"Twas the Night Before Christmas"

All is not well... I have been suffering from a severe case of depression recently. I am not in the spirit of Christmas this year. I have had major car problems in the last few months. It seems that I fix one thing and then something else needs repair. Since I commute to Des Moines every day it is not something I can ignore. Getting a ride to and from work back to Winterset is not an easy feat. There are very few options. Moving to Des Moines is not an option because the cost of an place to live is double almost tripled from the amount I pay in Winterset. I don't have the funds to have a down payment and making car payments for 3 years is not something I care to or can afford to do at this time. Of course these repairs don't happen when it is convenient it seems just when things are getting caught up something else happens. It has been very hard to be faithful and to continue to believe in faith when these things are happening at a regular pace. I have realized that Christmas to me has become just another day.. Every year I taught my daughter that Christmas was about the birth of Christ..But I am not sure she even remembers that. SAD.........
I have been listening to Christmas music because I love it. I have focused on the religous ones. They have helped me to think more of Christ and what his birth has meant to me. But they also make me sad. I decorate my home in hopes that I feel like Christmas when I am home.
I have been missing my mom more and more everyday. I realize that except for a few things I have not really started any traditions with my daughter and she is now 23 so I am trying to start some new ones.
We made cookies for a cookie exchange this year. That was fun
Decorating the tree was fun this year. Even when it fell over because I was trying to straighten it up. The tree stand broke. We now have it tied to window sill with a ribbon so it doesnt stand out to badly. I guess it is 23 years old it is maybe time to get a new one. :( I have been invited to some Christmas activities but because I am in this mood. I dont want to bring others down so I stay home.
Because of car repairs and bills there isnt much under the tree. But.......... I love my daughter, and for her I will smile on Christmas morning and enjoy the day.

Thankfulness what does it mean? Expressing Gratitude for all you have

As thanksgiving approaches I sit here thinking about all that I am thankful for and all that I should be thankful for.
I am thankful for these blessings in my life:
1. My faith and testimony in Heavenly Father and his gifts.
(Even though I don't consistently attend church. I do have a testimony of its truthfulness)
2. My daughter and her blessings that she has given me throughout her life.
3. My mother who did her best to give us all we needed while she was alive.Her love for her granddaughter
4. My Friends who have helped me through out this year. With just a kind word or deed.(and a visit from Utah) That have expected nothing in return.
5. The place I have to live. It is warm and dry and keeps us safe.
6. A car that is running right now.
7. I have a job (where a lot of people don't)
8. My freedom to attend a church that I choose, I can choose my friends, I can read what I want to read.
9. I can vote for someone who I feel will do the best they can for our country.
10. My free agency to make good or bad choices.
Some of these are worldly but we should be thankful for all in our lives.

No I didnt fall off the edge of the planet :), But maybe that would have been easier

I have been really lacking in this part of my world. Now I will catch you all up on my activities and my thoughts about things that have happened around here in my world.

