They are calling for 4-8 inches of snow tonight - we'll see

Liz had lunch with Sarah so no visit for lunch

Andy got called into work on his day off - for about 4 hours but still

Bible Study was cancelled - Mr Glock drives from Dubuque, glad he didn't have to tonight

talked to Mom this morning for about an hour and a half that was nice

child dedication yesterday at church that was nice - kids sure do grow up fast, though

got caught up on my Bible Reading - preparing for the Sunday School lesson yesterday threw me off

Saturday was so much fun watching Hannah's team with the Lasalle March madness tournament. My throat finally quit hurting from all of the screaming and no I did not get kicked out of the game or yelled at by the ref ( I was too far away from the court)

I got a new Stephanie Grace Whitson book last week and read it over the weekend. I sure do enjoy her writing. The Key On the Quilt.  Its funny when I read a novel how my thinking is in 'book sentences' does that happen to anyone else?

It's bedtime, I have to work early tomorrow and I get to work with Sheila hooray!

Had a date night with my seestor  we went to Peis' for dinner ( I was disappointed but ate most of it anyways) then we went to see Parental Guidance - what a good movie! We laughed,  we gasped, I cried - it was really good

home and a shower now waiting for my hair to dry so I can go to bed, early day tomorrow then Hannah after work since there is no school.

Busy Saturday ahead!

And the snow just keeps coming, bring it on I say it's almost March 1st how much longer can it hang on? Not much!!!

Worked yesterday with Kaitey she and Amy switched due to the late start. I only worked with Kaitey my very first day in child watch, so it was nice to get to know her a little bit. then today Kim was back it feels like forever since I have seen her or worked with her so it was really nice to have her back and get caught up on our lives. 

Friday tomorrow and March 1st is the time flying by or what? 

"I more fear what is within me than what comes from without." — Martin Luther

Well the snow started about 6 (they kept saying it would start about 3) it's snowing pretty hard but a fine snow and not doing much - yet anyway.  Time will tell, I guess. Kinda hoping for a snow day tomorrow but so looking forward to working with Sheila, like I said, time will tell.

The kids are in the living room playing, they will be going to bed pretty soon, at least to bed then Project Runway comes on

Andy is at work.

Speaking of work, it was crazy nuts yesterday. We had 31 kids over the 4 hour period but I have never had that many the second half - we had 17. The kids can only come in for 2 hours then they have to be picked up. so usually we will get a bunch of kids and they all pretty much clear out about 11:15 or so and we have a teeny break, not yesterday and we had 3 children under the age of 1 so lots of crawling and pulling themselves up. With those littles in the mix you really have to keep your eyes open for falling or older kids just not paying attention. Then we got a little guy who is 8 months old and he decided he wanted Mom and no one else. Amy went and got her, she took him out and nursed him and then brought him back in and gave him to me and said maybe he wants a toy - really? He is a lug and just trying to keep him from starting a chain reaction of crying was a full time job, after the 10 min cry rule was blown through I walked him next door to the yoga class and she comes to the window and said me? Ummm it's your crying baby I am holding I think you are the one I am looking for. sheesh

Then today we had a little boy Anthony who cried the whole time he was in here except for about 5 min His mom checked him in but didn't write down where they would be, that's another thing that the parents have to do is sign them in with name time and where they can be found in case we need to get them. My poor arms ache from holding him, he really didn't want to be held but then would let me put him down either. At 1 when we close we had to go to the front desk and ask if they knew the parents. Thankfully Cindy did and she said she had just told them the locker room code, about that time his mom came through the door whew. I told her what had gone on and she said she has 2 other children who usually come there and play with him when they are in child watch. I felt so bad for this little guy. But was really happy to hand him off to Mom.

So yeah, tonight is project runway then bed time in case I have to go to work in the morning. Friday is my  7 am start and I am supposed to work till 1 to cover part of a shift for Cindy who has to take her Dad for a throat scan. 

Stay warm and safe tonight - and remember to thank God for the moisture He is sending even if it is in the form of snow.

It's been a good weekend, it went by too fast but that's what they do! I got most everything done today that I wanted to get done too - so that's a bonus

Church was really good today. I had a hard time getting there, just couldn't pull it together this morning but finally got there and not all that late- but late . . . 

came home from church and had a dip egg for lunch yummmmm and got done what I wanted to before the meeting at work. huge sigh - new things starting tomorrow at work, I will not have to go in until Tuesday so I'll see what's new then. The meeting was ok lots of faces I never saw but then the meeting was for all welcome center staff from all three branches, and we got paid for the meeting so that's not so bad.

came home and had some rice for supper - then watched Jeremiah Johnson - Doug and I saw that movie years ago when it was in the theater . . . I have been missing Doug a lot recently I guess that's to be expected, Valentines Day, being at Regis yesterday, watching Asa and Hannah playing basketball -  lots of memories stirred up.

