Finally . . . the Pics . . . as Promised!!!

So here are my window "mistreatments" that the nice "lady" :) (wink, wink nice lady) at the other blog site I told you about helped me do (through internet osmosis :). So let me know what you think. I'd like to add a plaid ruffle to the top (like the one's at JC Penney's), but haven't had the time (or guts) to start that part of the window renovation yet!!

Went to the doc today on the ole knees and I'll be letting you know about the double-edged sword that turned out to be!!

Have a GREAT evening with your fam's,

Dawn

Who Knew!!

Well, I had a very "smart" day yesterday :) I have been visiting other blogs and there is one that I particularly like and she had done some curtains for her small bathroom windows, which led me, of course, to the blog that she got the idea from. So I checked it out and since I was changing my curtains in the kitchen I thought "Why not ~~ I could do this!"

I had been looking at curtains for my kitchen. Well, of course JC Penney Homestore was the place for me and curtains, and I found exactly what I wanted for about $25 a curtain ON SALE!! Appalling!! So I did what any midwestern girl on a budget does, heads to buy material!! And boy did I ever find Cute, CUte, CUTE material!! So since I'd already bought material. I was ready to go!! Now the lady in this blog calls these "window mistreatments" (instead of window treatments ~~ how Clever!!), and she gives you step-by-step instructions. So I did it~~ and they are sooooooooo cute I love them.

Now who knew you could make great looking window (mis)treatments without really making curtains? These are not hung on rods, and they are not really fussed over much. Just a simple hem around the edges and some upholstery tacks - what could be easier than that?

Okay now I have some pics of these great curtains, but blogger is not co-operating and since I have already published this page blank I will now add words (these) and then post pics later (hopefully). So stay tuned. . .

Moments of Grandeur on the Laughter Express!!

Last night was just too much fun!! As the mom of a teenager you wait and watch for rare moments of "let your guard down" fun, and well, last night this mom got that with her teenager (and he had even mowed the lawn last night - that's generally a train wreck mood wise, not a trip down the Laughter Express!! :)

We was watching Dancing with the Stars, which this year has not been my favorite, although I do have my three fav's that I love to watch (it was four until Marlee got voted off - she was A-MAZING!!) And Dakota was sitting next to me on the couch and on commercials he was showing me a youtube video of some of his favorite singers, and next thing I know he is resting his head on my shoulder. (Now if you are the mom of a teenager you know how precious these moments are, and extremely too rare as they grow-up!!)

Well, on one particular break-from-the-action, I decided to show Dakota some of my moves. Well he started watching me like "mom, what in the world is that?" And since I am so intuitive :), he didn't even have to ask, I blurted out "This is my Quick Step moves." Well, he looks up at me, from doubled over belly laughs and said, "Mom that is more like Hip-Hop, but not even good Hip-Hop at that!!" Well, I'm not sure what it was about that statement, but that got us really started and we jumped on board the Laughter Express for about 10-15 minutes!! Ah Sweet Bliss!! He was still trying to play a song for me to hear, and he'd start it up and we'd get tickled, and he'd start it up and we'd get tickled again and this went on all through the commercial break and beyond. And Dakota would look up and say, "Mom it wasn't even that funny!!" And we'd get tickled again!!

These moments are rare as they grow up. I tell Dakota all the time that in my heart I literally brought him home from the hospital yesterday!! How has this happened that he is already well over half-way through 15 on his way to 16 and driving w/o me?

Truth is, watching him grow reminds me of just how much I am loved by my Father. To allow me the privilege of this experience of everyday with my husband and son is completely and totally TERRIFIC!! They are truly the two best people I know!! And I keep trying to remind myself that one day (soon), Dick and I will be Empty Nester's; Dakota will be off to college (in three short years - he is almost a Sophomore), and then Dick and I will start on the journey of filling our empty nest with our own Moments of Grandeur.

But until then: ~~ All Aboard the Laughter Express!! ~~ And Hang on tight, because this ride goes way too fast!!

Love and Blessings,

Dawn

Family, Friends and Learning My Way Around!!

