Happy New Year!

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me as I get his burger into a skillet for supper tonight. That's a treat for him. I think his favorite meal is a hamburger and we've found low carb tortillas that we put his burger onto, so, with mustard, lettuce, pickle and onion, he feels like he's having a hamburger sandwich and he doesn't ruin his diet. So, that's our new year's eve celebration dinner. We're easy! Tomorrow Gina and the kids are coming, so that will be a great way to start the year! I pray they travel safely!

We woke up this morning to a call from the resort telling us we were under a tornado warning and we should either come down to the first floor or tune into channel 10 to keep updated. We had thunder and hard rain, but the tornadoes went around us. I thanked God! It reminded me of last year when we were in Maui and were awakened by the tsunami alarm and the loud speaker saying we should prepare to evacuate or tune into some channel for information. We did evacuate and the tsunami never happened. Those are rude awakenings, but I rejoice that we are safe.

Yesterday, I hope I didn't concern you because I had a tough day. Tough days happen. It's life. I have to be honest on this blog, though, so I tell it like it is. Surviving breast cancer is wonderful, but as long as we live there will be tough challenges. I guess it builds character and strength. I hope so. I thank God for believing I can overcome the tough stuff and giving me life.

No sugar added rocky road ice cream. I need it!

This is the picture Don took of me yesterday when I got home from getting groceries. Gina and the kids will be here Saturday night, so I wanted noodles and spaghetti sauce and bread to feed them. Orange juice is a good start for breakfast and a red onion will keep Don happy. The great thing was I found no sugar added rocky road ice cream! I sure needed that! I've been here two weeks and couldn't find any until yesterday.

Today has been a hairy day. I keep getting difficult news from folks I love. This blog is not the place to go over any of it, but it's been hard for me. So, I will have ice cream and work my way through it. Life is not always easy, so it's comforting for me to know that God IS right here with us. I count on that. I thank Him that I don't have to know all the answers and thank Him for taking care of all the details.

Today was nice and warm, so Don and I walked over to the Tanger outlet mall and all through it. We went to all the places we thought we might find a bargain. There were bargains, but we didn't want any of them, so we didn't come lugging anything home that would have been an excess!

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

The picture tonight is one I took last July when we went to Omaha for Jessie's tournament. Jessie is on the far left and her dad, Jeff, is the second from the right. The coaches were having an after that game session with the girls. Today is Jeff's birthday and the celebration tonight will be around OSU's game; hope they get a win! That will be a present for Jeff; notice his OSU orange glasses! God gave us a great trip to Omaha and saved our life when we totaled the car on the way home. We have so many blessings to count!

So, we're watching football tonight. I did a little shopping today. It was enough to make me tired after walking laps in the hall here and then doing the stairs twice. (They have an elevator, but I use it as little as possible.)

I'll get a good jacuzzi bath right quick, before the game starts. I love these baths!

God gave us another break.

This is a picture Don took of me in the kitchen in this unit. The kitchen is where I always spend a lot of time. Today I was way thirsty after shopping.

God gave us a break on the weather; it was in the 40's today and not windy, so that wasn't bad at all. I got a few Christmas bags for next year, but didn't find anything else. I'm getting better and better at ignoring the bargains. I finally learned that it's not a bargain if I don't need it.

I'm sleepy, already, so I guess the shopping on top of our walking the halls and stairs are doing a job on me. I'll have a nice jacuzzi bath and hit the hay!

Slow around here.

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me at the table, here in our unit. There isn't much happening today. I love it when it's slow and easy like this!

It's very cold outside, but we don't have snow. We walked the hall this morning for 40 minutes, then we walked down the stairs 4 floors and back. Then later they called to tell me we had mail, so I walked down all 5 floors to pick up our mail and then back. So, we're getting some exercise. It's too cold to hike, but Thursday may be a warmer day and maybe we'll go walking in the woods. I'm thinking tomorrow I may go do a little shopping. It was nice to take it easy today. Don worked on the computer all morning, so I read my book. Then this afternoon I caught up on my emails and computer stuff. It's nice to not have any projects to do around the house, like throw herbs or cleaning, etc.

I spent much of today on the phone with people we love at home. A dear friend of Don's dad's passed away yesterday. She was 94 and left her husband who will be 98 on his next birthday. What a precious couple! We thank God for their love and their example in our lives. They have been blessed, and her death to a heart attack was simple. She had fallen 3 weeks ago and hospitalized for 2 weeks and they had moved her to the nursing home last week. She lived only a week there. God was kind to bring her home with no further complications. Certainly she will be missed and remembered by lots.

Nice fireplace.

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me last night, standing beside our 'fireplace' in this unit. It's pretty novel. It actually does put out heat and it has a flame that is adjustable; it's really not a flame, but it sure looks like one. The camera doesn't do it justice, but we're enjoying it.

Today we went shopping at Wal-Mart after church and that was a dumb thing. I had on heals, which I only wear to church. So I walked a blister onto one of my feet. I'm sure glad I don't have to wear those shoes, again, anytime soon. A blister is a nasty thing, especially for someone who walks everyday. Ugh. Maybe my tennis shoes won't hit on that blister, plus I have a supply of band-aids and a cushion I can put in that shoe to raise my foot up to where the blister won't get so much traffic. I just hate it when I do really dumb things like that!

It was cold here today, and we had a few little snow flurries, but we thanked God that we didn't have to struggle through snow. If we get snow, here, they usually do a really good job of clearing the roads, but we have no experience with snow, so we lay really low if it snows. Much of the east has snow, so we pray our kids and friends who are in snow are safe!

Merry Christmas!

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me in front of the tree in the lobby. This tree is really pretty awesome. They have life sized trumpets on that tree! Flip flops; that's the wonder of being inside, since we aren't in Hawaii. :)

We had a nice quiet day. I got to sleep late and that was a treat for me. We had brunch and skipped lunch. We are going with the KISS method; that is keep it super simple. Someone else did all the decorating and we're eating simply. It works for Don's diet and food is a small issue for me, anymore.

There are very few people in this resort right now, I think. We rarely see anyone or hear anyone. This is exactly like we like it. I thank God that we can have these great getaways. We look forward to Gina and the kids coming next week for a visit and we'll enjoy hearing about all their travels and visits! I wish everyone were on Skype. We Skyped with Trish and her family today and that was fun. I Skype with Bob Clark and Judy Izumi pretty often. Dana and Terri, do you Skype?

