Sunday, February 22, 2009

little rewards

Life is full of small rewards, like when your son USES a napkin. We can choose to live life in hesitant anticipation of those mountain moments that do not come around very often. Or, we can relax in the small daily smiles that are the source of a deeper joy when taken as God has meant them to be; the substance or our lives. It is so easy to get caught up in the busy tasks of daily life and miss the hidden blessings that can be found in even the most mundane. I was skimming through some pictures from Florida looking for something to post and this one caught my eye. I do not know how many times while we were away that I found myself saying, "Jer, put your napkin on your lap." After living for several decades with menfolk, I was quite blessed to find one of them actually wiping there mouth with a napkin. Especially one so young as Jer. As moms we have an entire litany of instructions that flow from our hearts to our lips onto what we believe to be deaf ears. So for me to observe an unsolicited act of compliance brought a sweet smile to my face and touched my heart. It may seem as if I am being a bit tongue in cheek, and while there may be a wee bit of that, the picture truly blessed me.
Life can be full of trials and difficult challenges. Some folks have deep hardship. I do not want to make light of hard stuff, but laughter and small smiles are some of God's greatest gifts and finding them in the shadows of life make them even sweeter. Finding this picture wasn't hidden in the midst of a tough trial but in the mundane. I want to challenge myself to be constantly on the look out for happy moments. May God Bless each of us with bright spots and daily smiles.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

on our way home

Saw snow for the first time this afternoon, first time in two weeks anyways.
Snuggled in at a Sleep Inn in southern West Virginia. We have about 5-6 hours left to drive tomorrow. I am very ready to get home to my kids, babies, horses, and hounds. I know the weather is brutal at home, but I will just have to get used to it again.
I love my life in the north, the cold cold not so much, but i enjoy my outdoor chores and even the changing seasons that go along with them.
The physical work keeps my mind and body working more efficiently. Not as efficient as they could mind you, but better than they would otherwise. All day I think of stuff to write; I brought my computer in but now I cannot think of what I wanted to say. Too tired to distracted.
Fox news is on...

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentines Day



The above sign is posted outside out backyard pool. On the entertainment center propped up in front of a fake plant is a snapshot a rather large reptile. On the back the writing reads, "Entry 11/10/07 the alligator that ended up in our pool" Now, we haven't seen any signs of the creatures and that's OK with me. Some odd ball water fowl here and there, wonder if they are sparse because of what we have not seen.
Other pics are from Universal Studios yesterday on Jer's 13th birthday. Took me till after I was in bed that I realized he turned 13 on Friday the 13th.
I am feeling a little bit better than I was earlier in the week, well not much better really. I have been staying ahead of the symptoms with Motrin and Sudafed. Exceeding the recommended dosing on both, and still stuffy and bleary eyed.
Too tired and bleary eyed to go on.
Will be home Saturday of Sunday. My younger baby grew two new teeth since I have been gone and as well as this trip is going...sans the sickness, I will be very glad to see my babies.
Who knows maybe I will be moving soon after my return.
Oh, and the pizza shop is due to open early March, the 12th I think.
Nite all.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Computer in the Rut

Woke up with a cold this morning. Truly, I knew when I went to bed what was coming. Drew has been sick since the trip coming down. He worsened after arriving and only seeming improved today. Coughing, fever, chills, snotty nose; all the worst of cold and flu symptoms. As I drifted off to sleep last eve fear gripped my aching body and my troubled soul. Would I too be afflicted so miserably? I dread sickness with trembling trepidation. Waking, and then working through my daily tasks are daily a bit of a challenge, when I add sickness to the trial I am one unhappy momma. As I woke through the night with a increasingly scratchy throat my anger at Drew and his insensitivity in passing his viral disease on to myself. How dare he sneeze and hack into the air we were forced to share? What thoughtlessness. Uncaring disregard for my well-being. Callous oversight.
Waking in dismay, I cleared my throat and quickly dressed in street clothes as apposed to my usual swimsuit and towel. The local drugstore was my destination. Stocked up on new and cutting edge homeopathic and traditional cold remedies I now await a speedy recovery. By the grace of God I will not progress to the agonies suffered by my dear dear husband.

To add insult to agony, my own personal laptop has suffered a tragic in injury. Unsure if it is mortal I wait input from my dear son Ned. I am about to get a morsel of breakfast/lunch before I open my newly purchased devotional...Meditations on Sin and Mercy, not sure of the title, but I am painfully sure it will convict my vengeful attitude and bitter heart...
Smiling in humility,
Sandy

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

No Santa Virginia

No more Santa...Yes Drew did get his beard trimmed. Ali did clean him up before we left. I am not on my computer or I would upload a few new pictures. I guess this one will have to do. The weather down here in Florida has been wonderful; sunny, warm, almost too warm for me. We have lounged by the pool. Jer has been swimming but not so much as in the past. We were supposed to have heat in the pool, but it seems like maybe there is a problem as it has not warmed up a bit. I was in yesterday and my skin did not de-ice for several hours.
Ate way too much this evening, ribs and BBQ sliced turkey. Double broccoli but still way too much meat and good stuff. Probably why I am dozy sleepy. I am deeply blessed to have gotten to come on this vacation. Glad God knew best, since I didn't want to come.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

South on 4

The big day is finally here. We are only a few hours, less really, from our Florida destination. Seems like it took us forever to get here. We did to add in an extra day, which means we had to go to Target to buy underwear cause I miss-figured the days we'd be in a hotel. Now we have more underwear packed mind you, but it is in the larger more inaccessible bags.

Jer and I played on the beach at St. Augustine last evening for a little while. He did not want to go, but then ended up rolling in the sand and filling his brown curls and his underwear with the dirty white grains. The shower was a slow drainer so the tub looked like a coal miner had showered by the time Jer was finished. I should have posted last nite from the hotel, but by the time we got in from dinner, I was wiped out. You know from riding, eating, taking a short walk on the beach. Is that a sign of old age or a sick mind? Who cares really....

Truly though, much of it was grief. I lost a friend last night. Not lost, I know where she is, in Heaven's Presence. But she is temporarily lost to me and her large loving family. Jer had gone to visit her with me before we left, I was so very proud of how he handled himself and how he tried to reach out to me last nite. In my maturity and exceptional mothering skills, I mumbled a few thank yous and crawled between the white sheets.
Gotta go, my battery is to die soon.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

snowing a bit


How can someone be homesick if they haven't even left for vacation? I should be in the barn with Jer. Instead I am doing nothing; well writing, but not much of anything. More nothing than something, cause I think my brain has already drifted off to sleep. A no-nap day. Kinda busy.

In case anyone needs to know: someone without a PA state ID card or any kind of ID card can fly on a domestic flight without an ID. Sound like a tongue twister? Try living it for the last 48 hours without getting a straight answer from any government agency. Finally called AAA and got a polite, considerate, hopefully accurate answer. Do nothing. Sure wasted a lot of time and energy doing stuff to find out nothing was what I needed to do all along.

Going to a soup dinner at Skip and Julia's old church in an hour or two. Still have Drew's stuff to pack and gather some last minute toiletries. My computer cord is broken so I am using an older replacement one; the first one broke also, well, frayed apart at the seem. The one I am using now will not allow the AC power adapter to charge the battery. Don't ask me. My brain matter is mush. Maybe I do need this vacation, and I know I sound ungrateful for now wanting to go. Gonna take a short nap...

Oh, and the cat...just kinda how I feel today.