A Refreshing Morning

Yesterday was a bugger for weather here. It was hot and humid. I spent very little time outside. But this morning,,, Oh thank you Lord for this morning. It is clean and cool and dry. It is the kind of morning that makes me want to get a pot of coffee, make some pop overs, grab the newspaper and go and sit on the deck and just enjoy!!!!

Thinking of our deck. The basswood trees that shade our deck are loaded with blossoms this year. Usually they are humming with bees when that happens, but this year there are no bees (that in itself is kinda scary) but what we have instead are hundreds of butterflies. I did not know that they were attracted to the basswood blossoms but they sure are. When you walk out there you may have several just decide to take a rest on you. I am usually mortified by bugs and flying and creepy crawly things, but the butterflies don't freak me. They are awesome. So I have been enjoying them. My zinnia's are well on their way to making blossoms so I hope that they will bloom and keep all those pretty "flutterbys" around.

Well that's all that is on my mind for now. In a couple of hours, Jim and I will be heading for a short river cruise. Looking forward to that. Until later... HUGS
Sandi

Who Is That Behind The Wheel?

It's MaurissaYep, Missy drove Grandpa Jim's car to church and home. She is doing good. She takes her drivers test this Tuesday. I am wishing her the best and praying she does well. Now I have to tell you, Mom is ahead of us on the way to church and trying to critique her driving from there. Come on Mom,,, give it a break. Let that girl drive, drive drive. That is the only way she will become confident behind the wheel.

(^_^)

And a few more

Maurissa, Abbe, Emmalee, Will, Tonja, Luke
Issa (one of her many names) Me, Emmie, Grandpa Jim

Luke Abbe

The Teens N Me

Missy & Emmie

At The Myers

Can you guess what is going on???

Triip to WI

Luke on his BigWheel
Abbe shooting her bow and arrow
MoMo and Woody Myers

At noon Thursday we left for WI with hopes of watching Abbe play in a softball game. Her game was at 6. From 5:55 until about 6:20 it thundered and rained, so they called it off. Talk about disappointing. But we had a good weekend.

Visit From Tennesee

On Wednesday the 2oth, we had company from Tennesee. Gil's sister Francis and her Granddaughter Ali along with Gil's sister Geri came over. We had pizza together and had such a good visit. It was so good to see them and visit with them. I am so blessed to be a part of that family. Here is a pictuere of Geri, Ari and Franny.

Quotes from Ronald Reagan

Thanks to my friend Al for these.

Gil respected and had great affection for Ronald Reagon. He is my all time favorite president also. He had a great way of ruling and a wonderful sense of humor, so for your enlightenment and enjoyment:

"Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose."- Ronald Reagan

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"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan

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"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan

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"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong."

- Ronald Reagan

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"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."-Ronald Reagan

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"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination." - Ronald Reagan

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"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other." - Ronald Reagan

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"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan

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"I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting."

- Ronald Reagan

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"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." - Ronald Reagan

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"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan

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"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book." – Ronald Reagan

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"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. – Ronald Reagan

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"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

I Do Not Know How One Person Can Be So Lazy

I have been struggling with the low energy syndrome lately. No not low energy, I meant to say NO energy. This past weekend I was so lazy. On Saturday morning I did have a wonderful long visit over breakfast with my dear friend Paula. Then I stopped and did an errand on the way home. In the afternoon, I did some grocery shopping, but from then until dinner time I sat on my rear!!! I did get up and with Jim made dinner after which I baked a banana bread and a chocolate cake for Sunday and I cut up the broccoli for the salad I was bringing to a family dinner on Sunday. After that it was on my butt again until bed time. Yesterday was a do nothing day. I sat and sat and sat some more. Sometimes I think there must be something wrong with me. No human being can be that lazy!!!

I sure hope that I can come to grips with this and get some UMPH back in me. I miss my P&V!!

Blessings
Sandi

Grand Dog Sitting

Last night Kim, Faith and Joe brought Calvin over to spend the weekend!!! Calvin is our Granddog. He is a good boy and we are looking forward to the weekend with him. What blows my mind is how that little dog has my hubby "puppy whipped" (^_^) I love it. You see I have said many times that I would like to have a dog and he has been my strongest opponent. (I have to admit when it comes down to where the rubber meets the road, as much as I LOVE dogs, having one at this stage of our life would be difficult). But gosh, it is fun to see him enjoy that little guy. He is such an obedient dog. I love when he tilts his head and looks at us when we are talking to him as if to say "What?? I don't get it!!"

