These Are The Days - Library Story Time

Time With Sam

Sometimes it is hard for me to have time with our youngest, Sam. He lives at our house but we have very different schedules and often we are going in different directions. He's a nice person, interesting and funny, so I've been kind of lonely for him.

Recently, though, we started finding time on occasion to go to the gym together. While some young men his age might try to avoid going to the gym with their mother, he doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he really encourages me to keep going. Although, if I keep taking photos of him with my cell phone, he may not keep going with me. Sorry, Sam.

I love this time with Sam!

Date Night Fright

So here's a funny horrible story.

Last night Mike & I went out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We had a very lovely time visiting and eating tasty food. Our waiter even talked us into a triple chocolate dessert, even though we were really too full for that. We ordered one to share. Romantic, huh?

A friend of our's happened by our table. She stopped and chatted and, knowing it was our anniversary, asked how many years we'd been married. It was a pleasant little visit. She went back to her own table shortly after our chocolate whatever dessert arrived. I know, I know this does not seem like a horrible story.  Just wait for it, though.

When we were all sweetened up on chocolate, our waiter returned with our check. He said he'd overheard it was our anniversary so he'd "taken care of" the cost of our chocolatey dessert. That was sweet, don't you think? I'm sure he didn't actually have it taken out of his paycheck or anything. I know the waiters get to do stuff like that sometimes. It is meant to build up grateful and faithful clientele. This still doesn't seem like a horrible story, does it? Well, horrible things usually happen when you least expect them.

Our waiter then said something about the anniversary he thought we were celebrating.

He thought it was our 55th anniversary!

55!

I truly hope Mike and I get to celebrate our 55th anniversary, but not until we are 75 years old!

Mike and I were likely looking a bit tired, but did we really look to be 75 years old?!

The dumbest part of the story is this.

I worried that he would feel so embarrassed and bad about his blunder...

...I gave him a big tip.

This is a very sweet photo of an unknown couple.

It is NOT us.

(Photo from Google Images via homesforheroes.wordpress.com) 

Celebrating Our Anniversary

A Shared Path - 35 Years

God

Growing

Memories

June 11, 1978

Commitment

Loving

Grieving

Golden Fields

Music

Family

Laughter

Children

Call to Ministry

Good-Byes

Prayers

Seattle

Comfort

Adventure

Minnesota

Illness

Friends

Forgiveness

Montana

Exploring

New Mexico

Hiking

Cruising

Long Talks

Hawaii

River Floats

Exhaustion

Relaxation

St. Louis

River Walk

Steadfast

Something About That Girl

There is something special about our granddaughter, Cordelia. I know, you are surprised that I think that, aren't you? Well, actually, there is something special about our other granddaughter, Elise, as well. However, this post is about Cordelia.

I totally believe that there is something special about every child. I hope no one is upset or thinks of this as bragging. I just think every child should have their good qualities mentioned frequently. I'm happy to do that!

Our daughter, Maria, recently mentioned Cordelia's repeated remarks that she was born to make the whole world smile. Isn't that just the sweetest thing? I've seen her do just that over and over. One example this week-end was when she gave a lady at a store a hug because she thought she was sad. She also asked the lady if she had any little children to make her smile.

When Cordelia was really little, maybe 2, she was able to verbalize that she felt shy in certain situations. One day, though, she told Maria that she wasn't going to be shy anymore. That was a life-changing day for her! She has been trying to make the whole world smile ever since! Sometimes it is simply running over to another child and saying, "Do you want to be my friend?"

Saturday I got to take both granddaughters to a park for a bit of fun. There was a little boy there, younger and rather intimidated, and Cordelia instantly set to work to make him smile. She showed him all around the park. He was a two year old and not yet too verbal. She didn't mind a bit! She just did the talking for both of them!  He ended up smiling a lot!

Yesterday we had a group from Youth Encounter, New Vision, at our church to lead worship. Cordelia LOVED them! From their first song she was enchanted. She got right into the clapping and dancing. When I complimented her clapping and such she turned to me and said, "Yes. I'm going to have to be in a band."

Later, the group had the children come up for a close-up view of a puppet show. At the end of it, Cordelia stood up and opened her arms wide stating, "I love you guys!"

After the worship service Cordelia ran over to them and was quite generous with her hugs. I heard her asking one of the team members if she could go with them. The girl asked Cordelia if she could play any musical instruments. Cordelia did not hesitate. She proclaimed, "I am very good on the drums so I'll just take the drums.

Later Sunday, when Sam and I stopped by their house, Cordelia gave us each some stones and sea shells from her little collection. She told us she wanted to give us something because we are very precious to her.

Yes, there is something special about that girl!

Holy, Holy, Holy - Perfection

Did you know that stating something three times is done to highlight perfection? I read that today. It made me think of the song I've known my whole life... Holy, Holy, Holy. It is old but so powerful! Click on the title to hear a newer version.

Have a happy Sunday!

Bird Trail and Mall Lunch

I had the day off yesterday and I was ready for it!   

Maria and I went for a stroll along a preserved bird trail. Cordelia and Elise, along with abundant sunshine, made it a wonderful morning.

We met up with Uncle Sam and Grandpa Mike for mall lunch. What a lovely break!

These Are The Days - Giggles

These Are The Days - Family in a Chair

These Are The Days - Volcano of Love

My favorite quote from Cordelia this past week-end, "My heart is a volcano of love!"

Elise said, "Ruff! Ruff!"

Tutorial - Long Curly Hair

I have a lot of hair and it grows quickly. It takes me about three to four years for me to grow out a pixie to the length it is now. I've been called a Chia Pet. I believe I come from a long line of quick hair growers!

