Good News

So we've been watching the news lately.  I cannot stand how much political posturing there is!  Each side has  firmly placed their feet in the ground and are not willing to move. So we, as the people, are the ones  that suffer! Anyway, I could go on and on about that, but instead I've decided today to make a  list of what I am grateful for.  These are very simple things, but quite often, it is the simplest things that make our lives joyful.  

1.  I am grateful spring is coming.  Bulbs are sprouting green tops, the weather is a little warmer, and slowly the dawn is coming earlier and sunset is later.  What else does spring bring? Less mildew to clean in the bathroom!

2.  I am grateful Dan and I are both eating better.  We both feel better, and our combined weight is slowly moving downward.  The best part? Sugar free jello with "free" cool whip for dessert - only palatable when shared!

3.  I am grateful for tax time! No I am not crazy....because as soon as April 15 comes we have another whole year to save for next year...it is like a new beginning.

4.  I am grateful for Papa Murphy.  I can eat their thin crust pizza and stick to my diet...now that is a diet I can live with!

5.  I am grateful for moss.  Our lawn is mostly moss this year and it means mowing won't take as long or be as frequent.  I hate mowing!

that is all I can think of today.  Have a great week everyone - I'll be back same time next week!

sorry...

I am going to have to go private...if you want to continue to read my blog, please email me at carruthdm@comcast.net, OR put a comment on this post with your email and I'll be sure to add you to the approved list.  thank you for understanding!

Melinda

Dear David

Dear David: Since Sami is here this weekend and you are not, I thought I would write this blog post to you.

It is exciting to me to watch you grow. It was really hard to let you leave to go to college.  You are my youngest, and were my companion that last year of your high school career.  I looked forward to you coming home each afternoon, and really enjoyed spending time with you.  It was such a great year...but made it all the harder for me to let you go.  I was SO unsure that it was the right thing to do, especially after watching how unhappy you were as we arrived in Rexburg.  My  heart ached, and I didn't know what to do.  This was one of those situations where I had to step aside and let the Lord lead.  Plunge into the dark and know that I would be led with a firm a steady hand.  Turns out we were both led....

Fast forward to now....you have grown SO much in the time you have been away.  You've had to make your own decisions and have had to move forward in your life.  I am SO proud of you and the choices you've made.  I am excited to be a part of your life at a time when so many decisions are in front of you.  I am SO grateful - more than you will ever know - for the relationship we have and for the man you are becoming.  Thank you for being the son I always dreamt about having - I would not trade you for anyone, or anything.  I love you!

Signs of Spring

Yesterday unrolled like a perfect Saturday should.  I should backup:  My week started out so-so, but ended with a bang!  I was finally successful in hiring someone to help me with my work - and she started on Friday. I think she is going to work out wonderfully - and that overwhelmed feeling is now going away.  Saturday morning dawned and it started out like any Saturday should - with sleeping in! I got up at 9:45 and ate breakfast, then proceeded to slowly go about my day.  When I tell you what I actually did you will probably laugh at my comment that it was perfect...but to me it was just how I like it.  I cleaned the house, I went walking with a friend in the sunshine -WITHOUT A COAT! - I helped set up a church dinner - I attended/helped with serving/cleanup of the dinner, and was home by 8:30 to relax in my easy chair.  What made this day great was that I could do things at my own pace - on my own schedule - and didn't have to answer to anyone. LOVE IT!

I am really looking forward to more pre-spring days like Saturday.  I am ready to power walk in the sunshine instead of working out indoors. I am ready for my bulbs to push out more and bloom! I opened my bedroom window mid Saturday and let the fresh air in - I am SO READY!

Kid sharing:

When David was about 4 or 5 we went to our annual superbowl party.  We had been telling David that we were going to the superbowl. At that age David was already getting sports minded, and he was excited!  We went to our friends, ate and ate and ate, watched some football, and then started to clean up to go home. At the door as we were saying goodbye David said "are we going to the superbowl now"? We then realized that he didn't understand that we meant "superbowl party" NOT the actual superbowl. After explaining he was incensed...and proceeded to kick his dad in the shin! How dare we tell him we were superbowl bound and then not deliver!

When Sami was about 4 we were rushing around one Sunday trying to get ready for church.  It was one of those days when everything seemed to go wrong, kids were crying, shoes were lost, you name it, it happened. I actually had them buckled in the car and was ready to get in myself when I just gave up. I said "that is IT. We are staying HOME". Moving to unbuckle the kids, Sami said "but mom, aren't we only supposed to stay home when we are sick?"  I stopped, bowed my head, took a deep breath, and said..."yes Sami, you are right". I got in, buckled up, and off we went.  It was such a strong lesson to me - out of the mouths of babes.

Superbowl!

It is no secret that watching televised sports is not my favorite thing.  However, once a year I enjoy watching football on TV- specifically the Superbowl.  We have been getting together with another couple to party away the afternoon on Superbowl Sunday for years....more than 20, I think.  We started doing this before we had children, during our child raising years, and now on the far end when we are part time empty nesters!   It was interesting to look back on our past celebrations and how they've evolved over the years.  We started out by having a meal together, along with some snacks.  That changed over the years to a smorgasbord....enough food to fill a dining room table.  Then we had the year when everyone was dieting...and we brought the first baked potato chips: one word: EW.  One thing has always been constant - peanut M&Ms.  Some years we had several kinds...but peanut was always present.  This year it was evident that age has crept into our party.  Some of us are watching our blood sugar counts, others are watching high blood pressure and cholesteral.  Our party fare was pretty small....sub sandwiches for each person, some chips, LOTS of veggies, a few cookies, and of course peanut M&Ms.  Conversation was lively, food was plenty good.