Grocery Shopping.....

Grocery Shopping...one of those necessities of life....

One of those Love/Hate relationships for me...

I LOVE eating...I just HATE Grocery shopping!

But, today it just had to be done....There was NO milk in our house, NO Butter, NO breakfast foods, and NO tissues! (Okay, there were a lot of other things missing too..but, those were the main items demanding a trip to the store :D)

Since Walmart's make-over...I've really noticed the selection has declined...so, I've been trying really hard to do my shopping at Safeway (plus, there's less for me to think I need, when I really don't...if that makes sense...OH, yeah, and there's this little thing too...my Mr. really does NOT want me shopping at Walmart...He has issues there :D) Not to mention that it's not uncommon to wait in line for 15 minutes to be checked out! But, today's shopping list had things from every single department...so, to save time & energy...sometimes a girl just has to do what a girl has to do...WALMART!

I had my list...and believe it or not...I stuck to it! And, for a Saturday it was fairly empty inside the store...I was so lucky not to even have to wait in line....WHEW! Another Grocery shopping/To-Do Done!

Now, I was walking out to my car feeling pretty happy....I opened my trunk, loaded all my groceries inside, close the door, and it won't close??? I fiddle with the latches, try again...still won't shut...Mmmm...maybe I just need to open it from inside...maybe my key didn't unlock it all the way...still WILL NOT SHUT! Of course, it's dark...and so I inspect what I can see...the bottom latch seems to be loose....I decide to try to tighten the screws...with what else but my car keys....(NOTE: to self....make a tool box for the car!) I manage to tighten the screws some, and the latch seems stable...I give it one my try..and Ta-Da...it worked! Thanking God that I didn't have to use baling twine to tie down my trunk for the trip home...I notice something is sticking out of my sweatshirt...OH NO...it's a dryer sheet...oh, how cute that must of looked as I strolled through the store :D

So there you have it....my Saturday outing! And, tomorrow morning my Mr. is going to be soooo excited at all his breakfast choices! Sweet blessings!

Wet !

Wet!

That seems to be the three letter word for the month! And, I've decided this year...that ALL weather is needed...whether I like it or not....so, I'm going to leave the weather making decisions in God's hands...and just go with the flow :D (or would that be steady downpour..ha, ha...)

So, here's what the WET looks like through my eyes....Meet our Trixie...she is the Mr.'s girl...his first rope horse and definitely his baby!

And, this....well, this is my little green feed cart...I load it up with hay and take it out across the pen to feed all the horses....check out it's wheels.... totally covered in MUD!

And, this...well, this is the mud & muck I have to drive my little green cart through to take hay to the other horses....

Today, it is deep! As you can see...it totally covers the top of my muck boot! Too deep to try to drive my little green cart through....

So, I left my cart parked and took the hay flake by flake out to the other 4 horses! It was a few extra steps...but, at least I didn't get my little green cart stuck :D

Inside the barn...this was the view...definitely the place to hang out and be :D

Here's the view of our driveway from the road...and this...it's our very own Mud Puddle :D And, I have to say it makes me quite happy...why you ask???

Because when I get done feeding and my boots are totally covered in muck...I just head to the puddle and splash through it until my boots are clean :D So glad that I get to still play in mud puddles!!!

Even my kitties like leaving their footprints everywhere....the sight I see all over my front porch!
Even though it is very WET....I'm thankful...that I have the right equipment to get through it....thankful for a chance to splash in a puddle...and thankful that God is sending the moisture that the farmers (NOT THE CATTLE RANCHERS...because wetness and baby calves do not = a good thing :( ) really need!

I hope each of you can find ways to enjoy this WET season...maybe it'll be curling up inside with a good book, or trying to catch some great shots through the lens of your camera...or maybe it will even be putting on your rain gear and stomping through some puddles...whatever it may be....may you find warm moments filling your heart! Sweet blessings!

Really

Really....
Really...I am still here!
I can't believe January is going by...and I've only posted once! REALLY???

