Weekend Warrior

Hi Sweet Friends

I didn't exactly mean to take a blog break

But I've been sick and

Just didn't have the energy to blog at night

I'm hopefully on the mend

But now my little man cub is sick - Yuck!!

It seemed that on Thursday

When I had the pleasure

Of hanging out with all three of my K's

They didn't really enjoy their swimming adventure

Ummm...Yeah

The pool has been empty for a month or two

It wasn't really my plan

But getting sick wasn't really my plan either

So...

What bit of energy I have had

Has gone to cleaning and maintenance work

On all of the pool equipment

Which included replacing a few of the

In ground cleaning jets

Sweeping and Vacuuming the bottom of the pool

Dodging water jets

While making sure every bit of dirt

Sand, rocks and leaves were OUT

Then, before I could fill the pool

I needed to replace the hose nozzle

It was so very old and worn

That I ended up soaked when I just

Wanted to water a few plants

It was fairly simple

And I'm glad it is done

No more spraying myself in the face

One more thing I needed to get done

I'll spare you all of the ugly details

It took longer than I had hoped

I guess I was more than tired

But it is done as well

And for that

I am Grateful

Because

I Truly wanted to enjoy THIS today

It was great to have the kids and grands

Over for a few hours to

PLAY

Hard Word definitely

Deserves PLAY

I do pray you have enjoyed your Memorial Day Weekend

Even in the midst of work and play

It has been my honor to take time

To stop and pray

To thank and remember

Those who have selflessly

Risked and Given their lives

For our freedom

May we Never Forget the Sacrifices so many have given

Blessings

Sea Glass and A *Winner*

Hello Sweet Friends

I hope you have enjoyed a Beautiful Weekend

And all the Blessing of Family and Friends

I mentioned last month that I was on the hunt

For Sea Glass

I had received a piece from a friend of a friend

Who lives on The Islands

And sent a special little piece of sea glass to me

It started my little obsession with sea glass

I guess because it reminds me so much

Of my childhood, living so close to the beach

I had a couple of blog friends

Who said they would send me pieces of sea glass

Friday I received a Very Special Package from

Valery Anne in Hampshire England

Valery Anne and I shared a few emails

She said she had many pieces of sea glass

And she wanted to share a few with me

Oh My

Was I surprised when this beautifully

Hand Created Box came filled with

Gorgeous pieces of sea glass and a few miniature shells

Not only did Valery Anne Bless me

With a wonderful assortment of Sea Glass

She also made the adorable box to keep it safe

While being shipped across the pond

Valery Ann Blogs at Valery Anne Designs

And Butterfly Challenge

She is very creative and talented

I am So Very Grateful for the Blessing of this

Beautiful Assortment of Sea Glass and Shells

They will be kept on display in my Beachy Office

And Now

The Winner of my 8 ~ 800 ~ GiveAway

Noreen who blogs at Life Blessings

Noreen has become a dear blogging friend

And it seems only fitting that she would be announced

As the winner on the day I posted about Sea Glass

Because it was her friend who sent me my

Very first piece from Hawaii

Noreen, Congratulations

I'll have your package in the mail on Monday!

If you have a few spare pieces of Sea Glass

They sure would have a great new home with me

May you have a week Blessed

With JOY!!

8 ~ 800 ~ GiveAway

Hi Sweet Friends

You have heard it said:

'The older we get, the faster time flies'

I tend to agree

I have been blogging for 8 years this month

And today is my 800th post

Though my blogging has taken many twists and turns

I have met so many wonderful friends

Over that time span

To Celebrate

I'm giving a few things away

Many of you are beginning to put your

Patriotic decorations together

Since Memorial day is soon

As well as Flag Day

And Independence Day

I thought I'd put together a little

Patriotic Give Away

Everything in this post is being

Packaged up and sent out to one lucky winner

2 dish cloths

4 Flag note cards with envelopes

1 scented sachet

1 cute red clock

How can it be shipped to you

Well, just leave a comment on this post

I'll randomly draw 1 winner on Sunday evening

That's it!

Thank you for sharing 1 post or 8 years

With me as we all navigate Life together

You are my inspiration and encouragement

Blessings to YOU

Remembering 35

Hello Sweet Friends

Although I have been working very hard

During this past year to

Move forward with my life

And allow the past to rest

Today is just one of those days

That pull on my heart strings

And make me pause to remember

30 years of

Live, Love, Laugh

Today would have been our 35th

Wedding Anniversary

And I miss him as much today

As the day he moved up to heaven

Our favorite saying was

Through it all: FAITH

No matter what we faced

(And it was a lot)

We had Faith to believe

God would see us through

He Did

And...He Still Does

Give your people

Just one more hug

One more kiss

One more time to say I Love You

One more Smile to brighten their day

Today my heart remembers

And is grateful for the years we did have

Blessings Abound

Me: A Procrastinator?

