Rebuilding....

A couple of days ago, I shared my New Orleans story with you. But my New Orleans experience doesn't end there.

5 years ago, (well about 4 and a half) , this is what the Superdome in New Orleans looked like.

New Orleans was hopeful...they were looking toward the future. The Superdome still had a LOT of work to make it NFL ready for the opening game in 2006 after having to move games in 2005 due to Katrina.

Fast forward 4 years from the date Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast... fast forward to the New Orleans Saints having a GREAT year with Drew Brees at their helm as quarterback.

OK, I have to confess, I didn't really know how well they were doing. Being a woman of a certain age who is single, I don't HAVE to watch football if I don't want, so most of the time I don't follow much of the NFL season...

I did hear trickles of information that the Saints may make the Super Bowl... WOO HOO was all I could think - that city NEEDS some great news. Well, guess what????? The Saints made it to Super Bowl XLIV (ok, so what number does that make it????)

On February 6th, 2010 I boarded a cruise ship sailing out of New Orleans bound for the Eastern Caribbean. Needless to say, I was surrounded by New Orleans Saints fans... Black and Gold was EVERYWHERE... Mardi Gras beads in black and gold with little football beads were being handed out to strangers by the boisterous Saint loving cruisers.

On February 7th the entire cruise ship geared up for the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. And what a game those two teams treated every Saints or Colts fan to.

I will tell you, I have never been to a Super Bowl and probably never will, but the energy , the excitement and the vibrations going on in that crowd on a Carnival Cruise ship that cold February evening were as close to being there that I will ever feel. Those Saints fans NEVER doubted their team could win, just like they never doubted they would rise out of the rubble of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

So sitting there in a lounge on the ship, with yummy tailgate food being served and beers being poured all around, and with Saints fans all around me, I got caught up in the excitement. I stood up, I cheered, I got major goosebumps as I watched the underdog Saints take the Super Bowl and bring home the pride, AND the Super Bowl trophy to New Orleans Louisiana. Out of the rubble came victory.                                                                

The spirits and hearts of New Orleans residents knew it was possible. They saw possibility and opportunity where others only saw tragedy and loss. So when I hear a "WHO DAT" cheered I can only join in with a "Who Dat, Who Dat, Who Dat think they gonna beat them Saints.....WHO DAT"

And I can't WAIT to see what this NFL season will bring those loyal fans.

Until next time.....

I have linked this up to Tuesday's Unwrapped so please head on over there and check out some other fun blogs.

Thick or Thin??????

How do you like the crust on YOUR pizza? I like ANY kind of pizza but definitely prefer thick crust and lots of toppings - hold the anchovies please.

So I LOVE thick crust pizza, but really HATE the thick crust feeling I am having right now. My body FEELS thick, FEELS weighted down, FEELS sluggish.

I need to lighten it up. Like pizza, when I choose the thin crust over the thick, and choose veggies over the sausage and pepperoni or the ham and bacon, I don't FEEL as thick.

Now, some background....

I have only gained back a few pounds this last year (wasn't quite back to my goal weight anyway) and my clothes don't really feel much different, but I feel like a sausage stuffed in my skin. Just uncomfortable.

Does a pizza feel like that??? Does it feel uncomfy when we just PILE on the toppings and add extra cheese and have stuffed crust and then dip it in garlic sauce? Probably not, and of course your pizza vendor of choice is happy as a clam.. HMMMM, clams on pizza?

Well, I need to lighten up this sausage pizza I have turned in to and remember how good and THIN I feel when I do lighten it up. Add in some exercise instead of fattening toppings.....or at least to off set them.

What is stopping me???? NOTHING.. just me and my thoughts.....

So until next time, make it a GREAT day.

Devastation........

It is hard to believe that it has been 5 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated and destroyed a large part of New Orleans. I see the images on TV now and they still bring tears to my eyes.

I was priviledged to be a part of a mission team to New Orleans just 9 months after Katrina. I was amazed at how much had NOT changed since the waters receded all those months ago.

 Houses that were picked up off there foundations by the raging water were sitting on streets a block or more from their original location-all of the furnishings still inside. School buses were abandoned and still parked where they were when the flood waters rushed in. Hundreds of business were still closed - boarded up and abandoned by the owners.

9 months later and the local Home Depot was doing business out of large semi trailers. If you wanted to buy materials for repair or rebuilding you had to look through these trailers to find what you needed. It was so far removed from the wonderful clean and organized Home Depot we were used to in Ohio.