They don't have a fitness room here, and it was cold, so we didn't want to walk over to the mall. So, we walked laps in the hall. It was great. Two years ago we were here and I walked by myself because Don wasn't into walking. It was great to have his company today!

Merry Christmas to all!

Borrowed: "A Gift for Everyone"

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me crashed on our bed in this condo. Maybe 62 is too old to be moving around like we used to do all the time? I'll be fine tomorrow! A good night's sleep is a wonderful thing!

My good friend, Travis Wiginton, writes a devotional from time to time and tonight I'm borrowing a bit of his writing. His wife, La Moyne, types them for him and sends notes, as well, so it's always so good to hear from them! I was so touched by what they sent, so I will close with it. When I grew up I was a picky eater and I left lots on the table when it came to food. I outgrew that and became greedy when it came to food, so I'm doing my best to quit eating too much. However, I think we leave so much 'on the table,' when it comes to God's blessings and that's a mistake. The things we like best about traveling and hiking is seeing all the different things that God has made. Coming through all the tough things in my life, I know that God was always holding me in His arms, but He does that ALL the time! We are so blessed!

This is what Travis wrote:

"There was a gift for each of us left under the tree of life almost 2000 years ago by Him whose birthday we are celebrating.

It was made possible:
~ by the incarnation (the real meaning of Christmas)
~ by the crucifixion (the real meaning of Good Friday)
~ by the resurrection (the real meaning of Easter).

This gift is withheld from no one.
~Some have left the packages unclaimed.
~Some have accepted the gift and carry it around....
but have failed to remove the wrappings and look inside to discover the hidden splendor.

The packages are all alike - wrapped up in Jesus Christ who is
~"the Way
~the Truth
~the Life".

In each package is written "All that the Father has is thine, take and live"!"

Love reading!

So, this is the bed in the extra bedroom; it's a great place to read, and Don caught me reading. I love reading and it's part of my plan for relaxing. These beds are very comfortable! We didn't even put on our memory foam topper, which we bring with us.

We're packed to leave in the morning. We'll settle in at the next place for a week and then we'll come back to this condo for another week. Then we'll go out to Big Cedar for a week.

We've enjoyed working out ever since we left home, but we're not sure if the Colonnade has a work out room. We'll see. If they don't then we'll walk over to the Tanger Mall for exercise; it's very close.

It's almost Christmas! We thank God for sending His son! Hope you are enjoying Christmas where you are!

"Ruthie's bed."

Actually, this is not RUTHIE's bed, but it is the bed I so wanted her to come sleep in when we were in the Arkansas boonies: Horseshoe Bend. I was really impressed with the antiques: sleigh bed, wicker chairs, etc. Well, Ruthie DID come and she also loved the furnishings, but she reminded me that antique beds weren't queen size! These are replicas, but they are very good! We did love staying there and it was even better when Ruthie and Phil came to share it with us. I'm not so into pictures without people in them, but by the time Ruthie and Phil got there we were too busy puzzling to get pictures of them in the bedroom. Besides, this is a family friendly blog. :) This place represents fun memories for us.

We booked another week at the place where we are, now. This WIFI right in the unit works really well for us. They have a fitness room within walking distance, so that works well for us, too. So, this week we leave and go another place (The Colonnade) for a week and then we'll be back here for the week after that. We're pleased with that change in the plans. We had two weeks scheduled at the Colonnade, but they are closing the first of January, so we can do our second week there in March. We were glad to be able to pick up another week here, where we find it so comfortable. I need to get a picture of their beds; they have awesome beds! We didn't even have to put our memory foam top on the bed!

I thank God for great sleep; a wonderful bed and whirlpool tubs. Hot water and good heat are also wonderful and I give thanks for them, too!

Note: I did the consultation for the permanent make up today. I'll decide and report to you!

Short on pictures!

Boo! This is a picture Don took tonight for me to send to a lady who does permanent make up, so it's me up really close. I don't want to look painted, but I mostly don't want to have to do the painting every day! So, I'm still contemplating this. Ha! I look at this picture and think I need to have some tucks taken here and there! I don't really care about those wrinkles, though. I do need some color, and I need it every day. If Gretta reads this she'll call me and come right through the phone to keep me from doing it. She doesn't read this, though, so I'm safe. I'm hoping they'll do it subtly enough that she won't even notice it. I told her I was thinking of it once and she said, "Mom! Don't you DARE do that!" She has a bracelet tattooed on her wrist and another couple of really pretty ones on her thigh or hip or something . . . I think a rose or a dragon fly? And she thinks I shouldn't have my face done? I think I can make this decision. Judy or Linda, I sure wish you were here to hold my hand, though! Ha, Judy, you talked me into going back to mascara and now I'm so hooked! Linda, you talked me into eye brows and I'm hooked on those, too. So even though neither of you are here in body, I'm taking you with me in spirit if I do it!

I thank God for the opportunity to care what I look like! I thank Him for giving me a chance to live several more years after a breast cancer diagnosis. I thank Him for letting me feel good enough to care if I look alive or not.

Today was busy. I'm doing lots of research on this permanent make up thing. It's not like placing an Avon order; this is permanent, so I've got to be sure!

Christmas is closing in on us!

Only 5 more days! Don took this picture of me last night, standing out on the screened in porch of our unit. You can see the lights on the bushes out by the little pond behind us. We think it's pretty cool. I love Christmas lights when they belong to someone else; we donated all we had to the nursing home several years ago, so we don't do lights anymore. I don't jump rope anymore. I've just outgrown some things and jumping rope and hanging Christmas lights are two of them.

I am so grateful to be alive to celebrate every single day. Christmas is a wonderful season, but Don and I have learned over the years that celebrating is good every day. We're glad to celebrate early or late, whether it's for Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries. Those are all great occasions, but we think it's most important to celebrate every day. Family reunions (any sort of reunion) have to be celebrated whenever we can arrange to be at the same place, but doing all that arranging sometimes adds a lot of stress. We make all those that we can, but in general we do our best to celebrate all the time. We have seen too many examples of lives being cut short, so we take no day lightly.

