Happy Imagination Day 2008

wishing everyone a Happy Imagination Day! aka Happy Halloween!

when my children were little they would call Halloween " imagination day" and so it stuck till they got a little older then went by the Halloween word
I always liked the imagination word better so it stuck with me!
tonight for our imagination day the son is going to be home for the weekend and we are all going to watch old classic movies and have yummy snacks and pass out candy for the trick or treaters!
I think for a child every day is "happy imagination day"

wishing everyone a safe one

more fun thoughts

I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I work with
BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun!

Today's thought #2

" I never regret anything. Because every little detail of your life is what made you into who you are in the end"
Drew Barrymore

I love this quote! I will admit I am human and I have regrets who in this world doesn't! but this quote just hit a vibe with me, because all of our daily actions, feelings, do shape who we become
( of course it is good to that the Lord walks beside us as well!)

V. Gill and Dinner with Family

On Friday My husband and I went to a Vince Gill Concert in a beautiful
small town community theater. we go to a few concerts a year. we enjoy all influences of music. we have had these tickets since August
it was a sold out concert.( we were such in a hurry to make sure we got there in time we forgot to take a camera and my cell phone just took blurriness,) while there got a call from my son who is away at college, concert had started so I text really fast sorry" dad and mom are unavailable for a while! "( that was the most strange yet in a weird way fun feeling I have ever felt and of course a bit of guilt along with it!) . the concert was to be only an hour and half long it ended up being two and half hours long it was
just Vince Gill and 3 other musicians. he played his stuff that he is famous for along with some new stuff and it was so intimate because the audience would belt out a title of a song and he would sing it. he shared the inspirations that helped him write some of his songs it was very interesting to learn how some of the songs had come to be and now when I hear a particular song I will listen to it with a different sense of view. what was also so great was his wife Amy Grant was playing the same night at a town about 15 minutes away so he joked about that as well saying" my wife is great but I am so glad you came to see me instead!!) it was really great and if you ever get the chance to see him do it. Amy Grant is also great. yes, after concert I immediately called son and he was fine he was getting ready to go out to a Halloween
costume dance thing in his dorm.

On Saturday(yes, I forgot camera again!) we had the pleasure of going to my eldest nieces house for a wonderful dinner and visit with her and her husband and later her daughter. we don't get to see them much so for me it was a very dear treat that I will hold in my heart forever and I hope that when things are not so busy with everyone we can do more together.

today is Sunday and well I am still on a high from Friday and Saturday. I am just hanging out at home and catching up on laundry etc.
just to start the week all over , this week is going to be exciting as well, son coming home for the weekend, and some of my sisters coming on Sat so we begin our family holiday traditions a bit earlier this year!

I hope all my blogger pals have a great week.

make a living

" we make a living by what we get
we make a life by what we give"

Winston Churchill

Thoughts to live by

We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are! HOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Try everything twice. On Madams tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times! 2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches;) 3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's! 4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER. 6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves and God. LIVE while you are alive. 7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is. 10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. 11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time. Lost time can never be found!

Today's thought # 1

"Living is easy with eyes closed
misunderstanding all you see"

john Lennon

Apple Hill & Then Some

In early September my husband and I took a day trip in the convertible up to a little town called Apple hill it is about 10 miles from Placerville, Ca

we try to go every year in the fall
not just to get apples but also because there are many crafters selling their goods it's just a lot of fun.

this year though they had a bad frost in the spring so the apples did not produce as much as the year before
never the less we had a good time

we ate at one of the local farms outside and I took a photo of the scenery the old water wheel and
arch makes for a pretty photo reminded me of a scene from little house television show!

yes, that is a whole pig on the roaster
this little farm eatery is well known here for their pulled pork bbq sandwiches!



on to the next apple farm and well there was a little old machinery and vehicle museum ( we just took photo of the outside!
there is my fun little VW I love it!

it was kind of hardening to see all the
ranches for sale if I could I sure would like to have bought one and live up here! it is so quite and peaceful.

I came home with some wonderful apples and have them all ready to make some pies for the upcoming holidays.

all in all it was a fun little day trip!