Most of you know that my daughter was getting married on October 17th 2009. So between working and being busy preparing, shopping for dresses, and tuxedos, food,and a minister. They had one lined up and when they found out the cost for the church and the minister that fell through. It was going to cost them about 400.00 for the use of the church and the minister. After a few frantic days of trying to find a minister I finally found one that I used to work with . She is the minister of her church. She just asked that the bride and groom make a donation to her church. The bride and groom paid her what they could afford which wasnt four hundred dollars. They had a meeting with her and they both agreed that she would perform the ceremony. And since her church is in Des Moines and we live in Winterset we moved the wedding to a county park here in Winterset. We send out invitations. Order the tuxes.After that the disc jockey was the next hurdle we had been given numbers by the disc jockey at another function when we tried those numbers they didnt work. Finally we do get a hold of him. The bride sets up an appointment. Well before this meeting the bride gets a phone call from an old guy friend (he calls to congratulate them on their upcoming nupitals). When her fiancee finds out he gets upset. They have now called off the wedding because the groom no longer trusts her. He is planning to become an over the road driver and he told her that he would always wonder who she was with. She has never given him any reason to doubt that she would honor her wedding vows. He wants her to give up all her friends girls and guys . She is not willing to do that. Mainly because she doesnt feel like she did anything to warrant his distrust. He wouldnt give up his friends girls and guys that he parties with for 3 days at a time. They have had other ups and downs before this and both learned to give and take. But since marriage is based on trust and there is no trust they have cancelled their wedding and ended their relationship. Now Melissa is back at home with me. I am not sure how I will handle having to give up my solitude. I enjoy my solitude, but she is my daughter and I love her. She is welcomed to be home as long as she needs to be. I am now in the process of sending out cancellation notices and cancelling all the people that were a part of the wedding process. I had to move the weddding dress out of her room because everytime she looked at it she cried. I got lucky a lot of the expenses had not been paid for yet because of the businesses didnt want us to. And they have all been generous in accepting the cancellation of the wedding. The next time she deceides that she wants to get married I am going to push for elopement this was too emotional and stressful.
My feelings about all this is "At least they found out about this problem before they got married and no children were involved." Someone will come along for Melissa and she will be happy again. She may have had some part in all this but she will learn from it. So there you have it. I have found great comfort from my Father in Heaven these last few days. He has given me the peace and the words I need to comfort my daughter and I am grateful for this.
My world might actually settle down again.

Good Food,+Good Friends,= a Good Weekend

I had a great visit with my friend Stacee from Orem Utah. Her and her daughter Lauren stayed the night on their way to Minnesota for a canoe trip. We went out to a new place for me but a favorite of Stacee's to eat. It is called Chipotle's was very good and filling I could only eat half of my burrito. The rice in the burrito was a white rice with a lime coating. A different taste, not sure I really liked it. Then we walked around the mall and check out an unique store that mixed the modern look with the antique look. It was a nice place to reminisce about the items that were around when I was young. Stacee gave me the Book of Mormon for latter-day saints families. I had heard that it makes the BOM easier to read and understand for young readers. I am an older reader but sometimes I get frustrated with bigger words that I may not know the meaning of.
Today I got to spend the day with another friend that is going through a rough time right now. We just went and did some errands and to lunch. It was another new place for me. I had heard alot about this place called HuHot it is mongolian food. It was great you get a bowl and deceide what kind of meat and noodles you want on it and then vegetables then you get to deceeide what type of sauces you want on it then you
take this bowl up to a round grill and they cook it for you. It was really good. I will definetly be going back to both these places. I enjoy spending time with my friends and learning new things.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

I am grateful for my freedom this beautiful cool 4th. I think of all the men and women who have served our country in war and peace. I have had an Uncle who served in the Viet Nam war .
and a future son-in-law that has been honorably discharged from the Army National Guard.
This is a beautiful country. As I taught the children in my classroom all about our flag. It was great to see the understanding and respect that they already had for the american flag. They would point out the American flags that hung at the hospital across the street. Did you know that each part of the American flag represents something such as the colors mean. Blue stands for justice, white for liberty and red stands for courage, The thirteen stripes represent the original 13 colonies and the fifty stars represent each state of this beautiful land we call America.
As I taught them the Pledge Of Allegiance we discussed what each line meant. The one thing they remember was the word indivicable (spelling not sure of) they were able to tell me that it meant that we stand together and don't divide when others attack our country.
I love the fact that because of the Declaration of Independance I have the right to worship and live as I choose. I love being an American. I appreciate those that fought for those rights. GOD BLESS AMERICA

Fair weather friends

Why is it that some people only want to be friends when it is convenient for them? Or why do they make everything a competition? I have a friend. She makes everything a competition. Her cell phone is better, Her kids are better, Her house is better, Her car is better. She knows everything about everything even when she doesn't know nothing about nothing. She has made me feel bad about myself and she is the person that Toby Keith is talking about in his song. "I wanna talk about me." Everything is about her even when the conversation is not about her. She has been there done that and has done it better than anyone else. But yet she can't have a life outside her husband and kids. The last time she did this I said "Well you may have a house a new car, and newest phone but I am not in debt up to my eyeballs, I have a cheap (free) cell phone, My car is paid off it runs good so I don't need car payments, and yes maybe I rent but I don't have a house payment that I can't afford. I have a hamburger budget and live within that budget" I have deceided that I will avoid this friendship because little does she know or understand that I don't like competeing with a friendship.
I have realized that most if not all my friends are married and have children and I accept that . But you can't talk for 5 minutes. I have a friend that doesn't ever answer the phone or return any calls. All I want to know is how it is going? I know some people don't like to air there laundry and don't want to burden others with their problems but I care and would like to help if possible even if it is just listening to them vent. I miss my friends, and want to be friends no matter what kind of weather it is. Okay enough venting.

