HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

My mother lives in Wyoming, Michigan, with her husband, Roy. They have been married for almost a year and seem very happy. They are living in Roy's very nice home. Roy had been a widower for about three years before they married. They met at their church, and it was a whirlwind romance! I am so glad that my mom has someone who loves her and will take care of her. She was a widow for over fifteen years and was lonely and  not really happy being alone. Her birthday is March 1, and I know that it will be a nice one because she has someone to share it with!  I am sorry that I can not be there to celebrate with her, but the weather did not cooperate - lots of snowy days this year. The weather has been even worse in the Grand Rapids area than Detroit area. Hope your birthday is a great one, Mom!

Eclipse of the Moon

Did anyone see that fantastic eclipse of the moon last night?   I could kick myself for NOT getting any pictures of it! I have NEVER seen the moon look that clear!! Because of the orange and pink on it, it looked more like a ball up in the sky than just a circle. There were three stars, planets (I'm not sure, I think Saturn and Regulus are two of them) around it in a triangular pattern - just spectacular! I almost didn't go out and look, but Terry prodded me - glad he did! I hope that I will  see it again (December 2010).  I just bet my sister Carol got pictures of it - drat! Mine is from the internet!  :(   It looked exactly like this.

HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE

Last summer while in Florida, we decided to visit

the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. We were

very skeptical that it would be "worth it", but we

were very pleasantly surprised! It was beautifully done!

It was a gorgeous day and periodically through the day

there were live plays on the grounds. These were

done by some very talented people who were not only

good actors, but they all had fabulous singing voices.

We saw about four plays while we were there. Seeing

the whole place and eating lunch takes a whole day.

They close at five, so we actually did not quite see

everything. (Possibly because we spent a lot of time

in the wonderful book store that is on the grounds.)

The grounds were just beautifully landscaped,

and we ate our lunch outside. There are many

buildings on the grounds. There are several presentations

besides the plays. We saw an interesting presentation on

the tabernacle. (Very well done and informative!)

One of the most interesting buildings that we visited

housed a scale model of Jerusalem during the time of

Christ. It took up half of a large room. There was a

presentation by a man who told about some of the

buildings and some interesting facts about the city.

We had a great day there, everything there was very

God honoring and I highly recommend it as a good place

to visit. (The book store is to die for!) I thought this would

be a good day to write about this since it is about 20 degrees 

in Michigan today and supposed to snow AGAIN! I miss

Florida!

Cost: $30. per person and $5. to park

Weight Issues

For thirty some years I have been struggling to lose enough weight that I feel healthy and look better in my clothes. I have been on several diets, some more than once, and I guess I would have to consider myself a yo-yo dieter. I have lost 45 pounds, 35 pounds, 27 pounds, etc. over the years. At present time I do not weigh the most that I ever have weighed, :), but a few years ago a doctor told me that I should be at a weight that agrees with the "charts" for my height and frame to be healthier. She told me that even ten pounds overweight, with bad cholesterol and a couple of other issues can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, alzheimers, heart disease,etc. The older I get, the more I realize that I need to watch my health NOW before I have major health problems and try and prevent them. I have good intentions most Sunday nights, but by Monday morning I just don't seem to care. I get twinges of guilt here and there, and I also don't feel my best many times, but I just seem to put eating healthy off until "tomorrow". So I decided I would write about it on my blog, since it is mine, and update each month how much I have lost on a certain day of the month. I won't tell my weight since you could care less - but maybe someone else will join me and/or it will encourage another person to do the same. So...starting today, with the Lord's help, I can do better! How about you?  I will post my results on the 1st of each month.

(or not!)

Winter in Michigan

This is a picture taken from our from door this morning. Today is another dreary, gray Sunday in Michigan! It seems we have had quite a few of them this winter. It has been raining on top of the snow and freezing to make for a slippery day. At least today we can be at church and be with friends and worship the Lord! The Detroit area doesn't usually get the full brunt of the bad weather like cities closer to the lakes. I am actually thankful for the seasons in Michigan. When you get tired of one season, you know that another is on the way! And spring will soon be here! I enjoy the spring and fall most of all, but the snow in winter can be beautiful, and the lazy, hot summer days are nice, too. The definite change of the seasons is one thing that makes Michigan beautiful - even the Detroit area! We have a lot to be thankful for - some people only have the hot sun all year long! (ha!)

"Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter."  Psalm 74: 16,17

Leap Year

30 days hath September

April, June and November

all the rest have 31

save February with 28

but once in four

has 1 day more 

Matthew and Shelley spent some time visiting with us today. Matthew thinks he is hiding from us! Terry stayed home today, so it was a fun time playing with Matthew and eating lunch together.

Valentine's Day 2008

I enjoy Valentine's Day more than Terry does. He says it is a "Hallmark" holiday and so he rebels at that. Now I don't really care if it is a "Hallmark" holiday - if it is one, it is a good one! After all, what is wrong with remembering the special "love of your life" on one day of the year? Of course, then there is the birthday, anniversary, Sweetest Day, etc. Maybe he is right! Terry usually gets me a card and takes me out to eat for Valentine's Day and this year was no different. I got him a card and made him cookie bars in a heart shaped pan. Then I decorated it with red frosting piped around it. It was very messy to use! Anyway, what I usually feel that I'm missing from Terry is the sentiment. He just doesn't get into it. He is much more romantic at obscure times (I usually can't predict when it will be) and doesn't like a day designated to be a romantic day.

