Kitty Paw Prints

OK, I'm tired, can't wake up this morning, didn't sleep well at all. But, gotta go to work and pay the bills, you know the drill.

So, still groggy eyed, I go in the garage and get in my car. Not really paying attention, I start to back out of the garage onto the driveway. Right about the time I get to where I can start to turn the wheel (so I don't hit the pickup truck at the far edge of the drive) I get a bright glimmer of sunshine right on my windshield. Ahhh - can't see for a second and then WOW I notice what's on my windshield - kitty paw prints! The most adorable "little" muddy paw prints going all the way up my car hood, onto the windshield and (I assume) over the top of my car. How cool is that?

See, we have a few "strays" that live in our garage when the weather isn't nice, so we feed them and talk to them. I guess I wasn't thinking that they consider the "entire" garage their space, including the cars!

It was just one of those little moments that make you smile and say "thanks, God for all the little creatures too" and forget about the not-so-good start to the morning. My day is going great now! Hope yours is too.

Tiny Differences

Sometimes it seems overwelming to try and do what God has called me to do (if I even know what that is for sure). I think I'm doing the right things but, I'm not sure all the time.

Well, yesterday I did something that I am sure came from God and I feel pretty good about it. I went to the drive thru at the local "fast food" place to get a salad. The lady at the window is one of the ladies that I see a lot of the times when I go there - we always chat a little (if no one is behind me in line) and then say see ya next time! So, in our little chat yesterday, she mentioned that she was going in for surgery next week to remove a lump from her breast. Without even thinking about it, I took her hand in mine and said a little prayer for her that there would be nothing found that involves cancer.

She looked a little stunned and said "thanks" and I said, "don't worry, I'll see you in a couple of weeks". It was just a brief "moment" but, I know that God heard that little prayer and I know that He listens. Maybe that's why I was supposed to go to the drive thru that day!

I'm trying to "hear" Him more and do His will more - how about you?

Spring? or Snow?

Well, I'm not sure what to think. It has been in the forties for over a week now and raining so, it's spring right? Well, maybe not, there could still be snow in the next few weeks.

That's the thing about living in the upper midwest (Wisconsin), there is no "spring" until oh, maybe June! Just kidding. Although that is something that should be considered when ordering plants - most companies won't ship until the second of third week of May! I guess maybe they know the kind of spring weather we have here and they don't want us killing the plants and having to practice their great customer service and replace all the dead plants!

Yep, I have ordered some flowers and one tree but won't see them for a while so I just thought I would share with you all. I am thinking spring but can't actually "have spring" for a while yet.

Are you all having spring yet? Birds chirping? Any plants starting to peek their little green arms out yet?

Dieting

Yep, I am dieting. Well, no actually, I am working on changing my life. I started using Nutrisystem about three weeks ago. It's not a diet, it a new way of thinking about food and your life.

It's only been three weeks and for two of those weeks I haven't been able to excercise (I threw my back out and just got clearance from my doctor to start excersicing again). I've lost 6 pounds!

I know it doesn't sound like much but, for me it's the first time I've weighed under 200 pounds in over 8 years! Now that I can exercise, I hope to loose more weight easier. Although, I don't want to loose it too fast because then I just have a better chance of gaining it back.

This is about change, true life change, permanent changes in my life. Changes in the way I think about food, changes in the way I eat food, changes in my exercise routine, changes in my attitude. I feel better about myself and my possibilities than I have in quite some time.

I am blessed.

Teddy Bear Wisdom

Just thought I would share with you some of the wisdom that my teddy bears have shared with me. Yep, I collect teddy bears!

"Many a heart learns to love from its first teddy bear."

"Bears are just about the only toy that can lose just about everything and still maintain their dignity and worth."

"The world is divided into two nations. Those with teddy bears, those without. Each think the other odd."

And, remember this (for those of you that don't know): "Bears are like cats - they arrive disguised as nonentities. Only time will reveal just who they really are."

