Christian Wisdom

Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
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Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.
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Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.
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It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
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The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.
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When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
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People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
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Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
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Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
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If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
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God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
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Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
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Peace starts with a smile.
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I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?
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A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.
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We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
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Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.
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Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
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Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
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Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
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Forbidden fruits create many jams.
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God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
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God grades on the cross, not the curve.
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God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"
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God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
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He who angers you, controls you!
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If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!
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Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!
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The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
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The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
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We don't change the message, the message changes us.
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You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to..........discourage him.
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The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given.

Just for Pat - Mooki!!!!!!

Pat this is that outfit I told you about, but as I look at it in a picture it doesnt look as good as it feels. LOL

Below is me on my 61st. Gosh I am getting old!! Kim decorated that cake for me. Cool huh? Eric baked it. Was very nice of them.

The Week With Mamma and Grandpa Jim Ends

After spending a week with us, we brought Luke and Abbe to Black River Falls where we met thier Mom and Dad. They were happy to see each other. I have to admit that I had a sad heart for the rest of that day and Sunday morning, it was way to quiet around the house. I am so thankful that we got to spend time with them. We dont see them as much as we would like. But I guess that is life.

Here is a picture of them all happy

Some More pictures of the day

I have not so many pictures of Faith an Abbe as Kim had them and Jim and I had Joe and Luke. So hopefully Kim will post some pictures too.

The Boys on the Lil Shaver Roller coaster - they really liked it
Mamma about 5 hours after we got there - Butt draggin!!!
Luke and Joe when taking a break and waiting for ice cream
Faith and Abbe enjoying thiers

And The Day Continued

Waiting with Mamma to get on a ride.

Gosh, I think some of those faces could look happier, dont you think?
The Frog Hopper, Faith and Joe enjoying but Luke did NOT want to get back on it and I think Abee was a bit bored,, after all it was not the log ride!!!!
The faris wheel bus,,, both Luke and Joe loved this ride
Lukes in his element with Nascar!! Zoom Zoom,, go boys!!!

OK,, The Some Pictures

Trip to the Park at the MOA

Waiting in line to get our all day ride wrist bands. Thanks to Kim's sharp eye we got $8 off each ticket cuz she had some diet Pepsi cans that if you brought one to the ticket booth you got $8 off. Thanks Kim



Then the fun begins. Both Luke and Joe loved these big trucks with horns to honk EEKS!!!
Abbe and Faith, brave gals as they are went for a ride on the log ride, not once but 3 times and wanted to go again, but the day got late.

Ah the bumper cars. Faith and Joe are in one and Abbe and Luke in another as Joe and Luke were to little to drive one. They had fun. Faith proved to be the ace driver!! Way to go Faith.

Having Grandbabes Staying

Here it is Wednesday. Abbe and Luke have been with us since Sunday night alone. It is going so well. They are a couple of really great kids. The week didn't start out too good for me tho. Sunday night I woke up with a gut ache and cramps. A couple of trips to the can and then came the up-chuck. I hate so bad to throw up that I fight it until I cant any more. I should just get it over with, cuz I felt better after that. But the whole next day I was feeling like a washed out rag.

Monday a friend of my grand-niece came and babysat. She was going to be there all day but then my dear daughter in law found out that she didn't have to babysit the kids she normally does so she came up and relieved the sitter around noon. Monday night Faith stayed so she could visit with her cousin some. They were good, but I was feeling so wrung out that I was counting the days I had left with the kids hoping I would make it. BUT,,,, the miracles of a good nights sleep and the run of the 24 hour flu gone, I felt like a new person last night.

Kim (with her additional crew of 3, bless her heart) again came up before Jim had to go to work on Tue and stayed with the kids until I got home. When I got home I was feeling much better and after they went home Abbe, Luke and I went to the library to get some new books to read. Then we went to a couple of stores and had a bite to eat out. When we got home and it was bath and bed time both kids just were so agreeable. Ahhhh it felt good to be feeling good again and enjoying them.

After they were in bed, I did some laundry and cleaning in the house.

Today the babysitter is back and they assured me they really liked her. (^_^) Tonight not sure what adventure we will get in to, but I think, unless it is raining, a trip to the playground is in the picture.

