Beautiful weather

What another gorgeous day here on Viva Las Vegas.
My girlie and I went shopping today and found some amazing deals for Sarah. Even spoiled myself and bought myself a new purse.
More dance shortly then a relaxing evening.
Looking forward to watching my girl dance her solo tomorrow.

In Vegas!!

We are here!! We arrived Wednesday afternoon and I am now finally figuring out how to get on the Internet. Yep I'm a bit slow I'll admit it. The weather here is gorgeous. We are in the high 30's early 40's every day. So far we've been shopping a bit of exploring and chill axing by the pool. We still have today off and then dance kicks off tomorrow although she doesn't dance until Sunday. I'm a bit excited to actually experience July 4th in the states. I'm sure it's going to be massive. Well I'm off to enjoy the pool again and this beautiful weather. Now that I know how to use the wifi I will keep you updated. :)

Techno geek I am...NOT

I can manage my way around a computer fairly easily, but some of the really simple stuff I am clueless.
My hubby has always taken care of backing up my phone and my iPad. However with him being away so much and me thinking it was no big thing I figured I could do it no problem.
WRONG!
OK I figured all I had to do was plug the thing into the laptop and voila back-uped. Nope not the case. So I phoned hubby and he said yep that was all I had to do.
So I played around a bit trying to make it work. He suggested phone our oldest whom also has an iPhone. So I said good night to hubby and called our loving son. He gave me a few suggestions but none of them really worked.
So now I have to wait until one of them comes home.
I wish I wasn't so techno-geek-less. :)
Maybe if I play around a bit longer...

3 in 30 update

Wow what a crazy couple of weeks it has been. Last week was intensely busy getting our work done outside as Rob was on days off and this week has been mostly pure stress. Through all that stress though I often find I am better if I clean soooo that is what I did this week.
We haven't done even close to everything on my 3 in 30 list but really it doesn't matter. We did some and we have the summer. LOL

1. 1. Finish all the work outside, other than regular summer maintenance of course.
We bought a gazebo for the outside to replace our old one. This one is better suited for the space and the old ones tarp was completely ruined. We want to build a small deck for it to sit on so that we will be off the ground and it should also make the space a bit prettier. My windows all need washed and I just want to clear out some of the junk we have.

Well we did a HUGE chunk of this. The old gazebo was taken down by Sarah and myself. Then when hubby came home we went and bought the lumber and built a deck. New gazebo is up and it is gorgeous. The windows got washed yesterday. The curtains were taken down, washed, dyed, ironed and re-hung today. The only thing really left outside is minor finish work on the deck and get rid of the junk. 

In the process. That is landscape fabric that we laid down and then put sand on top. 

My handsome hubby looking oh so impressed that I am taking his pic and not working. LOL

Almost finished. We still need to edge it with those cedar boards you see laying on top and stain it but we ran out of time. LOL Since this pic was taken I also bought 4 square containers and planted some more plants plus another 'mosquito' plant. By the time I realized I didn't have an updated picture it was dark so you will all have to wait until next week. :)

2. Clean out our spare room that has turned from our old school room to a junk hole. I promised my daughter that she could move back into there if she could show me she could stay on track. I did this for a couple reasons. One so she could have less distractions and I could carry on with my regular work when she was working independently and second is so I could have a good reason to clean out the room. I am a tad embarrassed to show you these pics but I am hoping it motivates me even more.

Ok this one is a big fat fail. I did go in there and attempt but honestly it was a bit overwhelming. I might have to let this one completely go until July. School will be done and we can totally clean out the room and make it work for Sarah.

3. We rent our home and the main bathroom desperatly needs redone. I am heading over to talk to the landlord this weekend and see what can be done about it. As you can see the tub and tub surround need replacing as does the sink, and the flooring. I am hoping that either he does it or allows it to be taken off in rent for us to do it. 

Well never got this one accomplished either. I think now when Sarah and I are gone to Vegas I will have the landlord come in then and fix it. We will see. Either and or I am not worried about it. 

It has definitely been a roller coaster month so far, but I have to actually admit I am really happy. I am letting HIM lead. It is scary and very nerve racking but also I am relaxed in many ways. I know HE will provide. :)

I am linking up this week with Aurie for the 3 in 30 update. 

As well as with Michelle for Caffeinated Randomness. 

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!!! 