Change is a challenge

On Thursday May 21st we were told by the VP of the hospital that Mercy Child Development Center where I work would no longer be managed by Mercy Medical Center because they were not in the child care business. We will still provide care for the hospital staff and doctors but Bright Horizons will now be in charge. This was presented to us after they fed us a nice dinner. The first thing that was told to us was that " We are a asset and a benefit to the nurses and doctors and medical staff.It is not about the money. It is about the fact they are not in child care business" If it isn't about the money then why did she spout off all the statistics about the cost of childcare and how they couldn't justify it anymore. They threw us out with the dirty water.
Bright Horizons will take over on June 21st. The pros to this change is that yes Bright Horizons is in the childcare field and they will have the means to help provide the basic items you need in childcare such as crayons, construction paper, I will no longer have to take from my home and income to provide for my classroom. Which I did willingly because I wanted the children to experience the excitement of learning. Bright Horizons will provide the opportunity for those that want it to get there CDA (Child Development Associate)credential for a very low cost. I have my AS in Early Childhood Development so that will not benefit me.
There will be opportunities for advancements in the Bright Horizons orginazation. My pay will stay the same with a 2% raise that was already budgeted by Mercy. The downfalls I can see is that my benefits will go up. I am lucky mine will not go up very much. I will worry about all the new policies and how I will fit in with the new people being around. They will not have floor supervisors but an Assistant Director and lead teachers. Which I could qualify for but at this time I choose not to think about.If I leave I will have to take a pay cut because there are not very many daycares that pay as well. Even though I have my degree I will still not be offered what I am making now with benefits.
With all this going on we had to fill out new paperwork. I felt good about my decesion to stay with Bright Horizons but as I was filling out the paper work I felt a real dread. I had prayed and even fasted about my decesion to stay and I felt it was right. So why the dreadful feeling??? I had become so stressed over it that I was sick. I had some other thoughts but they were a spiritual experience and I want to keep them to myself at this time. I finally had a priesthood blessing given to me by my home teachers. As I told them my dilema I began to see that the goals I had deceided on were good and the best for now. I will give Bright Horizons six months to prove that we both can work together. In six months I will re-evalute how I feel about the situtation. Then I will save have a months income in a savings account that way if I am not happy I can either deceide to work for another place or maybe even do home childcare again. Through all of this time I have realized that I didn't have anyone to talk this through with. And that made me very sad. This does not mean I want a husband it would just would have been nice to have someone I could have come home to that night to discuss the situtation with. Here are a few of the reasons I chose this career.

