Life's Challenges - Great Stepping Stones

Morning son. It's Super Bowl Sunday! Dad's getting dinner in the crock pot so there's no interruption to the evening event. And Is it me, or is it just simply weird that it's Sunday again? And Super Bowl time again?  Time just seems to pass so quickly any more. Life is really picking up.  I'm getting very busy in my studio.  I was able to spend about six hours yesterday and it was so great.  Yesterday morning Josh and Josie came by for a couple of hours.You were so right, it's so great to have them close enough so they can come and stay without having to plan weeks in advance.  According to Josie, "you need to live next door so I can just come when I want to and nobody has to bring me".  It's great to be a "grandparent". You get to do all the things the parents won't let them do!  Josh had a bowl of Cheerios and and 1 1/2 chocolate donuts (the snack kind that are about 2" in diameter) and an apple. Josie had 1 1/2 apples, two chocolate donuts and 3 lifesavers broken into small pieces. She would have had a dozen more lifesavers and more donuts if "grandma" had let her.  

Dad took Jamo to Radio Shack yesterday to look at and talk about electronics.  That kid is a whiz!  He can make things from practically nothing.  Dad wanted to show him some tools and kits like you two use to use to make a radio, how to use a volt-o-meter and things like that. Then they went to lunch at Wendy's.

Dad was trying to get the Christmas decorations downstairs Friday to surprise me.  He got in to big of a hurry and fell over the boxes on the stairs.  I took him to the doctor.  There really isn't anything they can do.  He didn't break anything.  He bent his bad knee and leg up behind him.  It will take a week or so to "settle down".  He's walking but he had to call me to pick them up yesterday when he tried to take Jamison on his walk.

It amazes me sometime in how God, with the millions of people on earth and in heaven, is aware of our inner-most thoughts and feelings. Last week dad was doing something in the basement and came across a couple more of your jackets.  Remember the satin one with "Jesus is the Rock" you had in high school?  But the best of all is the jean jacket you wore in junior high and high school.  You bleach designed it by hand with "God Rulz" and all of your patches.  I don't think a day went by when you didn't wear that jacket. We had a great time that day walking through memories.  As much as I miss you, I think dad misses you even more.  I'm more verbal about it. (Knock it off! I can hear you, "Mom, you verbal? That's truly hard to believe!) Dad holds these things close to his heart most of the time.  I think probably because he thinks talking about this will make me sad.  It doesn't really. Like I've told you, I do have a day or moment here and there, but since I'm working part time again and trying to keep up in the studio and a few other projects I'm working on you're just a natural train of thought as I do things. I can hear you chuckle when I do certain things, see that questioning look as if to say, "are you kidding me?" or when I'm driving, "Are you trying to kill me? Cancer is already doing a pretty good job mom, you don't have to help it along!"

You can believe this. Others might have trouble believing it. Last week while on his walk with Jamison, they always do the same route, at the top of the hill, on the rock where we stood to release your ashes, dad saw something red laying on the rock.  He walked over and picked it up. When he came home with it and showed it to me I immediately thought, and you probably heard me, Aaron, are you trying to be funny? It was a Christmas decoration of Snoopy and his dog house decorated with Christmas lights.  Now you tell me, how would that specific decoration show up in that place. I don't know how, but I know that very simple thing is exactly what dad needed at that moment at that place.  It's amazing how God keeps track of the little things.

Scott, Eric & Me (don't freak, I'm letting my hair grow)

I had a super great birthday and a birthday surprise you would not believe! Oh of course, you already knew didn't you? If you were paying attention that is.  We celebrated at work with the most fabulous chocolate cake and a "sugar cookie or butter cookie" that was huge, topped with the most fantastic chocolate icing you have every tasted.  Celebrations at work are really celebrations and are so much fun.  Wednesday evening we met at Corey & Jon's for a family celebration.  Corey made an amazing chocolate on chocolate cake - four layers high. The slices were so large they fell over the side of the plate.  Now THAT'S a cake! The surprise was, Eric and Scott!  The three of them had been making plans since about Thanksgiving for them to come to Troy for my birthday.  As Eric and I talked, we figured outside of a couple of very short visits in GrovelandHoho

Valentine sign...on it's way to Etsy

I worked from about 1pm to 8:30pm last night in the studio.  I'm finally getting back in sync.  Dad is finally convinced the Cricut was a great idea. I made a couple of cards, did another step on the cradle, made a Valentine Day wreath the couple on the second floor ordered and made a Valentine Day sign.  This afternoon and evening, while Super Bowl XLVI is on.  Dad's really looking forward to the game.  He's going to be missing you this year, but you can do your part from where you are. Right?  Giant's all the way!

While we're talking here about amazing things. Really, that's something very difficult to NOT talk about because to me it's just been one amazing thing after another. The Lord has really blessed me with a super great team to work with. I know I've told you this before, but it is so super great to believe in what you're doing and working with a team who believe in what we are doing too.  Friday before I left HR asked if I would administer the Recognition Program for the Firm. How cool is that! We recognize EVERYTHING! and that is as it should be. Celebration should be an integral part of our every day. It doesn't have to be huge but finding something to celebrate everyday makes life special. I administered the City's recognition program for almost 11 years and it was one of my favorite things to do. Now though this program encompasses EVERYTHING...not just years of service.  Woo hoo! Seeing people smile and happy, how much better can it get than that! I'm very excited to get to work Monday and began!

Dad and I are beginning to work on plans to get the guest room up and ready. We're hoping for a very, very busy year for guests.  With dad falling on Friday it will slow things down a bit with getting things downstairs but what's another week!  It's not like I'm going to paint the room this month.  It will probably be March before I get paint to those wall.  We're also going to move our bedroom to the far back room.  I know, I know, moving furniture again.  But the people above us have their bedroom in the same room and have a television so it will be a little quieter.  But, the main reason is that there are two, mind you, two windows which means more natural light.  You know me with windows and light.  I can never have too many. What it also means thought is I need to start looking on Craig's List for a double bed and a dresser.  I can already see the room finished in my mind's eye so I know exactly what I'm looking for.  I think I'm going to use the yellow quilt that was Aunt Tiny's and decorate around that.  At first I thought I'd use yellow and light pink but the quilt has a lot of black and white check in it so I think I'll make a bed skirt and pillow shams in the black and white check and then go from there.  I'm sure you wanted to know all of that.  Just deal with it!

Had a long conversation with Rita this week.  It's so good to talk with her.  It can be quite challenging to find a time that works when you're calling coast to coast but we manage.  She is doing fine and is working a few more hours right now too. I've got to catch up with Sandy this week.  She always sends me these wonderful messages. I've become so irresponsible about keeping in contact.  When I get up in the morning is when I think about calling everyone because I don't have to be to work until 9:30am.  Then I think about them and think, they probably wouldn't appreciate a call when I get up at 7:30 am because it's 4:30 am in Oregon.  It seems like the day takes on a life of it's own after that and my good intentions disappear into the night. I will win however.  Was there ever any doubt?  Stop laughing!


I'm gearing up for Spring and Summer.  A friend at work gave me several links to some fantastic festivals, mile long yard sales and a salvage store.  How could it get any better?  Life is good son.  We're enjoying it more every day. We're enjoying doing more and looking forward to more. I'm so glad I followed my dream even when it seemed weird to everyone else.

Until next week....be Aaron!  love, mom