JUST SHOOT ME NOW

Two reasons to just shoot me now and put me out of my misery:

1) This morning the tennis courts were too wet when we arrived, so the only court we could play on was a hard one that had been rolled dry. Boy, I haven't played on a hard court in a looooooooong time. We did okay and it was fun. Afterwards, we did our normal hour walk. Then the trouble started....I was so sore and tired! I felt achy all over....I guess from running around and then walking on the hard surfaces. I came home and ate lunch, took a shower, and napped for 3 hours! I still feel achy. Getting older is no fun.

2) About 3 years ago I "kicked the habit" of keeping a jigsaw puzzle out on the end of my table. For quite some time, I literally had one going ALL the time. I might work on it for just 10 minutes one day or many hours the next. I would finish one and immediately start another one. Somehow I finally quit and it was nice to see the end of my table again - nice and clear. Until...............I was in Walmart the other day looking for a Mah Jongg game and I passed by the puzzles. I bought one. On the way home, I kept telling myself "Don't open it!", "Just give it away", etc., etc. But...I didn't listen to myself. I opened it and here I go again..................help!

SUNDAY

Today we sang:

Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see,
All I have needed, thy hands hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto to me!

Oh, how true. All I have needed, His hands have provided!
Thank you Lord.

SUNDAY NIGHT

We got to rest while the sexy Chef Dick did the cooking!


Dick and Barbara had us all over tonight for dinner and games. Yummy, yummy! Dick cooked grilled tuna with spicy mango salsa, two kinds of rice, grilled tomatoes, eggplant and asparagus, salad and rolls. Jeanette made blue cheese coleslaw. Everything was delicious!!!

Afterwards we played two games of Left, Center, Right. Jeanette won the first one and Barbara won the second. A wonderful night with wonderful friends! George and I are truly blessed having these two couples for friends.

Throbbing!

Today George walked with Jeanette and I on the beach. The sand has been pretty "mushy" these last few days, making it pretty hard to walk. Our feet just sink deeper in spots.

My new bike hasn't arrived yet, but the bike shop loaned me one to use until mine comes in. George and I rode for hours today. We rode all around Sandestin. We stopped at Baytowne for lunch, we stopped by the golf course to visit a friend, we stopped by the tennis center to line up our tennis for the week, but mostly we just rode. It was HOT, but alot of fun. I didn't realize how sore I was until I sat at the computer for awhile tonight and then tried to get up and walk to the kitchen. Oh my! My legs are throbbing!

MAID FOR A DAY

No tennis today...one of my tennis buddies couldn't play today, so we just canceled. She wanted to play, but she had a dilema. She and her husband own a cottage that they rent out. One guest was leaving today and new ones were checking in just a few hours later. No time to have a cleaning crew come in. Soooooooooo we did our morning walk on the beach while the first guest packed and left and then I volunteered to help her and her husband scurry around and get it cleaned and ready for the next guest. Her husband joked that he'd never had a maid drive up in a Mercedes...ha ha! It was actually kinda fun. She would do the same for me if I needed help...no doubt about it.

THEFT

We've been keeping our bikes in the garage of the new house for convenience sake since we do all our bike riding in Sandestin. George went without me a few days ago and was shocked to find that the bikes were missing...stolen! The garage doors were down, of course, but the side door must have been left unlocked. Someone came in and just took the bikes. The helmets were still there. Nothing else was missing from the hugh pile of boxes, etc. we have stored in the garage. Just the bikes. So weird. So frustrating. We feel violated. George has bought a new one and I've ordered one which should arrive in a few days, but we're still bummed that someone would do such a thing. For the life of me I can't understand how anyone can steal anything and be able to live with themself. How can a person even enjoy what they steal? I guess it's impossible to understand the impossible.

25 Today!

A healthy little girl!
Daddy helped in the delivery!
9 pounds 1-1/2 ounces and 20 inches long!
We both had darker hair and lots of it!
Two sleepy girls after our busy morning.
Proud Parents

Today's Bree's 25th birthday! Unbelievable! It just doesn't seem possible. I can vividly remember my pregnacy and her delivery! What a beautiful baby! She had a head full of black hair and was such a cutie pie. I can truthfully say she has given us 25 years of complete joy! Happy Birthday "B Bear"!

MAH JONGG CHAMP!

This isn't easy!
Even the "cheat sheet" showing the different sets is hard to understand!

Jeanette and Barbara and I took our walk on the beach this morning...so nice. Afterwards, I had to rush to get showered and dressed in order to get to lunch with my Tuesday Lunch Bunch at 11:30. I don't get to see most of these girls except on Tuesdays, so I look forward to it. I spent the afternoon around the house doing chores. Tonight Leslie had us over to her condo and taught us how to play the real Mah jongg game (not the comptuer version I love to play). It was lots of fun...very hard to learn though. We all left feeling like we had ALOT more to learn. I somehow managed to win both games we played. Beginners luck, I'm sure.

