My Blessings

I know it's been a while....

2011-05-26T10:29:00.001-05:00

I won't be writing on this blog very often, I have moved to a new address: http://www.grandmas-cupboard.com/.

There are many things going on in my life right now and I want to share them with all of you, so the best way for me to do that effectively is to limit my posting to one site. I don't anticipate having the time or energy to post to multiple sites. I have just been diagnosed with cancer (again).

Please keep in touch at my new site and I will do my best to post regularly and make it interesting and helpful.

Thanks for your past "support" and I look forward to keeping in touch.

K

So much happening ....

2010-09-06T09:38:00.000-05:00

There has been so much happening this summer, I must apalogize to you all for not posting more often.

Let's see, I got four teeth pulled (front teeth) and now have a partial plate. The extraction went very well, no broken teeth or problems removing the bad teeth. As for the partial, that is taking some getting used to. It's strange to have a beautiful smile again, I have to make a concious effort to smile now. I spent so long not smiling because I didn't have a nice smile and now I have a great smile, I just have remember to use it!

Also, an update on my weight loss - I'm up to 29 pounds lost now! My habits have changed for the better, I think more now about what I will eat so that it's healthy instead of eating just to eat. I still have my popcorn at night, but now I have just three cups instead of half the bag! I've discovered that there are so many things you can do with a salad that they never get boring. Just little changes like getting a snack sandwich and coleslaw at KFC instead of a full meal with potatoes and gravy, two pieces of chicken and a bisquit. I still get full and also get my meat and vegetables! I eat five times a day now, little "snacks" instead of three large meals a day (contents of the meals have changed too).

One of the greatest things I discovered it a solution to that 2 or 3 o'clock slump. You know, that time when you feel tired from lunch and kinda start to drag. Well, I have three slices of turkey - honey or mesquite are my favorites - and a low fat string cheese; it gives me the protein that I need, at the right time, and I feel energized to make it the rest of the day! No slacking at work cos I'm tired, it's works great!!

Let me know how you are doing on your weight loss, maybe we can help each other. Part of my motivation is knowing that I can help others with their goals and encourage them that they to can do it. What can I do to help you?

Kitty Paw Prints

2010-05-14T12:32:00.002-05:00

OK, I'm tired, can't wake up this morning, didn't sleep well at all. But, gotta go to work and pay the bills, you know the drill.

So, still groggy eyed, I go in the garage and get in my car. Not really paying attention, I start to back out of the garage onto the driveway. Right about the time I get to where I can start to turn the wheel (so I don't hit the pickup truck at the far edge of the drive) I get a bright glimmer of sunshine right on my windshield. Ahhh - can't see for a second and then WOW I notice what's on my windshield - kitty paw prints! The most adorable "little" muddy paw prints going all the way up my car hood, onto the windshield and (I assume) over the top of my car. How cool is that?

See, we have a few "strays" that live in our garage when the weather isn't nice, so we feed them and talk to them. I guess I wasn't thinking that they consider the "entire" garage their space, including the cars!

It was just one of those little moments that make you smile and say "thanks, God for all the little creatures too" and forget about the not-so-good start to the morning. My day is going great now! Hope yours is too.

Tiny Differences

2010-03-31T15:44:00.004-05:00

Sometimes it seems overwelming to try and do what God has called me to do (if I even know what that is for sure). I think I'm doing the right things but, I'm not sure all the time.

Well, yesterday I did something that I am sure came from God and I feel pretty good about it. I went to the drive thru at the local "fast food" place to get a salad. The lady at the window is one of the ladies that I see a lot of the times when I go there - we always chat a little (if no one is behind me in line) and then say see ya next time! So, in our little chat yesterday, she mentioned that she was going in for surgery next week to remove a lump from her breast. Without even thinking about it, I took her hand in mine and said a little prayer for her that there would be nothing found that involves cancer.

She looked a little stunned and said "thanks" and I said, "don't worry, I'll see you in a couple of weeks". It was just a brief "moment" but, I know that God heard that little prayer and I know that He listens. Maybe that's why I was supposed to go to the drive thru that day!

I'm trying to "hear" Him more and do His will more - how about you?

Spring? or Snow?

