Permission to slap me

To all my Blogging Friends:

Slap me if I ever decide to move again (at least for a long time)! I'll even buy you a plane ticket to come and do some real slappin'*--forget the virtual stuff--I need to experience the pain!

Things that have not gone as planned:

1. My Etsy store. I thought by now I'd have my craft room/studio (sounds professional doesn't it?) put together so I could put some 'artsy fartsy' things up on Etsy. Hasn't happened. But looks like I can start painting the walls this weekend.

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2. Homeschooling schedule. That darn intended schedule flew right out the window. Two weeks HA! Try seven! We've just this week got somewhat back on track. And speaking of windows, it's amazing how much learning flies out the brain's window during a summer break, and consequently much review is needed.

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3. Unpacking. 'nuff said.

4. Before & after pics put up here. I'm close on my kitchen. Honest.

Things that have been accomplished:

1. Most my kitchen painted. Just have a couple of small walls and I'll be done. New curtains and painting cabinets will have to wait.

2. Grace's bedroom organized and decorated. Unintentional new color scheme: Pink and orange. That carpet just has to go.

3. Unpacking. 'nuff said!

4. Some decorating finished.

Things I'm grateful for:

1. My husband. No complaining when he hears "move it just a little to the left--no, no not that far, back to the right". All you women know exactly what I'm talking about! Maybe a little rolling of the eyes, but no complaining.

2. Grace's patience. She just goes with the flow.

3. Missing Chelsie up in Seattle. Thankful that I have a daughter to miss! (((Love you, girl)))

4. Not being bored (which I hope I haven't done to you :) I have so much stuff that needs done around here that if I get bored it's because I choose to be.

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It's All Slap Me Good! real good

Brenda

*not kidding about the slappin'. no can do on the plane tickets, sorry ;)

75% complete

News from our little cottage one block west of Main St., Smalltown, USA:

We're three quarters of the way moved in now. {Yay!} My dad and brother helped us move in our couches last Friday. Funny, there's just something about having a couch to sit on that makes a place feel more like home. {Yathink?} We've been here 3 weeks and finally have most of our stuff at least in the house.
I've also been painting the kitchen, 'cause it was uuggly! I'll post pics of what was on the walls next time. In fact, one stipulation for us moving in was if we could paint the kitchen. While the landlord was showing us the house, I asked if I could paint it. He hemmed and hawed. Thank God his wife was with him. She jumps in and says, in her German accent, c'mon Dad, this is hideous (or something to that affect). I'm telling you, it was bad. I'm half way done painting it and already it's very bright and cheery.

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Sunny loves his new job. He really enjoys being out and about the city instead of behind a desk. {He did, however, tell me to slap him if he ever decides to start a new job and move all in the same weekend} He is also enjoying the brand new fleet truck with leather seats that arrived the week he was hired! {Far cry from the shockless Astro mini van with balder than bald tires he was driving previously}

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Grace is having fun being around the corner from her Gramies. {I hope the feelings are mutual} I'm trying to make sure she doesn't wear out her welcome.

Our homeschooling schedule has gotten way off track. My original plan was a 3-day week during the summer. I thought we'd only need two weeks for the move. {I thought wrong} Hopefully we can get up and running next week.

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Grace and I are off to our annual 4th of July family reunion/camping trip this Thursday. Fun! It'll be a nice break from all the crazy busy-ness. {Note to self: Don't forget iPod, Bible and a good book or two}

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I'm off to paint another wall.

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Happy 4th of July everyone.

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God Bless America, still the greatest country in the world!

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It's All I Love My Couch Good!

(((Chels)))

Chels has arrived!

She arrived in Denver on Sunday and she doesn't have to leave until Saturday. It has been 6 months since we saw her last. A hard 6 months I might add! She's living in Everett, WA (near Seattle) with family friends, has a good job she enjoys, and just loves it up there. I'm glad, 'tho we miss her, and knowing she's safe and enjoying herself helps us.

We celebrated our family Christmas with her at my MIL's Sunday evening. Unfortunately, she started getting the sniffles and now she's laid up in bed with a bad head cold. :( Bad timing for sure, but still glad she's here for her 'Mommy' to take care of her!

Grace has been beside herself since the day Chels said she was coming. We pulled Grace's mattress into our room and we're all having a week-long sleepover!

I'll give more details with pics later. Right now, I got a sick kiddo that needs attending to!