God has blessed us all so much. We thank Him every day, but I believe our thanks is best shown by the way we live and show our thanks because our vocabularies are too limited to adequately express our gratitude and His generosity.

Survivor night.

Don is enjoying football; I'm posting the blog early to be sure I don't forget to do it, tonight. tonight is the 3 hour finale of Survivor. Survivor is one TV show that I enjoy watching, so I'll be consumed with it tonight.

This picture is one Don took of me to show you this condo. The laptop is on a table sort of between the kitchen and dining area and the living room. That red chair to my left is a recliner where Don sits to watch TV. Off the living room is a nice screened in patio that looks off over a little pond. They have all the shrubs all lit up with Christmas lights, so it's very picturesque.

Today we enjoyed going to church where we have gone so many times when we stay in Branson. We saw lots of people who are familiar to us and that was a blessing to us. It is cold, but not freezing cold. I was comfortable in slacks and a blazer; some weeks will require a coat and gloves and I'll still be freezing. I thank God that the wind doesn't blow here like it does at home. This kind of cold isn't bad when it's still. Wind makes it terrible, but it feels rather nice as it is.

At church this morning, one of the mover and shaker sort of people appeared looking like I did 3 years ago: bald and pale! I went up and visited with him after church and he was all smiles and so glad to be here. He's just finished his chemo and his hair is starting to return. Oh, man! Been there and done that! Thank God for his survival and mine!

Pomelo.

I looked it up and pomelo is the correct spelling. It's a fruit that I really enjoy and I can never get it at home. For some reason they have it around here. It's native to southeast Asia, but someone must ship it into here from California or who knows where. It's like a cross between an orange and a grapefruit. It's sweet. You don't need to sugar it. You just peel off the cover and then peel the segments and eat it. It's laborious, but it's worth it. This is a picture Don took of me with my pomelo when we first checked into the last condo in the boonies of Arkansas. I brought it with me from Lake Ozark; I never saw any in those boonies! I haven't seen any here, yet, but I usually find one before we leave.

We are enjoying this condo. We worked out at the fitness room this morning and we've been relaxing all day. Don has watched lots of football today and I took a good soak in the whirlpool tub. I love it when they have those and here I am with the time to soak! God is so good to me!

I have a quiche cooking that will last me all week for breakfast. We found a kind of bread that Don can have on his low carb diet, so that's a good treat for him, too. He's doing really well. It will be 8 weeks tomorrow and he's lost 20 pounds! He's starting to look skinny, but he won't quit until he's lost another 20 pounds and everyone will think he's sick. (That's not his goal, but it's my blunt way of stating it. I see the horror on people's faces and I field their questions about his health!) The last time he lost down so low Trish said, "Dad used to always be a big guy and now he's just a tall guy." He'll quit when he gets down to 200. Then we'll stick with our lifestyle change so that we never have to diet again!

Correct Link to Ann's picture.

The link I posted first didn't work; it would if you scrolled down through a bunch of posts, but it wasn't right. I believe this one will be right. I replaced the other one, but I wanted to do it, again, because when I post some folks get it in their email and might never go back to see the correction. So, here is the correction:

http://josnews.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-red-shirt-day-ann.html

Celebrate a precious life.

Tonight's picture is one Don took of Ruthie and Phil and I before they left for home yesterday. We so enjoyed time with them! We took this picture because there was a shelf in their unit with all Japanese things on it! Ruthie and I spent 6 years in Japan and she met Phil there, so Japan is special to us!

We left Horseshoe Bend this morning and 'moved' to Branson. We are in a very nice condo, and settled, so we're looking forward to this week. The best thing is that we have WIFI right in the unit. That will be very convenient!

The sad thing was that when I checked my email I had a note from a good friends husband that she had passed away in her sleep on Sunday and her funeral was in Texas yesterday. If you've read the blog long, you will recall Ann Nelson sometimes posted comments. One time I put a picture of her on the blog in her red shirt because she joined me in wearing red on Fridays to support the troops. Ann's husband, Jim, went to Itazuke to school before I was there, but we met at the reunions. Then, when I did my treatments at MD Anderson, Ann was there for treatments as well. We grew closer and closer over the years and I considered her one of my best friends. She was a great encouragement to me and I thank God for the influence she had on my life. I celebrate her life and that I got to share some of it with her. I won't forget her. I hope you have people in your life that mean as much to you and that you will celebrate them, as well. I attempted to put a link to the picture I posted of Ann in her red shirt. I hope it works.

http://josnews.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-red-shirt-day-ann.html

Late, but finished the puzzle!

Every now and then we work a puzzle that is fun all they way, but usually, it was more like it was with this puzzle. There were many times that we threatened to take this puzzle to the dumpster. Many times there were comments like, "This puzzle is so frustrating!" Then, so many times we said, "I just don't think that piece is here." Another common comment was, "I don't think there are enough pieces here to fill in all these spaces." It felt so good to be DONE with it! I lost count of how many pieces we recovered from the floor along the way. It was a fun time, though. We got down to the last two holes that needed to be filled and I counted, "There must be 7 more pieces." Sure enough, I counted and the last pieces, that looked like they did not belong at all, were 7 pieces. We twisted them every direction until, indeed, they did fit and completed the puzzle. It's amazing how the mind works. We're looking for a piece that we know should be green and when we finally find the right one, it's brown or orange! It definitely is a lesson to me that things are not what they seem and certainly I make poor judgments, even when I am rested and paying close attention.

I apologize to anyone who missed my post yesterday! I have to have the computer over here at the rec center to post, and they close it at 8 p.m. I fixed our dinner last night and then we watched Survivor before I realized I had to be up here to post by 8. Survivor was over at 8, so I just didn't get here in time. I hoped you would all realize that I was busy having fun with Ruthie and Phil and just lost my scheduling attempt and never made it back over here.

We worked on the puzzle until a little after 11 to get it finished before Phil and Ruthie left this morning. It was sure wonderful to have them! Bless their hearts, they are easy to feed and entertain. We didn't make any attempt at entertaining; being together is all it takes to entertain all of us. Don and Phil are a couple of comedians, and Ruthie and I are an easy audience. We feed off each other's laughter, so we always have a great visit. We enjoy lots of memories from over the years with our family; Phil and Don have both been members of our family so long that we all enjoy the memories. I thank God for memories to treasure and time we can spend reliving them! I thank you faithful readers for patience with me when I miss a day of posting. I hope you feel my love coming through this blog.

