A Simple Woman's Daybook~July 5, 2010

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So, For Today...Monday & Tuesday, July 5/6, 2010

Outside my window...something new...the sun is going down. Jim and I have had our first day of unencumbered retirement. It was busy but very nice. We woke up at 6:15, in other words, we slept in for a Monday. Awesome. It has been a beautiful breezy warm day, not hot, just right.

I am thinking...this past week was really crazy busy. I got my root canal, so the pain is gone and so is my insurance for the year. Bummer. So now tomorrow I will do the crown prep and pay full price. Double bummer but pain talks like no other, so I am thankful to be having it all behind me tomorrow.

A friends of ours died and Jim and I worked on the funeral luncheon on Saturday. So were gone for 5 hours we hadn't planned on, on our day to prep for the 4th. But you work it out, work a little harder, get up a little earlier, work a little later and get it done. And you feel grateful to have been able to help someone in need.

I am thankful for..our three days in Yosemite with our wonderful son, Chris, after Jim had a perfect last day of work on Tuesday.

From the learning room...when you have a birthday you should rejoice that the Lord has given you another year on earth. I turned 63 this week and our friend that died was 69. I have always liked birthdays, even mine. Jim and Chris ( I was with them on my actual birthday) and many others made it a very wonderful one!

I am reading...Book 4 in the Zion Covenant Series by Bodie Theone. Jerusalem Interlude. And the Thornbirds and The Book Thief.

From the kitchen...Many leftovers from yesterday but we are having something light for dinner. Too much rich food lately...trying to get back to normal.

I am wondering...if I'll lose all my readers as I sort thorough 500 Yosemite photos and get adjusted to life with hubby home all day long. So far it has been wonderful but I don't have as much time for blogging now because I don't get up at 4:00 am any more. But Jim does a good share of the things round the house with me so that should free up more discretionary time in our shorter days. I just have to get my writing groove back and settle in. I cannot function without it so it has to be done. I would miss all of you too much.

I am hearing..."I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor

Today if I could change one thing...it would be that different things would burn calories like, spirituality, service to others, kindness, loving (not THAT kind!) , a giving spirit, reading a good book, writing. There could be a toggle switch on the board of calorie burning choices and you could choose the cerebral side or the physical side and you could switch them back and forth according to your plans for the day. That seems more fair to me.

I am quoting..."Sleep tight, may angels hover over you and spread their wings to keep you safe and warm. " This is a lullaby by Celine Dion but the lyrics remind me of how I feel when someone is laid to rest as our friend, Karen, was on Saturday.

My spiritual thoughts include...faith, HOPE, and charity make this world a better place.

Around the house...things are almost back together again after our BBQ yesterday.

I am missing...our kids and grandies, so is Jim sooooo we are leaving for Utah soon.

I am hoping...We can get all the work done for the kids that they are hoping for in the time we have to spend with them.

One of my guilty pleasures...My Mom's potato salad!

One of my favorite things...entertaining good friends and family~we are just getting back into it again after the long remodeling phase of living which sapped us of any extra energy.

An enjoyable movie I have watched lately...Possession.

I am curious about...how easy the transition is for Jim (so far) in his retirement. It has just felt like a week full of good Saturdays. How can you get tired of that? I can't.

A few plans for the rest of the week...I had the crown prep this morning~ post my root canal a week ago and a pedi, just dropped the car off for servicing, I have church work to do before we leave, picking up a box dolls in Danville from the Great Aunt of Piper, Julia, Chloe and Hazie to bring up to them, gathering all the other odds and ends that we have for them and that have been left here by them, haircut and color tomorrow, time with girlfriends on Thursday night, packing and getting out of Dodge. Church in Utah on Sunday!

Here are some pictures and thoughts I am sharing with you...

We had a nice 4th of July with our family and some good friends over for a barbecue. By riding on the shirttails of the retirement party it was a lot less work in the house and yard to get it all set up and ready. I love doing that. We are having a wedding reception here in August which is also good to keep everything up to its very best level possible. Here are a few photos of the 4th.

Emma~Fire Cracker Baby Girl!

Deanna and Christian were not at our party but sent this adorable photo of their little daughter and I just had to share. Isn't she so cute? She was adopted by them about 4.5 months ago after many years of waiting for a baby of their own. Now they have her! God is so good! He works in mysterious ways his "Miracles" to perform!

Gail, Alex and Patty

Gloria and Emily

Patty and Ruthie

Gloria, Dale and Jim

Aron and Will

Aronson

Will, but we call him "Willsey"

I love having holidays with a large age range of people. We had Gloria 83 down to Sarah that is 11 months. I didn't take too many photos so I don't have pics of everyone but we had 15 guests. It was very relaxing and casual! And it was warm but not hot, breezy but not windy. Perfect day, although minus other special ones that were celebrating in other far away places.

God Help America Retain the Freedoms
Our Forefathers Fought So Hard To Achieve
For Us All....is our prayer!