It's All Chelsie Good!

p.s. It has been in the low 50's today. MIRACLE!

2009 Recap

This has been an unsettling but fun and interesting year to say the least. Necessity definitely moved us out of our comfort zone.

There's a scripture that says, May the Lord establish the works of our hands (Psalm 90:17). This is exactly what He has done. He has gently guided us and directed our path.

After moving to Colorado Springs last May, our plans were to get our cleaning business to a self-supporting place while Sunny worked at getting his CO real estate license. But the Lord had other plans, by opening up another door. Sunny is now working towards management in our friend's heating and cooling business. He is so excited to be back in the 'trades' and is daily studying and working at getting up to speed with the business. As for the cleaning business, I have kept one client and will do one-time cleanings when needed.

We have had to adjust to our oldest daughter, Chels, moving up near Seattle. We miss her a lot...A LOT. But we're also aware that this is part of life--separation--and we're happy that she is doing well and enjoying herself. Especially happy that she has a job after several months of searching. She is coming home in 13 days for a week! YAY!

We are so grateful for my sister, Reva and her husband, Rick, opening up their home for us while getting established here. I've enjoyed spending time with Reva again after many years of living apart. We've also enjoyed 'getting to know' my niece's family. Grace and her daughter, Mariah, have became quite the little buddies.

There is one thing that has remained constant and helped me through this past year (besides my relationship with God) and that is all of you. I've gotten to know you better through your blogs and made new friends. I know I've been a sporadic poster, given our circumstances, but I have managed to go 'visitin' quite a bit. You all have succeeded in making me laugh, cry, pray, be challenged, and at times I've even come real close to wetting my britches! Thanks for helping make this year of transition easier for me.

Be blessed this new year of 2010. No matter what the economic or political climate we face, we can be sure the the Lord is Faithful and the 'Ever Present Help in time of need'.

It's All Happy New Year Good!

It's A Wonderful Life

Just a list of 'stuff' going on in our lives in no particular order.

~~Our car broke down last Sunday evening. We were heading down to Fowler to spend the night with my MIL. About 2 miles out of town it just died. Thankfully my dad and his wife, Judy, were still at the house (they had come up to watch the Bronco's lose). Ends up being the timing belt which Dad has fixed for us.

~~But, then Dad is test-driving the car and the tire goes flat. Nail. Roofing nail to be exact. In our brand new tire. Good thing Discount Tire fixes them for free.

~~Reva is home from the hospital. She is adjusting to the new way she is having to administer her heart meds--into the stomach tissue rather than the internal line. She's still on IV antibiotics for another 5 days or so. It's so nice having her home and I KNOW she's loving it. She blogged about it here.

~~Reva had two Dr. appts yesterday. She was a little nervous because the visiting nurse heard a little rattling in her lung before we left. But the Doc didn't hear it and has expressed his amazement that she's still here! (We know who gets the credit for that, right?!)

~~Rick and Reva treated us to Outback tonight. It was DElicious. I had steak and lobster. I have never had lobster before--I know, what planet am I from anyhow? We had a great time. Thanks guys!

~~I just have a little more shopping to do and a little more crafting to finish up with Christmas presents. I can't tell you what I've made--some certain bloggers might see--but I'll post pics after Christmas.

~~We're really going to miss Chelsie not being with us for Christmas. But she's planning on coming for a week or so in Jan. or Feb. so we'll have our Christmas then. We talk or text often and she's doing well. Love ya girl!

~~Grace and I put up our little 'skinny' tree. ( Our neighbor back in AZ put in out on the curb for trash pickup. The only thing wrong with it was the lights didn't work. Saywhat? I was out there in a snap.) It was reachable in our storage, but all my other ornaments weren't. But Reva had an extra set of lights and I got some cute new and vintage ornaments at Goodwill. So she's all decked out.

~~Sunny's job is going really well with the heating and cooling company. He's really enjoying learning about the trade tho' he's had some previous experience. We went to the company Christmas party at P.F. Chang's Chinese Bistro (tagging 'bistro' after the word Chinese makes me laugh). It was very good and very salty. But the swelling will go down!

~~Lastly, and I'm sad to say this but...

~~well, this post is getting too long. I'll just have to wait and tell you on my next post.

hehe!

It's All Lovin' Life Good!