They're here!

Puzzle time! Tonight's picture is one of Ruthie and I working a puzzle. You can see that it's great fun. It's so good to have them visit with us! I thank God for their health and their safe trip! It's sure a blessing to us!

They got here around lunch time and Don and Phil sat at the dining room table and solved all the country's issues until I put supper on the table. In the meantime, Ruthie and I got a good start on the puzzle. It was a great afternoon. Ruthie and I came over here to do the blog, but we're going back to the puzzle. Woo hoo! Thanks for keeping up with us. Find some time to relax; come and join us if you can!

Ruthie and Phil will be here tomorrow!

This picture Don took Saturday. This room is off the living area and has two of these wicker chairs and a table that seats 6. You can see the lake and the beach out the window behind me. I guess this place is hopping in the summer. There are hardly any people here, now, though. We're so excited that Ruthie and Phil are joining us tomorrow, though! They've had snow, so I was afraid they wouldn't get to make it. We have no snow, though, so I expect the roads will get better as they come west from Tennessee. I know that lots of Tennessee is kind of standing still right now, but I pray the roads are clear enough for them to travel safely tomorrow! I sure thank God that they are healthy enough to travel! This time last year Ruthie was so suffering with her back after her surgery, so I sure thank God for her progress!

We are enjoying relaxing here. I'm enjoying reading after we work out. It's down right cozy here. :) We've found that we are pretty hooked on the Internet, now that it's so hard to access!

ICE Platinum Rewards

This picture is one I asked Don to take to show the little smocked dress that is hanging on the wall opposite the reading area that I posted yesterday. This resort really has some interesting touches. It is decorated with antiques and the furniture is mostly antiques, too. It's pretty cool. Ruthie and Phil are thinking of joining us for a few days because we're only about 5 hours from them. I sure hope they come; I think she'll enjoy sleeping in the antique sleigh bed in the second bedroom. I'd like for them to see this place because it may be available, again, through ICE and they are close enough to come pretty easily.

Now, about ICE. International Cruise and Excursion is the company we call ICE. We have a lifetime membership with them and we can add 80 friends and family to our account at no extra charge. If you'd like to be on our account you can have access to very reasonable (some downright cheap; we got this week and last week in 2 bedroom units for $99 per week; some weeks are only $49!) resort weeks and cruises. They also have hotel rooms, but they don't look so reasonable to me. We've never done a cruise, so I don't know so much about them. I booked one once, but we canceled it because of the expense to get to the port! Anyway, if you'd like me to add your to our account, please send me an email with your mailing address and your phone number. I can add you to our account and assign a username and password to you. I'll send it with instructions of how to use it.

Donna, Rene was talking about dreaming of going to the Bahamas and I thought, she should look at these ICE cruises. I don't know a good deal when I see one, but you all have done these before, so they might work well for you. since you aren't so far from a port. Just let me know the information I need to add them to our account. We have a lot left before we fill up our 80 places!

I thank God for the opportunities we have through ICE to get away. The thing I like best is that we can share it with people. The more people who use it, the better value we feel like we are getting for our membership fee.

Cool antiques!

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me today, here in the condo. This is a reading room off of our bedroom. It's pretty amazing; it has two walk in closets that are really huge. If I had a baby I'd make one a nursery. I'm struck with the decor here. We've noticed that this place is full of antiques. It's really a lovely place . . . just way out in the boonies. I'm getting used to going to the recreation center to get in touch with the outside world. It's really a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. I finished a book I've been reading, and I was glad of that; it's not the best book I've every read and I'm glad to be done with it. I will donate it to their library and go home one book lighter. (I read a book one time and took it to the nearest dumpster as soon as I finished it. I kept hoping it would end right, but it didn't, so I trashed it. This one wasn't that bad; someone will enjoy it.) The last book I finished last week was great; I'm saving it for my sister. (The Street Lawyer by John Grisham.)

I even took a nap this afternoon. Relaxing is wonderful! The weather here is fine, too. It's brisk, but not too cold. Well a cold front came in a while ago and it's pretty cold and windy out there, now. God sure was good to give us diversity in our lives; I appreciate that. We went to an antique store today and I loved it. I was happy to let them keep all they had, but I did so enjoy seeing it. (Noted that I have lots of antiques at home; ha!)

Boonies of Arkansas.

We are to be thankful in all things, so I thank God for a safe trip today. The condo is novel. I don't expect we'll ever come back here, though. Once is enough.

We have WIFI at the rec center, but I live in the condo, so I'm not too happy with that and there's not even any dial up because we are so far out in the middle of nowhere. We do have onions and burgers, though, so we can eat. I even brought a pommelo (however it is spelled) from Lake Ozark, so I'm happy. There is a nice grocery store, here, too. Peace and quiet; it's great. It is on a lake and furnished in wicker and novel sort of stuff. I'll get pictures, but have to hurry because they close the rec. center in 9 minutes! Boonies!

This picture is one Don took the other night. I have on a red shirt, today! I thank God for the troops!

Moving tomorrow.

I remembered to take the camera with us when we went to work out, today, but I forgot to put the card in it. So, the pictures are in the camera, but I don't have the cord to use to get them from the camera to the laptop. Ugh. So, if those pictures are any good I'll show you next spring. This picture is one Don took last night as I was fixing dinner. This unit has been very nice and very spacious and well supplied. We won't hesitate to come here, again.

Tomorrow we leave for Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. It'll be hard to beat this place. The following week we'll go to Branson where we will be spending the rest of the winter, I think.

It's been a very relaxing week and I thank God for it! Thanks for keeping up with us.

Way relaxing.

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me relaxing in the whirlpool. I love it!

We work out every day at the 4 Seasons fitness room. This resort is a part of the 4 Seasons complex, here, and it's very nice. It's been a very nice start to our form of snow birding. I thank God for the time we get to spend escaping to special places and for our health to allow it!

We are watching Survivor tonight; one of my favorite TV shows. Then I'm ready for bed. I just got out of that soaking tub.

OOOPS! Forgot!