This week has been an incredibly busy one for me. Of course there was the PT (3 times this week), my mom had an appointment and then I spent sometime at her place working in her (weed) flower bed getting it ready for Spring/Summer flower planting. And then of course all the things that normally take up a day here in my cottage corner of the world :)

But Friday was an especially fun day!! Of course it was CYC day which always makes it fun and hectic and I wouldn't trade a minute of it!! When you know that God has called you to a place in your life and you are being obedient to that call there is just a peace that you feel. That is CYC (Clever-Youth-for-Christ) for me. The students in that class are so great. I love them all so much; they are unique and fascinating young people, and I know that at least for this season in my life, God has called me here to this place. Thank you Jesus!!

So after CYC I was home doing my "stuff", and my cousin, Heather called. (She's the family part of my heading today)!! Heather and I go way back (yes we are first cousins I know but apart from that we go way back as friends :); she is almost exactly 10 years younger than me. Her husband's job has moved them around a little and they now live in KY. I miss them so much!!!
They have some very exciting things going on that hopefully I'll be able to post about soon!! As we were talking I just felt so thankful in my heart to God for the blessing of Heather in my life ~~ she lifts me up and brightens my life!! She is just one of the best people you will ever meet!!

Now to the friends part of this posting!! I mentioned that CYC is on Friday's, well the actual leader of CYC is one of my really good friends, Carrie. Now Carrie is about 15 years younger than me. (I think I'm trying to re-capture my youth by having younger friends :) Her and her husband are building a new home. I am so thrilled for them, again they are just the best "kids"!! We are truly blessed to have them in our lives!! So she came over and we went to see their "hole in the ground"; literally!! They are now ready for foundation ~~ so exciting!!

As we were talking I just felt so peaceful and calmed and I just felt like God was really growing this friendship. God was so reminding me in these moments, that God loves us so much and wants us to be able to share our lives with others ~~ I love that about God. Not only has He given me a TERRIFIC HUSBAND, but also REALLY GOOD FRIENDS!!

I told Carrie yesterday that her and Heather both have really exciting things going on in their lives, and I was so happy that they was taking the time to share these things with me. Incidently Heather and Carrie are so much a like (and their husbands too), they really remind me of each other. Carrie is used to me calling her Heather or referring to Tim (Carrie's husband) as Cliff (Heather's husband ~~ did you get all that?) And when I do that we get a good belly laugh. (Again probably my age showing through ~~ but it's still hilarious)!!

Well, now to the "Learning my way around part" as I spent Friday with two of my favorite girlfiends (on the phone and in person), I was so thankful that I was still learning my way around this thing called life. I'm so inspired by these two young ladies and the lives they live for Jesus. It inspires me and gives me hope!! I see their young lives being poured out as an offering to our Father and my heart is full. It makes me want to make sure my own "pitcher" is full and tilted in the pouring position with whatever I have and whatever I am, being poured out for the sake of Christ Jesus my Lord!!

Thank you for listening~~
In Christ Alone,
Dawn

AHH. . .Finally!!

Well, we finally have plants in the ground. . .I am sooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night Dick

and I got our lines planned out and I was off and running!!

My neighbor (a.k.a. gardener extraordinaire) came over and checked my dirt. It was a nervous moment, had I prepared enough for this moment...was the dirt ready...and the verdict? "This soil is perfect . . . you are ready to plant!!" WOOHOO break out the gardening gloves and hat!!!

So here I go hands in dirt. . .

And again more hands in dirt. . .

Thinking and adjusting of positions going on here. . .

Ohh I took the plunge into the garden. . .this was a GREAT moment!! :)

So what did I actually plant last night? So glad you asked :)

The List:

Mesclun and Red Leaf Lettuce

Radishes

Broccoli

& Green Onions

Now, if the rain lets up this afternoon and the sun comes out and dries it up a little, I may even do a little more planting after PT.

Everyone have a Awesome day in the Lord,

And get those hands (and feet) in the dirt :0)

Dawn

Isn't She Lovely. . .Isn't He Wonderful. . .

So hello all!! How's life treating you? I hope groovy :)

I got to see mom today, she had an appointment with Michelle to do some fine tuning on the brace she wears on her leg, so we met up and went to that and then had lunch with my sis Dena. It was so much fun!! I just wish my sis Rhonda could have joined us!!

