pretty in pink

Pretty in pink...

My latest project....

My bowl that I am going to make a fountain out of...

Even the inside is beautiful...

The days are just flowing by. It seems there aren't enough hours in the day, though I know there are just the right amount. I just need to learn to use them more wisely.

I am yearning to be outside working on my new project. I have only been able to work on it the past two Saturdays. I am making a patio area in our backyard. My friend Barb and I went to Sherman Friday specifically to shop for our yards!! What fun and what a creative genius she is. I cannot "see" something until it is right before my eyes and she has the gift of envisioning things.

I found some patio chairs at Sam's Club for under $25 each and they can be stacked. They are simply perfect! I bought four of them, but really wanted eight.

We had gotten a reimbursement check and Donald gave it to me to spend on our yard. I went shopping for a table yesterday morning. It is such a shame you have to go out of town to find what you need. I couldn't find the table I wanted here. Barb dropped by yesterday afternoon and we decided to go back to Sherman to get more of the chairs. They are a seasonal item and if you don't get them while they are there, that's it. We went to Lowe's and I found the perfect round black wrought iron table I was looking for. It matches my chairs perfectly and I like my chairs better and though they are almost identical to the ones in the set they are $10 cheaper. I saved $80 on my chairs!

When we were there Friday Barb bought two of the neatest "bowls." They are scalloped at the top and are the most beautiful colors and shape I have ever seen. She was going to make a fountain and I had already decided I wanted some kind of water fountain in the corner in my backyard. It was so hard not to buy one yesterday. I really exercised self-control and didn't get it although I did buy the pump kit while they had them. I ended up buying more rock to match the free ones I had gotten last year. It was the exact bag and I couldn't pass that up either and after talking to Barb decided to just put more rock rather than trying to have a flower bed. In the long run it will be cheaper and less work. I tell you that girl is great!!

We got home and Barb gave me a birthday gift. It was the brown bowl I was wanting to buy!! She had bought it Friday and was afraid I was going to buy one and she would have to tell me not to. Now she has the job of showing me how to finish the project!

I can't wait to get in the yard and work on my patio. I still have to plant my vegetable seeds. I had started that yesterday, but when the opportunity to go back to Sherman arose that project went by the wayside. Maybe today I'll get them in the ground; remember I said maybe. Or not.

This afternoon Connie and Eddie brought me their glider for my yard. I was wanting to buy one and they don't use theirs so they gave it to me. Thank you both so much; I love it!! Pictures later.

all bent out of shape

I spent most of the afternoon yesterday on the phone. Then I got my new leaf blower and blew leaves around the yard to relieve all the stress of being on the phone most of the afternoon. I HATE INSURANCE! I know I should be thankful we have it, but right now I'm trying to trust God with a situation.

It seems the tests Donald and I had that were covered at 100% has turned into a large bill. About $2200 to be more accurate. It seems they are only paid at 100% if the doctor finds absolutely nothing... as in not having a colon????? Because of the insurance code the doctor used for the diagnosis they are no longer considered a screening, but a medical claim. Which means it's a loophole for not paying like they said they would. In case you didn't catch it earlier... I HATE INSURANCE and have came up with a much better name for Blue Cross Blue Shield.

I'm also upset at our company for saying they had changed their policy and that that test is now covered at 100%. They need to have a disclaimer on that one.

It's not because we didn't do our homework on this. In fact, I even have a message on my cell phone stating it would be covered that way. We spent several hours working on this one.

My friend Connie simply talked to me about trusting God and not being angry at Him because He allowed this to happen. THAT WAS NOT WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR! I guess I should just tell Him if He wants to spend His money on those free tests to go right ahead; however, I am still in the process of being angry and venting. I WILL get around to having the right attitude, but not at the moment.

I'm glad God has patience and is merciful. He's probably having a good chuckle right now and saying something like, "She's at it again!"

After the Fire

"There isn’t much better in this life than finding a way to spend a few hours in conversation with people you respect and love. You have to carve this time out of your life because you aren’t really living without it."

Real Live Preacher, RealLivePreacher.com Weblog, August 27, 2003

This is so true. Friends are one of God's greatest blessings. We are fortunate to have many good friends. They are always here for us. If I could only be a speck of the blessing to them that they are to us, then I would have achieved something real and good.

It seems that we have friends who made the news recently. Eddie's book is published and on sale now. You find it at PublishAmerica.com. You can search for "After the Fire" and buy a copy of it for yourself. I am ordering one today and am planning on asking Eddie to sign it for me!