While working on a house that was still standing but completely ruined on the inside,

we were priveledged to meet a man by the name of James Mercadel. He was living in his house across the street that was just the bare stud walls, and the only furniture in the home was a dog bed for his seeing eye dog Jake (yes James was blind) and a cot for James to sleep on. There was no running water which meant no toilet or shower facilities so James walked several blocks 3 or 4 times a day to use the restroom and wash up in the bathroom of a local grocery store that had survived much of Katrina's wrath.

We heard the awful story of that day in 2005 from James. It was first hand account of the flood waters that forced him and his 2 dogs up to the attic of his home for safety. James was rescued by a neighbor who promised to come back for Jake and the other dog.  James and his neighbor left the area in a boat as the water was up to their necks and still rising.

The neighbor never went back for Jake or the second dog, so James, blind and without his seeing eye dog, ended up being shuffled around without site before finally ending up at the Houston Astrodome several days later. The Today show picked up James' story and filmed the reuniting of James with his trusted friend Jake. Jake had been in the attic of the home he shared with James and was rescued about three weeks after the Hurricane passed through. A micro chip implanted in Jake, led him home to James.

I searched and searched and was unable to find that original film clip from the Today Show. I have watched it a few times over the years to remind me how precious life is. It is not the trappings and possessions we accumulate while here, it is the memories, the people, our faith that will mean the most no matter WHAT storm may come our way. One moment in time can take away our physical possessions but not the things we hold in our hearts.

James had such a strong faith (as you can see by the sign he put on his house) and he knew that God would continue to take care of him and lead him to the destination that was planned for him, and it looks like God is still watching over him.  

I think that everyone of us on that trip was blessed by James and Jake and that he was blessed by us. A trip I never thought I could handle, work that I could never be strong enough for, people that I had not met before.... but then I remembered that God does not CALL the equipped, he EQUIPS the called.

Take a look at James now at St Bernard Project and see him cutting the ribbon on his rebuilt home......

Until next time....be blessed...

Drop it like it's hot.....ssssssssss...........

So, if you haven't figured it out, another part of my creativity is to figure out a creative way to EAT everything I DO bring home from the grocery store without adding to my MENO-POT....

Well, another commercial got me laughing and thinking this morning. An ad for a local health club talked about stopping the sedation that cupcakes etc brings..... WOW, sedation......
Now, I love junk food as much as the next gal but never thought of eating that stuff as sedation, but yes it does help push away sad or angry thoughts. Junk food makes me happy, it makes me chunky, but it makes me HAPPY....

The commercial goes on to say we also have to quit blaming the dryer for shrinking our clothes cuz if we continue to sedate ourselves the clothes WILL keep shrinking..... Yes, I prefer to look at it that way too instead of saying my body will keep growing.
Anyway, the commercial ends by saying Gals let's drop it like its hot...... so that is where my thoughts are today.....

More dropping it and less sedation.

Grocery Store Blues.....

Yes I cry them all the time. I have never been a grocery store lover....hate every minute of it. I have tried listening to my iPod while boogie-ing down the aisles...  but even humming my favorite tunes just couldn't take away my dislike for grocery shopping.

Don't get me wrong, I love to EAT what I pick up at the grocery store, but don't wanna be there buying it and trying to find my favorite chips or paper towels or cleaning supplies - cuz you know they probably moved it since last week........

And now I get to buy groceries for my parents when I am there... YEA....that adds another trip to a store I am not used to and goodness only knows where the hide the pork rinds, my moms fave snack, because I thought they should be in the chip aisle. WRONG..... Still looking for them....

Don't even get me started on carrying stuff into the house and putting it away. I would rather have a root canal than drag everything in while dodging two dogs that want to see what all I brought home....'is there anything in there for us, huh? huh?

Then I stumbled across a blog post by Kate Gosselin on this very subject. Ok, Ok, you may be a Kate Hater or a Kate Lover but I love following her antics and those of her brood of eight.

Not only did Kate's Take crack me up, but wow, it made me step back, realize how easy MY trips to the store are and realized I should just suck it up and thank my lucky stars I only have me, myself and I to shop for....well, and sometimes some treats for my 4 legged friends. I just wich I could use some of those 16 extra hands to help me put stuff away. :o)


Until next time.

Update from the farm.....

