Good Morning From Pleasant Chapel

I love the morning view from here on Pleasant Chapel. A very similiar sky greeted the girls when they came this morning. As I stood on the front porch with them looking at the scene, with arms raised to the sky I exclaimed, "Look what God is greeting us with this morning"! The way I see it God could have done this all in black and white....but instead...he painted this from his pallette and then installed these receptors in eyes called rod and cone cells to give our brains a more vivid look at his handiwork.

A Big 61st Birthday Hug

The girls made grandma's day with a birthday cake with 61 candles (one "6" and one "1" lit candle) and a dozen red roses. Cards and calls made it a great occasion.

Morning Routine

I love the time I get to spend with the girls in the mornings. Here we are looking at scrapbook pictures of family vacations.

The Most Wonderful Person I Know!

44 Years ago by God's providence, I looked across room 101 D Of Junior Building at Newark High School and saw Pat Williams. She was wearing a plaid kilt skirt, white blouse and wore blue and white framed glasses. I asked her out and we started dating. 44 years, 4 children, 6 grandchildren and a lot of life experiences later, she continues to be my very best friend and life companion. On the eve of her 61st birthday I have chosen to share about her on this blog to all who might see it. I chose this combination of pictures because they represent two moments in time that paint a small picture of who she is. The first picture was taken this morning as she was combing Addy's hair before feeding her breakfast and hugging her out the door to catch the school bus. It is one of the most endearing qualities about her. She is so selfless. She is constantly thinking and serving the needs of her family and others. This is obvious to me on a very daily....almost hourly basis. Take today for instance. She got up and had coffee for me when I came to the kitchen, greeted and hugged the girls when they arrived, prepared breakfast for all of us, made calls to arrange for her Father and the whole family to get together when Meg and David arrive for a stay, prepared lunch for a visiting old friend of mine from Longaberger etc etc. She is the queen of Hospitality! She has been my close companion as over the years we have taken some very hurting people into our home, sometimes for months at a time to help them heal from very deep wounds. She has given thousands of hours to the needs of others through church, Heartbeats and anonymously doing things that if I spelled them out in this blog she would shoot me! She is The Good Samaritan. She "goes to where they are", "gives first aide", and "brings them to the Inn and makes them comfortable". She makes all who are around her....comfortable!
I chose the second picture because it shows another side of Pat that I dearly love! She so knows how to make those of us close around her feel her love. She communicates her joy of life in 10,000 ways. The picture says it all. I love her with all my heart.

The View From On Top

The girls enjoyed this view looking west from on top of the Newark Courthouse.

A Rare View

Our life adventure took us to the top of the Newark Courthouse during the Christmas season. Here are Zoe and Addy getting ready to pop out the top of the courhouse for a spectacular view of Newark not many people get to see!

Spinning

Bob's advice to me before climbing on this "steed" was simple. "It's your workout!" So sure enough like a lot of things on this planet you get out of it what you put into it. Here I am putting my body on the line.

Spinning

As you know if you've tuned into this blog .....I'm commited to losing weight. So I asked friends and members of the Advantage Club for tips on the subject. One answer...get into a "spinning class". Soooooo...., expecting a spinning class was going to be filled with little old ladies....you know....SPINNING..... and certainly manageable.......Instead I got BOB....the spinning Drill Seargent. In the 45 minute class he takes us up hills and down, sprints and has us crank this little knob down which doubles the difficulty! and.......you sweat and think your going to die! But...I've got this train turned around and have dopped 4 pounds. That may not seem like much but at least I'm headed in the right direction!....thanks to BOB!

Reflections on Our Children

Tonight Wes and Cheryl invited us over for supper. As I began to pray for the meal...... I was overwhelmed by a "WOW" factor. As I began to mouth the words, "Our father....."
I had an overpowering sense of how much I love my kids. ......ALL....OUR KIDS!

They share a lot in common. The same Mother and Father.....OK....that is pretty obvious....but there is more. All 4 are good cooks; have picked wonderful companions; would do anything for each other; do a lot for their parents including communicating their love on a regular basis; enjoy life; get along; have great smiles (as evidenced in this picture) and have made their Father and Mother very proud. For as many attributes as they have in common there are many more qualities that are unique to each one individually. They have transitioned from being our children to dearest and forever friends. Pat and I love them dearly and unconditionally!

Sunday Summation

This is the first post I have made without a picture but I want to remain consistent in getting my thoughts out there in cyberspace for the world to see...and as part of my legacy. I've thought through my motive for doing this bloging thing and there are a number of factors including but not limited to the following:
- It's a way of staying in touch with my family and those interested in my life as I am interested in theirs
- I enjoy reading the blog sites of others in my realm especially my children so I feel the need to "contribute" to the celestial dialog
- It helps me process the "stuff that really matters" in my life
I have had a very good day today.

SPIRITUALLY - I thorougly enjoyed this morning's church service on the importance of connection....to God...to others. It's all about relationships down here on the planet!

MENTALLY - This concludes about the 10th email or posting I have made to contribute to projects I am involved with that I think are important.

PHYSICALLY - After church I went to the Advantage Club where I multi tasked by working out all during the time I watched the Pittsburg/Indianopolis NFL game. I have lost 4 pounds on the week and our team has lost 26.3 pounds! I am feeling noticeably better and look forward to the prep work I must do this week to ready myself for the presentation of a 7 Habits class for the Clow water Company on Friday, a Church Leadership meeting and Marriage retreat coming up soon. And so as the ol clock prepares to strike 12 and I retire to our quarters....I bid you all a fond good night.

"Good night Mrs. Calabash....wherever you are..... "

(You win a prize if you can tell me who used to say that at the end of his television show!)