Dancin' and Hobblin'

I'm not the "dancer"....I'm the "hobbler".  I was on my foot WAYYYYYY to much Saturday and it got worse. So Sunday I stayed in bed basically all day. I missed church which I do not like to do. It just makes the day feel different. But I knew I needed to stay off of it. Today I'm back at work....hobbling around and resting it WHEN  I can! 


Darb is our Dancer. She was chosen by her dance instructor to do a performance at a Kansas Expo for Kansas Day. It was quite impressive if Momma must say so herself! Here's just a few pics for me to have documented!

She did her dance to Michael Buble's "Feeling Good"

 Darb and her dance teacher....she's darling!

One more tidbit! My #1 daughter is back to blogging....so check out her cute pregnancy pics! Her little doll baby is coming soon!!!!!!!!   Click here.

I'm Really Feeling Old!

My Friday did not start out so good. I got up at 6:00 a.m. to get my shower and then was heading downstairs. I did not turn on the staircase light and that was a huge mistake. I missed the bottom stair and down I went on the hard tile, twisting my right ankle. I think I must have made a lot of noise because my son who was in the shower HEARD me! Here came everyone! Yep, it began to swell immediately and I proceeded to C R A W L up the stairs. I was able to get dressed for work. Well, I would of crawled back in bed......but......... it was my group's day to bring food and I already had food in the oven and food ready to go out the door.  Plus it was our Kansas Day 151st Birthday Celebration and Parade at our school that our 3rd Graders host.  So with help.....I hobbled to school and got in my rolling chair with my foot up on my desk, ice bag on it and have nursed it along. It is still swollen and black and blue. 
I don't have the type of job where I can just "miss" work without a lot of preparation to be gone. Sometimes it's better and easier to just bite the bullet and GO! HA! My class was very helpful as well as my co workers. And it's Friday so that was good!
Luckily, I don't have huge weekend plans....Now I'm going to baby this along and get back to normal! I have it wrapped and it's a lovely color of blue and black.

But it sure makes me feel like I'm old and struggling when I can't even make it down the stairs without incident!

Can This Train Slow Down?

I feel lately like I'm on this runaway train and it is going at record speed! I don't like roller coasters or race cars or going fast....so this is not settling well with me!!!!!!
The past couple of weeks are too hectic for my taste! HA! It seems like since we got back to work from Christmas break, someone hit ACCELERATE!

Here are just a few things that caused it:
Refinancing business properties
Purging my house of junk
Re carpeting the entire upstairs
Moving furniture out
Moving furniture in
Helping #3 daughter work on college plans/scholarships/graduation plans
Dusting what has not been dusted in ..... yes.....years!
Purging
Getting my granddaughters nursery set up at my house
Dusting baby furniture that has not been used for 15+ years!
Painting
Purging
Hauling trash OUT of here like a crazy woman
Getting new bedroom furniture delivered 
Working on my #2 daughters July wedding plans
Planning a baby shower for #1 daughter
Working Monday through Friday 7:30 to 3:30 is getting in the way! HA! 
Helping my daughter finish up her nursery and Poppy Coach helped her paint her kitchen cabinets
Purging


My sister in law must have read my mind because she brought me a great devotional book to church to borrow! Living Simply by Joanne Heim. I've been reading it (whenever I get a minute!) and really enjoy it because it's easy to read and just pure and simple stuff! She has had quite a life and her health was affected greatly and changed her life since she has wrote this book. If you are not familiar with her blog, she is extremely inspiring. Check her out here.

So, I'm trying to do some reading and more devotional/scriptural reading to slow things down. Seeking God and his perfect wisdom is so so comforting. It is calming and just pure good. 

I've been reading some of your posts that are very inspiring and uplifting to me. It seems that I am not alone with stress and keeping busy and that we tend to let the everyday duties and demands take a toil on us. About the time in my work day when I find a quiet minute and I think I can focus on God and the peace of the moment, my classroom door flings open and a booming little voice yells, "Mrs. Madden....will you, can you, help me .... " and the moment is lost. Ha! 


I'm ready to hit the button for the "emergency" stop!

 

Then Sings My Soul - Book 3 by Robert J. Morgan....My First Book Review!

 

I love gospel music! I love the old songs a lot. It must be the stories behind them that touch me and pull at my heart strings. I would have loved to have met these creative people whether they are the author of the words or the composer of the music. I am deeply moved and inspired by them. 

SO............when I saw this book available to read....I was estactic! To get to read the history of these old, timeless, meaningful songs was a wonderful read for me! And the funny part...I hummed them as I read! It now resides on my bedside table but I can see it in my piano room or on my coffee table. Some of the songs were completely new to me and I had never heard of their titles or know their tunes, however, getting to read the stories behind them was such a treat and made me want to learn the hymn. I am a very novice pianist and will love getting to peck those new melodies out!