2010-03-12T12:42:00.002-06:00

Well, I'm not sure what to think. It has been in the forties for over a week now and raining so, it's spring right? Well, maybe not, there could still be snow in the next few weeks.

That's the thing about living in the upper midwest (Wisconsin), there is no "spring" until oh, maybe June! Just kidding. Although that is something that should be considered when ordering plants - most companies won't ship until the second of third week of May! I guess maybe they know the kind of spring weather we have here and they don't want us killing the plants and having to practice their great customer service and replace all the dead plants!

Yep, I have ordered some flowers and one tree but won't see them for a while so I just thought I would share with you all. I am thinking spring but can't actually "have spring" for a while yet.

Are you all having spring yet? Birds chirping? Any plants starting to peek their little green arms out yet?

Dieting

2010-01-31T16:09:00.003-06:00

Yep, I am dieting. Well, no actually, I am working on changing my life. I started using Nutrisystem about three weeks ago. It's not a diet, it a new way of thinking about food and your life.

It's only been three weeks and for two of those weeks I haven't been able to excercise (I threw my back out and just got clearance from my doctor to start excersicing again). I've lost 6 pounds!

I know it doesn't sound like much but, for me it's the first time I've weighed under 200 pounds in over 8 years! Now that I can exercise, I hope to loose more weight easier. Although, I don't want to loose it too fast because then I just have a better chance of gaining it back.

This is about change, true life change, permanent changes in my life. Changes in the way I think about food, changes in the way I eat food, changes in my exercise routine, changes in my attitude. I feel better about myself and my possibilities than I have in quite some time.

I am blessed.

Teddy Bear Wisdom

2009-12-28T18:58:00.003-06:00

Just thought I would share with you some of the wisdom that my teddy bears have shared with me. Yep, I collect teddy bears!

"Many a heart learns to love from its first teddy bear."

"Bears are just about the only toy that can lose just about everything and still maintain their dignity and worth."

"The world is divided into two nations. Those with teddy bears, those without. Each think the other odd."

And, remember this (for those of you that don't know): "Bears are like cats - they arrive disguised as nonentities. Only time will reveal just who they really are."

The Snowflake Game

2009-12-23T12:12:00.001-06:00

Fun, seasonal game. Just thought I'd share with you for the holidays.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!

Thankful for so many things

2009-11-20T11:40:00.002-06:00

Well, the Thanksgiving holiday is almost here and I am reflecting on some of the things I am thankful for.

I guess one of the biggest things, over the past year, that I am thankful for is being cancer free for a year now. It's a great milestone, although they say you can't really start to relax until two years and you can't be out of the woods for at least five years. I am still very thankful for this milestone.

There are of course people to be thankful for: my son, Philip; my fiance', Les; my family and multiple friends; and you, the casual visitor who happens to stop by for a visit. Life would not be much to "write about" without all of these people.

Also, I must say I am thankful for my new kitchen. It was a project that started last fall and was delayed for my cancer surgeries and treatments but has now been completed. I will get to cook my first Thanksgiving dinner in my new kitchen and I'm actually pretty excited about it.

I'm thankful for my relationship with God, most of all, because without Him the rest of the above wouldn't matter.

How about you, what are you thankful for this holiday?

Family

2009-10-18T19:30:00.003-05:00

I prayed for God's direction in my life today and I'm not sure what to do about what I got.

Just got a strange/interesting phone call this afternoon. A woman called asking if I could possibly be the biological sister to her husband!

When she called , she asked my name and asked me to confirm both my parents names (which she provided, not me) and she explained that she was trying to help her husband find his family since he was adopted and didn't know anything about his real parents. Quite interesting, quite mind blowing and I'm not quite sure what to think or what to do.

Have any of you had this kind of experience? I'm not sure what the next step should be - maybe I should do some "investigating" of my own huh? The information she provided me was quite accurate and I don't know... I guess the one thing that's really got my mind going is this: He is bi-racial (black/white) and both my parents are white.

Now my mind is spinning, did my mom fool around and put my dad's name on the birth certificate before she gave the baby up for adoption? My brother seems to think that my Dad fooled around with the nanny and had her put my mom's name on the birth certificate but, that just doesn't make sense to me.

