It was...

a productive day today. I accomplished a lot at work and took a walk with coworker at lunchtime.

My daughter-in-law cooked dinner after we walked this evening. Now, home, it's relax and watch a good movie.

Today was a good day.

I love...

my Christmas tree! It cost me $50 on sale at Sears about 10 years ago and it's still holding up great! Christmas time...I love the lights, the decorations, people's good will. And I adore my Christmas tree every year because the lights and sparkle lift my spirits. I never have any money this time of year and my tree and front house decorations really give me a happy feeling.

I finished putting up my tree tonight (technically yesterday, but still seems like Saturday night to me...lol) and I love it! That's my sister, Micaela, in the pic btw.

A Quote...

for today~

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. ~Buddha

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

There's nothing like...

being told, "Go home early today. See ya!" an hour and a half before closing time!

Woke up...

this morning and found treasure in my bed...my daughter and grandson!

Past Moments...

got away from me, but I still had them. Last night, I guess really this morning because it was 2 a.m., I sat in my back yard and watched the night sky.

It was clear, and I could see several stars. The city lights drowned out most of the sky near the horizon, but my daughter and I enjoyed 4 sightings of meteors from the Leonid shower.

I wish I could have stayed up longer to watch for more; they were beautiful, but I had to go to work today. I'm a little tired, but the adventure was worth it.

While volunteering at the LAX USO Sunday nite, 11/14, I was blessed to have had a long conversation with a priest, it turned out, who was serving in the Army. It was wonderful to hear that the majority of servicemen found God rather than rejecting him in the face of the horrors of war.

I found him to be very interesting, intelligent, and compassionate. Where their should be 400 priests serving our military troops, there are only 46. His job is tough, and I promised to keep him and the need for vocations in my prayers.

I was

able to sleep in yesterday without interruption...heaven!

I am grateful...

for a memory right now...I needed it badly. Situations arise that you affect in a positive way and some that you have no control over. Earlier tonight was a night in which I had no influence whatsoever.

I fight tears and a pain in my chest as i am so adamantly opposed to the action. You hear right-to-life and choice in conflict in the news...opinions vary widely on both sides from passionate to indifferent.

No matter where you stand on the issue, it really hits home when someone you personally know, or someone close to them they know, is facing such a decision.

My opinion earlier last evening had no bearing on the decision made. It was none of my business...the course of action is set and my heart aches for the child that will never see the light of day.

And so, I am grateful for a memory of long ago...where I had a hand in saving a life, of encouraging a young mother-to-be to follow a certain path and assuring her that she would not regret allowing the child growing within her a chance to shine. I'm desperately clinging to that memory and silently praying with a heavy heart for all the people who will never be.

My dog...

Rocky loves me. I've been busy and haven't been able to do much more than feed him lately, but he still loves me anyway.

I gave him a much needed bath yesterday and he enjoyed the scrubing. No matter what, he's always affectionate, and I owe him much.

I'm grateful for his unconditional love and vow to make more time for him. He deserves it.

My daughter's...

boyfriend was not here last evening when I got home from work...no socks or bra for me last night!!! Freedom to look like a slob, yes!!!

I've been...

listening to laughter in my home all evening. Playfulness abounded between my 19-yr-0ld daughter, her 22-yr-old boyfriend and my daughter's 2-yr-old son last evening.

There's been tension because my grandson is not my daughter's current boyfriend's son. It was so nice to see and hear them all playing and laughing together. It made me so happy.

A Facebook post...

from a childhood friend last evening announced that her son, who has been battling cancer, would be going into surgery this morning in an attempt to fight an infection in his leg and that there was a possibility he could lose it.

As a mother of four, I feel for her and realize this could happen to anyone. I wish she and her son were not faced with this challenge and pray for his full recovery.

My children, and their children, come to mind, and a feeling of gratitude for their good health washes over me. Life should not be taken for granted.

I'm delighted...

because I had three Facebook friend requests yesterday. Yipee!

Last night...

I drove to my sister's house because she had invited me to join her and another sister at San Manuel Casino. They love to play the slots and are luckier than I. Always low on cash, I don't like to waste it so I'm perfectly content to stand behind them and enjoy their action.

This time; however, my sisters both gave me money to play because they knew my current situation...I still didn't like wasting the money, but it was a little easier than when using my own...lol.

So off to the casino I went without a dime in my pockets and came home with $200! I did well on Wheel of Fortune and I had no problem cashing out once I hit a jackpot. I'm not giving any money back to the casino! And to top it off, my sisters left with more than they came in with, in fact one of them won $800 on a nickle machine! That was exciting to watch!!!

Tomorrow, I go grocery shopping! Thank you, Lord! You always come through for this wayward child of yours.

What a wonderful night...

There were...

no bills in my mailbox yesterday! That works out perfect because it just so happens I have no money in the bank.

What I do have, in abundance, is humor. Without my sense of humor, I don't know how I would survive.

Sometimes I get blue and, on rare occasions, I cry...but I keep it to myself and try to look at the bright side, usually rebounding quickly.

So I have no money? Well, I look at it this way: Less for me to waste!

When I...

opened the microwave last night to heat up my late dinner after a long work day. I was momentarily shocked and then super excited to see a sparkling clean interior; no food splatters or remnants to be found! If an outsider had seen my reaction, they'd wonder what the heck was wrong with me to get so excited over a clean microwave!!!! LOL.

This is a BIG deal to me because no one EVER cleans the microwave but me ~ no one until yesterday. In fact, my first inclination was to think my oldest daughter's boyfriend cleaned it up because no way would my girls have done it...hahaha. But it seems my oldest daughter took pity on me and made an effort to make my day.

Anyway, time got away from me yesterday and I didn't post my Tuesday moment, but I did enjoy much needed hardy, multiple belly-laughs at the expense of someone's else's pain...but don't think ill of me...the person posted it on YouTube, so they wanted the laughs. Check this out if you want a little giggle...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN5YbfFszlI

I laughed...

yesterday because my little, adorable, 2-yr-old grandson greeted me at the door when I came home for lunch with an enthusiastic "doggie-hump" hug!

Because he is two, he doesn't reach a height much above my thighs, so his little hug sent me into fits of giggles because he wrapped his little arms tightly around my knees and proceeded to jump up and down against my legs, doggie greeting style, if you know what I mean!

Along with his little doggie-hump greeting, are his "argh, argh, argh" sound affects...it's hilarious.

And to think, I was so disappointed to hear my 16-year-old was pregnant...now, I couldn't imagine life without our little Josiah!

Today...

I remember waking up yesterday to a blurry view of my clock; it said 6 AM. I remember that I forgot to set the clock back 1 hour for daylight savings time. Yes! I have one more hour before I have to get up for work.

Fifteen minutes later I gaze at the clock once again...ugh...15 more mintues and it's upright I'll be.

I'm sitting on the edge of my bed, not wanting to get ready for work and as I stand, I suddenly realize it's Sunday. I don't have to go to work!!!!

I'm flooded with relief and I raise my arms in a silent "Yes!" as I let myself fall back on my soft bed and turn on the TV, relaxing a few hours before I get up to a lazy, sunny, Sunday with my grandson!