Home again...

We're home from our trip to Arizona for Spring Break. (see the link at right to our Picassa web albums) We were able to enjoy the week with my mom who "snow birds" there a few months of the year to escape the Wisconsin winters. Her sister, my Aunt Eileen, joined her again this year. What a blessing. My Aunt Eileen never had children of her own, but you'd never know it. She hovered and cleaned and played and cleaned and really entertained the boys this week. She's 83 (will be in July). We had fabulous weather - not too hot, not too cold. The boys swam every day. Ryan is almost good to go. Steffen, he has a healthy fear of the water he still needs to overcome, but it will come. Most of my readers know Ryan, so you can just picture him. Everyday he entered the pool, made new friend(s) and on Saturday when we had to say our goodbyes to "the pool" his exit was quite grandiose. He knew all the kids by that time, and most of their parents as well. Elvis has left the building. He is quite a trip to watch him work a crowd. I can hardly wait for his school years to begin and his friends to stabilize.
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Like any ends to Big events, I start my Monday with big plans to "start over". So today I made my menu:
Mon: Fish Sticks
Tues: croc pot chicken italiano (Ryan's swim Lesson on Tues/Thurs nights)
Wed: bean and rice rollups
Thurs: croc pot potato/corn chowder
Fri: not quite sure yet, my friday has some plans that need to materialize, and Dan may be in charge of Friday meal. Otherwise, Sweet and Sour Meatballs.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I return to the gym. Goal: make it to they gym 3X week
Today, I started to be more conscientious about drinking more water, cut out pop (Pepsi) and less coffee. Neither of which I drink a whole lot, but I'd like to eliminate from my diet completely.
Today I stopped taking one of my medications I've wanted to for awhile now (anti-anxiety) and it's never a good time, so I just need to do it and rely more on God in these areas that drove me to the medication.
Today I did my quiet time and Bible STudy early in the am.
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So it starts. I find after spring break, the chaos starts, preparing for summer stuff. Ryan starts his swim lessons tomorrow (2X week for 1 month) I presume these lessons will put him over the hump and he'll be a bona fide swimmer at age 4 and 3/4. I sign up both boys for their t-Ball and modified T-ball for the summer. They start in June. Steffen starts a running club with his school next week. It's pretty tame stuff, but I like to get him involved in group activities to help him with his shyness and he loves to run, so we'll see where it goes. They only have 3 "meets" so most of it is practice. ahhhh, I think that's it, other than preparing for end of school stuff. Ryan "graduates" from pre-school (yes, they do it with a cap and gown!!!) on his 5th birthday (May 20)
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My Bible Study has only 2 more meetings - ends next week. I'll miss this a lot. I stepped into leadership this year and got to enjoy meeting with the leaders before our small groups and what a wealth of wisdom that has been. LOVE IT. I hope to return next year (if they'll have this rookie) I just love studying God's Word and this has been so rewarding. I also just love to meet other women in our large church - it enriches my life immensely. I've enjoyed our small group as well. What a great group of ladies hungry for the Word and faithful to their study. It's been wonderful - seldom do they miss, seldom do they not finish their study. WONDERFUL discussions. I'll hate that we have to disperse and all get in different groups next year. Rumor has it we're studying Romans in the Fall (or is it Hebrews?). I can not wait. I look forward to hear what's going on for the summer in women's ministry. Last year we did a casual format going through "I am". (I think that was our topics) Again, met some great ladies in our church I would not have met otherwise.
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I'll close here - I've rambled enough. I'll try to post more often, since I've promised profound thoughts (Ha). Thanks for sticking with me.

What do YOU see???

