CHAPTER #27.....around the world.

GERMANY.........One of my favorite countries.  I have seen most of it and spent many vacations there visiting friends and relatives.  Several years we flew over and picked up a new Mercedes.  We would drive two or three weeks, ship the car home, drive it a year, sell it for what we paid for it and go back and get another one.  It was fun and exciting.....We stayed a lot in the people's home, they rented rooms to earn money and feed you a very good breakfast.    We could stop where we wanted and saw beautiful churches, castles, museums, ruins and walled cities.  We had fun shopping and the food over there was good every where.  Driving a new Mercedes 90 miles an hour down the autobahn is a thrill and took me most of our first trip to find out Ausfart and Enfart were not towns but enter and exit for the autobahn.  Favorite memories.......... visits to Ludwicks castle...."Neuswanstein" and the October Fest.

My last trip to Germany I visited Berlin.  So much history in that region.  Check Point Charlie and parts of the Berlin Wall........and a museum that full of their past sad history.

WEATHER OR NOT???

Every day a new big weather story from some part of the US.....or world.  Today hundreds of people stranded, airlines canceling and even children spending the night at school with teachers around the Atlanta area......nice warm, sunny Atlanta!  California burning up from no moisture, and my cute Nicci enduring 41 degrees below zero with the wind shield and we at Salt Lake have been under freezing weather for the last month, but need some moisture......What is God trying to tell us?
Sherrie and Karrie off to California to check out the 'Coastal Look' in homes for ideas for Richard's new project. They will be home tomorrow, fun having Sherrie all night.  Rob and I did a movie last night.....Pam at work.  Also I won at bridge yesterday......so bought the popcorn.  That is twice this month......at both bridge clubs I won.....yes!
NOTE;  Almost all of us who have been parents have had the feeling of wanting to give our children perfect lives, lives without pain or sorrow, but of course none of us can.  There are many times in life when we can't solve our children's problems or get rid of their fears.  Perhaps all we can do is to provide a safe, loving place and a willingness to listen. All three of the girls.....have or are.....dealing with trying to keep kids happy.  And oh yes, Alex thinks he is in love with a Salvadorian lady missionary......whooooo.

WEIGHTING IN..........

I broke down and bought a pair of bathroom scales......I have never felt the need to step on one for a long time......when my pants got tight I knew it was time to cut down a little......or a lot!  I realized I would never get down to my original weight......birth rate.......or even teen youth or wedding weight.....but I was just diagnosed with pre-diabetes and my doctor said I could head it off with weight loss and exercise.  I cut out my favorite.....BREAD......was raised on it, then potatoes and pasta and white rice.....and yes sugar!  Lost 7 pounds without even knowing it!  Now I am pumped and will keep trying. 
Busy day lunch with Pam and Karrie......off to Zupas for lunch.  Then Pam and I checked out carpets and bar stools for the new house.  Leslie called Jim is getting his back operated on tomorrow in Albuquerque.......and Alex told his folks he is in love with a sister missionary from Honduras or somewhere out there.......I laughed.......then we decided it wasn't funny! KIDS??????

I'M TAKING CARE OF YOU.....

"I'm taking care of you.  Taking good care of you.  For once I was very little too.  Now I take care of you".....words from a song Mr. Rogers use to sing.
While some challenges our children face my make us anxious, they also present us with one of the great opportunities of parenting---the chance to resolve these lingering anxieties of our own.  That's why I often say that "children offer us another chance to grow."  Going through an experience with your child that was once frightening to you when you were a child allows you to find ways to comfort not only your own son or daughter, but also the child that has remained within yourself.  You're an adult now and you can use your adult perspective to make a difference in your children's present and your own past.
Think about this.......The relationship a parent has with a first-born is different than with any subsequent children......Why?  The difference is natural, but it can sometimes make a parent feel guilty.  The birth of a first child is the birth of parenthood for that child's mother and father.  As new parents, they suddenly open the door for all kinds of new learning---not only about their baby, but also about parts of themselves they thought were long forgotten. 
I am so glad I am in the "grammy" stage and I know I don't get any gold stars for being the best mother on earth with I tried with all my heart to be and did the best I could with each child being different.....even my twins!
     Quiet weekend ahead......today I went to Merrill Lynch to talk to Nicole Fernandez about my account.  Offered to take Shirley lunch.....she is packing too move......she was off with her son.  So I went to a movie.  Nice day.

LOVE IS......

Love comes in many kinds of packages......for many reasons......but all very important.  To me LOVE is the most important thing in this world.  Sometimes it isn't easy but those who do it and enjoy it back are the luckiest people or animals in the world.

Love is patient, love is kind, it has no envy, or boasts itself and it is never proud.  It rejoices over the evil and is the truth seeker.  Love protests, preserves and hopes for the positive aspect of life.  Love can occur between two or more individuals.....be is human or animal.....It bonds them and connects them in an unified link of trust, intimacy and interdependence.  Love never falters in sickness, bad health or poverty. The depth of love cannot be measured ......Love especially between a mother and children is unconditional and cannot be measured.....

I am so lucky to have three wonderful family that love me and are always there for me......even their animals love their grammy..........and my special little dog Gigi.  I have dear friends that I know love me, but in a different way and of course my sister, brother assorted nieces and nephews are included in my circle of love. 

Yesterday a fun day of bridge.....I WON......but today is back to business and try and get something worthwhile done. My thought for the day;  Sooner or later everyone sets down to the banquet of consequences!  Remember this as you go from day to day in your life.....

 

REALIZING......

Yea.....Yes......Yes.....I have watched my weight go up much to my doctors concern.....Then she tells me I have Pre-Diabetes......Well, that did it.  Six weeks ago I started cutting out my favorite two pieces of toast with lots of butter on it every morning.....to many goodies.....switched to popcorn. etc. no sweets......   Well I waltzed in today and have lost 7 pounds.........I even was so pumped I went to BIG LOTS and bought myself a pair of bathroom scales (which I haven't owned in years.......) and I am determined to stay away from bread, potatoes ,pasta and sweets!. It was not even my New Years resolution.

As the years have passed and I keep adding another number to my years......It is obvious that I entered into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains.  The inability to do the things I want has not been as obvious, it sneaked in unseen.   I slowly have come to realize I am on the 'back nine" and have no notion as to how long I may linger.

Each day getting into the shower getting dressed are my main targets.  Taking a nap is no longer a treat......it's mandatory Any regrets???

Of course.....there are things I wish I hadn't done, things I should have done and didn't, and things I'm happy to have done.   Time passes.  Do whatever you want to do quickly......WHY?

Today maybe the oldest we've ever been and the youngest we'll ever be...........

THE RIGHT WORDS.....

Choosing in life is our choice........so "CHOOSE THE RIGHT".......Walk with the Dreamers.........The Believers........The Courageous.....The Cheerful.....The Planners.....The Doers......The Successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground.....

Not all those who wander are lost........

On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100%, and that's pretty good.........Besides being a survivor....I would like to add some NEW WORDS......to strive for.  Alluring.....Exquisite....Gorgeous......Tantalizing....Enchanting......Charming......and Glamorous!

Today was very productive....three batches of laundry, washed my hair, picked up and put away and unpacked my suitcase...... waxed the floors....picked up my Christmas Book from Target......and went to dinner with the Cooks.  One more chore on my list......email my two missionaries!!!!