I am so happy that I am once again feeling good and having the energy to enjoy my precious grandkids.

Blessings to all who enter and double blessings to those who let me know they have been here
Sandi

A picture of no one I know

I received this picture in an email, and it warmed the cockels of my heart and I just wanted to share it. Enjoy!! Sandi

Then It Was Friday

It is Friday today. It is a beautiful morning in Minnesota. Clear, clean skies and a cool breeze. I could have stayed in bed a long time this morning, just listening to the birds sing enjoying the breeze. But I had to go to work. Why? I wonder too. I have absolutely nothing to so on my desk. Oh I will find some busy work to do but nothing that is of any value to anyone.

Carol told me that she is going to retire next October. I wonder who will become the new property manager. I hope and pray it will be someone that I work well with. Of all 4 other people here, I interact with her more then anyone else. I at that time will be on my way to becoming 63. When I turn 63, I am going to approach my bosses with allowing me to work only 4 days a week. If they say no, I am going to seriously consider taking early retirement and then find some part time job somewhere. Those are my plans, but as life is we never know what twists and turns will be coming our way up until that time.

I have been sewing again, and I realize how much I have really missed that. I am so looking forward to undertaking some bigger sewing projects other then the chair covers, curtains and pillow shams that I have made lately. I feel the bug to sew an outfit. I may just have to do that to see if I can really still do it. It is amazing how when you don't do something for a while, you loose your confidence in yourself and your ability. With sewing these things I have been taking baby steps back towards that.

This is going to be a fun weekend for me. Tonight we are going to my son's for dinner. It is the first time that he has invited me over to his place for dinner. I am really excited. Then tomorrow evening my daughter is coming. She will be staying only until Sunday. Missy, my granddaughter is going to have her senior pictures taken here on Sunday morning. I find it hard to believe that she is already a senior. A special time of life for her.

I am excited because my daughter's 2 little ones will be staying with us for a few days. As I write this I am not sure if it will be the whole week or just until through Wed. I am hoping they can stay all week. I just don't get enough time to love on them.

With the tropical storm that hit Texas it looks like it is going to spill a lot of rain all the way up here in Minnesota. I am hoping and praying that Will's uncle can get the pictures of Missy taken outside on Saturday. No use stressing about it as there is not one thing a person can do about the weather.

That's all I have on my mind this morning... Blessings to all who enter and read and double blessings on those who let me know they have been here (^_^)

Sandi

Gentle Thoughts For Today (^_^)

Birds of a feather flock together - and crap on your car..

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When I'm feeling down, I like to whistle.. It makes the neighbor's dog run to the end of his chain and gag himself.

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A penny saved is a government oversight.

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The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

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The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

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The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

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He who hesitates is probably right.

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Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are " XL."

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If you think there is good in everybody, you haven't met everybody.

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If you can smile when things go wrong , you have someone in mind to blame.

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The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.

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There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it.

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For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.

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And my favorite one:Did you ever notice that when you put the 2 words "The" and "IRS"together it spells "Theirs."

Wow - Dont read if you dont want to be depressed

I cant for the life of me figure out what is wrong with me. I feel like I cant feel. Now I know that sounds stupid, but it is what it is right now. I don't feel happy, I don't feel sad, I don't feel excited, I am not enthused for my job but I don't want to quit it. I care about my kids but I feel so detached from all that is going on in their lives. Mainly, I would like to go to a corner of the world where no one else is right now, OR, I want to go and be in the midst of the most activity I can find on this globe. Am I loosing it?

The only thing that I still feel is that I want to eat, and I want to eat everything that I can lay my hands on. Now if only that would go away.

There is so much yucky stuff in this world, sometimes I wonder why anyone wants to go on. But then we don't have a say in that matter. Oh I know that my faith in God should sustain me through everything, and I know it is my fault perhaps that I don't feel that peace, because I have not taken the time to pray and read the Bible like I should. I know that there is a lot of counsel, solace and direction there. Then why is it so hard to do it? If I KNOW it is a source of help for me, why don't I run to it instead of wanting to be in a corner of the world all alone or in the midst of the most din I can find?