Hannah had a tournament yesterday what a long day for them. The girls played well, won two games and lost one, but they never gave up and I am so proud of JoAnna and the way she handled them after their loss. I got yelled at by the ref during the last game and came really close to being kicked out of the game but didn't whew and the calls were a little teeny bit better after the 'conversation' between me and the ref - interesting time.

meeting tomorrow here, then Liz will come for lunch and my friend Marilyn will stop by for a little visit, Valley kids after school, Emmaus study tomorrow evening.

I was looking at some old posts and ran across this quote that I thought I would share again:

The world rings changes, it is never constant but in its
disappointments. The world is but a great inn, where we are to
stay a night or two, and be gone; what madness is it so to set
our heart upon our inn, as to forget our home?

     -- Thomas Watson

well, let's see

worked today regular shift at front desk - had a crazy call from a woman with a really thick accent asking if anyone had turned in a glove . . . leather with rabbit fur, it's from South America and very dear to her heart. I went and looked in the lost and found, came back and told her sorry I don't see anything like that. She said it's a leather glove with rabbit fur uh yeah I heard you the first time (I thought) told her sorry I don't see anything like that but if you come down you can sure look in the lost and found yourself. Well, it's a leather glove with rabbit fur (seriously?) then she said do people turn in gloves if they are dropped in the parking lot? By this time Cindy was laughing and I was trying to hold it together and be nice to this lady that I really couldn't help. You can come down and look through the lost and found if you would like, but I don't see anything like that back there. Finally after telling me what the glove looked like again she said it was really special to her and maybe if she could get a ride to the Y she would come and look for herself. She thanked me for my help and hung up . Wow

I worked a shift yesterday for Amy whose daughter was sick and had to see the Dr. I was so happy to walk into child watch and see Kim who I work with on Thursdays. The other gal who works on Monday is Kaitey who I only met once the day I started and it would have been ok to work with her I was relieved and happy to see Kim. It was a good day in there some of the kids are so special and so sweet. Junior sat on my lap for about 20 min and when he wasn't sitting with me Eleanor was. All day I was dragging. I could have slept in so easily but had to be up and moving earlish to cover Amy's shift. Came home from work and napped through Barefoot Contessa then got up and took a shower to get ready for Monday night Bible Study. It was great to be back there!

Asa has a game tonight then prayer then home and to bed this gal is tired!

Lent starts tomorrow - no sweets or angry birds for me! More reading instead - trying to get through 3 books to make a difference in my life

Kids are in bed, and I am heading there soon as well. It's been a good day with the vision team meeting this morning, Keith coming and adjusting my glider (I have been happily rocking most of the day!) Liz coming for lunch then the kids coming after school.

I was sad to miss the first night of bible study but will go and get caught up next week

I had a good time in Arizona - loved hearing and seeing all the rain they got. Enjoyed the drive in the mountains, the one afternoon I swam, Dad sat in the hot tub. Meeting people from Community Christian Church and saying hello to ones we had met before. Happy to be able to see the sale they have each year and all the stuff they had! WOW! It was kinda fun riding Dad's (new to him) bike home from the church sale, since it wouldn't fit in the Pt Cruiser - it was a little scary riding, I have not been on a bike in a very long time and I thought my legs were going to drop off from peddling but thankful they did not and I did manage to make it back without driving off the high curb into the traffic whew! 

We met with Leanne and Bill for lunch at Golden Corral on Wed and then on Thursday we went to Maricopa to the casino for dinner for Tricia's birthday. Good food even if it was in stinky dairy cattle country.

Tricia and I had a really nice visit with Patty - a new neighbor to our folks who moved there last year. She is from Washington State originally from Pennsylvania a former history teacher and widow who has led a very interesting life. she is very sweet and kinda ditsy which lends to her charm. She lives next door to a couple from Iceland Ari and Katian don't know their last name and prolly couldn't spell it if I did. She Katian is a professional artist and she is amazing. She had several portraits of people she had done from last year's hobo dinner. Very impressive - that was fun.

First day we were there dad took us shopping at Three Goodwill s - half price day and my word the people! He bought me two pair of jeans one black for work and  three new tops or four I don't remember right now plus and umbrella I have been needing one of those!

We played a lot of pinochle that was such fun, did a lot of laughing and of course eating. I got to sleep in each day and had just a really relaxing time. It was a short/long week and hard to say goodbye. Two and a half months will go by quickly.

Got ready and headed to Asa's game on Saturday at Ambroze only went to Jane Boyd instead and when I went back out to go to the right place, my Tahoe wouldn't start - Michael, bless his persistent heart, worked diligently on my truck till late Saturday night - finally I called to have it towed to his house so he could work on it and go into the house to warm up in between. New battery, new spark plugs - he and Dorian said they were amazed it even would fire to start the engine with how bad the plugs were. New roter too I think. Anyways I was without my Tahoe till late afternoon on Sunday. It's running now and running good! Michael said it would prolly be a good thing to start saving toward a different vehicle. My truck has well over 225,000 miles on it. It's been a really good truck.