Thankful thursday

To say that this week has been eventful would be putting in mildly. The first of the weeks events were crazy enough, but then I talked to my parents today and my 83 year old Mother has had a very bad arthritis flare up and has temporarily lost the use of her right leg. My parents are still living independently so this is a big of a struggle for them. However in the midst of everything I am doing my best to remain thankful.
I am thankful for really so much.
I am thankful that already my husband has two job offers one that looks VERY promising.
I am thankful that through it all he has remained very strong for this family and is the one comforting others.
I am thankful that I have a wonderful GOD who is there when I need HIM so badly.
I am thankful that I wonderful children who are growing up (way to fast) into wonderful adults.
I am thankful that I am getting my energy back and the desire to actually do stuff again.
I am thankful that in less then a week we will have great friends come for a visit.
I am thankful for the rain as I am thankful for the sun.

I hope most everyone else's week was much calmer and uneventful.
Have a great weekend!!

I am linking up today with Theresa at Red Oak Lane and with Brandy at The Marathon Mom.

3 weeks

Wow 3 weeks already.

I can hardly believe how different I feel already. I am starting to feel like I can do this. I have been reading my bible so much more again. Combined with the new diet and the drops life is starting to look approachable again, even with the insane stress that is happening this week. 

I actually feel like cleaning and keeping a house again. I want to have my house be back in order and not just when company comes. hahahaha

I am actually starting to get the desire to quilt again. 

I love that I no longer have no desire to get off my couch and that now I like doing this housework again. 

I will admit that I still take frequent breaks but at least now I am finishing the jobs. 

Even with all that is happening right now I am still once again happy. I can say this whole heartily. Such a great feeling!!

I am still please asking for your prayers!! Things are still really uncertain right now and I desire to do this God's way!!

Stress

What a week it has been and it's only Tuesday.
Last week was hard work getting yard work done, building a deck and running around. This week has been stress of a different nature.
We found yesterday that the job that my husband has been at for the past 5 years is being altered. There are some shake ups in the company and they are asking my hubby to take a transfer. So in the middle of a normal June day our lives have taken a drastic change. Things are pretty much in the unknown right now. We have 2 to 3 months to figure out what we are doing. Anyone have any jobs out there?? Pay must be good and we are willing to relocate. :)
Then to make life more fun this morning I get a phone call from the campsite where our trailer is to inform me it appeared there was some vandalism. So my daughter and I drive up to see what was damaged. They damaged the outside compartment doors and smashed the trailer door window to get inside the trailer. The only thing that was stolen was found by the police and is being fingerprinted.
Right now I'm doing the best I can to look at the positive.
One I could have my hubby home every night! That one is a big positive.
Two everyone is healthy.
Change can be a good thing.
Nothing was really stolen and the damage done is fixable.
Things happen, life makes some 90 degree turns but through it all we have one amazing God and without Him I would be truly lost.
I would love prayer right now as we try to wrap our brains around these changes and that we can really see the path that God wants us to be on.
Thank you.

Time for HIM

When my mind finally lifted out of the fog this past few weeks I realized that I was really putting my spiritual time on the back burner. I was still walking the walk, still praying, still talking to Him, but I had not spend much time one on one with Him in a long time.

On the 31 of May I picked up my bible again. I dusted it off and and thought where do I want to start. Last summer I did the B90 challenge. So I thought that is where I want to start again. I want to make sure that I am reading regularly. Make sure that I am taking the time to spend with just Him and His Word.

How wonderful it has been. A few mornings I have gone outside and sat in my lounger while Sarah is doing school work and just read.

Wow did I need this. I needed to get back in touch with Him.
Why did I neglect this for so long?
Why did I once again think that I didn't NEED to spend that kind of time with Him?

As I was reading a Jess's blog post today I realized that I was not the only one that was feeling like they needed to reach out to Him more.

Have you felt like that lately?
What do you do to help keep yourself connect with our Father?

