I'm Back! Hunting for Dish Towels

Not sure for how long, but I had an overwhelming urge to vent and this seems to be as good a place as any.After 31 years of marriage, our dish towels are in a sad state of affairs. If they are not stained or discolored, they are shredding at the sides. So the hunt for new dish towels is on. My kitchen is a very neutral navy blue, with splashes of red, I guess, in the wall paper border. So I assumed I would happily trot to the store and buy navy towels, or at least some shade of blue. (Red bleeds too much and you have to do a separate load).
Not so fast. After going to 4 stores, I became aware that the colors of the hour are orange, green, brown and yellow. Yuck. Throw backs to my childhood. I would have kept my mother's towels if I wanted those colors. I think it is a conspiracy to have you change your color scheme. I like my navy and red. I could go with white- but that would would be boring and the only size they had at ANY store were "bar towels". When did that come in vogue? I suppose sometime in the last 31 years when I was using my shredded towels. I even asked my friends where to get towels. I went to all the suggested stores and all I can figure is that they have the "in" color scheme.
So if anyone happens to come across any blue or navy cute towels, let me know where to find them. Or I have to keep using my shredded, stained ones for 31 more years.

Traveling

Just realized a few days ago that we have off school for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. Wanted to make a quick trip to Ohio for my mother-in-law's birthday, but my husband has to work. The girls couldn't go, so I started thinking I had to do something with my 3 day weekend. I haven't seen my dad in Arizona for over a year and a half- so I called our travel agent and asked if she could get a better price than what I got on the internet. She couldn't- but she went ahead and booked the flight anyway, telling me that I HAVE to go- coming from one who didn't have her parents anymore. She said if she could have a chance to see her parents for that much, she would go. So I am going!!! This is very unlike me to be spontaneous and spur of the moment. I just felt nudged to go, and bless Jan's heart- she confirmed it.
So off to Phoenix for the weekend- I leave home at 4 am Sat. and hope to arrive back by 2 am Tuesday- using every minute I have off! Planning on going to bed early tonight!!
It's hard to put a price tag on being with those you love. It's a stretch right now for us for the ticket, but when would it not be? I am thankful I have the time, got a great price, and am going to spend the weekend with my parents.
What have you been wanting to do? What is holding you back? When was the last time you were spontaneous?

Happy State

Just read the headlines on comcast.net that Indiana is not a happy state. They rank the top 15, I have no idea how unhappy a state we were. However, where my son lives, Utah, is the number one happy state. Figures. If I could wake up to mountains everyday, a town that goes to bed at 9 p.m., and beautiful 70 degree weather for a lot of the year, I'd be in a happy state also. I'm glad he gets to enjoy that.
My Cleveland brother texted me yesterday. "Keep the snow, we don't want it." Cleveland generally gets our southern Indiana weather a day later. (But we don't get the lake effect.)
I told him we had rain and high winds, but no snow. Yet. He replies, "Why do we live here?".
I have asked myself that countless times. One, jobs. Two, comfort level of not having to move every couple of years. I absolutely loved living in Colorado, and would love to be in that climate again, but reality is 4/5 of my family are right here in Bloomington. And I love my neighbors, workmates, church, and the town in general. It is hard enough being so far from our eldest, and I wouldn't want to be that far while we still have one here in college. Once the chicks are all hatched and settled in their own life, (and we have Obama insurance or other portable coverage), we can consider moving to where we really like to live.
Until then, we will continue to live in a not happy state according to comcast. But in our minds we are in the perfect state for us at this time in our journey.
You can be in a happy state and be miserable, proably as easily as living in a sad state and being happy. Make sense?
Share what state you living in.

December already?