I need to head to bed, back to work tomorrow

never once did we ever walk alone

never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful!

every step we are breathing in Your grace

ever more we'll be breathing out your praise! 

just a very short note, flying to Arizona for a week tomorrow

see you on the flip side

Happy Birthday Ben!!!!

let's see if I can remember

Sunday: Sunday School, church, business meeting home with Alyssa for lunch and Mirror Mirror, then back to the Gathering where we watched A Fan or a Follower of Jesus or at least the first part.

Monday: day off but covered a shift 3 - 6 at the welcome center - it's strange to be at the Y at different times than I am used to, different people, different atmosphere

Tuesday: worked, went to prayer - wished JoAnna Happy Birthday!

Wednesday: child watch, haircut, W;nk - kids over night

Thursday: child watch, last deaconess meeting this go round

Friday: worked, lunch with Liz, Keith brought my glider back!, dinner with Willie, Julie and Anita, Isaac came and we watched part of Where The Wild Things Are, went to Hannah's game they won 27 - 4 chatted with Pitt's family at game came back home and finished the movie with Isaac

Today slept in - nice - had a nice time of Bible Reading to Isaac whilst he ate breakfast. Talked with Mom and Dad listened for almost an hour next Saturday I will be in Arizona! yipee

off to see what else is going on in the house

I have not posted since New Year's eve - yikes! I didn't feel like I had anything to say, not much goes on from day to day and yet that is not entirely true either so . . . here are some things I have learned this year in no particular order

learning how to navigate a new device is hard and time consuming

I am going to be a great grandmother again to great #6 - no details yet

one of my wise daughters said to me, do not let your age be a reason not to try something new

if you are walking in the freezing cold, holding your hands on your face helps a lot

it's way easier to take Christmas down than put it up

waves of grief and missing still hit

squirrels who get caught in bird feeders may come back and destroy said feeder after a couple of generations

Doug day came with my children home and it helped a lot

it seems for the past few years my January has started in the book of Genesis

I am not a huge fan of freezing cold - snow yes

Steven Wright is not as funny to me as he once was

Asking myself the question, am I a Jesus fan or a Jesus follower?

I woke up so tired this morning. When my alarm went off I hit snooze twice! I never do that, all I wanted to do was sleep. Dragged myself out of bed thankful that coffee was ready! (Dunkin' Donuts coffee thanks to Robbyn and Brian) I thought about not going to church but realized that is where I wanted to be so got ready and went. Then to hear Pastor Phil say during his message, church is a place you want to be . . . confirmed what I had thought earlier. I wanted to be in God's house with His people today! I was so blessed to see Katie and Tyler and Zade! I cannot believe how much Zade has grown, and he is talking so much and so grown up! I would have missed that if I had not gone. Then to see Jo and Debbie Franks, another blessing! Thank you, Lord for giving me a heart to know You and love You and Your people. 

I stopped for Chinese food, came home, changed my clothes and put in Mirror, Mirror to watch. After I was done eating I layed down on the couch to finish watching the movie and slept for 2 hours! That was so great! I woke up feeling so rested, too. It was nice usually I can't nap but have not been sleeping long enough, thank You Lord for that blessing today.

Tonight I ate some ice cream with strawberries and watched Star Trek the (newest one) I so enjoy the Star Trek movies - now I am here catching up

I had a really nice Christmas - Andy and I watched the Sherlock Holmes movies on my blue ray player Andy gave me for Christmas. He woke up sick so he slept through one of the movies, but I am thankful that God touched him and helped him feel better as the day went on. I had a very nice time with the kids at Matt's Christmas night. When Andy and I went to leave my truck was stuck on the ice in front of Matt's house. Matt and Andy were able to push me just enough to get me out into the main part of the street where it was clear. I stopped on my way home from work on Thursday and got new back tires, thanks to some very dear friends.

Heading to bed soon, planning to read for a while. I am sure liking my Kindle Fire from Liz and Ben. I woke up Saturday morning at 6  to no electricity and from what I can tell it was out for a couple of hours! I had my Kindle so I read for a bit then got up and went to the bathroom and looked outside and sure enough our whole block was out. Power a couple of blocks away but none for us - first ave was dark that's always kinda eerie. I quick got back in bed where it was nice and toasty warm. Then about 6:40 the power came back on. but could I get back to sleep nope! sigh

so, hoping to sleep a little later tomorrow. Matt's boys will come on New Years Day for the day that will be fun. I think we may have to make cookies or something. It will be nice having them over. 

Something to think on   - "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." — J. I. Packer