HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Bella and I wish you a Happy Halloween!  These are the pumpkins her dad, her grandma and her mom carved the other night with her.  We all had a lot of fun!  More pictures of Bella and Dylan in their costumes to come!  Have a good night and be safe!

Giveaway!

Isn't this too cute???  I decorate with snowmen for Christmas and I love this.  If you'd like to enter the drawing to win this...go to Sandi's site.  She is opening an etsy shop in January so keep up with her blog for more amazing items.  By the way Sandi is Heidi's mom who I mentioned in one of my last blogs.  She makes me laugh...she's a crazy fun gal that shares it ALL with you.   Go potty first and don't be drinking anything when you read her blog...trust me!

Simple Woman's Daybook #2

For Today

Outside my window...the sun is shining bright and it's warm.  It's supposed to be in the high 80's today.  So much for fall around here.  It's true...we don't put our shorts away until after Thanksgiving.

I am thinking...about how blessed I am to be able to watch my two grand babies while their parents work.  I'm glad they don't have to go to a babysitter we don't know.

From the learning rooms...I am learning so much about myself and how to be still and listen to God's word.  To laugh more and have fun!

I am thankful for...my good health, good friends, my friend, Roger from high school who called to say "hi" and my new little grandson due any day!

From the kitchen...the smell of coffee.  I am going to make cookies later and pot pies for dinner.

I am wearing...a yellow babydoll top, tan shorts and sandals.  Remember it's still summer here!

I am reading...photography magazines to learn how to take better photographs.  I love sharing pictures with family and friends.

I am hoping...that my daughter has her baby this week.  She is so anxious and excited.  

I am creating...nothing at this time.  I have some projects to work on...just gotta take the time.

I am hearing...Bella talking sweetly to her baby and our dog, Speed barking for attention.

Around the house...Bella is playing, Dylan is sleeping and laundry is getting done.

One of my favorite things...being home and not having to go anywhere.  We've been on the go since my surgery.  It's nice to spend a day at home.

A few plans for the Rest of the Week...to see my friend, Vicki, play with my grandchildren, get an offer accepted and open escrow, paint the computer room, meet with our pastor's wife to take on a project for her(answered prayer!) and play softball on Thursday night!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I got to experience fall in Chicago.  We took a wrong turn and found this little lake and the trees were gorgeous around it.  We all were in awe of God's creation and the beauty of it.  We took pictures each couple with this in the background.  AMAZING!!

For more Simple Woman Day Books, visit The Simple Woman.  Have a great day!

Another Award

I'm having some bloggy block like a few other bloggers I know so....hang in there with me.  I'm working on being a bit more creative.  Just been busy and too much going on in the brain that doesn't pertain to blogging.  So I received an award...

Brandee at the Berry's Patch gave me the BFF (Blogging Friends Forever) GOLD card!  Thank you Brandee for making blogging so much fun and becoming a bloggy friend.  I have enjoyed the last few months meeting so many nice people all across the United States and abroad.  

The following are a couple BFF's that make blogging enjoyable:

1.  Debbie at Dishing with Debbie-She is funny!

2. Kim at Seasons of My Heart-Happy Birthday!!!!

3. Laura at The Well Blog-Such a sweet spirit!

4.  A new friend-Sue at the Cotton Patch-Being a Grandma is great!

5.  Another new friend-Lavender Chick-Love her life in the country!

Please pass this on to your BFF's and enjoy a Gold card that you don't have to make payments on each month except to keep making comments on your BFF's blogs.  Isn't blogging fun?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Chicago is my kind of town!

Dinner at Weber's Grill with John and Brenda and Greg and Candy.
The Hancock Building

The Clock on the Wrigley Building The girls before going into the Hershey store.

I love this picture!!

What a great time we had in Chicago. I got to tag along with my hubby on a business trip along with two other guys from his office and their wives. We all had a great time seeing the sites. Thanks to Debbie and a few others, we saw so many neat things and ate until we were stuffed on Denny's fabulous breakfast at 1am after we flew in, Chicago style pizza at Gino's East and Giordanos, Chicago dogs at Portillos, sliders at White Castle, cheesecake at Eli's Cheesecake Factory, mexican at Uncle Julios and the best steak at Weber Grill.