To my faithful readers, please pardon me for missing yesterday with a blog post! I had a wonderfully relaxing day, and I never even realized that I'd missed posting the blog until I sat down to post it today and saw that I was a day late! The picture tonight is one Don took the day we arrived here. It was nearly dark and I am standing on our porch which is right on the edge of the lake. This is a wonderful place.

I had the most wonderful and relaxing day, yesterday. Today was just like it! In the morning Don and I go over to the Four Seasons Fitness room. There is never anyone there but us, so it's like a private fitness room. The equipment is deluxe and it has a beautiful view out over the lake. Then we come back for lunch and then I enjoy reading all afternoon while Don uses the laptop. After supper I catch up on the laptop while he watches TV. Somewhere in there I take a great whirlpool bath. I love it!

I thank God for this opportunity to relax and enjoy life. I'm saddened and sobered by the death of Elizabeth Edwards. I know that she wanted to live as much as I do. She has been a courageous example and I thank God for her example.

Happy belated birthday, Joe!

Tonight's picture is one I took of Joe and Elena when we were there in September. Joe is one of my all time favorite bald guys!

Looking at this picture reminds me of warm and beautiful weather. It's been beautiful here, today, but very cold! Thankfully, the wind wasn't blowing, so that helped. I think we saw somewhere that it was 28 outside. Brrrr; we didn't go out for long!

I am enjoying some nice, quiet time. Since we only have one laptop, we share computer time. When Don watches football I get the computer. When he's on the computer, I read. It works well for us. I thank God for the opportunity to get away and spend quiet time together. This place is so spacious and nice; we're enjoying it.

Happy belated birthday, Garrett!

The picture today is one I took of Garrett in September. That was his almost 14 look. He's 14, now. Wow. It only seems like a few weeks ago that he was born. Time sure flies. He'll be driving in a couple of years! He's a good, good, kid and we're so proud of him! When he was just a toddler he used to jabber and jabber and we thought one day we'd figure out what all that jabbering was. We never did; as far as I know it was just jabbering. He sure is a good kid, though. We thank God for him; he's a delight to our family.

Today Don has been watching football all day, so I've been free to roam around and get things checked off my list, as well as rest. I got the lettuce and celery cleaned, so it's ready to use every day. I boiled eggs, so they're ready; Don eats one every day. I cooked bacon this morning, so I've got grease to fry eggs and the bacon is a good treat, too. This place smells like home, now. :)

This is a very nice condo. It is very spacious and has comfortable furniture. It's really a nice start to our winter. It has a huge whirlpool tub in the bedroom, and I plan to fully enjoy that this afternoon. Relaxing is nice. I was ready for this!

So tired; almost forgot the blog!

Tonight's picture is one Don took of me with sweet Imogene today. We stopped to see her on our way to OKC and she was still at breakfast. She's a precious lady who can't see and has trouble breathing, but she always wears that smile. It was great to see her. Lots of times when we go to see her, she's gone somewhere with her daughter, so we were glad we caught her today.

We stopped in OKC to have some blood drawn for tests so we can keep up with general stuff like cholesterol, etc. That went smoothly. Then we stopped and ate because we had to fast before the tests. Then we ran by and dropped off a Christmas package for Trish and their family. All the kids were at school, so we scurried on down the road, hoping to get here before dark. We made it just as the sun was going down. Our unit is right on the lake, but we had to come down a flight of stairs. Ugh. We had to go to the grocery store and then come home and fix dinner. I got the broccoli washed, but the lettuce and celery will have to wait until tomorrow. There is WIFI here, but it is incredibly slow. For some reason the "o" key is sticking on my laptop and it's really tiresome going back to put it in after I notice an "o" missing. I was so tired and almost in bed when I remembered I hadn't done the blog! So I'm thanking God for a safe trip and a sweet visit with Imogene and Trish. We are blessed to have great people in our lives. Oh, man. I just thought that I forgot to mention yesterday that it was Joe's and Garrett's birthday. I did talk to Joe and got cards to them. Garrett was busy, so I didn't call him. I have a hard time keeping up with everything. I talked to Gretta yesterday, too, and she said maybe she and Garrett could come spend a long weekend with us if he gets one in January or February; we can celebrate then! I've so got to go to bed! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Last of the re-bloomers!

Tonight's picture is one Don took today of me and the last of this year's re-bloomers. This year there haven't been as many, but they lasted longer than they ever have any other year. God's creations are so interesting to watch and enjoy!

I'm scurrying to get everything into the car. I'm sure glad we're traveling light. (Eyes rolling!) It's ridiculous all we take with us to go anywhere. Traveling with us is worse than traveling with a baby. I think we're ready, though. Whew. I'll post from the road as soon as I can. Enjoy the holidays! Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season . . . and everything else! Praise Him!

Rattled.

The picture tonight is Gabe and Gracie when they were here last week. Since then Gabe has had a great hunting season. He got a 10 pointer buck one day and a doe the next. I think he said the doe weighed 172 pounds? I get the details confused.

I get everything confused! When I was at Tricia's house in October I stopped at a yard sale and bought a pair of flip flops to wear around her house. When I got home I realized the pair had TWO LEFT feet! I could still scoot around in them, but I felt really dumb. This week the credit card company called to tell us they had to close our account because there was some indication that something fraudulent was happening with it. They sent new cards to us by one day UPS, so I went to cut up the old card and cut up the new one. DUH. That is so what Don has to put up with every day. Bless his big heart. I thank God for him! So rattled is putting it mildly. There's no telling what I'll forget to take with us that we really need. I'm working on getting the last things packed. It's scary when he's depending on me to get this right.

I will keep posting as we travel, but if I miss a day don't worry. Just know that it's my intention to post every day, but we could get snowed in or powered out or something that keeps me offline for a day or two. Thanks for keeping up with us!

Love those smiles!

Tonight's picture is the happy three after Rob pounced on them. I love the memories! I so thank God that Nate and Megan and Gabe could be with us this year. They may all be working for spring break and our reunion trip in June, and, of course, I know they need to work, but I sure love enjoying all the time we can with them while we can!