What a difference a couple of weeks can make. I am in WV to wisk my dad off to chemo visit # 9 (only 3 more to go after today), and I was very apprehensive about this visit. The last trip was filled with anger and silence from my mom. She is really having a hard time dealing with my father's cancer and all the things that monster is doing to his body.

Since mom cannot talk due to her stroke 10 years ago, the only way her anger can manifest itself is in silence. The dirty looks and the scowls are heart renching at times. Maybe she is just going through all the stages of grief and my brother and I are witnessing it. If so, she appears to be moving through the anger phase into acceptance. Whatever it is, it is making life more tolerable for my dad and the rest of us.

As I said, dad will go for chemo today and since it is a very low dose to only keep him comfortable, he should not have too many side effects. The pain from the cancer and the exhaustion from the chemotherapy have become the new normal for my dad and it has mellowed him some. Not that he couldn't have used mellowing..... :o) Acceptance has come much more easy for him I think, and he is taking this time to evaluate and reevaluate his life and it making some changes in the way he views life and the people around him.

Some distressing news on mom though as she is scheduled for an EKG in September and is facing a heart valve repair or replacement and a possible triple bypass. The cardiologist wanted to do the operation a year ago, but was not sure that mom would survive the operation. I am not sure he is convinced that she will now, but the situation is becoming more serious, so the doctor will make the decision after the EKG.

So there are the current events from my little piece of the world. Continued prayers are very much felt and appreciated.

Until nex time.

Strays......

While house/dog sitting at my dear daughters house, one of my tasks was to feed the stray cat for her mom-in-law next door. The needy kitty is a beautiful little grey ball of fur.... Now, don't get me wrong, I don't dislike cats, I am just not a cat lperson. First of all, I am allergic and second, I just never felt the need to get cozy with one.

Like a good kitty sitter, I fed the little guy like clockwork on the 1st day. On the 2nd morning when I was heading out the front doo,r Mr. Cat (a name lovingly given by my grandson), was out there waiting for me and meowing at the top of his lungs. I have never heard a hungry cat before so the sound kinda freaked me out.  It was not pleasant.

I was running a few minutes late, no time to get sidetracked, and I wanted to ignore him and just get in my car and go.... I mean he could wait til I got home right???? I mean he IS a stray, someone else is probably feeding him too don't you think?

Wow, I couldn't believe I really thought about walking away and leaving him there without any food in his bowl.  I stopped, unlocked the door and went back in to get Mr. Cat's food. The crazy cat sound stopped and the kitty was in food heaven, his belly full until it was time for me to feed him again.

On the way to work, I was CONVICTED, and I got to thinking. Don't we (yes me) usually pass by the person on the corner asking for food, or turn our head when walking past a homeless person sleeping in a bus stop, or thinking maybe we can't afford to put our normal offering in the plate at church this week. Someone else will take care of them right?????

Yep all of those things have happened to me before - and maybe to you....

How should I respond to these situations? Well, I know I would not put myself in danger by waking up the homeless man that is sleeping in the bus stop, but maybe next time I won't turn my head. I WILL notice him. I could stop and give money to the person standing on the corner, or maybe just take something out of MY lunch box and hand it to them. And it has been a LONG time since I decided not to put my normal amount in the offering plate, because I know that money is important to the ministry of the church.

Aren't we all just strays in some way? We all need something, or someone at times. And how will we feel if someone turns away, or drives on by without even noticing?

I didn't forget to feed Mr. Cat again. And in the future, I hope I stop and notice those in need and help in some way when I am able, and not think about it until it is too late, but just stop and do it.

I have linked this post to Tuesday's Unwrapped over at Chatting At The Sky so grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and visit some of these other gals.

Be Blessed.

God's Love............

I was attending the wedding of a dear friend of mine and the entire ceremony was very God centered. It was held outside under a beautiful white gazebo with clouds above, all the while threatening us with light raindrops. 

The sprinkling stopped a few minutes before the ceremony, leading all of us to an experience that was a spiritual blessing from beginning to end - starting withe the the music we heard to the rain that started falling on all of us when the performer began singing .... Holy Spirit Rain Down. The rain started coming down (harder than the earlier sprinkles), the umbrellas went up, and everyone at the wedding laughed. It was definitely a God-Incident and we felt His love as He did let it rain down on us. 

