Roses in January . . . are you crazy???

I'm not, but the weather is. We have had great weather. Some rain, but mild temperatues. Temperatures have been running in the mid-70s. Ray just installed a 17" tall toilet for me in our bathroom and spruced it up a bit. He hasn't had time to trim the roses and trees. We looked out the window and saw the peach tree in full bloom. On his recommendation, I went to get a picture to share. When I was out there, I saw 3 roses, just amazing for January!

The past year has been a rough one. The back yard has been a source of joy for me. When I've been down in the dumps, I can look out there and see lots of roses, and other flowers, fruit trees, palm trees, Bird of Paradise, a pretty bird bath from Robert and Jessica, and birds too! Problems, health issues, and what seems to be a gazillion doctor apointments can be overwhelming. Sometimes looking in the back and watching the birds in my back yard helps by reminding me of Matthew 6:26:

26 Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (NCV)

   

2010 Going, Going . . .

It's almost over, where did it go?

My friend Sandy has been after me about creating a blog. In my Close To My Heart newsletters, I try to share a little bit about me with my friends and do so with a smile. Even the worst of times can be better if I make someone smile.

This year has brought a big change to our liveswith the biggest being my retirement. This is due to Fibromyalgia and moderate to severe osteoarthritis. Mainly in my knees and throacic spine area. A fancy name for the spine thing is Spondylitis--I can't spell it let alone pronounce it. To me it's a big long name for backache! At some time in my life I've also broken my coccyx. I can even pronounce this one but the common name is much easier--tailbone. Part of this employment change is I have to budget and it is the pits!

When I'm hurting, I try some different things. Scrapbooking and rubber stamping are right up there at the top of my list. I also use this time to thank God for my knees hurting--the pain reminds me that I have knees for which I'm thankful. Then I also go on to ask His blessings on my friends with similar disorders. There are days when these tactics help. Occasionally there are times when I just have to focus on, "this will go away."

So here I sit with my Weird Weiners (2 tweeny doxies beside me), my husband in the chair next to mine, my granddaughter (LOVE my Sambones--she helps, is fun, and I can't get enough of her!) asleep on the couch, her friend next to her, and my old girl--Daisy Dog on her bed next to the TV. They're all watching CSI Miami and I on the computer. Nighttime is my computer time.

Thursday I have my friends coming over for a playday--this is a time to share my knowledge of stamping and scrapbooking with them. I will be working on project samples tomorrow. I look forward to these days of fun, laughter, and visiting.
One of my goals for 2011 is to post more regularly to this blog. Hey, maybe I will learn what I'm doing . . . won't that be something!