The sky overhead last night!!

Isagenix Update...

It's been more than a month since I started my Isagenix journey, so I thought I'd update - not only for those who may be interested but, more importantly, to keep myself accountable and on track...

I will start off by confessing that during the past ten days or so, I have consumed foods and drinks that I've known were not good for me and not on the Isagenix "plan". But, having said that, part of the daily "plan" is a wholesome meal of 400-600 calories and that is where I've stretched the calories a bit, or eaten foods that I really didn't want to get back into eating again.

The bottom line, you ask? After four weeks on the program, I've lost 11 lbs. That's not as much as others claim to have lost but I'm happy with it. I never set out for a quick weight-loss program, so 10 lbs a month is fine. Just think, if I continue at that rate, in six months, I'll have lost 60 lbs! Now that would make me really happy!! LOL! But the main thing for me is the wonderful feeling of eating healthy and getting my energy back again! Before I started this, I was feeling so sluggish and my arthritis was brutal - as you know I was having mega-problems with my knee and hip. Mind you, along with Isagenix, I have also been taking steps towards general good health in keeping with the book "Seven Pillars of Health" by Dr. Colbert. For example:

- I've been drinking more (and better quality) water. I'm trying to average 80-100 ozs daily.

- Floyd and I have been buying organic foods whenever possible. It's been fun looking for them and we've been pleasantly surprised at the availability, affordable pricing, and assortment.

- the biggest step I've taken is the giving up of Splenda!! (Do I hear the cheers from Tanya and Tom?). Yup, never thought I'd do it, but I have! And I don't miss it a bit. If I need a bit of sugar in my coffee, I will add a teaspoon or two and feel no guilt at all. At least I'm not putting chemicals into my body.

- I have also cut back my coffee intake - down to about 2-3 cups per week! Also cut back on my Coke Zeros & Jazz Diet Pepsi's (I used to have 1-2 per day). Now I allow myself maybe 3 a week but I'm becoming increasingly uncomfortable with even that many - because they have absolutely no nutritious value and also because of the extreme "sweetness" of them. I have decided that as soon as the pop in my fridge is gone (only have about 5 left) that I will not be buying any more.

- a long time ago, my doctor suggested that I always order my salad dressing "on the side" and, to myself, I said, "There's no way I'm ever going to do that!!" But I tried it once and discovered that you use so little dressing that way!! I was amazed. Now I've realized that I can actually forgo the dressing all together and really enjoy the different vegetable tastes. Throw in some barbecued chicken cut up and you have a delicious tasting meal!!!

- I have been cutting back on added salt on my foods. I'm trying to appreciate the taste of the food itself, without any added sauces, seasonings or toppings. I haven't found it as hard as I thought I would.

- I've been drinking more organic green tea (instead of other kinds) and am enjoying it immensely. And (here's my big story!!), I've started drinking a cup of Celestial Seasonings "Extra Wellness and Sleepytime Tea" before bed every night. I cannot even start to tell you how well I sleep now! It's incredible. My sleeping pills? In the garbage....

Okay, now that I've told you the positive things I've been doing, here comes my confession... (You knew there had to be one, didn't you?) I have not been exercising as I should. Part of the Isagenix plan is 20 minutes per day and, while I have been taking opportunities daily to exercise (parking further away, taking stairs, etc...), I have not been faithful in walking for 20-30 minutes 5 days per week (my original goal). Just before Floyd got called in for surgery, we'd made an agreement to do it together and hold each other accountable, but, yeah, that went up in smoke - LOL. For now, anyway... Soon, when he's up to it, we'll resume the commitment. Meanwhile, I need to get off my duff and do it myself. I know that will make a big difference in my weight loss.... (Maybe Kristy will do it with me now that she's going to be living with me!!)

But, on a whole, my mental clarity, energy level, and overall health, have really increased since I've been on the program. I've come to absolutely LOVE the shakes - especially with a bit of fresh fruit thrown in. I look forward to my cleansing days because I know how good it is for me and I sure feel better after them....

That's all for now!!!

For Mandy!

I planted this lily for Mandy last year (because she likes them) and this is the second year of blooms. I was so glad to see it came up after the winter as I lost quite a few of my perennials.... More photos of my garden flowers have been posted in my July photo album. The bumble bees around the hollyhocks are huge!! So I decided to grab my camera and take some pics but they all flew off....

"For the beauty of the earth..."