Poodle-free

Remember when I said the POODLE just may have wiggled her way into our hearts? (See last paragraph, previous post.)
Well, this same POODLE just as quickly poo-pooed and pee-peed her way right back out of our hearts.
I cleaned up so much after that dog in the last 10 days we were there that Resolve Spot Remover had become a permanent fixture in my back pocket.
Well, that experience is over, thank God.
Is there a dog for us in the future? I guess time will tell.
On to other news.
~Sunny has a new full-time job with a heating & cooling company here in Colorado Springs. Praise God! He is home every night. He had been working 4 nights a week in his hometown 1 1/2 hours away.
~And, if you all could keep Chelsie in your prayers. She has a torn miniscus (something to do with the ligaments around the knee). She has been in severe pain. This all happened, unfortunately, the day after she got a job at Safeway. She has kept working, but it is extremely painful for her. The doctor says it can take up to a month or more to heal while wearing a brace, keeping her leg up as much as she can, iceing it and taking ibuprofen for inflamation.
~My sister made a really cute Colonial dress for Grace for Halloween. She looks so cute in it. I'll post pics soon.
Be blessed!

It's All Done Scrubbing Yuckies Good!

Empty Stomach Necessary

Check out her face after her dad gives it a whirl!

Thankfully no cookies lost, but it sure looks like she came close!

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It's All No Barf Good!

A Wonderful Fall Day

Here are some pictures of a beautiful afternoon spent together. We drove about 12 miles west of Co. Springs to a quaint little town called Green Mountain Falls.

Horsing around!

It was so serene and peaceful. Though it looks warm, it was actually very gusty and chilly. So of course we had to stop into the little cafe by the lake for coffee and hot cocoa. You can be sure we'll head up there again!

It's All Cozy Good!

Why I LOVE Colorado!

Our day at the park.

Pikes Peak. Isn't she grand?

At the park. There were lots of geese. Lots.and.lots.of.geese. {and consequently lots and lots of do-do--not fun in flip-flops!}

Notice Sunny and Grace sitting up on the picnic table? Ever been goosed (literally)?




Our picnic was three weeks ago.
Today--the last day of summer--it snowed! Crazy. I didn't have my camera with me, but if I would have, I would not have taken a picture of the powdered sugar-coated mountains no matter how beautiful 'cause it just isn't right!!! Summer and snow in the same sentence. Go figure.

It's All Fall is Here Good!

Our Cherry of a Day

Feel free to head over to our Hands & Hearts...for Him blog to get the full story on our fun cherry-pickin' day! (You can also click on my sidebar for the 3 most recent H & H posts at any given time.)

It's All Cherry Crisp Good!

A-Camping We Did Go

These pics are of our annual 4th of July campout at Foose Creek near Salida, CO. Most of us get to spend at least 3 days, and depending on what day the 4th falls on each year, sometimes more. My immediate family this year included my dad and 3 brothers along with their kiddos. My dad's wife, Judy, has 2 grown daughters who come and, this year, Reva's husband's son and girlfriend were able to come. A cousin came up for a couple of days as well. Then there are others who come up just for the day. I believe we had 38 people in all. Fun, fun! (Feel free to click on any pics to enlarge.)

My youngest, Grace,

in the freezing water

A high mountain spring
a couple miles' walk
up the mountain

Foose Creek

Chelsie & Grace

My girls with their cousin

All but one of the cousins

My niece.

Isn't this the coolest picture?

Reva's husband, Rick--a man

not afraid to take on a pink chair!

Grace 'bellying up to the bar'

conveniently using

Bentley the Great Dane's back

The newlyweds

my brother and wife of a year

Rick's Dad and sisters up for the day

Chels being silly in the creek

Father and son sharing

a bonding moment--gutting fish!

Youngest brother and his

daughter heading for...

the creek!

My Dad--well I'll be darned,

he was there a minute ago!

Rick recovering from one of

many water cannon attacks!

Brother (& former Marine) attacking the kids...

"Ya, I thought so!"

Brother and wife of 29 years

A boy in his element

Blackberry Cobbler in the dutch oven

with coals on top

Big cousin taking little Birthday cousin

for a dunk while waiting on the Cobbler

Gotta focus on the Cobbler

and not the unappetizing view

surrounding it!

Bentley thinks he's a lap dog!

"Come & get it!"

Can you tell who's from Phoenix?!

The End!

For you, Keetha!

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It's All Lovin' Being w/ Family Good!