All Quiet on the Homefront

Everything is pretty routine around here, which is a blessing! I have been concerned the last week or so for several of my family and friends who have not been so blessed. Two dear friends, Susan & Sue, each lost a parent last week, one her father, and one her mother. I know without a doubt that both are comforted by their faith, but my heart is still heavy for them. My cousin Alisa's oldest son Taylor, a special needs child, had surgery on Jan. 20 to remove steel plates from his thighs, he was progressing well. Then a little over a week later, he took a tumble from his wheelchair outside and had surgery Feb. 2 to repair a broken femur. He's feeling much better and as happy as always, but in a body cast for several weeks. Last night Taylor's dad broke his arm and was supposed to have surgery today. I haven't heard an update on him yet. Alisa has 3 other young boys besides Taylor to keep up with. She's an amazing lady and mom, but is feeling overwhelmed. Fortunately her Mom and brother live nearby and can help out. Some good news, another cousin, Brandi is a new mom to a baby boy! They had quite a surprise since they were expecting a girl!! My friend Crystal passed her State Boards and is an LPN now! Especially amazing that she did so well, since the gentleman I mentioned earlier that passed away was her grandfather. My sister-in-law Shari is still praying for the right job to come available. Please join me in remembering all these precious folks in your prayers. While it seems so simple, and we often want a more tangible way to help, prayer is the most powerful way we can help anyone.
Hope everyone has a great Friday and wonderful weekend!

Winter blahs...snow cure?

Like several other blogger friends, I was MIA this week too. Nothing much was happening. Just sort of BLAH. I spent SEVERAL hours last Sun., Mon, & Tues. reading other blogs, chatting with my cousins on Facebook, but not really in the mood to blog myself. The long weekend was great, but our miniscule snow event was a bummer, I think my energy must have melted with the snow. Like many of you, I was so excited over the prospect of a decent snow. Maybe February will bring some!

Kelly, Cathy and Rhonda, you have been inspiring the last few weeks, even if you've had some rough patches. Keep it up! I have decided to cut out so many Diet Dr. Peppers. I'm down to only one most days, some days only 1/2 and 2 days-none! I had been drinking at least 3-4 most days.

Shari- hang in there Sis! You're going to find the perfect job, and you are not a failure at anything!! You so precious to me and so many others.I know it can be discouraging, and sometimes the paths we travel are winding and rocky-sometimes by our choices, sometimes guided by God to get us where we need to be. Just pray, try to be patient and follow His directions to what He has in store for you. Many of your friends are praying for you too. The answer will come!

It's a new week: with new opportunities & challenges, new chances to make someone's day! So, let's all pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and face it head-on with a smile! (Hope I can live up to this until 3:00 tomorrow!)

16 Random Things

I thought I'd post some too, since I enjoyed reading the rest of yours and learned alot about you girls.

1. I love to color & I'm like a kid when I get new boxes of crayons or colored pencils.
2. I have the sweetest, most considerate husband in the world, who spoils me too much!!
3. I'm a packrat!
4. I get really dirty when I work in my flowers. I can be out there 10 minutes and I'll have dirt all over me.
5. I don't care about traveling to exotic places. There are lots of places in US & NC I'd like to visit though.
6. I've never liked playing games much. I'm not competitive at all.
7. I talk tooooooo much.
8. I hate that Alan has to suffer with back & leg pain almost all the time.
9. The hardest thing I've had to accept is that it was God's will that we not have children. We both wanted them so badly.
10. I want to be a stronger Christian.
11. I want to be a writer, but don't think I have the discipline for it.
12. I love my family (includes extended family & in-laws)very much. They are very important to me.
13. I'm extremely blessed with wonderful in-laws.
14. I want to go for a sleigh ride in the snow.
15. I would love to live back on my mom's family farm and have farm animals again. I miss the cows, pigs and chickens.
16. I wish I had the energy I did when I was 5.

That was harder than I thought it would be.

Thanks! I needed that!

Thanks for all the welcoming comments. I sure needed them this afternoon. I was aggravated & kinda down. The last hour at school was very frustrating. I am thankful for my job, especially now, and most times it's great but there are moments... Then when I got home, I didn't even get any good mail (a country or scrapbooking magazine). But then I got on the computer and read your sweet comments. I'm feeling much better! Alan (hubby) appreciates it too!

Simply Sue

Welcome to my blog. I don't know how active I'll be, but we'll see. I've created a couple of blogs before for work, but haven't done much with them. However, I have enjoyed reading many of your blogs since Shari mentioned several of you fellow scrappers were blogging. Thanks for your inspiration, laughs and sometimes tears during the last few weeks.