The most memorable moment tho, was when the groom gave a toast to his beautiful bride. I am paraphrasing here as I was choked up after he made the statement....."I find I can love you best, when I let God love you through me". It was one of those 'can't breathe' moments as it was so beautiful, so loving, but so typical of this Godly man.

To be blessed by God, and to see his blessings in that moment, on that day, and with this very loving couple and their families and friends is a God moment I will never forget.

Do you have a God moment you would like to share? If so, please post a comment below. I would love to hear about it.

Until next time.....

The search is over.....

I have been looking everywhere for the last 2 weeks for the new issue of Where Women Create with absolutely no luck. Then I got a call from one of my friends saying she found it - woo hoo - at Kroger of all places. I didn't even have to BEG her to get if for me with the promise of being paid back.

So I open the magazine and start reading the From My Kitchen Table article - kind of the like the editor newsletter in the front of all magazines. But this article was different, in that it touched me, resonated with me, and I so related to the beautiful words that started my journey through my first Where Women Create.

My journey begins....

Who am I really, and what is 'my' style today? If I had to describe myself in 10 words or less, what would I say? What would you say? (that gave me pause, as I never thought about it)

If you could choose to create anything, live the life of the creative woman you admire most, study where and what you have always wanted...what who, and where would that be? (hmmm another pause)

Are we alike, you and me? Is your creative soul on a perpetual journey to find what it is you really want to create? Are you constantly trying to find your medium of choice? Do you wonder if your 'style' of the moment will last until tomorrow?

The author goes on to describe some of the women she admires and what she loves about them. And she goes on to wonder........

Is this surrender and ability to absorb new ideas part of our creative spirit? Is our fascination with an array of things truly dependent on the day, the weather, whom we last met, or the article that inspired us to try something new, travel a different road, and discard what we have been and become someone yet unknown? Are we confused? (well duh?) Inspired? (you bet) Weak? Daring? Followers? Leaders? I say YES! I believe we simply love being part of it all! I, personally, will forever indulge in the whims inspired by my passions and the creative women around me.

So after reading this.....  I guess my habit of reinventing my likes and dislikes, my style of decorating, my craft addiction du jour isn't all that uncommon....... and my starting and stopping, starting and NEVER finishing and starting and sometimes finishing projects, is not as out there as I might have thought.

I do know that I am settling in to who I want to be, how I want to spend my spare time (what is left over after grandkid time), and where I would LOVE to be, and what I would LOVE to be doing when the time comes for retirement.

I am sure I will continue reinventing and tweaking all of those things, but at least now I don't think I am so different that other women, who like me, are 'of a certain age'.  I will continue to embrace the new me, whatever that is going to be tomorrow!!!!

Be Blessed.

Until next time......

CAKE IS BETTER FOR YOU THAN VEGETABLES.....

BECAUSE CAKE MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPY!!!
No really!!!! That is what I heard on the radio this morning on the ad for the local indoor water park!!!!

IF ONLY it were true.

So why does the media always try to make us think that food will make us happy....??? So many ads for restaurants and snacks on TV and did you notice, those people are ALWAYS happy. You don't see couples or friends sad or grumpy or bickering on TV while chomping on the table full of food, or scarfing down those yummy chips. It must be true that if you eat at such and such a place, or that whatchamacallit place, you will have a GREAT time and ALL that food on the table will just add to the joy...... and calories or WW points thrown to the wind.

So, that comment about cake got me to thinking: WHAT DOES MAKE ME HAPPY???

1st would be my grandkids.... joy and laughter abound when they are in my house. Hard to be sad or grumpy when little ones live life so fully.

2nd would be my friends in blogland who share encouragement and recipes and life lessons each and every day.

And third, my new puppy Cali... who has joined Dog # 1 Dakoka. Watching them play brings a smile to my face EVERY time....

So now, WHY do I feel that I need food to make me happy? The list above could go ON and ON, but I would run out of room eventually, so I will leave it at that. I will remember to think of those things when I think I NEED chocolate or cake or chips to take away the blues and make me happy again.

Until next time, be blessed.

Innocence and Wonder

It is amazing the innocence and beauty of a child playing. Watching them experience something for the first time. The wonder in their eyes the first time they feel the sand in their toes, see and hear fireworks for the very first time, the feel of snow coming out of the sky when catching it on their tongue. I love to experience these things with them when I can, but this week the grandkids are off on vacation with my daughter and her hubby.....

This pic of my granddaughter playing in the sand at a lake in Michigan, really made me miss them and wish I was there making 'sand angels' too.