Mom left after lunch, I had PT and she had a date at the beauty salon. Well, about 4:00 or so (I was home by then) I looked out and mom had driven up with her new do!! Too Cute Mom!! So what did this middle child do? What any good M-C does, I grabbed the camera and took pics and since Dakota got a hair cut yesterday, I had him join in on the fun with his Grams.

So since I took 13 pics in all I decided to put them in another slide show for you. So sit down, grab a nice glass of iced tea (w/Splenda :) or coffee :), kick back and relax!! These are just too cute ~~ Be sure to read the captions ~~ These two are most definitely the "Cat's Meow!!"

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Have a GREAT day!! Love and Hugs, Dawn

What a Weekend!!

Good morning all!! I hope you had a blessed weekend. We had such a nice time with Dick being home. Although on Saturday I stressed over our garden. Now keep in mind that stressing for me is not unusual, but I hadn't done silly stress things in quite a while, and as I look back on it, yep silly is a really good way to explain it!!

On Saturday, I went to Garden Adventures (a local nursey) to talk with the owner (a guy I went to high school with) to see what else we needed to add to get our garden ready for planting. But when I got there they had some kind of a crafts/plant thing going on with a parking lot FULL of cars and a nursery FULL of people taking their attention, so I left there and went to Nixa Hardware where I was snubbed by a cashier who was flirting with the woman in front of me (oh brother), so I did what any woman with a head about her does, I left. I know when defeat has set in. So decided I'd go home and then go one to Lowe's. Well that was not really helpful either, now I'd wasted all day trying to get to work in my garden. Well yesterday I woke up with renewed hope; I just love that about God, His mercies are new every morning!! And found a great web site that was very helpful and today I'm calling the local Extension Center to see if anything really needs to be added to get me ready to go!! I'm feeling better already (I think :)!!

We went to church yesterday and I was soooooooo happy!! We hadn't been in two weeks. Two weekends ago was when my knee locked, and then last weekend Dick was running a fever, but this weekend we were healthy!! And church was GREAT! Our church went to three services the weekend of March 17th and it is so great, because the third service (the one we attend) is not nearly as crowded. And yesterday we got to hear the choir sing a great song by Chris Tomlin - In this City - I believe this is a new song, our choir had never done it before anyway, and wow was it awesome!! Our Pastor had the choir sing in again in an encore performance. So GREAT!!

Well, today Dakota only has a half day so we'll be off to town for a haircut (him not me) and PT (me not him:). I hope you all have a blessed day.

Dawn

Forecast: Cloudy with a 100% chance of . . .

MUSHROOMS!!! Yep we found some! I am always so excited when we find mushrooms. They are kind of elusive, so you have to be on your guard :)

~~Let's rewind the clock almost two years~~
Two years ago this August I had Intralase eye surgery. I had wore glasses for 35 years (I started wearing glasses as a very little girl). I really didn't even remember a time that I hadn't wore glasses except for the two times I'd tried contacts (both times a diaster). My eye doctor had said about two years prior to surgery that I was not a canidate for the surgery (my eyes were really bad), then two years ago I went in for a routine eye exam and he said everything looked pretty good, so I asked if I'd be a candidate for eye surgery now, and he said that he thought I would. He sent me to another doc and the surgery was a go. I now have 20/25 vision over all (Amazing!!), and it has truly changed my life. I only wear glasses for reading now and that has been very recent (just in the last few months).

~~Now let's go back to present day and mushroom hunting~~
Usually I have a very hard time spotting mushrooms because they just blend right into their surroundings, but this time (the first time I'd been since my eye surgery) I spotted the first one!! Can you believe it? I was so excited. Now it would have been fine with me if we'd just found one or two, but we found 43. To me that is a mess of mushrooms!! I didn't even know people went mushroom hunting until my dear husband introduced it to me years ago, and I love it!! It makes me feel so country :) But Dick says that 43 isn't that many mushrooms. Wow it seemed like a lot to me. We hiked for 2 1/2 hours for those 43 mushrooms ~~ whew I was tired.
My knee? Well let's just say it made it. My husband had to hold on to me a lot, but I didn't mind!! He is the best ever!!

It was just to wet to take the camera along with us on the trail, so I snapped these two just before I cut them and put them in salt water to take a bath.

