Getting Better (Lennon/McCartney)

When I decided to use Beatles songs to title my postings this month I figured since there are so many in their catalog I would attempt to post daily. It's more challenging than I thought it would be, but I press on. What's up? Rob sent me a cryptic email a short while ago that he has a check in his possession, that's all I know. Not sure how much it's for, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

The boys are doing swimming lessons at the Imlay City Pool this week and next. Unfortunately it has been a little chilly but not too terrible for them when they are in the water. I sit poolside in pants and a shirt, but no jacket. A friend from Seeds of Faith Co-op has her daughter in the class after ours so we have a few minutes to chat during the change-over. Cheryl and I have a kindred connection in that our husbands are of similar mind-sets in many areas and we've faced similar challenges job and family wise. It's always nice when you know other people are dealing with the same 'spiritual growth' opportunities that you do, makes you feel you're not alone in this big crazy, jumbled up world of ours.

Work wise for me I am getting ready to start writing more TVonDVD entries but unfortunately my home greening and decluttering efforts are not being carried out as effectively as I'd like but with the boys around everyday it's really pointless to even hope for a total decluttered state. We'll get there eventually (like in ten years when they've all moved out!). The main task at hand lately is to get everyone in the house to understand the concept of picking up after themselves! I wake up in the morning, come out of my room, and I know exactly what everyone did by the trail they've left behind. Anybody relate, can I get an Amen!? Fox has made the most improvement but we're all still in training.

Recycling efforts are still going well, although I have been rescuing items from the trash again lately and I gave up on the small compostable paper separating, instead just throwing them in with regular recycleable paper. Also, I am feeling good about the miles of walking and biking that I'm starting to log for the summer. When I was staying at my mom's I took her bike out and got a couple really good rides in, probably up to nearly 40 miles riding so far, maybe 15 walking. Tomorrow the boys and I are hoping to check out another section of the Clinton River Trail if the weather cooperates.

Chin Up Peoples & have a Terrific Tuesday!

Help! (Lennon/McCartney)

Well, yesterday ended the week rather strangely, for the first time after weeks/months of talking about "how bad things are" Rob can home without his weekly check. Ouch. Thankfully I had a check arrive this week so we're ok for the week but unsure of how to proceed from there. We have some money set aside for our roof project that is slated for next weekend and I really don't want to have to use it for bills because the roof really needs to be redone, it leaks in multiple places. They are hoping some payments that are due come in early next week and Rob will get paid but for this week his boss gave him $100 to 'get by' on. So if my friends could join me in standing on two scriptures I'd be grateful. They are:

"Make a roof for it and finish..." (Gen. 6:16)

and "...he puts the deep into storehouses." (Psalm 33:7b)

It is at times like these we reach a new level of aparigraha (nonpossessiveness and nonhording). Trying to hold on the the past and the job and what little money may be available will do nothing but be the cause of stress. Letting go, as utterly terrifying as it may feel, allows us to walk through the next door to a new venture or realize what is right outside our window to help us remedy a situation. I say powers that be -- make it so.

Since roof stuff was put on hold Rob spent the morning playing Museum Caper with the boys while I went into Lapeer to grocery shop. And I got TWO walks in. The theme: gone to the dogs! I coerced my friend Lynne, who is trying to develop better fitness habits now that she is laid off, to come out for a stroll with her dogs Johnny and Edgar, the beautiful sheperds at the top of the photo. Her other two older labs stayed home. We took the path along DeMille from Appleby's toward the education complex, finding along the way the work of some Christian vandals who wrote '777' and 'Jesus is god' on the door of the utility building. Doesn't that make you proud.

Got home after shopping and made some sloppy joes and brats (gotta use up some buns Sarah gave me), french fries and some awesome fresh green beans. Then the boys got the tires on their bikes filled, seats adjusted and we all headed out down Kings Mill toward Jefferson. The boys on bikes and Rob and I on foot; even Jake came along in his glory. Alex was working a 3-8 shift at BK. A neighbor down the street got "flocked" by Crosswalk Youth Ministries which cracked me up. I saw a house in town that got "mopped" by them too! What a cute way to raise funds and awareness. On Jefferson we passed my next door neighbor cruising home on his tractor with his mother Marion close behind with a load of hay. This woman amazes me, she must be pushing 80 and she's still out there driving equipment, milking cows, and every other type of farm duty you can image. I can only hope to have so much spunk at that age.

Mother came home from the hospital a day early but things seem to be under control. My brother is staying with her for the weekend. Thursday she started having a major itch attack so they gave her some medication to combat it and help her sleep. When she awoke hours later a young man was sitting at the foot of her bed. "Who are you?" she inquired. "I'm a sitter, I'm here to watch over you." he replied. Apparently in her drug induced sleep she got her knitting scissors and cut her self free from her IV pole and was wandering around the floor. When a nurse asked "Where are you going?" My mother answered "I don't know." There were also some conversations with cats that the nurses didn't think to be a good sign. Hence they brought in a medical student to sit by so she didn't hurt herself. Friday after she was more lucid she annouced she wanted to go home, she was done with treatment. Doctor complied and she was discharged about 4:30pm. Bless her neighbor Carol for coming to pick her up, also Jackie for taking care of Grady the cat, the young man who sat for her and all the staff on the 8th Floor at Karmanos.

If I Needed Someone (Harrison)

This morning I did some social-errands. First stopping by the Morrell house to drop off some cute little girl baby clothes I found at the thrift shop in Grosse Pointe; can’t pass up an opportunity to shop for infant stuff. Got to snuggle with Georgyanna who has just past her EDD (Estimated Due Date) after being born over two months premature. She looks great and shows obvious signs of being a future singer and dancer! (Shout out to Sarah! who I didn’t get a picture of, silly me) She was kind enough to hook me up with four grocery bags of Pepperidge Farm bread! Love those freebies, thank you! Check out her story at Teach a Fish.

Next I grabbed a Peppermint Mocha Half-Caff and headed over to the church to chat with Pastor Diana who is preparing for a big move to South Carolina in a couple weeks. She and Pastor are shifting into a brand new life of ‘retirement’ with as yet undetermined direction but many possibilities presenting themselves as time moves on. She is a wonderful woman of god and has been a great boss and friend to me. I will miss her but know our paths will cross again.

Lastly I made an unannounced stop by my friend Michelle’s to drop off some lavender from my garden for her to use in a future project that is sure to be fabulous. She in turn sent me off with a scrumptious sample of some mulberry cobbler she was in the process of wrapping. Check out Smile, Wink, Nod for the details. Snapped a pix of her beautiful garden ornament/bird feeder made from garage sale finds - if only I could be so motivated.

Got back to the house and let Alex take the car and the boys up to the North Branch Library. She is working for me pulling TVonDVD entries and the hi-speed is necessary. The boys like their hi-speed time to play AddictingGames.com (I know what a great mom am I to promote this tomfoolery!), then they wanted to get slushies and hang out at the park for a little bit. I got back to decluttering the house. I am determined to get rid of all this excess stuff, have a place for everything and everything in its place! I CAN DREAM CAN’T I?

Another recent thrifty find, these brand NEW ‘Cars’ galoshes for $3 at the Grosse Pointe Second Hand Shop. Just perfect for Ethan! Good day, even felt like summer!