Tribute to Mother's Day

As I thought about writing on my blog............ I thought well I could tell you all about my recent trip to Pella Tulip Time which was very nice. But then I started thinking about my mother. As this is Mother's Day I thought I go ahead with my thoughts of my mother. She passed away May 4th 2002. I have missed her many times since then.
Even though my mother and I were the typical Daughter and Mother we had our differences I grew up not really knowing she loved me and my 2 brothers because she didn't say it often to us. Her life as a youth was not a real happy one and she didn't hear many good words from her parents. So as I have matured through the years I realize that she only did what she knew. As I grew up and got married, divorced, and became a mother myself I realized that even though I didn't hear the words I Love YOU alot she did love us. Her actions spoke louder for me. She worked 3 jobs at times to keep a decent roof over our heads and even though we didnt wear many name brands we had clean clothes and shoes for our feet. We had food in the house. She paid for babysitters to come to our house so we didn't spend too much time away from home. She would make sure our needs were met before her own. I remember she did whatever she could to provide for us. At one time the welfare system insisted she accept their help she refused until they threaten to take her children away. She then accepted food stamps and a monthly check. We moved to New Mexico because she could find work there and spend time with us children and not have to rely on the state welfare system to help. She was a very proud woman.
I remember when I had my daughter she beamed with great joy. She wanted a granddaughter and guess what Heavnely Father gave her that blessing and in a way gave me the same blessing. I heard I love you said many times to my daughter from her grandmother. I also learned that I was loved through my daughter there were times when Melissa needed something and I didnt have the means to get it my mother did. After Melissa was born my mother was the one that said. "Even though you are not going to church you need to. Melissa needs god in her life. And you are so much happier when you are active." I went back to church and stayed active while Melissa was growing up. My mother was at many events for Melissa such as her blessing and baptism and plays or school activities.I spent lots of hours with her and Melissa. Even though I didn't realize it at the time. I learned how to be strong when I needed, gentle when the situtation required it, and silent when the time was right. Melissa has grown up to have a respect for her elders because of the example that my mother gave her. Once I remember a time when my grandmother was being espically cruel with words to my mom I asked "Why do you put up with grandma talking like that to you."her reply to me was "Because she is my mother and I love her. Yes she sometimes says things that hurt but I am going to be better than that." My grandmother passed away in 1995 as a child and even an adult I remember that I was scared of my grandmother. I am glad that my daughter is not afraid of her grandmother. As I sit here with tears for my mother. I realize that she loved each of her children in her own way. She has two sons and me her daughter. She loved being a mother even though it was hard. I love you mom and I miss you greatly but I am glad that you did show me how to love and appreciate being a mother. I love you Melissa and thank you Heavenly Father for giving me the opporuntity to be a mother. My mother did not like pictures of her taken so I only have a few of us.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY mom I miss you. And Love you always

Another movie in Winterset ????

I was visiting a friend near DMacc west campus. When I came home I drove down John Wayne Drive and in the parking lot of Fareway there are all these Semi's and Winnebago's parked in there parking lot. The street is block off around the square and being the curious person I am. I drove around and stopped at Montross Pharamcy where my daughter works and asked her about it. She was able to tell me that they were filming some movie. But she wasn't sure what movie. A customer that was at the counter told us. It is a remake of a 1970's sci-fiction called The Crazies. I found out after a little research that it will have Timothy Olyphant as the sheriff and main character. What I find ironic is that it is being filmed in the Northside Cafe that Bridges of Madison County was filmed. The lady at Montross said we should see how they had the cafe is decorated apparently they have creepy looking stuffed birds everywhere. Apparently this movie should be released in July 2010. WOW
I guess I shouldnt be thinking I live in a hick town anymore.

Thoughts on Life

I bought a book yesterday and spent all night reading it. It was about a person's life and it is called. Might As Well Laugh About It Now by Marie Osmond. I have always admired the Osmond Family not because they are entertainers but because they live what they believe. They have always stayed true to their relegious beliefs in spite of the entertainment world. They may not be perfect but they are an example of what is good in the world. In this book she talks alot about following her Heavnly Fathers promotings and how doing that has saved her life and her children lives on more than one occasion she talks about being a mother to 8 children and even though those children may not be perfect she still counts them as her greatest achievements.
As I read this book I looked at myself as a daughter of my heavnely father have I been one of his greatest achievements?, have I made good decesions all my life? NO!!!! but I used my free agency and yes maybe my life isnt perfect but I have a beautiful daughter (Melissa at 5 weeks old)
and I have a belief in God that even though I struggle with doctrines I still believe in him. I look around this world that I live in and wonder how can one not believe in a greater force. I am not sure I could be as strong as some of my friends who have neighbors that don't want them in the neighborhood because of what their relegion is. But do I stand up for what I believe YES. This has been a difficult week for me because my ex-husband has started his emotional games again. He has always stated that our daughter is just my daughter. Because I always wanted a girl and she lives with me. Doesn't most fathers want a son. So if it had been a boy would it have been just his son. No it took two. I always wanted a daughter but I also always wanted a son. He made comments in some emails and Melissa read them she was hurt by them. So his comment to her was "What did your mother say about me now? She always turns everyone against me." Melissa emailed his emails back to him and asked him. "How can you say she turned everyone against you when you mailed these to her and I read them". Isnt she a great kid. I have always let Melissa and her father deceide what kind of relationship they wanted with each other. Let me just say he has only been around about 10 times in her life. We have struggles and challenges in life because our Father in Heaven wants us to grow. I can not imagine how boring my life would be if I was never allowed to make my own mistakes and learn from them.

