Times Two

Last night as I wrote I wrote about the speed of time.  Time going fast.  Time going slow. I wanted time to go faster last night.  And then just like that in less than 24 hours time, time started to speed up again.  The cardiologist’s office called to say they had an opening next Tuesday and would we like to take it.  Yes. Please. That was an answer to prayers; just like that!!  Thank you to all who offered prayers!  They were answered!!!!

Time

This time of year it seems like time speeds up.  It actually starts the downhill fly in July when I start seeing Christmas stuff in the stores; a good reason to avoid going to the store.  So hard to see Christmas in July.  And then we come to October…….and time should just be flying by like the speed of sound, right?  Well it would be except when you have to wait for a medical procedure.  Yup Mr. Man is having more heart issues.  Instead of stopping now it is racing.  As he puts it, it is stuck in 3rd gear and won’t gear down.  So he has to have it shocked!  I know sounds serious and anything to do with the heart is but we are confident in his new cardiologist and we just wish October 22nd would come soon rather than later.

Office Partner

How fun is that!

We Know We Know

We all know how we want things to go but many times even the best laid plans just don't work out.  But I've leaned there is one thing I can always count on and that is Mr. Man.  Recently in my "in sickness and health" period he has been a true champ.  Helping me in all ways and with all needs; some things are hard to do one handed!  He has been my right-hand man!

Valentine's Day

What's not to love about this day?  This day of chocolate and flowers and hugs and kisses.  Seriously, this day is all about love, it is a day made/set aside just for love.  So on this day of love I honor my number one love.  My eternal love.........my one, my only, my Val - entine!

• I love you because you take me the way I am
• I love you because you honor your priesthood
• I love you because you are the best Dad I know
• I love you because you listen to me....a lot
• I love you because you love my dogs
• I love you because you ask me what can I get you
• I love you because you drive me
• I love you because you defer all car buying to me
• I love you because you watch Hallmark with me
• I love you because you help....with everything
• I love you because you have the best blue eyes
• I love you because I belong to you and you belong to me
• I love you because you are my heart keeper
• I love you front and I love you back
• I love you all around!

37

Thirty-seven years ago today Mr. Man and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.  What a ride it has been. We have had our ups and our downs.  But thankfully more ups. We have laughed together and we have cried together; we have grown together as one.  Thirty-seven years ago our love for each other was just a sprout today it has grown into a garden.

This anniversary of ours, this 37 years of marriage, is made even more amazing to me because a few years back I wondered if the number of years we had been married would ever equal the number of years collectively our children had been married.  I don't know why I think of these things, but I do. Well this is the magic year; this is the one and a million mathematical equation; never to happen again. So........courtesy of my countess ways here it is:

D1 and husband will celebrate 14 years of marriage this year;

S1 and wife celebrated 10 years of marriage this year;

D2 and husband celebrated 8 years of marriage this year; and

S2 and wife will celebrate 5 years of marriage this year.

Now add up all their years of marriage and you get 37 years of marriage. So collectively they have been married as long as we have.........how crazy is that!

Today one word comes to mind:

BLESSED!

Movies

Mr. Man loves westerns especially John Wayne westerns........well anything John Wayne actually.  But this is the thing, no matter how many times he's seen them, no matter how corny they are (ok that's my review) he is glued to the t.v. watching them.  And it doesn't matter how late at night they are on or how tired he is, he is still glued to them...........never once does he doze or even blink it seems.  He just loves them.  But turn on any other type of movie and the man is snoring within 10 minutes.  I don't get it........sighhhhhhh......

Gettin' Fit

Worn at D1's wedding.....

Wearing it again..........almost 14 years later!

Have I Told You Lately..........

I heard this song yesterday on my way to church and all I could think about was Mr. Man.  This songs for you:

Have I told you lately that I love you

Have I told you there's no one else above you

Fill my heart with gladness

take away all my sadness

ease my troubles that's what you do

For the morning sun in all its glory

greets the day with hope and comfort too

You fill my life with laughter

and somehow you make it better

ease my troubles that's what you do

There's a love that's divine

and it's yours and it's mine like the sun

And at the end of the day

we should give thanks and pray

to the one, to the one

This day I give thanks for you.....for easing my sadness, for filling my life with laughter......I love you!

Routine

Many (really most) (ok every) evenings are spent upstairs, watching one our favorite shows. It's our relax time. Mr. Man can be found in his recliner with Belle at his side. Dottie sprawled out sometimes on her bed sometimes at my feet, sometimes at Mr. Man's feet.  I'm on one end of the couch generally with my laptop on my lap; which is where laptops belong.  At the other end of the couch was Lola.  I miss my couch buddy, the routine just isn't quite the same without her.  Thank you Rachael for capturing our happy girl!

My Thoughts on Random Words......and (Mr. Man's)

Believe: Always (Hope)

Blessed: Everyday (Me)

Brave: Broad Shoulders (Souls)

Commitment: Keep Them (Together)

Communication: Empowers (Open Line)

Connection: The World is Smaller Than We Know (Solid)

Decision: Make One (Difficult)

Distracted: Easily (Easily)

Hope: Floats (Charity)

Laughter: Medicine (Helps)

Kindness: Begins With Me (Gentle)

Obedience: Love It (Follow Through)

Trust: Essential (In Each Other)

Truth: Will Set You Free (or Dare)

Amen!