I would highly recommend this book! I have not read Book 1 or Book 2 but plan to get my hands on them. If you like Christian old gospel, spiritual music, then I really think you will enjoy this book. It's easy to pick it up and read about one song and put it down and come back later to read another one. This is a well written and documented book of the stories behind those songs that you remember as a young child. Robert Morgan has done a lot of research to gather these remarkable stories for all to enjoy. I'm giving this book a definite 5 Stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Christmas 2011

I'm a little belated on the Christmas recap, huh?  It was a wonderful holiday and Coach and I both thought extremely relaxing!


We spent Christmas Eve at home (after a mad last minute run to Walmart!....not a smart thing to do!) Lace, Darb, and I made candy, cookies, sugar this, sugar that! Yea....it was fun! Then we fixed soup and salad. Have you ever heard of The Machine Shed restaurant? The one we used to go to in KC is out of business but luckily before they did I got their Baked Potato Soup recipe card and it is soooooooo good. It was a quiet relaxing evening just watching football, movies, etc. NO presents....Haley and Cody weren't here yet!


Sunday was the Lord's Day so that seemed very "normal" and we did not do anything Christmasy before church. After church we came home and fixed sub sandwiches and did stockings and presents. Then we all napped! Everyone felt great and we began cooking supper....

Here are some random shots courtesy of Baby Rhea Photography!

Up and Coming

It has hit me the last few days that we have some fun and major happenings coming up in 2012 and I feel overjoyed and blessed just getting to think about them. 

In February we get to become Grandparents for the first time. I'm getting so excited and can't wait. I don't know what to expect. I know the love and joy and bliss I felt every time each of my 4 babies were born. And I've never adopted, but I can imagine those very same feelings are shared. There is nothing like a Momma's love.
So I just wonder what a Grandma's love must feel like.  

Then in May, my baby, oh my little Baby Rhea turns 18!!!!!!!! (Big sad sigh!)  I just can't believe that one. We will be having her 18th birthday party/Graduation Party on May 12th to celebrate! It's bittersweet!

On May 13th, Darbey graduates from High School! (Even Bigger Sigh!)  Darb and I made a deal in August...we don't say the words....Senior....Graduation...College....Moving.....   I think they have HAD to slip out but I don't like it! HA!  I will be a mess that day. I was a mess on the other 3 kids Graduation Day.  It will be bittersweet!


On July 7, my little Haley Elizabeth will marry the love of her life, Cody. The wedding is in full plans and going to be lovely, perfect, beautiful I'm sure. I try not to think too hard about it.....I lose it when I do! Haley and I are wondering how she and her Dad will get through the Father/Daughter dance.  I'm so happy for her.....she's so happy! It's bittersweet! 


I'm so tickled to have such "happy" events coming up. I'm grateful and counting my blessings. God is so good. 


We are spending January (the yucky month for me!) getting Projects done so we can sit back and relax and enjoy! We will be carpeting the upstairs....carpeting is coming Monday.  We ordered new bedroom furniture to be delivered soon. Digging out the baby furniture/swing/etc for that new little girl.  I am updating my breakfast area with new chairs and new rugs. I'll show some pics later. I never know when I get something if it's "hip" or "in style" or "up to date". So I try to read a lot of magazines, look at clothes on mannequins, check out other styles in people's houses or store displays, and lately I'm scanning that awesome world called PINTEREST!  Love it!  

So I usually  end up going with what I feel "comfortable" with whether I'm wearing it or living in it!  Do any of you have insecurities with any of that as well?

A New Year is Off to A Great Start!

What a wonderful start to the New Year!  We have had beautiful weather and calm days! Today was our first day back to school with kids. It was 66 degrees outside today!  66!  As Dorothy said, " I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!" Last year at this time, we had snow, snow, snow and cold, cold, cold! 
My class was having a blast at recess....of course NO COATS!


It was such a relaxing holiday season. I'm so grateful to have time with family and just rest. 


That all being said.....I get a little "gun shy". I kind of wait for the other shoe to fall. I anticipate something bad about to happen since it's so good right now. 


That is not a Godly way to live! I have been working on it. I need to live in the present moment. I need to not worry about yesterday....it's done....it's over....can't change it.  I can't worry about tomorrow or fret about it. I can only pray about it. Momma's tend to worry....it's part of our genetic make up (or mine!)  I like to be proactive and head off trouble. But many times, it's impossible no matter what I do. I try, but if it's in God's plan, it will be. 


So a couple of verses that calm me and help me in so many ways are:

Matthew 6:34

King James Version (KJV)

 ³⁴Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

and

Psalm 46:10

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁰Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

So I shall enjoy every day....every moment when I can!

I hope you are having a terrific Thursday!

Welcome 2012....

Happy New Year to all of my blog friends and your families.....Wishing you peace, hope, and joy and much more! 

I am pondering and jotting my "resolutions" down to get focused!

What a blessing today to have the New Year start out on the Lord's Day! Not a better way to start the year!!