Any opinions from you guys would be welcome. I'm at a loss, confused, concerned, and (not quite) speachless.

More babies......

2009-08-30T19:10:00.003-05:00

These are more of my "babies". They are such wonderful companions and they remind me every day what unconditional love is. Thank you Lord for these wonderful creatures in my life and for the love they give me and the lessons they teach me.

Do you have any "babies" that you are thankful for? Do they teach you how to be a better person? I find myself wanting to be more like them everyday - kind, gentle, thoughtful, helpful, caring, attentive and calm. What a great world this would be if everyone could be more like this huh?

John 1:16

2009-08-27T10:42:00.003-05:00

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Cool, isn't it, to know that we have received blessings and all we had to do was accept Christ as our Savior. Do you realize how special you are in the eyes of Jesus?

I pray that you will find and receive all the wonderful blessings that God has in store for you. I pray that those blessings will be abundant and overflowing in your life. Amen.

Fabric Stash

2009-08-20T19:33:00.004-05:00

Yep, that's my title for today's post. I would like for my fabric "stash" to look organized and "pretty" like the picture but in reality, it's a mish-mash of old dressers full of fabric and old bookcases full of fabric and piles of fabric in and on boxes and, well you get the idea.

There is just not enough time to fully organize all the wonderful fabrics I have and still have time to quilt. There also seems to be no way to contain my enjoyment in buying new fabric. I told my friend once that I wouldn't buy any more fabric until I used up at least half of what I had. Well, she hasn't seen my workroom in a while and I don't think she would understand.

I think maybe it's a form of addiction....

My "Babies"

2009-08-12T20:03:00.004-05:00

These are two of my cats (I have four). They are very helpful when it comes to getting things done on the computer or in the kitchen or just about anywhere around the house. They want to help and always comfort me and calm me and just love me, unconditionally.

That's the way I try to be with people, helpful and comforting and always trying to get them to smile. I want to help spread joy in the world, there is enough of the opposite and life is too short to be unhappy all the time. Focus on the positive things, the blessings, in your life. That's what I try to do, just like my pets (maybe I'm part cat!).

2009-08-09T14:02:00.001-05:00

What a nice weekend. Went to visit friends up north (Wisconsin Rapids) that I haven't seen in over a year. Really good to see them all. Makes me want to visit more often. It's just such a long drive - almost three hours one way - and we went up and back in one day so it was exhausting. Some times it seems that I get "caught up" in my own "stuff" and I forget what's important - other people. Visits like this remind me that it's not about what you do, it's more about who you do it with or who you do it for that matters.

Beauty

2009-08-05T21:11:00.003-05:00

Sometimes we just need to stop for a minute and look at the beauty right in front of us. "Stop and smell the roses" Think about the beauty that is given to us in a single rose - that one small flower can give such joy and fragrance. We need to learn to look at the blessings in the small things and stop looking for the big miraculous things. Appreciate the small things in every day, every one is a blessing. Add them up!

This is what I am thankful for and what I do everyday (I pray that others will follow):

2009-07-31T08:55:00.004-05:00

Magnificent Holy Father, I stand in awe of all I see. Of all the things you have created, still you choose to think of me. I stand before you at this alter, so many have given you more. I may not have much I can offer, but what I have is truely yours. This is my offering to you Lord, this is my offering to you God - I will give you my life, for it's all I have to give, because you gave your life for me.

Lyrics from a song by Third Day

Frustrations

2009-07-22T12:35:00.003-05:00

Yep, I get frustrated too. I'm trying to put together an e-commerce site and it's not going the way I expected. I don't understand some of the "coding" and, well I guess I should slow down and focus on one area at a time. I've been trying to work on several parts of the site at once and now that I've talked with you about it, I realize that I should focus on one area of the site and get that right before moving on to another area.

Sometimes, you just need a friend to talk these things through. Thanks for being there and I appreciate all that you do for me! Have a splenderific day!!

Oohhh Chocolate!

2009-07-12T19:17:00.003-05:00

Ok, one of my weaknesses is chocolate (I'm sure it's not an exclusive club!). I made brownies last night for dessert and I thought I would share one with you.