Historic.........really

Saturday morning we loaded the girls in the truck and headed for their home away from home. After watching some t-ball and leaving the girls to run wild and free we headed for South Lake Tahoe. We took the 80 route and cut over at Truckee which took us around the West side of the lake. It has been more years than I care to count since we have been up to the lake. Once seeing the lake a flood of memories came crashing to the forefront of my mind. Growing up camping or just going up to spend the day at Pope Beach was a regular event. Camp Richardson was the camp ground we always stayed at. Apparently now it is considered a Historic Resort. Not sure how I feel about that ………..as I describe a remembrance from my youth that now has the words “historic” in it…………moving on.

Husband Dreams............

I recently read a short story entitled "Husband Dreams!"  It was a young girl's exchange with a friend on what they dreamed their future husbands would be like.  Now, I'm not sure if those dreams have come true or not.  But I can't seem to shake the thought of "husband dreams."  Last night I told Mr. Man I had to get to bed because I wanted to have a "husband dream"............he rolled his eyes but I smiled.  I love Mr. Man because he is my "husband dream."  When I say can I have dessert, he says what kind of ice cream do you want.  When there is music on in the house he dances with me, even though after 36 years I still can't dance.  I love "husband dreams" and I especially love that my dreams have come true in him.  Mr. Man, eternity doesn't seem long enough to live out all my "husband dreams" with you!

Favorite Thing

The question today on The Pioneer Woman that had to be answered for the give-away was “Food-wise, what is your number one weakness?”  And the answer for me is ICE CREAM!  I just love ice cream.  But the real reason I love ice cream is that it is always lovely dished up for me by Mr. Man.  I'll say can I have a treat and he says, "what kind do you want?"  I love that man and our funny little tradition.

The Walk......

In my mind I want to be a walker; well in some part of my mind I want to be a walker. That part knows how good it would be for me on so many levels. Mr. Man has started to walk again. The weather has hit what he calls "delightful" for me it leans toward a bit on the chilly side. But either way there is always something more pressing on my time; really if I didn't have to sleep and eat there would be plenty of time for walking.........riiiiiiight! Dottie and Belle are his current walking partners. For Belle it is the highlight of her day. Once he has his walking shoes on she is bouncing at the door like Tigger on a pogo stick just waiting for the moment when she is invited to run out the door. Dottie, also known as our resident "muppet" is just happy to have another chance to be in the great outdoors even if water isn't involved she is always ready to go, go, go! Now you might be wondering where is Lola in all this excitement. She is not so much about the walk. She too must have "things to do." The minute she sees Mr. Man in his walking shoes she disappears. Well, she thinks she disappears, she quietly steps out the sliding glass door opening and sits on the deck thinking she is invisable.

Oh, Lola if only we didn't have to sleep and eat there would be plenty of time for walking..........riiiiiiight!

Always There............

Sometimes it is hard to know where to begin. Sometimes words just don't seem enough. Sometimes we just have to jump in with both feet. Today Mr. Man as he has so many times before steps up to the plate to help me around the house as I prepare for "the shower" and in the process becomes my sous chef, my floor cleaner, my laundry folder, my duster, my everything.

Mr. Man, he's always there for me.............he's my man!

How to Dance in the Rain....

A story worth sharing.........

It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when a gentleman in his 80's arrived at the hospital to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redressed his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said,
'She doesn't know me, But I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,

'That is the kind of love
I want in my life.'
True love is neither
Physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
They just make the best of everything they have.

'Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.

White or Red?

In July we were in Utah for a nanosecond; that equates to about 12 hours of awake time with the Grands! During that time I had the opportunity to tuck Crazy 2 and Crazy 3 into bed. They have in their room one of those "white noise" machines; you know like the sounds of a babbling brook or ocean waves crashing into the shore! After leaving their room I remember commenting......"I can't sleep with noise, I need quiet!" Well, after returning home one night I awoke to very, very heavy breathing, it wasn't quite snoring but it was loud enough to wake me up! Normally I would say to Mr. Man (the offender) STOP breathing and give him a hearty nudge. Not that I really want him to actually stop breathing but that's just our "little system," well actually it is my "little system!" But this night I opted to get up and go to another room inasmuch as Mr. Man had not been feeling well I hated to interrupt what seemed like some much needed deep sleep. The next morning Mr. Man found me and was apologetic for his "loudness!" It was then that I realized I prefer red over white............noise that is!!

If You See It Out of Place..........

........put it in its proper space!!

We have a lot of spaces to find............to be continued.......

Our Stuff is Home

Saturday with the help of the missionaries Val moved all our "stuff" out of storage. It feels like we are finally all together........reunited with our "garage stuff." We have epoxy coated both garage floors and now begin the fun task of arranging and re-arranging all the "stuff." And yes, Amy we are doing some tossing and yes, Kimberly we are doing some saving. In fact we have started an area of "review" which we will have Amy go through when she is here in July. Of course nothing will be tossed without my finally blessing............sorry Amy! We also found boxes of Justin "stuff" and some of Grant's "stuff" as well as a barrel of Kimberly "stuff!" Some of the things up for review are stuffed animals from another life and Halloween costumes! Here is a picture of our lovely "stuff" and a picture of the empty garage. Tonight we spent two hours moving and rearranging and things are looking pretty good........we make a great team!

It is not so empty anymore!