Milo Wrestling in Carlisle

We took the boys to Carlisle to wrestle. Milo doesn't wrestle at every tournament. We take him to smaller ones -- just to get his toes wet. He is only in Kindergarten -- he's got several more wrestling years ahead of him. He is improveing. This photo is of him getting a single leg take down. YEAH!!! Great job Milo.

He got to chose which position he wanted to be in.


I'm sure he wasn't thinking it would end up in THIS position -- getting his head stuffed. Yes... that is a move. The "coach" gets to go along side the mat and give directions. Well -- as you can see from the photos -- there are several coaches... plus the fans in the stands all screaming... so in order for the wrestler to hear you -- you really have to hollar the directions. Dan loses his voice pretty quickly - so the boys can't hear him very well. That is why I sit along side him and just repeat every thing he says -- only LOUDLY. Funny...This week-end I was screaming at Mansel -- "Stuff his head... stuff his head." He did and he got then scooted his hips on around, and apparently that's a good thing. When his match was over his dad said, "Way to stuff his head." Ü I was thinking -- "What in the wide world are we teaching our boys?" LOL

But what ever works.

Here is Milo -- proudly sporting his 4th place medal. (Oh yes -- there are only 4 places). But never mind that... he LOVES that medal!!

At the Library Week 4 or 45...

It seems like 45. I've lost track actually -- how long has it been?

Today I went to Des Moines to get a rain check on a computer -- so it could actually be 45 more days or weeks before I've got internet at home again. I wonder if I can get reimbursed for my non used internet "stuff".

Well -- Best Buy has the best buy apparently on a computer right now. Even beat out Costco and you know -- Costco usually wins... with their samples and all. I did go to Costco to check out what they had -- to make sure before we made sure -- get this -- I didn't even buy an ice cream bar. ::gasp:: I know... amazing... but it was snowing outside -- sometimes that puts a damper on my ice cream bar cravings. Especially when I have to eat it in the car. Brrr... too cold today.

Well -- let's see... I'll get you caught up... today I went to the Dentist. I've got some "watchers"... but no cavities. My dentist -- who will remain unamed -- but he's related to my friend Robin -- he has some fun toys in his office. I got to see up close and personal some really stained groovy teeth. These are the "watchers". Gross!! But how cool... it was fun to see. He has surround sound and all that jazz on his TV at home -- it think he likes coming to work so he can play with his toys. No really -- I was impressed. How far dentistry has come. My most vivid memory of dental work as a child was the green stretchy thing they drapped across my mouth so they wouldn't dropp metal shavings down my throat while filling my many cavities. 10 at one time, if I remember right. CRAZY... didn't I own a tooth brush? I'm sure I did... we even had regular dental exams. How do I know? They had a TV... I got to watch TV every 6 months and I looked forward to it greatly.

Speaking of TV. I've imposed the NO TV UNLESS DAD IS WATCHING TV rule again. Of course that only applies to anyone shorter than me. Too much eye rolling and mouthing off for me. That stinking TV is CRAZY!!

Speaking of CRAZY!! I got a Physical Well Being Check Up sort of thing done at Dan's work yesterday. That "Wood Window and Door" place that he works at does this once a year for free. Dan did it last year and it was amazing the information we learned about it. I wanted one done!! I love information. Ü So -- I let them weigh me. The cute little 25 year old skinny kid allowed me 2 pounds for my clothes. He must have thought I was wearing wet wool pants or something. But that was nice!! THANKS! LOL Anyway... I am super flexible for the average woman. That's always good to know. BUT -- what really imporessed me was this information.

If you are skinny -- you can stop reading now --

If you are fat -- keep reading.

I got a BMI done with Electricity -- Up Town... sort of reminds me of the dentist.

Anyway... No measureing tapes and calculators there.

So -- they told me some good stuff. I'm fat. I already knew that.. BUT -- in order to be healthy...

Well -- let's start with the old way. In order to be NOT OBESE -- I'd have to lose 45 pounds. Nice. Yeah... I've tried losing 45 pounds for 2.5 years. Not happening.

This summer I did get down to 170's. Low 70's. I was fit. I could run a mile. I could lift heavy weights. I could walk up a steep hill and not go into cardio arrest.

BUT I was still obese and very discouraged... thinking I had 30 more pounds to lose.