Hmmmm.......

I thought I would catch up on the blog. I haven't much going on so I haven't written lately.
I enjoyed watching General Conference on Sunday April 5Th my favorite talk was given by Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the seventy. He spoke about Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples. My favorite quote in the talk was when he told the story of his father with the grandsons while they were driving he went to area where the grandsons had never been. When grandpa asked "Do you think we are lost?" one young grandson answered "Look.Grandpa you are never lost when you can see the temple." I thought about this statement and realized that I never felt lost or confused when I visited the temples. When I lived in SLC I remembered that no matter what was going on around me I was not alone because I could see the temple and it was the house of the Lord. It is a place where conventnants are made and eternal ordinances are performed. When I finally became endowed it was a place I could go and be with my Father in Heaven. He also talked about our homes are they a place of refuge is there love in the home. Are you happy there. Do you have uplifting pictures on the walls. Is your bedroom a sleeping place or a place to go to for personal prayers to you Heavenly Father.
For some reason this conference I was determined to watch and listen to all of the Sunday sessions. Some of you know of my struggles with church after listening to conference this past week I came to the conclusion that I haven't been really listening to what was being said Yes the bible scriptures are used in talks. I realize now that I need to return to church and go to the temple again. This week has been a frustrating one for me. Because as a mother you always want to protect your child no matter how old they are. Melissa's father is being cruel to me and he does it because he knows of the love I have for Melissa. I am scared that he will start being cruel to her to get at me. I guess I will have to trust my Father in Heaven to help me deal with this stuff.

HERE IS YOUR SIGN

Do you ever wonder why things happen? So this week was okay at work. Yes I still had runny noses and wild boys to deal with but overall working was okay. I went scrapbooking yesterday. As I was packing up my things to go home at 11:45 pm I lifted my box of paper to put in the trunk and put in some other items, I closed the trunk and not realizing it I dropped my keys. I go back in to retreive my other supplies and then get out to car and realize that I don't have keys. I checked my pockets, I checked my area and no keys. The lightbulb goes off, No... I didnt lock them in the trunk. But yes I did. The other doors had not been unlocked yet so I couldn't get inside to push the button which is in my glove box. I call the Winterset police who comes and tries to open my door for me with this big long bar which he had to wedge my window open to do. His first question is do I have any id. Yeah I do but guess where it is. IN the car. He spends twenty minutes trying to get my door unlock but at the first try the car alarm goes off. His words were You didn't tell me there was a car alarm set. DUH........... his concern is that he would wake up the neighborhood. I am at a american legion hall and there is nothing but closed up businesses around What neighbors? Just get the door open. His next question do you have an extra set of keys. I live in a small town that I can walk home in 5 blocks don't you think I would have gone home and gotten extra key if I had one. HERE'S YOUR SIGN. The set in the trunk was the extra set. I asked him to try and get the latch of the door lock and pull it and then it would unlock the door. He tried once couldnt get it. Finally I asked him to call someone who could come over with a jimmney and do it. The officer asked me why I had my car alarm set in town. Because even though Winterset is a small town it still has crime. HERES YOUR SIGN The neighbors cars have been vandalize lately. So far mine hasn't but I lock my doors and set alarm every night. I even lock my doors hardly anyone does here. Some people don't even know where the keys to their houses are. A few minutes later a tow truck driver here in town comes. Him and his son come and try a jimmney that look different then the ones I have ever seen. They didnt get it opened so they pull out a long rod like the officer had and they tried the latch on door and after a few tries had it opened.
$43.00 dollars later. (Had ask my friend to pay for it until I got my debit card story down below) Now why couldn't the officer do that. It is not like he had any other calls to handle. Matter of fact I was probably the only call all night.

