Made to feel special...

I was given a surprise smoothie again. :) Then someone decided to come by and visit for a little bit. :) Such a nice little surprise to make my long day feel a little shorter. Thank you Steve for the little blessings today. :)

Bible Lessons...

Yesterday...What a good day filled with God's lessons. Church was about evil and what evil really is. Such a good topic for debate. Which is what we did at small group. We also had a good discussion about our book Heaven we are reading together. What is heaven really going to be like? What is our perception of what heaven is supposed to be and what we are told in scripture. What an intense Bible learning day. Love digging into God and His word.

Saturday...

The weekend seems to fly by. Started off by going to the dentist. Thankfully I got a good "bill of health" for my mouth. :) As my dentist said I am good for the next 1,000 miles until my next oil change. Lol...
Got to spend some time with Steve waiting for the cable guy before I went to work. Got a special treat as well while working. :) Thank you Steve.

Good friends and good times...

Friday was a good night out. Steve and I went to Great Lakes Brewery with my friends Val & Greg, and Erika & Dave. It was a good time and had some good food with great conversation.

Busy times...

Seems like lately it's been crazy. Always doing something. That isn't necessarily bad just busy. Which should explained my lack of posting. I hope to get back on track and keep up. I will get back on track and recap yesterday. It was a slow day at work and ending with a relaxing evening with Steve and went to dinner at Applebee's. The company was better than the food. Under cooked veggies :( Steve's under cooked steak. Such is life though we got to enjoy a free dessert for my birthday. Gotta love freebies. Also was able to enjoy leftovers for lunch.
I will have to upload the picture later of the leftovers.

Kitties...

Nothing like coming home from work tonight and relaxing on the couch for a bit. Next thing I know Kleo comes over and practically lays on top of me :) All he wanted was some loving. Something peaceful about a cat laying on you just purring away...He was not to fond of the light from the camera...

New phone...

So my old phone decided to act up on me yesterday. Went to the AT&T store to get it looked at and came out with the amazing iphone. Not only is it a sweet phone but changing my plan is going to save me money monthly. :)

It also felt a little like spring today too. Ended up grilling dinner out on the grill. Forgot to take pictures. Delicious BBQ chicken and seasoned potatoes. Yum...now ready for spring to be here to do more grilling.

Sweets...

Loving special treats Thursday... today at work (full time job) I enjoyed some good ol' Reese's. Sometimes the sweets get you though the day. :)

Then to top it off I got another treat at my other job. Just to get me through the day. :) While waiting on a customer I turned around and had a surprise of a Strawberry/Banana Smoothie and no one there. Someone decided to surprise me with a smoothie. :) Steve decided to bring me a smoothie just because and to help get me through a long day of work. Felt very special for that. Brightened the rest of my day.

Nice day full of sweets...

Family...

Today was a big family day. Spent time with extended family celebrating Uncle Alden's life. It is so great to be able to share memories. Some from recent past some from distant past. Hearing wonderful stories from before I was around. What a special gift it is to have such a wonderful set of relatives, just wish we could get together more often. Loved hearing stories of Uncle Alden Aunt Doris and my grandparents from their younger years through the memories of my mom, aunt and their cousins. Really need to cherish the memories we have made our selves and stories we hear. Memories are something that can never be taken away. It is funny how our memories are the same yet different, we remember the same situation or incident but we each remember different aspects of it. Love my family and the memories we share and the memories to be made...

The older generation...

Today I think about the older generation in my family. Tonight and tomorrow we will celebrate the life of my Great Uncle Alden. He is the last of that generation on my Grandpa's side. It is amazing looking back and seeing what we have learned and could learn from that generation. The manners, the faith, the genuine love and caring for others not just for people they knew but people in general. Such a difference compared to how things are today in our "selfish" generations. What a blessing to learn things from my grandparents on both sides and also great aunts and uncles. The pictures are ones I have on hand of that generation...
First picture is of my grandparents on my mom's side. Love and miss them dearly. 

This next is a picture of my grandparents on my dad's side with my dad as a kid. Unfortunately I never got to meet my grandma. I do hear I am somewhat like her though :)

The next is my Aunt Doris & Uncle Alden on my mom's side. (grandpa's sister & brother in law) Uncle Alden is the one we are celebrating his life tonight and went home on Sunday. ( I snagged this picture from my cousin's facebook page)

 

I am trying to not take advantage of the opportunities I have and have had to learn from all of them and take away what I can. Cherish the moments you never know how long they will last and what you can learn by sitting back and listening and watching...

Life...

I had a reminder today how life can change in a blink of an eye. To count the blessing called life. You never know when things are going to change. On my way home from work I saw an accident happen. I have actually never seen one happen besides ones I have been in. Even then your in such a whirlwind you don't know what happens. I was stopped at a light and what appeared to happen right in front of me was a mini-van loosing a wheel. As the light turned green and I drove past I noticed that it was not as it appeared from that view. Another car ended up rear ending the van and ended up underneath the back of the van and what I saw which I thought were parts of a tire were parts flying from the other car. After calling 911 I did all I could say some prayers and let HIM take care of the rest. Since seeing that it has really shaken me today, wondering how the lady is doing who I saw behind the wheel of the car. Part of me thinks I could have and should have done more. But the other part of me knows that I probably would have freaked out and not been any benefit. Life's little reminder is life is so precious. You never know when things will change in a blink of an eye. Always need to tell others how you feel, show love to others. Tell your family and friends you love them. 