Everyone always thinks they want thick hair, so I'm not complaining. However, it takes time if you want to fix it. Long ago, I developed a cheater's way to curl my hair. Recently it occurred to me that maybe some other Chia Pet would like to know my secret. So, this is my first, and likely last, hair tutorial. If you have long hair, this may be of interest to you. If you do not have long hair, my apologies for writing a boring post.

So, here is how I curl my hair when I have to be at work waaaaaaay too early. It is not unusual for me to leave for my work day around 5:00 a.m.  I do not want to get up any earlier than I must so I use a technique I first used when I was in high school.

I bathe and wash my hair the night before. I blow dry it until I feel no more wet strands. Maybe you can curl wet hair at night and it will be dry by morning, but mine would still be quite soggy. So, here is what you need for this version of long, curly hair.

Yep, those are sponge curlers and yes, they still make them.

Bend over at your wait and put a ponytail right on top of your head.

I used 6 medium sized sponge curlers for this look.

It is fun to try out smaller ones, more of them, for smaller spirals.

It looks rather dopey, so just go to bed.

The beauty of this method is, although you are sleeping in curlers,

you are not sleeping ON curlers as they are on the top of your head only.

In the morning, when I take the rollers out, I'm always glad that I 

planned ahead so I can quickly get ready for work.

Honestly, I often don't even bother to brush it as it

comes out looking pretty neat.

If you want it to stay that curly all day, though,

you may want to use some hairspray.

Mine usually loosens up as the day wears on.

Because I am a nurse,  I always must pull it 

back in a ponytail or pretty barrette.

It works and it is easy.

Now you know my secret.

These Are The Days - Making Kool-Aid

Cordelia recently said, "Grandma, I am very smart! You are very smart, too... not as smart as me but you are very smart."

These Are The Days - Racing Grandpa

When our children were young, we were leading very busy lives, much like most young families. Every now and then, though, I'd stop and savor the moment. I'd think to myself, "These are the days I'll be looking back on."

I do look back on those days with fondness. I loved raising our daughter and our two sons! From the time Maria (1st) was born until the time Sam (last) turned 18 consisted of 30 years of full-time parenting. 30 years is a lot of parenting years! Somehow, though, it seems as though it went by so quickly.

However, as we were playing with our two granddaughters this week-end, I thought to myself, "These are the days... bonus days! I want to remember them. I want to remember the things these girls say and do. For instance, Cordelia said to Mike this past week-end, "Everyone loves your silliness, Grandpa! Even I love your silliness!"

So, I decided I would start a new little series for my blog. In the future, when I do a These Are The Days post I may or may not use words. Sometimes photos tell the story just as well. I'm going to kick it off with a few posts in a row. I hope you enjoy them. I hope you feel the joy. Feel free to do a These Are The Days post of your own; link back to mine if you'd like!

Words 

by Hawk Nelson from the album Made

(available on Amazon, ITunes and Google Play)

            My favorite line in this song...

I don't want to say a word

Unless it points the world back to You

Click below and follow the link to hear this song...

Bad Squirrel!

Spammers Say the Darndest Things

I noticed earlier this week that my blog was about to pass 100,000 page views. That would be exciting except that I've noticed I've had a LOT of suspicious traffic again. I get a lot of spammers leaving comments on the older posts. I was hating that but then decided maybe I needed to change my attitude and learn to enjoy it.

What? Enjoy spammers?!

First, for those of you who don't have your own blogs, let me tell you about spammers. They are advertisements, really. They are likely automated responses. That is why many bloggers have you go through the word verification process and if you can't do it, you can't leave a comment. Without word verification they can leave "comments" on blog posts using some sort of computerized program. At the end of their comment, they show their website and invite you to click. If you do, you find they are advertising some great new weight loss product or something like that. You don't get to connect with a real person at all. I don't know how they find blog posts but I've noticed that once they find one of mine, I get a LOT of comments on that particular post. It's not all bad, though.

Many of them say nice things to me! They call my posts brilliant, insightful and even auspicious. They tell me they've been looking and looking for an article such as mine because it answers all their questions. They tell me I am a great writer and perhaps I can help them start a blog. They ALL invite me to check out their web page. Isn't that sweet of them?

None of them make sense and are most certainly written by someone who did not read the post. Many seem to be written by someone who has access to a list of English words but has no idea what they mean. Many just link nonsensical, sometimes funny, phrases and make them look like comments. That can be kind of entertaining. Well, it is entertaining the first few times. I'm now getting about 20 a day!

I know I can reinstate the word verification again, and likely I will, but I'm trying to hold off. Why? Because they are getting harder and harder to read and I hate them.! I may have to give in again, but for now, I'm just going to keep deleting my spammer comments. If any sneak through where you can see them, please don't encourage them by clicking on their links.

For now, I may as well continue to accept their ridiculous compliments!

P.S. For those of you wondering about the arsonists in our neighborhood, I don't know anything more about the culprit(s). I saw that the camper fire actually did burn the house a bit where it was parked, and melted a bit of a camper in the driveway beside it. We've had no damage to our property.  I slept several nights with the windows open so I could smell smoke but all I smelled was a nervous skunk! Hopefully we have returned to being a quiet little neighborhood.

The Math Whiz and the Girl Who Barks

I enjoyed granddaughters at my house yesterday for lunch. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy those girls?

Highlights from yesterday:

Maria and I took the girls for a walk. Elise listened for neighborhood dogs all the way, very serious about barking back to them. I tried to teach her to also tweet at the birds but she really just wanted to speak with the dogs.

Cordelia wanted to talk about how many children I had. She named my three kids (now adults). She then named herself and Elise and told me they were my grandkids. Then, little 3 1/2 year old math whiz that she is said, "You have 5 kids because 3 plus 2 is 5." Who can argue with that?

And now, I am sharing photos of those beautiful grandkids, just because I can.