I'm baa-ack...

I realize that my posts have been quite sporadic this summer. I can honestly say that I have had several posts written in my head but I simply never had the time to put them to blog.

I promised the sister that I would post more--I even committed myself to at least one post a week.  So... here is this week's...

::crickets::



Kidding...just kidding.

Today was a very busy day for me.  I woke up at 8 am. Blech.  This is the earliest I have gotten up in a long while.  But I did it for a good cause.  Today was cleaning day in our new church building!

It wasn't all that long ago that our church family was doing this. Tomorrow is the last Sunday service in our current building.  Monday is a the first official meeting in the new building--a special Women's Ministries meeting. And then next Sunday is the first Worship Service.

It is exciting and a little overwhelming.

Also today: new windows!  I have all new windows in my house...they are beautiful too!  I will post some photos soon.

Thankfully, I don't have to pay for the windows (I rent) because yesterday I spent a whole lot of money.  I bought a brand new mattress and box spring.  I have been saving for this purchase for a long time but I still cringe a bit when I spend so much money.

Until next week...

Odds and ends

After church today, I drove three blocks to the convenience store to buy a pop (the soft pretzel was irresistible so I picked up one of those too).  As I parked my car, I thought, "I guess I could have walked here ..."

I thought it again when the sum total of my purchases was $2.34.

Course I didn't feel quite so guilty when the gentleman ahead of me in line spent $45 on two packs of cigarettes, lottery tickets and a $0.40 cup of coffee.

~~~~~~~~~~

I've been entertaining myself lately by teaching myself Microsoft Office 2007.  The sister's boyfriend "took" a class for his master's and bequeathed me his textbook when he was done.

It should entertain me for quite a while as I'm only on page 104 of 1303 pages.

~~~~~~~~~~

Meet the Robinsons is a terribly cute movie!

Apparently, summer has arrived

Today, I was grateful that I work at a job that has air conditioning!  It was hot enough that the school kids got dismissed from school early -- and tomorrow is the last day of school.

The house is full of hot pets.  There a hot dog panting on the couch and a hot cat sprawled in the bedroom.

I am beginning to think that events in my life are beginning to slow down a bit. Well, they are either slowing or I am getting used to the fast pace . . .

I am still interim director at the library but I am hoping to be relieved of that position by the end of August.  I have finished teaching adult computer classes until next fall.

The next big thing is Vacation Bible School -- starting a week from tomorrow.

But there are some exciting things coming up this summer too: a couple of new little ones are due to arrive to friends,  planning a baby shower, moving to the new church building.  And this fall, I am hoping to visit the brother in Florida and go to a cousin's wedding in Boston.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t Stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too. ~"Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss

Oh oh here it comes . . .

This week begins one of the busiest months of my year.  (This year anyway.) I am teaching a computer class on Tuesdays and Thursdays all this month. 

Then, at work, I am taking assuming the position of interim director while the library board searches for a replacement for my retiring boss. I am not looking forward to this but I am fairly certain I will do an adequate job.

Awana will be finishing up this month which means the Grand Prix race and Awards Night are this month.  Extra work all around.

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. 

Isaiah 40:30-31

Busy little bee

This week has been busy again. And stressful. And wearying. (Is that a word? I'm not sure but is is going to be one tonight. I'm too tired to think of another one.)

I got up early this morning for a class. I will be getting up early tomorrow morning to take my car in for a minor repair job.

I am looking forward to tomorrow evening--I have nothing to do! Yea!

The roommate reminded me that this coming Monday is Labor Day--I think I get that day off too! Yea again!

Sleepy

Mmm . . . I got home from Des Moines at about 8 pm tonight. It has been a very long day.

I didn't let that discourage the roommate's and my plan for walking though (we are trying to walk every other evening).

When we got back home we watched a little Veronica Mars (via Netflix) while I tried to catch up on all my e-mails and other things.

Now I am going to bed. So sleepy . . .

Relax?

The next couple months are a little overwhelming.

I have a teen party (the first of its kind) to run this Saturday for the library. I am kind of nervous about it. It has been a while since I have been a teen but I think the activities I have planned will be fun.

I hope anyway.

And then next week I begin a taking a class for work. I have to drive to Des Moines for the first class period. Then I have a weekly class through ICN (Iowa Communication Network -- a fiber optic classroom).

Awana begins in September and I have plans to take a vacation then as well.

As soon as I get back from vacation I will be teaching two classes for the adult education department of the community college here in town.

But then I will be able to breath again.

In November . . . I will breath again.

Holding pattern

Sadly, I have nothing new to post about.

Nothing out of the ordinary. That in itself can be a blessing.

Tomorrow, I'm sure I will be rolling in blog fodder. I have a huge list of things to get done and the roommate and I are having guests over for movies and games (and food, of course).

Heart and soul redux

Last year, I revisited my New Year's resolutions several times throughout the year -- a little habit check-up. This year I haven't reviewed my New Year's resolutions -- at all.

The reason: I really haven't been working on them consistently.

Oopsie.

I definitely haven't formed new habits yet. But I am working on it - I haven't given up.

Hopefully, I will soon be able to say I have had some measure success in this endeavor but until then I will be back to regularly scheduled posting--whatever that may be--tomorrow.

What time is it?

I am a night owl. I like to stay up late. I am usually more productive in the evenings. I like to sleep in.

However, the last week or so, I have gotten in the habit of staying up way too late.