God brings beauty into our lives in so many ways and forms. Yesterday and early this morning, I was blessed by two “visions” of beauty:

- first of all, in the afternoon, Kristy and Bob came over to drop off a mattress for one of our beds – their old one that they were getting rid of. When Kris hopped out of the truck, I was struck by how beautiful she looked!! Here it was a boiling hot day and I expected her to be in shorts or capris, suitable for the work she was doing. But, no, she was in a pretty skirt and top, and I can’t tell you how beautiful she looked! It’s not that she doesn’t wear skirts a lot but more the fact that if ever there might have been an excuse not to wear one, it would have been then – in and out of a truck, moving furniture, etc. But she looked so feminine, refreshed (might have been the A/C in the truck – LOL!), and just, just – beautiful!! She said that she loves wearing them now – “Once you start, Mum, you won’t be able to stop!!” Good for you, KB!

- secondly, Floyd and I were woken up about 12:30 a.m. to an incredible light & sound show courtesy of our Lord. Madison didn’t appreciate it and headed to the basement, but we opened all our bedroom blinds and windows and relaxed side-by-side to enjoy the view. It was incredible and lasted for an hour or more. I eventually fell asleep, so am not sure exactly how long it continued. But the beauty was not only found in the sky, it was also found in the amazing contentment of laying in bed, holding hands with the one you love and watching it together! God, you are so awesome, so incredible and I give you all the praise and the glory – forever and ever…

Did you ever wonder.......?

...where some sayings come from??? Well, Floyd and I discovered one today as we were doing the nurse/patient thing. LOL. Yeah, suffice to say that I discovered what it means to be "left holding the bag" - ROTFLOL! We had a really good laugh at that one!

A funny thing happened on the way to the hospital....

At last…hospital days (Lord willing!) behind us for awhile. Floyd’s home, as of this morning, and now we can work on getting him “up and running” again. Poor guy’s been through a rough week and he must be starving!! My week was spent there as well – most days from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. – hence the lack of posting… There were, however, during the past week some funny little episodes that made me giggle but I knew they had to be put aside in my memory for another day (such is the mind of a blogger – right, Tanya?)…

- the strange feeling I had, one day, when a man came into the elevator with me. It wasn’t that I was scared but I do confess to being a little “creeped” at his see-through blouse and 6” miniskirt!

- when the ambulance came to take him to the emergency early Sunday morning, as the man was walking Floyd out to the ambulance, Tanya and I heard him say, “Really nice house you have here, Floyd!” LOL! Maybe it was one of those you-had-to-be-there moments but we looked at each other and said, “What did he say??” LOL. Then, on the way, as I rode in the front with the other EMT, he, too, went on and on about how nice our house was painted and decorated!! At least now I know that others think it looks nice as well!!

- Floyd chose to name (yes, name) the things attached to his body after surgery!! I think it’s something he has learned from Mandy over the years. He had a stomach drain that was quickly named “Eldon” and we had to watch out for Eldon whenever he moved or walked. Then, after Eldon departed, Floyd named his catheter – “Ug”. “Why Ug?”, I asked. “Because it’s ugly”. LOL – why not!?

There was some other moments but I can’t think of them right now. It was a tough week for Floyd and he did really well considering the circumstances.

On to other things…I just talked to Mandy on MSN and she got 86% on her last Math test!! Congrats, Mandy! We’re proud of the hard work you’re doing!!

Hubbie update!

Well, Floyd's still the hospital ...sigh...every night they say he'll be out the next day but it doesn't happen. The kidney stone thing has been ruled out as he no longer has the back pain and we're glad of that. He's just nauseous and not keeping food down nor having "normal" bowel movements (gotta love hospital talk, eh?). So, until that happens, they're going to keep him in. We were saying today that he's just lost his "bounce" and has to get it back again.

The good news is that, despite his nausea, he was able to keep some lunch and some supper down. He was out to the count when I left tonight - drifting off to la-la land in the arms of morphine.....poor guy.

Thank you so much for your prayers on his behalf! I'll keep you updated....

Update....

I need to post more but I'm dead tired and going to hit the hay. Floyd was supposed to be out of the hospital today but all day he was running a slight fever and throwing up. He was also complaining of back pain, which we originally attributed to the hospital beds but, towards the evening, he said it was in his lower back by his kidneys. Greeeeaaat. So we are praying that his body is not choosing to pass a kidney stone at this point, as he really has enough on his plate. Today they were giving him morphine because his pain level was that elevated. So, needless to say, they kept him another night and we'll see what tomorrow brings. He's been to the bathroom, so that's not the issue as much now as the inability to keep anything down...

I'll let you know more tomorrow - hopefully the next time I post, he'll be home!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MANDY!!!!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, dear Mandy,
Happy Birthday to you!!!!

Yes, today is my baby's 24th!! Mandy, I wish so much that I could be there with you but I know that Jorge will make a fuss of you (did you get breakfast in bed??). You're birthday package has arrived in Chile (according to the internet!) - LOL, so it should be in Pichilemu soon. We hope and pray that your day is a wonderful one and that you are surrounded by friends and, most of all, the almighty love of our God! (Sorry, couldn't resist the photo...my little "Shirley Temple"!!)

On to our news.....

