101 in 1001

Today is day 365 of my 101 in 1001 effort. I read about this project on a blog last fall. It immediately appealed to me (being addicted to lists of any kind) and on December 1, 2010 I began my attempt at completing 101 items in 1001 days.

As of today I have completed 15 items. I have 27 items in progress. Yippee!

Along the way I have had to revise a few of my goals. I also get discouraged with thinking I'm not progressing fast enough. Then I stop and remember that I have 1001 days to complete all of this. Not just one year.

So, today I look ahead at the 636 days I have left. I'm excited to see what will get completed in the weeks and months ahead. And I'm celebrating what I managed to accomplish in the past 365 days. I am thoroughly enjoying this project. Sometimes I find myself thinking about what will could might be on my next attempt at 101 in 1001...

(You can track my progress by clicking on the "101 in 1001" tab at the top of my blog)

A Look Back... Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving at Katie's was wonderful! We met some members of Gabe's family we haven't met before and enjoyed catching up with his folks. Sunny was surprisingly calm for the day. She did a great job of paying attention to each and every person and didn't cling to anyone. I was impressed with her social skills! Other than missing JD and Janel dreadfully, it was a terrific day.

look who's standing!

 

Skye likes to pull Sunny's hair

so now Sunny doesn't like to be by her

they're giving each other the "evil eye"

Zach, Skye, Sunny, me, Thunder

Roberta and Katie

Gigi and Skye

Ashley, Zach, Gigi, Skye

Gramps and Grammy with the Grands

Jessica, Skye, Papa Carl

Uncle Danny and Robert watching the game

Cody, Gabe, Papa John

Happy Thanksgiving

We are so blessed!

Let's make an effort today to concentrate on those we love (instead of what we're gonna buy when we go shopping at midnight).

Let's pause today to thank God for the blessings He bestows on us daily.

Let's focus on all we have to be thankful for.

Let's have fun and relax!

Happy Thanksgiving

How To Shoot A Photo - Take One

Me: Say "Merry Christmas"

Sunny: Merry Christmas! (turns to look at Christmas tree)

Me: Say "Merry Christmas"

Sunny: Merry Christmas! (turns other way to look at Christmas tree)

Me: Say "Merry Christmas", but don't turn around!

Sunny: Merry Chri... CHEESE!

Me: Say "cheese"

Sunny: Cheese!

Katie had to run an errand, so she took Sunny with her and left Thunder with us for an hour. He is the

most handsome boy!

My Sweet Skye

Saturday we went down to Mesa to visit Zach, Ashley, and Skye. I hadn't seen their new apartment yet. It's so huge! They have so much more space than they did in their one bedroom unit. We went shopping at Tempe Market Place, ate lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, and then did a little more shopping.

After leaving them, Dan and I ran over to Attic Needlework shop. I bought some patterns, and some thread. Santa bought me a pair of scissors and a needle keep for my stocking. We had a fun time!

Skye is getting so grown up. She can crawl now! She also can pull herself up into a standing position. I guess it won't be long until she can walk. She is so sweet. I'm amazed that she's so friendly with us since she doesn't see us very often. I always like it when we can work things out to see her more than once in a relatively short amount of time. We'll see her on Thursday so that will be good.

our official eight month photo

me with my baby and his baby

"ok, that's enough pictures, Grammy"

"no really, I mean it! I'm done."

This Week at Grammy Daycare

This week I had both kids on Monday & Tuesday. I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Singing "E-I-E-I-O" with Clifford

Camping out with Clifford, Mickey, Minnie

Hanging out with Gramps

Chilling out

Sunny and Gramps eating pretzels while Thunder enjoys afternoon snack

Our official four month photo

SSMT #22

Wow, has this year flown by. Here's my pick for the 22nd verse to be memorized. Yes, they're getting shorter and shorter... hmmm. Guess that's all my little brain can handle. However, no matter their length, the verse represents something I need to have emblazoned on my brain.

Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

I Shouldn't Be Surprised... But I Was

So, today Jessica and I ran a few errands together. We stopped at Ross (nothing I couldn't live without there), Barnes & Noble (cross another person off my Christmas shopping list), Target (got a stocking stuffer for Gabe), and then headed off to Michaels. On the way Jessica remarked that she wanted to look for a Nativity at Michaels. I told her I hadn't seen Nativities there for years. But it wouldn't hurt to ask.

We get to Michaels and start looking around. A young sales associate walked past and I asked "Do you have nativities?" SA: "What?". Me: "Are you selling Nativities?" SA: "I don't know what that is." Me: "A Manger Set". Jessica: "You know, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph". SA: "Do you mean this?" (pointing to Christmas Village pieces). Me: "No, never mind". (Lady in aisle behind us is laughing).