Look at this picture and tell me what you see. Do you see a huge cloud lifting over our home? We had our FINAL inspection today and we passed. Which means construction is OFFICIALLY OVER!! Does that mean we are done? No, but as far as the inspectors are concerned we have dotted all our "I's" and crossed all our "T's". Let me add an aside here - in the world of home construction if you ever consider NOT getting a permit for your work - RETHINK it. Good friends and neighbors are trying to sell their home and the PREVIOUS owners did not pull a permit, and let me tell you, it's been a nightmare now to resell the house when repairs were made w/o a permit. It was of no fault of theirs, but now coming back to haunt THEM when they try to resell. NOT WORTH THE HASSLE people. (We've heard of this many occasions - deals fall through at the closing table) Anyway our repairs/construction are now official! HUGE HUGE HUGE! For me, I can start moving some things back in areas that I knew the inspectors had to look. woo hoo! All Dan has left, with regards to this huge remodel, is painting the outside of the house (where new siding went up on the new addition). Painting/staining trim and doors inside. Constructing our window sills where all the new windows went. Not too much left - I hardly notice these things. I'm just ecstatic that all my Christmas decorations can go back on the monkey shelves which can be put back in front of the "hatch" that leads to our crawlspace under the new addition.
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We are preparing/packing for our trip to Arizona. We are soooo fortunate that my mom "snowbirds" in Arizona (Snowbirds are what the "natives" call all those who migrate from colder parts of the country (eg. Wisconsin) during the winter months. They arrive in January and leave in April - anyway, mom is one of them so we get a great place to spend spring break every year. This year she had a free ticket, my sister had a free ticket and we had a free ticket (thanks to all the purchasing from the remodel) so we are virtually getting there for free, and of course staying for free and using mom's car for free.....not bad eh? She is putting Dan to work when we get there, so she's offered to "pay" him and has paid for his ticket - so we're heading out on Friday for some fun in the sun. Check into our Picassa site for pictures. I'm getting sooooo excited. March is by far the BEST month to visit Phoenix, so we are sooo excited. We also get to reconnect with family and friends.
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I"ve got some profound thoughts rattling around in this noggin' of mine...I hope to get it to this blog very soon. I just wanted to share the big news of the passing of inspection.
Later my friends. . . . .

I took pictures...

As promised, I took pictures of the two areas giving me lots of grief in 2009. My goal is to use what I've got, and both these closets are FULL of stuff I need to use before I buy more. Do you think a whole closet full of candles is a tad excessive???? I did kick it in high gear this weekend and reorganize my linen closet where all my girly, pretty smelling stuff is. So now, if it's organized and cannot really see it, can I buy more? hmmm, didn't think so. Anyway, here it is, for all to see. Hopefully I'll retake it the end of 2009 and we'll see progress. :) I'm sorry to report that those pretty blue/green boxes are NOT from Tiffany's.....rather from Partylite. A pretty stunning visual, huh?
There you have it, and I'll check back in a year.

Happy Anniversary

Today is me and my sweeties 9 year wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe 9 years ago we were enjoying a "chamber of commerce day" wedding in Scottsdale Arizona - where we called home. It was a gorgeous day - but we were dog tired by the time we hit our honeymoon suite that night. Whew. We enjoyed a 7 day (??) Windjammer Barefoot Cruise in the Caribbean. Perfect for a honeymoon. (I hear the outfit has folded) Ahhh, to be on a beach again. Ahhh, to be in a bikini again. :) So we've been married 9 years, which then means on May 7 we'll have been in Colorado 9 years. THAT is so hard to believe! We sort of "passed" on the day, and will go out to dinner on Friday night.
Our wedding day is such a great memory. The weather was perfect, we were married by a pastor we love and adore (and greatly miss his preaching) (Pastor Darryl DelHousaye) All our family (except my bro) were there - most for the whole week leading up to the wedding. Both my dad and dan's mom were living. I had a very close friend from High School come all the way from Wisconsin. So many highlights.
One specific, vivid memory is when I was at the end of the asile waiting to walk down. We got married at Scottsdale Bible Church, which is a very large church, larger than Village Seven. There are no outside windows, so although we were married at 10:30 am, when all the doors are closed, it's quite dark. The organist simulated the "bells ringing" before I came down the aisle, the sanctuary was dark, and apparently from Dan's perspective, looking up that very long asile with my dad and I waiting at the top, I was silouetted against the open door. It was riviting, waiting for 10 very long "dongs" of the bell. Pretty dramatic if I do say so myself. Dan's Aunt Ellie sang "only by Grace" (performed by Kim Hill) - which was a perfect song for my "second" wedding. Only by Grace, indeed.
I could go on and on about wedding day memories. I'll save them for another anniversary. I want to hear something special from your day.

a little enabling....