So much has happened since I've last blogged. Sorry about that! Thursday night, we DID go out and eat and Cynthia, Andrew and Bethany joined us. We all went to the Olive Garden and, even though there was almost an hour wait, we had a lot of fun!! We learned that Margaret needs that amount of time to study her menu (LOL - apparently a family joke!), so it worked out perfect. Clive was our waiter in the bar area while we waited, taking our orders with pen and paper! I introduced Cynthia and Margaret to Bellini's and, while not quite as good as those in Moxie's, they were refreshing and delicious!! The meal was wonderful and we even had them sing "Happy Birthday" to Floyd at the end! Our goal this weekend was to take his mind off his upcoming surgery on Monday and I think this was a good head start to fulfilling our it!!

Friday was another hot day, so in the afternoon, we decided to head for the river valley for a walk. Cynthia, Bethany, and Andrew met us there (Samantha had overnighted after she, along with Adrian, Graham, and Isobel had all gone to Capital X the night before). We walked from Hawrelak Park through to Emily Murphy and I discovered that it must have been a long time since we'd done that!! LOL! I thought it was about a five-minute walk and then we'd be in EM and walking beside the river (our original destination). Yeah, well, 45 minutes later we arrived at the river and we were all so tired that it was basically time to turn around and walk back to the vehicles! Sorry about that everyone! Floyd said the reason it was so long was that when we used to do it, we would cycle and he's probably right. We used to drive to Hawrelak and bike with the girls the rest of the way! Oooops..... LOL. The young people forgave us, I think, as we ended up at the hut on the pond for ice cream - Floyd's treat - it sure tasted good after the hot walk. Although, I must say the majority of the walk was on a lovely shaded trail and, although not by the promised river, it was nice scenery....In the evening, we celebrated Floyd's birthday with a big family BBQ. Margaret, Clive and their family were still here, Tanya and Tom with their little ones, as well as Kristy and Bob, and Cynthia and her four! So there were 19 of us all together! The weather was beautiful and Floyd barbecued some delicious steaks and we served them with salad, mashed potatoes, corn and Brussels sprouts. The only ones missing were Jorge and Mandy but Floyd was delighted when they phoned about 8 p.m. and he was able to talk to them & they were able to send their wishes and be included with big "hi" from us all!! The children all were so good and played on the swings and little teeter-totter and slide. Then for dessert, Kristy had baked four of Aunt Sal's Apple Cream Cheese pies!! Yummy!! Thanks for the recipe, Sally - you'll never know how many times we've used it!

We all chipped in and bought Floyd a recorder/player for his music. Wow, I don't even remember what it's called and that doesn't do it justice at all! It will replace his mini-disc player that he loves and uses constantly. It's about the size of a shaver (in fact, that's what Clive thought it was - LOL!) but records, with built in microphones, crystal clear and crisp. Instead of discs, he will now be able to put all his recording sessions on a memory card, similar to a digital camera, and will be able to easily plug it into the computer for transfer. He was delighted and Tom and him spent a long time on Saturday playing with it and learning how it works. Thanks, Tom, for the awesome idea!! We were all stuck on what to get for him, so it was perfect!

Saturday started out with a big family breakfast. Tanya, Tom and family had all stayed at a hotel, seeing as there was "no room at the inn" at home. But I believe the air conditioning provided an added draw!! It's been soooo hot this summer!! We had a buffet-style fruit, toast, and cereal meal and it was perfect. After that, the Osmonds began to pack and, after a family photo shoot, they left for Jasper. We'll miss them as we had such a wonderful time together.

Saturday afternoon and Sunday were spent relaxing and doing things with the children (as Tan and Tom stayed until Sunday). Kristy, Tanya, Adriana, Erilyn, Amelie, Kellen and I all went to Reitman's as they are having a summer sale and Tan found some lovely skirts for Adriana! We were so glad as it's hard to find ones for girls that come below the knee. But these were very small ladies' sizes and, because of that, they were the perfect length for Adrie - she looked so beautiful and elegant in all of them! Amelie found a hair band she wore the whole time we were in the store, and Erilyn discovered a necklace she liked, so those were Gram's treat....

Floyd was not able to eat for Saturday and Sunday, so supper Saturday fell to me... LOL! Yeah, needless to say, the chicken was a little charred - sorry family, it's been awhile since I've wielded the BBQ tongs! But it was okay...once you cut of the carcogenic bits!!