We wander off and in a few minutes the Manager approaches us. Mgr: "Can I help you find something?" Me: (warily) "Do you sell Nativities?" Mgr: "Yes! We have them this year after not selling them for several years. Please tell your friends. If they come buy them then maybe we can sell them again next year!" As we're looking at the nativities, I relayed to him quietly our experience with the SA. He commented that "maybe she's not Catholic" (I wanted to say, well neither am I). I explained that I don't think she should be reprimanded, but it might be a good idea to show her what a nativity/manger scene looks like. He agreed.

Oh yeah. We each purchased a nativity set just so maybe Michaels Stores will be allowed to sell them next year too.

11.11.11

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be your to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Major John McCrae

second in command of the 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery

during the Second Battle of Ypres in April, 1915

a sunny day with thunder

I had two visitors yesterday at Grammy's Daycare. It is fun to watch Sunny begin to interact with her brother. It is not fun to try to get a decent picture of her doing it. Here's a few snapshots of yesterday.

He loves to watch what she's doing

finally... a smile!

"hello monkey..."

"Grammy, I am SO done with tummy time"

"what is this thing and how did it get in my hand?"

One of the Reasons I Enjoy Blogging and Bloggers

Truth be told I have been down for several months. I know why I'm down and the reason is purely selfish. Because I recognize that I'm selfish, I feel guilty. Because I feel guilty, I purposely concentrate on all of the blessings in my life and how they should offset the one disappointment I have. I do well at that level, until I feel down again.

Yesterday I read a blog post that reminded me that circumstances change. I'm caught up in the sadness now, but in a few months or a few years things will change and this sadness will be forgotten. It occurred to me that others may be in my situation. So I want to share this inspirational post.

I started reading Anneliese's blog quite a while ago, maybe even a year ago. She is one of the "Mennonite Girls Can Cook" girls. Although I don't know her personally, I feel like I know her. Her writing is very open and honest. Please check out her blog. The post I'm referring to is entitled "Reflections on an Emptier Fuller Life". What a great title. What words of wisdom. What motivation for me to pull myself up and get over being down.

Another Day With Sunny

putting a "necklace" on Rascal

the path of Hurricane Sunny

adding the animals from Noah's Ark to the Zoo

patty-cake, patty cake...

roll it...

and throw it in the oven...

A Timely Reminder

I came across this passage in the Bible the other day. I think maybe I posted about this a year or so ago. Whenever I read it I'm reminded of how I should be living. In fact, if I were living my life according to these principles, I'm sure I'd have less stress, less strife, more peace. Less fear, more confidence. Less disappointment, more joy. Since I can't possibly improve upon what these verses say, I'll just let them speak for themselves.

Romans 12:9-21 Love in Action
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
   “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Brrr...

It's gonna be cold here. For four days or so. We're expecting highs in the mid to upper 60s. They are actually warning people on the news. Today it will become incredibly windy around noon continuing into the evening hours. The warning is for dust storms to sweep up from the deserts to the south. Next up is the possibility of rain overnight. It RARELY rains in November. So this is a big deal.

But the most alarming news is the temps. They are forecasting a high of 65 degrees tomorrow. Brrrr. That is cold for Phoenix. All of the stores have stacks of bagged firewood out front. Portable heater displays are set up at Target and Walmart.

I am prepared. I have socks in my sock drawer just in case. I've also given Dan the heads up that he may have to remove the window fans from the windows. My swiffer duster is ready in case we have to turn the ceiling fans off (they've been on for six months straight, this will be a great opportunity to clean the dust off of them). And just to show you that this is serious... I put a blanket on our bed.

So, don't worry. No need to call and check up on me. I am prepared...

Four Generations Part 2

In October parts of our family gathered for new Four Generations photos. Since we've added two new babies to the bunch this year, I figured we'd better record the event. My friend Joanna, is the photographer. As always, her work is superb. I highly recommend her if you're in the market for professional photos. You can check out her website here. If you do, be sure to tell her I sent you!

Zach, Skye, Ashley

There's that sweet smile!

Four Generations

the Greats with Skye

This is what 57 years of marriage looks like

this is what 30 years of marriage looks like

cousins

Sunny, Katie, Thunder, Gabe

Four Generations

Sunny would not cooperate...

Papa and Gigi with Skye and Thunder

Grammy and Gramps with the grands

Three Generations

Isn't this the coolest photo?!