Why I'm Happy this Friday ~ My Favorites of the Week

This sunny Friday afternoon, I’m checking in to say hello and take just a few minutes to remember some of the good things that happened this past week.

Just another sunny Friday afternoon in Arizona.

It’s been a good and productive week.  We’ve managed to juggle transportation issues to get three people to three different locations every day with only two cars.   We’ve made progress is getting Josh ready for his mission.  I’ve stayed mostly on top of all the grading and assignments in my classroom this week, the house is in a reasonable state of cleanliness and order, everyone has clean clothes in their closet, the refrigerator and pantry are stocked and we’ve managed to have a hot meal every night this week.  

The huge soccer field in the park where we walk ~ filled with water about three feet deep after Monday's rainstorm.

Another view of the soccer field/swimming pool after the record breaking rain storm.

It’s been cooler here in Phoenix this week.  We had a major rainstorm on Monday here in the Phoenix area and along with it came major flooding.  Maybe you saw or heard about it on the news. It was the most rain the Valley of the Sun has ever gotten in one day. Ever. History making.    The rain cooled things down quite a bit and even though the air was more humid for a couple of days, temperatures below 100 this time of year are nice.

A full-moon on the left and the Gilbert Temple on the right ~ a view from one of our evening walks in the park.

Even with the rain, I’ve been able to walk every night this week ~ some nights with my husband and some nights with my son.  I’ve walked 9.4 miles so far this week (Sunday ~ Thursday).  I also started using my new walking shoes which helped my feet feel better. I wear out walking shoes about every three months.

The books I finished this week.

I finished reading three books this week.  It’s pretty amazing what a person can do when she limits time online.

Flags commemorating each victim of the 9/11 attacks were placed on the east lawn of the high school where I teach.

The students were respectful and left the flags untouched throughout the day.

September 11, 2001 was a horrendous day, or course, but I felt like the remembrances this year were fitting and respectful.  At school, our principal said a few words and then the entire school said the Pledge of Allegiance, then had a moment of silence to remember those who died.  There were 2,996 mini-American flags placed on the east lawn of the school grounds and they remained undisturbed by the students.  I showed a brief, but powerful video clip from You Tube in all of my classes and was pleased with the ensuing discussion. Although the teens I teach were too young in 2001 to remember much of what happened, they seemed to realize the importance of the day in the modern history of this nation and the world.   They were more interested, engaged and respectful when speaking about the events of 9/11 than any group of teens I have taught in the past few years. 

This weekend we will probably be occupied with more shopping and outfitting for Josh's mission. We are slowly but surely getting everything he is going to need.   There will also be laundry and ironing to be done.  Some general yard and pool cleaning and maintenance is on the list and Charly is planning to do some more painting.  I am hoping to spend a few minutes catching up with my favorite blogs! Sunday will be our peaceful respite from the busyness of the rest of the week.

Joining again this Friday with Susanne of Living to Tell the Story and Lisa at Home to 4 Kiddos.

Seasons

This scripture from Ecclesiastes is one of my favorites.  It tells us that our lives will not always the same day after day, month after month and year after year.  Events happen in the world, in our families and in our own lives.  Changes occur.  People we love die or leave and go far away.  New people come into our lives.  Our bodies grow older,  Our health gets worse or it improves.   Change is inevitable.  Nothing stays unchanged for long.

Change can be good, or it can be bad.  It can be easy or difficult to deal with.  It can create anxiety and stress or joy and happiness.  Often it creates all of the above.  

Right now, our family is moving from one season of life into another.  Charly and I have had children in our home for over 33 of our 35 year marriage.  Now, within a short time, it will just be the two of us again.  Meanwhile, our youngest is transitioning from boy to man.  He is learning that with adult choices and actions, comes adult responsibility.  We are learning how to help him this important lesson because all of our children are different and a lesson easily learned by one, is not so easily learned by another.  We are also learning to ask for and rely on the power of faith and prayer as well as the love and support of friends and family.

In the midst of the changes and lessons and moving from one season to another, I am finding myself more and more anxious, stressed and exhausted when I should be happy, joyful and energized.  