NOT JUST MY DAUGHTER

I try really hard not to take anything for granted, but I guess sometimes we all do. I talked with Bree tonight, just like we do every day...nothing special, just talking about our day. I hung up though thinking just how special our relationship is. She's not just my daughter, but one of my very best friends. How lucky am I?! I sure do love her and I love being her Mom.

Sunday equals peace and happiness

I love Sundays. I love the peace and happiness I feel. Today was perfect...one of those days you just wish everyone you knew could be there to enjoy. The sermon was awesome ("Create in Me a Clean Heart") and the music was incredible. We sang some of my favorites - "Shine Jesus Shine", "They'll Know We Are Christians", "He is Exalted", and my all-time favorite "Change My Heart, O God" which brings tears to my eyes every single time.

YOU ARE THE POTTER
I AM THE CLAY
MOLD ME AND MAKE ME
THIS IS WHAT I PRAY

CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD
MAKE IT EVER TRUE
CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD
MAY I BE LIKE YOU

FIRST SHIFT

Beth with Jaylan
Tiny and sweet...a rare moment when he's awake.


Our time on the beach. (The band-aid is to cover Beth's IV port)


Beth and I took the first "shift" this morning and stayed in with baby Jay so Angela and Barbara could go to the beach. When they came in, we had our turn and went to the beach and later took a walk. It's wonderful having her here and feeling good.

IT DOESN'T SEEM POSSIBLE

Beth, Beth's Mom Barbara, Beth's daughter Angela, and Beth's new grandson Jay are arriving later today. Four generations. Can't wait to see them all. I'm so happy Beth is doing well. No problems right now with her MS. She had another MRI the other day and we're waiting on the results, but for now, all is good.

It's so weird to think of myself and my friends as G-r-a-n-d-m-o-t-h-e-r-s! We just don't look, act, or feel like we thought we would when we became one. I guess no one does. It's just weird. I love, love, love being one though.

YA NEVER KNOW

I saw this a few days ago on an e-mail I got about optical illusions and I just can't get it out of my mind. When you first look at it and read the word in black, you see the word "good", but when you look at just the white part, you see the word "evil". Amazing! I've been mulling this over for days. It's just so true. You can't "judge a book by it's cover". Things/people that look "good", might just be "evil". It's kinda scary when you think about it. Evil people can look so normal/good. While some scary looking person might just be the most wonderful person we would ever want to meet. Books might look plain or yucky on the cover, yet tell the best story. Receipes might sound wonderful, but really suck. A house might look wonderful from the street, but evil might be inside. It would be awesome if we could always "see" the truth behind the front. I'm so glad our God can. He doesn't care how we look, or dress, etc.....he can "see" what is in our hearts.

ADDICTED

I just took a look at my desk. My three addictions all together! Diet Caffeine Free Coke, M&M's, and Mahjong on the computer.

I'm thankful that these are my only three. No problem with coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, porno, television, shopping, etc.

Sooooooooooo....I'm not gonna feel guilty about my three.

(I'm down to only one can of coke a day, M&M's rarely now, but Mahjong EVERY day)

A NEW ATTITUDE

I woke up this morning with a whole new attitude...thank you Jesus. Not sure why, but I'm so glad. I walked with Barbara first and now I'm moving and grooving and getting things done. George is out of town just for the day on Zelosport business, so I'm "home alone". I'm whipping around getting lots and lots done. Happy! Anyway, I walked into the laundry room awhile ago and saw this painting Bree did for me a few years ago. I keep it propped by the sink in the laundry room. I love it! Sure wish I had seen it yesterday!

WOW

Wow...literally just minutes after I posted my last blog about my "pitty party" today, I opened a new e-mail and got the following:

Dear GOD: I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears ; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do moreand do better. I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me. God is just so good and he's good all the time. Continue to THANK HIM.

Wow...just when I needed some encouragement, God sends me some!

NOT MYSELF TODAY

I took a 3 hour nap yesterday after church. It threatened rain all afternoon, so we didn't ride our bike or walk. I felt yucky, so I gave in to it, came home and put back on my gown and snuggled into my "reading chair and ottomon" and promptly fell asleep. Three hours later I woke up feeling drugged. Last night I slept well, so why is it I feel angry/mad today. I can't seem to shake it either. Here's some things that might be the culprit:

1. I talked on the phone last night for over an hour to a lady I met at radiation who was going through almost the identical situation as me. We talked about how lucky/blessed we feel. We talked about how great the girls are at Dr. B's office. Everything was positive. Nothing negative and I enjoyed chatting with her. But...I think it brought back everything and sometimes it just feels scary.