Saturday night, Kristy and Bob headed home to do more packing, and Tanya and Tom stayed with us (thank the Lord!) as a bed was now free... About 2 a.m. I woke to find Floyd in the bathroom moaning in excruciating pain!! Apparently the meds they were giving him for a 2-day cleanse before surgery were counteracting with his regular meds he takes for IBD and causing severe contractions inside. He passed out on me while laying on the bathroom floor and scared the daylights out of me! He was cold and clammy and not responding!! I got him up and back into bed and called the Health Link. It's a 24hr phone that will always put you in touch with a nurse who you can talk to. It is such a blessing and one thing I love about our health system!! When she heard him groaning, she said I should call an ambulance. I woke poor Tan up and she came to help me asses the situation. I was planning on taking him myself as we live only a few blocks from the hospital, but then he passed out again on us while in bed, so Tan called 911 and we got an ambulance rolling (ended up with 2 ambulances, a firetruck and a police car - all lights and sirens!! LOL!) so that was good... It seemed like hours but was, actually, only about 3-4 minutes before they were here. They did their assessment before loading him and poor Floyd looked (and I'm sure was!) so confused by the whole ordeal. The pain had subsided by the time he was in a unit in emergency but they monitored him for about 2 hours before sending him home with strict instructions to discontinue his regular meds until after surgery. He did and, while having some discomfort, had no more severe attacks. Thank the Lord. It was funny because Tan and Tom stayed upstairs after we left in the ambulance and they said Madison was pacing the floor, going back and forth to the door, etc. She definitely knew something was up! Then, after we got back around 6, we all went back to bed and Floyd and I no sooner were drifting off when we heard her whimpering and twitching in her sleep! She was obviously having some nightmare thing and I had to wake her up to get her to be quiet! Poor thing....

Sunday definitely turned into a "sleep-in" morning due to the events of the night before but I don't think Tan got much sleep as Kellen was oblivious to the comings and goings and woke up bright and early. We opted for staying home from church, though, as Floyd was still feeling weak and shaky. We cooked up some bacon and eggs and let Tom sleep in as he was going to be the driver for the trip home later in the day. We spent the morning talking and visiting some more and then they all left shortly after lunch for the long drive back to Lethbridge. As always, it was hard to part with them all but, hopefully, we'll see them again soon. Kellen had been such a good little man this trip - we didn't even have to "baby-proof" the house for him at all!! I'm going to post some pics tonight when I have more time and I'll let you know when that's been done....

The rest of Sunday was spent, for me - cleaning up, changing and washing sheets, etc., and getting the rooms downstairs ready for Kristy and Bob, who will soon be coming to stay with us. As for Floyd - he just relaxed and watched a bit of TV between snoozing. He packed his bag for the hospital before bed and we packed it in early...

That's enough of an update for now - if you're still with me, I'll post more about the hospital stay tonight. Bottom line: the surgery went well and they believe they got all the cancer - with no complications! Praise the Lord!!

Enjoying company...

Yesterday my cousin, Margaret, and her husband, Clive, and three children (okay, they're adults now...), Adrian (23), Graham (21) and Isabel (18), all arrived from England! They are staying with us for three days, then heading west to Jasper, Banff, Calgary, and, ultimately, to BC! It was wonderful to see them at the airport - even though an important part of their group, my Uncle John, was unable to come due to sickness. We were disappointed and pray that he will recover soon and be back on his feet.

Last night was spent enjoying Floyd's grilled chicken and catching up on family news. Adrian and Graham gave the ping-pong table a good work out and I believe the pool table got some use as well! We called it a night relatively early (8:30ish) because it was already in the wee hours of the morning for them and they were fading fast! I had only had 2 hours sleep myself so was ready to hit the hay.

This morning we all had a relaxed time, taking time for sleeping-in, showering, and more ping-pong! Breakfast was cereal and fresh fruit - with a taste of homemade bread and Saskatoon jam! Then we talked some more before splitting up. Everyone except me headed to West Edmonton Mall and I headed to Safeway to pick up some more groceries (and butterscotch chips, Tom!). The plan for the rest of the day (I believe) is the young people (including Samantha) are all going to Capital X for the evening, which will leave us adults alone!! What will we do? LOL! I think we're leaning towards a nice supper out somewhere...

"Without You" - Kirk Franklin

I can take a plane high up in the sky and fly for a million miles;
Write a melody so sweet, make a tear turn into a smile;
I can see the color of spring, I can even feel the weather change
And soon the leaves fall and winter calls,
'cause nothing ever stays the same.
When I think of where I've been, what I've done, and all I own
How I think I know everything, like I made it here on my own
And like the wind that blows, like a flower that grows,
Still with all I can do

Without You, life's a song with no end
Without You, like having a heart that won't mend
Without You, we're just actors on a stage
Like a child who's lost his way
Wouldn't be here today, without You

I admit that sometimes pride tries to hide my view,
And even this gift that you gave me, I forget it's for You;
And all the many days and many ways Your grace I've abused,
Still you were patient and Your love loved me through;
But the wind still blows, and the flower still grows, and one thing is still true.