Connie and Eddie's son, Billy, made the newspaper on Sunday. There was a whole page article with pictures and it was even continued on another page. The person described Billy as having "an easy smile and warm eyes." Either he knows Billy well or he is very perceptive. Donald and I both agree this describes Billy well. If you don't get the newspaper you can find the article here at http://theparisnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=b97f854c5d2de643

Sadly though, I couldn't find the pictures that are in the paper itself. They were great. Now I'm not going to tell you what the article is about since you can read it for yourself.

Connie and Eddie are always here for us. Always. When I need a friend I always have one in Connie. She is real and genuine with me. She won't tell me something just to make me feel good; she's always honest. Everyone needs a friend like her. She has came through for me on so many occasions. In addition, we have borrowed their back yard, borrowed their truck, and borrowed their HD TV to watch the Mavs. Well, sorta kinda, they invite us over to watch some of the games we can't get. They have taken me to Dallas to the airport when I needed to get to Donald in Brownsville when he tore a muscle in his leg. Eddie has rescued our daughter out of a predicament where she couldn't get loose from something. (You'll have to ask Hannah about this one.) I can call them any time at all and they are always here for me. The only kitchen fire I ever had was the first time we invited them over for dinner. How appropriate to have a fireman in your kitchen when you have a fire.

Be sure to check out Eddie's book. I'm sure you'll love it.

relationships

I've been thinking about relationships. Why do we sometimes believe things that aren't so? I'm not totally naive and I'm not talking about believing people that we don't know well or those who have proven not to be reliable. I'm thinking about those relationships between people who have known each other for a long time. Maybe even been best of friends. Maybe not, but know the other person is a person of integrity and one they can trust.

Why is it that something can happen and all that trust is thrown by the wayside? Why do we believe others instead of believing what our friend has said? We are human; we say things and do things to hurt people sometimes. It grieves me, but I have done it. Sometimes because I'm upset and sometimes without meaning to. Some people forgive and the relationship is restored; some don't. I have lost relationships that have meant so much to me. I have examined my heart and tried to make amends, but to no avail. They have simply written me out of their lives. My heart hurt, but there was nothing else I could do. I still miss them.

Why can't believers work things out? Why do we not believe what the other person is saying when they are trustworthy? I know emotions get in the way and sometimes it takes a while to work through things. But why can't we work through it and go on? I have relationships like that and they are the ones that truly mean the most to me.

Why not be unoffendable? Or at least why not try working on it?

These are my thoughts for today. Right or wrong they belong to me. If they are wrong then God is able to show me and correct me.

Relationships........don't take them lightly.

oh, what a day!

I had the most wonderful day yesterday, and I mean all day. It started off by meeting Barb at 8:30 and we dug ajuga and monkey grass in her neighbor's yard. Her neighbor had graciously shared with me. We worked until after 11:00 and decided to take it my house where Barb would help me with the layout.

On the way we decided to drive through McDonald's and get lunch. We saw Sherian inside and I started waving and saying her name. I think everyone in there saw me, except Sherian. Finally one of the employees took pity on me and went and told her there was a lunatic at the drive through window waving frantically and disturbing their dinner run. We decided to take our food into the restaurant and crash Sherian's dinner date with a coworker.

Now remember we had been working outside all morning and weren't exactly dressed for the part. That's one of the neat things about getting older, at least for me. I just don't care if I'm not all slicked up when I go out in public. Now I wouldn't go to a wedding in that attire, but you get my drift hopefully. We had a fun lunch and on the way out saw Rebekah in the drive though line and said hi to her.

We arrived at my house and unloaded the plants. We then went to Reno to buy some more plants. They were having a sale on them. Barb helped me choose caladiums and another flat of something I had bought the day before. I can't remember what it's called and there wasn't one of the little thingies telling you the name. Then we went shopping at Tuesday Morning, still in our garden clothes. I was having so much fun I really don't know if we got any looks or not, but we obviously didn't care! We selected a gift for Cathy, Barb's neighbor, and Barb found some stuff for herself. We came back to my house where Ben was working on my berm. I had made it too straight.

By this time it was about 4:00 and Barb needed to go home. Ben went with us and after we dropped her off we went to Atwoods where he bought me some flagstone for my path by my berm. He's even going to lay them for me. What a neat son! After we ate I went outside to lay the stones so Ben would know where to put them. I ended up having them pretty much in a straight line and they just didn't look right. I was thinking that I wished Barb was here and not too long after that she, Jon, and Logan drove up! She showed me that they actually fit together! I got totally frustrated trying to figure which way to turn them to get them to fit so she ended up doing them for me. I think I got one right.

It's a wonderful blessing to have good friends. It seems they often have the knowledge and abilities that I lack. Hopefully I have something I can share with them at some point.

I've already spent 3 hours in the yard and am on my way back there now. I just had to tell you about my wonderful day. It's been a "l-o-n-g" time since I've spent a whole day having fun!