2. It was so damn hot on the tennis court this morning. I didn't play well either. Too much going on in my head.

3. My walking partners had to walk real early this morning, so I didn't get my walk in. I think I needed to walk today more than usual, but I couldn't make myself walk alone.

4. No luck with our real estate for sell....depressing. It's hard to keep everything "ready to show" all the time and nothing happens.

5. I miss my family. I miss my friend Jennifer...sure could use one of her hugs.

6. I'm behind on lots of things around the house (cleaning closets, catching up e-mails, etc.), but can't seem to take my own advice and "just do it".

7-100 yada, yada, yada

Even I don't want to hear myself rant and rave. I hate pitty parties! Like Scarlett said "Tomorrow's another day"...hope mine's much better.

A PRIVILEGE

At our church, every Sunday we take communion. It's also called Eucharist, which literally means "good gifts". Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me". What a privilege to be able to reflect each week on the wonderful gifts Jesus has given us...His broken body and shed blood, which secure our salvation. We remember Jesus and recall His death...in our place...upon the cross. I love this part of the service and consider it a privilege.

STUFFED - AGAIN!

Richard (Jeanette's friend visting from New York), George and I, Garrett and Jeanette, Dick and Barbara - all of us are stuffed!





Oh My Goodness! We did it again. We went back to TradeWinds for the family style italian meal. They just kept bringing bowl after bowl. I'm so stuffed. Sooooo miserable tonight! Why oh why did I eat that much????? I need Tums!

YUCK!

Our normal view from the balcony...so wonderful!
Our view this week...yuck...seaweed everywhere!

LICENSE PLATES

July here is unbelievable. Crowded doesn't even begin to describe how it is. Amazing! People EVERYWHERE! George and I thought we'd run up to Longhorns for dinner. Silly us! The traffic was bumper to bumper, literally! We had fun checking out the license plates....Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama, etc., etc. We couldn't believe it. It became a game to see if we could find a Florida plate (yep, we were that bored and we were moving that slow). We finally saw one....but...it was from the other side of the state. Amazing!

July is definitely my least favorite month here. Too many people, too many wrecks, too crowded restaurants, too HOT, too much seaweed, etc., etc.

IT BRINGS ME JOY

I never dreamed when we did our family beach portrait that it would bring me such joy. Every single day! I stand in front of the large one hanging over one of our sofas and just thank God and my lucky stars for my family and their love and their health and happiness. Three granddaughters are missing from it though. Two have been born since the portrait was taken a little over three years ago and our step-granddaughter was not able to come that weekend. I really, really want to have another one taken ASAP so that all nine grandchildren will be included. Seems like in the past, every time we'd talk about scheduling another one, another baby was on the way. I don't think we'll have any more babies until Bree is married though. Maybe this fall or next spring we will plan to do another one. Until then, I'll keep enjoying this one.

Guilty As Charged

I'm feeling much better. I've had a full day...tennis, then walked for an hour with friends, met George after his tennis and we had lunch together, then he and I rode bikes for an hour. I'm exhausted now though. Why do I do this to myself, I'm asking about now.

My Mom and sometimes my friends accuse me of trying to do too much, especially since my recent surgery, but even before that. I go full throttle most of the time. Never sit still. I wish I knew how to r-e-l-a-x (I had to slow down to type the word since I even type fast!) I fill my days and nights with things, I go go go, I have too much company sometimes back-to-back, I never even sit down when I'm home unless I'm on the computer, I stay up too late and I get up early and I'm usually out the door early too... and I never just stop. But....it's my choice. I love life and I don't want to miss ANYTHING. I might complain sometimes about how tired I am, but I don't think I would change anything. I'm loving life. I've gotta admit though....Mom and the others are right...I'm guilty as charged. :-)

Gonna go now and try to chill for awhile....gotta try to do this!

Words and Music

I love music...all kinds, even some opera. I love listening to songs and really hearing the words and feeling the music. Almost every Sunday there's at least one song that really "speaks" to me, although there's usually more than one. Anyway, today Bill Evett who sings and plays guitar in church almost every Sunday performed a new song of his he wrote. Wow! What a great message!!!!