Without You, life's a wound that won't heal
Without You, nothing in this world is for real
Without You, we're just actors on a stage
Like a child who's lost his way
Wouldn't be here today without You

Without You, we're like a bride with no groom
Without You, it's like seeing no sunshine in June
Without You, we're just actors on a stage
Like a child who's lost his way
We wouldn't be here today
Without You, Jesus, my life would be lost.
Without You, I'll never know what it cost
To see You, lay Your life down for me
From my past now I'm free
Tell me where would I be without You.
Tell me where would I be without You
Wouldn't be here today without You
Wouldn't be here today without You

I can take a plane high up in the sky and fly for a million miles

Guess who came to visit today??

Buffy and Camryn!! It was so good to see them. Little Camryn is getting so big - three months old already - and this was our first time seeing her, so it was wonderful! Thanks, Buff, for stopping in!! We chatted for about two hours - caught up on each other's news and hashed over the "good old days" - ha ha..... Camryn slept through most of it - bored her probably!

Adventures with Sam!

Well, this weekend was a fun one for Floyd and I, spent at the lake with Cynthia, Samantha, Andrew and Bethany.... We went up Friday, spent the night, then I brought them back Saturday night as the kids wanted to go to church on Sunday. I spent the night at home, then drove back out this morning to spend the rest of today with Floyd...

I've just posted my pics on my Photobucket - under July 2007 Album.

Back to Friday... We got up there around 2ish as Cynthia had some people she had to talk to in the morning (I went to Walmart to buy groceries & pick up a small tent) and the day got off to a late start. It's been so hot (high 20's-early 30's) for the past 3-4 days!! But we packed everything for the trip and started off. We stopped at McD's on the way to grab some lunch for Drew and Sam as Bethany wasn't feeling too well. Floyd was already at the lake when we got there - but hadn't been there long. He was still spray-hosing off the trailer (spider-webs plus tree gunk) and opening everything up. The rest of the day was spent kayaking, relaxing and fishing (Bethany and Andrew both caught their first fishes!!).

And then there was the adventure that Samantha and I had!! Ha ha... On the way, I'd seen that the canola fields were in full bloom and I've always wanted to take time to photograph them when they are like that. Sooooo...I said I was going to take off for a bit and asked Fa if she wanted to come with me. Having the same passion for photography that I have, she said "yes" and off we went, cameras in hand. We didn't have to go far to find one, but then decided to venture further a"field" - LOL - to see if we could find something else like an old barn or something to be a rustic backdrop for the beautiful yellow flowers... So, yeah, ha ha, we went down this dinky back road and suddenly saw "it"!! A beautiful rustic old barn set beside a field of yellow. It was perfect. Except that it was too far from the road to get good photos and there were two houses right by the barn... As we tried stopping at spots on the road to see if we could get good shots from there, Sam suggested we drive up and ask the owners if we could take some pics. Sounded like a good idea - ha ha.... So, we did. By the time we'd driven down the long driveway, we found ourselves behind this little run-down old house with two scruffy kids on a trampoline and an equally scruffy man and his wife there as well... It was too late to say "sorry, wrong driveway...", so we got out and explained that we enjoyed photography, were looking for a canola field, saw their barn, and wondered if they would mind if we took a few shots? They seemed fine with it, both said, "no problem", so off we went. Okay, so we took a few more than a couple of shots...okay, so we were probably there about 45+ minutes...ha ha... Neither of us knew how long we were there, but we took our time and had a blast snapping different shots. We had to climb through a field of grasses that came up higher than our waists and was filled with grasshoppers!! We both tried not to think what else might be below our feet as we moved along. It was getting late as well, so the mosquitoes were starting to come out and poor Fa got bitten to pieces!

Anyway, this guy (out watching his kids on the trampoline) kept yelling stuff to us like, "Watch out of barbed wires", "There are chickens in the coop if you want to take pictures of them", etc... Then he called out to me, "Make sure you come and see me before you leave!" and I thought, "Oh, oh....something's up". I thought he may have decided he wanted money for the "use" of his barn (field wasn't his) and tried desperately to think what I had in my wallet - $5 probably - and wondered if that little would pacify him.... So I finished up and, while Sam was still up by the barn, waded through the high grasses (and grasshoppers!) back to the car and this guy, who by now, I noticed, had a beer in his hand. Greeeaaatttt... I wondered if it was his first - LOL. Probably not. So I'm making small talk as I walk up to him, chatting amiably about how pretty the flowers were, how many grasshoppers there are this year, how nice it must be to live out in the country, etc., etc..... And this guy suddenly yells at me!! He yelled, "Okay! You can just stop this b*** s**** with me right now!! I know who you are! I know you're some photographers doing like a calendar shoot of "rural Alberta" or something like that!!!" Wow. Took me aback. I said, "Hey, whoa, I'm not that at all (trying to hide my huge hunken telephoto lens behind my back - LOL!) - it's just a hobby...trust me, you'll never see these photos on a calendar - we just do it for fun!!" He ranted on and on, and then his wife came out (thank goodness) and told us not to worry about him (Sam had heard the ruckus and come over by now)... I told her that I was not a professional photographer and then I made mistake Number Two. LOL! I told his wife what I did for a living and said that we were just out at the lake for a weekend and I understood totally their mistrust of strangers and that they needn't have let us on the property in the first place! Well, that sent her husband off another whole tangent and he ranted on about that "now you can see that I don't have a grow op in the barn, if that's what you are looking for!!". Too funny. Except it was kind of scary...and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Especially when I realized that nobody knew where we were..... Sam and I made a beeline for the car, said our goodbyes and took off. I was actually surprised he didn't take down our license plate!! Yeah, so, needless to say, Floyd and Cynthia weren't too impressed when we told them about our Adventure! On the way home (in fact only about a quarter of a mile down the road from where the scary guy lived) we had to stop again because the sun was just setting into a field and we couldn't resist!! We had so much fun!