Aren't they pretty? :)

Well, thanks so much for listening to my adventures of yesterday. Today has been pretty quiet. I'm currently nursing my knee back to relative health :)

Have a GREAT Lord's Day tomorrow,

Dawn

Stay Tuned . . .

Well, Dick has taken vacation yesterday and today. Yesterday we just kind of bummed around, I had PT and went to Aldi's so he just hung out and caught up on some things computerish.

But today, ~~ WOOHOO ~~ we're heading to Roaring River, now yes I know it's raining and Brandon the weather man just said the temps will drop all day, but when your die hard mushroom hunters you say "BRING IT ON!!!" (I think :) It should be interesting anyway. It will be a time for us just to hang out together . . . . . and that's GREAT!!

So stayed tuned . . . I'll write later and let you know if we find any!! (Hopefully I'll have pics!!)

Love and hugs,

Dawn

How Exciting to Know. . .

1. I am loved beyond measure by my Father. . .

2. My family loves me know matter what. . .

3. We're pilgrims passing through, and . . .

4. II Corinthians 4:17-18 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
(Keep in mind - certainly not an exhaustive list of exciting things to know!! :)

As you can see, I'm focusing beyond the situations and circumstances of life, and focusing on the eternal; fixing my eyes on Jesus instead of the problems. This week has been a difficult one for me both mentally and emotionally, but that is because I put my focus on the problem instead of on my Jesus. But I'm happy to report today that my focus is back on what is important.

It has seemed so natural for me this week to be down about my knees. I've always been a "glass half-full" kind of gal; always trying to find the positive, but this has been difficult. When you are in pain the natural tendency in our flesh is to let pain be our focus, but instead, our focus needs to be on Christ. He bore all for me on the cross, and that is where my focus needs to be. I cannot be of usefulness to the Kingdom if I am only thinking of myself and my pain, but I believe immense use can come of out of the way we handle pain and painful circumstances faced here on this earth.

So why can I rejoice today? Because "my help cometh from the LORD the maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121) I am not going through this alone, God is for me so who can be against me? This is not the end, not if you know Jesus, really it is only the beginning. So today rejoice with me that Christ is all in all: He's all we need!!

In Christ alone,

Dawn

Let's talk about it. . .My love of dirt!!!

Who knew a girl could like dirt so much?!! Yesterday my husband and I met at the Yard Waste Recycling Center and got the dirt for our garden. I was so excited!!

This is our garden before dirt.


~~ This is our garden. . .still before dirt ~~

And voila (I know there's an accent in there somewhere :)!! Here is our garden with the rich black dirt!! I can't wait to get it tested, add anything we might need, and get planting. Stay tuned, because when I plant in the garden watch out - that will be excitement at it's best!!

Close up of rich black dirt ~~ (nice narrating huh? :) Oh let me tell you what, shoveling a whole truck load of dirt into a garden is back braking work, but soooooooooo worth it. Doesn't it look GREAT and ready for planting.

And this would be the child (okay the teenager) before school today; he just looked to darn cute I had to take a picture!!

Well, other than just having to stay off of my knee today, it's been pretty quiet around here. Oh yeah I am working on a project, so if it works out I'll be posting pics, if it doesn't I'll be . . . well, I don't know exactly what I'll be doing with it, but hopefully I won't have to worry about that.

Be blessed,

Dawn

Wow do we love the Library!!

Yesterday was so much fun. Dakota didn't have school, so since I had PT he decided to go with me, and suggested we go to the library first. We had so much fun. We went to mom's first and dropped off some quilting patterns and then it was off to the library.

We ate lunch in the little coffee/sandwich shop in the Library and it was delicious. I love it when Dakota tries new things, and well yesterday was one of those days. He had red peppers on his sandwich which was ham on sourdough (all not normal items on a sandwich for him), now granted he picked the red peppers off once he tasted it, but at least he gave it the old high school try :)

As I came back to the table with our sodas, he had his Ipod out with one ear piece in his ear and the other ready for mine. It was truly a priceless time as we sat waiting for our food and listening to his music. He'd tell me about the song and why he picked it for his Ipod. I was reminded once again, just what a GREAT kid he is!! Thank you for a Wonderful day Son ~~ I LOVE YOU!!