Since I can't go shop this sale, I thought I'd pass along the info to you. Yankee Candle is have a $1 sale on their tarts. For those who do not know what tarts are, those are the wax discs you put in a warmer. It equates to about a 50% off - so go stock up. May I recommend the Vanilla Lime, Island Spa, Lavender Vanilla for some yummy spring scents.
http://www.yankeecandle.com/yc/html/retail/Email_HTML/web_XF903A1.html
Also, sign into their website for their flyers and you'll be sent a coupon for $10 off $25 purchase (good deal) AND they now honor expired coupons, so go for it. See how one could get herself into trouble :)
Oh, by the way. If you try a scent and do not like it, return it and they will gladly exchange it.
Happy shopping. Remember poor me, on candle buying restrictions in 2009!!! ;-D

Checking in, Checking up...

Confession time. I've had PLENTY of opportunity to resist my urge to buy more candles, more lotions, more jewelery. Really. It's only March (barely) and I've had temptations galore in these three areas, in particular. (Keeping with my earlier post of downsizing in 2009) How am I doing? ehhhh, OK. Not great. My candle junkie, AKA Suzanne, emailed me with Partylite's March promotion. Ladies, it was just too good to pass up. Buy just ONE dozen votives and get 2 dozen FREE!!! You KNOW I'll use them. :) Never mind, I still have a closet full. I will say, in my defense, that many of my candle stock are of the fall/holiday scents. So, I really did need some new spring scents. So I caved. BUT, no more - OK? Then, my dear friend Sheila is getting rid of some of HER inventory of Lia Sophia jewelery....great prices....I have to buy birthday gifts anyway, right??? So far I've not succumbed to this temptation. For this one, I wait for Dan to get a job, and if she still has her pieces, I'll buy the ones I have my eye on. The birthday in question is not until June. I've got time to mull this one over. As for the lotions, I'm doing great. I'll be glad to get rid of all these various scents in my closet. I do, however, REALLY want to get my favorite face wash...but am holding strong. I should take a picture of both my linen closet with all my girly stuff, and then of my candles - then you guys can REALLY see my progress. Hmmm, let me think on that.
So, those of you braving a few resolutions with me. How are you doing? TA, how's that reading through the Bible? I think of you often. I know how hard it is to get my weekly study through ONE book of the Bible....I can't wait to hear how this goes for you this year. Keep on my friend. Don't give up!!! I'll be there at the finish line with a cup of cold water for you!
Come on, for those of you who DID NOT share with us....what are you working on? Can I save a glass of water for you too? I'll share a few other things I'm "working on" for 2009 another time.
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as an aside....I got the GREEN light from Dan to go skiing on Monday!!! I am so stoked!! What a huge blessing this is to me. We'll have to pull money from under the mattress, and I should NOT be doing this, but I don't get opportunities like this very often (read: never). Thank you Lord, for giving me a wonderful, supportive husband. I think he's just as thrilled to "give" me this. Woo Hoo!
Later ladies.....

The boy is growwwing...

Steffen has been unusually hungry lately. I know that means a growth spurt. This was some spurt. He no longer fits in the bathtub when I rinse his hair. (sigh - yes, we still bathe him...another post) His birthday is around Christmas, and this year we knew he needed a new bike, but it's no fun getting a bike in December. So, today we went out and got him a new bike. I just marvel at how big he's getting. He DOES still like to cuddle now and again. (Especially after a bath to get warm) and you know, he just doesn't fit in my lap anymore. Of course, we make it work. :-D
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Wednesday, March 4 was my dad's birthday. He would have been 74, had he lived. He's been gone 7 years. sigh. These days sort of just creep up on you, ya know??? I've been a bit blue these past few days. I so wish he could have met my boys. He would have really enjoyed them both. He was a great grandpa to my nieces, I"m sure they feel the loss a lot. I know some of you reading this have lost a parent, and so I know you grieve with me. sigh.
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Dan is home. The OK job is not a done deal. I guess they COULD still get crazy busy. And if they do, Dan has told them he'd return. It just didn't make sense to be there while things were still trying to get rolling. In the meantime, he continues to seek work here in Colorado Springs. For now, I'm glad he's home. With Easter around the corner, I had really hoped he wouldn't miss the opportunity to sing with Steve Green (at our Church) and spend Easter with US. In the meantime, my world just opened up again. A friend and I are trying to get skiing this Monday while he's home. Woo Hoo!!! We'll see, these grandiose plans seldom seem to work out for me.
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Tomorrow I'm going to check in on those "resolutions" we talked about. Confession time.
Thanks for stopping by. One of these days I've got a few good things I want to get your opinion(s) on.
Toodles!!