Be Blessed.

Kim

Generation Gap

I was at my son's house taking photos of him, his fiance and their new Siberian Husky puppy. I took quite a few photo's just to get a couple good shots. Why? Well, either the puppy thought is was playtime, or my son or his sweetie closed their eyes or looked the wrong way. After they review them on the computer, I can't wait to see which pics they will count as keepers.

So why did I title this generation gap???? After I took all the pics, I was leaving the camera for my son to continue taking shots of the pup, and I was telling him the GREAT things my camera does and how to do them. I thought he needed a quick tutorial since it was MY camera.

Well, that son of mine thought it was hilarious that I was telling HIM about the camera. "You know Mom, I DID grow up in the technological age". WHATEVER....

I still think of him as my little boy that I need to guide and teach the things I have learned in my MANY years on this earth. I forget that he is grown and starting out on a life of his own. I think I am trying to keep him my little guy who depends on me for everything.

Here is a pic my future daughter in law took last week on her cell phone, so you see how much that little pup adores my son....... also, I guess it is time that I get used to the fact that he is now grown up and well on his way with his own little family in the making.

I am linked up today to Tuesdays Unwrapped, so stroll on over there and spend a little time.

Until next time....be blessed.

Kim

Busy Week

In the traveling back and forth from Ohio to West Virgina, there has not been much time for creativity in my world. So here is a little of what IS going on.

I mentioned my search for a decorative chandelier for an accent in my bedroom on Some Creative Surfing and how I found one on the Laura Ashley site but that is wasn't electric. I also mentioned another one I found at the little shop close to my home....

Well here it is..... It IS electric with one little candlelight in the center.... HMMMMM so now I have to decide. This one or that one, this one or that one, this or that.... Guess I need help picking!!!!!

Thoughts???? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below...

Tomorrow I will post a progress pic of the cloverleaf table I am working on.

Until next time, be blessed.

Kim 

An update

In trying to keep everyone updated on my dad's journey while I am out of touch with the real world and kickin it WAY out in the country.... I thought I would let you know of today's happenings.

Today was the first chemo treatment of Round 3 of the treatments. Two more weeks with once a week treament and then he will get a one week rest before the last 3 treatments.

He has been coughing quite a bit but praises up and thanks for the prayers, as his lungs still sound clear (never know what to expect with the cancer that is raging in his lungs) so that was GREAT news. The cough may be due to allergy or sinus issues since this year is presenting itself as a rough allergy year for those of us who currently have allergies, and for those that may be experiencing it for the first time, like my dad.

Or, the thought did cross my mind, that maybe the nurses weren't telling all, but they are who we are putting our trust in on medical news right now.

Also, his iron levels are lower than they would like so lets add another perscription to the HUGE number he already takes. :o)

So there is todays update. I appreciate all your prayers and thoughts and truly do feel God's grace even in this tough journey.

Be Blessed.

Until next time.

Kim

Trust......

I was thinking about my new grand puppy (now loved by my dear son and future daughter in law) and noticing the trust and innocence in those eyes. It reminds me of the little ones in my life.....those 2 beautiful grandkids. They too have the same love, trust and innocence when they look at me and the other adults in their life. Just like little Ky here, they depend on someone else for protection, sustenance and love.

This also got me thinking about the frustration I feel with my situation in helping to care for my parents. I once looked at them with those same eyes..... filled with trust, with innocence, with love. I realized they need to look at me and know that the same trust I once put in their hands is now available for them to rely on, to take comfort in, and to relax in knowing that I am here.

Now take a few minutes to hop on over to Tuesday's Unwrapped for some more inspirational thoughts and stories.....

Be Blessed

Some creative surfing.....

OK, so I have been under the weather the last few days so the planned painting of rooms this week just flew out the window... What's up with that? So until I feel like climbing up a ladder, I thought I would do some creative surfing... I would LOVE to finish one room in my little condo, but I always seem to bounce from room to room... OOOOO I like this for the kitchen,,,,,,,,,, and look here, wouldn't that look awesome in the living room....And I NEED a new wreath for outside right?????

OK, time to stop the 'short attention span' shopping and try to finish one room at a time.... I am thinking my bedroom, my space, my getaway, my santuary... What does a single gal need with a sanctuary... Isn't every room "my" room???? For now yes, but if the folks move in, that will all change, so time to make my little corner of the world beautiful.    

