Wow. I'm overdue for a post. Many posts. My red-haired boy turned 18 and went to prom. I did take some nice photos, but they're on another computer and I'm too lazy to go through the rigamaroll to get them on here.  Hubby and I celebrated our 32nd anniversary in Phoenix at the Musical Instrument Museum. We ate lunch there and enjoyed walking around in the beautiful, new contemporary building. I LOVE museums and RAREly get to go, so THIS was quite the treat. We then went shopping so that I could pick up a birthday gift for my sister. While I was bent over in Anthropologie (gleeful sigh), I sensed a figure standing near me. I stood up and OH WOW...there stood my college girl! I threw myself on her out of sheer delight! I knew her Aunty Beth had picked her up from the airport the night before and that they (along with her Aunty Marla) were, no doubt, out there somewhere shopping, but had no idea they'd be in the same area as hubby and I!!!! So, that totally made my day. My heart felt complete. She hung out with me for awhile and then we parted ways as this was when hubby and I would decide where to eat our anniversary din-din. We'd fetch our daughter a couple hours later from my sister's house. So, we decided upon Cheesecake Factory. God is so wonderful to inspire humans to create cheesecake. And salads. And strawberry lemonade! It was comforting to spend this special time together...not really romantic at all because of this different season we're in with hubby's health. But it was nice and we are confident that God's love comes through us to each other. If I could change it to be how it was say....5 years ago, I certainly would. However, I would not change what all we've learned about commitment. I do feel like we've uploaded, downloaded, overloaded and unloaded stuff from our marriage and we're good to go for as long as we can! God's grace is such a gift, and that's the gift we have for each other. Nothing material, not even a card or flowers. Just love, grace and being together to share a new experience.  We're blessed with great kids, family and friends. I'm so thankful that my daughter has grown up and actually allowed me to use her as a model so that I can see what I need to improve my photography.  Improvement...everybody can use a little now and then and that's the road I'm on...all for God's glory, not my own!

At the eyelid splitting hour of 6:45, I pulled myself out of the cozy, comfy bed. Me, the NOT a Morning Person. got up early in order to go to the gym for a hiney kicking workout. It worked. Hiney hurts. It'll be worth it if I can get into my spring and summer clothes, which I dug out of my little closet. My favorite t-shirt is the starfish one.

Dishes and laundry had to be done; I love the soap I made for the laundry. I REALLY love the old metal can I found to contain the soap!  I went outside to snap a few photos...

Some Dandies are finished already! The ladies are out in force.

When I came inside, Kilo was standing there next to his piggy, waiting for Somebody to play with him! Sadly, his boy had to leave for work. ) :  And his other people were kind of busy. Hubby and #One son were putting an alternator into the Expedition. Messy, dirty, bloody job.

Before our red-haired boy left, he asked if we'd please go to the store. We "Have No Food". So later, I gathered up my pretty bags and off we went to buy groceries. We are continually shocked at the prices and have been forced to scale down the variety. Ha! Like we ever even HAD variety. (I'm a boring cook.)

Throughout the day, I checked in on a couple xanga friends to see about the life in the day. How was yours?

The Cottonwoods are budding, thanks to our warm streak before the massive snowstorm! The one thing I love about Spring is the Life that pops, seemingly, out of nowhere. Everything that was dead and scraggly and scary is now ignited with color and excitement and promise.

That sad thing right now is that today, the sky is grey and its absence of color is matching my somber mood as I contemplate the WHY of my dear friend's brother's suicide. I do understand the difficult circumstances he was in. But to completely give in to deep discouragement and leave wife and daughters devastated and siblings and parents and other relatives and friends and co-workers shocked? That's the capital W in WHY? Lost hope? Selfishness?

The death is like Spring reversed if you look at it eye ball to eye ball...grey, scraggly, drab, lifeless... Yet in reality, this guy believed in Jesus and who He is and what He did at His death and ressurrection. This friend was forgiven for his choices at that cross. I believe he's with Jesus in heaven now. And that's the only comfort in this tragedy. Kind of like putting the buds on the tree and knowing they contain life.