Because of this, I have decided to step back from my blogging a bit for the time being.  I need to concentrate on other things just now. This doesn't mean I am leaving my blog or will never post again. What it does mean is that I will probably not be posting as often.  I hope to still visit the blogs I enjoy reading, make comments and keep in touch with online blogging friends I have made over the past several years.  I just may not visit and comment every day, or as often as I have been. My focus will be on the face-to-face every day relationships of family and friends.

I hope to be back spending more time in "blog land" again in a few weeks or months, but for now, there are other priorities I need to attend to.

I hope that my blogging friends will keep stopping by to make a friendly comment when I do have the time and energy to post.  I still enjoy sharing my world and seeing what is going on in yours, so I will be back ~ soon I hope.

Thanks to all of my friends for your understanding.

  

Happy Homemaker Labor Day Monday

With school back in session, I am not usually able to participate in Happy Homemaker Monday, but since I have the day off, I decided to take part.  Besides, it is a brand new month and I want to start it off right!

Breakfast time...on the plate this morning~

Whole grain cheerios and milk with a bowl of fresh blue berries and raspberries on the side.  I also had one oatmeal/peanut butter cookie from the goodie plate someone from church brought by yesterday.  I washed it all down with orange flavored zip fizz!

On the to-do list for today~

laundry (done)

ironing

helping Charly clean the pool (done)

shopping at Winco Foods and Walmart (done)

starting on Fleece blanket project ~ our church women have been asked to make fleece blankets for women at the local domestic violence shelter (very likely won't get done today)

Currently reading~

The Bible KJV ~ book of Genesis

The Book of Mormon ~ book of Helaman

Little Ways to Keep Calm and Carry On by Mark A. Reinecke, Ph.D.

Whom the Lord Loveth, The Journey of Discipleship by Neal A. Maxwell

500 Little-Known Facts in Mormon History by George A. Givens

On the TV today~

Nothing so far.  Hopefully, I will be able to find something interesting to watch while I iron later.

The weather outside~

Still hot, but cooling down a bit as the week goes on.

On the menu this week~

Monday ~ homemade pizza

Tuesday ~ left overs

Wednesday ~ meat loaf

Thursday ~ chicken sandwiches

When I had a few minutes to myself today I~

Wrote this post and visited other blogs

Read

Took a short nap

Spoke to both of my daughters on the phone

Went to half-price day at Savers and found a couple of books, two tops and a pair of pants for school.

From the camera~

This picture is not from my camera.  I am borrowing it from my daughter's blog, but is is so sweet, I just had to share.  These are my four grandchildren who live in Utah (including new baby sister less than a month old). The oldest three came for a surprise Sunday morning visit yesterday with their dad.  They have now gone home to Utah leaving sweet memories behind.  I love this picture.

Looking around the house~

I see that the downstairs bathroom (the one my son uses) could use a quick cleaning.  I have clothes drying in the back bedroom (my dryer room) that will need to be folded and put away when they are dry.  The rest of the house isn't too bad.  Of course we always seem to have more stuff on the kitchen island than I like to have there.  It seems to be our family "landing pad."

Visiting with blog friends~

I have been reading this blog a lot lately and really like what this guy has to say.  This post, which is about the current disgusting spate of Carl's Junior ads, was especially relevant, I thought, so please take just a minute to read it, and get involved if you feel so inclined.  Media has, in many cases, become an open sewer line into our homes and it is impacting all of us, especially our children.

Praying for~

my family, especially my son preparing to serve in Mexico

Scripture verse that is resonating with me~

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day.

~ Exodus 14:13

Thought for the week~

The thought for the week comes from my good friend Karen's blog, Life is Good.  She recently wrote about a challenge which her pastor, Dennis Leatherman, gave the members of the congregation ~ five things to do every day.  I thought this was a great challenge and I have now included these five things as part of my day. They are:

1.  Read the bible

2.  Pray

3.  Do an act of kindness

4.  Thank God for something specific

5.  Witness to someone or share the gospel

Joining again today with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.