So here I was minding my own business, looking for this and that to complete the look in my bedroom. Enter this really cool Laura Ashley non-electric chandelier...... this just showed up while I was searching the site... LOVE it.... and yes I had to give myself a talking to as I was LOOKING for a lighted chandelier when I popped out to the L A site. There goes that "flitting from one place to another habit" that I have...

But then I ran into a great lighted chandelier at the shop owned my future daughter-in-law's mother. Feather Your Nest is a fun little shop in the center of a small town in Ohio, and I could accessorize most of my home from the fun stuff on the shelves.

Now I just have to figure out how to pay for one of these chandeliers and I will be a happy, happy gal... :o) HMMMM so when has lack of cash ever stopped me..... So stick with me on the journey for more fun stuff for my safe haven....

Until next time.

Kim

The Name Game.....

NO not the nasty name calling of our childhood days.... I am talking about paint colors, or fabric colorway names or any other way that designers can get a fancy and funky name to describe their latest creation. I used to say that I wished I could be one of those creative folks locked in a rubber room coming up with the names....oasis tan, passionate pink, puddle grey... ok, so I wouldn't have been that great at it.... but still, WHAT FUN!!!

All of this leads me up to my paint choices for the little cloverleaf table mentioned in a couple of past posts. Thanks to everyone that weighed in on the color choice thru blog comment, email, or in person.

AND the winner is...........drum roll please..... Burgundy 1...

And here is a peak back at my choices to refresh your memory.  The Elusive Blue is the choice for the walls in my  bedroom and with all the other small pink accents, I thought (and many of you did too) that the lightest pink would be the best choice. OK, not to be outdone, the other most selected choices were Spaqua (light aqua) and York Beach (the deeper and greyer blue).

Instead of fading into oblivion, never to see the light of day in MY home, the York Beach will find its way to the little table I got for $5 from a presale at a friends garage sale. And believe me that Spaqua will make it to some kind of touch in my living/family room at some point.... Time to go thrifting and flea marketing I guess to find a home for Spaqua.

Stay tuned as those colors may appear soon in a blog near you.

But first, I am off to pick up painting supplies to start in the kitchen today. Another fine color choice called Seagull Beach from Valspar. The complement to that in the living/family room will be Warm Fog (also Valspar from Lowe's) but that is for another day.

Until next time, be blessed.

Kim

Writing a note.....

to God. Today I find myself depending on my faith more than any other time in my life..... Which led me to the song Note to God..... I have loved this song and the artist (Charice) since seeing her sing it on Oprah. It is on my iPod playlist and now I found this on line........Note to God

Do you ever think about writing a note to God? Maybe it is time!!!! I know it is for me.

If I wrote a Note to God
I would speak what’s in my soul
I’d ask for all the hate to be swept away,
For LOVE to overflow

If I wrote a note to God
I’d pour my heart out on each page
I’d ask for war to end
And For Peace to mend this world

I’d Say,
Give us the strength to make it through
Help us find love because love is over due
And it seems like so much is going wrong

On this road we’re on.
If I wrote a note to God
I’d say please help us find a way
End all the bitterness
Put some tenderness in our hearts

And I'd say,
Give us the strength to make it through
Help us find love because love is over due
And it looks like we haven’t got a clue
Need some help from you

Grant us the faith to carry on
Give us hope when it seems all hope is gone
Cause it seems like so much is going wrong
On this road we’re on

no….
We can’t do this on our Own
If I wrote a note to God

Where we began.....

Isn't it amazing how life takes twists and turns bringing us right back to where we began?

One of the most wonderful names I have ever been called is "Mom", as I was blessed with two beautful children... children that I loved, held when they cried, cuddled during thunderstorms, played with and just plain enjoyed raising.

Then a few years ago, those little ones grew up, moved away and began life out on their own. Sometimes it does get lonely, but I don't consider mine an 'empty' nest. I have just filled my little world with more friends and new interests... all those things that I didn't have time to try out when I was busy being a mom.

And now, I stand on the verge of having my parents join me back in the nest they originally created almost 52 years ago. I am not sure they will take that leap, but I am preparing my home, my life and my mind for this possible twist that is coming my way.

I know God has a plan, and if this is a part of it, I welcome it with open arms...... and I KNOW He will prepare me (as well as expect me to prepare) for whatever is to come......

Be blessed.

Until next time....

Kim