Well -- yesterday... bless his heart... this skinny 25 year old KID told me -- HANG ON TO YOUR HATS -- My weight should be with in 147 - 167 pounds. Woo Hoo -- let's all do a bless the skinny 25 year old DANCE!! Ask my friend Beth -- I'm saying that in a very excited voice!!! Only I'm at the library -- so I'll just use a lot of !!! Woo Hoo... I can NOT believe it. Praise God for people who inveted this "more accurate way" of finding ones BMI. Yessss!

So -- now my new goal.... Get back down into the low 170's and then just a bit further. Ü

I should be able to do it -- I'm starting Couch to 5K with a few of my friends. (EHem.. Beth, Robin, Tricia, Lori, and Beth! Chris? You coming??) I'm going to "teach" a Couch to 5K class. Won't that be hysterical? Wait... no it won't!!! I'm going to do it -- Lord willing!!! Then I'll be on my way to a 22% BMI!! Another Yesssss! would go nicely here.

Let's see... what else?

We are all healthy and well. Praise the Lord for THAT!!

Dan is still working -- although still not 40 hours. Why don't you all go buy a few windows... or doors... help keep America working (well -- at least my dear husband working!) Ü

I'm not at Subway anymore... funny thing... I can get up and exercise at 6:00 now. I didn't have the energy to do that when closing at Subway. Maybe that will help my BMI a little bit. Less cookies. More sleep. More exercise. Hmmm... we'll see.

I'm looking forward too seeing my folks again in March. ::waving wildly:: Hi Mom!!! Send $$. OK -- just kidding... She did send me a letter since my computer has been down. What a pal. I sure appreciate THAT!! Loved it actually... I love mail!

I got to talk to Angela on the phone. She's a reader here -- Hi!! Got your basement done yet? LOL (OK -- that was only 2 days ago).

Hmmm... not too much new news since the last time I blogged. Things happen all the time and I think, "I should blog... doh" no computer. So -- I'm thinking about you readers... do you think of me?

I hope so -- when you do -- you can pray for me. Because I CAN ALWAYS USE THE PRAYER!!

Have a great day -- May God Bless You!!

Hello from the Library

So -- this is week 2 without a computer at home.

Do you think my house is spotless? It's NOT! LOL!! Apparently I dont' spend at much time on the computer as I thought I did. Ü

Do you know when you type in the libarary - it sounds really LOUD! ::shhhh...::

My dear husband is on the hunt for a new computer. Ours is old actually -- then after you put a bunch of $$ into it to fix it -- it's still not as fast/good/pretty as the new ones, and they keep getting less and less expensive. Technology is great isn't it?

Which reminds me... ology is the study of... What is Tech? I'm having fun with our Greek Words. Yesterday my kiddos went on and on about our Greek words. That was FUN! I'm a geek -- who likes Greek.

We had a BLAST at our marriage retreat week-end deal. Oh my -- fun, fun, fun. I learned some things about friends from church. Randy is FUNNY!! I like his sense of humor. Linda is a lucky lady. Gary and Carol are great grand-parents. NOOOO they are not that old... but they left a rip-roaring Apples to Apples game just to catch a glimpes of a grand daughter on TV. Scott -- he doesn't like his photo taken. So of course... click, click, click. (tee hee) SOMEONE -- won Apples to Apples game... because they got upgraded to a hot tub room and they wanted to check it out! Don't blame them really...

You know what?? After checking 1055 unread e-mails (ok -- I skipped a few) My wrists are getting tired.

So -- I think I'll sign off now.

Plus the alchoholic who just sat down beside me stinks! °Ü°

Hello from my Hotel

Ack!!

The unthinkable has happened.

Our computer is caput!!

::sigh::

So -- I'm stuck in no man's land -- unable to communicate with the ones and twos who read my blog. I'm so sorry!!

I will say that I really haven't been missing you all that much -- well because... My dear husband has been "painting my door"... Come back soon to find out what all he has been doing, and why, and what that really means. °Ü°

Here is a hint -- I'm still retreating. Mid-Winter Couples Retreat that is.

What a blessing!!

God is good.

See ya soon friends. (I promise -- the power cable is in the mail -- so they say!)

Cat on a Hot... Tin Roof??

Well -- not exactly a tin roof.

This cat will do anything to get inside. We recently acquired him from a neighbor. Very friendly little kitty. He doesn't seem as wild as some of the others we've had. He will purr. He is soft. If you pick him up, he will slink his way around your neck. EVERY time. He's got a neck fetish, apparently.