Servant's Heart

I have always tried to teach my children to serve others. To help those in need and to let people know how much we care in different ways then just telling them.
When my boys were younger I know that friends would say 'I can never get my children to do anything, they only whine and complain and then I just do it.' . I would always think to myself I am a lucky lady. Sure they might whine or want to wait just one more minute and in veritably if I needed them they would do it.
I have often wondered if what I was trying to do succeeded. I had a few confirmations over the years. Such as the time when I took my parents on another province road trip so they could visit friends that where celebrating 50 years of marriage. We were all staying at one hotel and my parents had a cabin to themselves. At the time they were early 80's late 70's of age. When my oldest son saw their bed he knew there was no way they would be able to get into it easily so he went and asked for another mattress so that it was easier for his Grandma and Grandpa.
Well recently we have been taking care of our neighbor's yard. She went into the hospital this past year about October and hasn't been home since. The few times it snowed we made sure to shovel her driveway and now with summer we are mowing her lawn. Well I should say my daughter is mostly mowing her lawn. Now I will fully admit she grumbles about doing it. But she does do it. What really showed me recently though that her servant's heart was growing was when a couple of friends stopped by to visit while she was mowing. One of them asked her if she was getting paid to do it and she replied no. The friend then said what a rip off I won't be doing it then. Sarah said I don't mind that's what neighbors do!! I don't mind her whining so much anymore when I know that she is not only growing herself but she is setting an example and teaching others to have more of a servant's heart.
It makes this momma's heart cup run over. :)

Did I mention how hard this job is. Her place is 3 times the size of ours and the front all has to be bagged. But she does it!! 

Time passes by so fast

What did I do Friday night?? Well I spent 5 hours sitting waiting patiently while my daughter had 4 out of 7 of her dances pictures taken.
To say it was a long night would be an understatement.
However I have realized that my kids are growing up FAST!
When my boys moved out this past year, one last July and one this past December I realized just how fast time really does fly. How is that only yesterday they were running up to me with hand fulls of beautiful dandelion bouquets and now they are moved out and living on their own.
The one really good thing that their growing up has done for me has made me realize that I need to focus on the little things more. I don't mean dwell on them but realize that it is the little things that I miss the most.
Such as spending hour after hour after hour at what ever sporting event they were playing in. Travelling here to there and making memories along the way. Enjoy the sound of laughter as we are all gathered around a meal or listening to them tease one another or myself as we just simply spend time together.
So now I take pictures. Small snapshots of special memories that they and myself will love for years to come. I have learned not to just take posed photographs. Everything doesn't have to be perfect, in fact I usually get the best faces when they are not. :)
Tonight I brought along my own camera to take some pics. I must admit I felt a bit weird bringing my camera to a photography studio but I figured that after all we would be outside in the lobby so I could capture some images that she is going to want to remember forever, and honestly so am I.

So first we had our goofy pictures.

 Making memories and enjoying being friends.

 Making some friends to last a lifetime.

 Now onto the I am to cool for you picture. There is no way this girl has it in her to be super serious so we opted for the having fun pic instead.

 This is the one I wanted. I wish I would have had my camera at a better angle but when you are landing on tile floor not so fun. Maybe try this one outside this summer.

 My beautiful baby, looking so grown up.

 And graceful.

I took a pile more but will save you from all of them right now. LOL
Some of them I am saving for a blog post in the future. It is an idea that I got from my bloggy friend Lynette.
Have a great weekend everyone!!
By the way have I mentioned lately how happy I am to be back?  :)

3 in 30

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to be back. When I was gone I constantly though in blog posts. LOL
So here I am and it feels amazing. I still am dragging my hind tucus but at least my mental state is a bit better. :)
I missed most of Aprils goals and never even made any for May so June is a great start for me to jump right back in.
1. Finish all the work outside, other than regular summer maintenance of course.
We bought a gazebo for the outside to replace our old one. This one is better suited for the space and the old ones tarp was completely ruined. We want to build a small deck for it to sit on so that we will be off the ground and it should also make the space a bit prettier. My windows all need washed and I just want to clear out some of the junk we have.

 This is where the new gazebo is also going to go. This one we will probably give to our boys. LOL

2. Clean out our spare room that has turned from our old school room to a junk hole. I promised my daughter that she could move back into there if she could show me she could stay on track. I did this for a couple reasons. One so she could have less distractions and I could carry on with my regular work when she was working independently and second is so I could have a good reason to clean out the room. I am a tad imbarrased to show you these pics but I am hoping it motivates me even more.

What a mess I have in there. :)

3. We rent our home and the main bathroom desperatly needs redone. I am heading over to talk to the landlord this weekend and see what can be done about it. As you can see the tub and tub surround need replacing as does the sink, and the flooring. I am hoping that either he does it or allows it to be taken off in rent for us to do it. 

We have friends coming the 3 week in June so I am really hoping everything is completely done by then. Looks like my handsome hubby is going to have to work extra hard on his next set of days off. LOL

I am so pumped up today to be linking up with Aurie at Welcome to a Good life!!! Thank you Aurie for continuing this!!