Old Friends = Good Times!!

I met some of my old friends(we've known each other for almost 20 years and yes we are all a bit older!) for lunch today in Glendora where we lived for 12 years.  I moved away 7 years ago, Laura now lives in Texas, Karen lives in LaVerne, Diane and Tricia still live in town.  It was Laura's visit to town that got us all together for our annual lunch at Grand Burger.  The food IS NOT why we meet there....it's tradition!!!  It was great catching up on all of our families and remembering good times.  We all met when our children were in elementary school.  Karen and I met sitting in those tiny kindergarten chairs for a volunteer meeting.  Both of us had a kindergartener and a 2 year old.  We ended up watching each others little ones so we could volunteer in the classroom without them.  The boys all became good friends as did Karen and I.  We had the best PTA times together and later enjoyed bunco and eating out once a month for years.  It was good to see everyone and let's do it again soon!  Missed you Jeanne, Susan, Theresa and Debbie!

Ok It's Time!!

Yes, I walk by it every morning and every night and yet I don't get on and go for the ride.  You guessed it....the good ol' treadmill.  I thought putting it by the bed over a year ago would get me on it more often than when it was in the bonus room in the corner where I didn't see it everyday.  So...now I am within a pound of my initial goal with Jenny Craig that I set the end of March and I need to get on that thing to get this last pound off and hit my goal.  I walked on it one time last week for 30 minutes and it felt so good.  The real problem is that I've never made exercise a part of my daily life and it just doesn't run in my family.  They are all good cooks and love to eat!!  For most of my life I have been lucky to not have to worry about what I ate or gaining weight but the last 10 years have added a pound or two each year and yikes.....I hated each picture of me.  Do I really look like that??? I'd ask??? Well yes....so I joined Jenny with my husband has always battled his weight since football ended in college.  I have lost 18 lbs. and feel great.  I still need to lose a few more or get lipo for the small roll around my middle but since I'm a chicken about surgery....I know I will need to work at it.  Fit and Fabulous at 40   is a website I found to encourage me.  Go check it out!  I'm holding a few of my friends accountable to asking me if I've been on my treadmill each day.  I'm gonna do it tomorrow, I promise!  :)  

I love Softball!

I LOVE SOFTBALL!!!   I  have loved softball since I was a little girl.  My dad was my coach until high school.   Dwight and I played on various co-ed teams over the years and I played on a competitive women's team until I had Dustin 19 years ago.  Dwight and I had the opportunity to play on a co-ed team from church a couple months ago and WE LOVE IT!!!  We look forward to Thursday with such anticipation.  I had not pitched in 19 years and still can so I am the pitcher for our team.  Dwight plays first base.  I told my kids many times that they would see me play again in my 60's.  It didn't take that long and I'm glad.  My son, Dallas plays with us on the team now.  What fun!  Don't let me fool you there are sacrifices....a swollen knee every now and then, a sore muscle here and there but nothing that Aleve can't take care of.  Thank God!!!  So for those of you that think that you could never do that again. I am encouraging you to give it a try!!  You never know...you could be having the time of your life like I am!  I am attaching a picture for you to see...in the background is my son, Dallas.  :)  Did I tell you....I love softball!!

Wonderful Wednesday

As we prepare to be empty nesters we are celebrating too the flight our youngest baby bird to fly on his own.  Last night we had a dinner in his honor to encourage him in his endeavor.  His brother and sister and their spouses, his cousin Derek and wife Beth along with Bella, Dylan, Dwight and I enjoyed a BBQ dinner on our back patio.  It was a great nite of filet mignon, cheesy potatoes, green beans, rolls and a yummy fruit salad.  We topped it off with a Mud Pie I made with oreo cookie crust and mocha java icecream and chocolate syrup.  It was a hit!  My husband gave each of the couples the book Living the Extraordinary Life by Charles Stanley.  This book touched his heart and he is sharing it with friends and family.  He started a bible study at work with the guys in management also.  We also talked about going the Harvest Crusade together.  It was a blessed night.  I was a tired but happy mama bird! A special thank you to Sandy at 4 Reluctant Entertainers for her encouragement to entertain and enjoy the time with family and friends often.  Although I forgot to take pictures of he food or the table to share with you.  It was a beach theme with flowers from my garden in little jars for decor.  I am looking forward to the next event already.

Sunday Dinner

For years my mother-in-law would cook the best Sunday dinner ever which included eye of the round roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, a jello salad, corn and rolls.  We always had dessert too. Today I spent the afternoon with my mother-in-law and father-in-law who are both in their late 80's while Dw and his brother were golfing.  Lenie and I hit the local Ross for some fabulous finds.  I bought a roast and the fixin's for dinner.  This time it was my turn to cook the dinner for all of us and Damon too.  It was so good! AND so was dessert!  Doesn't it look yummy???  I made it myself with fresh strawberries from the local fruit and vegetable stand in town.  Now back to Jenny Craig tomorrow...I've lost 16 lbs in 4 months and feel great!

My new baby?

With Dustin leaving home, I am asking myself "Will I now become a dog person?  You see, I'm not a dog person at all...I don't like doggy breath, doggy smell, dog food smells, dog poop, dog hair on everything and a dog constantly wanting to be touched.  But our bassett hound of one year is becoming my buddy as I take care of things in the yard and around the house.  She has calmed down and is finally not chewing every mat I put outside the back door(although she gnawed on it a little this week), she will stay when I say stay and will not run in the door every time it opens.  She loves to play ball and bark at you.  I always thought that bassett hounds were slow dogs....not this one, she lives up to her name....SPEED!  AND she can jump on things that you just wouldn't think a dog could get up on.  I push all of our patio chairs under the patio table so she can't get on them and I don't have to sit in dog hair each time but she has found a way!  She climbs in the planters at the side of the yard and digs....how did she get up there???  Anyway, only time will tell if I become that dog person or just enjoy the dog every now and then.  How can you not love this face though????  I was playing with my new EXILIM camera yesterday and taking random pictures in the yard and she stands in front of me and barks.  So this is SPEED!  She is good company!

Empty Nest

We have a week and a half until we will be official empty nesters.  You never think this day will come when they are little.  It's come too soon.   I'm feeling a bit sad this morning as I'm picking up the house and seeing the stuff we bought for Dustin's apartment yesterday.  It also makes me feel that I have done my job as a mother and my children are raised.  Raised enough anyway to try to make it on their own and isn't that what our job as mothers and fathers are.  Our older two are out on their own and married and starting their families.  It was also sad when they embarked on their own.  Danielle never really did come back home.  Dallas has been back a couple times and stayed as long as he could. (He likes to save his $$$ and he said he was saving ours because we did not have to pay for the dorm/apt.)  So now here I am, feeling sad but triumphant that we have come so far with our child rearing and I feel that we've done a pretty good job.  My husband has had tears this last month or so thinking about this day.  I think of God allowing Jesus to be born and  raised by Mary and Joseph and then they had to let go.  It's a part of life and I too will be better for it with a few tears is all.