Today I got a bunch of the Christmas stuff ready to mail tomorrow. I still have some more to package up tonight, but I think I'll get it all off tomorrow. It's not like I'm sending that much; just tokens to the kids, mostly, and most generally just a little money, but it still has to be sent and packaged somehow. I'm always scared I'll leave out someone and I sure don't want to do that! I gave up on getting Christmas cards out 4 years ago when I began the cancer battle. I just know the last thing I want to spend my time on earth doing is getting out Christmas cards. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, but getting out cards is just too big a project! So, don't anyone send me a Christmas card; I'll feel guilty! Also, I won't get it until spring, when we get home. Joan is forwarding our mail that needs attention, but she won't be forwarding Christmas cards. We'll read them when we get home. There will be tons of junk mail to wade through, so any Christmas cards will be a treat. We celebrate Christ's birth year 'round, anyway.

Fun memories.

Tonight's picture is one of Nate and Megan bracing for Robert's attack. For some reason he was pouncing onto them. Tomorrow I'll post the picture after he landed. It was rowdy and it was fun! Nate and Megan are good sports! It's all great memories for us. The digital camera is a great thing to help me keep these memories. I have my screen saver set to go through my pictures, so I'm often reminded of all the great times, from home to Branson, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and Hawaii. I love that little tool!

Today I've been doing busy stuff around here to get ready to leave for a while. I need to get the rest of the Christmas presents sent; I've delivered some, already, but there are more to get going. That's the big thing on my list right now. I've got to get us packed and that's tricky. We'll need all our bookwork for taxes, some exercise stuff, a few changes of clothing for winter and spring, workout clothes, hiking shoes, etc. The list is long and it's plenty of work to keep me busy this week. I love the traveling and I thank God for Joan to take care of the house while we're gone. It's in good shape to leave with a caretaker, so I'm in good shape there. She keeps the flower beds and yard in shape for us, but there won't be that much to do in the winter.

More of the pink thing fun.

Tonight's picture is Mason and Grace playing with the pink thing. I was so glad that I cleaned it good, and really glad that they had so much fun with it. You never know what will be so entertaining! It was entertaining for me just to watch them!

Today I've gotten a lot done toward my taxes. It's really just getting the books updated and in order so that I can fill in the tax forms. If I were more organized it would be done along the way, but, no, I procrastinate. So it is, but I'm in pretty good shape and feel good about my progress.

Dorothy called this morning and David was too short of breath to even eat, today! It's all he can do to drink Boost. I just hate it for him to have this tremendous difficulty breathing. They declined the dinner invitation, but they have an open invitation, so whenever we are here they can join us. I thank God for dear friends like them.

I packed our memory foam that we take when we travel and our travel pillows today. I also packed books to read for fun while we're gone. I'm getting a little done here and there.

10 cent bargain!

This picture is one I got of Mason (10) and Raynie (3) playing with a toy I got at a yard sale for 10 cents. I don't know what it is, but it has a 'million' of these little plastic pegs that take on the shape of whatever you press into them. Mason is pressing his face into it, here. They had more fun with this toy! I only spent a dime for it, but I probably spent an hour and a couple of dollars cleaning it. It's a good thing I did because they seemed to like pressing their faces on it better than anything. We don't even know what it is; we call it the 'pink thing.'

Rob took us all to breakfast at the Kozy Diner this morning. That was a really nice treat after cooking for so many meals. After breakfast they came home and packed up and headed for home. They wanted to be home for tonight's OU-OSU Bedlam game. That is THE game in this state! (I'm 'watching it' over my shoulder as I type this. :)

We have lots of left overs from our Thanksgiving meals. I've already invited David and Dorothy to join us for leftovers after church tomorrow. They have a mutual friend visiting them, so she'll join us, too. We'll clean up all the left overs this week and meals will be easy for me. I thank God that we have plenty to eat. Actually, we work on eating less than we need, so that we can trim some of the fat off our bodies. We are richly blessed! We like to have an attitude of gratitude all the time, but we take so much for granted.

I was grateful for our plumber this weekend, because he worked on our bathrooms Monday, and our bathrooms worked great all weekend. We have two bathrooms that get so little use, but they are old, so it's common for something to break when we have the kids here using old stuff that doesn't get much use. I aim to use those other bathrooms sometime, just to keep them from getting 'rusty,' but I tend to go back to our bathroom most of the time. Most of all we were so thankful to have Trish and Rob and their kids here with us this weekend! It was wonderful that they were all healthy and even Megan, Nate's girlfriend could be here. Megan and Nate took Gabe home Thursday so he could go hunting and they had to work. Gabe got a buck yesterday and a doe today, so he's having a great season! I hope he'll get me a picture I can post soon.

Nate and Megan.

This is the picture of Nate and Megan that I promised. She is every bit as sweet as she looks and Nate is way nicer than he looks. He smiles big in person, but when you get there with a camera he goes into lock mode. He was doing his best to please us here, but he can really smile big.

We have so much fun playing cards. Nate loves Rook, so we play that when he's here. Nate likes that, too, but Rook is his favorite. He's hard to beat because he is really a good bidder. When he's gone we play Hand and Foot Canasta because Mason can play that. Grace was learning today, so she'll be a card player, too. We all love to play cards. Of course around the card table we do lots of laughing and snacking.

I have eaten way too much over this holiday. Eating is such a social thing for me. I'll have to work to rectify all this eating! I thank God that we have plenty to eat and family that will share with us. We are so blessed!

It's fun at our house!

This is a picture that Megan, Nate's girlfriend, took. I'm amazed that we could get one this good with 10 people! All eyes opened and all but Raynie smiling. I'm thrilled with it and thank God for it!

This morning while I was getting lunch ready, Grace made a list of over 30 things for which she was thankful. It was pretty precious, as she is! This is an awesome family. Tomorrow I'll post a picture we got of Megan with Nate. She's pretty awesome, too! She and I beat Nate and Gabe at a game of Rook last night, even though they talked across the table all night. Fun, fun, fun!

I think Gabe looks so much like Robert and Nate looks so much like Trish. Does anyone else out there see it?

It's fall at our house!

While we were waiting on Trish and Rob and the kids to get here, Don took this picture in our back yard. I love the colors of the leaves on the trees back there. It really looks like fall and it's turned really cold since then, so it feels like fall, too.

Tomorrow I sure hope we can get a bunch of pictures of all these kids. I need to update my picture frames around the house. Nate and Megan have to get back to work and Gabe is going with them because he's going hunting with their other grandpa tomorrow. So, we're eating a light breakfast and lunch around 11:30 so they can get on the road. I sure hope we get pictures made before they leave! I sure thank God that they could come; this is fun! As the kids get so old, it's really hard to get everyone here at one time . . . even from one family. We never get them all together, but we can dream and maybe some year it will happen.