I do have a pic of him in the library, but I took it with my new phone. If I can figure out how to download the pics you'll see them soon. And then we can have a blog-party to celebrate me being able to download pics from my new-fangled camera phone that also plays music. Don't they just make cell-phones that will make a phone call anymore?!! AAAHHHH!! Okay, well now I feel better :)

Have a SUPER day in the Lord,

Love and Hugs,

Dawn

Good Morning Oh Sleepy Heads. . .Awake!!

Well, good morning!! Okay it seems as though I am quite chipper today; albeit it is only 6:21 AM, but even at this early hour (been up since just before 5:00 AM), God has been stirring in my heart.


The last week was especially hard, and I (being the woman that I am) have dealt with it a little too emotionally and with not enough prayer. But this morning I woke up and got started with my day seeing my husband off to work. As he was leaving he reminded me that Dakota doesn't have school today, so I could sleep in if I wanted. I told him that I wanted to stay up and read awhile, and it was as if God just supernaturally started working and showing me what to get off of my shelf and where to start.


A few weeks ago I started Priscilla Shirer's study "He Speaks to Me" and given that I am still only in the first week that tells you how much I have set down and done. But let me tell you, just the short amount I have done has been well worth the $8.00 or $10.00 I paid for the book. Her insight is great!! If you are not familiar with her, there is a link to her website "Going Beyond" on my fav's at the side; check it out. I especially enjoy "The Jewelry Box". She is a great writer with a lot of depth and insight into the Word!!

So this morning I opened up the study to where I had left off, and this is the paragraph I started with:

Referencing Numbers 20:8-12 where Moses struck the rock when God told Him to speak to it she writes: "Notice God's reprimand comes not for simply disobeying but rather for not believing God. Failure to do exactly what God asks, regardless of how strange or incomplete His instructions seem, shows lack of faith in God Himself. It shows we don't trust that He is God and knows what's best. By not doing what He tells us, we are saying that we don't think God is wise enough or capable enough to handle our situations."

Okay, well wake up to that with your first cup of coffee. That does more than caffeine ever can, let me tell ya!! So you are probably thinking: "Okay what is she not obeying God in?" And it is very interesting, because for me at this time in my life it is about believing that I am who God says I am and that He is who He says He is in my life. It is a very personal thing. I struggle with doubt and inferiority's on a very deep level some times. Somehow I think I have to be good enough in every arena of my life to have an impact in any of it. But as I have sat here this morning spending "real" time with "the lover of my soul" I know that He is always faithful and always loving. He is God alone and no matter what I face, He is God. I must simply trust and believe in the One who is, was and is to come. He is God alone, and He did not call me to be perfect, He calls me His, and He loves me without condition; now that is huge!!

Thanks for listening!! Hopefully I'll get some pics posted of some (11:00 PM) centerpieces I worked on and played with this weekend. (I had too much caffeine too late on Saturday to sleep and my hubby was sick, (he had a fever of 100), so it's hard to sleep when he's not feeling well.)

Have a GREAT Monday,

Dawn

Fun Pics of Our Family ~~ Smilebox Style!!

Just thought you might enjoy seeing some family fun stuff. I really like this program - it is so much fun. I hope you all are having a good weekend.

Love and hugs,

Dawn

Ahh Precious Time!!

This is going to be a little different post today. I wanted to pay tribute to someone that deeply touched my life growing up; my sister Dana. There were five of us kids: Rhonda, Rusty, Dawn (me:), Dana and Dena. I shared a bedroom with Dana and Dena and we were always together as kids, especially Dana and I. It was not always peaceful though. I think because we were so close in age it made our good times really good and our fights, whew knock down drag outs!! But it was never boring :)!!


I graduated in 1984 and was married in November of '85. So I had moved out and was living life with my new husband. Dana and Dena had gotten close because they were the last two of us kids at home. On April 10, 1986 my sis Dana left with her boyfriend on his motorcycle and never came home again. She was killed at about 10:00 pm. A truck pulled out and hit them head on. They say my sis never saw it coming. That was one of the most difficult times in our lives. The pain that moment caused has and will always resonate in our hearts. We miss her greatly.