The next day (Saturday) was spent hanging around - laying in the sun, reading, playing games, etc.... Andrew and Bethany preferred the "buglessness" of the trailer and spent quite a bit of time coloring (girls, the tradition continues!!). Sam and I, at one point, went for a kayak ride. We paddled quite a way from the dock towards the narrows, until we could no longer see where we were camped, then kicked back, laid down on the kayaks and soaked in the sun. It was beautiful. Just to lay there and feel the gentle rocking of the water. Needless to say, we both fell asleep (lol) and woke up just as we were going into a bunch of bullrushes by the Catholic mission!! Ha ha. We must have floated right past where we originally left from and had gone a good way down the shoreline. We laughed at the thought of the nuns finding us in their bullrushes!!

Oh, yes, one more thing! You'll notice in the photos that we purchased a little 4-man (who are they kidding???!!) tent. It goes up really easy and Floyd and I slept on an air mattress in there while Cynthia and kids had the trailer. It seemed the easiest way to work it and we both enjoyed the tenting experience! So, Tan and Tom, we're ready to go camping now as well!! Yahoo!!

Anyway, I'm getting really "long-fingered" here (to quote Tan), so I might have lost you...sorry if I have! Bottom line? We had a fun, hot weekend, and there's pics online!!

Free-Range Eggs and Coloring Books

I forgot to mention when we were at the new Super Walmart that they even had free-range eggs! I wanted to get them but they were brown and I just know (remembering from my childhood) that they're gonna taste a bit different. And there's something about the taste of an egg that I'm really fussy with - LOL. If they taste the slightest bit different, I'm having problems... So, maybe another day I'll be adventurous and try those.

I also (finally!) found coloring books! Went to good old Superstore and there they were - stacks of them... Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird, etc., etc. Chapters also had a few but they tended to be mixed with stickers and a bit more expensive.

I don't know who is even remotely interested in the above two paragraphs - LOL, but thought I'd throw them out there...

Today we woke up about 9 and went to pick up Burt who, after a lengthy and costly operation, was ready at the Ford dealership. I'm not sure he's worth the money we put into him but it was less than $20,000, so I guess we're ahead - if he runs....

From there we went to meet Samantha at Tim Horton's for her coffee break. The visit went really fast but Floyd was able to sample their new lemon donuts and I had some green tea (yeah, not as exciting but I'm growing to like it). I've also discovered that my nightly cup of Celestial Seasonings' Sleepytime & Wellness Tea is helping me get a good night's sleep so I've been able to quit taking my sleeping pill!

I got home around 12:15 and met Mandy online for some math problems - LOL! Wow. It was painful... But we were able to nail some and put off some others until another day. If they just didn't have words! Give me an equation any day...numbers, variables...bring them on! But throw me a paragraph of words and my brain is fried! For example...anyone wanna help us on this one? Tom?

"Arny and Danny were counting their change one day. They discovered they had exactly the same amount of money. Arny had only dimes and nickels, and Danny had only quarters and pennies. Arny had 2 more than 3 times as many nickels as dimes. Danny had the same number of quarters as Arny had dimes and 3 more pennies than he had quarters. How much money did each boy have?"

Like, really, who cares??? ROTFLOL...

Super Walmart and Bible Bread!!!

Woo hoo!!! Today Floyd and I went to pick up Stella (with her brand new radiator - you don't want to know how much!!) so now we both have wheels again. Burt is still in intensive care at the Ford dealership - we're not sure if he's going to make it or not...