Lots of last minute stuff.

Tonight's picture is one Don took Sunday night on our way to church. I'm not that together, today. This is last minute touches day, so I'm baking pies and making cheese balls and chex mix. I still have laundry to do, so that we'll be all clean when everyone gets here tomorrow. Whew! I love it that folks are coming; I want to be ready. I thank God that I did the big cooking and preparations last week and I'm thankful that we have a freezer.

I hope that your Thanksgiving is wonderful and that your family and friends are healthy and happy. We are so blessed and I'm very thankful. Many people are suffering lots of stress and health issues. I pray that God will sooth their situations and grant them peace and health and happiness.

Happy Thanksgiving week, all!

Tonight's picture shows what happens when I break the rule, "Never look DOWN at the camera!" Double chin wins! Oh, well; that's just how it is sometimes and I have to deal with it.

Today I got the cornbread made for the dressing and all the celery and onions chopped for the dressing. It's just a matter of mixing and baking, now. I got the pea salad made (Yours, Ruthie.), so it can soak for a couple of days; yum! Tomorrow I will make the pies and the cheese ball. The kids will start to get here Wednesday. We're all excited and ready for them! The plumber came and fixed all our bathrooms, so we're ready for company all over the house! We thank God that his (the plumber) mother did very well with surgery to remove a brain tumor last Friday and he was able to come back to work, today. We have so much for which to be thankful!

Happy Birthday, Gabe!

The picture tonight is one I took of Gabe and Raynie when we were at Runaway Bay Lodge in Texas back in July. Gabe is 16 today. What a wonderful Thanksgiving blessing he was 16 years ago and every day since. (Well, maybe not the day he cut Sadie's hair; that day he was lucky to live. I think Sadie was 3 and he was 6 or something like that? Ha!)

This is Thanksgiving season! Woo hoo! It was beautiful here today, but it's going to get cooler as the week progresses, I think. Tomorrow I will get serious about getting the rest of the food ready. This is fun. I've done lots already, but it's time to get the rest ready and get what's in the freezer ready to thaw. I thank God that we have family coming. I thank God for our family's health. We have been so blessed. I will get lots more pictures this week!

Real vitamin D day.

Tonight's picture is of the quilt top that Diana has made for Bob. It isn't quilted, yet, but it IS already gorgeous. Her choice of the fabric to use with the tee-shirts and the arrangement of the various designs is really good, in my opinion. Bob is very pleased with it and very proud of Diana's work. They are a really fun pair!

Today I've gotten a little farther in the tax chores, but time is squeezing down on me. I got side tracked when I found a folder on computer stuff and spent too long working to get an old computer online. I get so distracted! I also spent an hour or so outside collecting sun. It was a gorgeous day today, so it was a good time to get some real vitamin D. I thank God for sunshine. I trust Him to get me through the taxes!

Bob and Diana Clark

Tonight's picture is one Don took last night of me with Bob and Diana Clark. Bob and I were in the 8th grade together in Japan. He and his wife, Diana, moved here several years ago. They live just a few blocks from us. We are gone a lot and they are gone a lot, but sometimes we are at home at the same time, so it's great when we can play cards! You can see a little of the quilt Diana is making for Bob; it's over my right shoulder. She's making it out of tee-shirts from the Itazuke reunions and it is gorgeous! I'll post a picture of only the quilt tomorrow. How blessed we are to have this wonderful couple live right down the street from us. We'd love it if more people from Itazuke would move here; we call this Itazuke West.

We played cards last night and it was way fun. The men won one and the women won one. I made peach cobbler with splenda, so it was a treat for me, too. Poor Don can't eat any fun thing, it seems, while he is on the Adkins diet. He's lost 16 pounds so far, so that's great!

I've worked some on taxes today, so I'm pleased. Mostly I'm getting things in order. It's weird how my brain sometimes insists on order. I thank God for a brain that works to any degree. Our plumber's mother had brain surgery today; that's a really big deal. We are so blessed and take so much for granted!

Happy Birthday, Deanna!

Tonight's picture is one of our niece, Deanna, at the reunion last June. That's our little Raynie sitting there with her. Today was Deanna's birthday and she's spent it baking for a bake sale tomorrow that is a fund raiser for her oldest son, who has qualified for a trip to Europe next summer. I'm sure she's exhausted, but would not have wanted to do anything else today! I can only imagine that bake sale tomorrow will be a doozie! I hope it makes a lot of money for his trip! This is a fantastic opportunity for him. I thank God that he could qualify and that his family is such good support for him. Phil, enjoy every minute of the fund raising and the trip; these are memories to treasure that you are building!

We had a great time playing cards, here, tonight! We only got to play two games and the women won one and the men won the other one. I'll post a picture tomorrow night. Tomorrow is work on taxes day for sure!

Last of the rebloomers.

Tonight's picture is me with the last of the re-bloomers. Actually, these were just stalks when I cut them a couple of weeks ago, and they've finally bloomed. There are a couple of the last of the daisies in there, too. The fall flowers have been sparse, but at least there have been some to enjoy. We haven't had a freeze, yet, but it really looks like we may get one tonight. It's cool and windy and feels like winter out there.

I still didn't get around to taxes today. I can find a million things to do to keep from doing taxes. This time next week we'll have a house full of people, though, so I sure want to have it behind me by then! I thank God for a week to get ready! Tomorrow night we're playing cards at our house. Woo hoo!

Procrastinated on the taxes.

Tonight's picture is one I took of Raynie a month ago when I was at their house helping to hold the fort after Trish had her tonsillectomy. She was on the front porch playing with their kitty and the next thing we knew she was asleep in the glider. I was reminded of this picture today when I was outside getting sun. (Trish is doing nearly all better; she can eat and talk, but her throat still feels sore and she's still building back her strength. It's hard for adults to have their tonsils removed; no doubt about that!

