Music to Our Ears

There's something about listening to a good jazz band. I'm not a jazz enthusiast by any means, but my husband is and I like to go for the ride. When we went to San Diego last week we ventured upon a farmer's market. It was fantastic. So many "puestos" of fruit, vegetables, jewelry, trinkets, odds and ends. We had already had breakfast, but the smells emanating from the stoves and grills were delicious! We wondered why our own city didn't not have a farmer's market such as this. Tonight our city has it's interpretation of a farmer's market so we decided to go check it out. Why not? Let's help our own economy while we shop for organically grown food. And to top it off, a jazz band was scheduled to play. Upon arriving we were a bit dismayed. It was small, but ok. The jazz band was playing and they sounded great. We bought a banana-strawberry smoothie with whipped cream and found some chairs to sit while we listen to this very nice band. Ahhhhh.... we may not be San Diego, but we have our own little corner of the world, too, and it's beautiful.

Blessed

I will take but a minute to say, Wow! It's been hectic around here for quite some time. I think every weekend has been filled with some event or something.

Today, however, we slept in and took time to just sit and relax. Ahhh. . . it was good. Isn't it something to wake up and realize how blessed you are to be in this time and place in your life? The day was beautiful with blue skies and the mountains peaceful and quiet. I'm just amazed with all the wonderment.

My sister called me yesterday during class time when my little ones were all sitting on the carpet and she told me that she was cancer-free. My students asked me who it was and I told them-- "It was my big sister and she is cancer-free! And I am so happy!" Of course a discussion on "cancer-free" began and lasted for about ten minutes. Children. . . :-)

My son-in-law, we hear, is running in his first marathon tomorrow -- yes? Got to call my daughter to be sure. Really cool!

Ok minute is up -- got to get back to work. Taking my second on-line class in Spanish. What am I doing????!!!!!! :-)

God bless them . . .

What do you say to a mother and father who have lost their child? To a sister who has lost her brother? I don't understand.

The funeral was solemn, sometimes we laughed at a memory spoken by a loved one, sometimes we cried, most of the time we thought about this young man's life and how blessed his family and friends were to have him in their lives. We also thought about our own children and how blessed we are. We never know when our Good Lord will call us home. We need to hug our kids and thank God for them over and over again and tell them how much we love them.

As I hugged my friend's mom, my friend, she asked me about my own son -- my son who used to get her son's hand-me-downs -- I said he was good. She said "Give him a big hug for me and don't ever stop hugging him." We cried together. "I'm so sorry." I told her I loved her. And she said the same.

My heart hurts for the family because they are in so much pain. God bless them.

Sadness

A sweet teacher friend of mine lost her little brother last night in a car accident. He was coming home and was hit head on by a reckless driver. He died instantly. I am so sorry for her family. They are truely a very loving family.

A mother of two of my students lost her daughter-in-law from heart failure. She had lost her son about a year ago.

Such sadness.

I believe our lives are written for us before we come to this life. I believe we know where our lives will take us as we prepare to be born, but all that understanding is taken from us when we are born. Sometimes something may seem familiar like a deja-vu, but it's because you are remembering what was already written for you. You had already seen it. All this, however, does not erase the pain we feel when a loved one is taken from us, especially when they are so young.

My heart hurts for my teacher friend, she's gone through so much already. My heart hurts for the family of my "mother." They need so much prayer. God bless them and keep them strong.
God bless us all and our families.

Ok, I don't mean to sound too overly excited to be off-track, but I AM!!!! I'm so-so happy and best of all this was the last time we're rotating! So happy!

For vacation, I look forward to really cleaning my house--yes! I need to prepare for a birthday party that will be given by one of our nieces for her mom -- 50th. I want to help in the kitchen renovation, I want to help clean out my side of the garage. Do some planting, read a few books, enroll in an online class (excited about that one). I just think of all the possiblities for the upcoming month and I'm ready to get started.

Everyone have a great week and I'll probably blog next weekend. God Bless.

Thoughts

Life has its ups and downs.

Mostly ups!

I finished my class at Cal State - a blessing. I learned a lot. But it was exhausting. Now I'm looking into attending the U. of Phoenix which has some really cool online classes. I think I need two more classes to move up to the next level of the pay scale.

My son's school had a near riot today, don't know the reason. They were on lockdown for a while and were released by wings. He recorded what was going on outside and you can hear the security yelling at them to keep moving -"GO! GO! GO!"

I think of where I went to school back in Idaho and how naive I was about life. We were happy kids, everyone got along (I think). I loved going to basketball games and football games. My friends were nice -- I liked everyone (almost everyone). Then I listen to my son's happenings at school and I worry for him. But then this is all he knows. He needs to stay safe. I pray for him everyday and for my other kids.

There is this teacher at my school who is bitter about everything in her life. I feel sorry for her. Sometimes I don't like to be around her because she complains all the time and is angry that she can't teach her way. She can't wait to retire. I'm sorry, but I love my job and do not share her viewpoints which she finds rather odd seeing that we are almost the same age. I can retire before her and she wonders why I don't. "What am I going to do at home?" No, I tell her, I love my kids, I love my job -- I'm ok where I'm at. I'd rather not be around her, but if she needs me, I'll try to help. I'll try.

Went to the doctor today -- good report! Yay! Cool. Thank you, Lord.

My niece is planning a birthday party for her mommy here at our home in April. Lots of relatives will come. I'm so excited. BUT I got to clean from top to bottom.

Rambling...

Goodnight everyone. God bless.