need continued prayers

If you follow this blog, you sort of know our story. Too complicated to elaborate, but today we got some more bad news, potentially devastating to what we thought was going to be an eventual return to my husband's job. So I am asking that if you pray, please keep our family in your prayers for the best possible outcome to this. And if you don't pray, please send us good karma, good thoughts, whatever positive energy you can.

I am grateful for our friends and family. Love to you all.

Kelley

And PS - if you know of a well-paying job that provides paid training, and benefits, let us know!

Getting Together

Tonight, we are having friends over for pizza and Mah Jongg. I will be late to the festivities, as I am doing a play right now. However, my part is over pretty early on, so I will be home by 9:15. So we decided to go ahead and have them over, especially because I won't have another free evening (besides Mondays) for the next few months.

I don't get together with my friends often enough, and I wish I did! I have a million reasons: my house isn't clean, my house isn't big enough, our 'stuff' isn't fancy enough, the food isn't fancy enough, blah blah blah. I should just bless and release all of that nonsense, and make more good memories with my friends!

So, if we are friends, consider yourself invited over! If you have kids, bring 'em along, and our kids can play while we chat or play a board game, or eat pizza, or whatever. If you don't have kids, just remember that I do, and prepare yourself for lots of rowdy fun, or come over later, after they are in bed.

Let's get together!

Productivity Rocks!

The boys were home from school today due to ice or, rather, the potential of it. It was nice to not have to get up at 6, or get everyone out the door in a rush, etc. We had a lazy morning of breakfast and Wii, but the twins got to arguing and fighting, and just wouldn't stop. So, we all know what happens next, right? HOUSEWORK!

Everyone got busy straightening the clutter out of the living room, playroom, and the boys' room. They all worked well together, things got done, floors were vacuumed, and lo and behold, Jacob found his school agenda, which he has been missing for weeks! Yes, I could have looked for it and found it long before now, but I am tired of finding the things they misplace. Time for him to do it. Plus, he got a first-hand lesson on how keeping things picked up makes life easier!

Woohoo, I love it when the whole family is productive! The kitchen and bathrooms are next!

Great site

I am a book lover! What's the fancy word for that, bibliophile? Anyhoo, that is me! And I don't have near enough time to read everything I want, if I plan to get any sleep, so there are stacks of books near my bed...my To Be Read pile. I love the library, but I invariably get a book, then don't get a chance to start it, or finish it, before it is due. Or I forget to take it back in time and rack up late fees. Which brings me to one of my favorite websites, and I wanted to make sure you know about it!

Paperbackswap is a great way to get those books I am dying to read, and not spend loads of money. All I have to do is list books I am willing to part with, then I look for books I want. I build up credits when people want my books, and I can then use those credits to get books for myself (or my boys!). All I have to pay is the postage it costs to mail the books I have listed to people who have requested them. I love it! According to Paperbackswap's tally, I have saved $167 on books!

So if you love to read like I do, are short on reading time, don't want to spend tons of money, and have some books you are willing to part with, then check out Paperbackswap. You will love it!

Sometimes it's good to be a bother.

This afternoon, we all went over to visit my husband's aunt. We haven't seen her in a while, since before Thanksgiving, I am sad to say. We live in the same city, and used to see her on a regular basis. She is a second grandmother to my boys. However, her husband died a few years ago, very unexpectedly, and she really went into a downward spiral of depression. She got very weak and ill, and I felt like the boys were just too rowdy to be around her. Obviously, she quit getting out, so she wasn't coming to our house, and we quit going to her house, because I didn't want to bother her. I was afraid the boys would be too much for her to handle. 

She has had more bad days than good over the past couple of years. She quit eating properly, started having seizures, had problems walking and started using a cane, you name it. She began having what I think were panic attacks, and would end up in the hospital overnight, only to be sent home the next day because there was really nothing to do for her. I think she also has a problem with alcohol and, frankly, I can sort of understand. Her world was shattered by her husband's death and now all these debilitating problems, what reason was there to not self-medicate? But it certainly hasn't helped her issues.

Of late, she seems to be doing better, and today we called and asked if we could go over for a visit. Plus, we still hadn't given her our Christmas present for her, so we needed to do that. She said yes, and we had a great visit! She seemed to really love seeing the boys, and they were happy to see her, too. They were very well-behaved, and when they started to get a bit restless after 45 minutes or so, it was thankfully warm enough that they could go outside. I think it meant a lot to her to see the boys, and I think it really did her some good. I should have done it a while ago, but I plan to make it over to visit her at least once a month, hopefully every couple of weeks.

I am glad I bothered.

Announcing....

I am getting back to exercising! I went this morning for my first workout in forever, and made it through! I did the modified, beginner style, since it has been at least a year (more) since I did anything like that. And I only had to stop and rest once, when I got really lightheaded. Guess my heart isn't used to pumping that much blood!  I am doing this with a friend, at her house, and we have a standing appointment Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So if I don't show up, I am letting her down as well as myself. Besides, I know she will shame me and ride me mercilessly if I don't show! LOL

I have announced this here and also on Facebook, so now I have to do it. Too many people know about it! All my friends out there, I need you to keep me honest.  And I need to remember that this is not just about losing weight and looking better but, more importantly, about being healthier and stronger and feeling better!

Hmmm, just wondering....

Is Barack Obama the first African American president, or is it more correct to say he is the first bi-racial president? Since his father was from Kenya and his mother was Caucasian, I tend toward the latter. Either way, he made history today!