How Time Changes Everything

We are all bound by time, and time certainly has dominion in our lives. We can't control it, stop it, or get it back-once it is gone, it is gone.

I spent the afternoon cleaning out pictures which had been piling up on the laptop. While checking mail, and organizing pictures, I got a post that Robert's picassa album had been updated. I popped in over there to check out the new photos. My goodness how much Aaron has grown in a year. He looks so much like a little boy and so much less like a baby.

I know that is supposed to happen, after all, I watched that with my own children. However, you don't seem to notice the growth as much when you witness the little steps every day. It is when you don't see them for awhile then all of a sudden you do (or a picture of), and just have to step back and go wow!

Time...it changes everything. I don't feel old (most days), but sometimes I see a picture of me at just the right angle and think...getting older! My age used to be marked by my kids' birthdays, now it might be marked by my grandson's birthdays. He is already 2! That makes me two years older too!

Mixed Emotions

So many days are defined by just that-mixed emotions. The last few days we have been getting our laundry room finished, baseboards up and painted, tidbits we need to be wrapping up-and glad to be getting that done. It has been such a busy past year that I have neglected to do some basic things that need to be done, ie...go to the dentist.

Yesterday I made bunches of appointments which means my next few weeks are full! We are also working on the pets. I got up and gave the cat a bath today (He really didn't appreciate that much) and took Pedro to the vet. He was due for his annual shots and so needed to be groomed. We also made a pit stop by the car dealer to drop off the jeep for repairs and pick up the rental which wasn't available yet. That was a bummer. After all of that, detoured by the pet store to pick up pet supplies. We got home, ate lunch, and treated the dogs for fleas. Several hundred dollars later, I was feeling very sad for the me and the dogs. We made a decision not too long ago that we had to find homes for them. We just can't continue to carry this much weight. Three dogs, birds, and a cat are too time intensive and too much money invested. The birds went quickly and now we are looking for homes for the dogs.

I had finally come to terms with the idea that it would be easier to find a home for Maggie than Pedro. She is younger and easier going. He is not outgoing, quite timid around strangers and too old to be adopted out. I can't send him to his death, so hence, Maggie needs a home. The mixed emotion part-Maggie is my dog. She is the only one of the three that is mine. I rescued her as a puppy and cared for her, believing the other two would go with their owners-which didn't happen.

She ran up to me today with those big pleading eyes and was so sweet. I cuddled her, gave her a good tummy rub and fought back tears.

Blurred Vision

My optometrist told me a few years back that something happens around the age of 40 to our eyes. We lose the ability to change focus from near to far. My hubbie hit that magic age before me and now wears bifocals or his "one" contact. Well...trying to read for my college classes has been just a bit challenging today. I wasn't able to refocus my eyes and had to keep taking my classes off to read. Then...had to put them back on to see across the room. Exasperating. Now my eyes are really tired (all that back and forth today) and I need to go to bed, but didn't quite finish what I needed to...wondering if I can pull it off in the morning??? I am also wondering. Gee, we are in the empty nest time of our lives, and I am having trouble seeing. Where is the fun in that?

For better or worse, sickness or health, sight and the lack thereof...honey...you still look good to me (what I can see of you that is!)

Loving the New Look

Sometimes I am so lazy...at least that is when it comes to finding answers to my questions. That is where my hubbie comes in. He is really resourceful. I kept trying to figure out how everyone gets all this extra stuff on their blogs. I was using a standard template, but it really didn't represent us very well. My husband set about looking for the solution, and of course, he figured it out. He showed me the options and we chose a beach, because WE LOVE THE BEACH. (I could share a few stories here, but better leave those private!)

Then the header...I created the header by scanning some old photos and making a postcard in Smilebox. We then saved the image and inserted it as a picture in the header box (after some resizing). First attempt showed half my head only! My techno savy hubbie fixed that pretty quick.

So...here I am adding, editing, and creating a space that really represents us, our family, and the resources that are making a difference in our lives.

Under Construction

My hubbie and I are currently reworking our blog site. He is the technical guru, and I, well I, suppose I am the creative genius. Please be patient while we make some changes!

Logan's

It has been way too long since we had a "Logan's" date! Logan's is one of our favorite places to go...no real reason, except for it is cozy and one of those places we just sit and sit and sit (much to our waiters' dismay!), eat peanuts, drink sweet tea, and discuss whatever comes to mind! It isn't a quick go get a bite to eat place for us, but a serious sit down, take as long as you want place. (We have been known to close them down!)

We haven't been out together (except IHop) since before the wedding. Those weeks prior we were so busy with wedding arrangements and family coming in that we didn't have such sweet luxuries! Last night was my first night of class for this term, and when I came home, I popped in, batted my eyes, flirted (just a tad) and talked my hubbie into changing out of his work (home improvement clothes) and take me to Logan's.

We had to commemorate the moment, so after we ate, I jumped out of my side of the 2 man booth and squeezed beside him. It took a few practice rounds with his iphone before we got a good shot, but here we are-snuggling and cozy-in our favorite date spot! I love my hubbie, still, actually more, after all these years...especially when his blue eyes twinkle mischievously at me from across the table!

Home Improvements

I know, I know...fourth blog entry today. No, don't have THAT much time on my hands. I am actually sitting in my bed next to my hubbie who incidentally is reading my blogs on his iphone while I am browsing around on the web. I was actually reading some Gary Smalley articles, and one caught my attention.

My husband and I have been remodeling our home now for about a year and a half. Much of our time is spent either building, fixing, or discussing how to build and how to fix. Our conversations are monopolized by such things as: What tub to buy, is that flooring going to hold, you sure left a big gap for me to caulk, is that primed and ready to be painted, etc...Many couples have told us that they would have killed their spouse had they of had to remodel an entire house together under such drastic circumstances. Admittedly, there have been moments when it was just a little bit tense, but all in all, we have grown closer because of it. This article I caught just a sec ago was about home improvement, so I have to share it, because it so fit us!!! (except for the part about a conservatory-none of that in our house plans!)

Increase your marital satisfaction through home improvements
Posted on 08 August 2007.

Home improvements might not sound like a good way to help your marriage be stronger, but you might be surprised. There are actually several ways home improvements can help your marriage. First, you get to go through the trauma of home improvements together. Going through anything difficult always brings couples closer together, especially when they see the difficulty as an opportunity to grow. Secondly, you can create a space for the two of you to simply “hang” out and relax together. Anglian products actually has these really cool Conservatory items that allow you to enjoy the outdoors without having to deal with the bites and other irritations of being outdoors (Like if you live in Houston and you don’t want to be attacked by the killer squadrons of mosquitoes!).