Before I was a Mom

One of my cousins sent me this today and I thought I would share

for all us Mom's out there!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.Chewed on.Peed on..
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him/her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night Every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.I had never known the warmth,the joy,the love,the heartache,the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

FUN LITTLE BLURBS

ALWAYS TRY TO HELP A FRIEND IN NEED

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

BE BRAVE...BUT IT'S OK
TO BE AFRAID SOMETIMES

STUDY HARD

GIVE LOT'S OF KISSES

LAUGH OFTEN

DON'T BE OVERLY CONCERNED WITH
YOUR WEIGHT IT'S JUST A NUMBER

ALWAYS TRY TO SEE THE GLASS HALF FULL

MEET NEW PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY LOOK
DIFFERENT TO YOU

REMAIN CALM EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS
HOPELESS

TAKE LOT'S OF NAPS

BE WEIRD WHENEVER YOU GET THE CHANCE

LOVE YOUR FRIENDS NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE

DON'T WASTE FOOD

RELAX

TAKE AN OCCASIONAL RISK

TRY TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN EACH DAY
IT'S IMPORTANT

WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM

SHARE A JOKE WITH FRIENDS

FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE

AND SAY " I LOVE YOU" OFTEN

EXPRESS YOURSELF CREATIVELY

BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR APPEARANCE

ALWAYS BE UP FOR SURPRISES

LOVE SOMEONE WITH ALL YOUR HEART

SHARE WITH FRIENDS

WATCH YOUR STEP

IT WILL GET BETTER

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO LOVES
YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW

EXERCISE TO KEEP FIT

LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME

SEIZE THE MOMENT

HOLD ON TO GOOD FRIENDS
THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN

INDULGE IN THE THINGS YOU TRULY LOVE

CHERISH EVERY SUNDAY

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY PRAY

AND CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SMILE AT LEAST
ONCE A DAY!

Thoughts

A sharp tongue can cut my own throat.

If I want my dreams to come true, I mustn't oversleep.

Of all the things I wear, my expression is the most important.

The best vitamin for making friends.... B1.

The happiness of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts.

The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge.

One thing I can give and still keep...is my word.

I lie the loudest when I lie to myself.

If I lack the courage to start, I have already finished.

One thing I can't recycle is wasted time.

Ideas won't work unless ' I ' do.

My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.

The 10 commandments are not a multiple choice.

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime! It is never too late to become what I might have been.

Adjusting

It has been two weeks since we moved my son up to his dorm at UC Santa Cruz, before he left I was already going through an "adjustment period" of sorts, I know it is all part of growing up but I have been adjusting with each of my kids having a boyfriend and girlfriend ( they both have been dating for the last two months!) don't get me wrong I knew this would happen one day. each of the kids friends are really sweet, the first photo is my daughter and her boyfriend Patrick, he is a character, my daughter says he really has a good heart and after getting to know him for almost two months I can see what my daughter means he is a hard worker and he indeed cares for my gal and yes he does have a good heart. ( he likes to bug me when he is around but I am adjusting to it!)


My son's girlfriend is Bryce she is a nice girl and they have been friends since high school. Bryce is headed back to the Coast Guard in January
he and Bryce have a lot in common besides being Black belts in Aikido they are both kind of nerdy!
Bryce also has a kind heart.
for each of my children I know they will have many girlfriends and boyfriends but this is all kind of new to me hence me "adjusting" I guess it's the mom mode in me that does not want either of them to go through heartache which will happen so I am trying to be the best supportive mom I can be regarding this dating stuff! "adjustments" to me in my own opinion is really "acceptance" and so I accept the challenge of adjusting to the new stages in my kids life that teaches me new lessons everyday. at least they all seem to like each other's choices! ( as stated in previous blogs my children are each other's confidants and best friends.) so it makes it nice that they all get along.

I have adjusted to my son's not living at home while he is at school pretty well, ( ok it's only been two weeks and so I am still in an adjustment period) we talk at least once a week or email or text new technology seems to be great for that. in fact last week he text me "mommy" usually I am only called "mommy" when he is sick and yes, he had a cold, he is better now. at least he text to seek my comfort. he is adjusting and liking all his classes which is good he even got into one he really wanted by crashing it and well most of all is work this quarter is reading
( which he likes to do) and writing papers ( which he is good at) so this should be good for him.

"adjustments" or "acceptance" I know that I will have to do this many, many more times in my life time! I just hope I have the patience to get me through!!!( just Kidding!)

Best Advice

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' 1. Pray 2. Go to bed on time. 3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed. 4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health. 5. Delegate tasks to capable others. 6. Simplify and unclutter your life. 7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.) 8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places. 9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together. 10. Take one day at a time. 11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it. 12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases. 13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc. 14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble. 15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday. 16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line. 17. Get enough rest. 18. Eat right. 19 Get organized so everything has its place. 20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life. 21. Write down thoughts and inspirations. 22. Every day, find time to be alone. 23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray. 24. Make friends with Godly people. 25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand. 26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .' 27. Laugh. 28. Laugh some more! 29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all. 30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are d oing the best they can). 31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most). 32. Sit on your ego. 33 Talk less; listen more. 34. Slow down. 35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe. 36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never bee n grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)