Last night we went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. I didn't get any pictures because Terry would have thought I was nuts, so I restrained myself. We had been there before and only returned because we had a gift certificate to go there from Shari and Mark. It is a nice place, but very expensive!! Their smallest steak is $32.95! That is with NOTHING else! And we did get other things - don't worry! We did have a nice time and the food was very good. But I always leave there thinking of the children in Africa who are hungry when we just spent over $100. for one meal for two!!

I actually LIKE Valentine's Day. It makes me stop and think about how grateful I am to have Terry. Although he is certainly not a romantic, he is my best friend and I love him. He is always there for me and doesn't judge me - just loves me for who I am. We have been married for thirty-six years and I can't imagine what it would be like if he didn't come home at night or if didn't have him to talk to every night (and sometimes a couple times during the day). I am very thankful that the Lord has allowed us to be married all of these years (through thick and thin - and I don't mean my weight!). We have a lot of history together and a lot of memories! :)

Silly Pictures

Tonight I have been fooling around with my new computer trying to learn how to edit pictures with it.  I am so computer challenged that it takes me hours to learn something new on the computer. Terry reads computer books to learn new things, but when I try to read them, I end up reading the same sentence over and over and still not comprehending what to do!! Well I learned that the picture editing is pretty cool on an Apple. I had to use pictures of myself because I haven't been able to copy the pictures from my PC over to the Apple yet.  With the Apple, I can sit in front of it and take a picture of myself!  Here I am at about 300 pounds. Also did you know that I am a twin? It was fun to fool around with it - I still know so little. :(

Library Party

When approached by the idea of a "library party" by our head librarian, I was a little skeptical. But the party happened on Saturday and was a great success! We had about 20-25 kids. They were divided into three groups to hear a story, paint and decorate a library bag for the books and videos that they take out, watch a short magic show, tour the children's area of the library, fill out a form for a library card and then search for books and DVD's to borrow, and then have a snack. It was a great success and the kids that came really seemed to have a good time. I learned not to be afraid to try something new! It is good to have people who can come up with new ideas - which is partly what the body of Christ is all about.

Only a Car!

I am writing this as much for myself as for others who will read it. Sometimes writing something down solidifies it in my brain.

This is a picture of our Jeep. The lease on the Jeep is up as of today, and Terry and I returned it to the dealer. I didn't think that I was attached to it until that moment when we had to give over the keys. It has been a wonderful car - very reliable and fun, but safe to drive. But it has been an expense that we could do without. We have a Ford pickup truck, which we plan on getting back on the road tomorrow, and a Buick Century, which is older, but doesn't have many miles on it. So, we are fine, right?

Why is it that we get so easily attached to "things"? It often happens before we consciously know it - and we're hooked! I am reminding myself of the verses in Matthew 6 that say, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

So it is time to let go of the car and just appreciate what the Lord has so graciously given us. He has given us so many "things" to enjoy, but more than that, we have our families, our church family, and more than that, we have his love even when we don't deserve it. (Which is always!) Thank you, Lord, and keep reminding me of these verses that I need to take into my heart and live by every day.

Pretend Air Show

When I was babysitting for Matthew yesterday afternoon, he suggested that we play Air Show, one of his favorite things to do with me. Matthew has been to a couple of Air Shows because he has a grownup cousin who is one of the Thunderbirds! Elizabeth is their PR person who travels with them and makes all of their arrangements. Matthew loved the air shows that he has been to although they were a bit loud for him. He remembers everything about them and has collected many small planes to use in pretend air shows.

So we lined up the airplanes for viewing, the little people drove their cars up into the parking garage and used the elevator to come down to the show. They walked among the airplanes admiring them all, and then all of the planes performed. (including Jay Jay, the airplane) Some even flew upside down like the real ones do. It was very loud!! Then the little people gathered for lunch around the umbrella table before picking up their cars in the parking garage. After they left, Matthew decided that the planes could also park in the parking garage and use the elevator! Who am I to argue with that? :)

Playing With a New Computer

Terry decided that he was tired of going back and forth from his computer at work (an Apple) to his laptop computer. (also an Apple) He was always forgetting to copy things from one to another, so he decided to give me his computer and just use his laptop. He could also use the computer when he wanted to at home. Terry tells me that Apple Computers are awesome. Well getting used to an Apple after using a PC is very difficult and I can't do much yet. One thing that I did learn is that the computer has a camera. A person can sit in front of the computer and take a picture of himself. (Which I did!) It was fun, but I couldn't seem to get the picture onto my blog without getting an error message. I can't seem to fix it. I am computer challenged to say the very least -there is a lot to learn. I took a picture without my glasses because I have never seen what I look like without them - I am thinking about laser surgery, but I have worn glasses for 49 years and I wanted to see what other people would see. I just went to my PC (which is still hooked up) and found out that the picture worked! (I used the one with glasses) I'm still amazed at what computers can do! Anyway, I'm so glad that God sees the inside and loves us no matter what the outside looks like - the outside is getting old!