Later....

My baby is coming home!! That's good news/bad news. But overall, good. We'll "eat" the airline ticket we had for him to come home this weekend, but in the long run, him coming home TOMORROW will save us all the money he's putting out these past few weeks.
Woo Hoo!
HOWEVER, that means I got LOTS to do before he comes home in 24 hours. :D
Anyone have the urge to invite our Ryan over to play tomorrow afternoon........
My world just changed. Single parenting NO MORE! shhhhh, we're going to surprise the boys.
**
over and out big buddy.....

OOPS!

I have a confession to make. I goofed. Hopefully I can recover from my oops!
Most of you know, Dan is out of town. This is week three. I'll give an update on that later. Dan is very much a family man, very much a homebody. So this separation from us is hard for him. However, he does need work, so that is why we are undertaking the sacrifice. In my efforts to encourage him, I tell him that we are fine, the boys are doing well, I'm keeping up with life. All of which is true (which is somewhat perplexing to me, again, another post). Then the other night I had a epiphany....my knight and shining armour, our family hero is being told he is not needed. OOOPS! I wanted him to know that we are doing fine, coping well, and I think I inadvertently told him he is not needed here at home. It's a fine line, I know. I didn't want him to think life was falling apart here, he'd worry and stress that he wasn't taking care of us properly. BUT, I know my guy, he DOES want to know that he is valuable, needed and loved. (don't we all???) So last night while on the phone, I tried to convey how much we miss him, need him but we're doing OK. How proud I am of the sacrifice he is making for us and we can't wait for him to come home. Whew. I hope I recovered from my bad. Don't get me wrong. These feelings are sincere. Our guys are smart on such things - he can see right through my obligatory fluff. I DO miss him, I DO need him and he IS our family hero. I just didn't do so well at telling him these things. Pray for my guy as we delicately balance on the high wire.
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So, Dan is still in OKC. Given any day, the story is different. It's a hard struggle. The community and the media have caught "wind" of out-of-towners trying to sell their wares. So the sell is much harder. They (locals) don't much care that Peak Roofing is a licensed contractor with an A+ chamber of commerce rating. (I guess in OK, roofing companies do not need to be a licensed contractor??) What the locals DO care is that these outsiders are coming in and taking business away from the locals. I understand this. And privately, I thought this a big concern myself. My dad was a local businessman (heating and A/C contractor), and I know ALL about supporting your local businesses, and I do try to when at all possible. Even when it may cost me a few extra dollars. So this whole venture wasn't so exciting for me, on a personal level. However, the fact that Peak Roofing was giving the customer a superior product and craftmanship (not sure that is the right word) gave me more peace that we could align ourself with this venture. I digress... So, after three weeks, these are the very problems they are faced with. Dan is discouraged, and very lonely for home. He has a flight to come home this weekend (yea!!) But we'll decide in the next few days if we're at the point of determining if the sacrifice is really worth it. Mind you, we still have not seen any postive cash flow to our bank account..... In the meantime, we have not heard anything from the local (colorado springs) job possibility that is suppose to be hiring mid March. God knows. I know we will not go hungry, and at this point we do not have to sell one of our rental properties. Thank you for your continued prayers.
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Between you an me, the boys and I are doing fine. Better than I could have imagined. While I am very surprised by this, I am surprised by my surprise. :) Why should I be surprised. I serve a living and faithful God. God's grace and mercy is alive and very active in our family right now, why should I be surprised by how "smooth" things are running around here at home? God is good, and He DOES care about the mundane things in our lives. It just give me the very warm fuzzies to remember that. God is Good ALL THE TIME!!!

Thank you for your prayers. They are felt.