I've waited all week for this!

TGIF! But not because the weekend is here. Well that too... But I have waited all week to wear my new shoes on this "casual jeans day" at the office. I took my niece, Samantha, to K-Mart last Sunday for something specific. I hadn't shopped at K-Mart in a coon's age! (Don't ask me how long that is, but in Kentucky that's a LONG time!). So I was surprised when I saw these really cute ankle boots on clearance for $10!!

I couldn't resist. I didn't own any boots of any kind before. I've avoided that whole fashion statement most of my life. It's because of a condition I have known as FCS, better known as Fat Calf Syndrome. Even at my smallest size, and I have been small before, I have suffered from FCS.

But I thought what the heck... And tried on a pair. Or at least attempted to. My size 8 foot wouldn't fit in them because evidently it's spread to the top of my foot!? But a size 9 fit perfectly! Jacklyn Smith must use a different size chart because all of my other shoes still fit and feel fine.

My niece agreed with me that they looked so cute with the jeans I had on that I decided they were for me! And it's finally Friday so I can wear them to the office! I love them!!

One Thousand Gifts

It's been a year since I blogged. I had plenty to say but it's nothing anyone would care to read, I'm sure. I would have been mostly complaining about how unhappy and miserable I was about something... mainly my old job. So I chose instead to say nothing. Wasn't it Thumper on Bambi that quoted this advice from his mother... "If you can't say nothing nice, don't say anything at all."

I now have better things to say. I have a new job! I've really missed blogging and I'm not sure who will even read this after seeing nothing here for do long. (Is anyone still out there?)

I'm making an effort to find things to be positive about and grateful for. I found this wonderful app, "One Thousand Gifts" (available for iPhone and Android). You can share your daily "gift" of focus also through Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr. It can be media or text. I started my One Thousand Gifts focus with this picture of my son, Adam... taken by his girlfriend just the other day.

What gift are you thankful for today?

Living A Life Of Purpose

Image via Wikipedia
Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life was? If there was a particular cause or reason your are alive for? I've wondered about it from time to time. The thought comes to mind and I think about it a while. Then, as usual, life gets busy and I lay the thought aside, thinking that for now I'll continue my casual, daily Christian walk with no great focus on a "plan" or "mission". But I've come to think about it a lot more lately. And this time I find myself shoving aside some of the things that has distracted me in the past.


I've been talking to God about my purpose for a few days and this devotion was a helpful insight, right in line with my thoughts and prayers.


"If your life was condensed into one short sentence - what would be said of you? How our lives are summarized depends on the choices we make each day. We have the tendency to become distracted with cares and responsibilities. Those distractions keep us from our primary purpose - pleasing God." 


Reflection & Prayer: 
Devotion Focus: PURPOSE


Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this; He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:5-6 


How will you be remembered? What is one sentence you could use to summarize your life so far? What might God want to change your life so that your life summary will be different? 


Excerpts taken from Busy Mom's Bible

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I've got my work cut out for me. I have a back yard that just screams for attention! I have small garden plans and look forward to getting started. Here is what I have to work with... oh, and don't judge me too harshly on these photos. I work full time, go to school, run the household (all the shopping, paying bills, most of the cooking and cleaning). I just haven't had the time to get to this part yet. ;-)

This shot is the far left corner of the back yard. The chain link fence needs some cleaning of all the vine overgrowth, as well as something done with that old rusty burn barrel. This corner will be the focus area of the garden. I'm thinking something with some height growing back there or some other way that might create some privacy. You see... the view I have from the back yard can be seen in this wider shot of the back yard below.

We have a lovely view of a 4-lane highway, complete with overpass over the highway. :(

I have this area in the back of the yard and some space along the wall of the detached garage you can see in the picture below.

So tell me... is it any wonder I never come back here to spend any time? Not real fond of watching traffic speeding up and down the highway. I'm hoping to change all that though and make some use of the space. I'm am starting to search for ideas, tips and inspiration. 

I just have a couple of little things I have to keep in mind...

This is not MY property but rented property (with approval for some gardening). That being said, of course I need to be thrifty and not put a lot of money into this. I just want something better to look at and use, but not sink a lot of money into property I don't own and will leave one day.

Anyone have any ideas? Pictures? Tips? Websites? Anything gardening to share with this newbie?

I'm hoping to grown a few vegetables (tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers) as well a floral gardening area to. I'd love to hear your ideas and welcome them!

Getting To Know You - Sunday



The Questions:

1. do you weigh yourself?

2. what's the nastiest thing you've ever eaten?

3. snail mail or email?

4. do you have any irrational fears...what are they?

5. do you play an instrument?

6. would you rather be bitten by a snake or attacked by a bear?

7. do you ever go braless in public?

8. today i am thankful for........................?

My Answers:

1. Do you weigh yourself?

Rarely. I know I'm staying about the same or if there is a change by my clothes and that's all I need to know. Numbers do not always indicate "health", not to the extreme people use them. And I choose health before obsession. :)

2. What's the nastiest thing you've ever eaten?

I have tasted a lot of things I didn't like but "nasty"? Hmmm I'd have to say a recent smoothie I tried. It was a mixture of a lot of good stuff but when you have fiber husk, and chia seeds not ground it's a nasty texture in your mouth.


3. Snail mail or email?

Email is convenient. You can access email from almost anywhere these days. But I love receiving a REAL LETTER from a friend or loved one in the mail box.


4. Do you have any irrational fears...what are they?

I don't know what's rational or irrational to any of you but I'm afraid of heights - terrible! To the point of getting queasy and feeling butterflies in my stomach even watching a movie with a scene from high up and the camera is looking down - Cliffhanger just about did me in.


5. Do you play an instrument?

Not now. I took piano lessons for 2 years in high school and loved it but never stuck with it after that.

6. Would you rather be bitten by a snake or attacked by a bear?

Bitten by a snake. It may or may not kill me but I know the bear would for sure. And a snake bite is less violent and would have to be less painful than being torn apart.


7. Do you ever go bra less in public?

Never. I could not pass that test.

8. Today i am thankful for........................?

my family - we're all close and get along (no family squabbling), my job - so many people don't have one, for a beautiful sunny day today

Run over to MannLand and link up and play along!