I'd Rather Be Wrong Than Right
words and music by Bill Evett

As I pondered my existence wide awake last night
I thought about heaven - I considered my life
What if we Christians have been led to believe
A myth - just a fable - well it's hard to conceive
I'd still trust in Jesus - my faith is secure
I refuse to deny after death there is more

Are we merely amoebas - evolved here by chance
Am I destined to die having lived in a trance
Is it true as the world says at large every day
Don't worry about tomorrow - just live for today
I prefer not to make the mistake of my life
I'd rather be wrong than right

Chorus:
I choose to believe there's a heaven above
I choose to conceive of a God that loves
My faith is my comfort - my guiding light
I'd rather be wrong than right

I feel for the others you see every day
Blinded by worry as their faith melts away
They think it's illusion we Christians have found
They think we are fools as our folly resounds
Well if that's all there is to the gain in their lives
I'd rather be wrong than right

Bridge:
God show me Your way, let me not stray
Help me to understand
That there's so much more that you have in store
If we just choose to comprehend

Awesome! I love Sundays. I love our church. I love my life.

Pretending to feel good

Making pizza pies!
This is fun! Two great puppies! Lucy (left) is Dick and Barbara's and George (right) is Jeanette and Garrett's.


I felt like crap when I woke up this morning. I wanted to just climb back in bed and go back to sleep. I did for just awhile, but then I started thinking about all I needed and wanted to do. I remember pretending I was sick alot when I was younger to get out of
school or work or church. I decided today I would pretend I was feeling better. I took a shower, got dressed and got busy. Guess what? It worked! I actually started feeling better. George and I put the top down on my car and off we went. We went out for lunch and then drove over to Sandestin and rode our bikes for over an hour.

Tonight Dick and Barbara invited us over for dinner with Jeanette and Garrett. What fun! We all made our own pizzas. Yummy too. I feel blessed to have such wonderful friends. We played Left, Center, Right...fun!

LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER

Still not feeling 100%...maybe just a cold or sinus trouble. I've been lazy for two days now. No tennis, no walking, nothing. Just being lazy. Kinda nice, but sooo boring!

Kim and Mike arrived today just for the weekend (no kids this time). I'm sure we won't see too much of those lovebirds :-)

TIRED AND POSSIBLY SICK

Eric and Angela and the kids left this morning. I hate goodbyes.

I'm exhausted today and possibly sick with a cold, but I'm happy that we had a good time together. Our 4th of July party was fun. I love to have a party, but it's nice when it's over too :-)

I was hoping to get caught up on alot today, but I'm feeling real wimpy so I'm giving in and just chilling out. Gonna just lay around and watch movies snuggled up on the couch. Sounds like a good plan to me.

A Fun 4th of July

Angela and the kids trying to catch a fish by hand...no luck.
Landon caught a tiny fish in his small net!
They all wanted to touch it!
Sydney Anne found a pretty shell.
Kaley Grace found one too!

Wow...was it gorgeous today!! A beautiful 4th of July. Angela and I took the the kids to the beach for a few hours while Eric and George played golf.

Tonight we had our annual 4th of July party. It wasn't as big of a crowd as usual, which was nice. Eric and Angela and the kids were here. Also, Dick and Barbara, Garret and Jeanette, Jack and Linda, and Jo and Cindy. We sure missed Kim and Mike and the kids and Bree and her friends this year though. It seemed strange not having them there. There was lots and lots of food. The fireworks were wonderful. I can't believe I didn't take a single photo...so unlike me...just too much going on. Makes me sad though.

Brother Bear - Again

Tonight Eric and Angela went out for a "date night", so George and I had a "movie night" with the kids. We watched Lady and the Tramp and then Brother Bear...for the umpteenth time. Brother Bear is their favorite one we own and they want to watch it every time we're together. The best part of the night though was putting them to bed and being a part of their bedtime routine...saying their "thankfuls", saying a prayer, and doing a "group hug". They go to bed so easily. Just the routine, hugs and kisses and snuggles. They are the absolute best! Wow...can't love them anymore than I do.

Sunday with Family!

This morning we had a special 4th of July program at church. The music was awesome although they had some speaker problems at times. It was wonderful having Eric and Angela and the kids with us. We met Jack and Linda for barbecue and then we all went to see the house we bought (and might sell) and the new house we've found and have fallen in love with. Later we stopped for ice cream and then let the kids play on the new playground. Sooooooooo hot today!

Tonight we played more Farkel and I taught them a new game - Left, Center, Right

Fun Day

Sydney Anne, Eric, Landon, Angela and Kaley Grace do a "group hug" in the pool

A really fun day! I'm so happy Eric and Angela and the kids are here! We had a good time on the beach and in the pool. Later Jack and Linda came over and we all went out for pizza and then ice cream, of course. It's our tradition now. We must go somewhere after dinner for ice cream every night they're here.

Once the kids were in bed for the night, the six of us played Farkel. I'm not bragging, but I won. HeHeHe!