Last Sunday I went out to car. I couldnt find my Debit Card. I figured it was lost or stolen. So I cancelled old card had to wait for new card 7 to 10 days. Meanwhile I have money sitting in my account waiting to pay bills but can't get it out. My debit card is a prepaid one. So my card is the only way I can get access to my funds.
My daughter loaned me money for gas because I can't get money out. She paid for my scrapbook outing and lunch. I know they say we are suppose to learn from our challenges but what did I learn from this NOTHING. Get an extra key. Already did that before. Dont leave debit card in car. (never do it was in my bag) I couldnt find it. Dont complain or somebody will have other things happen just so you can realize that nothing is as bad as it seems. LOL Well I got home and new debit card is in mail. MURPHY'S LAW

Just another week

Post warning IT IS LONG..........

This week has been a stressful week for me. Starting with Monday. I drove to work and found out we had no power at the daycare. Apparently there was a car accident and the car hit the power pole and knocked it down. This was about 1 pm Sunday. The daycare I work for is for Mercy Hospital employees and of course you can't just have the doctors and nurses come and get there children. So........... they put us in a conference room over at the hospital. It is great that Mercy has that option. They put 2yrs-5yrs in the big room and used smaller classrooms for the infants and toddlers. So imagine this you have over 90 children from age 2 to 5 in one room. You have none of your normal supplies. A few things were brought over from daycare but not enough. You have this huge room and they are playing movies almost all day (which just makes the noise volume higher.) not many children were watching it, with various toys around the room.
A row of folding chairs were used to keep 2's on one side of room. There are plenty of teachers but only a few were doing anything. So you have all this chaos and noise and maybe 4 teachers working and 12 others just standing around. They wanted to feed the children cereal and milk on the floor. Yeah I didnt see that happening. So after a few spoken concerns we got nutri=grain bars and juice boxes. Not enough to fill them up. Now in my classroom I have 3 difficult children and believe me this set up was not conducive for them. Of course my co-worker who normallys finds an excuse to leave the classroom about 20 times a day was one of the ones not working. So any problems with the difficult ones was left to me. She was either not in the room or she was over with the the two year old she was not helping just talking to other teachers.We left the room a couple of times just to have stories and calm the children in my classroom down.
For lunch we sat on floor with sheets like a picnic. The kids thought that was great. There milk was frozen. So the subsitute was water. But at least the got a decent amount of food. Nap time we normally have cots with sheets for the children at the daycare. But here they laid on floor with sheets and blankets. About 4:30 my co-worker comes over to me and says it hasn't been too bad today. WELL yeah if you dont do anything it is not that bad. A few good things came from this experience though the third floor supervisor saw that my co-worker doesnt do her job. (Thank goodness I only work with her 1 day a week.) And that my concerns are not just complaints about her not doing her fair share . But yet she can be negative about children.
We learned a few things like how things are done in an real emergency. The hospital did bend over backwards to help us meet the basic needs of the children. The parents were really glad they didn't close the daycare. The hospital just happened to be full that day. Maybe the higher ups will realize that we are an asset to the hospital.
By time I came home from work I was exhausted and went to bed early.
Now because we lost power for almost two days (because it was not repaired until late Monday night) all the food in all the refrigrators were spoiled and had to be thrown away. They started Tuesday off with toast and some juice for breakfast. Lunch comes from the hospital and they had gotten a shipment of milk so they got a regular meal again. By Friday I believe we were actually back to normal. Each classroom has access to a refrigrator so teachers bring things in to eat at lunch but if it was in the fridge it got thrown out. No teacher was reimbursed so if they weren't there on Monday they didn't know they wouldn't have any food. The teachers have to provide their own meals. I had called my co-worker that is in the room everyday except Monday so she was prepared.

