The Dentist

Now if anyone knows me they know that going to the dentist is about one of the least favorite things for me to do,,, Yup,, even just the 6 month check ups. I hated dentists so much that at one point in my life (oh maybe about 12 or 15 years ago, I hadnt gone for about 5 years). I chipped a tooth then and was forced to find a dentist and looked through the yellow pages and found one that said "Gentle Dentistry". I thought I would give it a try. It was a woman, and she was just getting started. She and her assistant greeted me when I came in and I had to fill out a form. At the bottom was a place to add any additional comments. Mine were "I hate being here. This is the worse place on earth I could be. I am scared to death". The dentist Dr. Hubert, looked at it and said "Oh my, we will be gentle" AND,,,,,,,, she was. I no longer white knuckle it when I go but still not a favorite thing for me to do. Today was check up day. I was afraid that they were going to find something wrong, but after scraping, proding, measuring and polishing I was given a "all is good" from the dentist. Ahhhhh,,,, those words are music to my ears.

Blessings!!!

Celebrating!!!!

OK,,, I admit it, I am more of a sports freak then most women. But last night the Twins made it into the playoffs!!! I was celebrating with the boys, only I didnt have any champagin (which was probably good as I had to get up at 5:30 this morning), but gosh it feels good to see the Twins there after having such a bad start to the season. Now they are chasing the Tigers, and well, lets hope that things dont get to heated in our household!!!!

Blessings
Sandi

Blessings

The other night Jim was out doing softball stuff and I had the night at home to myself. It is always something I have enjoyed on occasion, to have a few hours at home alone. I think it came from all those years that I was able to work just 4 days a week and have that one day a week at home to clean nooks and crannies, to bake, sew, or do whatever. Working full time has taken that away from me, and I realize I do need my time alone. So it was good. That was one blessing.

That evening I got a phone call from my granddauther Faith and that blessed me too as she recitied to me John 3:16 without a hitch. It just blessed this Gramma's heart. Then of course JoeMan had to do it too, with Mom's help. But how neat it is to hear your grandchildren quoting scripture. There is NOTHING better that they can put to memory.

Keep up the good work Faith and Joe. I love you both so much.

Love and hugs
Sandi/Mamma

Early Morning Phone Call

When my cell phone rings before 7 in the morning, my first thought is, "Hope Jim is OK". As he is the main one to call my cell phone. But this morning it was my daughter. With good news and at the same time it brought tears to my eyes.

She told me that my granddaughter was in a play about drug/alcohol use abuse at her school. She told me she had done such a fantastic job. She is going to video it for me. Thank you!! Then she told me that she more then likely has a full time job. Right where she has been working virtually full time for almost 4 years with no benefits (now most of this was by her choice). But I am happy for her that now she will be getting holiday, vacation and sick pay. PTL!!!

The tears came after I hung up. I thought how I would love to be able to travel the 4 hours it takes to get to thier home to see the grand kids in all the activities they are involved in. Then I thought of Gil and how he would have loved to see those 2 beautiful, talented, teenage granddaughters of his that adored him. I thought of all he was missing out on. He loved his grand kids with a passion and my, I can just imagine him with Joe and Luke. Wow,, that would have been something to see. I feel bad for them that they wont be able to expierience "Papa Hugs". But,, I have a hope!!!!! That hope is that one day when we are all reunited in heaven that he will know his grandkids and give them ALL that "Papa Hug" that they all so deserve.

Blessings to all
Sandi

When I'm Not Looking, God is Working

This is a prayer of thanksgiving:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for working in our lives and the lives of our kids even when we are not looking or expecting. Forgive me for not expecting when I have asked. You are a faithful God and I thank you and give you praise.

I love you Lord
Sandi

Living in Minnesota with a Tiger/Lions Fan

Who would have ever thought that sports would become an issue in my marriage. BUT,,, I am a die hard Minnesotea Vikings and Twins fan, and Jim having been reared in Michigan is a Michigan sports van. (Now personally I think he having lived in Minnesota for about 30 years makes it time he change allegiance. He has lived here many more years then he lived in Michigan)!! Sorry Honey, but it is how I feel (^_^)

Last Friday night we actually got in a tiff over the Twins/Tigers game. After thinking about it for a while I told him that he maybe should take his son to the game with him on Saturday night as we had tickets for the game and I didnt want us fighting in the stands. He said I should take someone. By Saturday we had both calmed down, and we went to the game together, and in spite of the Twins winning the game, he was a real trooper through it and I guess my cheering for the Twins didnt bum him out as we didnt get in a "tiff" at the game or after!!! It was a good close game with one bad call that I guess in the long run I have to cede to him, but it was a mute call as there was no scoring as a result of the call.