Why are habits easier to start than to break?

The big 5-0-0

This post is number 500 since I started this blog in June of 2007. It really doesn't seem as if it has been that long. I have been blogging every weekday excluding some holidays and the occasional "oopsie."

So how this blog affected my life (and let's make it 5 things!):

1. I am getting better at putting my thoughts into words. I think this is something I will always have to work on. I'm an introvert so I think about a lot of things. It is hard for me to convert those thoughts into something that is understood by the greater population -- if only your brain worked like mine . . . :-) heehee
   
   
2. I am taking time to stop and smell the roses. Blogging forces me to stop and think about the things that are going on in my life instead of simply living and leaving them.
   
   
3. I am learning more about myself. Again with the thinking! This blog has created a different way for me to view myself -- and internet mirror, if you will. Okay -- bad metaphor.
   
   
4. I started a new habit, yes I do have that ability -- creating a new habit. I can think of a couple more habits I should start. And I wouldn't mind the ability to fly either.
   
   
5. I have photos of my life. (I think my digital camera also helped me with this one.) From about freshman year of college to about three years ago I have very little documentation that I was living on this planet other that my yearly tax returns. I don't take photos just to add them to my blog but I have to admit that I think about which photos I could/should post while I take pictures.

I'm sure there are more ways that blogging has impacted my life. However, I am just about ready to fall into that oblivion of sleep and I really don't think I can keep my brain functioning much longer. So . . .

Happy 500 "A Mess of Blessings"!

Once upon a time . . .

there was a farm girl who was asked to watch a young boy and his baby sister.

So she did.

She enjoyed spending time with the boy and girl so much that whenever the parents needed (or wanted) to step away from their children for a while the farm girl would watch the children again.

Soon another baby girl was added to the family. And again the farm girl was asked to watch the children.

And she did. And as they grew, the farm girl grew to love them.

Now the boy is in college, bright and strong-opinioned. The second child, also in college, is smart and beautiful and kind-hearted. And the baby, a baby no longer, is maneuvering her way through the treacherous waters of high school and growing into a sweet, beautiful, kind young woman.

And the farm girl smiles.

Early to bed . . .

. . . and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

~Benjamin Franklin

I'm working on the "early to bed" and "healthy" part.

I'm almost over my cold -- just the part where I feel the worst left. Blech. So I'm going to bed early and probably waking up late. Heehee.

A kleenex box walked into the library . . .

No, that is not the beginning of a great joke . . . although it would be a great joke. It is currently my life and the punch line . . . I have a cold.

Not the most convenient thing to have while I am trying to clean up and out, teach a class, and work at a job where I have to talk often.

I missed out singing in choir for church on Sunday as well.

The blessing in all of this:

• this is the only time I have been sick ALL winter!
  
  
• it is ONLY a cold!
  

It's a bizarre world

I met this gentleman this week, less the dog and cat. Actually, I met him last week but I didn't recognize that he was the dog walker until he had his winter jacket on this week.

He is in my Compters for Older Adults class!

5 surprising things I did (or didn't) do today

1. I didn't read the day away. (This has been known to happen. Frequently.)
   
   
2. I did wash all the dirty dishes in my kitchen including the ones I had to wash by hand. (This is a most dreaded chore. I have a sinkful of pots & pans drying and my second load of dishes waiting to be run in the dishwasher. Dreaded chore.)
   
   
3. I did buy an mp3 player with my Christmas money. (I really wasn't planning on doing this today. Didn't I just mention that this was on my wishlist recently?)
   
   
4. I did clean three rooms of my house and bake bread. (I'm finishing the bread up right now. Yummy.)
   
   
5. I didn't step one foot out the door. (Some days it is nice to hibernate a little bit.)
   

Mmm . . .

I have been thinking about technology a lot lately. When I was a kid we had a Texas Instruments computer that connected to a television. We used it for games mostly. I think in sixth grade the students who finished their work were allowed to use the computer to play Oregon Trail -- loaded from an actual floppy, floppy disk.

My typing class was taught on typewriters -- granted they were electric but still.

I didn't have e-mail until college. A cell phone a year or two after I graduated from college. I rarely send text messages. I don't have a mp3 player (although this is on my wishlist).

It seems to me that kids with cell phones get younger and younger. And I'm sure a lot of preschoolers know as much or more than I do about computers.

It is mind-boggling to me what the next technological step might be . . .

Variety is the spice of life

My job is so diverse.

Today for instance:

• two gentlemen carrying on a conversation in Russian
  
  
• a political discussion of world politics from the past 100 years
  

• a question concerning a court case heard 50 years ago
  
  

And those were just the major topics of the day.

The long but not so bad day

Long:

1. The computers at work were acting up

2. I walked to work -- it was cold

3. It was one of those days were I got a lot of little things finished up but I don't feel like I accomplished much


Not so bad:

1. I barely had to shovel today!

2. The computers were an easy fix

3. I am going to bed!

Musings

It is bizarre some of the things that run through my mind sometimes.

The other morning as I was waking up I was thinking about how now I always seem to sleep on the side of the bed farthest from the door and when I was younger I always slept on the side of the bed nearest the door.

Bizarre.

Today I was examining my life so far. Am I the woman I want to be? Am I the woman I always thought I would be?

I'm not sure if I came to any solid conclusions. But I do know that there will always be room for improvement:

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:30-31