After that, we went to Walmart because Floyd wanted to show me the new addition - yes, it's open!! Our Super Walmart!!! Yahoo! Soooo, we just strolled the new aisles, and were blown away by the selection they have! Bye bye Stupid Store (sorry, Tanya, I know that word's been overused in my last two blogs....) and Hello Super Walmart!! Ha ha. That love affair didn't last long, did it?! Yeah, these guys have a selection that gives Superstore a good run for their money - especially in the organic section (cause that's where I was grazing - LOL!). And, I couldn't believe it!! In their frozen food aisle, I found the Food For Life products (http://www.foodforlife.com/) that are discussed in Seven Pillars of Health!! Ha ha...Dad and I had a good laugh as we looked at the Ezekiel 4:9 English muffins (yes, that's actually what they're called!!), the Genesis 1:29 breads and the Nature's Path organic Manna breads (http://www.naturespath.com/)! Ya think they're Christian companies?? All the ingredients are not only organic, but also use all the whole grains and, supposedly, are much better for you. So, we figured, why not??? We bought 2 packages of the Ezekiel 4:9 English muffins (one regular and one cinnamon raisin) and one loaf of Carrot Raisin Manna Bread!! LOL!! And, yes, Tan, we bought some turkey bacon for when the girls are here!

I also went on a hunt for coloring sheets/books to mail to Mandy for her birthday. Oh, my goodness!! Here comes my pet peeve of the year!! What the heck happened to coloring books?? After I gave up on Walmart, I went to Toys 'R Us, Zellers, Dollar stores, Kites 'N Other Delights, etc., etc., etc!! Nada, nunca, zip, nothing!! Now I know why I started to stock pile all those coloring books when my girls were little and started xeroxing them!! Now I've got to see if I still have any worth copying down in the toy cupboard! The dollar stores had lots of variety, but they were junk - not the kind I was looking for. But I did find a couple of other fun things, so wait for it, Mandy, - birthday package coming your way soon!!

Well, that's it for now - I've got to get the house ready for my cousin, Margaret, and her family (including my Uncle John!) who are coming to visit from England next week!!

Her Favorite Song Right Now....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp8S0aDCleY

"Well, she was precious like a flower
She grew wild, wild but innocent
A perfect prayer in a desperate hour
She was everything beautiful and different

Stupid boy, you can't fence that in
Stupid boy, it's like holding back the wind
She laid her heart and soul right in your hands
And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans
She never even knew she had a choice and that's what happens
When the only voice she hears is telling her she can't.
Stupid boy, stupid boy
Oh

So what made you think you could take a life
And just push it, push it around?
I guess you build yourself up so high
You had to take her and break her down.

She laid her heart and soul right in your hands
And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans
She never even knew she had a choice and that's what happens
When the only voice she hears is telling her she can't.
You stupid boy

Oh, you always had to be right but now you've lost
The only thing that ever made you feel alive,
Yeah, yeah

Well, she laid her heart and soul right in your hands
And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans,
Yes, ya did
She never even knew she had a choice and that's what happens
When the only voice she hears is telling her she can't.
You stupid boy, oh, I'm the same old
Same old stupid boy

It took awhile for her to figure out she could run
But when she did, she was long gone
Long gone, long gone
Ah, she's gone..."

- Keith Urban

Wow!

It's been a long time since I've blogged and I feel bad but the days have just been flying by this past week. It's been a hot one and Floyd and I have been enjoying the sun, planting some more perennials, and enjoying our back yard. He's worked hard to make it so nice and cleans the fountains regularly to keep them sparkling, not to mention the grass that seems to grow overnight! Thanks, honey!! I sure do love our house and yard...

We've also had fun going around looking at, and test-driving, some trucks. I'd love to just go out and buy him a new one but the money's not there and it seems so much to put into just a vehicle. Meanwhile, we only have Staven because Stella and Burt (our Saturn and Ranger) are both in for servicing (never rains but it pours!).

Saturday we went to Superstore (or "stupidstore" as I usually call it!) as we haven't been there in a long time and I've heard they've cleaned up their act since I deserted them years ago. Back then it was dirty and the staff couldn't care less when it came to customer service. But, apart from the having to pay for bags and having to bag the stuff yourself, we were pleasantly surprised this visit. The prices really were good - comparable to Walmart and Costco. And the thing that struck both of us (cause I must admit we're kinda getting into the healthy eating thing...) was the huge selection (compared to other stores) of organic foods! In almost every category there was organic options - even cookies and crackers! I was surprised. We had fun picking out the organic fruits and veggies - often at *lower* prices and better looking than the regular produce!! Hey, if you don't have to eat pesticides, why would you want to?? I couldn't resist trying a new jam, as well - I'll let you know how it tastes. It's funny because now that I'm eating healthy - probably the healthiest I've ever eaten in my life!! - I find I don't want to mess it up with dead or unhealthy food. I find that foods I'd die for 3 weeks ago just don't hold an interest to me anymore...I'm like, "why would I want to do that to myself?" Ha ha.... But I feel sooooo good, so healthy - I'll tell you, I've only been doing this for two weeks and I have no desire to go back to my previous habits. Tonight we had a potluck supper at work and I just brought some fresh veggies and fruits and was perfectly content! It's a really good feeling, I'll tell you. And I hope and pray it continues because, with the way I feel now, I don't want to go back...