Hello Sweet Friends

Thank you for sharing your time with me

If you have read my blog

For any amount of time

You have seen me acknowledge many times

That I LOVE MY JOB

And that is the truth

"Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor."

from William Cowper's poem, "The Task" (1785)

Variety: It's why I love my job

However,

There is 1 task that I avoid and truly struggle to complete

Fortunately, I only have to tackle it once per year

I do procrastinate when it comes to this task

In fact, today was the day to complete it

And in the process

I realized that I avoided it all together last year

Storage

Packing up and hauling last years important papers

Down to the unit

Everything must come out

Be rearranged to put the new stuff in the back

So the older boxes can be hauled back to the office

For shredding

It's complete

For another year

And I'm thankful

My back believes I'm getting to old for this job

Hmmm...

Heating pad or ice tonight???

And

Although I'm quite tired

My nephew was playing his first ever

Baseball playoff game

So...

Of course Auntie had to go watch him hit

And catch

Or

Maybe watch the ball slide right between his legs

*wink*

A good and productive day

How has your week been going

I'd love to share in your joys

And accomplishments

Or pray for your needs

Blessings to you

Sweet Finds

Hello Sweet Friends

And Happy Weekend!!!

I thought I'd share a few treasures I have found in recent days

You may know I have been on the hunt

For Sea Glass

I still just have that one special piece

Well, today I took a mental health day

Went to a couple of my favorite shops

I was getting tired and almost didn't stop at the last place

But alas, I was close and it called my name

I am SO happy that I went it

Because, right as I walked in the door

I spied two sweet little jars

Filled with sea glass

Be Still My Heart

Since I had my 'April Showers - Bring May Flowers'

Discount flower with me

I bought both jars

Win~Win

I also picked up this little #2 fishing weight

To go with my #3

Love them hanging in my beachy office

I have never purchased a calendar plate

However, this one called my name

1981, the year I was married

Red Transferware, my favorite color

Yes, Please!

A Happy piece that I will treasure

$5

A couple weeks ago I found this beauty

At a garage sale

I usually try to find #3

But I wasn't about to pass up this piece for $30

It sits beautifully on my kitchen counter

Next to my Magnolia Crock

And I found one more Treasure

Yesterday

In My Mailbox

No, it not sea glass

But this sweet, sweet mug and gift card

A mother's day gift from a far away friend

Whom I am growing to love more and more

She has blessed my heart several times

And when I found this, well, I cried

This blogging day mug will be used daily!!

Thank you Dear Friend!!

There you go

Some sweet treasures that have been added to my little abode

A happy mental health day

And a fun weekend ahead

God is Good

I pray that YOU are blessed this weekend

Whether you are a mom or not

Whether you have a mom or not

I'm sure you know a mom

I'm praying you are blessed with good weather

Sweet family and friends

Great food, lots of relaxation

And all of God's Best

Blessings, Cindy

Sharing Joy

Hello Sweet Friends

I'm so happy you decided to stop by

Your visits always brighten my day

I thought I'd just share a couple of happy moments

Below is my Matthew

At 30 years old

He has been offered a job

And he is loving it

He started a couple of weeks ago

Here he is with his first pay check

He was so very excited

Believe me - it is already spent

But, he is SO happy

His bus picks him up at 6:30 am

And returns him home between 3:00-4:00 pm

Five days a week

He is tired - but he finally feels like he is doing

Something important

I'm thrilled for him

Congratulations Matthew

During the 21 years I have lived in my home

My family has been helped out by our local

Fire station 38 on numerous occasions

One day a fire truck pulled up to our front curb

Out jumps my oldest son

After the panic ended

The guys take my son's bicycle off the truck

Follow by a full sheet of plywood

Yep, he was trying to carry the plywood home

While riding his bike

(They picked him up and gave him a ride home)

They showed up the morning my husband passed

It was Christmas Eve

They didn't care - they were here for me

They have hauled my fluffy little self to the ED

A few times when my heart has given me fits

In the middle of the night

They have also assisted my youngest

Numerous times during the past couple of years

As he has battled mental illness and cutting

For those many reasons

And more

The guys at Station 38

Received several boxes of snacks today

And a heartfelt Thank You

From Me

Cannot thank them enough

But taking the time to acknowledge them

Is a Joy~filled Moment

Because my love language is Gifts

I find planning, creating, and putting together gifts

Gives me such Joy

Of course I love to receive too

But, like we always here

 It is Better to Give than to Receive

I Agree

What is YOUR love language?

What makes you tic?

Blessings to you