We took a double-decker bus tour of downtown, walked the Magnificent Mile and more, found the underground walkway, drove by Oprah's Harpo Studios(thanks for enduring my desire-Brenda and Candy), visited Navy Pier, the Museum of Science and Technology where we learned that Poop Happens(you can ask Dwight all about it), did a little shopping, visited the Hershey and Giardelli's Chocolate shops and saw many beautiful and tall buildings. I love the clocks all around town. You really have no excuse to be late with all the clocks on the buildings. Lake Michigan is amazing. I love the bike/walking path along the edge of the lake. Soldier field, the aquarium and Milennium Park were places that we didn't get to and I look forward to seeing next time. We also took a wrong turn and happened upon this beautiful lake where we took the above picture. I love Chicago! It is definitely my kind of town! I have over 400 pictures to prove it. Look for the slide show on the side bar if you want to see them all.

Behind Those Eyes-Ms. Happiness & An Award!

I feel good and back to myself for the most part after surgery two weeks ago. Just have to watch the sleeping in thing...caught myself still in bed at 9am the other day and scared myself when I woke up!! Good thing I had nowhere to be that morning. :) You can get away with it when you have NO children at home and a hubby who heads off to work early everyday. :)

I'm late with my online bible study...Say Yes to God hosted by Lelia at Write From the Heart. We are studying the book "Behind Those Eyes" by Lisa Whittle. Lisa even joins us and gives us encouragment. If you'd like to join or read the insight of others doing the study...you can check it all out at Lelia's site here!

Chapter 4: Ms. Happiness

This was a hard chapter for me to write something down about.  I've started a couple times.

On page 59, Lisa writes~A lot of things can make us feel happy for a time.  But a lot of things can also let us down almost as quickly as they perked up up.  I can relate to that.  It happens daily that we let little things make us happy for a time.  I don't think I've relied on things or people really to make me happy.   I've been a pretty content person most of my life and look at the positive side of things.  I am a pretty happy person.  I attribute that to being a child of God and holding very high morals. (Sometimes to the detriment of missing out on a bit of fun!)  I became a believer in Junior High and rededicated my life to the Lord as a senior in high school.  I married a believer and we were blessed to sit under one of the godliest pastors I have ever known and I grew in my faith.  We have always been involved in our church, yearned for that deeper walk with HIM and for the most part have relied on the Lord for his care of us.  We have not had an easy 30 years of married life but we work at it.  We always come back together and focus on what God's word says.  I would have to say I have never focused on being HAPPY.  I have put on the mask of happiness when I wasn't for a period of time.

Lisa also writes that the true and lasting source of our joy that fills our hearts and overflows into the paths of those around us.  When we go to the real source of joy, we find the answers we need to secure our contentment in life forever.  I took to heart this verse long ago when I was at a ladies bible study.  I actually put the verse in my husband's lunch and he quit his job the next day to start his own business.  It is:  Philippians 4:11-13~Not that I speak from want:  for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.  

I took this verse to heart and it has helped me through each and every circumstance.

I take Lisa's prayer to heart as well...it is my prayer today.

Father God, we are women who desire to find joy, fulfillment, and peace in life.  We know that only You can provide these things.  But we admit we have sought other sources to make us happy, and they have only brought us temporary feelings of fulfillment.  You are our joy, and we seek YOU as our only way to be the happy women we want to be.  In Jesus' name.  AMEN.

This week I received my first bloggy award from Heidi. which just happens to fall in line with our Ms. Happiness chapter above because they give you that happy feeling for a short time. This reward requires you to name six things that make you happy! You will need to check out her blog when you want a laugh(go potty first if you are over 45!) or to see the cutest kiddos in Georgia!

Six things that make me happy:

1. My family~hubby, children and grandchildren

2. Sitting on the beach reading a magazine and listening to the ocean.

3. Looking at picture albums~I love looking at pictures!!! I also love taking pictures and sharing them with friends and family.

4. Learning something new from the Bible and applying it to my life. It gives me peace, joy and happiness.

5. Knowing that my children know the Lord and have grown up to be responsible adults attempting to make it on their own. I am proud of each of them!

Thanks for the award Heidi.  Please go here for a good laugh and here is another one and here one more.  You can also read about her precious son and daughter and her crazy husband who makes her laugh and makes her happy most of the time.  I'm supposed to link to 6 other blogs that make me happy but I've run out of time.  I've gotta get to bed as we leave for Chicago tomorrow and I still have to pack and get my nails done!  So Debbie, Nina Diane, Brandee, Carol, Carrie(Buzzings of a Queen Bee) and anyone else who reads my blog and comments, feel free to enjoy the award courtesy of me.  I'm off to bed...it's 1:20am!  I can't sleep in tomorrow!