My hope with this entry is to celebrate the life of my beloved sister. We played with each other and fought with each other, but we loved deeply. The holidays are still in ways hard for us, even 22 years later. We always remember and wonder what life for Dana would've been like. She was only 18 when she passed; she was five weeks from graduating high school, so much life yet to live, so much potential, lost. We wonder how many kids she would've had (she loved kids), we wonder what she'd look like now (she would've turned 40 this past Feb 29th ~~ yep she was a leap year baby), we wonder . . . . . . . . .


She was a unique and special girl, who has been and will continue to be greatly missed in our lives. We love you my dear Dana, rest well.


Dawn

The Garden Bug has Bit!!

Well, I started this entry talking about my ever-increasing knee problems, but decided that I will not be depressed about them today. So I started over.

So instead let's talk about the state of our garden!! One of my favorite things to talk about :) Here is the current state of our garden. My husband has been busy digging up the grass and he is almost done. So then we will add the dirt. Mom and I went to the Yard Waste Disposal yesteday where we will get our compost. I'm so excited ~~ that place is cool; nothing but dirt and limbs (from the ice storm, etc ~~ our crazy weather) and the blackest, loveliest compost around at one of those places; the only compost better than that will be the compost pile that we are making along with the garden ~~ I am soooooooooo excited!!



Here is Lake Winslow, as our neighbor so affectionately calls it!! We always have standing water when it rains, and guess what is in the forecast for the next couple of days? Yep, rain!! Lake Winslow will be expanding over the next couple of days.

This is my watch frog/sprinkler in the back yard herb and flower garden. Our herbs will be moved to our new garden spot to make room for more perennials ~~ WOO-HOO another one of my favorite things.
This is our peony immerging from its long winter's nap.

Well, Brandon Beck is saying that it could frost two nights in a row, (Sunday and Monday) are you kiddin' me? My bleeding hearts are already blooming. I'm so excited they look so beautiful and it will just continue to get bigger and bloom, but if it frosts? Well, hopefully I can cover them and they'll be okay. Last year we had several nights of temperatures in the teens in APRIL and my poor bh completely died back, thankfully it came back, but that just can't be good for them :(

Isn't she just lovely? And she will only get bigger and bigger (if it doesn't get frostbit; I will be covering and praying. Yep, I said praying, as in for my bh plant. God cares about all aspects of our lives and He cares about the lilys and the bh :) WOW I'm so glad that He does!!)

This is our Rhodendron and it is just as you walk up the step to our front door. It is so beautiful and look at the buds on that baby; it is going to be b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l (eat your heart our Georgia :)!! And I can't wait!! It blooms big lavender flowers ~~ it is just GREAT let me tell ya!!

I love that gardening season is here!! Happy gardening and remember to pray. God loves it when we talk to Him and desire a relationship with Him, and guess what you will grow and reap a beautiful harvest in your life from your time spent with the One who made it all!!

Happy Gardening,

Dawn

A Well-Loved Woman with a Garden!!

I'm so excited to say that our garden is well under way.

Have I mentioned lately just how great my man is? He is absolutely the best!!! He patiently listens to me tell him my most interesting moments of the day (which generally consist of bugs in the yard and dirt on the floor), but he listens none-the-less. He is kind beyond measure and most of all? He loves God and because of that he is able to love me without condition. He has taught me so much about life and love, and I am absolutely head-over-heels in love (and like) with my husband; because you see, I believe not only do I need to love my husband, but also I need to like him; like to spend time with him, like to talk to him, like to just sit on the couch and lean into him as we watch TV or talk or just -- nothing. We can do nothing and I love it.

So what does our garden and my man have to do with each other ~~ well everything!! I have wanted a garden for a few seasons now, but it just has not worked out, usually my health has not been well enough to work a garden, and this year I will need help because of the knees, but I know I will have all the help I need in my "boys"!!

So He built the frame for our garden yesterday, and then today he has been working on getting it ready to add the dirt. It looks so very good. He works so hard for us, because he believes in us and in me. I never doubt how he feels about me, it is evident every time he looks at me. I am a well-loved woman.

So here is the frame almost finished. He put the last bolts in it when he got home this evening and he dug a lot of it up to get ready for dirt. I can't tell you the joy this brings me.