Okay, so, today is a gorgeous day and I desperately need to go for a power walk. somewhere. anywhere. I have lost 3 pounds and am amped up about that earth-shattering news! I even ate CINNAMON rolls last week! How did the weight loss happen? It's highly possible that I drank my special water, and drank aLOT of it. Thank God for the person who suggested putting slices of lemon, cucumber and sprigs of mint into a container of water! It really does help to clean out the system, let me TELL you, my dears. I wish I could say that shoveling snow helped me burn calories, but no...I simply shot photos of the beauty that took down a bunch of our branches. And soon, I hope to snap some shots of my hubby and son, sawing those babies down into nice little logs. That should burn a couple of calories, ya think?

In spite of the excitement of snow and weight loss, I still battle with a little depression, and that has everything to do with hubby's condition. At least we have a solid foundation and I always see where God's love is sweeping through us like a brush scraping the snow off the windshield. I easily get blinded by the difficulties and the negatives. I'm so grateful for what and who brings my vision back.

One of the best things that could happen is that when my parents moved here, I gained the opportunity to reconnect with my older sister, because wherever they go, she needs to go. They rely on each other.. Sadly, she is sometimes like a slave and that really, REALLY irks me. So, the great thing is, that last week she texted me and asked if I'd be interested in taking her to walk the path by the lake where she and dad go driving by (everytime they go somewhere; AND dad's the driver, which means he has all the power to where they go and when). Of course, I said yes! Long story longer: I picked her up and took her over there, along with my daughter, who was home for spring break. I WISH you could meet "Mar". We had so much fun and I was truly, truly blessed to witness her transformation out on that trail. She wanted to keep going, but agreed we could stop where we stopped, with our goal set for "next time, we'll go as far as the bridge". My dear friends, I plead with you.... if you think of her, please pray for her strength to deal with the every day hum drum, same old, same old, controlled environment she is commanded to live in. I wish I was in charge of her situation; she'd have so much freedom and activity and her spirit would explode with joy. I need to get her out walking again, but, as in the recent past, have met with some resistance from the folks. They won't even let her walk out of the gated community. It's a safe area, and alot of people, mostly older but fit people, are out beyond those gates. Oy vey, I get so frustrated with the severe boundaries placed upon her. She needs me and I need her, to help each other get beyond our weight issues, our depression issues and simply our need to have some fun as sisters, because we were denied that for so many years. I guess I'll end here. You all don't need to read my book!

Amazingly, there are 7 little Narcissus flowers on this stalk! It was a gift from a friend...someone who is way more wild than me. And so very thoughtful, she waited 'til late November to give me my birthday gift from last March. She wanted these things to come out close to my birthday THIS year I guess! I do LOVE my wild friends! They seem to have so much more fun and fulfillment than I do. Because I'm neither wild, nor live a wild life, I will just tell 7 things about me. Try not to fall asleep! Thank you, Cindy, (@down_onthefarm) for tagging me!

1. I lived in Mexico for 6 years; missionary kid. No further explanation needed!

2. I married the only guy who asked me to marry him. Thank GOD, I liked him alot! ( 8 

3. On a family vacation in Mexico (me as a teen) we were on a mountain winding road, late at night and suddenly BIG THUMP went the station wagon. We hit a cow. No injuries, just shaken. Made a wild, great story for all the church folks back home.

4. I love to drive. I got to drive a quad a few years ago, and would love to own one, but am afraid if we could buy one, I'd be a wild driver on that thing. They are FUN!

5. I learned to drive in that hit-the-cow station wagon on a built for a movie landing strip. One lesson, no other cars or people in sight. Dad made me drive home on a scary, 2 lane highway with tractor trailer semis flying by. THAT WAS WILD!

6. Mexico again... ( I was almost 16), mom had my 2nd brother. C-section birth (wildly scary in a Catholic Mexican hospital). Baby bro was in an incubator. I stood right next to him, praying that he'd live. Mom felt  like she was dying. I had to spend 2 nights in her room to "help" with the baby. LORD, THAT was intense and I sensed an oppression there. Ever since then, 39 years later, I still struggle with the sound of a crying baby and a certain feeling in a building.

7. Recently went for a walk by myself at the lake. The wind was a tad wild. And I realized that if I'm going to be out there walking alone, I'd better have some protection, like a weapon. I'd like a pink Mace pistol for my birthday!