I am one mixed up goofy person
ME

I Wonder Why

I have been thinking lately about why. Why are we the way we are? Is it genetic? Is it our environment? Or are we who we are because we choose to be that way? Or are we the way we are because we don't have the "wanna" IE, lazy to change things about us?

I have spent a great deal of my life wishing that I had more discipline in the area of my life as far as eating the right foods and right amounts. Yet there are other area of my life that I am VERY disciplined in. Why cant I cross that discipline into the area of food? I wonder why? My mothers side of the family had some heavy people like my grandpa, my Mom, and a couple of my aunts. Dad's side of the family really doesn't have any obese people there. So I am kinda ruling out a total blame of genetics. That being said, am I choosing to be fat? My environment? Well it isn't any different than anyone else in the USA, yet there are many many very thin people who have no problem saying no to chocolate and breads. That comes down lack of wanna. Or I don't have the discipline in this area of my life to just stop eating those foods that I should. I do know that eating healthy takes a lot more time then eating whatever happens to be at hand. Most convenient foods are loaded with fat and calories. And I know that I often choose the convenient way after working all day. Being heavy also takes away energy I might have if I where thinner. So it is a battle. I have battled this all my life. I have to tell you that I don't have much faith that I will ever win this battle.

Just fatty me
Sandi

Humph!!!

The past 12 hours have been trying for this Mom. My kids seem to be going through rough spots in their life right now. It is sooooooo hard as their Mom to stand by and watch it. The Mom in me wants to rush in and tell them what to do and take care of things, but I cant do that. I truly don't know their lives, as much as I may think I do. They might even feel like they wish I would but I know that it would not be for the best. I think back to the rough times that Gil and I went through. We had no one that could come in and rescue us and maybe in the long run that was for the best. Knowing that there was no out but for us, we operated in that. Not that my kids come and ask for rescuing often. I am glad that I can help out when I can. Soooo I pray for them and trust God to help them and see them through. One thing about walking through a dark valley, when we get out we appreciate the light so much more.

So that's where I am today
Sandi

Mondays Suck

Pardon my language, but Mondays do stink. Even in this job which I really like sometimes they stink!!!

Everyone seems to be in a grouch on Mondays (including me) so when grouches deal with grouches that is not pretty. I personally get tired of being an equals gopher!! But hey,, I am not dreadfully busy right now, and I suppose I shouldn't have that attitude, but a "tude" I have today.

I am going to lunch shortly. That is good. I will try to come back feeling better. Sometimes just a little while out of the office does one good.

Well this is a short blog, but just had to get that out of my system!!

So there
Sandi

Tragedy In Minnesota

What I am about to blog about is probably news to no one. But, yesterday a major highway bridge over the Mississippi in Minneapolis collapsed, plunging at the best estimate 50 cars into the river. There are about 30 people still reported missing that might have been traveling on that bridge. But what is remarkable is all the people that lived through the collapse. My daughter-in-law and children had been on that bridge earlier that day. I am so thankful to God that it did not collapse when they were on it. But just saying that makes me feel so selfish. I do pray for all those, and their families, that were on it when it collapsed. But I am sure everyone of those family members that lost someone during the collapse are saying,, "Why my son, daughter, sister, brother, mother, father, cousin, friend?" Why couldn't it have waited another 30 seconds. This side of heaven we will never know, of that I am sure. I am sure there are countless stories of how people were delayed for a minute somewhere and therefore were spared. I am sure there are stories also of people who, for who knows why, decided to take a different route last night and were spared. That said, it makes me think about how we react when tragedy and calamity strikes us. In this case there were many that were affected at once and the national news lets the whole county know of their pain and agony. But each day there are many individuals that are faced with personal tragedies and, and there is no one there to broadcast how much they hurt or how afraid they are. News is news, and widespread pain and calamity are new worthy and reportable. But today I am thinking about the couple that want a baby so bad, and she aborts. Or the young mother that is told she has inoperable cancer. Or the father of young children killed in a one car accident. Or the lonely old person that has no one has been told they have a painful disease for which there is no cure and they have to go it alone. Today all over the country this is happening. I don't begrudge the sympathy that those victims of the bridge collapse are receiving, but in my heart today I am hurting for all those single tragedies that are happening, and I am praying for them too.

Blessings
Sandi