Sometimes I wonder why it is such a big deal in our marriage, but it is. I guess most women are not sports fans and they hardly pay attention to what sport thier husbands are tuning in to, but not so with us, and I am a sports fan and a pasionate one at that.

So,, the saga goes on. We hope to get this worked out one way or the other!!!

Sandi

Aristotle : "Change in all things is sweet".

Change: I am not so sure that Aristotle was right in his saying about change. I know that change is inevitable, but I dont think it is always sweet. To tell the truth, I think for most of us change is forced upon us and it isnt so sweet.

At my high school graduation (yes I can remember that far back) the speaker (I dont remember his name) said something that has stuck with me all these years. He said something to the effect as he turned and addressed 'us the class' "You think you are done.... Well, let me tell you this is just a beginning. This is just one in a line of many, many, many new beginnings you will encounter, take each one of them and make the best of it". I guess that one could look at change as a new beginning. Right now I am struggling with the change of the fact that my family is growing away from me. Oh, I knew it would come, it came for me, as it came for my siblings and our parents, it is just the natural flow of things. As thier families grow older thier path leads away from the path that I am on and thus the change of seeing them less and less. As they get involved in thier own churches, schools and freinds, (lives) the path between thier path and mine gets more and more grown over with grass as it is less traveled. I dont "blame" them (not sure that is the word I am looking for) or even think that it should be different. But it is a change that to me isnt so sweet. I love my kids and I love to see them and talk to them. I love the grandkids that they gave me and I am so proud of all of them. All of them remarkably smart, beautiful and talented.

I guess that it is time for me to effect a "Sweet Change". I am not sure what that will be or what course that will take, but I am going to open up my options and look around. I am sure there has to be a "Sweet Change" out there for me.

Sandi

And Another School Year Begins

Back to school - That is what Jim did today. First day back for bus driving. I think First Student is so blessed to have him as thier employee. They will never find a more dilegent and dedicated employee then he is. I hope that he has a good day and a good year driving children to and from school.

My grandkids also start back to school today. I talked to my 15 year old grand daughter, she was excited but was a bit nervous too. I remember those days. There always seems to be butterflies those first couple of days back to school. I talked to my daughter in law and thier daughter starts 1st grade at a Spanish Immersion (I think that is how it is spelled) school where all they do is speak Spanish. So that should be quite an expierience for her. I will be eager to hear from all of them how that first day went.

My prayer is that God will send His angels to watch over each one of them to protect them and help them.

Blessings
Sandi

I Feel Like A Slug

Here it is Sunday night of Labor Day weekend. Yesterday was a busy day for us. In the morning Jim and I ran errands and had to be home by 10 because the insurance adjuster and the company that is going to do the roof and facias were going to be here. Well the insurance agent agreed that we had severe hail damage to our roof (on Aug 23rd we had a hail storm and there were a few hails the size of baseballs and many the size of golf balls) They actually are going to pay for repairs to the air conditoiner that the hail did and they are going to pay to have our deck power washed and sealed. I hope we dont see hail like that again EVER!!! Anyway after that I made a dessert for dinner last night as Jim's son was coming over, and then at 12 I had a hair cut and perm (it turned out so good, one of the few times I have been really happy with my hair after a perm). Then it was home to get dinner ready and Jim's son came at 5 and he stayed until almost 11. We had a great visit.

Today we got up and went to church. Then home and had a bite to eat, I paid some bills and then I went shopping for a bit. I kept feeling like I should get busy and do something around here, but I am such a SLUG!!!! Tomorrow Jim and I plan on going out to lunch at the new favorite restaurant here in Champlin and then to a movie. Not sure which one yet but probably A Prairie Home Companion, (havent seen that one yet and I want to) or Little Miss Sunshine. I should clean windows, but if it is still raining, I know that wont happen. I would have liked to have gone to the fair too, but with my knee still not feeling the best, I am not going to attempt that.

I hope that one of these days, I feel energetic again and I can get to doing some cleaning around this house.

Thats about all that is on my mind tonight.

Blessings!!
Sandi