Weddings, arg!

Well gentle reader (I've stolen this title from Stephen King), I put my digits to keyboard again for your viewing pleasure and to share my thoughts.

This weekend has been about wedding plans: Donna's, now Lauren's (congrats again, sweet girl), and the renewal of my vows. It feels funny planning an event that had almost none the first time. Now I'm in the midst of marriage mania! I feel woefully inadequate to help Donna plan hers and I really haven't spent any time planning my event at all, and it comes two weeks before hers!

I keep waiting for divine inspiration and none is forthcoming, maybe it would help if I prayed about it. It kinda has me in a funk. Where is a person's fairy godmother when she needs her? Well I will get down on my knees and pray for guidance and wisdom. Only God is going to get me through this 'cause I'm failing as captain of this particular ship.

Thanks for lending your ear, I'm just a wee bit hormonal and in need of a swift spiritual kick.

Ta

Two weeks down 50 to go

This is the second week of the year-gone. Okay, it's only the 9th today, but if you are counting on a Monday through Friday basis, it's week two. And, it's my first week back to work, a rather productive one I might add even though I had a cold.

The first of the year is like waking up in the morning on a Saturday, the whole year is spread before me like a vista view. Anything and everything is still possible, it's fresh and new and makes me want to get down to some serious setting things to right. Don't worry, it usually goes away in a week or two.

I really don't have anything special to relate or impart. I'm not a sage or a prophet. No powerful words of import from the oracle Janet. Just trying to keep my blog from growing stale, like (cough-Donna's). But what is better, publish and bore or don't publish and perish? Who is to say which is right? Not I, gentle reader, not I.

Jumping into the New Year

2009. Yep, that's what it is. Seems like just yesterday we were bracing for Y2K. Yet here we are nine years later and the planet is still doing what it always has.

I'd make a resolution but it has always been my resolution not to. That way I can't break it, it's failproof. But I do make some decisions to better myself, my lot in life, and my spiritual walk. What are they, you ask? I'd tell you but then if I break them it would signal failure. Better just to keep them private.

I will say that I think 2009 is going to be a good year. Don't ask me how, I just think that no matter what goes down, the Blaisdell's will be blessed. I don't mean bad things won't happen, I mean that God is in control and that He will take care of us in all circumstances.

It will be a period of spiritual growth, of a deeper trust in God and his character. That we will grow to rely on Him and His strength rather than our own. I pray that the coming months will not be painful but unfortunately, pain is where the greatest growth comes from.

Anyway, blessings are coming, just keep a watchful eye out for them!

Crumpled wrapping paper and empty boxes

are all that are left of this Christmas. The gifts are not nearly as wonderful as the people who wrapped (or in Les' case plastic bagged) them. The true gifts that we receive is the intent behind the gifts that each person had when giving them. Not all are of pure intent, but all want their gifts to be appreciated. And I do appreciate the thought involved and the time the giver spent thinking about what to give me on the day we celebrate Christ's birth.

Because that's what it means to me, Christ was born and I'm the lucky recipient of the gifts we should be giving Him. So it doesn't REALLY matter all that much what exactly I get. Just that the person giving them to me wanted me to feel loved, whether they are a believer or not. And that to me is the greatest thing of all. We give to others so that they feel loved and that is what Christ calls us to do, love others. The cost, or size, or even how rare the gift is just doesn't matter, it's the physical representation of our love for them.

So I am blessed by everyone's love, but most especially by my Brother, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Christ.

Food, glorious food

This has been the weekend of grocery shopping and stocking up. Stocking up on regular supplies and doing some early Thanksgiving meal shopping. We went to Costco on Saturday and stocked up on supplies that only they can provide at such a good deal because it is in bulk. Bread, milk, antacids, salad, bagels, cream cheese, hamburger, the staples of life.

What's worse is we were almost out of toilet paper, down to our last two rolls! WAIT...can you hear that? It's a rhythmic thump, faint and muffled, but it's there. Hmm, what could it be...ahh, I know, it's my mother turning over and over in her grave. J/K My mom was cremated. But if she had been buried traditionally, it would definitely be happening. My mom got nervous when we got down to a six-pack of the stuff!

Then today we went to the commissary (Navy talk for the grocery store, for the un-militarized). They have even better deals and you don't have to buy in bulk. Let's just say, they've got almost everything a person could want or need there. Even frozen, un-fried green tomatoes for frying. Yep, they have fried apples in a jar. Not interested, how 'b0ut chitlins? Un-huh, they got it all, baby even turkey stock in a box. Oscar Meyer bun length turkey dogs (best turkey dog you can buy!) for $1.25 a package.

Anyway, so we've got the stuff home organized the pantries and put away everything, whew. I forgot just how tiring it was to a do a full scale stock up session. I always say I'm not gonna let it get that low and life happens and then I have to do it all over again.

Happily, I have tomorrow off and can rest up for my short work week, Yippie!

It's been a really long time

Okay, so it has been a really long time. I could go into it but it is boring. But as you can see (the date), it's practically Thanksgiving now. My birthday, Donna's, and Aaron's are long gone. I'd really like to say the weather has gone all chilly and nearly winter like but the sad truth is it has not. In fact, you might say it's like never ending summer lately. We have a cool day or two then it's right back to the awful hot, dry crud we've been experiencing since the end of September. Ugh!!! I am soooo sick of it too!

Hannah moved out mid-September, yet her box of junk and prom dress lives on here. She stopped by briefly on election night with promises of coming back that night to pick up her stuff. No dice, she never came back and her stuff still sits in our living room.

Weather not withstanding, we are getting geared up for the holidays, mentally if not physically. A new mailbox stands in the yard instead of reclining on a nearly horizontal post now. I'm sure the mailman is most grateful. We have to be careful with our cash this Christmas, no "Wouldn't be lovely to take all of our money, pile it up, and burn it!" Okay, maybe we don't do it but it feels like it every January when the bills come in. This year we are just going to have to be more careful on what we can't live without buying for our loved ones.

Well, this should appease the masses (Donna) that were complaining that I never post anymore. I really don't have much else to say, at least at the moment.

Ta ra

Summer's last hurrah

It's Labor Day weekend and I took Friday off as well to extend it. Fall is upon us, at least by the calendar if not by the weather. It's been rather hot and humid this weekend, we even had some rain on Saturday (August rain in Santee-rare event).

Jo and I shopped for her books for college on Friday (ouch!) and school clothes shopped Saturday and found plenty of clothes for her for less than $200. Oy, such a deal! We got Les a SDSU Dad t-shirt and he loved it, he's such a proud daddy. And I am a proud mom, so very proud of Jo and her accomplishments. But it's so much more than what she does, it's who she has become, all that I ever wanted and more than I ever imagined. Such a blessing.

So I'm sitting here nostalgic for the past school years, yet glad I'm off that particular merry-go-round. I'm still getting her ready for school, but it is more partner-like than as the head honcho. And the fact that I don't have to ride herd on her anymore leaves possibilities of what to do with all of that free time now.

Bible studies are popping up for the future, the ever present desire to go back to school (I will always want to be in school no matter how old I get) each fall. Thinking of the fall events: Donna's birthday, Aaron's birthday, Thanksgiving, Les' birthday-they are all anticipated and yet to be planned. Then on to the Granddaddy of holidays-Christmas and capping it off nicely will be Jo's birthday.

But for now, while it is still summer, I will rest in the knowledge that God has his plan and design for the future, my family's future and mine. Good plans, plans of growth and growing closer to Him. I welcome it, look forward to it, and am rather excited about it. Praise Jesus!