I have a little calendar on the side of my computer for reference. The other day ( or so it seemed, I leaned over to look at a date and low and behold it was on August. So I tore off the next three months and had them sitting on my desk to remind me how time flies. Not that I need to be reminded. So yesterday, I went to check it again and it was still on November. How could I miss 4 months of time just flying by? I don't like this.I try to savor each moment, yet the moments are fleeting. So I shall rip off one more page of 4 weeks, 30 days, 720 hours, 43,200 minutes, (I don't want to think about the seconds) and look forward to a month filled with the love of Christ, family and friends. I am so excited that we have been able to make plans to go to our beloved vacation place for Christmas and have our whole family together. We haven't seen my son and his soon to be fiance since last Christmas. What are your plans? How will you celebrate the greatest gift we have all been given? One thing I plan on doing is moving my calendar.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Short note to wish all my blogging buddies and readers a blessed Thanksgiving. "Tom" the turkey is awaiting his stuffing in the fridge, thanks to some dear friends who gave him to us. We have made plans to eat with our good friends across the street. Love to all, enjoy, and remember Who we are thankful to!

Game Day- Bucket Game

It's 7:30 a.m. and already the sentries at at their posts. One lone tailgate is going on in the parking lot. Barricades are up to eventually corral the masses into their appropriate parking spot. Townies not gong to the game must remember which way to go or NOT to go on game day. One wrong turn and you could be miles out of your way to your destination.

Kickoff is eight hours away, yet the worker bees are buzzing around getting things prepared. Golf carts meander through the parking lots. Tents are being set up. Ah , the excitement of Big Ten Football at its best. The arch rivals IU and Purdue will play this afternoon . The sun is a huge golden ball in the sky, promising awesome football weather this afternoon.

Yesterday at school, we had a breakfast tailgate wearing our team's colors, or paraphernalia. I wore a new "Take the Bucket" t-shirt and took an official IU jersey for a colleague to wear. What fun. I do have to say, I wore my black and gold Keens ON MY FEET to represent my alma mater in a small, insignificant way. Other than that it is IU all the way.

We have nine people coming for the game- more on that later. Sloppy joes are made, cheesy potatoes will be soon. Nothing better than a fire at home after the game and some yummy food. Other than a win. Go Hoosiers- update at 11.

Blessings, Blessings, Blessings!!!

My sister had recommended a book on fasting that I read recently. Two co-workers and I decided to try it one lunch a week and focus the time on prayer for our families and school. We chose Wednesdays as that is the middle of the week. About 10:30 that morning, I got a text from my daughter saying she had been hired as a teacher's aide! We had been praying for a position that would provide benefits as she is nearing the age when she will no longer be on our health insurance. Praise!

We have taken a family trip to Florida the last five Christmases. We no longer buy presents, we make a memory. Funds are very tight this year as my husband had been unemployed for eight months, but we still wanted to make it happen. We decided to drive, saving lots on airlines, parking, rental car, etc., but we still have to pay for lodging. When my husband made the reservations, they offered to waive the 25% Christmas week additional fee! He didn't even ask! Praise!

I had a conversation with another colleague who said that whenever she had made decisions stepping out in faith not knowing where the money would come from, she always received an unexpected check or money to help cover the costs. I told her I would claim that also, thinking I don't know of any unexpected money that could come our way, but I would trust it would happen. I then went home and opened the mail and WOW! There was a letter saying I had received a one hour tuition credit for a grad class that I am taking- $335 worth!! Praise!

Later that evening I received and unexpected phone call from a friend of ours who owns a sheep/turkey farm. He had asked if I bought my turkey yet for Thanksgiving. I hadn't. He said he had one ready and waiting for me at the farm if I could come pick it up on Sunday. (These are amazing home grown $3.89 a pound turkeys that melt in your mouth). PRAISE!!!

Some people may call these coincidences. I call them God-incidences. His hand was all over each of those blessings and I don't think it was chance that had them all happen the same day.
Now I don't believe that every time I choose to fast that miraculous things will happen. But I do think that God wanted me to know that he was hearing us and appreciated our efforts at spending time with him in lieu of eating lunch.

How has God blessed you lately?