now what does 'that' say about me??? I think we are going to take it back & wait awhile. To me, it seems above preschool level. I have him enrolled in the online Disney preschool, so I think we will stick with that.

Emily 'loves' riding her little rocking pony (we've named him Clippity Clop, 'cause he sings a little song called that when you squeeze his ear - his mouth even moves when he sings it). Well...the problem is, when you squeeze the ear, it plays through the song once, & she wants it to play the entire time she rides him. I've shown her how to do it, but she hasn't been able to master it yet. So Nana has to sit right beside Clippity Clop & squeeze the ear as soon as the song ends. It is the 'cutest' little song! As soon as it ends, she puckers up to cry. It's so cute. I will try to post some pictures of her riding him, tomorrow.

I lost my niece on August 2nd of this year, & my sister is having such a difficult time still. It breaks my heart to talk to her, as she sobs. The holidays were so hard for her. She told me today that she didn't even feel she could go on & that she didn't think she 'wanted' to go on. Her name is Jenny, so please pray for her. My niece Nikki struggled for so long - she was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 5. Jenny longs to just hold her again & to hear her voice. After I hung up the phone from talking to her, I thought about health, & how we take it so for granted. So many are dealing with health problems & so many families are heartbroken over a child with health problems. So today my heart is most grateful for...a healthy body.

Monday, December 25, 2006: We had a wonderful Christmas! Emily decided that she wanted to begin her day at 4:30AM, so that meant that Nana had to begin 'her' day at that hour too! Bedtime will look very good tonight. It was so much fun watching Elliot & Emily open their presents this morning. Emily doesn't quite have it down yet...she 'gently' opens them, & always peeks into the wrapping when she has it ripped enough to do so. Elliot, on the other hand, is a pro at opening gifts. At the moment, there are toys strewn all over the house. I think it will take me the entire week to pull the house back together. Mike is taking the rest of the week off from work though, which means that it will probably take me TWO weeks to get it all back in order.

We decided to go out for our Christmas dinner. The holiday buffets here in Vegas are incredible, so we decided to do that for a change. It was really good, & I looked upon it as one more Christmas gift to me. I did all our baking yesterday, but we ate so much at the buffet, we had no room for it when we got home. You always feel as though you won't want to ever see food again (especially after going to a buffet), but here it is, almost 5 hours since we ate, & that desert is beginning to look good to me. I will go to bed tonight with a heart full of gratefulness, but the one thing that I will focus upon that my heart is most grateful for...is 'the' reason we celebrate this day - the birth of the greatest gift this world ever received - Jesus.

Sunday, December 24, 2006: I am just ending a hectic, but fulfilling day. One of those days that you just can't wait to fall into bed, but it's a 'good' tired. I baked all afternnoon, & Mike stayed busy straining himself playing his xbox. We decided late afternoon to go out for awhile, & pick up a few last minute gifts. Stores weren't really that bad, but we went a couple of hours before closing. My son Brandon, has to work tomorrow, so we opened a lot of our gifts tonight. We'll save the remainder for Christmas morning. Emily got the hang of ripping the gifts open very quickly! It was so cute to watch her tear it open, peek down into the paper, & do her little "Ooooh!" I got soooo many Yankee candles! I love candles, so I am set for quite awhile.

I must go off to bed now - Christmas morning will arrive bright & early. Tonight my heart is grateful for...my family. It's so wonderful to be able to share life with the ones that the Lord has seen fit to give us.

December 23, 2006: Very full day! I have been finishing up the last few things to be ready for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Even though 2 of our sons are on their own now, on Christmas Eve, they come over & spend the night (even though one of them lives 5 minutes away). It's fun though...we eat, play games, talk, relive memories of when they were little boys. This year will be fun, as Elliot is old enough to really enjoy it this year. He knows that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus, & I have told him that we must bake a birthday cake for Him. Kids are so sweet & innocent - he thinks Jesus will be here for His birthday party. I tried to explain to him that Jesus is with us at all times, but he cannot grasp that yet. I don't know why, but he thinks Elvis is Jesus. He doesn't know him, but he has it stuck in his mind. He's seen a picture of him (Elvis) a few times, & every single time, he has smiled real big & said "Nana, look! It's Jesus!" Don't ask me where he came up with that one!

We are 'freezing' here in Vegas tonight! I am sitting here 'so' cold, & my son brings me home a milkshake! Who can think of a milkshake when it's so cold? Even as I say that though, I look over at it, & all I probably have left of it is one good drink. I hope it warms up tomorrow. I feel for the ones that live in really cold areas. Just like they probably feel for me when the Vegas summers are in full swing.

Off to bed I go now - I can't wait to crawl under the blankets, just to warm up from that shake!! I think of, & pray for the homeless tonight. It breaks my heart to think of them out in this frigid weather. Today my heart is grateful for...having a home to shelter me & being able to have heat at the push of a button on the wall.

December 22, 2006: Today is my first entry in my blog - a world that I enter with some excitement, but also with 'wobbly legs'. I can't help but feel that 'if' anyone chooses to read my blog, they will risk being bored too death! So where do I start? I guess, with this day - so here we go...I ended up doing what so many are doing around the world today - out risking being stampeded by the hoards of Christmas shoppers. I couldn't help but notice that as the day draws nearer, people seem to be in such a frenzy...just grabbing. (Did it take everyone by surprise that this day was coming - they've had a year to prepare). I can't help but look & wish that they could just take a deep breath, slow down, & remember the reason for this season. In the midst of Santas, snowmen, Rudolph, 'Jack Frost' nipping at your nose, & everything else that this time of year brings with it, it sometimes seem as if the purpose we celebrate this time (the birth of JESUS) has gotten trampled underneath the reindeer hoofs. I guess all we can do, is to show HIM as we go about during this time. I did manage to make a 'little' find as I went about. I walked into a store that was just putting those 12 inch snow globes on 65% off sale - the ones that you plug in & watch the snow fly about the inside figures...this one also plays 15 different Christmas songs. I got 2 of them - one for Elliot, & one for Emily. As I bounded into the house, just 'knowing' Mike (my husband), was going to be astounded at my abitity to find such incredible deals, that bubble was quickly burst! I showed them to him, told him what a bargain they were, & I got this 'look' & these words followed "Judy, all it looks like to me, is that I have one more thing to have to put up & store till next year." I think his mind was changed as he watched Emily 'ooh & aah' over the flying snow, & her attempts to 'dance' as she listened to the Christmas music. Yes, my find was worth him having one more thing to put up & store till next year. My heart found so much to be grateful for today, as it does everyday, but for today, I will say my heart is grateful for...knowing the ONE that this time of year is all about.