The Snowflake Game

Fun, seasonal game. Just thought I'd share with you for the holidays.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!

Thankful for so many things

Well, the Thanksgiving holiday is almost here and I am reflecting on some of the things I am thankful for.

I guess one of the biggest things, over the past year, that I am thankful for is being cancer free for a year now. It's a great milestone, although they say you can't really start to relax until two years and you can't be out of the woods for at least five years. I am still very thankful for this milestone.

There are of course people to be thankful for: my son, Philip; my fiance', Les; my family and multiple friends; and you, the casual visitor who happens to stop by for a visit. Life would not be much to "write about" without all of these people.

Also, I must say I am thankful for my new kitchen. It was a project that started last fall and was delayed for my cancer surgeries and treatments but has now been completed. I will get to cook my first Thanksgiving dinner in my new kitchen and I'm actually pretty excited about it.

I'm thankful for my relationship with God, most of all, because without Him the rest of the above wouldn't matter.

How about you, what are you thankful for this holiday?

Family

I prayed for God's direction in my life today and I'm not sure what to do about what I got.

Just got a strange/interesting phone call this afternoon. A woman called asking if I could possibly be the biological sister to her husband!

When she called , she asked my name and asked me to confirm both my parents names (which she provided, not me) and she explained that she was trying to help her husband find his family since he was adopted and didn't know anything about his real parents. Quite interesting, quite mind blowing and I'm not quite sure what to think or what to do.

Have any of you had this kind of experience? I'm not sure what the next step should be - maybe I should do some "investigating" of my own huh? The information she provided me was quite accurate and I don't know... I guess the one thing that's really got my mind going is this: He is bi-racial (black/white) and both my parents are white.

Now my mind is spinning, did my mom fool around and put my dad's name on the birth certificate before she gave the baby up for adoption? My brother seems to think that my Dad fooled around with the nanny and had her put my mom's name on the birth certificate but, that just doesn't make sense to me.

Any opinions from you guys would be welcome. I'm at a loss, confused, concerned, and (not quite) speachless.

More babies......

These are more of my "babies". They are such wonderful companions and they remind me every day what unconditional love is. Thank you Lord for these wonderful creatures in my life and for the love they give me and the lessons they teach me.

Do you have any "babies" that you are thankful for? Do they teach you how to be a better person? I find myself wanting to be more like them everyday - kind, gentle, thoughtful, helpful, caring, attentive and calm. What a great world this would be if everyone could be more like this huh?

John 1:16

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Cool, isn't it, to know that we have received blessings and all we had to do was accept Christ as our Savior. Do you realize how special you are in the eyes of Jesus?

I pray that you will find and receive all the wonderful blessings that God has in store for you. I pray that those blessings will be abundant and overflowing in your life. Amen.

Fabric Stash

Yep, that's my title for today's post. I would like for my fabric "stash" to look organized and "pretty" like the picture but in reality, it's a mish-mash of old dressers full of fabric and old bookcases full of fabric and piles of fabric in and on boxes and, well you get the idea.

There is just not enough time to fully organize all the wonderful fabrics I have and still have time to quilt. There also seems to be no way to contain my enjoyment in buying new fabric. I told my friend once that I wouldn't buy any more fabric until I used up at least half of what I had. Well, she hasn't seen my workroom in a while and I don't think she would understand.

I think maybe it's a form of addiction....

My "Babies"

These are two of my cats (I have four). They are very helpful when it comes to getting things done on the computer or in the kitchen or just about anywhere around the house. They want to help and always comfort me and calm me and just love me, unconditionally.

That's the way I try to be with people, helpful and comforting and always trying to get them to smile. I want to help spread joy in the world, there is enough of the opposite and life is too short to be unhappy all the time. Focus on the positive things, the blessings, in your life. That's what I try to do, just like my pets (maybe I'm part cat!).