Anyway, thanks Moteberg family for allowing us to fill that doggy need in our lives for a weekend with sweet loveable Calvin.

Blessings
Sandi

Why Stress???

I am not feeling well today and haven't for a couple of days. I think most of it is due to stress. And I wonder what am I stressed about. When I, in my waking hours I don't think there is anything that is stressing me out. But my body awake and even in my sleep tells a different story. Yesterday there was the migraine headache and at night for years now the clenching of the teeth. And today that constant feeling like I am at a nervous full alert. Is hard to explain it, but it feels like there must be adrenalin flowing through my veins ready to take on whatever comes my way. I really hate this feeling.

I know that as a Christian, I need to rest in Christ. I am sure of my salvation and I know that God is able to handle anything that comes his way when we bring it to him in prayer.

I see people who are not Christians and should have guilty consciences and things coming at them from all sides and they sleep so peacefully, and they don't experience anxiety. I wonder why I do. Is it part of my make up? If it is, is there anything I can do to change that? If it is not part of my genetic make up, then why, why, why do I struggle with it soooooo much.

There is so much about me that I would like to change and it seems I do so little to change it. Some of it I have no idea about how to change. Other areas, ie my weight, I know I should eat less and exercise more, but, wow that is a hard one to do.

So, I keep on,, hoping that one day I get it all figured out and I can live in peace in my sub-conscience as well in my waking hours.

Blessings
Sandi

A Thought For The Day

"If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?"
- Stephen Levine

Just some ramblings

It has been a boring week here at work, but some interesting things happened in my personal life.

Earlier this week my grandniece was hit in the face with a softball and sustained some injuries to her face which will require reconstructive facial surgery. I sent out an email request for prayer for her to my family and friends. I was so blessed in that my friends passed on the prayer request and I have received emails from people I don't even know saying they are praying for her. I find God so amazing that there are people in the world who will take time to intercede for people they don't even know. Thank you God for this BIG family that I belong to, in and through your son Jesus Christ.

We had a sprinkler system put in last week. We haven't had to use it yet (I am thankful for that) but it is nice to know that we wont have to be out there lugging sprinklers and hoses around when we need it. The people who put it in did such a great job, the lawn was barely disturbed.

Yesterday I had lunch with Julie. How I thank God for this dear daughter that I acquired when I married Jim. She is a joy to my soul. God bless you Julie!!

Yesterday was Jim's last day of bus driving for the school year. He will be working for the bus company in the office this summer but only about 12 hours a week. Just enough time to keep him from being completely bored and in a little spending money!! We went out last night for dinner and celebrated with a pomegranate margarita. Wow, are those things yummy!!

I leave you with this thought:

Life can be full of pleasure and pain. It's better that way though: The successes are more appreciated when they're hard-won, and the ups and downs can be tough, but it's still much better to be in the game than sitting on the side.

Blessings

Sandi

Interesting Body Facts

This courtesy of my friend Al. I have not checked these out,,, but interesting none the less

Interesting Human Body Facts

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-A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball.-

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Approximately 75% of human feces is made of water.-

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It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.-

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One human hair can support 3 kg.-

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Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.-

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The attachment of human muscles to skin is what causes dimples.-

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Your thumb is the same length of your nose.-

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A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.-

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If the average male never shaved, his beard would be 13 feet long when he died.-

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Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair.-

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There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.-

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Side by side, 2000 cells from the human body could cover about one square inch.-

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Women blink twice as much as men.-

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The average person's skin weighs twice as much as their brain.-

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When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate.-

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It takes twice as long to lose new muscle if you stop working out than it did to gain it.-

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You're ears secrete more earwax when you are afraid than when you aren't.-

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Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.-

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If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.-

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The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man.

A Wonderful Summer Evening

Nick the chef, and family

Julie giving us a private concert

Bri singing for us

Our little Nate just being cute.

Last night Jim and I were treated royally. We were invited to his son Nick's for dinner. And a feast we had. Nick grilled rib eye steaks and pork chops on the grill. The best I have had in a LONG LONG time. In fact I have never tasted a pork chop that was so tender and moist. Great job Nick!!! You can cook for us any day. We also had carrots, scalloped potatoes, baked and baked beans. Allllll so yummy.

After dinner we were entertained by Julie. She showed us her baby grand piano and it is beautiful. She played some Chopin for us and I could have sat and listened for hours. So beautiful. Bri, sang for us, and Nate, well he is just the cutest little thing. He kept us very entertained. Here are some pictures from the night.

Blessings

Sandi