So even though I have Tuesdays off I still was dealing with power outage fall-out. The difficult children in our room have been really off all week. So next week can only get better right. Not really I will be in class all alone for the week Co-worker is taking spring break off. I may start coloring my hair to cover the gray that has suddenly appeared LOL

Reconnecting with old friends

I want to start this blog off by saying that I am not very good at punctation so don't expect it. So if you are wanting perfect grammar better look else where. LOL Also on occasion I will misspell a word or two mainly because sometimes my thoughts go faster than my hands. I try to keep up So now on to the important stuff.

A couple of days ago a friend of mine from my mid twenties kept popping in to my mind. So I decedied to see if I could track her down. We were pretty good friends she was a bridesmaid in my wedding and I enjoyed being her friend but when I moved away from Utah to get away from an abusive ex-husband I kind of lost touch with her. I did visit her when I went back to Salt Lake to visit when Melissa was still young. We had a great visit I missed her advice and concern. So anyway even though I finally found her telephone number again, I was still nervous about reconnecting with her. Cause even though no one believes it when I say I am shy. I am. I finally called her today. I enjoyed hearing her voice and she made a few comments that made me realize she is still the same Stacee I knew back when I was 20 something. Thanks Stacee.

I also need to apologize to my friend AA she invited me to RS enrichment and I of course said No but AA just keep trying and I am sure your appetizers were great. I just like to tease and sometimes I don't realize that my teasing might hurt others feelings even though I am not trying to do that.

What is it? Maybe church would have been easier

Today I deceided that I needed to clean the living room. You know put stuff away that has just been dumped on couch and left there all week........ I looked over at my computer area and deceide that it needs to move because it is near a window so it is cooler and I hate being cold. So of course you have to move all the other furniture. So here it goes I moved the couch found out that moving with your legs is easier than your back. The chair got moved and finally the computer area. I found some papers that needed to be in another room. I take it there and of course something needs to be done so I do that meanwhile the living room is all messed up. I tell myself to go finish the living room and then come back to this room. So I do that. I think I might have Adult ADD but at my age if I tell the doctor that they might say it is Alzeheimers I know it isnt that because I have always done things this way. So some thoughts I had while rearranging were. 1) why with all the genuises we have in this world they can't come up with an electrical appliance that doesnt have a cord. I hate seeing them everywhere. 2) Why do I prefer sweeping my carpet instead of vaccuming it. 3) Why do people get upset when you don't renew your church magazines. Mine just get put in a magazine holder with the plastic still on them. I hardly ever read them. 4) Why after 40 years of setting up different vcr's, dvd players, did it finally work the first time. 5) Why can't professional organizer's be cheaper so I can hire one. 6) Can I afford a housekeeper. 6) Does that couch look good there or not. I don't care it is staying there unless 2 men and truck come and move it.

Being organized is overrated #2

After reading the first post. Here is another reason I give up on organizing. I wrote my first post and deceided to add pictures while I am looking for a picture. I pushed a button lost the post so I retyped it and then I found it again. So lucky you You will enjoy both readings. Mainly because I like the second one better.

I am sitting here wondering why we as humans feel the need to be organized. You deceide to be organized and in order to really make it work you have to take everything out and decedied (A blog about spelling will be next LOL) where it will fit in the area. So that makes more work. In December when Melissa and I came home from Walt Disney World I deceided that my goal for the next year 2009 would be to get more organized because when I need to find something I could never find it. I would end up in tears of frustration because I thought i knew where the item was but low and behold it is not where I put it. Okay you are all wondering why I am blogging about this let me tell you.

Today we are going to Greenfield Iowa to see the church where Melissa and Dylan will get married. Dylan knows the minister there and he will marry them. So wedding in Greenfield and reception in Winterset. (Back to my story, see even my mind isnt organized). I want to take my camera with me. I am a scrapbooker and of course I need more pictures. Heaven knows I havent scrapped the ones from Walt Disney World yet. But oh well..........