Anyway...yesterday (Sunday) Floyd went to church and I stayed home because my friend, Shelagh, was coming over to scrapbook with me. The plan *had* been for me to go to church Saturday night but, unfortunately, it didn't happen. I cleaned up and vacuumed before she came over and then, for the first hour, we chatted and caught up on each others' news (lol). Then we got down to some serious scrap-booking. She's doing an album for her son, Dallas, and I was working on some Easter 2006 photos of Adriana, Erilyn, Amelie and Kellen. The guys (Floyd and her husband, Ray) came home around 1:30 and we were gonna do a BBQ but Ray suggested we let someone else do the cooking, so we went to Red Robins. I can't remember the last time I was there but I know there were teenagers at the table!! So that says something! I had an oriental salad with grilled chicken - it was so yummy - I didn't even need the dressing!! It's fun to experiment with restaurant foods I never have tried. Normally I would have opted for the burger and fries but found I loved this dish and didn't miss the grease....

After that we went home where Cynthia was with the kids. We all went over to their house to get some stuff and the dog, then Samantha and I picked up a few of her things.... Then it was back to work. Ugh. After six days off, I'll tell you, I didn't feel like walking through the doors! But once I got back into it, the night went well and now, here it is 1:30 already! And I get off at 4:30 tonight and tomorrow so that's all good!

Well, that's it for now - I'll update my health tip as well 'cause you all probably know how much water you should be drinking by now!!

Something new...

I know I haven't been blogging much lately but for the past two weeks I have been spending a lot of time with my precious sister, Cynthia. She'll probably never see this - but Cynthia, I just want to tell you how proud I am of recent changes you've made in your life and in the lives of your children. What an incredible privilege it is for me to see you blossoming into the woman God has created you to be and to see you take new steps every day!! I can't wait to see what He has in store for you...

I've also added a couple of new items to my blog - on the left... The first is my life verse for this year. God gave me this verse and it was spoken from His lips to my ear. Thank you, Lord. The Spanish is there to remind me to keep at it and I'm trying to memorize verses in both languages.....

The second is going to be health tips and thoughts that I'm gleaning from "The Seven Pillars of Health" and other sources. I can't believe how excited I am to be on this path to healthy eating and living!! I'm feeling so good and renewed, it's pretty amazing...

Well, I'm still doing my Isagenix thing and feeling really good about it. Today is my second cleansing day and I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited about taking steps towards a good healthy lifestyle. It must be rubbing off on Floyd, too, because yesterday he came home from the store with all organic veggies and bananas! Ha ha! Good for him! He said they were only about 10 cents more per pound than the others - that's not bad. We need to do some shopping around though because I'm sure there are other places that have a greater selection of organic produce than Safeway.

Whenever I am visiting Tanya and Tom, I try to make sure, early in my stay, to make a visit to a little spot beside their stereo - a spot where I know I will find Tom's latest "read". I'm always interested to see the books he's into and this past visit I was, as usual, not disappointed. Okay, that's not 100% correct - at first I was a little skeptical, but only because I found out the author was the same guy that wrote, "What Would Jesus Eat?" and I'd seen that book and thought it was kinda dumb. Never read it, mind you, but just thought the whole premise was dumb because Jesus wasn't surrounded by the foray of fattening, but infinitely delicious, foods that we're bombarded with on a daily basis. I mean, really, food back then was basically all organic and home-made anyway. But that's another story. This book was entitled "The Seven Pillars of Health". We discussed it briefly when we were there with them and about steps that we were all taking to move in the direction of healthy eating. Well, when I got back and onto my Isagenix program, I bought the book and, boy, have I been devouring it! It's incredible. Just the passages (it's divided into "Day one, Day two, etc") on water were mind-blowing. It does go into depth on types of water that are better for you (i.e. bottled over tap, one filtering system over another) and you could get lost and think it's all too much to take in. But the thing I like is that at the end of each "day", he highlights the main point and then gives you a simple step that you can take towards the goal without being overwhelmed.

So, thanks, Tom, for, once again, pointing me in the direction of a really good book. So far it also goes hand-in-hand with my current program as well, so that's good to know.

Other news - this weekend has been so exciting. I've spent it with my sister and there have been incredible steps of freedom that she's taken for herself and her precious children! I don't want to go into it here (okay, I do want to, but it's her story to tell, not mine) and so we'll leave it at that for now. God is good and His timing is perfect. Amen.

Kristy was up yesterday and spent the afternoon with us. It was so good to see her and she was all golden brown from the sun!! She looked so beautiful - I guess she's started on her African tan already!!

More later....