Yes the chair you see dutifully sitting there is for me. He wouldn't let me carry the boards or bend down and hold them while he screwed them in, but I did get to hand him the bolts and plug things in and watch. . .it was great!!! I am a hands on kind of girl, but sometimes I don't use the best sense; my stubbornness gets the better of me sometimes, but thankfully my husband watches over me and helps me use my head. (Bad knees = patience, or should anyway:)

I have been having a very difficult time with my knees again and it is so nice to have something to look forward to, and I am so looking forward to planting and watching our garden grow and then harvesting the fruit of our labors.

Yes, I am a well-loved woman ~~ with a garden!!!!!

Dawn

Wow What a Weekend!!

Wow, what a whirlwind of a weekend. On Saturday, Dick and I worked out in our front yard bed. It needs a drastic renovation. We moved into our house four years ago this June 1st, and since that time we've only put down new mulch once and only on just part of the front bed; so it was time. We weeded and dug around in the dirt, and made many enemies of our worm population; they prefer the dirt left alone, but we dug anyway undeterred by their wiggling themselves into our way :)

As I was working on the part of the bed by our big rose bush I looked down and there was a beautiful little lady bug just perched on our rose bush. This first pic is of this lovely rose bush just starting to peek forth from what appears our dead branches. Isn't it great how that works. Roses in the winter look dead, but come spring. . .they come forth in all their splendor. . .I love spring. I love that there is a spiritual spring as well. Just when it looks like winter has stolen the show, Jesus comes in and spring has sprung everlasting and eternal. He takes what looks dead on the outside and breathes new life into it and wow what a transformation!!






On Thursday my PT told me I could start walking (for exercise), WOO-HOO!! I was so excited!! I have not been able to do much cardio in over a year because of my really bad knees, so I was stoked. After our time playing in the dirt, Dick wanted to know if I was up for a walk. Are you kidding me? I grabbed my shoes (I couldn't decide which shoes to wear ~~ yes I know we're talking walking, but I was so excited I wanted to make the most of my time on the trail fashionable and all :) We got over to the battlefield where we walk and I took off on my snail pace, but just happy to be outside. I walked and walked and looked at the beautiful sky listened to the brook in the background; priceless. I went 2 miles on Saturday very proud of myself ~~ way to go I was thinking.

And then Sunday Morning!! I woke up to a startle: my knee (the right one - yep the one I had surgery on back in Feb) was locked!! Are you kidding me?!! Nope it was locked. I couldn't believe it. Dick jumped out of bed (did I mention I have the BEST husband in the world), and helped take the pressure off of it, wow that was some serious pain!! It eventually came out and I went in and iced, but it kept us from going to church (which was such a bummer). I was not a happy camper ~~ Then I did a sweep on my computer and it had caught a bug (and not the lady bug type) ~~ now I was really unhappy ~~ but my husband being the awesome guy he is tackled the bug and my bad mood and built my garden bed. . . .

This post has ran really long, so I'll be getting some pics up of our new garden bed maybe later today. IT IS SO GREAT!!!!!!

Have a great day all!!

In Christ Alone,
Dawn

New Phones and Juicers

Well, today was certainly an interesting day for me.

After CYC and some home chores I headed to Nixa to do some shopping. On my way I called to check on my sis and as I was talking to her my cell phone started beeping. You guessed it low battery. My phone has been wigging out for some time, and today was no exception. So I called my husband and told him if he tried to call and couldn't get me it was just because my phone didn't charge right again and I was about out of battery. So he said just go to Alltel and get a new phone, it was time, but I just really Really REALLY do not like getting cell phones by myself. There are too many models to choose from and too much paperwork that I am unclear of, but w/my dying phone in hand I headed off to the phone store. When I got there the lady that we really like was working today and available ~~ that was a GREAT sign . She pointed me in the right direction and showed me her two favorite choices. Yes two, not ten. Now that was a GREAT moment!! (I love having limited choices that way I don't go into brain overload mode!!)