They are great - moist and fluffy with just a little powdered sugar on top (not a lot, just a little) makes them awesome. I try not to make them too often but, a little "treat" once in a while can't hurt.

I hope you enjoy this little taste (oh, you don't have taste-a-vision, sorry) and I'll be sharing more great food as time goes by.

Some People . . . .

2009-07-10T14:59:00.003-05:00

The other morning, as I was driving to work, I saw .. well, a gentleman make a left turn on a red light. Now right turns are legal here on a red light, but not left (ya know cos traffic is coming at you when you turn!). Well, he was an older gentleman (from what I could see, grey hair and all) and thankfully no one was coming so he made it through the light with no concerns. I however was then thinking about it/him most of the morning.

I was glad that he didn't get in an accident, especially one that I would have witnessed, and that he made it through the red light ok. I was however, concerned that this probably wasn't the first time he had done this and it probably won't be the last. So, I asked God to watch over him while he's driving and keep him and anyone around him safe. I felt better.

When is the last time you worried about and/or prayed for a stranger?

Grandson

2009-07-05T12:03:00.002-05:00

My son, Philip
and my grandson,
Calvin. I treasure
them both.

Holiday Weekends

2009-07-05T09:53:00.003-05:00

Aren't holiday weekends wonderful? When a holiday falls on a weekend, you get more time to "catch up" on all those projects that have "waited and waited" for so long. You also get to spend some quality time doing things you enjoy with people you like spending time with. I took time off of work to make this weekend into a four day mini vacation and it has been great!

The kitchen remodeling is now, almost, complete. We measured, cut, stained and attached all the door frames in the kitchen and mud room. What a difference it makes, the kitchen looks terrific! I'll post a few pictures so you can see, once the window frames are stained (hoping to get to that this afternoon).

Saturday was spent at Old World Wisconsin for their July 4th celebrations, early 1900's style. When is the last time you had a three legged race or tried to climb a greased pole? What about the last time you watched a parade with no motorized vehicles, just horse drawn carriages and people walking? The weather cooperated, the mosquitoes enjoyed their feast (on all the people there), the food was great (brats, lemonade, cookies, etc.) and the walking was peaceful. Every time we go there, I feel kind of "renewed" and refreshed. If you want to check them out sometime: http://www.oldworldwisconsin.org/.

Other People's Concerns

2009-07-01T11:27:00.002-05:00

Had a visit from a friend last night. He is having lots of "trouble" - no job, moved away from his friends (that's a good thing, trust me), no place to live. I'm glad he felt he could talk with me about these things.

I pray for him, for his success and for him to have clarity in his life. He seems to be walking the right path, just needs patience and strength to get to where he needs to be.

There are so many young people in this world that don't know where to turn or what to do next and I'm blessed that I can help just a few of them to go in the right direction and use the Lord for their strength. I remember "being there" (a few years ago) and I wish I would have had someone to help me get on the right path and it would have been great to have known Jesus back then. I'm sure glad I know Him now and that I can lead others to Him as well!

Improve Your Life

2009-06-29T14:27:00.006-05:00

Praying can and will improve your life. Every day I pray in the morning for the Lord to help me through my day. At night (I'll be honest, not every night) I pray to thank the Lord for all the blessings he has provided me that day.

I find that not only do my days go smoother but my attitude is much better. Knowing that I have left all the "problems" and "concerns" to Him, I can enjoy all that I do each day and not worry about what will or could happen.

If you aren't a praying person now, try a little experiement:

Every night when you lie down to go to sleep, think of 5 things that you are thankful for that happened that day. Things like - I'm thankful for .... the sunshine, my dogs "kisses", gas prices going down, cooler weather, my vegetables growing, etc., etc.

Do this for one week and you will see just how blessed you really are!

What a terrific weekend!

2009-06-29T13:24:00.001-05:00

The weather was warm but not so humid as it has been. As usual, when the weather cooperates, I weeded the vegetable garden. I also managed to have enough hand strength to weed the shade garden as well - just a little clover left to pull so that it doesn't take over!

Made some tolapia (fish) for dinner with a great bread crumb, corn meal and parmesan crust. It turned out really good. Even made it better with the wild rice and spinach. Wanted dessert but, was too full to have any - just means I'll have to eat the strawberries tonight!