I haven't been outside to speak of in the last two weeks because I was so afraid of the allergens getting to me. Thankfully, I didn't have any problems with allergies today! Picture this: I was laying on the back deck with two corn buddies to keep me warm! The neighbors surely know that I'm crazy. I'm a real believer in Vitamin D, and I haven't had my share from the sunshine for a couple of weeks. (I take supplements, but the sunshine is the best Vitamin D.) I'm starting to really look pale, too, so I ventured out there. We even walked for a couple of miles! It was wonderful. I thought back to Raynie being so comfortable outside that she took a nap, so I was reminded of this sweet picture. We are blessed in Oklahoma to have nice warm days like today so much of the time. If the wind had been blowing today, I couldn't have enjoyed it, so it was nice to have a still day. I thank God for wonderful weather, right here at home!

House is clean.

Tonight's picture is the one Don took yesterday of Sue and I at the Pizza Hut. I'm glad we got this picture yesterday because today I look like the wreck of the Hesperus. This morning I got two of our weeks in December scheduled for our travels. Then this afternoon Don and I cleaned all the floors in the house. I so thank him for vacuuming for me! I'd still be vacuuming if I had done it. I swept and mopped all the other floors. Whew. It wasn't that dirty, but I wanted to get it done before next week when folks come for Thanksgiving. I'll need to work on taxes and cook between now and then, so it's good to have this off my list of things to do. I thank God for a home we love and for the ability to take care of it. I sure see why people downsize and move to retirement homes. It's tempting.

Tomorrow's chore is tax preparation. Ugh. I'm glad to get it done early, though. It's just always a drag for me.

9 pointer!

Gretta sent this picture this morning! She was so proud of her 9 point deer that she got and wanted me to post it on Facebook for her. I was way proud to post it for her! I love that deer, but I'm most proud of the little blond holding the head up on that deer!

We had a good day. We went to Carnegie, NOT Fort Cobb. I had Carnegie last night, and Don corrected me, so I changed it to Fort Cobb. Then as we headed out I told Sue about it and she said, "We ARE going to Carnegie!" So, we went to the right place, I just didn't have it on the blog, right. Vereal Barton, one of my faithful readers, had already called Sue this morning from Mississippi to tell her I was confused! Vereal, I'm confused so much, but, thankfully, I have people to keep me going right when it's important. :) Don got a good picture of Sue and I at the Pizza Hut, too, so I'll post it tomorrow night. We got bumped, tonight, by Gretta and her deer!

I got some of my housework done today, but I'll finish up tomorrow, I think. Don will help, bless his heart. I thank God to have a husband who helps! I thank God that I am able to do my own cleaning, too. I really thank God for Angelica when I needed her most. My dream is that she will come back and clean my house, again! (She got a job at the prison, so I don't expect she'll ever come back to cleaning my house, but I can dream!)

Sleepy day.

I slept til after 9 this morning, but the antihistamines must be loaded into my system. Surely it will freeze soon and I can quit taking them! I took about a dozen pictures, but my arm isn't long enough to take my own picture; they all looked like I was looking into one of those convex mirrors in a store. I deleted all those. Then I asked Don to take a couple, and I don't look much better. I look so sleepy and it's because I AM! So, that's just how it is.

We are going to Fort Cobb (a town about an hour from here) with a friend tomorrow. Her grandson preaches there and she goes every time she can to hear him. We've never heard him preach, but we're excited about going because we've watched him grow up over the last dozen or so years. It's a good time to go because we have the fellowship dinner here, tomorrow and Don needs to miss that since he's dieting.

He's doing the Atkins diet, and he always does so well with it. This is his last time to do it, though, because I'm not going to feed him enough to gain all this weight back just so he can diet and lose it. I don't think it's healthy to go back and forth and I know it's not healthy to carry all that extra weight. So healthy eating, here we come. We'll eat at the Pizza Hut in Fort Cobb because that's the only restaurant they have. Don can eat a salad and I'll take a piece of chicken for him and his own salad dressing. We've done this diet so much over the years. I thank God that he will do it and that it works so well for him. Don doesn't like pizza, (He doesn't like anything with tomatoes or cheese, so how did he ever gain weight? Pie.) so it will be a treat for me to go to the Pizza Hut tomorrow. It'll be fun to go with Sue, too! I'll have to put my hair up and look alive and stay awake; I hope I can do it! Maybe he'll get a better picture tomorrow.

Remember walking dolls?

Tonight's picture is a walking doll! This is Elena, busily playing outside when we were there in September. She is absolutely a walking doll. I remember when I was six I wanted a 'walking doll' for Christmas. I don't remember the doll at all, but Elena is one of our walking dolls in real life. We have them ranging from age 3 to 19 in our 8 granddaughters. I thank God for our granddaughters; how blessed we are! Elena is 3.

It felt so good to get up this morning a pull out the packages of herbs and vitamins from my neatly FINISHED supply. I didn't get very far on my de-cluttering mission around here, but I did get started. I also got our bed changed, and got the flannel sheets on for the season. I'm going to get a nice warm bath and really enjoy going to bed tonight. I have my rice and corn buddies ready, too. (That is bags filled with rice or corn, which I heat in the microwave and then put them in the bed to warm it. The bed is warm when I get into it, and then they keep it warm all night. Don is very jealous of them because I always say, "I love these buddies.") I did put away lots of things (like suitcases) from our travels this fall. It's always hard for me to get everything back into order when we get home, so I'm slow with it. My goal is to get the house cleaned by Monday. I think Don will be watching football all weekend, so I can get most of it done. I'm headed to a nice warm bath right now.

The 'pool' table takes on a new job!

This is a picture I took today when I finished throwing 80 days of herbs and vitamins for Don and I. I've got mine all packaged and I'm going to go package Don's right now. When I get the pool table cleared, I'll be set for the next 6 months for our vitamins and herbs. Whew! I've got to inventory and order more so I'll have them to throw in April. That's another big project, but I'll get that done before long, I hope. For now, I'm just glad to move from this project onto cleaning the house. Then I'll be ready to receive family for Thanksgiving!

A friend on Facebook has been stating something for which she is thankful every day. It's been refreshing. I think we should always be thankful. We have so many blessings for which to give thanks and we mostly take them for granted or even complain because they aren't exactly what we want. I thank God for the Internet and all who will use it because it makes our world so much smaller and easier to navigate. I can live on the edge of nowhere and still keep up with family and friends. Tonight I'm especially thankful for getting to be done with this herb and vitamin project for 6 months!