He also LOVES to be inside our house.

So much so that when I leaned out our back door - which has no deck beneath it yet -- to take photos of the kiddos playing in the snow -- he jumped up unto the hot furnace pipe to try to jump up into the house. It would have been a long leap, but he was gonna try.

Oh hot... eee... he didn't stay up there long.

Have you Heard from Sandra James?

Oh how sad for her...

Dearest One,

I am writting this letter with due respect and heartful of tears since we
have not known or met ourselves previously I am asking for your assistance
after I have gone through a profile that speaks good of you. I want to find out if it's possible for you to deal with individual as to investment. I came across your profile and I feel it's highly reputable that is why I pick an interest getting across to you in respect of investment at my disposal. I will be so glad if you can allow me and lead me to the right channel towards your assistance to my situation now. I would like to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you.
I am Sandra James 22Years Old Lady from (cote d ivore) ,the only daughter
of Late Micheal James , My father is now late he was a well known cocoa
and gold merchant business man in my country( cote d ivore) ,he was poisoned
by his co-business partner a year ago. The main reason why I am contacting you now is to seek your assistance in the area of my future investment and also for a help hand over some huge amount of money in my possession.
This fund ( US5.6 Million dollars) is deposited in a bank in my country in (cote d'ivoire) a years ago by my father he made me the sole beneficiary.I am now asking you to stand on my behalf,to stand as my partner and in time of the claim and investment as well. I have made up my mind to offer you 13%of the total money while the remaining will go into a productive investment. Pls attach your direct and full information as you reply to me.
Thanks and remain bless.

Best Regards
Sandra James

These just CRACK ME UP!!!


and heartful of tears

What sort of tears is she crying?

since we have not known or met ourselves previously

We have not met ourselves previously?? I'm not sure about that -- sometimes I meet myself coming and going.

I came across your profile and I feel it's highly reputable that is why I pick an interest getting across to you in respect of investment at my disposal.

I wonder what her point is here? I think Sandra James lost me about riiight here.

Poor Sandra -- I sure hope someone helps her.

Thanks and remain bless commentors. °Ü°

(Don't worry -- I didn't reply with my direct and full information! Instead I reported her as SPAM, but not before I cut and pasted it here for all our entertainment).

Michelle is in Brazil

Dan's niece Michelle is visiting with John and Bev. Missionaries in Brazil. This is a recent photo of us taken at her graduation reception.

The quilt in the back ground is one that she made. She has many talents. I thank God that she has a servants heart and is unselfishly serving God with them.

I think she would appreciate your prayers today, as the Lord leads you.

Sited -- A Random Act of Kindness at the Subway

Ü

I'm smiling -- you know why? Someone acted kindly to me tonight, and I just can't get over it.

Here -- let me start at the beginning.

I've recently taken a job at Subway. I'm an artist. A sandwich artist. Oh my heavens -- making subways is more difficult than I thought. Either that -- or I'm a slow learner... either way. I'm still a novice.

Tonight I made a sandwich for a friend. Hi Ruby!! We chatted -- I made -- she gave directions -- she smiled!! She mentioned she reads my blog. I gushed... I think.

As she left I told my manager -- "She reads my blog -- she just made my day."

Then the cashier said, "You got a tip."

REALLY???

RUBY!! You shouldn't have!!

I'll tell you what... that act of kindness -- it almost made me cry!!! Who tips Subway Sandwich Artist?? Nobody -- that's who. Except for my friend. Ruby -- you'll never know how much I appreciate -- not the money -- but the affirmation. (Well -- the money is going to buy me a Ghirardelli White Chocolate something or other latte uptown). I really appreciate and cherish the fact that you smiled at me, and chatted with me, and let me know, and the others around me know, that you were pleased with me.

Thank you, Thank you!

Now -- did I learn a lesson? Oh... why must there be a lesson??

I think I need to do some affirming around me tomorrow*. I need to start doing some random acts of kindness with the people I'm living with and the ones my life touches every day.

Thanks for the lesson Ruby.

And thanks again -- for the tip! (You didn't have to do that, you know)


*Actually -- that's today. I closed, so now it's 1:05 A.M. on Friday morning. Time for bed. So what I meant was, upon rising -- I'll do some affirming. LOL