So I picked out my phone, that by the way takes pics, videos, plays mp3's and transfers the photos I take w/it to my computer (so great now that I'm part of the blogging world :) - now that is a great phone!! :) For being completely inept at phone stuff I did pretty good (I hope)!! (Now if I can ever figure out how to use all of those nifty features is another story entirely. )





Okay, so now to the juicer. My husband has been feeling puny for sometime, and he's been wanting to eat better, and we go through spells where we eat really good, but then slowly we start adding things back in and pretty soon we aren't eating so well again.

Well he had a very bad spell with his heart this week and that has kicked me into gear. I really want him to live in optimal health; not just good health, but the very best health he can this side of heaven. So that is where the juicer comes in. So now I'm taking matters into my own hands and he is not going to know what hit him, he'll be so healthy!! I love my man soooooooooo much and I really just hate it that he feels so badly all the time. So I'm going to do all that I can to make sure he is feeling 100% by the summer.


So here's our new juicer!! Yes still in the box, but isn't the box pretty?

So does anyone have any good juicer recipes out there? I can't wait to get started.

Dawn

To My Baby Sis!!

My baby sis, Dena is just the best. She is four years younger than me, three inches taller, and a blast to hang out with. She has been married to Brian for 17 years and they have two beautiful kids - Donnie 15 (almost 16 - watch out :) and Becca 12. I have watched Dena grow into a beautiful woman who's determined and graceful.

We have done a lot together and been through a lot; which brings me to this post. Two years ago I had to go in the hospital and have an exploritory surgery because I was having trouble with the part of me that makes me a woman :) So they did the surgery and found out that one of my ovaries was not viable so they took it out. It was not the worst surgery I'd ever had, but what made this one particularly hard was not after the surgery, but before. Dick and I got to the hospital and I wasn't feeling very good, and by the time they got me to my room to start the pre-op stuff I had a migraine, and a bad one (not that there are any good ones). My sis Dena showed up just right after we got there and she spent the whole time on the other side of my bed; Dick on one side and Dena on the other. She kept a cold rag on my head and held my hand; I have never forgot it. The kindness she showed us that day was priceless.

Well, now fast forward two years and she had to go into the hospital today and have the exact same surgery. They was able to save her womanly part and everything went really well, and she is re-cooperating tonight. But seeing her in the hospital today really touched my heart. I love her so much, and I would do anything for her. I would have taken her place today in a second!!
I won't go into all the technicals, but this could have been very serious if it had gone untreated. I am so thankful that she had it checked out and then had the surgery. You Rock My Sister!!!

Dena is on the end (maroon shirt) by my mom. Dena you are so beautiful and I love you!! Get better soon, my sister!!

In Christ Alone,

Dawn

My Mom and Me

Today was a fun day !! My mom called and asked me to go with her to get material for quilts, so I met her and we went to WM. It is interesting as you get older, your mother who always seemed so old, takes on a beautiful youthfulness as she ages. We had such a fun time. It was really ridiculous. She had so much material it literally took three "associates" to help get it cut and in the computer; it was crazy. But through it all my mom sat in her motorized cart (you know the ones you dive out of the way from every time you see them coming), and smiled her endearing smile, and was so very cute. Yes it was one of those rare moments in life when you are just glad to be at WM with your mom!! It was priceless!!

So then after the non-stop dicussing, picking-out, and cutting the material we were, you guessed it, famished. So we decided that we'd go to Subway (in WM of course), and get a $5.00 foot long to share. It was just the best; lunch for 2 for $7.35 you can't beat it. The conversation was extra special not because of the content, but because of the company. What a GREAT day indeed!!
The pics are of mom and me in Subway. I took the ones of mom (of course) and she, as any confident woman would, was worried about her hair, and then after she looked at the pic she was concerned it was "too close". I think it's perfect; see what you think.






Yes all that stuff in the buggy behind her is material!! Whew she is going to be one very busy bee!!



Okay, now this is one of the pics mom took of me and it was so much fun to watch my mom take pics. She doesn't own a digital camera and has no idea how to work one, but I told her what to do, and in true mom fashion she put her beautiful finger on the button, clicked and then looked expectantly at the camera. Then when I hit the button and showed her the pic she was so proud of herself - ahh it truly is the little things in life that so often make the sweetest memories.

I love my mom so much. I have not always been the best daughter certainly, but through it all one thing has never changed, and that is my mom's love; I've never doubted it.

In Christ Alone,

Dawn