Simple Woman's Daybook #1

For Today...

Outside My Window...the wind is blowing the trees so gently.  It's a chilly fall morning finally.

I am thinking...that I am going to have a busy week!

From the learning rooms...is my bible study on Ms. Happiness that I need to re-read and think about the questions and what I am to gather from this study.

I am thankful for...my husband and his job in these uncertain times and for God's blessings.

From the kitchen...the smell of cinnamon coffee and last night's chicken and dumplings.

I am wearing...a black sweat pants with a jacket and blue fuzzy socks to keep me warm on our first chilly morning this fall.

I am reading...the newspaper and What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.

I am hoping...to write an offer for a client today.

I am creating...a CD of pictures of myself for my son-in-law to create a DVD of my 50 years of life for my birthday.  I love the one he did for my hubby.

I am hearing...quietness at this moment and it's wonderful.

Around the house...I have laundry to do, my bed to be made and some piles to clean up.

One of my favorite things...is looking at photos of family and friends.

A Few Plans For the Rest of the Week...to pack for Chicago(we leave on Friday), get the house ready for our small group bible study meeting here tomorrow night, pick up the motorhome from the repair shop, take 2 buyers out to look at homes and write an offer for them, get my nails done, get my car washed, put some $$$ in my son's account for his books for college :) and take care of Bella and Dylan 2 days this week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

My precious granddaughter walking us out to the pumpkin patch last week to pick her very own pumpkin.  What a nice day that was.

For more Simple Woman's Day Books, visit The Simple Woman.  Have a great day!!

Samantha Who is Back!!

I love this show! What shows do you watch regularly? I also watch the Amazing Race, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars and Gossip Girl.

Pumpkin Patch Adventure

I laid low for a week after my surgery and finally had to get out of the house.  This was my first trip to a real pumpkin patch.  Living in the city, all we have is a set-up on a street corner with the hay, pony rides and the blow up slides for the kids and the pumpkins already picked and placed around the lot for you to pick one or two.  This year, my son and I thought we'd like to take Bella to a real pumpkin patch.  We found one in a rural area about 25 minutes away.  I never knew there were so many different types of pumpkins.  Here's a few they had under a canopy for us to choose from:

Wow!  Dallas saw his favorite!  :)  That's Dallas for ya!  What can I say????

So here we go!  Bella was leading us out to the pumpkin patch.

  I love this picture of her.  Of course, she is my favorite photog subject anyway.

Bella and her daddy, Dallas looking for the perfect pumpkin.

Baby Dylan, getting sleepy looking for pumpkins.  He and mommy found one though!

Dallas and Bella picking her first pumpkin.  We didn't know that pumpkin vines

 have little thorns or thistles so you have to be careful.  They had to 

twist the pumpkin to get it off the vine.

Bella and her pumpkin.  It ended up being a bit heavy and daddy had to help her hold it!

Aunt Danielle came along too!  Baby Mason is due in 3 weeks!  

Grandma and Bella found a little pumpkin for Dylan.  Isn't it cute???

I found this large flat pumpkin and told Bella to sit on it.  She gave me a strange look and then I told her it was a pumpkin chair.  She said "OK".  Isn't she so cute??

Daddy and Bella with our pumpkin haul.  All $80 worth.  Pumpkins can be expensive in California when you pick them yourself.  Hey Nina....your 12 pumpkins for $15 is a bargain!!

Taking a little break!  My favorite subject again!

Then we were off to the petting zoo which was really a pen of goats that we could

feed.  They attacked us before we even got in the gate.  

Selena had one of the goats trying to eat her shirt and another jumping up on her.

We think these were alpacas.  They were shaved and pretty ugly.  Dallas felt sorry

for them and gave them a little to eat.

Bella feeding the baby goat.  He was so cute!

This one jumped on this rail and basically said "Look at me!"

Bella is just not sure of the big goats.

Aunt Danielle playing with Dylan.

Bella feeding more baby goats.

Taking a break on the pyramid of hay.  Bella and I climbed to the top!

This is the picture I got of her on the top of the hay bales.  I love it!

Dylan looking over the top of his daddy's shoulder.

Dylan got so happy touching the big pumpkin.

Trying to take a family pic wasn't as easy as we thought.  This was a cute one!

We had a great time even though it ended up being hot....97 degrees!  We all thought it was supposed to cool off.  It did that night.  We had to wear sweatshirts to the softball game.  

I am hoping for fall weather this weekend.