What can I say....I don't really have any reasons why I haven't been visiting my blog more....other than, Life...it's happening :D

So here's a little catch-up from my REALLY moving fast month :D

~ I've really enjoyed being back in my classroom, watching my preschoolers grow day by day...it's funny, they all came back from Christmas break seeming "older" and every class is in it's groove now :D

~ I survived two back to back nights of after-Christmas preschool programs! (Okay I might of rewarded myself a little each night with Dairy Queen ice cream :D)

~ I REALLY am working on de-cluttering! And, so far...the laundry room closet, and the office desk have felt the affects!

~ I REALLY DID have to spend my free Monday (Martin Luther King day) sorting cows, trying not to slip & fall face first in the muck!

~ I've been trying to make Monday's a day to reach out and bless someone else...I listen to KLOVE, a Christian radio station ...and they've been encouraging everyone to make Monday's a reaching out day...(Make a difference Monday!) So, this week, as I was headed to work, I remembered I needed ice for the water table...as long as I was at Safeway and Starbucks was looking at me...I thought I'd treat my Miss Susy to an Ice Tea to start the day....there was a nice gentleman in a wheelchair as I headed in...I started to head to the Starbucks section, then remembered the ice was at the other end of the store...so I by-passed him and smiled...when, I came back he was pulling up to the counter, but backed up and said..."You go first..you were actually headed here before me"....You know I told him...it's okay, go ahead..and after a few back and forth's, I said thank you..and stepped up to the counter...when she asked what I'd have...It felt so good to say...my usual Ice Teas..and then, whatever the gentleman behind me is drinking. He was so touched...and I my heart felt so happy! It began a conversation...and ended with me walking to my car feeling totally blessed! When I got to work, I was telling my Miss Susy...all about the Make a difference Monday...and what had happened..when I remembered...it was TUESDAY! (The holiday had thrown me off :D But, it's all good, Tuesday or Monday, right????)

~ Another amazing event happened...one of my college friends and I actually got to talk online through Facebook...she lives in New Zealand, but being able to talk online makes it feel like she lives next door :D

~ I've Really enjoyed some great meals with friends this month...all at La Palma's (the Mexican restaurant in town???) And, a date night dinner with my Mr. there too!!!

~ And, can I just say as long as I'm using the word REALLY so much..there's a few things I Really like but don't like....
* I really like clean sheets...but don't like changing them !!!
* I really like eating...but, I don't like going to the grocery story!
* I really like that it's staying lighter longer...but, I don't like it still being dark in the AM
* I really like the warmth of a woodstove...but, not the mess it makes

When I stop and think about it....most of ALL...I'm just feeling REALLY Blessed this month! I hope January is being just as good to you...REALLY I am Praying that! :D Sweet blessings!

The New Year...

The New Year is HERE!

And, I'm ready for 2010!!!

2009 was a LONG, BUSY, HARD, BUSY, ROUGH, BUSY, CHALLENGING, BUSY Year....
I know the Mr. and I both grew a LOT through it
....and, now...we are READY...

READY for a New YEAR! And, READY to see ALL that God has in store for us... :D

I've been thinking a LOT about what things I would like to truly place emphasis on in 2010...and after going back & forth, over & under, around & around...I think I've finally come up with my plan!


Five thoughts kept repeating themselves...

1. FUN....I just want to have FUN! I want this year to be FUN...fun at work...fun at home...fun with the animals...fun with my family....FUN!

2. GRACE....I truly want to aspire to be a woman of Grace..every.single.day!

3. FAMILY...more time with our families! :D

4. CONTENTMENT...(oops! Did I type that one out....you know sometimes it's the things you seek, that you really have to grow into :D)

5. PERSPECTIVE....looking outside the box (or in better terms...outside of my thoughts/self :D)

So, there it is...good or bad....
These words that have just kept coming into my heart over & over again the last few days....

And....here's to them inspiring me to new heights this year!

Praying above All...that in whatever I do, and wherever I go, and whomever I'm with...that the Love of Jesus is shining through.....Sweet blessings from my heart to yours......!