I put my camera bag with all the accessories in my closet. I pull out the bag and everything is in there except camera. I look all over my room and can't find the camera. Oh I found a camera but not the digital one. Also the other one doesnt work very well. I had been thinking of something to blog about today and since I am now frustrated because I can't find the camera I am blogging about organization or lack thereof. I have mentioned that I scrapbook well let me tell you about my scrapbook area. I go to scraps (scrapbooking with a group of friends at another location) every other month. When I go I take all my supplies because getting organized enough to only take the items for the pages I want to scrap would be like work for me. And what if I want to change my mind. I want to enjoy scrapbooking. So needless to say my scrapbooking area here at home is a mess. BUT I know where everything is. LOL I do not have young children here at home anymore so If I so choose I can leave items sitting on my couch or where ever until I can put them away. I will pick up my house through out the week but the major cleaning happens on the weekends or quickly before someone visits which is why I suggest them calling before they show up. Okay I need to wrap this up. You will all get a good laugh at this one. And believe me I just growled about it. I am sitting here at the computer desk. I have some white drawers that have computer things in them and bills and misc office supplies I am looking up and what is sitting on the top of these drawers YOU Got It the CAMERA. See if I didnt try to be organized I would have known it was sitting right in front of me the whole time..........................

Being organized is overrated if you ask me

When we came back for Walt Disney World I deceided to get organzied.......... Big mistake cause to be organized you have to take everything out to deceide where it goes. So here is my dilema. I came home unpacked after the suitcases sat in our living room for a week. I was too tired the first day home and then of course I had to go to work. I will pick up my home during the week but my major projects happen on the weekend. Since I no longer have a young child at home that is easy for me to do. (For instance I went to Wal-mart this week and the items I bought are still on the couch) So anyway I put the items from my suitcase in the laundry of course. Did laundry came home put it away. Well the things that didnt need to be washed like papers, meds, got put away. Camera bag with accessories put away in my closet. Well now I need my camera and guess what I can't find it. No it is not in the camera bag. This is really frustrating because we are making a trip to Greenfield to the church that Melissa and Dylan are getting married in and I wanted to take pics today. You know the scrapbooker in me needs more pics. I could just borrow Melissa's but then I have to transfer pics to my computer and that takes time.

Who has time........... The next problem with being organized is that you get it all done and then one day you need something and you have to undo all your hardwork just to get to the item you needed. I scrapbook so I go to scraps often usually once every other month. When I go I have to take all my supplies because getting organized enough to know exactly what I want on each page would make scrapbooking work for me. I do it cause I enjoy relaxing. So in all my attempts to organize my scrapbooking area. It is worse now than when I first had the brainstorm to organize it. Now if I didnt organize I can walk straight to the item I want and know it is in that pile. Back to the camera. You will laugh at this one. I am sitting here at the computer I have these white plastic drawers that I have put computer stuff in . I looked up to think about what to write and on the top of the drawers sits the forementioned camera. I swear it was laughing at me. Now if I hadn't have made the attempt to be organized I would have known that it was sitting up there

Facebook or Blogging which is easier?????

I got off work early today so I deceided I was going to figure out facebook and blogging. So far my consensus is that blogging may be easier cause you write what happened, or what you are thinking or feeling. But facebook is more interesting because you can reconnect with others from your past, for example. I have reconnected with a few friends from Albquerque New Mexico where my daughter Melissa and I moved from in 2000. It is intereseting to find out that the young women she was active with are either married with children or at school. Now if I can reconnect with my friends more I would be excited. Because even though I have some friends here in Iowa I still miss my NM friends. I miss being active in church and being busy.I do love Iowa even when the weather is 57 degrees one day and then having ice storms the next day. I love living in a small city where if I want I can know my neighbors and all their business. The only downfall I see to living in small town is that in order to make decent wages and get benefits I need to commute 74 miles a day to work. During the winter that "SUCKS" . So by Sunday I am tired of driving so I (yes I know it is just an excuse) just don't want to drive 25 miles to church.
This is one of my favorite scenes as I drive to an from Des Moines everyday. Of course in the morning it is dark. Also during the winter it is dark coming and going. This is during the summer I will have to get an winter picture of the same barn.

Just testing the waters of blogging

Well here I am becoming a blogger. This will be a simple post as I am just starting and I will need to leave shortly to take my future son-in-law to his fiddle lesson.
We are having a spring type day here in the small town of Winterset. Don't worry winter is returning on Thursday.