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

Another birthday celebration...

Today I got to celebrate my birthday again. Went to Olive Garden Mom, Dad, Tim, Christi, Holly, Austin and Michael. It was a great time. Good food and celebrating. :) Michael was entertaining us while we were waiting for our table...
Michael was reading with Grandma and balancing a nickle on his nose...

Good eats too...

Love being an Aunt...

What a great weekend celebrating my birthday again...

Sometimes its the small things...

Yesterday I don't have any pictures for. My blessing yesterday was being able to sleep in and have time to just relax before working. This mono thing is really kicking my butt this past week. Thankfully God is really protecting me and not letting this get so bad to put me in the hospital. I am really trying to let the little not important things go and not multitask like I usually do and really "rest"...

Day of blessings...

Yesterday there were several things that have made me feel blessed. Starting off with my drive to work. Even the roads were not all that clear until half way to work, it was BEAUTIFUL. The snow piled on the trees. How everything just looks clean and new. Such a renewing feeling. Don't worry, I was stopped when taking these pictures...

As the snow fell it piled up of course. Made for a fun time trying to get in my driveway after work. So thankful for my wonderful friends Bethany & Tom who gifted me their snowblower when they moved to the much warmer South Carolina. It was such a blessing to have that and not have to take almost 2 hours to shovel the HEAVY snow and have it only take a half hour...Then got to relax the rest of the evening eating and watching The Passion of the Christ with company.

Finding my energy somehow...

Today was a little rough to start with feeling really tired. This mono thing seemed to get the best of me today. If it wasn't for Vitamin water I don't know how I would stay awake most days lately. LOVE IT!!! And you don't get the sugar rush and crash. Got a little worried about the whole mono thing today. Was getting pains in my side and hoped it was not my spleen which can enlarge with mono. Went to urgent care because my doctor was out for the day. Thankfully my blood work came back normal but my spleen is "mono normal" enlarged. Just not allowed to play sports, guess I will have to cancel my tackle football game for tomorrow...lol. The doctor just ordered taking it easy, rest and fluids. So the rest of the evening is all about taking it easy... So my blessing for today is both the new found "energy" in a bottle and and not having serious issues which was my major concern.
LOVE me some vitamin water...energy is my new favorite flavor and found it keeps me going most of the day! :)

Taco Wednesday Night...

Wednesday night was nice and relaxing. Little craziness being a little absent minded and trying to cook. It worked out though. Made some yummy tacos, guac with chips & cheddar biscuits. Forgot to take a picture of the array of food. It was very enjoyable cooking and eating with someone special, and even got help making some of the stuff. Ended the evening relaxing watching Avatar. Good night all in all...

Learning to take a step back...

Today it started off great the sun was shining. It was beautiful, needed sunglasses on the way into work.

The day ended with needing to make a decision about being overloaded...got to my breaking point and something needed to go. A weight has been lifted and feel blessed to have supportive friends and family...Today ended on a positive of feeling relieved and being able to relax and not stress out....

Monday...the start of another week...

No picture for Monday...today's blessing is small. It happens some days. It was a Manic Monday...makes me want to start to sing. Worked both jobs, long day but it was survivable. Made it through the day and still smiling...

My actual birthday...

Sunday was great...it was relaxing and enjoyable. I got to sleep in a little. Enjoyed lunch with Mom, Dad and my cousin Meg & her husband Mike. Tim and his family were sick so that is postponed until next weekend. I kind of like this spreading out my birthday thing :) lol...
To end the weekend I got to enjoy some company watching a hilarious movie Wild Hogs and ordered some pizza. I was even able to sneak in a nap after lunch.
I ended up getting the rest of the dozen of roses from the single rose on Saturday.  Also a few other things from my parents.
I feel blessed by the friends and family I have spent time with this past weekend celebrating my birthday....          

Birthday weekend continued...

Saturday night I had a great time celebrating my birthday with some of my friends. Was craving Panini's for about a week so that was the place of choice. Enjoyed some cheddar & bacon fries and corn beef overstuffed sandwich. So delicious. Good conversations and great friends... Even got a single rose :) I know the picture was not too creative. My leftovers and my rose....trying to get more creative...

Great way to start my birthday weekend!

Feel blessed to meet someone and have a great dinner with last night. Enjoyed good company and playing trivia. Who won I don't really know because it was all mostly guesses...lol. What a great way to start my birthday weekend! Finished dinner off with a delicious dessert...

Before being eaten...looks so good...

After devouring some of it...soooo sweet and good...couldn't even finish it...

Rest...

Today I feel blessed to have a nice warm place to sleep. Now tonight I am working on getting some good rest and ready for a great weekend!!!! Sorry no picture today...

Signs of Spring...

I saw a few signs of spring today. The temperature may not be quite as warm, actually quite chilly. On my way home from work I saw the A&W drive-in in Kent is now open and it closes for the winter! :) I have not eaten there before but now I may have to try it. Also the beautiful sun shine made it almost look like spring. Looking for any sign of it maybe. :) It is March so it is right around the corner I guess and daylight savings is this weekend too I believe.

THE Word...

I love digging into the Bible and Bible lessons. It is amazing how it just can lift your spirit. Also being in a room full of ladies for a Bible study is so uplifting. God has His ways of working through others and though His word. So blessed to be digging into His word with a great group. Really enjoyed Bible study last night.
I must not be the only one in my house who loves the Bible...